Turkish Media Reacts To The New Lawsuit By the Armenian-Americans

Turkish press actively responded to the lawsuit of two Armenian-Americans against Turkey.  Leading newspapers  mentioned  that it is the first-ever lawsuit against the state of Turkey.

Sabah newspaper reported that Armenian Diaspora  has always made material claims, but now takes concrete steps in that sphere. Milliyet hints that this lawsuit will befall the same fate as the lawsuit brought to California Federal Court (California Federal Court judgement dismissed the suit on classing the events of 1915 as genocide)

According to Zaman, Turkish experts consider the lawsuit from political point of view mentioning that irrespective of the lawsuit outcome, all this is done to keep the issue of Genocide on the agenda. Zaman also mentioned that the “lawsuit of Armenian-Americans can have a negative impact on Armenian-Turkish normalization.”  Read more... (291 words)

Davutoglu Instructed Turkish Diplomats to Engage with Armenian Diaspora

In a meeting at Turkey’s embassy in Washington Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is said to have issued specific instructions to Turkish ambassadors and general consuls in North America over initiating direct contacts with the representatives of the Armenian Diaspora.

“The dialogue with the Armenian Diaspora will also positively affect the normalization with Armenia,” said Davutoglu.

According to some Turkish media reports Turkish diplomats draw Davutoglu’s attention to the fact that the recently adopted US congressional resolution (H. Rep. 252) that recognizes the Armenian Genocide is a serious obstacle to initiate direct dialogue with the Armenian Diaspora, adding that the Diaspora is focused now оn bringing the resolution at the full Congress session.  Read more... (198 words)

Hillary Clinton’s Meeting with Armenian Organizations in U.S. Postponed

Meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with representatives of Armenian organizations in the United States, scheduled for February 9, was postponed for an indefinite time. 

“The meeting on Armenian-Turkish Protocols  was delayed due to adverse weather conditions in Washington,” Armenian Weekly quoted a source in the White House as saying.

The proposal to hold consultations with Armenian NGOs of U.S. was initiated by the Secretary Clinton. Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United States, The Knights of Vartan and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) were invited to take part in the meeting.    Read more... (184 words)

Turkey Now Shifts Blame to Armenian Diaspora

Regardless of whether the Armenia-Turkey border will open or not, the Armenian Diaspora will always find ways to hamper the reconciliation process, reports Turkish paper Günes, referring to the ratification process of the Armenia-Turkey Protocols.

“A few months ago, an agreement was signed between Turkey and Armenia aimed at the normalization of bilateral relations. Let’s remember the signing ceremony for a moment. While Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was smiling endlessly, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s look prompted that he was in rather an inconvenient situation.

“It is obvious that both Russia and US are exerting pressure [on Nalbandian] over the issue and for that reason he signed the agreement against his will,” reports Günes, adding that the Armenian Diaspora, which holds powerful political positions, will do its best to overthrow the reconciliation process.  Read more... (281 words)

Armenia-Diaspora Cooperation Became a Style of Work and Thinking

When asked to sum up the outgoing year, Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora Mrs. Hranush Hakobian, turned to the story of establishing the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs.

It was established for liaising with a great human resource which is Diaspora, she said. “The Ministry, firstly, contributed to the formation of the Pan-Armenian mentality. Armenia-Diaspora cooperation became a style of work and thinking,” said Mrs. Hakobian.

Armenian Diaspora, or Spourq, consists of 7 million people world-wide with more than 50 000 organisations and foundations which were involved in numerous meetings, forums, conferences in the outgoing year. All these Diaspora’s representatives are “Armenia’s Ambassadors to different countries” according to Minister.

Besides, this year marked opening of the Faculty for Duaspora Studies at the Yerevan State University.  Read more... (130 words)

US Senate Majority Leaders Calls on Secretary of State To Meet With Armenian American Leaders

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has formally shared the reservations of the Silver State’s Armenian community regarding the dangers of the recently signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a letter to ANCA-Nevada activist Razmig Libarian, the Senate leader reported that he had recently written to Secretary Clinton to pass along the concerns of his state’s citizens of Armenian heritage, and to encourage her to meet directly with the national leadership of the Armenian American community regarding the state of Turkey-Armenia relations.  Read more... (211 words)

Republic of Armenia Government Responsible for Armenians Worldwide

“Armenian nation is not restricted by RA citizens; we have Armenians in Nagprno Karabakh and Javahk, as well as the entire Diaspora community. Together, they form the Armenian world,” Premier Tigran Sargsyan told a Parliament session, answering the question of ARFD faction secretary Artyusha Shahbazyan.

Premier disagreed to Dahnkaktrutyun’s thesis on Diaspora being negatively disposed to RA-Turkish Protocols. At that he noted that only a small group of politicized Diaspora representatives were against current process with Turkey, as shown by recent studies. “That’s natural since Armenian world is not a monolithic structure,” he stressed.  Read more... (160 words)

Armenia-Diaspora Link May Burst

Protests in Paris, New York, Beirut, within Armenian President’s Pan-Armenian tour through centers of Armenian Communities aimed at discussion of Armenian-Turkish protocols, make clear that the President must seriously ponder and that initialed protocols need changes, – such a view shared at today’s press-conference Nagorno-Karabakh’s former Defense Minister Samvel Babayan when asked for comments on Presidents trip.

Samvel Babayan believes if President Sargsyan doesn’t take into consideration Diaspora’s opinion then Armenia-Diaspora link may burst.

“I can already feel it,” said Mr. Babayan.

Speaking about the steps taken by ARF Dashnaktsutyun the former minister said that the Party doesn’t have another choice, so it has to take such steps.  Read more... (191 words)

Open Letter To All Armenians

A number of Diaspora Armenians have issued a statement today which reads:

Dear compatriots,

The  Soccer Diplomacy initiated by the President of Armenia in September of last year opened the door for the process of the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. It has drawn the attention and the support of the entire international community.

It is clear that this process does not mean to forget the past and to question the fact and the importance of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian leaders with the sense of high responsibility for the future of the motherland and coming generations, act today with wisdom and courage for the establishment of the relations between the two countries and the opening of borders without any preconditions.  Read more... (205 words)