New Armenian envoy to U.S. hands credentials to Obama

July 15, 2014 By administrator

The new Armenian ambassador to the U.S. Tigran Sargsyan handed his credentials to President Barack Obama Monday, July 14.

At the ceremony, the envoy hailed the effectiveness of the Armenia-U.S. ties, pledging to contribute to further development of the bilateral relations.

The U.S. President, in turn, expressed confidence that the ambassador will put his experience to best use in helping to expand bilateral ties. Obama welcomed cooperation with Armenia in the framework of peacemaking missions, strengthening of democracy and economic development.

He also gave high assessment to Armenia’s efforts to achieve peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the foreign ministry press service reported.

In early April, the vice speaker of the parliament Eduard Sharmazanov announced resignation of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

Sharmazanov said Sargsyan submitted resignation a month ago, however the President insisted that the PM should not leave the post unless the Constitutional Court rules on the controversial pension reform.

In a Facebook post, Sargsyan said it was a well-considered decision while Sharmazanov said personal issues were involved as well.

Tigran Sargsyan occupied the Prime Minister’s post from April 2008 to April 2013.

From 1998 to 2008 he served as the chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia.

Obama nominates Richard Mills for US Ambassador to Armenia

July 11, 2014 By administrator

July 11, 2014 | 12:28

President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Richard M. Mills, Jr. as his pick to become the US Ambassador to Armenia, the White House announced, Asbarez reported.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mills will replace current ambassador John Heffern.

Mills is currently Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy Beirut, where he began his tour in 2012.

Earlier he worked in Malta, Paris, Dublin, Islamabad, Riyadh and London. In early 90s he also worked as a desk officer for the newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan, followed by a tour as a political officer at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia.

His foreign languages are French and Russian.

State Department: Our hope is that Armenia and Azerbaijan presidents will accept Hollande’s invitation

July 3, 2014 By administrator

July 03, 2014 | 12:15

The United States are committed to helping both sides reach a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, spokesperson for State Department Jen Psaki said.

“It’s our hope that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will accept French President Hollande’s invitation to hold a summit in Paris as soon as possible, and that they will agree to structured negotiations that will lead to a peace agreement. And we call on both sides to redouble their efforts at the negotiation table and to focus on the benefits that peace will bring to people across the region,” she said.

Asked about numerous ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan, Psaki noted that inflammatory rhetoric and statements run counter to the principle of reducing tensions.

“So we certainly think that that damages the peace process, and that’s why we’re encouraging them to redouble their efforts,” State Department official added.

As to the reports of attacks on Armenian settlements by Azerbaijan, Psaki said she does not have any confirmation of those specific reports, “but clearly, a peaceful settlement is in the interests of both countries”.

Armenia’s ex-PM appointed Ambassador to US

June 26, 2014 By administrator

June 26, 2014 | 15:05

YEREVAN. – Former Prime Minisetr Tigran Sargsyan has been appointed an ambassador to the United States (residence in Washington).

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree to appoint Tigran Sargsyan an Ambassador to U.S.

By another decree, current ambassador Tatul Margaryan was relieved of his duties.

House and Senate appropriators adopt U.S. funding measures to Armenia and Karabakh

June 25, 2014 By administrator

June 25, 2014 | 15:57

WASHINGTON, DC. – The House Appropriations Committee approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Appropriations Bill, which covers U.S. economic, humanitarian, and military assistance to the South Caucasus, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

Specific funding levels to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Nagorno-Karabakh were not delineated in the bill.

The House bill was similar to the Senate version, which was approved last week. Both bills maintained Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, restating the six customary exemptions for humanitarian and other assistance to Azerbaijan. Section 907 was enacted in 1992 and requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take “demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force” against Armenia and Artsakh.

However, the Senate report language, unlike the House, specifically highlighted funding to Nagorno-Karabakh as follows: “The Committee recommends assistance for victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in amounts consistent with prior years, and for ongoing needs related to the conflict.”

Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told the Assembly that “continued assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remains an important priority.” Commenting on the House bill, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, stated, “I am disappointed that we could not reach agreement on language underscoring the need for humanitarian assistance in Nagorno-Karabakh. We must continue to fight for this assistance as the bill moves through the legislative process to ensure the best possible outcome for our allies Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Given the bellicose language and attacks coming from Azerbaijan on a daily basis, this aid is absolutely critical for the freedom, prosperity and self-determination of those in the region,” Schiff told the Assembly.

The House and Senate FY 2015 SFOPS bills each totaled approximately $48 billion, which is some $700 million below the enacted FY 2014 level, and roughly $280 million less than the President’s FY 2015 request.

The Administration’s budget calls for $1.7 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $600,000 in International Military Education Training (IMET) for Armenia and Azerbaijan. This amounts to a reduction of $1 million for FMF from last year’s budget request, however IMET funding is consistent with past years and military parity is maintained between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In addition to FMF and IMET assistance, the Administration’s FY 2015 budget also recommended that Armenia receive $20.7 million in Economic Support Funds (compared to the FY 2014 request of $24.7 million), and $1.7 million in International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (compared to the FY 2014 request of $2.8 million). The Administration’s budget also zeroed out global health funding for Armenia. In total, the FY 2015 budget provides $24.7 million in U.S. assistance to Armenia, which is a $6.143 million reduction when compared to the Administration’s FY 2014 request of $30.843 million.

Earlier this year, the Assembly submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, stressing the importance of U.S. assistance to Artsakh as well as Armenia, and the much needed humanitarian assistance for Armenians in, and those fleeing, Syria. Additionally, the Assembly’s testimony highlighted the inexplicable pardon of a convicted Azeri officer who brutally murdered an Armenian officer at a NATO partnership for peace training exercise and urged that the Subcommittee cease military assistance to Azerbaijan.

“Given Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Armenia and the escalating security threats from Azerbaijan, coupled with the unconscionable pardon by Azerbaijan of a convicted axe murderer, as well as other regional developments, the Assembly urges Congress to ensure robust aid to Armenia and Artsakh,” stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “Moreover, with the latest developments in Syria and Iraq, the Assembly also urges Congress to take immediate action to provide humanitarian relief to the Christian Armenian community there,” Ardouny stated.

After both measures pass their respective chambers, the next step in the legislative process involves the creation of an Appropriations conference committee, whose members will work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill before sending it to the President for him to sign into law.

ARF Western US Regional Convention Elects New Central Committee

June 23, 2014 By administrator

MONTEBELLO—The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States organization during the last two weekends convened its 49th Regional Convention with the participation of 95 delegates and invited guests.

After extensively discussing agenda items dedicated to national and community issues, the Convention, once again emphasized the imperative for bringing together and organizing all forces within the community. The Convention also stressed the need to further direct the work of the youth toward the elevation of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the just demands of the Armenian people, especially on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

At the conclusion of the Convention on Sunday, a new Central Committee was elected for the upcoming two years, comprised of the following: Dr. Viken Hovsepian, Chairman, Vahe Bozoyan, Daron Der-Khachadourian, Mardig Gaboudian, Garo Ispendjian, Bedig Kazandjian, Dr. Ara Khanjian, Vache Thomassian, Esq., Levon Kirakossian, Esq, Koko Topalian and Dr. Viken Yacoubian

Breaking News: U.S. Orders Evacuation of Many Embassy Workers From Baghdad

June 15, 2014 By administrator

Sunday, June 15, 2014 3:58 PM EDT
The American Embassy in Baghdad plans to evacuate a substantial number of its personnel this week in the face of a militant advance that rapidly swept from the north toward the capital, the State Department announced on Sunday.

The embassy, a beige fortress on the banks of the Tigris River within the heavily-secured Green Zone, where Iraqi government buildings are also located, has the largest staff of any United States Embassy.
The exact number of people being evacuated was not clear Sunday. The embassy would remain open, a person familiar with the planning said, and much of its staff of about 5,500 would stay in Baghdad. The American government is expected to call the move a relocation, suggesting that it is a temporary precaution, the person said.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/world/middleeast/embassy.html?emc=edit_na_20140615

Erdogan Angers US Turkish Lobby

June 11, 2014 By administrator

WASHINGTON (Eurasianet)—The annual Washington conference of the American-Turkish Council (ATC), perhaps the best-known group lobbying on behalf of Turkish interests in the United States, is usually an occasion for both sides to boast about the strength and importance of the Turkey-US relationship. This year’s conference, though, turned out to be a showcase for the deep divisions and political dysfunction gripping Turkey.

On June 1, the day the annual conference started, the ATC’s long-time president, former US ambassador to Turkey James Holmes, submitted his resignation along with several other top executives. As reported in the Turkish press, Holmes — whose organization counts among its members numerous corporations, especially in the defense industry — had been feeling some heat from Ankara in connection with the political divisions currently gripping Turkey. In particular, it appears supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) were upset that the ATC had sent out a news bulletin which included articles from Today’s Zaman, the English-language newspaper affiliated with the Gulen movement, which is currently locked in an intense political battle with the AKP.

Moreover, as the pro-government Daily Sabah reports, Holmes further angered AKP supporters when he suggested during a recent conference in Washington that the actions of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were undermining Turkey’s democratization. To show its displeasure with Holmes, Ankara this year refrained from sending any high-level government officials to the ATC’s conference. In turn, the US government also kept its top officials from the event. The result was not only a lackluster gathering, but also another reminder of how Turkey’s domestic political battles are working their way into Washington.

Writing in Milliyet, columnist Asli Aydintasbas, who spoke at the ATC conference, saw the politics surrounding Holmes’s resignation as yet another strike against Ankara’s “already dented” image in Washington. From her column (as translated by Al-Monitor.com):

Someone who was once an influential figure in Turkish-US relations told me, ‘Being a bully may work in Turkey, but not here. ATC is an American organization.’ Another labeled the pressure on Holmes as ‘shameful.’

The most salient comment came from an official who asked, ‘If they make ATC ineffective, how is Turkey going to voice its problems?’

For years, there were three different sources working as a Turkish lobby in Washington. The first was the Israeli lobby. The second was TUSKON [the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey] and extensions of the Gulen movement. The government, after destroying its bridges with these organizations, now blew up its last pillar in Washington.

A night before the meeting was to start, ATC Chairman Holmes quietly submitted his resignation to the executive board, hence the mournful ambiance at the meeting. But I don’t think this story will end here. From what I have heard, neither the US administration nor the giant corporations on the ATC board are happy with Ankara’s pressure.

Delivering the keynote address at the conference was Serdar Kilic, Turkey’s newly arrived ambassador in Washington. Considering the bad taste left behind by the way Holmes was pushed out of his job, it would appear Kilic will have to start his new job doing some damage control work and making sure Turkey’s internal political squabbles stop finding their way to the American capital.

The notorious genocide denier, Top American-Turkish Council ATC officials resign over corruption probe row

June 3, 2014 By administrator

Tolga Tanış WASHINGTON / Hürriyet

Former U.S. ambassador to Turkey Jim Holmes was ATC’s president since 2005.
Top executives of the main bilateral business association between Turkey and the United States, the Washington-based American-Turkish Council (ATC), announced their resignation June 1, following government pressure in the aftermath of the corruption probe.

The council’s president for 11 years and former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Jim Holmes, Deputy Head Canan Büyüküstün and Executive Manager Ayşe Sümer submitted their resignations following Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan’s demand.

The main reason behind the rift was a bulletin that only cited news reports from the website of Today’s Zaman, which were published after the Dec. 17, 2013 probe that implicated four ex-ministers. Today’s Zaman is the English-arm of the main newspaper outlet affiliated with the U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who is accused by the government of orchestrating the prosecutions.

The bulletin overlooking the investigation drew harsh reactions from Cüneyt Zapsu, an executive member of the Turkish-American Business Council (TAİK) and former adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Zapsu conveyed his disturbance to the highest echelons of the TAİK, which is itself affiliated with Turkey’s top trade association, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).

Following Zapsu’s intervention, Holmes’ resignation was requested by Babacan, who traveled twice to Washington in the past two months.

The ATC’s executive board stood behind Holmes in the beginning, but surrendered to the growing pressure after officials from both Turkey and the U.S. snubbed the council’s annual congress this month, leading to Holmes announcing his resignation on June 1, along with Büyüküstün and Sümer. Top figures such as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Army Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey had attended the ATC’s congress in previous years, while this year the highest level officials present at the event were the White House’s Trade Representative and the Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy undersecretary.

Both Zapsu and the Prime Ministry’s press office have declined to comment on the resignations.

The government had responded to the investigation by carrying out massive purges within the judiciary, police and bureaucracy.

June/03/2014

Source: hurriyet daily news.com

Corruption scandal in U.S.: Azerbaijani lobby pays for resolution that failed in Tennessee

May 16, 2014 By administrator

U.S. state Rep. Joe Towns is accused of receiving bribes from the Azerbaijani side for promoting resolution supporting Azerbaijan, reports the American Channel 5.

As the TV channel notes, an oil-rich, predominantly Muslim country — where Eastern Europe meets western Asia — Azerbaijan has been involved in a decades-old dispute with the predominantly Christian country of Armenia over territory that both countries claim.

Towns said he agreed to introduce the resolution because Azerbaijan is a U.S. ally. In the same time he assures that he knew nothing about the conflict between these two countries.

Armenian immigrant Barry Barsoumian said the Azerbaijani are trying to change history by going around different states in the United States passing resolutions. Barsoumian discovered Towns’ resolution and could not believe anyone would ask a Tennessee lawmaker to help a country known for its human rights abuses and whose leader is seen as one of the world’s most corrupt. “I asked him (Towns-edt.) if it was Azerbaijani Embassy. He denied it,” Barsoumian recalled.

News Channel 5 Investigates looked at Towns’ campaign reports and discovered he introduced the resolution just two weeks after he got a total of $10,000 in campaign contributions from people out of Texas with ties to the Azerbaijani community.

The TV Channel found out that in Texas, Houston, a Turkish-Azerbaijani cultural center operated which connects people who had made donations for Towns’ campaign. Congressman himself denies that these people asked him to promote a pro-Azerbaijani legislative initiative.

According to the journalists of the TV Channel it is suspicious that people who live in an apartment in one of Houston’s roughest neighborhoods donated money. Towns couldn’t give answer to this question either.

“When Towns’ resolution came up in committee, members of the Armenian community had already lobbied other lawmakers to kill the bill. The resolution never even got a vote — a strange end to what some consider a strange piece of legislation,” the article reads.

Some of the contributors appear to have connections to groups who’ve taken Tennessee officials on free trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Towns was supposed to go on one of those trips last year, but he wasn’t able to go.

“Still, he did sponsor another House resolution that essentially accused Armenia of war crimes. That resolution actually passed the House on a 93-0 vote. So why would Azerbaijan care about what the Tennessee House thinks about world affairs? It appears to be part of an orchestrated PR campaign to show that world opinion is on their side,” the TV channel sums up.

Source: Panorama.am