Lev7

nice site

To watch the video, go to: http://www.theforgotten.org/soad

I doubt Turkey will economically enter the EU that soon, they will have their shitty lira for a long time

By JAN SLIVA, Associated Press Writer STRASBOURG, France - The European Parliament, frustrated over Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus, postponed a vote Wednesday to ratify Ankara's customs union with the EU, a requirement for membership in the 25-member bloc. ADVERTISEMENT click here In another step certain to anger the Turkish government days ahead of scheduled EU membership talks, lawmakers called on Ankara to recognize the 1915-23 killings of Armenians as genocide. The lawmakers issued a nonbinding resolution saying recognition of the killings as genocide should be a prerequisite for Turkey to join the EU. Ankara vehemently denies that genocide was carried out on Armenians as the Ottoman Empire collapsed, saying Armenians who rose in rebellion and sided with Russian invaders were killed along with Turks in intercommunal fighting. The EU Parliament voted 311-285, with 63 abstentions, to postpone the customs union ratification ballot. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately dismissed the parliament's resolution. "It does not matter whether they took such a decision or not. We will continue on our way," private CNN-Turk television quoted Erdogan as saying. The delay will have no effect on the starting date on negotiations for Turkey's accession to the EU, scheduled for Oct. 3. The assembly already postponed a vote earlier this month when its foreign affairs committee said the customs union would not work because Turkey still would not allow Cyprus to use its ports or airports. In July, Turkey signed an agreement to widen its customs union with the EU to include Cyprus and nine other new EU members. But the government also said its signature did not amount to recognition of the Cypriot government. EU governments last week warned that failure to recognize Cyprus could paralyze Turkey's EU entry talks. The customs union agreement with all 25 EU member states is a key condition for Turkey's bid to join the bloc. "The Turkish government has accepted the customs union protocol but at the same time has refused to recognize Cyprus. It's logically and politically unacceptable," European People's Party chairman Hans-Gert Poettering said before asking the assembly to postpone the vote. Cyprus has been divided since a 1974 abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece prompted an invasion by Turkish troops. Turkey still occupies the north of the island in support of a breakaway Turkish-Cypriot government. Ankara does not recognize the Greek-Cypriot government in the south.

wow, history in making.

well, let them swim in their lies, they know the world does not buy bs like that

make it number 19 this year

so when is the house vote, anyone know?

Kece Ankax Hayastani!

How did it not vanish for 80 something years when there was no Armenia during the SU? The important is not Armenia, but the Armenian spirit, Armenians can create Armenia in any part of the world. I saw a tv program about Armenains and it said that somewhere in Africa, sorry I forgot the place, one Armenian was living and he decided to build a church, just for himself

good stuff

yeap I totally agree

You people live in some fary land. The only reason Armenia is at least somewhat better than lets say 5-6 years ago is the investment from Diaspora, mainly the money from Lincy foundation, which literally re-constructed the whole Yerevan and construction, new roads, new buildings always lead to economic surge. But this will not continue forever if something else is done. If the whole Armenian economy is controlled by a handful people, this means that there is something wrong with this scenario. Try importing sugar into Armenia, you will get killed the next day. Kocharyan and the whole government is controlled by the mafia, which consists of several families. This is not right! Yes, Armenia got better, but please do not say that Kocharyan is best for Armenia now, when you say this you automatically make people quesiton your intelligence or your understanding whats really going on over there. If Armenia was ruled with people with western education and mentality Armenia would be a much prosperous country than it is now, where you either have to steal, lie or bribe someone to make a buck. As Aaron said, yes Kocharyan was in Karabagh during the hard times, good for him what can I say, but this does not mean that he is a good president. Monte Melkonian left his sunny California and fought in the Karabagh war, but this does not mean we should make him a president. Armenia needs order and needs to end its corruption and under Kocharyan or under any of his people I do not see this ever happening!

I think you should go to Armenia and live there then we will see how would you describe the current leaders! I am not saying people like me should rule Armenia, if I became the president, I will put most of the politicians and leaders in jail lol Kocharyan and his goons ride in expensive cars, eat in expensive restaraunts, their sons do whatever they want without getting punished on the expense of the poor people who are still waiting for the conditions to improve over there. Soon they won't be anyone left there, just those greedy idiots. It is easy to look blindly on every difficulty that the Armenian people have to face each day with $30 a month on average income sitting in your warm place.

Look at Mikhail Saakasvilli, how he transformed Georgia, there is no more taking bribes by the police and corruption is considered a serious crime there now. I have friends in Tbilisi and they say that lots of things changed there since he came to rule towards the better.

pffft, pleeease, respect for leaders that rob and milk the country like it is their own business. I do not deny that Kocharyan and Co. are smart, but they grow in power in expense of poor Armenian people, most of them live below the poverty level. With so much diaspora money pouring in the country you will think the country should prosper by now. First of all Kocharyan should create a comfortable conditions for foreign investment, diaspora Armenians are afraid to invest money there, since they see how many people got burned by the crooks over there. Corruption must end there and the only way is get all those crooks out of there and replace them with well off people from here that are not doing it for the money but for the Armenian people!

I think the diaspora will rule Armenia much better than those current idiots, like Kocharyan that hinder Armenia's development. Armenia needs people with western education, people who have different mentality and different approach to things. What do everyone think on this matter?

I think so too, a 10 page article in the Vanity Fair is no small potatoes

Which means more wealthy Armenians in the U.S. should be involved in this issue. Then when you have lots of money and power and also the truth, there is no stopping

so when is the house floor vote? Some turkish website claims it is next thursday Zaman Online, Turkey By Foreign News Desk Published: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 zaman.com Two drafts aiming at recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide will be on the agenda of the US House of Representatives on Thursday. Turks in America launched a message campaign over the draft expected to be presented to the voting of the members after discussion in the International Relations Committee. Former National Security Adviser Ret. Gen. Brent Scowcroft called the House Chair, Dennis Hastert, to "bring the drafts to the agenda." Scowcroft, also the chairman of the American Turkish Council, wrote a letter to Hastert regarding that the drafts were against the interest of the US as well, he warned that approval of the drafts would create serious consequences. Armenian President Robert Kocharian should response to the olive branch offered by Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayip Erdogan, said Scowcroft, as he added that historians should find answers to such issues. Such drafts encourage those who try to keep Turkey away from the West, he added. The House Chair, Hastert, has full authorization to bring the drafts expected to be passed by International Relations Committee to the general assembly. Hastert previously prevented a similar draft from coming to the agenda. However, the attitude that will be taken by the Bush administration is also important at this point. The draft in question is almost the same as the one presented five years ago. With the intervention of the US President in term back then, Bill Clinton, Hastert did not bring the draft to the general assembly at the last moment.

300 for or against?

I think it says about the amendment in the anca press release: http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_r...es.php?prid=813

very well said

All I can say shame on the Jewish lobby and Israel for not only denying the Genocide but also helping to stop its recognition. But thats ok now even Jews can't save Turkey's lies. Truth always prevails!

Back then yes it was wrong time without having a strong army to back their calls for independence. Sorry I thought you said that it was wrong to mess with the lion back then and it is wrong now. I probably misunderstood what you meant to say. Anyways, who cares about Lantos or what his flip flopping might do to Armenians, important thing is that it passed and lets now focus on the next step towards the official recognition.