Month: March 2007

It is necessary to counter the active Turkish-Azeri propaganda
Editorial

Yerkir.am
March 16, 2007

Representatives of Moscow, Canada, Cyprus, Scandinavian and South
American Hay Dat Offices stated at the press conference held yesterday
in Urbat (Friday) Club that the Hay Dat Offices in the countries they
represent are trying to counter the increasingly active Turkish-Azeri
propaganda.

However, the assistance of the Armenian government to raise the
efficiency of the Hay Dat Offices’ work is needed, representative of
the Hay Dat Moscow Office Yura Navoyan stated.

`It is necessary to create a state coordinating council,’ Navoyan
said. He believes the ambassadors representing Armenia in foreign
states should be more active. Participants of ARF’s Hay Dat conference
met representatives of the Armenian Foreign Ministry and an agreement
was reached to work in this direction.

Aris Papikian representing Canada also spoke about the necessity to
further activate the ambassadors. The ambassadors of Turkey and
Azerbaijan in Canada exceed the limits of their authority as
ambassadors and actively participate in anti-Armenian initiatives
organized by the Turkish-Azeri community.

Canada recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2006 but it is still
necessary to counter the denial propaganda launched by the
Turkish-Azeri community. The Hay Dat Office in Canada recently managed
to prevent an anti-Armenian conference.

In the countries that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide
the Hay Dat Offices work on different levels supporting the Karabagh
issue, Javakhq, activation of economic and political relations with
Armenia.

Representative of Hay Dat Office in Scandinavian countries Syuzan
Khardalian noted that their Office’s work is very difficult especially
in Sweden since the Armenian community is not very large. She also
pointed out these countries ‘ support for Turkey that has historical
roots. Khardalian said the Armenians that came to Sweden from Armenia
are not very active as opposed to the Azeris that came to Sweden from
Azerbaijan and Iran.

Hakob Manukian representing the Hay Dat Office in Cyprus noted that
their Office is not facing the task of Genocide recognition. `Cyprus
is one of the first countries that recognized the Genocide. Our work
today is aimed at lobbying through the European Parliament for all
issues connected with Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh,’ Manukian said
adding that one of their goals is activation of political, economic
and cultural ties between Armenia and Cyprus.

Gevorg Dolmajian representing the Hay Dat Office in South America
noted that as opposed to Sweden, there are old Armenian communities in
Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. These communities have worked actively
to support the Hay Dat cause. `The greatest success of the recent
years was recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Argentinean
President that gave the Genocide recognition the force of a law,’
Dolmajian said.

Are the efforts to counter the Turkish-Azeri propaganda successful? If
yes, what are the problems the Armenian lobbying structures are
facing? Khardalian representing the Hay Dat Office in the Scandinavian
countries noted that the Armenian lobbying organizations have learned
working like the Hay Dat Offices. `We should not forget about the huge
resources that the Turkish and Azeri communities have. So we have
reasons to worry, but we should create the necessary structures to be
able to work actively,’ Khardalian noted.

Yura Navoyan also believes that there is no reason for panicking:
every state is trying to protect its interests. `Azerbaijan is doing
so at the state level, working through its embassies. We also need a
comprehensive state program that would allow us to coordinate our
efforts,’ Navoyan said.

Papikian noted that the Hay Dat Offices have one advantage. `We have
the just cause and we believe in it. The Turks and Azeris are doing
this for the sake of their profit while we have firm beliefs and
principles.’

Representatives of Hay Dat Offices spoke about the relations between
the Armenian communities and other minorities in the countries they
represent. They all noted that the relations with other ethnic
minorities are very active. Papikian pointed out the close
cooperation with the Kurdish, Greek and Jewish communities in
Canada. Khardalian pointed out the cooperation with the Assyrian
community in Sweden.

By Karine MANGASSARIAN

Ceremony of Iran-Armenia Gas Line’s Putting Into Operation to Be Held in
Armenia Today

Arminfo
2007-03-19 12:46:00

Ceremony of Iran-Armenia gas line’s putting into operation will be
held today with participation of the Armenian and Iranian Presidents.

The fist 40-km section of the gas line from Meghri to Kajaran has
already been built. Armenia will be able to receive to 450 mln cub m
of gas per year by this gas line section till 2008. Later on, with the
increase of the gas line’s transmission capacity from Kajaran to
Ararat, the volumes of the Iranian gas supplies may grow to 2,3 bln
cub m per year. During a solemn ceremony of the gas line’s opening,
Armenia and Iran intend to sign an interstate agreement on
construction of a boundary Hydropower plant on Araks river, as well as
to discuss other projects in energy. The total length of Iran- Armenia
gas line makes up 141 km. For construction of the first section of gas
line, the Iranian side had given a credit to Armenia to the sum of
$28,2 mln with an interest rate of Libor+2 and the repayment term
within 5 years since the gas line’s commissioning. Armenia will pay
off the gas by electric energy supplies on the basis of 3 kWh per 1
cub m of natural gas. It is envisaged that the right of the gas line’s
operation will be transferred to the "ArmRosgazprom" Armenian- Russian
CJSC that presently carries out the works for increase of this gas
line’s transmission capacity.

The joint Armenian-French film `Parajanov – the last collage’ will be
presented at the Film Festival of the International Francophonie
Organisation (OIF) in Romania

Arminfo
2007-03-17 14:20:00

The joint Armenian-French film "Parajanov – the last collage" will be
presented at the International Film Festival of the International
Francophonie Organisation (OIF) in Romania – that is chairing in the
organization from 2006 till 2008.

Press service of Foreign Ministry reported ArmInfo that the Festival
will start in Bucharest – the capital of Romania – on 14 March. The
Armenian film is presented at the Festival by Armenia’s Embassy to
Romania.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRI PRESIDENT DOES NOT ARRIVE YET AT OPENING CEREMONY OF IRAN-ARMENIA
GAS PIPELINE BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS

MEGHRI, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The opening ceremony of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline which was scheduled for early March 19, did
not take place yet, as of 12:30: the IRI President did not arrive yet
in Meghri because of bad weather conditions.

As Sahak Abrahamian, the Director of the High-Voltage Power Lines
company mentioned, Iranian gas supply with a normal regime will start
in few months, and regulation and testing works of the gas pipeline
are in process at the present. It was also mentioned that 33 mln
U.S. dollars were spent for building of the Armenian side of the gas
pipeline with 711 mm in diameter and 40 km long. The Armenian side
gave 15% of the money: the Export Development Bank of Iran gave the
rest, as 5-year creadit with 5% a year.

To recap, the Iranian gas will mainly be sent to thermal power plants
the electric energy produced where must be exported to Iran. Besides,
owing to the gas pipeline the Agarak and Meghri population will also
be supplied gas. The Russian side will continue supplying gas in other
territories of Armenia.

Ara Simonian, the RA Deputy Minister of Energy mentioned that 400 mln
cubic metre gas will be brought to Armenia by the pipeline during the
initial period of time, and at the end of the program, that is, in 20
years, this volume will reach 2.3 bln cubic metre. He also mentioned
that the HayRusGasArd company has already started works on increasing
capacity of the gas pipeline. In the words of HayRusGasArd chief
engineer Ara Hovsepian, about 150 mln U.S. dollars will be spent on
increasing capacity of the Kajaran-Ararat part of the gas pipeline. It
is envisaged to complete those works in late 2008. He mentioned that
the goal of increasing capacity of the gas pipeline is not export of
gas from Armenia but meeting of personal demands.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF FRANCE IS SURE THAT IN EU-TURKEY RELATIONS
ANKARA MUST BE GIVEN STATUS OF "PRIVILEGED PARTNER"

PARIS, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "I am sure that Turkey
did not completely fulfilled the obligations undertaken in fron the of
the European Union yet," Segolene Royal, the French Socialist Party
candidate for the president stated, adding that it is necessary to
temporarily stop the process of widening Europe, to better organize
the works.

As the Turkish Jihan information agency states, Royal emphasized that
in the relations with the European Union, Ankara must be given status
of "privileged partner," but not "such a type of cooperation which
will result the Union to Turkey’s complete partnership."

DIALOGUE WITHOUT LIMITS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Among the main reasons hampering
cooperation between RA state structures and media is not only
"government’s unwillingness" to provide information, but also low
level of journalists’ preparedness. Karen Bekarian, political
commentator, Chairman of European Integration NGO, expressed such
opinion at the international conference Dialogue Without Limits held
on March 17 in Yerevan. The conference was organized within the
framework of British Council’s program Role of Media in the Process of
Covering Government with the support of Great Britain’s government and
UNDP Yerevan Office.

In the words of RA MP Gegham Manukian, Armenia has unique state
structures having specialized information, PR centers and services. At
the same time he stated that in the issue of improving cooperation
between state structures and media one should consider the role of not
only government, but also media.

As Arevik Abrahamian, head of British Council’s management programs,
informed journalists, the goal of the conference is to discuss
efficient mechanisms of cooperation jointly with state structures,
representatives of media and NGOs and international experts (Great
Britain, Greece, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Iran-Armenia gas pipeline inaugurated

ArmRadio.am
19.03.2007 15:00

RA President Robert Kocharyan declared today that `despite unfavorable
weather conditions the President of Iran arrived in Meghri to
participate in the opening ceremony of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
and it speaks about the level of our relations.’

Because of bad weather conditions no official speeches were delivered
during the opening ceremony of the pipeline, "Radiolur" correspondent
reports from Meghri.

Robert Kocharyan noted that the agreement on jointly opening the
pipeline was reached during his last official visit to Tehran.

Currently the joint press conference of Robert Kocharyan and Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad is under way in Meghri.

LEVON ARONIAN AND VLADIMIR KRAMNIK HEAD MONTE CARLO INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

MONTE CARLO, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The speed and blind chess
international tournament started on March 17 in Monte Carlo. Levon
Aronian (Armenia) and Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) got 3.5 points from 4
possible ones and head the tournament table.

To recap, L.Aronian first of all won Francisco Vallejo (Spain) with a
score of 2:0, then Peter Leko (Hungary) with a score of 1.5:0.5.

US Administration submits a report to the House of Representatives

ArmRadio.am
19.03.2007 16:13

The US Administration prepared a report and submitted it to the
members of the House of Representatives. The report says that if the
Armenian Genocide resolution is passed, it will be a serious blow to
the US, Cumhuriyet Turkish newspaper reports. The report said, in
part, "Turkey is the partner of JSF project, the new generation war
plane. Turkey will buy 106 planes, and the project is worth 10 billion
USD. Turkey will purchase 30 new F-16 war jets in return for 1.65
billion USD. More than 200 F-16s are being renovated in return for 1.6
billion USD. Turkey will buy 1.3 billion USD of air defense system in
2007. Turkish army wants 52 helicopters to be used against the
terrorist organization PKK, and Black Hawk is one of the
alternatives. Turkey will purchase 21-26 million USD of zeppelins from
the US to fight against infiltration of terrorists from Iraq".

As for the cooperation in Iraq, the report said, "Turkey opened
Incirlik Base to the US, there are 22 US war planes there. Turkey
admitted 16 US war ships in its ports, and nine of them are supplying
goods to the troops in Iraq, while seven of them are transporting
oil. 25% of the oil used by US troops in Iraq is sent from Habur. 60
percent of the air cargo sent to the US troops in Iraq passes through
Incirlik Base."

PanArmenian News Network, Armenia
March 19 2007

Shahan Kandaharian:
Armenian people to benefit from dual citizenship

The Near East has always been the center of the Armenian Diaspora.
Armenians who survived the Genocide in 1915 found shelter here. The
Armenian community of Lebanon is one of the oldest and weighty ones
throughout the Diaspora. Shahan Kandaharian, the Editor-in-Chief of
Azdak Beirut-based newspaper, comments to PanARMENIAN.Net on the life
of the community and situation in Lebanon.
19.03.2007 GMT+04:00

The law on dual citizenship has been recently adopted in Armenia.
What’s the attitude of the Diaspora about it?

The debates on the law on dual citizenship were focused in the
`classic’ Armenian Diaspora residing in the Near East, specifically
in Lebanon. As a matter of fact, this document is of utmost
importance for Armenians who were deprived of homeland. The law will
restore historical justice and a proper approach to the Diaspora. The
former authorities prohibited dual citizenship over political
reasons. Nowadays, the Armenianhood being dispersed throughout the
globe has been offered a new outlook. We will join our efforts and
the Diaspora will possess a document proving its existence at the
international level. We, the people living beyond our fatherland,
will know that our children will be citizens of Armenia. However, the
discussion develops in two directions. First, you shouldn’t forget
that many people left Armenia during the recent years and adoption of
the law will help them to restore or maintain Armenian citizenship.
Second, the issue also needs consideration from the viewpoint of the
European Neighborhood Policy. Armenia is integrating into European
structures and the law must meet European standards. I suppose,
neither of the EU member states bans dual citizenship. Thus,
proceeding from the interests of the nation and the state, I am
convinced that we all will benefit from the adoption of the law.

How would you comment on the role of the Diasporan press?

The activities of the Diasporan press have always been targeted at
maintenance of nation and language. However, there are some urgent
problems that need to be spoken about. It’s not a secret that press
is experiences hard times. New alternative media structures fill in
the information space with comments and reviews. Furthermore, the
number of readers decreases. Under the circumstances the mission of
the Armenian press should be changed. With the help of electronic
media information is quick to reach the audience. Three Armenian
dailies are issued in Lebanon. These are Azdak (ARF Dashnaktsutyun),
Zartonk (Ramkavar-Azatakan party) and Ararat (Hnchakyan party). When
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Lebanon we
published a joint number dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. We also
protested the presence of Turkish peacekeepers in Lebanon.

The war in Lebanon is over but the country is far from living in
peace. Comment, please, on the life of the Armenian community of
Beirut and other Armenian-inhabited towns.

When speaking of the Armenian community of Lebanon I should first of
all refer to the post war situation and international political
crisis. Although the Armenian population was safe, the deep political
crisis, the strike of the opposition and absence of dialogue between
the government and opposition arouse concern. The community, like the
other people, experiences hard economic circumstances. However, we
are accustomed to hardships, During 17 years of civil war our people
were among those who laid down their lives in struggle, but were are
strong enough to recover. The Armenian community of Lebanon is
special. The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, the
Armenian Evangelical Church, numerous Diasporan centers and head
offices of Diasporan organizations are situated in this country.
Despite difficulties and losses the community is firm. Beirut is the
capital of the Armenian Diaspora, we say.

Would you describe the current situation in Lebanon, please?

The current situation is complex and unstable. The authorities are in
severe confrontation with the opposition. Muslims shiites refused to
join the coalition government. The Armenian political parties
sometimes disagree on the Lebanese problems as well, but,
traditionally, Armenian organizations are wise enough to distinguish
Lebanese problems from Armenian national problems and reach a common
ground on the issues, especially if the matter concern security of
the community.

«PanARMENIAN.Net», 19.03.2007