Month: March 2007

SENATE PANEL TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION CONDEMNING MURDER OF HRANT DINK TOMORROW

armradio.am
05.03.2007 11:27

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to consider legislation,
authored by the panel’s chairman Joe Biden (D-DE), condemning the
murder of Hrant Dink, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

The resolution, S.Res.65, specifically mentions that Hrant Dink "was
prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for speaking
about the Armenian Genocide," and urges the Turkish government to
repeal this anti-free speech law. It will be "marked up" by the
Committee on Tuesday, March 6th at 2:15 pm.

ANCA activists in the 21 states with Senators on the Committee
are encouraging support for S.Res.65 through phone calls, faxes,
and meetings.

They are also reminding the Senate offices that Hrant Dink’s brutal
murder is a wake up call for the US Senate to pass legislation formally
recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide.

VLADIMIR KARAPETYAN: THE ARMENIAN SIDE IS POSITIVE ABOUT THE MEETING OF FMS IN GENEVA

armradio.am
05.03.2007 16:02

Responding to ArmInfo question about Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov’s concern over the forthcoming meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, acting press secretary of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Karapetyan said: "Negotiations
take place between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
and the Armenian side is positively disposed. I would not like
to comment on sentimental statements of one of the members of he
Azerbaijani delegation."

According to Day.az., the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan
declared about his "serious concern" to ANS CM radio station. In
Azimov’s words, "the talks between the Foreign Ministers of the two
countries were unproductive." "If the negotiations continue this way,
I don’t know what we shall be discussing in Geneva. I think the Azeri
side is leaving for Geneva with a sense of anxiety," he noted.

Let us remind that the meeting of the Foreign Ministers is due on
March 13-14 in Geneva.

It’s worth mentioning that Araz Azimov’s statement is kind of strange,
taking into consideration that Elmar Mammadyarov was the first to
declare about his willingness to meet with Vartan Oskanian in Geneva.

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS ACHIEVE THREE GOLD MEDALS IN TASHKENT

armradio.am
05.03.2007 14:55

Armenian Greek-Roman style wrestlers Arman Adikyan (66 kg) and Yuri
Patrikeev (120 kg) became winners of the international Grand Prix
Tournament in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Arman Geghamyan (96
kg) achieved a silver medal, Denis Forov (84 kg) got a bronze medal.

The chief trainer of the Armenian team is Olympic Champion Levon
Julfalakyan.

Armenian free-style wrestlers did not perform that well in the same
tournament. The only winner from the Armenian team was Vadim Laliyev
(74 kg), Mihran Jaburyan occupied the 5th place.

The chief trainer of the Armenian free-style wrestling team is Hrant
Yenokyan.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH CONDOLEEZZA RICE

armradio.am
06.03.2007 10:33

March 5 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who is paying an official
visit to the United States, met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice.

During the meeting issues related to bilateral relations were
discussed. The role of the Millennium Challenge Program for the
reduction of rural poverty in Armenia was emphasized.

The interlocutors also turned to the forthcoming parliamentary
election in Armenia and stressed the importance of conducting these
in compliance with international standards.

Reference was made to regional questions, the current state of
Armenian-Turkish relations and US mediation in the direction of
normalization of these.

The parties exchanged views on the latest developments and perspectives
of the negotiations over the Karabakh conflict resolution.

FRENCH CO-CHAIR OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP ARRIVING IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
06.03.2007 11:54

French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier will arrive
in Yerevan tonight. Armenpress was told at the French Embassy in
Armenia that on March 7 Bernard Fassier is scheduled to meet with RA
President Robert Kocharyan and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

After the meetings the Co-Chair will leave Yerevan for Baku.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN MET WITH GEGHARKUNIK MARZPET

armradio.am
05.03.2007 17:55

During today’s working meeting RA President Robert Kocharyan and
Gegharkunik Marzpet ArsenGrigoryan discussed the socio-economic
situation in the region.

Speaking about the works carried out in 2006 and the deeds for 2007,
the interlocutors referred to the school-building, water supply and
other programs financed by the state budget, the Linsi and other
foundations. The Marzpet presented the process of accomplishment of
the President’s instructions about the community budget executions.

Reference was made also to the problems Sevan National Park faces. The
President instructed to investigate the information about illegal
constructions and ring these to the legal field through court.

THE CHURCH OF AKHTAMAR HAS NO CROSS YET

armradio.am
06.03.2007 12:33

"Construction or renovation of the Church completes only when the
cross is placed," RA Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
Gagik Gyurjyan told Armenpress, commenting on the recent disagreements
in Turkey connected with placing the cross on the Holy Cross Church
of Akhtamar.

Currently the Turkish Ministry of Culture is discussing the question
of placing a cross on the Church of the Holy Cross. The Deputy Culture
Minister is confident that the Turkish side will not oppose the idea
of placing a cross on the Church, since it is compulsory for Armenian
Churches. Besides, there are a number of Armenian Churches in Istanbul,
which carry a cross.

When starting the reconstruction of the Church, the Armenian side
presented its suggestions.

One architect and one bricklayer from Armenia participated in the
reconstruction works.

Gagik Gyurjyan informed also that RA Minister of Culture and Youth
Affairs has not received an official invitation from the Turkish side
to attend the opening ceremony of the Church on March 29.

ARMENIA DISCONTENT WITH TURKISH LOBBYIST ACTIVITY IN THE US CONGRESS

armradio.am
06.03.2007 13:30

Armenia expressed discontent connected with the lobbyist activity
of Turkey in the US Congress against the adoption of the resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Before the meetings with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
Congressmen RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian noted that "Governments
should not intervene in these affairs, but when the question refers
to Armenia’s interests, we cannot keep from interfering especially
in light of the Turkish lobbyist activity on the state level."

Currently the resolution on the Armenian Genocide is being discussed
in the Congress Foreign Relations Committee.

YAN PORTERFIELD NEEDS TO BE OPERATED ON

armradio.am
06.03.2007 13:40

Chief Coach of the Armenian national football team Yan Porterfield
needs to be operated on as soon as possible. In a result of examination
in the hospitals of Armenia, the doctors revealed cancer of the
large intestine.

Press Service of RA Football Federation told ArmInfo that it’s not
known yet how much tie will be needed for treatment of the chief
coach. Only after the clarification of these terms it will be possible
to speak about Yan Porterfield’s working programs with the Armenian
national team.

AZERBAIJAN IS READY TO OFFICIALLY ADDRESS BRUSSELS WITH REQUEST ON MEMBERSHIP IN NATO

arminfo
2007-03-06 12:50:00

Azerbaijan is in principle ready to officially address Brussels with
request regarding its membership in NATO, "Zerkalo" Baku daily had
become aware from the informed diplomatic sources. According to the
source, official Baku does not hurry in this direction since it has
serious reasons.

The point is that after a official address, if a positive decision
is made at the next Summit of NATO, the sides will have to pass
to a regime of intensive dialogue. This period lasts from three
to five years. The problem is that the NATO, at the stage of an
intensive dialogue, does not provide its member candidates with
security guarantees. However, according to the source, the function
of Azerbaijan’s security guarantee may be assumed by another NATO
country, Turkey, by approbation of Washington. The source noted that
active negotiations are being held in this direction.

According to it, a package of agreements on a military-political
cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is being prepared on one
hand, and between Turkey and Georgia – on the other hand. The source
noted that Brussels is irritated not only at the delay of the official
address by Baku but also at the fact that Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia,
does not fulfill, even by halves, the engagements it assumed within
the frames of the Program of Individual Cooperation with NATO.