Month: April 2007

KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION POSSIBLE THROUGH PEACEFUL TALKS, PABRIKS SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2007 16:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Latvia strongly supports the existing activities
of the OSCE and the Minsk Group.

It is clear that a sustainable resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and peaceful
negotiations," Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks said.

When commenting on Lithuania’s initiatives on cooperation of the
Baltic countries and South Caucasus in 3+3 format, Mr Pabriks said,
"The context of regional cooperation is a very important issue. The
Baltic States have achieved many goals only by means of our trilateral
coordination and joint efforts.

Cooperation between the Baltic States and the South Caucasus is
an existing reality. I believe the institutionalization of our
cooperation is not a main goal. We should continue and deepen our
existing cooperation and mechanism of consultations between the two
regions in mutually essential spheres and international issues,"
Trend reports.

"FORGOTTEN MEMORIES" CONFERENCES TO START WITH ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2007 17:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A series of conferences named "Forgotten Memories –
project of a Righteous People Garden in Torino" will enable a period of
reflection for Torino citizens preceding the building of the Garden,
in an area named "Pian del Lot". Such a garden will be made of 36
parts in reference to the biblical story of the 36 Righteous People,
Mr Pasquale Totaro, the project initiator told PanARMENIAN.Net.

This project was signed by many associations, committees, foundations,
universities and researchers will be illustrated through a series
of conferences, each of them about one among 36 genocides or crimes
against the Humanity, occurred from the beginning of the 20th Century,
with special references to "The Righteous People". The meetings will
be realized with the financial contribution of VSSP and of Regione
Piemonte.

The first conference will be dedicated to the Armenian Genocide and
will be the first path of the Garden.

This will take place next 4 May 2007 at 20.45 in the "Salone Conferenze
del VSSP" in Via Toselli n°1, Torino.

Speakers: Dr Pietro Kuciukian (Unione Armeni d’Italia), Professor
Annamaria Samuelli (Comitato Foresta dei Giusti), Dr Roberto Tricarico
(Deputy Mayor in charge with Garden of Torino Community), Dr Giampiero
Leo (ex deputy mayor in charge of culture for Regione Piemonte)
and Pasquale Totaro, conceiving the project.

–Boundary_(ID_LAng+vrFfMSNgjnrpCaR3A)–

TURKEY’S BEING MUSLIM STATE NOT A CAUSE FOR EU REJECTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2007 18:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Rene van der Linden, President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, welcomes the moves Turkey undertakes
for joining the EU. During a news conference in Strasbourg today he
said the EU doesn’t consists of Christians only and Turkey’s being
a Muslim state is not a cause for EU’s rejection. The PACE President
also voiced content with his visit to Cyprus and a clearer vision of
the problem existing between the North and Greek Cyprus.

He said he requested TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat for a visit to
the Council of Europe, Trend reports.

WILL GEORGIA BE INVITED TO NATO IN 2008?

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2007 18:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO summit in 2008 will be significant for Georgia
which will be offered a plan for joining the organization, Polish
President Lech Kaczynski told a news conference in Tbilisi. The summit
is likely to be held in Lisbon, he said.

"We support Georgia’s aspiration to NATO and cooperation with the
EU," Lech Kaczynski said. "During a meeting with President Mikhael
Saakashvili we also referred to cooperation in the military sector
and development of neighbor relations," he added.

When a state is aspired to NATO there should be no obstacles for
cooperation in the military field, especially when we speak about
Georgia. This country represent no danger," he said, New Region
reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMPLETE DESTABILIZATION THREATENS THE REGION IN CASE TURKEY INVADES NORTHERN IRAQ

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2007 GMT+04:00

Iraqi Kurdistan is almost the only province of the country the
Americans do not have to worry for.

Turkey’s probable invasion of Northern Iraq threatens the country
with serious economic crisis and with chaos in the already troublesome
region. In case of Turkish Army’s invasion of Iraq the US will simply
lose control over the situation, something which America will not
let happen. The latest announcement made by the Chief of the Turkish
General Staff Yashar Buyukanit was an obvious hint at the possibility
of launching a military operation at the border of the Iraqi Kurdistan.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "It is necessary for the Turkish Army to implement
military intervention at the bordering regions in the Northern part
of Iraq, to break down the oppositions sheltering Kurdish militants
there. If I am asked, whether or not such operation is needed to carry
out, I will say it is," said the General. The newspaper Cumhurriyet is
certain that for its own security Turkey needs to invade Northern Iraq.

The official Ankara’s motivation; that is the fight against terrorists
from the Kurdish Worker’s Party, which Turkey has been waging since
1984, looks rather convincing. Yet to this day the annihilation
of the Kurdish people has been realized on Turkish territory
mainly. Presently, struggle against the founders of "The Great
Kurdistan" got beyond the bounds of the country.

The US tries its best to prevent Turkey’s invasion on Northern Iraq
controlled by the Kurds. The representatives of Bush Administration
has lately been assuring Turkey, that American troops will put more
pressure on the militants of the Kurdish Worker’s Party, sheltering
on Kandil mountains at the borders of Iraq, Iran and Turkey.

The US agrees upon the plan on holding a referendum in Kirkuk,
province in Northern Iraq. Turkey suspects, that Iraqi Kurds aim at
taking control over Kirkuk, as a prelude to the establishment of the
Independent Kurdistan. General Joseph Ralston, U.S. special envoy for
countering the Kurdish problem, considers that the possibility of the
Turkish military operation is growing. "We have come to a critical
point, where the pressure of the Kurdish Worker’s Party’s continuing
attacks brought to a gigantic public pressure on the Turkish government
with the request of launching the military operation. When snow melts
on the mountains, we will see whether or not the Party will recommence
attacks and what the Turkish government’s reaction will be. I hope,
that Turkey will remain on our side," the Guardian writes.

Iraqi Kurdistan is almost the only province in the country the
Americans do not have to worry for – there is no opposition getting
on the way of the multinational army, no bloody clashes between Sunnis
and Shiites.

However it should not be forgotten, that the "rebirth" of the mythical
"Great Kurdistan", including parts of Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria and
even a small region in Armenia, may start right from this point. It is
not surprising, that "a small region in Armenia" is always included
in the plans of the establishment of any "Great" state. Kurds are
not alone in their intentions; Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia make
claims on the Armenian territories too. In its "condemnations" of
the possible invasion of the Turkish army into Northern Iraq most
likely Armenia is guided by one main principle; my enemy’s enemy is
my ally, however it should not be forgotten that the Turks committed
the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the very Kurds.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

ARMENIA’S PRIORITY IS NOT RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE BUT OPENING OF BORDER WITH TURKEY
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
17/04/2007

The issues of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and of the
adoption of the Resolution by the US Congress remain the most important
topics of discussions in Ankara, capital of Turkey, in despite of
threatening statements of Masoud Barzanee, President of the "Iraqi
Kurdistan" and political insinuations of Prime Minister Tcep Tayyip
Erdogan on the eve of presidential elections

On April 13 co-chair of the Armenian-Turkish Business Union Kaan
Soyak in an interview to "Cihan" new agency commented the political
situation and the relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Mr. Soyak said that the adoption of the US Congress Resolution on the
Armenian Genocide will have negative consequences both for Armenia and
Turkey. He assured that the Resolution is lobbied by political powers
interested in preventing reconciliation between the two states. To
Soyak’s opinion recognition of the Genocide is not a priority for the
Republic of Armenia, although it has became an industry – a theme for
various films and books, and a means of persevering national identity
for the Armenian Diaspora. He stated that Armenia’s real priority is
the opening of the border with Turkey.

Soyak expressed an opinion that Armenia is merely unable to prevent
the discussion of the Resolution, as its economy essentially depends
on foreign capital.

"By now Armenia has not done anything so as to aid passing the
Resolution. Neither did any Armenian politician come to the USA in
order to start lobby activity," he said. To Soyak’s opinion the
Armenian authorities are interested in establishing diplomatic
and economical relations with Turkey irrespective of Diaspora’s
position. He stressed that the Diaspora does not need Armenia. Turkey,
coming to agreement with Armenia will weaken the positions of the
Diaspora. That is why the Armenian Diaspora is doing everything
possible to prevent reconciliation between the two states and keep
the border close.

Soyak also referred to the murder of Hrant Dink and the "We Are All
Armenians" slogan, which was proclaimed on the funeral. He considers
that the slogan revealed that there is no contradiction between
the Armenian and Turkish people. He reminded that after the great
earthquake of 1999 in Turkey Armenia rendered considerable humanitarian
aid. He noticed that the Turkish American community donated $600.000
to the victims of the earthquake and famous Armenian philanthropist
Kirk Kirkorian alone – $1.000.000.

Kaan Soyak said that when meeting with his Armenian colleagues he never
speaks about history. Both the nations need peace, he thinks. "Gestures
are made by great states. Opening the border is such a gesture.

And a s a great state Turkey will determine the conditions, " he
said. Soyak refused to elaborate what are those "conditions", although
the Turkey’s demands of Armenia are well known from 1991. Instead he
tried to create illusion that the Republic of Armenia is against the
Resolution on Armenian Genocide, as if forgetting about obviously
offensive position of the Turkish authorities against Armenia and
its pre-conditions for establishment of diplomatic relations.

Speaking of the Armenian-Turkish relations, Soyak never used the
word "genocide" whjen referring to the events of 1915 as if urging
to forget about them. He said nothing of the activity of Turkes,
called by the press "the founder of neo-fascism in Turkey" and the
"Turkish Furher". Turkes in the 70’s organized a number of numbers
of progressive and prominent Turkish social and political workers. In
the early 90’s, during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh he sent 3 thousand
militants to aid the Azerbaijani aggressors. After the World War II
Turkes started close cooperation with terrorist organizations from
the USA and "Mossad" from Isreal, organizing terrorist acts against
the peaceful Armenian population of Beyrut in the late 80’s.

Soyak’s words would be of little importance, unless "Zaman" had
reported that he, being equally respected both by the Armenian
and Turkish authorities, is working for rapprochement between the
countries.

However it is obvious that the efforts of Mr. Soyak remain fruitless.

NEVER-ENDING PROTEST
By Melania Badalian

AZG Armenian Daily
17/04/2007

The most awful of all tragedies in the thousands of years of
human history is genocide. The documentary film "Screamers" is a
manifestation of protest against hideous crime. Yesterday took place
an interview with the director of the film, Karla Karapetian. Her
ancestors were from the Van region of Western Armenia and found refuge
in the USA after the Genocide of 1915.

The "Screamers" is the first documentary about the Armenian Genocide
where it is linked with the next most terrifying human tragedies –
the Holocaust, the genocide of Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia.

The film was a success worldwide. The famous Armenian-American rock
band System of a Down from LA, Pulitzer laureate Samantha Power,
"Agos" former editor Hrant Dink, FBI interpreter Sybil Edmonds, head
of Armenian National Committee of America Aram Hambarian nad other
prominent people took active part in the making of the film.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

A1+
[12:10 pm] 17 April, 2007

Today the city of Strasbourg, France hosts the World Championship of
both female and male weight lifters.

12 sportsmen will represent the Republic of Armenia.

Tehmine Karapetyan, weight of 55kg, Meline Daluzyan, w.63 kg., Nazik
Avdalyan, w. 69kg, Hripsime Khurshudyan, w. 75 kg. are female lifters
to compete at the Championship. We have great expectations from Meline
Daluzyan who won a bronze medal at the World Championship in 2006. The
experts predict a silver medal at least.

Whereas, Arsen Tamazyan, w. 62, Tigran Martirosyan, w.69, Ara
Khachatryan, w. 77 and Gevorg Davtyan, respectively as well as Khosrov
Melikyan, w. 85, Tigran V. Martirosyan, Arthur Babayan, w. 105, Arthur
Gevorgyan will try to keep the dignity of RA at male’s championship.

Arsen Tamazyan, Ara Khachatryan, Gevorg Davtyan and Tigran Martirosyan
are expected to show their best at male’s championship. Tigran
V. Martirosyan and Ara Khachatryan won bronze medals at Dominican
Republic at the World Championship in October 2006.

To remind, Samvel Khachatryan, chairman of Weight -lifting Federation
heads RA delegation.

CANDIDATE AT A NONPLUS

A1+
[04:48 pm] 16 April, 2007

Karen Vardanyan, running in the NA elections on the proportional list
of the Alliance of National Democrats in constituency 9, claims he
has appeared in an informational deadlock.

He presents his programs and violations of his opponents via direct
contacts with the public.

In his words, the most breaches have been made by Ruben Sadoyan, member
of the RPA. Prior to the official onset of the election campaign,
the poster of "De Facto" magazine was placed in French Square with
Ruben Sadoyan’s picture. Besides, Sadoyan also distributed TV sets.

In comparison with Ruben Sadoyan, Mr. Vardanyan suggests the voters of
the constituency "boundless ideas and gratuitous thoughts to protect
their rights.

I need deputy’s mandate to come up with legislative initiative in
the RA National Assembly."

The candidate has noticed that certain candidates make use of their own
TV Channels during the campaign and ascribe many deeds to them. "Namely
the prize of the ALM Holding has nothing to do with the People’s Party
and it cannot be used in the election campaign. This is an apparent
breach of campaign.

Mr. Vardanyan is also indignant at the fact that the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
distributed candles in churches at Easter. I urge Mother See of Holy
Echmiadzin to see to the matter.

STRUGGLE TO HEAT UP

A1+
[06:13 pm] 16 April, 2007

more images On April 16 the Friday Club hosted Khosrov Harutyunyan,
Khachatur Sukiasyan and Tadevos Hovanisyan running for parliament
from electoral district 10.

The debate was between Khosrov Harutyunyan and Khachatur
Sukiasyan. Tadevos Hovanisyan was passive and silent. He says he is
an economist and does not deal with political issues. "Politics is
the business of the government," he said.

When the reporters told him that the National Assembly is the
legislative branch of the government and a political body, he said
he will have his stance on serious political matters but in any case
"I try to stay away from politics".

Khosrov Harutyunyan and Khachatur Sukiasyan first presented their
election programs. Khosrov Harutyunyan commits to working towards
building "a country with sustainable security, dynamic development,
competitive democracy in 15 years time, which will be involved in
the European economic, political and security systems."

In his opinion, the period of transition has ended, and it is necessary
to launch the second stage of economic and political reforms, battle
corruption and black economy, ensure fair and effective distribution
of income.

Khachatur Sukiasyan does not think the transition period is
over. According to him, as long as our quality of life is not upgraded
to the European quality of life, we live in a period of transition.

Khosrov Harutyunyan disagreed and stated that the period of
transition is over because independence, freedoms and free economy
are irreversible.

Further on, Khachatur Sukiasyan and Khosrov Harutyunyan tried
to define the borderline between businessman-politician or
politician-businessman. In Khachatur Sukiasyan’s words, there are
officials who are not running businesses but after leaving office
they have different businesses.

Khosrov Harutyunyan maintains that people believe that a businessman
runs for the National Assembly to get more possibilities and promote
their interests.

According to Khosrov Harutiunyan, the laws adopted by the parliament
between 1999 and 2006 with considerable representation of businessmen
in the parliament provided more favorable conditions for businesses.

As for Tadevos Hovanisyan’s candidature, Mr. Harutyunyan claims
that the struggle will heat up in the electoral district as Tadevos
Hovanisyan formerly worked for Khachatur Sukiasyan.