Month: May 2008

MINISTER NALBANDIAN PRESENTS ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES TO FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

armradio.am
30.04.2008 10:11

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Heads of
diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia.

During the meeting Minister Nalbandian presented the priorities
of Armenia’s foreign policy and the approaches towards a number of
contemporary processes in international politics.

Minister Nalbandian said Armenia will continue taking steps in the
direction of developing relations with its partner states.

Edward Nalbandian said Armenia will continue deepening the special
strategic partnership with Russia, will take steps to deepen the
friendly partnership and cooperation with the US. According to the
Minister, the European direction has become one of the priority
directions of Armenia’s foreign policy.

Turning to Armenia’s cooperation within international organizations,
the Foreign Minister noted the cooperation and active involvement
in the UN, OSCE< the Council of Europe and other international
organizations will develop.

Armenia attaches importance to the ties with immediate neighbors,
and is ready to make every effort to improve the relations with those
neighbors with which it still has problems.

Minister Nalbandian referred to the relations with those countries
which have permanent diplomatic representations in Armenia.

Edward Nalbandian noted that the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
issue remains the main priority. He reconfirmed Armenia’s commitment
to continue the negotiations in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Turning to the normalization of relations with Turkey, Minister
Nalbandian reconfirmed Armenia’s readiness to develop relations
without any preconditions.

Concluding his speech, Minister Nalbandian stressed the importance
of Diaspora’s role in developing friendly relations between Armenia
and other countries.

TURKISH PARLIAMENT VOTES TO CHANGE ARTICLE 301

armradio.am
30.04.2008 10:38

Turkey’s parliament has approved the softening of a law criticized
by the EU for limiting free speech.

Article 301 of the penal code has been used to prosecute Nobel Prize
winner Orhan Pamuk and other intellectuals.

Since 2003, hundreds of people have been tried under the controversial
law for "insulting Turkishness."

However, critics argue the amendments do not go far enough. Insulting
the Turkish nation will still be a crime, punishable by two years
in jail.

Parliament voted 250-65 in favor of a government-backed proposal to
make changes to the law late on Tuesday night.

Under the reformed law: â~@¢ It will be a crime to insult the Turkish
nation, rather than Turkishness.

â~@¢ The justice minister will be required to open each case.

â~@¢ The maximum sentence will be two years in jail, rather than three.

â~@¢ The EU has long called for changes to Article 301, arguing that
the law places severe restrictions on free speech in Turkey. The
issue has threatened to scupper Turkey’s EU accession talks.

Demands for the repeal or reform of the law had been growing since
the murder last year of the Armenian-Turkish editor, Hrant Dink,
who had been charged under the law, the BBC reported.

–Boundary_(ID_DrvjnJE93FFUduIvd6lm6A)- –

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SENATOR OBAMA PLEDGES CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PRESS TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
30.04.2008 10:53

Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged
to continue his efforts to press Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide, in a strongly worded statement submitted to the Congressional
Record marking the 93rd Anniversary of this crime against humanity,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The statement by the Senator, who has been endorsed in the Democratic
primaries by the ANCA, was one of 30 remarks by Senators and
Representatives including those by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE),
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and DCCC Chairman Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) offered remarks at the
April 23rd Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill.

"It is imperative that we recognize the horrific acts carried out
against the Armenian people as genocide and I will continue to stand
with the Armenian American community in calling for the Government
of Turkey to acknowledge it as such. The occurrence of the Armenian
genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming
collection of historical evidence, Senator Obama said.

"I was deeply disturbed 2 years ago when the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
was fired after he used the term "genocide" to describe the mass
slaughter of Armenians. I called for Secretary Rice to closely examine
what I believe is an untenable position taken by the U.S. Government.

I will continue to push for the acknowledgement of the Armenian
genocide, and I offer the Armenian people my condolences," Obama
concluded.

"Armenian Americans value Senator Obama’s consistent and principled
leadership in pressuring Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide
and to end its shameful campaign to deny this crime against humanity,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "He remains clearly the
best positioned to bring about real change, real action, and real
hope for an end to the cycle of genocide."

COOPERATION WITH LITHUANIA WILL BE USEFUL IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS

armradio.am
30.04.2008 12:41

On April 30 the newly appointed Ambassador of Lithuania Giedrius
Apuokas presented the copies of his credentials to RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian.

Greeting the Ambassador, Minister Nalbandian wished him success in
carrying out his high mission. The Minister noted that Armenia is
interested in reinforcing and developing the cooperation between the
two countries and from this perspective the opening of the Lithuanian
Embassy in Armenia can become a good impetus for the development of
bilateral relations. Minister Nalbandian noted that the cooperation
with Lithuania will be useful in the context of development of
Armenia-EU relations.

For his part, Ambassador Apuokas noted that Lithuania’s attitude
towards Armenia has traditionally been very warm and stressed the
importance of deepening the multifaceted cooperation with Armenia,
the establishment of ties between agencies. The Ambassador said he
will pay great attention to the development of trade-economic and
cultural ties between the two countries.

5TH HEARING IN DINK CASE WILL BE HELD JULY 7

armradio.am
30.04.2008 12:53

The fifth hearing in the trial of slain Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink was held at Istanbul’s 14th Court for Serious Crimes in
BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ district. The next hearing will be held July 7. In
the case, in which 19 suspects are standing trial, the court
heard the testimonies of Ä°rfan Ozkan and Numan Å~^iÅ~_man, whose
questioning could not be completed before. The two suspects repeated
the testimonies that they gave to security forces in the Black Sea
city of Trabzon, where all the suspects are from, and said they had
seen two hand guns in police informer and one of the inciters of the
murder, Erhan Tuncel’s house.

Another suspect Å~^enol Akduman, who was set to be questioned
yesterday, did not attend the hearing because he is completing his
military service.

The 19th suspect in the trial, inciter Yasin Hayal’s brother-in-law,
CoÅ~_kun Igci, attended the hearing, however Dink’s lawyers could not
cross-question him because Igci did not have a lawyer present. Igci
at the hearing of two gendarmerie soldiers who were standing trial
for neglect of duty in Trabzon said in his statement that he had
performed his duty and informed the gendarmerie about Hayal’s plan
to murder Dink.

Speaking at the hearing Hayal said, "I hate and feel disgust at
Hrant." Upon this statement, one of Dink’s lawyers asked Hayal whether
he had known Dink before he bombed a McDonald’s restaurant in Trabzon,
said one of Dink’s lawyers, who wished to remain anonymous. Hayal
said he did not know Dink before the event. So the lawyer asked if
there was any relation between his hatred and disgust at Dink and
the then visit of retired army member Veli Kucuk and the Istanbul
president of an ultra-nationalist association, Levent Temiz, when he
was in prison. Following this question Hayal is said to have panicked
and shouted at the lawyer: "You are lying, you are lying."

Dink’s lawyers also filed a complaint against Hayal’s lawyer Fuat
Turgut under Article 214 of the Turkish penal code, for inciting one
person against another, due to his hate-filled speeches against Nobel
Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk.

Dink’s lawyers have requested the presence of more than 10 witnesses to
provide testimony in the next hearing. One of Dink’s lawyers, Fethiye
Cetin, said the hearing will be open to members of the press since O.S.

will no longer be a minor as of June 28, teh Turkish Daily News
reported.

–Boundary_(ID_sbWYtyqC2u812ZEoAxs N9A)–

RUBBISH-HEAPS AT EVERY STEP

A1+
[12:49 pm] 30 April, 2008

Residents of Abovian town dump garbage and debris in the streets after
garbage trucks disappear. Garbage cans stand half-full surrounded
with garbage sacks wrapped in cellophane.

Rubbish-heaps have become common near the town market selling
vegetables and fruit. Greengrocers say that every morning refuse
tippers pick up garbage of the previous day.

Residents don’t even pity scavangers and street-cleaners. They throw
garbage out of the windows. One cannot even step some blocks of flats
as debris and household rubbish are dumped just at the entrance.

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT OF IRAN CONGRATULATES PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN

armradio.am
30.04.2008 14:30

The First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Parviz Davoudi
congratulated RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan on appointment. The
message states, in part:

"I warmly congratulate you and the Government and people of Armenia
on the occasion of your appointment to the post of Prime Minister of
the Republic of Armenia.

I hope that we shall observe the continuation of relations and
constructive cooperation, as well as expansion of bilateral cooperation
in different spheres.

Let God grace you robust health and success, as well as happiness
and well-being to the Armenian Government and people."

GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ALBANIA CONGRATULATES PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN

armradio.am
30.04.2008 14:47

The Governor of the Bank of Albania Ardian Fullani congratulated RA
Prime minister Tigran Sargsyan on appointment. The message sates,
in part:

"I was very pleased to hear about your appointment to the post of
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. It’s a great personal
contribution.

I ask you to accept my warmest congratulations and wish you success
in carrying out your new responsibilities.

I’m deeply assured that your appointment will strengthen the
economic growth and consolidation of democracy in your country. Your
experience as Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia will be,
certainly, useful for the newly formed Government. As Chairman of
the Central Bank of Armenia, you have played an important role in
the process of reforms, which ensured a high growth and stability
for the economy. I’m confident that you will continue successfully
resisting all challenges."

ARMENIA AND IRAN INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING BILATERAL RELATIONS

armradio.am
30.04.2008 15:03

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Ambassador of the Islamic
Republic of Iran to Armenia Seid Ali Saghaian.

The Ambassador said the Iranian leadership attaches great importance
to the further development of relations with Armenia, and the
participation of the personal representative of President Ahmadinejad
in the inauguration ceremony of the Armenian President is another
evidence of Iran’s intentions.

Underlining the strategic importance of the relations between
the two countries, the parties noted with appreciation that the
Armenian-Iranian cooperation is developing due to joint efforts.

Serzh Sargsyan described the bilateral relations as stable and
developing and said that Armenia is resolute to expand the framework
of cooperation.

The President attached special importance to the productive process
of the programs implemented in the field o energy and prioritized
the increase of the volume of commodity turnover, encouragement of
the cooperation between the private sectors.

During the meeting reference was made to regional issues and the
settlement of the Karabakh issue. The interlocutors agreed that the
region is rather complex and the efforts of the countries should be
aimed at ensuring stability and security in the region. According
to Ambassador Saghaian, the Iranian side values Armenia’s restrained
reaction to the periodic militant statements from one of the countries
of the region.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the balanced position of Iran in the issue
of the Karabakh conflict settlement. The President once again noted
that Armenia stands for the peaceful resolution of the issue in the
framework of international law and in the context of the right of
peoples to self-determination.

AMBASSADOR AT PRESIDENT

Panorama.am
20:25 29/04/2008

Today the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received the Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Bulgaria in Armenia Todor
Staykov. The information is provided by the press service of the
president’s administration.

The Ambassador said that the president of Bulgaria Georgi Prvanov
greeted him and congratulated and asked to accept the invitation to
Bulgaria. Serzh Sargsyan said that he signifies the cooperation with
Bulgaria as well as its continuation in the frameworks of European
policy.

The president highly evaluated Armenian-Bulgarian political dialogue
and said that economic cooperation is more passive which should
be improved. The officials discussed the ways of establishing
inter-governmental committee which could cover those aspects.

During the meeting the sides also talked about the NKR question
regulation. Serzh Sargsyan said that becoming a member of Council of
Europe both Armenia and Azerbaijan have to solve their problems only
through peaceful negotiations.