Month: May 2008

ARMENIA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM THE POSITION TO SEPARATE NAGORNO-KARABAKH FROM AZERBAIJAN, AZERI DEPUTY FM SAYS

armradio.am
29.05.2008 16:03

Armenia should refrain from its extreme position to separate
Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, Deputy Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan, stated to journalists on 29 May.

The next negotiations between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents,
which will be held in St. Petersburg in early June, will help to get
a clear picture of official Yerevan’s position regarding settlement
of the conflict.

"The further steps on resolution of the conflict depend on the
principles of the sides. If there are differences in positions,
then there is no sense to continue these negotiations," the Deputy
Foreign Minister said.

Azimov confirmed the adherence of official Baku to settle the conflict
through peaceful means and within the framework of international norms.

"Baku is prepared to continue negotiations within the framework of
the Prague process," Azimov said.

RA GOVERNMENT TO ALLOCATE30 MILLION DRAMS IN ASSISTANCE TO CHINA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

armradio.am
29.05.2008 16:21

The Government of the Republic of Armenia will allocate 30 million
drams in assistance to the victims of the earthquake that took place
in the province of Sichuan in the southwest of the People’s Democratic
Republic of China on May 12.

During today’s sitting of the Government, RA Deputy Foreign Minister
Aman Kirakosyan noted that the assistance will be possibly given in
the form of blankets and tents.

RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan suggested to study what kind
of assistance the other countries of the region are going to provide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CONDEMN GENOCIDE IN DARFUR

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2008 12:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today applauded the unprecedented, bi-partisan joint statement
issued by Presidential Candidates, Senators Hillary Clinton
(D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL) expressing their
collective commitment to ending the ongoing genocide in Darfur, ANCA
Communications Director Elizabeth S. Chouldjian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"After more than five years of genocide, the Sudanese government
and its proxies continue to commit atrocities against civilians in
Darfur. This is unacceptable to the American people and to the world
community," noted Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama.

"Today, we wish to make clear to the Sudanese government that on this
moral issue of tremendous importance, there is no divide between us. We
stand united and demand that the genocide and violence in Darfur be
brought to an end and that the CPA [Comprehensive Peace Agreement]
be fully implemented."

"A united stand on stopping the ongoing genocide in Darfur sends a
powerful message to the al-Bashir government that ongoing atrocities
against defenseless civilians is simply unacceptable," stated ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Only by speaking clearly and
unequivocally on all genocides – from the Armenian Genocide, to the
Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda and now Sudan – can we finally put an
end to the cycle of genocide plaguing our world over the past century."

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had condemned
the Sudan genocide earlier this year in statements citing their support
for passage of Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.106 / S.Res.106)
pending in Congress.

SERZH SARGSYAN: VICTORIES ARE NOT GIFTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2008 13:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan issued a
congratulatory address on occasion of the First Republic Day.

The presidential message says in part,

"90 years ago the dream of our people came true.

Thanks to selflessness of brave sons of the Armenian nation, exploits
in heroic battles in Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Karakilisa, we
restored our statehood.

Each Armenian remembers those heroes, who defeated the enemy in the
fight for independence of our country.

Independence and victories are never gifted. During two years of
existence, the First Republic of Armenia condensed inspiration, grief
and losses, touching us three historical lessons. The first is the
importance of national unity. Born 90 years ago, our state system was
the result of national unity. Today, we should struggle to preserve
the spirit of unity which helped us to survive in 1918. The second
is irreplaceability of statehood. No other structure can replace a
state system; no ideology can be higher than state interests. If our
country weakens, we lose. The third is the confidence that we can
overcome all difficulties our country faces.

Today, Armenia enters a period which is extremely important for all its
citizens. We should strengthen our republic and ensure development of
political, economic, scientific and cultural life. Our country has a
brilliant future but not only leaders are responsible for it. Each
son of our nation should make his contribution for the glory of
Armenia. To be a citizen of the Republic of Armenia is an honor;
to serve our nation is the supreme mission."

SERGEI BAGAPSH: EU CAN’T FORCE ABKHAZIA TO RETURN UNDER GEORGIA’S JURISDICTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2008 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of ambassadors representing 15 EU
member states is arriving in Abkhazia on May 30. Then a visit of EU
leaders is expected.

Meanwhile, Abkhazia’s President Sergei Bagapsh has already warned
that neither the EU nor any other structure can force Abkhazia to
return under Georgia’s jurisdiction. "This issue is closed and we
are not going to discuss it," he said.

The EU will make an attempt to drive Russia out of talks, according
to him.

"I would like to emphasize that no progress can be achieved without
Russia’s mediation. Russia was and will be a full-fledged participant
of the peaceful process," Bagapsh said, Interfax reports.

"ARMENIANS AND PROGRESSIVE POLITICS" CONFERENCE DUE IN NEW YORK

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2008 14:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ British journalist and activist Tariq Ali will lead a
panel discussion on "The New Imperialism: Old Problems, New Challenges"
in New York on Friday, May 30. Joining Ali will be David Barsamian,
founder and Director of the Colorado-based Alternative Radio, and
Neil Smith, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Geography at
the City University of New York.

This event will serve as the opening plenary of the third annual
"Armenians and Progressive Politics" conference. The three panelists
will examine globalization, superpower rivalries, the nature of
advanced capitalism, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In
addition, the contemporary politics of empire and its destructive
effects on small nations will be discussed, as well as alternatives
to the current structure.

U.S. TO ASSIGN $700 THOUSAND TO GUAM

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2008 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Willing to contribute to GUAM development, the
United States intends to assign $700 thousand to the organization,
U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ann Derse told a conference in Baku.

"Strategy of GUAM Development" conference kicked off on May
29, bringing together representatives of various international
organizations and GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova)
officials, Bakililar.az reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"ARSEN KHARATIAN WAS A TARGET"

A1+
[03:11 pm] 29 May, 2008

On May 28, at about 14:00 three strangers severely beat Arsen
Kharatian, one of the leaders of "Hima" youth movement.

A few days ago Arsen was called up by a gentleman who introduced
himself as a reporter of "Life" journal and invited Kharatian
to an interview. Kharatian agreed and on May 28 went to meet the
correspondent as arranged. Minutes later he was hit on the head from
behind (quite possibly with an iron instrument) and was severely beaten
by three strangers who later fled from the site. Arsen Kharatian was
taken to the ICU unit of Nor Nork Emergency Hospital, with severe
head injuries, and is presently under close medical supervision.

Cases of aggression and assault against opposition activists
are not uncommon in Armenia. Last week, Michael Danielian, head
of the Armenian Helsinki Association, was shot point blank from
a pneumatic rifle by a leader of a pro-governmental party, who
then bragged about it in a press conference later that day. The
case was documented and reported by Human Rights Watch on May
22, 2008 (Armenia: Leading Human Rights Defender Assaulted,
armeni18918.htm)

The assault on Arsen Kharatian reminds of a very similar attack
in 2004 on prominent opposition figure Ashot Manucharian, who
was assaulted and beaten in one of the streets in Yerevan, while
walking home from a routine day on April 22, 2004. Mr. Manucharian
had severe head injuries, and had to take a long recovery
in the hospital. That case too was documented and reported
by world human rights community and major news organizations
(Prominent Oppositionist Beaten up as Police Resume Mass Arrests,
rt/en/2004/04/0b4b65db-4b54-448f-a2ec-72e43404a177 .asp).

The attack against Arsen Kharatian, a well-known and highly respected
youth leader, has given rise to tensions in Armenia’s capital city and
across the nation, characterizing the attitude of the general public
towards the authorities, while Armenia faces its worst governance and
democracy crisis since independence in 1991. At the times when many
opposition leaders went into hiding, were arrested or had restricted
power to act, the youth movements took leadership, and using new
ideas and innovative means of political struggle became the real
leaders of the national movement.

Currently as the new wave of national struggle is rising, the criminal
groups ruling Armenia, intensify the terrorist campaign against the
youth leaders.

Their aim is to stop the national movement by rooting an atmosphere
of fear in the society.

"We assess the recurrent terrorist act as the authorities’ response to
the intensification of the national movement and as a regular attempt
to terrify the movement activists. This time the target was our
friend Arsen Kharatian, who is known as an advocate of human rights
protection, a straightforward man and a nation-oriented citizen",
the "Hima" announcement says.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MARGAROV TO TRAIN "KILIKIA"

A1+
[01:52 pm] 29 May, 2008

Former forward of "Ararat" Eduard Margarov is to train "Kilikia" that
concludes the fixture list in the current championship. Margarov is
to substitute Yervand Krbashian who resigned the other day.

The 62-year-old new coach used to be one of the best-known forwards
in 1970s. In 1973 Margarov became a USSR champion in "Ararat", at the
same time winning the USSR Cup. The celebrated footballer was also
a USSR national team player, who thrice won a standing among the 33
best players.

Margarov began his professional practice in "Ararat" and 1986-1991 was
the coach of the USSR juvenile national team. 1992-1994 he trained
the Armenian national team and twice won the Armenian Cup in the
position of the coach of "Mika" in 2000.

LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN VISITS ARAM KARAPETIAN

A1+
[12:42 pm] 29 May, 2008

Chairman of the "New Times" Party Aram Karapetian is still in medical
center "Erebuni".

According to the informational service of the "New Times" Party,
Karapetian expresses his gratitude and appreciation towards his party
companions, National Movement participants, political figures and
those sympathizing him, who were by his side in his hour of need.

The "New Times" Party also thanks the law-enforcements bodies that
showed commonsense reasoning and good will towards Karapetian.

By the way, yesterday RA First President Levon Ter-Petrossian and
Chairman of the "Hanrapetutiun" Party Aram Sargssian visited Aram
Karapetian in the medical center "Erebuni", National Movement Center
informs.