Month: December 2008

BRYAN ARDOUNY: HILLARY CLINTON CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED AFFIRMATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

De Facto
Dec 2, 2008

YEREVAN, 02.12.08. DE FACTO. U. S. President-elect Barack Obama
selected Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) to serve as the
U.S. Secretary of State.

Commenting on the fact, Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said,
in part, "During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Clinton has
consistently supported affirmation of the Armenian Genocide". "Never
before we have had such an alignment whereby the incoming President,
Vice-President and Secretary of State have a clear and demonstrated
record of support for affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well
as genocide prevention," he added.

To note, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Senator Clinton
consistently supported efforts to reaffirm the historical truth of the
Armenian Genocide. In addition to co-sponsoring resolutions affirming
the Armenian Genocide, Senator Clinton also repeatedly urged President
George W. Bush to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in his annual April
24th statements.

In 2006, for example, Clinton signed a letter to President Bush
stating: "The memory of the Armenian Genocide underscores our
responsibility to speak forcefully about our respect for fundamental
human rights and opposition to mass slaughters. It is in the best
interests of our nation and the entire global community to remember
the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that
they are never repeated. We respectfully request that you refer to
the mass slaughter of Armenians as genocide in your commemorative
statement." Senator Clinton also supports expanding and improving
U..S.-Armenia relations and "a fair and democratic resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict."

Throughout the 2008 presidential election, President-elect Obama
repeatedly pledged to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide
and with the nomination of Hillary Clinton, President-elect Obama
had an ally in Genocide affirmation and prevention. In making the
announcement today, President-elect Obama said, "The time has come
for a new beginning, a new dawn of American leadership to overcome
the challenges of the 21st century."

During the campaign trail, Senator Clinton stated: "I believe the
horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians
constitute a clear case of genocide. Our common morality and our
nation’s credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to
ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by
the Congress and the President of the United States."

ALBERTO ROSSELLI, AUTHOR OF "ARMENIAN HOLOCAUST" BOOK, BEING THREATENED

De Facto
Dec 2, 2008

YEREVAN, 02.12.08. DE FACTO. The Italian journalist-writer Alberto
Rosselli, the author of "Olocausto armeno" (The Armenian holocaust)
is death threat, announces the Italian press. And in Belgium,
Dogan Ozguden, journalist and founder of news agency "Info-Turk",
is threatened of lynching by ultra nationalist Turkish press, but
also by the embassy and Turkish press in Belgium, an independent
French journalist Jean Eckian told DE FACTO.

Concerning the writer Alberto Rosselli, the death threats began a
few months after the publication of its book in 2007. They continued
until on October 26, 2008. Police detected that the phone calls had
been based from abroad, as well as the mails.

To add, the defender of the Armenian cause, Dogan Ozguden, fled Turkey
in 1971, after the revolution. He deposited an official complaint
for threats on his person.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN THE CHRISTMAS CHARITY BAZAAR IN ATHENS

armradio.am
02.12.2008 17:30

The 9th International Christmas Exhibition and Sale was held at
the HELEXPO exhibition center of Athens of November 29-30. It was
organized by the "Friends of the child" charity union, wives of the
Ambassadors accredited in Greece and female Ambassadors. All in all,
33 Embassies participated in the event.

Like the previous years, the Armenian Embassy of Greece brought its
contribution by allocating the sum gathered from the sale of Armenian
goods to the programs of the "Friends of the child" union.

DJIVAN GASPARYAN’S CONCERT IN BULGARIA WILL INCLUDE MANY ARMENIAN STARS
Diana Stoykova

News.bg
Dec 2 2008
Bulgaria

The world famous Armenian artist Djivan Gasparyan arrives for a
concert on December 10 in Bulgaria.

He’ll bring more stars of the Armenian culture with him, "Joker Media"
reveals.

The beginning of the concert will be marked by the mezzo soprano Anna
Maylyan, gold medalist of the Armenian Ministry of Culture

After her, the sisters Anush and Inga Arshakian, as well as the
jazzman Armen Martirosyan will appear on stage.

The two sisters are among the best performers of Armenian folklore
music and their talent is famous throughout the world.

Armen Martirosyan will deliver some of his virtuoso piano pieces. Hving
worked many years in Switzerland; he’s famous for his mix of jazz
and folklore music.

The culmination will come with the appearance of Djivan
Gasparyan. Gasparyan, turning 80 this year, will perform some of his
best melodies for the Bulgarian audience.

Teodosii Spasov’s improvisations will complete the sounds of the
duduk. The master of the kaval, who will be the only Bulgarian in
the concert, will join Gasparyan on stage for the first time.

PARLIAMENTARIANS OFFER TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH IN PARLIAMENT

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. Today’s sitting of the parliament
began with the discussion of current issues, APA reports. MP
Sabir Rustamkhanli said monument should have been erected to great
Azerbaijani poet Mahammadhuseyn Shahriyar instead of the fountain in
front of Cultural Palace named after Shahriyar in Baku.

"Fountain was also built in the place where monument should have been
erected to Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh. How long will it last?" he said.

MP Igbal Agazadeh supported Sabir Rustamkhanli’s position. Ziyafat
Asgarov said the issue would be investigated.

Igbal Agazadeh also offered to have discussions on the negotiations
on Karabakh problem in the parliament. He noted that such discussions
were last held 8 years before and mentioned that the issue was being
discussed in Armenia. The parliamentarian also offered to release
the imprisoned journalists on the occasion of Gurban holiday.

Siyavush Novruzov said there was a need to improve municipal
legislation in Azerbaijan. Taking a stance on Igbal Agazadeh’s
proposals MP from YAP said Ilham Aliyev had expressed strict position
concerning Karabakh problem and there was no need to publicize the
details of the negotiations on Karabakh in the parliament. As regards
the release of the imprisoned journalists Novruzov said everybody
was punished for his crime, not because of his profession.

MP Ali Ahmadov spoke about the Azerbaijanis deported from Armenia. He
said 20 years had passed since the last deportation and underlined
that the policy had not been assessed on the international level.

MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev also offered to hold discussions on the
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh in the parliament.

AZERBAIJANI MPS WANT PARLIAMENT TO HOLD HEARINGS ON SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend News Agency
Dec 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 December/ Trend News corr I. Alizade/ Azerbaijani
MPs want the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be
discussed in the parliament.

"MPs do not know anything about in what stage are the talks on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Therefore I propose and at the same time
demand to discuss the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
to be discussed in the parliament," MP Igbal Agazade, chief the
opposition Umid Party, said in the parliamentary meeting on 2 December.

Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia Ilham Aliyev, Serzh
Sarkisyan and Dmitry Medvedev signed a declaration at the end of their
meeting in Mein Dorf castle near Moscow on 2 November. Presidents
of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan decided to make joint efforts to
normalize the situation in Caucasus and requested Foreign Ministers
to make efforts to solve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The declaration calls for the solution of the conflict in line with
international legal principles. Turkey is actively involved in the
settlement of the conflict.

Agazade said the MPs must be informed of the course of talks, delay
in the settlement of the conflict and reason for absence of a progress.

He said Azerbaijani parliament last time discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in 2001.

"MPs can not get any information about the course of talks. All issues
are solved by the executive bodies as result putting a significant
body as parliament aside. Therefore this issue should be discussed
in the parliament by the end of the year," Agazade noted.

Armenia often discusses the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the
parliament, hold hearings and informs the public about the course of
talks, he added.

Gudrat Hasanguliyev, MP and chief of opposition United Popular
Front Party of Azerbaijan, backed the proposal to discuss the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the parliament. He said the public should
be informed about the talks.

Member of the opposition MP Group Panah Husein also supported the
proposal.

MP Siyavush Novruzov, deputy executive director of the governing New
Azerbaijan Party, said position of the Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev towards the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is clear.

"The public has been informed about the last talks on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkey’s involvement in the settlement
of the conflict and Moscow talks. However it is not expedient to
reveal details at this stage. The details can be revealed after
certain result is achieved. Therefore there is no need to discuss
the conflict in the parliament," he added.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia,
France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless
negotiations.

ROUNDTABLE ON "CAUCASUS STABILITY AND COOPERATION PLATFORM" TAKES PLACE

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. Atlas research center has organized a
roundtable on "Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform" today,
APA reports. Head of the center Elkhan Shahinoglu made a speech at
the event. He said that Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform
was for the first time initiated by ex-president of Turkey Suleyman
Demirel late in the 90s. But the initiative was not realized, since
the states planned to join the platform did not fully support the
proposal. Shahinoglu said later that proposal was forgotten, but
the issue was raised again by Turkish Prime Minister after the war
between Russia and Georgia. He said Russia’s attitude towards Turkey
had changed. He noted that the relations between Armenia and Turkey
were coming nearer and said Armenian leadership supported those
proposals in words.

"But in actions Armenia has not taken a concrete step in this direction
and it does not seem convincing that it will take any steps in the
next stage, backtrack on its claims in Nagorno Karabakh issue, the
so-called Armenian genocide," he said.

Spokesman for the Turkey’s embassy in Azerbaijan Cem Ornekol said one
of the main targets was stability in the Caucasus. He said points
necessary for peace in the region should be found. The diplomat
said he believed future of the countries joined the platform would
be better and guaranteed. He said the platform’s action directions
were projected now.

Head of the "Inam" pluralism center Vahid Gazi noted that the platform
could bring certain dividends for Armenia, Russia and Georgia. "What
will Azerbaijan benefit from it? It is not expected that Armenia
will withdraw its forces from Azerbaijan. Russia agreed with the
establishing of such platform because it prefers Turkey than NATO to
enter into the Caucasus".

Political scientist Rasim Musabeyov said generally it was a normal
initiative. "I guess that this platform can not achieve solution to
the problems in the Caucasus. It is possible only to hold dialogue
within the platform. Any concrete steps are unbelievable".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISESCO CONDEMNS ARMENIA FOR DESTRUCTION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN

Trend News Agency
Dec 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 December / Trend News , corr. N.Abdullayeva /
ISESCO condemns destruction of historical monuments in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan by Armenians.

"Destruction of monuments in the occupied territories contradicts
international laws and all principles of the UN, and this is
unacceptable," Abdel Aziz Ben Osman Al-Twaigry, the director general
of the Islamic Education, Science and Culture Organization (ISESCO),
said to journalists in Baku on 2 December.

ISESCO completely supports Azerbaijan on this issue," Al-Twaigry said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

Azerbaijan appeared with the initiative before PACE to send the mission
of the cultural heritage of organization to the occupied territories
to study the state of remained historical and cultural monuments
of the country. Azerbaijan already presented the list of monuments,
which underwent destruction, to the mission.

AZERBAIJAN HAS DECISIVE ROLE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

The Messenger
Dec 2 2008
Georgia

Ex-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosian thinks that
Azerbaijan is the decisive economic and political force in the South
Caucasus at present.

Torosian thinks that different countries are trying to further their
own interests in the region. According to him Armenian politics is
clearly pro-Russian, whereas Georgia tends to lean to the West. So
the decisive role belongs to Azerbaijan. It will have to determine
which direction predominates in the region as a whole.

The ex-Speaker considers that there is so far no breakthrough
in Armenian-Turkish relations. Ankara has not withdrawn its
preconditions. The ex-Speaker suggests that the most important element
of the talks aimed at improving relations is not the process itself
but results it can achieve. So far however there have been no results
and the only target is to talk more.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RECEIVES 2009 BUDGET

The Messenger
Dec 2 2008
Georgia

The Armenian Parliament has adopted the budget for 2009. This consists
of expenditure of more than USD 3.3 billion. PM Tigran Sarkisian stated
that GDP in 2009 will reach USD 13.7 billion and growth will be 9.2%.

Next year imports will increase by 20%, reaching USD 4.3 billion,
but exports by 10%, reaching USD 1.3 billion. The negative trade
balance will be USD 3 billion. The country’s total state debt will
reach USD 2.2 billion, 16.1% of GDP. 13.1% of this is external debt.

Budget income is the nearly the same as expenditure. The deficit
comes to approximately USD 13 millions, around 1% of GDP.

Education will receive USD 416 million in funds, healthcare USD
215 million and social care USD 827 million. The average salary of
teachers will now be around USD 380 and doctors’ approximately USD 300.