Month: November 2009

IRAN APPROVES PLAN TO CHANGE ITS CAPITAL: REPORT

AZG DAILY
03-11-2009

Iran

Iran approves a plan to change its capital amid earthquake fears over
Tehran, a newspaper said.

Seismologists have warned that Tehran is liable to be struck by a
catastrophic earthquake in the foreseeable future.

"The idea was proposed by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, and rubber-stamped by the expediency council," British
Guardian newspaper said.

Experts warn that Tehran sits on at least 100 faultlines – including
one nearly 60 miles long – and that many of its buildings would not
survive a major quake.

Professor Bahram Akasheh, a seismologist and dean of the faculty of
basic sciences at Tehran Azad University, told the report the city
had been chosen as capital "by mistake" and its north-eastern suburbs
were vulnerable to an earthquake measuring eight on the Richter scale.

"I warned of this 40 to 50 years ago and if they had listened to me
then, Tehran wouldn’t have grown into a macro-city, but now control
is lost over it. The city is growing bigger and bigger every day and
so are the poor suburbs around it," he told the newspaper.

He said a new capital should be built between Qom – home to the
country’s clerical establishment – and Delijan, in Markazi province,
an area that has not seen an earthquake in 2,000 years.

It is not clear whether a new capital will be built from scratch or
sited in an existing city.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HIS HOLINESS GAREGIN II AWARDED ST. MESROP MASHTOTS MEDAL

armradio.am
02.11.2009 10:59

On October 30 the President of the republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan,
signed a decree on bestowing a St. Mestrop Mashtots Medal upon His
Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
for his contribution to the preservation and development of national
and spiritual values, President’s Press Office reported.

PETER SEMNEBY: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND THE KARABAKH CONFLICT ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES

armradio.am
02.11.2009 13:41

"The current situation between Armenia and Turkey cannot last
forever, everyone has to adapt to the perspective of normalization
and opening of the border. It’s necessary to consider how to protect
and develop own interests in the region under the new situation. The
war in Georgia showed that there is a threat of proceeding of
territorial conflicts. These developments gave a new dynamism to the
Armenian-Turkish relations," EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby said in an interview with Russian "Vremya
Novostey" newspaper.

Asked whether Russian influence in the Caucasus fines down due to
normalization between Armenia and Turkey, Peter Semneby said "as far
as Russia invests in Armenia’s infrastructure and builds railways it
can benefit only from open borders."

Is the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation an achievement of the Armenian
diplomacy? Has Armenia really managed to separate the issue of
normalization of relations with Turkey and the Karabakh issue?

"This process started moving not only thanks to Armenia. It’s clear
that this process in Armenia’s interest. The discussions are under
way in Turkey, as well. They have an impression that Turkey might play
a greater role in the region, only in case the problems with Armenia
were solved. Turkey’s conflict with Armenia limited its opportunities
and influence in the South Caucasus," Semenby said.

As for the link between the Armenian-Turkish relations and the
Karabakh conflict, the EU Special Representative said "those are two
different issues, which should never be tied; otherwise the process
of normalization may stop."

"Nevertheless, it is obvious that the development of any of the
issues affects the overall atmosphere. So it’s necessary to provide
basis for their positive influence on each other. We believe that
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation provides mew visions for settlement
of Karabakh issue.

RUSSIA’S ROLE IN RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE DISCUSSED IN MOSCOW

armradio.am
02.11.2009 13:43

Round table "Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Providing conditions for
peace building. Russia’s role" will be held in Moscow today,

The round table is organized by International Alert together with
the Center for Strategic Studies of Religion and Politics of Modern
World and the Public Chamber of Russia.

The discussion will be attended by Azerbaijani and Armenian experts
and representatives of civil society, leading experts in the field of
studying the problems of the South Caucasus, including representatives
of leading Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian media, members of
the Public Chamber of Russia and representatives of international
organizations.

The meeting will discuss possibilities of further development of
peace-building initiatives and public peacemaking dialogue regarding
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the role Russian society plays to
create conditions to establish peace around Nagorno Karabakh in the
context of the current situation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

APRIL 24TH THE DAY OF CONDEMNATION OF EXPATRIATION: PROPOSAL OF THE HERITAGE FACTION

armradio.am
02.11.2009 15:11

The Heritage faction of the National Assembly has come forth with a
legislative initiative, proposing to amend the Law on Holidays and
Remembrance Days of the Republic of Armenia."

Members of the faction suggest marking April 24th not only as the
Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide victims, but also as an
Expatriation Day.

"The genocide resulted in the expatriation of Armenians, and the
people were deprived of their historical motherland. This reality is
our common tragedy, which makes the fact of genocide more integral.

The tragedy should be viewed in this integrity and the remembrance day
should be marked in this context," members of the Heritage faction say.

CALL FOR PRACTICAL STEPS TO HAVE JAVAKHETI ARMENIAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST RELEASED
Lusine Vasilyan

"Radiolur"
02.11.2009 16:25

"Yerkir" Union condemns the decision of the Court of Appeal of
Georgia to leave unchanged the verdict on Javakheti Armenian political
activist Vahagn Chakhalyan. Representatives of the Union came forth
with a statement today, urging the Armenian and Diaspora organization
to continue the struggle and calling on international and advocacy
organizations to take practical measures to have Chakhalyan released.

President of the Union Sevak Artsruni told a press conference today
that he has no more expectations from the Georgian authorities
and the efforts will be targeted towards drawing the attention of
the international organizations and thus exerting pressure on the
Georgian authorities.

On April 7 the First Instance Court of Akhaltskha sentenced Vahagn
Chakhalyan to 10 years of imprisonment. His father and brother
were fined 5 000 lari (about $3 000) and 2 000 lari (about $1 200)
respectively.

On October 30 the Court of Appeals of Georgia left the verdict
unchanged. The defending party declared the same day it would appeal
the decision at the Supreme Court of Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTER NALBANDIAN MEETS THE AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN

armradio.am
02.11.2009 16:45

The newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Armenia, Masaharu Kohno,
presented the copies of his credentials to the Foreign Minister of
Armenia, Edward Nalbandian.

Congratulating the Ambassador on taking office, Minister Nalbandian
noted that Armenia attaches importance to the development of
comprehensive relations with Japan, expressing hope that the new
Ambassador will make a considerable contribution to the reinforcement
of relations between the two countries and promotion of bilateral
cooperation in different spheres.

During the meeting reference was made to the intensification of
the political dialogue, promotion of trade-economic and cultural
cooperation and the opportunities of implementation of investment
programs.

Minister Nalbandian expressed gratitude for the support Japan has
been rendering to Armenia ever since independence.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the Armenian-Turkish relations.

At the request of the guest, Minister Nalbandian presented the latest
developments in the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue.

ARMENIA DOES NOT REFUSE FORM THE EFFORTS FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
02.11.2009 17:43

President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
today to participate in the diocesan meeting of the Armenian Apostolic
Church.

Speaking about state-church relations, President Sargsyan said those
are particularly important in the current historical period. "Let’s
confess that the regulation of the state-church relations is not an
easy thing. The church should not interfere in state affairs, and
the state should not interfere in the church affairs. This simple
formula is hard to implement, because for us, Armenians, it’s nearly
impossible to determine the boundary where the religious culture
ends and the secular, especially the political culture starts. I
think that today we are close to the golden mean. We are actually,
on the correct path. The state bodies are ready to continue and deepen
this cooperation, which is already yielding positive results," Serzh
Sargsyan said.

Touching upon the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, Serzh Sargsyan underlined that it does not mean refusal
from the efforts for the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. President Sargsyan noted that as a responsible role-player
in the system of international relations, the Republic of Armenia
has always been loyal to the fulfillment of its commitments and is
ready to move towards establishment of relations with Turkey without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe in line with the
spirit and letter of the signed protocols.

According to President Sargsyan, the international community also
stands for the ratification of the protocols and establishment of
relations without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe.

Touching upon the concern that the Turkish side is attempting to tie
the normalization of relations with Armenia to the Karabakh conflict
settlement, President Sargsyan repeated that the two processes were
in no way linked. According to Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia moves along
the path of solving those issues separately and is resolute in its
position that it’s necessary to find solutions that will ensure
lasting peace and development in the region.

ANAHIT BAKHSHYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF NKR
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
02.11.2009 17:55

Armenia must recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh,
representative of the Heritage faction says. The Party is going to
present a corresponding bill to the National Assembly.

Heritage representative Anahit Bakhshyan believes that thus all the
issues between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh will be brought to the
legal level.

Accoridng to Anahit Bakhshyan, it is important to recognize the
independence of Nagorno Karabakh after the signing and before the
ratification of the protocols.

Different international organizations, especially the OSCE, will
demonstrate a completely different attitude towards Karabakh in case
Armenia recognizes its independence, the MP considers.

JAPAN SUPPORTS THE ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION PROCESS

armradio.am
02.11.2009 18:13

The newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Armenia, Masaharu Kohno,
presented his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

Congratulating the Ambassador on assuming office, President Sargsyan
said Armenia was interested in deepening multifaceted relations with
Japan. Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan
for the assistance rendered to Armenia ever since independence.

Accoridng to Serzh Sargsyan, there is still much to be done in the
field of development of bilateral economic relations. President
Sargsyan attached importance to the visit of the Armenian Foreign
Minister to Tokyo, saying it will provide an opportunity to continue
the political dialogue and discus the perspectives of development of
cooperation in different spheres.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations. The Ambassador said the Government of
Japan fully supports the process.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress