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EU TONES DOWN COMMITMENT TO EASTERN EUROPE
By Bruno Waterfield in Strasbourg

Daily Telegraph
07 May 2009
UK

The European Union has watered down a pact with Eastern European
countries including Georgia and Ukraine because of fears of a domestic
backlash against migration.

Internal divisions within Europe worked to Russia’s advantage ahead
of the EU "Eastern Partnership" summit with Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Political fears in key European governments, led by Berlin, has
undermined the initiative to forge a new pact with former Soviet
states and to counter a newly assertive Russia.

The term "European countries", to refer to the six former Soviet
countries, was dropped from draft texts to avoid any hint that it
would imply future EU membership and migration rights, an issue which
is controversial in many European countries.

Instead the six are described as "Eastern European Partners" and
"partner countries", a development that will deeply disappoint Ukraine
and strengthen Russia’s attempts to build a "sphere of influence"
in the region.

EU ambassadors have also watered down commitments to "visa
liberalisation", allowing people from the region greater work and
business access to European countries.

The question, regarded as a vital benefit cementing the region to
the West, has been delayed to become a "long-term goal", a major
climb down from an original text that promised progress towards
"visa-free" travel.

Ahead of German elections this September, the issue of migrant workers
is seen as too politically sensitive in Berlin, eroding EU unity and
allowing Russia exploit divisions.

Ukraine is becoming the main location of a battle between Russian
and the EU over the country’s future as an Eastern or Western facing
country.

A letter written by the Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Radoslaw Sikorski,
the German and Polish foreign ministers, last week warned of
"destabilising effects" for the EU of Ukraine’s relations with Russia.

"Negative developments in Ukraine could have wide ranging
consequences," they wrote.

Following the Georgian war last year, Ukraine has complained that
Russia is systematically issuing Russian passports to Ukrainian
citizens living in Crimea.

EU visa liberalisation, allowing more Ukrainians, including people
from the Crimea, to work in Europe is seen as vital for winning
influence from Russia.

The Georgia war last August, where Russia used military force to
recognise breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, has raised
the spectre of a similar conflict in Ukraine.

Almost 60 per cent of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula is ethnically
Russian and some groups have called for the territory to split from
Ukraine to a closer alliance with Russia.

A document recently circulated by German diplomats in the EU warns that
the Crimea issue could lead to "a serious deterioration of relations"
between Russia and Ukraine.

Berlin has suggested "raising the issue of Crimea with Ukraine in
a more systematic way" with the goal of "strengthening ‘European’
identity in Crimea, fostering ties with Europe and the West".

WORKING MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

National Assembly
May 7 2009
Armenia

On May 5, the working meeting of the Ad-Hoc Inquiry Committee into the
events occurred on March 1-2, 2008 in Yerevan and their reasons with
a view of submitting its conclusion to the National Assembly was held,
presided over by Mr. Samvel Nikoyan.

Mr. Nikoyan said that two issues will be examined, debated during
the previous meeting of the Ad-Hoc committee.

Related to the first issue Mr. Nikoyan said that some media
intentionally distorted the questions and answers, expressed in
the meeting. In particular it is related to Mr. Aram Karapetyan’s
question and Mr. Hayk Harutyunyan’s, ex Police Chief of the Republic
of Armenia, answer. Mr. Nikoyan said he used the record of the meeting
and presented Mr. Aram Karapetyan’s question. "Was the issue of the
emergency situation discussed with Mr. Robert Kocharyan, Mr. Serzh
Sargsyan and with all the other government officials of that time? Was
there headquarters set up? Were there any instructions? Did you
regularly report on the situation?"

Mr. Hayk Harutyunyan, ex Police Chief of the Republic of Armenia,
answered: "Regarding the state of emergency let me say,’ Yes, the
issue was discussed, and I am one of those, who put the proposal to
the president to run the state of emergency, in order to avoid the
unpredictable serious consequences." Mr. Aram Karapetyan asked another
question: "I gave two questions: Was there set up headquarters, and who
were the members of it?" To this question Mr. Hayk Harutyunyan gave the
following answer: "I said the issue was discussed with the President. I
was present there, participated in it and I was one of those, who made
the proposal. A headquarters was immediately created. It is a working
process. At this moment I cannot name the members of the headquarters,
but there are relevant documents, related to it."

Presenting the questions and answers, the chairman said that
Mr. Hayk Harutyunyan’s speech referred the state of emergency and
not establishing headquarters.

During the debates, the members of the committee proposed to apply in
written form to Mr. Hayk Harutyunyan, ex Police Chief of the Republic
of Armenia, to get clarification of a number of issues.

The second agenda issue, as the chairman of the committee said, was
related to the leakage of information. He said that the issue was
related to the document on the results of the examination of facts,
related the circumstances of Hamlet Tadevosyan’s death.

Without going into details of the material published by the
fact collecting group, Mr. Nikoyan said that the document and
the clarification of the preliminary investigation, related the
circumstances of Hamlet Tadevosyan’s death contradict each other. A
number of members of the committee proposed to invite Mr. Vahagn
Harytyunyan for clarifying the above-mentioned issue.

ARMENIAN JUDOISTS OFF TO DAGESTAN FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 13:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian national judo team has departed for Dagestan
to take part in the international tournament to be held in Khasavyurt
city under the aegis of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on May
7 and 8.

The Armenian team includes 7 sportsmen led by coach Karen Simonyan.

WATERTOWN STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHARES PERSONAL TIES TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
Richard Conn

Watertown Wicked Local
May 6 2009
MA

WALTHAM – When the remembrance day rolls around each year,
state. Rep. Peter Koutoujian said he thinks of the plight endured by
his grandparents, Abraham and Zarouhi.

April 24 was the annual day of remembrance of the genocide carried
out by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1915, which resulted in the
deaths of 1.5 million Armenians.

He said his grandparents "barely escaped with the clothes on the
their backs" from their small village in Marash, Turkey.

Koutoujian, D-Watertown and Waltham, along with 82 of his colleagues
in the state House of Representatives recently passed a bill which
urged Congress to officially recognize the deaths as the Armenian
Genocide of 1915.

The House bill calls for the passage of a congressional resolution,
which asks the president "to ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to Armenian
genocide."

The resolution has the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and
about 100 congressmen, Koutoujian said. While Koutoujian said the
resolution may cause a "backlash" from Turkish officials, he said
it’s vitally important it be passed.

"Every single historian has basically documented the fact that it
happened," Koutoujian said. "The only parties that have denied it,
are the Turkish government and those who are under the control of
the Turkish government."

Koutoujian said when his grandparents fled the killings, they followed
the French cavalry, who helped by stamping down the snow to allow
them an easier path.

"During the trek, they saw the bodies of friends, families, and
neighbors all along the sides," Koutoujian said.

Koutoujian said his grandparents were separated during the flight
from their home, with his grandfather ending up in the United States,
while his grandmother fled in Aleppo, Syria where she worked in an
orphanage. They were eventually reunited in Massachusetts.

Sharistan Melkonian, chairwoman of the Armenian National Committee
of Massachusetts, who is from Waltham, called the House resolution
"tremendously important."

Melkonian said Massachusetts elected officials have consistently
"done the right thing" by officially recognizing the genocide.

Melkonian said she’s hoping for an official stance soon from both the
president and Congress, which would send a message that further acts
of genocide would not be tolerated.

"When it comes to taking a stand the U.S. Congress as a whole has
not lived up to what we hoped it would live up to," she said. "It’s
important to send a message to Congress and the president that we
can do more."

THE GUARDIAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT CAN PUT AN END TO TABOOS

LONDON
MAY 5, 2009
NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY

Armenia and Turkey, which are sensitive towards nationalism, are
already for normalization of the relations and rapprochement of the
two countries, The Guardian writes.

According to the periodical, Turkey no longer persists in some issues,
and solution of the Armenian Cause is likely to facilitate the process
of Turkey’s membership to EU.

"The best way to get free of the past is the realization of the past,"
the newspaper writes.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

ECUMENICAL VISITS IN ANTELIAS

On Saturday 2 May 2009, His Holiness discussed several ecumenical topics
with his guests. In the morning he received Jean Bouchebel,
director -Resource Development (World Vision). World Vision has been
cooperating with the Catholicosate for the past several years and His
Holiness Aram I had visited their headquarters in the United States. At the
end of the visit the representative invited His Holiness Aram I to visit
their offices again and address the staff and supporters of World Vision on
christians and relief and development work.

Dr. Elie Mukhaiber, a Member of the Executive Committee of Middle East
Council of Churches (MECC) representing the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
Antioch was the other visitor. After discussing issues related to the MECC,
Mr. Mukhaiber informed his Holiness that he was the Greek Orthodox candidate
running for office in June 2009 elections.

Later, the President of the Armenian Evangelical Union of the United States
of America, Rev. Andy Toriguian visited His Holiness Aram I. Rev.
Meguerditch Karageuzian, the President of the Armenian Evangelical Union of
the Near East accompanied Rev. Toriguian. Strengthening cooperation between
the Armenian Orthodox and Evangelical churches was the main topic of their
conversation.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

REGION FACES CAUCASIAN DAYTON?

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2009 12:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s
visit to Washington proves that the American diplomacy observed the
pledge to Turkey and did not put the Karabakh issue on the agenda of
reconciliation talks, an Armenian expert said.

"Meanwhile, pressure on Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Karabakh
issue will be intensified. The fact is that the U.S. is displeased
with the political isolation of the region. And Washington’s top task
is to bring the region back to the geopolitics," Ruben Mehrabyan,
expert at the Armenian center of political and international studies,
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"As to Russia, it tries to maintain its prestige in the region in
‘re-load mode’ with Obama," he said.

The U.S. administration logic resembles the processes going on
in 1990ies in Balkans. So, it’s very likely that we are facing a
Caucasian Dayton," Mehrabyan concluded.

FIRST LADIES OF ARMENIA, RUSSIA VISIT ETCHMIADZIN AND TSITSERNAKABERD

armradio.am
05.05.2009 18:37

The First Lady of the Russian Federation, Svetlana Medvedeva, arrived
in Yerevan today at the invitation of the First Lady of Armenia,
Mrs. Rita Sargsyan.

>From Zvartnots Airport the First Ladies of Armenia and Russia headed
for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, where they were hosted by His
Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Rita Sargsyan and Svetlana Medvedeva visited the Memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims in Tsitsernakaberd. Russia’s First Lady
left a note in the Book of Honorary Guests at the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute.

In the evening the First Ladies will attend the first night of Aram
Khachatryan’s "Spartak" ballet at the National Academic Theatre after
Alexander Spendiaryan.

DILIJAN HOSTED THE LAST IN THE SERIES OF UNDP ORGANIZED CONCERTS

armradio.am
05.05.2009 18:45

On 5 May 2009 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in Armenia, within the framework of UNDP project "Music and Public
Outreach in the Regions: Highlighting the Needs of the Regions through
a Cultural Lens," addressed environmental issues in Tavush region
through a concert and a public awareness campaign in the city of
Dilijan. The performance was given by the National Chamber Orchestra
of Armenia (NCOA), led by maestro Aram Gharabekian.

The event in Dilijan was the last in the series. All the concerts
and public awareness campaigns received an overwhelming response
from the audience in Ararat, Syunik, Kotayk, Gegharkunik, Shirak and
Tavush regions.

The main objective of the project is to support the revival of cultural
life in the regions, break the cultural isolation and raise public
awareness on the needs of communities using culture and, particularly,
music as vehicle for this purpose.

EUROPE ACCUSED OF PROTECTIONISM
Heather Stewart

guardian.co.uk
Monday 4 May 2009 17.03 BST

Tariffs of up to 60% on imports of Chinese candles by EU states is
cited as an anti-free trade measure by the World Bank

Europe has been accused of going back on world leaders’ pledge to
avoid exacerbating the recession by throwing up new barriers against
international trade, just a month after the London G20 summit.

Brussels will slap tariffs of up to 60% on imports of cut-price Chinese
candles this month, in one of four measures ­identified by the World
Bank president, Robert ­Zoellick, on a blacklist of anti-free trade
decisions taken since the summit.

Haunted by the example of the 1930s, when leading powers became
locked in a tit-for-tat protectionist battle that is widely blamed
for precipitating the Great ­Depression, world leaders at the G20 in
London promised to "refrain from ­raising new barriers to investment
or to free trade in goods and services" and "rectify promptly any
such measures". But the World Bank believes Europe is among several
G20 members, ­including the US, Russia and India, which have taken
trade-restricting steps since then.

Britain’s retailers are furious about the import tax on candles,
which will cost up to 60% of the value of the products. They say the
measure protects German and Polish candle-makers – and estimate that
the sanction, which will stay in place for five years, will cost
retailers up to £10m.

"What’s extraordinary is that they sign these things at the G20, and
a week later they sign off on duties on candles," said the British
Retail Consortium’s Brussels spokesman, Alasdair Gray.

The EU has also imposed temporary "anti-dumping" taxes, which are
meant to protect against cut-price subsidised imports, on three other
products: Chinese wire, iron and steel pipes, and aluminium foil from
Armenia, Brazil and China.

Gray said he feared the European commission’s commitment to free
trade had been diluted since Lord Mandelson gave up his position as EU
trade commissioner to return to Westminster and join Gordon Brown’s
cabinet, bringing a number of senior members of staff with him. "The
trade commission needs to hear both sides of the argument," he said.

However, Lutz Gullner, spokesman for Mandelson’s successor, Baroness
Ashton, insisted that the anti-dumping measures were actually a
defence of free trade. He said: "Any allegation that we are turning
towards protectionism is without any grounds."

Gary Campkin, international spokesman for the CBI employers group,
said firms had become increasingly worried about creeping protectionism
around the world. "We hosted the G20 business summit and the message
from all the businesses was that we are concerned about protectionism,"
he said. A new international trade agreement has been stalled for
almost a year, since tal ks in the long-­running Doha round of
World Trade Organisation negotiations broke down acrimoniously last
summer. Leaders at the G20 expressed enthusiasm for resuscitating
the talks, but so far there has been little movement among trade
negotiators at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva.