Author: admin

3 YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR VARDAN JHANGIRYAN

LRAGIR.AM
16:56:34 – 31/03/2009

The Kentron-Nork Marash first instance court pronounced the sentence
of Gagik Jhangiryan’s brother Vardan Jhangiryan, who was found
guilty based on the Article 316, and was sentenced to three year of
imprisonment.Considering the Article 69 of the Armenian Crime Code
and the 3 months and 28 days that Vardan Jhangiryan passed under
arrest, the court decided to sentence him to 2 year 8 months of
imprisonment. The court applied the Article 70 also and made the
decision not to execute the sentence, but put Vardan Jhangiryan on
a 3-year probation term

U.S. CONGRESSMEN SEND LETTERS TO TURKISH AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS

APA
March 31 2009
Azerbaijan

Washington – APA. Four members of the U.S. Congress, representatives
of Democratic Party sent letters to Turkish and Armenian Presidents,
APA reports quoting CNN Turk.

The congressmen said they support the efforts to normalize the
relations between Turkey and Armenia. Co-chair of the US-Turkey
friendship group in the Congress Robert Wexler said it is of great
importance that the US and international community support the efforts
to normalize the relations between Armenia and Turkey and achieve
positive dialogue and dynamic development.

"Laying healthy foundation to remove divergence between Yerevan and
Ankara, achieve cooperation between the two countries and improve
diplomatic relations are in favor of the US, Turkey and Armenia,"
Alongside with Robert Wexler, Ike Skelton John Murtha and Alcee
Hastings signed the letter.

ANKARA WILL NOT COMPROMISE AND OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA: TURKEY’S INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR

Trend
March 30 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey’s International Strategic Research Organization says though
Armenian issue will be discussed during U.S. President’s visit to
Turkey, Ankara will not compromise and open borders with Armenia.

"U.S. and Turkey will discuss Armenian issue. But it is politically
incorrect to think that Ankara will compromise Yerevan and open borders
under Obama’s pressure," Turkey-based International Strategic Research
Organization director Sedat Lachiner told Trend News in a telephone
conversation from Ankara.

Turkey’s SABAH newspaper quoted the anonymous EU official as saying
that he hopes the Turkey-Armenia border will be opened following
U.S. President Barrack Obama’s visit to Turkey in April.

Obama will trip to Turkey on April 5-7.

Lachiner said Turkey was put on more pressure regarding Iraqi issue
during former U.S. President George Bush’s office. However, Turkey
did not allow U.S. troops to use its territory.

"Turkey will never act in detriment of Azerbaijan’s
interests. Azerbaijan is aware of all talks between Turkey and
Armenia," Lachiner said.

He said media is exaggerating reports on opening of the Turkey-Armenia
border.

"The reason for the closed Turkey-Armenia border is Yerevan’s
disrespect for borders and territorial integrity of neighbor states,"
he added.

Lachiner said Turkey will not sacrifice its borders to the so-called
genocide claims. Ankara has resolute views on this issue.

"The border can be opened after Armenia withdraws from occupied
Azerbaijani lands. Turkey will not harm its interests under the
pressure of any state," he said.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 because of Armenia’s
false "genocide" claims and occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani
lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6,
2008 at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to
watch Armenia-Turkey football match within the European Cup. Efforts
have been made since then to normalize ties between the two countries.

HAVE ARMENIA, TURKEY ACHIEVED A DEAL ON OPENING OF THE BORDER?

armradio.am
30.03.2009 16:22

Turkey and Armenia agree on the roadmap to establish diplomatic
ties and open the shared border. The timing of the declaration of
the agreement remains key for Ankara. The key question is whether to
announce the agreement before, during or after President Obama’s visit,
Hurriyet Daily reported.

The paper writes that Ankara and Yerevan have agreed on the major
parameters of a historic reconciliation in secret talks to start
diplomatic relations and re-open their shared border, which Turkey
closed in 1993.

Turkey and Armenia are readying to sign a protocol that marks
commitment by both sides to establish diplomatic relations and set up
committees on issues ranging from border management, customs, history
and more. Having achieved a satisfying deal which includes setting
up a history committee to discuss 1915 events, on which Yerevan
dragged its feet for a long time, the remaining dilemma for Ankara
is the proper timing of the announcement, the Hurriyet Daily News &
Economic Review has learned.

"The hard work is done. Everybody has faith that the deal will be
made public soon," a diplomat told the Daily News, speaking on the
condition of anonymity.

"The draft protocol will set the framework for transition to full
diplomatic relations possibly starting with low-key representations
in Ankara and Yerevan or=2 0accreditation of ambassadors from other
neighboring capitals.

Simultaneously Turkey will come up with a road map for a solution
in Nagorno-Karabakh. The modalities of the new border regime will be
determined upon the work by the border committee while as part of a
show of good will immediate measures would be taken for a gradual
opening. Diplomatic recognition will be supported by social and
economic projects with coordination of the Turkish Armenian Business
Development Council, or TABDC.

If Turkey insists not to proceed with the announcement before Obama’s
meetings in Ankara, then there are two other symbolic dates on the
horizon that would serve as meaningful opportunities for announcing
the historic deal. The UN-sponsored Alliance of Civilizations summit
in Istanbul, which coincides with Obama’s visit, is the first
opportunity because Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
will also attend. The next option is Turkish Foreign Minister Ali
Babacan’s trip to Yerevan on April 16 to attend a meeting of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization," the Daily News writes.

EU FOREIGN MINISTERS HOLD INFORMAL TALKS IN CZECH REPUBLIC

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 11:11 GMT+04:00

A consensus has emerged at a meeting in the Czech Republic of EU
foreign ministers to invite Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
to an upcoming launch summit of the Eastern Partnership, on the tacit
understanding that the authoritarian leader does not show up at the
event himself.

According to diplomatic sources present at the meeting, the European
Commission, the EU’s executive arm, which has an office in Minsk,
appears to believe that if invited, Lukashenko would send his foreign
minister, Siarhey Martynau, or some other senior official in his stead.

The ministers are in the Czech Republic for two days of informal talks
at a scenic southern Bohemian castle that once belonged to the family
of their host, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

After a debate on Belarus that Scwarzenberg described as "very open"
– diplomatic code for contentious – the EU appears convinced that it
can afford the gamble.

After the talks on March 27, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
indicated that the majority of the bloc’s member states would like
everyone to be present at the May 7 summit in Prague.

"As you know, an important summit has been convened by the Czech [EU]
presidency, a very important summit, and we would like everybody to
be present at that summit," Solana said. "We have discussed what could
be the best manner to have everybody around [the table] at that summit
in a constructive attitude. I don’t think we can go beyond that now."

But "everyone" might well be interpreted to mean "every country,"
not necessarily "every leader."

If it works, the stratagem could eliminate the risk of an offended
Belarus boycotting the summit altogether if Lukashenko is not
invited. On the other hand, Lukashenko’s absence could reduce the
danger of inevitably awkward scenes.

The Netherlands, in particular, has threatened to publicly upbraid
Lukashenko if he shows up in the manner of the treatment meted out
to the Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe at an EU-Africa summit a
few years ago.

Critics fear Lukashenko would exploit the summit limelight to air
his own, in all probability largely unreconstructed, views.

Many EU officials argue that Belarus’ presence at the summit – and in
the Eastern Partnership – is of vital importance to lend the project
credibility. Backers have long played up the project as an alternative
to Russia’s assertive quest for dominance outside its borders. Russia
itself has attacked the EU vehemently in recent weeks for purportedly
seeking to establish its own "sphere of influence."

Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the future of the Western Balkans
are also on the ministers’ agenda.

Schwarzenberg said the first day of discussion paved the way for a
trans-Atlantic exchange of views that is expected to take place in
Prague on April 5, when the 27 EU leaders meet with U.S. President
Barack Obama.

"There will be a discussion with the United States at the summit in
Prague exactly about this," Schwarzenberg said. "There the heads
of state of the EU will discuss with President Obama whatever we
can deliver."

Schwarzenberg did not directly respond to Obama’s recent calls for
greater EU involvement in Afghanistan, but said he "understands" the
United States expects the bloc to contribute "civilian" assistance
in the form of an enhanced "gendarmerie-style" police-training mission.

The EU foreign ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to a
"two-state" solution in Israel and the Palestinian territory, without
which Solana said there would be "no peace process, no solution."

The ministers are expected to meet their counterparts from the Western
Balkans for talks on the future of the region on the second day of
the gathering in Hluboka,

PanARMENIAN.Net

13 opposition parties issue Manifesto of Unity
28.03.2009 12:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thirteen opposition political groups announced on
March 27, that they would coordinate efforts to organize peaceful
protest rallies starting from April 9 to demand President
Saakashvili’s resignation.

Eight parties have made a similar statement last month, but the recent
announcement, with the named Manifesto of Unity, marks further
increase of the group as the Alliance for Georgia, uniting New Rights
Party, Republican Party and a political team of Irakli Alasania, has
joined it. The Alliance for Georgia until now has showed reservations
about the joining the group in charge of organizing the April 9 rally,
but was holding consultations with it to, as it was saying, to agree
on an exact action plan.

Apart of the parties in the Alliance for Georgia, the manifesto has
been joined by the following parties: Alliance for Freedom (uniting
Party of Freedom; Party of Women for Justice and Equality;
Traditionalists and Party of Future); Conservative Party (leaders `
Kakha Kukava and Zviad Dzidziguri); Democratic Movement`United Georgia
(led by Nino Burjanadze); Georgia’s Way (led by Salome Zourabichvili);
Industrialists Party (led by Zurab Tkemaladze and beer magnate Gogi
Topadze); Movement for United Georgia (founded by ex-defense minister
Irakli Okruashvili); Party of People (led by Koba Davitashvili). Levan
Gachechiladze, a former opposition presidential candidate, has joined
the document as an individual politician.

`We reaffirm, that on April 9, 2009 we will launch a peaceful protest
rally through which we will achieve Mikheil Saakashvili’s resignation
from the post of the president and appointment of early presidential
elections,’ the document reads.

With the document the parties have also pledged that their action plan
`will be agreed and coordinated with each other.’

Opposition leaders said on March 27, that they will open dialogue with
the authorities only on the terms of President Saakashvili’s
resignation, Civil.ge reported.

Nouvelles d’Arménie, France
Vendredi 27 Mars 2009

Ahmet Davutoglu : La diaspora condamne l’Arménie à la pauvreté

vendredi27 mars 2009, par Stéphane/armenews

Le conseiller en Affaires Etrangères du Premier ministre Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, le Professeur Ahmet Davutoglu a fait un discours
à l’Université Princeton sutr les principes de la
politique étrangère de la Turquie. S’exprimant sur les
relations entre la Turquie avec l’Arménie, Ahmet Davutoglu a
dit que l’attitude inopportune de la diaspora arménienne aux
Etats-Unis affecte les relations turco-arméniennes
négativeme nt. Affirmant que la Turquie est enclin à
avoir un accord avec l’Arménie, le Professeur Davutoglu a
déclaré "la Diaspora est en lutte pour la reconnaissance
du prétendu génocide arménien mais qu’elle ne
prenait pas en compte les intérêts de
l’Arménie. Un arménien qui vit à San Francisco ne
fait pas d’investissement à Yerevan. Aujourd’hui,
l’Arménie est le pays le plus pauvre de la région. Nous
aspirons à avoir davantage de coopération
économique avec nos voisins. Nous voulons des voisins riches
car nous croyons que cela rendra notre région plus
sûre."

Ahmet Davutoglu a dit que si les Etats-Unis reconnaissent le
prétendu génocide arménien, non seulement les
Etats-Unis et la Turquie mais l’Arménie aussi
souffriront. Déclarant que les solutions des problèmes
de l’Arménie avec la Turquie et l’Azerbaïdjan seront
avantageux pour les Etats-Unis, Ahmet Davutoglu a dit "si les
Etats-Unis perdent l’Azerbaïdjan dans la question du Karabakh,
donc cela signifiera qu’elle a perdu la porte orientale de la Mer
Caspienne."

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
March 27, 2009 Friday

AZERBAIJAN ONE OF VERY IMPORTANT COUNTRIES FOR USA, BRYZA

Baku March 27

Azerbaijan is one of the very important countries for the United
States of America, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza has said
here.

Speaking to journalists shortly before his departure, Bryza said
during his one-day visit to the country he had fruitful talks on
current situation in South Caucasus, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

He said the parties are very close to achieving a solution to the
dispute.

I think we have made a certain progress in relations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, and I felt this once again during my current
visit, said Bryza.

Washington`s position is that the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process
should take place in parallel with the normalization of Turkey-Armenia
relations, he added.

Bryza said the US President and State Secretary support mediating
efforts of the Minsk Group.

He also noted that in several months the talks can enter a very new
stage.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 28 2009

Armenian, Greek Cypriot ministers to attend civilizations meeting

An international forum to be held in Ä°stanbul next week will be a
compelling event with high-profile participation from world leaders,
while 30 foreign ministers had already confirmed their participation
in the forum as of yesterday.

The Second Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
(UNAOC) will be held on April 6-7, coinciding with US President Barack
Obama’s visit to the Turkish capital, which is also expected to begin
on April 6. The White House has yet to release a detailed agenda of
Obama’s visit, but he is expected to participate in the forum in
Ä°stanbul on its second day after wrapping up his talks in Ankara.

Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou, whose government is
not recognized by Ankara, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
with whose country Turkey has no diplomatic relations with, and Greek
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, whose country is still at odds with
Turkey over disputes concerning the Aegean Sea, are among the at least
30 foreign ministers who will participate in a high-level
brainstorming meeting within the framework of the UNAOC forum in
Ä°stanbul.

Among those expected to be present at the second forum is former
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, whose earlier "dialogue of
civilizations" initiative laid some of the groundwork for the UNAOC.

Iran, along with 82 other countries, is a member of the Group of
Friends of the alliance. As of yesterday afternoon, the alliance
secretariat had not yet received an affirmative or negative response
from Tehran for the invitation extended to Iran at the foreign
ministerial level. Forbes magazine on Thursday said, "Though the
alliance this week would neither confirm nor deny, it’s a good bet
there will be representatives there from Iran."

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, whose probable candidacy
for the top NATO post has led to a heated debate both in his country
and abroad, will also be in Ä°stanbul to participate in the UNAOC
Forum, only a few days after a NATO summit on April 3-4 when the
transatlantic body is expected to announce its next chief.

Rasmussen, along with Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev, Bulgarian
Georgi Parvanov, Slovenian President Danilo Türk, has already
confirmed to Ankara his participation in the forum, diplomatic
sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Today’s Zaman
yesterday. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who will participate in a
trilateral summit with the presidents of Turkey and Pakistan on April
1 in Ankara, is also likely to attend the forum.

The UNAOC held its inaugural forum in early 2008 in Madrid.

28 March 2009, Saturday
EMÄ°NE KART ANKARA

INVESTIGATION TO CONSIDER NEW VISIONS OF ARMENIAN POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 21:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At present we possess no new data on murder of
Armenian Police Deputy Chief, Lieutenant Colonel Gevorg Mheryan. New
murder versions are under consideration. Investigation is in full
swing, Head of Senior RA Police Department for Organized Crime
Prevention Hunan Poghosyan told a news conference.