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EXPRESS YOUR OPINION

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 15, 2008
Armenia

Congressman Jim Costa asked Mari Jovanovich, the nominated US
Ambassador to Armenia, to express her opinion regarding the Genocide
of Armenians.

"It is very important for the USA to fill the vacancy of the US
Ambassador to Armenia, but before the Senate confirms her candidacy,
it is very important for me and my voters to know what she thinks about
the first genocide of the 20th century, the Genocide of Armenians,"
the democratic congressman elected from Fresno announced.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
May 15, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REP. SCHIFF INTRODUCES BILL CALLING FOR THE END OF TURKEY’S
BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA

— Legislation Calls on Secretary of State to Submit Report on U.S.
Efforts to Lift Turkey’s Blockade

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation
today calling on the President and Secretary of State to urge
Turkey to lift its 15 year blockade of Armenia and outline concrete
steps taken by the Administration in that effort, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.)

Titled the "End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia Act," the
legislation notes that "Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia does
not promote regional security and prosperity, thereby undermining
the short-term and long-term policy objectives of the United
States." It goes on to cite that the "Department of State has
estimated that the blockade is inflating Armenia’s transportation
costs by between 30 and 35 percent, thereby stifling its trade and
economy." The resolution, in addition to calling for the immediate
lifting of Turkey’s blockade, would mandate that the Secretary of
State "submit to Congress a report that outlines the steps taken
and plans made by the United States to end Turkey’s blockade of
Armenia," within thirty days of the bill’s passage.

"We need to step up pressure on Turkey to lift the draconian
blockade of Armenia, permitting Armenian businesses to fully
participate in the global economy and assisting Armenia’s
integration into Europe," explained Rep. Schiff.

"Turkey’s illegal blockade of Armenia represents a violation of
international law, a clear hindrance to U.S. regional interests,
and an immoral action intended to economically isolate and
impoverish the Armenian people," stated ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "We welcome Rep. Schiff’s leadership in demanding
Congressional oversight of any concrete steps the Administration
has taken to pressure Turkey to lift its blockade."

The Schiff resolution is similar to legislation introduced in the
109th Congress (H.R.3103), which secured 14 cosponsors. In the
110th Congress, Rep. Schiff is lead author, along with Reps. George
Radanovich (R-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) of
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, which was adopted by
the House Foreign Affairs Committee last October and currently has
over 200 cosponsors.

The complete text of the resolution is provided below.

#####

To direct the Secretary of State to submit a report outlining the
steps taken and plans made by the United States to end Turkey’s
blockade of Armenia, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. SCHIFF introduced the following bill.

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of State to submit a report outlining the
steps taken and plans made by the United States to end Turkey’s
blockade of Armenia, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ”End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia
Act”

SEC. 2. REPORT RELATING TO THE TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER.

(a) FINDINGS. – Congress finds the following:

(1) United States policy toward Turkey and the south Caucasus has
prioritized security, conflict resolution, ensuring open borders
and commercial corridors, and regional cooperation.

(2) Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia does not promote regional
security and prosperity, thereby undermining the short-term and
long-term policy objectives of the United States.

(3) The Department of State has estimated that the blockade is
inflating Armenia’s transportation costs by between 30 and 35
percent, thereby stifling its trade and economy.

(4) Turkey’s blockade of Armenia has prevented United States and
international humanitarian assistance from crossing its borders, a
violation of international law, international human rights and
humanitarian standards, and Turkey’s commitments to the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

(5) Turkey is the only Council of Europe (CE) country and NATO
member to engage in a blockade against a fellow CE country and has
been repeatedly urged by the European Union (EU) to open the last
closed border of Europe.

(6) United States, Turkish, NATO-Partnership for Peace, and EU
security and economic interests would be advanced Turkey
immediately and unconditionally lifting its ongoing 15-year
blockade of Armenia.

(7) The removal of all blockades and border closures in and
adjacent to the countries of the south Caucasus will provide
positive incentives for United States private investment, increased
trade with the West, and other forms of economic and political
interactions with the global community.

(8) By lifting its blockade of Armenia, Turkey will be playing a
constructive role in continuing the development of infrastructure
necessary for regional communications, transportation, energy, and
trade on an East-West axis.

(9) If there is to be a resolution of conflicts in the region and a
reduction of tensions along borders, it is essential that the
blockade of Armenia be lifted.

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS – It is the sense of Congress that the
President and Secretary of State should call upon Turkey to comply
with the long-standing position of the United States that in order
to restore economic, political, and cultural links with Armenia,
Turkey should immediately lift its ongoing blockade with Armenia.

(c) REPORT – Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a
report that outlines the steps taken and plans made by the United
States to end Turkey’s blockade of Armenia.

NKR PARLIAMENT URGES TO TAKE STEPS FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF KARABAKH

armradio.am
15.05.2008 12:58

The three factions of the NKR National Assembly "Democracy,"
"Motherland" and "Dashnaktsutyun Movement" – issued their conclusion
on the process of international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic and presented the primary steps to be taken towards this end,
Mediamax reports.

The factions suggest the NKR President and Government to "to take
practical steps for the establishment of legal interstate relations
with the Republic of Armenia to reinforce the current level of
cooperation and plan new priorities deriving form regional and
international processes."

The parliamentarians also suggest "to work out and present to
consideration the NKR National Security Doctrine." Before the
elaboration and consideration of the doctrine the President and
the Government are suggested to establish a special working group on
issues of strategic analysis and information, which will be engaged in
organization and coordination of propaganda and anti-propaganda. It
is suggested to use the potential of the NKR representatives abroad
and the Armenian community.

The Deputies urge to "make consecutive efforts for the international
recognition of NKR, making full use of the opportunities of
parliamentary diplomacy."

BUCHANAN TO HOST ARMENIAN SUMMER GAMES

The Fresno Bee
May 14, 2008 Wednesday
California

May 14–Buchanan High will host the 38th annual Armenian Summer Games
from June 20-22.

Athletes will compete in track and field, tennis, and men’s and
women’s basketball.

The men’s basketball competition will have a junior high, high
school and open division. First-third place finishers will receive
medallions and all participants will receive T-shirts and a ticket
to the post-meet picnic.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS

armradio.am
14.05.2008 16:42

Secretary of the National Security Council at RA President’s Office
Arthur Baghdasaryan received congratulations from the State Secretary
of the Security Council of Belarus Viktor Sheyman and the Secretary of
the Security Council at the President’s Office of Uzbekistan M. Atayev
on the occasion of his appointment, President’s Press Office reported.

RUBEN VARTANYAN DIES

Arlington Connection
May 14 2008
VA

RUBEN VARTANYAN, 70, Music Director of the Arlington Philharmonic
and internationally known maestro, died at his home in Arlington on
Wednesday, May 7. The cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage.

Maestro Vartanyan had been an Arlington resident since arriving in
the area in 1988. He had served as the music director of the previous
Arlington Symphony for 13 years, and took the helm of the Philharmonic
when it was created in 2005.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia to musical parents, Vartanyan spent
his early childhood in Armenia. At the age of ten, he enrolled in
the Central Music School in Moscow, and later entered the Moscow
Conservatory of Music where he earned a degree in piano performance
and a Ph.D. in Opera and Symphony Conducting. From 1980 through 1988,
Maestro Vartanyan was the conductor of the renowned Bolshoi Opera in
Moscow, leading more than 500 performances.

During his international career, in addition to his time as Bolshoi
Opera conductor, Vartanyan was also the music director of the National
Symphony of Bolivia. He was the first assistant conductor-in-training
under the legendary Herbert von Karajan at the Vienna State Opera
and Vienna Philharmonic Opera.

More recently, in addition to his tenure with the Arlington Symphony,
Maestro Vartanyan was the music director of the National Lyric
Opera Company in Washington, D.C. and conducted the Williamsburg,
Va. Symphonia. He has held conducting seminars at the Shenandoah
Conservatory and at George Mason University, and has taught a number
of private students in the D.C. area.

The last concert he conducted was with the Arlington Philharmonic
on March 9th, 2008. He became a U.S. citizen, and once expressed that
"This is a country that I love immensely. This is my country forever."

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II ENDS VISIT TO VATICAN

ARMENPRESS
May 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, concluded his one week fraternal
visit to the Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Catholic Church, His
Holiness Benedict XVI and is back home.

Accompanying His Holiness throughout the duration of the visit were
His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian, Grand Sacristan of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem; His Grace Bishop Aram Ateshian,
Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople; and
approximately 20 additional archbishops and bishops of the Armenian
Church – primates of Armenian Dioceses in North and South America,
Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

On Tuesday, May 6, the Pontiff of All Armenians and his delegation
arrived in Rome. This was His Holiness’ third visit to the Vatican
since his election as Catholicos of All Armenians in 1999.

The visit to Italy was composed of three parts: a four-day visit to
the Vatican, a one-day visit to the Armenian community of Milan and
a two-day visit to the Mekhitarian Congregation on the Island of San
Lazzaro in Venice.

On Wednesday morning, His Holiness Karekin II and the Armenian bishops
visited the tomb of Pope John Paul II of blessed memory, in the crypt
below Saint Peter’s Basilica, and offered a solemn prayer for the
repose of his soul.

The Catholicos and the Armenian delegation also visited the newly
named St. Gregory the Illuminator plaza inside St. Peter’s courtyard
and viewed the statue of the patron saint of the Armenian Church,
placed there during the pontificate of John Paul II.

Immediately afterwards, the Armenian delegation of clergy and laity
participated in the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, jointly
held by Pope Benedict XVI and Catholicos Karekin II. The two church
heads exchanged messages of greeting, a fraternal embrace and kiss of
peace on the platform in front of the mother cathedral of the Roman
Catholic Church, before a crowd of more than 35,000 faithful.

That same afternoon, His Holiness Karekin II was presented with
an Honoris Causa doctorate degree from the Pontifical Salesian
University recognizing his fruitful work in Christian Education and
Youth Instruction.

On Thursday, May 8, His Holiness Karekin II and his delegation visited
the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, and conveyed his blessings
and warm greetings to the participants of a symposium dedicated to
the study of the Armenian Divine Liturgy.

Friday morning, May 9, the delegation of 100 Armenian bishops and
faithful went to the Apostolic Palace of the Holy See, for a private
audience under the joint presidency of His Holiness Karekin II and His
Holiness Benedict XVI. The two pontiffs again exchanged warm messages
of greeting and brotherly love, embraced with a solemn kiss of peace
and spoke of the strong ties and increasing collaboration between
the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

A short prayer service was held under the presidency of both church
heads, following which, the faithful approached the Catholicos and the
Pope to kiss their right hands and receive their blessings. At the
conclusion of the audience, Catholicos Karekin II and Pope Benedict
XVI met privately during lunch to discuss issues of importance to
both Churches.

In the afternoon, His Holiness Karekin II, met with His Grace
Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Vatican
Guest House for a private meeting. The head of the Church of England
and the Anglican Communion was coincidentally also in the Holy See
this week, and the two fondly recalled the Archbishop’s fraternal
visit to Holy Etchmiadzin in September 2007, as well as discussed
the upcoming Lambeth Conference for the Anglican Communion and the
current state of relations with sister Churches.

The final event at the Vatican was an Ecumenical Prayer Service,
offered at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the
grave of St. Paul the Apostle is located. His Holiness Karekin II
presided during the service, which included the participation of
Roman Catholic and Armenian Church bishops and clergy.

In addition to the official events throughout the course of the
week, His Holiness and the church hierarchs also visited a number
of Armenian and Catholic churches and shrines. His Holiness and the
high-ranking clergymen departed Rome for Milan on Saturday morning,
where he met chaired an event dedicated to the 50-th anniversary of
foundation of the local Armenian church.

On May 11-12 His Holiness was the guest of the Mkhetarist Armenian
Catholic Congregation on the island of san Lazzaro.

ILHAM ALIEV TO BE THE ACCOUNTABLE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 13, 2008
Armenia

Political Scientist Melik Shahnazaryan announced yesterday, Azerbaijani
Special Service made an attempt upon his life on April 22.

He said, undoubtedly, the article published in the Russian language
magazine "Karabakh Express", in May 2007, served as a reason for
this encroachment.

"If a big tree drops on me, if the lightening hits me, or I die because
of pneumonia Ilham Aliev will be accountable for it, a person engaged
in international terrorism.

As far as I can understand and as far as I’m informed the Special
Service of any country will never dare to take similar actions without
the order and agreement of the country’s leader," the Political
Scientist announced.

NEW ALBUM OF GUITARIST GENE ESS TO BE RECORDED IN JUNE WITH PARTICIPATION OF TIGRAN HAMASIAN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

PARIS, MAY 13, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Guitarist Gene Ess and
his quartet will be recording a new album in June. This new work will
feature the 2006 Thelonious Monk Piano Competition 1st place winner
Tigran Hamasyan on piano. At twenty-one, pianist Tigran Hamasyan
has already done much to launch his name into the world of emergent
young lions. After winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano
Competition in 2006, he studied in the United States before returning
to Paris, where he recorded his first album, New Era. Tigran will be
joining Gene Ess, Harvie S, and Tyshawn Sorey for these New York dates.

UNDER CONDITIONS OF RAPIDLY GROWING MILITARY BUDGET OF AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA MUST ENSURE BALANCE AT EXPENSE OF QUALITY

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The programs of allocations for Armenia’s
defence system were implemented completely in 2007, the RA minister
of defence Seyran Ohanian said during a talk with reporters on May 12.

According to him, since January 1, 2001, the monetary allowances and
salaries of servicemen and employees of the defence system have grown
by about 20%. Expenditure programs have been implemented for enhancing
the combat preparedness of troops, replenishment and operation of
military and technical equipment and improving the living conditions
and health care services of servicemen.

Expressing concern about the growth rates of Azerbaijan’s mmilitary
budget, the mnister underlined that Armenia must do everything to
maintain the balance at the expense of qualitative indices. "We know
that the military programs of Azerbijan are growing year by year. We
will do our best so that the defence expenditures will meet the needs
of the army," S. Ohanian said.

In response to a question, S. Ohanian assured the reporters that
based on an agreement reached with the Azerbaijani side, the Armenian
citizens who recently crossed the border and are now in Nakhijevan,
will be soon handed over to the Armenian side.