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BAKU HOSTS ROUNDTABLE ON "SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: TODAY’S REALITIES"

Azeri Press Agency
April 23 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ramil Mammadli -APA. "Hesret yolu" ("Way of Sorrow") Public
Association for Assistance of War Prisoner and Hostages has held
roundtable on "So-called Armenian genocide: today’s realities",
APA reports.

Esmira Orujova, Chairwoman of the Association stated that international
community was feeble to so-called Armenian genocide. Super states used
so-called Armenian genocide against Turkey. To her, Turkey has not
committed any genocide against Armenians. There was not discrimination
against Armenians during Ottoman Empire. Irada Rzazadeh, Chairwoman of
Public Association for Social Welfare of Citizens stressed the role of
USSR in the adoption of April 24 as day of Armenian genocide. To her,
great monument has been erected in Yerevan during USSR period. This
day is marked as national condolence day. She stated that Azerbaijan
and Turkey could prevent lies of Armenians elucidating facts.

ARMENIA TO CONSIDER SOFTENING LAW ON RALLIES

Interfax
April 21 2008
Russia

The OSCE mission in Yerevan has issued a statement saying that Armenia
is ready to consider softening the law on public gatherings, rallies
and marches.

This possibility was discussed during a meeting between Armenian
Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosyan, Justice Minister Gevork Danielyan
and presidential aide Gevork Mgeryan, and delegates of the OSHR
(OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) and the
Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

The Armenia side agreed to change or annul disputed amendments to
the law on rallies, the statement says.

The amendments were introduced after the March 1 tragic events in
Yerevan when 10 people were killed and more than 250 were wounded in
clashes between opposition supporters and police.

ARMEN GEVORGIAN APPPOINTED RA DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION MINISTER

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. By RA President Serge Sargsian’s April
21 decree Armen Gevorgian was appointed RA Territorial Administration
Minister.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, by another decree of the same day A. Gevorgian was
appointed RA Deputy Prime Minister.

A. Gevorgian was born on July 8, 1973 in Yerevan. In 1990 he left
Yerevan secondary school N 28. He studied at the History Faculty
of Orenburg State Pedagogical Institute. He graduated from Saint
Petersburg Institute of State Service and was a student for master’s
degree at Tventey (Netherlands) University with the speciality of
Programming of Education and Retraining Systems (1996). In 1993
October – 1996 he was a post-graduate student at Saint Petersburg
Gertsen Russian Pedagogical Institute. In 1997 January – 1998 April
13 he took the post of Assistant to the RA Prime Minister and from
1998 April 13 Assistant to RA President and First Deputy Head of the
Administration. In 2000-2006 he took the post of the First Assistant
to the RA President. In 2006 February he was appointed Head of the
RA President’s Administration. From 2007 June he has been also taking
the post of the Secretary of the National Security Council.

He is a candidate of pedagogical sciences (he maintained a thesis at
Saint Petersburg State Pedagogical University).

He masters the Russian, English languages.

He is married, has two sons.

TASK GROUP SET UP IN ARMENIA TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BROUGHT UP BEFORE PRESIDENT

ARKA
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, April 22. /ARKA/. Armenian President Serge Sargsian signed
a decree setting up a task group to summarize and solve the problems
brought up by citizens during his election campaign meetings, the
presidential press service reported.

RA presidential press service reports that Vice-Premier, Minister of
Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgian has been appointed head
of the group.

Among the members of the group are the Assistant to President, deputy
ministers of territorial administration, healthcare, agriculture,
energy and natural resources, education and science, finance, transport
and communication, as well as the Chairman of the State Water Committee
of the Territorial Administration Ministry, the first Vice-Mayor of
Yerevan, Chief of the Department for Territorial Administration and
Local Governments, RA Government Staff, Advisor to the RA Premier
and Executive Director of the ArmRosgasprom Company.

The task group is to summarize the issues brought up and submit
a schedule of possible solutions for approval of the Armenian
President.

INFORMATION ON CUSTOMS VALUES OF SOME GOODS ALREADY PLACED ON WEBSITE OF STATE CUSTOMS COMMITTEE

Noyan Tapan
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Information on the customs values
of about 100 consumer goods has already been placed on the RA
State Customs Committee’s (SCC) website – , with
more information to be available within a month. The head of the
SCC Department for Customs Improvement and International Relations
Karen Beglarian said at the April 21 press conference that it was
done in accordance with the president Serge Sargsian’s instructions
on implementation of rapid reforms in the sector. S.

Sargsian gave these instructions during a recent meeting with the
heads of the SCC.

K. Beglarian announced that citizens may also send emails via
the website to the SCC acting head, who personallty reads emails
and then informs citizens about measures taken based on their
complaints. Besides, a hot line – 535573 will be set up at the
Committee.

According to K. Beglarian, several meetings with entities engaged
in foreign economic activity took place in recent days. The entities
mainly raised issues related to the methodology of determination of
customs values and to rapid registration of documents.

It was mentioned that an out-of-time attestation of officials of the
SCC will be held soon.

THE CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS AND THE CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA EXPRESS THEIR SUPORT TO SERZH SARGSYAN

armradio.am
21.04.2008 14:27

Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, visited
President Serzh Sargsyan today.

Noting that due to circumstances he did not manage to attend the
inauguration ceremony of the President-Elect, Catholicos Aram II
said he has arrived in Armenia to personally congratulate President
Sargsyan and express his support. "The Church and the Motherland,
the belief and the Armenian nation are a unity, within the framework
of which we should cooperate," he underlined.

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II expressed confidence that
the path taken today will, no doubt, yield results in some time,
and people will see that concrete steps are being taken to build the
Motherland of our wishes and expectations.

According to the President, many things can be done and great results
can be achieved, having the support of two Catholicoses at the rear. He
highly appreciated the role of the Church in the life of the Armenian
people and noted that under the circumstances of absence of statehood
for thousand years, the Church assumed the some functions of the
statehood and preservation of the Armenian national identity. Noting
that the state will continue supporting the consolidation of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, President Sargsyan said the Church will
remain one of the carriers of the Armenian language and national
identity.

The Catholicos of All Armenians and the Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia expressed confidence that Serzh Sargsyan will continue
serving the common and supreme interests of the Motherland and
our people with great responsibility and devotion. They expressed
willingness to support the realization of all the kind initiatives
that our President has to move our country forward.

REGULAR ACTION OF PROTEST WITH DEMAND TO RELEASE ARRESTED POLITICIANS HELD NEAR RA PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE

Noyan Tapan
April 18, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The wives and friends of opposition
activists and politicians arrested within the framework of the criminal
case instituted on the fact of March 1 events organized an action
of protest near the building of RA Prosecutor General’s Office on
April 18. The demonstrants demanded as soon as possible releasing
their relatives, who, according to them, were arrested purely for
their political views. Ruzan Khachatrian, the Spokesperson of the
People’s Party of Armenia, and Stepan Safarian, the Secretary of the
RA National Assembly Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, had joined the
action participants. The latter in his interview to journalists said
that "no matter what grave mistakes the authorities have committed
by illegally imprisoning these people, nevertheless, they should
find strength in themselves and give up the strict position, which
is conditioned by their conviction about their own infallibility and
just the temptation to ground their actions."

After standing for about half an hour and voicing "Freedom!" some of
the demonstrants came up to the entrance of the Prosecutor’s Office
building, where Zhanna Ketikian, the Head of the Citizens Reception
Department, approached them. Handing her a letter containing
their demands the demonstrants asked when they will receive an
answer. Z. Ketikian said that she cannot say the exact term of the
answer and promised to give the letter to the Prosecutor General.

The demonstrants stated that unless they receive an answer they will
hold an action of protest near the Prosecutor’s Office building each
Friday. "I do not think that it can considerably assist problem’s
solution. In any case the judicial bodies work not under the influence
of compulsion, but within the law and it is not your making a noise
that should contribute to objective solution of this problem,"
Z. Ketikian stated.

PETER SCHIDER: "I HOPE AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT REPEAT ARMENIA’S MISTAKES DURING ELECTIONS"

Today.Az
/politics/44372.html
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with respectable president of PACE Peter Schider.

-Which of the principles of the conflicts resolution -territorial
integrity or the right for self-determination-does PACE prefer while
assessing the conflict areas?

-As a rule, two parties are represented in a conflict. Each has its
own position and it is always difficult to reach a compromise. But
the main principles of the Council of Europe in such situations are
sovereignty and peaceful way of the conflict settlement. Therefore I
think that such conferences, as one held with my participation in Baku
and devoted to the legal bases of the conflicts resolution in GUAM,
are a good start for the adherence to the principles of the Council
of Europe.

-Do you agree that the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence,
will have a negative influence on the resolution of other conflicts,
in particular, that of Nagorno Karabakh?

-Yes, I think such concerns do exist. The European Union should take
into account all consequences of the developments on this issue. This
threat does exist, it should be a signal for others and all in Europe
are responsible for elimination of this threat.

-The situation in Kosovo showed that double standards still exist
in the world and decisions, profitable for the West and the United
states are adopted in the end. Do you agree with it?

-This issue has been the subject of discussions and, as you know,
the opinion of some members of the Union did not coincide with
others. In the result, it was decided to follow the general policy
of the European Union. This decision is important for the future of
the Union, but at the same time it carries the said threats.

-Presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan in autumn of this
year. What PACE expects from this event?

-We expect the elections to be held in line with the due standards of
the Council of Europe. I hope the elections will be democratic. This
is mainly important for the country, itself. And I think Azerbaijan
will cope with this task.

-Some appeal to PACE with a request to impose sanctions on Armenia
for violence, committed by the country’s authorities against their
citizens during presidential elections. Do you think Azerbaijan will be
able to avoid such negative developments during the coming elections?

-I think the events, connected with the elections in Armenia, were
harmful for the country. And I hope Azerbaijan will be wise and learn
from this example.

LORD RUSSELL JOHNSTON: "FINDING SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS NOT WITHIN THE MANDATE OF OUR COMMITTEE"

Azeri Press Agency
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubeyli -APA. "We have once more discussed the
meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations at the session
of PACE Sub-Committee on Nagorno Karabakh", Lord Russell Johnston,
British Parliamentarian and head of the PACE Sub-Committee on Nagorno
Karabakh told APA correspondent exclusively.

He announced the reasons of postponing the meeting until the January
session. "We have decided to postpone the meeting until the next
January for two reasons. The first reason related to the current
situation in Armenia, because this problem has not been solved yet
and there is no favorable environment for the meeting in June. It was
alternatively suggested to hold meeting at the October session, but
presidential elections in Azerbaijan will take place on October 15 and
it was the second reason for the postponement of the meeting. Heads of
delegations of both countries decided to meet later in next January. It
will give us additional time for the necessary preparation for the
meeting. I think it is important that both sides agreed on the date
of the meeting. I will meet with Armenian newly-elected president
later in May". Lord Russell Johnston said he had no intentions to
visit Nagorno Karabakh region. "It would be no correct to relate
next January meeting to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict only. It is
not our main goal. Finding solutions to the conflict is not within
the mandate of our committee. We desire to assist the members of the
parliaments of both countries to establish and develop the relationship
and to achieve the objective atmosphere for the dialogue between the
parliamentarians of both countries".

DOCUMENT ON ARMENIA’S ACTIONS, AIMED AT RAISING TENSIONS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS, PRESENTED TO PACE SECRETARIAT

Today.Az
itics/44368.html
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

A draft resolution regarding the need to assess the actions of Armenia,
aiming to raise tenseness in the South Caucasus has been submitted to
the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

According to Day.Az the document has been worked out by the member
of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE Ganira Pashayeva.

The document also contains the demand to apply tougher mechanisms to
prevent growth of tensions in the South Caucasus.

It should be reminded that in line with the procedures, the document
should contain signicatures of at least 20 deputies from 5 CE
member-states for its adoption by the PACE secretariat.

The draft resolution has been signed by deputies from Turkey, Moldova,
Lithuania, Germany and Italy.

The document states the failure of the elections in Armenia to meet
the norms and principles of international law and commitments before
the Council of Europe.

The draft resolution says that the arrangement of voting for President
of Armenia in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan affects the negotiation
process, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group.

Moreover, the documents says that in order to distract attention of the
world society from the domestic situation, the Armenian authorities
provoked tensions on the front line and attacked positions of the
Azerbaijani army and civilians, residing in the front line villages.

The document also points at the aggressive announcements of Serzh
Sarkissyan during the election campaign and the inauguration speech
and discussions in the Armenian parliament, where an issue of the
need to settle the occupied lands of Azerbaijan was raised.

It should be noted that after the draft resolution is adopted by the
Secretariat, the document will be discussed in the Bureau and other
structures of the Council of Europe.