Author: Andres-Papazian

THORBJORN JAGLAND: ARMENIA IS A GOOD PARTNER TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

armradio.am
21.10.2010 17:16

President Serzh Sargsyan received today the Secretary General of
the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland, and the delegation of
participants of the CoE 2010 Form for the Future of Democracy.

President Sargsyan welcomed the conduct of the forum in Armenia. He
praised the Council of Europe role in the protection of human rights,
reinforcement of democracy and democratic institutions, underlining
Armenia’s commitment to European values.

“The fundamental human rights and freedoms, the defense of democratic
values are among the cornerstones of our statehood. We have passed
a long way in that direction ever since gaining independence.

Nevertheless, we realize hat we still have much to do and we are
resolute to pass this way, although it’s said that this road has no
end,” Serzh Sargsyan said.

Characterizing the conduct of the forum in Yerevan as an important
event for both the Council of Europe and Armenia, Thorbjorn Jagland
said he was glad to see that Armenia was a good partner of the Council
of Europe.

“We closely follow the developments in Armenia. I agree with you
that you have already passed a long way. The main function of the
Council of Europe is to help countries pass that way, or the highway,
as I call it. I share your opinion that this highway has no end,
and there are obstacles to democracy on both sides of the road. The
more we more forward, the more challenges appear,” he said.

Thorbjorn Jagland hailed the activity of the of Armenia’s Permanent
Representative at the Council of Europe.

From: A. Papazian

THORBJORN JAGLAND: DEMOCRACY CAN’T BE ESTABLISHED IN ONE NIGHT

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 21, 2010 – 15:18 AMT 10:18 GMT

Spread of democratic values is a long-term process, Secretary General
of the Council of Europe said.

“Democracy can’t be established in one night. The Council of Europe
will help Armenia strengthen democracy. The process is slow but
continuous,” Thorbjorn Jagland told a news conference held upon
completion of the CoE Forum for the Future of Democracy in Yerevan.

Asked to comment on the investigation into the March 2008 tragic
events, Mr. Jagland said that the Council of Europe closely watches
the ongoing processes and its members discuss the March events during
meetings with the Armenian authorities.

From: A. Papazian

PETER BALAKIAN: IMPORTANCE OF ETHICAL MEMORY IS DEFINING PART OF JEWISH INTELLECTUAL TRADITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 21, 2010 – 16:33 AMT 11:33 GMT

On October 19, Tablet Magazine published an article by Prof. Peter
Balakian on the importance of Israel’s recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, Asbarez.com reports.

In the article, titled “State of Denial: It’s time for Israel to
rethink its rejection of the Armenian Genocide,” Balakian notes the
irony of the collusion between Turkey and Israeli and Jewish diasporan
groups in genocide denial.

Balakian writes:

“Given this long-standing record of Jewish engagement and intellectual
achievement concerning the Armenian Genocide, and the deep ties
between the two cultures-it would seem an organic thing for Israel
to finally say: The game is over. The truth of history, the meaning
of genocide, the importance of ethical memory is a defining part of
Jewish intellectual tradition and identity. And, in the Armenian case,
the two genocidal histories commingle in deep and historical ways…”

“The Israeli government could recognize the Armenian Genocide by
honoring the words of the great founding genocide scholar Lemkin – a
Holocaust survivor who lost 49 members of his own family to the Nazis.

In August 1950, Lemkin wrote to a colleague: ‘Let us not forget that
the heat of this month is less unbearable to us than the heat of the
ovens of Auschwitz and Dachau and more lenient than the murderous heat
in the desert of Aleppo which burned to death the bodies of hundreds
of thousands of Christian Armenian victims of genocide in 1915.'”

From: A. Papazian

THORBJORN JAGLAND: COE CANNOT DIRECTLY INTERFERE WITH ARMENIA’S DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
Siranush Muradyan

“Radiolur”
21.10.2010 16:35

The Council of Europe cannot directly interfere with Armenia’s domestic
issues, CoE Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland told reporters in
Yerevan following the Forum for the Future of Democracy.

In response to the question about the persons arrested after the
evens of March 1, 2008, Mr. Jagland stated: “The Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights has a strong mandate and has been
closely following the processes in Armenia ever since 2008.”

Thorbjorn Jagland noted at the same time that “the Council of Europe
cannot immediately interfere with the issue.”

“We cannot interfere with your domestic affairs. It should be solved
within the framework of internal institutes. It would be very difficult
for the Council of Europe to assume the solution of internal national
issues,” he stated.

Touching upon the Karabakh issue, Mr. Jagland stated: “The Council of
Europe is engaged in the defense of human rights and establishment
of democracy. There is a Minsk process and everyone says the issue
should be solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.”

According to Jagland, the Council of Europe has always declared it
will contribute to the peaceful settlement of the issue by organizing
meetings for public society representatives of the conflicting
parties. “The Council of Europe can assist the negotiation process
just by following the sides to fulfill their commitment to build
civil society,” he stated.

The CoE Secretary General tied the Armenian-Turkish relations to the
Karabakh issue. He said they had been supporting the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols from the very beginning, since it could
contribute to the dialogue between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

From: A. Papazian

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: ARMENIA-EUROPE TIES AS OLD AS THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT

armradio.am
21.10.2010 16:12

The Council of Europe 2010 Forum for the Future of Democracy completed
its work in Yerevan.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland and
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian delivered speeches at
the closing ceremony.

“The ties between Armenia and Europe are as old as the European
Continent. They date back to the times, when the enlightened sons
of our nation were contributing to the formation of the value system
called European values.”

“Armenia will soon celebrate the 20th anniversary of independence. The
past 20 years have been a period of essential transformations for both
Armenia and Europe, in general, which we tried to pass hand in hand,”
Minister Nalbandian stated.

“Democracy is a living organism with national, regional and universal
peculiarities, which is constantly developing. Democracy should be
continuous, otherwise t will stop being democracy,” Minister Nalbandian
said in his closing address.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN POLICE OFTEN CLASSIFIES SATANIST RITUAL MURDERS AS DOMESTIC CRIMES

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 21, 2010 – 15:14 AMT 10:14 GMT

About 15-17% of Armenian residents have changed their faith during
the past 20 years, according to Alexander Amaryan, head of the
rehabilitation center for the victims of destructive cults.

The number of emo subculture fans aging between 13 and 19 has also
increased.

“These people have special venues in Yerevan, where drug taking and
sexual promiscuity are ordinary phenomena,” Amaryan said. “Besides,
satanists in Armenia commit ritual murders which are often classified
as domestic crimes by the police.”

There are several dozens of emo in Armenia, noted Father Ghevond
Mailyan from Gevogyan Seminary.

“Without belief in Christ, a person may join any preposterous sect,”
he said.

From: A. Papazian

CIS COUNTRIES WILL HOLD JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

Aysor.am
Thursday,October 21, 2010

In summer 2011 the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent
States will hold joint military exercises in the military base Ashuluk
of Astrakhan region. Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told
about it to the reporters after the meeting of the defense ministers’
of CIS member states in Ukraine.

According to Vesti.ru the participants of the meeting of Defense
Ministers’ Council discussed more than 20 issues concerning the
military-technical cooperation.

Let us remind that the delegation led by the Armenian Minister Defense
Seyran Ohanian as well has left for Ukraine to attend the meeting of
the CIS Council of Defense Ministers.

From: A. Papazian

NAS TO MARK RUBEN ZARYAN’S 100TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY

Aysor.am
Thursday,October 21, 2010

The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia today is
holding a solemn session dedicated to the 100th birthday anniversary
of great artist, Academician of NAS Ruben Zaryan.

According to NAS press office, a conference dedicated to great artist’s
100th birthday anniversary will follow the session, with 30 reports
on Armenian music, theater, architecture, and painting.

Ruben Zaryan is Merited Figure of Art of the Armenian SSR, laureate of
State Prize of Armenian SSR, holder of Order of Friendship of Peoples
and Order of Honor. He has written works over modern Armenian theater,
life and creative activities of Armenian theater figures, Shakespeare
Studies, history of modern Armenian literature.

From: A. Papazian

PRIME MINISTER ATTENDS EVENT TO MARK UAR 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Aysor.am
Thursday,October 21, 2010

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended an event marking 10th
anniversary of the Union of Armenians of Russia Wednesday, October
20 at Al. Spendiaryan National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.

Addressing the event T. Sargsyan said 10 years is an instant in
Armenian people’s history, and it will take some time for history
to appreciate the role of the Union of Armenians of Russia in our
people’s consolidation.

Speaking about UAR activities Prime Minister stressed organization’s
contribution to strengthening potential of Armenianhood and formation
of Armenian World. He highly assessed UAR humanitarian and investment
programs in Artsakh.

Tigran Sargsyan stressed importance of cooperation between state
structures and UAR. In conclusion, he wished the Union further success
in all its initiatives.

From: A. Papazian

POMEGRANATE SEED THEATER FESTIVAL DUE IN YEREVAN

Aysor.am
Thursday,October 21, 2010

Pomegranate Seed (Nran Hatik) 10th Children~Rs and Youth Theater
Festival will be held between October 25 and 30 in Yerevan. The
festival is timed to the 135th birthday anniversary of great Armenian
poet Avetik Isahakyan, Director of Avetik Isahakyan Central Library
Hasmik Karapetyan told aysor.am.

The festival has been organized by the library in cooperation with
the Nakhabem educational-cultural association.

31 children~Rs and youth actor companies participate in the festival,
including children~Rs actor companies from Kashatagh, Artsakh, Alik
theater company of Akhalkalak, theater companies from Yerevan and
Armenian regions.

Festival~Rs opening ceremony will be hosted by Metro Theater. Prior
to the ceremony, participants of the festival will pay tribute to
the great writer at Komitas Pantheon.

The performances will be hosted by Metro Theater, Hamazgayin Theater,
Children~Rs Creative Center of Yerevan Mayor~Rs Office, Anania
Shirakatsi seminary.

Upon the completion of the festival, theater companies will be awarded
statuettes symbolizing the festival and books.

From: A. Papazian