Author: Arsine Chaltikian

NATO looks for new strategic approaches
06.06.2009 18:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Titled "Redefining the Security and Transatlantic
Diplomacy Role of NATO For the 21st Century," the conference was
organized in Istanbul by Arý Movement, a civil society
organization. It focused on NATO enlargement, the alliance’s relations
with the European Union and its new missions outside of the European
geography.
While participants praised NATO’s role during the course of its past
60 years, they also emphasized the significance of shaping a strategic
concept, particularly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in New
York.
"During the past 10 years, the strategic landscape has changed," said
Stefanie Babst, NATO’s deputy assistant secretary general for public
diplomacy, adding that the organization "has moved from being into
doing." The new strategic concept should take into account two main
events, the Sept. 11 attacks and the existing situation in
Afghanistan, she added.
"The new strategic concept also should be a political one as well,"
Babst said. "It should have a renewed clearer vision about core tasks,
and it should prioritize main tasks." In this respect, the new concept
has to address military and political issues together, according to
Babst.
In an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Babst
also underscored the significance of the political process over the
determination of NATO’s new strategic concept, which will involve the
participation of civil society organizations, universities and think
tanks. Babst said that the new strategic concept is not just a NATO
document: "It is a joint vision of NATO countries that would like to
develop the alliance both politically and militarily."
But Solomon Passy, from Bulgaria, drew attention to NATO’s image. A
member of parliament and a former foreign minister, Passy highlighted
the need to improve the alliance’s image. "If we succeed in winning
public opinion, we can make a huge impact."
NATO-EU relations was another major topic discussed throughout the
conference. Passy said relations between the two entities needed to
improve and be deepened. "The relations between these two
organizations are very poor," he said.

TWO NKR DEFENSE ARMY SOLDIERS DESERTED THEIR POSTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 15:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 31, 2:10 p.m., conscripts Hovan Haroutyunyan
and Gevorg Tovmasyan quit their posts from NKR Defense Army’s military
unit situated in the north. After deserting the unit, the soldiers
found themselves on Azerbaijani territory, NKR Defense Army’s Press
Service reported to a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent.

The servicemen were enlisted to army on May 19, 2009. The case is
currently under investigation.

TRANSPORT MINISTER OF ARMENIA: OPENING OF UPPER LARS TO IMPROVE ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC INTERACTION WITH RUSSIAN REGIONAL PARTNERS

ArmInfo
2009-05-12 12:17:00

Opening of Upper Lars will more improve the economic interaction of
Armenia with the Russian regional partners, Transport and Communication
Minister of Armenia Gourgen Sarkisyan told journalists today during
the Forum of the Union of Road Transport Associations in the BSEC
Region (BSECURTA), the minister said. To recall, formal opening
of the international motor crossing point Upper Lars, situated on
Russia-Georgia border, has been scheduled for today. To also recall,
this crossing point was closed in July, 2006. Its carrying capacity
will make up 400 automobiles a day. There is yet no information about
possible opening of communication between Russia and Georgia through
Upper Lars.

‘CONVERSE BANK’ IS NOT GOING TO ISSUE SECOND BONDS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

ArmInfo
2009-05-08 15:16:00

ArmInfo. "Converse Bank" is not going to implement issue of second
bonds in the near future, Director General of "Converse Bank" Ararat
Gukasyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

He also added the same situation is noticed at the money market like at
the market of other Armenian currency investment instruments including
the Armenian currency deposits. "We still need time for the people to
"recover" after the March devaluation", – he said.

To recall, the bonds of "Converse bank" were included in the list of
Bond of NASDAQ OMX Armenia, according to which in April of the current
year the volume of transactions with these bonds lagged behind the
March volume by more than 26 times, having amounted to 10.6 mln AMD.

ALIYEV UNVEILS STANCE ON TURKEY-ARMENIA TIES

AzerNews Weekly
April 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed with the European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso energy, reforms in Azerbaijan
and Europe`s new regional cooperation program during a visit to
Brussels on Tuesday.

Although the parties told a news conference following the talks
that discussions had focused on these three topics, replies to
further questions revealed that the pressing issue of Turkey-Armenia
rapprochement was tabled as well.

According to Barroso, President Aliyev stressed that this was an
extremely sensitive issue for Azerbaijan. Barroso said the European
Commission fully supports efforts by Ankara and Yerevan to draw
closer. This, however, does not mean that the organization is taking
no action to advance resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh dispute, saying it backs conflict settlement
endeavors as well.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan had no intention to meddle in the affairs of
sovereign states, including the relations between Turkey and Armenia.

"All I want to say is this. We also have the right to rebuild our
policy due to the new realities in the region, and we will exercise
that right."

The president noted that only a plain simple question has arisen:
"will the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict be carried
out simultaneously, and, if so, at what stage is this possible?"

Aliyev said this simple question required a very simple answer and
he was still expecting that answer.

Turkey and Armenia have recently agreed a "road map" in an effort to
mend ties that have been historically strained over Armenian policy
of occupation against Azerbaijan, Turkey`s ally, and Armenian claims
on the alleged World War I-era genocide.

While in Belgium, the Azerbaijani leader is due to meet with NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Wednesday for talks on
bilateral cooperation.

On the same day, he is expected to hold discussions with the
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, according to the
EU website. The two will discuss Azerbaijan`s development as well
as EU-Azerbaijan relations, in particular, the summit on Eastern
Partnership, a program on Europe`s closer cooperation with its
ex-Soviet neighbors, which is due in Prague on May 7.

100 YEARS AGO

New York Times
iht-oldapril17.html?_r=1
April 16 2009

>From the International Herald Tribune 100, 75, 50 Years Ago

1909 Threat of Civil War in Turkey

Constantinople In the last twenty-four hours, the situation in
Turkey has taken a character which threatens civil war. The troops
of the Second Army Corps, which have remained faithful to the Young
Turk Committee, are marching on Constantinople. The troops of the
Third Army Corps at Adrianople are, however, preparing to bar their
route. Matters are complicated by reported massacres in Armenia,
in which American missionaries have perished, and by the evident
intention of Bulgaria to profit by the situation and force Turkey
to recognize her independence within four days’ time. The Herald
learned from a well-informed source that the garrison of Salonica,
which remained faithful to the Young Turk Committee, intends to take
action to an end to the present situation, which it considers a menace
for the Constitution.

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

March 12, 2009

Student Activists Face Down Azerbaijan’s Propaganda Machine

Northridge, CA – Students and human rights activists recently attended
a talk by Consul General of Azerbaijan Elin Suleymanov held at
California State University – Northridge (CSUN).  The lecture, which
was requested by Suleymanov, was titled `The Geopolitics of Energy
Security in Eurasia, Central Asia, Europe and America,’ and served as
a propaganda event to present Azerbaijan as a stable democracy and
investment receptacle for the west. Suleymanov attempted to portray
Azerbaijan as a country of `stability, with unmatched regional
cooperation and [as] an ideal location for investment’.

`The misinformation campaign of the Azerbaijani government continues,’
stated Andrew D. Kzirian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee – Western Region.  `Our community is committed to working
with human rights activists to ensure that America knows the facts
when it comes to Artsakh and Azerbaijan,’ he added.

Concerned students, in a collaborative effort, produced flyers on the
event and disseminated materials to attendees and passers-by.
Students also asked the Consul General questions regarding
Azerbaijan’s President’s repeated and explicit threats of war over
Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s swelling list of human rights
violations, the rampant government corruption plaguing the government,
the Sumgait Massacre of Armenians and the disinformation campaign of
the Azerbaijani government against Armenia.  Those participating were
members of various organizations, including the CSUN Armenian Students
Association, Shant Student Association, the Armenian Youth Federation
and the AEO Fraternity.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

NONE OF THE ACCUSED HAVE COMMITTED MURDER

A1+
[05:19 pm] 10 February, 2009

What impact will the amendments of articles 225 and 300 have on
the "Case of Seven" and representatives of the opposition charged
with these articles? Candidate of juridical sciences, expert Hrair
Toghmasyan was not able to give an answer to "A1+".

"The amendments must have an impact on most of the prisoners, if not
everyone. The prisoners of the "Case of Seven" will feel the impact
of the amendments, if the corpus delicti are omitted, charges are
dropped and the Prosecutor General’s office finds that there should
be an extenuation," said Hrair Tovmasyan who is a member of the NA
Working Group created for making amendments to articles 225 and 300
of the Criminal Code.

According to him, the name of article 300 of the RA Criminal Code
"Usurpation of the state" contradicts the content of the article.

"The title of the article is usurpation of power and the article is
about the actions taken to usurp that power."

According to the candidate of juridical sciences, article 225 of the
Criminal Code entitled "Mass murders" is also uncertain.

None of the accused of the "Case of Seven" has committed murder. The
third part of article 225 states the murders that were committed
during the disorder. The charges pressed against the prisoners after
the events of March 1 are legally uncertain. Article 225 doesn’t
define what riots are and it only mentions the types of disturbances,
such as assaults, massacre and murders."

Thus, the murders on March 1 don’t fit in the "Case of Seven" and
articles 225 and 300 that the political prisoners are charged with.

What surprises Hrair Toghmasyan is that the CE Venice Commission has
praised articles 225 and 300. "These articles contradict one another
and they are complex."

ARMENIA, DIASPORA VULNERABLE NOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2009 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is facing serious challenges, an analyst
specializing in international relations said.

"The Armenian Center for National and International Studies will
work to resist these challenges, since both Armenia and Diaspora are
vulnerable now," Richard Giragosian, the new ACNIS director told a
news conference in Yerevan today.

He said the center will engage in regional political and economic
affairs and named strategic research and national security issues as
ACNIS priorities.

Mr. Giragosian denied any links between his future activities and
Heritage party leader and ACNIS founder Raffi K. Hovannisian.

"Our record will be available for all," he said. "Independence of
political forces will be the guiding principle of the center."

Richard Giragosian is a regular contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL) publications and is a contributing analyst for the
London-based Jane’s Information Group.

Panorama.am
14:45 24/01/2009

KAREN SHAKHNAZAROV ` BEST FILM DIRECTOR

Yesterday `Golden Eagle’ film competition took place in Moscow. `Wild
Valley’ film has been nominated as `Best Film’ and Karen Shakhnazarov
has been nominated as `Best Film Director’ for his `The Vanished
Empire’ film.

Konstantin Khabienski and Ksenia Rappoport were awarded `Golden Eagle’
in nomination of the best actor. Irina Kupchenko was announced best
actress for second part role, and Armen Djigarkhanyan ` best actor.

In the best soup opera nomination `Subversive: End of the war’ film
was awarded. Film `Admiral’ won in seven nominations ` `Best director
of photography’, `Best costume’, etc.

Note that the award is organized since 2002.

Source: Panorama.am