Author: Badalian Vardan

SENATE PASSES THE GENOCIDE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 16:00

The US Senate passed the legislation S.888, closing a legal loophole
that prevents the US Justice Department from prosecuting people in
the United States who have committed genocide in other countries,
reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The measure, known as the Genocide Accountability Act, was approved
only two weeks after its introduction on March 15th by Assistant
Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), the lead author of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, along with Tom Coburn (R-OK), Patrick Leahy
(D-VT), and John Coburn (R-TX).

Under current law, "genocide is only considered a crime if it is
committed within the United States or by a US national outside the
United States". The Genocide Accountability Act would close the
current loophole by amending the Genocide Convention Implementation
Act to allow prosecution of non-US citizens for genocide committed
outside the US.

WHO WILL REPLACE ANDRANIK MARGARYAN; RESPONDENTS’ FORECAST

A1+
[04:39 pm] 30 March, 2007

Nothing will change in the Republic of Armenia after the decease of
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, assume 45% respondents of A1+’s
polling. To remind, the website suggested its permanent readers
answering the question; "How will the Prime Minister’s untimely
decease affect Armenia?"

The remaining votes were distributed in the following way;

RA Government will appear in a deadlock – 2%

It will have its side-effect on economy – 1%

RA political scene will aggravate – 18%

There will be political re-groupings on the eve of elections – 32%

To note, 569 people participated in the polling.

This week A1+ suggests answering this question, "Which candidate
would you like to see the RA Prime Minister?"

PRESS RELEASE
Armenia Solidarity
Nor Serount Publications
British Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group

c/o The Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff
[email protected] Tel:07876561398

One Hundred Members of the UK Parliament Recognise the Genocide

A milestone on the road to Armenian Genocide recognition in the UK was
passed today, when Ed Davey became the 100th MP( Member of Parliament)
in the House of Commons, London, to sign a Motion recognising the
Armenian Genocide. The motion is called "Early Day Motion 357 and was
put by Bob Spink MP in december.

There are over a thousand motions in the House of Commons at this
time but this is the only motion opposed to government policy which has
accumulated 100 names. Also, of the motions on international issues,
only motions on Burma, Zimbabwe and Darfur have gained more
signatures.This shows that the Genocide issue is a high priority amongst
MPs, and we look forward a possible vote on the issue in the late autumn
in response to the activity of our supporting parliamentarians.We are
convinced that a vote in the House of Commons on the issue would be won.

Of the signatories, nearly two thirds of eligible Welsh MPs have
signed showing the usual strength of feeling in Wales on the issue. The
majority of Liberal Democrat MPs have also signed including their
Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesmen.

The motion will run until november so there is still plenty of scope
for the number to increase substantially if more UK Armenians and their
friends assist in the lobbying.
We appeal to all Armenians to put aside your political differences
or your reticence to become involved in politics and assist us in this
campaign. The wording of the motion is shown below

EDM 357

ARMENIA
29.11.2006

Spink, Bob
That this House believes that the killing of over a million Armenians in
1915 was an act of genocide; calls upon the UK Government to recognise
it as such; and believes that it would be in Turkey’s long-term
interests to do the same.

Signatures( 100)
Standard Order Party Groups Alphabetical Order Party Totals
Status
Open signatures All signatures

Spink, Bob
Campbell, Gregory
Dismore, Andrew
Meale, Alan
Caton, Martin
George, Andrew
Lepper, David
Drew, David
Holmes, Paul
Marris, Rob
Corbyn, Jeremy
Etherington, Bill
Wareing, Robert N
Austin, Ian
McCrea, Dr William
Cryer, Ann
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Stephen
Donaldson, Jeffrey
Vis, Rudi
McDonnell, Alasdair
McDonnell, John
Bercow, John
Wilson, Sammy
Hemming, John
Simpson, Alan
Cable, Vincent
Turner, Desmond
Illsley, Eric
Abbott, Diane
Williams, Roger
Connarty, Michael
Gummer, John
Swinson, Jo
Keetch, Paul
Engel, Natascha
Morgan, Julie
Davies, Dai
James, Sian C
Harvey, Nick
Jackson, Stewart
Hopkins, Kelvin
Mullin, Chris
Williams, Betty
Griffith, Nia
Amess, David
Leech, John
Llwyd, Elfyn
Francis, Hywel
Field, Mark
Price, Adam
Hunter, Mark
Flynn, Paul
Chaytor, David
Cohen, Harry
Field, Frank
Oaten, Mark
Wyatt, Derek
Willis, Phil
Russell, Bob
Jones, Lynne
Mates, Michael
Dowd, Jim
Bottomley, Peter
McGrady, Eddie
Clark, Katy
Featherstone, Lynne
Baker, Norman
Horwood, Martin
Gidley, Sandra
Hancock, Mike
Tami, Mark
Harris, Evan
Khabra, Piara S
Clegg, Nick
Barrett, John
Austin, John
Main, Anne
Clarke, Tom
Dean, Janet
Havard, Dai
Brown, Lyn
Goodman, Helen
Rogerson, Daniel
Burstow, Paul
Moore, Michael
Howarth, David
Morden, Jessica
Foster, Don
Galloway, George
Pugh, John
Betts, Clive
Williams, Mark
Lamb, Norman
Bryant, Chris
Teather, Sarah
Ennis, Jeff
Riordan, Linda
Clapham, Michael
Davey, Edward

TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER ISSUE

A1+
[07:47 pm] 29 March, 2007

We are pleased that the Armenian Church of Holy Cross on Akhtamar
island, a jewel of world architecture, has been beautifully restored
and renovated, albeit without a cross, and as a museum.

This is a positive move and holds the potential of a reversal of the
policy of negligence and destruction.

We hope the same kind approach will extend to cover the
nearly-collapsed churches of Ani, Mush, Tegor, and a dozen other
priceless examples of Armenian medieval architecture, which have
been abandoned at best, or more often, intentionally vandalized,
simply because of their Armenian identity.

Unfortunately, this opening was not transformed to a new opportunity
in Armenia- Turkish relations, because the Turkish government has not
found it expedient to do so. Instead, it will remain a formal ceremony,
in which a small official delegation will participate.

The border was not opened, even for one day, to allow our peoples
to share this singular, historic event together. Instead, those
from Armenia wishing to attend will be forced to travel, through a
third country, two days to get there and back. This could have been
a four-hour car ride across the border enjoyed by many.

Turkey’s announcements about the opening of this renovated church
do not include the word ‘Armenian’ anywhere. Names of kings and
regions from medieval times are evoked, but no mention is made of its
Armenian and Apostolic belonging. This is an evasion of the Turkish
government’s responsibility not only to history and memory, but to
its own Armenian minority.

Ironically, at the same time, many are heralding this renovation
as a step forward in Armenia-Turkey relations. This is because the
Turkish authorities need to demonstrate something positive in that
direction. It is no coincidence that this opening is being held just
as the US Congress is considering a resolution on affirming the US
record on the Armenian Genocide.

Even before the opening, pictures of the renovated church are being
distributed in Washington as a sign of goodwill from Turks towards
Armenians, and therefore obviating the need for third country pressure
on Turkey.

Armenia and Armenians wish for substantive progress with Turkey
regarding our painful past and a potential of a shared future as
neighbors. Armenia and Armenians do not want to be played in a
never-ending process of gestures that do not intend to make real
inroads in reconciliation, and instead are simply public relations
moves.

Armenia asks that the international community encourage Turkey
to engage in a substantive process toward open borders and normal
relations and not be satisfied with isolated symbols and gestures.

AZERI, RUSSIAN SPEAKERS DISCUSS KARABAKH CONFLICT

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
28 Mar 07

Text of report by Azerbaijani private TV station ATV on 28 March

[Presenter] Sergey Mironov, chairman of the Russian Federation Council,
is visiting Baku. Milli Maclis [Azerbaijan’s parliament] Speaker Oqtay
Asadov received the guest. The main topics during their meeting were
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and strategic cooperation.

[Correspondent] The keys for resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
are in Baku and Yerevan. Despite mediation of the [OSCE] Minsk Group
and other international organizations, it is the sides themselves who
have to make principal decisions. For its part, Russia will support
these decisions, Sergey Mironov, chairman of the Russian Federation
Council, has said.

During the visit to Azerbaijan Mironov visited the grave of national
leader Heydar Aliyev and the Martyrs’ Avenue. Later, Mironov had
a meeting with Oqtay Asadov. They discussed the visit of Russian
President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan and the visit of Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev to Russia, as well as the successful celebration
of 2005 as the year of Azerbaijan in Russia and the year of 2006 as
the year of Russia in Azerbaijan. Mironov said that relations between
Russia and Azerbaijan have been successful recently.

[Mironov speaking in Russia with Azeri voice-over] Russia is
Azerbaijan’s strategic ally. Bilateral trade is worth 1.5bn dollars.

Some 390 Russian companies operate in Azerbaijan and 171 of them are
joint ventures with 95 per cent of Russian capital.

Russia is also one of the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group which
tackles the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. I am sure that Russia will
do its best to help resolve the issue as soon as possible.

[Correspondent] Such meetings will boost relations between the two
countries’ parliaments, Mironov said. Russia is ready to render any
kind of help to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, he added.

[Mironov] It would be wrong and illogical to not bring up the Nagornyy
Karabakh issue, a wound that does not heal, while in Baku.

Certainly, this will be discussed during the meetings I will have.

The keys for resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict are in the
capitals of the two countries. Despite mediation by the Minsk Group
and other international organizations, it is the sides themselves
who have to make principal decisions. For its part, Russia will
support the decisions made by Armenia and Azerbaijan on resolving
the conflict. Should the sides need a guarantee from Russia, we are
ready to provide it. I should also note that it is unacceptable to
force any nation to live under pressure.

[Correspondent] Mironov also commented on the energy security
memorandum signed between Azerbaijan and the USA last week [on
22 March].

[Mironov] Each country acts in accordance with its national
interests. We understand and respect this. We hope that Russia’s
interests will also be protected by this memorandum. On our part,
we act in accordance with our own interests when taking any steps
and this is normal.

The Azerbaijani president visited Russia yesterday and had a meeting
with President Vladimir Putin. As far as I know, they discussed
various issues. As MPs we will strengthen the legal aspects of all
results of these talks.

[Correspondent] At the end of the meeting, the sides signed a
document on founding the Baku branch of the international institute
on developing democracy and parliamentarism in countries which are
members of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and on monitoring
the rights of citizens to vote. This will be the first branch of the
institute in a CIS country.

[Video showed the meeting, Mironov and Asadov signing documents]

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
March 26 2007

US-Turkish conference says Armenian bill might damage relations

Washington, DC, 26 March: Participants underlined that the resolution
on so-called Armenian genocide that was submitted to the US Congress
might damage Turkish-American relations during the 26th annual
conference on Turkish-US relations of American-Turkish Council (ATC)
that started in Washington, DC, on Monday [26 March].

Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan and the deputy chief of General
Staff, Gen Ergin Saygun, are among participants of the conference.

Taking the floor in the conference, ATC Board of Directors Chairman
Brent Scowcroft qualified the resolution on so-called Armenian
genocide as "harmful", underlining that the two countries should
focus on common policies and interests.

On the other hand, Turkish-US Business Council (TAIK) Chairman Ferit
Sahenk stated that the mentioned resolution disappointed Turkish
people, warning that this initiative would severely damage relations.

BIOGRAPHIC DATA OF RA PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARIAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Prime Minister of
the Republic of Armenia Andranik Margarian died of the heart attack on
March 25.

RA Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia
Andranik Margarian’s biographic data:

He was born on June 12, 1951, in Yerevan, accepted the Prime
Minister’s post on May 12, 2000.

He studied at the Technical Cybernetics Faculty of the Yerevan
Polytechnical Institute in 1967-1972, getting qualification of an
calculators’ engineer.

He worked as scientific worker, senior engineer at the Yerevan branch
of the All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Gas Industry in
1972-1974, as chief engineer at the Energy Scientific-Research
Institute in 1977-1978, as the chief of the electronic calculators
department at the Electrotechnical Factory in 1978-1979, as the chief
of the electronics departmnent at the Republican Information
Accounting Center of the Ministry of Trade in 1979-1990, as the
information department chief at the State Department on Special
Programs in 1990-1994, as an assistant researches at the State
Engineering University of Armenia in 1994-1995.

He was a deputy of the National Assembly of the first convention in
1995-1999, was again elected a NA deputy in 1999, was the head of the
"Miasnutiun" (Unity) faction made the majority. He was the RA Prime
Minister from May, 2000, after the 2003 NA elections Prime Minister
A. Margarian continued officiating, heading the coalition government
formed as a result of the elections.

He was engaged in the policy from 1965. From 1968 he was a member of
the National United Party secretly functioning during the Soviet
years, he was a NUP Council member from 1973. He presented himself
with critism of the Soviet totalitarian system, from the positions of
protection of the Hay Dat and saw the Armenian people’s future in
conditions of existence of a democratic, independent state. He was
arrested in 1974 for spreading his ideas and promoting activity and
condemned to two-year imprisonment. He was from 1992 a member of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), first registered in the Republic of
Armenia and the ideological inheritor of National United Party, he was
the RPA Council Chairman in 1993-1997 and 1998-2005. He was the RPA
Chairman in 1997-1998 and was again elected the RPA Chairman in
2005. He was a member of the Yerkrapah (Defender of the Land)
Voluntary Union (YVU) from 1998, then was a member of the YVU Board.

By the RA President’s decree, he was awarded with the Surb (Saint)
Mesrop Mashtots order on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of
proclaiming the independence of the Republic of Armenia, for the great
contribution in improvement of the statehood and development of the
economy. He was also awarded the RA Defence Ministry’s "V. Sargsian,"
"G. Nzhdeh" medals, YVU "V. Sargsian" order, RA Police "Aram Manukian"
medal, Fridtjof Nansen fund’s "F. Nansen" medal.

Married, has two daughters, one son and five grandchildren.

PPA TO CARRY OUT COMING ELECTORAL STRUGGLE FOR SAKE OF ARMENIA’S
FUTURE, STEPAN ZAKARIAN STATES

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The People’s Party of Armenia (PPA)
will carry out the coming electoral struggle not only against negative
phenomena, but also for the sake of Armenia’s future and people.

Stepan Zakarian, member of RA National Assembly Ardarutiun (Justice)
faction and PPA Board, stated this at the March 23 press conference.

In his words, PPA in principle is not against struggling jointly
against possible electoral falsifications. But the united body to be
created by the opposition should have exact functions. In S.
Zakarian’s opinion, in this respect the first and foremost is
cooperation of representatives of opposition, as well as empowered
persons in electoral commissions. It was mentioned that during the
preelectoral agitation PPA is going to use its own financial resources
"at most purposefully." PPA also does not exclude the possibility of
using paid right of speaking on TV. S. Zakarian did not agree to
accusations addressed to PPA in the issue of opposition’s failure to
unite. In his words, "everybody knows that since 1998 PPA has been
opposition’s driving force."

Six international symposiums on astronomy to be held in Armenia this summer

Arminfo
2007-03-23 20:48:00

Aug 20-25 Armenia will host six international symposiums on astronomy,
says the director of the Burakan observatory Hayk Haroutyunyuan.

400 scientists from European countries, the US, India, China and Japan
will take part in them to discuss and to make reports on problems of
astro-physics, cosmology, ancient astronomy.

Haroutyunyuan says that such events are carried out worldwide each
year. The host country is selected on a competitive basis. This time
the organizers preferred Armenia to Ukraine. The conduct of such
events is a sure way towards European integration.

Concerning the Burakan observatory, Haroutyunyan says that the annual
sum the observatory receives from the government is equivalent to the
salary of one western astronomer. The key source of financing is
cooperation contracts. Italy, Germany and Russia provide the
observatory with necessary equipment.

Haroutyunyan says that Armenia has old traditions in astronomy and the
key problem today is to attract youths into the sphere.

YURI LUZHKOV CONVINCED THAT "YEREVAN" TRADE CENTER IN MOSCOW TO
PROMOTE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN STRATEGICAL PARTNERSHIP

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The opening ceremony of "Yerevan"
trade center will be held in Moscow on March 24 with the participation
of the mayors of Yerevan and Moscow. Noting that this trade center is
one of the biggest in Moscow and has serious prospects, Moscow Mayor
Yuri Luzhkov said at the March 23 meeting with the RA president Robert
Kocharian that it will promote not only cooperation of Yerevan and
Moscow but also the Armenian-Russian strategical partnership.

Y. Luzhkov presented the process of construction of the wholesale
market of Armeian goods and other Armenian structures in Moscow. In
his words, among other initiatives of economic cooperation, Russian
investment programs in Yerevan’s construction are proceeding quite
successfully. According to the RA President’s press service,
Y. Luzhkov pointed out that they actively cooperate with the Armenian
community of Moscow which is one of the most disciplined, quiet
communities with a high educational level.