Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

‘HAYASTAN’ ALL-ARMENIAN FUND TO CELEBRATE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT

id/592656/lang/en
2010-03-02

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS: The 18th anniversary of the establishment
of ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian fund will be marked March 3.

An official from the ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian fund told Armenpress
that the fund has implemented 200 million-USD projects with the
support of 300 thousand donators. 470km-long roads, 144km-long gas
pipe lines, 144km-long electricity system, 212km-long water pipe
lines, 218 schools and kindergartens, 410 flats were constructed, 34
hospitals and medical establishments, 21 sports and cultural centers
were thouroughly reconstructed by the fund.

Ara Vardanyan, chief executive of ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian fund,
congratulated and expressed his gratitude to the Armenians living
in Armenia and in Diaspora and to all the donators, who donated not
only money, but also all their efforts and resources to realize their
mission of helping Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE DOES NOT SHOW ITS CARDS BEFORE PANEL VOTE ON HOUSE RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmInfo
2010-03-03 13:15:00

ArmInfo. The US Department of State does not show its cards before
the upcoming U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee panel vote on
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.252 cheduled for March
4. At the briefing on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary of State Philip
J. Crowley prevaricated about the upcoming vote and the stance of the
US Department of State on the given issue. He just ade few antiseptic
phrases repeatedly made by other representatives of the US Department.

"Well, first of all, I think we have supported the current process
that we hope will result in normalized relations between Turkey and
Armenia. And within that process, as the Secretary said last week,
we think that there is ample room for Turkey and Armenia to evaluate
the historical facts as to what happened decades ago. So we haven’t
changed our view, but we continue to engage at a high level with both
countries and to encourage them – having worked to reach the agreement
in Switzerland last year to see it implemented on both sides," he said.

Crowley said he thinks the advancement of normalized relations between
Armenia and Turkey is in the interest of both countries. "It’s in the
interest of the region as well. We cannot afford to look at this in
zero sum terms, that somehow scoring a point on one side is a loss
for the other. So I would just say that we continue our high-level –
we’ve had intensive conversations at high levels. The Secretary has
been directly involved extensively and repeatedly. Deputy Secretary
Steinberg, Under Secretary Burns, Assistant Secretary Phil Gordon have
all been directly engaged with the leadership in Turkey and Armenia.

The Secretary had a meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan in Doha
talking about this issue," he said.

"So we continue to encourage both sides. We understand how difficult
this is, how emotional this is. There’s not a common understanding
of what happened 90 years ago. But we value the courageous steps
that both leaders have taken, and we just continue to encourage
both countries to move forward and not look backward," P. Crowley
said. He highlighted that the USA has a pretty good understanding of
how everyone feels on this issue.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA DISCUSSES TELEMEDICINE NETWORK ESTABLISHMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.03.2010 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Russia negotiate establishment of a
united telemedicine network in the RA, compatible with a similar
network in the CIS countries.

According to Hrant Khachatryan, radio engineer of Simotech company,
if the project is approved, a telemedicine pilot will be launched
in Armenia next year. The network will be comprised of 3 fixed (in
Yerevan and regions) and 3 mobile nodes, equipped with technology and
having satellite communication. The working group of Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation was involved
in negotiations.

"Today there are several separate networks of medical institutions
in Armenia, but our aim is to unite them into a single system,"
Hrant Khachatryan said.

According to him, the system will enable to share data, as well as
to receive consultations within Armenia and abroad.

Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine
where medical information is transferred through the phone or the
Internet and sometimes other networks for the purpose of consulting,
and sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations. Telemedicine
may be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case
over the telephone, or as complex as using satellite technology
and videoconferencing equipment to conduct a real-time consultation
between medical specialists in two different countries. Telemedicine
generally refers to the use of ICT for the delivery of clinical care.

Care at a distance (also called in absentia care), is an old practice
which was often conducted via post.
From: Baghdasarian

THIRD GENERATION REFORMS

2.html
12:39:58 – 01/03/2010

On February 23, the Armenian National Congress issued its "100 Steps"
project on socio-economic policy systemic changes the author of which
is the Armenian former Armenian Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan. In
this connection Lragir.am asked him several questions.

Mr. Bagratyan, is "100 step" the continuation of the former policy
of reforms? Is it a project of reforms of second or third generation
or one to overcome the current situation?

It is a difficult question. After the release of "100 steps", I am
asked if I am liberal or not. Certainly, the main question is the
construction of a liberal economy. This is a scheme of reforms of
third generation. It coincides with 10 years of Kocharyan’s tenure
when there were mistaken ideas on development. What they considered
development did not contain any potential at all. For example, the
construction which cannot be exported. We have the examples of 50
countries proving that such development is catastrophic, in other
words, huge districts are constructed which are useless.

These are reforms of third generation and the liberal economic policy
is continuing. Here, you will see a more limited approach towards
liberalism. No one can blame us for yielding our liberal positions.

Currently, the development circle of the economic policy lasts 20-25
years and in this period, the centralization and decentralization
of economic policy are inevitable. And when I am asked why it was
necessary to include in the "100 steps" limitation of elements, I want
to say that now we are too far away from being liberals or socialists.

We just see where the country found itself, we see trends of general
development that we must undertake and we see the concrete steps that
must be done. We need to reckon with the fact that there is.

The failure of the reforms of second generation led to undesired
structure of economic and profit distribution when 10-15 people
participate in the economic prosperity of the country and there is no
enterprising activeness. We must overcome this phenomenon. We need to
invite people to take part in the development of the country. In the
modern world, it is impossible to be competitive with 10 businessmen,
especially if they are not the best and they were granted that status
by the state.

Mr. Bagratyan, is "100 steps" a borrowed model from other countries?

No it is not. Of course, we have studied and tried to find precedents.

We were guided by the needs of our practice and by the development
trends of the global world and tried to find a model which would
work in Armenia. In addition, I have to ask to view "100 steps"
interrelated that is all its steps are to be made. Otherwise, the
effect will be negative. Steps are to be interrelated.

Mr. Bagratyan, this project is one containing serious liberal
elements. Do you think it can work in a country having great dependence
on Russia?

I do not accept these theses. These theses are speculated by those
who overcame the height of wealth. One of our oligarchs argued that
monopolies are needed, because they saved us in emergency situations.

This is absolute nonsense that has nothing to do with the economy. In
addition, I would have asked not to exaggerate the role of Russia. In
fact, Russia has no relation to what is happening in our country. In
the end, Russian companies work here, which, though are not a model of
high culture, but culture in these companies is much greater than what
is happening in companies of our oligarchs. Moreover, they will not
hinder this plan. Recall that in 1994-95, when we already had recorded
economic growth, but there was none in Russia, Russia’s ambassadors
asked me how we managed since Russia did not. In the end, our land
reform was the only political and economic example in our history,
which was commended by all 6 countries of the CIS, where agriculture
ministers were instructed to study and apply this experience.

The project aims at decreasing oligopolies’ role. Does it suppose
for redistribution of property?

Naturally. Did they earn all that? No seizing of property. Just
a tax field is to be created which will provide for inexpedient
conditions for oligopoly and monopoly. We do not need them. If natural
competitiveness again brings about the creation of oligopolies and
monopolies, we will once again break them down. Our history showed that
our worst enemy is a nabob, an unfairly wealthy Armenian. In case of
the Turks it is easy: all unite against an external enemy. And now,
as to the internal enemy, everything is more complicated. They are
not to blame, this state has given them such a condition. And now the
state must change this situation. They will fall apart by themselves,
they will not be allowed own the super profit.
From: Baghdasarian

‘INSTRUCTION’ OF LAW ENFORCERS

hos17006.html
11:54:48 – 02/03/2010

On these days, the replacement of leaders of a number of Armenian
Law Enforcement Bodies such as the Police, Prosecutor’s office and
the National Security Service is much spoken about. Alongside with
these talks, a number of events took place such as Saribek Sukiasyan’s
arrest, the violence of the Police against the HAK young activists,
assault against the photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan in front the
prosecutor’s office etc. The Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan
issued rough statements in connection with the activities of the Law
Enforcement Bodies, especially the Police and the judicial system.

Besides, "compliments" were exchanged by the Police and the
Prosecutor’s office. Let us not forget the warning about a bomb placed
in the Office of the State Revenue Committee. All this happened
against the background of the fact that in the European field, the
March 1-2 events became again actual.

All this confusion can be also assessed as normal because in normal
countries there are counterbalances and mechanisms of public control.

A similar situation, with big reservations, was formed during Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s tenure. Anyway, then, there was some mechanism of
counterbalance between the Police, the Prosecutor’s office and the
National Security in which the army was sometimes involved. After,
during Robert Kocharyan’s tenure, the law enforcers were allocated a
clear function: they were to defend the newly-formed system of quotas,
influence zones and law of shadow budget from the society. The task of
the law enforcers was to secure the uninterrupted work of the system.

During Serge Sargsyan’s tenure, the law enforcement system is apparent
to be "splitting". The point is that neither the former system nor
the legal mechanism of the government can be a basis for him. Hence,
the law enforcement system does not have a new instruction to work
and appeared in an evident confusion: the former methods of their
activities do not suit the current situation, and acting within the
frameworks of the law is not recommended.

Of course, we can think that by changing the heads of the law
enforcement system, in the end, constitutional mechanisms can be
introduced into the system. But the reality is different. The essence
of the Armenian government excludes such a possibility. The power
is able to survive only thanks to illegal mechanisms because it does
not have the support of the public, because it is not formed through
constitutional mechanisms. The result may be that if before, this
system had the role of defending the life of the criminal-oligarchic
state, now its role will be diminished and it will defend the interests
of a small group of people from the others who do not have access
to it.
From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY URGES NO VOTE IN US ON ARMENIA GENOCIDE

Associated Press
March 1 2010

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey is urging members of a U.S. congressional
panel to reject a resolution that would recognize the World War I-era
killings of Armenians as genocide.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement issued Monday says the resolution
would harm Turkish-U.S. ties and hamper the reconciliation process
between Turkey and Armenia.

The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee is set
to consider the issue Thursday. A positive vote would clear the
resolution to be considered by the full House.

Many scholars view the killings by Ottoman Turks as the first genocide
of the 20th century. Turkey rejects that.

The Turkish statement calls on Congress to be aware of the damage
the resolution would cause and to "act with responsibility."
From: Baghdasarian

ASHOT MKRTCHIAN APPOINTED MEMBER OF CBA BOARD

Noyan Tapan
March 1, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. By a February 26 decree of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan, Ashot Mkrtchian was appointed a member of
the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia, with a term of office until
1 September 2014, the press service of the Armenian president reported.
From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY STANDS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.03.2010 11:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ South Caucasus is in focus of Turkey’s foreign
policy, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wrote in "Regional
approach to global peace" piece of opinion published in Russia in
Global Policy journal.

"Since the South Caucasus countries regained independence, Turkey has
tried its best for establishment of peace and stability in the region.

Turkey was among the pioneer countries to recognize independence of
the former soviet republics, including Armenia. As to relations with
Azerbaijan, these have always been fraternal due to the commonness
of our culture, history and language. Close political ties with Baku
are maintained through frequent mutual visits, continuous dialog
and solidarity in issues representing common interests. Bilateral
trade totaled $2.5 billion. Besides, Turkey is the major investor in
Azerbaijan’s economy," Davutoglu wrote.

"Being a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, Turkey stands for a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. It’s regretful that the
settlement mechanism has produced no positive result so far.

Meanwhile, the ongoing dialog between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and
Serzh Sargsyan is of utmost importance. The Minsk Group remains to
be the only international instrument for the conflicting sides to
reach a peaceful agreement," he continued.

"Our relationship with Armenia is a missing element in the picture we
would like to see in the South Caucasus. Nevertheless, we not lose
hope that ties with Armenia will be normalized. Confidence-building
measures taken in 2009 provided a good momentum for a universal
agreement. Titanic efforts and intense talks led to signature of
Protocols envisaging normalization of relations between the two
countries," Davutoglu wrote.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Minister did not fail to link the
Armenian-Turkish rapprochement to resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"With a comprehensive agreement on Karabakh we will overcome the
barriers on the way to regional cooperation and peace," he said. "The
ruling of the Armenian Constitutional Court emerged as an unexpected
obstacle that should be removed. If both sides behave adequately,
the Protocols will be ratified by the Turkish parliament soon, paving
the way for a future of peace, glory and cooperation."

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988, as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994
(when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most
of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions is
now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are
holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.
From: Baghdasarian

ITAR-TASS , Russia
Feb 28 2010

Kazbegi ` Verkhny Lars checkpoint to reopen on March 1

28.02.2010, 18.56

VLADIKAVKAZ, February 28 (Itar-Tass) — The Kazbegi ` Verkhny Lars
checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border will reopen on March 1,
North Ossetian border department spokesman Alexander Solod told
Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Russia closed down the Verkhny Lars checkpoint for reconstruction on
July 8, 2006. Tbilisi described the action as `unexpected and
political’. The repairs ended on May 5, 2009, and the Kazbegi post
modernized with U.S. funding reopened in September 2009.

This is the only checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border. Armenia is
very much interested in the reopening of the checkpoint, which is the
only way from Armenia to Russia. About a third of Armenian foreign
trade was conducted by the Voyenno-Gruzinskaya road in the past.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier he hoped for the
reopening of the border checkpoint on March 1. `Russia is ready to
meet its commitments,’ the minister said.

`The traffic through the Kazbegi ` Verkhny Lars checkpoint will resume
on March 1, in keeping with the agreements reached by Georgian and
Russian experts in Yerevan on October 28, 2009 with the Armenian
mediation and in Kazbegi on December 23, 2009, in the attendance of
Swiss representatives,’ the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

`People, vehicles, cargo and cattle will cross the Kazbegi checkpoint
in line with Georgian laws and the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in line
with Russian laws. The checkpoint will be open daily from 6:00 a.m.
through 10:00 p.m. on March 1 ` November 1 and from 7:00 a.m. through
7:00 p.m. from November 1 to March 1,’ the ministry said.

Weather permitting, the checkpoint will be open for trucks and
passenger vehicles with more than 30 seats. `It will not be allowed to
cross the checkpoint by foot. If either side denies entry to a
vehicle, the other side will freely let it in,’ the ministry said.

The Kazbegi checkpoint will not issue Georgian entry visas. According
to Georgian laws, entry visas can be issued either at Georgian
embassies (including the Georgian desk at the Swiss embassy in Moscow)
or at Georgian airports and seaports.

Georgian citizens may receive Russian entry visas at the Russian desk
of the Swiss embassy in Tbilisi.
From: Baghdasarian

Greek Reporter
Feb 26 2010

Letter of protest to the publishers of the German magazine FOCUS by
the Federation of Greek Communities in Germany

Posted on 27 February 2010 by Apostolos Papapostolou

A letter of protest, written in a harsh tone, was issued today to the
publishers of the German magazine FOCUS by OEK (Federation of Greek
Communities in Germany), regarding the publication of two defamatory
articles against Greece which are featured, as it is known, on this
month’s edition of the magazine.

In the letter it is stated, among other things, that Greek immigrants
in Germany who are well aware of the meaning of hard work, do not
agree with retirement after 15 years of work, do not approve of
bribing, criticise nepotism, fraud, setting the country in excessive
debt, creative statistics and salute the fact that the governments of
Germany and other European countries provided political support to
Greece and that the EU will monitor the implementation of the
Stability and Growth pact which was adopted by the Greek government.

However, as OEK underline, more subjects should be placed under
discussion, such as the pandering of the Greek Political system from
Multinationals ` such as Siemens- the state of security of Greece,
which makes it consider necessary to proceed to financially vigorous
measures and also the interest of the countries that actually sell and
many more conditions which led to the state of Greece as it is today.

The letter continues that views, such as the one of the president of
the Foundation of Financial Research of the German economy Ifo, should
be placed under discussion as well. An interview of the president of
the Foundation of Financial Research is also included in the this
month’s issue whereby he states that instead of dismissing Greece from
the Euro zone or the case of its inclusion in the International
Monetary Fund, he would prefer the withdrawal of Germany from the
Euro, in order to restore the German Mark and speaks of the
`usefulness’ of `depreciating the Euro’ so that German exports can
flourish.

This would be the objective level of a genuine discussion in European
public opinion terms. Instead of this, OEK is blaming the Focus
magazine publishers, the magazine that decided to discredit the entire
Greek people, by insulting in a very disrespectful way our cultural
heritage and by spreading lies regarding our level of intellect and
culture.

OEK continues in their letter to the publishers of the magazine by
stating that: You are so easily degrading Aristotle, leaving out the
destruction of ancient Greek statues by the Byzantines, you pour
crocodile tears for the fall of Esperia to the Otomans, you record the
massacres against the Greek nation, and you mention Falmerayer `
honestly since when was the measuring of the head’s circumference
known as a measure of determining racial identity? ` and all that just
to prove that the real Greek Nation has been long gone and as forgers
of history itself you wish to become sensors and governors of the
Hellenic culture. This is not fair and true, it is simply racist.

What of course is missing from what the purebred editors of the
magazine are listing, as it was identified by OEK in a very caustic
tone, is making reference to three critical points ` the glorious
participation of the Crusaders towards the destruction of Byzantium,
the contribution of Imperial Germany to the ethnic massacres carried
out by the Turks against Armenians and Greeks in Minor Asia, and
lastly the stealing of Greek Ancient artifacts by the Nazis as well as
their heroic acts against the Greek People and the Greek Economy ` the
occupational debt worth billions ` if you exclude the fact that the
Nazis paid a couple of installments ` remains unpaid to date.

So much bile against an entire nation, such cheap and dangerous
demagogy, can only resemble journalism of the Superhuman race, aiming
towards increasing the number of their copies only. However, the
reactions to your inappropriate actions will soon follow. And this is
sad. We, concludes the letter, along with the sane people of this
country, whom you put to shame with your articles, will gather the
debris you left behind and will detoxify the relations between the two
nations from the poison that you shed.

er-of-protest-to-the-publishers-of-the-german-maga zine-focus-by-the-federation-of-greek-communities- in-germany/
From: Baghdasarian