Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN CLASH PROBE URGED TO STUDY ‘BODYGUARD INVOLVEMENT’ CLAIMS
Anush Martirosian

Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatuty un.am/content/article/1809126.html
Aug 27 2009

Two former members of a disbanded group of experts assisting Armenia’s
main parliamentary probe into last year’s post-election unrest have
urged the National Assembly’s ad hoc commission to make an additional
inquiry into alleged involvement of bodyguards of a number of
government-connected businessmen and officials in the deadly violence.

Andranik Kocharian and Seda Safarian, who served as members of the
Fact-Finding Group of Experts from the opposition until the mission was
disbanded in June, unveiled to the media on Thursday a "list of sets
of uniforms" ostensibly issued to a number of wealthy businessmen and
senior government officials in the period of Armenia’s worst street
violence on March 1-2, 2008. Street battles between security forces
and supporters of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian, an officially
defeated candidate in Armenia’s 2008 presidential election, left 10
people dead and hundreds injured.

Among the nine businessmen and officials, the list that the former
Fact-Finding Group members said was obtained from the Ter-Petrosian-led
Armenian National Congress (HAK) names Gagik Tsarukian, a millionaire
businessman and leader of a large pro-government party (issued 300
suits and 49 winter caps), current Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamian
(115 suits) and incumbent Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglarian (83 suits
and 10 winter caps).

Kocharian and Safarian also said they had submitted a report to the
parliamentary commission describing the group’s unannounced visit
to Defense Ministry stockrooms that they said was obstructed in an
‘organized’ manner.

The opposition members of the disbanded group explained that the goal
of the visit was to look into the veracity of the claims repeatedly
made at opposition rallies that military uniforms had been issued to
"notorious people, oligarchs and officials" from the storehouses of the
Ministry of Defense. But Kocharian said the members of the group had
been prevented from seeing corresponding registers of the facilities.

"We suggest that the National Assembly’s Ad Hoc Commission make an
additional inquiry into the accusations made by the HAK against the
authorities," Kocharian concluded.
From: Baghdasarian

AMERICANS FOR ARTSAKH CONDUCTS TRAININGS FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH OFFICIALS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.08.2009 18:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Americans for Artsakh recently completed its
third training in a series of ongoing training projects for Artsakh
government officials. With each course increasing in depth and
complexity, August’s project focused on two topics: negotiations and
government public relations. The course was conducted at the Artsakh
ministry of foreign affairs in Stepanakert.

The training involved 18 representatives of the foreign ministry,
office of Nagorno Karabakh President, NKR NA Speaker and Artsakh
Information Office. It was funded by the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, and special assistance was provided by Mr. Karen Kostandyan,
Second Secretary of Multilateral Cooperation at the ministry and
AFA’s Artsakh Coordinator.

"The class activities were very useful and interesting," Armen
Sargsyan, Third Secretary of Bilateral Relations of the ministry said.

"We need these courses very much for our future work. The classes
were extremely helpful," Marina Harutyunyan, Attache at the ministry’s
information department, said.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN FREE STYLE WRESTLING TEAM TO TAKE PART IN WORLD CUP

ARMENPRESS
Aug 25, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian free style wrestlers will
take part in the World Cup which will kick off in the capital of
Denmark Copenhagen September 20.

An official from the Armenian Wrestling Federation told Armenpress
that the Armenian team consists of Mihran Jaburyan (55 kg), Arthur
Arakelyan (60 kg), Zhirayr Hovhannissyan (66 kg), Suren Markosyan
(74 kg), Harutyun Yenokyan (84 kg), Edgar Yenokyan (96 kg), Ruslan
Basiyev (120 kg).

The participation of S. Markosyan, though, is not yet finally approved.
From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN VS NATIONAL CULTURE AND ART

Panorama.am
13:42 22/08/2009

European Broadcasters’ Union did not manage to settle the problem of
those Azeri who have been subjected to examination because voting for
the Armenian representatives in "Eurovision 2009" international song
contest, when the National Security Ministry of Azerbaijan started
another scandal.

According to mass media publications a new campaign started against
the fans of "Host Alliance" rap group. It is said that the fans are
again called to the NSM to pass examination and being forced to stop
listening to that group’s music. It is known that "Host Alliance"
writes "anti-state songs". They have been ordered many times to stop
writing such songs.

It would be quite funny to see the curious behavior of Azeri if
they have not made the propaganda of tolerance, friendship and
good relations among its people. "Not only in the region but in the
world too, Azerbaijan is a peace loving and tolerant state," Novruz
Mamedov said.

To conclude, it’s worth reminding Mr. Mamedov that in tolerant society
a political arrested does not die because of being a representative
of a national minority, in tolerant society voting for this or that
nation’s representative is not forbidden in international contest,
in tolerant state making photos in streets is not forbidden with a
threat that the equipment will be broken.
From: Baghdasarian

ARTSAKH ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING

Aysor
Aug 24 2009
Armenia

On September 2 a mass meeting is to take place. Young people will
gather in the small hall of Karen Demirchyan Sport-Concert Complex
and will discuss the Artsakh issue and the attitudes and conditions
presented on the negotiation table.

Arthur Ghazaryan, the member of the Youth Association of Armenian
Revolutionary Federation informed about this today. As to him this
will not be a typical street mass meeting, but "a meeting on a
conference level".

"The Artsakh issue is already wrinkled. ARF has mentioned for several
times that it is against the points presented on the negotiable
table. The population of Artsakh is also against, and we present the
points of view of Karabakh population",-said Ghazaryan, adding that
different attitudes and points of view might be heard at the meeting.

At the end Arthur Ghazaryan declared that the meetings will be
continuous, but only when needed.
From: Baghdasarian

SEVERAL PEOPLE ARRESTED CONNECTED WITH THE MURDER OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF
THE POLICE GEVORG MHERYAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS: Several people have been arrested
connected with the murder of deputy chief of the police Gevorg Mheryan
who was shot to death February 3 in Yerevan.
Chief of the police Alik Sargsyan said today at the meeting with
the reporters that works are being conducted with the arrested people
and they have enough information about the murder but it still must be
disclosed. "Revealing such kind of murders is very difficult
process. We must be patient. Later the police will present information
about the murder. The disclosure of this case is a matter of honor and
dignity for the police," the chief of the police said.
From: Baghdasarian

Public Television of Armenia
Aug 13 2009

Peacekeepers, special-purpose forces on joint drills in Armenia

[Presenter over video of the drills] Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan
visited the Marshal Baghramyan training ground on 12 August to watch
the tactical drills of peacekeeper and special-purpose forces. Such
drills are being held for the first time in the Armenian armed forces
– a special-purpose detachment, aircraft and a brigade of peacekeepers
are being involved. The drills lasted for three days. [According to
the drills’ scenario,] There are hostilities between two countries, a
buffer zone is being created between them and peacekeepers are being
deployed there. According to the scenario of the drills, peacekeepers
should be able to separate and pacify the conflicting sides. Armenian
peacekeepers note that these drills are ordinary for them as
peacekeepers perform similar task, for instance, in Kosovo.

[Col Artur Simonyan, the commander of the brigade of peacekeepers,
speaking to journalists] The drills were held to train and also
examine our capabilities, abilities, and knowledge. In Kosovo, for
example, at this moment we have 70 peacekeepers who are engaged in
maintaining a buffer zone between Serbs and Albanians.
From: Baghdasarian

NINTH CIRCUIT STRIKES DOWN CALIFORNIA LAW ALLOWING ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’ VICTIMS TO SUE
Jaclyn Belczyk

JURIST
Friday, August 21, 2009

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website]
ruled [opinion, PDF] Thursday that a California state law that
allows descendants of victims of the Armenian Genocide [ANI
backgrounder] to sue in state courts for unpaid insurance benefits
is unconstitutional. The court found that California Civil Procedure
Code § 354.4 [text] "interferes with the national government’s conduct
of foreign relations" because the federal government has declined to
describe the World War I-era killings of over one million Armenians
by Turkish soldiers as genocide. The court concluded:

California Code of Civil Procedure § 354.4 is preempted because it
directly conflicts with the Executive Branch’s foreign policy refusing
to provide official recognition to the "Armenian Genocide." Far from
concerning an area of traditional state interest, § 354.4 impinges
upon the National Government’s ability to conduct foreign affairs.

The lawsuit was brought by a California citizen of Armenian descent
who initiated a class action suit against insurance companies, alleging
they had failed to pay benefits. The plaintiff’s lawyer said he plans
to appeal [San Francisco Chronicle report] the ruling.

In October 2007, the US House of Representatives delayed action [JURIST
report] on a resolution [H Res 106 materials] that would have labeled
the 1915-1918 killings as genocide, a decision that was welcomed
[JURIST report] by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan [BBC
profile]. The proposed legislation was approved by the House Foreign
Relations Committee and had been expected to reach the floor [JURIST
reports] before Congress recessed for the year. Then-Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice had told Congress that the resolution could
"severely harm" US-Turkish relations [JURIST report]. Turkey has long
objected [JURIST comment] to any attempts to classify the 1915 Armenian
killings as genocide. Several other countries – including France,
Canada and Argentina – have nonetheless passed laws or resolutions
[BBC backgrounder] to that effect. The Obama administration’s position
on the matter has not been made clear.
From: Baghdasarian

ISRAEL CAN LEARN FROM TURKEY’S EFFORT TO PRESERVE ITS SOCIETAL MOSAIC
By The Daily Star

Daily Star
d=1&article_id=105566&categ_id=17
Saturday , August 22, 2009
Lebanon

Turkey’s decision to dramatically switch gears on how it deals with its
Kurdish citizens is part of a "Kurdish initiative" by Prime Minister
Erdogan, and gives the region a considerable amount of food for
thought. Turkey’s earlier policies were well-known, if not infamous:
erasing the names of villages of its Kurdish community and banning the
use of the Kurdish language in public settings, among other measures,
all a part of "Turkification" process that didn’t go very far in
solving what was seen as a problem, and not a source of diversity.

Sound familiar? We’re seeing the old-style policies of ethnic "cultural
cleansing" in Palestine, as the obsession with having a Jewish state
has led Israeli officials to introduce measures aimed at erasing the
presence of the Palestinians from their own land.

The policies of denial and mass eradication, whether of street signs
or actual human beings, never seem to work.

Was it smart for Turkey to reject a recognition of the Kurds, one of
the oldest peoples in the region, and the world’s biggest national
group without a state? No.

Can Turkey wish away the Armenians and their past, by denying
historical facts? Again, the answer is no.

The same goes for the Israelis’ attempts to eliminate the presence
of the Palestinians, as well as the calls by some to eliminate the
Jewish presence in the Middle East.

The Amazig people of North Africa, commonly referred to as the Berbers,
face similar struggles over asserting their cultural and other rights;
Iraq provides an example of non-state actors targeting ethnic and
religious groups, such as Kurds, Turkmen and various Christian sects,
to create a supposedly "purer" country.

The campaigns to erase entire cultural and ethnic groups from our
countries usually take decades to set up and implement, but that
doesn’t mean that the authors of such policies gain any satisfaction
in the end. We can sit back and predict that such policies are
doomed to fail, but this doesn’t mean that the actions don’t have
any repercussion.

In Palestine, the Israelis are getting further entrenched in
self-delusion, while the Palestinians sink deeper into desperation,
to the point of abandoning local politics and adopting non-national
agendas, be they from Washington or Tehran. It seems like a no-win
situation, doomed to produce hatred and instability.

But in Turkey, which was mired in a fierce strain of nationalism over
six decades, an abrupt and dramatic about-face on the Kurdish issue
has finally arisen, giving us hope that other attitudes and policies
can change as well. Politicians and movements can buck the trend for a
while, and pretend that their measures are going to produce a radical
solution, or they can gain some inspiration from an encouraging step
by Turkey, to keep our mosaic in place.
From: Baghdasarian

HAKOB CHAKRYAN: THERE IS NO RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.08.2009 18:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU and the United States are to be blamed to some
extent for the complication of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation
process, Hakob Chakryan expert in Turkish philology told a press
conference in Yerevan today.

According to him, by doing certain statements the EU and the U.S. have
created the impression that Armenia is approaching Turkey.

"The question is not a convergence, but a dialogue, which should lead
to opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. What kind of rapprochement
is spoken about, if Turkey still does not refuse from preconditions
to Armenia?" the expert said".

He however noted that recently the process of so-called "approximation"
has stopped. A similar statement was made by the American co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza, the Armenian expert said.

"After the Russion-Georgian war, Turkey has proposed to establish
a platform of stability in the Caucasus. The aim of this project is
to show the activity of Turkey in the South Caucasus. Through this
initiative, Ankara has become a temporary member of the UN Security
Council, " Hakob Chakryan said.

According to him, the Armenian-Turkish dialogue failed, after the
Turkish side had announced that no advancement can be achieved between
the countries until the Karabakh conflict is not resolved.

"I think it would be wrong if the Armenian side refuses to visit a
football match, because in this case Armenia will appear as a country
that is opposed to a peaceful settlement," the Armenian expert said.

President Serzh Sargsyan during his joint meeting with the President
of Serbia in Yerevan said that he will visit Turkey to watch the
match between national teams of Armenia and Turkey only if the
Armenian-Turkish border would be open, or if parties will be on the
threshold of deblocking of Armenia.

The game between the national football teams of Turkey and Armenia in
the qualifying round of 2010 World Championship will be held October
14 at the stadium named after Ataturk in Bursa.
From: Baghdasarian