Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FINANCIAL CRISIS TO STIMULATE REFORM PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.03.2009 11:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met Tuesday
with Rudolf Jan Treffers, World Bank Executive Director for Armenia,
to discuss further cooperation, reported the press office of the
Armenian government.

Thanking Mr. Treffers for efficient activity, PM Sargsyan voiced hope
that the WB projects targeting development of small and medium-sized
businesses will help alleviation of global economic crisis consequences
in the republic.

He also said that the crisis will stimulate reform process in various
fields.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE

UN Department of Public Information, Yerevan Office
14 Petros Adamyan str., First Floor
Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Contact: Armine Halajyan, UN DPI Officer-in-Charge
Tel.: (374 1) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 1) 561 406

Armenia Hosted an Earthquake Simulation Response Exercise

25 March 2009

On 24-26 March 2009, the United Nations Office in Armenia and the Rescue
Service of Armenia, under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, implemented
the INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) Earthquake
Simulation Response Exercise. This exercise is designed to put into practice
all the different components involved in the coordination of international
response to a country affected during a sudden onset of natural disaster.

INSARAG Secretariat organizes similar Simulation Response Exercises every
year, which are unique awareness and training courses. Earthquake Simulation
Response Exercise in Armenia aims to increase the awareness of INSARAG
disaster response methodologies amongst national and local authorities in
Armenia, and to practice coordination and cooperation between international
and national responders during major disasters, such as earthquakes.

Disaster managers and USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams from 22
countries, various UN agencies with their local counterparts, international
organizations operating in Armenia, and emergency managers from relevant
institutions participated in the exercise in Armenia.

The exercise was supported by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) in Armenia, with funding from the Government of Estonia. The Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and German Technical
Cooperation (GTZ) also provided support in organization of the exercise.

Acting UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Bushra Halepota said, `While the United
Nations and the international community promote a global culture of natural
disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and
preparedness, earthquakes will still happen in high-risk areas, resulting in
collapsed buildings and infrastructure. Therefore, it is of utmost
importance to be well-prepared for potential earthquake scenarios and have
all the coordination arrangements in place for both national and
international response mechanisms and ensure prompt, effective search and
rescue operations, and relief response.’

INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group)

The INSARAG, under the UN umbrella, was established in 1991 following
initiatives of international search and rescue teams that responded to the
1988 Spitak earthquake. The Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) became a center of a global network of more than 80 countries and
disaster response organizations, simplifying international response
procedures. The Field Coordination Support Section of the OCHA in Geneva
functions as INSARAG Secretariat. The main goal of INSARAG is the efficient
implementation of search and rescue works as part of international response,
coordination of work of rescue services of various countries, drafting of
common methodology, and establishment of cooperation between international
rescue teams and local disaster management authorities, including their
deployment, operations, information management and drafting of common
standards.

The INSARAG Guidelines have been endorsed in the UN General Assembly
Resolution of 16 December 2002. It deals with urban search and rescue (USAR)
related issues and aims at establishing standards for international USAR
teams and methodology for international coordination in earthquake response.
The same GA Resolution endorses organizing simulation exercises annually as
training on INSARAG methodology.

Thus, the main goals of the exercise in Armenia are:
=95 Mobilization of international search and rescue teams,
=95 Planning of joint actions of the Armenian Rescue Service and these
teams,
=95 Practice coordination and cooperation between international and
national responders during major disasters, such as earthquakes.

The exercise scenario is based on a possible major earthquake which requires
the affected country to make a request for international assistance. It will
see active involvement of international search and rescue teams responding
and working alongside national counterparts. In parallel, there will be
engagement of the national emergency management team (LEMA) working
alongside the in-country UN Disaster Management Team (DMT). As a part of
international response practice, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) team will be deployed to assist national emergency management team
(LEMA) in establishing an immediate response coordination structures at the
airport, as well as on site operations and coordination center (OSOCC).
* * *
From: Baghdasarian

‘YERKIR’ UNION: GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES DO NOT RESTRAIN EVEN THE MOST FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS, AND CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THE PERSECUTION OF JAVAKHETI ARMENIAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST

ArmInfo
2009-03-18 14:12:00

ArmInfo. On March 11-12, 2009 the Akhaltsikhe District Court held the
hearing of the case of the Javakheti political activist, the leader
of the "United Javakhk – Democratic Alliance" political movement-
Vahagn Chakhalyan, his father- Ruben Chakhalyan and younger brother-
Armen Chakhalyan.

As Union reported, the Observers of the "Yerkir" Union have recorded a
number of violations. In particular, Forty-one days have passed since
the last court hearing of the Chakhalyan’s case was held on January
29. After that the court assigned the day for the hearing two times:
first – for the 11th and then -for the 26th of February. However, the
hearing never took place, because the Georgian authorities failed to
transfer Vahagn Chakhalyan from Tbilisi to Ahaltskha, due to lack of
fuel, according to the official explanation. ‘Court hearings were still
held in the absence of Patrick Arapian, Chakhalyan’s French lawyer,
who was denied registration by the Ministry of Justice on February
16. The Public Defender of Georgia – Sozar Subari in his letter
to the Minister of Justice Z. Adeishvili assessed this decision as
"unreasonable". He further recommended restoring the violated rights
of the Chakhalyans by allowing the participation of the French lawyer
in the lawsuit. The Chakhalyans’ Armenian lawyer – Stepan Voskanyan
currently has an ambivalent status. On March 6, when he tried to visit
his client, Vahagn Chakhalyan, who is kept in pre-trial prison No 5
in Tbilisi, the employees of the institution informed him that the
decision of the Ministry of Justice on his appointment as Chakhalyan’s
lawyer is no longer valid, and tried to prevent him from meeting his
client. At the beginning of the trial held on March 11 the advocate
Voskanyan raised the question of his status, but the judge refused
in all possible ways to respond to his question, arguing that the
Court recognizes Voskanian as Chakhalyans’ lawyer, and the question
of recognition or rejection of his status by other agencies is not
within the scope of competence of the Court. The translation of the
court hearings continues to be implemented extremely inaccurately, with
omissions and interruptions. The Court once again paid no attention to
the complaints of the Chakhalyans and their Armenian lawyer, as well
as to their suggestion to suspend the trial in order to ensure a more
acceptable translation. At the court hearings on the 11th and 12th
of March, 16 witnesses were interrogated. All of them used to be or
still are the employees of the local law-enforcement structures. After
questioning all the witnesses present the court postponed the hearing
till the 25th of March’, ‘Yerkir’ Union reported. ‘The abovementioned
facts once again demonstrate that the Georgian authorities do not
restrain even the most flagrant violations, and continue to carry
out the persecution of Javakheti Armenian political activist.

The "Yerkir" Union calls on the international institutions and
human rights organizations, urging them to consider the recorded
violations and exercise pressure on the Georgian authorities with
the aim of cutting short the shameful trial of the Chakhalyans family
and releasing the Javakheti Armenian political activist from prison’,
the message says.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ACTIVIST INNOCENTLY JAILED IN IRAN FOR POLITICS

HULIQ
ian-activist-innocently-jailed-iran-politics
March 18 2009
SC

Silva Harotonian, an Iranian citizen of Armenian descent, recently
held a modest role with a humanitarian organization working to improve
child and maternal health in Iran. Her work and life were interrupted
on June 26, 2008 when she was detained by Iranian authorities and
charged with participating in an effort to overthrow the Iranian
government through a "soft revolution." On January 19, 2009, she was
sentenced to three years in jail.

Silva is an Iranian citizen of Armenian descent. She attended the
University of Azad in Tehran, studying Armenian literature. Since then,
she has enjoyed a relatively simple life: she loves to help others,
enjoys art and movies, has worked in a variety of administrative jobs
and as a teacher at the Armenian School of Literature. As an active
member of the communities she lived in, Silva also volunteered on
Fridays, her days off, to teach Armenian literature to students who
were not enrolled in the school. Silva is patriotic toward her home
country of Iran, and was proud to be recognized for assisting in
organizing Armenian-Iranian celebrations supporting the establishment
of Iran’s Islamic government. One of Silva’s colleagues fondly
remembers that Silva was proud of her Iranian origins and introduced
the people she worked with to Iranian food, music and culture.

Silva enjoys a deep connection to our family’s Armenian roots. When
her father passed away from cancer in 2000, Silva stepped into his
shoes and became the breadwinner of the family, supporting and caring
for her mother. She recently moved from Iran to Armenia, where her
new job with IREX was based. A faithful Christian who worked for the
Armenian Prelacy in Tehran, Silva had limited life experience, but
appreciated the opportunities presented by her new job. The program
she worked on could help make a difference in the lives of mothers
and children seeking healthcare in Iran. These goals resonated with
the humanitarian in Silva. Her position with IREX provided the unique
opportunity to serve others in a meaningful way while improving her
homeland Iran. Her job assignments were relatively straightforward
and her intentions to do a good job were strong.

Silva is by no means a political activist. Neither Silva, nor her
employer IREX, intended to wrong Iran. There was no secret agenda. If
you knew Silva–her smile, her gentle soul, her kind ways–you would
understand how this situation breaks our hearts.

Silva’s mother has been staying in Iran since Silva’s arrest so she can
visit the prison and see her daughter once a week. Already very ill,
the past seven months have taken a significant toll on her health and
well being. She continues to hope that our pleas for Silva’s release
will be granted.

Please help us strengthen our appeal. Please lend your voice,
and the voices of your family members and friends, to our cause by
clicking here.

Read quotes from friends and colleagues:

"Although Silva made the move to Armenia, she made a point to
introduce Iran to everyone around her and ensure she not forget
her origins. It seems like it was only yesterday that Silva invited
many of her friends and colleagues to her home to celebrate Iranian
New Year. She introduced us all to Iranian food, Iranian music, and
Iranian culture. We miss her honesty, her smile, and her devotion to
her friends and family." – IREX colleague

"Knowing Silva for many years, I can summarize her as a person who is:
loving and caring, very enthusiastic about whatever she does at the
time, full of love for writing and reading world literature, filled
with emotions and understanding, shy to the extent that she seldom
reads her writings to even close friends, and hopelessly romantic! She
is a friend who shares the good times and helps you out by listening
during the bad times. However she is not too good in being on time
and when she says she’ll be there in half an hour, it may take her
an hour!( not always though!):))" – Celine, Silva’s childhood friend
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MINISTER UPBEAT ON TURKISH TIES

Public Television of Armenia
March 11 2009

[Presenter] Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan made a speech
on the topic of South Caucasus: Reality and Prospects on Thursday [10
March] evening at International Diplomatic Academy in Paris. Diplomats
accredited in Paris, political figures and journalists gathered at
the authoritative diplomatic institution. Nalbandyan also answered
numerous questions.

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] During the meeting of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in Yerevan, Armenia invited
the Azerbaijani foreign minister. Armenia is the acting chair of this
organization, and naturally it invites representatives of all states –
members of this organization, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, to a
meeting of ministers planned to be held Yerevan, Nalbandyan said.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
I will undoubtedly be very glad if the Turkish foreign minister comes
to Armenia. I have also invited the Azerbaijani foreign minister.

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] The Azerbaijani authorities,
on the contrary, are not hospitable – they do not invite Armenian
officials to international meetings held in their country. No
invitation arrived for the recent Transport Corridor Europe
Caucasus Asia (TRACECA) summit, they did not invite [Armenia] to
NATO manoeuvres, that’s why those were cancelled. This approach of
Azerbaijan is unacceptable, Nalbandyan said. Anyway, formation of
Armenian-Turkish relations becomes the number one issue in the Paris
audience of the [Armenian] foreign minister. Nalbandyan is optimistic.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
We believe we are very close to normalization of relations and opening
of the borders without preconditions.

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] The foreign minister denied
yet another time the talk that Turkey is taking up a mediating role
in the Karabakh settlement.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
There have been statements both in Azerbaijan and Turkey that they
are two parts of the same nation. So, how can one part of this nation
be a mediator between the other part and another country?

[Correspondent over video of a meeting] If Washington recognizes the
Armenian genocide can this have a negative impact on normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations? They also recalled these statements
which are being made in Turkey.

[Nalbandyan speaking in French with overlaid Armenian translation]
Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations cannot call into question
the fact of the Armenian genocide. If the Armenian and Turkish
sides have the political will and sincerely strive to normalize the
relations, then no circumstance can hinder this.
From: Baghdasarian

HRANUSH HAKOBYAN, NURBOLAT ALIMBAYEV DISCUSS ARMENIA-KAZAKHSTAN COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2009 22:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Diaspora Affairs Minister Hranush Hakobyan
met with Kazakhstan Charge D’affaires Nurbolat Alimbaev and the
Counselor of Kazakhstan Embassy in RA Kartay Khairov. The parties
discussed Armenia-Kazakhstan collaboration issues, specifically the
development of cooperation with Armenian Diaspora in Kazakhstan. The
parties stressed the role of the Armenian Diaspora in social, economic
and cultural life of Kazakhstan, RA Diaspora Affairs Ministry news
service reported.
From: Baghdasarian

Raffi Hovhannisian: Latest ap
Subject: Raffi Hovhannisian: Latest Appointment Of Yerevan Mayor Showed How Weak Is Armenia’s Legal Field

RAFFI HOVHANNISIAN: LATEST APPOINTMENT OF YEREVAN MAYOR SHOWED HOW WEAK IS ARMENIA’S LEGAL FIELD

ArmInfo
2009-03-16 16:19:00

ArmInfo. The latest appointment of Yerevan Mayor showed how weak
is the legal field in Armenia, Leader of opposition Heritage party,
parliamentarian Raffi Hovhannisian told media at the National Assembly
Monday.

He called it an anti-legal and anti-constitutional step by the
authorities.

‘Hereby the president of Armenia predetermined the forthcoming election
of Yerevan Mayor’, Hovhannisian said. ‘After such appointment, I no
longer hope that we will be able to ensure full conduct of the upcoming
elections, which is extremely necessary for the Yerevan citizens’,
he added.
From: Baghdasarian

A1+

Political prisoners voice concern
[12:02 pm] 09 March, 2009

Political prisoners of the Vardashen Penitentiary express concern
about detainee Shant Harutyunyan’s ill health. On March 8, 2009, they
issued a statement which holds,

`We find Shant Harutyunyan’s health condition as critical and appeal
you to render him an immediate medical assistance. Otherwise, we shall
take unprecedented measures.’
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian banks suffer 5 billion drams loss due to sharp devaluation of
Armenian dram on March 3

2009-03-13 22:24:00

ArmInfo. With the Armenian Central Bank returning to the policy of
floating rate, Armenian dram devaluated by 20% and local commercial
banks suffered 5 billion drams loss, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan told media Friday.

In response to ArmInfo question regarding budget risks connected with
the considerable growth of the exchange rate despite the planed 305
drams per US$1, the premier said the government follows the inflation
forecasts by the Central Bank which is evaluated at 8% for late 2009.
From: Baghdasarian

903

Iran and Azerbaijan call relations strategic
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday stressed the need to expand
bilateral relations between the two neighbors.

Aliyev, heading a high ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran on
Tuesday to attend Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit.

During a meeting between the countries’ high-ranking officials, both
presidents called Tehran-Baku relations important and strategic,
saying their countries play an important role in stabilizing the
region.

Ahmadinejad and Aliyev said that they are going to expand cooperation
in economic, security, political, cultural, and industrial areas.

Energy, transit, and bank cooperation will help the two states achieve
the desired goals, the two presidents underscored.

The presidents hoped that the ECO summit which opens today would yield
positive results that benefit the regional nations.

They also said that Western countries are seeking to transfer their
problems to Iran and Azerbaijan, insisting that Tehran and Baku should
avoid such problems through close cooperation.

Ahmadinejad said that Azerbaijan’s development will benefit the whole
region. He added that Iran is ready to share its experiences with
Azerbaijan in all areas.

Aliyev also said Iran-Azerbaijan ties can serve as a model for other
regional countries
From: Baghdasarian