Author: Basmajian Ani

Yes or no to peace building in journalism?

09-06-2007 17:49:02 – KarabakhOpen

The Public TV and Radio held another discussion on peace building and
journalism yesterday including the leading journalists of the only
local TV channel and radio, as well as the representatives of Internews
Armenia visiting Armenia in the framework of the Dialogue through Films
project implemented in association with the British Consortium NGO.

Karine Ohanyan, journalist, who organized the discussion, said several
peace-building projects have been implemented in Karabakh over the past
few years. Collaboration between Armenian and Azerbaijan reporters has
been promoted. However, there are questions which worry the journalists
working in the area of the conflict: how the journalists can influence
the settlement f the conflict, where the border between peace building
and professional reporting is, whether they should write about
everything when the foe reads the media. Finally, they worry whether
the journalists of the conflict sides should meet and discuss different
issues at a cup of coffee. The discussion was heated, it lasted for
almost three hours. The manager of the programs of Internews Armenia
Harutiun Mansuryan told about collaboration with Azerbaijanis over the
projects of Intersection, Front Line, Children’s Intersection. He said
the latter is broadcast on the Public Channel of Armenia, and if at
first the Armenian viewers could not bear the Azerbaijani speech, now
the attitude of the society towards Azerbaijani reports has changed, it
has become more tolerant.

But should the Armenian society change its attitude when the
Azerbaijani media are propagating that Armenians are enemies? Why
should we bring up our children this way if the other side is preparing
the generation for war? Will the Armenians be ready in case war
ignites? The TV newsmakers raised these issues, who maintained that
projects involving collaboration between Armenian and Azerbaijani
journalists produce no results because in Azerbaijan, for instance, the
number of people who want war is growing steadily despite these
projects.

Narine Ghazaryan, journalist, said there is no peace building
journalism, there is professional journalism.

However, this statement also became a matter of discussion after
watching the two films made by young journalists of Artsakh in the
framework of the project Dialogue through Films, `Hard Nut’ and `Gone
with the Life’. The first is about the wife of a prisoner of war, who
is still waiting for her husband. The second is about the fates and
problems of people living in Kashatagh (Lachin). The discussion that
followed the films involved an important issue ` is it right to reveal
the truth to the conflict side which denigrates us? Why if the other
side does not do the same? Despite the opinion of the organizers of the
discussion that a journalist may report anything that is not a military
secret, most TV reporters think otherwise. Such films must be shown
inside the country, we need them but it is not right to show these
films `there’. Production for internal consumption and for export,
selection of the right people for joint projects, interest and
involvement of third parties and forces in the Karabakh conflict,
national values, globalization and democracy were also discussed.
Considering that the discussion was interesting and touched upon
up-to-date issues, the participants of the discussion said they are not
against contacts with Azerbaijani journalists but there should be a
limit to what to say, where, when and to whom¦

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY EXPECTS SERIOUS PROGRESS IN KARABAKH TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.06.2007 16:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Ambassador to NATO Samvel Lazarian met
in Brussels with Sir Brian Fall, UK Special Representative for the
South Caucasus to discuss a scope of issues including the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and expectations from the forthcoming presidential
meeting in Saint Petersburg.

They also referred to the Armenia-NATO relations and some regional
problems.

The parties to conflict have a possibility to come to an agreement,
according to Sir Brian Fall. Alluding to G8 Foreign Ministers’ May
30 statement in Potsdam, the British diplomat said the international
community expects a considerable breakthrough in the talks. The
resolution of the Karabakh conflict will contribute to formation of the
South Caucasus as a political element and promote economic development.

Samvel Lazarian also briefed on the Armenia-NATO cooperation as well
as programs underway, the RA MFA press office reported.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CANNOT DECIDE INSTEAD OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.06.2007 20:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Proposals of OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement lie on the table of talks, and we think
that they may become as bases for working out principles to conflict
settlement," OSCE French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated to a press
conference in Yerevan. He said, it is possible to reach agreements on
basic principles, and "that’s why we are optimists". "Armenian and
Azeri presidents must evaluate our proposals and decide what points
they agree and what points they do not agree on. And this does not
depend on MG," Fassier noticed.

He underlined that a "breakthrough" in talks is possible when
presidents begin to trust each other and come to a balanced and just
solution. Then Armenian and Azeri foreign Ministers will begin to
work out a peace treaty," the French mediator underlined.

As to participation of Karabakh representatives in the negotiation
process, Bernard Fassier one more time repeated that sooner NK
participates in talks, it would be better. "Now we discuss this
issue with the Azeri side. But we have not reached the point yet
to speak about details of agreement. We are preparing bases, and
nobody, including the Minsk Group knows when the sides will come
to a solution," the Co-Chair said, adding that meetings with Arkadi
Ghukassian are necessary for clarifying issues concerning the stance
of Nagorno Karabakh.

WIPO NOT RESPONDING TO APPEAL REGARDING ARMENIAN APPROPRIATION OF AZERBAIJANI COMPOSER’S WORK

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. S.Alizadeh / Abutalib Samadov, the
Director of the Agency on Authors’ Rights of Azerbaijan, stated on
7 June that the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) did
not respond to Azerbaijan’s official appeal regarding the Armenians’
appropriation of Kor arabi Music, the work of Fikrat Amirov, the
Azerbaijani composer.

"We appealed to the WIPO on the matter. I met with the Deputy
General Director of the organization. They are delaying the process
of resolving the problem and explained that the investigation is
proceeding," Samadov noted.

Azerbaijan will appeal to the European Court, if the issue will not
be resolved by the near future, as the WIPO investigation cannot take
so long.

"The international organization seems to be regarding the issue with
indifference," Samadov added.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
GLENDALE CHAPTER
407 EAST COLORADO STREET, GLENDALE, CA 91205 – ¦ TEL: (818)
243-3444 – ¦ FAX (818) 243-3009

_____

CITY CLERK OF GLENDALE, ARDASHES KASSAKHIAN, TO HOLD COMMUNITY MEETING

Glendale City Clerk, Ardashes Kassakhian will hold a town hall meeting
to discuss the recent Glendale Municipal Elections and how the city may
improve future elections on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 6:30pm. The
community meeting will take place at the Glendale Policy Community Room,
located at 131 North Isabel Street, Glendale, CA.

Your attendance and positive feedback on the multi language ballot is
crucial at this meeting to ensure that future elections are handled in
the same manner. Please make every effort to attend. Should you have
any questions you may contact the Armenian National Committee – Glendale
Chapter at (818) 243-3444.

MONETARY INCOMES AND EXPENDITURES OF ARMENIAN POPULATION GROW BY 24.7% AND 22.4% RESPECTIVELY IN JANUARY-APRIL 2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Jun 05 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-April 2007, monetary
incomes of the Armenian population made 528 bln 7.9 mln drams (a1
bln 467.7 mln USD), while monetary expenditures – 526 bln 315.4 mln
drams. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the growth
rates of these indices made 124.7% and 122.4% respectively compared
with January-April 2006.

Real monetary incomes of the population (incomes less compulsory
payments, taking into account changes in consumer price indices)
grew by 18.5% in January-April 2007 on the same period of last year.

In March 2007, the average monthly nominal salary exceeded 3.6fold
the minimum salary against 4fold in 2006.

THE CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA MAINTAINS THE REFINANCING INTEREST RATE AT 4,5%

ArmInfo
2007-06-04 22:30:00

At today’s session, the Council of the Central Bank of Armenia
maintained the refinancing interest rate at 4,5%.

The CBA press-service told ArmInfo that 2,1% inflation was observed in
Armenia in May 2007 as compared with April 2007. The annual inflation
made up 3,8%, which is by 1,4% lower than the index of the beginning
of 2007.

The CBA Council took into account the macroeconomic development
tendencies in Armenia in Apr-May 2007 and confirmed their compliance
with the forecasts for the second quarter: the external inflationary
pressure is moderate as compared with 2006, though international oil
prices excess the expected level and the change of gross demand proves
the lack of internal sources of additional inflationary pressures. In
this connection, the CBA Council adheres to the opinion that the
factual inflation will be formed within the framework of the targeted
level by the end of 2007 and in the first quarter of 2008. According
to the source, if the prospects of the country’s economic development
change within the next few months, the CBA Council doesn’t rule out
possible readjustment of interest rates.

LE MAS DES ALOUETTES HHH DRAME DE PAOLO ET VITTORIO TAVIANI AVEC PAZ VEGA, ANGELA MOLINA, ANDRE DUSSOLLIER

Le Telegramme, France
30 mai 2007 mercredi

En 1915, dans une petite ville turque, les Avakian, d’origine
armenienne, forment une grande famille aisee où règnent la joie
et la solidarite. Le jour des funerailles du patriarche, tous les
notables viennent lui rendre hommage. Y compris le colonel Arkan,
qui a autrefois persecute les Armeniens. Les ranc~urs semblent
oubliees, la belle Nunik frequente en secret un jeune officier turc,
le fils aîne s’apprete a revenir d’Italie pour prendre possession du
Mas des alouettes, la demeure familiale, et personne ne se soucie
de l’alliance de l’Italie et de la France contre l’Autriche et la
Turquie. Quelques jours plus tard, des militaires font irruption,
massacrent les hommes et emmènent les femmes dans le desert au cours
d’une longue marche mortelle. Les frères Taviani, qui appartiennent a
la legende du cinema italien, n’ont pas perdu la main. Le contraste
entre le debut du film, lumineux, avec des paysages beaux comme des
tableaux, et la seconde partie, grise et poussiereuse, rend le propos
particulièrement insoutenable. Ils decrivent, sans excès de pathos,
les relations aberrantes entre les bourreaux et leurs victimes qui
souvent grandirent ensemble dans des maisons voisines. Une revelation :
l’actrice espagnole Paz Vega, belle et magnetique dans le rôle de la
courageuse Nunik.

–Boundary_(ID_1pewwjYo4rDa6aZ9zcMYtg)–

L’ARMENIEN DE TURQUIE ECHAPPE A L’EXPULSION

La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest
Edition VIENNE
30 mai 2007 mercredi

Citoyen turque mais de nationalite armenienne, Aram Karapetian vient
d’echapper pour la septième fois aux tentatives d’expulsion dirigees
contre lui par les autorites francaises. Aram a fui avec son epouse
sa ville natale de Batman, en Armenie turque où, dit-il, sa famille
etait l’objet de multiples agressions de la part de jeunes Turcs.

Selon le jeune homme, son frère aurait ete tue par des extremistes
turcs et, depuis son depart de Turquie, le reste de sa famille aurait
ete contraint de fuir la ville. Aram et son epouse sont d’abord
passes par la Suède avant d’echouer en France où, par eux fois,
l’Office francais de protection des refugies et apatrides (Ofpra)
leur a refuse le statut de refugies.

Aram Karapetian a par la suite essuye un refus de titre de sejour de
la part du prefet en mars 2006. Deja interpelle a six reprises ces
douze derniers mois, il a beneficie a chaque fois d’une remise en
liberte, les conditions de son interpellation n’etant pas conformes
aux textes de loi.

Mercredi, le jeune Armenien a ete " cueilli " par la police devant
chez lui, dans le cadre d’un contrôle ordonne par le procureur de
la Republique. Le prefet, arguant du fait qu’Aram n’a pas quitte le
territoire plus d’un an après le refus de titre qui lui a ete oppose,
l’a fait placer en retention administrative et a ordonne sa reconduite
en Turquie.

Hier matin, devant le juge des reconduites a la frontière, l’avocate
d’Aram, Me Nathalie Georges, a fait valoir que l’article de loi invoque
par le prefet ne s’applique plus depuis le vote d’une nouvelle loi
en juillet dernier : plusieurs tribunaux ont deja sanctionne de
tels arretes.

Par ailleurs, l’epouse d’Aram Karapetian devrait se voir accorder un
titre provisoire de sejour pour raisons de sante ce qui permettrait
a Aram de beneficier des protections de la vie familiale prevue par
la Convention europeenne de sauvegarde des Droits de l’Homme.

On ignore lequel de ces arguments a emporte la conviction du juge qui,
hier, a simplement stipule l’annulation de l’arrete prefectoral ce qui
a immediatement mis fin a la retention administrative du jeune homme.

–Boundary_(ID_PV9V/346ic8pOwbqfdrJEA)–

18-YEARS-OLD MURDERER OF 37 FOREIGNERS ALWAYS HATED CAUCASIANS
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2007

Artur Rino, student of Icon Painting College, during the legal
investigation admitted that he had murdered 37 foreigners because
of their nationality. The 18-years-old skinhead had committed those
murders with his friend Pavel Skachevski, student of Russian State
University of Physical Culture, Russian media informed. They were
arrested on April 17 and charged with the murder of the Armenian
Karen Abrahamian. The latter was stabbed and killed with 20 strikes.

At the prosecutor’s office of Southwestern part of Moscow Artur Rino
admitted that he had brutally killed a few dozen people with his
friend Pavel Skachevski.

The preliminary investigation cleared up that all 37 murders had
been committed in a short period of time – about 10 months. Rino
had confessed, "I hated Caucasians from my school-time. They came to
Moscow, united and suppressed Russians."

When speaking of skinheads and movements of racists in Russia,
as a rule the authorities content themselves with the promises and
announcements of correcting everything. The experts mention, this
issue doesn’t gain publicity, while the atmosphere of intolerance
is formed at this level. And when the intolerance is accompanied
with violence, and it gains a manifestation of brutality, there is
evidence that the whole society shows signs of sickness. And a late
echo may become problematic for the state, in this case for Russia.