Author: Basmajian Ani

ARMENIAN YOUTH OF RUSSIA PROTESTS AGAINST TURKISH DIPLOMATIC MISSION’S ACTIONS

arminfo
2008-04-23 18:04:00

ArmInfo. The youth of the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) qualifies
the reception at the Turkish embassy on April 24 as intentional
sacrilege and calls on foreign countries’ ambassadors to boycott the
event which insults the memory of 1.5 mln innocent victims of the
Armenian Genocide.

The UAR youth’s statement sent to ArmInfo says that on April 24, 1915,
the Turkish authorities arrested and savagely killed the best sons of
Armenian people, the elite of intellectuals. Armenians were massacred
in their Motherland – Western Armenia. Carrying out their plan of
ethnic cleansing, the Turkish authorities ordered to exterminate
Armenians. Neither women, nor children, nor elderly people were
spared. Over 1 500 000 people were killed.

The rest became refugees all over the world. Cities and villages of
the country, the area of which was 10 times as large as the one of
modern Armenia, became empty. The international community condemned
this monstrous misdeed. Russia, France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland,
the Netherlands, Belgium, Uruguay, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Italy,
Argentina, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Venezuela and other countries
fixed with state acts their position of recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide committed by Turkey. However, even now that
93 years have passed since the tragedy, Turkey itself has no desire
to recognize the fact of the Armenian Genocide it committed. Only
condemnation of the crime can prevent similar crimes.

"The solemn reception to be organized by the Turkish ambassador on
April 24, the Day of Grief is intentional sacrilege. We appeal to you
not to participate in the provocative event which insults the memory
of 1.5 mln innocent victims", the statement says.

RA GOVERNMENT REGARDED AS FORMED

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Since April 21, 2008 the government of
the Republic of Armenia is considered to be formed, as all the members
of the government have been appointed. According to the information
provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office, according
to order envisaged by Article 74 of the RA Constitution, the government
will submit its program to the National Assembly for approval within
a 20-day term.

According to the same source, Andranik Manukian and Manuk Topuzian
have been appointed advisers of RA President by the decrees signed
by President Serge Sargsian on April 21.

By the April 21 two orders of the RA President, Levon Martirosian
has been appointed assistant of RA President and Samvel Farmanian
seminar reader of RA President.

ARMEN GEVORGIAN APPOINTED TERRITORIAL GOVERNANCE MINISTER, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

ARMENPRESS
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsian signed
today a decree appointing Armen Gevorgian as Territorial Governance
Minister of Armenia. Presidential press service told Armenpress that
with another decree the president appointed Armen Gevorgian as deputy
prime minister.

A. Gevorgian was born in 1973 in Yerevan. He studied in Orenburg
State Pedagogical Institute majoring in history. Graduated from
St. Petersburg state service institute.

>From 1997 January to 1998 April was the aide to the Armenian prime
minister. From April 13 1998 held the office of the aide to the
president and first deputy of the president’s staff.

>From 2000-2006 was the first aide to the president.

In February 2006 was appointed the head of staff of the president. From
January 2007 is also holding office of the secretary of the National
Security Council. He is married has two sons.

AZERBAIJAN’S MILITARY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE: "WE FIGHT NOT AGAINST ARMENIANS BUT AGAINST MILITARY CRIMINALS"

Today.Az
/politics/44454.html
April 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Ilham Mamedov, first deputy of Azerbaijan’s
Military Prosecutor, head of joint operative group on investigation
of crimes, committed during Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan.

-How does the investigation of crimes, committed by Armenians in
Khojaly, proceed?

-The case on the said fact was closed in March of 1994 due to
impossibility to reveal persons who committed the said crime. Yet we
restarted the said case after the Constitutional law was adopted and
re-qualified it into genocide in line with article 103 of the Criminal
Code. After we started to regard these events on basis of the existing
materials of the case and collected evidences as an international
crime, as all objective data give us grounds to say like that.

We have repeatedly appealed to our colleagues to Russian prosecutor’s
office in Moscow in connection with this case. We have helped us
in most issues, sent materials of the criminal case. We collected
other evidences, started to question witnesses, held expertise,
that is started to conduct procedure actions. Today, we have already
presented accusations to 37 persons on facts of crimes in Khojaly. All
these people are direct executers, who killed, attacked children,
women and elderly people. Among them, there were servicemen of the
well-known 366th division.

The evidences regarding the said 37 people were contained in the
initial materials of the case. We have managed to reveal them on
basis of witnesses of people who managed to survive in this hell.

Today, we base on the norms of international law, which allow us to
hold such kinds of investigation. On the other hand, the European
convention and European Court are, as we think, guarantors of our
application of norms of international law, our responsibility as a
state, which is bound to prevent such crimes and gives the right to
those persons, whom we brought to criminal responsibility, to appeal
to the European Court.

I would repeat that the international convention demands from us to
investigate such a case. Moreover, the state is bound to cooperate
with other states in the resolution of this issue.

-Does the list of these 37 people contain persons, who led the
separatist movement in Karabakh?

-I want the community not to confuse these two categories: separatist
leaders and criminals. We do not pursue people who think differently,
we pursue those who are criminals in the framework of international
criminal law. The convention is fixing these two concepts separately.

-However, the former president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan stated
openly that he is proud of having participated in the liberation
of Shusha.

-We have not yet given legal assessment to whether he has participated
or not. This is quite a different question. We consider the question
from the point of view of international criminal law. Of course, if
evidences proving participation of Kocharyan or any other person in
this crimes are collected, they will be brought to responsibility. For
bringing this or that person to a criminal responsibility, we can
not adhere to emotions or any unchecked information.

I would like to stress the role of European Court in this issue. The
European legal area, whom Azerbaijan is an element to and by the way
Armenia, is quite a new element for us, which lays responsibility on
officials and law enforcement bodies. In this case we can only speak
about law.

-Anyway, following the recent elections in Armenia, the list of the
so-called "Karabakh clan" included those who fight against Azerbaijan
with guns in their hands. This is the currently president of the
country S.Sarkissyan, Minister of Defense Oganyan and others. Does the
military prosecutor’s office have any facts regarding these people,
which prove that they committed crimes against the Azerbaijani people?

-First of all, to elect a president is a business of people. I
think the opinion of the Azerbaijani people appeared during the
elections. As we see, not everyone supports the aggressive policy
of the country’s leadership, as there are many people, who adhere to
democratic principles.

Anyway, we will have to live with Armenians and those Armenians,
who lived and live in Nagorno Karabakh are our citizens and we are
responsible for ensuring their rights.

We fight not against Armenians. We fight against military criminals.

-What can you say about investigation of crimes, connected with
brutal attitude to Azerbaijani citizens, captured during the Karabakh
conflict?

-29 people were brought to responsibility on this fact. These were
Armenian natives who violated norms of humanitarian law, that is those
who took direct part in tortures. Such crimes were committed against at
least 1378 Azerbaijani citizens whom we managed to free from captivity.

BABACAN OUTLINES TURKEY’S EU PATH

The New Anatolian
April 21 2008
Turkey

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday the country’s
EU membership is a win-win procedure for Turkey and EU.

Babacan spoke to guests at opening of Turkish-Austrian Neighborhood
Workshop in Ankara.

Babacan said Turkey implemented remarkable political reforms and
made important steps in its EU bid, and will continue to do so. He
thanked Austria for its support to Turkey’s EU membership. "Both
Turkey and Austria pursued a stable foreign policy in a geography
full of challenges and opportunities," Babacan added.

Regarding the partnership agreement that was expected to be signed by
EU and Bosnia-Herzegovina Babacan said, "Turkey has been carefully
monitoring developments in Bosnia- Herzegovina and the parnetship
agreement is of great importance for Turkey."

"Preserving peace and stability in Balkans is a priority for Turkey,"
Babacan continued adding that "Turkey highly value Kosovo and there
were close ties between the two countries."

Turkish FM called for eliminating fragmentation among Palestinians
for the sake of peace process, saying, "The Palestine issue was the
main problem in the Middle East"

On relations with Armenia, Babacan said "Turkey is eager to normalize
its relations with Armenia. It keeps open dialogue channels with the
new Armenian government."

ECONOMY GROWS 10.2 PERCENT IN QUARTER ONE

ARMENPRESS
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s economy grew 10.2 percent
in quarter one. In January-February the growth was 10.1 percent.

Armenian Central Bank said the highest growth rate-20 percent- was
again reported by construction sector.

Industrial growth was 5.8 percent aided significantly by growth in
energy, food and metal production sectors. Growth in services was
11.2 percent. High growth rates were reported both in retail trade
and services.

Agriculture rose 3.2 percent.

TORCH PROCESSION IN COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.04.2008 14:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A torch procession that has already become a
tradition will be held in Yerevan under the slogan "My name is
struggle, my death is victory" to commemorate victims of the Armenian
Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The procession will start at Liberty Square on April 23 at 8.00
p.m. and will finish at Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, reports
the Press Center of the Youth Wing of ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Nikol
Aghbalyan student union.

The initiators of the event call on Yerevan residents to light candles
on their windowsills to commemorate the Genocide victims

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH TURKMENISTAN

armradio.am
18.04.2008 15:15

The newly appointed Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Armenia Shohrat
Jumayev presented his credentials to RA President Serzh Sargsyan.

The President congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office and
expressed hope that new steps will be made during his tenure in office
in the direction of expanding the bilateral relations.

Underscoring the warm relations established between Armenia and
Turkmenistan and the great potential of development of the two
countries, the interlocutors prioritized the deepening of further
cooperation in the field of economy.

Noting that the Armenian-Turkmen trade-economic indices do not
reflect the existing potential, President Sargsyan attached particular
importance to the restart of the work of the joint Intergovernmental
Commission and promotion of active cooperation in the field of economy.

RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF RISE IN PRICES

A1+
18 April, 2008

The rise in gas price has aroused serious concern and complaint not
only in the capital but also in RA marzes. Residents of Armavir Marz
mainly complain of unemployment. "We cannot afford communal services
as we are unemployed. There are hardly any workplaces in the marz,"
they say. Most young people have decided to leave Armenia as they
are sure that prices of most consumer goods will go up.

Pensioners consider the recent rise in gas price a "barbarism." "They
pledged we should lead a better life. We hardly survive today," they
say. They spent their monthly pension, 30-45 000 drams, on gas during
the winter months.

Rafik Ghazarian, Head of the Armavir-based "ArmRusGasArt" Ltd, says
that Armenia’s Government will take complex measures targeted at
the vulnerable layer of the society to protect them from the rise
of tariffs.

THE PROOFREAD MISTAKE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 17, 2008
Armenia

"After all everyone must realize that Armenia will never make
concessions in the context of Artsakh conflict. In other words –
won’t cede Artsakh. After many years of captivity Armenian people
finally regained part of their historical territory, in the captivity
of which European countries played their black role.

Armenian people have already proofread this mistake. The only thing
left to do is to enshrine this fact diplomatically and let no one
threaten us with war," member of ARFD faction Artashes Shahbazyan says.