Author: Basmajian Ani

YEREVAN’S POSITION ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS DESTRUCTIVE – BAKU

Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 21, 2008 Monday 2:42 PM MSK

The statements made by the Armenian leadership prove that Yerevan
has not abandoned its aggressive stance, head of the press service
of the Azeri Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibragim said.

"Such statements cannot have a positive effect on the Nagorno- Karabakh
settlement talks," Ibragim said at a briefing on Monday, commenting on
a statement by Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Arutyunian that Armenia
is ready "to provide Azerbaijan with another two million refugees."

"This statement is proof of Armenia’s destructive position and of the
fact that Armenia has not given up its aggressive plans," Ibragim said.

The spokesman pointed out that the rhetoric of the Armenian side
should not intimidate Azerbaijan.

"The positions Azerbaijan and Armenia occupy in the world today are
obvious. That is why these statements can be treated as the hysteria
of Armenian authorities provoked by the incapacity to change a thing
in the current situation," Ibragim said.

As to Azerbaijan, Baku has strived and will continue to strive to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solely within the framework of
its territorial integrity, he said.

"As far as Nagorno-Karabakh’s further status is concerned, Azerbaijan
is ready to give the region a high degree of autonomy.

Probably, there will be no need for such a high degree of autonomy, but
Azerbaijan has articulated its readiness to offer it," Ibragim said.

NKR PRESIDENT SHOULD MAKE DEMAND OF INVOLVING NAGORNO KARABAKH IN NEGOTIATIONS AS PARTY, ARAM G. SARGSIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 22, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The settlement of the Kosovo
problem will have no impact on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. As Aram
Sargsian, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA), stated
at the January 22 dispute, the Nagorno Karabakh problem has its unique
direction, as it has emerged earlier, nearly 100 years ago, and for
the Armenian party it will be wrong to "cling to incidents." According
to the DPA leader, no matter who is elected President of Armenia
he will come across a number of hardened problems, in particular,
the statements of the Azeri President, which become stricter and
stricter. The "bellicose" position of the Azeri President, according
to A. Sargsian, means that he prepares his people for resumption of
military operations.

Touching upon the necessity of Karabakh party’s return to the
negotiations table, A. Sargsian mentioned that first of all the
NKR authorities, that country’s President should make such a
demand. "Armenia has not done what it should have been done so
far, to form a state doctrine on the Nagorno Karabakh problem,"
A. Sargsian said.

Hovhannes Igitian, a member of Board of the Armenian National Movement
(ANM) party, considers that it would be wrong to adopt a doctrine,
which will not contain the Artsakh people’s position. He gave assurance
that irrespective of the fact who will be elected RA President, he
should return the Karabakh party to the negotiations table. "We should
look back and find the moment, when we lost the formula of success:
it was the moment, when Karabakh was considered an equal party in
the negotiations process," H. Igitian added.

JOINT CALL FOR ABOLITION OF ARTICLE 301

BÝA
Jan 21 2008
Turkey

International PEN, Article 19 and IPA have called on Turkey to abolish
the controversial Article 301.

International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and IPA have issued a joint press
release, in which they describe a letter which was sent to new
President Abdullah Gul:

"International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and the International Publishers
Association call for the abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code Today International PEN, ARTICLE 19 and the International
Publishers Association issued an open letter to the newly-elected
President of Turkey Abdullah Gul.

The letter calls for the abolition of Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code. In the letter the three organisations expressed their
deep concern about the impact of Article 301 on the right to freedom
of expression in Turkey and its inconsistency with international law.

Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code prohibits public denigration
of "Turkishness", a term that is extremely vague and can be easily
abused. It has been widely used to repress freedom of expression
and open debate in the country. In particularly, the letter draws
President Gul’s attention to the fact that, between April and July
2007, there were 18 trials against 24 people under Article 301.

While welcoming progressive changes to Turkish legislation since
mid-1990s, the letter also points to the fact that hopes that the
Turkish government might consider the abolition of Article 301 faded
away after the assassination of (editor of the Armenian-Turkish weekly
Agos) Hrant Dink in January 2007. Mr. Dink had himself been convicted
under Article 301 and was handed down a six-month suspended sentence
in October 2005.

Since his killing, Article 301 trials continue. The letter also makes
reference to the joint declaration of 41 international and national
NGOs urging the abolition of Article 301 from the Turkish Penal Code –
as well as other provisions violating freedom of expression – issued
on 14 February 2007; it further cites the resolution on the same
issue adopted by ARTICLE 19, International PEN and the International
Publishers Association on 24 November 2006. The letter urges President
Gul to do all in his power to ensure Turkey’s compliance with its
obligations under international law, particularly through the abolition
of Article 301."

–Boundary_(ID_7S1LffjwfZ/45X3A/dquoA) —

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 19 2008

Additional Stretch of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway to Withdraw Nakchivan
from Transport Blockade: Head of Turkish Municipality
19.01.08 08:56

Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 January /corr. Trend E.Huseynov / The
construction of the railway line from Nakchivan to Turkey’s province
of Kars, will help in withdrawing this far region of Azerbaijan from
the transport blockade, said the Head of the Turkish province.

Surrounded by Iran, Turkey and Armenia, the Azerbaijan’s region of
Nakchivan, with the population of 384,500, has been deprived of the
railway and car link with Azerbaijan since the beginning of 1990.
Earlier the links were carried out via the territory of Armenia,
after which a conflict started in 1988. In December 2007, a passenger
bus route was opened via the territory of Iran. Before that, the
population of Nakchivan could only come to Baku through the air
links.

`If the 215km railway stretch from Nakchivan to Kars via the
territory of Turkey’s Igdir province is constructed, it will revive
the transport artery of the Autonomous Republic,’ the Head of Igdir
Municipality, Nureddin Aras, reported to Trend on 17 January.

The agreement on the construction of 105km railway-
`Baku-Tbilisi-Kars’ beyond Armenia, was signed at the end of
November. The cost of the project is $422mln, but after considering
the infrastructure it is assumed that it will be nearly $600mln.

`Nakchivan’s center is connected with border of Turkey through
Sadarak railway stretch, but later the line breaks off. If this line
is extended up to Kars, it will revive the economy of Nakchivan and
Igdir. This is a very perspective construction, considering that the
railway corridor will connect Baku with the countries of Central
Asia, and Kars with the Europe,’ said the Head of the Municipality.

However, Aras stated that the feasibility study for the
Nakchivan-Kars railway project is absent, and it is not worthy to
expect support from Turkey for this project because this initiative
is not considered in Turkey.

`Earlier, the importance of such project was presented to the Turkish
officials, but there was no reaction,’ Aras said. He considers that
Azerbaijan may be more interested in financing the project. `The
economic support from the Azerbaijani side would be expedient,’ he
said adding that he is aware of the positive attitude of Nakchivan
and Baku, which supports the idea of this construction.

Yet, it was failure to receive the comments in the press-service of
Nakchivan and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Transport.

Azerbaijani economist expert, Sabit Bagirov, considers that before
speaking about the expediency of the project, it needs to consider
its profitability. `If the studies confirm that the profitability is
high, it is possible to realize it,’ the Head of the Center for
Political and Economic Studies, Sabit Bagirov, reported to Trend on
18 January. The expert says that it needs to consider this project,
from the economic and political point of view.

Of 105km Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway beyond Armenia, 76km passes via
the territory of Turkey and 29km via Georgia. Azerbaijan will
allocate $200mln credit for the construction of the Georgian section
of the railway (for a period of 25 years, with 1% annual rate).

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in
1988 due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighboring districts. Since
1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian
occupation. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire
agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are holding the peaceful
negotiations.

Despite the conflict, the air flights `Baku-Nakchivan’ are carried
out via the territory of Armenia.

Meeting in front of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow

armradio.am
19.01.2008 15:26

Today `Nur’ Youth Union of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese of
Russia and Nor Nakhijevan has initiated series of events to mark one
year since the murder of editor-in-chief of the Istanbul based Agos
weekly Hrant Dink.

The Union urges to remember all the crimes of contemporary Turkey
against ethnic and religious minorities.

‘Yerkramas’ newspaper of Russian Armenians informs that a commemoration
service was held at the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Resurrection
in Moscow in memory of Christians killed in Turkey. The same day a
meeting will be organized in front of the Turkish Embassy.

SHARMAZANOV: "WE WON’T GO FOR CONCESSIONS IN THREE ISSUES"

Panorama.am
17:47 18/01/2008

"In the program of our candidate there is a clear note to those
three issues that we are not going to go for concessions. In all
other cases we are ready to cooperate with our Azerbaijani and
international partner and to reach a normal and objective decision,"
Edward Sharmazanov, the press speaker of Serzh Sargsyan’s election
headquarter, told a news conference today.

Sharmazanov said the three points are to respect Artsakh’s right
for self-determination; that Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia must have
a common border; and that the borders and the safety of Karabakh
population must be secured.

OPPOSITIONIST SLAMS ‘DISGRACEFUL’ SARKISIAN CAMPAIGN
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Jan 16 2008

The campaign manager of Artur Baghdasarian, a major opposition
candidate in next month’s presidential election, accused the Armenian
authorities Wednesday of forcing local government officials and public
sector employees to ensure Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian’s victory
at any cost.

Heghine Bisharian alleged that the practice is widespread in areas
outside Yerevan, with local government chiefs and their subordinates
told secure a particular number of votes for Sarkisian or risk losing
their jobs.

"They summon all officials — regional governors, town and village
mayors, school principals, teachers, doctors — and foist [vote]
percentages on them," Bisharian told a news conference. "People from
villages call us and say, ‘My fate depends on ensuring a 90 percent
vote for the candidate of power. How am I going to ensure that 90
percent?’"

"Every teacher is obliged to bring a list of at least ten people who
will vote for the government candidate. Or else, they will have to
look for another job," she said.

Bisharian, who is also the deputy chairwoman of Baghdasarian’s
Orinats Yerkir Party, did not offer any proof of the allegations or
name officials allegedly involved in voter intimidation and other
illegal practices.

Sarkisian and his Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) were accused
by the opposition of using similar methods to score a landslide
victory in the May 2007 parliamentary elections. The allegations,
backed up by some media reports, were denied by the HHK. They also
did not keep international observers from describing those elections
as largely democratic.

"We stand for democratic ideas and believe that these elections too
must meet democratic standards," Eduard Sharmazanov, a spokesman for
the HK and the Sarkisian campaign, told RFE/RL on Wednesday.

Sharmazanov dismissed Bisharian’s claims as "slander." "It is obvious
to many sections of our public that the Republican Party and Serzh
Sarkisian’s campaign team in particular want a civilized and democratic
electoral race," he said. "We believe that it is impossible to become
president by force in the 21st century."

Bisharian insisted, nonetheless, that Sarkisian’s campaigning methods
are already calling into question the freedom and fairness of the
February 19 election. "This is a disgrace," she said. "What’s the
point of holding presidential elections in the first place?"

Bisharian went on to warn that Orinats Yerkir will urge supporters to
take to the streets if the vote is rigged by the authorities. Similar
threats have also been made by another leading opposition candidate,
former President Levon Ter-Petrosian.

ACCORDING TO GALUST SAHAKIAN, SERGE SARGSIAN HAS POSSIBILITY TO RECEIVE
65-68% VOTES

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. "Today the Republican Party of
Armenia attaches a very great importance to holding of good elections
on February 19," Galust Sahakian, the RPA Vice-Chairman, stated at the
January 11 press conference. In his words, unless the elections "are
good, the winning candidate and his team will suffer." According to
him, though today it is not so important how many tours the elections
will have, nevertheless, RPA will try to achieve ending of the
electoral process on February 19 and will use its "whole political
capital for that purpose."

RPA candidate, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, as G. Sahakian predicted,
will receive 65-68% votes if he carries out active and favorable
preelection activity. According to the RPA Vice-Chairman, RPA members
are convinced that their candidate will win, as S. Sargsian has been on
the political arena for already 20 years "and his characteristic is
known to the people." And the preelection work, as G. Sahakian assured,
has been already launched actively. From 1200 to 1500 preelection
headquarters of S. Sargsian will be opened throughout the whole country
by late January.

Touching upon the preelection program of first President Levon
Ter-Petrosian published lately, S. Sahakian classed it as a "component
of a rally speech." He added that if possible, S. Sargsian would refuse
to dispute with L. Ter-Petrosian, as the first President has adopted "a
strategy of bad language."

EVENTS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL AND ANKARA IN CONNECTION WITH
ANNIVERSARY OF HRANT DINK’S ASSASSINATION

ISTANBUL, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Events will be
held in Istanbul and Ankara in connection with the anniversary of the
assassination of the editor-in-chief of "Agos" weekly newspaper Hrant
Dink.

"For justice, on January 19, at 3 p.m. in the same place" is the slogan
of the rally in memory of Hrant Dink to be held in front of the
editorial office of "Agos" in Istanbul. Rally participants will pay
homage to Hrant Dink and raise their voices against Article 301 of the
Turkish Criminal Code.

In Ankara, people will gather outside the editorial office of "Birgun"
newspaper in connection with the anniversary of Hrant Dink’s death.
Then they will walk to Human Rights Monument on Yuskel Avenue where
they will recite verses and perform Armenian music.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm
Opening remarks of His Holiness Aram I (video file):
eos/Opening%20remarks%20of%20His%20Holiness%20Aram %20I.wmv

THE CONFERENCE ON "THE CULTURE OF CILICIAN ARMENIA"
CONTINUES IN ANTELIAS

The conference on "The Culture of Cilician Armenia", continued its
activities in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia on
January 15.

The first two sessions of the second day examined Cilician ethnography. The
early morning session (9:00-10:30 AM) included presentations by Vazken
Hampartsoumian on the achievements in the studies on the Cilician dialect
and current challenges, Virginia Sevazelian on the reflection of the freedom
struggle in Cilician folklore, and Hagop Tcholakian on the ethnography of
Lavodige, its surrounding Armenian villages and the town of Beylan. Vahe
Tashdjian chaired this session.

The late morning sessions (11:00 AM-12:30 PM) was dedicated to the same
theme and chaired by Lilit Zakarian. It featured presentations by Vahram
Tatigian on the carpets and rugs of Cilician Armenia and Jasmin Dum Tragout
on knighthood in Cilician Armenia.

Chaired by Kevork Der-Vartanian, the first session of the afternoon looked
at literature. Talks were given by Hratchya Tamrazian (The Cilician school
of poetry and Saint Gregory Naregatsi), Krikor Beledian (And incident and
literature: on the occasion of the Cilician tragedy) and Father Vahan
Ohanian (Hayr Ghevont Alishan and "Sisuan").

The last two sessions of the day tackled issues related to the economy
during the Cilician period. Jean Claude Voisin chaired the first session,
which featured talks by Raymond Kevorkian on "The socio-economic changes in
Cilicia in the beginning of the 20th century" and Nicolas Koureyas on "Trade
relations between Cilicia and Cyprus (1270-1310)".

Peter Cowi chaired the last session of the day during which Levon Sarian
presented his paper on "The unique silver coin of Cilician Armenia’s
Constantine I (1298-1299)".

The discussions that ensued were as enriching and interesting as the
presentations themselves. The stimulating exchange of viewpoints led to an
interesting array of scientific opinions and assessments on the issues
discussed. The conveners of the sessions steered the discussions with utmost
capability and a profound scientific understanding, planting the seeds of
new achievements in the fields of Armenology and philosophy. At the end of
each session His Holiness Aram shared his own observations and assessment.

In the evening an official dinner party presided by the Pontiff was
organized in honor of the attendants in the hall of the "Yeghishe Manoukian"
college.

##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos80.htm
http://www.armenianorthodoxc hurch.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos81.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.