Author: Boshkezenian Garik

GENOCIDE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ANKARA ON APRIL 24

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 9, 2010
ANKARA

ANKARA, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 24-25, a
symposium on the Armenian Genocide, titled "1915 within its pre- and
post-historical periods: Denial and Confrontation," will be held in
Ankara. The symposium will not only address the history, but explore
issues like the confiscation of Armenian property and reparations.

Confirmed participants include Ragip Zarakolu (publisher), Recep
Marasli (author of The Armenian National Democratic Movement and 1915
Genocide), Sait Cetinoglu (activist and writer), Dr. David Gaunt
(genocide scholar, author of Massacres, Resistance, Protectors:
Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia During World War
I), Dr. Henry Theriault (professor of Philosophy, Worcester State
University), and Khatchig Mouradian (Doctoral student in Holocaust
and Genocide Studies, Clark University; editor, the Armenian Weekly).

According to , the symposium will comprise of
four sessions.

NALBANDIAN MET WITH OIF SEC GEN

news.am
April 7 2010
Armenia

April 7, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Secretary
General of La Francophone (International Organization of the
Francophonie) Abdou Diouf, who is on an official visit in Armenia.

Nalbandian expressed confidence that Diouf’s first visit to the country
will give new impetus to Armenia’s joining to La Francophone (OIF),
RA Foreign Office Press Service informed NEWS.am.

Diouf stressed that the ties with Armenia have significantly developed
since Armenia was granted OIF associate membership in 2008.

The officials expressed content that the celebration of La Francophone
days became a tradition in Armenia. This year it coincides with the
40th anniversary of the organization.

Nalbandian and Diouf had an in-depth discussion on the intensification
of steps towards the political, economic, cultural ties between OIF
member states, attaching significance to the effective cooperation
of RA National Assembly, local authorities, Yerevan City Hall and
universities with partner structures of the organization.

ULP WILL PARTAKE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2012

Tert.am
08.04.10

United Labor Party of Armenia (ULP) will partake in Parliamentary
Elections 2012, Head of ULP Gurgen Arsenyan said at a press conference
today in response Tert.am’s request.

"As a rule a political power participates in elections to be able to
implement its political program," said Arsenyan.

In reference to possible parliamentary snap elections Arsenyan said
that the dialectics does not exclude anything.

At the same time he added that they are in favor of regular elections,
though they think that snap elections would help them return to active
political life faster than it would be in case of regular elections.

IN 2012 ARMENIA TO START BUYING RUSSIAN GAS AT EUROPEAN PRICE

ArmInfo
2010-04-07 20:00:00

ArmInfo. In 2012 Armenia will start buying Russian gas at European
price. The transition to the European pricing was started in 2009,
Minister of Energy and Natural resources of Armenia Armen Movsissyan
said during a press-conference today.

He said that Russia’s policy is to make the gas price the same for
all. "Within three years Armenia was supposed to transit to European
prices. However, this decision was adopted before the crisis and I
hope that the deadlines will be revised," Movsissyan said.

To remind, Apr 1 2010 Armenia began buying Russian gas at $180/1,000
c m instead of $154.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THE EUROPEAN UNION IS A RELIABLE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PARTNER FOR ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 7, 2010

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Cooperation with the European Union
continues to be one of the important directions of Armenia’s foreign
policy, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian declared at the
April 6 joint press conference with Commissioner for EU Enlargement
and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule.

E. Nalbandian said that the EU is a reliable political and economic
partner for Armenia. "The Armenia-EU relations are currently at the
stage of dynamic development, and the start of the Eastern Partnership
project raised our cooperatiion with the EU to a new qualitative
level. In this respect the Armenian side attaches special importance
to the signing of a free trade agreement, the liberalization of the
visa regime, and the start of negotiations on signing an association
agreement," the Armenian foreign minister stated.

The strengthening of Eastern Partnership was discussed at the meeting
of E. Nalbandian and S. Fule, and the two sides expressed a hope that
cooperation would expand in both bilateral and multilateral formats.

International and regional problems and the ways of their solution
were also discussed during the meeting.

Responding to a reporter’s question, E. Nalbandian said that there
was no change in the position of the Armenian side on recognition of
the status of Nagorno Karabakh.

"We have repeatedly stated that, and not only we, but also the
Co-Chairs realize that the major issue of the Karabakh problem
solution is the recognition and exercise of the Karabakh people’s
right to self-determination. In line with the indicated context, the
statement of the country’s president speaks of that. If this major
issue is solved, it will be easier to discuss the other issues and
find decisions and solutions to them," the foreign minister said.

WE GLADLY INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARK

National Assembly (parliament.am)
April 7 2010
Armenia

On April 7 at 6 p.m. within the framework of the Open Doors programme
of the National Assembly in the park of the parliament an event will
be held dedicated to the Holiday of Maternity, Beauty and Love, which
was organized by the National Association of the Armenian Students
and the Youth Organization of the Republican Party.

The talented students of the higher educational institutions of
Armenia, the best participants of the Students’ League of the Club of
the Cheerful and the Sharp-Witted, as well as the famous pop singers
will take part in the event.

We gladly invite everybody to the Park of the National Assembly.

ARMROSGAZPROM: GAS MOST AVAILABLE ENERGY RESOURCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 7, 2010 – 12:06 AMT 07:06 GMT

Despite the rise in prices, gas remains the most available energy
resource in Armenia, a spokesperson for ArmRosgazprom said.

"The company has numerously expressed concerns over the socio-economic
situation caused by the rise in prices. But gas can’t be sold below
cost," Shushan Sardaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

She also remarked that the number of gas consumers has increased by
10 000, totaling 600 000 as of April 1, 2010.

The gas prices in Armenia went up from AMD 96 to 132 per cu m.

Enterprises consuming over 10 000 cubic meters monthly pay $243.13
per 1000 cu m. The Public Services Regulatory Commission explained
the 37% rise in prices for population and 13% for enterprises by a 17%
up for Russian gas, AMD/USD reference exchange rate, 20% reduction in
natural gas consumption and necessity to compensate ArmRosgazprom’s
investments.

ERDOGAN AU ZENITH : INTERDIT AUX ARMENIENS, ARABES ET PALESTINIENS
par Jean Eckian

armenews
mardi6 avril 2010

A l’occasion de la clôture de la Saison de la Turquie qui se deroulera
ce soir au Château de Versailles , le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip
Erdogan croisera l’ombre du celèbre Suleyman Aga, membre de l’entourage
du sultan Mehmet 1er (1669), un envoye en mission exploratoire dans la
promotion du cafe turc, que Louis XIV prendra pour etre l’ambassadeur
du Grand Turc… d’où la pièce de Molière qui s’en suivra : " Le
Bourgeois gentilhomme " . Mais ce soir le pourfendeur de la diaspora
armenienne assistera a une turquerie d’un autre type aux côtes de
Frederic Mitterrand et Gerad Larcher. Un opera qui mele le baroque
europeen du XVIIe et la musique traditionnelle turque, sur une idee
de la soprano franco-turque Chimène Seymen, dont voici un apercu.

Le lendemain, après un dejeuner de travail avec Nicolas Sarkozy, le
chef du gouvernement turc se rendra au Zenith de Paris a la rencontre
de la communaute turque europeenne (6000 personnes seraient attendues).

Il devrait prononcer a cette occasion un discours qualifie d’
" historique " selon Hurryiet. Probablement a ne pas mettre dans
toutes les oreilles, puisque des instructions ont ete donnees que,
sans invitation il sera impossible de penetrer dans l’enceinte du
temple musical. C’est ainsi que certains groupes musulmans – d’origine
arabe et palestinienne – ainsi que certaines associations armeniennes
ont demande a participer, mais leurs demandes ont ete refusees.

Hurryiet Daily News note qu’Erdogan devrait " exhorter son public "a
s’integrer, mais a ne pas s’assimiler", comme il l’avait exprime en
Allemagne. Il l’ encouragera egalement a jouer un rôle plus actif dans
la vie sociale et politique francaise dans l’obtention de ses droits et
s’activer a soutenir la candidature de la Turquie a l’Union Europeenne.

Hier, lundi, lors de l’inauguration de la chaîne de television TRT
Turquie Al, en langue arabe, le premier ministre a reaffirme que
la Turquie ne peut pas rester indifferente aux problèmes du monde
islamique de Jerusalem. "Notre tâche est l’integration au monde
occidental, mais nous n’avons pas tourne le dos a l’Orient". Ajoutant
"Nous ne pouvons pas regarder assassiner des enfants de la bande
de Gaza dans l’indifference. Ce n’est pas humain […] "Les Arabes
et les Turcs sont des frères et nous partageons les memes valeurs",
a-t-il conclu.

SOUHAYR BELHASSEN: TODAY, ARMENIA’S CAPITAL CITY HAS BECOME HUMAN RIGHTS CAPITAL

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 6, 2010 – 17:27 AMT 12:27 GMT

On April 6, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Souhayr Belhassen,
President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH),
within 37th FIDH forum framework.

During the meeting, RA President gave high assessment to Armenia -FIDH
collaboration and welcomed the idea of hosting the forum in Yerevan.

Armenian leader also commented on the progress in human rights sphere
Armenia saw over the recent years.

"Today, Armenia’s capital city has become human rights capital,"
Souhayr Belhassen said, emphasizing the historic importance of
the forum.

In conclusion, FIDH President expressed a hope for further development
of collaboration with Armenia, presidential press service reported.

ARMENIAN FM, EU DELEGATION DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION

news.am
April 6 2010
Armenia

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian held a meeting on April 6 with
a delegation led by EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule.

The press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed
NEWS.am that the sides welcomed the development of the Armenia-EU
relations and a new quality of bilateral cooperation due to the
European Neighborhood Policy. The sides expressed hope for the
consolidation of European Neighborhood and for the expansion of
cooperation both between the European Neighborhood member-states and
at various levels.

Stefan Fule made a high appraisal of the EU Advisory Group’s activities
in Armenia. According to him, the Group contributes to Armenia’s
integration with Europe.

Mr. Fule also reported that the EU Council is likely to approve the
mandate to hold talks over association agreements with the South
Caucasus states late this month.

At Mr. Fule’s request Minister Nalbandian informed him of the latest
developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Speaking of the Armenian-Turkish relations, Minister Nalbandian
thanked the EU for its assistance to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process and constructive position. Mr. Fuler expressed hope that
the sides will ratify and implement the Armenian-Turkish protocols
without any preconditions.