Author: Chakrian Hovsep

CIS COUNTRIES DEVELOP DRAFT CONCEPT OF COOPERATION IN CULTURE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.07.2009 19:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CIS member states develop a draft concept of
cooperation in the sphere of culture. The document was reviewed by
an expert group at the meeting of July 28-29 in the CIS Executive
Committee in Minsk.

Representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took part in
a meeting.

The Russian side mentioned that there is a need to finalize the
document, including the activities of the Council for Humanitarian
Cooperation, the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation
of CIS countries and the annual forum of creative and scientific
intelligentsia, expressing readiness to cooperate with Azerbaijani
counterparts. The finalized draft concept must be submitted to the
Board of the Commonwealth by November 20 this year, press service of
the CIS Executive Committee reports.

563 ORGANIZATIONS AND 605 INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING TAXI SERVICES OPERATE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
July 29, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. There are currently 563 licensed
organizations with a total of 6,792 vehicles and 605 individuals
providing taxi services in Armenia. Spokeswoman for the RA Ministry of
Transport and Communication Susanna Tonoyan told NT correspondent that
in the period of November 2008 to July 2009, the ministry’s licensing
unit granted licences to 151 taxi service providing organizations with
2,309 vehicles. 605 private taxi service providers received licences
in the indicated period.

S. Tonoyan said that the number of applications filed by taxi service
organizations and individuals has considerably declined in recent
period.

According to her, in November 2008 the Ministry in cooperation with the
RA Police tightened control to prevent the illegal transportation of
passengers and regulate the licensing of taxi services. This process
is continuing.

It should be mentioned that under the amendments to the RA Law on
State Duty, the individuals providing taxi services must be obliged
to pay the full amount of taxes. They shall pay 25 thousand drams
(about 67 dollars) a year instead of the previous 200 thousand drams.

NEW STAMPS: ARMENIA – DOUBLE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

armradio.am
29.07.2009 15:45

On the 29th of July, two new stamps dedicated to the theme "Armenia –
Double Champion of the World Chess Olympiad" were cancelled and put
into circulation in the House of Chess, Yerevan.

The official cancellation was made by Mr. Gurgen Sargsyan, Minister
of Transport and Communication of Armenia, Hovik Musayelyan, the
President of Armenian Philatelists’ Union and Mr. Arman Khachaturyan,
Acting General Director of Haypost CJSC.

Philatelic booklets, issued by Haypost and dedicated to Armenia’s
victories were also presented during the ceremony.

World Chess Olympiads have been taking place since 1927. Having entered
the Olympic contest in 1992, the Armenian team won bronze medals at the
very first attempt and repeated this success in 2002. In 2006 Turin and
2008 Drezden World Chess Olympiads the Armenian team won golden medals.

One of the stamps portrays 2008 Dresden Olympic Champion Armenian
Chess team and their coach, on the other one there are several chess
figures and the symbol of Drezden Olympic Games against the Armenian
flag. The stamps, designed by Albert Kechyan and Lusine Harutyunyan,
have nominal value of 70 and 280 AMD and 50 000 print run each.

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN AND TURKISH YOUTH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.07.2009 12:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On July 27, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosyan, met representatives of Armenian and Turkish youth,
"Tolerance through cultural and educational dialogues" program
participants. The program is implemented by "The future is yours"
social organization with the assistance of US Embassy in RA and OSCE
Office in Yerevan.

The program aims at establishment of dialogue between Armenian and
Turkish youth, based on tolerance and democratic values.

Arman Kirakosyan briefed program participants on priorities of RA
external policy as well as Armenia’s relations with regional states. RA
Deputy Foreign Minister touched upon normalization of Armenian -Turkish
relations, as well as recent developments in NKR conflict settlement
process, RA Foreign Policy Department Press Service reported.

AZERBAIJANI-AMERICAN COUNCIL RELEASES STATEMENT ON ONGOING KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

Today.Az
s/54104.html
july 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani-American Council has released a statement on ongoing
Karabakh Peace Process.

"On July 17-18, 2009, within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group, the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held another round of meetings
in Moscow aimed at a peaceful resolution of the long-standing
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. On this occasion, the two main
Armenian-American organizations isssued statements expressing their
concern about the ongoing progress in the internationally-monitored
peace process between the two countries," the statement said.

"In a letter addressed on July 14, 2009 to President Obama, the
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
Mr. Kenneth Khachikian, complained about the allegedly "undue and
unreasonable pressure being applied in a heavily-handed manner
upon Armenia by the [OSCE] Minsk Group Co-Chair countries to force
unilateral and dangerous concessions". Interpreting the 2008 campaign
pledge by President Obama, ANCA Chairman calls for the inclusion of the
so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the process of negotiations."

"Furthermore, on July 22, 2009, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA)
issued a statement also calling for the inclusion of the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the negotiations, again reciting the
same campaign comments by President Obama, while indicating that
"the Assembly strongly supports the fundamental rights of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh".

"Back in January, 2008, speaking on the importance of U.S.-Armenia
relations, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama pledged to work
"for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict
that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America’s founding
commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination",
As Azerbaijani-Americans, we can’t agree more with these words of
President Obama that the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should
be acceptable to both the "principal" parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
as well as the "interested" parties, the Armenian and the Azerbaijani
communities of Nagorno-Karabakh. In fact, these definitions of
conflicting parties as well as the conditions for their engagement in
the peace process were already outlined in the "Baker Rules" proposed
in 1992 by the mission of the Commission for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (CSCE, OSCE Minsk group predecessor), led by then U.S.

Secretary of State, James Baker III, and were accepted by all parties."

"It is concerning, however, that while both Armenian-American
organizations claim to support "the fundamental rights of the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh", they deliberately omit the ethnic Azerbaijani
community, which prior to the conflict in 1988 comprised the third
of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and 99% of the population of
7 other surrounding regions of Azerbaijan, currently occupied by
Armenia as a "buffer zone". From 1991 till 1994, up to 800,000 ethnic
Azerbaijanis were subjected to a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign by
Armenian forces and a complete exodus from all of the above mentioned
regions. Hence claiming the rights of only one ethnic group of a
disputed region, third of the population of which is forced into exile
for over 16 years, is actually contrary to the very core American
founding values, quoted by ANCA and AAA in President Obama’s campaign
pledge. Self-determination is not an internationally accepted term
for justifying an ethnic cleansing and a denial of existence. In this
light, "the just cause of the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh",
claimed to be pursued by the Armenian Assembly of America, cannot come
at the expense of infringing upon the human rights and the livelihood
of another ethnicity – Azerbaijanis."

"For the same reason, the calls by ANCA and AAA for the
participation of the "duly elected representatives" of the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in the negotiation process, on equal
terms with the principal sides, are counter productive. Reputable
international institutions, such as the United Nations, the Council of
Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE, not to mention the
ethnic Azerbaijani constituents of Nagorno-Karabakh, unequivocally
called the "elections" orchestrated in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh
as well as "the elected officials" thereof as illegitimate, for a
simple reason – no elections can be recognized legitimate when the
third of constituents is stripped of their right to vote and live in
exile solely due to their ethnicity. Thus, no government can engage
in a dialog with an illegitimate "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", and the
only party with whom the leaders of Karabakh’s Armenian community
can and should speak on an equal basis are the leaders of region’s
exiled Azerbaijani community."

Azerbaijani-American Council continues to monitor the progress in
the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh
and hopes for a final and lasting peace to be achieved in the nearest
future.

RELATIVES OF IRANIAN PLANE CRASH VICTIMS STAGE PROTEST IN TEHRAN

Noyan Tapan
July 24, 2009

TEHRAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A protest against
the indifference and the policy of Caspian Airlines and the Iranian
authorities in relation to the Tu-154 plane crash was staged in Tehran
on July 22.

Marmara daily reported that the protesters handed letters consisting
of 14 points to Iran’s parliament and government, representatives of
the mass media, and the officials of Caspian Airlines.

According to the newspaper, the correspondent of Iran-based Alik daily
Artyom Gharibian was arrested during the protest, but several hours
later he was released thanks to the mediation of Gevorg Vardanian,
a parliamentary deputy representing the northern Iranian Armenians.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN VISITED ASPAR WILD TOUR TRAVEL AGENCY, WHICH SINCE 2006 HAS BEEN ORGANIZING GUIDED TOURS TO SIGHTS IN ARMENIA AND IN KARABAKH TRYING TO EXPAND ITS RANGE OF SERVICES IN A MODERN LIGHT

Tuesda y, 21 July 2009

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that Aspar Wild Tour’s activities
are in full accord with the Government’s focus on the development
of tourism at home and expressed hope that they will be realized
successfully in case of effective cooperation. Tigran Sargsyan
emphasized that in an effort to back domestic tour operators, the
Government has came up with a series of proposals during the year,
aimed at developing tourism in the Republic of Armenia and in the NKR.

After viewing a fact-finding film on the sights of the NKR, the head of
the Armenian government had an interview with the representatives of
travel agencies. With reference to the Low-cost holiday and tours in
Artsakh package, presented last July 8 in the Office of Government,
Tigran Sargsyan expressed appreciation of sector representatives’
3-day fact-finding visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by stressing
that it helped trace out the existing problems and identify prospects
for development.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister pointed out the need for conducting
a comprehensive research into this sphere through close teamwork
between large enterprises and travel agencies20and, in this context,
highlighted the role of continued government-travel agencies dialog.

Armenian Youth Federation
Eastern U.S.: 80 Bigelow Ave, Watertown, MA 02472 – [email protected]
Western U.S.: 104 N. Belmont St. Suite 206, Glendale, CA 91206 –
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

July 23, 2009

Chevron Responds to National Campaign Exposing "Profit from
Genocide Denial" Scheme

SAN RAMON, CA — Chevron Corporation tried to explain away
its opposition to Congressional legislation affirming the Armenian
Genocide, using the standard Turkish and Azerbaijani government
talking points to justify their complicity in denying this crime
against humanity, reported the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF).

"As a major energy producer in the region, we support the integrity
of multiple energy transportation routes and a diplomatic
relationship between Turkey and Armenia," Chevron spokesman Justin
Higgs announced, adding that the genocide resolution, "would have
hurt, not helped, relations between Turkey and Armenia."

"An enduring diplomatic relationship between Turkey and Armenia can
only be based on truth," said AYF San Francisco chapter chairman
Matt Senekeremian, leading the Bay Area protest. "Lobbying against
the Armenian Genocide resolution is a pure and simple case of
profiting from the denial of the murder of 1.5 million men, women
and children – a short-sighted policy which only serves to fuel
greater instability in the region."

Chevron’s comments came as the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
joined with Armenian Americans and human rights activists in
kicking off a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about Turkish
Government coercion of the energy giant and some five multinational
corporations currently lobbying against Armenian Genocide
legislation (H.Res.252). The resolution, spearheaded by
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Mark
Kirk, has over 125 cosponsors.

Rep. Schiff chastised Chevron and the other corporations for
opposing the Genocide resolution, noting "I don’t think any major
American corporation should be lobbying against the genocide
recognition and become complicit in another country’s genocide
denial," Schiff told the Glendale News-Press. "I don’t think that’s
being a good corporate citizen. It’s certainly putting profits in
front of the public interest."

The protests began on July 22, 2009 at the Chevron headquarters in
San Ramon, California and local stations across the U.S., including
sites in Burbank, La Crescenta, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley,
Orange County, Glendale, Fresno, as well as Bethesda, MD, Orlando,
FL and Philadelphia, PA. An online letter writing campaign to
Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly was launched in conjunction with the
protests, urging the company to publicly apologize for profiting
from Genocide denial. A copy of the letter was hand delivered to
the Chevron corporate headquarters by protesters in San Ramon.

Concerned about public response to their action, Chevron’s
corporate headquarters had alerted their franchisees about the AYF
led protest prior to the campaign launch. Washington, DC area
protesters also reported that Chevron had sent their own
photographers to the protest.

Protests were covered in local newspapers, including the Orlando
Sentinel, where AYF Keri chapter member Raffi Mekhdjavakian explained
"It’s contradictory of Chevron to have their motto ‘The Chevron
way’ and say that they are responsible and ethical when they are
lobbying against a human rights situation," said Raffi
Mekhdjavakian, an Oviedo resident with the Armenian youth group.
"If [the genocide] is denied it’s as if it never happened."

Mekhdjavakian referrred to statements on Chevron’s website –
— where the corporation
prides itself on running the company the "Chevron Way" –
responsibly, ethically and with respect to human rights. However,
on June 13th, the Associated Press revealed that Chevron and 5 other
multinational energy and defense corporations, including BAE
Systems, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, United Technologies and
Goodrich have filed disclosure forms with the Senate and House
"quietly" lobbying against H.Res.252 the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, among a wide array of legislation. In first quarter of
2009 alone, the six firms have spent some $14 million in
Congressional lobby efforts. This is in addition to the over $3
million spent annually by the Government of Turkey to block U.S.
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, a cornerstone of their
foreign policy priorities.

"Clearly, Turkey will spare to no expense to cover up its dark
past,"said AYF Western Region Chairman Vache Thomassian. "Coercing
corporations like Chevron to do its dirty deeds is just the latest
tactic – exporting genocide denial to our neighborhoods, one gas
station at a time."

Complete information about Chevron’s lobbying efforts – including
lobby disclosures forms filed with the Senate and House – are
posted at A Facebook group calling
attention to the effort has over 1300 activists.

UN RIGHTS COMMITTEE SAID SET TO CENSURE AZERBAIJAN
By Robert Evans

Reuters
July 22 2009
UK

GENEVA, July 22 (Reuters) – United Nations experts are set to censure
energy-rich Azerbaijan over its human rights record after suggesting
it was in denial over violations of global rights pacts, officials
and diplomats said on Wednesday.

They said the critique, which could be harsh, was likely to be
formulated in recommendations to the government in Baku on what it
should do to clean up its act. It would be issued on July 31 by the
U.N.’s watchdog Human Rights Committee.

"After comments made by committee members this week, it is clear
they are going to be tough over attacks on independent journalists,
on freedom of expression and on state control of judges," said one
official, who asked not to be named.

The 18-member committee, a body made up of independent academics and
lawyers from developed and developing countries, met on Monday and
Tuesday to quiz an Azeri government team on what was happening in
the former Soviet republic.

An official U.N. report on the session said the committee questioned
the team on killings and arrests of journalists and suicides of others
in police custody, on bans on opposition rallies, on violence against
women and attacks on homosexuals.

Khalaf Khalafov, Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister, told the
committee that journalists were only arrested for violating the law
and that any interference with the media or freedom of expression
was illegal, according to the report.

One committee expert told Khalafov, the account said, that his country
"appeared to be in a state of denial" on police violence, and officials
present said the scepticism was clearly shared by other members of
the body.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with offices in Baku, including
the chairman of an Azeri group on protection of journalists, told
reporters after the session that the country appeared sliding back
to Soviet-era practices.

And during the committee discussions, Khalafov argued that the traces
of the Soviet "totalitarian past" when, he said, the Azeri judiciary
had been subject to "the dictatorship of the proletariat," would not
disappear overnight.

The committee session was held as a top-level delegation from the
European Union, with which Azerbaijan is seeking to boost economic
relations especially in the energy sector, was expressing alarm in
Baku about rights.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who headed the EU team, told
reporters there on Monday that he had expressed concern to President
Ilham Aliyev over the arrest of two opposition bloggers who were
accused of hooliganism.

At the same time, ambassadors of the 27 EU member states voiced
disquiet "about the condition of human rights and freedoms" in the
country where Aliyev and his late father have held power almost
uninterrupted for nearly three decades.

But at a Geneva news conference, NGOs said they feared the EU was
unlikely to go beyond words in its criticism of Azerbaijan, a key
supplier of oil and gas from Caspian Sea fields offering an alternative
to energy from Russia.

"In our experience, the countries most likely to take a strong stance
are the United States and (non-EU member) Norway — they have their
own oil," said Florian Irminger of the Geneva-based Human Rights
House Foundation. (Editing by Jonathan Lynn)

ARTHUR ABRAHAM: HE WHO IS CLEVER WINS IN THE BOXING RING

Noyan Tapan
July 22, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. "It would be painful for me to be
defeated by a Turk. Our grandfathers suffered so much at the Turks’
hands, so my defeat would weigh me down. I was training hard to win and
uphold the honor of our nation," the IBF Middleweight World Champion
Arthur Abraham said at the July 22 press conference. Commenting
on his recent match with the boxer of Turkish descent Mahir Oral,
Arthur Abraham aslo noted that it was psychologically important to
him. "He who is clever rather than a strong person with a good body
wins in the boxing ring," he declared.

A. Abraham said he has changed his weight class from 72.5 kg to
76.2 kg to compete in super middleweight because the world-famous
boxers refused to fight against him in his previous weight class. He
has taken a decision to participate in the Super Six World Boxing
Classic Tournament, which will last until 2011, for the WBA and WBC
super middleweight title. "No such thing took place in the history
of boxing so far," A. Abraham said, adding that during two years,
4 world champions will fight with each other.

According to him, he will not be able yet to compete under the Armenian
flag as he has a contract with a German company until 2011.

In response to the question about what he is going to do after he
quits boxing, A. Abraham replied that he would conduct real estate
and aircraft business.