Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Today, Azerbaijan
March 5 2010

Azerbaijani political expert: U.S. Congress committee’s move is
speculative in nature

05 March 2010 [13:07] – Today.Az

Everyone knows that the U.S. needed the "genocide" myth created by
Armenia to keep Turkey in check and control Armenia giving it eternal
hopes,’ Azerbaijani political expert Rasim Agayev said.

The expert was commenting on adoption of the `Armenian genocide’
resolution by the U.S. Congress House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs.

`Democracy has a lot of merits, but it is not devoid of drawbacks. In
particular, it may be hypocritical, especially in action of the
Americans. Turks are forced to agree with that, and Armenians are used
to solicit and chaffer something in their favor. I think that before
making a decision, the Americans did not even bother to verify the
historical authenticity of the issue,’ the political expert said.

"On one hand, the U.S. brings Turkey and Armenia to the negotiating
table, and on the other, – threatens to recognize the "genocide" which
will affect relations between Armenia and Turkey, not to mention the
attitude towards the United States," he said.

"I believe this action by the U.S. Congress committee is speculative
in nature. It is based on anti-Turkish and anti-Islamic sentiments
that prevail in the policy of Western countries. If this resolution is
approved by the U.S. Congress, our region will witness major
geopolitical and domestic political changes and will make Armenia more
aggressive. It will demand more and more from Azerbaijan and Turkey
and will spoil ties between Turkey and the United States, freeze
relations with Armenia to a certain degree and set back the entire
negotiation process," the expert added.

"Azerbaijan must also express its attitude to the policy of American
congressmen. I think that in this matter Azerbaijan should stand
together with Turkey, specify its attitude the U.S. policy and
mobilize the entire Islamic world, which backs justice and democracy,
" he noted.

Day.Az

URL:

Aysor, Armenia
March 5 2010

Exhibition: `You are a woman so you are just’

In Yerevan in the Russian culture and Science center will be launched
the private exhibition of the painter Vilik Zaqaryan titled `You are a
woman so you are just’. Lianna Azoyan, who is the press secretary of
the `Rossotrudnichestvo’ federative agency, dedicates the exhibition
to the International Day of Women.

According to L. Azoyan there are around 30 works of the painter
presented on the exhibition. In most of the works the main hero is the
woman.

Painter V. Zaqaryan who since 1984 was a member of the Painters’ Union
partook in the exhibition of the Armenian painters in New York, in
1996. Since that year he is supposed to be a member of professional
painters of `UNESCO’. He has had exhibitions in many countries and
cities like France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the USA and other places.

The official opening ceremony will take place at 17:00. Many artists,
social and political activists will be present on the ceremony.

Azerbaijan Sends Letter of Protest to US Congress on H.Res.252

12:54 ¢ 06.03.10

Azerbaijan’s National Assembly (Milli MÉ’clis) sent an appeal yesterday
to the US. Congress regarding the adoption of H.Res.252 on the
Armenian Genocide by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.

According to a number of Azerbaijani media, the appeal was prepared in
a parliamentary working group headed by Samad Seyidov, chair of the
Milli MÉ’clis standing committee on international relations and
inter-parliamentary relations.

In the letter, Azerbaijan expresses its regret on the adoption of the
resolution with parliamentarians turning their attention to Armenian
lobbying efforts toward recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s
proposal to establish a joint commission of historians, and so on.

`This unfair judgment, which is apparent neglect to the historical
realities and sacrifices the interests for the Armenian lobby, can be
characterized as a step that could create new problems in Asia Minor
and Southern Caucasus.

`We are faced with an attempt to turn remote a historical event, which
up to present has not been completely investigated and has not been
objectively appraised, into a subject of a political gamble to justify
the groundless claims of the Armenian nationalists to the neighboring
states,’ reads the appeal in part, reports Azerbaijani news agency
APA.

The letter also states that the judgment made by the congressional
committee, by a co untry which is a OSCE Minsk Group co-chair,
`hinders the attainment of peace in the region and can destroy the
positive results, which have been reached till now through
negotiations.’

The letter concludes by saying that the authors are sure this decision
will be turned down by the US Congress, and `We hope that US
government, which has an image of a democratic country, will do the
utmost not to admit the passage [of H.Res.252], which might harm
American-Turkish and American-Azerbaijani relations.’

Tert.am

TURKEY RECALLS US AMBASSADOR; ARMENIA HAILS ‘YES’ VOTE ON GENOCIDE BILL

Asbarez
recalls-us-ambassador-armenia-hails-yes-vote-on-ge nocide-bill/
Mar 4th, 2010

WASHINGTON (Combined Sources)-Turkey recalled its ambassador to
Washington Thursday evening after a congressional panel voted to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In a statement issued after the vote, a Turkish government spokesman
said: "We condemn this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a
crime it has not committed. Following this development, our ambassador
to Washington, Namik Tan, was recalled to Ankara for consultations."

Armenia, however, described the vote as a boost for human rights.

Edward Nalbandian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, told Reuters:
"We highly appreciate the decision. This is further proof of the
devotion of the American people to universal human values and is an
important step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity."

The 23-22 vote to approve the resolution by the House of
Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee came despite pressure to drop
the matter by the Obama administration. The resolution, H.Res.252,
calls on the US to formally affirm the US historical record on the
crime against humanity. The vote means that the resolution – which
is non-binding – is now cleared for consideration by the full House.

Turkey had warned that its ties with the United States, and attempts to
normalize relations with Armenia, would be damaged if the resolution
were approved. Turkey and Armenia signed a protocol last year to
normalize relations but it has yet to pass through the parliament of
either country. Turkey has set a series of preconditions on Armenia
to fulfill before it agrees to sign it.

In a last-ditch attempt to avoid a vote, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton telephoned Howard Berman, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
chairman, a fellow Democrat, to highlight the potential fallout.

Despite the appeal, Berman went ahead with the debate. He said Turkey
was a "vital" ally but "nothing justifies Turkey’s turning a blind
eye to the reality of the Armenian genocide."

NIKOL PASHINYAN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT

ashinyan
01:43 pm | March 04, 2010

Politics

Nikol Pashinyan’s advocates have been presenting the 78-page appeal
for two hours at the Appeals Court.

The advocates don’t deny the fact that mass disturbances did take
place in Yerevan on March 1, 2008, but they substantiate that Nikol
Pashinyan had nothing to do with them.

The advocates presented facts and corroborated that not only did
their client have to be acquitted by the first instance court by
Article 316 of the Penal Code, but Part 1 of Article 225.

The appeal also includes testimonies of eyewitnesses who had
informed the preliminary inquirers that Nikol Pashinyan was one of
the organizers of the mass disturbances and had declared that they
were seeing Nikol Pashinyan for the first time in court.

The advocates have also attached the declarations by international
organizations that state that police applied disproportionate force
on March 1.

It is still unclear how the appeal will be examined. Will it be
through cassation or reexamination?

Editor-in-chief of "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper Nikol Pashinyan’s
advocates fear that the presiding judge Serzhik Avetisyan may surprise
them at any moment.

Let us remind that during the cassation, the sides can only present
the appeals, responses and petitions. In case of reexamination,
the sides have the opportunity to call eyewitnesses.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER ELMAR MAMMADYAROV LEAVES FOR PARIS TO MEET WITH CO-CHAIRS

APA
March 4 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has left for Paris, Press Secretary of the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry Elkhan Polukhov told APA.

Speaking about his visit to France, Mammadyarov said that he would
hold a meeting with the Minsk Group co-chairs to learn Armenia’s
attitude to the updated variant of Madrid principles on March 5.

Mammadyarov will meet with diplomatic adviser to French President
Jean-David Levitte in Paris.

ARMENIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY UNITED IN SUPPORT OF U.S. AFFIRMATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
04.03.2010 11:46

With a critical vote pending on the Armenian Genocide Resolution in
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Armenian-American community
rallied support for this important human rights measure reported the
Armenian Assembly of America.

In response to the Assembly’s initiative, the letter signed by a broad
spectrum of religious, civic, humanitarian and advocacy groups said,
in part:

"The adoption of H.Res. 252, scheduled for mark-up by the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 4th under the leadership of
Committee Chairman and original cosponsor, Representative Howard
Berman, will not only continue America’s commitment to the people of
Armenia, but will also send a strong message that genocide and ethnic
cleansing must not go unchecked."

H.Res. 252, introduced by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George
Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL),
reflects a bi-partisan effort to reaffirm a proud chapter in U.S.

history when America alerted the world to the campaign of race
extermination against the Armenian people and launched an unprecedented
humanitarian relief effort to save the survivors of the first genocide
of the twentieth century.

The legislation also reinforces President Barack Obama’s stated
commitment that "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully
about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides."

"While the denialist forces are hard at work seeking to derail
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in Congress and stifle the
teaching of the Genocide in our classrooms, the truth of history is
on our side as is the strong support of the community from coast to
coast," stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "We thank everyone
for joining in this pan-Armenian effort," added Ardouny.

Organizations signing the letter include: Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian Bar Association, Armenian Catholic Eparchy in the USA,
Armenian Council of America, Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary
Association of America, Armenian National Committee of America,
Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Rights Council of America, Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America – East, Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America – West, Knights of Vartan, Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America – East, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America – West, and the World Armenian Congress.

SOLDIER KILLED ON BORDER

/murder
05:22 pm | March 02, 2010 | Official

On March 1, a soldier of the RA Armed Forces was killed after a
violation of the ceasefire regime registered by the opponent in the
border positions of RA Tavush province.

At around 1:30 p.m. commander of the N military unit at the combat unit
located near Chinar village of Tavush province, contractual soldier,
Junior Sergeant Sargis H. Voskanyan (born in 1981) received a fatal
blow to the head from a fire opened by the opponent.

Investigation is underway, as reported by the department of information
and public relations of the RA Ministry of Defense.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
March 1, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA LAUNCHES ‘END TURKEY’S GAG RULE’ CAMPAIGN TO END U.S.
COMPLICITY IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

— latest effort to promote Committee
and full House passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252)

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
launched an array of grassroots, media, advertising, and advocacy
initiatives today – as part of its "End Turkey’s Gag Rule" campaign
– to encourage the U.S. Congress to adopt legislation, H.Res.252,
calling on the U.S. government to put the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide to work in preventing future crimes against humanity.

The newly inaugurated ANCA campaign comes in the wake of Sunday’s
60 Minutes program taking Turkey to task over its denial of the
Armenian Genocide, and on the eve of the Thursday, March 4th vote
by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.

"We’re pleased to launch the ‘End Turkey’s Gag Rule’ campaign as a
service to help Americans of every background to better understand
the danger of denial and the urgency of taking action now to secure
Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "As Americans, we
simply cannot allow any nation – Turkey, or China or any foreign
power – to impose a gag rule on America’s moral stand against
genocide."

The campaign, which features a compelling image of the Statue of
Liberty gagged by a Turkish flag, is anchored by an interactive
website: , that offers avenues for
advocacy in support of Armenian Genocide legislation, educational
resources on the Armenian Genocide, and social networking
opportunities.

Advertisements targeting the Congressional audience began appearing
Monday in three Capitol Hill and political online publications –
Roll Call, Politico and The Hill. The effort is set to expand in
the days leading to the House Foreign Affairs Committee vote and
continue in anticipation of full House consideration of the
measure.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) has
scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on
March 4th. Over 137 House Members have cosponsored this measure,
spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA),
and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Mark Kirk (R-IL). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316),
led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV) has 13
cosponsors.

Activists and organizations are encouraged to include the ‘End
Turkey’s Gag Rule’ graphic and link on their websites and blogs by
contacting [email protected].

#####

NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA ENHANCES MARKET DATA DELIVERY ON ITS WEBSITE

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.03.2010 16:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As part of its commitment to promoting accessibility
and quality of capital market information to market participants and
the general public, NASDAQ OMX Armenia has enhanced the market data
delivery on its website. This upgrade has become possible thanks to
the introduction of a software application that enhances the dynamic
information exchange between the trading system and the website of
the stock exchange, the company said in a press release.

Thus, apart from the already available reports with standard reporting
periods (day, month, quarter, and year), users will now be able to
create customized market data reports for any time period through the
website. Besides that, since the Market Data section is now updated
once every 30 minutes starting 11:00am, when the trading session opens,
visitors to the website can stay abreast of the latest developments in
the exchange market, including values traded in each instrument and
prices. Presentation of data has also been streamlined to provide a
more user-friendly look, as well as enhanced: in particular, for repo
instruments, values of both the direct and the buyout (redemption)
trades are displayed.

In addition to the above, all market data will now be available for
download in comma-separated values (*.csv) format, which is used
worldwide for data presentation and is a convenient feature for
all those involved in the Armenian capital market data compilation,
analysis, and reporting.

NASDAQ OMX Armenia hopes that these enhancements will promote the
effective use of Armenian capital market information by specialists,
media, and general audiences and will continue with its efforts in
this area.

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It
delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services
across six continents, and with over 3,900 companies, it is number
one in worldwide listings among major markets. NASDAQ OMX technology
supports the operations of over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations
and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. In
January 2008, Nordic exchange operator OMX Group acquired 100%
of shares of the Armenian Stock Exchange (Armex) and the Central
Depository of Armenia (CDA). After the combination of NASDAQ and OMX
in February 2008, Armex and CDA have become fully owned by the NASDAQ
OMX Group, Inc. On January 27, 2009, "Armenian Stock Exchange" OJSC
was officially renamed as "NASDAQ OMX Armenia" OJSC. On June 5, 2009,
"NASDAQ OMX Armenia" OJSC became the owner of 100% of the shares of
the "Central Depository of Armenia" OJSC.