Author: Chakrian Hovsep

NATO SUMMIT AND ARMENIA
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
April 01, 2008

Armenian official delegation headed by the President elect Serge
Sargsyan, is going to participate in regular NATO Summit, in Bucharest
on April 2-4.

Chair of the Committee on Defense, National Security, and Internal
Affairs Arthur Aghabekyan introduces the prospects of the cooperation
between Armenia and Euro-Atlantic Military Political Union in his
interview with the correspondent of "Hayots Ashkharh" daily.

"Mr. Aghabekyan what agenda issues is going to be discussed in the
NATO Summit in Bucharest and with what expectations will Armenian
side participate in the military political gathering of more than
sixty countries?"

"The peculiarity of NATO Bucharest Summit will be the participation
of the countries which have great desire to become members of this
military political structure. Many of these states however, will
unavoidably appear in the focus of the collapse of the interests
of NATO member countries. And they will have to overcome lots of
obstacles to make their desires come true.

Armenia is going to participate in NATO Summit as a partner. The
foundation of our cooperation format is the general program
"Partnership for Peace". With the years’ effective partnership we
have recorded essential progress, we jointly implement the program
"Individual Partnership Action", which can be considered a serious
achievement. This individual program clarifies the goals of the
cooperation between Armenia and NATO, which is based on the provision
of security for our country and our people. The cooperation assumes
implementation of joint actions, not only with this powerful military
political structure but also with the member countries in separate."

"Are they planning to discuss issues regarding South Caucasus and
particularly Armenia?"

"Georgia is trying to pave the way towards NATO by means of
implementing individual programs. But the expectant stance of many
European countries and internal problems will surely prevent Georgia
to achieve its end. Georgia intends to solve its territorial problems
by means of cooperation with NATO or becoming NATO member country. The
participation of The Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Summit
in Bucharest prompts that this time the issue of Georgia’s membership
won’t be included in the agenda.

>From all the agenda issues Armenia is mostly interested in discussions
around "the challenges of the 21st century". NATO Secretary has
already announced that on 2009 they are going to elaborate the new
strategy of the military political union. This strategy will derive
from the exact evaluation of the challenges of the 21st century,
which will be outlined during the forthcoming Summit.

The cooperation with NATO is one of the components of Armenia’s
security. That is why it is very important what extension tactics will
NATO adopt during the coming five years to overcome the challenges.

We have already carried into circulation the new draft on "Security",
which is mainly aimed at transforming the cooperation from tactical
to strategic level. Our peacekeeping division in Kosovo proved that
we could be integrated in the multi-national subdivision."

"Current year NATO is planning to hold unprecedented military trainings
in Armenia. What does this testify to?"

"Armenia expressed readiness to host similar military trainings two
years ago. Many military staffs from NATO member and partner countries
will participate in the military training called "Joint Bow". The
Conference on planning and final arrangements is in process. The
same way as in 2003, when Armenia managed to prove that the latter
is NATO’s loyal partner and can provide the implementation of the
military trainings to the best of its abilities, this time also we
will prove the same.

Whereas in 2004 Azerbaijan didn’t find strength in itself to meet
the demands vested with the member countries and for the first time
in its history NATO was obliged to cancel the military trainings.

For Armenia the aim of these developments and reforms is absolutely not
in becoming NATO member country. We have underscored many times that we
haven’t got similar issue in the foreign policy agenda. Our principal
goal is to have armed forces, which can confront the challenges of
the 21st century. We must always consider the fact that with time
the challenges, the targets, and the demands are also changed.

I must also underscore that each country decides its foreign policy,
evaluates the danger jeopardizing the country and the people and
chooses the ways to confront them, on its own."

OSKANIAN, AGO GROUP DISCUSS MEASURES FOR RESTORATION OF PUBLIC CONSENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2008 16:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with
members of the AGO group of the Committee of Minister of the Council
of Europe.

The parties discussed the post-election situation in Armenia and
measures aimed to restoration of public consent, specifically an open
investigation of the March 1 events and establishment of political
dialogue. They also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement.

KREKORIAN TACKLES IDENTITY THEFT

Glendale News Press
March 28 2008
CA

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian will host a workshop in Burbank designed
to educate constituents on how to protect against identity theft.

"Identity theft is one of our fastest-growing crimes," Krekorian
said. "Unfortunately it is likely that many of us know someone who
has been victimized. Identity protection begins with informed, aware
consumers and these workshops will explain how to reduce vulnerability
to theft and what to do if you become a victim."

The workshop is slated for 7 to 8:30 p.m. on April 17 at the Buena
Vista Library meeting room at 300 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank.

"I urge all to attend and learn how to fight the potentially ruinous
effects of identity theft," Krekorian said. "Local law enforcement,
state and county identity-theft specialists, will explain how to
avoid being a victim, how fraud happens, some of the various scams
now in use and what to do if you are victimized."

The Burbank event will be co-hosted by the Burbank Police Department
and the California Office of Privacy Protection. advertisement

"I very much hope that as many people as possible will take advantage
of these timely and important workshops," Krekorian said.

For more information, call Krekorian’s Glendale district office at
(818) 240-6330.

Committee passes anti-predator bill

The Assembly Public Safety Committee on Thursday passed a bill authored
by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, a Republican whose district includes
La Crescenta, that would make posting a minor’s photo on pornographic
websites a crime.

The legislation came in response to reported incidents of adult men
secretly taking photos of teenage water polo players at an Orange
County high school then juxtaposing the images with gay pornographic
content on adult websites, Smyth said.

"As a former athlete and as a parent of two young boys I found it
appalling not only that this activity was happening, but there was no
legal recourse for the parents," Smyth said. "There is no protection
for these minors whose images were placed on these pornographic
websites next to very hard-core images and it’s also a safety issue
because the athlete is easily identified and the school logo or school
name can be seen on their [uniform]."

Smyth said the sites involved in the Orange County case included
graphic viewer comments about the boys in the photos.

The pending legislation would criminalize the preparation and
publication of an image of a minor without the minor’s knowledge or
consent, on an adult Internet website. Such acts would be punishable
by imprisonment in county jail for up to one year, or by a fine of
no more than $5,000, or both.

The bill’s current movement through the Legislature could be setting
the table for lively debate centered on free speech, Internet freedom
rights and privacy law.

"There are constitutional hurdles we have to get over because you’re
dealing with images and technically the kids are not nude," Smyth
said. "They’re not child pornographic images, so we’re trying to be
very specific and surgical in our approach so that we get the intended
benefit without and any ancillary impacts on legitimate photographers
or businesses."

But Smyth said the bill’s seemingly widespread bipartisan support –
it passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously – is a
promising sign.

"The Republicans and Democrats alike on the committee recognized the
importance of this and passed it out unanimously while we still try
to work out the constitutional issues," he said. "This bill’s just
an example of what the public expects from its legislators: To put
aside partisanship to take action to try to protect our kids, so I
was very encouraged."

The bill’s next test will come in the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, where its likely to be scheduled for a hearing in April
or May, Smyth said.

Sherman rebuts McCain speech

When Sen. John McCain rolled through Southern California last week,
the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican party spoke
to military families in Chula Vista on Monday, at a round table with
Latino business people in Orange County Tuesday and to the Los Angeles
World Affairs Council Wednesday.

On Thursday, Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman, whose district includes
a portion of Burbank, rebutted many of the claims McCain made during
his talk to the world affairs council.

"I took aim at his idea that Iraq is the central front in the war
on terror," he said. "The reason for that, McCain is saying, is that
[Osama] Bin Laden says it is. Bin Laden may be lying."

McCain also stressed the need for American troops to stay in Iraq.

"The national security argument is that the terrorists have a place to
plot against us," Sherman said. "What kind of enormous national ego
do we have? The [Sept. 11, 2001] attack was plotted in an apartment
in Hamburg. To say we need to stay in Iraq is absurd."

The Arizona senator also expressed his support for extending
America’s free trade agreements throughout South America, saying,
"Ours can be the first completely democratic hemisphere, where trade
is free across all borders, where the rule of law and the power of
free markets advance the security and prosperity of all."

For Sherman, the chair of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and
Nonproliferation, McCain’s comments represented an example of how the
Republican would continue what he believes to be the failed policies
of the past.

"Usually when you have a failure, you look the other way but you take
our five-year experience in Iraq and of [the North American Free Trade
Agreement], which can be considered a failure, he is continuing failed
policies," he said.

Sherman has endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton and plans to campaign for
her in Pennsylvania before that states April 22 Democratic primary.

AZERBAIJAN PROBES INTO KARABAKH MEDIATORS RECALL PROCEDURE

Lider TV
March 26 2008
Azerbaijan

[Presenter] Official Baku has not stopped using services of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and no official positionto this effect
has been declared. Azerbaijan has simply sent a letter to the OSCE
Secretariat to inquire about aprocedure of recalling the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs, both co-chair countries and individuals representing
thesecountries. Such reports being circulated by Armenians that
Azerbaijan has stopped using services of the OSCE Minsk Groupare wide
of the mark, Azimov said.

[Correspondent over archive video of Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs] DeputyForeign Minister Araz
Azimov has said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs were appointed
at the Budapest Summit in 1994 and their functions were determined
there. Azerbaijan is keen on finding out a procedure of changing the
OSCE MinskGroup mediators as individuals.

The USA replaced Steven Mann with Matthew Bryza, end of quote. How
should Azerbaijan react if one day Matthew Bryzamakes a step
dissatisfying Azerbaijan. If the three men make bellicose statements
regarding Azerbaijan, defameAzerbaijan, and make attempts against
the country’s territorial integrity, that causes concern, end of quote.

Azimov says Azerbaijan does not want to change the format of the OSCE
Minsk Group. The deputy minister described this[report] simply as
a fabrication by Armenia and the mediators, adding that Azerbaijan
wants discussions within thisframework to be efficient.

In his turn, the head of the foreign relations department of the
presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov, hassaid that this is
not the first time that Armenians disseminate false reports and one
should not be surprised at this.Nevertheless, Mammadov said that it was
possible to discuss the activities of the co-chairs. In a comment on
the issue, French co-chair Bernard Fassier said that he had never heard
that Azerbaijan was planning to stop using services of the co-chairmen.

AH, THAT CLOUDLESS VISIT…!
By R. Hayrapetian

AZG Armenian Daily
27/03/2008

Armenia-Russia

Reading the Russian newspapers I was seriously eager to find out
articles about the visit of Serge Sarkisian to Moscow. A great
disappointment awaited me, as soon I learned that all the newspapers,
as by some secret plot, wrote nothing more or less interesting or
arguable. It came out that the Russians adore Armenians, and the
Armenians do their best to help Russians not to go mad because of
their great love.

This stuff turns simply into a comedy sometimes, as, for example,
on the meeting of the two president-elects, Serge Sarkisian and
Dmitry Medvedev.

Their flattering smiles and mutual compliments were kindled with
the same thought, "We have just started, and look what we are to
do next…"

Evidently, the Armenian-Russian relationships are the most friendly
and "cloudless" on the entire post-Soviet territory. And there is
nothing secret here. The strategic interests of both the states fairly
match. This is where the idyll comes from. It was fairly clear that
the candidature of Serge Sarkisian is quite acceptable for Russia,
and that there is nothing to fear of any "excessive love for the West"
on his part. On the other hand, Armenia is interested in the security
veil and the intense economic cooperation.

Anyways, the Russians’ pride was most pleased with the fact that
the newly elected Armenian present pays his first official visit to
the Kremlin, and not to Brussels or Washington. And finally… Iran
had also made and invitation. What else? Nothing. Everything is
transparent, clear and promising. By the way, do not forget! In despite
of his extreme busyness, Serge Sarkisian visited an Armenian church
complex in Moscow and expressed admiration with the majesty of the
buildings and satisfaction with the speed of the construction.

ARONYAN DEFEATS VESELIN TOPALOV AND WISHVANATHAN ANAND

armradio.am
24.03.2008 12:59

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan defeated Veselin Topalov of
Bulgaria 1.5:0.5 in the 7h round of the Amber Rapid and Blindfold
Chess Tournament underway in Nice, France.

In the eights round Aronyan defeated Wishvanathan Anand of India
1.5:0.5, scoring a victory in the blindfold game, and playing a draw
in the rapid chess tournament.

Aronyan is currently in sole lead in the overall standing with
10.5 points.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway comes second with 9.5 points. Peter Leco is
the third with 9 points.

Levon Aronyan is leading also in the rapid chess tournament with
6 points.

Wishvanathan Anand is the second with 4.5 points.

In the blindfold tournament Levon Aronyan shares the 3rd to 6th places
with 4.5 points. Alexander Morozevich of Russia is leading here with
5.5 points.

Interfax News Agency, Russia
March 21 2008

Four Armenian parties create ruling coalition to conduct reforms –
Sargsyan

YEREVAN March 21

Leaders of the four Armenian parties, the Republican, Prosperous
Armenia, Country Of Law and Dashnaktsutyun, have signed a joint
political agreement setting up a ruling coalition in the country.

"Today we have formed a four-party coalition in order to conduct
major reforms, major changes in our country," Armenian Prime Minster
and president-elect Serzh Sargsyan, who is also the leader of the
Republican Party, said after the signing ceremony on Friday.

"Changes will be conducted on a large scale and will be painful for
many," said the Armenian president-elect.

Sargsyan said the creation of this coalition is an important event in
the political life of the country, because earlier parties would only
sign agreements to form a coalition government.

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
Adrin Nazarian, Chief of Staff
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax
[email protected]
818/240-6330, 818/512-4045

March 21, 2008

Assemblymember Krekorian Hosts
Two Identity Theft Prevention Workshops

Glendale-Calling identity theft "an increasing, pernicious assault on
financial privacy and security," Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
(D-Burbank) announced he will host two preventative workshops in his
district that are designed to help constituents protect themselves from
the effects of this crime.

"Identity theft is one of our fastest-growing crimes," Assemblymember
Krekorian said. "Unfortunately it is likely that many of us know someone
who has been victimized. Identity protection begins with informed,
aware consumers, and these workshops will explain how to reduce
vulnerability to theft and what to do if you become a victim."

The first workshop is set for 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 27, at
the Glendale Police Department Community Room, 131 N. Isabel Avenue,
Glendale. The second runs from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17, at
the Buena Vista Library Meeting Room, 300 N. Buena Vista Street,
Burbank.

"I urge all to attend and learn how to fight the potentially ruinous
effects of identity theft," Assemblymember Krekorian said. "Local law
enforcement, state and county identity-theft specialists, will explain
how to avoid being a victim, how fraud happens, some of the various
scams now in use, and what to do if you are victimized."

The Glendale workshop is being co-hosted by the Glendale Police
Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs,
and the Burbank event by the Burbank Police Department and the
California Office of Privacy Protection.

"I very much hope that as many people as possible will take advantage of
these timely and important workshops," Assemblymember Krekorian said.
For further information, please call Assemblymember Krekorian’s Glendale
District Service Office at 818/240-6330.

Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) represents the cities of
Burbank and Glendale, and the Los Angeles communities of Atwater
Village, Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley
Glen, Valley Village and Van Nuys.

# # #

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVOR PASSES AWAY AT 106

NewsBlaze
March 19 2008
CA

106-year old Hayganoush Markarian was one of last two known Bay
Area survivors

Hayganoush Markarian, one of only two known remaining survivors of
the 1915 Armenian Genocide living in the Bay Area, passed away at
the age of 106 on March 13.

Last October, Markarian’s story of survival was presented by Rep.

Lynn Woolsey to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during a hearing
regarding a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide by
Congress. Rep. Woolsey showed committee members Markarian’s photograph
and urged her colleagues to pass the resolution. The resolution passed
in committee and awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.

Markarian was born Hayganoush Azarian on January 24, 1902 in the city
of Kharpert in current-day eastern Turkey. The area was the historic
homeland of Armenians until the Ottoman Turkish government began a
systematic campaign to exterminate the Armenian population in 1915,
which culminated in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and
children through massacres and forced deportations.

In Kharpert, Markarian lived with her parents, older brother,
and four sisters. When the Turkish government began the Armenian
Genocide, first through the conscription of Armenian men and boys
into special army units, Markarian’s brother and father fled into
hiding. Her brother, Karekin, dressed as a girl in order to safely
cross dangerous areas. He made his way to Russia, then Sweden,
and finally to the United States. Her father, Minas, who had been
a successful businessman, hid among some of his Kurdish clients,
moving from residence to residence to avoid detection. Meanwhile,
Markarian’s mother found a way to keep the rest of the family together
in Kharpert during the mass deportations, avoiding massacre until
the end of WWI when they were reunited with Markarian’s father.

Unfortunately, Minas suffered an early death as the result of the
difficult conditions he had faced hiding in water wells for long
periods of time.

In 1923, Markarian’s mother moved the family to Aleppo, Syria, where
Hayganoush married Markar Markarian in 1925. They remained in Aleppo,
raising five children, until 1956 when the entire family moved to
Lebanon. In the meantime, their eldest son, Armen, migrated to the
United States to pursue an education, and remained in America to
teach. In 1969, the rest of the Markarian family followed Armen to
the United States.

In both Syria and Lebanon, Markarian was an active member of the
Armenian Relief Society, the oldest Armenian women’s organization
operating in the world. The organization was established in 1910
in New York City to provide humanitarian assistance to Armenians in
need. Markarian continued her membership until her death this week.

Hayganoush Markarian’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, March
19, at 11 am, at St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in San
Francisco. She is survived by Armen and Victoria Markarian, Arsen
and Alice Gregorian, Zohrab and Elizabeth Markarian, Sinan and Seta
Yazejian, Constantine and Nayiri Bouboussis, and six grandchildren.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN FIND THAT RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY AZERBAIJAN IN UN THREATENS TO WEAKEN PEACE PROCESS

Noyan Tapan
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The United States, France and the
Russian Federation, as OSCE Minsk Group co-presiding countries
involved in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, made a statement at the
United Nations General Assembly on March 14 on the occasion of voting
against the resolution on the situation in the captured territories
of Azerbaijan. This information was provided by the Radio Liberty.

"The representatives of the political level of France, the Russian
Federation and the United States as co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group, who are involved in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict issues,
offered a parcel of fundamental principles of a peaceful regulation of
Nagorno Karabakh to the sides during the sitting days of the council of
ministers held in Madrid in November 2007. These fundamental principles
are based on the provisions of the Helsinki final document, including
the provisions, which concern keeping away from the use of force
and threats, the territorial completeness of states and equality and
self-determination rights of peoples," is said in the statement. "The
suggestion, which was passed to the sides in Madrid, is composed of
the balanced parcel of the principles, which are currently in the
negotiation stage. The sides agreed that no separate element will be
considered as coordinated, until all the elements are coordinated."

"Unfortunately, this draft resolution selectively defends only certain
principles, excluding others and without taking into consideration
the suggestions of the co-Chairmen in their balanced entity," the
international mediators continue. "And because of this selective
approach, the three co-presiding countries of the OSCE Minsk Group
should be against this unilateral draft resolution. They reaffirm
that the peaceful and long-lasting regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh
problem with equal conditions will demand inevitable compromises
between the sides, which will reflect the principles of territorial
completeness, non-application of force, equal rights of peoples,
as well as other principles of the international law."

The three co-presiding countries of the OSCE Minsk Group will
vote against this unilateral draft resolution, which "threatens to
weaken the peace process." At the same time, they "reaffirm their
assistance for the territorial completeness of Azerbaijan and thus
do not recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh."

"When serious clashes have taken place along the contact line and
human loses have been recorded, the two sides should abstain from
unilateral and maximalist activities both around the negotiation table
and in the field," the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group concluded.