Author: Chalian Meline

EUROPEAN COURT CONSIDERS ARMENIA’S TWO SUITS BROUGHT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN

APA
Feb 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Gulieva-APA. European Court considered Armenia’s two
suits against Azerbaijan for execution, Azerbaijani representative
to ECHR Chingiz Asgarov said, APA reports.

To him, Armenian appeals are divided into two groups.

"Appeals of Armenians leaving Baku and Sumgait till 1991 and appeals
of Armenians moving from western Azerbaijani regions during military
offensives," he said.

Asgarov noted that the Court refused the appeals of Armenians leaving
Azerbaijan till 1991. The appeal of Armenians moving from Azerbaijan
during military offensives has been considered for execution.

"I think that Armenians have not any prospects in this
issue. Azerbaijan will win the issue," he said.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP ENVISAGES INCREASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTNER STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.02.2009 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Commission’s proposal for a new
Eastern Partnership represents a step change in the EU’s relations
with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,
Head of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador
Raul de Luzenberger said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"This ambitious Partnership foresees a substantial upgrading of
the level of political engagement, including the prospect of a new
generation of Association Agreements, far-reaching integration into
the EU economy, easier travel to the EU for citizens providing that
security requirements are met, enhanced energy security arrangements
benefiting all concerned, and increased financial assistance," he said.

Ambassador de Luzenberger underscored that the EU proposes much
more intensive day to day support for partners’ reform efforts
through a new Comprehensive Institution Building program, and a new
multilateral dimension which will bring partners together to address
common challenges.

"The Eastern Partnership includes new measures to support the social
and economic development of the 6 countries, and five flagship
initiatives (i.e. Integrated Border Management Program, Small and
Medium sized Enterprise Facilities, Regional electricity markets,
renewables and energy efficiency, Southern energy corridor and
Prevention of, preparedness for, and response to natural and man-made
disasters) that will give very concrete evidence of the EU support,"
he said.

MANUAL ON THE "SYSTEM OF PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN ARMENIA" ISSUED
Sona Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
17.02.2009 14:05

The manual on the "System of protection of children’s rights in
Armenia" was presented at the ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
today. It will be accessible to social workers, the civil society
and the public at large.

Co-authors of the manual said today that at is targeted at the creation
of a full-fledged system of protection of human rights and rise of
the quality of social services.

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Hambartsumyan said the
issue of protection of children’s rights is an issue to be addressed
not only by the Government.

DOUBLE PRAISE FOR ANKARA

Sabah
Feb 17 2009
Turkey

US President Obama made telephone calls to both President Gul and
Prime Minister Erdogan yesterday.

TO GUL: "We appreciate the leadership displayed by Turkey in the
region. You are putting forth important efforts in Afghanistan and
the Caucasus."

TO ERDOGAN "I want to express that your personal leadership is vital
in the Middle East peace process."

WORDS OF PRAISE At first the phone call Obama paid to President
seemed to be a routine call between nation leaders, however when
the conversation continued on for aproximately 25-30 minutes it
was learned that numerous topics had been discussed. According
to the information obtained, Obama and Gul touched upon issues
regarding Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Caucasus, the Middle East and
the European Union. In addition to Obama’s words of praise regarding
regional leadership he also expressed; "you are also making efforts
of high importance in Afghanistan and the Caucasas." According to
an announcement regarding the telephone conversation, published by
the Presidential Press Center, "Our President received a phone call
from US President Barack Obama. During the telephone discussion,
President Obama emphasized the high importance placed on Turkey-USA
relations. He further expressed that Turkey’s leadership on regional
matters was highly appreciated. During the conversation Obama also
mentioned that his country desired to continue relations with Turkey,
and then went on to discuss both regional and international matters.

HE ALSO CALLED ERDOGAN Obama then later made another phone call
to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Presidential
Press Center, Obama emphasized the importance of Turkey’s strategic
cooperation. Obama also told Erdogan, regarding the Gaza issue; "I
want to express the vital importance of your leadership in the Middle
East peace process.America wil always approach Turkey’s concerns with
understanding." Obama also expressed that the US administration hopes
to collaborate with Turkey on numerous issues including achieving
peace in the Middle East, in bringing an end to the PKK terrorist
organization, as well as relations with Armenia. Meanwhile, according
to an announcement released by the White House, Obama also expressed
that he wanted to offer his support to both Gul and Erdogan regarding
the developing relations between Turkey and Iraq.

WHY ARABS FEAR IRAN
Ali Younes

Al-Arabiya
2009/02/16/66562.html
Feb 16 2009
United Arab Emirates

Iranians are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution
in 1979,for many in the Arab World, however, Iran is a strategic threat
that ought to be dealt with and put in check. Recent moves by Saudi
Arabia and Egypt, the traditional centers of power in the Arab World,
toward isolating Iran, especially in the aftermath of the Gaza war, is
aimed at ending Iran’s influence in the region. The surprise meeting
of nine Arab foreign ministers last week in Abu Dhabi was a clear
and direct signal to Iran that its involvement in the Arab world is
unwanted. The foreign minister of UAE said in a calculated rebuke to
Iran that "unwelcomed non- Arab parties are not to get involved in
our affairs."

There are two prevailing opinions in the Arab World that both see
Iran from its own angle and according to its world view.

The Arab street which is one of them, views Iran with a sense of
admiration as a strategic powerful Muslim country and an asset to the
Arabs, and that it is a country that sets its policies and goals based
on the strategic long term vision of its leaders. Iranian leaders,
this view continues, are calculated and shrewd politicians of a
country that has made leaps in science and technology that enabled it
to manufacture its own indigent weapons systems, space technology and
nuclear power. Iranian advances in those areas are contrasted with the
Arab World stagnation and lack worthy scientific or industrial base.

Supporters also point out that Iran is keen on helping the resistance
movements of Hamas, Hezbollah and other organizations which, as they
point out, is in line with its Pan-Islamic policy of being on the
side of oppressed Muslims.

The other view which is mostly held by the Arab regimes, particularly
Egypt and Saudi Arabia, sees Iran as a belligerent "Shia" country
with hegemonic designs over the Arab and Muslim world with an eye to
assume leadership of the Muslim world, the Arab World included. For
those who hold this view, Iran is a mortal threat that should not be
allowed to have a free rein in the region.

Both perceptions and stereotypes are of course inaccurate; however
there is an element of truth in both of them.

The way the political system in Iran works is different than any
other political system in the Arab world and certainly different
from the stereotype Arabs hold. Iran has a comparative measure
of democracy within the boundaries of its overall theocratic
system. Ayatollah Khamenei as the Supreme leader is the ultimate
ruler of Iran and functions as a mediator between competing levers
of power within Iran’s political elites. Iran is not a utopian or
Islamo-centric country as one might imagine, its politics are best
described as improvised and "realist" contrary to its perception of
being strategic. For example, Iran who now treats the issue of its
nuclear program as central to its "national sovereignty", a "red
line", and an "honor" has in 2004 suspended its nuclear program and
ratified the Additional Protocol of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT),
which gives the IAEA’ inspectors the right to conduct unannounced and
intrusive inspections of the Iranian facilities. This is a far cry
from Iran’s current hard-line position on the issue. In 2004 while
the EU- 3 (France, Germany, Britain) were making progress in the
negotiations with Iran, George Bush, went on and branded Iran as part
of the Axis of Evil and continued to use threatening rhetoric against
it. This U.S. saber rattling made the Iranian leadership nervous and
to question the wisdom of abandoning their prized program given the
U.S. administration’s treatment of Iran as its next target after Iraq
with or without its nuclear program and having witnessed the fate
of Iraq versus North Korea. Iran as we have seen in this case was
willing to abandon its nuclear program when it thought it is rational
to do so. Moreover, in looking after its interests at the expense
of ideology and principles, Iran sided with Christian Armenia during
its war in the eighties and nineties with Muslim Azerbaijan who is,
like Iran, a Shia Muslim country. During this war, Iranian leadership
felt it was safer to be on the side of Armenia as opposed to Muslim
Azerbaijan whose victory might revive the nationalistic feelings of
its own Azerbaijani minority and rekindle the idea of ‘unification"
between South Azerbaijan which is part of Iran and North Azerbaijan
which is the country of Azerbaijan. Turkey on the other hand who is
decidedly secular and Muslim had actively supported Azerbaijan during
the conflict with Armenia. This trend did not stop there; Iran has
also chose its immediate interests over its Islamic bonds with other
Muslims as in the case of the Russian-Chechen war throughout the
nineties during which Iran sided with Russia who is its main partner
in trade and weapons supplier. The same could be said on the issue
of Kashmir, where the plight of Muslims in Kashmir did not prevent
Iran from having strong relations with India.

Therefore, one can safely conclude that Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric against
Israel might not be as strategic as it appears to be and so is the
nature of relations with Hezbollah and Hamas. While Iran’s relation
with Hamas and Hezbollah have the appearance of being strategic and
solid, it is possible according to some of Iran’s analysts, to envision
Iran abandoning its allies if it is in Iran’s best interest. For Hamas,
Iran is an ally who provided much needed financial support after it
faced a total isolation from the international community and the Arab
countries in the wake of its electoral victory in 2006. In Hezbollah’s
case, it might be complicated to drop the organization completely
given the competing interests within the Iranian political system,
however, if the Iranian regime is faced an existential threat, it
will not hesitate to act in a rational way and even drop Hezbollah.

Iran’s "rational" thinking and ultimate political decisions did not
win her any friends among the main Arab governments particularly
Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This animosity toward Iran started ever since
Egypt’s signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. Since then, the
official Arab World took a dive toward a peaceful settlement with
Israel that was not reciprocated with a mutual dive toward peace
from Israel. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in light of this "peaceful"
shift toward Israel, have come to view Iran as their mortal enemy
particularly when considering the combustive rhetoric of Ayatollah
Khomeini of "exporting the revolution" or the slogans of "the march
to Jerusalem had to go through Karbala", and later of exporting the
‘Islamic Revolution" through religion and supporting the Palestinians
in their struggle against Israel. Arab governments, particularly
the Gulf governments, feared Iran’s influence within their borders
through their indigent Shia citizens or through Iranians living and
working in their countries. These fears, whether justified or not,
propelled some Arab governments, in a clear shift of strategy towards
Iran post its 1979 Islamic revolution to ignite the Shia-Sunni divide
in order to cast Iran as the Shia enemy, or the outsider who wants to
convert the Muslim Sunnis to their Shia faith. The Arab street however
sees things different from their governments. For the overwhelming
majority of the Arab peoples there is no illusion of who the enemy is,
certainly not Iran.

Written for Al Arabiya. Ali Younes is a Washington based writer and
political analyst. He can be reached at: [email protected]

PRAID SALT MINE, ROMANIA

Artline
06_Praid_Salt_Mine__Romania_26315.html
Feb 16 2009
Romania

>From the west, Praid is the gateway of Harghita County. Here the
valley narrows more and the mountains are closer. The landscape is
a real paradise for those who do not limit only to sightsee from cars.

Praid is the biggest villages of Harghita. In Praid village live
around 7250 people. In the center of this settlement there is the
crossroads that can go to north, over Bucin step in Gheorgheni and
to southeasterly by Corund in Odorheiu Secuiesc.

Praid settlement is relatively young, it is attested since 1564. Mines
(the Upper and Lower) are attested since 1493.

Praid is closely related to salt and all that binds it. But explanation
that only salt is the reason for foundation of the village can
be a mistake. If we consider the number of employees at the mine,
until the years 1958, it reached a hundred and from Praid were only
10-15%. Worked at the mine more than those from Ocna de Jos and who
had ownership of the mine.

But many more locals working in wood exploitation and processing. In
addition, the inhabitants of Praid growing animals and work land. Since
the last century have been established here many foreigns. Until
to 1944, local Jews were catalyst of commercial life. Armenians
descendants have disappeared only in the recent past of Praid.

We can say that who once rested here enjoyed the beauty of nature
and the hospitality of the locals – was enriched with memories for
a lifetime. Return here can be a joy for life.

In Praid there is a salt water strand and hot water in vanes for a
calming effect, relaxing physically and mentally.

In salt mine, at a depth of 100 m from srface, there is a Wines
Gallery with 275 kinds of wine from 6 European countries.

The charm of rural tourism has found a good representation in
Praid; you can find here hospitality hosts and a preserved natural
environment.

WILL ARMENIA WIN?

A1+
[11:50 am] 17 February, 2009

International bookmaker offices believe that the Armenian football
team has high chances of winning the Armenia-Bulgaria match to be
held on February 19.

A coefficient of 1.65 has been fixed for Armenia’s win during the
selective match for the "Euro-2010" to be held in Warna and 3.00 for
Bulgaria. The coefficient for a 0-0 game is 5.25 and it is doesn’t
look too likely.

The Armenian team is already in Bulgaria where the team continues to
train for the upcoming match.

Chief trainer of the team Ruben Nazaretyan told "A1+" that they don’t
have much information about the opponent.

"We know that the Bulgarians have seriously prepared for this match
and have recently played a couple of friendly matches. Bulgaria has
played two matches with the Macedonian team. The teams tied one of
the games at 1-1, while the Macedonian team won the other match 3-0."

Fresno Bee (California)
February 13, 2009 Friday
FINAL EDITION

Ex-Memorial star presses on the court

by Andy Boogaard

Since playing perhaps the best supporting role in the history of girls
high school basketball in the central San Joaquin Valley, Sue
Mahackian has never wandered far from the game she cherishes.

A former star point guard for Memorial’s nearly unbeatable teams of
the late ’70s, she continued to play some at Fresno State, though
limited because of knee injuries that would require six surgeries.

She was then a graduate assistant coach at Cal State-Fullerton, a head
coach at Riverdale and an assistant at Memorial.

And look at her now — back at the top of her game not only as a 22-2
first-year coach at Edison but also a budding official on the high
school and junior college levels.

"The future for her is unlimited," says Bob Kayajanian, basketball
supervisor for the San Joaquin Valley Officials Association. "She has
a good foundation, solid mechanics and understands the game."

As a coach, Mahackian, 47, is teaching what she calls "basketball
academics" — definition: court sense, discipline and fundamentals —
attributes she brought to Memorial as a player.

"My perspective of the game is I want to use it as a tool for life
because it gave me so much," she says. "I want to give back to
whomever I come in contact with."

Those contacts as a coach are satisfying.

The contacts with the court as an official are stimulating.

"When I got onto the floor as an official for the first time I was
45," she says. "I loved the feeling of the court underneath my feet, I
just loved running up and down, being sweaty, being on the floor once
again in my life. It gives me a high, the same high athletes get."

All that’s missing is the touch of leather, the ball, the one that she
once distributed so well.

"When I was younger, oh what a feeling to have the ball in my hands,"
she says. "But this is enough for me, without it. At this stage, I’ll
take it."

No surprise that she once again is mastering the game.

Consider what happened 30 years ago.

Memorial coach Mary Brown gave Mahackian the ball, the four-year point
guard in turn fed it to Jackie White, and the rest was four years of
unmatched glory for any high school team of any gender in any sport
between Fresno and Bakersfield. Ever.

Overall record: 100-7.

League record: 46-0.

Central Section titles: Four (when all schools played in one
division).

History has recorded Brown, the pioneer perfectionist, who embraced
the high school girls game in its infancy in the Valley, going 317-45
(section-record .876 winning percentage), with 16 league championships
and eight section titles in an 18-year career that closed in 1986.

It has recorded White, who scored a then section-record 2,375 points
in four years and would eventually become only the second female to
join the Harlem Globetrotters.

But it has kindly ignored Mahackian: "In the world of basketball, I
flew under the radar."

Off the screen, yes, but not off the chart, proven when Fresno Unified
School District athletic director Doug Semmen — seeking a girls
basketball coach at Edison — called a legend, Karen Wood.

The section’s winningest girls basketball coach (443 at Lemoore,
Caruthers and Memorial), and still staying involved as an assistant at
Buchanan, Wood didn’t hesitate: Sue Mahackian.

"Jackie White got all the publicity," Wood says, "but the glue to
those teams was Sue Mahackian. What a great floorleader and passer.

"When Doug called I thought Sue would be a perfect fit because she
knows the game, has a calm personality and all the makings to be
successful."

Says Semmen: "Sue’s a quality coach, a quality person and a quality
teacher. She exemplifies everything you want in a coach and teacher."

Mahackian’s priorities are balanced with harsh reminders: Her mother
and half-sister have had breast cancer surgery; a sister is in
advanced stages of it; and her father and a brother-in-law died of
cancer.

It was her father, Richard — the "traditional, full-blooded Armenian"
— who recognized her athletic ability as a child, supplied her with
the boys tennis shoes and shorts at a time female sports apparel was
nonexistent, and taught her one-on-one moves in the heat and chill of
the Valley.

And so it is today, before Mahackian takes the floor as a coach or
official that she raises her head, asks Dad for wisdom and says: "I
hope you’re with me."

RA PRESIDENT APPRECIATES COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL OFFICES

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.02.2009 16:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met Friday with
visiting Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chayka, the RA leader’s
press office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Appreciating highly the cooperation between the Armenian and Russian
Prosecutor General Offices, the two stressed the importance of the
memorandum on cooperation in 2009-2011, which will help improve
activities, crime detection and human rights protection.

CYPRUS MAY BLOCK EU ACCESSION TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2009 12:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said last
week that Turkey will not be accessed to the European Union as long
as it continues keeping its troops in northern Cyprus.

"Turkey can’t become a member of the union unless it stops the
occupation of Cyprus," he told foreign media reporters in Nicosia.

Earlier last month Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou said Cyprus might
block more chapters in Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU
in light of an oil exploration dispute between the two countries.

"As long as there are threats regarding the exercise of our sovereign
right to exploit the natural resources within our exclusive economic
zone [in the Mediterranean Sea], it is very difficult for us to start
discussions on the relevant chapter of the negotiations," Kyprianou
said, Gibrahayer e-magazine reports.