Author: Chalian Meline

SOME AZERI NGOS DEMAND TO STOP KARABAKH TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2008 16:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A number of non-governmental organizations in
Azerbaijan demand to stop peaceful talks on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

"The pro-Armenian position of the OSCE Minsk Group and pressure of
international organizations on Azerbaijan question the possibility to
continue talks," says a declaration adopted on outcomes of a meeting
held on initiative of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO).

The talks held under the OSCE Minsk Group mediation compel Azerbaijan
to concessions, according to KLO leader Akig Naghi.

"The talks should have time limitation. When it expires, Azerbaijan
should liberate the lands by use of force," Naghi said, Trend Azeri
news agency reports.

OPPOSITION RALLY TO BE HELD TODAY AT 6:00 PM IN YEREVAN IN FRONT OF MATENADARAN

arminfo
2008-06-20 11:38:00

ArmInfo. A rally organized by the All-national Movement, headed by
the first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan, will be held today
in Yerevan at 6:00 PM in front of the Storage of ancient manuscripts
Matenadaran.

The statement of the All-national Movement Center received by ArmInfo
today, says: "We claim of readiness for cooperation with RA Police
and assurance of a normal process of the rally". The statement
also says that the opposition welcomes the statement of the Police
on intention not to allow "mass disorders and the cases of crimes"
during the rally and it agrees that a severe position should be kept
with respect to the provokers, and the citizens’ rights for a free
rally holding should not be trampled.

Organization of meetings and participation in them is a constitutional
right of any citizen of Armenia. This rally should become a paramount
retreat of our victorious struggle. The rally’s agenda includes the
issue of recovery of the democratic freedoms in Armenia, in particular,
discussion of the process of fulfillment of PACE Resolution N1609 by
Armenia before the Assembly’s summer session, the statement says.

TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
Vahe Gabrielyan

Economist
June 17 th
UK

Sir-Norman Stone’s letter has several points that are simply untrue.

"The great bulk of specialists in the time and region" who refuse to
acknowledge the Armenian genocide, the peak of which was in 1915,
are in fact a handful of people of which almost all names he has
enumerated. Among those who call the things by their names are the
respected International Association of Genocide Scholars (1997 and
2005), 126 scholars of Holocaust (2001), the Nobel Prize laureate
Elie Wiesel and numerous others.

It is erroneous to believe that the Armenians in the diaspora-
primarily a consequence of the genocide- are the only ones who
pursue international recognition. The Republic of Armenia aims at its
recognition, and in the first place by Turkey, not only because it is
our moral responsibility, but also for the very sake of normalization
of relations and reasons of security. Nevertheless, the Armenian
Government does not demand that the recognition be a precondition
for opening the border and establishing bilateral ties.

It is true that a considerable number of Armenians have left the
country, partially because of the ground communications blockade
imposed by Turkey.

However, "precipitous decline in population" does not reflect the
precise picture: there are now more Armenians coming into the country
than leaving it. And the GDP growth has been steadily two-digit over
the recent 6 years, without any oil or gas.

It is also true that Armenian businessmen would benefit from
open borders and cooperation, as would their Turkish counterparts
benefit. However, it would be hard for them to do that at the expense
of history: almost every family in Armenia has some kin who were killed
in or banished from Western Armenia. Therefore, we believe the border
should be opened and trade should start while problems can be settled
in a following intergovernmental and public discourse.

As your readers will certainly know well, today in most places debating
the 1915 Genocide the question is no more whether it happened – there
is ample evidence – it is rather how much the recognition affects their
relations with Turkey, a convenient ally of the West in various anti-
or pro- campaigns in time and space.

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV RECEIVES CANADA-AZERBAIJAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 18 2008

Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov
has received Canada-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship
Group headed by David Smith, Foreign Ministry’s press service told
APA. Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that the relations between Canada
and Azerbaijan were developing on low rate and offered Canada to open
embassy in our country. The Minister noted that Azerbaijan was the
leader state in the region and played the role of a center in terms
of relations with the region and the countries of Central Asia.

Canadian parliamentarians highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s economic
growth, social development and secular state building and underlined
that there was a need to inform Canadian people of the achievements
in the country and increase the interest of Canadian companies in
doing business in Azerbaijan. Answering the questions about Nagorno
Karabakh conflict Elmar Mammadyarov briefed about aggressive policy
of Armenia against our country. He said that giving up aggressive
policy and joining the regional cooperation meets the interests of
Armenia, which has no access to the sea and has deprived itself of
the regional projects.

They also discussed exchange of experience and technology in the
field of energy, prospects of cooperating in the field of agriculture,
food safety, education and other spheres.

CITY HALL REJECTS OPPOSITION NOTIFICATION

A1+
[08:42 pm] 16 June, 2008

The Yerevan City Hall has again turned down the opposition’s
notification to hold a June 20 rally either at Liberty Square or at
the Matenadaran. The City Hall suggests the area near "Hrazdan" sports
ground as an alternative. The rejection is determined by a children’s
event organized by the City Hall at the Square on the same day.

Minutes ago the Popular Movement reaffirmed the opposition’s intention
to hold the rally at Liberty Square saying it stems from their
constitutional rights.

"We are determined to struggle for freedom and democracy. Only in
this way the political prisoners will be set free. Only in this way
we shall enjoy freedom and lead a dignified life in Armenia," holds
the statement of the Popular Movement.

PACE CO-REPORTERS ARRIVED IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-06-16 13:18:00

ArmInfo. PACE co-reporters on monitoring of commitments by Armenia to
CE Georges Colombier and John Prescott arrived in Armenia with a two-
day fact-finding visit.

As the press service of CE headquarters told ArmInfo earlier, the
co-reporters’ visit to Armenia is purposed to assess fulfillment
of PACE commitments on the Resolution N1609 ‘On Functioning of
the Democratic Institutes in Armenia>. The source reports that
during the visit, the co-reporters intend to meet RA President Serzh
Sargsyan, Chairman of RA Parliament Tigran Torosyan, representatives of
political parties, as well as representatives of the non-parliamentary
opposition, including Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Moreover, the co-reporters
will meet representatives of the presidential working group on
coordination of actions for fulfillment of PACE Resolution N1609,
the parliamentary working group on reformation of the Election Code,
as well as the advocates of the arrested opposition activists.

As the source emphasizes, ‘if, upon the results of the visit to
Armenia, the co-reporters conclude that the progress by Armenia
is insufficient, the Assembly may set debates on the subject of
Functioning of Democratic Institutes in Armenia, which in this case
will be held on June 25 during PACE summer session.

LEVON ARONYAN THE WINNER OF THE ASRYAN MEMORIAL

armradio.am
16.06.2008 12:25

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan defeated Michael Adams of England
1.5:0.5 in the 13th and 14th rounds of the Karen Asryan Memorial,
thus becoming the winner of eth rapid chess tournament.

In the last two rounds Peter Leco of Hungary lost to Alexander
Morozevich 0.5:1.5, Boris Gelfand (Israel) defeated Gabriel Sargsyan
of Armenia 2:0, Vladimir Hakobyan and Xiangzhi Bu of China played a
draw (1:1).

Thus, Levon Aronyan became the winner of the tournament with 8.5 points
and won the prize of $70 thousand. Peter Leco caeme second with 8
points, Morozevich and Gelfand shared the 3rd and 4th position with
7.5 points, Xiangzhi Bu was the 5th with 7 points. Gabriel Sargsyan
occupied the 6th position with 6.5 points, followed by Michael Adams
(6 points) and Vladimir Hakobyan (5 points).

"Karen Asryan Memorial gained its unique place in the chess world. The
irreversible loss of Karen Asryan will not prevent Armenian chess
players from continuing their brilliant performances in international
tournaments, and Armenian chess players will manage to keep high the
national chess flag," RA President, President of the Chess Federation
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during the solemn closing ceremony of
the Karen Asryan Memorial Rapid Chess Tournament at the National Opera
and Ballet Theatre after Alexander Spendiaryan. He congratulated all
participants of the tournament and thanked them for participation. RA
President expressed hope that the tournament named after talented
chess player, 2006 Olympic Champion, triple Champion of Armenia Karen
Asryan will become traditional.

According to Serzh Sargsyan, chess is not only sport: this ancient
game educates a person, shows him the way towards victory. He said
the leadership of the Chess Federation will do its best to promote
the development chess in Armenia. The Federation will aspire to hold
the World Chess Championship in Armenia if Aronyan claims the title,
the President said.

TDSB approves high school course on genocide
Friday, June 13, 2008 – 06:43 AM
By: 680News staff

Toronto – A controversial high school course on genocide has been
unanimously approved by the Toronto District School Board.

The Globe and Mail reports about 50 protestors waved Turkish flags and
picket signs outside the board’s North York office Thursday night
objecting to the inclusion of the Armenian genocide as one of the
course’s three-case studies.

Meanwhile, a group of Ukrainian-Canadians sat in meeting to support
the inclusion of the Ukrainian genocide.

Board members say they hope the new course will help promote
cross-cultural understanding and awareness of the dangers of
stereotyping and prejudice.

jsp?content=3D20080613_064328_4920

SENATOR TRIES TO KEEP VALEDICTORIAN FROM DEPORTATION
Chuck Afflerbach
X-X-Sender: [email protected]
X-Listprocessor -Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

CNN
June 12 2008

Plans to deport an Armenian high school valedictorian in Fresno,
California, were put on hold Tuesday after Sen. Dianne Feinstein took
steps to make him and his family legal U.S. residents.

While 17-year-old Arthur Mkoyan celebrated at his Bullard High School
graduation ceremony, the Democratic senator introduced a bill on his
behalf in the Senate.

"I’m just excited," Mkoyan said. He hopes to study medicine at a state
university in the fall. "It’s really amazing they’re going to do this,
because it’s going to stop everything."

The family arrived in the United States in 1995 on six-month tourist
visas, said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Settling in Fresno, Arthur’s father, Ruben Mkoian (he and his son spell
their last names slightly differently), worked as a truck driver. The
teen’s mother worked in a jewelry store, and the family set about
living their lives, which soon included a younger brother for Arthur.

Mkoian believes that if they were to return to Armenia, his family
would be subject to reprisals because of his attempts to expose
corruption at the government agency where he worked.

After the family’s visas expired, they applied for U.S. residency. That
application was denied, Kice said.

Immigration wheels turns extremely slowly. An immigration judge finally
ruled in 2002 that the family had no legal right to remain in America.

Don’t Miss Academic plans threatened by deportation The family
tried again by applying to the Board of Immigration Appeals; that
was rejected, also. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year
denied their petition for a hearing.

"I would remind people that this family had ample access to due
process," Kice said. "The case has been in litigation for more than
10 years. Immigration experts on every level determined that they
had no legal basis to be in the United States."

Mkoyan doesn’t know much about Armenia. He feels like an American
teenager.

"I haven’t been in Armenia since I was 2, so I don’t really know
anything about the place," Mkoyan said. "All I’ve seen is just videos
my mom has watched on the Internet." Watch the teen talk about how
much he wants to stay in the U.S. "

Mkoyan and his mother, Asmik Karapetian, learned that Feinstein
was fighting for them when they returned home from graduation. The
senator’s office left a message on the family’s answering machine.

"It gives you a little hope that maybe it will pass and maybe we can
stay," the teen’s mother said.

Both houses of Congress would have to pass the bill — and President
Bush would have to sign it — for it to take effect. However, the
bill’s introduction is enough to halt deportation, which was scheduled
for June 20.

"As a matter of policy, we won’t proceed with a deportation as long
as a private bill is pending," Kice said.

But the odds remain long against the family staying in the United

UPCOMING SENATE AND HOUSE HEARINGS TO FOCUS ON ARMENIA AND CAUCASUS REGION

NOYAN TAPAN.
June 11

WASHINGTON- ARMENIANS TODAY

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs
Committee members next week will have the opportunity to question
State Department officials on U.S. policy regarding Armenia and the
surrounding area, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Dan Fried will testify before
the House Foreign Affairs Committee on June 18 regarding U.S. policy
towards the Caucasus region. Chairman Howard Berman and his fellow
Committee members will be focusing on a wide range of issues including
the ongoing blockade of Armenia, U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide,
and foreign aid. Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Nabi Sensoy recently
denied the existence of a Turkish blockade, arguing that there are
many Armenians who serve as "nannies" to Turkish children. The World
Bank estimates that Turkey and Azerbaijan’s blockades of Armenia
reduce Armenia’s GDP by up to 38% annually.

Rep. Adam Schiff along with Rep. George Radanovich and Frank Pallone,
and Joe Knollenberg recently introduced the "End the Turkish Blockade
of Armenia" Bill, which calls upon Turkey to end its blockade of
Armenia and asks the U.S. Department of State to report on its efforts
towards this end.

And on June 19 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is slated to
hold a confirmation hearing for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee
Marie Yovanovitch.