Author: Chilingarian Babken

ARMENIAN ENTERPRISES TO BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN CSTO MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

ARKA
April 28, 2008

YEREVAN, April 28. /ARKA/. The Armenian enterprises transferred
to Russia against Armenia’s national debt to that country must be
involved in development program in the military-industrial complex
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), stated Ivan
Materov, Chairman of the CSTO Intergovernmental Commission for Military
Economy Cooperation.

"All the enterprises must find their niche in the program of the
CSTO Intergovernmental Commission for Military Economy Cooperation,"
Materov told a press conference on the results of the Commission’s
fifth meeting.

He pointed out the necessity for special-purpose programs of
re-operating the enterprises.

The agreement on the transfer of Armenian enterprises to Russia
against Armenia’s $93mln debt to that country was signed in 2002. Under
the agreement the following enterprises were transferred to Russia:
Mars CJSC (estimated at $56.29mln), Yerevan Research Institute of
Mathematical Machines ($2.75mln), Yerevan Research Institute of
Automated Control Systems ($3.37mln), Yerevan Research Institute of
Materials’ Science ($0.35mln), Hrazdan TPP ($31mln).

The CSTO was formed in 1992 by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

ARMENIAN TENNIS PLAYERS WON

Panorama.am
18:50 26/04/2008

Armenian female tennis group won by 3:0 score the team of Egypt in
the fourth round of Federation cup 3rd euro African competition which
is taking place in Yerevan. Armenian tennis players gained 3 scores
from possible 4 ones and occupied the second place in the B group of
the competition. Morocco team occupied the first place having their
victory after the game of Chernogoria team.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 26 2008

Deputy defence minister of Armenia defected to Ter-Petrosyan’s side resigns

[ 26 Apr 2008 12:43 ]

Yerevan-APA. One more deputy defence minister of Armenia has
resigned. APA quotes Armenian media president Serj Sarkisyan signed a
decree for removal of Lieutenant General Gurgen Melkonyan from the
offices of deputy defense minister on logistics and chief of logistics
of armed forces.

On February 19 during the opposition’s protest action against the
falsification of results of the presidential elections, ex-president
Levon Ter-Petrosyan told people that the deputy defence ministers
Manvel Grigorian and Gurgen Melkonyan had defected to the opposition
and promised not to use of forces against the people. Earlier
Kocharyan-Sarkisyan regime denied the fact and then they acknowledged
that Manvel Grigorian defected to the opposition. Early April
president Kocharyan signed one of his last decrees to remove Manvel
Grigorian from the office of deputy defence minister.

PRESIDENT SERGE SARGSYAN’S ADDRESS IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 24, 2008
Armenia

Dear compatriots,

Today we are paying a tribute of memory to the victims of the Armenian
Genocide.

As a result of the massacres planned and perpetrated by the Ottoman
Empire, a great number of Armenians were exterminated on their
native land and deprived of a living space. Traces of the Armenian
civilization, a lot of cultural and material values created by the
Armenian people in the course of several millennia were destroyed
and are still being destroyed.

The issue of the international recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide is a regular and inevitable part of Armenia’s
political agenda.

As the motherland of all Armenians, Armenia should multiply its
efforts towards the reinstatement of historical justice. Denial policy
with regard to the condemnation of the Genocide has no prospects,
especially now that a great number of countries of the world have
stood up for justice.

The recognition and condemnation of the Genocide is not in the
narrow interests of the Armenian people. A crime against humanity
has a universal significance and therefore, it should find a
universal response. Our goals have nothing in common with revenge
and hostility. With all our respect for the memory of the innocent
victims, we are ready to establish normal relations with Turkey in
the nearest future, without any preconditions.

Dear compatriots,

A lot has been written and spoken about the causes and prehistory of
the Armenian Genocide. A lot of new facts and analyses are awaiting
their publication, but one thing was clear from the outset: a crime
like that was possible to commit only in conditions of the absence
of the Armenian statehood.

Today, on the 24th of April, we are obliged to have special
understanding of the exclusive importance of the Armenian
statehood. All the Armenians must develop and become powerful, clinging
on their state, as this is the pledge of our people’s security.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: JUSTICE IS DEMAND OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND SECURITY OF NATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.04.2008 15:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "April 24 is the day of mourning for Armenians
throughout the globe. 93 years ago Young Turks perpetrated the Armenian
Genocide, the fact modern Turkey denies despite international opinion.

The problem now is not to convince the international community of
the fact of Genocide but to achieve its official recognition. None of
U.S. Congressmen denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide," says "Day
of Sorrow" article published in Vostochno-Sibirskaya Pravda newspaper.

The author of the article reminds that on October 10, 2007 the
U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, H.Res.106.

"The Russian State Duma recognized the Genocide in 1994… As a UN
member, the Republic of Armenia is obliged to speak out for elimination
of consequences of the Genocide perpetrated against its people. The
crime of Genocide doesn’t have time limitation.

Justice is a demand of international law and security of nations. The
Armenian community of Irkutsk mourns over the innocent murder victims,"
says the article signed by the chairman of the regional department
of the Union of Armenians of Russia.

RA PRESIDNET RECEVED THE CHIEF OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL AGENCY OF CULTURE AND CINEMATOGRAPHY

armradio.am
23.04.2008 15:03

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Chief of the Federal Agency of
Culture and Cinematography of Russia Mikhail Shvidkoy, President’s
Press Office reported.

The President said the maintenance and expansion of cultural ties
is one of the most important components of bilateral cooperation and
noted that the role of art has always been great in reinforcing the
friendship between peoples.

Chief of RF Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography
Mikhail Shvidkoy spoke about the active and dynamically developing
Armenian-Russian cultural relations and noted that Armenia is actively
working in the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council. He said that
currently he is discussing the issue of accomplishment of juvenile
children and youth programs with his Armenian partners.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of the memorandum on
cooperation to be signed today between RA Ministry of Culture and RF
Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography, as well as the Russian
culture season expected in Armenia in June, 2008, which will provide
another brilliant opportunity to the Armenian viewers to communicate
with Russian art.

ANCA EASTERN REGION TO DECORATE SAMANTHA POWER WITH FREEDOM AWARD

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

LOS ANGELES, APRIL 22, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian
National Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA ER) has announced
plans to hold its second annual banquet on September 13 at the Grand
Hyatt Hotel in New York City, with honored guest, Pulitzer Prize
winner Samantha Power, the author of "A Problem From Hell: America
and the Age of Genocide" book.

In her first book, she writes about the Armenian Genocide leading to
the unfortunate realities of the other genocides that followed. In
her books Samantha Power referres to human rights issues and genocide
awareness.

According to the information provided by the Office of the Armenian
National Committee of America, the evening will be followed by a
dinner and program, during which Samantha Power will receive the
ANCA ER Freedom Award. This award is given to those who demonstrate
extraordinary courage and devotion to freedom and justice. Last year’s
honoree was former United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans,
who was dismissed from his position for speaking the truth about the
Armenian Genocide.

SKINHEADS KILL OVER 40 PEOPLE IN RUSSIA DURING SIX MONTHS

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.04.2008 17:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the period of December 2007 – March 2008,
over 40 people were killed in Russia’s major cities, said a senior
expert at the Scientific and Research Institute at the Russian Ministry
of Interior.

"Some 300 young men assaulted people with non-Slavonic
appearance. However, only two dozens of them were charged," said
Igor Sundiyev.

"The young men discussed their future crimes in Internet. Then they
gathered and committed assaults."

There are cases when assaults on ideological rivals – anti-fascists –
are committed. In mid-March a group of skinheads attacked teenagers
going to a punk concert.

As result, one youth was killed, RBC reports.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION HOLDS FIRST SANCTIONED RALLY SINCE CLASHES

Agence France Presse
April 19 2008

About 4,000 people rallied in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Saturday
for the first sanctioned opposition protest in the ex-Soviet republic
since post-election clashes left 10 people dead last month.

Armenian authorities, who have been under international pressure to
lift restrictions on public gatherings imposed following the unrest,
granted a permit for the demonstration earlier this week.

Gathered near the Yerevan mayor’s office and the French embassy,
where the clashes broke out on March 1, opposition supporters chanted
"Freedom!" and "Levon for president!" in reference to former president
and opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian.

The protest took place without incident and police kept a low
profile. Protesters dispersed after about two hours, the time allotted
for the demonstration.

"They cannot force us into silence," said Anna Hakobian, wife of
prominent opposition activist Nikol Pashinian, who has gone into
hiding and is sought by police. "They cannot stop us. We will fight
to the end and we will win."

Two police and eight civilians were killed as a result of the unrest,
which saw opposition supporters fight running battles with security
forces on the streets of Yerevan.

The violence broke out after police moved in to clear thousands of
protesters who had rallied for 11 days to protest the victory of
outgoing prime minister Serzh Sarkisian in a February 19 presidential
election.

They alleged that the ballot had been rigged in Sarkisian’s favour
and that Ter-Petrosian was the real winner. Dozens more protesters
were injured, many from gunshot wounds.

Sarkisian was sworn in as Armenia’s president on April 9.

A mountainous country of about three million people — wedged between
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey — Armenia has experienced
repeated political violence and post-election protests since gaining
its independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

LEBANESE "ZVARTNOTS" CENTER ORGANIZES FAIR IN MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Noyan Tapan
April 19, 2008

BEIRUT, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The opening ceremony
of Visit Day – Open House fair of handicrafts and delicacies took
place on April 17 at "Zvartnots" center of backward children of the
Union of Social Workers of the Armenian community of Lebanon.

Handicrafts, paintings, ornaments made by the center’s pupils, as
well as various delicacies were displayed at the fair.

The director of "Zvartnots" center Araksi Dabaghian stated that the
fair is held in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.