Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Moj News Agency, Iran
April 4, 2009 Saturday

Iran, Armenia on the Way of Expanding Ties

Iranian Roads and Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani has arrived
in Armenia to discuss economic ties with his Armenian counterparts.

"Iranian and Armenian officials tend to compile a 70-article
cooperation document," Bahbahani said at a meeting with Armenian
Energy Minister Armen Movsessian. Behbahani also visited his Armenian
counterpart Gurgen Sarkisian to discuss making link between the two
countries railways. Sarkisian announced that making link between the
railways of Iran and Armenia "is a matter of importance" for his
country adding that such a plan could be regarded as a "strategic
regional project." A working group is expected to take about 18 months
to determine the best route and do a feasibility study and
constructing the line would take three to four years, Iranian Roads
and Transportation Minister Hamed Behbahani said. Armenia, a
landlocked country, has no rail line that crosses its border. Rail
lines to Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed for years, and the
rail link with Russia was cut by the Russian-Georgian conflict since
it crosses Georgia. Behbahani said the line would be about 300 miles
long, with most of that distance in Armenia. Sarkisian described the
rail line as "a continuation of the Silk Road," the historic trade
route that connected China with the Middle East. 2009/04/04

OSCE FRENCH CO-CHAIR TO PAY VISIT TO YEREVAN

12:01 04/04/2009
Source: Panorama.am

The OSCE Minsk Group French co-chairman Bernard Fassier is currently
in Yerevan, Tigran Balayan of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia told
Panorama.am. According to the source currently the French co-chair and
the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan are having a
meeting. The Foreign Ministry announces that a meeting with the mass
media representatives is not planned. According to some sources, the
French co-chair will have a meeting with the President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan, also.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND THE "ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS" FORUM IN ISTANBUL

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 3 2009

April 6-7 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will
visit Istanbul to participate in the 2nd "Alliance of Civilizations"
forum under the auspices of the UN.

The aim of the "Alliance of Civilizations" forum is to develop the
intercultural understanding and cooperation. The first forum took
place in Madrid in January 2008.

The forum in Istanbul will feature senior officials from 30 countries
– Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers, reported Public
radio.

AAA DOESN’T LOSE HOPE OBAMA WILL RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2009 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US President’s visit to Ankara is a perfect
opportunity for US leader to stress his position on Armenian Genocide
recognition, Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) Regional Director
in RA and NKR, Arpi Vardanyan told a news conference. "At his visit
Obama intends to discuss US-Turkish relations. There’s a chance he’ll
remind the Turkish government about his position on the Armenian
Genocide. We’re confident that despite the pressure of Ankara and
pro-Turkish forces, US president will keep his word and acknowledge
the Genocide," Arpi Vardanyan noted.

According to her, Turkey will stop at nothing to prevent recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

Resolution on the Armenian Genocide, submitted to US Congress,
already has the support of 88 congressmen. "The resolution has to
be considered by Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, and we hope that the
issue will be solved during this year," Arpi Vardanyan noted, adding
that Genocide recognition is one of the main tasks of AAA.

AMERIABANK TO PAY ANNUAL BONUSES TO ITS CLIENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2009 10:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In discussing outcomes of 2008 activities, Ameriabank
Board of Director decided on payment of annual bonuses to its clients.

The global economic crisis forced may entrepreneurs to reduce staff
and salaries, but Ameriabank did not draw back from its personnel
policy, the bank’s press office said.

Each employee’s contribution to bank activities will be assessed by
"360o" system envisaging raise for any position.

Ameriabank believes motivation of employees to be the guarantee of
the bank’s stability.

RAILWAY REDUCES TARIFFS

LRAGIR.AM
14:02:09 – 01/04/2009

In result of the works carried out with the Georgian railway company
the South Caucasus railway company changes its tariffs from April 1. At
the Karmir Blur-Poti- Karmir Blur railway communication the price for
the transportation of a 20ft container will be 0, 48 Switzerland Frank
(30 cent) both for Armenia and for Georgia.

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

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 30, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA "FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW" CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHTS OBAMA PLEDGE TO
STOP DARFUR GENOCIDE; RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— Visit

WASHINGTON, DC – On the eve of the April 1st arrival of Genocide
Prevention Month, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today launched a nationwide online and print campaign urging
concrete action to end the Darfur genocide and full U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Echoing Martin Luther King’s famous remarks at the Lincoln Memorial
in August, 1963, the "Fierce Urgency of NOW" campaign urges anti-
genocide activists across the U.S. to visit to
learn more about the worsening humanitarian situation in Darfur and
how this atrocity fits into the cycle of genocide that started with
the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. The website provide simple
ways for citizens to call on President Obama to show "unstinting
resolve" in the effort to stop the Darfur Genocide, by
participating in Save Darfur "add your voice" effort
(). Activists can also call on the Obama
Administration and Congress to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
putting to an end to U.S. complicity in Turkey’s international
campaign of genocide denial.

On Monday, March 30, 2009, full page ads were placed in The
Politico and Roll Call newspapers, primarily targeting
Administration and Congressional decision makers in Washington, DC,
with a powerful graphic bringing together child survivors of the
Armenian Genocide and Darfur Genocide into a stark visualization of
the ongoing cycle of genocide. The photos are juxtaposed with
President Obama’s January, 2008, campaign pledge to the American
people stating:

"Genocide, sadly, persists to this day, and threatens our common
security and common humanity. Tragically, we are witnessing in
Sudan many of the same brutal tactics – displacement, starvation,
and mass slaughter – that were used by the Ottoman authorities
against defenseless Armenians back in 1915. I have visited
Darfurian refugee camps, pushed for the deployment of a robust
multinational force for Darfur, and urged divestment from companies
doing business in Sudan. America deserves a leader who speaks
truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to
all genocides. I intend to be that President."

To read the complete "Obama file" on Armenian Genocide recognition,
visit:
s/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf

Companion internet ads will be running on the key political news
websites , , and –
which will coincide with President Obama’s upcoming two-day trip to
Turkey on April 6th and 7th.

This past weekend, over 100,000 postcards were distributed to
communities and campuses across the U.S. urging activists to visit
and take action. These will be
accompanied by a nationwide mailing program to activate the growing
anti-genocide constituency across the United States.

The ANCA’s campaign coincides with efforts to have the White House
designate April as Genocide Prevention month, an initiative
spearheaded by the Genocide Prevention Project
(). With successive genocides –
from the Armenian Genocide and Holocaust to the genocides in
Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda – commemorated in the month of April,
GPP has worked with a nationwide coalition of organizations,
including Save Darfur, the Genocide Intervention Network, Enough
Project and many others, in spotlighting a month-long campaign of
activities commemorating past genocides and urging action to stop
the killing in Darfur. Anti-Genocide activities are listed on a
special website – .

The official kick-off for Genocide Prevention Month will take place
on Tuesday, March 31st, at 7:00pm at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue,
600 I Street NW, in Washington, DC. After a 20-minute preview of
the documentary, "The Last Survivor", former CNN anchor Andrea
Koppel will moderate a discussion among a group of survivors, anti-
genocide advocates, policy experts, and the filmmakers.

Among Genocide Prevention Month activities is the "End the Cycle of
Genocide" Advocacy Days, organized by the ANCA and Genocide
Intervention Network – bringing activists to Capitol Hill from April 22nd
through 24th to urge recognition of the Armenian Genocide and concrete
action on the Darfur Genocide. The effort coincides with the April 24th
worldwide commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. To participate
in ANCA / GI-Net Advocacy Days, register at

Individuals can help expand the "Fierce Urgency of NOW" campaign by
asking friends, family and coworkers to visit
and take action. The effort can be publicized through a number of
online sharing tools reaching the vast array of social networking
sites including Facebook and LinkedIn, among others. To promote
the campaign on college campuses or local communities, contact Garo
Manjikian at [email protected].

MINISTER: NO APPLICATION FOR INCREASE IN FARE RECEIVED FROM ARMENIAN PASSENGER TRANSPORTING COMPANIES

ARKA
March 30, 2009

YEREVAN, March 30. /ARKA/. None of the passenger transporting companies
applied for increase in fare due to rise in gas prices in Armenia,
the country’s Minister of Transport and Communications Gurgen Sargsyan
told journalists Saturday.

On February 27, Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission
approved the increase in gas price from the previous 84,000Drams per
1,000 cubic meters up to 96,000Drams per 1,000 cubic meters.

Rise in gas price will certainly influence other goods and services,
yet everything will depend on the impact of the volume of gas
consumption on service prime-cost, Sargsyan said.

The Minister pointed out that the price is one of the components of
the tendes won by passenger transporting companies.

For amending the contract term the companies need to submit a
respective application to the bidding commission, the Minister said
adding that no such application has been received from any company
so far. ($1=366.11Drams).

G20 SUMMIT ‘MUST NOT FORGET POOR’

BBC NEWS
469.stm
2009/03/30 08:54:25 GMT

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders have urged the G20 leaders to
remember the world’s poorest people.

They said to forget the needs of the poor would be to "compound
regrettable past failures with needless future injustices".

The religious figures published their joint statement in advance of
this Thursday’s G20 meeting in London.

The 32 signatories include Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams,
and Muslim leader Dr Mohammed Abdul Bari.

While acknowledging the "sheer complexity" of the challenge facing
politicians, the statement called on them to restore "that lost sense
of balance between the requirements of market mechanisms that help
deliver increased prosperity, and the moral requirement to safeguard
human dignity, regardless of economic or social category".

Roman Catholic leader Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor said: "At a time of
economic difficulty, it is important for all political leaders not
to forget their promises to the world’s poor.

G20 LONDON SUMMIT

World leaders will meet next week in London to discuss measures to
tackle the downturn. See to the G20 summit. The G20 countries are
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,
South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the US and the EU.

"We pray for the poor, vulnerable and marginalised and also for the
political leaders in their deliberations this week as we seek to
create a more just world."

Dr Williams said people had high expectations of the meeting.

He added: "As religious leaders, we shall be praying that these
expectations will be met and that the gathered politicians will be
inspired to share a word of hope with all of us."

The UK government, which is hosting the G20 meeting, wants world
leaders to focus on "co-ordinated macro-economic actions to revive
the global economy, stimulate growth and employment".

It also says the international community needs to act to "support
vulnerable emerging and developing markets".

Other religious leaders who have signed the appeal include Chief Rabbi
Sir Jonathan Sacks and the the chairman of the Christian-Muslim Forum,
Dr Musharraf Hussain Azhari.

The General Secretary of the Hindu Council UK, Anil Bhanot, and the
Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Great Britain, Bishop
Nathan Hovhannisian, are also signatories.

"…TOXIC DAM, DEAD LANDS AND CYANIDE CEMETERY AS OUR HERITAGE"

Panorama.am
12:52 23/03/2009

"Lake Sevan has a strategic notion for Armenia and according to
legislation of the country any activity, especially, if it is a mining
processing industry, putting in danger the lake is forbidden," Inga
Zarafyan, the President of "EcoLur" environmental NGO told Panorama.am.

The environmentalist is concerned about the issue as irrespective
of the legislation the "GeoProMining" Company is going to present
a project to the Government to establish gold processing company
by the lake. "The project of the company includes gold processing
factory, a barn of cyanide and pesticide, as well as tailing dam,"
said I. Zarafyan.

According to Zarafyan, after the company stops its activities, 100
million tones of toxic dam, dead lands, cyanide cemetery will remain.

It is important to mention that in World Water Day, on 22 March,
bicycle march has been conducted in Yerevan. The participants of the
march were holding special boards with Lake Sevan image on them.