Author: Ekmekjian Janet

VIMPELCOM HELPS ARMENIA RAISE PRIVATIZATION PROFITS MORE THAN FIVEFOLD IN 2007

Interfax News Agency
April 17 2008
Russia

The extent the Armenian budget profited from the privatization of
state-owned companies rose to 18.8 billion dram ($60.6 million) in
2007, which is five and a half times more than in 2006, deputy chief
of the Armenian governmental property management Ashot Markosian told
a briefing on Thursday.

In 2006, the Armenian budget received 3.4 billion Armenian dram
($10.9 million) from privatization, he said.

Such a sharp increase in privatization profits is the result of a
large last year deal, when 10% in the state-owned Armentel were sold
to Russia’s VimpelCom, he said.

On Thursday, the Armenian government approved the report on the
results of the privatization program for 2007, Markosian said. In
2007, 17 companies were privatized in the country compared to 12 in
2006. That includes 12 companies sold directly, three on a competitive
basis and two sold at auction.

WILL TER-PETROSIAN ATTEND RALLY?

A1+
18 April, 2008

A rally is scheduled for 3 p.m., April 19, in the Children’s Park
near the statue of Miasnikian.

Armenian NGOs and political parties are invited to participate in
the rally. An invitation has been sent to Armenia’s first President
Levon Ter-Petrossian too.

The Spokesperson for Levon Ter-Petrossian, Armen Musinian informed A1+
that the first President’s participation hasn’t been considered yet.

Reminder: the rally is organized by the "Women for Peace" NGO. The
notification of the rally was accepted by the City Hall.

A COMPETITION FOR AN IMPROVEMENT OF STEPANAKERT’S WATER SUPPLY

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on April 17, 2008
NKR Republic

On April 16th in NKR government the comepetition’s preliminary results
of Stepanakert water supply were summed up. The vice-minister of NKR
Urban Planning A. Vardanian and the mayor of Stepanakert V.Michaelian
announced the commission’s conclusions. The vice-minister noted,
that they had recieved three wrappers of suggestions. The wrapper
represented jointly by Architectural constructional University of
Erevan and "Haydzhrnakhagits" Institute was the top-scorer, then
proceeded "Erevannakhagits" and "Dzhindge" organizations.But the
name of the last winner of the competition will be clear after the
researches of the suggestions’ financial certificate, which will be in
forthcoming, by participation of interested representatives. According
to the mayor V. Michaelian, it is foreseen during 18 months to finish
the preparation of designed-estimate documents, after which a contract
will be signed with the prefered organization. The program will be
financed either by state or private means.

ETHNIC ARMENIAN, FORMER AZERBAIJANI CITIZEN, FILES A SUIT AGAINST AZERBAIJAN AT EUROPE COURT

Trend News Agency
April 16 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 16 April / corr TrendNews K.Zarbaliyeva / An
ethnic Armenian, who resided in Azerbaijan, brought an action against
Azerbaijan at the European Court, Chingiz Asgarov, plenipotentiary
representative of Azerbaijan at the European Court for Human Rights,
said in talks with journalists on 16 April.

Asgarov said that an Armenian, who resided in Gulustan village of
Goranboy District, appealed to the European Court in connection with
his replacement from his house in 1992 and demands restoration of
his property right as specified by the European Convention.

Asgraov said that the European Court took the case into consideration
and has commenced correspondence in this respect. "We have submitted
to the European Court all the materials testifying that appeals are
groundless," he said.

According to Asgarov, the European Court will not take any decision
against Azerbaijan in this respect.

At present, Azerbaijan and the European Court are in contacts on
35 appeals. Most of them are linked with the violation of fair
investigation, rights for respect of personality and family life,
freedom of assembly and unions.

In the near future, the European Court is not expected to adopt any
decision against Azerbaijan, he said.

So far the European Court has taken 11 decisions against Azerbaijan.

DISMISSED SPOKESMAN FOR ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: "WE ARE DEALING WITH A DIFFERENT AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
s/politics/44313.html
April 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Former spokesman for Armenian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Karapetyan
released an article, expressing serious concern about the negotiation
process on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

He said the recent tendencies are frustrating and turning into
a serious problem, facing the Armenian authorities. The article
says that Armenia has never been in such a hard situation in the
negotiation process.

Noting the progress in the negotiation process within the past few
years, which was favorable for Armenia, he said that the situation in
the mid 2006 was quite promising, considering Armenia’s stable position
in the negotiation process, as well as the careful He reminds that
in June of 2006 Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stressed
the strict formation of the future status of Lachin -"a corridor,
connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia"

The Minister noted that the status of Lachin corridor should be similar
to the status of Nagorno Karabakh and Kelbajar will be returned only
after the referendum and definition of the status of Nagorno Karabakh.

According to Karapetyan, the situation changed after a resolution was
adopted by the UN General Assembly on March 14, which became possible
owing to the deterioration of the international image of Armenia
after events of March 1 and Armenia’s reaction on the announcements
of international structures.

In this connection Karapetyan considers the announcements that
the resolution of the UN General Assembly is an ordinary event to
be senseless, as Azerbaijan will try to influence the negotiation
process making use of the UN resolution.

"Today, they do not hesitate to propose the "joint use of Lachin
provided that it is an integral part of Azerbaijan", which was
inadmissible earlier", says the former spokesman for Armenian Foreign
Ministry.

He stressed that Armenia has to deal with a different Azerbaijan,
which has become stronger and can now resist super-states. as Russia
in the gas issue and United States in the issue of relations with Iran.

"Azerbaijan is aware of its importance in the sense of EU energy
security and makes use of it, which does not exclude the blackmail
by BakU", says he.

In such a situation, the effective participation of authorities
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the negotiation process is becoming
impossible, said he and added that as in the next 2-3 years Azerbaijan
will undertake the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, Armenia will
have to use the chance for a diplomatic breakthrough.

"Otherwise, following the completion of the project, Baku will seek
reasons for initiation of military actions in a pretense of restoring
the territorial integrity. It will continue striving for adoption
of resolutions in different international instances. To stop this,
Armenian diplomacy and Armenian parliament should join efforts,
which requires stability in Armenia, first of all".

He sees the way out in the democratic reformation of the society, in
inner solidarity and consolidation and calls on the diplomacy to inform
the world society about principles, approaches and position of Armenian
side in the issue of the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It should be noted that Karapetyan was dismissed from Armenian
Foreign Minister, along with a number of other diplomats after they
all voiced concern about the domestic situation in the country in
the post election period.

SECRETARY GENERAL OF CIS IPA COUNCIL CONGRATULATES TIGRAN SARGSYAN

armradio.am
14.04.2008 11:52

Secretary General of the Council of CIS Interparliamentary Assembly
Mikhail Krotov sent congratulating message to Tigran Sargsyan on the
occasion of his appointment to the prost of RA Prime Minister. The
message says, in part:

"Dear Tigran Surenovich,

On behalf of the Council of CIS Interparliamentary Assembly I
congratulate you on the occasion of your appointment to the post
of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. I’m sure that your
activity will be remarkable for success in the field of socio-economic
development of Armenia and reinforcement of ties in the framework of
Commonwealth of Independent States.

I wish robust health to you and peace and prosperity to the Republic
of Armenia."

AZERI SOLDIER DETAINED IN NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2008 15:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An Azeri soldier was detained by NKR Defense Army
servicemen when crossing the border on April 11.

The captive did not have any documents and introduced himself as Eybat
Vyusal Shirsultan ogly, born in Shemakhi region of Azerbaijan in 1989,
the NKR MFA press office reported.

The NKR state commission on POWs and missing brought the incident to
the notion of the OSCE and ICRC offices.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"THE PARLIAMENT IS THE VOICE AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"

STATED HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
In the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain

BARCELONA – "As the voice and the political will of the people, the
parliament should act with this sense of responsibility and accountability"
said His Holiness Aram I at the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain. "Religion as
well is the voice of the people, furthermore, it is called to be the voice
of God. If a parliament is accountable only to the people, the religion is
first and foremost accountable to God. But we are partners. Although there
exist a qualitative difference between religion and parliament as a
political institution, we must respect our differences, but we must work
together, because we have common objectives, namely the dignity, justice,
peace, human rights and well being of people".

In his intervention referring to the two references made by the president of
the Parliament in his welcoming speech, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the
pivotal importance of dialogue: "Dialogue is no more a conceptual notion; it
is part of our daily life. Dialogue is no more an initiative pertaining
exclusively to religions. All the stakeholders of civil society must engage
in dialogue. Indeed, dialogue is rejection of self centered existence. It is
opening ourselves to the others. It is interactive approach to the realities
and problems that we face in different spheres of our life. It is a firm
commitment to being together, reflecting and acting together, preserving our
distinctiveness and particularities as cultures, religions and nations.
Religion has a major role to play in promoting a culture of dialogue. Only
such a culture will become a source of peace, against violence. A source of
trust against hatred, a source of justice against injustice, a source of
living together as community against all trends which lead our societies to
disintegration and polarization".

Catholicos Aram I also criticized the crucial importance of integration in
the life of societies: "We must live as communities, not as a separate
groups co-existing side by side. If co-existence is not transformed into a
common life together, it may generate tension. What we need today is to
develop communities of integrated diversities. The role of religion in this
respect is critical. Religion could be both a source if integration and a
factor of disintegration. Religious leaders have a major role to promote the
positive role of religion, as bridge builder, community developer and
integration facilitator".

The second speaker was the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
President Khatami. Welcoming the particular emphasis laid by His Holiness
Aram I on the role of the Parliament, the necessity of dialogue and
integration, president Khatami in his turn developed the notion of the
parliament being the household of the people. He said in the parliament the
people should feel themselves at home and work for the well being of the
people in all spheres of its life.

The third speaker was Dr. Abdulaziz Otheman Altwaijiri. He stressed the
importance of dialogue of religions and cultures. He stated the commitment
of his organization to working together as partners, with all actors of
civil society for peace building, as well as for the promotion of cultural,
educational and human values.

At the end of the official ceremony the Speaker of the House presented
gifts to Catholicos Aram I, President Khatami and Dr. Altwaijiri.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos234.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PanARMENIAN.Net

19-year-old soldier wounded in Yerevan March 1 melee dies in hospital
12.04.2008 13:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 19-year-old soldier Tigran Abgaryan
wounded in Yerevan March 1 melee died in hospital. All
efforts to save the youth’s life proved fruitless.

On March 1 night Tigran Abgaryan was brought to
hospital with a gunshot wound and comminuted
fractures. His spinal marrow was also affected.

The number of killed in mass disorders in Yerevan
reached 9.

WHAT IS THE CRIME ARMENIANS COMMITTED?
ARTHUR HOVHANNISYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 12, 2008
Armenia

Recently a piece of noteworthy information has been published in
`Hayots Ashkharh’ and `Golos Armenii’ dailies regarding the meeting and
secret negotiations between L. Ter-Petrosyan and the leader of `Grey
Wolves’ (`Nationalistic Movement’ Party) Alparslan Tyurkesh. Many
details of the meeting in hotel `Grillon’ in Concord Square in Paris,
on March 1993, are still unknown.

Anyhow 12 years after the before mentioned meeting, on March and April,
2005 the series of articles in Turkish `Milliet’ include important
information regarding the contacts and deals between Alparslan Tyurkesh
and his son Tughrul Tyurkesh and Levon and Telman Ter-Petrosyans.

According to our information from the Turkish side Turkish Ambassador
Bleda, Secretary of the Embassy Menter Shahinler, as well as the son of
the leader of `Grey Wolves’ Tughrul Tyurkesh and from Armenian side
former Foreign Minister Vahan Papazyan and Jirayr Liparityan,
considered as a `gray cardinal’ in the administration of the former
President, also participated in the before mentioned negotiations.

Quoting Samson Eozararat, (an Armenian or considering himself an
Armenian born in Turkey), who used to be in close cooperation with L.
Ter-Petrosyan `Milliet’ reported details about the meetings, kept in
secret before. Eozararat underscored that during the discussions A.
Tyurkesh has mainly introduced Ankara’s official stance and
Ter-Petrosyan mentioned that he has many times heard the arguments of
the Turks.

By the way the Turks were shocked, when Levon Ter-Petrosyan wished the
best to Tyurkesh’s son in Turkish language. They were shocked not
because of the fact of wishing well but because of his perfect
knowledge of Turkish language. In Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s letter
addressed to Turkey, published in ”Jumhuriet” in 1995 the before
mentioned wishes were warmer: ”We express our friendly and warm
feelings towards the Turkish people.”

In his interview given to ”Milliet”, Jirayr Liparityan, one of the
participants of the before mentioned meeting, who was the key
responsible for the foreign policy of the former authorities,
underscored that the meeting between Levon Ter-Petrosyan and A.
Tyurkesh was of great significance in the path of interstate relations.
He said there has been no disagreement between L. Ter-Petrosyan and
Foreign Minister Vahan Papazyan in their negotiations with Turkish
officials.

As reported by ”Milliet”, quoting Samson Eozararat, a little after
the meeting the two sides discussed the issue of building a monument
dedicated to the victims of 1915 (notice: not the Genocide of 1915, but
simply 1915) on Armenian Turkish border. The most noteworthy thing is
that they were planning to write: `We mourn for the pain we caused’: in
Turkish – on the side looking at Armenia and in Armenian – on the side
looking at Turkey.

I wonder what pain did Armenians cause to Turkish people? What crime
did we commit, which is equal to Armenian Genocide? Meanwhile it is not
difficult to notice, that by participating in similar discussions and
by giving his agreement regarding the construction of the before
mentioned monument L. Ter-Petrosyan, as a President of Armenia, has, in
fact, played into the hands of Turkey’s foreign policy and advocacy and
the latter is shamelessly introducing Turks as the victims of the
Genocide and the Armenians – as those who committed that Genocide.

On February 23, 1995, Jirayr Liparityan visited Turkey, where he met
with Tughrul Tyurkesh in Hotel `Hilton’ in Ankara. It’s worth
mentioning that the meeting that started at 22.45 p.m. finished at
02.00 a.m.

`Milliet’ also touched upon Samson Eozararat’s visit to Yerevan and the
fact that he returned to Turkey from our capital city by the closed
border. It is noteworthy that the secret envoy didn’t have any problems
with the border-guards of the both sides. Most probably his departure
from Armenia has been realized by Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s direct
mediation.