Author: Felekian Ara

WHERE IS ARKADI GHUKASYAN?

A1+
[04:00 pm] 29 March, 2007

NKR president Arkadi Ghukasyan’s whereabouts is unknown. According to
official sources, he has been on a short holiday since March 24. The
reason of his vacation is also unknown. In fact, he did not honor RA
Prime Minister’s premature death. Whereas various foreign delegations
arrived in Yerevan on the event.

In response to "A1+" question about Andranik Margaryan’s funeral,
Eduard Atanesyan, NKR president press secretary justified it with
the president’s vacation. It was not a good excuse either as he was
neither in RA nor NKR.

Our efforts to find out his whereabouts were not a success as it was
kept in secret. Strangely enough to mention, none of NKR president’s
staff member provides with any information about Arkadi Ghukasyan’s
short-term vacation.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALL FOR DECISIVE ACTION TO END THE CYCLE OF GENOCIDE

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2007 17:56

With the Armenian National Committee of America and Genocide
Intervention Network (GI-Net) two-day anti-genocide advocacy campaign
as a backdrop, Members of Congress called for decisive action to end
the cycle of genocide during a Capitol Hill Observance.

Ten Members of Congress, including House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee
on Africa Chairman Donald Payne (D-NJ), Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam
Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), David Dreier
(R-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), John Sarbanes
(D-MD), and Jean Schmidt (R-OH), joined together in urging continued
grassroots advocacy to secure proper acknowledgement of the Armenian
Genocide and targeted divestment of firms aiding and abetting the
ongoing Genocide in Sudan.

THE CALL FOR PEACE BY MAN WHO LOST HIS HEALTH IS MORE FORCEFUL

KarabakhOpen
28-03-2007 13:20:47

On Sunday two events took place in Haterk, Martakert region. In
the framework of the project implemented by the Resource Center of
Stepanakert and the International Alert, the Young Democrats and YMCA
held a seminar on the role of the youth in conflict transformation. On
the same day, the role of the ex-combatants and disabled of the war
in the peace process was discussed in a meeting organized by the
Rehabilitation Center of Stepanakert.

During the discussion the necessity of the engagement of the society
and its separate segments in public debates about the country’s
crucial issues was emphasized. "There is opinion that the standpoint
of the society has no importance, and all the decisions are made by
governments. This is a wrong opinion.

It is often so, but only because the society does not make
initiatives," said the director of the Resource Center Irina Grigoryan.

The participants of the debate said they get no information on the
talks, and simply cannot imagine what they can do to make their
standpoint known to the world.

And the standpoint is clear – Karabakh needs peace and stability. Every
settlement must stem from this. "We do not reject contact with
Azerbaijanis.

Besides, in the beginning of the movement nobody was thinking about
forcing Azerbaijanis to leave," said one of the participants of the
debate who participated in the defense of the village. The participants
of the debate dwelled on the problem of demography. "The return of
Azerbaijanis is impossible. The generation which went through war
cannot exist peacefully side by side with yesterday’s foe," said one
of the participants of the debate.

In the second part of the debate the director of the Rehabilitation
Center Vardan Tadevosyan told the disabled of war participating in
the debate about the possibilities for psychological and physical
rehabilitation at the center.

The participants also discussed the role of the ex-combatants in
the peace process, who are a vulnerable but influential part of the
population – the call for peace by a man who lost his health in war
is more forceful. The ex-combatants of Haterk uphold peace but they
know the cost of peace. "It is interesting to know the attitude of
the Azerbaijanis on the proposals on settlement and the idea on return
to Karabakh," asked one of the participants at the end of the debate.

Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Abp Aghan Baliozian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

28 March 2007

PRIMATE SENDS LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON THE PASSING OF ARMENIA’S PM

Sydney, Australia – As news items poured in Inboxes and faxes arrived early
Monday morning Sydney time announcing the unexpected passing of Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Andranik Margaryan from a heart attack
at age 56 years, Armenians in Australia too joined in the grief of loss and
mourning of the international community for a devoted Armenian son.

Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Australia and New Zealand on his arrival from a pastoral visit from Adelaide
the same day, immediately sent a letter of condolence on behalf of the
Diocese, the Armenian communities of the region and the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund Australia Branch to the Government of the Republic of
Armenia offering heartfelt condolences to the nation and the Margaryan
family.

His Eminence had the pleasure of meeting Prime Minister Margaryan on various
occasions during visits to Armenia and was moved by his sincerity of faith
and love for the Armenian Church.

Requiem services will be held in both the Sydney and Melbourne parishes on
Sunday, 1st April following the Divine Liturgy for the repose of the soul of
the late Andranik Margaryan.

May he rest in the eternal peace granted by our Lord.

AKI, Italy
March 26 2007

FRANCE: ROYAL CONDITIONALLY BACKS TURKEY’S EU BID

Paris, 26 March (AKI) – Socialist presidential candidate Segolene
Royal has stated she supports Turkey’s application to join the
European Union "in principle," but not until the 27-member bloc is
revitalised. "I support the bid in principle but not now because
Europe is stalled, and before expanding, we have to re-start it,"
says Royal in her new book, ‘Maintenanant’ (Now), published in France
on Tuesday.

Royal, who with conservative UMP party candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and
centrist UDF nominee Francois Bayrou are three current frontrunners
in France’s presidential race, is the only one have expressed support
for Ankara’s EU bid.

But like France’s president Jacques Chirac (from the UMP party),
Royal says in her book that French voters will have the final say in
a referendum, and "it will be the job of the head of state to to
defend their decision."

Royal had previously been criticised for "evasive" previous remarks
stating that her position on Turkey’s bid was "that of the French
people."

Royal said no "geographical" argument should be used against Turkey
joining the EU. "Turkey is not a territory but a political project,"
her book states. Religious arguments also do not hold up: "Europe is
not Christian club…. it contains millions of citizens who are
Muslims," she states.

Provided Turkey achieves the economic, democratic and other reforms
required of it by the EU, Europe has much to gain geopolitically by
admitting the country, "in a world haunted by a clash of
civilisations," Royal argues.

"Democrats in Turkey are ardently partisan, and their European
perspective helps to consolidate a Europe based on the rule of law.
It also helps combat those elements that want to deny the genocide of
the Armenians," Royal’s book states, referring to the killings of up
to 1.5 million Armenians they claim were carried out between
1915-1923 by Ottoman Turks.

Royal said last October that Turkey needs to recognise the mass
killings of Armenians as genocide if it wants to join the EU. Sarkozy
and Bayrou both back a ‘special partnership’ for Turkey with the EU
while far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen – currently trailing
fourth in opinion polls – rejects even this.

The presidential election is slated for 22 April with a run-off on 6
May.

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RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
March 26 2007

Russia to benefit from Iranian gas supplies to Armenia

RBC, 26.03.2007, Yerevan 16:53:49.Supplies of Iranian gas to
Armenia may be beneficial not only for Armenia and Iran, but also for
Russian business, Armenian Deputy Energy Minister Ara Simonian said
in an interview for ARMINFO. According to him, the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline will facilitate long-term secure agreements for companies
with Russian capital operating in the republic. In particular, such
deals may be in store for the fifth power generating unit of the
Razdan thermal power plant and the Armenian-Russian joint stock
company ArmRosgazprom, ARMINFO quoted the deputy minister as saying.

11 PARTIES INTRODUCE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR REGISTRATION TO RA CEC AS
OF 16:00 OF MARCH 27

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. As of 16:00 of March 27, 11 out of 27
parties and one preelection bloc nominated by proportional system for
May 12 parliamentary elections had introduced documents necessary for
registration to CEC. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by CEC
Spokesperson Tsovinar Khachatrian, they are the Democratic Way, the
National Unity, the Republican Party of Armenia, the Youth Party of
Armenia, the People’s Party, the Democratic Party of Armenia, the
Marxist Party of Armenia, the People’s Party of Armenia, the
Social-Democrat Hnchakian Party, the Nor Zhamanakner and Hanrapetutiun
Parties. To recap, the deadline for introducing documents for
registration is March 28, 18:00.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "ANDRANIK MARGARIAN’S DEATH IS SERIOUS LOSS FOR
WHOLE ARMENIAN PEOPLE"

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian send a
telegram of condolence to the Margarians’ family on the occasion of
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian’s death. The message reads the
following: "I deeply grieve with the mournful news of the premature
death of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, obvious statesmen
and dear friend Andranik Nahapet Margarian. His death is a serious
loss not only for Margarians’ family but also for whole Armenian
people. I present You my deep condolence, wish You patience and might
of soul. Andranik Margarian’s memory will remain bright in our
people’s heart."

In View of Death of Prime Minister, RA Defense Minister Put Off His
Official Visit to China

Arminfo
2007-03-25 17:51:00

In view of a sudden death of RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, the
Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian has put off his three-day
official visit to China, scheduled for tomorrow, the Public TV of
Armenia informs.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 23 2007

Extremist group members seized in Petersburg

23.03.2007, 18.44

ST. PETERSBURG, March 23 (Itar-Tass) — Members of two extremist
groups have been seized in St. Petersburg on suspicion of serious
crimes, including the explosion at a McDonalds fast food restaurant,
city prosecutor Sergei Zaitsev said on Friday.

They are suspected of attacks on citizens of Moldova and Cameroon in
the St. Petersburg metro this February, the explosion of a flower
kiosk near the Vladimirskaya metro station, the February 18 explosion
at McDonalds, and attacks on an Armenian citizen and two citizens of
Uzbekistan in Pushkin.

Ten residents of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region aged from 17
through 23 were charged with the brawl in Pushkin.

The majority of suspects have nationalist views, Zaitsev said, adding
that they were taking part in actions organized by the Movement
against Illegal Migration. Extremist symbols and booklets, as well as
video recordings of attacks on foreigners were seized from the
suspects. Three of them took part in the attack on the Moldovan woman
and the Cameroon citizen.

There are five suspects in the McDonalds case, and three of them are
taken into custody. TNT and bomb parts were seized from them.

Experts confirmed the identity of bombs used at McDonalds and near
the Vladimirskaya metro station. The police said that the detentions
prevented no less than two explosions.

The February 18 explosion at McDonalds will be defined as `terrorism’
instead of `attempted murder’, Zaitsev said.

`The perpetrators wanted not only to breach the order but also to
intimidate the authorities,’ he said.

Six people were hurt in the explosion of a handmade caseless bomb
equivalent to 150 grams TNT and staffed with nuts.