Author: Felekian Ara

Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 12 2008

Azerbaijan: N.-Karabakh independence will never be recognized

BAKU April 12

The Azeri foreign minister has argued that Armenia’s efforts to
achieve the international recognition of the independence of the
disputed Armenian-speaking enclave of Nagorno- Karabakh in Azerbaijan
is a wild-goose chase.

"If they [the Armenians] really want the Karabakh conflict to be
resolved soon, they must first of all accept that the settlement of
this conflict must involve the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
something that the entire world community recognizes," Elmar
Mammadyarov told Azeri television channel Lider.

"Armenia should accept that there are no two ways about this," he
said.

"The earlier they realize that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of
Azerbaijan, the better for them and for the entire region," he added.

Earlier, the new Armenian president, Serzh Sargsyan, had pledged to
follow the line of his predecessor, Robert Kocharian, and promised to
seek independence for the enclave, which is the source of a
20-year-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

But that was a statement meant for the domestic audience, Mammadyarov
argued. "By unfounded statements of this kind Armenia slows down the
settlement process," he said.

Mammadyarov said there were no plans to involve Nagorno-Karabakh’s
ethnic Armenian and Azeri communities in settlement talks, which are
today the prerogative of the Azeri and Armenian presidents and
foreign ministers.

The minister also said the Minsk Group, an Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe body mediating in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, would issue a progress report in Vienna next week.

ANCA OUTLINES BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S FAILING ON ARMENIA ISSUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2008 20:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has outlined
the Armenian American community’s concerns regarding the Bush
Administration’s seven-year record of largely counterproductive,
frequently unfriendly, and, at times, antagonistic policies toward
Armenia and the Armenian American community.

The April 4th letter, signed by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, listed
thirteen areas in which the President and his Administration fell
short of both their own commitments and our nation’s basic human rights
standards, retreated from America’s historic commitment to Armenia, and
strained – through a series of ill-advised policies and often hostile
actions – the enduring ties that have long bound together the American
and Armenian peoples. The following points are covered in significant
detail in the 6-page letter, the full text of which is provided below:

1) The President’s broken campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide 2) Opposition to the Congressional Genocide Resolution
3) The Evans firing and the Hoagland nominations 4) The waiver of
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act 5) Reduction in aid to Armenia
6) Abandonment of the military aid parity agreement 7) Mistaken
listing of Armenia as a terrorist country 8) Lack of U.S.-Armenia
Presidential visitations 9) Failure to confront the desecration of the
Djulfa cemetery 10) Failure to maintain a balanced policy on Nagorno
Karabakh 11) Taxpayer financing of the Baku-Ceyhan bypass of Armenia
12) Failure to effectively pressure Turkey and Azerbaijan to end their
blockades 13) Neglect of relations with the Armenian American community

Over the course of the past seven years, the ANCA has repeatedly
requested, to no avail, the opportunity to meet with the President and
his Secretary of State to discuss these and other issues of concern
to Armenian Americans. This most recent ANCA letter, once again,
asks for such a meeting, inviting the Secretary of State to visit
with the collective leadership of the Armenian American community to
discuss U.S. foreign policy toward Armenia and the surrounding region
over the remaining months of the Bush Administration.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 9, 2008

Message of His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
On the Inauguration of Serzh Sargsian, President of the Republic of Armenia
Yerevan, 09 April 2008

President of the Republic of Armenia, the Honorable Serzh Sargsian,
President of the National Assembly, the Honorable Tigran Torosian,
President Robert Kocharian,
Your Eminences, Reverend Fathers, state authorities of Armenia,
representatives of diplomatic missions, and dear guests,

We greet you on the occasion of the inauguration of the third president of
the Republic of Armenia and extend the blessings of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin – our cherished holy cradle of faith built by God – with the
prayers of the psalmist on our lips, "Let thy steadfast love, O Lord, be
upon us, as we have placed our hope in thee." Psalms 33:22

On the paths of a life blessed by God, our Armenian nation has received
manifold graces. Under the gaze of Biblical Mount Ararat, Jesus Christ has
transformed our people into the inheritors of the grace of salvation,
granting us the power of a creative life, the spirit of self-sufficiency,
and the glory of keeping the legacy of our forebears brilliant and alive.
He has delivered us from difficulties and tragedies, guided us in the ways
of liberty, peace and justice; and has made us worthy to greet the dawn of
native independent statehood. Today, our people are building the new life
of the homeland, with the hope to see our country in goodness and
prosperity, progressing in science and culture, alive with the faith and
sacredness of our forefathers. Truly, the foresight of the prophet has been
manifested in the life of our people: "Consider the ancient generations and
see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?" Sirach 2:10

On this solemn day of inauguration of the president of the republic, we have
the opportunity to reflect that you, President Sargsian, along with many
worthy sons of the nation, have brought your commendable contribution to the
liberation of Artsakh and the stability and reinforcement of Armenia’s
statehood.

During these years of independent statehood, our homeland has experienced
significant transformations and reconstruction. We all are happy for the
achievements and victories, which we shall increase and multiply. The
creation of a more thriving and dignified life and establishment of a lawful
society are the just expectations and aspirations of our people, which we
expect to see quickly brought to fruition.

Our people as yet are experiencing the tribulations connected to
post-election developments. Mr. President, the events of the past months
increase the responsibility you – and all of us – bear: to implement utmost
effort toward increasing the spirit of love, brotherhood and solidarity in
the hearts of the sons and daughters of our people, and to reject
intolerance. You are taking on the position of president of our republic at
a decisive time for our country, with greater responsibility to continue
your service to our homeland and our people dispersed throughout the world.
The experience you have gained from previous high state positions; your will
and devotion to strengthen our country; your plans and your proposed methods
and prerequisites; inspire us with confidence, that under your leadership,
through ongoing and consistent efforts, the challenges and obstacles which
confront our lives will be overcome as well in the coming years. Thus, our
country will be greater reinforced in the spheres of peace, justice and
human rights, and with the desire to greater strengthen our freedom. Our
Holy Church will assist you on these paths blessed by God, and will always
support our native state as it has done for centuries. Through its unity,
our people have achieved victories, and today as well, together we shall
secure the welfare of our homeland. Incidents which endanger the unity of
our people must not find a place in our lives. Through unity, we shall
ensure an enduring blessed life, keep vibrant the Armenian Diaspora, and
transform our dispersion throughout the world into strength for the
homeland. Through unity we shall be able to find the peaceful solution to
the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, and see our just claims for recognition of
the Genocide of the Armenians prevail. The words of the wise man said in a
past era remain as truth: "Through unity, the small become great; through
division, the great become small."

President Kocharian, today when you conclude your term as president of the
Republic of Armenia, we offer our sincere prayers to the Almighty, asking
Him to bless your life and grant you success in your future endeavors. The
economic growth and efforts aimed at improving societal life and the
tangible results which occurred during your presidency will guide our
country to increased fundamental improvements and new advances.

It is our prayer to heaven, that God protect our homeland in peace and
security, and that our people, with their productive labors, keep it
beautiful, vibrant and blossoming.

President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsian, we ask that the
blessing, graces and daily guidance of our Lord be with you throughout your
responsible mission. May God grant you new energy, strength and vigor, and
bless your efforts and those of all our people, so that your term of office
be recorded in our history as a period of stability, progress and
development for Armenia and Armenian life.

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!"
Psalms 31:24. With these words of the psalmist, we invite you all to stand
and pray in unison:

"Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

"Protector and hope of the faithful, our Lord Jesus Christ, keep and defend
the Republic of Armenia, its elected President and members of the National
Assembly, its ministers and all authorities of our native land. Grant them
perfect wisdom to lead the Armenian people to goodness and peace. Bless and
strengthen the Armenian Church and her faithful in Armenia, Artsakh and the
dispersion, to walk in paths of love and unity, justice and piety under the
protection of Your holy and sacred Cross. Save us, O Lord, from enemies
seen and unseen, make us worthy to praise and glorify You with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen."

TRANSEURO ENERGY
500 ` 900 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1E5

Transeuro Signs Joint Venture Agreement

April 2, 2008 TSX-V/ Oslo Axess: TSU

Vancouver, Canada: – Transeuro Energy Corp. (`Transeuro’, or the
`Company’) announces it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement
(`JVA’) with RAG Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft (`RAG’)
to develop Transeuro’s existing Ukrainian assets and Joint Activity
Agreements with the local Ukrainian state company `Crimgeologiya’. The
new Joint Venture will also pursue additional business opportunities
in Crimea.

RAG () is a non listed Austrian stock company owned by
major Austrian and German energy and utility companies, principally
EVN, a leading Austrian energy, water and infrastructure company
(Vienna exchange symbol EVN) and E.ON Ruhrgas AG, a major European
integrated gas company (Frankfurt exchange symbol EOA.DE). RAG,
established in 1935, is the oldest E&P company in Austria, and
operates 51 gas fields and 40 oil fields including substantial gas
storage facilities. Annual gas sales volumes are around 1.1 billion
m3, with over 3 billion m3 of operational and projected working gas
storage.

Transeuro and RAG will be 50:50 partners in the new joint venture. The
JVA outlines substantial tangible benefits to Transeuro including
direct payments to Transeuro for past drilling costs, seismic costs
and inventory. And under various firm and conditional funding
formulas, RAG will provide its 50% investment share and contribute up
to an additional 25% of the drilling of three wells and the 3D seismic
over two fields (making RAG total contribution up to 75% of well and
seismic costs). In addition RAG will contribute to an agreed fund for
the acquisition of new licenses in Crimea and for field
development. The potential contribution by RAG to the total capital
budget for 2008 and 2009 is up to US$70 million with Transeuro
responsible for its remaining share of well and seismic
costs. Following success of the Karlavksoye101 and Povotonoye 104
wells both RAG and Transeuro each envisage investing around US$ 280
million into these two Crimea fields.

Both Transeuro Energy and RAG believe there is a considerable business
opportunity in Ukraine from the Joint Activity Agreements held with
Crimgeologiya and that there is an opportunity for further growth
through the acquisition of additional discovered non producing
fields. The business environment in Ukraine and the domestic gas price
has strengthened considerably over the past two years and the
government has raised the emphasis on supporting domestic exploration
and production.

Under the terms of the JVA, Transeuro will reorganize all of its
existing Ukrainian assets such that they will all be held indirectly
by a wholly owned Dutch subsidiary of Transeuro. At the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the JVA, Transeuro will transfer 50% of
the shares of its Dutch subsidiary to RAG.

There are a number of conditions precedent to the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the JVA including, among other things, the
entering into by the parties of a Joint Management Agreement, the
approval of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and the completion
of the corporate restructuring of Transeuro and its Ukrainian
assets. The parties anticipate closing the transaction within 60 days.

Hal Hemmerich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transeuro
commented, "We look forward to working with RAG to further the
development of our projects in Ukraine. RAG has considerable expertise
in exploration & production, gas marketing, distribution and storage
that will be of great benefit to the partnership. Together with RAG
being a financially strong company we can look at more projects’

Markus Mitteregger, Managing Director of RAG said, `The joint activity
with Transeuro in Ukraine is a further important step in our
international growth strategy. Ukraine is a country of prime
importance in the European energy context and we look forward to
develop resources for the Ukrainian market’.

Transeuro Energy Corp. is involved in the acquisition of petroleum and
natural gas rights, the exploration for, and development and
production of crude oil, condensate and natural gas. The Company’s
properties are located in Canada, Armenia, Ukraine and, through
majority ownership in Eaglewood Energy Inc, in Papua New Guinea.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

`Harold Hemmerich’ President and CEO

For further information contact:
David Parry – Vancouver, Canada
Karen O. Jenssen ` Oslo, Norway
+1 (604) 681 3939 Phone + 47 917 29 787
[email protected]

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed, and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this
news release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell
or solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the
United States.

The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the targeted
results. The Company relies upon litigation protection for forward
looking statements.

Barrel of oil equivalent (`boe’) amounts may be misleading,
particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio has been
calculated using a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of
natural gas to one barrel and is based on an energy equivalent
conversion method application at the burner tip and does not
necessarily represent an economic value equivalent at the wellhead.

RA AMBASSADOR TO CHINA TO COMBINE MISSION IN VIETNAM AND KOREA

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.04.2008 15:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian signed a decree
removing Vasily Ghazaryan rom the post of Armenia’s Ambassador to
Vietnam and Korea, the RA leader’ press office said.

By another decree, Armenia’s Ambassador to China Vahagn Movsisyan
(residence in Beijing) will combine the office Vietnam and Korea.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN NOT PREPARED FOR DIALOG WITH LEVON TER-PETROSIAN

Noyan Tapan
April 4, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Robert Kocharian
considers as nonsense the holding of parliamentary elections as
a means of regulating a dialog between the authorities and Levon
Ter-Petrosian. Stating this at the April 4 briefing with journalists,
R. Kocharian said that such elections would be appropriate if the
parliament were unable to work or form a government, whereas, in his
words, the current National Assembly works efficiently.

R. Kocharian also declared that he is not ready for any dialog
with L. Ter-Petrosian. However, according to him, the new president
and government, as well as the political forces represented in the
parliament may discuss such an issue for certain reasons.

"I think that people to have committed criminal acts should be held
accountable by law," R. Kocharian said, noting that it is necessary
to punish severely people for shattering the country rather than
to engage in dialog with them. He reminded that he has proposed
establishing criminal responsibility for activity of sowing hatred
between two sections of the Armenian people. He explained that in
Armenia ethnic minorities are protected by law, racial discrimination
is a penal action, while the sowing of hatred beteen various sections
of the Armenian people is not. He attached importance to envisaing
criminal punishment for this action also from the viewpoint that
"some political figures have emerged who are ready to provide this
service to external forces."

R. Kocharian said that he will try to be consistent so that the
parliament will have deputies, factions or parties bearing the idea
of this proposal.

KOMITAS’ SONGS PERFORMANCE STAGED IN SAINT PETERSBURG

Noyan Tapan
April 3

SAINT PETERSBURG, APRIL 3, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The
Komitas’ Songs performance will be staged in the Baltic House of
Saint Petersburg on April 1. All dance-lovers had the possibility
to see a performance nominated for Golden Mask award. Combination
of modern choreography, Armenian folk music and dances makes the
performance unusual and surprising. After success at High Fest film
festival in Yerevan, Natalya Kasparova’s dance group staged Komitas’
Songs in Moscow, Arkhangelsk and Saint Petersburg.

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 ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICPATES
IN THE WSCF MEETING

The WSCF Middle East had its exceptional regional committee meeting in cairo
28-30 March 2008 in order to elect a new regional secretary.

Two candidates had presented applications Ms. Elsy Wakil from Lebanon and
Mr. Fady Iman from Iraq.

After interviewing the candidates the Serach Committee presented them to the
Regional committee for voting and Ms. Elsy Wakil was elected as the new reg.
sec. for a two years renewable term.

The Regional committee also discussed the issues related to the WSCF General
Assembly that will take place in Canada, Montreal from 1 till 10 August
2008.

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia was represented by Ms. Laura Mesrobian
as member of ACUSA and Ms. Carla Khijoyan as member of the Search Committee
and of the Executive Committee of WSCF.

##
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.

RA PRESIDENT FIRES DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2008 12:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On April 2, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian
signed a decree on dismissal of lieutenant general Manvel Grigoryan
from the post of Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia, the RA leader’s
press office reported.

Lieutenant general Manvel Grigoryan, chairman of Yerkrapah union,
backed former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan at the February 19
presidential election.

The RA Constitution bans military from engaging in politics.

AMERICAN POLITICIAN CONSIDERS BAKU’S CRITICISM AGAINST MEDIATORS AS TACTICAL STEP

Trend News Agency
April 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 1 April /Trend News/ "Sharp criticism by Baku
against the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen, especially the USA, is a
tactical step to strengthen the support for Azerbaijan’s position,"
said Zeyno Baran, Director of the Center for Eurasian Policy of
Hudson Institute.

The UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Resolution on
Nagorno-Karabakh ‘was a response to the declaration of Kosovo’s
independence and the large support it gained from the West,’ Zeyno
Baran said in his interview with Armenian Mediamax news agency.

" Baku is concerned that Kosovo will be used as a precedent and
Georgia shares this concern. Thus, this Resolution can be considered
as a policy to ‘forestall’ such development of the events.

Furthermore, I think that taking into consideration the fact that
Russia uses the issue of precedent of Kosovo with regards to Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, Baku (and Tbilisi) wanted to gain confirmation
that Kosovo will be considered as a unique case and to see how the
Russians will vote," the American politician said.

According to her, concerns are growing in Azerbaijan that the West
unfairly approaches it because it is a Muslim country. " Azerbaijan
sees how the USA decisively supports the territorial integrity of
Georgia, but does not see the same attitude towards itself. Of
course, considering the fact that the USA is the co-chairman country
of the OSCE Minsk Group, the American Government cannot hold any
other position on Nagorno-Karabakh. Unfortunately, it is difficult
for the ordinary Azerbaijanis to understand this difference. Many
Azerbaijanis consider that Azerbaijan is an important ally of the USA
with regards to the energy security, its fight against terrorism and
other issues, but does not receive much in reply. However, I think
that officials and large part of the Azerbaijani society accept the
importance of partnership with the USA and will not allow the
Resolution to bring harm to relations between Baku and Washington,"
Baran said.

Azerbaijan recently appealed to the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna to
know the procedures of appointing and recalling the co-chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group. The local media sources report that it is
caused by the dissatisfaction of the Azerbaijani Government with the
issue that the co-chairman countries (the USA, France and Russia)
voted against the adoption of the Resolution on the Situation in
Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan during the session of the UN
General Assembly on 14 March.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia
has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Since
1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian
occupation. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire
agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are holding
peaceful negotiations.