Author: Hambardsumian Paul

EN ROUTE TO BAKU, US ENVOY IN YEREVAN SEES MORE PROGRESS IN KARABAKH TALKS

Asbarez
/2009_1
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

A top U.S. negotiator spoke of a "new phase" in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process after he and fellow mediators from France and Russia
held talks with Armenian leaders in Yerevan on Wednesday.

The three co-chairs of the OSCE’s Minsk Group met President Serzh
Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian at the start of
a new round of regional shuttle diplomacy aimed at speeding up an
Armenian-Azerbaijani framework agreement on Karabakh. They are due
to proceed to Stepanakert and Baku later this week.

As always, official Armenian sources gave few details of the
confidential talks. A short statement issued by the Armenian Foreign
Ministry late Tuesday said only that they focused on ways of narrowing
the conflicting parties’ differences over the basic principles of a
Karabakh settlement put forward by the mediators.

"Now I feel that we are moving to a new phase with a deeper, more
detailed discussion of the remaining elements of the basic principles
that need to be resolved," the group’s U.S. co-chair, Matthew Bryza,
told RFE/RL after follow-up talks on Wednesday with Nalbandian. "At
the end of the day, what we have to have is a mutual agreement on
a settlement based on the [OSCE’s] three core Helsinki Final Act
principles of territorial integrity, self-determination and non-use
of force."

"I hope that we can sustain this progress here and then in Baku
and Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in the next couple of days," said
Bryza. "There is quite a bit of momentum, and we need to capitalize
on it while we can." He confirmed that Sarkisian and Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliev plan to meet on May 7 on the sidelines of a
European Union summit in Prague.

Visiting Russia on Friday, Aliev expressed hope that the Karabakh
conflict will be settled "rather quickly." "The positions of the
sides recently became closer to a certain degree," he said. "Some
questions that previously seemed hard to solve have been agreed."

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

PRESS RELEASE

April 22, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
ON DISPLAY AT CAPITOL HILL OBSERVANCE

"It is long past the time for the United States to formally recognize
the Armenian Genocide. " — Speaker Nancy Pelosi

WASHINGTON, DC – Dozens of Democratic and Republican Members of
Congress joined this evening with over five hundred Armenian
Americans from across the United States in Capitol Hill’s historic
Cannon Caucus Room in a solemn remembrance devoted to U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in their remarks to the standing-room only
audience, both spoke forcefully of their personal commitment to
proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide.

"It is long past the time for the United States to formally
recognize the Armenian Genocide," noted Speaker Pelosi in her
remarks. She went on to spotlight the importance of grassroots
efforts against Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign of genocide
denial. "How far we can go with the resolution [H.Res.252] this
year depends on the outreach that each and everyone of us in this
room can do to win on the floor of the House. We can do any amount
of inside maneuvering in the Congress and Washington, but what is
important is the outside mobilization to bring to bear the voices
of people across America."

The Congressional Armenian Genocide observance was organized by the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, with Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL ) serving as Masters of
Ceremony. Opening prayers were offered by his Eminence Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern
United States as well as Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern United States.

Joining Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer in offering
remarks at the Armenian Genocide commemoration were Armenian
Genocide Resolution lead sponsors Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep.
George Radanovich (R-CA), House Members of Armenian descent Anna
Eshoo (D-CA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA), as well as Reps. Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA),
Dina Titus (D-NV) and Tim Walz (D-MN).

Members in attendance at the Observance also included Sen. Jack
Reed (D-RI), and Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Bob
Filner (D-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), James
Langevin (D-RI), Richard Neal (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ed Royce
(R-CA) and Diane Watson (D-CA).

The evening included powerful remarks about the consequences of
genocide by guest speaker Dr. Henry Theriault of Worcester State
University. Also offering remarks were Armenian Ambasador Tatul
Markarian and Permanent Representative of the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic to the U.S. Robert Avetisyan.

Video coverage of key remarks at the Armenian Genocide observance
will be posted to the ANCA Website –

The Armenian Genocide Resolution, introduced earlier this year by
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-
IL), calls on the U.S. President to properly recognize the Armenian
Genocide. It currently has over 100 cosponsors and has been
referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Howard
Berman (D-CA).

President Obama, as a Senator and a candidate for the Presidency,
spoke forcefully, clearly, and repeatedly in support of U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, frequently criticizing then-
President Bush for failing to properly characterize and commemorate
this crime while in the White House. He is expected to offer his
first April 24th statement, a White House tradition, this Friday.

Among President Obama’s past statements have been the following:

— "The Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal
opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact
supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. The facts
are undeniable."

— "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the
Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I
intend to be that President."

— "As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 & S.Res.106), and as President I
will recognize the Armenian Genocide"

MIKA SUSTAINS A DEFEAT

A1+
April 20, 2009

Yerevan’s Mika sustained the first defeat at the head of Ivo Shushak
during the Armenian football championship. The "oranges" lost to
Banants 2:3.

Mika missed the first goal at the third minute. Aram Voskanyan managed
to equal the score at the 55th minute.

The other two goals were kicked by Banants’ footballers Arsen
Balabekyan and Samvel Melkonyan. Aram Voskanyan kicked his second
goal at the 85th minute saving his team from a crushing defeat.

Champion "Pyunik" is in the lead after the first four rounds. The team
has kicked seven goals. Banants, Mika and Ulyses share the 2nd-4th
places with 9 points. Last year’s outsider Kilikia takes the fifth
place with six points.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee Professional Network
104 N Belmont St. Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Web:

ANC-PN Lecture Series:
Securing Your Financial Future

This economic downturn has affected all of us in one way or another.
Have you watched your house value plummet, your retirement plan shrink
and your investments disappear? Join us for a Town Hall discussion
hosted by the ANC-PN. Leading experts from the Financial, Tax,
Insurance and Real Estate industries will be present to address your
questions and concerns in an open forum.

Topics for discussion include:
How to navigate through these uncertain times
How to protect your assets against market volatility
Will your bank, financial firm or insurance company still be
there to help you guide to a secure future?

Thursday April 30th at 7:30PM on the 3rd floor of the ANC-PN building
located at:
104 N. Belmont, Glendale, CA 91205

Presented by Alex B. Chalekian of Chalekian Wealth Management

For more information, visit
Securities Offered through LPL Financial -Member FINRA/SIPC

Don’t forget to visit to take action now.
Urge President Obama to keep his campaign promises and properly
recognize the Genocide on April 24 and to take immediate action to
intervene in the Genocide taking place NOW in Darfur.
Visit now to join the "Fierce Urgency of
Now" campaign and forward the link to all your friends and family.

ARMENIA TO DELEGATE POLICE UNIT TO CIS MILITARY ALLIANCE

Interfax
April 15 2009
Russia

Yerevan, 15 April: The Armenian police will attach a unit from its
organized crime department to the Collective Operational Response
Forces [collective rapid reaction force] within the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO), Armenian police chief Alik Sargsyan said
at a press conference on Wednesday [15 April].

"A special unit from the Armenian police’s 6th main department will
be sent to the CSTO Collective Operational Response Forces. It has
been decided to send about 30 people now," Sargsyan said in response
to a question from Interfax.

Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said two Russian police
units would be attached to the CSTO collective forces.

"A hundred people will be delegated from OMON [special purpose
police unit] and 150 people from the special purpose police forces,"
Nurgaliyev said.

Yerevan hosted the first meeting between the CSTO interior ministers
on Wednesday. They discussed the establishment and functioning of the
CSTO Collective Operational Response Forces and interaction between
the interior ministries within the CSTO format.

ANDRANIK MIHRANYAN AWARDED A MEDAL OF HONOR

armradio.am
18.04.2009 14:16

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on awarding a Medal of
Honor to Andranik Mihranyan for his activity contributing to the
reinforcement and development of the Armenian-Russian friendly
relations, President’s Press Office reported.

SINGING MEN OF OKLAHOMA CHOIR TO HONOUR MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2009-04-17 16:57:00

On 18-25 April charitable concerts of Singing Men of Oklahoma (USA)
choir, dedicated to the 94th anniversary of Armenian genocide, will
be held in Armenia.

Director of the choir Bill Green said at today’s press-conference
it is a great honour for them to perform in Armenia. During the tour
they are going to sing a song dedicated to the memory of the victims
of the Armenian genocide, as well as four Armenian songs.

As the organizer of the tour Gretchen Brown added, it is not accidental
that the choir will perform at the threshold of 24 April, as in this
way the choir agreed to share the pain of the Armenian people. ‘This
is a step of love and peace’, – she said.

Singing Men of Oklahoma will give 6 free of charge concerts in Armenia

OSCE OFFICIAL URGES ARMENIA TO DECENTRALIZE POWER, SETTLE INFRASTRUCTURAL ISSUES

/ARKA/
April 17, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia can create clusters if it decentralizes power and establishes
systems with great autonomy, Head of OSCE Yerevan Office Sergey Kapinos
said today at a conference on the genesis and prospects of the global
financial crisis. He also urged Armenia to solve infrastructural
problems and reconstruct roads.

"Clusters are rather interesting and perspective, with OSCE being among
those who are making attempts to create clusters in regions. These
activities include searching support points in economy and creating
economic biosystems of symbiosis," Kapinos added.

He also stressed the role of growth corridors in boosting economic
rates, citing India’s example.

"Everything depends on how fast international transport corridors
open," Kapinos said.

Touching upon the impact of the global financial crisis on Armenia,
he pointed out two planes of the issue.

"The first plane includes tactical steps and prompt measures that
can help tackle the impact of the crisis. The second plane includes
long-range measures to restructure and modernize economy," the OSCE
official said, stressing the need for simultaneous activities.

"All we can say now is that prompt measures are being undertaken. We
may argue about their effectiveness. I personally think that the
real sector gets a selective su pport," he said, pointing out the
weak points of the policy.

Abel Aghanbekyan, academician from the Russian Academy of Sciences,
previously said Armenia could develop up to 11 economic clusters,
becoming an industrial country. According to his estimates, each of
these clusters can inject up to $3bln in the country’s GDP.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: MISAPPROPRIATIONS GROWING IN COMMUNITY LAND PRIVATIZATION PROCEDURES

ArmInfo
2009-04-16 16:33:00

‘Misappropriations have become a norm in community land privatization
procedures’, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the
government session Thursday.

‘Personal interests and not state budget replenishment is the
object of initiating privatization procedure. This phenomenon is
not characteristic to some regions. This problem is acute across the
country. One can hardly name a community having no such problem. This
means that the privatization procedure must be toughened’, the premier
said. He came out for setting up a working group of the ministries of
territorial administration, economy, finance and other governmental
departments to draft necessary legislative amendments.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 10-16, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ROLE OF MEDIA DURING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PROCESSES

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ROLE OF MEDIA DURING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PROCESSES

On Aril 11, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project, supported
by the Open Society Institute Human Rights and Governance Grants Program.
The guests of the program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian were Chief
Editor of "168 Zham" newspaper Satik Seiranian, Director of "Yerkir Media"
TV company David Hakobian, journalist Ruzan Khachatrian. The discussion was
centered on the role of media in the framework of social and political
processes in Armenia.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
April 18 at 17.25. This and the coming program issues will be dealing with
the elections of Yerevan Council of Elderly on May 31, 2009.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
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0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
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