Author: Hovhannisian John

INTERVIEW: AHMET DAVUTOGLU

Al-Jazeera
/focus/2009/10/2009102613216408323.html
Oct 26 2009
Qatar

In this episode of Talk to Jazeera, Al Jazeera’s Sami Zeidan talks
to Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, about Ankara’s
re-energised foreign policy.

Davutoglu explains that Turkey’s increased diplomatic activity in
those areas where it believes it has "special responsibilities"
is aimed at establishing a new order "based on the understanding of
common security for all, political dialogue to resolve questions and
conflicts, economic interdependency … and multicultural co-existence
and harmony".

He goes on to discuss his country’s relations with Israel, Iran and
Armenia and Ankara’s wish for a nuclear-free Middle East.

This episode of Talk to Jazeera aired from Monday, October 26.

BILDT: YEREVAN, ANKARA SHOULD RESPECT AGREEMENTS THEY ACHIEVED

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.10.2009 13:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbanidan met with
EU Foreign Policy and Security Chief Javier Solana on the sidelines
of 10th meeting of the EU-Armenia coordination council.

The talks were followed by a press conference of Armenian, Azerbaijani,
Georgian and Swedish top diplomats and European Neighborhood Policy
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt assessed highly the progress fixed
in EU-Armenia relations and emphasized that the European Union hails
signature of Armenia-Turkey protocols. He voiced hope for soonest
ratification of the protocols, RA MFA press office reported.

ARMENIA ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO CREATION OF PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION FORMAT WITHIN FRAMES OF EU EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

ArmInfo
2009-10-26 14:10:00

ArmInfo. Chairwoman of the Standing Parliamentary Commission on
European Integration Naira Zohrabyan took part in the parliamentary
format summit of the Eastern partnership programme held in Stockholm
on October 19-22.

As the parliamentary press service reports, 6 member-states of the
Eastern Partnership took part in the summit, during which the parties
presented their proposals on how they imagine the format of EuroNest
parliamentary cooperation which may serve a serious stimulus for
implementation of the main platforms of this programme and solution
of the issues of political association and economic integration.

N. Zohrabyan introduced the Armenian party’s proposals and said Armenia
attaches importance to creation of a parliamentary cooperation format
within the frames of this initiative. Having touched on the issue of
cooperation among the programmes’ member- states, N.

Zohrabyan addressed the policy followed by Azerbaijan, which creates
essential obstacles for solution of high-priority problems of the
Eastern partnership. Speaking of the Armenian party’s approaches to
EuroNest format, N. Zohrabyan emphasized that it will be unacceptable
for Armenia if Azerbaijan tries to turn the European Partnership
parliamentary cooperation format into a forum of conflict solution.

She added that such a policy of Azerbaijan will lead implementation
of such an important initiative into deadlock.

In response to the Azerbaijani parliament representative’s speech,
where the latter disseminated a false disinformation concerning Nagorno
Karabakh, N. Zohrabyan applied to the summit Chairman Goran Lenmarker
with a written statement having paid the attention of EU countries
and members of the European Partnership to the non- constructive way
of action and behaviour of Azerbaijan.

A decision was made upon the results of the summit to settle the
technical and substantial issues, related to EuroNest organization,
in a possible reasonable time.

During the visit, N. Zohrabyan also met representatives of the Armenian
community of Sweden and the Swedish parliamentarians.

CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS OPENING SOON: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE ADMISSION WHILE YOU CAN

Tert
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

On the evening of November 7, the fireworks display from the Cascade
monument in Yerevan will mark the opening of the Cafesjian Center for
the Arts, the official ceremony of which will take place on November 8.

On November 8, a free-admission day open to the public, attendees are
invited to view the center’s private collection of contemporary glass
and art, including a glass sculpture by two of the most prestigious
glass artists of the 20th century, Libensky Brychtova. Czech artist
Jaroslava Brychtova will make a rare, personal appearance at the
opening of the "For Armenia" exhibit. Prior to the opening reception,
Jaroslava Brychtova will be available for a book signing session.

Also on the opening day (and for a general public entrance fee of
10,000 AMD), the Cafesjian Center will offer an intimate conversation
and photo exhibit by John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia Lennon, and
George Harrison’s first wife, Pattie Boyd. Cynthia Lennon and Pattie
Boyd will have separate book signing sessions later the same day.

At 7 pm on November 8, the center will host New York Times Lead Art
Critic Michael Kimmelman, who will give a lecture. The entrance fee
for the general public for this event is 2,000 AMD.

Other grand opening highlights include the special Arshile Gorky
collection, the newly unveiled Cafesjian Sculpture Garden, and a
re-dedication of the Khanjyan Triptych.

"SUNCHILD" 2-ND INTERNATIONAL ECO-FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 25-29

armradio.am
24.10.2009 14:25

A massive Carnival-procession will declare the starting point of the
"Sunchild" 2-nd International Eco-Festival to be held in Yerevan
from October 25 to 29. More than five hundred young people dressed
in animal-shaped clothing and wearing masks are going to inspire
people passing by to join the various Eco-events, which are going to
take place.

Carnival-procession’s starting point will be the Matenadaran and it
will be completed in front of the Moscow Cinema. Musicians and circus
acrobats will accompany the participants with slogans for Environment.

Musical bands and polyethylene sculptures of Armenian endemic,
extinguishing animal kinds will be waiting for them.

The purpose of the Carnival-procession is to raise the issue of Animal
right protection, to remind the society that they are responsible
for the environment in which they live.

International Conservation has included Armenia in the list of richest
living kinds and one of the most dangerous 34 hot points of Earth. The
geographic position and the relief of Armenia were advantageous for
having rich living kinds and endemic animals. In the Rebublic’s Fauna
535 kinds of vertebrates are included, 99 of which are listed in the
Red Book and the 339 are endemic.

ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOL – BEGINNING OF COLLAPSE IN BROTHERHOOD OF TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN: OPPOSITION MP

Trend
Oct 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Signing the protocol on the normalization of relations between Turkey
and Armenia is the beginning of the collapse of brotherhood between
Turkey and Azerbaijan, said Shenol Bal, MP from the Nationalist
Movement Party, TRT 3 television channel reported.

She also said that Turkey will further see the consequences of signing
this protocol with Armenia.

On Oct. 21, the Turkish Parliament began discussions over the
Armenian-Turkish protocol.

During the speech by the MP from the ruling Justice and Development
Party of Turkey Omer Chelik, MPs from the opposition left the meeting
hall of Parliament as protest, TRT 3 television channel reported.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the protocols Ankara-Yerevan in Zurich on October 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

DELEGATION OF SOCHI PAYS VISIT TO ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN
OCTOBER 22, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. A delegation headed by Chairman
of the Sochi city duma (council) Valery Podpomogov has arrived in
Yerevan to participate in PanArmenia Expo 2009.

It was stated during the meeting at the Yerevan Municipality that
the exhibition is a means of fostering the economic cooperation which
has a solid legal basis, the press service of Municipality reported.

Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian and Valery Podpomogov clarified the
agenda of cooperation at the meeting. G. Beglarian considered Sochi’s
city governance experience efficient, meaning the similarity in
everyday life and mentality of the Armenian and Russian peoples.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: UNLIKE SOME OF THE REGION’S STATES, WE HAVE EFFICIENT ARMED FORCES

ArmInfo
2009-10-22 19:00:00

ArmInfo. Unlike some of the region’s states, we have efficient armed
forces, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview
given to the Public Television of Artsakh during his two-day visit
to Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

"I can’t imagine how one can speak about the efficiency of army and the
fighting spirit of soldiers while sitting in his office. I attach high
importance to regular visits to military units and combat positions,"
Sargsyan said.

He said that the state and the moral-psychological atmosphere of the
military units shows that our army can effectively execute its mission.

CANADIAN MAGAZINE QUESTIONS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.10.2009 12:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ten days after signing of Armenia-Turkey protocols,
Canada-based Embassy magazine published an article where the author
questioned the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

To comment on the article, Ara Papian, Head of the Modus Vivendi
Center issued a statement, which reads:

"Apologists for the Armenia-Turkey protocols denied all the warnings
that there would be negative effects on the Armenian Genocide
recognition process, while I, along with many others, foresaw that
negative consequences would manifest themselves even in those countries
that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Unfortunately, that turned out to be the case. Example:

Canada is one of those few countries where both the parliament (in
2002 and 2004), as well as the cabinet (in 2006) have recognized
the Armenian Genocide. Consequently, since 2004, no self-respecting
member of the media would ever publish or broadcast any article or
program denying the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, when, in February
of 2006, as a reaction to my mentioning the Armenian Genocide as
part of a farewell interview to the influential Embassy magazine,
the ambassadors of Turkey and Azerbaijan complained, the editor of
that periodical responded, without any intervention on my part, that,
"the fact of the genocide cannot be disputed, as it is not subject
to any doubts". Clear and precise.

And what do we have now? Only ten days after signing the protocols,
the very same Embassy magazine (on the 21st of October, 2009) published
an article by Gwynne Dyer, where it is said that, "the Armenians back
home have made a deal … [which] create a joint historical commission
to determine what actually happened in 1915".

The author’s concluding remarks of the article state that, "It was not
a genocide…" And this in Canada, which has recognized the Armenian
Genocide. As people on the streets say, we have messed with Canada,
and she will not forgive us. People don’t forgive those who mess
around with them, even in international relations.

And now for yet another prediction. After the protocols get ratified
(God forbid), it would mean legally doubting the Armenian Genocide
(please save your arguments for the Canadian courts), upon which the
Canadian courts will be filled with applications against the prior
governmental declarations for having "insulted honor and dignity",
seeing as we have insulted the Turkish state – and, of course,
Canadian citizens of Turkish descent – in a yet-to-be-proven crime
(genocide), subject to discussion by some sub-commission.

Since the Canadian court system provides for monetary compensation
with regards to moral damages, I would therefore like to call for an
extra line in next year’s state budget of the Republic of Armenia,
of a few hundred million dollars (nothing less), to pay for moral
damages. Ultimately, we are the ones who are going to billed for
these complaints."

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 16-22, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: REFLECTING THE PUBLIC OPINION ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH
RELATIONS IN MEDIA

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON BROADCASTING DIGITALIZATION

LITIGATION ON CASE OF NIKOL PASHINIAN STARTED

SUIT OF "GIND" PRINTING HOUSE VERSUS FOUNDER OF "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN"
NEWSPAPER

BURGLARY OF PANORAMA.AM EQUIPMENT DISCLOSED

RSF INDEX: PRESS FREEDOM MUST BE DEFENDED EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD

"AZDARAR"-2009 AWARDS CONFERRED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: REFLECTING THE PUBLIC OPINION ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH
RELATIONS IN MEDIA

On October 20, 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. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were Aram Abrahamian, Chief Editor of "Aravot"
daily, and Vahan Asatrian, expert of International Centre for Human
Development. The discussion centered on the issue of reflecting the public
opinion on Armenian-Turkish reconciliation in media.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on October 27, at
21.15.

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON BROADCASTING DIGITALIZATION

On October 22 hearings on "The Broadcasting Digitalization Process and the
Consequences of Its Implementation in Armenia" were held at RA National
Assembly. Nerses Eritsian, RA Minister of Economy, presented the strategy of
the digital broadcast implementation. CoE expert James Briggs’ report was
upon the practice of digitalization and solution of real-world problems in
other countries. Another CoE expert, Alec Thomas, spoke about the
utilization of the UHF spectrum in the Republic of Armenia. The final
presentation on ensuring pluralism and control in terms of broadcast
digitalization was presented by Grigor Amalian, Chairman of RA National
Commission on Television and Radio. None of the core questions raised by the
parliamentary hearings participants got an accurate response. For details
see the next issues of YPC Weekly Newsletter.

LITIGATION ON CASE OF NIKOL PASHINIAN STARTED

On October 20 court of general jurisdiction of Shengavit community of
Yerevan started litigation on the case of Nikol Pashinian, Chief Editor of
"Haykakan Zhamanak" daily. Nikol Pashinian is charged with Part 1 of Article
225 ("Mass riots") and Part 1 of Article 316 ("Violence against a
representative of power") of RA Criminal Code. As it has been reported,
Nikol Pashinian was announced wanted within the criminal proceedings,
instituted on the events of March 1, 2008 in Yerevan. On July 1, 2009 he
voluntarily surrendered to RA Prosecutor’s Office. "Haykakan Zhamanak" Chief
Editor received a preventive punishment of arrest (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, September 3-10, 2009).

At the court sessions of October 20, 21, 22 lawyers of Nikol Pashinian made
several petitions, including challenging the judge and one of the public
prosecutors. All the petitions were turn down. The next session will take
place on October 26.

SUIT OF "GIND" PRINTING HOUSE VERSUS FOUNDER OF "CHORRORD ISHKHANUTIUN"
NEWSPAPER

On October 19 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan started hearing the case on suit of "Gind" printing
house versus "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper founder, "Ogostos" LLC. The
plaintiff demands to oblige "Ogostos" to pay off the debt for printing costs
in the amount of 2 million AMD (about $ 5,200). As Shogher Matevosian, Chief
Editor of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun", informed YPC, the newspaper founder is
not indebted to the printing house, all the expenses are covered on the
ground of the contract. According to Shogher Matevosian, the conflict
between "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" and "Gind" arose because of financial
disagreements. Since September 2009, the newspaper is being published at
"Mer Tparan" printing house.

On the session of October 19 the plaintiff made two petitions: to involve
publisher of "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun", "Trespassers W." LLC, as a third party
of the case, and to ban the newspaper’s issue. Both of the petitions were
secured.

Meanwhile, "Chorrord Ishkhanutiun" newspaper continues to be published in
the same frequency.

BURGLARY OF PANORAMA.AM EQUIPMENT DISCLOSED

According to the statement of press service of RA Police, Erebuni Police
Department disclosed the case of burglary at the office of Panorama.am news
portal, made in the morning of May 16, 2008. As it has been reported, as a
result of the burglary, Panorama.am lost its office equipment, including the
processor storing the editorial archives, as well as the money held at the
office. On July 16, 2008 the investigation of the case was suspended, as the
offenders were not identified (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 11-18, 2008).

On October 19 three young men were booked by the Police and plead guilty in
the robbery, press release of RA Police states. The fourth participant of
the crime is being retrieved by the law enforcement bodies.

RSF INDEX: PRESS FREEDOM MUST BE DEFENDED EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD

On October 20 "Reporters without Borders"(RSF) international organization
released its eighth annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The study was
conducted in 175 countries and based on events between September 1, 2008 and
September 1, 2009. RSF index was compiled by surveying 15 partner
organizations and 130 correspondents of RSF, as well as journalists,
researchers, lawyers and human rights activists. The respondents were
assessing the press freedom in each country with a questionnaire compiled by
RSF and including 40 criteria: ranging from various forms of pressure on
journalists and media to legislative restrictions, the behavior of
authorities towards the state-owned media and foreign press. Attention was
also given to the degree of impunity enjoyed by those responsible for press
freedom violations.

Press freedom must be defended everywhere in the world with the same energy
and the same insistence. That is the main conclusion drawn from "Reporters
without Borders" study. The organization was particularly concerned with the
state of press freedom in Europe. Even if the first 13 places are still held
by European countries (the first line is shared by Denmark, Finland,
Ireland, Norway and Sweden), year by year others such as France (43),
Slovakia (44-46) and Italy (49) continue their descent. At the same time the
"Reporters without Borders" emphasize the sharp rise of the state of press
in the USA (20-22). The USA has climbed on the 20th line, comparing to last
year, thanks to the US President Barak Obama effect. RSF also draws
attention on the deterioration of the situation in Iran (172), reaching the
gates of the infernal trio at the very bottom of the list – Turkmenistan
(173), North Korea (174) and Eritrea (175).

Of the former USSR countries the most benign is the situation in Estonia
(6), Lithuania (10) and Latvia (13-15). At a significant distance these are
followed by Georgia (81), Ukraine (89-90), Armenia (111), Tajikistan (113),
Moldova (114), Kyrgyzstan (125), Kazakhstan (142), Azerbaijan (146), Belarus
(151), Russia (153), Uzbekistan (160).

RSF study stresses drastic improvement of the situation in Georgia, who
leaped 39 positions, as compared to last year. Armenia’s ranking, going down
by 9 ranks comparing with the previous study, continues to decline. RSF
conditions this by several cases of physical violence against journalists
and political tension that continued to affect the media and society.

"AZDARAR"-2009 AWARDS CONFERRED

On October 16 at the Journalists Union of Armenia "Azdarar" award ceremony
for 2009 was held. The award, dedicated to the Armenian Press Day, was
established in 2004 by the Journalists Union of Armenia and members of the
"Gold Pen" JUA Awardee Club.

"Azdarar"-2009 was conferred to: "Aravot" daily; "Hayrenik" TV company;
"LyunSe" youth program of Public Radio of Armenia; Samvel Mikoyan, Chief
Editor of "Loru Marz" Vanadzor newspaper; photojournalist Martin Shahbazian;
Harut Sassounian, publisher and Chief Editor of "California Courier" weekly
(USA).

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

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN

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Yerevan Press Club

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0002, Yerevan, Armenia

Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62

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