Author: Hovhannisian John

GEORGIAN OPPOSITION TO DISCUSS ITS FUTURE PLANS

16:51 10/04/2009
Source: Panorama.am

Currently the leaders of our opposition are holding a discussion, and
as soon as it is finished we’ll start moving towards the Georgian
Parliament,’ Khatuna Ivanishvili, the press secretary of the President
of the `Democratic Movement-United Georgia’ party Nino Burjanadze told
Panorama.am. Note that the Georgian opposition yesterday gave time to
the President of the country to announce about his resignation.

According to the press secretary if the President does not give
resignation the leaders of the opposition will announce about their
future plans. The press secretary told that during the meeting the
demonstrators were not attacked, but late at night some young people
were attacked and taken away in cars.

"HAK WILL ENJOY A CRUSHING VICTORY"

A1+
07:55 pm | April 10, 2009

Politics

"Levon Ter-Petrosyan will surely enjoy a crushing victory provided
that a free and fair mayoral election is held in Yerevan," says Levon
Zurabyan, Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress (HAK).

Mr. Zurabyan says Levon Ter-Petrosyan already has 70-75 percent of
votes although Gagik Beglaryan’s nomination by the Republican Party
(HHK) arouses doubts over the fair conduct of the election. Beglaryan’s
nomination conveyed a distinct message pursuing criminal goals. It
suggested that all administrative resources will be employed. If the
authorities longed for equal competitive conditions, they wouldn’t
name Gagik Beglaryan as Yerevan’s Mayor.

The HAK possesses verified information that in comparison with the
February 19 Presidential election, 8 000 additional people have been
added to the electoral lists of the May 31 election.

The HAK has already asked the Central Election Commission for the
final list. "We are going to check it to predict the volume of election
rigging by the authorities."

"The authorities realise that the wave of protest will hot up if
they continue straining the social situation in the country," Levon
Zurabyan said regarding the recent violations upon the participants
of political walks in Northern Avenue.

"They consider the walks as a serious threat. Since the authorities
don’t enjoy public confidence, they do their utmost to suppress all
protests just from the very start."

Anyway, the HAK Coordinator says the Congress is ready to enter a
dialogue with the authorities. "Finally, the fate of the Armenian
people is put at stake. We don’t want any bloodshed or confrontation
in the country."

"So far no dialogue has taken place between the opposition and
authorities for a simply reason. A dialogue implies the agreement of
both sides. If the opponent doesn’t seek a dialogue, he must conclude
a truce in the war unleashed by him and stop the chase of people. In
other words, he must free the political prisoners."

TEWKSBURY STUDENTS STUDY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Albert S. Movsesian

sbury-students-study-armenian-genocide/
on April 9, 2009

TEWKSBURY, Mass.-Efforts to introduce an Armenian Genocide curriculum
throughout high schools north of Boston is gaining momentum with
the lectures and discussions held at Haverhill, North Andover and
Wilmington High Schools, and Hovig Donabedian’s success at Westborough
high school.

The latest school to take part is Tewksbury High School, where the
faculty has developed a Global Awareness Program. This month-long study
is intended to heighten the students’ awareness of global crisis,
economics, politics, environmental issues, history, current events,
the state of our world, our globe, our international, national and
local issues. It is intended to help children realize there is so
much more happening in the world that affects them and that they,
in turn, can affect.

On March 19 and 26, Tewksbury sophomores, juniors, and seniors
attended lectures and discussions on the Armenian Genocide. On March
19, Dro Kanayan, Albert Movsesian, and Tom Vartabedian lectured to
approximately 120 students on Armenian issues from the genocide to
history, geography, the Armenian community in America and Armenian
contributions to world civilization.

On March 26, another 150 students from the sophomores, juniors, and
senior class students attended a lecture by Professor Levon Chorbajian,
a professor of sociology at UMass Lowell, and Sayon Souen of the Light
of the Cambodian Children, Inc. of Lowell, to discuss the history of
their genocides, and help students understand the long term effects
genocide can have on the civilization.

Professor Chorbajian spoke about the history of the Armenian genocide
and how the lack of recognition led to the continuation of the other
genocides throughout the 20 and 21 centuries.

Sayon Souen spoke to the students on the Cambodian genocide of the
1970’s and how he was treated when he was taken from his family, and
the psychological effects of what the Cambodian government’s actions.

Tewksbury is interested in continuing to develop a specialized section
on the Armenian Genocide within their Global Awareness Month, and is
interested in speaking with Facing History and Ourselves regarding
their genocide curriculum and how it can be used within Tewksbury’s
framework.

Planting the seed are members of the Armenian Genocide Curriculum
Committee of Merrimack Valley, headed by Dro Kanayan, who laid out
the groundwork at the schools.

Twelve other high schools in the area have been contacted by
letter. Programs have already been initiated in North Andover,
Haverhill, and Wilmington with return engagements planned.

"It is very important that the non-Armenian community understands the
effects of these crimes against humanity, to help prevent them from
happening in the future." said Kanayan, the grandson of famed Armenian
freedom fighter General Dro. "We will continue to work with our school
districts to develop an educational program on the Armenian Genocide."

The newly formed curriculum committee has the support and endorsement
of area churches and organizations, including Armenian legislators
and noted educators.

DON’T INSULT A FRIEND TO FEEL GOOD
Robert J. Reagan Dallas

Wall Street Journal
9.html
April 8 2009

In response to Rep. Adam Schiff’s advocacy of a Congressional
resolution "recognizing" the so-called Armenian genocide, "for the
precious few victims still with us" ("Time to Recognize the Armenian
Genocide," op-ed, April 4): It is arguable that the dependent children
of Armenians murdered during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire —
the youngest of whom are now octogenarians — are indeed victims of
those atrocities. But how would that recognition now help them? Or
how could it be an effective rebuke to the perpetrators?

What is next? A resolution decrying the Harrying of the North by the
Normans under William the Conqueror to mollify the descendants of
English Geordies?

The present government and ruling institutions in Turkey are unrelated
to the former Ottoman sultan and his coterie, the perpetrators of the
crimes complained of. Those despots were deposed by secular republicans
and have been gone for nearly nine decades. Since then, the Turks
have been, or have wanted to be, the West’s friend. Turkey was one of
the early members of NATO, and amazingly still believes it is in its
interest to continue its membership. It is one of the few real friends
that the U.S. has had among predominately Muslim nations. Passing
Rep. Schiff’s resolution would harm that relationship as well as our
other Middle Eastern interests without any commensurate benefit.

CHAKHALYAN SENTENCED 10 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT

Panorama.am
12:00 08/04/2009

On 6-7 April the court hearing of Georgian Armenian, political
activist and the leader of "United Djavakhq" political movement
Vahagn Chakhalyan, his father Ruben Chakhalyan and his brother Armen
Chakhalyan took place in Akhaltskha region. On 6 April the prosecutor
Irakly Bardzimadze maid his indictment and demanded to sentence
Vahagn Chakhalyan 14 years imprisonment and to fine him for 18000 lari
(10650 USD), Ruben Chakhalyan – 4 years of imprisonment and 6000 lari
(3550 USD) fine, and Armen Chakhalyan – 3 years of imprisonment and
3000 Lari (1750USD) fine. On 7 April after Vahagn Chakhalyan made
his final speech, the court sentenced him 10 years imprisonment,
his father has been fined 300USD and Armen Chakhalyan has been fined
1200 USD. Chakhalyans are intended to apply to the European Court of
Human Rights.

BARACK OBAMA: TURKEY MUST RECKON WITH ITS PAST

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2009 21:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Human endeavor is by its nature imperfect. History,
unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Each country must work through its
past. And reckoning with the past can help us seize a better future. I
know there are strong views in this chamber about the terrible events
of 1915. While there has been a good deal of commentary about my views,
this is really about how the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the
past. And the best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people
is a process that works through the past in a way that is honest,
open and constructive.

We have already seen historic and courageous steps taken by Turkish
and Armenian leaders. These contacts hold out the promise of a new
day. An open border would return the Turkish and Armenian people to
a peaceful and prosperous coexistence that would serve both of your
nations. That is why the United States strongly supports the full
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.

It speaks to Turkey’s leadership that you are poised to be the only
country in the region to have normal and peaceful relations with
all the South Caucasus nations. And to advance that peace, you can
play a constructive role in helping to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, which has continued for far too long," Today’s Zaman cited
Barack Obama as saying.

NATO SUPPORTS EFFORTS AIMED AT PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS AND MOLDOVA

ArmInfo
2009-04-06 11:02:00

ArmInfo. NATO supports the efforts aimed at peaceful settlement
of conflicts in the South Caucasus and Moldova, the final document
adopted upon the results of NATO summit in Strasbourg, says.

As NATO press service reports, the document says: "We remain
concerned with the persistence of protracted regional conflicts in
the South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova. It is essential for
all parties in these regions to engage constructively in peaceful
conflict resolution. We call on them all to avoid steps that undermine
regional security and stability, and to respect the current negotiation
formats. We continue to support the territorial integrity, independence
and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of
Moldova, and will also continue to support efforts towards a peaceful
settlement of these regional conflicts, taking into account these
principles. We welcome OSCE efforts and processes in these regions,
to which the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform could be a
useful complement".

Moreover, new Secretary General has been elected at the summit –
Prime Minister of Denmark , Anders Fogh Rasmussen. His candidacy has
been supported by the USA and the leading west-European countries,
while Turkey argued against his election because of his stance during
the scandal with publication of the prophet Mohammed caricatures in
the Danish newspaper.

During the hours-long working meeting of the summit, the heads of
NATO states succeeded to persuade President of Turkey Abdullah Gul
to agree with the candidacy of Anders Fogh Rasmussen. To note, the
powers of the present NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
expire on July 31, 2009.

Iranian Students News Agency ISNA, Iran
April 4 2009

Iran, Armenia to build joint railway

ISNA – Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran and Armenia have inked a Memorandum of Understanding to
build a direct railway between the two countries to increase the
volume of economic cooperation.

Armenian Transportation and Communications Minister Gurgen Sagsyan and
Iran’s Road and transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani
signed the MoU in Yerevan.

Most of the 470-kilometer railway lays in Armenia.

The project takes 5 years to be operated and costs 1.2 billion
dollars.

The final agreement of the venture will be stroke during Armenian
President Serge Sarkisian’s next visit to Tehran.

ARMENIAN SPECIAL SERVICES MOST ACTIVE IN AZERBAIJAN – AZERI NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTRY CHIEF

Interfax
March 2 2009
Russia

Armenian special services are the most active among other ones in
Azerbaijan, Eldar Mahmudov, the head of the Azeri National Security
Ministry said in an interview with Interfax.

"Azerbaijan’s increasing geopolitical significance is drawing gradually
higher attention from the international community, including foreign
special services. Armenian special services are acting against
Azerbaijan more aggressively than any others now," Mahmudov said.

Mahmudov cited as an example the recent exposure of Georgian citizen
of Azeri origin Ariz Khalilov’s spying activities in Azerbaijan.

He said Khalilov was recruited by Armenian special services to spy in
Azerbaijan and Georgia and pursue terrorist activities in Azerbaijan.

"Along with other missions, he was instructed to gather information on
major energy infrastructural facilities, such as the Baku oil refinery
and the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, the transportation network facilities,
such as the airport, subway, and intercity buses connecting Baku and
Georgia, and large markets and also find a proper place for planting
explosives," Mahmudov said.

Azerbaijan gives top priority to the threats of separatism and
terrorism emanating from Armenia, he said.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT ISTANBUL ON APRIL 6-7 TO TAKE PART IN ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS FORUM

Noyan Tapan
Apr 3, 2009

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
will visit Istanbul on April 6-7 to take part in the Alliance of
Civilizations second forum held under the patronage of UN.

According to the report of the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, high-ranking representatives of thirty states,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers will take part in
the forum to be held in Istanbul.

The goal of the Alliance of Civilizations forum is to develop
intercultural mutual understanding and partnership. The first forum
was held in 2008 January in Madrid.