Author: Hunanian Jack

END OF ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO "MATAGHIS" CASE ANNOUNCED

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The Military Prosecutor’s Office
conducting an additional investigation into the "Mataghis" case has
announced the end of the investigation: the case lawyers are
familiarizing themselves with the case materials, NT correspondent was
informed by defence lawyer Hayk Alumian. The defence lawyers shall
familiarize themselves with 24 volumes of the case within 50 days,
after which they will express their position on the additional
investigation conducted into the case.

To recap, Razmik Sargsian, Musa Serobian and Arayik Zalian are accused
of killing two co-servicemen on December 24, 2003. The Syunik regional
court of first instance sentenced them to 15 years’ imprisonment, while
the Court on Criminal and Military Cases – to life imprisonment. The
Chamber of Criminal and Military Cases of the Cassation Court granted
the petition of the aggrieved party to conduct an additional
investigation.

‘HISTORIC’ WORLD CHRISTIAN FORUM ISSUES CALL FOR DIALOGUE
Fredrick Nzwili

ENI
9 November 2007 | 07-0871 |

Hubert Van Beek at the close of the Global Christian Forum.

Nairobi (ENI). Leaders meeting in Kenya belonging to all main Christian
traditions, and from countries ranging from Armenia to Zimbabwe,
have pledged to convene international, local and regional meetings
to deepen reconciliation and understanding.

"Recognising that unity is first and foremost God’s gift through the
work of the Holy Spirit, our commitment is to press on in promoting
ever greater understanding and cooperation among Christians, while
respecting the diversity of our identities, traditions and individual
gifts," the leaders said in a statement issued at the end of the 6-9
November meeting.

The gathering, called the Global Christian Forum, brought together
about 240 leaders from Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Roman Catholic,
Evangelical, Pentecostal and other churches, and international
organizations

"This is an historic event for world Christianity," said Roman Catholic
Archbishop Fernando Capalla from Davao in the Philippines.

The forum idea was originally proposed in the mid-1990s by the
Rev. Konrad Raiser, a German theologian who was then general secretary
of the World Council of Churches.

He suggested a forum could reach out to Roman Catholic, Pentecostal
and Evangelical churches that do not belong to the Geneva-based WCC
grouping, whose 347 member churches are drawn predominantly from
Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox traditions.

The WCC said the forum at Limuru near Nairobi brought together the
broadest range of Christian traditions ever gathered at a global
meeting.

"I think the expectations have been met. We have a set of good
proposals to go into the future," Hubert Van Beek, the main organizer
of the meeting, told Ecumenical News International on 9 November at
the conclusion of the event.

Still, he acknowledged areas where more discussion was needed between
the various Christian traditions.

Some adherents of Pentecostalism, and others within Evangelical
Christianity, have come in for criticism by other Christians and
members of other religions for engaging in proselytising, Van Beek
noted.

"That is something you cannot solve in one meeting. We need to do
more work," he said.

The general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, the
Rev. Ishmael Noko, told ENI that participants had agreed to continue
the process as a forum with a small structure.

"I had been concerned when I came here that there could be perceptions
that the forum is intended to replace the existing ecumenical
structures," he explained.

The forum, Noko said, would be a place where members of different
traditions could engage in dialogue to promote understanding.

In an interview, the Rev. Setri Nyomi, the general secretary of the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches, said the dialogue at the Kenya
meeting would have failed if it were not followed up at a regional
and local level.

"We have been able to see that we live in global realities and are
global Christians. We are speaking about globalised Christianity,"
said Bishop Nareg Alemezian of the Armenian Apostolic Church from
Lebanon. "We are responsible for taking this spirit with us to our
churches."

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF LYON

Noyan Tapan
Nov 8, 2007

LYON, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. NKR President Bako Sahakian, who is in
France for the purpose of taking part in organization activities of
the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s telethon, met with Archbishop Norvan
Zakarian, the leader of the French Armenian Diocese, on November 7
in Lyon. The interlocutors touched upon Armenian community’s life,
as well as the role of the church in the issue of Armenian people’s
moral-psychological education.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the General Information Department under
the NKR President, the same day Bako Sahakian met with representatives
of the Armenian community of Lyon. The NKR President introduced
Artsakh’s socio-economic situation, domestic and foreign political
problems to those present.

TURKEY SET TO AMEND ARTICLE 301

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.11.2007 12:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish government says it will change the
controversial article 301 restricting freedom of expression. Justice
Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before the
Turkish parliament in the coming days.

The law being reviewed, Article 301, bans perceived insults to Turkish
identity or the country’s institutions.

It has often been invoked by nationalists against those who argue
the Ottoman Empire committed Genocide against Armenians.

"Several drafts have been prepared in line with proposals by civic
groups. The cabinet will discuss them at first opportunity, select
one and submit it to parliament," Mr Sahin said.

He did not give details of how the law would be reformed.

Earlier on Tuesday the European Commission said restrictions on freedom
of expression were blocking Turkey’s progress towards EU membership.

"It is not acceptable that writers, journalists, academics and other
intellectuals… are prosecuted for simply expressing a critical but
completely non-violent opinion," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli
Rehn said.

"The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay,"
he added.

Nobel-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant
Dink were both prosecuted under the law for their comments on the
mass killings of Armenians.

Hrant Dink was shot dead outside his Istanbul office in January 2007
and his murder revived a debate about the law.

Many said his prosecution under Article 301 made him a target for
radical nationalists, BBC reports.

BAKU NEVER OBJECTED STEPANAKERT’S PARTICIPATION IN TALKS?

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2007 15:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Azerbaijan has never had negative attitude about
participation of the Armenian community on Karabakh in talks. We do
not say we don’t recognize citizens who rebelled against Azerbaijan,
event if these citizens are Armenians involved in separatism and
terror. We say let them join the talks but Armenia is an occupant and
should be recognized as such," said Zahid Orudj, member of the Azeri
delegation to PACE, after the Berlin conference on frozen conflicts.

The status of the Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh was determined
by the OSCE MG mandate 1992.

"According to the mandate, Azerbaijan and Armenia are conflicting sides
while the Azeri and Armenian communities are interested sides. Talks
in this format are possible. However, representation of Karabakhi
Armenians as a party to conflict is inadmissible," he said, Trend
reports

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian International Policy Research Group
P.O. Box 28179
Washington, DC 20038-9998 USA
Phone: (202) 623-8605, (202) 458-2589
Fax: (202) 478-0934
Web:

Yerevan Office
40 Baghramian Ave.
Yerevan, Armenia 375 019
Phone: (3741) 512-670
Fax: (3741) 512-679

Looking Forward: Global Competitiveness of the Armenian Economy

AIPRG Annual Conference
May 17-18, 2008, Washington, DC

The Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG) will hold its
Annual Conference on the economy of Armenia on May 17-18, 2008, at the
World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC.

After more than a decade of transition from planned to market-based
economy, Armenia undertook important reforms and experienced high
rates of economic growth in recent years. In order to sustain this
growth and ensure further economic development, the country will need
to design and implement second-generation reforms based on lessons
learned during this transition and aimed at: (i) solidifying the
achievements of the transition period; (ii) ensuring a fair and level
playing field for private sector development; (iii) choosing strategic
directions for the country’s export-oriented branches of the economy;
and (iv) laying foundations for future development by strengthening
institutions and modernizing social sectors, especially public
education.

Submitted papers may broadly address the following topics:

— Raising competitiveness of the Armenian private sector
— Trends in productivity and the impact of government policies
— Impact of exchange rate fluctuations on growth and exports
— The role of education and the challenges of modernizing the education sector
— Financial markets and institutions
— Market structure and competition
— Trade and developments in Telecom and Transportation
— Role of the Diaspora
— Role of science and technology in development
— Challenges of public sector governance in the new era
— Strategic sectors for the country’s future: export-oriented
manufacturing, IT, services, among others

Prospective authors should email their abstracts (outlining the main
directions of intended research, no longer than 1-2 pages) to
<[email protected]> by December 15, 2007. The Selection
Committee will notify authors of accepted abstracts by December 28,
2007. The deadline for drafts is April 1 and for completed papers is
April 28, 2008.

Selected papers will be considered for publication in the Armenian
Journal of Public Policy (AJPP). A grant covering travel expenses and
a small honorarium is available to a subset of papers accepted for
publication. Authors from Armenia are encouraged to apply. The
official language of the conference is English. For more information
on AIPRG please visit Any further questions
regarding the conference may be directed to
<[email protected]>.

TWO NEW PRIESTS ORDAINED IN THE IRAQI ARMENIAN DIOCESE
Ara S. Ashjian, an Iraqi Armenian settled in Yerevan, Armenia

KarabakhOpen
05-11-2007 15:39:03

Father Arakel and Father Avetik are the names of the newest priests of
the Iraqi Armenian Orthodox Church. The celebrant of the Divine Liturgy
and ordaining bishop was His Eminence Archbishop Avak Asadourian,
the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Iraq.

Father Arakel, 57, a pharmacist, and Father Avetik, 29, a chemist,
are the former deacons, Zohrab Kasparian and Nova Martirosian.

At the end of the sermon, His Eminence Archbishop Avak Asadourian
congratulated the newly ordained priests wishing them long and
prosperous years to serve in a better way our ancient Church and the
faithful put under their care.

Terry Davis: The fact that not president but Constitution is guarantee of judicial system’s independence has become most important provision of reformed Constitution of Armenia

arminfo
2007-11-05 14:54:00

ArmInfo. The provision, according to which not the president but the
Constitution and legislation are guarantee of the judicial system’s
independence, is the most important one of the Constitution reformed
in November, 2005, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry
Davis told students of the Yerevan State University.

He also emphasized that November, 2005, Constitutional reforms
included a number of provisions which allow to confirm the democracy
development bases.

In particular, the provisions about the parliament’s participation in
appointment of members of the National Commission on TV and Radio
(the process of selection and appointment of candidates should
be maximum open and transparent- Terry Davis), appointment of an
ombudsman by the parliament, separation of the power branches,
elimination of administrative arrests, enabling citizens to appeal
to the Constitutional Court, T. Davis said.

The Oregonian – OR
Nov 3 2007

Starved for recognition
Armenians wait anxiously as Congress considers labeling as genocide
the deaths of 1.5 million countrymen by the Turks

Saturday, November 03, 2007
NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES
The Oregonian Staff

Hunched at a table in a dim corner of Ararat, Portland’s Armenian
bakery, Albert Bedrosian peeks through a heavy halo of Marlboro
smoke. Tar stains the prickly gray whiskers at his mouth, and he holds
his cigarette with a hand callused by the building of successful
businesses.
Bedrosian is 80, an Armenian immigrant who pulled himself up by his
bootstraps. Yet, when he speaks, it’s of sad things. "I have six
grandchildren," Bedrosian says softly, in words drenched with an
accent. "But I never know what it is to call someone grandmother."
Neither age, nor prosperity, nor distance has erased the longing. For
family he never knew because they were killed by the Turks during the
World War I era. For an acknowledgement from his adopted country of a
genocide.
The longing intensified recently as a congressional committee debated
a resolution that recognizes the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians
around World War I by the Ottoman Turks as genocide. Bedrosian finds
himself fanatically watching and reading the news and then weighing
odds with his countrymen that the resolution will finally pass
Congress. It consumes the conversation at Ararat bakery.
"A whole generation was killed; we can’t ever, ever forget," Nelli
Grigorian tells the three men who munch on nazook, a sweet bread. They
sit in the bar of Grigorian’s bakery, which moonlights as a restaurant
and international disco. "So I feel in my heart it’s going to be the
right decision."
Albert Keuftedjian isn’t so sure. He loves this country, he says,
because it gave him freedom and opportunity. He voted for President
Bush. Now he feels betrayed by Bush’s decision not to support the
resolution because it could harm the relationship with Turkey, an Iraq
war ally.
"For him to come on TV and say it’s not the right time is very
disappointing," Keuftedjian says, pounding his open hand against the
table. "It is a sad point when the greatest nation in the world says
it’s not time. It’s time to ease the pain that we have."
Keuftedjian takes a sip of sweet, thick liquid from a tiny cup
embellished with a Grecian motif. They never call it Turkish coffee,
he points out; it’s Armenian coffee. The group of four laughs. But
brevity is fleeting. "Why now?" Rafael Saakyan voices the question in
many Armenians’ minds. "We’ve been fighting for this for 92 years."
Saakyan is just 26. His great-grandfather survived the annihilation of
his town by hiding under the bodies of his dead parents. It’s a
generational wound, Saakyan says, that won’t heal until the world
acknowledges the genocide.
One by one, they recount horrible family tales.
Keuftedjian, a 47-year-old business owner, says his great-grandparents
both died in the genocide. Grigorian is 48, came to the U.S. in 1991
and started the bakery before she even learned English. She stares
into the next room as she speaks of her grandparents’ deaths at the
hands of the Turks.
Bedrosian, his voice even and low, says both of his parents were
orphaned in the genocide. His mother watcher her own mother being
killed, he says, from between the mattresses where she was
hidden. Bedrosian grew up with no aunts, no uncles, no
grandparents. Who, he asks, can expect us to forget that this
happened?
"It’s an example for all humanity, for what is happening in Darfur and
all over the world," he says. "It is an example so that it doesn’t
happen again."
The old man stumps out his cigarette, shakes his head, then reaches
for another.

KOSACHEV: UNILATERAL PROCLAMATION OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE TO HAVE UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.11.2007 16:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence
will create undesirable three precedents.

First, the Helsinki Final Act, whish states that European borders
can’t be changed without consent of all sides concerned. Second,
Serbia loses a part of its territory," said Konstantin Kosachev,
chairman of the Russian State Duma committee on foreign policy.

It can become a problem for many EU states, which have Kosovo-like
autonomies: Scotland, Corsica or northern Cyprus, according to him.

"Consequences will be unpredictable. Kosovo’s secession conflicts with
UN 1244 resolution, which determines Serbia’s territory. Neither Moscow
nor Beijing will agree this move. We do not need an indispensable
solution by December 10," Kosachev said in an interview with
Handelsblatt.