Author: Hunanian Jack

TURKEY HALTS CONTROVERSIAL ARMENIA DOCUMENTARY DISTRIBUTION TO SCHOOLS

Hurriyet
sh/domestic/11038029.asp?gid=244
Feb 19 2009
Turkey

Turkey’s Education Ministry has halted the distribution of a
controversial documentary about the Armenian issue to all elementary
schools after its move incited fierce reactions among academics and
intellectuals. (UPDATED)

The ministry had distributed "Sarı Gelin — The True Face of the
Armenian Question," a documentary film developed by the General Staff,
to all schools around the country, requesting that all students see
the film and asked school directors return a "conclusive report"
to the related administration by Feb 29, 2009.

The ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the film was sent to
schools for the benefit of the teachers, not the students.

There was no directive suggesting watching of the documentary was
compulsory in schools, it added. "But some schools used the film
inappropriately," the statement said.

Academics have criticized the documentary for reflecting the official
ideology of the Turkish Republic on the 1915 incidents and undermining
the claims of an alleged Armenian "genocide".

Some 500 Armenians and intellectuals sent an open letter to the prime
minister protesting the ministry’s move, daily Radikal reported on
Wednesday. The letter requested the exemption of Armenian schools and
Armenian students, who attended classes with Turkish students, from
watching the documentary in order to "prevent them feeling guilty,
ashamed and excluded from the others".

TURKEY WATCHES CLOSELY U.S. POLICY ON ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2009 13:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. President Barack Obama has told Turkish
President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan he hopes to
strengthen ties with their country and expressed support for Turkey’s
growing relationship with Iraq, the White House said on Monday.

Obama spoke to the two men by phone earlier in the day.

"In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues,
including U.S. support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship,
the importance of cooperation in Middle East peace efforts, and the
U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," the White House said
in a statement.

Turkey has repeatedly attacked hideouts of Kurdish rebels in the
northern mountainous region of Iraq.

The White House said Obama emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Turkey
alliance and expressed his desire to work on a "broad agenda" of
mutual strategic interest.

"The President emphasized his desire to strengthen U.S.-Turkish
relations and to work together effectively in NATO," the statement
said, the IHT reports.

Meanwhile, the statement issued by the Turkish government says that
Turkey watches closely the U.S. policy toward Armenia and Middle East
and "hopes for a fair approach that will not damage the U.S.-Turkish
relations."

CHILDREN SUFFER BLOOD CANCER – LEUKEMIA

Panorama.am
13:27 17/02/2009

The World Health Organization reports that during the recent years
the rate of cancer raised, but the experts also note that the rate
of child’s cancer has not been raised either in Armenia or in other
countries, said Grigor Badalyan of the Ministry of Health.

According to him, in 2003 5951 cases of child cancer have been
registered, and in 2007 – 7294. Child cancer differs from adult
cancer. Child cancer develops faster, hence the parents should not slow
the speed and start the treatment. Children have more opportunities
to be 100% cured than adults, said G. Badalyan. According to him,
most children suffer blood cancer – leukemia.

GUDRAT HASANQULIYEV: "TURKEY’S CURRENT POLICY DOES NOT PROMOTE THE RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH PROBLEM"

Today.Az
olitics/50662.html
Feb 13 2009
Azerbaijan

"I do not think that the visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to
Russia will have any impact on the resolution of the Karabakh problem",
said chairman of the Single Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Milli
Medjlis deputy Gudrat Hasanquliyev.

He said Turkey could have chosen a more principal position in the
sense of protection of Azerbaijan’s interests.

"Unfortunately, Turkey has not done this and its position in
the region, as an influential state, more responds to Russia’s
interests. In turn, Russia needs Turkey to prove its validity by
active support of Azerbaijan’s interests.

It should be recognized openly that Turkey’s role in the region is
reduced to zero. Currently, this country is unable to influence the
resolution of any problems in the region.

At the same time, if Turkey demonstrates principal position Russia will
be obliged to consider this country. Yet today’s policy of Turkey does
not promote resolution of the Karabakh problem. If Turkey’s statements
are not backed by the real actions, they are of no importance.

I think the current visit of President Abdullah Gul is a simple
official state visit bearing no relationship to the resolution of
the Karabakh problem", noted Hasanquliyev.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO INCREASE RATES OF CUSTOM DUTIES FOR IMPORT OF FINISHED PRODUCTS

ArmInfo
2009-02-12 14:30:00

ArmInfo. To support the local producer, the Armenian government has
decided to increase the rates of custom duties for import of the
finished products to the republic up to 15%.

This draft alteration in the Customs Code of Armenia was approved at
today’s governmental session and is one of the anti-crisis measures,
Economy Minister of Armenia, Nerses Yeritsyan, said when introducing
the draft legislative alteration.

He also added that 15% is a maximum admissible rate for Armenia as the
country is WTO member and has no liabilities to this organization. He
explained that a zero customs duty is imposed on many goods being
imported to Armenia so far. The minister added that it is scheduled to
shortly publish a list of the goods and groups of goods the customs
duties on which will be increased. According to the minister, the
customs duties should be increased first of all on the goods which
are produced in Armenia and compete with import analogues. Thus,
import-replacement will be stimulated in Armenia, N. Yeritsyan said.

KOCHARYAN DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN CONGRESS

A1+
[06:43 pm] 12 February, 2009

The 4th Congress of the "Prosperous Armenia" party stroke the eye
with the representation and officialdom. The string quartet was
playing live classical music for the delegates on the first floor
of the government sessions hall. All "Prosperous Armenia" delegates
were dressed in suit and tie and the only people without ties were
ARF representatives Hrant Markaryan and Armen Rustamyan.

The Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese and Croatian delegates were seated in
the first row. They addressed the political party and faction members
and transmitted the addresses and congratulations of the presidents
to founding leader of the "Prosperous Armenia" party Gagik Tsarukyan.

In his speech translated to Russian, Representative of the Communist
Party of China Tyan Tsuntszyan stated that thefriendly ties between
Armenia and China have spanned centuries and are further enhanced
with the support of the "Prosperous Armenia" party.

Assistant to President of Croatia Miro Pipich, Representative of "Party
of Regions" of Ukraine Lavrinovich and member of the "United Russia"
faction of Russia Igor Chernishev attached importance to the role of
the "Prosperous Armenia" party in the political field of Armenia.

Seated next to the foreign guests were Serzh Sargsyan, RA
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and NA Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan,
leaders and secretaries of the Republican, ARF, Country of Law and
"Heritage". None of the non-parliamentary political parties were
invited. Even Robert Kocharyan was not invited and his name was not
mentioned in the speeches.

Serzh Sargsyan made an opening speech at the congress followed by
ARF Bureau representative Hrant Markaryan, leader of County of Law
Arthur Baghdasaryan. They attached importance to the cooperation with
"Prosperous Armenia" and stated that the party has turned into an
organized party in a short matter of time.

Head of the "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosyan made a speech with
a cold-shower effect as he recalled the tribulations that the two
factions have seen.

"We met on the crossroads during a very crucial period when we
witnessed the tragedy of March 1. We are all responsible," said
Martirosyan adding that we must establish peace and stability in the
country together to get out of the situation with honor.

In his speech, Gagik Tsarukyan talked about the inadmissibility of
hatred, while Serzh Sargsyan put "people making up stories" in order.

In fact, for the first time in the history of political parties of
Armenia, the RA presidential administration accredited journalists to
provide coverage of the event, while some opposition media journalists
were deprived of that opportunity.

AZNAVOUR TO BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
By Chris Green

Independent.co.uk
Friday, 13 February 2009

The French singer Charles Aznavour has agreed to become an ambassador
to Switzerland for his ancestral homeland of Armenia.

Aznavour, 84, who has been dubbed the French Frank Sinatra, was born
in France of Armenian parents. He was granted Armenian citizenship
in December last year in recognition of his humanitarian work in the
country, but lives in Switzerland.

In an interview broadcast on Armenian television, the singer said:
"At first I hesitated, as I thought that this is no easy matter. But
then I thought that, in the end, what is important for Armenia must
be important for all of us. I accepted this proposal with pleasure,
joy and a deep feeling of honour."

Aznavour has always maintained close links with his parents’ country,
learning the language despite growing up in France. After an earthquake
in 1988 which killed 25,000 people, he set up the Aznavour for
Armenia committee to help victims. The following year he wrote and
recorded a charity single, "Pour toi Armenie", which sold more than
a million copies.

MONITORING HELD ON CONTACT LINE BETWEEN AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN ARMIES

Trend News Agency
Feb 11 2009
Azerbaijan

Monitoring was held on the contact line between Armenian and
Azerbaijani armed forces on Feb. 11 in 2009 after a mandate by the
special envoy of the OSCE chairman, Trend News regional correspondent
reported.

The monitoring in Sarijali village of the Agdam region proceeded
without incident on Feb. 11.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: "WE DO NOT CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT THROUGH THE MEDIATION OF TURKEY

APA
Feb 11 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan-APA. Armenian Foreign Ministry refuted news published in
Turkish Hurriyet newspaper on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, APA reports quoting Armenian websites.

Tigran Balaian, Spokesman for Armenian Foreign Ministry said that
the Ministry did not conduct negotiations on the settlement of the
conflict through the mediation of Turkey.

"Negotiations are conducted on the solution to the conflict through
the mediation of OSCE MG Co-Chairs basing on Madrid proposals as it
was said by foreign minister Edward Nalbandian many times," he added.

TERRY DAVIS: "THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF ITS MEMBER-STATES"

Today.Az
news/politics/50591.html
Feb 10 2009
Azerbaijan

I think that there have been some progress in terms of democracy
and holding better elections but I am very concerned about freedom
of expression and freedom of media in Azerbaijan, said CE Secretary
General Terry Davis.

"The democracy does depend on freedom of expression and freedom of
media and I am also concerned about a number of journalists who are
being put under pressure in Azerbaijan", said he.

Speaking about the proposed amendments to the Constitution of
Azerbaijan to be introduced via a referendum, the secretary general
noted that he considers it reasonable to submit amendments to the
Constitution and to have a referendum on these amendments.

"I do not think its a very good idea to rush into a referendum. I am
also disappointed that the government of Azerbaijan did not ask for
the opinion of experts of the Council of Europe".

As for the amendments connected with the prohibition of video, audio
of photo recording without permission of a person, Davis said it is
very important to have a balance between on the one hand the right
of privacy and on the other hand the right of media to comment on
what a politician is doing, especially if a politician or a public
official draws public attention to his or her private life. In that
case media has a right to scrutinize on what the politician or public
official is doing.

The CE Secretary General also spoke of the CE position on the Karabakh
conflict.

"The position of the Council of Europe should be very clear not only
on this conflict but on other conflicts as well. We believe that
all international and domestic internal disputes should be solved by
peaceful means and it was agreed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia when
they joined the Council of Europe. Now the mediation between Azerbaijan
and Armenia about Nagorno Karabakh is a responsibility of the Minsk
Group – a part of a different organization – OSCE. And we try not to
interfere with the work of the Minsk Group", noted he and said he hopes
the meetings between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will
be fruitful and result in the settlement of this conflict very soon.

He also noted that there is absolutely no policy of double standards
towards Azerbaijan and voiced concern about the warlike statements
voiced in the region.

"I do not accept that the Council of Europe applies double standards
or different standards in different places. The Council of Europe
always supported the territorial integrity of its member-states and
that applies to Moldova, or Cyprus or Azerbaijan. I regret very much
that the way people in Azerbaijan draw attention to pointing out
difficulties in Armenia. I think Armenia does the same thing about
Azerbaijan. The fact is that both countries – both Azerbaijan and
Armenia – need to improve. There is an old saying in the Christian
Bible that before you start drawing attention to a speck of dust in
the eye of someone else, you should take out a stone from your own
eye. And I do wish that both Armenia and Azerbaijan concentrate on
solving their own problems and raising standards of democracy and
civil rights in their own country", concluded the CE Secretary General.