Author: Hunanian Jack

ARMENIA TOOK THE 10TH PLACE IN EUROVISION 2009

Noyan Tapan
May 18, 2009

Yerevan, May 18, Noyan Tapan. Inga and Anush Arshakians, represented
Armenia at the Eurovision 2009 International Song Contest, took the
10th place.

Representative of Norway Alexander Rybak won the first place, Iceland
took the second place. Among the top ten were Great Britain, Turkey,
Azerbaijan, Estonia, Greece, France and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Through voting of 42 countries Armenia obtained the highest 12 points
from the Czech Republic, 8 points from Israel, 7 points from Belgium,
6 points per country from France, Bulgaria and Turkey, 4 points per
country from Spain, Cyprus and Portugal, per 3 points from Sweden
and Slovakia, per 2 points from Ukraine and Poland and per 1 point
from Finland and Macedonia.

This year Armenia participated fourth time in the contest. In 2006
and 2007 Armenian singers took 8th, and in 2008 the 4th place.

ainst-dangerous-use-of-religion-card-in-karabakh-t alks/

US Warns Baku Against `Dangerous’ Use of Religion Card in Karabakh Talks

By Asbarez Staff on May 17th, 2009 and filed under Armenia,
International, Karabakh, News, Top Stories.

PRAGUE (RFE/RL)- U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian affairs Matthew Bryza has dismissed an
Azerbaijani presidential aide’s suggestion that Washington was playing
favorites in talks to resolve the longstanding dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Bryza, one of three co-chairmen of the OSCE’s Minsk group, said in an
interview with RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service that `religion has nothing
to do with our mediation effort and, frankly, I think, anyone who
tries to import religion into the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is playing
a very dangerous game.’

Bryza was responding to remarks by the head of Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev’s foreign affairs department, Novruz Mammedov, in which
Mamedov criticized the Minsk co-chairmen and said they were openly
supporting Armenia in a recent meeting.

Mammedov accused mediators of demonstrating `Christian solidarity.’

Bryza repeated his assertion that `significant progress’ was achieved
during a `very positive’ May 7 meeting, which brought together
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and Minsk
group mediators.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN: AT PRESENT THE BALL IS IN THE TURKISH SIDE

ArmInfo
2009-05-16 11:59:00

ArmInfo.’Concerning the Armenian-Turkish normalization process,
over the past year, following the initiative of the Armenian
President, together with our Turkish neighbors and with the help of
our Swiss partners we have advanced towards opening one of the last
closed borders in Europe and normalization of our relations without
preconditions. The ball is in the Turkish side now. And we hope that
they will find the wisdom and the courage to make the last decisive
step. We wish to be confident that the necessary political will can
eventually leave behind the mentality of the past.

We have been most encouraged by the support of the international
community.

We are well aware of the fundamental and positive implications of
the establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations and of the opening
of the border for the security and stability of the region.

Our motivation is clear in the case of both challenges – and that
is, perhaps, one single common element joining them. It is that we
should not leave the burden of our differences and problems on the
shoulders of the coming generations. We must build bridges between
our nations, working out mutually beneficial regional cooperation
schemes. And our common objective should be shaping of a region that
is safe and prosperous for all’, – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan said at ‘Security and cooperation in and around Caucasus’
international conference held in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN TOP OFFICIAL URGES TURKEY TO SHOW "POLITICAL COURAGE"

Mediamax
May 15 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 15 May: Secretary of the National Security Council under
the Armenian president Artur Baghdasaryan stated today that Turkey
"should demonstrate political courage" and open borders with Armenia.

Speaking at the international conference on security issues in the
South Caucasus, Artur Baghdasaryan stated that due to steps taken by
Armenia in September 2008 "opportunities for normal political dialogue
between Armenia and Turkey were formed, and we are for establishing
diplomatic relations without preconditions".

Taking a constructive stance, Armenia is for peaceful resolution of the
Karabakh conflict based on compromises and refrains from militaristic
rhetoric, the secretary of the National Security Council stated.

"Peace and cooperation are the very key to the development of our
region", he noted.

ARIF BABAYEV: "TURKEY’S STRENGTHENING SECURITY MEASURES MAY BE CONNECTED WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND MEASURES IN TURKISH-PART OF BTC"

APA
May 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Gulshan Hajiyeva – APA. Chief of public affairs department of
the National Security Ministry Arif Babayev answers APA’s questions
about demands of Turkish gendarmerie to strengthen security measures
of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and investigation of the massacre
in Azerbaijan State Oil Academy.

-Turkish gendarmerie demanded Botas Company to strengthen security
measures in the territory of BTC. Is it connected with the increase
of danger?

-I can not say concretely why Turkey strengthens security measures
in BTC. I think it may be connected with the improvement of security
infrastructure and measures in Turkish-part of BTC.

-What security measures are taken in our country?

Under the order of national leader Heydar Aliyev, a related commission
responsible for the security of export pipelines was established in
Azerbaijan in 2002. Necessary normative documents have been worked
out and practical measures are being carried out to ensure all-round
security. The role of the National Security Ministry in this process
is regulated by the related documents. This is a part of security of
oil and gas infrastructure. Our main duty is to provide the related
bodies with information about possible threats to oil and gas sector
and directly participate in prevention of such cases. In this respect,
together with the security services of other related state bodies and
companies we prepare relevant plans and events to secure strategic
facilities.

Generally, strategic facilities are sensitive. In order to ensure
the security of such important facilities, related state bodies
determine the most sensitive industrial, communication and transport
infrastructures, list of special facilities is made, security regimes
serving to prevent terror actions and acts of sabotage are applied
in these facilities.

Comprehensive and uninterrupted security measures are prior duties of
the operational staff, analytical and technical units of the Ministry
of National Security because the terrorist organizations have close
relations with the transnational organized criminal groups, separatist
regimes and religious extremist groups, as well as there are multiple
directions of the terror threats.

– We mentioned the issues of security measures. We have questions about
the events at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. Reliable sources told
APA Georgian bureau that Farda Gadirov, who committed bloody action
at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, had relation with the Armenian
special services. By the way, some newspapers said that the Ministry
of National Security was not involved in the investigation of the
event. Can you give information about the investigation of Farda
Gadirov’s relations with Armenia?

– I offer condolences to the families of victims of tragedy at the Oil
Academy and wish soonest recovery to the injured people. Regarding the
first part of your question, I can say that the newspapers’ reports
were based on the personal speculations and unconversant imagination.

Officers of the Ministry of National Security are also involved in
the investigative-operational group established for the investigation
of criminal case on the fact of killing or attempting to the lives
of innocent people at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. The Ministry
of National Security directly supports the operations.

Regarding the relations of Farda Gadirov with Armenia, I have to
notice that we take into consideration all versions of this criminal
case and hold procedural investigation of all versions. I think the
investigative group will make public statement soon.

AZERBAIJAN ATTACKS KARABAKH ARMY POSITIONS AGAIN

ArmInfo
2009-05-13 18:43:00

ArmInfo. The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry press-service reported
that May 15 night and over the day cases of cease-fire violation
by the Azerbaijani party were registered in a number of sections
of the NKR and Azeri armed forces contact line. In particular, the
NKR Defense Army positions in directions of populated areas Horadiz,
Ashagy Abdurakhmanly, Kuropatkino, Goytepe and Yarymja were attacked
from micro-caliber arms and sniper rifles. After the relevant measures
taken by NKR Defense Army servicemen on alert combat duty the rival
stopped the fire, the source says.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN CAUCASUS" STARTS IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2009-05-14 13:01:00

ArmInfo. An international two-day conference "Security and Cooperation
in Caucasus" started in Yerevan today. Defense Minister of Armenia
Seyran Ohanyan and Ambassador of France to Armenia Serge Smessow
delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. The issues concerning the
intensively changing security architecture in the context of complex
discussions of a new security architecture in the Euro-Atlantic region
are discussed during the conference. The event has been organized by
the of Armenia’s Defense Ministry and the for Defense and International
Security> of Jean Moulin Lyon University. The participants in the
conference include about twenty authoritative experts and scientists
form Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Iran, France,
Great Britain, Norway, USA and other countries.

WRITING ON THE WALL FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN ARMENIA

Reuters Alert
/wvmeero/71b343f504bcf8a33e099344070e0205.htm
May 12 2009
UK

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this
article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are
the author’s alone.

Performances, drawings, humour and songs gave students in Gyumri a
chance to illustrate critical issues harming their rights during a
recent event held by student councils.

Different attitudes of teachers towards students, bribery, poor school
conditions, and lack of teaching materials were issues students raised,
as well as the problems teachers themselves face, for instance,
students’ absenteeism and low interest towards education.

It was also stressed that teachers’ salaries are among the lowest in
Armenia, sometimes driving teachers to leave teaching and search for
a job with better pay.

‘We have a newspaper at school that allows us to express all our
concerns. But it is still not enough. We want also some actions that
will bring visible changes’, said Samvel Melkonyan, 16 and head of
the Student Council at #37 school.

‘School is a place where a student may face bribing and flattering
for the first time. The school can bring up and educate a good or
demoralised person to the society’, said Karen Davtyan, 16 from
school #11.

Teachers, school principles and the head of the Shirak Marz Education
Department were also present during the event. Though it is difficult
for students to talk about critical issues in front of their school
management both teams succeeded to highlight limitations that hinder
their education. Students also shared their understanding of rights
by quoting appropriate articles from the Constitution of Armenia and
referring to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child injecting
a real sense of seriousness into the performances.

‘Each class has a council at our school. They bring all the
concerns to the Student’s Council with which we have meetings every
week. Behaviour, cleanliness, student-teacher relationships are the
main concerns’, said Hrayr Karapetyan, principle of school #11.

‘It is time for action. Otherwise the next generation will inherit
the same problems of the school’, she continued.

‘Even though our school was not a winner, I am for this kind of
initiative. It helps us to work in a team, to concentrate on existing
problems, and to consolidate all knowledge gained during the course
of Political Science’, said Jemma Gevorgyan, 15 from school #37.

‘I liked the idea that three of the five jury members are
children. Being a jury is a hard task. We study Political Science at
school and it is a good chance for children to put their knowledge
into practice’, said Karush Hoveyan, 16 from school #37.

‘Through competitions we aim to activate the Students’ Councils and
encourage them to be advocates for their rights. We want them to
contribute more to the improvement of the education process through
providing tangible support to the school management’, said Shaghik
Maroukhyan, World Vision Armenia Operations Manager (currently
overseeing Gyumri Area Development Programme).

POPE CONDEMNS DENIAL OF HOLOCAUST

BBC NEWS
iddle_east/8043113.stm
2009/05/11 17:21:53 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI has said the suffering of Holocaust victims must
never be denied as he visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
in Jerusalem.

"May the names of these victims never perish. May their suffering never
be denied, belittled or forgotten," he said in the midst of survivors.

The pontiff began his trip to the Holy Land by saying in Tel Aviv
that anti-Semitism was totally unacceptable.

He also voiced support for the Palestinians’ right to a homeland.

The Pope’s immediate, forceful and unequivocal condemnation of
anti-Semitism in any form and in any part of the world will have
pleased his Israeli hosts, the BBC’s David Willey reports from
Jerusalem.

Wreath for the dead Flying in from Jordan, where he visited a mosque
at the weekend, Benedict was greeted by Israeli leaders at Ben Gurion
airport near Tel Aviv before being flown to Jerusalem by helicopter.

Tim Franks BBC News, Jerusalem Yad Vashem is a place of immense
symbolic importance for Jews around the world and, within it, the Hall
of Remembrance is one of the most emotion-laden places. The very fact
of the Pope’s visit here carries huge symbolic importance. His personal
history and the long and tortuous history of relations between the
Catholic Church and the Jews saw to that. One Holocaust survivor I
spoke to, who was one of the six the Pope was going to shake the hand
of, told me she had to think about whether she wanted to meet the man
who as a teenager had been a Hitler Youth. But then she said yes,
it was. His very presence here, she said, was a victory for Israel
and against anti-Semitism.

"Sadly, anti-Semitism continues to rear its ugly head in many parts of
the world," he said as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President
Shimon Peres sat nearby.

"This is totally unacceptable. Every effort must be made to combat
anti-Semitism wherever it is found."

At the Yad Vashem m was flanked by President Peres and other Israeli
public figures, Pope Benedict laid a wreath on a stone covering the
ashes of people killed in the Holocaust.

He shook the hands of six Holocaust survivors before making a sombre
speech about the six million Jews killed.

"They lost their lives, but they will never lose their names," he said.

"These are indelibly etched in the hearts of their loved ones, their
surviving fellow prisoners and all those determined never to allow
such an atrocity to disgrace mankind again."

Pope Benedict, as a child growing up in Nazi Germany, joined the
Hitler Youth, as was required of young Germans of the time, but he
was not an enthusiastic member.

‘Just resolution’ In his arrival speech, the Pope said the eyes of
the world were upon the peoples of the Middle East as they struggled
to solve conflicts that had caused so much suffering.

POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

* Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon Peres * Tuesday
Visits Western Wall, meets Chief Rabbis * Wednesday Visits Bethlehem,
visits refugees, meets Mahmoud Abbas * Thursday Mass in Nazareth,
talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets Franciscans * Friday Meets
Orthodox Christian leaders, departs

He said: "I plead with all those responsible to explore every
possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstanding
difficulties so that both people may live in peace in a homeland of
their own within secure and internationally recognised borders."

President Peres said he hoped the pontiff’s visit would help "pave
the road to peace".

Prime Minister Netanyahu has now flown to Egypt, where the idea of a
two-state solution will be high on the agenda in talks with President
Hosni Mubarak.

Israel’s new prime minister has so far not said if he will support
a two-state solution.

Our correspondent, who is travelling with the Pope, says the Catholic
Church and the current Israeli government do not see eye-to-eye on
Palestinian statehood.

He says the issue will be the main focus of talks ver the next
few days.

Sacred places The Pope said Israel and the Vatican had many shared
values, including the desire to put religion in its rightful place
in society.

HAVE YOUR SAY As peace loving human beings we should appreciate
the Pope’s efforts for reconciliation Usman Javaid, US Apart from
celebrating Mass in Jerusalem and Nazareth, Pope Benedict will also
visit the most sacred places in Jerusalem for Jews and Muslims.

He will also visit a Palestinian refugee camp close to Bethlehem.

Israel is beefing up security for the trip in an operation named
"White Robe", with tens of thousands of law-enforcement officers
deployed and entire sections of Jerusalem to be shut down.

During the previous leg of his tour – a three-day stay in Jordan –
the Pope stressed the importance of Christians and Muslims working
together.

Analysts say his words are likely to be heavily scrutinised during
this week’s trip.

esctoday.com
May 9 2009

Armenia: A brand new song by Inga and Anush

A new song by Inga and Anush is released. The song is from their
upcoming album, which will be released right after the Eurovision Song
Contest 2009 and it is titled You will not be alone.

"Sharm Holding", which is the producing company of the sisters has
made a video with a journalist strolling in the streets of Yerevan and
asking who will Armenians vote for.

Watch video here