Author: Jagharian Tania

MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS TO TAKE PLACE IN BISHKEK

AZG Armenian Daily
04/10/2008

Karabakh issue

The next meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers
Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov may take place on October 9
in Bishkek in the framework of the meeting of CIS Council of Foreign
Ministers.

"The official Baku is analyzing the results of negotiations held
between foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia on
September 26 in New York in the framework of the UN General Assembly
session", said Azerbaijani President’s special representative on
Karabakh issue, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Araz Azimov in an
interview given recently to journalists.

$38.52MLN WORTH PROGRAM ON RETURN OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE STARTS IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Oct 3, 2008

YEREVAN, October 3. /ARKA/. A three-year program on return of
internally displaced people (from borderland) to their homes is to be
implemented in Armenia in 2008-2010. Appropriations for the program
total $38.52mln, Head of Migration Agency of Armenian Territorial
Administration Ministry Gagik Yeganyan said.

The program is to reduce migration within the country and help native
population of the border area return to permanent residence, Yeganyan
told a press conference.

According to the results of a study conducted by Armenia’s Migration
Service together with Norwegian Refugees’ Council, 26,044 people
left Armenia and 21,270 people moved to other places within the
country as a result of bombardments of 186 Armenian villages at the
border with Azerbaijan during the military operations in 1992-1994,
Yeganyan reported.

"We had interviews with 18,091 people and found out that 9,604 of them
would return to their place of residence on their own, whereas 2,604
people (or 1,005 families) clearly stated that they would return home
if appropriate conditions are provided to them," Yeganyan said.

Under the first component of the program, support is to be provided
to an annual of 330 families in returning home. Each family is to get
$600 for establishing a farm and buying cattle, seeds, agricultural
equipment, as well as=2 0a one-time allowance of $105. Transport
costs to be covered are $45 per every member of a family, he added.

Under the second component, partly or completely ruined houses and
apartments of the borderland are to be rehabilitated. Allocations
for 16,433 partly destroyed houses are $1,500 per house or
apartment. $7,700 is to be provided for rehabilitation of each of
completely ruined 1,694 apartments, Yeganyan said.

He also reported that $825,000 is to be spent on settlement of
the territories and $37.7mln for rehabilitation of houses. Under
a government decree, clear instructions are given to respective
government agencies to start seeking for international donors,
Yeganyan said.

JOHN MCCAIN URGED ARMENIAN AMERICANS TO SUPPORT HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

DeFacto Agency
2008-10-02 16:42:00
Armenia

YEREVAN, 01.10.08. DE FACTO. On September 29 Senator John McCain issued
an open letter to Armenian American voters, seeking their support for
his presidential campaign, but failing to outline his stands on core
Armenian American issues, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

The letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the
same themes as Senator McCain’s correspondence this February to
the ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator
praised the Armenian American contribution to American society,
and Armenia’s contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno-Karabagh,
the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the
broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic
language typically employed by the Administration, mention the
"terrible tragedy" suffered by the Armenians, although, notably,
without using the proper term genocide or even mentioning the Ottoman
Empire or the Republic of Turkey.

"We hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator McCain’s
outreach to Armenian American voters will have evolved beyond the
respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter he had sent to
us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our community’s
core issues," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Armenian
Americans are issue voters, and look to the candidates seeking their
support to be clear about their views and values – particularly
on issues related to the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno-Karabagh, the
strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of U.S.-Armenia relations."

It should be added that Senator McCain has, throughout his tenure in
the Congress, largely opposed or was passively indifferent to a broad
array of Armenian American issues. As recently as October of last
year, Senator McCain publicly opposed Congressional recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. In 1999, he voted against restricting U.S. aid
to Azerbaijan over its blockades and other offensive uses of force
against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. He voted against Senator Bob
Dole’s Armenian Genocide Resolution in 1990.

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN PRESIDENTS STAND FOR PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION

ArmInfo
2008-10-01 14:00:00

ArmInfo. Presidents of Armenia and Georgia Serzh Sargsyan and
Mikheil Saakashvili stood for peaceful development of the region,
the presidents said during yesterday’s joint briefing in Tbilisi,
‘Hayastani Hanrapetutyun’ newspaper reports.

‘I am sure that solution of the existing problems through military
interference is impossible. All of us understand that Caucasus takes a
small place on the map, however, it is of significant importance. There
are great interests with regard to Caucasus and we must do our best to
use these interests to the benefit of our peoples. We should assess
our relationship anew and make efforts to more improve them. I am
sure we shall be useful for each other’, S. Sargsyan said.

For his part, M. Saakashvili said that the latest events in Georgia
have clearly shown how much important the cooperation cooperation
is, how much everybody suffers from the problems and conflicts
and how much important it is not to delay solution of these issues
for other generations. ‘I am sure that the future of the Caucasus
lay is in creation of a common market, common human, cultural and
economic spheres and close cooperation with other countries of the
region. Naturally, before achieving this, we have to solve the existing
problems and I am sure they are solvable", he said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II AND PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I

Noyan Tapan

Se p 29, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 29 Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan received Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the
diocesan heads of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His All-Holiness,
the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I who arrived
in Armenia to participate in the Blessing of the Holy Muron, and
the representatives of the sister churches of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, NT was informed by the RA presidential press service.

S. Sargsyan underlined the importance of the role that clergy play in
the preservation of peace and moral values and in the struggle against
disillusionment, demoralization and temptations as there are a lot
of temptations in modern world. In his words, extreme fanaticism on
the one hand and denial of God on the other hand are dangerous to the
world, and these dangers are ruinous first of all for small nations.

His Holiness thanked the representatives of the sister churches for
their participation in the Blessing of the Holy Muron.

The head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Leonardo Cardinal Sandri on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI wished the
Armenian people peace and prosperity. He said that the enthusiasm
with which people attended the Blessing of the Holy Muron shows the
Armenian people’s exceptional devotion to church.

FAON: DUTCH STUDENTS OF MARMARA UNIVERSITY OBLIGED TO ATTEND LESSONS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2008 18:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Federation of Armenian Organizations in
the Netherlands (FAON) has protested to the Dutch Minister Ronald
Plasterk of Education, Culture and Science against the fact that
ERASMUS students of Marmara State University in Turkey, are obliged
to attend a four days’ course with a program, which includes, among
others, such subjects as the denial of the Armenian Genocide and the
Turkish point of view on Cyprus, Inge Drost, spokesperson for Abovyan
Cultural Center, told PanARMENIAN.Net

The FAON states that the Netherlands should stop this ERASMUS program
with respect to Turkey as a protest against the manner that these
students are treated.

The FAON emphasizes that Turkey, as a candidate state for EU has
absolutely not shown any progress in the field of the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. There is still no freedom of expression
about the Armenian Genocide. Even now under the amended Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code, prosecution still takes place of people,
who speak about the Armenian Genocide. In such a manner proceedings
were started recently, with authorization of the Minister of Justice of
Turkey, against writer Temel Demirer, because of his press conference
last year, the day after the assassination of the Armenian Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink. The FAON indicates that expressions of the
Turkish denialist policy take place in all kinds of ways. Similar with
the Hawk Lessons are the courses, such as the lessons given to Dutch
Turks, who fulfill a shortened or normal conscription in Turkey. Also
in the Netherlands the Turkish and Dutch public are influenced by the
activities of the Turkish Embassy, by means of Turkish TV programs
transmitted via the Dutch cable, and by some Turkish organizations in
the Netherlands. Often there is fear for the "long arm of Ankara",
as a result of which many Turks do not dare to protest against such
activities. Others, particularly Right Nationalist Turks, are very
active in spreading the denialist material, among others, by means
of Internet.

As a result of the news on the Turkish interpretation of the exchange
program with the Erasmus University, the FAON repeats its earlier
requests to include teaching pack in the Dutch educational system
for providing the youth with objective information, which can prevent
difficulties between population groups in the future. This teaching
pack might include several genocide events, for example the Holocaust,
the Armenian genocide and the genocide in Rwanda, in order to provide
all young people with more knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Concerning the situation in Turkey, the FAON assumes that the Dutch
politicians, who wanted to wait for the practical consequences of the
amended Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code, will now clearly renounce
the interpretation of this Article by Turkish government about the
freedom of speech and the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN GETS CARTE BLANCHE FROM THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO HARDEN REPRESSIONS AGAINST THE OPPOSITION, REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS SAYS

ArmInfo
2008-09-25 15:17:00

ArmInfo. ‘Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has got a carte blanche
from the world community to harden repressions against the opposition’,
– representative of Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan told
journalists at Hayatsk club today.

He also added this happened because in the conditions of paralysis of
the OSCE MG as a result of disagreements between the USA and Russia
because of the last events in South Ossetia, Armenian president
together with his Turkish counterpart is trying to negotiate on the
Karabakh conflict settlement and to normalize the Armenian-Turkish
relations. ‘Another reason of hardening of the authorities’ and police
policy towards the opposition is again leading to the geo-political
factor. In particular, if before the Russian-Georgian war mass
violation of human rights and existence of political prisoners was in
the centre of attention of the Council of Europe, at present these
problems are not paid so much attention. The carte blanche got by
Serzh Sargsyan to destroy the opposition is not a tragedy, but it
makes us to correct our further strategy’, – Zurabyan said.

RESULTS OF EXPERT EXAMINATION OF VIDEO SPREAD BY OPPOSITION TO BE PRESENTED AT SEPTEMBER 26 SITTING OF NA AD HOC COMMITTEE ON INQUIRY INTO MARCH 1-2 EVENTS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 25, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The results of the expert
examination of the video film spread by the opposition in September
will be presented at the September 26 sitting of the RA National
Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Inquiry into the March 1-2 Events in
Yerevan. To recap, after watching the video, the committee sent it
to the RA Prosecutor General’s Office for an expert conclusion.

NT correspondent was informed by Samvel Nikoyan – the committee
chairman, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) that
the experts who are invited to the sitting will not only present the
results of the expert examination but also give explanations regarding
a number of questions raised in the video.

He said that he has applied to the law enforcement bodies with the
request to find the young men sitting at a wall with obvious blood
stains on them as well as the citizen run down by a Vilis car (as
shown in some scenes of the video) and to invite these persons to
attend the committee’s sitting.

SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL SPORT GAMES OF CIS COUNTRIES CONTINUE IN KISHINEV

ARMENPRESS
Sep 25, 2008

MINSK, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: The seventh international sport
games of CIS countries kicked off in Kishinev September 24 and will
last until September 29, press service of the CIS Executive Committee
reported.

The games are being held according to the May 25, 2007 decision of
the council of the heads of the CIS governments.

The program of the games includes tennis, badminton, volleyball,
mini football, athletics, swimming, etc.

This year within the frameworks of the international sport games a
number of events are expected to be conducted including the plenary
session of the international scientific congress which will discuss
the strategy of development of legal bases of physical culture and
sport in the CIS countries, the festival of sport films, "CIS is 17
Years Old" mass light athletic race.

ARMENIAN LEADER SAYS NEW ENERGY PROJECTS TO IMPROVE COUNTRY’S SECURITY

RedOrbit
Wednesday, 24 September 2008, 09:00 CDT
TX

President Serzh Sargsyan has said that an Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
will be put into operation in the future and that this fact will be
a new phenomenon in Armenia’s economic life.

"We should be able to manage two opposite gas routes [from Iran
and Russia]. We should also do our best to put into operation the
5th energy unit of the Hrazdan thermal power plant by the planned
deadline so that we can run the economy efficiently. If the new
nuclear power plant is put into operation, the share of the nuclear
and thermal energy [sectors] will be almost equal. Concurrently,
it is also necessary to develop the hydroelectric power [industry].

"Work has already begun in all these sectors. This will essentially
change the quality of our country’s security," he said yesterday
[23 September].

Originally published by Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan, in Armenian 24 Sep
08, p 1.

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