Author: Jagharian Tania

TURKISH CHRISTIANS MARK 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF MALATIA MURDERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2008 12:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ This week Turkish Christians mark the 1st anniversary
of the murder of three Protestants in Malatia.

Religious freedom in Turkey is still suppressed, said Duzid Seyhan,
an evangelic. "Some people hire guards, some shut doors during the
divine service," he said. "A dialogue with all religious comminutes
should start with the equal attitude to all religions. The authorities
should encourage pluralism and equality of all citizens and also
punish the assaulters."

The Alliance of Protestant Churches of Turkey named the year of 2008 a
"black year" for the Protestant community. A report meant to attract
attention to the community’s problems found no reaction in the media.

Alliance’s chairman Zekai Tanyar said that concerns and expectations
of Protestants are the same as in 2006, before the murders.

Three Protestants (two Turks and a German) were murdered in southeast
of Malatia on April 18, 2007.

The trial is still underway.

NATIONAL GALLERY FESTIVAL FOR FIRST TIME INCLUDED IN ACTIVITY PLAN OF RA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

Noyan Tapan
April 16, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The holding of the National Gallery
International Music Festival has become traditional and one of the
most expected cultural events for art lovers. Mariam Shahinian,
the festival’s founder, said at the April 16 press conference.

According to her, the National Gallery fourth International Music
Festival to be held between April 17 to June 15 in Yerevan this
year for the first time has been included in the activity program of
the RA Ministry of Culture. In M. Shahinian’s words, the festival’s
peculiarity is that not only world-famous musicians, but also beginners
take part in it.

Paravon Mirzoyan, the Director of the National Gallery of Armenia,
said that the idea of holding music festivals in picture galleries
and museums is not new: for many decades it has been fulfilled
successfully in authoritative cultural centers of the world. In his
words, besides presenting pieces of world music art performed by
renowned musician-performers, orchestras, the festival also pursues
another goal: to acquaint the art loving society with the activity of
the given picture gallery, as well as with the masterpieces kept there.

It should be mentioned that both Armenian and foreign best musicians
and orchestras, including State Armenian Chamber Orchestra, Narekatsi
orchestra, Alliance quintet (Germany), Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi
(Italy), Alexander Chaushian (Great Britan), will take part in
the festival. In total, the festival will consist of nine series
of conerts.

OSCE: EFFORTS TO THAW FROZEN CONFLICTS GROWING MORE COMPLICATED
Jean-Christophe Peuch

EurasiaNet
April 16 2008
NY

In his first public appearance as chairman-in-office of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Finland’s
new foreign minister, Alexander Stubb, called for enhanced efforts
toward resolving the Soviet-era conflicts of Nagorno-Karabakh, South
Ossetia, and the Transdniester region.

"I am really convinced that there are many areas where we need to
make a difference, and we need to work a lot harder on them. I think
we must seriously look at all [three] frozen conflicts and my aim as
[chairman]-in-office is to re-energize efforts towards the peace
settlement of these conflicts," Stubb told the OSCE’s Permanent
Council in Vienna on April 10. "I sincerely hope that our efforts
are met with constructive engagement by all the partners."

Addressing that same panel on January 10, Stubb’s predecessor Ilkka
Kanerva had listed conflict resolution among Finland’s top priorities
at the helm of the OSCE.

Yet, three months into Finland’s chairmanship, OSCE efforts to promote
peaceful solutions to the Soviet-era conflicts seem only to be growing
more complicated. Recent developments concerning Karabakh underscore
the difficulties facing Finland.

Azerbaijan has been outspoken in its criticism of the peace process in
recent weeks, and has pressed for changes in the existing Karabakh
negotiating framework. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Armenia, meanwhile, has threatened to recognize Karabakh’s
independence, if Azerbaijan refuses to participate in peace talks
overseen by the OSCE’s Minsk Group. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

Addressing reporters in Vienna on April 10, Stubb said he fully
supported the Minsk Group’s mediation efforts, adding that he saw
"very little room for maneuver, or change" in the existing negotiation
process.

Among the 39 nations that voted in favor of a UN resolution recognizing
Azerbaijan current borders and calling for the immediate withdrawal of
Armenian forces from occupied Azerbaijani territory were Baku’s fellow
GUAM members — Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. The latter two are
themselves entangled in conflict settlement talks involving the OSCE.

Frustrated by the disproportionate influence that Georgia asserts
Russia enjoys over the existing negotiating framework, Tbilisi recently
came out with a new proposal for peace talks. Dubbed 2+2+2, the new
formula seeks to leave the Russian republic of North Ossetia out of the
peace process, award Georgia’s loyalist Provisional Administration of
South Ossetia a seat at the negotiation table and bring the European
Union in. Georgia has threatened to withdraw from the peace process,
if its proposal is not accepted. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, who met behind
closed doors in Vienna in March with Georgia’s State Minister for
Reintegration Temur Iakobashvili, has not commented on Tbilisi’s
initiative. Stubb in early April made it clear he was not in favor
of modifying the existing negotiation framework.

Stubb also said that, in his view, the internationally-sponsored
negotiation mechanism between Moldova and its Russian-speaking
separatist republic of Transdniester "seems to be working quite
well." Yet, this so-called 5+2 settlement process — which brings
together the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine as mediators, along with the
EU and the United States as observers — has been stalled for the
past two years. Addressing the OSCE’s Permanent Council on March
13, Finnish diplomat Heikki Talvitie clearly indicated he did not
anticipate any breakthrough in the near future.

In the meantime, Russia unilaterally arranged for direct talks between
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Transdniestrian leader Igor
Smirnov. The meeting — the first of its kind in seven years — took
place on April 11 in the separatist-controlled city of Bendery. The two
men agreed to work toward reinforcing confidence-building measures,
with the aim of reviving the 5+2 process. Voronin also promised to
lobby Brussels and Washington for the lifting of a travel ban imposed
on Transdniestrian leaders five years ago. In return, Smirnov pledged
to no longer deny Moldovan officials access to Transdniester.

In a statement, the OSCE welcomed the Bendery meeting as "a first step
that can pave the way to resumption of the settlement negotiations
in the 5+2 format."

The "Kommersant" newspaper on March 11 reported that Russia was ready
to help Moldova restore its sovereignty over Transdniester in return
from Chisinau’s assurances that it will not join NATO. That same
Russian daily on April 12 said solving the Transdniester conflict
would also help Russia counter Georgia’s attempts at weakening its
leverage on the South Ossetian peace process.

Editor’s Note: Jean-Christophe Peuch is a Vienna-based freelance
correspondent, who specializes in Caucasus- and Central Asia-related
developments.

NOT TO BE VULNERABLE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 16, 2008
Armenia

"One doesn’t have to be too perspicacious to realize that consistent
work is being done against the Republic of Armenia, and it is being
done in a very professional manner, by using us, the citizens of
the country.

No need to think that the March 1 events are just internal
manifestations; they are very simple, accurately calculated tools of
influence which are used in a perfect manner. And they were simply
imposed on us by the external forces with the purpose of weakening
Armenia and making it more yielding.

Unless we are able to close our ‘doors’ and create barriers against
such influences, we’ll be vulnerable to external challenges," HAYK
DENOYAN, Director of the Genocide Museum is convinced.

ARMENIAN YOUNG MAN, PARTICIPANT OF APRIL 6 BRAWL, DIES IN RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan
April 14, 2008

MURAVYOVO, APRIL 14, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. One Of The People, Who
Suffered During The Brawl That Happened On April 6 In The Village Of
Muravyovo, Rzhevsk Subregion, Tver Region, 26-Year-Old Karen Aghajanian
Died The Day Before. Radio Liberty Reports This.

Aghajanian had been taken to hospital after a brawl between local
residents and a group of Armenian young men. The representatives
of Armenian community affirm that the fight, as a result of which
nearly 20 people suffered, happened on the ethnic ground. However,
the Police excludes this version.

According to the main version of law enforcement bodies, the conflict
happened because of a hijacked car.

PACE PARLIAMENTARIANS DEMAND AMENDMENTS TO ARMENIAN ELECTORAL CODE

Azeri Press Agency
April 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubayli -APA. PACE spring session discusses
Presidential elections in Russia, Serbia, Armenia today, Hungarian
MP, member of European People’s Party Nemeth Zsolt made a serious
report on developments after the presidential elections in Armenia,
APA Europe bureau reports.

He stated that 9 people had been killed as a result of developments
and 200 people had been arrested because of political reasons.

"State of emergency was declared after that. Armenian government
adopted law on Freedom of Assembly without opinion of the Council
of Europe and Venice Commission. Armenian opposition demands to hold
by-elections and does not recognize legitimacy of current President.

Armenian government should carry out independent investigation with
opposition representatives to find the ways out of the situation. If
Armenia does not do it, PACE will do. Last elections in Armenia show
that Armenian Electoral Code should be amended", he said.

John Prescott, head of CE delegation to Armenia also made speech and
stated that many people had died and injured during the confrontation
in Armenia. He stated that all means were used against the protesters.

Samad Seyidov, Head of Azerbaijani Delegation to PACE will make a
report on the presidential elections in Armenia after the interval.

GREAT WAKENING

KarabakhOpen
14-04-2008 12:21:46

The term "not a patch of land" is becoming popular in Armenia. The
Armenian parliament members are competing in their ability to
prove that the Armenian diplomacy should not speak about the
return of territories, that the OSCE Minsk Group mediated talks
are not successful, that Armenia should sign an agreement with
Karabakh. Generally, it is necessary to cross out what has been done
so far and start from the beginning.

Apparently it is time to display a decisive stance or
posture. Especially that the Minsk Group is already crossed out,
and people still remember it thanks to the efforts of Matthew Bryza
only. In Armenia the president who negotiated has left, which means
that the results of the talks can be declared as void. Besides,
the ex-president of Armenia confessed in his statement a month ago
that the talks did not lead anywhere, in Armenia it is expedient to
recognize Karabakh or sign a comprehensive agreement.

In other words, those who admit the fiasco of the talks lasting for
15 years are not vulnerable. Nobody will accuse them of opposing to
the policy of the government. They will not be accused of working
for the foreign intelligence. On the contrary, the fact that black
is described as black and white is described as white for the first
time is the ultimate expression of patriotism.

However, now the problem is not that someone wants to look like
a patriot.

The problem is that at last the stance of the Armenian parliament
stems from an adequate assessment of the national interest and
geopolitical situation.

Have they really decided to call white white and to call black
black? Or is it again the political conjuncture? Will the stance of
the parliament change if someone from above or from aside says there
must be no agreement with Karabakh? In other words, do the Armenian
political elite (including Karabakh, of course) have a clear idea
of where we are headed for and what our real interests are? And that
patriotism is the realistic assessment of interests and possibilities.

G7 passes plan to ease credit woe

BBC
12-04-2008 10:31:45 – KarabakhOpen

The G7 group of most industrialised nations has approved a plan aimed
at easing the continuing crisis in the global credit markets.

Including calls for more oversight of financial firms and greater
financial transparency, G7 members have committed themselves to its
implementation.

The plan also aims to improve the work of credit rating agencies.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the seven nations,
including the US, UK and Germany, in Washington.

"We remain positive about the long-term resilience of our economies,
but near-term global economic prospects have weakened," said a
statement issued by the G7 after the meeting.

The plan further calls for the strengthening of authorities’
responsiveness to financial risks, and puts in place arrangements to
deal with stress in the financial system.

It was drawn up for the G7 by the Financial Stability Forum (FSF)
think-tank.

The FSF is comprised of a number of central bank and treasury officials
from around the world.

"We have worked, and will continue to work, closely to address global
challenges and take concrete actions," said US Treasury Secretary Henry
Paulson.

‘Urgent action’

Before the G7 meeting, UK Chancellor Alistair Darling described the
credit squeeze as the "biggest economic shock" the world has seen since
the 1930s Great Depression.

He said the G7 had to take "urgent action".

The other G7 members are France, Italy, Japan and Canada.

The G7 finance ministers had gathered before World Bank and IMF
meetings on Saturday and Sunday.

The credit crisis stemmed from a slowdown in the US housing market and
has had a knock-on effect worldwide and dented growth.

Earlier this week the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that
the US would enter a "mild recession" in 2008 and said that the credit
crunch could cost banks and other financial institutions around $1
trillion.

The weakening US economy has been a major factor in pushing down the
value of the dollar, which slipped to a 15-year low against the pound
earlier in the week.

Meanwhile the pound has fallen sharply against the euro.

ARMENIA FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANYAN SAYS HE QUITS HIS POST IN NEW GOVERNMENT

ITAR-TASS
April 11 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, April 11 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanyan who has been on his post for 10 years will not work in
the republic’s new government. He spoke to the ministry’s staff on
Thursday and said them good-bye, the press and information department
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Itar-Tass on Thursday evening.

The ministry officials explained that Oskanyan, 53, intends to
establish a public-political foundation. He said that his further
activities "will be focused at the formation of an interested
comprehensive political body that will work with the public and with
the operating political forces."

ARMENIAN CONGRESSMAN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

AZG Armenian Daily
11/04/2008

Diaspora

The Armenian Assembly of America congratulated former California
State Senator Jackie Speier (D) on winning a special election to
fill the House seat of the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), avoiding a
runoff in the contest to replace Lantos, who endorsed her before his
death in February. With her win on Tuesday, Speier now joins fellow
California lawmaker Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), as the second American
of Armenian descent to serve in the 110th Congress. "The Armenian
Assembly congratulates Jackie Speier on her resounding victory,"
said Assembly Board of Trustees Member Peter Kezirian, Jr. "As the
newest Armenian-American representative in Congress, she will be a
strong voice on behalf of her constituents and the Armenian-American
community. As a member of the California Legislature, she was known
as a dynamic and innovative legislator, and the Assembly is pleased
she will bring these talents to our nation’s capital."

During her tenure in the California Legislature, the Assembly worked
closely with Speier to advance Armenian issues in the state. In 2003,
she served as mistress of ceremonies for the Assembly’s National
Gala in Palm Desert, CA. The daughter of a German immigrant and a
first-generation Armenian-American, Speier has authored over a dozen
bills related to Armenian issues during the course of her career in
the California State Legislature. She has spearheaded legislation to
commemorate the Armenian Genocide, and in 2005, she coauthored a bill
to place the commemoration into permanent law. Before leaving the
State Senate, Speier introduced a measure (SB 1524), which provides
relief to California Armenian Genocide victims, and their families,
who are seeking legal action to recover assets that were lost or
stolen during the atrocities against the Armenian people.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the measure into
law in December 2006.

After announcing that he had been diagnosed with cancer in early
January, Lantos said that he would not seek reelection after
concluding his 14th term in Congress. As Chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, Lantos supported adoption of H. Res. 106, which
affirms the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide. This resolution
passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21.

"One of the problems we have diplomatically globally is that we have
lost our moral authority which we used to have in great abundance,"
Lantos said. "People around the globe who are familiar with these
events will appreciate the fact that the United States is speaking
out against a historic injustice. This would be like sweeping slavery
under the rug and saying slavery never occurred."

Lantos also supported an identical measure during the 109th Congress,
expressing strong concern over Turkey’s refusal in 2003 to provide
U.S. troops a northern front in the war against Iraq.