Author: Jagharian Tania

DEFENCE SIDE IN MATAGHIS CASE TO CONTINUE DISPUTING DECISION TO REJECT THEIR CHALLENGE OF MILITARY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 02 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The court of first instance of Yerevan’s
Kentron and Nork-Marash communities (Chairman – Judge Gor Hakobian)
on April 2 rejected the application of the defence side in the Mataghis
case. The defence disputed the decision of the RA Prosecutor General’s
Office to reject their challenge of the Military Prosecutor’s Office
conducting an investigation into the Mataghis case. According to
the court, the issue is not subject to dispute. The defence lawyer
Zaruhi Postanjian told NT correspondent that they intend to appeal
against the decision of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office in the
RA Court of Appeal, the RA Cassation Court, and the European Court
of Human Rights. To recap, the defendants in the Mataghis case –
Razmik Sargsian, Musa Serobian and Arayik Zalian are charged with
murder of two fellow servicemen.

The court of first instance of Syunik marz sentenced them to 15-year
imprisonment, while the court of criminal and military cases – to
life imprisonment.

The chamber of criminal and military cases of the Cassation Court
granted the aggrieved party’s petition to conduct an additional
investigation.

INTL JOURNALISTS GROUP CONDEMNS EXTREME-RIGHTIST TIT

The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 2 2007

The international journalist group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF),
over the weekend wrote out a bitter statement on Turkey condemning the
death threats made against a radio broadcaster while several Turkish
intellectuals offered solidarity with the radio against threats by
a mysterious extreme right group.

The employees of Istanbul-based Ozgur Radyo received death threats late
on Friday from the Turkish Vengeance Brigade (TIT), an establishment
gained considerable reputation due to its self-proclaimed war against
Kurdish people, in the form of an email.

The RSF also called on the government to take the safety of journalists
more seriously. "In the light of previous tragic events in Turkey,
especially the murder of newspaper editor Hrant Dink, it is vital
that the authorities take measures to protect Ôzgur Radyo’s staff,"
the organisation said on Saturday.

"Stop broadcasting separatist programmes," the email reportedly said.

"We are watching you and we know where your homes are. This message
is our last warning. The Turk has reawakened and the Turk’s rage
will annihilate those who aim to divide the motherland. If you do not
stop betraying Turkey, your end will be the same as the others. Your
destiny will be the same as that of the other traitors."

The TIT made threats against the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos the day
after Dink, its editor, was gunned down outside its offices. The group
was responsible for the May 1998 attack on Akin Birdal, the former
head of the Human Rights Association (IHD), and for death threats
against lawyer Eren Keskin and singer Ferhat Tunc.

A TIT member, Semih Tufan Gunaltay, received a 19-year prison sentence
from an Ankara assizes court in 1999 for the attempted murder of
Birdal, who was shot eight times but survived. After serving four and a
half years of the sentence, Gunaltay was released under an amnesty law.

Five journalists were give police protection on the orders of Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after Dink’s murder. They are Etyen
Mahcupyan (Agos’ new managing editor and a columnist for the daily
Zaman), Ahmet Hakan Coskun (Hurriyet), Soli Ozel (Sabah), Fehmi Koru
(Yeni Safak) and Ismet Berkan, the managing editor of the daily
Radikal.

Nobel literature laureate Orhan Pamuk and fellow author Elif Safak,
who was acquitted on a charge of "insulting national identity" in his
novel "The Bastard of Istanbul," have also been placed under police
protection. But threats have continued to me made against academics,
editors and reporters, some of who are still without protection.

–Boundary_(ID_VQyxuIuVX8JecSASzH3lUQ )–

Sergey Lavrov to arrive in Yerevan tomorrow

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 13:41

On April 3 the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov will arrive in
Yerevan on an official visit.

Meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II and Acting Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian are
envisaged in the framework of the visit.

During the stay in Armenian the Russian delegation will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath of flowers at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims.

On April 4 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit the
Yerevan State University, where he is expected to deliver a speech.

PRESS RELEASE
March 30, 2007

American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 0019, Armenia
Telephone: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523

United Nations Development Programme
Armenia Country Office
14 Petros Adamian Str., Yerevan 0010, Armenia
Telephone: (37410) 56 60 73, 54 34 26
Fax: (374 10) 54 38 11, [email protected]

Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: [email protected]

Conference on Rural Development in Armenia

Yerevan — More than 150 people participated in a conference on March 30,
2007, focused on rural development in Armenia. The conference was jointly
convened by the United Nations Development Programme Armenia Country Office
and the American University of Armenia Turpanjian Rural Development Program.

The conference discussed rural development with an emphasis on approaches
that work and problems that must be overcome in order to establish
successful projects and programs.

The conference opened with four keynote speakers: Ms. Consuelo Vidal,
Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in
Armenia, Dr. Haroutune Armenian, President of the American University of
Armenia, Mr. Vartan Oskanian, RA Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Hrach
Tspnetsyan, Head of the Agriculture and Village Social Development
Department of the RA Ministry of Agriculture.

Eleven organizations presented papers on rural development, including the
World Bank, USDA Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development, Armenian
Social Investment Fund, Jinishian Memorial Foundation, Small and Medium
Entrepreneurship Development National Center of Armenia, Aregak microfinance
organization, Oxfam Great Britain, Armenian Caritas, Children of Armenia
Fund, Shen NGO, and Youth and Community Action Program of the U.S. Academy
for Educational Development.

More than 60 Armenian organizations and international agencies directly
engaged in rural development projects in Armenia participated in the
conference sessions and discussions along with representatives of the
Republic of Armenia Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Territorial
Administration, and Education and Science.

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The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and the American University of
Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia. The American University of Armenia (AUA) is
affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, USAID and private donors, AUA offers
instruction leading to the Master’s degree in eight graduate programs. For
more information about AUA visit <;

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change in 166
countries
and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help
people build a better life. UNDP Country Office in Armenia was established
in 1993. UNDP’s Mandate is poverty reduction and its priorities are
expressed through the Millennium Development Goals approved by the World
leaders in 2000. As in other countries, UNDP in Armenia supports the
government to accomplish the millennial development agenda.

Exhibition of Arshile Gorky’s paintings at George Pompidou Centre

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 16:32

The exhibition of paintings of American Armenian artist Arshile Gorky
was opened at George Pompidou Centre of Paris. Together with the
`Galust Gyulbenkyan ‘ establishment of Lisbon the Pompidou Centre
honors Arshile Gorky with an exhibition displaying his paintings of
1940s.

The exhibition has been organized in the framework of the Year of
Armenia in France. The opening ceremony was attended by the
Commissioner General for the Year of Armenia in France Nelly
Tardivier, Armenian Ambassador Edward Nalbandyan, and the delegation
of the `Galust Gyulbenkyan’ establishment and famous.

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SENDS LETTERS OF THANKS TO US DEFENCE SECRETARY AND RUSSIA’S SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. In connection with approval of the
RA National Security Strategy by the Armenian president, Secretary
of the National Security Council under the Armenian president,
the RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian sent letters of thanks to
the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and the RF Security Council’s
Secretary Igor Ivanov for the methodological assistance provided
by the US National Defence University and the Russian Academy of
State Service under the Russian president in the interdepartmental
development of the RA National Security Strategy. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it from the RA Defence Ministry.

US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION WITH THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

ArmRadio.am
31.03.2007 14:23

US Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza is content with the
level of relations with the countries of the South Caucasus. In the
framework of this cooperation he emphasized the mission of the Georgian
peacekeepers in Iraq and the rearmament of the military airport of
Azerbaijan, "Trend" reports. Bryza underlined that the cooperation of
the United States with both Armenia and Azerbaijan is very vigorous,
active and practical especially in the security sphere. He stressed
also that many planes, including American ones, fly to Afghanistan
through the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia. "In case of
emergency we would like to have the opportunity to use the military
airport of Azerbaijan for landing of our planes," Matthew Bryza noted.

PETER SEMNEBY EXTENDS CONDOLENCES

ArmRadio.am
29.03.2007 17:50

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby extended
condolences to Andranik Margaryan’s family, friends, RA Government, and
the whole Armenian nation. His letter says: "It was with great sorrow
that I learnt about the death of Andranik Margaryan. I have had many
opportunities to meet with him. He was a bright personality, a real
devotee of democracy and establishment of peace in the region. He had
a pivotal role in the establishment of firm and perspective relations
between Armenia and the European Union."

IN CASE OF SERGE SARGSIAN’S APPOINTMENT TO PRIME MINISTER’S POST
EVERYTHING WILL SETTLE, ARAM KARAPETIAN CONSIDERS

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. In case of Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian’s appointment to RA Prime Minister’s post the situation in
the governmental field will become more clear and "everything will
settle," as indeed it was Serge Sargsian who implemented Prime
Minister’s functions before and the role of the late Andranik
Margarian was not so big. Aram Karapetian, Chairman of Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) Party, expressed such opinion in his interview to Noyan
Tapan correspondent.

In his words, personally heading RPA, Serge Sargsian henceforth will
work more actively in the direction of making majority in the new
parliament. A. Karapetian also said that after the elections
A. Margarian’s role in the governmental pyramid was rather vague.

And the relations between the authorities and opposition, where A.
Margarian played the role of a softening instance, as NZ leader
forecast, will become aggravated for even more henceforth.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

HAYASTAN" ALL-ARMENIAN FUND EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES BECAUSE OF PM’S
DECEASE

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. All-Armenian "Hayastan" Fund expressed
condolences because of decease of Armenian Prime Minister, Member of
Fund’s Council Andranik Margaryan.
"Hayastan" Fund’s press service reported that the leadership of the
Fund, in particular, expressed condolences to Margaryan’s family, his
relatives and party members.
"This is indeed a very big loss for the whole country," said the
condolences of the Fund.
Armenian Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party Andranik
Margaryan died from heart attack at the age of 56 on Sunday morning.
Margaryan has led the Government since 2000. L.M. -0–