Author: Jagharian Tania

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH BELARUSIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION

595869/lang/en
2010-03-24

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: RA Deputy Foreign Minister Karine
Ghazinyan met today with the Parliamentary delegation of Belarus led
by Valery Ivanov, deputy chairman of House of Representatives of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. Stepan Sukharenko,
ambassador of Belarus to Armenia, accompanied the parliamentary
delegation during the visit.

An official from the press and information department of RA Foreign
Affairs Ministry told Armenpress that Karine Ghazinyan emphasized the
importance of the Armenian-Belarusian high-level bilateral relations.

The two sides pointed out the necessity of promoting business ties
between the two states and mentioned that favorable inter-state
relations already exist for it.

Issues on mutual cooperation within the frames of the EU’s Eastern
Partnership and collaboration in international organizations were
touched upon as well.

ARMENIAN HEALTH MINISTRY PROPOSES FINES FOR VIOLATIONS OF LAW ON ADVERTISING OF TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL

ArmInfo
2010-03-25 16:16:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian Health Ministry proposes a fine in the amount
of 200-350 minimal payment for labor (200,000-350,000 drams ) for
every violation of advertising of tobacco and alcohol.

Health Minister Haroutiun Kushkyan told the government on Thursday that
alterations to the Code of Administrative Offences suggest punishment
for violation of the standard restrictions stipulated by the law
i.e. points 1, 3 and 4 of Article 15 of the Law On Advertising. The
given points ban advertising of tobacco and alcohol as means of
treatment and tranquilization, as well as showing the process of
smoking or drinking and direct addressing to minors. It is proposed
fining advertisement of bioactive supplements without coordination
with the Health Ministry in the amount of 150 to 200 minimal payments
for labor for every advertised product.

THE IFC TO BACK REFORM

gov.am, Armenia
March 25 2010

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received today a delegation led by IFC
Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe Snezhana Stoikovich.

Greeting the guests, the Prime Minister expressed high opinion of
Corporation’s commitment to investment programs in Armenia. This
meeting was said to be a good opportunity for tracing back progress
and planning new programs.

Both sides stressed the need for new initiatives toward overcoming
the consequences of the global crisis.

The parties have discussed possibilities for the furtherance of
business and inspection reforms as stipulated in the Government’s
program of action on improvement of business environment. The Prime
Minister made a point of bringing advanced international experience
in Armenia through corresponding consultations.

As a priority area of cooperation, Tigran Sargsyan singled out
information and high technologies, as well as the introduction of
good corporate management practices, inclusive of the institute of
independent directors.

The IFC was invited to participate in the recently formed venture
funds of Armenia. In this respect, the head of government emphasized
the need for developing corresponding forms of participation.

The interlocutors next discussed cooperation in the energy sector,
agricultural processing, establishment of free economic zones,
broader involvement of private equity in the Pan-Armenian Bank etc.

Both sides stressed the need for identification of new cooperation
potentialities.

EVERYBODY TAKES – I WOULD ALSO TAKE

ArmInfo
2010-03-25 10:17:00

ArmInfo. 32% businessmen and 34% of individual persons of Armenia,
taken part in the public opinion poll held by ‘Caucasus Research
Resources Centers – Armenia’ (CRRC – Armenia), would accept bribe
suggestion, as everybody take bribe today. The poll was conducted
in 2009 among 1515 household respondents and 400 businessmen. To
the question ‘How would you react at the bribe suggestion?’, 19%
businessmen and 21% household respondents answered they would take it,
and 75% amd 53% espectively they would give. The total of 23% and 43%
respectively of respondents would not give a bribe. To the question
‘why would you give a bribe?’, 84% of businessmen respondents and
80% of household respondent answered as it is impossible to get a
state service in another way. The decision not to give bribe 67%
businessmen and 66% household respondents explained by the fact that
such an approach is unacceptable for them. 18% and 10% respondents
respectively would try to settle the problem in a legal way. 35%
of respondent businessmen and 52% household respondent said they
need money that’s why they take bribe, and 32% and 34% respectively
explained their such intention as today everybody take bribe. 81%
and 75% respondents respectively said they cannot take bribe as it
is unacceptable for them.

50% of common citizens and 38% businessmen do not believe that their
certain actions may help fighting corruption. 22% of common citizens
and 33% businessmen think that the refusal from giving bribe to state
servicemen may become an effective personal initiative. Only 2% of
population and 6% of businessmen mentioned bringing an action against
a functionary as a possible measure for fighting corruption. As for
corruption fighting by the government, 5% of ordinary citizens and 6%
businessmen said they think it is effective, 39% and 34% respectively
think it is effective in a certain way, 22% and 28% respectively
think it is absolutely ineffective.

To the question, what share out of his monthly income a businessman is
ready to pay to irradiate corruption in Armenia, 34% of businessmen
answered they would not pay for that, 26% of them would pay up to 5%
of their income, 20% – 6 – 10%, 12% – 11 – 25%, 4% – 26 – 50% and 4%
are ready to pay more than half of their income for that.

WORLD BANK INVITED ARMENIAN MINISTER TO THE CONFERENCE OF MANAGERS OF INTERNATIONAL DONOR ORGANIZATIONS IN TBILISI

ARKA
March 24, 2010

YEREVAN, March 24. /ARKA/. Aristomene Varudakis, Head of Yerevan World
Bank Office invited Manuk Vardanyan, Armenian Minister of Transport
and Communications to the conference of managers of international
donor organizations in Tbilisi. The Conference is devoted to transport
sphere which will take place on May 12 in Tbilisi.

Ministers of Transport of Georgia and Azerbaijan will participate in
the conference. The conference is organized by the World Bank. Since
1992 the World Bank provided credits in the total amount of $1.318
billion to 70 programs, 52 of which are ended and 18 – are in the
phase of implementation.

DRANK LAUNDRY DETERGENT

/poison
12:22 pm | March 23, 2010

Two-year old Monica Melikjanyan (46/19 Chukhajyan Street of Vanadzor)
was transferred to "Narek" children’s hospital after drinking laundry
detergent. Doctors say the child’s situation is normal.

SERZH SARGSYAN: NOTHING WILL AFFECT THE ARMENIAN-SYRIAN FRIENDSHIP

armradio.am
23.03.2010 16:53

On the second day of the official visit to Syria President Serzh
Sargsyan delivered a lecture on the Armenian-Syrian relations at the
University of Damascus. President Sargsyan said, in part:

"We have always lived in a region, which is a most vivid example
of "the crossroad of civilizations." For the countries of the West
Armenians have been the best interpreters of Islamic, Arab and Iranian
cultures, for the countries of the East Armenians have been unique
Ambassadors to the Caucasus, and have been conceived by many as
carriers of Western culture. Even when Armenians had no statehood at
different periods of history, this linking role never stopped being
part of Armenian identity.

In this context Syria has had its unique and extremely important role
for Armenians. Syria has been the bridge linking us to the Arab and
Islamic worlds. The parallels of fate of Armenians and Syrians have
brought the two peoples closer.

Today, on the eve of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, I’d
like to avail myself of the opportunity to express sincere gratitude
to our Arab brothers, who hosted Armenian refugees, fleeing from the
persecutions of the Ottoman authorities.

Today I have arrived in Damascus at the invitation of respected
President, Dr. Bashar Al-Assad. Full mutual understanding and brilliant
friendly relations have been established between us.

Armenia and Syria have signed tens of agreements, memorandums of
understanding, and cooperation programs over the past 18 years.

Another ten documents were signed within the framework of my visit.

Armenia makes great efforts to expand the framework of cooperation
with the Arab world. This is the reason why we are represented in
the League of Arab States.

Simultaneously, Armenian continues implementing a policy targeted
at the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus
region, which will contribute to the creation of equal conditions of
development for all the peoples of the region.

I promise that I will spare no efforts for the bridge between Armenia
and Syria to remain strong. No shift of power in the region of the
world can affect the gradually strengthening Armenian-Syrian friendship
and the expanding cooperation between our countries."

Xinhua General News Service, China
March 20, 2010 Saturday 6:25 AM EST

Roundup: Turkish PM under fire over Armenian deportation threat

by Chen Ming Bilge Eser ISTANBUL, March 20

Though seeking to appease the Armenian community on Friday, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan still faces the heat for his
threat to expel thousands of Armenian illegal immigrants.

"Turkish Republic’s past is full of deportation towards minorities.
These words gave so much harm to Armenian migrants, the same harm they
would face if they were deported," Markar Esayan, a columnist of local
Taraf daily, told Xinhua on Saturday.

Esayan called Erdogan’s statement as "gaffe," adding that the number
of Armenians living in Turkey is not 170,000 as many as what Erdogan
described.

In case of a deportation, the columnist said that the situation would
be more complicated for Turkey.

"Turkey maintains that the 1915 events aren’t genocide. But she has
already lost herself around the world. Immigration issue is a very
fragile subject in the world and you choose to sauce this with
ethnicity and turn into a power show," Esayan criticized Erdogan.

Columnist Cengiz Candar, one of many in the Turkish media who chided
Erdogan for his remarks, said in his column in the Radikal daily that
Erdogan should apologize to Armenians.

The Turkish prime minister, in an interview late Tuesday with BBC
Turkish service, said there were 100,000 Armenians living in the
country illegally alongside Turkey’s 70,000-strong Armenian community.

In comments on U.S. and Swedish approvals of resolutions earlier this
month branding the massacres of Armenians in the late Ottoman Empire
as genocide, Erdogan said the Armenian diaspora was causing harm both
to the process of reconciliation with Armenia and to Armenians.

"If necessary, I may have to tell these 100,000 (Armenians) to go back
to their country because they are not my citizens. I don’t have to
keep them in my country," Erdogan said.

Erdogan’s remarks have drew ire from Turkish media commentators and
rights groups, saying the threat meant Armenian workers, most of whom
work for monthly wages of a few hundred liras, were being used as a
bargaining chip in foreign policy.

Armenian Migration Agency Director Gagik Yeganyan said that Turkey
turned its Armenian citizens into a "political negotiation" issue.

"Official numbers differ from Erdogan’s remarks," said Yeganyan to an
Armenian news website Panorama. "The flow to Turkey isn’t that much
because Armenians had reservations towards Turkey," Yeganyan added.

According to a study by Alin Ozinyan from Eurasia Institution, nearly
6 million Armenians entered Turkey between 2000 and 2007.

The exact number of Armenian workers is unknown, but the Turkish
authorities have been aware of the presence of the illegal ones, most
of them working as cleaners and baby sitters in Turkish families and
mainly in Istanbul.

Artak Shakaryan, Armenia-Turkey Projects Manager of Eurasia
Partnership Foundation, told Xinhua that he did not find Turkish prime
minister’s remarks right.

The Armenian researcher said that Turkey in fact can send some groups
of Armenians just to show force, but he did not believe that this
would lead to a full scale of deportation of Armenian migrants.

"Because in this case Erdogan would have nothing to threaten. The
Armenian migrants in Istanbul now are volunteer hostages to use in
foreign policy and Ankara will never give out that trump card," said
Shakaryan.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said on Wednesday that "When
the Turkish prime minister allows himself to make such statements, it
immediately brings up memories of the events of 1915," according to
local media.

In face of criticism, Erdogan has lashed out at the media, claiming
that news outlets mis-reported his remarks about deporting Armenian
workers.

Erdogan on Friday dismissed the criticism and reassured Turkey’ s
Armenian community that they are not being targeted.

"We have never had any problems with our Armenian citizens," Erdogan
told a meeting of his Justice and Development Party in Ankara. He
complained that he was misquoted in the media, which he said
misrepresented his remarks to suggest that they are targeting Turkey’s
Armenian community.

Erdogan said he suggested the "possibility to expel 100,000 Armenian
undocumented workers in Turkey" in response to U.S. and Swedish
lawmakers passing resolutions recognizing the Armenian " genocide"
when he spoke to the BBC Turkish service.

The Turkish prime minister emphasized that "baseless genocide claims"
will harm the normalization efforts with Armenia.

Armenians claim that more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a
systematic genocide in the hands of the Ottomans during World War I,
before modern Turkey was created in 1923.

The Turkish government insists the Armenians were victims of
widespread chaos and governmental breakdown as the 600-year-old empire
collapsed in the years before 1923, and has been trying to normalize
relations with Armenia.

Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
March 21 2010

Does recalling envoys really work as a foreign policy tool?

The presidents of Turkey’s leading think tanks recognize the
diplomatic message conveyed by recalling ambassadors but question its
effectiveness, particularly in the recent case of Turkey, which
employed the tactic in reaction to the passage earlier this month of
Armenian resolutions in the United States and Sweden.

Turkey first recalled Namık Tan, Turkish ambassador to the US, and
then Ambassador to Sweden Zergün Korutürk upon the approval of
resolutions branding the Word War I-era killings of Armenians
`genocide.’ Though both of the ambassadors are still in Ankara rather
than occupying their posts in the capitals they were appointed to,
Turkey seems to have reaped the fruits of its move as apologies
hastily flew in both from the US and Sweden. However, while some
well-known strategists in Turkey were not satisfied with the country’s
diplomatic move and found it rather counterproductive, claiming that
Turkey’s missions there were left with limited capabilities without
top diplomats, others argued that Turkey should not be too optimistic
about the ramifications of its actions and should not assume the
problems were completely solved after its move. Speaking to Sunday’s
Zaman, the presidents of Turkey’s leading think tanks analyzed
`recalling ambassadors’ as a diplomatic tool, particularly in the
context of Turkey’s recent frustration with the US and Swedish
resolutions.
`It is the lightest way of displaying a diplomatic reaction. However,
it cannot be a measure on its own, and it cannot be claimed that the
problem is solved as a result, ‘ said Professor Sedat Laçiner of the
International Strategic Research Organization (USAK). He added that,
however, he thought Turkey achieved what it was aiming for through
recalling its ambassadors. `It was a message particularly to the US,
and I think Korutürk was recalled just to maintain a consistent
reaction,’ he said. While asked if recalling ambassadors could hinder
Turkey’s representation there, he noted that presently Tan and
Korutürk are more useful in Ankara than they could have been in
Washington and Stockholm.

Turkey accepts that many Armenians died in the 1915 incidents, which
also claimed the lives of Turks, Kurds and other inhabitants of the
region at the time, but strongly denies the killings on the Armenian
side were systematic and constituted genocide. Turkey’s proposal to
open state archives for historians to study the relevant documents and
conclude the dispute was not welcomed by Armenia, which refuses entry
to its own archives. The resolutions in the US and Sweden narrowly
passed on March 4 and 11, respectively, immediately after which Turkey
recalled its envoys from both countries.

Süleyman Å?ensoy of the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies
(TASAM) slightly differed from Laçiner in his assessment of Turkey’s
move, where he put a particular emphasis on the need for employing
tools of public diplomacy rather than coercive measures. `Recalling
ambassadors has its place in professional diplomatic language, and if
you do not give a proper reaction in the first place, the consequences
may worsen, too. However, a reaction to a decision taken under
pressure of non-state actors as was the case in the Armenian
resolutions should also be in the form of campaigns carried out by
non-state actors,’ he said, detailing his suggestion by stating
potential roles that could be played by NGOs and universities. `Ways
out of such matters certainly pass through public diplomacy,’ he
concluded.

Recalling ambassadors counterproductive

Stressing that the action should have definitely been more coercive,
Turkish Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies
(TÃ`RKSAM) President Sinan OÄ?an stated that recalling ambassadors was
too weak a measure against political decisions taken by states without
having substantial information regarding a historical dispute.
`Carrying out genocide is the heaviest of all crimes, and it is
terribly wrong for states that are not even aware of what really
happened almost 100 years ago to make political decisions here.
Nothing could therefore be more natural than Turkey reacting to them,
but the way to do that should have certainly been more coercive.
Recalling an ambassador carries no meaning other than giving a
message. And the message here was too weak,’ he said.

OÄ?an further argued that Turkey is essentially restricting the
capabilities of its missions abroad by recalling its ambassadors. He
said economic sanctions would always work better as they directly
affect states’ interests even in the short term. `Simply keeping them
out of public tenders is a brilliant option,’ he illustrated. OÄ?an
added that country-based measures should also be devised rather than
using the same generic method for all. `For example, if someone really
needed to be recalled to have extensive talks, I think the commander
of the Turkish troops serving with coalition forces in Afghanistan was
a better choice to put pressure on the US,’ he said.

21 March 2010, Sunday
MUSTAFA EDÄ°P YILMAZ Ä°STANBUL

WOMEN GATHER FOR ARS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Armenian Weekly
Thu, Mar 18 2010

NEW YORK-Armenian Relief Society (ARS) members from various countries,
including Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, France, Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
and the United States gathered in New York City this past weekend to
celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary.

The three-day celebration, organized by the ARS Central Executive
Board, began with a gala evening at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall.

Master of ceremonies Stephanie Mesropian began by reflecting on the 100
years of ARS service to Armenian communities worldwide. She described
the humanitarian work of the ARS as it evolved during the past century
and touched upon the organization’s future with special focus on the
programs in Armenia, Artsakh (Karabagh), and Javakhk. She introduced
the invited guests, including the benefactors, organizational
representatives, church leaders, and UN representatives present.

The evening’s keynote speaker, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, the president
and CEO of Women’s World Banking, praised the ARS for its philanthropic
and charitable work. She touched upon the changes in the non-profit
sector, mentioning that investment in women’s economic development has
shown to be successful. She urged the gathering to continue promoting
educational, healthcare, housing, and welfare issues for Armenian
families throughout the world.

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, was invited to read the
Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, who declared 2010 the "Year of the Armenian Woman"
and congratulated the ARS on its 100 years of selfless service to
the Armenian nation.

The ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States,
Tatoul Markarian, delivered a message from Armenia’s minister of
diaspora, Hranoush Hakobyan. The ambassador also offered his personal
congratulations and urged the members to continue its mission.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Hagop
Der Khatchadourian and Dr. Vartan Gregorian, the president of
the Carnegie Corporation and past recipient of ARS scholarships,
offered their remarks. Vicky Marashlian, the chairperson of the ARS
Central Executive Board, then spoke about the work that the ARS has
undertaken. "The ARS works on a full spectrum of issues, from local
community efforts, to sheltering and feeding orphans in the homeland,
to promoting awareness of our vibrant culture and of equal justice
wherever and whenever people are denied basic rights," she said.

Speaking to the membership in the audience, she emphasized that "we
are an alliance of strong, passionate women catalyzing partnerships
and leveraging human and financial capital to serve the needs of
our people."

At the conclusion of her address, she presented the ARS "Ararat"
Award to the Near East Foundation, an organization celebrating its
95th anniversary, as it was started the same year as the Armenian
Genocide in 1915. Shant Mardirosian, the chairman of the Near East
Foundation, accepted the award with great honor and thanked the ARS
for acknowledging their work.

The evening featured a vibrant performance by opera singers Yeghishe
Manucharyan, tenor, and Victoria Avetisyan, mezzo-soprano. They were
accompanied on piano by Armine Vardanyan and on the glass harmonica
by Alisa Nakashian-Holsberg.

The celebration concluded with a reception that gave all those in
attendance an opportunity to collectively congratulate the ARS’
100 years of service to the Armenian people.

The ARS members who had gathered from throughout the world also
attended a one-day seminar on various topics, including UN NGOs,
Armenian women and empowerment, international philanthropy, and
internal organizational issues.

The 100th anniversary is also being celebrated with local and regional
events throughout the 26 countries where ARS entities are located.

The New York-based gathering is part of a series of events that will
culminate this fall with a pilgrimage to Der Zor, the desert in Syria
where hundreds of thousands of Armenians perished during the genocide,
and a week-long celebration in Armenia.

***

Officials who attended the Carnegie celebration included Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the
Eastern U.S.; Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Armenian
Apostolic Church in the Western U.S.; Archbishop Manuel Batakian,
Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Church in North America; Levon
Filian, representing the Armenian Missionary Association of America;
Tatoul Markarian, the ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in the
U.S.; Mr. and Mrs. Garen Nazarian, representative of the Republic of
Armenia at the UN; Aram Avetisyan, the NKR representative in the U.S.;
Hagop Der Khachatourian, representing the ARF Bureau; Hrayr Baronian,
representing the ARF Central Committee, Eastern U.S.; Garine Hovsepian,
representing the ARF Central Committee, Canada; Zarmayr Setrakian,
representing the Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Association;
and Shant Martirossian, representing the Near East Relief Foundation.