Author: Jidarian Alex

VAHAN HOVANNISYAN: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTRY ARE MISTAKEN SAYING THERE IS NO PRE-CONDITION IN NORMALIZATION OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2009-05-13 14:29:00

ArmInfo. As a result of unreasonable policy of Armenia regarding Turkey
the situation on the Karabakh conflict settlement causes anxiety,
the head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktiutyun
party parliamentary faction Vahan Hovannisyan said at today’s
press-conference in Azdak club.

He also added the president and foreign minister say there is no
pre-condition in the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, but they are mistaken. Hovannisyan thinks that the
Armenian-Turkish is still close as there are pre-conditions. ‘It is no
secret, that army plays an important part in Turkey, and commander of
general headquarters said many times there are pre-conditions’, – the
deputy said and added the Armenian-Turkish relations should develop
in three stages – normalization of relations and establishment of
diplomatic relations. The party which closed the border should open
it. Then the two countries should come closer and discuss several
problems including recognition of the Armenian genocide. ‘But the
present process is evidence of the fact that the Armenian party lost’,
– Vahan Hovannisyan said.

CAPSULE WITH COMMEMORATIVE NOTE LAID IN MATENADARAN NEW BUILDING FOUNDATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.05.2009 15:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Matenadaran,
is celebrating the 50th anniversary in 2009.

Today, a capsule with commemorative note was laid in the foundation
of Matenadaran new building.

The ceremony was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan,
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Matenadaran director Hrachya
Tamrazyan, architect Arthur Meschyan and a number of high raking
officials.

"The new building will provide a climate for scientific events. The
main building will have 6 exposition halls. The facade of the building
will remain unchangeable. A small part of the new building will be
seen from Mashtots Avenue," architect Arthur Meschyan said.

Construction of the new building will be presumably finished by
September 11, 2011.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN-ITALIAN COLLABORATION CAN SERVE AS A CATCHING EXAMPLE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.05.2009 12:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan participated in
the opening ceremony of Litokol Armenian-Italian Factory, RA Government
Press Service reported.

The company was founded in 2007 and is engaged in glue and gluing
putty manufacturing. 60% of company’s basic capital was provided by
Armenian side, and 40% by Italian one.

The factory is provided with the most up to date equipment, and offers
around 40 work places. In future this figure will double.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan expressed a hope that Armenian-Italian
collaboration can serve as a good example of a possibility to develop
business even in financial crisis circumstances. "RA Government will
provide all round assistance to Litokol Armenian-Italian Factory and
similar undertakings," he stated.

Armenian Second TV Channel
May 5 2009

Armenian premier, Russian official discuss cooperation, regional
security

[Presenter] [Armenian] Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received today
director of Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail
Fradkov. Issues of further developing cooperation between the sides
were discussed.

Sargsyan and Fradkov agreed that such periodic meetings and contacts
within the framework of the Armenian-Russian strategic cooperation,
exchange of opinions on issues of mutual interest allow to closely
monitor political and economic processes taking place in the world, in
the region, in both countries, and security issues in order to jointly
oppose challenges of the contemporary world and find out more
efficient ways of emerging situations and outline ways for further
development.

Sargsyan also introduced the Armenian government’s stand on the
economic situation in our country, negative impacts of the global
financial and economic crisis, measures taken to overcome them,
[Armenia’s] relations with neighbouring countries, including Turkey
and Iran, and also issues of regional security and cooperation.

EU CAN SIGN AGREEMENTS ON NABUCCO TILL END OF JUNE

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.05.2009 15:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union can sign all necessary agreements
on Nabucco gas pipeline construction project till the end of June,
Kommersant reported.

Implementation of the projects aims to deprive Moscow of monopoly in
energy sources transportation from Central Asia. It means that the
EU doesn’t expect to compromise with Russia on the issue.

WORLD CRISIS HAS ALSO POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR SOME ARMENIAN COMPANIES

Noyan Tapan
May 8, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Nearly 90% Armenian businessmen said that
the crisis has already had an impact on their company’s activity and
only 5% think that it will have no impact at all. Manuk Hergnian, the
Chairman of the Economy and Values Research Center, reported at a May
6 press conference presenting the results of the study Situational
Estimation of Economic Crisis Impact on Armenia’s Economy. In his
words, nearly 80% responded entrepreneurs expect crisis deepening
in 2009.

According to the study results, over 70% enterprises had problems
mainly regarding reduction of sale volumes, delay of payments or their
non-fulfillment and 30-45% had difficulties in involving finances. M.

Hergnian said that as means to resist the crisis the most part of
enterprises is going to reduce administrative expenditures and to
delay implementation of investments.

40% responded companies plan to reduce the number of employees,
at that, most reductions will be done at small and medium-sized
enterprises.

Reduction of salaries is expected at 20% companies, especially at
industrial companies.

According to center director’s observation, the crisis had also
positive consequences for some companies, especially from point of
view of weakening of competitors’ positions, fall in prices for raw
materials and equipment.

According to M. Hergnian, among economic branches the biggest fall
was recorded in the spheres of energy, mining, and construction. Rates
of food industry growth have been kept almost unchanged.

60 small and big companies operating in Armenia took part in the
survey held in March-April. Study results details can be found at
center’s website,

DJIVAN GASPARYAN GIVING INTERVIEW TO HURRIYET DAILY NEWS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.05.2009 00:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ World-renowned Armenian duduk virtuoso Djivan
Gasparyan has said to Hurriyet Daily News it is "the right time" for
all Turkish and Armenian people to raise their glasses "arm-in-arm
for peace and brotherhood."

"Come, let’s share our pains," said the musician, 81, known for
his skill on the duduk. "No matter that you are Muslims and we are
Christians. The holy thing we worship, and all the paths to him,
are the same."

Gasparyan’s family owes its life to a Turkish family, he said,
explaining: "The roots of my family date back to the Anatolian city of
MuÅ~_. My grandfather had six children. In 1915, our Turkish neighbor
saved the life of these children by hiding them under the fodder in
the barn."

As it is said in the article, Gasparyan’s grandfather spoke about
this Turkish family with love and respect until the end of his life,
Gasparyan said, adding, "The biggest wish of my grandfather was to
see this family before his death and give them his blessings, but
his wish did not come true."

"My biggest wish is for the border gates between Turkey and Armenia
to open as soon as possible," Gasparyan told the Hurriyet Daily News &
Economic Review at his home in the Armenian capital of Yerevan before
he embarked on a world tour. This would accelerate the dialogue
process between both countries, he said, adding, "I want to see our
peoples make peace before I die."

Despite his advanced age, he still goes on world tours too. "I
have finally come to Armenia, which is my homeland," he said. "I
feel at peace in this country. But my heart is in MuÅ~_, where my
grandfathers were born. I want to come to Turkey and visit MuÅ~_
as soon as possible."

Taking the stage with many world-renown names, Gasparyan said it was
a significant step to perform with Turkish artists. "Maybe we cannot
speak a common language, but we can create a global one with notes
and music," he said.

>>From time to time, Gasparyan said, the ownership of songs
is debated in Armenia, just as it is in Turkey. "There are big
similarities between some Turkish, Armenian and Iranian songs," he
said. "For example, ‘Sarı Gelin’ (Yellow Bride) is always the focus
of discussions. But it doesn’t make sense to politicize songs. It is
nonsense to debate the ownership of anonymous music."

COURT OF APPEAL MUST RESTORE JUSTICE

A1+
06:59 pm | May 08, 2009

Politics

The International Federtion for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights
Centre (HRIDC) and Civil Society institute (CSI) have issued a joint
statement which runs:

Our organisations express their concern on the case of Mr. Vahagn
Chakhalyan, sentenced to a 10-year prison term at the conclusion of
a trial marred by irregularities, and who was subsequentlty brutally
beaten in prison in Tbilisi.

On April 7, 2009 the Akhaltsikhe district court in Georgia
sentenced Mr. Vahagn Chakhalyan, a local activist from the ethnic
Armenian-populated Javakheti region in the south of Georgia to 10 years
in prison. The court found Mr. Chakhalyan guilty of the following
counts: acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition,
participation in mass riots, organisation of a group action disturbing
public order, resistance to the police or to another representative of
the authorities, and hooliganism. The court also condemned his father
Mr. Ruben Chakhalyan and his younger brother Mr. Armen Chakhalyan to
fines equivalent to 3,000 and 1,200 USD respectively. On April 16,
2009 Mr. Vahagn Chakhalyan was taken out of his cell in Tbilisi prison
No. 8 to be brutally beaten by prison officers.

Since his arrest in July 2008, the legal proceedings against
Mr. Chakhalyan have been marred by irregularities.

Mr. Chakhalyan was originally accused of illegal possession of
firearms. Despite his lawyer requests, no fingerprints were ever
collected on the weapons reportedly found in his house. Charges against
him for violating public order are a later addition, and relate to
protests that followed the October 2006 elections in Akhalkalaki.

Mr. Chakhalyan’s trial only started on November 6, 2008, and hearings
were repeatedly postponed. All legal proceedings took place in
Akhaltsikhe district court, although the events that led to the
arrest of Mr. Chakhalyan, his father and younger brother took place
in Akhalkalaki, their place of residence.

For unknown reasons, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia rejected
Mr. Chakhalyan’s request to be represented by the lawyer of his
choice. Considering that this decision violates the right of the
defense, the Ombudsman of Georgia officially requested the Minister of
Justice to permit the lawyer of his choice to defend Mr. Chakhalyan, to
no avail. According to his lawyers and his relatives, the translation
provided to Mr. Chakhalyan during his trial was incomplete and of
poor quality. The written records of the proceedings are therefore
likely to be flawed.

Our organisations conclude that the procedure against Mr. Chakhalyan
was carried out with blatant violations of national, regional and
international legal standards on the right to a fair trial. FIDH, HRIDC
and CSI intend to follow closely the appeal trial of Mr. Chakhalyan,
and call upon the Georgian authorities to guarantee him a thorough and
independent trial in appeal, in conformity with Georgia’s obligations
under regional and international Human Rights law.

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN MET IN PRAGUE
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
08.05.2009 10:18
Prague

The Presidents of the Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham
Aliyev had a meeting at the residence of the US Ambassador to the
Czech Republic.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Foreign Ministers of the
two countries participated in the meeting. Neither the Presidents,
nor the Foreign Ministers made any statements for press. The Minsk
Group Co-Chairs told reporters the meeting was constructive.

US Co-Chair Matthew Bryza said they would work with the Ministers
within the coming months to clarify the remaining details of the
basic principles.

"They were able to reduce their differences on basic principles and
generally agree on the basic ideas they came here to discuss," said
US Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza, a Co-Chairman of the
Minsk Group.

"For the first time the Presidents agreed on basic ideas surrounding
these points," he told a news conference.

According to French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier, it is impossible not
to notice the progress. The Presidents are meeting more frequently,
and this is already an achievement. In general, all the disputable
questions have been agreed upon.

Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov informed about the possibility of
another presidential meeting in the near future.

"Most probably, the next meeting will take place in Saint Petersburg at
0Athe beginning of June. In any case, we will try to organize it. The
Foreign Ministers are expected to meet before that. We will meet the
Foreign Ministers, we will visit the region and try to organize the
meeting of Presidents," Merzlyakov said.

Asked whether the issues of Lachin corridor and the stats of Karabakh
are the most difficult points in the negotiations, Fassier said:
"You are better informed than me."

Bryza underlined that the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations was a separate process. "The two processes develop parallel,
but at different paces," he said.

Following the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting the President’s Press Office
issued a statement, which reads: "The Armenian side assesses the
meeting in Prague as useful, which enabled the parties to further
clarify the approaches on the basic principles of settlement of the
Karabakh issue and bring the positions closer on some points. The
Foreign Ministers of the two countries were instructed to continue
working with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards the coordination of
the basic principles of conflict resolution and prepare the next
meeting of the Presidents."

MINSK HOSTED 10TH INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX SONG FESTIVAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.05.2009 16:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On Apr. 27- May 3 Minsk hosted 10th International
Orthodox Song Festival . At the Festival Armenia was represented by
"Saghmos" choir (Kotayk Eparchy of Armenian Apostolic Church) under
the guidance of Lilit Sargsyan. The choir was awarded a prize and
a diploma. International Jury Chairman Fedor Povnin expressed his
admiration about Armenian choir’s performance.