Author: Jidarian Alex

FRESNO HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN SCHEDULED TO BE DEPORTED

The Associated Press State & Local Wire
June 2, 2008 Monday 4:51 PM GMT

The valedictorian at Fresno’s Bullard High School won’t be attending
college in the United States this fall because he’s scheduled to
be deported.

Seventeen-year-old Arthur Mkoyan’s 4.0 grade-point average qualified
him to enter one of the state’s top universities. But he and his
mother have been ordered back to Armenia after their last appeal for
asylum failed.

The family fled from what used to be part of the Soviet Union and
has been seeking asylum since 1992.

A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement says they
were given an extension until June 20 so Mkoyan could attend his
graduation ceremony.

A federal bill called the DREAM Act that would have given some
high-performing illegal immigrants legal status to attend college
stalled last year in Congress.

CAUSED BY ISAGULIAN’S NEGLIGENCE?

A1+
[04:26 pm] 02 June, 2008

Today former presidential candidate Arman Melikian referred to a recent
statement issued by the RoA President’s Adviser Garnik Isagulian.

Reminder: during a meeting with representatives of mass media
Isagulian said he had suggested Armenian political forces and figures
to participate in the activities of the national chamber.

"The statement has aroused questions among my proponents and
opponents. I must say I have got neither an oral nor a written proposal
from Isagulian.

This is negligence which will hardly enable the activities of the
national chamber," runs Melikian’s statement.

S. OHANYAN HOSTED THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

amp;p=0&id=508&y=2008&m=05&d=30
30 .05.08

SOn May 29 RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received the
representative of the American Jewish Committee, Ambassador Peter
Rosenblatt, Executive Director of the US – Armenia Public Affairs
Committee Ross Vartian and Director of the "Hope for Armenia" Fund
Madeleine Minasyan.

RA Defense Minister greeted the guest, stressing importance to the
deepening of Armenia-US bilateral relations, especially from the
perspectives of economic and democratic development and regional
stability.

For his part, Ambassador Rosenblatt noted that the Committee he
represents is one of the key organizations of the Jewish community,
which is maximally involved in the field of international relations. He
noted also that starting from 1990 he has been closely watching the
developments in the South Caucasian region, and last visited Armenia
in 1999. According to the Ambassador, the interest of the American
Jewish Committee in Armenia is connected with the close ties with
the American Armenian community.

During the meeting the parties discussed the reforms implemented in
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and issues of maintenance
of the cease-fire regime.

The parties discussed the Armenia-Israel interrelations.

At the end of the meeting sides discussed a number of issues of
regional security.

NEW TRANSNISTRIA PRECEDENT – ANALYTICS

Azeri Press Agency
May 29 2008
Azerbaijan

New model may be formed on settlement of frozen conflicts

Bucharest. Dr. Fakhri Karimli-APA. All the conflicts inherited from
the former USSR are in the area of GUAM member states: Abkhazia, South
Ossetia (Georgia), Nagorno Karabakh (Azerbaijan) and Transdnestria
(Moldova). They are also called "frozen conflicts". But it seems
if the developments go on like this, we will soon witness "melting"
of the latter.

Chairman of Moldova’s parliament Marian Lupu met with his counterpart
from "Transnistria Republic of Moldova" Yevgeny Shevchuk in Brussels
on May 14. They decided to restore the discussions on Transnistrian
conflict as soon as possible. They discussed free travel of people
along both banks of the Dniester and mutual confidence-building
measures. The meeting on this level was last held seven years
ago. Shevchuk’s visit to Brussels is also interesting from other
aspect, he is the first separatist leader to enter the area of EU
member states, after Moldova asked the European Union to lift the
travel ban off the Transnistria leaders.

The travel ban was lifted after the meeting between the President of
Moldova Vladimir Voronin Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov in Bendery
(Tighina) on April 14. In exchange for this, Igor Smirnov allowed
travel of Moldovan official in the separatist republic. They decided to
continue these contacts and dialogue on the level of commissions. The
last meeting on this level was held in August, 2001,later the
situation became tense after Moldova imposed political and economic
blockade on Transnistria with the help of Ukraine and the process of
negotiations in the format 5+2 (USA< Russia, Ukraine, European Union,
OSCE + Moldova) was suspended. Voronin was even not allowed to attend
the burial of his mother, who had been from Transnistria.

"Today Moldova is close to the peaceful solution of the Transnistrian
conflict whenever it was", said President Vladimir Voronin at the
XV meeting of Central European leaders in Ohrid, Macedonia on May
6. "My country is looking forward for the sustainable solution of
this conflict only within the "5+2" format and it can be an example
of peaceful solution of frozen conflict within the independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country". Moldovan foreign
minister Andrei Stratan shared the president’s optimism. "Moldova
believes in the solution of Transnistrian conflict by the end of the
year". It is clear that EU leads the peace process formally and the
initiative comes from Russia. Russia is playing this role not for the
first time. Russian Kozak plan, promoted by the Russian envoy Dmitriy
Kozak was rejected by the Moldovan president just before its signing
in 2003 and even Russian president Vladimir Putin returned home from
the airport. Afterwards Russian-Moldovan relations worsened sharply
and Russia banned import of Moldovan wines. Details of current peace
plan are not clear as Kozak plan, but it is clear that essence in
both documents was not changed. The question is that Moldovan refusal
of NATO integration and GUAM membership and Russian guarantee for
the Moldovan territorial integrity instead of presence of Russian
troops in Transnistrian region. It means that Moldova receives back
the Transnistrian region and enters to the Russian political orbit.

In a word, Russia began to implement new tactic on the frozen
conflicts after the Kosovo experience. Moscow is planning to
control not the separatist region, but entire country. It is not
new tactic in fact. When Moscow and Kiev disputed over the Black
Sea fleet after USSR collapse, Russia curbed separatist mood of
local Russian-speaking population and preferred to make Ukraine its
political hostage instead it. It resulted with the Crimean autonomous
status and turning of Sevastopol, the base of Black Sea fleet, into
the special territorial-administrative unit. Now Russia tries to get
second Serbia in the Eastern Europe at Moldova’s cost.

Transnistrian conflict was always evaluated as more prospective than
other conflicts, because it has no ethnic character and there are
no sharp confrontation between the sides and ethnic cleansing and
the conflict resulted with killing of few number of peoples (1000
people). Transnistrian is populated with the relative majority of
Moldavians. Transnistrian cars and residents are frequently seen in
the Chisinau, who travel to Europe with Moldovan passports. There
is experience of peaceful solution of Gagauz conflict in 1995, which
resulted with the autonomous status of Gagauzian Republic. Moldova has
been the agrarian country since the Soviet period and Transnistria is
a decisive region for the country because more than half of industrial
capacity of the country was located in this region as a result of
intentional policy of USSR. Uniting with Moldova opens for Transnistria
prospects of EU integration from the enclave. EU leaders repeated
for many times that EU would sponsor unification process in Moldova.

Moldova faced difficult choice, though it can be a new
precedent. Igor Smirnov, current President of Transnistria has
presented draft agreement on cooperation and friendship between
Moldova and Transnistria Moldavian Republic during the meeting in
Bendery. The agreement covers equal status of the two sides, their
bilateral sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in
domestic affairs. The conflict can be solved within the framework of
international legal norms and political-economical realities. Moldova
should refuse inheritance over Transnistria. Moldova and Transnistria
can become federative state basing on horizontal relations. Separatist
leaders should take important posts in central authorities, Moldova
should declare its neutralism, pay $1.5 billion-debt of Transdniestr to
Gazprom and parties and people of separatist region should participate
in parliamentarian elections in 2009.

Current developments have reached to decisive stage: establishment
of new Transnistria precedent or repetition of old Kozak experience
will depend on directions of developments.

Cyprus News Agency CNA, Cyprus
May 28 2008

Cypriot president unveils "Armenian genocide" memorial

Nicosia, 28 May: President Dhimitrios Khristofias unveiled here today
a memorial for the Armenian genocide, saying that he remains committed
to creating a better future for all Cypriots in a peaceful and
re-united Cyprus.

The president referred to the integration of Armenians, who fled
Turkey and arrived on the island, and praised their successful
entrepreneurial spirit, saying they have made the country proud.

"This site is very symbolic; this is where the first Armenians, who
fled for their lives in 1915, first landed on the island. This
memorial is an expression of appreciation shown by the Cypriot people
for the hospitality and support to Armenians who have since made
Cyprus their home," the president said as he unveiled the memorial in
the southern coastal town of Larnaca.

Khristofias reiterated his respect and solidarity as well as deep
feelings of love to the Armenian community here, noting that Cyprus
offered them a new beginning and was a refuge at difficult times.

Referring to the political situation in Cyprus, he said his government
would not cease to work for a united peaceful and prosperous country
for all its citizens, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians,
Latins and Maronites.

He noted that Cyprus has suffered from a military coup, Turkey’s
invasion and the continuing occupation of its northern part. Thousands
of people have been displaced; many of them Armenians and people have
been separated.

"Our ultimate goal is to reunite our country and our people in a
bizonal bicommunal federation with one sovereignty, one citizenship
and one international personality," he stressed.

He closed his remarks by assuring the Armenian community that he will
continue to strive for a better future for the country and all its
people.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the ambassador of Armenia, Vagram
Kazhoyan, said that "93 years ago Armenia was in tragedy. Genocide had
already started on the territory of historic Armenia. Ninety-three
years ago we were mourning and we still mourn the victims, the memory
of the victims of the genocide which started on 24 April 1915."

However, he said, "Armenia has survived and today is a day of
festivities for Armenia, it is a big holiday for Armenia, today is the
rebirth of our first republic back in 1918. In 1918 in May after
victory in three major battles against Ottoman Turkey Armenians
established their first republic after 700 years of non-independence."

"After a lot of difficulties we have survived thanks to the help of
our friends and amongst these friends was Cyprus. One of those people
was the Cypriot people who helped Armenia since the first days of the
genocide and who was among the first countries who recognized the
genocide officially in 1982," he pointed out.

Armenia and Cyprus since the independence of Armenia 70 years ago have
been in the international arena, as friends helping each other with a
lot of understanding between them, he noted.

"I am sure that the monument in the promenade of Larnaca will become
not only one of the major monuments dedicated to the Armenian genocide
all over the world but I am confident that it will become one of the
beautiful landmarks of Larnaca," he added and thanked the municipality
of Larnaca and the government of Cyprus.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 30 2008

Armenian deputy Larisa Alaverdyan: "Armenia has been losing
information war with Azerbaijan since 1996"

30 May 2008 [11:12] – Today.Az

Armenia has been losing information war with Azerbaijan beginning from
1996, said deputy of the Heritage parliamentary faction of the
Armenian National Assembly Larisa Alaverdyan.

She said the concept of self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh as
part of Azerbaijan has existed in the talks on the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict since formation of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"Nagorno Karabakh obtained the right for self-determination in 1918
beyond any dependence on Azerbaijan and preserved this right through
the whole period of the USSR. Following USSR collapse, the Nagorno
Karabakh residents won this right by the cost of great losses. In
these conditions, the aforementioned concept is undoubtedly losing for
Armenia", noted she.

The deputy also considers that the issue of strategy on "Nagorno
Karabakh" is not exhausted today, as the composition of Armenia’s
political elite, defining the country’s policy on "Nagorno Karabakh"
has almost not changed since 1996.

The deputy stressed that no cardinal steps for definition of the so
called "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" had been made through the past ten
years.

She said this is because Armenian political figures, who make
declarations on Nagorno Karabakh, including abroad, are not also
competent. "Therefore, miscalculations often occur in conditions of
unstable political situation, which is in favor of our opponent", said
Alaverdyan.

Moreover, she said the dominant of Azerbaijan’s position in the
international arena, infringes even on Armenia. "I am obliged to state
with anxiety that the present-day generation of Armenian political
scientists uses the concepts on Karabakh, of which Azerbaijani side
take advantage", noted Alaverdyan.

/ArmInfo/

URL:

PanARMENIAN.Net

NKR President doesn’t think upcoming presidential
meeting achievement
27.05.2008 17:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The President of Nagorno Karabakh
doesn’t eye the forthcoming meeting of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Presidents as an achievement.

-Nevertheless, it can be viewed as progress, for the
talks themselves can be described as progress,- Bako
Sahakian told reporters in Yerevan.

Commenting on the situation at the line of contact,
President Sahakian said that -firing is a permanent
phenomenon but we endeavor to decrease the frequency
of skirmishes,- IA Regnum reports.

President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev
of Azerbaijan will meet on June 7 during CIS informal
summit in Saint Petersburg. This will be the first
meeting since election Sargsyan the President of
Armenia.

SWISS AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN: MILITARY PHASE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT ADDITIONALLY INDICATES THAT PEACEFUL WAY OF SETTLEMENT HAS NO ALTERNATIVE

arminfo
2008-05-27 12:15:00

ArmInfo. Switzerland has always kept to the necessity of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement in a peaceful way, Swiss Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Alain Guidetti told APA.

"My country proceeds from the fact that military way of any conflict
settlement, including Nagorno Karabakh one, can never lead to the final
peace. The Armenian- Azerbaijani conflict, which started over 15 years
ago, has not been solved as yet. The conflict’s military phase has
become an additional indication of the fact that peaceful settlement
has no alternative. This is the key principle of Switzerland’s foreign
policy on such kind of problems. Moreover, we see that the potential
of the conflict settlement through negotiations has not been yet
exhausted and there are still opportunities to achieve a positive
result", the ambassador said.

YOUTH CENTER OF ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OPENED IN SHUSHI

KarabakhOpen
27-05-2008 11:48:08

One more building was restored in Shushi; the youth center of the
Armenian Apostolic Church was set up thanks to the American benefactor
Jack Mazmanian. Tennis and billiard tables have been placed in the
large light rooms. Young people of Shushi can spend their leisure
there and use the computers of the center.

Mr. Mazmanian and his wife arrived for the ceremony of
opening. Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, the primate of the Artsakh
Diocese, thanked the benefactors and the coordinator of the AGBU
Artsakh programs Sasun Baghdasaryan who contributed to the program.

The American benefactor said the program would not be carried out
without Sasun Baghdasaryan.

According to Mr. Baghdasaryan, the idea to set up a center occurred
to him when his wife arrived in Shushi with a group of tourists and
found out that the young people have no place to spend their leisure.

It is not the first program of Jack Mazmanian in Artsakh. 30 families
of killed azatamartiks get an annual financial aid until their children
come of age. Children suffering with cleft palate got medical aid. 45
children of Armenia and Karabakh have undergone surgery.

Jack Mazmanian who is a member of Hayrenik Union assesses the
relations of Artsakh and the Diaspora as positive but he thinks
that misappropriation has damaged confidence in the Diaspora. If
there were not for misappropriation, aid would be ten times more,
he says. He notes that the members of our organization and he often
arrive in Artsakh to make sure that their aid gets the addressee. Jack
Mazmanian says this year they will send 130 computers for the region
of Kashatagh and visit next year to make sure they are used, Jack
Mazmanian said in an interview with Karabakh-Open.com.

LEADER OF NEW TIMES RELEASED ON RECOGNIZANCE NOT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY

arminfo
2008-05-26 20:49:00

ArmInfo. Today the prosecutor general of Armenia Agvan Hovsepyan ruled
to release the leader of the opposition New Times party Aram Karapetyan
on recognizance not to leave the country because of poor health.

To remind, on May 16 Karapetyan was taken to Erebuni Medical Center
for medical examination.

He was arrested on Feb 24 on charge of false denunciation.