Author: Jilavian Emma

EXPERT: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S "FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY" TO PRODUCE RESULTS IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER

ARKA
June 30, 2009

YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. Armenian president’s so-called football
diplomacy is expected to produce results no sooner than in late
October or early November, Karen Bekaryan, head of European Integration
organization, said in Novosti International Press Centre on Tuesday.

"I welcome "football diplomacy", but its effectiveness will be seen
only in late October or early November", he said.

He said he didn’t share opinion that this diplomacy gave nothing
to Armenia.

Bekaryan finds it wrong to expect immediate results.

He forecasts seeming political sluggishness in summer season and
thinks the problem will be discussed later, in September.

It will be possible to say then how effective is this diplomacy.

There are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and the
state border has been closed since 1993 on Ankara’s initiative.

Turkey has set a number of pre-conditions for improving bilateral
relations, namely, Armenia’s abandoning the policy of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and recognizing Turkey’s
present-day borders.

The thaw in relations between the two countries began from Turkish
President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Yerevan on September 6, 2008. He
came to Armenia at his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation
to attend a 2010 World Cup qualifier in Yerevan.

ZORYAN INSTITUTE AWARDS ARAM AYVAZIAN PRIZE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR ESSAY CONTEST ON GENOCIDE

AZG Armenian Daily
01/07/2009

Armenian Genocide

On June 19, 2009, the Zoryan Institute awarded prizes to three grade 11
students for their submissions to the "Aram Aivazian High School Essay
Contest on Genocide." The purpose of the contest is to supplement
the teaching provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education’s new
genocide curriculum by motivating students to research the subject
more deeply, in a comparative manner. In the process, they would
understand the Armenian Genocide and its significance in the history
of the gross violation of human rights better. This, in turn, would
help them appreciate their own history and its impact on their personal
identities. Earlier this year, Zoryan launched this program as a pilot
project with A.R.S. School in Toronto. The first prize of $1,500
went to Amy Chitilian for her essay, "The Armenian Genocide: What
Were the Causes of These Massacres and Was It Really Genocide?" The
second prize of $1,250 went to Nareh Ghalustians for her essay titled,
"The Indispensible Recognition of the Armenian Genocide." The third
prize of $1,000 went to Missak Boyadjian for his essay, "The Armenian
Genocide and Humanity’s Continued Failure in Prevention." This money
is intended to help the students with their university tuitions.

Amy Chitilian made the following statement about her experience in
the project. "I would sincerely like to thank the Zoryan Institute
for putting forth this great opportunity. I am honoured to have been
chosen as the first prize scholarship winner. It gave me the incentive
to apply the knowledge that I have acquired this year through the
20th century history course regarding genocide into an analytical
essay. Preparing this essay enabled me to prove that the Armenian
massacres can and should be considered as genocide. I hope the contest
will continue to provide students with a similar opportunity to develop
insight into the world of genocide." Armen Martirossian, Principal
of the A.R.S. Armenian School, expressed his thanks to the Zoryan
Institute for launching its pilot program at his school. "We hope
this program will be adopted by other schools, whose students would
benefit greatly," he added. The program was established in memory of
Aram Aivazian, a long-time supporter of the Zoryan Institute, author,
active member of the Armenian community, and an ardent campaigner
against denial, who believed firmly in the importance of education
and raising awareness of human rights in youth. "The Aivazian family
was very moved to have our father remembered in such a meaningful
way," said Prof. Varouj Aivazian, who is a founding board member of
Zoryan Canada. "If he could have been here tonight," he continued,
"he would have been very proud of these students for their hard
work studying the Genocide." The Zoryan Institute is the parent
organization of the International Institute for Genocide and Human
Rights Studies, which runs an annual, accredited university program on
the subject and is co-publisher of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An
International Journal in partnership with the International Association
of Genocide Scholars and the University of Toronto Press. It is the
first non-profit, international center devoted to the research and
documentation of contemporary issues with a focus on Genocide, Diaspora
and Armenia. For more information please contact the Zoryan Institute
by email [email protected] or telephone (416) 250-9807

GAZ DE FRANCE TO TAKE PART IN THE ELABORATION OF ABCHERON GAS PROJECT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gaz de France SUEZ (GDF/SUEZ) French company received
20% of shares of Abcheron gas exploration and elaboration project in
the Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea.

GDF/SUEZ joined the project through acquiring 20% of shares from
French Total, another project participant, which earlier possessed 60%
of shares in the contract.

Within three years, it is planned to dig an exploratory hole costing
USD 100 million. The projected depth of the hole is 6500 m. During
the next three-year period, two more exploratory holes may be
dug. Abcheron bloc is situated at a distance of 10 km. from Baku,
Trend agency reports.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TAKES PART IN OSCE FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING IN GREECE

Noyan Tapan
June 29, 2009

CORFU, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian took
part in the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ unofficial meeting on June 28 in
Corfu Island, Greece, dedicated to issues of security strengthening in
Europe. 45 Foreign Ministers of OSCE member-countries’, high-ranking
representatives of CSTO, CIS, EU, NATO and OSCE took part in the
meeting.

E. Nalbandian made a speech at the meeting presenting Armenia’s views
on provision of security in Europe.

"The security agreements operating before were connected with
the reality that has changed today. Time has come to work out more
efficient Euroatlantic security system maybe in the form of a European
security treaty, which will exactly stipulate that general security is
inseparable, that states do not build their security at the expense
of others, that you cannot recognize one’s right rejecting the same
right of another, when use of force or its threat have no room, when
all countries unite their efforts to fight general dangers. Under
presence of these components we will be able to efficiently resist
the current challenges," the RA Foreign Minister said.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, within the framework of the OSCE Foreign
Ministers’ meeting the RA Foreign Minister also took part in the
meeting of CSTO member-countries’ Foreign Ministers, had a number of
bilateral meetings.

Development ways of bilateral relations in political and economic
spheres were discussed at the meeting with Foreign Minister of Denmark
Per Stig Moller. The Ministers exchanged thoughts over issues of
providing security in the South Caucasus. Accepting E. Nalbandian’s
invitation to visit Armenia, Per Stig Moller said that he will arrive
in Yerevan this autumn.

Further deepening of bilateral relations was touched upon at the
meeting with Foreign Minister of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey. The
Foreign Minister of Switzerland informed E. Nalbandian about the
decision of founding a diplomatic representation in Yerevan.

E. Nalbandian also met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James
Steinberg in Corfu. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon was
also present at the meeting. Issues regarding various spheres of
Armenian-American friendly relations, possibilities of development and
expansion of cooperation were touched upon during the talk. A number of
international and regional issues were also discussed at the meeting.

E. Nalbandian also met with European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner
and had a detailed talk over various spheres of Armenia-European
Union cooperation. At Commissioner’s request the RA Foreign Minister
presented the latest developments in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations process.

Possibilities of bilateral cooperation and expansion of the
legal-contractual sphere were discussed at the meeting with Foreign
Minister of Canada Lawrence Cannon. E. Nalbandian and L. Cannon
touched upon possibilities of the two countries’ cooperation at
international organizations.

Activation and strengthening of bilateral relations were touched
upon at the meeting of E. Nalbandian with Foreign Minister of Ireland
Micheal Martin.

The Ministers discussed joint steps aimed at development of political
dialogue, economic cooperation and cultural contacts.

CONGRESS OF ARMENIAN WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA TO BE HELD ON JULY 2

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.06.2009 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congress of Armenian Writers Association of
California (AWAC) will be held on July 2. at the Glendale Public
Library The book of poetess Varsik Hakobian "Roads of Anguish" will
be discussed. Poet Garush Aryants will make a report, which will be
followed by an exchange of opinions.

Armenian Writers of California published a collection "Vox pop"
with 51 literature works of Armenian writers.

WORLD HIGH-RANKING UNIVERSITIES SUPPORT ARMENIAN STUDENTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.06.2009 14:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 3 students from Armenia are enrolled at the moment
at the Massachusetts Technological Institute (MIT). The institution
is highly competitive, every year some 10 students from Armenia apply
to MIT , but only 1 out of them is admitted, Tigran Sloyan, head of
the Armenian association of MIT told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

According to Tigran Sloyan, around 15 students of Armenian descent
from different countries of the world study currently at MIT and 5-6
Armenians graduate the institution every year.

MIT covers all costs for study and provides assistance to students
who are in need, helping them to pay for accommodation and books,
Tigran Sloyan stressed.

TURKEY AND RUSSIA WILL WAIT TILL IRANIAN ISSUES ARE SETTLED
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2009 GMT+04:00

Practice shows that it is almost impossible to please everyone, and
what is acceptable for Yerevan and Baku, might be totally unacceptable
for Stepanakert.

On the eve of the planned meeting of June 26 due in Paris Heads
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani MFAs managed to exchange stinging
statements, which in reality gives the impression of a desire to
make the forthcoming negotiations look more significant. On the eve
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov once
again declared in Istanbul about the "unconstructive policy" Armenia
has set in regulating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian MFA reacted almost instantly, stating
that Mr. Mammadyarov’s statement testifies exactly the opposite – the
intention of Azerbaijan to continue her counter-productive policy in
the same spirit and just another time to attempt to shift the blame
onto Armenia. In other words, the statement meant a new break-up
of negotiations. However, it is necessary to note that break-up
of negotiations, in case it occurs, does not depend on Yerevan or
Baku. The only matter is that the latest events in Iran gave the West
to understand that even "controlled chaos" can become uncontrollable
and it is more preferable in this case to adhere to one’s previous
positions. The negotiation process on Nagorno-Karabakh continues for
this very reason. And it is unimportant for how long the process will
go on and whether at the end of the year there will be signed the
framework agreement, so often indicated by Mathew Bryza. Most likely,
nothing will be signed either before the end of this year or after it,
just like the regional energy projects hanging in mid-air.

Hardly will Edward Nalbandyan and Elmar Mammadyarov discuss in Paris,
for example, the Nabucco project, but this project will be implied,
just as 10 years ago in the negotiations was invisibly present the
oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. And thus, no pipeline will ever
bring to resolution of the conflict, no matter how eagerly Europe
and USA should be looking forward to it. The meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of conflicting sides, will be, most likely, dedicated to
the preparation of next meeting between the Presidents in Moscow due
in July. But again, it’s useless waiting for anything definite.

Nevertheless, let us try to predict the possible developments in
the region so far as it concerns the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Iran
will still long be feverish; it will keep the whole world community
in tension for rather a long time. Most likely, Ahmadinejad will
stay in power, but the possibility of conducting special elections
is not excluded: everything depends on how strong the positions
of Rafsanjani are and whether he will be able to throw down Ali
Khamenei. Possibly we’ll get the answers to these questions in the
near future. And only when the situation in the region is somewhat
normalized, Turkey and Russia will appear with their proposals on
conflict regulation. Moreover, these proposals will be too sharp
neither for Armenia nor for Azerbaijan, although practice shows that
it is almost impossible to please everyone, and what is acceptable
for Yerevan and Baku, might be totally unacceptable for Stepanakert.

Following the example of US new Assistant Secretary of State Philip
Gordon, all the interested parties began to speak of two and even
three principles of regulation. But, naturally, this is not the
point at issue. Everything is considerably simpler: renunciation of
Nagorno-Karabakh in exchange for participation in regional energy
projects. In a word, what Armenia has always refused and will
refuse. Therefore no progress in negotiations, let alone the signing
of a framework agreement.

However, somewhat alarming is the latest statement of Ambassador
Vladimir Kazimirov. According to the Russian diplomat, the public
opinion in Armenia should be prepared for necessary concessions from
both Armenian sides concerning the Karabakh issue. "I believe the
Armenian community should be prepared for certain concessions it will
have to make to the Azerbaijani side. The Armenians of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh can’t but be interested in the settlement of this
conflict", said Kazimirov.

Public opinion, of course, should be prepared, only the matter is that
in the last 15 years these societies have gone so far from each other
that "to prepare" them for anything simply sounds impossible. And
all words about "creating an atmosphere of confidence", "tolerance"
are nothing else but consonant to such expressions as "progress has
been achieved", "base principles", about which more than once have
we written.

BRAZIL TO ENHANCE COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.06.2009 20:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 25, newly-appointed Brazilian Ambassador
Marcela Maria Nicodemus handed here credentials to RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan. During the meeting, FM Nalbandyan expressed
hope that new Ambassador would contribute to the strengthening of
Armenian-Brazilian ties. Expressing her special sympathy for Armenia
and Armenian people, Brazilian diplomat said that her country intends
to undertake more active steps towards the development of cooperation
with Armenia. Parties also touched upon issues of increasing
effectiveness of political dialogue and mutual visits, enhancing
economic -cultural and legal cooperation and inter-parliamentary
relations, RA Foreign Ministry’s press service reports.

SUFFICIENT ECONOMIC GROWTH IS EXPECTED

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Departmen
June 24, 2009

Today, the NKR NA has accepted the account of the Government on the
State Budget 2008 implementation. Having a speech during the discussion
of the document, the Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan, in particular,
noted that in 2009 as well rates of sufficient economic growth in
Artsakh will be maintained, none of state affirmed programmes will be
cut down. As A.Haroutyunyan predicted, this year economic growth in
the NKR will make 14 percent, in favour of which macroeconomic indices
of the passed five months count. According to the Prime Minister’s
words, the Government seeks to provide high results, especially in
the sphere of agriculture, which is the basis of general development
of the economy of Artsakh.

PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA CALM TO DEVELOPMENTS IN HIS COUNTRY AND SURE THAT GEORGIA WILL BECOME ORDINARY EUROPEAN STATE AFTER WHILE

ArmInfo
2009-06-24 12:07:00

ArmInfo. Domestic political situation in Georgia is in good state,
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said in an interview with the
Armenian Public Television.

He said that although the opposition’s attempts to organize protest
actions, which it sometimes managed to do, the authorities proved that
they could be rather self-possessed. It is a normal phenomenon since
Georgians like rallying. Saakashvili said that once when he needed
he gathered 6-7 times more people. He also added that the opposition
in Georgia even tried to provoke police officers, organize bloodshed
scenes and everything just to deprive the Georgian authorities of
international support. However, the opposition failed. Today the
opposition is waiting for certain dirty money, but the authorities
will close this way by legal methods, the president of Georgia said.

He said that Georgian economy responded to those developments rather
calmly.

The international community had repeatedly praised the Georgian
authorities, Saakashvili said. Comparing the past with the present, the
president arrived at the conclusion that a political crisis inside the
government needs problems whereas the government of Georgia is united,
and the Parliament, the Police and the Army are consolidated. So
political crisis exists only in the mind of the oppositionists,
he said. Mikheil Saakashvili believes that the Georgian political
field is currently being cured. Afterwards, Georgia will become an
ordinary European state. The opposition is given an opportunity to
communicate with the people freely through the television.

The more people see the opposition the sooner they will be disappointed
with its radical actions, the Georgian president said.