Author: Jilavian Emma

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST ATTACKED IN ARMENIA: POLICE

Agence France Presse — English
November 18, 2008 Tuesday 11:38 AM GMT

A prominent Armenian investigative journalist was attacked and badly
beaten in the capital Yerevan, local police said in a statement
Tuesday.

Edik Bagdasarian, head of the Armenian Association of Investigative
Journalists, suffered serious head injuries when he was attacked
Monday night by three unidentified assailants, the statement said.

The police made no comment on a possible motive for the attack.

Bagdasarian told journalists he had no idea who might be behind
the assault.

"I have no enemies, I cannot say who might be behind this," he said
in televised remarks from his hospital bed.

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian, who visited Bagdasarian in hospital,
raised concerns over the attack.

"The prime minister expressed his deep concern over the incident
and confidence that the assailants will be identified and punished,"
Sarkisian’s office said in a statement.

Bagdasarian, 49, is a respected independent journalist known for his
in-depth investigative reporting on topics ranging from politics to
crime and corruption.

MINISTER NALBANDIAN DELIVERS A LECTURE AT THE VILNIUS UNIVERSITY

armradio.am
19.11.2008 13:57

Within the framework of his visit to Lithuania, the Foreign Minister of
Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, visited the Vilnius University where he had
a meeting with the Rector of the University Benediktas Juodka. During
the meeting the parties discussed the opportunities of establishing
cooperation between the Vilnius University and the Yerevan State
University.

Minister Nalbandian delivered a lecture on "Security in the South
Caucasus: The Armenian Perspective" at the Department of International
Relations and Political Science.

Turning to the steps Armenia takes in the direction of establishing
peace in the region and ensuring security, Edward Nalbandian presented
the latest developments in the negotiations on the settlement
of the Artsakh issue, underlining that the distorted comments on
the Maindorf declaration do not promote the implementation of the
principles consolidated in the document, especially with regard to
the reinforcement of trust.

Edward Nalbandian met representatives of the Armenian community of
Lithuania. During the meeting the Foreign Minister presented the
Armenian-Lithuanian relations, the process of reforms underway in
Armenia, the Karabakh settlement process and the perspectives of
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Speaking about Armenia-Diaspora relations, the Armenian Foreign
Minister said the Armenian authorit ies intend to raise the
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

EU FULLY SUPPORTS GUL’S YEREVAN VISIT

Today’s Zaman
Nov 14 2008
Turkey

The topic of the cultural footprint left behind by Armenians on
Anatolian soil was discussed yesterday at a conference on the Armenian
legacy in Turkey, organized at the European Parliament.

President Abdullah Gul’s recent visit to Yerevan was described as a
"turning point"at the conference — during which it was noted that
the Erzurum Congress, one of the two congresses that founded the
Turkish Republic, was held in a building constructed by Armenian
architects. The conference also sparked a negative reaction from
Turkish-Armenians.

Hosted by European Parliament French Liberal parliamentarian Bernard
Lehideux and organized by the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU), the conference, titled "A Journal of Cultural Rediscovery:
Armenian Heritage in Turkey," was held at the European Parliament
building. AGBU Brussels representative Nicholas Tatvian gave the
opening speech, and the European Commission, emphasized that Gul’s
trip was "a turning point."

European Commission Director-General for Enlargement Michael Leigh and
the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-chair Joost Lagendijk
were previously announced as participants at the conference, but
they did not attend. Representing the commission was Jean-Christophe
Filori, the head of the Turkey desk, who commented on Gul’s visit,
describing him as "a courageous man that the European Union supports
wholeheartedly."

Fethiye Cetin, the writer of the bestselling book "My Grandmother,"
said the modern Turkish state was based on denying its past and
cutting its ties with this past, after a very painful period of
transition to a nation-state from a multicultural, multi-religious
and multi-national empire.

Cetin said Turkey was imposing a permanent ban on "remembering
things." She also said discussions on 1915 incidents were simplified
to mere figures, numbers, documents and discussions on the meanings
of words, with complete disregard to the real human tragedy and pain
caused by the incidents.

Reaction from Turkish-Armenians

Meanwhile, Turkish-Armenians have reacted to the lack of
Turkish-Armenian speakers at the Brussels conference Verkin Kasapoglu
said such conferences were being used politically, noting that not
a single Turkish-Armenian had been invited to participate.

Kasapoglu, a member of the Foundation to Protect Historical Legacy,
said the Armenian diaspora did not even support funding the restoration
of Armenian historical monuments and buildings in Turkey, out of
fear that Turkey would benefit from such restoration projects. "I
really doubt the sincerity of such conferences. My dad bought a
house in Paris in 1946. Then they confiscated it because my dad was
a foreigner. These things happen every where in the world," he said.

KARAMARDIAN AND FRIENDS TO PRESENT ‘SMALL WORLD OF SONG’

Ithaca Journal
Nov 13 2008
NY

The Morgan Opera House is pleased to present its final concert of the
2008 series, featuring an array of song favorites from five continents
titled ‘It’s a Small World…of Song!’ Vocalists Denice Karamardian,
Marsha Eger, Nansa Brown, and Molly MacMillan perform songs of
Mongolia, Russia, Armenia, Israel, Spain, France, Cuba, and Brazil,
including multi-cultural chants from the Tibetan, Hopi, Sanskrit,
Hebrew and Latin. Harry Aceto is also featured on bass and guitar.

The concert will take place at the Morgan Opera House, on Route 90,
Main St. in Aurora at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. Admission for adults
is $10, seniors and students $7, and $4 children. The program is
dedicated in memory of the late George Peter.

Denice Karamardian is a native Ithacan who returned to the region
after earning her degree from the New England Conservatory of Music
and a two plus-decade performance career in early music, theater,
cabaret, and jazz. She teaches private voice, owns and operates The
Coddington Guest House, and is producer/host of ‘Crossing Borders
LIVE’ weekly radio concert series on Saturday nights. Denice brought
a concert of Brazilian jazz to the Morgan Opera House in 2004, and
the Ithaca Revue Company Cayuga Cabaret in 1999.

Molly MacMillan, (piano and vocals) received a music degree at
Ithaca College, remained in Ithaca, and became known as one of
the areas foremost jazz pianists. She travels and records with the
Hotfoot Club, the Molly MacMillan Trio, and is delighted to join with
Denice Karmardian and the wonderful singers who are a part of the MOH
performance. Her CD’s of jazz standards and original tunes, "Happy Our"
and "Face the Mountain" are available from She
will sing French and American selections and accompany the other
vocalists on piano.

Born and raised in Mongolia , Nansa Brown began singing at age of
three. She states "everybody in my family has a great voice." A
soloist in school and college bands, she went on to perform and
travel as soloist with a group called "Voice of Youth". While working
for the United States Peace Corps as a cross cultural trainer, Nansa
performed and taught Mongolian songs to PC Volunteers. Nansa resides in
Trumansburg with her husband, Max Brown and daughter, Zoloo and Myagga
and works for Ithaca College in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Marsha Eger, came to Ithaca via Watertown to serve as Vice President
of Community Relations at Cayuga Medical Center under the direction
of Bonnie Howell. She is an Ithaca College alum and currently serves
as Ithaca College Executive Director of Alumni Programs and Annual
Fund. She was introduced to Aurora audiences at the Morgan Opera
House in 1999 in ‘Cayuga Cabaret’with Denice and the Ithaca Revue
Company. Over the years Marsha has performed as a soloist and in
musical theater and is the author of the recently released book
‘Voice of My Soul: Wisdom from the Stillness’. She teaches chant,
hosts a Sunday night open chant session, and will share chants from
numerous cultures.

Dinner and other eateries in the immediate area of the Morgan Opera
House include: The Aurora Inn, The Fargo Bar and Grill, Pumpkin Hill
Bistro, and Dories.

Panorama.am

17:35 08/11/2008

FOREIGN MINISTER INVITED HIS SWEDISH COUNTERPART TO ARMENIA

On November 7-8 the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan was
invited to Sweded by his Swedish counterpart Carl Bylty. During the
meeting the Foreign Ministers have discussed Armenian-Swedish
relationship, Armenia-European Union cooperation, regional and
international affairs.

Regarding Armenia-Sweden relationship, Foreign Minister Nalbandyan
said that Armenia is willing to expand relationship with Sweden. The
Foreign Ministers signed a Readmission agreement which was followed by
an official dinner given in the honor to Armenian Foreign Minister.

Source: Panorama.am

SERGEY LAVROV MEETS WITH AZERBAIJANI MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

RIA OREANDA
Nov 5 2008
Russia

Moscow. ">OREANDA-NEWS . November 5, 2008. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, met in Moscow
on October 31 with Ministers of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mamedyarov
of the Azerbaijan Republic and Edward Nalbandian of the Republic of
Armenia. Matters relating to the preparations for the upcoming meeting
on November 2, 2008, between Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and
Serzh Sargsian of Armenia with the participation of Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
were discussed.

TURKEY SUPPORTS U.S. NEW ELECTED PRESIDENT

Trend News Agency
Nov 6 2008
Azerbaijan

Turkey, Ankara, 6 November / TrendNews, corr. A.Alaskarov / Turkish
President Abdullah Gul expressed hope that a new period will begin
in the world by election of the new President of the U.S. Barack
Obama. The Turkish Milliet newspaper reported that in the letter
that Gul addressed to the new U.S. President is stated "the statement
made by you regarding the changes meet today’s expectations. Turkey
supports these statements."

"The problems of ‘white and black’ will be removed in a result
of the presidential election in the United States," Turkish Prime
Minsiter Recep Tayyip Erdogan said commenting Obama’s success in the
presidential election.

Touching Obama’s position on the ‘Armenian genocide’, the Prime
Minister said that "we estimate Obama’s statements as the statements
for the election campaign."

KARABAKH CONFLICT ESCALATION TO JEOPARDIZE AZERBAIJAN EXISTENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2008 14:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan has been extremely intractable in
the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement so far
and even demanded return of NKR under its jurisdiction, what was
absolutely inadmissible for the Armenian side, said Arayik Stepanyan,
a corresponding member at the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Studies.

Georgia’s fruitless attempt to use force in South Ossetia restrained
Azerbaijan’s ardor, according to him.

"The Georgian aggression proved that resumption of hostilities in
Nagorno Karabakh is impossible and the sides took the diplomatic
truck. Under the circumstances, Russia took the initiative the U.S. had
to agree to. Thanks to Russia, the Karabakh process entered a balanced
and diplomatic stage," Dr. Stepanyan said.

"Now, Azerbaijan and Armenia will have to reach a compromise, essential
to stabilize the Caucasus, where the interests of the U.S., Russia,
Europe and Arab states interlace. To prevent further escalation,
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a declaration envisaging a peaceful
resolution of the conflict. Azerbaijan knows that resumption of war can
question its existence as a state," he said, Russkaya Liniya reports.

AZERBAIJANIAN RETRO: ONLY ILLUSIONS

Azat Artsakh Daily
05 Nov 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On October 24th the ceremony of inauguration of the president
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, selected for the second term, took
place. Aliev would not be Aliev, if in the inaugural speech has not
walked on Nagorno-Karabakh, using ordinary, boring expressions of
the Azerbaijan’s preaching arsenal.The apotheosis of his eloquence
on a theme of the Karabakh settlement became the words, that
"Azerbaijan will never give Nagorno-Karabakh independence". As
they say, who would argue! It is the axiomatic true which is not
demanding proof and not causing anybody even the slightest doubt,
and consequently Aliev-younger should hardly strain and start all
oratory and pathos to utter this banality. Certainly, Azerbaijan
will not give Nagorno-Karabakh independence, and it is clear as the
divine day. However the question is in the other thing: and whether
anybody asks him about it? As it’s known, nobody did not address
to Baku with such request and is not going to. For that simple
reason, that permission of Azerbaijan for NKR independence is not
required. As Nagorno-Karabakh has already had this independence for
a long time. Listening to the Azerbaijan politicians of a different
rank, you can not get rid of sensation, that they continue to live
with illusions. Also feeding their citizens with them, as it is not
excluded, that they have already understood, that "the Karabakh train"
has left for a long time, and hardly it will be possible to return
it. And where to return? To the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
which there isn’t already, or to today’s Azerbaijan which, despite
of oath assurances of the Azerbaijan officials about adherence to
democratic values and freedom, most likely, looks like east despotism
with a family dynasty?

After all Ilham Aliev – unique president in the territory of the former
USSR who has inherited the power. And judging by a present situation in
Azerbaijan, he will hardly leave the presidential post in five years
as by the state ideology in this country "heydarism" is declared –
as in due time in Soviet Union "leninism" was reigning. And even
Azerbaijanians recognise, that members of Aliev family clan hold the
highest supervising posts, that for criticism of "daddy’s" ideology
it is possible to get into prison as it is regarded as attempt at the
state ideology. But we will not interfere with internal affairs of
Azerbaijan and we will return to foreign policy. As even if Azerbaijan
would be three times more democratic, than the most democratic country
in the world, people of Nagorno-Karabakh will not agree to return
under its administrative submission. No less than any another. It
cannot be, because it can never be. And all not because of obstinacy
of Karabakh people, but by the nature of things. State and legal.

As graduate of Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Ilham
Aliev should know about existence of a principle of legal equality of
the states. And thereupon there is a question: for what Azerbaijan
is good of the ten states, who have conciliated with separation of
state formations entering into their structures? Or the same Serbia
or Georgia, from whom the permission to a recognition of independence
of accordingly Kosovo, as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia did not
ask. Or let’s take Azerbaijan.

Whether he asked the permission from the management of the USSR when
he proclaimed the independence? The question is rhetorical. The
independence of Nagorno-Karabah is a reality to which it is high
time for Azerbaijan to reconcile and which he should recognise. The
level of development of NKR statehood, its democratic institutes,
despite of international nonrecognition of the republic, doesn’t
yield the recently recognised state formations, which independent
experts confirm also. However it is much more important, that NKR has
been already recognised for a long time by own people, continuing to
build and strengthen the independent statehood which does not depend
at all on desire or unwillingness of Azerbaijan. That is why Ilham
Aliev has not causes to worry …

UNHCR CONVENES NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS TO JOINTLY FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE REFUGEE PROTECTION IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
06.11.2008 11:49

Today the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
Government of the Republic of Armenia, European Union, the United
Nations family, diplomatic missions, international, local and
non-government organisations as well as refugees gathered at Marriott
Armenia hotel for two-day National Consultations to discuss migration
and asylum issues with the objective of further strengthening the
capacity of the Republic of Armenia in the area of refugee protection.

National Consultations organised by UNHCR, is a follow up to
the comprehensive study ‘Analysis of Gaps in the Protection of
Refugees and Asylum Seekers’, jointly conducted by UNHCR and the
State Migration Agency with the financial support of the European
Union. The study is undertaken on the heels of Armenia’s signing of
the European Neighbourhood Policy programme, which sets out strategic
objectives of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union for
the 2007-2013 time period.

Among various legal issues to be addressed such as admission,
Refugee Status Determination, and status related issues, the study
further identifies the unmet socio-economic and cultural needs of
refugees that hinder their full local integration in Armenia. "In
the context of Armenia where the majority of refugees cannot return
to their home country in safety and dignity, sustainable full local
integration is the preferred durable solution for them. Integration
demands commitment from each and everyone of us", UNHCR Armenia
Representative, Ms. Bushra Halepota stated in her opening speech. "At
today’s National Consultations we will discuss and highlight the
unmet needs of refugees and asylum seekers in Armenia and will make
recommendations on the ways to jointly address those needs to find
durable solutions to them", added UNHCR Representative.

The National Consultations represent a joint effort of all the
stakeholders and aim to develop practical mechanisms and approaches for
strengthening the capacity to receive and protect refugees in Armenia.