Author: Kafian Jirair

"ARMENIANS ARE KILLED IN RUSSIA ON NATIONAL GROUND" "SARGIS TKHRUNI"
UNION CHAIRMAN STATES

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of continual murders
of Armenians in Russia, members of the "Sargis Tkhruni" students-youth
union of the Social Democrat Hnchakian Party (SDHP) organized a
demonstration of protest on January 31 in front of the Embassy of the
Russian Federation to Armenia. In the words of Union Chairman Narek
Galstian, they are ready to struggle for the compatriots’ rights
wherever they are: in Russia, Armenia or any other country. "Armenians
are killed in Russia on the national but not on domestic ground. And
those people who state that the committed crimes are of domestic
character, play into chauvinistic organizations’ hands," N.Galstian
said in the interview to journalists.

In his words, the "Sargis Tkhruni" union calls on strategic allies
Armenia and Russia "to be more consistent in their statements and
struggle against similar phenomena."

NORAYR BAKHTAMIAN TAKES THIRD PLACE AT COMPETITION IN MUNICH

MUNICH, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The international shooting competition "Big
Prize of Bavaria" finished in Munich. Armenian Norayr Bakhtamian earned 586
points in shooting with a pneumatic pistol from the 10-meter distance and
took third place among 138 participants. Another Armenian sportsman Robert
Voskanian earned 577 points, exceeding by 4 points the sport master norm and
taking 27th place.

ARMINCO TESTING NETWORK TELEVISION

Yerevan, January 29. ArmInfo. The biggest provider company of Armenia,
Arminco, is testing network television, says Arminco Technical
Director Grigory Sagiyan.

He says that the company is working on this project for several months
and is already telecasting 40 programs a day. The only problem is to
bring them to the user. This has become possible due to modern
technologies as internet broadcasting requires a data transfer speed
of two megabit per second. Sagiyan says that the television uses the
same terminology as the internet and digital telephony.

Besides, Arminco is planning to introduce high definition TV,
requiring 20 Mb per second. This can be compared with a cinema
screen. A speed lower than 20 Mb produces "squares" on the
screen. This TV can be connected though a fiber network. It suggests
quite a new approach to television, content management and
clientele. However, this is an expensive type of television and
requires high solvency.

Mediamax, Armenia
Jan 29 2007

Armenian Speaker pleased with "unprecedented" resolution of European
body

Yerevan, 29 January: Parliamentary Speaker Tigran Torosyan today
described as "unprecedented" a resolution on Armenia’s fulfilment of
its commitments to the Council of Europe. The Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe [PACE] passed the resolution at its winter
session.

Armenia managed to overcome the crisis triggered by previous
resolution No 1361, which envisaged suspension of the rights of the
Armenian delegation to the PACE in the event of a failure to comply
with the resolution’s recommendations, Tigran Torosyan said.

The speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia said that although
the new resolution is "positive for our country in an unprecedented
manner", European MPs made a number of remarks on issues concerning
the fight against corruption and on draft changes proposed to the
laws on TV and radio broadcast, and on alternative service.

A1+

KAREN ASRYAN BECAME CHAMPION OF ARMENIA
[12:13 pm] 29 January, 2007

Grand Master Karen Asryan became 2007 champion of
Armenia. Asryan was in the first place several rounds
in a row. After the last few draws he shared the first
place with Tigran Qotanjyan.

According to the regulations they were to have two
games together. Both of them were won by Asryan who
became champion of Armenia leaving the silver medal to
Tigran Qotanjyan. Tigran L. Petrosyan took the third
place.

Victims of Holocaust remembered

Story from BBC NEWS:
d/6301553.stm

Published: 2007/01/27 09:45:28 GMT

Millions of people killed by the Nazis are to be remembered during a
national service to be held on Sunday.
Newcastle is hosting Holocaust Memorial Day at the Theatre Royal, to honour
those who died in World War II and in other massacres.
Speakers from across Europe will be taking part.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathon Sacks and actor
Henry Goodman will attend the event at 1630 GMT.

Those killed in other massacres, such as in Rwanda, Cambodia and Bosnia, will
also be remembered
Before the service a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle,
Councillor Diane Packham, will be held at the city’s civic centre.
A drawing representing the Holocaust Memorial Day flame will also be laid out
on the pavement outside the Theatre Royal by six artists from Dodgy Clutch
Theatre Company.

Councillor John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: "We have a
proud history as a welcoming and inclusive city which takes a strong stand
against prejudice.
"The event is an important occasion for us as we remember the millions of
people killed during the Holocaust and in other atrocities around the world."
Holocaust Memorial Day was established in 1999 to remember those who lost
their lives – many in Hitler’s gas chambers.
The anniversary marks the liberation of the Nazi concentration and
extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Other events are being held around the country to mark the event.
A memorial event will be held at Leeds Town Hall at 1430 GMT on Sunday, when
Dr Margaret Brearley, writer and lecturer on the Holocaust and genocide, will
speak and music will be provided by Brodetsky Primary School Choir.
Birmingham will also commemorate the event on Sunday at 1430 GMT in Centenary
Square when Holocaust survivor Paul Oppenheimer MBE will speak of his
experiences of persecution.
The programme will include readings, prayers and a specially commissioned
poem from Birmingham’s young poet laureate Jennifer Brough.
And on Sunday a multi-faith service will be held at Catford Synagogue,
Crantock Road, London, at 1530 GMT.

Regnum, Russia
Jan 26 2007

European Court of Human Rights entertains Hrant Dink’s claim

The European Court of Human Rights entertained a claim of
Armenian-language Agos newspaper (Istanbul) editor Hrant Dink, who
was killed in Istanbul on January 19. Dink presented the claim after
he was sentenced to half-a-year imprisonment for `offending the
Turkish identity.’ Turkish news agencies informed on it, saying that
because of Dink’s death, the court turned to his family that is
decide whether to support the claim.

The European Court of Human Rights said that Hrant Dink’s claim point
out to violation of four articles of the European Convention on Human
Rights.

Hrant Dink was repeatedly besieged by Turkish courts for `offending
Turkish identity’ and was subjected to repressions by Turkish
authorities. In particular, Dink wrote in Akos newspaper that
`Turkish hostility poisons blood of Armenians,’ for which he was
tried in July 2005 `for insulting national dignity of the Turks.’

The verdict was pronounced by court of original jurisdiction
interpreting Dink’s words as `the Turks have dirty blood.’ However,
Turkish Court of Appeal decided that charges against Dink were
brought because of misinterpretation and exculpated them.
Nevertheless, on July 11, 2006, Turkish Criminal Court of Appeal
supported the sentence against Dink. Later, at an interrogation,
Dink’s killer accused the journalist of stating that `the Turks have
dirty blood.’

It is worth mentioning, Dink repeatedly received threats. In one of
his last interviews, Dink said that it was nonsense to misinterpret
his words like that.

Earlier, international institutions announced more than once that
Turkey should change Article 301 of its Criminal Code, under which
Turkish courts of various instances convicted many culture and public
figures, journalists, writers, particularly, for mentioning the
Armenian Genocide. In its turn, the European Union urged Ankara to
exclude the article from the criminal code, saying it violates basic
human rights and freedoms. Changing the article was one of
preconditions for Turkey’s accession into the EU.

PanARMENIAN.Net

PACE acknowledges Armenia’s progress
24.01.2007 15:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "While acknowledging the progress
made by Armenia towards compliance with its
obligations and commitments, in particular since the
adoption of the constitutional reform, the Assembly
today decided to pursue its monitoring procedure until
the current or proposed reforms in the fields of
electoral law, the media and the justice system have
produced tangible results," says the resolution
adopted January 23 by the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe.

"The Assembly expects Armenia to demonstrate its
capacity to hold the parliamentary elections in 2007
and the presidential elections in 2008 in accordance
with international standards, not least with regard to
pluralist, impartial media coverage of the election
campaign," the document says.

Nationalists threaten to kill Orhan Pamuk

ArmRadio.am
24.01.2007 16:02

Yasin Hayal, suspected of organizing the murder of the editor-in-chief
of the Agos daily Hrant Dink, has threatened to kill writer, Nobel
Prize winner Orhan Pamuk.

CNN Turk TV Channel reported that connected with the increase of
threats to Pamuk immediately following the assassination of Hrant
Dink, Turkish authorities have taken the decision to provide a group
of bodyguards to him.

Ogyun Samast suspected of murdering Hrant Dink has completely
confessed his guilt, Turkish media report referring to sources of
the Prosecutor’s Office of Istanbul. In his four-day confession
Samast wrote he decided to kill Hrant Dink for the journalist’s
public statements.

Terry Davis: The aggressor country will be expelled from the CoE

ArmRadio.am
24.01.2007 17:55

When Armenia and Azerbaijan joined the Council of Europe, they made
their choice, reinstating their committeemen to the peaceful settlement
of the Karabakh conflict, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Terry Davis said in response to ArmInfo question during the dinner
with journalists.

"Non-accomplishment of this commitment will lead to extremely serious
results and expelling of the aggressor county from the council of
Europe, since it will mean a coarse violation of the pledges of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to the organization, CoE Secretary General
underlined. He added that he will get very upset if Armenia and
Azerbaijan do not fulfill their promise. Terry Davis expressed
gratitude to the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan for
constantly informing him about the state of affairs. He emphasized
about the special interest in the South Caucasus region and reminded
that he was once a rapporteur on Nagorno Karabakh. Terry Davis stressed
the importance of the rapid resolution of the Karabakh conflict from
the point of view of human destinies in the conflict zone. "A great
number of people died in this conflict. It is necessary to find a
solution that will come from the interests of Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Nagorno Karabakh," Mr. Davis concluded.