Author: Kafian Jirair

ARMENIAN NA SPEAKER RECEIVES DELEGATION FROM CZECH PARLIAMENT

ARMENPRESS
Oct 7, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamian received today delegation of constitutional and legal
affairs commission of the Czech parliament headed by the chairman of
Chamber of Members of Parliament Yan Kasal. Public relations department
of the National Assembly told Armenpress that at the meeting present
was deputy speaker of the Armenian NA Hrayr Karapetian.

Greeting the guests Hovik Abrahamian underscored the development of
friendly relations with Czech Republic, referring to the opportunities
of development of trade-economic, scientific-cultural ties.

Hovik Abrahamian also expressed assurance that the visit of the
delegation will promote the further development of relations between
the two parliaments.

Yan Kasal said that he is also for the development of relations between
Armenia and Czech Republic. Taking into consideration that in 2009
Czechia assumes the chairmanship of the EU for six months, Y. Kasal
said that everything possible will be done for the further development
of relations with EU. For the development of inter-parliamentary
relations he conveyed to the NA speaker the invitation of the chairman
of the Czech parliament to pay an official visit to Prague.

Accepting the invitation, the NA speaker assured that all the
agreements will be brought to life and everything possible will be
done for effective cooperation.

With the request of Kasal, Hovik Abrahamian presented his approaches
towards developments in the South Caucasus and particularly over the
situation created after the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. It was noted
that Armenia has always been for the peaceful regulation of conflicts
and being ancient-long neighbors with Georgia and strategic partner
of Russia Armenia has adopted a right position.

Hovik Abrahamian reminded that being in a blockade Armenia’s only
way to connect with the world is Georgia.

During the meeting the sides also referred to the Karabakh conflict
regulation issue, and other issues on mutual interest.

ONLINE. THE WORLD YOUTH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP STARTING IN VIETNAM

Panorama.am
17:32 03/10/2008

The World Youth Chess Championship will held from October 19 to 31,
2008, in Vung Tau, Vietnam. 15 Armenian chess players will participate
in the event.

You can follow the games of the World Youth Chess Championship on
our website from October 20 to 30, 2008, starting from 13:00(Yerevan
time). Online.

Participates.

Harutyunian Tigran K, Kanjaryan Vladimir, CM. Grigoryan Karen H,
FM. Ter-Sahakyan Samvel, Petrosyan Hovhannes, Hovhannisyan Robert,
Davtyan Marina, Ghukasyan Siranush, Gaboyan Susanna, Gevorgyan Maria,
Khalikyan Astghik, Shakryan Zozan ,Mnatsakanyan Diana, Nazaryan
Armenak.

70 counties of the world 842 youth chess players will take part in
the World Youth Chess Championship.

FEDERATION OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS DEMANDS THAT UNIVERSITY PROGRAMME WITH TURKEY SHOULD BE STOPPED

Noyan Tapan

Se p 29, 2008

THE HAGUE, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Federation
of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (the FAON) demands that
the exchange programme of the country’s Erasmus University with Turkey
should be stopped.

According to a recent article published in Dutch daily newspaper
Trouw, students of the Erasmus University, following an exchange
programme with Turkey, are obliged to attend a four days’ course
with a programme, which includes, among others, such subjects as
the denial of the Armenian Genocide and the Turkish point of view
on Cyprus. In this connection the FAON has protested to the Dutch
Minister Ronald Plasterk of Education, Culture and Science demanding
that the mentioned programme should be stopped.

The FAON emphasises that Turkey, as a candidate state for EU has
absolutely not shown any progress in the field of the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. There is still no freedom of expression
about the Armenian Genocide. Even now under the amended Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code, prosecution still takes place of people,
who speak about the Armenian Genocide.

ON OCTOBER 17 ARMENIAN OPPOSITION TO HOLD A RALLY AND PROCESSION IN CENTER OF YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2008-09-26 20:38:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian opposition is going to hold a rally and
procession in the center of Yerevan on October 17, leader of Armenian
opposition, the first president of Armenia Levon Ter- Petrossyan
said during the Sep 26 meeting of the candidate for prefect of Center
community of Yerevan Ararat Zurabyan with his electorate. According
to him, the new program of actions of the united Armenian opposition
will be presented to people on Oct 17.

"We’ll present our further strategy without concealing anything
from people.

I also call on you to join the Armenian National Congress as the
latter is the pledge and guarantee of country’s recovery", he said.

Ter-Petrossyan urged residents of Center community to take an active
part in the Sept 28 election of the prefect of the community and to
vote for the opposition candidate Ararat Zurabyan. He pointed out
the importance of the election as local authorities are the face of
a country. All the speakers said that it was necessary to free the
center of Yerevan from the occupant regime.

Almost 2,000 people took part in the meeting today.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN GIVES IN HIS RESIGNATION

armradio.am
26.09.2008 11:06

In accordance with the By-Law of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia, five days after submitting his resignation
at the extraordinary sitting of the Parliament of 19 September,
NA President Tigran Torosyan submitted the second application to
the Vice-Speaker of the national Assembly Hrayr Karapetyan. Thus,
his resignation is considered accepted.

According to Article 19.2 of the By-Law of the National Assembly,
the responsibilities of the President of the National Assembly will
be carried out by NA Vice-President Hrayr Karapetyan.

The election of the Chairman of the National Assembly is expected at
the four-day sitting to start on September 29.

THE MARGINAL SLOWLY COMING TO THE CONSTRUCTIVE FIELD
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
24 Sep 2008
Armenia

Member of RPA parliamentary faction, Chairman of Financing -Budgetary
Committee Gagik Minasyan responds our questions.

"Judging from all radical opposition is facing a serious alternative,
"War or Peace". What do you think will be the solution of this
alternative?"

"The situation existing in the camp of the radical opposition can be
explained by certain circumstances.

Firstly the experience showed that the "lightning program" by which
they were trying to achieve their end remained unrealized. The
radical opposition failed to find an army of followers to support
their approaches.

The first reason is that the ruling authorities also see all the
objective problems and failings underscored by the opposition. These
problems are enshrined in Serge Sargsyan’s pre-election program and
are realized in the form of both legislative reforms and changes
noticed in the government’s activity.

Of course during the previous years we had significant achievements,
but meanwhile lots of problems have been accumulated which need
solution. The gradual solution of these problems deprives the radical
opposition of the social grounds, based on which they wanted to advance
their programs. In my view this is the main reason why the opposition,
in essence, refuses the expecta tions of "lightening success" and is
trying to start a long-term struggle, in order to provide its place
in the political field.

Secondly the changes noticed in the region, in my view will continue
for a long time and new challenges are in store for the three countries
of South Caucasus and in this situation the opposition of Armenia as
well as Georgia and Azerbaijan must harmonize their steps with those
challenges. This is maybe the second reason why our pro-oppositional
leaders take more balanced steps.

In my view our opposition will gradually shift to the constructive
field and will try to ensure a stable place for themselves, in the
political palette.

And, if due to all this we manage to have a normally acting, healthy
opposition it will only make our political palette richer."

"But before that, it was Ter-Petrosyan who enriched the radical
vocabulary. If, before, he used to say that those who are not with
him are lees, in his 10 minutes’ speech delivered on September 21 he
separated the people between nomads and settled. He said, "Not the
nomads but the settled are the owners of the country." And you say
healthy opposition, constructive field…"

"These expressions can’t have positive impact on the political
developments, because firstly they have nothing to do with the reality
and secondly they are simply destructive.

As regards the political developments in general, these developments
are not always harmonized with the formulations of the opposition
leaders. They develop under more grounded motives. And the
announcements made by the opposition leaders can be conditioned by
certain strategic issues. In my view we must judge from real processes
and not announcements though they are also important."

"Anyway the aggressive wing of the opposition is not inspired of the
"long term" prospect and the "movement" is obstinately trying to
be involved in "decisive actions". Are you sure the "eagles" will
fall short."

"Each movement has wings during its development and in this case it is
evident that radical opposition also has wings. If this wing manages
to win the radical opposition will appear in the marginal field and
the positive thing that they could have given to our political field
will simply evaporate.

ON THE CONTRARY, GROUP’S ‘OBSESSION’ IS VERY HEALTHY

Boston Globe
September 24, 2008
United States

YOUR EDITORIAL "A good place for Blue Cross" charges that "some local
Armenian-Americans and their supporters" are involved in an "unhealthy
obsession." If by some local Armenian-Americans, you mean the entire
Armenian-American community, then you are right. But these local
Armenian-Americans are not engaged in an unhealthy obsession. They
are simply asking that the memory of their 1.5 million dead not be
fodder for realpolitik either internationally or locally. I guess as
far as the Globe is concerned, the Armenian-American community has
had its 15 minutes, and should know its place and stop complaining.

ANI DAMATIAN Belmont

THE EDITORIAL "A good place for Blue Cross" is more like the Globe
of the olden days, when it refused to even acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide. It was only through the persistence of the Armenian-American
community that the Globe was finally shamed into doing the right
thing. This same persistence will make sure that the likes of the
Anti-Defamation League, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts,
and others are also shamed into doing the right thing.

SOSSE BEUGEKIAN Lexington

TURKMEN READY TO PROVIDE LARGE ROOM FOR ARMENIAN INVESTMENTS

ARKA
Sep 24, 2008

YEREVAN, September 24. /ARKA/. Turkmen President Gurbanguli
Berdimohamedov is ready to provide large room for Armenian investments,
Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press office reports.

On Monday, the president met with Armenian Ambassador to Turkmenistan
Vladimir Badalyan. He outlined areas for cooperation – construction,
healthcare and chemical industry.

Berdimohamedov stressed the importance of traditional ties with
Armenia and said they should be strengthened.

The president and the ambassador also discussed the issues related
to organization of the first meeting of Armenian-Turkmen economic
commission.

DCPL CONSIDERED ISSUES REFERRING TO ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM OF AMERICA

DeFacto Agency
2008-09-23 17:08:00
Armenia

YEREVAN, 23.09.08. DE FACTO. The District of Columbia Preservation
League (DCPL) convened its annual membership meeting September 18, at
the site of the Armenian Genocide Museum of America (AGMA), formerly
the National Bank of Washington. DCPL strongly supported the proposals
prepared by the architects of the AGMA project for the renovation of
the landmark building at the corner of 14th and G Streets, two blocks
from the White House. The plans for AGMA were approved earlier this
year by the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and the DC
Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Addressing an audience of over 150 guests were Rebecca Miller,
DCPL Executive Director, John D. Billingham, DCPL Board of Trustees
President, Dr. Rouben Adalian, Armenian National Institute Director,
and Gary Martinez, project architect with the firm of Martinez &
Johnson Architecture.

Thanking the AGMA for hosting its annual meeting, DCPL President
Billingham said: "It’s a wonderful building and it is really good to
see that the Armenian Genocide Museum is going to put it back into
a use that we can all benefit from." At the regulatory hearing of
the HBRB held in March 2008, DCPL representative Patrick Burkhardt
characterized the complementary efforts to construct the AGMA as well
as restore the historic building a "textbook marriage" of purpose
and use.

Following President Bellingham, Dr. Adalian responded by saying:
"I want to thank the League for its support and encouragement of
this ground-breaking project, a project dedicated to the importance
and values of human rights and the universal message of our common
humanity and collective responsibility."

Martinez explained to the audience how the historic building will be
renovated and expanded, and added that Dr. Adalian and all those who
are actively building this museum "are very sensitive, and I have to
say this from an architect’s point of view; they are very sensitive to
the issues of restoration and preservation for the existing building."

To note, the National Bank of Washington, previously the
Federal-American National Bank, was built in 1925-26. The building was
designed by nationally prominent bank and skyscraper architect Alfred
C. Bossom in association with distinguished Washington architect Jules
Henri De Sibour, the city’s leading practitioner of the Beaux-Arts
style. The building’s design incorporates a number of innovative
interior and exterior features, most notably the elevated two-story
banking hall, which is one of only twelve landmarked interiors in
the city of Washington.

The mission of the DCPL is to preserve, protect, and enhance the
historic built environment of Washington, DC, through advocacy and
education.

The Armenian Genocide Museum of America is an outgrowth of the
Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Institute
(ANI), catalyzed by the initial pledge of Anoush Mathevosian toward
building such a museum in Washington, DC.

ARMENIA TO RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
23 Sep 2008
Armenia

In case there’s no other choice

As reported by MEDIAMAX agency, President Serge Sargsyan had a meeting
with the representatives of the international Media on September 20.

In response to the question "Where is the borderline of mutual
concessions, where is the boundary not to be crossed by Armenia,
and can Armenia theoretically imagine Karabakh as a federative or
any other state that forms part of Azerbaijan?", the President said,

"It was long ago that we announced about that borderline – at least
14 years ago, when we were signing a ceasefire agreement; we also
announced about it several times thereafter. The borderline is that it
is necessary to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
to self-determination.

That’s to say, we have the following problem: the people of Nagorno
Karabakh have lived on this territory for thousands of years, and now
it is necessary to create relevant conditions for them to continue
living safely on their lands. The period, I mean the Soviet times,
when Karabakh formed part of Azerbaijan, came to prove that the country
could no longer continue its safe existence as part of Azerbaijan.

As regards the theoretical option as to whether or not Karabakh can
form part of Azerbaijan, I can say that this can be determined=2
0through a referendum – by asking the people of Karabakh to express
their opinion. But I am sure that no matter what may happen in the near
future, the result of any referendum will be the same, i.e. the people
of Karabakh will not want to live in an Azerbaijani-governed territory.

I have told Azeri President Ilham Aliev that if the Azeris want to
show that they are seriously interested in the secure life and future
of Karabakh, they may make investments, serious investments in Nagorno
Karabakh and prove that Azerbaijan is ready to make investments and
convince the people of Karabakh that it can be a guarantor of their
security. Maybe thereafter, during the referendum, the people of
Karabakh will express desire to live inside an Azerbaijani-governed
state. Should one day Nagorno Karabakh become part of Azerbaijan
by some miracle, no single Armenian will remain there after a short
while."

To the question why Armenia hadn’t recognized the independence of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and whether it was ready to recognize the
independence of Nagorno Karabakh, Serge Sargsyan gave the following
answer,

"Nothing can be ruled out. Today, the issue of recognizing the
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is not included in
our agenda. It may seem strange to you that we have always been a
supporter of the right to self-determination but haven’t recognized
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Our20approach is clear: we ourselves are facing a similar problem,
i.e. the problem of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. We cannot recognize
Kosovo, South Ossetia and Abkhazia unless we have recognized Nagorno
Karabakh.

As to why we do not recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh
is because we are currently negotiating with Azerbaijan and want
to achieve the solution of the problem through peace talks. Do you
remember that recognition was said to be the last variant while
discussing the case of Kosovo and the other conflicts? If there’s
no other choice left, Armenia will recognize the independence of
Nagorno Karabakh."