Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN PM DOES NOT ANSWER FORMER FM

news.am
April 03, 2012 | 02:42

YEREVAN. – Armenian PM Tigran Sragsyan does not comment on Armenian
former FM Vardan Oskanyan’s statement that the Armenian ruling
coalition is an imitation. Vardan Oskanyan has joined Prosperous
Armenia Party recently.

On Monday the PM was participating in the ceremony dedicated to the
22nd anniversary of Republican Party of Armenia.

He refused to make any comment on Oskanyan’s statement when asked
by the reporter of Armenian News-NEWS.am. When asked, which party is
going to win he said: “RPA is going to win don’t doubt.”

To remind, former Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan had told Liberty Radio
station: “It is true that Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) which I have
joined recently is a part of the coalition but the Republican Party
never needed its partners PAP and Orinats Yerkir.”

The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is a ruling conservative party
in Armenia founded on 2 April, 1990, and registered on 14 May, 1991,
being the first officially registered socio-political organization
in the independent Republic of Armenia.

The founder of the party was Ashot Navasardyan. After his death the
party was headed by former Armenian prime minister, very influential
political figure, Vazgen Sargsyan, who was killed in 1999 terrorist
attack in the parliament. He was replaced by another Armenian Premier
Andranik Margaryan. After Margaryan’s death, the incumbent Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan took the office of the chairman of RPA board.

Since 2003, the Republican Party is a core member of the ruling
coalition along with the Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir
parties. RPA has majority of seats in the Armenian parliament since
2003.

The Republican Party of Armenia will run in the parliamentary
elections under its new slogan: “Let us believe to change!” The
Party’s proportional list includes 253 names.

RPA has also nominated MP candidates with the majority election system
in 33 electoral districts.

Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) is a political power included in the
ruling coalition.

Founded by Armenian biggest businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, the party
debuted in 2007 Armenian parliamentary elections, winning 29 seats
in 131-seat Armenia’s National Assembly.

The proportional list of the party includes 165 names. PAP has also
nominated MP candidates with the majority election system. Prosperous
Armenia Party’s election campaign slogan is: “Believe, trust, demand!”

VIVACELL-MTS INVESTS AMD 37MLN INTO EDUCATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 3, 2012 – 13:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen
Ashotyan and VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian signed a
cooperation agreement on April 3.

Five projects in secondary and higher education spheres will be
implemented within the program framework, while the company undertakes
to invest AMD 37mln in education.

Minister Ashotyan said this is a unique agreement because all
five provisions set therein are based on the priorities set by the
government for 2012, and the investment thus becomes quite targeted.

For his part, Mr. Yirikian said he realizes the importance of the
private sector’s role in educational and expects such projects to
be continuous.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. Secondary and high education system
representatives of Public and Private sector are continuing traditional
cooperation. Ministry of Education and science Armen Ashotyan and
Viva-Cell MTS General Director RalphYirikyan on April 3 signed a
cooperation agreement in the Ministry of Education and Science. The
agreement is scheduled to implement 37 million AMD program.

Minister Ashotyan stated the state is interested in private sector’s
investments in education sphere; whereas the private investors are
ignorant that making investment in public sector will be profitable
for their own business.

The Minister highlighted that the contract stipulates rating of schools
and universities within the framework of the program; international
experts will study the quality of education in Armenia which will
enable the society to have a clear idea about the quality of education
in various educational institutions in Armenia.

“Best Student” competition is scheduled to complete the educational
year. The electronic textbooks will be elaborated within the framework
of the signed agreement as well which will ease the tasks of the
consumers in the context of textbooks be more accessible.

The contract stipulates the installation of wireless internet in 107
high schools.”At the end of the year internet access will reach 98%
in those schools ” Minister noted and stressed that the visit to
undesirable sites will be banned.

Ralf Yirikyan stated that Viva-Cell MTS high estimates the exertions
made in connection of future generation.”The education has always been
in the focus of attention of Viva -Cell MTS “General Director stated.

TURKEY CONVINCES CLINTON TO PREVENT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILLS

news.am
April 03, 2012 | 13:14

ISTANBUL. – Topics relating to the Armenian Genocide issue and the
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey were also on
the agenda of the Clinton-Davutoglu and Clinton-Erdogan meetings that
were held in Istanbul on April 1, and along the lines of the Friends
of Syria conference.

Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and FM Ahmet Davutoglu, who separately
met with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, deemed it necessary
to put an end to the yearly introduction of Armenian resolutions in
the US, and prior to April 24, Hurriyet daily of Turkey informs.

In her turn, Secretary Clinton noted that she is aware of how sensitive
Turkey is on this matter, and claimed that such initiative is not
expected this year.

Erdogan and Davutoglu asserted that Turkey, just as always, is ready
to normalize relations with Armenia, but the latter’s authorities
need to free themselves from domestic political concerns and they
must not bring the Armenian Genocide issue on the agenda.

AFTER TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN, MOST VISITORS TO GEORGIA FROM ARMENIA

epress.am
04.03.2012

Visits to Georgia by foreign citizens in the first quarter of
2012 increased by 39.4% year-to-year, reaching 677,278, according
to official figures released by the Interior Ministry on Apr. 2,
reports Civil Georgia.

>From Jan. to Mar. 2012, citizens from Turkey made up the largest share
in total visits (14.7%), followed by citizens of Azerbaijan (10.7%),
Armenia (6.8%) and Russia (2.6%).

In late February, Georgia unilaterally lifted visa rules for the
Russian citizens. According to the Georgian Interior Ministry,
the move was reflected in the increase of number of visits made by
Russian citizens to Georgia in March – 6,192 visits in Mar. 2012 as
compared to only 2,163 in Mar. 2011.

Visits from Iran, whose citizens also do not require a Georgian
visa since January, almost doubled in the first quarter of 2012 to
over 9,000.

BULGARIA’S PRIME MINISTER PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

armradio.am
03.04.2012 12:25

The Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, who is in Yerevan on
an official visit, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister laid a wreath at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims.

Members of the Bulgarian delegation put flowers at the Eternal Fire and
honored the memory of the innocent victims with a minute of silence.

Boyko Borisov and his delegation visited Armenian Genocide Museum
and took a tour of the museum after which Boyko Borisov left a note
in the Commemoration Book.

The members of the Bulgarian delegation had a tour of the Memorial
Alley, where Boyko Borisov planted a fir tree.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMENTS ON RECENT STATEMENT OF ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

APA
April 3 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku. Viktoria Dementyeva – APA. “The Armenian minister seems to
palter again, or he does not take seriously the decisions passed by
an important organization like the UN Security Council,” spokesman for
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev said while commenting on
the statement issued by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
APA reports.

He said the UN Security Council passed four resolutions on Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

“These resolutions are efficient and demand unconditional withdrawal
of the Armenian Armed Forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Azerbaijan supported the initiatives of some European organizations
concerning the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of
Nagorno Karabakh, but unfortunately, these initiatives were prevented
by Yerevan. This demonstrates their real intention regarding the
maintenance of the status quo. The positions of Azerbaijan and the
international community coincide regarding the inadmissibility of
the status quo, this is an undeniable fact. The status quo must be
changed and the process must start by withdrawal of the Armenian
troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories,” he said.

According to Armenian media, yesterday at the joint briefing with
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian said Azerbaijan is interested in maintenance of
the status quo and therefore rejected the recent four proposals of
the OSCE Minsk Group.

“Moreover, the resolutions of the UN Security Council were adopted
in 1993, that’s why, the co-chairs never refer to these resolutions
in their statements,” he said.

GENOCIDE
by Rebecca Donnelly

School Library Journal Reviews
April 1, 2012

SECTION: THE BOOK REVIEW; Grades 5-up; Pg. 184 Vol. 58 No. 04

Gr 7-10-The first book provides an overview of several well-known
genocides, including the Holocaust and the more recent tragedies
in Rwanda and Darfur. The slaughter of Armenians by Turks before
World War I; the Mongol conquests; the killing fields of Cambodia;
and the massacre at Srebrenica are also discussed. Throughout
the text, Friedman asks readers to consider difficult questions:
Why do peacekeeping forces sometimes fail? What is the role of
witnesses to genocide? How should such crimes be prosecuted, and
how can future generations be educated? Sidebars cover topics such
as the use of propaganda and the Nuremberg trials, and basic maps
provide geographical context. Back matter includes a useful key to
the characteristics that genocides have in common.

Human Rights opens with the story of a young gravel pit worker in
Zambia and then discusses the history of the concept of human rights.

Each chapter covers a different subset of rights, including children’s
rights; criminal and political prisoners’ rights; the right to life;
gender, race, and cultural rights; and the right to free expression.

“Case studies” (really just extended sidebars) highlight people and
movements, like Falun Gong and the Tank Man in Tiananmen Square.

Despite occasionally awkward language (“a person’s nationality is
important to have a sense of identity”), this book will serve students
well for brief reports, but they will need additional resources for
longer projects. The critical-thinking exercises offer plenty of
opportunities to engage with the subject. Back matter includes the
UN Declaration of Human Rights. Both books include black-and-white
and full-color photos. Well-laid-out and thought-provoking books on
important topics.-Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library,
Rio Rancho, NM

ATTACK ON IRAN WOULD BE ‘DISASTROUS’ FOR MIDDLE EAST, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER WARNS

CASMII

April 3 2012

(source: Huffington Post )

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned over the weekend
that an Israeli strike on Iran would have “disastrous” consequences for
the Middle East, likely sparking a regional war, Turkish newspapers
reported on Sunday. Turkey is a major U.S. ally in the region and
Erdogan indicated that he had expressed his concerns to President
Barack Obama.

The Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported:

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Erdogan was quoted by the Turkish
daily Hurriyet as warning against the “disastrous” outcome of a
possible Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying:
“The entire region would be devastated if Israel strikes Iran.” […]

Erdogan also criticized the international community for keeping mum
on Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons, while threatening Iran over what
he said was a peaceful nuclear program.

“Israel has between 250 to 300 nuclear warheads. Nobody is discussing
that,” Erdogan said, adding: “Iran says they would not produce nuclear
weapons. They are saying that they would produce a specific amount
of enriched uranium rods and stop after that.”

Turkey is set to host a new round of diplomatic talks between Iran
and a group of world powers — the U.S., France, Britain, China,
Russia, and Germany — beginning on April 13.

On Monday, Russia’s foreign minister also strongly warned against
a military attack on Iran, saying that a pre-emptive strike would
violate international law.

Sergey Lavrov said on a visit to Armenia that an attack on Iran would
destabilize the region.

Israel and the U.S. have warned that all options remain open, including
military action, to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is aimed at civilian power
generation and research, but Israel and Western nations believe it
is a cover for a nuclear weapons bid.

Russia, which built Iran’s first nuclear power plant, backed some of
the previous U.N. sanctions against Tehran, but in recent months has
firmly rejected imposing new sanctions and called for dialogue.

ARMENIA FAVORS DIALOGUE, OPPOSES FORCE, OVER IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE

Press TV
April 3 2012
Iran

Armenia has expressed its opposition to any military aggression against
Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program, reiterating that the
issue must be settled through diplomatic channels.

“Yerevan has time and again emphasized [the] need for solving Iran’s
nuclear issue through dialogue at [the] international society,”
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press
conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday.

“Our position remains unchanged. Iran is our neighbor country, and
we are interested in excluding the use of force or ways other than
negotiations for the settlement of the issue,” he added.

Lavrov also warned against the “grave” consequences of a military
strike on Iran over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

Lavrov noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
inspectors “currently work at all nuclear objects of Iran and have
uncovered no illicit activities so far.”

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran
of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program and
have used this pretext to push for four rounds of UN sanctions and
unilateral embargoes against the Islamic Republic.

Iran has refuted the allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, Tehran is
entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.