Author: Kanayan Tamar

NA DEPUTY SPEAKER MEETS THE ACTING AMBASSADOR OF GREECE VASILIKI DIKOPULU

03.04.2012

On April 3 the Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov met the Acting
Ambassador of Greece to the Republic of Armenia Vasiliki Dikopulu.

Highly appreciating the high-level relations of friendly nations
having common history and civilizational achievements, the parties
expressed confidence that from now on the economic, political and
cultural relations and cooperation would be strengthened between the
two countries.

Ms Vasiliki Dikopulu recorded that especially during the last years
Armenia had taken big steps in the direction of European integration.

She noted that Greece as an EU member state was ready to show its
support to Armenia for further activating the relations with different
EU structures.

At the guest’s request, touching upon the upcoming parliamentary
elections Mr Sharmazanov in particular noted: “It is very important
for us that the elections be democratic, and the society trust and
believe in reforms.”

During the meeting the parties touched upon the development of
relations, the Karabakh and Cypriot problems, the Armenian-Turkish
relations, the economic crisis in Greece and the ways of its
overcoming, the vital problems of the Armenian and Greek communities
and mutual integration.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER OF FINLAND TO VISIT TSITSERNAKABERD

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian his Finnish counterpart Erkki
Tuomioja will pay an official visit to Armenia on April 3-4. President
of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan , National Assembly chairman
Samvel Nikoyan will receive the guest.

Foreign Affairs Ministry press office told Armenpress that negotiations
between the foreign ministers of the two countries will launch on
April 4 and will be followed by a joint news conference.

Erkki Tuomioja will visit Tsitsernakaberd and put a wreath in the
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.

DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY COVERS “COWARDICE”: TURKISH MINISTER NOT LIABLE IN SWITZERLAND
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
03.04.12 | 15:15

Photo:

Egemen BagıÅ~_, Turkey’s Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs
will not be made accountable for his statements over the Armenian
Genocide made in Switzerland in the heat of debate about France’s
failed initiative to criminalize genocide denial. As Turkish mass
media report, the Zurich General Prosecutor’s Office believes that
when BagıÅ~_ made that statement he had diplomatic immunity.

The investigation against BagıÅ~_ started soon after the World
Economic Forum in Davos in January, when responding to a French
journalist’s question about his opinion on the resolution “On
Criminalizing Denial of the Armenian Genocide” adopted by the
French Senate (later the Constitutional Court of France found it
unconstitutional), BagıÅ~_ said that no Armenian Genocide had taken
place. “Switzerland is another country where the denial of the, so
called, genocide is considered to be a crime. Today in Switzerland
I announce that the events of 1915 are not to be considered as
genocide. Let them come and arrest me,” he stated.

The decision of the Zurich Prosecutor’s Office was not unexpected
for Giro Manoyan, Director of the International Secretariat of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) Bureau in Yerevan.

“BagıÅ~_ is inviolable as a minister, and I believe this is the only
reason why Switzerland cannot file a lawsuit against him. But he,
making such a statement in Switzerland insults it, knowing that he
breaks the law of this country,” Manoyan told ArmeniaNow, excluding
that the stopping of the investigation against BagıÅ~_ has political
motives. “Had there been such a thing they would not have started
the investigation at all.”

Many in Armenia called BagıÅ~_ a coward, emphasizing that he would not
have made such a statement in Switzerland, where denial of genocide
is banned by the Criminal Code of the country, were it not for his
diplomatic status.

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.