Author: Kanayan Tamar

EUROPE CAN SUPPORT SETTLEMENT OF JAVAKHK ISSUE

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 19, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS: Artak Gabrielyan, coordinator of
Samtskhe-Javakhk council of Armenian NGOs, held in Paris, Marseille,
Lion and Athens more than 15 meetings with members of the European
Parliament and representatives of other EU institutions on the issues
of Javakhk-Armenians. Mr. Gabrielyan told a news conference that
those meetings were very important for drawing Europe””s attention
to Javakhk issues, Armenpress reports.

He said that Javakhk must be a connecting link between Armenia and
Georgia. Meanwhile, minorities”” rights are encroached in Georgia,
a restrictive policy is conducted, and its example is that Georgia
spends the huge money received from abroad mostly in Tbilisi.

“Javakhk people are concerned about losing their national identity,
and self-government is the key to settlement of all their issues,”
said Artak Gabrielyan.

He reminded that as a result of the meetings held in Europe, there
will be positive shifts in solution of Javakhk issues, and expressed
hope that the European parliament will try to push Georgia to solve
the issues inside the country by means of negotiations or pressures.

The council coordinator stressed that though they stand up for
territorial integrity of Georgia, the only salvation of the country
is giving to national minorities self-government and having a federal
structure of government.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I MEETS CYPRUS FOREIGN MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 19, 2012 – 17:49 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Foreign Minister of Cyprus met with Catholicos of
the Holy See of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I in the presence of Dr.

Bedros Karajerjian and Mr. Dekran Jimbashian, President and Secretary
respectively of the Executive Council of the Catholicosate, Minister
Panos Manjian, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, Catholicosal Vicar
in Cyprus, Mr. Parsegh Zartarian, Representative of the Executive
Council of the Diocese of the Cypriot and Archbishop Komitas Ohanian.

The Ambassador of Cyprus to Lebanon, Homer Mavromatis, and five staff
members of the Foreign Ministry accompanied Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis.

During the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, Catholicos Aram
I first welcomed the guests and then expressed his appreciation
for the cooperation between the Republics of Cyprus and Lebanon. He
then spoke of the long relations between the Armenians and Greeks,
particularly during the Kingdom of Cilicia and the long-standing
ecumenical relations between the two churches. He emphasized the
urgency of cooperating and reinforcing relations in view of the common
agenda regarding Turkey.

His Holiness then informed the Foreign Minister of the recent
international conference of experts held in Antelias to discuss the
Armenian Genocide.

He concluded: “Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus and confiscation of
religious and cultural monuments is a new form of genocide against
the people of Cyprus and our people.”

In her response, Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis expressed her government’s
appreciation of the contribution of the Armenian community in
the development of Cyprus. The Foreign Minister also informed the
Catholicos that she planned to visit Armenia in early April. She
concluded by emphasizing the need to continue strong cooperation in
order to counter Turkey’s negationist policy and to continue to work
for justice and human rights.

Before leaving the Catholicosate, the Foreign Minister asked to visit
the Martyr’s Chapel and pay tribute to the memory of the victims of
the Armenian Genocide.

“LOOKING FROM ARARAT: ARMENIANS AND TURKS” BY TATUL HAKOBYAN

hetq
16:25, March 19, 2012

On March 19, veteran Armenian journalist Tatul Hakobyan presented his
new book, “Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks.” This 500 page
book is the result of eight years of extensive research, analysis
and travel by the author.

It was first published in Western Armenian using classical
orthography. This most recent version, in Eastern Armenian, will be
presented in Yerevan and Gyumri as well – Armenia’s capital city and
second largest city consecutively – at the beginning of April. There
will also be an English version, which is being prepared for print
this fall.

In the words of Shahan Kandaharian, Editor-in-Chief of Azdak daily
in Beirut, the author “presents each end of Yerevan-Ankara relations
with high journalistic professionalism,” having carried out extensive
archive analysis and frequent visits to Western Armenia during which
he conducted a number of in-depth interviews with Armenian, Turkish
and foreign diplomats, presidents, and historians.

Lebanese Armenian intellectuals Khatchig Dedeyan, Tigran Jinbashian
and Sargis Giragosian presented comments on the author and his new
published book.

“Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks” is comprised of three
parts. The first ten chapters describe Armenian-Turkish (Kemalist)
relations from 1918 to 1921. The seven chapters of the second part
dwell on Armenian-Turkish relations at a time when Armenia was a part
of the Soviet Union. In the eleven chapters of the third part you can
examine the relations from 1988 to present day. The book also includes
a preface (“The saddest Liturgy”) and an epilogue (“Where are you,
Land of Nairi”), as well as an Appendix where the author presents
all of the documents ever signed between Turkey and Armenia.

“I started this book almost simultaneously with my first one –
“Green and Black: Karabakh Diary.” This could be considered as a
continuation to that and its second volume,” said Hakobyan at the
Beirut presentation, adding, “If you have read “Green and Black”,
I would advise you to read this one as well and stay tuned for the
next ones!”

First published in 2008, Tatul Hakobyan’s first book – “Green and
Black: Karabakh Diary”, has three editions in Armenian and was
translated into Western Armenian, Russian, English, Arabic and Turkish.

THE “JURASSIC PARK” OF ARMENIAN POLITICS
Hayk Khalatyan

PanARMENIAN News
March 19, 2012

Appearance of “political dinosaurs” like Gehamyan, Harutyunyan and
Babukhanyan on RPA list stirs huge interest.

The Council of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) approved
on March 18 its electoral lists comprising 250 candidates standing
for the parliamentary elections due on May 6. The list is quite
interesting, to say the least. For instance, the ex-speaker of the
National Assembly and head of RPA election office Hovik Abrahamyan
is placed the second while Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan comes the
third. However, the main surprise of the list is the abundance of
“strangers”, representatives of other parties or new members of RPA.

PanARMENIAN.Net – “We are heading for the elections with a larger list
involving people who support policy of President Serzh Sargsyan and
are committed to contribute to implementation of these programs,”
vice-speaker of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov told the
journalists. He also reminded that RPA’s previous lists as well
included people who were not RPA members, particularly, during
elections in 2003 and 2007.Still, the most surprising circumstance in
relation to the list is the emergence of “political dinosaurs” like
Artashes Gehamyan, Khosrov Harutyunyan and Hayk Babukhanyan. Steven
Spielberg is going to shoot a fourth sequel of the “Jurassic Park”
shortly, but Armenia seems to be taking the lead, with its next
parliament intending to catch up with the Jurassic Park already in
May with regard to the number of fossil characters.

Rumours about the above-mentioned figures’ joining the parliament have
been circulating for quite a while; still, one wanted to believe RPA
will not go for it. The thing is not even the names these opposition
politicians used to call each other and the authorities, including the
current president Serzh Sargsyan. The question is, how the powerful
RPA can benefit from these figures who have failed in their political
careers over the past years, who once headed rather influential
political forces and now cannot even secure a parliamentary seat
without RPA’s assistance.

The politicians explain their joining the RPA list by a wish to unite
efforts of the national-conservative forces. “Platforms of the RPA and
the Constitutional Right Union (CRU) are very similar, the ideology
basing on the national-conservative concept we present. That’s why
I believe it is absolutely natural than CRU is standing for the
elections jointly with the RPA, with its list. I think this is clear
with regard to both ideological and political criteria,” CRU head
Hayk Babukhanyan declared.

After this, the only question that emerges is how RPA members will see
parliamentary mandates gone to others who enter the National Assembly
instead of them, but due to their efforts. Many experts think that
Geghamyan and others will rather be lumber for RPA instead of providing
real support at upcoming elections.

“They will be a problem for the Republican Party of Armenia because
they are virtual people already. I realize that these people are
running for the parliament just to oppose the Armenian National
Congress (ANC). This means these people will be used against the ANC
on the parliament arena. But the RPA itself should weigh all pros
and contras. I believe their inclusion in the list will bring much
more contras than pros,” Armenian political expert Karen Kocharyan
once said on the issue.

Finally, the political forecast for the potential heirs to “good
business” of Geghamyan, Harutyunyan and Babukhanyan during elections
in 2017 is as follows: if current trends are maintained, leader of
Orinats Yerkir party Artur Baghdasaryan is likely to complement or
even replace them.

IRAN’S POSITION ON KARABAKH ISSUE UNCHANGED: THE CONFLICT SHOULD BE SOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE

armradio.am
19.03.2012 11:53

Iran’s position on Nagorno Karabakh issue remains unchanged: the
settlement of the conflict is possible only through dialogue, the
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia said in a statement.

Iran’s policy on resolution of all conflicts has always been based on
contribution to mediatory efforts towards establishment of a dialogue
between the conflicting parties, establishment of sustainable peace
and stability in the region, the statement said.

“As the only country sharing a border with the conflict zone,
the Islamic Republic of Iran expresses concern over escalation of
regional tensions and continuous incidents at the line of contact,”
the Embassy said, Regnum reports.

ATP PLANS TO ESTABLISH NEW FORESTS IN COMMUNITIES OF SARATOVKA AND SVERDLOV

hetq
16:08, March 20, 2012

In recognition of Armenia Tree Project’s successful record in tree
planting, environmental education, and sustainable development,
the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded a $1.2 million
grant to ATP. The funding will help to underwrite a portion of ATP’s
core programs through 2014.

“One of the primary objectives of our partnership with the Norwegian
government is to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” says SEEDS
Program Manager Vardan Melikyan, “and we plan to do this through
raising awareness about conservation issues, planting trees to promote
sustainable development in Armenia, and fostering a sense of personal
commitment about the importance of environmental stewardship.”

ATP launched an exciting new program in 2011 known as SEEDS, or
“Social, Economic, and Environmental Development for Sustainability.”

It has allowed ATP to build capacity in its reforestation programs
while improving results through new methods of program delivery. These
include a greater emphasis on community development and investing in
social capital in the areas where ATP is planting trees.

The Norway funding will provide partial support for some of ATP’s core
programs including tree planting initiatives in towns and villages
throughout Armenia, an expansion of reforestation programs in northern
Armenia, maintenance of recently planted forests, environmental
education programs that train teachers and inspire youth, and community
trainings for sustainable forest management.

In 2011, ATP’s SEEDS Program planted 186,785 tree seedlings on
community lands in Fioletovo, Jrashen, Katnajur, Spitak, and Tsakhkaber
in the Lori region. The SEEDS team also maintained previously planted
sites to improve survival rates by clearing grass around thousands
of seedlings that survived their first growing season.

“ATP plans to establish new forests in partnership with the communities
of Saratovka and Sverdlov, which have already provided nearly 80
hectares of land for tree planting. ATP has been working with local
partners to create small community forests. Towns and villages that
are located far from forested areas are given special attention in
this program, since they are desperately in need of green spaces,”
says Forestry Manager Ani Haykuni.

The seedlings for ATP’s reforestation programs are grown in the Mirak
Family Nursery in Margahovit Village and in backyard nurseries in
the Getik River Valley. These newly planted forests are established
with oak, pine, ash, apple, and pear seedlings which are native to
the region.

“ATP’s SEEDS Program also addresses community development and
socio-economic issues in order to mitigate some of the root causes
of deforestation and unsustainable land use. This includes providing
jobs for hundreds of workers in the Lori region for seasonal tree
planting, and partnering with other organizations who can bring
their development expertise to communities where we are working,”
concludes Vardan Melikyan. “These jobs mean people can work in their
communities and don’t have to emigrate to Russia to earn a living.”

SIPRI: AZERBAIJAN RANKS 38TH IN THE WORLD BY PURCHASE OF ARMS

arminfo
Tuesday, March 20, 16:37

The volume of Azerbaijan’s imports of major conventional weapons
increased by 164% between 2002-2006 and 2007-2011, making it the 38th
largest recipient of weapons, according to new data on international
arms transfers published on Mar. 19 by Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI).

According to the report, “Although Armenia dropped from being the
71st largest recipient to 84th place between 2007-2011 and 2002-2006,
the Armenian Government has declared that it will procure arms in
response to Azerbaijan’s arms acquisitions.”

Russia is the main supplier of arms to both states: in 2007-2011
it provided 55% of Azerbaijan’s arms imports and a whopping 96%
of Armenia’s arms imports, SIPRI reports.

The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database now contains information on all
international transfers of major conventional weapons from 1950 to
the end of 2011. It is the only publicly available resource providing
consistent data on international arms transfers for this length of
time. This Fact Sheet describes the trends in international arms
transfers that are revealed by the new data. It lists the main
suppliers and recipients for the period 2007-11 and describes the
changes in regional trends. Azerbaijan’s defense budget for 2012
is 1.381 million mantas or 1.770mln dollars, which is by some 1.2
percent more than in 2011. Defense expenditure for 2012 make up 14.8%
of total expenditures.

Over the last years Azerbaijan’s military budget grew 20fold. In
2011 Azerbaijani state budget approved 2630 million manats to the
military budget (around 3287 mln dollars), while Armenia’s military
budget for 2011 did not exceed 350 mln dollars. The military budget
for 2012 will total around 400 million dollars.

ARF APPOINTS DAY OF PUBLICATION OF PROPORTIONAL LIST, PROSPEROUS ARMENIA STILL HESITATES

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 20, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation
will publish its proportional list on March 21, member of the ARF
Supreme Body Spartak Seyranyan told Armenpress. On the same day, he
said, the documents will be handed to the Central Electoral Commission.

Khachik Galstyan, spokesman for the leader of the Prosperous Armenia
Party, told Armenpress that all the issues connected with the list
will be specified by March 22 and be handed to the CEC.

Republican Party of Armenia and the Rule of Law stated that they will
present the proportional list to the CEC on March 21.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA PARTICIPATES IN EURASEC SITTING

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 19, 2012
MOSCOW

MOSCOW, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The sitting of the EurAsEC inter-state
council is ongoing in the capital of Russia, Moscow. Citing RIA
Novosti, Armenpress reports that President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev,
applying to the present, offered to discuss the issue of reformation
of EurAsEC, stressing that the process must be of a civilized nature.

“The main point of our agenda refers to the implementation of the
arrangements reached at the 2011 December 19 sitting relating to the
reformation of EurAsEC,” Medvedev said, adding that at that time a
suggestion was even voiced to immediately dissolve EurAsEC but after
a discussion a decision was made that a civil solution must be given
to the issue within certain legal norms.

Presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
as well as of Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, having status of observers,
are participating in the sitting.

The agreement on establishment of EurAsEC has been signed on October
10, 2010 and entered into force on May 30, 2011 after all the states
ratified it.

Azerbaijani official stresses expansion of relations with Iran

Baku, March 18, IRNA – Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social
and Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov stressed Saturday on
expansion of relations with Iran, adding that nothing can hurt good
relations between the two neighboring countries.

`Iran and Azerbaijan are neighboring countries with common history and
culture,’ he told reporters.

The information publicized by the Azerbaijani Ministry of National
Security is absolutely not an action directed against the Iranian
state, Azerbaijani presidential administration social and political
department chief noted.

He was expressing his attitude toward detention in Azerbaijan of a
group of people accused of espionage activity against an Iranian
revolutionary organization.

The official believes it will not have a negative impact on the
Iranian-Azerbaijani inter-state relations.

‘Azerbijan Republic would try to keep good relations with Iran and
prevent the use of its territory against other states including Iran’
he noted.

At the same time Hasanov stressed that sometimes, both in Iran and
Azerbaijan, the various circles, some members of society take steps
affecting the relations between the two countries. He called materials
of some journalists as an example of such activities.

Following a statement released by Azerbaijan Republic Security
Ministry in which an Iranian revolutionary organization has been
accused, the ambassador of that country was summoned to Foreign
Ministry.

Azerbaijan Republic Ambassador to Tehran Javanshir Akhundov received
Iran’s protest to his government.

In the meeting, the accusations were rejected and it was said that the
Azerbaijan Republic action was in contradiction with agreement between
foreign ministers of both countries on the sidelines of Nakhchivan
meeting, around 10 days ago, as well as last week agreement between
Defense Ministers of the two countries.

It was also said that the Zionist regime is trying to charge similar
accusations against Iran in different countries.

The ambassador was also told that Iranian officials are strongly
dissatisfied that Azerbaijan Republic has entered into this Zionist
game.

Akhundov declared his country’s political intention to expand ties
with Iran and said that he will convey Iran’s reaction to his
government.

This week as a result of a special operation conducted by the
Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security, a group of 22 individuals
was revealed and detained. It is accused of espionage activity against
Azerbaijan on the instructions of an Iranian revolutionary
organization.

Iran has an embassy in Baku and a consulate-general in the autonomous
republic of Nakhichevan. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tehran and a
consulate-general in Tabriz.

Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since the latter’s
independence from the former Soviet Union. The two countries have a
majority Shia population and share many cultural commonalities.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has made extensive mediation efforts to
settle the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh.

9191**1771

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80044506