Author: Kanayan Tamar

The Guardian, UK
June 16 2011

Haile Selassie witnesses an Armenian marching band

January 1924: Number 3 in our series of the 50 key events in the
history of world and folk music

John Lewis The Guardian, Thursday 16 June 2011

On a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in January 1924, Haile Selassie witnessed
a marching band of Armenian refugees, all survivors of the Ottoman
genocide. Moved by their plight and impressed by their music, he
invited all 40 of them to become his state band in Addis Ababa. Over
the next 50 years, countless Ethiopian bands followed the same line-up
and forged a stately brand of jazz-funk, fostering unique talents such
as Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete.

Los Angeles Times
June 16 2011

Marrying Mexican and Armenian cuisine
When a Mexican American married a man of Armenian descent, meals
became an international feast.

By Lorenza Munoz, Special to the Los Angeles Times

June 16, 2011
Like many women, I had a secret list of requirements that my future
husband would have to meet before I married him.

At the top of the list? He had to love food.

In my Mexican family, food has always been at the forefront of our
conversations, imagination and life. My parents and I will spend hours
discussing a menu for any gathering, no matter how small. My
grandmother and father would take an entire day preparing a family
meal, shopping together, cooking together. My mother could create a
fabulous meal out of anything in the pantry.

Fortunately, the man I married fulfilled my food requirement and more.
I married into an Armenian family and happily discovered that
Armenians and Mexicans could be the same tribe separated at birth. We
are loud, clannish, musical, emotional (my father once quipped that
Armenians make Mexicans look like Swedes). And we love our food.

I am ashamed to say that before I met my husband, Greg, I was totally
unfamiliar with Armenian culture, had never tasted a kufta (stuffed
meatballs) or muhammara (walnut and red bell pepper dip) or sou beoreg
(cheese-stuffed pastry).

But since then I have discovered that there is a natural culinary
connection between the two cultures. Armenians, just like Mexicans,
love the comingling of sweet and sour and spicy and mild; they love
strong flavors like lamb and garlic. Through the communion of food,
the tradition of breaking bread, our families have gotten to know and
love each other.

>From the moment our families met, I knew we would mesh well. My
introduction began at Uncle Tony’s barbecues. Tony, I was thrilled to
find, had a whole ritual that revolved around his food (including
photographing his favorite meals and placing them in a special album).
Every afternoon he would make himself a plate of mezze (little bites
of things such as olives, nuts, Armenian string cheese, celery and
carrots) to go with his requisite martini.

This was reminiscent of my father, who, every day before dinner, makes
himself a plate of botanas – some almonds, olives and thinly sliced
radishes with a dash of lemon and a sprinkle of salt – to accompany
his glass of sherry.

At family barbecues, Uncle Tony would grill lamb shish kebabs
marinated in lemon, garlic and parsley. His sister-in-law Mary made
stuffed grape leaves, known as yalanchi, and a delicious pilaf with a
sinful amount of butter and a mountain of dates and sliced almonds as
garnish.

In our family, we would grill carne asada, marinated in garlic and
cilantro, complemented by a helping of either red, white or green
rice.

My father-in-law, Sam, also loved the kitchen. He would skip Mass on
Sundays, but when Greg’s mother and the four kids returned from
church, he would be sure to greet them in a red apron, martini in
hand, while the strains of a Puccini opera and the aroma of a leg of
lamb and garlic filled the air.

In our home on Sundays, my father always donned his green apron, put
on some boleros and cooked elaborate meals such as grilled steaks,
wild mushrooms with garlic and parsley, and roasted baby potatoes with
cilantro and lemon, giving my mom a much-needed break.

Before our wedding, Greg and I hosted a dinner at which my extended
Mexican family met Greg’s. It was catered by Carousel, the well-known
Armenian restaurant in Hollywood, now expanded into Glendale. My
Mexican relatives devoured the garlicky-lemon kebabs in pockets of
pita bread (which served as a nice substitute for tortillas) with
slices of raw jalapeños. The Armenian string cheese reminded us of a
lighter, milkier version of Oaxaca cheese. Mexicans are accustomed to
eating Arabic-influenced food not only because of the Moorish
tradition that came from Spain but also because of a large influx of
Lebanese immigrants to Mexico.

Even during the holidays we have combined customs: My family hosts a
traditional Mexican dinner on Christmas Eve while we spend Christmas
Day with my husband’s family. While yalanchi and pilaf are a requisite
on Christmas Day, this year, cousin Jeff also experimented with
Mexican flavors by making a tasty grilled turkey with a habanero chile
and sausage stuffing.

Sadly, Sam and Tony have died. But their influence at family
gatherings is still alive. Whenever we host a family party, Aunt
Mary’s yalanchi are placed side-by-side with my carne asada, or a tray
of lahmajoun (Armenian pizzas with lamb) sits next to a bowl of
totopos (tortilla chips) or pita bread with a salty, creamy
yogurt-like cheese dip called jocoque that is topped with minced
serrano peppers and pomegranate seeds.

Now that we have our Armexican traditions in place, I need to think of
how to incorporate the Czech side of Greg’s maternal family into the
mix – perhaps some dumplings and duck with a spicy habanero salsa on
the side?

,0,4566814.story

Panorama, Armenia
June 16 2011

A. Bakhshyan: `Establishment of Children’s ombudsmen institution in
Armenia is underway’

`Under the Constitution, our state is limited to basic human and civil
rights and freedoms as a directly applicable law. In this context, in
1992 Armenia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
assuming readiness to prioritize child protection issues and to
include them into the national projects,’ member of the Heritage
parliamentary faction Anahit Bakhshyan said at the parliamentary
conference of CIS, Central and Eastern Europe states on protection of
the rights of vulnerable children.

The conference has been initiated by the National Assembly, UNICEF,
jointly with the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Within the upcoming three
days, delegates from different countries, deputies, ombudsmen,
children’s rights experts and others will discuss everything directly
concerning protection of children’s rights in the context of the
parliament’s activities.

Mrs. Bakhshyan presented the delegates the development of the field in
Armenia. Further, she reminded that in 1996, our country elaborated
and adopted Children Rights law which stipulated the implementation of
the Convention and our country’s commitments. However, `the lack of a
comprehensive mechanism for the exercise of children’s rights in our
country, just like in the whole world, was slowing down the process of
complete protection of children’s rights. That’s why Armenia, just
like the other Member States of the United Nations, elaborated a
National Project on Protection of Children’s Rights for 2004-2015.
This project aimed to introduce the new reform of the children’s
rights protection field to secure the rights stipulated in the
Convention,’ she noted.

Besides, in 2005, under the order of Armenian Prime Minister, National
Commission for Child Protection was established, as a mechanism to
secure the state policy of children’s rights and interests,
immediately followed by opening of children’s ombudsman offices in the
regions. In 2010, family, women and children protection offices were
established, thus a children’s ombudsman three-level system was
introduced in Armenia, including national, regional and communal
levels.

“But we should emphasize that the three-level system is formal, and is
not efficient, it is not a full mechanism of Children’s Ombudsman,
because the system responds to the needs of the child only when the
child is already in a difficult situation, while it should act as an
early intervention and prevention mechanism. This is the problem and
challenge for Armenia. In this respect, the National Assembly and the
government as well as the international organizations and others have
much to do,” the MP said.
According to her, the most important role of the parliament is not
only adoption of the laws and ratification of international
conventions, but also adoption of mechanisms established by laws, by
which the implementation of the laws is conditioned. The Parliament
should pursue the establishment of the mechanism of independent
monitoring of the Children’s Ombudsman implementation. And in that
sense it is important that the creation and establishment of
Children’s Ombudsman Institution serve as such mechanism, because:
“Only in this case it will be possible to monitor the implementation
of the national project of Children’s Ombudsman and to report it to
the National Assembly.”

By the way, the Children’s Ombudsman institution was expected to be
established in Armenia in 2001, but the above mentioned three-level
system was created instead, which in fact cannot be an independent
mechanism for the implementation of the Convention.

Mrs. Bakhshyan added that today the establishment of this institution
is already underway, it must be established within the Ombudsman’s
Office.
Norway is the country where the first Children’s Ombudsman institution
was established.
In addition to this, Mrs. Bakhshyan also presented the delegates other
mechanisms of children’s ombudsman that operate in Armenia. For
example, the mechanism required by the General Education law and
ensuring the participation of parents, which is a contract between
parents and school headmaster, which exactly stipulates the rights of
the child, etc.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION OF
FRANCE HENRI DE RAINCOURT

AZG DAILY #112, 18-06-2011

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the Minister of Cooperation
of France Henri de Raincourt.

Welcoming the guest, the President of Armenia said, “France holds a
special place in Armenia’s foreign policy agenda, and, naturally, we
are striving to constantly strengthen and deepen our relations. It is
conditioned by our centuries-long ties, mutual sympathy of the two
peoples, by France’s heavy-weight status in global affairs and, of
course, by the presence in France of the large Armenian community.”
Henri de Raincourt expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and noted,
“Armenia is in our hearts every day, since every day we interact with
the Armenians living in France, who are carriers of two cultures, two
civilizations and who remind us every day of the sufferings Armenia
had gone through and of the ability of the Armenians to rise and shine
again.”

The parties spoke with satisfaction about multifaceted relations
established between the two states, noting the ongoing high-level
political dialogue, close and efficient interparliamentary
cooperation, a vast legal field for cooperation, close cultural and
educational ties, visible presence of French companies in the Armenian
economy, and successfully developing decentralized cooperation. The
participants of the meeting concurred that development of the economic
and trade relations is a priority of the bilateral agenda, as is the
increase of the turnover and a more active interaction of the business
circles of the two countries.

President Serzh Sargsyan and the State Minister, Minister of
Cooperation of France Henri de Raincourt discussed also a wide range
of issues pertinent to Armenia-EU relations.

Lebanese religious leader praises Iran’s foreign policy

Beirut, June 17, IRNA — Lebanese Armenian Orthodox Church Leader Aram
I said that Iran’s foreign policy is transparent, clear and
appraisable.

Iran’s Ambassador to Beirut Ghazanfar Roknabadi on Friday attended
Patriarch Church here and talked with his holiness Aram I about
developments in Lebanon as well as regional and international issues.
In the meeting, the two sides applauded wide and deep cultural and
historical relations between Armenians and Iranians, especially after
victory of Islamic revolution. They also praised the respect shown by
Islamic Republic of Iran for its Armenian citizens.
The ambassador said that Iran’s foreign policy is based on human and
moral principles and added that Iran’s ties with Armenians and
Armenian religious scholars are strong and Iran is honored with such
relations.
He expressed pleasure with formation of Lebanon government and said
that we hope that all Lebanese can protect their own unity and
concentrate their full attention on common enemy of the nation which
is the Zionist regime.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: (818) 500-1918

PRESS RELEASE

June 15, 2011
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Telephone: (818) 500-1918

ANCA PROFESSIONAL NETWORK TO HOST RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEW WORKSHOP

GLENDALE, CA—The Armenian National Committee of America’s
Professional Network (ANCA-PN) will be hosting a workshop on how
resume writing and interview skills at the ANCA-Western Region Office
located at 104 North Belmont Street in Glendale, CA. The event will
take place on Wednesday, June 22nd at 7:00pm.

“This event was designed to help students, recent graduates, and young
professionals sharpen their resume writing and interview skills so
that they can be more competitive in the job market,” said Ayk
Dikijian, a member of the ANCA-PN’s Executive Committee.

The workshop will be lead by former ANCA-PN Executive Committee Member
Vicken Chitilian, MBA. Chitilian will review the fundamentals of
these core, job-hunting components as well as answer questions
regarding the job candidate selection process.

The presentation will include handouts and examples as well as
personalized assistance. It is free and open to the public.

In order to RSVP for this event, please contact the ANCA-PN by
e-mailing [email protected].

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, locals, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JUNE 10-16, 2011

HIGHLIGHTS:

“E-CLUB” CYCLE: INTERNET AND MISINFORMATION

“YERKRAGUND” ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS RESULTS IN TURKEY

STATEMENT OF NGO-MEMBERS OF WORKING GROUP ON REFORMING THE BROADCAST
LEGISLATION

A YEAR LATER… AFTER ALL GOVERNOR OF SHIRAK DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION

“IRAVUNK” SUES REPORT.AM

“A1+” VERSUS NCTR: FOUNDER OF “ARMNEWS” DID NOT APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT

“E-CLUB” CYCLE: INTERNET AND MISINFORMATION

On June 14 another program from “E-Club” weekly cycle went on the online
broadcast of “A1+” TV company (). The “E-Club” is produced by
Yerevan Press Club in cooperation with “A1+” TV company under “Alternative
Resources in Media” project, supported by USAID.

The information and education blocs, particularly, told about the capacities
of softwares for Armenian language, presented the site of enquiry service
“Spyur”, , and talked about online castings. The guests of the
discussion part of “E-Club” – Gegham Vardanian, producer of Internews Media
Support public organization website , and Manu Iritsian,
correspondent of “Interactive” TV project – considered the issues of
misinformation on the Internet and its influence on media content.

The next “E-Club” will be aired on “A1+” on June 21.

“YERKRAGUND” ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS RESULTS IN TURKEY

On June 14 the eight show of “Yerkragund” (“Globe”) cycle went on the
evening air of “Yerkir Media” TV company. The current show was produced by
Yerevan Press Club under a joint YPC and Internews Network project,
“Dialogue Building Between Armenia and Turkey”, supported by the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of US Department of State.

The guests of the program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian, were Anush
Hovhannisian, Senior Staff Scientist at the Turkish Department of the
Institute of Oriental Studies of RA National Academy of Sciences, Stepan
Grigorian, Head of Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional
Cooperation, Aghavni Harutiunian, correspondent of “Azg” daily, and
turcologist Artak Shakarian. The guests discussed the results o f the June
12, 2011 parliamentary elections in Turkey.

The next “Yerkragund” show will be aired on “Yerkir Media” on Tuesday, June
21 at 19.15 (rerun – on Thursday, June 23 at 14.15).

STATEMENT OF NGO-MEMBERS OF WORKING GROUP ON REFORMING THE BROADCAST
LEGISLATION

On June 15 the NGO-members of the working group on reforming the broadcast
legislation, regulating the process of switching from analogue to digital
broadcast in Armenia released a statement. As it has been reported, the
working group, headed by the RA Human Rights Defender, was created in
September 2010 upon the initiative of RA President Serzh Sargsian (see
details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 8-14, 2010).

The statement signatories are the heads of three NGOs: Nouneh Sarkissian,
Managing Director of Internews Media Support public organization, President
of Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardian and Arzuman Harutiunian, President
of Audio-Visual Reporters Association.

“In 2010 the RA Human Rights Defender formed a working group (WG) on
reforming the broadcast legislation, regulating the process of switching
from analogue to digital broadcast in Armenia. The group aimed at amending
the RA Law “On Television and Radio”, proceeding from the numerous critical
appraisals. In February 2011, the preliminary draft version developed by us
– several NGOs – was adopted by the working group to serve as a basis for
further improvements.

On May 31, 2011 the draft law was submitted to the RA National Assembly
supplemented by the comments and suggestions from the WG members, also by
the conclusions delivered by international experts regarding the preliminary
draft version. Simultaneously, this indicated the end of the WG activities,
which was formed to address the most urgent problems in the field.

We, WG members-representatives of journalistic NGOs, express our concern
with the current version of the draft, considering it imperfect, and the
shutdown of the WG activities – premature. The draft contains a number of
important clauses that were not properly addressed and still require a
thorough discussion and analysis. Suggestions and recommendations provided
by the experts, including the feedback from the Council of Europe and OSCE,
were not considered in full and completely.

Such a situation questions the initial key objective of our activities,
which is to contribute to the adoption of a perfectly worked out law by the
RA National Assembly.

As the co-authors of the preliminary draft version, we state that we
continue our activities over the improvement of the draft and in future we
are intended to submit it to the RA National Assembly in a separate package.
Given this fact, we would like to request the NA Standing Committee on
Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport to postpone any possible
discussion on the draft,” the statement of the three journalistic
associations stresses.

A YEAR LATER… AFTER ALL GOVERNOR OF SHIRAK DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION

On June 16, a year has passed since the Governor of Shirak region Ashot
Gizirian does not implement the terms of the amicable agreement, concluded
between him and “Asparez” Journalists Club of Gyumri on June 16, 2010.
“Asparez” informed about this in its press release disseminated on the
occasion of the “jubilee”. As it has been reported, on January 18 and 29,
2010 the Board Chairman of “Asparez” Levon Barseghian addressed Lida Nanian
– the Governor of Shirak region at that time – requesting to provide
information on budgetary funds, allocated in 2005-2009 as financial
assistance to impecunious citizens of Shirak, the copies of the Governor’s
relevant decisions, and on the 2005-2009 expenditure of budgetary funds
under article “Representation Expenses”. As the requested information was
granted partially, Levon Barseghian filed the RA Administrative Court of
Gyumri, demanding to hold the inaction of the Governor, oblige Lida Nanian
to fully reply to both inquiries, as well as exact the state duty for
filling the suit. The hearings on the suit started on April 27, 2010 and
ended on June 16 with an amicable agreement. The new Governor of Shirak
region Ashot Gizirian engaged to fully provide with the requested
information until July 1, while the Board Chairman of “Asparez” committed to
withdrawing the suit. However, “Asparez” received the part of the documents,
even then unduly, on January 14, 2011, only after addressing the Shirak
Regional Department of the RA Service of Compulsory Execution of Judicial
Acts. On March 30 Levon Barseghian once again referred to the Service of
Compulsory Execution for assistance in the full implementation of the
amicable agreement (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 8-14, 2011).

In May 2011 Shirak Regional Department of the RA Service of Compulsory
Execution addressed the Administrative Court requesting to give explanations
on the June 16, 2010 decision, which is subject to implementation. The Court
revoked the application. As a result, the compulsory executors are not able
to carry out their obligations for several months, while the law provides
for a two-month term, the press release of “Asparez” notes. Meanwhile, the
public waits already a year for the information on how the 70 million AMD
were allocated to impecunious people at the expense of taxpayers.

“IRAVUNK” SUES REPORT.AM

On June 15 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
administrative districts of Yerevan started hearing the suit of Hayk
Babukhanian, Chairman of the Editorial Council of “Iravunk” newspaper,
versus “Khmbagir” LLC, founder of Report.am news portal, and Edik
Andreasian, Report.am observer. The plaintiff demands to refute the
information discrediting his honor, dignity and business reputation, as
contained in the piece by Edik Andreasian “When Forcing the Unpromptable”
(stored on Report.am on March 25, 2011) and in the readers’ comments on that
piece. Hayk Babukhanian also demands to compensate the moral damage of 1
million AMD (more than $ 2,500), cover the court expenses, including the
state duty for filing the court of 8,000 AMD and the attorney services fee
(meanwhile, the plaintiff did not specified the sum). Together with the suit
– submitted to consideration on April 22, 2011 – a petition was made
requesting to prohibit the respondent to diffuse any information on another
case which is presently being considered by the same court of general
jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts of Yerevan.
This regards a similar suit on protecting the honor, dignity and business
reputation, lodged by Hayk Babukhanian and founder of “Iravunk” newspaper,
“Iravunk Media” LLC, versus Report.am founder, “Khmbagir” LLC, and news
portal’s observer Edik Andreasian. The subject matter of the case is the
September 1, 2010 piece of Report.am “The Right of ‘Iravunk’ on the Edge of
Hayk Babukhanian’s Sword”. The plaintiffs demanded to refute the
discrediting information, as contained in the piece, as well as exact from
each respondent 3 million AMD (about $ 8,000) as moral damage compensation,
caused by libel and insult. (This suit was submitted to consideration on
November 22, 2010; the hearings started on January 27, 2011; for now four
preliminary sessions were held and the next one will be on July 1.) The
motion on banning the diffusion of any information regarding the case was
secured, and Report.am removed all the respective materials from its
website.

At the June 15 session the parties precised the suit demands. The next
session will take place on June 30.

“A1+” VERSUS NCTR: FOUNDER OF “ARMNEWS” DID NOT APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT

On June 10 a session on the suit of “A1+” TV company founder, “Meltex” LLC,
versus National Commission on Television and Radio was held at the RA
Administrative Court. As it has been reported, on February 21 “Meltex”
contested the results of digital broadcast licensing competition No.11. The
founders of “A1+” and “ArmNews” TV companies were opponents in this
competition (the latter became the winner). The NCTR December 16, 2010
decision on competition No.11 noted that the financial means, claimed by
“Meltex” LLC, “cannot be sufficient, given that the significant part of the
supporting documents on the financial assistance (…) is forged and
unjustified”. Namely, this fact rendered impossible for “A1+” to implement a
complete broadcast in the digital network in Yerevan, assured the NCTR.
Assessing this justification as forced and biased, “Meltex” addressed the
court demanding to restore its violated rights and nullify the NCTR decision
on competition No.11. At the hearings, started on May 11, 2011, the Court
secured the plaintiff’s motion on impleading “ArmNews” CJSC, founder of
“ArmNews” TV channel, as a third party in the case (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, May 6-12, 2011).

At the session of June 10 the judge announced that the notice about the date
of the session addressed to the legal address of “ArmNews” CJSC came back.
This is conditioned by the fact that de facto the party resides in another
place. However, later the “ArmNews” founder was notified, but instead of
appearing before court it sent a letter. The plaintiff and the respondent
requested the court to grant some time for reviewing the letter. The next
session will be held on July 8.

Meanwhile, on June 10 the Resolution CM/ResDH(2011)39 on execution of the
June 17, 2008 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on the case of
“Meltex” LLC versus Republic of Armenia was released. The Resolution was
adopted by the Committee of Ministers on June 8, 2011 at the 1115th Meeting
of the Ministers’ Deputies. The document stresses that the Committee of
Ministers, having examined the measures taken by the respondent state
“decides to close the examination of this case” (see the full Resolution
text on the CoE Committee of Ministers website

nEnglish&Ver=volres&Site=CM&BackColorInternetÛDCF2&BackColorIntranetýC86
4&BackColorLoggedýC864). As it has been reported, the refusals to grant a
broadcast license to “Meltex” LLC were recognized by ECHR to be a violation
of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms, i.e., of the right of the applicant to freely impart information
and ideas (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 13-19, 2008).

According to the “A1+” head Mesrop Movsesian, the ECHR ruling was not
implemented: in fact, except for paying the material compensation, Armenia
had to undertake open and transparent broadcast licensing competition.
Nonetheless, these terms were not ensured during the digital broadcast
licensing competitions held by NCTR in 2010, thereby the founder of “A1+”
appealed against the NCTR decision on competition No.11, emphasized Mesrop
Movsesian.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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[email protected]

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

EXPERT: FASSIER STRESSED FRANCE WON’T YIELD ITS OSCE MG POST TO EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 17, 2011 – 17:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – During the hearings on Karabakh issue at European
Parliament, Bernard Fassier, the French co-chair of the Minsk Group,
has clearly demonstrated that France will not leave his OSCE MG post
at the European Union, according to the associate researcher of the
French Foundation of Strategic Research (FRS).

As Gaidz Minassian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, France refused to
leave its post for the following reasons: continuity, confidentiality
and reactivity. “Debates are held about the weakness of European
diplomacy and the strength of national diplomacy in the EU,” the
expert said.

“Europeans believe it’s important to democratize societies of Armenia
and Azerbaijan to consolidate peace. Europeans said that European
Union must become more involved, but the strategy of the European
Union is contradictory. Brussels talks with Baku about territorial
integrity on one side and about peoples’ right for self-determination
with Yerevan on the other,” Mr. Minassian noted.

SIS ON VIDEOS OF MARCH 1

07:47 pm | Today | Politics

The RA Special Investigative Service has given clarifications regarding
the videos posted on the Internet.

On 16 June 2011, another video showing the mass disturbances that
took place in Yerevan on 1-2 March 2008 was posted on youtube.com.

In addition to previous statements, the RA Special Investigative
Service reaffirms that any information regarding the events that took
place on 1-2 March 2008 is important for the preliminary inquiry.

All videos posted on the Internet to this day, which had previously
not been at the preliminary inquiry body’s disposal, have been properly
studied and turned into a topic for investigation.

It is unacceptable to see that the mentioned videos contain false,
groundless commentaries, which pursue political goals and give way
to speculations.

In particular, the video called “Samvel Harutyunyan’s
execution…01.03.2008” was posted on youtube.com on 6 June 2011,
but there is no episode showing Samvel Harutyunyan or the fact that
he was murdered. What’s more, according to the conclusion of the
forensic medicine examination, Samvel Harutyunan received an injury
by using a sharp object, and died later from overall intoxication of
his organism at the hospital.

As far as the other video posted on youtube.com on 16 June 2011, in
the sense of evidence, it only confirms the facts that have already
been found and confirmed through a preliminary inquiry, according
to which Grigor Gevorgyan’s body was transferred to the forensic
medicine examinations center from the shoe repair kiosk located near
the sidewalk in front of the Paronyan and Leo intersection.

Once again, we call on the persons who taped the videos to present
the preliminary inquiry body with the videos in their entirety. This
may be useful for specifying certain facts.

The preliminary inquiry body is also willing to interrogate the authors
of the videos who can clarify the significance of the materials and
evaluate them in terms of evidence.

Incompetent and uninteresting commentaries are only aimed at distorting
the events, the circumstances and mislead the public.

COE, EU LAUNCH A JOINT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE PLURALISM OF THE MEDIA IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
17.06.2011 17:55

The Council of Europe and the European Union have launched a joint
project of Promoting Freedom, Professionalism and Pluralism of the
Media in the South Caucasus and Moldova. The two-year program is
implemented by the Council of Europe and is financed by the European
Union.

The program aims to support the traditional and new media in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova, development of legal and institutional
guarantees corresponding to Council of Europe standards, contribute
to the improvement of the quality of journalism and ensure media
pluralism.

Different courses, discussions and conferences will be organized
within the framework of the program, representatives of the two
European structures told reporters today.

According to Laila Dervisagic, Adviser to CoE Department for
Cooperation, positive moves are apparent in the Armenian media field,
but there are problems, as well. Experts of the European Union and
the Council of Europe will try to help solve those problems.

According to her, it’s first of all necessary to improve media-related
legislation. Bringing the norms of freedom of expression and media
activity close to Europeans standards is one of the main objectives
of the program.

Representative of the EU delegation to Armenia, Jean-Christophe Gayrand
says there is need for more plurality in Armenian media and they will
be try to achieve it within the framework of the program.