Author: Kanayan Tamar

THE SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC BAKO SAHAKYAN…

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
February 03, 2010

Delivered at the reporting meeting of the Police board summarizing
the results of 2009 operative activities Respected servicemen of the
Police, First of all I would like to congratulate all of you on moving
to a new and comfortable building. I hope the improvement of working
conditions will have a positive impact on the work of the structure.
Our meetings and discussion of problems the Police face have become
both a good tradition and an acceptable working style.

Overall, I qualify satisfactory the work of the NKR Police in 2009.

Positive changes and shifts are evident. First of all, I would like
to emphasize the fact that the number of crimes has diminished by
98 cases. The crime rate per ten thousand people in the republic
constituted 41,1 against 48,5 in 2008. This is one of the lowest
figures worldwide, which, of course, testifies high level of social
security in our country. About 2% increase of criminal cases solved
rate is also positive trend. It has reached 92% in the republic,
while in the Kashatagh region the figure is 100%. The number of
criminal cases has diminished sharply; in capital Stepanakert
they diminished by 23%, in the Martakert region by 33% and in the
Askeran region by 43%. At the same time tangible increase of crime
cases has been registered in the Kashatagh and Shoushi regions –
52% and 84% respectively. The number of offences registered within
the sphere of crime detection has also increased sharply in the
Shoushi region, which gives rise to serious concern. Such state
of affairs is impermissible. The activities in this sphere should
be reinforced and favorable results should be achieved within the
shortest time possible, especially taking into consideration the
large-scale programs to be carried out in Shoushi by joint efforts
of the world-spread Armenians. Due to the purposeful activity carried
out in 2009 in the overall structure of crimes the number of offences
registered within the sphere of crime detection presenting utmost and
immediate danger for a person has decreased by 18%. The prevention
of second offences should be considered among the primary tasks. The
number of people committed second offence in 2009 more than 1.5 times
exceeded that of 2008, which is also the result of insufficient work
and weak control. District inspectors have to play a substantial role
in this sphere. Full-fledged activity of this important institute
should be in the spotlight of the Police leadership. In spite of
the fact that the rate of completed criminal cases being under the
conduct of investigators has essentially increased from 56% to 71%,
it is necessary pay serious attention to the double increase of the
cases completed with the violation of the schedule date. It reflects
insufficient level of professionalism, impartiality and resoluteness
of some servicemen of the Police. It is necessary further strengthen
the control over the custodial control. The registered suicide case
of in the pre-trial prison gives rise to serious concern.

In making struggle against criminality more effective the persistent
work directed at crime prevention is of utmost importance.

In this context it is important enlarge and further deepen cooperation
with appropriate structures. Tightening ties with the Police and other
structures of the Republic of Armenia is crucial too. The effective
resolution of the problems put before the Police to a great extent
depends on proper cadre policy. Certain work has been conducted in
this direction. The bulk of policemen are carrying out their duties
honorably. Corruption risks have decreased as a result of measures
undertaken in 2009. I have had an opportunity to assess this process.

However, all these do not mean that there are no unsolved problems
concerning the proper recruitment and appointment of cadres. The
authorities of the state in their turn will carry out necessary
measures to improve social and working conditions of the Police
servicemen. Summing up I would like to mention that the tasks of
the Police are difficult and responsible. It is also due to the
principle and purposeful work of this structure that legality, law
and order are preserved, the interests and rights of the citizens are
protected in our country. I want to be sure that the leadership and
every serviceman of the Police will keep doing his best to realize
the assigned tasks efficiently.

Thank you.

TATEVIK TADEVOSYAN ELECTED LORETO COLLEGE OF KOLKATA VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2010-11

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2010 12:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tatevik Tadevosyan, a graduate of Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin’s Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy (ACPA) of
Kolkata, has been pursuing a B.A. degree in Political Science Honors
from one of the most renowned colleges in India, Loreto College of
Kolkata Since 2008.

Loreto College was founded in 1912 by the Institute of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. The order was founded by Mary Ward in 1609. It is
affiliated to Calcutta University, has been accredited an A grade by
NAAC in 2006 and has more than 1,000 students.

The College has a Student Council headed by a President and Vice
President elected by all the students. Tatevik has been elected as
the new Vice President for the Academic Year 2010-11.

Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, the Pastor of Armenians in India and the
Manager of ACPA who is also Ms. Tadevosyan’s guardian congratulated
her. " The bright and successful children of our nation in all corners
of the world make our homeland stronger. May the blessings of Holy
Etchmiadzin be always with you and I am sure it will multiply your
accomplishments" wished Fr. Khoren.

ERDOGAN ACCUSES OSCE MG OF INACTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.02.2010 16:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states – Russia, France and US –
of negligence towards the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process.

"Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia would not be experiencing problems
now if the OSCE MG co-chairing countries had taken action over the
past 20 years," he said, TRT reported.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, NKR and
Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan
around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense
army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the
OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security
and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, now Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)) to encourage a peaceful, negotiated
resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France,
Russia and the United States. Furthermore, the Minsk Group also
includes the following participating States: Belarus, Germany, Italy,
Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Turkey as well as Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Current Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group are: Ambassador
Bernard Fassier of France, Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov of the Russian
Federation and Ambassador Robert Bradtke of the United States.

The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing
an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of
assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group;
Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation
of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk
Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational
peacekeeping forces.

The Minsk Process can be considered to be successfully concluded if
the objectives referred to above are fully met.

US EMBASSY DENIES ROLE IN ERGENEKON PROBE

Asbarez
Feb 1st, 2010

ANKARA (Anatolia News Agency)-A spokesperson with the United States
Embassy in Ankara has said the U.S. had no involvement with a probe
in Turkey over an alleged criminal network known as Ergenekon.

The spokesperson described the allegation as "ridiculous" in a written
statement on Monday, saying that the embassy could not comment on an
ongoing case in a Turkish court.

A national newspaper in Turkey reported that part of an indictment in
the Ergenekon probe alleged a car registered with the U.S. Consulate in
Istanbul had entered a military zone to take photographs in Istanbul’s
Poyrazkoy district, the scene of an excavation that unearthed weapons
and explosives last April.

The spokesperson said they had no record of a consulate vehicle being
present at the site on April 7, 2009.

The Ergenekon gang was brought into the limelight after police seized
27 grenades, explosives and fuses in a shantyhouse in Istanbul on
June 12, 2007. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched an
investigation into the weapons.

Police conducted operations in several provinces and detained a
number of people, including retired senior army officers as well
as officers on active duty, journalists and businessmen for their
alleged involvement in the network.

The gang is accused of conspiring to overthrow the Turkish
government by increasing instability in the country through political
assassinations.

ENTRIES INVITED FOR GULF FILM FESTIVAL

Trade Arabia
Mon, 01 Feb 2010
Dubai

Submissions are now open for the third edition of the Gulf Film
Festival to be held from April 8-14, 2010 in Dubai.

The event is presented by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in association
with Dubai Studio City.

GCC national filmmakers as well as directors of films that depict
life in the Arabian Gulf region can make their submissions online at
until February 15, 2010.

The festival is held under the patronage of Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

Gulf Film Festival (GFF) showcased more than 50 movies in 11 key film
festival events around the world in 2009.

GFF also served as the official submission organisation for the
Gulf region for 2008 and 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA),
the region’s highest film accolade.

Among the key festivals that GFF movies were nominated at include APSA;
the Zanzibar International Film Festival; Golden Apricot International
Film Festival of Yerevan in Armenia; Ahmedabad International
Film Festival in India; Beirut International Documentary Festival
(Docudays) and the Beirut International Film Festival in Lebanon; Arab
Film Festival in Australia; Arab Film Festival Rotterdam; the Nabeul
Cinema Nights in Tunisia; and ‘Days of Gulf Cinema in Palestine’.

GFF festival director Masoud Amralla Al Ali said the international
acceptance of films screened at GFF, including several movies from
the UAE, highlighted the marked evolution of Arab cinema as an
established entity.

"One of the founding goals of GFF has been to promote Arab film talent
and offer a sounding board for their growth and acceptance globally.

The global appeal of our film selection is a testament to the success
of our vision," he said.

"GFF serves as a powerful platform for Arab film talent, across the
world, to showcase films that are related to the Gulf and Middle
East region. This is the first time that a referral point has
been set for Arab cinema, and the international film festivals and
cultural organisations bank on GFF to identify the best in Arab film
creativity," added Masoud.

Some of the most popular titles across these international film
festivals include: The Circle, Henna, Beyond Words, Revenge, When the
People Spoke – Part 3, The Loser Bet, The Sound of Life, Finding Mr &
Mrs Right, Sunrise/Sunset, Amal’s Cloud, Bint Mariam and The Window.

These include films by directors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, highlighting the GCC-wide
evolution of cinema. – TradeArabia News Service

2010 COMMUNITIES’ BUDGETS DISCUSSED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.02.2010 11:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Comparative analysis of estimated indicators of
2009 was discussed Monday during the session of the board under the
RA Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration
Armen Gevorgyan.

Minister Gevorgyan noted that they succeeded in having 2010
communities’ budgets approved by the end of 2009 but there is still
need of certain analysis to be made in order to clarify if these
budgets are optimal and if the collection own revenues’ reserves were
taken into consideration.

He suggested that governors should assign specialists to analyze
communities’ budgets for 2010, taking into account subsidies received
by each community, real bases of own revenues and reserves, as well
as subsidies and subventions, changes of land territories being under
the jurisdiction of communities. He also urged to discuss the results
of surveys with heads of communities.

It was agreed to refer to communities’ budgets of 2010 in a month
and reconsider them if necessary.

Ararat basketball club becomes Champion of Iran
30.01.2010 16:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ararat Tehran BC has become champion of Iran for the
second year running. The team won Iranian Super League Champion’s
title after the 93:63 victory over Isfahan’s Fulade Mobarakeh.

The Iranian Basketball Championship kicked off in September 2009,
bringing together 14 teams.

Following its recent victory, Armenian team qualifies for the Eastern
Asian Cup due in the Iranian town of Arbil.

ARMENIA AND THE CUP OF PATIENCE OF THE WEST
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
29/01/10

While Iran and Armenia announce about the start of a new phase in
their relations and pay mutual visits on the level of the resigned
president and the acting foreign minister, the U.S. Senate adopts a law
draft with which the U.S. president is allowed to take up punishment
measurements against the Iranian leadership and exporters of oil goods.

Interestingly, on the agenda of the Armenian and Iranian partnership,
projects which are connected with oil goods are also present. As
it is known, an oil terminal, a factory of oil recycling are being
discussed to be built in Armenia.

Of course, it is unreal to think that the U.S. toughens punishment
measurements proceeding from the discussion of cooperation between
Armenia and Iran. But these aspects of partnership are quite possible
to appear under the "punishing" look of the U.S. So, the Armenian
-Iranian oil relations are not ruled out to arouse questions about
Armenia in the U.S.

Usually, the West perceives the cooperation between Armenia and Iran
quite well considering the fact that Armenia is surrounded or half
surrounded and the situation does not let but to cooperate with Iran.

But on the other hand, the cooperation between Armenia and Iran does
not have the scale which would worry the West. What will happen with
the West perception if the scale increases is to be only supposed.

The point is that Russians are always engaged in the Armenian and
Iranian projects. And this means that the scale already increases. On
the one hand, the participation of Russia means a guarantee of
protection, on the other hand, it means enhancement of the political
significance of those relations which may make the West to look at
the Armenian and Iranian relations otherwise.

Recently, the U.S. administration started talking about the cup of
patience on Iran’s nuclear program. Could Armenia fill this cup? It
is unlikely, but if the Armenian-Iranian relations receive a rapid
development, and the involvement of Russia also increases, the bowl
can be filled out and "spilled" on Armenia.

So, the Armenian side should establish links with Iran as possible
without the "protectorate" of Russia

EDWARD ABRAHAMYAN: ARMENIA’S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS IN POOR STATE

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2010 17:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s military-industrial complex is in a rather
poor state, says Edward Abrahamyan, leader of the Neo-Conservative
Movement.

"The development of this sphere may seriously contribute to Armenia’s
economic growth preventing brain drains from the country," he told
a news conference in Yerevan.

At that, he noted that there are a great number of relevant specialists
in Armenia who are either unemployed or offer their innovative projects
to foreign organizations at very low costs.

"By promoting the development of the sphere, we will also resolve the
armament problem of Armenian army," he said, stressing the importance
of the state’s involvement in the process.

ACTIVIST, HISTORIAN HOWARD ZINN DIES AT 87
By Robert J. Lopez

Asbarez
Los Angeles Times
Jan 28th, 2010

Howard Zinn, a professor, author and social activist who inspired a
generation on the American left and whose book "A People’s History of
the United States" sold more than 1 million copies and redefined the
historical role of working-class people as agents of political change,
died Wednesday. He was 87.

Zinn apparently had a heart attack in Santa Monica, where he was
visiting friends and scheduled to speak, said his daughter, Myla
Kabat-Zinn. He lived in Auburndale, Mass.

Zinn’s political views were shaped, in part, by his experiences as
a bombardier for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

"My father cared about so many important issues," Kabat-Zinn said
in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I think the one he was really
most eloquent about is that he thought there was no such thing as a
just war."

Indeed, in a 2001 opinion piece published in The Times, Zinn wrote
about being horrified by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and equally
horrified by the response of U.S. political leaders, who called
for retaliation.

"They have learned nothing, absolutely nothing, from the history of
the 20th century, from a hundred years of retaliation, vengeance,
war, a hundred years of terrorism and counter-terrorism, of violence
met with violence in an unending cycle of stupidity," he wrote.

"A People’s History" was published in 1980 and had an initial printing
of 5,000 copies. But largely through word of mouth, the book attracted
a major following and reached 1 million sales in 2003.

The work, which hails ordinary Americans such as farmers and union
activists as heroes, accused Christopher Columbus of genocide and
criticized early U.S. leaders as proponents of the status quo. "A
People’s History" has been taught in high schools and colleges across
the nation.

The book was the basis for a History Channel documentary called
"The People Speak" that aired in the fall.

The executive producer was actor Matt Damon, who was raised in Boston
near Zinn.

"From the moment we had any influence in this town, we’ve been trying
to get this project off the ground," Damon told reporters in July. "It
demonstrates how everyday citizens have changed the course of history."

Zinn was born in 1922 to a working-class family in Brooklyn, N.Y. He
was one of four sons whose father worked as a waiter, window cleaner
and pushcart peddler.

In his 1994 memoir, "You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train," Zinn
recalled that his parents used discount coupons to buy the complete
works of Charles Dickens. The novelist "aroused in me tumultuous
emotions" about wealth, class and poverty, Zinn wrote.

Zinn received his doctorate from Columbia University.

He was a professor emeritus at Boston University, where he was a
familiar speaker at Vietnam War protests. He also taught at a number
of institutions, including Brooklyn College, the University of Paris
and Spelman College in Atlanta in the late 1950s and early ’60s as
the civil rights movement was taking hold in the South.

Former California state Sen. Tom Hayden recalled meeting Zinn while
he was at Spelman, then an all-black women’s school.

"He was basically integrating himself into the world of black
students," Hayden said Wednesday.

Hayden said Zinn became actively involved in the movement as an
advisor and leader. The two later protested the war in Vietnam and
worked on other social justice issues, Hayden said.

"He had a profound influence on raising the significance of social
movements as the real forces of social change in our country,"
Hayden said. "He gave us our heritage and he gave us a pride in
that heritage."

Zinn was scheduled to speak Feb. 4 at the Santa Monica Museum of Art
for an event titled "A Collection of Ideas . . . the People Speak."

On its web page, the museum said that it was "deeply saddened" by
Zinn’s death and that the event would go on as a tribute to Zinn’s
life as a social activist.

Paramedics responded to a 911 call about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and took
Zinn to Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead,
said Santa Monica Police Sgt. Jay Trisler.

Zinn was in a hotel when rescuers arrived, according to his daughter.

In addition to his daughter, Zinn is survived by his son, Jeff Zinn,
and five grandchildren, according to his family. His wife Roslyn died
in 2008.

Asbarez: Zinn also spoke and wrote about man’s inhumanity to man and
how the Holocaust provided an opportunity to apply the lessons of the
Holocaust to other such horrors, including the Armenian Genocide. He
has signed letters and spoke about the importance of the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. The piece below illustrates his theory and
approach to addressing the horror of Genocide.