Author: Karagyozian Lena

HAKOBYAN TIED WITH PONOMAROV

A1+
[12:27 pm] 14 September, 2007

The International Chess Tournament resumed in the city of Karlovy
Valy, the Czech Republic, with the participation of Armenian Grand
Master Vladimir Hakobyan and Slovakian Armenian Sergey Movsisyan.

Hakobyan’s contender was Ruslan Ponomarov at the 5th round. The
meeting ended at the 27th minute in a tie.

Victor Laznichka also played with Sergey Movsisyan in a tie. David
Navaray won over Yan Timan and Alexey Shirov beat Victor Korchnoy.

Presently, the fixture table is topped by Vladimir Hakobyan, Sergey
Movsisyan, David Navara and Ruslan Ponomarov with three points each.

At the 6th round Vladimir Hakobyan will compete with Yan Timan,
Sergey Movsisyan with David Navara, Victor Korchnoy with Victor
Laznichka and Ruslan Ponomarov with Alexey Shirov.

ARMENIA TO GRANT DUAL CITIZENSHIP FROM DECEMBER

AZG Armenian Daily #167
14/09/2007

By the instructions of RA PM Serge Sargsian, the schedule for adopting
relevant legislative order for applying for dual citizenship has been
already set up.

The procedure will last will first decade of the upcoming December. RA
Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian assured. He added that the schedule
includes 13 sub-legislative acts. The relevant amendments had been
made to RA law "On Citizenship" that envisage the same rights,
plenipotentiaries and exclusions for dual citizens as those granted
to RA citizens and set by the international right.

THREE CITIZENS OF ARMENIA DETAINED AT CHECKPOINT SADAKHLO

Prime News Agency, Georgia
September 13, 2007, 1:15 pm

Tbilisi. September 13 (Prime-News) – The border guards arrested three
citizens of Armenia at the Checkpoint Sadakhlo of the Border Police
Tsiteli Khidi Office.

Prime-News was told at the Border Guard Police that during the passport
control the border guards discovered suspects had crossed the State
Border of Georgia illegally, without official border control – from
"Nizhniy Zaramag".

Preliminary investigation is ongoing on the above-mentioned facts.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

AGBU, Inside Europe & Euro-Bulgarian Cultural Center Host Third
"Diaspora Inside Europe" Conference Held in Sofia

AGBU Young Professionals of Sofia and the Euro-Bulgarian Cultural Center
(EBCC) hosted a roundtable on the "Diaspora Inside Europe" on June 23,
2007 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event was part of a series of roundtables
co-organized throughout Europe by AGBU YP groups and the organization
"Inside Europe" led by Nicolas Tavitian.

The Sofia conference featured distinguished speakers and participants,
who had the opportunity to share ideas and discuss the implications of
EU membership for Armenian communities in member countries. The speakers
at the roundtable included Nikolai Mladenov, recently elected Member of
the European Parliament (MEP), Nicholas Tavitian, Director of Inside
Europe, and Mert Ersin, Director of Euromed Consulting.

The participants included the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to
Bulgaria, Sergei Manassarian; the Armenian Embassy Counsel Igor
Mardirossian; Aghavni Topakbashian, Head of the Ethnic Identity,
Integration and Demographic Development Department; Edi Emiryan, Head of
the PR Department with the Council of Ministers; Darina Kadunkova,
Development Coordinator with the European Institute in Sofia; Ema
Azarian, Repertory Director with the National Palace of Culture; 15
Young Professionals from the local YP committee and honorary hosts Sonia
Avakian-Bedrosian, Chairwoman of AGBU Sofia, and Onik Karapchian, EBCC
Director.

The three panel discussions focused on the significance of the Armenian
Diaspora and the development of the European Union. Mladenov’s thesis
was to put to use the ready Armenian Diaspora network that can help
foster unity despite diversity (the EU’s motto is "United in
Diversity"). He made a strong reference to the Armenian Question by
raising the issue of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey,
as well as the financial compensations it is liable to make. The Sofia
conference was the first public event attended by Mladenov as a Member
of the European Parliament.

Nicholas Tavitian’s panel theme was about engaging, educating and
involving the EU institutions in the Armenian Diaspora’s public life.
The discussion gravitated around what it means to be a European citizen
and the different perceptions in the old and new member countries.
Tavitian also suggested several ways in which a community can relate and
interact with institutions and highlighted the major considerations in
applying for and working with EU funds.

The third speaker, Mert Ersin, talked about ways to reconcile Turkish
and Armenian relations. Ersin, a European of Turkish descent, showed
profound understanding of the problem and freely talked about the
obstacles to Genocide recognition in Turkey, such as state policy,
misperceptions and lack of education about the topic. While
demonstrating an in-depth understanding of the barriers, Ersin also
shared his vision for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence in a
larger Europe.

In conclusion, the participants agreed on a follow-up statement to be
issued to EU institutions, declaring the willingness of the citizens of
Europe with Armenian and Turkish origin to strengthen the dialogue
between their communities and to support the Europeanization process of
Turkey and Armenia.

The conference was concluded by a small cocktail reception, during which
participants could network and share thoughts and impressions.

For more information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit

For more information about Inside Europe, please visit

WERE TORTURES FABRICATED?

A1+
[06:28 pm] 10 September, 2007

Were the witnesses on the case of Lori Marz Prosecutor Albert
Ghazaryan’s assassination beaten?

"The Prosecutor’s Office is an investigative body, and none of
the witnesses has submitted written complaints on tortures or
suppressions. It is strange enough that such complaints should be
broadcast on TV without submitting to investigating bodies. This
implies that the complaints are fabricated by people who are not
interested in the case revelation," RA General Prosecutor’s Press
Secretary Sona Truzyan told A+.

To remind, on September 9, four employees of "Bellissimo" club
belonging to Arman Darbinyan told on Lori TV about the tortures
they had undergone at the prosecutor’s office. According to them,
an inspector form Yerevan named Nikoghosyan, swore and beat them
trying to take testimony on the prosecutor Albert Ghazaryan’s murder.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL TO BE REAPPOINTED

A1+
[07:08 pm] 10 September, 2007

The question of appointing RA Prosecutor General is involved on the
agenda of the National Assembly’s fall session. Tomorrow the acting
prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan will likely be reappointed.

To remind, a number of articles of the Armenian Constitution came
into force on the day of opening of the first session of the National
Assembly, according to which the Presidnet must submit candidacies of
the Prosecutor General and the parliament must endorse or reject them.

Before voting, Aghvan Hovsepyan will make a report regarding his
further steps, programmes and answer questions related to the recent
scandalous cases.

The vote will be carried by secret ballot.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI AMBASSADORS TRY TO ESTABLISH CIVILIZED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PEOPLES

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.09.2007 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I have known the Ambassador of Azerbaijan for 25
years already. Not long ago we headed the Ministry of Culture in our
states. Personal relations played a big role in the organization
of a joint trip to Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. It’s
also important that our Presidents treated the initiative with
understanding," RA Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatian said.

The Ambassadors are just trying to establish civilized communication
between peoples. "Nothing can exist without communication. We
are neighbors. The Armenian-Azeri relationship is an extremely
delicate issue; the wound still hurts. But we should aspire to build
good-neighbor relations. We don’t want our children to live in fear,"
the Armenian diplomat said in an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

July 28, 2007, a delegation of Azeri intellectuals led by Polad
Bulbulogly, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, crossed the mine-free
sector of the contact line between the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani
armed forced, on Mardakert-Terter (Mir Bashir) road. The delegation
was accompanied to Stepanakert by representatives of the Karabakhi
side. A delegation of Armenian intellectuals led by Armen Smbatian,
the RA Ambassador to Russia also arrived in the NKR capital.

Afterwards, the delegations made for Yerevan to meet Armenian President
Robert Kocharian. The same evening they departed for Baku and met
with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

EXAMINATION OF APPEAL COMPLAINTS ON CASE AGAINST ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN TO START ON SEPTEMBER 14

Noyan Tapan
Sep 7, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Examination of appeal complaints
on the case against Zhirayr Sefilian, the Coordinator of the In
Defence of Liberated Territories public initiative, is envisaged to
start on September 14 at the Criminal Appeal Court. As Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by Z. Sefilian’s defender, Ara Zakarian,
in the appeal complaints of Z. Sefilian and a member of the Homeland
and Honor party, Vardan Malkhasian, the defender party mediates for
finding their defendants not guilty. It should be mentioned that
by the decision of the first instance court the latters had been
sentenced to 1.5 and 2 years’ imprisonment.

An appeal complaint has been also introduced by the prosecuting
party, which demands to reverse the decision, to find Z. Sefilian
guilty also of making public appeals for seizing the power. The
first instance court found him not guilty in that accusation and the
prosecuting party on the part of Vahan Asrian accused of keeping
illegal ammunition mediaties to determine a stricter punishment,
three years’ imprisonment instead of the imprisonment of one year
and a half determined by the first instance court.

BAKO SAHAKYAN’S INAUGURATION CEREMONY DUE TONIGHT

armradio.am
07.09.2007 12:32

At 17:00 tonight the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
will hold a special sitting on the occasion of inauguration of the
newly elected President Bako Sahakyan.

According to NKR Constitution, within ten days after the inauguration
the President of the republic must present the Prime Minister’s
candidacy to the consideration of the National Assembly. Within three
days the President will appoint the Prime Minister if the Parliament
approves his candidacy.

Within 20 days the President will appoint other members of the
Government suggested by the Prime Minister. Latter, according to the
procedure set by the Constitution, the Parliament must approve the
Government’s agenda.

More that 300 guess are expected to attend Bako Sahakyan’s inauguration
ceremony, including the President of the Republic of Armenian Robert
Kocharyan, representatives of parliamentary committees and public.

Representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have already arrived
in Stepanakert.

Congratulating messages have been received from the President of the
Republic of Transdniestria Igor Smirnov and Deputies of the Russian
State Duma.

A festive concert will be held at the Renaissance Square of Stepanakert
on the occasion of Bako Sahakyan’s swearing in ceremony.

WHO WILL LET TURKEY FREE
James Hakobyan

Largir
Sept 5 2007
Armenia

Another U.S. based Jewish organization, the American Jewish Committee
recognized the Armenian Genocide. Only it is not clear whether we
should now be happy or careful. In terms of historical justice, the
fact itself is encouraging. Perhaps only this, because pragmatically
it is not clear how Armenia and the Armenians benefit from it.

Besides moral satisfaction, of course. It is childish indeed to expect
that Turkey will give up and open the border and apologize to us to
rid of the jaws of international recognition and condemnation.

Turkey has not done so far and will not do after the recognition
by the Jewish Committee. This country will rather try to turn to
Israel to find out what it has done that made Israel suddenly review
its traditional rejection of the Armenian genocide. In other words,
Turkey and Israel might be settling scores in the nearest future,
and as one of the experts on Turkey said in a news conference a few
days ago, tensions are expected to grow. Of course, it is not clear
what it will change for us. But if the experts on Turkey say so,
let us wait. After all, this is what we are doing. We are waiting
until Turkey’s relations with the United States, France, Russia,
Georgia, Israel, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, and even the expeditions
to Antarctic become worse.

The relations deteriorate, then are settled, then become better, then
another cycle. In other words, they are normal interstate relations.

Meanwhile, we continue to wait until Turkey and the world break up.

Apparently, however, neither of them is likely to break up. They are
simply settling scores, debts and claims and, in addition, they are
using our problem with Turkey. Meanwhile, we are told to wait, to wait
until it gets better. Now we think the recognition by the American
Jewish Committee is good. In fact, it is. The more they recognize,
the less we will have to wait, and we will finally realize that our
problem is a mere tool for others. And if tomorrow Turkey decides
to recognize the genocide, these organizations and countries which
recognized will first prevent Turkey from that move because it will
give this country freedom which is not taken into account in the
American or the Jewish program.

The latter, the Jewish program, is a purely Armenian and also a
Russian expression. With some anti-Semitic shade. It is not a secret
that in different periods of history the nations with a negative
balance of success and failure have used the "Jewish program" as a
justification and consolation. Therefore, without yielding to the
legends about Jews and a world conspiracy, I nevertheless chose to
view this issue in this aspect. And in this case, the change in the
approaches of Israel and the American Jewish organizations should cause
the Armenians worry rather than make them happy. Especially that the
opinion on Jewish games is spread among Armenians. So why is everyone
happy? What if it turns out in the end that the recognition was just
another game? Will it matter then if it was a trick on Turkey or on
Armenia? Or maybe both.