Author: Karagyozian Lena

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 5-11, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND RESOLUTION ON GENOCIDE OF
1915

TERM OF PUNISHMENT OF "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" CHIEF EDITOR REDUCED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND RESOLUTION ON GENOCIDE OF
1915

On March 9, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project, supported
by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President
Boris Navasardian were Hakob Avetikian, Chief Editor of "Azg" daily, and
Aram Abrahamian, Chief Editor of "Aravot" daily. The discussion centered on
the influence of Armenian-Turkish relations on the internal political
situation in Armenia, namely in frames of the voting of resolution on
Genocide of 1915 by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of US House of
Representatives.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on March 16, at
21.15.

TERM OF PUNISHMENT OF "HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" CHIEF EDITOR REDUCED

On March 9 RA Criminal Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on the case of
Chief Editor of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily, Nikol Pashinian, sentenced to
seven years of imprisonment. As it has been reported, on January 19 court of
general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan found
Nikol Pashinian guilty by Part 1 of Article 225 of RA Criminal Code ("Mass
Riots"), at the same time the charges for Part 1 of Article 316 ("Violence
against a Representative of Power") were dismissed (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, January 14-21, 2010).

Both parties appealed the decision of the court of general jurisdiction. The
lawyers of the head of "Haykakan Zhamanak" demanded to acquit Nikol
Pashinian of all charges, while the prosecutor claimed to return him guilty
not only for mass riots, but also for violence against a representative of
power.

The Criminal Court of Appeal revoked both of the demands and applied an
amnesty on Nikol Pashinian. (The amnesty, released on June 19, 2009 by the
decision of RA National Assembly, can expand on people announced wanted, who
had voluntarily surrendered to the law enforcement bodies by July 31, 2009.
Nikol Pashinian gave himself up on July 1, 2009.) The Court cut down the
unexpired term of imprisonment of Nikol Pashinian by half. The length of his
detention – since the day the judgment comes into force – will be determined
by the criminal executive institution, where the Chief Editor of "Haykakan
Zhamanak" will endure the punishment.

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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:

BRAZILIAN AFFILIATE OF HAYASTAN FUND SPONSORS RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT NORK-MARASH HOSPITAL

armradio.am
10.03.2010 13:11

The Brazilian affiliate of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund continues
to support major renovations at Yerevan’s Nork-Marash Infectious
Diseases Hospital. The latest project benefiting the facility,
the sixth such initiative sponsored by the Brazilian affiliate,
will result in the reconstruction of the hospital’s Pediatric and
Adolescent Infections departments.

Currently under way, the project was announced by Brazilian-affiliate
chairman Ochin Leon Mosditchian in October 2009, during his working
visit to Yerevan with a Brazilian-Armenian delegation.

"This is not the first time when a benefactor finances several
additional projects following the realization of an initial
undertaking," said Ara Vardanyan, executive director of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, commenting on the Brazilian-Armenian community’s
consistent support of Nork-Marash Hospital.

"Commitment of this level ensures that issues faced by a given
beneficiary are solved in a comprehensive manner," Vardanyan added.

"The continued support of sponsors such as the Armenian-Brazilian
community is a testament to the effectiveness of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund as well as the confidence it inspires among donors."

Since 2005, the fund has implemented a string of extensive projects at
Nork-Marash Hospital. They include the reconstruction of the Intensive
Care Unit, Intestinal Infections Department, and Infectious Diseases
Department, the installation of a new roof on one of the hospital’s two
main wings, the installation of a heating system, and the construction
of a boiler room.

"Without a doubt, these major renovations and upgrades have
significantly improved the general quality of our medical services
as well as our patients’ sense of well-being," said Dr. Ara Asoyan,
chief physician at Nork-Marash Hospital. "Today our vastly enhanced
facility enables us to provide top-notch care and makes us far better
prepared to deal with epidemics."

According to Dr. Asoyan, close to 7,200 patients (including 2,350
outpatients) have received care at the hospital’s renovated departments
during 2009.

CITY MAYOR: CONSTRUCTION OF NEW METRO STATION "ACHAPNYAK" IN YEREVAN WILL CONTINUE IN 2011

ARKA
March 10, 2010

YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Construction of new metro station
"Achapnyak" in Yerevan will continue in 2011, said Gagik Beglaryan,
Yerevan City Mayor.

Yerevan Municipality conducted negotiations with Asian Development
Bank and has already appointments for 2011.

"It is possible that in the result of negotiations in the center
of Yerevan – crossroads of Abovyan and Sayat-Nova streets second
entrance of metro station "Yeritasardakan" will be opened and in 2011
unfinished construction of metro station "Achapnyak" will continue",
said Beglaryan.

Opening of the entrance of metro station "Yeritasardakan" in the center
of Yerevan was envisaged during the construction of stations but the
works were implemented by 60%. In its result the project was refused.

Tigran Davtyan, Armenian Minister of Finance said that the mentioned
programs are of great importance for Yerevan.

"The issue of opening second entrance of metro station "Yeritasardakan"
is in the process of discussion", said the Minister.

Underground receives sufficient subsidies from state budget and the
programs should be viewed in the context of economic efficiency of
Yerevan underground.

Yerevan underground named after K. Demirchyan was opened in 1981 and
now it has 10 stations. The last metro station "Charbakh" was opened
in 1996.

The underground will receive 15 million EURO for the implementation of
modernization and reconstruction program, from which 5 million EURO
will be allocated by EBRD, 5 million EURO – European Investment Bank
and another 5 million EURO will be the grant of EC in the frames of
the program "European Neighborhood".

Another 1 million EURO for Yerevan underground will allocate EBRD by
the program of technical assistance from the resources of shareholders’
fund.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ISSUE STATEMENT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS

Yerkir
09.03.2010 13:00

Yerevan (Yerkir) – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors
Yury Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert
Bradtke of the United States, released the following statement in
Paris on March 6:

"The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the
Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador
Robert Bradtke, United States) met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov in Paris, where they held a working session. They
assessed the current stage of the negotiations and considered
comments of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides on the updated
Madrid Principles, which were presented to them by the Co-Chairs in
December 2009 and January 2010.

The Co-Chairs plan to meet Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
in Paris later this month for a similar discussion, prior to going
to the region."

11:59 05/03/2010 » Sport
Arthur Abraham: `Inside the ring we are all just by ourselves’

Super Six World Boxing Classic standings leader `King’ Arthur Abraham
and Andre `The Matrix’ Dirrell both took part in a media conference
call on Thursday to talk about their Group Stage 2 matchup.

`This is a really big chance for me to be a big star in America. It’s
what I’ve been looking for. I really feel that there is so much
interest from America and from SHOWTIME and from the journalists in
the Super Six. I’m just really happy to be here and this is a great
chance for me.’

`I guess it will be a little bit of an advantage for him to fight in
front of his home fans, but inside the ring we are all just by
ourselves and you have to fight on your own, so that shouldn’t be a
problem.

Source: Panorama.am

3News, New Zealand
March 7 2010

Serj Tankian’s new classical obsession

By David Farrier

Early last year the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra teamed up with
rocker Serj Tankian for a one-off concert.

Considering Tankian once fronted Grammy -winning metal band System of
a Down, it was an odd mix.

It was a tiny show, but the results are about to be released worldwide on DVD.

Based in Los Angeles, the Armenian-American musician makes sure he
spends summer here in New Zealand. It was about this time last year he
combined forces with the Auckland Philharmonia, mixing his new songs
with the 70-piece orchestra.

"I was so excited to play," says Tankian. "I hadn’t been excited like
that for a long, long time, maybe since the early System days."

Tankian fronted System of a Down from 1994 to 2006. He’s mellowed out
a bit since then, and says working with the Auckland Philharmonia and
Kiwi composer John Psathas has made him a little addicted.

"The experience of working with an orchestra and writing for an
orchestra has propelled me to use it for my own solo work. I just
recorded a 25-piece string section and brass in LA."

He’s also writing a jazz-classical symphony.

His recent obsession is something his old fans probably find a bit
puzzling, but they’re still embracing it.

"It was a total joy, man. I had agraet time," says Tankian. "It was a
lot of work for one show but, ’cause we made a DVD out of it, it was
worth it."

The DVD is being released worldwide this week. Tankian says he made
sure the final edit focussed on the orchestra as much him.

ssical-obsession/tabid/418/articleID/145094/Defaul t.aspx

Malaysia Sun
March 6 2010

Obama to block vote on Turkish killing of Armenians

Malaysia Sun
Saturday 6th March, 2010

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has said that the Obama
administration will `work very hard’ to prevent a congressional bill
being passed, which describes the World War One killing of Armenians
by Turkey as genocide.

On Thursday, a congressional panel approved the resolution, making way
for a vote by the House.

The White House does not want this, however, as Turkey is a strong
ally of the US in their involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the
country is an essential part in the route of oil from the Middle East
to western markets.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that if such a bill
were passed it would certainly damage US-Turkey relations.

The resolution – approved by 23 votes to 22 by the committee – calls
on President Barack Obama to ensure US foreign policy reflects an
understanding of the "genocide" and to label the killings of Armenians
as such.

The same committee tried to pass a similar bill two years ago, but
this was also blocked by then-president George W. Bush.

During his 2008 campaign Obama had said he would declare the killings
of Armenians a genocide, and while Mrs. Clinton acknowledged the
change in position, she insisted that circumstances had `changed in
very significant ways’.

The Prime Minister of Turkey admitted that atrocities were committed,
but maintains that it was part of the effects of war, and holds that
no systematic effort was made to kill Christian Armenians.

/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/609024/cs/1/

Interfax, Russia
March 2 2010

Azerbaijan denies liability for Armenian sergeant’s death

BAKU March 2

The Azeri Defense Ministry has denied allegations by Armenian military
sources that an Armenian serviceman was killed by Azeri fire at a
contact line with the Azeri armed forces on March 1.

Teymur Abdullayev, a spokesman for the Azeri Defense Ministry,
described these reports as "lies" in an interview with Interfax.

"The Armenian sergeant died following a skirmish between Armenian
soldiers at the contact line, in which another Armenian soldier was
injured. Doctors from the Yerevan Military Hospital were dispatched
for his salvation. The Armenian military prosecution service has
opened a criminal case into the incident, and three people have been
held liable," Abdullayev said.

news.az, Azerbaijan
March 6 2010

Azerbaijani FM regrets decision of US Congress
Sat 06 March 2010 | 06:10 GMT Text size:

Elmar Mammadyarov Azerbaijani FM regrets decision of the International
Committee of Congress.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan regrets the decision of
the International Committee of the US Congress to adopt the resolution
on the so-called "genocide" of Armenians, said spokesman for the
Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Elkhan Polukhov.

"In my opinion, some US congressmen are dealing with adoption of a
decision on unproven issue, instead of coming to grips with the issue
of the recent clear tragedy of the people of Azerbaijan. The Armenian
aggression against Azerbaijan, which led to ethnic cleansing,
occupation of 20% of the land and millions of refugees and internally
displaced persons, is obvious. All these facts are proved by
irrefutable evidences", said Polukhov.

According to him, if not stopped now, the process of recognition of
the "Armenian genocide" in the US Congress could harm efforts to
establish stability in our region and harm the negotiating process
leading to the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno Karabakh.

"However, we still hope that the resolution adopted by the
International Committee of the US House of Representatives will not be
further supported at the level of the Congress", summarized Polukhov.

Novosti-Azerbaijan

TheNewsTribune.com
March 5 2010

Panel OKs genocide resolution

MICHAEL DOYLE; McClatchy Newspapers
Published: 03/05/1012:05 am

WASHINGTON ` The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday narrowly
approved an Armenian genocide resolution over last-minute objections
by the Obama administration.

After an extended debate that awoke many old ghosts, the committee
approved the resolution by 23-22.

The measure would put the House of Representatives on record as
applying the word `genocide’ to a man-made catastrophe in which, by
some estimates, 1.5 million Armenians died from 1915 to 1923 during
the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

`I don’t pretend to be a professional historian,’ said committee
Chairman Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., `but the vast majority of
experts agree that the tragic massacre of Armenians constitutes a
genocide.’

The Turkish government in Ankara recalled its newly appointed
ambassador to the United States, Namik Tan, shortly after the House
committee voted, for what were described as `consultations.’ The
Turkish government took a similar step in 2007 after an earlier
committee vote.

96862/panel-oks-genocide-resolution.html