Author: Karapetian Hovik

THERE IS NO RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION IN ARMENIA

A1+
[07:05 pm] 16 January, 2008

"Armenia does not follow a deliberate religious policy and does
not sow enmity or intolerance among religious minorities. And yet,
public panic is felt towards some religious groups with regard to their
preaching mechanisms and behaviour," Hranush Kharatian, Adviser to the
RA Prime Minister on National Minorities and Religious Issues told A1+
while commenting on the recent report of Amnesty International.

To remind, Amnesty International reported today that Jehovah’s
Witnesses face discrimination and imprisonment in Armenia because
of their beliefs. Many young men in the religious organization are
jailed because their faith prohibits them from doing military service,
while others have been attacked – including allegedly by supporters
of the country’s dominant religious group.

Mrs. Kharatian states that the society is ill-disposed towards
Jehovah’s Witnesses. The negative attitude is perceived at every
step. For example, "One Nation" Organisation constantly distributes
flyers, conducts actions and urges people to "beware of Jehovah’s
Witnesses."

"We cannot name it a religious discrimination as they neither
instigate aggression nor take tough measures against Jehovah’s
Witnesses. Their step cannot be viewed as a call for intolerance,"
Hranush Kharatian adds.

"I would like to note that very often citizens complain of Jehovah’s
Witnesses who visit them and get on their nerves with their preaching.

Amnesty International had better depict the situation in a balanced
way," Mrs Kharatian says.

"Armenia provides a genuinely civilian alternative to compulsory
military service. Two types of alternative service are
suggested-working military and civilian.

Only 19-21 Jehovah’s Witnesses have chosen this service.

Shortly afterwards, they announced that the service contradicts their
principle to deny military service.

Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t want to have any ties with Military
Commissariat or the Ministry of Defense.

The Armenian authorities do not pursue Jehovah’s Witnesses. The matter
is under the control of the Defense Ministry as the latter recruits
young men to serve in the army and cares for their health if they
fall ill.

None of Jehovah’s Witnesses has applied for alternative service over
the past few years. If they avoid alternative service they are detained
and considered deserters."

Mrs. Kharatian states that the "Law on Alternative Military Service"
functions well in Armenia. Jehovah’s Witnesses simply avoid service.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2008

Unsettled Conflicts Impede Stability in South Caucasus – EU Special
Representative
14.01.08 18:47

Unsettled conflicts are impeding the stability in the South Caucasus,
positive changes and turning to institutional reforming, the EU
Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby said in
Yerevan during the international conference `Extended Black Sea
Region: Prospects of International and Regional Security’ on 14
January, Novosti-Armenia quoted.

`Despite the economic progress, the region is facing problems and
confrontations which do not directly proceed from economically
unfavourable conditions, yet are linked with security issues,’ he
said.

The difficulties are connected with the closed borders in the region
– between Russia and Georgia, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan and
Armenia and Turkey, which impede the potential use of the region,
Semneby added.

According to Semneby, a range of short-time benefits which the
population has gained from reforms particularly carried in the field
of freedom of speech and human rights do not have immediate economic
constituents.

`The region may be considered as a single whole only when the reforms
in these fields are carried out simultaneously in all countries of
the region, as well as in case the countries pay special attention to
the settlement of more prospective tasks,’ he said.

The EU has recently began forming more well-ordered institutional
relations with its partners in the region, particularly within the
framework of the New European Neighbourhood policy and through
developing relations with Russia and Turkey, Semneby said.

`These are our first steps in the stage-by-stage development,
although, EU’s involvement in the processes is of a probable nature,’
he stressed.

The conference on Expanded Black Sea Region: Prospective and regional
security was organized by the Armenian international policy research
group – AIPRG with the assistance of NATO, OSCE, the Union of
Graduates from the Yerevan State University and the Dutch embassy.

The participants in the conference are Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov,
the former co-chair of the Minsk Group, Ambassador Matthew Bryza, the
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as delegates from Turkey,
Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 15 2008

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visit Armenia

[ 15 Jan 2008 11:48 ]

The co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group mediating in the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict – Matthew Bryza (US), Bernard Fassier
(France), Yury Merzlyakov (Russia) and personal representative of
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk are in Yerevan now.

APA reports quoting Armenian websites that the mediators will today
meet with Armenian officials. On January 16, the co-chairs will visit
Nagorno Karabakh and along with Andrzej Kasprzyk follow the
monitoring in the frontline near Yusifjanli village of Aghdam region.
They will return to Yerevan and visit Baku on January 18 again.
The aim of the co-chairs visit to the region is to discuss the
written proposals presented to the parties in Madrid on November 29
last year and learn their opinion of the document. On January 14, the
co-chairs met with Azerbaijani President and Foreign Minister and had
discussions. /APA/

PanARMENIAN.Net

PACE: no need in appointment of new rapporteur on South Caucasus
11.01.2008 13:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe
(PACE) sees no need in appointment of a new rapporteur on hostages and
missing persons in the South Caucasus at present, PACE Committee on
legislation said.

The Committee said that former rapporteur, Dutch parliamentarian Leo
Platvoet’s report was adopted after discussions.

The report organized by former rapporteur, Dutch parliamentarian Leo
Platvoet, was submitted to the Committee of the Ministers after
adoption in PACE Committee on Migration. Though several months have
passed, the issue is still unclear.

`This is a long process. Everything depends on the decision of the
Committee of Ministers which can demand appointment of new rapporteur
or preparation of a new report,’ the source said, APA reports.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 11 2008

Anti-terror Exercises in Armenia not Directed Against Azerbaijan:
Organizer
11.01.08 16:41

The Anti-terror exercises of the Organization of Collective Security
Treaty (OCST) "Frontier 2008", to be held in the territory of Armenia
in the spring of 2008, are not directed against the Azerbaijan,
Nikolay Bordyuzh , the Secretary General of the OCST, said in a news
conference, ÐÁÊ reports.

"We will make every effort to make Azerbaijan understand, that these
exercises are not directed against it’, he stressed. Moreover, these
exercises are of `command-headquarters’ nature and it means that the
tremendous movements are not planned during the maneuvers.

Bordyuzh also said that "Frontier -2008" -is completely of the
`anti-terror nature". At the same time, he voiced his hope that the
Azerbaijan will not negatively reply to these exercises, so that its
relations with Armenia does not worsen. The Observers from Azerbaijan
will be invited for these exercises.

The OCST is a military political union, established by the former
Soviet countries, on the basis of the Collective Security Treaty
signed on 15 May 1992. The Treaty is prolonged after every 5 years.
The OSCT unites Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and
Tajikistan.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
January 9, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ARMENIAN AMERICANS SET TO PLAY PIVOTAL ROLE IN PRIMARIES

— Large Numbers of Voters in Key States: California, New York,
Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey

WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of the hotly contested Iowa caucus and
New Hampshire primary, Armenian Americans are better positioned
than ever to play a decisive role in the key states that will help
choose the Presidential nominees of the Republican and Democratic
parties over the next 30 days, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

In recent weeks, the ANCA has invited each of the candidates to
share their views on Armenian Americans issues, and to comment on
both the growing relationship between the U.S. and Armenian
governments and the enduring bonds between the American and
Armenian peoples. Questionnaires sent to the candidates have
invited them to respond to a set of 18 questions, including those
addressing:

* Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide
* U.S.-Armenia economic, political, and military relations
* Self-determination for Nagorno Karabagh
* The Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades
* The genocide in Darfur

"Armenian Americans are set to cast their votes in the presidential
primaries in record numbers," said ANCA Eastern Region Executive
Director Karine Birazian. "We look forward to working with all the
campaigns to make sure that Armenian American voters go to the
polls empowered to make informed decisions about the candidates who
will best represent our community’s views and values."

"In California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and throughout the
Western part of the country, Armenian American voters are in a
position to play a truly decisive role in this year’s highly
competitive battle between the candidates to secure the nominations
of their party," said ANCA Western Region Executive Director Andrew
Kzirian.

Key States:

Among the key states with large Armenian American communities to
hold either primaries or caucuses over the next 30 days are the
following:

January 15th:
Michigan primary (60,000 Armenian Americans)

Michigan has been, for nearly a century, one of the largest and
most vibrant Armenian American communities, with large numbers of
families in the Detroit area and throughout the state. This
contest is widely viewed as pivotal in the selection of the
Republican nominee. The Michigan primary has lost considerable
significance to Democratic candidates since conflicts over timing
led the Democratic National Committee to decide not to count
delegates from this contest.

January 19th and 26th:
Nevada Caucus (10,000 Armenian Americans)
South Carolina Primary (3,000 Armenian Americans)

Both Nevada and South Carolina have witnessed an influx of young
professional Armenian Americans over the past decade, with a
growing number of California Armenians relocating to Nevada, and a
steady stream of Northeast Armenians moving south to the Columbia
and Charleston areas. Republicans vote in South Carolina on
January 19th, Democrats a week later on the 26th.

January 29th:
Florida primary (35,000 Armenian Americans)

Florida’s Armenian American community, located in and around Miami,
Boca Raton, Orlando, Ocala, Naples, and Tampa, played a decisive
role in the closely contested 2000 Presidential election. This
year’s primary will play an important role in the Republican
nomination contest, but not on the Democratic side, which has, due
to conflicts over timing, chosen not to count delegates from
Florida.

February 5th:
Super Tuesday

The large and active Armenian American communities, in eight of the
states that will hold contests on Super Tuesday, are watching the
field of candidates:

Arizona Primary (15,000 Armenian Americans)
California Primary (600,000 Armenian Americans)
Colorado Caucus (8,000 Armenian Americans)
Connecticut Primary (20,000 Armenian Americans)
Illinois Primary (45,000 Armenian Americans)
Massachusetts Primary (120,000 Armenian Americans)
New Jersey Primary (75,000 Armenian Americans)
New York Primary (100,000 Armenian Americans)

The ANCA voter network:

Armenian Americans in these states, and throughout the country,
represent a motivated and highly networked constituency of more
than one and a half million citizens spread across key primary and
general election states. Armenian American voters are well
represented in both the Democratic and Republican parties and
across the political spectrum, and have consistently demonstrated a
willingness to cross party lines to vote for candidates who have
supported issues of special concern to the community.

The ANCA mobilizes Armenian American voters through a network of
over 50 chapters and a diverse array of affiliates, civic
advocates, and supporters nationwide. ANCA mailings reach over a
quarter of a million homes, and, through the internet, updates and
action alerts reach well over 100,000 households. The ANCA
website, which features election coverage from an Armenian American
point of view, attracts over 100,000 unique visits a month. The
ANCA also has broad reach to Armenian American voters via a
sophisticated media operation of newspapers, regional cable shows,
satellite TV, blogs, and internet news sites.

Review of the Major Candidates:

Democrats:

Hillary Clinton:

As a Senator, Hillary Clinton has, since 2002, cosponsored
successive Armenian Genocide resolutions, however she publicly
voiced reservations about the adoption of the current resolution in
an October 10, 2007 meeting with the Boston Globe editorial board.
She joined Senate colleagues in cosigning letters to President Bush
in 2005 and 2006 urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Hillary Clinton for President
4420 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
Tel: 703-469-2008
Website:

John Edwards:

As a Senator, John Edwards cosponsored successive Armenian Genocide
Resolutions beginning in 2002. He also supported Section 907
restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, due to its ongoing blockade
of Armenia. As a Presidential candidate in 2004, he stated that the
"time is to recognize the Armenian Genocide" and that Turkey’s
blockade of Armenia must end. His advocacy on behalf of the family
of 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan, who died after her insurance
company denied funding for a liver transplant, has been warmly
received by Armenian Americans around the country.

John Edwards for President
410 Market Street, Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Tel: (919) 636-3131
Website:

Barack Obama:

As a Senator, Barack Obama has spoken in support of U.S.
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and cosigned a letter urging
President Bush to recognize the Armenian Genocide, but has yet to
cosponsor the Armenian Genocide Resolution. While visiting
Azerbaijan in August 2005, Senator Obama was asked by reporters why
he cosigned the letter to President Bush. Obama defended his
decision by stating the genocide was a historical fact. He
publicly criticized the firing of former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans, who was dismissed for speaking truthfully about the
Armenian Genocide, but voted for Richard Hoagland, the nominee to
replace Evans, who had denied the Armenian Genocide in his
responses to Senate inquiries.

Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
Tel: (866) 675-2008
Website:

Republicans:

Rudy Giuliani:

As Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani issued several
Armenian Genocide proclamations and attended ANC-NY
Armenian Genocide commemorations in City Hall. In 2001, he
hosted His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians, for breakfast in the Mayor’s residence, Gracie
Mansion.

Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee
295 Greenwich St, #371
New York, NY 10007
Tel: 212-835-9449
Website: http://

Mike Huckabee:

As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee issued a 2001 proclamation
commemorating the Armenian Genocide that noted that Turkey
continues to deny this crime and that Armenians have yet to receive
reparations. He also issued a proclamation marking a "Day of
Remembrance of the Turkish and Armenian Tragedy" – a euphemistic
attempt to obscure the genocidal intent of Ottoman Turkey toward
its Armenian subjects. The local Armenian community’s
disappointment with this second proclamation was covered by the
Arkansas News Bureau, which quoted ANC-Arkansas spokesperson Leo
Stepanian as saying: "It was not a tragedy. It was a genocide."

Huckabee for President
P.O. Box 2008
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Tel: 501-324-2008
Website:

John McCain:

As a Senator, John McCain has opposed the Armenian Genocide
Resolution and not been supportive of other Armenian American
issues. At a town hall meeting on Sunday, January 6, 2008 Senator
McCain was reported to have answered a question on the Armenian
Genocide by noting that he recognizes the Armenian Genocide, but
opposes the Armenian Genocide Resolution due to the Turkish
government’s sensitivities. In correspondence with Arizona
constituents he wrote, in October of 2007, that, "Condemning modern
Turkey for the acts of the Ottoman Empire would serve only to harm
relations with the Turkish people while injecting the Congress into
the sensitive role of historian of a period clearly preceding the
births of all but a very few congressmen. That is not a
development I wish to help facilitate."

In 1989, Senator McCain introduced legislation supporting a
peaceful and fair settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and
later supported Section 907 and the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act.
Later, in 1999, he voted against maintaining Section 907.

John McCain 2008
P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215
Tel: 703-418-2008
Website:

Mitt Romney:

As Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney is not on record as
having issued Armenian Genocide proclamations or having taken other
meaningful official public actions in support of Armenian American
issues.

Romney for President
P.O. Box 55899
Boston, MA 02205-5899
Phone: (857) 288-6400
Website:

As always, the ANCA welcomes feedback on its service to the
Armenian American community. Please forward your thoughts and
suggestions about the 2008 Presidential election by email to
[email protected].

SIX PEOPLE DIE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN ARMENIA DURING NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS

ARKA News Agency
Jan 8 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, January 8. /ARKA/. 27 traffic accidents were recorded
in Armenia on January 1-7. Six people died and 45 were injured in
accidents during this period, the Press Service of the RA Police
reports.

Nine traffic accidents took place in Yerevan, as a result of which
16 people were injured and taken to hospital.

YEGHIA NAJARIAN DIED

Noyan Tapan
Jan 8, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Orientalist Yeghia Najarian, a
prominent political figure from the Social-Democratic Hnchak party,
one of the founders of the Social Democratic Hnchak Party of Armenia,
died in Bairut on January 6 at the age 75 after a long disease. This
information was provided to Noyan Tapan by the central department of
the Social Democratic Hnchak Party.

MUBARIZ AHMEDOGLU: "ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VARDAN OSKANYAN MAY RESIGN IN FEBRUARY-MARCH OF 2008"

Today
s/42192.html
Jan 8 2008
Azerbaijan

A number of changes which may be connected with the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict may occur this year, as reported by
Mubariz Ahmedoglu, chief of the Center for Political Innovations
and Technologies, at a press conference on the political results of
December of 2007.

He said powers may change in the result of presidential elections in
Armenia and changes may also occur in the OSCE Minsk group.

The political scientist noted that the resignation of the Foreign
Minister of Armenia may become one of the major changes in the
situation.

He said the due announcement was made by Oskanyan, who noted that
he had been on this position for already 10 years and it is time for
him to resign.

"Oskanyan is the best specialist on the Nagorno-Garabagh conflict in
Armenia. There are not such specialists even in Azerbaijan. He was
invited to the position from the USA when the conflict started.

Later he dealt with the Nagorno-Garabagh issue on the position of
the Deputy Foreign Minister in times of Levon Ter-Petrosyan. If you
noticed, no one from the Foregn Ministry of Armenia makes declarations
regarding the conflict, except for him", he said.

ELMIRA SULEYMANOVA: INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS SHOULD NOT HAVE DOUBLE APPROACH TO THE RELEASE OF AZERBAIJANI CAPTIVE SAMIR MAMMADOV

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 7 2008
Azerbaijan

"The issue on release of Armenian’s capturing Azerbaijani soldier
Samir Mammadov should be solved by international organizations.

Taking its influence into account, International Committee of Red
Cross should not have double approach to the problem," Ombudsman
Elmira Suleymanova told the APA

Azerbaijan is anxious about Samir Mammadov. Ombudsman stated that
they connected with his family continuously and gave information
about anxious of his family to ICRC.

"Holding captive Samir for more than a year, impeding his
correspondence with his family is against the international law
standards. ICRC is responsible for establishing connection with his
family but it does not fulfill its mission. Armenians said that he
does not want to write letter to his family. ICRC is obliged to take
letter from his family and give it to Samir. If Samir does not want
to take letter, let him write on the letter that "mother I do not
want to receive your letters". We can not believe it any way.

Telephone connection between captive and his family should be
ensured. We can achieve ICRC dealing with this problem only at the
result of public reproach. Any pressure is impossible.

Samir Nazim Mammadov was born in 1987 in Berde and captured by
Armenians on December 24 in 2006 in Balajeferli village of Gazakh.