Author: Kharatian Ani

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S OFFICE DECLINES PROPOSAL TO BE INCLUDED IN
PUBLIC COUNCIL TO BE CREATED BY RA PRESIDENT

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YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. We have applied to RA presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian to involve him in the Public Council to
be created by the RA President, but we have been refused by his office.
Garnik Isagulian, the Adviser to the RA President, the Chairman of the
National Security party, said at the May 30 press conference.

According to him, Levon Zurabian, a member of the National Movement,
motivated that by saying that they do not take part in any issue until
the requirements of PACE Resolution N 1609 are fulfilled. "If you are
really ready to present resolutions of the Council of Europe or any
other instances as documents of obligatory fulfilment for Armenia, it
would be right that we put all UN resolutions simultaneously in the
basis of our dialogue," G. Isagulian said reminding journalists of
another resolution adopted by UN lately, a resolution on Nagorno
Karabakh problem.

In G. Isagulian’s opinion, Resolution N 1609 is just speculated here.
Meanwhile, G. Isagulian considers that it would be very good if L.
Ter-Petrosian agreed to join the Public Council. "Even a question has
emerged, whether it is possible that L. Ter-Petrosian will be able to
lead the Public Council. I have said that there is no obstacle," G.
Isagulian said. According to him, they do their best to secure maximum
involvement of both political organizations and NGOs with opposition
position in the Council. "For us, it is very important that
participation of political organizations having opposition position be
the most active," the Adviser of the RA President said.

It was also mentioned that there was even an apprehension that the
Council will become a formal body, which will fulfil some people’s
orders: to avoid it they propose to work out all mechanisms jointly, as
a result of which such phenomena will be excluded.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 30 2008

Moscow, Yerevan step up cooperation to resolve Armenian transport problem

30.05.2008, 21.45

MOSCOW, May 30 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow and Yerevan will step up
cooperation for solving the Armenian transport problem, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments on Friday negotiations
with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian.

`Russia-Armenia trade is nearing $1 billion. Our investments in
Armenia are approximately the same,’ Lavrov said. `We have agreed to
step up cooperation for solving the Armenian pressing problem –
transport. We hope to achieve positive results. Russia is the leading
economic partners of Armenia, and we want our cooperation to be as
efficient as possible.’

Lavrov recalled the recent meeting of Russian leaders with the newly
elected Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and said the meeting
confirmed the continuation of the equal allied relations between
Russia and Armenia.

`Today’s negotiations are an important link of the bilateral
cooperation. We stated the similarity of our positions in many issues,
including cooperation at the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE
about the South Caucasian situation and the Karabakh settlement.’

`It is important to make the region stable and secure,’ Nalbandian
said. `Armenia is ready to continue negotiations with Azerbaijan on
the basis of proposals of the Minsk Group cochairmen.’

He voiced hope that the upcoming meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani leaders in St. Petersburg will be positive and the
presidents will instruct their foreign ministers to continue
negotiations with the assistance of the Minsk Group cochairmen.

`We wait for Azerbaijani proposals, which may help resolve the
Karabakh conflict,’ Nalbandian said. `Proposals of Russia, the United
States and France [that cochair the Minsk Group] must not be ignored.’

There is no military solution to the Karabakh problem, Lavrov said.

`It is possible to resolve this conflict only through direct
negotiations of the sides with the support of the Minsk Group
cochairmen,’ Lavrov said. `I can tell you on behalf of the Minsk Group
that there is no military solution to the Karabakh problem.’

`As for the problem of regional armaments, the parameters of local
armed forces and weaponry are being regulated with international
treaties. There is a number of verification tools,’ Lavrov said.

The upcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in
St. Petersburg will give guidelines for further Karabakh settlement
efforts of the two foreign ministries, he remarked.

`The presidents will meet in St. Petersburg this June. The meeting
will give guidelines to the two foreign ministers supported by the
Minsk Group,’ he said.

`It is possible to reach agreement only in direct negotiations, yet
both sides laud [the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group] cochairmen,’
he said.

`It is necessary to anticipate possible consequences whenever any
settlement proposal is put on public vote,’ he said. `Such methods
hardly contribute to the maximum constructive atmosphere and the
normalization of bilateral contacts.’

`The wish of any side to the conflict to achieve the soonest
normalization is understandable. That is what matters,’ Lavrov
said. `At the same time, the sides should stick to the agreed
format. A side may grow impatient but it should not question the
validity of the negotiating mechanism, especially the one that has
proven its worth.’

‘Last year the Minsk Group cochairmen presented their proposals, which
fell short the comprehensive solution but still affirmed positive
changes in the overwhelming majority of the settlement aspects,’
Lavrov said.

Consolidation of prefectures-population ties important, Armenian
president states

YEREVAN, May 30. /ARKA/. RA President Serge Sargsyan gives priority to
the formation of condominiums and consolidation of ties between
prefectures and the population.

`We attach special importance to the execution of the decisions made by
the Armenian Government and Yerevan Municipality, as well as to the
observation of laws,’ President Sargsyan stated at a meeting with the
heads of Yerevan’s condominiums.

As a priority issue the President singled out Armenian citizens’
self-organization, accomplishment of common tasks in Yerevan’s
communities.

The second problem is `a merciless attitude’ to the housing stock. The
President expressed his concern over the fact that owner of flats in
residential buildings will not understand they are actually co-owners
of the buildings, which may create serious problems.

S. Sargsyan called for an open dialogue over the issues. He pointed out
that this is `not only a problem of a street or yard, but a problem of
the city.’ `We cannot make Yerevan more comfortable and attractive to
others without realizing the importance of the questions,’ the
President said.

The participants in the meeting pointed out the necessity for
enlargement of condominiums and for improvement of relevant
legislation. The representatives of condominiums welcomed a program of
repairing elevators in Yerevan’s residential buildings. The program was
initiated by Serge Sargsyan, when he was RA Prime Minister and is to be
completed by the end of this year.

Summing up the results of the meeting, the President assured the
participants that the proposals made at the meeting will be thoroughly
discussed, and decisions will be made. `We must encourage citizens’
self-organization and, along with improving the social conditions,
strive for the resolution of other problems,’ the President said. -0-

A1+

WHY ARMENIA AGREES TO THE CO-CHAIRS’ PROPOSALS
[05:32 pm] 27 May, 2008

-The most important thing in Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is the maintenance of the cease-fire regime.
It is more significant than liberation of the lands
and immigration of the refugees-, stated former
Co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group and Deputy Chairman of
the Association of Russian Diplomats Vladimir
Kazimirov.

He notices that very often the terms of the signed
cease-fire are distorted when we speak of a -temporary
armistice-. Kazimirov notes that even if there are no
time limits fixed in the signed agreement it is a
permanent armistice, not a temporary one and the
difference between these two phenomena is of utmost
importance.

By the way, Vladimir Kazimirov can understand
Azerbaijan’s warlike attitude. The Azeri used to be
mightier and were much more in quantity than Armenians
but they lost the war and are now eager to resume
their position through a revenge.

Kazimirov also spoke of the liberated lands calling
them -captured areas-, seized as a result of martial
activities.

So, the existence of captured areas is considered an
objective reality by Kazimirov. He cannot understand
why the Armenian side should agree to the proposals of
Azerbaijan to convey the areas in return for a
theoretical referendum due in fifteen years’ time. In
Kazimirov’s opinion 5 years is quite enough to conduct
a referendum.

In the -Novosti Armenia- international agency Vladimir
Kazimirov expanded on the armistice agreement signed
on May 12, 1994.

He admits that the western representatives of Minsk
Group could have solved the conflict long before if
only they had had a desire. But since their only aim
was to neutralize Russia and contradict her
suggestions, the signing of the armistice was held
back till May 1994.

-And unlike the Western countries which had just
started to establish diplomatic relations with our
region at the beginning of the 90s, Russia knew well
both the conflicting sides and their peculiarities-,
notices Kazimirov.

Kazimirov also stressed the importance of Karabakh’s
participation in the negotiation process as Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh do not always share the same
interests.

Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada
May 27 2008

PEN Canada to Toronto District School Board: uphold freedom of expression

TORONTO, May 27 /CNW/ – In a strongly worded letter to John Campbell,
chair of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), PEN Canada urges
reversal of the Board’s recent decision to remove Extraordinary Evil:
A Brief History of Genocide, by Barbara Coloroso, from the resource
list of a new Grade 11 course on genocide and crimes against humanity
to be taught next year.

"PEN Canada would like immediate clarification regarding the basis on
which the Board has moved ahead to remove Extraordinary Evil from the
resource list for this course," said Nelofer Pazira, President of PEN
Canada. "Under the circumstances, PEN has to question why the TDSB is
engaging in what can only be described as censorship."

The TDSB has determined that the proposed Grade 11 course, to be
called Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, will contain a module on
the killing of over one million Armenians in Turkey in 1915, and that
that massacre will be defined as genocide. However, the Director of
Education recently upheld a recommendation of a review committee that
the book by Barbara Coloroso be removed from the resource list for the
course. That decision is now being reviewed by the Program and School
Services Committee of the Board.

"In Canada, everyone has the right, within the bounds of the Criminal
Code as it pertains to hate speech and similar actions, to a fair
expression of views," said Ms Pazira. "Removing this book constitutes
the suppression of an important perspective, for the students in this
course, on the Armenian genocide."

PEN Canada notes that the Canadian government recognizes the Armenian
massacre as genocide. In April 2004 Parliament passed, with an
overwhelming majority, the following motion: "this House acknowledges
the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against
humanity." This motion was re-affirmed by Prime Minister Stephen
Harper in 2006.

PEN Canada believes it is the duty of public institutions in a
democracy, such as school boards, to defend vigorously the right to
freedom of expression. Anything short of this is an extremely
dangerous precedent for any public institution, and especially for one
of the largest school boards in the country.

"We urge the Board to reinstate the book as resource material for the
course," said Ms Pazira in her letter to Mr. Campbell. "It is
essential that you and your fellow trustees respect freedom of
expression and not allow this book to be censored as the result of
pressure from partisan organizations."

PEN Canada is an independent non-profit organization committed to
defending freedom of opinion, as guaranteed by Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). We campaign on behalf of
writers around the world who are persecuted for the expression of
their opinions. In Canada we speak out regularly to defend the right
of freedom of expression as enshrined in Section 2(b) of the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms.

For full text of letter:

For further information: Isobel Harry, PEN Canada, (416) 703-8448 ext.
22, [email protected]

eases/archive/May2008/27/c5026.html

Congratulatory message of President Serzh Sargsyan addressed to the
graduates

armradio.am
24.05.2008 13:41

Dear Graduates,

The last bell is a momentous event since its jingle announces a new
beginning in every person’s life.

Today, graduating from the school you step at the threshold of a vital
decision making. Many of you have already decided what you want to do
next; the others have yet to determine in which area they would
demonstrate their abilities and fulfill desires best.

You are destined to make new discoveries and record new achievements.
It is very important that you find your place in our country, which is
your contemporary, and become high class professionals, and worthy
citizens of the Republic of Armenia. Our Motherland needs that kind of
people.

I am confident that on this festive day you will address your words of
gratitude to your teachers who opened for you the world of knowledge,
assisted you in shaping your identity and inspired confidence. The
school years gave you real friends, taught you to be patriotic and
humane. I hope that these values will become the first signs of your
maturity.

Dear Graduates,

I once again cordially congratulate you, as well as the parents and
teachers and wish you all happiness and all the best. Let success
accompany all your undertakings.

ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN SEEKS POLITICAL REFUGE

A1+
[02:14 pm] 22 May, 2008

Zhirayr Sefilian, a prominent Nagorno-Karabakh war veteran and
former commander of Shushi Special Battalion, who is presently under
detention, addressed a letter to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) Bako Sahakian.

"Last year I addressed to the President of NKR with a request to
be granted a Nagorno-Karabakh Republic citizenship. I was replied
that my letter would be considered only after the adoption of the
"Law on NKR Citizenship", and the consideration of such claims was
temporarily frozen."

With the present letter I re-affirm my desire to have a NKR citizenship
and my readiness to submit another application when the "Law on NKR
Citizenship" has been adopted."

It was also stated in Sefilian’s letter that he was presently under
detention for carrying a weapon granted to him by the leaders of the
NKR Defense Army as a martial award.

"Let me inform you that I have definitely been suffering political
persecution since 2006 and I am still in pursuit. They are currently
working on the plan of expelling me from Armenia. And because of my
love and devotion to my country I kindly request a political refuge
from Nagorno-Karabkh Republic. I truly hope that Artsakh will not
turn me down", Sefilians says in his letter.

AZERBAIJAN REFUSES TO HOLD TALKS WITH ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend News Agency
May 19 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 May / corr. TrendNews S. Agayeva/ Azerbaijan has
refused to hold talks with the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Nagorno-Karabakh should independently take part in the talks on
peaceful settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan," Bako Saakyan,
the president of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic said to
Vedomosti. "There is a key party in the conflict – an independent
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic- with the same priorities as in the case
of other foreign states," Saakyan said.

"From the very beginning, the talks on settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were held with Armenia as an aggressor
country, but not with those who are inhabited in Nagorno-Karabakh to
serve as a screen," Khazar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry
of Azerbaijan said to TrendNews on 19 May.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

According to Ibrahim, head of the Armenian community of
Nagorno-Karabakh made some mistakes in his statements. "There is not
any "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NGR)" concept; there is only Armenian
community of Nagorno-Karabakh. At the moment, no talks can be held
with the representatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," he said.

According to spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, "NGR" is
not functioning within the Azerbaijani law, this territory and other
surrounding lands are under the Armenian occupation who directly takes
part in all the illegal moves against Azerbaijan. These illegal moves
by Armenia led to the fact that some people in Nagorno-Karabakh call
themselves official representatives of some judicial institution,
Ibrahim said.

Talks with the Armenian community can be held only in case Armenia
liberates Azerbaijani territory, Azerbaijani community returns to its
lands and all conditions are provided for the peaceful co-existence
of both communities in Nagorno-Karabakh, the official representative
of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry said.

REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL IDENTITY OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE US, RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ON GENOCIDE ISSUE WILL NOT CHANGE: TURKISH EXPERT

arminfo
2008-05-19 16:22:00

ArmInfo. "Regardless of the political identity of the government in
the US, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, their political
relations with a country do not show significant changes," Ugur
Terzioglu, Chairman of Turkish-Armenian Business Association (TABA)
stated in an interview with Zaman.

He provided the different phases of the Armenian case as an example
of the strength of Turkey’s relations with its US allies. "The
Armenian genocide case was brought to the Senate’s agenda during
former Democratic President Bill Clinton’s term. Clinton went to the
Senate taking the Pentagon’s head with him and reminded the Senate
members of the US’s ‘high national interests.’ The senate withdrew
the case and didn’t utter even a word on it.

Years passed and this time Democrats under Nancy Pelosi’s initiative
brought the Armenian claims of genocide to the Senate’s agenda. With
the president’s order, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sent
a letter to the Senate in April 2007 saying that the motion was
totally against the national interests of the US and that they had
to postpone it.

Terzioglu complained about the lack of an efficient Turkish lobby
working for Turkish interests in the US. The Armenian diaspora is
intensively working in for Armenian interests by spending billions of
dollars every year, he noted, adding that Turks have finally started
to do something about this issue.

To him, the level of cultural, political and military relations is
determined by the level of economic relations and Turkey’s commercial
ties with the US are far from meeting their real potential.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT URGES ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO IMPROVE SITUATION IN REPUBLIC

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2008 17:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Assistance Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia
Thomas Adams visited Armenia May 14-17, in his final visit to Armenia
in that capacity.

Adams was accompanied by his deputy, Daniel Rosenblum, who has been
designated to succeed him as Coordinator in the upcoming months.

The delegation held fruitful discussions with the President, the Prime
Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance,
the Minister of Economy, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. Adams addressed a wide range of important issues in his
conversations with his hosts from the Armenian government. He learned
about the status of democracy and human rights issues in Armenia, in
light of the post-election political difficulties. He urged Armenian
authorities to take prompt action to heal the social divisions that
have arisen as a result of the political conflict. Adams also discussed
with Armenian officials a number of other important bilateral issues,
including ongoing cooperation programs in energy and agriculture,
Armenia’s economy, measures to improve Armenia’s attractiveness to
foreign investment, and Armenia’s important efforts to combat illegal
trafficking in persons.

During his visit, Mr. Adams met with the Board of the American Chamber
of Commerce in Armenia, as well as key leaders and stakeholders of
the Millennium Challenge program in Armenia. The delegation also
visited a number of project sites implementing U.S.

assistance programs, including the Armenian-American Wellness Center,
Arcolate Chocolate Company, Arzni Medical Ambulatory in Kotayk Marz,
and a school in Nork, which was refurbished with the financial support
of the U.S. Government, reported the press office of the U.S. Embassy
in Yerevan.