Author: Khondkarian Raffi

LATEST AZERBAIJANI SLANDER AND DEMARCHE

A1+
03:24 pm | May 27, 2009 | Politics

Oslo, Norway-Stepan Safarian, member of the Heritage Party’s
parliamentary faction, who recently replaced Heritage’s founder Raffi
K. Hovannisian at the Armenian National Assembly’s delegation to the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), was in the Norwegian capital
Oslo from May 23 to 26, where he participated in the spring session
of NATO PA.

On May 23, Stepan Safarian attended the session of NATO PA’s Defence
and Security Commission. Heritage’s MP offered comments and put forth
queries specifically during the discussions devoted to Afghanistan
and, subsequently, to the threats which the women and young girls face
in times of military conflicts and post-conflict situations. In her
remarks, Malahat Ibrahimkizi, the member of Azerbaijan’s associated
delegation to NATO PA, made a "smooth" transition from the issue of
violations against the women and young girls in the conflict zones
to the Karabagh conflict and made slanderous accusations against
Armenia. She argued that Armenia was the aggressor, that twenty
percent of Azerbaijan was under occupation, and that there were
one million Azerbaijani refugees. And offering his comments on the
topic of discussion, Stepan Safarian noted: "I deeply regret that
I must commence my remarks by responding to the slanders made by my
distinguished Azerbaijani colleague. I was preparing to deliver an
altogether different speech, but now I am obliged to start my words
from this issue. I understand that my Azerbaijani colleagues have
a task given to them by their highest leadership, and this task is
to make use of any and all fora and opportunity to smear Armenia in
order to distort the truth. Ladies and gentlemen, we can interpret
the historical facts and the history in different ways, yet it is
impossible to falsify the facts and write a new history. However,
I do agree with my colleague in one description, but with a certain
editing: The Mountainous Karabagh conflict is the tragic story of an
aggression and a failed attempt at occupation. More specifically,
it is the tale of Azerbaijan’s instigating aggression against and
its failed attempt to occupy Mountainous Karabagh. When Azerbaijan
decided to seize Karabagh by military means, this was prevented by
the effective Armenian defense. And today, my Azerbaijani colleague is
trying to misrepresent this fact, which resulted in tragic consequences
and in the prese!

nt-day re is impossible to reformulate history, which she is attempting
to do." Afterward, Safarian examined the matter of and the challenge
toward disarmament and the women’s engagement in different militarized
conflicts. Following the Heritage MP’s intervention, the Azerbaijani
deputy became edgy and, pretentiously obstructing the session, left
the session’s hall screaming. The same day, Safarian also participated
in the session of NATO PA’s Economy and Security Commission.

On May 24, Stepan Safarian partook in the session of the Political
Affairs Commission. During this event, Safarian offered his
observations concerning Iran and Iran-international community
relations. He underscored the need to correctly recognize and
comprehend the real motives behind Iran’s demeanor, and to use
the unused opportunities and potential for normalizing relations
and surmounting the tension between Iran and the international
community. He also offered his impressions from Iran, which reaffirmed
his assertions with respect to the presence of the aforesaid potential
and the problems which Iran, NATO, and the international community
shared in the Greater Near Eastern region.

On May 25, Stepan Safarian met with Sverre Mirli and Kiel Engebretsen,
the members of the "Friends of Armenia in Norway" network and the
present and former Norwegian MPs. Safarian expressed a hope that the
best traditions in the Armenia-Norway friendship will continue and
the bilateral cooperation will grow stronger, and he also promised
to contribute in this task.

On May 26, the Armenian delegation attended the plenary session and
the closing ceremony of NATO PA. All through and beyond the latter’s
spring session, Stepan Safarian also met with delegates from numerous
countries (Denmark, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Algeria,
Moldova, Germany, France, Jordan, etc.) and exchanged views on regional
security issues.

BAKO SAHAKYAN ADDRESSES CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE ON THE REPUBLIC DAY

ARMENMPRESS
MAY 28, 2009
STEPANAKERT

President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan addresses a message in
connection with the Day of Republic. NKR Presidential press office
told Armenpress that the message of the NKR president says: "Dear
compatriots, I congratulate you on the day of the First Armenian
Republic.

This is a festive day for the entire Armenian people in Armenia,
Artsakh and the Diaspora. And everybody must remember the token of
that day. It is the victory of cohesion and united will of our people.

It is also due to the heroic examples of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan,
Karakilisa that we could gain victory in the Artsakh war and today
we life and create in a free and independent land and have day after
day flourishing and developing Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

We should realize the price of these victories and cherish it as
the apple of an eye. Let us preserve and build our country together,
spare no efforts to strengthen the Armenian statehood and handover
to the generations to come a powerful and thriving Motherland –
the dream of all Armenians.

Dear compatriots, I congratulate you on this invaluable and memorable
day once again and wish you new victories and success in glory of
the Armenian nations, its bright and radiant future."

AN ARMENIAN ADVENTURE

Alinghi.com
ews/world_sailing_news/index.php?idIndex=1011& idContent=19589
May 28 2009

A new challenge for Armenian writer and adventurer Zori Balayan started
today at the America’s Cup Port. Leading a crew of 7 sailors, he will
sail the 73" boat Armenia from Valencia to Los Angeles, California.

Representatives of the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well
as religious authorities and part of Armenian community living in
Valencia came to farewell Balayan and his crew.

Zori Balayan (Stepanakert, 1935) is an Armenian novelist, journalist,
sports-doctor, traveler and sports expert. From 1971 to 1973 he crossed
the Kamchatka and Chokotskaya tundras with dog-sledges, traveling as
far as the North Sea. This trip was narrated in his book Blue roads
(1975).

We wish them the best of luck on their journey and a safe crossing
of Cape Horn!

KINIKLIOGLU: WE PASS TURKISH CONCERNS TO ARMENIANS

Today’s Zaman
May 27 2009
Turkey

Suat Kiniklioglu, member of Parliament and deputy chairman of external
affairs for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party),
has said a workshop like this week’s Turkey-Armenia relations gives
an opportunity to Turkey to talk about concerns of the both sides
as the process of rapprochement with Armenia continues. "We want
to share the concerns in Turkey here. Even from the language used
at the workshop we see that we don’t know each other well. We talk
about Turkey-Armenia relations as well as Azerbaijan’s role in it
in the context of regional dynamics," said Kiniklioglu yesterday at
Turkey-Armenia Relations Workshop organized by the Foundation for
Political Economic and Social Research (SETA).

Asked about the influence of the Karabakh issue in that regard,
Kiniklioglu said there is parallel process to the Turkey-Armenia
negotiations on the issue taken by the Minsk group. "The process
is parallel and they support each other. But these are difficult
topics. They would have been solved in 16 or 17 if they were easy,"
he said. "Turkey has good relations with both Azerbaijan and Georgia,
and wants to add Armenia into this. News of the normalization process
with Armenia affects Karabakh but the film is continuing and there
will be developments, hopefully positive." He also indicated that
normalization of relations with Armenia and resolution to the Karabakh
conflict are both "mutually reinforcing each other and interacting."

Attending the workshop Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus
Institute based in Yerevan, said that they don’t expect that the
border between Armenia and Turkey will be open soon, closed by Turkey
in 1993 protesting the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh in
Azerbaijan. "We don’t expect that the border will be open in a short
period of time but once the border opens historical dimension of
Turkey-Armenia relations will not be so much important," he said.

Most of the participants at the workshop indicated that a closed
border with Armenia, "an anomaly of the Cold War years," should be
corrected, and this is the last legacy of the Soviet Union as NATO
member Turkey faces a closed border.

Bulent Aras from SETA said the Cold War has been continuing in the
Caucasus although it ended in the rest of the world. Yonca Poyraz
Dogan Istanbul

SPLIT SECONDS OF LIFE ON THE WALL
Loretta Bryce

Fraser Coast Chronicle
tory/2009/05/26/split-seconds-of-life-on-the-wall/
May 26 2009

Friends of the Gallery volunteer Dianne Baker takes in the images
on show at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, which is on show until
June 20.

Fraser Coast ChronicleMOMENTS of time captured through the
photographer’s lens grace the walls of the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery
for the next few weeks as the gallery hosts an exhibition of the
sixth Leica CCP documentary photography award finalists.

The styles reflect the individuality of the artists but the photos
have one thing in common: they aim to capture an aspect of modern life.

A combination of traditional and digital prints explores themes such
as war, politics, death and typical Australian lifestyles.

Included in the exhibition is a series of photographs shot in the
Afghanistan war zone by photojournalist Stephen Dupont.

Also at the gallery until June 20 is Joanna Kambourian’s exhibition,
Dim Memories of Exile.

The artist’s works were inspired by her quest to trace her family ties
during a trip to Armenia. She spent two weeks in an Armenian village
in 2007 during the filming of the ABC documentary Family Footsteps.

Both exhibitions run until June 20. Admission is free.

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN MALATYA NEEDS RENOVATION, RESIDENTS SAY

Hurriyet
May 26 2009
Turkey

MALATYA -The 18th century Toshoron Armenian church in the
CavuÅ~_oglu neighborhood of Malatya is in ruins, in need of care and
renovation. CavuÅ~_oglu is the birthplace of Hrant Dink, the former
editor of daily Agos, who was assassinated in 2007.

Mustafa Å~^ahin, headman of CavuÅ~_oglu, spoke to the Anatolia news
agency and said the church is in need of repairs and that people in
the neighborhood are being disturbed by the homeless who have taken
residence inside.

"It would be nice if the church is renovated. We do not have any
Armenians left living in our neighborhood," he said. "The community
dissolved; they migrated to big cities. However, there are a few
Armenian families living in Salköpru, the neighborhood next to us. If
the church was restored, it would be nice for them, too."

Officials from the provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
said they wrote a note to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism about
renovating the church. Although it is on the program for 2009, the
lack of funding prevents the work from starting.

NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVED A GROUP OF ARMENIAN SCHOLARS FROM RUSSIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 16:45 GMT+04:00

On May 25, NKR President Bako Sahakyan received well-known Armenian
scholars from Russia. Parties discussed a range of issues concerning
science, education and high technologies development in Artsakh.

Bako Sahakyan approved the complex program aimed at the
development of modern information technologies. He stressed the
importance of strengthening mutual cooperation with Diaspora in
scientific-educational sphere. The meeting was attended by NKR
Education and Science Minister Vladik Khachatryan, RF permanent
representative in NKR Albert Andryan and President of Artsakh State
University Stepan Dadayan, NKR President’s Press Service reports.

TAX OFFICIAL – INTERGOVERNMENTAL INDICATOR
Hakob Badalyan

LRAGIR.A.M
11:40:52 – 22/05/2009

The bill on the amendments to the law on inserting a tax service
representative in major enterprises, which has been introduced before
the parliament, aroused the complaint of many of the businessmen
parliamentary members and their friends. The parliamentary session on
May 21 was something like a rebellion of the enterpriser parliamentary
members against the government. The impression was as if the "red
berets" are going to enter in the National Assembly and beat the
parliamentary members, who were dissatisfied with the government, for
breaking the public order. Fortunately, the situation did not arrive to
that point. Where the situation will reach will be seen in the nearest
future: who is going to yield – the government or the enterprisers.

Although, what is already present brings up a lot of questions. For
example, what was the aim of the government to have introduced before
the parliament a bill, which was to arouse the dissatisfaction of the
parliamentary members who are engaged in business? The government could
hardly be unaware of the atmosphere in the parliament. Consequently,
either the government has been forced to present this law by someone,
or the government knows that the bill be adopted anyway, and the
complaints of the parliamentary members are just a false.

But, from where the government may be forced to introduce any
bill before the parliament. Perhaps, the order may be given only
from the residence of the president. Or, whether they forced it
or just advised. They are possible just to have the intention to
check the possibilities of the National Assembly. In other words,
the government was told to introduce the bill before the parliament
if the government will be able to make it adopt let it do that, it
not, let it fail. The residence of the president will come out to
organize a National Assembly-government duel in this case. What is
the need for this duel especially on the eve of the Mayoral election,
when the system needs to be coordinated? Does the principle "divide
and govern" work here?

On the other hand, maybe the bill was so urgent and its introduction
could not be made after the Yerevan Mayoral election. Moreover, it
seems to have right this destiny, as its discussion was interrupted
and was postponed until next week which means that it will be
continued after the Yerevan Mayor election. However, the deposit is
left. Did anyone need it or was it just a misunderstanding? Or maybe
the government tried to check the parliamentary members’ mood, the
potentials for their rebellion, the limit, after which their fear
disappears, because the self-preservation instinct comes up. But,
why it was needed just on the eve of the Mayoral election. The
disagreements within the government may cause suspicion within its
lines and may impede them from making the traditional breaches.

There are really many questions. This is a feature of the current
Armenian government. There have been numerous questions during one
year, but there was no concrete answer. The point is that some circle
of the government knows the answers to all the questions, but cannot
let them become the property not only of the public but also a pyramid.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

LRAGIR.AM
15:31:39 – 22/05/2009

On May 21-23, 2009, the President of the Republic of Croatia Stjepan
Mesiæ paid an official visit to the Republic of Armenia upon the
invitation of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

In an atmosphere of mutual understanding and constructiveness the two
Heads of States discussed the current situation and the prospects
of the Armenian-Croatian relations, and exchanged views on the
international and regional issues of mutual interest.

The parties stressed the importance of the further development of
political and economic relations between Armenia and Croatia.

The Presidents underlined the need to further broaden the legal
framework between the Republic of Armenian and the Republic of
Croatia. The sides signed the Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia
on Co-operation in the fields of culture, education and science,
and the Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Croatia for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention
of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

They expressed readiness to foster the trade and economic relations, to
promote the establishment of ties between entrepreneurs, to encourage
mutual visits and of business forums. Exchange of experience in field
of tourism was also emphasized.

The Presidents expressed their confidence, that regional conflicts
should be resolved without use of force and only by peaceful means and
negotiations based on the principles and norms of international law.

The sides underlined the imperative to open the remaining closed
borders in Europe as well as the necessity to establish normal
relations without any preconditions and develop friendly relations.

The parties expressed their readiness to consider the possibilities of
cooperation within the frameworks of the European Union initiatives,
including the European Neighborhood Policy, as well as in other
international structures.

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation aimed at maintaining
security and stability in Europe in the frameworks of international
organizations was also emphasized.

Noting with satisfaction the constructive negotiations and achieved
results, the Presidents will, in the nearest future, undertake
practical steps for effectively realizing all agreements reached.

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM HUNGARY ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.05.2009 16:40 GMT+04:00

Parliamentary delegation from Hungary arrives in Armenia on May 21 on
a two-day visit headed by Mathias Yorsh, Chairman of the parliamentary
committee on European issues. His deputies Laszlo Kosi and Mathias
Firtli are in the delegation.

Meetings with RA NA speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, chairman of the NA
standing committee on European integration Avet Adonts, representatives
of Armenia-Hungary parliamentary friendship group, RA foreign minister
Edward Nalbandian and assistant to RA president Gevorg Kostanyan
are scheduled. Members of Hungarian delegation will also visit the
Armenian Genocide museum and the memorial complex Tsitsernakaberd.

As the press-secretary of the NA speaker Nairi Petrosyan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Hungary’s parliamentary delegation will
arrive in Armenia in the middle of the afternoon, approximately
between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.