Author: Khoyetsian Rose

ROBERT KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATES DMITRI MEDVEDEV ON OCCASION OF WINNING IN RF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
March 3, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Robert Kocharian, the President of
the Republic of Armenia, sent a message of congratulation to Dmitri
Medvedev, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, on March 3.

The message runs as follows:

"I congratulate you with all my heart on the occasion of being elected
on the post of the President of the Russian Federation.

The federal partnership of our countries and the strategic cooperation
established in all the directions are highly appreciated in Armenia.

I am sure that our countries and peoples will further as well
strengthen the friendly relations, partnership and will expand the
mutually beneficial cooperation.

I want to mention with content your personal great contribution to the
development of the Armenian-Russian relations, as well as to express
confidence that you will contribute to their deepening and expansion
on the high post of the President of the Russian Federation.

I wish you good health, welfare and success in your work in the
interests of the brother Russia."

ALL POLITICAL FORCES IN ARMENIA SHOULD AVOID VIOLENCE AND ENGAGE IN POLITICAL DIALOGUE

States News Service
March 1, 2008 Saturday

The following information was released by the U.S. Department of State:

The U.S. deeply regrets today’ unrest in Yerevan, Armenia, and calls
on all sides to avoid further violence, act fully within the law,
exercise maximum restraint, and resume political dialogue. Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried
spoke today with Armenian PM Sargsian to make these points. The U.S.

Charge d’Affaires has been in touch with the opposition to deliver this
same message. Both sides are responsible for helping to re-establish
order and return to political dialogue. Any unlawful actions such
as violence and looting worsen the situation and must stop. We hope
that the State of Emergency declared today will be lifted promptly
and that political dialogue resumes. Political dialogue is the best
way for all concerned Armenians to demonstrate responsible leadership
and support for the future of Armenia and democracy.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
March 4, 2008

His Holiness Karekin II Addresses the Nation

On March 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, addressed the nation regarding the events on March 1, following
the recent presidential election in the Republic of Armenia.

To view the video of the address of the Armenian Pontiff, please visit the
website of the Armenian Church, and click on the news
link for March 3.

You can also view the video on YouTube, by clicking on the following link:

TROOPS FLOOD ARMENIAN CAPITAL AFTER BLOODY CLASHES

Sydney Morning Herald
March 3 2008
Australia

Hundreds of troops flooded Armenia’s capital today to enforce a state
of emergency after clashes between opposition activists protesting
against election results and government forces left eight people dead
and more than 100 injured.

The bloodshed was the worst political crisis to hit the strategically
located, volatile former Soviet nation in nearly a decade. An envoy
of Europe’s leading security body rushed to Armenia to mediate the
conflict. The United States urged both sides to exercise restraint.

President Robert Kocharian declared the 20 day state of emergency
last night following a day of clashes between government forces and
demonstrators protesting against alleged fraud in the February 19
presidential election.

Police used tear gas and fired in the air to disperse thousands of
opposition demonstrators yesterday afternoon, after breaking up an
opposition tent camp earlier in the day.

Seven civilians and one officer were killed in the clashes, and at
least 131 other protesters and troops were wounded, officials said
today. The authorities accused the opposition of firing at police
and Health Ministry spokeswoman Russian Gevorkian said 16 troops
had bullet wounds, the Interfax news agency reported. The opposition
vehemently denied using weapons.

The demonstrators supported opposition presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who was being prevented from leaving his residence.

Ter-Petrosian called on his supporters to go home and refrain from
further protests while the emergency order is in place, but vowed to
continue efforts to force a new election once it is lifted.

"We shall not retreat. Acting within the law, within the framework of
the constitution, we shall struggle to the end, until the removal of
this hateful and criminal regime, this bandit and kleptocratic regime,"
Ter-Petrosian told reporters in his house in central Yerevan.

Hundreds of helmeted servicemen, wearing bulletproof vests and
wielding Kalashnikov assault rifles, patrolled the centre of a tense
Yerevan. Police closed several major streets where the violence
occurred. Troops were warning residents by loudspeaker not to gather
in groups.

Some streets were littered with the hulks of burned cars, many shop
windows had been broken and kiosks looted.

Ter-Petrosian finished a distant second to Prime Minister Serge
Sarkisian in the official results from the election. He appealed to
the Constitutional Court on Friday to overturn the results.

The bloodshed raised concerns about stability in this country,
which borders Iran and lies on a transit route from the energy-rich
Caspian Sea region to Western consumers. Europe’s leading security
organisation, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
was sending an envoy to Armenia to mediate the crisis.

Western observers issued an overall positive assessment of the
election, but noted serious flaws, especially during the vote count.

The opposition says Sarkisian stole the election by resorting to
vote-buying, ballot stuffing and pressuring media to skew coverage
in his favour. Several opposition members said they were beaten on
election day to prevent them from monitoring the vote. The government
denies any wrongdoing.

Armenian Police Clear Demonstrators Protesting Presidential Election Results []

RTT News, NY
March 1 2008

3/1/2008 1:13:17 AM Saturday, police in Armenia’s capital Yerevan
moved to clear Armenian opposition supporters who have gathered near
central Yerevan’s Freedom Square to protest the contested results of
February 19 presidential election.

Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan who had the backing of outgoing
President Robert Kocharian won the election, defeating former President
Levon Ter-Petrosian. While opposition supporters claim the election
was rigged, International observers judged the poll in the ex-Soviet
Caucasus republic to be generally democratic, reports the BBC.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVE
OF PATRIARCH HAZIM

The Spiritual Leader of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, His Holiness
Patriarch Hazim sent a special delegation to Antelias on February 27 for a
meeting with His Holiness Aram I.

The delegation included Patriarchal Assistant Bishop Louka El-Khoury and
Elie Moukhayber who is also a member of the Middle East Council of Churches’
(MECC) Executive Committee. The delegation carried a message from Patriarch
Hazim. His Holiness Aram I in return expressed his brotherly love for the
Head of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch.

The Catholicos and his guests spoke about the mutual relations and
cooperation between the two Churches. A discussion on the Christian churches
of the Middle East and the organization of their activities also took place.
The sides exchanged views on strengthening the presence and mission of
Christianity in the regions particularly through reorganizing and
reevaluating the work of MECC.

##
View the photo here:
c/Photos/Photos199.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

THE WEST HAS TEN DAYS

Lragir.am
18:54:01 – 28/02/2008

What is happening in Armenia at the Square of Freedom is a genuine
test for people; however, it is a test not only for people but also
it is a more important test for the West, the European organizations,
the European states. This is the idea of the first president Levon
Ter-Petrosyan who touched upon the attitude of the West toward
the movement he leads during the rally at the Square of Freedom on
February 28.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan says what surprises him is that the West, that
is the United States, the EU, the EU members and the OSCE do not make
statements about the situation in Armenia. According to Ter-Petrosyan,
there are contacts, there are activities, and the fact that their
peaceful rallies last for already 8 days and do not become the
target of the police is thanks to the pressure of the international
organizations on the Armenian government, but the first president is
surprised that no statements are made.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan complained of the international observers who view
the election as a voting rather than a process. Levon Ter-Petrosyan
says it is outrageous to fail to see what was taking place months
before the election and what is taking place now, and to say that
they make a general assessment only.

Meanwhile, Levon Ter-Petrosyan continues, the fate of democracy in
Armenia is in the hands of the United States, the EU, the OSCE and
other international organizations. Within ten days those states
can make moves and have a democratic, modern, developed state,
like Lithuania, or to have an Asian state in Armenia. "It does not
take much from the West, it takes only respect for these people,"
stated Levon Ter-Petrosyan, that otherwise the West will deal with
a new Saddam Hussein in Armenia and will have to establish democracy
in this country with tanks.

"The international organizations are facing a dilemma, either they
are beside people and democracy or beside the Tatar-Mongol regime. It
takes them a step, to do everything to reject the legal validity
of the results of the vote on February 19 and hold a new election,"
Levon Ter-Petrosyan states. However, if the world does not respond,
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, he says, will not accuse them of betraying the
Armenian people, the popular movement of Armenia because if Europe
does not respond, it will not betray the Armenian people but will
betray democracy, liberal values, the European civilization.

PEOPLE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CAN APPLY FOR HOME LOANS

ARMENPRESS
Feb 27, 2008

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS: Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh
can now apply for home loans after the authorities have approved a
mortgage program.

All residents of Nagorno-Karabakh with a 10- year-long residency may
apply for loans to buy homes, a loan for apartment repair requires
a 3 year-long residency.

There is an age limit as loans should be repaid before the people who
take credits reach retirement age. The credit for home buying is 25
million Drams and 3 million for home repair with 12 and 15 percent
annual interest rates respectively.

Karen Yesayan, chief manager of Nagorno-Karabakh Investments Fund,
said the government will pay half of interest rates of home buying
loans. The loan is given for 20 years.

STATUS OF REFUGEE

KarabakhOpen
27-02-2008 10:33:06

During the Karabakh conflict over one million Armenians and
Azerbaijanis became refugees. However, the Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan who now live in Nagorno-Karabakh do not have an
international status. Since the country they live in is unrecognized,
the world officially does not consider them as refugees or internally
displaced persons, although they have lost their homes, property,
country, like the Azerbaijani refugees.

According to the Agency for Refugees, Settlers and Migration, 30
thousand refugees and IDPs from the regions of Karabakh which are
occupied by the Azerbaijani army live in Karabakh. Sarasar Saryan,
a refugee from Baku, head of the NGO of refugees, thinks the
international community uses double standard.

"Some refugees are considered as refugees, we are not considered as
refugees. We suffered and we had losses just like the others. What
difference does it make from where we left? The attitude toward people
must be the same, despite ethnicity and nationality, no matter they
are Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, Ossetians, Abkhazians. We also
lost everything and we also have difficulty living in a new place,"
Sarasar Saryan says.

At the end of 2004 the law on refugees was passed in Karabakh,
according to which the refugees were granted an "internal status". The
people who had been displaced got a small compensation form the
state budget of Karabakh for "transportation of property and moral
and psychological damage", which is certainly too small to cover even
part of what they have lost.

Sarasar Saryan says his NGO is likely to appeal to the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees to display a humanitarian rather than
political attitude toward these people. For the problem of refugees
is that everyone forgets about them, there are a lot of words of
help but no actions. Therefore, they rely on the organization which
is led by refugees who understand and share their problems.

Seiran Karapetyan and Karine Ohanyan from Karabakh From series of
radio programs "South Caucasian Almanac: Old Neighbors, New World"

REPUBLICAN OLYMPIAD TO KICK OFF ON MARCH 21

Panorama.am
20:48 26/02/2008

On March 21 the republican phase of curriculum Olympiad will kick
off for 2007-2008 academic year schoolchildren. Pupils from Artsakh
and Javakhq will also take part in the competition.

Ministry of education and science official web portal informs that
the organizational committee, curriculum commission chairmen staff
and the schedule for the Olympiad have been set up by a directive of
the minister of education and science. Deputy minister of science and
education, Bagrat Yesayan, has been appointed as the chairman of the
organizational committee.

The third regional phase of the Olympiad will start from March 1. The
tests have been formed by the curriculum committees. On March 13,
the names of the participants in the republican phase of the Olympiad
will be announced.