Author: Maghakian Mike

HIGH-PROFILE TRIAL RECESSED TILL APRIL 1

A1+
03:09 pm | March 23, 2009

Politics

Armenia’s high-profile trial of the "case of seven" taking place at
the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash
districts has been recessed till April 1.

Taking into account the recent amendments to Articles 225 and 300 of
the Criminal Code, Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan motioned that the court
should give the prosecution time to review the modifications as they
impact on the ongoing trial.

Under the disputed amendments the indictments against the seven
defendants are to be lifted. The political prisoners advised the
court to study the amendments thoroughly and considered their arrest
illegal and senseless.

"Dismiss the case and review the restraint since the articles under
which we are charged no longer exist. According to the statutes now in
force, I no longer see any grounds for holding us any longer. You may
later study the amendments and sue us if you find any indictments,"
demanded defendant Alexander Arzumanyan.

The lawyers attempted to oppose the prosecutor’s motion but the judge
in the case, Mnatsakan Martirosyan disregarded their complaint.

Mnatsakan Martirosyan upheld Koryun Piloyan’s petition and adjourned
the court sitting till April 1, at 12.00.

Defendants Alexander Arzumanyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan, Sasun Mikayelyan,
Hakob Hakobyan and Suren Sirounyan were present at today’s trial. The
court sanction against Grigor Voskerchyan ends tomorrow.

Note that the amendments were ratified by Serzh Sargsyan but haven’t
been put into effect.

PRESS RELEASE
The Paros Foundation
917 Parker Street, A14
Berkeley, CA  94710
tel: 310-400-9061
email:  [email protected]
web: http//

Manana Youth Center to Hold Summer Program for Diasporan Youth

YEREVAN – The award-winning Manana Youth Center will host its first
annual summer program this year, providing Diasporan teens and
pre-teens the opportunity to learn photography and documentary film
making in the heart of Armenia’s capital.

The program will be led by noted filmmakers and photojournalists, who
will teach classes alongside leading field trips and other workshops.
The field trips will take students into both Yerevan and the
surrounding countryside, teaching them to engage with Armenian culture
in new and unique ways, largely through immersion. At the same time,
they will help youth to hone their verbal and visual communications
skills in order to become the next generation’s opinion-makers and
culture-shapers.

Manana’s aim is to making top-flight education in critical thinking,
communications, and creative communications, available to a wide range
of Armenian youth. This fills an important vacuum, as many youth had
been left with no after-school opportunities following the collapse of
the Soviet Union. The few enrichment centers that were left were
prohibitively costly for all but the wealthiest of Armenians. Since
then, Manana’s goal has been to provide opportunities that will help
ensure the advancement of all strata of society throughout the coming
generation.

Through Manana, more than 100 students learn from prominent
professional journalists, photographers, graphic designers, animators
and filmmakers each year; the summer program is an effort to unite
these youth with young members of the global Diaspora who have similar
potential, and to help the latter discover, embrace and understand
Armenia and its people.

Manana’s students have won scores of awards at festivals and
competitions throughout the Caucasus, Europe and the Americas. The
Tufenkian Foundation has served as a primary sponsor of Manana during
the past 10 years, and since 2007 has been joined by the
California-based Paros Foundation.

Registration forms are available on Manana’s website,

###

For more information on Manana’s Summer Program, please visit Manana’s
website at ;or contact Rick Barry of the Tufenkian
Foundation at [email protected].

PRESENTATION OF DISTRIBUTION OF ARTSAKH HPP OJSC’S SECURITIES TAKES PLACE

Noyan Tapan
March 20, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of distribution
of Artsakh Hydro-Power Plant (HPP) OJSC’s securities took place at
Yerevan’s Marriott-Armenia Hotel on March 20. The event was attended
by Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Prime Minister of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Ara Harutyunian.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department,
the securities issued by the company are distributed by Armenbrok
OJSC. Artsakh HPP company plans to spend the money received from
the distribution of shares on construction of several new hydropower
plants in the NKR.

T. Sargsyan called the initiative symbolic not only because it is
organized under conditions of the global financial and economic crisis,
but also because it may start intense activity in the financial market
and, as a result, develop the economy. The prime minister pointed out
the project’s atractiveness to investors, its importance in terms of
assisting the development of infrastructures, which will contribute
to job creation and economic growth in the NKR.

SONG DEDICATED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF DECLARATION ON GENOCIDE PRESENTED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.03.2009 18:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A song presentation was he ld in Yerevan today
to commemorate 60th anniversary of Genocide Declaration. "A-Minor"
song was drawn on the Armenian translation of Lithuanian poet’s verse
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. The song was presented by the
composer and Sharakan Choir chief musician Daniel Erazhisht and the
performer, choir soloist Gevorgh Khadgyan.

According to the composer, classical "A-Minor" song was created in
calendar style, starting with the mention of a tragic date in the
History of Armenia.

"That the day is near when the sorrowful "A-Minor" will be replaced by
the victorious "A-Major" in honor of Armenian Genocide international
recognition," the composer emphasized.

MOSCOW MUST BE CONSULTED BEFORE ANY FURTHER EXPANSION OF NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2009 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Closer ties with Washington, and an olive branch for
Moscow: France’s defense minister on Tuesday laid out French plans to
rejoin a crucial post in U.S.-led NATO, while insisting that Russia
must have a say in constructing European security.

France believes Moscow must be consulted before any further expansion
of the alliance, which the former Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine
have been looking to join.

"These are things that cannot be decided without speaking to our
Russian neighbor," Morin said. "(Europe’s) security architecture must
be built with Russia," AP cited Morin as saying.

AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION URGES TURKEY TO BE SENSITIVE WITH REGARD TO OPENING BORDERS WITH ARMENIA

Trend
March 17 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani opposition urged Turkey to be sensible with regard to
opening borders with Armenia.

"Though Turkey’s current government deals a blow to our certain
interests by its decisions, we must not lose this country. We must
maintain high level relations," chairman of opposition Azerbaijan
Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloglu said.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 because of
Armenia’s false "genocide" claims and occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani
lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6,
2008 at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to
watch Armenia-Turkey football match within the European Cup. Efforts
have been made since then to normalize ties between the two countries.

Jalaloglu said Turkey’s Prime Minister announced some time ago that
changes in their policy regarding Armenia have been coordinated with
the Azerbaijani government.

"Secondly, Turkey has its own top-priority interests and it must
ensure them. Third, I think policy of Armenia’s blockade is not
effective any more," the ADP chairman said.

He said Azerbaijan’s blockade on Armenia did not enable the country
to participate in trans-regional projects. "This process is already
over. There are no projects any more not to enable Armenia to
participate in it," Jalaloglu said.

Jalaloglu said about 3 million Armenians in Turkey keep contact
with Armenia via different means. "Turkey’s decision to open borders
would mean to formalize the mechanism which operated unofficially so
far. Unfortunately, Turkey must have taken into consideration that the
Karabakh problem remains unresolved while taking this step. If Turkish
authorities say they have taken this step taking into consideration
state’s interests, we can not say something," he said.

The right-wing ADP was founded by Sardar Jalaloglu in1991. The party
had been occupying a radical position against the authorities by
January 2007 when it took a new political course to dialogue with
the authorities. Rasul Guliyev, the former chairman of the party,
and his supporters separated from the party protesting against its
new political course and founded their new Open Society Party.

"Azerbaijan must provide a serious reaction to Turkey’s opening
borders with Armenia," opposition Umid party chairman and member of
parliament Igbal Agazade told Trend News.

He said Turkey and Azerbaijan took a joint action for a long time to
prevent recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide. "They have
shared the same position in implementation of some transnational
projects. They could make concessions towards each-other. Azerbaijan
undertook more responsibility in last years," he said.

Agazade said the chief goal of Azerbaijan’s participation in these
processes was to prevent opening of Turkey-Armenia borders. "If
Turkey changes priorities, it should give an explanation to
Azerbaijan. Because changing years-old policy can cause problems,"
he added.

He said opening of Turkey-Armenia borders can mark beginning of
new policy in the South Caucasus. "Both Azerbaijani government and
opposition must hold discussions with Turkish authorities on this
situation," Agazade said.

The oppositional Umid Party was founded in 1993. The Civil Solidarity
Party (CSP) joined it in 2002. The former chairman of CSP Igbal
Agazade was elected chairman of Umid Party. Agazade is also MP of
the Azerbaijani parliament.

The Desert Sun, CA
March 14 2009

Board votes in favor of church’s design

Colin Atagi ¢ The Desert Sun ¢ March 14, 2009

An Armenian church project will go before the Rancho Mirage City
Council as early as next month with a recommendation it be built at a
height church officials fought for all year.

The Rancho Mirage Planning Commission voted 3-1 Thursday to recommend
the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert on Vista Dunes Road be
built with a maximum height of 57 feet.

City staff previously recommended a maximum height of 45 feet to
conform to the nearby neighborhood, but commissioners thought
differently.

`Anything further would destroy the lines of the traditional church
that the Armenians normally build,’ Commissioner Ira Laufer said
Friday. `I felt they should have the normal proportions (an Armenian
church) usually does.’

Church officials and parishioners were happy the commission voted in
their favor.

`We had struggles, of course, along the way, but I think they finally
did see it through our eyes,’ parishioner Mary Mkrtchian of Cathedral
City said.

The project has been a work in progress for 10 years.

City officials approved the church plans in 1999, and additional
modifications were approved in 2001.

`We’d already begun construction on that approval,’ said Carolon
Nigosian, parish council chairwoman. `There’s already a foundation in
the ground based on that particular structure.’

Even so, a building permit expired in April 2005, and church officials
had to again go through the process to obtain a conditional use
permit.

The city’s Architectural Review Board recommended this past April that
planning commissioners discuss the project, but church officials
pulled the item from a July meeting after learning of new
recommendations, including the new height limit.

About 50 people currently worship in a 500-square-foot room at the
parish hall on a regular basis, and even more show up on holidays,
church officials said.

If the church is built, it will have enough pews to accommodate 170
people.

314/NEWS01/903140308/1006/news01

Implementation of Armenia-NATO IPAP discussed

armradio.am
13.03.2009 12:36

The Secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia, Arthur
Baghdasaryan, received today the team leader of the Armenia `NATO
Individual Partnership Action Plan Rob Winmakers and member of the team
Laurens Meyer.

The interlocutors discussed issues pertaining to the actions planned
for 2009-2010.

At the request of the guest Arthur Baghdasaryan presented the work done
towards implementation of the Armenia-NATO IPAP, noting that reforms
will continue in all spheres.

Rob Winmakers appreciated the process of work done so far and expressed
willingness to continue the cooperation.

Ex-Prime Minister would behave in a different way if he were Prime
Minister today
13.03.2009 18:20

Hasmik Dilanyan
`Radiolur’

`I fulfilled my task when I was Prime Minister. My objective was to
have Armenian economy be ahead of that of Azerbaijan,’ ex-Prime
Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan told a press conference today.

If he was Prime Minister today, he would do so as to have the budget
revenues increase 40%.

According to Hrant Bagratyan, today’s situation is not at all
comforting. `The crisis in Armenia will last longer than in western
countries,’ he said.

Common citizens feel the impact of the crisis most. In Hrant
Bagratyan’s opinion, the policy implemented is also wrong. `The
Armenian dram appreciated twice over the past years, that’s why we have
found ourselves in today’s situation.’

The former Prime Minister has suggestions to the government. According
to him, they can establish new taxes and cut the expenses of the
agencies.

Milliyet, Turkey
March 11 2009

The New Turkish-American Scenario Could Bring Good Things!

by Hasan Cemal

A new scenario is being written in Turkish-American relations. If
these scenarios are staged and acted out well it could be advantageous
to both countries.

In this regard, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Ankara
was a positive one. Clearly, the role of leading man in the new
Turkish-American screenplay will be played by President Obama. This
may be stating the obvious but the US President’s visit to Turkey in
April is very important in many respects not least for its symbolic
value.

If Ankara and Washington can put the pieces in their proper places
with this visit then a new era in relations between these two
countries really could begin. This will bring common interests and
regional stability.

There are already signs bubbling to the surface that this new scenario
is being written well even now and that some parts of it have already
begun to be acted out.

Turkey’s and Israel’s foreign ministers Babacan and Livni met in
Brussels. President Gul is scheduled to go to Israel.

There are signs of a normalization of relations between Turkey and
Armenia. Turkey might reopen the border.

It is very likely that the Armenian genocide issue is going to be
relegated to the bottom of Washington’s in-box.

As Turkish-Armenian relations enter a process of normalization you
will see one day that the genocide issue has relocated from
Ankara-Washington to Ankara-Yerevan.

In the meantime, President Gul’s trip to Baghdad is part of this new
scenario. The crux of this business:

Ankara-Arbil relations.

Ankara’s relations with Mas’ud Barzani are considered a topic that the
American administration is very fussy about because this directly
concerns stability in Iraq. And these relations are still on track for
improvement.

This is a complex issue and includes the PKK as well.

Washington, Ankara, Baghdad and Arbil. None of them want the PKK to be
a pain in the neck any more.

This is why one of the subtexts for this new screenplay for
Turkish-American relations includes ejecting the PKK from northern
Iraq, bringing them down off the mountains and surrendering their
arms.

A complex matter, no doubt.

I wonder if Prime Minister Erdogan is going to demonstrate the
political will and resolve that this topic requires once the elections
are out of the way?

We can say this:

If certain practical steps can be taken in Ankara in the matters of
the Kurdish problem and the Armenian issue…

If the doors to normalizing relations between Turkey and Armenia plus
Turkey and the northern Iraqi Kurdish administration can be opened…

If Washington and Ankara write the scenario for these topics well and
act them out well then the pertinent countries will be winners, along
with regional stability and peace as I just pointed out. Furthermore,
America has certain expectations of Turkey with respect to Afghanistan
and US withdrawal from Iraq.

In addition, the roles that Turkey can play in the Israel-Syria field
and concerning Hamas and Iran are definitely grabbing the Obama
administration’s interest.

That is politics for you.

To grasp shared points of interest and common balances is a fine art
indeed. You need both political will and creative diplomacy.

If the new screenplay is edited well it will also broaden Turkey’s
field of manoeuvre vis-Ã -vis the EU. The support of the new American
administration could make it easier to navigate certain bottlenecks in
Turkish-EU relations such as Cyprus.

A Turkey that is on good terms with both the EU and the United States
might be able to ride out the waves of the global economic crisis
after singing a deal with the IMF following the elections.

Yes, this is an optimistic column and this optimism is underpinned by
the importance of the earlier-than-expected visit that Obama is going
to make to Turkey.

Concerning optimism, I have to point out that a team that really
appreciates Turkey came to power in Washington when Obama became
President.

President Obama’s administration does not want to see a Turkey that is
moving away from Europe, embracing Eurasia and the Islamic world and
that has a second-class democracy.

On the contrary, the Obama administration is laden with people who
think that it would be in America’s best interests for a stable Turkey
that has set EU membership as its goal by having a first-class
democracy.

Among these people are the pragmatic and realistic Secretary of State
Clinton and Secretary of Defence Gates. President Obama’s National
Security Adviser at the White House is the retired General Jim Jones,
a former Commander in Chief of NATO and someone who knows the Turkish
military very well indeed.

Even more interesting is Philip H Gordon, whom President Obama stated
last Saturday he would make Assistant Secretary of State for Europe
and Eurasia at the White House.

It is our wish that this scenario is played out well and that
President Obama’s incredibly important visit to Turkey heralds a fine
new era in relations.

[translated from Turkish]