Author: Maghakian Mike

VICKEN CHETERIAN: KARABAKH FATE HAS REPERCUSSIONS ON THE WHOLE REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2009 13:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With the American and European recognition of an
independent Kosovo, against the express desires of Serbia and Russia,
and without the sanction of the United Nations, a new precedent was
set for the process of recognizing new states after conflict and
unilateral secession.

‘After Kosovo: Whither Karabakh?’ one-day workshop organized in
University of Michigan aimed to assess how the factor of international
recognition of Kosovo’s independence could influence non-recognized
states that emerged from similar circumstances: the collapse of
federal structures of a sovereign state.

The guest speakers were: Ben Graham (University of California, Davis),
Mikulas Fabry (Georgia Institute of Technology) and Vicken Cheterian
(CIMERA, Geneva).

"The recognition of Kosovo has introduced a new element in the
recognized pattern of post-Cold War state formation in Eurasia,
despite the claims of some countries that this was an exception,
not a precedent to the usual rules of the game," Mr. Cheterian told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

"As political theorist Karl Schmidt wrote, "Sovereign is he who decides
on the exception." But who is the proper sovereign here? The change
in the status of Kosovo has already had repercussions elsewhere. The
violent clashes of August 2008 in Georgia, followed by Russian
recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
underline the novelty of the post-Kosovo world. This question has
gained new significance and urgency. States that have separatist
movements fear that the Kosovo precedent will accentuate the chances
of separatism, while politically mobilized minority movements are
encouraged by it," he said.

Nagorno Karabakh represents an interesting case, not only because
it is located so near the other Caucasian conflicts, but because the
question of its fate has repercussions on the whole region, an arena
that has recently become a central focus of East-West power games,
according to him.

"Sadly, there have been few analytical efforts to chart the recent
evolution and future pathways of the conflict. This workshop aimed
to cover this gap by bringing together political analysts and
international experts to examine the present and future of Nagorno
Karabakh in light of the recent developments in Kosovo and Georgia,"
Mr. Cheterian said.

This meeting of the workshop will be followed by a second at the
University of Geneva, organized by CIMERA and co-sponsored by the
Armenian Studies Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in the
spring of 2009.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

February 3, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

SENATOR ENSIGN TO HEADLINE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA RECEPTION AT
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM BUILDING

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) is pleased
to announce that Senator John Ensign (R-NV), will be the Guest of Honor
at its Monday night reception during the 2009 National Advocacy
Conference in Washington, DC, March 1-3.

"I applaud the important work of the Armenian Assembly and I look
forward to working with my Senate colleagues to prevent future genocides
and combat denial of the Armenian Genocide," said Ensign.

Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Senator Ensign has
consistently supported Armenian-American issues. In April 2006, Senator
Ensign, along with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), co-authored a letter
urging President Bush to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide. The letter
read, in part, "As a world leader, it is important that the United
States reaffirm the incontestable facts of history witnessed and
reported by U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau… Denial of the Armenian
Genocide diminishes the value we place on human life and the principles
of liberty on which this country is founded." Then-Senators Barack Obama
and Hillary Clinton both signed the letter as well. Ensign also
introduced S.Res. 164, a resolution that marked the anniversary of U.S.
implementation of the U.N. Genocide Convention.

In March 2007, following the introduction of H.Res. 106, which was
subsequently approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senators
Durbin and Ensign introduced a companion measure, S.Res. 106, which
called upon the President to "ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing and genocide
documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian
Genocide."

Speaking about the Conference and the growing support for this event
from Members of Congress, Conference Co-Chairs Rachel Kaprielian and
Peter Kezirian said: "This Conference represents an important
opportunity to ensure that we offer our members and activists a venue to
meet with policy makers, as a new chapter in U.S.-Armenia relations is
crafted."

The reception will be held at the site of the Armenian Genocide Museum
of America (AGMA), formerly the National Bank of Washington. The Museum
building is strategically located two blocks from the White House.
Dedicated to the memory of the victims and the survivors, AGMA will
serve as a center for genocide education, prevention and affirmation.

In March 2008, the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), which is
charged with responsibility for the protection, enhancement and
perpetuation of properties of historical, cultural and aesthetic merit
in the District of Columbia, in a unanimous vote gave concept approval
for the AGMA. HPRB commissioners are appointed by the mayor of the
District of Columbia.

The former National Bank of Washington has interior and exterior
designations on the National Register of Historic Places. Only a dozen
privately-owned structures in the capital city have such a high level of
historic designation. The bank building is slated for complete
restoration and renovation, as well as application as the exhibit space
for AGMA.

AGMA has contracted the firms of Martinez & Johnson Architecture, which
specializes in the rehabilitation of historic buildings, Gallagher &
Associates, as its exhibit design firm, and Regan Associates, as the
project management firm. Martinez & Johnson Architecture and Gallagher &
Associates have been working on the development of the museum project
since mid-2007. Regan Associates joined the planning team in February of
2008.

The Armenian Genocide Museum of America is an outgrowth of the Armenian
Assembly of America and the Armenian National Institute (ANI), catalyzed
by the initial pledge of Anoush Mathevosian toward building such a
museum in Washington, DC.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

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NR#2009-009

VIOLATION OF THE CEASE FIRE REGIME BY THE AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES SUPPRESSED

ARMENPRESS
Feb 2, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS: A number of cases of violation of the
cease-fire regime by the Azerbaijani Armed forces have been registered
at night of January 30-31.

Press service of Nagorno Karabakh Defense Ministry told Armenpress
that Azerbaijani soldiers opened an irregular fire in the direction
of Armenian positions located in Horadiz, Karakhambel, Korapatkino,
Bashkarvet, Jraberd from weapons of different calibers.

Regiments of the Defense army which were on duty discovered all the
fire points of the Azerbaijani armed forces, undertook relevant actions
and confidently suppressed the fire without any losses. According to
Nagorno Karabakh Defense Ministry, the armed forces entirely control
the situation on the front line and in case of necessity are ready
to suppress any aggressive steps undertaken by the rival.

25 ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS TO TAKE PART IN MOSCOW OPEN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan

Jan 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The Moscow Open International
Chess Tournament will be held between January 30 to February 8 in
the capital city of Russia. It is divided into three groups. 25 chess
players will take part in the competitions from Armenia.

First round’s games are scheduled for January 31.

"ARMENIANS IN THE NETHERLANDS, AN EXPLORING SURVEY" BOOK PUBLISHED IN NETHERLANDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.01.2009 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenians in the Netherlands, An Exploring Survey"
is the title of the book, which has just been published as a result of
recent investigation on the Armenian community of the Netherlands. The
book is published by the Federation of Armenian Organizations in the
Netherlands (FAON).

For the research, which was made possible with financial support of
the Dutch government, a written sample survey has been conducted
among hundreds of Armenians selected from thousands of available
addresses of Armenians living in Holland, the FAON press office told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

The results of the research give more insight which countries
the Armenians of the Netherlands came from, and the duration of
their residence. Additionally, information has been collected on
the education level of Armenians in the country of birth and in
the Netherlands, as well as their social and economic position,
particularly their labor market position.

The social cultural position, like for example language use, social
contacts, mixed marriages, religious orientation, participation to
Armenian activities etc. are also investigated. Much attention has
been paid to the calculation according to scientific methods, of the
Armenian population in the Netherlands.

In addition to the outcome of the survey, the book contains an overview
of the history of Armenia and information on the Armenian community
of the Netherlands since the 17th century.

PACE WON’T DEPRIVE ARMENIA OF VOTING RIGHTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.01.2009 18:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With 3 votes ‘for’, 141 ‘against’ and 5 abstentions,
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has decided not
to suspend Armenia’s voting rights, the press office of the Armenian
delegation to PACE told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Declaring it "unacceptable" that persons could be charged and deprived
of their liberty for political motivation in Armenia in relation to
the events of 1 and 2 March 2008, the Monitoring Committee of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on December
17, 2008 recommended suspending the voting rights of Armenia’s
eight-member delegation to the Assembly until the authorities "have
clearly demonstrated their political will to resolve this issue."

The co-rapporteurs visited the country earlier this month, with a
view to reporting back to the Committee on any progress with respect
to the release of these persons.

PACE PRESIDENT: "SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAGORNO KARABAKH WILL RESUME ITS ACTIVITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE"

APA
Jan 26 2009
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Alexander Kin-APA. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh will resume its activity
in the near future, said PACE President Luis Maria de Puig at a press
conference on Monday, APA correspondent reports from Strasbourg.

The PACE President said his organization could make certain steps
toward solution to the conflict and emphasized the importance of
agreement between the parts.

De Puig said PACE Subcommittee on the Conflicts was commissioned for
the solution to the "frozen conflicts" in the countries-members of the
Council of Europe, including Nagorno Karabakh conflict and noted that
they made efforts to create atmosphere of confidence between the parts.

Chairman of the Subcommittee, British parliamentarian Lord Russel
Johnston died in 2008. A new chairman is expected to be appointed
within the current session.

Armenian political expert: Russia was going ‘to cede’ Nagorno-Karabakh
to Azerbaijan

2009-01-24 14:24:00

ArmInfo. Russian was going "to cede" Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan,
independent analyst Igor Muradyan told journalists, Saturday.

"The token money in our Russian ‘friends” intention was the Azeri gas,
as well as the speculation around possible construction of Nabucco gas
pipeline. This failed to happen thanks to a lucky
accident: President Serzh Sargsyan simply understood if he signed the
document he was offered, he would cease being the Armenian president",-
Muradyan said.

According to the expert, at the same time Moscow’s American partners
disturbed Medvedev when the latter was going to impose the document on
Sargsyan. "We simply realized at a critical moment that there is not a
single pressure mechanism to make us cede Karabakh to Azerbaijan or
anybody else", the analyst said.

Muradyan thinks that the Russian president is practically surrounded by
gas and oil traders, as well as by Azeri lobbyists. However, in the
current situation it is not so easy to "sell" Karabakh to Azerbaijan,
and here a great role belongs to the position of the USA, which
reinforces its presence in the region together with the UK.

"This has flattened Turkey and Russia which are trying to find points
of coincidence at any price as they both realize that they are unable
to resist the USA separately. They failed to sell Karabakh, so nobody
is able to make us abandon our own territory",- Muradyan concluded.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION REP BLAMES AUTHORITIES FOR POLITICAL "CRISIS"

Mediamax
Jan 21 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 21 January: The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC)
demands that the authorities "stop the short-sighted policy, release
political prisoners and carry on the dialogue with the opposition,"
the coordinator of the ANC, Levon Zurabyan, told a news conference
in Yerevan today, Mediamax reports.

Zurabyan said that all problems take root from the 2008 presidential
election fraud and the violent suppression of the 1-2 March 2008
peaceful protest. As a result, Armenia is still experiencing a deep
political crisis, the ANC coordinator said.

Zurabyan said that the authorities do not want to seek ways out of the
crisis and continue keeping 60 political prisoners in correctional
facilities, disregarding the demands of society and international
organizations.

The ANC coordinator expressed confidence that "the regime’s unpromising
repressive policy will lead it to self-exhaustion".

GEORGIAN POLICE DETAINS TWO ARMENIANS, SUSPECTED OF ESPIONAGE

Trend
Jan 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 23 / Trend News, N.Kirtskhalia /

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs confirms detention of
two residents of Akhaltsikh. The detained were of the Armenian
nationality. They were Gregory Misanyan and Sarkis Hakobjanyan.

The Intelligence Department carries out a criminal case on
establishment of illegal armed groups and espionage, in which the
detainees are suspected.

Armenian media have already declared illegal detention of Armenians
by Georgian police in the region of Samtskh-Dzhavahet.