Author: Maghakian Mike

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR ‘NATIONAL HERO’
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006

Yesterday, the Budapest Municipal Court convicted Ramil Safarov to
life imprisonment with no right to amnesty for 30 years. Charged
with axing to death Armenian serviceman Gurgen Margarian in his
sleep on February 19 2004, Safarov received the ultimate punishment
under Hungarian law. All efforts of the Azerbaijani side to portrait
Safarov as not guilty proved futile as the evidence of premeditated
murder triumphed over Azeris fake proofs.

“That was the ultimate verdict for the Hungarian court,” Nazeli
Vardanian, attorney of Gurgen Margarian, told daily Azg over the phone.

Prior to bringing in the verdict the court listened to Safarov’s final
words. The embarrassed “national hero” of Azerbaijan said at first
that he has a poor command of Russian and the court should review
his initial evidence, then he went on the last try to persuade the
court that he has mental disorder and murdered Margarian while having
an attack. He said he remembers nothing, even why he had bought the
axe. He had no intention to murder the Margarian and did not attempt
the life of Hayk Makuchian, the other Armenian serviceman.

“He said no words of regret; never felt sorry for taking the young
Armenian’s life,” Nazeli Vardanian added.

Upon hearing the verdict, Safarov’s defense said they will file an
appeal, though the judge’s words clear up any doubt of the defendant’s
guilt.

The Azerbaijani “national hero” and “man of the year” will stand the
next trial on the second charge on May 3.

OFFICIAL STEPANAKERT SUGGESTS SENDING A GROUP OF EXPERTS TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 14:25

NKR Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosyan and Head of Police Armen
Isagulov sent a letter to US Assistant Secretary of State, Head of
the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of
the US Department of State Anne Patterson, in which they stated that
” Nagorno-Karabakh is not a transit country for drug trafficking.”

The letter particularly says, “Appreciating and welcoming the
contribution of the United Stated in establishment of genuine
democratic principles in the international relations, as well as
consistent efforts of US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, aimed at
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we want to call your
attention to an issue of high importance to the NKR authorities.

Different from previous years, in 2006 the State Department’s
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report mentions
Nagorno-Karabakh as a transit territory for drugs. We do not have
doubts that the information is provided by Azerbaijan, which has
made the adulteration and discredit of the Armenian party its state
policy. We express categorical disagreement over such a respected
Report utilizing unconfirmed data.

Thereupon we assure you with all responsibility that Nagorno Karabakh
is not a transit way for drugs not only due to absence of a developed
transport and communication system owing to continued blockade by
Azerbaijan, but also as a result of efficient preventive work of NKR
law-enforcement bodies.”

The letter further cites facts, evidencing the aforementioned
arguments. Specifically, the authors of the letter write, “The Office
of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, which
regularly monitors the cease-fire regime, can confirm absence of any
criminal facts and actions here.” They also draw attention that the
OSCE fact-finding mission, composed of over 30 diplomats and experts,
accompanied by the OSCE MG co-chairs, visited Nagorno-Karabakh in
January-February 2005. “The detailed monitoring contains no mentioning
of such negative facts.

On behalf of NKR authorities again expressing readiness to receive
a special monitoring group, composed of experts, who can provide
an independent conclusion, the letter authors frankly believe that
“the US State Department will have an opportunity to make sure at
the scene that the above-stated is true and stop alarm over issues
that can more complicate the peace process and postpone prospects of
peace and stability.”

Copies of the letter are sent to US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice,
US co-chair of the OSCE MG Steven Mann, National Drug Control Policy
Director John Walters.

THE SIDES CAN BE PLEASED BY 80%

A1+
[11:54 am] 12 April, 2006

The OSCE Minsk group French co-chair Bernard Fassier will arrive in
Armenia from Baku today. During the concluding press conference in
Baku he said, “We cannot take decisions instead of the two states. The
decision taken by us can cause serious problems as no way of peaceful
settlement can fully justify the expectations of both sides. But I
can say that there is a way out which can justify the expectations of
the sides by 80%. But the final decision is to be made by the heads
of the countries.”

The regional visit of Bernard Fassier is to be discussed during the
Moscow meeting of the co-chairs, agency “Trend” reports. After the
meeting the Minsk group US co-chair Steven Mann will arrive in the
region. Till the end of April the Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov
will come to the region too.

At the beginning of May the co-chairs will meet in Moscow and discussed
the April meetings. Later on they will visit the region together. The
aim of the visit is to prepare the new meeting of the Armenian and
Azeri Presidents the date of which is not yet known.

After that the co-chairs will represent new approaches towards the
peaceful settlement of the conflict to the Presidents.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/11/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM

1) ARF Is for Territorial Integrity of Georgia
2) Armenia Must Always Be Ready for War
3) Azeri Leader to Meet George W. Bush
4) Case against Four Turkish Journalists Dropped
5) Armenian Writers’ Conference Ends with Special Ceremony
6) Armenian Military Says Hundreds Still Kept in Azeri Captivity

1) ARF Is for Territorial Integrity of Georgia

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Vahan Hovhannisian, Vice Speaker of the Armenian
Parliament and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member, said
that
the ARF is not at all against the territorial integrity of Georgia. Responding
to a question of the “Golos Armenii” (Voice of Armenia) newspaper, he also
said
the ARF is not responsible for the strained situation in Javakhk.
According to Hovhannisian, if the Georgian state is willing to give wide
autonomous rights to its national minorities (Abkhazians, Ossetians), the
law-abiding Armenian citizens in Javakhk deserve the same rights.
“I think that Georgia, entering different European structures, must show a
European approach to the issue of national minorities,” Hovhannisian stated.

2) Armenia Must Always Be Ready for War

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian said Tuesday that
Armenia, like any other country, must always be prepared for war.
“The Defense Minister of any country, the Armenian Defense Minister in
particular, must realize that military operations may start at any moment,”
said Sargsian in response to a question about whether or he foresees a chance
of war.
Regarding the increased ceasefire violations along the Armenia-Azerbaijan
border zone, the Defense Minister said that today’s situation is no different
from the previous situation. “There have always been shots fired, and even if
there is a difference, the situation has become milder,” he added.

3) Azeri Leader to Meet George W. Bush

WASHINGTON (Armenpress)–Azeri President Ilham Aliyev will meet with US
President George W. Bush later this month to discuss energy and the promotion
of democracy in Asia, the White House said Monday.
Bush and Aliyev will also discuss Azerbaijan’s role in helping stabilize
Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Kosovo during the April 28 meeting.
Aliyev will also discuss Karabagh conflict regulation issue and US-Azerbaijan
bilateral relations, Trend news agency cited the head of the social-political
department of the Azeri president’s executive staff Ali Hasanov as saying.

4) Case against Four Turkish Journalists Dropped

ISTANBUL (AP)–A court on Tuesday dropped charges against four Turkish
journalists accused of insulting the country’s courts, but decided to press
ahead with the trial of a fifth journalist.
All five journalists were on trial for criticizing in print a court’s
decision
last year to shut down a conference in Istanbul about the genocide of
Armenians
by Turks during the Ottoman Empire.
Prosecutors said their writings were illegal attempts to influence the
outcome
of a trial and insulted the court system.
On Tuesday, the court dropped charges against journalists Hasan Cemal, Ismet
Berkan, Haluk Sahin, and Erol Katircioglu, on grounds that prosecutors had not
filed charges within the required two-month period following the
publication of
the articles, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
The court, however, decided to proceeded with the trial of Murat Belge, a
columnist for the liberal Radikal newspaper, the agency said.
The trial is seen as a test of Turkey’s readiness for membership in the
European Union. Turkey, which embarked on membership talks in October, is
under
heavy pressure from the EU and human rights organizations to address its
infringements on freedom of expression.
The five had faced between six months to 10 years in prison. Charges on the
grounds of insulting the republic, state institutions or “Turkishness” are
frequently leveled against journalists, scholars, and dissidents.
Discussion of the Armenian genocide is still extremely sensitive in Turkey,
which vehemently denies that the Genocide took place.
The conference in September went on despite the court order to close it down
after organizers changed the venue at the last minute. It was the first time
the issue was publicly discussed in Turkey.
A case against Orhan Pamuk, the country’s best-known novelist, for “insulting
Turkishness,” was dropped earlier this year after Turkey came under harsh
criticism from the EU.

5) Armenian Writers’ Conference Ends with Special Ceremony

The Third Pan-Armenian Writers’ Conference officially ended with a special
ceremony held on the evening of April 9 in the Antelias headquarters of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I.
The president of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, Levon Ananian thanked His
Holiness Aram I on behalf of the participants in the conference and Armenian
writers who were unable to make the conference. Ananian expressed his
gratitude
not only for the organization of the conference, but for the love, support,
care, and commitment that the Armenian Pontiff shows towards Armenian writers
and culture.
Following the heart-felt words of the oldest participant in the conference,
poet Jack Hagopian, a similar opportunity to speak was given to the youngest
participant, poet Nanor Indjedjigian. IN her speech during the closing
ceremony, the young poet said she considered Armenian literature to be a
source
of youth.
His Holiness Aram I then delivered the concluding remarks, expressing his
impressions of the conference. The Catholicos made use of his experience as a
participant in numerous national and international conferences to make several
constructive suggestions for the next conference.
The Pontiff proposed that in the future more time be reserved for discussion
sessions, which should include more questions than statements. He suggested
penetrating into the heart of the presented topics and bringing problems
clearly under the spotlight. His Holiness stressed the importance of
participation by the youth, considering it the source of persistence of
Armenian institutions, culture, and literature.
His Holiness Aram I particularly emphasized the importance of looking for new
paths to cooperation between Armenia and the diaspora and pointed out that
Armenian literature can help contribute to this. In this context, he
focused on
mutual recognition and acquaintance, stressing that Armenian language
textbooks
should include the works of both Armenia-based and diaspora-based Armenian
writers.
His Holiness called on bravely facing difficult and sensitive issues rather
than escaping from them. Mentioning the issue of dictation as an example, he
said that as one of the strong factors of the Armenian nation’s unity, the
matter needs to be discussed in a periodical manner.
His Holiness Aram I then identified the deterioration of quality in all the
fields of Armenian literature as a major problem and called for establishing a
new level of quality with collective efforts and commitment.
At the end of the ceremony, His Holiness Aram I decorated the president of
the
Writers’ Union of Armenia with the “St. Mesrob Mashdots” insignia. The
Seminary
choir then performed a series of national and patriotic songs to mark the end
of the conference.

6) Armenian Military Says Hundreds Still Kept in Azeri Captivity

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Hundreds of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians
remain in
Azeri captivity nearly twelve years after the end of large-scale fighting in
Karabagh, a senior Armenian Defense Ministry official said on Tuesday.
“We have information that they are used as slave labor in Azerbaijan,” said
Colonel Ashot Balian, a member of a ministry commission dealing missing
Armenian soldiers and civilian hostages. “The Azerbaijani authorities keep
moving them around and leaving no traces of them.”
“I therefore can’t name any specific locations, but we are convinced that
they
are in Azerbaijan. Some are even said to have been relocated to Turkey,” he
said. “We still hope that our missing sons will return to their families one
day.”
The Azeri authorities have denied holding any Armenian prisoners in the past.
The Red Cross, which has offices in both Baku and Yerevan, is the main
international institution that arranges Armenian-Azeri prisoner exchanges and
repatriations. Both conflicting armies continue to turn to it for assistance
after reporting soldier disappearances.

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.

GARABAGH TO TOP AZERI-EUROPEAN TALKS

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted on April 10 2006

Baku, April 7, AssA-Irada
The Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) intends to discuss the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict at a meeting with the chairman of the organization’s
subcommittee for the conflict, Lord Russell Johnston, the head of
the Azerbaijani delegation Samad Seyidov said Friday.

The sides are expected to explore ways of applying the PACE resolution
pertaining to the recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
to the process of negotiations.

With regard to the session proper, Seyidov said issues concerning
Azerbaijan would not be discussed during the spring session of PACE.

However, human rights, the situation in the army and the plight
of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs would remain in the focus of the
discussions. The repeat parliamentary elections in ten constituencies
due in May will be tabled at the session of the organization’s
monitoring committee on May 19.

ARMENIAN-IRANIAN UNIVERSITY “ARIA” TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. “The two-year efforts of Armenian and
Iranian scientists aimed at founding an Armenian-Iranian University
in Yerevan were crowned with success: a new University “Aria” will
open in September this year in Yerevan”. Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed about it by professor Garnik Asatrian, Head of the
Iranian Studies Chair of Yerevan State University (YSU). He also
heads the group of Armenian scientists working at the foundation of
the University “Aria”. According to him, the agreement about founding
“Aria” was reached between YSU and “Bayamenur”, the largest Iranian
University in the region, having 27 branches in Iran, as well as
in Afghanistan and in countries of Central Asia. Professor Asatrian
said that the Armenian-Iranian University will be in the system of
the private higher education institutions. It is supposed that four
faculties will work at the University at the level of magistrasy:
oriental studies, international relations and political sciences,
energy of biomass and ecology, as well as a faculty of radiophysics.

“The opening of the University is a very pleasing event that
demonstrates the high level of interrelations between Armenia
and Iran. This is the first joint scientific-educational and
cultural center,” G.Asatrian declared. According to him, as it is
planned, Armenian and Iranian specialists, as well as scientists
from Georgia, Russia and countries of West Europe will work at the
University. “I think that the University will become not only a center
for concentration of the scientific thought of the region but will
also create an opportunity to involve and concentrate the scientific
cadres who have had no demand by now and academic scientists who are
literally in a disastrous condition,” professor Asatrian declared.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
April 9, 2006

Armenian Church Blesses Children

Palm Sunday has been declared to be the `Day for Blessing Children’ in the
Armenian Church by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians.  On this occasion His Holiness extends his message of love
to all children everywhere.

Message of Blessing of His Holiness Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians
To All Young Children

On the occasion of the wonderful feast of Palm Sunday, we send to you, our
dearest children, our fatherly love and blessings from the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin.

Today we commemorate the glorious entrance of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ into Jerusalem, when along with the adults, young children went out
to greet Christ with palm branches and songs of praise.  Jesus would always
receive boys and girls with open arms and bless them, citing their innocent
souls and honest emotions as examples to men of a path to God filled with
faith.

And today in our holy churches, the daily blessings of our Lord are granted
to our beloved children, so that they may grow full of faith, grace and
wisdom; and through their life and works, become the worthy sons and
daughters of our Holy Church and people.

>From deep in our heart, we pray to our All-Merciful God that He keep and
protect all children of the world under His Holy Right Hand in peace.  May
He bless the course of their lives with happiness, goodness and benevolence.

With Blessings and Love,

KAREKIN II
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

RA EMBASSY TO EGYPT PUBLISHES “ARMENIANS NEWS” OFFICIAL REFERENCE BOOK
IN ARABIC

CAIRO, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Embassy to Egypt
published on April 6 the first issue of the “Armenian News” quarterly
official reference book in the Arabic language. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, it’s the first time that a reference book with similar
contents is published in the Arabic language. Numerous materials both
about official-political life of Armenia and Armenian-Egyptian
relations are included in the reference book. The reference book has a
goal of wide propaganda: to inform the political and public circles of
Egypt about the Armenian-Egyptian ties and Armenia- Arabic world
relations. The reference book is published with coloured photos and
with 1000 copies print run.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 7 2006

Armenian faces deportation to Baku

Source: Trend
Author: Z. Ibrahimli

07.04.2006

19 year old Karen Avanesyan can be forcefully deported from UK to
Baku.

Avanesyan arrived to the country 3 years ago as an illegal immigrant,
unable to prove his rights for asylum he will be deported from the
country, MediaMax reports, citing sources in London.

In UK he was studying in school and lived on the means provided by
the government as he did not have rights to work.

Considering the fact that Avanesyan was born in Nagorno-Karabakh UK
government decided to deport him to Baku. He was already announced
that on April 12 he will be put on the plane London-Moscow and later
deported to Azerbaijan.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN AND PITER SEMNEBY ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO HOLDING UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A wide range of
issues regarding EU-Armenia relations, development of democracy and
assistance to civil society in Armenia, organization of preelection
and election processes, fighting corruption, legislative changes made
after amending the Constitution was discussed at RA NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian’s April 7 meeting with the delegation led by newly
appointed EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus Piter
Semneby. Both sides attached importance to the holding of the upcoming
state elections in accordance with the democratic
standards. Ambassador P.Semneby presented NA Speaker his viewpoint
about interrelations with EU mentioning that EU pursues the goal to
develop relations with the South Caucasus and Armenia and to promote
deepening of democracy, which is the basis of progress. He also spoke
about the powers of his mandate, within the limits of which he will
carry on the mission of the Special Representative. RA NA Speaker
provided him thorough information about the above-mentioned issues
highlighting the importance of EU-Armenia relations in the respect of
deepening and development of democracy. Establishment of regional
security and peaceful settlement of conflicts, in which EU plays an
important role, was also mentioned as important. The reforming of the
Electoral Code was spoken about. It creates good grounds for holding
elections corresponding to the democratic standards, the importance of
which is great in the respect of Armenia’s future.