Author: Maghakian Mike

SOMEONE HAS TO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY
Nano Arghutyan

LRAGIR.AM
16:44:10 – 06/04/2009

The problem of responsibility is a key one in the Armenian reality. And
as it goes on this phenomenon gets more rooted in the country when
the responsibility is put on who does not have anything in common.

The most brilliant example of the above-stated is probably the
Armenian and Turkish relations. Events that are being prepared for
several months are now launched in Turkey. The U.S. president is to
arrive in Ankara, who promised to contribute to the opening of the
Armenian and Turkish border. Perhaps, this is not Obama’s main aim,
but is surely one of the key ones. Since, in case of the lack of this
factor, the chain of the "recharge" may be interrupted. And, as long as
the Americans connect the warming of the Armenian and Turkish relation
with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue settlement, the Armenians are not ruled
out to be forced to issue statements on compromises in this regard.

But, now the question is not this. But, the matter is that the
responsibility for the primordially unfavourable negotiations for
the Armenians will not be put on Serge Sargsyan but on the foreign
minister Edward Nalbandyan., Serge Sargsyan is most likely to be
invited to the forum of the "Alliance of Civilities" too which
will take place in Turkey, but he refused going there. Instead,
he decided to send Nalbandyan there. Probably, Nalbandyan realized
that responsibility for the most outrageous agreement after the Kars
one threats him. This is the reason of the rumours that the Armenian
foreign minister is possible not to leave for Turkey.

Maybe, the consultations in the foreign ministry between the Armenian
and Karabakhi foreign ministers were reasoned by the wish to disclaim
the responsibility. As it is known, the Karabakhi side expressed
against the continuation of the OSCE Minsk group mission concerning the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue settlement and is strongly against compromises
in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue for the sake of the opening of the
Armenian and Turkish border. Apparently, the Armenian authorities
decided to put the responsibility for their failure (in the best case)
on their Karabakhi counterparts.

At their turn, both the Armenian and the Karabakhi governments decided
to put the responsibility for the continuation of the negotiations
in the framework of the "principles of Madrid" on the …public. The
mediators say that the society is not ready for it. The mediators,
most likely, heard this from the presidents themselves. Dwelling on
the unwillingness of the society Serge Sargsyan solves two problems
at once: if the public stands for its rights Serge Sargsyan will have
a good reason to reject the proposed plan, and in case the society
agrees, so the whole responsibility will fall on people.

"The normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relations should
be carried out without preconditions, and we have leaded and
will go on leading the negotiations in this atmosphere of mutual
understanding with the Turkish side", Nalbandyan’s words were cited
in the foreign ministry. According to him, the normalization of the
bilateral relations is not connected with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
settlement and "this issue has never been discussed in the frames of
the regulation of the Armenian and Turkish relations". Will Nalbandyan
be ready to bear responsibility for his words on April 16 or 17? After
all, the Turkish president just said that the border will not be open
on April 16. But he did not say that it cannot be open on April 17.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION KEY TO RENEWED U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS

PR Newswire

nocide.pdf/

20090406/DC9473705042009-1.html
April 6 2009

WASHINGTON, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — President Barack
Obama’s trip to Turkey affords him an opportunity to reset U.S.-Turkey
relations based on a shared commitment to truth and mutual respect,
starting with a break from the gag-rule that Turkey has long imposed
on U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide – the Ottoman Turkish
Empire’s annihilation of over 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923.

"President Obama is the right man at the right time to speak
honestly in Turkey about the Armenian Genocide," said Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "President Obama, in honoring his pledge to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, will show the world that America’s leadership in
condemning genocide will never again be held hostage to threats from
a foreign government."

During talks with Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Obama will discuss a range of concerns,
including Turkey’s 15-year illegal blockade of Armenia. Recent talks
between Turkey and Armenia remain tenuous, with Erdogan, as recently
as Friday, denying the Armenian Genocide and setting the resolution of
the Nagorno Karabagh conflict as a precondition for establishing ties
with Armenia. Armenian authorities have long called for normalized
relations with Turkey with no preconditions.

As a Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama pledged
repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised
"unstinting resolve" to end the Darfur Genocide, stating,
"America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the
Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I
intend to be that President." View his record on the issue at:
_Genocide.pdf

The ANCA has launched the "Fierce Urgency of Now"
() campaign urging anti-genocide activists
to ask the Obama Administration and Congress to take action to end the
Darfur Genocide and to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The effort is
inspired by President Obama’s campaign remarks: "I am running because
of what Dr. King called ‘the fierce urgency of now.’ I am running
because I do believe there’s such a thing as being too late. And that
hour is almost here."

The Armenian Genocide is commemorated worldwide April
24th. U.S. presidents traditionally issue statements on this day
honoring the victims of this crime. More than 20 countries, including
12 NATO allies, have recognized the Armenian Genocide, along with 41
U.S. states.

YERVAND ZAKHARIAN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF STATE COMMITTEE OF REAL ESTATE CADASTRE ATTACHED TO RA GOVERNMENT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 3, 2009

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Under RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s
April 2 decrees Manuk Vardanian was relieved of post of Chairman of
State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre attached to the RA government
and was appointed Adviser to RA President.

The same day the RA President signed decrees on relieving Yervand
Zakharian of post of Adviser to RA President and on appointing him
Chairman of State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre attached to the
RA government.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, under S. Sargsyan’s
April 2 decree Yuri Vardanian was appointed Adviser to RA President.

MEKHITARIAN SAYS IMPORTANT TO HOLD PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

NowLebanon
April 2 2009
Lebanon

Tashnaq Secretary General Hovig Mekhitarian said on Thursday that it
was important to preserve a peaceful atmosphere during the upcoming
elections.

After a visit with Vice President of the Higher Shia Islamic Council
Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, Mekhitarian said, "The elections should be
carried out free from tension, violence, provocative political speeches
and everything which indicates deep divisions over Lebanon’s principles
of independence, sovereignty, freedom, coexistence and dialogue."

"Lebanon is a democratic state built on the necessity of partnership
and coexistence… there is no democracy without justice," he said,
adding, "We hope Lebanon emerges as the victor of the elections."

TALENTED ARMENIAN KHOREN ABRAHAMYAN WOULD CELEBRATE HIS 79TH ANNIVERSRY

Panorama.am
14:00 01/04/2009

79 years ago on this day Arsen, Pavlen, Gevorg and many others were
born. 79 years ago on this day famous talented actor, People’s Artist
Khoren Abrahamyan was born. Tomorrow artist’s friends, colleagues from
the Ministry of Culture, Painters’ Union, National Gallery will visit
his tomb to commemorate the talent of Armenia, Gayane Durgaryan, the
head of public relations department of the Ministry of Culture told
Panorama.am. Khoren Abrahamyan graduated from the Acting Department of
Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute in 1951. Since then worked as
an actor, later – director and the executive director of the Sundukyan
Drama Theatre of Yerevan. He has been as well the artistic director
of the Ajemyan Drama Theatre of Leninakan (now Gyumri). Abrahamyan
has played many leading roles in theatre and cinema.

BORDER BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY WILL BE OPENED BY YEAREND, RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN PREDICTS
Gita Elibekyan

"Radiolur"
01.04.2009 16:23

"US President Barack Obama will not use the word genocide in his
April 24th address," Armenian Center for National and International
Studies (ACNIS) Director Richard Giragosian said. At the same time,
he noted that the Armenian-Turkish border will be opened by the end
of the year, and we should be cautious of it: Azerbaijan may launch
war against Armenia.

"The map of the region changed after the August events and an arms
race started. The expenses in the field of defense are growing,
a common militarized situation is being established in the region,"
Richard Giragosian said, adding that what is worrisome for Armenia
is that Azerbaijan’s statements about solving the Karabakh issue
through force are accompanied by the growth of billions of dollars
in the field of defense. Giragosian considers, however, that Armenia
and NKR still have the best Armed Forces."

ACNIS Director advises Armenia to prepare for tomorrow, not today. The
future obviously belongs to Azerbaijan from the perspective of
military forces.

Touching upon the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, Giragosian
predicted the border would be opened by yearend. "However, the opening
of the border and improvement of the Armenian-Turkish border might
infuriate Azerbaijan,0 he said.

BRAZILIAN "IMAGES" CONCERTS IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
12:45 30/03/2009

Concerts of Brazilian "Images" trio in the frames of Armenian-Brazilian
co-operation are scheduled on 1 April in Gyumri and 3 April in Yerevan,
Gayane Durgaryan, the head of public relations department of the
Ministry of Culture told Panorama.am.

The concerts of the trio are organized with the joint supports of the
Ministries of Culture of Armenia and Brazil, as well as the Embassy
of Brail to Armenia.

"Images" trio was founded in 1999 by three best Brazilian musicians;
Cecilia Guida (violin), Enrique Miller (cellist), Achil Pichi
(pianist). The trio is unique with their special performances. They
have concerts in different countries – Brazil, Armenia, Georgia,
Russia, Argentina, etc.

POLICE OFFERS ACCUSED OF ARMENIAN CITIZEN MURDER TO STAND TRIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2009 11:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The investigation into the murder of Armenian
citizen Armen Gasparyan has been completed in Saratov, Russia.

The case was transferred to the prosecutor’s office last week. All
three are incriminated a murder committed with extreme atrocity
(compelling confession from Armen Gasparyan, the police officers beat
him to death and burned) and abuse of authority. They may face a life
sentence, Kommersant reported.

The police officers were arrested on October 31, 2008. They confessed
being drunk.

Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: [email protected]
web:

Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian meets Leonidas
Chrysanthopoulos, the BSEC Secretary General

On March 27, Minister Nalbandian received Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos,
Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation.

Edward Nalbandian and Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos had a discussion on
the issues concerning the BSEC agenda and the Armenian chairmanship in
that organization.

The BSEC Secretary General mentioned that during the Armenian
chairmanship the organization’s activity has been productive: dozens
of events on different levels have been organized.

In the course of the meeting the two touched upon the preparations of
the 20th session of the BSEC Foreign Ministers’ Council which will be
held in Yerevan on 15-16 of April.

Armenian Foreign Minister and the BSEC Secretary General also
discussed issues of cooperation within the frameworks of the
organization.

WORLD FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS NOT TO MAKE ‘ARMENTEL’ TO AXE ITS EMPLOYEES

ArmInfo
2009-03-30 14:17:00

The world financial and economic crisis will not make to axe its
employees, Director General of ‘ArmenTel’ Neycho Velichkov told
journalists today.

‘We thinks restructuring of the staff is more rational step’, –
he said and added that in general the company is not going to stop
fulfillment of the big programmes, in particular, setting of the
digital fixed telephone communication at the entire territory of
Armenia and interference of broadband Internet in the regions. ‘We
are not scared of unpleasant consequences of the crisis. The most
important is to be ready to it, I mean not only investments but also
the right management’, – director general said.

To recall, ‘ArmenTel’ os subsidiary of one of the biggest
telecommunication operators of the CIS – Russian ‘VimpelCom’ company.