Author: Maghakian Mike

10 ARMENIAN WRESTLERS TO FIGHT FOR THE OLYMPIC TICKET

ARMENPRESS
MAY 18, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS: 5 Greco-Roman style wrestlers- Albert
Vardanyan (42kg weight category), Suren Hasratyan (58kg weight
category), Asatour Arshakyan (69kg weight category), Vardan Petrosyan
(85kg weight category) and Ruben Lazarian (90kg weight category)-
are expected to perform in the ranking tournament, which will be held
May 20-23 in PoznaÅ~D, Poland.

The head coach of the team is Gagik Khachatryan. 5 freestyle wrestlers-
Artak Hovhannisyan (46kg weight category), Gor Grigoryan (54kg), Samuel
Petrosyan (63kg), Gevorg Hambardzumyan (74kg) and Hamlet Abrahamyan
(100kg weight category)- will represent Armenia in this tournament
as well. The head coach of the team is Eduard Tunyan.

Bazmaser Arakelyan, RA Wrestling Federation Secretary General and
head of the Armenian delegation to PoznaÅ~D Tournament, mentioned
that their hope is European junior champion, freestyle wrestler Artak
Hovhannisyan (46kg weight category). Bazmaser Arakelyan also informed
that Armenian wrestlers can achieve maximum four tickets and that
the Armenian delegation will depart for PoznaÅ~D May 19.

TODAY IS NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE GENOCIDE OF PONTIAN GREEKS
Anastasios Papapostolou

Greek Reporter
oday-is-national-day-of-remembrance-for-the-genoci de-of-pontian-greeks/
May 18 2010

The 19th of May, a National Day of Remembrance for the Genocide of
Pontian Greeks by a decision of the Greek Parliament in 1994, marks
our modern history. On this day in 1919, the second phase of the
eradication of the Hellenism of Pontus began, scathing every sense of
humanism and took the form of a national tragedy, since 353.000 souls
perished unjustly, whilst forcing thousands of Greeks to go abroad.

The tragedy of the Greeks of Pontus, a day we honor, fulfills all
conditions of the United Nations’ Agreement to qualify as Genocide. We
ask nothing more than the restoration of historical truth, along the
Genocide of the Armenian and all Christian people in the beginning of
the last century, including the Holocaust of the Jewish People. Let’s
not forget that the World Academic Union, the most qualified committee
for the recognition of genocides, decided in 2007 that the Genocide
of the Greeks of Pontos has in fact taken place. At the same time,
the European Parliament requested two years ago from Turkey to come
to terms with its historic past.

This day calls all Greeks-wherever they are- to pay national tribute.

It is another chance to remind everyone that we will not stand silent
and we will stand by the Greeks of Pontus worldwide, in their efforts
for the international recognition of the Genocide of Pontic Greeks
which will ensure the avoidance of such tragic events in the future.

The recognition of the Genocide of Pontian Greeks from the Swedish
Parliament, ten states of the United States and the State of South
Australia, a result of the continuous efforts of the Pontic Greeks
of our Diaspora, equip us with courage to continue this struggle
for justice.

The recent visit of the Prime Minister of Turkey in Greece, was
characterized by both sides as a historical one. We salute the
intention expressed by the Prime Minister of Greeks, George Papandreou
and the Prime Minister of Turkey, Tayip Erdogan, to work together
in order to enhance cooperation and solve many issues of the past,
so that we can achieve peace and reconciliation. It’s the least we
can do for our future generations.

* This is a message from the President of the World Council of Hellenes
Abroad, Stefanos P. Tamvakis for the National Day of Remembrance for
the Genocide of Pontian Greeks.

ERDOGAN PROPOSES

Lragir.am
17/05/10

HostoryofTruth.com, citing Hurriyet newspaper, wrote that Prime
Minister Erdogan stated during his contacts in Washington that Armenia
should evacuate at least two regions around Karabakh for the beginning.

According to the report, Erdogan called on Barack Obama to take more
responsibility in the process of resettlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
problem and stated that Armenia should withdraw from at least 2
regions of Azerbaijan. Stating that Azerbaijan previously demanded for
withdrawal of Armenia from 5 of the 7 regions, Erdogan said that he
received signals from Azerbaijani officials that they are also ready
for evacuation of 2 regions for the beginning. Erdogan stated that
Akdam and Fuzuli could be the regions that Armenia may withdraw from.

Diplomatic sources in Baku also confirm that recently there are
signals that imply Azerbaijan is positive about opening of borders with
Armenia after Armenia withdraws from the two regions of Azerbaijan.

ERNEST VARDANYAN’S MOTHER SENT LETTER TO G8 LEADERS

Tert.am
18:10 17.05.10

Tamara Shaghoyan, the mother of the Armenian-national journalist Ernest
Vardanyan working in the Moldovan breakaway region of Transnistria,
has sent a letter to the leader of G8 states, asking to take steps
for his release.

"Ernest Vardanyan’s arrest organized by the Transnistrian authorities
was based on trumped-up charges of ‘espionage and high treason’. Being
an independent journalist Ernest Vardanyan could not have known a
military, state or other secrets kept by the law; he did not work
in state bodies," writes she, adding that her son had recently been
involved in the sraff list of the United Nations and waiting for his
appointment at the UN Washington headquarter.

In her letter addressed to the leaders of Russia, US, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Japan, Italy and Canada Shaghoyan says her son is the
hostage of the Transnistrian authorities.

Ernest Vardanyan was arrested near his home in Tiraspol on April 7
allegedly by the Transnistrian state secrete services. He is accused
of high treason and according to Article 271 of the Transnistrian
Criminal Code he can face 12-20 years in prison if found guilty.

"RUSSIA WILL NOT INTERVENE IN THE CONFLICT ONCE AZERBAIJAN RESORTS TO MILITARY SOLUTION"

Today
itics/68093.html
May 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Interview with renowned Russian political analyst Stanislaw Belkovski.

Azerbaijan has announced many times that it endorses the updated
Madrid principles while Armenia delays its response to document. In
your opinion, what will Yerevan’s response be?

I think that Armenia will accept the update Madrid principles with
certain amendments. In my opinion, these principles are the formal
basis for moving forward. In fact, Armenia is most satisfied with
the status quo. Therefore, Armenia will use all possible excuses and
clues to save the current state of the negotiations as long as it
is possible.

And how long Armenia will be able to delay its response given that
Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated it may resort to military solution in
event of failure to resolve the problem through peaceful negotiations?

I think that today neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan need to get
involved in military conflict. Emotional state of the Azerbaijani
side is understandable. But I do not believe that military action will
still take place. Moreover, we all see how it is difficult to start a
military conflict in the modern world amid existence of a superpower
like the U.S. and regional power like Turkey. The role of these states
in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very high.

Turkey’s position on the Karabakh conflict meets Azerbaijan’s
interests. During his visit to Turkey, Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said that the positions of the two countries on this issue
are very similar. Can we assume that Russia supports Azerbaijan’s
position as the only correct position?

I think that today Russia and Azerbaijan have become much closer to
each other. Russia’s position has become much closer to Azerbaijan’s
interests since Dmitry Medvedev came to power. The bilateral relations
have become much warmer. The fact is that many representatives of
President Medvedev inner circles and people who largely shape his
view are those close to Azerbaijan. So, Dmitry Medvedev is the most
pro-Azerbaijani president of all three post-Soviet Russian presidents.

If Azerbaijan one day resorts to military way to liberate its lands,
how will Russia act?

Moscow will make peaceful calls, but will not intervene in the
conflict. It will urge the U.S. and Turkey to address the situation,
but no more. Russian troops will not participate in the conflict.

In your opinion, will Turkey be one of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
in future?

I think, yes. But it is impossible to happen in near future. In your
view, may Turkey become the fourth co-chair or it may replace France
as argued by many experts? I think that France will still be co-chair
of the Minsk Group. Given influence of Armenian lobby in France,
it will be pro-Armenian one way or another. No one will attempt to
remove France from among co-chairs as it is greater player in world
politics, rather than Turkey. This situation will not change in the
coming decades.

RUSSIAN PLAN TO RESUME RAILWAY SERVICE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND ARMENIA
Levan Kiknadze

Expert Club
ias__Expertclub/lang__en/tabid__2546/default.aspx
May 17 2010
Georgia

President of the "Club of Experts"

"We hope that in the coming three or five years it will be possible
to resume railway service between Russia and Armenia through
the territory of Georgia and which was suspended due to difficult
Georgian-Abkhazian relations in the 90s" – said general director of
"South Caucasian Railway" Shefket Shaidulin at the press-conference
that was held in Yerevan on April 29th. According to him "of course,
this is a political issue and depends of state of political affairs
but there is a hope that this dream can come true".

With this regard we would like to remind Mister Shaidulin that the
railway that passes on the territory of Georgia became vital for
Armenian population when relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
became extremely strained and they turned into armed confrontation.

After the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict even this way was closed
and Armenia found itself in a very difficult position. Naturally,
Armenia that was in bad situation was very interested in quick
regulation of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict that would as well help
to resume railway movement between Russia and Armenia through Georgian
territory. Given that the issue of resumption of the railway movement
was discussed in the Georgian-Armenian relations on almost every high
level governmental meeting. At the same time Armenia used to work very
actively for these purposes with government circles of both Russia
and the west and international organizations. As a result, in the
process of the regulation of the conflict from time to time an issue
of restoration of the railway on the territory of Abkhazia was entering
the agenda and was becoming more acute. But we must say to our Armenian
neighbours that Russia would have never allowed this to happen. Though
if Russia were to be willing resolution of this problem would not have
been difficult since the conflict parties would not have been against
it. But the reason for Russia’s opposition was that by restoration
of the railway in Abkhazia and resumption of railway service Russia
would have been faced with unwanted reality as resumption of railway
service would have opened way for the population on both sides of the
division line for deepening of contacts, beginning of cooperation in
various spheres, restoration of economical and cultural relations and
so on. All this in the end would have been a significant success on
the way to the resolution of the conflict and that would have stood
in the way of fulfillment of Russia’s insiidous plans.

Then many believed in Russia’s role as mediator. All the more that
regarding the issue of restoration of the railway, as in many other
issues, Russia at first always played a positive role. But as soon
as it felt "danger" that the conflict parties were about to reach a
consensus in a series of issues relevant reaction followed. Through
security services they were able to easily provoke one or the
other side as a result of which reached agreements were broken and
negotiations were in the dead-end.

The issue of restoration of the Abkhazian section of the railway
and resumption of railway transit with Armenia was raised by Aslan
Abashidze back during the Shevardnadze governance. At that time the
Kremlin saw Aslan Abashidze as an alternative to Shevardnadze and as
Ajara factor would not have been enough and in order to raise his
rating among the refugee population of Abkhazia Moscow charged him
with a role of a mediator for resolution of the Georgian-Abkhazian
conflict. Additionally, what is no less important is that use of
Abashidze would make it easier for Russia to direct the conflict
resolution process considering its own interests. The issue of
restoration of the railway in Abkhazia was also raised especially and
Russia did not even intend to open transit movement. At that time
information received by Security Ministry of Abkhazian legitimate
government clearly showed that it was planned to restore only the
Leselidze-Ochamchire section of the railway in Abkhazia in order to
allow Russia to transport military goods and equipments deep into
Abkhazia through the railway. And it was in no way connected with
resumption of railway transit for Armenia. It was not connected for
a simple reason that preparation works were not being carried out
on those mechanisms that should have provided security of passenger
and cargo transportations on the Georgian-Abkhazian section of the
railway. As it is well- known Tamaz Nadareishvili not only blocked this
issue but he also managed to debar Aslan Abashidze from the process.

After the Rose Revolution as a result of active efforts of Armenia
in both Moscow and the west negotiations regarding the issue of
restoration of the railway in Abkhazia were put under control of
the UN observer mission in Georgia. Bilateral working groups were
established and they were working in various directions and were filled
with railway, power and security specialists. Restoration works were
defined and financing of the restoration works was undertaken by the
Russian railway which was officially registered in a protocol.

Russian railway troops entered Abkhazia to conduct restoration
works and actively started to restore the railway. By this time
Russia, as usual, drove negotiations into the dead-end and isolate
the Georgian side from the process of the railway restoration and
finished restoration of the Leselidze-Ochamchire section of the
railway. And nobody was bothering the Georgian side about restoration
of the remaining part of the railway – the Ochamchire-Ingiri section
– that was in the worst condition and without restoration of which
transit with Armenia would not have been possible. As following events
showed that the restoration of the Leselidze-Ochamchire section of the
railway was an important part of Russia’s plan of ultimate occupation
of Abkhazia.

As to Sheftek Shaidulin’s recent statement about resumption of the
railway service between Russia and Armenia through Georgian territory
the latter of course means restoration of the Ochamchire-Gali section
of the railway what Russia can do perfectly well without us. But
as to the Enguri railway bridge that connects Gali and Zugdidi its
restoration can only be possible with our consent. We do not rule out
that Sheftek Shaidulin’s recent statement could be a trick as Russia
is convinced that in case of actualization of this issue in existing
circumstances Georgia will refuse and thus Russia will try to stir
up discord between us and Armenia as it has done many times before.

FYI: The Armenian railway was handed over for 30 years to the South
Caucasian Railway which is a sister company to the Russian railway.

The agreement provides that if the service on the Abkhazian section
of the railway is restored investment must amount to 2.1 billion
US dollars.

POLITICAL MOTIVATION FOR OPENING FOREIGN-LANGUAGE SCHOOLS?

Tert.am
17.05.10

There cannot be two types of schools in the Republic of Armenia
as it will bring about discrimination, Director of the Armenian
Mkhitar Sebastatsi Education Complex Ashot Bleyan (R) said at a press
conference today.

According to Bleyan the second reason that there cannot be
foreign-language schools in Armenia is that the state has assumed a
commitment under the Constitution to promote and spread Armenian as
the language of science, culture, education and communication.

"This is a liability for all the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

The state cannot have one strategy for a group of citizens and another
strategy for another one," said Bleyan.

He also said he was sure that the development of the child as an
Armenian requires that the educational process be carried out in
Armenian, while foreign languages can be promoted by other programs.

Even more, according to Bleyan, the new high school system is
sufficient enough for an in-depth study of foreign languages.

Writer and translator Hakob Movses (L), also present in the same press
conference, drew attention to the aim of creating foreign-languages
schools – whether it has a cultural or a political objective.

"The reasons of all this should be understood, their motivation. I
am afraid that all this is being done not due to domestic demands,
or cultural ones … not for social-economic reasons so that an
Armenian businessman would communicate an English one in English,"
said Movses, adding that there is some other reason and compulsion,
such as overflowing Armenian with the Russian language.

According to Movses in state-sponsored schools the educational
process should be carried out in Armenian, while the choice for
private schools should be left freer.

MEVLUT CAVUSOGLU APPELLE A DES REFORMES POLITIQUES EN ARMENIE
Stephane

armenews
14 mai 2010
ARMENIE

Mevlut Cavusoglu, le president de l’Assemblee Parlementaire du
Conseil de l’Europe (APCE), a recommande jeudi vivement aux autorites
armeniennes de tenir des elections democratiques et de realiser des
reformes politiques a l’occasion d’une visite a Erevan.

Le politicien turc a aussi ecarte les inquietudes armeniennes de ses
efforts de former un organisme a Strasbourg- discutant de nouveau
sur le conflit du Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mevlut Cavusoglu a rencontre le President Serge Sarkissian, les
principaux leaders des forces politiques de l’Armenie aussi bien
que representants locaux de la societe civile pendant son voyage de
deux jours. Il a dit que les reformes politiques promises par les
autorites armeniennes et recherchees par l’APCE avaient ete au centre
des pourparlers.

S’exprimant lors d’une conference de presse a Erevan, Mevlut Cavusoglu
a demande de mettre fin a la culture de l’Armenie des fraudes
electorales. " Il est très important que les prochaines elections qui
se tiendront en Armenie en 2012 rencontrent les plus hauts standards
europeens " a-t-il dit. " Cela montrera a vos citoyens et a nous
meme que l’Armenie a tourne une page sombre de son recent passe et
est determinee pour avancer dans sa transformation democratique. "

Mevlut Cavusoglu a dit que seule une reforme des systèmes juridiques
et des organes charges de faire respecter la loi en Armenie pourrait
regler le problème des heurts de 2008 a Erevan et empeche une
repetition des evenements si dramatiques.

L’APCE avait aussi recommande de telles reformes lors qu’elle a examine
les troubles de 2008. David Harutiunian, un depute progouvernemental
a la tete de la delegation armenienne a l’APCe a presente un plan
experimental de mesures appropriees du gouvernement au comite de
monitoring de l’APCE en mars.

Mevlut Cavusoglu a dit aux journalistes qu’il a entendu " quelques
reponses très encourageantes de M. Harutiunian " a Erevan. " Son
comite soumettra un rapport a l’Assemblee nationale [armenienne]
et ce sera une bonne occasion pour votre Parlement de renforcer sa
fonction essentielle de contrôle parlementaire " a-t-il dit.

" Nous attendons maintenant a ce que les autorites pourvoient a
l’Assemblee [Parlementaire] une liste detaillee de toutes les reformes
… aussi bien que des dernières limites specifiques " a-t-il ajoute.

Le president de l’APCE a continue a critiquer les autorites armeniennes
pour leur refus de liberer tous les membres de l’opposition arretes
après l’election presidentielle de fevrier 2008.

Il a dit qu’il a specifiquement leve avec eux le cas de Nikol
Pashinian, un leader de l’opposition et redacteur d’un journal qui
a ete condamne a sept ans de prison plus tôt cette annee.

Mevlut Cavusoglu a aussi deplore l’echec des autorites de poursuire
quiconque en connexion avec la mort de dix personnes. " Il est
inacceptable que personne n’ait ete tenu responsable par rapport aux
dix decès qui sont arrivees pendant les evènements de mars 2008 "
a-t-il dit. " La confiance publique ne sera pas retablie avant que
la justice individuelle ne soit faite. "

Mevlut Cavusoglu a tenu ce qu’il a decrit comme " une reunion très
emotionnelle " avec les proches parents de la plupart des victimes
des troubles plus tôt jeudi. Quelques-uns des participants ont dit
au service armenien de RFE/RL qu’ils ont exprime leur colère avec ce
qu’ils voient comme une repugnance du Conseil de l’Europe de forcer
l’administration Sarkisian a faire la lumière sur les morts suite
aux troubles.

Les principales forces politiques armeniennes ont pour leur part
exprime leur serieux inquietude quant a l’intention de Mevlut
Cavusoglu de ranimer et faire travailler un sous-comite de l’APCE
sur une resolution paisible du conflit du Nagorno-Karabakh. Ils
pretendent que le corps ad hoc ne peut pas etre impartial parce que
son pays, la Turquie, continue a preter un fort et inconditionnel
appui a l’Azerbaïdjan dans le conflit. Ils citent des declarations
pro-azeries faites par Mevlut Cavusoglu avant qu’il n’ait ete elu
president d’APCE en janvier.

La question a apparemment suscite des echanges tendus entre Mevlut
Cavusoglu et les representants du parti Armenie Prospère (BHK), un
membre de la coalition de Sarkissian et ceux du parti Zharangutyun
(Heritage). Naira Zohrabian a qualifie ses intentions sur le Karabakh
comme "inacceptables".

" J’ai dit que puisqu’il represente le parti Justice et Developpement
de la Turquie, qui a ete extremement influencee sur le conflit
du Nagorno-Karabakh pendant toutes ces annees, nous ne sommes
pas confiants, avec tout le respect dû pour M. Cavusoglu, que [le
sous-comite] ne sera pas influence " a dit Zohrabian a RFE/RL. Elle a
dit que le parlementaire turc a ete " très offense " par ses arguments.

Stepan Safarian, un leader de Zharangutyun, a dit que ses collègues
et lui-meme ont transmis le meme message a Cavusoglu. Ce dernier a
repondu en les accusant de " discrimination nationale " a dit Safarian
a RFE/RL.

Les representants du Congrès National Armenien (HAK) ont aussi exprime
leur forte opposition a la moindre participation de l’APCE dans les
pourparlers de paix Armeno- Azeris obtenus par la mediation par les
Etats-Unis, la Russie et la France sous l’egide de l’OSCE. " Nous
considerons le format existant le plus optimal et la moindre discussion
alternative va seulement distraire les parties des negociations et
leur permettra de s’engager dans la propagande " a dit Levon Zurabian.

S’exprimant lors de la conference de presse, Mevlut Cavusoglu a insiste
pour dire que la decision de reprendre des discussions sur le conflit
a ete faite par les chefs de l’APCE des mois avant qu’il n’ait ete elu
a l’assemblee. Il a aussi soutenu que le sous-comite en question a ete
forme en 2005 conformement a une resolution de l’APCE sur le Karabakh.

" Tous les Etats membres de l’Assemblee doivent se soumettre aux
resolutions de l’Assemblee " a dit Cavusoglu. " Mais nous sommes aussi
pragmatiques. Particulièrement quand il y a des avis differents sur
une question. " Il a ajoute qu’il prendra les inquietudes armeniennes
en consideration meme s’il n’est pas d’accord avec elles.

Mevlut Cavusoglu ne s’est pas non plus repenti de sa decision de ne pas
visiter le memorial du genocide armenien a Erevan, qui a mene un autre
parti, la Federation Revolutionnaire Armenienne (Dashnaktsutyun),
a annuler une reunion projetee avec lui. " Je respecte vos avis,
mais chacun doit respecter ma decision " a-t-il dit.

13 TURKISH COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN CTS 2010 INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 14, 2010 – 19:12 AMT 14:12 GMT

CTS 2010 international annual tourism fair kicked off in Yerevan. The
fair brought together representatives of 87 companies from NKR,
Armenia, Turkey, Georgia and Tunis, the CTS committee press service
reported.

The fair aims to facilitate regional tourism, as well as boost
relations among tour operators of Armenia, Turkey and Georgia, etc.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Ara Petrosyan and USAID Armenia
Mission Director Dr. Jatinder Cheema participated in the opening
ceremony of the fair.

CTS 2010 fair is organized by the Armenian Association of Travel Agents
(AATA) and the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) in partnership
with the Armenian Ministry of Economy and the USAID-funded Competitive
Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project.

27TH EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF UN FAO HELD IN YEREVAN

NOYAN TAPAN
MAY 14, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The 27th Europe and Central Asia regional
conference of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) started
in Yerevan on May 13. Representatives of 53 FAO member states and
Europe-based organizations are participating in the conference. RA
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Avetisian was elected chairman
of the conference.

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said in his speech that at the
World Food Summit held in 1996, the heads of states and governments
pledged to halve the number of people suffering from hunger worldwide
by 2015. However, the latest data shows that the current situation
is more alarming than it was in 1996. In his words, the number of
those suffering from hunger has grown in recent years due to a sharp
increase in agricultural product prices and a reduction in investments
made in agriculture, coupled with the financial and economic crisis.

According to the speaker, in 2008-2009 the number of people suffering
from hunger grew by 105 million to 1 billion worldwide.