Author: Mamian George

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 17 2007

RUSSIAN PRINTED, ON-LINE MEDIA SHOW NEGATIVE REACTION TO ARMENIANS’
MURDERS

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Russia’s printed and on-line media show an
unequivocally negative reaction to murders of Armenians in Russia,
Director of the General Directorate for CIS and Baltic States, RIA
Novosti News Agency, Alan Kasayev told reporters.
Acording to him, the agency regularly organizes various arrangements,
including press conferences, roundtables and meetings with Russian
newsmakers, raising these problems. "These manifestations evoke
unequivocally negative responses," Kasayev said.
In this context he pointed out that any Russian media outlet can be
accused of either publishing certain points of view that can be
considered manifestations of xenophobia, showing neutrality to such
statements or not being active in advocating tolerance to other
nationalities.
"However, dozens of public organizations uniting Armenians can
cautiously be advised to pay attention to each case of xenophobia in
Russian mass media in act in conformity with the Russian
Constitution," he said.
"Any person, no matter a Russian citizen or not, that records cases
involving his national interests in Russian mass media, can and must
apply to court and sue the particular author or media outlet,"
Kasayev said. P.T. -0–

Azeri expert says attack on Iran "dangerous" for Azerbaijan

Day.az website, Baku
14 Mar 07

Well-known Azerbaijani political scientist Eldar Namazov has commented
on the situation around Iran.

The conflict over the Iranian nuclear programme will most likely
deepen, Namazov said.

"The Iranian authorities have formed a certain public opinion in the
country and it is unlikely that they will be able to change their
policy. Otherwise, this would lead to a serious problem in the
election and to the defeat of the ruling elite," he noted.

"This state of affairs is dangerous for Azerbaijan because there are
numerous facilities on Azerbaijani territory that either partly or
fully belong to US companies. They could turn out to be soft targets
for military response," Namazov said.

He expressed a serious concern about possible military actions in Iran
as there will be an influx of refugees to the neighbouring Azerbaijan
and this could be "a serious blow to the Azerbaijani economy".

Namazov said that one out of every seven people residing in Azerbaijan
is a refugee or an involuntary migrant. He said Azerbaijan is
interested in settlement of the conflict over the Iranian nuclear
programme by diplomatic and political means. "Unfortunately, the
course of developments makes the chances of this happening small," he
said.

Namazov also touched on Washington’s official statement on the plan to
deploy anti-missile defences in the South Caucasus. The political
scientist noted that "this statement is not a declaration of intention
as the US Senate said that this is a desirable but not a vitally
necessary step for the anti-missile defence programme".

"As this is not a vitally necessary step for this programme, then it
is most likely a move to take soundings of the people’s opinions,"
Namazov said.

"As for the deployment of the anti-missile defences in Poland and
Czech Republic, this has stirred debates in the European Union,"
Namazov said. [Passage omitted: more about Europe’s reaction]

PanARMENIAN.Net

ODIHR/OSCE observation mission arrived in Armenia
16.03.2007 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The first ODIHR/OSCE observation mission has arrived
in Armenia. The 3-member mission includes representatives from
Slovakia, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine, Georgia and U.S. and is led by is
led by Slovenian ex-Foreign Minister Boris Frlec. The long-term
observation mission will include 24 members.

In all, the ODIHR/OSCE will send 300 representatives to observe the
parliamentary election in Armenia. Representatives of the OSCE PA,
CoE PA and CIS PA as well as a number of other international and local
organizations will be also watch the election process, reports IA
Regnum.

TURKEY’S MAIN POLITICAL TASK IS TO INTERNATIONALLY ISOLATE ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 17:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s main political task is to internationally
isolate Armenia, and Ankara tries to reach this goal by all means,
"Hay Dat" Committee representatives from the U.S. and Europe stated
to a press conference in Yerevan. "The activity of committees in
Diaspora is aimed at bringing that policy to a minimum. It’s not a
secret that by doing this Turkey tries to draw away the attention
of the world community from recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the
"Hay Dat" representatives underlined.

Head of European Office Loran Leilekian said Azerbaijan and Turkey
aim at isolation of Armenia in international organizations, and the
construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway is the best
example of it. Despite the fact that the United States and European
Union spoke against that project, anyhow Turkey and Azerbaijan are
going to begin construction works. By doing this they one more time
prove that they are not ready for European integration. The same thing
concern and the 301st article of Turkish Penal Code that Ankara is not
going to change. The article limits freedom of speech, but actually it
is one more evidence that it is forbidden to speak about the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey, it’s a criminal offence," Leilekian underscored.

"AFTER THE MURDER OF HRANT DINK BECAME CLEAR THAT TURKEY IS NOT SO EASILY TO BE CHANGED FROM THE INSIDE"
By Ruzan Pogosian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/03/2007

Armenia’s National Interests

The project of legislation bill, providing for criminal responsibility
for denying the Armenian Genocide, will be discussed by the European
Parliament on May 19, 2007, and in case of being approved, will be
compulsory to adoption in all the European states.

This project, denied 3 years ago was once again raised by Germany,
and at present everything depends on the success of parliamentary
debates, said yesterday on a press conference Hilda Tchoboyan, head
of the European Armenian Federation. To the press conference was also
present Aram Hambarian, director executive of the "Hay Dat" commission.

Ms. Tchoboyan emphasized that an article providing for punishment
should be included in the bill, as it is in the case of the Jewish
Holocaust. The main difficulty is not about that, but in achieving
the approval of all the 27 EU member-states.

Mr. Hambarian added that their organization puts much trust in the US
Congress. Referring to the Genocide Resolution, he said he believes
that the Armenians will have the majority of the votes. He admitted
that Turkey will continue threatening and impeding the genocide
recognition process, but noticed that the last five years were enough
to be sure that Turkey’s threats never go beyond pathetic declarations.

"Armenia can never be safe until Turkey denies the Genocide. After
the murder of Hrant Dink we believe that it is hard to change Turkey
from inside.

Therefore we will cope to change Turkey’s policy of denial from
outside – with the recognition of the Genocide by the progressive
world society," said Mr. Hambarian.

US President George Bush never expresses his position about the
issue of the Armenian Genocide. He does neither deny nor accept the
deed. Every year on April 24 Bush expresses his condolences but never
uses the word "genocide". And he kicks off people recognizing the
Genocide openly, like John Evans.

Commenting on the question of assignment of a new US Ambassador
to Armenia, Hambarian said that the Senate came to conclusion that
Armenia will not accept anyone who denies the Genocide. Evans was
turned down, and so is Hogland. Time is ripe to find a new candidature
for that office

THE HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND CONTINUES THE ARTSAKH REVIVAL PROJECT

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 13:30:30

As part of the Artsakh Revival project The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
continues its projects in Mardakert and Hadrout regions of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic (NKR). Within the framework of the Artsakh Revival
Project the fund has been addressing numerous health care projects.

Funds gathered during the 2005 Hayastan All-Armenian telethon were
directed towards the revival of the Mardakert region in NKR.

Then, Project C.U.R.E. a non-profit, humanitarian relief organization
that collects medical supplies and equipment and donates it to
developing countries donated one million dollars worth of medical
supplies to the Mardakert Regional Hospital. The Fund is pleased to
announce that the donations have recently reached their destination.

With the 2006 telethon donations, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
continues the second phase of its Artsakh Revival project directed
towards Hadrout revival project.

In March 2007, 4 ambulance cars were donated to the Hadrout
region. Three ambulance cars (donations of the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund, Los Angeles chapter) will serve the Hadrout central hospital,
and one (provided by the Hayastan All-Armenian fund, Argentina chapter)
will serve the Dogh village primary health care center.

The Fund will also reconstruct the Hadrout central hospital and has
already announced a tender for it implementation.

The Hayastan All- Armenian Fund, with the beginning of spring and with
renewed momentum is continuing its project in Mardakert and Hadrout
regions including water pipelines, reconstruction of the Kochoghot
School, the Upper Hoghatar community school, the renovation of the
Haterk kindergarten, etc.

VARTAN OSKANIAN LEAVING FOR SWITZERLAND

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 10:12

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is leaving for Geneva today,
where he will participate in the sitting of the UN Human Rights
council. The Minister is expected to deliver a speech.

The same day Minister Oskanian will leave for Bern, where he will have
a meeting with the President of the Confederation of Switzerland, Head
of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey.

On March 14 the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, featuring the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, will be held
in Geneva.

PROCÈS PERINCEK. CONDAMNE POUR NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Le Matin, France
12 mars 2007 lundi
Edition Semaine

"Ignoble Suisse";
Molnar

ANKARAL’ambassadeur et la presse turcs se dechaînent contre les medias
helvetiques accuses de partialite dans cette affaire

L’ambassadeur de Turquie en Suisse critique a son tour le jugement
rendu vendredi a Lausanne contre Dogu Perincek. Dans une interview
publiee hier par la "NZZ am Sonntag", Alev Kilic deplore les
consequences futures de cette decision.

Selon l’ambassadeur, le verdict lausannois signifie que l’on ne peut
plus discuter de manière ouverte en Suisse. "C’est aussi valable pour
les 100 000 Turcs qui vivent dans le pays", note au passage M.

Killic. "La Turquie ne pourra simplement plus exprimer son point de
vue", a-t-il ajoute.

Samedi, la presse nationaliste turque s’etait montree beaucoup
plus critique a l’egard du jugement lausannois. "Ignoble Suisse",
a titre en couverture le quotidien Gozcu, pour qui le jugement est
une nouvelle preuve d’hypocrisie: "l’Europe insiste toujours sur la
liberte d’expression, mais sanctionne pourtant une opinion".

Meme indignation dans le quotidien de droite Yeni Cag: "la nation
turque est punie en la personne de Perincek", peut-on y lire. Le
tribunal lausannois s’est montre "plein de haine", selon le journal.

k"Opinions historiques"

La presse bourgeoise s’est aussi attardee sur le sujet, mais de
manière moins polemique. Le journal Hurriyet a choisi de citer les
mots de Dogu Perincek lui-meme, pour qui "le procès a lance en Suisse
un debat sur la criminalisation des opinions historiques".

De retour en Turquie, Dogu Perincek a appele les personnalites de
son pays a se rendre en Suisse et a y nier le genocide armenien. Le
nationaliste a ete accueilli samedi a l’aeroport d’Istanbul par
ses partisans. Selon lui, son procès a ete "digne de l’Inquisition
espagnole".

Le jugement rendu a Lausanne n’est pas definitif, a-t-il ajoute, car
il fera appel. Vendredi, après l’enonce du verdict, Dogu Perincek
a declare qu’il etait pret a aller jusqu’a la Cour europeenne des
droits de l’homme a Strasbourg.

–Boundary_(ID_57OxRL3UlS5SjXPxkYlY1Q )–

TURKEY, AND THE U.S., MUST CONFRONT GENOCIDE’S REALITY

Wall Steer Journal
March 12, 2007

In his March 3 editorial-page commentary "Don’t Go Cold on Turkey1,"
former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris opposes U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. His main contention is that
this will result in a "train wreck" with an important, long-standing
American ally.

Amb. Parris and the other opponents of honestly recognizing this crime
are once again crying wolf. "Train wrecks" were loudly but falsely
predicted before President Reagan’s 1981 public affirmation of the
Armenian genocide, the 1984 designation by the House of April 24 as
a day for its remembrance, as well as before the amendments passed
by the House in 1996 and 2004 restricting U.S. aid to Turkey based
on its denial of this crime against humanity.

Despite threats of retribution, Turkey has taken only token steps
against the European Parliament, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Argentina, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland and other states and international bodies that have
recognized the Armenian genocide.

In fact, despite all its threats in 2001 against France’s recognition
of the Armenian genocide, trade between France and Turkey grew 22%
the following year, and has grown by 131% over the past five years.

Kenneth V. Hachikian Chairman Armenian National Committee of America
Washington

Mr. Parris advocates that the recognition of the genocide of the
Armenians be shelved so that among other concerns candid voices
by progressive Turks like Orhan Pamuk are not drowned out. Do we
have to remind ourselves that there was no talk about the genocide
resolution when charges were brought against the Nobel Laureate and
many other scholars and journalists? Irrespective of what sublime bill
the American legislature adopts, Turkey will continue its abhorrent
attitude toward free thinkers unless the draconian rules in its
criminal code are swept away.

Dikran Abrahamian, M.D.

Ontario, Canada

Every time a congressional resolution on the Armenian genocide is
introduced, the theme of "now is not the time" is rolled out. The
previous moment came in 2000 when the House was poised to reaffirm
the fact of the Armenian genocide.

President Clinton successfully made the timing appeal to Speaker
Hastert, who pulled the resolution from the schedule moments before
it surely would have passed. A not so grateful Turkey subsequently
denied a stunned United States any cooperation in dealing with Iraq.

To date, more than 170 Democrat and Republican members of Congress
have co-sponsored the current genocide resolution.

Clearly there is growing bipartisan congressional support for action
now to reaffirm Armenian history and confront genocide denial.

The Republic of Turkey denies this crime and demands that friends
around the world join in their revisionism. If friends do not, Turkey
threatens them with reprisals.

Simultaneously, Turkey criminalizes free speech and prosecutes its
citizens for daring to speak the truth. Unless Turkey opts to deal
forthrightly with its genocidal legacy, international recognition of
the Armenian genocide will never be opportune.

It is long past time for the U.S. to reaffirm the Armenian genocide
despite Turkish threats and to support those in Turkey who serve
democracy and reform by speaking freely. Now is precisely the time
to act.

Ross Vartian Executive Director U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee
Washington

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Mar 24-25 night Armenia to switch to summer time

Arminfo
2007-03-10 12:14:00

Mar 24-25 Armenia will switch to summer time. The clock should be advanced
one hour all over the country.

Summer time also known as daylight saving time was first applied in England
in 1908. It is the convention of advancing clocks so that evenings have more
daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one
hour in late winter or early spring and are adjusted backward in autumn. 110
countries observe DST. In the CIS only Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and
Turkmenistan don’t observe it.