Author: Nadirian Emma

RALLY FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND GALA TV TOOK PLACE

KarabakhOpen
20-12-2007 12:17:37

At the Theatrical Square of Gyumri the rally for freedom of speech
and Gala TV took place on December 19 in which over 2 thousand people
participated, including Free citizens from Yerevan, activists of the
Sksel a flash mob, Vanadzor, over 30 communities of the region of
Shirak: Gyumri, Maralik, Artik, Dzorakap, Panik, Azatan, Akhuryan,
Marmashen, Akhurik, Jadjur, Yerazgavors, etc. Civil society and
political activists addressed the rally: the president of Azparez Club
of Journalists NGO Levon Barseghyan, the president of the Shirak Center
of Political Culture and the representative of the National Democratic
Union Party to Shirak Vahan Tumasyan, the head of the Vanadzor
office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Arthur Sakunts, the chair of
the Committee of Protection of Freedom of Speech Ashot Melikyan,
the editor of the Haykakan Zhamanak and leader of the Impeachment
Alliance Nichol Pashinyan, the representative of the same movement
Vahagn Khachatryan, the leader of the Democratic Fatherland Party
Petros Makeyan, Member of Parliament from the Orinats Yerkir Party
Hovanes Margaryan, and others. The speakers criticized persecution of
Gala TV, the authoritarian regime in Armenia, and supported Freedom of
speech and Gala TV. Despite 8 degrees below zero, about 2000 ralliers,
among them elderly people, stayed until the end of the rally.

At the end the rally adopted a message addressed to the government
agencies which pressure on Gala TV.

ARMENIAN TRANSLATION OF "HAROUTIUNIAN AGAINST ARMENIA" EUROPEAN COURT JUDGEMENT PUT ON INTERNET SITE OF MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 17 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The officially translated Armenian
version of the "Haroutiunian against Armenia" judgement of the European
Court has been put on the official internet site of the Ministry of
Justice of the Republic of Armenia. This Armenian version will also
be published in the official gazette to be published soon. This
information was provided to Noyan Tapan by Lana Mshetsian, the
Spokesperson of the RA Ministry of Justice. The Court of First
Instance of the Syunik region had found M. Haroutiunian guilty,
irrespective of the fact that it was testified that the defendant
had been submitted to torture by the police collaborators, however,
in the formulation of the Court, that was driven from the interests of
justice. As regards the case of Misha Haroutiunian, the European Court
had decided that his right for a fair trial had been infringed. The
Court had also decided that Misha Haroutiunian should be paid 3000
euros by the RA government as an indemnity.

CONGRESS OF FORCES SUPPORTING LEVON TER-PETROSIAN TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 22

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. A republican congress of the
parties, non-governmental organizations and delegates of civil
initiatives supporting Levon Ter-Petrosian will be held in the
Session Hall of the RA government on December 22. This information was
provided to Noyan Tapan by the Civil Initiative Office for Nomination
of Levon Ter-Petrosian.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR LEAVING ARMENIA WITH GOOD IMPRESSIONS AND MEMORIES

armradio.am
18.12.2007 14:24

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Alireza
Haqiqyan, who is completing his diplomatic mission in our country.

Appreciating the considerable progress in the Armenian-Iranian
relations in the political, economic, cultural and other spheres,
the Prime Minister particularly emphasized the Ambassador’s personal
contribution over the past four years of his tenure in office and
thanked Mr. Haqiqyan for his efforts in the direction of reinforcing
the relations between the two countries and peoples.

Serge Sargsyan noted that neighboring Iran is a very important country
for Armenia, and the Armenian side is willing to continue deepening
the centuries-old friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation
with that country. He attached importance to the development of
cooperation especially in the economic sphere, which has really serious
bases. According to Serge Sargsyan, the projects already accomplished,
i.e. the Iran-Armenian gas pipeline, the high-tension power lines,
the construction of a Hydro-Electric Power Plant on Araks River and
others, provide the basis for looking into the future of bilateral
cooperation with confidence.

Ambassador Alireza Haqiqyan expressed gratitude for the warm words
and used the opportunity to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year to Armenia and the Armenian people and wished success in the new
year. Noting that the wish to develop the relations on all levels
is reciprocal, Ambassador Haqiqyan expressed confidence that the
cooperation will continue with the same success in the future.

The Iranian Ambassador noted that he is leaving Armenia with good
impressions and memories and thanked the Armenian authorities ,
including the Government and the Prime Minister, for the support and
willingness to cooperate.

At the end of the meeting Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan wished success
to Alireza Haqiqyan in his future mission.

U.S. EMBASSY DONATES COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR ARMENIAN POLICE

A1+
[12:21 pm] 14 December, 2007

On December 14, 2007, U.S. Charge d’Affaires Joseph Pennington
signed a letter marking the donation of over $818,000 towards the
establishment of a nationwide computer system for the Republic of
Armenia Police. Signing the donation letter on behalf of the Government
of Armenia was Lt. General Ararat Mahtesyan, Deputy Head of the Police
of the Republic of Armenia Police.

The new computer system, now running in every Marz in the country,
will enable police officers in the field to access the main police
databases. Utilizing the equipment and training donated by the
U.S. Embassy, police officers around the country can now instantly
check criminal records, stolen goods reports, vehicle registrations,
firearms permits, and other important databases necessary to
effectively fight crime.

Moreover, the system will enable real-time communication and the
exchange of information between the Republic of Armenia Police and
other international law enforcement organizations.

This project is only part of the U.S. Government’s comprehensive
law enforcement assistance program in the Republic of Armenia. The
U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, through its International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Section, has funded the renovation of such facilities
as the National Bureau of Expertises, the Police Induction Center
in Kanaker, the Border Guards Training Facility in Yerevan and the
Customs House in Vanadzor. Moreover, the Embassy has donated computer
equipment in all these facilities. The U.S. Government provides about
$3 million a year in law enforcement assistance to Armenia.

ARMENIA THREATENS TO QUIT KEY ARMS TREATY
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 14 2007

Armenia could pull out of a key arms control pact if arch-rival
Azerbaijan continues its military build-up in the coming years,
Defense Minister Mikael Harutiunian warned on Friday.

Harutiunian claimed that Azerbaijan is already failing to comply with
the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, which places
specific limits on the deployment of troops and heavy weapons from
the Atlantic coast to Russia’s Ural mountains.

"The Republic of Armenia has made no such decision yet," he said.

"But if Azerbaijan does not stop buying and brining in large quantities
of weapons in contravention of that treaty, Armenia could make such
a decision."

The CFE, which helped to end the Cold War, sets equal weapons quotas
for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. All three South Caucasus states
signed up to the treaty following the Soviet collapse. Earlier this
week, Russia officially suspended its participation in the treaty
in protest against failure by all NATO member states to ratify its
revised 1999 version.

The treaty has clearly not prevented an intensifying arms race between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. The latter is increasingly using its soaring
oil revenues for a military build-up which Baku hopes will eventually
enable it to win back Nagorno-Karabakh.

The two countries have long been accusing each other of exceeding
their CFE ceilings. In particular, Azerbaijan says that Armenia has
keeps a large part of its weaponry in Nagorno-Karabakh to imitate
its compliance with the pact. Armenian officials, for their part,
accuse Baku of obstructing international inspections of its military
facilities.

Harutiunian issued the warning after hearings on Armenia’s defense
doctrine organized by the National Assembly committee on defense and
security. Artur Aghabekian, a retired army general heading the panel,
likewise said that Yerevan should be prepared for such an option.

"Pulling out of the CFE does not stem from Armenia’s national
interests," said Aghabekian. "But if the treaty becomes non-existent,
we should not regard that as a tragedy. Armenia would have to draw
conclusions."

SHIVER ME SHATTERED TIMBERS: REMAINS OF PLUNDERED CAPTAIN KIDD SHIP FOUND IN CARIBBEAN

Daily Mail, UK
news/news.html?in_article_id=502229&in_page_id =1770
Dec 14 2007

The wreck of a treasure ship captured by the British pirate Captain
William Kidd 309 years ago has been found in the Caribbean.

Lying in just 10ft of water, the Quedah Merchant is on the seabed
off the island of Hispaniola, which is split between Haiti and the
Dominican Republic.

Marine archaeologists are amazed that the wreck, which was scuttled
in 1699, has lain undiscovered for so long.

Already its barnacled- encrusted cannon and anchors are being examined
and the vessel is expected to reveal a wealth of information about
piracy in the Caribbean and the romantic but ruthless Kidd.

Johnny Depp partly modelled his Pirates Of The Caribbean character,
Captain Jack Sparrow, on the Scots-born mariner.

Charles Beeker, an Indiana University expert called in by the Dominican
Republic government to research the wreck, said: "I couldn’t believe
everybody had missed it for 300 years. I’ve dived on thousands of
wrecks and this is one of the first that has not been looted. It’s
a wonderful historical find."

Historians believe the ship was scavenged of treasure and burned
shortly after Kidd abandoned it.

Born around 1645, the callous corsair was a clergyman’s son from
Greenock, near Glasgow, who moved to New York for adventure.

He started his seagoing career as a privateer – a mercenary licensed
by William III to hunt Britain’s enemies, usually the French or
Spanish-The Crown was supposed to get ten per cent of privateers’
plunder, but Kidd often kept all his loot.

In 1695 he left London in the Adventure Galley, a 284-tonner with a
crew of 150 and 34 cannon. Late in 1696, he attacked a British East
India Company convoy and was declared a pirate.

In 1698, he took his greatest prize, the Quedah Merchant. A 400-ton
Moorish trader from Armenia, it was loaded with gold, silver and fine
silks. The Adventure Galley was by now rotting and leaky.

So he scuttled her, renamed the Quedah Merchant the Adventure Prize,
and sailed for the Caribbean – where the Adventure Prize was scuttled.

Kidd then went north in a sloop, but his one-time backer, the Earl
of Bellomont, lured him to Boston and captured him. Found guilty of
piracy and murder, Kidd was hanged on May 23, 1701 at Execution Dock
in Wapping.

During the execution the rope broke, so he was hanged again. His body
was locked in a gibbet – an iron cage – and left dangling over the
Thames for two years as a warning to other would-be pirates.

OFFICIAL BAKU READY TO PROVIDE AUTONOMY TO NAGORNO KARABAKH WITHIN AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
13.12.2007 17:40

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists today that
"official Baku is ready to provide autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh within
the Republic of Azerbaijan."

"We see no problem with providing autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh. WE have
declared many times that if the Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh
wishes to get autonomy, there are many examples in European countries
and Russia, where representatives of different peoples live," he said,
pointing to the Tatar and Bashkir Autonomies in the Russian Federation.

"However, it does not mean that the territorial integrity of the
Republic of Azerbaijan must not be maintained an dteh occupies
Azerbaijani territories must not be liberated," Mammadyarov said.

The Minister said official Baku views the recent suggestions of the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs as normal. At the same time, Mammadyarov
noted that these suggestions "do not provide the basis for the
recurrent meeting of the Presidents."

The Foreign Minister said Azerbaijan stands for the continuation of
the Prague process.

COMMUNITY RECOGNISED AS RELIGIOUSLY AND CULTURALLY DISTINCT
By Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter

Gulf News
Dec 14 2007
United Arab Emirates

Dubai: For Serine Gharibian, home is Iran, but she loves Armenia
"and everything about it". Coming from a multicultural background,
she says, enables her to open up to other cultures. "I listen to all
kinds of music, Persian, Armenian, Arabic and Western".

Since Armenians have been in Iran for centuries, says Gharibian, they
have integrated well into the larger society and adopted local customs
and traditions, such as Persian food and the Persian language. "I’m
fluent in Armenian," she says, "but my Persian is stronger".

Armenian assimilation in Iran and the community’s long history there
means there are marked differences between Iranian Armenians and other
diaspora Armenians, says Gharibian. "For example, unlike Armenians
in Arab countries, we don’t have many descendants of World War One
refugees in Iran, so I find that Arab-Armenians identify more with
the war’s misfortunes. Nevertheless, we in Iran also mark the dates
that tragedy fell upon the Armenians during the war".

The dialect of Armenians in Arab countries differs from
Iranian-Armenian dialect too. "They speak Western Armenian, which
differs from our Eastern dialect. Some words are difficult to
understand because they are influenced by Arabic or other languages."

Armenians are recognised in Iran as a religiously and culturally
distinct community. "We are respected as honest people and are free
to practice our culture and traditions. We have all the freedoms we
need," she said.

WHICH IS THE NEXT STEP

Hayots Ashkharh
Dec 13 2007
Armenia

The US House of Representatives has passed the "Genocide
Responsibility" Bill. The latter approved by the two parties envisages
to hold accountable by American law, those who have committed genocide
outside the borders of the USA.

By the adoption of the act the gap in the law that hindered the US
Justice Ministry to hold accountable those living in the USA who have
committed genocide in other countries is filled.

The US Armenian organizations have also supported the adoption of
this act. The Executive Director of the Armenian Congress of America
Brayan Arduny hoped the adoption of this bill wouldn’t be the last
step towards the prevention of genocides.

"The second decisive step is to withstand the renunciation of genocides
and this must be realized by the adoption of a bill reconfirming
Armenian Genocide," he announced.