Author: Nahapetian Lilit

WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
19 Sep 2008
Armenia

Vahan Hovhannisyan says many political forces regret that they didn’t
joint Dashnaktsutyun party in their anti-Turkish function. "Many
people like to read brave lectures from different tribunes and during
different seminars. But when the time came when they should say this
to Gyul they went …where they went. And we acted."

He also mentioned that even Ter-Petrosyan postponed his demonstration.

"It is better for the political figures to hold their meetings in
those parts of the city were they have certain role. Ter-Petrosyan
didn’t build Northern Avenue. He has built the bazaar near "Hrazdan"
stadium. So he must hold his meetings there, because there are elements
of trade in his demonstrations, which is better to practice in the
bazaar," Vahan Hovhannisyan states.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT DOES NOT THINK CHANGING OF THE SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT WILL LEAD TO QUALITATIVE CHANGING IN THE WORK OF LEGISLATIVE BODY

ArmInfo
2008-09-16 15:08:00

ArmInfo. I don’t not think changing of the speaker of Armenian
parliament will lead to qualitative changing in the work of legislative
body, the leader of the Analytical Centre on Globalizing and Regional
Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan told ArmInfo correspondent.

‘There will be no principle changing as the pro-governmental coalition
composes majority – 95% mandates. I think nothing will change because
of the speaker changing in such conditions’, – he said.

At the same time the expert ruled out possibility of Armenia’s image
changing in abroad, in particular, in European structures because
of Armenian parliament speaker changing, as in case of Armenia the
image of the country does not rest on the image of the parliament.

"Any parliament in the world where any political force has an
overwhelming majority of seats, cease playing the leading role in
the country’s policy.

There are a lot of parliaments in the world which play the leading
role, but in these parliaments the power-opposition ratio is
approximately 51%:49%.

The change of the Speaker will change nothing, and it is not a matter
of personalities, the personal factor doesn’t matter at all. In this
context it doesn’t matter whether Tigran Torosyan or Hovik Abrahamyan
will be the Speaker", S.Grigoryan said in conclusion.

On Tuesday, Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosyan
said at a press-conference that he will continue his work only as an
MP. Torosyan stressed that after his withdrawal from the Republican
Party of Armenia, he will remain an MP. To recall, Prosperous Armenia
Party, ARF Dashnaksutyun and Orinats Yerkir Party, RPA’s partners in
the ruling coalition, have already stated that it is the RPA’s right
to make a decision on change of the NA Speaker.

IRAN SAYS LAUNCHED "INITIATIVE" TO RESOLVE CAUCASUS CRISIS

Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1
Sept 16 2008

[Presenter] Foreign ministers of Iran and Armenia met in Tehran today
and called for a solution to the Caucasus crisis.

Manuchehr Mottaki met the German foreign minister in Berlin last night
and announced that Tehran and Berlin were forming a working group to
review the Georgian crisis. Mottaki said this morning:

[Mottaki] The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a state that neighbours
two countries of the important and sensitive region of Caucasus, has
reviewed and monitored the developments [in Caucasus] over the past
month and discussed an initiative with the countries of the region.

That initiative was the start of regional discussions which were aimed
at finding a mechanism to define regional cooperation. Therefore,
upon the president’s decree, I travelled to Moscow, Azerbaijan and
Germany. As part of our bilateral relations with Armenia, we had
the brilliant opportunity of Mr Na’lbandian’s visit to Iran, which
completed another link of discussions [on Caucasus].

ELDAR JAHANGIROV: "IT IS HIGH TIME FOR A BREAKTHROUGH IN NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE"

Today.Az
itics/47555.html
Sept 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Eldar Jahangirov.

– What do you expect from the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey, to be held in the framework of the
session of the UN General Assembly?

– I think that this meeting should be considered in the light of
the recent regional events, including South Ossetia and Abkhazia,
Turkey’s initiative of the Caucasus Cooperation and Stability Platform,
the visit of the Turkish leadership to Moscow, Yerevan and Baku, the
visit of the US vice-president to the region, the agreement between
Putin and Uzbek President in most directions, especially, on European
formula of gas prices, Islam Karimov’s visit to Azerbaijan and Ilham
Aliyev’s upcoming visit to Moscow.

It all proves that important systematic events are being formed
in the region. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three
countries is a next stage. I think, by results of this meeting,
the sides will give different comments on the Turkish project of the
Caucasus platform and define further steps for the resolution of the
conflict. I do not expect anything more from this meeting.

– After returning from his one-day visit to Azerbaijan, President
of Turkey Abdullah Gul told reporters in the airport that "Armenia
promised to release the occupied lands of Azerbaijan". Can these
words be trusted?

– The Armenian officials have not rebuffed these words. There are
no grounds for which we can not trust him. Merely, I think that this
implies the liberation of not all the occupied lands of Azerbaijan but
also a part of them. There is nothing new in it, for Armenians do not
hide that they consider the regions, adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh as
a buffer zone. The return of the lands, adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh,
is considered as the first step of the resolution almost within all
formats, beginning with the earliest ones until the so-called Madrid
principles. The thing is what Armenians will demand in exchange for
the return.

By the way, despite the ambiguous reaction of the Azerbaijani community
to the visit of the Turkish President to Yerevan, I would like to
stress an important element – no one, even Armenians, mentioned the
unrecognized "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" as a possible participant
of the talks.

– Can Russia prevent the peaceful and fair resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict?

– Certainly. Russia has had a dominating influence on all the processes
in the Caucasus region since the USSR times. Today Russia has even
more. There are numerous ways and technologies for it, beginning
from the physical termination of prominent figures (let’s recall the
striking murder of Zelimkhan

Yandarbiyev in Qatar) until the shooting of talks by different
ways: planned information leakage in mass media, spread of damaging
information about the negotiators with the further annulling of the
whole agenda of talks.

But the most interesting to me is that Russia has sustained sharp image
losses. West, in the person of the United States and its allies, made
the only correct decision – to put an economic pressure on Russia. The
Russia equities market is sustaining a stable decline. The mass outflow
of western investments is observed and most joint projects have been
suspended. For us, the issue of the return of the occupied lands of
a top priority.

After the case with recognition of Kosovo, the United States and
West have a motivation of comparing the Karabakh issue to the
South Ossetian and Abkhazian ones, that is to build everything on
the principle of territorial integrity. Iran is concerned over the
internal priorities. Turkey has proposed regional initiatives, which
are impossible before the conflict is settled. Russia’s motivation
in this case is similar to that of the United States: they need to
show adherence to international law. After the August events Armenia
has been isolated with Azerbaijan on the East, Turkey on the West
and unpredictable Iran on the South. Geographical communication with
Russia is sharply restricted. Therefore, it is high time for achieving
a breakthrough in the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

– We all remember that the attempt of the just resolution of the
Nagorno Karanakh conflict led to the replacement of powers in
Armenia. Isn’t there a threat of such developments now?

– There is always such a threat in Armenia with its amusing history
of state terrorism.

– What will be the future of the whole South Caucasus region in
case Armenians liberate at least the adjacent regions around Nagorno
Karabakh?

– The resolution of any conflict always implies the reduction of
tensions, shifting of military and military and political accents to
the economic sector, increase in the volumes of trade and financial
cooperation, cultural and humanitarian ties and gradually the growing
welfare of the people in all senses. As regards the South Caucasus
countries, in the light of the recent events, a sharp political crisis
can be expected in Georgia.

Serzh Sargsyan: With his knowledge and skills Tigran Torosyan may
render considerable assistance to another department

2008-09-13 16:31:00

ArmInfo. With his knowledge and skills Tigran Torosyan may render
considerable assistance to another department, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan told journalists, Friday, when commenting upon the decision of
the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia to nominate ex-
head of RA presidential administration Hovik Abrahamyan for the post of
Speaker of Armenian parliament.

`The Republican Party of Armenia passed two cycles of elections,
carried out its tasks during these elections and is currently
addressing the issue of increasing the efficiency of the state
governance administration’s work. If one compares two experienced
politicians, and I try to do it with my colleagues and RPA members, we
should come to a conclusion that Hovik Abrahamyan may intensify the
role of the National Assembly’, Sargsyan said. `With his knowledge and
skills Tigran Torosyan may render considerable assistance to the
activity of another department, another direction. I see nothing
strange in this. A number of media representatives, which personally
insulted Tigran Torosyan a week ago, are now shedding crocodile tears
trying to defend him, this is really strange. We appreciate his
services and knowledge, we appreciate his work done. At the same time,
we think that each of us should work in the place where he/she can
gain the highest results’, Sargsyan said.

Payvand, Iran
Sept 13 2008

Photos: 40th Armenians Olympics opening ceremony in Tehran

Photos by Amir Kholoosi, ISNA

The opening ceremony of the 40th Iranian Armenians Olympic Games was
held at Tehran’s Ararat Sports Complex at the presence of about 1,200
athletes Friday evening.

According to IRNA Sport Desk, in this year’s games there are also 200
athletes from Armenian and Georgia republics and the participating
athletes would compete in eight fields.

The Armenians Olympics competitions are held in basketball, football,
volleyball, track and field, chess, swimming, table tennis, and
boxing.

The opening ceremony of the games was originally scheduled for
Wednesday evening, September 10th, but due to a fatal road accident in
which 21 Armenian athletes lost their lives on their way to Iran from
Turkey, it was delayed for 48 hours.

View photos at

ARMENIA – TURKEY AND ARMENIA – AZERBAIJAN
Vardan Grigoryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
12 Sep 2008
Armenia

The disputes on Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
held in Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan are gradually declining from
their political, legal bases and turning into fruitless attempts of
employing joint standards.

The copious pieces of advise and proposals made by the political
scientists and political figures of different countries are added
to it. But the latter are unfortunately based on the "establishment"
of foreign experience.

Whereas the analyses of the situation created at the moment in
Armenian-Turkish relations and Armenian – Azerbaijani confrontation
clearly display that here we deal with issues on diametrically
different planes, the artificial unification of which will lead to
a deadlock rather than settlement.

The issue of the settlement of Armenian – Turkish entangled string is
not only the task of the improvement of Armenian – Turkish inter-state
relations; it is also the matter of the tough and multi-planned
relations of the countries and international structures that have
already condemned Turkey for the crime of the Genocide of Armenians.

Even in case of great desire Armenia and Turkey can’t shoulder the
responsibility of dismantling this entangled string. Because the
primary attempts of improving Armenian – Turkish relations can be in
the sc ope of inter-state dialogues, in conformity with the standards
of the 21-century.

The circle of the issues that by now separates the two peoples is far
not manifested by the existing conflict, it is more due to the crime
and the obstinacy to accept the crime committed 90 years back. In
such circumstances the proposal regarding "mutual concessions" is, in
reality, the outcome of the political expectations of the third side.

Armenian people that have faced Genocide have already lost all the
grounds that could have served as bases for a possible compromise with
Turkey. As a result the only thing left to do for Turkey is to take
the role of a "defender of Azerbaijan’s rights" or not to respond to
the accusations of the Genocide in its address. This tactics is very
far from being considered as "mutual concession".

In our view the improvement of Armenian – Turkish relations tends to
the launch of the future programs.

The issue of overcoming the obstacles that hinders the settlement of
Armenian- Azerbaijani relations is quite a different problem, because
here we deal with an unsettled territorial issue. At the moment Armenia
and Azerbaijan have certain problems, which they have inherited quite
recently, and they can solve these problems based on mutual concession.

Here we deal with a clear format of mediating countries – OSCE Minsk
group, which has elaborated concrete20proposal of mutual concessions
and is waiting for the answer of the two parties.

Consequently the combination of Armenian – Turkish and Armenian –
Azerbaijani relations will make unavoidable the maintenance and the
"conservation" of the tough entangled string of the world, territorial,
inter-state and inter – ethnic relations, which during the recent
years didn’t allow finding perceptible solutions.

To condition the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations with finding
mutual concessions with Azerbaijan means to breach the only possible
"zero-based principle" of Armenian – Turkish dialogue. And vice verse –
to condition the finalization of Armenian – Azerbaijani negotiation
process with Armenian – Turkish relations means to intensify the
territorial conflict already existing in South Caucasus.

In our view the negotiations based on the search of mutual concessions
in Karabakh conflict should still be held in the framework of OSCE
Minsk Group as for the task of holding negotiations on establishing
Armenian-Turkish relations from the starting point, at least
temporarily must be demarcated from the entangled string of all the
historical, legal and political problems that have been accumulated in
Armenian-Turkish relations from the beginning of the previous century.

ARMENIA MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL PARKS

ARKA
Sep 10, 2008

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Armenia marks the 50th anniversary
of the national parks Khosrov Woods, Shikahogh, Dilijan National
Park. The country has announced a month’s campaign for preservation
of forest reserves.

Armenia marks the 50th anniversary of the national parks Khosrov Woods,
Shikahogh, Dilijan National Park. The country has announced a month’s
campaign for preservation of forest reserves. Topical environmental
issues will be the campaign’s focus," RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan said at a formal reception on the 50th anniversary of the
national parks.

He called on to join efforts to solve the existing problems in the
country.

"If we want to become an eco friendly country, we should first of
all know how people treat to nature," the premier added.

He stressed the importance of including classes on ecology in the
curriculum of schools. "It is obvious that the government alone cannot
settle environment issues," Sargsyan said.

The concept of sustainable development is designed for generations,
according to the Prime Minister.

"For a country with so many social and economic problems, environmental
issues become of secondary importance," the premier said. "However,
it will be for our benefit if we change our attitude to nature."

The prime minister awarded gold medals and watches to some of the
workers of the RA Ministry of Nature Protection.

Khosrov Forest Reserve is situated south-east of Yerevan, at the foot
of the Gueghama volcanic mountain, in the basins of the Azat and Vedi
rivers. The Reserve is situated 1400-2250 meters above sea-level,
and extends over an area of 29196 hectares, 9000 of which is covered
with forests.

Shikakhogh Reserve (10,000 ha) is situated in the northern slopes of
the Meghri The general climate here is warm and humid. About 1,074
species of plants can be found in the area.

Dilijan Reserve (33.7 ha) is situated in the north of Armenia. The
main subjects of protection are beech and oak forests, the shady yew
grove of Hakhnabad and a few springs-fed lakes. The number of species
growing in the reserves is around 900.

PRESIDENT REAGAN TO BE HONORED AT ANC-WR BANQUET

armradio.am
10.09.2008 10:49

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR) will be
honoring President Ronald Reagan with the Woodrow Wilson Presidential
Award at the organization’s annual banquet on October 12, 2008 at
the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

"President Ronald Reagan was the last President to refer to the
Armenian Genocide properly," stated ANC-WR Annual Banquet Chairwoman
Aida Dimejian.

"This year’s banquet will honor those words and the statement President
Reagan made. As a community we shall look with an eager eye to the
future where Turkish intimidation and threats will not bully American
leaders," she added.

Ronald Reagan began his years in politics as a close friend and
supporter of the Armenian American community. As California Governor
from 1966 through 1974, Reagan reached out to Armenian Americans and
joined in their annual commemorations of the Armenian Genocide. Most
notably, in 1969, Reagan joined His Holiness Khoren I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia, a host of state and local dignitaries
and over 10,000 Armenian Americans at the Armenian Genocide Memorial
in Montebello, where he gave a rousing 15-minute speech honoring the
victims of that crime against humanity. "I am proud and appreciate this
opportunity to participate in this event," said Gov. Reagan. "Today,
I humbly bow in memory of the Armenian m artyrs, who died in the name
of freedom at the hands of Turkish perpetrators of Genocide."

Following his election to the presidency in 1980, Reagan distinguished
himself as the last U.S. President to properly acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide as "genocide." In Proclamation 4838, issued on April 22,
1981, to proclaim April 26-May 3 as "Days of Remembrance of Victims of
Holocaust," Reagan stated, "Like the genocide of the Armenians before
it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it and like too
many other such persecutions of too many other peoples–the lessons
of the Holocaust must never be forgotten." Later in his first term,
the Reagan Administration, at the urging of Secretary of State George
Schultz and Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger, retreated from this
stand and opposed successive Armenian Genocide Resolutions in 1985
and 1987.

In the last days of his second term, President Reagan led a U.S. effort
to help the victims of the devastating December 7th, 1988 earthquake in
Armenia. Reversing a 40-year standing policy that lasted throughout the
Cold War, President Reagan airlifted several planeloads of humanitarian
assistance to Soviet Armenia within weeks of the tragedy. In his
December 25th radio address to the American people, Reagan stated
that, in the time of tragedy, "the real differences that divide us
and will continue to divide us fall away." He went on to note the
tremendous outpouring of U.S. assistance in light of the earthquake
in Armenia. "From the United States the response has been staggering,"
he said.

BSEC SECRETARY GENERAL ARRIVES IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.09.2008 12:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary General of the BSEC Permanent International
Secretariat, Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos arrived in Yerevan
on September 8.

Ambassador Chrysanthopoulos is scheduled to meet with President Serzh
Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Transport
and Communications Gurgen Sargsyan and Minister of Culture Hasmik
Poghosyan, RA Foreign Ministry’s media relations division head Tigran
Balayan told PanARMENIAN.Net.