Author: Nahapetian Samvel

CAPTIVE AZERBAIJANI SERVICEMAN IN ARMENIA DO NOT WANT TO CORRESPOND WITH PARENTS

arminfo
2007-07-25 12:52:00

The parents of the captive Azerbaijani serviceman Samir Mamedov in
Armenia met representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross
(ICRC), the Baku ICRC told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

During the meeting, the parents of the serviceman asked ICRC
representatives to assist in their son’s release, however, according
to ICRC, S. Mamedov do not want to return to the Motherland and
correspond with the parents. To note, the last letter of S. Mamedov
was written on March 9. The letter, written by the parents on May 19,
was returned. To recall, according to the information of the Armenian
Mass Media, S. Mamedov addressed RA authorities for giving him a
status of refugee. He was taken prisoner on December 24, 2006.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER PROHIBITS TO USE EXPRESSION "THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

Noyan Tapan
Jul 24, 2007

ANKARA, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has prohibited to use the expression
"the so-called Armenian Genocide" in the country.

According to Ulusal Kanal, the Turkish government, on July 3, sent
a circular letter to all Turkish ministries, structures attached
to them, governors’ offices, municipalities, the Higher Education
Council, judicial bodies, and the General Headquarters of Armed
Forces, according to which, it is prohibited to use the expression
"the so-called Armenian Genocide" in the country. Instead of this
expression, it is required to use the expressions "the events of 1915"
or "the Armenian allegations connected with the events of 1915."

S. Sargsyan: Elections in Karabakh reaffirm irreversibility of NKR’s development

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.07.2007 15:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan sent a
congratulatory message to Bako Sahakyan on his election as the
President of NKR, the RA Government Press Office reports. The
RA Premier’s message, in particular, reads as follows, "Dear Mr.
Sahakyan, I congratulate you on your election as the President of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. I am sure you will continue to make
efforts aimed at strengthening and developing the statehood of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, prosperity of its nation with the help of
unreserved support of the people of Artsakh. The recent presidential
elections, which were held in compliance with democratic norms,
reaffirm irreversibility of NKR’s development. I wish you success
in your high responsible post for the welfare of people and State
of Artsakh".

IMPORTANT PROJECTS ON IRAN-ARMENIA AGENDA – FOREIGN MINISTER

IRNA website, Tehran
20 Jul 07

Yerevan, 20 July: Iran’s Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said
Friday [20 July] that important projects are on the agenda of Iran
and Armenia.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 7th session of the
Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Mottaki said,
"The two countries’ relations have improved significantly over
recent years."

Mottaki added that many documents have been signed in the economic,
energy, investment and transportation sectors and finalization of
other important documents is on agenda.

Referring to the free trade agreement between the two countries,
he expressed hope that signing it would cause a huge jump in mutual
economic transactions.

Iran’s foreign minister notified that Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, two
electricity transmission lines and wind power station, undertaken by
Iran in Armenia, are examples of good progress in implementation of
mutual agreements.

He added that agreement on Aras hydroelectric power station, study
of Iran-Armenia railway connection, establishment of a refinery in
Armenia by Iran, Russia and Armenia and of Iranian trade centre in
Armenia with participation of private sector are also on agenda.

Armenian energy minister and head of Armenian delegation in the
Joint Economic Cooperation Commission pointed to inauguration of
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad
and termed it a historical event which opens a new page in history
of bilateral relations.

Meeting of the experts of the joint commission began in Yerevan on 17
July, and their officials are due to sign Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) on Friday.

Mottaki and the accompanying delegation arrived in Yerevan Friday
morning to attend the Joint Commission session.

Volume of mutual transactions stands at 200 million dollars, about
160 million dollars of which coming from Iran’s exports to Armenia
and the remaining 40 million dollars from the Republic’s exports to
the Islamic state.

CHILEAN PRESIDENT: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION BY CHILEAN PARLIAMENT "IS NOT BINDING"

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2007 16:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement
Wednesday that Chilean President Michelle Bachelet sent a letter
to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, saying that the document,
which was adopted in the Chilean parliament on June 5 and referred
to the events of 1915 as the Armenian Genocide was not legally or
politically binding, the Turkish Daily News reports.

June 5 the Chilean government unanimously made a decision to condemn
the Armenian Genocide. The draft project was submitted by Socialist
Party member Ricardo Nunies Munios. The documents reads, in part,
"April 24, 1915 the Turkish government arrested and killed the
leaders of the Armenian people in Constantinople and thus initiated
the policy of extermination of the Armenian nation. In 1915-1923
some 1.5 million of Armenians who lived on their lands during
centuries. This extermination is named the first ethnic cleansing
of the 20th century. The Armenian Genocide was recognized by the UN
subcommittee on discrimination and protection of national minorities in
1985. Considering these facts the Senate of Chile decreed to recognize
the Armenian Genocide and condemn it. It also called to the Chilean
government to join the UN resolution of 1985."

The draft author reminded that the Armenian Genocide has been already
recognized by Uruguay, Argentina, Greece, Bulgaria, Russia, Italy,
Lebanon, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Venezuela, Lithuania, Canada
and France as well as the European Parliament and the World Council
of Churches.

OPPOSITION DID NOT LOSE

Lragir, Armenia
July 20 2007

The opposition and dissenters had a very big contribution to this
election. The opposition candidate who was the second by the results
of the voting displayed that democracy and dissent may exist not only
in recognized states but also small and unrecognized countries such
as Karabakh, said Member of Parliament Larissa Alaverdyan, Heritage
Party, the ex-ombudsman of Armenia. She also said the second place
for the opposition is not a defeat.

Larissa Alaverdyan also said people in Karabakh expect that the new
president will fulfill his program and pledges.

CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
T +995 32 75 19 03/04
F +995 32 75 19 05
<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
<;
SunChild Summer Camp

>From July 29th to August 10th "SunChild" is organizing a summer camp in
Tsakhkadzor. "SunChild Summer Camp" is an educational project which aims to
raise children’s and youths’ awareness for environmental and civil society
issues.

The 34 participants of the summer camp were chosen from the children and
youths who have regularly been attending the SunChild eco clubs in the
framework of FPWC’s educational project "Following the Sun". The age of the
participating children and youths ranges from 13 to 15 years.

The pilot program of "Following the Sun" started in autumn 2006 with the
establishment of eco clubs in three schools. Since then the environmental
educational program founded already nine eco clubs in five regions
including; Garni, Goght, Urtsadzor, Gyumri, Yerevan and Dilijan.

In the FPWC eco clubs which are established in the framework of the
educational project "Following the Sun" children and youths are empowered to
create their own environmental films. Additional to professional film
training they get lessons in topics like: Armenian wildlife and nature
reserves, nature photography, ornithology, biology and conservation of
cultural assets.

SunChild summer camp is a possibility for the children to complete and edit
the environmental films which they already started to shoot in the framework
of the environmental education project "Following the sun". The children’s
films will be screened in the children film section of "SunChild 1st
Regional Environmental Festival" in October 2007.

"SunChild Summer Camp" cooperates with the following organizations:

* American University of Armenia "Birds of Armenia Project"

Specialists involved in these projects will conduct lessons of "Bird
Identification" preparing the children to participate in the annual
competition "In my bird house".

* Environmental Advocacy Protection Centre (EPAC)

Specialists of EPAC NGO will deliver lectures on structure of local communal
self governance and environmental law.

* Red Cross

Specialist of Red Cross will have a <First Aid> course with children

Mainly the program will concentrate on practical training in filming and
photography under the supervision of "SunChild" Educational Program
speciliasts. There will also be courses of English language, Computer
Science and Theoretical Journalism.

"SunChild Summer camp" is implemented by financial support of GTZ
organization and "VivaCell" Company.

ANOTHER TWO SUSPECTS IN SEDRAK ZATIKYAN MURDER ACCOMPLICESHIP ARRESTED

arminfo
2007-07-16 22:03:00

Another two suspects in the accompliceship of Sedrak Satikyan’s
murder have been arrested. Sedrak Zatikyan was the son of Yerevan
Malatia-Sebastia community former prefect, Press Secretary of Armenian
Prosecutor’s General Sona Truzyan told ArmInfo.

The source reports that Lusine Ghevondyan and Arthur Hovhannisyan,
who were wanted by the police, were arrested on July 14. The murderer
Arsen Aroushanyan was arrested in late June 2007. Sona Truzyan said
the investigation has revealed the crime mechanism, motives and the
main actors.

Three have been arrested. Another two are wanted, including the
client. She refused to name the criminals for secrecy of the
investigation. More information will be provided later, she said.

Sedrak Zatikyan born in 1980 was killed on June 22 2006 on
Sebastia-Tichina crossroad. The criminals fired at his Jeep. Zatikyan
lost control of the car because of injuries and crashed into a lorry. A
resident of the community Karina Sasrgsyan who was in the street at
the moment also became a victim of the shootout. Twenty-four shells
of one weapon were found on the spot.

LISTEN TO GALUST ALTHOUGH WHAT HE SAYS SOUNDS STRANGE
Haik Aramyan

Lragir, Armenia
July 16 2007

One of the peculiarities of the political life of Armenia is that
usually nobody listens to what the Republican Member of Parliament
Galust Sahakyan says. In fact, it is amazing that the person has
been saying things for so many years which later came true but nobody
listens to what he says. Perhaps therefore he always has a gloomy face,
and what he says sounds strange. This man knows better, especially
that he survived and witnessed the difficult and unfortunate course
of his party, somehow becoming the victim of this flow. He saw how in
the past years his party was offered on a tray first to the military
oligarchy then to the criminal business corps.

And over these years he had to explain to his fellows and the Armenian
people that nothing has happened, everything is O.K., and it is almost
an evolutionary track. Although he knew better of all that it was a
mere coup inside the party and the system of public administration,
which staked the good name of the party.

Recently Galust Sahakyan has made an almost desperate effort to make
it clear to the so-called political mass, reporters, others who at
least pretend to worry about the nation day and night, that they
should think over their actions well before the election. Namely,
Galust Sahakyan said something unpleasant for the devotees of the
"common candidate": in that case their candidate will win in the
first round. In other words, if our desperate opposition puts up say
10 candidates, there will be a second round. Consequently, if 20 to
30 candidates were put up, the Republican candidate might win but in
the third round. Galust Sahakyan did not pronounce the last sentence
not because usually no third round of election is held but because
not everything should be pronounced. Especially in Armenia.

Especially to the desperate politicians who perceive politics as
peddling and are ready to step on everything, including their own
and others’ dignity.

Galust said one more interesting thing: they usually name the leader
of their party. Although it is not exactly true because the Republican
Party did not name its leader for the past two times, do listen to
Galust. At least once.

MONETARY BASE GROWS BY 1.8% AND BROAD MONEY DECREASES BY 0.2% IN MAY 2007, COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS MONTH

Noyan Tapan
Jul 16 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. As of May 31, 2007, monetary base in
Armenia made 275b 489m drams (more than 767.2m USd) and increased by
4b 993m drams or by 1.8%, compared with the previous month.

According to the data of the RA National Statistical Service, as of
May 31, 2007, broad money made 493b 938m drams, decreasing by 908m
drams or by 0.2%, compared with the previous month.

The balance of citizens’ deposits with banks, as of May 31, 2007,
made 133b 211m drams and increased by 2b 684m drams or by 2.1%,
compared with the previous month, and as of May 31, 2006, by 31b 323m
drams or by 30.7%.