Author: Nahapetian Samvel

IRAN READY TO HELP SETTLE NAGORNO-KARABAKH DISPUTE

Tehran Times
March 16 2009
Iran

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Manoucheher Mottaki said on Friday that
Tehran is ready to mediate between Armenia and the Republic of
Azerbaijan over settling the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

"We talked to the Armenian foreign minister about Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, and in the last days we also talked to the foreign minister
of Azerbaijan in the framework of the ECO meeting," Mottaki told
reporters in joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart
Edward Nalbandyan in Yerevan.

Iran hosted the ECO summit on Wednesday in which Azerbaijan as a
member states was present.

"It has been the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran that this
conflict to be resolved peacefully and the Islamic Republic of Iran
declares its readiness to help the process of establishing peace
and security."

He said Iran’s "Caucasus diplomacy" in establishing dialogue with the
concerned parties has provided a diplomatic approach toward settling
the conflict.

Nalbandyan also said his country considers peace and stability in
the Caucasus region very important which he said will directly affect
economic development and the welfare of people.

The Armenian minster also said, "We consider the Islamic Republic of
Iran’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue to be a moderate and
constructive one."

Also Armenian President Serzh Azati Sargsyan, in a separate meeting
with Mottaki, said that Yerevan needs Iran’s assistance over a
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

Sargsyan said Iran plays important role in the Middle East and the
Caucasus.

He expressed hope that bilateral ties will increase considerabley,
adding that Armenia’s ultimate goal is to connect the Persian Gulf
to the Black Sea.

Mottaki said Tehran-Yerevan relations have been increasing under the
leadership of the two countries’ presidents.

He also said that Tehran spares no efforts to help settle thorny
issues in the Caucasus region

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2009 18:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Congress has nominated its
leader, Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, as the top
candidate for the post of Mayor of Yerevan.

"Taking into account the key role of the Mayor of Yerevan in political
and economic life of the Republic of Armenia, the ANC took the decision
to nominate Levon Ter-Petrosyan as the top candidate for the post,"
the ANC said in a statement issued today.

Besides, the Congress said it will continue talks with Heritage
opposition party for a joint participation in the election.

PanARMENIAN.Net

24 Armenian artists to exhibit in Cyprus
15.03.2009 00:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Cultural Association Hamazkayin
`Oshagan’ organised an exhibition of Armenian Cypriot artists at the
Utudjian Hall of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, Nicosia, under the
auspices of the Armenian Representative, Mr Vartkes Mahdessian.

Twenty four Armenian Cypriot artists of all ages proudly exhibited 88
works in total. The themes varied, ranging from paintings, mosaics,
mirrors and photographs to articles of clothing, jewellery, carpets,
chairs, pillows, silk works, wood works, patchworks and charms. This
plethora of exhibits reminded us that art is so much more than just
painting. The most sentimental piece was made by Tatiana Ferahian from
Limassol, a time capsule with bone remains from Armenian Genocide
martyrs, brought to Cyprus by her mother in 2005 from the Der Zor
Desert, a powerful reminder of the atrocities the Armenian nation
endured in the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th
centuries, yet it managed to survive, thrive and prosper.

The famous artist Vartan Tashdjian, who was also a speaker at the
exhibition, chose to display only one theme: the Melkonian. In his
seven paintings we were able to see the various buildings and yards of
the Melkonian, whose memory must never fade away and the fight for its
re-opening must never cease.

As previously mentioned, there were many forms of art and many types
of painting approaches. Perhaps the most traditionally Cypriot
paintings were those of Therese Kasparian-Petrides, one of which was
painted on a traditional old wooden door.

Hurriyet, Turkey
March 13 2009

‘Keep your genocide recognition pledge’

WASHINGTON – With nearly three weeks to go before U.S. President
Barack Obama’s planned visit to Turkey, leaders of pro-Armenian
lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have urged him to keep
his campaign promise to recognize the 1915 incidents as "genocide."

Obama is expected to arrive in Turkey in early April at the end of a
European tour, during which he will attend international meetings in
London, Strasbourg and Prague.

During last year’s election campaign, Obama had pledged to recognize
the 1915 incidents as "genocide". But Turkey warns that any formal
U.S. recognition will damage U.S.-Turkish ties in a major and lasting
way.

Several analysts say Obama’s visit to Turkey would weaken the chances
of U.S. "genocide" recognition in the short term.

Letter to Obama

In an effort to push the matter onto the president’s agenda, four key
pro-Armenian lawmakers sent a letter to Obama, reminding him of his
pledge and calling on him to keep this promise.

Democratic congressmen Adam Schiff and Frank Pallone and Republican
congressmen George Radanovich and Mark Kirk signed the letter,
according to the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), a leading
U.S.-Armenian group.The four members of congress thanked Obama for
last year’s promise, likening the Armenian deaths to the Holocaust.

"Whether it is today’s Sudanese government (which is accused of
genocide against the people of Darfur in Sudan) or yesterday’s Ottoman
empire, the perpetrators of genocide, as well as the victims, must
know that the United States will not shrink from confronting the
truth," the four lawmakers said.

"President Obama’s upcoming trip to Turkey presents a unique
opportunity to address the consequences of genocide and its denial,"
said Bryan Ardouny, the AAA’s executive director, also thanking the
four lawmakers for their initiative.

Panorama.am
16:00 10/03/2009

SERGEY LAVROV: AZERBAIJANI ANXIETY OF CSTO COLLECTIVE URGENT RESPONSE
FORCES IN VAIN

In his interview to Azerbaijani publication, the Foreign Minister of
Russia Sergey Lavrov said that the Azerbaijani parliament’s anxiety
regarding the creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) armed forces is in vain. `As far as I understand, this
question is linked to the decision to establish the CSTO collective
urgent response forces, which was passed at an irregular CSTO
session. I want to say straight off that any apprehension in this
regard is groundless,’ he said.

`For instance, contrary to NATO urgent response forces, the CSTO
forces will only be active in member-countries. The decision to use
these forces was adopted unilaterally by their presidents,’ explained
the Foreign Minister.

Key functions of the CSTO forces will be to repulse military
aggression, hold special operations to combat international terrorism
and forcible extremism, transnational organized crime, narcotics
trafficking and handle natural calamities. To fulfill these tasks, the
forces will include mobile military units, special interior ministry
divisions and security forces, said Mr. Lavrov.

Source: Panorama.am

Haroutiun Kushkian to be at top of BH list in Yerevan councillor
members’ elections

877

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Minister of Health Haroutiun
Kushkian will be at the top of Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
party’s list in Yerevan councillor members’ elections to be held in
May. Khachik Galstian, BH Chairman Gagik Tsarukian’s Spokesperson,
reported at the March 11 press conference. In response to the question
of why BH chose especially Health Minister’s candidature the
Spokesperson said that Yerevan is Armenia’s heart, and H. Kushkian as a
cardiologist will give the best solution to Yerevan’s problems.

According to K. Galstian, BH that will run for the election
individually is not afraid of the competiton of either the opposition
or coalition partners, even of RPA’s competition, and has great chances
of winning under conditions of a sound competition. The party is going
to use all its resources to ensure the election’s transparency.
According to K. Galstian, party’s authority is growing more and more,
the number of its members increases, especially many young people join
the party.

In response to NT correspondent’s question G. Tsarukian’s Spokesperson
refuted the rumors about the latter’s being appointed Prime Minister.

Armenian police solves brandy forgery in Gyumri city

YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. Armenia’s police have solved cases of
selling forged Armenian brandy in Gyumri and Yerevan cities, the press
service of the RA Police reports.

The police detected 37 bottles of forged brandy, including 25 bottles
of 20-year-old `Nairi’ and 12 bottles of three-year-old `Ararat’, in
one of the booths near Airarat trade mall in Yerevan.

The owner of the booth, 38-year-old Danielyan said he purchased the
bottles, labels and documentary stamps from an unknown citizen from
Airarat trade mall.

During the investigation, the police confiscated 66 bottles of forged
Armenian brandy from Ruben Kh., a vendor in the Gyumri central market.
The investigation showed that Ruben Kh. had been forging and selling
Armenian brandy since last November.

The forgers were selling a brown liquid they claimed to be genuine
Armenian brandy. An investigation is under way. Z. Sh. `0–

NATO delegation visits Armenia

armradio.am
10.03.2009 11:39

The joint delegation of NATO International Military Staff and
International Staff visits Armenia from 9to 13 March to assess the
recurrent stage of implementation of the Armenia-NATO Individual
Partnership Action Plan.

Members of the NATO delegation and experts of the Armenian agencies
involved in the process of implementation of the IPAP will discuss the
process and perspectives of reforms in the political, military,
democratic, legislative, judicial, security, economic, scientific,
ecological and other spheres.

The assessment of the recurrent stage of the IPAP implementation will
be summed up by a meeting in May in the North-Atlantic Council `
Armenia format.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: NEW PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE FOUND FOR CO-EXISTENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR

ArmInfo
2009-03-06 16:19:00

ArmInfo. ‘The cooperation of the state and the private sector should
become the basis of a new system of management. No effective system
of management can be built without this cooperation’, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at a scientific conference at the
Russian- Armenian (Slavonic) University Friday.

The premier is sure that new principles should be found for
co-existence of the government and the private sector as well as
new forms of managerial decisions. ‘We have set up a Council for
Competitiveness comprising representatives of the government and the
private sector where decisions are adopted jointly. We are developing
doctrines, conceptions and we have a single view of what we have to
do’, the premier said.

He said that a fierce dispute preceded the establishment of the Council
particularly with lawyers who thought the Government might replace
the Council. ‘We assume the responsibility that the decisions at the
Council will be adopted jointly with the private sector representatives
some of which represent the Armenian Diaspora, the people whose
personal success ensured their right to participate in adoption of
strategically important decisions for Armenia’, Tigran Sargsyan said.

PARTY IS OVER FOR ELTON’S FIXER
Robert Mendick

This is London
March 6 2009
UK

A party organiser to the stars has been made bankrupt after being
accused by one of his wealthiest clients of cheating over the bill.

Matthew James arranged events for such celebrities as Sir Elton John,
Kevin Spacey, Elvis Costello and Stella McCartney. But his glittering
business collapsed after he lost a High Court battle over the fees
for a party he organised for one of Britain’s richest men, property
tycoon Rafi Manoukian.

Mr Manoukian withheld the final £200,000 instalment of the £825,000
bill for the party at Sir Elton’s home, unhappy with aspects of
the service and angry that Mr James was making a further £50,000 in
commission from suppliers. DNA Productions sued to recover the money
but found itself on the losing end of a costly High Court battle,
which ended last year.

This week, Mr James was declared bankrupt, unable to pay Mr Manoukian’s
legal costs of about £450,000. DNA Productions (Europe) has also
been wound up. At his home in Earl’s Court, Mr James today said:
"I am no cheat. It’s a complicated matter."

Mr James, 33, a former drama student, made his name organising Sir
Elton’s White Tie and Tiara Ball, held annually at the pop star’s
home in Windsor. These events were increasingly outlandish. At one,
he recreated a scene from an 18th-century French painting during
which staff wore powdered wigs. Mr James even introduced zebras and
giraffes at a safari-themed party.

For Spacey, he designed an airport lounge to celebrate the Hollywood
actor’s tenure at the Old Vic. He also arranged Stella McCartney’s
wedding and a party to celebrate the first anniversary of her fashion
shop. Other celebrities who had sung his company’s praises included
P Diddy, George Michael and the Duchess of York.

But Mr James, who set up his business 10 years ago, came unstuck over
Mr Manoukian’s party in December 2006. The Armenian businessman, said
to be worth up to £250 million, and his wife Jo, 35, a former model,
hired DNA to stage a joint celebration for his 50th birthday and the
christening of their daughter Fimi, now aged four. The party was a
typically extravagant affair. The 200 guests included the couple’s
close friends David and Victoria Beckham, Elizabeth Hurley, Gordon
Ramsay and Elle Macpherson. They drank Dom Perignon champagne, ate
chocolates served in chocolate "glass slippers" and danced on a floor
made out of mirrors.

The court effectively ruled that DNA had grossly overcharged Mr
Manoukian and had routinely concealed the true costs of events to
other clients. MrJames said: "The party seemed to go very well. It
was only afterwards he said he was upset with some of it."

He added: "People’s perceptions of me are always very
over-glorified. We were not some super-slick outfit. We had stumbled
into it. People like Sir Elton were not my friends. They were my
clients."

Mr James’s legal case was not helped by an email, accidentally sent
to Mr Manoukian, which revealed how he hid costs from his clients. The
email, meant for a supplier, said: "When you do quote, could you also
just include 10 per cent commission to us hidden in the quote? We
have to show the client our invoices which is why we need the written
quote and also the commission included."

Mr Justice Evans-Lombe said: "Matthew James accepted it was DNA’s
practice to conceal from its clients that it was receiving commissions
or discounts in addition to an event management fee." DNA went into
voluntary liquidation last year. It was £200,000 short on the party,
and owed about £100,000 to its own lawyers and about £450,000 for Mr
Manoukian’s costs. On Monday in the High Court, Mr Manoukian had Mr
James made personally bankrupt too.

A source close to the case said today: "Matthew James was
double-dipping. He got caught out and has gone bust. He has got just
what he deserved."