Author: Nahapetian Samvel

CANADIAN ARMENIANS COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE

AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2008

Genocide

Ottawa – The Canadian-Armenian community and Armenians around the
world will soon commemorate 93rd Anniversary of the death of 1.5
million Armenians exterminated during the first genocide of the 20th
century by Ottoman Turkey.

In Canada, The various commemoration events will culminate on
Parliament Hill on April 24. Religious leaders, representatives
of other community organizations, political representatives, and
representatives of other genocide victim nations will attend the
commemoration ceremony in Ottawa.

Several speakers will address the gathering and a ceremony dedicated
to the disappeared will take place near the Eternal Flame.

POOR FAMILIES DISCUSSED IN GOVERNMENT

Panorama.am
17:13 16/04/2008

"The objective of the country and the government is to smooth the
social results caused by the increase of prices, particularly natural
gas price increase," said Vazgen Khachikyan, the president of social
investment foundation.

He mentioned that the government will take measures for the vulnerable
families. "The pensioners will get financial support from the
government which is being discussed," he said.

Note that yesterday the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced that
from May 1 the natural gas price will increase because the grant given
by the Government is over; thus the citizens should pay 84 drams in
stead of former 59 for one cubic meter.

CASES OF 20 SUSPECTED PARTICIPANTS IN MASS UNREST IN YEREVAN PASSED TO COURTS

Interfax News Agency
April 15 2008
Russia

Twenty criminal cases against people suspected of taking part in mass
unrest in Yerevan on March 1 have been passed to courts, the Armenian
Prosecutor General’s Office said on Tuesday.

Seventy-eight people suspected of taking part in mass unrest remain
in custody, and 16 others were obliged not to leave the city. Three
more suspects have been arrested.

The Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating a criminal case
on the organization of mass unrest with the aim of seizing power in
Yerevan on March 1-2. The case is being investigated by the Special
Investigative Service.

Ten people were killed and more than 180 injured on March 1-2 in
clashes between police and demonstrators supporting presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, who refused to agree to the official
outcomes of the February 19, 2008 presidential elections.

125 PERSONAL CRIMES RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN JAN-FEB 2008

ARKA
April 14, 2008

YEREVAN, April 14. /ARKA/. 125 personal crimes were recorded in
Armenia in January-February 2008 – a 4.6% decrease as compared with
the corresponding period last year.

The RA Statistical Service reports that seven of the crimes were
murders, 61 deliberate harm to health, eight sexual crimes.

Two rapes and attempted rapes were recorded – a 14.1% decrease as
compared with the corresponding period last year.

Forty-eight other personal crimes were recorded in January-February
2008.

From: Catholicosate of Cilicia <[email protected]>
Subject: ANTELIAS: Not Correct To Blame Religion As A Root Cause Of Violence

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"IT IS NOT CORRECT TO BLAME RELIGION AS A ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE"

Stated His Holiness Aram I in Barcelona

BARCELONA – In a context of a long intervention at an International
inter-religious conference taking place in Barcelona, His Holiness Aram I
addressed on the inter-connection between the religion and violence. He
said: "There is a growing tendency particularly in the western societies to
blame religion, as the cause of violence. This is an incorrect approach. We
should not blame religion as the cause of violence. We should rather blame
those, who exploit religion for their personal and political agendas by
using religious feelings to generate violence. Leaders of religion have a
responsibility not to allow religion to be misused or abused".

According to His Holiness "the root causes of violence are in global
governance, injustice, impunity, corruption, poverty and in abuse of power.
When religion is identified with power and powerful, with oppressive and
unjust structures and ideologies, then it becomes part of conflict".

Considering religion as a source of spiritual and moral values and
principals, Catholicos Aram I called for religious leaders and stakeholders
of civil society "to work together as partners to make use of the rich
potential of religion for peace building". Within this framework, Catholicos
Aram I spelled out three critical issues that needs to be given deeper
reflection. These are: Lack of mutual trust, decay of moral values, the
necessity of living together as a community.

In his concluding remarks Aram I said: "We have enough declarations,
messages, statements, communiqués on the importance of the inter-religious
dialogue. This is the time to translate our common word to common action.
Therefore, we need to initiate people oriented action processes aimed at
living together peacefully, by creating partnerships, establishing networks
of advocacy and by developing shared values".

##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos232.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos233.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA
April 10 2008
Armenia

On April 9 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Armenia Mr. Tigran Torosyan received the President of the Senate of
the Czech Republic Mr. Pøemysl Sobotka, who was in Armenia to take
part in the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President
of the Republic of Armenia. The Ambassador of Armenia to the Czech
Republic Mr. Ashot Hovakimyan attended the meeting.

Welcoming the guest the President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigra
Torosyan expressed satisfaction that Mr. Slobotka was in Yerevan
this important day for Armenia. It’s a day when the past 10-year
achievements are summed up and the futher activities are outlined.

The NA President expressed confidence that the visit of the President
of the Senate of the Czech Republic will also promote the development
of the inter-parliamentary relations. Saying that there have been
traditional friendly relations between two peoples, Mr. Torosyan noted
that even in case of very good relations there is a need of everyday
work. The relations with the Czech Republic were highlighted as a
country of the Eastern Europe that passed a hard and instructive
path as a result of post-Soviet transformation. Its experience is
very useful for Armenia in the aspect of European integration and
has good perspectives for the development of bilateral relations.

The President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Mr. Pøemysl Sobotka
noted that receiving the invitation of the inauguration ceremony of
the newly elected president he immediately responded and was happy
to be in Armenia in this important day. In the globalizing world it
became possible to rapidly reduce the distances due to modern means
of communication but nothing replaces human communication. So, Mr.

Sobotka is for direct relations and at the invitation of the President
of the National Assembly in September he is going to visit again
Armenia. He highlighted the role of Armenia in the region, noting
the great attention towards our country in the European Union.

He said that there were 18 issues for discussion but due to lack of
time those issues would be delayed till September.

Mr. Sobotka sees the necessity of signing inter-governmental agreements
after the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries,
which will enable the Czech businessmen to make investments in
Armenia and develop trade-economic and scientific-cultural relations
with Armenia.

At the meeting the sides also touched upon the post-electoral
processes. At the request of the President of the Senate of the Czech
Republic Mr. Pøemysl Sobotka the President of the National Assembly
told about the March 1st events, noting that they were tragic events
not connected with the elections, which are under examination in
the prosecutor’s office and those guilty will bear responsibility
within the framework of law. Mr. Tigran Torosyan also noted that by
the recommendation of the newly elected President Mr.

Serzh Sargsyan a coalition of political forces had been formed, the
candidacy of the future Prime Minister had been already defined,
and next week the government will also be formed. Mr. Sobotka
expressed satisfaction that the life in Armenia is coming back to
its normal, and expressing success invited the President of the
National Assembly on an official visit to the Czech Republic, noting
that the inter-parliamentary relations are the important part of the
inter-governmental relations and they open a path in other spheres
for cooperation.

–Boundary_(ID_B34U2QJzedw1BerZ13PAL A)–

"FRIENDS OF ARMENIAN CULTURE" COMPANY TO HOLD ANNUAL ARMENIAN EVENING ON JUNE 21

Noyan Tapan
April 8, 2008

LONDON, APRIL 8, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. "Friends of Armenian
Culture" company will hold the annual 57th Armenian evening on
June 21. As the electronic sites report, 19-year-old pianist Narek
Arghamanian from Armenia will feature during the evening.

ARMENIA’S RECOGNITION OF KARABAKH SHOULDN’T BE A ‘SINGLE SHOT’

KarabakhOpen
06-04-2008 21:09:20

"However, such a move on behalf of the Republic of Armenia, to put
it figuratively, should not be a single shot. It must be followed by
similar statements by other countries. If no preparations have been
made, it is necessary to get to work as new international relations
are being established," Masis Mayilyan said.

"Theoretically, it would be desirable if Azerbaijan were among
countries which will recognize NKR first. In that case the
conflict would be settled, and opportunities for effective regional
cooperation, beneficial for all the nations of the South Caucasus,
would appear. However, since our neighbors are not ready for such
actions, NKR and Armenia must pursue a policy on the Karabakh issue in
two parallel directions. On the one hand, it is necessary to resume
the talks in the full three-party format under the aegis of the OSCE
Minsk Group, on the other hand, it is necessary to work with separate
countries and international organizations for the de jure recognition
of NKR. Such an approach is positive in every sense since the least
success on the second track will help the Minsk process move forward,"
he said.

A ‘solo’ recognition of NKR by Armenia would be of vital necessity
in case of armed aggression against NKR on behalf of Azerbaijan,
according to him.

"Meanwhile, in this phase it would be expedient to establish a legal
basis for the military cooperation of the two states. It will help
to solve a number of issues, including that of the military service
of volunteers from Armenia in the NKR Army of Defense. It is evident
that the NKR Army of Defense defends not only the border of NKR but
also the eastern border of the Republic of Armenia, from the ridge
of Mrav to the Armenian and Iranian border in the south. It is also
necessary to set down in an agreement the status of the Republic of
Armenia as a guarantor of the security of NKR and its people," he said.

As to Azerbaijan’s attempt to replace the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
Mr Mayilyan said, "The recent actions of the Azerbaijani side were
like blackmail rather than real steps toward changing the composition
of the co-chairs or to thwart the Minsk process. The point is that
besides Azerbaijan there are other sides of the conflict, and the
choice of mediators is not made by one of them. All the three sides
should agree. To some extent, this blackmail was successful. I was
a bit surprised at the excusing tone of the interview of one of
the co-chairs".

PanARMENIAN.Net

European Commission: Armenia achieved progress in
Armenia-EU Action Plan implementation
04.04.2008 19:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Commission Directorate
for External Relations has issued `Implementation of
the European Neighborhood Policy in 2007′ Progress
Report Armenia.

The report says, in part:

`Armenia made progress in several important areas in
the implementation of the ENP Action Plan, despite
delays caused by parliamentary elections in May 2007
and internal coordination problems between different
Armenian ministries. Good progress was achieved in
particular in the areas of judiciary reform, the
administration of elections and the Ombudsperson
Institution. Of key importance for 2008 will be proper
implementation of recently adopted legislation.

`The conduct of the February 2008 presidential
elections raised concerns, in particular the state of
emergency that was introduced in their aftermath. The
events have shown the necessity for further
improvement in the field of human rights despite the
progress achieved in 2007. The issue of corruption
still needs to be addressed. Progress was achieved
regarding human rights but there is room for further
improvement. Armenia has widely aligned with CFSP
declarations and is generally very active in
cooperating on CFSP-related issues.

`This document reports on overall progress made on the
implementation of the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan
between November 2006 and 31 December 2007, although
developments outside this period are also considered
when deemed relevant. It is not a general review of
the political and economic situation in Armenia.’

THE ONLY GOAL – TO SATISFY ONE’S OWN AMBITIONS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 05, 2008

According to SAMVEL BABAYAN, `None of the freedom fighters had the
right to stand next to L. Ter-Petrosyan in 2008, because he never made
any statement on changing his standpoint with regard to the Artsakh
issue.

Therefore, the candidate and the team desiring to return to power had
not set any national or ideological task. The only goal some people
could have pursued by appearing next to this particular candidate was
just to satisfy their own ambitions.

It was obvious that some people would resign from posts during the
tenure of Serge Sargsyan. And these were the people who, in the
pre-election period, resorted to blackmail with the purpose of securing
their position for an additional period of 5 years. As to the rest,
they just followed L. Ter-Petrosyan immediately, because he was
promising everything. Such is the reality.’