Author: Nahapetian Samvel

MINISTER’S OFFICIAL VISIT OVER

Panorama.am
14:50 01/03/2008

On 28 February the Armenian delegation headed by the Defense Minister
of the Republic of Armenia (RA) went to Tbilisi, Georgia. Today
the delegation visited St, Gevorg Church and met with Bishop Vazgen
Mirzakhanyan the Holy Father of the Armenians living in Georgia.

According to Seyran Shahsuvaryan, the press secretary of the Defense
Minister, the delegation headed by the Defense Minister Michael
Harutyunyan visited Armenian Embassy in Georgia. They met with Armenian
deputies in Georgian Parliament Van Baiburti, Hamlet Movsisyan, and
Melik Raisyan, as well as the president of the Georgian Armenians
unity Gena Mardoyan.

The sides came to a conclusion that the role of the Armenian Georgian
unities is of great significance to strengthen the Armenian-Georgian
relations. The Defense Minister~Rs labor meetings are over in Georgia
and the delegation returned back to Armenia on 1 March.

Source: Panorama.am

DISCUSSION ON ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION HELD IN BRUSSELS

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.02.2008 20:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s ambassador to NATO Samvel Lazarian met
with new Secretary General of NATO Parliamentary Assembly David Hobbs,
who assumed the office on January 1, 2008.

The officials discussed further activities of the NATO PA and
preparation for the spring session in Berlin, which will focus on
the development of Alliance’s new military doctrine, situation in
Afghanistan, cyber crimes and energy issues, the RA MFA press office
reported.

90 TENTS OF SIT-DOWN STRIKERS SET UP IN FREEDOM SQUARE ON FEBRUARY 28

Noyan Tapan
Feb 28, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. About a hundred people are taking
part in peaceful actions in support of the national movement in
Noyemberian region, Nikol Pashinian, member of the pre-election
headquarters of the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian,
stated at the February 28 rally.

He said that although the number of participants in this action
is not big, the important thing is that the national movement is
spreading all over Armenia. "The whole country, all the people must
struggle against these illegal authorities," N. Pashinian stated. He
announced that despite police pressure and the fact that the cars
of rally participants are moved away to "penalty area", there are 90
tents of sit down strike participants in Freedom Square.

Nikol Pashinian informed those present that members of special
detachments continue to stand near Yerevan higher educational
institutions with the aim of preventing students from taking part in
actions organized by supporters of L. Ter-Petrosian. At the same time,
N. Pashinian stated that despite police pressure, a lot of students
participate in rallies and processions every day, and the students
of Gyumri Polytechnical Institute have joined the strike of Yerevan
students.

During the rally, the call of 60 employees of the National Academy
of Sciences (NAS) to the Armenian people was read. The employees of
the NAS call on people not to watch the programs of the television
companies spreading false information. They appeal to the television
companies to provide comprehensive coverage of the events in the
country.

21 FILMS DIGITALIZED

Panorama.am
20:51 26/02/2008

Starting from October, 2007 until today Yerevan Studio has
digitalized 21 films, Yerevan Studio Chief Engineer Gagik Hakobyan
told Panorama.am. In his words, 30 films are expected to be digitalized
annually. "We have no problems connected with digitalization in terms
of technology and funds. However, if we had better equipment, we
would progress more quickly," Hakobyan mentioned. In his words, Public
Television provides all the funds necessary for digitalization. The
technology for the digitalization of films is conditionally named
"Toros Roslin." Yerevan Studio Director Levon Galstyan said that
not only they hope to improve the physical state of films with the
new technology but also to reproduce better colors.

CollectifVAN.org, France
Feb. 26, 2008

`Vahan Cardashian: Advocate Extraordinaire for the Armenian Cause’

PRESS RELEASE
NEW PUBLICATION – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOOK REVIEW
`Vahan Cardashian: Advocate Extraordinaire for the Armenian Cause,’
compiled by Vartkes Yeghiayan
353 pp. CAR Publishing, $25.00 ISBN: 978-0-9777153-3-6

The new book `Vahan Cardashian: Advocate Extraordinaire for the
Armenian Cause,’ compiled by Attorney Vartkes Yeghiayan, offers the
discriminating reader an eye-opening, jaw-dropping experience. This
work finally reveals America’s role in the Armenian Genocide. It also
exposes America’s ultimate calculated betrayal of the Armenian Cause.

Attorney Vahan Cardashian (1883-1934) was a Classical Hero who came
out of nowhere, engaged in a Sisyphean struggle against the most
powerful forces in human affairs, and paid the ultimate price by
dying young from a broken political heart. His cause in life was the
Armenian Cause, a Cause that America championed only to discard it
soon after for economic self-interests. For three decades from 1908
until his death in 1934, American Citizen and Armenian Patriot Vahan
Cardashian grappled with the most vital values and issues in the
history of humankind.

The book discloses that nine months before the Armenian Genocide
began on April 1915, the New York-based attorney sounded the
following warning in a letter to then U.S. Secretary of War the
Honorable Lindley M. Garrison:

`I have information, bearing on the program of the Turkish
Government, to be put into operation in the event of Turkey’s being
involved in the European War with reference to all the native and
foreign Christians in Turkey . . . Unless some powerful restraining
forces are brought into play from without, you can rest assured that
the Turk, with the opportunity for untrammeled action, such as he now
believes to enjoy, will perpetrate upon helpless humanity the most
ghastly horrors of his entire loathsome career.’

Cardashian’s clarion call, however, was dismissed outright. And the
rest is tragic history.

PO BOX 250322

Glendale, CA 91225-0322

(818) 281-9992

[email protected]

Center for Armenian Remembrance

AVAILABLE AT …

, and the following booksellers.

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Interfax, Russia
Russia & CIS
February 20, 2008

Russian expert fears clashes between authorities, Ter-Petrosian
supporters

MOSCOW Feb 20

Supporters of former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian, who came
second at the February 19 presidential elections in Armenia, could
incite the current authorities into forced confrontations, CIS
Studies Institute Director, Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin said.

"The most negative consequence of this election could be that a part
of the Armenian political elite and some supporters of Ter-Petrosian
will be looking for confrontation," Zatulin, who is visiting Armenia
as a member of an electoral monitoring mission, told Interfax on
Wednesday.

"[Armenian Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan, who according to
preliminary information won the election, and Robert Kocharian, who
still remains in the office of the president, are not the people who
will allow the situation to destabilize and entrusts the destiny of
the country’s authorities to street protest actions," the political
expert said.

"The camp of Ter-Petrosian understands this and probably hopes that
by provoking forced confrontations on behalf of the authorities, it
will compromise them before the West and the international arena,"
Zatulin said.

"Clashes between Ter-Petrosian and the authorities could happen
sooner or later," he said.

Observers noted provocative actions on behalf of some representatives
of Ter-Petrosian’s headquarters, the expert said.

"Apparently, they try to ‘crack down’ on the situation and to
escalate it," Zatulin said.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Feb. 20, 2008

TURKISH MINISTER SAYS KARABAKH SHOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO AZERBAIJAN

Moscow, 20 February: Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said [on]
Wednesday [20 February] that Turkey believedUpper Karabakh should be
given back to Azerbaijan.

Babacan, who is currently in Russian capital of Moscow, replied to
questions of Russian journalists after completing his talks.

Commenting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Babacan said Turkey
desired UN Security Council’s decisions to be implemented regarding
the Karabakh issue and the invasion on Azerbaijani territory should
be ended.

Replying to a question on Iran’s nuclear programme, Babacan said
problems related to such issue should be solvedthrough diplomatic
means and in a peaceful way.

Middle East

Upon a question, Babacan said Turkey had no secret agenda regarding
Middle East and its only desire was to see peace and stability in the
region.

He said Turkey had a balancing role and a reliable position in the
region, adding that Turkey was ready to use theimportant
communication channels it had as a tool to solve the problems and to
provide peace.

Cooperation in energy

Commenting on the cooperation between Russia and Turkey regarding
energy issue, Babacan said, during his talks withRussian Energy
Minister Viktor Khristenko, they discussed the current and potential
cooperation opportunities betweenthe countries.

Babacan said Russia and Turkey were not rivals but they had
complementary roles regarding energy issue.

Kosovo

Replying to a question on Kosovo, Babacan said the international
community was divided and had different views onsuch issue.

"Every country has a different legal and political assessment. We
respect Russia’s assessments as well.However, ours are different.
Consequently, we recognized Kosovo’s independence on Monday," he
said.

Foreign Minister Babacan is scheduled to return to Turkey later on
Wednesday.

DETAINED GAGIK JHANGIRYAN AND SMBAT AYVAZYAN ARRESTED

arminfo
2008-02-25 15:34:00

ArmInfo. Ex-deputy Prosecutor General of Armenia Gagik Jhangiryan,
detained on February 23, has been arrested, the Department of
Information and Public Relations of RA Police told ArmInfo today. To
recall, G. Jhangiryan openly claimed of his support of RA presidential
contender Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

According to the message, ex-Minister of State Incomes of Armenia
Smbat Ayvazyan, detained the day before, has also been arrested. He has
been arraigned per part 1, Article 316 of RA Criminal Code "violence
with respect of power representatives". To recall, Smbat Ayvazyan
is member of the "Republic" oppositional party, which supports Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s candidacy.

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN AND HIS SUPPORTERS WILL FINALLY APPEAR IN PRISON, EDITORS-IN-CHIEF OF ARAVOT AND AZG PREDICT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The public has not accepted the
results of this presidential election: those who have not voted
for Serge Sargsian do not admit that the candidate they prefer,
in particular, Levon Ter-Petrosian, has lost the elections. Aram
Abrahamian, the editor-in-chief of the Aravot daily, expressed such
an opinion at the February 22 press conference.

Hakob Avetikian, the editor-in-chief of the Azg daily, considers
normal the current revolt of the opposition after the competitive
elections. At the same time he said that part of society accepts the
results of the presidential elections. In H. Avetikian’s opinion,
not only the weather, but also the political atmosphere will clear
up in the coming days.

A. Abrahamian gave assurance that one of the reasons of the
formed situation is the lack of a national leader in the political
sphere. According to him, all elections have been falsified since
1995 and society does not trust the legitimacy of the authorities,
the Constitution. As A. Abrahamian estimated, the will of society
and the authorities is needed for positive changes in this issue. He
said that much depends especially on the ruling clique. "That is, if
a person has power, money, a jeep, an establishment, he is indignant
with the fact that some people are to take away all this from him by
throwing some papers," he said. In A. Abrahamian’s opinion, all this
will be changed only in case the authorities are also reconciled with
the idea of defeat and society understands that it is very important
to have a legal power.

According to A. Abrahamian, L. Ter-Petrosian will not leave his
business unfinished to go "to have tea" as Stepan Demirchian did. "He
will go up to the end, which in this case will be prison. He will be
imprisoned together with his supporters," Aravot’s editor-in-chief
predicted. And society, in his words, will be once more disappointed
with the authorities, the opposition, the country.

As H. Avetikian predicted, first of all the Yerkrapahs will appear
in prison, as they are armed. And L. Ter-Petrosian, in his words,
cannot retreat after all this, as all bridges of return have been
already burnt.

CE MINISTERS COMMITTEE CHAIR JAN KUBIS VISITS ARMENIA ON FEB 25

ARKA
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Chairman of the CE Ministers Committee,
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Jan Kubis paid a one-day official visit
to Armenia on February 25.

The Chairman’s meeting with RA President Robert Kocharian, RA NA
(National Assembly) Speaker Tigran Torosian, Prime Minister Serge
Sargsian and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is scheduled today,
the RA Foreign Ministry’s press service reports