Author: Nahapetian Samvel

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 20 2008

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEOPLE READY TO CONTINUE DEMOCRATIC STATE’S
CONSTRUCTION

YEREVAN, 20.02.08. DE FACTO. Today the whole Nagorno-Karabakh
celebrates the 20th jubilee of the Artsakh national-liberation
movement.

The festivities started with a rally held at the Stepanakert central
square – the Revival Square, where the original reconstruction of
historic events of twenty years’ prescription took place. On February
20, 1988 the joint session of the Council of People’s deputies of
NKAR and Shahumian region made a decision on petition before the USSR
Supreme Soviet concerning transmission of Armenian autonomous region
>From Azerbaijani SSR to Armenian SSR. This day commenced a new stage
of the Karabakh national liberation movement, which resulted in
declaring independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in September of 1991.

The rally’s participants reaffirmed the correctness of the path
Nagorno-Karabakh people have chosen. They expressed readiness to
defend the achievements of the past 20 years and continue struggle
for the achievement of international recognition of NKR’s de facto
statehood. A statement of the NKR National Assembly was promulgated
in the course of the rally and met with all the participants’
approval. The statement’s authors underscore the Nagorno-Karabakh
people’s readiness to continue the construction of a democratic state
and formation of civil society, to settle the conflict with
Azerbaijan exclusively via talks.

On February 19 a solemn meeting devoted to a memorable date – the
20th anniversary of the Artsakh national-liberation movement – was
held in Stepanakert. The NKR National Assembly Chair made a report at
the meeting. He noted Azerbaijan’s discriminatory policy was targeted
at the native Armenian population’s eviction, which made Karabakh
movement inevitable. According to Ashot Gulian, on February 20, 1988
`the Nagorno-Karabakh people stated to the whole world that ten years
ago they had been deprived of the right to be independent arbiters of
their own destiny’.

WE DO NOT RUSH

Panorama.am
15:08 25/02/2008

Official Yerevan does not rush to make final judgments on Kosovo’s
independence declaration. Today Vardan Oskanyan and Jan Kubis the
minister of the foreign affairs minister of Slovakia and the president
of ministers’ committee of the Council of Europe held a meeting and
Oskanyan said;

"We should announce about our position in a more convenient moment".

WHAT WILL THEY WHISPER IN DASHNAKTSUTYUN’S EAR AT THIS HAVEN?
GEVORG SARGSYAN

Lragir
14:25:32 – 21/02/2008

`We state with responsibility that the only way out of this situation
is to rule out possible breaches of the election code and election
fraud and to hold a genuine free, fair and transparent election.’ This
is a passage from the statement of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body
on February 13. Besides, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun candidate and the
others in charge have stated at various occasions they will not allow
election fraud and will fight all the way through.

However, the election is past, while the ARF Dashnaktsutyun would not
pronounce whether the election was free and fair, there was election
fraud or there was no election fraud. Of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun leaders
only Hrant Margaryan has stated that they have lost the election, they
are studying the situation and will make a statement on one of these
days. Defeat is a defeat, it is a relative notion, whereas the stance
of the national party and its assessment of the election interests many
people on these days. After all, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun does not belong
only to the ARF Dashnaktsutyun members, it is a national value, as the
members of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun righteously mention. So the nation is
eager to know the opinion of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun on this election.

The behavior of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun leaders on the eve of the
presidential election reassured that in the end after lasting ambiguous
collaboration with the present government and the disgraceful policy in
Karabakh over the past few years the party has decided to act
independently. On the one hand, conformism does not suit the image this
party, on the other hand, the central role of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun in
the home political life in Armenia is acknowledged. Despite doubts that
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun is playing the game of the government, the
society was eager to disbelieve this. For its part, the government was
worried about the behavior of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, which could have
a crucial role in bringing into being or thwarting the government plot
of reproduction.

On the day of vote, in the morning Serge Sargsyan stated after voting
that if he is elected, he will see no need for changing the staff of
the government, because this government is efficient. And as an
instance of collaboration with other forces he mentioned the example of
the Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) Party and the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun. Bargavach Hayastan itself perhaps is not collaboration.
The problem is the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

What will they whisper in Dashnaktsutyun’s ear this time or at this
haven? Perhaps it no longer makes a difference to the society because
it is fed up with justifications for the sake of stability, continuity,
or whatever. What makes a difference to the society is what if they
whisper in its ear the following: it is not worthwhile traveling with
old friends. This would be the real defeat of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

KIRK KERKORIAN CONGRATULATED SERZH SARGSYAN

Panorama.am
13:31 23/02/2008

Kirk Kerkorian has sent a congratulatory message to Serzh Sargsyan
on victory in presidential elections.

The message states:

"Dear President-Elect Serzh Sargsyan, please accept my warm
congratulations on your election as Armenia’s 3rd President. My hope
is that, by encouraging investments and creating new jobs, you will
succeed in improving the economy of Armenia. May God give you strength
and determination to carry out all of your plans for the good of the
Armenian nation."

He wished the president good health and success, along with peace and
prosperity for Armenia; He mentioned that he was looking forward to
hear of positive developments in Armenia in the months and years ahead.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, EFFORTS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CONVINCE SUPPORTERS OF SERGE SARGSIAN TO GIVE UP THIER INTENTION TO GO TO YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Efforts of marz (regional) and local
authorities made it possible on February 22 to convince the voters of
the cities of Abovian and Artashat, who voted for the presidential
candidate Serge Sargsian, to give up their intention of heading to
Yerevan and to return to their places of residence, NT correspondent
was informed by the RA Police PR and Information Department.

ARA ABRAHAMIAN CONGRATULATES SERGE SARGISAN ON OCCASION OF BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ara Abrahamian,
the Chairman of the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians
in Russia, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, sent a congratulatory message
to Prime Minister Serge Sargsian on the occasion of being elected RA
President. The message, in particular, read:

"Dear Mr Serge Sargsian

We accepted with much satisfaction the fact of your election on the
post of the President of the Republic of Armenia.

Let me on behalf of the World Armenian Congress and Union of Armenians
in Russia warmly congratulate you and wish you as the leader of the
Republic of Armenia much success in implementation of your programs
aimed at further growth of the country’s economy, rise of the people’s
living standards, creation of an atmosphere of stability, peace,
and solidarity in the country, strengthening of Armenia’s positions
in the international arena, and further development of cooperation
between Armenia and Russia.

I wish good health and success to you and your family.

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE TO VISIT SOUTH CAUCASUS

armradio.am
21.02.2008 15:07

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva,
will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan on 25-28 February.

He will meet the three countries’ presidents, foreign ministers and
parliamentary speakers as well as with representatives of opposition
parties to discuss OSCE-related topics, bilateral and international
issues.

Elections also will be discussed, as all three South Caucasus countries
will have elections this year. The OSCE monitored the 19 February
presidential elections in Armenia Georgia will hold parliamentary
elections in May and voters in Azerbaijan elect a new president
in October.

The Chairman-in-Office seeks to promote progress in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and in the Georgian-Ossetian
conflict resolution. The OSCE has a mandate to support the sides in
their search for the resolution of these conflicts.

Minister Kanerva will use the trip to emphasize the importance of
stability and democratic reforms and the role of the OSCE in supporting
such development in the countries.

The so-called protracted conflicts erupted in the early 1990s as the
Soviet Union dissolved.

FEBRUARY 20: UNIFICATION, ELECTION FRAUD AND IMMORTAL FIDEL CASTRO
Naira Hayrumyan

Karabakh
21-02-2008 11:24:30

At the central square of Stepanakert, like 20 years ago, a rally
took place on February 20. High school and university students, who
have heard from their parents about the year 1988, chanted but not
"unification".

They chanted "recognition".

In Yerevan Levon Ter-Petrosyan held a rally. People, however, did not
chant "unification". They chanted "election fraud". Armenia held a
presidential election and according to the preliminary information,
Serge Sargsyan has won. Who would imagine in 1988 that 20 years later
Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Serge Sargsyan would compete for the post of
president of Armenia? Real "unification"!

At the end of February we felt spring is close. The impression is
that ice started drifting on the big river. The world recognized the
independence of Kosovo. Immortal Fidel resigned. In "non-democratic"
Pakistan the opposition party won which demands the resignation of
President Musharraf.

What will happen next this spring?

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
February 20, 2008
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-WR Starts Off 2008 with Major Outreach to Student Groups

Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee – Western Region
(ANC-WR) continues to reach out to students throughout the western
United States in the new year, presenting to nearly two dozen student
groups and campuses in the past month. Since mid-January, ANC-WR
Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian has visited several
campuses including CSU Northridge, CSU Pomona, Los Angeles Valley
College, Loyola Marymount University, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC
San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, USC, and
Woodbury University.

"I thought it was a great visit, and the meeting was great as well. I
found it very educational, as well as the rest of the ASA members. We
were also able to meet and become familiar with the San Diego ANC
chapter," remarked Narek Amirbekian, president of UC San Diego’s
Armenian Student Association (ASA).

Lusine Harutyunyan, CSUN Northridge ASA Vice President appreciated the
campus visit and noted that this has helped build strong working
relationships between the ANC and the ASAs on several campuses.

"Even though I have heard Haig speak many times before, I always learn
something new each time," said Harutyunyan.

"It was great that the ANC came to campus all the way from Los
Angeles," said UC Berkley’s ASA President Arbi Vartan. "Our members
got a much better understanding of what the ANC advocates from the
special video presentation, and it was a great experience for the
students, since a lot of them are interested in community activism and
Armenian-American issues."

In the past month, Hovsepian has also met with the Arizona, Glendale,
Hollywood, Montebello, Orange County, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley,
and South Bay Armenian Youth Federation chapters in addition to
presenting at a recent youth leadership luncheon hosted by the
Committee for Armenian Students in Public High Schools. He discussed
the internship program with students at Rose & Alex Pilibos High
School in Hollywood, CA. In the coming months, Hovsepian will visit
more college campuses and youth groups as well as Los Angeles area
high schools to raise awareness of ANC internship and volunteer
opportunities.

"This outreach is key to making sure that high school and college
students are up-to-date on the issues and lets them know that we value
their active participation in the community," said Hovsepian. "They
are highly motivated and interested in learning how they can make a
difference. We look forward to working with them as student leaders
and as participants in our internship programs," he added.

Applications for the upcoming 2008 Summer Session of the ANC-WR’s
Internship-Externship Program are now available online at
in the Capital Gateway Program section. The deadline, March 1st is
fast approaching and those interested in learning more about the
program are encouraged to contact the ANC-WR office.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots public affairs
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANC-WR promotes awareness of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.

CIS IPA: ARMENIA PROVED READY FOR HOLDING FAIR ELECTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.02.2008 13:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia has secured all essential conditions for
conduction of a fair election, head of the CIS IPA observation mission
Alexander Torshin told a news conference today.

He said the 180-member mission launched activities on January 22, 2008.

"We have fixed some minor technical violations," he said.

"The CIS IPA mission has concluded that the Armenian voters were
offered the possibility of free expression of will. The election
proceeded in compliance with the RA Electoral Code," he said.

According to preliminary data, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan
won the February 19 presidential race with 52% of votes.