Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Exit poll by Alliance civil initiative gives victory to Levon Ter-Petrossyan

2008-02-19 20:54:00

ArmInfo. Alliance civil initiative has conducted an exit poll at 100 polling
stations. They have questioned 4,406 people. 3,550 of them (66%) agreed to
answer.

The vice chairman of Alliance Gevork Melikyan says that …
474 people (15.5%) voted for Artur Bagdassaryan,
40 (1.3%) for Artashes Gegamyan,
38 (1.2%) for Tigran Karapetyan,
8 (0.2%) for Aram Haroutyunyan,
195 (6.4%) for Vahan Hovhannissyan,
90 (2.9%) for Vazgen Manukyan,
9 (0.2%) for Arman Melikyan,
1,084 (35.4%) for Serzh Sargsyan,
1,152 (37.7%) for Levon Ter-Petrossyan.

Melikyan says that it was an independent survey. They planned to
question 0.2% of all voters – 2,300 people.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 18 2008

PACE Parliamentary Assembly to discuss Kosovo problem in winter
session

[ 18 Feb 2008 20:00 ]

Vienna. Elbrus Seyfullayev -APA. Azerbaijani delegation to PACE
parliamentary Assembly will visit Vienna to participate in winter
session of the organization, Parliament’s press service told APA
The delegation led by Bahar Muradova includes parliamentarians Eldar
Ibrahimov, Rabiyat Aslanova, Fattah Heydarov and Azay Guliyev. They
will exchange views on political, security, economic, humanitarian
issues and environment, democracy, human rights. The session will
discuss Kosovo and gender problem. Azerbaijani parliamentarians will
deliver speech in the assembly and state their positions on the
documents which will be raised to the agenda. The visit will be ended
on February 24.

CIS Executive Secretary confident the presidential elections will be
successful

armradio.am
17.02.2008 16:36

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received the delegation headed by
President of the CIS Executive Committee-Executive Secretary Sergey
Lebedev, Government’s Information and Public Relations Department
informs.

During the meeting the parties turned to the activity of the CIS
Observation Mission in our country and the collaboration developing in
the framework of the CIS, Armenia’s active participation in the
adoption and accomplishment of the decisions made during the summits of
the CIS member states.

The interlocutors expressed confidence that successful presidential
elections will be held in Armenia, which will lead the country towards
development and prosperity.

At the end of the meeting Serge Sargsyan wished success to the CIS
observers and noted that the Armenian Government is willing to further
support the observation mission in our country within the limits of its
jurisdiction.

ARAM KHACHATRIAN – 105 YEARS OLD

AZG Armenian Daily
15/02/2008

Culture

Armenian prominent composer Aram Khachatrian’s music was performed
in a concert in Moscow dedicated to the composer’s 105th anniversary
of birth.

It is informed that the audience welcomed with enthusiasm the famous
pianist, Rector of Moscow Conservatory Tigran Alikhanov and the
performance of Armenian Youth Band conducted by Sergey Smbatian. In the
Big Hall on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street were performed the composer’s
Piano Concert and parts from "Spartak" and "Gayane" ballets.

The concert was organized by Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Embassy
of the Republic of Armenia and Yerevan Komitas Conservatory.

Queens Chronicle, NY
Feb 14 2008

Promising Future For QCC Holocaust Center

by Dan Tress, Reporter
02/14/2008

Queensborough Community College, in Bayside, has big plans for its
Holocaust center, both immediate and long term.

The Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and
Archives, led by director Arthur Flug, has a series of programs
planned for the spring, including film screenings, guest speakers and
a new exhibit.

`Defying the Devil: Christian Clergy Who Saved Jews During the
Holocaust’ is set to open Feb. 26 in the center’s current space, in
the basement of the college’s library.
By the end of 2009, the center, which was opened in 1983, should
be housed in a new facility, attached to the school’s administration
building. The new center will be able to have more permanent and
interactive exhibits, including displays which tell the stories of
Holocaust survivors living in Queens.
The center’s current exhibit is `Ships to Nowhere,’ which tells
the story of thousands of Jewish refugees from Europe that sailed all
around the world during World War II looking for a country to take
them in. Most countries, including the United States, rejected them,
forcing them to return to Europe, where many were killed in the
Holocaust.
A photographic history of the Holocaust, organized and designed by
a group of volunteer survivors, is on permanent display. Beginning
with pictures of European Jewish life before World War II, the
exhibit ends with pictures of liberated prisoners.
It is a product of one of the center’s goals, which is to not just
teach people about what happened in the Holocaust, but to really
emphasize all that was lost, Flug said.
`It’s more a responsibility than a job or career,’ he said.
`You’re working with people and students from the most diverse county
in the world and you have to give the Holocaust meaning.’
As part of its mission to connect many different types of people
to the Holocaust, the center has had past exhibits and presentations
focused on other genocides, such as the current situation in Darfur
and the murder of over one million Armenians in Turkey during World
War I.
In 2006, the center had an exhibit called `The Nanjing Massacre:
Genocide and Denial,’ about the Japanese massacre of hundreds of
thousands of Chinese during the 1930s.
Among the center’s other upcoming programs is the Eva Bobrow
Memorial Lecture Series. The first lecture of the season will be
`Blood to Remember: American Poets on the Holocaust’ featuring
Charles Ades Fishman, poet and editor of the New Works Review, on
March 9.
On May 18, Rabbi Manes Kogan will speak on `Where was God During
the Holocaust,’ and June 22 `Jasenovac and the Forgotten Holocaust of
Yugoslavia’ will be the talk by Barry Lituchy, an expert on the
subject.
The film `The Dybbuk,’ meaning haunting spirit, will be shown
March 23, as part of the Yiddish Film Program.
Each year Flug selects six students to take part in his Holocaust
Internship Program, as part of an effort to continue the legacy of
the Holocaust. As part of the internship, each student interviews a
survivor. Flug has found that often the students have trouble
relating to the survivor’s stories at first because of the
generational, and sometimes cultural, gap.
Learning about similar instances in other places in history, and
realizing that the survivors were about the students’ age during the
Holocaust, makes the students appreciate the stories much more, Flug
said.
`The Holocaust has an ongoing legacy, for the whole world,’ he
said.
Flug and his staff of volunteer survivors travel and give
presentations at schools and community centers throughout the area.
Flug himself does about 30 presentations each year.
For more information call the center at (718) 281-5770.

DemAz.org, Azerbaijan
Feb 14 2008

`Echo’: The Beginnings of Armenian Expansion
14.02.2008

Ruling party proposes to make the fight against false propaganda of
aggressor more active.

Recently in conference hall of the Ataturk Center under the
leadership of representatives of ruling party `round table’ was held
on `Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: the main goals of fight against
Armenian information provocations’. Representatives of parliament and
leading historians and scientific researchers partook in the event.
Amongst them there was vice speaker of Milli Mejlis, Bahar Muradova.

With opening address executive secretary and deputy chairman of `Yeni
Azerbaijan’ party, Ali Ahmadov, opened the event. He drew attention
of participants to recent history of Armenian claims to historical
territories of Azerbaijan. Accordingly to him, today given issue
preserves urgency due to continuing Armenian expansion. The only
possible development of events, following to MM deputy, in this
situation will be active fight of Azerbaijan against Armenians’
tricks. With special regret deputy points to the fact that present
Armenian state was created on aboriginal Azerbaijani territories.
`But they, Armenians don’t stop even now, as known, 20% of
Azerbaijani territories are under Armenian occupation’, underlines
Ahmadov. Moreover, it is with caution that he points to the fact that
today Armenians make active propaganda on alleged belonging of
Nakhchivan to Armenia. `All this say that Armenian provocations
should be operatively repulsed’, executive secretary of `Yeni
Azerbaijan’ party calls on.

Accordingly to him, unless our territories are released and Armenian
occupation is stopped, the fight should go on. Chairman of ruling
party recalled recent statement of president of Azerbaijan that
Yerevan, present capital of Armenia, historically is Azerbaijani
city, it was given to Armenians mistakenly in the past.

We should remind that president made this statement on January 17
this year in Guzanli village while visiting Agdam region. Later this
theme was discussed in details at the first meeting of spring session
of Milli Mejlis, on February 1.

Executive secretary of `Yeni Azerbaijan’ party reminded that as time
showed Armenian side is not satisfied by occupation of our
territories: Azerbaijanis were forcibly displaced, moreover, total
ethnic cleaning on currently occupied territories took place. `It is
sweeping historical unjust which unfortunately goes on today’,
chairman of ruling party says.

Then historian, MM deputy, Yagub Mamadov, took floor. He more than
half an hour told in details about Armenians’ tricks. They being
alien nation in our region pursued aggressive policy against
Azerbaijanis for many years. He also underscored that conduct of
Armenian side forces Azerbaijan to be in constant readiness for
attack. Deputy tells that having occupied 20% of our territories,
Armenians don’t know rest and now they are claiming to Nakhchivan. At
the same time Armenians, as deputy thinks, have formed some delusion
of misappropriation of cultural values of the nation of the region,
including of Azerbaijanis. `Over and over again they attempt to
present themselves – Armenians as the most ancient nation of our
region, though everyone knows that they arrived to South Caucasus
from Balkan peninsula’, – deputy stresses.

Then he went back to historical past of Yerevan city, Azerbaijani
version of which is Irevan. Accordingly to him, historical documents
of tsarist Russia contain statistic facts on population of Irevan
khanate, which clearly define that Azerbaijanis made up majority of
this region. He referred to different Armenian and Russian historians
who confirm these facts in their works. Deputy also informed that
significant aspect is toponymy of this region. For many years
Armenians purposefully changed Azerbaijani names of inhabited places
to Armenian ones. `Thus they are attempting to erase Azerbaijani
trace and to prove to the world that they are masters of these
territories’, deputy said.

The words of historian and MM deputy, Yagub Mamadov, were welcomed by
participants of `round table’. At the same time executive secretary
of `Yeni Azerbaijan’ party, going back to the past of Yerevan and
mistaken giving it to Armenians focused on the fact than Azerbaijanis
should remember their history and recognize the right and the wrong
steps undertaken in the past. The matter is that during discussion of
this issue at MM meeting number of opposition MM deputies came out
against negative evaluation of the role of Azerbaijani government in
1918, to which ruling circles attribute mistaken decision on giving
Yerevan to Armenia. In the course of the event it was underlined that
for a long period of time Russia was involved in resettlement of
Armenians in Azerbaijan, thus creating Christian stronghold for
itself in Muslim country. Resettlement of Armenians in our country as
speechmakers said were specially enhanced gaining system nature after
signing between Iran and Russia Gulistan and Turkmanchay agrrements,
which divided our county into North and South Azerbaijan.

S. Rzayev

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE: "IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT A SOLUTION OF THE GARABAGH PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN FOUND DESPITE A LONG-STANDING DIALOG"

Today
ics/43088.html
Feb 13 2008
Azerbaijan

EU special representative in the South Caucasus countries Peter Semneby
is frustrated with not finding a resolution on Nagorno Garabagh even
despite a long-standing dialog.

"It is frustrating that a resolution of the Garabagh problem has
not yet been found despite a long-standing dialog. But there is a
certain stability there, which gives hope", Peter Semneby announced. He
considers it to be positive that Nagorno-Garabagh conflict is not fixed
in the context of Kosovo recognition unlike Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"I can only state it as positive. At least, one conflict in the
South Caucasus, is not fixed in this context", Peter Semneby noted
and added that the talks are absent in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"I hope they will be resumed following removal of tension around Kosovo
and improvement of situation in Georgia. The negotiation process has
not been stopped in Garabagh. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan participate
in them in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. This very fact
prevents both sides from any negative actions". Semneby said.

The EU special representative noted that the Kosovo conflict differs
from the South Caucasus disputes by its history. "The conflicts have
more differences that common features. Therefore, it is not right to
draw paralells between them", Peter Semneby considers.

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

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILCIA PARTICIPATES IN A MEETING ON THE RIGHTS OF
IMMIGRANTS

The Middle East Council of Churches’ (MECC) department for refugees and the
deported recently organized a seminar on "Possibilities for developing the
rights of immigrants", on February 7-8.

Representatives from religious, governmental and non-governmental
organizations attended the seminar. Nelly Vekilian represented the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in the meeting.

The two-day working meetings discussed the means for defending a cause and
creating a positive public opinion on it. The sessions examined several
issues, including:

1. Protection of the human rights of immigrants

2. The situation of immigrants in Lebanon

3. The role of mass media

4. The means of creating an environment for immigrants

5. Strengthening cooperation between embassies, governments and
organizations for supporting immigrants

6. Certain changes in international law

7. The role of embassies and their responsibility in protecting their
citizens

Participants discussed possible solutions to imminent problems through an
exchange of experiences and proposed new projects.

##
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.

ARMENIAN FM DESCRIBED AS "IMMORAL" THE BEHAVIOR OF TER-PETROSIAN AND STATED THAT THE EX-PRESIDENT "WILL STOP AT NOTHING"

Mediamax
February 13, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian described
as "immoral" the behavior of the presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who speculates in the process of the pre-election
campaign with the use of the so-called "Meghri variant" of the
Karabakh settlement.

Mediamax reports that Armenian Foreign Minister said this late February
12 on air of "Shant" TV-Channel.

"What Ter-Petrosian is doing is a cheap pre-election trick,
this is immoral. And when he tries to relate his statements to the
terrorist act in the Armenian parliament, it becomes clear to me that
Ter-Petrosian will stop at nothing, and we will yet have the chance
to make sure of that", Vartan Oskanian established.

The Minister stressed that the document, which was published last
week by "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper and which Levon Ter-Petrosian
referred to during his latest rally, has never been a topic for
negotiation on the settlement.

"The idea of exchange of Meghri for Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to
a retired U.S. diplomat Paul Goble, the roots of which are in the
early 1990s.

I clearly remember that in 1994 the given idea was discussed with
the participation of the Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian, who
stated at one of the meetings that the proposal could be interesting,
if Armenia also gained the North part of Nakhichevan. However, I
do not contend that Ter-Petrosian was ready top exchange Meghri for
Nagorno-Karabakh, do I?", Vartan Oskanian stated.

The Foreign Minister said that in the course of 10 years of Robert
Kocharian’s rule, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs made 3 official
proposals on the settlement: the "Common state" conception, a plan,
which was discussed in Key West, and the latest proposal, based on
the "Prague principles". "I declare with all responsibility that in
neither of those proposals, there is no notion of handing Meghri over
to Azerbaijan. I, being the chief negotiator from the Armenian side,
never held such talks", Vartan Oskanian stressed.

According to the Foreign Minister, in various periods of time,
various plans appeared on the settlement, the authors of which were
independent states or groups of people. "I have many such proposals
in my box, but this does not mean that all of them became topics
for negotiations", Vartan Oskanian stated. He made it clear that
the document, which Levon Ter-Petrosian refers to, is a proposal,
belonging to this very category.

"The Armenian side repulsed with such determination all the
conversation on Meghri that after 2000 no one dared to forward this
topic anymore", Armenian Foreign Minister stated.

Vartan Oskanian categorically refuted the statements, according to
which on the eve of the terrorist act in the Armenian parliament
in 1999 there were discords in the leadership of the country on the
Karabakh issue.

"There was nothing of that kind, and I very well know what the
relations of Robert Kocharian and Vazgen Sarkisian were like. I believe
that it is time to let the dead to peace and hold discussions among
the living", Armenian Foreign Minister noted with bitterness.

"HERITAGE" BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA "CANNOT BE CONCLUDED IN ONE ROUND"

Mediamax
February 13, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Secretary of parliamentary faction of "Heritage"
party Stepan Safarian stated today that the presidential elections
in Armenia "cannot be concluded in one round".

Mediamax reports that he expressed regret that the
opposition candidates did not manage to get united before the
elections. Commenting on the decision of "Heritage" Board to support
the candidature of Levon Ter-Petrosian, Stepan Safarian stated that
the overwhelming majority of the members of the party’s leading body
is adherent to this stance.

In the process of talks between the Leader of "Heritage" Raffi
Hovhannisian and the presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, the
topic of conversation was "Heritage" party’s assistance to realization
of free, fair and transparent elections, the MP stated.