Author: Nanijanian Alex

TIME WILL UNMASK THE ACTORS

A1+
06:38 pm | April 10, 2009

Politics

The leader of the parliamentary faction ARF-Dashnaktsutyun,
Vahan Hovhannisyan doesn’t hold an unequivocal approach towards
Armenian-Turkish relations. He says we should first find out how
sincere Azerbaijan is in these relations. "Time will unmask the
actors."

"Demonstrations are staged in Turkey. People protest the frontier
opening, especially in the territory of Western Armenia. Their
sincerity is also disputed.

The reality is as follows. I think those hysteric actions by Azeris
and Turks have been agreed upon. I don’t think any demonstration is
held in those places without a sanction."

Vahan Hovhannisyan says the "performances" staged in Turkey aim to
"make the West and international structures persuade Armenia to
accept certain preconditions. "They will be bound to us as the only
clue for the normalisation of Armenian-Turkish relations."

The ARF Leader rules out any precondition in Armenian-Turkish
relations.

"Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev doesn’t fully realise the
country’s interest in Armenian-Turkish relations.

Azerbaijan seems to be interested in keeping Karabakh. It doesn’t
want to cede the territory. In fact, Azerbaijan should be interested
in the peaceful regulation of the Karabakh conflict and concessions
of the Armenian side. Yet, Aliyev stands firm to his stance even in
pursuit of wrong national interests".

Mr. Hovhannisyan also spoke about the sequel of the border opening. "In
some 20 days we shall issue a brief report, rather say an analysis,
on the consequences, largely on economic ones."

It is due to mention that Azerbaijan has set three demands before
Turkey. In case the demands are met, Azerbaijan will agree to the
frontier opening. According to Azeri mass media, all the three demands
are closely connected with Nagorno Karabakh.

Firstly, Armenia must withdraw its troops from the five territories
surrounding Nagorno Karabakh. Secondly, Armenia must surrender the
southern part of Lachin corridor. And finally, Turkey must be given
a chance to use the corridor," say Azeri media.

Once Turkey uses the corridor, Azerbaijan will have a land route
to Turkey.

ARMENIA, CUBA INTERESTED IN EXPANSION OF COOPERATION

armradio.am
09.04.2009 16:39

The newly appointed Ambassador of Cuba to Armenia Juan Valdés Figueroa
(seat in Moscow) presented the copies of his credentials to Arman
Kirakosyan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia.

Wishing success to the Ambassador in carrying out his diplomatic
mission, Arman Kiraksyan assessed as positive the process of
development of the Armenian-Cuban relations and noted that there
was a great potential for the deepening of cooperation between the
two countries.

Ambassador Juan Valdés Figueroa emphasized the necessity of
intensifying the political dialogue on issues of bilateral interest. He
noted that the expansion of cooperation in the fields of economy,
culture and tourism would be beneficial for both Armenia and Cuba.

TURKISH GOVERNMENT’S ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE DESIRE TO OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA: AZERBAIJANI HEAD OF AZERBAIJAN-TURKEY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

Trend News Agency
April 8 2009
Azerbaijan

The actions of today’s government of Turkey demonstrate either
its desire to open borders with Armenia or to learn international
and public opinion, said the co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Turkey
inter-parliamentary friendship group.

"The attempts to open borders are felt. But Azerbaijan protests
against this both at the state and public level," Nizami Jafarov,
co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Turkey inter-parliamentary friendship group,
president of Azerbaijan Ataturk center, told Trend News on April 8.

The representatives of different circles of Turkish society suppose
that the borders with Armenia will be opened.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia’s
claims of an alleged genocide, and the country’s occupation of
20 percent of Azerbaijani lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul
visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football
match. Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two
countries ever since.

Jafarov said that still it is possible to hope that the borders will
not be opened.

"Because the President, and the Prime Minister of Turkey repeatedly
said that the borders with Armenia will not be opened unless the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is solved, unless the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan is restored, unless Armenia gives up its claims on
"genocide" and others", MP said.

He considers that opportunities and chances have already been provided
to Armenia to give up these claims, but still there is no positive
result. "Taking into account this, it is possible to say that the
opening of borders is impossible," said Jafarov.

For already long time, negotiations have been held with the Turkish
MPs to prevent opening of borders, he said.

"We maintain this question on focus of attention constantly. We
constantly discuss this question with the co-chairman of
Azerbaijan-Turkey inter-parliamentary friendship group Mustafa
Kabakchi. He repeatedly said that the borders with Armenia
can be opened only after ensuring territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. Kabakchi considers so today as well, Jafarov said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

OSCE MISSION CONDUCTS REGULAR MONITORING OF NAGORNO KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES CONTACT LINE

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 8,2009
STEPANAKERT

On April 8, in accordance with the earlier achieved agreement with
the NKR authorities the OSCE mission conducted regular monitoring of
the line of contact of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani Armed Forces
in the direction of Aghdam.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring
was conducted by Coordinator of the OSCE Office Imre Palatinus
(Hungary), Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Vladimir Chuntulov (Bulgaria) and Zhaslan Nurtazin
(Kazakhstan).

According to the NKR Foreign Ministry Press Service, though no
violation of cease-fire regime was registered, the Azeri side did
not once again lead the mission to its front-lines, as a result of
which the monitoring was to be conducted from a farther distance.

The monitoring mission from the Karabakhi side was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

WHO CAN BE RELEASED SOON?

A1+
06:55 pm | April 07, 2009

Politics

How can prisoners take advantage of the right to release? The
National Assembly discussed today two bills on making changes to the
"Penitentiary Code"-one authored by the government and presented by
Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan and the other authored by NA Deputy
Zaruhi Postanjyan.

"Independent committees don’t work effectively in Armenia and must
be eradicated," told "A1+" today Zaruhi Postanjayn. Her view was
included in her bill on making changes in the code.

According to the existing legislation, the prisoners must appeal to
the corresponding committee.

Postanjyan believes that the committee simply follows orders and not
all political prisoners who have already served their time in prison
may take advantage of the right to premature release. Postanjyan
proposes to give that right to prisoners to appeal to the court
without petitions.

According to the resolution passed on February 5, 2008, the prisoner
may appeal to the corresponding committee regarding the decision
to deny the release. This was the only issue that Postanjyan and
the Justice Minister shared the opinion, but unlike the Minister,
Mrs. Postanjyan believes that the committee doesn’t justify its end.

It was based on the resolutions of the same committee that Jirair
Sefilyan, Vardan Malkhasyan, Arman Babajanyan and others were not
released.

According to Postanjyan, prisoners must have the opportunity to appeal
to the court for premature release.

Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan told "A1+" that the government is
currently trying to adjust the existing legislation to the Constitution
and pledged that the National Assembly and the government will work
together on one of the legislative reforms.

"The bill will be ready no later than a month. It is going to solve
two issues-the defense of rights and legal interests of prisoners
and create conditions for no exploitation," said Gevorg Danielyan.

VAHAGN CHAXALYAN IS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT

LRAGIR.AM
12:00:29 – 08/04/2009

On April 6-7, at the regional court of Akhaltsakha, the final trials
of the Armenian from Javakhk, political activist, leader of the
"United Javakhk" political movement Vahagn Chaxalyan, his father
Ruben Chaxalyan and his younger brother Armen Chaxalyan.

The court found guilty Vahagn Chaxalyan of all the counts of the case
and was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Ruben Chaxalyan was found guilty and was imposed a fine of 2, 000
Georgian lari (1, 200) dollars.

The Chaxalyans are going to appeal to the European Court of Human
rights.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

April 6, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

PRESIDENT OBAMA STANDS BY HIS PLEDGE REGARDING AFFIRMATION OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Washington, DC – "[M]y views are on the record and I have not changed
views," President Barack Obama said in response to a question about the
Armenian Genocide, while in Turkey.

"For the first time, a U.S. President has delivered a direct message to
Turkish officials in their own country that he stands behind his
steadfast support and strong record of affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide," said Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "On April 24, the Assembly looks forward to
President Obama’s statement reaffirming the Armenian Genocide."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

###

NR#2009-026

YOUTH VERSUS POLICE STATE

A1+
05:53 pm | April 06, 2009

Politics

Today a group of young people staged a protest action in front of
the National Assembly with the posters: "We say no to police state,"
"We say no to police terror, "Attention! Human Rights are violated."

They signal concern over the draft law suggesting amendments to the
RoA Law on "Police Force."

The police didn’t let them group at the main entrance of the National
Assembly saying the protesters had no permission. The participants
had to stand aside.

Ten minutes later David Sanasaryan, assistant to MP Larissa Alaverdyan,
went up to the group. In a short while, they were back to the gates
accompanied by David Sanasaryan. This time the policemen didn’t
prevent the protesters.

Member of the "Civil National Initiative" NGO Daniel Ionissyan said
they boycott the draft law and are largely against Article 17,
18 and 19 which define the cases when a policeman can use force,
special devices or firearms.

"Regularity is upset. The bill doesn’t specify the cases when a
policeman can apply force or firearms. Item 5 of Article 18 says
a policeman can use special means at hand, including a stone or a
hammer," says Daniel Ionissyan.

The protesters marched from the National Assembly to the Opera House
distributing flyers with their demands. They promised to hold similar
protest more frequently.

Remind that the bill was passed after the first reading. According to
the disputed amendments, in order to keep public order policemen are
empowered to use special means without an order, i.e. they can open
fire, use handcuffs and dogs. A policeman can come up to a random
passer-by and check his documents.

NINA KARAPETYAN’S PERSONAL EXHIBITION LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

Panorama.am
16:12 03/04/2009

Painter Nina Karapetyan’s personal exhibition has been launched today
in Narekatsi Art Center and will last till 9 April. The painter
says that her creations of recent 5 years are presented in the
exhibition. She said that the exhibition is called "Light and color"
because light and colors inspired her to create her canvases. In
2006 Nina Karapetyan presented her best 14 creations in an exhibition
in France.

IRAN WANTS TO COOPERATE WITH CSTO

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.04.2009 12:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran shows interest in activities and legal framework
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

"Iran participates in events held under CSTO image, specifically
in Kanal operation," said Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi Iran’s ambassador
to Russia.

He said that Iran is deciding on format of cooperation with the
Collective Security Treaty Organization.