Author: Navasardian Karapet

ARMEN RUSTAMYAN: TURKEY MORE INFLEXIBLE UNLESS U.S. RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Panorama.am
19:49 23/03/2009

"Taking into account that the United States has not yet official
recognized Armenian Genocide Turkey makes its status more and
more inflexible in resolution of Armenian-Turkish relations," Armen
Rustamyan the Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of the National
Assembly sent a letter to Howard Berman, the Chairman of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs.

"We are encouraged by the statements made by Barack Obama and
his administration regarding Armenia Genocide. I am sure that the
U.S. recognition of Armenian Genocide will not become an obstacle
to the Armenian-Turkish relations, it will contribute to their
improvement," says A. Rustamyan in his letter.

Armenian Deputy has also expressed his gratitude towards those
Congressmen who have devoted their professional activities to
contribute to the recognition of Armenian Genocide.

CRITICIZING ANC ELECTORAL ROLL DAVID HAKOBIAN NEVERTHELESS TO REMAIN ON THAT ROLL

Noyan Tapan
March 23, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. "I announce the end of our honeymoon
with the ANM bandit leaders," David Hakobian, the leader of the Marxist
Party of Armenia, stated at the March 23 press conference. The cause
of such a decision is Armenian National Congress’ (ANC) electoral
roll in Yerevan Council of Elders elections, where he is in the
22th place. However, D. Hakobian was indignant at not his place,
but at the principle of making up the list. In his words, there is no
person on the list surpassing him with his political and ideological
preparedness.

"The list is not a result of 18 parties’ discussion, not a decision
of a political force’s congress as it is required by the Constitution
and the law, but a decision of the ANM junta," he said. According to
D. Hakobian, the list was made up by the principle of voter buying,
and he blames Levon Ter-Petrosian for forming a list by the corruption
principle. D. Hakobian draws the attention of the Prosecutor’s Office,
Central Electoral Commission, and RA President to clarify that fact.

Meanwhile the Marxist Party leader will remain on that list, as he
said, "for the purpose of fighting corruption within the Congress
until the Prosecutor’s Office and President reveal ANC list’s
corruption roots."

SIX POLITICAL PARTIES AND ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO CEC FOR PARTICIPATION IN ELECTION OF YEREVAN ALDERMEN

ArmInfo
2009-03-23 13:05:00

ArmInfo. Six political parties and the Armenian National Congress have
submitted the relevant documents to the Central Election Committee
for participation in the election of Yerevan aldermen, spokeswoman
of Armenia’s CEC Tatevik Ohanyan told ArmInfo.

According to her, the election list of the Republican party includes
181 people and is headed by Gagik Beglaryan. The second place in
the list is taken by prefect of Avan community Taron Margaryan. The
Republican party is followed by "Prosperous Armenia" party – 122
people headed by Armenia’s Health Minister Harutyun Kushkyan, ARF
Dashnaktsutyun – 51 people headed by Armenian parliamentarian Artsvik
Minasyan, "Orinats Yerkir" – 85 people led by Head of OY parliamentary
faction Heghine Bisharyan, People’s party – 20 people headed by Chief
of ‘ALM’ Holding, Chairman of the People’s party Tigran Karapetyan,
Labour Socialist party – 25 people, ANC – 167 people headed by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, the second place in ANC list is taken by Chairman of
the People’s party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan and the third place –
by ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan.

To note, "Heritage" party will not take part in the election. To also
recall, the election campaign of Yerevan aldermen will start on May
2 and last till May 29. The election will be held on May 31.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST YERVAND BOZOYAN: NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED IN FAVOR OF ARMENIAN SIDE IF ARMENIA BECOMES A DEMOCRATIC STATE

Noyan Tapan
March 20, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs carry out
policy of delaying the Nagorno Karabakh problem negotiations waiting
for a convenient moment to solve the problem within the framework
of superpowers’ interests. Alexander Manasian, the Chairman of the
Academy of Political Studies NGO, gave assurance at the March 20
dispute. According to him, constant delay of the negotiations process
is beneficial for Azerbaijan, as that country makes the time serve for
changing conflict’s "image" and presenting it in a variant convenient
for itself. According to the political scientist, Azerbaijan does
its best in the agitation war, while both diplomats and journalists
of Armenia are passive and often do not formulate the question and
their observations correctly.

The other participant of the dispute, political scientist Yervand
Bozoyan said that the Minsk Group Co-chairs should not be blamed
for delaying the negotiations, as the problem solution is delayed
for objective reasons. He also stated that we should not constantly
compare Armenia with Azerbaijan, as our neighboring country has oil
and gas. "If we become a strong, democratic, normal state, appreciate
person’s value, the Nagorno Karabakh problem will be solved in favor
of us," Y. Bozoyan said.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DOES NOT REFLECT THE USA’S POSITION?

Aravot
March 19, 2009
Armenia

MP from the [ruling] Republican Party of Armenia, Armen Ashotyan,
yesterday [18 March] asked Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan
in the parliament why Armenia had not reacted to the section of the
US Department of State’s annual report on Azerbaijani territories,
including on the "occupation" of Nagornyy Karabakh.

Nalbandyan answered: "If you mean the territorial integrity, that is
the emphasis put in that report, it had been announced numerous times
previously and after that, and at present as well. You can find this
on the website of the US embassy in Armenia – that the USA’s position
in this issue is based on three principles. Those are – the non-use of
force, the right of self-determination and the territorial integrity. I
do not believe that this formulation in the report in question reflects
their [USA’s] attitude towards the Karabakh settlement itself."

SECURITY AGENCIES OF BELARUS, ARMENIA TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION

Trend News Agency
March 17 2009
Azerbaijan

National security agencies of Belarus and Armenia will enhance
comprehensive cooperation, said State Secretary of the Security
Council of Belarus Yuri Zhadobin during negotiations with Secretary
of the National Security Council of Armenia Artur Bagdasaryan on
March 17. The negotiations were held face to face and were followed
by extended talks, BelTA has learnt.

"Belarus is one of the consistent adherents of the development
of partnering relations with the CIS states, primarily with CSTO
members. We approve of and support any steps aimed at building up
the cooperation between all state institutions. Today’s meeting is an
example of further enhancement of the comprehensive cooperation between
national security bodies of Belarus and Armenia," said Yuri Zhadobin.

Artur Bagdasaryan leads the delegation of the Office of the National
Security Council of Armenia. The delegation is expected to stay in
Belarus from March 16 to 18. Negotiations between the delegations of
the two countries touched upon matters regarding cooperation between
power-wielding and law enforcement agencies in the fight against
modern threats and security challenges, international terrorism,
organised transboundary crime, drugs trafficking, illegal migration
and human trafficking.

As Armenia now presides over the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, avenues of the development of integration processes
within the Organisation were discussed as well as the enhancement of
the military and political cooperation, reinforcement of the potential
for counteraction of modern challenges and threats, the military
cooperation and the military and technical cooperation within the
CSTO framework.

While in Minsk the Armenian delegation is expected to visit the
Military Academy and a military unit of the internal troops of the
Belarusian Interior Ministry.

ARMROSGAZPROM TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2009 20:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Body of Directors of "ArmRosgazprom" CJSC has
come to a decision to reconstruct the "Adigaz" resort centre, located
in the city of Tsaghkadzor and to establish a rehabilitation centre
for the employees of the company, as is stated in the official site of
"ArmRosgazprom."

In connection with this, "ArmRosgazprom" has worked out a program to
reconstruct and expand the territory of the resort centre. Within the
framework of the program it is planned to invest a sum equivalent to
approx. $10mlnUSD and to build a sports and fitness hotel complex
never before in Armenia which will correspond to international
standards. These investments will contribute to the development of
tourism in Armenia.

The building and reconstruction project is scheduled for the April
of the current year and is due to be over by the end of 2010.

Armenian Genocide resolution introduced in U.S. Congress
17.03.2009 22:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The introduction of a resolution recognizing and
commemorating the Armenian Genocide was announced today

Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced the introduction of
a resolution recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The
resolution calls on the President and the U.S. Government to properly
recognize the atrocities that occurred in Armenia beginning in 1915,
and which resulted in 1.5 million deaths, as genocide. Rep. Schiff
authored the resolution with George Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone
(D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

`The facts of history are clear, well documented, and
non-negotiable. One and a half million Armenians were deliberately
murdered in the first genocide of the 20th century. If we are to lead
in the effort to stop the genocide in Darfur and prevent future
atrocities, we must be willing to condemn genocide whenever and
wherever it occurs." said Schiff. `It has never served our national
interest to become complicit in the denial of genocide, and it never
will. While there are still some survivors left, we have a compelling
moral obligation to speak plainly about the past.’

Last week, Rep. Schiff and the other coauthors of the resolution wrote
to President Obama lauding him for his principled record of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The letter asked the President to
make a strong statement of genocide recognition on April 24th – as
President Reagan did more than 20 years ago.

`The Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide’
resolution has the bipartisan support of 77 original co-sponsors in
the House of Representatives. It calls on the President to `ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding’ of the `Armenian Genocide’ and to `accurately
characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000
Armenians as genocide.’

The Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than 20 nations
including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia, as well
as the European Parliament. Rep. Schiff is the co-founder of the
Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of the House
Appropriations Committee, House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, and the House Judiciary Committee.

He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes
the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East
San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South
Pasadena and Temple City, Adam Schiff Press Secretary, Sean Oblack
told PanARMENIAN.Net

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ‘ARMAVIA’: POLITICAL DECISION ON OPENING OF YEREVAN-STEPANAKERT FLIGHT HAS BEEN MADE, THE MATTER DEPENDS ON TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

ArmInfo
2009-03-16 10:04:00

ArmInfo. A political decision on opening of Yerevan-Stepanakert flight
has been made, the matter depends on technical questions, Director
General of ‘Armavia’ Airlines Norayr Belluyan told journalists today.

‘We keep on working in this direction. I cannot say when we shall
open this new flight, but we do our best to assure its preparation
as soon as possible’, N. Belluyan said. As for the scheduled
Yerevan-Los-Angeles flight, he said ‘Armavia’ is almost ready for its
implementation. ‘We shall start flying in this direction upon receipt
of the final permission’, the director general said. Speaking about
the intensity of transportations, he said the volume of cargo and
passenger transportations by the company over the first two months,
2009, reduced by 10-11% as compared with 2008. N. Belluyan added that
despite the global financial crisis, the company is not working at
a loss. To recall, ‘Armavia’ transported about 640,000 passengers
in 2008.

States News Service, USA
March 13, 2009 Friday

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY RUSSIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SERGEY LAVROV FOLLOWING TALKS WITH AZERBAIJAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS ELMAR MAMEDYAROV, BAKU, MARCH 12, 2009

MOSCOW, Russia

The following information was released by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation:

Foreign Minister Lavrov : Esteemed colleagues,

We are meeting here today in the framework of our traditional
intensive bilateral dialogue, for which the presidents of the two
countries set the tone and content in full accordance with the
Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership, signed in July
last year.

We examined the prospects for advancing our relations across the
board. We are pleased with fast trade growth and believe this process
will grow even more effective. In particular, we are interested in the
active work of the Intergovernmental Trade and Economic Cooperation
Commission. We have quite a few ideas under consideration of our
agencies. They are about large energy projects; in particular, good
prospects exist in high technologies and mutual investment. I think
the amount of economic cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan will
only grow in the interests of our economies and, of course, the
citizens of our countries.

We cherish ties with Azerbaijan in the humanitarian sphere and the
attention that the Azerbaijan leadership pays to the Russian language
and culture. A branch of Moscow State University was unveiled in Baku
the other day with participation by President Ilham Aliyev. Plans
exist for branches of tertiary education institutions of our countries
to be mutually opened soon. There are prospects for carrying out other
humanitarian projects.

We also discussed regional problems, primarily the Nagorno Karabakh
issue. The declaration signed last autumn in Moscow with the
participation of the Presidents of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan
and Armenia contain clearly defined guidelines for further movement
forward, the parameters we are keen to reach in the framework of the
process in which the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Russia, the United
States and France – act as mediators.

We also examined Caspian problems, the steps taken in development of
the decisions of the Second Caspian Summit held in Teheran in autumn
2007, primarily the measures realized to promote economic cooperation
among the Caspian states, and the contacts being maintained to make
Caspian security more effective. We feel that in the coming months we
will be able to advance on these issues and to prepare the ground for
the next Caspian Summit which back in Teheran it was decided to
convene in the capital of Azerbaijan.

International collaboration questions of mutual interest also were
discussed – in particular, cooperation in Europe and the UN. Our
delegations closely cooperate in the appropriate structures of the UN,
OSCE and Council of Europe and render mutual support in accordance
with the principles of relations between strategic partners.

In conclusion, I would like to once again thank our Azerbaijani hosts
for the hospitality. I look forward to continuing dialogue with Elmar
Mamedyarov, whom I am inviting to come to Moscow at a time convenient
for him.

Foreign Minister Lavrov : (answering a question concerning
military-technical cooperation). Russia carries it out with many
countries, in the course of which it does not violate any
international obligations or its legislation and avoids making any
destabilizing supplies to any region. It is on these principles that
we cooperate in the military-technical field with Azerbaijan and
Armenia. No one makes any secret of this.

As to the fuss that arose around a certain document that appeared in
the Azerbaijani and Russian media, this document, as has already been
repeatedly stated and proven, is a forgery. It essentially does not
meet any criteria of this kind of documents, contains information that
is totally baseless and, what is of no less importance – contains
grammatical errors which cause questions about where this document was
compiled.

Question : Will Russia extend the contract for the use of Gabala Radar
Station?

Foreign Minister Lavrov : Russia is interested in cooperation with
Azerbaijan regarding the use of Gabala Radar Station. Of course, we
will realize this interest through arrangements with our Azerbaijani
colleagues.

Question : Does any dialogue exist between Ankara and Moscow on the
Karabakh problem?

Foreign Minister Lavrov : An early settlement of the Karabakh problem
would meet the interests of many countries, including those situated
in this region. We discuss this theme with our Turkish partners solely
in the mainstream of the efforts that are being made with mediation of
the three OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. No one conducts any talks
inconsistent with this format with anybody.

Question : Are any talks currently being conducted on the joint use of
Gabala Radar Station by Russia and the United States?

Foreign Minister Lavrov : You know that with the consent of the
Azerbaijan leadership that suggestion was made in July 2007 by
Vladimir Putin in the context of a package proposal to foster joint
work on tracking missile proliferation risks. There was no response to
this offer, at least a satisfactory response. It remains valid. When
and if our American and European partners show interest in this
proposal as an alternative to unconstructive plans of deployment of a
third positioning area, we will be ready to return to it, naturally on
the understanding that the leadership of Azerbaijan reconfirms its
consent to that option.