Author: Takmazian

THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS COMMEMORATE 1915 MASS KILLINGS.

Afrik.com, France
April 24 2008

According to France 24 thousands of Armenians gathered in the capital
Yerevan to mark the 93rd anniversary of the 1915 massacre. The killing
occurred under the Ottoman Empire. Armenia considers it as a genocide a
label that Turkey has refused to use over the years. Several hundreds
of thousands of people died in a civil war between 1915 and 1917
when the Russian backed Christian Armenians rose against the Ottoman
Empire. (Thursday 24 April – 13:14)

APRIL 24 – DAY OF SOLIDARITY OF ALL ARMENIANS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 23, 2008
Armenia

On April 24, the whole Armenian nation, both in Armenia and Diaspora,
will commemorate the victims of Genocide and show the world its
solidarity and unity in reinstating the rights of the Armenians who
fell prey to this heinous crime.

This is a sacred day for all the Armenians, a day when we forget
all kinds of small and great disagreements, when we forget our being
a pro-Government or a pro-opposition representative, as well as any
kind of social, political and religious differences and controversies,
and act as a single unity, as the descendents of the Armenian people.

The same approach is shared by the foreign guests who visit the
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial every year on April 24. They come to Armenia
to express their solidarity to the Armenian people in their struggle
for justice and reinstatement of human rights.

As a day of national mourning, April the 24th is not an appropriate
moment for reopening the old disputes and paying off the old scores.

Some people’s desire for using that day as an occasion for protesting
against the foreign tyranny (following the example of the 1988
or 1989 national-liberation struggle for Karabakh) is not only
unconceivable but also strange. The April 22 statement released
by the "Pan-National Movement Center" or, in other words, the
supporters of L. Ter-Petrosyan, explicitly expresses their intention
of changing the April 24 mourning ceremony into a struggle against
the authorities. And such intention is supported by the following
"argument": "The presidential elections and the subsequent events
separated rather than split our society.

Our society is not split. It has consolidated in an exceptional manner;
it has become demarcated."

It appears that both now and during the 1988 tragic events of Sumgayit,
our people were united in one camp "Declared as a day of commemorating
the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide since 1988, April 24
also symbolizes the start of the pan-national struggle for freedom
and justice."

It turns out from the statement that the political forces
supporting the authorities and the major part of the people who
follow them do not form part of our society. Either they have
joined the "national-liberation movement" or simply, they are not
Armenians. Moreover, the statement makes it clear that we all are not
Armenians who usually become united and consolidated on April 24;
we are rather participants of the "pan-national movement" or just,
separated people: a nation unknown to history.

It also turns out that on April 24, 15.00 p.m., the "new nation"
will go to Tsistsernakaberd not for commemorating the victims of
the Armenian Genocide, but rather, for "continuing their struggle
against the criminal administration" and "demonstrating their belief
and determination in winning".

At this point, there emerge several questions:

First: Who has given the alleged members of the "Pan-National Movement
Center" the right to act on behalf of all Armenians and introduce
themselves as some new "nation of separated people?"

Second: By virtue of what rights are the "separated people" going
to impose the ridicule of vilifying the national mourning on all
the Armenians who have a traditional approach towards April 24 and
consider the day as an occasion for consolidating the whole nation?"

Third: What about those who are Armenians but have not joined the
so-called "pan-national movement" – the group of individuals who
have declared themselves as separated people and ignore the mourning
of April 24? Do they have the right to demand the members of the
newly-formed sect to remember, at least once a year, about their
Armenian origins and join the national mourning ceremony with the words
"Armenians, unite!", a slogan they advertised so much in 1988.

April 24 is a day of commemorating all the massacred Armenians; it’s a
day of uprising and consolidation, and all those who are going to chant
their own goals of acceding to power and cast a shadow on the national
mourning ceremonies, do not have the right to be called Armenians.

HEYDAR JEMAL: KREMLIN DIRECTLY SUPPORTS UNRECOGNIZED REGIME OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 23, 2008 Wednesday

AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIAN ISLAMIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HEYDAR JEMAL;
An interview with Russian Islamic Committee Chairman Heydar Jemal.

Question: The Kremlin ordered the establishment of official relations
with the de facto authorities of the self-proclaimed republics of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. What do you think Moscow is after?

Heydar Jemal: Russia lacks a considerate and well-balanced policy, you
know. Actions of the Russian authorities are impulsive. Decision-makers
in Russia promote their own interests, ones that have little to do
with national interests. In fact, they are even prepared to give Russia
bad publicity, internationally speaking, if and when it suits them.

All of that compromises the Kremlin in the eyes of the international
community. It is part of a campaign aimed to displace the people in
charge nowadays and oust them for replacement with these very selfish
men. This faction is powerful enough to promote this or that action
in support of Abkhazia and South Ossetia that will collide with the
Kremlin’s previous agreements with Washington and Tbilisi.

It follows that the Russian authorities lack unity, and this lack of
unity in its turn makes their actions erratic and impulsive. Impossible
to predict, actually.

Question: How far do you think Moscow may go in its "games" with
non-recognized post-Soviet formations?

Heydar Jemal: Moscow may actually recognize the separatist
regimes. Infighting in the upper echelons of state power in Moscow
makes it quite possible. Promoting their own interests, these claims
may well drag the Kremlin into an armed confrontation with Georgia.

Question: Analysts claim that Moscow is doing all of that to prevent
Georgia from becoming a NATO member…

Heydar Jemal: This explanation is expected to work with a certain
part of the political establishment, experts, and so on. It is clear
after all that an armed confrontation with Georgia will put Russia in
a thoroughly bad light. From the foreign political standpoint, that
is. As for Georgia’s membership in the Alliance, it will certainly
result in the appearance of NATO and US troops on the Russian borders.

Question: It is common knowledge that Russian-Azerbaijani relations
leave much to be desired at this point. Like Georgia, Azerbaijan has a
territorial problem, that of Nagorno-Karabakh. Do you think the Kremlin
will be able one fine day to apply the Georgian scenario to Baku?

Heydar Jemal: Russia supports Armenia in this conflict. Armenia has
Russia’s political and military support. The faction of the so called
siloviki in the Kremlin is out to retain its positions. The worse
the situation on the borders of Russia, the more secure this faction…

The Kremlin assists the Nagorno-Karabakh regime. It’s just that it
does not recognize it officially.

NEWSEUM HONORS SLAIN JOURNALIST HRANT DINK

armradio.am
23.04.2008 15:55

Ambassadors, prominent journalists and Armenian Assembly
representatives were among the more than 400 guests at the dedication
of the Journalists Memorial at the Newseum in Washington. The memorial
pays tribute to some 2,000 journalists who were killed in the pursuit
of news, including noted Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

Dink’s widow Rakel traveled from Turkey to attend the dedication
ceremony, which honored journalists from around the world who died
reporting the news from 1837-2007. The event included a special
recognition for the 158 journalists who lost their lives in 2006
and 2007.

In his opening remarks, Joe Urschell, Executive Director and Senior
Vice President of the Newseum, welcomed the relatives of Hrant Dink,
as well as other family members who traveled from afar.

"While these families, colleagues and government representatives
may have journeyed here today from diverse parts of the globe, they
share a common bond," Urschell said. "The join us to pay tribute to
the courage, dedication and sacrifices made by their loved ones in
the pursuit of news."

The event also included remarks by ABC Newsman Bob Woodruff, who was
seriously injured by a roadside bomb while covering the Iraq war in
January 2006.

"I look at the pictures of the journalists who were killed and I
feel a connection to them," Mrs. Dink said in Armenian. "I look at
their smiling faces and feel sad that this happened to them. It is
clear that they believed in the importance of their work and in what
they were doing. It is unfortunate to see the measure of cruelty that
still exists in our lives today."

"The only crime my husband committed was to stand up and take ownership
of his past," Mrs. Dink continued. "In a free society, his actions
would not have been a crime. We should change those issues that men
die for, to issues that men live for."

"The Armenian Assembly applauds the Newseum for this special
dedication which honors the memory and life’s work of so many brave
men and women," said Assembly Board of Trustees Member Annie Totah,
who attended the event.

"Hrant Dink was an exceptional human being and civil rights advocate
who was determined to serve as a catalyst for mutual understanding,
tolerance and dialogue between Turks and Armenians. We commend Rakel
and the entire Dink family in their efforts to continue Hrant Dink’s
legacy."

The Journalists Memorial is a soaring two-story glass structure that
bears the names of reporters, editors, photographers, broadcasters and
executives who died covering wars, civil violence or natural disasters,
or who were killed because of their work.

Council of Europe and OSCE welcome agreement to change recently-amended
assembly law in Armenia

Strasbourg, 22.04.2008 – The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission
today welcomed the agreement reached with leading Armenian state
representatives to make changes to the recently-amended assembly law.

"We see this agreement as another step in the long-standing cooperation
between the Armenian authorities, the ODIHR and the Venice Commission on
the legislative regulation of public assemblies," said Ambassador
Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.

"The Venice Commission and the ODIHR look forward to receiving the
drafts of the new amendments and stand ready to review them in light of
relevant international standards," added Gianni Buquicchio, Secretary of
the Venice Commission.

In a legal opinion published on 28 March, the ODIHR and the Venice
Commission raised serious concerns about the amendments to the Law on
Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations which were
passed shortly after the violent events of 1-2 March.

During a visit to Yerevan on 15-16 April, a delegation from the ODIHR
and the Venice Commission met Tigran Torosyan, Speaker of the National
Assembly, Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice, and presidential
adviser Gevorg Mheryan.

It was agreed to repeal or change the amendments introduced to tighten
provisions for peaceful assemblies, in particular with regard to
spontaneous gatherings. These changes would bring the law closer to its
original content, which had been assessed positively by the ODIHR and
the Venice Commission.

Based on the agreement reached, new amendments will be drafted and
submitted to the ODIHR and the Venice Commission for another review.
ODIHR and Venice Commission experts suggested that sufficient time be
allowed for public discussion of the amendments.

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 283a08
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47
member states.

EUROPE ACTS INCORRECTLY REGARDING KARABAKH

KarabakhOpen
21-04-2008 13:22:29

One of the issues discussed at the session of the joint parliamentary
commission of Armenia and Karabakh on April 18 was European
integration. How is Karabakh perceived in the process of integration
of the South Caucasus with Europe and what is its role?

In answer to the question of Karabakh-Open.com, the speaker of
the Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosyan said the European
organizations avoid the topic of the "unrecognized states" in their
policies. Although it is evident that the "unrecognized" states are
located in the territories, within the borders of the member countries
of the Council of Europe.

"Europe acts incorrectly. We often raise this issue with the European
organizations. After all the publics of those countries suffered enough
from the conflicts. Now they are undergoing discrimination from the
European organizations. Meanwhile, the paramount European value is
the protection of human rights, independent from which country they
live in, recognized or unrecognized," Tigran Torosyan said.

He underlined that cooperation between the European organizations and
Karabakh would be useful even to the settlement of the conflict. "For
Kosovo, for instance, democratic standards were set and a stipulation
was offered: first compliance then recognition. It is true that later
they had to recognize Kosovo first but I think that compliance with
democratic standards it highly important," said the speaker of the
Armenian parliament.

Karabakh is ready for contact with Europe. The Constitution
adopted in 2006 complies with international standards, said Tigran
Torosyan. Although he said legislation is not everything. "We need
to be more decisive in our actions," said the speaker.

In answer to the question of Karabakh-Open.com what decisive steps were
worked out during the session of the joint commission, Tigran Torosyan
said there were a lot of proposals but there are no decisions yet.

His Karabakhi counterpart Ashot Ghulyan said Karabakh needs to draw
the attention of Europe to the issue of human rights in Karabakh,
also through the delegations of Armenia to the European organizations.

Ashot Ghulyan noted the likelihood of Karabakh to join several
international and European conventions.

Armenian opposition leader released from custody – prosecutors

Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 18 2008

YEREVAN April 18 — A member of Armenia’s opposition party Respublika
Suren Sureniants has been released from custody over health concerns,
Sona Truzian, spokesperson for the Armenian Prosecutor General’s
Office, told Interfax on Friday.

Prosecutor General Agvan Ovsepian ordered Sureniants’s release with
travel restrictions over concerns for his health, she said.

Five Armenian parliamentary deputies earlier asked Ovsepian to free
Sureniants.

Sureniants was arrested on February 25 on charges of organizing illegal
rallies and mass disturbances, and attempting to usurp power. He went
on a hunger strike after the arrest.

HEAD OF PACE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAGORNO KARABAKH: "SEARCH OF WAYS FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION IS NOT IN THE COMPETENCE OF OUR COMMITTEE"

Today.Az
/politics/44378.html
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

"During the session of the PACE subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh we
have discussed issues regarding the meeting of the delegations of
Azerbaijan and Armenia".

The due announcement was made by Lord Russel Jonston, head of the
PACE subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh.

"We decided to put off the meeting of the delegations until the
PACE January sessions for two reasons. The first is connected with
the current siaution in Armenia. This problem has not yet found its
solution, therefore, the meeting could not have been held in June.

As an alternative it was proposed to hold the meeting during the
October session. However, presidential elections will be held
in Azerbaijan on October 15 and this is the second reason of the
delay. The heads of the delegations of both countries came to a
conclusion that the meeting should be scheduled for late January. This
will give us time for the needed preparations for the meeting.

I think, the most important is that both sides come to an agreement
on the date of the meeting. I will meet the new president of Armenia
in the near future, if exactly, in May".

The head of the subcommittee for Nagorno Karabakh also noted that he
does not plan to visit the region.

"It would not be correct to bound the arrangement planned for January
of the next year only to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This is not the
main purpose. Search of ways of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
is not in the competence of the mandate of our committee. We want to
assist in building contacts between the parliamentarians of the two
countries. Thus, we will be able to create an atmosphere of dialogue
between the deputies of these countries".

FORCE HAS BEEN APPLIED AGAIN
by Lusine Barseghyan

Haykakan Zhamanak
April 10 2008
Armenia

Yesterday [9 April] a ceremony mourning 40 days for the victims of
the 1 March events [police crackdown on opposition protest which
left 8 people dead, death toll rose to 10 later] took place in the
city centre. And as was expected, many Armenian citizens came to the
Myasnikov monument [the scene of the incident one kilometre away from
Liberty Square where the opposition rally was held] to express their
respect to memory of the victims.

Despite the fact that nobody has organized any protest action, the
mourning event quickly turned into an anti-government rally. For some
time police tried to disperse those gathered, but the determination of
the latter as well as the presence of various international journalists
forced them to retreat. The action lasted for about two hours. During
all this period drivers of many cars passing by saluted the protesters
to express their support to the gathering.

At about 2000 [1500 gmt] yesterday the police with truncheons and
electric wires attacked about 300 citizens in Republic Square [the
venue of the mourning ceremony]. The latter gathered near Marriott
Armenia Hotel. The police, who had already met the supporters of
[first Armenian President] Levon Ter-Petrosyan, approached the latter,
cordoned them off and started pushing them towards the building of
the Ministry of Territorial Administration.

On their way people started chanting "Le-von president, Serzhik
[Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan], go away, struggle, struggle till
the end". From the square where the Colourful Sky [Hot air balloon]
event took place, other people joined the chanting protesters. Close
to the Noyan Tapan stationery store, police attacked people and
started violently beating them. The police officers beat Karabakh
committee member Samvel Ghazaryan, twisted an arm of a young man,
6-7 police officers surrounded him and hit him on the head.

Incidentally, among the attackers there were young people in plain
clothes with the [member of the ruling coalition] Republican Party
of Armenia symbols on them. Some people left the Republic Square,
while the others mixed with the crowd. The police officers detained
other participants of the event who simply approached the police and
asked why they were doing this.

Later supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan gathered in North Avenue and
started chanting from there "Le-von, president, Serzhik, go away,
struggle, struggle till the end" etc. However, the police again pushed
them away from there saying that their gathering was illegal. Then
the protesters returned to the Republic Square and started chanting
there. The police again applied force against the people. But the
protesters didn’t leave the Republic Square till the end of the event.

While Serzh Sargsyan was taking presidential oath

When Serzh Sargsyan was taking an oath with his hand on the Armenian
Constitution and the Bible in the Spendiarov Opera Theatre, several
thousands of citizens chanted "Serzh, murderer, Serzhik, go away,
struggle, struggle till the end". [Passage omitted: more details on
people gathering in Yerevan streets]

Leader of the People’s Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan also came
to express his respect to memory of the 1 March victims. He said
that the act of violence applied against people on 1 March could by
no means be justified. [Passage omitted: Demirchyan expands on this]

He also said the opposition wanted that political persecution be
terminated, political prisoners released, the law on rallies and
demonstrations be reconsidered. Demirchyan asked: for how long the
people will be denied their right for rallies?

[Passage omitted for other speeches]

Republic Party Chairman Aram Sargsyan, Social-Democratic Hnchak Party
Chairwoman Lyudmila Sargsyan, New Times party board member Hrachya
Sargsyan, Heritage party representatives also came to mourn the 1
March victims. Aram Sargsyan said that the pan-national movement will
definitely end with people’s victory.

Yesterday the protest actions also took place in the vicinity of the
Constitutional Court, the Prosecutor-General’s Office, the Central
Election Commission, the OSCE Yerevan office. [Passage omitted:
more about protests]

Yesterday the actions of protest took place near a number of foreign
embassies in the Republic of Armenia.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: "IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE NAGORNO KARABAKH RULED BY AZERBAIJAN"

Today
olitics/44336.html
April 16 2008
Azerbaijan

"Armenia will also support Nagorno Karabakh’s right for
self-determination".

The due announcement was made by President Serzh Sarkissyan, presenting
new Minister Edqard Nalbandyan to the Foreign Ministry of Armenia on
April 16, according to the press service for Armenian President.

"Armenia is a guarantor of security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
and it will continue such a policy. It is impossible to image Nagorno
Karabakh ruled by Azerbaijan", said the president.

He noted that in the near future the external policy of Armenia should
become more active and "we should get involved into the international
life, continuing to strengthen relations both with friendly countries
and international organizations".

On this context it is necessary to create favorable conditions for
peaceful and just resolution of the Karabakh problem, noted the
President. He said one of the major tasks of external policy is
deepening economic relations with friendly countries, noting that
political relations with most countries are on a high level, while
economic ties are weak.

"There is a great potential and we should use it", said Sarkissyan.

He stressed importance of work with the Armenian diaspora and use
of its potential. The President noted that the agenda of external
policy will include the international recognition and blaming of the
"genocide of Armenians".