Author: Talalian Arpi

GAGIK AND VARDAN JHANGIRIANS INVOLVED AS DEFENDANTS PUT UNDER ARREST

Noyan Tapan
Feb 27, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Gagik Jhangirian, the RA former
Deputy Prosecutor General, was charged with Part 1, Article 235 of the
RA Criminal Code: to illegally carry weapon, and with Part 1, Article
316 of the RA Criminal Code: to use violence towards a representative
of the authorities.

Detention has been chosen as a precautionary measure. This information
was provided to Noyan Tapan by the Public Relations and Information
Department of the RA Police.

Vardan Jhangirian, the brother of Gagik Jhangirian, has been charged
with Part 2, Article 316 of the RA Criminal Code: to use violence
towards a representative of the authorities, for whom as well detention
has been chosen as a precautionary measures.

TURKEY’S PRIME MINISTRY INSPECTORS TO INVESTIGATE DINK MURDER

arminfo
2008-02-27 12:40:00

Arminfo. Turkish prime minister charged to appoint special inspectors
to carry out an investigation into the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink.

Turkish journalist of Armenian origin Hrant Dink was gunned down
outside his Istanbul office on January 19, 2007 by an ultra-nationalist
teenager. In addition to the young man, 18 other suspects are
facing trial for having plotted to have Dink murdered. As Turkish
Zaman newspaper says, a delegation from the Prime Ministry arrived
yesterday in the northern city of Trabzon, where Dink’s murder was
born. However, serious allegations of police negligence ahead of the
murder as well as of a cover-up during the investigation have been
brought against officials by individuals involved as co-plaintiffs
in the case. Allegations include that the police were in the know
about the plot but did not take the necessary precautions to save
Dink’s life. One of the 19 suspects is a former police informant who
gathered intelligence for the Trabzon police. Prime Ministry Chief
Inspector Mehmet Akin and inspectors Aysegul Genc and Tugce Tumer
have already started working on the case.

OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TRY TO SECURE A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE

Mediamax
February 26, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and his
Finnish counterpart, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ilkka Kanerva discussed
today the issues, related to the presidential elections in Armenia
and the post-election developments.

Mediamax reports that, touching upon the post-election developments,
Ilkka Kanerva stated that "today the situation is quite complex,
when the results of the presidential elections are contested by
the opposition".

According to him, "Armenia should find a way out of the present
situation by means of a political dialogue, using a legal way". OSCE
Chairman-in-Office expressed confidence that "the country authorities
try to secure a constructive dialogue, and all the sides should
respect the legal system, functioning in the country".

Ilkka Kanerva stated that the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR
Observation Mission will be published in mid-April. He noted that
the preliminary assessment contains both positive and criticizing
provisions.

"The government should address the shortcomings, revealed and
registered by the ODIHR", the OSCE Chairman-in-Office stated.

Ilkka Kanerva informed that during his visit to Yerevan, he will meet
the Ex-President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian.

ARMENIA, EGYPT TO COOPERATE IN INVESTIGATING CRIMINAL CASES

ARKA
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Armenia and Egypt will cooperate
in investigating criminal cases. The RA Parliament ratified an
Armenian-Egyptian agreement on legal assistance. RA Minister of
Justice Gevorg Danielyan, who presented the agreement, pointed out
that the agreement was signed in Cairo on April 15, 2007.

The norms of the agreement are in full conformity with international
legal norms, as well as with similar agreements between Armenia and
other countries, Danielyan said.

The Minister also pointed out that the agreement has a number of
specific features, the principal one of them is obligatory carrying
out of commissions by the inquirer irrespective of whether the deed
in question is a penal act or not.

Danielyan also pointed out that, under the agreement, the executor is
to incur all the expenses, except for cases when the inquirer assumed
this responsibility.

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Feb. 26, 2008

IAEA report, result of Iranian resistance: envoy

Moscow, Feb 26, IRNA

Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Ali Saqaian, said on Monday that the
recent report issued by the UN nuclear watchdog was the outcome of
the Iranian nation’s resistance.

In an interview with an Armenian TV channel, he said the report
indicates that Iran has clearly and transparently answered all
questions raised by the agency regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear
program.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Mohamed ElBaradei released a report on Iran’s peaceful nuclear
activities on February 22 verifying the non-diversion of Iran’s
peaceful nuclear program.

He said that the agency has "made good progress in clarifying the
outstanding issues relating to Iran’s past nuclear activities.

"We have managed to clarify all the remaining outstanding issues,
which is the scope and nature of Iran’s enrichment program," the IAEA
chief said in the 11-page report presented to the agency’s Board of
Governors.

Criticizing certain countries for trying to impose their political
will on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian envoy said they
want the Iranian nation to withdraw from its legitimate rights.

Referring to Iran’s close cooperation with the IAEA, he said the
report has indicated that Tehran’s cooperation has been far beyond
its commitments.

The report also proves that there is no more reason for referral of
Iran’s peaceful nuclear program to the Security Council, Saqaian
reiterated.

He further voiced Iran’s readiness to transfer its valuable nuclear
experiences to Armenia.

COMPOSER ARA GEVORKYAN CALLS FOR PEACE AND CONSENT

arminfo
2008-02-22 21:37:00

ArmInfo. Composer Ara Gevorkyan calls all the political forces of
Armenia for peace and accord. Asked by ArmInfo correspondent about
the fact that chiefly his music sounds at the opposition rallies,
Gevorkyan replied that his music sounded at the parliamentary election
as well. I did not forbid anybody or offer to anybody to sound my
music at the mass events. "I would be happy is my music unites our
people", – the composer said.

He also said that at the moment he is still working over a
revolutionary CD in the world of music "Siretseq zmimians" (Love thy
neighbor). "I want to show with this work that Armenia may become a
dove of peace for the whole universe", Gevorkyan said. He added that
he sincerely hopes that all the political passions in Armenia itself
will calm down.

PRESS RELEASE
Institute of Armenian Studies
University of Southern California
Taper Hall of Humanities, Suite 252
Los Angeles, California 90089-4015
Tel: 213-821-3943
Email: [email protected]

We are very happy to welcome Myrna Douzjian, who will be speaking at
USC on Monday, February 25, 2008, 12 noon, at the Armenian Studies
Seminar. She will speak on "Issues in Armenian-American Literature &
Culture: Language, Homeland, and Identity."

Myrna Douzjian is a promising young scholar and writer. She is a
Doctoral
Candidate in UCLA’s Department of Comparative Literature, specializing
in Russian literature, Armenian literature, and drama. She received a
Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature, Minor in Russian Studies,
Summa Cum
Laude and Departmental Honors from UCLA in 2002 with an Honors
Thesis on `The Armenian Theatre of the Absurd.’

Ms. Douzjain is a Teaching Associate in the UCLA Department of Slavic
Languages & Literatures and Department of Comparative Literature. She
was the Chair of UCLA AGSA Graduate Student Colloquium in Armenian
Studies, Los Angeles, CA, 2005-2006 academic year. Ms. Douzjian has
written nonfiction works in Armenian including: `A Dictionary.’
E-teb. 4 (2007): 18-19. Poems in Armenian; `What’s the
Difference?’ `I Am Every Man,’ `I Tried to Stay Out of the
Poem,’ `I Shall Insert the Title Here,’ `Gor and Its Like.’
E-teb. 2 (2006): 9-15.

The Armenian Studies Seminar will be held at Von KleinSmid Center
(VKC)
107 located northwest of Gate 3 on Figueroa.

There will be up to ten seats available for the Institute’s circle of
friends to attend this seminar.

For reservations please email the Institute office at
[email protected].

Campaign headquarters of RA presidential contender Vazgen Manukyan informs of violations during presidential election

2008-02-19 12:11:00

ArmInfo. Campaign headquarters of RA presidential contender, leader
of the National-Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan informs of violations
during today’s presidential. election in Armenia.

According to the information, received by ArmInfo from the campaign
headquarters of Vazgen Manukyan, his authorized representative Nona
Narinyan noted at the election precinct 3.29 in a period from 10:30
AM to 11:00 AM that 50-60 people voted almost simultaneously and by
the additional list. The voters were from the towns of Vanadzor,
Hrazdan, Kotayk region’s Akunk village and other settlements. At
the same precinct, N. Narinyan noted that 20-30 people voted by
the additional list and they were mostly from Shirak region. Head
of V. Manukyan’s campaign headquarters in Malatia-Sebastia Yerevan
community margarita Manukyan said that an attempt was made at the
election precinct 8.8. to take the ballot papers out of the precinct,
in view of which a scuffle happened among the head of the election
precinct and some authorized representatives. The incident was
suppressed after interference of the police. Information was received
from Gyumri about distribution of money to the voters before the
election precincts. This fact has been fixed by the "Gala" TV Company,
V. Manukyan’s campaign headquarters report.

Youth rally in support of Serge Sargsyan
17.02.2008 18:05

Hasmik Dilanyan
"Radiolur"

Young people came from different marzes and higher educational
establishments of the republic to participate in a peaceful rally and
support presidential contender, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan. They
marched from Alex Manoogian Street to Vartan Mamikonyan’s monument,
later to Nalbandyan Street and the Liberty Square

The wing of Georgian-Armenians was the first to participate in the
rally and declare that their candidate is Serge Sargsyan.

Young people representing different communities of Yerevan joined the
students from various higher educational establishments.

Young people from different marzes also arrived in Yerevan to support
Serge Sargsyan. They are sure they will shape the the future of our
country.

`We have come from Gegharkunik marz. The young of our marz will elect
Serge Sargsyan,’ said Armen Hakobyan, representing Zovashen community
of Gegharkunik.

A young man from Ararat marz, who expressed the wish to stay anonymous,
said on behalf of their community that they will support the Prime
Minister in office.

Representatives of youth wings of the parties supporting Serge Sargsyan
also joined the rally. They remember the years when the Pan-Armenian
Movement held power.

Vice-President of the Progressive Party of Armenia Hamazasp Uzumyan
said they also support Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, `since the
progress in the country if apparent. We once saw the years when the
previous authorities held power, we know what cold and darkness is.
Today I say no to the previous authorities, to Levon Ter-Petrosyan and
call on our youth to elect Serge Sargsyan.’

Which private universities will be closed?

16-02-2008 17:09:36 – KarabakhOpen

Recently the minister of education Vladik Khachatryan has held a
consultation on the private universities of NKR. The results of the
monitoring by the License and Accreditation Service were released
during the consultation.

Presently there are 7 private universities in Karabakh. The deputy
minister of education Slava Asryan says only two of them, Mesrop
Mashtots University and Grigor Narekatsi University, have had progress.
The universities have premises, furniture, and teaching staff. Slava
Asryan says a number of shortcomings and breaches were revealed in all
the other private universities. A deadline was set for eliminating the
shortcomings.

We asked the rector of the branch of Yerevan University of Management
Shushanik Manucharyan for comment. She said in a talk with
Karabakh-Open.com the License and Accreditation Service monitors the
universities once a year. `Monitoring is held regularly, we were
notified about the shortcomings and we made effort to eliminate them.
Therefore, I took the results of the recurrent monitoring as usual,’
Shushanik Manucharyan said.

The rector says the leadership of the university has 6 months to
acquire premises, a teaching staff 50 percent of which should be
permanent staff of which 50 percent should have degrees. `We can
fulfill the requirements within this period, especially that we have
400 students,’ said the rector of the university.

Yerevan University of Management has its own buildings in Yerevan and
Gyumri and is going to buy another building in Stepanakert, Shushanik
Manucharyan said. Presently the university is renting a building which
has a library, computer classroom and other facilities.