Author: Tambiyan Samvel

MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BODY OF THE "FRIENDS OF ARMENIA" ORGANIZATION FROM THE USA LEVON TOROS AWARDED THE "GRATITUDE" MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Apr 1, 2010

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. On 31 March
President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed a decree
awarding the "Gratitude" medal to a member of the executive body of the
"Friends of Armenia" ("Motherland Union") organization from the USA
Levon Toros for participation in carrying out a number of humanitarian
projects in the NKR. About this Noyan Tapan was informed by central
information department of the Artsakh Republic President.

FREDRIK REINFELDT WELCOMES TURKISH AMBASSADOR

The Swedish Wire
article/2:politics/3624:fredrik-reinfeldt-welcomes -turkish-ambassador
March 31 2010

Sweden’s Prime Minister on Wednesday welcomed the Turkish ambassador’s
return to Stockholm after being recalled to Anakara over the Swedish
parliament’s recognition of an Armenian "genocide."

Fredrik Reinfeldt "welcomes that she is coming back to Sweden. It’s
good that our diplomatic relations are (maintained)," the prime
minister’s spokeswoman Roberta Alenius told AFP.

Ambassador Zergun Koruturk arrived in the Swedish capital Tuesday.

Before her departure, she told reporters in Anakara her return to
Sweden became possible after the Swedish government distanced itself
from the parliament’s decision.

Koruturk was summoned back to Ankara on March 11 after the Swedish
parliament voted by a narrow margin a opposition-led resolution to
recognise the Ottoman massacres of Armenians during World War I as
genocide, despite the government’s advice not to do so.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt later apologised to Ankara,
a move which his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called
"very positive".

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also said that the position of his
government, which supports Turkey’s entry into the European Union,
"remains unchanged".

"Our foreign minister also met his Turkish counterpart and he met
some Turkish groups living here, so we’ve been involved in this,"
Alenius said.

"We had good relations with Turkey and want this to continue,"
she added.

CO-CHAIRS NOTE WITH SATISFACTION THE COMMITMENT OF THE PARTIES TO REACH A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE MADRID PRINCIPLES

596582/lang/en
2010-03-30

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS: The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France,
and Robert Bradtke of the United States, released statement today on
the results of their March 26-29 visit to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Press service of the OSCE informed Armenpress that the statement runs
as follows:

"The Minsk Group Co-Chairs visited Yerevan and Nagorno-Karabakh March
26-29. They updated the de facto authorities March 27 on the current
state of negotiations. In Yerevan March 28, the Co-Chairs met President
Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan to further
discuss Armenian comments on the Basic Principles for the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While in Armenia, the
Co-Chairs also had a number of other separate bilateral meetings. After
the recent meetings between the Co-Chairs and the parties in Paris and
in the region, the Co-Chairs note with satisfaction the commitment
of the parties to reach a peaceful settlement within the framework
of the Madrid Principles."

RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL ON POSSIBLE GEORGIAN LINK IN MOSCOW BOMBINGS

Tert.am
13:15 ~U 31.03.10

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said investigators
looking into the Moscow metro bombings were working on all the possible
versions, including Georgia’s possible involvement, reports Georgian
news site Civil.ge.

In an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax, Patrushev was
asked by the journalist: "There is an opinion that terrorist acts in
Moscow could have been organized from abroad. Do you believe that?"

"All the versions need to be checked," Patrushev responded. "For
example, there is Georgia and its leader Saakashvili, whose actions
are unpredictable."

"Unfortunately, a number of countries provide him with support,
including military assistance. We state that it is unacceptable. He
has already waged a war once. It is not ruled out that he will do
that again."

"We had information that individual agents of Georgian special
services were keeping contacts with terrorist organizations in the
Russian North Caucasus. We need to check this version too in respect
of the Moscow terrorist acts," Patrushev added.

TIGRAN DAVTYAN: ARMENIAN ECONOMY IS IN THE STAGE OF STABILIZATION
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
31.03.2010 18:28

According to the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia,
the social allowances and pensions will increase 3 500 and 2 650 AMD
respectively. Most economists and common citizens say the increase
cannot be sufficient, taking into consideration that the gas price
is going to rise from April 1st.

"The government makes its calculations within the limits of its
capacity, and the financial capacities of the state are reflected
in the state budget," Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan told a press
conference today.

"This year’s macroeconomic indices were a little better, than we
had foreseen in the budget. The budget envisaged a 1.3% GDP growth,
while what we have today is a little higher,’" the Minister said.

According to Tigran Davtyan, the Armenian economy is in the stage of
stabilization and revival today. He predicts that 1-1.5 years will
be needed for full recovery.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF .66 MILLION CONDUCTED AT NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA OJSC ON MARCH 31

Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of
million 660 thousand at the weighted average exchange rate of 401.25
drams per dollar were conducted at NASDAQ OMX Armenia OJSC on March
31. According to the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia,
the closing price was 400 drams.

SAMVEL BABAYAN FEELS DANGER OF WAR

an
08:24 pm | March 30, 2010

Politics

"Yes, we’re on the path to war because Azerbaijan’s obscenity of
getting everything and not giving anything goes to show that it is
leading the conflict to war. Yes, the situation is dangerous and
a war could break out at any moment," said former commander of the
Artsakh Defense Army Samvel Babayan.

However, he did add that this statement doesn’t mean that military
operations will start tomorrow because Azerbaijan is currently not
sure whether it can win.

Babayan doesn’t believe there will be any treaty or document on the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict anytime soon.

"As far as I know, Serzh Sargsyan will not make compromises, but I
believe all the statements and opinions expressed by Sargsyan must
be viewed only in the political context. In terms of change of power,
I don’t think the state of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is sharp to
lead to change of power," said Babayan.

As far as Robert Kocharyan’s latest statements are concerned, Babayan
considers them to be a response to Vardan Oskanyan. The Republican
Party of Armenia has criticized the statements by the former RA
Foreign Minister.

"Let’s say t all started with Oskanyan’s statements and Kocharyan
responded to those who had talked about him and accused, let’s say,
the revealed Kocharyan. I am telling you the truth and you can
formulate your thoughts however you wish," said Samvel Babayan.

HOUSE OF LORDS OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT OPENS DEBATES ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmInfo
2010-03-30 20:38:00

ArmInfo. On the initiative of Baroness Caroline Cox, the House of Lords
of the British Parliament has opened debates on the Armenian Genocide.

The Public Television of Armenia reports that nobody denied the
historical facts, discrepancies concerned only the terms of official
recognition. At the same time, the British parliamentarians think
that the murder of Hrant Dink proved that Armenians are persecuted
in modern Turkey as well. Baroness Cox stressed that the humanity
cannot forget this crime as an entire nation was annihilated in 1915,
including women and children. Denial of the genocide has led to
impunity and destruction of Armenian civilization in the sphere of
culture, including in Artsakh, were ethnic cleansings were carried out.

Genocide negation policy is a threat to the whole world. It is high
time to recognize the Armenian Genocide especially as this year is
the 95th anniversary of this crime.

Cox said that denial of the Armenian Genocide means denial of
historical truth. The attempts of the Turkish authorities to avoid
the truth prove that the Genocide did take place.

Some of the speakers pointed out that in 1915 the Turkish authorities
actually planned Armenian massacres. Those objecting to the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide said that one should not dwell on events
that happened a century ago and spoil partner relations with Turkey.

LA POLICE PROBE 3RD SLAYING IN ARMENIAN FAMILY

armradio.am
30.03.2010 18:09

More than a year after finding her father and sister shot to death
in their apartment, a 14-year-old girl discovered her mother fatally
shot behind the wheel of her car in an attack that appeared to be
connected to the earlier killings, police said Monday.

Karine Hakobyan, 38, a nursing assistant at Childrens Hospital, was
found Friday behind the wheel of her Honda CRV with a gunshot wound
to the back of her head.

Detectives investigating the killing of her husband Khachik Safaryan,
43, and their 9-year-old daughter Lucine said there appeared to be
a link between the crimes.

"We’re working on a theory that was developed in the previous
homicides," police Detective Dan Myers said. He cautioned, however,
that investigators had yet to uncover definitive evidence connecting
the deaths.

He did not provide further details but said none of the victims had
any criminal associations.

In both cases, the bodies were discovered by another daughter in the
family, Myers said, WDAM TV reports.

Itar-Tass, Russia
March 28 2010

Relay race along CIS borders devoted to V-Day, arrives in Yerevan

28.03.2010, 16.41

YEREVAN, March 28 (Itar-Tass) – The `Victory Relay Race’ along CIS
borders on the occasion of the V-Day, arrived in the Armenian capital
on Sunday. The anthems of Russia and Armenia were festively rendered
at the Yerevan international airport as well as popular songs and
marches.

Representative of Russian border troops in Armenia Vyacheslav Kurgin
said that the `Victory Relay Race’ is conducted on a decision of the
Council of commanders of border troops of CIS countries. According to
the representative, `the action publicises glorious combat traditions
of borderguards, and is called upon to consolidate unity and
historical friendship of peoples of the Commonwealth’.

`This relay race shows goodwill of CIS peoples to live in peace,
friendship and good-neighbourly relations,’ said deputy commander of
border troops of the Armenian Security Service for personnel Martiros
Martirosyan. `It also symbolises strengthening relations between
border departments of CIS countries’.

This action `is an expression of unity of our borders we guard by
joint efforts,’ the colonel said. He wished the relay race `a
successful start and successful finish’.