Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

ARMENIA, TURKEY REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE TIES

RIA Novosti
May 8, 2009 Friday 11:41 AM GMT+3

The presidents of Armenia and Turkey agreed at talks in Prague to
try to rebuild relations within a reasonable timeframe and without
any preconditions, the Armenian leader’s press office said on Friday.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Turkish leader Abdullah Gul met
in Prague on Thursday as part of efforts to tackle their long-running
dispute over Nagorny Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region located
within the borders of Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan.

"The presidents of Armenia and Turkey gave a positive assessment
to their Prague meeting, where they agreed to stick to existing
understandings and continue efforts to improve bilateral relations
without any preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe," the
press office said.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in a show of support
for Azerbaijan following a bloody conflict over Nagorny Karabakh
between the two ex-Soviet Caucasus republics. Turkey earlier refused
to open the border until the dispute has been resolved. Ankara has
also demanded Yerevan drop its campaign to have the mass killings
of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 internationally recognized
as genocide.

This was the presidents’ second meeting and came after Gul’s visit
to Armenia last fall.

The two countries have had no diplomatic relations since the Soviet
Union broke up in 1991. However, they agreed to a "roadmap" to
normalize their relations under Swiss mediation in April.

Sargsyan also met with Azerbaijani Presidents Ilham Aliyev on Thursday
in Prague, agreeing on the basic principles of a settlement of the
Nagorny Karabakh issue.

Sargsyan and Aliyev were in Prague to attend a EU Eastern Partnership
summit designed to offer political and economic aid to former Soviet
republics and ease their energy dependence on Russia.

Both leaders also had separate meetings with U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton in Washington recently. Clinton urged them to resolve
the Nagorny Karabakh dispute.

Nagorny Karabakh and ties with Armenia will also dominate Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Russia, a mediator in
the feud, on May 16.

UNITED SHIPBUILDING CORP. TO GET CONTROLLING STAKE IN AMUR PLANT

RIA Novosti
16:00 | 11/ 05/ 2009

KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR, May 11 (RIA Novosti) – The United Shipbuilding
Corporation will receive 59% – a controlling stake previously owned
by a group of private shareholders – in the Amur Shipbuilding Plant,
the Russian premier told a shipbuilding meeting Monday.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that on Saturday "[state savings
bank] Sberbank and the group of private shareholders signed an
agreement on the sale of the share to Sberbank for a small sum so
that it could later be sold to the United Shipbuilding Corporation,
which is 100% state-owned."

Putin added that the corporation already has 17.9% of the plant’s
stock. "On the whole, the United Shipbuilding Corporation will have
a package of about 77%," he said.

The Amur plant’s owes 36 billion rubles ($1.1 billion) in loans,
including a 13.9 billion-ruble ($431 million) debt to Sberbank.

The government will help the plant restructure its debt. "In total,
almost 2.5 billion rubles [$77 million] and over $400 million will
be directed to debt restructuring," Putin said.

NAGORNO KARABAKH CELEBRATES PEACE DAY: FESTIVE EVENTS ORGANIZED

13:52 09/05/2009
Source: Panorama.am

On the occasion of the 17th anniversary of Shoushi liberation and
Victory Day events are scheduled today in Stepanakert and Shoushi,
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Panorama.am reporter says that the delegations of NKR and Armenian
governments will go from the Renaissance Square to Stepanakert
Memorial, to attend the eternal fire and put flowers and wreaths at
the memorial. Later the officials will leave for Shoushi.

The delegations will put flower wreath at the tank-memorial, having
first entered Shoushi and at the monument to Vazgen Sargsyan. The
officials will visit Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shoushi.

In the evening festive events will be held in Stepanakert. NKR
President Bako Sahakyan will be holding a reception at the Government
Hall.

The festive events will be concluded by fireworks.

FROM JULES VERNE TO YOUNG AND ENTHUSIASTIC ARMENIANS – "FRUITFUL ARMENIA" IS SEARCHING FOR TALENTED PEOPLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 21:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "FruitFul Armenia" Fund announced the launch of
FruitFul Armenia Talents Contest, "FruitFul Armenia" General Manager
Anna Khristina Shirimyan told a news conference.

"We’re searching the world for young people, whishing to contribute to
the development of Armenia," she said. According to her, the Contest
aims to find Jules Vernes of 2009 who could implement a fantasy
project to come true in 50 years, like Jules Verne’s writings did.

Young people of 18-30 are eligible for the contest. Contest
participants must present projects in one of the following spheres:
agriculture, trade and marketing, finance and infrastructure.

FruitFul Armenia Talents Contest will provide 21 awards; a Gold
Prize of AMD 3 000 000 and a laptop computer. "Best projects will be
published and implemented," Anna Khristina Shirimyan reported.

FruitFul Armenia Talents Contest is organized by ConversBank, Tierras
de Armenia CJSC, ADF Shops CSJC and Armenian International Airports.

WHY CAN’T THE POLICE SOLVE SPATE OF ATTACKS AGAINST REPORTERS?
Ararat Davtyan

2009/ 05/08 | 17:11

Important media

Has the time come for reporters to carry guns?

At a press conference held today reporters asked Hovhannes Tamanyan,
head of the RoA Police Criminal Investigations Department why it is
that the police, as a rule, cannot find those responsible for attacks
against reporters, a primary factor that just leads to more attacks.

"Yes, I support the notion that responsible, educated individuals
should have the right to bear arms," stated Colonel Tamanyan, adding
that such thugs would understand that a journalist can take out his or
her weapon and open fire when the need arose. Colonel Tamanyan stated
that twice in his career he has had to use his weapon to defuse a
crime scene.

Twice within the past week reporters have been assaulted. Argishti
Kiviryan, the coordinator of the "Armenia Today" and "Bagin" websites
was attacked on April 30, and Nver Mnatsakanyan, a popular news anchor
on "Shant" T.V. was attacked on May 7.

"We too are concerned. We are saddened not only by these two latest
attacks, but in general. I have file cases in my possession regarding
attacks on journalists and political figures going back to 1992. In
truth, attacks against reporters smear the huge work we have carried
out. We will be working day and night to get to the bottom of these
crimes. I implore you to trust in us be confident that we will do
everything possible to put a halt to this despicable manner of crime,"
stated Colonel Tamanyan.

The police official stated that yesterday a close door consultative
meeting was convened in which "specific questions were asked regarding
the work being done to solve crimes committed against members of
the press".

Colonel Tamanyan noted that since 1992 the police have registered
seventeen incidents of violence against reporters in Armenia, of
which three have been solved; one in Gavar and two in Yerevan.

"The crime committed against "Haylur" reporter Anna Badalyan, which
took place on November 24, 2005, in the vicinity of the General
Andranik statue was solved, as well as the November 17, 2008, assault
on reporter Edik Baghdasaryan that took place opposite the building
located at #1/3 Buzant Street," stated Colonel Tamanyan.

The degree to which the assault on Edik Baghdasaryan remains
questionable since two of his attackers remain at large and those
responsible for ordering the "hit" have yet to be named. When "Hetq"
pressed the police official on this matter Colonel Tamanyan responded,
"The criminal act itself has been solved. As to what degree we regard
it to be solved…There are no standards to measure that. It’s a whole
other matter to fully reveal the case and bring all those responsible
to justice. The part of the case that we have exposed has been sent
to the court, while the investigation of the balance of the case goes
on. Thus, this case cannot be closed."

The police have started a criminal investigation into the beating of
journalist Argishti Kiviryan on the charge of "intent to cause light
bodily injury". All the while lawyers argue that the assault was a
murder attempt. The fact that photo-journalist Gagik Shamshyan took
pictures of the crime scene just one half hour after the incident
that clearly show spent bullet casings on the ground would justify
such a claim.

When "Hetq" asked Colonel Tamanyan why the police arrived at a less
severe evaluation of the crime, the head of the criminal investigation
department responded, "We have brought a case based on what we have
in hand.

When the preliminary investigation substantiates that it was indeed
an attempted murder we will definitely reevaluate our findings." He
went on to say that the case has been taken over by the National
Security Service but could not give the reason why.

As to why the spent cartridges went missing, Colonel Tamanyan
speculated that, "I don’t know. We didn’t find any shells after
examining the crime scene. If anyone pocketed them they should hand
them over to us."

A police trainee instructor that was a witness to the attack on
Edik Baghdasaryan noted in his testimony that one of the assailants
uttered the words "go and die, die" as he kept beating the now
unconscious Baghdasaryan on the head as the reporter lay sprawled on
the ground. Neither did the police register this incident as attempted
murder, but rather sent the case to court with a charge of "causing
medium degree bodily injury".

When "Hetq" pressed the police investigator if this too was a correct
legal evaluation of the case, Colonel Tamanyan only response was that
we take the matter up with the preliminary investigative body.

When "Hetq" asked Colonel Hovhannes Tamanyan, as a high ranking
police official, to offer an explanation as to why acts of violence
directed against members of the press in Armenia aren’t being solved,
his answer was as follows:

"You are saying things and that is your right. I can’t oppose them. And
if the numbers I have presented to you, about the doubled police
effort against crime, double the number of arrests, imprisonments
and solving of cases, mean nothing to you, and you say that it is
because of police inaction or premeditation that such cases aren’t
be solved…Well, I can’t agree. Not to value the hard work and sweat
shown by the police, in my opinion isn’t a serious approach."

We then reminded Colonel Tamanyan to answer the question regarding
attacks against reporters. "Are you satisfied with the results
regarding solving such crimes? Please give us your explanation as to
why they aren’t being solved."

Colonel Tamanyan responded, "No, I am not satisfied. I noted before
that a meeting of all interested parties was called by the police
chief to specifically review work being carried out to solve crimes
and violations against reporters. This issue is at the focus of
our daily attention. And I truly say to you that it hurts me as
well. Don’t believe for a minute that I derive any pleasure from
sitting with you and discussing this matter about unsolved cases of
your colleagues. We will do all I our power to solve these cases,
so that next time we meet I can happily inform you that these crimes
have been solved. Don’t despair. We haven’t given up hope either."

OSCE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE WELCOMES ARMENIA’S EFFORTS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

armradio.am
09.05.2009 14:14

The OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human
Beings, Eva Biaudet, welcomed the Armenian authorities’ efforts to
combat trafficking in human beings and underscored the need to place
human trafficking higher on the political agenda.

In Yerevan on a three-day visit that, Biaudet participated in the
opening ceremony of the Anti-Trafficking Support and Resource Unit,
which was established by the OSCE Office in Yerevan under the Ministry
of Labour and Social Issues with the support of the Governments of
France, Germany, Sweden and the United States. She expressed the hope
that the Unit would help improve protection of victims and serve as a
forum for discussion, training, gathering and analyzing information,
and for developing feasible goals for combating human trafficking.

In particular, Biaudet stressed the need for better victim
identification: "Enhanced co-operation between NGOs providing
assistance to victims and law enforcement agencies is a pre-requisite
for better victim identification and I urge the Armenian authorities
to put more effort into also investigating possible cases of internal
trafficking among vulnerable populations".

During her visit, Biaudet met Vice Prime Minister and Minister
of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorkyan, who chairs the
Inter-Ministerial Council on Tr afficking Issues, as well as
representatives of the National Assembly, the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Justice, Labour and Social Issues and Education, the
police, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsman. She
also discussed co-operation and co-ordination in the field with
representatives of civil society and international organizations.

"I welcome the increased efforts of the Armenian authorities to
bring traffickers to justice. However, I am concerned that the vast
majority of convicted persons in recent years have been women. Some
of these women are former victims, and I encourage efforts to be
directed towards effective prosecution of all responsible persons,
including the main profiteers," said Biaudet.

The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, said
his Office stands ready to continue providing support to all relevant
Armenian actors: "The OSCE has always been an active international
actor in anti-trafficking activities in Armenia. The Anti-Trafficking
Support and Resource Unit will promote further effective co-operation
between key national and international anti-trafficking actors in
Armenia to provide for improved prevention, protection and referral
mechanisms in the country."

ENCLAVE TALKS ‘MAKING PROGRESS’

BBC NEWS
urope/8038706.stm
2009/05/07 17:21:50 GMT

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have made significant progress
at talks in Prague over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
diplomats say.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and his Azeri counterpart, Ilham
Aliyev, discussed the region on the sidelines of the EU’s Eastern
Partnership summit.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies inside Azerbaijan but has been controlled by
ethnic Armenians since a war in the 1990s.

Correspondents say the two states are under pressure to resolve
the dispute.

Last month, a cautious diplomatic rapprochement was forged between
Armenia and Turkey, which is closely allied to Azerbaijan.

Narrowing of differences

The Armenian and Azeri presidents attended talks at the US ambassador’s
residence in Prague before the start of the Eastern Partnership summit,
which aims to forge closer ties between the EU and six former Soviet
republics.

"They were able… to reduce their differences on basic principles
and generally agree on the basic ideas they came here to discuss,"
said US Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza, a co-chairman of
the Minsk Group of countries mediating the talks.

"For the first time the presidents agreed on basic ideas surrounding
these points," he told a news conference.

Mr Bryza gave no further details about the substance of the talks.

BBC regional analyst Steven Eke says Thursday’s meeting in the Czech
Republic is the latest sign of substantial progress that has been made
in reinvigorating the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process in recent months.

While it has not resulted in a breakthrough, yet, it suggests a
narrowing of differences between Armenia and Azerbaijan over how to
resolve this long-running conflict, our correspondent says.

As the international mediation continues, there are signs of potential
problems from Nagorno-Karabakh itself, whose leadership could still
derail the peace process, he adds.

The region’s parliament has said its government is unhappy that it
has not been invited to participate as a direct party to the talks,
but rather represented by the Armenian government.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership is also thought to disagree with
Armenia over the possibility of surrendering to Azerbaijan occupied
territory around the main town, Stepanakert, which they consider a
security buffer.

Sporadic clashes have broken out over the territory in recent years,
despite the signing of a ceasefire in 1994. Before the truce, several
years of fighting had left some 30,000 people dead and forced more
than one million from their homes.

In 2006, an overwhelming majority of Nagorno-Karabakh residents –
mostly ethnic Armenians – voted in favour of declaring a sovereign
state. The declaration has not been internationally recognised.

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

ArmInfo
2009-05-05 11:52:00

‘In the first sixty years of its existence, the Council of Europe has
helped to reconcile a continent after decades of ideological divide,
created a Europe-wide court in which individuals can seek protection
of their human rights, outlawed the death penalty in Europe, and
produced an arsenal of more than 200 international treaties to defend
and extend the Council of Europe values of democracy, human rights
and the rule of law.

Political stimulus is provided through a Parliamentary Assembly which
also elects the organisation’s most important officials through an
open and competitive vote. Grassroot democracy is cultivated by the
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities’, says the joint statement
by Secretary General Terry Davis, PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig
and Committee of Ministers Chairman Miguel Angel Moratinos.

‘From the ten founding members in 1949, the Council of Europe today
has 47 member states – all the European countries with one exception
. The last remaining State will hopefully soon embrace the Council
of Europe values and join the all-European family

The mandate of the Council of Europe has not changed,
but the circumstances in which we operate have changed
dramatically. Technological, scientific, political, social and
economic developments have brought about new opportunities,
but also new threats to democracy, human rights and the rule of
law. The mark of the Council of Europe is a combination of robust
and practical legal cooperation with strict respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms combined with positive measures to promote
tolerance, dialogue and understanding between people. That is how
the Council of Europe has responded to threats such as terrorism,
organised crime, trafficking in human being, sexual exploitation of
children, cybercrime, violence against women and other threats to
individuals and societies as a whole. The new generation of Council
of Europe conventions is open to countries from other continents, and
we are determined to improve our cooperation with the European Union,
the OSCE, the United Nations and other partners in Europe and beyond.

In a week’s time, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
will meet in Madrid to commemorate the important Anniversary which
takes place this year and to chart the priorities for our future
work. We have no doubt that the Council of Europe will be up to the
task’, the statement says.

The Council of Europe press-service reported that on occasion of the
60th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the organization presented
a new website.

ARARAT CENTER’S COMMENTARY ON KEGHART.COM’S EDITORIAL

5

Dear compatriots,

It came to our attention that Keghart.com had expressed concern to its
readers over signing the ARARAT Centre’s NO TO CAPITULATION online
petition campaign from the Go Petition site, where the petition is
currently placed. The reason for Keghart’s concern is that "based
on previous experience…," people signing the petition from the
commercial Go Petition site will have their e-mail addresses available
to spammers. (See Keghart’s editorial note.)

With due credit to Keghart’s theoretically legitimate concern, as
well as with full appreciation for the support Keghart expresses for
ARARAT’s campaign in its message, we take this opportunity to kindly
offer a piece of advice to our most valued readers and supporters
who are interested in joining this nationally-important campaign,
but worry about possible e-spam from the Go Petition site:

1. Signing up for any page on any website is never completely
spam-proof.

Nevertheless, most of our audience might agree that the possibility
of receiving some (extra) spam should not hold us back from joining
this crucial campaign, especially that we all occasionally get spam
from different sources anyway.

2. You may create a new (temporary) e-mail address and use it to sign
the petition; it will take less than 5 minutes to cre ate one.

Now a word of explanation as to why we used the Go Petition site for
this campaign, instead of placing it on our own website, which is
fully capable of hosting it: Our motivation for doing so was simply
to avoid getting criticized for self-advertising efforts. We felt
that if we posted the petition on our website, we might be blamed for
seeking to increase its rating through such measure. Thus, we opted
to post it on a neutral site.

Finally, we would like to draw attention to Keghart’s puzzling comment
about the ARARAT Center, saying that "centres the like of Ararat
continue to display misplaced individuality". Such description
is misplaced, inaccurate and inappropriate, especially without
justification.

We believe that such an unprofessional comment could undermine the
reputation of any party that uses it.

Yours faithfully,

ARARAT Center for Strategic Research

THE GUARDIAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT CAN PUT AN END TO TABOOS

LONDON
MAY 5, 2009
NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY

Armenia and Turkey, which are sensitive towards nationalism, are
already for normalization of the relations and rapprochement of the
two countries, The Guardian writes.

According to the periodical, Turkey no longer persists in some issues,
and solution of the Armenian Cause is likely to facilitate the process
of Turkey’s membership to EU.

"The best way to get free of the past is the realization of the past,"
the newspaper writes.