Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

ARMENIA SERIOUS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION BLACK SEA BELT ROAD

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 11:17 GMT+04:00

SEC Transport Ministers discussed in Yerevan construction of Black
Sea ring highway, envisaging improvement of transportation conditions
and visa system for drivers.

"We are serious about participation in the project," Armenian
Transport Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said. "The road will stretch
along the Black Sea shore and though some countries with no outlet
to the sea. The Armenian sector will connect the republic’s south
with the east and extend to Batumi, Georgia."

The Memorandum of Understanding on Coordinated Development of the Black
Sea Ring Highway was signed in April 2007 and came into effect in 2008.

News of Science
March 29, 2009

PHYSICS;
New physics study results reported from A.E. Allahverdyan et al

According to recent research from Yerevan, Armenia, "Selection in a
time-periodic environment is modeled via the two-player replicator
dynamics. For sufficiently fast environmental changes, this is reduced
to a multiplayer replicator dynamics in a constant environment."

"The two-player terms correspond to the time-averaged payoffs, while
the three- and four-player terms arise from the adaptation of the
morphs to their varying environment. Such multiplayer terms can induce
a stable polymorphism," wrote A.E. Allahverdyan and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The establishment of the polymorphism in
partnership games [genetic selection] is accompanied by decreasing
mean fitness of the population."

Allahverdyan and colleagues published their study in Physical Review
Letters (Replicators in a Fine-Grained Environment: Adaptation and
Polymorphism. Physical Review Letters, 2009;102(5):8102).

For additional information, contact A.E. Allahverdyan, Yerevan Physics
Institute, Alikhanian Bros St. 2, Yerevan 375036, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Physical Review Letters
is: American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Pk, MD
20740-3844, USA.

Nouvelles d’Arménie , France
19 Mars 2009

La revue « Politique internationale » a consacré
un numéro spécial à l’Arménie

jeudi19 mars 2009, par Stéphane/armenews

La revue « Politique internationale », publication
très prisée dans les milieux diplomatiques, a
consacré un numéro spécial à
l’Arménie.

Selon le ministère arménien des Affaires
étrangères le numéro dont 100 pages sont
consacrés à l’Arménie débute par un
article du président arménien Serge Sarkissian qui
présente l’indépendance de l’Arménie, les
questions auxquelles fait face le pays aujourd’hui et les perspectives
pour l’avenir. Dans un article intitulé ` l’avenir nous
appartient ‘ le président Sarkissian évoque la question
du Nagorno Karabakh et les perspectives d’une normalisation des
relations Arméno-turques, présentant les faits actuels
et les approches de l’Arménie quant à leurs solutions.

Dans une interview le ministre arménien des Affaires
Etrangères Edouard Nalbandian, qui est à l’origine de ce
numéro spécial, présente les principales
directions de la politique étrangère de l’Arménie
dans les conditions de la nouvelle situation géopolitique au
Sud Caucase.

Le député français Francois Rochebloine,
Président du Groupe d’Amitié Parlementaire
France-Arménie parle pour sa part de la richesse des relations
arméno-françaises.

L’article de l’économiste Vahagn Grigoryan se
référe à la période de transition de
l’économie de l’Arménie, les programmes de
stabilité économique et les perspectives de
développement.

Le périodique a publié une introduction au livre de
Charles Aznavour intitulé ` les jours passés ‘ où
le grand artiste présente le difficile chemin d’un migrant
l’Arménie dans des pays étrangers et ses
espérances d’un meilleur avenir.

Le fondateur, directeur et le rédacteur en chef de Politique
Internationale est Patrick Wajsman, un professeur à l’Institut
de Science Politique de Paris.

` Comment pouvons-nous oublier que nos liens avec le peuple
arménien date du temps des Croisades, que le dernier Roi
arménien Levon VI Lusinyan avait des origines
françaises, que le génocide de 1915 a servi comme une
raison des discours les plus passionnants de Clemeceau, qu’à la
fin de Première guerre mondiale la France a
contrôlé la Cilicie" a écrit Patrick Wajsman dans
son introduction.

PRESS RELEASE
Glendale Public Library
222 East Harvard Street
Glendale CA 91205
Tel: 818-548-2030
Web:

Glendale, CA – Ara Sarafian will discuss Accursed Years, Yervant
Odian’s remarkable account of the Armenian Genocide, at the Glendale
Public Library on Wednesday, April 1, at 222 East Harvard Street,
Glendale. The lecture starts at 8:00 pm, admission is free. The event is
organized by The Tekeyan Cultural Association and Glendale Public
Library. The book is written in English and the program will be
presented in English.

Yervant Odian’s survival and escape allowed him to tell his own story
and give insights into the fate of others. `Odian’s facility with
the language of the massacres =85 leaves the truth unaltered, =85
doesn’t aim for individuality or the most aesthetically perfect, but
puts truth before us as it is, doesn’t touch it, doesn’t change it,
doesn’t dilute it with literary style,’ states Scholar Krikor
Beledian in the book’s introduction.

Ara Sarafian is an archival scholar specializing on late Ottoman and
modern Armenian history. He is the author and editor of a number of
works, including "United States Official Records on the Armenian
Genocide, 1915-17." He is currently the director of the Gomidas
Institute in London.

###

CONTACT Elizabeth Grigorian, (818) 548-3288,
[email protected]

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED RAUL LUTZENBERGER, HEAD OF EU DELEGATION IN ARMENIA

Frid ay, 27 March 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Raul Lutzenberger,
head of EU delegation in Armenia, Tomas Knothe, ambassador of EU
chair-in-office the Czech Republic. The delegation comprised members
of EU Advisory Group.

Greeting the guests, the Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation to
the leadership of the European Union which was prompt in responding to
Armenia’s request for sending in a group of advisers. Tigran Sargsyan
pointed out that Armenia will benefit a lot from the European expertise
while implementing the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan and
realizing fundamental reforms.

By stressing that the program is crucial to our country,
Raul Lutzenberger informed that Armenia is the first European
Neighborhood Policy-involved country to host a program like
this. Due to be implemented in cooperation with the UNDP, this
European Commission-financed program may be continued in future. The
possibility of extending the program will be looked at upon completion
of specific activities under the program. In introducing the advisory
group members, the head of EU delegation in Armenia said they are
going to provide consultancy to a number of government departments
and agencies inclusive of the Staff of Government, the National
Assembly, different ministries, as well as the Office of Human
Rights Defender. Raul Lutzenberger and Tomas Knothe underscored that
apart from its local relevance, the program is supposed to have a
well-pronounced international impact.

Summing up the meeting, Tigran Sargsyan wished successful efforts to
the advisory group by stressing the need for drafting and implementing
an operational and effective action plan.

TUSIAD URGES OBAMA TO OPPOSE ARMENIAN RESOLUTION

Hurriyet
March 26 3009
Turkey

WASHINGTON – The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association,
or TUSIAD, sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday,
urging him to oppose an Armenian genocide resolution.

"It is unfortunate to see a renewed campaign by those who are turning
a blind eye to not only objective historical facts but also to the
significant progress made by Turkey and Armenia," the letter read.

GENOCIDE RECOGNITION SHOULDN’T BE HINDERED IN LIEU OF ESTABLISHING TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 12:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 23, the Armenian Council of America (ACA)
sent U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a letter, ÀÑÀ
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The letter says: "On behalf of the Armenian Council of America and
the Armenian American community, we would like to thank you for your
continuous support and interest in the relationship between the United
States and the Republic of Armenia. In light of your recent visit to
the Republic of Turkey, your telephone conversation with Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan, and President Barack Obama’s upcoming
visit to Turkey, we would like to bring your attention to a few
issues. We acknowledge and appreciate the United States supporting
the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relationship and that you
discussed this matter with Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan. We are
encouraged that recently there has been some progress made on this
front, and we support the establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two neighbors and opening of the border. However, acceptance of
the Armenian Genocide should not be hindered in lieu of establishing
relations between the two nations. The Federal Republic of Germany
and the State of Israel have established diplomatic relations, while
at the same time the German people and government has acknowledged
the crimes of the Holocaust. Therefore, we do not understand the
Turkish argument of deterring acceptance of the Armenian Genocide
and the American acceptance of this tactic. America as the bastion of
democracy and champion of human rights should nurture these bilateral
relations as well as the historical truth. President Obama’s visit
to Turkey, especially in the month of April, is a unique opportunity
for the United States to encourage the Republic of Turkey to rectify
its historical past in order to develop a strong Armenian-Turkish
relationship and for the future of Turkish nation itself.

This will be beneficial for the United States in its approach of
strengthening its and neighborly relations in the South Caucasus and
the greater Near East. The Armenian Council of America supports the
U.S.-Armenia relationship and cooperation. We favor the continuation
of the Millennium Challenge Account assistance program to the people
of Armenia. The United States has always stood by the Republic of
Armenia from the beginning of its independence in 1991. As we are
in the United States, Armenia is also currently being affected by
the global economic crisis. Any decrease in U.S. humanitarian and
economic assistance would affect the livelihood of its citizens. As
part of this relationship, we would like to encourage the United
States to foster the growth of democracy and a civil society in
Armenia. The 2008 Armenian presidential election and the subsequent
clamp down on the opposition hindered the growth of these critical
elements. Without these solid foundations, Armenia cannot truly
develop into a democratic, prosperous, and free market nation. The
Obama Administration has been very dynamic in implementing its
domestic and foreign policy changes. The Armenian Council of America
and the Armenian American community look forward to this leadership
standing by its pledge on acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. This
will demonstrate the administration’s stance that genocide is not
accept-able to the United States regardless of geopolitics. We thank
you and the administration again for your commitment in improving
America’s relations and image abroad, as well as promoting peace
throughout the world.

Sincerely, Vasken Khodanian.

Chairman."

ARMENIAN FINANCIAL MONITORING CENTER FREEZES $800,000 WORTH FUNDS FOR 6 JOBBERY CASES IN 2008

ARKA
March 26, 2009

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. In 2008, Financial Monitoring Center of the
Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) analyzed 46 cases on which 11 reports
were sent to the law-enforcement bodies, says the annual report of the
Center on anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism measures for 2008.

Based on 6 cases of jobbery established, the Center froze funds form
a total of about $800,000.

In the period under review, number of mandatory reports on transactions
for over 20-50mln Drams and more (real estate transactions) was 93,396
in the Center’s database against 77,730 in 2007.

Number of reports on doubtful deals received from financial
organizations was 37 last year (including 36 reports from Armenian
commercial banks and one report from a currency trader) as compared
to 24 in 2007.

Over the reporting period, the Financial Monitoring Center received
17 requests from the foreign financial investigative bodies, 25
requests from the local investigation agencies and 19 requests from
the law-enforcement bodies.

In its turn, the Center sent 17 requests to the foreign financial
investigative bodies and 59 requests to the local investigative
agencies.

Total number of reports in the Center’s database was around 224,500
at the end of 2008.

The Financial Monitoring Center of Armenia was established on December
14 2004 as per the country’s law about anti-money laundering and
anti-terrorism measures.

Ward to Avoid Turkish Event; Declines Invitation, Citing Armenian Holocaust

25/ward-to-avoid-turkish-event-declines-invitation -citing-armenian-holocaust/
on March 25, 2009

AMHERST, N.Y – On March 25, Amherst town councilman Daniel J. Ward
announced that he had declined an invitation to attend an annual
Turkish friendship event, sponsored by the Turkish Cultural Center
under the auspices of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. Ward was one of many
invited to the `invitation-only’ event.

`We all look forward to a day of full normalization of relations with
Turkey, certainly a valuable partner of ours in the Mid-East,’ said
Ward, noting that President Obama was due to visit Turkey next
month. `Turkey is an ancient civilization from which we can learn a
lot. The culture is a part of our past. However, also part of Turkey’s
more recent past is the Armenian Genocide. Turkey has yet to take full
responsibility for this horrific crime, much less discuss reparations
or restitution,’ he added.

`On April 21, we will be commemorating the Jewish Holocaust (Shoah),
and we would do well to recall the Armenian tragedy, while not as
large, as well. As a human race we will not achieve our ultimate
perfection until we can forever stop the killing of each other for
cultural, racial, ethnic, or religious reasons. We cannot begin to
stop such sub-bestial behavior until we can at least acknowledge it,
to accept the truth, however ugly,’ said Ward. `For Turkey to want to
become a full-fledged NATO partner, we must demand at the very least
some form of national official recognition of this genocide, and a
declaration it was wrong, and some sort of contrition. Recent
opposition by Turkey’s Foreign Minister to a resolution of the
U.S. Congress to call the killings genocide, which of course they
were, is indicative of the long-held Turkish government refusal to
take responsibility for the 1915-16 killings, with more in
1922-23. During that period, one and one-half million Armenians were
killed out of a total of two and one-half million Armenians in the
then-Ottoman Empire. We remember these victims and say `never again’
once more. Healing cannot begin until there has at least been
admission.’

Ward also said he is disturbed with the human rights violations
committed by Turkey against its Kurdish population. `The Kurds are not
just going away. Turkey must find a way to accommodate them despite
cultural differences. The harshness displayed cannot lead to another
Armenian-like slaughter for them either.’

`For now, I have requested my office to decline such invitation, its
hospitality and good will notwithstanding. We need to demand more from
Turkey first, in remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide,
and all other cultural or ethnic groups, such as the Kurds, which the
Turks harshly discriminate against even today,’ Ward concluded.

`Councilman Ward should be commended for his principled stance in
calling on Turkey to end its campaign of Armenian Genocide denial as
well as its ongoing mistreatment of the Kurds,’ said ANCA Eastern
Region executive director Karine Birazian. `A strong U.S. – Turkey
relationship cannot include turning a blind eye to genocide or rampant
human rights violations.’

17:42 25/03/2009
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN TO ATTEND INTERPARLIAMENTARY PLENARY SESSION OF CIS
Source: Panorama.am

The Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan
received the Secretary General of Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the
CIS countries Michael Krotov, reports the public relations department
of the National Assembly.

According to the source, the Chairman of the NA will attend the 32nd
plenary session of CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Saint
Petersburg, scheduled on 14-15 May. The parties have discussed the
agenda of the forthcoming plenary session, as well as their future
co-operation.