Sevak Sarukhanyan: The Best Option For Iran Is To Watch The Armenian

SEVAK SARUKHANYAN: THE BEST OPTION FOR IRAN IS TO WATCH THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS
Liana Yeghiazaryan

"Radiolur"
25.02.2010 14:27

Although Iran recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
that country does nothing that would counter the interests of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, Director of the "Noravank" Fuundation, expert
Sevak Sarukhanyan told a press conference today.

Speaking about the influence of the Armenian-Turkish relations on the
Armenian-Iranian relations, the expert noted that "the closure of the
Armenian-Turkish border has had positive implications for Armenia,
as well."

"At this point the best option for Iran is to passively follow the
Armenian-Turkish process. There is a great potential for increasing
the power of the Armenia-Iran gas pipeline. If the Armenian-Turkish
relations are fully normalized and normal trade-economic and economic
cooperation is launched between Armenia and Turkey, Armenia can
participate in the projects of exporting Iranian gas to Turkey,"
Sevak Sarukhanyan said.

UN Office supports discussion among authorities, Nat’l minorities

PRESS RELEASE
UN Department of Public Information
Arminé Halajyan, Information Officer
Yerevan Office, Armenia
e-mail: [email protected]

UN Office in Armenia supports discussion among authorities and national
minorities dedicated to the International Mother Language Day

Yerevan, 25 February 2010 – Eleven national minorities, government and
legislature representatives gathered today at a round table discussion to
talk about issues of equal rights, equal opportunities for national
minorities in Armenia. The event was supported by the UN Department of
Public Information and was conducted on the occasion of International Mother
Language Day.

Representatives from the office of Armenian President, from the Government
Department of National Minorities and Religious Affairs, Ministries of
Culture, Education, Science, and Diaspora, from the National Assembly
Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport,
Committee on National Minorities of the Public Council and National
Inspectorate of Language also discussed with the national minorities the
situation with promotion and preservation of national minorities languages
in Armenia, stressing the human rights aspect of the issue as well.

Director-General of UNESCO Ms. Irina Bokova in her message for International
Mother Language Day said: `Languages are the best vehicles of mutual
understanding and tolerance. Respect for all languages is a key factor for
ensuring peaceful coexistence, without exclusion, of societies and all of
their members."

UN Department of Public Information Representative Maria Dotsenko stated:
`Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing
our heritage. Promotion and protection of mother tongues serves not only to
encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to
develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions and to
inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.’

`The situation in Armenia is unique in the sense of celebrating this UN
Observance. Since 2006 International Mother Language Day has been announced
as a National Holiday. Moreover, 2010 has been announced a Year of Mother
Language. However, we are going to continue supporting the development and
promotion of national minorities and their languages in Armenia,’ said
Vardan Astsatryan, head of the Government Department of National Minorities
and Religious Affairs.

Representatives of national minorities thanked the UN Office that they were
given this opportunity to talk about their issues. They voiced hope to
continue cooperation with the UN agencies working in the country.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference
of UNESCO in November 1999. The eleventh International Mother Language Day,
which is designated on 21 February 2010, is being celebrated in the
framework of the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

http://www.un.am

Armenian, Russian Soldiers Conduct Parade On Defender Of The Fatherl

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN SOLDIERS CONDUCT PARADE ON DEFENDER OF THE FATHERLAND DAY

Panorama.am
14:27 23/02/2010

Society

February 23 is celebrated in the Russian Federation as Defender of
the Fatherland Day. Every year a number of events are organized in
a number of CIS countries, including Armenia, dedicated to the Day.

Though the Day is not marked in Armenia officially, every year the
"Victory" Park has lots of visitors this Day.

According to the information and PR department of defense ministry,
this morning Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Russian
Ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko, officers and soldiers of
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation,
representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia
visited the "Victory" Park to lay wreaths at the memorial to the
Unknown Soldier.

The event ended with a parade of the Armenian and Russian soldiers.

David Arutinian In Top Ten

DAVID ARUTINIAN IN TOP TEN

Panorama.am
13:58 23/02/2010

Sport

Armenian GM David Arutinian, who presents Georgia in Capelle-la-Grande,
France, scored 7 points out of 9 and shared the 2nd-10th places in the
big open. Armenian chess federation reports our chess player was only
half a point behind the winner, GM Yaroslav Zherebukh (Ukraine). It’s
worth mentioning that David Arutinian scored perfect results as he’s
in the list of top ten in a tournament of 652 chess players.

Rally To Be Held In Lyon For Protecting The Rights Of Javakhk Armeni

RALLY TO BE HELD IN LYON FOR PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF JAVAKHK ARMENIANS

91498/lang/en
2010-02-23

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: A protest rally is planned to be
held March 3 in front of EuroNews head office in Lyon, France for
protecting the rights of the Armenians of Javakhk and of Vahagn
Chakhalyan, a political figure of Javakhk Armenian origin.

http://www.armenpress.am/news/more/id/5

BAKU; Brent Scowcroft, Advisor Under George Bush: One Of The Problem

BRENT SCOWCROFT, ADVISOR UNDER GEORGE BUSH: ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS IS THE ISSUE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH – EXCLUSIVE

APA
Feb 23 2010
Azerbaijan

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. "United States is actively engaged
in solving frozen conflicts in Caucasus" -told APA’s Washington
correspondent Brent Scowcroft, former US National Security Advisor
under President Bush.

He pointed out that, significant differences remain between Armenia
and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, but leaders of both countries
are committed to a peaceful resolution.

Mr. Scowcroft mentioned that, he believes in possibility of creating
new realities in the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. He reminded that, one of the problems in Turkish-Armenian
relations is the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Our country supports the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts to advance
towards a settlement there, and is encouraged by discussions over
the last year towards a negotiated settlement" – he stressed.

DPA Chairman Does Not Exclude Probability Of Social Shocks In Countr

DPA CHAIRMAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE PROBABILITY OF SOCIAL SHOCKS IN COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 23, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A dangerous socio-economic
situation has been formed in Armenia, which can result in serious
social shocks. Aram Sargsian, the Chairman of the Democratic Party
of Armenia (DPA), expressed such an opinion at a February 23 press
conference. In his words, the reason of the economic fall recorded
in the country was not so much the world crisis as domestic problems.

According to A. Sargsian, the authorities had neither political will
nor wish to carry out system changes. And those changes, according
to him, will become possible only in case of renouncing the ideology
of neoliberalism and carrying out principles of democratic socialism.

The DPA leader said that his party holds discussions with pro-socialist
forces in the country and prepares for the 2010 parliamentary
elections.

Speaking about the foreign sphere A. Sargsian said that no one can
predict what is expected as a result of Armenia’s "initiating" policy.

In his words, international analytical centers mention various
scenarios, however, none of them is favorable for Armenia. "The
multi-step combination of our authorities was just an attempt to
distract people’s attention from domestic problems," A. Sargsian said.

Armenia Should Strive To Create Regional Market Together With Georgi

ARMENIA SHOULD STRIVE TO CREATE REGIONAL MARKET TOGETHER WITH GEORGIA: FINANCE MINISTER

ARKA
Feb 22, 2010

YEREVAN, February 22, /ARKA/. Armenia should strive to create a
regional market together with Georgia, Armenian finance minister
Tigran Davtian said Saturday in Tsakhkadzor, a resort Armenian town
that hosted the 7-th international business forum called Bridge-2010.

‘One of our major goals is to expand the regional market, first of
all I mean our neighboring Georgia,’ he said explaining that a 10
million market (the population of Armenia and Georgia) will become
more attractive for global actors, than a 3 million Armenia.

He said expansion of Armenia-Georgia regional market will give a strong
push to competition and lower many economic risks. In this context he
emphasized conduction of regular Armenian-Georgian business forums. "We
are better informed about Georgian economy than the Georgian side is
about Armenia and its economic potential,’ he said.

Mkrtich Minasyan: We Must Be Cautious

MKRTICH MINASYAN: WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS
Liana Yeghiazaryan

"Radiolur"
19.02.2010 15:47

The ratification of the Armenian-Turkish relations proceeds from
our interests, MP, member of the Republican Party of Armenia Mkrtich
Minasyan told a press conference today.

According to him, what’s happening in the Turkish political circles
today is a call for Armenia to be cautious.

"We have to be very cautious. Parliamentary discussions should take
place only when we see that the Turkish Parliament meets all its
commitments," Mkrtich Minasyan said.

BAKU: Who Earns From Karabakh War In Armenia? Why People Are Being S

WHO EARNS FROM KARABAKH WAR IN ARMENIA? WHY PEOPLE ARE BEING SHOT?
K. Guluzade

Today
/62079.html
Feb 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Corruption is not considered something unusual around the world. It is
some kind of eternal value, passed on from generation to generation,
and few people perceive it as something unnatural. To make it short,
it’s just part of life or even the lifestyle for some.

It has recently become known how much the Armenian elite earned from
the Karabakh war. The media has published information on the property
and business of Armenia’s top authorities. A list of possessions of
President Serzh Sargsyan, his brother Sashik, ex-President Robert
Kocharian, Parliamentary Speaker Hovik "Mouse" Abrahamian, Prime
Minister Tigran Sarkisian, oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan (Dodi Gago)
and others of that ilk were provided in detail.

The list was provided by Smbat Karakhanyan, head of the Moscow-based
Miabanutyun Armenian National Club. The fact that the " Karakhanyan
list" was published is quite appropriate. Armenia is in such a terrible
state that they need to count every penny, especially if this belongs
to people and has been misappropriated.

This testifies that Armenia lacks a truly state system able to
protect national, state and territorial interests and the interests
of ordinary citizens.

"The power in the country is composed of oligarchs, criminals and
foreign proteges who have accessed it via falsification and and
pressure. Of course, these groups serve interests of their bosses and
they do not care about the problems of majority of population. They are
engaged in betraying national interests, economic and financial fraud
and playing with the rate of dram and deception with the quality of gas
supplied to homes. Imagine that the government owns about 85 percentof
all assets and enterprises of the country, including illegal traffic,
and controls nearly 90 percent of financial flows," Karakhanyan says.

The peculiarity of oligarchic structures and corruption schemes
in Armenia entails a strong presence of crime. Oligarchs, corrupt
officials and criminals are gathered around the top of the pyramid
made up by a clan of those from Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian media notes
that, in fact, most members of the clan are not from Karabakh, but
they are forced to act by the rules dictated by the top of the pyramid.

Armenia has not yet developed serious anti-corruption legislation
unlike from other countries of the former Soviet Union. Armenian
oligarchs, top officials export capital and carry out money laundering
in different countries and offshore islands throughout the world.

According to the press publications, the U.S. intelligence services
have also noticed an attempt of money laundering by Armenia’s oligarchs
and corrupt officials and their proxies in their country.

Media in neighboring countries indicate that a number of drug
trafficking routes pass through Armenia along the southern border
up to the main railway stations and airports in Yerevan and Gyumri,
where the goods pass through Georgia by railroad onwards to Ukraine,
as well as by air to Russia’s city of Novorossiysk and Anapa (partially
settling in Russia) and finally to Europe.

Armenian media describe everything through the prism of the reign of
corruption and crime, and stress the redistribution of property after
the terrorist attack in the parliament of this country, rampant actions
of the Nagorno-Karabakh natives while it makes no single mention why
these dirty actions go unpunished. However, the answer is obvious:
they survive because of the low reckless scheme called Miatsum. Former
mechanical engineer Robert Kocharian and former member of the Komsomol
Serzh Sargsyan led Armenians to the slaughter.

Many has managed to fool people. But why this way? One needs to
possess such perverted imagination and essence to commit such a crime.

Let’s forget that the author of the article is an Azerbaijani citizen
for a moment. Let’s have a look from aside. Did Armenia’s ordinary
citizens need it? Do you think they are living better than before
the conflict? And why should the organizers of the "show" earn with
the help of "clients" by killing the "clients" themselves?

Armenians took to the streets on March 1, 2008. They were shot. And
they will shoot in the future, too. The price of the question is the
billions earned for 22 years of the Karabakh conflict.

It is up to you to make conclusions, dear neighbors!

http://www.today.az/news/analytics