Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Disparition de l’archevêque Nechan Topouzian (44 ans)
il était le représentant de l’Eglise arménienne de Cilicie en Azerbaïdjan

ARMENIE-EGLISE

samedi1er mai 2010, par Krikor Amirzayan/armenews

L’archevêque de l’Azerbaïdjan (Adrbadagan en arménien) Nechan
Topouzian (44 ans) vient de mourir à l’hôpital « Saint Grégoire
l’Illuminateur » (Sourp Krikor Loussavoritch) à Erévan. Le corps de
Nechan Topouzian sera transféré à Tabriz pour y être enterré. Né au
Livan, N. Topouzian représentait l’Eglise arménienne de Cilicie en
Azerbaïdjan « oriental » et « occidental » qui dépendent d’Antélias
(Liban).

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 23-29, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

CIVIL INITIATIVE OF FOUR NGOs

HEARINGS ON THE SUIT OF FOI CENTER VERSUS CLINIC No.2 ENDED

CIVIL INITIATIVE OF FOUR NGOs

On April 28 a press conference, involving Eurasia Partnership Foundation,
Yerevan Press Club, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of
Armenia and International Center for Human Development, took place at
"Armenpress" news agency. At the press conference it was announced that on
April 26 the heads of these organizations had signed a Memorandum on
Establishing a Consortium to Assist the Normalization of Armenian-Turkish
Relations. The document notes that the signatories have a long work
experience in this field, believe in the future of Armenian-Turkish
relations and wish to contribute to this extremely important process for
Armenia, which is crucial at this moment. The four organizations stated
their intention to coordinate their projects, to come up with a joint
position towards the development of Armenian-Turkish relations and to
combine efforts for a single purpose. At the meeting with the journalists it
was emphasized that the signature of the Memorandum is a purely civil, and
not a political initiative.

HEARINGS ON THE SUIT OF FOI CENTER VERSUS CLINIC No.2 ENDED

On April 27 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
administrative districts of Yerevan released the decision on the suit of
Freedom of Information Center versus Clinic No.2 LTD. As it has been
reported, the reason of the suit was the letter of inquiry of June 10, 2009,
requesting to provide information about the procedure of drug allocation to
children under 7 years at Clinic No.2, as well as a number of other issues
concerning free drugs for children. Having no reply, FOI Center filed a suit
obliging the Clinic to provide the requested information, and bring its Head
Tigran Khachatrian to administrative responsibility by a fine of 50,000 AMD
(about $ 130). At the hearings, started on December 2, 2009, the answer to
the inquiry was granted (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, November 27 – December
3, 2009).

At the session of April 27 the court declined the second demand of the
plaintiff on imposing an administrative fine on the Head of Clinic No.2.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

"MANAGEMENT STRENGTHENING OF MIGRATION FLOWS" PROGRAM IN GEGHARKUNIK PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
Apr 29, 2010

GAVAR, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: From 2009 April 1 till 2010 March 30,
over 50 citizens have received social, legal and economic consultation
in the Migration Information Center of the province of Gegharkunik.

Coordinator of the center Ruben Khachikyan told Armenpress that the
center operates within the frameworks of the program of "Management
Strengthening of Migration Flows in Armenia".

WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE HELP IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT?
Elmira Tariverdiyeva

Today
ytics/66969.html
April 29 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Armenia had another chance for the possibility of
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the mediation of
influential regional players.

OSCE Chairman and Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev discussed
participation of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev as head of
state chairing OSCE in talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
during telephone conversations with Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan
and Armenia April 26.

It is third such proposal over the last month from the non-co-chair
of OSCE Minsk Group to mediate in a long-lasted territorial dispute
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Earlier Iran and Turkey proposed
meditation in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which was welcomed by Baku.

Unlike Yerevan, Baku agree to all the initiatives of mediation not
restraining only with the Minsk Group format, which in recent times
causes the observer questions.

It is time to change the OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chair structure,
Ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Deputy Chairman and Executive
Secretary Ali Ahmedov told journalist today.

Ahmedov said his view is based on the fact that the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair countries have not been able to demonstrate a commitment to
settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan’s position as
a state subjected to occupation is inadequately protected.

Presently, the situation is undoubtedly complicated by the cooling
between Baku and Washington, which is likely to make Azerbaijan review
candidates of its allies and rely primarily on Moscow and Ankara.

Azerbaijan is seriously concerned about the United States’ attitude to
territorial dispute with Armenia and the U.S. support to normalization
of the Turkey-Armenia relations without taking into account the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem, which was one of the reasons for the gap
of these relations in 1993.

Meanwhile, Ankara did everything to win back the confidence of Baku
after the cooling of relations between countries caused by the signing
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

In recent times, Turkey is dissatisfied with its role in settlement
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as Turkey wants to become more
involved in this matter and not once was offered its mediation.

Appraising such support, Azerbaijan proposed Turkey to take place of
one of the co-chairs in the OSCE Minsk Group.

Though, Armenia has reacted negatively to such an initiative, but
perceived Iran’s initiative more favorably. However, Yerevan continued
insisting on that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh should be resolved
exclusively in the framework of the Minsk Group.

Regarding the most recent proposal by Saudabayev, then Kazakhstan’s
initiative could indeed be useful in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

Of course, Kazakhstan knows the seriousness and complexity of the
long-standing territorial dispute in the South Caucasus. Nazarbayev
was one of those who tried to extinguish the raising conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan in the early 90’s. Together with the then
Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Nazarbayev visited the region and
together with Russia, voiced initiates to establish a mediation
mission, which was called "Jeleznovodsky initiative".

After many years, Kazakhstan that chairs OSCE in 2010 had a new
chance to demonstrate its ability to mediate and to move the process
of solving this conflict from the deadlock.

Kazakhstan is a country with smooth relations with the two conflicting
parties, and assistance in this process, of course, will give the
country certain credibility in the eyes of the world community as a
successful mediator.

Time will show Armenia’s readiness to Astana’s mediation. But even
if Armenia gives formal consent, it does not preclude it from finding
many reasons for the failure of the initiative of Kazakhstan later.

The fact that in contrast to Baku, Yerevan bristles at all mediation
initiatives outside the OSCE Minsk Group, suggests that Armenia does
not want to solve the territorial dispute.

Doubts in Armenian’s sincerity are strengthened, if we consider
that even within the Minsk Group Yerevan creates obstacles for the
advancement in the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
by returning to the items of the Madrid principles previously agreed
with Azerbaijan and the co-chairs, or refusing its updated version.

EU PREPARING REPORT ON ARMENIA

news.am
April 28 2010
Armenia

"The Council of Europe (CE), European Commission and European
Parliament, the three agencies connected with the European Union (EU),
are well aware of the situation in Armenia," Vladimir Karapetyan of
the Armenian National Congress (ANC) told journalists, commenting
on his visit top Brussels and Strasbourg at the EU’s invitation on
April 12-24.

According to him, despite the fact that the agencies are well informed,
he had to provide them with detailed information on Armenia.

"Although European agencies have general information at their disposal,
they are not informed of the details," Karapetyan said.

Speaking of the EU’s annual report on Armenia, the AMNC representative
said that it will be released within ten days.

"It will be a comprehensive report, and I will try to compare
it with the U.S. Department of State’s report on human rights,"
Karapetyan said.

He also pointed out that, despite the ANC’s close ties with the EU, he
feels the need to intensify activity. "Although, in visiting Armenia,
each high-ranking European delegation meets the ANC leaders, I feel
that we till have omissions – the authorities are carrying out a
consistent campaign against the ANC," Karapetyan said.

RAND CORPORATION ANALYST: ARMENIA-TURKEY PROCESS LIKELY TO BE REVIVED AFTER THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN TURKEY

Panorama.am
28/04/2010

Stephen Larrabee, Corporate Chair in European Security at the RAND
Corporation, said in an interview to Mediamax that the process to
normalize relations with Turkey until Ankara will revive after the
parliamentary elections in Turkey. At the same time he noted that the
process could revive if Erdogan-led AKP "does well in the elections."

"The process is likely to go into deep freeze but be revived after the
national elections in Turkey if the AKP does well in the elections,"
Stephen Larrabee said, commenting on Armenian President’s statement on
factual suspension of the process to normalize relations with Turkey.

According to the expert, the sides are not going to sit and do
nothing meanwhile.

"Given the current stalemate it will be difficult to achieve much in
the short term. However, the US will keep pushing for normalization,
quietly behind the scenes, because of the important positive benefits
you note that would occur if the process succeeds. The US does not
want to see a formal rupture or collapse of the dialogue and hopes
that at some point – perhaps after the Turkish elections when the
domestic climate in Turkey may be better — the dialogue can be
resumed in earnest. The task now is not to allow the normalization
process to completely collapse", RAND analyst said.

Among the causes as to why Armenia-Turkey process found itself in
a deadlock, Stephen Larrabee mentioned Turkey’s current state of
inner-political affairs and Azerbaijan’s disposition.

"The Erdogan government and the Obama administration underestimated
the degree of the negative reaction in Baku as well as the negative
reaction the move would provoke among the opposition parties in
Turkey, who sought to exploit the issue politically. Erdogan’s
hastily-arranged trip to Baku last May and his statement to the
Azeri parliament regarding the linkage between the normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations and a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
should be seen against this background", American analyst stated,
actually hinting that Erdogan’s government gave in to the pressure of
nationalists not to lose the chance of winning the upcoming elections.

Commenting on the tough statements of Azerbaijani representatives
addressed to the USA, Stephen Larrabee stated: "I am not sure what
Baku wants other than to express its irritation that the US favors
decoupling the Turkish-Armenian normalization process from a settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict".

A GUIDE TO ARMENIA AND NAGORNO KARABAKH IN ITALIAN TO BE ISSUED IN ITALY

ArmInfo
2010-04-28 10:31:00

ArmInfo. A guide to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in Italian titled
"Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Monasteries and Mountains on the Great
Silk Way" will be issued in Italy, author of the guide Nadia Pasqual
told ArmInfo. "The first part of the book contains general information
about Armenia, its national kitchen, etc., as well as information about
the country’s history, religion, culture, language and art. The second
part of the guide presents tour routes with description of places
of interest and settlements on the ay to them, both in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh", N. Pasqual said. The final part presents a list
of the most commonly used Armenian terms in the book. The guide will
be issued in Polaris publishing house till late May in an edition of
about 2,5 thsd copies and will be distributed in the Italian libraries,
as well as among tour operators and tour agencies.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS MEETS WITH AZERBAIJAN’S ILHAM ALIYEV

Panorama.am
17:41 27/04/2010

Politics

On April 26 His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, had a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin press office reported.

Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office, Sheikh-al-islam Haji
Allahshukur Pashazadeh, General Secretary for Inter-Church Relations
of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan, the
head of the Mother See information department Priest Vahram Melikyan
were present at the meeting.

In a sincere atmosphere the interlocutors talked about the World
Religious Summit held in Baku, signifying the inter-religious and
inter-cultural dialogue for a more peaceful, secure and prosperous
life of peoples.

Reference was made to issues related to the Karabakh conflict
settlement. The parties hailed the efforts targeted at the peaceful
resolution of the conflict, attaching importance to the role of
religious leaders and clergymen. The parties attached importance to
mutual visits and contacts between the two peoples that would help
strengthen the spirit of trust and cooperation.

The same day his Holiness Karekin II visited the Armenian St. Grigor
Lusavorich Church of Baku, which is currently used as a library. The
Catholicos voiced hope that the church would again open its doors in
the future.

Catholicos of All Armenians attended the Azerbaijani President’s
reception, organized for the summit participants. Karekin II returned
to Echmiadzin late Monday evening.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE TO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO POSSIBLE REACTIVATION OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NAGORNY KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2010-04-26 16:25:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian delegation led by David Haroutiunyan is
participating in the PACE Spring Session in Strasbourg that started
today on April 26 and will continue till April 30.

Chief Specialist of the National Assembly Department for Foreign
Affairs Estera Mkrtumyan told ArmInfo no issues directly related to
Armenia will be discussed at the Session. Nevertheless, the Armenian
delegation is expected to raise the issue of possible reactivation
of the PACE Special Committee on Nagorny Karabakh.

To recall, PACE President Mevlut Chavushoglu had recently declared in
Azerbaijan that in April PACE would resume activity of the Special
Committee on Nagorny Karabakh conflict. He said that he would meet
with the representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Samed Seidov
and David Haroutiunyan, afterwards, the work of the Committee would
be resumed. The Committee was suspended after death of Lord Russell
Johnston in July 2008.

IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER’S REPRESENTATIVE SYED HASAN AMOLI: "US AND ISRAELI SUPPORT TO ARMENIA PURPOSES TO CREATE CONFRONTATION IN THE REGION"

APA
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Suleiman Farzaliyev – APA. "Armenia should know US and Israel
intend to create confrontation in the region while longing for Armenia.

The trick of these two countries is not in favor of the Muslims and
the region", said Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative in Ardabil
province Syed Hasan Amoli, APA reports quoting FARS news agency. He
said the Karabakh issue remained unresolved for almost 20 years. "It
was so because of the United States and Israel which are mediating
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as if they purpose to establish peace
in the region. We see that mediator organizations are not able to
solve this problem. They are trying to increase tensions".

Amoli said Azerbaijan positively reacted to the Iran’s proposal to
mediate in the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem, but Armenia
still kept silent. "It seems Armenia doesn’t want Iran to solve this
problem friendly and peacefully. Armenia makes great mistake to follow
US and other Western countries. Armenia should take lessons from the
experience of Turkey and Azerbaijan".

Amoli said Iran wanted Azerbaijan to be permanently developed.

"Violation of the rights of this country is embarrassing us.

Azerbaijan should know that foreigners don’t want its welfare and
development. They are coming to Azerbaijan for their interests. I
hope that Karabakh will be liberated from the Armenian occupation
and destroyed villages, including mosques of this ancient land will
be reconstructed and azan will be sounded from the minarets again".