Author: Torosian Aram

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE
April 20, 2009 Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

ANC Cambridge and the Armenian Community Centre host Three MPs

CAMBRIDGE, Friday, April 17, 2009 – The Armenian National Committee of
Cambridge and the Armenian Community Centre hosted a reception today
for the three local Members of Parliament–Dr. Harold Albrecht, Peter
Braid and Stephen Woodworth. Hon. Gary Goodyear was travelling on
government business and could not attend the reception. The gathering
was held to celebrate Dr. Albrecht’s election as Chairman of Canada
Armenian Parliamentary Friendship Group, his commitment to enhance
Canada-Armenia bilateral relations, and for his assistance to the
Golden Triangle Canadian-Armenian community.

During the three-hour event participants were impressed by
Dr. Albrecht’s knowledge of the issues critical to the Armenian
community in Canada. The new chairman of the friendship group pledged
to continue to work closely with Cambridge Armenian community members
and the ANCC office in Ottawa.

He extended his gratitude to the community and for its assistance in
obtaining an unprecedented number of parliamentarians to join the
Canada-Armenia (Parliamentary) Friendship Group. This year nearly one
in six members of parliament have joined the Canada-Armenia
Friendship Group. A total of 46 MPs have pledged to be part of the
group. This number is expected to increase in the coming months.

Dr. Albrecht, (Kitchener-Conestoga, Conservative) was elected as chair
of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group on March 25,
2009. He is a dental surgeon with several decades of community
activism in the Kitchener area. Recently Prime Minister Stephen Harper
appointed the three-term politician as deputy government whip.

MP Peter Braid represents Kitchener-Waterloo, while MP Stephen
Woodworth represents Kitchener Centre. Mr. Braid is a businessman;
Mr. Woodworth is a 30-year veteran lawyer. Both representatives also
praised the work of the Cambridge Armenian community.

The three members expressed their admiration with ANC Cambridge and
the community centre’s 100-year service to the Southern Ontario
Canadian-Armenian community.

The Armenian community was represented at the meeting by a large
contingent of Armenians from Cambridge, Waterloo, Kitchener, and
Guelph, including Armenians from the three ridings represented by the
above members of parliament. ANCC board members Greg Chitilian, Zoharb
Tatikian, and Raffi Bekemzian also attended the reception.

*****

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

——
Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux, chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

CASCADE BANK OF ARMENIA REDUCES BASIC CREDITING RATE FROM 18% DOWN TO 15%

/ARKA/
April 22, 2009
YEREVAN

Cascade Bank of Armenia reduced basic crediting rate from 18% down
to 15%, the bank’s press service reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the reduction is substantial in rates for
dollar credits of up to $50,000, as well as for commercial loans in
Euros: the rates for these are to be 20% and 18% now instead of the
previous 24% and 22% respectively.

Cascade Bank has also changed rates on Dram deposits: such a deposit
holder can receive up to 15.5% p.a.

According to the press release, the bank also improved the "Cascade"
deposit terms: deposit yield is increased every other month and
deposit holder has an opportunity to keep accumulative interest in
case of early repudiation.

Effective policy helped record a satisfactory level of profit by the
end of the first quarter 2009, which shows the clients’ confidence
in the bank, says the press release.

The Cascade Bank CJSC was founded on May 26, 2005, when Cascade
Capital Holding purchased the Emporiki Bank (Armenia) CJSC.

The bank is cooperating with the EBRD on a microcrediting program.

In December 2006, the Millennium Challenges Armenia Fund selected
Cascade Bank for servicing of its account under the 5-year
U.S. Government assistance program for a total of $236mln in Armenia.

According to the preliminary information of ARKA Agency, the
bank’s assets had totaled 13.3bln Drams by the end of March 2009
with liabilities totaling 7.7bln Drams and total capital being
5.6bln Drams; net profit was 40.3mln Drams in January-March
2009. ($1=372.1Drams).

ARMENIAN SPIRIT CELEBRATED IN PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT AT BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ParamusPost.com
4415936
April 22 2009

First Week Opens with Historic Overview of Archives on April 28 at
2 p.m.

Bergen Community College will celebrate the Armenian people’s triumph
over tragedy with the New Jersey premiere of "The Armenians: Spirit
of Survival," a photography exhibit sponsored by the College’s Center
for the Study of Intercultural Understanding, the Bergen Community
College Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Center and the Bergen
Community College Foundation.

Gallery Bergen, the College’s 2,250-square-foot art exhibition space,
will house the display from Saturday, April 25, 2009 to Friday, May
22, 2009. The gallery is located on the third floor of the College’s
high-technology and arts building, West Hall, at 400 Paramus Road,
Paramus. The gallery’s hours of operation are Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to
the public.

The exhibit, provided by Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives,
Inc., chronicles the struggle of the Armenian people in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries as their culture, religion, language and very
existence were threatened by the Ottoman, Russian and Persian empires,
and then later by the Soviet Union. The Armenian people were the
targets of the 20th-century’s first genocide, which led to the deaths
of as many as 1.5 million people in 1915. The Armenians persevered –
in spite of great loss – and found the spirit needed to thrive.

Ruth Thomasian, executive director of Project SAVE, will conduct
a presentation on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 2 p.m. in Gallery
Bergen on the origins of the Armenian photograph archives and on
the development of the exhibition. Project SAVE, founded in 1975,
is a Watertown, Mass.-based nonprofit whose mission is to collect,
document and preserve the historic and modern photographic record of
Armenians and their heritage. Thomasian maintains the world’s only
photographic archive chronicling the journey of the Armenian people.

The Gallery Bergen display will feature 40 large photographs and
include text documenting the Armenians’ internment, mass execution and
subsequent diaspora from Asia Minor. Project SAVE’s 25,000 photographs,
which date from 1860, feature families living during the Ottoman,
Russian and Persian empires, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia
and the Republic of Armenia.

Members of Project SAVE work closely with photo donors to obtain
the images, which have appeared at Ellis Island Museum in New York,
the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., and in many books and
television programs.

According to the U.S. Census for 2000, there are 1.5 million people
of Armenian descent in the U.S. Bergen County has 8,305 Armenian
Americans, most of whom reside in the southeastern part of the county.

Bergen Community College is a public two-year coeducational college,
enrolling more than 15,000 students in Associate in Arts, Associate
in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degree programs and
certificate programs. More than 10,000 students are enrolled in
non-credit, professional courses through the Division of Continuing
Education, the Institute for Learning in Retirement, the Philip
J. Ciarco Jr. Learning Center, located at 355 Main Street, Hackensack,
and Bergen at the Meadowlands, located at 1280 Wall Street West,
Lyndhurst. Information about the College is available at
or by phoning the Welcome Center at (201) 447-7200

Exchange
Shahan Kandaharian

Aztag Daily
April 8 2009
Lebanon

During the Monday joint press conference of presidents Obama and
Gul in Ankara, the first question directed to the US president was
about his pre-election pledge which underlined the necessity of the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. President Obama said "My views
(with respect to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide) are on the
record and I have not changed views. What I have been very encouraged
by is news that under Pres.Gul’s leadership, you are seeing a series
of negotiations, a process, in place between Armenia and Turkey to
resolve a whole host of longstanding issues, including this one. I want
to be as encouraging as possible around those negotiations which are
moving forward and could bear fruit quickly, very soon. And so, as a
consequence, what I want to do is not focus on my views right now,
but focus on the views of the Turkish and the Armenian people. If
they can move forward and deal with a difficult and tragic history,
then I think the entire world should encourage them".

This statement conveys mixed messages. You can develope both positive
and negative interpretations on this concise statement by dissecting
its contents.

First and foremost, let us not forget that the statement was made
during president Obama’s visit to Turkey. Those who are following the
unrolling of the events can deduce that the explicit recognition of the
Armenian Genocide could have stimulated an enormous reaction provided
that the whole country is already in a state of panic. Moreover,
one can deduce the political scandal by which president Obama’s visit
would have ended and the general state of the US-Turkish relationships
afterwards. Judging by the current events and considering the content
of President Obama’s address to the Turkish Parliament, it seems that
those relationships are at the verge of new fractures.

At the same time, however, the political pressure of having the
reputation of breaking a promise during the first term of presidency
will naturally cause some stances to be taken by the head of a country
promising a new world order and which represents an important political
pole. It’s specially noteworthy that this president’s success in the
elections was guaranteed by his slogan of "Change".

In these columns we have previously discussed the view that the issue
transcends the confirmation of the historical truth; it’s more a matter
of taking steps based on national interests. We have also acknowledged
the fact that considering the above mentioned two factors, it seems
more realistic to go with a "median" at this stage.

What was stated in Ankara is in that "median". Let us clarify. First
of all, the announcement that "I have not changed views" makes us
assume that "I still believe in the importance of the recognition of
the Genocide". Senator and president Obama’s convictions with respect
to the Armenian Genocide in the pre-election and post-election periods
remain the same. And President Obama makes that clear to the Turkish
political spheres and also to the whole world. The Armenian side
doesn’t complain about that!

Let us now see which part of the mixed message satisfies the Turkish
side. "If they can move forward and deal with a difficult and tragic
history, then I think the entire world should encourage them". What
does it mean to "deal with a difficult and tragic history"? In
political terminology, it is simply restating the necessity of the
formation of a joint committee of historians, which is the constant
demand of the Turkish state. After all it is up to historians to deal
with history and the idea of doing it together is a reference to a
joint committee.

There’s another point that may have satisfied the Turkish
side. President Obama says that the normalization of the
Turkish-Armenian relations is a priority and discussions about his own
views may add weight on the balance-scale of either side disrupting
the current process.

It is possible to make a more detailed analysis of course. The
conclusion drawn from the dissection is clear: a statement containing
elements that would satisfy and dissatisfy both sides which can be
indicative of the contents of the Washington announcement in which
the use of the term "genocide" is not excluded.

The President may say, for example, "my views on the issue of Genocide
haven’t changed but now we must concentrate on the normalization of
the Turkish-Armenian relationship as a priority" or that "the Turks
and the Armenians must evaluate the pages of history together" etc.

Is there any change seen in all of this? Certainly, but unlike the
contents of the pre-election rhetoric, here there’s an exchange of the
understanding of inter-state interests more than a basic change. So
there’s more EXCHANGE than CHANGE!

PanArmenian, Armenia
April 18 2009

Armenia to Participate in NATO trainings in Georgia

18.04.2009 19:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will Participate in Cooperative Longbow 2009
NATO trainings in Georgia due on May 6- Jun. 1, RA Defense Minister’s
Press Secretary Seyran Shakhsyvaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

`We’ll publish the list of participants upon completion of Conference
on Trainings’ Planning,’ Seyran Shakhsyvaryan said.

Last Wednesday NATO announced a training in Georgia to host 1300
participants from 19 countries. The first stage f trainings will be
held in Tbilisi. The second stage of training is due in Vaziani from
May 18- Jun. 1

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT RESISTANCE OF CHORK-MARZBAN MARKED IN U.S. THE WESTERN DIOCESE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 15, 2009

BURBANK, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Chork-Marzban
Society’s event commemorating the 100 anniversary of the Great
Resistance of Chork-Marzban in 1910 was held at the Nazareth and Sima
Kalaydjian Hall of the Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian Diocesan Complex
in Burbank, California.

According to the Press Service of the U.S. Western Diocese, the event
was sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia
in Los Angeles. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate,
presided over the event.

IRANIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS MEET IN TEHRAN

Tehran Times
April 14 2009
Iran

TEHRAN – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan in Tehran on Monday evening.

Sargsyan arrived in Tehran earlier in the day with a high-ranking
political-economic delegation.

He was officially welcomed by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki.

During his two-day visit, the Armenian president will discuss ways
to expand bilateral ties with high-ranking Iranian officials.

Sargsyan is scheduled to meet Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and
is also expected to meet Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and Supreme
National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili.

The Armenian president and his entourage will also discuss regional
and global developments with Iranian officials.

It is expected that that draft of a memorandum of understanding on
rail transport cooperation will be finalized during Sargsyan’s stay
in Tehran.

Mottaki and Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsesian last week said
the previously signed agreements should be implemented

HUNDREDS RESPOND TO BONE MARROW DONOR RECRUITMENTS

Public health diaspora
2009/04/15 | 00:00

Campaign is held by Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry in California
and Massachusetts Los Angeles, April 14, 2009 – On Palm Sunday
(April 5), a major drive to recruit bone marrow donors and raise
public awareness of the life-saving benefits of donorship was held
by the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) in California
and Massachusetts.

The recruitments, which took place in Glendale, San Francisco, and two
venues in Boston, were initiated by the family of Aram, a 24-year-old
Detroit resident who suffers from acute leukemia and is in urgent
need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant. In the weeks leading
up to the recruitment drive, Aram’s family and friends made appeals
to the public and launched a fundraising effort to help offset the
cost of donor screenings during the recruitments. Over 40 volunteer
recruiters from the ABMDR, community organizations, and churches,
including medical professionals, participated in the events. They
helped educate attendees about the benefits of donorship, conducted
screenings, and registered potential donors.

"We’re all so very moved by Aram’s story," said Dr. Frieda Jordan,
president of the ABMDR Board of Directors.

"Here’s a vibrant young man, someone who should be looking forward
to a wonderful future. Yet his life-threatening illness means that he
will possibly not have a chance to survive unless he receives a timely
transplant from a compatible bone marrow stem cell donor." Dr. Jordan
added that currently doctors are trying to induce Aram’s leukemia
into remission and stabilize his condition, to be able to perform a
transplant once a compatible stem cell donor is identified.

The ABMDR’s donor recruitments, which are held throughout the U.S. and
Armenia, are an ongoing effort to expand a worldwide and predominantly
Armenian registry of bone marrow stem cell donors. Dr. Vergine
Madenlian, the ABMDR’s outreach and development officer, said that
since ethnic Armenians have a unique genetic makeup, often their only
chance of surviving a life-threatening blood-related illness is to
receive a bone marrow transplant from an Armenian donor.

During recruitments, ABMDR volunteers register potential donors after
conducting a quick and simple screening, which involves taking a saliva
sample with a swab. Registered donors commit to donating their bone
marrow stem cell if their HLA tissue type matches that of an Armenian
or non-Armenian patient suffering from a blood-related illness and
requiring a transplant. Whenever the ABMDR receives a request from
a patient in need of a bone marrow transplant, it finds matches in
its own or other registries worldwide, and subsequently facilitates
the transplantation process.

During the April 5 recruitments, more than 300 donors were
registered. Although the recruitments were initiated specifically
in response to Aram’s critical need of a transplant, any number of
the 1,276 patients currently awaiting a match through the ABMDR can
potentially benefit from the expanded pool of donors.

The registry’s Marilyn Bazarian, who pioneered recruitments in
Massachusetts beginning in 2004, spoke of her early days as a volunteer
and the joys of supporting the registry. "I first became involved
in the ABMDR after seeing a newspaper report," she said. "I did not
fit the criteria [for becoming a donor] – I was beyond the desired
age range and had a medical history. What to do?" Bazarian, who is
an Irish-American, continued: "My husband is Armenian, my children
are half Armenian, and you never know when tragedy will strike you,
your family, or friends, necessitating a bone marrow transplant. I
felt volunteering for the ABMDR was absolutely the right thing to
do. So I started organizing recruitments in Massachusetts."

Bazarian added: "To see the eagerness and concern on the faces
of those so willing to help people they don’t even know is truly
rewarding. Here they are lined up to help, with no concern for
themselves. All you had to say was that an Armenian – it didn’t matter
where – needed help. No matter who I contacted regarding recruitments
or informational sessions, the answer was always yes. Newspapers,
radio broadcasters, civic groups, clergy… they were all willing to
help a fellow Armenian, however they could."

Bazarian’s sentiments were echoed by Narreh Ghazarians, an ABMDR
recruiter who volunteered at one of the Boston-area events on April
5. "It was truly touching to see so many young men and women, friends
and total strangers who had heard about Aram’s illness, take the time
to come and get screened," she said. "Although I have never had the
pleasure of meeting Aram, the overwhelming response of people from
every corner of this country shows what an amazing person he truly
is. Recruitment drives have been scheduled in several states over
the next few weeks and we hope that we will find a match for Aram
soon." Ghazarians added that the assistance of Aram’s girlfriend,
her family, and friends had an instrumental role in the success
of the Massachusetts recruitments, which resulted in about 130 new
potential donors.

Upcoming recruitment drives include events in Arizona (April 19,
Armenian Apostolic Church of Arizona in Scottsdale), California (April
24, during the Genocide-commemoration event at Montebello’s Armenian
Genocide Memorial), New Jersey (April 24, venue to be announced),
New York (April 26, St. Vartan Cathedral), and Florida (May 8, venue
to be announced). Recruitments are also planned to take place in
Yerevan throughout April.

Recently the ABMDR reached a much-anticipated milestone as it launched
its Stem Cell Harvesting Center in Yerevan. The project was made
possible by a number of major corporate and individual donations, as
well as grassroots support through the registry’s first-ever telethon,
held on April 13 last year. With a total of $850,000 raised, the ABMDR
was able to renovate the Stem Cell Harvesting Center site, equip it
with state-of-the-art medical machinery, and train personnel. Slated to
open on April 28, the center is expected to receive full accreditation
by the European Federation of Immunogenetics.

Commenting on the public’s support of the ABMDR’s recruitments,
Dr. Jordan said, "While the response is great, it’s also true that
recruitments get maximum attention only when they’re focused on a
specific patient – that is to say, when a life-threatening illness
‘hits home.’ We appeal to our communities throughout the year, urging
people to get registered, but many ignore our pleas, perhaps believing
that catastrophic illnesses happen to others, not them. We try to
get the message across that becoming a registered donor amounts to
investing in a free health-insurance plan for individuals and families
alike, especially if they’re young."

About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry:

Established in 1999, the ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps
Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses
by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem
cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 14,000
donors across three continents, identified 1,276 patients, found 821
potential matches, and facilitated nine bone marrow transplants.

For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit abmdr.am.

DON’T BE SO SENSITIVE, MR. PRESIDENT
by Christopher Hitchens

Slate Magazine
April 13, 2009 Monday

President Barack Obama’s visit to Europe afforded us an opportunity to
gauge the strengths and weaknesses of his style in operation. And, even
though he has almost attained the Holy Grail of public relations-in
other words, he is practically at that ineffable and serene point
where he gets good press for getting good press-there may come a time
when even his trans-Atlantic admirers will have to take a second look.

His speech in Strasbourg, France, was much too long, given the youth
of the audience and the way in which presidential sonorousness ate
into the time that was to be allowed for questions, but its aim of
changing the American tone was largely successful. I thought that the
best moment was when he focused on the German and French citizens who
had perished in the World Trade Center. George W. Bush always spoke
as if the atrocities of Sept. 11, 2001, were an attack on the United
States only and drew the corollary in his rhetoric that you are either
"with" the United States or with the "terrists" (as he always seemed to
think they were called). By underlining the losses suffered by other
countries, not only did Obama redress this imbalance, he also gently
but firmly reminded Europeans that this was and is their struggle, too.

One would have liked a bit more of this combination and perhaps
very slightly less willingness to make disclaimers about American
power. It’s absurd to act as if, at NATO and G20 meetings, the
United States is just another modest member. In the case of NATO,
it is at least "first among equals," or primus inter pares, in that
its military strength is greater than that of all the other members
of the alliance combined. In the case of the world’s economic powers,
a disproportionate share of the blame for the current crisis lies with
America and so does a comparably vast element of the chance that the
decline can be reversed. It is obviously not a moment to strut around
impersonating a hyperpower, but that doesn’t mean that Madeleine
Albright’s injunction about the United States being a "necessary"
power can be disowned, either.

The limitations of the Obama manner were exposed in his address
to the Turkish parliament and his press conference with the
Turkish leadership. The president did not take the opportunity to
reiterate his principled stand on the Armenian genocide that we
are commemorating this month and took refuge in platitudes about
healing and negotiation. It’s not as if the Turks don’t know what he
thinks, so it’s difficult to see the value of undue reticence. And
it’s hardly an accident that, in all successful attempts at settling
accounts with the past in other nations, the word reconciliation has
invariably been preceded by the word truth. The first duty is to stop
lying. Only then can any genuine attempt at settlement get under way.

It was also somewhat naive of Obama to deny that the United States is
"or ever will be" at war with Islam. Of course, one cannot exactly make
war on a faith, most especially a faith that is currently undergoing
a civil war within itself, in which Turkey has several times been
attacked by Bin Ladenist forces. But twice in the past, jihad has
been officially proclaimed from Turkey’s capital. It was in the
name of the Quran that the piratical Ottoman provinces known as the
Barbary States took hundreds of thousands of American and European
voyagers into slavery in the 18th century, until Thomas Jefferson
dispatched the fleet and the Marines to put down the trade, and it
was from Constantinople that the Ottoman military alliance with German
imperialism in 1914 was proclaimed as a holy war binding on all good
Muslims. In other words, what one really wants is an assurance that
Islam is not, nor ever will be, at war (again) with the United States.

That Obama is confused about this, and also slightly weak,
is demonstrated by his earlier attempt at quiet diplomacy, or
constructive engagement, or whatever we agree to call it, with
Iran. He sent a message to "the people and leaders of Iran" on the
occasion of Nowruz, or New Year-a day that he may or may not have
known is slightly frowned upon by the Islamic authorities, because
it involves fire ceremonies and other celebrations that predate the
Muslim conquest of Persia. Any offense they might have taken on that
score must have been mollified when the president twice referred to
the country as "the Islamic Republic of Iran," as in, "The United
States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place
in the community of nations."

Does this boilerplate goodwill represent anything true? In order for
the great and civilized nation of Persia to take its rightful place
in the community of nations, it would have to be able to demonstrate
that its leadership was freely chosen by its own people and that it
was willing to abide by agreements and undertakings (on nontrifling
matters such as nuclear proliferation) that it had solemnly signed. The
mullahs rule Iran on the basis of a Khomeini-ite dogma known as the
veliyate faqui, which makes them the owners and "guardians" of all
the country’s citizens. And they have been covertly seeking enriched
uranium of the sort not required for a civilian nuclear program,
while never ceasing to proclaim the imminent and apocalyptic return
of the 12th or "hidden" imam. In other words, in order to claim its
"rightful place" in any recognizable community of nations, Iran would
in effect have to cease to be an Islamic republic.

Meanwhile, the theocratic regime has several times exerted its power to
arrest and imprison Iranian-Americans for "offenses" that would not be
crimes in any civilized country. The most recent such outrage is the
imprisonment of journalist Roxana Saberi, framed for allegedly buying
a bottle of wine. We should hear more from the White House about her
case and less about the sensitivities of her jailers. Some differences
cannot be split. Many conflicts are real and do not arise from mere
cultural misunderstandings. Obama must learn this or be taught it,
whichever comes sooner.

AHMADINEJAD: IRAN, ARMENIA TO CONTINUE REGIONAL COOPERATION

IRNA
Apr 14, 2009

Tehran, April 14, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday
that Iran and Armenia are determined to bolster mutual and regional
cooperation to promote security and stability of entire region.

President Ahmadinejad made the remark at a joint press conference
with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in Tehran on Tuesday.

Cooperation among countries of the region with cultural commonalties
will bring peace, development and security to the whole region,
he said.

Nations in the region should broaden their ties in order to ensure
their welfare and development, he said.

Existing ties between Iran and Armenia are very deep-rooted, friendly
and developing, he underlined.

The two nations throughout history have always trusted each other
and enjoyed amicable ties, said the Iranian president.

Iran regards development of all nations including Armenia as its own,
he said.

Thanking the Armenian president for visiting Iran, President
Ahmadinejad called talks and agreements between the two sides as very
good and constructive.

"We are to broaden our cooperation at regional and international
levels," he said.

The perspetive of ties between Iran and Armenia is very very bright
and promising, he said and hoped to witness further success for the
two nations.

To a question on the status of Armenian minority in Iran, he said
E2They share common culture, civilization and interests with their
Muslim countrymen."

Armenian minority in Iran like other Iranians are protecting the
country’s independence, dignity, culture, civilization and territorial
integrity, he said.

During the sacred-defense era, all Iranian ethnic and religious groups
such as Armenian defended the country with courage, said the president.

For his part, the Armenian president said his visit would help bolster
his country’s ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Signing eight memoranda of understandings (MoU’s) on mutual cooperation
well demonstrate the outcome of his visit to Iran, he said.

"We are able to bolster and broaden mutual and regional cooperation
to help deepen and consolidate ties between the two nations," he
pointed out.

Calling the future of relations between Iran and Armenia as very
promising, he thanked the Iranian Supreme Leader, president and
nation for paying due attention to Armenian minority in Iran and
their cultural heritage.

The two presidents have signed eight MoU’ and issued a joint statement.