Author: Tumanian Talar

Minister Nalbandian addresses t 118th session

armradio.am
08.05.2008 10:29

On May 7 RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian addressed the 118th
session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Noting that today Armenia faces the issue of deepening democracy, which
is the reasonable choice of the people, and the Armenian Government is
resolute to make necessary steps in this direction, the Armenian
Foreign Minister praised the support of the Council of Europe, the
Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly and the Human Rights
Commissioner.

`We have passed a certain way, but we realize that there is still much
to do and believe that making necessary efforts, we shall overcome all
the difficulties, will continue the reforms more resolutely not only
because we have assumed responsibility or because our friends want so,
but also because it is the reasonable choice of eth government and
people of Armenia,’ Edward Nalbandian declared. He continued that for
this purpose the new President of Armenia has expressed willingness to
ensure greater involvement of the society in the process of economic
reforms, inviting all forces and the public to join their efforts.

Turning to the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Minister Nalbandian reconfirmed
the willingness of the Armenian side to continue the current process
with the Minsk Group mediation. The mInister noted that the proposals
submitted by the Co-Chairs in Madrid provide opportunities to find
solutions.

Putin confirmed as Russia’s Prime Minister

armradio.am
08.05.2008 17:38

Russia’s lower house of parliament approved Vladimir Putin as prime
minister on Thursday, a day after he stepped down as president
following eight years as head of state, RIA Novosti reported.

All 448 lawmakers were in parliament for the vote. Putin was
overwhelmingly approved as premier by 392 votes to 56.

The outcome of the vote was widely expected as the ruling pro-Kremlin
United Russia party holds a two thirds majority in the State Duma. The
Communists voted against Putin.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, sworn in on Wednesday, first offered
the post of premier to Putin after being nominated as a presidential
candidate by United Russia and three other pro-Kremlin parties in
December.

He officially nominated Putin as premier after the inauguration
ceremony at the Kremlin.

Speaking after the Duma vote, Medvedev said: "I am positive we will
continue to enjoy fruitful cooperation between the executive and
legislative branches of power, the like of which we witnessed today in
the State Duma."

Catholic World News
May 7 2008

Pope, Armenian patriarch committed to Christian unity

Vatican, May. 7, 2008 (CWNews.com) – At his regular weekly public
audience on May 7, Pope Benedict XVI (bio – news) welcomed the head of
the Armenian Apostolic Church to Rome, and spoke about the urgency of
ecumenical work.

In greeting Catholicos Karekin II, the Holy Father said that the
Armenian patriarch’s visit "revives our hope for the full unity of all
Christians." He saluted the "commitment of the Armenian Apostolic
Church to ecumenical dialogue."

As the Christian world prepares to celebrate the feast of Pentecost,
the Pope said, the faithful should pray for a new outpouring of the
Holy Spirit, conscious that the Spirit "renews the earth and creates
unity where before there was division."

"We have the certainty that the Lord Jesus never abandons us in our
search for unity," the Pope said, "because his Spirit is tirelessly at
work to support the efforts we make to overcome all forms of
division." He went on to say that the Spirit creates "the great
community which is the Church in all the world."

Christianity is always in a state of expectation, like the apostles
before the first Pentecost, the Pope continued. The faithful "pray
incessantly to obtain ever-new effusions of the gifts of the holy
Spirit." He added that "we too invoke these gifts on all Christians,"
hoping that the followers of Christ will form a sign of unity visible
to all the world.

Pope Benedict invited Catholicos Karekin to address the audience in
St. Peter’s square, and the Armenian patriarch reaffirmed his
commitment to the cause of restoring Christian unity.

Karekin II also said, during his brief remarks, that the world should
recognize the suffering of the Armenian people in the genocide of the
early 20th century. Earlier Pope Benedict had said that the appearance
of his distinguished guest "serves to remind us of the severe
persecutions suffered by Armenian Christians, especially during the
last century."

ry.cfm?recnum=58275

Western Queens Gazette, NY
May 7 2008

Hellenic-Americans Join 2008 Armenian Genocide Memorial

The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA), together with the
Pan-Pontian Federation USA and CANADA, joined the Armenian Genocide
Commemorations in City Hall and in Times Square, New York in
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 by Turkey.

At the 93rd Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 25, some
10 high-ranking representatives of the Pan- Pontian Federation of USA
and Canada came to New York City’s City Hall to stand in support of
an address by Pan-Pontian General Secretary Dimitris Molohides,
grandson of Genocide survivors from Pontus, together with city
dignitaries and Armenian representatives. Molohides addressed the
Armenians as brothers in the struggle for remembrance. He detailed
the murder of Armenians by the Turks and Turkey’s crimes against
civilization in Pontus in 1919, Constantinople in 1955, in Smyrna in
1922, and Cyprus in 1974, ending with the remark, "Time is up." He
called for passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution in
Congress. The Pan- Pontian delegation was warmly greeted in the City
Hall commemorations, and personally acknowledged by keynote speaker
and genocide scholar Professor Henry Theriault, whose presentation
also included details on the Pontic Greek Genocide of 1919.

The historic Armenian Genocide Commemorations in Times Square in New
York City took place on Sunday, April 27. This year, many Pontians
attended, holding banners and flags from Hellas, Cyprus and
Pontus. Molohides was seated in the grandstand with Armenian Genocide
survivors and their families, elected officials and humanitarian,
cultural, religious, educational and community leaders. Distinguished
speakers included U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey);
Congressmember Frank Pallone, Jr. (DNew Jersey), co-chair of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; Carla Garapedian, director
of the award-winning documentary "Screamers", which explores the
history of reoccurrence and denial of genocides in the 20th and 21st
centuries; Mark J. Garagos, an attorney who helped lead
groundbreaking federal class action lawsuits against New York Life
and other insurance companies for insurance polices issued to
Armenians living in Turkey prior to the Armenian Genocide, and
Genocide and Holocaust scholar Alex Hinton, PhD, director of the
study of genocide and human rights at Rutgers University and vice
president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars and
Dr. Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, author of Hitler’s Willing
Executioners. In 2009, Goldhagen will host the PBS documentary "Worse
Than War", based on his forthcoming book exploring the general
phenomenon of genocide throughout the world. The Commemoration theme
was "We Cannot Forget, We Will Not Forget."

Following the groundbreaking move by the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (IAGS), which in December 2007, voted overwhelmingly
to recognize the genocides inflicted on Assyrian and Greek populations
of the Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923, CANA joins with the
Armenian people in solemn remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of
1915, and reaffirms a commitment by Hellenic- Americans of conscience
who, for many years, remain determined to secure full recognition and
justice for Turkey’s crimes.

The 93rd anniversary in Cyprus was marked by a series of events under
the auspices of Cyprus House President Marios Karoyan, who is
Armenian.

Vartkes Mahdessian, another Armenian representative at the Cyprus
House, declared: "The Armenians will continue their struggle until the
final justification, a duty owed to the victims of the genocide. It is
time that the political leadership of Turkey found the courage to
recognize the crimes the previous Turkish governments committed,
justifying the victims of not only the Armenian genocide but of the
Greeks, Cypriots, Kurds, Arabs, Pontic Greeks and other peoples, in
the hope that it will at some point join the European Union."

To view and download pictures of Hellenic-Americans at the Armenian
Genocide commemorations 2008, visit http://cyprus
actionnetwork. org/photosofhellenic-americans
atarmenian_genocide commemorations 2008.

The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) is a grass roots,
not-forprofit movement created to support genuine self-determination
and human rights for the people of Cyprus.

atures/023.html

Trading Markets (press release), CA
May 5 2008

HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN`s EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
AZERTAC (Azerbaijan)

Monday, May 05, 2008; Posted: 12:29 AM 7 Stocks You Need To Know For
Tomorrow — Free Newsletter

Baku, May 03, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) — — His
Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan gave an exclusive interview to
Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency, AzerTAc, on the eve of his trip to
Azerbaijan. Here is the full transcript of the conversation:

Your Majesty, how do you evaluate the current relations between Jordan
and Azerbaijan?

King Abdullah: I would like to express my great satisfaction with the
strong brotherly relations between us that we have always been keen to
strengthen in all sectors in order to benefit our peoples. I feel our
enthusiasm is also shared by his Excellency President Ilham Aliyev,
whom I hold in great regard. I appreciate his relentless efforts to
achieve progress and prosperity for the Azeri people.

As you know I was honored to visit your country in August 2006, and in
July 2007 we were delighted to welcome President Aliyev to Jordan. We
are satisfied with the level of our bilateral relations, and we are
determined to advance and deepen them in all sectors, especially in
the economic and commercial fields.

During your visit to Azerbaijan two years ago, which you already
mentioned, and during President Aliyevs visit to Jordan last year,
several documents and agreements were signed. How do you evaluate the
impact of these agreements on cooperation between the two countries,
especially in the economic field? And in general what are the fields
where wider cooperation could be achieved?

As I mentioned before, the two visits were great opportunities to
define the areas where we could expand cooperation between our two
countries. The two visits reflected the mutual interest in building
strong, cooperative relations in all vital sectors, and the bilateral
agreements signed lay the ground for this constructive cooperation.

There are great possibilities to intensify and enhance cooperation in
the economic and investment fields, and to establish mutual projects
that make use of the two countries assets, expertise, and
distinguished geographical location, and that build effective
partnership between the Jordanian and Azeri private sectors. Jordan in
fact could be a springboard for Azerbaijan to Middle Eastern and
European and US markets. At the same time, we think that your country,
at the heart of Asia, could be connection point between the two
regions. I strongly believe that we have valuable unprecedented
opportunities to realize mutual benefits for us and to serve the
peoples of our two countries. We are still at the starting point, and
we hope to move with faster steps in this field.

Azerbaijan is considered an economic corridor between Europe and Asia
because of its distinguished geographical location. The importance of
its role will increase when the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is
operated. What benefits could Jordan reap from this corridor?

We in Jordan realize the importance of your countrys geographical
location. This is a very important feature for strengthening the bonds
of economic and commercial cooperation between Jordan and Azerbaijan,
especially for increasing the volume of trade exchange. We think that
since the Asian and European continents possess tremendous recourses
and great natural riches, the states in these two continents should
strengthen the bridges of cooperation between them, especially as the
world copes with difficult economic challenges due to huge increase in
oil prices and the increasing demand on basic foodstuffs which have
also experienced unprecedented price increases.

To confront these challenges, we believe that intensifying cooperation
between our two countries in the first place, and between states in
the two continents, in the second place, is now a must and highly
desirable.

Our two countries play an important role in this regard.

Your Majesty, your friendship with his Excellency President Ilham
Aliyev is very strong. Does that strong friendship play a role in
strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries?

I am proud of my personal friendship with President Aliyev. We both
agree in our vision for providing a better future for the Jordanian
and Azeri peoples and realize their aspirations for progress and
development. We also share the belief that our two countries can
employ their capabilities in the service of our mutual interests. This
is always emphasized during official discussions, whether at the
summit level, or at the level of senior officials in the two
countries. In this context, I am looking forward to my upcoming visit
to Azerbaijan and to meeting President Aliyev to take another step on
the path of strengthening cooperation between our two brotherly
countries and dealing with all the issues that concern the Muslim
nation.

Your Majesty, how do you see the efforts exerted to realize peace in
the Middle East and South Caucasus areas, especially that Your
Majestys efforts in this field are highly appreciated in Azerbaijan?

It is common knowledge that the Palestinian problem is the core issue
in the Middle East conflict, and it is our conviction that solving the
other interrelated issues in our region depends on our ability to find
a just and permanent solution to the conflict in Palestine. Failure to
realize this goal will only bring more turbulence, violence and
destabilization to the region. We are in continuous contact with all
the concerned parties to encourage Palestinians and Israelis to
overcome obstacles to negotiations on all the final status issues, in
order to establish an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank
and Gaza. In this context, we emphasize that the permanent and just
peace we seek should be based on international resolutions and the
Arab Peace Initiative. This means Israel should refrain from adopting
unilateral policies. Paramount among the things that need to happen is
that Israel needs to stop its aggression against the Palestinian
people in Gaza, to end the siege, and to immediately stop settlement
activities on Palestinian land, so that conditions will be appropriate
for resuming negotiations between the two parties. We hope, at the
same time, that the international communitys support of peace efforts
in the region will continue, including support from the members of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference.

As for the developments related to consolidating security and
stability in South Caucasus, we support every serious endeavor to
ensure that this strategically important region enjoys security and
stability. In this context, we understand Azerbaijans position
regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, and we support every sincere
endeavor to find a peaceful solution for this territory that would be
acceptable to the conflicting countries, and that is based on
dialogue, understanding and reaching a common ground between
Azerbaijan and Armenia that guarantees their respective rights.

Thank you for the interview.

NERSES YERITSIAN: STATE INTENDS TO TAKE PART IN PERSPECTIVE SMEs

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Small and Medium Entrepreneurship
Development National Center (SME DNC) of Armenia along with the Union
of IT Enterprises has launched a pilot program of assistance to small
and medium enterprisies (SMEs) of the IT sector with the aim of
ensuring a considerable growth of these enterprises and helping them to
enter the capital market, the RA minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian
stated at the "without-tie" meeting of IT sector heads in Tsakhkadzor
on May 1-3. According to him, Instigate company has received assistance
under the program.

The minister said that the state is likely to have up to 20%
participation in capital of SMEs. As regards the possibility of the
state’s participation in venture financing programs, N. Yeritsian
indicated that such steps will follow more active involvement of SMEs
in scientific developments and research. In any case, the Competitive
Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project financed by the Armenian
government and the USAID has taken steps to set up a venture fund with
equal shares.

The minister spoke against introduction of tax privileges, explaining
that the tax and customs legiglation provides development
opportunities. In particular, in case of an active investment policy,
companies with annual income growth of 30-40% may have to pay a small
profit tax.

It was stated that SMEs should forms the basis for correcting the
deviations of the Armenian economy, the introduction of the best
standards in the economy and the creation of opportunities to enter
international market because the companies operating in accordance with
these standards will grow and "clean the business field".

CHAIRMAN OF MONTEVIDEO ARMENIAN NATIONAL CENTER AWARDED LAS PALMAS ORDER

MONTEVIDEO, MAY 5, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Karlos Ketsoyan, the
Chairman of Montevideo Armenian National Center, by the decision of
the Ministry of Education of France, was awarded LAS PALMAS special
academic order for his contribution to relations between Uruguay and
France and his important studies in the sphere of neurology.

As Radio Arax reports, the solemn award-giving ceremony took place at
the Embassy of France in Uruguay on April 19. Ambassador Jean Moyret,
University Rector Federico Arosena, leader of Armenian church
Archbishop Hakob Gellentchian, members of community were present at
the festivity.

"WITHOUT TIES" MEETING OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR HEADS TAKES PLACE IN TSAKHKADZOR

Noyan Tapan
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting "without ties" of the heads
of the IT sector was held in Tsakhkadzor on May 1-3. The meeting was
entitled "The Ways of Information and Communication Development". It
was attneded by 80 heads of nearly 50 companies, and 20 representatives
of the RA ministry of economy, the State Customs Committee, the State
Tax Service, the Public Services Regulatory Commission, the RA State
Commission on Protection of Economic Competition, international donor
organizations and about as many representatives of the mass media.

During the meeting, round tales were conducted on the following
subjects: The Tax ans Customs Legislation and Administration of the
Republic of Armenia, The Education of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT), and the Communication and Security.

The main problem raised during discussions on the last subject was
related to the factors affecting the quality and price formation
of data transmission services via the Internet. It was stated
that although the sector of Internet services has been liberalized,
ArmenTel CJSC does not actually provide other providers with channels
for provision of last mile Internet services to ultimate users. The
company also avoids connecting its channels to the networks of other
companies and provides itself Internet access and data transmission
services through fixed-line phone connection.

This creates for ArmenTel conditions for monopoly and the opportunity
to provide the indicated services at cheapest prices, which makes it
impossible for other companies to compete with ArmenTel in the sector
of last mile services and to attract investments to this sector. On
the last day of the meeting, discussion on this subject was held with
the participation of the RA minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian. He
proposed that representatives of the companies of the telecommunication
sector clarify the situation through research and propose possible
ways out in order to find legislative solutions to the problems. The
version of constructing a new fiber-optic cable for international data
transmission and a fixed-line network was not ruled out at the meeting.

During the round table on the subject "ICT Education", it was pointed
out that the use of information and communication technologies in the
comprehensive education system is being regulated gradually by such
steps as connecting schools to the Internet, the budgetary financing
of schools’ Internet traffic and the creation of school electronic
content. As for the issue of training of ICT specialists, there are
still problems with presentation of orders for preparation of experts
of the higher educational system, qualification of lecturers, and
the absence of levers on the private sector’s impact on the quality
of education and the educational programs.

According to N. Yeritsian, it is envisaged to solve the problem
related to tax and customs administration through introduction of
automated systems of new orders and registration.

The meeting was organized by the Union of IT Enterprises, the
USAID-financed Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project,
and the RA ministry of economy with the support of U Com company.

NALBANDIAN-MAMMADYAROV FIRST-EVER MEETING DUE IN STRASBOURG MAY 6

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2008 12:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On invitation of French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian departed for France on a
formal visit.

Meeting with Mr Kouchner and Senate President Christian Poncelet
are scheduled.

On May 6, Minister Nalbandian will head for Strasbourg to attend
the 118th session of the CoE Foreign Ministers. On the same day,
he will meet with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and Azerbaijani FM
Elmar Mammadyarov.

The Armenian Minister is also scheduled to meet with OSCE Secretary
General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, CoE Secretary General Terry Davis,
PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig, President of the European Court
of Human Rights Jean-Paul Costa, CoE Commissioner for Human Rights
Thomas Hammarberg, representatives of AGO Group and Foreign Ministers
of some European countries, the RA MFA press office reported.

TURKISH LAW: CHANGE DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH

Watertown Daily Times, MA
0502/OPINION01/581778319
May 2 2008

A modest step by Turkey’s parliament to counter criticism of its
"anti-Turkish" law falls short of real reform.

Turkey has come under fire for laws restricting free speech by making
it a crime to denigrate Turkish identity. The law has been used against
thousands of people, among them prominent writers who have referred
to the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians near the end of World War I
as genocide. The government rejects the label.

Under the approved reform, individuals can still be prosecuted for
insults to the "Turkish nation" instead of "Turkishness," although
such distinctions can be easily blurred. Those convicted under the
change, which must be approved by Turkey’s president, can still be
sentenced to up to two years in jail, down from a maximum of three
years. The sentence could be suspended for first-time offenders.

The European Union had pressed Turkey to change the law as a condition
for entry into the organization. The EU presidency called the vote a
"constructive step forward in ensuring freedom of expression, and we
look forward to its effective implementation."

A spokeswoman for Human Rights Watch called it "a deeply disappointing
revision."

Hard-liners objected to the changes, but it is hard to see them as
a major step forward. The law still allows people to be prosecuted
for opinions that may be contrary to an official or orthodox
viewpoint. When considering Turkey’s admission, the European Union
should stand firm for repeal of such laws.