Author: Tumanian Talar

‘NEW TIMES’ OPPOSITION PARTY TO SUPPORT CANDIDATURE OF LEVON TER-PETROSYAN IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-02-14 14:43:00

ArmInfo. "New Times" opposition party will support candidature of the
first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the coming presidential
election in Armenia, the statement of the party’s board says, which
was presented at Armenia-Marriott hotel Thursday, by member of "New
Times" Party Board Hrachya Sarkisyan.

According to the statement, democratic transformations in Armenia
by way of election are impossible. They are only possible by wave of
national movement, which is headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Citizens
worried in the country’s future mustn’t vote for the authority’s
representatives and the candidates who serve them in the election. "We
support the movement which has an aim to free the country from the
present authority, that is, the all-national movement in Armenia. The
movement was started by the participation of "New Times", "Alternative"
movement, and "Republic" party on the eve of the parliamentary election
in 2007", the statement of "New Times" says.

To recall, Aram Karapetyan, who got more than 40 000 votes (over 3%)
in the presidential election in 2003 and an honorable place for an
election debutant-the fourth place, was not allowed to participate in
the 2008 election by the decision of the Visa and Passport Department
of RA Police.

The latter refused Aram Karapetyan a certificate of permanent residence
on the territory of Armenia in the last 10 years. The Court of 1st
instance of Kentron-Nork Marash community in Yerevan and, later,
the Court of Appeal defeated A. Karapetyan’s claims.

To recall, on February 12 "Heritage" party, headed by Raffi
Hovannisian, officially declared about its support to Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s candidature.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 15 2008

Foreign Ministers of France and Azerbaijan Discuss Pressing Questions
in Paris
15.02.08 10:47

France, Paris, 15 February / corr. Trend News A. Maharramli/ The
foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and France discussed the energy
cooperation with the European Union (EU) during the talks held in
Paris on 14 February. `The cooperation between France and Azerbaijan
is on the high level and the diversification of energy sources will
be key priorities during the chairmanship of France in EU from 1
July,’ Bernar Kushner, the foreign minister of France said in Paris
on 14 February.

`The French foreign minister welcomed the proposal concerning the
peace talks between Baku and Yerevan on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
during his meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov, his Azerbaijani
counterpart,’ the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
France said to Trend. `The fact that the peace talks between still
continue in spite of the presidential elections to be held in Armenia
and Azerbaijan is a good signal,’ Kushner said during the meeting.

The French minister stressed the significance of the continuation of
the talks on the basis of the principles stated in the document
introduced to the conflicting parties in November 2007 in Madrid by
the co-chairmen of OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe) Minsk group.

The ministers discussed the issues concerning the media in Azerbaijan
as well. Kushner emphasized the importance of the cooperation of
Azerbaijan with EU and OSCE in media issues and added that France
attaches great importance to such matters,’ the press service of the
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said to Trend.

Bernar Fasye, the French co-chairman of OSCE Minsk group also took
part in the meeting.

YOUTH ALLIANCE TO CONDUCT FIRST-EVER EXIT POLL

ARMENPRESS
Feb 13, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: Several non-governmental
organizations will join efforts to conduct the first-ever exit poll in
Armenia on February 19 when over 2 million eligible voters are expected
to go to the polling stations to elect a next president of the country.

The exit-poll will be coordinated by a youth alliance called For
Democracy. Its deputy chairman Gevorg Melikian said to reporters on
Tuesday that the exit poll will embrace some 3000 voters in about
100 polling stations both in the capital city Yerevan and beyond it.

He said since this is going to be the first- ever exit poll in
Armenia they expect many voters to refuse to answer their questions
‘as people have dozens of reasons for doing so. ‘ One, according to
him, is that many believe that exit poll is something formal that do
not reflect the overall picture.

Gevorg Melikian said the exit poll is not funded by any political
party or organization and the results will be summarized 2 hours
after the end of voting.

Last month the United States embassy here abandoned plans to sponsor
an exit poll. The move came after several oppositional candidates
questioned the credibility of earlier public opinion surveys conducted
in Armenia with the U.S. funding which gave a huge lead to prime
minister Serzh Sarkisian.

In December the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan and the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) had offered to finance and organize
an exit poll as part of their efforts to contribute to the freedom
and fairness of presidential election. The idea was welcomed by
prime minister Serzh Sarkisian when he met Joseph Pennington, the
U.S. charge d’affaires.

But Sarkisian’s main challengers say the fact that the field work
is done by local organizations reputed to be close to the government
makes their results questionable.

DINK MURDER TRIAL RESUMES AMID CALLS FOR FULL JUSTICE

Today’s Zaman
Feb 12 2008
Turkey

A court in Ýstanbul held the third hearing in a closely watched
case in the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
amid calls for a fair trial and a state move to shed full light on
the assassination.

In partial response to the calls for a fair trial, the hearing was
recorded — a first in Turkish judicial history. Concerned about a
possible cover-up, the lawyers for Dink’s family requested audiovisual
recording after the trial’s second hearing, a demand later accepted by
the court. Several allegations of police and gendarmerie cover-ups have
marred the trial process and raised questions over state authorities’
commitment to uncovering the full story behind the murder.

"This stain must be cleansed to create a Turkey in which people are not
prosecuted and convicted for their thoughts," a statement undersigned
by intellectuals calling themselves the Hrant Dink Sensitivity Group,
said as the trial went on. "We believe it is a moral duty for all
individuals and institutions concerned to take steps to ensure that
the case in question will be brought to full light," the statement
also said, calling for a fair trial and for political efforts toward
finding whoever is behind the murder.

The signatories included intellectuals and human rights activists from
across the political spectrum, including Etyen Mahcupyan, Akýn Birdal,
Ufuk Uras, Cengiz Candar, Adalet Aðaoðlu and Kurþat Bumin.

Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
Commission, who was also present at the hearing, said the forces
behind the assassination of Dink should be exposed.

Dink was murdered in January of last year by an ultranationalist
youth for allegedly insulting Turkishness.

"I’m here to see if justice has been served," Lagendijk said at the
14th High Criminal Court in Ýstanbul, pointing out that not only the
defendants in the Dink trial, but also everyone behind the murder
should be brought to justice. If not, Lagendijk said, the Turkish
justice system would receive a severe blow in the international arena.

Linking Dink’s murder to the recent Ergenekon operation, in which
several people have been arrested in connection with the Turkish
"deep state," Lagendijk expressed his hope for similar revelations
in Dink’s murder. "We desire a change in Article 301 [of the Turkish
Penal Code (TCK)], not statements about it being changed," he said.

At the trial, the defendants’ lawyers demanded that Turkish deputies
and members of the European Parliament be removed from the hearing,
but their motion was denied.

Speaking to journalists during a break, Republican People’s Party
(CHP) deputy Sahin Mengu said they had formed an investigative
commission related to the Dink trial and that they will closely
observe the proceedings.

A total of 18 suspects, including Dink’s suspected killer, 17-year-old
O.S., and an ultranationalist youth charged with planning the crime,
went on trial for organizing the murder. The suspect was arrested the
day after the murder and reportedly confessed to the killing. A wider
investigation revealed a group of ultranationalist "older brothers"
who allegedly guided and instigated him to commit the crime.

It was later learned that one "elder brother," Erhan Tuncel, used
to be a police informant and that he had told the police that there
was a plan to kill Dink after the journalist was found guilty of
insulting Turkishness under Article 301 and received a six-month
suspended sentence. Tuncel and Yasin Hayal are accused of being the
instigators behind the murder.

Tuncel demanded the removal of Dink’s lawyers, who are participating
as co-plaintiffs, from the hearing on the grounds that they would
talk to the press during the trial and said he would not reply to
their questions.

Tuncel criticized Dink’s wife, Rakel Dink, because she addressed
the defendants as "children." Tuncel reportedly said of Rakel Dink,
"She acts as if she is a saint."

Meanwhile, the judges gave a warning to Hayal because of his
disrespectful behavior toward the Dink family at the trial.

Coþkun Ýðci, who had been a witness in a case in which two soldiers
were tried in Trabzon on charges of dereliction of duty and had said
that Hayal had told gendarmerie officials that he was planning to
kill Dink in front of the Agos newspaper, is to be interrogated by
the court under an additional indictment.

Police officers set up barriers around the courthouse, checked ID
cards and conducted body searches. Tight security restrictions were in
place. No civilian cars were allowed in the car park of the courthouse.

Due to the audiovisual recording, there was no court clerk present
during the hearing and minutes of the trial will be transcribed
following the hearing and placed into the case file after being
approved by the judge and the prosecutor.

There was a monitor placed on the wall facing the judges’ seats
and microphones hung down over the defendants’ section. There were
table microphones for the judges, lawyers and the prosecutor and
two loudspeakers.

–Boundary_(ID_4UANVkorioQwlOK30Cv9 Iw)–

ALLIANCE CIVIL INITIATIVE TO HOLD EXIT-POLL ON DAY OF VOTE OF RA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Alliance civil initiative
will hold an exit-poll with the assistance of 30 non-governmental
organizations on February 19: on the day of the vote of the RA
presidential elections. This statement was made by Gevorg Melikian,
the Deputy Chairman of the initiative, at the press conference held
on February 12. He mentioned that the poll will be conducted in
100 electoral districts of Yerevan and different regions within the
frameworks of the 0.1% of citizens or approximately 3000 electors,
having suffrage.

According to Gevorg Melikian, the exit-poll will give an opportunity to
make a right idea of the vote of the presidential elections. The civil
initiative will also conduct a monitoring mission. In the words of the
Deputy Chairman of the initiative, the Alliance conducted monitoring
mission during the parliamentary elections and it was the one, which
recorded serious electoral violations and electoral falsifications.

ROMAN AMOYAN WINNER IN IRAN INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONAL TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 11, 2008

TEHRAN, FEBRUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Greco-Roman Wrestling International
Traditional Tournament Was Held In Iran. Roman Amoyan (55 Kg, Yerevan)
Took The First Place Among 14 Participants Of Armenia. Sasun Ghambarian
(60 Kg, Yerevan) Became The Third Prize-Winner.

CEC PRESENTS ITS RENEWED OFFICIAL WEBSITE

armradio.am
11.02.2008 17:32

The Central Electoral commission (CEC) today presented the updated
version of its official website:

CEC Chairman Garegin Azaryan informed that a simplified search
system has been implemented, which allows to get information about
the electors’ roll, the precincts, etc.

Garegin Azaryan informed that the new registration program of the
CEC will automatically block imperfect data concerning the quantity
and the numbers of ballots, received by the server from the district
electoral commissions.

According to CEC Chairman, the numbers of all ballots, classified
according to concrete polling stations, will be entered in the
registration program beforehand.

Garegin Azaryan stated that by means of the renewed website, all
the interested people will get the opportunity to follow on-line the
results of voting by means of the information entering the server.

"CRISIS OF ENERGETIC RELATIONS IS POSSIBLE IN THIS REGION IN COMING
YEARS" EXPERT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The new stage of the formation of the
energetic policy system of the Southern Caucasus region is starting at
the beginning of the 21st century, which is marked by the return of
Russia into this territory and its active role, as well as by the
involvement of Iran in the energetic processes of the Southern Caucasus
for the first time. This opinion was expressed by Sevak Sarukhanian, a
candidate for politology and the Deputy Head of the Noravank fund, in
his speech made at the February 7 international press conference
dedicated to the cooperation problems of the countries of the Caucasus
and the Near East in the formation process of the regional security.

The Iranian participation was mainly stipulated by the signing of the
agreement on the Armenia-Iran gas main construction, as well as by the
endorsement of the energetic cooperation with Azerbaijan. The latter is
likely to pass to a completely different level after Azerbaijan puts
into operation the gas main providing a possibility to export the
Azerbaijani gas to the northern parts of Iran. According to the
speaker, the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey format of the energetic
cooperation and the Armenia-Russia and the Armenia-Iran formats are, in
fact, competing with each other. At present, it is a period, when the
United States of America on the one hand and Russia and Iran on the
other will cooperate with each other more closely in the region. It is
conditioned by the fact that the political energetic situation in the
Central Asia is radically changing: Kazakhstan will soon enter the
world energetic market with its great reserves of oil and gas,
Turkmenistan is developing new borders for the shipping of its gas, the
unprecedented conflict between Turkmenistan and Iran two weeks ago
caused the stopping of shipping of the Turkmenian gas to the northern
parts of Iran.

According to Sarukhanian, the endorsement of the Iran-Azerbaijan format
of the cooperation on the one hand and the strengthening of the
relations between Turkmenistan and Russia , as well as the signing of
the Turkmenian-European agreement on the cooperation in the energetic
sphere on the other are a qualitative change in the situation of the
region. Multi-vector interests cannot be fulfilled without taking into
consideration the interests of all the producing-exporting countries of
the region. In this respect, the coming years will bring forth a real
crisis of energetic relations or a compromise will be found between the
main performers, which can play a positive role in the futher political
integration in the region.

DemAz.org, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2008

`Zerkalo’: Moscow to Intend to Turn Armenia to Russian Enclave
08.02.2008

At least political scientist Mubariz Ahmadoglu thinks so
`Armenians are more fearing Azerbaijanis than Turks. Actually while
discussing the issue of `genocide of Armenians’ at US Congress
Azerbaijanis adhere more active position than Turks. It makes
Armenians almost furious’. This statement was made by the head of the
Center on political innovations and technologies, Mubariz Ahmadoglu,
at annual briefing dedicated to analysis of events of the passed
month in South Caucasus and in the world.
Accordingly to tradition introduced by him political scientist drew
attention to neighbors, situation of which attracts more and more
attention on the eve of presidential election. Situation in Armenia
is aggravating with the speed of light. `You won’t believe but all
going on there remind African countries where everything can be
expected. Thus, most recently Ter-Petrosyan blocked the road of
presidential cortege of Kocharyan. Can you image it in any other
country? I have never met it myself but in the countries of far
Africa’, underlined M. Ahmadoglu.
Continuing the issue of elections in Armenia M. Ahmadoglu added that
Ter-Petrosyan is more acceptable for Armenia and for neighbor
countries. Ter-Petrosyan is favorable for Russia, however, Kremlin
prefers to see Serg Sarkisyan in the presidential chair, he holds.
`It is understandable as Russian politicians stake on Sarkisyan
hoping to turn Armenia to the likeness of Kaliningrad enclave’,
stressed M. Ahmadoglu.
Is this stake invented by Russia? Answering this question M.
Ahmadoglu said: `In case Ter-Petrosyan wins election, he promises to
open railway communications with Azerbaijan. Actually it can be
profitable for Russia as opening of railways would serve for evident
closeness of region and north power’. Accordingly to him during the
time of Soviet period 85% of products for South Caucasus were
transported through this route. Given circumstance would serve as
cement sticking together Caucasus and Russia. But apparently Kremlin
can’t get free from imperial intentions.
Accordingly to M. Ahmadoglu Moscow is blind not only with regards to
future president of Armenia, but it ignores what Armenians do on
south borders. `Armenians of Krasnodar recently have become more
active up to applying to European structures for any reason’, noted
political scientist. Accordingly to him, Russia attaches no
importance to it but it would be good to do so `as Armenians want to
split North Caucasus’. He added that unfortunately Russia takes such
warnings as anti-Armenian statements. `Following orders of the States
Armenians do their best to destroy North Caucasus and Russia doesn’t
want to understand it. When we speak about it Russia takes it as
anti-Armenian statements coming from Azerbaijan’, said he.
Analyzing situation on North Caucasus from where as political
scientist believes every day there come hot news reminding military
chronics M. Ahmadoglu continued making not comforting conclusions.
Particularly, he warned that in case situation in this part of Russia
doesn’t change for better then the threat of North Caucasian
disorders will penetrate South Caucasus. `Russia can’t control
situation in North Caucasus any more. Stability in our region any
time can be shaken’, said he.
Judging by statements of Mr. Ahmadoglu, it turns to be that Russia
and Armenia are just bitter enemies. Following M. Ahmadoglu version
Russia wants to turn Armenia even not to `advanced post’ but to
Russian enclave in South Caucasus. And Armenia in turn is striving
for destabilizing situation in North Caucasus that is to break down
Russia. At the same time both states are actively cooperating not
only as CIS member-states but also within the frames of Treaty on
Collective Security that is they are military and political allies.
As party to Treaty on Collective Security Armenia unlike Azerbaijan
has chance to acquire weapons following Russian prices, but we pay
for Russian weapons following world prices.
These countries are so hostile that Russia is going to help to
construct the second atom station in Armenia. And due to this
cooperation Armenia declines profitable proposal of EU. `EU doesn’t
finance projects realized by two countries and for this reason it
won’t finance construction of atom station as Armenia is going to
construct new station jointly with Russia’, declared EU commissar on
foreign relation and European policy of neighborhood, Benita
Ferrero-Valdner, in Yerevan. She also underscored that Metsamor atom
station is old enough and should be closed. `We allotted 30 mln Euro
for maintenance of security of station however it is necessary to
close it’, she underscored. Such are hostile relations between
Armenia and Russia.
And comparing Armenia with Africa in connection with blocking the
road of presidential cortege of Robert Kocharyan, respected political
scientist just went too far. We don’t know how often it happens in
Africa but most recently anti-globalists blocked all roads leading to
the venue of meeting of president to break summit of G-8 in civilized
Europe. And as a consequence presidents had to get the venue with the
help of water means.
Authors highly value the role and merits of Mr. Ahmadoglu in
information war against Armenia. However we would like him to be more
cautious while selecting facts and arguments the number of which is
large enough…

R. Mirkadirov
J. Bayramova

Christian Post
Feb 9 2008

Portrait of Christianity in the Next 1,000 Years

By Audrey Barrick
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Feb. 09 2008 06:30 AM ET

What will the Christian church look like in the next 1,000 years?

Aaron Kruse, a New Life Church member, worships during services
Sunday, Feb., 18, 2007, in Colorado Springs, Colo.If a devout
Christian from the year 1000 A.D. were to be dropped into a
mid-morning service at a 21st century progressive church, the
medieval Christian wouuld not recognize the Christian faith, says
Kevin Kelly in the latest issue of Willow magazine – a publication of
the influential Willow Creek Community Church.

So it’s "reasonable and responsible to expect tremendous change in
the Christian church" in the next millennium, he writes.

Besides the end of the world happening in this lifetime, Kelly offers
five other scenarios – or plausible stories – for what the church may
look like in the year 3,000 A.D.

And he cautions, "If Christians don’t seize the future, then
unbelievers will."

Scenario One

The center of Christianity will continue to shift west. Since the
time of Christ, the center of gravity for the global Christian church
has steadily moved west from its epicenter in Jerusalem. It has
shifted to Armenia, Greece, Rome, then into Europe, and further west
into North and South America.

Many reports indicate that the center of Christianity is now in Asia
and Africa where the Christian population is booming.

But Kelly says it won’t stop there.

"If the move west continues as it has for the last 2,000 years,
Christianity’s center of gravity will keep migrating westward beyond
East and Central Asia. The new missionaries based in Asia in the
coming century will reach out to unbelievers in the birthplace of
Christianity."

Eventually, the epicenter of Christianity will circumnavigate the
globe and arrive back where it began in Jerusalem.

That means, "unless Christianity in the U.S. becomes less parochial
and more global, what happens in North American Christianity in the
next 500 years may simply be the side-show," Kelly writes. "The main
event will happen elsewhere around the globe."

Scenario Two

The varieties of Christianity, including the number of creeds and
denominations, will continue to increase. Christian denominations
have increased from 500 in 1800 to 40,000 in 2007, Kelly cites.

And nothing will apparently halt the diversification.

"When you can get 72 varieties of mustard in the supermarket, choice
is accepted," he writes. "There is no known counter force visible in
our culture which would work against increased varieties in Christian
approaches."

Scenario Three

Churches outside mainstream Christianity are growing the fastest. The
greatest growth in the future is expected from such marginal church
groups as the Mormons and the Amish.

The growth, however, won’t go without criticism. These churches will
be, and some already are, considered cults or heretics by the
orthodox, Kelly points out.

Nevertheless, Kelly says "an entirely safe bet would be that the
largest denomination 1,000 years from now is one that does not exist
at the moment."

Currently, the largest church in the United States is Lakewood
Church, a nondenominational church of now 40,000 weekly attendants,
in Houston. It was founded in 1959.

Scenario Four

An overwhelming majority of the challenges – such as abortion, stem
cell therapies and pornography – Christianity will be facing in the
next millennium will be driven by new technologies. Kelly points out
that today’s challenges are tame compared to the ones coming.

And as Christians have already been witnessing, the next generations
of Christians will speak the Facebook and YouTube language as easily
as Americans speak English today.

"The long-term trend is more technology in the Christian culture;
what is missing, and what may take several generations to supply, is
an understanding of the spiritual meaning of technology," Kelly
writes.

Scenario Five

As culture continues to move toward a future of questioning and
doubt, Christianity has to "develop a cultural practice of positive
questioning, of active holy doubt, and a clear articulation of what
is eternal and what is in flux," he notes.

That practice is likely to be constructed not by theologians, Kelly
says, but by members of the worldwide church in a distributed social
media context. "The wiki-church."

And that includes Muslims.

The Christian community is shrinking in Europe while the Islamic
community continues to grow. And while Islam has turned radical and
militant in other parts of the world, Kelly points to the millions of
non-militant moderate Muslim communities.

"On many social issues moderate Islam and conservative Christianity
agree," he contends. "They are both people of the book. They both
honor many of the same prophets. They agree on many religious issues
like prayer, sexuality, sin, and family.

"It is not impossible to imagine Muslims and Christians becoming
allies in the inevitable culture wars of the future. It is no more
impossible than imagining Christians and Jews would be allies a
thousand years ago."

Kelly predicts 100 years from now, a conservative Christian-Islam
alliance might be a serious global political force.

While none of the five scenarios may happen, they are presented in
order to gain a firm grasp of the present trends, Kelly says.

"Sometimes it takes an exercise of extrapolating to a thousand years
from now to see what is happening tomorrow. Only by extending a trend
can we see if it might endure, or survive in the face of other
trends, or if it might provoke an awareness of a trend we could not
see before."

le/20080209/31127_Portrait_of_Christianity_in_the_ Next_1,000_Years.htm