Author: Vardanian Garo

GARNIK MARGARIAN: YEAR 2008 WAS WRITTEN AS A BLOODY AND BLACK PAGE IN ARMENIA’S MODERN HISTORY

NOYAN TAPAN

DEC 18, 2008
YEREVAN

"The year 2008 was written as a bloody and black page in Armenia’s
modern history," Garnik Margarian, the Chairman of the Homeland and
Honor party, stated. According to him, "the things that happened on
February 19 and March 1-2 do not fit into any political and moral
limit." During the December 18 meeting with journalists he considered
inadmissible that Armenia’s problems are solved at international
structures.

"Are we so short-witted that the Europeans should solve our problems?,"
G. Margarian said.

According to his estimation, first RA President Levon Ter-Petrosian
is the only person, who can give a solution to the problems faced by
the country.

According to him, after the disgraceful presidential elections of
2003 no conscious, capable, and fearless political figure appeared
in the opposition sphere, and L. Ter-Petrosian dared lay that heavy
burden on his shoulders.

Besides, according to G. Margarian, a political movement took place
in the country with first President’s return, in consequence of
which the people rose. "A flash of hope and light woke up in the
people, as some political figures were money-lenders, with one hand
in Serzh-Robert’s pocket and with the other they wanted to present the
people with a monument to justice," G. Margarian said adding that they
will continue working and leading to the end the business they started.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh settlement, G. Margarian said
that illegitimate presidential elections were held twice in Armenia,
and Europe closed its eyes on it. However, according to him, the
illegitimate authorities are not able to successfully solve national
issues.

Speaking about the trial on the "case of the seven" G. Margarian
said that it was told at the PACE Monitoring Committee on December
17 that there are not sufficient grounds to accuse them and to
consider them criminals. "As a lawyer I can say that it is a forged
case. Seven hostages are kept to put out the political movement,"
G. Margarian said.

TURKEY CAPABLE TO PERSUADE AZERBAIJAN TO RENOUNCE KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2008 18:33 GMT+04:00

Turkey has a profound influence on Azerbaijan and it is capable to
persuade Azerbaijan to renounce Karabakh and thus secure its eastern
regions, independent expert Masis Mayilyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

It’s quite possible in the light of recent Armenia-Turkish
rapprochement, according to him.

"Turkey wants to join the Minsk process but it is an interested
party and can’t become a co-chair. But it can influence Azerbaijan,"
Mayilyan said.

TURKISH PM SAYS APOLOGY CAMPAIGN TO ARMENIANS UNACCEPTABLE

ArmInfo
2008-12-17 17:47:00

ArmInfo. It is unacceptable to affirm support to the recent internet
campaign launched to issue a public apology to Armenians, Turkish
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on Wednesday.

"I neither accept nor support this campaign. We did not commit a
crime, therefore we do not need to apologize," Erdogan said, adding
the issue is still being discussed by historians. Moreover, he said
such initiatives only reverse the positive steps taken by Turkey,
as Turkish Hurriet reported.

To recall, around 200 Turkish academics, writers and journalists
launched a website issuing an apology to the Armenians regarding the
1915 incidents and calling for people to sign on in support.

DIASPORA MINISTER MEETS WITH MELKONIAN ALUMNI MEMBERS

Gibrahayer
Dec 08
Nicosia

Communique from the Association of Melkonian Alumni and Friends
Los Angeles, California – – On November
25, 2008, Armenia’s Minister of the Diaspora, Dr Hranush Hakobyan,
met with the representatives of the Association of Melkonian Alumni
and Friends in the offices of Dr Harout Mesrobian in Glendale. The
meeting lasted approximately one hour. The minister was accompanied
by Mr Armen Liloyan, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles.

Representing the Association of Melkonian Alumni and Friends at the
meeting were Chairman Raffi Zinzalian and members of the Administrative
Board Harout Mesrobian, Zohrab Shammasian, Vahakn Gharibian, and Garo
Kasabian. The Melkonian alumni brought to the minister’s attention a
number of issues related to the closure of the Melkonian Educational
Institute (MEI) in Cyprus.

The closure of MEI by a decision of the Central Board of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in June 2005 is no doubt one of the
most pressing issues of the Diaspora by virtue of its broader adverse
consequences. Consequently, it would be appropriate for Armenia’s
Ministry of the Diaspora to take up this issue with high priority.

Legal and other actions undertaken in Los Angeles and Cyprus in the
last few years with the leadership of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul and the joint efforts of Melkonian alumni20organizations
across the world to halt the closure of MEI have not produced any
positive results. All legal rulings in these actions have favoured
the AGBU.

In late 2006, the Supreme Court of Cyprus ruled and affirmed that the
AGBU has full ownership rights over the MEI properties and that it
can dispose of them as it wishes. This ruling cleared the way for the
immediate sale of the Melkonian properties, which would have happened
had it not been for the intervention of the alumni in Cyprus.

In response to an appeal by the Cyprus alumni, the Cyprus Ministry
of Interior declared the original MEI buildings and 60 percent of
its campus of approximately 40 acres as a historic and architectural
heritage site and the adjoining grove of trees a "green zone." Although
this regulation reduces the monetary value of the Melkonian properties,
it makes the sale of the properties more difficult because it imposes
tough restrictions on any modifications on existing structures and
construction of new buildings in green areas.

RUMORS ABOUT CIS DEMISE GROUNDLESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.12.2008 17:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Rumors about demise of the Commonwealth of
Independent States are groundless, CIS executive officer said.

"This year we have undertook measures to strengthen the Commonwealth
and we are optimistic about 2009," Sergei Lebedev told reporters in
Minsk, BELTA reports.

AWARDED FOR SAVING A SOLDIER

A1+
[04:17 pm] 17 December, 2008

On December 15 President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on conferring
a Medal for Courage upon the Deputy Commander of Military Unit #25836,
Lieutenant Colonel Samvel Martirosyan for the courage and devotion
demonstrated when carrying out his duties.

During the practical training of throwing hand grenades at the shooting
gallery of the military unit on December 12, the grenade slipped
out of the hand of the Junior Sergeant and exploded. At that moment
the Lieutenant Colonel demonstrated personal courage and covered a
soldier with his body, thus saving his life.

Today President Serzh Sargsyan handed the high award to Samvel
Martrosyan. Expressing gratitude for his service, the President said:
"I’m glad and proud that the number of Officers ready to demonstrate
courage and bravery if necessary is increasing in our army. The
serviceman’s life is sometimes endangered even in peaceful times.

President Sargsyan hailed the fact that servicemen risked his life to
save his subordinate. "Commanders should behave this way," he stressed.

MEDAL OF COURAGE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAMVEL MARTIROSYAN

armradio.am
17.12.2008 16:10

On December 15 President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on conferring
a Medal for Courage upon the Deputy Commander of the military unit
#25836, Lieutenant Colonel Samvel Martirosyan for the courage and
devotion demonstrated when carrying out his duties.

During the practical training of throwing hand grenades at the shooting
gallery of the military unit on December 12, the grenade slipped
out of the hand of the Junior Sergeant and exploded. At that moment
the Lieutenant Colonel demonstrated personal courage and covered a
soldier with his body, thus saving his life.

Today President Serzh Sargsyan handed the high award to Samvel
Martrosyan.

Expressing gratitude for his service, the President said: "I’m glad
and proud that the number of Officers ready to demonstrate courage
and bravery if necessary is increasing in our army. The serviceman’s
life is sometimes endangered even in peaceful times.

President Sargsyan hailed the fact that servicemen risked his life
to save his subordinate. "This is how the Commander should behave,"
he stressed.

OSCE SEC-GEN: YEREVAN, BAKU SHOULD FIX TERMS FOR KARABAKH RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.12.2008 14:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The declarations adopted by OSCE and OSCE MG Foreign
Ministers are alike, the OSCE Secretary-General said.

The Helsinki meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministers gives hope for continuation of talks at the highest level,"
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut told a joint news conference in Yerevan
today.

"The sides in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should demonstrate
flexibility and fix terms for resolution of the dispute. We understand
that atmosphere of confidence is essential to achieve success. The
conflict is complicated but we observed political will in Helsinki,
which should be encourages by all of 56 OSCE member states," he said.

DJAVAKHQ: FILM BY "AZD PRODUCTION" IS READY

Panorama.am
19:02 15/12/2008

A film about "Djavakhq: what is history silent about" by "AZD
Production" company is produced, said the founder of the company,
producer and director Hayk Harutyunyan to Panorama.am.

"Saying Djavakhq you imagine the pages of your history book, Brothers
Zakaryan, the invasion of Tmbkaberd, Parvana, Queen Tamar and the
migration of Erzrum. When you see Djavakhq, you understand that the
pages of history book tell too little. Surely it tells too little,
as only visiting Djavakhq you find out that in an Armenian school
Mendeleyev table is translated into Georgian; here you find out 180
years old Testament which tells about its life…This is a particle
of Erzrum which will be discovered in this film," said H. Harutyunyan.

Note that "AZD Production" was founded in 1997 and more than 50
films have been produced since then. In the last three years films
about historic Armenia have been produced – "Welcome to Karabakh",
"Western Armenia", "Mystery of Noah’s Ark" and films about Cilicia.

OMBUDSMAN TO FOLLOW

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
13 Dec 2008
Armenia

`We have decided to adopt certain approaches in connection with the
`Case of Seven’ because we believe that this case is the `litmus test’
characterizing the entire chain of these proceedings. I find that the
`Case of Seven’ will be a specific kind of experiment on the path of
the strategic development of our people.

That’s why we are going to concentrate our scarce resources on the
`Case of Seven’. All the sessions will be attended by the
representative of the Human Rights Defender or personally me. We should
establish control over the `Case of Seven’ because the whole potential
of the participants of the trial will be concentrated here.’ Human
Rights Defender ARMEN HAROUTYUNYAN announced yesterday.