Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

STATEMENT BY GEORGE W. BUSH ON ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY

ARMENPRESS
April 25, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS: U.S. president George W. Bush made a
statement on the occasion of the 93-rd anniversary of the Armenian
genocide. According to the White House, his message reads as follows.

"On this day of remembrance, we honor the memory of the victims of one
of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings and
forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the
Ottoman Empire. I join the Armenian community in America and around
the world in commemorating this tragedy and mourning the loss of so
many innocent lives.

As we reflect on this epic human tragedy, we must resolve to redouble
our efforts to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity
of human life.

The Armenian people’s unalterable determination to triumph over
tragedy and flourish is a testament to their strength of character
and spirit. We are grateful for the many contributions Americans of
Armenian heritage have made to our Nation.

We welcome the efforts by individuals in Armenia and Turkey to
foster reconciliation and peace, and support joint efforts for an
open examination of the past in search of a shared understanding of
these tragic events. We look forward to the realization of a fully
normalized Armenia-Turkey relationship.

The United States is committed to a strong relationship with Armenia
based on shared values. We call on the Government of Armenia to
take decisive steps to promote democracy, and will continue our
support for Armenia to this end. We remain committed to serving as
an honest broker in pursuit of a lasting and peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to Armenian people around the world.’

EDWARD NALBANDIAN RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS

armradio.am
25.04.2008 18:21

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian receives congratulations from
different countries of the world on the occasion of his appointment.

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut’s message says,
in part: "I wish you every success on the occasion of assuming the
office of the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia. I’m informed
about the contribution you have made to Armenian-French relations,
working as Armenian Ambassador to France since 1999. Hoping to further
develop the relations established between the Republic of Armenia
and the OSCE over the past years, I expect to have an opportunity to
personally congratulate you in the near future."

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer wrote in his
congratulatory message to Edward Nalbandian: "Armenia is a valuable
partner of the Alliance. Over the past years we have reinforced and
deepened the political dialogue in different spheres of the Individual
Partnership Action Plan. I hope that together we shall manage to
develop the joint achievements and reinforce our cooperation."

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis wished
every success to FM Edward Nalbandian and said that the Council of
Europe will continue render maximum assistance to Armenia on the path
of democratic reforms. Terry Davis expressed hope that he will meet
Edward Nalbandian in Strasbourg in the near future.

"Wishing you success in this extremely important position, I’m
confident that heading RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs you will
contribute to the reinforcement of brotherly ties and the cooperation
between our peoples," reads the message of the Foreign Minister of
Mexico Patricia Espinosa Canteliano.

"With indescribable pleasure I offer my sincere congratulations to you
on the occasion of your appointment to the post of Foreign Minister
of the Republic of Armenia. Using the opportunity, I wish you health
and success in your new post, and development and prosperity to the
friendly people of Armenia," reads the letter of the Foreign Minister
of Egypt Ahmed Abul Gheit.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogryzko expressed confidence
that Edward Nalbandian’s appointment will give new impetus to the
development of cooperation between the two countries.

SEASON OF RUSSIAN CULTURE TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA IN JUNE

Noyan Tapan
April 23, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. During the April 23 meeting of RA
President Serge Sargsian and Head of RF Federal Agency of Culture and
Cinematography Mikhail Shvidkoy, the interlocutors attached importance
to the 2008 cultural cooperation memorandum between the RA Ministry
of Culture and RF Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography to be
signed the same day, as well as the Season of Russian Culture already
planned in Armenia in June 2008.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, S. Sargsian considering preservation and expansion of
cultural ties as one of the most important components of cooperation
mentioned the necessity to make active contacts between cultural
figures.

M. Shvidkoy touched upon active and dynamically developing
Armenian-Russian cultural relations mentioning that Armenia works
actively in the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council. He said that at
present he discusses the issue of implementation of joint children’s
and youth programs with his Armenian colleagues.

GERMAN ROCK GROUP "EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN" INCLUDES SONG "NAGORNO KARABAKH" INTO ITS ALBUM

Azeri Press Agency
April 22 2008
Azerbaijan

St. Petersburg. Zaur Nurmammadov-APA. German rock group "Einsturzende
Neubauten" has included song "Nagorno Karabakh" into its album "Alles
Wieder Offen", APA reports.

The members of the rock group, who are going to give concert in
St. Petersburg, said in an interview that by calling the song "Nagorno
Karabakh" they supported separatist regime.

"We called the song "Nagorno Karabakh", as the word is pronounced
easily. On the other hand, we consider this region close to us. Nagorno
Karabakh is enclave in Azerbaijan and exclave for Armenia. It resembles
separation of Berlin. At that time west part of Berlin was in fact
sieged by eastern enemy groupings," he said.

AMENDMENT OF 301 WILL NOT FREE EVERYTHING: TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER

NTV MSNBC
April 22 2008
Turkey

Sahin said that the amendments to article 301 of the Turkish Penal
Code could be brought to the parliament next week.

ANKARA – The changes made to the controversial article 301 would
please particularly writers and cartoonists, Justice Minister Mehmet
Ali Sahin said on Tuesday.

However, Sahin said that there was no question of there being unlimited
freedom to criticize.

"No one should think that after the new regulation everything will
be free," Sahin said.

Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code has been widely criticized for
limiting freedom of expression and the European Union called Ankara
to abolish the article.

The article defines the crime of insulting "Turkishness" or Turkish
identity, as well as some of the state’s institutions. Nobel prize
winner Orhan Pamuk was tried under the article and Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrnat Dink, who was murdered in January last year, was
found guilty under the same article With the proposed amendment to
the law placing the authority of whether to open a court case based
on the article with his ministry, Sahin said this would add to the
workload of his office.

However, Sahin said that his ministry was very experienced in this
matter and that it would act like a filter.

The reducing of the maximum sentence under article 301 from three years
in prison to two was at the discretion of the presiding judge, he said,
while sentences could be dropped or that fines could be implemented,
said Sahin.

SECOND ARMENIAN TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN MAY

arminfo
2008-04-21 18:12:00

ArmInfo. The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, USAID-
funded Competitive Armenian Private Sector Project (CAPS) and Armenian
Tourism Development Agency are organizing the Second Armenian Tourism
Competitiveness Conference, which will take place at Ani Plaza hotel,
Ani hall, on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

As CAPS told ArmInfo, the conference will focus on a range of
industry-related issues such as country branding and marketing,
tourism and hospitality workforce skills, cost competitiveness,
and cluster strengthening initiatives, etc. – all with the notion
of meeting new challenges and markets. Presentations will include
reports on: Armenia’s ranking and scores in the 2nd Travel and
Tourism Competitiveness Index (providing also a comparison of results
with neighboring countries); the competitiveness of Armenia’s air
transportation based on recent analysis; the results from a tourism
and hospitality workforce skills and knowledge needs analysis; and
conclusions from the International Visitor Survey 2007-2008.

Presentations will also be made concerning the recent, ongoing and
future activities of Armenia’s tourism-related associations.

The conference is open to all stakeholders, tourism professionals
and anyone involved and/or interested in the tourism industry in
Armenia. Expected attendees include Government representatives, tour
operators, guides, travel agents, service providers, educational
institutions, transportation providers, industry associations etc.

PRESIDNET OF THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF BELARUS CONGRATULATES PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN

armradio.am
21.04.2008 18:23

Presidnet of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus
Pyotor Prokopovich congratulated RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
on appointment. The message says, in part:

"Dear Tigran Surenovich,

Accept my congratulations on the occasion of your appointment to the
post of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

As Chairman of the Central bank of Armenia you made a great
contribution to the development of the banking system and the further
development of the country’s economy in general.

Let me wish you robust health, happiness and success in your high
state position for the benefit of the Armenian people.

We are always glad to see you on the Belarusian land and expect
further productive cooperation."

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA NOT CONCERNED WITH PORTFOLIO DISTRIBUTION RESULTS

Panorama.am
15:35 21/04/2008

Today the secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party Aram Safaryan
disproved the news covered by local media that if the party was
concerned getting equal portfolios as the other members of the
political coalition. Nevertheless the Prosperous Armenia was the
first party who supported the ongoing president during the electoral
campaign and after joined the coalition.

"I would like to announce that we are not concerned or disappointed as
we are a party the mission of which is to protect interests of people
and to involve as many members in the coalition group as possible,"
announced A. Safaryan.

He mentioned that Prime Minister is the responsible body of the
economy and ongoing politics, and coalition should be responsible for
the created political atmosphere. "Much depends on what projects the
coalition members will present to the National Assembly in the nearest
session and whether it will be mirror the pre election projects of
those parties," stated the secretary of the party.

RA DEFENSE MINISTER SEYRAN OHANYAN’S ADDRESS TO ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS

armradio.am
21.04.2008 16:44

"Peacekeepers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia,

Today you are carrying out your mission in both Kosovo and Iraq
with great honor and discipline and fighting spirit peculiar to the
Armenian soldier.

This is evidenced by the numerous letters of gratitude from the
Commanders of Polish, Greek and US divisions addressed to the
Commandership of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

The mission you carry out has become today one of the most essential
issues of the Armed Forces of our country. One cannot imagine a
conflict region on the globe where there would be no need for a
peacekeeping activity.

Your service has become the imperative of the time.

Until now you have kept high the reputation of the Armenian Armed
Forces, the honor of the Armenian soldier, and I’m sure you will
continue that way, will be an example of discipline and fighting
spirit for every foreign soldier.

Assuming the post of the Defense minister of the Republic of Armenia, I
greet all of you on the occasion of carrying out a hard but respected
mission.

I wish you health, patience and happy return to Motherland."

Chingiz Veliyev: "Economic potential of Azerbaijan allows to hold military actions for a long period of time without NATO membership"

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
April 19 2008

19 April 2008 [14:14] – Today.Az

The position of Azerbaijani government, which does not hurry with
NATO accession, can be assessed as pragmatic enough, said independent
expert on macroeconomy Chingiz Veliyev.

"unlike our South Caucasus neighbors, the economic and financial
potential of our country allows it to hold military actions
independently for a long period of time", said he.

According to him, there has not been any threats to security and
stability of Azerbaijan, which may appear following submission of an
application for NATO membership.

"It should be noted that conflicts in Georgia and Azerbaijan have their
own moments. If for example, there is a high possibility of recognition
of separatist regimes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia only by Russia,
there can be several such countries in case with Nagorno Karabakh".

He said Armenia is a member of the Treaty on Collective Security and
at the same time it occupies a part of Azerbaijani lands.

"Will our NATO membership mean bombing of the aggressor by our new
partners? This is the least real than the statement that our football
players will soon become world champions!

I think NATO will turn our completely ineffective in resisting threats,
which may emerge in the north and the south of our country. Look! NATO
member-states, with population about 700,000,000 people, can not agree
on sending their soldiers to Afghanistan to fill the expedition corps
of about only 47,000 soldiers.

As for protection of our oil infrastructure, Americans will ensure
it without Azerbaijan’s membership in NATO".

He said Azerbaijan has its own funds for modernization of airports,
construction of roads and different infrastructures, ready to ensure
to rapid deployment of mobilized forces and the works are carried
out in this direction.

"Our country participates in various programs in the
framework of partnership with NATO. WE should not forget that
Azerbaijan’s implementation of oil and gas projects with Georgia’s
participation,promoted its attractiveness for NATO. Two ports Supsa
i Kulevi have been rebuilt by efforts of our country and work of
old once was revived. Supplies of cheap natural gas from our country
helped stabilize the economic situation in Georgia and saved it from
the deterioration of the situation.

Azerbaijan helped restoration of the region as an important energy
unit for alternative supplies of hydrocarbons to the EU countries. Thus
we are those who turn dreams into reality…", said he.

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