Author: Varosian Antranik

Armenian Second TV Channel, Armenia
May 29 2009

Armenian leader urges parties to accept results of mayoral election

[Presenter-read report] How does the president of the republic assess
the campaign of the upcoming 31 May election to Yerevan’s City
Council? What result does he expect and who does he see at the City
Council? The leader of the country has answered journalists’
questions.

[President Serzh Sargsyan speaking to journalists] My call, my address
and request to political forces is not to create extra tension, so
that they continue in this spirit and accomplish their election
campaigns and election activities in a few days, and on 31 [May] hold
a good election, an election that can become a basis for both our
population and international organizations for saying that this was
the best election in the Republic of Armenia. I am happy that the
[ruling] Republican Party of Armenia has managed to pass this period
in an organized way and to approach the election with very good
capacities. I believe that no-one in our public disputes at least this
fact. I am happy that our coalition partner, the Prosperous Armenia
party, has also showed a very responsible approach to the election and
at present it is among the leaders. No-one doubts that the Prosperous
Armenia will have its role in the management of Yerevan. Of course, I
wish that our coalition partner, Orinats Yerkir [Law-governed
country], also succeeds. The same refers to Dashnaktsutyun. I believe
that being a constructive opposition [party] Dashnaktsutyun has a big
role in Yerevan’s management, and I believe that their participation
in Yerevan’s management will only benefit our country, in particular
Yerevan, and our country as a whole. However, as the president of the
Republic of Armenia, I believe that an election is a process that
should take place only with law and lawfulness. In this regard, I
believe that both the government and the opposition, and in general
all political forces should be ready to accept the results of the
election. This is what we should make every resident of Yerevan aware
of.

RUSSIAN PM PUTIN SET TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT MONTH

Turkish Press
May 27 2009

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is scheduled to pay a one-day
official visit to Ankara on June 15 at the invitation of his Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Putin’s talks in Ankara are expected
to focus on ways to ensure the synchronized solution of problems
between Turkey and Armenia, and Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkey expects
Russia to use its power to solve the dispute between Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh through peaceful means. To this
end, Turkey urges Russia to speed up efforts under the MINSK Group
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to
resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The OSCE Minsk Group was created in
1992 to encourage a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the issue. It
is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the
United States, and also includes the following participating states:
Belarus, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland,
Turkey as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan. /Turkiye/

NIG APARAN STANDS NOT NEAR AUTHORITIES BUT NEAR STATEHOOD, UNION VICE-CHAIRMAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 26, 2009
Yerevan

The Nig Aparan Compatriotic Union will organize a series of festive
events on May 28 in Aparan on the occasion of the anniversary of
Armenia’s victory in Bash-Aparan battle. Union Vice-Chairman Tigran
Petrosiants reported at the May 26 press conference. On that day the
Union will free of charge move to Aparan everybody who will wish. Busts
of Sedrak Jalalian and Drastamat Kanayan will be placed there and a
"traditional Armenian entertainment" will take place in the evening.

T. Petrosiants said that in general May is a month of victories for the
Armenian people: he reminded the success in 1918 in Sardarapat and in
Bash-Aparan, as well as Shoushi liberation in 1991. According to him,
if suddenly a danger of war emerges today, the Armenians irrespective
of their party belonging will join those defending the homeland.

T. Petrosiants confirmed that Nig Aparan supports the Republican Party
of Armenia in Yerevan Council of Elders elections. "From the moment
of establishment our Union has been standing not near the authorities
but near the statehood, under Levon Ter-Petrosian, Robert Kocharian,
and Serzh Sargsyan," he said. According to T. Petrosiants, for each
country the best achievement is existence of a democratic system of
values, but no democracy can be built unless the people is ready for
it. "We are still at an unfinished war, we still need a strong hand,
a strong person," he said.

ERDOGAN ATTACKS THE PAST, LABELS KEMALIST ETHNIC CLEANSING FASCIST

AsiaNews
;art=153 33&geo=1&size=A
May 25 2009
Italy

In a clear reference to the Greek and Armenian minorities, the
premier attacks blind nationalism that does not want to question the
past. Appreciation for Erdogan’s words from the Greeks, Armenians
and western diplomats. Now everyone wants facts to follow words.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) -Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyp Erdogan has
dealt what is being described as a "historic" blow to the kemalist
establishment describing their "cleansing of minorities" during
Turkey’s foundation as "fascist". Currently there is a law in act
in the country that forbids any attack on the Nation, rendering all
historic verification into the Greek and Armenian genocide no-go areas.

On May 23rd last, during a party congress in Duzce, western turkey, the
premier reacted to criticism from opposition parties about an Israeli
tender for a mine clearing operation along the Turkey-Syria border.

"This is the Fascist mentality and behaviour of the past" said Erdogan,
underlining the importance of foreign investment in Turkey. "It is
easy to say – he added – that we are loosing our Turkish identity,
because the foreign investment in our country involves nations which
profess a different religion to ours".

"For many years – he continued – various facts took place in this
country to the detriment of ethnic minorities who lived here. They
were ethnically cleansed because they had a different ethnic cultural
identity. The time has arrived for us to question ourselves about
why this happened and what we have learned from all of this. There
has been no analysis of this right up until now".

"In reality – he concluded – this behaviour is the result of a fascist
conception. We have also fallen into this grave error".

Erdogan’s declaration follows six months after those by Defence
Minister Mehmet Vecdi Gonul. On November 10th last, the anniversary
of the death of Ataturk, he underlined that Turkey’s foundation
came at the cost of the systematic persecution of minorities and the
subsequent expropriation of their economic resources, from which the
current Turkish business class was born. Gonul also added: "Of course,
with a large Greek and Armenian presence across Turkish territory,
Turkey would not have its current national identity".

This last sentence provoked strong indignation among minorities and
the International community.

What remains a fact however is that with Erdogan’s declaration,
press in Turkey is beginning to talk about "historical self-criticism".

The newspaper Apogevmatini, of Istanbul’s Greek minority – also a
victim of ethnic cleansing – Mihalis Vassilaidis writes "it is a day
of celebration for all of us".

Ridvan Akar, of Vatan, has often written about the methods of
persecution used on Christian minorities during the foundation of
modern Turkey in 1923. He comments: "Minority rights as well as
those of religious foundations are a structural problem within the
Turkish state. Of course Erdogan has taken a step forward with this
declaration. But the sincerity of his words will depend on facts to
back them up such as the restitution of rights to those who have been
expelled, the return of confiscated properties, or compensation".

Not even Patriarch Bartholomew I misses the opportunity to remind
those who will listen: "Finally it must be understood that we are not a
minority, but citizens of this nation and as such we must be treated".

Lakis Vigas, a member of the community representative assembly at the
General Directorate for Foundations told AsiaNews: "We hope that this
important declaration by the prime minister is also taken on board
by the public administration".

Erdogan’s declaration has also reawakened the interest of diplomatic
circles who hope for a real break through in drawing Ankara closer to
the EU. But this too will have to wait for facts to back up the words.

THE PRE-ELECTORAL CONCERN OF THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT
Hakob Badalyan

LRAGIR.AM
11:44:59 – 21/05/2009

According to the National Statistics Service, in the first four month
of 2009, the GDP of Armenia decreased by 9, 7 percent. A little more,
and Armenia, from a country which registers a double figure increase,
will become a country which registers a double figure decrease. This
prospect may retard the allocation of the loan of 500 million from
Russia, the agreement of which was finally signed on May 20. The
signing of the agreement took several months. Let as wait to see how
much time will take the allocation of the money to Armenia.

But, let us assume that the money will quickly be allocated to
Armenia. What is Armenia going to do with that money? The Prime
Minister, Tigran Sargsyan, stated tat Armenia will direct it to the
development of infrastructures and for the promotion of the small
and midsize businesses.

These objectives are quite expressive, which became standard
expressions, and the small and midsize businesses do not feel any
encouragement, which, according to the government, the World Bank
and the state budget have already started to give in the form of
approximately 100 million dollars.

Instead, the expenditures are tangible, which are made for electoral
purposes, though in the form of the state program of greening and
putting in good order Yerevan. The GDP of Armenia decreases by 9,
7 percent, the state collects debts from foreign countries, and the
Yerevan City Hall covers with flowers the bridges and the subways of
Yerevan and increases the number of lightened streets and lanes. All
this is made on account of the money from the budget.

Imagine, a family collects debts in order not to reach poverty but they
spend that money for decorating the windows and the doors of their
house. As if, Yerevan needed only flowered bridges. In case of a GDP
9, 5 percent decrease, the state had to pass to the regime of strict
economy. In this case, the state had to launch the construction of a
Davidashen-Zovuni bridge, which could provide for some positive effect
in the economy with the help of its multiplicative effect. While,
the state uses the money for this construction for the city cleaning
program, for Gagik Beglaryan to be able to wage his electoral campaign
of the Yerevan Mayor election.

Judging by the present aspect of the government words and actions,
it is very doubtful that the Armenian government is going to use
the 500 million Russian loan effectively. The maximum that may be
expected is that in a certain period, there will be additional 500
million in the budget. But, its existence will not solve any problem,
but the sum will be spent, will be circulated a little, than it well
become property for someone, and will find its place in somebody’s
pocket. It is all the same, the debt will be paid off by the state,
consequently, who wants, may care for the state.

PRESIDENT SAYS IT IS EARLY TO MAKE CONCLUSIONS ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Panorama.am
16:10 22/05/2009

To make any conclusions on the Armenian-Turkish relations is early,
President Serzh Sargsyan announced stressing that before he was not
inspired and now he is not disappointed either.

To solve difficult problems difficult efforts are needed and difficult
path to pass, said the President during a joint press conference with
the President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic. "It was obvious that both in
Armenia and Turkey and in other countries of the world there would be
optimists and pessimists who being unaware of the news would express
their approaches emotionally," the President said.

"Before I was not inspired with the statements made by those
optimists and currently I am not disappointed of the statements made
by the pessimists. I think that Turkey still is long to ensure the
world that they are a modern country led by modern standards and
international principles. I think, it’s early to make conclusions,"
the President said.

Note that the President emphasized once more that the Armenian-Turkish
relations and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are two different
processes.

TURKEY ‘SHOULD NOT LINK ARMENIA THAW TO KARABAKH’

Trend
May 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey should not link its efforts to normalise ties with Armenia to
a settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
a French negotiator said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

"Normalisation of Turkish-Armenian relations and the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute are two separate processes which should
continue in parallel but along their own paths," the French Embassy
in Ankara said in a statement after a visit earlier this week by
Bernard Fassier, a co-chairman of the Minsk Group.

"ARMENIAN GOLGOTHA" TO BE PRESENTED IN MONTREAL

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.05.2009 00:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) and
Armen Karo Student Association will organize the presentation of Peter
Balakian’s "Armenian Golgotha" in Armenian Youth Center in Montreal,
Canada. Balakian’s new book is a memoir of the Armenian Genocide,
1915-1918 by Grigoris Balakian, ANCC told PanARMENIAN.Net. The memoir
was first published in 1922.

The book will be also presented in Aharonian Hall of Armenian Community
Center in Toronto on May 31.

"THE FRIGHTENED PIGEON" DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF HRANT DINK PREMIERED IN ROME
Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2009

Culture

Italian journalist Rafael Aufiero’s play "The frightened pigeon"
was recently premiered at one of the central theaters of Rome Teatro
Tordinona within the framework of the Italian dramaturgy festival.

The play is dedicated to the memory of Hrant Dink.

The author presents the Armenian history since adoption of Christianity
until the Armenian Genocide and details the political atmosphere in
Turkey on the threshold of Hrant Dink’s assassination.

The performance of the artists Renato Kapitani, Luidzi Littera and
Theodora Nadoleanu was highly appreciated by the audience.

CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NEW REACTOR AT METSAMOR

Nuclear Engineering
132&storyCode=2053000
May 18 2009

WorleyParsons has won a contract from the Armenian government to
construct a new nuclear power station in place of the country’s
Soviet-era facility at Metsamor.

The government expects to complete construction of the new 1000MW
reactor by 2016, the year the country’s existing reactor, Armenia 2, is
due to shutdown. The new plant is expected to cost around $5 billion.

According to Vasak Taproshyan, a spokesperson for the Armenian state
procurement agency, WorleyParsons has won the international tender
because its bid contained a warranty policy on the plant.

Taproshyan did not reveal the amount of the firm’s bid, he reported
only that a relevant agreement would be signed to fix the final
price. The winning bidder will be responsible for drafting a conceptual
design of the new reactor and supervising its construction.

Armenia is heavily dependent on the single reactor, which currently
produces about 40% of the its electricity. But it is under
international pressure to shutdown the first-generation V-270 VVER
reactor due to safety concerns,

Turkey has written to the International Atomic Energy Agency demanding
that something is done to speed up the closure of Armenia 2 and
called for more international pressure. The Turkish nuclear agency
has also claimed that its monitoring stations have detected increased
radioactivity levels, which it believes are from the Metsamor site.

The USA and the European Union support the ambitious idea to replace
Armenia 2, in principle. In November 2007 the US government allocated
$2 million for the first feasibility studies on the project, which
were jointly conducted by Armenian and US atomic energy experts in
2009. But US diplomats made it clear that Washington would not finance
for the plant’s construction.