Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA: WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE IDEA TO ORGANIZE ONE MORE VISIT TO NAGORNO KARABAKH WITH POLAD BUL BUL OGHLU IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PREVIOUS ONE

Today.Az
774.html
June 2 2009
Azerbaijan

Ambassador of Armenia to Russia Armen Smbatian responded to
questions related to information about the forthcoming joint visit
of the representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijani community in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

When asked about information that he, together with the Ambassador of
Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bul-Bul oglu are going to organize a visit
of representatives of the two countries to Armenia, self-declared
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, Armen Smbyatyan said: "We have
developed the idea to organize one more visit to Nagorno Karabakh
with Polad Bul Bul oghlu immediately after the previous one, as we
(hopefully, not only we) felt the need for such contacts – in the
end of the trip there appeared a small sign, bringing the two nations
closer.

For the first time, in conditions of negative information constantly
renewed and purposefully addressed to the public, there appear a
positive line of possible cooperation. I want to emphasize that these
visits are not intended to replace the negotiating process. As before,
we are for negotiations between heads of states within the OSCE Minsk
Group. However, I consider it appropriate for the representatives
of various sectors of our society to continue to communicate with
each other".

Asked about the reason of a long interval between a previous and
a planned visit and the reason for certain "secrecy" around the new
trip, he replied as follows:

"Since 2007, our countries have recorded significant political
developments, in view of which the new tour was postponed. Now,
in my opinion, there has been created a congenial atmosphere for
the visit. The absence of advance information, which you called a
"mystery" is caused not only by the usual diplomatic practice,
but a special sensitivity of the issue. It lies in a mechanism of
coordination and organization of a trip, as this raises many issues,
both political and ethno-psychological, social and ethno-cultural ones.

If the information on this trip is presented ahead of time or will
be made incorrectly, the interests of participants of the event will
be affected in such a way that it will simply be frustrated. This is
unacceptable, especially because today in conditions of a certain
decrease in the level of effectiveness of other contacts between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, it is vitally important to develop the contacts
between the representatives of our public.

Believe me, there will always be forces that neglecting the interests
of peoples and nations because of thoughtlessness or mercantile
personal motives, would be happy to derail the process. In this
connection I urge the media, as well as representatives of "reliable
sources" to be very responsible to each statement and information on
the subject".

FOREIGN MINISTER OF SYRIA PAYS WORKING VISIT TO ARMENIA

Panorama.am
15:40 01/06/2009

The Foreign Minister of Syria Arabic Republic Walid Al-Mouallim is
going to pay a working visit to Armenia today and tomorrow, FAM press
service reports. According to the source the Syrian Foreign Minister
has scheduled meetings with the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan,
the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, NA Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan and
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Syria will give a joint press
conference tomorrow.

BAKO SAHAKYAN’S ADDRESS ON OCCASION OF CHILDREN’S DAY

Panorama.am
12:27 01/06/2009

The President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan sent his
address on the occasion of the Protection of Children’s Rights Day,
NKR President’s Cabinet reports.

"Dear children, I cordially congratulate you on this wonderful
holyday. This is a day full of warmth and care, duty and
responsibility. That day unifies the entire mankind around an important
issue of the defending the children’s interests and rights, providing
them health care, education and proper upbringing.

The authorities of the NKR undertake appropriate measures to encourage
large families, create favorable life and education conditions for
children. The number of the newly built schools and kindergartens,
hospitals and playgrounds is growing. Child benefits are increasing on
an annual basis too. From now on no efforts will be spared to ensure
Artsakh children healthy and happy childhood.

Today’s children of Artsakh are tomorrow’s citizens of heroic
Fatherland, you are our future and we are must do our best to make
the future bright and radiant, peaceful and happy.

Dear kids, I congratulate you once more on the 1 June International
Children’s Day. Let the sun shine brightly and the sky above be
cloudless, let happiness and success guide you whole your life."

ARMAVIA AIRWAY COMPANY CONGRATULATED LITTLE PASSENGERS ON INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 16:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On International Children’s Day, June 1, children
aged 2-12 were received presents at all of Armavia’s outbound flights,
Armavia Press Service reported.

Says one of the passengers, mother of an 11 year -old kid, "We’re
glad to be using Armavia’s services. The company’s safe and reliable,
besides it often offers pleasant surprises. I’m sure this will be a
memorable day for my child."

"KOMITAS" ARMENIAN CULTURAL UNION FOUNDED IN HOLLAND

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 21:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Komitas Armenian Cultural House was opened in
Zutphen. Opening ceremony was attended by representatives from Mayor’s
Office and Armenian Organizations in Holland.

Catholic church choir gave concert, performing songs by Armenian and
Dutch composers.

In their speeches, participants stressed the importance of Armenian
community’s contribution to cultural ties between two states.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 31 2009

Armenian opposition declares violations in election of Yerevan’s mayor
31.05.09 17:16

Armenia’s opposition claims massive violations in the election of
Mayor of Yerevan, Interfax reported.

At a meeting with journalists, the press-secretary of the opposition
Armenian National Congress (ANC) Musinyan Arman said that there were
recorded cases of violence against the opposition, beating of
journalists, voting instead of those who are not in Armenia.

"We also have evidence that the voting is attended by people from
country’s regions, who have not been registered in Armenia. We
recorded mass violations in the election process," he said.

In its turn, the Central Election Commission of Armenia declares that
the elections are held in a natural manner and at the moment, no
serious incidents have been fixed.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office also has not confirmed
violations at any polling stations in Yerevan, which were fixed by
opposition Armenian National Congress ".

As of 14:00, the voter turnout in the elections to the Council of
Elders of Yerevan was 29.36%, member of the CEC of Armenia Karen
Poladyan said.

All 439 polling stations open for voting from 08:00 in Yerevan

YEREVAN, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. All 439 polling stations opened for
voting from 08:00, May 31, in Yerevan Council of Elders elections.
According to the data of the RA Police Passport and Visa Department,
771 477 citizens are on the lists.

In total 5 953 representatives of 29 local NGOs and 15 representatives
of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Territorial Authorities
were accredited at the RA Central Electoral Commission in the
established term for carrying out an observation mission. Proxies of
seven political forces running for the elections, media representatives
also have a possibility to follow the process of elections.

CEC will publicize the number of voting participants with the
periodicity of 3 hours. The voting will last until 20:00. CEC will sum
up and will record the elections preliminary results on the basis of
voting results at polling stations on June 1, up to 20:00. The results
will be finally summed up by June 7.

It should be mentioned that a Council of Elders consisting of 65
members is for the first time elected in Yerevan, and Yerevan Mayor
will be elected from the staff of Council of Elders.

Has Erdogan altered his announcements on the Armenian Genocide?
30.05.2009 14:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Erdogan Criticizes Turkey’s Past and Accuses the
Kemalists of Ethnic Cleansing
On May 23 2009, during a congress of Turkey’s ruling Party (Justice
and Development Party) in Duzce, Eastern Turkey, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan made an important announcement. He criticized Turkish
nationalism and called the Kemalist foundation of the Republic of
Turkey `fascist’ because of the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian and
Greek minorities. Erdogan said, `For many years Turkey has been
ethnically cleansed of its minorities because of their cultural and
ethnic difference vis-à-vis the Turkish identity. This was the result
of fascism and we as the Justice and Development Party have been
trapped in this wrong political approach and have committed similar
errors’.
The President of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, Dr. Girair
Basmadjian considers Erdogan’s announcement as an improvement in the
domestic politics of Turkey after a continuous denialist politics
adopted by the deep state. `Since the creation of modern Turkey,
successive governments have adopted a policy of Turkification and have
mistreated its minorities. Erdogan’s announcement is canceled the
first made by a Prime Minister accepting Turkey’s past mistakes and
may be considered as a first step for an eventual apology to the
Armenian population for its extermination by the Ottoman government in
1915. However we should not be too optimistic because the current
Turkish government and academia includes numerous influential
`fascists’ and it is not clear if Erdogan’s real intent is to oppose
them. Only a few months ago Professor Turkaya Ataov delivered a
`fascist’ speech calling the West racist and denying the Armenian
Genocide’.
Finally, the Turkish public is faced with an unprecedented choice to
decide which version of history leads to its future, is it the version
adopted by the deep state, people like Ataov and prosecutors who deny
the events of 1915 and try to mislead their own people by penalizing
the open discussion of the Armenian Genocide with the adoption of
article 301 of the penal code? Or the true version that Erdogan
referred to that leads to a peaceful coexistence with neighbors and
regional actors and brings Turkey closer to democratic Europe? Only
time will show if the true version will finally succeed to lead Turkey
to European integration, however if the version adopted by the deep
state prevails, Turkey risks its isolation in the eyes of Europe and
the international community.

Armenian government proposes introducing institution of representative
of tax body

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Assembly of the RA on May 21
began discussing in first reading the package of quite contentious
bills (submitted by the government) which envisage amendments and
additions to the RA Code of Administrative Infractions, the Law on
Excise Tax, the Law on Profit Tax, the Law on Taxes and the Law on
Value Added Tax. The discussion will continue at the regular planary
session to be convened on June 8.

The main target of those opposed to the package was the addition to the
Law on Taxes, which in particular envisages that with the aim of
implementing control the State Revenue Committee can appoint a
representative(s) of the tax body at a tax payer. It concerns big
business: in particular a representative can be appointed if the tax
payer’s revenues from sale exceeded 4 billion drams in the previous
year, or if the tax payer had 500 and more employees at some moment of
the previous year, or if the tax payer declared tax losses of 50
million drams and over for two consecutive years, or if the customs
value of goods imported by the tax payer by "import for free turnover"
regime during three months preceding some moment in the reporting year
exceeded 500 million drams.

By the bill, a representative of the tax body must consider the tax
payer’s transaction documentation procedures, volumes of products,
turnover and services, and real sale prices.

In their questions put to Deputy Minister of Finance Suren Karayan, as
well as in their speeches, the deputies (who described themselves as
professing both socialist and liberal values) objected to the
legislative initiative of the government, noting that it contradicts
first of all the program provisions of the government, including the
provision on reducing the contacts between an economic entity and a
representative of tax bodies to a minimum. Moreover, the introduction
of the institution of representative of the tax body was considered as
the government’s "just another thoughtless step" against the business
environment, adoption of not the best mechanisms of control of the
Soviet time, etc.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT RECEIVES OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

The Messenger
May 29 2009
Georgia

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met with Minsk Group co-chairs
Matthew Bryza (the United States), Bernard Fassier (France), Yuri
Merzlakov (Russian) and representative of OSCE chairman-in-office
Andrzej Kasprzyk, the President’s official website reported.

The current status and prospects of negotiations for settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed
at the meeting.