Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

PanARMENIAN.Net

NKR rightful to press for recognition of its independence
05.04.2008 14:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On April 2, the NKR National
Assembly Committee of Foreign Relations held closed
session on tendencies in the Karabakh talks that was
followed by a news briefing by chair of the Committee
Vahram Atanesyan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Georgy Petrosyan.

With regard to the talks, namely in the context of
recognition of Kosovo and the recent geopolitical
developments, Georgy Petrosyan noted the importance of
reconsideration of approaches of the Armenian side.

According to Vahram Atanesyan, the discussion was the
continuation of the NKR parliament hearings on the
Karabakh issue two years ago. `No conclusion was made
after the hearings. Considering that the situation is
changing, and I think that the situation regarding the
talks has changed and the NKR legislature should
present its final vision on the talks. The current
discussion is a consultation. If necessity rises, more
discussions will be held, and the National Assembly
may hold new hearings which will issue a conclusion
reflecting the stance of all the political forces in
parliament,’ he said.

`Like Azerbaijan, which urges respect for its
territorial integrity, NKR has the right to press for
international recognition of independence, first of
all, on the level of its parliament. To some extent,
we must lay out the way for the executive, because
they will be freer in their actions if they are backed
by the members of parliament,’ Vahram Atanesyan said,
KarabakhOpen.com reports.

ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY, INC.
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESS RELEASE NO. 31

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. Telephone: 617-926-5892
Central Office Fax: 617-926-4855
80 Bigelow Avenue e-mail: [email protected]
Watertown, MA 02472 Website:
Date: April 3, 2008 Contact person: Hamesd Beugekian

THE ARS PARTICIPATES IN THE ARTSAKH TUFENKIAN FOUNDATION CONFERENCE

>From March 28 to March 30, the Tufenkian Foundation organized — under
the auspices of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Government — a conference
in the Artsakh city of Berdadzor, to study issues involving the
development of the Region of Qashatagh. Participants of the Conference
heard

the presentations of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic President, as well as
the representatives of the authorities of Qashatagh. They familiarized
themselves with the details of programs proposed by the Tufenkian
Foundation, and visited some of the region’s villages and towns located
to the south of Berdadzor, to acquire first hand information on their
status, and the challenges faced by their inhabitants.

The Armenian Relief Society participated in this Conference with two
representatives, who, alongside the general sessions, participated also
in the workshop sessions, focusing on Health and Education issues. In
the realm of Education, the ARS Central Executive agreed to participate
in the restoration work of schools in the Qashatagh region, or to assume
responsibility for the renovation of one or more kindergartens, also to
invite the staffs of Qashatagh kindergartens to the projected
professional qualification classes for the staffs of the ARS "Soseh"
Kindergartens in Artsakh.

In the realm of Health issues, the ARS expressed its readiness to assist
— through the facilities of its Akhurian "Mother-and-Child" Health
Center — in the re-training process of parallel staffs employed at
Qashatagh, as well as providing medications and basic equipment
available at the Ishkhanadzor medic-assistance center. The ARS also
agreed to take part in the efforts to create new medic-assistance
centers.

At the conclusion of the Conference, ARS Central Board chairperson,
Hasmig Derderian, congratulated, in highly laudable terms, the Tufenkian
Foundation for organizing this Conference and the initiatives taken thus
far across Qashatagh. She affirmed, that the entire Armenian nation is
under a multi-faceted obligation to assist to the needs of each and
every Armenian inhabitant of Qashatagh and, that the ARS is not only
ready to honor the duties assumed at the Conference, but to continue its
efforts — along directives set by the Artsakh authorities — to assure
a prosperous future for the people of Qashatagh.

Following the Conference, the ARS participants remained in Artsakh for
further field work. They visited the Garegah, Stepanakert, Shoushi, and
Aigestan ARS "Soseh" kindergartens of Qashatagh region. After the
visits, the ARS Central Board chairperson stated: "We are pleased, that
kindergartens promoted by the ARS are considered the best in Artsakh,
however, we still have a long road to cover to provide our children with
the very best."

While in Artsakh, the ARS Central Executive team, accompanied by the
ARS/Artsakh chairperson, Margarita Taranian, met with the Artsakh
Republic’s Prime Minister Arayik Harutiunian, Education Minister Vladik
Khachatrian, and Health Minister Armen Khachatrian.

All Artsakh officials had praise for the services rendered the Republic
by the ARS — be it during the war years, be it over the aftermath. They
stated, that the authorities are always willing to cooperate with the
Armenian Relief Society, as with all organizations working for the
advancement of Artsakh. During the meetings, the fundamental issue was
raised, that Artsakh has long since left behind the post-war era, and
must invest all assistance in the concerted efforts made to achieve
quality on the highest level, to solidify the foundations of the State,
and to realize the strategic programs designed to raise its population’s
standard of living. Along those lines, there was consensus, that it is
necessary to establish coordination in the activities of the State and
civil organizations and societies.

Before leaving Artsakh, the ARS Central team had working sessions with
the ARS/Artsakh executive and office staff and paid a visit to the ARF
Artsakh Central Committee office, where it was received by members of
the Central Committee. A visit was paid also to the museums of the
Artsakh Liberation War, and of Those Missing in Action.

NEW NKR LEADERSHIP HAS A STRONG POLITICAL APPROACH TOWARDS KASHATAGH

KarabakhOpen
03-04-2008 16:39:20

Interview of Karabakh-Open.com with Maro Matosyan, representative of
the office of Tufenkian Foundation.

What is you assessment of the conference in Berdzor? What would you
say about commitments made by the participants of the conference?

Both participants and Tufenkian Foundation found the conference to
have been very positive and successful. We have received several
concrete commitments of investment such as a wine factory to be built
in Ishkhanadzor and development of vineyards and pomegranate orchards.

Several schools are planned to be renovated. The Tsarukian foundation
also is interested to adopt a large infrastructure project. Other
organizations will help with equipment, training and other aid.

Did all the organizations which were invited participate in the
conference?

Do the Armenian organizations have a united approach to the issue
of Kashatagh?

There were 34 organizations that participated at this
conference. Others due to illness or schedule conflicts could not
attend but are very interested to participate with projects. Such are
the community of Australia, and various individual donors in Iran,
England and Europe. I have to say that I have been delighted by the
extremely united and positive approach of the participants both from
Armenia and Diaspora.

In your opinion, what will the political result of the conference
be? Will it influence the stance of the Armenian side?

This conference was made possible due to a strong political approach
towards Kashatagh by the newly elected leadership of NKR.

Yes, we anticipate that this conference will have a ripple effect
on Armenian public opinion and decision makers but it would not
have been possible without the initial encouragement of the NKR
authorities. There have been leading organizations in homeland and
Diaspora that have been calling for such an initiative but it has
never resulted in such a unified effort.

I would also like to point out that the activities of the conference
will continue beyond the 3 day on Berdzor. We will continue to have
meetings and facilitate the implementations of the projects that the
participants have committed to. Once we have more concrete information
we will have periodical press releases informing Armenians of the
work progress.

GEGHAM HARUTYUNIAN SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS’ IMPRISONMEMT WITH PROBATION OF SAME PERIOD

Noyan Tapan
April 2, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. By the April 2 decision of the court of
Yerevan’s Avan and Nor Nork communities, member of political board of
"Republic" party Gegham Harutyunian was found guilty of the action
envisaged by Article 235 part 1 of the RA Criminal Code – illegal
keeping of weapons and ammunition and was sentenced to 18 months’
imprisonment. At the same time the court granted the petition of the
accused, used Article 70 of the Crimiank Code and imposed a probation
of 18 months.

According to a press release of the RA prosecutor general’s office,
the court of Ararat and Vayots Dzor marzes on March 27 sentenced
Husik Baghdasarian to 3 years’ imprisonment for illegal obtaining
and keeping of weapons and ammunition, while the court of Yerevan’s
Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities on March 28 sentenced Hovhannes
Harutyunian to 18 months’ imprisonment.

The criminal case of Tatev Gasparian accused of the same action was
sent on April 1 to the RA Northern Criminal Court. The court will
join this case to another criminal case on T. Gasparian opened under
Article 334 part 1 of the Criminal Code – concealment of crime –
and will examine it.

OSCE OFFICE EXPRESSES CONCERN WITH THE DETENTION OF ITS EMPLOYEE

AZG Armenian Daily
02/04/2008

After-Election Crisis

In response to numerous enquiries from the media and public, regarding
the case of detention of a staff member of the OSCE Office in Yerevan
and in order to avoid speculations, the Office would like to state
the following:

On 27 March, at about 18:00, while heading towards the ArmenTel branch
office on personal business, a local staff member of the Office and her
cousin were stopped on Tumanyan Street by a group of police officers,
who ordered to follow them without giving any explanation.

The two were forced into a police car and taken to the Shengavit
police station. After the Office’s intervention the staff member and
her relative were immediately released.

The Office expressed its deep concern to the authorities in connection
with this deplorable incident and requested clarification.

It is noteworthy that after the cancellation of the State of Emergency
in Yerevan, unsanctioned mass events held almost every day. Police
as a measure of fight against these phenomena regularly takes to
police stations the supposed participants and organizers of these
events. Nevertheless, sometimes people bearing no relation to these
events occur in the police.

EXCAVATIONS IN TIGRANAKERT START IN JUNE

Panorama.am
18:47 01/04/2008

This year the excavations in Tigranakert will start in June and will
last till August, said Hamlet Petrosyan, the head of the excavation
group and the PHD of the Sciences National Academy.

By the financial support of the NKR and "Yerkir" unity this is the
third year the excavations continue in Tigranakert. This year the
president of the NKR Bako Sahakyan promised to provide 30 million
drams.

According to him the excavations resulted in the founding the details
of such powerful and cultural city. He added that the foundation
of Tigranakert opens quite a new page in the cultural history of
Armenians coming from ancient times.

SAHAGIAN: ASSOCIATION ASKED TO DENOUNCE GENOCIDE DENIAL

Daily News Tribune
tters/x610567809
April 1 2008
MA

Over a year ago, the leader of a major foreign country saw fit to
question the reality of the Jewish Holocaust by pronouncing, "those
Holocaust events need to be further investigated by independent and
impartial parties." Translation: maybe there was no Holocaust.

More recently, the leader of a major American human rights organization
questioned the reality of the Armenian Genocide by stating, "there
is no room for further dispassionate scholarly examination of the
details of those dark and terrible days."

Translation: maybe there was no genocide.

These two men differ in many regards, but they reflect one thing
in common. They are willing purveyors of the cruelest and most evil
phase of genocide. They are both genocide deniers.

The firsts denier is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, who has
been widely and properly denounced for his comments. The second is
Executive Director Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League who,
although admitting genocide denial to be the ultimate form of hate
speech, has escaped long overdue and deserved condemnation for his
perverse disavowal of the Armenian Genocide.

I write this letter having just been informed that some ADL programs
in Massachusetts are sanctioned by the Massachusetts Municipal
Association, a semiofficial organization supported by our tax
dollars. I also have been informed that at its next meeting in April,
the Massachusetts Municipal Association will "take a position" on
its official sponsorship of ADL programs in our state.

I wish to take this opportunity to ask our public officials,
particularly those who sit on the Massachusetts Municipal Association
board, to do what is principled and to insure genocide denial,
from whatever source, has no place in our communities. The words of
James Baldwin, who knew the importance of human rights, come to mind:
"you cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing yourself."

AZERBAIJAN ACCUSES THE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES OF INFLAMING WAR

armradio.am
31.03.2008 14:02

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan accused the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chair countries of inflaming war.

"Unfortunately, the co-chair countries, which did not manage to find
ways of peaceful resolution during 15 years, questioned the resolution
of the Azerbaijani side presented to the UN General assembly," Press
Secretary of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Eldar Sabiroghlu
said Sunday during a press conference in Baku. He noted that the UN
General Assembly is a document "that includes a program of peaceful
resolution of the Karabakh issue."

"The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries did not have to behave
that way. Instead of preventing new bloodshed they took a one-sided
position on the resolution, and thus their actions are directed
towards inflaming a new war," Sabioghlu declared.

DECISION ON FREEZING MCA IN ARMENIA MAY BE RECONSIDERED

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.03.2008 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Owing to the recent events in Armenia and faults
in implementation of democratic programs, the Millennium Challenge
Corporation administration expresses concern and questions further
cooperation with the Armenian government, U.S. charge d’affairs Joseph
Pennington in Armenia told a news conference.

"Concerns emerged before the March 1 and 2 events," he said, adding
that the Millennium Challenge Account is implemented proceeding from
the index of democracy and economy development.

"Suspending the program, the Corporation doesn’t aim to punish or
threaten the Armenian government but to encourage democratic programs,"
he said. "The MCC has not taken a final decision yet. So, in case the
RA government takes positive steps, the MCC can reconsider its plans."

POLICE IDENTIFY THE WOMAN WHO CLAIMED POLICE KILLED A BOY ON MARCH 1

ARMENPRESS
March 27, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian law-enforcement authorities
announced Wednesday they established the identity of a woman who
claimed that security forces killed a 12 year-old boy when dispersing
supporters of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian on Freedom Square in
the early hours of March 1.

Several local dailies published the photo of the woman for several
consecutive days asking Armenians to help reveal her identity.

In a statement yesterday the office of the prosecutor-general said
the woman is Laura Melkonian, a resident of the town of Martuni in
Gegharkunik province. The statement said the women was questioned as a
witness admitting to disseminating overtly false information on March 1
afternoon when demonstrators massed near the French embassy in Yerevan.

The statement further said the woman admitted that it was a provocation
designed by some people saying also she regrets doing it.

She told investigators that he heard some people who were near the
embassy saying that police officers killed a 12 year-old boy in the
morning. Then she took out an old shoe from a nearby garbage tank
and declared that it was the killed boy’s shoe.

"Following that some people took the shoe away, put it at the monument,
lit a candle and put flowers," she said, admitting that her claims had
had big effect on the people who became emotional and began swearing
at police officers.

"Now I understand that the rumor about the boy’s murder by police
was a provocation and I reiterated it unknowingly for which I regret
deeply,’ she was quoted as saying.