Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

SWITZERLAND TO ANNOUNCE THE VERDICT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL CASES FEBRUARY 9

armradio.am
05.02.2010 12:38

A top Turkish diplomat will travel to Switzerland to seek support
against an Armenian court ruling that Ankara says threatens the
normalization process between Turkey and Armenia. Questions linger
over his efforts, however, because Bern considers it a crime to deny
the Armenian Genocide.

Sinirlioglu’s visit will also take place just a few days before a final
verdict is issued for three Turks who were found guilty of denying
genocide claims, the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review reports.

After months of Swiss-mediation and U.S. encouragement, Turkey and
Armenia signed two protocols in October to establish diplomatic ties
and reopen their shared border.

But the process hit the rocks after the Armenian court upheld the
legality of the protocols, but underlined that the interpretation and
application of the protocols should be in compliance with the Armenian
Declaration of Independence, which states: "The Republic of Armenia
stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition
of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."

Following the decision, Turkey asked Switzerland and the United States
for clarification, bur both said the decision would not hamper the
commission’s discussions but refused to give an assurance in writing.

Sinirlioglu will try to convince Swiss authorities at talks in Bern
on Friday to give a binding assurance that the historians’ commission
will work without any prejudice about the final outcome. This could
prove difficult, however, because denial of the Armenian Genocide is
a crime according to Swiss law.

A final verdict is expected Feb. 9 on an appeal from three Turks
found guilty of denying Armenian genocide claims. Turkish politician
Dogu Perincek was the first Turkish citizen to be found guilty by
the Swiss court. He is also among the suspects in the trial of an
alleged gang called Ergenekon that is suspected of seeking to topple
the government by staging a coup.

WHAT MESSAGES U.S. SENDS SPEAKING OF PROBABILITY OF WAR?

news.am
Feb 5 2010
Armenia

"While Azerbaijan speaks from a stronger stand, diplomatic pressure
on Armenia increases," oppositional Armenian National Congress member
Vladimir Karapetyan told NEWS.am.

"Unlike the period when Azerbaijan had to withstand two Armenian states
at the negotiating table, under Kocharyan’s presidency Armenia alone
was driving a bargain. Presently, two Turkish states oppose Armenia
that gives exceptional diplomatic advantage to Azerbaijan," he added.

According to him, Azerbaijan will ring these changes and only after
final strengthening of its diplomatic positions, it will be capable
of thinking about military actions. "At the moment I do not think
hostility is possible," oppositionist said.

Asked what changes Karabakh peace process underwent, having Stratfor
experts as well as Director of U.S. National Intelligence Dennis Blair
speaking of probability of Armenia-Azerbaijan war, Karapetyan replied:
"I do not rule certain arrangement with RA authorities to shape public
opinion that in case of no concessions hostilities are possible. At
the moment, out authorities can refer to these U.S. structures creating
a favorable basis for concessions."

ANC: ARMENIAN CC VIOLATES LAW

news.am
Feb 3 2010
Armenia

The RA Constitutional Court fixed March 5 as the date for hearing
the appeal lodged by Nikol Pashinyan, one of the candidates in
by-elections in Election District #10, thereby grossly violating the RA
Constitution, stated the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC).

According to the ANC, the RA Constitutional Court violated point 18
of Article 74 of the RA Law on Constitutional Court, which sets a
30-day deadline for appeals against municipal election results.

"The point does not allow of any other interpretation," the ANC states.

According to the statement, the RA Constitutional Court grossly
violated the law regulating its activities.

The ANC states that the most likely reason for the violation is the
deadline for Nikol Pashinyan’s appeal considered by the RA Court of
Appeal, as well as the enforcement of the verdict.

"This is evidence that the Constitutional Court received an order
to reject the appeal and, in defiance of the law, avoid moral
responsibility for its verdict unseating Nikol Pashinyan," the
ANC states.

AGARAK COPPER MOLYBDENUM COMBINE PLANS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION VOLUMES IN 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.02.2010 18:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Agarak Copper Molybdenum Combine CJSC processed
around 1.3 million ton of ore in the first half year of 2009, exceeding
2008 results (second half year) by 5%. As predicted, the volumes of
ore mining and processing shall increase up to 3-3,5 million ton in
the current year.

In 2009 the Company produced about 248 ton molybdenum concentrate and
13.500 ton copper concentrate. In February of 2009, because of the
impact of global economic crisis the Company stopped its production
activities and resumed its full scale operation starting from June 30.

Since the end of 2008 ACMC’s operation became instable and starting
from the month of October it started to accumulate losses, which were
covered at the expense of investments of the shareholders. From the
moment of stoppage of the Company 500 employees out of 900 continued
renovation-recovery works and received full salaries, and 400 employees
were on downtime vacation, and received 2/3 of their salaries. After
the Company restarted it operation all the employees were reinstated.

Increase of the processing volumes last year was achieved due to
the anti-crisis program, which was aimed at technical re-equipment,
which resulted in increase of mining and production effectiveness. The
program suggests a systematized approach, including capital investments
for modernization of production, raising of qualification of junior
staff, as well as changes of organizational structure of the Company.

In 2010 the Company is planning to increase mining and processing
volumes up to 3-3,5 million ton, and reach the volumes of stripping
works up to 2.2 million cubic meters. Growth shall be obtained due to
technical re-equipment and, particularly due to modernization of the
processing plant. In the result of such re-equipment ore processing
capacity of the plant and the extraction level of useful matter will
increase. Due to modernization of the plant the self-cost of the
production will considerably reduce, because the costs for electric
power, photoreagents and other components will decrease.

For mining of 3,5 million ton ore it is important to increase the
number of mining machinery and vehicles. Increase of ore mining will
bring about increase of stripping works.

Social issues are one of the most important problems for
the management. Salaries are regularly paid and all social
responsibilities are being carried out. City-formation policy is one
of the Companys priorities. It is actively cooperates with the Agarak
city administration, and to the extent of its abilities participates
in realization of social projects.

GeoProMining Group obtained the shares of Agarak Copper Molybdenum
Combine in December of 2007. GeoPromining specializes in mining and
processing of metaliferous ores (copper, molybdenum, antimony) and
precious metals (gold, silver). The Group has a diversified production
structure and markets. Deposits and processing plants of the Group
are in Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Vietnam.

HARUTYUNYAN’S TIES WITH PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE FORMER CHAIR REASON FOR POSTANJYAN’S REMOVAL?

Tert.am
17:14 â~@¢ 03.02.10

The Heritage Party will continue to dispute the decision to remove
Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan from a permanent standing position
in Armenia’s PACE delegation, said Heritage Party leader Stepan
Safaryan and Postanjyan herself, while speaking to journalists today.

Postanjyan noted that one of the reasons for the decision is that
the former chair of the PACE Monitoring Committee has close ties
with the head of the Armenian delegation, Davit Harutyunyan. "Davit
Harutyunyan participated in meetings, presented opinions; however,
similar opportunites were not made available to me," she said.

In Postanjyan’s opinion, Armen Rustamyan shouldn’t be a member of the
Armenian delegation since he represents that political party which was
the ruling party during the events of March 1, 2008. Consequently,
the Dashnaks (Armenian Revolutionary Federation members) will not
be impartial in presenting the March 1 events and they won’t come to
the defense of the rights of prisoners, said Postanjyan.

According to Safaryan, the parliamentarian representing the ruling
party in PACE has more opportunities. "However displeased they might
be by policies implemented by Armenia’s governing authorities, it
doesn’t matter, they are obliged to accept their perspective," he said.

In Safaryan’s observation, the authorities consistently continue to
impede Heritage Party’s activities. One of the testimonies of this
fact is that someone else, instead of Larisa Alaverdyan, is going to
participate in the upcoming OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session.

"If Armenia’s governing authorities spent as much consistency,
diligence, energy and efforts into overcoming external cries for war
as they do toward fighting against Heritage, then Genocide-denier
CavuÅ~_oglu wouldn’t today be representing Europe, there wouldn’t be
numerous battle cries and unfulfilled obligations before Armenia,"
he said.

HERITAGE PARTY INFORMS GERMAN DELEGATION OF CALLS TO SHUT DOWN PARTY

Tert.am
16:32 ~U 03.02.10

Heritage Party board chair, Armen Martirosyan, and party faction
leader, Stiopa Safaryan, held meetings yesterday with the German
Liberal-Democratic Party delegation, reads a statement released by
the Heritage Party.

The meeting was aimed at boosting cooperation between like-minded
liberal Armenian and European political forces.

Martirosyan presented the party’s political activities, while
Safaryan. its parliamentary activities. The parties discussed the
most important issues currently on the Armenian political agenda: the
release of political prisoners, the completion of the investigation
of March 1 events, prerogatives over the reforms in mass media,
and political and electoral systems.

Heritage leaders also presented to the delegation the party’s vision
and stance over the process of normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations.

They also spoke about specific instances when party activities were
hampered in parliament.

The statement also says the parties spoke about "mandated" requests
to close down the Heritage Party, as well as about the "dirty
propaganda organized by mass media operating under the control of
the authorities."

FAMOUS ARMENOLOGIST GEVORG KHRLOPIAN DIES

Noyan Tapan
Feb 1, 2010

GLENDALE, FEBRUARY 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Famous
Armenologist, Ph.D. Gevorg Khrlopian died in Glendale on January 31
after a long illness. He was 82.

Gevorg Khrlopian was born on August 19, 1927 in Aleppo. His father
Tigran Khrlopian was an Armenologist, the founding head of the
Department of Armenian Studies at Haykazian University in Beirut.

Gevorg Khropian received his education at the Emmanuel Armenian
School in Aleppo, then at Aleppo College, after which he studied
at the Department of Armenian Language, Psychology and Logic of
Yerevan State University. He earned a degree of Candidate of Science
in the history of Armenian philosophy, then a degree of Doctor of
Science. In 1965-1985 he studied the history of Armenian theology
under the guidance of the Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I. He
was a Doctor of Theology.

He wrote a number of monographies, including "The World View of
Anania Shirakatsy", "The Humanism of Grigor Narekatsy", "Problems of
Complex Upbringing at School", "Social and Psychological Problems of
University Upbringing", "The Modern Notions of Upbringing", etc. He
was the author of 20 brochures and about 200 research papers on
Armenological, religious and other issues.

Among the awards he received were the St. Sahak and S. Mesrop Order
conferred by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I, a silver medal
of Yerevan State University, the Mkhitar Sebastiatsi Medal of the
Mekhitarist Congregation of Venice, other awards.

The Noyan Tapan media association expresses its deep condolences to
the relatives of Gevorg Khrlopian – a great scientist, a prominent
Armenologist and theologian, and a dedicated son of the Armenian
people.

CLINTON INDIFFERENT TO TURKEY’S CONCERNS ON ARMENIAN COURT RULING

Tert.am
12:40 ~U 29.01.10

On January 27, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu
met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during a 15-minute
meeting which focused entirely on the Armenian Constitutional Court’s
ruling.

According to Turkish news source Today’s Zaman, Clinton, upon hearing
Davutoglu’s concerns on the court’s decision, made no comments.

"Perhaps Ankara didn’t receive the support from the U.S. on this
issue that it was searching for. The American side considers Turkey’s
concerns to be exaggerated," reports Today’s Zaman.

Unnamed Turkish diplomats told the publication that Ankara’s biggest
concern is that "the process of establishing Armenian-Turkish relations
will be delayed, and in the case of a change of government in the
two countries, oral statements will hold no significance." For that
reason, Ankara is requesting written guarantees from Yerevan.

Other meetings which took place during the London Conference were
between Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Davutoglu,
and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Azerbaijani
counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov. Earlier, Lavrov had met with his
Armenian counterpart, Nalbandian.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS

armradio.am
28.01.2010 13:02

The Republic of Armenia celebrates the 18th anniversary of the Armenian
Army on January 28.

On this occasion President Serzh Sargsyan, visited Yerablur accompanied
by top officials of the Republic to pay tribute to the memory of
those, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the freedom of
the motherland.

HENRIK MKHITARYAN: WE WON A LEGITIMATE VICTORY

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2010 14:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Footballers of Donetsk Metallurg held their first
friendly match in Turkey, where the team conducts their training.

Metallurgist, where the Armenian national team midfielder Henrik
Mkhitaryan plays, played against Russia’s Krylya Sovetov. Donetsk
club won with a score 1:0.

As the official site of the club wrote, after a friendly match
midfielder Henry Mkhitaryan commented on the game. "Today we have
won a legitimate victory. We might even score a few more goals, but,
unfortunately, failed,"Mkhitaryan said.

Henrik Mkhitaryan started his football career at the Yerevan Pyunik
club. In 2009 he moved to Donetsk Metallurg (Ukraine). He played for
the youth national team of Armenia. Since 2007, the player of the
national team of Armenia. Became "the best player of Armenia-2009".

Metallurg Donetsk FC was founded on June 17, 1996. Plays in the
Ukrainian Premier League. In the championship of Ukraine won the bronze
medal (2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2004-2005). In Ukrainian Cup became
semi-finalist of the drawing (1997-1998, 2001-2002 and 2007-2008). In
the UEFA Cup, Metallurg played 18 games (8 wins, 5 draws, 5 defeats).