Author: Zakarian Garnik

RA FM MEET DELEGATION OF MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS’S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

arminfo
2008-05-26 09:21:00

ArmInfo. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan met members
of the delegation of US Congress’s House of Representatives headed
by Adam Schiff.

As RA Information and Press Administration told ArmInfo today,
the American delegation also includes members of the House of
Representatives Alice Schwartz and Wayne Gilchrest.

According to the message, welcoming the guests, E. Nalbandyan
emphasized importance of Armenia-USA relations and said that Armenia
intends to be consistent in development of good neighbourly relations
with the USA and extension of cooperation with the American party. He
also thanked Adam Schiff for the draft law he submitted to the House of
Representatives, which urges Turkey to lift the blockade of Armenia. On
request of his guests, E. Nalbandyan familiarized them with Nagorno
Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement process, the Armenian party’s
position, its decisiveness to settle the conflict through peaceful
negotiations. The participants in the meeting also touched upon the
problems of regional security and cooperation in the region.

GREGORY AND EMMA MELIKIAN COUPLE AWARDED ARIZONA UNIVERSITY MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Gregory and Emma
Melikian couple, who founded the Armenian Church and Cultural Center
in Scottsdale, was honored with the University Medal of Excellence.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow presented Gregory
and Emma Melikian with the University Medal of Excellence for their
leadership and civic engagement during the ASU graduation ceremonies
on May 8.

The Melikians have also supported ASU for more than three decades. They
have also invested in historic preservation of more than a dozen
properties in Scottsdale. The University Medal of Excellence
honors innovative leaders who have advanced awareness and action on
issues that affect the well-being and positive development of their
communities.

AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY INVESTIGATING INFORMATION ON AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA’S VLADIMIR OBLAST AND SEPARATIST "NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC"

Today
itics/45167.html
May 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry has instructed the Russian embassy to
investigate information about the agreement, signed between the
Vladimir oblast of Russia and the so called Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Day.Az reports that the due announcement was made by spokesman
for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibrahim commenting on the
information about the agreement between the Vladimir oblast of Russia
and separatist "Nagorno Karabakh Republic", said spokesman for the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibrahim.

"First, it is necessary to investigate the information and if confirmed
we will take due steps. We have set this task before our ambassador",
said Ibrahim.

At the same time, spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry noted
that in case information is confirmed, we will undertake due steps.

"One of the variants of the due steps is an appeal to the federal
authorities of Russia for prevention of illegal actions and for
cancellation of previous illegal steps", said he.

GOVERNMENT TO CREATE FOUR COMMITTEES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 22, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. For the purpose of making the
proceedings of the RA government more productive four committees:
financial-economic, social, territorial development and state-legal,
will be created in the government. As Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian
mentioned in the May 22 sitting of the RA government, the objective
of the creation of the committees is that before submitting the draft
laws of the corresponding spheres to the government they should be
discussed in the above-mentioned committees.

The Prime Minister touched upon the problem of transparent work of
the RA government and stated that a corresponding concept should be
developed. Mass media representatives can take part in the development
of the latter with their suggestions. In the words of Tigran Sargsian,
the current traditions contribute to the development of the yellow
press. "In that respect, we should start from ourselves," he mentioned.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON THE DIALOGUE OF RELIGIONS IN DOHA

The 6th international conference on the Dialogue of Religions was convened
in the capital of Qatar, Doha, on May 13-15, 2008. The conference, held
under the auspices of the Prince of Qatar, attracted over 200 participants
from 30 different countries. It was organized by the inter-faith dialogue
center of Doha.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia was also invited to participate in this
conference and it delegated Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, Primate of the
Diocese of Tehran to participate on its behalf. The conference convened
under the theme "Religious values: The prospect of peace and a respectable
life."

Speeches were delivered on various topics related to this theme by Jewish,
Christian and Muslim speakers. Three working groups were formed to discuss
various issues related to peace, mutual respect, violence and human rights.

Archbishop Sebouh actively participated in the conference’s activities. On
the sidelines of the conference he also met with the representatives of
various delegations, briefing them on the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
positive and fruitful contribution to the development of inter-faith
dialogue. The Archbishop also spoke about the initiatives of Catholicos Aram
I in this respect, and particularly in the field of Christian-Muslim
dialogue both in Lebanon and internationally.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

DAVIT ISHKHANYAN: VOTERS IN ASHAN UNDERWENT PRESSURE

KarabakhOpen
20-05-2008 13:02:31

On Sunday local elections were held in several communities in
Karabakh. No incidents were reported. Including in the village
of Ashan of the region of Martuni where Norair Khachatryan, the
former head of the kolkhoz in the early 1990s, became head of the
community. He won the election with a small advantage of 14 votes
(190-176). The other candidate was Armen Balasanyan, non-partisan,
whom the ARF Dashnaktsutyun endorsed.

It is notable that in 2000 the council of the village gave a vote
of no confidence to Norair Khachatryan who won the race (perhaps it
was the only case in Karabakh). Charges were brought against him for
misconduct however the court dismissed the case.

We talked to the representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun to Artsakh
Davit Ishkhanyan who comes from Ashan. "As I voted on Sunday, I
witnessed unpleasant things," Davit Ishkhanyan said.

It turns out that the winner got the small advantage through pressure
but not by the regional administration and the police. "The deputy
minister of defense Vardan Balayan and the commander Haik Sargsyan
pressured on part of the population, especially those who serve in
the army. They helped their candidate win through different methods,
including intimidation," said Davit Ishkhanyan.

According to him, there was no clash of ideas of the candidates. They
merely wanted their candidate to win. "They wanted to have anyone
but the candidate of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun," Davit Ishkhanyan said.

The leader of Dashnaktsutyun in Karabakh voiced concern that people
are insecure from such pressure. "We warned the government about
the pre-election situation but nobody took action to prevent this
situation," said Davit Ishkhanyan. He thinks this situation is the
result of impunity in the country.

The political activist thinks impunity will annihilate the efforts of
the government to carry out reforms. "People rely on the new government
but arbitrariness and impunity will eventually crush their hopes,"
said Davit Ishkhanyan.

He noted that as far as he knows the elections in other communities
were compliant, although the race was tense in Chartar. In addition,
Davit Ishkhanyan says democracy is for ourselves rather than for
display.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
May 16 2008

Turkish association releases report on US bill on Armenia

Istanbul, 16 May: An influential employers’ association in Turkey has
released a report on an Armenian bill regarding the incidents of 1915,
which was adopted last year by the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the US House of Representatives but was turned down by the general
assembly.

The report, drawn up by researcher and specialist in law David
Saltzman for the Turkish Industrialists’ & Businessmen’s Association
(TUSIAD), was presented on Thursday [15 May] at a Washington
conference on Turkish-US relations.

The report, "US House of Representatives Resolution 106: Legal and
Factual Deficiencies," said that there had never been a legal opinion
that can justify the 1915 incidents as "genocide", and those who
contended the allegations had never brought them before an
international court.

"The global public opinion is focused on this one-sided view. And the
rejection to acknowledge facts and the failure to consider the
historical background of the incidents help this view attain a
continuity," the report said.

Turkey has long been facing a systematic campaign of defamation
carried out by Armenian lobby groups. The Armenian diaspora has lately
increased its organized activities throughout the world for the
acknowledgment of their unfounded allegations in regard to the
incidents of 1915 as "genocide" by national and local parliaments.

In 2005, Turkey has officially proposed to the Armenian government the
establishment of a joint commission of historians and other experts
from both sides to study the incidents. Armenia has yet to respond
positively to this initiative. Turkey’s proposal is still on the
table.

PACE co-rapporteurs Andres Herkel and Eugenia Zhivkova to arrive in
Baku

17 May 2008 [13:01] – Today.Az

Co-rapporteurs of PACE Monitoring Committee on Azerbaijan Andres Herkel
and Eugenia Zhivkova will arrive in Baku tonight.

The due announcement was made by adviser for press of the head of CE
Baku office Ilgar Ibrahimov, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

It should be noted that the official meetings will start on May 18. The
visit will last until May 20.

"The visit aims at studying situation with execution of commitments
before the Council of Europe, undertaken by Azerbaijan", said Ibrahimli.

He noted that Herkel and Zhivkova are to meet with President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, head of Presidential Administration Ramiz
Mehtiyev, Minister of National Security Eldar Mahmudov, prosecutor
general Zakir Qaralov, members of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE,
chairman of the Central Election Commission Mazahir Panakhov, ombudsman
Elmira Sultanova, chairman of National Television and Radio
Broadcasting Council Nushirevan Meherremli.

Moreover, in the framework of the visit, the co-rapporteurs will meet
with NGO representatives and leaders of a number of political parties.

The statement, posted at the official website of the Council of Europe,
notes that Herkel and Zhivkova will arrive in Baku to assist to
authorities in preparations of presidential elections, scheduled for
October 15.

In the framework of the visit the co-rapporteurs will familiarize with
the situation around mass media, and meet with imprisoned journalists.
Moreover, parliamentarians intend to complete their report on the
activity of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan, says the statement.

Head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samed Seidov told reporters
previously that the rapporteurs would prepare a report by results of
the visit to Baku.

"This report will be introduced for discussions at the session of the
permanent commission of the Parliamentary assembly to be held in
Stockholm (Sweden) on May 30", he noted.

Azerbaijan’s execution of commitments undertaken before the Council of
Europe will be discussed at the summer session of the CE Parliamentary
Assembly in Strasbourg on June 23-27.

IS KARAPETYAN’S STATE STABLE OR….?

A1+
[06:51 pm] 16 May, 2008

Dr. Armen Gasparyan physically examined the patient-the chairman
of the "New Times" Political Party Aram Karapetyan, performed ECG
and found ischemia in the septum and posterior wall of the heart,
signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and bradicardia (58-62 per
minute). Blood pressure – 160/115 mm Hg with frequent raises up to
levels specific for hypertonic crisis (diastolic or inferior blood
pressure of 120 mm Hg). The patient had complaints of chest pain
suggestive of cardiac origin, dizziness and headache related to raise
blood pressure. Over the passed few weeks patient lost about 6,5 kg of
body weight suggestive of metabolic disorders which were not related to
the changes of food intake (consumption of meals was satisfactory over
the whole period of staying in the penitentiary unit). It had been also
revealed that the patient was exposed to a number of cardiovascular
risk factors which indicated high risk of cardiovascular events like
myocardial infarction and stroke. Of these risk factors, first of
all should be mentioned prediabet (?, fasting serum glucose level
of 7,7 mmol/l), exposure to passive smoking, hypokinesia, intensive
psychoemotional stress, familial predisposition to premature ischemic
heart disease and diabetes. Based on the mentioned diagnosed was made
– Arterial hypertension, II stage, course with hypertonic crises,
Ischemic heart disease (?). The recommendation was to continue
investigations at the specialized cardiological hospital equipped
with modern tools of instrumental diagnostics allowing to examine
coronary vessels (coronarography). It should be also noted that in
penitentiary conditions it was impossible to normalize blood pressure
with antihypertensive drugs for oral intake. Besides, all the above
mentioned risk factors could further worsen condition of the patient
and cause myocardial infarction or stroke. There was discrepancy
between the recommendation made by independent examiner-cardiologist
Gasparyan and that made by physicians of penitentiary unit. The
latter ignored the necessity to transfer the patient to cardiological
hospital which is absolute ignorance of high cardiometabolic risk to
which the patient is being exposed. Eventually, the administrative
decision was made to refer the patient to cardiopulmonary department
of Erebouni Medical Centre and monitor his condition there. This
morning it was also decided to perform coronarography (by head of the
unit of cardiopulmonary at the Erebouni Medical Centre). It is hoped
that the patient will be treated properly based on his heightened
cardiometabolic risk and all further therapeutic and diagnostic
decisions will be made to avoid occurrence of cardiovascular events
(myocardial infarction and stroke) in the near future. The "New Times"
Political Party needs support of doctors. We call them to act only
with human inducements taking notice to the danger, which now threatens
the health of a person.

Press Department of the "New Times" Political Party

MEETING WITH ARMENIAN DELEGATION

Gibrahayer
May 14, 2008

Gibrahayer – Nicosia 14 May, 2008 – During his stay in Athens,
Parliament Speaker of Cyprus Marios Garoyian met with a delegation
of the Armenian National Committee of Greece.

The meeting took place on Sunday evening in the Grand Britannia Hotel,
where the Cypriot delegation was staying.