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GEORGIA OFFICIALS MARK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT ANNUAL STATE CAPITAL COMMEMORATION

Asbarez
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

State and local Proclamations and Resolutions Honor Survivors and
Victims; Praise Armenian Community Vigilance to End the Cycle of
Genocide

ATLANTA, GA – The Armenian community of Georgia was joined by state
and local officials in commemorating the Armenian Genocide at an
annual program held at the State Capitol, organized by Dr. Sarkis
Agasarkisian and Aroutioun Agasarkisian, chairman of the Armenian
National Committee of Georgia.

Mistress of Ceremonies Vardoui Agasarkisian Jinian opened the
program by thanking elected officials for their continued support in
commemorating this crime against humanity, inviting former Atlanta
Mayor Bill Campbell to provide an invocation.

Former Georgia State Representative and current Fulton County
prosecutor Robin Shipp was on hand to present a letter from Georgia
Governor Sonny Perdue. "Today, with heavy heart, we remember and mourn
the sufferings of the Armenian people from 1915-1923, when more than
1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were murdered or sent
on death marches," wrote Gov. Perdue. "On this day, when so many of
our citizens observe Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, let us affirm
our belief in tolerance, justice and the spirit of a moral life."

Next, State Senator Vincent Fort (39th District), presented the
recently adopted GA Senate Armenian Genocide Resolution (S. Res.

1454), marking April 24th as "Georgia’s Day of Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923". The lead sponsor of the resolution
spoke eloquently about the contributions of the Armenian community to
the State of Georgia. "The Georgia government appreciates the efforts
of the over 500 families of Armenian descent in the state, descendants
of a 3000 year old culture, who are known for their accomplishments
in education, the arts and government," noted Fort. The State Senator
went on to discuss the importance of the passage of the "Hate Crimes
Law" in Georgia, which he had also authored, citing the importance
of the recognition and remembrance of crimes against humanity, from
slavery to genocide.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore, a
perennial honored guest of Atlanta Armenian Genocide commemorative
events, spoke eloquently about the need for international affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide in the ongoing campaign to end the cycle of
genocide. "We have to remember these massacres and keep the memory
of the innocent victims alive, so that we can remind the U.S. of the
heavy price the Armenian people paid for its freedom and the struggle
to survive," noted Judge Moore.

Atlanta City Councilman C.T. Martin then presented the Phoenix Award to
the Atlanta Armenian Community, noting that the "promotion of a public
dialogue regarding this genocide and its legacy will surely inspire
positive race relations and build a strong foundation for unity within
our community." Councilman Martin went on to read a special letter
from Mayor Reed to ANC of Georgia’s Dr. Sarkis Agasarkisian. "This
year’s 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide highlights an annual
worldwide day of remembrance of the grave atrocities committed against
the Armenian people between 1915-1923.

As you assemble to commemorate this tragic occurrence, I salute the
Armenian community for all you do to advance human rights," noted
the Mayor.

An Atlanta City Council Proclamation, signed by Council President
Caesar Mitchell and Councilman Martin, commemorates the 1894-1896
massacres and subsequent murder of 1.5 million Armenians by designating
April 23, 2010 as "Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day."Former
Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, the first Atlanta Mayor to issue an
Armenian Genocide proclamation, recounted his close friends with the
Agasarkisian family and the local Armenian Community. He recounted
that Georgia state commemoration of this crime against humanity
began with just a small gathering many years ago, noting that the
attendance has grown yearly, and through his annual participation,
he has grown to understand the pain caused by the Armenian Genocide.

He went on to cite President Obama’s commitment to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide and urged him to honor his pledge in
his April 24th statement, in an effort to stop the cycle of genocide.

Campbell’s remarks were followed by those of Fulton County Sheriff
Department Chief Deputy Jimmy Carter, who honored the victims of the
Armenian Genocide and spoke of the importance of community vigilance
to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated anywhere in the world.

Armenian American Association of Georgia Chairman and vice-chairman
of the ANC of Georgia, Dr. Sarkis Agasarkisian, spoke passionately
about the importance of the immediate passage of Armenian Genocide
legislation (H.Res.252 / S.Res.316). "The United States government,
by recognizing and officially commemorating the Armenian Genocide, can
help ensure that the lessons of this terrible crime against humanity
are used to prevent future genocides against the Armenians or any
other people," explained Dr. Agasarkisian in his remarks. He went to
note that the litany of threats by Turkish Government in response to
proper commemoration of the Armenian Genocide have consistently been
empty. "Turkey has taken only token steps against Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Belgium, Argentina, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland,
Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and other states that have recognized
the Armenian Genocide," noted Dr. Agasarkisian.

Dr. Agasarkisian expressed concern about Turkey’s threats to undermine
U.S. interests in the region, noting past shortcomings in stopping
the insurgency in Iraq. "Despite their political promises to U.S. the
facts have shown, that Turkey has betrayed the United States numerous
times. In 2003 Ankara still blocked a northern front into Iraq,
a move the Pentagon has said added significantly to the problems
currently facing our forces," he explained. Dr. Agasarkisian also
broadly documented Turkey’s role in serving as a safe-haven to
regional terrorists. "According to the State Department’s annual
terrorism report, Turkey is a safe haven for terrorists and has
attracted a ‘foreign fighter pipeline’ linked to terrorist plots,
cells and attacks throughout the world."

In conclusion, Dr. Agasarkisian went on to give a detailed overview
of Armenian history in the region and Turkey’s eradication of the
Armenian population from 1915 – 1923.

Dr. Vardoui Agasarkisian Jinian offered closing remarks, followed by
a closing prayer by former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell.

HOW SPORT HELPS THE ARMENIAN RED CROSS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV
By Guest

RedCross.org.uk
k/health/2010/05/sport-hiv-aids-armenia/
May 12 2010

Karen Young, from Scotland, is spending a year in Armenia as part of
a volunteer exchange programme, the international youth volunteering
programme.

Well, yet again I am starting my blog entry by saying that we are
very busy here in the Armenian Red Cross Youth Department! We have
been finishing off our campaign to promote awareness about lonely
elderly people in Armenia as well as doing school sessions on HIV/AIDS
and setting up a new branch of our Smiley Club for kids in a second
dormitory. I love the fact that we are always busy here – it can be
very tiring, but it is good fun and we know that what we are doing
is really making a difference to people’s lives.

The HIV/AIDS programme is fully up and running at the moment – we have
been going to schools all across Armenia to give sessions on HIV/AIDS
and also to organise a basketball tournament. The tournament is part
of the "We play against HIV and AIDS" programme – which uses sport as
a way to involve school pupils in publicising the fight against AIDS.

Schools play against each other to generate interest in the cause;
afterwards we conduct the peer education session and leave posters
and information leaflets in the school gym for the kids to read over
the next few weeks.

I have helped out with a few of the matches and sessions now, including
going with other members of the team to a school in Gyumri (Armenia’s
second city). It was really interesting to see the difference in the
response between Yerevan and Gyumri, which is a very small city and,
as a result, somewhere where young people are significantly less well
informed about sexual health issues than their peers in Yerevan. This
is something that the Armenian Red Cross are working to combat,
and the response from both staff and pupils was very positive.

Las week we had a charity dinner as part of our campaign to raise
awareness about lonely elderly people, and the results were very
positive; especially when you take into consideration the fact that
this was the first ever event of its kind for the ARCS, and also not
a very common type of event in Armenia. It was a massive achievement
for us – we raised over £800 and, more importantly, passed on our
message to some very influential people.

We have also been out collecting money again in the streets of Yerevan,
again in support of our grannies and grandpas, and the response
has been very encouraging. Again we received a lot of thanks and
encouragement for the good work we do as volunteers, as well as of
course raising a bit of cash!

All in all it has been a very active and productive period for us,
and it is very nice to have a "quiet" week or so where we are mainly
writing reports! What with all the extra hours we have been putting
in for the campaign, and the fact that I spend the best part of my
spare time climbing mountains and hiking across the countryside with my
fellow volunteers, I am exhausted! But exhausted in the best possible
way – and at the moment I wouldn’t swap my volunteering experience
for anything – even a well paid job!

Being a volunteer in Armenia, especially when jobs are so few and
far between and financial matters still dominate the headlines, is
a welcome reminder that there is so much more to life than money and
security, and that we volunteers are "paid" in rich experiences and
the satisfaction of a job well done.

Photo: Trygve Utstumo via Flickr

Karen’s time in Armenia is funded through the Youth In Action
programme from European Voluntary Service. To find out more, email
[email protected]

COUNTERPART HELPS IMPROVE SANITARY AND HYGIENE SITUATION AT KINDERGARTEN

Lragir.am
13/05/2010

Yerevan, Armenia – On Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 15:00, Gerald
Oberndorfer, Director of Humanitarian Programs, U.S. Department of
State, and Tamara Baghdasaryan, Director of the Kindergarten No 3
of Nor Nork Community, will cut the ribbon marking the opening of
the newly reconstructed bathrooms at Kindergarten #03 of Nor Nork
Community. Counterpart International’s Community and Humanitarian
Assistance Program (CHAP) in Armenia has implemented the U.S.

Department of State-funded small reconstruction project due to which
hygiene and sanitary conditions of the bathrooms at the Kindergarten
#03 of Nor Nork Community have been improved significantly.

This Small Reconstruction Project was implemented by Counterpart’s
CHAP staff in close cooperation with the school management. Under
this project the ceiling and walls have been repaired and painted,
floor has been evened and covered with ceramic tiles; the old doors
and windows have been replaced with PVC ones. New lavatory pans and
hand-washing basins with fittings have been installed; water pipes
and electric cables have been replaced with new ones; the sewage
system has been fixed.

LDS Charities contributed to the project through provision of part
of the needed construction materials for the bathrooms. Latter-day
Saint Charities (LDSC) is the humanitarian branch of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headquarters in Salt lake City,
Utah, USA and provides humanitarian assistance to many countries
throughout the world. LDS was registered in Armenia in 1988 and
since then provides services in education, promotion and health
spheres. Counterpart started collaboration with LDS Charities from
the beginning of its activities in Armenia.

"We would like to thank you very much for all the hard work put forth
by you and your company during our recent bathrooms renovation. The
process was very well organized and went relatively smoothly. Thank
you very much for this urgent support." said T. Baghdasaryan, director
of the kindergarten.

Kindergarten # 03 is located in Nor-Nork Community of Yerevan. It is
one of the first educational institutions in this community and has
more than 40-year history

The Kindergarten is a two-storied typical building and has not
been renovated since its commencement, hence the current sanitary
condition in some of its facilities, particularly in three bathrooms
is substandard. There was an acute need for full reconstruction of
the bathrooms to eliminate the existing insanitation.

CHAP operates in Armenia since 1995. From its commencement until
present, the program has assisted more than 2.5 million needy
Armenians. Through its network of more than 500 organizations, CHAP
imported and distributed humanitarian assistance to Armenia valued
at over $30 million.

For 43 years, Counterpart has given people a voice in their own future
through smart partnerships, offering options and access to tools for
sustained social, economic and environmental development.

Established in 1965, Counterpart International (Counterpart) has
forged strategic partnerships in more than 65 countries. With 350
staff currently operating in 25countries, Counterpart’s programs
encompass humanitarian aid and relief assistance, health care,
democracy and governance, natural resource management and feeding the
impoverished. Though Counterpart’s projects are diverse, they share a
common objective: improving the lives of those in need by empowering
people and local institutions to develop innovative, holistic, and
lasting solutions that address social, economic and environmental
challenges. Learn more at

Baku talks Adriatic gas pipeline

May 12, 2010

Share BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 12 (UPI) — A natural gas pipeline through the
Adriatic Sea may help secure European energy supplies, Azeri energy
executives told Swiss officials in Baku.

Rovnag Abdullayev, the head of the State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic, met
with Swiss officials to discuss natural gas sales in the European market.

He said Azerbaijan is exporting natural gas to Georgia, Turkey, Russia and
Iran currently and expected increases when the second phase of the Shah
Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea expands production.

Abdullayev said specialists from the state-run energy company were examining
various segments of the European and Central Asian markets. Swiss and Azeri
officials, he added, expressed their shared interest in a partnership with
Azerbaijan for the Trans Adriatic gas pipeline project.

The pipeline is part of the so-called Southern Gas Corridor envisioned by
European officials to diversify the regional energy sector. It would carry
Central Asian and Middle Easter gas about 300 miles through the Adriatic Sea
to European markets. Swiss energy company EGL Group announced the project in
2003.

Abdullayev stressed that gas-rich Azerbaijan has a vital role to play in
European energy security.

LETTER OF THE ARF TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

/
2010/05/11 | 18:04

politics

Honorable Mr. Abrahamyan,

Our parliamentary faction has learned that Mevlut Cavusoglu, President
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has
expressed a desire to meet with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) faction of the National Assembly. However, we have also learned
that Mr. Cavusoglu refused to participate in the protocol visit to
the Memorial to the Victims of the 1915 Genocide. We believe that
this does not befit the leader of a major international organization.

Previous PACE presidents have never allowed themselves to show such
a disrespectful attitude, despite whether or not their own countries
had recognized the Armenian Genocide.

In this case, Mr. Cavusoglu seems to have no reservations in revealing
the fact that he is here to a lesser extent as PACE President and to
a greater extent as a politician from Turkey. Given this situation,
our faction considers it unsuitable to meet with him.

IN THE NEXT PHASE OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS

Lragir.am
11/05/10

Armenia does not have foreign policy but it only responses to the
policy of others. This is the opinion of the former adviser of the
Armenian president on national security issues Ashot Manucharyan.

According to him, Armenia did not initiate the Armenian and Turkish
process. He says the initiator keeps the process under control, while
Armenia does not have control over the Armenian and Turkish process.

"I think Armenia has been involved in this process. There are cases
when it is dangerous not to be involved. For example in 1992, the U.S.

proposed to Armenia to get engaged in the Minsk group work. It was
obvious then that the Minsk group, at least for the national security
system, had nothing in common with the NKR issue. It is a means of the
U.S. to control the situation in the region. Armenia cannot but agree
with the U.S." Ashot Manucharyan notes that Armenia made a mistake
to make the Minsk group process its own process of settlement of the
NKR dispute.

According to him, being involved in the Armenian and Turkish process,
Armenia did not manage to get use of it. "Not the Republic of Armenia
but Armenia had to take part in this process", says Ashot Manucharyan,
meaning the Republic of Armenia, the Diaspora and the Republic of
Karabakh. According to him, Armenians are the only nation, which
as a result of genocide, is spread all over the world, but did not
get any compensation. According to him, there are creative group of
youths today, which realize all these issues and look for formulas
and decisions.

PARTY PATRONAGE CLAIM: STATE OFFICIAL DECRIES POLITICALLY PROMOTED CAREERS IN CIVIL SERVICE
By Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow
11.05.10 | 12:51

News

Badalyan is dissatisfied with "subjective and arbitrary approaches"
of the coalitional government members in appointing civil servants.

The criticism that Chairman of the Civil Service Council Manvel
Badalyan voiced at last week’s government session that "political
parties have become labor exchanges" and are engaged in providing
jobs for their members has become a topic of serious discussions in
recent days.

(Civil servants in Armenia are employees of the state governance
system who occupy non-political, mostly bureaucratic posts, such
as chiefs of staff, specialists at ministries, state departments,
agencies, etc. Civil servants are appointed on the basis of their
qualification proved through tests and shall retain their posts when
political authorities resign.)

Many consider it to be a "government show", others think that the
initiative to clean up the state governing field is a consequence of
recent political gang fights and is aimed mainly against Prosperous
Armenia, one of the two junior partners of the ruling Republican
Party in the current governing coalition.

In emotionally charged comments last Thursday Badalyan expressed
dissatisfaction with "subjective and arbitrary approaches" of different
members of the coalitional government in appointing civil servants.

"They consider only party affiliation [of candidates]. Our parties
seem to be turning into labor exchanges and many civil servants today
carry different party membership cards in their pockets," stated
Badalyan, calling for action against the tradition of political
parties patronizing civil servants.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan welcomed that criticism, saying that
he will assist the Civil Service Council "in the matter of fulfilling
the mission."

The Civil Service Council set up in 2002 holds examinations and
validation of civil servants working in the state governing system.

According to Badalyan, they have maximally reduced the factor of
a subjective human choice in examinations for civil service posts,
however, he adds, interferences occur from all coalition parties.

"Those interferences are often unreasonable and absurd, because if a
person has failed a test, no one can push him through," says Badalyan,
citing an example when someone tried to help a specialist in geography
to get a job at an accounting department, etc.

Badalyan, however, denies pressures from the top.

"What does it mean, pressure? There is a form of pressure, moral
pressure, that may be coming from friends or relatives. For me it is
a greater pressure. Fortunately, there has been no pressure from the
head of state and it is the [policy] vector of the country’s political
leadership," says Badalyan.

According to the Council’s data, Armenia has about 8,000 civil
servants. Badalyan says, without giving an exact number, that many
of them are people with party affiliations.

The condition of civil service jobs for political connections harkens
to Soviet times, when even the lowest-level official had to be a
Communist Party member to have a successful career. Now, for instance,
even the heads of student councils at higher schools are elected from
among the governing parties.

"I wouldn’t say it has become like it was in the Soviet times, but
unfortunately tendencies are obvious," says Badalyan in an ArmeniaNow
interview, suggesting that a new legislation should be passed to
prohibit civil servants from having party affiliations.

Meanwhile, many remain skeptical about this initiative and even point
at its main target.

"This is simply struggle between Republicans and Prosperous Armenia,"
head of the opposition Heritage party’s parliamentary faction Stepan
Safaryan tells ArmeniaNow. "Both parties appeared in parliament due
to vote rigging and administrative resource, and civil servants are
the greatest base for abusing the administrative resource, therefore,
increasing their presence in civil service is a priority for them
today."

According to Safaryan, the major target of the initiative is the
Prosperous Armenia Party led by wealthy businessman and leader Gagik
Tsarukyan, as "the Republicans anticipate the greatest danger from it".

Prosperous Armenia has denied strife between the two coalition member
parties, which have been said to be increasingly at odds lately.

"We do not promote civil servants’ careers. It’s a journalistic tale
that the Republicans and Prosperous Armenia are fighting a cold war.

There is nothing like that," Vardan Bostanjyan, a senior Prosperous
Armenia Party lawmaker, tells ArmeniaNow.

NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM TO BECOME ONE OF MAIN SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSIONS DURING DMITRY MEDVEDEV’S VISIT TO TURKEY

ArmInfo
2010-05-11 13:06:00

ArmInfo. Two-day visit of Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev to Turkey
starts today. The issue of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement will
expectedly become one of the main subjects fro discussion during the
meeting of the Russian president with the Turkish authorities.

As the Turkish sources report, most of the discussions,
however, will still be focused on energy. "We can confidently
say that Russian-Turkish relations have advanced to the level of a
multidimensional strategic partnership," Medvedev wrote in an article
he penned for Today’s Zaman ahead of his visit. Medvedev also described
Turkey as "one of our most important partners with respect to regional
and international issues." About 25 documents are expected to be
signed during Medvedev’s visit, first of all, in energy and tourism.

"AZERBAIJAN RETAINS POSSIBILITY TO SOLVE THE CONFLICT BASED ON ITS OWN INTERESTS"

Today
litics/67679.html
May 11 2010
Azerbaijan

Interview with research fellow at the Russia-based Institute of
Religion and Politics and political expert Zurab Todua.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pays an official visit to Turkey
today. What do you expect from this visit? How can you characterize
the current state of the Russia-Turkey relations?

These relations can be characterized as very good and even excellent,
mutually beneficial with great potential. Relations between Russia
and Turkey are developing continuously and steadily over the last 15
years. Today, both countries share many political, economic, cultural
and even military ties.

During the current visit more than 20 papers in the field of trade
and economic relations, transport, agriculture, energy, education
are expected to be signed. Medvedev said in an interview published
in the Turkish newspaper "Zaman" on May 10 that "Russia and Turkey
are becoming strategic partners, and Moscow sees Ankara as good and
reliable neighbor. The intention of the parties to form a top-level
Cooperation Council to be led by the Russian president and Prime
Minister of Turkey supports this statement. The objective of this
council is to develop a strategy and direction of development of
bilateral relations, monitor the implementation of important projects
and facilitate contacts between businessmen of both countries.

I think that the Russian-Turkish relations can serve as an example
of how one can and should build relationships between countries.

However, it is obvious that none of this would happen if Moscow and
Ankara were focused on their past finding out which party suffered
much from the Russian-Turkish war. The leaders and political community
of Russia and Turkey show the highest state of wisdom. They left the
history to historians, and engaged to establish and develop mutually
beneficial relations. I am sure this course is the most suitable and
profitable, and it is supported by the vast majority of population
in Russia and Turkey.

Some experts believe, that lately Turkey has played an increasing role
in the region. Do you agree with the views that Russia is concerned
with this kind of situation, as well as prospects for Turkey to become
a regional superpower?

No, I do not agree with this kind of assessment of the situation.

Turkey behaves responsibly in the international arena and in the South
Caucasus region and understands all the features and complexity of
international problems and issues. There are no serious grounds to
be concerned with prospects for Turkey’s becoming a regional power.

Russia and Turkey today are involved together in large-scale trade
and economic projects and communications, which are estimated at tens
and even hundreds (potentially) billions of dollars. No one wants to
thwart these plans. I am sure the leaders of Russia and Turkey will
always be able to agree, without prejudice to their own interests on
all contentious issues.

Are Russia and Turkey’s views on resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict similar or different?

Official positions of Moscow and Ankara are based on a need to preserve
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We can see the similarity of
positions in this respect. Some differences are observed in approaches
to the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh, security and protection of
the interests of its residents, the return of refugees and others. I
believe that, in general, there are more common points, rather than
differences.

In your opinion, can Turkey become fourth co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group? Can this facilitate resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Theoretically, it is possible. But in practice, I think this proposal
will meet opposition as Turkey obviously sympathises with Azerbaijan.

Turkey’s becoming Minsk Group co-chair will strengthen Azerbaijan’s
position. It is unlikely to accelerate the settlement process.

The Minsk Group is quite functional and effective in its current
composition. All the complaints about it is to the fact that the
conflicting parties expect a miracle from it, namely, a solution to
that would be fully satisfy only Azerbaijanis or only Armenians. But
this is impossible. The final document on the conflict settlement
will be a compromise.

How do you assess the current situation in the South Caucasus region
as a whole?

The answer to this question requires a thorough analysis of the
situation in each country of the South Caucasus. If we restrict
ourselves very brief overview, we can say the following. I have
repeatedly said before that Azerbaijan is in a better position than
other countries in the region. These are geographic location and oil.

But all this would be insufficient if Azerbaijan was not lucky with
its rulers.

Heydar Aliyev was a politician from God. I remember in what condition
he took Azerbaijan in 1993, and how left in 2003. During these
difficult ten years I have repeatedly visited Azerbaijan (three to
five times a year) and witnessed everything. Ilham Aliyev continues
the course of his father and does it more than successfully. Yes,
there are still problems, but they are all solvable.

With regard to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the main thing here is that
Azerbaijan retains possibility to solve the conflict based on its own
interests. Armenia is in a more difficult position. Armenia’s stance
left the country aside from the promising economic projects. Indeed,
today Armenia is lagging behind for its socio-economic development.

WILL HERITAGE TELL CHAVUSHOGLU WHAT IT REALLY THINKS OF HIM?

Tert.am
17:31 11.05.10

Heritage Party will at a late-evening session today decide whether
it will meet the Turkish national President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe Mevlut Chavushoglu during his visit
to Armenia.

"At this moment the Heritage MPs are in favor of participating in
that meeting and expressing their views to Chavushoglu about the
statements made by himself and other Turkish officials," Heritage
faction leader Stepan Safaryan told Tert.am.

"While the Heritage administration reaches another decision, the MPs
will comply with that decision," added Safaryan.