Author: Antonian Lara

TURKEY’S PM ACCUSES CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF INSTIGATING POLITICAL CRISIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.06.2008 18:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
on Tuesday the Constitutional Court must explain its decision to
overturn a government-led reform allowing students to wear Muslim
headscarves at university, reported World Bulletin.

Last week’s Constitutional Court ruling was the most serious setback
for the AK Party since it came to power in 2002 and analysts said
it increased the chances of the party being banned for anti-secular
activities, in a separate case.

Erdogan said that the legislative authority was granted to the
parliament, on behalf of the Turkish nation, under Article 7 of the
Constitution.

"This authority cannot be transferred to any one, and use of
sovereignty cannot be left in the hands of a certain person, class or
group," Erdogan told the members of his ruling Justice & Development
(AK) Party in a parliament meeting.

Erdogan said that the duty of the parliament was to make, amend and
abolish laws, and told the AK Party members that nobody could take
away this authority from the parliament.

"No one can consider himself as legislator. Also, our parliament
cannot hand over its legislative power in line with the Constitution,"
the Turkish Prime Minister said.

Erdogan said that the decision of the Constitutional Court was under
discussion because of this provision of the Constitution.

The top court cancelled the constitutional amendment lifting the
headscarf ban at universities by 9 votes against 2 on June 5th.

Article 7 on "Legislative Power" says "legislative power is vested
in the Turkish Grand National Assembly on behalf of the Turkish
Nation. This power cannot be delegated."

The AK Party passed the amendment earlier this year to allow students
to wear the headscarf at university.

According to recent surveys in Muslim Turkey, some two thirds of
Turkish women wear the headscarf and about the same proportion
supported lifting the ban for university students, RIA Novosti reports.

GEORGIA FOLLOWS THE EXAMPLE OF AZERBAIJAN IN APPROPRIATION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.06.2008 GMT+04:00

After the attempts of "Georgianizing" the Church Norashen, Tbilisi
has decided to appropriate the Armenian monastery in Turkey.

The Georgian government, as it shows, has seriously decided on
appropriation of other countries’ cultural heritage. After the
attempts of "Georgianizing" the Church Norashen, Tbilisi has decided
to appropriate the Armenian monastery in Turkey. The official
representative of the province of Erzrum, where the monastery
is situated, announced that the Georgia government is looking for
means to renovate the historical monastery in the East of Turkey. The
Monastery of Oshkvank in Chamliyamchat was built in 963 – 973 and is
dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It includes a church, refectory and a separate
wing for manuscripts. The church is one of the biggest cross-domical
temples in the region and preserved its significance till the end of
the 15th century. "In 1985 the Ministry of Culture of Turkey included
the complex into the list of the national heritage of the country.

The logic of the policy of Michael Saakashvili is quite understandable
– there are Armenians still living in Tbilisi, but there are none in
Erzrum, which means that nobody will make any particular fuss out
of it, moreover when one of the ornaments carries inscriptions in
Asomtavruli (an ancient Georgian language). According to a number
of historians, on the territory of the Western Armenia in a given
period of time there were no Georgian churches and the Monastery of
Oshkvank belonged to the Armenian-Chalcedonies. But in any case they
were Armenians; the owners of the Monastery, not Georgians, like
the official Tbilisi wants to prove. As for Turkey; this country
has always had special interest in appropriation of this or that
monastery, especially when it is of an Armenian origin. Till 1915
there were more than 6000 temples and monasteries on the territory
of the Ottoman Empire, by the way, this number is not exact, and
it is quite possible that the number of the temples and monasteries
would reach 10000. The most of these churches, to be more exact, of
what had survived, is on the territory of six vilayets (provinces)
whose Armenian population has been completely slaughtered.

As it has lately been found out, the Georgian mujakhirs from Ajaria
have also taken part in the slaughter of the Armenian and Greek
people. According to the Turkish Professor Ozel, they did it out of
the urge to favor the officials of the Ottoman Empire. In fact the
anti-Armenian policy of Georgia has not started only lately and not
even did it start in 18th century. It may be said that it has always
existed, simply then the Armenians did not have their own state and
that is why on those days all the mistreatments were carried out
in the so-called "common level". It is rather difficult to find any
explanations for such attitude towards the Armenians, but it may be
presumed that the Georgians simply cannot put up with the fact that
they owe the very Armenians for the prosperity of Tbilisi. It must be
reminded to the Georgian government that creating their history at the
expense of other nations is not very nice. In the given issue Georgia
is following Azerbaijan’s example, which by itself, is already bad.

The story of the temple in Erzrum is also important for another reason;
during the Armenian massacres carried out in the Ottoman Empire the
population of this city ran away to Georgia, to be more exact, to
Javakh. The Armenian population in Akhaltsikhe is mostly from Erzrum
and there should not be much surprise if one day they are called
Georgians. A rather well-composed version will be made out of it:
the Armenians, who are actually Georgians, built the temple, and
then they ran away to Georgia and the temples were left there. Yet,
let’s hope that things will not go this far.

At present Erzrum is one of the Islamic centers of the Turkish
Republic, where nothing ever reminds of the people who once lived
on this land. Around 10 Armenian temples have been preserved on this
territory, and the most significant one among them is the temple to St.

Astvatsatsin and Kizil-vank, which are now in ruins.

The same situation is in Kars, Van and other provinces. Having restored
Church St. Christ in Akhtamar, Turkey government thinks that it has
displayed its "good will" towards the Armenians. Most probably the
temple would have been left like that in ruins if it was not included
in the agenda of UNESCO. The cemetery in Old Jugha was simply meant
to disappear, just like many evidences which could serve as a proof
for being indigenous in the Asia Minor.

ARARAT YEREVAN IN LEAD OF ARMENIAN FOOTBALL HIGHEST GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT TABLE

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 9, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The games of the seventh stage of
the Armenian Football Highest Group Championship took place on June
8. The following results were registered: Ararat – Ulis 3:1, Mika –
Cilicia 1:0, Gandzasar – Shirak 2:0, Pyunik – Banants 2:0.

The first three of the championship tournament table includes Ararat
with 21 points, Mika with 16 points and Pyunik with 13 points.

BAKO SAHAKIAN AND ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN DISCUSSED WIDE SPECTRUM OF ISSUES REFERRING TO RELATIONS BETWEEN REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH

DeFacto Agency
June 9 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 09.06.08. DE FACTO. A wide spectrum of issues referring to
relations between the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Republic of Armenia
was discussed on June 6 at the NKR President Bako Sahakian’s meeting
with the RA delegation headed by Arthur Baghdasarian, Secretary
of the RA National Security Council. The delegation included the
representatives of various political forces represented in the RA
National Assembly.

During the meeting the NKR President highly estimated such meetings
noting that cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and Republic
of Artsakh supposed a wide field of activity within the frames of
the National Security Council, the Central Department of Information
under the NKR President reports.

In the NKR President’s words, the cooperation is of especial importance
under current conditions of unsettled Karabakh conflict.

Bako Sahakian also underscored the necessity of exchange of experience
and expressed hope that such visits would be regular and mutual.

Secretary of the NKR National Security, the head of the NKR President’s
administration Marat Musaelian and other officials were present at
the meeting.

GEORGIA TO FUND RESTORATION OF HISTORICAL MONASTERY IN EASTERN TURKEY

armradio.am
05.06.2008 10:56

The Georgian government is set to fund efforts to restore a historical
monastery in the Turkish village of Camlyamac, in the eastern province
of Erzurum, a local official said, Today’s Zaman reports.

The Osvank Monastery was constructed between the years 963 and 973
and was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

The monastery included a church, a refectory and a scriptorium. It
was one of the most important bishoprics in the region and a center
of culture especially famous for its manuscripts. The church is by
far the largest cruciform-shaped church in the region.

It retained its importance until the end of the 15th century.

"In 1985 the Turkish Ministry of Culture designated it as a monument
to be protected and preserved and included it on the national heritage
list. It remains an important destination among Georgian tourists
visiting Turkey," the newspaper says.

"There were no Georgian churches in Western Armenia, specifically
at the time mentioned," director of the Armenian Genocide Institute
Museum Hayk Demoyan commented

"The monastery belonged to Chalcedonic Armenians. The cross on the
temple was a bit different from a Gregorian. Later it was replaced
by an Orthodox one. There is an inscription in Asomtavruli (ancient
Georgian) above one of the ornaments in the Church. That is why
Georgia thinks it’s a Georgian temple," Demoyan said.

Erzurum is one of Islamic centers of the Republic of Turkey, where
nothing reminds about the nation which once inhabited this land. Some
10 Armenians temples, including Surb Astvatsatsin and Kyzylvank have
been preserved so far.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION INSPIRED

A1+
[07:40 pm] 03 June, 2008

In the framework of the project "Education without Borders" the
companies "Microsoft" and "Beeline" are going to install remote
learning and fast internet systems in Armenia.

In the coming 5 years sixty schools of the Republic will be each
donated 2 computers with ADSL Hi-Line fast and high-quality free
connection for a year granted by "Beeline", whereas "Microsoft" will
provide remote learning and communication technologies, as well as
resources for organizing the educational process. In the first stage
computers and free connection will be provided only to 10 schools.

Grigor Barseghian, head of the "Microsoft" office in Yerevan, states
with a heavy heart that though the company has offered authorized
program packages to be used in the schools and has granted licenses
for free, the Ministry of Education actually takes no steps towards
implementation of the project. In his own words "The Ministry of
Education is inspired by the offer but it does not move."

By the way the Hi-Line connection is free for 1 year only but
Mr. Barseghian is sure it will be affordable for every school as it
costs only 12.000 AMD.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO PEACE TALKS

armradio.am
04.06.2008 14:01

The meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Serzh
Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will take place in Saint Petersburg on
June 6. "We connect hopes with the meeting in the regard that it
is the first meeting between the new President of Armenia and the
Azerbaijani President. It will be a familiarization meeting not
only with regard to personal acquaintance, but also the approaches,
positions and philosophy of the two parties. We hope that the meeting
will yield positive results, i.e. the sides will declare they are ready
to continue the negotiations," RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
told a press conference today.

According to the Minister, the suggestions presented by the Co-Chairs
in Madrid form a basis for talks, and Armenia is ready to continue
the peace process based on those. "Azerbaijan must also be ready
to continue the negotiations on the basis of these proposals," the
Minister noted. In response to the some statements of the Azeri side
that there is no document on the table, the Foreign Minister said the
document exists and is registered in the OSCE in Vienna. "In reality,
these proposals are registered in the form of a document," Minister
Nalbandian noted.

According to him, the proposals are the result of long efforts of
the Co-Chairs and the conflicting parties.

Edward Nalbandian underlined that we should refrain from any step that
can hamper the talks. Currently the negotiations are in a stage when we
should be cautious not to disturb these in any manner, not to pour oil
on the flames, especially if some structures are not familiar with the
process, they should be more cautious in their comments and statements.

The Minister noted that the Azerbaijani side rarely notes it’s
ready to continue the peace process. There are many more threats on
different levels in Baku that the issue may be solved in a military
way. "the Karabakh issue must be solved in a peaceful way: there is
no alternative to negotiations, the statements about the military
solution are a result of impermissible way of thinking," Minister
Nalbandian said, adding that during the meeting with Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov he got convinced that the Minsk Group Co-Chairs
keep to the same position.

ANOTHER THREE STANDING COMMITTEES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 27, 2008
Armenia

By the initiative of the MPs the Parliament convened an extraordinary
session yesterday to make amendments and supplementations in NA
regulations and the laws regulating the spheres of state governance
and civil service.

According to the proposed draft law on the amendments in the NA
regulation-law, the bill previews to increase the number of the
standing committees in the National Assembly by three. The first
one will regulate local self-governmental issues and territorial
governance, which used to be under the authority of the state legal
committee, the second one will take on the social issues, which
is presently under the proceeding of the committee regulating the
sphere of health, the third committee will undertake agricultural
and environmental issues.

Member of "Orinats Yerkir" party Hovhannes Margaryan introduced the
bill, by his own signature. Later it turned out that the coalition
partners have also joined this legislative initiative in the person of
Samvel Nikoyan, member of "Bargavach Hayastan" Party Naira Zohrabyan
and MP belonging to Dashnaktsutyun Party Ara Nranyan.

There was an opinion that by this initiative the coalition intended
to partially meet the affectations of "Heritage" party, ensuring one
or two positions in the standing committees. But the pro-oppositional
power apposed to the initiative from the beginning.

Hovhannes Margaryan substantiated his legislative initiative by the
requirement to bring NA activity in compliance with the international
standards.

"Our main objective is to give chance to the standing committees to
hold more detailed discussions regarding certain spheres, because
it is the chief standing committee that gives final conclusion to
NA discussions.

International practice shows that each sphere must be regulated by
a certain committee.

There was a concrete question regarding the territorial governance
and local self-governmental issues. We used to have similar committee
headed by Khosrov Harutyunyan and it justified itself.

The main approach is, that we need serious, radical amendments in this
or that sphere, then it must be implemented by the adoption of new
bills and laws. For example by proposing to separate the committee
on social issues from health we mean that there are really serious
issues accumulated in that system for the solution of which we need
new reforms. Moreover the budget of 2008 is of social direction and
in this respect it would have been right to have a separate committee
to regulate the radical reforms to be made in this sphere."

"How many leading positions does "Orinats Yerkir" party expect in
the newly set up committees?"

"Naturally as a full member of coalition "Orinats Yerkir" party must
be represented in NA committees as well. The same was in the previous
coalition and I don’t see anything extraordinary in this issue. The
Constitution gives us an opportunity to have 12 committees in the
National Assembly and even the Parliament of 2007 could form these
12 committee."

RA DEFENSE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS TO VISIT NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.05.2008 15:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Edward Nalbandian, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Armenia and Seyran Ohanyan, the Minister of Defense of Armenia,
will visit NATO on Wednesday, 28 May 2008.

They will meet with the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Ambassador
Claudio Bisogniero, and will address the North Atlantic Council,
NATO press office reported.

Armenia to Join Enterprise Europe Network on June 20

YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. Armenia is to officially join the Enterprise
Europe Network (EEN) on June 20, Executive Director of Armenia’s Small
and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center Ishkhan
Karapetian.

This organization gives local companies broader opportunities for
accessing the European market, receiving cooperation offers and orders
from European enterprises and for participating in financial projects
implemented within the European Union, Karapetian told a press
conference.

Along with Armenia some EU-member countries, as well as Israel,
Switzerland and Chili will join the EEN.

Currently 40 countries are members of the EEN that includes 600
organizations and 23mln small and medium business entities and has
4,000 employees. -0–