Author: Antonian Lara

ARMENIAN-CHINESE BUSINESS ASSEMBLY IN PEKING

Panorama.am
20:22 30/04/2008

In June Armenian-Chinese business assembly will be held in
Peking. 20 big companies have already applied to take part in the
meeting. According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry public relations
department, the decision was made when the Ambassador of Armenia in
China Vahagn Movsisyan met with the head of European department of the
Trade Ministry of China and the deputy president of Armenian-Chinese
inter-governmental committee Syuy Tunkai.

Vahagn Sargsyan presented the geographical and geo-economic position of
Armenia in the region and the perspectives of becoming technological
center and the free economic field in Armenia. The Ambassador also
mentioned that it is important to contribute to the export of Armenian
merchandise to China.

The Chinese side is intended to work on the investment program and they
mentioned that all the investments could be carried out through Exim
Chinese Bank. The Chinese officials asked the Armenian side to prepare
information about demanded Armenian merchandise in Chinese market.

CHANGES – FINALLY ADOPTED

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 01, 2008
Armenia

Early in the morning yesterday, the Parliament of Turkey adopted the
amendment to Article 301 of the Criminal Code, with a vote of 250 for
and 65 against. Only the members of the ruling party voted in favor
of the amendment which will enter into force after being ratified by
the President.

On April 29, the National Assembly held discussions till late at night,
over introducing an amendment to Article 301 envisaging punishment for
"insulting the Turkish identity". Hundreds of journalists and writers,
including Hrant Dink, Editor of "Agos" newspaper, and Orhan Pamouk,
laureate of Nobel Prize in literature, have been persecuted under
this article.

The nationalistic parliamentary opposition was against the amendment
which criminalizes the insult to the Turkish state vs. the "Turkish
identity". Any criminal case under this article will be instituted
only by the permission of the Minister of Justice, and the maximum
degree of punishment will be reduced from 3 to 2 years of imprisonment.

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

PRESS RELEASE
April 30, 2008

ARTSAKH’S ENVOY CALLS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Urges Greater U.S. Political and Economic Support to Artsakh

Washington, DC – NKR Representative to the United States Vardan Barseghian
spoke at the annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill that also
featured U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
(D-MD), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and other members of Congress.

The event was organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,
co-chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), in
cooperation with the Armenian Embassy in Washington and leading
Armenian-American organizations. Armenian Ambassador Tatoul Markarian,
Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, and Dr.
Gregory Stanton, President of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars also spoke to the audience that included Armenian Genocide
survivors, human rights activists, and members of the Armenian community.

In his remarks, Representative Barseghian called upon the United States to
recognize the Armenian Genocide saying that it would "send a powerful
warning signal to those who plan new ethnic cleansing campaigns that the
truth will prevail, that criminal actions will be named for what they are
and that the perpetrators will be condemned and will bear responsibility."

Tying past crimes against humanity to today’s situation, Barseghian said
that the Nagorno Karabakh problem is a direct result of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923.

"Weakened by mass killings, deportations and widespread devastation
inflicted by the Ottoman Turks, Armenia was not able to hold on to its
historic province of Artsakh and eventually gave in to the Soviet pressure
to include it within administrative borders of Soviet Azerbaijan. And the
consequences of the Armenian Genocide, including that particular decision by
the Bolsheviks, continue affecting our lives today, over 90 years later",
the Artsakh representative said.

Stressing that the risk of genocide still exists, Barseghian said that
"Azerbaijan continues to threaten Nagorno Karabakh with a new war because we
insist on our right to live in freedom."

"Nagorno Karabakh will continue reinforcing its defense capabilities to be
up to the task, but we would like to see our friends on Capitol Hill and
those who want to see a stable and peaceful South Caucasus to send a clear
signal to Azerbaijan that a new war would not be tolerated," he said.

On behalf of the NKR Government, Barseghian thanked Representatives Pallone
and Knollenberg and other congressional leaders for their steadfast support
on issues related to Artsakh’s security, freedom, and economic development.
He urged greater U.S. political and economic support.

"We hope that the U.S. Congress will continue its leading role in charting a
new format for relations with Nagorno Karabakh that looks beyond conflict
resolution to collaboration on issues of security, democracy and economic
development."

Concluding his remarks said Barseghian said that leaders on Capitol Hill
acknowledge that in "parallel to our common efforts to make this world
genocide-free, we also need to deal with consequences of past crimes and to
support those who still struggle for freedom and justice."

The full text of Rep. Barseghian’s remarks is provided below. You can also
view it online at:

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is based in
Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia and the American
public representing the official policies and interests of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, Artsakh.

* * *

Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill

Remarks by the NKR Representative to the United States Vardan Barseghian
April 23, 2008

Ambassador Markarian,
Honorable Members of Congress,
Your Eminence,
Dear friends,

I would like to start by thanking the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues, Representatives Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, for
organizing this event in collaboration with the Armenian Embassy and all
major Armenian-American organizations.

Both co-chairs deserve a special credit for their outstanding leadership on
issues that are important to the Armenian-American community, to the United
States, Armenia and Artsakh. We highly value the support of our many
congressional friends on issues related to Artsakh’s security, freedom, and
economic development. Thank you!

It is a great privilege to join you today, on behalf of the Government of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh, as we honor the sacred memory of
innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. For all those gathered here and
for all those who spoke and will speak today, it is a solemn duty to be
here, to remember, reflect and seek justice, speaking on behalf of those who
were silenced by their cold-blooded killers in 1915-1923 throughout historic
Armenia, including its eastern-most province of Artsakh.

Tomorrow, tens of thousands will lay flowers at the Genocide Memorial in
Artsakh. They will remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, among
which are over 20,000 Armenians brutally killed in Shushi, Nagorno Karabakh,
in March of 1920. They will also wow, once again, not to allow the repeat of
those horrible events.

Some, who are less familiar with our part of the world and whom we try to
educate about the urgency of recognizing the crimes of the past, would say
that we should not be concerned about a new genocide. Some are prepared to
argue that the modern-day Turkey is not a threat to Armenia and Artsakh. But
only 15 years ago, Turkey supported Azerbaijan as the latter waged a war
trying to kill or expel the entire Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh.

Unfortunately the threat of genocide is an ever present one. Azerbaijan
continues to threaten Nagorno Karabakh with a new war because we insist on
our right to live in freedom. Last month, Azerbaijan went beyond verbal
threats and breached the cease-fire regime by attacking our defense
positions along the Line of Contact. When Azerbaijan refused the OSCE
mediation to withdraw, Karabakh’s Army responded in kind, recovering the
defense post and inflicting losses to the enemy. The threat of a new war by
Azerbaijan, whose army is trained by Turkish instructors, remains real.

Nagorno Karabakh will continue reinforcing its defense capabilities to be up
to the task, but we would like to see our friends on Capitol Hill and those
who want to see a stable and peaceful South Caucasus to send a clear signal
to Azerbaijan that a new war would not be tolerated. In this regard we
support the proposed elimination of U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan
until the latter ceases all hostile actions, including threats to use force,
against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

U.S. economic assistance continues to play a critical role in rebuilding
Karabakh’s economy. To build on success of these programs, we ask that the
U.S. Congress continue allocating funds for humanitarian and development
programs to ensure that all parts of the South Caucasus have an opportunity
for economic and political progress.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a functioning democracy. It effectively
controls its territory and enjoys the trust of its citizens. NKR conducts an
independent foreign policy and has the capacity to build and maintain
international contacts with governments and intergovernmental organizations.

It is time for the United States and the rest of the international community
to embrace this new democracy by expanding dialogue on all levels, including
on government-to-government level. We hope the U.S. Congress will continue
its leading role in charting a new format for relations with Nagorno
Karabakh that looks beyond conflict resolution to collaboration on issues of
security, democracy and economic development.

One might ask: How are these issues related to the Armenian Genocide
recognition? They are related for one simple reason — the existence of the
Nagorno Karabakh problem today is the direct result of the 1915-1923
Armenian Genocide. Weakened by mass killings, deportations and widespread
devastation inflicted by the Ottoman Turks, Armenia was not able to hold on
to its historic province of Artsakh and eventually gave in to the Soviet
pressure to include it within administrative borders of Azerbaijan. That was
in 1921.

But, the consequences of the Armenian Genocide, including that particular
decision by the Soviets, continue affecting our lives today, over 90 years
later.

Therefore, by supporting Nagorno Karabakh economically and politically our
friends on Capitol Hill indirectly also acknowledge that in parallel to our
common efforts to make this world genocide-free, we also need to deal with
consequences of past crimes and to support those who still struggle for
freedom and justice.

Those who recognize the need to speak about Armenian Genocide, other crimes
against humanity, genocides in the making, ordinary citizens and their
elected representatives, help the cause of justice.

Last year, all of us had great hopes that the truth will prevail, that the
justice will be done on the Capitol Hill and that the House Resolution 106
would pass. And we remain hopeful. Needless to say that on many issues the
world looks at the U.S. for leadership. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by the United States will send a powerful warning signal to those who plan
genocidal campaigns that the truth will prevail, that criminal actions will
be named for what they are and that perpetrators will be condemned and will
bear responsibility.

Today, as we pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, as we
honor the survivors, we must also remain focused on doing all we can to
prevent any genocide in the future. Thank you!

* * *

This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
in the USA (NKR Office) on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S. Government under the
Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional information is available at the
Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

RIA Novosti, Russia
24 Abril 2008

Armenia recuerda a las víctimas del genocidio armenio
15:17 | 24/ 04/ 2008

Ereván, 24 de abril, RIA Novosti. Armenia, Alto Karabaj y todas las
comunidades armenias dispersas por el mundo, recuerdan hoy a las
víctimas del genocidio armenio en la Turquía otomana. En la capital
armenia de Ereván hoy será organizada una marcha hacia el Monumento a
las víctimas del genocidio de 1915. Asistirán el presidente de
Armenia, miembros del Gobierno y diputados del Parlamento, así como
diplomáticos extranjeros, representantes de la diáspora armenia y
otros invitados entre políticos, intelectuales y personalidades de la
cultura.

El genocidio armenio ha sido reconocido por los parlamentos de
Argentina, Bélgica, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Holanda, Grecia, Italia,
Canadá, Chipre, Líbano, Lituania, Polonia, Rusia, Eslovaquia, Uruguay
(fue el primer país en haber reconocido oficialmente el genocidio
armenio, en 1965), Francia, Suiza y Suecia, así como por 40 estados de
EEUU.

Turquía tradicionalmente rechaza las acusaciones de haber exterminado
a casi 1,5 millones de armenios en los años de la I Guerra Mundial y
reacciona de una manera dolorosa a las críticas de Occidente respecto
al genocidio.

Congressman Peter King (R-Ny-3) offers remarks on the Armenian Genocide

armradio.am
26.04.2008 14:09

Congressman Peter King (R-NY-3) reaffirmed the historical fact of the
Armenian Genocide in remarks offered for the Congressional Record on
Thursday, April 24, 2008 reported the Armenian National Committee of
New York (ANC of NY).

The issued statement was in response to appeals made by His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church
of America, and genocide survivor Alice Shnorhokian who were joined by
representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) to
ask that the congressman support the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.
Res. 106, during a meeting on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 in Washington,
DC.

Speaking at the meeting, Cong. King told the delegation of Armenian
community leaders that he has always known that the events of 1915
constituted genocide, and pledged to include such language in a
statement to be offered for the Congressional Record.

In his remarks, he stated: "Today I rise to mark the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide which began on this date ninety-three years ago. From
1915-1923 the Ottoman Empire carried out the deportation of
approximately 2 million Armenian men, women, and children from their
homeland of which 1.5 million were killed. And to this day, neither the
Ottoman nor Turkish governments have been held to account for their
involvement."

Among those present at the meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Rev. Fr.
Sarkis Aktavoukian, pastor of Soorp Khatch Armenian Church of Bethesda,
Maryland; ANCA National Board member Onnik Petrossian; ANCA Eastern
Region Executive Director Karine Birazian; ANCA Government Affairs
Director Kate Nahapetian; ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi
Karakashian; Henry Dumanian, a constituent; and Vahig Shnorhokian and
Tsoleen Sarian, grandchildren of Alice Shnorhokian.

After learning of the congressman’s statement, ANC of NY Chairman Doug
Geogerian said: "We greatly appreciate the congressman’s affirmation of
the Armenian Genocide. We look forward to his support for getting the
entire House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Armenian
Genocide resolution, H. Res. 106."

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN CONDUCTS THE MARCH

A1+
[06:14 pm] 24 April, 2008

At the moment RA first president Levon Ter-Petrossian is conducting
the march to Tsiternakaberd. He joined the marchers at the Sports
and Concert Complex and is now walking towards the memorial.

OPPOSITION MARCH STARTED Today thousands of people, accompanied
by opposition leaders, made for Tsitsernakaberd from Northern
Avenue. The police closed Baghramian Avenue allowing the marchers
only to walk along the sidewalk. Chairman of People’s Party Stepan
Demirchian, Chairman of Hanrapetutyun (Republic) Party Aram Sargssian,
Leader of the Social Democratic Henchak Party Lyudmila Sarkissian,
former spokesman of Levon Ter-Petrossian Levon Zurabian, and Davit
Shahnazarian conducted the march.

However hard the policemen tried to persuade people to walk along the
sidewalk, they failed. In the end the police yielded and opened one
side of the avenue. New groups of people joined the marchers on the
way to Tsitsernakaberd. Roads have not been closed and there are no
traffic problems recorded. Anyway, there are water-pumping and razor
wire cars on Demirchian Street.

OMBUDSMAN IN HIS AD HOC REPORT RECORDS THAT SOCIETY IS DIVIDED INTO PRIVILEGED "INSIDERS" AND REST

Noyan Tapan
April 25, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2008 presidential elections and
post-electoral developments have immensely influenced on the entire
system of protection of human rights, on the state of protection
of personal, political, socio-economic rights. RA Ombudsman Armen
Haroutiunian stated on April 25 publicizing his ad hoc report. In the
report the Ombudsman recorded that the complaint of a huge part of
society during the presidential elections, receiving the respective
direction, has acquired new qualities.

In particular, the noticeable social and economic polarization,
mistrust towards public and law enforcement bodies, overcentralization
of power, ineffective mechanism of checks and balances between three
branches of power, insufficient guarantees of human rights, formation
of a tightly closed system of privileged group drove a significant part
of society to seek critical and dramatic changes to solve these issues.

According to Ombudsman’s report, a closed system of privileged
"insiders" and the rest had been formed in the country, democratic
principles of governance were of artificial nature, which hampered
the course of political struggle under the rule of law. Meanwhile,
the opposition adopted the same extremist policy. The extremist policy
of one part of government and a part of opposition generated March
1-2 events inflicting the society to suffer.

"Thus, the society shall enjoy the right to demand political elite
(government and opposition) to ensure absolute respect for human
rights and tolerance shall prevail in the society."

To overcome the formed situation the Ombudsman proposes solving
the following problems: to ensure that the authorities function
in a framework of public accountability, and to secure a strong
opposition, to reform the electoral legislation, to safeguard the
freedom of expression and to put in place conditions for pluralism and
impartiality in the electronic media. To this end, according to the
Ombudsman, it will be essential to reform the legislation on television
and the radio. It is also necessary to ensure equal participation of
the representatives of the power and the opposition in the formation
of television and radio regulatory and supervisory bodies.

The Ombudsman also considers that it is necessary to rule out laws
groundlessly restricting human rights and freedoms (such as the
recent amendments to the Republic of Armenia Law on Conducting
Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies, and Demonstrations), to safeguard
the constitutional principle of equality of rights and to eliminate
existing economic monopolies. The Ombudsman considers that it is
vital to create an independent commission to inquire into the March 1
events and, according to him, it would be most dangerous and useless
to imitate reforms.

In response to the questions, the Ombudsman emphasized that the
independent commission with the participation of experts invited
from abroad should enjoy confidence of the most part of society:
"I have an inner conviction that extra-parliamentary opposition forces
should also take a very active part in the commission’s activity." The
Ombudsman also emphasized that the commission should not replace
the preliminary investigation body, "but exercise control over all
that". The Ombudsman also thinks that all events of morning, midday,
and evening of March 1 should be investigated unitedly, as there is
a cause connection among them. "They must not leave out the morning
and investigate only the midday."

A. Haroutiunian said that more than a hundred arrested people are all
oppositionists, therefore the independent commission is needed for
punishment of all those who have committed a criminally punishable
act. "To accuse so many people by Article 300, RA Criminal Code,
seizing power, can be not trustworthy: "the suspicions that there
are people arrested for their political approaches among them should
be liquidated."

A. Haroutiunian completely accepts the approaches of the latest
resolution adopted by PACE: they all proceed from RA’s interests. "An
attempt to help us was just done, for us to ensure permanence to
develop by the democratic way. I see nothing that can be harmful
for our country," the Ombudsman said highlighting that we cannot
unequivocally say that there are political prisoners in Armenia, we
cannot assert, either, that everything is normal, there are suspicions
and they need to be cleared up.

In connection with separation between human rights and national
security made by some "good-for-nothing compatriots" in media,
A. Haroutiunian said that if there are no harmonious relations between
society and power, speaking about national security is senseless. "The
political history of mankind shows that the states and societies,
where society, citizens feel protected and consider that power as
their power, always win and are strong from point of view of national
security. If a citizen is alienated and says nothing only due to fear,
it does not mean that everything is stable in that country."

The Ombudsman is convinced that we should build a democratic society
with a real content and not an authoritarian system with a democratic
facade, it results in undesirable phenomena. "Our only alternative
is a democratic country, where human rights are indeed protected and
a person feels protected," A. Haroutiunian said.

In response to the question of how he evaluates former RA
President Robert Kocharian’s statement that the Ombudsman is his
most unsuccessful cadre appointment, A. Haroutiunian said: "As an
Ombudsman I just tried to behave correctly as far as possible, for
society to trust this institution."

EP URGES TOP COURT TO RESPECT RULE OF LAW

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 23 2008

The European Parliament has voiced concern over implications of
an ongoing closure case against Turkey’s ruling party while urging
respect for the rule of law and European standards.

Last month Turkey’s Constitutional Court decided unanimously to hear
an appeal from a top prosecutor to close Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on charges that
it had become a "focal point for anti-secular activities."

The prosecutor has also sought a five-year ban from party politics
for 71 politicians, including Erdogan and former AK Party member
President Abdullah Gul. The EU, which Turkey aspires to join, has
harshly criticized the case and even warned accession talks with
Turkey could come to a halt if the AK Party is closed down in the end.

The committee is "concerned about the implications of the AK Party
closure case," a non-binding resolution approved late on Monday
almost unanimously by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European
Parliament in Strasbourg said.

The resolution followed on from a progress report on Turkey’s EU
accession bid last year by the executive European Commission. The
committee "expects the Turkish Constitutional Court to respect
principles of the rule of law, European standards and the Venice
Commission guidelines on the prohibition of political parties,"
the resolution also said.

"Turkey should show that it wants to continue its full membership
negotiations with the EU by making reforms," the report’s author
and negotiator, Dutch MEP Ria Oomen Ruijten, was quoted as saying
yesterday at a press conference by the Anatolia news agency. Not only
the government, but all political parties represented in Parliament
are responsible for working for more reforms, Oomen Ruijten added.

The report urged Turkey’s Parliament to reform "without delay" penal
code Article 301, which prohibits "insulting Turkishness" and which
has been used against hundreds of intellectuals and journalists,
including slain Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink and Nobel
literature laureate Orhan Pamuk.

It said that an amendment to 301 that would replace "insulting
Turkishness" by "insulting the Turkish nation" was "merely a first
step toward a fundamental reform of this article."

It deplored that Turkish prosecution of people who expressed
non-violent opinions increased in 2007. Turkey started EU accession
talks in 2005, but talks have been held back by slow progress in
EU-linked reforms, the impact of the unresolved Cyprus dispute and
the reluctance of some EU members, such as France and Austria, to
see Turkey join.

The European Parliament resolution was passed by 53 votes to two,
with four abstentions, an official of the parliament said. It is to be
debated in a full session in May. Parliament can make recommendations
on foreign policy, although these are not binding on the 27 EU
member states.

"It is a message to Turkey: they have to deliver now," Oomen Ruijten
told Reuters earlier. "They promised 2008 would be the year of the
reforms, so I will keep them to their promise."

Erdogan vowed last Tuesday to speed up political reforms after
stalling for more than a year amid opposition from nationalist
parties. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso visited
Turkey last week and urged it to speed up reforms and show more
interest in EU membership. He stressed EU concerns over the move
against the AK Party, which the commission has said could jeopardize
Turkey’s EU entry talks.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR FRANCE ON THREE-DAY VISIT

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
has left for France on a three-day working visit. In Paris he
will meet with Koichiro Matsuura, the Director General of UNESCO,
Abdou Diouf, the Secretary General of the International Francophonie
Organization, Bernard Fassier, the OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair,
Patrick Devedjian, the Secretary General of the ruling UMP movement,
Andre Santini, the State Secretary for State Service Issues, Bertrand
DelanoÃ", Paris Mayor, and other high-ranking officials.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, E. Nalbandian will return to Yerevan late in
the evening on April 24.

–Boundary_(ID_lh7oIpmgTuiKY/RoOGu2Uw)–

COUNCIL OF EUROPE IMPOSES NOTHING ON ARMENIA

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 19, 2008
Armenia

"There is one thing you should know well: we do not impose anything
on Armenia. We just express our viewpoint as to what is necessary for
you to do if you want to pursue the democratic path you chose in 2001
by signing the document on becoming a member of the Council of Europe.

It is now up to the people and the whole political elite of Armenia to
decide whether to move forward and restore the trust in the electoral
system," JOHN PRESCOTT, co-author of the PACE report on Armenia said
in an interview to radio station "Liberty".