Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

ARMENIA RECEIVES IRAN’S GAS

Fars News Agency
May 13 2009
Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Armenian Energy Ministry announced that it is due to
receive Iran’s gas on Wednesday to supply its energy needs.

The Energy Ministry Spokeswoman Lusine Harutunian said that the gas
will be used for production of electricity and Armenia does not intend
to import the gas for domestic use.

"The volume of Iranian gas will depend on demand from Iran for electric
power," she added.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company
(NIGEC) Seyed Reza Kassaeizadeh traveled to Armenia on Monday to
take part in a ceremony on the inauguration of Iran’s gas export to
the country.

Noting that the volume of gas exports could reach 4 million cubic
meters (141.3 million cu-ft) per day in 2011 and rise to 6.3 million
cubic meters (222.5 million cu-ft) per day afterwards, Kassaeizadeh
reiterated that the gas is being transported via a 762-mm (30-inch)
diameter pipeline that runs for 113 km (71 miles) from Tabriz in East
Azarbaijan Province to the Iran-Armenia border.

Iran and Armenia signed a contract according to which the latter is
to pay for the gas by electricity from Armenian power plants.

The announcement comes a month after a two-day visit to Iran by
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.

During his stay in Tehran, eight agreements were inked between
the two sides that underlined Iran and Armenia’s commitment to
further developing their relations through additional significant
infrastructure, transport, and energy projects.

SIDES OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT "ARE FORCED TO PEACE" BY OSCE MINSK GROUP

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.05.2009 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ While Georgia was compelled to peace only by
Russia, in the case of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Moscow obtained
powerful allies: Washington and Paris. Certainly, compelling to
peace will happen at a diplomacy level, anticipatory and soft, only
through political means. As ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov, Russia’s
ex-co-chair of MG OSCE writes in the "Vremya Novostey" newspaper,
many things depend on the OSCE consistency.

"Peaceful operation in Nagorno Karabakh also must envisage, when
necessary, the phase of compelling to peace. Peaceful resolution of
the conflict is necessitated by the interests of both nations and
the world community.

Irrespectively of significance of the Moscow declaration, a
legally binding document is necessary for peaceful resolution of the
conflict. This is required to sober up advocates of force revanche or
forestalling by preventive blow. It’s worth signing an Agreement on
non-use of force within the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Baku
is unlikely to sign that document, but this proposal, as well as
deviation from it will cool some hot heads, particularly taking
into account the experience of treacherous actions of Sahakashvili,"
said the Russian diplomat.

IMF WELCOMES ANTI-CRISIS MEASURES OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

ArmInfo
2009-05-11 17:18:00

ArmInfo. The IMF has positively assessed the anti-crisis measures of
the Armenian government, IMF mission chief for Armenia Mark Lewis
said today when presenting the report "Regional Economic outlook –
Caucasus and Central Asia".

He said that in the conditions of the world economical crisis Armenian
government is conducting "rational" economical policy. He called the
decision of Armenian Central Bank to pass to the flexible currency
policy of the floating rate in March of the current year a positive
step. He also said that after immediate falling of the national
currency the situation at the market normalized and Armenian dram
is stable at present and the inflation pressure has reduced. The
IMF positively assesses the fact that in the conditions of crisis
Armenian government is trying to conduct not only harsh monetary
policy but also the budgetary one. It is very much important that
in the crisis conditions the government continues making structural
reforms, in particular, tax reforms, as the share of the tax revenues
in the GDP is still small in Armenia, Mark Lewis said.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE ISSUES OF FAMILIES TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN TO BE HELD

ARMENPRESS
May 11, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: International conference on the issues
of families taking care of children will be held May 14 in Yerevan
on the occasion of the International Day of Protection of Family. The
event is organized by the "Children Reception and Orientation Center"
of Fund for Armenian Relief in collaboration with UNISEF.

The head of the programs of the center Ramona Ktakyan told Armenpress
that during the conference issues on the protection of rights of
children, the existing situation in the country, families taking care
of children will be discussed.

At the event present will be representatives of the government, Labor
and Social Affairs Ministry, as well as from NGOs, international
organizations.

The center is going in early June to organize an event dedicated to
the Day of Protection of Children Rights.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 10 2009

Massacre in Mardın incites debate over capital punishment

The slaying of 44 people in a massacre in the southeastern province of
Mardin has restarted the debate over capital punishment. Many citizens
who fear the suspects will not get the punishment they deserve believe
that any punishment other than capital punishment will not have a
strong deterrent effect on serious crimes.

Ahmet Ã?etindemir, a 68-year-old retired civil servant,
said, `The death penalty should be reinstated so that those who try to
kill the innocent get the punishment they deserve,’ noting that this
was the view of many people. The same sentiment is appearing on the
Internet as well. Thousands of people have responded to news articles
online about the massacre with the same views.

Also referring to the Mardin massacre, the Felicity Party’s (SP)
leader, Numan KurtulmuÅ?, said, `This event should bring to the
agenda a re-evaluation of capital punishment.’

The administrators of human rights organizations, who note that Turkey
took an important step forward on human rights by signing a European
convention protocolabolishing capital punishment in 2004, urge debates
to focus not on capital punishment, but on understanding the root of
problems. Speaking to Sunday’s Zaman, Association of Human Rights and
Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUMDER) Chairman Ã-mer Faruk
GergeroÄ?lu said: `Looking for a solution with the death
sentence will not mean that you have resolved the problem. It will
mean continuing violations.’ Human Rights Association (Ä°HD)
Chairman Ã-ztürk TürkdoÄ?an said a detailed
analysis of the dimensions of the Mardin massacre was necessary and
added: `We are facing a multifaceted massacre that needs to be
analyzed. The causes of these kinds of problems should be debated;
however, the death sentence should not be a topic in this debate.’

KurtulmuÅ?: Villains are going to be back on the streets

By starting a debate on the death sentence with hopes that it will be
lead to a re-evaluation of the punishment, KurtulmuÅ? told
Sunday’s Zaman that he was acting as the voice of the public
conscience. Noting that there is serious concern over whether the
suspects will get the punishment they deserve, KurtulmuÅ? said:
`They say the suspects have been caught. At best, these people are
going to get life sentences. But 10 or 15 years later they will be
released, and these inhumane villains will be back on the streets.
Turkey must reconsider this as well. This event should put capital
punishment back on the agenda." He said that it was hard to believe
that this massacre was carried out be Turkey’s own children.

He noted that he received thousands of messages of support on his call
to debate the reinstatement of capital punishment and added that the
recent incident in Mardin has exposed the conditions of life for those
in the East and the Southeast. `On the one hand there is poverty,
hopelessness, and loneliness, and on the other there are futile and
cruel traditions. There is also the terror curse and the unresolved
murder cases regarding death wells. On top of all this, imposing
traditions based on who knows what religion, belief, mentality or
civilization has made these people embittered and tired of
living. This is what the massacre has exposed,’ he said.

Noting that victims and the public were disheartened that the suspects
would not get the proper punishment, the SP leader said their call to
debate reinstating capital punishment was appropriate.

`Let’s debate everything but capital punishment’

Noting that they oppose capital punishment regardless of the crime,
GergeroÄ?lu said MAZLUMDER does not believe debating capital
punishment will solve any problems. He said the organization was
against capital punishment because they believe a person’s most
fundamental right is the right to life, and added: `In every
situation, we should try to resolve the problem while protecting human
rights. Resorting to capital punishment does not mean one has found a
solution. Capital punishment violates human rights. We believe
abolishing capital punishment was a positive step for Turkey. There
are important factors involved in the Mardin massacre. There are many
factors rooted in sociological problems such as terrorism, the village
guard system and the Kurdish problem. Debating capital punishment
without resolving these problems is not very reasonable.’

GergeroÄ?lu also expressed the view that approaching these
problems in anger would not help to solve them, and said: `Indeed, the
Mardin massacre is a very disgraceful attack. Indeed, it is
incomprehensible, a tragedy that makes your blood run cold. However,
as an organization we don’t approve of debating capital punishment
before looking into the root of the problems. It is easy to approach a
problem in anger, but this does not solve the problem.’

Highlighting that capital punishment was a violation of human rights,
Ä°HD Chairman TürkdoÄ?an said other punishments
excluding the death sentence should be implemented to deter people
from committing crimes. He also emphasized that the Ä°HD is
against capital punishment, regardless of the situation, and added
that the right to life is the most sacred right for a person. `But the
death sentence violates a person’s right to life and consequently
violates human rights. Therefore, we don’t approve of debating capital
punishment,’ he said.

TürkdoÄ?an said the Mardin massacre and especially the
topic of amnesty should be debated on every level, noting that such a
discussion could prompt a comprehensive debate about the entire
system. Explaining the importance of building a sense of justice,
TürkdoÄ?an said: `A general amnesty is often declared in
our country. The Mardin massacre can be debated in association with
the topic of general amnesty, but it should not be debated with ties
to capital punishment. The punishments and general amnesties granted
to criminals who committed a crime against people weaken people’s
feelings of justice. This is a topic that can be debated. The
punishments imposed on people who commit crimes against the state and
the punishments imposed on people who commit crimes against human
beings can be considered, but we do not approve of debating a
punishment that violates a person’s most fundamental right, which is
the right to life.’

He explained that the death penalty does not have a strong deterrent
effect in countries where it is still used, but in countries where the
death sentence has been abolished the results have been more
positive. He emphasized that Turkey abolished capital punishment by
signing an agreement with both the United Nations and the Council of
Europe and therefore Turkey should not even debate this topic any
longer. Noting that the suspects would get the punishment they
deserved, TürkdoÄ?an concluded his statements by
explaining: `With the new system, in cases where many people are
murdered the punishment will not be limited to 15 to 20 years. Those
who committed the massacre in Mardin don’t have any chance of being
released from prison. Those convicted may get 44 life sentences or get
24 years in prison 44 times.’

Turkey ratified ECHR Protocol no. 13 in 2004

Turkey ratified the sixth protocol to the European Convention on Human
Rights (ECHR), which removed capital punishment from peacetime law, on
Jan. 15, 2003, and signed the protocol that prohibits death sentence
during time of war on Jan. 9, 2004. Turkey was one of the last member
countries of the Council of Europe to sign the sixth protocol, causing
tension between Ankara and Strasbourg for an extended period of
time. Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were among the countries
that did not ratify Protocol 13 for many years, but Turkey ratified
Protocol 13 to the ECHR, which abolishes capital punishment, in 2004.

The Council of Europe introduced Protocol 13 on May 3, 2002. The
Council of Europe, which gives importance to being a continent free of
the death penalty, is carrying out work to abolish the death penalty
in the US and Japan, two countries that have observer status with the
council.

10 May 2009, Sunday
ALÄ° ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA

Interfax, Russia
May 5 2009

Armenian PM, Russian SVR director discuss cooperation

YEREVAN May 5

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Russian Foreign
Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Mikhail Fradkov met in Yerevan on
Tuesday, to discuss further cooperation between their agencies, the
Armenian government press service told Interfax on Tuesday.

"Tigran Sargsyan and Mikhail Fradkov agreed that meetings held in the
framework of Armenian-Russian strategic partnership and exchange of
opinions on issues that are of mutual interest help keep the focus on
security issues and political and economic development in the regions
and in the world," the press service said.

Sargsyan presented to Fradkov the Armenian government’s position on
dealing with the financial crisis, issues relating to Armenia’s
relations with Turkey and Iran, and regional security and cooperation
issues, the report says.

U.S. SHOULD REMEMBER THAT TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN KEEP ARMENIA IN BLOCKADE

19:14 08/05/2009
Source: Panorama.am

The President of the United States has also presented the State Budget
for 2010 though it is not the final version. But we are disappointed,’
Arpi Vardanyan, the director of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh offices
of the Armenian Assembly of America said. The U.S. President has been
always saying that both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh will get equal
support, he has been also saying that Armenia and Azerbaijan will get
equal military support. `After all of that, he has not kept his
promise,’ Arpi Vardanyan said. According to Vardanyan Armenia will get
30 millionUSD financial support next year, while this year Armenia
received 48 millionUSD. Even more, next year Armenia will receive 450
thousand USD military support and Azerbaijan 900 thousand. Vatdanyan
says that the Community should be strict to demand equal support for
both countries. `We should keep in our minds that Turkey and
Azerbaijan still are keeping Amrenia in blockade. All these should be
taken into account when sharing the support,’Vardanyan said.

NALBANDIAN AND BENT DISCUSSED MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE PROGRAMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.05.2009 17:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met "Millennium
Challenge" Corporation Manager Rodney Bent within the framework of
his US visit.

The parties discussed implementation of "Millennium Challenges"
Programs in Armenia.

RA Foreign Minister held a working meeting in Armenia Embassy in
US. The meeting focused on priority issues of RA foreign policy,
RA MFA Press service reported

SINGER AZNAVOUR APPOINTED AS ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR

Reuters
May 6 2009
UK

YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia appointed French singer Charles Aznavour,
the child of Armenian parents, as the former Soviet republic’s
ambassador to Switzerland, the office of the president said on
Wednesday.

Aznavour, 84, was born in France and established an international
singing career that still takes him around the globe.

A statement issued by the office of President Serzh Sarksyan said
Aznavour was appointed ambassador to Switzerland and Armenia’s
permanent representative at the Geneva office of the United Nations
and other international organizations.

Aznavour was granted Armenian citizenship in December 2008.

In February this year, he confirmed he had agreed to join the Armenian
diplomatic service, telling Armenian television:

"At first I hesitated, because I thought that this is no easy
matter. But then I thought that in the end, what is important for
Armenia must be important for us all." (Reporting by Hasmik Lazarian,
writing by Matt Robinson)

ARMENIA: OBAMA ESCAPES BLAME FOR OMISSION
Gayane Abrahamyan

Eurasianet

May 1, 2009

Rather than blame US President Barack Obama, many Armenians are
holding Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan responsible for the American
leader’s failure to use the word "genocide" in an April 24 speech
to commemorate Ottoman Turkey’s 1915 massacre of an estimated 1.5
million ethnic Armenians.

Many in Yerevan see a connection between Obama’s omission and the April
22 announcement that Armenia and Turkey had settled on a "road map"
for the normalization of relations. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive]. Obama, many believe, did not want to possibly damage
the normalization process at a delicate stage.

The US president might not have felt so constrained had the "road map"
announcement not taken place.

"It is useless to expect anything from Obama, when the president of
our own country signs an obscure agreement with unknown consequences,"
commented management consultant Harutiun Mesrobian at an April 30
public discussion in Yerevan about Armenia’s relations with Turkey.

Instead of "genocide," Obama, like former president George W. Bush
before him, opted for the Armenian expression "Mets Yeghern" or
"Great Calamity."

Discussions about Obama’s speech among young Armenians on social
network sites Facebook.com and Hayland.am have confronted the issue
head-on: "Obama simply exploited Armenians’ stupid diplomacy. What
a shame!" one Facebook user exclaimed.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun, which split
from Armenia’s ruling coalition over the agreement, echoes that
view. "Obama broke his promise," said Giro Manoian, director of
the party’s International Secretariat, in reference to Obama’s
pledges while a presidential candidate to recognize the massacre as
genocide. "We are disappointed, but our first disappointment was
on April 22, when Armenia and Turkey signed the secret agreement,
which gave a clear notion of what Obama would say."

Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesperson for the governing Republican Party of
Armenia which Sargsyan heads, countered that "Obama could not make his
decision on what to say in a day, or based on one single agreement."

The document, to date, has not been publicly released. The lack
of an official text has merely fuelled speculation over the past
week. While a mood of suspicion is widespread, Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute Director Haik Demoian is optimistic on the issue,
believing that Obama’s failure to use the term "genocide" could turn
out to play a positive role in Armenian diplomacy.

"President Obama is a greatly charismatic person. The talk about his
not keeping the promise to use the word ‘genocide’ created a tumult
that can facilitate increased awareness of the Armenian problem
internationally," Demoian, told an April 30 news conference.

The controversy shows little sign of diminishing in Armenia. On
April 25, a group of young people, chanting "Where are the changes,
Obama?" and "You did not keep your promise!" conducted a rallies
in front of the American Embassy and the Armenian Foreign Affairs
Ministry in Yerevan. The opposition Heritage Party’s youth movement
organized a similar protest on April 23.

A prominent historian suggested that Obama use or non-use of
the word "genocide" could not be expected to exert influence
on Turkey. "Forty-two of the 50 states in the United States have
officially recognized the genocide. More than 20 countries worldwide
have done it . . . but, as we can see, this does not affect Turkey’s
position," commented Ashot Melkonian, director of the National Academy
of Sciences’ Institute of History.