Author: Felekian Ara

CHRONICLE OF RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE

Lragir.am
22 April 06

Within 91 years that followed the genocide of Armenians in 1915, 19
countries and the European Union recognized and condemned the
crime. The parliament Uruguay recognized the Armenian genocide by a
resolution in 1965 and by a law in 2004. Cyprus recognized it in 1982
by a resolution of the parliament, in 1987, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and
2005 the European Union adopted resolutions, recognizing and
condemning the genocide of Armenians.

The parliament of Argentina adopted resolutions in 1993 and 2005, in
2004 it adopted a law, recognizing the genocide. The Russian Duma
adopted a resolution in 1995. The parliament of Canada adopted
resolutions in 1996, 2002, 2004, condemning the genocide of
Armenia. The parliament of Greece adopted a resolution in
1996. Lebanon recognized the genocide by similar resolutions in 1997
and 2000. The parliament of Belgium adopted a resolution in 1998. The
French parliament adopted resolutions in 1998 and 2000, and in 2001 it
adopted a law, recognizing and condemning the genocide. In the same
year Vatican and Italy recognized the genocide. Switzerland adopted a
special resolution in 2003, Slovakia and Holland in 2004. Germany,
Lithuania and Poland recognized the genocide of Armenians in 2005.

Five countries of G8 have recognized the genocide. The United States
of America did not recognize the Armenian genocide. The United States
of America has not recognized the Armenian genocide. However,
Washington D.C. and 28 states have recognized the genocide. These
states are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Montana, and
Washington D.C.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR DISCUSS PROSPECT
OF CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS ON NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 20, OSCE
Minsk Group American Co-chair Steven Mann was received by Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the interlocutors
discussed the current stage and prospect of continuing the negotiations
on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

Tigran Torosian: “Diplomats co-chairing OSCE Minsk Group might be changed”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 20 2006

[ 20 Apr. 2006 18:36 ]

“Changes might happen in OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing Institute. I
do not exclude change Mann- Merzlyakov-Fasie trio. International
mediating process format has changed, therefore I do not exclude
change of anyone in OSCE Minsk Group diplomatic corpse,” head of
Armenian delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe
Tigran Torosian has stated. (APA).

He stated the impossibility of valuing the situation right after
Rambouillet talks. “But statement of official Baku after talks
on strengthening the army and increase of military budget worries
me.”/APA/

ARMENIAN STATE DANCE EMSEMBLE ALREADY HAS ITS WEB-SITE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian State
Dance Ensemble already has its web-site, which presents the history of
ensemble’s foundation, its biography, the photos and biographies of its
artistic directors, information about the ensemble’s studio, photos
from tours. The web-site also has an information department. Gagik
Karapetian, ensemble’s Art Director and Chief Dance Master, informed
about it at the April 19 presentation of the video-recording of the
concert tour the State Dance Ensemble had in February in Istanbul. The
Artistic Director said that in addition to the Istanbul tour, the
video-recording also presents the performances of all the items
on the current program of the ensemble. G.Karapetian informed that
in autumn they will already have 12 new items on their program. He
mentioned that this year the group has been replenished with young
girls, the boys will return from the military service soon and the
ensemble will start to work with new forces.

DEPOSITOR PRESENTS 35 SAVINGS-BANK BOOKS FOR COMPENSATION

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006

NOYEMBERIAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The depositors of former Savingbank
have to stand in a long queue at the social service unit of the city of
Noyemberian in order to sumbit an application for compensation. Head
of the social service unit Samvel Beglarian told NT correspondent
that 2,495 citizens, who are elibigle for compensation, must sumbit
their applications until May 12. It is noteworthy that one of the
depositors presented 35 sabings-bank books.

DELEGATION OF EU-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION AT RA PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2006 18:00

Today President Robert Kocharyan received the participants of the
8th sitting of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission.

Stressing the importance of rapid ratification of the Individual
Partnership Plan with Armenia in the framework of the European New
Neighbors Policy, Robert Kocharyan said that it will provide the
opportunity to have more coordinated relations with the European
Union and to move forward.

At the request of the members of the EU delegation, the President
presented the latest developments in the negotiations on peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict and Armenia’s approaches.

The parties turned to the events around Iran and to issues of
Armenian-Turkish relations. The President noted that Armenia’s position
is distinct: our country is ready to establish relations with Turkey
without any preconditions.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of deepening the
democratization process in Armenia, and conduct of elections
corresponding to European standards.

Karasin and Fassier discuss the process of settlement of teh Karabakh
conflict

ArmRadio.am
15.04.2006 13:58

Yesterday Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigori Karasin received
the French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier, who
arrived in Moscow after visiting Baku and Yerevan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation informs that
the interlocutors discussed the issues of coordinating the activities
in the Co-Chairmanship format and the future steps directed at
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

14-04-2006

Minister Oskanian Receives OSCE Minsk Co-Chair Bernard Fassier

Minister Oskanian received Ambassador Bernard Fassier, French Co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group, on April 13.

The two discussed the present state of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement process and exchanged views on the prospects for negotiations.

NA DEPUTY ARTAK SARGSIAN EXPLUDED FROM PARTY ON DECISION OF ORINTAS
ERKIR PARTY POLITICAL BOARD

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 special sitting of the
political board of the Orinats Erkir party, a unanimous decision was
made to exlude Artak Sargsian, member of the party’s NA faction, owner
of the SAS supermarket newtork, from the party membership. The reason
was that despite the decision of the party and its faction, the deputy
voted “for” during voting on the report on implementation of the
2001-2003 state property implementation program in the National
Assembly. Mher Shahgeldian, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs, Vice Chairman of the
Orinats Erkir Party, stated this at the April 14 briefing of the
faction.

According to him, NA Speaker and leader of the Orinats Erkir Party
Artur Baghdasarian sent the material containing facts about violations
committed during the privatization process to the Office of the RA
Prosecutor General. As for “abstentions” of 7 members of the faction
during voting on the report, M. Shahgeldian did not see anything
unusual in it and noted that “against” and “abstention” votes were in
accordance with the political decision of the party.

It is noteworthy that despite the exclusion from the party membership,
under the NA by-law, a faction can terminate a deputy’s membership
only based on her/his own application. Secretary of the Justice
faction Victor Dallakian considered the three-day discussion and
voting of the report in the parliament as “spring aggravations or a
discrediting war within the coalition”. In his words, the opposition
gave its political assessment of the “shameful privatization”. As
regards the authorities, they are “steeped in corruption, therefore
they cannot fight against themselves.” In connection with the fact of
a not united vote of the Orinats Erkir faction, the deputy expressed
an opinion that “there is a problem of thinking over and expressing an
opinion about this force”. He did not rule out that “those wings of
power that influence the members of this faction” are the ones who
have dictated this situation. Leader of the Republican Party of
Armenian faction Galust Sahakian delined to comment on internal
problems of Orinats Erkir – its parner in the coaltion, noting that
A. Sargsian’s expulsion from the party was not a “sensation” to him.
According to him, the discussions of the report in the parliament
“resulted in the fact that in any case the coalition has no internal
problems”, as the coalition deputies did not make a call for voting
“against”, they just expressed their own position.

GOVERNMENT HAD NO RIGHT TO SELL 5TH POWER-ENGINEERING UNIT OF “HRAZDAN” THERMAL POWER STATION

Panorama.am
13:56 13/04/06

The head of “Human Rights – 96” party Rouben Torosyan has decided
to appeal to the Court demanding to invalidate the Government’s
resolution about selling the 5th power-engineering unit of Hrazdan
thermal power station. Rouben Torosyan addressed RA Defence Minister
Serge Sargsyan with an “Open suggestion”. In the above mentioned
note it was particularly stated: “Dear Minister, if you list the
Government members among those who have the right to possess state
property, then we advise you not to forget about law substantiation
while talking about that. According to the latter the Government has no
right to pass a resolution about sale of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan
thermal power station. While passing that resolution the Government
has ignored the RA citizen’s constitutional right to participate in
state government. We inform you and other coalitional Ministers that we
are going to take certain measures to call you to responsibility and
liquidate the results of the above mentioned violation. Best regards,
president of the party Rouben Torosyan.”

The latter also represents the list of the first measures taken. In
addition Rouben Torosyan has presented information to RF Ambassador
N. Pavlov about their initiatives to liquidate the Government’s above
mentioned resolution. And he has also presented information about
“just the usual kind of corruptive processes” to US Ambassador John
Evans and executive manager of “War-calls of Millennium” corporation,
Ambassador J. Danilovich.