Author: Hunanian Jack

IRAN CANCELS VISIT BY ARMENIAN DELEGATION

Radio Free Europe
June 23, 2009

YEREVAN — A visit to Iran by an Armenian parliamentary delegation
scheduled for last weekend was abruptly canceled by the Iranian side
on June 20, RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reports, citing parliament
spokesman Nairi Petrosian.

Petrosian said the trip was to have included a meeting with Iran’s
embattled President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and other senior officials.

He declined to speculate about why the trip was canceled or when it
might be rescheduled.

Iran has been rocked in recent days by mass demonstrations against the
alleged falsification of the country’s June 12 presidential election.

Iranians living in Armenia held a rally outside the Iranian Embassy in
Yerevan last week and outside the UN office in the capital on June 22.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, who faced similar allegations and
unrest following his election in February 2008, was among the first
world leaders to congratulate Ahmadinejad on his reelection.

HRANUSH HAKOBIAN: MINISTRY OF DIASPORA HAS BEEN CREATED FOR COOPERATING AND MAKING JOINT DECISIONS

Noyan Tapan
June 23, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Studying the Armenian Diaspora,
understanding its problems and peculiarities is among the goals of RA
Ministry of Diaspora activity. Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian
reported at the June 23 press conference dedicated to the work done by
the Ministry in the first half of 2009 adding that Ministry’s mission
is to carry out state policy aimed at deepening and development of
Diaspora-Homeland cooperation.

According to the Minister, as a result of the analyses it was found
out that today the Diaspora has a number of problems, in particular,
problem of forgetting the mother tongue, reduction of the number
of pupils at Armenian schools. "Therefore the Ministry tries to
work out programs that will be useful for the Diaspora as far as
possible. Meanwhile we realize that Diaspora’s abilities, strength and
possibilities should serve for Armenia’s strengthening," H. Hakobian
said. In her words, some people in Diaspora thought that the Ministry
was created to rule, to control the Diaspora. "I am announcing:
the Ministry has come to speak, to cooperate, to discuss and to make
joint decisions," the Minister said.

Besides, according to H. Hakobian, we should make the Diaspora
more cognizable in Armenia and vice versa. She said that Ministry’s
electronic newspaper, Hayern Aysor should have an important role in
solving the above mentioned problem. "Through the newspaper we try
not only to present Ministry’s activity, but also the most important
events taking place in the Diaspora are included in our periodical,"
H. Hakobian said adding that the newspaper already has foreign
correspondents working and cooperating as volunteers.

HISTORY OF TERM ‘GENOCIDE’ LINKED TO ARMENIANS

The National
3/OPINION/706229904/-1/NEWS
June 23 2009
UAE

It is astonishing to see the word genocide used in quotation marks,
The Armenian city lives in a school museum (June 20), when the word
was coined by the jurist Raphael Lemkin specifically to describe
the barbarity that befell the Armenians at the hands of the Turkish
state. Dr Lemkin, a lawyer of Polish-Jewish descent and Holocaust
survivor, used the word genocide in 1943 to describe the deaths of
the Armenians, and then the Holocaust. Before the word existed, the
British prime minister Winston Churchill and world leaders described
the events as the "Armenian holocaust".

In 1985, the United Nations recognised the Armenian genocide in an
official report. In 2003, the International Centre for Transitional
Justice found that the events of 1915 included "all of the elements
of the crime of genocide as defined in the 1948 UN Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide".

And in 2005 the International Association of Genocide Scholars
unanimously affirmed the Armenian genocide. The genocide has been
officially recognised by scores of countries and international
organisations worldwide.So, with the exception of Turkish
state-sponsored "historians", most historians and genocide scholars
acknowledge the facts of the Armenian genocide.

Berge Jololian, Cambridge, Massachussetts

While the article by Daniel Bardsley was informative, it seemed
ironic that he would use the word genocide in quotation marks three
consecutive times.

I wonder if it was Mr Bardsley’s choice to use the quotation marks,
or whether it was his editor who decided to put the word in quotation
marks. In case his editor doesn’t know, the word genocide was coined,
in part, to refer to the Armenian massacres of 1915.

If your newspaper is not convinced that the Armenian genocide
took place, then you should stop using the word genocide since its
etymology implies that the Armenian genocide did take place. Your
political correctness or objectiveness aside, the article was an
interesting read.

Simon, Littleton, Colorado

NAGORNO KARABAKH AUTONOMY IMPOSSIBLE – ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL

Interfax
June 18 2009
Russia

The lack of real progress in the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict shows the non-constructive position of Azerbaijan, said
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian.

"The Azerbaijani authorities are simultaneously threatening to resolve
the conflict by military means and sign a document on the non-use of
force. [They] deny the existence of the ‘Madrid document’ and are
saying they have adopted this document and are sitting down at the
negotiation table mediated by the OSCE [Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe] Minsk Group while transfering the issue to
other international bodies. Azerbaijan’s non-constructive policy is
tiring for the international community and they had to give up under
pressure from the mediators. An indication of this is the adoption
of the ‘Madrid document,’ the signing of the Meindorf Declaration,
and the St. Petersburg meeting, which contains positive responses,"
Kocharian said in an interview published in the Thursday edition of
the newspaper Aravot.

Kocharian said, evaluating Azerbaijan’s policy on the Karabakh issue,
that "the country is using the negotiation process as a cover to
promote its own viewpoint that it cannot help resolve the problem."

Kocharian reiterated that the solution proposed by Azerbaijan,
which envisages the autonomy of Nagorny Karabakh in Azerbaijan,
is impossible. "Naturally, it’s impossible and Azerbaijan should
realize that there is no way back," he said.

RA MINISTRY OF DIASPORA KEEPS PROBLEMS OF DIASPORAN STUDENTS IN FOCUS OF ITS ATTENTION

Noyan Tapan
June 18, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Ministry
of Diaspora in its activity attaches importance to work done
with the Diasporan youth studying at Armenia’s educational
institutions. Saying this to Hayern Aysor, Sirvard Hambarian, the Head
of the Scientific-Educational Programs Subdivision of All-Armenian
Programs Department, RA Ministry of Diaspora, emphasized that issues
regarding students’ educational, social, and legal status are always
in the focus of Minister Hranush Hakobian’s attention.

According to S. Hambarian, to solve these problems, to overcome the
difficulties in the way of Diasporan students integration in Armenia
a number of meetings have been already organized at the Ministry
with representatives of body of active students, individual groups,
educational institutions, law enforcement and other interested
structures.

Polls were held by the RA Ministry of Diaspora Scientific-Educational
Programs Department jointly with the World Armenian Congress
Association of Youth Organizations to study the problems of Diasporan
young people studying at Armenia’s universities. Problems raised
by the students regarded, in particular, study, as well as study
payments, their status, dual citizenship, as well as their integration
in Armenia.

In particular, students had some problems connected with the status
of temporary stay: the students were not informed in time that by
September 15 they had to introduce their documents to extend the term
of their stay, because of which part of students had to pay a fine
of 50 000 drams. S. Hambarian said that the Ministry has discussed
the issue with the RA Police Passport and Visa Department, as well
as with universities’ administrations and as a result, at the most
part of universities the fined sum was returned or was transferred
to the account of students’ study payment for the next half-year.

The students consider that the term of temporary stay should
be extended. S. Hambarian said that the Ministry has legislative
initiatives to make amendments in the status of stay, to extend terms
of visas.

The students are also concerned with the process of granting dual
citizenship. According to them, the process should be more simplified.

Another problem raised by Diasporan students was also solved
with the Ministry’s mediation: by RA Health Minister’s decree,
henceforth Diasporan students will receive free medical aid at medical
institutions of Armenia.

S. Hambarian also said that they work with universities’
administrations in the direction of liquidating considerable
difference between study payments of RA citizen students and
Diasporan students. Yerevan State University of Architecture and
Construction has already responded to this initiative of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora. From 2009-2010 academic year Diasporan students
entering Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction
paid groups studying in Armenian (study for bachelor’s degree and
master’s degree) will pay for their studies as much as RA citizen
students. The administration of the State Engineering University of
Armenia has also expressed such readiness.

It was also mentioned that students studying at foreign universities
apply to the RA Ministry of Diaspora expressing willingness to pass
their practice in Armenia. In July the Ministry of Diaspora will
receive five students of RF Nizhni Novgorod A. Lobachevski State
University International Relations Department. An Argentine Armenian
student from Mendosa University will also hold his professional
practice at the Nairi medical center of Yerevan.

According to S. Hambarian, today the Ministry has a goal to contribute
to Diasporan students’ participation in development processes of
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, rise of Diasporan youth’s role. "Armenian
students from foreign countries studying at Armenian universities are
unique ambassadors of the ethnic Homeland, Armenia and the country of
their residence, at the same time a link connecting the Homeland and
their communities," S. Hambarian said. In her words, the Ministry
with its activity will contribute to sowing the idea of bearing
responsibility for keeping the national identity in the Diasporan
young generation worldwide, to formation of perception of Armenia as
Homeland, formation of Armenian language thinking, their involvement
in programs aimed at preservation of Armenian identity. "They are the
future capable force of consolidating Diaspora’s professional potential
for the sake of development of cooperation between the Homeland and
Diaspora, for the sake of prosperous Armenia and strong Diaspora,"
S. Hambarian said.

GOVERNOR OF KALININGRAD OBLAST TO VISIT ARMENIA ON JUNE 17-19

ARKA
June 17, 2009

YEREVAN, June 17. /ARKA/. Delegation of Kaliningrad oblast (region)
headed by its Governor Georgy Boos will visit Yerevan on June 17-19,
the press-service of the Russian Embassy in Armenia told ARKA on
Tuesday.

The reason of the visit is to make a presentation of Russia’s
Kaliningrad oblast which will take place at House of Moscow in Yerevan
on June 18.

During the visit of the delegation Governor Boos intends to have
meetings with officials of Armenia, public figures, his fellow
countrymen, as well as speak for students of Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) University (RAU).

Besides the official program, the delegation of Kaliningrad will
participate in events, namely meetings of Armenian and Russian
businessmen, signing an agreement on cooperation between RAU and
Russian State University after Kant.

ACCORDING TO ARAM KARAPETIAN, WHEN PEOPLE SHOWS INFLEXIBLE WILL, POWER PYRAMID STARTS TO COLLAPSE

Noyan Tapan
June 16, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian society has not reconciled
itself to the rigged presidential and Yerevan Council of Elders
elections. Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party Chairman Aram Karapetian
stated at the June 15 press conference. "If we had managed to return
to Liberty Square those gathered at the monument to Miasnikian on
2008 March 1, a peaceful revolution would have been possible," he
said. According to A. Karapetian, when the people shows an inflexible
will, the power pyramid starts to collapse: it was this way in Serbia
and in the Ukraine.

Touching upon the dissolution of the fact-finding committee of
experts on study of the 2008 March 1-2 events, the NZ leader said
that by doing so the authorities want to "close the subject of March
1." In his conviction, instead of dissolving the group they could
have changed its members or one of them.

Reminding that he participates in the work of the NA Ad-hoc Committee
on Events Occurred on 2008 1-2 March and Their Reasons A. Karapetian
said that the information is "dosated" in the committee. Besides,
according to him, TV companies only cover the opinion of committee
Chairman Samvel Nikoyan, and in general an attempt to slur over the
picture of March 1 events is made.

Lider TV, Azerbaijan
June 11 2009

Three more Armenian soldiers cross into Azerbaijan

Three more Armenian soldiers cross into Azerbaijan. The Armenian
soldiers had defected from a regiment stationed in Martuni region of
Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagornyy Karabakh.

The report quoted the three men as saying that they had decided to
cross into the Azerbaijani side due to poor conditions in the army and
mistreatment by senior officers. It quoted them as saying that they
had been conscripted in Armenia and sent to do their military service
in Karabakh. It said that they wanted to be sent to a third country.

The report showed three men dressed in camouflage being interviewed by
a journalist. They were speaking in Armenian with overlaid Azerbaijani
translation. At the end of the report they were shown saying in
Armenian – "We do not want to go back to Armenia."

That is the second incident in June when Armenian soldiers crossed
into Azerbaijan.

On 1 June, Azeri and Armenian media reported that two Armenian
soldiers went AWOL in Nagornyy Karabakh and crossed into Azerbaijan.

Opposition rally ends in traditional march
12.06.2009 22:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Observers’ statement on May 31 municipal elections
proved that the West covers Serzh Sargsyan’s unlawful actions,
Armenian National Congress leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan said completing
the opposition rally late Friday.
At that he said that he doesn’t condemn the position of Russian
leaders, whose statements do not contradict one another.
Touching on foreign policy issues, Armenia’s first President called on
all opposition forces and Prosperous Armenia party to unite. `You
wanted to take action. Now, you have the chance,’ he said.
He called for struggle unless Serzh Sargsyan leaves Armenia.
The rally ended in traditional march.
The next opposition rally is scheduled for September 18 but the ANC
leader did not rule out conduction of interim rallies.

Armenian delegation to attend CSTO meeting
13.06.2009 14:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian delegation led by President Serzh Sargsyan
will pay a 1-day visit to Moscow on June 14 to participate in a CSTO
meeting.
The delegation includes Secretary of National Security Council Arthur
Baghdasaryan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan.
During the meeting Belarus will take over the presidency in the
Organization, the RA leader’s press office reported.