Author: Jagharian Tania

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
March 17, 2007 Saturday 03:08 AM EST

CIS humanitarian cooperation council focused on particular projects

ALMATY, March 16

Almaty has hosted the first meeting of the CIS Humanitarian
Cooperation Council.

Special presidential representatives from the eight member-countries
of the Commonwealth of Independents States, as well as senior
officials for culture, science, and education met here on Friday to
map out plans for 2007-2008, discuss the council’s regulations, and
other procedural issues.

Participants in the meeting focused on the Interstate Humanitarian
Cooperation Fund, which will begin implementing real projects soon.

The council also discussed the possibilities to set up national
offices of the fund. One of their key tasks will be the intensive
drawing of non-budgetary funds for the projects with due account of
peculiarities of each CIS country.

“We have already discussed certain programs, which will be launched
in the near future,” Russia’s special presidential envoy for
humanitarian cooperation with the CIS countries Dzhakhan Pollyyeva,
who was elected as the Council’s chairperson, told Itar-Tass.

“All the necessary legal documents were signed. The financing
support of the projects is being coordinated,” she said.

“The keen interest voiced by CIS representatives and their proposals
showed that they view the fund as a source of new and broader
possibilities and expressed the readiness to work jointly for the
common benefit,” Pollyyeva said.

Chief of the Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography
Mikhail Shvydkoy, who attended the meeting, believes that the main
task of the fund is “to provide young talents with broader
possibilities for further growth.”

“It is necessary to start common projects in the spheres of museums,
theatres, and music,” he said.

“We are setting up a symphony orchestra jointly with the SIC Slavic
countries. This will be the biggest project of 2007,” he stressed,
adding, “We would like to draw in our Kazakh counterparts.
Therefore, the orchestra may turn into the Eurasian Youth Symphony
Orchestra.”

“We are going to establish a broad range of institutions and
agencies, which will select talented young people from former Soviet
republics and promote them on the markets of Eastern and Central
Europe,” Shvydkoy said, adding, “We should do our utmost to give
broader possibilities for young artists and scientists. We will find
the starting capital, and then they can make money themselves.”

“We are lacking performers from Kazakhstan and Georgia. This is a
good project, which is in demand on the market,” he said.

“It is of huge importance to keep up a certain cultural balance, a
balance of languages and humanitarian relations,” Shvydkoy stressed.

The second forum of CIS intellectuals due in Kazakhstan in autumn
will be one of the most important events of this year.

Participants in the Almaty meeting proposed to hold a forum of book
publishers in Armenia and to focus on translators and interpreters
activity in the CIS countries.

They also offered to establish a databank of ideas for the joint
production of films and to develop a program for preserving the CIS
cultural variety and heritage.

“The top priority of the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council is to
sustain and develop the cultural community of peoples that has formed
over decades,” famous Azerbaijani artist, the country’s Ambassador
to Russia Polad Bul-Bul ogly said at the meeting.

5 LOCAL AND 2 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS’ OBSERVERS ACCREDITED AT RA
CEC

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. As of March 16, 15:00, five local and
two international organizations were accredited at RA Central
Electoral Commission (CEC) for implementing observation mission at the
May 12 parliamentary elections. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it from CEC Spokesperson Tsovinar Khachatrian.

In addition to 2292 and 10 observers of Choice is Yours and Center for
Electoral Systems local NGOs, respectively, CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly (12 observers) and CIS Executive Committee (8 observers)
accredited earler, CEC accredited observers of another 3 local
organizations. The All Armenian Center for Long-Term Programs
accredited 12 observers, Apaven 60 observers, F. Nansen Human Rights
Armenian Center 17 observers.

To recap, the deadline for accrediting observers is May 2.

GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED DECLARATION ON GEORGIA’S MEMBERSHIP TO NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 17:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 13 with 160 votes "for" Georgian Parliament
unanimously adopted the text of Declaration on Georgia’s full and
urgent membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO. A
memorandum is attached to the Declaration undersigned by leaders of all
parliamentarian fractions and political parties, which are represented
in the Supreme Legislative body of the country. The memorandum also
is open to sign for political parties outside the parliament, which
support Georgia’s membership to NATO.

The text of the Memorandum and Declaration touches upon Georgia’s
defense policy aiming at subsequent integration of the country to the
Euro-Atlantic structures. They also indicate that it is necessary to
speed up the realization process of all commitments taken by Georgia
after joining the format of Intensive Dialog with NATO. The Memorandum
and Declaration also say that Georgian armed forces must participate
in all military operation under the NATO aegis, as well as reconsider
all new challenges and risks, which threaten Georgia and the necessity
to maximally protect the security of the country. The documents also
underline the importance to revise all necessary financial resources
during approval hearings of the budget in order to provide fulfillment
of commitments in the Declaration.

On the ceremony Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze stated, it is a
very important document, which fixes the joint stance of country’s
political spectrum. "The adoption of this document is more important on
the background of the events in Upper Abkhazia. NATO is a priority for
the whole Georgian nation. Hopefully with the help of the Alliance
we will be able to restore country’s territorial integrity and
protect sovereignty. And this organization is the only guarantee
for peace and stability in the region," Burjanadze underscored,
"Novosti-Gruzia" reports.

28 SCHOOLS AND 6 HOUSES OF CULTURE TO BE REPAIRED IN KOTAYK MARZ AT EXPENSE OF STATE BUDGET

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The socioeconomic situation in Kotayk
marz and programs on its further improvement were discussed by the
Armenian president Robert Kocharian and the governor of Kotayk marz
Kovalenko Shahgaldian during the March 14 working meeting. NT was
informed about it from the RA President’s press service. According
to the governor, in 2006, the collection of communities’ budgetary
revenues exceeded by 970 mln drams (about 2.7 mln USD) the 2005 index,
which allowed to solve a lot of social problems. The interlocutors also
discussed the programs on repairs of 28 schools, one hospital and 6
houses of culture in Kotayk marz, as well as the problem of assisting
property owners of Voghjaberd community in the landslide zone.

US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HOLDS DISCUSSION ON DRAFT NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY CONCEPT

ArmRadio.am
13.03.2007 11:20

On March 13, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a roundtable
discussion on a draft national food safety concept.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Caucasus Agricultural
Development Initiative (USDA/CADI) has embarked on a long term
"Armenian Food Safety Technical Assistance" project. The Project
Mission is to establish a viable, effective and sustainable food
safety system in the Republic of Armenia.

One of the many components in establishing a successful food safety
program in Armenia is to open a workshop with key stakeholders. USDA
is holding a half-day workshop concerning the Armenian National
Food Safety Concept. More than 50 key stakeholders are invited to
participate in the discussion, including representatives of Ministry
or Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development, processors, consumer organizations, universities, and
donor organizations.

The objective of the round table discussion is to establish an
internationally recognized food safety policy and enforcement
system. The ultimate goal is that the Concept be legalized in Armenia
and become an official part of the regulatory framework.

PRESS RELEASE
ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St. Tarzana, CA 91356
Contact: Hagop Panossian
Tel: (818) 586-9660
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ARPA Institute presents the Lecture/Seminar: `Can Arab Monarchies
Endure a Fourth War In The Persian Gulf?"," by Dr. Joseph A
Kéchichian, on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 7:30 PM at the Merdinian
School auditorium.

The Address is 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
Directions: on the 101 FWY exit on Woodman, go north and turn right on
Riverside Dr.

Abstract: The main topic of the lecture will be the inevitable
nuclearization of Iran and how that may usher in a permanent shift in
the regional balance of power of the Persian Gulf. The presentation
will attempt to answer questions relevant to Armenia, because of
potential spill-over effects throughout the region. In new regional
confrontations that may draw Turkey into indirect action, what occurs
in Iran, or elsewhere in the Gulf area will have an impact on
Armenia. Among the many concerns that the presentation will address
are: What will the burden of a nuclear Iran be on small and medium
size countries? How have conservative Arab Monarchies in the Persian
Gulf withered tribute and time to three major wars as they protected
common interests for the past twenty-five years? If in the past, Arab
Gulf monarchs cajoled Iran and Iraq and, when that failed, aligned
themselves with World powers to preserve and protect their regimes,
can they address new challenges likewise? Can savvy rulers prevent a
fourth regional war before the first decade of the 21st century is out
in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq? Can they
prevent a similarly argued call for regime change in the Islamic
Republic? Can they protect vulnerable societies from more harm or
will the Gulf Cooperation Council states hide behind `spillover’ fears
and, by doing so, postpone the inevitable reckoning that their rapidly
evolving nations demand of paternalistic leaders? Will domestic
tensions, regional upheavals, and international competition prevent
them from applying tested methods to survive? Ultimately, how long
will savvy Gulf monarchs succeed in deferring political and
socioeconomic reforms, as they prepare for the tangible repercussions
of what could well be yet another war looming over the horizon?

Dr. Joseph A Kéchichian is the CEO of Kéchichian & Associates, LLC, a
consulting partnership that provides analysis on the Arabian/Persian
Gulf region, specializing in the domestic and regional concerns of
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates and the Yemen. He received a doctorate in Foreign
Affairs from the University of Virginia in 1985, where he also taught
(1986-1988), and assumed the assistant deanship in international
studies (1988-1989). In the summer of 1989, he was a Hoover Fellow at
Stanford University. 1990-96, he was an Associate Political Scientist
at the RAND Corporation, and a lecturer at the University of
California in Los Angeles. 1998-01, he was a fellow at UCLA’s Gustav
E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies, where he held a
grant to compose Succession in Saudi Arabia, [New York: Palgrave
(2001) and Beirut and London: Dar Al Saqi, 2002, 2003 [2nd ed] (for
the Arabic translation)]. Dr. Kéchichian published Political
Participation and Stability in the Sultanate of Oman, Dubai: Gulf
Research Center, 2005, Oman and the World: The Emergence of an
Independent Foreign Policy, Santa Monica: RAND (1995), and edited A
Century in Thirty Years: Shaykh Zayed and the United Arab Emirates,
Washington, D.C.: The Middle East Policy Council (2000), as well as
Iran, Iraq, and the Arab Gulf States, New York: Palgrave (2001). In
2003, he co-authored (with Prof. R. Hrair Dekmejian) The Just Prince:
A Manual of Leadership (London: Saqi Books), that includes a full
translation of the Sulwan al-Muta` by Muhammad Ibn Zafar al-Siqilli.
He has just completed two new volumes, on Power and Succession in Arab
Monarchies [on a Smith Richardson Foundation grant], and A King for
All Seasons: Saudi Arabia Under Faysal, that will be published in
2007. He is the author of numerous essays, a frequent participant on
radio and television programs (e.g. MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour and
various BBC programs). He is a frequent traveler to the Gulf region
and is fluent in Arabic, Armenian, English, French, Italian, Turkish,
and is learning Persian.

For more Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660

Armenian foreign minister details talks in USA

Azg, Yerevan
10 Mar 07, p3

Excerpt from report by Aghavni Harutyunyan in Armenian newspaper Azg
published on 10 March headlined "Iran was not specifically discussed
with Condoleezza Rice" and subheaded "Oskanyan will remain minister as
long as Kocharyan wants"
After briefing on the recent visits to and from Armenia, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said [at his news conference in Yerevan] he will
soon travel to Switzerland with three key goals: to make a speech at the [UN]
human rights committee, meet Swiss authorities and meet Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a
visit to Armenia in the first week of April.
[Passage omitted: criticism of US human rights report on Armenia –
covered] At the meeting of the council [as published, presumably UN
human rights committee], Oskanyan will present the developments
regarding the human rights developments in Armenia, our issues, the
improvement of the legislation, including human rights issues in
connection with Nagornyy Karabakh, the issue of the Armenian monuments
in [Azerbaijani exclave of] Naxcivan, the issue of [Turkish journalist
of Armenian descent] Hrant Dink’s murder and so on.
Incidentally, a UNESCO delegation will soon visit the region and
Naxcivan. No specific dates are mentioned, but they [the delegation
members] will pay a visit and express their opinion about the
destruction of the khachkars [Armenian cross stones] and other
Armenian monuments.
Speaking about the "frozen conflicts" resolution proposed by the GUAM
(Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) countries [at the UN],
Oskanyan said that the common approach of the powers interested in our
region and Karabakh issue is not positive with regard to that
resolution.
"Everybody finds that resolution is unnecessary and may cause
additional complications in the Karabakh issue. I tried to explain its
negative consequences to the UN secretary general [in New York], and
Armenia’s possible stance if the resolution is adopted. The main
approach is that if the GUAM countries wish to present those conflicts
to a greater audience – the UN member states – a discussion without a
resolution would be the best way to do it, because today, the
processes around these conflicts are going on in other formats, and it
makes no sense for the UN to adopt a resolution on a conflict that is
under the OSCE format in our particular case, especially that the
conflicts differ in terms of their essence, history and reality," he
said.
Recently, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border was discussed at
his [Oskanyan’s] meeting with US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice. The
USA is sincere in its efforts to open the border, according to
Oskanyan, and the USA will continue working in that direction. The
Nagornyy Karabakh issue was not discussed in details with Rice because
OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair Matthew Bryza was also present at the
meeting.
Following his meeting with Rice, Oskanyan discussed Karabakh with
Bryza in more details, speaking about his forthcoming meeting with
Mammadyarov in Geneva. Since [OSCE Minsk Group] French co-chair
Bernard Fassier is also holding discussions on the same topic in the
region these days, it makes Oskanyan think that "preparatory work is
done for the Geneva meeting". Oskanyan said that if Azerbaijan "does
not cause problems, there are reasons to believe that the meeting will
have positive outcome." In addition, the co-chairs want the presidents
meet as soon as possible following the [Armenian] parliamentary
election [on 12 May].
Replying to a question from Azg whether he had discussed Iran with the
US state secretary, Oskanyan said he had discussed regional issues but
not Iran specifically. [Passage omitted: Azerbaijan’s statements on
Karabakh talks do not reflect reality of talks – covered]
Regarding Oskanyan’s future in politics: he is not in any of the party
lists of candidates [for parliament]. It makes no sense to be included
in a party list if you have no intention to work in parliament. "There
was no such an intention, and what’s more, there was no such
proposal. As long as the republic’s president wants me to work until
the end of his term, I will continue to work. And only time will show
what I will do after the election."

Le Matin
10 mars 2007 samedi
Édition Semaine

Le tribunal reconnaît le génocide;
PROCÈS. Le Turc Dogu Perinçek a été condamné hier pour discrimination
raciale à 90 jours-amende avec sursis

LAUSANNEPremière mondiale: le Tribunal de Lausanne admet l’existence
du génocide arménien. Condamné, Dogu Perinçek a décidé de faire
recourskGrégoire gregoire. @edipresse.ch

«Le Tribunal tient pour établi que le génocide arménien est un fait
avéré, n’en déplaise à l’accusé. » Hier matin, pour condamner le Turc
négationniste Dogu Perinçek, le juge Pierre-Henri Winzap a pesé ses
mots, conscient de leur importance. Le Tribunal d’arrondissement de
Lausanne restera dans l’Histoire comme la première cour de justice au
monde à avoir reconnu sur le plan pénal le génocide perpétré à
l’encontre des Arméniens dès 1915.

Dogu Perinçek a été condamné à 90 jours-amende (9000francs) avec un
sursis de deux ans, 3000francs d’amende ferme, 1000francs
d’indemnités pour tort moral à l’Association Suisse-Arménie et près
de 16 000francs de frais de procès à régler.

k«Raciste, arrogant et provocateur»

Pour statuer, le juge a entièrement suivi le réquisitoire du
procureur. «L’entêtement de M. Perinçek est incompréhensible», a
asséné Pierre-Henri Winzap, qualifiant l’accusé de «raciste»,
«arrogant» et «provocateur». Un jugement qui n’a pas semblé ébranler
l’agitateur négationniste. Dogu Perinçek récidivait quelques minutes
après le verdict devant le Tribunal de Montbenon. «Je reste convaincu
que le génocide n’a pas eu lieu. Le juge n’était pas neutre. Sa
décision est raciste et impérialiste. Il a montré sa haine contre la
Turquie. »

Présent à Lausanne pour suivre le procès, le consul général de
Turquie Cemil Karaman n’était pas moins sceptique. «Un tribunal
suisse ne devrait pas se prononcer sur une affaire d’une telle
ampleur», notait le diplomate. L’ambassade de Turquie à Berne ne
désirait, elle, faire aucun commentaire hier. Dogu Perinçek a
confirmé qu’il recourrait contre sa condamnation jusqu’à la Cour
européenne des droits de l’homme de Strasbourg si nécessaire.

kEmotion et soulagement

Du côté arménien, Sarkis Shahinian a salué le jugement, «un pas
extrêmement important». A la lecture du verdict, le coprésident de
l’Association Suisse-Arménie a difficilement contenu son émotion. «Je
ressens un gros soulagement. Je pense en premier lieu à mon père,
rescapé du génocide arménien et mort il y a peu. Ainsi qu’à l’ancien
conseiller national genevois Jean-Claude Vaudroz décédé mercredi,
l’initiateur de la reconnaissance du génocide en Suisse »

IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPECT THAT PUBLIC WILL TAKE PART IN ELECTIONS WITH GREAT INSPIRATION, ALBERT BAZEYAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 07 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 3-4 pro-governmental and 3
opposition parties out of 28 political forces having nominated their
candidatures for the parliamentary elections will appear in the
parliament. Albert Bazeyan, Chairman of National Rebirth Party, who
is the second on PPA’s proportional list, expressed such an opinion
at the March 7 press conference. He gave assurance that the goal of
the rest of 20 parties is to disperse the electorate.

Mentioning that out of pro-governmental forces RPA, Bargavach
Hayastan Party, ARFD and ULP will be represented at the parliament,
A. Bazeyan did not wish to present his forecasts regarding the
oppositionists. Under conditions of opposition forces’ being separated,
in his words, it is difficult to expect that the public will take part
in the elections with great inspiration. In A. Bazeyan’s opinion,
instead of dicrediting one another for many years the opposition
forces should have tried to consolidate and such an attempt made at the
last moment was doomed to failure. In his words, the National Rebirth
as a young political force could not take part in the parliamentary
elections separately.

Therefore he accepted PPA’s proposal to be included in the proportional
list of that party. In A. Bazeyan’s words, he raised the question of
including another founder of National Rebirth, Vagharshak Haroutiunian
in PPA list, but this proposal was declined. A. Bazeyan refuted the
accusations that the leaders of National Rebirth Party cooperate with
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian or protect Russia’s interests. He
declared that if these slanders addressed to him or to the party
continue, the party may reconsider the issue of its participation in
the elections. At the same time A. Bazeyan mentioned that irrespective
of his participation in the elections, the National Rebirth Party
will support PPA.

CHARGE D-AFFAIRS OF THE USA TO ARMENIA FOUND DIFFICULTY IN CALLING EXACT TERMS OF APPOINTMENT OF US AMBASSADOR TO RA

Arminfo
2007-03-05 15:49:00

The Charge d’ Affairs of the USA to Armenia Anthony Godfrey found
difficulty in calling the exact terms of appointment of the US
Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia.

In today’s talk with ArmInfo correspondent he said that he possesses
no information about it. It is the business of Washington or rather,
of the Senate of US Congress., the American diplomat said.