Author: Jagharian Tania

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ONE MORE STEP TO INDEPENDENT STATEHOOD
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper
April 23, 2010
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

On April 19th in the NKR pre-election campaign for elections of the
fifth convocation in National Assembly of the republic planned on
May 23rd started. Elections will pass on proportional and majority
system. 44 candidates apply for 16 majority places in parliament. In
elections on proportional system "Free native land" (in the list –
35 persons), Democratic party of Artsakh (32 persons), AR Federation
(10 persons) and Communist Party of Nagorno-Karabakh (5 persons)
parties will take part, for which it is in total reserved only 17
"proportional" deputy armchairs. This is a statistical component of
the coming parliamentary elections. However elections, certainly,
are not simply statistics. Behind dry figures – the major political
event defining the further development of independent Karabakh
statehood. Parliamentary elections are important event for any country,
however owing to specificity of the NKR as independent, but for the
present not recognized state at the international level they find much
more actual value. At least because the world steadfastly and even
with predilection watches processes of a political life occurring
at us, and we should prove constantly the solvency as the mature
and capable state living and developing according to the norms of
the civilized world. And we have already proved it time and again,
regularly holding elections of all levels which invariably received
an appreciation of independent international observers. All it is,
certainly, fairly. But another thing is also fair – we carry out
elections, nevertheless, not to like, and first of all – for itself,
for the further development and strengthening of our statehood paid at
the cost of a life of many and many our compatriots. Differently, for
the present and future of Artsakh. That is why forthcoming elections
should become one more confident step on a way to democratization of
a public life and building of originally independent sovereign state.

We think present parliamentary elections have every chance to become
a new stage in the process of development of democratic system of
the NKR which has found irreversible character. It is caused in a
certain measure also by that forward character in our republic finds
development of parliament and parliamentarism of the electoral system.

Elections of National Assembly of a new convocation, as it is
known, will carry out on the basis of the updated Electoral code
and according to modern lines of development of the parliamentarism,
assuming formation of parliament mainly on principles of proportional
system. If on the previous parliamentary elections the parity of deputy
places of proportional and majority system compiled 11 to 22, nowadays
as it was marked above, places in National Assembly are distributed,
let and with small, but already prevalence of proportional system –
17 and 16. In the long term it is foreseen to generate as much as
possible professional parliament with growth of relative density
of proportional places. Certainly, it is possible to argue long on
advantages or lacks of that and other system, as there is not their
unequivocal estimation, and hardly it will be. One believe, that
at majority system there is a direct contact between the voter and
the candidate while at proportional system there is a risk to catch
"a cat in a bag". Their opponents consider, that only "proportional"
deputies, instead of non-party singles are able to make decisions
on realization of the important programs and to bear responsibility
for their performance. All opinions are worth of respect, however,
we find, it is important not so much the one who becomes the deputy,
and how they will defend interests of the voters and what contribution
will bring in the further development of the Karabakh statehood,
in the work of regulation of life of our citizens.

In any case either candidates, or the citizens possessing the right
to elect, should remember, that last and solving word for voters. And
deputies should answer for voters. On the last it depends, how will
be the National Assembly in coming five years, whether it will be
able to be engaged effectively in legislative activity.

Process of creation of capable statehood goes on. The parliament of the
previous convocation has practically brought the current legislation
into accord with requirements of the Constitution adopted in 2006,
has finished reforms in judicial- legal system. But life does not
stop on a place, and consequently lawmaking – permanent process,
caused by forward development of socio-economic and political sphere.

We want to believe, that our compatriots will concern elections not
formally, and from civic stands, with comprehension of their extreme
importance. And present parliamentary elections will carry out by
traditions of elective culture of our people developed already for
years of independence – on the basis of really free will of voters.

Probably, it will sound pathosly, but future of Artsakh depends on it,
as people itself decide the destiny.

ARMENIA PARTAKES IN "MIDDLE EAST FOOD" EXPOSITION ORGANIZED IN ABU DHABI

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 28, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS: Among almost three dozen countries
Armenia, too, has taken part in "Middle East Food" exposition held
April 26-28 in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. In
the exposition organized on the initiative of the Armenian Embassy
in the United Arab Emirates and Armenian Development Agency, Armenia
was represented by the companies of "Glass World", "Konser", "Dilijan
Frolova", "Noyan", Eurocup" and "Euroterm".

Press service of the Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry told Armenpress
that the visitors from the UAE and Gulf region dealing with business
carried out discussions and made proposals related to the types of
products of the Armenian pavilion, as well as they displayed interested
in other Armenian products.

The organizers and visitors of the exposition, noticing the high
quality and competitiveness of the Armenian products, are looking
forward to more extended presentation of the Armenian pavilion in
the upcoming expositions.

GEORGIA’S ARMENIANS WANT TBILISI TO RECOGNISE "GENOCIDE"
Tamuna Uchidze

Institute for War & Peace Reporting IWPR
April 27 2010
UK

But analysts say it could not afford to put its relations at risk
with Ankara.

Georgia is unlikely to agree to an appeal by the country’s Armenian
community to officially recognise as genocide the mass killings
conducted in the Ottoman Empire after 1915, commentators say.

More than 20 countries have recognised the killings as genocide,
despite furious opposition from Turkey, but experts say Georgia is
not expected to join them, being dependant on its neighbour for much
of its trade and access to the outside world.

Every year on April 24, Armenians around the world mark the mass
killings that they say began on that date in Istanbul in 1915. This
year, three groups – The Armenian Community of Georgia, The Armenian
Centre of Cooperation of Georgia and the Association of Armenian
Students of Georgia – for the first time prepared an appeal to both
parliament and President Mikhail Saakashvili.

According to the last census, Armenians make up five per cent of
Georgia’s population, most of them being concentrated in the southern
Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

"This year it is 95 years since the start of the first genocide of the
20th century – the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-23.

The Armenians of Georgia have one desire, that the authorities
recognised this fact, and therefore we decided to begin our process,"
Alexander Oganov, a representative of the Armenian students’ group,
said.

Robert Muradyan, a teacher in one of Georgia’s Armenian-language
schools, said such a step would be hugely appreciated by Armenians.

"The genocide of ethnic Armenians has been recognised by many
countries. If Georgia recognises it, it would be a mark of respect
towards the Armenian nation," he said.

However, most experts think that such a statement by the government
would cause outrage in Turkey, which Saakashvili can ill afford,
considering his already poor relations with northern neighbour Russia.

"The examination of such a question would complicate relations between
Georgia and Turkey," said Tsira Meskhishvili, chairwoman of the
Tolerant association, in words echoed across the political spectrum.

"This is a very complicated question which we must approach with great
caution. Armenia is our neighbour and partner, but it is necessary
also to study the geopolitical situation in the region," said Tamaz
Petriashvili, who represents part of Samtskhe-Javakheti , a largely
ethnic Armenian region, for the ruling coalition in parliament.

"Georgia has to consider many factors, including our strategic
relations with Turkey, which is also a neighbour and one of Georgia’s
important partners."

The parliament deputy declined to speculate whether the chamber would
debate the issue soon.

"If it was that simple a question, then it would have been resolved
by other countries as well a long time ago. We need to be cautious,
so as to maintain stability in the region," he said.

There is some political pressure on the local level, however. Ruben
Karapetyan, deputy head of the local administration in Alakhtsikhe,
which is the main town of Samtskhe-Javakheti, said Armenians would
maintain the campaign for recognition.

"What difference does it make when this happens? Today or tomorrow,
this question will be on the agenda anyway. Ethnic Armenians living
in Georgia have waited for the genocide to be recognised for a long
time already," he said.

But historians say that, whatever the facts of the case, which are
disputed between Armenia and Turkey, recognition would be a step
based on politics, not history.

"If Turkey recognises the genocide, and Georgia goes along with it,
that is a different thing. Otherwise, we would radically change
our good neighbourly relations with Turkey. In such a situation,
Georgia must not recognise the genocide and it won’t happen," Nikoloz
Akhalkatsi, a Georgian historian, said.

His opinion seemed to meet broad consensus among political analysts,
who said the government could not afford to put its relations at risk
with Ankara.

"Georgia borders both Armenia and Turkey, and does not have the right
to harm relations with either of its neighbours. Georgian citizens
of Armenian ethnicity should look on this question with understanding.

They, of course, have the right to give petitions to the authorities,
but must be prepared to receive a justified refusal," said Paata
Zakareishvili, an analyst from the Institute for Researches of
Nationalism and Conflicts.

He said the protocols agreed between Turkey and Armenia, which are
intended to normalise relations between the countries, sanctioned
the establishment of a joint commission to study the question of
the genocide.

"It would be better if Georgia waited for the conclusions of this
commission. I think that a time will come when Turkish society and
state recognise this fact. The question is a problem for Turkish
society, not for Armenians," he said.

Tamuna Uchidze is a reporter from the Southern Gates newspaper.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of the UK
Email: [email protected]

‘WALES, UK, COMMEMORATES THE MARTYRS OF THE 1915 GENOCIDE’

On Friday, April 23, Very Reverend Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate,
travelled to Wales, UK, for the commemorations of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915. The representatives of the Armenian community in
Wales, headed by Mr. John Torosyan, welcomed Fr. Vahan at the Cardiff
Temple of Peace, where the Genocide Monument is located.

The day-long commemoration started with a visit to the statue of the
Virgin Mary at Penrhys. There, the group was greeted by Mrs. Sharon
Reece, General Secretary of the United Reform Church in Penrhys. This
church played a central role in starting the recognition movement in
Wales, and produced a special liturgy for the Armenian martyrs of the
genocide. Following a brief prayer at the statue, Fr. Vahan thanked
Mrs. Reece for the United Reform Church’s support of the Genocide
recognition process.

At around 6:00pm the delegation returned to the Temple of Peace,
Cardiff, where a group of Church dignitaries and government officials
were gathered with members of the Armenain community for a requiem
service in memory of the martyrs. Present around the Khachkar in the
front yard of the Temple of Peace were, Canon Patrick Thomas, Vicar of
St Peter’s Church, Carmarthen; Rev Dafydd Henri Edwards, the Baptist
Union of Wales, Revd Dr Trystan Owain Hughes, Chaplain, Cardiff
University; Stephen Thomas, Director of the Welsh Centre for
International Affairs; Jenny Randerson, Assembly Member; Councillor
Mohammed Sarul. The Primate greeted the crowd and invited them to join
him in the traditional Hokehangist service, in memory of the martyrs.

Following the Requiem, the crowd was escorted to the Library of the
Temple of Peace for a fellowship hour. Mr. John Torosyan welcomed all
present and conveyed the regrets of Mr. Eilian Williams, the leader of
the campaign for the recognition of the genocide in Wales, who
regrettably could not be present being en route to Turkey to
participate in human right conference in Istanbul and Ankara as the
guest of the Human Rights Association of Istanbul. In an unprecedented
gesture of solidarity, the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, had
sent a message to the Armenians in Wales in remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide. Mr. Torosyan read the letter to those gathered at
the fellowship. The First Minister’s message is a remarkable milestone
in the history of Wales government’s support of the recognition of the
Genocide. He then invited Canon Brown to address the community. After
a brief speech highlighting the similarities in the history and faith
of the peoples of Wales and Armenia, Canon Brown presented Fr. Vahan
with a hand carved Celtic Cross as an expression of welcome. Fr. Vahan
in turn reciprocated the favor by presenting Canon Thomas with a
replica of an Armenian Khachkar.

The fellowship was an opportunity also for the Armenian community in
Cardiff to meet their new Primate and receive his blessings. At the
end of the evening Fr. Vahan thanked the organizers of the visit, the
government and church representatives and the Armenian community for
their continuous support of the Armenian cause, and promised to visit
Cardiff soon again. Accompanying Fr. Vahan was Dn. Stephan Ovanessoff
and Mr. Armenag Topalian of the St. Sarkis Trsut.

AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO PUT ITS BLAME ON THE OTHERS

Aysor
April 27 2010
Armenia

During the "Real Policy" program on Public TV the RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian has presented comments on the rough expressions
made by the Azerbaijani addressed to the Minsk Group co-chairs, as
well as the demand of leaving out the United States from the list of
the co-chairs.

"It’s not a new thing that Azerbaijan criticizes not only Armenia but
also the co-chairs, the United States, Russia, France, sometimes the
European Union and even their close ally Turkey. Simply Azerbaijan is
looking for someone to put the blames on for the failures that he is
having," Edward Nalbandian mentioned and informed that the NKR process
"is in its current".

SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADVISORY GROUP ADOLF BIRKHOFER

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 27, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today chairman of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Group Adolf
Birkhofer (Germany).

Presidential press office told Armenpress that the president of the
republic highly praised the efforts of Adolf Birkhofer directed toward
the safe operation of the Armenian Atomic Station. Serzh Sargsyan
extremely highlighted the energy security in general, and nuclear
security in particular. The Armenian president also noted that the
attention of the international community toward the nuclear security
issues has notably increased and the recent nuclear security summit
in Washington D.C. is a good proof of it.

Adolf Birkhofer highly praised the works carried out by the
Armenian government toward the secure exploitation of the Armenian
Atomic Station. The interlocutors also discussed issues on further
exploitation of AAS and on construction of new unit.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED OSCE MG RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR

Panorama.am
15:11 27/04/2010

Politics

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the newly
appointed Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov Tuesday,
Armenian MFA reported.

Greeting the guest, Minister Nalbandian congratulated him on
appointment and voiced hope that Popov will have a significant
contribution to the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process.

Igor Popov thanked the Minister for wishes and assured that he will
do his best to contribute to the settlement of the issue.

The interlocutors discussed the latest developments in the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process. Igor Popov presented his
impressions over the meetings with the Azerbaijani authorities in Baku.

SERGEY MINASYAN: THE FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY HAS EXHAUSTED ITSELF
Liana Yeghiazaryan

"Radiolur"
26.04.2010 18:57

Political scientist Sergey Minasyan predicts a new format for
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. He says the football
diplomacy has exhausted itself. For Armenia, this is not only an
Armenian-Turkish process, since it is related to the Karabakh issue
to some extent.

Armenia is attempting to solve its problems with Turkey and Azerbaijan
in different ways, but over the past two years Armenia did not manage
to fully separate the two.

"However, the fact that Baku is not 100% sure Turkey will always
support it at least strategically and will stand by Azerbaijan in
case military actions resume, caused certain misunderstanding inside
Azerbaijan and created mistrust. The same cannot be said about Ankara,"
Sergey Minasyan said.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO THE 95TH ANNIVERSARY IN SYRIA

Aysor
April 26 2010
Armenia

On April 24, 2010 on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the
Armenian Great Genocide in St. Sargis Church of Damascus Holy Liturgy
was served after which was served a dirge at the monument of the
Genocide victims.

As the press and public relations department of the RA MFA informs, the
participants of the ceremony moved to the Armenian cemetery of Damascus
where the monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide is situated.

The Armenian Ambassador to Syria Arshak Polandyana and the staff of
the embassy put a wreath at the monument of the Genocide Monument.

On the ceremony many Syrian Armenians, citizens of Armenia, diplomats,
journalists and social workers partook.

Three governors of Syrian – Armenian community together with heads
of parties of Syrian Armenian community visited the RA embassy on
the same day and left notes in the call up memory book.

Italian officials pay tribute to the memory of Armenian genocide victims

Armradio.am
24.04.2010 17:08

The Head of the Italian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Riccardo Migliori, accompanied by Italy’s Ambassador to Armenia Bruno
Scapini, visited Tsitsernakaberd today to pay tribute to the memory of
the Armenian Genocide victims.

`I’m here to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy that occurred
95 years ago and prevent the reoccurrence of such events in the
future,’ the Italian official said, reminding that the Parliament of
Italy recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2000.

Ambassador Scapini said there is a great Armenian community in his
country and they are holding Genocide commemoration events there
today. `I think, Italians are participating in these events with the
challenge of their conscience for centuries-long amity of the Armenian
and Italian people,’ Bruno Scapini said, adding that Italians must
share the grief of their friends.

According to him, Italy is among the countries that propagate the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. `We continue working with
different countries and international structures to push the
recognition of the Armenian genocide forward,’ the Ambassador said.