Author: Jidarian Alex

A GROUP OF STUDENTS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY STUDY THE GENOCIDE

Aysor
April 2 2010
Armenia

In the RA Government took place a sitting of the commission on
preparation works of the events dedicated to the 95th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. The sitting was conducted by the Armenian
Prime Minister and the chairman of the commission Tigran Sargsyan.

The members of the commission have once again discussed the list of the
events of the current year which has been introduced not only to them
but also to the governmental authorities and the public institutions.

The PM has noticed that should be done everything possible to give
birth to the best initiations and ideas.

Thus the list of the events to be held on the occasion of the 95th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide include 8 directions for the 2010,
scientific, educational, cultural events, publication of books and
albums in Armenian and in different language, exhibitions, theatrical
performances, campaigns, visits of the pupils to the Genocide Museum,
as well as shooting films, presentations, preparation of posters, etc.

They have attached importance to the issue of unification of the
scientists and lawyers and organization of the conferences.

The head of the Government has stressed that they have to
unite especially the young students and professors studying the
international right in Europe. The fund "Luys" will have a big input
in that issue. It’s also worth mentioning that a group of students of
Harvard University study the Armenian Genocide for their diploma work.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND IAEA ACCOMPLISH EXTENSIVE PROGRAM ON ATOMIC SECURITY IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Apr 1, 2010

YEREVAN, April 1, /ARKA/. The British government and the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have successfully accomplished an extensive
program on atomic security in Armenia, the UK embassy in Armenia said
in a press release.

It said the U.K. government provided funds in the amount of EURO
1. 5 million as part of Global Risk Reduction program for improvement
of the physical protection of Armenian Metsamor atomic station. The
program has been implemented by IAEA nuclear security foundation.

Tomikhiro Tanaguchi, head of IAEA security programs, welcomed the
accomplishment of this project saying it was the largest such project
implemented by IAEA nuclear security foundation.

"This is the largest program on physical protection that IAEA has
implemented up today, and this is also a new way of cooperation that
IAEA can offer to its member states,’ he was quoted as saying.

The press release also quoted British ambassador to Armenia, Charles
Lonsdale, as saying that he visited the plant a year ago when the
project was launched.

"The program that we have accomplished today will become a best example
of our readiness to assist Armenia in this key area. It would have been
impossible without the assistance of Armenian government and Metsamor
plant director Gagik Markosian,’ the ambassador was quoted as saying.

The program on security improvement of Metsamor atomic station is the
last among the nuclear security programs of the UK, which on the whole,
has extended a support of over 14 million pound sterling to a number
of countries. The 1/4th of that money has been directed to Armenia,
which is the largest beneficiary of the program.

AZERI-PRESS AGENCY: CRIMEAN CITY CANCELS ITS DECISION ON RECOGNITION OF SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Kyiv Post
April 1 2010
Ukraine

Crimea – APA. Izyum City Council of Khrakov province cancelled its
decision passed on the eve of the New Year on the recognition of the
so-called Armenian genocide. Head of Crimea Azerbaijanis community
Rahim Humbatov told APA that the City Council passed the decision
at the next session. Mayor of Izyum sent letters about it to head of
Crimea Azerbaijanis community Rahim Humbatov and Crimea organization
of Ukrainian Azerbaijanis’ congress. Rahim Humbatov said they worked
much to achieve the cancellation of the decision on the recognition
of the so-called Armenian genocide. Read the story here.

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INFLATION IN 2010 TO BE AROUND 7%: ARMENIAN PM

Tert.am
14:36 ~U 01.04.10

During a meeting today, the Armenian government discussed the
macro-economic indicators of the first quarter of 2010. RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that the study of those indicators
makes it clear that the government’s 2009 bail-out programs are
bearing fruit.

According to Sargsyan, the recorded indicators exceed the government’s
expectations by two-and-a-half times, which, in his words, is accounted
for by the expanding monetary and fiscal policy pursued by the Central
Bank and the Ministry of Finance.

Sargsyan also mentioned that Armenia has entered a phase of high
inflation, conditioned by the same expanding monetary and fiscal
policy, since, on the one hand, economic growth is encouraged, while,
on the other hand, inflation is encouraged.

The task before the government and the Central Bank of Armenia is to
curb the inflation. According to Sargsyan, the inflation in March,
compared to December 2009, was 2.9%, while the average rate of
inflation for the whole year was 8.8%.

Sargsyan also said forecasts have shown that inflation in 2010 will
be around 7%.

BAKU TO MAKE GEOPOLITICAL CHOICE BETWEEN US, RUSSIA AND IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2010 12:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Raymond Tanter, former senior staff member of the US
National Security Council, said that Baku may soon face a geopolitical
choice between Iran, Russia and U.S.

According to him, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
between the United States and Russia to all appearance envisages joint
operation of Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan. "The possibility is
now higher than during the Bush administration," Turan agency quoted
Tanter as saying.

"Meanwhile, Iran may accuse Baku of violation of the bilateral
agreement prohibiting use of their territory by third countries for
hostile purposes. In this case, Azerbaijan will have to choose between
the superpowers and conniving with Tehran," Tanter noted.

He added that Azerbaijan would be much better off under the cooperation
of Moscow and Washington in this issue than under the sway of Tehran,
which "aspires to export the Islamic revolution to Azerbaijan."

Currently Tanter is serving as President of Iran Policy Committee in
Washington DC.

ARMENIAN-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ARMENIA

Aysor
March 31 2010
Armenia

Representatives of the Armenian-British Union presented Wednesday
initiative of establishing of Armenian-British Chamber of Commerce
(ABCC), which key objective is to contribute to strengthening of
relations between the two nations in sphere of education, culture,
economy, financial integration and civil communications.

ABU’c chairman Hike Harutyunian said: "We pay a great attention to
involvement of Britain’s businessmen into Armenian economy and further
investments in various industries of the country."

He also pointed out that the same chamber will be established in
the UK.

When asked by Aysor’s correspondent why it is necessary to establish
a single body of ABCC when there is the European Chamber of Commerce
in Armenia, Hike Harutyunian said that there is a number of such
bodies in Armenia, including chambers of commerce of the EU, US,
etc., while the British business has a large potential and resources,
never used in Armenia before.

"We’ve held consultations with businesses, and British Embassy, and
this is not a simple decision to establish the ABCC: there is a demand
of it here in Armenia. More than 30 British and joint businesses are
acting in the country," he said.

1,5 MILLION TREES TO BE PLANTED IN YEREVAN BY 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Panorama.am
15:16 30/03/2010

Society

World Armenian Congress and representatives of the youth organizations
have put forward an initiative under heading "In Commemoration of the
Innocent Martyr"; they have called on the youth of Armenia raising
their program of events on 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
only five years ahead the 100 years since one of the most terrible
and cruel offences in the world ever – the Armenian Genocide.

The appeal particularly says that the wall of silence has been
partially ruined during the recent decades and the number of the
states that recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide has increased.

"The preparation and marking of 100th anniversary of the crime against
humanity will contribute to the unification of the world powers to
condemn and recognize the Genocide," the appeal says.

The members of the initiative have planned to plant 1,5 million
trees in Yerevan by the 100th anniversary (in five years) of the
Armenian Genocide, to create a Park of Rebirth. They have called on
the Armenian youth organizations to participate in the tree planting
perpetuating the memory of each victim of the Armenian Genocide.

Besides, they call on Yervan City Hall and the Armenian regions’
authorities to allocate territories and conditions for tree planting.

The Congress also urges the Armenian businessmen to provide financial
support to the local authorities to carry out this mission.

TENSION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA GROWS

Today’s Zaman
March 29 2010
Turkey

Tensions rose between Armenia and Azerbaijan yet again after the
Armenian army shot and killed two Azerbaijani soldiers over the
past 24 hours. Peace negotiations to find a lasting solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem have significantly damaged, with Azerbaijan
having repeatedly vowed this month to use a military strike against
Armenia. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, the Armenian
side shot dead one Azerbaijani soldier in the half-occupied Agdam
province on Sunday, infringing a cease-fire between the two countries.

Another Azerbaijani soldier was shot and killed by the Armenian army
in bordering Beylegan province. Despite a Russian-brokered cease-fire
keeping the peace in Nagorno-Karabakh since 1994, analysts claim the
conflict is not "frozen" as Armenia continues to break the cease-fire
every day. The growing number of dead Azerbaijani and Armenian soldiers
reportedly saw a marked increase over the past two months.

Although the presidents of both Azerbaijan and Armenia have
participated in a record number of bilateral meetings over the past
year, tensions on the battle line between the two countries continues
to increase every month.

Following his meeting with the American co-chair of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Robert
Bradtke, on Saturday in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, Armenian
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said Armenia will release one
Azerbaijani citizen its soldiers captured on March 3 and hand over the
corpses of two Azerbaijani soldiers whom its soldiers shot dead a month
ago. The defense minister said the transfer will be carried out by
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Ohanyan said Armenia
always supports a peaceful resolution to the conflict. "However,
repeated military statements by the Azerbaijani side and the increasing
armament of Azerbaijan halt the peace process and increase tension in
the region," the Armenian defense minister said. He also added that
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should not be regarded as a related
process to the reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE NKR

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2010-03-23 11:51

On March 22 and 23, an international conference – "The Azerbaijani
Policy of State Terror and Ethnic Cleansing Towards Nagorno Karabakh"
– dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the tragic events in the
Karabakhi town of Shushi and the 20th anniversary of the Armenian
pogroms in the city of Baku took place at the National Assembly of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and in the town of Shushi.

Chairman of the NKR NA Ashot Ghulian made a greeting speech.

"The day of March 23, 1920, when the Armenian part of Shushi was put
to fire and the population was subjected to massacre and deportation,
became a tragedy for Artsakh", said, in particular, the Speaker.

At the same time, he noted that "neither the monstrous crime of the
Young Turks, nor Stalin’s repressions, and nor the insidiousness of
the Caucasian Tatars were able to make the Armenians refuse of their
idea of national revival".

Reports on the following items were presented: "The Reasons and
Consequences of the Armenian Ethnic Cleansing in Baku, Gandzak,
and Nagorno Karabakh in the first quarter of the 20th century",
"Shushi of 1919-1920 in the documents of the USA Department of State
and the National Archive of Armenia", "The History and Tragedy of
Shushi: What Russia Knows and Should Know About It", "The Karabakh
Issue at the Armenian-Russian Negotiations in the Summer of 1920",
"Cultural Ethnocide in Artsakh", "The Role of the Impunity Factor
at the Pogroms in Sumgait and Baku", "From Sumgait to the Artsakh
Liberation Struggle", "The Azerbaijani Mass Media and Stereotypes",
and others.

The speeches were followed by discussions.

Also, the presentation of the film "Terrorism" took place.

Local and invited scientists and experts from Armenia, Russia, Germany,
and other countries participated in the conference.

The conference was organized by the NKR Ministry of Education and
Science, NKR Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, the Artsakh
State University, "Kachar" Scientific Center, and the Shushi Local
History Museum.

Ma’an News Agency, Palestine
March 28 2010

Palm Sunday detainees still in Israeli custody

Bethlehem ` Ma’an ` Israel detained 11 Palestinians in the West Bank
city of Bethlehem on Sunday, amid protests over restrictions
preventing Christians from performing religious rites in Jerusalem
over Easter.

Dozens of protesters, joined by international peace activists and
Muslim supporters, took to the streets after Sunday prayers held for
the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday in the Nativity Church.

Participants performed the symbolic march of Jesus Christ to the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, carrying palm branches and
banners denouncing Israel’s wall and continued settlement expansion.

The rally reached the Gilo checkpoint, used predominantly by tourists
and through which West Bankers can only pass with permission from
Israel. Participants tried to transit the military installation before
being barred by waiting Israeli soldiers. Border guards, some donning
riot gear, were seen on the opposite side of the barrier.

Israeli peace activist Jonathan Pollack said that protesters managed
to transit the checkpoint and enter Jerusalem. "Once blocked, the
demonstrators, who all remained peaceful throughout the protest, held
speeches, and then began heading back. It was at this point that the
police staged its unprovoked attack on the retreating protesters."

Among the detained were Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki and
Fatah Regional Office member Marwan Farajeh, who was transferred to an
Israeli hospital in a Magen David Adom ambulance amid clashes. Another
detainee was identified as Ahmad Al-A’za, as well as a resident on
horseback who was carrying a palm branch.

Those detained have remained in Israeli custody for over six hours in
an interrogation room at the Gilo checkpoint, while Zaki is said to
have been transferred to the Russian Compound interrogation center in
Jerusalem.

Shadi Fawaghreh, one of the detainees, told Ma’an that they are being
kept in a holding cell with nine other detains, reporting that a
number of them were beaten during their detention. He added that four
Israeli peace activists detained during the rally have been released.

Pollack added that Israeli forces detained four Israeli, one foreign
national, an AP photographer, Fadi Hamad, as well as four members of
the local popular committees against the wall and settlements.

A spokesman for the Israeli police operating in the West Bank did not
immediately return calls seeking comment.

The Palm Sunday detainees

Those detained during the rally have been identified as follows:

Abbas Zaki, member of the Fatah Central Committee

Mohammad Al-Hubani, member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall
in Bethlehem

Mahmoud Zawahreh, member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in
Al-Ma’sara

Fadi Hamad, Associated Press photographer

Hassen Breijeiyah, member of the Popular Committee Against the wall in
Al-Ma’sara

Marwan Fararjeh, member of Fatah’s Regional Office in Bethlehem

Toni Shahwwan, member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Beit Jala

Ahmad Al-A’za, member of the Holy Land Trust

Shadi Fawaghreh, member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in
Wad Rahhal, Bethlehem district

Two Palestinian detainees remain unidentified.

Four Israeli peace activists and one foreign national, also
unidentified, were released.

Call for Palestinian Christians to mark Easter in Jerusalem

Orthodox organizations in Palestine have called on Palestinian
Christians to celebrate Holy Fire Saturday in Jerusalem, in spite of
Israeli restrictions placed upon worshipers and others wishing to
visit the parts of the city occupied by Israel.

The traditional Orthodox ceremony that takes place after Palm Sunday
is the transfer of fire, which is said to emanate from Jesus’ tomb in
the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City, by the Greek
Orthodox Patriarch via candles and torches.

Palestinian Christians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip are made to
apply for permits allowing them entry to the occupied part of the
city. Gaza’s Christian community are less likely to receive approval
from Israeli authorities.

The Council of Arab Orthodox Organizations urged the heads of churches
in Jerusalem "to stand by the rights and aspirations of their
congregation and to stand up to the discriminatory policies of Israel
with the freedom of worship."

"We urge Palestinian Christians to celebrate Holy fire Saturday in
Jerusalem despite all the Israeli occupation policies aiming to
restrict our historic rights and push us toward immigration," a
statement read.

Christian leaders slam Israeli policy

At a news conference organized by the National Christian Coalition in
the Holy Land in Jerusalem Saturday morning, church representatives
denounced the Israeli policies, which they said prohibit Palestinians
from accessing religious sites during Christianity’s holiest holiday.

Coalition President Dimitri Diliani said that as Easter approaches,
"Israeli discrimination appears clearly when we compare the treatment
of Jews celebrating Passover." Dilani added that "if what Israel
practices against Christians were practiced anywhere in the world
against Jews, that place would be boycotted by the international
community at once."

Father Issa Misleh, spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate,
said attempts to negotiate with Israeli security over arrangements for
his congregation were met with "inflexibility," noting that throughout
history, Christians were not prohibited from entering holy sites in
Jerusalem. This, he said, was an Israeli attempt to "downplay" the
Christian character of the city. Misleh added that both Christian and
Muslim Palestinians endure the same restrictive Israeli policies.

Representing the Episcopal Church, Reverend Zahi Nasser said continued
Israeli building policies in Jerusalem and the separation wall
directly contradicted Israel’s claims to be a democracy. Jerusalem, he
said, is suffering as Jesus did "in the hands of his captors."

>From the Armenian Patriarchate, Bishop Aris Shirverian expressed his
church’s dismay at Israeli policy in Jerusalem, particularly during
Easter, when thousands of pilgrims are prohibited from visiting the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Meanwhile, Father Peter Madrous assured that one who plants injustice
will harvest animosity "and that is the reason for the Israeli
paranoia, Israel has planted injustice for years."

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