Author: Karabekian Emil

"MARCH 1" COMMITTEE’S ACTIVITIES EXTENDED UP TO SEPTEMBER 15

Panorama.am
17:26 23/02/2009

The National Assembly of Armenia heard during a session today the
question of extending the deadline of the authorization of the Ad-hoc
Committee on the Events Occurred on 1-2 March 2008 in Yerevan and
Their Reasons from 25 February to 15 September.

Republican Deputy Suqias Avetisyan, who is not a member of the
committee, made a speech in this regard. According to him one of the
reasons to extend the deadline is that the data-collecting expert
group structured by the decree of the President has not yet presented
a report to the committee. The second point is that, according to
the deputy, there are many unrevealed circumstances.

To the question why the issue is presented by a not-member of the
committee, Avetisyan said that the hearings of the committee were
open and the deputies had chance to be present to them.

Republican Deputy Galust Sahakyan mentioned that the activities of
the committee are highly evaluated and that the extending of the
deadline has no political background.

Larisa Alaverdyan, the Deputy of "Heritage" fraction, said that if
the reason of extending the deadline of the committee is connected
with the expert group’s report then it would get a chronic notion
because the group’s activities deadline is not fixed.

TURKEY AND US START PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ-EXIT STRATEGY

Hurriyet
Feb 23 2009
Turkey

ANKARA – Turkey and the U.S. have officially began preliminary talks
on the use of Turkish soil for the transfer of American troops,
arms and other logistic equipment in Iraq, diplomatic sources said.

Diplomats, along with military officials from both countries, have come
to the table to discuss the details of the issue, the sources added.

U.S. army chief, Adm. Mike Mullen has said the Pentagon has already
examined possible exit routes through Turkey and Jordan. Both
countries, longtime U.S. allies, support the withdrawal planning
contingencies, said Mullen. Another alternative exit route passes
through Kuwait.

However, an Associated Press report said during the weekend that the
U.S. military is working through logistic obstacles and bottlenecks
as it tests possible exit routes, including Turkey, Kuwait and Jordan,
for battlefield equipment ahead of the withdrawal from Iraq.

The U.S. has already constructed bridge overpasses for heavy tanks
on the road between the Iraqi border and the Mediterranean ports of
Iskenderun and Mersin.

ANOTHER DECREE CRISIS?

As a sign that the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is imminent, Turkey has
extended an agreement with the U.S. that opens the Incirlik base to
use by American forces as a "logistic hub," the sources added.

According to the agreement, the U.S. cannot bring "lethal" weapons
and/or materials through Incirlik; it can use the base as a central
inbound/outbound station for its soldiers.

If the U.S. decides to use Turkey as an exit route, approval of the
Turkish parliament would be required. The deeper negotiations will
start once such a decision is made, the sources in Ankara underlined.

In March 2003, parliament rejected a decree to allow U.S. troops to
launch their invasion of Iraq from Turkish territory. The agreement
on the Incirlik base came after a rejection of the decree.

Speculation in Ankara suggests that Turkey might play this card against
the Armenian attempts to have their claims regarding the 1915 incidents
recognized by the U.S. Congress.

According to the speculation, Turkey could pledge to open its borders
to the U.S. on the condition that a legislation that would recognize
the Armenian claims would not come to the agenda of the U.S. Congress.

TODAY’S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
Feb 23, 2009
ANCA places Turkey in `genocide axis’ with Sudan

An influential Armenian-American group has stepped up its campaign for
recognition of claims that 1.5 million Armenians were subjected to
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century,
telling US congressmen that Turkey is part of an emerging "axis of
genocide" with Sudan.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) said in a statement
that it had alerted members of Congress last week that "Ankara is
playing an increasingly dangerous role in blocking decisive
international action to end the genocide in Darfur," claiming that
Ankara has been selling lethal weaponry to Sudan, providing diplomatic
support for the Sudanese government in the face of international
criticism over its Darfur policy and using its UN Security Council
membership "to block anti-genocide efforts."

Human rights groups criticize Turkey for its close ties with Sudan,
whose leader, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted at the International
Criminal Court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in
Darfur. Turkish leaders have avoided accusing Sudan of genocide,
calling instead for an end to Darfur’s "humanitarian tragedy."

The American-Armenian lobby groups, of which ANCA is one of the
strongest, have been pressuring the US Congress to pass a resolution
recognizing their claims that World War I-era events in Anatolia
constituted genocide. The pressure on the US administration is also
high, as April 24, when Armenians say the genocide campaign started in
1915, is approaching.

American presidents issue messages on this day every year, but no
president has ever used the word genocide in his message. Turks
cheered election of Barack Obama as US president, but Ankara is wary
that relations could receive a serious blow if he goes ahead with his
election campaign promises and supports claims that up to 1.5 million
Armenians were victims of a systematic genocide campaign in the
Ottoman Empire.

The "genocide axis" claims spread by ANCA are likely to upset Ankara,
but the Turkish government may find a recent speech by a pro-Armenian
congressman even more appalling. Republican Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.,
co-chairman of the Armenian Caucus, said in a Feb. 13 speech on the
House floor that Turkey was guilty of "hypocrisy" as it levels human
rights charges against Israel for its Gaza operation in January while
it continues to deny the "Armenian genocide." Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)
sharply criticized Turkey’s hypocrisy in leveling human rights charges
against Israel even as it continues to deny the Armenian genocide and
strengthen its ties to the genocidal Sudanese regime, ANCA
reported. "For a nation that for 94 years has practiced wide-spread
genocide denial of the killing of one-and-a-half million Armenians,
hypocrisy runs deep today in Ankara," Pallone said, according to a
statement from ANCA. "The Turkish people need to step back and
question their skewed understanding of genocide. Look in the mirror,
look at your own history, come to terms with the fact that 1.5 million
Armenians died and when contemporary genocides, like Darfur, take
place it must be denounced."

PanARMENIAN.Net

Greco-Roman Wrestling World Cup: Armenian wrestlers lose to Russians
after defeating Azeris
21.02.2009 16:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Greco-Roman Wrestling team lost to
Russia at the World Cup held on Feb. 19-21 in Clermont-Ferrand,
France.

During the first combat the Armenian team drubbed Hungarians 7:0. In
the second tour, Armenian wrestlers fought against the Azeri team, yet
losing 3:0 in the team event, managed to reverse course of the combats
gaining further 3 victories and taking a 4-3 win. In the third tour,
Armenian wrestlers were defeated by the Russian team, losing 2:5.

As result, Armenians will fight for the third place with the Cuban
team. Russians got through to the final where it will combat with the
hosting French team.

The award ceremony will be held today, upon completion of final
rounds.

ARMENIAN CHURCH TO HOST DANCE

Camarillo Acorn
Feb 20 2009
CA

The Armenian Apostolic Church of Ventura County will host its second
annual dinner dance at 6 p.m. Sat., Feb. 28 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal
Church, One Church Road, Thousand Oaks.

John Bilezikjian, Ed Bilezikjian, and Harry Bogosian will provide
live entertainment. Activities will be provided for children.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children ages 6 to 11. Children
under 6 are free.

FALL IN UNEMPLOYMENT REPORTED IN ARMENIA OVER 2008

Global Markets Research Centre
Feb 19 2009

According to the Armenian National Statistical Service, the
unemployment rate in the county last year registered 6.3%, falling
further after standing at 7.0% in 2007 and at 7.4% in 2006. The number
of people officially registered as unemployed averaged 74,900, in a
fall of 10.5% from the previous year. Further, official labour market
figures show that, the number of employed people totalled around
1.120 million, rising by 1.7% from the previous year. The average
nominal wage for last year was reported at 91,331 dram ($299US),
marking growth of 17.4% from 2007, but real wages stood at a lower
level of 83,790 dram. In addition, ARKA News reports that at the
end of December, the official number of unemployed per one vacancy
reported at the State Employment Agency reached 115.

Significance:The government expects unemployment to considerably
increase in the coming months. Given that economic growth is now
significantly cooling, this is indeed likely. Notably, activity in the
construction sector, which in recent years has played a very important
role in supporting growth, is moderating, and this will be further
reflected in the labour markets. While the message of deteriorating
conditions in the Armenian labour market given by the latest data can
be trusted, caution is warranted regarding the actual data. This is
because only a low share of the unemployed register as job seekers,
due to the still poor incentives of doing so. Consequently, the true
jobless rate is likely to exceed the reported one.

PRESIDENT OF THE NKR CONVOKED A WORKING CONSULTATION…

Azat Artsakh Daily
19 Feb 09
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 18 February President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako Sahakyan
Bako Sahakyan convoked a working consultation on the summing up the
activities of the NKR foreign ministry in 2008 and action plan for
the year of 2009.

NKR foreign minister Georgy Petrosyan, permanent representatives of
the republic abroad and the head of International Cooperation Center
under the foreign ministry delivered reports. In his speech the Head
of the State touched upon issues that should become the basis for
further activities of the republic’s foreign ministry. The President
gave some instructions to solve these issues in an effective way.
In particular, it is necessary further strengthen ties between the
ministry’s central apparatus and the permanent representation missions,
reorganize the work of the missions deepening and widening cooperation
with local Armenian communities, political and analytical circles of
the host states. Bako Sahakyan also spoke about the fundamentals of the
NKR’s foreign policy, which are balanced and multidirectional foreign
policy, commitment to peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh
conflict, restoration of the full-fledged negotiation format with
full participation of Artsakh as party to the negotiation. The
President once again underlined that independence and =0 D security
of Artsakh are exclusive values and cannot be doubted. The head of
the Office of the NKR President, secretary of the security council
Marat Mousaelyan, senior officials of the Office of the President
and the foreign ministry partook at the consultation.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON RA PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT
By Hakob Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
19/02/2009

Karabakh conflict

On February 16, at Ankara Esenbola airport, the Turkish journalists
reminded Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan of the Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian’s announcement that "Nagorno Karabakh cannot be a part
of Azerbaijan".

According to the Turkish Public TV, Turkish Foreign Minister warned
Azerbaijan and Armenia that the two countries should be careful with
their announcements during the negotiation process.

"At the meeting with Medvedev and Putin, we underlined the necessity
of hastening the process. We told the Russian side that Turkey is
ready to provide any assistance with the issue", Ali Babacan added.

Mediamax, Armenia
Feb 13 2009

Armenian, Russian chief prosecutors sign cooperation memo

Yerevan, 13 February: Prosecutor Generals of Armenia and Russia Aghvan
Hovsepyan and Yuriy Chayka signed a Memorandum in Yerevan today on the
main directions for cooperation for 2009-2011 between the two
countries’ Prosecutor General’s Offices.

Mediamax reports that, according to the signed document, the main
directions for cooperation for the nearest three years will be
protection of human rights and the freedoms of citizens outside the
criminal-legal field of the activity of the Prosecutor’s Office,
prevention of corruption, struggle against terror, transnational
organize crime, human trafficking, illegal turnover of armament,
narcotic and psychotropic substances and their precursors, fulfilment
of international agreements on issues of extradition, rendering legal
assistance concerning criminal cases, as well as revelation,
withdrawal, division of revenues, gained by illegal means.

As the Prosecutor General of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan noted, this is
already the third similar document, signed between the departments of
the two countries. "Earlier, a program of joint measures was also
signed, which is in process of successful realization by the
prosecutor’s offices of the two countries," Hovsepyan stated, noting
that from the point of view of cooperation, the criminal world is more
active than the law-enforcement bodies.

Answering the questions of journalists, Prosecutor General of Russia
Yuriy Chayka admitted that there are problems concerning extremism and
xenophobia in Russia. He informed that there are corresponding
subdivisions set up in the Prosecutor General’s Office and the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which jointly and by
coordinated effort deal with the given problems.

Yuriy Chayka noted growth of crimes, realized basing on [committed on
the basis of] xenophobia, which require increase of efforts of the
law-enforcement bodies to oppose those phenomena, and the President of
Russia has given the corresponding orders. At that he admitted that
there is a necessity to reconsider the court practice concerning such
cases.

Armenia to select its entry for 2009 Eurovision Song Contest tonight

armradio.am
14.02.2009 14:30

Armenia will select its entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest
tonight. Twenty-one songs will be presented in a national final, and
the winner will be picked by a combination of SMS voting and an expert
jury.

Having internally selected the representative for the 2008 Eurovision
Song Contest, the Armenian public broadcaster decided to organize an
open preselection again this year. Singers and songwriters were
requested to send in their entries till the beginning of February, and
the participants of the national final were announced only two days
ago. So far, the titles of the songs to be presented have not been made
public. The order of appearance in the show is as follows:

Iren
Hasmik Margaryan
The Beautified Project
Gayane Arzumanyan
Marta Bulbulyan
Inga & Anush Arshakyanner
Oxygen
Artyom Hakobyan
Shprot
Hayk Kasparov
Arman Harutyunyan
Guj
Lilu
Davit Minasyan
Mher
Dorians
Bambir
Hripsime Hakobyan
Davo
Tigran Petrosyan
Sergey Grigoryan

In tonight’s show, the TV public will be asked for their verdict by SMS
voting, the results of which will be added to the votes of an expert
jury. The national final will be broadcast at 21:30 Yerevan time, and
it can be watched via satellite on Armenia 1 TV.

Armenia has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest three times since
2006, and so far, all Armenian entries have been in the Final of the
Contest. The best placing to date was reached by Sirusho in 2008 – she
came fourth with her song Qélé Qélé.