Author: Karagyozian Lena

EURONEWS MAY BE BANNED IN AZERBAIJAN

Yerkir
07.12.2009 14:18

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Azerbaijan National Television and Radio Council
(NTRC) might ban the broadcasting of international cable TV channels,
that are of anti-Azerbaijani nature, NTRC Chairman Nushiravan
Maharramli has told the Azerbaijani Trend News.

"If any foreign television channel continues broadcasting such biased
programs, we will demand their cessation," he said, speaking of
"Nagorno-Karabakh – wind of change" program by Euronews.

The report provoked a negative reaction in Azerbaijan up to a note
of protest by Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Under NTRC decree, the broadcasting of BBC, Azadlig (Liberty) and Voice
of America was suspended in accordance with law "On TV broadcasting".

HAMPARIAN: TURKEY SUCCEEDED IN DICTATING PRECONDITIONS

Yerkir
07.12.2009 13:26

Yerevan (Yerkir) – With the White House meeting between President
Obama and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan just days away,
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) once again voiced
its concerns over the Turkish government’s increasingly energetic
efforts to cement in place the Obama Administration’s refusal to
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide.

"Prime Minister Erdogan having succeeded in using the Ankara-inspired
Protocols to enlist the cooperation of yet another U.S. Administration
into its campaign to block recognition of the Armenian Genocide is
now coming to Washington to cement his gains and further press his
advantage," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"High on his agenda, it seems, will be showcasing Turkey’s public
disregard for President Obama’s twin priorities for Armenia-Turkey
normalization, namely that they be established without preconditions
and within a reasonable time-frame. Today, more than seven months after
our President’s speech in Ankara during which he broke his pledge to
recognize the Armenian Genocide it’s patently clear that Turkey has in
fact imposed preconditions, will not act in a reasonable time-frame,
and, more broadly, views this entire process as simply a way to extend
U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denials from one April 24th to the next,"
added Hamparian.

Armenian Americans concerned about Erdogan’s agenda have participated
in the ANCA’s "Countdown to Erdogan" campaign the month-long grassroots
initiative to encourage President Obama to challenge Turkey’s Prime
Minister with the facts of the Armenian Genocide during their December
7th White House meeting.

The "Countdown" has generated media coverage in the U.S., Turkey,
and Armenia, and, as participation in the campaign grew with each
passing week, came under increasingly heavy attack from the Turkish
lobby. The United Press International reported, on December 1st, that,
"The Armenian National Committee of America stepped up its lobbying
efforts ahead of the [Erdogan] visit, calling on its supporters to
contact their Washington representatives to encourage Obama to make
true on his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian genocide." The
Turkish Coalition publicly criticized the campaign as a political
"blitzkrieg."

The final days of the effort are devoted to calling directly on
President Obama through phone calls, letters, and social networking
vehicles to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and urging him to demonstrate resolve in working to end the ongoing
cycle of genocide and denial. The calls are increasingly important
following a letter issued by President Obama earlier today praising
the Turkey-Armenia protocols, and once again, refraining to properly
characterize that crime against humanity.

On the day of the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister
Erdogan, the ANCA has organized a final push of phone calls to the
White House. Links to a sample phone script and phone number will be
available at

IT’S A PITY, THAT RUSSIA HAS BEEN PUSHED OUT FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS
Laura Grigoryan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
December 08, 2009

An interview with deputy director of Caucasian researches’ centre of
the state institute of international relations of Moscow, historian,
professor Vladimir Zakharov -Mr Zakharov, what aim pursues your next
visit to Artsakh? -I’m in NKR on the invitation of the management
of Artsakh State University. I’m also a honorary Doctor of Artsakh
State University. I performed many times there with my lectures
on the themes "Today’s situation in Transcaucasus", "Tendencies
of NATO in Transcaucasus’s countries", as well as "Lermontov and
Transcaucasus". It’s known, that Lermontov spent rather long time in
Caucasus (1837, 1840-41). My brochure has been published recently,
which is called "Lermontov in Karabakh in 1837". In 1837 the author
visited Shushi and returning to St. Petersburg, wrote to his friend –
Svyatoslav Raevsky about his impressions. He wrote, that he had been
in Shushi, Shamakhi, had slept in open-air fields, had woke up from
voices of jackals… We have brought various materials, documents,
which testify, that Lermontov was really in Karabakh. We have for an
object to open a museum in Shushi devoted to Lermontov, but now in
Stepanakert we have organized an exhibition in municipality’s gallery.
– What connects you with Karabakh? – Unfortunately, I’m not connected
rootly with Karabakh. But after my first visit, which was in 2005,
it has become my second land for me.

Really, Nagorno-Karabakh is a place, where your soul is openned
and you are relieved. I think, that all this is conditioned by
Karabakhi people’s honesty and wonderfulness. And just they create
the surroundings which is called a sphere. I’m from Armavir by origin.

An armenian family from Ardvin lived in the neighbourhood. I
still remember the stories of old house owner Agnessa Bagratyan
about the genocide. Her husband’s brother Hakob Ter-Bagratyan was
an archimandrite, he managed to save a great number of armenians
from the massacre, closing them inside the church. She was very
kind and woderwul woman, interesting interlocuter. I’ve learnt to
speak armenian a little from her. I have met many armenians after
leaving Armavir, but some armenian words have stuck in my memory…
– Mr Zakharov, your attitude towards armenian-turkish relations
and generally border’s openning. – It can’t be two opinions, that
negotiations should be carried out in that direction. It’s a pity ,
that Russia has been pushed out from these negotiations. It has done
by the Americans’ hand. And the last – by Turkey’s.There would be
complications, of course, because Turkey and Azerbaijan act in the
same direction. And all, what they speak and do – is a game.

Turkey needs in Armenia. They know, that great load transportations
will be through Turkey’s territory, which will cost much sums. From
the other hand Turkey wants to protect Azerbaijan. Nobody can say,
how long this double game of Turkey will last. Only a thing is clear,
if the border is openned, Turkey will never close it. Also for the
simple reason: Turkey is eager to be admitted to EU. And if it suddenly
closes again the border, nobody will want to have such a partner.

And what about the problem of recognition of the Genocide, various
opinions are sounded about it. Yes, many years passed, and during
these years many facts have been collected, published concerning to
the Genocide… And to say, that the Armenians are guilty, It’s merely
a shame, funny. – In your opinion, will the international community
ever recognize Armenian Genocide? – You know, it’s difficult to say
yes or not. Just there, in Turkey, there are pro and contra. In all
cases, something must be changed. They shoud understand, that the
facts speak not in favour of Turkey.

RA PRESIDENT LAID WREATH TO 1988 EARTHQUAKE MEMORIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2009 12:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who arrived Monday
morning in Gyumri laid a wreath to the 1988 earthquake memorial.

Later, a service for the dead was held in Amenaprkich Church, a
PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from Gyumri.

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Territorial Administration Minister
Armen Gevorgyan, Shirak region governor Lida Nanyan, Gyumri Mayor
Vardan Ghukasyan and Russia’s Ambassador to RA Vyacheslav Kovalenko
also attended the mourning ceremony.

On December 7, 1988, at 11:41 a.m. local time a magnitude 6.9
earthquake shook northwestern Armenia and was followed four minutes
later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock.

The earthquake leveled the cities of Spitak and Gyumri and left 25
000 people dead, 100 000 wounded and 500 000 homeless.

Abraham-Dirrell fight possible on March 6
05.12.2009 12:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Super Six doubleheader is possibly in the works
for March 6. German television network ARD is holding the date of
March 6 for Arthur Abraham’s bout with Andre Dirrell. Abraham is
returning from a twelfth round knockout of Jermain Taylor. Dirrell
lost a close decision to WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch.

Abraham-Dirrell was being eyed for January 23 at New York’s WaMu
Theater in Madison Square Garden but the date was taken by Top Rank
for the Juan-Luevano, Gamboa-Mtagwa HBO doubleheader. Abraham-Dirrell
could head to a venue in California or Florida.

Speaking of Froch, his title defense against Mikkel Kessler, if he
manages to heal in time, could land on the same March date. Last month
Kessler suffered a one-sided decision loss to Andre Ward. During the
action there were multiple head clashes that opened up a few bad cuts
on Kessler’s face. That fight would take place in Kessler’s backyard
of Denmark, BoxingScene.com reported.

Interfax, Russia
Dec 3 2009

Armenian peacekeepers to go to Afghanistan in February 2010

YEREVAN Dec 3

Armenian servicemen will go to Afghanistan in February 2012, Armenian
peacekeeping brigade commander Col. Artur Simonian said in Yerevan on
Thursday.

"Armenian peacekeepers will soon have a familiarizing visit to
Afghanistan. Forty peacekeepers will visit Germany for training in
January. The Armenian servicemen will go to Afghanistan in February,
together with a German unit," he said.

The Armenian servicemen will spend about six months in Afghanistan,
and the personnel will be rotated, he said.

Washington expects Armenian support to peacekeeping operations, U.S.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Celesta Wollander said in
Yerevan.

U.S. President Barack Obama decided to enlarge the peacekeeping force
in Afghanistan, she said, adding that they viewed Armenia as an
important partner and expected its support.

CONCERT "GIVE A LIFE" IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Dec 4 2009
Armenia

By the initiation of the Russian "Give a life" fund for the support
of the children with blood cancer today in Yerevan will take place a
beneficial concert which is aimed at concentrating the attention on
the children’s cancer problems and on gathering 97 thousand dollars
for buying equipments in the frameworks of the "Muratsan" university
hospital.

On the concert which will conduct the famous Russian actor Chulpan
Khamatova, Armenian and Russian musicians and musical groups will
participate in the event; Levon Malkhasyan, and Malkhaz group,
Alexander Zaqaryan, Vahan Artsruni, "Mirayf" group, "Armenian Navy
Band" and Arto Tunj Boyajyan, Artur Kirilov drawing on the sand.

The fund "Give a life" founded on 2006 by the Russian famous actors
Dina Korzun and Chulpan Khamatova is providing measures through
concerts for the treatment of the children who have cancer. The 60%
of children in Russia get treatment due to these measures.

The treatment of the children’s cancer needs too much expanses. It
can reach from 15 000 to 150 000 dollars.

ENTIRE DIPLOMATIC WORK WENT DOWN THE DRAIN: ZURABYAN

Tert.am
04.12.09

It’s the first time that Armenia officially accepted the tenet that
the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh must be settled on the basis of the
entirety of Azerbaijani territory, stated Armenian National Congress
(ANC) coordinator Levon Zurabyan, commenting on the OSCE ministerial
statement related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Specifically, Zurabyan noted that after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, choosing a diplomatic system, in which the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would be secured on the right of
self-determination, was very important. Becoming an OSCE member and
receiving the right to veto, Armenia became able to say that it would
use that right in the case if the principle of entirety of Azerbaijan’s
territory is to be tied with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, noted the ANC coordinator.

With the December 1 decision, in Zurabyan’s opinion, this entire
diplomatic work went down the drain. "Now they are trying to fool us
and create the impression that also included in the official documents
is the right of nations’ self-determination."

The ANC coordinator, however, considers the fore-mentioned
argument ridiculous, since, in his opinion, simultaneously taking
advantage of the principles of territorial entirety and the
right of self-determination means that "the right of nations to
self-determination must be carried out within the frames of the
principles of territorial entirety."

Responding to the issue of first president of Armenia, current ANC
leader Levon Ter-Petrossian’s 1992 interview where Ter-Petrossian was
discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh issue as part of Azerbaijan, Zurabyan
noted that diplomatic documents and positions are important for him.

"All of Ter-Petrossian’s statements during that time were directed
toward the information and political securing of military operations."

TURKEY – LEADING ANTI-CHRISTIAN NATION WORLDWIDE: HELLENIC NEWS OF AMERICA

news.am
Dec 3 2009
Armenia

The military arrangement should be ended for a number of reasons,
including the fact that it was harmful to Greece, Cyprus and
Armenia. The Turkey-Israel military arrangement, initiated in 1996
during the Clinton administration by Vice President Gore’s office, was
not in the interests of the U.S. In effect, it demonstrated support of
Turkey’s invasion and occupation of Cyprus; support of Turkey’s denial
of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides; support of Turkey’s
violations of the human and political rights of its Kurdish minority;
and support of Turkey’s numerous violations of religious freedom,"
The Hellenic News of America monthly reports.

"Obama has watered down his campaign statements and those of Vice
President Joe Biden. He has not ordered a critical review of the United
States-Turkey relations. He keeps talking as if Turkey is a loyal,
reliable ally of substantial importance and a bridge between East
and West and between Christians and Muslims. The facts are otherwise
and Obama’s rhetoric on Turkey is inaccurate, misleading and omits
important items," the source reads.

"Obama has failed to state that Turkey is giving full support to
the Iranian government and its tainted re-elected President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Erdogan and Turkey’s president were among the first
foreign leaders to call and congratulate Ahmadinejad which was a
deliberate act against the opposition movement in Iran which movement
supported by most of the world community in its denunciation of the
election of Ahmadinejad as fraudulent. An editorial in the Los Angeles
Times, October 31, 2009, pointed out that Turkey, "NATO’s only Muslim
member is undermining Western efforts to keep nuclear weapons from
Iran by expanding trade ties," the monthly says.

"Turkey was founded on the ashes of Turkey’s genocides against its
Armenia, Greek and Assyrian Christian minorities in the 1920’s led
by Kemal Ataturk. Turkey was the leading anti-Christian nation in the
world in the 20th century, killing over 2,500,000 Christians. And today
it violates the religious freedom of the tiny Greek Orthodox Christian
minority of 2000 and the Ecumenical Patriarchate," the source informs.

"Turkey is also a leading anti-Semitic nation. The Erdogan government
has increased the anti-Israel rhetoric considerably over the past
several years.

Frankly, President Obama needs to do more than lecture. He needs to
consider putting U.S sanctions on Turkey," the monthly outlines.

WINTER HOLIDAYS TO LAST TILL JANUARY 10

ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government decided
at its today’s session to make changes and amendments in the law on
"Armenian Holidays and Memory Days". Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan
said that the commemoration day followed after Christmas and the
Revelation days must too be declared as holiday, non-working day.

By the currently functioning law, these days according to the Catholic
Church rule precede the New Year. In connection with the decision,
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that it will give an
opportunity to the citizens to organize their rest twice in a year. The
adoption of law must be considered immediate to be able to apply this
year. As a result during the New Year holidays the citizens will have
an opportunity to have rest till January 10, 2010.

The prime minister noted that this change corresponds to international
experience. In Europe the Christmas holidays start from December 24
and in Armenia January 6.