Author: Kharatian Ani

NEW PROTOCOLS SET GROUND FOR TURKEY, ARMENIA COMMON FUTURE

Hurriyet Daily News
nditional-protocol-sets-common-ground-for-common-f uture-2009-09-01
Sept 1 2009
Turkey

With the second half of ‘football diplomacy’ just weeks away, Turkish
and Armenian leaders are pledging to sign protocols that will usher
in a new era of open relations between the two countries. The future
isn’t certain, however, as the parliaments and presidents on both
sides of the border will need to ratify the agreements before they
can come into force

FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY: Hopes escalate for Armenian President Serge
Sarkisian to attend a football match in Turkey in October.

After decades of tension between the neighbors, Turkey and Armenia
are set to sign protocols that promise to shape a broad common ground
for establishing good ties and undertaking joint projects important
for future development.

The two countries are expected to ink two protocols in six weeks,
likely just before the World Cup qualifying match that will take
place in Bursa on Oct. 14 between Turkey and Armenia’s national teams.

The first protocol, covering the establishment of diplomatic relations,
and the second, on the development of relations, are accompanied by
an annex that sets a clear timetable for the implementation of both.

Though uncertainties remain, the agreements envision the opening of
the Turkey-Armenia border within two months after the second protocol
goes into force, which requires approval from both parliaments and
presidents.

"[Turkey and Armenia] reconfirm their commitment, in their bilateral
and international relations, to respect and ensure respect for the
principles of equality, sovereignty, non-intervention in internal
affairs of other states, territorial integrity and inviolability of
frontiers," the first protocol reads.

The initial part of the agreement also touches on the issue of
regional stability without making direct reference to the ongoing
dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory occupied by
Armenian forces. Refraining from the use of threats or force, promoting
the peaceful settlement of disputes and protecting human rights and
fundamental freedoms are also key provisions in the protocol.

Borders to be recognized

Under the agreement, the two countries will also affirm their mutual
recognition of their existing border, as defined by relevant treaties
in international law, a provision that directly refers to one of
Turkey’s most important demands, Armenia’s acknowledgement of the
1921 Treaty of Kars that delimited the border. This aspect of the
protocol can be seen as Armenia’s confirmation that it will no longer
make any claims on Turkish territory.

The next item of the protocol once again affirms the countries’
decision to open the common border, which was sealed by Turkey in
response to Armenia’s occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh. Previously,
Turkey had said it would not move toward reconciliation with Armenia
unless the country removed its forces from Azerbaijani lands.

"Condemning all forms of terrorism, violence and extremism irrespective
of their cause, pledging to refrain from encouraging and tolerating
such acts and to cooperate in combating against them," are among the
other terms of the protocol. As Turkish intelligence services believe
that Armenia is one of the countries providing support to the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, Turkey will press Armenia to severe
any links with the banned organization.

The protocol on the development of relations lists a number of fields
in which the two countries will work to launch joint projects. In
addition to political and economic ties, Turkey and Armenia will
set up sub-commissions to work on energy- and transportation-related
efforts, as well as other scientific, technical and cultural issues,
that will foster a common future based on mutual interests. Projects
set to be launched in the short term include the reactivation of
existing railroads and joint electricity production.

In another reference to the peaceful settlement of regional disputes,
the protocol text says the countries are "reiterating their commitment
to the peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes and
conflicts on the basis of the norms and principles of international
law."

Under the new agreements, Turkey and Armenia will also work together to
stop transnational organized crime, including the illicit trafficking
of drugs and arms.

Initiating a historical dialogue

In addition to the main aims of the two protocols, the neighboring
countries have also agreed to set up a sub-commission to deal with
the mass killings that occurred during the World War I era. The
sub-commission will be able to invite foreign experts to contribute
to its work. It is charged with implementing "a dialogue on the
historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between
the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of
the historical records and archives to define existing problems and
formulate recommendations."

The two countries will also cooperate in the fields of science and
education by encouraging relations between appropriate institutions
and promoting the exchange of specialists and students, and will act
to preserve the cultural heritage of both sides by launching joint
cultural projects.

The timetable

After negotiations are completed, the protocols are expected to be
signed in the first half of October and will then be sent to Parliament
for further discussion. The final approval of the protocols must be
made by President Abdullah Gul. It is not yet known how long it may
take to complete the ratification process.

The protocol calls for the border to be opened within two months of
the documents’ entry into force, meaning that if Gul approves them
on Nov. 1, for example, the border would have to be opened before
the New Year.

The two countries will also establish a working group headed by
their respective foreign ministries to prepare an intergovernmental
commission, along with a number of sub-commissions, that will
be convened within three months after the protocol goes into
effect. The sub-commissions will convene a month after the initial
intergovernmental meeting.

Uncertainty over Karabakh

Though a key step in the reconciliation process, the protocols do not
address all the questions marks in the relationship between the two
countries. After Turkey and Armenia declared their initial "road map"
for reconciliation on April 22, Baku’s strong reaction caused Ankara
to backpedal and declare that it would only move forward if Armenia
withdrawals from occupied Azerbaijani lands. The current protocol
does not address this issue. Turkish diplomats say there are still
two parallel tracks, but thus far, the implementation is not showing
that to be the case.

AN UPHILL BATTLE: LAND OWNER SQUARES OFF WITH STATE OVER PROPERTY RIGHTS
Ararat Davtyan

2009/08/31 | 17:02

Feature Stories court

I went to the General Prosecutor’s Office and met with Gagik
Markosyan. He demanded that I hand him the ownership papers for the
site. I told him that these were the originals and that I wanted a
receipt if they weren’t to be returned. He answered – ‘haven’t you
heard of Tarakh Gago? That’s me. You won’t get anything. The general
is taking the site from you,’" says Karen Poghosyan, adding that the
general referred to RoA General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan.

"Prosecutor Gagik Markosyan is currently not in the country. He’s
gone on holiday. However, I can officially state that neither he nor
any employee of the General Prosecutor’s Office (GPO) would ever say
such a thing," argued GPO Public Affairs Officer Shahen Tonoyan.

The site is question, whose documents Karen Poghosyan handed over
to Prosecutor Markosyan on March 6, 2009, is located on Bagratunyats
Street, in the vicinity of Yerevan Lake.

In June, 2001, the Shengavit Court of First Instance, Judge Aleksandre
Merangoulyan presiding, found that, "As of 1991, Karen Poghosyan has
responsibly and continuously controlled 1,000 square meters of land at
the above address as his own property", and has erected a structure
on 500 square meters of the site. Thus the court found the buildings
and the1, 000 square meters of land beneath "to be without owner and
has handed over ownership rights to Karen Poghosyan".

Based on this decision, in April, 2002, the State Real Estate Registry
(Cadastre) registered Mr. Poghosyan’s right to said property by giving
him a 99 year lease. One year later, in May, 2003, Mr. Poghosyan paid
the full Cadastre appraisal of the site (some 1.465 million AMD),
directly purchasing the site from the government.

"Since 1991 I’ve been using that site; first as a garden. Later,
I cleaned it up and set up a small stall. Then I built a regular
store there and fir the past ten years I’ve been selling construction
materials," says Karen Poghosyan. "I paid all taxes and fees on time
and have even paid this December’s property taxes already. I’ve got
the receipts to prove it. I’ve had no problem with either the mayor’s
office or the local district office."

Karen says that in September, 2008, Grisha Khurshoudyan, then the
Director of the Architecture and Construction Department of the Yerevan
Municipality, proposed that he give General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan
200 square meters of his property fronting the main street. In return,
Karen would get an equal parcel at the rear of his site.

"Naturally, I didn’t agree. After the collapse of the Soviet Union,
General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan’s father, Garnik Hovsepyan,
owned 2,000 square meters of land. During the past 4-5 years he’s
been gobbling up parcels from here and there so that the 2,000 has
mushroomed into 18,000 square meters. Now he wants to grab my land as
well," Karen says, "I never thought that the GPO could just grab my
ownership documents and the court decision papers. I say this because
a while back the civil prosecutor requested the same documents but
returned them after verifying their authenticity."

Shahen Tonoyan says, "It’s really not right to mention the name of
the RoA General Prosecutor in this story.

People are just out to use his name in order to strike the best deal
and resolve their problems. As regards the documents, during the
preparation of the case they were requested from the individual. As
a result of their examination a case was brought at the appeals
court. There, the decision of the Court of First Instance was revoked,
i.e., his right to ownership. Naturally, in this instance, the property
ownership document is deemed null and void and thus not subject to
be returned."

Mr. Tonoyan explained that Aghvan Hovsepyan’s father worked at a state
farming enterprise in the vicinity of Lake Yerevan during the Soviet
era. After independence, he and other like him, first rented and then
obtained ownership rights to a certain segment of the enterprise’s
lands. Mr. Tonoyan specifically pointed out that Aghvan Hovsepyan
wasn’t prosecutor general at the time.

"Garnik Hovsepyan privatized that parcel of land, some 16,000 or 18,000
square meters, in the name of one of his sons. However, a portion
of that land, some 2,000 square meters, with the decision of the
municipality, mistakenly wound up within the land of another property
owner when the maps were being drawn up. To correct the situation,
the municipality decided to compensate the owners for the 2,000
square meters with land illegally annexed at the site. It turns out
that 1,000 square meters of the site turned over to Karen Pogosyan is
illegal. Thus, the municipality has petitioned the Department for the
Defense of State Interests at the GPO and a case has been launched,"
states Shahen Tonoyan.

"Hetq" attempted to get some explanations from the Yerevan
Municipality. They promised to look into the matter and get back to
us but we haven’t heard from them since.

"It now turns out that a portion of the land owned by the Hovsepyan’s
was mistakenly allotted to the property of another person. The
Hovsepyan’s, like any other citizen of the RoA, have the right to
property and to defend that right. In this case it is important that
the loss be compensated for. It really makes no difference to whom
the municipality will leave the 2,000 sq. meters in question – to the
Hovsepyan’s or to the new owner or which of them will be compensated
with new land, not legally owned by any one. The Hovsepyan’s have no
claims against anyone," Mr. Shahen Tonoyan claimed.

The Prosecutor’s Office and the Yerevan Municipality Succeed in Getting
Poghosyan’s Ownership Rights Revoked After taking Karen Poghosyan’s
land documents, the GPO and the Yerevan Municipality separately filed
suits with the appeals court to have the decision of the lower court,
recognizing the ownership rights of Karen Poghosyan to the site on
Bagratunyats Street near Lake Yerevan, overturned.

Mr. Tonoyan says, "The decision of the Court of First Instance violated
state interests. This is why the GPO petitioned the appeals court." The
petition was signed by Aghvan Hovespyan’s deputy, Aram Tamazyan.

In general terms, the arguments brought forward by both the GPO and
the Yerevan Municipality are the same.

In 2001, the Shengavit Court of First Instance recognized the property
rights of Karen Poghosyan based on his application; the defendant was
never brought into the case since the issue at hand didn’t impact on
the rights of others.

The plaintiffs argue that if the land parcel isn’t currently
the private property of anyone, by law, it is the property of the
RoA. Thus, back in 2001, the court should have incorporated the state
into the case, either through the municipality or the prosecutor’s
office. However, the lower court failed to do so.

According to Article 207, Point 5, of the Civil Judicial Code, a
non-participating party, for whom a judicial act has been reached
impacting the rights and obligations, "has the right to take the
matter to the appeals court with a three month period from the day
that they are informed or can be informed about the passage of such
a decision…"

Attorney Hayk Aloumyan says, "The plaintiffs state that the RoA
wasn’t informed of the decision during this period. However, the RoA
couldn’t have remained uninformed of this decision just for the fact
that it was made on behalf of the RoA. Secondly, the sentence was
immediately presented to the Real Estate Cadastre which operates
on behalf of the RoA. The RoA, via its agencies, struck a leasing
contract with Mr. Poghosyan and subsequently sold the site and
received taxes. Finally, in 2008, the Yerevan Municipality drafted
an overall blueprint in which it states that the land belongs to
K. Poghosyan. After all this, the municipality and the prosecutor
declare that they weren’t aware of the decision for eight straight
years. Naturally, this is not the case."

Attorney Aloumyan argues that this factor alone was sufficient for
the appeals court to reject the petition. However, the appeals court,
presided by Armen Tumanyan, sustained the petition and in its decision
literally copied word for word the arguments made by the plaintiffs.

"There is a second side to the issue. In such cases the Civil Judicial
Code clearly states that the decision is revoked and the petition
remains unexamined in order that the individual has the opportunity
to once again apply to the court of first instance in the future,
to include those whose interests are at stake and to begin the case
investigation anew. Now, the appeals court has revoked the decision
of the lower court and has immediately rejected the demands of
K. Poghosyan that his property rights be recognized," attorney
Aloumyan opined.

"The appeals court resorted to such blatant irregularities due to
the pressure exerted by the prosecutor. Now, I have petitioned the
cassation court but they are still keeping the pressure on the judges
involved," says Mr. Poghosyan.

"Those are brazen claims. The prosecution has no connection with
the courts. The courts are an independent body and they reach their
decisions on their own. When individuals don’t get the results they
want from the judicial process they start making wild speculations,"
countered the head of the GPO’s Public Affairs Department.

Karen Poghosyan notes that he knows what to expect from the cassation
court and thus he has discussed the possibility of taking the matter
to the European Court.

Hayk Aloumyan is convinced that the European Court of Human Rights
will find in favor of Mr. Poghosyan since "the appeals court has
trampled on the principle of legal certitude in such a brazen fashion".

"In essence, it appears that our court can turn around and revoke
the decisions they made some eight years ago and come up with new
judgements; using the same facts and without adding or subtracting
a thing. This is a blatant violation of the European Convention,"
says attorney Aloumyan.

Mr. Aloumyan believes that the court will compel Armenia to equitably
compensate Mr. Pogosyan for the losses he has suffered as a result
of these court decisions and for the costs associated with bringing
the case to the European Court.

Attorney Hayk Aloumyan notes, with a degree of consternation, that this
compensatory amount will be allocated from the state budget. "That’s
to say from the taxpayers’ pockets and we’re talking about some pretty
serious money."

"LET ME HUG YOU"

hugging-day
07:53 pm | August 31, 2009

Society

A group of youngsters today proposed free hugs at Yerevan’s Republican
Square.

Passers-by either pushed them away or obeyed them reluctantly.

A middle-aged street saleswoman got angree with a girl trying to hug
her in the street. "What an awkwardness! Don’t you have any other
business? Go away! Let me alone!" shouted the woman

One of the movement participants, 19-year-old Tatev told A1+ that they
were trying to arouse laughter and delight among people for them to
look happy and kind.

Tatev says they have no sponsors and are not affiliated with any
organisation. She organised the action with her friend Sam.

The Free Hugs Campaign is a social movement involving individuals
who offer hugs to strangers in public places. The campaign in its
present form was started in 2004 by an Australian.

Today one could read on posters: "Let me hug you," "Free hugs,"
"Let’s hug each other". The participants of today’s movement marched
through Abovyan street approaching and hugging passers-by.

"We simply want to say that there nothing strange in hugging. We should
try to get rid of the complex and lead an easy life," says Tatev.

THE BUDGET OF 2010 "REALISTIC AND MODEST"

Aysor
Aug 28 2009
Armenia

"The budget of the next year will be realistic and relatively
modest. We should not forget about our real possibilities but in the
same time we should preserve our position in economic and financial
development that we have at present", – stated Tigran Davtyan the RA
Finance Minister in the meeting with the journalists and assured that
there is no need of sequestrating the budget.

According to the Minister the budget of this year is being realized
effectively almost all the programs that have been prepared by the
budget are being implemented.

"There is no any unsatisfied apply and even there are expenses that are
more than in the previous years, the social expenses in particular",
– said the minister mentioning that the salary of the budget system
grew with 18%.

To assure that there are no problems concerning the expenses T. Davtyan
informed that there is 170 milliards AMD on the joint treasury account
at this present.

In the same time the Minister mentioned that having enough resources
they work in economical regime.

"We do not make expenses that have no vital influence over the
economy. They are moved to the forth trimester, and make over 93
milliards drams and are mainly expenses of preservation of governmental
management system", – mentioned the minister.

Tigran Davtyan informed that some other expenses have been added
which have not been foreseen in the primary version of the budget
and which are directed to the promotion of the economy.

"By the budget 945 milliard AMD are prepared for the expenses,
which I think will be realized in the limits of 905 milliards", –
said T. Davtyan.

RUSSIA’S LARGEST MOBILE OPERATOR OFFERS SERVICES IN KARABAKH’S OCCUPIED LANDS

Today.Az
55063.html
Aug 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenia’s mobile operator ArmenTel, (Beeline brand in Armenian
territory) part of VimpelCom group of companies, provides roaming
services in the territory of Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno-Karabakh
region and cooperates with the separatists.

VimpelCom’s (Beeline brand) Armenia-based Web site contain abbreviation
"NKR" as an independent state. The Web site has ample of errors
showing disrespect to Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

"Roaming" section includes list of Beeline roaming partners. The list
says that Nagorno-Karabakh is preferential tariff zone. It also says
Karabakh Telecom is Beeline’s partner in Karabakh.

VimpelCom group of companies include companies operating in Russia,
Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia,
as well as Vietnam and Cambodia, a territory with a total population
of about 340 million people. Services are provided under the brand
Beeline.

In other words, any Beeline subscriber, be it in Russia, Tajikstan,
Georgia, Uzbekstan, etc., once arriving in Nagorno-Karabakh, will
easily be able to use roaming services which is a direct violation
of all international norms.

Azerbaijan’s responsible governmental agencies need to intervene
with the matter so that all companies engaged in illegal activities
in Nagorno-Karabakh will understand they violate international norms
and law.

GIRO MANOYAN: TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS OF US MAY PREVENT CONGRESS FROM ADOPTING GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

armradio.am
28.08.2009 14:13

US Federal Appeals Court’s decision prohibiting descendants of Armenian
Genocide victims to sue foreign companies for unpaid claims has no
legal bases, Hay Dat Central Office Director Giro Manoyan told a news
conference in Yerevan.

"In 2000, California State adopted a law enabling descendants
of Genocide victims to sue American and other foreign insurance
companies for unpaid claims. Following such decision, descendents
of the aggrieved filed suit against several insurance companies such
as New-York Life (US), AHA (France) and 3 German companies," Hay Dat
Bureau Director noted.

Those who filed claims against New York Life and AHA received financial
compensation, whereas German companies appealed against the decision,
claiming that California State’s law contradicted US Constitution.

"Court decision says that California state’s law does not conform to US
Constitution as it contains the words ‘descendents of Armenian Genocide
victims’, whereas United States has not officially recognized the
fact. The court also ruled the decision unconstitutional considering
that it contained statements on US domestic policy which is within
the competence of US Congress and President," Manoyan stated, adding
that no law in America disallows separate states to recognize Armenian
G enocide.

"If American court’s decision remains unchanged, Turkish organizations
in US can use it as a tool to prevent Congress from adopting Genocide
Resolution and prohibit official Washington to recognize the fact,"
Manoyan said. On August 20, US Federal Appeals court ruled that
Armenian Americans descended from Genocide victims cannot sue foreign
insurance companies for unpaid claims because the US Government does
not legally recognize that an Armenian genocide occurred.

100 LAWYERS TO TAKE PART IN ALL-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OF LAWYERS

ARMENPRESS
Aug 25, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS: About 100 lawyers presented
applications for participation in the All-Armenian Conference of
Lawyers scheduled for September 19-20 in Yerevan. The conference is
being organized by the Armenian Diaspora Ministry in collaboration
with the Armenian Constitutional Court.

Head of the task group established in the staff of the ministry
Arman Yeghiazaryan told Armenpress that 40 of the 100 will arrive
from USA, Russia, France, Iran, Argentina, Belgium, Switzerland,
Great Britain, Austria, Syria, Lebanon. The biggest delegation will
arrive from France. About 60 representatives from Justice Ministry,
Constitutional Court, Armenian Bar Chamber, Armenian Lawyers’ Union
will participate from Armenia.

Yeghiazaryan noted that the goal of the conference is to register
and unite the potential of Armenian lawyers living abroad, work out
stable and effective mechanisms of involving them into the inner
life of Armenia, create All-Armenian Association of Lawyers and on
its basis a specialized all-Armenian network.

The participants of the conference will discuss issues on preparation
and training of lawyers, on protection of rights of ethnic minorities,
issue on international recognition of the Armenian Genocide – from
the viewpoint of right, lobbying, legal protection of cultural
heritage etc.

The deadline for accepting applications for participation has been
prolonged until September 10.

GENOCIDE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW TO BE TOPIC OF BEIRUT CONFERENCE

Asbarez
/24/genocide-and-international-law-to-be-topic-of- beirut-conference/
Aug 24, 2009

BEIRUT-An international academic conference on the Armenian Genocide
and International Law will take place from September 2 to 4 at
Haigazian University.

Organized by the Haigazian University and the Armenian National
Committee-Middle East, the conference will discuss the Armenian
Genocide from the perspective of international law and tackle issues
such as professional ethics and genocide denial, the consequences of
the Genocide and the rights of the Armenian nation within the context
of international law, and means of further promoting the field of
Armenian Genocide Studies.

A number of scholars in genocide studies and experts in international
law are invited for this twoday conference. They will be arriving
from Armenia, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Lebanon, England, Switzerland,
Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The participants
include professors and scholars Taner Akcam, Bilgin Ayata, Seyhan
Bayraktar, Georges Charaf, Haik Demoyan, Richard Hovannissian,
Khatchig Mouradian, Mohammad Rifaat, William Schabas, Roger Smith,
Henry Theriault, Ugur Ungor, Ragip Zarakolu, and Alfred De Zayas.

The papers which will be presented during the four sessions of the
Conference will cover: "The Problem of Minorities and Majorities: The
Case of the Ottoman Empire," "Demographic Engineering in the Ottoman
Empire and the Armenian Genocide," "The Armenian Question According
to Arab Sources," "Genocide and International Law (60 Years after
the Convention, Problems and Prospects)," "The Armenian Genocide:
Issues of Justice and International Law," "The Armenians, Raphael
Lemkin and the UN Genocide Convention," "Turkish Nationalism and
the Armenian Genocide Issue in Turkey Today," "Genocide Denialism
and Law in Turkey," "The Evolution of the Armenian Genocide Denial
in Turkish Press," "Kurdish-Armenian Relations and the Armenian
Genocide," "Professional Ethics and the Denial of Armenian Genocide,"
"Restorative Justice and Alleviating the Consequences of Genocide,"
"Universalizing the Legacy of the Armenian Genocide." The proceedings
of the conference will be later published in a book.

Concurrently, on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4,
as well as on Tuesday, September 8 there will be evening public
lectures. Details will be announced later. Haigazian University
Armenian National Committee-Middle East Beirut-Lebanon August 24, 2009

Targeted News Service
August 18, 2009 Tuesday 12:29 AM EST

Gov. Perry Ceremonially Signs SB 482 Creating Texas Holocaust and
Genocide Commission

AUSTIN, Texas

Gov. Rick Perry,R-Texas, issued the following news release:

Gov. Rick Perry today ceremonially signed Senate Bill (SB) 482, which
creates the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission to help preserve
information and experiences of the Holocaust and other genocide
events. The commission will work with organizations, agencies,
museums, survivors and liberators to provide information and
experiences and to coordinate memorial events in the state.

"As a state and nation, we are compelled to prevent future episodes of
genocide and oppression by casting the light of truth on their history
and educating our citizens on the circumstances that allow their
occurrence," Gov. Perry said. "Ultimately, that truth, and the
willingness to defend the vulnerable among us will lead to greater
justice. I believe this bill is an important statement of the values
we hold dear in this state- those of respecting human life and valuing
freedom for all men and women."

The creation of this commission will give schools and organizations in
smaller communities access to resources and information about the
Holocaust and genocide that they would otherwise have little access
to. The commission will consist of 18 members- 15 appointed by the
governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker, with the commissioner
of education, commissioner of higher education and executive director
of the Texas Veterans Commission acting as ex-officio members.

"As a child of Holocaust survivors, I have lived the lessons of that
horrific event all my life, but there are generations of people who
have no access to the lessons and teachings of this historic tragedy,"
Sen. Florence Shapiro said. "The intolerance of that period remains a
contemporary issue today that young people need to learn about. It is
my hope that this legislation will help provide the information
necessary to ensure that we never forget."

In addition to the Holocaust, there have been five major genocide
events in the 20th century, including the Armenian, Cambodian,
Rwandan, Bosnian and Herzegovinian, and Sudanese genocides. Survivors,
liberators and others who witnessed these atrocities have died without
leaving their lessons of survival and humanity. According to the
Holocaust Museum Houston, six Holocaust survivors have died within the
last six months in Houston alone.

"I am very proud to have authored this bill with my good friend
Senator Shapiro. We must all stand up and recognize that genocide
continues to take place all over the world. 64 years ago it was
Eastern Europe. Today, it is Darfur," Sen. Rodney Ellis said. "The
Holocaust and Genocide Commission is Texas’ effort to ensure that our
schools and communities have the resources they need to teach our kids
and neighbors to do what is morally right when faced with such
atrocities."

"This bill means that all communities and particularly rural areas
across Texas will have the opportunity to learn about what can happen
if good people do not stand up to be counted," Rep. Ellen Cohen
said. "It will help educate young people, who will be the future
leaders of their chamber of commerce, school board or Girl Scout
troop, that while we may take exception to the views of others we can
and must do so in a respectful and civil manner."

Gov. Perry continues to advocate for the human rights of oppressed
people around the world. The governor has signed legislation calling
for divestment of state funds that have a direct relationship to the
atrocities happening in Sudan. The governor has also called for
divestment of state funds from Iran, a main opponent of Israeli
freedom.

Armenian deputy minister of transport and communication: Implementation
of action plan of National road safety strategy to bring $35 mln to
Armenia within the next 5 years

2009-08-21 17:32:00

ArmInfo. Implementation of the action plan of the National road safety
strategy will bring $35 mln to Armenia within the next 5 years,
Armenian Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication Hrant Beglaryan
told journalists, Friday. The road safety strategy and the 5-year
action plan were adopted during August 13 sitting of the Armenian
government. The total value of measures
envisaged by the action plan is $10 mln. The deputy minister pointed
out that according to the methods of calculation of economic losses
from road traffic accidents worked out for Armenia by SWECO
International (Sweden) in 2003, annual losses from fatal crashes make
up 6 – 7,5 bln AMD, those from road accidents with bad injuries – 14,4
– 231,7 bln AMD, with slight injuries – 0,7 -1 bln AMD.

Thus, the total volume of losses is about 1% of GDP, including
healthcare expenses, performance loop, and in case of death – reduction
of a family incomes (especially if he is the bead earner). , –
Beglaryan said. He recalled that 2202 road traffic accidents happened
in Armenia in 2008, as a result of which 407 people died and 3125 were
hurt.

The training events among the population are envisaged to be held
within the frames of the actions programme of the strategy, including
drivers and pedestrians.