Author: Khoyetsian Rose

RUSSIAN KOMMERSANT COVERS ISSUE ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Panorama.am
12:06 17/04/2009

"The Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov arrived in Armenia to
attend the Collective Security Treaty Organization summit, as well
as to meet the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to make certain
agreements on the President’s participation to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
summit over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to be conducted in
Russia," writes Russian "Êîììåðña& #xED;ò" (Kommersant). According to
the Russian paper the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has also
hold negotiations in this regard with the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliev.

According to the sources of the magazine if Baku and Yerevan
agree on getting use of the Russian service then Armenia
will receive great financial support and Azerbaijan – military
equipments. Armenian-Azerbaijani summit will take place in the frames
of the economic forum in Saint Petersburg in June.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT TO VISIT MOSCOW

armradio.am
18.04.2009 13:43

On the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry
Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, the President of
the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, will pay a working visit to
Moscow, President’s Press Office reported.

The Presidents of Armenia and Russia are expected to have a meeting
on April 23

ALIYEV-MEDVEDEV DIALOG SHOULD CONTINUE, INCLUDING ON KARABAKH

Interfax
April 16 2009
Russia

The upcoming visit by President Ilham Aliyev to Russia on April 16-
17 could give an additional impetus to the efforts being made under
the Moscow declaration on the Karabakh conflict resolution, Baku says.

It will be the 21st meeting between the Azeri and Russian presidents,
held in various formats over the past five years.

"And it is not just statistics. This figure is an indicator of the
progress in our bilateral relations, the evidence of the current
atmosphere of openness between the two countries’ leaders, their
confidence and interest in a regular dialog in order to address
the practical issues of bilateral cooperation and the regional
and international security," Fuad Akhundov, head of the social and
political division in the presidential administration, told Interfax.

It is these two sets of issues that will be at the center of the
Moscow "working summit," he said. The period since the last summit
of the two presidents that was held in Baku on July 3, 2008, "has
proved very fruitful for the Azeri-Russian relations, filled with
intensive dialog and cooperation in a variety of areas of bilateral
cooperation," he said.

"The friendship and strategic partnership declaration signed during
the Baku summit has become a sort of "road map" for the cooperation
between the two countries, which has substantially pushed the borders
of our bilateral relations in the area of political, economic and
humanitarian cooperation," Akhundov said.

Azerbaijan praises Russia’s active stance on the Armenian- Azerbaijan
conflict and hopes that the Declaration’s purpose to ensure stability
and security in the region by resolving this conflict in line with
international law and the relevant resolutions and documents being
made will get an additional impetus at the Moscow meeting between
the two presidents, he said.

There have been clear signs of a positive growth in economic
cooperation as well, Akhundov said. "Bilateral trade exceeded
$2 billion, which makes Russia one of our country’s leading trade
partners after Italy, the United States, Israel, India and France. If
we don’t take the oil component into account, Russia is a sure leader
on the list of Azerbaijan’s trade partners. Russian businessmen are
seriously interested in the Azerbaijani market, which is being proved
by the fact that Russia has retained its leadership in Azerbaijan’s
imports for several years now," Akhundov said.

Unfortunately, cooperation on investment is not as intensive, he
said. This subject will be actively discussed at the upcoming 12th
session of the inter-governmental commission for economic cooperation,
preparations for which are underway in both capitals, he said.

Innovative, advanced and nanotechnologies are another promising area
of cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Baku and Moscow stepped up their efforts in the multi-lateral dialog
(between the Caspian nations) on the Caspian Sea problem and border
issues, and there is some positive progress in these important issues,
he said.

During the president’s visit the parties will also exchange their
views on the current situation in and around the southern Caucasus
region, the official said.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA CONGRATULATES POLICEMEN ON POLICE DAY
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
16.04.2009 15:08

President Serzh Sargsyan today congratulated the policemen on
the occasion of the Police Day. According to the President, the
congratulation is addressed to all workers of the sphere and their
families, those for whom defending the peace of the society has
become an everyday work. Emphasizing the pivotal role of the Police
for every country, especially a young democracy, the President said:

"Protecting public order, fighting crimes, defending the citizens’
rights and freedoms: these are the problems, the solution of which
is essential for a young democracy, where the Police should address
its tasks with greater alertness and skillfulness."

Assessing the past year, the President said changes have been
registered in the Police system. "With all that any professional
holiday is a good occasion to think about the work done, to correct
the mistakes of the past and solve new problems."

"WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS: GENESIS AND PERSPECTIVES" CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

PR-Inside.com
April 16 2009

The scientific conference entitled "World Financial Crisis: Genesis
and Perspectives" will be held in Yerevan on April 17, 2009, Slavonic
University Press Service reported.

According to the report, the conference will be attended by RF National
Economy Academy President, Doctor of Economy, Professor Vladimir Mau,
well-known Belgian economist Jacques-Francois Thisse, and Professor,
Doctor of Economy Armen Darbinyan, Head of Slavonic University.

The reports featured at the conference cover the following issues:
"Brief History of Globalization", "World Financial Crisis: Russian
Anti-Crisis Program", "World Financial Crisis: Armenian Context".

The conference will by organized by Slavonic University, and RF
National Economy Academy.

The event will be held within the framework of Slavonic University
conferences on world financial crisis.

TURKEY CALLS ON ARMENIA TO COOPERATE ON RESTORATION OF ANI

Balkan Travellers
159
April 15 2009

15 April 2009 | Turkey’s Culture Minister recently called on Armenia
to cooperate on the restoration of the ancient town of Ani, which is
located on the Turkish side of border between the two countries and
has lied in ruins for the last seven centuries.

Cooperation efforts would also require a resolution of the problems
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Turkey’s Culture Minister Ertugrul
Gunay told the Hurriyet Daily News publication on Monday.

The ministry’s plans for cooperation between the two countries are
not limited to restoration work, Gunay explained, adding that he
hoped to undertake many joint cultural projects with both Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

Regarding Ani, Gunay said restoration efforts will focus on the town’s
cathedral and will be supported by the World Monuments Fund. He added
that Armenian experts had recently attended a meeting on the project.

The town of Ani, which is situated in the Arpacay region of the
north-eastern province of Kars on Turkey’s border with Armenia, was the
capital of the Kingdom of Armenia between 961 and 1045. In its heyday,
at the end of the ninth century, Ani outshined Constantinople, Cairo,
and Baghdad with its splendour.

Ani, which was known as the "City of 1,001 Churches," has been in
ruins for the last seven centuries. After the First World War, the
ancient city’s remains fell into a zone of considerable political
tension. Three conflicts of Kemal Ataturk’s Turkey – with the Soviet
Union, Armenia, and the Kurdish separatists, led to severe travel
restrictions being imposed in the course of decades. The Soviets
enforced a 700-meter "security zone" into Turkish territory, where
nobody – including journalists, was allowed.

After the disintegration of the USSR things took a more liberal
turn, and the pass permits and photography ban were finally repealed
in 2004. Nowadays, only a few tumbledown churches, some sections
of a castle and Marco Polo’s bridge remain from what used to be a
magnificent city.

Another point of tension in recent years has been the stone quarry
on the Armenian side of the border across from Ani. Turkey has blamed
the explosions at the quarry for accelerating the destruction of the
ancient town. According to the publication, its complaints to the
International Council on Monuments and Sites, a sub-department of
UNESCO, resulted in Armenia’s halt of the blasting activities.

ARMENIANS OF FRANCE DEMAND RELEASE OF CHAKHALYAN
By Jean Eckian, Paris

Azg Daily
April 16 2009
Armenia

On April 14, a hundred Armenians living in Paris gathered in front
of Georgia’s embassy to require the release of Vahagn Chakhalyan,
the leader of the United Javakhk movement, who is being subjected to
political persecution by the Georgian authorities.

On April 7, Mr. Chakhalyan was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment
for "possession of weapons, deterioration of official buildings and
participation in a prohibited demonstration."

Representatives of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations
in France (CCAF), Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian of ARF
Dashnaksutyun were received by the Ambassador of Georgia, Mr. Mamuka
Kudava.

The French Armenian community representatives presented Ambassador
Kudava the formal complaints of the French organizations. They have
pointed out the fact, according to Union Yerkir, Chakhalyan was not in
possession of any weapon in his home. Moreover, the lawsuit had not
been justified and the proceedings were not transparent. Therefore,
they urged the immediate release of Mr. Chakhalyan.

Ambassador recorded the claims, assuring that they will be transmitted
to Tbilisi and underlining that the procedure would follow its course,
since Chakhalyan had lodged an appeal.

Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian then asked that French lawyers
work for the defense of the leader of United Javakhk.

HELLENIC GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION OUTSIDE THE UN

Greek News
April 13 2009
NY

New York.- On April 6, 2009 The Pan-Thracian Union of America
"ORPHEUS" and the Hellenic League of America (HLA) remembered the
Hellenic Genocide in Thrace and all victims of the Armenian, Assyrian
and Hellenic Genocide perpetrated by Turkey. Torrential rain, strong
winds and brisk temperatures did not keep community activists from
gathering at Ralph J Bunche Park outside the United Nations in New
York for the first ever commemoration of Hellenic Genocide in Thrace ,
Asia Minor and Pontos.

Organizers of the event Ioannis Fidanakis, Fotis Makritoxonis (CHEUNG),
Georgia Maratheftis , Paschalis Fidanakis and Giovanni di Napoli
provided placards with reproductions of American newspaper accounts
of the Hellenic Genocide, poster boards of Genocide perpetrators
"ENVER" PASHA and Mustafa Kemal , books such as "The Pontian Question
in the United Nations" by Michalis Charalambidis , and the educational
pamphlet "The Genocide of Greeks: A Case Study of the Region of Thrace"
by Theofanis Malkidis.

Master of ceremonies and Pan Thracian Union of America "ORPHEUS"
President , Ioannis Fidanakis addressed the crowd in attendance and
urged for decisive action and repeated a call for US President Obama
(who was visiting Turkey on that very day) to recognize the Armenian,
Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide.

"President Obama you have come to your first test of character,
will you prove worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as
Alexander the Great or will you be more the beautiful siren lurking
our community towards death? We gather here today to remind President
Obama, that while he may be visiting the perpetrators of our Genocide,
He must not forget the promises he made to both the Greek and Armenian
communities here at home. We urge President Obama to stand firm and
not to waiver on his commitment to justice and human rights in the
face geopolitics." Said Fidanakis, in his opening address. Statements
from those who could not attend were also read aloud at the Genocide
Commemoration, including a letter from William H. Samonides, Ph.D.,
President, Asia Minor Hellenic American Society (AMHAS). Also present
at the event include the president and members of the Hellenic
Organization of University Graduates HOUGA, the presidents and
members of the two local Pontian associations "Komninoi" of New York
and "Pontos" of Norwalk Connecticut and from the "Holy Institution
Panagia Soumela."

Speakers included Reverend Father Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in New York City,
Mr. Dimitris Molohides General Secretary – Pan Pontian Federation of
USA and CANADA, Mr. Elias Tsekerides, Past President of Pan-Pontian
Federation USA & Canada, Mr. Theoharis Kekis, member of Hellenic
Pontian Society Panagia Soumela of Boston, and Mr. Giovanni di Napoli
of Nuovo Patria Meridionale (New Southern Homeland).

Dr. Theofanis Malkidis brought the commemoration to a close with
a speech in his native Greek. Professor Malkidis is a member of the
International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) and International
League for Rights and freedom of Peoples. He is also the author of
many scholarly books and articles, including "The Genocide of the
Greeks: A Case Study of the Region of Thrace."

Ioannis Fidanakis publicly stated the promise of the organizers to
join the April 24th Armenian Genocide Remembrance commemorations
and to again organize for next year’s April 6th Hellenic Genocide
commemoration, and to pass this tradition on to our children and our
children’s children, until justice is served for all victims of the
Turkish Crimes of Genocide.

ARMENIAN AND IRANIAN PRESIDENTS MEET

ArmInfo
2009-04-14 13:12:00

ArmInfo. Presidents of Armenia and Iran Serzh Sargsyan and Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad discussed the big infrastructure programmes in Tehran on
April 14 aimed at development of the mutual trade-economic relations,
the Armenian presidential press service reports.

In particular, the presidents discussed construction of Iran-Armenia
railway, two HPPs on Arax river, as well as the issues f deepening
of the trade relations between the countries. "Discussion of big
infrastructure projects is a bright evidence of our intentions
on further extension and deepening of friendly relations. I am
sure the agreements reached during the discussions will overgrow
into documents", S. Sargsyan said. The two presidents marked the
essential role of the Armenian community of Iran in tightening of
the Armenian-Iranian friendship.

CSTO INTERIOR MINISTERS TO MEET IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2009 11:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CSTO Ministers of Interior will hold a session in
Yerevan from April 15 to 17.

The agenda includes issues referring to formation and functioning of
collective rapid reaction force and cooperation between law enforcement
agencies in CSTO format.

A hostage rescuing exercise with participation of special forces of
Russian Interior Ministry and Armenian Police is planned, CSTO press
office reported.