Author: Nadirian Emma

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN ORGANIZES EXHIBITION IN COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Times.am
20 April, 2010

Today, youth representatives of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun organized an
exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in front of Moscow
Cinema. Youth representatives of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that the exhibition has an educational
nature. The exhibition will present photos of protest actions,
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide recognition and organized by
representatives of the Armenian Diaspora in different countries, photos
of monuments dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims, as well as
the map of the Treaty of Sevres so that people know both current and
future maps of Armenia. The exhibition will be open until April 23.

BBC : "TURKEY’S LOBBYING IN WASHINGTON IN VAIN"

Panorama.am
21/04/2010

Turkish Foreign Ministry trains its Embassies and foreign
representations submitting a list of 10 points dictating
how to behave and comment on statements over the Ottoman
Empire committee Armenian Genocide, BBC Russia reported
( al/2010/04/100419_turkey_armenia_guidelines.shtml

The list of 10 points recommends its representatives to underscore
the significance of normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties for Turkey.

According to BBC Jonathan Hath Turkey is critical with naming massacre
of 1915-1916 Genocide. Every year Turkish Government wastes huge
financial sources to commit its lobbying in Washington.

"This year Turkey’s efforts were in vain, since the U.S. House
Committee on Foreign Affairs has approved the resolution 252 on
Armenian Genocide," BBC writes.

GDP GROWTH IS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA

news.am
April 20 2010
Armenia

According to preliminary data in Jan.-March 2010 positive trends in
Armenian economy are observed.

In Q1 2010 GDP increased by 5.5% compared with same period last year,
RA National Statistical Service reports. Meanwhile, the indicator in
January made 2.4%, whereas 3.1%- in Jan.-Feb.

Drastic turn in GDP dynamics is conditioned by growth in Armenia’s
industrial production. In Q1 2010 volume of industrial production
increased by 10.4% compared with the same period in 2009. Significant
improvement in industrial field entailed increase of energy
consumption, thus 9.8% growth was registered in energy production in
Q1 2010.

At that, slow growth was registered in trade sector – retail turnover
as of Q1 2010 went up by 1% only. Population expenses for charged
services increased by leaps and bounds. The range of market services
raised by 6.2% for the mentioned period against 2,2% downturn in
January.

If this progression continues, economy is likely to reach 2008
pre-crisis level. By 2009 end, GDP reduced by 14.4%, whereas slump
in industry reached 7.8%.

Last year’s GDP decline was conditioned by 36.4% construction slump.

Presently, construction field that used to provide double-digit GDP
growth in last years, balances on 2009 level: insignificant decrease
of 0.6% was registered Q1 2010.

NKR PRESIDENT DISCUSSES EDUCATION OF ARMENIAN STUDENTS IN LEADING FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 19, 2010 – 18:40 AMT 13:40 GMT

On April 19, NKR President Bako Sahakyan received a delegation of
the Armenian-British Connect non-governmental organization headed by
Chairman of the Board of Directors Hayk Harutyunyan.

Education of Armenian students in leading foreign universities, as
well as introduction and application of contemporary and advanced
technologies and management methods in the Motherland were in the
focus of discussion, the Central Information Department of the Office
of NKR President reported.

The President emphasized the importance of education of the Armenian
youth in leading foreign universities, specifically, in Great Britain,
as well as their return to the Motherland and application of the
gained knowledge for the homeland’s development.

Artsakh pays great attention to education and retraining of qualified
personnel, said Bako Sahakyan, adding that he anticipates participation
of the Armenian-British Connect in it.

Chairman of the NKR Supreme Court Ararat Danielyan, Minister of
Education and Science Vladik Khachatryan, Minister of Culture and
Youth Affairs Narine Aghabalyan participated in the meeting.

MHER SHAHGELDYAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS NOT DEADLOCKED
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
20.04.2010 17:57

"The discussions in Washington showed that the Armenian-Turkish process
is not deadlocked," Vice President of the Orinats Yerkir Party Mher
Shahgeldyan told a press conference today.

Assessing President Serzh Sargsyan’s meetings in Washington, Mher
Shahgeldyan said the President’s participation in the nuclear summit
"confirms that the Republic of Armenia is playing a more active role
in global processes."

"I think that the President’s visit to Washington was also an
important impulse on the way of recognition of the Armenian Genocide,"
Shahgeldyan said, adding that "the process of recognition is proceeding
and will proceed because it’s based on universal values."

"The cooperation between Armenia and Diaspora, as well as the clear
policy of the Republic of Armenia will help strengthen the process,"
he said.

As for the Armenian-Turkish normalization, Mher Shahgeldyan noted
that the President’s Washington visit was important, since he clearly
presented Armenia’s approaches on the issue.

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 16, 2010 Friday

SAAKASHVILI MADE NUISANCE OF HIMSELF BUT FINAGLED MEETING WITH OBAMA

BYLINE: Sergei Strokan, Georgy Dvali

HIGHLIGHT: MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI SAID IN WASHINGTON THAT RUSSIAN URANIUM
WAS SMUGGLED ACROSS GEORGIAN BORDERS; President Mikhail Saakashvili
went to Washington to try and revive ebbing interest in himself and
Georgia victimized by Russia.

An unplanned and fortunately brief meeting with Mikhail Saakashvili of
Georgia was forced on U.S. President Barack Obama during the Nuclear
Security Summit in Washington. Saakashvili did his honest best to
revive interest in himself and Georgia and announced that Tbilisi had
intercepted smuggled uranium, mostly Russian, on the borders.

The list of 12 foreign leaders Obama would meet tete-a-tete in the
course of the Nuclear Security Summit had been known well in advance.
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalanadze had said that the
president of Georgia would only meet with Vice President Josef Biden
and some European leaders in Washington.

Leading American newspapers and TV networks immediately noticed that
Obama had decided it necessary to meet with presidents of Kazakhstan,
Ukraine, and Armenia but not with the Georgian leader. In fact,
Saakashvili himself pointed it out when in Washington. The Georgian
leader visited The Washington Post editorial office on Monday and told
it that Georgia was still angling for membership in NATO and pondering
some purchases of weapons from the United States.

In the long run, a brief and unplanned (at least by the hosts) meeting
between the presidents of Georgia and the United States did take
place. The White House later announced that Obama had been happy to
see his Georgian counterpart. Obama reassured the visitor of America’s
support and praised Saakashvili for willingness to continue democratic
reforms.

Eager to develop the diplomatic breakthrough, Saakashvili announced at
the international forum in Washington that Georgian secret services
had circumvented eight attempts to smuggle uranium across the borders.
The Georgian leader alleged that the uranium was mostly Russian. He
said that the latest episode had occurred in March.

The Georgian Interior Ministry declined comment "in the interests of
investigation".

Source: Kommersant, April 15, 2010, p. 7

Senators Lautenberg and Klobuchar cosponsor Armenian Genocide Resolution

armradio.am
17.04.2010 12:50

Support for S.Res. 316, the Armenian Genocide resolution in the United
States Senate continues to grow with Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joining as the newest cosponsors, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America.

"As we approach the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
Assembly welcomes the support of Senators Lautenberg and Klobuchar,"
stated the Assembly’s Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Kadian
Dodov.

S.Res. 316 was introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and calls
upon the President of the United States to properly characterize the
Armenian Genocide in the President’s annual April 24th statement.
S.Res. 316 is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations. On March 4, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by
Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), adopted an identical measure, H.Res.
252, which was introduced by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA).

In addition to the legislation, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), also a
cosponsor of S.Res. 316, is circulating a letter for her colleagues to
send to President Barack Obama urging him to affirm the Armenian
Genocide on April 24th.

This April, President Obama has an opportunity to further the cause of
genocide prevention by squarely affirming the Armenian Genocide.
Currently, the Boxer-initiated letter includes Senators Carl Levin
(D-MI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dianne
Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Ensign (R-NV), Jack Reed
(D-RI), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

news.az, Azerbaijan
April 17 2010

Ankara expects Armenia to liberate Azerbaijan’s occupied lands
Sat 17 April 2010 | 08:21 GMT Text size:

Turkey does not reject the liberation of all occupied regions of Azerbaijan.

According to Hurriyet, both during the meeting with US President
Barack Obama and Russian leader Dmitri Medvedev, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said clearly that Ankara expects
definite steps from Armenia and initially it would be desirable to
start the process with liberation of two Azerbaijani regions-Agdam and
Fizuli.

According to the newspaper, Baku is also not against this variant.
However, according to the newspaper, it is Armenia that should be
ready for this.

1news.az

FIRST ANNUAL PARAJANOV-VARTANOV AWARDS TAKES PLACE IN BEVERLY HILLS

NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 15, 2010
BEVERLY HILLS

BEVERLY HILLS, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. To recognize
the underappreciated role women play in the lives of artists, the
first annual Parajanov-Vartanov Awards will be held in Beverly
Hills on 18 April. This year’s prize winners are the spouses of
the filmmakers Sergei Parajanov (Svetlana Sherbatiuk) and Mikhail
Vartanov (Svetlana Manucharian). Mrs. Parajanov and Mrs. Vartanov
have stood by their husbands in the difficult times of persecutions
and significantly contributed to the preservation of these masters’
oeuvres. The founder of the Beverly Hills Film Festival, Nino Simone,
will also be honored with the Parajanov-Vartanov Award. The awards
ceremony will be preceded by a showing of Vartanov’s "Parajanov: The
Last Spring" at UCLA in the James Bridges Theater. The screening will
be accompanied by a short classical music concert and a photography
exhibition. The screening is cosponsored by the UCLA Armenian Studies
Program, the Friends of UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies,
and the Center for European and Eurasian Studies.

SURB HARUTYUN CHURCH TO BE CONSECRATED IN HALLE, GERMANY

news.am
April 16 2010
Armenia

On April 17-18, the blessing and consecration ceremony of Surb Harutyun
church in Halle city of Saxony-Anhalt state, Germany will be held.

Dignitary of German Diocese Armenian Church Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan
will conduct the ceremony with the participation of Anushavan Bishop
Zhamkochyan-Dean of Yerevan State University (YSU) Theology Department,
Mother See of Holy Etchmiatzin press service informed NEWS.am.

The mayor of Halle Dagmar Szabados as well as state and public
officials will attend the event.