Author: Nahapetian Boris

FEDERAL ANTIMONOPOLY SERVICE VISITS ARMENIA

RIA OREANDA
April 20 2010
Russia

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . April 20, 2010. Alexey Sushkevich, the Head
of the Analytical Department of the Federal Antimonopoly Service
(FAS Russia), had several working meetings with the top executives
and officers of the Commission for Protection of Economic Competition
of the Republic of Armenia. The focus of the meetings that took place
in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, was on preparation of the report
"On the state and trends of developing competition policy in the
Republic of Armenia", which is scheduled to be considered at the next
session of the Interstate Council on Antimonopoly Policy in June 2010,
reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

At the meeting the parties discussed a wide spectrum of issues:
specific features of competition protection policy in Armenia in view
of its membership in WTO, completeness and coherence of competition
protection established as a priority in the Constitution and policy
documents of the Government and the President of the Republic
of Armenia, organizational principles of the work of the Armenian
antimonopoly authority, original methods for exposing shadow sectors
of the markets developed and applied by Armenian experts, and some
other issues.

Following the meetings with the Commission Chairman Artak Shaboyan,
Commissioner Grair Aramyan, the Commission’s Chief of Staff Vagan
Yegiazaryan, officers of specialized Departments a detailed system
of report headings was drawn out and the requirements to the content
of each section were set. The parties agreed to continue exchanging
information to ensure timely preparation of the report, which should
reflect all aspects of the work of the Commission, the state of
competition on the markets in Armenia, as well as impact of global
markets upon Armenian economy.

Reference: In 2010 Mr. Artak G. Shaboyan was appointed the Chairman of
the Commission for Protection of Economic Competition of the Republic
of Armenia.

In Armenia members of the Commission are appointed by Order of the
President of the Republic of Armenia. Formally the Commission’s status
is independent from the Government, the Parliament and the President.

RULING COALITION’S INITIATIVE AGREED WITH WORLD COMMUNITY: OPPOSITIONIST

news.am
April 22 2010
Armenia

Ruling coalition’s initiative on removal of Protocols’ ratification
from the National Assembly agenda is pointless from foreign policy
viewpoint, being targeted at domestic constituency, People’s party
leader Tigran Karapetyan told NEWS.am.

According to him, by this move authorities attempted to outrun the
opposition unified against the Protocols, that also made a statement
today.

New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan stated that ruling coalitions’
initiative to suspend the Protocols’ ratification was agreed with
world community, as presently foreign actors put emphasis on Karabakh
peace process, not Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.

"Presently, the most topical issue is return of Fizuli and Agdam
regions controlled by Armenian side. Thereafter, Armenia-Turkey process
and Karabakh conflict settlement will have a go-ahead of a different
angle," Karapetyan said, adding that meeting with OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs is not a mere coincidence.

He also noted that coalition’s statement is an attempt to save face,
as political forces realized the process was deadlocked and they can
not be silent on the threshold of April 24.

"There is no logical explanation on what Armenian President expected
from the reconciliation process, but it is clear that border is closed
and no progress is registered," party leader added, saying the only
way out is the change of power.

Today ruling coalition issued a statement, offering to remove
Protocols’ ratification from the RA National Assembly agenda.

FORMER IAGS PRESIDENT’S LETTER TO TATE GALLERY ON GENOCIDE DENIAL

Armenian Weekly Staff
Thu, Apr 22 2010

Below is a letter the former president of the International Association
of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) sent to the director and the curator of
the Tate Gallery, noting that "is beneath the dignity of the Tate
Gallery to succumb to the pressure of genocide deniers for any reason."

***

Sir Nicholas Serota, Director, The Tate Gallery Mr. Matthew Gale,
Curator, The Tate Gallery

Dear Sir Nicholas Serota and Mr. Gale,

It has come to my attention that the Tate Gallery has responded to
massive pressure from the Turkish denialist lobby and has posted
a disclaimer about the use of the term "genocide" in the materials
accompanying the Tate’s excellent Arshile Gorky exhibit.

As the immediate past President of the International Association of
Genocide Scholars (the major body of genocide scholars in the world),
founding President of Genocide Watch, and Professor of Genocide Studies
and Prevention at George Mason University, I must request that the
disclaimer be immediately removed from the exhibit. It contains
statements that are untrue. It is beneath the dignity of the Tate
Gallery to succumb to the pressure of genocide deniers for any reason.

The term genocide is not only "emotive," as you have noted, but
more importantly, it is a scholarly and legal term and it applies
fully to the Turkish mass killing of the Armenians. Britain’s own
internationally respected Queen’s Council, Sir Geoffrey Robinson
stated in a report of October 2009 that from an international legal
perspective, "the treatment of the Armenians in 1915 answers to the
description of genocide."

Contrary to the statement in your disclaimer, the British government
has never stated that it has "found no pre-meditation and that,
therefore, the wartime events of 1915 do not constitute a ‘genocide’
in the legal definition." In fact the House of Lords in 1915, using
evidence from a report written by Lord Bryce and the great historian
Arnold Toynbee, accused the Ottoman Empire of "making government
by massacre part of their political system," and of "systematically
exterminating a whole race out of their domain."

British Foreign Ministers Arthur Balfour and Lord Curzon, and Prime
Minister David Lloyd George were instrumental in creating the tribunals
that convicted the Young Turk triumvirate – Talaat, Enver, and Jemal
– of "massacres of hundreds of thousands of their own subjects"
" which reduced the Armenian population "by well over a million."

The trials of these "crimes against humanity," as the British
government called them, proved the key charge of "pre-meditated mass
murder." The triumvirate was convicted and sentenced to death. Their
crimes precisely fit the modern definition of genocide.

So the statement in your disclaimer that "the British Government has
found no pre-meditation and that, therefore, the wartime events of
1915 do not constitute a ‘genocide’ in the legal definition" IS FALSE.

The disclaimer must be removed from the exhibit.

What strikes genocide scholars as most important to note is that the
Polish legal scholar Raphael Lemkin coined the term genocide in large
part on the basis of the Turkish mass killing of the Armenians in
1915. Lemkin’s determination to get the United Nations to adopt the
Genocide Convention was first shaped by the Armenian Genocide, as he
notes in his own memoir, and then was realized after the Holocaust.

Lemkin, who invented the term "genocide" was the first legal scholar
to use the term Armenian Genocide. Every scholarly book on genocide
has a section on the Armenian Genocide. The International Association
of Genocide Scholars has repeatedly and unanimously passed resolutions
affirming that the massacres of Armenians constituted "genocide."

I realize that the Tate Gallery has been put under pressure by
the Turkish government to post its disclaimer, and I respect the
difficulties this pressure presents for the Gallery. Nevertheless I
suggest that if you must post a statement by the Gallery, that you
revise your statement so it is in accord with the facts. Language
such as the following might accomplish your purpose:

"While the British government for various reasons has never officially
used the term genocide in its description of the mass killings of
Armenians in 1915, it is important to note that Raphael Lemkin, the
legal scholar who coined the term genocide did so in large part on the
basis of the Ottoman government’s extermination of the Armenians in
1915. The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the largest
body of genocide scholars in the world, has repeatedly affirmed that
the scholarly record and the legal and archival evidence prove that
genocide is the accurate and necessary term to describe the mass
killings of the Armenians. It is for these reasons that we have
described the massacres as "widely held to be genocide."

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to hear from you.

I would be happy to discuss this issue with you. My phone number is
1-703-448-0222, and my e-mail address is genocidewatch@aol.com.

Sincerely, Professor Gregory Stanton Immediate Past President,
International Association of Genocide Scholars Founding President,
Genocide Watch Professor of Genocide Studies and Prevention, George
Mason University, USA

OUR DEMAND IS PERPETUAL, OUR MEMORIES – UNFADING: 95 TREES FROM WESTERN ARMENIA PLANTED IN TSITSERNAKABERD "MEMORY ALLEY"

Panorama.am
22/04/2010

The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets
and VivaCell-MTS Company established today a "Memory Alley" near
Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial. 95 trees brought from Western
Armenia were planted in the alley for memory and peace.

The Chairman of the Foundation Ruben Khachatryan said these trees
are the green bridge of the past of the Armenians, as well as the
"living future".

"The Tsitsernakaberd territory is a sanctuary for all Armenians and
this is the place where uniting everyone’s potential, we should build
the powerful future of our country," R. Khachatryan said.

VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralf Yirikian noted the tree-planting
carried out in the sidelines of the Earth Day events aims at sending a
precept to all the people and nations, particularly who don’t believe
the Armenians exist as a nation.

He highlighted that Armenians preserve their past in minds and working
for today, they are "getting prepared for a stronger and more powerful
future…"

R. Yirikian signified that the trees were brought from Western Armenia
and said it should come clear to everyone that the trees symbolize
the soil that belongs to us.

The director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan,
also participant of the tree-planting, said the trees brought from
Western Armenia have two missions.

"Today two pieces of soil are being united and this unification is
not accidental since it should give birth to an ever-green tree to
symbolize that our demand is perpetual, our memories – unfading," H.

Demoyan said.

Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan blessed the tree-planting with a prayer.

Prominent culture figures, ministers, scholars, foreign scientists
participating in the International Conference on the Armenian Genocide,
underway in Yerevan these days, partook at the tree-planting ceremony.

All participants stuck ribbons reading "I remember" to the trees they
planted and made notes in the memory book.

Note that the conference also symbolized the opening of the
International Conference on the Armenian Genocide, to be held in the
Museum-Institute, with participation of over 20 outstanding scholars
from different corners of the world.

NO PROGRESS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: EXPERT

news.am
April 21 2010
Armenia

Iranian studies expert Sevak Sarukhanyan expects no progress in
regional issues. "No progress will be registered in Karabakh peace
process shortly. Most likely, Armenia-Turkey reconciliation will be
frozen and no regional developments will affect Armenia in any way,"
Deputy Director of Noravank Scientific-Research Foundation Sevak
Sarukhanyan told journalists today.

Referring to Armenia’s role in the region, Sarukhanyan noted that the
country does not depend on gas and oil pipelines passing through the
region, thus two strategic programs should be implemented. First —
construction of nuclear reactor, second one – putting into operation
5th power unit of Hrazdan TPP.

"It will considerably strengthen Armenia’s energy security and enable
exporting power to regional states. Presently, we export electricity
to Iran, and perhaps have a chance to supply it to Turkey further as
well," the expert said.

LETTERA DI BERMAN CHE CONDANNA IL DINIEGO DEL GENOCIDIO ARMENO

Giovedi
15 Aprile 2010
Washington

Washington, DC – Howard L. Berman (D-CA), presidente del House Foreign
Affairs Committee, questa settimana ha mandato una lettera dalle parole
forti ad i suoi colleghi rifiutando quello che lui chiama argomento
"moralmente cieco" che rinnega l’indiscutibile evidenza storica del
Genocidio degli Armeni.

Qui di sotto il testo della lettera:

Cari Colleghi,

Come forse siete a conoscenza, membri del comitato della Turchia stanno
facendo circolare una lettera da firmare al Portavoce Pelosi incitando
che la Risoluzione del Genocidio degli Armeni (H. Res.252) recentemente
approvata dal Foreign Affairs Committee, non sia portata alla piena
Camera per il voto. Gli autori argomentano che l’approvazione del
progetto di legge da parte della Camera "danneggerebbe in maniera
irrevocabile" la sicurezza nazionale degli U.S., deraglierebbe gli
"sforzi in atto" da parte degli Armeni e Turchi nel normalizzare i
rapporti, e nuocerebbe l’economia degli U.S.

mettendo a rischio l’esportazione Americana ed investimenti in Turchia.

Sono in disaccordo con tanti punti della lettera, ma prendo con
particolare forza l’eccezione allo uso della frase "cosi-chiamata
"Risoluzione del Genocidio degli Armeni"", che getta dubbi sulla
storicita’ del Genocidio degli Armenti. Cosi facendo, vola in faccia al
peso schiacciante della incensurabile evidenza storica e la virtuale
unanime opinione di scolari del genocidio. Di fatti, l’uomo che ha
coniato il termine "genocidio", Rafael Lemkin, considerava che il
massacro degli Armeni della era della Prima Guerra Mondiale costituisse
un genocidio, e citava quel genocidio come l’evento che aveva fatto
scaturire il suo interesse nel genocidio.

Rifiuto anche i vari argomenti sulla sicurezza nazionale citata dagli
oppositori della risoluzione del Genocidio degli Armeni. Credo che le
relazioni di sicurezza tra US-Turchia siane fondate sul mutuo interesse
e che la Turchia non sia in procinto di scartare gli immensi benefici
che deriverebbe da relazioni di sicurezza bilaterale per l’interesse di
"punire" gli US per una risoluzione non vincolante, comunque per quanto
possa irritarsi da quella risoluzione. Per esempio, rischierebbe la
Turchia di perdere informazioni in tempo reale sui movimenti del PKK
nel nord del Iraq?. Altamente dubbioso.

Inoltre, la storia delle risposte turche al riconoscimento del
Genocidio degli Armeni da parte di altri governi e parlamenti
suggerisce che cadute negative sarebbero limitate e di breve durata
al massimo.

In piu’ io disputo l’argomento che approvando H.Res. 252 questo
deraglierebbe i protocolli Turchi-Armeni. Questi protocolli stanno
raccogliendo polvere nel parlamento Turco da quando sono stati firmati
in Ottobre, e particolarmente, in luce delle pre-condizioni stabilite
dal comando Turco ci sono poche probabilita’ che essi siano ratificati
in un prossimo futuro.

In fine, discuto l’asserzione che approvando la risoluzione questo
danneggerebbe l’economia degli U.S. Questo affatica la credulita’ nel
credere che la Turchia rifiuterebbe gli investimenti U.S.e fermerebbe
gli acquisti dei prodotti U.S. nel caso che la Camera adotti H.

Res.252. In un senso piu’ generale, sono profondamente disturbato da
questa linea di argomento moralmente cieca, perche’ potrebbe essere
usata per giustificare la inazione su qualsiasi numero di diritti
umani in giro per il mondo.

Anche se non accetto gli argomenti di quelli che anticipano danni
potenziali alla sicurezza nazionale degli U.S. dovesse la Camera
approvare la Risoluzione del Genocidio degli Armeni, io rispetto
quegli argomenti. Cio’ che non posso ne accettare ne rispettare e’
qualsiasi richiesta, diretta o implicita, che uno dei piu’ grandi
crimini della storia moderna non sia successo.

Cordialmente,

Howard L. Berman Presidente Committee on Foreign Affairs

HELP AREVIK: INNOCENT, PREGNANT, IMPRISONED

The Women’s International Perspective
April 20 2010

I know Arevik’s story from other Bulgarian bloggers. Briefly, Arevik
Shmavonyan is a young Armenian woman. 5 years ago, she met on Skype
David Arutyunyan, a young man of Armenian origin living in the city of
Montana, Bulgaria. They fell in love and about 3 months ago Arevik came
to Bulgaria to unite with her beloved. They could not marry because
Bulgarian bureaucracy refused to clear their paperwork, but started
living together. After Arevik’s 1-month visa expired, she obtained a
permission to remain for additional 14 days. However, despite this
permission she was sent to the infamous detention facility in the
Sofia district of Busmanci, where refugees and candidate immigrants
are kept indefinitely without clear reasons (I have blogged about
this facility in my earlier post Prison by any other name).

In Busmanci, Arevik found out that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy is
problematic, causing cyclic vomiting and severe eating and sleeping
problems. Arevik has been in Busmanci already for one month, and for
this time has been taken twice to hospital unconscious. Nevertheless,
she is still kept there, in a room with about 10 other women and
without adequate care. Although Arevik has done nothing wrong, her
release is not in sight, and her life is in peril as well as the life
of her unborn child.

I appeal to you to try to help Arevik. Svetla Encheva in her April
18 post gives a beautiful model letter citing appropriate quotes
from Bulgarian and European legislature, as well as the addresses
of the Montana Police Department whose orders have led to Arevik’s
imprisonment. I shall not translate the letter – knowing the English
proficiency of our average law enforcer, I think a short note comprised
of simple words would do a better job. In fact, I think that the
police will be more impressed by the mere obtaining of messages from
abroad written in English than by their text.

Here are two e-mail addresses of the Montana Police Department:
rdvrmon@net-surf.net, police@net-surf.net. You can also fill
this form. At the top line, you must select "MBP – обÐ"а&# xD1;~AÑ~B
Ð~он&#x D1;~Bана" (Montana Police Department). The lines below are,
respectively, for your first name, family name, e-mail, postal
address, subject of your message and then comes the field for the
text of your message. You are also advised to send a paper letter at
the following address:

Comissar Valeri Dimitrov Police Department – Montana 2 Aleksander
Stamboliiski Blvd BG-3400 Montana Bulgaria

I also advise you to turn to the Ministry of Interior in the capital
Sofia. Its contact form is here. The lines are (from top) for your
first name, family name, address, telephone, e-mail and below is the
field for the text of the message. The postal address is as follows:

Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov Ministry of Interior 29, 6th of September
Street BG-1000 Sofia Bulgaria

ARMENIAN ENERGY MINISTER MEETS WITH IRAN’S FM

Panorama.am
19/04/2010

Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian, who is Armenian head
of the Tehran-Yerevan Joint Economic Commission, met with Iran’s
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Tehran on April 18, in the
sidelines of the International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation, Iranian media reported.

The two sides discussed developments in bilateral political, economic
and cultural ties, as well as regional issues.

The two ministers also exchanged views on joint projects and plans
like the Araks Dam on their joint border and execution of a third
line for power transfer.

Armenian Minister signified holding of the International Conference
on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in Tehran.

ARMENIAN POLICE PUBLISHES DETAILS OF A BIG CRIMINAL SHOOT-OUT IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2010-04-19 21:46:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian Police has published the details of a big
criminal shoot-out in Yerevan.

The press service of the Armenian Police reported that at 6 pm Saturday
the police department of Nor Nork district of Yerevan received a
message about a scuffle in front of the Military Institute after
Vazgen Sargsyan. Having come to the place of the incident, the police
investigators found several dozens of people, who were scuffling
in front of the Crazy Horse cafe. To stop the mass hooliganism,
the investigators closed off the territory and opened a warning
fire. 55 people were taken to the police department from the scene
of occurrence, 36 of them were arrested. 12 loaded pistols were found
at the place of occurrence. According to the Police, the people were
scuffling because of money problems. The police reported that the
scuffle participants were mostly people with a previous conviction
and drug addicts, but they were no members of any party or public
organization. A criminal case has been instituted under Article 258
Part 3 Item 1 and Article 235 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

ARMENIAN ECONOMY MINISTRY ANNOUNCES ‘GYUMRI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT’ FOUNDATION (GEDF) CEO VACANT POSITION

ArmInfo
2010-04-19 10:37:00

ArmInfo. The Economy Ministry of Armenia has announced the "Gyumri
Economic Development" Foundation (GEDF) CEO vacant position for
implementation of the project of Gyumri Technopark, the ministry
website reports ().

The responsibilities of the CEO include planning and implementation of
GEDF establishment activities according to the approved timetable;
management of day to day planning and implementation of the
project/event; ensuring consistent communication, coordination of
the project/event related orders as needed; management and working
out of the details of contracts, ensure fulfillment of agreements
and timely payment; management of the evaluation of suggestions,
competitions and other related events.

To apply for the vacant position, it is necessary to send a CV and
cover letter (detailed description of qualification and experience)
to: nmanukyan@mineconomy.am before May 18 2010.

Under the concept of the business-plan for creation of the Gyumri
Tehcnopark prepared by Kevin Tombstone, specialist at Shannon
Technpark in Ireland, in late 2008, the project requires nearly
55 million USD. Gyumri Economic Development Foundation commercial
organization will be created as part of the project. The government
and the private sector will hold equal shares in the Foundation.

Earlier this year the contest for architectural model of the Guymri
Technopark was announced.