Author: Nahapetian Lilit

ARMENIA TO PRESENT 80 BOOKS AT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.03.2010 17:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia presented in a separate pavilion at the
30th International Book Fair in Paris (Salon du livre de Paris)
today, Gayane Durgaryan, public relation officer of the RA Ministry
of Culture told PanARMENIAN.Net. The Armenian delegation, headed by
Edward Militonyan, chief of the publishing agency of the ministry of
culture will present 80 books, including 2 electronic books. Private
Armenian publishing houses will also show their books at the fair.

The 30th International Book Fair in Paris gathers representatives of
approximately 1,000 publishing houses from 25 countries. The fair
has invited 90 authors, both French and foreign, including Nedim
Gursel (Turkey), Salman Rushdie (UK), Doris Lessing (UK), Firouz
Nadji-Ghazvini (Iran), Paul Auster (US), and Umberto Eco (Italy). At
least 220,000 visitors are expected, which is 15,000 more than last
year. Special programs are planned to attract the youth aged 15 to 25.

Some key topics in this year’ fair include the application of new
technologies in publishing business and copyright policy issues. The
Salon du livre de Paris runs till March 31.

Among them – Umberto Eco, Salman Rushdie, Doris Lessing, Paul Auster.

Within the cabin will be more than 600 events.

PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD HOSTS A DINNER IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency
.htm
March 22 2010

Damascus (SANA) President Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. al-Assad hosted on
Monday evening a dinner in honor of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
and his wife.

The dinner was attended by the Syrian and Armenian delegations,
senior officials and several social, economic and cultural personnel.

President al-Assad, addressing the attendants, stressed the importance
of historical relations, human, social and cultural links that bring
the Syrian and Armenian peoples together.

"These links make potentials of cooperation and rapprochement between
the two countries without limits.These potentials must be invested
through opening new horizons to reach highest level of economic,
trade and cultural cooperation," President al-Assad said.

He added that this cooperation would serve the interests of the peoples
of the two countries and their role in the region and the world.

"Syria and Armenia live in an important geopolitical region that
big international interests meet and intertwined. This requires that
the two countries cooperate and coordinate and agree on details and
strategies," the president explained.

"Dialogue and understanding among the countries of this region;
recognition and respect of all countries interests is the best way
to solve their problems and boost their position in the international
arena," he said.

President al-Assad pointed out that the Middle East and the Caucasus,
despite the chronic lack of stability have gone a long way in building
normal relations among their countries and peoples.

"Those steps have begun to reap their fruit on the ground through
reducing the impact of external powers and their interventions in
the development of events," he said.

He added that the initiatives in solving problems and plans for these
two regions future have become in the hands of their sons.

"The only obstacle in the way of stability is the Israeli occupation,
which continues the policy of killing, sieging, settlement building,
demolition of Palestinian houses, Judaizing Jerusalem and rejecting
all peace initiatives", President al-Assad added. "Achieving peace
will not be too far when there is a partner from the Israeli side that
believes in just and comprehensive peace based on resolutions of the
international legitimacy and the return of rights to their owners,"
the president stressed.

President Sargsyan, meanwhile, expressed great satisfaction to visit
Syria, the wonderful and hospitable country, stressing that mutual
visits between the two countries had created mutual and full trust .

He said relations between the Syrian and Armenian peoples are unique
and much more than a friendship between two peoples living in the
same area, noting that Syrian-Armenian friendship has a history that
had extended for thousands of years.

"Armenian people owes the Syrian people ,who had always stood by the
Armenian people’s side, a debt of gratitude as Armenians received
hospitality and compassionate treatment by the great Syrian people,"
President Sargsyan said .

Armenians, according to president Sargsyan could integrate in
the social life of this country keeping their identities. He said
brotherly relations which have been tested over the centuries and time
are the best guarantee for cooperation between the two countries and
a testimony on the high-level relations between Armenia and Syria in
all fields.

Fadi Allafi /M.O.

SYRIA OFFERS TO HELP ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT

Agence France Presse
March 22, 2010 Monday 8:38 PM GMT

President Bashar al-Assad on Monday offered Syria’s help in
establishing cordial relations between Armenia and Turkey for the
sake of regional security and stability.

"Syria is ready to play a role… for the establishment of
Turkish-Armenian relations that can ensure normal stability and
security in the region," Assad told a joint news conference with
Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkissian.

"I think… officials in Armenia have given us their full confidence,
which is why we are starting immediate steps, especially since
President Sarkissian encouraged us" to do so, he said.

Assad praised Yerevan’s decision to normalise its relations with
Turkey despite "many difficulties."

Sarkissian, who is in Syria until Wednesday, said his country supported
"peaceful solutions and dialogue to resolve the dispute…

without questioning and forgeting its history."

Long divided over the issue of mass killings of Armenians under the
Ottoman empire in World War I, Ankara and Yerevan signed an accord
in October to establish diplomatic ties and open their border.

The process has hit snags however, with both countries accusing each
other of lacking commitment to the deal.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin perished in a systematic
extermination campaign during World War I as the Ottoman empire
fell apart.

Turkey counters between 300,000 and 500,000 Armenians and at least as
many Turks were killed in civil strife when Armenians rose up against
their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian forces.

"AMERIABANK" STARTING FINANCING PROGRAM OF WORKING CAPITAL OF SMES COLLABORATIVELY WITH "USAID FS SHARE" PROGRAM

611/lang/en
2010-03-23
YEREVAN

"Ameriabank&q uot;, within the frameworks of the USAID program on
stabilization of financial system (FS Share) is starting a financing on
the basis of purchase applications intended for the SMEs. "Ameriabank"
will extend financing of till 2 million USD for the implementation
of the program.

JOURNALIST ASSAULTED IN YEREVAN

news.am
March 22 2010
Armenia

Editor-in-Chief of the Hayots Ashkharh (Armenian World) newspaper
Gagik Mkrtichyan was beaten up in Yerevan on March 20.

The press service of the RA Police, informed NEWS.am that a certain
Manvel Kirakosyan (born in 1968) arrived at the Armenian medical
center and told doctors that Vahan Mkrtichyan, Gagik Mkrtichyan’s son,
had inflicted a head injury on him.

M. Kirakosyan and G. Mkrticnhyan had a conflict near the editorial
office of the Hayots Ashkharh newspaper. At that moment V. Mkrtichyan
was entering the office and, seeing the conflict, assaulted M.

Kirakosyan.

An investigation is under way.

SARGSYAN IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A TOUGH VISIT TO WASHINGTON DC
Armine Avetyan

March 20, 2010

– Mr. Shahnazaryan, can we assume that after the recent developments
the protocols dedicated to normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations
are failed?

– The Armenian-Turkish relations weren’t built on these protocols. Due
to soccer diplomacy a situation is formed, by which the parties
and mediators know that this process doesn’t have a future. Now
the game is who’s going to carry the responsibility of failing the
process. The revision of the RA law on international treaties is
connected with that. The Armenian parliament will be the first to
ratify the protocols. After that Sargsyan will have to decide to recall
the protocols or not. Or they might as well call back the protocols
indeed if there is no progress in the NKR conflict resolution. And
the statements that they are going to ratify after Turkey are not
convincing. In that case why had they made a legislative amendment?

– Why was it necessary for the US Congress’s foreign relations
committee to adopt the resolution 252 in favor of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide?

– As a result of the process the US received new levers to use those
during its communication with Turkey. Currently there are various
issues in the US-Turkey relations. And of those questions is the
further process of Turkey-Iran relations, which is not beneficial for
the US. The role of Turkey in the Middle East in the peace process
in Afghanistan and Black Sea sector is also very important for the US.

The US is also concerned with the prospects of development of energetic
projects between Turkey and Russia. One of the concerning issues is
the future destiny of the US military bases in Turkey. As of resolution
252 then it is evident that there won’t be a full session of Congress
to discuss this issue. I think that once this issue is clarified the
Turkish Ambassador will return to the US. This is not the first case
that Turkey is using this step. I think that Turkey and the US will
find the way to help President Obama save his face and not to mention
the word genocide in his April 24th traditional speech.

– Thus, the role of the Armenian lobbying organizations wasn’t that
big in regard of the adoption of this resolution.

– In my deep conviction if they had invested 30-40% of these efforts
in the NKR conflict resolution we would have had tangible results. I
challenge not to ignore this and remember that we still face the NKR
conflict. If they are working with the Congressmen and are lobbying in
the direction of the genocide recognition they might as well initiate
certain steps in the favorable resolution of the NKR conflict. But
they don’t do this. Why? Because this is what’s profitable for them.

Yes, I blame them of ignoring this key issue. Azerbaijan’s advocacy
war is quite wide-spread and let us sincerely confess that the volumes
of this bring them serious results. Both the Armenian government and
the Diaspora don’t do anything in this regard and do not participate
in the information war.

– You mentioned that after this resolution the US had attained
additional levers on Turkey. But the reaction of Turkey shows that
they are not essentially pressured. Even they are doing the opposite
by threatening the US.

– We should realize that currently the US has fewer levers to pressure
on Armenia the other way around. And the Armenian-Turkish border will
not be opened as long as there is no progress in the NKR conflict
resolution. Moreover, it seems that this is the final phase of these
protocols when they are going to determine who failed the process and
who should be responsible for the failure. It is excluded that the
Turkish parliament can ever ratify the protocols without essential
change in the NKR conflict on behalf of Azerbaijan.

– If the mediators doubt the successful completion of the rapprochement
then why are they encouraging the parties to continue the process?

– Let us assume for a moment that the protocols are ratified and the
parties have started to work. Every single gathering of the historians’
commission is going to be full with scandals. Regardless of the fact
that the Armenian government is denying this Turkey and the high-rank
officials of Turkey have stated that the future of the genocide issue
can only be solved in the framework of this commission.

This means that even after ratification I strongly believe that
these protocols don’t have any practical and feasible future. This
commission will explode any process. As a result of protocols and
the process Turkey has received the most part of its wishes but the
Armenian side has only had losses. Turkey needed the process and not
the results and the Armenian government needed results. There will
be no result and I think the process won’t stretch for too long. And
the mediators are very sincere and it’s not the first year that they
are trying to resolve the existing issues and open the border. The
mediators and first of all the US overestimated these opportunities
and now they perfectly understand that the protocols cannot be the
basis of the dialog between Turkey and Armenia. On the other hand
Turkey due to its shortsighted policy instigated that the genocide
recognition process takes on positive shift.

– What results have the sides come to in the process of the NKR
conflict resolution?

– And ambiguous situation is created. First of all after and
before the Sochi meeting several functions were launched, which are
seemingly directed against the OSCE Minsk Group format. I see processes
proceeding in parallel with the Minsk Group tendencies and processes
debilitating the role of the Minsk Group. The evidence of that are
the initiatives of Iran and Kazakhstan. For me the joint initiative
of France and Russia was strange, where the name of the Minsk Group
is not mentioned. So far Armenia is not expressing any standpoint and
is incessantly adverting to the agreement made in Sochi, according to
which the sides should present written viewpoints. Also an impression
is created that Azerbaijan is doing everything to fail or annihilate
the Minsk Group format. It is very hard to draw such conclusions from
unclear statements of the Armenian government. I’d like to remind
that the Minsk Group is fist of all beneficial for us. Azerbaijan has
numerously tried to fail the Minsk Group format. Now it seems they
have switched roles. But Armenia needs to understand that even though
Azerbaijan at least tactically is supporting the Minsk process then it
will definitely benefit from the possibility of the latter’s failure.

– What is the result of these separate initiatives?

– On part of Russia I notice a process in parallel with the Minsk
Group. And in general the Turkish-Russian cooperation within the frames
of energetic, military and security projects should be worrisome for
us. And it is necessary to take adequate steps in this process. The
RA hasn’t yet expressed an opinion regarding the amended and revised
version of the Madrid principles. But I think that it will have to
do so as during the upcoming meetings with the Minsk Group co-chairs
the latter will demand that Armenia does so. A qualitative change has
been registered in the negotiations because Azerbaijan has given its
consent. As a rule, the opposite was meant to happen. And after this
the Armenian side is confused. By the way, this document was handed
to the Armenian side before the Sochi meeting. And the NKR conflict
should be viewed in the context of the Russian-American context. It is
evident that the two sides will never come to an agreement with each
other. It means that either this situation is remaining or there is
going to be a very strong Russian-American joint pressure. Or there
is the second possibility that is the war but at the moment there
is little threat for that. It is no bigger than 2-3 months ago but
I don’t exclude that this possibility may grow in the near future.

– Last week the US Department of State published the human rights
report 2009, following which Serzh Sargsyan was invited to Washington.

What is hidden behind these processes?

– I think the report is very realistic because it clearly describes
the bad situation with human rights and political prisoners in
Armenia. Following the publication of this report Serzh Sargsyan
was invited to Washington to take part in the energetic security
conference. As Washington sees that there may be no improvement in
the relations between Armenia and Turkey without an improvement in
the issue of Karabakh, I think the main efforts will be targeted at
finding a solution out of this situation around the issue of Karabakh
and returning the process to the Minsk Group. Thus they will demand
a clear position toward the new recommendations from Armenia. There
may even speak of the timeline. In other words, Sargsyan will have
a difficult visit in Washington.

MINISTER ARMEN YERITSYAN CONDOLES OVER THE DECEASE OF EVGENY CHERNYSHEV

2/evgeny-chernyshev
04:59 pm | March 22, 2010

Official

The Head of the Firefighting Service of Moscow, colonel of the
internal service Evgeny Chernyshev perished while evacuating people
from a burning business center in Moscow on March 20.

RA Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Yeritsyan has sent a
letter of condolence to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu over
the untimely decease of Evgeny Chernyshev.

"We are with you at this difficult moment. We morn with you over the
death of Evgeny Chernyshev and express our sympathy with the colonel’s
wife and relatives. We pray for the repose of his soul and for the
welfare of our peoples," reads the letter.

VARDAN MARASHLYAN APPOINTED DEPUTY DIASPORA MINISTER

vardan-marashlyan
03:46 pm | March 22, 2010

Official

Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing
Vardan Marashlyan Deputy Minister of Diaspora, reports RA Government’s
press service.

Today, Azerbaijan
March 19 2010

Turkish MP: Before considering Turkey’s history, Sweden needs to have
to look at its own

19 March 2010 [18:50] – Today.Az

Day.Az interview with Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
(Parliament) Ph.D Ahmet Tan.

What do you think of the `Armenian genocide’ resolutions adopted by
the U.S. Congress House Committee on Foreign Relations and the Swedish
Parliament? What will be further development of events?

The whole world knows what the U.S. is doing and why "Weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq" actually turned out to be "weapons of mass
manipulation of public opinion". The whole world witnessed it. More
than a million innocent people paid for this lie with their lives and
blood. Something similar is being done for the Turks. A lie about
extermination of Armenians by Turks in 1915 is as irresponsible as a
lie that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. This lie is aimed
at the masses and is a weapon of mass manipulation of consciousness.
This weapon is directed against the whole Turkic world, including
Azerbaijanis.

The U.S. is trying to make Turkey to yield to Armenia by any means.
The aim is destruct barriers to the merger of Armenia with the western
world. The Christian West thus wants to entrench in the Caucasus.
Strengthening Armenia means weakening Azerbaijan and hand over of
occupied territories to Yerevan. The United States and the West have
very simple calculation. Of course, the U.S. games are closely linked
with energy calculations and plans to strengthen in the backyard of
Russia.

Regarding the recent move by Sweden, to take such a decision, Swedes
have sufficient arrogance and shamelessness. Before considering
Turkey’s history, the Swedes have to look at their own, and remember
their aid to Nazi Germany. Sweden was "neutral" country, but allowed
the Nazis to attack neighboring Norway through its own territory. It
presented its territory of the fascist army, so that it sheds blood in
the neighboring country.

But Turkey did not allow the U.S. military to use its territory for
attacks on neighboring Iraq and it did not become an accomplice in
bloodshed of innocent people like Sweden in the Second World War.
Germany invaded France, and Italy was an ally of Germany. Britain and
France wanted to persuade Turkey to join the war. England wanted to
use Turkey’s airspace. But Turkey rejected its desires. On the other
hand, Germany wanted to use Turkish territory for transfer of troops
to Iraq. Turkey rejected Germany’s demand as well.

Sweden was also collaborating with Nazi Germany in the field of heavy
industry. Germany increased its heavy industry through Sweden. The
decision of the Swedish Parliament on the "genocide" is an example of
arrogance. Decisions about the "genocide" mean cold war. They want to
oppress Turkey and establish a new center of power in the Caucasus
under the name "Armenia". George W. Bush called these processes "new
crusade". This process will run in parallel with the actions in the
Middle East and Afghanistan.

In your opinion, what impact Armenian Diaspora’s `genocide’- related
actions will have on the Turkey-Armenia protocols?

Preserving and enhancing hostile feelings towards Turkey is one of the
conditions for existence of the Armenian Diaspora. Freezing the
Armenian-Turkish protocols is also important for them. The aim of the
current actions and pressure in Washington is Barack Obama’s speech
prior to April 24 and the magic word "genocide". If Obama decides to
please the Diaspora and utters this word, the protocols will remain in
history as the "Unfinished Symphony.’

Do you share the opinion that the protocols have a positive impact on
resolution of the Karabakh problem?

If the protocols are ratified, it will not only have a positive
influence on solution of the Karabakh problem, but will also accompany
Azerbaijan’s defeat in this fight. Armenia’s contacts with the West
will be even greater, and it will feel comfortable unlike present day.

Activities of the OSCE Minsk Group on settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict do not give proper result. Two of the three countries that
are members of the group have already recognized the so-called
"Armenian genocide" and third one is very close to it. Does this mean
that the fate of Karabakh is in the hands of the "impartial troika’?
Is there a need for the OSCE Minsk Group to continue activities?

Since its inception, the purpose of this group was to mediate in
solving the Karabakh problem. A perfect mediation requires neutrality.
Neutrality is a fundamental principle of mediation. Two of the three
co-chairs have violated this principle.

A large number of states in the U.S. have also recognized the
so-called "Armenian genocide". The U.S. Congress committee has also
recognized it. The process is going on. So, the OSCE Minsk Group has
lost the right to mediate. In addition, this group for nearly two
decades, has made no step to resolve the conflict and their activity
is just a waste of time.

Serzh Sargsyan’s government is accused of drug trafficking, corruption
and mafia activity in Armenia. It is claimed that the true aim of
normalizing relations with Turkey is the use of these bonds in favor
of Sargsyan’s mafia. What do you think about this?

Official website of the CIA also proves these words. It says that
Armenia grows drugs for local use. This country is a transit for
transport of certain drugs from Southeast Asia to Russia and partly to
Europe.

In addition, Armenia is a participant of an international trafficking.
Who is behind these illegal actions? The U.S. knows this, of course.
If they do not announce it, the rest of the world will be in the dark.

Last year Washington announced that the PKK leaders are engaged in
drug trafficking and seized their accounts. Everyone knows about the
close relations between Armenia and PKK. The United States know this
relationship also covers drugs. And only it can shed some light on
this.

Lately some media outlets debate one issue ` will Turkey give up
national interests for the sake of business interests?

Some Turkish media is also concerned over this question. Will Turkey
give up national interests for the sake of trade gains? Neither Turkey
nor any other country would exchange national interests for cash. No
one can disrupt millennium-long friendship and brotherhood between the
two nations.

Day.Az

URL:

Pan-Armenian ‘National Council’ to be created

gID=1

YEREVAN: On March 19, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan
received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to
Armenia Bruno Scapini.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues relating to the
creation of the `National Council’ and studying Italy’s experience.
Mrs. Hakobyan informed about the Ministry delegation’s visit to Italy.
Four employees of the Ministry will travel to Italy to study the
experience, structure, principles of organizing and other issues for
creating a similar council with the help of experts.

Hakobyan mentioned the Ministry’s initiative to hold a round-table
discussion with the participation of experts and representatives of
non-governmental organizations.

Mrs. Hakobyan also talked about funding for the process which is
provided by a grant from the United States Agency for International
Development.

Ambassador Scapini expressed content with the Ministry’s choice for
studying Italy’s experience and expressed willingness to do everything
possible to support the process.

As reported by the department of media and public relations of the RA
Ministry of Diaspora, in the end, Mrs. Hakobyan donated the books
published by the Ministry in the past year and one of the DVDs of
world-famous Armenian singer Charles Aznavour.