Author: Nalbandian Albert

SERIOUS REFORMS IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE HIGHER LEVEL OF BORDER SECURITY IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 10, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Security Council Secretary
Artur Baghdasarian and Coordinator of the Council of CIS Countries’
Border Troops Commanders, General Alexander Manilov at the March 10
meeting discussed issues of raising border security.

A. Baghdasarian said that serious reforms are implemented to ensure
higher level of border security in Armenia, a program of modernization
of border infrastructures is made.

A. Manilov presented the activity of the Commanders of the Council of
CIS Countries’ Border Troops, the legal-normative sphere. He attached
importance to creation of an interdepartmental commission on ensuring
border security and modernization of border infrastructures in Armenia.

According to the RA NSC Spokesperson, during the meeting an agreement
was reached to deepen cooperation with the border troops command, as
well as to use the current experience in the process of implementation
of reforms in Armenia.

A. Manilov gave Artur Baghdasarian a medal for paying much attention
to border security issues by the decision of the Council of Border
Troops Commanders.

REGULAR SITTING OF BUSINESS SUPPORT COUNCIL HELD ON MARCH 10

Noyan Tapan
March 10, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular sitting of the Business
Support Council was held at the Armenian government on March 10. The
sitting was conducted by the Prime Minister of Armenia, Council
Chairman Tigran Sargsyan. The Secretary of the Council Robert
Harutyunian presented the process of carrying out the assignments
given at the previous two sittings.

Then the sitting participants discussed the problems arisen between
Didas International LLC and the RA State Revenue Committee, and an
instruction was given to discuss the problems once again with the
participation of the sides concerned.

The Coucil members also examined the study conducted by the Secretariat
of the Business Support Council on the structure and content of the
2009 reports submitted to state and government bodies, as well as the
Secretariat’s conclusions and recommendations. On the instructions
of the prime minister, a working group will be set up based on these
recommendations. The working group headed by the RA minister of economy
will collect statistical data from administrative registers in order
to rule out repetitive data in the future.

AMERIA PROVIDES ADVISORY SUPPORT TO TECHNOLOGY AND COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

Panarmenian.Net
10.03.2010 14:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Starting February 2010 Ameria CJSC has been
involved in the preparatory stage of Phase II for the Technology and
Competitiveness Enhancement Project implemented by the Government
of RA through the Ministry of Economy of RA. The project is funded
by the World Bank and includes implementation of the Innovation
Infrastructure and Yerevan Technopark projects.

The main goal of the project is to build an innovative and competitive
knowledge-based society. The project is aimed at creation of relevant
environment in Armenia to ensure infrastructure, e-services and
other support facilities which would enhance competitiveness of IT
and high-tech companies.

Ameria will be specifically involved in development of Yerevan
Technopark Project, including design of feasibility study,
identification of area, business plan development and partner
identification.

Yerevan Technopark Project is aimed at creation of a large-scale
technopark in the vicinity of Yerevan including office buildings,
educational centers, conference halls and other facilities, supporting
venture and startup businesses, and if possible, other support
infrastructures (banks, hotels, restaurants, etc.). The project will
create opportunities to provide an all-embracing infrastructure,
including the necessary premises and services, for the Yerevan and
Armenia-based companies which specialize in programming and high-tech.

The technopark will provide various services to the high-tech
organizations on "one stop-shop principle" in various fields such as
infrastructure, finance, training, marketing, and other important
spheres for the growth and development of startup companies. The
technopark will have high-speed internet access.

Ameria will implement the projected activities in 3 phases to be
accomplished by June 2010. Upon completion Ameria will provide summary
analysis of the research results to all the interested parties.

Ameria CSJC is a leading advisory firm in Armenia specialized in the
areas of corporate restructuring, M&A, legal advisory, direct and
portfolio investments, business and strategic planning, financial
advisory and tax planning, public administration and reforms, etc. As
a part of Ameria financial group Ameria CJSC renders independent,
confidential and objective counsel through a uniquely harmonious and
efficient system of five advisory units: Management Advisory Services,
Financial Advisory Services, Assurance and Taxation, Legal Practice
and Investment Banking.

NAGORNO KARABAKH RECOGNISES ABKHAZIA

The Messenger
March 10 2010
Georgia

Armenian and Russian media outlets have recently reported that the
unrecognised ‘Nagorno Karabakh Republic’ (NKR) has recognised Abkhazia
as an independent state. Representatives of the Georgian Government see
this as rather a joke. One unrecognised entity has recognised another,
so what? This is meaningless. However the Georgian population and some
opposition members have reacted angrily to the NKR’s declaration,
as it is understood that it would not take such a decision without
the consent of Yerevan.

The newspaper Asaval-Dasavali comments that neither Bagapsh nor
Kokoity takes any serious decisions without Moscow’s consent.

Similarly the Karabakh leadership does not take any decisions without
Yerevan’s endorsement. What is particularly annoying to Georgians is
that this declaration has come just after the Georgian President has
hosted his Armenian counterpart in Batumi and the Larsi checkpoint has
been reopened, to the great satisfaction of the Armenian side. The
popular view is that Georgia has taken Armenia’s interests into
consideration but it seems Armenia does not do the same in return.

Opposition members are particularly critical of Saakashvili for
putting the country in this position.

The report that Abkhazia has been recognised by Karabakh has not been
officially confirmed. The outlets saying this are quoting the so-called
Foreign Relations Committee Chairman of the Karabakh Parliament Vargam
Atanesian, who has allegedly said that so-called Karabakh President
Bako Saakian’s presence at the inauguration of so-called Abkhazian
President Bagapsh is a confirmation of this recognition and in the near
future Stepanakert and Sokhumi will establish diplomatic relations.

Georgian Minister of Reintegration Temur Iakobashvili has called the
reports misinformation. Political analyst Mamuka Areshidze also thinks
that an oral statement not confirmed by a document has no meaning at
all. He also doubts that the Armenian leadership would allow such
a thing to happen. If the report is just a vague warning we should
analyse who it is targeted at, but if the report is true Tbilisi will
need to clear the matter up with Yerevan. Maybe misinformation has
been deliberately put out to see what Georgia’s reaction would be,
but if the report is true Moscow will be the main beneficiary of the
NKR’s action, because it will help it further its divide and rule
policy, as if it needs any more help.

Some analysts think that Russia actually wanted to keep the recently
reopened Larsi checkpoint closed, as this made it a source of potential
confrontation between Armenia and Georgia. In the event of such a
conflict Russia would have even more opportunities to intervene and
chop up the territories of its neighbours. All this might explain
Georgia’s desire to reopen it, but you can only reopen the checkpoint
once. NKR recognising Abkhazia may be nonsense, but there is such a
thing as dangerous nonsense.

ARTIST FINED FOR INSULTING TURKISH PM ERDOGAN

Azg
March 11 2010
Armenia

An English artist whose work was found to have mocked Turkey’s prime
minister has been handed a fine in place of a jail term, BBC reports

Michael Dickinson, 59, originally from County Durham, created "Good
Boy" which showed Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a dog with a US flag as
his lead.

He was cleared of a charge of mockery in 2008 but this was later
overturned.

A judge in Istanbul sentenced him to 14 months in prison, but
immediately commuted the sentence to a fine.

The artist, and anti-war activist – who had lived and worked in Turkey
for 24 years – fled the country and returned to County Durham after
his acquittal was quashed.

However, he was unable to get a job and went back to Istanbul.

During the hearing earlier, the prosecutor insisted he should face
a custodial sentence for his cartoon.

The judge laughed a number of times during Mr Dickinson’s defence,
which included one of his collages, this time depicting Barack Obama
as a dog.

He then ruled that although the artist had insulted the prime minister
and should be handed the prison term, it should be commuted to a fine
equivalent to about £3,000.

Mr Dickinson then refused to pay, prompting the judge to tell him
that if he made no more cartoons about the country’s prime minister
for five years, the fine would be waived.

Outside court, Mr Dickinson said he was "relieved".

"I didn’t know what to expect," he said.

"But I still don’t think I should have been guilty, and I’m not saying
I’m not going to make any more cartoons of politicians."

He did not rule out a return to the UK, but added: "I like it here,
I like the food, the people, the weather.

"But at least in Britain I could make satirical pictures of Gordon
Brown and not go to jail."

PROTEST OUTSIDE US EMBASSY IN BAKU

news.az
March 9 2010
Azerbaijan

Demonstrators have protested outside the US embassy in Baku at a US
House committee decision to recognize the deaths of Armenians in 1915
as genocide.

Students and young people held the demonstration at 13.00 local time
on 8 March for about one hour.

They chanted slogans urging the United States to conduct an objective
policy on Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The demonstrators held Azerbaijani and Turkish flags and photos of
the victims of the Khojaly massacre. They urged the United States
to recognize the massacres of Azerbaijanis committed by Armenians
as genocide.

The spokesman for the US embassy in Azerbaijan, Terry Davidson,
came out to listen to the demonstrators.

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on 4 March
voted to approve a non-binding resolution recognizing the killing of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 as ‘genocide’.

SERZH SARGSYAN EXTENDED CONDOLENCES TO ABDULLAH GUL

Aysor
March 9 2010
Armenia

President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan sent his
condolences to Turkish President Abdullah Gul over the disastrous
earthquake occurred in Turkey.

According to the release issued by the RA President’s Press Office on
behalf of the Armenian people and himself, President Sargsyan extended
sincere condolences to the President of Turkey and the relatives of
the quake victims.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA MEETS ALEPPO GOVERNOR AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF ALEPPO

Noyan Tapan
March 9, 2010

ALEPPO, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Ambassador to Syria Arshak
Poladian on March 8 visited Aleppo where he met the Governor of Aleppo
Ahmad Ali Mansoura and representatives of Aleppo’s Armenian community.

According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, issues
related to the trip to Aleppo that the President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan will take as part of his official visit to Syria in March
were discussed during these meetings.

WHAT IS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE?

Creative Loafing Atlanta
March 8 2010

Like many victims of long-ago crimes, if the Armenians can’t have
justice, they at least want recognition

On March 4, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the following
nonbinding resolution:

"Calling upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes."

You read that and probably wonder what the big deal is. Appropriate
understanding is great. Sensitivity is swell. Besides, Congress is
constantly honoring, commemorating, remembering and noting events
and people of the distant past. Congress loves it some symbolic
declarations.

Sometimes they’re innocuous. For example, last November, the House
voted to name a post office for W. Hazen Hillyard, a deceased former
Utah postmaster. Did you know Hillyard won the Boy Scouts of America’s
Silver Beaver Award in 1961? What exactly is a silver beaver, anyway?

Is it anything like a GILF?

Often the resolutions deal with more serious issues. Last June, the
Senate voted to acknowledge the 70th anniversary of a disgraceful
event: a ship with Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany was turned away
from U.S. ports.

With no place safe to land, the ship returned to Europe. Of the 937
passengers onboard, 254 subsequently died in the Holocaust. The Senate
described the anniversary "as an opportunity for public officials
and educators to raise awareness about an important historical event,
the lessons of which are relevant to current and future generations."

Translation: Acknowledging a giant screw-up now might help us avoid
the same screw-up later.

Armenian-Americans have long been pushing to have the U.S. join the
20-plus other nations that have already officially recognized the
Armenian Genocide. Like many victims of long-ago crimes, if they
can’t have justice, they at least want recognition.

Here’s the quick version of the broad historical consensus:
Armenians have lived in the Caucasus Mountains and Eastern Anatolia
(aka modern-day Turkey) area for 4,000 years. They have their own
language and, for more than 16 centuries, have been followers of an
obscure religion called Christianity.

Surrounded by ethnic and religious rivals in a corner of the world
where ethnicity and religion are kind of a big deal, the Armenians
haven’t always had an easy time. During the 16th century, Armenians
fell under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Though
multi-ethnic and multi-religious, the empire itself was run by
Turkish Muslims.

With the empire near its death during World War I, the ruling Turks
launched an ethnic cleansing campaign against Armenians in Anatolia.

Because some Armenians sided with Russia against the Turks during the
war, the entire community was labeled disloyal. Armenians say they
lost 1.5 million of their own. The Turkish government disagrees. They
say 300,000 died and dispute that it was genocide. They say it was
war, that bad things happen during war, and that anyone who calls it
genocide is a liar. Seriously, Turkey prosecuted Nobel Prize-winning
novelist Orhan Pamuk for calling the killings genocide. Turkey also
threatens retaliation against nations that dare utter the dirty G-word.

The Turkish view, though firmly held, simply doesn’t square with
reality. Witnesses and historians have published ample evidence
that the genocide took place. The most damning evidence of late
was an Ottoman Empire Interior Ministry memo published last year
noting the disappearance between 1915 and 1916 of 972,000 Armenians
from Ottoman population rolls. They didn’t go on around-the-world
cruises. They died.

This month marks the second time in two years that the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs has passed an Armenian Genocide resolution. Just
like the last one, expect this one to disappear before going to the
full House of Representatives for a vote.

Though there’s no real dispute about whether the event took place,
Turkey is simply too vital an ally for U.S. politicians to risk
irritating the country over a nonbinding resolution condemning a
100-year-old mass murder. As a candidate, Obama promised to be the
first president to label the killing a genocide. But now that he’s
president, he has to choose between historical truth and present
reality. To make sure Turkey joins U.S. efforts to place tighter
sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, the White House urged
Congress not to pass the resolution. Don’t expect the full House to
vote on it.

ELLISON CASTS TIE-BREAKING VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Minnesota Independent
ellison-votes-for-armenian-genocide-resolution
Mar ch 8 2010

Rep. Keith Ellison was the tie-breaking vote on a House Foreign Affairs
Committee resolution calling on President Obama to "characterize
the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians
as genocide." The measure was vigorously opposed by Turkey, and
following the vote the country recalled its ambassador to the United
States. Ellison was undecided last week on how he would vote.

The 23 to 22 vote did not split along partisan lines — Democrats and
Republicans supported and opposed the measure. President Obama and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton unsuccessfully tried to pressure
the committee to delay the vote, citing diplomatic tensions with
Turkey over the issue of genocide.

Turkey is the strongest ally the United States has among Muslim
countries. Ellison, the committee’s only Muslim member, told a Turkish
newspaper recently that he wasn’t sure how he would vote.