Author: Nanijanian Alex

MOVSES HAKOBYAN: WE’LL FIGHT AND WIN AGAIN IF NECESSARY
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
13.05.2010 16:45

May 12th marked the 16th anniversary establishment of the ceasefire
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. No large-scale military actions
have taken place in the conflict zone ever since, but Azerbaijan
periodically undertakes subversives acts and violates the truce,
Defense Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Movses Hakobyan
told reporters.

"The Defense Army is fully prepared to carry out its tasks," Movses
Hakobyan declared. According to him, it has become possible due to
the work done to keep the operational readiness on a proper level.

Touching upon the threat of resumption of military actions, Movses
Hakobyan said there is no anxiety among the society. "If there is
another war, we’ll fight and win again," this is how NKR people think,
according to the Defense Minister. "Besides, the people of Karabakh
listen to the authorities rather than the Azerbaijani media," he added.

According to Movses Hakobyan, Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements are
primarily meant for the domestic political field and the international
community in the face of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

"It’s also blackmail against Armenian society with a view of grabbing
concessions," the Defense Minister said, adding that "the armed forces
of Azerbaijan are not ready to restart military actions. "In case of
necessity the NKR Army will offer due resistance," he said.

"Karabakh will participate in the negotiations under way within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group only when they really become
serious," Movses Hakobyan stated.

RUSSIA’S, ARMENIA’S AND AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL MEET IN NEAR FUTURE: MEDVEDEV

Tert.am
16:25 12.05.10

Russia and Turkey are interested in the establishment of stability
in the Caucasian region and in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said at press conference
today in the Turkish capital of Ankara, reports Russian news website
Rossia 24.

In his words all the parties involved have reached significant
progress, but the important thing is not to be satisfied with what
has already been reached.

"I would not like to comment now on separate moment about regions and
other aspects of the conflicts, because such a conflict requires a
delicate approach to avoid additional tension, especially given that
Russia has a special mission here. We are not a conflicting party
but rather an active mediator, and we will continue working, and in
the near future meetings will be held among Russia’s, Armenia’s and
Azerbaijan’s foreign ministries," said Medvedev.

PROGRAMS OF VITAL SIGNIFICANCE ARE BEING REALIZED

Azat Artsakh Newspaper
12 May, 2010
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

On May 8th the NKR President Bako Sahkyan visited the Armenian
district of the capital and took part in solemn event of opening of
the 7th zone of water supply system of Stepanakert. The President
attached importance to continuous broadening and modernization of
industrial and social substructures, considering it as one of the
main spurs of increase of living standard of the population. Bako
Sahakyan noted, that on the threshold of the holiday putting into
operation such important objects was double inspiring. Then the head
of the country participated in the solemn event of house-warming
of many-storied building situated in Tumanyan street. Huge crowd
waiting for house-warming had already gathered there, among them
were 6 orphaned children, and 39 families of killed azatamartiks. The
honour of cutting red band was given to the founder director of "For
directions" company Seyran Karapetyan and the mayor Vazgen Michaelyan.

Let’s note, that next to the building also a new building of the same
type is already being constructed, which will let ease much more the
flat problem in the capital.

SERZH SARGSYAN PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY OF LAYING FOUNDATION OF THE "SMT" CONTEMPORARY MEDICAL CENTER

ARMENPRESS
MAY 11, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was present today at the ceremony
of laying foundation of the "SMT" contemporary medical center of the
Russian "Athene Palada" company.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that the one-time usage
medical equipment will be produced there. The enterprise will ensure
about 800 working places 400 of which in the first round. The factory
will be equipped with the newest devices. The 50% of the production
will be consumed in the inner market, the rest will be exported. The
first product will be issued in the end of the 2011.

ARFD: IRAN’S ENGAGEMENT IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT POSSIBLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 7, 2010 – 15:54 AMT 10:54 GMT

Representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body, Chairman of
the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan
said that though Iran is not an OSCE member, its invitation to the
Minsk group conference should not be excluded.

"Thus, Tehran might get involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement
process," Rustamyan told a conference of Hay Dat Committees.

"The Russian-Georgian hostilities in 2008 generated new processes in
the region. Changes which may lead to formation of a new system of
regional security are taking place," Rustamyan said.

He pointed out to Turkey’s activity in regional processes, adding that
balance between Turkey and Iran needs to be reached. "We should prevent
changes in the OSCE Minsk Group format or any parallel processes,"
the MP said.

In Rustamyan’s opinion, Kosovo’s precedent and the 3+2 format,
established in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan –
South Ossetia and Abkhazia), create a favorable atmosphere for Nagorno
Karabakh, while Armenia should seize the opportunity and take action.

According to him, the initiated normalization with Turkey has resulted
in new challenges for Armenia and region, as a whole.

"Rapprochement has never been an issue referring to Armenia and
Turkey only. With superpowers involved in the process, Armenia should
correctly assess its national interests," Rustamyan emphasized.

He added that the Armenian-Turkish dialogue was initiated to ease
the threat of war in the region. "However, statements on possible
resumption of hostilities have become even more frequent. Yerevan has
become a hostage of its own initiative through starting a dialogue
with Ankara," he concluded.

ON MAY 8 – 9 SERZH SARGSYAN WILL PAY A WORKING VISIT TO MOSCOW

Aysor
May 7 2010
Armenia

On 8 – 9 the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at the invitation of
the RF President Dmitry Medvedev will pay a working visit to Moscow
to participate in the ceremonies dedicated to the 65th anniversary
of the victory of WWII.

The RA President will also partake in the non official meetings with
the heads of the CSTO member countries and CIS countries, informed
the Press Office of the RA President.

Armenian National Committee of Burbank
361 East Magnolia Boulevard, Suite C
Burbank, California 91502
Web:
Tel: (818) 562-1918

PRESS RELEASE

April 30, 2010
Contact: Michael Kiaman
Tel: (818) 562-1918

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL DRAWS OVER 400 TO BURBANK CITY HALL

BURBANK, CA—The Armenian National Committee of Burbank (ANC Burbank)
organized its annual candlelight vigil commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide on Tuesday, April 27th. Over 400 people attended the event which
took place on the steps of Burbank City Hall.

"The ANC of Burbank hopes to renew the effort to not only commemorate the
tragic events of this horrific time in our collective history, but to also
reaffirm that in order to truly respect the lives lost we must acknowledge
this truth at the national level," noted Armond Aghakhanian, the chair of
the event’s organizing committee. "Our community welcomes the continued
support of the Burbank City Council in sustaining this fight to uphold the
truth."

The vigil took place following the Burbank City Council session in chambers
where Aghakhanian and Naira Chehras, a senior at Burbank High School,
received a proclamation from City of Burbank Mayor Gary Bric, acknowledging
the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Aghakhanian also thanked Mayor Bric for a letter he wrote to President
Barack Obama highlighting the push for formal US reaffirmation of the
Armenian Genocide.

During the vigil, the crowd was addressed by several community leaders
including Chehras, Zareh Sinanyan (ANC PAC), Michael Kiaman (ANC Burbank),
Shahan Boghigian (Armenian Youth Federation "Varak" Burbank Chapter), and
Aram Ohanian (ARF Badenagan "Kaytz" Chapter).

The Armenian National Committee of Burbank advances the social, economic,
cultural, and political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots
and public policy levels.

####

FULL TEXT OF BURBANK MAYOR GARY BRIC’S LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA:

Honorable Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On April 27, 2010, the City of Burbank will recognize the Armenian Genocide
Remembrance, and every year we are reminded that the United States of
America is a champion of espousing human rights around the world, and as
such, bears the responsibility to help ensure America’s historic leadership
and humanitarian values on which our country was founded, including the
lessons learned from the past, are never forgotten.

This year marks the ninety-fifth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; which
is an important issue to many of our constituents. Our legislative
representatives including: Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad
Sherman, Congressman Howard Berman, Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Diane
Feinstein, all support the formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Gary R. Bric
Mayor, City of Burbank

cc: Congressman Howard Berman
Congressman Adam Schiff
Congressman Brad Sherman
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Diane Feinstein
Michael S. Flad, Burbank City Manager

PROBE OF ARMENIAN POLICE CUSTODY DEATH ‘WIDENED’
Ruzanna Stepanian

rticle/2034613.html
06.05.2010

Armenia — Head of the Helsinki Civil Assembly Vanadzor office Artur
Sakunts at a press conference, Yerevan, 06 May 2010

A law-enforcement body investigating the latest suspicious death of a
criminal suspect in Armenian police custody said on Thursday that it
is trying to contact and question two key witnesses who left Armenia
just days after the incident.

The Special Investigative Service (SIS) at the same time implicitly
denied allegations that they too were ill-treated at the police
station of the central town of Charentsavan and then forced to flee
the country.

Norayr Chilian and Arayik Arakelian were among several Charentsavan
residents who were detained on April 13 on suspicion of involvement in
the reported theft of 1.5 million drams ($3,900) worth of goods from a
local entrepreneur. One of them, Vahan Khalafian, died in still unclear
circumstances several hours later. The Armenian police acknowledged
on Friday that he was beaten up before allegedly committing suicide.

Unlike three other suspects, Chilian and Arakelian were set free
later on April 13. According to the families, they left for Belgium
and Russia respectively several days later.

Artur Sakunts, an Armenian human rights campaigner who met both men
before their departure, claimed on Thursday that the police forced
them to go abroad to avoid their embarrassing witness accounts of
torture. "During our conversations, they did not speak about their
[forthcoming] departure from the country," he said.

"Usually, those fleeing [the country] are important witnesses who are
too dangerous to give testimony. Therefore, that means they were very
important witnesses in the case and they were simply forced out,"
Sakunts told a news conference.

Sakunts, who is based in the northern city of Vanadzor, also stood
by his claims that at least one of them, Chilian, was beaten up and
seriously injured by Charentsavan policemen.

The SIS effectively denied these allegations later in the day. In a
three-page statement, it said the wives of both men have testified
in writing that their husbands bore no signs of physical violence
after being let go by the Charentsavan police. They were also cited
as insisting that Chilian and Arakelian went abroad on April 16 and
April 18 respectively for purely economic reasons.

"It is obvious that some people are attempting to use the incident
that took place at the police department of Charentsavan to mislead
the public with evidently false information," the SIS charged in a
clear reference to Sakunts.

A SIS official told RFE/RL’s Armenian service separately that the
law-enforcement body is now ascertaining Chilian’s and Arakelian’s
precise whereabouts to try to question them on the Charentsavan
affair. The official said investigators would specifically like to
know how they were treated by local policemen and whether they can
shed more light on Khalafian’s death.

Two of those officers are currently under arrest pending
investigation. One of them was charged last week with beating up
Khalafian after the latter’s refusal to confess to the crime. The
police insist that the 24-year-old stabbed himself to death after
the torture.

The victim’s relatives believe, however, that he was tortured to
death. Sakunts again endorsed this view at the news conference.

It is still not clear whether the SIS agrees with the murder theory or
backs the police version of events. The SIS said on Thursday that the
crucial forensic examinations of Khalafian’s body are still not over.

ASTROPHYSICS; STUDIES FROM Y.L. VARTANYAN ET AL HAVE PROVIDED NEW DATA ON ASTROPHYSICS

Physics Week
May 4, 2010

"This article is a review dedicated to the centenary of V. A.

Ambartsumyan," scientists in Yerevan, Armenia report.

"The author, who is one of the first students of Ambartsumyan and G.

S. Sahakyan in the area of superdense cosmology, presents the results
of his first studies carried out jointly with Sahakyan, which were
published immediately after the pioneering work of his teachers and
supplemented their efforts," wrote Y.L. Vartanyan and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The results of studies by the author and
various coauthors on superdense stars containing strange quarks are
also discussed."

Vartanyan and colleagues published their study in Astrophysics
(Superdense stars containing strange baryons. Astrophysics,
2010;53(1):18-31).

For more information, contact Y.L. Vartanyan, Erevan State University,
Yerevan, Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Astrophysics is:
Springer, Plenum Publishers, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.

RA DIASPORA MINISTER HOLDS MEETINGS IN ISRAEL

news.am
May 5 2010
Armenia

RA Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan is currently on a working visit
(May 2-6) to Israel. In the course of the visit, Diaspora Minister
plans to meet with local officials and representatives of Armenian
community of Israel and clergy.

Hranush Hakobyan will meet with Israeli Minister of Public Affairs and
Diaspora Yuli Edelstein, Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver,
Deputy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pini Aviv, Chairman
of the Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky and Director of the
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Arnon Mantver.

Diaspora Minister will also have meetings with Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Honorary Consul of Armenia
in Israel Tsolak Momjian.

Thereafter, Hranush Hakobyan will visit Jordan.