Author: Tamamian Anna

"TURKEY MAKES SERIOUS DIPLOMATIC MISTAKE AND LOSES UNPRECEDENTED POSSIBILITY
OF POSITIVELY INCLINING ARMENIAN LOBBY," CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS
IN EUROPE REPRESENTATION STATES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2007

BRATISLAVA, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Turkish Foreign
Ministry’s inviting of the Armenian delegation for participation
in the opening ceremony of the Surb Khach (Saint Cross) church of
the island of Akhtamar, Van, and at the same time not opening of
the Armenian-Turkish border for arriving in Turkey was a serious
diplomatic mistake by Turkey. Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman of the
Armenian Organizations in Europe Representation and of the Armenian
community of Slovakia, gave such an estimation to the happened. He
mentioned in the interview to Noyan tapan that similar data did not
help increase of Turkey’s authority in Europe.

In A. Grigorian’s words, in spite of promises given to the Armenian
side, the Margara and Gyumri border custom-houses remained close,
arising great difficulties for those leaving Armenia to Van. Ambassador
of Turkey to Slovakia Tunc Ugdul was not either able to show assistance
in that issue, in spite of the promises given by him at the March 20
Bratislava meeting with Ashot Grigorian.

"Surely, correct diplomacy prompted to open-heartedly receive both
Armenians of Armenia and Diasporan Armenians and attempt to prove
that no trace remained from Ottaman Turkey in today’s everyday life
of republican Turkey," A. Grigorian said, adding that the opposite,
Turkey striving for membership to the European Union more and more
repel Europeans in the consequence of its not skilled diplomacy.

In the AOER Chairman’s words, "in spite of the promising agreement
with today’s Ambassador of Turkey to Solvakia to assist establishment
of the Turkish-Armenian diplomatic relations, however, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry again missed the possibility of getting possible
political divident, taking a very favourable step for itself and
lost a very good possibility on the way of settling relations with
the neighboring European country."

"This was an unprecedented possibility to positively incline the
Armenian lobby but it was not used," the Chairman of the Armenian
Organizations in Europe Representation summed up.

GRAND MASTER TIGRAN L. PETROSIAN TAKES 2nd PLACE IN CHESS INTERNET TOURNAMENT

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of Armenia, grand
master Tigran L. Petrosian took the 2nd place in the 2000
participants’ competition at the chess international tournament
entitled "Ciudad de Dos." At the decisive stage he won Shahriar
Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Hikaru Nakamura (U.S.) and was defeated by
George Samorin (U.S.) who became the tournament winner.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Lusine Mnatsakanyan
Tel: 3741 56 0106
Fax: 3741 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.himnadram. org

30 March, 2007

Walkers for our Compatriots

In March 2007, the two-wheel walkers donated by the New-York Committee
of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund arrived in Armenia. The walkers are
envisaged for elderly people and those with loco-motor apparatus
problems.

In the result of the preliminary estimate and analysis of the situation
in the sphere, today the walkers have been already handed over to
medical institutions, military hospitals, and elderly homes in Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh, including the relevant institutions constructed or
renovated by the Fund. The walkers have been allocated to the
beneficiaries based on their letter-applications.

Due to this initiative, life of our compatriots in need of these
facilities will surely get more comfortable.

PR Department

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
March 30, 2007

New Grand Sacristan Appointed for Holy Etchmiadzin

His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian has been appointed as Grand Sacristan of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by the pontifical directive of His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. 
Bishop Ararat will continue to serve concurrently as dean of the monasteries
of the Mother See.  A brief biography of Bishop Ararat follows:

* * *

His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian

Born in 1962 in the neighborhood of Hajn in Beirut, Lebanon, and given the
baptismal name Hagop.  He received his elementary education in the St.
Sahak-St. Mesrop Academy and was admitted to the seminary of the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in 1977.

>From 1979 to 1985, he continued his theological education at the Gevorkian
Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and in 1985,
defended his graduation thesis entitled `The Study of Printed Texts of
Ancient Armenian Manuscripts’.  That same year, he was ordained a deacon and
called to serve in the Armenian Diocese of Damascus (Syria).

In April 1986, he was ordained a celibate priest by His Eminence Archbishop
Voskan Kalpakian, Primate of the Armenian Dioceses of Greece and Damascus in
the Cathedral of St. Sarkis in Damascus, and given the new name Ararat.

In February 1988, Father Ararat defended his doctoral thesis entitled `The
History of the Church in Antioch’, and was elevated to the rank of
Archimandrite (Vardapet) by His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian in the
Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan.

>From 1986 to 1990, Father Ararat served in the Diocese of Damascus as
Assistant to the Primate.

In 1990, he traveled to the Armenian Diocese of Canada and was assigned as
parish priest of Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto, and in 1993,
Father Ararat relocated to Montreal, Canada, and was appointed as Assistant
to the Primate.  From 1994, he continued his pastoral service as parish
priest of the St. Narek Armenian Church of South Montreal.

He enrolled at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and concurrently at St.
Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary, in New York, U.S.A. in 1996, and later that
same year, was appointed as parish priest of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral of the Canadian Diocese in Montreal, while also serving the
Armenian churches of Holy Cross as parish priest and St. Mesrop in Ottawa,
as visiting pastor.

In October 1999, in appreciation for his years of service and with the
blessing of His Holiness Karekin I of blessed memory, His Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada,
granted Father Ararat the title of Senior Archimandrite (Tsayraguyn
Vardapet).  On the same date, Father Ararat was appointed Vicar of the
Canadian Diocese.

In 2003, Bishop Bagrat Galsdanian, the new Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Canada, appointed him Director of Projects in Armenia for the Canadian
Diocese, the Armenia Orphans Program and the Armenian Church Youth
Organization of Canada.  He was also appointed as parish priest of Holy
Cross Armenian Church of Laval.

In June 2006, Father Ararat was called to Armenia to serve in the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin, and one month later was assigned as Dean of the
Monasteries of the Mother See by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians.

On November 19, 2006, His Holiness Karekin II elevated Father Ararat in rank
and consecrated him as bishop.

PRESS RELEASE
March 28, 2007

U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC)
1518 K Street, NW, Suite M
Washington, DC20005
Contact: Rob Mosher
Telephone: 202-783-0530

USAPAC Urges Higher Allocation of Assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh

Washington DC – In testimony submitted for the record for the public
hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 budget, the U.S.-Armenia Public
Affairs Committee (USAPAC) called upon the House State, Foreign
Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee on Appropriations to
support U.S. assistance and policy support in the South Caucasus
generally and Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh specifically.

USAPAC requested that:

·`Not less than’ $75 million in bilateral aid be provided to the
Republic of Armenia;

·Language urging USAID to allocate `not less than’ $10 million to
Nagorno Karabakh with a substantial developmental component be
included;

·Military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan be
maintained by providing Armenia with $4.3 million in Foreign Military
Financing funds, and $1 million in International Military Education
and Training assistance;

·No further changes to the conditional waiver of Section 907 of the
FREEDOM Support Act;

·Confidence-building measure language to advance a peaceful resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict be included.

The full text of the testimony appears below.

The U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt
and not-for-profit organization established to advance
Armenian-American interests.

***

On behalf of the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC), Rob
Mosher, Director of Government Affairs, is pleased to provide
testimony to the Subcommittee.

USAPAC requests that `not less than’ $75 million in bilateral aid be
provided to the Republic of Armenia under the provisions of chapters
11 and 12 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the
FREEDOM Support Act account, for assistance for the Independent States
of the former Soviet Union and for related programs.

USAPAC also recommends that the Subcommittee include language urging
USAID to allocate `not less than’ $10 million to Nagorno Karabakh with
a substantial developmental component under the FREEDOM Support Act
account, for assistance for the Independent States of the former
Soviet Union and for related programs.

We respectfully urge the Subcommittee to maintain military assistance
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan by providing $4.3 million in
Foreign Military Financing funds to Armenia under the provisions of
section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act.In addition, our
organization requests that $1 million in International Military
Education and Training funds be allocated to Armenia under section 541
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

1. Economic Assistance to Armenia

USAPAC urges the Subcommittee to allocate `not less than’ $75 million
in U.S. assistance to Armenia in FY 2008.

We are grateful to the Subcommittee for providing effective annual
levels of humanitarian, reform and development assistance to
Armenia.Since its independence in 1991, Congress has allocated some
$1.6 billion with remarkable, bi-partisan consensus votes spanning
three presidencies and eight U.S. congresses.This assistance is
designed to securesustained civil society reform, to recognize
Armenia’s consistent results in market reform and democratization, and
to counter the devastating effect of Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s
blockades against this landlocked republic in violation of U.S. and
international law.

Despite the dual blockades, Armenia’s economic reform measures are
progressing, as demonstrated by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage
Foundation’s `2007 Index of Economic Freedom.’ The index, which
measured how 157 countries scored on a list of 50 independent
variables divided into ten broad factors of economic freedom, rated
Armenia 32nd. According to the study, Armenia remains the most
economically free nation in the region, including all nations in the
Commonwealth of Independent States. As a result of these reforms,
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by over 10 percent in
2006, capping the sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth.

In December 2005, Armenia was competitively awarded $236 million in
conditional aid over a five year period through the performance-based
Millennium Challenge Account.In order to qualify for this assistance,
Armenia had to meet Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) standards
in three categories: ruling justly, investing in people, and fostering
economic freedom.There is an annual recertification process as part of
this multi-year MCC compact.Armenia is one of the first countries in
the world to be granted aid under the Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA).Previously allocated levels of U.S. bilateral assistance to
Armenia played a significant role in accelerating reforms that enabled
it to be competitive in the MCC process.

Unfortunately, the Administration has justified its request for a near
fifty percent cut in bilateral aid by counting the MCA grant against
Armenia in the FY 08 budget.Armenia has been able to effectively
implement economic reforms, in part, because of U.S. reform
assistance.It is counterintuitive at best to reduce such assistance
now that Armenia has won an MCC compact.These assistance programs
serve fundamentally different purposes.USAID assistance has been used
effectively in Armenia to secure and sustain broad economic and
democratization reform.Armenia’s MCC Compact is targeted toward rural
roads and irrigation.

2. Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh

USAPAC commends the vision and leadership of the Subcommittee for its
continued support for humanitarian aid to the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic (NKR).We request that the Subcommittee include language
urging USAID to allocate `not less than’ $10 million for Karabakh in
FY 2008, while specifically directing that U.S. assistance include a
substantial developmental component.This allocation would be a natural
continuation of the existing U.S. program in Karabakh, and would also
reinforce U.S. efforts to promote regional peace.

Oft-stated U.S. goals for the South Caucasus include initiatives that
promote regional peace, economic and democratic development, and
ensure security against terrorist threats.U.S. assistance to NKR is a
critically important contribution to regional peace.Such assistance
corresponds to U.S. principles of fairness and non-exclusion, and
providing its regional friends with equal opportunities.

Aid granted to date has been extremely effective, but limited in
scope.Since 1999, Congress has provided on average about $4 million a
year in aid to Nagorno Karabakh, focusing on humanitarian needs with
some crossover into development aid.This assistance helped re-build
thousands of homes, reestablish the water supply, improve healthcare
and educational facilities, provide training to medical workers and
loans to NKR’s farmers.

However, many challenges remain, as NKR continues to be hampered by
underdeveloped infrastructure.Karabakh is cut off from global sources
of developmental aid due to a complete absence of international
recognition.More ominously, Azerbaijan’s leaders continue to boast
about their military build-up and periodically threaten to launch a
new war against Karabakh.Through sound economic policies and tax
incentives, NKR has, in recent years, begun to attract diversified
foreign investments, allowing the war-ravaged economy to start its
recovery and the public to benefit.Therefore, USAPAC strongly urges
the Subcommittee to ensure that additional funding be provided beyond
the traditional level of $5 million annually and authorize this
increased funding for essential, non-humanitarian purposes.

3. U.S. Military Assistance to Armenia

USAPAC requests that equal allocations of $4.3 million in Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) and $1 million in International Military
Education and Training (IMET) funds for Armenia and Azerbaijan.Our
organization greatly appreciates Congress’ ongoing commitment to honor
the conditional waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act by
maintaining military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, repeatedly boasts that his
country’s military expenditures will soon exceed the total annual
budget of the government of Armenia and continues to threaten that he
will launch another war should Azerbaijan’s demands not be met in the
Karabakh negotiating process.Under these circumstances, it is
irresponsible for the Administration to renege on its commitment to
maintain military assistance parity by once again proposing
asymmetrical FMF and IMET funding in favor of the wrong party, and
also to continue the Caspian Sea Initiative program with its dual use
implications.This approach in effect rewards and enables Azerbaijan’s
for its destabilizing militarization and recurring threats to
attack.Our nation’s assistance to Azerbaijan would be much better
spent on battling corruption and promoting economic reform and
democracy considering that nation’s rankings in the annual studies
performed by the Heritage Foundation — 107th out of 157 countries in
the 2007 Index of Economic Freedom – and Transparency International –
130th out of 163 nations in the 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Armenia has responded admirably to U.S. calls for support in global
non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, and anti-drug trafficking
efforts. Armenia has also joined American-led forces in troubled
regions such as Kosovo and Iraq.The Bush Administration has repeatedly
recognized Armenia=80=99s security contributions in overflight rights,
intelligence sharing and deployments of peacekeeping troops.

Further, Armenia has significantly strengthened its relationship with
NATO by finalizing in 2006 an Individual Partnership Action Plan
(IPAP) with the alliance.This IPAP seeks to improve Armenia’s
cooperation with NATO by promoting reforms in Armenia’s defense
system, and deepening its participation in NATO missions and
programs.In a September 2006 interview, Armenia’s Defense Minister
Serge Sargsian noted Armenia=80=99s plans to expand its peace-keeping
battalion to brigade size by 2015, making it fully inter-operable with
NATO forces.

USAPAC strongly believes that it is in the U.S. national interest to
build upon this important area of cooperation with Armenia and to
ensure that the delicate balance of power in the South Caucasus is not
disturbed by providing asymmetrical military aid in favor of
Azerbaijan over Armenia.

4. Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act

USAPAC urges the Subcommittee to continue to vigorously monitor the
conditional waiver of Section 907 to ensure the safety of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh and to call on the President to submit to Congress
the required report once enacted.Our organization also asks that the
waiver be immediately terminated should the safety of Armenia or
Nagorno Karabakh be challenged or the peace process be compromised due
to any assistance provided to Azerbaijan.

Nagorno Karabakh is a self-governing, democratic republic that is
historically and ethnically Armenian.Upon the dissolution of the
Soviet Union, the citizens of Karabakh via an internationally
monitored referendum exercised their constitutional right to sever
relations with both the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan.In response to
this lawful and peaceful expression of self-determination, Azerbaijan
launched a military campaign to secure by conquest what it had lost by
ballot.

Section 907 was enacted with the overwhelming support of Congress and
the Administration in 1992.This law placed reasonable conditions on
U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan until it ceased all offensive uses of
force against Armenia and Karabakh.In the aftermath of September 11,
Congress granted the President limited and conditional authority to
waive this law.As noted above, the Administration and Congress agreed
to ensure military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The current cease-fire and demarcation lines are a consequence of
Azerbaijan’s failed military offensive.Given the continued threats by
Azerbaijani leaders, USAPAC urges the Subcommittee to closely monitor
the developments in Azerbaijan as they pertain to U.S. security
assistance to ensure the safety of the peoples of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh.

5. Peace Process (the Nagorno Karabakh conflict)

USAPAC commends the Subcommittee’s efforts to advance a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and for providing funding
for regional projects and confidence-building measures among the
involved parties.

In furtherance of a settlement, and in support of the measures
discussed at recent NATO and OSCE summits, USAPAC strongly urges that
the Subcommittee support confidence-building measures that would
include strengthening compliance with the cease-fire, studying
post-conflict regional development such as landmine removal, water
management, new transportation routes and infrastructure, establishing
a youth exchange program and other collaborative and humanitarian
initiatives to foster greater understanding among the parties and
reduce hostilities.

6. Conclusion

On behalf of the Armenian-American community, USAPAC expresses our
deep and sincere gratitude to Congress for its steadfast
U.S. assistance and policy support in the South Caucasus generally and
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh specifically.U.S. assistance has deepened
the mutually beneficial U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Karabakh
relationships.Such aid has clearly advanced ties based upon the
unshakable shared values and continuing bonds between the United
States and Armenia.

TO WHO IT MAY CONCERN

A1+
[07:31 pm] 28 March, 2007

We invite everyone who highlights the importance of freedom of
expression, to French Square, opposite the statue of Aram Khachatryan,
to participate in the formation of "Path of Speech Freedom" at 5:00
p.m., April 2.

Five years ago the National Commission for Television and Radio
deprived A1+ of airtime broadcast during the "free and fair tender."

A1+ has participated in 14 Television and Radio tenders since April 2,
2002. But so far, the company has been unable to resume broadcasting.

We invite you to participate in the march to have your share in the
protection of expression of freedom in Armenia.

Your presence is your claim to secure and enhance freedom of expression
in the Republic of Armenia.

HURDLES THE E.U. MUST GET OVER
By Muhsin Abay

Turkish Press
March 28 2007

TURKIYE- Although the European Union has racked up many
accomplishments, it now faces a number of problems awaiting
resolution. The bloc’s art of achievements for the past 50 years
doesn’t guarantee its future success.

The members of the EU are trying to develop a European society unified
by common values, and a way of living. But they haven’t agreed on
the common values in question.

There is a strange faction envisioning ‘a sterile Europe’ divorced
from religion and decency.

Last year’s Muhammed cartoon crisis was the result of this situation.

They say that they did this in the name of freedom of speech, but
they don’t tolerate Muslims expressing themselves.

Many others think that Christianity is in the essence of their common
values. They extend the borders of Europe as far as Christianity
goes. In the long term, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia and Georgia seemed
to be included in its borders. With certain arrangements, they are
even seeking ways for Lebanon to join.

On the other hand, they have been trying to find thousands of reasons
to exclude Turkey, which is still carrying out negotiations and in the
middle of the enlargement area. This fact lies under the all issues put
forth to Turkey such as absorption capacity, cultural harmonization,
the Cyprus issue, etc.

When it comes to human rights and democracy, supporters of both
‘sterile Europe’ and ‘Christian Europe’ say that everyone is equal.

But, in fact, they always hold themselves one rank higher.

This is in no way pluralism or democracy. But one day they will
overcome this problem.

We Muslims have many things to do to help them with this. We should
help them as good examples.

The EU’s other basic issue lies in its decision-making mechanism.

While keeping the identities of the separate member states, the bloc
should have a democratic structure which makes effective decisions
and puts them into effect. If it can’t do this, it will lose cohesion
even more, or even freeze up.

Europe should move quickly to fill cover its democratic vacuum. The
European Parliament, the bloc’s only directly elected organ, today
seems like window dressing. The real authority is held by the
unelected European Commission. The final word rests with European
summit of 27 leaders led by powerhouse leaders such as Germany,
France, and Britain…

Although the EU is the world’s largest trading bloc, it has not been
able to develop structures to boost its diplomatic influence. It
couldn’t formulate common foreign and security policies. With its
current 27 member states, and tomorrow 30 or more, the bloc, in
its new borders, can be an organized power speaking and acting in
lockstep. This depends on the governments’ acceptance of the end of
the era of absolute national sovereignty. In other words, it depends
on them giving up their sovereignty to some extent, to leaving behind
deep-rooted hostility and assumptions of superiority, and to unify
their powers within the framework of democratic freedom.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

March 28, 2007
___________________

NEWLY ELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL BOARD, ARCHBISHOP AYKAZIAN SEEKS TO HELP POOR

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), attended the Habitat for Humanity
International board meeting March 1 to 4, 2007, in Guatemala City.

It was his first meeting since being elected to the 18-member board during a
2006 Habitat for Humanity International meeting in the Philippines. During
the meeting, the board members heard about the scope of Habitat for
Humanity’s global program. The organization operates in 96 countries and
builds a home somewhere in the world every 23 minutes.

"I think it is amazing that volunteers can be so important in building these
homes to make a better life for other people," Archbishop Aykazian said.
"In Armenia Habitat for Humanity International has been very active and has
helped many families. But it is important that we help all people, not just
Armenians. So I am proud to serve on the board of Habitat for Humanity
International."

Archbishop Aykazian has long been active in Habitat for Humanity, helping
bring together the organization and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The result of that effort was
the "His Holiness Karekin II Building Project," which last year began work
on 37 homes in Armenia symbolizing the 36 Armenian Church dioceses worldwide
and Holy Etchmiadzin. The "His Holiness Karekin II Building Project" will
begin again in April and run through September.

Habitat’s ultimate goal, Archbishop Aykazian said, is to build up to 500
homes in Armenia in an effort to provide quality, permanent shelter to
individuals still dealing with the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake and the
continuing economic turmoil in the region.

President-elect of the National Council of Churches (NCC), Archbishop
Aykazian will also lead that organization in directing volunteers to Habitat
for Humanity projects in Armenia and elsewhere.

"Giving a family a new home is a way to give them a new life, with safety
and stability," Archbishop Aykazian said. "We need Habitat for Humanity
International not only for our brothers and sisters in Armenia, but for
everyone no matter where they live."

— 3/28/07

EARTHQUAKE TAKES PLACE IN TURKEY-IRAN BORDER ZONE ON MARCH 26

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Earthquake with the magnitude of 4.1
took place on March 26, at 23:54 in Turkey-Iran border zone, 23 km to
the west of the town of Salmast. Its strength in the epicenter made
5-6. As Noyan Tapan was informed from Seismic Protection National
Service under RA government, at 23:46, an earthquake with the
magnitude of 3.6 had preceded the earthquake.

Liberal Party of Canada (press release), Canada
March 26 2007

Press Releases

Statement from the Hon. Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Opposition, on
the Death of Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
March 26, 2007

It was with great sadness I learned of the death of Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan on Sunday, March 25, 2007.

Throughout his nearly seven years as Prime Minister, Mr. Margaryan
served his country as a passionate advocate of a strong, independent,
prosperous and democratic Armenia.

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada, our Parliamentary caucus
and all Canadians, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Mr.
Margaryan’s wife and three children, and to the people of Armenia,
who have lost a man of great leadership and love for his country. May
they all take comfort in the knowledge that we share their sorrow.

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