Author: Tamamian Anna

AZG Armenian Daily #246, 23/12/2006

Opinion

SERGE SARGSIAN: THERE IS NEITHER NEED NOR SENSE IN
HOSTILITY BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

In the interview to the American Wall Street Journal, in the article
entitled "Notwithstanding the Genocide…, " Serge Sargsian, RA Defense
Minister, expressed hope that the negotiations for Turkey’s membership
to EU will open a long cherished opportunity for the establishment
of civil relations between Armenia and Turkey. "The Liberty" web
site informed that Sargsian said that Turkey’s membership to EU will
contribute to creating a richer and more stable neighborhood, which
is in the interests of both Turkey and Armenia. He explained this by
saying that EU member Turkey will become more predictable and easy
to deal with.

Touching upon the issue of the Armenian Genocide< Serge Sargsian
expressed confidence that the Turkish-Armenian relations, and the
issue of the Armenian genocide are important factors for the coming
negotiations for Turkey’s entry to EU. "It’s important to remember
the past to avert the repetition of the crimes against the humanity,"
he said.

In the future relations with Turkey, Sargsian said that he would
welcome the natural establishment of diplomatic and other relations
without any pre-conditions, as the settlement of the current problems
will be carried out through an open dialogue.

At the same time, Sargsian stated that in response to such wishes of
Armenia, Turkey only threatened or punished those who recognized the
Armenian genocide. Any way, till now, Turkey refuses to recognize
the Armenia Genocide, keeps the border with Armenia blocked, tries
to isolate Armenia from the international or regional programs,
and plays no constructive part in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

According to Sargsian, Armenia still hopes that Turkey will change and
will be ready to face its history and its future. He called for Turkey,
saying that our countries can’t always remain enemies, as there is
no need and sense in hostility. "Thus, for the sake of our future,
let’s move forward," underscored.

By Aghavni Harutyunian

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT ACCUSES TURKEY OF GIVING ARMS TO TURKMENIS IN IRAQ

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.12.2006 14:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US News & World Report magazine claims that Turkey
gives arms and money to Turkmenis in Kirkuk on the North of Iraq. An
unnamed US source told the magazine that "Turkey, which fears an
independent Kurdistan, is supplying arms and money to the Turkmen
population in Kirkuk." According to the article, Shiites in Kirkuk
have allowed Mehdi Army militias to take up position in Kirkuk in
order to put up a front against the Kurdish forces. Adding to the
portrait of the northern region of Iraq painted by the US News &
World Report article, a US army commander, General Benjamin Mixon,
is quoted as saying "We have to be ready, the tension will be very
high." The same article notes that during Saddam’s reign, ethnic
Arabs were relocated to Kirkuk, while after the US invasion, Kurds
had flowed by the thousands into the area, The Hurriyet reports.

US EMBASSY MARKS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

ArmRadio.am
20.12.2006 13:55

On December 20, US Charge d’Affaires Anthony F. Godfrey held a
lunch with Armenian human rights defenders in honor of Human Rights
Day. During the lunch, Charge d’Affaires Godfrey recognized the
important contributions of human rights defenders throughout the
world who risk harassment, beatings, detention, imprisonment and even
death to practice or seek to secure fundamental freedoms. He noted
that human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations are
critical to the success of free nations, and remarked that without
a vibrant civil society, democracy is incomplete. At the lunch,
Charge d’Affaires Godfrey told Armenia’s human rights supporters,
"In Armenia, the United States stands in solidarity with you–the
country’s brave men and women who are doing such essential work as
supporting a free press, fighting against trafficking in persons,
advocating for freedom of religion, and supporting women’s rights. We
thank you for your efforts to further Armenia’s democratic reforms,
and for your dedication to fighting for those people who often don’t
have a voice."

The United National General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights following World War II on December 10, 1948. The
Declaration affirms the inalienable rights of people everywhere and
upholds basic freedoms including the freedoms of speech, assembly,
association, and worship. It is based on the belief that human rights
defenders raise awareness, expose abuses, push for reforms, and hold
governments accountable. The Declaration proclaims the right of men
and women around the world to shape their own destinies.

IN VIKTOR DALLAKIAN’S WORDS, "TRANSITIONAL ANTHEM OF TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT WAS SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT"

Noyan Tapan
Dec 20 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 20 sitting of
special NA session, RA NA in second reading discussed the bill "On
RA National Anthem" worked out by the government. The bill mainly
establishes the order of anthem’s use and the musical editing and
lyrics of "Our Homeland" is in the appendix. As RA Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Hasmik Poghosian said, 29 out of 35 proposals of
MPs received after first reading were accepted. But the government
did not accept ARFD faction’s and non-partisan MP Viktor Dallakian’s
proposal on withdrawing the bill’s transitional provision. In the
latter’s words, RA national anthem is "Our Homeland" and it will be
valid until the lyrics and music of the new anthem is established by
the law. And the MPs proposed precisely registering "Our Homeland"
as RA anthem by the law. V.Dallakian, in particular, mentioned in
his speech that to have a transitional anthem is inadmissible from
moral and legal point of view. In his words, this is a disrespectful
attitude to one of RA state symbols. The MP estimated government’s
rejecting the proposal to withdraw the transitional provision as
"the transitional anthem of the transitional government." He also
regretted to say that in spite of his and a number of MPs’ warnings,
the Constitution was violated, as RA has no national anthem since
December 6. NA Speaker, RPA Vice-Chairman Tigran Torosian expressed
anxiety about the fact of not having an anthem and said that "a very
negligent attitude was shown to the anthem." He also expressed an
opinion that the transitional provision has no explanation from legal
point of view. In all probability, the voting of the bill will take
place on December 21.

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 375019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: [email protected]

December 13, 2006

American University of Armenia (AUA) Law Students Win the Red Cross
International Humanitarian Law Competition

Yerevan- The AUA Law Department proudly recognizes its three competitors in
the final round of this year’s International Humanitarian Law Competition of
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Narine Aslanyan,
Adelaida Baghdasaryan, and Shakeh Hartounians, as well as two MCLS students,
Narine Aslanyan and Adelaida Baghdasaryan, who won second and third place,
respectively.

2006 marks the first time that students from AUA Law have participated in
this annual event.

To compete, students are first required to write a legal memorandum on
customary International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This year, seven AUA Law
students participated in this part of the competition. To continue,
students are then required to make a presentation and field questions from
the ICRC Regional Legal Advisor, the Head of the ICRC Delegation in Armenia,
and fellow competitors.

AUA Law student presentations stood out for their practice-oriented approach
and legal analysis of regional conflicts through the application of IHL
concepts, while the presentations of competitors were mostly of a
theoretical approach. Law Department students were also the only
competitors to refer to policy as a source of rule interpretation when
answering the ICRC Regional Legal Advisor’s questions.

"The students appreciated the opportunity to practice their analytical
skills and to defend their legal opinions before such a well-qualified
audience," pointed out Dr. Thomas J. Samuelian, Dean of the AUA Law faculty.

The students now have the opportunity to participate in an IHL moot court
sponsored by the ICRC in late February, 2007.

——————————————- —————————-
The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered as a
non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian University
of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia .The American University of Armenia (AUA)
is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the
Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information about AUA,
visit

DANGER OF ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN’S DEPORTATION PRESERVES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 13 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The danger of deportation of Zhirayr
Sefilian, the Coordinator of the Defence of Liberated Territories
public initiative, the Commander of the Shoushi special battalion,
preserves. Armen Aghayan, the organization’s Political Secretary,
informed journalists about it on December 13. In his words, though
against spread rumors Zh.Sefilian was not deported to Lebanon
late in the evening of December 10 by a plane flying from Yerevan
to Beirut, leakage of information about possible deportation of
Zh.Sefilian continues from the National Security Service. Mentioning
that everything will be done to prevent Zh.Sefilian’s deportation,
A.Aghayan at the same time did not disclose the steps to be done in
this direction. Zh.Sefilian who was arrested on December 10 by RA
National Security Service employees is charged with making public
appeals for changing RA constitutional order by force (Article 301,
RA Criminal Code). As A.Aghayan said, his arrest, as well as search
of his flat that followed the arrest were done for show. Thus,
Zh.Sefilian’s arrest took place at a restaurant where he was with
his family and friends.

VivaCell company’s Director, Lebanese Armenian Ralph Yirikian was also
among the latters (he was Sefilian’s classmate). By the way, he was
also arrested, but was released some minutes later. In A.Aghayan’s
words, the arms discovered at Zh.Sefilian’s apartment was a martial
award given to him by former Commander of NKR defence army, Samvel
Babayan. As regards ammunition, only some bullets not fit for use were
discovered. A.Aghayan said that such "ammunition" can be found at home
of any participant of Karabakh liberation war. Arrest of 2 months was
chosen as a preventive punishment towards Zh.Sefilian at the December
12 closed trial of first instance court of Yerevan’s Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities that lasted for seven hours and ended only
late in the evening. According to information provided by A.Aghayan,
Sefilian refused to testify at the court declaring that the accusations
brought to him are fake and have political motives. According to the
report spread by the National Security Service, the Consolidation of
Armenian Volunteers organization initiated by Zhirayr Sefilian and
some of his supporters having no registration by RA law pursued the
goal to make illegal, force intervention into the coming political
processes in RA, in particular, into the process of the 2007 elections
by undertaking extremist actions. In A.Aghayan’s words, there are some
versions about the real reasons of Zh.Sefilian’s arrest. A.Aghayan
considers improbable one of them concerning his activity aimed
against return of liberated territories, as it seems that no return
of territories is expected in the coming period. In his words, the
authorities try to impede the activity of the Defence of Liberated
Territories public initiative in the direction of taking control of the
process of parliamentary elections. A.Aghayan said that the volunteers
involved in the Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers are ready to
exercise such control without striving for receiving mandates. He
also assured that as a result of Zh.Sefilian’s arrest the organization
will not stop its activity and possibly, will extend it for even more.

POSITIONS EU MEMBER STATES STILL TOO FAR APART

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2006 18:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to
decide how to penalise Turkey for barring Cypriot ships and planes
from its ports and airports.

The European Commission has proposed that parts of Turkey’s EU
membership negotiations should be frozen.

Some members want a hard line taken on Turkey, which does not recognise
the Cypriot government. But others are reluctant to open up a rift
over the Cyprus question, which has dogged Turkey’s EU accession
talks. Finland, the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency,
has been trying to find ways of persuading Turkey to open its ports
to Cypriot traffic in a first step towards recognition. But Turkey
has refused to do so without steps to start direct trade between the
EU and the Turkish-controlled breakaway republic of northern Cyprus.

"I personally don’t expect that we will reach a conclusion today,"
said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier before Monday’s
meeting in Brussels. "The positions of the European member states –
some of them at least – are still too far apart for that."

Britain, Spain and Sweden are believed not to want Turkey penalised
too harshly, while Austria, France and Cyprus want to take a hard
line. Germany has been pushing the idea of a review clause, that
would fix a time for the EU to discuss again whether Turkey has met
its obligations. If the foreign ministers fail to reach agreement,
it will be up to heads of state to try to resolve the problem at
their summit on Thursday and Friday, reports the BBC.

IYAD BIN AMEEN MADANI: UNLIKE LEBANON WE DO NOT SUPPORT ARMENIANS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

"Saudi Arabia is aware of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and ruinous
cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Saudi Arabia gives information about it in
his meetings with officials," Minister of Culture and Information
of Saudi Arabia Iyad bin Ameen Madani visiting Azerbaijan told
journalists, APA reports.

The minister said that the steps taken in the direction of settlement
of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia are reflected in the
Saudi Arabia’s mass media.

"Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Azerbaijan also closely observes the
problem and takes corresponding steps. Our country supports Azerbaijan
in all international organizations and forums. Unlike Lebanon we do
not support Armenians," the minister said.

ARMENIA IS A HALF-RISKY COUNTRY

A1+
[06:20 pm] 08 December, 2006

International Analytical agency "Control Risks Group" has made public
its "Risk map 2007" which mentions those countries where business is
risky. 130 countries have been investigated.

According to the document, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia,
Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are politically highly
risky and of average risk when it comes to business.

According to APA agency, Jennifer Harbison, head of the CRG
investigations, has mentioned that on the whole the CIS countries
are of average risk when it comes to business. She also underlined
that next year the main dangers for international business will be
the deficit of energy resources, terrorism, international criminals
and epidemics.

ESTONIA FOR MIN INVITES HIS ARMENIAN COLLEAGUE TO VISIT ESTONIA

Baltic News Service
December 5, 2006 Tuesday 3:07 PM EET

Meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan in Brussels on
Monday, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Urmas Paet invited the Armenian
minister to come to Estonia on a visit.

During the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the ministers
meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), Paet and Oskanyan spoke about relations between the two
countries, the EU neighborhood policy action plan for Armenia and
the conflict over Mountain-Karabakh.

The ministers stated that while relations between the two countries
are good, there’s a lot of room for development, spokespeople for
the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

They agreed that political consultations between the two ministries
will be held next year to evaluate the state of affairs in relations
and set out plans for the future.

Paet invited his Armenian colleague to visit Estonia.

The ministers expressed their satisfaction with the EU neighborhood
policy action plan’s being very precise with regard to Armenia and
focusing on concrete activities.

Paet said implementation of the action plan would have a substantial
effect on the development of the countries of South Caucasus and a
positive effect on the entire region.

The Armenian foreign minister described Estonia’s reform experience
as in every way valuable and welcome for Armenia.