OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO TRAVEL TO BAKU
NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 20, 2010
BAKU
BAKU, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs Robert Bradtke of the U.S. and Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia
will arrive in Baku today. They will meet with Azerbaijani leaders and
discuss issues related to the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement, Azerbaijani mass media reported.
MEETING WITH MEDVEDEV WAS HELD UPON SARGSYAN’S INITIATIVE
Tert.am
21.04.10
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his Russian counterpart Dmitry
Medvedev held a meeting yesterday at the Gorki residence.
The two leaders discussed international and regional issues.
Russian president said that bilateral systematic and frequent meetings
are important in terms of preserving the high level of trust between
the two countries. According to Medvedev they also contribute to the
preservation of strategic partnership between Armenia and Russia –
something that has made the countries stand out so far.
Serzh Sargsyan, for his part, said that he had wanted to meet
Medvedev with an aim to discuss regional security issues, as well
as the Armenia-Turkey normalization and the current situation of the
talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Armenian president also congratulated his Russian answer on the
occasion of the opening of an Innovation Centre in Yerevan and thanked
him for a $500 million USD loan Russia allotted to Armenia last year.
FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM ON DEVELOPMENT OF STEPANAVAN BEEN CONFIRMED
ARMENPRESS
APRIL 21, 2010
VANADZOR
VANADZOR, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: The four-year program on development of
Stepanavan has been confirmed. A number of works will be implemented
by 2009-2012 program on social-economic development conformed by the
Council of Elders of the community. Mayor Sargis Gharakeshishyan told
Armenpress that the program intends repair of pavements, asphalting
and illumination of streets, etc.
Eurasia Review
April 17 2010
Robert Kocharian And Armenian Politics: Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
Saturday, April 17, 2010
By LINKS
High profile visits by Robert Kocharian to Iran and France, and public
criticism of the economic policies pursued by the government of his
successor as president of Armenia, have increased speculation about
his political future. However, whilst Kocharian does not want to be
either forgotten or ignored, since he has interests he wants to
protect, it does not necessarily mean he wants to come back to
Armenian frontline politics soon.
Robert Kocharian came to power in Armenia in 1997, first as a Prime
Minister, and shortly afterwards as president in circumstances that
were far from normal. From his power base in Nagorno Karabakh he was
able to undermine the power and legitimacy of Levon Ter Petrossian,
finally forcing him to resign in 1998 for allegedly trying to sell out
on the future of Karabakh.
During his period as President from 1998 to 2008 Armenia saw rapid
economic growth that greatly improved the standard of living of the
people and earned it the title of a Caucasus economic tiger.
Politically however the country became much the poorer. In 1999 a
violent incident in the Armenian parliament resulted in the death of
the prime Minister and the speaker of Parliament and other political
leaders, seriously decapitating the Armenian political elite. Under
Kocharian, democratic freedoms became increasingly restricted and all
elections held under Kocharian were criticised in one way or another
by international monitors. Kocharian’s final act, that of overseeing
the election of his successor was marred with further bloodshed as
police and demonstrators battled each other on the main streets of
Yerevan amidst accusations of election fraud, leaving ten people dead.
However, Kocharian abided by the constitution and left office when his
two terms ended. There was lot of speculation that he may change the
constitution to allow himself a third term, as happened in Azerbaijan
recently, or that he would re-invent himself as Prime Minister, as
happened in Russia with Vladimir Putin. To his credit he did neither.
Speculation however continues as to his political future, and this has
increased in recent weeks after he went on high profile overseas
visits to Iran and France, and following several public
pronouncements, some of which were critical of the policies of the
current government.
Kocharian’s power base is a tripod: his control over `Prosperous
Armenia’ party, a junior coalition party in government; his influence
over certain oligarchs and business movers and shakers who prospered
during his time in office, and influence over some of the Karabakh
clans, whose remit now extends well into the Yerevan establishment.
The relationship between Kocharian and his successor and current
President, Serzh Sargsyan was pivotal in securing Kocharian the
presidency initially, and in his maintaining control of power
subsequently. Sargsyan is however his own man, specific in style,
cautious in approach, but equally able to think in a radical fashion
when necessary.
What than has prompted Kocharian’s recent outbursts? There are two
plausible reasons. The first is that Serzh Sargsyan’s Prime Minister,
Tigran Sargsyan has been pushing for some long overdue economic
reforms, as well as trying to clip the wings of some of the oligarchs
close to Kocharian. The second is that Kocharian may have differences
with the President over the foreign policy being pursued, particularly
the attempts to normalise relations with Turkey, and to solve the
Karabakh issue. A proof that Kocharian is still an important player on
the latter was the meeting he had with the US Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk process facilitating the peace negotiations on Karabakh, Robert
Bradtke, a few days ago.
Kocharian may not be interested in a full comeback in Armenian
politics, yet. But he certainly does not want to be either forgotten
or ignored. He is therefore likely to pop up every now and then to
make sure that he doesn’t.
Source: LINKS is a British non governmental organisation working for
the peaceful resolution of conflicts and in support of democracy and
sustainable development in societies in transition, through dialogue
and innovative initiatives.
/robert-kocharian-and-armenian-politics.html
PRESIDENT SARGSYAN TO VISIT MOSCOW
armradio.am
16.04.2010 15:48
On April 20 President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for Moscow for a
short working visit, President’s Press Office reported.
Within the framework of the visit to Moscow Serzh Sargsyan is expected
to meet his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.
300 VETERANS OF GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR REST AND MEDICAL REHABILITATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 15, 2010 – 15:56 AMT 10:56 GMT
The Armenian government made a decision during the April 15 session
to appropriate additional funds at the amount of AMD36mln from its
Savings Fund.
Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan
said that the additional funds will allow organizing rest and medial
rehabilitation for 300 veterans on the occasion of the 65th anniversary
of victory in the Great Patriotic War.
EVA RIVAS & HAMAZKAYIN’S SIPAN DANCE ENSEMBLE ROCK STROVOLOS HALL
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
Gibrahayer e-magazine
April 2010 – Nicosia
A panorama of beautiful traditional and modern Armenian dances,
performed by the 45 hard-working Armenian-Cypriot members of Sipan’s
barakhoump, dazzled the nearly full Strovolos Municipal Theatre
last Saturday, 10 April 2010. Together with a brief greeting by
the Minister of Education and Culture’s delegate and Hamazkayin’s
Chairman Adour Karagullian, the spectacular show was two-hours long:
the spectators were amazed and enchanted by the majestic and graceful
performance of the dancers, the joyful young dancers’ group, and
the skilfully-performed "Pert" dance. This year was special: Sipan
is celebrating a decade (hopefully, the first of many), for which
choreographer Janna Tahmizian was awarded a commemorative gift. On
top of all these delights, Eva Rivas (Armenia’s contestant for ESC
2010) appeared live, in all her 2-metre glory and surprising modesty,
to sing for us Armenia’s participation (Dzirani goud, Apricot stone)
and Sayat Nova’s exquisite piece "Tamam Ashkharh". No more words
are necessary except for a big thank you to Hamazkayin, Armenian MP
Vartkes Mahdessian, choreographer Janna Tahmizian, our committed
semi-professional dancers and all others who helped make this
exceptional show a reality.
TURKEY’S MFA: DAVUTOGLU HASN’T GIVEN AN INTERVIEW TO APA
Aysor
April 14 2010
Armenia
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has denied disinformation, spread in reports
by Azerbaijani news agency. In particular, APA agency released false
information, describing it as interview with Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmed Davutoglu.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Barack Ozugergin told
Anadolu agency that Davutoglu hadn’t given such interview to APA.
BERKELEY ARMENIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION ORGANIZES A SERIES OF EVENTS TO PROMOTE A RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 14, 2010
SACRAMENTO
SACRAMENTO, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. Every year, the
UC Berkeley Armenian Students Association (ASA) organizes a series
of events designed to heighten awareness and promote international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well as several other genocides
that have taken place worldwide since the dawn of the 20th century.
This year, ASA has organized several events, including lecture panels
featuring widely acclaimed academics, writers. Khatchig Mouradian,
the Armenian Weekly editor and Michael Bobelian, author of Children
of Armenia, will deliver a lecture on genocide. Hip-hop singers will
sing about Genocide.
SARGSYAN-ERDOGAN MEETING STARTED MINUTES AGO
Tert.am
12.04.10
Just minutes ago a meeting between Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan started in Washington.
Tert.am’s correspondent in Washington says besides the President
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, President’s Deputy
Chief of Staff Vigen Sargsyan and an interpreter are participating
in the meeting.
>From the Turkish side Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is
participating together with Erdogan.
The meeting is taking place in a room behind transparent windows in
the background of the World Nuclear Security Summit wallpaper.
Serzh Sargsyan is expected to lay a wreath on former US President
Woodrow Wilson’s tomb in the Washington National Cathedral.