Author: Topchian Jane

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
MAY 21, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly Speaker Hovik
Abrahamyan received today the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to
Armenia Tian Chanchu.

Press service of the Armenian National Assembly told Armenpress
that congratulating the ambassador on the appointment the NA speaker
expressed confidence that it will contribute to the boosting of the
high-level Armenian-Chinese relations.

The Chinese Ambassador conveyed to the NA speaker the greetings of U
Bango, chairman of the All-Chinese Assembly of Chinese Representatives.

According to him, very good relations are established between the
Armenian and Chinese parliaments, and Hovik Abrahamyan’s visit to China
appeared to be a serious stimulus for activation of those relations.

Hovik Abrahamyan noted that despite the great distance existing between
the two countries, we must do our best to develop the relations in
different spheres, for which there is a great potential.

The NA speaker proposed to conduct business forums for activating the
contacts between the businessmen of the two countries. He expressed
his readiness to support the development and expansion of relations
as head of the parliament.

250 AUTHORS FROM 27 COUNTRIES PRESENTED APPLICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN "ONE SHOT" FESTIVAL OF SHORT-LENGTH FILMS

ARMENPRESS
MAY 19, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: The international eighth festival of
short-length films "One Shot" launched in Yerevan May 17 will last till
May 24. Founder chairman of the festival Gagik Ghazare said today at
the meeting with reporters that the festival has been created in 2003
and initially had 13 participants, but during the years the circles
of the festival expanded and new nominations added.

"According to the terms of the festivals the films must last one
minute, must not be mounted and be exclusive," G. Ghazare said.

According to him, the main goal of the festival is to help the
Armenian film production, young authors. "During these years extended
international ties have been gathered and an opportunity has been
provided to the Armenian audience to present the best films," he added.

The founder and managing director of the Innovative Experimental
Art Center Eduard Palasanyan said the main goal of the center is to
assist in revealing young authors. "In this respect the festival is
very important as an opportunity is being provided for the young
people to present themselves and try to do something new," Eduard
Palasanyan said.

Director, member of jury Michael Dovlatyan, remembering his youth,
noted that he did not have an opportunity to gain such experience,
that is to say to draw in "one minute, one shot" principle. "This idea
was a dream for us, and now the young people have such an opportunity,"
Dovlatyan said.

Within the framework of the festival master classes will be conducted
and those who wish may participate in them.

This year 250 authors from 27 countries including the USA, Australia,
Europe and CIS countries presented applications for participation.

PARLIAMENTARY FACTIONS OPPOSE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S NEW RESOLUTION

Tert.am
18:16 21.05.10

A new non-binding resolution (2216) recently adopted by the European
Parliament that calls on Armenia to pull out its troops from the
"occupied territories of Azerbaijan" has kicked up discontent among
Armenian officials.

Saying that the EP’s resolutions have an advisory rather than a
binding nature, some of Armenian MPs repeated what Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan said earlier today – Evgeni Kirilov, the author of
that resolution and a Bulgarian national, is unaware of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

"I am familiar with the resolution: we have rather beneficial points
in it, but there is also some nonsense in it," said Heghine Bisharyan
from Orinats Yerkir Party (Country of Law Party), adding that the
author of the resolution is unaware of the situation.

"False, apperently fraudulent data should not be discussed," said
Hovhannes Margaryan, another MP of the same party.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, ARF-D) will
express its opinion about it as soon as the party discusses the issue.

Though Artsvik Minasyan from ARF-D expressed his personal opinion.

"This reluctantly reminds us of the possible developments that we were
speaking about referring to the Armenia-Turkey normalization. And
it is natural that the efforts of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem
in abroad resulted also in the adoption of such a report, which –
though a non-binding document – is still aimed at shaping a general
atmosphere," said Minasyan.

Saying that this document is a non-binding one Naira Zohrabyan from
the Prosperous Armenia Party recalled that Kirilov was the initiator
president of the group called Friends of Azerbaijan, assuming that
he could not have been impartial.

"This resolution is unacceptable for us as it contradicts the Madrid
Principles, it runs counter to the EU stance over the Nagorno Karabakh
that the EU expressed in Athens," said Zohrabyan.

TURKEY’S INTERESTS SPREAD FROM CAUCASUS TO BALKANS AND NEAR EAST

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 21, 2010 – 17:38 AMT 12:38 GMT

Russian political analyst Sergey Markedonov said that Turkey is a
regional power, whose interests spread from Caucasus to Balkans and
Near East.

"Neo-Ottomanism, adopted by the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
implies smart power, thus differing from the traditional Ottomanism,"
he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"It is diplomacy, economy and aspiration towards Europe. It’s worth
noting that Turkey is a predictable partner for the West. Moreover,
the advantageous transition location of the country has an impact
not only on gas pipelines, but also on diplomacy," Mr. Markedonov said.

Referring to regional forces, he noted that the U.S. will not be
able to solve the problem of Iraq and Afghanistan without Iran. "The
interests of the U.S. and Iran coincide in Afghanistan much more
than it seems. Iran also can minimize the threat of the Islamic
fundamentalism," the expert stressed.

Event:Free Lecture on "Viewing Black Holes: from Mt. Aragats to Space"
Organizer: ARPA Institute
Venue: Merdinian Armenian School
Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010
Time: 7:30 pm
Address: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Speaker: Dr. Varoujan Gorjian, Scientist at JPL
Information: [email protected], (818)9910010,
Web:

Abstract: Black holes are one of the most amazing phenomena in
astronomy. Yet black holes themselves don’t emit any light, but their
presence can be detected as materials fall into them and emit very hot
and very bright radiation fields. A key catalog of this emission from
around black holes was made at Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory on
Mt. Aragats and is known as the Markarian Catalog. This catalog has
been an important steppingstone in understanding super-massive black
holes at the centers of galaxies known as Active Galactic Nuclei
(AGN). The AGN in the Markarian Catalog have been studied by
astronomers using telescopes from all over the world as well as in
space. The state and understanding of AGN from personal work, using
the Spitzer Space Telescope and the historical contribution that
Armenian astronomers have made to this field, will be reviewed and
discussed. Moreover, fuyure prospects in the field will be addressed
and the role of all the telescopes and satellites around the globe and
in space will be assessed.

AZERI LEADER SETS TERM FOR ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING

Hurriyet
May 18 2010
Turkey

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (R) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan speak during a joint press conference in Baku. AA photo

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Monday that his country would
open all its borders with Armenia if the government in Yerevan accepts
the revised Madrid criteria and starts to withdraw its forces from
Azerbaijani territory.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Aliyev said talks had been held for many years
to arrive at a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The press conference followed a one-on-one meeting and talks between
the Turkish and Azerbaijani delegations at Aliyev’s presidential
Zagulba Palace.

Azerbaijan has been making efforts for a fair and peaceful solution
in accordance with international law, Aliyev said, adding that his
country approved the revised Madrid criteria on the matter with few
minor exceptions and expects Armenia to act the same way.

"Armenia should express its stance on the matter," Aliyev said,
noting that the country would either display a positive stance,
bringing the parties closer to a settlement, or it would respond
negatively, destroying the negotiation process.

At a Jan. 25 meeting in Sochi, Russia, with Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, Aliyev and Armenian President Serge Sarkisian reached verbal
agreement on the wording of the preamble of the most recently revised
version of the Madrid Principles, which constitute the outline of a
more comprehensive Karabakh peace agreement.

The original Madrid Principles were presented to the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers at the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe ministerial conference in Madrid in November
2007. These were in turn a revised version of the Basic Principles
unveiled by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen in early summer 2006
and posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.

The principles included the phased withdrawal of Armenian troops from
five Azerbaijani territories bordering Nagorno-Karabakh, with separate
special arrangements for two additional districts of Azerbaijan –
Kelbacar and Lachin – that separate Nagorno-Karabakh from the Republic
of Armenia.

The phased withdrawal would be followed by the demilitarization,
demining and reconstruction of those territories; the deployment of
an international peacekeeping force; the return to those Azerbaijani
districts of members of the population who were forced to flee
during hostilities in 1992-93; and, finally, at some unspecified
future date, a referendum or popular vote on the final legal status
of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aliyev said at the Monday press conference that his country would
open its borders with Armenia and take peace and security measures
in the region if Yerevan ends its occupation of Azerbaijani territory.

Asked whether Azerbaijan would join the Nabucco project, Aliyev said
Azerbaijani natural gas is a great source for pipelines in the region
and added that his country could participate in such a project under
the right conditions.

ARMENIANS ALIEN IN CAUCASUS, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN REGIONAL PROBLEMS

news.az
May 18 2010
Azerbaijan

Aydin Mirzazade MP Aydin Mirzazade has commented on Azerbaijan’s role
in regional processes.

"The system of international relations in the world is changing and
Turkey begins to take its rightful place in this system" MP Aydin
Mirzazade said.

"The signing of the tripartite agreement in Tehran on the exchange of
uranium raised hope for a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear
program. This is a great achievement of the Turkish diplomacy. All the
regional countries are aware of the importance of peace and stability
in our region. Only Armenia seems not to understand this.

Armenians are alien people in the South Caucasus region and they have
never been interested in the problems of the region in which they live
today. For them, the most important thing is to be an instrument in
someone’s hands, but those times pass and the situation in the region
is becoming more pragmatic", he said.

"Azerbaijan has always laid emphasis on regional cooperation and
friendship with its neighbors. Azerbaijan is an influential country,
since it has always been interested in the settlement of regional
issues on the basis of international law ", A. Mirzazade said.

NUKE DEAL: TURKEY BECOMES MAJOR ACTOR IN IRAN PROBLEM AFTER URANIUM ENRICHMENT AGREEMENT
Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow correspondent
18.05.10

Iran and Turkey reached agreement on Monday in Teheran on the exchange
of low-enriched uranium in the Turkish territory. The foreign ministers
of Turkey, Iran and Brazil put their signatures to the document at
the ceremony attended by the presidents of Iran and Brazil and the
prime minister of Turkey.

Enrichment of uranium in Iran has been a concern, primarily, of the
United States, who accuses Iran of energizing nuclear weapons and
has said that Iran faces sanctions if it uses its own product.

Striking the deal with US ally Turkey, removes the need for sanctions,
but must have become a surprise for Israel, which directly accuses
Iran of its intention to build a nuclear weapon. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not commented, but a senior
source at the Israeli government said that the Iranian leadership is
likely to have managed again to cheat the world and avoid sanctions,
without making any serious concessions on its nuclear program. The
Israeli government deems that Iran has abused the good intentions of
the Brazilian leader and his inexperience in diplomatic intrigues.

The statement of official representative of Iran’s Foreign Ministry
Ramin Mehmanparast shows that Iran still might change its mind. The
official said that if one of the ten points of the trilateral
agreement signed by Iran, Turkey and Brazil is not fulfilled,
3.5-percent uranium will be returned to Iran.

Iranian low-enriched uranium may be sent to Turkey within a month
after the signing of a corresponding agreement between Tehran and
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Tehran has agreed to exchange its 1,200 kg of low-enriched (up to
3.5 percent) uranium to further enriched (up to 20 percent) fuel in
the territory of Turkey.

Russia and China having the right of veto at the United Nations
Security Council spoke against new sanctions against Iran until
recently. But they’ve been showing a tougher position on this issue
of late.

If the world makes sure about the sincerity of Iran’s intention to
have its uranium enriched abroad, numerous sanctions against Iran
may be removed, especially those on trade in hydrocarbon resources.

Experts say that the removal of the embargo on Iran may considerably
impact the world oil prices. Iran may be even engaged in global
communication projects, in particular the EU and US-backed Nabucco gas
pipeline project. And the regional configuration will also change,
which may influence the Armenian-Turkish relations and the Karabakh
settlement.

LA VISITE DU PRESIDENT DE L’APCE M. CAVUSOGLU
Stephane

armenews
18 mai 2010

La visite du President de l’APCE M. Cavusoglu constitue egalement l’un
des principaux sujets d’actualite. Il a ete recu hier par le President
de la Republique qui a espere que cette visite contribuera a former un
avis objectif sur les defis auxquels font face l’Armenie et la region
et d’approfondir la cooperation d’une part entre l’Armenie et le CE
et d’autre part entre le parlement armenien et l’APCE. M. Cavusoglu
a indique comme priorite de sa mission d’eviter " deux poids deux
mesures " a l’encontre des pays membres assurant ainsi une approche
equilibre vis-a-vis de tous. Il a hautement apprecie les progrès de
l’Armenie dans la mise en ~uvre de reformes democratiques et dans la
lutte contre la corruption. Les forces parlementaires armeniennes,
tout en condamnant la decision de M. Cavusoglu de ne pas se rendre
au monument du genocide, affirment tout de meme qu’elles ne suivront
pas l’exemple/boycott du parti Dachnak et rencontreront le President
de l’APCE avec lequel elles souhaitent notamment discuter de la mise
en place d’une commission chargee du conflit du HK. Aram Safarian,
depute d’" Armenie prospère ", a declare que les membres de son groupe
diront a M. Cavusoglu qu’ils sont très circonspects quant aux efforts
qu’il compte deployer pour que le conflit du HK soit debattu par
l’APCE. " Nous voyons cela comme faisant partie des efforts continus
de la Turquie pour travailler comme mediateur dans un conflit où
ses positions a l’egard de notre pays ne sont pas equilibrees et
impartiales ", a-t-il indique. / Aravot, 168 Jam, Golos Armenii,
Novoye Vremia

Le Parti " Heritage " d’opposition a dit profiter de l’occasion
pour exprimer son attitude et ses ressentiments sur la politique du
gouvernement turc envers l’Armenie. / " Une conversation difficile
attend M. Cavusoglu "- Hayots Achkhar

M. Cavusoglu s’est entretenu aussi avec des representants du Congrès
National armenien qui ont par la suite affirme a la presse avoir bel
et bien critique le Conseil de l’Europe et l’APCE. Ils ont rappele au
President de l’APCE qu’une annee s’est ecoulee depuis l’adoption de la
resolution 1677, mais que rien n’avait change. Le CNA s’est egalement
oppose a ce que le conflit du HK soit debattu a l’APCE et ont interroge
M. Cavusoglu sur son refus de se rendre au memorial du genocide. Il
aurait repondu qu’un tel protocole n’a ete applique vis-a-vis d’aucun
de ses predecesseurs. / Haykakan Jamanak, 168 Jam, Jamanak et Aravot

Aravot relève a la " une " que rassembles pendant toute la journee
devant la representation du Conseil de l’Europe, les parents des
victimes des evenements du 1er mars 2008 ont demande de rencontrer
le President de l’APCE, pour presenter " toute la realite " sur
ces evenements.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

"RECOGNITION OF FAR-FETCHED "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIAN DIASPORA THAN ARMENIA’S PROBLEMS"

Today
itics/68076.html
May 17 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with member of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis
(Parliament) Anar Mammadkhanov.

How do you assess the outcomes of the Russian President’s latest
visit to Turkey? What impact can it have on resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Of course, it is difficult to give an unambiguous assessment of the
whole nature of the current Turkish-Russian relations. But the fact
that during Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Turkey, the to sides signed
nearly 20 bilateral documents, covering a wide spectrum of cooperation
from the construction of nuclear power plants and transition to a
visa-free regime, supply of Turkish poultry to Russia, as well as
Russia and Turkey’s intention to increase bilateral trade turnover
to 100 billion dollars over the next five years shows that the
Turkish-Russian relations are flourishing and have a tendency to
develop further.

Of course, the fact that two such large states as Turkey and Russia
build a relationship and there are no conflicts of interest between
them has a very positive impact on the overall atmosphere in our
region. At the same time, we must admit that Turkey’s influence on
Russia in terms of settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can be great, but still not decisive.

You mentioned the overall atmosphere in the region. Why Armenia does
not want or can not be part of a peaceful, vibrant South Caucasus
and opts to play a destructive role?

Needless to say that Armenia has become object of international
politics rather than its subject long ago. Decisions are made on behalf
of Armenia by everyone who can including the Armenian diaspora and
the United States. Even Armenia’s budget in many ways is not coming
from the resources of this country, but from to outside assistance,
which comes either from the Diaspora, or from other sources that have
influence on this country.

So, as you see, it is not necessary to seriously think about why
Armenia does not want or can not be part of a peaceful, vibrant South
Caucasus, preferring to play a destructive role. It would be better
to ask this question those who make decisions for Armenia.

According to media reports, the total amount of money Armenians across
the world posess, is between $100 billion and above based on various
estimations. In your opinion, why these funds are not invested in
Armenia to the extent to ensure that this country solves its ever
deepening economic problems?

A true state should create its own budget not based on pockets of
its countrymen living in different parts of the world, but from its
own resources. Also, I think, by and large, statements about amount
of the world Armenians’ capital are voiced to give significance to
the diaspora while, in fact, these things are only craftiness aimed
at ignorant average citizens.

For example, according to Forbes magazine, Kirk Kerkorian, American
businessman, a billionaire of Armenian descent, had a wealth of $15
billion in 2007 and $5 billion in 2009. As we see, in just two years
Kerkorian’s wealth decreased threefold. So, it is wrong to indicate
a specific figure to shows amount of the capital of the Armenian
diaspora.

The capital of wealthy Armenians, as well as the capital of wealthy
people of any nationality, can both increase and decrease. In addition,
capitals of wealthy people are kept not at home or in the closet, not
even in banks. This money is put in circulation and invested in real
estate projects. So, it is wrong to assume that funds of the Armenian
diaspora including those invested in projects and real estate will
be spent to resolve Armenia’s economic problems.

Billionaires and millionaires of Armenian origin can provide donations
to Armenia. But its sum is unlikely to total $100 million a year. But
this does not promise a way out of the tough situation Armenia has
wound up due to its policy of isolation, which originates from the
territorial claims not only to Azerbaijan but also to other states
in our region.

The Armenian diaspora does not pay much attention to Armenia’s
problems. Recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide", which in
fact was deportation of Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire due
to betrayal to their own homeland, is much more important for them. It
is like a painting on the wall, left by great-grandfather for them.

They do not care about the UN estimates which show that 700,000 to
1.300.000 people emigrated from the Republic of Armenia since 1991.

Similarly, they are less and less concerned about the reasons that
force people to leave the country in large numbers.

Armenian leadership, regardless of who is in charge of the country,
should worry about these problems. In your opinion, can any Armenian
politician radically change the situation and eliminate the causes
of Armenia’s self-isolation once he reaches power?

To put it mildly, given my ambiguous attitude toward Armenia’s
current President Serzh Sargsyan, who was involved in the genocide of
Azerbaijani civilians in Khojaly, I do not think that he cannot address
causes of self-isolation of the country and de-occupy Azerbaijan’s
territories in particular. But to implement this step, he needs
solid guarantees that he will not be deposed from the presidency
by any rebels. He expects superpowers to make these assurances. But
apparently, Serzh Sargsyan has not yet received this kind of guarantee.