Author: Topchian Jane

APA, Azerbaijan
March 12 2009

Ambassadors of EU member states to Azerbaijan hold closed meeting with
representatives of opposition

[ 12 Mar 2009 15:28 ]

Baku. Elnur Mammadli ` APA. Ambassadors of European Union
member states to Azerbaijan met with the representatives of
opposition, APA reports. Two-hour meeting was held in the office of
Peace and Democracy Institute. The diplomats and oppositionists
attending the meeting did not brief the journalists about the
discussed issues. Germany’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Per
Stankina said discussions on referendum to be held in Azerbaijan on
March 18 had been discussed at the meeting.

Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Party Serdar Jalaloglu told APA that
representative of the European Union office in Azerbaijan, British,
German, Italian and French ambassadors, representatives of Polish,
Bulgarian, Hungarian, Greek and Lithuanian embassies attended the
meeting.

Jalaloglu said official statement would be made about the issues
discussed at the meeting.

Chairman of Musavat Party Isa Gambar, chairman of Azerbaijan Popular
Front Party Ali Karimli, chairman of Hope Party Igbal Agazadeh,
chairman of Citizen and Development Party Ali Aliyev, chairman of
Azerbaijan Democratic Party Serdar Jalaloglu and chairperson of Peace
and Democracy Institute Leyla Yunus attended the meeting.

The statement made by Peace and Democracy Institute says that heads of
political parties in the campaign groups `Republicans’ and `For
Karabakh and Republic’ attended the meeting initiated by the Civil
Movement for Karabakh and Republic. Socio-political situation in
Azerbaijan in connection with the preparation for the referendum was
discussed at the meeting.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia should be concerned about Russian- American Close Relations on
Gabalin Radar
10.03.2009 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The domestic resources of the political gamers have
changed because of the financial and economic crisis in the world,’
said Armen Ashotyan, RA NA deputy, chairperson on Regular
Parliamentary Commission on the issues of Education and Science.

As he says although the US new administration has been working for
only a month and a half, it is changing its priorities in the foreign
policy, particularly towards Russia. No changes have taken place in
the field of interests that Russian and American parties have; simply
the rules of the game have changed.

Speaking about the foreign and regional policy, it is worth mentioning
that the elections due to take place in Iran are very important for
Armenia , as well as Iran-Turkey relations.

11 Yerevan comprehensive schools to receive senior school’s status this
year

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. 11 Yerevan comprehensive schools will
receive the status of a senior school in the 2009 new schoolyear. 3 out
of them are in the Achapniak community, 3 in Malatia-Sebastia, 4 in Nor
Nork, 1 in Avan. Kamo Areyan, the First Deputy Yerevan Mayor, reported
at the March 9 press conference that only one educational institution
functions as a senior school in Yerevan at present.

K. Areyan also said that major repairs will be done in 59 Yerevan
schools this year, for which 4.5bn drams will be allocated from the
state budget. Besides, it is planned building 16 boiler houses with
770m drams, which will provide local heating to 9 comprehensive
schools, 8 kindergartens, and 1 music scbool. By the way, only 40 out
of 169 preschool institutions in Yerevan have an individual heating
system.

MP: political tension in Armenia gradually backing to normal

YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Political tension in Armenia is gradually
backing to normal, Armen Ashotyan, MP from Ruling Republican Party of
Armenia, said on Tuesday.

`Gradually restoring political environment in the country leaves less
room for coup. That is why the opposition has mitigated its calls’, he
said.

Ashotyan also said that the opposition should get back its electorate’s
confidence that has been undermined by post-election events.

Armenian opposition headed by former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who
lost the 2008 presidential election, staged protests saying the
election was fraudulent and the results were rigged. The rallies ended
in clashes between protesters and law enforcements.

As a result, ten were killed and 200 injured. Many were arrested.
M.V.-0–

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIAN FM EDWARD NALBANDYAN TO VISIT FRANCE

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan will be in France March 10-12 on a working visit.
Press service of the ministry told Armenpress that during the
meeting the foreign minister is expected to meet with his French
counterpart Bernard Kouchner as well as chief diplomatic consultant to
the French president Jan-David Levit.
On March 12 with the mayor of Paris Bertran Delanoe Yerevan park
will open in downtown Paris.
Within the frameworks of the visit to Paris, Edward Nalbandyan will
deliver speech on Armenia’s foreign policy in International Diplomatic
Academy of France. He is also expected to give speeches in French NA’s
foreign relations commission, as well as have meetings with the
members of Armenian friendship groups of Senate and National Assembly.
On March 12 Minister Nalbandyan will visit headquarter of France
Telecom company where together with president of France Telecom Didie
Lombar an official start to the Armenian Public TV’s programs in the
television network of Orange will be goven.

Catholic News Agency
March 9 2009

ST. GREGORY OF NYSSA

MONDAY, MARCH 09, 2009

The son of two saints, Basil and Emmilia, young Gregory was raised by
his older brother, St. Basil the Great, and his sister, Macrina, in
modern-day Turkey. Gregory’s success in his studies suggested great
things were ahead for him. After becoming a professor of rhetoric, he
was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to the Church. By
then married, Gregory went on to study for the priesthood and become
ordained (this at a time when celibacy was not a matter of law for
priests).

He was elected Bishop of Nyssa (in Lower Armenia) in 372, a period of
great tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of
Christ. Briefly arrested after being falsely accused of embezzling
Church funds, Gregory was restored to his see in 378, an act met with
great joy by his people.

It was after the death of his beloved brother, Basil, that Gregory
really came into his own. He wrote with great effectiveness against
Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as a
defender of orthodoxy. He was sent on missions to counter other
heresies and held a position of prominence at the Council of
Constantinople. His fine reputation stayed with him for the remainder
of his life, but over the centuries it gradually declined as the
authorship of his writings became less and less certain. But, thanks
to the work of scholars in the 20th century, his stature is once again
appreciated. Indeed, St. Gregory of Nyssa is seen not simply as a
pillar of orthodoxy but as one of the great contributors to the
mystical tradition in Christian spirituality and to monasticism
itself.

http://www.catholicnewsagency .com/saint.php?n=172

PanARMENIAN.Net

BILGESAM: Turkey is in a deadlock over the issue of Armenian Genocide
07.03.2009 23:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ BÄ°LGESAM’s report on Turkey’s current
situation and future challenges was made public by retired Ambassador
İlter Türkmen. The Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies
(BÄ°LGESAM), a think tank formed by retired soldiers,
ambassadors and academics, called for the preparation of a new
civilian constitution and enactment of judicial reforms to overcome
future challenges in a report made public.

BÄ°LGESAM said Turkey is in a deadlock over the issue of the
Armenian Genocide, with Armenians insistent on their claims that the
1915 killings of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks constituted
genocide.

`The parliaments of 17 countries have recognized Armenian genocide
resolutions. US President Barack Obama referred to the killings of
Armenians as genocide during the 2008 election campaign and promised
the Armenian lobby that he would recognize their claims. … As it is
not possible for Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide claims, the
best thing that can be done at the moment is to create an environment
in which the problem can be pushed to the back burner over time,’ read
the report.

The report also stressed that President Abdullah Gül’s visit to
Yerevan last year contributed a great deal to the improvement of ties
between Turkey and Armenia. Gül visited Yerevan in September of
last year to watch the World Cup qualifying match between the national
teams of the two countries, which observers have said was a turning
point for the settlement of longstanding disputes between the two
neighbors, Today’s Zaman reports.

ARMENIAN REGULATORY COMMISSION INITIATES ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS

ARKA
March 6, 2009

YEREVAN, March 6. /ARKA/. The RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
has initiated administrative proceedings in connection with unjustified
price rise on four commodities markets.

Commission Chairman Ashot Shahnazaryan reported that monitoring
conducted by the Commission revealed disproportionate price
fluctuations. "We receive similar signals from almost all the Armenian
regions. We register and deal with them. After summing up the results,
we considered it advisable to initiate administrative proceedings
on the market of vegetable oil and butter, household appliances and
medicines," Shahnazaryan told a press conference.

He said that the Commission received numerous signals about price
fluctuations on the medicines market. The fluctuations were quite
serious, without any economic reasons.

Shahnazaryan added that, as a result of negotiations, sugar was
purchased at 250 AMD for 1kg in the Armenian regions yesterday evening
against the previous 270 AMD. Shahnazaryan stressed that 300 AMD for
1kg is an inadmissible price limit for the Commission.

"At present appreciable downward trends are to be observed in shops. We
have a list of shops, including those in the Armenian regions, which
allowed disproportionate price rise, and we will present it to the RA
Public Revenues Committee," Shahnazaryan said. He reported that the
Commission is going to institute furth er proceedings on commodities
markets.

Specifically, fluctuations of prices for bread have been registered
in some Armenian regions, and the Commission intends to focus its
attention on this market.

Shahnazaryan stressed that some stores either did not raise prices
or the price rise was not high. Among the stores are the following
store chains: Yeritsyan, SAS, Star, Yerevan City, as well as Parma.

This Tuesday the CBA Board took into account the gradually worsening
trade conditions amid the present global economic and financial
crisis, as well as lower capital flow rates, and decided to restrict
its interventions in the currency market thereby reverting to its
floating exchange rate policy. CBA experts believe that the USD
average exchange rate will be 360-380 AMD/$1 this year.

SHANT HARUTYUNYAN’S HEALTH WORSENED

A1+
[06:18 pm] 06 March, 2009

"The court had better review the restraint of political prisoner
Shant Harutyunyan detained after the March 1 disorder," says human
rights activist Avetik Ishkhanyan. He met with Shant Harutyunyan
earlier today.

Harutyunyan’s health has sharply worsened. He has serious psychological
problems and is much concerned about his family members," says the
human rights activist.

"The penitentiary administration ensures that no pressure has been
exerted on Shant Harutyunyan. Shant doesn’t complain for their
attitude either. He only states he is imprisoned for his political
viewpoints. Shant Harutyunyan suffers form insomnia. He has been
unable to sleep for a few days. I think that the restraint should be
changed taking into consideration Shant’s psychological state.

Remind that during the previous court ruling of the case against
seven opposition activists Shant was hardly able to keep on his legs.

US CONGRESSMAN WARNS COLLEAGUES ON ESSENTIAL TURKEY TIES

Today’s Zaman
March 4 2009
Turkey

A member of the US Congress has warned other congressmen to heed
the importance of cooperation with NATO ally Turkey for achieving US
objectives in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In a letter to 434 members of the House of Representatives, Rep. Bill
Shuster (R-Pa.) said Turkey had a critical role in helping the US
reach its goals in these two troubled countries. Shuster attached
a Feb. 18 article, published in the Christian Science Monitor, that
outlines how Turkey can help in the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

The US administration plans to pull out combat troops from Iraq
by Aug. 31, 2010, while a complete withdrawal is slated for the
end of 2011. Turkey is one of the possible exit routes for this
pullout. Turkish officials say they would assist the US in an Iraq
withdrawal, although they have not yet received any formal request
from the US to that effect.

Shuster’s letter comes as some congressmen speed up efforts to
introduce a resolution recognizing Armenian claims of genocide at the
hands of the Ottoman Empire in the World War I era. Ankara has warned
repeatedly that strategic ties will be dealt a heavy blow if such a
resolution is passed. Rep. Adam Schiff, one of the main advocates
of a "genocide" resolution, vowed at a meeting in Fresno, Calif.,
on Monday to introduce such a resolution and said he was hopeful that
it would eventually pass.