Author: Topchian Jane

TO BE MOVED TO HOSPITAL

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 30, 2008
Armenia

NA Deputy Myasnik Malkhasyan will be moved to the "Hospital for
Detainees" for undergoing a through medical check-up.

Yesterday, the arrested MP was examined by the doctors of
"Yerevan-Kentron" penitentiary institution. His health condition is
estimated as satisfactory; the level of sugar in his blood is normal,
however, considering the variations, he will be subjected to a thorough
medical examination.

M. Malkhasyan suffers from diabetes melitus, and his health condition
deteriorated back on July 27.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN’S PRESS-SECRETARY ARMAN MUSINYAN: WE RESPECT POSITION OF THE HERITAGE PARTY REGARDING JOINING ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

ArmInfo
2008-07-25 15:05:00

‘We respect the position of the Heritage party regarding joining
Armenian National Congress’, – first Armenian president Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s press-secretary Arman Musinyan said at today’s
press-conference in Tesaket discussion club.

To recall, chairwoman of the Heritage party board Anahit Bakhshyan
said at today’s press-conference that the board of the only opposition
parliamentary party Heritage has decided to delay its joining Armenian
National Congress till the latter adopts the programme and regulatory
documents.

Press-secretary of the Heritage party Hovsep Khurshudyan added that
the main reason of such delay is that Armenian National Congress does
not have a strict programme and strategy of actions.

When commenting on such decision of the Heritage party board,
Arman Musinyan said they respect the position of this party. ‘Levon
Ter-Petrosyan over his public speeches reiterated many times that
he means just consolidation, the united front against the criminal
regime. There is no word about unification of the parties’, –
Musinyan said.

ISOLATED ARMENIA LEANS ON IRAN
Robin Forestier

BBC News
2008/07/24
Yerevan

Iran does not have too many friends these days, but in a far corner
of the Caucasus, on the edge of Europe, it is forming a special
relationship.

Deep in the cellar of the Noy Brandy factory in Yerevan, Armenia,
there is a pungent, but not unpleasant smell of ageing, fortified wine.

On an upturned wooden cask sit a dozen glasses, and a bottle of
1944 sherry.

The company’s wine-tasting sessions are popular with tourists and
most of them, according to tour guide Anna, come from Iran.

"Ten metres underground, they think Allah is out of range," she smiles.

"They don’t want to taste the wine, they want to drink it."

Across town, Omid Mojahed is one such Iranian looking for more
than just a taste of Armenia. He is a 28-year-old student and an
entrepreneur at heart.

We attach great importance to our relations with Iran. One can choose
one’s friends but not one’s neighbours Armen Movsisyan Armenian
minister

He spends most of his time away from his books, working on his
businesses, which include a travel agency working exclusively in the
Iranian market.

"In summer I think that 90% of tourists are Iranian. Armenia is so
close by and has attractive things – cafes and nightclubs, and 0D
beautiful Lake Sevan."

Omid has also just opened a Persian restaurant, catering for locals
as well as Iranian expats, keen for some home cuisine.

Gathered at the bar around a smoking pipe, a group of Iranian students
are relaxing after their exams.

Twenty-year-old Mehdez explains that Armenia is popular with thousands
of young people who cannot get a place in Iran’s over-subscribed
higher education system.

"I chose to study in Yerevan because it’s an easier situation. Here
we have more freedom," she says.

"But of course anything that we do here, we can do in Iran – just
not in public."

Geographic isolation

Part of that freedom includes an increasingly liberalised economy,
and that makes Armenia attractive to foreign investment.

The Armenian capital is hardly an international economic powerhouse,
but there are signs that Iranian investors sense an opportunity.

On one street, many of the stores are Iranian-run. One of them is
owned by Muhammad Rahimi.

He started trading household goods 10 years ago. Business, he says,
gets better and better. Practically every item he sells – from pots
and pans to air-fresheners – has been imported from Iran.

Like many of his compatriots, Muhammad benefits from Armenia’s
geographical isolation.

War with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s led to the
closure of its borders with Azerbaijan and an unsympathetic Turkey.

That leaves20landlocked Armenia looking towards Georgia to the north,
and Iran to the south.

"Georgia, economically, is worse than Armenia," says Alexander
Iskandarian, director of the Caucasus Media Institute.

"But Iran has a population of 70 million and it has oil and gas. It’s
rich by regional standards, so you should have normal relations with
them. It’s dangerous not to do so."

Yet trade turnover between the two countries remains modest, at just
$200m (£100m) a year, according to the economic department at the
Iranian embassy.

US disapproval

That has not stopped the United States from expressing concern
about Armenia’s ties with its neighbour. Those ties include the new
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, frequent bilateral talks and state visits,
not to mention a sizeable Armenian minority in northern Iran.

In this year’s Country Reports on Terrorism, the US state department
said warming relations between the two countries made Armenia
"reluctant to criticise publicly objectionable Iranian conduct".

The little country courts the Americans, Europeans and Russians. It
is a difficult balancing act to follow.

But Armenia’s unique relationship with the regional power – Iran –
is one it cannot afford to abandon.

Moreover, the two countries are united by a shared sense of isolation
from the rest of the world.

"Let’s not forget that Armenia is in a virtual blockade. We attach
great importance to our relations with Iran. One can choose one’s
friends but not one’s neighbours," says Armen Movsisyan, Armenia’s
minister of energy.

For those Iranians who have chosen to make a home in Armenia,
geopolitics may not be foremost in their minds, but they are equally
as pragmatic as the politicians.

"I’m no expert in international relations. All I know is we always
had good relations with Armenia and that’s why I like working here,"
says the trader Muhammad Rahimi.

Back in his restaurant, Omid Mojahed has no plans to leave while the
going is good.

"Everything will be okay for me here, that’s why I prefer to stay,"
he says.

"I like Armenian people, and it’s difficult for me to want to leave
my friends. When you come to Yerevan for a month, you will stay in
Yerevan forever!"

–Boundary_(ID_UUyaLawY2dATuuZdVYf SRA)–

USA REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

On July 14-18 within the framework of Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister
Edward Nalbandian’s visit to Washington the main topic of discussion
with a series of high-ranking officials was Armenia’s progress in the
direction of overcoming the political crisis aroused as a result of
presidential elections on February 19. The American party expressing
their satisfaction in connection with some positive steps of Armenia’s
authorities, at the same time expressed their concern with the arrest
and prosecution of the opposition politicians, with the freedom of
rallies and press joining the international community’s calls to hold
a valid investigation of the events of March 1-2.

According to the report of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, these issues
will be discussed in the session of Millennium Challenge Corporation
Board to be held in September, presided over by Secretary of State
Codoleezza Rice. It was noted that the U.S. officials welcomed
E. Nalbandian’s comprehensive comments on all these important issues.

During the Washington meetings the RA Foreign Affairs Minister’s next
major topic of discussion concerned Armenia’s regional relations. The
American party approved of President Sargsyan’s steps taken recently
on the way to conciliation with Turkey and reaffirmed the U.S. support
of the normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey. The
parties also discussed the status of the Minsk Group negotiations
with Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh problem.

ARRESTED ARMENIAN MPS REFUSE TO TESTIFY

ArmInfo in Russian
July 22 2008
Armenia

Armenian MPs arrested within the framework of the case of the 1
March disturbances in Yerevan, refuse to give testimonies. Vahagn
Harutyunyan, a special investigator and member of Armenia’s
Special Investigation Service, said this today at a session of the
temporary parliamentary commission to look into the 1 March events
in Yerevan. He said that [arrested MPs] Myasnik Malkhasyan, Hakob
Hakobyan and Sasun Mikaelyan have used their right this effect and
refuse to give testimonies.

Meanwhile, Sasun Mikaelyan is charged not only under Article 225 of
Armenia’s Criminal Code – "mass disturbances", but also under Article
235 – "illegal possession of weapons". Harutyunyan also said that
investigative measures such as expert examinations and questioning
of witnesses are being carried out with regard to the arrested MPs;
and there are ample witnesses in the case – over a few dozens. At
the same time the investigation has not yet managed to prove whether
the arsenal of weapons found at a restaurant owned by Malkhasyan was
intended for use in the 1 March events. However, it is well known
that all the three MPs took an active part "in involving people in
disturbances and inciting opposition to put up resistance to policemen
and usurp power", the investigator said. He said that the process
of collection of factual materials and proof is not over yet, and
that is why the investigation team does not consider it appropriate
to change the restrictive measure [arrest] concerning f Malkhasyan,
Mikaelyan and Hakobyan.

While answering a question from an MP from the [coalition] Orinats
Yerkir [Law-Governed Country] party, Hovhannes Margaryan, Harutyunyan
said that the investigation team has detained a participant in the
disturbances, who shot from an automatic weapon. Harutyunyan refused to
provide more specific information "for the sake of the confidentiality
of the investigation".

NDP CALLS FOR STOPPING COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES ON BRINGING FORMER RA PRESIDENT BEFORE HAGUE COURT

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 21

The Board of the National Democratic Party (NDP), on July 20, made a
statement calling for stopping the collection of signatures on bringing
former RA President Robert Kocharian before Hague court. According
to NDP, there is a danger that the International Court will try not
Turkey and Azerbaijan committing a real genocide at the beginning of
the previous century and making ethnic cleansings in the territories
of Azerbaijan and Karabakh at the end of the century, but Armenia in
the person of R. Kocharian.

"Azerbaijan’s leadership has repeatedly stated that it is preparing
a "package of cases" to apply to Hague court with the accusation
of Armenian officials’ making ethnic cleansings, genocide, and
military crimes towards Azeris. The signature collection on bringing
R. Kocharian before Hague court cannot but be used by Azerbaijan and
accelerate their applying to the court referring to the collection
of signatures as a ground of committing crimes not only against the
Azeri, but also the Armenian people," the NDP statement read.

LEVON ARONIAN RATED NUMBER 3 BEST CHESS PLAYER IN THE WORLD

ARMENPRESS
JULY 21

Armenia’s best chess player, Levon Aronian, was rated number 3 by
the Association of the Professional Chess Players as a result of
2007-08 tournaments.

The list of best players is topped by Vasily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and
Vishvanatan Anand of India.

In another chess news Armenian grandmaster Arman Pashikian won the
international tournament in Martuni, Gegharkunik province.

He scored a total of 6.5 points. The tournament attracted chess
players form six countries. The prize fund was $6000.

ARMENIA HOLDING ATOM 2008 EXERCISES WITH NATO SUPPORT

Interfax News Agency
July 17 2008
Russia

Armenia is currently holding the Atom 2008 command exercises, the
Emergency Situations Ministry told Interfax.

"The main goal of these exercises is to check cooperation between
republican agencies in case of an event at the Armenian nuclear power
plant (NPP) and to draft an action plan of the protection of citizens
in case of a nuclear event," the ministry said.

This is the last phase of the crisis management program launched in
January 2008. It aims to coordinate actions of the Armenian Rescue
Service’s Crisis Management Center and the State Emergency Situations
Commission in case of an Armenian NPP event, the ministry said.

AZERBAIJAN DISMISSES ARMENIA’S ACCUSATION OF VIOLATING CFE TREATY

Interfax News Agency
July 16 2008
Russia

Azerbaijan respects its obligations under the Conventional Armed
Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, spokesman for the Azeri Defense Ministry
Eldar Sabioglu told Interfax on Wednesday.

"Azerbaijan respects it obligations under this international
agreement and has never admitted violations," Sabioglu said in
comments on Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s statements
that Azerbaijan violates the CFE Treaty.

Sabioglu also noted that different approaches should be used to
various countries in arms issues.

"Attitude to Azerbaijan, France, the United Kingdom or Russia
should differ. From this point of view, clear difference between
Armenia and Azerbaijan can be seen. It [Armenia] cannot be compared
to Azerbaijan in terms of population, area, and borders with other
countries, but the country once ratified the CFE Treaty in order to
evade the escalation of the situation and tensions in relations with
international organizations," Sabioglu said.

Armenia Solidarity
Nor Serount Cultural Association
Seyfo Centre

Centre of Halabja against the Anfalisation and Genocide of Kurdish
People(C.H.A.K.)

invite you to

A Discussion of the central themes and findings of
Desmond Fernandes’ new book

‘The Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, Kurdish and Greek Cypriot Genocides and
the Politics of Denialism’.

[Apec Press, Stockholm – 978-91-86139-01-8]

Featured speakers include:

Desmond Fernandes

Khatchatur Pilikian [Author of Refuting Terrorism – Seven Epistles
>From Diaspora, The Spectre of Genocide as Collateral Damage is
Haunting the World and UNESCO Laureates: Nazim Hikmet & Aram
Khatchaturian – Garod Books of the Gomidas Institute].

Nick Kounoupias [Co-Ordinator of the Lobby for Cyprus]
Kasim Agpak
Sponsor: David Drew, MP.
Venue: The Grand Committee Room, The House of Commons, Westminster.
Monday 21st July 2008
Time: 6.00 pm
Free Entry

Reviews:

‘Desmond Fernandes examines important and often ignored questions of
genocide where clear evidence exists but is still denied. The
difficulty in acknowledging genocide, not only in Turkey, but
internationally, is also surveyed and the conclusion leaves one in no
doubt that the international community continues to assist and support
the Turkish government’s campaign of denial. In contrast to the
international order, Desmond uses the ‘G-word’ as a person who has
read the history, and does not choose to avoid it like a politician,
afraid of controversies’ – Gurgîn Bakircioglu, Editor of Beyan.net and
Vice-Chair of the Kurdish Student and Academic Association (KSAF).

‘Turkey is a lynch pin in the politics of the Middle East, Europe and
the United States. The country’s history of hyperactivity in terms of
nationalism and secularism is clearly revealed in this scholarly
study. The research documents genocidal actions towards religious,
cultural and linguistic groups since the end of the Ottoman
Empire. Woven through Desmond Fernandes’ narrative is the
contradiction inherent in the democratic governance of the present
state and the level of extreme violence that can still be inflicted on
ordinary Turkish people. Not only experts in Turkish affairs, but also
activists will find in this volume invaluable information to enrich
their understanding of Turkey’s role in the so-called ‘global war on
terror” – Julia Kathleen Davidson, Scotland Against Criminalising
Communities.

‘This book shows, with the help of massive evidence and without any
possible doubt, that the Turkish state (and its forerunner, the
Ottoman Empire) has been committing genocide against the groups
mentioned in the title of the book, at least since 1894, and continues
to commit genocide even today, in 2008, within the meaning of each of
the five types of genocidal act, today most brutally against the
Kurds. Turkey is even today guilty of crimes against humanity – This
is a reference book that cannot be surpassed easily (if at all). The
book is filled with minute detail in its documentation and
presentation and has an incredible number of up-to-date references.
The comparative aspect, documenting and comparing several genocides,
historically and today, is novel …

‘An important part of the book gives an invaluable resource to
concerned politicians, lawyers, conflict resolution analysts, peace
campaigners, parliamentarians and academics, regardless of their
ethnic background. This is a compact presentation of key positional
statements and perspectives on the genocide by the leading Kurdish
parties, and several key Turkish ones. These quotes, some quite
difficult to get hold of, have hardly ever been mentioned or used in
mainstream US-UK genocide debates [in English]. For these
representative Kurdish groups genocide is a key issue that they have
explicitly been raising for years …

‘Issues around the continuing broken promises in relation to all human
rights, be these civil and political or economic, social and cultural
(e.g. the right to self-determination, a fair trial or the freedom of
speech and association) and an analysis of the fact that other (mostly
big western) countries have not only allowed the crimes against
humanity but have also very often been and are today complicit in the
genocides fill much of the book, again, with massive documentation …

‘The painstakingly detailed, objective and accurate description in
itself forms ‘only’ a background for other path-breaking aspects of
this book. One reason for writing a book like this has been voiced by
Halil Berktay, co-ordinator of the History Department at Sabanci
University, Turkey. He is quoted by Desmond Fernandes as writing: ‘The
question of what happened in 1915-1916 is not a mystery, it’s not like
we know just 5 percent, so the question is not finding more
evidence. The question is liberating scholarship from the nationalist
taboos’ (emphasis added). ‘There may be differing interpretations of
genocide – how and why the Armenian Genocide happened. To deny its
factual and moral reality as genocide is not to engage in scholarship
but in propaganda and efforts to absolve the perpetrator, blame the
victims, and erase the ethical meaning of this history’…

‘Turkey’s denial of documented facts, the Turkish government’s threats
towards and imprisonment of people who have raised the issue of the
genocides, and the trouble Turkey is going into in order to prevent
the issues around genocide from getting to high-level courts is as
well known as it is difficult for outsiders to understand. This denial
has to be analysed from a multidisciplinary point of view, and this is
what Desmond Fernandes has also set out to do.

‘This book represents the cutting edge. Not only because of its
amazing research and documentation, the sharp analyses, the absolute
intellectual honesty. It is a necessary book. It is horrifying to
read, and makes one feel ashamed and guilty of belonging to the same
human race as those who have been and ARE today committing the
atrocities described in the book. But this is also cutting edge in
Del Valle’s terms because it is a risky undertaking to publish this
book … Perpetrators are more often shooting the messenger than
listening to the message. The least you as a reader can do is to start
screaming, and to finally demand international action to stop these
crimes against humanity’ – Dr. Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, University of
Roskilde, Department of Languages and Culture, Denmark, and Abo
Akademi University, Department of Education, Vasa, Finland [author of
Linguistic Genocide in Education – or Worldwide Diversity and Human
Rights? Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ & London, UK] –
Excerpted from the Foreword to the book

Desmond Fernandes is a policy analyst and former Senior Lecturer in
Human Geography and Genocide Studies at De Montfort University. He has
published widely in a number of journals and is author of The Kurdish
and Armenian Genocides: From Censorship and Denial to Recognition?
(2007, Apec, Stockholm) and co-author of Genozid an den Kurden in der
Türkei? – Verfolgung, Krieg und Zerstörung der ethnischen Identität
(2001, Medico International, Frankfurt). His most recent co-authored
article appears in the current issue of Genocide Studies and
Prevention, the journal of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars.

All who are interested in participating in Genocide lobbying are most
welcome for an informal discussion before the meeting eg at 3.45 in
the cafe inside parliament (in central lobby)

For further details, please contact Eilian Williams on: 07718982732
and/or 07876561398, or alternatively: [email protected]. The
book can shortly be purchased securely online at