Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

SHAMSHYAN ISSUES COMPLAINT ABOUT VERBAL ASSAULT

Tert.am
11:33 ~U 23.03.10

At 3:55 pm on March 19, well-known Armenian photojournalist Gagik
Shamshyan informed the Yerevan’s central police station that he had
been subjected to verbal assault at the Court of First Instance of
Centre and Nork-Marash Communities in Yerevan.

It turned out that at 3:25 pm on the same day, before the court
session began, Shamshyan had taken photos of the defendants when they
were being brought to court. Bagrat Soghomonyan, one of defendants,
had insulted Shamshyan, obstructing the photojournalist’s lawful
work in the process. Shamshyan had tried to urge him to stop, but
Artak Soghomonyan, another defendant, who was also in the room,
got involved in the altercation, also insulting Shamshyan.

The police have registered Shamshyan’s case. An investigation is
underway.

EuroNews, France
March 19 2010

Serzh Sargsyan: `Turkey has no moral right to blame us about anything
or to impose any conditions.

’19/03 21:03 CET

Serzh Sargsyan is President of Armenia, a country with a turbulent
history, like a fair number of states which for a time were a part of
the old USSR. Early in March on an official visit to Paris, the
president spoke with Euronews about the Armenian genocide, relations
between his country and Turkey, and on the frozen conflict of Nagorno
Karabakh. Armenia is gripped in the geopolitical vice of the South
Caucasus region, where Europe meets Asia.
Its border with Turkey has been blocked since the Nagorno Karabakh
war. The consequences of this for all involved are serious, including
for Armenia’s population of three million and the seven million
Armenian diaspora.

Laura Davidescu, Euronews: President Sargsyan, with 23 votes in favour
of the resolution and 22 against, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the
United States’ House of Representatives has decided to declare that
the 1915 massacre of over one million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks
was genocide. Why do you think the committee has voted the resolution
now?

President Serzh Sargsyan: Discussions on the recognition of the
Armenian genocide are not new in the political life of the United
States of America.
Several times at least in the past 10 years, the Foreign Affairs
Committee of the House of Representatives has tried to vote on the
resolution.
Forty-two states in the US have recognized the events as genocide, so
the resolution on the 4th of March is neither a surprise nor a new
thing for us.

Euronews: Do you think of any particular reason for them voting it
now, in this particular context of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation?

Sargsyan: We are currently in discussions with Turkey on the issue of
re-establishing our relations. This should be done without any
preconditions, and I think that Turkey has no moral right to blame us
about anything or to impose any conditions. Re-establishing relations
without preconditions means we are not under any obligations to stay
away from any of the possible topics.
Let’s say that, by some miracle, the Turkish Parliament ratifies the
protocols, the Armenian Parliament does the same, we re-establish our
relations and a third country, which is against us re-establishing our
relations, on purpose takes up the genocide issue. Will the Turks,
therefore, use this as a pretext and break off relations?

Euronews: If Armenia’s major problems now are unemployment, economic
isolation and long- running disputes with Turkey and Azerbaijan, can
these problems be more easily solved now?

Sargsyan: Our difficulties with Turkey did not begin yesterday. For 17
years, Turkey has kept the Armenian border under blockade. Was there
such a resolution 17 years ago? We fully understand that Turkey is a
big country ‘ in terms of population, territory and power¦ vastly
bigger than Armenia. And if we lived apart from each other we would
[also] understand. But since Armenia and Turkey are part of the
international community, and the United States, France and the
European Union are too, then the international community must assess
the developments and situations as they unfold.

Euronews: I would go back to the recognition of the Armenian genocide:
If this issue is of paramount concern for Armenians both at home and
in the Diaspora, could you please tell us why the Yerevan State
University awarded an honorary degree to the Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad in 2007? The Iranian president denies the Holocaust.

Sargsyan: You know, we cannot oblige our neighbours to think as we do.
One should not narrow things down to a single person. To bestow upon
the leader of a country an honorific reward signifies an expression of
gratitude and recognition towards the people of that country. The
Iranians have been our neighbours for centuries and they are very
important to us.

Euronews: Would you call the Yerevan state university’s decision
Armenian `realpolitik’?

Sargsyan: I would consider it as a particular approach by the State
University of Yerevan towards a particular issue, an approach quite
current in Europe and in the democratically developed countries of the
world.

Euronews: You are quoted as having said in London, in February, that
Nagorno Karabakh was never a part of independent Azerbaijan. Well, the
international community seems to have another opinion, another
assessment.

Sargsyan: The international community does not have a different
vision. History is well-known¦ Nagorno Karabakh was not a part of
independent Azerbaijan. It was the Caucasus Bureau of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union which attached Nagorno Karabakh to
Azerbaijan.
Why did the international community acclaim the collapse of the Soviet
Union and not consider Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan part and parcel of the Soviet Union? ‘ still saying
Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaidjan? It is not logical, is it?

Euronews: What kind of compromises are you willing to make in order to
achieve a peaceful resolution of this conflict?

Sargsyan: One cannot eliminate the consequences of this conflict
without addressing its causes. And when speaking about the causes¦ we
talk about recognising the people of Nagorno Karabakh’s right of self
determination¦ the recognition of this right and its implementation.
The other problems will be solved rapidly after that.
The Armenian parts of this conflict, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, are
profoundly interested in a swift resolution of this conflict. But a
sustainable resolution that would allow for peace and security in the
region, as opposed to giving Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh, which would
spell the end of its existence.

Euronews: Azerbaijan states very clearly that it will never ever
accept Nagorno Karabakh as an independent entity. They will never let
it go.

Sargsyan: What does the international community propose to us? To
solve this conflict on the basis of three principles of international
law: firstly, self-determination; secondly, territorial integrity; and
thirdly, the non-use of force. I propose, through you, the media, to
appeal to Azerbaijan to sign an agreement not to use force. This would
instill trust in the Armenian people of Karabakh and Armenia. And
under these conditions of trust we would begin the negotiations for a
settlement. We Armenians know very well what Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity means. We’ve talked about it openly several times. The
Azerbaijanis¦ can they say what the right of self-determination means
for the people of Nagorno Karabakh?
When we issue joint declarations about the right of
self-determination, Azerbaijan is not talking about the Armenian
people’s right to self-determination but of the right of the main
player in the conflict¦ the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

h-sargsyan-turkey-has-no-moral-right-to-blame-us-a bout-anything-or-to-/

ERDOGAN’S STATEMENT OPEN MESSAGE TO ARMENIA, MP

news.az
March 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Mubariz Gurbanly Deportation of 100,000 Armenians from Turkey will
worsen the socioeconomic state of Armenia.

‘The recent statement of Turkish Premier Erdogan regarding deportation
of 100,000 illegal Armenians from Turkey.

This fact was clear from the beginning. It is known that despite
the borders between Turkey and Armenia are close, Armenians left for
work to Turkey. But Turkey was too tolerant in this issue’, MP and
deputy executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan ruling party Mubariz
Gurbanly said.

He noted that Armenians working in Turkey have sent colossal funds.

‘However, anti-Turkish actions of Armenia and Armenian lobby have
violated this patience. Erdogan’s statement is not by accident. This
is an open message to the Armenian and Armenian lobby. Deportation of
100,000 Armenians from Turkey will worsen the socioeconomic state of
Armenia. Armenians in Turkey will also not want to return to their
country. I think the Armenian leadership will make a conclusion’,
Gurbanli said according to the website of the ruling party of
Azerbaijan.

Tamilla Sencaply News.Az

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ANNOUNCES THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SERIES OF PUBLICATIONS
IN ANTELIAS

"Deepening The Communion With Our Church Fathers" is the title of the new
series of publications of the Catholicosate. These new books will include
the theological writings and interpretative works of Armenian Church Fathers
translated from classical Armenian into modern Armenian. "Archbishop Sempat
Lapadjian Fund" of the Catholicosate will sponsor the project. The aim of
this project is to make available the Patristic literature of the Armenian
Church to scholars and the laity who cannot read classical Armenian. When
announcing the project, His Holiness Aram I said: "Our Patristic Literature
is an important source of Christian edification of the faithful, and
affirmation of the Spirituality of the Armenian church.

##
Photos here:
tos/Photos453.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR MAY RETURN TO STOCKHOLM SOON

Today
html
March 18 2010
Azerbaijan

The delay in Turkish ambassador Zergyun Koruturk’s return to Sweden
will not last long.

Turkish media reported that the refusal of the Swedish officials
to approve the decision of the Swedish Parliament on recognition of
the so-called "Armenian genocide" has mitigated the dissatisfaction
of Turkey.

After adoption of "Armenian resolution" by the U.S. House of
Representatives committee on foreign affairs on March 4 and by the
Parliament of Sweden on March 11, Turkey recalled ambassadors from
Washington and Stockholm.

Initially, the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt expressed regret
to his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in connection with the
adoption of the document in the parliament, calling not to politicize
historical events.

Then the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt held a telephone
conversation with the head of the Turkish government Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, during which he said that the official Stockholm does not
recognize this document.

The Turkish press writes that the steps of Swedish officials were
able to soften the resentment of Ankara, and it is quite possible
that soon ambassador Koruturk will return to Stockholm. The final
decision on her return should be made by the Turkish government.

However, Turkey’s ambassador to Washington Namik Tan still remains
in Ankara. The delay in his return may be linked to the absence of
concrete steps by President Obama’s administration in the resolution
of tension with Turkey.

Ankara expects the same support from Washington, which was expressed
by the Swedish government.

DIPLOMATS DISTRESSED ABROAD FOCUS ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AT HOME

Hurriyet
March 18 2010
Turkey

Turkish diplomats, distressed by the deadlock on the divided island
of Cyprus, up-and-downs in the EU accession process and diplomatic
rows stemming from the Armenian ‘genocide’ resolutions, are stepping
up public diplomacy efforts at home.

"In order to determine the effects [of foreign policy related]
developments, a new project has been launched aimed to widen the public
affairs works across the country," Turkish Foreign Ministry noted in
a written-statement released late Wednesday. "It is an important part
of our public diplomacy strategy."

Headed by Ambassador Engin Soysal, three diplomats are visiting the
Black Sea province of Trabzon on March 18-19. Soysal will address
a panel in the Black Sea Technical University and hold talks with
local authorities, businessmen and non-governmental organizations in
an effort to explain the existing foreign policy strategies.

It will be the first one, but not the last. Ankara has released that
it would be difficult to go further without public support. Similar
programs will take place in 20 other provinces including Konya, Adana,
Denizli, Afyon and Erzurum.

The decision makers for the normalization with Armenia will try to
convince the nationalist thought of "Why should we open borders to
those Armenians who killed our grandparents and occupied the land of
our Azeri brothers."

Diplomats engaged in EU affairs will explain whether Turkey compromises
to "the prejudicial union" or works to increase the living standards
at home.

Once the government is backed by the public, it will be easy to ratify
the protocols in Parliament and step-up the reforms towards the EU bid.

Increasing interaction between global, regional and local developments
has a direct effect on foreign policies, the statement outlined. "In
this respect, it is needed to adopt new and participatory attitude
as well as to inform the public about the politics at stage."

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had kicked-off his public diplomacy
in January when he visited southeastern province of Mardin along with
a delegation crowd. During this trip, the diplomats who generally
looked like serious elitist chatted and played cards with villagers
and danced to Kurdish folk songs in the evening.

The foreign ministry has also set-up its profile on both facebook
and twitter

BYURAKAN OBSERVATORY TO BE EQUIPPED WITH UP-TO-DATE SPECTROGRAPH

ArmInfo
010-03-18 17:00:00

ArmInfo. Byurakan observatory will be equipped with up-to-date
spectrograph.

As Director of the observatory Hayk Harutyunyan said at today’s
press-conference, no more than 10 big observatories of the world have
such spectrographs which allow to determine the rate of movement of
space objects up to 5-10 meters per second. "The astronomic centers
with great funds can afford such spectrographs, for example, Geneva
observatory, which gets $50-100 mln for projects, while Byurakan
observatory receives 60 mln drams a year", he said. Byurakan will
be able to obtain such a spectrometer due to the agreement signed
with the French party. "It is quite possible that it will be a
consortium with participation of not only Switzerland, France and
Armenia but other interested countries as well. We shall observe and
open new exo-planets together with the Europeans, as well as solve
astero-seismological and other tasks", Harutyunyan said.

According to him, cooperation with the European specialists will be
developed also in other directions. In particular, in 2009, a French
company approved 3 projects of Byurakan observatory. Moreover, it
is expected to sign a protocol between Armenian and Italian Foreign
Ministries, that will allow to implement a two-year agreement between
the two country observatories with budget of 250,000 Euro. H.

Harutyunyan also said that active cooperation played a positive part
in popularization of the astrophysicist profession in Armenia.

400 DRAM TO THE DOLLAR? DEVALUATION OF ARMENIAN CURRENCY

Tert.am
15:27 ~U 17.03.10

The predictions of many experts seem to have come true as the local
Armenian currency, the dram, has dropped in value. Currently, in the
best case scenerio in Armenian banks, a US dollar can be purchased
for 402 dram, while a euro goes for 555 dram.

According to Rate.am, at 1:30 pm local time today, a few banks were
even selling US dollars at 405 dram and euro at 561 dram. Buying rates,
however, fluctuated between 395 and 400 dram to the dollar and 542 to
550 to the euro. At 10 am this morning, a US dollar could be purchased
for 398.5 from Anelik Bank, while a euro could be purchased for 549
dram at Artsakhbank.

This devaluation of Armenian currency began only in the last 1-1.5
months. On February 2, the going rate was 375.8 dram to the dollar;
it has risen quite drastically in such a short period.

Few reasons might account for the devaluation: a shortage of personal
transfers from abroad, perhaps a big difference in export and import
volumes (import being noticealy greater than export), high quality
of inflation, and so on.

SHIRAK TOROSYAN: JAVAKHK WON’T FOLLOW NAKHIJEVAN’S FATE

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2010 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Assembly member Shirak Torosyan
said Armenians in Javakhk again suffer persecution on the threshold
of elections to the local self-government.

"Armenian activists are unreasonably summoned by police. Exploiting
Armenia’s dependence on Georgian transit routes, the Georgian
authorities exert pressure on the Armenian population in Javakhk.

Statements on friendly relations between the two countries are mere
formality. Yerevan and Tbilisi’s playing ostrich forced Javakheti
Armenians to think about autonomy. We won’t let Javakhk follow the
fate of Nakhijevan," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"The newly established coordination council on protection Javakheti
Armenians’ rights has developed an action plan. We will work with
Armenian organizations across the globe," Mr. Torosyan added.

He criticized the inferiority of the US State Department’s Country
Report on Human Rights Practices in Georgia, which mentions the arrest
of Vahagn Chakhalyan’s only.

As to opening of Upper Lars checkpoint, Mr. Torosyan said that Georgia
has much to gain from restoration of relations with Russia.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON BILATERAL TIES

People’s Daily
March 17 2010
China

Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan discussed his country’s relationship
with China with newly appointed Chinese Ambassador Tian Changchun
on Tuesday.

Tian, who assumed the new post on March 6, submitted his credentials
to the president at the meeting.

Sarksyan said Armenia attached great importance to the relationship
with China and was keen to cooperate with China in various fields.

In recent years, cooperation between Armenia and China had made
remarkable headway, with two-way trade volume continuing to increase,
he said.

China has become Armenia’s second largest trading partner.

Cultural exchanges were expanding and the two countries also closely
collaborated in dealing with international affairs, the president said.

Armenia was ready to further tap cooperation potential with China
and deepen the bilateral ties and seek more benefits to the people
of the two countries, Sarksyan said.

The president also reiterated Armenia’s commitment to the one China
policy, considering the People’s Republic of China as the only
legitimate government representing China as a whole.

For his part, Tian conveyed Chinese President Hu Jintao’s warm
greetings and best wishes to Sarksyan.

He said the Chinese government was willing to deepen the Sino-Armenian
ties on the basis of mutual respect, equity, and serving mutual
interests for the benefit of the people on both sides.