The main stage of “Com- New Satellite Images puter for All” program is Confirm Complete off Page 2 Destruction of Djulfa Cemetery PAGE 5 HIGHLIGHTS

Weekly Digest of the Government of Armenia

December 7-13 2010 THEMA “Quote of the week”

“It’s getting harder and harder for the present-day world to get adjusted to the empires built on violence and imprison- ment. It’s definitely time for freedom. For President Sargsyan our people, the word participated in the works of the Interstate freedom is not simply Council of the EvrAsEs and Collective a noun “ Security Council of CSTO In Moscow resident , who is of the emergency response system, sta- PM OF ARMENIA Pin Moscow on a working visit, tus of the forces and means of the col- participated at the 29th session of the lective security structure, military and Interstate Council of the EvrAsEs. technical cooperation, information secu- Upcoming Events The session was attended by rity and a number of other issues regulat- the Presidents of Russia, Bela- ing CSTO activities in different areas. rus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and In accordance with the previously reached December 14: The OSCE mis- Tajikistan, as well as by the lead- agreement, the CSTO presidency, cur- sion will conduct regular monitor- ers of the EvrAsEs observer-states. rently held by the Russian Federation, will ing of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Armenia attained observer sta- be taken over by the Republic of Belarus. border near Berdavan village of tus at the Organization in 2003. At the session of the Collective Security Tavush region, Armenia In the framework of his working Council the parties signed a declaration on visit to the Russian Federation, on the CSTO peace-keeping forces and adopt- December 14-15: International December 10 President Serzh Sarg- ed a statement of the CSTO member states. conference “The crime of Geno- syan will participate at the sitting Documents adopted during the session cide Prevention, condemnation and of the Collective Security Council will allow the CSTO member states to re- elimination of consequences of the Collective Security Trea- spond more efficiently and timely to the ty Organization (CSTO) and at emergency situations. Amendments to the the meeting of the Council of the documents were introduced according to Heads of the CIS member states. the agreements reached by the parties dur- USEFUL LINKS In the framework of his working visit ing the August 20 unofficial summit of the • www.president.am to Moscow President Serzh Sarg- Heads of the CSTO member states in Yer- • www.gov.am syan participated on December 10 evan which took place in the wake of the • www.parliament.am in the works of the Collective Secu- tragic events in Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. • www.mfa.am rity Council of the Collective Secu- At the session of the CSTO Collective • www.armenpress.am rity Treaty Organization (CSTO). Security Council, the President of Ar- • www.panarmenian.net Discussed were over 30 agenda items menia Serzh Sargsyan made a statement. • www.matenadaran.am pertinent to the enhanced efficiency December 9-10, 2010 www.president.am ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS CHRONICA Headlines of The main stage of “Computer for All” program is off the week rime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended of government attended an open class held Ptoday a gala event ushering in the launch at Mekhitar Sebstatsi educational complex. • December 7: Armenia com- of the main stage of the Computer for All pro- Highlighting the program from the stand- memorates 1988 earthquake victims gram, which seeks to boost the use of com- point of his government’s drive for nation- • AH puters and the Internet wide computeriza- • DECEMBER 7: Georgy Petrosyan: and, thereby, help de- tion, Tigran Sargsyan official representation of Republic of velop information tech- stated as follows, Artsakh needs to be opened in Brussels nologies in Armenia. “The Computer for • AH First, Prime Minister All program urges all • December 8: Armen Azaryan: tra- Tigran Sargsyan was the government agen- ditional media should not beware of introduced to the capac- cies in Armenia to closer integration with social networks ities of those computers rally for the sake of an • AH available under the pro- awareness raising cam- • DECEMBER 9: Artsakh President gram. Then, the head paign in order to get meets with Armenia’s Union of Writ- the program’s philosophy and practicalities through to the general public. I am glad ers member and Diaspora writers to see that educational institutions are joining us leading the way to the develop- AH ment of undergraduate education in our country. Computers are going to substitute • December 9: Khachkar in commem- the textbooks at school improving thereby the teaching methodology and efficiency.” oration of Spitak earthquake victims Concerning the accessibility of information technologies, the Prime Minister noted in part, set in Russia’s Slavyansk-on-Kuban “As a matter of fact, the modern world cannot be perceived without the use of comput- • AH ers. You may understand that this process should be started from the very school. We need • December 10: Armenia, Ko- to tackle the problem at its root over the next 2- 3 years, if we are to build a modern-type rea to develop bilateral ties society within some 10-15 years. Additional AMD 700mn was earmarked this year to the • AH Ministry of Education and Science so that it could procure computers for the schools in an • December 11: National Geo- effort to improve the schoolchildren-computers ratio in the system of general education.” graphic Channel to broadcast film December 8, 2010, full story www.gov.am about Holy Spear kept in Armenia AH The 11th Session of the Armenia-European Union Coopera- • DECEMBER 13: Darchinyan to tion Council took place protest split decision loss to Mares AH n December 7, the 11th Session of towards the development of relations, as Artsakh marks anniversa- Othe Armenia-European Union Co- well as the regional issues were discussed. ry of Referendum on Inde- operation Council took place in Brussels. Presenting the steps undertaken by Armenia pendence and adoption of The Armenian delegation led by the Foreign towards the European rapprochement, Min- the Constitution Affairs Minister arrived in Brussels to at- ister Nalbandian stated that the cooperation uperpowers are after all compelled tend the session. The Deputy Foreign Min- between Armenia and the EU is the priority ister Karine Ghazinyan, the Deputy Minister of the Armenian foreign policy and the Arme- Sto reckon with unrecognized states of Justice Nikolay Arustamyan, the Deputy nian side will continue its purposeful policy December 10 marks the 19th anniversary Minister of Economy Mushegh Tumasyan aimed at the further development of relations. of the national Referendum in Artsakh and and the Head of the Armenian Mission to The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed the the day of adoption of the Constitution. the EU Avet Adonc were in the delegation. importance of the activity of the EU Advis- Still before the first Referendum on Inde- Zsolt Nemeth, the Minister of State for Foreign ers Group that supports reforms in Armenia. pendence which was held on December Edward Nalbandian described it as a suc- 10, 1991, Declaration on Independence of cessful example of effective cooperation. NKR was adopted September 2 the same In the course of Council’s session, the par- year. Nearly all eligible Artsakh voters ticipants had a detailed talk and expressed (more than 99%) expressed their unified mutual satisfaction with the successful ne- gotiations held in the frameworks of the will and voted for an independent state. Eastern Partnership Program. At the same “I am convicted that one day superpow- time, they mentioned that the EPP has a ers will after all be compelled to reckon considerable potential for the enlargement. with those unrecognized states whose The sides also exchanged views on the in- authorities are true to democratic val- Affairs of Hungary presiding over the EU in tensification of political dialogue, nego- ues and people enjoy their legal rights,” 2011 and Stefan Fule, the European Commis- tiation held on July of this year over the Arthur Tovmasyan, Deputy Chair- sioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood signing of the Armenia-EU Association man of NKR NA said. “Adopting the Policy led the delegation of the high-ranking agreement, the Deep and comprehensive first NKR Constitution on December officials from the various EU institutions. agreement on the creation of free trade zone 10, 2006, our state took an important In the course of Council’s session, the and facilitation of entrance visa regime. step towards creating independence agenda of the cooperation between Ar- December 7, 2010 www.mfa.am menia and the EU, the steps undertaken and a consolidated state,” he added. December 10, 2010 www.hhpress.am

2 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS RES PUBLICA Armenian government to encourage natality Formation of logistic centers to stimulate A relevant order has been already customs activity given to the Healthcare Minister,” hairman of the Armenian State Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said. CRevenue Committee Gagik Kha- He said the draft project has been chatryan said that the institution of already developed and called on customs brokers allows reducing all interested parties to take part contacts between enterprises and cus- in the oncoming discussions. toms employees, as well as promotes “If necessary, we will issue new leg- simplification of customs processes. he Armenian government is resolved islative initiatives and amend the law It constitutes an important anti- Tto encourage natality in the country. to create favorable conditions to raise corruption lever, Khachatryan “The matter concerns the allow- the birth rate,” PM Sargsyan said. told a conference organized by ances to be paid to pregnant women. December 9, 2010 www.panarmenian.net the Association of Customs Bro- kers and OSCE Office in . He noted that the Association has been Armenia’s 2011 state budget to exceed AMD 1 trillion established through joints efforts of the rmenian parliament launched de- Committee and OSCE, while its posi- Abates on the bill on 2011 state budget. tions will strengthen in future, as insti- Presenting the final draft budget, Arme- tutions of brokerage activity, training nian Minister of Finance Tigran Dav- and revenues declaration are far from tyan said that 616 suggestions were being perfect, what is proved by nu- received from deputies and parliamen- merous shortages in closure of deals. tary groups, out of which 215 suggestions Besides, Khachatryan noted that logis- have been approved by the government. tic centers should be created in future, “AMD 2.4bln growth is recorded in which will both close deals and perform budgetary expenses and revenues. The all activities related to the customs defense expenses increased by AMD et revenues to make AMD 852bln. institution, including to warehouses. 5-6bln, what was suggested by the Arme- According to Tigran Davtyan, the Decembner 2010 www.panarmenian.net nian President and Republican Party of budget deficit will remain also in Armenia,” the Minister of Finance said. 2011, amounting to AMD 148bln. Armenia, Artsakh to Thus, Armenia’s 2011 state budget December 8, 2010 www.panarmenian.net cooperate in energy sphere will make AMD 1.1 trillion, with budg-

Vahram Nersesyants: All-Armenain Bank will stimulate export ewly appointed Executive Di- bank’s authorized capital will total Nrector of All-Armenian Bank $100mln, of which $20mln will be allo- Vahram Nersesyants said that the cated by the government, while the rest bank has been established to stimu- sum will be attracted from international n December 11, President of the late export of goods produced in structures and private sector. He added OArtsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan Armenia, securing their high com- that the bank activity should be correct received the minister of energy and petitiveness in international markets. and transparent to prevent interference natural resources of the Republic of The bank will not enter the field of political and other forces, what will Armenia Armen Movsissyan and di- of commercial banks activity, but allow the Bank to achieve success. rector general of Hayrusgazard CJSC will allocate loans and make invest- Information technologies, healthcare, . ments in long-term projects aimed education and tourism will be prior- Issues related to cooperation between at Armenia’s development, Nersesy- ity directions of the bank activity. the two Armenian states in the sphere ants told a briefing on December 9. December 9,2010 www.panarmenian.net of energy as well as implementation of Vahram Nersesyants noted that the joint programs were discussed during the meeting. Vigen Sargsyan: Baku knows that Karabakh is enti- The parties emphasized the impor- tled for self-determination tance of bilateral cooperation in ener- zerbaijani authorities have always addressing a forum on “Legal aspects of gy sphere for socioeconomic develop- Aadmitted that Nagorno Karabakh Artsakh’s self-determination in the con- ment of Artsakh. is entitled for self-determination, deputy text of modern international law. Before Artsakh Republic premier Ara Harout- head of the Armenian presidential ad- and after Kosovo”. yunyan and other officials partook at ministration said. “However, they erro- He also stressed the importance of thor- the meeting, Central Information De- neously insist that the people of Kara- ough study of the origin and develop- partment at the Office of Artsakh Re- bakh can constitute themselves within ment of the Karabakh conflict. public President reported. Azerbaijan,” Vigen Sargsyan said when December 11, 2010 www.panarmenian.net December 12, 2010 www.panarmenian.net

3 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS PRO PATRIA Armenia Warns on Karabakh Kim Kardashian urges rmenia’s president threatened on erbaijan and Christian ethnic Armenians. support for Armenian AFriday to recognize Nagorno- No country has recognized the en- Genocide Resolution Karabakh as independent if Az- clave as independent but it runs its erbaijan resorts to force to resolve own affairs with heavy economic their dispute over the rebel enclave. and military support from Armenia. “Armenia is absolutely against a mili- An Azeri military assault or Arme- tary solution to the [Nagorno-Karabakh] nian recognition of Nagorno-Karaba- problem,” President Serzh Sargsyan kh would seriously undermine West- said in Moscow. “In the event Azerbai- ern and Russian mediation to find a jan unleashes a new military venture, negotiated, compromise settlement. Armenia will be left with no choice but Renewed fighting would also threaten to recognize de jure the Republic of Azeri oil supplies to the West, carried Nagorno-Karabakh and provide for the by pipelines skirting Nagorno-Karabakh. safety of its population by all means.” Azerbaijan, host to oil majors including He spoke after a Kremlin meet- BP, Exxonmobil and Chevron and with ing of the Collective Security Trea- its military coffers swollen by petrodol- ty Organization, a Russian-led se- lars, says it is losing patience with ne- curity bloc of ex-Soviet republics. gotiations and is prepared to use force. The past two years have seen the worst Mediators from Russia, the United States skirmishes along the boundaries around and France have led negotiations be- im Kardashian is best known Nagorno-Karabakh, which broke away tween Armenia and Azerbaijan since Kfor her successful reality tel- with the support of Armenia as the Soviet 1994 under the auspices of the Organi- evision franchise. The 30-year- Union collapsed, since a 1994 ceasefire zation for Security and Cooperation in old socialite has risen to fame with ended all-out war between Muslim Az- Europe. They have made little headway. “Keeping Up with the Kardashi- December 13, 2010 www.themoscowtimes.com ans,” but she also likes to show her serious side when it comes to im- Appeals court reverses itself over Armenian suit portant social and political issues. federal appeals court on Friday re- Friday reversed itself and now says the heirs As a proud Armenian woman, Kim A versed itself and now says the heirs of of Armenians killed in the Turkish Ottoman tries to incorporate her heritage into Armenians killed in the Turkish Ottoman Empire can seek payment from compa- a number of her projects. From fash- Empire can seek payment from compa- nies that sold their relatives life insurance. ion to jewelry, the Armenian culture nies that sold their relatives life insurance. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in has found a place in Kim’s work. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said a California law labe- She has also highlighted the anni- San Francisco said a California law labe- ling the killings as a “genocide” does not versary of the Armenian Genocide ling the killings as a “genocide” does not conflict with U.S. foreign policy, which in years past with posts on her blog. conflict with U.S. foreign policy, which the court said is unsettled on the issue. On Thursday, Kim once again brought the court said is unsettled on the issue. The ruling was 2-1, the same vote the same attention to a very important issue in The ruling was 2-1, the same vote the same judicial panel came to last year when it the Armenian culture. With the use of judicial panel came to last year when it struck down the California law empower- her very popular Twitter page, Kim struck down the California law empower- ing the heirs to sue companies that sold life urged her followers to get involved ing the heirs to sue companies that sold life insurance policies to Armenians killed in with supporting the Armenian Geno- insurance policies to Armenians killed in Ottoman-era Turkey during World War I. cide Resolution. She tweeted: “Eve- Ottoman-era Turkey during World War I. Last year, the same panel concluded that ryone: Please call Speaker Pelosi TO- Last year, the same panel concluded that the U.S. government has sided with the DAY at 202-225-0100 and URGE the U.S. government has sided with the Turkish government and formally taken her to schedule a vote on H.Res.252, Turkish government and formally taken the position against labeling the killings the Armenian Genocide Resolution.” the position against labeling the killings as a genocide. Therefore, that panel con- Aram Hamparian, Executive Direc- as a genocide. Therefore, that panel con- cluded, California’s calling the event a tor of the Armenian National Com- cluded, California’s calling the event a genocide conflicted with U.S. foreign mittee of America, brought atten- genocide conflicted with U.S. foreign policy, making the state law invalid. tion to Kim’s efforts saying, “We policy, making the state law invalid. turned his 2009 dissenting view into law. applaud Kim Kardashian, Serj Tan- But in a rare and stunning move on Friday, “This was totally unexpected,” said at- kian and anti-genocide activists Judge Dorothy Nelson changed her mind and torney Brian Kabateck, who represents from across the country for calling sided with Judge Harry Pregerson, which the Armenian heirs. “It’s a great victory on Speaker Pelosi to schedule a vote turned his 2009 dissenting view into law. for the Armenia people.” Kabateck and on the Armenian Genocide Resolu- “We conclude that there is no express fed- other lawyers have filed similar lawsuits tion. Americans of good conscience eral policy forbidding states to use the term against New York Life Insurance Co. and want to see an end to the cycle of ‘Armenian Genocide,’” Pregerson wrote. French insurer AXA, which were settled genocide and to do that, we have to The ruling revived a lawsuit filed by heirs in 2005 for a combined $37.5 million. start by calling evil by its name.” against three German insurers, including December 10, 2010 December 10, 2010 Munich Re AG. A federal appeals court on full story www.washingtonpost.com www.examiner.com

4 AH ARMENIA HIGHLIGHTS DIASPORA New Satellite Images Con- EU Backs Unconditional Turkish-Armenian firm Complete Destruction Normalization of Djulfa Cemetery he European Union reaffirmed its led by Foreign Minister Edward Tsupport for an unconditional nor- Nalbandian. “The Cooperation Coun- malization of Armenia’s relations cil took note of the state of play of with Turkey following annual con- the process to normalize relations sultations held by top EU and Ar- between Armenia and Turkey,” menian officials in Brussels the EU said in a statement issued on Tuesday. The EU-Armenia Coop- the next day. “The EU underlined eration Council discussed a wide range the importance of ratification and of issues of mutual interest, including implementation of the bilater- he world’s largest body of scientists, the actions stemming Armenia’s par- al protocols without preconditions TAmerican Association for the Advance- ticipation in the EU’s Eastern Part- and expressed support for con- ment of Science, just released satellite im- nership program. The unresolved tinued efforts in this regard.” age comparison and analysis confirming the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Turkish- In a separate statement issued on complete destruction of the ancient Djulfa Armenian relations were also on the agenda. Wednesday, the Armenian For- cemetery, located in an historic Armenian The EU was represented at the meet- eign Ministry likewise stressed exclave currently occupied by Azerbaijan. ing by its Enlargement Commis- that the bloc wants to see the Turk- The AAAS case study, including sion Stefan Fuele and Hungary’s ish-Armenian protocols, signed in the satellite photos, is available here. Foreign Minister Zsolt Nemeth. October 2009, ratified “without To urge UNESCO to hold Az- The Armenian delegation was preconditions.” erbaijan accountable for Djulfa’s December 11, 2010 Lousapats N 864 loss send an action alert from here. Five years ago this month, more than 100 Toward a Unified Diasporan Leadership uniformed Azerbaijanis were caught on tape destroying the burial monuments of the eople who preach to the Armenian that survival instinct has barred the ability medieval Djulfa cemetery, founded in the Ppeople the sermon of “forgive and for- for any power sharing with a fellow Arme- Armenian province of Nakhichevan during get” must realize that by perpetrating the nian toward the goal of nation building. the 9th century and thriving as late as the Genocide, the Turks not only took over our A case in point is present Armenia itself: early 1600s. The soldiers were smashing 3,000-year-old homeland, murdered 1.5 since its independence 20 years ago, many Armenian monuments with sledgehammers, million of its living population and more groups in Armenia have fought the estab- using a crane to remove some of the larg- than 20 million of potential future popula- lishment with increasingly vicious and de- est monuments from the ground, breaking tion, but that they have pulverized the col- structive attacks and insults, unheard of in the stones into small pieces, and dumping lective will of the survivors for perpetuity. any democratic society. them into the River Araxes by a large truck. Almost one full century after the Geno- Armenians cannot stand the leadership Overall, an estimated 3,000 khachkars, or in- cide, Armenians cannot get their acts to- of fellow Armenians. There is a potential tricately carved burial monuments, the crafts- gether and consolidate some seven million president in every citizen of Armenia (or so manship of which is a UNESCO Intangible of them scattered around the world into a everyone believes), which does not tolerate Heritage Tradition, were erased from the face cohesive collective force. the presidency of a single Armenian over of the earth. Azerbaijan’s president called the Seven centuries of oppressive foreign the rest. destruction report an “absolute lie,” and has domination have worked into the moral The first republic fell victim to violent maintained that official denial ever since. fiber of the Armenian people and have clashes between the Bolsheviks and the AAAS’ release, which can be read made inroads into their genes, so much so ARF, leaving tens of thousands victims here, conclusively confirms the de- that they have become accustomed to bow- dead, as if we still needed the bloodshed struction of a sacred place of memory. ing to the rule of any foreign potentate, to after the Genocide. “Azerbaijan’s war against indigenous Ar- serve diligently, faithfully and creatively, Today, similarly, violent divisions have menian heritage in Nakhichevan cannot be seldom questioning the legitimacy of that been ripping apart Armenia’s population. justified in any way–including by the grid- alien rule. The internal divisions will only amplify lock in the negotiations over the Armenian- Even after being forced out of the Ottoman outside political pressures, leading to the Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karaba- Empire, Armenians have preserved their destruction of the third republic. kh, a region that fought for independence in docile attitude toward any foreign rule, Should we meet that tragic end, Armenians the early 1990s from Azerbaijan precisely so with an inverse degree of respect for Ar- in the diaspora will be left with no incen- that a destruction similar to Djulfa’s would menian leadership. tive to work towards an organized diaspo- not take place there,” Simon Maghakyan, Under foreign dominations, the challenge ra, under a unified leadership. the founder and project Manager at the Dju- most of the time has been survival, and December 12, 2010 lfa Virtual Memorial and Museum (www. Armenians have survived individually and full story www.mirorspectator.com djulfa.com), said today in a widely circu- lated email to media and advocacy groups. December 8, 2010 www.asbarez.com "Armenia Highlights" is compiled in association with DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in "Armenia Highlights" do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Armenia.

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