Armenian News‏

EARTHQUAKE IN ARMENIA
A1+
02:16 pm | May 08, 2009

A 2.6-magnitude earthquake took place 6 km south-east from the town of
Eghegnadzor, at 12.09 a.m. (local time). The force of the epicenter
was measured 3-4 on the Richter scale. The earthquake shook a number
of settlements, including Vaik and Eghegnadzor, reports the National
Service Center of the Republic of Armenia.

PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA, TURKEY AGREE TO ABIDE BY PREVIOUS ACCORDS
http://hetq.am/en/politics/president-11/
2009/05/08 | 11:47

On May 7, on the sidelines of the European Partnership summit in
Prague, RoA President Serzh Sargsyan met with his Turkish counterpart,
Abdullah Gul. This is the second face to face meeting between the two
leaders since the start of "football diplomacy' last year. Also present
at the high-levels talks were the foreign ministers of the two nations.

The Press Office of the RoA President described the meeting as
positive and constructive. Agreement was reached between Sargsyan
and Gul to abide by all previous memorandums of understanding and to
move forward towards the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
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without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe.

Azerbaijan faults Armenia for slow progress on Nagorny Karabakh
15:38 | 09/ 05/ 2009

BAKU, May 9 (RIA Novosti) - Azerbaijan on Saturday blamed Armenia for
the lack of significant progress towards a settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict during a recent summit in the Czech Republic.

"I can not say that we have achieved any significant progress. Complex
issues were discussed at the meeting in Prague. Unfortunately, the
Armenian side once again did not show a constructive approach,"
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan met in Prague on Thursday, along with the co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group, which mediates a peaceful resolution to the conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh.

Relations have been tense for more than two decades between Armenia and
Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan with a largely
Armenian population. The region declared its independence in a 1991
after a referendum boycotted by local Azerbaijanis. The ensuing
conflict claimed some 35,000 lives before a ceasefire was signed in
1994. The area technically remains part of Azerbaijan, but has its own
de facto government.

"Azerbaijan wants Armenian troops to withdraw from the occupied
territories as soon as possible," Mammadyarov said.

He also said that the next meeting between the Azeri and Armenian
leaders was planned to be held during an international economic forum
in St. Petersburg in June.

TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRANSFERS TO INDIVIDUALS THROUGH

ARMENIA'S BANKING SYSTEM $183.8MLN IN JAN-MAR 2009
ARKA
May 8, 2009

YEREVAN, May 8. /ARKA/. The total amount of private non-commercial
transfers to individuals through Armenia's banking system amounted
to $183.8mln in January-March 2009. The information is provided in
monthly report of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) for March 2009.

According to the statistics, the indicator decreased by 30.8% or
$81.9mln against analogue period of 2008. A total of $40.3mln was
transferred from Armenia in Jan-Mar 2009 against $54.3mln in Jan-Mar
2008, an annual decrease of 25.8%.

As a result the net inflow amounted to $143.5mln in Jan-Mar
2009 against $211.4mln in Jan-Mar 2008, an annual decrease of
32.1%. Transfers from Russia and USA have the biggest share in total
transfers - 82.9% in January-March 2009 against 85% in analogue period
of 2008.


ARMENIA: YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND MAYBE NO TOMORROW
By Lucine Kasbarian

Yesterday, Armenia was a battlefield and prize for competing empires.

Today, Armenia is a battlefield and prize for competing empires.

Yesterday, the Young Turks' regime released criminals from prison to terrorise Armenians.
Today, Turkish and Armenian regimes contain criminals who terrorise Armenians.

Yesterday, the Turkish government solved its “Armenian problem” with repression, violence and murder, including the execution of 250 intellectuals in 1915.

Today, the Turkish government solves its “Armenian problem” with repression, violence and murder, including the execution of Hrant Dink in 2007.

Yesterday, in the Ottoman Empire, Armenian women threw themselves into rivers and over cliffs to avoid Turkish rape, forced marriages and slavery.

Today, in Turkey, migrant women from Armenia prostitute themselves, while Armenian women Turkify themselves through intermarriage.

Yesterday, Armenians struggled on their own lands to retain their faith, language and traditions.

Today, Armenians live in foreign lands, and while free to practise their faith, language and traditions, let them fade away.

Yesterday, international media reported truthfully about the Armenian Genocide.

Today, international media willingly publish Turkish propaganda and genocide denials.

Yesterday, Turkish authorities removed Armenians from their lands to convince the world that Armenians never lived there.

Today, Turkish authorities dismantle churches, monuments, and cemeteries to convince the world that Armenians never lived there.

Yesterday, Turkish leaders demonised Armenians through word of mouth to turn the Turks against them.

Today, Turkish leaders demonise Armenians through books and films to turn the Turks against them.

Yesterday, ordinary Armenians, their backs to the wall, secured an independent nation on the battlefield.

Today, Armenia’s ruling cabal may wilfully surrender their nation behind closed doors.

Yesterday, President Wilson promised a mandate for Armenia, only to have the U.S. Senate reject it.

Today, President Obama promised to recognise the Armenian Genocide, only to go back on his word.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Vratsian was forced to hand Armenia to the Soviets to save it from Turkish destruction.

Today, President Sargsyan and his clique voluntarily sacrifice Armenia’s interests for their own benefit.

Yesterday, Armenians mistakenly trusted the Western powers and Russia. The Armenian nation paid the price.

Today, Armenians mistakenly trust the Western powers and Russia. The Armenian nation pays the price.

Yesterday, Armenians of Arstakh defended their native lands against Azeri hostility.

Today, Armenians of Arstakh defend their native lands against Azeri and NATO hostility.

Yesterday, Armenian leaders sacrificed their lives to secure liberty for their people.

Today, Armenians leaders sacrifice their dignity for their own personal ambitions.

Yesterday, a closed border prevented Turkey from penetrating Armenia.

Today, an open border could enable Turkey to penetrate Armenia.

Yesterday, Armenia would have been eliminated if its people did not resist.

Today, Armenia will be eliminated if its people do not resist.

Lucine Kasbarian is an Armenian American writer
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