ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Police Break up Opposition Demonstrations in Armenia 2) OSCE Concerned over High Political Tension in Armenia 3) Authorities Firm in Resolution to Preserve Stability 4) President Meets with Leaders of Parliament Parties, Welcomes Dialogue 5) Oskanian, Kharrazi Focus on Karabagh and Economic Cooperation 6) Juharian Wins Wrestling Championship in Europe 1) Police Break up Opposition Demonstrations in Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Yerkir)--Political confrontation between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his rivals took a violent twist on Tuesday when special police forces broke up an opposition rally in the center of Yerevan, at 2:00 AM local time, a few dozen meters away from parliament and the US embassy. "People are panicking and are running down Marshal Baghramian Avenue. Police are using water cannons. They have taken away the barbed wire that was in front of the parliament building and started charging the demonstrators," said RFE/RL Yerevan bureau correspondent Hrach Melkumian, speaking live from the scene. "We saw these water cannons coming toward us and they starting drenching us. Then special police forces started throwing [blank] grenades at the crowd. We heard explosions and ran away in panic." Yesterday, some 10,000 protesters were stopped by police on Marshal Baghramian Avenue while marching toward Kocharian's office. No violence was reported then. Approximately one-third of the demonstrators decided to camp there for the night, turning the protest into an improvised open-air music festival. As soon as the security raid started, opposition supporters spread out in various directions and attempted to break through the police cordon. Some found refuge in smaller streets, others in private houses nearby. Police today confirmed the operation, saying only that several people were injured and others detained during the night raid. Armenia's Noyan Tapan news agency quoted Yerevan city health officials as saying 16 demonstrators were hospitalized. Armenian state television showed pictures of policemen being assaulted by people identified as protesters and security officers receiving medical treatment. It gave no details of civilian injuries. In comments broadcast on state-run television today, Interior Ministry spokesman Sayat Shirinian said protesters provoked the security forces. "Police repeatedly warned demonstrators that their unlawful actions would be met with adequate reaction if they were to continue. But, despite this, the transgressors went on for quite a long time with their antisocial actions. On top of this, in response to [our] warnings, they started moving menacingly toward police forces," Shirinian said. Shirinian said protesters assaulted security officers with stones and petrol bombs while shouting antigovernment slogans and calling for the violent overthrow of the existing regime. The opposition denies these claims. One female demonstrator said the streetlights went out suddenly and that the police moved in without prior warning. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) gave a mixed assessment of the overnight unrest. In comments made to RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin suggested that both protesters and police forces were to blame for the violence. "We don't share the opinion that the demonstration was purely peaceful, because all sorts of provocative statements were being made and stones were being thrown [at police forces]. But that's not the point. We are against any kind of violence, and we conveyed our concerns with this regard personally to [President Kocharian]," Pryakhin said. RFE/RL's Yerevan Bureau reports that the offices of Armenia's main opposition parties were raided during the night and several activists detained. Some, such as lawmaker Shavarsh Kocharian of the Justice (Artarutyun) alliance, were released shortly after. None of the main opposition leaders were detained. National Unity Party Chairman Ardashes Geghamian said he was among the protesters on Marshal Baghramian Avenue and that he escaped with only slight injuries. Yesterday's march marked the culmination of four days of anti-Kocharian protests led by the Justice alliance and the National Unity Party. In a bid to defuse the mounting political tension, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)--one of the three partners in the ruling coalition--last week proposed that Justice and its allies have a say in domestic affairs through the National Security Council, warning that "either we shall all win, ensuring the rapid and stable development of the country, or we shall all lose, reaping the devastating consequences of confrontation and civil conflict." The ARF's statement called for real and guaranteed reforms in the life of the country and its people, as the substance of the agreement, that it proposed would include: The formation of an electoral system that entirely meets international standards; Constitutional reforms that strengthen democratic mechanisms; A comprehensive fight against corruption, the shadow economy, and the system of clans. However, the opposition rejected the offer. Lawmakers of the ARF and the two other coalition partners--the Republican Party and Rule of Law (Orinats Yerkir)--unexpectedly walked out of yesterday's parliamentary session. ARF parliamentarian Vahan Hovhanissian said the boycott by the coalition partners sought to avoid possible violence between their supporters and anti-Kocharian street protesters. Whether the opposition will be able to stage further antigovernment rallies in the coming days remains unclear. 2) OSCE Concerned over High Political Tension in Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress)--President Robert Kocharian met with the head of The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, to discuss practical implementation of programs to tackle corruption and the necessity to improve Armenia's election law; he also attached importance to carrying out Armenia's poverty reduction program. Pryakhin expressed concern about political tensions in Armenia, stressing that the use of force against peaceful demonstrators is "unacceptable;" he nevertheless endorsed police claims that they behaved aggressively. He also denounced various political forces for exploiting the names of international organizations, including the OSCE, which he said seeks to promote "establishment of civil society," and stands for maintenance of constitutional order and legality in Armenia. 3) Authorities Firm in Resolution to Preserve Stability YEREVAN (Armenpress)--A presidential spokesman said on Tuesday that the opposition's calls for a change of power and violence, along with its unsanctioned rallies and marches, have developed into political extremism that stands to jeopardize Armenia's stability and tarnishes the international image of a country that has chosen the path of democracy and radical reform of its economy. Spokesman Ashot Kocharian argued that law-enforcement bodies were forced to intervene to maintain public order, and that their actions did not go beyond the framework set by law. "The police interfered after the anti-government rally had disrupted the work of the president and the parliament, endangering the county's constitutional order," he said. He said police stepped in after demonstrators refused to obey their orders. "The capital is under the full control of the authorities and all government agencies are functioning normally. The authorities are firm in their resolution to apply all measures, according to law, to preserve stability and stave off manifestations of extremism," he said. 4) President Meets with Leaders of Parliament Parties, Welcomes Dialogue YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--President Robert Kocharian welcomed the ruling coalition's initiative to begin dialogue with the opposition without any preliminary conditions on both sides. Kocharian met with the leaders of the ruling coalition and representatives of the United Labor Party (ULP), and People's Deputy parliamentary factions to discuss the situation in the country. The Republican party was represented by Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and National Assembly Vice-speaker Tigran Torosian; the Orinats Yerkir by Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian and Mher Shahgeldian; the ARF by Levon Mkrtchian and Armen Rustamian; the People's Deputy by Karen Karapetian; and the ULP by Gurgen Arsenian. Vice Speaker Tigran Torosian, said the having assessed the domestic political situation in the country, the president proposes a range of measures to ease the tension. The participants agreed that the possibility of dialogue had not yet been ruled out. Torosian reiterated the ruling coalition's willingness for dialogue with the opposition, adding that initiating the meeting should serve as concrete evidence. He expressed confidence that the opinions on both sides would coincide on vital issues as long as it occurs at a negotiation table. Torosian added that the opposition's all-or-nothing position calling for the president's resignation, is already not constructive. 5) Oskanian, Kharrazi Focus on Karabagh and Economic Cooperation Tehran (IRNA)--Iran and Armenia discussed the expansion of already increasing bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues, including Mountainous Karabagh Republic. Visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, told his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, that developments in Karabagh, as well as upcoming negotiations with Azeri officials, are important and stressed the need to maintain regional consultations, particularly with Iran, for the sake of regional stability. "What is of crucial importance to us," said Oskanian, is that Iran has managed to implement a balanced policy toward Armenia since its independence, and displayed neutrality on the Mountainous Karabagh issue." Kharrazi proposed the continuation of ministerial level talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran supports dialogue in settling the Karabagh issue." Oskanian voiced readiness to hold negotiations with Azerbaijan on any level. "This is why we are going to Prague and we expect Azerbaijan to specify its position regarding to the process," but was quick to criticize Azerbaijan's newly appointed foreign minister for announcing that Baku would neither tolerate Karabagh's independence, nor its joining Armenia. "Such statements will create serious political problems for them. It would be preferable if the newly appointed minister refrained from such statements and got involved in the negotiations instead," Oskanian said, stressing that sooner or later Azerbaijan will have to review its approaches. Considering the high-level political relations already established between the two countries, the sides focused on economic cooperation--the Kajaran tunnel, construction of the Arax hydro-electric power station, and specifically, the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Both Iran and Armenia expect the project to boost cooperation between them, and play an important regional role. Construction on the pipeline is expected to begin soon after finalizing the agreement between the two countries. Oskanian and Kharrazi signed a Memorandum on Understanding that provides a $1 million permanent loan to Armenia, and also discussed cooperation in the health care, education, and culture sectors. Oskanian also met with the secretary of Iranian National Security Council Yasan Rohani, first vice-president of Iran Mohammad Reza Arif, Iran's minister of information Ali Yunesi, as well as representatives of Iran's Armenian community. 6) Juharian Wins Wrestling Championship in Europe YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Greco-Roman style wrestler Vahan Juharian (60 kg weight category) from Gyumri snatched the gold at the European championship in Aparanda, Sweden. Juharian was the only one among six Armenians to win a medal, beating his Turkish rival in the final 4-1. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.