Month: September 2006

ABRAHAM DEFENDS TITLE DESPITE BROKEN JAW

Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia)
CanWest News Service
September 25, 2006 Monday
Final Edition

BOXING. Germany’s IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham will be
out for six months after it was confirmed he needs an operation on
a broken jawbone.

The 26-year-old Abraham sustained the injury in the fifth round of
his successful title defence against Colombian challenger Edison
Miranda late on Saturday.

Abraham, who was born in Armenia, defeated Miranda on points to retain
his title and his record of 22 fights unbeaten.

ILHAM ALIYEV: CREATION OF TWO ARMENIAN STATES POSES GREAT THREAT TO FUTURE OF EUROPE

ARMINFO News Agency
September 25, 2006 Monday

"The South-Caucasian region is of great importance for Europe, the
issue of the Caspian power resources transportation to the European
market, in particular. However, the Karabakh conflict impedes the
Europe and South Caucasus relations", the President of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, made such a statement at the International Forum
"Bertelsmann – 2006" in Berlin, "Azertaj" Azerbaijan State Agency
informs.

I. Aliyev said the "Europe has to make efforts to recover peace
in the region". He proclaimed again the position of official Baku
concerning the issue of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. "Armenia is the
only state in the world where there are no national minorities. This
is a mono-state. The creation of two Armenian states is impossible,
it conflicts with all the international norms and principles and it
poses a great threat to the future of Europe", I. Aliyev said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SEPT 27 OPPOSITION PARTIES TO SIGN STATEMENT ON START OF ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT IN ARMENIA

ARMINFO News Agency
September 25, 2006 Monday

This Thursday almost 20 opposition parties of Armenia will sign a
statement on the start of anti-criminal movement in the country.

The initiators of the project discussed today several drafts of the
statement and instructed a working group to finalize it by Sept 27.

One of the leaders of the Republic party, former interior minister
Suren Abrahamyan says: "We must demand that the government immediately
clear the country from criminal, otherwise we will raise a wide
national movement and will change them."

Commenting on the last tough words of Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan that the initiators of the anti-criminal movement have no
proofs that crime and government have inter-penetrated, the leader
of the New Times party Aram Karapetyan says: "Today, they say that
the head of the investigation department of the State Customs Service
Shahen Hovassapyan might have been killed by Armen Virabyan, nicknamed
Schwarz. Isn’t he the same Schwarz who went to Moscow several years
ago for organizing the attempt on the life of Serzh Jilavyan? How
come he is still in the state administration system and has even got
promotion. So, here you have specific example of inter-penetration
of crime and officialdom," says Karapetyan.

The leader of the Fatherland and Honor party Garnik Margaryan says:
"Territorial Administration Minister Hovik Abrahamyan owns over 10
plants and as many wine factories in Ararat region. I wonder how much
a person who was car washer and spare part seller in 1988 should earn
to buy so much," says Margaryan.

POPE BLESSES BROADCASTING OF ARMENIAN PROGRAMS IN VATICAN

ARMINFO News Agency
September 25, 2006 Monday

In Oct the Telepace Catholic TV channel in Vatican will start regular
broadcasting of Armenian programs, Abbot of Armenian Mkhitarian
Congregation, Archimandrite Haroutuyun Bezdikyan told ArmInfo.

Pope Benedict XVI will attend the opening of the program. Armenian
opera singer Magda Lazarian will sing Armenian sharakans.

The programs will be about the history and culture of the Armenian
Church, Armenians, Armenia, Armenian monuments.

To remind, Telepace broadcasts in 27 countries.

YEREVAN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE FORWARDS INQUIRY TO INDIAN PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH SUICIDE OF INDIAN STUDENT

ARMINFO News Agency
September 25, 2006 Monday

Prosecutor’s Office of Arabkir and Kanaker- Zeitun communities,
Yerevan, has forwarded an inquiry to the Indian party in connection
with the suicide of an Indian student Prashat Anchalia in Armenia.

Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeitun communities Prosecutor Gagik Khachikyan told
ArmInfo that the Prosecutor’s Office is waiting for the response of
the party. Not going into details, G. Khachikyan said the inquiry is
connected with some problems in the course of the student’s residence
in India.

To recap, on April 20, the third-year student of Yerevan State Medical
University P. Anchalia committed a suicide jumping out of the window
of the 6th floor of the hostel. A criminal case was initiated on the
Article 110 of RA Criminal code (leading to suicide). There are no
defendants so far.

PROSECUTORS TO INDICT ARMENIAN JOURNALIST FOR "INSULTING TURKISHNESS"

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
25 Sep 06

Istanbul, 25 September: Istanbul’s Sisli Prosecutor’s Office
prepared an indictment against Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of Agos
newspaper, and two other administrators of the newspaper on charges of
"insulting Turkishness".

In the indictment, the Prosecutor’s Office referred to Hrant Dink’s
interview with a foreign news agency, and recalled that the Agos
newspaper wrote a story about Dink’s remarks.

Hrant Dink is accused of saying: "Of course, I am saying that this
is a genocide because it can be seen from the outcome. We see that
people, who lived in these lands for about 4,000 years, disappeared
after the incidents."

The prosecutor asks for prison terms up to three years for not only
Hrant Dink but also Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan, under Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code.

NEW POLYCLINIC COMPLEX BUILT IN NKR UNDER THE AEGIS OF "HAYASTAN" ALL ARMENIAN FOUNDATION

ARMINFO News Agency
September 25, 2006 Monday

A new three-storied polyclinic complex has opened in the capital of
the Nagorny Karabakh Republic, Stepanakert. The complex was built
under the aegis of "Hayastan" All Armenian Foundation on the funds of
American philanthropists, George Pagumyan and Hrayr Hovhanyan family,
Arminfo’s special correspondent to Stepanakert reports.

Participating in the opening ceremony were NKR President Arkady
Ghoukassyan, Parliamentary Speaker Ashot Ghulyan, Prime Minister
Anishavan Danielyan, members of Parliament and Government,
representative of "Hayastan" All Armenian Foundation. Leader
of Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop
Pargev Martirosyan blessed the new building. "The opening of the
new policlinic can be considered a foundation for development of our
system," said Zoya Lazaryan, NKR Health Minister. The new building
consists of a polyclinic and a diagnostic center. The project cost
2 mln US dollars. In his turn, NKR President Arkady Ghoukassyan
stressed the necessity of sooner reconstruction of the republican
hospital. "The problem of the reconstruction can be called already
settled. We have already found a philanthropist, who will finance
the project," he said. "Similar programs will be implemented in the
country also in future. Everyone is aware that the fate of all the
Armenians is decided in Artsakh. Everyone is aware of the necessity
of keeping Artsakhis in Artsakh," NKR president said.

AZERI PRESSURE GROUP PUSHES FOR WAR TO RESOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT – TV

ANS TV, Baku, in Azeri
25 Sep 06

[Presenter] The [Baku-based] Karabakh Liberation Organization
believes that it is time to quit peace talks, its national manifesto
to resolve the [Nagornyy Karabakh] conflict says. The document, which
was publicized today [25 September], says that the territories must
be liberated by means of war.

[Akif Nagi, captioned as the organization’s chairman, shown speaking
to a news briefing] Azerbaijan must liberate its territories from
occupation in a military way. This is our position. Such a necessity
has already arisen in Azerbaijani society. We have always supported
this line. We believe that ugly cases cannot be tolerated under the
pretext of pluralism and democracy in Azerbaijani society. There are
threats in that direction. What made us adopt this document is also
that some non-governmental organizations are implementing projects to
build broad friendly and fraternal relations with the Armenians. They
are even setting up camps in Armenia in order for Azerbaijani and
Armenian young people to make friends. They are trying to implement
such projects on a large-scale. Therefore, we believe that the position
of Azerbaijani society must be made clear and everyone must express
their position.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"CAN YOU WIN?"

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan, in Armenian
23 Sep 06

Armenian Paper Reports Rift Within Ruling Coalition Over Succession

Reliable sources have said that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
has advised senior officials to compete ahead of the 2008 presidential
election. Kocharyan’s idea is that all officials who aspire to become
Armenia’s next president should launch an election campaign in order
to become the candidate of the authorities by early 2008 and in order
to have the most chances to win the election. Many officials were
inspired on hearing this, but some were angry.

Kocharyan is not going to make [Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan
his direct successor. He suggests that Sarkisyan compete with other
presidential contenders on equal terms. This means that after all
Kocharyan may opt for another candidate. But the most important
result is that the Republican Party of Armenia [RPA] is angry with
Kocharyan’s ideas on a transitional candidate. According to the RPA,
Robert Kocharyan would not be nominated as a presidential candidate
in 1998 and 2003 if they were to apply the same logic back then. But
talks held behind closed doors have failed to change the formula
suggested by Kocharyan.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT : ENLARGEMENT ISSUES SET TO DOMINATE PLENARY SESSION

European Report
September 25, 2006

The European Parliament’s second plenary session this month, which
will be held in Strasbourg from 25 to 28 September, will focus on
enlargement with the adoption of the Eurlings report’ on Turkey’s
progress towards accession, and a Commission declaration on Bulgaria
and Romania’s entry into the EU. Parliament is also due to vote on
the Rapkay report’ on Services of General Interest.

Turkey must relaunch reforms, normalise relations with Cyprus and
recognise the Armenian genocide. This in substance is the tenor of
the own-initiative report by Camiel Eurlings (EPP-ED, NL), which will
be examined in plenary session following its adoption by the Foreign
Affairs Committee on 4 September. While the rapporteur welcomes the
opening of negotiations with Turkey, he nevertheless regrets the
slow pace of the reform process in the country. Accession remains
the objective of negotiations, even though it cannot be considered
automatic. MEPs will vote on the report on 27 September, but the
outcome remains uncertain since some 79 amendments have been tabled.

While the EPP-ED has already pledged its support for the text, the
Socialists (PES) reserve the right to reject it if certain amendments
are not retained. The European Commission has, meanwhile, postponed
until 8 November (two weeks later than originally scheduled) the
publication of its annual report on progress made by Turkey towards
EU accession.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn will present a communication to
the EP on 26 September on the progress made by Bulgaria and Romania
towards their EU accession. The Commission must in effect decide
whether to maintain the 1 January 2007 date for the two countries’
entry into the European Union and decide whether to trigger certain
safeguards. An exchange of views will follow but the real debate will
come on 11 October in Brussels at the mini plenary session.

Parliament will vote on the two resolutions the following day. The
various groups generally expect the accession date to be maintained
at 1 January 2007.

INVESTITURE OF COMMISSIONERS

In another field, the own-initiative report by Bernhard Rapkay (PES,
DE) on the Commission White Paper on Services of General Interest will
be debated on 26 September in the presence of Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso. The vote will take place the following day. The text
looks at how EU legislation should affect public services provided in
the member states. The report reflects a consensus negotiated between
the different political groups.

The plenary assembly will also examine the recommendation from its
Committee on Budgetary Control to grant discharge to the European
Parliament’s president for the 2004 budget year. This vote has been
postponed since April following the controversy over EP buildings in
Strasbourg. However, the settlement now appears to be in sight. In
this context, the Budget Committee, which meets on 26 September,
must decide whether or not to approve the acquisition of buildings
for a total of E143.125 million.

On the fringes of the plenary session, and in addition to the solemn
session on 26 September with the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora will address the
Conference of Presidents of Political Groups on 27 September.

Symbolically, the plenary session will be interrupted for an hour
and a half to allow this Conference to be opened exceptionally
to all MEPs. However, since this meeting will also be held in the
Parliament chamber, there will be little visible difference with the
plenary session.

Finally, three nominees among the ten candidates for the 2006 Sakharov
Prize will be revealed on evening of 25 September. The winner will be
chosen in October. On 28 September, the Conference of Presidents is
expected to begin discussing a date and procedures for the investiture
of the future Bulgarian and Romanian commissioners as well as current
commissioners who will be required to change their portfolio. A priori,
the commissioners should be appointed at the end of October, appear
before the European Parliament in November and be invested by the
December plenary session.