Month: September 2006

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PASSES AMENDED REPORT ON TURKEY
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006

Recognition of Armenian Genocide Not Highlighted as a Prerequisite
for EU Membership

On September 27, the European Parliament discussed the report on Turkey
adopted by its External Relations Committee on September 4. With 429
votes for, 71 against and 125 abstentions the European Parliament
passed the report.

As it is known, the draft report made out by Camiel Eurlings indicated
Turkey’s failure in carrying out reforms and put a prerequisite of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide for Turkey to join the EU. Moreover,
the draft report reminded of the genocides of Pontic Greeks and
Assyrians.

All these instigated strong opposition in Turkey that resulted in
removing the Armenian Genocide recognition from precondition list
following censure by socialist, liberal and "green" parties. "Though
the Armenian Genocide is not one of the Copenhagen Criteria,
reconciliation with its past is unavoidable for a country on the path
of EU membership."

The proposal to include the genocides of Pontic Greeks and Assyrians
with a separate paragraph in the report was also rejected.

In other words, on September 27 the European Parliament voted for an
amended draft that was adopted with overwhelming "yes" votes.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO ABORT SETTLEMENT PROCESS BY ARMENIA’S HANDS

AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006

Meanwhile Karabakh Is a Place That Exists in Reality

Within the framework of the UN Assembly 61st session, RA foreign
minister and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs discussed the current
situation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, i.e. there was
an intention to hold a ministerial meeting in New York, after the
meeting in Paris, but he GUAM suggestion to discuss the regional
conflicts at UN changed the situation. Thus, the Armenian side
suggested to postpone the meeting. Besides, according to Vartan
Oskanian, the Armenian side doesn’t evade the meeting.

He added that the new developments in the UN deprive the coming
ministerial meeting of any sense.

In an interview to RFE/RL, Oskanian touched upon the evaluations
of the Azeri side regarding Nagorno Karabakh, particularly, they
say that Armenia has elaborated a myth on the historical past and
the economic achievements of NKR. In his turn, Oskanian said that
Karabakh is a place that exists in reality and the representatives
of the international community may go there and check the situation
themselves. He emphasized that any attempts of Azerbaijan to deny
this reality are doomed to failure.

As for the current stage of the negotiations, in his speech,
Vartan Oskanian confirmed the agreement of Armenia to the principles
discussed, adding that "Azerbaijan not obviously tries to show that
they break the agreements that are achieved till now, and this is the
main concern." Moreover, Oskanian said that the current position of
Azerbaijan is meant to abort the OSCE Minsk group process and to do
that with the help of Armenia.

Vartan Oskanian confirmed the existence of the referendum in the
document that the Azeri side evades to sign. As for the coming
Oskanian-Mamediarov next meeting, before that the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs will have telephone conversations or may visit the
region. He didn’t exclude the resumption of direct negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan both at the level of president and
the foreign ministers.

Oskanian added that the presidents may meet only after the meeting
of the foreign ministers.

ATOM-ANTI-TERROR 06 EXERCISES KICK OFF
By Marietta Makarian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006

Atom-Anti-Terror 06 exercises began in Armenia Tuesday Sept. 26. Heads
of anti-terror departments of CIS states are participating in
the exercises and the representatives of the G8, OSCE, UN Security
Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee as well as Shanghai Organization
Cooperation are acting as observers.

Greeting speeches were made by Colonel General Boris Melnikov, head
of Counter-Terrorism Committee of the CIS, and Colonel General Gorik
Hakobian, head of National Security Service of Armenia. President
Robert Kocharian sent a greeting message to the participants of
three-day drills. The opening ceremony taking place at Armenia-Marriott
Hotel was attended also by defense minister Serge Sargsian, head of
RA Police Department Hayk Harutyunian and other officials.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘HAYFEST’ THEATRICAL FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN FOR FOURTH TIME
By Susana Margarian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006

In 2003 most of the Armenian spectators weren’t encouraged with
the foreign performances included in "Hayfest" first international
theatrical festival.

This year, the forth festival will represent a larger perspective of
the contemporary theatre to the Armenian spectators. The organizers
of "Hayfest " theatrical festival stated about this at the press
conference at the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre. They added that the
festival is sponsored by RA prime minister and RA defense minister. The
organizers of the festival would also like to get the financial
assistance form RA Culture Ministry, as well, and they expect that to
happen next year. Meanwhile, from October 4, 50 theatre troops from
the world will represent their performances at the Yerevan theatres.

Within the framework of "Hayfest," they envisage to hold also the
international festival of youth and puppet theatres. Arthur Ghukasian,
head of the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre stated in response to the
question of Azg, that they paid more attention to genres of the plays,
to the structure of the troops and to the prices of the performances,
rather than to their content. He added that the festival has no
nominations or awards. The festival is directed to contribute to
the development of the cultural policy and art management spheres
in Armenia. The organizers have also included master classes in the
course of the festival for the Armenian students.

It’s worth mentioning that only 20 local theatrical troops will
participate in the festival.

THE STRUCTURE OF CRIMINAL WORLD

A1+
[07:50 pm] 28 September, 2006

Today fifteen oppositional forces issued a statement which says,
"RA citizens are in peril in their homeland. Innocent people became
victims of recent murders and intimidations. The couple Robert
Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan is the direct stimulant of these crimes
and violence. They do their best to maintain their posts in the
coming elections".

Though the initiators of the anti-criminal act promised not to
mention any names, the names of Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan
were underlined in the whole text. "Robert Kocharyan sponsors Serge
Sargsyan’s criminal grouping. The latter, under the veil of the Party
"Republican" gave bribes to the state workers, intimidated the public,
Mass Media representatives and political figures and created conditions
for state revolution". The authors of the statement also referred to
Yaponchik’s visit to Armenia. They are convinced that people know the
enumerated criminals rather well but they don’t have enough evidence
in this connection.

By the way, the rumors about the intention of the Party "Prosperous
Armenia" to join anti-criminal action were refuted today.

Mher Shahgeldyan, member of Orinats Yerkir, called Aram Karapetyan,
leader of New Times and expressed the readiness of their party members
to join the statement.

UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS FOR UNPRECEDENTED CONCERT

A1+
[07:37 pm] 28 September, 2006

There will be two thousand seats for the guests of the concert "Charles
Aznavour and His Freinds" which is to be held in republic Square on
September 30. The most striking is that the most expensive tickets
(150 thousand AMD) had a great demand among the buyers. The front
and central viewers mainly bought tickets at this cost and they are
eager to see the great chansonnier closer.

The central streets of the city leading to Republic Square –
Nalbandyan, Abovyan, Buzand and Melik-Adamyan, will be closed on that
day. But those who cannot afford tickets for the concert can watch
it by three large screens located at the square. The entrance is
free for all those who want to listen to the great chansonnier. The
initiators of the concert warn the people not to come to the concert
by bicycles or not to take heavy bags or packets with them.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE NEVER FORGETS ITS DEMANDS

A1+
[08:15 pm] 28 September, 2006

"Though the role of the parliament has significantly increased due
to the constitutional amendments, there is a threat that the next
parliament will be made up from oligarchs," says Stepan Demirchyan,
leader of "Justice" faction and adds that the representatives of the
PACE monitoring group share his concern in this respect.

During the meeting with the journalists the representatives of
"Justice" bloc said that they approve of proportional election
system as, "majoritarian elections are a source of bribe taking in
our country."

The deputies of the bloc repeated the same words they used to
say for many years, "We assume that there is no alternative for
Euro-integration. But it mustn’t have imitational essence. Democracy
must be driven from the interests of our people and our state. In
fact, we face a regress in the country," say the representatives of
the Opposition.

In Grigor Haroutyunyan’s words, they have informed the PACE
representatives once more that freedom of expression and principle of
diversity are violated in Armenia. "The authorities mainly ignore the
demand of CoE, thus ignoring the demand to return A1+ again to air."

The representatives of the PACE monitoring group have also met with
other factions today and naturally the general picture presented by
them quite different.

Reminder: the PACE representatives are to present their report in 2007.

PURSUIT OF OYP OR ECONOMY OF THREE MILLION AMD?

A1+
[08:37 pm] 28 September, 2006

Forty state workers of the National Assembly will be dismissed starting
from October 2.

Souren Mamikonyan, member of Orinats Yerkir Party, head of the NA
legal service, told the journalists today that the mass reductions
are accompanied by breeches of constitutional rights.

"It is noteworthy that the main cause is kept secret.

They announce that they will economize three million AMD by dismissing
40 workers. They also say that the institutions opened during the
office of Arthur Baghdasaryan, former NA Speaker will be liquidated,"
announced Souren Mamikonyan.

Mr. Mamikonyan sees elements of political pursuit in the
dismissals. Court of First Instance of Kentron and Nork-Marash will
find the respondent of this mess during the court trial on October 11.

OYP IS DEPRIVED OF A HALL

A1+
[09:15 pm] 28 September, 2006

According to the data of Orinats Yerkir Party, Arthur Bagdasaryan
and other members of the party turned to the mayor of Ashtarak with
a request to give them a hall for meeting with Ashtarak residents.

An hour later the city mayor said that he couldn’t do their request
even if they paid the correspondent sum of money as the Party Orinats
Yerkir presents the Opposition.

The statement of the OYP Press Service says, "We condemn this mean act
of the authorities and urge them not to breech the Constitution and
laws and to give the OYP and other oppositional parties an opportunity
to hold meetings with people."

NIKOLAY PAVLOV: CAUCASUS ONE OF GANGLIONS OF WORLD POLITICS

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.09.2006 12:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia stands for the development of
inter-civilization and inter-cultural dialogue in the Caucasus, Russian
Ambassador to Armenia Nikolay Pavlov said Friday in Yerevan. "Located
at the turn of the geographical platforms of Europe and Asia, the CIS
and the Middle East as well as in the center of the Caspian and Black
Sea region, the Caucasus remains one of the ganglions of the world
politics," he underscored addressing a scientific conference titled
"Media and new political relations in the Caucasus."

According to the Ambassador, a number of regional and international
factors immediately influence on the unstable situation in the
Transcaucasus.

"Proceeding from the goals of a line targeted at multipolar and
demographic world structure and global stability Russia stands
for the development of inter-civilization, inter-cultural and
inter-constitutional dialogue as well as prevention of conflict
escalation," Pavlov said. In his words, not only the official diplomacy
but also the activities of public forces of the non-governmental sector
and the information field can play a significant role in the resolution
of these tasks. "I am convinced that not only the authorities but
also the publics of the states of the region are responsible for
maintenance of peace," the Ambassador said, reported newsarmenia.ru.