Month: October 2006

OSCE ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF LONG-TERM OBSERVATION MISSION IN RA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The OSCE attaches great importance to
holding the 2007 and 2008 state elections corresponding to democratic
standards and to sending invitations for implementation of the
long-term observation mission. Francesco Bascone, the Ambassador
of Italy to the OSCE said about it at the October 25 meeting with
RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian. At the meeting at which OSCE Yerevan
Office head, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin and Ambassador of Italy to
Armenia Marco Clemente were present, it was spoken about discussions
of the Electoral Code and the coming state elections. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the RA NA Public Relations Department, at Francesco
Bascone’s request, the NA Speaker presented in details the process of
discussions on the EC draft amendments and terms of adoption. It was
mentioned that it is envisaged to adopt the EC in December, during
the last four-day sittings of the autumn session. Touching upon the
issue of invitations addressed to international organizations for
implementation of the observation mission during the coming elections,
NA Speaker Tigran Torosian explained that it is possible to send
invitations only after appointing the elections day and assured that
Armenia is the first one interested in holding elections corresponding
to democratic standards and in participation of as many observers
in those elections as it is possible. OSCE Yerevan Office head,
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin assured that in the opinion of the
Venice Commission and OSCE experts, there is no need of experts’
conclusion for the EC draft, and the draft may be adopted as soon
as it is ready. F.Bascone expressed satisfaction with the process of
the EC reforms and wished success in the process of holding elections.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER ASSURES THAT INTERESTS OF ARMENIA NOT TO SUFFER AS A RESULT OF SPECIFYING BORDERS WITH GEORGIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The map of 1939 is used as a basis
in the negotiations concerning delimitation of the Armenian-Georgian
borders. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated about it at the
NA on October 25. In his words, it is the only most complete map
which was adopted by the Armenian and Georgian authorities of that
time. In the Minister’s words other maps, particularly the one of
1945, are not complete and clear. V.Oskanian mentioned that borders
fixed in the 1939 map were violated in some parts by both sides.

"And today we face the task to find the golden mean, to find pragmatic
solutions for none of the sides has territorial losses," the Minister
mentioned. In V.Oskanian’s words, there are still not agreed problems
between the negotiating sides. Exclusing possibility of concessions
damaging interests of Armenia, the Minister mentioned that there is
no alternative for mutually agreed exchanges. Otherwise, the issue
of the borders may not be settled, what, in the Minister’s words,
does not arise of interests of the two countries.

ARMENIAN ELECTIONS TO BE IN CENTER OF ATTENTION OF EUROPE, NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN TO RA SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s involvement in the
European Union New Neighbourhood program and the Actions Plan to be
signed in November to open new prospects of development for Armenia,
helping deepening of democracy, economic progress. Hans Gunnar Aden,
the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Armenia
stated about it at the October 25 meeting with RA National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosian. Touching upon the coming state elections in
Armenia, the Ambassador mentioned that both elections themselves and
pre-electoral period will be in the center of attention of Europe, and
it is expected that Armenia will display political will to guarantee
elections corresponding to the democratic standards. Attaching
importance to success of the Eurointegration policy fostered by
Armenia, T.Torosian informed the Ambassador about the discussions of
the Electoral Code being held at the Parliament. He mentioned that
while editing the draft amendments to the Electoral Code, the National
Assembly closely cooperates with the CE and OSCE experts, and there
are all bases for adoption of the Electoral Code, for creating in this
way good legislative bases for holding elections. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA NA Public Relations Department, the observers’
participation in the elections and objectivity and impartiality of
their estimations were bilaterally attached importance.

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: "MAJORITARIANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXECUTIVE POWER’S RESERVE"

Noyan Tapan
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Hakob Hakobian, a member of the
"People’s Deputy" deputies’ group, deputy elected from Gegharkunik,
new Republican, stated during the October 25 discussions of the
amendments to the Electoral Code held at the National Assembly that
if the existing correlation of majoritarian-proportional places is
broken on account of the majoritarians’ reduction, the group may
present itself with the opposite initiative. NA Deputy Speaker, ARF
faction member Vahan Hovhannisian, responding that speech, noticed that
"People’s Deputy" joined the 2005 agreement for getting place at the
electoral commission. "If the proportional system is reviewed about
what we agreed, maybe, it will be reviewed as well," the NA Deputy
Speaker said. In response to another part of H.Hakobian’s speech,
V.Hovhannisian said: "When I am said that political forces are afraid
as forward which side the majoritarian bends that force will win, I ask
you forward which side you have ever bent besides the authorities. Have
the majoritarians ever been with any political force besides the
authorities? No. They have always been the executive power’s reserve."

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN CULTURAL TIES TO OPEN IN MOSCOW

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Oct 26 2006

MOSCOW, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Opening of the
exhibition entitled "Dialogue of Two Cultures: Russian-Armenian
Cultural Ties of XIX-XX Centuries" will take place on October 26, in
the Central Exhibition Complex of the Moscow Polytechnical Museum,
within the framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia. As the
"Yerkramas" (country) newspaper states quoting the Press Service of
the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation,
the exhibition was addressed to the wide society. Rare documentary
materials of art, science and public figures will be presented at
the exhibition.

Their life and works are closely tied with Armenia and Russia, among
them Hovhannes Aivazovski, Konstantin Halabian, Martiros Sarian, Aram
Khachatrian, Viktor Hambardzumian, Eduard Asadov, Yevgeni Vakhtangov,
Armen Dzhigarkhanian, Zaruhi Dolukhanian, Leonid Yengibarian, Lev
Kulijanov, Pavel Lisitsian, Sergey Parajanov, Marieta Shahinian and
many others are. There are original manuscripts of literary works and
writing of notes, paintings and drawings, models of photos and books
with autographs, portraits, personal things, biographic documents,
materials relating to history of Armenian church of Russia, etc. among
more than hundred of exhibits (majority of them is for the first
time presented to attention of wide audience). The Central Archive of
Armenia and some archives of Russia gave the exhibits. The exhibition
will function till December 10.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN SINGER LUSINE ORDUKHANIAN’S WORDS, ARMENIAN ART ENJOYS STUNNING RECEPTION IN SLOVAKIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "Our concerts were
held in Bratislava with great succees, stunningly well," soloist of
the Yerevan Al.Spendiarian Opera and Ballet National Theater, soprano
Lusine Ordukhanian mentioned in the interview with the Noyan Tapan
correspondent. She performed concerts with tenor of the same theater
Artak Kirakosian from September 26 to October 3 in Bratislava. In
L.Ordukhanian’s words, the Armenian audience does not often show
such reception. "It is not like this in Armenia as we lay ourselves
out but they remain dissatisfied with everything, and they estimate
the art there. I have never seen such a reception," the singer said,
mentioning that there were mainly Slovaks present at the concerts taken
place in Bratislava. In her words, the first and second concerts took
place in Bratislava, and the second was held in Prague. By the way,
the Armenian Culture Days opened in Slovakia just with their concert
at the "Ararat" club. L.Ordukhanian also informed that they got the
invitation and financing for performing concerts in Slovakia from Ashot
Grigorian, the Chairman of the Armenian community of Slovakia. "There
was a preliminary agreement with the RA Ministry of Culture concerning
showing assistance in the issue of travel expenses as well, what did
not manage because of the Hungarian community’s refusal to assist
concerts," the singer stated and added that their pianist was not able
to participate in the concert for that reason. A.Grigorian’s wife,
famous pianist Hasmik Gabrielian saved the situation. She accompanied
during all the concerts. The singer also stated that A.Grigorian
envisages again to invite them to Slovakia, and the directors of the
Philharmonic of Slovakia and the Opera Theater must listen to them
during those concerts. "It would be better that the Ambassador of
Armenia is present at the next concerts as well. That he is not only
present but also participates or at least does not hinder as he did
this time," Lusine Ordukhanian said.

BREAD ABRUPTLY RISES IN PRICE IN JAVAKHK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Oct 26 2006

AKHALKALAK, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The price for
bread was abruptly added in Javakhk from October 24. Bread immediately
became 30% more expensive in shops of Akhalkalak. The price for flour
became 30% more expensive in the market as well. According to the
"A-Info" agency, ones importing flour to Javakhk and ones engaged
in production of bread at place tie this rise in price with the
circumstance of the border’s being close between Russia and Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEPUTY OF REGIONAL SAKREBULO OF AKHALKALAK STARTS IMPLEMENTATION OF PRE-ELECTORAL PROMISES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Oct 26 2006

AKHALKALAK, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Aram Vardanian,
the deputy of the newly elected regional sakrebulo of Akhaltskha
already started implementation of his pre-electoral promises. According
to the "A-Info" agency, A.Bardanian with his co-thinkers started
reconstruction of the Tsughrut sports ground as well as improvement
of the yard and walls of the Saint Sion church. Works of improvement
of the roads tiing villages of Tsughrut and Tsira to the regional
center will start soon. A.Vardanian envisages to re-open the youth
club of the village as well.

Fernando Gasparian

Publisher and industrialist

The Independent
26 October 2006

Fernando Gasparian, industrialist and publisher: born São Paulo,
Brazil 27 January 1930; married (three sons, one daughter); died São
Paulo 7 October 2006.

The industrialist Fernando Gasparian was a defender of democracy and
the most distinguished publisher Brazil produced in the late 20th
century.

He was born in 1930 to parents of Armenian extraction and to the
considerable prosperity the family textile business ensured. After
studying engineering, he and his friends Rubens Paiva (who became a
federal deputy and was later assassinated by the military), Almino
Afonso and Marcos Pereira took over the periodical Jornal de Debates
in 1953. It pursued a Brazil-centred line opposing much foreign
investment and the privatisation of the state oil company Petrobras.

Early in 1964 Gasparian bought America Textil, a substantial Rio de
Janeiro textile company, which had got into difficulties and was being
supported by the Banco do Brasil. After the US-supported military
putsch against the civilian government of President João Goulart later
that year, he was a target for the new dictatorship as a founder of
the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement, the MDB. The military
cut off bank funding for his company. After the dictatorship lurched
further to the right in 1969 Gasparian found it politic to leave
Brazil, for exile, eventually finding a teaching post at St Antony’s
College, Oxford.

He returned to Brazil in 1972 to found Opinião, a hard-hitting
magazine which upset the dictatorship, also acquiring the publishing
house Paz e Terra. Over the years this became a powerhouse of
political and social thought and liberation theology. Alceu Amoroso
Lima, Celso Furtado, Helio Jaguaribe, Fernando Henrique Cardoso,
Octavio Paz, Torcuato di Tella, Alain Touraine, Brian Van Arkadie,
Dudley Seers and Paulo Freire were among the imprint’s authors.

Gasparian returned to Oxford for a few months in 1973 before going
home to launch the monthly Cadernos de Opinião. Its second number
enraged the military by carrying the text of a lecture by Hélder
Cmara, the irrepressible archbishop of Olinda and Recife. Gasparian
was charged with offences against "national security" by a regime
which was obsessed by that slippery concept. In the event he was
acquitted. Unabashed, the dictatorship had a bomb placed in his
editorial offices in 1976.

When dictatorship gave way to constitutional government Gasparian
devoted more time to politics, in 1985 becoming treasurer for the
campaign of his friend Fernando Henrique Cardoso for the mayoralty of
São Paulo. In 1986 he was elected to the constituent assembly framing
a new constitution, on which he served until 1988. There he pushed for
a limit of 12 per cent on bank lending rates, financial support for
agrarian reform, limitations on foreign investment in mining and a ban
on capital punishment.

>From 1993 to 1995 he was active in the Latin American Parliament. He
was increasingly at odds with Cardoso after the latter won the
presidency and in 1995 publicly criticised what he saw as Cardoso’s
excessive reliance on foreign banks attracted to Brazil by high
interest rates.

Talking to Fernando Gasparian last month, I found him as eager for new
projects and ideas as when I first met him in 1970. With his death,
comments Bernardo Kucinski, "it can be said that a generation of
patriotic businessmen committed to a scheme of national development
has become extinct".

Hugh O’Shaughnessy

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Government of France, Press Release
Oct 25 2006

Armenia/Azerbaijan: OSCE Minsk group – Oct 2006

Since the beginning of 2006 the American, French and Russian
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group have been endeavoring to persuade
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to back the fundamental
principles of the future solution to the conflict in Upper Karabakh.

A first draft of this "document of principles" was examined at the
Rambouillet summit on February 10. A second version was presented to
the two heads of state by the mediators at the summit they held in
Bucharest on June 5. The heads of state and government of the G8
countries, at their meeting in St Petersburg, invited the parties to
re-examine it before the end of the year.

The new round of negotiations on this working document was begun by
the mediators in Moscow on October 6 and will continue in Paris
tomorrow. The aim is to get the parties’ reactions to the additional
proposals put forward by the mediators, with the expectation of
finalizing an enhanced version of the document of principles. The
latest version would be submitted to the two presidents at a new
meeting, which would be their third in 2006.

As part of the continued efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group mediators to
help Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a settlement to the conflict in
Upper Karabakh, efforts which President Jacques Chirac emphasized
again during his recent visit to Yerevan, the three American, French
and Russian co-chairs have invited the ministers of the two countries
for another meeting.

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammediarov of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and
his American counterpart Vartan Oskanian will accordingly meet in
Paris on October 24, 2006 for a negotiating session with the Minsk
Group co-chairs.

At that time Elmar Mammediarov will be received by Foreign Minister
Philippe Douste-Blazy on Monday, October 23. Vartan Oskanian will be
received by the minister on Tuesday, October 24.

The principles of the settlement, proposed by the mediators and
endorsed by the heads of state and government at the G8 summit in St
Petersburg, remain on the negotiating table.

With the agreement of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, whom
the mediators met at the beginning of October, a new round of
negotiations has been launched. It began in Moscow on October 6 and
will be continued Paris next week, with the parties considering
additional proposals from the mediators.

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