Month: October 2006

ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEFENCE OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND SECURITY

Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Valentin Varennikov, the Chairman
of the International League for Defence of Human Dignity and Security
presented His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians the activity and programs of the International
League for Defence of Human Dignity and Security. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it by the Information Services of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. Receiving on October 24 the delegation headed by
Valentin Varennikov, a RF State Duma deputy, the Chairman of the
International League for Defence of Human Dignity and Security, Army
General, accompanied by Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, the eparchic vicar
of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, and RA Prime Minister’s Advisor
Fadei Sargsian, His Holiness Patriarch expressed confidence that the
Armenian Apostolic Surb Church will also support the national league
in its activity. His Holiness welcame the delegation’s visit to the
Mother See, congratulating upon the foundation of the National League
for Defence of Human Dignity and Security in Armenia. "We are glad
that today the number of our co-thinkers adds who are also anxious
about challenges of the present life, challenges that upmost endanger
spiritual and moral values in the human life by which a person’s
happiness, peaceful and honourable life are in reality provided,"
His Holiness Patriarch mentioned wishing kind results to the mission
of the international and national leagues.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN: "BUILDING OF TWO STATES, YEREVAN AND MARZES, CONTINUED IN ARMENIA"

Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "Mass absence of jobs, triumphal
march of criminal, increase of volumes of boorishness in the country,
attack of privation and poverty upon population and numerous other sad
realities. And when we compare all these with the two-digit economic
increase that is continuously being drummed, we see that they do not
relate to one another," Artur Baghdasarian, the former Parliament
Speaker, the leader of the "Orinats Yerkir" (Country of Law) party
stated at the October 24 sitting of the RA National Assembly. He
also mentioned that his co-partisan deputies having had meetings in
about 50 settlements of the republic during the last 2 months came to
the conclusion that building of two states, Yerevan and the marzes,
is continued in Armenia as unlike "the political bustle existing
in Yerevan," "difficult, sad social-economic situation" exists in
the marzes.

OYP AND RPA REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT MUTUAL REPROACHES TO EACH OTHER AT TIME OF NA STATEMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "I address to Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian who privatized dozens of thousands of square meters for
pennyworth only in Yerevan, registered thousands of hectares of
lands in his and his intimate people’s names in different marzes, to
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian which is famous for his participation
in numerous shady contracts, his famous habit to lose millions in
casinos, his shady control of patrol, diesel and other spheres. Stop
"black" propaganda towards the OYP, stop the unhealthy and obscene
political action way with the help of executers of your instructions,"
Heghine Bisharian, the Secretary of the "Orinats Yerkir" (Country
of Law) party stated at the October 24 sitting of the RA National
Assembly. Condemning similar action way on behalf of the party,
she called on "honest political struggle and competition but not
struggling with unworthy methods of striking in the back." Responding
this statement, Republican deputy Hamlet Haroutiunian, particularly,
mentioned that one may be opposing but must never "be ungrateful," and
display aversion for colleagues in such inadmissible doses. He also
stated that OYP leader Artur Baghdasarian did not make such a speech
himself "as everybody knows what role S.Sargsian had in the affair
of A.Baghdasarian’s formation as a politician." Every representative
of the OYP and RPA making speech among about 3 dozens of deputies
registered for statements partially or completely dedicated his
statement to criticism of the opposite side.

ARMEN BAYBURDIAN AND AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF ACTIVIZING INVESTMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Hans Gunnar Aden, the Ambassador
of Sweden (residence in Stockholm) gave on October 23 copies of his
credentials to Armen Bayburdian, the RA Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, welcoming the Ambassador, A.Bayburdian
wished success to the newly appointed Ambassador in the affair of
implementation of the most important mission. During the meeting the
sides touched upon Armenia’s participation in the EU New Neighbourhood
Policy, the present level of the Armenian-Swedish relations as well
as the two countries’ participation in international structures. The
interlocuters discussed already existing contacts of Armenian-Swedish
businessmen and possibilities of activization of investments.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS CONTINUE DISCUSSION OF DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO ELECTION CODE

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 24 2006

Armenian parliamentarians continued discussing the draft amendments
to the RA Election Code in the first reading, Tuesday.

Presenting the document, a member of the Republic Party of Armenia
Samvel Nikoyan said that under the bill, the persons having no
citizenship of Armenia will be granted a right to vote in the course
of the elections to the local self-government. The bill says that
secret voting is not only the right but also the duty of a voter.

Electoral registers of servicemen must be prepared at responsible
bodies and not at military units. The bill also reduced the number
of electors at district electoral commissions to make the work of the
electoral commissions easier and more effective. In this connection,
the election commissions will rise in number by 25-30%. The bill
allows observers to control over the voting being next to members of
election commissions. In addition, ballot-papers are to be put into
envelops before their are put into ballot- boxes.

Samvel Nikoyan said some provisions of the bill were not welcomed
by international experts. Thus, the proposal by the National Unity
opposition party to recall the members of election commission if
necessary was criticized by international experts. They think the
given mechanism will make the members of election commissions dependant
on the political forces they were appointed by. They did not welcome
the party’s idea to install cameras at polling stations either. They
think it may exert pressure on voters and violate their right to vote.

LEAGUE FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND SECURITY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 24 2006

Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Tigran Torosyan met with the delegation
headed by Russian State Duma member, Chairman of the International
League for Protection of Human Dignity and Security, General Valentine
Varennikov, Tuesday.

The press-service of the Armenian parliament told ArmInfo that in the
course of the meeting, General Varennikov informed the speaker that
the key goal of the visit is to establish an International League for
Protection of Human Dignity and Security in Armenia. He said the League
comprises 12 countries, another 20 countries will join it within the
nearest future. The League studies conflicts in different regions,
the possibilities of man-caused catastrophes, as well as prepares
projects on prevention and liquidation of aftermath of conflicts and
catastrophes. T. Torosyan supported the idea of establishment of the
League in Armenia and expressed readiness to contribute to it. At the
same time, he expressed regret that human dignity is often infringed
in the modern world.

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICANEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]

October 24, 2006
Yerevan State University Presents Armenian Translation of Public
Administration Book as Part of U.S. Government Program
On October 23, 2006 Yerevan State University (YSU) presented an Armenian
translation of Robert Denhardt´s "Theories of Public Administration" book,
as well as a CD of 1,500 pages of Armenian-language resources on Public
Administration. This was one of the results of a three-year Educational
Partnership Program between Arizona State University (ASU) and Yerevan State
University funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the
U.S. Department of State.
The program, entitled "Refashioning the Social Sciences and Practitioner
Training in Public Administration," facilitated the development of an M.A.
degree program in Public Administration at YSU, encouraged professional
training and curricular reform through reciprocal semester visits of ASU and
YSU faculty in the social sciences and Public Administration, and enriched
the dynamic new program in Armenian studies at ASU. As part of the program,
nine YSU professors developed approximately 30 new courses in Public
Administration during their intensive study and collaboration at ASU. In
addition, ASU faculty members traveled to YSU to teach courses and work on
resource development with their local partners. At present, 20 students are
enrolled in the M.A. program in Public Administration, and they expect to
graduate in May of 2006. Emphasizing the success of the Arizona State
University-Yerevan State University partnership, YSU representatives stated
that they hoped to expand the program to the undergraduate level.

PRESS RELEASE
THE GREENS UNION OF ARMENIA
Dr. Hakob Sanasaryan, President
47-13, Mamikonyants st., 375051, Yerevan,
Republic of Armenia, Tel: (374-1) 281 411
Tel/fax: 257 634; E-mail: [email protected]

An Appeal to the Government of Armenia
October, 2006

The Greens Union of Armenia is appealing to the government of Armenia
not to interfere with the natural rise of the water level of Lake
Sevan.

We do not know when we will have another opportunity like this one:
due to meteorological and hydrologic conditions the water level has
risen by 2 meters during the last 5 years.

Since 1982, all the scientific studies have come to the same
conclusion that in order to preserve the water quality of the lake,
its fauna and its flora, the water level must rise by a minimum of 6
meters, thus reaching to the level of 1903.5 meters above sea level
(abs). Note that 1903.5 meters abs is still about 13 meters below the
lake’s original level of 1915.89 meters abs in the year 1930. At the
level of 1903.5 meters abs, additional studies must be carried out to
decide whether the lake needs a further rise in its water level in
order to recover its health and biodiversity . Therefore, all
construction is legally forbidden below the level of 1908.5 meters abs
in the watershed of Lake Sevan. (Although much has been constructed
below that level.) Similarly, the Law on Lake Sevan obligates the
government to take measures to insure that the lake’s level will rise
by 6 meters over a certain period of time.

Nevertheless, it has come to the attention of the Greens Union that
recently the government is taking steps in the direction of
interfering with the rise of the water level of Lake Sevan. For
example, the minutes of August 28, 2006 meeting with the President of
Armenia (HNA-16), indicate a clear attempt to change the existing law
regarding the rise of the lake’s water level, as well as a proposal to
lower the storm margin (wave height) from 5 meters down to 1 – 1.5
meters. According to the log of that meeting, all the changes are
proposed in order to preserve the existing structures and forests on
the shores of the lake, and also for the construction of a small port.
In addition, the log indicates that various ministries are directed to
perform their respective tasks in order to accomplish the changes in
the existing laws regarding Lake Sevan. Thus, the motives of the
government’s policy or rather, the causes of the government’s
mismanagement of the lake and its watershed basin have become clear.
For example, it is clear now why the Vorotan tunnel, which was
constructed during the hardest economic period for Armenia and which
was meant to replenish the water supply of the lake by routing water
from the River Vorotan, has not been put into operation at all, it’s
clear why there is no attempt to rehabilitate the very expensive
Arpa-Sevan tunnel (piercing 48 kilometers through a mountainous
terrain to supply water to the lake), and why there is no attempt to
clear the shores of the lake from trees, bushes and structures before
the rising water inundates them all. At the same time, certain
individuals are allowed to construct luxury homes and hotels right on
the beach, even destroying natural habitats, such as marsh areas where
the birds nest. All construction activities are forbidden by law
inside the Sevan National Park, which is a preserve, where all
disturbance of the wilderness is forbidden.

Another indication of the government’s true concerns became evident
during a conference/discussion at the National Academy of Sciences on
July 29th, 2005; the chairman and the main speaker of the conference
was the Minister of Nature Protection, Mr. Vartan Ayvazyan, and
persons expressing opposing views were not allowed to express their
views. During the speeches and discussions it was proposed that
something ought to be done to control the rise of the water level, and
studies need to be done in order to recommend a way or ways of slowing
the rise of the water level. Thus, Minister Ayvazyan declared: `The
rise of the level of the lake is happening faster than expected.
While it was anticipated to have the plan [the 6 meter rise]
implemented during a period of 30 years, given the current rate of
rise, the process will be over in 15 years. Therefore, just like the
drop of the lake was unmanageable, we do not wish that the rise be the
same way.’ (published in `Armenian World’, July 30, 2005).

Apparently, the government was planning for the water level to rise by
6 meters very slowly, during a period of some 30 years! (Note that
there is no scientific basis for the chosen number of 30 years.)
However, now, the water level of Lake Sevan is rising too fast for the
government; nature seems to be asserting itself, once again reminding
us of its might… We should humbly accept this gift of nature
replenishing our main reservoir of fresh water, since we are incapable
of predicting how nature will behave in the near future, where we may
discover that the water level once again is dropping…

(end)

Pyunik waltz to Armenian title
Monday, 23 October 2006
by Khachik Chakhoyan
from Yerevan

FC Pyunik coasted to a sixth consecutive Armenian
Premier League title in some style as an overwhelming
12-1 victory against FC Kilikia saw them build an
unassailable 14-point lead atop the table with three
matches remaining.

Blistering start
Samvel Petrosyan’s side went into the weekend’s
fixtures eleven points clear of FC Banants, and as
their nearest rivals were slipping to a 1-0 defeat by
FC MIKA, Pyunik underlined their dominance with an
overwhelming performance. Levon Pachajyan set the tone
as early as the second minute and by the quarter-hour
further strikes from Tigran Gharabaghtsyan, Armen
Tigranyan and Arsen Avetisyan had left the champions
four goals to the good.

Captain’s seal
Avetisyan went on to add another, while Gharabaghtsyan
completed his hat-trick as Kilikia struggled to stem
the flow. Rafael Nazaryan, Agvan Lazarian, Valeri
Aleksanyan and Artur Stepanyan also added their names
to the scoresheet before captain Sargis Hovsepyan made
it 12 with 15 minutes remaining. Kilikia pulled one
back late on but it failed to take the gloss off a
masterful performance as Pyunik claimed their ninth
title since Armenian independence in 1992. It secures
a place in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying
round.

uefa.com

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
October 24, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

NANCY PELOSI PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a
longtime supporter of Armenian American issues who is expected to
become Speaker if the Democrats win a majority in the House this
November, pledged today to support Armenian Genocide legislation
next year during in the 110th session of Congress.

In a statement released to Harut Sassounian, Publisher of the
California Courier, Congresswoman Pelosi stated that:

"I have supported legislation, including H.Res.316, that would
properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. It is imperative that
the United States recognize this atrocity and move to renew our
commitment to eliminate genocide whenever and wherever it exists.
This effort enjoys strong bipartisan support in the House, and I
will continue to support these efforts in the 110th Congress."

Sassounian’s weekly column appears internationally in more than a
dozen newspapers, as well as in the widely read Huffington Post.

"Nancy Pelosi’s powerful words and principled actions underscore
the stark difference between her and Dennis Hastert, who, during
his tenure as Speaker has consistently prevented a bipartisan
majority from voting in favor of U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Congresswoman Pelosi’s statement is consistent with her past record
of energetic and principled support for U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, dating back nearly 20 years. Since her election
to the House in 1986, she has worked closely with the Bay Area
Armenian National Committee, enjoying warm relations with the
Armenian American community in the greater Bay Area.

"The principled stand of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi comes
as no surprise, and we’re proud that she confirmed it again today,"
said Bay Area ANC Chairwoman Roxanne Makasdjian. "The Bay Area
Armenian community has long known and respected Congresswoman
Pelosi’s leadership on genocide prevention, from her advocacy of
Armenian Genocide recognition, to ending the genocide taking place
today in Darfur."

Speaker Hastert (R-IL), despite his pledge in August of 2000 to
schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, pulled the
measure from the House floor in October of that year, only moments
before it was set to be adopted by a broad, bipartisan majority.
He has, in every year since, actively blocked legislation properly
commemorating this crime against humanity.

In July of 2004, following Congressman Adam Schiff’s (D-CA)
successful effort to secure the adoption by the U.S. House of an
amendment recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Speaker Hastert joined
with other members of the House leadership in vowing to block the
final adoption of the measure. In remarks posted at the top of the
Speaker’s website on the day after the amendment’s adoption, the
Speaker stated that, "Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United
States for decades, and the deep foundation upon which our mutual
economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by
this amendment." He and his leadership colleagues also vowed to
block any future consideration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
by the full House of Representatives.

Speaker Hastert has received an "F" rating from the ANCA, while
Minority Leader Pelosi has consistently received "A" grades from
the ANCA for her principled support for Armenian American issues.

Speaking at a Capitol Hill observance in April of 2005, the
California Congresswoman countered those who have cited Turkey’s
strategic position as reason to oppose Armenian Genocide
legislation, stressing that:

"First at the time of the Iron Curtain, [they cited] the strategic
location of Turkey, after that it was the Gulf War and Turkey’s
strategic location . . . Turkey’s strategic location is not a
license to kill."

In May of 2001, during her remarks at the ANCA’s annual Capitol
Hill Armenian Genocide observance, Congresswoman Pelosi noted that:

"The sad thing about that tragedy is that it is a tragedy twice.
Once in the course of the Genocide and secondly in the fact that we
cannot get the United States to pass a resolution memorializing and
acknowledging the terrible things that happened then . . . This
Armenian Genocide is a challenge to the conscience of our country
and the conscience of the world. We will not rest until we have
recognition of it."

Speaking on the House floor in April of 2001, she reminded her
colleagues that:

"Our alliance with Turkey should not deter us from learning the
lessons of past mistakes. If we ignore the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide, we are destined to repeat those same mistakes. The
horrible conflicts in Sudan, Sierra Leone, and East Timor remind us
that we must do more to prevent the systematic slaughter of
innocent people. We must learn from the past and never forget the
victims of the Armenian genocide."

In April of 1999, in a statement on the House floor, the
Congresswoman stressed:

"As we enter the Third Millennium of the Christian Era, it behooves
us to remember. If we ignore the lessons of the Armenian Genocide,
then we are destined to continue our stumblings through the long,
dark tunnel of endless ethnic-cleansings, genocides, and
holocausts. Let us, then, remember to remember."

In remarks marking the Armenian Genocide on the House floor in
April of 1998, she explained that:

"On April 24, 1915, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire set out to
annihilate the Armenian minority. Over the course of the next eight
years, the Turkish government systematically murdered 1.5 million
Armenians and deported 500,000. By the end of 1923, the entire
Armenian population of Anatolia and Western Armenia was either
murdered or deported . . . While a growing number of Americans come
to understand the horror of this episode in history, the
perpetrators continue their denial."

In her April 1997 remarks to her House colleagues, the San
Francisco-based legislator reminded Members of Congress that:

"In 1944, noted jurist and scholar, Raphael Lemkin looked to a
previous generation when he coined the word `genocide’ to describe
the systematic annihilation of the Jewish people by the Nazis.
Lemkin was thinking of the Turkish attempt in 1915 to extinguish
from this earth the ancient community of Armenians living within
the Ottoman Empire. Ironically, Hitler had also referred to the
extermination of the Armenians when he spoke of his plans for the
Jewish people in 1939: `Who, after all, speaks today of the
Armenians,’ Hitler said."

In June of 1996, speaking in support of a Congressional measure,
authored by Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA) to cut aid to Turkey
until it ended its denial of the Armenian Genocide, Congresswoman
Pelosi argued that:

"Passage of this [Radanovich] amendment will serve to deter the
Turkish government from pursuing their unconscionable cover-up of
this internationally recognized crime against humanity."

In his most recent column, Sassounian criticized the current
Speaker as someone who "not only has broken his pledge repeatedly,
but has actively blocked the Armenian Genocide resolution from
being brought to a floor vote." He stressed that, "On Nov. 7,
members of the Armenian American community should vote for all
those [House] candidates, regardless of their party affiliation,
who are supportive of Armenian issues. In the case of equally
supportive candidates in a particular race, the preference should
be given to the one who is a Democrat in order to secure a
Democratic majority in the House, helping make Congresswoman Pelosi
the next Speaker, which will enable her to schedule a long overdue
vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution."