Month: November 2006

ARMENIA-EU NEW EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN TO COME INTO FORCE TODAY
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who is currently in Brussels
participating in the 7th meeting of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Council
met Nov 13 with high-ranking EU officials. It’s worth mentioning that
Azeri and Georgian Foreign Ministers are in Brussels, as well. The
press service of RA Foreign Ministry informed that the South
Caucasian FMs met with Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja,
EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier
Solana, EU Commissioner for External and Neighborhood Policy Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, German FM Gunter Gloser and EU Special Representative
in the South Caucasus Peter Semneby. The sides touched upon a wide
range of issues actual for the South Caucasus, particularly, the
peace processes in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They
parties also discussed the opportunities of regional cooperation
within the framework of the New European Neighborhood program. After
the meeting the South Caucasian Foreign Ministers held a joint
press conference. It’s worth mentioning that today, the Armenia-EU
Cooperation Council is going to adopt the Armenia-EU action plan
under the NEN program.
From: Baghdasarian

UN ORGANIZES ‘FEDERATION OF CIVILIZATIONS’ DIALOGUE
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
A number of political and religious leaders represented a program
on settlement of the relations between the Western states and the
Islamic world to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The document was
elaborated by 20 authors, including Desmond Toutou, Archbishop of
the Anglican Church, and former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.
The report dedicated to the opening of “Federation of Civilizations”
dialogue will be read in Istanbul during a special arrangement that
will be held at the initiative of the UN. The 20 members of the working
group have been elaborating the rport for a year. The document is
directed to settle the deepening contradictions between the Western
states and the Islamic world. It will also defines possible ways of
overcoming the mutual fear and mistrust.
It is stated in the report that the contradictions are caused by
political reasons and not by cultural or religious differences. While
the growth of the tension is conditioned by the conflicts in the Near
East and Iraq.

TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN OPT OUT OF NATO DRILLS IN YEREVAN
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
Turkey and Azerbaijan do not take part in NATO’s Yerevan conference on
planning the Cooperative Effort-2007 drills. The aim of the drills is
the exchange of experience and disclosing common problems connected
with communications facilities. It’s planned to prepare a document
by the end of the conference on the basic principles of combining
communications facilities. 38 countries, representatives of the
NATO and the multinational peacekeeping brigade take part in the
conference. Though Turkey and Azerbaijan had agreed to participate in
the conference along with other 250 participants, they did not show up.

VIMPELCOM TO REJECT MONOPOLY THAT ARMENTEL ENJOYED
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
Russian Company Comes to Substitute OTE
Russian Vimpelcom Communications Company became the new owner of
ArmenTel yesterday. The Commission Regulating Public Services gave
its consent to the deal of selling 90% of ArmenTel and Greek OTE
Company’s shares. The Commission’s decision reads that the deal does
not go against Armenia’s national interests and that the new owner
gets all the rights and obligations of ArmenTel. Yet, the new company
will not enjoy the monopoly that ArmenTel used to enjoy anymore.
Representatives of the two companies made statements during signing
of the deal. ArmenTel Executive Director, Vasilis Fetsis, asked the
Commission to agree to the agreement between OTE and Vympelcom. He
emphasized that Vympelcom is a trustworthy company with a big
representation in the communications sphere.
Representative of Vimpelcom, the candidate for ArmenTel general
director Oleg Bliznuk said that the deal will be completed this
week. He said that Vympelcom is going to introduce its experience and
up-to-the-minute telecom technologies and to significantly improve
the quality of phone services in Armenia. Bliznuk said that Vympelcom
is negotiating with RA Government over the latter’s 10% stake in
ArmenTel. The Government requires that Vimpelcom gradually renounces
the monopolies granted to ArmenTel by license 60. “Monopoly spoils
a producer and only competition allows him to achieve high quality
standards,” says Bliznuk. He notes that they are considering changing
the brand from ArmenTel into Beeline.

ACTION PLAN PUT INTO FORCE
A1+
[03:21 pm] 14 November, 2006
more images Today, the 7th session of the Armenia-EU Cooperation
Council affirmed and put into force Armenia – EU Action Plan within
the framework of the European Neighborhood programme.
The document is aimed at developing regional integration.
According to the RA Foreign Ministry, the participants of the
session touched upon political issues, interior reforms as well as
human rights.
The Armenian side represented the construction work of Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline and the diversification of energy sources.
The session was followed by the official ceremony of Armenia – EU
Action Plan affirmation. In this connection, RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian signed a document with P. Lehtomakin, Minister of
Foreign Trade of Finland.
The Action Plan provides Armenia with an opportunity to establish
intensive political, cultural, economic and security relations with
EU as well as to enter the EU market.
The endorsement of the document gives a perfect ground to implement
a number of reforms and to make agreements of higher status with
the assistance of the EU. As a result of these actions Armenia will
meet the European criteria in view of social, economic and political
systems.
The Action Plan highlights the EU-Armenia collaboration, the
strengthening of commercial and economic relations via financial
assistance rendered by EU which will promote further investments,
and will provide increase of export and economic growth.

“GO AWAY, THIEVES!”
A1+
[04:40 pm] 14 November, 2006
Today, at about 11:00 the residents of North and Main Avenues, Kozern
and Firdus Districts, as well as the owners of Dalma gardens initiated
a rally of complaint.
The residents of the capital assembled opposite the National Assembly
with the posters, “Go away, thieves!” “Civil Disobedience,” “Put
the law on alienation of property for Public and state needs into
mass discussions” etc. The rally participants urged the NA deputies
to vote down the draft law on “Alienation of Property for State and
Public Needs” during the third hearings.
The residents were indignant at the prime minister’s announcement
made yesterday. “In reply to a journalist’s question “what the
prime minister will do in case people go on strikes and demand his
resignation”, Mr. Margaryan answered it doesn’t go in line with the
constitutional. Does his treatment with us comply with the law?” says
Vachagan Hakobyan, former resident of North Avenue.
By the way, On Thursday, at 11:00, the above-mentioned residents are
going to demand the government’s resignation.
The draft law on “Alienation of Property for Public and State Needs”
wasn’t passed after the second hearing.
Over 73 deputies participated in the voting – 69 deputies voted for
the bill and there were 4 abstentions.

FIDH URGES EU NOT TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH ARMENIA
A1+
[06:30 pm] 14 November, 2006
On the occasion of the three Cooperation Councils between the European
Union (EU) and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, to be held on 13 and 14
November 2006, and which should lead to the adoption of three Action
Plans with those countries, the International Federation for Human
Rights (FIDH) wishes to express various concerns about the situation
of human rights in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
FIDH also wishes to make recommendations aimed at improving that
situation. We hope that, within the framework of strengthened
bi-lateral relations, the EU will relay those recommendations.
FIDH published recently three notes on the human rights situation in
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and stressed out the need of quick
and effective reactions of the authorities in order to improve the
human rights situation in those countries.
Despite the diversity of the situations in the region and the various
intensity of violations, FIDH is preoccupied by worrying trends within
the three countries and particularly by: the persistence of torture,
ill-treatments and excessive use of force by public authorities ; the
culture of impunity including for many serious human rights violations
and which is a main hurdle to the promotion and protection of human
rights ; the repression of human rights defenders, journalists,
political opponents, and the obstacles to the right to freedom of
assembly and to the freedom of the media.
Furthermore, FIDH regrets that NGOs have not been sufficiently
associated by the European Commission to the preparation of the
Action Plans and hopes that their views will be taken into account
in the framework of the follow-up of the Action Plan. NGOs should
be systematically consulted in the process of preparation of the
Commission’s regular report on the Action Plans’ implementation.
OVERVIEW OF MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA The
Republic of Armenia presents a contrasted picture as far as respect for
Human Rights is concerned. On paper, they are pretty much a model for
the South Caucasus region as they have ratified most of the European
Human Rights instruments and conducted major law reforms in conformity
with them.
However the following concerns are noticeable: although the country
showed exceptional growth over the last years, the economic and social
situation does not benefit equally to the whole population. The failed
transition from a soviet communist system to a liberal economy created
enormous disparity between an elite group of persons or clans, who,
on the one hand, monopolised the majority of the resources, and the
rest of the population on the other. Although the country witnesses
the emergence of a middle-class, it is still at the very bottom of
the social scale.
Furthermore, these new wealthy people, which are interrelated
with the spheres of political power, have instituted private armed
polices, thus subjecting the country and the citizens to tangible
threats and acts of violence, be they motivated by political or
economic reasons. In addition, the country witnesses a high level of
institutional corruption, endemic in the whole region.
Factual anti-democratic events are perceived as a growing and
threatening trend over rights and freedoms before crucial parliamentary
elections in 2007 and presidential election in 2008. A population
indifferent to internal politics, an ethnically homogeneous country,
a strong support from the Diaspora are all factors that ease the
ruling of the country but also enable abuses by the holders of
power. Political and economic powers enjoy impunity.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL ORDERS FURTHER INQUIRY INTO HERITAGE BREAK-IN CASE
A1+
[07:34 pm] 14 November, 2006
Yerevan-Heritage founder Raffi K. Hovannisian, the party’s executive
board members, and fellow citizens gathered today in front of the
Armenian prosecutor general’s office. They demanded an official
response from the prosecutor general with respect to bringing
criminal charges for the unlawful March break-in to the party’s
central headquarters and the ensuing theft of information from its
computer system.
Two hours into the assembly, held under the banner of “Truth and
Right,” Heritage board chairman Vardan Khachatrian and attorney Zaruhi
Postanjian received a formal letter from prosecutor Karapet Karapetyan
of the Department for the Protection of State Interests.
The letter confirmed that all decisions of the Yerevan city police
department and prosecutor’s office, which had previously refused to
institute a criminal case against the “mysterious” computer bandits,
have now been revoked, and an additional inquiry has been launched
by the prosecutor general’s office.
“All the details of this ‘presidential’ parade of criminal acts, which
together form a single web among the White House, the Service for
Mandatory Execution of Judicial Acts, the management of the Paronian
State Theater and the nation’s judicial system, must be revealed
through a courageous determination to file criminal charges and to
carry out a full investigation,” Raffi Hovannisian said.
“Notwithstanding the ‘instructions from above’ to cover up this
scandalous reproduction of the Watergate precedent in Armenia, we
expect that the Republic’s prosecutor general will finally step in
to defend the constitutional rights of its citizens.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPRESENTATIVES OF TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN REFUSE TO COME TO YEREVAN
Panorama.am
12:43 14/11/06
The conference on planning of NATO Joint Efforts – 2007 exercises
is held in Yerevan. The conference will develop a document outlining
principles of compatibility of communication equipment and personnel.
Samvel Atoyan, employees of department of communication and automated
system administration of the Armenian armed forces, said the exercises
aim to plan specific tasks in the sphere of communication. In his
words, Joint Efforts – 2007 will take place from April 26 to May
13. The first part of exercises will be held in Germany and the second
part – in Armenia.
Turkish and Azeri representatives refused to come to the conference in
Armenia. Atoyan said they will take part in the exercises in Germany
but he could not say whether they will come to Armenia for the second
part.

MINISTER OSKANIAN IN BRUSSELS FOR COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETING
Panorama.am
12:46 14/11/06
Minister Oskanian is in Brussels to participate in the 7th session
of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Council.
Together with the foreign ministers of Georgia and Azerbaijan,
Minister Oskanian met with the EU leadership — the Foreign Minister
of Finland, which holds the EU Presidency, the Secretary of State of
Germany which will hold the Presidency in the first half of 2007 as
well as EU High Representative, Javier Solana, and External Relations
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
During the first day’s dinner meeting, the participants discussed
developments in the region, including Caucasus states’ relations
with neighbors, and also prospects for regional cooperation. Regional
conflicts, especially Nagorno Karabakh, were the focus of much of the
discussion, particularly in light of the upcoming meeting between the
foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The dinner meeting was
followed by a press conference, during which Minister Oskanian thanked
the EU for its persistence in concluding the Action Plan process.
He also noted that “this year’s meeting of the Cooperation Council
will be particularly memorable because it represents the beginning of
a new chapter – for each of us individually, for our relations with
the EU, and for the EU itself.” The meeting was followed by a Press
Conference. On November 14, during the formal Council meeting the
European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan will be adopted. Press and
information department of Ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic
of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress