Month: November 2006

TURKISH APPROACH TO EXHIBITION OF ARMIN WEGNER’S PHOTOS
By Susanna Margarian
AZG Armenian Daily #213
08/11/2006
Photographs of Armin Wegner that are considered documents of the
Armenian Genocide were exhibited in Vercelli, Italy, yesterday. An
unpleasant incident accompanied opening of the exhibition. A Turkish
resident of Italy attacked and tore down the exhibition bills, then
entered the gallery and broke and tore 5 exhibits. The Turk also
attacked the Italian female guide then toppled over a table with
literature for visitors. According to Azdak newspaper, the police
soon after detained the lawbreaker.
Reportedly, the Italian channel 5 covered the exhibition and the
incident. It also touched on Roman Popes who had contributed to the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

‘WE FAILED TO REACH SUCCESS IN NK REGULATION THIS YEAR’
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
08/11/2006
At the meeting with the Armenian community representatives of
Kazakhstan, president Robert Kocharian touched upon Nagorno Karabakh
regulation talks pointing out that he does not have big optimism
over this issue. “If there is hope” after the foreign ministers’
upcoming meeting the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will likely
meet. “I have an impression that we failed to reach success this year”,
president Kocharian stated.

‘BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR TOWN PLANNING EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN
AZG Armenian Daily
08/11/2006
The opening ceremony of the seventh specialized exhibition of the
Iranian Republic in Armenia “Building Materials and Equipment for
Town Planning” was took place recently, on November 4 in the Yerevan
K. Demichyan’s Sport- Concert Complex.
Levon Aharonian, the Director of the Iran-Armenia Chamber of Commerce,
stated in his speech during the opening ceremony that building
materials, sanitary engineering, electrical appliances, furniture
of about 20 companies of the Iranian building industry were going to
be exhibited at the exhibition till November 10. In particular, the
production of ALVAN, KNAUF GATE, GAPEX, KHORASAN ELECTRIC Companies,
which have already gained the attention and the trust of the Armenian
construction companies will be displayed at the exhibition. In
his turn, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran
to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, added that that the exhibition is
directed to introduce the Armenian and Iranian businessmen to each
other He emphasized that the collaboration of high ranked officials
and businessmen of Armenia and Iran will certainly lead to the opening
of new economic spheres in both countries. Meanwhile, the RA Energy
Minister, the cochairman of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental
Commission, Armen Movsessian, said that a real progress is being
observed in the Armenian-Iranian relations in the course of the recent
years. The Commission, the work of which is aimed at the formation of
a legal field for the two neighboring states, plays a significant role
in it. As for that, A. Movsessian emphasized that the Commission’s
activity is mainly fixed on the development of Armenia-Iran economic
relations. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia
to Iran, Karen Nazaryan, said, in his turn, that the diplomatic
representations in two countries spare no efforts to contribute to
the development of Iran and Armenia trade-economic cooperation. He
also expressed hope that organization of such exhibitions will have
long-term prospects.

CC UPHOLDS THE CLAIM OF THE OPPOSITION
A1+
[06:54 pm] 07 November, 2006
While discussing the amendments to the RA Electoral Code (EC),
it was decided to involve judges in the electoral commissions. The
decision was made when Arthur Baghdasaryan was still the Speaker of
the National Assembly.
The decision of the NA was motivated by the fact that the
representatives of the electoral commissions must be from the bodies
which enjoy popularity in Armenia.
Thus, we can assume that judges are popular in Armenia. It is
noteworthy that this provision of the EC contradicts the RA
Constitution adopted in 1995 and amended in 2005.
The NA (at the head of Tigran Torosyan) has again neglected Article
98 of the RA Constitution and didn’t change the provision according
to which judges are involved in the election commissions.
This gave the Constitutional Court (CC) a perfect ground to review
the compliance of the decision with the RA Constitution.
Today Shavarsh Kocharyan, Na deputy and Hrayr Tovmasyan, deputy
chairman of “Democracy” NGO, presented the interests of oppositional
26 deputies in the CC.
Hrayr Tovmasyan referred to the impossibility of engaging judges into
the electoral commissions.
First of all, he referred to Article 98 of the Constitution according
to which, “Neither the judge nor the member of the CC can be engaged
in business, hold posts in State or Local Self-Government bodies
and commercial organisations not connected with their ranks with
the exception of pedagogical and creative activity.” He also stated
that the post of the member of the Precinct Electoral Commissions
has nothing to do with the judge’s jurisdictions. The Central and
Precinct Electoral Commissions are state bodies and the post of a
member of electoral commission is a state post.
Hrayr Tovmasyan is convinced that the involvement of judges into
the electoral commissions will destroy both the judicial and the
electoral systems.
The respondent was Ashot Khachatryan, head of the NA
legislative-analytical board.
Mr. Khachatryan agreed that there are certain obvious contradictions
between the CC and EC but illustrating the international practice
said that there are a lot of countries in the world where judges are
involved in the electoral commissions.
Gagik Haroutyunyan, Head of the RA CC, brought the example of Georgia.
Provided all judges are involved in the commissions they will, not
be enough as there are 179 acting judges in Armenia but they need
180 in the commissions.
CC found the involvement of judges into the electoral commissions
anti-constitutional.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“THERE IS NO POINT IN HOLDING ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA”
A1+
[08:44 pm] 07 November, 2006
Forty-one deputies of the RA National Assembly will be elected by
majoritarian system and 90 deputies – by proportional system.
This ratio is stipulated by the Electoral Code, and the RA political
powers have agreed to it.
But the NA presently considers a draft law proposing 100-percent
proportional system. There is a general concern that in case the
bill is passed, it will pave ground for the legislative initiative
of 100-percent majoritarian system. The website of “A1+” held polling
and tried to find out which system our readers approve of. 21 percent
of those surveyed were for the 100-percent proportional system and
6-percent – for the 100-percent majoritarian system.
Over 5 percent of the participants supported mixed type electoral
system, mainly majoritarian one, and 6 percent were for the mixed type,
mainly proportional one.
Two percent of the polling participants couldn’t give a definite
answer. The most striking is the fact that 60 percent of the
participants assume that “There is no point in holding elections
in Armenia.”
Over 499 people participated in the polling.
Now we offer our readers to answer the following question; “Will
“Millennium Challenges” Cooperation render assistance to Armenia?”
Reminder, Freedom House has called on “Millennium Challenges” not
to render assistance to Armenia as the latter doesn’t ensure the
protection of political and civil rights.
On November 8 the presidium of “Millennium Challenges”Cooperation
will choose all the governments which can apply for assistance in 2007.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CEMENT “FLOWS” TO GEORGIA
A1+
[04:38 pm] 07 November, 2006
whereas Georgia has penetrated into the Azeri markets with its cement
and completely captured them
Today Michael Baghdasarov, president of “Mika Limited” told a press
conference and briefed the journalists what factors the increase of
cement price by 70-80 percent over the past two years is determined by.
“A1+” Company asked the businessman whether the increase is not caused
by anti-competitive relations of two producers.
Reminder; NA deputy Gagik Tsarukyan owns one of the cement
plants-“AraratCement” and the other plant belongs to Michail
Baghdasarov.
The businessman claims that according to the data he possesses the
price of the cement is comparatively lower in Armenia among the South
Caucasian countries.
The price of cement is 35000 AMD per a ton, in Armenian, in Georgia
it is 140 USD, in Azerbaijan – 180 USD and in Iran – 220 USD.
That’s why, the price of one sack of cement went up from 1300 AMD to
2200 AMD in Armenia in 2005 – 2006.
Michail Baghdasarov says that the cars clogged in the Meghri Customs
Office have created a great traffic jam, and there is a large demand
of cement in Georgia which leads to abrupt increase of cement price
at the market.
In Mr. Baghdasarov’s words, Azerbaijan is unable to meet the interior
demand of cement either; the country doesn’t export cement from Russia
any more as the price of cement has gone up in Russia too. That is
why Azerbaijan has to export cement from its neighbouring country
– Georgia.
This means that Azerbaijan gets cement from Georgia with the help of
Armenia. “Armenia is a democratic country and we don’t care which
country purchases the cement sent to Georgia. If Azerbaijan buys
cement from Georgia we can assume that the high quality of Armenian
cement is guaranteed.”
Michail Baghdasarov complained of the frequent fluctuations of
the currency and mainly the revaluation of the Armenian dram. As
an Armenian, he is proud that our currency is gradually becoming
stable. But he thinks that the dram appreciation is occurring rather
quickly. “The Central Bank has chosen a suitable time for the dram
revaluation,” added Michail Baghdasarov.
Today, Michail Baghdasarov and Gagik Abrahamyan, president of Armenian
Goldsmiths’ Association, were invited to “Mirror” club to talk on a
number of economic and political issues.
Michail Baghdasarov assured the journalists that he is not going to
participate in the political life of the country. Reminder: many years
ago on the eve of Parliamentary elections Mr. Baghdasarov supported
“Armenian Women” Organisation but he couldn’t enter the Parliament
and decided to stay aside from the inner political procedures.
“Michail Baghdasarov got disappointed,” was Gagik Abrahamyan’s remark
on this score. By the way, the latter told us a few interesting news.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

I SHALL RUN FOR THE 2007 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
A1+
04:38 pm] 07 November, 2006
Gagik Abrahamyan, brother of Ara Abrahamyan, president of the “Armenian
Union in Russia,” will participate in the forthcoming Parliamentary
elections. He hasn’t decided yet whether he will run for the elections
by proportional or majoritarian system.
“I was a deputy of the Supreme Council and National Assembly for
eight years. And now I assume that I have much work to do in the RA
NA,” said Mr. Abrahamyan. He wasn’t disappointed by the fact that he
supported Ramkavar Azatakan Party during the previous elections and
wasn’t discouraged that he wasn’t able to enter the Parliament.
As for the dram revaluation, Mr. Abrahamyan maintains that in case
the currency rate is higher, the Armenian manufacturers will suffer
great losses. The current appreciation of the dram has already reduced
the manufacturers’ profits.
In this respect Mr. Abrahamyan suggested conducting fixed dram
policy. By the way, the Central Bank has already taken the proposal
into consideration.

WHY DO THE AUTHORITIES BREACH THE CONSTITUTION?
A1+
[07:27 pm] 07 November, 2006
Today the discussions of the compliance of the Electoral Code with
the Constitution in the RA Constitutional Court revealed that the NA
majority consciously evaded the Constitution.
Why are the authorities eager to involve judges in the electoral
commissions taking into account the fact that judges are against the
provision of the EC?
Shavarsh Kocharyan claims that it is conditioned by the fact that
we don’t display legal approach while making decisions in the NA and
government. “The compliance of the legislation with the Constitution is
beyond discussions, and it doesn’t depend on the policy adopted by the
country. But unfortunately this isn’t fixed in our mentality so far.”
Mr. Kocharyan claims that suchlike issues mustn’t be solved in the
political field. “The issues of the political sphere are solved by
button pressing and not by legal approaches. ”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ORINATS YERKIR PARTY APPLIES TO GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
Panorama.am
14:13 07/11/06
Orinats Yerkir (OY) party applied to general prosecutor’s office
with a demand to find out who stands behind the black PR against
OY, Mher Shahgeldyan, vice chairman of the party, told a press
conference today. In his words, the black PR continues and most
probably authorities in power back it. “Only they have such layers
of influence,” he said. In her turn, Heghine Bashiryan, secretary
of parliament faction OY, said she has information from a number
of TV companies broadcasting black recordings against the party
and its leader Arthur Baghdasaryan which says that the customers
of the recordings are Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan and Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan. She said the TV company management has
expressed readiness to appear at the general prosecutor’s office upon
need.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES
MINISTER OF CULTURE TAREK MITRI
His Holiness Aram I received the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Dr. Tarek
Mitri, in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, on
Monday 6 November 2006. The official meeting later extended to a joint
lunch.
His Holiness Aram I and the Lebanese official focused mainly on the internal
situation in Lebanon, particularly in light of the recent internal and
regional developments, on which the minister briefed His Holiness.
Talks were also held on the inter-religious dialogue to be held in Antelias
next week under the auspices and organization of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia. Minister Mitri will participate in this dialogue and address the
meeting.
The Catholicos highlighted the importance of emphasizing cultural heritage
and suggested that Lebanon, with its unique role in the Arab world with
respect to showing interest in such heritage, invest new liveliness in this
field.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.