Month: November 2006

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

CYPRUS MUST SUPPORT ARMENIA IN ALL INTERNATIONAL AND POLITICAL
ISSUES, PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS STATES

NICOSIA, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The official ceremony of meeting
the RA President took place on November 23 at the President’s
residence of Cyprus, after what Robert Kocharian laid a wreath at the
monument to first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.

Then a private conversation of Presidents Robert Kocharian and Tassos
Papadopoulos took place. A wide circle of issues relating to
economic, humanitarian, educational, banking, cultural spheres as
well as to regional cooperation was discussed during the negotiations
in an enlarged staff followed the private conversation.

An agreement "On Cooperation in Struggle against Organized and other
Types of Crimes" was signed as a result. Working groups were
instructed to jointly work out practical proposals and programs in
the directions of issues arisen during the negotiations.

At the press conference followed the negotiations, the two countries’
Presidents emphasized especially the warm and practical atmosphere
which accompanied the whole process of negotiations.

Expressing satisfaction on the occasion of the RA President’s first
state visit and negotiations, T.Papadopoulos mentioned that during
both personal and official meetings the Cypriot side assured the RA
President that it is willing to deepen the existing bilateral
friendly ties, to more widen the cooperation. "Cyprus must support
Armenia in all international and political issues," the President of
Cyprus stated. In implementation of bilateral agreements, he
especially attached importance to the Armenian community’s role,
which, according to characterization of T.Papadopoulos, is a
community having a high level and has been leading in all spheres.

"Our peoples and countries have very warm relations and an active
dialogue. We have today attempted to widen that dialogue especially
in the sphere of economy," the RA President mentioned.

In R.Kocharian’s words, Armenia and Cyprus have always assisted one
another at different international structures. Today Armenia has
great expectations in the sense of borrowing the experience of Cyprus
in reforms being implemented within the framework of the European
Union New Neighbourhood Policy. The Cypriot side expressed readiness
to cooperate and show considerable assistance to Armenia on that way.

"Cyprus has from the first moment assisted Armenia’s involvement in
the EU Neighbourhood program. It supposes a great number of reforms,
and we are ready to assist their practical implementation,"
T.Papadopoulos assured in his turn.

Responding the question what precept the RA President has to the
Cypriot people within the context of the Turkish-Cypriot relations,
R.Kocharian mentioned that the Armenian side’s attitude can be
estimated with those votes that Armenia displays at different
international instances in issues relating to Cyprus. "We would like
to see the issue of Cyprus solved within the framework of notions of
that country’s people and government what we re-affirmed during this
meeting as well," the RA President said.

Robert Kocharian invited his colleague from Cyprus to visit Armenia
the next year.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office, the
meeting of President Robert Kocharian and Demetrias Christofias, the
President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus was also held in
a warm and friendly atmosphere. The sides agree that the political
cooperation must more strengthen, the legislative cooperation must
more deepen what will bring to more widening of ties in economic,
cultural, tourism and other spheres. The RA President especially
appreciated the attitude which the Cypriot authorities display
towards the Armenian community. "The circumstance that the Cypriot
Armenian community is represented at the Parliament of Cyprus, there
are schools which are financed by the state, is simply appreciable,
and I think that it also gives important warmth to our bilateral
relations," R.Kocharian said.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

GEORGIA MUST HONOR RIGHTS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES

On November 25 the situation in Georgia three years after the Rose
Revolution was discussed at the Friday Club, namely the problems of
the ethnic minorities. The reason was the report of the International
Crisis Group released three days ago. The guests were Levon Zurabyan,
an expert of the International Crisis Group, Stepan Margaryan,
adviser to the Prime Minister of Armenia, and Sergey Minasyan, head
of the Department of Caucasian Studies of the Caucasian Media
Institute.

According to the ICG, in Georgia, which is building democratic
institutions and forging civic identity, there is little progress
towards integration of the Armenian and Georgian minorities
constituting 12 percent of the population. Levon Zurabyan adds,
`Georgia lacks a mechanism of dialogue with eithnic minorities. The
ethnic minorities, communities are ostracized from the life of the
country. Georgia seeks for the help of Armenia to solve the problem
of Javakheti. The problem is given a short-term solution, whereas in
depth it remains unsettled. The ICG deliberately omitted the social
and economic problems, because the equal political rights of all the
citizens of the country is primary. It is desirable to settle these
problems on the Tbilisi-Javakheti level.’ Meanwhile, there are three
groups of obstacles for the settlement of the problem: the ethnic
minorities are underrepresented in government, decentralization is
unsufficient, and there is not even cultural and educational
sovereignty, and the ethnic minorities do not speak Georgian.

The other guests agreed. Stepan Margaryan said `it is impossible to
learn Georgian in an environment where Georgian is not used. The
teachers of Georgian arrive in Javakheti with Armenians constituting
95 percent of the population, and soon they leave having learned
Armenian. Georgia does not trust Armenia, Javakheti does not trust
Georgia. Javakheti suffers from the Russian and Georgian relations.
An annual 30 thousand job migrants left for Russia, now Russia does
not grant a visa to these people. There is going to be a third party
in the Georgian and Armenian relations. It would be desirable if
there was a third party, with which we are trying to integrate.’

Sergey Minasyan views the question in terms of European integration
and notices that Georgia, which is on the track for European
integration, should adopt the European standards of honoring the
rights of the ethnic minorities. `Javakheti and Georgia should settle
the issue. Armenia and Europe can be interested parties.’ Stepan
Minasyan thinks that unlike the issue of Karabakh, there is vast
possibility for a compromise, it is only necessary to overcome fear
and prejudices and discuss the question without fear, `the report of
the ICG can be used as an argument in the negotiations with Georgia.’

The ICG recommends to `introduce legislation allowing Azeris and
Armenians, in municipalities where they exceed 20 per cent of the
population, to use their native language to communicate with
administrative authorities, submit complaints, acquire civil
documents and certificates, benefit from public services and conduct
municipal business and sakrebulo meetings’; `set quotas so that at
least 50 per cent of new entrants in the Akhalkalaki branch of the
Tbilisi State University and the Marneuli branch of the Ilya
Chavchavadze State University are minorities.’ In Armenia they
believe that thereby the problem of learning Georgian will be solved
for young people. Meanwhile, fewer young people go to this university
because they have a language problem. By the way, the Armenian
government is ready to support the Akhalkalaki branch of Tbilisi
State University.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

MINISTERS ARE TRYING TO `INSURE’ THEMSELVES

The information released by the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party
allow concluding that the initiative of releasing the names of
criminal officials are already producing certain results. According
to Aram Karapetyan, certain ministers offered different forms of
support to the participants of the anti-criminal movement in return
for not denouncing them or not denouncing them for one more time.
They did not offer money. Aram Karapetyan said without specifying
names that he assesses the total of all the forms of support offered
by the minister at 50 thousand dollars.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

WAIT FOR SENSATIONAL REVELATIONS

During the meeting of the anti-criminal movement on November 24 the
leader of the National Self-Determination Union Paruir Hairikyan
proposed that the participants adopt the `declassification of the
Armenian KGB agents’ as a priority and offer such a demand to the
government. Paruir Hairikyan believes that thereby the persons who
were `described as agents formerly, and betrayors and spies
presently’ will become free, and we will live quietly. Simply it is
necessary to define clearly in the law that these persons do not have
the right to work for government agencies for 5 or 7 years. `Everyone
must confess, including Andranik Margaryan, those who refuse to
confess will be called to account in accordance with the Armenian
legislation,’ Paruir Hairikyan stated. Paruir Hairikyan also notices
that the countries of the Socialist camp, which declassified their
KGB agents, became members of the European Union.

The leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram Karapetyan is likely to
use airtime in the pre-election period, if the law enables him, to
release the names of certain government officials who are emissaries
of one country or another. Aram Karapetyan is also going to offer
these officials to release facts on his being the emissary of certain
Russian forces, `if there are such facts.’

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

WHY VAHAN HOVANISYAN DECLINES TO GIVE NAMES

Real charity is when they want nothing in return, thinks Deputy
Speaker Vahan Hovanisyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, who met news reporters
November 24 at the Friday Club. Vahan Hovanisyan mentioned that he
knows only two organizations which demand nothing in return for
charity. The deputy speaker of the National Assembly gives the names
of the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian General Benevolent
Union.

`Those who do good acts, distribute food, repair yards, roofs, lifts,
and so on, expect votes, most probably. At least it is perceived so.
It is impossible to prohibit this, because charity cannot be
prohibited. And now people have to make a decision, to give what is
expected from them or not,’ Vahan Hovanisyan says. He compares the
situation in Armenia with a thing from the Russian history which was
referred to as `kormlenie’. At that time, Vahan Hovanisyan says, the
Russian king did not pay his governors called `voyevods’. They were
supposed to collect taxes, head the local government, guarantee
obedience and take the pay of their people from the taxes they
collected. `In about the 18th century the Russian kings realized that
this is a dangerous system, because every such prince wanted
independence,’ says Vahan Hovanisyan. According to him, the system
changed but the approach remained the same, and now it has reached
even Armenia.

The Dashnak deputy speaker of the National Assembly says if the state
collects all the taxes, charity will not be necessary. `In other
words, the following is happening. People do not pay all the taxes to
the state, whatever remains, which was stolen from people, in fact,
and the state could have given it to people, is distributed to people
with a different name, which is wrong. However, the state should be
able to prevent this, the state is unable to prevent this because
very often, the same people who are feudalists in economy, also
represent certain political sets,’ says Vahan Hovanisyan.

In answer to the request of the news reporters to give the names of
some Armenian `voyevod-feudalists’, Vahan Hovanisyan says their names
are known to everyone, and he would not like to utter them now. `We
do not want to pursue our struggle with scandals,’ says Vahan
Hovanisyan. However, the member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau says
they give the names and raise the issue before the country’s supreme
government. The news reporters wanted to find out why in 1998 the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, nevertheless, gave names in speaking about the former
government and denounced them during protests as criminals. What has
changed that you decline to give names, asked the news reporters?
Vahan Hovanisyan says when Dashnaktsutyun denounced these people,
they saw there were no results, and these people were not punished.
Therefore, they changed their approach and adopted a policy of giving
names in a narrow circle of government. In this case, can Vahan
Hovanisyan mention the result of this policy and an example of
punished name denounced by them, the news reporters asked? It became
clear that again Vahan Hovanisyan could not give names. `The problem
is that it is not right because the others, whose names have not been
given yet, start resisting more effectively,’ stated the member of
the ARF Bureau who is the deputy chair of the National Assembly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

BE STRONG, TOLERANT AND PUNISH CRIMINALS

It is foolish when the minister of defense, who has not got through
with the war, leads a political party, it is not normal when the
teacher is made to join a political party. Meanwhile, Armenia is
slowly approaching the pre-election stage, slowly because the
government is splitting, stated Aram Manukyan, All-Armenian Movement
on November 24 at the Pastark Club.

According Aram Manukyan, with the parliamentary election drawing
nearer, in February 2007 pre-election alliances will emerge, one or
two pro-Russian alliances, it is desirable that the leftists join in
one alliance. Aram Manukyan forecasts: there will be a pro-West
alliance. The government will split into two alliances, Robert
Kocharyan’s and Serge Sargsyan’s. However, these are not going to be
based on ideology, but a clash of two clans, `vulgar anti-political
processes. The Republican Party and the Bargavach Hayastan Party are
busy hunting members, which will not be effective – it is a
mechanical race.’

Aram Manukyan thinks it has a negative impact on the political forces
of Armneia. The same forces get the negative influence of those
political forces which are contending for `who loves the Russians
best, who will obey more easily,’ and Aram Manukyan is against this.
`The Russians are our friend, and will remain our friend. The
Northern bear is strong and it will remain strong for a long time,
but this should not be at the expense of the welfare of my family and
the territorial integrity of my country.’

If the elections are fair, Serge Sargsyan, Gagik Tsarukyan and
Andranik Margaryan will not be elected, Aram Manukyan believes. `I
need 10 minutes of airtime to explain to people why they should not
elect them.’ However, only the H1, H2 and Armenia Channels are
available in the regions, which serve only one purpose, Aram Manukyan
thinks, `Serve the government.’ This complicates the problem, and is
not the only obstacle. `I wish there were people with political ideas
in the parliament. However, it is difficult to argue with someone who
has a fat neck, a thick pocket and is running in the election.’ Aram
Manukyan thinks that in the ideological sphere the All-Armenian
Movement differs from the others with its clear stances and opinions,
`Our complementarism was open, today Robert Kocharyan’s
complementarism is quite different, it is meant to cheat and let
people down.’

Aram Manukyan says the government has problems not only due to
cheating others, but also inside. `A government which feels it will
be endagered after quitting is a bad government. This government is
going to have major problems soon. The next government must be so
powerful and tolerant as not to carry out a massacre.’ Aram Manukyan
meant a human massacre. Of course, the criminals must be punished, be
it October 27, large-scale illegal building or `someone who gave
false testimony against Vano Siradeghyan, who is in power now,’ tax
delinquents should be made to pay taxes, `like Sahakashvili did.’
However, `human massacre is not civilized, forgiving is the mission
of the powerful, hatred belongs to the weak, the miserable. A
government based on hatred dies soon,’ Aram Manukyan believes.

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

SALARY IS EVIDENCE BUT ALSO THE ONLY LEGAL THING

On November 27 the National Assembly is going to discuss the state
budget bill and decide what to do with it. There is no need to worry
about the budget. We may even be sure that this bill will be passed.
And not because it will be discussed on November 27. This date is
highly mystical. It is a time when nobody does anything, but as a
result something happened. For instance, nobody votes to the
referendum on Constitution, but it turns out that the referendum was
adopted with queues of voters everywhere. So, in the end it may turn
out that the members of the parliaments of the previous convocations
came and voted for the budget. The government perhaps chose the day
of the extraordinary meeting on purpose in order not to have the
members of parliament control the situation. The bill on
expropriation taught a good lesson to the executive, and even if
Tigran Torosyan is not in the parliament, an important document such
as the budget should not be exposed to risk.

However, the government need not worry. Even if the budget is not
passed, no one in the country will feel that there is no budget. Of
course, the pensions and benefits, as well as the salaries of
state-financed workers may be endangered. However, today it is
impossible to live on the benefit or pension of the budget, and the
state-financed workers would even be happy if their salary was not
paid from the budget. The point is that the salary fills them with
remorse. For instance, the doctor whose salary is raised by the
government feels remorse when he takes the fee from the patient,
because thus the patient pays the doctor twice: first, through the
budget, as a taxpayer, and second, in cash, as a customer. Meanwhile,
the doctor would be happy to get only from the hand of the patient.

The government raises the salary of the teacher ruthlessly, whereas
the teacher would be happy not to get a salary at all. Thus he would
have more moral rights to ask money from the students or their
parents for curtains, brooms, vaccum cleaners, tablecloths, the
graduation ball, the first love, and the like, or accept their gifts.
Whereas now the teachers undergo a stress when they learn that the
students leaving school or the first-grade schoolchildren have a
small gift for them, such as a golden ring or a dinner.

Let alone the high-ranking and not so high-ranking public officials,
who get their salary from the state budget. Busy with a state
business of a particular importance, they have no time to go to the
government and officially reject the salary. The point is that the
salary is real evidence for the prosecutor. You can judge yourselves.
When someone sees how an official lives, he is amazed how he can live
such a luxurious life on his small salary. They start doubting, and
it is possible that they will be charged one day, like Member of
Parliament Hakob Hakobyan.

But when the official does not get a salary, besides preventing
doubts he also has an `extenuating condition.’ For instance, if a
public official does not get a salary but works, it means he is doing
a favor for the state and the public by serving for free. And the
public and the state will by all means appreciate him. The same
example: if Hakob Hakobyan had rejected the salary for all these
years, they would have certainly pardoned all the tax breaches he is
accused of.

However, strangely enough nobody learns from Hakobyan’s case and
rejects the salary he gets from the state budget. On the other hand,
they are doing the right thing. After all, their only tie with the
law is their salary, and if they reject it as well, even the best
lawyer will be unable to save them. Therefore, the budget is
necessary, and the members of parliament will vote for the budget,
even if it is not November 27.

HAKOB BADALYAN

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

The Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved via UN resolutions, Russian
Ambassador to Azerbaijan says
24.11.2006 17:00

`The Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved with the adoption
of a UN resolution. On this question the position of Russia coincides
with that of the OSC Minsk Group,’ Russian Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov told APA agency.
The Ambassador noted that the main objective of the OSCE Minsk Group
is the resolution of the conflict. "It is impossible to resolve the
conflict via imposing ways of solution to the parties. The parties
should come to an agreement themselves,’ the Russian diplomat
underlined. `Both parties know what they should do. The Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is not frozen, it is a conflict the settlement of
which had been postponed.’

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

French Armenians disappointed with the decision of President Bush
24.11.2006 14:56

The French-Armenian `New Generation’ organization has expressed its
deep concern about the fact that Armenian Genocide denier and
controversial Middle East historian Bernard Lewis was amongst those
honored by President Bush this month with the prestigious National
Humanities Medal. `Armenpress’ was told at the organization that such
award is an offence to the memory of Armenian Genocide victims.
Unfortunately, it shows that denialism may be encouraged.
In 1995 a French court condemned him for statements he made during a
1993 interview with French newspaper "Le Monde." The case, which
argued that Lewis’ statements caused harm to Armenian Genocide
survivors, was filed by the International League Against Racism and
Anti-Semitism and the Forum of Armenian Associations, representing a
number of French Armenian organizations

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

Presidnet Kocharyan met with the Mayor of Nicosia
24.11.2006 14:29

Armenian Presidnet Robert Kocharyan’s state visit to Cyprus
continues. The Armenian delegation headed by Presidnet Kocharyan was
received by the Mayor of Nicosia Michael Zampelas, Head of `Radiolur’
program Arthur Sahakyan reports from Cyprus. After a short
conversation the Mayor thanked the Armenian Presidnet for visiting
the City Hall and awarded him with the golden key and an honorary
diploma of the golden city. Turning to the history of Nicosia, the
Mayor said a great number of Armenians reside in the city and they
play an active role in the public, political and cultural life of the
country. Robert Kocharyan thanked for the invitation and gifts and
spoke about Armenian-Cyprian relations, particularly the attitude of
the Mayor of Nicosia towards the Armenian community.
Later the Mayor accompanied Robert Kocharyan to the Old City – the
cease-fire zone called Green Line. A small wall here divides Nicosia
into Greek and Turkish parts. Robert Kocharyan wrote a message in the
Condolence Book.
The Armenian delegation will visit the St. Astvatsatsin (Virgin Mary)
Armenian Church and will later meet with representatives of the
Armenian community.