Month: November 2006

CIVIL INSUBORDINATION
Naira Mamikonian
Aravot, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Many politicians think that this is the only way by which the
reproduction of the current authorities is possible to prevent.
Yesterday several politicians and public men, former state officials,
intellectual representatives, political and economic experts were
discussing and trying to formulate the problems and actions of the
movement of the civil insubordination in Armenia. But first of all,
advocate Vardan Haroutiunian noticed in his short speech that “figures
of the ruling clique have defamed themselves so much involving in
criminal relations, have committed so many crimes that they have no
opportunity to give the authority without a qualm of conscience”,
so it is understandable why they want to keep the authority at any
cost and to be reproduced. The participants of discussion were sure
that these authorities though their announcements can’t and won’t
want to hold fair and free elections because no representative of
the current authority will be elected.
In the opinion of the activists of the movement the situation in the
country may be changed in the following way; “to form such a situation
in case of which it will be possible to hold fair and transparent
elections, and legal authorities will be formed as a result who will be
able to carry out reforms and get the country out of isolation”. For
attaining such success, in Mr. Haroutiunian’s opinion, we must manage
to organize the activation of despaired people. People who have been
deprived of their property for “state needs” have already prompted
how to do it by their actions of protest. For the opposition this
initiative was a good chance to be rehabilitated in the public and
to restore human rights and basic freedoms if that principle and not
coming to power was important for them. And while the party leaders
discuss their actions, people out of party ambitions have decided to
join that movement and to form the movement of civic insuborination
based on it.
One of the most effective ways of struggle is the civic
insubordination; “realization of the right and fight for the realized
right”. “As much the fighters are as soon and effective the struggle
will be. We must simply be unified not round a party or a force or a
person but round the idea of preventing reproduction of the authorities
and leading the country in democratic way,”- V. Haroutiunian suggested
who promised yesterday that the activists of the civic movement would
participate in the actions of protest of “victims of state needs”.
Yesterday discussions didn’t pass without any serious “debates”. Some
of them thought that the movement needed in a project, ideas unless
nothing will happen. Others were affirming that our people follow
the persons and not ideas. In the opinion of NA former vice chairman
Karapet Rubinian “other forces near the force of excellent ideas
always appear, who don’t agree with it. We should have one simple aim
consists of two points: the illegal authorities must be removed, fair
elections must be provided”. The former minister Vahan Shirkhanian
was for the same who said “it is impossible to reach the formation
of legal authority by the coming elections”. “I’m against the thought
that our people make their elections by bribes. It isn’t so, because
the people made right elections both in ’98 and 2003. It is another
problem that we didn’t have the power, which would manage to take the
authority. Now we can have that power and there is no need in that
project. Armenia may avoid of illegal elections by special elections
and its way is civic insubordination movement.”

SERGE SARGSYAN: THERE IS NOTHING STRANGE THAT ARMENIA IS ACCOMPLISHING AN IPAP WITH NATO
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The safe future of Armenia is possible only in the atmosphere
of international and regional security, RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan said before leaving for Minsk.
The Minister said he does not see anything strange in the fact
that being a SCTO member, Armenia is accomplishing an Individual
Partnership Action Plan with NATO. I think it is the proper time to
refuse from the mentality that the military-technical cooperation
between countries should be definitely directed against a certain
state or alliance. In the contemporary world such approach has lost
its properness, Serge Sargsyan considers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2-3 YEARS THE NUMBER OF VISIORS TO ARMENIA WILL EXCEED 500 THOUSAND
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
By the end of 2006 the number of tourists visiting Armenia will reach
380 thousand, Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Ara
Petrosyan said in a press conference today.
Ara Petrosyan informed that 272 thousand tourists visited Armenia
in 2006, which is 18% more as compared to the same period of the
previous year.
The Deputy Minister expressed the opinion that in 2-3 years the annual
number of tourists will exceed 500 thousand.
Ara Petrosyan considers that the quality of services has considerably
improved in Armenia, which also promotes the development of tourism.
Most part of the tourists comes to Armenia from Russia and the United
States. However, every year the geography of visitors increases.
Thus, in 2006 tourists from Singapore, China and South America
visited Armenia.

THE MEETING OF PRESIDENTS WILL ALLOW TO BRING POSITIONS CLOSER, THE MEDIATORS CONSIDER
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov declared
in Yerevan today that the mediators’ meetings with RA President and
Foreign Minister were “productive,” Mediamax agency reports.
Before leaving for Baku, Yurin Merzlyakov informed that “the Armenian
side has confirmed its agreement to the meeting of the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to be held November 28 in Minsk in the
framework of the CIS summit.
According to the Russian Co-Chair, “we should receive confirmation
from the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, although earlier the
Azeri Foreign Minister came forth with a corresponding statement on
the question.”
Yuri Merzlyakov said the American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza’s absence
was associated with the fact that “the mediators have agreed to share
the responsibilities, and Matthew Bryza should meet with NKR President
Arkady Ghukasyan in the US.”
“In general, we are closing the year on a very optimistic point,
and if we manage to maintain such disposition of the parties, we’ll
step into 2007 with rather good perspectives. Despite the fact that
the elections somehow restrict the negotiation process, we think that
the work carried out this year will allow overcoming the pre-election
period easily” the Russian Co-Chair declared.
French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier declared that “resolving this conflict
is the same as building a peace wall.” He noted that “at this point
this wall is not that stable to allow the parties sign a final treaty.”
“We hope that the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will allow to bring the positions of the parties on some
complex issues closer,” the French diplomat noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TELETHON 2006 – A THANKSGIVING TRADITION SINCE INDEPENDENCE
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Armenia Fund United States Western Region announces the domestic and
international broadcast coverage lineup of its upcoming 9th Annual
International Telethon. The telethon will be aired on Thanksgiving
Day, November 23, 2006 in all Armenian communities around the United
States and the world.
As part of the Rebirth of Artsakh project, proceeds from the live
12-hour program will benefit the regional development of Hadrut,
Nagorno Karabakh. The funds will go towards building new drinking
water pipelines as well as reconstructing healthcare facilities and
schools that fell victim to the war and years of neglect. In an effort
to eradicate poverty in this war ravaged border region, Armenia Fund
will also implement a comprehensive agricultural development project
to impact 1,000 farmers in 8 Hadrut villages. A similar regional
development program is currently underway in the northern Martakert
region using the funds raised during last year’s Telethon 2005.
His Excellency Arkady Ghukasyanan, President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic and Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, Chief Executive Officer of
Armenia Fund International will be present during the telethon. The
live program is set to air internationally from Glendale Studios,
California. Below is the listing of the domestic broadcast stations
in the United States and their times in respective local time zones.
H1-Armenian Public Television will also air the live program in
Armenia, as well as on satellite in Europe, the Middle East, Asia,
and the United States. Viewers with a Globecast World TV satellite
may tune in to H1-Armenian Public Television and view the live 12-hour
program. In addition, Horizon Armenian Television, the largest Diaspora
based Armenian cable and satellite network outside of Armenia will
air the telethon on its channel as well. Viewers in North America
may watch the Telethon on Horizon’s satellite channels.
The Telethon will also be webcasted live for 12 hours on

ICG CONCERNED ABOUT THE FATE OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI MINORITIES IN GEORGIA
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
“The Georgian government must take significant steps to avoid conflict
in the country’s ethnic Armenian and Azeri areas,” says the last
report of the International Crisis Group titled “Georgia’s Armenian
and Azeri Minorities. The report examines the grievances of these two
communities. While there is no risk of the situation becoming Ossetian
or Abkhaz-like threats to Georgia’s territorial integrity, tensions
are evident in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo-Kartli,
where the two predominantly live. There have been demonstrations,
alleged police brutality and killings during the past two years.
Georgia has made little progress towards integrating these minorities,
who constitute over 12 per cent of the population.
Armenians and Azeris are underrepresented in all spheres of public
life, especially government, and a lack of dialogue between them and
Tbilisi adds to perceptions of discrimination and alienation. This
is aggravated by economic problems, including high unemployment l
and decaying infrastructure.
“Tbilisi needs to do much more to build confidence and to encourage
minorities to address their problems through state structures rather
then in the street”, says Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group’s Caucasus
Project Director.
While the government denies there is any inequality, many minorities
claim they are treated as second-class citizens. Feeling betrayed by
the Abkhaz and Ossetians, who declared independent states on Georgian
territory, Tbilisi has a deeply rooted, if unfounded, fear that others
may do the same. More sensitive and effective minority policies would
dampen such demands and might even help build trust with the Abkhaz
and Ossetians.
Some steps have been taken to improve the lives of minorities. With
donor support, Georgia has invested in road and infrastructure
rehabilitation in minority regions and created a ministry for civic
integration, established a public administration institute to train
minorities and ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection
of National Minorities.
None of this is likely to appease minorities’ political grievances
without policies that increase inclusion and participation.
Implementation of local government reform after the 2006 elections
provides a new platform for minorities to affect decision-making
through municipal bodies. More consultation by Tbilisi when drafting
legislation can also help.
The government needs to establish a comprehensive education system
to teach Georgian as a second language to minorities, but while a
new generation is educated, minorities should not be discriminated
against, especially in hiring for state jobs. The state should also
implement its international commitments, particularly allowing use
of minority languages for state affairs in municipalities with large
numbers of minority citizens, as is standard throughout Europe.
“Only by acting on both tracks will Georgia succeed in reducing
tensions and increasing minority integration”, says Nicholas Whyte,
Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director.

PEACE CORPS ARMENIA HOLDS 8TH ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT FAIR
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The 8h Annual Peace Corps Armenia Development Fair was held on November
22, 2006 at the AUA Business Center. Peace Corps Volunteers and their
Armenian counterparts were invited to meet representatives of 80
Armenian and international development organizations. The goal of the
event was to promote cooperation and collaboration between Peace Corps
Volunteers and development organizations, particularly in the areas
of English language education, business and community development,
health education and environmental education. Anthony Godfrey, United
States Charge d’Affaires ad interim to the Republic of Armenia,
addressed the participants at the opening of the Development Fair.
Peace Corps Armenia was established in 1992 at the invitation of
the Government of Armenia. Currently, 77 Volunteers work in schools,
universities, NGOs, and health facilities throughout Armenia. During
the last fourteen years, 529 Peace Corps Volunteers have served
in Armenia.
The U S Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by United States President John
F. Kennedy and has three goals: to provide trained assistance to people
of other countries as requested, to promote a better understanding
of Americans by the people of the countries in which they serve,
and to promote a better understanding of other cultures by Americans.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DM CALMLY PERCEIVES CRITICS, PUBLISHED ABOUT HIM IN SOME HOME MEDIA
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The Secretary of the National Security Council under RA President,
RA DM, Serzh Sarkissyan, calmly perceives the critics, published
about him in some home Media.
In a interview to the Public Radio of Armenia he noted that there
are one or two newspapers in the country which consider it necessary
to excoriate him in each issue. “I have already said that I consider
them beggarly since they do it for different reasons, however, it is
striking where the order comes from”, the Minister said.
To note, the regular meeting of RA DM with the parents of soldiers,
who pass service for a fixed period, gave cause for the critics about
him. Some Mass Media have perceived this meeting as a beginning of the
Minister’s election campaign. “It is astonishing that these newspapers
publish an apparent lie, but look here, those who participated in
the meeting with me, also read them and they will notice at once that
the published is a nonsense”, S. Sarkissyan said.

SERZH SARKISSYAN: CONDITION OF ARMENIAN PEACEMAKER, WOUNDED IN IRAQ, IS SATISFACTORY
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The condition of the Armenian peacemaker, wounded in Iraq, is assessed
satisfactory, RA DM, Serzh Sarkissyan, said in an interview to the
Public Radio of Armenia.
To remind, a senior lieutenant, Georgy Nalbandyan, born in 1981, was
seriously wounded In Iraq, November 11, as a result of undermining
during execution of the regular task. His companions, peacemakers
from Poland and Slovakia, have died. The Armenian officer’s leg was
amputated and he will be further treated in Germany. This is the
first incident with participation of the Armenian servicemen within
the two years, during which the Armenian peacemakers carry out their
mission in Iraq. The Minister reminded that the wounded is in Germany
and undergoes rehabilitation after the leg amputation. After one or
two operations he will return to Armenia.

LECTURES, FILMS ON EARLY ARMENIAN HISTORY
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Nov 22 2006
The Boston Chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Society, the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA),
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
and the Harvard Armenian Society will present a lecture and film
series on early Armenian history by Professor Artak Movsisyan.
Movsisyan is an associate professor of history at Yerevan State
University and a scholar at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the
National Academy of Sciences (Republic of Armenia). He has published
numerous monographs and articles on a wide range of topics in ancient
Armenian history, culture and spirituality.
The schedule of the lecture and film series is as follows:
Lecture: “The Pre-Christian Written Culture of Armenia,” Wednesday,
Nov. 29, 7:45 p.m. at Harvard University, Sever Hall, Room 113.
Lecture: “The Origins of the Armenian Nation: From Earliest References
to Now,” Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. at NAASR, 395 Concord Ave.,
Belmont.
Film Screening: “Tigran the Great – A Patriotic Sovereign,” Saturday,
Dec. 2, 1:30 p.m. at ACEC, 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown.
Lecture: “Pre-Christian Armenian Belief System and Transition
to Christianity,” Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at ALMA, 65 Main St.,
Watertown.
Admission to all events is free, and lectures will be delivered in
English. To find out more about the series please contact NAASR at
[email protected], or 617-489-1610.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress