Month: March 2007

PRO-RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER VOWS TO START ‘AGGRESSIVE ELECTION FIGHTING’

Armenpress
Mar 19 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS: Aram Karapetian, the leader of an
opposition Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party, who does not conceal his
pro-Russian stance, vowed today to launch what he called’ aggressive
election fighting."

Speaking to a news conference Karapetian, who ran for 2003 presidential
election and collected as many votes as to be placed fourth, but was
surprisingly banned to run for parliamentary elections few months
later, urged today ‘the real opposition forces, ‘ who want this
country to experience a dramatic positive change, to join efforts
for an aggressive electioneering and use every possible resource.

Karapetian agreed that a sizeable portion of Armenians are frustrated
with major opposition forces, but said the fight would entail success
only in case hundreds of thousands of Armenians take to the streets
to defend their legitimate rights.

Karapetian then slightly criticized those opposition leaders, among
them a veteran politician Vazgen Manukian, head of the almost extinct
National Democratic Union, for deciding to boycott the May 12 polls,
arguing that ‘every political party must participate in all national
elections."

Karapetian said his party will use free airtime on Public TV,
envisaged by the law and will also buy airtime to advertise his
party’s campaign. He also warned Armenia would come under strong
external pressure if the polls were rugged.

CRIME RATE IS ON THE RISE

ARMENPRESS
Mar 19 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian police have reported today
a 13 percent rise in the number of committed crimes in the first two
months of this year, saying a total of 659 crimes and offences were
reported to them in January and February.

Chief of Yerevan police department Nerses Nazarian told a news
conference the growth was also due to an improved procedure of
registration of all reported crimes and offences.

He said apartment theft cases grew by 24 or 52 percent from a year
ago. In the majority of thefts the thieves penetrated into apartments
through windows.

He said the number of car thefts also rose by 28 percent while cases
of hooliganism and robberies declined 40 and 33 percent respectively.

He said police officers tracked down 18 cases of illegal arms
possession and also registered 19 crimes against foreigners. In these
first two months three murderers who were on the run, five thieves
and 9 people accused of fraud, were detected and arrested.

He said police in Yerevan exposed 15 criminal groups made up of 42
people. Six cases of premeditated murders were registered in Yerevan
in February-February, up from 5 such cases from a year ago. Four of
these cases were solved.

GRIGOR AMALYAN WILL LIKELY RETURN

A1+
[05:08 pm] 19 March, 2007

March 19 was the deadline of the office for three members of National
Commission for Television and Radio (NCTR); Chairman Grigor Amalyan,
deputy president Shamiram Aghabekyan, and member Karine Khodikyan.

Under the RA acting Constitution, the NCTR chairman and deputy chairman
must be appointed by the RA NA and RA president. No one will take
place of Karine Khodikyan as NCTR will henceforth have 8 members
instead of 9.

To note, Shamiram Aghabekyan runs for the parliamentary elections on
the proportional list of "Prosperous Armenia".

Currently one can find the names of the following NCTR members on the
website of the commission; Artak Zakaryan, Aharon Lazarian, Vahagn
Avagyan, Ara Tadevosyan, Simavon Andreasyan and Zhirayr Dadasyan.

Though Grigor Amalyan’s name is left out, his chances to resume the
post are great. It is noteworthy that RA President Robert Kocharyan
can appoint two NCTR members. This won’t be a breach of the RA
acting Constitution under which four members of the commission must
be appointed by the NA and the other four – by the RA President.

The point is that Robert Kocharyan hasn’t ratified the amendments to
the laws on "Television and Radio" and "Statute of NCTR". The draft
laws were sent to the president two days ago and he is to ratify them
within 21 days. This means, that even if Robert Kocharyan ratifies
the amendments, the laws won’t be put in force in close future.

Thus, Robert Kocharyan, can be guided by the acting law on "Television
and Radio", under which, "In case there is a vacancy in the NCTR,
the NCTR chairman informs the RA President about it in written
notification. The latter announces tender for the vacancy via mass
media within a week’s time". The candidates must be nominated within
ten days. Under the same law, the RA President appoints one of the
tender winners the NCTR member.

Hranush Hakobyan, chairwoman of the Standing Committee on Science,
Education, Culture and Youth Issues, says that Robert Kocharyan can
announce a tender for the NCTR two vacancies and appoint two new
members of the commission within ten days.

Grigor Amalyan will likely take up the post again, as a winner of
fair and free tender. And it is not excluded that the current RA NA
will not have its member in the NCTR.

INFORMATIVE BLOCKADE OF HERITAGE STILL CONTINUES

A1+
[06:16 pm] 19 March, 2007

The press service of the "Heritage" Party has spread the following
announcement today; "Two RA TV Channels (Kentron and H2) invited
"Raffi Hovannisian to participate in the political programs "Urvagits"
and "The Fourth Studio". The most striking is the fact that we got
invitations after 1, 5 years’ informative blockade and just the moment
Raffi Hovannisian was out of the country. To note, the press secretary
of the party informed the press about Mr. Hovannisian’s absence on
the eve.

In case the attention is not "formal", the above-mentioned TV Channels
will have a chance to host Raffi Hovannisian one of these day after
his arrival.

This implies that the presidential pressure over the national TV
Channels has weakened.

But the fact that Raffi Hovannisian and other leaders of the party
are currently denied airtime broadcast (all the leaders of the party
are in Armenia) already gives cause for doubts.

As for NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan’s announcement that Raffi
Hovannisian’s frequent absences deprive him of broadcasting chance,
it is due to mention that most of the RA high-ranking officials,
including the reverend NA Speaker, go abroad more frequently but it
doesn’t hinder RA TV channels to cover their activity for hours.

Secondly, Raffi Hovannisian doesn’t leave Armenia that much; this is
disinformation spread by the NA Speaker.

And finally, the visits are aimed at introducing Armenia in many
important forums among them Wilton Park and the April conference
of Brussels.

We find the announcement of Tigran Torosyan, who is well aware of
Raffi Hovannisian’s whereabouts, indecent and unfair taking into
account the illegal informative blockade of the "Heritage" Party.

329 FROM OSCE OBSERVERS TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

A1+
[08:19 pm] 19 March, 2007

YEREVAN, 19 March 2007 – The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission
for the 12 May parliamentary elections in Armenia.

This follows an invitation from the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

Thirteen experts will be based in Yerevan, and 29 long-term observers
will be deployed around the country. The ODIHR will request that a
further 300 short-term observers be provided by OSCE participating
States to monitor the opening and closing of polling stations on
election day, voting, the vote count, and the tabulation of results.

The mission will assess the parliamentary elections for their
compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes,
including commitments agreed to by all 56 OSCE participating States,
as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, the work of
the election administration and relevant governmental bodies,
election-related legislation and its implementation, the media
environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

"The recently amended election code of Armenia provides a sound
framework for democratic elections, but the challenge for the
authorities is its implementation in good faith, so that this and
future elections are held in accordance with OSCE commitments,"
said Ambassador Boris Frlec, who heads the ODIHR mission.

The mission intends to join efforts with the short-term observers
from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, who will be headed by Tone
Tingsgaard, Vice-President of the OSCE PA. The mission will also
co-operate with other parliamentary delegations from the Council of
Europe and, possibly, the European Parliament.

The OSCE/ODIHR observation mission and the OSCE Office in Yerevan
operate independently under separate mandates.

AZNAVOUR HOSPITALIZED IN PARIS ON PURPOSE

A1+
[01:56 pm] 19 March, 2007

The press secretary of the world renowned singer Charles Aznavur
commented on the singer’s hospitalization. "Aznavur has been placed
into clinic to undergo thorough examination. He passes such courses
prior to each tour." The 82-year-old singer will stay in hospital
till Monday.

To note, Aznavur has gathered in foreign tour. The first concert
should pass on April 20 in Moscow followed by the concerts in South
and North America and finally in France in October.

MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL PROMISES TO HAVE CLEAN COMMUNITIES IN APRIL

Panorama.am
18:33 19/03/2007

Vano Vardanyan, deputy mayor of Yerevan, made several announcements
in a briefing today.

Vardanyan said, several subotniks (days when communities engage
in cleaning the communities) are implemented. He promised that the
communities will look clean in April.

The municipality will also engage in recovery of damaged pipelines
in Yerevan community buildings on its own funds.

Speaking about asphalting the streets, he said the works will be over
by October. Vardanyan also announced that a group will leave for Kiev
to learn about the management experience of the city.

EUROPEAN RIGHTS AND INTEGRATION CENTER OPENS IN YEREVAN

Panorama.am
18:50 19/03/2007

European Rights and Integration Center board held its inaugural
session in Yerevan today. David Harutunyan, minister of justice,
was elected as the chairman of the board. Arthur Ghazinyan is the
appointed director of the center. The session also discussed and
approved the action program of the center. Harutunyan told reporters
that the center aims to boost public awareness. "First of all, it
concerns public awareness on European institutions," the minister said.

This is a two year program which will end in March, next year. In
the words of the board chairman, the center depends on the quality of
specialists. It will be a source for students to learn about Europe
and European structures.

CoE allocated 915 thousand euro for the establishment of the center. It
has a resource library of about 2000 books.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WEST WILL EXERT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA IF THE GAS PIPELINE IS SOLD

A1+
[03:15 pm] 19 March, 2007

"Iran-Armenia gas pipeline provides Armenia with alternative source of
gas supply. But the gas pipeline must be made transitional. Azerbaijan
and Turkey do their utmost to prevent Armenia’s integration into
other regional programs", says Stepan Grigoryan, director of the
Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation

"The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is the only outcome, but unfortunately,
the RA acting authorities are too passive on this score. The
developments show that our region is retiring from Russia; the policy
of Georgia and Azerbaijan as well as the rough stance of Russia testify
to this fact. Thus, we must think of ourselves without spoiling the
country’s relations with Russia".

"In case the pipeline doesn’t become transitional we shall be left
out of the monopoly that Russia has in our region and in Armenia".

Reminder, 80% of the Armenian energy powers are in the hands of
Russia. "ArmRusgasArd" didn’t conceal its intention to acquire the
Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.

"It is impermissible to give the Armenian section to Russia. This
is not accounted for the fact that Russia possesses most Armenia’s
energy powers. We know quite well that Russia takes this or that object
which latter stops working. All the objects taken under the program
"Property in Return of Debt" testify to this".

Such actions put the energetic security of Armenia into peril. Besides,
they arouse indignation among the Western counties.

The rough stance of the USA towards Armenia is also determined by
this very fact. In this view let’s consider the row over the Armenian
mineral water and the report of the U.S. State Department in which
Karabakh was introduced as an "occupied territory" by Armenia.

Mr. Grigoryan assumes that first of all it is the fault of the RA
authorities. In his words, Armenia must display more active policy
towards Iran.

"We cannot justify and protect Iran for its steps and initiatives
which arouse anger and passion world-wide.

Nevertheless, we can persuade the USA and the West that our energetic
agreements with Iran are obligatory and we have no other alternative".

We must explain to the universal community that in case the relations
with Iran deteriorate, the region will appear in jeopardy", Stepan
Grigoryan claims. He is convinced that the powerful countries will
exert more pressure on Armenia in case we display passive attitude.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GREBYONKINA-AZROYAN FIGURE SKATERS LEAVE FOR TOKYO

Panorama.am
16:48 19/03/2007

Figure skaters, representing Armenia, are in Tokyo to participate in
world championship in figure skating on March 18.

Anastasia Grebionkina-Vazgen Azroyan dance couple, representing
Armenia, left for Tokyo on March 18 from Moscow. Armenian figure
skating federation told Armenpress that our figure skaters are in good
sports state. Alexander Julin, figure skating coach of our sportsmen,
Liudmila Vlasova, dance coach as well as Irina Absaliamova, field
judge of international ranking, also left for Tokyo.

The competition will end on March 28.