Month: March 2007

ISRAELI KNESSET REFUSED TO DISCUSS DRAFT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION IN NOD TO TURKEY

Arminfo
2007-03-15 14:04:00

The members of the Israeli Knesset refused to discuss the draft
Armenian Genocide Resolution in nod to Turkey.

As the Haaretz.com reports, the Knesset decided yesterday to shelve
a proposal for a parliamentary discussion on the Armenian genocide,
in compliance with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s request.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had also asked for a removal of
MK Haim Oron’s (Meretz) proposal from the agenda of the Knesset
Education, Culture, and Sports Committee. She said the discussion
might destabilize diplomatic relations with Turkey, which denies
responsibility for the death of nearly 1 million Armenians during World
War I. MK Oron said that before the vote, Livni called him twice to
ask him to withdraw the proposal. "This inquiry is something we owe
the Armenians, primarily at a time when we are struggling to preserve
the memory of our own people," said Oron.

He added that he had intended the discussion to lead to a resolution
by the Knesset acknowledging the genocide perpetrated against the
Armenians by the Turkish security forces. Prominent members of the
Armenian community in Israel observed the vote from the Knesset
visitors’ balcony and expressed their disappointment with the decision.

Health Minister Yacov Ben-Yizri, speaking for Livni, said that "as Jews
and Israelis we are especially sensitive to the issue, but over the
years the subject has been transformed into a heated discussion that
the two parties must resolve in order to truly heal the wounds of the
past." In his address, Ben Yizri did mention that the Armenians were
"killed en-masse during the last days of the Ottoman.

RA FM: AZERBAIJAN LOST POLITICAL AND MORAL RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO NKR PEOPLE

Arminfo
2007-03-15 13:35:00

The People of Nagorno Karabakh had used its right for
self-determination within the last years of the Soviet Union existence,
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at the session of the UN
Committee on Human Rights in Geneva.

As RA FM’s press-service told ArmInfo, the Minister has reminded
in his speech that Azerbaijan responded to the peaceful statements
of the Karabakh side by a military pressure. "Acting in such a way,
Azerbaijan has lost the political and moral rights with respect to
the Karabakh people", V. Oskanyan said.

RA FM INFORMED UN COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN NAKHIJEVAN

Arminfo
2007-03-15 13:14:00

RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has informed the UN Committee
on Human Rights about the destruction of the Armenian monuments
in Nakhijevan.

As the RA FM’s press-service told ArmInfo, coming out at the
Committee’s session in Geneva, the Minister noted a complete lack
of respect of Azerbaijan to the cultural heritage of the Armenian
people. "When the government of one country deliberately destroys
the century-old monuments of a great cultural and spiritual value,
it insults the souls of the died and thus looses the trust of those
alive", V. Oskanyan said. According to him, over 5,000 Armenian
monuments have been destroyed by Azeri authorities in the territory
of Nakhijevan within the latest several years. The purpose of this
is to wipe out the traces of the Armenian people in this territory,
the Minister added.

ARMENIA’S POPULATION CAN MAKE USE OF INTERNET SERVICES OF NEW FIBER-OPTIC FEBERNET COMMUNICATIONS STARTING APRIL, 2007

Arminfo
2007-03-14 21:30:00

The Armenian FiberNet Communications has signed today a Contract
on cooperation with the biggest Netherlands Linxtelecom Company,
according to which the Armenian side will receive an alternative
Internet communication.

As the Director of FiberNet Communications Armen Khachatryan told
the journalists, the country’s population will be able to make use
of the Internet services of this fiber-optic network starting April,
2007. He noted that the Internet services, including the IPT and the
TV- services, will be if high quality with the rate of 100 milliseconds
and by 60% cheaper than the similar services of the former monopolist
of a fiber-optic network, the ArmenTel Company.

A. Khachatryan expressed confidence that the entry of the new Company
will create a field of healthy competition with ArmenTel.

A. Khachatryan also informed that the FiberNet will rent a part of
the fiber-optic railway cable, having been operated since 2003,
within the frames of the EU-financed TRASECA program. This cable
passes from the Georgian border through Ayrum, Alaverdi, Vanadzor,
Spitak, Gyumri, Armavir, Masis and Yerevan.

According to him, a fiber-optic network with length of 25 km has
already been laid and a fiber-optic main Ayrum-Yerevan is equipped
by means of the FiberNet. The total length of the Company’s network
today makes up 350 km. "The work on the network construction is still
underway", a. Khachatryan noted. He also informed that further it is
scheduled to render the audio services as well and to build a main
fiber-optic network Yerevan-Meghri that will allow to connect with
the Iranian fiber-optic main for data exchange.

In his turn, RA Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan noted that this is an important step that will allow
to enlarge the country’s investment field via a high-quality
communication. According to him, even in 2006, RA President Robert
Kocharyan had entrusted him with a task to provide the country with
high-quality and cheap Internet- communication.

In his congratulatory speech, RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmarityan noted that this is an important step
in the development of IT-Armenia that will allow to make the next
step towards the development of a new IT strategy. "The information
technologies is not a self-purpose but a way to enhance the economy’s
efficiency", he said.

To note, a fiber-optic cable was put into operation in 2003 by a
grant of 5 mln Euro given to Armenia by the European Union within
then frames of TRASECA. This cable is purposed to assure a safety in
the railway transport.

However, a high carrying capacity of the cable, that connects Ayrum
with the Poti Georgian port and then with Novorossiysk, had not been
used for a long time.

RA FM: CLOSED ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER DOES NOT ALLOW ARMENIANS AND TURKS TO BUILD COMMON FUTURE

Arminfo
2007-03-15 13:18:00

The denial of the rights of Turkey’s citizens for a free discussion of
their past with the Armenians is a result of the Turkish authorities’
policy, while the closed Armenian-Turkish border does not allow the
Armenians and the Turks to build a common future, RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan said at the session of the UN Committee on Human
Rights in Geneva.

As the RA FM’s press-service told ArmInfo, the Minister has reminded
in his speech about the murder of the Editor-in- Chief of the "Agos"
Istanbul newspaper Hrant Dink by the Turkish nationalists. According
to V. Oskanyan, Hrant Dink had two mission in his life, that is, to
break the taboo, available in the Turkish society and to lay the basis
of dialogue between the Armenians and the Turks for achievement of
mutual understanding and reconciliation. "That is in fact what we want
today. There should be an open society in Turkey for the Turkish people
to be able to freely discuss its past. The borders should be open as
well for the peoples to establish the contacts. This is the only way
for us to overcome the discrepancies and achieve a reconciliation",
RA Foreign Minister said.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: THERE IS NO EXACT DECISION YET ABOUT YEREVAN-VAN CHARTER FLIGHT

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2007

ANKARA, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish Foreign
Ministry’s Spokesperson Levent Bilman stated at the March 14 press
conference that he has no information about the decision to organize a
Yerevan-Van charter flight in connection with the ceremony of opening
of Lake Van’s Akhtamar Church.

The Spokesperson stated that some work is being done in this direction,
but "no final decision has been made yet."

According to the Marmara daily of Istanbul, contrary to Bilman’s
"categoric statement," the circles of Turkish Foreign Ministry
mention that in connection with the ceremony of opening the church
the government wishes to temporarily open the land border door with
Armenia as an alternative to the charter flight.

TSEGHAKRON TEACHING OF NZHDEH CLOSE TO MEMBERS OF UNITY OF GEORGIAN ARMENIANS, ORGANIZATION’S CO-CHAIRMAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The Unity of Georgian Armenians NGO
will support the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) at the forthcoming
parliamentary elections for several basic reasons. Tachat Vardapetian,
NGO’s Co-chairman, stated this at the March 15 press conference. The
first reason, in his words, is close cooperation with RPA from the
very first day of foundation of the organization and the circumstance
that RPA assisted with implementation of programs of school building
and restoration of cultural centers in Javakhk.

Besides, as T. Vardapetian mentioned, "the Tseghakron teaching of
Nzhdeh is close to the members of Unity of Georgian Armenians."

To recap, T. Vardapetian, member of Unity of Georgian Armenians Hayk
Sanosian and editor of Dzayn Virahayots newspaper Hakob Srapian are
included in RPA’s proportional list.

T. Vardapetian said that in case of appearing in National Assembly they
will consistently raise problems Georgian Armenians are anxious about
and will pursue their discussion at the level of Armenian-Georgian
interstate relations.

In response to the question, why instead of joining the Javakhk
Compatriotic Union and Hzor Hayrenik Party engaged in problems of
Armenians of Javakhk they support RPA, H. Sanosian said that uniting
with Javakhk is not excluded in the future.

OPPOSITION YOUTH COUNCIL INTENDS TO CONTROL OBSERVERS’ ACTIVITY DURING NA ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The Opposition Youth Council consisting
of youth wings of several opposition parties attaches great importance
to activity of local observation organizations during the May 12
elections. Narek Galstian, Head of youth wing of Social-Democrat
Hnchakian Party, member of Opposition Youth Council, stated this in
his March 15 interview to journalists.

In the words of Sergei Ghazarian, representative of youth wing of
People’s Party of Armenia, the Council will follow observers’ activity,
will study the reports made by them and will send the respective
written conclusion to the international organizations, which have
provided funds for implementing the mission of that observers.

As Karen Vardanian, representative of Union of National Democrats
Party, affirmed, objective activity of 3-4 observers at each district
and adequate activity of empowered persons will contribute to holding
of free and fair elections. In his words, "the above mentioned persons
just should be strong enough to avoid material temptation."

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: I CANNOT CONFIDENTLY AFFIRM THAT FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD WITHOUT VIOLATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "The forthcoming parliamentary
elections are of exclusive importance for Armenia’s future and
depending on the fact whether all political forces will really realize
this, all participants will realize this, the elections will be such
or not." RA NA Speaker, RPA Vice-Chairman Tigran Torosian stated this
at the meeting organized on March 15 at the Urbat (Friday) club. He
also said that in all probability, during the coming week some steps
will be taken in the direction of forming a working group of "quick
response" consisting of representatives of NA groups and factions
for the purpose of preventing possible violations during the May 12
parliamentary elections.

In T. Torosian’s words, in spite of intention to hold free and fair
elections, nevertheless, there will be "separate violations." "But to
respond quickly and not to permit these attempts to have an impact on
election results – this is not only possible, but also necessary," NA
Speaker said. At the same time, T. Torosian did not exclude that some
out of dozens of thousands of RPA members can take part in violations.

Touching upon the rumors on collecting passports of people on behalf
of RPA and making them join RPA in Yerevan’s Kentron community and
some other communities, T. Torosian stated that RPA Board has never
given any instructions of the kind to anybody.

In connection with the statement of leading Armenian chess-players
about supporting RPA during the forthcoming parliamentary elections
T. Torosian said: "I have known the majority of them, especially
Smbat Lputian since 1970 and I am more than sure that there can be
no political purpose, no speculation here."

ARMENIAN LOBBYISTS MENTION NECESSITY OF MORE ACTIVE COOPERATION OF RA EMBASSIES WITH ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. "Certainly, Turks and Azeris have
no traditions of ethnic lobbying, but they are very active in a
number of countries and spend much money on counteracting to our
initiatives." Susan Khardalian, Head of Armenian National Committee
of Scandinavia, stated this at the March 15 press conference.

In her words, the large Turkish community of Germany has learnt to work
with both political organizations and with media. She expressed anxiety
with the growing activity of Turkish and Azerbaijani organizations,
including in Sweden where she works.

In the words of S. Khardalian and another participants of the press
conference representing Armenian National Committees of Cyprus,
Canada, Argentina and Russia, Azerbaijani-Turkish activity does not
causes panic of Armenian lobbyists. "We must not surrender, we must
struggle and work directing our activity to creation of new structures
for counteracting to the initiatives of Turks and Azeris. We must not
forget that the basis of their activity is only finances and of our
activity fair requests and ideas," Aris Papikian, Head of Armenian
National Committee of Ottawa, stated.

The participants of press conference positively estimated traditions
of cooperation between Embassies of Armenia abroad and Armenian
National Committees.

At the same time, lobbyists referring to exclusively active support
Embassies of Turkey and Azerbaijan render to their compatriots living
abroad, mentioned the necessity to activize cooperation between
Armenian Embassies and Armenian National Committees.