Month: March 2007

I PROPOSE THE PARLIAMENT ADOPT LAW CONDEMNING BOLSHEVISM
Gagik Avanesyan

KarabakhOpen
Hadrut
15-03-2007 10:21:44

The foreign policy of Armenia focuses on the recognition of the
Genocide.

And it turns out that whenever this issue is raised in an organization
(like it was under B. Clinton), the foreign policy of Armenia and
NKR collapses.

Therefore, the foreign affair agencies should not focus on one
direction. New solutions are necessary which are not dictated by
foreign actors.

I think the parliaments of Armenia and NKR can "facilitate" the
resolution of the Karabakh issue by adopting a law condemning
bolshevism. Not communism which is associated with socialism by
most people in Russia, as well as European countries, and is a very
sensitive topic to them, but bolshevism which was condemned by the 20th
conference of the USSR Communist Party. Due to bolshevism Turks got a
major part of the Armenian territory, Nakhidjevan and Karabakh. Due
to bolshevism the agreement of Sevres was not brought into being,
by which the Armenians would get the Armenian territories back.

The law should be adopted without a retrospective look at the partisan
past of the government officials. Moreover, the adoption of the
law would oblige the Armenian members of the European parliament,
independent from what party’s members they are, to vote for a similar
resolution which will be presented sooner or later by the Baltic
States, proposing to replace communism with bolshevism.

With regard to bolshevism, and the Baltic States identify it with
fascism, Armenia is the only post-Soviet country whose interests
coincide with the interests of the Baltic States.

Afterwards it would be possible to raise the issue of reconsideration
of agreements signed by Bolshevist Russia, which affected the interests
of the Armenians, other ethnic minorities, reconsideration of the
borders between states which were viewed as internal borders of the
USSR by the international community, were arbitrarily drawn by the
Bolshevists and were not reconsidered after World War II.

ARMENIA IN THE 119th PLACE

A1+
[05:00 pm] 14 March, 2007

Today, FIFA published the rating list of the national football
teams. It is noteworthy that the team of Argentine tops the list
leaving behind the world champions Italy and Brazil.

The Armenian team is the 119th in the list. To remind, our team is
to meet the team of Poland on March 28.

Provided our footballers win, the team will move on and secure their
rating as the Polish team is the 24th.

As for our neighbors, the team of Georgia has moved on to the 85th
place whereas Azeris are the 123rd.

U.S. CONSUL SAYS ARMENIAN BILL WOULD BE UNHELPFUL TO SOLVE PROBLEMS BETWEEN TURKEY, ARMENIA

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
March 14 2007

( Anatoliantimes ) – "We do not believe that an Armenian bill
submitted to the Congress would help solving problems between Turkey
and Armenia," US Consul to the southern city of Adana Eric Green
said Monday.

Green noted that the they understood Turkish concerns that the bill
might damage relations between Turkey and the US.

"We prefer historians would tackle with these issues because relations
might be hurt when politicians and diplomats get involved in such
discussions. We want to focus on preserving and continuing cooperation
with Turkey," Green told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting at
a local journalists’ association in Adana.

Green also said that the US government has been exerting every effort
in its capacity to avert the Congressional approval of the bill,
but added that problems between Turkey and Armenia should "somehow
be solved."

"We would like Turkey to assume a critical approach to its own past,"
he stated.

BALLOT LISTS PREPARED FOR THE BLIND

Panorama.am
20:28 14/03/2007

The Central Electoral Committee (CEC) approved today the procedure
for assistance to people who have sight problems. According to the
procedure, the persons who have sight problems may apply for assistance
to other people to learn about the names in the ballot paper.

The blind may not be assisted by committee members or authorized
people.

The session also approved the ballot paper specially designed for the
blind. The program is supported by International Fund of Electoral
Systems (IFES).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COURT CASE INSTITUTED AGAINST RFE/RL

Panorama.am
21:10 14/03/2007

Anna Karapetyan, former employee of RFE/RL has opened a court case
against RFE/RL and its Armenian management," European independent
journal "Days," published in Praha, reports. The ex-employee demands
to cancel the decision according to which she is dismissed.

The journal writes, "The radio states, which postulated democratic
values and human rights, have to prove in Praha court that it
has not violated human rights by dismissing Anna Karapetyan." The
journal claims that the radio station has offered some money to Anna
Karapetyan against silence but the latter has refused. According to
the publication, Karapetyan worked with RFE/RL since 1995.

Yerevan office of RFE/RL told Panorama.am that Anna Karapetyan has, in
fact, worked with the radio station and is a well-known reporter. The
office could not detail more saying she worked in Praha.

THE TOLERANCE LIMIT FOR ELECTION FRAUD IS EXHAUSTED

Yerkir.am
March 10, 2007

The upcoming parliamentary elections are more important than any
preceding elections. The reason for this is that presidential elections
will follow next year. All political forces view the parliamentary
elections as the start for the presidential elections.

The other important consideration is that after the constitutional
amendments the new parliament will have a much more important role in
the country’s political life. There are some other considerations of
"local" significance like the participation in the upcoming elections
of Prosperous Armenia and Dashink ("Alliance") Parties that have had
no political activities so far.

On March 7, member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
Bureau, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Vahan Hovhannissian
commented on the pre-electoral situation in the country. Hovhannissian
stated that collection of passport numbers was practiced by some
forces in the past as well, but today this practice has become very
widely spread. Collecting passport serial numbers is internationally
acknowledged as a crime.

Hovhannissian called on citizens not to give their passports to anyone
because if someone gets another person’s passport the latter can be
enlisted in a party as a member, or some crimes can be committed with
this passport, etc.

Hovhannissian then addressed those who collect passport saying that
people can give their passport numbers to ten people but this does not
mean they will give their votes. The law enforcement bodies know about
the practice of collecting passport numbers but cannot do anything
because there are no complaints from people.

Commenting on the increasing volume of charity actions in the run-up
for the elections, Hovhannissian noted that charity can be considered
charity only in as much as it does not entail any trade or any
expectations in return for charity. ARF has been engaged in charity
acts for several decades. ARF does charity through its sister-body –
the Armenian Relief Society. However, the latter’s activities are in
no way related to elections. "If you look at the ARS’ s activities
you will see that the ARS has always worked very actively irrespective
of whether this or that year was an election year."

A number of surveys and prognosis have been made recently. The most
probable percentage for the ARF is indicated to be 10% in these
prognoses.

Hovhannissian noted that more serious studies indicate greater
percentage while some media publicize results of sociological surveys
conducted by some unknown organizations which might be pursuing the
political goal of artificially decreasing ARF’s role and influencing
the voters’ attitude. Hovhannissian believes " buying" sociologists’
services is a very widespread election technology in Armenia. Some
sociologists have offered their services to ARF but the party does
not pay any attention to such manipulations. "Our people are fed up
both with cheating politicians and with cheating sociologists."

Hovhannissian also commented on the US State Department’s 2006
report on human rights protection. The report states that people in
Armenia do not have an opportunity to change the regime in power. "I
do not hinder change of the regime by the people. I call on people
to change the regime and I have always said this. Change of power
through lawful means, change of power through elections without any
hysteria and clashes is a normal phenomenon. If people consider that
a change of power is necessary then they should go for it without
waiting for anyone’s permission," Hovhannissian stated.

Hovhannissian said it’s not a secret that the previous elections
held in Armenia did not fully meet international or European
standards. There are no guarantees that these standards will be met
this time because such guarantees can only be created by voters who
are responsible for their votes. "People who are disappointed and do
not believe in anything saying that they will not go to elections
create opportunities for election fraud," Hovhannissian said. He
called on the voters to be active in the elections and the members
of the electoral commissions to be brave and not to sell themselves.

Hovhannissian stated ARF is one of the political forces that have set a
goal for themselves to prevent all violations in the electoral process.

"We are not like those parties that suddenly announce that they are
the guarantors for fair elections. The state is the only guarantor
for the fair elections but if we are part of the government we are
to some extent responsible for the elections as well. ARF is ready
to take its share of responsibility to prevent violations so that
the voters are not fully discouraged," Hovhannissian said adding, "I
think all stakeholders realize that the tolerance limit for election
fraud is exhausted."

Hovhannissian commented on the Armenian Chess Federation’s recent
statement that they would support the Republican Party in the
elections. Hovhannissian stated that in a free country anyone,
irrespective of his profession, can support whichever force he
wants. At the same time, he noted it is not possible that all chess
players would support one party.

There was a time when a whole class supported only one party because
there were no alternatives. "We believe ARF is the party for everyone
– the peasants, the workers, the intellectuals, the businessmen,
the soldiers. But I think it is not normal to assume that all these
people would necessarily have to support the ARF and we will never
take an approach like this."

Hovhannissian commented on the rather widespread opinion that the
Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia Party will be the main forces
to bid for victory in the upcoming elections. He noted that only those
who can see just one level of political struggle think so. Such people
have no idea about ideological struggle. They see political struggle
only in terms of the number of offices of this or that party.

Answering the journalists’ observation that Stepan Demirchian, one
of the opposition leaders, stated that the government is to blame
for the opposition forces’ failure to form an opposition alliance
Hovhannissian stated that even though the government is not always
unanimous on all issues but it has not intervened in this issue at all.

"Moreover, I believe that such an alliance would be very useful in
terms of healthier development of the society rather than going
to elections in 10-15 pieces," Hovhannissian said. Hovhannissian
believes the united opposition would have more chances of getting
more seats in the parliament and would have a greater political
weight since "any regime is cleaner and works better if it has a
serious counter-balance."

In this context the possibility of ARF’s becoming opposition was
considered.

Hovhannissian noted, "If ARF becomes opposition I can assure you it
will be a highly efficient opposition."

ARF PUBLICATIONS CONFERENCE OPENS IS YEREVAN

Yerkir.am
March 10, 2007

A two-day conference of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
publications opened in Yerevan today. The conference, attended by the
ARF publication representatives from Armenian and foreign countries,
will discuss issues related political and ideological issues.

In his opening remarks, ARF Bureau member and the National Assembly
deputy speaker Vahan Hovhannisian said that the press was able to
set up a network to tie all the Armenians together scattered around
the world after the genocide.

"When I am asked how to describe national and anti-national articles or
papers, the answer is quite clear to me. Regardless of political views,
if a paper, a reporter raises hope in people even with criticism,
it is national. If they disseminate disappointment, if they picture
everything as hopeless, for example, saying that Baku-Akhalkalak-Kars
railroad is the end of Armenia, this is anti-national," he said.

After a two-year pause, Droshak, an ARF official publication, will
be published again, and its future editor-in-chief, National Assembly
member and author Roben Hovsepian, said that while many problems have
been solved, we still face some challenges.

Vache Brutian, the editor of the Asbarez daily, published in the USA,
said that Armenia is always present in the Diaspora press and he
hopes that the Diaspora will also be present in the Armenian press.

Boris Navasardian, the president of the Yerevan Press Club, said
that the ARF publications have always contributed to preserving the
Armenian identity in the Diaspora.

Aram Abrahamian, the editor of the Aravot daily, said that while he
is not a supporter of the ARF, he still believes that it is better to
have some principles than have none. He reminded the ARF Supreme Body
publication Yerkir had a very large circulation in 1990s because of
its support of values that were accepted at the time. He also noted
that the ARF publications have never participated in actions aimed
against the limitation of free speech in Armenia.

ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said that the ARF
publications were not just party papers but they were for the
community. "The press is my teacher, it gives assessments to my
activities, and it is very important to pay attention to it. In every
society, values are formed from time to time, and papers have a great
role to play in it," Margarian said.

VENICE COMMISSION’S 70th SESSION

A1+
[12:38 pm] 14 March, 2007

Venice Commission’s 70th session: discussions include freedom of
expression v. freedom of religion, and the Serbian constitution

The Council of Europe’s European Commission for Democracy through Law
(the "Venice Commission") will be meeting in Venice on 16 and 17 March
(Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista). This is its 70th session
since it was set up in 1990.

The Commission will adopt a report on blasphemy, religious insults
and inciting religious hatred.

Another point on the agenda concerns the extent to which video
surveillance is compatible with respect for human rights. These
questions were submitted to the Venice Commission by the Parliamentary
Assembly.

Terry Davis, Council of Europe Secretary General, and Fiorenzo Stolfi,
Foreign Minister of San Marino and Chairman-in-Office of the Council
of Europe Committee of Ministers, will both speak at the opening of
the session on Friday 16 March at 9.30 am.

The session will also include:

* an exchange of views with Gia Kavtaradze, Georgian Minister
for Justice, and the adoption of an opinion on the disciplinary
responsibility of judges of common courts;

* adoption of an opinion on the new Serbian constitution;

* a discussion, attended by the Speaker of the Montenegro Parliament,
Ranko Krivokapic, on developments concerning the adoption of a new
constitution in Montenegro;

* adoption of opinions relating to the "the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia", in the presence of Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski, on:

o the legal status of churches, religious communities and religious
groups;

o the office of the Public Prosecutor and the Council of Public
Prosecutors;

o the draft revision of the electoral code.

* adoption of opinions relating to Ukraine on parliamentary opposition,
the imperative mandate for members of the Verkhovna Rada of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea and of local councils, and on the
judicial system and the status of judges;

* adoption of a joint opinion with the OSCE/ODIHR on the revision of
the electoral code in Armenia.

The Venice Commission will also adopt the Code of good practice
in referendums.

89% SEE ARMENIA THEIR ENEMY

A1+
[01:23 pm] 14 March, 2007

"Fredrick Ebert" Foundation initiated polling among 1000 residents of
15 regions and 12 cities of Azerbaijan.The polling results testify
to the fact that more than 59% Azeris don’t accept the variant of
compensations in view of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

Political scientist Rasim Musabekov dwelt on the polling results
during yesterday’s press conference.

11.5% assume that Karabakh must be granted cultural sovereignty and
self-government. 9.5 % say that Karabakh must be granted the status
of sovereign republic as was the case with Nakhijevan.

11% maintain that a referendum must be held to decide the status of
Karabakh on condition that all displaced Azeris return and participate
in the referendum.

In answer to the question what prospects the negation procedure opens,
47% respondents point out, "they anticipate neither war, nor peace
in the nearest future".

34.5 % anticipate progress in the negotiation process in favor of the
peaceful settlement whereas 17 % are convinced that military actions
will resume.

85% of those surveyed deem Turkey Azerbaijan’s friend, 18 % –
Russia, 9 % – Georgia, 8% – Ukraine and 6% – the USA. 89% see Armenia
Azerbaijan’s enemy and 10 % – Iran.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BRIDGE OF CIVILIZATION

A1+
[01:39 pm] 14 March, 2007

The scientific conference titled "Dialogue of Cultures and
Civilizations- Bridge Between Human Rights and Cultural Values"
kicked off in Paris on March 13 under the patronage of UNESCO and
Universal Political Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations". The key issues
of the discussion will be "Human Rights in the Context of Various
Cultures and World Outlooks", "Role of Authorities, Political Society,
Schools and Media in the Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations",
and "Challenges of Global Changes".

Archimandrite Vazgen Nanyan, inspector of Spiritual Seminary of
Mother Holy Saint Echmiadzin will represent Armenia in the conference,
Archbishop Eznik Petrosyan reports.