Month: March 2007

WHO DETAINED SAMVEL BABAYAN?

A1+
[04:39 pm] 14 March, 2007

more images The rumors that Samvel Babayan, leader of the "Dashink"
Party has been detained do not correspond to the reality; Samvel
Babayan is currently in freedom. A1+ got the information from various
sources.

But one thing is obvious; something is going on inside the party as
remedial forces detain the party members one after another. The words
data of the above-mentioned sources affirm our doubts. For instance,
while we were making inquiries about Samvel Babayan, the press service
of the RA Police Forces said, "The RA Police haven’t arrested Samvel
Babayan, we don’t posses information on other forces".

The General Prosecutor’s Office hasn’t got any information either
whereas the representative of the press service of the National
Security Service gave the following answer; "We can say nothing
without comment" and immediately hanged up the receiver.

NA Deputy Hmajak Hovhannisyan, Samvel Babayans’ friend and a member of
the "Dashink" Party’s proportional ticket, got indignant at hearing
the news and said that the information was unwarranted. "The lie
mustn’t exceed the permissible boundaries. Nothing is wrong with
Samvel Babayan; I spoke to him over the phone today".

To note, the representatives of "Dashink", the members of the party’s
board, the press service, the press secretary of Babayan all have been
out of reach since yesterday which already gives ground to anticipate
force-major situation.

IPs BROUGHT A SUIT AGAINST ARMENTEL AND CRPS

A1+
[02:43 pm] 14 March, 2007

On March 14, Economic Court of the Republic of Armenia held hearing
on the suit of IP companies against "ArmenTel" and the Commission
for Regulating Public Services (CRPS).

The companies challenged the decision of the CRPS under which their
activity was ceased. According to "ArmenTel" and CRPS, IP companies
transmitted sound signals of 400 milliseconds which is the monopoly of
"ArmenTel".

Four members of CRPS and Artak Khachatryan, head of the legal
department of "ArmenTel" represented the interests of the respondent
side. The hearing was canceled on the request of Artak Khachatryan as
the requesting party wanted to get acquainted with the IPs’ petition.

By the way, Artyom Khachatryan, head of the "Dashink" cadre center,
informed us that the Tax department officially stopped revision of
IP companies.

HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19 OVER GENOCIDE DENIAL BILL IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 16:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The bill on responsibility for denying genocide in EU
countries does not directly aim at denying the Armenian Genocide. Three
years ago the bill was blocked and now on Germany’s initiative, which
currently holds EU presidency, again it is included in the agenda,
Chairman of the Armenian Federation of Europe (AEFJD) Hilda Tchoboyan
stated to a press conference in Yerevan. She said, in this case the
problem is not with Germany, which is for the adoption of the law,
but the general mood in the European Union. "Hearings will launch in
the European Parliament May 19, and if the bill is approved, it will
mean that it is compulsory for all EU member-states, after bringing the
new law to conformity with legislation of every country," she stressed.

Alongside, the AEFJD Chairman noted that "Hay Dat" Committees must
carry out a work aimed at recognizing the Armenian Genocide by
parliaments of different countries. "If it happens, as a result the
Armenian Genocide will be recognized by the international community,"
Tchoboyan told.

TURKEY’S MAIN POLITICAL TASK IS TO INTERNATIONALLY ISOLATE ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 17:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s main political task is to internationally
isolate Armenia, and Ankara tries to reach this goal by all means,
"Hay Dat" Committee representatives from the U.S. and Europe stated
to a press conference in Yerevan. "The activity of committees in
Diaspora is aimed at bringing that policy to a minimum. It’s not a
secret that by doing this Turkey tries to draw away the attention
of the world community from recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the
"Hay Dat" representatives underlined.

Head of European Office Loran Leilekian said Azerbaijan and Turkey
aim at isolation of Armenia in international organizations, and the
construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway is the best
example of it. Despite the fact that the United States and European
Union spoke against that project, anyhow Turkey and Azerbaijan are
going to begin construction works. By doing this they one more time
prove that they are not ready for European integration. The same thing
concern and the 301st article of Turkish Penal Code that Ankara is not
going to change. The article limits freedom of speech, but actually it
is one more evidence that it is forbidden to speak about the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey, it’s a criminal offence," Leilekian underscored.

DOGU PERINCEK APPEALED COURT’S VERDICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 17:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leader of Turkish Workers’ Party Dogu Perincek,
who was convicted of denying the Armenian Genocide lodged a complaint
against the verdict of a Swiss court. Lawyer Loran Moreyon said that
Perincek appealed to the court of Swiss canton of Wo, AP reports.

Visiting Switzerland in 2005 Perincek twice declared that the Armenian
Genocide is an "international lie".

During the process judge Pier-Anri Winzap said those statements were
"of unconcealed racist and nationalistic character. And there are no
mitigating circumstances in defendant’s actions". Perincek himself was
characterized as an "arrogant provocateur" by the judge. He stressed
that although the Armenian Genocide issue is not included in the list
of similar crimes by the International Court, it is a "historical fact,
which was recognized by the Swiss society, and Perincek’s statements
were of provocative character".

The court in Lausanne handed Perincek a suspended fine of SFr 9,000
($7,336) as well as a one-off financial penalty of SFr 3,000. The
court also ruled that Perincek would have to pay SFr 1,000 to the
Swiss-Armenian Association as a symbolic gesture, which appeared as
civil plaintiff.

GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED DECLARATION ON GEORGIA’S MEMBERSHIP TO NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 17:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 13 with 160 votes "for" Georgian Parliament
unanimously adopted the text of Declaration on Georgia’s full and
urgent membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO. A
memorandum is attached to the Declaration undersigned by leaders of all
parliamentarian fractions and political parties, which are represented
in the Supreme Legislative body of the country. The memorandum also
is open to sign for political parties outside the parliament, which
support Georgia’s membership to NATO.

The text of the Memorandum and Declaration touches upon Georgia’s
defense policy aiming at subsequent integration of the country to the
Euro-Atlantic structures. They also indicate that it is necessary to
speed up the realization process of all commitments taken by Georgia
after joining the format of Intensive Dialog with NATO. The Memorandum
and Declaration also say that Georgian armed forces must participate
in all military operation under the NATO aegis, as well as reconsider
all new challenges and risks, which threaten Georgia and the necessity
to maximally protect the security of the country. The documents also
underline the importance to revise all necessary financial resources
during approval hearings of the budget in order to provide fulfillment
of commitments in the Declaration.

On the ceremony Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze stated, it is a
very important document, which fixes the joint stance of country’s
political spectrum. "The adoption of this document is more important on
the background of the events in Upper Abkhazia. NATO is a priority for
the whole Georgian nation. Hopefully with the help of the Alliance
we will be able to restore country’s territorial integrity and
protect sovereignty. And this organization is the only guarantee
for peace and stability in the region," Burjanadze underscored,
"Novosti-Gruzia" reports.

STILL UNKNOWN VISIT DATE OF UNESCO MISSION FOR HISTORIC MONUMENTS TO REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 18:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently there is no clear information on the visit
date of UNESCO mission for monitoring historic monuments in Armenia
and Azerbaijan. The organization still continues negotiations over
sending its mission to Azerbaijan and Armenia, but there is no final
decision yet. It is expected till the end of March. And only after
it the visit data and territories subject to monitoring by UNESCO
mission for historic monuments will be made public, APA reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ERIC GREEN: CONGRESSMEN UNDERSTAND TURKEY’S CONCERNS OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 19:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Consul to the southern city of Adana Eric Green
said he does not believe that the Armenian Genocide bill submitted
to the U.S. House of Representatives will help to solve problems
between Turkey and Armenia. "It will create a number of problems and
we understand Turkish concerns that the bill might damage relations
between Turkey and the United States," he said, Anatolia news agency
reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL "LACKS LEGAL AND SCIENTIFIC BASE", NATO PA REPRESENTATIVE SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 20:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Turkish group at the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly Vahit Erdem denounced the Armenian Genocide
bill submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, saying, "it lacks
any legal and scientific base." "Genocide allegations devised by the
Armenian propaganda is being used as a political leverage against
Turkey," Erdem said. He said, Turkey will exert intense efforts to
end what he called "the wrong course of affairs". Republic of Turkey
will never consent to this injustice," Erdem stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

4 ORGANIZATIONS TURNED TO ARMENIAN CEC FOR OBSERVING PARLIAMENTARIAN ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2007 20:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two international and two local organizations
turned to the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia for observing
the coming parliamentarian elections. The CIS Parliamentarian Assembly
will send a group of 12 and the CIS Executive Committee 8 observers.

>>From local organizations "Your choice" plans to send 2992 observers
to electoral districts, and NGO "Electoral systems" has applied for
10 observers, "Novosti-Armenia" reports.