Month: March 2007

UNTIMELY DEATH OF PRIME MINISTER WILL STRENGTHEN FOR EVEN MORE INFLUENCE OF FOREIGN FORCES ON ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The untimely death of RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian will strengthen for even more the influence of
foreign forces on Armenian authorities, which "will finally turn
into an instrument in the hands of both the West and Russia." The
last circumstance is fraught with extremely negative consequences for
the country. Garnik Margarian, Chairman of Homeland and Honor Party,
stated this in his interview to Noyan Tapan.

In his words, "after the death of A. Margarian who was the only person
from Armenia in the highest echelon of power, in people’s consciousness
the Karabakh clan finally seized the power in the country." Garnik
Margarian said that this circumstance can increase the precipice
between the people and the authorities for even more, the authorities
will hardly manage to get over the increasing distrust to them in the
society. "The hatred for the authorities existing among the people
cannot be restrained long, it can result in uncontrolled processes,
and the authorities should first of all think about it and not about
their posts," he stated.

As G. Margarian forecast, it cannot be excluded that the
situation within the Republican Party of Armenia itself can become
complicated. "Andranik Margarian was a buffer not only within
the power, but also within the RPA itself, as he smoothed over
contradictions both in the power and in his party," he stated.

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL TO HOLD MONITORING OF ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS’ FINANCING

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Political corruption is growing in
Armenia and can be destructive for the country. Amalia Kostanian,
Chairwoman of Regional Development Center – Transparency International
– Armenia NGO, expressed such opinion at the March 30 discussion on
the subject Armenia on the Threshold of Elections. She said that the
most effective way of fighting that corruption is holding of free
and fair elections.

A. Kostanian said that the NGO headed by her carries out monitoring
of preelectoral process of 2007 parliamentary elections. The program
financed by Institute of Open Society – Assistance Fund – Armenia
organization has the goal to contribute to free, fair elections free
of corruption. The organization, in particular, initiated financial
monitoring of parties’ electoral campaigns for the purpose of revealing
possible corruption phenomena.

It is noteworthy that according to the Electoral Code, the limit
of financial expenditures envisaged for preelectoral agitation of a
political party or a bloc is 60 mln drams (nearly 170 thousand USD),
while the tariff of one minute of paid broadcast determined by TV
companies is 80-120 thousand drams.

RA CEC members, leaders of parties nominated by proportional system,
representatives of diplomatic representations, international
organizations and NGOs were invited to the discussion. But mainly
representatives of opposition parties took part in the discussion
and only Bargavach Hayastan’s representative out of pro-governmental
parties was present.

REGIONAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON MARCH 31 IN VANADZOR WITH PARTICIPATION OF DISABLED

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Regional cultural fesitval will be
held on March 31 in Vanadzor, in which disabled people will also
take part. The festival will be held within the framework of Art Has
No Limits program implemented in Lori marz by the Lousastgh charity
NGO. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by NGO Chairwoman Nune
Pepanian, within the framework of the program it is also envisaged
to organize an exhibition of handworks made by disabled people.

N. Pepanian said that the goal of the program is to contribute to
integration of disabled to the society through holding of cultural
events. The program is implemented with 3 mln 900 thousand drams
(nearly 10.8 thousand USD) provided by RA President’s staff.

By the way, 12.5 thousand disabled live in Lori region.

TARIFFS FOR SERVICES GROW BY 0.2% IN MARCH IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.2% growth registered in the
sphere of services rendered to population in 2007 March as compared
with February was mainly conditioned by 0.4% growth of tariffs for
consumer services, 1% growth for transport services and 3.1% growth
for cultural sphere services.

According to the data of RA National Statistical Service, the tariffs
for medical services, services of educational sphere grew by 0.1%
in the above mentioned period and communal, communication, rest
organization, public catering, law and banking services tariffs have
been kept unchanged as compared with the previous month.

U.S. SENATE ADOPTED BILL ON CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT FOR COMMITTING GENOCIDE

Yerkir
30.03.2007 15:55

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The U.S. Senate adopted a legislation, which allows
the Justice Department to prosecute in the United Stated those who
are responsible for committing genocide in other countries.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) informed said that
the " Genocide Accountability" Act, was approved only two weeks
after its introduction on March 15th by Assistant Majority Leader
Dick Durbin, the lead author of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
along with Tom Coburn, Patrick Leahy, and John Cornyn.

Under current law, "genocide is only considered a crime if it is
committed within the United States or by a U.S. national outside
the United States". The Genocide Accountability Act would close the
current loophole by amending the Genocide Convention Implementation
Act to allow prosecution of non-U.S. citizens for genocide committed
outside the U.S.

ADAM SCHIFF: DEPARTMENT OF STATE CALLS TO APPLY ARTICLE 301 IN AMERICA

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 17:05

During his speech on Capitol Hill in the framework of the two-day
anti-genocide advocacy campaign Armenian Genocide Resolution author
Adam Schiff (D-CA) described his recent exchange with Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations hearing held on March 21st. Rep. Schiff questioned
Secretary Rice regarding a recent letter, cosigned by the Secretaries
of Defense and State, urging Congressional leaders not to adopt the
Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.106/S.Res.106).

"I thought that it was important to call her [Secretary Rice] to
answer for the views that were stated in that letter and not simply
to allow the Administration in the dead of night or otherwise to send
a letter without having to defend it. And something really struck me
during the course of this dialogue.

I began by asking if she had any question, if she had any doubt, that
the death of a million and a half Armenians constituted ‘genocide’
– did she have any personal doubt about that.’ Well she would not
answer that question.’"

"And I said, ‘are you aware of any reputable historian outside of
Turkey who has any question about the Armenian Genocide’ and she
wouldn’t answer that."

"And I said ‘you come out of academia’ – because she said, ‘well, this
is for the historians to decide and it’s not in Turkey’s interest to
have us pushing them and we ought to pushing the parties together’,
etc. – was she aware of any reputable historians. She came out of
academia, she was the president’ s advisor during his campaign when
he said he would recognize the Armenian Genocide – was she aware of
anyone on academia, and she said ‘I was in academia before, but now
I am the secretary of State.’ So I guess that means to imply that
you have a different standard of historical integrity when you are
a diplomat than when you have academic freedom."

"But what really struck me in this little debate that we had was that
what the Secretary was really asking of us is that we apply Turkish
law in America – that we apply Article 301 right here at home. That
it should be a violation of our policy, to insult Turkishness. The
irony was so striking to me that here the Foreign Minister of Turkey
is encouraging the repeal of Article 301, but let us make sure that
we apply it here at home."

"I don’t know how we have the credibility to call on Turkey to come
clean on is past, if we are not willing to. I don’t know how we can
have the moral standing that we need to have on the genocide going
in Darfur, if the Sudanese government can say ‘sure, you’re calling
this genocide because we are not powerful, we are not your ally,
– but when it comes to your allies, we won’t call the murder of a
million and a half people genocide.’"

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDNET KOCHARYAN MET WITH EDUCATION AND SCIENCE MINISTER

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 17:35

The process of complex reforms in the sphere of education and science
was discussed during President Robert Kocharyan’s meeting with RA
Minister of Education and Science Levon Lazarian. In particular,
reference was made to the reforms in the spheres of general and
higher education, implementation of the common examination system,
issues of working out the education doctrine.

Questions of the preschool and technical education were also
discussed. The interlocutors stressed the importance of having several
technical educational establishments in every marz, which will train
specialists corresponding to the demands of the market.

The Presidnet gave instructions on the issues discussed.

TWO-WHEEL WALKERS FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 17:40

In March 2007, the two-wheel walkers donated by the New-York Committee
of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund arrived in Armenia. The walkers
are envisaged for elderly people and those with loco-motor apparatus
problems.

In the result of the preliminary estimate and analysis of the
situation in the sphere, today the walkers have been already handed
over to medical institutions, military hospitals, and elderly homes
in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, including the relevant institutions
constructed or renovated by the Fund.

The walkers have been allocated to the beneficiaries based on their
letter-applications.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AS CHAIRMAN OF CHOICE IS YOURS NGO AFFIRMS, MUCH MORE VIOLATIONS WILL BE COMMITTED DURING ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. In the parliamentary elections to
be held on May 12 much more violations will be committed during the
electoral campaign than on the elections day. Haroutiun Hambartsumian,
Chairman of Choice is Yours NGO, gave assurance at the March 30
discussion on the subject Armenia on the Threshold of Elections.

In his words, the NGO will start its long-term observation mission as
the agitation campaign starts officially, from April 8. In particular,
all sittings of district electoral commissions will be observed. In
H. Hambartsumian’s words, the necessity of this is conditioned by
amended Electoral Code’s provision, which permits electoral commissions
to make decisions under conditions of no quorum in that period.

H. Hambartsumian said that there were a great number of complaints
connected with electoral rolls in Armavir Mayor’s elections held
lately, so the organization will also touch upon issues connected with
electoral rolls. He said that during the whole period of agitation
campaign Choice is Yours organization will periodically present the
results of its observations.

REOPENING OF SURB KHACH CHURCH IS A SHOW FOR EUROPE, PARUYR HAYRIKIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 30 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By repairing and
reopening Akhtamar’s Surb Khach Church, Turkey did what it was able
to do. It could not have changed its essence. Chairman of National
Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikian said in his interview to
Noyan Tapan correspondent adding that the Armenian delegation’s
visit "can be considered as a step to some extent normalizing
Armenian-Turkish relations."

In P. Hayrikian’s words, currently some change has been made in
Turkey’s policy. "This, certainly, is not what we expect, is not
what Turkey denying the Genocide can be ready for. But after all,
this is a step taken not for normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations,
but for showing Europe that Turkey goes by the way of recognizing
historic past of even national monorities," he said.

In P. Hayrikian’s words, the more facts of the kind we witness,
"the more profitable it is for us, as if there is a monument of
architectural historic interest, which Turks have to present even if
as a museum, the more logical and fair become the demands of Armenians
towards Turkey."

In P. Hayrikian’s words, in Armenia-Turkey relations there is much
to learn from Russia-Japan relations, "as they also have problems
coming from history and present them at the civilized level."