Month: March 2007

Discussion of the Armenian Genocide bill in US Congress may be postponed
till 2008

10.03.2007 14:05
Marlena Hovsepyan
"Radiolur"

It is possible that the Armenian Genocide bill will not be included in
the agenda of the US House of Representatives by April 24. Moreover,
editor of the California Courier Harut Sasounsin told `Radiolur’ that
the discussions may be postponed by 2008. Why?

Currently the Armenian Genocide bill is being discussed in the House
Foreign Relations Committee, after which it will be submitted to the
vote of the members of the House of Representatives. However, Chairman
of the Foreign Relations Committee Tom Lantos may prevent the vote on
the Armenian resolution.

Ethnic Jew Tom Lantos, who escaped the Holocaust, had to be very
sensitive to a genocide perpetrated against another people. However,
he is known for his pro-Turkish position and has always been voting
against the Armenian bill. The vote two years ago was not an
exception, either. Then member of the Committee Lantos voted for the
pro-Armenian documentl only in order to punish Turkey. He said that
Turkey rejected the attack of the American Army on Iraq from the
Turkish side. `To teach a good lesson to Turkey I must say `yes’ to
the Armenian bill,’ Harut Sasounian quotes Lantos as saying.

But now the situation is different: during his visit to Washington in
February Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met with Tom Lantos and
threatening to jeopardize the interests of Israel, made him promise to
prevent the adoption of the resolution. It’s worth mentioning that
only the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee is eligible to
decide the terms of discussion of this or that bill. Harut Sasounian
says only late March it will become clear whether this information
reported by Turkish sources is true or not.

Despite everything, it is obvious that the Turkish side is taking
every effort to prevent the voting on the bill. The editor-in-chief of
the California Courier is worried that the discussion of the
resolution may be delayed until next year. The reason is the
presidential and parliamentary elections expected in Turkey in 2007,
and the objective of the Turkish authorities is to refrain from
disappointing the electorate preceding the elections. `That is why
they are taking extreme steps by threatening to both Israel and the
United States,’ says Harut Sasounian.

It is logical that the Turkish passions towards the Armenian Genocide
bill will calm down after the elections. The importance of this bill
should not be exaggerated, Harut Sasounian says. According to him, in
reality its importance is not that big, since the Congress has already
adopted two similar resolutions. `It should not be perceived as a
question of life and death. In case the resolution is adopted, the
Genocide will be recognized. The Genocide has been recognized long
ago, it will just be another mark,’ Mr. Sasounian told ` Radiolur.’

Armenia presses forward with judicial reform

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 11:29

The World Bank Board of Directors approved a credit of US$22.5 million
for the Second Judicial Reform Project (JRP2) for Armenia. The project
aims to provide the country’s judicial system with the administration,
quality facilities and expanded capacity that are necessary to improve
the efficiency, reliability and transparency of judicial
operations. The project will also continue to improve public awareness
of services and access to legal and judicial information.

The project will be supported by a US$3 million co-financing Policy
and Human Resource Development (PHRD) Grant from the Japanese
Government. The grant will support capacity building and technical
assistance activities within the judicial reform project.

It is expected that the increased efficiency of court proceedings,
publication of decisions, and better public awareness of judicial
performance will encourage the public to make greater use of the
courts to handle disputes, and contribute to the stronger protection
of property and contract rights that are critical for a market
economy. The project will also improve access to judicial services in
rural areas, which are often not the focus of judicial reform efforts
but are nonetheless a critical factor in poverty reduction.

The Second Judicial Reform Project has six main components: (1)
Building the capacity of a reformed Council of Justice and an
effective Judicial Department, expanding judicial automation, and
developing a judicial database; (2) building a new Cassation Court
complex and rehabilitating regional courthouses; (3) establishing a
permanent Judicial Training School and supporting the development of
training curricula; (4) improving the enforcement of judicial
decisions; (5) strengthening arbitration services; and (6) expanding
access to legal information and raising public awareness of judicial
reform and legal rights, particularly by building on public
information campaigns, such as the ` My Rights’ TV show, previously
introduced under JRP1. This final component will also support the
involvement of civil society in monitoring and evaluating the
implementation and outcomes of judicial reform in the country.

By the time the project is completed, the courts and the enforcement
service will have undergone improved training and their capacity to
process cases faster as well as manage an expanding caseload will have
increased. Citizens will have better access to legislation and
judicial decisions through online services. The majority of regional
judicial buildings will be rehabilitated (at least 20,000 sq meters),
and case recording systems and automated case management software will
be in place in all renovated courts.

The credit is provided on `hardened’ IDA terms with a maturity of 20
years, and a grace period of 10 years. Armenia joined the World Bank
in 1992 and IDA in 1993, and the country has been in the process of
graduating from IDA since July 1, 2006. Commitments to Armenia amount
to approximately US$1.25 billion for 47 operations.

A new Armenian Genocide bill to be presented to US Senate

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 12:12

Democrat Senator Richard Durbin has declared he plans to present a bill on
Armenian Genocide to the Senate, which will `slightly differ’ from the one
presented to the House of Representatives. `Anatolu’ agency reports that
Senator Diana Feinsteier has already expressed support for Durbin’s project.

Congressman Adam Schiff who authored the resolution presented to the House
of Representatives characterized Durbin’s intention as `wonderful.’

The agency informs that the bill waiting for a vote in the House of
Representatives has already been approved by 179 Congressmen.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The proposal of the Turkish historian declined

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 14:45

President of the Turkish History Association, Professor Yusuf
HalaçoÄ?lu, said on Friday that British historian of
Armenian origin Ara Sarafyan had backed away from a planned initiative
for joint studies on the Armenian Genocide.

At a press conference yesterday, HalaçoÄ?lu said the
British historian had informed him via e-mail that Sarafyan would not
participate in the joint studies. `I am watching the developments from
the Turkish media; I am sorry that we’ll not be able to move ahead
with the joint project,’ Sarafyan said in his message to the Turkish
historian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey seeking ways to create its own Diaspora

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 14:52

Weary of Armenian genocide resolutions adopted by a number of
parliaments abroad, Turkey has been seeking ways to create its own
Diaspora together with northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan.

More than 5 million Turkish citizens live in 118 countries in the
world but they do not have any political influence. In the Azerbaijani
capital of Baku, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an said on
Friday he expected Turkish and Azeri citizens living in the United
States, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and other parts of the
world to benefit from each other’s powers, reports the Turkish Daily
News.

`All of us from politicians, academics, artists, capital owners, media
groups to all businessmen bear important responsibilities. We’ll stand
shoulder to shoulder, act in solidarity and carry the entire Turkic
world to a bright future,’ he was quoted as saying at the opening of
the First Forum of the World Azeri and Turkish Diaspora Organizations.
Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat also participated in the
forum.

Two fined for offending Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 15:00

Turkish Court has fined two persons for offending and threatening to
the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mestop Mutafyan in letters
sent via e-mail.

Turkish `Zaman’ informs that for offending the Patriarch Gyukme Ackman
was fined $910, Hasen Ezer was fined $55. According to the verdict,
offensive and threatening letters have been sent to the Armenian
Patriarch of Constantinople ever since October 2004.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: QUALITY OF HOLDING UPCOMING ELECTIONS IS IMPORTANT FIRST OF
ALL FOR ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. It is important to hold the upcoming
parliamentary elections in Armenia in line with democratic standards,
otherwise the continuation of the Millennium Challenge Program in the
country may be threatened. John Huko, Vice Chairman of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, said this during the March 9 meeting with the
RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian. He expressed a hope that
positive progress will be registered at these elections in comparison
with the previous ones, which will ensure the program’s continuity.

According to the RA National Assembly PR Department, T. Torosian in
his turn noted that the quality of the upcoming elections is important
first of all for Armenia’s future and reforms, and holding these
elections in line with democratic standards has such importance that
the Millennium Challenge Program cannot be viewed as a stimulus for
Armenia when compared with it.

ARISTOMENE VARUDAKIS APPOINTED NEW DIRECTOR OF WORLD BANK YEREVAN
OFFICE

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Aristomene Varudakis, of Greek
descent, was appointed the new director of the World Bank Armenia
Office. WB Yerevan Office Acting Director Naira Melkumian announced
this at the March 9 press conference. According to her, A. Varudakis
will arrive in Armenia next week but start official work from April 2.

MCC MANAGEMENT TO FOLLOW CLOSELY ALL PROCESS OF PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Vice Chairman of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC) John Huko was present at the March 9
sitting of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) – Armenia’s board
. He attached importance to holding the upcoming parliamentary
elections in Armenia in line with international standards from the
viewpoint of the program’s efficient implementation, noting that along
with international observers the MCC management will also follow
closely the process of elections. The RA prime minister Andranik
Margarian said that Armenia is intrested in rapid solution of
socioeconomic problems and efficient organization of political
processes so that the government will be able to fully implement its
goals, including MCA-Armenia program, under conditions of the people’s
vote of confidence. According to the RA Government Information and PR
Department, results of the tender on purchase of advisory services
"Initial Environmental and Hydrologic Studies of Hyperhumid Lands in
Ararat Valley" were approved at the sitting: MWH (US)/Institute of
Water Problems and Hydraulic Technology (Armenia) and the
Environmental Conservation and Research Center of the American
University of Armenia were announced the winners of this
tender. Armwaterproject Institute CJSC (Armenia) was announced the
winner by assesment results of technical proposals on purchase of
advisory services "Feasibility Study for Construction of New
Irrigation Reservoirs".

WORLD BANK PROVIDES 28 MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT FOR POVERTY REDUCTION IN
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Bank provided a 28 mln
dollar credit for poverty reduction in Armenia. The agreement was
signed on March 9 by the RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan
Khachatrian and the WB Yerevan Office Acting Director Naira
Melkumian. In the words of V. Khachatrian, the credit will assist with
implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The
credit will be used to maintain the country’s economic growth rates
and to reduce poverty through budgetary allocations and implementation
of PRSP reforms. The minister said that 196.5 mln out of 230 mln
dollars envisaged by the WB for 2005-2009 has already been
allocated. Negotiations on the rest of the sum are continuing.

V. Khachatrian expressed a hope that this sum will be provided by late
2007. According to WB information, despite the economic growth
registered in the country, the unemployment making up about one third
of labor force has started declining only recently.