Month: March 2007

SECOND NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ARMENIA WITHOUT TOBACCO PUBLIC BLOC TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 2

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The second national conference of
Armenia Without Tobacco public bloc is dedicated to the second
anniversary of coming into force of RA law "On Limitations
on Realization, Consumption and Use of Tobacco" and Armenia’s
ratifying the framework convention On Tobacco Control of World Health
Organization. As it was mentioned in the report submitted to Noyan
Tapan by the bloc, the conference will take place on March 2 at the
American University of Armenia. Anti-tobacco programs implemented in
the country in 2004-2006 will be presented, as well as anti-tobacco
posters, teaching brochures, scientific works worked out by NGOs will
be shown. Besides, specialists of RA Ministry of Health will present
the achievements and omissions in this sphere. Armenia Without Tobacco
public bloc was created in 2004 and currently unites 25 NGOs.

SUN CHILD REGIONAL NATURE PROTECTION FESTIVAL TO BE HELD FOR FIRST TIME ON APRIL 1-15 IN DILIJAN

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Foundation for the Preservation of
Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Republic of Armenia jointly with
the Sun Child NGO will organize the first nature protection festival in
the region on April 1-15 in Dilijan. As it was mentioned in the report
submitted to Noyan Tapan, the motto of the festival under the title
Sun Child is "For children, with active participation of children." The
goal of the festival is to draw public attention to nature protection
problems in the region, to create a neutral cooperation field leaving
out regional conflicts and tension, which will contribute to seeking
of new and efficient solutions. Showings of films, photoexhibitions,
concert-actions, as well as a number of nature protection events,
including hikes, tree planting, garbage gathering are scheduled within
the framework of the festival. For closely familiarizing children with
nature, for calling forth interest in nature protection issues courses
of studies are being already organized with the efforts of the charity
fund in regional schools, films on nature protection are being shown.

CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC TV AND RADIO COMPANY BOARD BREAKS HIS WORD

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. After the adoption of RA Constitutional
Court’s well-known decision the statements of deputies at RA National
Assembly sitting were broadcast incompletely on February 28. On
February 16, the Constitutional Court recognized as invalid and
contradicting RA Constitution the obligation of NA Regulations
to broadcast at certain hours programs covering parliament’s
activities. But Chairman of Public TV and Radio Company Board
Alexan Haroutiunian had promised that broadcasting of these programs
would not be stopped until the expiration of powers of NA of current
convocation, but only the hour of broadcast can be changed and possible
swearing expressions can be cut off. In spite of this, statements of
only four out of ten deputies made at the February 27 sitting were
broadcast. "If an official does not keep his word, how can we hope
that we will have a normal power in the future, including in this
sphere?," independent MP Tatul Manaserian told NT correspondent on
March 1. His statements had not been broadcast, either. In the MP’s
opinion, in essence, on February 27, it was the last sitting of NA
of current convocation and only 10 statements lasting 30 minutes in
total were made, so broadcast time was not trespassed. Especially as
the sitting dedicated to NA-government question and answer broadcast
immediately after the statements had failed.

AZERBAIJAN SAYS CONTRADICTING THINGS, VICE SPEAKER SAYS

Panorama.am
18:51 28/02/2007

Vahan Hovannisyan, member of Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnakcutiun) Bureau and vice speaker of the Armenian parliament,
said Azeri propaganda is shaped in three directions. "It is addressed
to international community, Armenian nation and Azeri people,"
Hovannisyan told a round table today. In his words, Azerbaijan says
quite contradicting things in these three layers which is a wonderful
tool in the hands of Armenia.

"In an address to Armenian nation, they want to frighten us that
their country is a strong oil state and that they will win in case
war resumes," Hovannisyan said. However, he said this does not create
defeat attitudes among the Armenian nation.

In an address to Azeri people, the propaganda tries to deliver the same
message and makes people understand that they will settle Karabakh
problem with the use of weaponry. Hovannisyan said the Azeri nation
does not share this view, saying the Azeries who live abroad do not
want their children to serve in the Azeri army on the fear that the
government may take "imprudent" steps.

Speaking about the messages to international community, Hovannisyan
pinpointed that Azerbaijan takes the image of poor, economically
isolated country where there are many hungry refugees. We must do
everything to focus the attention of the international community and
Azeri people to the reality, Hovannisyan said.

FOUR ARMENIAN YOUTHS DETAINED

AZG Armenian Daily
01/03/2007

In the Coventry town of Rhode Island, USA, were detained four Armenian
youths from California, reports "Boston Globe" newspaper. They
are accused of accessing illegally to bank databases and using the
information for making false ATM credit cards. They are suspected
to have robbed about $100 thousand. The detainees are: Haroutiun
Shatarevian (20 years old) , Gevorg Baltajian (20 years old), Mikael
Stepanian (28 years old) and Armen Ter-Yesayan. More formation is to
become known tomorrow.

"TURKISH AND AZERBAIJANI PROPAGANDA AGAINST ARMENIA"
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
01/03/2007

Yesterday Armenian Revolutionary Movement (ARM) party organized a
discussion on the theme of "Turkish and Azerbaijani Propaganda
Against Armenia" at "Congress" hotel. The event was opened
by Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, member of the ARM
party Bureau, Vahan Hovhannisian. In his speech Mr. Hovhannisian
mentioned the main political issues concerning Armenia and South
Caucasus and concluded that Armenia must strengthen its position
on Nagorno-Karabakh. "Nowadays negotiations are but the preparation
stage of the final talks, in which Karabakh’s participation is vital,"
he said.

Ashot Melkonian, director of the RA National Science Academy’s History
Institute, in his speech stated that the Armenian Genocide is already
recognized de-facto by the world society. To his opinion it is time
to turn from proving the fact of genocide to demanding compensations –
be it on private, organizations or governmental level.

Trying to summarize the suggestions statements and opinions made on
the conference, ARM party bureau member Lilith Galstian said that
Turkish and Azerbaijani propaganda has advantage of the Armenian both
in internal and external spheres. The marked Armenia’s mistakes in
the sphere of mass media, foreign policy and the lack of programmed
state propaganda

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNABLE TO SETTLE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
By A. Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
01/03/2007

UN General Assembly is unable to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Azerbaijani mass media report the words of Yuri Merzliakov, Russian
Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. This statement mostly refers to the
spring session discussion of the GUAM initiative on local conflicts
in the post-Soviet area.

The Russian diplomat stated that although the Minsk Group has been
long involved in the Karabakh peace process, the UN General Assembly
can have only consultative function in this issue. To Merzliakov’s
opinion UN’s interference in the Karabakh conflict would imply halting
the negotiations.

Referring to the question of returning Azeri refugees to the region,
Merzliakov said that realization of that plan immediately after the
endorsement of the peace agreement will be no good. An article on
the refugees will be compulsorily included in the peace agreement,
but a lot of work is to be done until the resettlement process can
be started.

Bringing as an example the events in the Balkans, Merzliakov said
that realization of similar actions in Karabakh would have a tragic
result, which can suit neither the sides of the conflict nor the OSCE
Minsk Group.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SUMGAIT – CONTINUATION OF TURKEY’S ANTI-ARMENIAN PLANS
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #038
01/03/2007

19 years age in the Sumgait town of Azerbaijan took place another wave
of repressions and massacre of Armenians by Azeris. In connection with
the anniversary of those tragic events Hrayr Ulubabian, head of the
Sumgait Armenians’ Rights Protection Group, gave a press conference
at the "Urbat" ("Friday") club.

"Sumgait was the continuation of Turkey’s anti-Armenian program under
the slogan ‘Armenia without Armenians’. That program was realized
not only in the East but also in the West, " said Ulubabian at the
conference, being sure that the 1988 events are but a part of the
chainsaw of genocidal actions against Armenians. Mr. Ulubabian
stated that the massacres of February 26-29, 1988 were preceded
by mass demonstrations led by high-ranking Azerbaijani officials,
calling upon the Muslim population to attack the Armenians and show no
mercy. Hrayr Ulubabian represented evidence of barbarous murders of
Armenian children, although official Azerbaijani sources allege that
no children suffered in February 26-29. "February 28, about 6:00 PM a
group infuriated Azeris attacked our apartments. ‘You have to get out
and go to Karabakh – that is what you wanted and you shall not stay
here,’ they said and started hammering our doors with axes. Gorbachov
lies. The peacemaking corpses were late 3 days, not 3 hours," said
eyewitness Roman Ghambarian, participant of eh conference.

According to Soviet official data, 26 people were injured those days,
but H. Ulubabian stated that is not true. Basing upon data derived
from certificates of death he came to conclusion that more than
100 people were killed. Roman Ghambarian stated that much more were
murdered. "About 20 thousand Armenians lived in Sumgait," he said,
"4 thousand of them found refuge in Armenia, 4 thousands in Stavropol
and Krasnodar, Russia; where are the rest?"

Hrayr Ulubabian expressed confidence that the Armenian authorities are
to do everything possible to achieve the international recognition of
the Sumgait tragedy and define them as genocide. He also reminded that
the Azerbaijani government is doing everything to spread worldwide
falsehood about Khojalu and accusing the Armenians.

The massacres of Sumgait were specially organized so as to prevent the
Karabakh movement. Mr. Ulubabian said he believes that the evidence
of another genocide against Armenians can be used to the benefit of
Armenia in its claim against Azerbaijan. "Armenia must not recognize
the lawfulness of Azerbaijani statehood, as Azerbaijan refuses to
recognize the independence of Karabakh. Armenia must communicate with
Azerbaijan only through the International Court and treat Azerbaijan
as a criminal," concluded Ulubabian.

NO WILLINGNESS TO WORK AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ALREADY

Panorama.am
18:44 28/02/2007

Today the National Assembly could not hold its session because
it could not secure a quorum. Only 23 deputies were registered at
12:00 and because of that Vahan Hovannisyan had to stop the session
announcing 3-hour break. The parliament did not secure a quorum at
15:00, either. So, the government question-answer session will not
take place today.

ROUND TABLE IN RESPONSE TO TURKISH PROPAGANDA

Panorama.am
18:50 28/02/2007

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) held a round table
today titled, "Armenian reflections to propaganda by Turkey and
Azerbaijan." Several NGOs, legal institutes and scholars participated.

Vahan Hovannisyan, vice speaker of parliament and member of
Dashnakcutiun Bureau, Ashot Melkonyan, director of History museum,
Samvel Karapetyan, head of the center studying Armenian architecture
made speeches.

Presentation of a book titled "Anti-Armenian politics of Azerbaijan"
was held. Written by Haikazun Alvrtsian, member of Dashnakcutiun
Supreme Body, the book briefs the anti-Armenian politics conducted
by Azerbaijan.