Month: April 2007

FOUR ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS PROPOSE FUTURE DEPUTIES TO SIGN MEMORANDUM

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Four Armenian organizations initiated
the campaign "Your Voice is Decisive" with the aim of promoting voters
participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections. "Consumer Rights
Protection" NGO, "Professionals for Political Society" NGO, the Small
and Medium Business Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation joined
this initiative.

These organizations developed a draft memorandum for the purpose of
holding fair and transparent elections and encouraging cooperation
among various parties. All political forces running in the elections
are proposed to sign the memorandum. Abgar Yeghoyan, Chairman of the
"Consumer Rights Protection" NGO, said at the April 27 press conference
that the deadline for signing the memorandum is May 8.

By signing the indicated memorandum, candidates for deputacy assume
the obligation to cooperate closely, in case of having been elected,
with NGOs in decision-making aimed at solution of social problems.

SERIOUS EXPERT WORK UNDERWAY TO DECIDE FATE OF ARMENIAN ATOMIC ENERGY

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the Armenian president
Robert Kocharian, serious expert work on the fate of Armenia’s atomic
energy is underway and some practical steps will be taken in this
direction in 2008-2009.

During his April 27 meeting with students and teaching staff
of Yerevan State University (YSU), the president considered it
desirable to construct a new nuclear power plant based on the existing
infrastructures and new technologies. However, in his words, it is
necessary to determine the amount needed and examine its effect on
the tariff policy. R. Kocharian said that in 2012-2013, active work
will be carried out to build a new nuclear power plant or modernize
the operating one.

SYNOPSYS TO CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH SEUA

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The cooperation between Synopsys
company, the world leader in electronic automated design, and State
Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) is unique as compared
with the company’s cooperation with 450 universities troughout the
world. Hovik Musaelian, Director General of Synopsys Armenia CJSC –
Synopsys’ Armenian subsidiary, expressed this opinion at the April
27 meeting with SEUA students.

According to him, SEUA students of the interdepartmental chair
"Microelectronic Circuits and Systems" operating by a program of
Synopsys Armenia receive their knowledge by the innovation circle
"education-science-production".

It was noted that those who completed their second year of studies
may become students of the following SEUA departments: "Computer
Systems and Information Science", "Cybernetics", "Radio Engineering
and Communication Facilities".

In the words of H. Musaelian, both in 2006 and this year, 70 students
(in addition to 184 ones) continue their studies at the above
mantioned chair.

55.7% of the chair graduates work at Synopsys Armenia, making up 29.2%
of the 370 employees of the company. This is the second one among 65
subsidiaries operating in 22 countries. The company also cooperates
with Yerevan State University (YSU) and the State Slavonic University
(SSU). Synopsys installed electronic design-related 50 software
packages of 260 mln USD at SEUA and 30 software packages of 150 mln
USD – at YSU.

JOURNALIST GUIDE-BOOK ON LEGAL MECHANISMS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION IN
ELECTORAL PROCESS PUBLISHED

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The proper excercise of the mass
media’s right to receive information is an important guarantee
to promote transparency of an electoral process. Head of the OSCE
Yerevan Office Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin stated this at the April
27 presenttaion of the guide-book "Public Elections: How to Receive
Information in Electoral Processes" envisaged for journalists.

In his words, the aim of the publication is to inform journalists
about legal mechanisms necessary to guarantee their right to get
information, which in its turn will contribute to comprehensive
coverage of electoral processes at the pre-election stage, on vote
day and after elections.

The book was compiled and published by the "Information Freedom Center"
NGO with the financial assistance of the OSCE Yerevan Office.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN AKHALKALAK

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "Zori Zorian"
youth organization of Akhalkalak organized on April 23 a torch-light
procession dedicated to the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Over 500 young people participated in this procession of
mourning and protest. The procession began at Akhalkalak Fortress and
made its way to Surb Khach Church where a meeting in condemnation of
the 1915 Armenian Genocide took place. Speakers appealed to Georgia’s
parliament and people to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

A holy liturgy in memory of the genocide victims was celebrated on
April 24 in Surb Khach Church of Akhalkalak. Wreaths on hehalf of
the Akhalkalak regional sakrebulo, the Council of Armenian NGOs, the
"Virk" party and other organizations were laid at the memorial stone to
the Genocide victims. People condemned the Armenian Genocide in their
speeches and expressed a hope that it will be recognized by Georgia.

According to A-Info news agency, on the same day a khachkar dedicated
to the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was erected in the
village of Pokr Samsar (Akhalkalak). The khachkar was made with a
contribution of Sasha Gabrielian, former resident of the village who
currently lives in Russia.

HUNGARIANS FORBIDDEN TO CELEBRATE LITURGY IN ARMENIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

BUDAPEST, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Office of the
Bishop of Hungary’s Catholic Church did not allow to celebrate on
April 24 a holy liturgy in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims in
the only Armenian Catholic church in Budapest. According to reports of
the Hungarian Armenian community, the community members laid wreaths
at the Armenian khachkar on the bank of the Danube and then had to
remember the martyrs of the Armenian people by lighting cabdles and
praying in front of the closed doors of the church.

CANDIDATE FOR DEPUTACY INCLUDED IN OYP ELECTORAL LIST, ANUSHAVAN
VARDANIAN WITHDRAWS HIS CANDIDATURE

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Anushavan Vardanian taking 116th place
on Orinats Yerkir Party’s electoral list, nominated by proportional
system for May 12 parliamentary elections officially withdrew his
candidature on April 28. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by CEC
Secretary Hamlet Abrahamian.

Garik Martirosian taking the second place on the electoral list of
United Liberal National Party, as well as the Progressive Party
of Armenia (Chairman Tigran Urikhanian) who had earlier publicly
announced about their decisions to leave electoral campaign by
proportional system had not submitted applications on withdrawing
their candidatures as of April 28, 18:00.

To recap, the deadline for withdrawing candidatures is May 2.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: TURKEY’S JOINING EUROPEAN UNION SHOULD NOT BE
PRIVILEGED JOINING

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Robert Kocharian
considers it important that in the context of becoming EU member,
Turkey should more correctly assess the dark pages of its past, as
well as implement reforms in such fields as human rights protection
and freedom of expression. "This joining should not be a privileged
one," the president said during the April 27 meeting with students
and teaching staff of Yerevan State University.
From: Baghdasarian

Islam, Christianity enjoy perfect mutual respect in Iran: Armenian bishop

Mehr News Agency, Iran
April 28 2007

TEHRAN, April 28 (MNA) – In an interview with Mehr News Agency here
on Saturday, the Armenian bishop in Tehran pointed out the deep ties
between various denominations of Christianity in Iran as well as
supports of the Tehran government.

Bishop Sebuh Sarkisian added that this is an indication of a perfect
mutual respect between two great religions of the country, Islam
and Christianity.

During the interview, Sarkisian noted that followers of many Christian
denominations such as Armenian, Protestant, Assyrian, Russian Orthodox
and Catholics churches live in Iran.

Bush Joins Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez
by Scott Sullivan

The Conservative Voice, NC
April 28 2007

April 28, 2007 01:11 PM EST

The US is picking a new partner — Iran, along with Iran’s ally Hugo
Chavez. President Bush is now saying the time is right for bilateral
talks with Iran. The US is ignoring Iran~Rs defiance on nukes, as well
as Iran’s subversion in Iraq. Vice President Cheney is no longer saying
nasty things about the Nazi regime in Tehran. US military commanders
in Iraq have abruptly changed their tone from optimism to pessimism,
with the implication that the US needs Iran~Rs help in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the US treats Turkey and Russia — Iran’s two greatest
adversaries — with hostility. Turkey is threatened by US congressional
passage of the Armenian genocide resolution. The US supports the
Kirkuk status referendum, which infuriates Turkey because it provides
a huge political and financial boost to ~SKurdistan.~T Finally, the
US accepts a growing Iranian security presence in Iraq, a policy that
poses a direct threat to Turkey.

At the same time, the US has restarted the Cold War with Russia,
beginning with the US enlistment of Poland and the Czech Republic in
US missile defense programs.

By deliberately confronting Turkey and Russia, Bush is strengthening
and emboldening Ahmadinejad. Iran will step up its bid for Middle East
dominance. Chavez will step up his bid for Latin American dominance.

Unfortunately, the US is miscalculating badly in viewing Iran and
Chavez as its primary security partners, beginning in Iraq.

First of all, for Iran and the US to win, Turkey, Russia and Saudi
Arabia have to agree to lose. This will not happen. Indeed, Turkey,
Russia and Saudi Arabia will push back against Iran and the US.

Second, an anti-Iran/US coalition led by Turkey and Russia, backed
by the Arab states, would easily prevail in the Middle East. In fact,
they will win because their policy of preserving Iraq~Rs territorial
integrity commands overwhelming support in Iraq and throughout the
Middle East. Such a coalition would even pick up the support of Syria
and Hezbollah.

Third, Iran has no workable plan for taking power in Iraq alongside
the US. Iran lacks the resources, the expertise, and the requisite
support from neighboring states to take over in Iraq. As for the
Kurdish-Iranian partition plan, now accepted by the US, this would
bring disaster to Iraq, as Turkey and Russia are saying.

Fourth, if Iran cannot subdue Iraq, which is likely, Iran is blocked
in the Middle East. Iran can still make trouble in a few hot spots
like Lebanon, but Iran will never be the Middle East superpower,

Fifth, Iran has no allies in the region or beyond.

Sixth, Iran will never be popular in the US. The thought of a
Bush-Ahmadinejad-Chavez Axis is laughable.

In short, President Bush is making the wrong choice in accepting Iran
as a number one partner. This is tantamount to the US picking Germany
in 1914 and 1941. In other words, Bush is kidding, right?