Month: April 2007

A1+

COMPLETE FAILURE
[12:32 pm] 16 April, 2007

Armenian 12 chess players displayed rather poor participation in the
European chess championship held in Dresden.

The best results were displayed by Tigran Petrosyan, Artashes Minasyan
and Tigran Kotanjyan who secured the 45th, 48th and 61st places
respectively.

To note, Dmitri Jakovenko tops the meeting table.

Tatyana Kosintseva became the winner of the Women’s Championship; she
beat her 10 opponents thus becoming the Champion of Europe.

It is due to mention that Elina Danielyan had a brilliant chance to
move up among the Armenian sportswomen, but she was beaten by
Stefanova in the last tour and slipped back to the 20th place.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA want to see improvement in Armenian parliamentary election: American
diplomat

Arminfo
2007-04-16 10:41:00

The USA want to see an improvement in the Armenian parliamentary
election, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
affairs Daniel Fried said at a press- conference in Washington in
response to ArmInfo correspondent’s question. He said that the USA do
not expect perfection. "We don’t expect to go from deeply flawed to
perfect, but we do expect to see substantial forward progress. That is
important. Armenia, given the strength of the Armenian Diaspora and
given Armenia’s links to the West, frankly, you ought to be way ahead
of Georgia. But I ask you, are you in terms of democratic reforms?
That’s a rhetorical question. I’m not asking for an answer. But think
about that. Armenia should be doing better. It should be a leader. It
should be a prospering country. It has all the ingredients. And lack
of oil and gas is not necessarily a curse. Assistant Secretary Fried:
Yes, but a lot of countries – Armenia is not blockaded. It has access
through Georgia. It’s not as if it has no access to the outside
world. We hope that more is done", D. Fried concluded.

USA: Turkey ought to open up the border with Armenia and restore normal
relations

Arminfo
2007-04-16 10:40:00

US Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Eurasian affairs Daniel
Fried replied to ArmInfo correspondent’s question at the
press-conference in Washington that the USA thinks that Turkey ought
to open up the border with Armenia and restore normal relations.

"We’re pleased by recent steps Turkey has taken, like restoring the
Armenian church in Eastern Turkey, even if as a museum. That’s still
something," the American diplomat said. He also added that there is in
Turkish society a constituency for this kind of reconciliation.
"Hrant Dink was murdered by an extremist nationalist, but then 100,000
Turks were in the street saying we are all Armenians, we are all Hrant
Dink. It didn’t mean literally that they’re Armenians, but it means we
reject nationalism. We embrace a Turkish identity which is
tolerant. That’s very hopeful. That’s a very good thing. That’s what
we want to encourage," Daniel Fried said.

Whole Armenia to loose if mass falsifications recur: leader of
`Heritage’ party

Arminfo
2007-04-16 10:35:00

"By our resoluteness during May 12 election, we shall prove that we
are living not in the Ottoman Empire but in sovereign democratic
Armenia where one cannot outrage the people’s declaration of will",
leader of the "Heritage" oppositional party, first Foreign Minister of
independent Armenia Raffi Hovannisian said yesterday when metting
voters of Echmiadzin of Armavir district. He said that it is
impossible to talk about Armenia’s security and the Karabakh conflict
resolution, favorable for the Armenian party, without democracy
development in the country. "Very serious foreign political challenges
of regional and geopolitical character are set to the country and only
the power, elected in a democratic way, can worthily respond to them",
R. Hovannisian said.

The oppositionist urged the voters to make a choice that will allow to
easy look the present children’s eyes who, in their turn, will be
grateful for being born and living in Armenia and being Armenians. He
expressed confidence that little Armenia will be able to finally
overstep the limits of mentality, it is imputed by authorities, and
will become the leading country in the region by the level of
democracy development.

A1+

NO OTHER POSTERS IN `PROSPEROUS’ CITY
[01:58 pm] 16 April, 2007

It is already a week since the official onset of the election
campaign. So far the residents of Abovian City have got familiarized
with the posters of the Prosperous Armenia Party and the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun.

One can come across the posters of PPA on the facades of most
buildings. You can hardly see the posters of the remaining 22 parties
and 1 alliance running in the NA elections.

The residents of Abovian get information on the other parties on TV or
via other available sources.

Alexan Karapetyan, member of the National Unity Party, informed A1+
that since April 9 they have fixed the NUP posters on various
buildings of the city but the following morning they found the posters
torn off.

In reply to A1+’s question why they didn’t apply to the Town Hall on
this score, Mr. Karapetyan said ironically, `Are there authorities in
Abovian whom I can apply to?’

To note, the NUP member claims that the party’s posters have found the
same fate in Nor Nork and in Avan districts.

We came to learn that the posters of the People’s Party are also being
removed.

To note, the United Labour Party, Hanrapetutyun Party, and the
Impeachment Alliance intend to place posters throughout the country in
four days.

It is noteworthy that none of the above-mentioned parties plans visits
to Abovian. They all assured A1+ that they will meet the Abovian
voters but none of them clarified the exact date.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Eurasian Affairs: The Turkish
Government has never

Arminfo
2007-04-16 10:40:00

US Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Eurasian Affairs Daniel
Fried said when replying to ArmInfo correspondent’s question over the
press conference in Washington that the Turkish Government has never
blackmailed or threatened the U.S. Government in case of passing the
resolution on the Armenian genocide.

He is sure that they will take retaliatory steps if this resolution
passes. " The Turkish government has said that Turkish opinion would
be inflamed and outraged by this resolution and that they, the Turkish
government, fear what the Turkish parliament might do in reaction to
something our parliament might do. So it’s a little bit different than
what you described. Turkey is a good ally. It is also a country which
is undergoing a profound democratic transformation itself. These
things are advancing, and as this happens there is a growing
discussion in Turkey about their own past, and in particular the past
of the Ottoman Empire and its relationship to the Armenian community
there and the mass killings that took place in 1915 and afterwards.
Turks are beginning to discuss this. We encourage them to examine
their history and the painful, what can be called dark spots, and
they’re not the only country that has them. The United States has
plenty of our own: slavery, treatment of American Indians, etc,"
Daniel Fried said.

Armenian organizations launch `Light the Night’ campaign

16.04.2007 15:06

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – On the eve of April 24th, ArmeniaDiaspora and
Armenica encourage to `Light the Night’ by lighting a candle through
the night of the 23rd and into the morning of the 24th, in remembrance
of the 1.5 million souls that fell victim to the annihilation machine
of the Ottoman Empire.

`Each lit candle placed on the window sill will represent a soul lost
throughout the years of 1915 and 1923. Together, let’s `Light the
Night’, let’s vow to remember, to never forget, and to pursue justice
and peace for all humanity.

The Light the Night campaign started two years ago in connection to
the 90th remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide and we wish to
continue this campaign hoping that it will be a permanent tradition.

Last year the campaign received wide TV and radio coverage in Armenia
and this year Printinfo has volunteered to contribute to the campaign
by printing flyers free of charge for distribution within Armenia. We
hope that you also could join us in this tradition,’ says the
statement issued by the organizations.

A1+

ARMENIAN TEAM DENIED ENTRY
[02:22 pm] 16 April, 2007

On April 16 the World Hockey Championship kicked off in Ireland. The
Armenian national ice hockey team was to participate in the C group
meetings of the current championship but our sportsmen were denied
visas in the Irish Embassy in Moscow.

Karen Khachatryan, President of the Armenian Hockey Federation finds
this a disgrace. `They deliberately denied us entry. I think there was
some preliminary arrangement between the embassy and the team of
Ireland. The Armenian team is stronger than that of Ireland. The Irish
secured their chances to participate in the next phase by this act.’

In Mr. Khachatryan’s words, the embassy presented unreasonable
grounds, `Armenia is a poor country, and the hockey players won’t
return to their homeland on arriving in Ireland. I want to remind that
the Armenian sportsmen have been to more developed countries but they
never wished to stay there for ever,’ says Mr. Khachatryan.

Presently, the International Hockey Federation deals with the matter
and Ireland will likely be punished for its infamous step.

A1+

MARKET RELATIONS IN PRE-ELECTION PERIOD
[03:41 pm] 16 April, 2007

Summing up the results of the one-week election campaign we can say
that the struggle is based rather on market relations than on
ideological principles. Let’s take the city of Alaverdi as an
illustration. On the one hand, the political forces running for the
parliament do their utmost to enlarge their electorate in the
region. On the other hand, voters try to benefit more from the
pre-election struggle.

The struggle is namely tense between two political forces; the
Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA). The PAP collects the passport data of the voters. They knock at
the doors and wonder what the residents think about this or that
party.

Grandfather Simon has agreed to pass his passport data per 5000 AMD
though he is even ready to take 3000 AMD.

Grandmother Anichka expects pre-election presents from the candidates,
starting from household equipment to money. `They collect our
passports and assure that they will distribute presents on the eve of
the elections. For instance, residents of Shnogh village got flour,
irons and many other suchlike things.’

As for the Republican Party, it has initiated free treatment and
distribution of spectacles in the region.

Artavazd Barosyan, coordinator of the RPA in Alaverdi, quotes the RA
Electoral Code, which doesn’t forbid the parties to initiate charity
activity before the election campaign. `Charity is a common phenomenon
world-wide. All political forces activate on the eve of elections.’

We are the same for you, we are there for you, we are your old friend
Editorial

Yerkir.am
April 13, 2007

Statement by ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian

`Dear fellow-citizens,

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party is starting its march
towards the victory. A victory that will first of all be the victory
of the nation. A victory that we will accomplish together.

We are expecting your participation in the elections. We are expecting
that you will give your votes to the ARF with confidence and trust. We
are looking forward to working diligently so that we can win together.

We are different from everyone. We are not going to spread hatred
with our campaign, we are not going to threaten or bribe our
voters. We are entering the political arena with our organizational
capacity, our work and our platform.

I am sure that our wise and cautious nation, our nation that has
dignity will ignore empty threats, temporary pressures and bribes and
will give its vote to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. By voting
for the ARF you will ensure your victory.

We are sure that we will have our people’s vote of confidence. ARF is
the most experienced and at the same time the most vibrant
organization in the Armenian political reality.

ARF is a pan-Armenian organization that is present in more than 30
countries. ARF includes all segments of the Armenian nation. ARF is a
true organization that was not established around any individual or
group interests.

ARF is a party that has a rich biography, a functioning structure,
ideology, collective accountability and responsibility.

ARF is the party of true patriots and is the friend of the most
vulnerable segments of our nation. ARF was there in the liberation war
in Artsakh, ARF is there in the most recent processes of determination
in Javakhq. Gevorg Chavush, Aram Manukian, Levon Shant, Siamanto,
Daniel Varuzhan, Tatul Krpeyan, Artur Mkrtchian, Shahen Meghrian and
many many other outstanding patriots were ARF members.

When our organization was outlawed and exiled we did not accommodate
to the violence and overcame it through underground struggle. Then we
joined the government for the sake of our country and our nation.

ARF always saw the truth and called things with their names. ARF never
deviated from its proclaimed goals and never identified itself with
any negative phenomena. ARF always preserved its own identity and
adhered to its principles.

The people will trust the ARF, will unite around it and vote for it
because ARF is the political force that has a program and will to
implement that program, because the Armenian nation is the Alpha and
the Omega for the ARF. We want to govern the nation without ruling it,
we want to lead the nation.

Restoration of justice and creation of development opportunities for
all is our goal. ARF has the will and determination to realize this
because ideological strength and political will is needed to fight
corruption in the country. ARF is the force to do this because ARF
aims at conscious support of the nation.

ARF’s supporters are people with dignity, people who are ready for
struggle. No one should solve his problems through criminal relation.
No one should feel unprotected in the country. Everyone should be
equal in front of the law.

ARF has a vision of the future. It has a vision of organizing and
developing the nation and the country. ARF is not dominated by the
momentary interests of any individuals or groups. Political power is
not a means of solving personal problems and gaining personal wealth
for the ARF.

ARF strives for national development, national security and
consolidation of a powerful homeland. ARF believes that it is possible
to significantly increase the population of Armenia. Because with the
ARF’s victory poverty will be eliminated in the country.

Our economy has the potential that, if used and managed properly, will
allow increasing the minimum salary and pension to 30,000 or 50,000
drams.

Dear nation, last time we gained 11% of your votes. We joined the
government and managed to accomplish some success.

Today we are relying on you to form the next government that would
ensure a true fight against corruption, protectionism and the
atmosphere of impunity.

We will address every citizen, we will present ourselves the way we
are, and we will win the vote of confidence of our nation.

I am sure our voters can differentiate between the good and the
bad. Our nation will vote for the ARF because they place their
children’s future above everything else.

Dear nation, we are the same for you, we are there for you, we are
your old friend. Let us go together towards the victory’.