Month: April 2007

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP NOT LIMITED ONLY BY MILITARY-POLITICAL INTERESTS, SERGEY IVANOV SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia is our strategic partner,
and it is not limited only by military and political interests," First
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Ivanov said at the April 11
briefing, responding the question if Armenia is the out-post of Russia.

"As for the Russian military bases existing in Armenia, they present
interests of both Armenia and Russia," S. Ivanov mentioned. In
his words, those bases are not aimed against a third country and
effectively guarantee security of the two countries.

In RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian’s opinion, misunderstanding of the
same issue became a cause for speculations. "That man said that word,
he wanted to say something good, in that case it came to his mind,
the whole fault was in it," S. Sargsian said.

To recap, Sergey Mironov, the Chairman of the Council of Federation
of the RF Federal Assembly stated once paying a visit to Armenia that
Armenia is the out-post of Russia in the South Caucasian region.

WE WISH TO LIVE IN A NORMAL COUNTRY, CHAIRMAN OF SARGIS TKHRUNI STUDENT-YOUTH UNION SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Social-Democrat Hnchakian Party’s
Sagis Tkhruni student-youth union organized an action of protest
on April 11 near the office of RA Ombudsman. The action of protest
was organized on the occasion of the decision of RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission to register data of subscribers using prepayment
cards of mobile communication.

As Narek Galstian, Union’s Chairman, mentioned in his interview to
Noyan Tapan correspondent, registration of personal data of subscribers
of above mentioned mobile communication before the parliamentary
elections gives a possibility to secretly listen to all telephone
talks. He said that "new Stalin methods of the current regime" are
unacceptable. "The year of 1937 has passed long ago and we do not
wish new Stalins to emerge," N. Galstian said adding: "We wish to
live in a normal country."

In his words, the Union has handed a written application to the
Office of RA Ombudsman. "The Ombudsman should respond if he wants
to be really considered as a person protecting human rights and not
"an official serving the current regime," N. Galstian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOUNTAIN-SKIERS TO CONTEND FOR CUP OF SKIING FEDERATION OF ARMENIA IN TSAGHKADZOR

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Mountain-skiers will contend on
April 12-14 in Tsaghkadzor for the cup of the Skiing Federation of
Armenia. Besides the local skiers, sportsmen of Georgia will also
participate in the competition.

SERGEY IVANOV: THE ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM IN IRAN SHOULD BE STRICTLY CONTROLLED BY IAEA

ArmRadio.am
11.04.2007 17:24

"The issue of the nuclear dossier of Iran should be settled in a
political-diplomatic way, sine the threat of war is a way to disaster,"
the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Ivanov said during his
visit to the Yerevan School # 21 of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

He added that Iran has the right to develop peaceful nuclear energy. "
However, if the question refers to enrichment of uranium, it is a
different matte," said the First Deputy PM in response to the question
of one of the schoolboys, who was concerned about the current situation
in Iran.

ASSISTANCE

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
10 April 07

In 2006 charity programs of 4 billion 238 million drams were
implemented in Nagorno Karabakh. NKR Vice Premier Ararat Danielian,
who is the chair of the Central Commission on Humanitarian Aid, told
De Facto that charity funds provided for social and economic programs
grew by 9.5 percent compared with 2005.

Ararat Danielian said in 2006 Nagorno Karabakh received humanitarian
aid of 66 million 85 thousand drams, which was spent on medicine,
medical equipment and computers. The chair of the commission said
currently over 20 organizations and individuals from Nagorno Karabakh,
Armenia, the United Stated, France, Germany and Russia implement
charity and humanitarian programs. Ararat Danielian said charitable
organizations and benefactors are exempt from the VAT. " Charity and
humanitarian programs are highly important for both the solution of
social problems and development of infrastructures in NKR. They help
spare considerable budget funds, which are directed at long-term
social and economic development," Ararat Danielian said.

SERGE SARGSYAN: THE ELECTORAL PROCESS DOES NOT DISTURB THE GOVERNMENT’S ACTIVITY

ArmRadio.am
11.04.2007 17:08

"In any case, elections demand great efforts and time on the part of
political parties. In this regard we may consider that the elections
somehow disturb the work of the executive body. On the other hand,
elections promote the government’s activity, since it is a period in
which the executive wants to work better, taking into consideration
the moods of the voters and face the problems," RA Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan said during today’s joint press conference with the
First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Ivanov.

"That is why I don’t think that, in general, the electoral process
must disturb the government’s activity," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO CANDIDATES INSTEAD OF EARLIER REGISTERED FOUR ONES TO COMPETE BY MAJORITARIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM AT No19 ELECTORAL DISTRICT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armavir Court of First Instance
upheld on April 10 the claim of assistant to the Yerevan Arabkir
community head, RPA member Hakob Hakobian registered by the
majoritarian electoral system at No 19 electoral district against
the given district electoral commission.

According to it, decisions of No19 district electoral commission
relating to registration of NA deputy elected from Etchmiadzin, RPA
member Hakob Hakobian and non-partisan Susanna Haroutiunian nominated
at the same electoral district on the civil initiative were recongnized
invalid, with reasoning of presenting false documents.

So, assistant to the Yerevan Arabkir community head, RPA member Hakob
Hakobian nominated on the civil initiative and non-partisan nominated
by the RPA, former commander of the 4th army corps of the Armed Forces
of Armenia, General Sedrak (Seyran) Saroyan will struggle for the
deputy’s mandate at No19 electoral district.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN: "I WANT THAT RIVALS SHAKE EACH OTHER’S HAND ON MAY 12"

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The start of the pre-electoral campaign
of the "Zharangutiun" (Heritage) party took place on April 10 at the
Yerevan Armenia-Marriott hotel. All the 51 candidates involved in
the proportional list of the party were present at the event. The
party leader and all other participants of the meeting performed
the anthem of Armenia. To also recap, speeches were interrupted by
performances of the Armenia Navy Band ensemble, by the way, Raffi
Hovannisian accompanied Arto Tuncboyacian.

R. Hovannisian mentioned that in the case of existence of equal
conditions, "Zharangutiun" will get absolute majority of votes, and
in the case of unequal conditions, it will get relative majority of
the votes. "We thing that the reality will be fixed on May 12 that
"Zharangutiun" is the leader in the elections," the party leader
assured.

In R. Hovannisian’s opinion, the Armenian mentality is based
on fairness and morality. "We must show that the Armenian
newly-independent statehood is able to hold free, fair and transparent
elections," he mentioned. In the "Zharangutiun" leader’s words, if
elections are again hold in Armenia with falsifications, not only
the people and the opposition but the ruling structures and the state
itself will lose.

R. Hovannisian mentioned that in spite of unequal conditions,
"Zharangutiun" will participate in the propaganda mission, going
"from village to village, from city to city, from house to house"
and presenting its alternative program. In his words, the party will
carry out its propaganda mission "with the constructive principle
and positive fillings."

"I much want that rivals shake each other’s hand on May 12. We are
ready to do it if we see that another party really gained the people’s
vote," R. Hovannisian stated.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN AND SERGEI IVANOV DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to Armenian-Russian
cooperation, in particular, to economic sector, were discussed at the
April 11 meeting of RA President Robert Kocharian and First Deputy
Chairman of RF government Sergei Ivanov who is in Armenia on a two-day
working visit.

The interlocutors estimated the fact that the Russian capital is
becoming bigger in Armenia, trade circulation is increasing as a
result of dynamic development of Armenian-Russian partnership.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA President’s
Press Office, at the meeting they also spoke about issues related
to launching of Armenian enterprises transferred to RF, to transport
communication and regional cooperation.

ANCA DOESN’T BELIEVE IN SINCERITY OF DAVID PHILLIPS’ INITIATIVE

Yerkir
11.04.2007 15:44

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "Here we go again. If there’s one thing we
learned about David Phillips during the past seven years – through
his involvement in the discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Committee (TARC) enterprise, including the ICTJ study and a variety
of other incarnations – it’s that he will use any means – honest or
dishonest – to prevent U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,"
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian has said when commenting on
the initiative signed by 53 Nobel Prize winners, who called on Armenia
and Turkey to reconciliation.

"The International Center for Transitional Justice – a group tied
closely with the U.S. State Department. ICTJ was asked by TARC to
prepare a report on the Armenian Genocide. ICTJ asked someone to write
this report. They will not say who. Very likely the U.S. government
was deeply involved. The report concludes that the Armenian Genocide
is a true historical fact.

This is not new. The whole world already knows this. The report
also says that the Armenians have NO rights to reparations under the
Genocide Convention.

This is not true. Clearly, the people behind TARC in the U.S. and
Turkish governments used the ICTJ report to try to create the false
impression that Armenians cannot legally regain their rights," Aram
Hamparian said.