Month: April 2007

DISSIDENT CANDIDATES BARRED FROM PARLIAMENT RACE
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 10 2007

An Armenian court on Tuesday controversially disqualified the two main
challengers of a government-backed retired army general from standing
in next month’s parliamentary elections, effectively predetermining
his victory in a constituency just south of Yerevan.

The court of the first instance in the town of Echmiadzin annulled the
decision by the local election commission to register businessman Hakob
Hakobian and a local opposition-leaning activist, Susanna Harutiunian,
as candidates. The ruling, which is not subject to appeal, came in
response to a lawsuit filed by another, pro-government candidate who
claimed that they forged voters’ signatures to win registration.

Hakobian and Harutiunian condemned it as unfair and politically
motivated, saying that the authorities are trying to make sure that
the recently demobilized General Seyran Saroyan is elected to the
National Assembly from the constituency encompassing Echmiadzin
and nearby villages. "This was done to pave Seyran’s way to the
button-pressing place," Hakobian told RFE/RL.

Tension in the area rose after unknown assailants reportedly opened
fire on Hakobian’s empty car and burned down Harutiunian’s campaign
office in Echmiadzin over the weekend. Both candidates blamed the
attacks on Saroyan. The latter vehemently denied any involvement,
however.

Law-enforcement authorities pledged to investigate the incidents
but have not detained anyone so far. They instead opened on Monday a
criminal case against Hakobian on charges of kidnapping the father
of a local resident who claims that his signature was forged by
the businessman.

Hakobian, who has been a parliament deputy for the past eight years,
laughed off the accusations, saying that they are part of "repressions"
launched by the government against himself and his supporters. He
claimed that five of them are being kept in police custody without
any explanation.

Hakobian, who is nominally affiliated with the governing Republican
Party of Armenia (HHK), was already charged with assault and tax
evasion after allegedly provoking a mass brawl outside a natural
gas distribution station near Echmiadzin last October. The incident
appears to have been instrumental in the HHK leadership’s subsequent
decision to endorse Saroyan’s parliament bid.

"The state machine is thus giving Saroyan the green light to reach
parliament," Harutiunian told RFE/RL hours before the announcement
of the court’s decision. "They should not hold any elections in this
district. It would be more honest to appoint a deputy from here than
to imitate democracy."

NEW OWNER DETAILS INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIAN POWER GRID
By Shakeh Avoyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 10 2007

The new Russian owner of Armenia’s national power distribution company
officially committed itself on Tuesday to investing almost 27 billion
drams ($74 million) in the aging network in the next three years.

The investment plan of the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA) was
submitted to and promptly approved by the Public Services Regulatory
Commission (PSRC) in accordance with a law regulating the work of
utilities. The company, owned by Russia’s Unified Energy Systems
(UES) utility, intends to purchase new equipment, expand the network’s
capacity, and upgrade its safety.

The deputy chairman of the state regulatory body, Nikolay Grigorian,
said the capital investments make electricity supplies to households
and commercial users more reliable. "They submitted this investment
program in order to meet the quality standards defined by us,"
Grigorian told RFE/RL.

The Armenian electricity network underwent a radical restructuring
during the early and mid-1990s that helped the country to emerge
from a severe energy crisis. The Armenian government controversially
sold it to a British-registered company, Midland Resources Holding,
in 2002, citing the need to attract hundreds of millions of dollars
in capital investments in the Soviet-era network.

Midland in turn decided to resell ENA to UES in September 2005. The
state-run Russian giant completed the $73 million takeover a year
later, boosting Russia’s already strong presence in the Armenian
energy sector. Alexei Rapoport, the UES vice-chairman, said last
September that his company will invest $20 million in ENA during the
first year of its operations.

Grigorian said that the ENA management has not yet asked the PSRC to
allow it to raise electricity prices. "They see no such need for the
time being," he said. "But of course after making those investments
they will ask the commission to adjust the tariffs accordingly."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN PROPOSING CHURCHES TO UNESCO

PRESS TV, Iran
April 10 2007

Armenian media has recently reported on Iran’s measures to register
some of its historical churches on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

"Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization
(CHTHO) proposed documents on St. Thaddeus Church in northwestern Iran
to UNESCO," Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Pan-Armenian
Television as saying.

Other churches include St. Stephanus, Soursur, Chupan, and Blessed
Virgin.

"According to CHTHO’s expert Mohammad-Hassan Khadem, a group of experts
of the UNESCO International Council on Monuments and Historical
Places will arrive in Iran to examine the situation in churches if
the proposal is approved," Pan-Armenian TV said.

Also known as Kara-Kilisa (Black Church), St. Thaddeus Church is
located in Marand. It’s one of the world’s most ancient churches
dating back 1,700 years.

Soursur is situated in Barun village; it was built between 1314 and
1315, thanks to efforts of archbishop Zakarius.

The Iranian government dedicated an area 110 meters high to preserve
the monument during the construction of the Barun dam.

There are 500 churches in Iran, 44 of which are regarded as national
heritage.

ARMENIANS’ "GENOCIDE" GAME IN UN FAILS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 10 2007

The photo-exhibition on the Rwanda genocide to be opened in the
building of UN was postponed, APA reports. Turkish permanent ambassador
to US Baki Ilkin learned that a stand on so-called "Armenian genocide"
will be opened and objected to it.

The UN Secretariat did not allow the exhibition taking into account
the objection. Spokesman Farhan Hak said that no investigation was
carried out on the exhibition beforehand.

"After the investigations, the exhibition was postponed", he said.

Armenian representative to UN Armen Martirosyan objected to the
decision and accused Turkey of imposing censorship.

Turkish diplomatist Ilkin said he is satisfied with the decision
and stressed there is no relation between the genocide in Rwanda and
Armenians claims.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS URGE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RECONCILIATION
Elie Wiesel

Voice of America
April 10 2007

Fifty three Nobel prize winners are urging Armenia and Turkey to
normalize relations and improve their human rights situations.

The letter was released Monday by the Elie Wiesel Foundation for
Humanity. Wiesel, who established the foundation, is a famed Holocaust
survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The Nobel laureates call on Armenia and Turkey to open their common
border and increase diplomatic contacts, saying this would lead to
deeper understanding between their peoples.

The laureates also ask Armenia to change what they call its
authoritarian policies and allow free and fair elections. They want
Turkey to end racial and ethnic discrimination and scrap a law that
criminalizes insulting Turkish identity.

Turkey has long denied responsibility for genocide in the deaths of
more than one million Armenians during and after World War I.

Turkey says the people died during violence surrounding the collapse
of the Ottoman Empire.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEPARTMENT HEAD SAYS INVESTMENT NEEDED IN NOTARY TECHNOLOGIES

Panorama.am
17:08 10/04/2007

Lack of investors is a major impediment for the development of notary
technologies, Ashot Khandanyan, department head of the ministry of
trade and economic development, said. He said the investment must be
predominantly done by the private sector because the state does not
have sufficient funds. Without naming any, Khandanyan said negotiations
are on the way with respectful foreign companies. The department head
also said Armenia is in no way behind in innovation technologies as
compared with our regional neighbors.

GRAND MASTER ELINA DANIELIAN TAKES 4th HORIZONTAL OF TOURNAMENT TABLE AT EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

DRESDEN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The 6th stage meetings took place on
April 8, at the Europe chess individual championship in the city of
Dresden, Germany.

In the men’s tournament 5 participants form the leading group, having
5 points each from the 6 possible ones. Delegates of Armenia Artashes
Minasian, Tigran L. Petrosian, Rafayel Vahanian and Arman Pashikian
share the 37th-102nd places having 4 points each. And Gabriel Sargsian
and Karen Asrian have 3.5 points each, Zaven Andriasian and Tigran
Kotanjian have 3 points each, Ashot Anastasian has 2.5 points.

In the women’s struggle Tatyana Kozintseva (Russia) is the individual
leader. She has 6 points from the 6 possible ones. Among the Armenian
women chess players Elina Danielian is the 4th with 4.5 points. Lilit
Mkrtchian and Siranush Andriasian got 3 points each.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

20 TITLES OF NEW TEXTBOOKS TO BE INTRODUCED TO SCHOOLS IN NEW SCHOOLYEAR

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. 20 titles of new textbooks, mainly
on natural sciences and social sciences subjects, will be introduced
to country’s comprehensive educational institutions from September
of 2007-2008 schoolyear.

As Norayr Ghukasian, Director of RA National Institute of Education,
reported at the April 10 press conference, the following textbooks
will be put into circulation: new textbooks "I and the Environment,"
"Mathematics," "Mother Tongue" for 2-4th forms, "Natural Science"
for 5-6th forms, "Geography" for 6th form. And "History of Armenia"
and "World History" will be used as new textbooks for 6-7th forms,
"Geography" and "Biology" for 7-8th forms. New textbooks of Chemistry
and Physics subjects have been made up for 7-9th forms. New textbooks
on History of Armenia and Social Science subjects have been made up
for 8-9th forms.

In N. Ghukasian’s words, before printing the textbooks they in advance
made up the criteria, curricula of these subjects, on the basis of
which the main textbooks were formed. Alternative textbooks also
won in the competition held for new textbooks. In the words of the
Institute Director, introduction of alternative textbooks on the
same subject is done because they meet the curriculum criteria of
the given subject, include all conditions put forward by them, but
differ from each other in the respect of statement or commentary.

Alternative textbooks together with the main ones can be used in
secondary schools and proceeding from the results of their long use
an educational institution will have a possibility to choose the main
or alternative texbook on the given subject for itself. By the way,
there is no alternative textbook only on History of Armenia subject.

Nearly 10 publishing-houses took part in the competition announced for
publication of new textbooks. Manuals of teachers with the respective
speciality were also established by the competition together with
all textbooks.

In N. Ghukasian’s words, the theoretical part was reduced in the new
textbooks and the part of practical exercises was increased.

To recap, at the first stage of making up new textbooks, in 2006-2007,
"Armenian Language," "Literature," "Mathematics," "Informatics" new
textbooks were introduced to schools. Introduction of new curriculum
criteria and textbooks of art sphere, foreign languages, preliminary
military preparedness is planned in 2008-2009 schoolyear. This process
consisting of three stages will finish in 2009, as a result of which
the nine-year school will be provided with new textbooks and curricula.

SPIRITISM EVENING TO BE ORGANIZED AT U.S. CONGRESS ON APRIL 24

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 10 2007

WASHINGTON, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A spiritism
evening which will be dedicated to the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide will be organized in the Capitolium of the United States on
April 24.

This all-Armenian event will be held jointly with the Armenian Embassy
to the United States. During the event U.S. former Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans will perform as the main speaker.

The Armenian Genocide already for few years was marked at the Congress
on the initiative of Congress Armenian Caucus head Frank Pallone and
Joe Knollenberg.

INVESTMENTS OF ELECTRIC NETWORKS OF ARMENIA COMPANY TO MAKE ABOUT 73 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEXT THREE YEARS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 10 sitting, the RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission approved the 2007-2009 investment
program of Electric Networks of Armenia company. By the program, 26
billion 961.9 million drams (about 73 mln USD) will be invested in the
next three years, including investments of 12 bln 207 mln drams this
year. Deputy head of the company’s economic and planning department
Yuri Gavrilenko said that the purpose of the investment program is
to reduce the average annual frequency and duration of consumers’
power cuts, to reduce frequency and duration of cases when electricity
tension is beyond permissible limits, to extend distribution networks,
ensure safety measures, etc.

According to Y. Gavrilenko, more than 9 bln drams will be invested
with the aim of reducing the average annual frequency and duration
of power cuts, 3 bln drams – for extension of networks, and 7.4 bln
drams – for improvement of the commercial registration system.

The speaker noted that as a result of investments, the company’s margin
will increase by 0.5 drams for one kilowatt-hour. This year the profit
and amortization of the company will amount to 5.8 bln drams.