Month: April 2007

WWF-ARMENIA ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM CONTEST ON ‘BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN ARMENIA’

Arminfo
2007-04-09 16:40:00

World Wide Fund for Nature Armenian Branch (WWF-Armenia) is pleased to
announce environmental journalism contest on the topic of "Biodiversity
Hotspots in Armenia."

The WWF-Armenia office told ArmInfo that the major threats to
biodiversity in Armenia are: mining, illegal logging; poaching and
illegal wildlife trade; overgrazing; overfishing; infrastructure
development; pollution of rivers and wetlands. These threats lead to
habitat degradation, decline of species populations, and disruption of
ecological processes – all contributing to overall loss of biodiversity
in the region. According to the Ministry of Health, over the past
ten years the suspended materials concentration and the emission
of toxic substances into the atmosphere have increased the number
of patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The submitted works
by the journalists will be reviewed and evaluated by the jury based
on the following criteria: presentation and exposure of the topic;
timeliness and sensitivity of the issue (a hot issue); journalistic
professionalism. The winners of the contest will be awarded money
prizes and WWF certificates. Eligible and interested journalists are
kindly requested to submit their works along with CV to WWF-Armenia
office or e-mail to [email protected]. The application
deadline is August 25, 2007.

‘THE LARK FARM’, ‘A POLITICALLY INCORRECT FILM’ TO BE SUBMITTED TO APPROVAL OF ARMENIAN SPECTATORS AT THE OPENING OF ‘GOLDEN APRICOT’ FILM FESTIVAL

Arminfo
2007-04-09 22:58:00

The "Golden Apricot" international film festival, which will be held
in Yerevan in July 2007, will be opened with a film about the Armenian
Genocide – "The Lark Farm" directed by Italian brothers Paolo and
Vittorio Taviani.

Haroutyun Khachatryan, an Armenian film director, told ArmInfo
correspondent that the steering committee of the festival received a
preliminary consent of the film’s authors to show the film within the
framework of the "Golden Apricot" festival. Taviani brothers, as well
as the script writer, and the author of "The Lark Farm" novel, Antonia
Arslan, are expected to attend the film’s opening night in Yerevan.

To note, the film tells about the tragedy of an Armenian family which
was almost completely extirpated during the massacre of Armenians in
Ottoman Turkey. The film was first shown at the Berlin film festival
and was recognized the best film of the festival. The show of the
film coincided with the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
in Istanbul and threats against Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. The
film was criticized by Turkey which qualified the step of their Geman
allies as "politically incorrect". However, earlier Taviani brothers
said that they will do their best to show the film in Turkey.

The budget of "The Lark Farm" made up 9,7 mln EUR, and the leading
parts were played by Alessandro Preziosi, Angela Molina and Arsine
Khanjian, a Canadian-Armenian actress. The film was financially
supported by the Eurimages Fund which allocated 600 thsd EUR for the
shooting. To note, the film wasn’t shown in Italy, and as earlier
Giffoni Claudio Gubitosi, the director of the international festival,
told ArmInfo correspondent, both Italy and Armenia look forward to
seeing "The Lark Farm".

VARTAN OSKANIAN RECEIVES DELEGATION OF US MILITARY COLLEGE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The acting minister of foreign affairs
of the RA Vartan Oskanian on April 9 received the delegation of the
US Military College which is on a two-day familiarization visit to
Armenia. The delegation is headed by Tamara Fitzgerald, emloyee of
the college’s foreign relations department.

According to a press release of the RA MFA Press and Information
Department, at the request of T. Fitzgerald, Vartan Oskanian presented
the peculiarities of the Nagorno Karabakh problem and the latest
developments around it.

Then the minister provided detailed explanations to the guests’
questions, which were mainly related to priorities of Armenia’s
foreign policy, the issue of opening the Armenian-Turkish border,
the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Armenia-Diaspora
relations, energy sector, demographic issues, anticorruption measures,
and problems preventing the regional cooperation.

HOT LINE ON ELECTORAL ROLL-REALTED ISSUES FUNCIONS AT RA POLICE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. With respect to issues related to
inaccuracies in electoral rolls, a change in the address of a voter,
the voter’s absence from the place of registration and other electoral
roll-related issues, a hot line service finctions at the RA Police
– phones 56-13-46 and 53-43-91 each day, from 10 am to 10 pm, in
the period prior to the RA National Assembly elections until May 11
(inclusive). Lieutenant General Ararat Mahtesian, First Deputy Chief
of the RA Police, told this to reporters at the April 9 meeting.

According to him, residents of rural communities may apply on these
issues to the head of their community.

A. Mahtesian said that it is the second year that the police is doing
the work of compiling electoral rolls. In his words, considerable
work has been implemented, but the recent studies, proposals made
by various parties and observers, as well as the elections of the
mayor of the city of Armavir showed that there is still much to be
done. According to the speaker, there will be weekly information in
the mass media about the process of elimination of inaccuracies in
electoral rolls and measures being taken.

Colonel Alvina Zakarian, Head of the RA Police Passport and Visa
Department, said that according to preliminary rolls, there are 2
million 328 thousand 747 voters in Armenia. According to her, this
number will decline after elimnation of inaccuracies in the electoral
rolls. A. Zakarian noted that citizens who lost their passports will
be given certificates (form 9) in a one-day period for participation
in the elections.

By the way, she expressed perplexity at the facts of collection of
citizens’ passports by supporters of some candidates for deputacy. "The
path of elections will not be changed by passport collection,"
she stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SINCE APRIL 2 ARMENIAN CITIZENS CAN FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH REGISTER OF VOTERS AT CEC WEBSITE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the schedule of main
events on preparation and holding of the parliamentary elections on
May 12, the register of voters of the Republic of Armenia (by polling
stations) was placed on the website of the RA Central Electoral
Commission (CEC) on April 2. The RA Police Passport and Invitation
Department which registers citizens in their places of residence is
the body that compiles and keeps electoral rolls.

Citizens who have the right to elect but are not registered may submit
an application for being included in the electoral roll to the head
of their community until April 21, or to the head of the authorized
body ot its territorial subdivision – until April 27.

In order to correct inaccuracies in an electoral roll, to be included
in an electoral roll or be removed from it, citizens may submit an
application to the community head until May 5, or to the authorized
body – until May 7.

The lists of policemen who are on duty at a polling station on the
voting day, as well as lists of citizens, who undergo in-patient
treatment and want to participate in the voting and have the ekectoral
right, must be submitted to the head of the authorized body or its
territorial subdivision until May 9, 2 pm.

The final version of an electoral roll will be put up at a noticable
place of the election center on May 10.

Arguments regarding inaccuracies in an electoral roll may be disputed
in a court of first instance, whose decision is final and not subject
to dispute.

Decisions on applications for removing inaccuracies in electoral rolls
or for being included in a roll during 5 days prior to the voting and
on the voting day shall be made within a period allowing the voter to
participate in the voting. Additions in electoral rolls based on the
above mentioned decisions are made by the respective district electoral
commission through compiling additional lists on the voting day.

PRE-ELECTORAL PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN STARTS OFFICIALLY ON APRIL 8

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 8, the pre-electoral campaign
of candidates for deputacy and political forces participating by the
majoritarian and proportional electoral systems in the parliamentary
elections on May 12 started officially.

According to the Electoral Code, the pre-electoral propaganda
campaign may be conducted through the mass media, by organizing public
pre-electoral events – pre-electoral meetings and meeting with voters,
public discussions, debates, rallies, processions, demonstrations,
as well as by publishing printed materials and demonstrating recorded
programs.

Funds of pre-electoral foundations only may be used for conducting
the pre-electoral propaganda campaign. The candidate and the party
or bloc have the right to spend sums not exceeding 5 mln drams (about
14 thousand USD) and 60 mln drams respectively.

During the pre-eelctoral campaign, candidates are forbidden to give
(promise) money, food, securities, goods or provide (promise) services
to citizens by person or in some other way.

With the aim of organizing meetings with voters and other
elections-related events, halls and other facilities are provided to
candidates and parties participating in elections on equal bases –
free of charge.

The parties and the bloc participating in the elections have the right
to use paid and free public radio and TV time on equal conditions – by
the order and schedule determined by the Central Electoral Commission –
from April 10 to May 10. The candidates and political forces may also
use time of private radio and television companies on the paid basis.

By the way, according to the latest amendments to the RA Electoral
Code, "reporters, members of the editorial staff of the public radio
and public television, other radio and TV companies, who are registered
as candidates, are forbidden to cover elections and present radio
and television programs."

The deadline of the propaganda campaign is May 10, 12 pm.

ARAM KARAPETIAN: ATTEMPTED MURDER COMMITTED AGAINST VARDAN GHUKASIAN WAS WARNING TO SOME PEOPLE IN POWER

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The armed attack on the mayor of
Gyumri Vardan Ghukasian and people accompanying him on April 2 can
be considered as a "political slaughter". Chairman of the "New Times"
party Aram Karapetian expressed this opinion during a interview to NT
corrrespondenr. In his words, this attempted murder was a "warning
to some people currently in power." In response to the question
"who are those who ordered and committed this act", A. Karapetian
said that in the given case several forces could be interested in
liquidating V. Ghukasian. According to the leader of the "New Times"
party, this might happen because of a clash of 2-3 groupings in power,
as well as a result of instructions given from "outside".

A. Karapetian said that in recent years the number of murders and
attempted murders has sharply increased in Armenia, at the same time
the crime detection rate has declined. In his opinion, this low crime
detection rate and impunity are the reasons of the current criminal
atmosphere.

Speaking about activities of the Anticriminal Movement, Aram Karapetian
noted that over the eight months of the organization’s work, the
greatest success registered has been making public the names of
criminal elements in politics and presenting facts about their criminal
activities to the RA Prosecutor General’s Office. He reminded that
among these persons are the RA minister of territorial governance
Hovik Abrahamian, the justice minister Davit Harutyunian, the head
of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobian and other officials.

NATIONAL UNITY PRETENDS ON RECEIVING AT LEAST 25-30% VOTES IN ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The forthcoming parliamentary elections
will be much more legal and fair than the previous ones. Chairman of
National Unity Party Artashes Geghamian gave assurance at the April
9 press conference. In his words, "there will be no repetition of
events of 2003 and 2005," as the people will not tolerate electoral
falsifications any longer. "We will not be able to hold back the
people any longer and if there are electoral falsifications, the
National Unity itself will call people for rising," he stated. In
A. Geghamian’s words, these elections will be decisive and the fortune
will smile upon the people.

He said that the party continues negotiating with the opposition
political forces over creating a coordinating committee controlling
legality of elections. The National Unity proposes appointing
Paruyr Hayrikian as head of the coordinating committee, as he
does not take a direct part in the electoral struggle and will be
unbiassed. A. Geghamian considers that even with confronting forces
of 2-3 parties it will be possible to quickly respond to any electoral
falsifications. In his words, some foreign forces "are looking forward"
for the elections to be falsified to use strict sanctions to Armenia
as a result of them, in particular, pressures in the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh.

Answering the question about National Unity’s pretensions in the
future parliament, A. Geghamian gave assurance that the party will
receive at least 25-30% electors’ votes. He said that by the results
of the surveys conducted in 2006 by Armenian Sociological Association,
population’s 54-57% wishes to see A. Geghamian on the post of country’s
President. In his words, he has set his team the task to provide at
least the half of this index at the parliamentary elections.

HANRAPETUTIUN WILL TAKE PART IN ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN WITH PSYCHOLOGY OF WINNER, SUREN SURENIANTS STATES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Hanrapetutiun (Republic) Party has
not reconsidered its approaches and continues considering removal of
the current regime as its first and foremost task. Suren Sureniants,
member of Party’s Political Board, stated this at the April 9 press
conference. And the forthcoming parliamentary electoral campaign,
in his words, is the plane that will show the people who are the
real oppositionists.

The Hanrapetutiun Party will take part in the preelectoral campaign
with the motto "Let’s vote for the sake of the republic." S. Sureniants
said that party’s preelectoral headquarters was formed a week ago. It
is headed by member of Political Board Smbat Ayvazian. It was mentioned
that the party has no illusions that the elections will be fair
and will do its best to make the public active and to prevent the
scenarioes of the authorities and the falsifications planned by them.

In the words of S. Sureniants, they are already preparing these
falsifications. According to information received from the regions,
through the regional governors and prefects all administrative
resources are used in favor of the Republican Party of Armenia and the
Bargavach Hayastan Party. And the electoral bribe, as S. Sureniants
mentioned, is given by the very two parties.

Irrespective of all this, in his words, Hanrapetutiun will take part
in the electoral campaign with the psychology of winner.

It was also mentioned that the party representatives will have meetings
with electors in all regions and all communities of Yerevan within
the framework of electoral struggle. The first meeting will be held
on April 12 in Yerevan’s Shengavit community.

TATUL MANASERIAN IS SURE THAT HE HAS NOT LOST HIS ELECTORATE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 09 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The forthcoming parliamentary elections
can greatly contribute to rise of Armenia’s international rating
and solution of a number of important problems. National Assembly
independent deputy Tatul Manaserian stated at the April 9 press
conference. Therefore, as he affirmed, the authorities should first of
all demand their free and fair holding. At the same time T. Manaserian
said that "the responsibility is everybody’s and everybody should
demand free and fair elections."

The candidate for deputacy nominated by civil initiative at
electoral district N 5 (Arabkir-Davitashen) by majoritarian system
said that after coming out of Ardarutiun (Justice) bloc he has
not lost his electorate, as he has constantly worked with the
electors. T. Manaserian said that the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of
Armenia and the Social-Democratic Party Hnchak, as well as a group of
representatives of intelligentsia will support him in the preelectoral
struggle.

Pointing to the example of electoral district N 4, T. Manaserian
proposed another four candidates for deputacy nominated at electoral
district N 5 also signing a memorandum, which will be aimed at
registering violations and revealing those guilty for them. He also
said that he treats his rivals with respect, he is ready to listen
to their programs to to present his program. "I am ready to organize
meetings with our electors jointly with my rivals. Moreover, I also
propose that candidates for deputacy at electoral district N 5 speak
jointly on television presenting their programs or equally divide
all expenditures on speaking on TV," the candidate for deputacy said.