Month: April 2007

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL AIDE NAMES FAVOURITES IN PARLIAMENTARY RACE

Arminfo
9 Apr 07

Yerevan, 9 April: Armenian president’s aide on national security
Garnik Isagulyan has named four political parties of the country,
which, according to him, will be the most successful in the 12 May
parliamentary election.

Speaking at a round table discussion in the Azdak Club, he said that
the political parties which had succeeded to engage their offices
throughout the entire country within the past four years have the best
chances in the forthcoming parliamentary election. Isagulyan named
the Prosperous Armenia party, the Republican Party of Armenia, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun, and the National
Unity party. He said that the first two parties are the favourites of
the election. He also advised the opposition not to exaggerate and
make statements saying that 70 per cent of the country’s population
has a negative position against the incumbent authorities. "Any opinion
poll, including the most superficial ones, in any place of the country
indicated that the ratings of the president and political forces he
backs are much higher than those of other political forces. Therefore,
building election campaigns on such statements alone is nothing but
an effort to justify one’s own helplessness and inevitable defeat,"
Isagulyan said.

He also pointed out that in any country and in any election, minor
irregularities during the vote cannot be completely ruled out. However,
the Armenian authorities have done and continue to do everything
to ensure a free and fair election, especially that hundreds of
international observers will monitor the election, he said.

FAIR POLL ONLY CHANCE TO AVOID INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE – ARMENIAN POLITICIAN

Mediamax news agency
9 Apr 07

Yerevan, 9 April: The opposition National Unity Party (NUP) is going
to receive 28-38 per cent of votes during the upcoming Armenian
parliamentary election on 12 May, NUP leader Artashes Geghamyan said
in Yerevan today.

"If the election results are falsified, we will urge the people to
protect their votes," he said.

"External forces are hoping for irregularities during the election
to enable them to impose sanctions and exert pressure on Armenia in
relation to a Karabakh settlement. That is why holding a legal and
fair election is the only and last chance for Armenia," Geghamyan said.

The NUP leader today presented his programme on resolving crises. It
is aimed at working out and launching numerous national projects in
the spheres of economy, education, affordable housing and healthcare.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

12 % OF TURKEY’S POPULATION SAYS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS HISTORICALLY PROVED FACT

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 14:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An overwhelming majority of Turks oppose the Armenian
Genocide Resolution currently pending in the U.S. Senate and House
of Representatives, as well as another resolution, which demands
from Turkey to normalize its relations with neighboring Armenia,
Zaman reports. The poll, recently conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow,
revealed, that if the U.S. Congress approves the Genocide Resolution,
83 percent of respondents would oppose or strongly oppose Turkey
assisting the United States in Iraq. Almost four-fifths of Turks favor
strong action by the Turkish government if the Genocide Resolution
is passed, including suspension of diplomatic relations.

Asked why the U.S. Congress would approve the Resolution on the
Genocide, 42 percent of the respondents cited anti-Muslim feelings
in the U.S. and some 31 percent said it was due to domestic politics
in the United States. Another 12 percent said the "Armenian Genocide"
was a proven historical fact.

If the U.S. Congress approves the Armenian Genocide Resolution, 78
percent said they would boycott American products, vote for candidates
that oppose the United States or demonstrate. Only 11 percent said
they would take no action. On relations with Armenia, 73 percent said
they think the passage of the resolution would worsen relations between
Turkey and Armenia. 84 percent of those who now have a very favorable
opinion of the U.S. would change their opinion for the worse. The
poll was conducted among 1200 people in 15 provinces of Turkey.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: WAY FOR REPENTANCE DEMANDS COURAGE, BUT A FEW ARE CAPABLE OF THAT

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 15:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian State Duma Deputy Sergey Shishkarev ("United
Russia" fraction) addressed to the Armenian nation in connection with
the coming 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey.

According to the Russia based "Yerkramas" Armenian newspaper, in
particularly the Deputy says, "Dear friends! On April 24 the humanity
is bowing down before victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

Almost a century separates us from that tragedy, but such wounds do
not heal soon. The way of repentance and reconciliation demands a
lot of courage from politicians, but a few of them are capable of that.

Disputes in Turkey himself and the European Union if to recognize or
not the fact of Genocide, proves that.

Unfortunately, the situation in the Caucasus again arouses anxiety. The
military conflict that may lead the current opposition between Iran
and the United States, is capable to provoke a catastrophe. Powerful
and independent Iran allows to keep the balance of interests of
regional superpowers, including those, which have common borders with
Armenia. But if a war breaks out, this balance will be upset. And
you and I imagine the possible consequences.

Russia is strongly for keeping peace near our southern borders, peace
near borders of Armenia and other South Caucasian states. Enough
blood. We call on wisdom and prudence not only of political leaders,
but also nations: after all in all wars first of all ordinary people
suffer loses and pain.

"Bowing down before victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey, I think, first of all, about the world for each of us, the
world for our children, the world for our near and remote neighbors
on the planet.

I believe those, whose memory we are honoring today, dreamed exactly
of peace."

53 NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS CALL ON ARMENIA AND TURKEY FOR RECONCILIATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 15:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity has published
a call that urges Armenia and Turkey for reconciliation, undersigned
by 53 Nobel Prize winners. Executive Director of the Foundation David
Phillips was the initiator of this action, who earlier coordinated
works of Armenia-Turkey Reconciliation Committee. David Phillips told
RFE/RL that the Nobel Prize winners call on the Turkish government to
end up with discrimination towards national and religious minorities
and cancel Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which supposes
criminal punishment for "insulting Turkishness". Nobel Prize winners
call on Armenia to "give opportunity for holding free and fair
elections, as well as respect human rights". Alongside they urge
Turkey to open borders with neighboring Armenia, speed up mutual
contacts and establish full diplomatic relations. They offer to use
legal approach for settling the problem of recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, at the same time underlining that the UN Convention on
genocide has never had retroaction, and consequently, cannot "be used
as a base for compensations or territorial claims". "There exists
a huge gap among Turks and Armenians in the issue of realizing the
Armenian Genocide. In order to settle the problem we turn to legal
examination of UN Convention on preventing and punishing genocide
crimes, which contains conclusions of scientists who have studied
fact of genocide. In particular, the Convention says, "events at
the beginning of the 20th century contain all elements of Genocide,
approved by the convention," the document underscores.

ALMOST 2/3 OF TURKS OPPOSE ERDOGAN’S ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 16:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ While in Turkey approaches the presidential marathon,
the start of which is scheduled for April 16 and which will decide
who will become the new head of the country with a 7-year term, grows
on the political tension. On the eve of elections local NGOs on April
14 are planing to hold a rally in Ankara in support for democracy. In
its turn opposition threatens by turning to the Constitutional Court
if during the first stage of presidential elections a constitutional
majority is not formed in the parliament, where the voting will
be held.

During the first two stages of elections at least 367 MPs of
550-member parliament must be present, which makes the constitutional
majority. Otherwise the voting will be declared invalid. The ruling
Justice and Development party has 354 mandates, that’s why it cannot
independently form a constitutional representation in the legislative
body. The National Republican Party has 153, right-central Party of
Homeland – 19 mandates. Also there are 10 independent and 7 MPs from
other parties in the Turkish Majlis.

Besides there are 7 vacant seats in the parliament and Speaker
Bulent Arinc, who is from the ruling party, does not participate in
the voting.

Latest polls show that almost two-third of Turkish citizens are against
Erdogan’s election as the president of the country. 71.2 percent
said they are sure Erdogan must not nominate for the presidential
post. Only 23.6 percent of respondents supported the Prime Minister,
Cumhuriyet newspaper informs analyzing the results of a poll conducting
by Sonar among 1 659 people in 14 large provinces of Turkey, RIA
"Novosti" reports.

Turkey will elect his 11th president in April. Only twice Turkish
MPs have been able to elect the next president unanimously, when
the founder of modern Turkish State Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his
successor Ismet Inonu headed the country. Most often presidents have
been elected during the third stage. The last three presidents Turgut
Ozal, Suleyman Demirel and Ahmed Necdet Sezer, whose term will be
over in a few months, have been elected exactly this way.

ARMENIAN HISTORIAN THINKS, "TURKEY MADE A STEP TOWARDS ARMENIA"

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Many Armenians had not grasped the significance of
the re-opening of the Akhtamar Island Armenian Church on March 29,"
historian Ara Sarafian stated. He said, Akhtamar Church re-opening
became an important "peace-offering" from Turkey. According to
Sarafian, the restoration of the Holy Church Church represents a clear
response to the many accusations of "cultural genocide" lodged by the
Armenian community outside of Turkey. "The opening up of the church had
caused surprise in the Armenian community," he added, Hurriyet reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHOUSHI LIBERATION TO TAKE PLACE IN ARMENIA AND KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the end of April and beginning of May a number
of events will be held in Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Shoushi liberation. On May 7 the
premiere of director Arman Manaryan’s animated cartoon film "Sasountsi
David" will be held in Shoushi movie theatre. The cartoon is shot
based on the well-known Armenian epos. The same day Shoushi will
host "Golden Apricot" international film festival. Another premiere
awaits pupils of Armenia and Artsakh: Armenian Public Television will
broadcast film "Our Shoushi".

In the evening of May 8 video projection and presentation of the new
general layout of the town will be showed on the walls of Shoushi
fortress. The plan has been worked out by SEMA Associates (U.S.A.).

Also other videos will be projected on the walls of the fortress,
and the new anthem of the town will be performed live. A 15- salvo
firework will conclude the evening.

The Center of Cultures, Crafts and Tourism will be opened on May
9, where a photo exhibition titled "Shoushi with children’s eyes"
will be held during days of festival, as well as Nagorno Karabakh’s
Informational Center for Tourism will work in Shoushi, IA Regnum
reports.

Armenia and Karabakh mark May 9 not only as the Victory Day in the
World War II, but also as the Shoushi Liberation Day, as well as the
establishment day of NKR Defense Army (since 1992). Armenian volunteer
detachments and Nagorno Karabakh Defense army liberated Shoushi May
9, 1992.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL PARTIES PUBLISH THEIR ELECTORAL PROGRAMS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 17:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The day before electoral campaign has started in
Armenia. Already today "National Unity" and "Orinats Yerkir" have
published their electoral programs. "National Unity" in the program
presents its national projects, ideology, anti-corruption policy, and
necessity of reorganization and additional reforms in such spheres of
public life, as health care, economy, education and science. "While
preparing the program we took into account Russia’s experience in
working out National Projects, US’s experience in overcoming the
Great Depression, as well as Germany’s experience," leader of party
Artashes Geghamyan stated.

The main political task for "Orinats Yerkir" in foreign policy
is membership and consistent deepening of relations with European
structures, leader of party and ex-Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan stated
on Monday speaking on the presentation of his party’s electoral
program. He underlined that "Orinats Yerkir" considers consistent
deepening of relations with European structures as a goal for EU
membership. At the same time he stressed the party accentuates
deepening of relations but not membership to NATO.

As other priorities for foreign policy Arthur Baghdasaryan underlined
the development of bilateral ties with Russia, deepening of relations
with the U.S., peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, "Novosti Armenia" reports.

GUAM PREPARES PRESENTATION OF ITS POLICY IN EUROPE AND U.S.

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 17:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ This autumn GUAM is going to organize a round table
in the United States having the goal to present opportunities of the
organization, Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister and GUAM Sec.

Gen. Valeri Chechelashvili stated. "With the goal of presenting GUAM’s
opportunities as a regional organization the round table will be
held with the participation of American experts," he underlined. The
Secretary General stressed that GUAM is not going to limit only with
US’s presence. "We are going organize similar events with the European
Union in Brussels," he said Trend reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress