Month: April 2007

ONE CANDIDATE REGISTERED BY PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM AND ONE BY MAJORITARIAN SYSTEM WITHDRAW THEIR CANDIDATURES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Koryun Grigorian taking 17th place on
the electoral roll of the Democratic Party of Armenia by proprtional
system for the upcoming parliamentary elections oficially withdrew
his candidature on April 27. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it by CEC Seretary Hamlet Abrahamian.

In his words, Ashot Avetisian registered as a candidate for deputact
by majoritarian system at Gegharkunik electoral district N 26 also
withdrew his candidature the same day. Gegham Gasparian, member of
Orinats Yerkir Party, Vice-Chairman of RA NA Control Chamber, also
withdrew his candidature the same day.

So, member of Bargavach Hayastan Party, owner of Sevan Motel hotel
complex Hrant Madatian, RPA member, founder of MG Housing LTD Melik
Gasparian and non-partisan Levon Margarian continue electoral campaign
at the electoral district N 23.

To recap, the deadline of withdrawing candidatures is May 2.

NATIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION UNION CALLS FOR NOT TAKING PART IN ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. "We call all honest citizens striving
for fair, democratic and legal Armenia for not taking part in this
falsification called "elections" or going to polling stations on
May 12, marking "against all" on ballot-papers. Paruyr Hayrikian,
Chairman of National Sel0f-Determination Union, made such an appeal
addressed to his co-thinkers on April 27. In his words, May 12 could
become a decisive stage, a new September 1 for the Armenian people, if
the whole nation united and took a step towards legal democracy. "And
as this does not happen, we should use the current oportunity with
maximum efficiency," the National Self-Determination leader said.

In P. Hayrikian’s words, they have decided "not to yield themselves to
this game." "All of us know that there will be no elections, especially
as the opposition parties yielded to temptation: one dreams fo become
an MP, another to get over 5% barrier," he said.

AS RA PRESIDENT ESTIMATES, PREELECTORAL CAMPAIGN PROCEEDS RATHER CALMLY AND IN CIVILIZED WAY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. "The preelectoral campaign proceeds
rather calmly and in a civilized way," RA President Robert Kocharian
stated at the April 27 meeting with lecturers and students of Yerevan
State University. He expressed satisfaction that political forces
taking part in the preelectoral process, with the exception of two
or three forces, refuse radical extremist slogans. "It is obvious
that our public does not admit aggressive manifestations, moods of
colored revolutions," he said.

R. Kocharian emphasized that the opposition has all possibilities
for criticism, the preelection meetings are held and there is no
obstacle by any governmental body. And if there are such, in the
President’s words, the government will immediately undertake measures
for liquidating them.

In RA President’s words, the authorities have rather good start
opportunities in the preelection campaign, and the stable economic
growth, as well as softening of social tension is a basis for this.

R. Kocharian expressed bewilderment in connection with overestimating
their abilities by political forces taking part in the electoral
campaign.

According to the statements made by those forces, in total, 380% votes
will be given in favor of them, at that, without RPA and Bargavach
Hayastan. The President said that this is done for a single purpose:
not gaining the promised percents, these forces without fail will speak
about falsified elections in the future and the issue of legitimacy
of authorities will be touched upon all the time in the five years
following the elections.

In connection with interim reports of international monitoring
missions R. Kocharian said that Armenia has objections in two issues
of principle. In particular, it is mentioned in the reports that
only representatives of parties making majority in RA parliament take
ruling posts in electoral commissions.

In the President’s words, this is not prohibited by the law. The
second objection relates to active coverage of activity of government
consisting mainly from members of RPA, including activity of RA Prime
Minister. RA President is categorically against this objection. In his
opinion, every weak the government convenes sittings on 35-40 issues
on agenda, therefore, even having some administrative resources,
its cannot take a full-value part in the preelection campaign.

PROBLEM CONNECTED WITH IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM SHOULD BE SOLVED ONLY THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, RA PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia does not wish to have neighbors
having nuclear weapons. RA President Robert Kocharian stated at his
April 27 meeting with lecturers and students of YSU. He mentioned
that the problem connected with Iran’s nuclear program should be
solved only through negotiations.

Iran leadership, in R. Kocharian’s words, assures that it does not
create nuclear weapons.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BH’S ELECTORATE HAS NOT FINALLY FORMED YET, AHARON ADIBEKIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the data of surveys
conducted by Sociometer sociological center on April 21-22,
51-56% Yerevan voters are going to take part in the parliamentary
elections. 13% of them are going to vote for the Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) and 11% for the Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
Party. Center’s head Aharon Adibekian reported at the April 27 press
conference.

A. Adibekian considers as characteristic the circumstance that
16% Bargavach Hayastan’s supporters have not oriented themselves
finally yet and have not made up their mind. This circumstance, in
A. Adibekian’s words, is conditioned by "too populist" speeches of BH
members and individual "sizes" of party head Gagik Tsarukian, which,
in sociologist’s words, do not inspire confidence to voters at all.

As A. Adibekian affirmed, the National Unity, ARFD, Zharangutiun
(Heritage) and Orinats Yerkir parties will also get over 5% barrier. He
said that 4% voters residing in Yerevan support the People’s Party.

A. Adibekian added that the data of surveys held lately by the
Populus British company in Armenia coincide with the data of
Sociometer. However, as he mentioned, representatives of political
forces discontent with these data did not respond in any way to the
work done by Populus and did not say that this company "has sold
itself" and carries out a special order, while such accusations are
often addressed to Adibekian.

To recap, according to the data of Populus’ survey publicized on
April 20, RPA would receive 31% votes and BH 27% votes.

"RICH UNCLES" HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WIN UPCOMING ELECTIONS, PSYCHOLOGIST KARINE NALCHAJIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Inspiration of political figures
will not pass to indifferent voters, as the latters already have
a negative experience of elections. Karine Nalchajian, candidate
of phsychological sciences, expressed such viewpoint at the April
27 press conference. In her words, the electorate has appeared in
"conscious disharmony," one of main reasons of which is conflict
between their position and viewpoints, statements made by politicians.

"Rich uncles" have a great opportunity to win the upcoming elections,"
K. Nalchajian stated adding that people will follow the force, be it
financial or governmental.

Touching upon the sociological surveys being conducted in the
preelectoral period, K. Nalchajian said that their results contradict
one another, which can cast doubt on honesty of sociologists. "But
indeed its reason is changeableness of voters’ moods," she said.

NEWLY APPOINTED RA DEFENCE MINISTER IS NOT GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN POLITICS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Mikayel Haroutiunian, former Head of
RA Armed Forces General Headquarters, who was appointed as RA Defence
Minister the other day, is not going to be engaged in politics and
has not thought about joining any party. The Minister stated this at
the April 27 interview to journalists.

In connection with his retiring from military service M. Haroutiunian
said that holding a political post he cannot remain a serviceman. And
in response to the question, whether he will continue holding the
same post after the parliamentary elections, the Minister promised
to answer after May 12.

M. Haroutiunian reported that for the present, Lieutenant-General
Enrico Apriamov is the Acting Head of RA Armed Forces General
Headquarters and the new head of headquarters will be appointed by the
President after May 9. In response to the question concerning possible
candidate, the Minister said that there are many well-prepared generals
who can be head of headquarters, and one of them is Seyran Ohanian.

SOLEMN OPENING OF COMBINED ENDEAVOUR – 2007 EXERCISES TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The solemn opening ceremony of
Combined Endeavour – 2007 exercises took place on April 27 at Marshal
A. Khamperiants Aviation Institute. The goal of the exercises held
within the framework of Partnership for Peace program is to test,
to indentify and to motivate by documents cooperation of united
multi-national strategic and tractical communication systems.

In the words of RA Defence Minister Mikayel Haroutiunian, holding of
such exercises is the evidence of high level of cooperation between
Armenian Defence Ministry and U.S. European Command. A number of
exercises have been held in Armenia since 2000 within the framework of
Partnership for Peace NATO program by U.S. European Command. There is
an agreement about holding new combined exercises in 2008 in Armenia.

The Minister said that the Combined Endeavour exercises held for
aready 15 years in the German city of Baumholder are held in another
country for the first time. Armenia has been taking part in these
exercises for five years and Armenian signallers have always been
highly estimated and praised. This year over 130 representatives
from Croatia, France, Russia, Georgia, U.S. and Armenia take part in
the exercises. The participants from Ukraine have not arrived due to
country’s domestic problems.

Charge d’Affaires of U.S. Anthony Godfrey said that the Partnership
for Peace program was created by NATO in 1994 for cooperating with
the countries, which enter into the stage of democracy. Starting
that period hundreds of exercises have been held in Armenia,
which contributed to establishment of close relations among their
participant-countries. Taking into consideration the success of
Partnership for Peace program, the U.S. government decided to sponsor
holding of a number of exercises every year within the framework of
the program, one of which is the Combined Endeavour. The goal of the
exercises is to make more efficient the possibility of communication
among armed forces of participant-countries.

PROGRESS NOTICED IN RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY U.S., RICHARD HOVHANNISIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Everything was done in U.S. President
George Bush’s this year’s statement on the occasion of the 92th
anniversary of Armenian Genocide except the word "genocide," usage
of which is a matter of time.

American Armenian historian, professor of State University of
California Richard Hovhannisian reported at the April 27 press
conference. As he estimated, some progress is noticed in this issue,
as the statements of the previous years were softer.

R. Hovhannisian mentioned with satisfaction that nearly 40 out of
50 U.S. states have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide,
hundreds of cities of the states also recognize it every year.

In R. Hovhannisian’s words, this time the probability of adoption of
the resolution on Armenian Genocide by U.S. Congress is larger. This,
in his words, is first of all conditioned by the circumstance that
currently democrats make majority in the Congress and many members of
the Republican Party are also for adoption of the resolution. At the
same time, R. Hovhannisian said that great pressures are exerted upon
the Congressmen, as a result of which the voting of the resolution
was postponed.

MINISTER OSKANIAN SPEAKS ON GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE IN BRUSSELS

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 10:27

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian participated in a commemorative
evening in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

The event was attended by representatives of the Belgian Parliament,
EU senior officials, Ambassadors accredited in Belgium, the European
Union and NATO, Armenian and Jewish organizations of Europe, musicians
and journalists.

Press and Information Department of RA MFA informs that the opening
speech was delivered by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee of Belgium Roelants du Vivier. The Senator, who is one
of the initiators of the resolutions on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in the European Parliament in 1987 and the Belgian Senate
in 1998, noted that the depiction of the massacres in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915 fully corresponds to the Convention on the punishment
of genocide the UN adopted in 1948. He also underlined that 92 years
after the events there are still people, a government and a state
that refuses to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Senator Roelants du
Vivier assured that he and his supporters are fighting against those
who threaten the public order of Belgium by denying the genocide. "We
are obliged to do that in memory of 1.5 million Armenians and survivors
who chose Belgium as their new motherland," said the Senator.

Turning to the attempts of Turkey to distort own history, Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian noted that for a long time we memorialized
these events by ourselves. "We were left alone because there
were two versions of history – the official and the alleged,
the acknowledged and the denied. The Ottoman Empire that fell
was succeeded by a Republic with an immaculate, almost divine,
self-image. Such murderous acts and their tolerance could not fit
within this self-definition. Minister Oskanian welcomed the speech
of those Turkish intellectual who said: "I’m neither guilty nor
responsible for what was done 90 years ago. But I feel responsible
for what can be done now."

Turning to Turkey’s policy of denial, the Minister said: "I believe
that we must distinguish between the Ottoman Empire and today’s
government of Turkey. But I must say that although that is possible
to do when speaking of the events of 1915, it becomes increasingly
difficult to do when speaking about the denial of the Turkish state
today. As Elie Wiesel said, the denial of genocide is the continuation
of genocide.

At the end of his speech Vartan Oskanian turned to future of
Armenian-Turkish relations and regional cooperation. "Today, as
the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, as the grandson
of genocide survivors, I can only say that Armenia and Turkey are
neighbors who will remain neighbors. We share a border. We can only
move forward together."