Month: April 2007

CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF TO BE APPOINTED AFTER MAY 9

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 11:48

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia will be
appointed after May 9, RA Defense Minister Mikhael Harutyunyan told
the reporters today.

In the Minister’s words, before that the duties are carried out by
Enriko Apriamov, the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the
Armed Forces of Armenia. Mikhael Harutyunyan also noted that there
are many deserving Generals in the Armed Forces, who can occupy the
position of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The
Minister did not rule out that NKR Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan
may be appointed to the position.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USAID SUPPORTED OFFICE OPENING AND HEATING SYSTEM PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT THE STATE TAX SERVICE

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 12:42

The State Tax Service (STS) and the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) Armenia Mission held an
"Office Opening and Heating System Presentation Ceremony" at the STS
Headquarters. The event celebrated the co-location of the USAID/Armenia
Tax Improvement Project (ATIP) within the offices of STS. The Opening
Ceremony also marked the completion of the USAID-funded renovation
and equipping of the STS headquarters’ main conference/training hall,
adjacent offices and facilities, and installation of a new heating
system.

The event also marked the completion of significant upgrades to the STS
headquarters. The remodeling of the office space and conference hall
cost $58,267. In addition, a new heating system will benefit all the
STS employees in the building, and represents a major improvement in
working conditions for STS employees. Of the new heating system’s total
cost of $84,736, USAID funded 79 percent and the STS funded 21 percent.

The Ceremony was attended by STS and USAID officials, including
Mr. Felix Tsolakyan, Head of STS, Mr. Armen Alaverdyan and Mr. Rubik
Kocharyan, STS Deputy Heads, as well as Mr. Robin Phillips, Acting
Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Mr. Karl Fickenscher,
Acting USAID Mission Director, and Mr. Rolf Anderson, USAID’s Economic
Growth Office Director. Media representatives and other stakeholders
were also present at the Ceremony.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ION ILIESCU: ROMANIA STANDS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 13:45

Ex-President of Romania Ion Iliescu declared at a press conference
in Baku that Romania has always backed the peaceful settlement of
all international conflicts.

"There are many conflicts in the region, for example those of Nagorno
Karabakh, the conflict between Abkhazia and Georgia and others,"
noted Iliescu, adding that the international community should help
all these countries resolve the conflicts. "For this purpose it is
very important to take into consideration the economic and social
development of the countries, the political relations and the influence
of the international community on these factors," the ex-President
of Romania said.

SERGE SARGSYAN: GEORGIA IS A VERY IMPORTANT COUNTRY FOR US

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 14:42

Georgia is a very important country for us, RA Prime Minister Serge
Sargsyan declared in an interview with the Russian "Nezavisimaya
Gazeta" newspaper.

In his words, the relations between Armenia and Georgia cannot be
called complex. For Armenia it is the only outlet to external world,
the republic receives most part of cargoes through Georgia.

"Any negative change in Georgia is pregnant with consequences for us.

Certainly, we are interested in developing relations. I think that
will be the case. If, let’s say, the Georgian authorities decide to
join the NATO, we shall respect this decision, hoping that it will
not affect Armenia’s security and will not have a negative influence
on Armenian-Georgian relations," Serge Sargsyan underlined.

‘JOINT ENDEVOUR – 2007’ MANOEUVRES ARE AIMED AT DEEPENING EFFICIENCY OF COOPERATION BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS: AMERICAN DIPLOMAT

Arminfo Agency
2007-04-27 10:33:00

The "Joint Endevour – 2007" manoeuvres are aimed at deepening
the efficiency of cooperation between the participants, US Charge
d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey said at today’s opening of the manoeuvres.

To recall, the manoeuvres are being held in Armenia on the base of
the Military Aviation Institute After Khamperyants and will last
till May 10. A total 130 representatives from 6 countries take part
in the manoeuvres. Having thanked the Defense Ministry of Armenia for
organization of manoeuvres, A. Godfrey recalled that the initiative of
the "partnership for Peace" was created in 1994 for joining up of the
countries, which follow the democracy way. He said that taking into
account the success of the initiative, the US authorities decided to
deepen more the cooperation and, thus, to hold annual manoeuvres.

The "Joint Endevour" is one of them. A. Godfrey has thanked the
Armenian party not only for the consent to hold the manoeuvres but
for their excellent preparing. As he said, the participants will be
enabled to get acquainted with Armenia. "Armenia is a very beautiful
country with benevolent people", he said. To note, the manoeuvres
are held in Armenia and Germany in parallel.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEMOCRACY IN POST-SOVIET SPACE AND ELECTIONS IN KARABAKH
Naira Hayrumyan

KarabakhOpen
27-04-2007 11:12:09

Boris Yeltzin died, and the signs of democracy vanished from
the post-Soviet space together with him. On these days many say
under Yeltzin Russia for the first time breathed in the air of
freedom. However, it appeared in a non-free atmosphere again before
it could take the second breath.

"The inflow of money from abroad grows, which is used for direct
interference with out internal affairs," said the Russian president
Vladimir Putin in his annual address on April 26, whose office was
marked by re-registration and proscription of NGOs financed from
abroad.

And a few days ago an Armenian newspaper revealed the wiretapped talk
of the leader of the opposition Orinats Yerkir Party. Strangely,
the accent was not on the fact that in a free country the talks of
persons are wiretapped but on the fact that the leader of the party
Arthur Baghdasaryan called the official of the British embassy to
attend to irregularities in the election more actively. The impression
is that you are under surveillance. The feeling that everything is
"under control" may make anyone become a dissident.

In Karabakh the nomination of candidates continues. The initiative
groups of Bako Sahakyan, head of the National Security Service, the
professor of Artsakh State Vania Avanesyan and the first secretary
of the Communist Party Hrant Melkumyan were registered.

At least another nomination is expected – the deputy minister of
foreign affairs Masis Mayilyan. There are rumors that the majority
Democratic Party will name Ashot Ghulyan, speaker of the National
Assembly. Besides, the former assistant commander of rear Armen
Abgaryan is also pointed to.

We talked to many people who are not indifferent who will be ruling
the country over the upcoming 5 years. Without mentioning the
candidates, most people says the country needs someone who would be
able to keep the internal affairs under control and tackle diplomatic
problems. Almost none of the people we talked to said the president
should establish the rule of law in the country.

Perhaps people are tired of endless assertions about equal
opportunities for everyone, and no longer believe in a country
of law. However, since stability, security and human rights are
necessary to everyone, people are looking for someone who would
guarantee their rights.

One of them compared with some countries where there are problems
with legality – Kadirov, Ahmadinejad… It is known that the idea of
a strong fist was preferred there.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION POLITICIAN ACCUSES EUROPE OF DOUBLE STANDARDS

Arminfo
26 Apr 07

Yerevan, 26 April: "In connection with the Karabakh issue, the European
states are apparently interested in having an Armenian regime not
elected by the people in order to dictate their will. This is exactly
why they are turning a blind eye to the anti-democratic nature of the
incumbent regime in our country," Grigor Harutyunyan, the secretary
of the People’s Party of Armenia and a member of the National Assembly
[parliament], has told Arminfo.

Underscoring that it was his personal opinion, Harutyunyan asked
how democratic states can have relations with the illegitimate
leadership of Armenia. "For example, the USA has not invited Robert
Kocharyan a single time after the 2003 elections, and I am sure that
it is directly connected with the fraud that occurred [during the
elections]," Harutyunyan said.

He said that inconsistency is apparent in the European organizations’
activities when evaluating the fulfilment of Armenia’s commitments
to the Council of Europe.

"When human rights are violated in other countries, tough measures,
including sanctions, are imposed. In the case of Armenia, the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed several
resolutions containing demands to allow the independent A1+ TV company
to broadcast, but all the international organizations are turning a
blind eye to the Armenian authorities’ failure to comply with these
demands. Therefore, I have to believe that the European organizations
apply double standards with the aim of pursuing their interests in
the region," he said.

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DECLINES TO COMMENT ON RUSSIA’S MORATORIUM DECISION

Arminfo
27 Apr 07

Yerevan, 27 April: Armenian Defence Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan
has not commented yet on yesterday’s statement by Russian President
Vladimir Putin about a moratorium on compliance with the Conventional
Forces in Europe Treaty.

Harutyunyan refused to comment on the statement and told reporters
today that Armenia must fully examine the issue and make conclusions
afterwards. "We are strategic partners. We will consult the Russian
side on the issue, and will give an answer after that," he said.

US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA EXPLAINS NEW AMENDMENTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

Arminfo
26 Apr 07

Yerevan, 26 April: The US policy on Nagornyy Karabakh has not
changed. The US supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and thinks that the future status of Nagornyy Karabakh should be
determined through talks between the parties, Taguhi Jahukyan, the
press assistant of the US embassy in Yerevan, told Arminfo when
commenting on the amendments made for the second time to the US
Department of State report.

Jahukyan said that the content of the report had mistakenly created
grounds to conclude that there have been changes in the US policy
on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. "This caused our concerns. That’s
why we explained the content of the report to avoid misunderstanding.

Unfortunately, our efforts aimed at clarification resulted in further
distortion of the fact, and wrong perception, incorrect assumptions and
irresponsible speculations both in Armenia and Azerbaijan. We restored
the initial text. The US policy has not changed. Our mediatory role
in the OSCE Minsk Group has not changed either. Our active efforts
aimed at peaceful settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict via
negotiations have not changed either. We plan to continue those steps
and urge the governments of the countries to do the same, and public
to support us in that work," Jahukyan said.

SPIELBERG LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST GENOCIDES THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.04.2007 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation is expanding
beyond the Holocaust to document survivor memories from other
atrocities, USA TODAY reports.

After collecting 52,000 interviews, the filmmaker’s unprecedented
effort to record the stories of those who survived Nazi persecution
during World War II is now applying the mantra "Never forget" to more
recent acts of genocide and oppression.

"Now we ask ourselves: How do we make this vision a priority in
communities all across the world?" Spielberg said.

The announcement came Monday night at a benefit dinner featuring
Spielberg and other leaders from the Shoah organization, attended by
hundreds of Hollywood power brokers.

"Our work on the Holocaust will continue. But we plan to join it
now to work with others around the world," said Douglas Greenberg,
executive director of the Shoah Foundation Institute at the University
of Southern California.

"Our commitment is to combat (violence and racism) wherever and
however we can – no matter who the victims are."

Greenberg said the Shoah group has begun early discussions to enact
similar programs focusing on genocide in Rwanda and Cambodia as well
as stories of life under apartheid in South Africa.

"The obligation to remember is a moral responsibility that all of
us owe to all of those who have suffered violence and racism in the
modern world, whether they are Jews or Armenians or Cambodians or
Rwandans or Darfuris," Greenberg said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress