Month: April 2007

HANRAPETUTYUN OFFERS BARGAIN

A1+
[06:08 pm] 23 April, 2007

Today the "Hanrapetutyun" Party offered the RoA acting authorities
to conclude a bargain on the eve of the parliamentary elections.

"Let them enjoy 2000 votes as a start and stop administrative
pressures, various "charities" and reconsider the airtime of the
election campaign," Smbat Ayvazyan, the member of board of the
"Hanrapetutyun" Party and head of the party’s pre-election headquarters
claims.

Smbat Ayvazyan is convinced that even in these conditions the
authorities will enjoy 10-15 % votes and the opposition will become
the winner.

"Over 1 million 200 thousand people live in Armenia today. We are aware
of the numbers as we do our own calculations. 700 – 800 thousand people
participate in the elections in best cases. If the number exceeds,
we can speak of election stuffing.

Smbat Ayvazyan and Suren Surenyants, members of the "Hanrapetutyun"
Party are convinced that the pre-election scene won’t change as
"the upcoming elections are already under question."

According to Mr. Surenyants, the passports of the servicemen are
being collected in military regiments.

The servicemen are told not to participate in the elections as their
votes will go in favor of the "Hanrapetutyun" Party.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGY PETROSSIAN’S COMMENTARY ON NKR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

A1+
[06:10 pm] 23 April, 2007

Mr. Minister, how will you comment the statement of the CE Committee of
Ministers, Foreign Minister of San Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi concerning
the information that the forthcoming elections in Nagorno Karabakh
cannot create favorable conditions for the conflict settlement since
they predetermine the region’s status?

The statement of the Chairman of the CE Committee of Ministers denotes
once more that the European officials of even such high level are
poorly aware of the Karabakh conflict’s essence and process.

Representatives of different European structures try to compensate
this gap by using stereotyped answers, as Foreign Minister of San
Marino Fiorenzo Stolfi did.

However, similar standard approach to the Karabakh problem as a whole,
and the process of civil society building in the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in particular, which has recently become established in the
international structures is counterproductive and dangerous. The
indulgence to the caprices of the Azerbaijani side, which is more
often demonstrated by the European officials, can be perceived as an
attempt to bring Nagorno Karabakh back to the past. In connection with
this, I would like to remind Mr. Fiorenzo Stolfi that any attempts
to deprive the people of Nagorno Karabakh of the right to democratic
development and civil society strengthening are condemned to failure.

Under the conditions of democracy the elections are crucial institute
of demonstrating political role of the people as the source of
power. The forthcoming presidential elections in the NKR are not
an exception. They cannot impact the Karabakh conflict settlement
process and cannot predetermine Nagorno Karabakh’s status, as their
main function is to form power through democratic mechanisms. The
NKR’s status was determined by the will of people of Nagorno Karabakh
at December 10, 1991 referendum in conformity with the norms of the
international law and the national legislation which was in force
during that period.

It should be noted that we have repeatedly invited the representatives
of various European structures to visit Nagorno Karabakh and get
acquainted with the situation on-site to overcome the stereotypes
and cliches, which have become established among European officials
regarding Nagorno Karabakh.

PROTEST ACTION IN NEW YORK

A1+
[07:13 pm] 23 April, 2007

On April 21 Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Armenian
Charity Foundation and "Vardanants Sisters and Brothers" Organisation
initiated a protest action in "Times" Square of New York. Thousands
of people participated in the rally.

The protest action was dedicated to the 92th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. It is one of the great events organized by the
U.S. Armenian communities to commemorate the victims of the great
massacre.

The U.S. senators Charles Shumer, Robert Menendes, members of the
Representatives Chamber Frank Palown, Adam Shift and Charoline Malony,
John Avans, the U.S. former Ambassador to Armenia, made speeches. They
all urged the U.S. Congress to pass a resolution reaffirming the
Genocide.

To note, a number of marches and rallies, are scheduled in the
U.S. cities on April 24, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

VARTAN OSKANYAN LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS

A1+
[07:59 pm] 23 April, 2007

RoA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian leaves for Brussels on April 25.

The RoA FM will make a speech in the Royal Conservatory of
Brussels. The event will be attended by the representatives of the
diplomatic corpses, the Armenian community and organizations operating
in Brussels.

On April 25 Vartan Oskanian meets with Peter Semneby, EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus.

On April 27-29 the Armenian Foreign Minister will participate in
"Brussels Forum-2007" and the roundtable "From Baltic Sea to the
Black Sea: New Euro-Atlantic Challenge." The forum will be attended
by the Presidents of Estonia and Lithuania, the Prime Ministers of
Belgium, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Georgia, Germany, Sweden,
Belgia and Israel, and other high-level officials.

SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN PROPOSES SIMPLE MECHANISMS

A1+
[08:43 pm] 23 April, 2007

Today Shavarsh Kocharyan, the leader of the National Democratic Party
(NDP), had a meeting with the electorate of Taperakan village.

Mr. Kocharyan dwelt on the issues related to education, irrigation
system and the gap between the rural areas and the capital. He finds
that the the current scene is inadmissible; the gaps deepens thus
putting the national security under peril.

"Very often while saying Armenia we mean only Yerevan.

All marzes must develop on equal footing. There are very simple
mechanisms to do it. For instance, rural areas should enjoy tax
privileges which will enhance production," Mr. Kocharyan says.

Provided NDP is elected, the party will give answers to many issues
which seem to be insolvable. The mechanisms proposed by the party are
as follows; "The authorities must work for the sake of the public,"
"We shall achieve everything with joint efforts."

During the meeting little boys distributed the party’s booklets and
programs to the residents.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WESTERN ARMENIA – Lost Motherland

Panorama.am
18:11 23/04/2007

Lost Motherland is documentary about the historical Armenian land,
now part of Turkey. It tells about the 12 main cities of historical
Armenia, their cultural and historical heritage. The film-makers
() have tried to look at the
history of Armenia from a different point of view.

The documentary features a detailed description of architectural
monuments, as well as the colorful peculiarities of each area.

Lost Motherland is another step to capture the historical truth of
Armenia, describing the historical past of the Armenian nation. In
the multi-aspect contents of this film you are sure to find something
dear to your heart!

RUSSIA READY TO SUPPORT FUNDING OF A NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
18:18 23/04/2007

Russia is ready to support funding of a possible construction of a
new nuclear power plant in Armenia, Sergei Kirienko, head of Rosatom
(Federal Agency on Nuclear Energy of Russia), told a joint press
conference today with the Armenian Nature Protection Minister Vardan
Aivazyan. He also said Russia is ready to share its experience in
several models of nuclear power plant projects. Kirienko said the
Armenian legislation on nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is rather
"liberal and progressive."

The Armenian ministry of energy and Rosatom earlier today signed
a protocol to set up a working committee, which will engage in
development of energy system in Armenia and deal with the Armenian
nuclear power plant.

SCREAMERS SHOWN IN FOUR COUNTRIES

Panorama.am
18:19 23/04/2007

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received today
Carla Karapetyan, producer of "Screamers," a documentary film on
genocide. Foreign ministry press services say Karapetyan confirmed that
the film is shown in Yerevan. It is also shown in Canada, France,
Lebanon and in near future in Russia and Argentina as well. The
minister underscored the fact that the film touches upon not only
the issue of the Armenian genocide but similar crimes as well.

MIKHAEL HARUTYUNYAN TO BE APPOINTED RA DEFENSE MINISTER

ArmRadio.am
24.04.2007 13:37

Head of the general Staff of the Armed Forces, Acting Defense Minister
of Armenia, Colonel-General Mikhael Harutyunyan will be appointed RA
Defense Minister, governmental sources told ArmInfo.

According to the source, tonight RA President will sign he decree
on Mikhael Harutyunyan’s appointment to the position of the Defense
Minister of Armenia.

KARABAKH CHESS PLAYER WILL TAKE PART IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

KarabakhOpen
24-04-2007 13:01:43

Yesterday the juvenile chess tournament of Armenia ended. Artsakh
chess players also took part in the championship. We learned from
the NKR Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport that in age -10
Manuel Petrosyan took the first place and will take part in the world
juvenile championship. In age 14-16 Hovik Hairapetyan took the second
place and the right to take part in the European championship.