Month: April 2007

MARCHERS IN LITTLE ARMENIA CALL FOR OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE

NBC4.TV, CA
April 24 2007

LOS ANGELES — Marchers took to the streets of Hollywood Tuesday
morning to call for official recognition of the atrocities against
Armenians in the early 1900s.

The march in Little Armenia began at 10 a.m. near Hollywood Boulevard
and North Hoba Boulevard.

The genocide is commemorated on April 24, marking the date in 1915
when the Turkish government arrested more than 200 Armenian community
leaders. More arrests and executions followed during and after World
War I.

The Republic of Turkey denies genocide was committed against Armenians.

Nearby streets are closed for Tuesday’s march. The Los Angeles Police
Department estimated the crowd at 500 people.

Other events planned for this week include a Youth Rally for
Recognition Friday at the Pasadena Armenian Center and a blood drive
Sunday at St. Mary’s Church in Pasadena. More events can be found at
this Web site.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"HERITAGE" IS SUBJECTED TO POLITICAL PRESSURE AND ATTACKS, PARTY SOURCES CLAIM

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. "Now that "Heritage" party is
strengthening its positions as a party with claims for the majority
in the future parliament, the political attacks on it are increasing,
from acts of pouring paint on its regional offices to actions of local
"authoritative persons", sometimes also officials, as well as policemen
and security service employees with the aim of intimidation. This is
said in a press release issued by the "Heritage " party. According to
the press release, "two young girls, who were distrubuting leaflets
of "Heritage" in Yerevan’s Avan community on Friday – April 20,
were also subjected to violence: four unknown men seized about 300
brochures from them in a rude way. The polive compiled a protocol
and is conducting an investigation into this incident."

"Similar incidents, which have become frequent, as well as obvious
denial of the "Heritage"’s right to put up posters and boards in
public and private places show that the atmosphere of injustice and
intimidation of the pre-electoral stage is gradually increasing. The
party will continue presenting facts about such obstacles to the
Armenian public and the observer groups. The OSCE observer mission
has beeen informed about it," the press release reads.

ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL MONUMENT PROPOSED IN SWEDEN

EasternStar News Agency, AINA
Assyrian International news Agency
April 24 2007

On 24th of April, on the 92nd anniversary of the start of the Turkish
genocide of Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks, the Left Party in Orebro,
Sweden proposed a genocide memorial monument to honor the Armenian
and Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and Syriac) residents in Orebro.

The Armenians and Assyrians form a substantial and significant
minority in Orebro and are an important part of the city’s life
and culture. Years of persecution and harassment in their native
countries have forced the Assyrians to flee, and with the genocide
as a traumatic memory, the Left Party’s genocide monument proposal
is intended to honor the communities.

The genocide monument would facilitate the dialog about the genocide
among Assyrians, Armenians and Swedish residents, and insure that
this important historical event is not forgotten. Residents of Orebro
would get a clearer picture of the Armenians and Assyrians and of
their shared genocide in 1915.

"Today there are 5000 Armenians and Assyrians living in Orebro and
it is essential that we notice their history," says Murad Artin,
a municipal commissioner in Orebro.

The proposal from the Left Party involves an artistically designed
historical monument that would convey the background of the Armenians
and Assyrians and their past of persecution and harassment.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN CASE OF VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PREELECTORAL AGITATION RA CEC TO APPLY TO COURT WITH DEMAND TO RECOGNIZE INVALID REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL FORCES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 23 sitting RA CEC
unanimously made a decision, according to which it demands from
parties, party bloc registered by proportional system and candidates
for deputacy registered by majoritarian system observing the orders
established by RA Electoral Code and CEC decisions when carrying out
electoral agitation by media. Otherwise, CEC will apply to the court
for invalidating the registration of electoral list of candidate or
political force who violated the order or preelectoral agitation.

CEC’s above mentioned decision was based on the precedent of
Marxist Party’s giving its broadcast hour on Public TV on April 14
to non-partisan deputy Tatul Manaserian registered as a candidate
for deputacy by majoritarian system.

David Hakobian, the leader of the Marxist Party of Armenia, who was
present at CEC sitting, said that "the reproof is absolutely right" and
begged CEC’s pardon. As he explained, he was anaware of the prohibition
to give broadcast hour to another candidate or party, as well as of
the fact that T. Manaserian is a candidate for deputacy. CEC took
into consideration D. Hakobian’s explanations deciding not to follow
the letter of the law in this case.

FORMER U.S. REP. DEROUNIAN DIES AT 89

The Associated Press
Kentucky.com, KY
April 24 2007

NEW YORK –Steven B. Derounian, a former judge who represented Nassau
County in Congress in the 1950s and 1960s, has died. He was 89.

Derounian died in Austin, Texas, on April 17 after suffering
complications from pneumonia, his nephew, Paul D. Derounian of New
York, said Tuesday.

Derounian, a Republican, won a seat on the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1952. He served for six terms and earned national
recognition while a member of a 1950s subcommittee that investigated
scandals in quiz shows and payola on the airwaves.

In 1968, he won a seat on the state Supreme Court on Long Island. He
retired from the bench in 1981 and moved from Garden City to Texas,
his wife’s home state.

He was born Steven Boghos Derounian in Sofia, Bulgaria, to Armenian
parents who later settled on Long Island, in Mineola.

Derounian graduated from New York University and Fordham Law School,
and went on to serve in an infantry division in Europe. He was
discharged as a captain in 1946, having earned a Purple Heart and a
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster.

Survivors include Derounian’s wife of 60 years, Emily Ann Kennard
Derounian; two daughters, Ann Banks of Lexington, Ky., and Eleanor
Derounian of Austin; and a granddaughter.

PROCESS OF FORMATION OF POLLING STATION ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS STARTS ON APRIL 23

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The process of formation of 1923
polling station electoral commissions started on April 23, 19 days
before the parliamentary elections. This process is to finish until
April 26. And on April 27, at 12:00, all polling station electoral
commissions will convene their first sittings for the purpose of
electing chairman, vice-chairman and secretary from commissions’
members. CEC Vice-Chairman Hamlet Abrahamian expressed an opinion at
the April 23 press conference that the formation stage of commissions
is the most important, as after that, starting May 1, according to the
agreement reached between the International Foundation for Electoral
Systems (IFES) and RA, again professional training of members of
polling stations electoral commissions will be held.

To recap, each of members of 41 district electoral commissions should
appoint one member in the polling station electoral commission of
the given electoral district. In difference to the previous state
elections, RA citizens of electoral age who have taken part in
professional courses of holding elections, have passed the quiz
and received qualification certificates can be members of current
electoral commissions. In H. Abrahamian’s words, over 40 thousand
citizens have received qualification certificates up to present.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLE’S FRONT PARTY NOMINATED AT ELECTORAL DISTRICT No17 INSISTS THAT HE IS PUT ON PRESSURES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

ARTASHAT, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The signboard of the Artashat
office of the People’s Front party was torn down at the night of
April 22-23. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent states from Artashat,
3 suspected were arrested on the occasion of that fact, another is
in search. People’s Front party Chairman Grisha Virabian qualified
the happened as an attack upon the office, insisting that an attempt
is made in such a way to put pressure upon him.

To recap, Chairman of the People’s Front party G. Virabian is nominated
by the majoritarian electoral system at electoral district No17
where Henrik Abrahamian, the brother of RA Minister of Territorial
Administration Hovik Abrahamian also nominated his candidature.

BARGAVACH HAYASTAN CONTENT WITH PROCESS OF AGITATION CAMPAIGN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In spite of the "unpleasant incidents"
that happened lately, the agitation campaign of Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) Party proceeds calmly and normally. Artur
Tamazian, member of Bargavach Hayastan’s Political Board, stated at
the April 23 press conference. He said that though black technologies
have been used and continue to be used against the Party, in general
they are content with the process of electoral campaign. Answering
NT correspondent’s question, what the Party opposes to those black
technologies, A. Tamazian said that mostly they do not respond them in
any way, "as the goal of authors of anti-agitation is their thinking
about finding ways of protecting themselves from this."

In response to a journalist’s observation "that another parties taking
part in the elections accuse Bargavach Hayastan of giving electoral
bribe," Aram Safarian, Party’s Spokesperson, said that both Party
leader Gagik Tsarukian and another members have repeatedly stated that
"Bargavach Hayastan will not give electoral bribe." In his words,
"this has nothing in common with the charity the Gagik Tsarukian Fund
and the Tsarukians family have been implementing for several years."

Bargavach Hayastan member Baghdasar Mherian added that the possibility
of Bargavach Hayastan’s cooperation with another political forces
will be discussed only after learning the results of elections.

ZHARANGUTIUN PARTY INTENDS TO GAIN MAJORITY OF MANDATES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. "We should hold the upcoming
parliamentary elections properly and show that the mentality of
Armenian public is based not on the striving for falsifications, but
on the truth and morals." Raffi Hovannisian, Chairman of Zharangutiun
(Heritage) Party, stated at the April 21 press conference. In his
words, the party headed by him goes to the elections with an exact
intention to gain the majority of mandates and on the basis of this
to form the government of national consent.

He warned that if the authorities again try to falsify the results
of elections, "they will incur people’s anger, which is able to turn
over mountains."

Raffi Hovannisian called for taking part in the elections and
protecting their votes by all means. "Unless we are able to protect
our right of choice, we will witness much greater flourishing of
corruption, lawlessness and arbitrariness," the leader of Zharangutiun
Party stated.
From: Baghdasarian

PRIORITY TASK OF TAX AND CUSTOMS BODIES IS UNCOMPROMISING STRUGGLE AGAINST SHADOW ECONOMY, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 23 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. During the April 23 working
consultation conducted by the Armenian president Robert Kocharian, the
results of the first quarter from the viewpoint of the state budget’s
execution and the work to be done were discussed. According to the
RA President’s press service, the RA prime minister, the minister of
finance and economy, heads of the national statistical service, the
state tax service and the state customs committee, other high-ranking
officials participated in the consultation.

R. Kocharian said that results of the first quarter show that the
indices of economic growth were higher than programmed by the state
budget. In his words, this is a positive phenomenon which has been
continuing for 7 years.

"This year is a pre-electoral one, and I see a positive tendence
that the economy and business show no concern over the pre-electoral
process and are confident that our policy of business developing will
not change, and their confidence is probably considerable. Today we
should be able to make correct decisions and set correct tasks to
tax and customs services," he noted.

The president said that he is content with the work and indices of the
first quarter, as they were fully implemented. However, according to
R. Kocharian, higher rates of economic growth allow to receive more
revenues, which will in its turn enable to pay greater attention to
social problems.

Presenting the results of the first quarter, the RA Minister of Finance
and Economy Vardan Khachatrian noted that a 11% economic growth was
registered in the 1st quarter instead of 9% growth envisaged by the
state budget, as a result of which the necessity has arisen to review
the programs.

Heads of tax and customs bodies addressed their problems and the work
to be carried out.

R. Kocharian said that there are still serious reserves and steps in
this direction should be taken. The priority task of tax and customs
bodies is an uncompronising struggle against shadow economy, and this
struggle will be efficient only if it is fair, related to everybody
and secures equal conditions for all economic entities.

Summarizing the meeting results, the Armenian president stated
that the tax and customs bodies should implement consistent work,
underlining that their tasks and activities will remain in the center
of his attention.