Month: April 2007

EU CRIMINALISATION OF HOLOCAUST DENIAL LEAVES MANY DISSATISFIED
By Tobias Buck in Brussels

FT
April 20 2007 03:00

Denying or trivialising the Holocaust will become an offence across
the European Union as part of a new law to combat racism and xenophobia
that was backed by ministers from the 27 member states yesterday.

Germany, the current holder of the rotating Union presidency and
a champion of the proposal, hailed the agreement as an "important
political signal for the whole EU". Brigitte Zypries, the German
justice minister, said it would force member states – including her
home country – to toughen their laws against hate speech.

The proposal – which member states must transpose into law within
two years – will criminalise public incitement to violence or hatred
against ethnic, national or religious groups, as well as behaviour
condoning, denying or trivialising genocide and crimes against
humanity, provided that such statements are likely to incite hatred
or violence against a certain group.

Both crimes are supposed to carry penalties of up to three years
in jail.

Legal experts and diplomats said it was uncertain whether the
decision would force countries to overhaul their criminal codes
substantially. States such as Germany, France and Austria already
have provisions against Holocaust denial and hate speech that, in
most aspects, are much tougher than the new EU law.

In Germany, for example, the mere display of Nazi symbols like the
swastika or the wearing of Nazi uniform can be punished with up to
three years in jail.

The proposal could be more problematic for Denmark, Sweden and other
Nordic countries, which argue that freedom of speech is more important
than criminalising demagogues.

However, they will not have to look too hard to find loopholes in
the new EU law that will almost certainly allow them to leave their
current free speech laws in place untouched.

Genocide denial, for example, will be punishable only if the
statements are "carried out in a manner likely to incite to violence
or hatred". Lawyers say this is important, since most countries have
laws criminalising hate speech.

In addition, the law makes clear that it will not affect the freedom
of expression or press freedom.

Yet critics are still concerned. Daniel Simons, London-based legal
officer at Article 19, a group that advocates free speech, said
that while the caveats helped, "they merely serve to underline the
irrelevance of the Holocaust denial provision".

He said that there was a danger that states "will misapply this
and will start prosecuting people who have controversial views of
history that might offend a certain group, but that don’t actually
incite hatred".

He added: "It is not necessary to elevate historical events to dogma
in order to prevent discrimination against minorities."

For some minorities the laws are likely to be more offensive than
helpful.

Armenians, for example, will draw no comfort from the fact that
only the Holocaust and incidents of genocide that have been the
subject of UN tribunals are included in the text. This means denying
or trivialising the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman troops
starting in 1915 will not be punishable – a compromise designed not
to offend Turkey.

Laurent Leylekian, the executive director of the European
Armenian Federation, said the law showed "a great amount of
hypocrisy". Excluding Armenia’s suffering "would be a moral failure
and with this kind of position we should not be surprised if there
is a rejection of the EU in many European countries".

The Baltic countries and other eastern European states were also
unhappy.

Their governments had originally hoped to include a special reference
to Stalinist or communist crimes.

Religious groups may also have cause for complaint after the EU decided
to offer them less protection against incitement to hatred than ethnic
or national groups. As the legal text makes clear, inciting hatred
or violence against Muslims or Jews will only be punished if the
statements form a "pretext" for attacking national or ethnic groups,
for example North African migrants or Israeli citizens.

As diplomats conceded, this will mean that an appeal to kill Germans
or black people would be punished, but a call against Muslims or Jews
would not.

"HERITAGE" PARTY: WHILE IN ARENI, RAFFI HOVANNISIAN ATTEMPTED TO CALL TO ORDER "VILLAGE HEAD CONSIDERING HIMSELF LOCAL SERF-OWNER"

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Heritage" party’s candidates
for deputacy conducted a two-day electoral campaign in Vayots Dzor
and Syunik marzes.

According to a press release submitted by the party to NT, "this
tour did not pass without unplesant incidents either": in Areni the
campaign participants were met by the village head who stated that no
one has the right to conduct a propaganda campaign in Areni without
informing him 5 days in advance as he is the owner of the village.

Raffi Hovannisian made an attempt to call to order the village head
considering himself as the local serf-owner. R. Hovannisian said that
Areni is no property of anybody, it belongs to all residents of the
village, also – to the Armenian people.

VARTAN OSKANIAN ASSESSES HIS BELGRADE MEETING WITH AZERAIJANI COUNTERPART AS NORMAL

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian assessed the Belgrade meeting between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement as normal in comparison with previous meetings. "After
the meeting in Geneva I said that it was quite difficult. This one
was more normal, without tension," he said in an interview to Radio
Liberty, adding: "We focused on the issues which had not been agreed
on, but no new issue was settled."

V. Oskanian said that the OSCE Mnsk Group co-chairs decided to visit
the region and try together with the presidents to ascertain the
parties’ positions concerning their proposals. They will also try to
come to an agreement with the presidents about the date and place of
the next meeting.

IN RPA MEMBER’S WORDS, ALL POLITICAL FORCES ACT WITHIN LIMITS OF DECENCY IN THESE ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. It is obvious that during these
elections Armenia will be in the focus of international community’s
attention, but it would be better if democratic elections were held by
our own willingness and not because these elections are observed. Armen
Ashotian, member of RA National Assembly RPA faction, expressed such
opinion at the April 19 press conference.

In his words, there is a danger that the future parliament will be
the mirror reflection of the complementary principle of country’s
foreign policy. A. Ashotian said that both pro-Russian and pro-Western
political forces have rather great electorate and if any of these
forces makes majority, "we can have a parliament serving the interests
of this or that state."

In A. Ashotian’s words, all political forces taking part in the
parliamentary elections act within the limits of decency during the
electoral campaign.

In his words, some attempts to destabilize the situation did not manage
to damage the atmosphere of political restraint and tolerance. Besides,
in his words, they untimely criticized the pro-governmental forces
so much that there is nothing to say any more and the anti-agitation
resource is exhausted.

In his opinion, media are mainly unbiassed and balanced when
covering the elections. At the same time, A. Ashotian said that
according to the results of sociological surveys, more than the half
of country’s population keeps up with the agitation campaign, which
means that people will be able to make a realized choice. He called
for electing the forces that do not give many promises in order not
to be disappointed if they are elected.

AS OF APRIL 18, 2 MLN 318 THOUSAND CITIZENS INCLUDED IN PRELIMINARY ELECTORAL ROLLS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. As of April 18, 2 mln 318 thousand
493 citizens are included in the preliminary electoral rolls of
parliamentary elections. Reporting this at the April 19 meeting
with journalists, Colonel Alvina Zakarian, Head of Passport and Visa
Department of RA Police, also said that two weaks ago this number was
more by 10 thousand 254 and was reduced as a result of correction of
electoral rolls.

In A. Zakarian’s words, 41 electoral districts, 1916 polling stations
will operate in Armenia.

It was also mentioned that during one weak the hot line operating
in the department in connection with incorrect data in electoral
rolls received 77 signals, due to which they made the necessary
corrections. In A. Zakarian’s words, corrections are also made on
the basis of publications in press.

She said that they also studied and set going the large application
of Orinats Yerkir Party Chairman Artur Baghdasarian. In A. Zakarian’s
words, incorrect data among those mentioned by the applicant were few,
as A. Baghdasarian used not the preliminary electoral rolls published
on April 2, but the lists of electors of referendum on constitutional
amendments. A. Zakarian also said that A. Baghdasarian sent a new
list of incorrect data two days ago.

A. Zakarian also said that the so-called "not existing buildings"
in electoral rolls are indeed mentioned by the old names of renamed
streets. So, the department applied to Yerevan Mayor and RA Territorial
Government Ministry asking to give electoral commissions the old and
new names of renamed streets.

SEVEN ARMENIAN HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENTS ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE PROTECTION REGISTER

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has become a UNESCO member in
1995, and two Armenian medieval great monuments, the Sanahin monastic
complex, Haghpat monastery as well as the Sanahin bridge were already
in 1996 involved in the list of the World Cultural Heritage of that
international authoritative organization. Gagik Gyurjian, the RA
Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Issues stated about it in the
interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent.

In his words, 7 Armenian historic-cultural monuments are under the
patronage of that powerful structure at present. The Geghardavank
with its whole natural landscape was involved in the UNESCO World
Heritage register in 2000. The Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral and the city
of Etchmiadzin with its churches were also involved in 2002. Later,
the Zvartnots temple was added to the group of those monuments.

G. Gyurjian also stated that the UNESCO experts and Armenian
specialists study at the moment other 10 Armenian monuments. "The
next to be involved in that list is Noravank. Members of the UNESCO
Committee arrived in Armenia recently visited Noravank but the
registration was delayed for some unevennesses," the Deputy Minister
stated.

G. Gyurjian also mentioned that joining the UNESCO, Armenia joined
all conventions of that structure, undertook obligations of keeping
and protection of cultural values. In his words, security of keeping
other peoples’ historic-cultural monuments is characteristic among
them. "In this sense our country presented the Persian Blue mosque
in Yerevan to the UNESCO Committe. This cultural monument will also
be presented to the UNESCO Committee in future for being involved in
the world heritage register," G. Gyurjian emphasized.

In the Deputy Minister’s words, the Iran population also did a
similar interesting and model work: they presented that international
organization the Surb (Saint) Tade monastery situated in the territory
of Iran, which, by the way, was restored by their financial resources.

EXCHANGE OF FIRE IN PLACE OF YEREVAN CALLED "VSTRECH"

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. An exchange of fire took place among
unknown people in the place called "Vstrech," near the Yerevan railway
station, on April 19. There are no victims, and information about
those injured is being defined. It is only known that a child was
injured from broken glasses in the consequence of the event.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by Sona Truzian, the Press Secretary of the
RA Prosecutor General, a criminal action was brought on the occasion
of the happened, based on Part 4, Article 258 of the RA Criminal Code.

COMMITTEE COORDINATING PUBLIC SERVICES GETS OUT OF ITS COMMISSIONS, RA OMBUDSMAN FINDS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ombudsman finds that the
RA Committee Coordinating Public Services, providing the necessity
of its making a decision on giving advance phone cards for public
movable mobile communication by protection of public profit and
national security interests, "came out of the coordinating functions
preserved for it by the law." This is said in the April 18 information
message of the Information and Public Relations Department of the RA
Ombudsman’s staff.

To recap, according to the mentioned decision, existence of a written
contract is necessary for getting advance phone cards of mobile
communication. Copy of a document affirming the identity must be
attached to the contract.

"If definition of a similar order is really necessary in the sense
of public interest and national security, the problem must be solved
by the law, but not by the Committee decision," is mentioned in
the message.

MINISTER OSKANIAN MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SERBIA

ArmRadio.am
20.04.2007 10:20

On April 19 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with the President
of Serbia Boris Tadich.

Greeting the guest, the Serbian President turned to the historic
ties, cultural links and friendly attitude existing between the two
peoples. Reference was made to bilateral relations, the opportunities
for cooperation in the current stage. The parties emphasized the
experience of productive cooperation within international organizations
and stressed the importance of continuing it.

For his part, Minister Oskanian assured that Armenia is willing to
deepen bilateral relations in all fields. The Minister also spoke about
the perspectives of cooperation within international organizations.

Later the parties exchanged views on international issues. The
President of Serbia presented the position of his country on the Kosovo
issue and asked to present the peculiarities of the process of peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Noting that Armenia is closely
watching the developments around Kosovo, Mr. Oskanian presented some
details of his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LATVIAN FM TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
20.04.2007 11:00

The Foreign Minister of Latvia Artis Pabriks arrived in Armenia on
April 19.

During the visit the Minister is scheduled to meet with the President
of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanain
and NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan.

During the stay in Yerevan the Latvian delegation will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath of flowers at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims.

They will plant a tree and will visit the Genocide Museum-Institute.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress