Month: July 2007

TER-PETROSYAN IS BEST CANDIDATE FOR ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT

Lragir.am
06-07-2007 15:19:57

The parties which lost the parliamentary election stand the last
chance in the upcoming few months to change the government and
enable the country to face internal and external challenges, stated
Aram Manukyan, member of the All-Armenian Movement, on July 6 at the
Pastark Club. He means the presidential election of 2008. According
to him, the parliamentary election was not a lesson for the opposition
forces which ran in the election separately, for "as the parliamentary
election is drawing nearer, they are already stirring up trouble,
they say if the opposition forces act separately from one another,
they have more possibility to win."

For Aram Manukyan and the All-Armenian Movement, the best candidate
of the united opposition is Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Today Aram Manukyan,
as well as the All-Armenian Movement, see no other candidate who is
able to unite the controversial forces. However, Aram Manukyan stated
today there are some 100 people in Armenia whose past, abilities,
fame can make them stronger than the "Robert Kocharyan-Serge
Sargsyan tandem." Aram Manukyan points to Vazgen Manukyan and
Stepan Demirchyan. "The personality is not important, the goal is
important – victory." Aram Manukyan thinks Levon Ter-Petrosyan will
succeed. He thinks the international organizations may be helpful to
the process inside Armenia if they see a real partner. At the same
time, Aram Manukyan said relying on his experience of collaboration
with international organization that they often prefer pragmatism
and stability to justice.

"BAKU WILL RISE, BUT YEREVAN WILL GO DOWN" – ARMENIAN POLITICIAN ON POSSIBLE RUSSIAN-US EXPLOITATION OF GABALA RADAR STATION

Permanent news address:
15:26 07/06/2007

If an agreement is reached on joint Russian-American exploitation of
the Gabala radar station, Azerbaijan will climb another stage in the
eyes of the United States, and Armenia will go down, deputy chair
of the Armenian National Movement Party Aram Manukyan announced at
a news conference in Yerevan.

As a REGNUM correspondent informs, according to Manukyan, if the United
States does not give up the idea of deploying its missile defense
in Czechia and Poland, it will affect Russia negatively. "Taking
into consideration that Moscow is Armenia’s major strategic partner,
it will have the same effect for Armenia," he said.

As Manukyan noted, as for other neighbors, Georgia and Turkey, their
alliance with Baku in projects isolating Armenia today is the main
foreign policy challenge in Yerevan.

Moreover, according to Manukyan, if Turkey and Azerbaijan’s actions
against Armenia are understandable, it is evident in Georgia that
Armenia is not treated as a friendly nation.

This, according to him, is stipulated by a recent statement by Robert
Kocharyan that Armenia’s joining NATO will be a step backwards for
its sovereignty. The international community believes that negative
attitude of one of South Caucasian countries towards joining European
institutions hampers tehprocess of uniting the whole region with
Europe.

Manukyan also believes that such pro-Russian direction of Armenia’s
foreign policy is not justified. Russia "caused damage" to Armenia,
and withdrawal of Russian military bases for the territory of
Samtskhe-Javakheti, mostly populated by Armenians and the base was
practically the only working place for them. At the same time, he
noted that Moscow even paid to Tbilisi for deploying its forces in
the Georgian territory. "Why is Russia not paying to Armenia for its
military base in Gyumri?" asked Aram Manukyan.

OSCE MISSION REQUESTS NKR MFA TO HELP ORGANIZE MONITORING OF THE CONTACT LINE

armradio.am
06.07.2007 17:06

The Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office has addressed a letter to NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs with the request to assisting in holding monitoring of the
contact line of the Armed Forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan near
Marzili settlement.

ArmInfo was informed from the NKR MFA Press Service that the leadership
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed willingness to help
the OSCE Mission hold monitoring from the positions of the NKR Defense
Army and provide necessary security guarantees. From the Karabakhi
side the monitoring mission will be accompanied by representatives
of NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

CHALLANGE MADE AGAINST JUDGE PRESIDING OVER CASE FILED AGAIST ZHIRAIR SEFILIAN

Noyan Tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The July 2 court hearing of the case
filed against Zhirair Sefilian, the coordinator of the non-governmental
civil initiative "In defence of the liberated territories", was
interrupted as the defensive side declared that he had submitted
a statement to Jora Vardanian, the Chairman of the Court of First
Instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities in Yerevan,
concerning the challange made against Mnatsakan Martirosian, the
judge presiding over this case, in a definitive way.

The representatives of the initiative organized an action of protest in
front of the building of the court before the beginning of the court
hearing. According to them, the case that is being heard in court is
not a criminal one at all, and Zhirair Sefilian, Vardan Malkhasian,
and Vahan Aroyan are political prisoners. Irrespective of the fact
that a great number of arms was discovered in the house of the latter,
the participants of the action of protest believe that they would not
detain Vahan Aroyan if he were not acquainted with Zhirair Sefilian.

The following hearing is set for July 6.

SEVEN BOARDING INSTITUTIONS OF CHILDREN’S CARE AND PROTECTION TO OPERATE FROM SEPTEMBER IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The status of the special schools of
Kapan Number 1, Gyumri Number 2, Vanadzor Number 2, Dilijan, and
Byureghavan for children, who are orphans and deprived of parental
care, as well as School 10 named after Petros Durian in Yerevan and
School 1 for children, who are mentally handicapped, will be changed
in the new educational year.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by Lena Hayrapetian, the Head of the Department for Family, Women’s,
and Children’s Problems of the RA Ministry of Labour and Social Issues,
these schools will operate as boarding institutions of children’s
care and protection since September.

According to Lena Hayrapetian, the decision concerning the change
of the status of the above-mentioned schools is connected with the
fact that very often children from socially unprovided families,
who have no need of special education, attend these schools.

L. Hayrapetian mentioned that children, in particular, will get
free food, prepare their lessons, and attend the nearest schools of
general education.

As for the defined holidays, they should, certainly, spend them all
with their families.

ADOPTION OF BILL MAKING AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDA IN LAWS ON "TELEVISION AND RADIO" AND "STATE DUTY" FAILS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The adoption of the legislative package
of the government, which envisaged to make amendments and addenda
in the RA valid laws on "Television and Radio" and "State Duty",
failed at the special session of the RA National Assembly held on
July 3. 63 MPs voted "for" and 2 "abstaining" for the adoption of the
bills by the second reading, whereas, in order to adopt a decision,
at least 66 MPs should have taken part in the ballot.

26 out of 91 registered MPs did not take part in the
ballot. Zharangutiun (Heritage) and Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
factions, as well as some independent MPs and members of the RPA and
ARF Dashnaktsutiun factions were among them.

Only 4 out of 16 MPs of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun faction were present
at the sitting and only two of them took part in the ballot: one of
them voted "for" the package and the other voted "abstaining". Alvard
Petrosian, a member of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun faction and Davit
Haroutiunian, a member of the RPA faction and the Chairman of the NA
Standing Committee on state-legal issues voted "abstaining" for the
package of the bills.

It should also be mentioned that the government suggested that the
activities of other broadcasting organizations should be prohibited
on the frequencies used by the Public Radio and Television company.

GOVERNMENT AGREES TO REDUCE STATE DUTY DEFINED FOR BROADCAST OF PROGRAMS OF OTHER LAUNCHING COMPANIES BY PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION COMPANY BY 10 THOUSAND DRAMS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The package of bills of the government,
which envisages to make amendments and addenda in the RA valid Laws on
"Television and Radio," and "State Duty," was discussed by the second
reading of the RA National Assembly in the July 2 special sitting. The
ballot, to all appearances, will be held on July 3.

On the above-mentioned legislative initiative the activities of
other launching organizations are prohibited on the frequencies
used by the Public Radio and Television company. In addition to
this, a state duty of 60 thousand drams (about 176 U.S. dollars)
is defined for each broadcast of radio and television programs
of other launching organizations on the frequencies used by the
patent radio and television company in the Republic of Armenia, in
difference to the 70 thousand drams defined by the first reading. In
comparison with the package of the bills adopted by the first reading,
it is additionally set in the law on "Radio and Television" that
the launching organization is entitled to broadcast television and
radio programs.

It should also be mentioned that the positions of opponents and
those who were for the adoption of the bills remained the same. The
political coalition gave assurance that the suggested amendments are
directed at the regulation of the public radio and television sphere
and cannot concern the Armenian service of the Azatutiun (Liberty)
radio station, which is broadcasting its programs on the frequencies
of the Public Radio company, as the latter is not a patent launching
organization. The opponents, that is to say Zharangutiun (Heritage)
and Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) factions, are convinced that the
legislative initiative of the government is, evidently, threatening
the further activities of the Azatutiun radio station in Armenia.

CHAIRMAN OF AZATUTIUN RADIO STATION EXPRESSES HOPE THAT RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WILL NOT ADOPT BILLS GIVING RISE TO CHALLENGES

Noyan Tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Jeffrey Gedmin, the Chairman of the
Azatutiun (Liberty) radio station, criticized the bills being discussed
in the RA National Assembly, the application of which can stop the
broadcast of the Armenian service programs of the Azatution (Liberty)
radio station by Public radio. At the same time, he expressed hope that
these bills will not be finally adopted and will not become a law. This
information was provided by the Azatutiun (Liberty) radio station.

"The target of these bills, which formally prohibit the broadcast
of any foreign programs in the Armenian language on the frequencies
of the Public Radio, are, evidently, the programs of the Armenian
service of the Azatutiun (Liberty) radio station. This will serve as a
dangerous precedent for the public mass media of all the countries of
the former Soviet Union, countries, where people have been listening
to the programs of the Azatutiun (Liberty) radio station for tens
of years in order to receive such news, which is inaccessable by the
local mass media, which is controlled by the state. I hope that the
Armenian MPs will reconsider their attitude towards these incomplete
bills," Jeffrey Gedmin said in his statement.

TURKISH COURT AGREES TO BROADEN INVESTIGATION INTO KILLING OF ETHNIC ARMENIAN JOURNALIST

AP Worldstream
Published: Jul 03, 2007

A Turkish court has decided to broaden the investigation into the
killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist to consider allegations of
official negligence in the slaying, a lawyer said early Tuesday.

After a 12-hour hearing on Monday, the court released four of the 18
suspects implicated in the killing of Hrant Dink, who was gunned down
on Jan. 19, until the resumption of the trial on Oct. 1.

The killing led to international condemnation and debate within
Turkey about free speech. Dink was hated by hardline nationalists for
describing the mass killings of Armenians early in the last century
as genocide.

The trial is taking place behind closed doors because the alleged
gunman, Ogun Samast, is a minor.

Lawyer Bahri Belen, representing Dink’s family, told reporters early
Tuesday that the court agreed to broaden the investigation.

Two of the key suspects, Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, claimed they
worked for the security forces. The alleged gunman had remained silent
during the trial.

Tuncel, who is suspected of masterminding the killing, reportedly
told the court that he was paid by police for gathering intelligence,
according to a lawyer who attended Monday’s hearing.

The court decided to ask police to provide a list of Tuncel’s
telephone calls.

Critics have accused authorities of failing to act on reports of a
plot to kill Dink, and it is unclear whether allegations that could
potentially be embarrassing for top officials will be explored in
the trial.

Hayal’s lawyer Fuat Turgut said that his client and the gunman were
"manipulated by certain forces because of their patriotic feelings."

Turkey had vowed a thorough investigation, and the governor and police
chief of the Black Sea city of Trabzon, the hometown of Samast, were
removed from office because of negligence. Some security officials
who posed for photographs with the gunman as he held a Turkish flag
were also dismissed.

There has been no evidence that directly implicates any police or
government official in the slaying of Dink outside his office, however.

Many Turks are convinced that a so-called "deep state" _ a network of
state agents or ex-officials, possibly with links to organized crime
_ periodically targets reformists and other perceived enemies in the
name of nationalism.

Dink sought to encourage reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia. But
he was prosecuted under Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, which bans
insults to Turkish identity, for his comments on the mass killings
of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: JUST TRIAL ON MURDER OF HRANT DINK WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE

Yerkir
04.07.2007 11:56

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The world press widely covers the trial on the
murder case of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of ‘Agos’ Armenian-Turkish
bilingual.

The New York Times newspaper has declared that this case will test
the rule of law in Turkey. The paper also said that the court is
not open to public because the suspects are too young. The NYT
claimed that a just trial will not be possible according to the
defense counsels because of the high interest in the case. In its
turn the French newspaper Le Monde said that the police had known
about the intentions of the murderers but that the counsels’ demand
to investigate the subject was rejected.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais asserted that the case tries the
objectiveness of the court in Turkey. The paper claimed that
there are still doubts that Turkey keeps the structure of a
‘state-within-a-state’. El Pais also remarked that the EU follows
the case closely.

A court in Istanbul, which yesterday started the trial on the murder
case of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of ‘Agos’ Armenian-Turkish
bilingual, has decided to broaden the investigation to consider
allegations of official negligence. After a 12-hour hearing, the court
released four of the 18 suspects. The judge also decided to postpone
the hearing till October 1.