Month: July 2007

FAR CARRIES OUT SERIOUS AND LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
By Marieta Makarian

AZG Armenian Daily
03/07/2007

After the 1988 destructive earthquake the Fund for Armenian Relief
(FAR) was founded under the patronage of the Armenian Apostolic
Church’s East Diocese of America.

FAR in virtue of its American well-known benefactors and patriots
has realized about 260 different benevolent, humanitarian aid and
development projects in Armenia since then spending 265 M dollars.

On June 29 FAR Director’s Council and the Head of East Diocese in
USA, Archbishop Khajak Parsamian had their first meeting in the newly
repaired FAR office.

The building was named by FAR Superior in honor Gevorg Hovnanian and
his spouse Sirvard Hovnanian.

FAR Executive Director Garnik Nanagulian, member of Director’s
Council Nshan Atinizian, Head of the Armenian branch Bagrat Sargsian
and FAR Press Secretary Levon Lachikian made their speeches in FAR
press conference.

RA Prime Minister Serj Sargsian received the guests and spoke with
gratification about the accomplished works of FAR. He gave an advice
to carry out FAR projects in the provinces of Armenia, as Yerevan is
over saturated with various projects.

The delegation was also received by RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian and an agreement was reached between them to carry out a
complete development project of a village in the circle of the project
"Development of 50 villages".

The delegation, headed by Archbishop Khajak Parsamian had meetings
with RA President Robert Kocharian and representatives of different
spheres, where they had discussions on future development projects.

Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Garegin II guided the guests
to the Holy Mother Cathedral of Ejmiatsin and gave his blessings
to them.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VIMPELCOM CO. FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN IN HONOR DMITRI ZIMIN: "I AM SURE THAT "VIMPELCOM" WILL BRING WORLD HIGH LEVEL SERVICES TO ARMENIA"
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
03/07/2007

The Founder and Chairman in Honor of Vimpelcom Co. Dmitri Zimin and
Vice-Chairman of CIS Business Development Dmitri Pleskanos met the
representatives of several medias in Armenia on June 29. The General
Director of Armentel Co. Oleg Briznyuk was also present at the meeting.

"Armentel" and "Vimpelcom" are going to carry out several joint
projects in Armenia.

The representatives of "Vimpelcom" assured that they were investing
equipments of last generations in Armenia.

Dmitri Pleskanos said that the process of getting "Armentel"
was successful and also mentioned that telephone and Internet
communications are new spheres for them, as in Russia and other
countries they only provide cellular communication.

Anyway, he assured, that the company would be able to provide high
level of services in Armenia, i.e. they would install billing system
and offer new services.

Soon they will provide a new service with the help of 3G system. In
order to get the license of this service they are going to apply to
RA Public Services Regulatory Commission.

By the way, 3G system includes technologies of third generation,
which will give an opportunity to have "multimedia" mobile services,
high speed connection to Internet, video-telecommunication, video-call
and portable television.

According to Oleg Briznyuk, "Armentel" has already digitalized
telecommunication of 827 villages of Armenia, and this process
continues.

Dmitri Zimin underscored: "It’s a paradise for a company when there
is demand". He mentioned that the working conditions are positive
for "Vimpelcom" in Armenia. He announced. "I am sure that "Vipelcom"
will bring world high level of services to Armenia.

It’s planned to change "Armentel" into the best communication provider
of Armenia in 2008, Oleg Briznyuk stated.

What about Internet services, the General Director of "Armentel"
promised that the consumers would see an evident progress here in
the coming months.

The meeting was full of promises of positive perspectives. It remains
only to make them.

"SERGE SARGSYAN IS NOT GOOD AT CHESS"

A1+
[05:15 pm] 02 July, 2007

June 2 a number of NGOs moved to the National Assembly with posters
"Freedom to Armenia!" "Freedom to Robert Kocharian, Serge Sargsyan,
Tigran Torosyan and others!" The protesters were carrying a poster
of 79 deputies.

" These deputies voted for the bills. They are faceless as they
don’t have their own viewpoint," said Amalia Kostanyan, the head of
"Transparency International" Armenian Office. On reaching the NA
building, they began to whistle and shout, "People’s delegates,
shame on you!" "Freedom!"

"We are against torture and violence which are deeply rooted in
our society. The authorities started with the halt of A1+, and now
it is RFE/RL’s turn. And tomorrow they will proceed with NGOs and
newspapers," said Amalia Kostanyan.

Boris Navasardyan, the Chair of the Yerevan Press Club, is convinced
that the bills are aimed at banning RFE/RL’s transmissions. The
quality of the Public radio has improved due to RFE/RL, he pointed out.

Avetik Ishkhanyan, the Chair of the Armenian Helsinki Committee,
said the draft amendments are aimed to "silence the only electronic
media outlet not controlled by the authorities."

"The powers tending to autocracy most of all fear freedom of
speech. Radio Liberty’s scenario is A1+’s continuation and was
well-planned by the authorities.

Society does not respond adequately to the authorities’
steps. Nevertheless, autocracy is sooner or later doomed to a
collapse. The authorities should bear responsibility for their deeds.

Arthur Sakunts, the President of the Vanadzor office of Helsinki
Civil Assembly, states that Serge Sargsyan is really scared to death.

I think the draft amendments are connected with the upcoming
presidential election. And though Republicans form a majority in
the National Assembly, the prime minister seeks political concord
with other forces and exerts pressure on mass media. That is a poor
combination. Though Mr Sargsyan likes chess he is not good at it as
he feels his forthcoming defeat.

ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN WAS WELCOMED WITH LENGTHY APPLAUSE

A1+
[06:13 pm] 02 July, 2007

more images Today the presentees of First Instance Court of Kentron
and Nork-Marash Communities welcomed former commander of the Shushi
regiment, lieutenant colonel Zhirayr Sefilyan with warm applause.

To remind, Sefilyan is prosecuted for his calls of power takeover
under Article 301 of the Penal Code.

At the beginning of the trial Sefilyan’s advocate Vahe Grigoryan
presented a rejection to the judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan.

It is noteworthy that Raffi Hovannisian, the leader of the Heritage
Party, and political scientist Hmayak Hovhannisyan attended the
court session.

Raffi Hovannisian doesn’t think Zhirayr Sefilyan is guilty of any
crime. According to him, most Armenians find Sefilyan innocent.

We live in an epoch where state criminals revive. This is incoherent
to legal and democratic countries. Yet, this is the general picture
of our small country. We want to prove with our presence at the
proceedings that no citizen should be ignored. I am concerned over
each Armenian’s destiny. Due to our political support Armenian can
turn into a real country. Raffi Hovannisian pointed out that the court
should be guided with justice and facts. Sefilyan’s case obviously
has political colouring.

It is noteworthy Zhirayr Sefilyan’s friends and proponents were
present at the legal procedure.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN: THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN ILHAM ALIYEV’S BELLICOSE STATEMENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is nothing for Armenia in Ilham Aliyev’s
bellicose statements, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
told a news conference in Yerevan. Aliyev’s words can be described
as self-affirmation.

"At least, I want to believe it. Armenia adheres to a peaceful solution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Ilham Aliyev rattles the saber for internal use.

However, he forgets that under conditions of globalization his words
belong to the masses.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President said the following, "We are
approaching liberation of Karabakh. We have enough strength to defend
our lands. Azerbaijan’s position is supported by the world. Sooner
or later Karabakh will be liberated. From the military viewpoint
Azerbaijan is the strongest state in the region. No one wants
war. However, Azerbaijan is ready to take action. The sooner Armenia
understands it and quits our lands the better."

ARMENIA MAY BLOCK AZERBAIJAN’S MEMBERSHIP TO WTO

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2007 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will present its stance on Azerbaijan’s
membership to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian stated. "We will certainly make our presence
felt. One-sided restriction that Azerbaijan creates in front of Armenia
in the framework of international organizations, are unacceptable. And
I think the WTO must by all means touch upon this issue," Vartan
Oskanian said, "Novosti-Armenia" reports.

Armenia is a WTO member-state since 2003. It is necessary to gather
the absolute majority for the candidate countries to be accepted in
the World Trade Organization.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AROUND THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRONT OF COURTHOUSE WHERE HRANT DINK MURDER CASE STARTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2007 13:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Around 1000 people gathered in Beºiktaº, Istanbul
early in the morning near the courthouse, where the trial on the murder
of Hrant Dink, Armenian-Turkish ‘Agos’ bilingual editor-in-chief
started. They carried banners saying "We are all Armenians, "We are
all Dinks," and "We are all witnesses, demand justice". Those gathered
have undersigned ‘the Coordination to watch the Hrant Dink case’,
Anatolia News Agency reports. Hrant Dink’s wife, Rakel Dink saluted
them as she was going to the courthouse, while the people applauded
her. One of activists, Tores Dincoz said Hrant Dink was killed, "as
we were not strong enough. We gathered here to prevent the blackening
of truth," Dincoz said.

Yesterday eighteen suspects went on trial in Istanbul for the murder of
Hrant Dink. Since the main culprit 17-year-old Ogun Samast is a minor,
the trial is closed to the public. According to the investigation,
Ogun Samast belonged to a terrorist organization. He gunned down the
53-year-old journalist in Istanbul near the editorial house of his
‘Agos’ newspaper.

–Boundary_(ID_BI045fHpLEGJpYnss9BvMg) —

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RICHARD GIRAGOSIAN: STATUS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH IS THE ACTUAL STATE OF NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2007 14:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As times goes by chances of Azerbaijan to return
Nagorno Karabakh are decreasing.

The status of Nagorno Karabakh is the actual state of NKR,
expert-analyst from the Jane’s Research Center Richard Giragosian
stated to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. He said, the settlement
of the Kosovo conflict is very important in this regard. "Kosovo
may become a precedent for Nagorno Karabakh, since that province
will acquire independence based on the right of nations to
self-determination. Moscow and Washington have differences on
Kosovo, however their differences do not lie in the issue to
grant independence to Kosovo but in the mechanisms around it,"
he said. R. Giragosian underlined that Kosovo’s independence is an
accomplished fact. "Moscow uses his veto power in the UN Security
Council over the draft resolution, which grants Kosovo independence.

Meanwhile Washington declares that he recognizes the independence of
Kosovo even in case of Moscow’s veto.

If the principle of self-determination is applicable to Kosovo, why
it cannot be used in case of NK? Here the fact that Kosovo problem is
being settled via self-determination is very important and it gives
a subject for negotiations if the world likes it or no.

I don’t think that anyone has a ready formula, however it is necessary
to accept the realities, including the OSCE MG. And the reality is
the fact that Karabakh cannot ever become a part of Azerbaijan. I
am sure that politicians in Moscow, Washington and Paris perfectly
realize it," Richard Giragosian underscored.

AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT WANT TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT AND JUST IS BUSY WITH PROPAGANDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2007 14:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs perfectly realize
the core of the conflict, they know who is the actual side in the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. But OSCE MG indulges Azerbaijan in his
caprices, avoiding from discussions around this issue," NKR President
Arkadi Ghukassian stated in his speech entitled "Nagorno Karabakh:
perspectives of settlement" at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
University. He said, the current format of talks does not have
perspectives, which is fraught with a rise of stalemate situation in
the settlement process.

As the NKR President stated, Baku is trying to urge the international
community that only Armenia and Azerbaijan are the conflicting parties,
accusing the Armenian side of territorial claims. As a way out from
this situation Arkadi Ghukassian indicates that representatives of
NKR must return to the negotiation process, which actually the OSCE
MG must do.

"Azerbaijan does not want to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and only is busy with propaganda.

And just because of this fact Baku prefers to negotiate with Armenia
without NKR," A. Ghukassian underscored.

COE SEC. GEN. WELCOMES VISITS OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI INTELLECTUALS TO STEPANAKERT, YEREVAN AND BAKU

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2007 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I welcome the joint visit of representatives
from Armenian and Azerbaijani intelligentsia to the conflict zone,"
Secretary of General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis stated.

He said, he welcomes contacts and exchanges on the level of
civil society as one of the shortest ways to restore confidence
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, "Who else but the representatives of
intelligentsia must make the first steps and lead the public opinion in
this high-minded case?" Terry Davis particularly thanked the initiators
of the visit and expressed hope that contacts between the two nations
will more and more successfully develop in future, APA reports.

On June 28 the Azerbaijani delegation crossed a mine-free
portion of the contact line between the armed forces of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan on the Martakert-Terter (Mir Bashir)
highway. Representatives from Karabakh met the Azeri delegation
in the positions of NKR Defense Army and accompanied them to
Stepanakert. Also another delegation of intellectuals from Armenia
arrived in the NKR capital at the head of Armenia’s Ambassador
to Russia Armen Smbatyan. Both ambassadors initiated the visit
to NKR. Then representatives of Armenian and Azeri intelligentsia
departed for Yerevan, where they met President Robert Kocharian. The
same evening cultural workers and scientists from both countries
departed for Baku. In the Azeri capital President Ilham Aliev hosted
the delegation.