Month: May 2008

HUNGER-STRIKER BEATEN

A1+
[06:32 pm] 16 May, 2008

On May 15 Hrachia Sargsian, member of the political board of the Nor
Zhamanakner Party (NZhK), went on a hunger strike near the Office of
Prosecutor General. He had two demands: to provide medical aid to
the NZhK Leader Aram Karapetian who has got health problems and to
release him from the penitentiary.

On May 16 law enforcers "visited" Hrachia Sargsian.

They hit him, stole his shoes and dismantled the tent.

"I have been here since yesterday. I spent the night on a bench. It
is widely-accepted in the world that a hunger-striker may put up a
tent to have a rest. I had hardly lied down than law-enforcers came
and demanded me to take down the tent," Hrachia Sarkissian said to A1+.

I demanded to take Aram Karapetian to hospital and dismiss the criminal
case against him. My first demand was met. Today at about 1.00 some
policemen headed by Colonel Taron Baghdasarian forced me off the tent
taking away my belongings. They tore the tent, hit me on the legs and
hands. Five more women have joined the hunger-strike. We shall struggle
to the end. They cannot tear off my soul and mind like my shoes."

IS KARAPETYAN’S STATE STABLE OR….?

A1+
[06:51 pm] 16 May, 2008

Dr. Armen Gasparyan physically examined the patient-the chairman
of the "New Times" Political Party Aram Karapetyan, performed ECG
and found ischemia in the septum and posterior wall of the heart,
signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and bradicardia (58-62 per
minute). Blood pressure – 160/115 mm Hg with frequent raises up to
levels specific for hypertonic crisis (diastolic or inferior blood
pressure of 120 mm Hg). The patient had complaints of chest pain
suggestive of cardiac origin, dizziness and headache related to raise
blood pressure. Over the passed few weeks patient lost about 6,5 kg of
body weight suggestive of metabolic disorders which were not related to
the changes of food intake (consumption of meals was satisfactory over
the whole period of staying in the penitentiary unit). It had been also
revealed that the patient was exposed to a number of cardiovascular
risk factors which indicated high risk of cardiovascular events like
myocardial infarction and stroke. Of these risk factors, first of
all should be mentioned prediabet (?, fasting serum glucose level
of 7,7 mmol/l), exposure to passive smoking, hypokinesia, intensive
psychoemotional stress, familial predisposition to premature ischemic
heart disease and diabetes. Based on the mentioned diagnosed was made
– Arterial hypertension, II stage, course with hypertonic crises,
Ischemic heart disease (?). The recommendation was to continue
investigations at the specialized cardiological hospital equipped
with modern tools of instrumental diagnostics allowing to examine
coronary vessels (coronarography). It should be also noted that in
penitentiary conditions it was impossible to normalize blood pressure
with antihypertensive drugs for oral intake. Besides, all the above
mentioned risk factors could further worsen condition of the patient
and cause myocardial infarction or stroke. There was discrepancy
between the recommendation made by independent examiner-cardiologist
Gasparyan and that made by physicians of penitentiary unit. The
latter ignored the necessity to transfer the patient to cardiological
hospital which is absolute ignorance of high cardiometabolic risk to
which the patient is being exposed. Eventually, the administrative
decision was made to refer the patient to cardiopulmonary department
of Erebouni Medical Centre and monitor his condition there. This
morning it was also decided to perform coronarography (by head of the
unit of cardiopulmonary at the Erebouni Medical Centre). It is hoped
that the patient will be treated properly based on his heightened
cardiometabolic risk and all further therapeutic and diagnostic
decisions will be made to avoid occurrence of cardiovascular events
(myocardial infarction and stroke) in the near future. The "New Times"
Political Party needs support of doctors. We call them to act only
with human inducements taking notice to the danger, which now threatens
the health of a person.

Press Department of the "New Times" Political Party

ADAMS URGES TO HEAL SOCIAL DIVISIONS

A1+
[04:08 pm] 16 May, 2008

U.S. Assistance Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia Thomas Adams is
in Armenia May 14-17, in his final visit to our country in that
capacity. Adams was accompanied by his deputy, Daniel Rosenblum,
who has been designated to succeed him as Coordinator in the upcoming
months.

The delegation held fruitful discussions with the President, the Prime
Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance,
the Minister of Economy, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. Adams addressed a wide range of important issues in his
conversations with his hosts from the Armenian government. He learned
about the status of democracy and human rights issues in Armenia, in
light of the post-election political difficulties. He urged Armenian
authorities to take prompt action to heal the social divisions that
have arisen as a result of the political conflict. Adams also discussed
with Armenian officials a number of other important bilateral issues,
including ongoing cooperation programs in energy and agriculture,
Armenia’s economy, measures to improve Armenia’s attractiveness to
foreign investment, and Armenia’s important efforts to combat illegal
trafficking in persons.

During his visit, Mr. Adams met with the Board of the American Chamber
of Commerce in Armenia, as well as key leaders and stakeholders of
the Millennium Challenge program in Armenia. The delegation also
visited a number of project sites implementing U.S. ,assistance
programs, including the Armenian-American Wellness Center, Arcolate
Chocolate Company, Arzni Medical Ambulatory in Kotayk Marz, and a
school in Nork, which was refurbished with the financial support of
the U.S. Government.

COMMITTEE DISCUSSED 11 CHARITABLE PROJECTS

Panorama.am
19:16 16/05/2008

Today the session of the RA Government charitable projects committee
took place which was headed by the president of the committee Simon
Ter-Simonyan, reported the press and public relations department of
the Government. According to the source the committee has discussed
11 charitable projects.

According to the source the following projects have been affirmed: "RA
Shirak region, Artik city – furnishing of schools N 3; 4; 5; 6 and 7",
"RA Armavir region, Parakar city – reconstruction of Hovik Edgaryan
art school", the projects are supported by "Armenia" pan Armenian
foundation, as well as several projects on hospital reconstruction,
providing medical equipments.

The project presented by the Holy Church Echmiatsin "reconstruction
of Arabkir region church" has also been affirmed. A range of projects
on reconstruction of dispensers in Vardenis, Gyumri cities have also
been affirmed.

PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED CHARLES LONSDALE

Panorama.am
19:15 16/05/2008

Today the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan received the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Armenia Charles Lonsdale,
reported the press and public relations department of the Government.

According to the source the Prime Minister congratulated the Ambassador
for his appointment and expressed his hope that he will contribute to
the improvement and strengthening of Armenian British relations. The
Prime Minister has especially signified the improvement of the economic
aspect of the relationship. He also said that the RA Government has
drafted such project where the key point is put on social, economic
and other important fields.

Tigran Sargsyan thanked the UK international development ministry
for supporting the implementation of social activities and reforms in
the rural communities, and added that Armenia wished to continue the
cooperation and to include more projects. The Prime Minister said that
currently civil service agenda is being drafted and mentioned that the
British colleagues will contribute to their implementation technically.

The Ambassador has confirmed that the UK will continue cooperation
with Armenia in some fields and for that reason they cooperate with
the Council of Europe and World Bank.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMEN ASHOTYAN: "PARLIAMENTARIAN CRISIS COMMON TO WORLD"

Panorama.am
18:15 16/05/2008

Today a meeting discussion was organized devoted to 18 anniversary
of parlamentarism in Armenia. In the meeting Republican Armen
Shotyan agreed with his opponent’s view point that "in general
there is no parlamentarism in Armenia". According to him the only
reason to it could be the historic preview when in 1995 the role
of the parliament has been annulated by the constitution. Whereas
the reformed constitution gives more rights and flexibility to the
parliament and its role.

A. Ashotyan said that the parliament is considered less reliable than
any other state institution. It is the executive body who presents
projects to parliament. He also added that the crisis of parlamentarism
is common to the world and Armenia just can not ignore those notions.

Ashotyan signified the role of opponent leaders in the parliament
and said that though international organizations keep talking about
increasing the role of parliament in the political field they cooperate
and make projects at least not with the parliament.

PANORAMA.AM ROBBED

Panorama.am
18:09 16/05/2008

Today Panorama.am on line publication will start its usual activities
with a delay. In the morning the journalists have found out that the
editorial office has been robbed by some unknown people. The robbers
have broken the lock of the gate and one of the gates near the window
and entered the room. The police station has been informed about the
incident at once.

The robbers have taken with them several computers, other specialized
equipments. The computer holding archive of the publication is robbed
also. The publication staff promises financial support to anybody
giving any information about the incident.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JUSTICE MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT

Panorama.am
19:12 16/05/2008

It is announced from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia
that the Government of Armenian implementing the recommendations of
Human Rights European convention has published since March 15 the
decision of the European Court and the translation of the following
case "Galstyan vs. Republic of Armenia".

According to the ministry the translation of the case will be published
in the "Official Reference Book".

GENOCIDE BOOK PULLED FROM HIGH SCHOOL READING LIST
Unnati Gandhi

Council Of Turkish Canadians
May 16, 2008

A book about genocide has been pulled from the recommended reading
list of a new Toronto public school course because of objections from
the Turkish-Canadian community, the author says.

Barbara Coloroso’s Extraordinary Evil: A Brief History of Genocide was
originally part of a resource list for the Grade 11 history course,
Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, set to launch across the Toronto
District School Board this fall.

The book examines the Holocaust, which exterminated six million Jews
in the Second World War; the Rwandan slaughter of nearly one million
Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994, and the massacres of more than a
million Armenians in 1895, 1909 and 1915.

But a committee struck to review the course decided in late April
to remove the book because "a concern was raised regarding [its]
appropriateness. … The Committee determined this was far from a
scrupulous text and should not be on a History course although it
might be included in a course on the social psychology of genocide
because of her posited thesis that genocide is merely the extreme
extension of bullying," according to board documents.

Director of education Gerry Connelly did not return calls seeking
comment yesterday.

Ms. Coloroso, a best-selling author of parenting books, said she wasn’t
surprised her work was removed, given that "ever since the book came
out, the Turks have mounted a worldwide campaign objecting to it,
which is not surprising because of the denial of the genocide."

She said what upset her was not so much that her book had been pulled,
but that it was replaced by works by Bernard Lewis and Guenter Lewy,
whom she refers to as deniers of the Armenian genocide.

"I knew when I wrote Extraordinary Evil that I would anger some
genocide deniers," she wrote to Ms. Connelly. "I am disappointed that
a small group of people can bully an entire committee. …"

The Council of Turkish Canadians is opposed to the course for
classifying the Armenian killings as genocide and inciting anti-Turkish
sentiment. It has gathered nearly 11,000 signatures on an online
petition calling for changes to the course. Turkey has denied the
killings were genocide, saying they were First World War casualties.

Kevser Taymaz, president of the council’s board, said yesterday the
book’s removal was "one positive move" by the school board, but added
the Armenian massacres should not even be considered as part of course
that is entitled "Genocide."

"The course is one-sided. If they want to introduce the events of
1915, it should be giving the historical truth from both sides and
let the students decide."

Aris Babikian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada, said Armenian-Canadians feel the course as it stands is
headed "in the right direction."

"But we have some concerns about … the inclusion of Bernard Lewis
and Guenter Lewy as reputable scholars. It will be unjust to the
hundreds of scholars who have researched the Armenian genocide."

ASYLUM CASE REOPENED ON TRANSCRIPTION ERROR
Bob Egelko

San Francisco Chronicle
/c/a/2008/05/15/BAI210LPON.DTL
Thursday, May 15, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO — When Svetlana Grigoryan was presenting her case
for political asylum in the United States, she testified through an
interpreter that a crowd of people attacked her family in her native
Armenia in 1995, badly injuring her and killing her 13-year-old son,
"because my mother was a cook."

At least that’s how it read in the transcript of the 2003 hearing,
which prompted the immigration courts and a federal appeals court to
rule that Grigoryan had failed to show she was a victim of political
persecution.

Then an immigration lawyer took a look at her case, talked to
Grigoryan, and figured out that the transcript was wrong – she’d
actually testified that she was attacked "because my mother was
a Turk."

That made a difference. Turks slaughtered between 1 million and 1.5
million Armenians in the genocide of 1915-16. An Armenian who fled
the country after being assaulted because of her Turkish descent
could have a strong case for asylum.

On Monday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco
told the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals to reconsider Grigoryan’s
case and decide whether she had been persecuted. The "transcription
error … goes to the heart of her claim," said the court, which had
ruled against her in 2005.

"Now she can tell her story," said her attorney, Artem Sarian.

Grigoryan, who lives in the Los Angeles area, entered the United
States and applied for asylum in 1999. She said in her application
that she and her parents had been harassed by Armenians because her
mother was Turkish.

The family moved to Azerbaijan in the 1980s, but Grigoryan said she
was beaten and jailed there after war broke out with Armenia.

The family returned to Armenia in 1992 and Grigoryan became president
of an organization that helped soldiers wounded in the war. She said
a rivalry within the organization led to the January 1995 assault
that injured her and killed her son.

Grigoryan had difficulties in her asylum application, the appeals
court said, because her first lawyer filed written arguments that had
little to do with her case and virtually conceded she was ineligible
for asylum. A disciplinary agency in Connecticut, where the lawyer
practiced, cited him for unethical conduct in her case, the court said.

Sarian said Grigoryan contacted him in 2005, after the immigration
courts ordered her deported, and he looked at the case records. They
included the transcript of the 2003 hearing containing a transcription
mistake that was obvious, even though it had been overlooked by the
immigration judge, the immigration appeals board and Grigoryan’s
first lawyer, Sarian said.

"Nobody really cared about this person," he said.