Month: May 2008

ACCORDING TO EDWARD NALBANDIAN, ARMENIA PREPARED TO DEEPEN COOPERATION
WITH EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

STRASBOURG, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian foreign minister Edward
Nalbandian met with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Thomas Hammarberg, then with the President of the European Court of
Human Rights Jean-Paul Costa in Strasbourg on May 7, NT was informed by
the RA MFA Press and Information Department.

During the meeting with T. Hammarberg, E. Nalandian expressed
satisfaction at cooperation on human rights issues with the Council of
Europe, in particular, with the Commissioner for Human Rights, saying
that the Armenian government has adopted a careful attitide to and took
into account the proposals made by the Commissioner during his visit to
Armenia on March 14-16.

At the meeting with Jean-Paul Costa, E. Nalbandian assured him that
Armenia is prepared to continue and deepen cooperation with the
European Court of Human Rights. Speaking about Protocol 14 of the
European Convention on Human Rights, which was adopted to provide the
court with extra judicial means and flexibility and to create an
opportunity to examine cases within a reasonable period and focus on
important cases, E. Nalbandian pointed out that Armenian was one of the
first countries to ratify Protocol 14 and attaches importance to its
taking effect in a short time.

Hrayr Karapetyan: We must do our best so as not to have political
prisoners in Armenia

2008-05-08 17:36:00

ArmInfo. We must do our best so as not to have political prisoners in
Armenia, the leader of the parliamentary group of ARF Dashnaktsoutyun
Hrayr Karapetyan said in an interview to ArmInfo.

At the same time, the people who committed crimes during the Mar 1
events must be punished. As a member of the working group investigating
the Mar 1 events ARFD member Armen Rustamyan will do
his best to fulfill the tasks set by the President. "Perhaps, in the
near future we will have to set up an interim parliamentary commission
to study this problem," Karapetyan said.

NEGOTIATION PROCESS – UNDER WAY
VARDAN GRIGORYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 08, 2008
Armenia

The meeting between Eduard Nalbandyan and Elmar Mamedyarov, organized
in Strasburg on May 7, was the first practical step undertaken by the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group following the presidential elections
of Armenia. The initiative was aimed at clarifying the issue of
resuming the Karabakh settlement talks.

Both the political and the personal motives of first meeting of the
Foreign Ministers are conceivable in context of resuming the talks. The
fact that after the February 19 presidential elections and the
subsequent formation of the new government the official Yerevan met the
international community’s demand to follow the principle of succession
in the process of the Karabakh peace talks was strictly important in
political terms.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Azerbaijan which tried to
take advantage of the temporary suspension of the talks with the
purpose of having a pro-Azerbaijani resolution passed by the UN General
Assembly and transferring the further talks to the plane of unilateral
principles.

As shown by the March 14 voting, the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
do not approve of official Baku’s endeavors of bringing their
negotiation partner and the international community face-to-face with
the accomplished fact.

This means that Azerbaijan can no longer approach the negotiation table
with the outcomes of its `independent activities’ of the past months,
since the international community anticipates the parties to express a
clear-cut attitude towards the basic principles introduced by the
Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group on November 29, 2007. And despite the
Azerbaijani diplomats’ recent attempts of blackmailing the
international community and assuring their society that the talks will
continue based on the ill-famed Resolution of the General Assembly, it
is actually the basic principles introduced by the Co-Chairs that serve
as a basis for proceeding with the talks.

With the purpose of continuing the discussion of those principles, the
mediators of the Minsk Group are trying to organize the first meeting
between the two countries’ presidents during the month of June. In this
connection, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov has made the
following statement, `We’ll let the Presidents know about the outcomes
of our meeting, and they will make a decision on organizing a meeting
on their level.’

The Azerbaijani diplomat also mentioned that after the May 7 discussion
the leaders of the two countries may find it necessary to organize a
new meeting between the Foreign Ministers. It turns out that apart from
the Foreign Ministers, it is also necessary to obtain the consent of
the Presidents in order to organize the high level meeting between
Serge Sargsyan and Ilham Aliev during the month of June.

Clearly, the Azeri diplomat’s ambiguous hint implies the possible
disagreement of the Azerbaijani rather than the Armenian President,
because the Armenian party needed a temporary suspension of the talks
before the February 19 elections, while the Azerbaijani leadership is
facing that problem now.

It is now the Azerbaijani leadership that needs a time-out; therefore,
it is quite possible that after receiving the Foreign Ministry’s report
on the outcomes of the meeting with E. Nalbandyan, E. Mamedyarov may
try to find some pretext for avoiding the negotiations.

During the presidential campaign of Armenia, the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict was just one of the numerous issues of the country’s
political agenda, whereas for the Azerbaijani opposition, it may become
a key factor prior to the October 15 elections. Therefore, Baku is
currently arriving at the conclusion that the meeting between the two
countries’ presidents (if organized at all), will be a formal,
demonstrative event.

It’s clear that Armenia also realizes the possibility of a time-out
during the coming months, but the question is whether the Co-Chairs of
the Minsk Group think the same way. Judging by the statements, they are
almost sure that unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan will not have a new leader
on October 15, so they do not see the necessity of suspending the talks
for an additional period of 6 months.

After the Foreign Ministers’ meeting which heralded the fact of
resuming the talks, the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group are unlikely to
have an `understanding approach’ towards the possibility of the
`time-out’ anticipated before October 15. They would rather organize a
purely formal, demonstrative meeting between the two countries’
presidents for confirming the fact of resuming the talks on a higher
level than allow the Azeri President to use the coming month for
pronouncing bombastic speeches and questioning the progress attained in
the negotiation process during the past years.

To avoid the threat of `colored technologies’ (to be imposed on
Azerbaijan by the West and first of all, the United States) and serious
internal political instabilities, Ilham Aliev will probably choose to
participate in the upcoming high-level talks, acting behind the mask of
a lamb on the international arena and behaving like a wolf inside his
own country.

MEETING

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 08, 2008
Armenia

According to the preliminary agreement, on May 6, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandyan, who is in Strasburg to participate in 118th
Session of Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, met with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov, in the Permanent
Representation of France in the Council of Europe. An extended meeting
in the presence of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Bernard Fassier, Mathew
Braise, Yury Merzlyakov, and the representative of OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Kasprchik followed the meeting.

After the meeting Edward Nalbandyan informed the journalists that the
meeting between the Ministers was of familiarization nature and the two
Ministers expressed opinions regarding Karabakh process. The Ministers
will introduce the results of the discussions to the two Presidents,
who will decide their future steps.

PRESSURE ON THE COURT

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 08, 2008
Armenia

The hearing on the criminal case regarding the breaches during the
presidential elections was underway in Gyumry yesterday.

Petros Makeyan’s, Ashot Zakaryan’s and Shota Saghatelyan’s supporters
and relatives expressed desire to participate in the hearing. These
people were not only from Gyumry but also from Yerevan.

The court hearing, presided by Vahe Khachatryan was to be held in the
hall envisaged for 70 people and there was no space for most of their
relatives and supporters. They demanded a larger hall. The people
gathered in the entrance broke the windows. The hearing started late
and one of the policemen even lost consciousness.

So the strategy to turn the court hearing into a rally is underway.

THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE
GEVORG HARUTYUNYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 08, 2008
Armenia

By the recommendation of President Serge Sargsyan in the near future a
Public Chamber or Council will be established in Armenia. Not only
parliamentary but also extra-parliamentary powers will be involved in
the Public Chamber. That is to say the parties that have participated
in the most recent parliamentary and presidential elections, as well as
representatives of political, social organizations, men of art who had
active participation in the public life.

MP Victor Dallakayan was one of the first to underscore the
indispensability of establishing the Public Chamber, still on August 13
of the past year, by addressing the package of the draft laws on
`Making Amendments in the law on `NA Regulations and `About the Public
Chamber in Armenia’, as a legal initiative, to the Speaker of the
National Assembly. In his interview with the correspondent of `Hayots
Ashkharh’ daily Victor Dallakyan expresses his point regarding this
issue.

`I would like to bring your attention to the fact that I have submitted
this initiative to the discussion of the parliament still in August of
the past year. That is to say immediately after the parliamentary
elections, when the political field was being prepared for the
presidential elections and the famous events, beginning from September
up to the post-election developments have not yet taken place.

The indispensability of the establishment of the Public Chamber, in my
deep conviction, is conditioned by the fact that the National Assembly,
with its intellectual and political potential, in fact, can’t
completely express public moods. Very often the National Assembly
overlooks many issues of public concern.

In my view The Public Chamber can somehow fill the before mentioned gap
of the parliament.

As a precedent I have taken into consideration the social-political
situation in the Russian Federation and I have made use of the
corresponding RF law.

People who enjoy respect in the society and are perceived by our people
must be involved in the Public Chamber. The skills and the experience
of these people, their intellectual potential must work for the
confrontation of the challenges faced by our country, the state, and
the people. The Public Chamber can become a center of ideas.

In essence this new structure can become the filter of the discussion
of the draft laws submitted to the National Assembly.’

`In the legislative package submitted by you, did you envisage
amendments and changes in the NA Regulations-law as well?’

`These amendments and changes are important to provide opportunity for
the representatives of the Public Chamber to participate in all the
discussions and sessions of the National Assembly. It is previewed to
give the right to the members of this structure to express public
opinions, in the parliament. In accordance with this their competencies
will be equal to the competencies of the MP-members of NA Standing
Committees. The members of the Public Chamber will be competent to
introduce the results of the drafts their conclusions and to
participate in the government sessions, in a consultative manner.

It is a very high status, and the Public Chamber will be completely
represented and will participate in all the important discussions on
different levels. It is the highest level of public dialogue and, which
is more important, it will be continual and permanent.’

`According to your bill what kind of staff, structure and status should
the Public Chamber have?’

`According to my bill the Public Chamber will be formed by the citizens
and unions who will have volunteer participation in the structure’s
activity. The core functions of the structure will be the coordination
of the public interest with economic, educational, cultural, health,
social, environmental issues, the rights of the citizens, protection of
the freedoms, observance of the constitutional order and the
accomplishment of the civil society by the principles of democracy.

The Chamber must be able to involve the citizens and the public unions
in the functions of pan-Armenian significance implementing the state
policy.

The Public Chamber must elaborate and confirm its own charter, which
will envisage the status of the members in the activity of the Public
Chamber, the schedule of the sessions, the administrative staff and the
council, the competencies and the staff.

According to the bill the Public Chamber must have 60 members, from
which 20 will be appointed by the President, and 40 will represent
public unions, 20 of which must be from the provinces. The members of
the Public Chamber will work for two years, after which another member
will be appointed.

Public Chamber is a permanent body. Committees and working groups will
also be formed. The Public Chamber can convene sessions at least two
times a year; it can also convene extraordinary sessions by the
decision of the council. The decisions will bear a consultative nature.

In my view this bill must be included in the agenda and discussed
during the spring session. In case the bill is adopted in the first
reading, by June, in summer we will be able to, seriously and
profoundly, discuss the bill, together with the public organizations.
I’m sure there will be lots of interesting proposals. Later we can
organize parliamentary hearings, and only thereafter can second and
third readings be possible during the NA Plenary session.’

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS CALLS ON THE WORLD’S COUNTRIES TO RECOGNIZE
THE GENOCIDE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 08, 2008
Armenia

In his yesterday’s speech delivered in Vatican, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II appealed to all the countries of the world to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Addressing the thousands of believers who were present at the meeting
with Pope Benedict XVI, the Supreme Patriarch called on `all the
nations and countries to join their efforts to condemn all the
genocides that have occurred in the course of history.’

`The renunciation of such heinous crimes is as unfair as committing
them. Many countries of the world have recognized and condemned the
Genocide of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire,’ the Catholicos of All
Armenians mentioned.

At yesterday’s meeting with the believers, Benedict XVI spoke about the
ordeals of the Armenian Christians, `especially those that occurred in
the course of the past century.’

CHANGES TO BE MADE IN STAFF OF RPA, BARGAVACH HAYASTAN AND ORINATS
YERKIR FACTIONS OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN NEAR FUTURE

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Central Electoral Commission
envisages to register Ishkhan Khachatrian as an MP from the electoral
list of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party by the proportional
system of the National Assembly in the May 8 sitting. This information
was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Tatev Ohanian, the
Spokesperson of the Commission. The deputy mandate remained vacant as a
result of the fact that Arthur Baghdasarian, the Chairman of the party
and the Head of the parliamentary faction, was appointed Secretary of
the Security Council.

One by one change will be made in the staff of the Repoublican Party of
Armenia and Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) factions of the
National Assembly in the coming days. Armen Danielian, a member of the
RPA faction, was appointed Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of
Armenia on the eve, therefore he will stop his deputy commissions ahead
of time. 33-year-old Armen Danielian, who, by the way, is the son of
the brother of Gevorg Danielian, the Minister of Justice, is a lawyer,
a candidate of law sciences. He was also an MP in the National Assembly
of the third convocation (2003-2007). As a result of the May 12, 2007
elections, he was elected MP of the National Assembly of the fourth
convocation by the proportional system from the electoral list of the
Republican Party of Armenia. According to the Electoral Code, the
proportional vacant mandate will be handed to the regular next
candidate of the same party, in this case it will be handed to
49-year-old Republican Sukias Avetisian. Sukias Avetisian was an MP of
the previous three convocations: 1995-99, 1999-2003, 2003-2007.

The change in the Bargavach Hayastan faction is conditioned by the
resignation recently officially submitted by non-party MP Vahe
Hovhannisian on the occasion of starting to work in a private sector.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXAMINATION ON CASE AGAINST VARDAN JHANGIRIAN SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Criminal Court, presided over by
judge Vazgen Rshtuni, under the May 7 judgement sentenced Armen
Movsisian accused of mass disorders to 3.5 years’ suspended
imprisonment with 3 years’ probation term. Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed about it by Alina Yengoyan, the Spokesperson of the RA
Cassation Court. The examination of the case was held by a speeded-up
order.

In the same court, presided over by judge Mnatsakan Martirosian, the
court sitting against Karen Tarkhanian with the accusation of mass
disorders did not take place due to the laywer’s illness, the court
sitting was postponed until May 21. According to Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s information, in Yerevan Criminal Court, presided over
by judge Mnatsakan Martirosian, examination on the case against Vardan
Jhangirian accused of using violence to a power representative
dangerous for his life or health is scheduled for May 19: the latter is
the brother of Gagik Jhangirian, the former RA Deputy Prosecutor
General accused on another case.

The court sittings on cases against Misak Hovakimian and Soghomon
Yeritsian accused of using power to a power representative not
dangerous for his health or life did not take place in the general
jurisdiction court of Yerevan Kentron and Nork-Marash communities due
to the absence of the prosecutor and the lawyer, respectively.

SINCE ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL ELITE IS BECOMING MORE
AND MORE DISQUALIFIED, LARISA ALAVERDIAN CONSIDERS

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Since Armenia’s independence country’s
political elite is becoming more and more disqualified. Larisa
Alaverdian, a member of the RA National Assembly Zharangutiun
(Heritage) faction, expressed such an opinion at a discussion organized
on May 7 at the National Press Club. According to the deputy, those who
are called up for being elite, in most cases even do not realize their
own responsibility. While it is them who should have assumed the
mission of building a free person, which has failed in Armenia so far.
L. Alaverdian affirmed that one of the reasons of the situation formed
in the country today is that many of members of society still "bear a
slave in themselves."

According to Alvard Petrosian, a member of the NA ARFD faction, her
contemporaries are mostly situation politicians. "Time compelled the
active part of people to be engaged in politics. I consider my presence
in politics as much accidental," the deputy said. In her words, in 1988
people took to the streets thinking that they carried out a revolution,
but the Communist Party leaders remained country’s rulers. Today also
former communists or leaders of the Young Communist League remain in
politics passing on from one party to another in many cases.

In the opinion of Heghine Bisharian, the Chairwoman of the Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) Party faction, representatives of the political
elite should have principles, morality, and sense of responsibility.
While people deprived of the above mentioned traits receive the right
to decide people’s fate. And such people often become a political elite
just with "people’s hands."

According to Ruzan Khachatrian, a representative of the People’s Party
of Armenia, today’s Armenian political elite is represented by people,
who have appeared there thanks to not their merits, but posts they
take. In her words, the things were not this way even in the Soviet
years when not communist leaders but dissidents enjoyed more authority
in society. R. Khachatrian affirmed that the country should be quickly
relieved from today’s political elite. In her words, rules of natural
selection should work in politics, which can be guaranteed only through
holding of democratic elections.