Month: May 2008

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COMMANDER APPEARED IN COURTROOM IN HANDCUFFS
[07:48 pm] 05 May, 2008

Today the RoA Appellate Court heard the case of Husik
Baghdasarian, commander of a Masis regiment. Husik
Baghdasarian has been sentenced to a three-year
imprisonment by a Masis Court. He is charged with
carrying illegal weapon / Article 235, Penal Code/.
Today the RoA Appellate court heard Baghdasarian’s
appeal against the court decision. Husik Baghdasarian
was taken to the courtroom in handcuffs.

`Why have you chained Husik? Shame on you! How dare
you chain an Armenian hero?’ cried out indignant
people.

`The charges brought against Baghdasarian are
groundless. He is accused of carrying 16
fowling-pieces,’ said barrister Vardan Zurnachian.

Vardan Zurnachian is surprised that while bringing in
a verdict the judge didn’t pay attention to a few
extenuating circumstances. Husik has an underage
child. Besides, he has performed significant services
to the country which might assuage the punishment.

The barrister voiced surprise that during a similar
court sitting the defendant was sentenced to a 1.5
years’ imprisonment.

During today’s court sitting he filed a few petitions
concerning the conduct of a new investigation, but
they were all rejected.

Upon the request of Vardan Zurnachian the court
sitting was delayed till May 8.

IN DEFENCE OF HUSIK BAGHDASARIAN
Today some dozens of Armenian citizens held a protest
action in front of the Appellate Court. They stretched
out their fists for an hour shouting, `Free Husik
Baghdasarian,’ `Now,’ `Freedom’ etc. The protesters
were also signing patriotic songs.

`Husik has been `chased’ after he voiced support for
Ter-Petrossian. During a February search in our flat
Husik handed over his legal arms with cartridges.
While now they say those are not fowling-pieces,’ said
Husik’s wife Mariam Baghdasarian. `The police have
looked in twice over the past four years but they
haven’t protocolled any weapon. Therefore, I think
Husik’s arrest is politically motivated. He
participated in all rallies, sit-down strikes and was
Ter-Petrossian’s proxy in Masis. My husband is a
political prisoner.’

We all know well that all these people are tried for
their political dissent. Shame on the authorities! We
live in an autocratic country,’ added Armenian
civilian Roza.

PanARMENIAN.Net

UN Sec Gen: people of Armenia confirmed desire to
strengthen democratic institutions
06.05.2008 18:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
sent a congratulatory address to Tigran Sargsyan on
his appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia, the RA government’s press office reported.

The message says in part,

"I extend to you my congratulations on your
appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of
Armenia and wish you every success with the discharge
of your new duties.

During the past few months, the people of Armenia
confirmed its desire to strengthen democratic
institutions in your country in a bid to achieve
prosperity and social equality. I am convinced that
under your guidance the government of Armenia will
meet its goals through democratization and
implementation of social and economic programs.

I look forward to close cooperation with your
government and yourself with a view to developing the
regional cooperation in South Caucasus.

Rest assured that the whole body of the United Nations
will join me in an effort to support you along this
path."

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`TWO FEARS MAKE ONE DEATH’
[05:38 pm] 05 May, 2008

Today, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram
Karapetian released a statement from Yerevan-Kentron
Penitentiary institution.

`On May 5, RoA Appellate Court Justice M. Rehanian
declined my appeal against the decision of the
district court of Center and Nork Marash communities
to prolong my custody.

The regime is so scared that they even deny people’s
access to courtrooms. I wished to participate in the
court sitting and protect the rights of political
prisoners. Everything was done to keep me in custody.

Undoubtedly, there is no justice in Armenia. However,
if it is done upon the order of the so-called `strong
government’ which fears even the right word of the
political prisoner, I must say that we again defeated
them at this point.

I want to remind the regime of a famous Armenian
saying: `Gentlemen, two fears make one death.’ I wish
all of us boundless vigor and endless will to
struggle,’ runs the statement.

Panorama.am

18:34 05/05/2008

`OUR DISRUPTION IS BEING BARGAINED’

`What’s going on today in our society is not common to
Armenian culture,’ said Arevshat Avagyan, the
president of Culture Armenian Fund, writer. According
to him a culture common to our national ideology is
not protected. `World thinks that we have a culture of
high quality and that we are a nation having a
psychological intellect,’ said Avagyan.

According to Avagyan, books are being written,
exhibitions opened, but the strangest thing is that
our enemies try to disrupt us. He said that Russian,
European and Western directions are the only reason to
that. `We have chosen wrong way. They bargain for our
disruption and we do it. We should try to understand
each other and be more tolerant,’ he said.

According to Avagyan, national ideology is the only
force to the development.

Source: Panorama.am

PanARMENIAN.Net

EU Troika discusses situation in South Caucasus
06.05.2008 19:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the EU General Affairs
and External Relations Council, Slovenian Foreign
Minister Dimitrij Rupel, headed the ministerial EU
Troika meeting with Turkey in Ankara today. The
Turkish delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Ali Babacan. The
Troika meeting was also attended by European
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and Jean-Pierre
Jouyet, Secretary of State for European Affairs,
representing the next EU Council Presidency holder,
France, says the publication at the EU website.

The first part of the Troika was devoted to reviewing
the state of EU-Turkey relations. Special attention
was given to Turkey’s progress in the EU negotiation
process and to the implementation of Accession
Partnership priority tasks. GAERC Council President,
Dr Rupel, stressed that the Slovenian Presidency is
working hard to open two chapters at the negotiation
conference in June. He pointed out that the year 2008
is important for the continuation of the reform
process in Turkey. He welcomed the amendment of
Article 301 of the Penal Code, a constructive step
towards ensuring freedom of expression, as a sign of
readiness to pursue reform. EU expects Turkey to make
progress both in aligning national law with European
legislation and in implementing it. Dr Rupel expressed
the expectation that Turkey will implement the
Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement in
respect of all EU Member States. On a settlement to
the issue of Cyprus, the EU welcomed Turkey’s
commitment to contribute to the process of seeking a
comprehensive solution.

The second part of discussions focused on an exchange
of positions on topical international issues in the
wider neighborhood – Iran, progress in the Middle East
peace process after Annapolis, and the situation in
the Southern Caucasus.

Panorama.am

18:36 05/05/2008

B. FUSSIER: `SARGSYAN AND ALIEV PROBABLY MEET IN
ST.PETERSBURG IN JUNE’

The OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen are going to raise
the question of Serzh Sargsyan’s and Ilhaam Aliev’s
meeting in the further discussion with the Foreign
Affairs Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to French co-chairman Bernard Fussier the
meeting of the both ministers will have more
introducing mission. According to him the meeting will
take place on 7 May before the Council of Europe
Ministers 118th session. `We can see a wish to
continue the negotiations in the both sides,’ said B.
Fussier.

He also notified that they are not going to make any
proposals but hey will discuss some questions about
their visit to the region and should try to organize
the meeting of the two presidents.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENPRESS

HEAD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH LEAVES FOR VATICAN

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Head of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, His Holiness Karekin II, has left
today for Vatican at the invitation of Pope Benedict
XVI. The information department of the Mother See Holy
Etchmiadzin told Armenpress that in Vatican Karekin II
and Benedict XVI will discuss ways to make cooperation
between the two churches closer.
The information department said on May 6-9 Karekin
II will meet with Benedict XVI, then with Cardinal
Walter Kasper, he will visit also the Saleziani Papal
University. On May 9 Karekin II will participate in a
conference at the Papal Eastern Institute dedicated to
the Armenian Church Liturgy. Karekin II and Benedict
XVI will participate in the joint ecumenical ceremony.
On May 10-13 Karekin II will meet with
representatives of the Armenian community of Italy, he
will chair a ceremony marking the 50-th anniversary of
the establishment of the Armenian Church of Forty
Saint Children in Milan. The Armenian Catholicos will
also visit Venice and the Armenian Catholic
Congregation on Saint Lazarus island.
During his visit Karekin II will be accompanied by
senior clergymen. and faithful Armenian benefactors.

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER APPOINTED MEMBER OF CIS
ECONOMIC COUNCIL

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian signed today a decree dismissing Manuk
Topuzian from the duties of the member of the CIS
Economic Council.
Presidential press service told Armenpress that
with another decree, Armenian deputy prime minister
and territorial governance minister Armen Gevorgian
has been appointed member of the CIS Economic Council.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENPRESS

PRIME MINISTER AND IRANIAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSS BOOSTING
COOPERATION

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS: Prime minister Tigran
Sarkisian received today Iranian ambassador, Seyed Ali
Saghayan, for discussion of a wide scope of issues
relating to both countries’ efforts to expand their
partnership relationships.
The government press office said the two men
discussed also a set of other issues on launching new
projects along with those in process.
`The Islamic Republic of Iran gives its full
support to new president of Armenia and your
government. It also supports all directions which are
deemed as priorities by your government’s program,’
the ambassador was quoted by the government press
office as saying.
Both men agreed that the annual $200 million worth
trade and the economic partnership level in general
are not satisfactory failing to comply with high level
political relations between Iran and Armenia.
They both underlined the importance of mutual
investments and stepped up contacts between Iranian
and Armenian businessmen. They agreed also that the
existing cooperation between Armenian and Iranian
provinces can be expanded as well.
The ambassador spoke about two major international
events that will be hosted soon by Iran- an
international conference on transit transportation and
a conference on urban issues asking the Armenian prime
minister to send Armenian ministers to participate in
both.
The prime minister promised to send Armenian
transport and communication and urban ministers to
Tehran to take part in both events.
The two men then emphasized the opening of consular
services in Iranian Tebriz and Armenian Kapan. They
also referred to a joint session of the
Iranian-Armenian economic cooperation commission,
slated for summer. The ambassador stressed also
cooperation with countries in transition in the face
of global rise of food prices in terms of mitigating
its aftereffects. He said, particularly, that in this
context Iran and Armenia can expand their agricultural
cooperation.
`We are eager and we would do everything in our
power to deepen our relations with the neighboring
Iran and raise them to a higher level which stems from
both nations’ interests. On one hand that will beef up
our countries’ national security and on the other hand
it will promote economic progress,’ Tigran Sarkisian
said.

Panorama.am

19:30 05/05/2008

H. KESHISHYAN: `KELE-KELE IS SUNG IN EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES’

On 24 May Armenian singer Sirusho will present Armenia
in `Eurovision 2008′ musical competition. Today the
Armenian delegation had a press conference, where the
members of the group made speeches.

More than 40 countries take part in `Eurovision 2008′
and only 25 of them will get right to take part in
final. The competition is held by two semi-finals on
May 20 and 22 and the final will take place on 24 May.

The author of the song presented by the Armenian
singer is Arthur Ter-Hovakimyan and Sirusho herself.
`Sirusho held concerts in many European countries and
we could feel the love and kindness towards Sirusho.
In Belgium, in the streets of Brussels we could hear
people singing Kele-Kele,’ said Hrach Keshishyan, the
chief producer of the Public TV.

According to him in previous months the Armenian
delegation and particularly Sirusho have worked much
and actively. `As a singer and as a person presenting
Armenia from the stage I am happy to say that I have
an army of fans and people who rely on me,’ said
Sirusho.

Note that Armenian singers Razmik Amyan and Tigran
Petrosyan will sing back-vocals. Russian famous dancer
Sergey Mandrik will prepare the staging and Arevik
Simonyan will be the designer of singer’s dress.

Source: Panorama.am