Month: May 2008

RICHARD HOVHANNISIAN: REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUTHORITIES AND THE OPPOSITION SHOULD BE INDULGENT

armradio.am
23.05.2008 15:12

The representatives of the authorities and teheopposition should be
indulgent in order to come out of the strained political situation,
Professor of the California University, historian Richard Hovhannisian
told a press conference today. He noted that everyone is guilty of the
events of March 1. "It’s necessary to stop accusing each other. The
events of March 1 were a tragedy, and we all are guilty of it, we
allowed it to happen," Richard Hovhannisian said.

According to the Professor, the Armenian citizen should feel safe in
the country, be content and know that he is not neglected. "The state
should take serious steps in this direction, implementing a correct
economic policy," he said.

Turning to the way Armenia has passed over the past 90 years, the
Professor noted that survival and development have been the most
important achievement for Armenians. During these years the majority
of the society became literate, people started speaking about women’s
rights. "Women today work in different spheres, but there is still
much to do in this direction.

I’m sure we shall soon see more female Deputies in the National
Assembly," Richard Hovhannisian added.

According to the historian, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
is in process. He welcomed the fact that Turkish historian have
started raising the issue on different occasions. As for the issue of
reimbursement, Mr. Hovhannisian noted that it requires a diplomatic
approach. "The issue of reimbursement can be clarified through dialogue
with Turkey, certainly, after it recognizes the Armenian Genocide,"
Richard Hovhannisian added.

POLAND, SWEDEN WANT CLOSER TIES WITH EU’S EASTERN NEIGHBORS

armradio.am
23.05.2008 16:01

As EU officials mull a Mediterranean Union to bring in the bloc’s
southern neighbors, some eastern members want a similar initiative to
focus on former Soviet states. But it wouldn’t include the region’s
biggest player.

Polish Premier Donald Tusk and his Swedish counterpart, Fredrik
Reinfeldt, are expected to present a plan to their EU colleagues
in June that will call for more cooperation with Ukraine, Moldova,
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Even Belarus, which has been ostracized because of its dictatorial
regime, would be invited to participate – albeit on a reduced level,
Deutsche Welle reports.

"We would like to see the EU upgrading its contacts with the east at
a time the EU is upgrading relations with the Mediterranean region,"
an unnamed Polish diplomat told Reuters news service.

Called the Eastern Partnership, the new initiative would offer
participating countries liberalized trade, the lifting of travel
restrictions, cultural exchanges and aid programs. The eastern
partners, in return, would be expected to push ahead with political
and economic reforms.

Unlike the Mediterranean Union, the Eastern Partnership would not
have its own secretariat, but would be run by the European Commission
and financed from the European neighborhood policy budget, Web site
EUObserver.com reported, adding that a commission official would be
appointed as "special coordinator."

The plan falls short of giving countries any prospects of EU
membership, as western European states are wary of any further
expansion drives at the moment. Poland, however, does back eventual
membership for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

France, which takes over the rotating EU presidency in July, is
planning to offer Ukraine stronger ties to the EU after the bloc
launched a free trade pact with the country earlier this year.

Poland’s premier, meanwhile, is expected to discuss a stronger eastern
policy with French President Nicolas Sarkozy when the latter comes
to Warsaw for a long-delayed visit next week.

The region’s heavy-weight, Russia, will not be invited to join the
partnership under the initial proposal. EU officials on Wednesday,
however, agreed to initiate separate talks on a wide-ranging
cooperation agreement, according to Reuters.

EU foreign ministers are likely to discuss the idea at their meeting in
Brussels on Monday, May 26. The plan has reportedly been well-received
by the EU Commission as well as key member states, including Britain,
France, Germany and the Netherlands. Italy, Portugal and Spain,
on the other hand, are skeptical, reports said.

IN RUSSIAN DECLAMATION ARMENIA IS CALLED STRATEGIC ALLY BUT AZERBAIJAN – STRATEGIC PARTNER, RUSSIAN POLITICAL EXPERT THINKS

arminfo
2008-05-23 15:42:00

ArmInfo. In Russian declamation Armenia is called strategic ally but
Azerbaijan – strategic partner, Russian political expert, head of the
department of inter-ethnic relations of Russian Political and Military
Analysis Institute Sergey Markedonov told ArmInfo correspondent.

The expert said. He also added that Russia and Azerbaijan have
the connecting problems, such as: the Dagestan border, the Caspian
problem. ‘In general Russia is striving to apply the differentiated
policy towards Armenia and Azerbaijan, though naturally Yerevan and
Baku watch each other fervently regarding Moscow’, – he said.

LEADERS OF RAPA AND PEOPLE’S PARTY DEMAND EQUAL STARTING CONDITIONS FROM RA AUTHORITIES FOR ALL POLITICAL FORCES

arminfo
2008-05-23 15:37:00

ArmInfo. Leaders of Ramkavar Azatakan party of Armenia Harutyun
Arakelyan and People’s party, Head of "ALM" Holding Tigran Karapetyan
demand from RA authorities to create equal starting conditions for
all the political forces of the country.

As T. Karapetyan said in "Mirror" club today, just absence of equal
starting conditions allows the authorities to falsify the election and
creates the presently available tense situation in the society. "We
offer to form election committees with participation of representatives
of non-parliamentary parties and abolish the post of the head of the
Central Election Committee. The opposition should make up 30-35% of the
total number of parliamentarians like in Georgia", T. Karapetyan said.

For his part, leader of RAPA Harutyun Arakelyan offered the authorities
"to grant places to non-parliamentary parties for creation of a
non-parliamentary parliament, where they can gather and assess
the vital events". Both participants in the discussion called RA
President Serzh Sargsyan’s initiative on creation of a Public Council
under the country’s president unserious. "I do not understand how can
representatives of political and public forces fit together in one,
even consultative body?

This is an absolute mess. I do not treat this proposal
seriously". H. Arakelyan said that he knew about this initiative from
journalists and he does not support it either. He also said that the
process of unification of RAPA with "Dashink" and "National Rebirth"
parties, started in 2007, is coming to the end, an the unification
congress will give answers to all the organizational questions related
to the party’s name and its governing body in autumn. "This congress
will be a correct step with respect to the political forces which
consult with us on joining", Arakelyan said.

Tigran Karapetyan also negatively spoke of the initiative of "Heritage"
party leader Raffi Hovannisian, who offered himself as a mediator on
organization of negotiations of the ruling coalition and the opposition
headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan. He thinks that R. Hovannisian cannot be
a mediator as he openly announced about support of L. Ter- Petrosyan
even in winter, which means that he is not an impartial party.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROVISION 2008 ALL FINALISTS KNOWN

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2008 12:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second semi-final of the Eurovision 2008 Song
Contest is over.

Ukraine, Croatia, Albania, Iceland, Georgia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia,
Turkey, Portugal joined the qualifiers of the first semi-final –
Greece, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Russia, Armenia,
Israel, Azerbaijan, Poland and Norway as well as Spain, Germany, UK,
France and Serbia, which go to final without competition.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place this
Saturday, May 24.

Dima Bilan, the Russian runner-up in Belgrade, is the main favorite,
according to bookmakers, who take bets with coefficient 3,2. Serbia
and Armenia share the second place with 6,0 coefficient.

POLAND, SWEDEN OFFER NEW POLICY FOR EU AND EASTERN NEIGHBORS

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2008 13:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As European Union officials mull a Mediterranean
Union to bring in the bloc’s southern neighbors, some eastern members
want a similar initiative to focus on former Soviet states. But it
wouldn’t include the region’s biggest player.

Polish Premier Donald Tusk and his Swedish counterpart, Fredrik
Reinfeldt, are expected to present a plan to their EU colleagues
in June that will call for more cooperation with Ukraine, Moldova,
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to news reports. Even
Belarus, which has been ostracized because of its dictatorial regime,
would be invited to participate – albeit on a reduced level.

"We would like to see the EU upgrading its contacts with the east at
a time the EU is upgrading relations with the Mediterranean region,"
an unnamed Polish diplomat said.

Called the Eastern Partnership, the new initiative would offer
participating countries liberalized trade, the lifting of travel
restrictions, cultural exchanges and aid programs. The eastern
partners, in return, would be expected to push ahead with political
and economic reforms.

Unlike the Mediterranean Union, the Eastern Partnership would not
have its own secretariat, but would be run by the European Commission
and financed from the European neighborhood policy budget, Web site
EUObserver.com reported, adding that a commission official would be
appointed as "special coordinator."

The plan falls short of giving countries any prospects of EU
membership, as western European states are wary of any further
expansion drives at the moment. Poland, however, does back eventual
membership for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

France, which takes over the rotating EU presidency in July, is
planning to offer Ukraine stronger ties to the EU after the bloc
launched a free trade pact with the country earlier this year.

Poland’s premier, meanwhile, is expected to discuss a stronger eastern
policy with French President Nicolas Sarkozy when the latter comes
to Warsaw for a long-delayed visit next week.

The region’s heavy-weight, Russia, will not be invited to join the
partnership under the initial proposal. EU officials on Wednesday,
however, agreed to initiate separate talks on a wide-ranging
cooperation agreement.

EU foreign ministers are likely to discuss the idea at their meeting in
Brussels on Monday, May 26. The plan has reportedly been well-received
by the EU Commission as well as key member states, including Britain,
France, Germany and the Netherlands. Italy, Portugal and Spain,
on the other hand, are skeptical, Deutsche Welle reports.

AZERBAIJAN DOESN’T DISSEMINATE ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2008 14:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statement by Edward Nalbandian, the Foreign
Minister of Armenia, about the anti-Armenian propaganda disseminated
in Azerbaijan is ‘absolutely groundless’, said a spokesman for the
Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Azerbaijan is not engaged in anti-Armenian propaganda. Actually,
the Azerbaijani authorities and media react to tough anti-Azeri
propaganda spread by Armenia and Armenian Diaspora," Khazar Ibrahim
said, Day.az reports.

Earlier, Edward Nalbandian said that in order to create a favorable
atmosphere for Karabakh talks, the anti-Armenian should be stopped
in Azerbaijan.

"No conflict can be resolved with ongoing propaganda of one
state against another. According a social survey, 82 per cent
of the Azerbaijani population is displeased with the OSCE Minsk
Group activities. At that 29 per cent stand for resolution of the
conflict by use of force. This is a dangerous index. I do not know
any other country where so many people could stand for resumption of
hostilities," he said

"20TH ANNIVERSARY OF KARABAKH MOVEMENT: REALITIES AND PERSPECTIVES" CONFERENCE KICKS OFF IN STEPANAKERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2008 14:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "20th Anniversary of Karabakh Movement: Realities
and Perspectives" 2-day international conference kicked off in the
capital of Nagorno Karabakh, Stepanakert on May 23.

The conference brought together political scientists and experts from
Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Russia, U.S., Iran, Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
Transnistria and a number of European states, IA Regnum reports.

MEETING VENUE IS SARDARAPAT MEMORIAL

A1+
[01:10 pm] 23 May, 2008

The Centre for the Popular Movement is going to celebrate May 28.

90 years ago these days Armenians were fighting a heroic battle against
foreign invaders in Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa. The
imperative of avoiding a final annihilation united the whole nation.

Due to their unyielding determination Armenians won the battles. The
victories contributed to the materialization of the first Republic
of Armenia.

Today, on the eve of the celebration of this great holiday, each
of us is filled with contradictious feelings. One the one hand,
you are eager to honour the memory of the heroes and celebrate their
glorious victory. On the other, your rights and fundamental freedoms
are breached by your brutal compatriots.

Today’s heroes are jailed for nothing.

And you celebrate a holiday in a country where political persecutions
and violations continue every day. Until our heroes are imprisoned we
shall demonstrate firm determination and will-power turning holidays
and commemorations into a struggle day as we did on April 24 and May 9.

We shall attend the memorial complex of the Sardarapat battle at 1.00
May 28 /the oval square at the entrance/. Later in the day we shall
hold a public merry-making at Liberty Square," runs the statement of
the Centre.

YEREVAN "DEPRIVED OF" HISTORIC BUILDING

A1+
[02:56 pm] 23 May, 2008

The black building at the intersection of Tigran Mets-Hanrapetutiun
streets once housed the government of the first Republic. Today it
is getting more and more unrecognizable.

We tried to learn our citizens’ opinion of the construction although
specialists assure that the new storeys added to the building will
not spoil its appearance.

"I think badly of the construction. They have completely spoilt the
beauty of the building.

Unfortunately, it is not upon me to decide," said an indignant citizen.

"I wish the opinion of ordinary citizens were taken into
consideration," a woman expressed her concern.

"How will the authorities act if a well-off oligarch decides to add new
floors to the present government building? No matter what building it
is, a tiny or a huge one, it is an ounce of our history," said a woman.

Nevertheless, architects do not share public opinion.

"I do not endorse all those blacks buildings erected during the period
of Russian tsarism. They have nothing to do with our culture. They
are common to Russian towns of a medium size. The building reminds
of rags. It is not a Mozart to regret for its loss," said an elderly
architect from "Yerevan Project" Company.

"Today money plays a decisive role in Yerevan. It is the root of all
evil," he adds.

As the establishment of the first Republic is directly connected
with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation we tried to find out the
party’s opinion of the construction.

Kiro Manoyan, one of the leaders of ARF Dashnaktsutiun and the head
of Armenian Cause Office thinks the building had better become a
museum. "As far as I know it was privatized during Ter-Petrossian’s
office, therefore we could do nothing to preserve the building."

"The building was purchased by a Diaspora benefactor Hrair Hovnanian
in 1998, and the construction launched in 2007," deputy chairman of the
"Protection of Armenian Historic Monuments" Mikael Harutiunian says.

The building hosted the Committee of Cultural Ties with the Armenian
Diaspora in 1960-1998. Then I suggested preserving the building,
changing the interior and opening a museum of the first Republic.

But our suggestion was rejected. Thanks God, the facade hasn’t been
changed. All buildings of the street are three-storeyed. New storeys
distort the proportion and beauty of the sight," Mikael Harutiunian
adds.