Month: May 2008

ROBERT KOCHARIAN DID NOT ATTEND ARF CONGRESS

A1+
[04:24 pm] 21 May, 2008

Today the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) convened its 30th
Congress in the conference hall of the Armenian Government. All the
three coalition partners /Orinats Yerkir, Bargavach Hayastan and
Republican parties/ were invited to the Congress. AZhM Leader Vazgen
Manukian, AZhK Leader Shavarsh Kocharian, Zharangutiun MP Vardan
Khacahatrian and Raffi Hovannisian’s father Richard Hovannisian were
also among the invitees.

Serzh Sarkissian’s addressing speech was read by the President’s
Adviser Manuk Topuzian. The President hopes that together with a
reliable partner – the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – they will
manage to build a more democratic, defended and firm state.

Representative of the ARF Bureau Hrant Margarian referred to
the deeply-rooted corruption, shadow economy, poverty, unequal
opportunities for economic competition and privilages of the upper
class.

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian found the answers to all problems. He
had come to the Congress to familirize the ARF delegates with the
Government programme once more. At the end of his speech the Armenian
Premier said, "We urge you to seize the historic moment and become a
key participant of the programme. We shall secure all grounds for it."

Tigran Sarkissian left the conference hall immediately after his
speech. He was escorted by the ex and acting foreign ministers.

BHK Leader Gagik Tsarukian noted that the ARF is an old and experienced
party. Today the "political sphere is rather tense and requires
speedy decisions." He expressed hope that the coalition will manage
to solve the problems the country is facing today and they will have
a prosperous country.

OYK Leader Heghine Bisharian said that the OYK has been cooperating
with the ARF since its foundation.

The collaboration is aimed at thriving the Republic of Armenia
as country’s interests prevail over interpersonal and interparty
ones. The party has always acted for the sake of the country. She
hopes their partnership will be fruitful.

Hrant Margarian informed A1+ that HZhK leader Stepan Demirchian had
also been invited to the Congress.

Asked why Robert Kocharian didn’t attend the Congress, Margarian said
the former President is in England.

The Congress will continue its work in Tsakhkadzor.

ALREADY FIVE THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT AGHTAMAR SURB KHACH CHURCH THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 21, 2008

VAN, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Already five thousand
tourists visited Aghtamar Surb Khach Church in the first four months
of this year, five hundred of which were foreigners.

According to the Cihan agency, Izzetin Kutukoglu, the Executive for
Tourism and Cultural Issues of the state of Van, emphasized that this
year they expect a larger flow of tourists.

"AUTHORITIES WERE NOT READY FOR MARCH 1"

A1+
[07:50 pm] 21 May, 2008

"The opposition was ready for the March 1 events while the authorities
were not," ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian said today at
the 30th Congress of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

"The reasons for the authorities’ unreadiness are still to be
revealed," he says.

"Obviously, the clash was favourable for outer forces and for people
who dislike their homeland and people.

The clash weakened the country and opened a way for an outside
intervention. Moreover, the clash endangered the country’s reputation,
security and self-confidence to protect national interests on an
international level. We couldn’t sit around twiddling our thumbs
during the events." And to save the country the ARF entered into the
coalition memorandum.

Hrant Margarian says that the tension of the pre-election period
resulted in mutual hostility and the conflicting sides began defaming
each other through all possible methods. "The tense atmosphere worsened
and polarized still more. The former and acting authorities fought a
ceaseless struggle during the election. Those who complained of the
former leadership voted for the acting ones and the vice versa. They
helped each other securing votes and threatening innocent people,"
says Margarian.

He compared the March 1 occurrences with those of September 1996. They
were both accompanied by bloody clashes. The key actor in both
cases was the same person-in the first case as a president while
in the second as an oppositionist. I don’t want to bind you with
my opinion. But one thing is evident-all elections are conducted in
a tense and polarized atmosphere. "We descended on the arena as an
alternative force to the authorities and the opposition."

TRIAL ADJOURNED

A1+
[08:22 pm] 21 May, 2008

On May 21 the RoA Appellate Court adjourned the trial of Avetik
Ghrechian because of Advocate Armen Martirossian’s sickness absence.

Reminder, the general jurisdiction court of Gegharkunik marz had
found Ghrechian guilty according to Article 235 of the RoA Penal
Code. Ghrechian was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. He is
charged with bearing illegal weapon.

Commander of the "Arabkir" detachment Hovhannes Harutiunian was found
guilty by the general jurisdiction court of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeitun
districts under the same Article. He was sentenced to a 1.5-year
imprisonment.

WE SHALL CHOOSE THE MOST EFFECTIVE
N.Hovsepyan

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on May 21, 2008
NKR Republic

On May 10-14 the vice-premier, minister of agriculture Armo Tsatryan
and the executive director of NKR investment fund K.Essayan went on
a mission to Republic of Byelorussia. On May 19th after the talk with
the President Bako Sahakyan, A.Tsatryan answered also the journalists’
questions. The main aim of the visit is to get acquainted with the
technical equipment’s market of the place. New village technical
equipment is needed. And Byelorussia has rather great experience
in that field. The vice-premier informed, that during some days
of the mission they could visit a number of cities, different
factories. During the short-term visit the vice-premier could get
acquainted with the general situation of agriculture of Byelorussia.

According to him, here the previous huge farms are still preserved,
which gives chances of more active development of agriculture. And
in Byelorussia its results are available. Is it possible to use the
same model in Artsakh?

The vice-premier noticed, that it’s already long time that discussions
have been carried out about enlarging the farms, its positive sides
and chances of development, but now it;s futile. A.Tsatryan touched
upon also the general situation of agriculture in NKR. According
to him by condition of May 10th the sizes of realized spring sowing
outnumber the indexes of the same period of the previous year.

17TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATED IN NKR

Panorama.am
17:41 21/05/2008

The Government of Nagorno Karabakh has affirmed the project on
celebrating 17 anniversary of independence on 2 September. Panorama.am
reporter has been informed by the press service of the NKR Government
that the staff of implementing the project has been clarified
yesterday. The Committee will be headed by Armo Caturyan the minister
of agriculture and deputy Prime Minister of the NKR. The Government
order the rural and city communities to form committees and to present
a project package till June 15.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POLITICAL SHOWS CONTINUE
Vrezh Aharonyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 21, 2008
Armenia

Judging by all, the radical opposition has found itself in such
a situation that it is ready to turn everything into a political
show just in order to make L. Ter-Petrosyan’s image unforgettable
and be able to submit something new to the officials of the Council
of Europe. And the only objective they have is the following: to
politicize everything.

In such conditions, the deterioration of the health conditions of
Aram Karapetyan, leader of "New Times" party, and the subsequent
protest actions were a proper occasion for speculations. And it is
still questionable whether those who made speculations are really
concerned about A. Krapetyan’s health and whether they really want
the leader of "New Times" to recover.

There’s such an impression that the pro-Levon activists are not, as
a matter of fact, concerned about A, Karapetyan’s health. What they
need is to raise a new wave of dissatisfaction around this particular
candidate so as they will be able to announce before the PACE summer
session that "political detainees" in Armenia are not only subjected
to torture but also reduced to sharply deteriorated health conditions.

But what has really happened?

A. Karapetyan who used to represent himself as an activist ready for
all kinds of hardships (and even spending all his life in prison
for the sake of ideas) was unable to endure this situation for a
couple of months and found himself in a state of psychological and
nervous depression. This really resulted in certain health problems
such as labile blood pressure and some complications related to the
cardiovascular system.

That A. Karapetyan had to be under the supervision of doctors,
and everything possible had to be done for improving his health
condition nobody had any doubt about it. However, there are a number
of noteworthy circumstances in this story.

To begin with, A. Karapetyan and his lawyers anticipated that the law
enforces examining the case would be forced to change the precautionary
measure and release him under the influence of certain foreign circles.

However, the calculations did not come true. Let’s note that the first
signs of the deterioration of the health conditions of the leader of
"New Times" were observed 10 days ago; he was immediately provided
with medical assistance and relevant doctors were invited.

However, A. Karapetyan’s "almighty" mother-in-law and father-in-law
who reside in Moscow decided not to satisfy themselves with the
conclusion of the doctors and invited cardiologist Armen Gasparyan,
their relative, for consultations. The latter is an Associate Professor
in the Yerevan State Medical University (Chair of Ã’herapeutics)
and at he same time, conducts consultations in "Erebuni" Medical
Center. In addition, let’s note that A. Gasparyan is the cousin of
A. Karapetyan’s mother-in-law and is in a close relationship with
A. Karapetyan’s family.

Three days later, A. Gasparyan and two other invited doctors examined
A. Karapetyan in the NSS isolation cell and drew a relevant conclusion.

Furthermore, the other two doctors found that A. Karapetyan could
receive his treatment in a hospital for detainees, while A. Gasparyan
insisted that it was necessary to conduct the treatment in "Erebuni"
Medical Center.

With the purpose of avoiding speculations, the law enforcement
agencies allowed to move A. Karapetyan to "Erebuni" Medical Center
where, according to available information, he now feels quite
satisfactory. His health condition has improved. This is the reality.

As regards the protest actions, there are interesting circumstances at
this point too. For instance, they announced that they had been on a
hunger strike for two days continuously and, as a sign of protest, were
sitting in front of the building of the Prosecutor’s Office. However,
on the night of May 16, around 2 a.m., Hrachya Sargsyan, one of the
strikers, organized a small banquet with 7 other people in the park
situated the opposite side of the Prosecutor’s Office; they also
drank two bottles of vodka.

As mentioned by the eyewitnesses, the food-sack was brought by the
driver of a black "Mercedes Brabus" (registration No. 05UU135) who had
stopped the vehicle at a long distance from the strikers. Comments,
as they say, are needless.

So, the political shows continue.

–Boundary_(ID_B0c4MYyBopFgm/krBGLVtg)- –

79 LOST ARE DEAD

Panorama.am
17:45 21/05/2008

"79 lost Armenian soldiers, who were fighting against the enemy
in Hasan-Ghaya village in the war for the independence of Artsakh,
are announced to be murdered," said Manvel Eghiazaryan, the head of
"Arabo" NGO in the press conference today.

According to him they have got a video clip (he refused to mention how)
where Azeri side shows the soldiers murdered and buried in trench. "The
boys died with like real heroes. They could leave border line and
stay alive but they decided to stay and to fight till the end,"
said Eghiazaryan.

Rima Arakelyan the president of "lost soldiers" committee whose son
is in the list of those 79 was present at the meeting. She said that
the Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan has invited a meeting in this
regard. "All the mothers of those murdered soldiers and me demand to
award them as national heroes and to bring their bodies to burry in
Erablur together with their brothers," said Rima Arakelyan and added
that the minister said the point of awarding the soldiers should be
discussed thoroughly.

The minister Seyran Ohanyan said that negotiations should be conducted
to get the bodies of Armenian soldiers and Red Cross representatives
will also be present at the negotiating process.

WHAT WE NEED IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 21, 2008
Armenia

To Be Discussed Around A Table

As we know leader of "Heritage" party Raffi Hovhannisyan appeared with
a mediation mission, to set up government-opposition dialogue. He
invited the leaders of the coalition parties, including President
Serge Sargsyan and Levon Ter-Petrosyan for a "vital discussion".

"What is the sense of looking for a new format of a dialogue, in
case when the committee established by the decree of the President
has already taken concrete steps to settle the problems enshrined in
PACE resolution?

What is it that prevents Raffi Hovhannisyan from realizing his
anticipations in the framework of the existing format? Nevertheless
he is already involved in that process, by his participation in the
consultation held in the Presidential residence." Below we introduce
Raffi Hovhannisyan’s observations regarding the before mentioned
questions.

"It is very important to compare all the conceptual proposals on the
table and find the best one, instead of waiting for instructions from
Strasburg. In my view during the weeks to come, we must initiate the
process of this dialogue, based on the interests of our state. I would
be very happy if it starts today. But if it doesn’t take place for this
or that reason, we will continue to work in that direction, taking into
consideration all the remarks and criticism, because in our view it is
not the initiative of "Heritage" party but the demand of all Armenians.

It is not very important where and when will the dialogue be hold. Had
I received similar invitation, believe me, I would immediately
respond."

"As a pre-condition of the dialogue Levon Ter-Petrosyan demands to
release his supporters. Don’t you think this principle excludes the
possibility of the dialogue?"

"In my view those who have been detained due to their political views
must be released and this must be one of the priorities before June 20.

But dialogue presumes sitting around a table as soon as possible
and discussing all the proposals that can help overcome the
crisis. There are proposals from the both sides, pro-governmental and
pro-oppositional, so the only thing left to do is to sit and discuss
them. It is high time for each of us to unite around one idea. We must
set up a committee to investigate the details of the tragic events
of March 1 and release all the detainees who didn’t commit crime.

Meanwhile we must restore the freedom of speech of the citizens
of Armenia.

This is the complex of issues which need a tête-a-tête."

"Di d the coalition parties and radical opposition respond to your
invitation?"

"Not yet."

"Aren’t you satisfied with the approaches represented during the
consultation in the Presidential residence aimed at raising the role
of the opposition and mitigating the tension?"

"Yesterday I said, that if I were a member of the group I would have
introduced my objections, my special opinion. In my view we still need
a comprehensive project. We speak about justice, about the independence
of the courts. But this justice must be equal for everyone. There are
half steps towards this issue as well. As regards the issue of raising
the role of the opposition, we shouldn’t bargain around holding certain
positions, instead, our opposition must be properly represented.

In our program we tried not to concentrate on the pro-oppositional
and pro-governmental aspects. It is a proposal that presumes the
involvement of all the powers. If we change the places of the present
day opposition and government this program will still work."

"Many representatives of the ruling power, including President
Serge Sargsyan have accepted that they are also responsible for the
tragic events of March 1. Recently you also accepted your share of
responsibility, but still you failed to avert the bloodshed. How do
you estimate the fact that Levon Ter-Petrosyan doesn’t want to accept
that he is also responsible for what happened?"

"In my view everyone understands that they have their share of
responsibility for what happened on March 1, no matter they speak
about it or not. But the President and his main opponent, the first
President must feel political responsibility. But I don’t think,
by now any of them has completely accepted his responsibility.

I shoulder the responsibility of that tragedy as a citizen of Armenia
and I wouldn’t like to comment on the behavior of the other political
figures.

But on the other hand we must accept that we need to review lots of
thing especially our way of expressing opinions, and using certain
language, we must understand that today the interests of our nation
is on the scale."

–Boundary_(ID_aUILUpci5x50E18V/FvaQ w)–

NOT TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH PRECONDITIONS
S. Haroutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 21, 2008
Armenia

ARFD representative ARMEN ROUSTAMYAN, Head of the NA Foreign Affairs
Committee, presents his considerations on Raffi Hovhannisyan’s
"intermediary mission" of organizing a dialogue between the leaders
of coalition parties and L. Ter-Petrosyan, leader of the radical
opposition.

"Such proposals are not made in an impromptu manner. I learned
about the initiative yesterday, and I don’t think the individuals
R. Hovhannisyan has turned to are the least occupied people in the
republic. There is an agenda and naturally, a certain workload for
everyone, and it is impossible to attend that discussion, setting
aside everything else.

If Mr. Hovhannisyan acts as a party, I believe "Heritage" is a
party rather than a mediator because it supported L. Ter-Petrosyan;
therefore, acting as a mediator is a little bit unconceivable. I
think he could have raised that question there too. Unfortunately,
that didn’t happen.

A dialogue should be started from he right point, and it is necessary
to prepare for that. The working group works on a concrete document
that reflects all the problems specified by Mr. Hovhannisyan and
what’s more, there are clear-cut proposals in 9 different directions;
there are certain steps that have been undertaken and are being
implemented. Therefore, it’s still a question which document is
realistic: the one that was thoroughly discussed or the one that just
occurred to somebody?"

"Is there a big difference between the ‘complex program’ proposed by
R. Hovhannisyan and the option predetermined by the working group?"

"I don’t want present a thorough discussion of the document. I
repeat that the principal issue is that it is necessary to prepare
for a dialogue and not to start everything from naught. The working
croup continues its activities, and it’s really laudable that
Mr. Hovhannisyan was participating in yesterday’s hearing.

By the way, it is not required for the group to meet at the
Presidential Residence by all means; the meeting may take place
wherever Raffi Hovhannisyan likes. But our work should be scheduled
if we really want to achieve something through a dialogue.

As regards the contents, there are a lot of things acceptable to us;
moreover, we voiced those problems long ago. In particular, I don’t
see a big difference between the democratic center mentioned by
Mr. Hovhannisyan and the public council proposed by us. I believe
the important thing is the contents rather than the name.

In terms of raising the role of the opposition, we propose Donk’s
formula which clearly defines what posts should be held by each
political faction in the parliamentary committees. The National
Assembly currently has one pro-opposition faction. Mr. Hovhannisyan,
with his 6 MPs, is the only representative of the opposition,
but he has pretensions for 10 posts; he proposes that 4 members
be Chairs of committees, 5 members be Vice Chairs and in addition,
claims that the post of one the NA Vice Chair be reserved for the
opposition. That’s to say, 6 people should hold 10 posts, and this,
naturally, is not realistic.