Month: May 2008

SERGE SARGSIAN TO PRESIDE OVER AT 17th SITTING OF HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian President Serge Sargsian will
preside over at the 17th sitting of Board of Trustees of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund to be held on May 27 in Yerevan. NKR President
Bako Sahakian, Armenian and NKR Prime Ministers Tigran Sargsian and
Arayik Haroutiunian, Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Tigran Davtian,
will also take part in the annual sitting. They have been taking
these posts after the sitting held in June 2007 and are members of
Board of Trustees officially.

Vahe Aghabekiants, the Executive Director of the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund, will present Fund’s initiatives implemented in Armenia and
Artsakh, including those carried out within the framework of the
Rural Development Program.

According to the information provided by the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund, during the sitting, Fund’s long-term goals, short-term programs,
and urgent issues, as well as Fund’s coming fund-raising telethon’s
details will be discussed and decisions on them will be made.

On May 26, the eve of the sitting of Board of Trustees, a solemn
ceremony of awarding the RA President’s prizes will take place in
the RA President’s residence. The names of winners in 13 nominations
will be announced and the RA President personally will award the
prizes. The RA President’s prize is the considerable contribution of
Boghosian Fund to Armenia’s cultural life, since 2001.

PROGRAM ON HUMAN AND INSTITUTIONAL POTENTIAL DEVELOPMEMT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA ON INITIATIVE OF AED

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. With the financing of the USAID and
on the initiative of the Academy for Educational Development (AED),
a program on development of human and institutional potential is
being implemented in Armenia.

NT was informed by the AED Yerevan Office, experience of various
countries is being studied during pension reforms in Armenia. The
instructive trip to Sweden and Estonia organized thanks to efforts
of the USAID, the AED and Services Group Inc. has allowed 15 experts
of the working group on pension reforms in Armenia to study the
experience of making reforms in the pension system. Numerous meetings
and discussions of high-ranking officials, who implement reforms and
make decisions in the pension system, as well as representatives of
pension funds and the pivate sector, and experts were held during
the instructive trip.

The process of pension reforms and the basis for their legal
regulation and financial security, including a number of disputable
and requiring urgent solution issues, have been discussed during the
program. Discussions on the working group’s experience and knowledge
about pension reforms are continuing. The working group has developed
a document which is at the initial stage but already envisages the
logic of work to be done for the implementation of pension reforms. The
experience of other countries is also being examined.

AZERBAIJAN REFUSES TO HOLD TALKS WITH KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.05.2008 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan refuses to hold talks with the Armenian
community of Nagorno Karabakh, said a spokesman for the Azeri Foreign
Ministry.

"Karabakh is not functioning in accord with the Azerbaijani
legislation. This territory and other surrounding lands are occupied
by Armenia, which was involved in all illegal actions against
Azerbaijan. As result, some people in Nagorno Karabakh call themselves
official representatives of a legal formation," Khazar Ibrahim said,
adding that "talks with the Armenian community are possible only if
Armenians abandon Azeri lands and conditions for peaceful coexistence
of both Azeri and Armenian communities are created," Trend Azeri news
agency reports.

Earlier, NKR President Bako Sahakian said that Nagorno Karabakh should
hold talks immediately with Azerbaijan. "Nagorno Karabakh Republic is
the main party to conflict and it has priorities like other foreign
states," he said.

MONUMENT TO DEPORTATION VICTIMS ERECTED IN SEVASTOPOL

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.05.2008 17:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Events dedicated to the 64th anniversary of
deportation of nations from Crimea were held in Sevastopol. A monument
to Deportation Victims was unveiled.

The monument erected in front of the bus terminal corresponds a
pentahedral 7-meter high obelisk divided into black and white, the
colors symbolizing the life of peoples before and after deportation.

An inscription "Your sufferings will never be forgotten in the name
of life and justice" in the languages of five nations subjected to
deportation – Crimean Tatars, Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks and Germans
– will be made at the foot of the obelisk, analitika.at.ua reports.

THE OPENING OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER IS A POLITICAL PROJECT AND IN THE ECONOMICALLY ARMENIA DOES NOT NEED IT, NEITHER DOES TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2008 GMT+04:00

The opening of the borders can have a negative impact on Armenia and
also in the regard that the war between the Turkish regular army and
the Kurds may noticeably approach the Armenian border.

The congressman Adam Schiff introduced the bill calling the US
President of Senate to urge Turkey to raise the blockade of the
Armenian border. "The act of raising the Turkish blockade of the
Armenian border" presumes a response from the Secretary of State about
the measures of the USA for raising the blockade of the Armenian
blockade in 30 days after final passing of the document. "We must
intensify the pressure on Turkey so that it raises the terrible
blockade of the Armenian border, which will allow the Armenian
entrepreneurs to fully participate in the global economic procedures,
as well as will promote Armenia’s integration into Europe," said
Adam Schiff.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the assessment of the US Secretary
of States, due to the blockade the transport expenses of Armenia
make 30-35% more than it normally would. Besides, the blockade puts
obstacles on the way of American and international humanitarian aids,
which is a violation of the US and international humanitarian aid
standards.

Lately Azerbaijan has become the most active "protector" of Turkey
on the international arena. One can understand Baku very well;
it Turkey is suddenly forced to deploy the border with Armenia,
which is by the way under blockade with the request of Azerbaijan,
Baku will be left all alone in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict. Turkey is not a very reliable ally, but Azerbaijan does
not have any other choice.

The issue of the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border has a different
interpretation in Turkey. For example, the Deputy of the National
Assembly of Turkey, the former State Minister Reshat Dogry announced:
"From time to time this question is raised in Turkey. However, I think
that no international organization will be able to make Turkey open
the borders with Armenia unless the Karabakh Conflict is resolved,
unless Armenia gives up the idea of its claims on territorial integrity
towards Turkey, and finally, unless Armenia does not stop putting
pressure on Turkey in the issue of the Armenian Genocide. This is
the viewpoint of the Turkish nation and government," says the Azeri
Agency APA.

Unfortunately, the current Administration of the USA will hardly be
able, or will hardly want "to call Turkey to open the borders," but
maybe the next one will not follow Ankara’s tastes so blindly. First
of all the USA, only then Armenia and the entire region need it.

The opening of the Armenian-Turkish borders, as it has been mentioned
more than once, is simply a political project and in the economically
Armenia does not need it, neither does Turkey. In the given situation
we should take a closer look at Georgia, whose economics and industry
was destroyed due to the Turkish stock.

Something like this may be expected for Armenia. In the economic
point of view it is better to enjoy the contacts one has and not want
anything else. The strange thing is that the Turkish party is of the
same opinion. Non-official turnover of $400 million between the two
countries is most acceptable.

Together with this we should not forget, that in the provinces
bordering on Armenia are mostly populated by Kurds and sons of the
Armenians who have survived 1915. The opening of the borders can
have a negative impact on Armenia and also in the regard that the war
between the Turkish regular army and the Kurds may noticeably approach
the Armenian border, which is a very serious problem. Based on the
national security of Armenia, in the given situation the closed borders
with Turkey, at present, is the smallest of all evil, not mentioning
the fact that on the maps of the Great Kurdistan the huge territory
between Turkey and Armenia is "sought by Kurdish territories".

SOUTH CAUCASUS IN FOCUS OF NEAREST NON-CAUCASIAN NEIGHBORS – KAZAKHSTAN AND UKRAINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.05.2008 18:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Internationalization of the South Caucasus is
hotly debated by Russian expert circles and three former republics
of soviet Transcaucasia.

However, the talk about outer (or regional) players, are as a
rule restricted to the ENP implementation in Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan, the Political News Agency reports.

"Meanwhile, the South Caucasus is in focus of the nearest non-Caucasian
neighbors – Kazakhstan and Ukraine. It’s also worth mentioning that
Russia has strategic allies in the CIS, whose priorities and interests
in the Caucasus are unclear. With the USSR decline, the former soviet
republics lost the "sense of solidarity and historical gratitude."

"Former Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev offered mediation
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In 1991 Russia’s
first President Boris Yeltsin accompanied by Nazarbayev paid a
visit to the region. The journey resulted in a communique signed by
leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, in presence
of a representative from Nagorno Karabakh. At that time, Nazarbayev’s
mission was a failure. However, even after the USSR decline, Kazakhstan
pretends to the role of a post soviet space integrator. It focuses
on development of relations with Russia, U.S. and EU, what demands
pragmatism rather than ideology," the edition says.

"FAVORABLE" DISCUSSION WITH TEN MPs

A1+
[09:17 pm] 19 May, 2008

Today before the National Assembly of Armenia passed to its
routine activities NA Speaker Tigran Torossian congratulated Vahan
Hovhannissian on the election of ARF Dashnaktsutiun Leader and Heghine
Bisharian on the election of OYK Leader.

Afterwards Tigran Torossian presented the draft law to the amended
Law on "Meetings, demonstrations, marches and rallies."

Reminder: the law was last amended on March 17, 2008.

The Armenian parliamentarians haven’t got familiarized with the
conclusions of the Venice Commission yet.

Tigran Torossian said that they can read the whole text on the Internet
website in an English version.

Asked whether the NA has followed the recommendations and whether
the amendments meet their requirements, the NA Speaker said, "The
legislative initiative stems from the provisions of the memorandum."

The draft law allows holding spontaneous meetings with certain time
limitation. The ban on mass meetings can be appealed in the court. A
spontaneous meeting can last no longer than six hours. The next meeting
on the same matter will not be considered as spontaneous and can be
held after submitting a notification to the City Hall.

The authorized body is entitled to reject the notification if he has
"grounded official information" about forthcoming mass disorders and
so on.

There were about ten MPs in the National Assembly during the discussion
of the draft law. Most of them were Zharangutiun parliamentarians. The
draft law will likely be passed tomorrow after a "favourable"
discussion. Naturally only Zharangutiun MPs and nonpartisan deputy
Victor Dallakian complained of its shortcomings.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: HEARSAY ABOUT MY RESIGNATION FALSE

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.05.2008 18:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian
refuted hearsay about his resignation.

"Even before the May 12, 2007 parliamentary elections, I numerously
stated that I will continue my activities in the parliament. The
rumors are false and I will never comment on the issue again," he
said, requesting the media to prevent rumors of the kind, Novosti
Armenia reports.

Hearsay about Torosian’s resignation and appointment of current head
of presidential administration Hovik Abrahamyan as NA Speaker has
been spread throughout the republic recently.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN AND HEGHINE BISHARYAN – CHAIRMEN

Panorama.am
21:01 19/05/2008

Today the chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torosyan
said in the NA session that the ARF and Country of Laws have new
leaders. He said that Vahan Hovhannisyan is the leader of ARF and
Heghine Bishrayn – CL.

In the name of the parliament, he congratulated new members of the
Republican and Country of Laws parties Sukias Avetisyan and Ishkhan
Khachatryan. Note that the new members joined the parties after Armen
Danielyan became the deputy of the RA Chief Prosecutor and Arthur
Baghdasaryan – Secretary of Security Council.

Note that soon BA deputy chairman should be elected and the political
coalition holds discussions in this regard.

IN SUPPORT OF SASUN MIKAYELIAN

A1+
[04:17 pm] 19 May, 2008

Today residents of Vanatur settlement staged a protest action near
the National Assembly in support of the detained MP Sasun Mikayelian.

They were accompanied by invalid veteran Arshavir Bozinian. The
protesters had brought a letter with 11 000 signatures of Hrazdan
residents which held, "We urge you to stop groundless persecutions
and restore the detainees enviable reputation. We are sure that
we can solve home affairs ourselves without the intervention of
neighbouring states."

People waited for an answer in the rain. Bozinian intends to stay
there till 6 o’clock to meet the Speaker of the National Assembly
Tigran Torossian after a NA sitting.

"Who knows? Maybe, the 11 000 signatures don’t matter for them,"
he said and added that he must see the NA Speaker to know their
further steps.

The letter was passed to the NA Speaker through "Zharangutiun" MPs
Armen Martirossian and Zaruhi Postanjian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress