Month: June 2009

ARMEN CHAKHALYAN WAS ILLEGALLY KEPT AT AKHALKALAKI POLICE FOR SEVERAL HOURS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 16:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 30 2009 Akhalkalaki police arrested
Armen Chakhalyan, Javahk activist Vahan Chakhalyan’s brother on
fabricated charge of driving without license. After being illegally
kept foe several hours and having undergone physical violence, Arman
Chakyalyan was set free. Yet, his car was dragged away to Akaltsikhe
on an evacuator.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES YEREVAN CITIZENS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 17:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated Yerevan
citizens on first elections to Elders’ Council. Declaring such
elections as the start of a new government system, the President
considered them a big advance towards enhancing democratic
mechanisms. Mr. Sargsyan also congratulated "Prosperous Armenia"
and Armenian National Congress (ANC), noting the latter’s progress
during pre-election campaign.

"May 31 elections and the whole electoral campaign came to prove that
we were capable of overcoming all difficulties we encountered in the
past," he said.

Touching upon electoral incidents, the President noted, "Unfortunately,
wrongdoings were observed in some polling stations. But my position
is firm: individual interests cannot prevail over state interests,"
Mr. Sargsyan stressed.

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL SHOCKED BY YESTERDAY’S ELECTIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 17:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We are just shocked by what we saw with our own
eyes. Never before were such kind of cynical and illegitimate elections
held in Armenia. If elections in our country are marred by such
disgrace, why do we conduct them at all?" Amalia Kostanyan, Chairwoman
of Transparency International-Armenia, told a news-conference.

Mr. Kostanyan distinguished 3 stages of falsifications and wrongdoings
during elections. First stage (08-10 a.m.): minor breaches, including
ballot box stuffing and repeated voting. Second stage (around 12:00):
intimidation of observers and journalists by skinheads and bodyguards
of some local leaders (authorities). Third stage (from 05:00 p.m.):
disputes among commission members on the number of ballots to be
cast in favor of this or that candidate. "Perhaps, the preliminary
agreement was breached," Ms. Kostanyan noted.

She particularly focused on polling station N.8 where there were no
opposition representatives. "I am sure that even if some representative
of Heritage Party had been present there, he wouldn’t have managed
to cope with the situation," she added.

CENTRALIZED EXAMINATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM JULY 15-26

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Unified State Examination Committee’s first meeting
was held today, attended by RA Education and Science Minister Armen
Ashotyan.

"University examinations in Armenia have always been in the center
of public attention. It’s therefore important to organize our work
with maximum openness," he said.

As of today, number of university entrants in Armenia comprises 10
000, 159 of whom have special privileges, specifically, 78 entrants
– children of Karabakh war participants, 68 – physically challenged
children, 13 – parentless children.

According to Unified State Examination Committee’s decision,
centralized examinations will be conducted from July 15-26.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VAZGEN MANOUKYAN APPOINTED PUBLIC COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 18:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 29, President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree
on approving the staff of RA Public Council. The following list of
members was confirmed: Robert Atoyan, Stepan Gishyan, Karine Danielyan,
Hovhannes Tadevosyan, Babken Harutyunyan, Henrik Hovhannisyan, Bishop
Markos Hovhannisyan, Ara Minasyan, Hovik Mousaelyan, Hayk Sargsyan,
Sos Sargsyan and Armen Ter-Tachatyan.

Under another decree issued by President on May 30, Vazgen Manukyan
was appointed as Public Council Chairman.

BULGARIA TO COLLABORATE WITH ARMENIA IN ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS RESTORATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 18:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 29 -June 4, Armenia will host various
events within the framework of Bulgarian Culture Year. RA and
Bulgarian Ministries of Culture are implementing cultural program
with participation of well-known national and classical Bulgarian
dance ensembles.

"Due to the similarity between our people and countries, Armenia
impressed me as a country I’ve known for long, though I am here
for the first time. I’m glad that Bulgaria has a chance to present
a major cultural program in Armenia," Bulgarian Deputy Minister of
Culture Ivan Tokadjev told at the opening of Bulgarian Culture Year.

According to him, Bulgaria has taken major preparations for the Year
of Bulgarian Culture in Armenia and is looking forward to the Year
of Armenian Culture in Bulgaria.

Ivan Tokadjev also expressed a hope that an agreement will be
reached between the two ministers for collaboration in restoration
of historical and architectural monuments and tourism.

He assured that Bulgaria is ready to offer Armenia a possibility to
share experience that Bulgarian experts gained while collaborating
with Italian and French organizations, engaged in restoration of
memorials and tourism development.

"Armenia and Bulgaria have to find their niche in Tourism development
considering the specificity and uniqueness of both countries’
cultures," Ivan Tokajev said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA FORCED BENETTON TO BACKED AWAY FROM ITS ORIGINAL PLANS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Benetton Turkey has backed away from its original
plan to open a store in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia,
after coming under heavy pressure from Tbilisi, the Wall Street
Journal has reported.

"The fashion company’s controversial plan to launch a fashion shop
in a war-ravaged corner of the former Soviet Union has drawn it into
a bitter political dispute," the newspaper wrote in its weekend
issue. "Benetton Group has revoked its decision to open the shop
in the disputed Black Sea region of Abkhazia after senior Georgian
politicians expressed anger and Benetton retailers in Georgia closed
their stores in protest. This is the first time an international
brand has been targeted over its links to Abkhazia."

The plan to open up shop in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, met
with protest from seven Benetton shops in Georgia, which closed their
doors in protest, the Journal wrote.

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze described Benetton Turkey’s
proposed move as "outrageous," the newspaper reported.

Added the newspaper: "In Abkhazia, this will be seen as another example
of Georgian intimidation aimed at economically isolating the region
and thwarting its desires for genuine independence."

ERDOGAN CALLED FOR SPEEDY SETTLEMENT OF NKR CONFLICT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 19:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Time has come to put an end to Karabakh conflict,
a factor that impedes regional development. I have optimistic
attitude towards Armenian and Azeri Presidents’ upcoming meeting in
St. Petersburg. Everything depends on Armenia and OSCE MG Co-Chairs
who have committed themselves to conflict settlement," Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on public TV.

Karabakh conflict, according to the Turkish official, is Turkey’s
problem as well. "We directly announced it to our Russian,
American and European partners, calling on them to settle the
conflict within shortest time-limits. It’s the main problem impeding
regional development. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum and
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars pipelines, as well as Nabucco project testify to
our close ties with Azerbaijan. Good circulation between our states
has already exceeded the sum of USD 2 billion. Turkish investments
in Azerbaijan’s oil sector comprise USD 3 billion. The only problem
we have is Karabakh issue; its solution requires international
community’s firm position. We want Co-Chairs to realize their share
of responsibility," Erdogan stressed.

Turkish Prime Minister also emphasized army’s role in Turkish
society’s life, reminding one’s again that his country was an
energy corridor between Middle East, the Caspian Sea and the West

PEACEMAKING EFFORTS OF TURKEY IN THE CAUCASUS ARE INTENDED SOLELY FOR THE EXTERNAL EFFECT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 19:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I view peacemaking efforts of Turkey in the Caucasus
as a step intended solely for the external effect rather than for
attaining real results, a diplomatic move, pursuing multiple goals,"
Lev Spivak, director of "JC Public Relations Research" institute
stated.

"First, in response to the continuing unwillingness of the EU to
open doors to Turkey to join the European community, Ankara thus is
thus demonstrating itself as a leading player in the region. Second,
Turkey is thus demonstrating its interest in meeting the interests of
its new regional friends. And third, the very fact of the peacekeeping
efforts of Turkey is an additional lever of pressure on Azerbaijan."

"In this situation, it would be timely to ask three
questions. First: whether Turkey is interested in solving the
Azerbaijan-Armenian conflict? Second: whether Turkey is able to
settle the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, considering the polarity
of the positions of the parties in the issue over the future of
Nagorno-Karabakh? And the third question: whether the United States,
Russia, the OSCE or Iran are ready to hand over the mandate of a
major peacemaker to Turkey on a goodwill basis?" Day.az cited Spivak
as saying.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KNESSET TO PASS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION BILL?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 19:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It’s quite likely that Israel will adopt a law
on recognizing Armenian Genocide, "JC public relations research"
institute’s director Lev Spivak has said. The issue, according to the
Jewish analyst, should be viewed from the angle of the recent thaw
in Armenian-Turkish ties, as well as Turkey’s willingness to consider
real possibilities for parliament’s passing a law against genocide.

"At the same time, I daresay, nothing of the kind will happen, at
least under Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman," Day.az quotes Spivak
as saying.