Month: June 2009

JUSTICE MINISTER OF ARMENIA: ASSOCIATING ELECTIONS WITH VIOLATIONS OF LAW HAS BECOME TRADITION IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 13:30:00

ArmInfo. The public in Armenia closely associates elections with
various violations of the law, Justice Minister of Armenia Gevorg
Danielyan says regarding the elections to the Elders’ Council of
Yerevan held on May 31.

He said the elections were legal and met international criteria. ‘Such
perception has already become a ‘good’ tradition. However, it is
not accidentally that most of the alarms of violations often do
not correspond to reality. I have got an impression that the past
elections were much calmer than the previous ones and the pressure
on mentality was weaker’, the minister said.

ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN RECEIVES NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR VIOLATIONS DURING ELECTIONS TO YEREVAN CITY COUNCIL

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 13:19:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Ombudsman Office has received numerous complaints
for violations during the elections to the Yerevan City Council,
says the statement by Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunyan.

Thus, the complaints were mostly related to mass delivery of electors,
including from the towns of Gyumri and Vanadzor, to polling stations in
Yerevan; calls for voting in favor of specific candidates; violation
of secret ballot principle. Ombudsman received also alarms about
hindrance to activity of journalists and even cases of violence
to journalists. Ombudsman says that he is ready to discuss every
complaint on falsifications within his competence and calls on the
authorized bodies to verify the reports on the given violations. Armen
Haroutiunyan also condemns violence to journalists.

HEAD OF CE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES: ELECTIONS TO YEREVAN CITY COUNCIL MET EUROPEAN STANDARDS

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 13:18:00

ArmInfo. Elections to Yerevan Elders’ Council were organized in
conformity with European standards, Nigel Mermagen, Chairman of
the Observation Mission of the CE Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities, said at a press conference, Monday.

He welcomed the elections to the Elders’ Council held in Yerevan for
the first time and Armenia’s efforts to introduce democracy in the
country. N. Mermagen said the elections were satisfactory but with
some imperfections.

ARMENIAN CEC RECEIVES 770 MLN DRAMS FROM STATE BUDGET FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2008

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 13:09:00

ArmInfo. The state budget funds spent by the Central Election Committee
of Armenia in 2008, made up 1,9 bln drams, deputy Finance Minister of
Armenia, Chief Treasurer Atom Janjughazyan said during the hearings in
the Parliament on fulfillment of the state budget – 2008. According to
him, about 770 mln drams were envisaged for the presidential election
in 2008, 98,1% of which has been spent. 820,5 mln drams were directed
to the election for the local authorities, and this amount was spent
in full. 61 mln drams were allocated for training of CEC personnel,
and 36% was spent. 143,1 mln drams were allocated for maintenance of
the machinery. The Central Election Committee received 36 mln drams
from the Armenian government’s reserve fund.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN: AZERBAIJANI MEDIA DISSEMINATED MISINFORMATION, BLAZER

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 12:43:00

ArmInfo. ‘Azerbaijani media disseminated misinformation saying that
I have allegedly ‘recognized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and Nagorny Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan’. It is a blazer’, Vardan
Khachatryan, parliamentarian representing Heritage opposition party
faction, told ArmInfo when commenting on the ‘article’ by AzerTaj
correspondent Vugar Seidov.

‘The conclusions of the given ‘journalist’ are probably a desperate
attempt to respond to my speech at the meeting of the Assembly of
Western European Union in Saint Petersburg on May 14 in the presence
of CIS representatives’, V. Khachatryan said.

He said that certain Turkish-subject Chaush-oghlu that somehow occurred
in the unharmonious Azerbaijani delegation declared a hot speech
by tradition accusing Armenia ‘of occupation, crimes, violation of
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’ and other trash. In response, the
Armenian parliamentarian called on Azeris ‘for opening the eyes to the
truth on Karabakh’ and highlighted that the conflict in early 90s was
between Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabakh and not Azerbaijan and Armenia.

‘I emphasized that the conflict originated as a result of Azerbaijan’s
aggression against the peaceful population of Karabakh. Azerbaijani
militaries continuously annihilated the Karabakh people. Thanks to
heroic efforts of Karabakh fighters, the people could unite around the
idea of independence and win the war unleashed by Azerbaijan. After
my speech, which the Azerbaijani delegations failed to give any
reasonable response to, it had nothing to do but leave the sitting
hall. Evidently, the article by the Azerbaijani ‘journalist’ is the
very response to my speech’, Khachatryan said for conclusion.

No comment.

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB ON MONITORING THE COVERAGE OF ELECTIONS TO YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERLY BY TV CHANNELS

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 12:28:00

ArmInfo. On April 16 – May 29, 2009 Yerevan Press Club with the
financial support of the Open Society Institute monitored the coverage
of elections to the Council of Elderly of Yerevan of May 31, 2009,
by the broadcast media.

The preliminary results were reported at Friday Debate Club, Monday.

The research was administered in two stages: first stage – April 16
– May 1, 2009 (ahead of the pre-election promotion); second stage –
May 2-29, 2009 (period of pre-election promotion).

The monitoring covered 7 TV channels: 3 national ones – First Channel
of the Public Television of Armenia, "ALM", Second Armenian TV Channel;
4 channels of Yerevan – "ArmNews", "Yerkir Media", "Kentron", "Shant".

The monitoring object was all programs, aired at the evening prime
time of the abovementioned TV channels, containing references to six
parties and one party bloc/their leaders/representatives, running in
the elections of Yerevan Council of Elderly; as well as the airtime,
allocated for pre-election promotion of parties/bloc.

THE COVERAGE BY THE TV CHANNELS STUDIED both ahead of (April 16-
May 1, 2009) and during (May 2-29, 2009) the official pre-election
promotion, if one judges by the proportion of neutral and connotational
references, was characterized by relative impartiality. Thus, during
the pre-election promotion 95.8% of all references to parties/bloc,
running in elections, were neutral.

In terms of the nature of coverage the 7 political forces, running in
elections, can be conventionally classed into four categories. The
monitoring group classed with the first category the Popular Party,
which received greatest attention both during the sixteen days (April
16 – May 1, 2009), directly preceding the pre- election promotion
(44,481.6 sec.), and during the four weeks (May 2-29, 2009) of the
pre-election promotion itself (112,144.1 sec.). The main distinctive
feature in the coverage of the Popular Party was the fact that the
lion share of the airtime it received (94.7% before the pre-election
promotion and 89.1% during the pre- election promotion) came from
"ALM" TV channel, owned by the leader of Popular Party Tigran
Karapetian. Tigran Karapetian himself (heading the electoral list
of the party) got 98% of all airtime, allocated to his party at both
stages of the research.

The second category includes four parties, making up until recently
the ruling coalition: "Prosperous Armenia" (82,291 sec. on all 7 TV
channels on May 2-29), "Dashnaktsutiun" (66,987.8 sec.), Republican
Party (58,126.2 sec.),"Orinats Yerkir" (57,113.6 sec.). In terms of
aggregate volume of coverage, these four parties immediately follow
the Popular Party, yet the attention to them was distributed much
more evenly among all channels studied than it was in the case of
Popular Party.

The third category includes Armenian National Congress bloc that
is somewhat behind the quartet of the second category, but is also
the only of the 7 political forces, running in elections, to have
a negative balance of connotation references (0 positive versus 4
negative ones) during the pre-election promotion. Unlike 4 out of 5
parties, classed with the first and the second categories, the Armenian
National Congress has not received explicit attention on any of the TV
channels: while it was the leader during the pre-election promotion
in terms of coverage on the First Channel of Public Television of
Armenia, the gap between it and its rivals was insignificant.

Finally, the fourth category included the Labor Socialist Party of
Armenia, which was an explicit outsider in terms of the interest
received from TV channels during the pre-election promotion –
both overall, and on 6 of the 7 studied. It received the least
coverage and was referred to much more seldom than its rivals. The
Labor Socialist Party of Armenia was also the only that received no
connotation reference.

THIS PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN was most intensively covered by "ALM" TV
channels. The aggregate airtime this channel gave to 7 parties/bloc
was more than twice as much as that given by the other two most
active TV channels, "Yerkir Media" and "Kentron". Notably, 62.1%
of all airtime, allocated by "ALM" to 7 parties/bloc, was given to
Popular Party. Another significant feature is the fact that all three
TV channels that made up the trio of leaders in terms of attention to
elections had distinct political preferences, as mentioned above. This
can be interpreted to the effect that the wish of TV channels to
contribute to the victory of a certain political force is a more
powerful factor, stimulating their interest in elections, than their
mission to inform the public about important political campaigns.

DURING THE PRE-ELECTION PROMOTION the most balanced coverage of
elections was that on the air of the First Channel of the Public
Television of Armenia. The time, allocated to parties/bloc in the
editorial coverage, was distributed relatively evenly: Armenian
National Congress (greatest volume) received 4,639.9 sec., while the
Labor Socialist Party of Armenia (least volume) had 2,392.7 sec. In
terms of frequency of reference the first here was the Republican
Party of Armenia (67), the last – the Labor Socialist Party of Armenia
(15). 97.4% of references of parties/bloc on the PTA First Channel
were neutral.

In terms of airtime allocated to all parties/bloc during the
pre-election promotion the most balanced, after the PTA First
Channel was the Second Armenian TV Channel. These two are followed by
"ArmNews", "Shant", "Kentron", "Yerkir Media", "ALM".

In terms of frequency of reference to parties/bloc during the
pre-election promotion the most balanced, after the PTA First Channel,
was "Shant". These two are followed by the Second Armenian TV Channel,
"ArmNews", "ALM", "Kentron", "Yerkir Media".

Finally, in terms of the third dimension of balance, the share of
neutral references to the parties/bloc during pre-election promotion,
"Yerkir Media" TV channel (99%) surpassed even the PTA First Channel
(97.4%). The third in this ranking is "Shant" (97.3%), followed by
"ArmNews" and "Kentron" (96.3% each), Second Armenian TV Channel (96%),
"ALM" (90.6%). 9 out of 10 connotation references, recorded on the
air of "ArmNews", and 12 out of 13 on the air of Second Armenian TV
Channel were received by Republican Party of Armenia and they all
are positive. In other words, but for the particular liking these
broadcasters have to Republicans, their performance along this
dimension of balance would look much better, too.

In this regard it is important to note that ahead of elections
and during the pre- election promotion, all negative references to
parties/bloc, their representatives were made not by the TV journalists
themselves, but were contained in the opinions voiced by discussion
program/newscast participants. Meanwhile, the positive references in
some cases were made by journalists.

The data above show that the paid airtime for pre-election promotion
was only fully used by pro-governmental forces. This once again
brings forth the long- debated issue of the unduly excessive tariffs
for political advertising that do not contribute to ensuring equal
opportunities for pre-election campaigns.

At the same time, a whole number of materials were recorded during
the monitoring that can be perceived as pre-election promotion by
indirect signs, sometimes quite eloquent, that are not, however,
accompanied by an appropriate title on the TV screen. The monitoring
group is not aware of any investigation into such issues being made
by the National Commission on Television and Radio that is to control
the adherence of broadcast media with the electoral legislation.

Overall, it is necessary to note that the insufficiently distinct
definitions and omissions in the legislation, the lack of an adequate
control over its implementation remain the main factors that disallow
eliminating the traditional deficiencies in the election reporting,
along with the lack of plurality in the broadcast sphere.

POLICE PATROLLING ALL HIGHWAYS TO YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 11:06:00

ArmInfo. Police is patrolling all the highways to Yerevan, ArmInfo
correspondent reported at 10:00am local time on Monday.

Only few buses and route minibuses drive from regions
to Yerevan. Police is stopping any vehicle driving to Yerevan,
inspecting the documents of passengers. Part of them just remains on
the way not allowed to arrive in the city. Police patrols the highways
Yerevan-Yeraskh, Yerevan-Sevan, Yerevan-Armavir, Yerevan-Gyumri and
Yerevan-Vanadzor.

By preliminary data, the Armenian National Congress denies the results
of the elections to the Elders’ Council of Yerevan and is going to
rally near ‘Matenadaran’ Institute of Ancient Manuscripts at 6:30 pm
local time on Monday.

According to the preliminary data of Armenia’s Central Electoral
Commission, two parties and one political bloc overcome the 7%
threshold to the Elders’ Council of Yerevan. Seven members signed a
relevant protocol, except the Heritage Party representative. A total
of 412 464 people voted out of 771477 citizens having the right
to vote. The Republican party of Armenia gathered 190171 votes or
47,39%, ‘Prosperous Armenia’ party – 91141 votes or 22,71 %, Armenian
National Congress – 69871 votes or 17,41%, ‘Orinats Yerkir’ party –
20959 votes or 5,22 %, ‘Dashnaktsutyun’ party – 18648 votes or 4,65
%, People’s party – 8569 votes or 2,14 %, Labour-Socialist party –
1951 votes or 0,49 %.

The turnout made up 53%.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEPT MARKET IN ARMENIA SHOWS 4-FOLD GROWTH FOR MAY 2009

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 15:29:00

ArmInfo. Since the national dram devaluation shock in March, the debt
market of Armenia has gradually recovered. Over May 2009, corporate
bonds transactions grew almost 4 times to 1.1 billion drams. Last
month the market suffered 5-fold decline.

By data of NASDAQ OMX Armenia, 62 transactions involving the bonds
of 10 issuers were registered in May. IMEX GROUP was the leader both
by the volume and quantity of operations: 17 transactions for 193.4
million drams. ELITE GROUP bonds transactions proved in the last
position: 1 transaction for 599.7 thousand drams.

Tim Slater, HSBC Bank Armenia CEO, told ArmInfo the upward trends
in the dept market in Armenia were connected with certain growth of
interest rates.

T. Slater brought another important factor i.e. reduction of interest
rate on REPO-agreements by 1% by the Central Bank of Armenia. This
factor may boost trading and lead to growth of corporate bonds
transactions, he said.

Nevertheless, he said, new issues were the key factor defining the
activity in the market. T. Slater said HSBC Bank Armenia is not
planning a second issue of bonds for the nearest future. He said
the Bank will study this issue as the population trust in national
currency is regained.

By the latest data of NASDAQ OMX Armenia, corporate bonds of
11 emitters are quoted at the exchange at present : ARARATBANK
(second-issue bonds), Converse Bank, HSBC Bank Armenia, INECOBANK,
ELITE GROUP (first- and second-issue bonds), IMEX GROUP, ArmRusgasprom,
SHEN CONCERN (fourth-issue bonds), Tornton, Valletta (second- and
third-issue bonds), Ardshininvestbank.

ARMAVIA AIR COMPANY OFFERS FLIGHT VARIETY TO SOME CITIES

ArmInfo
2009-06-01 15:26:00

ArmInfo.Armavia Air Company offers a flight variety to Almaty, Minsk,
Tel Aviv, and Vienna.

Armavia press-service told ArmInfo the company offers the following
flights: Yerevan-Tbilisi then Tbilisi-Almaty, Tbilisi-Minsk,
Tbilisi-Tel Aviv and Tbilisi-Vienna.

The passengers will avoid problems with connection and time since
Armavia makes regular flights Yerevan-Tbilisi every day in the morning
and evening.

SIMON BAHCELI’S ARTICLE ON THE RENOVATION OF THE OLD SOURP ASDVADZADZIN CHURCH IN TURKISH-OCCUPIED NICOSIA FAILED TO REVEAL A NUMBER OF TRUTHS BY THE TURKISH-ORIGIN JOURNALIST
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra

Gibrahayer
27-05-2009
Nicosia

Dear Gibrahayer readers,

I am writing this letter regarding Simon Bahceli’s article on the
renovation of the old Sourp Asdvadzadzin church in Turkish-occupied
Nicosia, in the interest of revealing a number of truths the
Turkish-origin journalist failed to write.

To begin with, Bahceli contacted me on 5 May, informing me on
his intend to write the article in question. We met on 8 May
and I personally took him to Dr. Antranik Ashdjian’s office, the
Armenian Prelature of Cyprus and Nareg Elementary School, devoting
a whole morning for him; it was also I who provided him with the
B/W photographs he used in his article, as well as a large amount of
historical information. Sadly, he neglected to include my name, or the
names of Dr. Ashdjian – with whom he spoke for about an hour -and Mr
John Guevherian, with whom he also spoke at the Arachnortaran. Also,
I stressed to him, in person, on the phone and over e-mail that it
is very important that also he speaks with the Representative, Mr
Vartkes Mahdessian, which I very much doubt he did.

Not only that, Bahceli failed to mention that we attempted to visit the
chu rch on 14 May, after claiming he20was told by the UN we could. Upon
arriving at the gate, the guard (an illegal Turkish settler) told us
we needed a permit to enter. Bahceli phoned the UN and the UN told
him to phone EVKAF, but unfortunately it was not made possible to
enter the church site. He did, however, wanted to take pictures of
the church, so we went behind the Melikian mansion, where we saw two
Turkish-speaking persons inside the compound, claiming to be bidders
for the restoration. Asking them how they got inside, they told him
they had entered through a passage. We went back to the guard to ask
him if he could let us in too, since they were obviously in, and to
my utter surprise and fury the guard, together with two trespassers,
told us that they entered the site by themselves, he couldn’t kick
them out, but he couldn’t let us in either…

Now, with regard to the article itself, an unsuspected reader will get
the idea that there was never a problem with the Turkish Cypriots,
and that Armenian Cypriots left only because they felt safely in
the Greek Cypriot side of Nicosia… However, there is more to that
story (simply ask Manoug Mangaldjian, he will tell it to you as he
remembers it). Moreover, I was there when the people were speaking
to Bahceli, and I know that much more was said. Not to mention the
complete absence of any reference to the Armenian Genocide monument,
for which everyone he spoke with made mention, including myself.

Another thing: southern Nicosia for the government-controlled parts
but simply Nicosia for the Turkish-occupied parts of Nicosia? The
use of this makes not only the journalist but also the newspaper,
Cyprus Mail, responsible for this illegality.

Historical inaccuracies are also observed: the Armenian presence in
the area is about 500-600 years old, NOT 1000 years, and the church
was re-built in 1308, not the 13th century.

Geographical inaccuracies also exist: the church compound is NOT
located in the Arabahmet, but in the Karaman Zade quarter; this is
not a simple mistake, as the Turkish pseudo-state calls the whole area
Arabahmet, in the same way it designates 3 of the 4 Turkish-occupied
Larnaca district villages as belonging to the so-called "LefkoÅ~_a
kaza" district and 1 to the so-called "Gazimagusa kaza". Upon our
conversations, I stressed to Bahceli this fact, which he blatantly
ignored. And one more thing: why would the church not hold that much
importance for the Greek Orthodox? A church is always a church.

Finally, again stressing his T/C outlook, it is Ottoman Armenians
NOT Anatolian Armenians he should refer to.

I am very upset for this whole thing, and I hope the newspaper never
allows such mistreatment of the truth again.