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THERE MUST BE A REGULATORY GOVERNMENT

13:30:35 – 11/09/2009
hos15144.html

Interview with the writer, publicist Tigran Paskevich

In your opinion, what is government and what are the mechanisms of its
formation and its functions?

In Armenia, the government is considered the mechanism of governance
and its system but the government is not only a mechanism of
governance but also a unity of systems which lacks today. Government
is the mechanism of governance and written laws, business, press, art,
church. But today some kind of centralization took place and included
all this in the system of governance. In other words, both the creator
of a law and its violator and those who are to protect it, everyone
are centered in the same place. If they really were separated,
independent from each other, they would have a regulating function
which is the number one function of the government.

What is this? Is it a special policy worked out by the government?

Hardly. There is no one within the government who would be able to
work out policy. I would speak about Robert Kocharyan rather than
Serge Sargsyan as the head of the government because Serge Sargsyan
was not the official of Robert Kocharyan’s epoch. This is the result
of Robert Kocharyan’s thinking which he fulfilled by force methods
surrounding him with people representing the petty bourgeoisie.

Was there not a petty bourgeoisie during ’90?

Petty bourgeoisie has always existed and will always exist but the
question is how important it is rendered. I think in our reality,
petty bourgeoisie has been clearly formed in ’60. Kocharyan’s thinking
met petty bourgeoisie’s approval and with his participation we got
what we have today.

Are the state and the government the same?

State and government are not the same. State is a firm value and
government is changeable. For example, Russia, Europe, America are
states which have existed for centuries but their government changes
sometime even unrecognizably. The more the government is changeable
the firmer the state will be. It is the bad government which equalizes
itself with the state. The good government on the contrary knows its
terms and knows it will leave but the state will remain.

Do you agree with the opinion that the nation deserves the government
it has?

No. Our people appeared in this situation not because they are not
able to make a right choice but after their election, there have
always been other results. In general, there is the tradition to
accuse the nation, but we may blame people only because they do not
get engaged in terrorism after being deceived. In the end, the history
of Armenia shows our people have always voted for the opposition: in
’98 Karen Demirchyan, in 2003 Stepan Demirchyan, in 2008 Levon
Ter-Petrosyan.

What about ’96?

I have the same opinion that I have always expressed.

How can the society retake its right to form government?

This right should not be returned to the society. Except ’96 which
needs serious studies, the society has always voted for the
opposition. This means that people see progress in change.

What qualities would you like the Armenian government to have?

Invisible government. I would like to have a government and not to
think about it. In the U.S., they ask who Condoleezza Rice is and
people wonder `rice’. This is an idealistic situation when people do
not think who is engaged in regulating the country. I do not say that
people do not have to be completely unaware of the government, let
those who are interested know it.

When will this mechanism of regulation form? Through change of
government?

Yes, change of government or changes of government. For example, I
consider myself a supporter of Congress and Levon Ter-Petrosyan but
when I am asked whether everything will better when Levon
Ter-Petrosyan comes to power I answer of course not, not everything.

Whose interests does the Armenian government represent?

The government in our country is engaged in self-protection.

HAK representatives affirm there will be extraordinary presidential
elections.

All political forces say something. They have their programs. HAK
demands the release of the political prisoners, extraordinary
presidential and parliamentary election and it is normal. A strategy
is worked out to gain aims. I am not for quick actions. To be sincere
I like our movement. Let us assume now Kirakos is a minister and
tomorrow Poghos assumes his office in result of a quick change. The
change of persons does not mean anything if the society is not
changing, if a civil system of values is not created.

How may the society be changed if it is deprived of free speech and
lives unaware of everything? How can the society be involved and
awakened?

My communication with people (in Yerevan and out of it) shows that the
TV channels under the governmental control fulfill an important task –
they teach the society to see a thing and to perceive another one. If
it was not so, the roads taking to Yerevan would not be closed on the
day of rallies and police officials would return home after work.

Interview by SIRANUYSH PAPYAN

Armenian boxer Andranik Hakobyan breaks through to world championship
final
12.09.2009 09:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Andranik Hakobyan bet Alfonso Blanco of
Venezuela during a men’s middleweight 75 kilogram semifinal world
boxing championship match on Friday.

Today, Hakobyan will fight Uzbekistan’s Abbos Atoyev for the
champion’s title.

Andranik Hakoyan is the only of 9 Armenian boxers who managed to
secure a medal for Armenia.

General director of South Caucasus railroad, Armenian minister of
health discuss cooperation

YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. General Director of South Caucasus
Railroad closed joint stock company Shevket Shaydulin met with Armenian
Minister of Health Harutiun Kushkyan, the company’s press service
reported.

According to the report, the sides discussed medical and health issues,
as well as provision of medical services and periodic medical
examination of the operating staff of the company.

South Caucasus Railroad cjsc shows interest toward various
medicine-related projects and programs, say the report.

In the scope of `Live with dignity’ charity program implemented by
Yerevan Center of Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction, the company
financed the operation of 9-year old Liana Hovakimyan.

The aim of the program is to help patients from low-income families.
Currently South Caucasus Railroad company is selecting new patients
needing their help.

South Caucasus Railroad cjsc fully owned by the Russian Railways is the
operator of the Armenian Railways under a 30-year concession agreement
signed on February 13 2008. The agreement may be extended for another
10 years if agreed upon by the parties. `0–

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES THE DELEGATION OF THE USA NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Defense Minister received
September 9 the representatives of Near East South Asia Center for
Strategic Studies, NDU, USA, among them the former US Ambassador to
Armenia Michael Lemmon, Dr. Roger Kangas, Col, Professor/Sr. Analyst
Anne M. Moisan.

Press secretary of the RA Defense Minister Seyran Shahsuvarian told
Armenpress that during the intercourse Seyran Ohanian stressed that
Armenian-American defense cooperation in military education, military
medicine, mine clearing, increase of peace keeping abilities and
revision of defense strategy continues to develop.

He pointed out the importance of the cooperation with the
internationally prestigious US National Defense University in the
spheres of security and defense, particularly, the education of the
senior officers of the RA Armed Forces, the research implementations,
etc.

During the meeting they discussed the project of organizing a congress
headed under the title "Security Challenges of Responding to Disasters"
with the support of the US centre and the European Security Research
Centre after Z. Marshal together with the RA MoD National Strategic
Research Institute.

Underlining, that the event will allow the RA ministers and departments
to experiment and improve the level of interdepartmental cooperation
for responding to disasters, S. Ohanyan expressed his readiness to
support the initiative.

A.VARDANYAN: ARFD’S POSITION WILL SURE TO BE SUPPORTED

Aysor
Sept 11 2009
Armenia

"Head of foreign ministry has to say that Yerevan’s officials are
normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations with Ankara upon condition
of recognition the Armenian Genocide by Turkey and international
community," Agvan Vardanyan, a member of Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnakcutyun said at today’s conference.

According to him, if Armenia’s FM does not make such a step, it may
only mean that there is any precondition in the Armenian-Turkish
negotiations.

"The reopened Armenian-Turkish ties of last year proofed that the
recognition of Armenian Genocide was stopped,’ he said.

Returning to the issue of published in August, 31, the two protocols
Swiss-participated between Turkey and Armenia, A.Vardanyan concerned
over the absence of paragraph according to which Armenian-Turkish
negotiations should be conducted without preconditions.

ARFD’s member told the party had prepared its own version of joint
Armenian-Turkish agreement which would be published.

As for the ratification of protocols by Armenia’s Parliament,
according to A.Vardanyan ARFD will vote against it if their proposals
are not accepted.

Politician said he was sure that "Dashnakcutyun" would be supported
in Parliament not only by members of "Heritage" but by members of
authorities as well.

Even though ARFD doesn’t manage to defeat the ratification, the
party will go on working in National Assembly following the new
tactics. ARFD’s representative didn’t tell anything about the new
tactics, "times will show," he said.

5 ARMENIAN SOLDIERS KILLED NEAR KARABAKH: REPORTS

Agence France Presse
September 10, 2009 Thursday 9:49 AM GMT

Five Armenian soldiers were killed in fighting with Azerbaijani forces
Thursday near the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh, Azerbaijani
news agencies reported.

Azerbaijan’s defence ministry did not confirm the reports and
Karabakh’s defence ministry denied any of its soldiers had been killed.

The Azeri Press Agency and Trend news agency quoted local
correspondents as saying that five Armenian soldiers had been killed
and three injured during an exchange of fire in the Aghdam district
near Karabakh. The ANS Press agency said four Armenian soldiers had
been killed.

A spokesman for Azerbaijan’s defence ministry told AFP he had no
information on the reports.

Karabakh defence ministry spokesman Senor Hasratian said that
Azerbaijani forces had fired on Armenian positions overnight but that
there had been no casualties.

"This is complete disinformation from the Azerbaijanis," he told AFP.

Armenian forces seized control of Nagorny Karabakh and seven
surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, in a war that
claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

The two countries have cut direct economic and transport links and
failed to negotiate a settlement on the region’s status.

Armenian and Azerbaijani forces are spread across a ceasefire line in
and around Nagorny Karabakh, often facing each other at close range,
and shootings are common.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER: "THE SIX-WEEK TERM ALLOTTED FOR SIGNING THE PROTOCOLS WITH ARMENIA HAS ACTUALLY STARTED TODAY"

APA
Sept 11 2009
Azerbaijan

Ankara – APA. The six-week term allotted for signing the protocols on
normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations has actually started today,
APA reports. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after meeting
with speaker of Turkish parliament Mehmet Ali Shahin that the term
allotted for signing the protocols actually started with this meeting.

"Six-week term began after the protocols were made public. The process
officially started after the meeting with speaker. The text of the
protocols have been made public, in this respect we are trying
to learn the opinion of all political parties, nongovernmental
organizations. Six weeks is a limited time and we will do our
best. Irrespective of the steps taken in the foreign policy, all
policies are legalized in the parliament. That’s why I held my first
meeting with the speaker of the parliament," he said.

Ahmet Davutoglu said the policy concerning Turkey-Armenia relations
will be discussed with the leaders of all parties that have faction
in the parliament and won over one percent of votes in the elections.

"We want to raise awareness of parties before the new session of the
parliament starts," he said.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DOES NOT COMMENT ON TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT ON ALLEGED SKIRMISH IN DIRECTION OF AGHDAM

ArmInfo
2009-09-11 13:28:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian Foreign Ministry does not comment on the Turkish
Foreign Ministry’s statement on alleged skirmish in direction of
Aghdam and death of five Armenian soldiers. Anatolian agency quotes
Turkish Foreign Ministry representative Burak Ozurgergin as saying:
"We are concerned about the occurrence of such incidents in days when
we are trying to ensure peace, stability and welfare in the Caucasus."

By unofficial data of the Azerbaijani press, the skirmish allegedly
took place approximately at 9:23am in the direction of Aghdam. Besides
the "killed" and "wounded" on the Armenian party, the Azerbaijani
party reports on wounding a Parviz Usubovm a soldier of the Azerbaijan
Armed Forces.

The NKR Defense Ministry Spokesman, Lt. Colonel Senor Asratyan told
ArmInfo called the above reports by Azerbaijani media misinformation
and provocation. The NKR Defense Ministry is devoted to ceasefire
regime, S.

Asratyan said. He also added that no emergency situations were
registered overnight either in direction of Aghdam or in any other
directions. He said that the reports by Azerbaijani media probably
aimed to lay the guilt for wounding of an Azerbaijani soldier in the
Azerbaijani army on the Armenian party.

Later today Armenian Defense Ministry made a statement the Azerbaijani
party presents the picture of a solider killed in the last year’s
Russian- Georgian war as the picture of the solider "killed"
on Thursday.

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV: SUBSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN CO-CHAIR OF THE OSCE MG WILL NOT BRING SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE KARABAKH NEGOTIATING PROCESS

ArmInfo
2009-09-11 13:31:00

ArmInfo. ‘I don’t think that rotation of the OSCE MG co-chair demands
deep commentary. Substitution of the diplomatic staff is a routine
practice’, – Vladimir Kazimirov said to ArmInfo correspondent when
commenting on appointment of Robert Bardtke to the post of the new
American co-chair of the OSCE MG.

He also added that such substitutions may affect the political line
least of all, especially that the OSCE MG co-chairs are limited
by the double frameworks: the policy of their governments and the
necessity to cooperate with their two counterparts. He thinks that
in this case one cannot speak not so much about the role of a person
in the diplomatic history.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES
THE AMBASSADOR OF USA IN LEBANON IN ANTELIAS

On Friday 11 September 2009, Michele Sison, the Ambassador of the United
State in Lebanon, visited His Holiness Aram I in his office in Antelias.
After an overview of the situation in the region and in Lebanon, His
Holiness Aram I emphasized the importance of strengthening national unity at
this critical moment in the life of the country.

The ambassador and His Holiness then discussed the positive contribution of
Armenians to American society. They also talked of the spiritual,
educational activities of the Eastern and Western Prelacies of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and their contribution to the democratic ideals of
the country. His Holiness Aram I mentioned the "2009 Year of Youth", which
he has declared, and which has provided the opportunity for youth in the
diaspora to discuss their vision of church for the 21st Century.

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.