Author: Badalian Vardan

GREENPEACE REBUILDS NOAH’S ARK ON MOUNT ARARAT

armradio.am
17.05.2007 13:54

The ecological organization Greenpeace began the construction of a
reproduction of Noah’s Ark on the Mount Ararat. The wooden ship will
make ten meters long, four meters wide and four meters in height,
independent correspondent Jean Eckian informs from France.

"We are in front of a second universal flood. But it is not yet
too late. If all the nations of the World make a turn in favor of
environment one will be able to avoid the catastrophe," indicated
Andree Böhling, Greenpeace expert in energy." "The politicians
must assume their responsibilities and cannot continue to look at a
world threatened to be submerged by the tides, the storms and floods,
while hundreds of thousands people lose their houses, which plants
and animals disappear by the diseases and dryness," he said.

To give more symbolic to his call, Böhling explains that, a caravan of
40 horses transferred, of the foot of Mount Ararat until an altitude
of 2.500 meters, a total of twelve cubic meters of wood’s pieces
intended to build the Arch of the 21st century. Twenty German and
Turkish carpenters will build the biblical ship, which in the future
will become a coaching inn of mountain.

The rebuilding of Noah’s Ark will be officially inaugurated on May
31 with the reading of a declaration of the climatic state.

–Boundary_(ID_P9kZ6OJRG9MlIA+wlslYZA)–

TAMAMYAN-JUST A NAME HEARD?

A1+
[05:24 pm] 16 May, 2007

"If any official’s guilt is proved, he’ll be definitely punished", –
Press Secretary of the Chief of RA Police assured today on the case
of Levon Gulyan, who fell from the second of the Police building and
was found dead under unexplained circumstances.

According to Sayat Shirinyan, the Chief of the Police immediately
ordered to start a criminal investigation.

"I want to stress, that the Police authorities are interested to
discover all the circumstances of this case and I want you to refrain
from any estimation, as far as the preliminary investigation is in
the process. But I have no doubts, that the Office of Prosecutor of
Yerevan will complete the case with multilateral objectivity and give
a legal estimation".

It should be noted, that according to the official report got from
the police, L. Gulyan, invited to the police station as a witness for
a murder case, asked for a up of water from one of the officials, and
as he went out tried to escape jumping from the window, but slipped,
fell from the second floor and died.

Levon’s relatives do not agree with this version and blame for his
death deputy chief of the General Depatment of Criminal Investigation
of RA Police Hovik Tamamyan. "If I say, that Tamamyan has nothing to
do with this case, many will thing that my opinion is biased. Let’s
wait for the preliminary investigation to be finished", – Sayat
Shirinyan said, adding, "they just heard a name and exploit it, if
it turns out that it’s really Hovik Tamamyan, all of us will blame,
and not only…".

Sayat Shirinyan assured, that the preliminary investigation will pass
in transparency, so that Levon’s relatives can be sure of the truth.

TWO-DAY SIT-IN STARTS AT FREEDOM SQUARE

Noyan Tapan
May 16 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of "Impeachment" bloc
Nicol Pashinian along with about a hundred supporters started a sit-in
at Yerevan’s Freedom Square on 6 pm of May 16. The sit-in will last
until the rally to be held on 5 pm of May 17 by "Impeachment" bloc,
"Republic" and "New Times" parties.

According to N. Pashinian, the Armenian land is being built based on
notions of several people, which is wrong. He said that the current
authorities have no idea of the state of ordinary people. "You don’t
know what it is like working in an office of an official. It is warm
here in winter and cool in summer, the office has all comforts,
and those working in it are isolated from life, having no notion
about people’s concerns," he noted. Representative of "Impeachment"
added the the people has a need for self-purification. In his words,
it takes a great moral strength not to sell one’s vote. "On seeing
that those who sell their votes make the majority, every person
subconsciously tends to join them," N. Pashinian said.

TURKEY SHIFTS TO "PROFESSIONAL STRUGGLE" AGAINST RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
May 16 2007

ANKARA, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Turkish foreign ministry made a
decision to send a diplomat for professional training abroad – with
the aim of struggling against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

According to the Turkish press, preference is mainly given to those
employees of the ministry who are familiar with the Armenian issue. It
is noteworthy that the Turkish foreign ministry will first send its
diplomat to a foreign country, particularly to the US, for attending
the Armenian language courses.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA HAPPY WITH OUTCOME OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 16 2007

YEREVAN, May 16. /ARKA/. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
is happy with the outcome of the parliamentary election, Armenian
Prime-Minister, leader of RPA Serge Sargsian told journalists.

"I said it on repeated occasions that if we received 25% we could
state we did good work. We always were modest in our aspirations and
I think we have done really good work," Sargsian said.

"Of course, nobody feels giddy from the success, nobody believes
there were no shortcomings, but no country can state it has a perfect
election system needing no further development," "Novosti-Armenia"
agency reports referring to Sargsian. Outcome of elections gives rise
to discontent everywhere.

According to Sargsian, there will not be discontent in two cases –
if no losers appear in the election and if 100% of population is
satisfied. But such a situation is impossible, hence always somebody
will be unhappy with the outcome, he said.

"We are happy with the results of the election. We set a level we want
to reach – to have both people and European partners assessing the
next election as completely conforming to the international standards,"
Sargsian said.

According to the preliminary information by Central Electoral
Commission of Armenia, the new Armenian parliament is to be formed by
three pro-governmental parties – Republican Party of Armenia (33.8%
or 457,032 votes), Prospering Armenia (14.7% or 200,443 votes) and
ARF Dashnaktsutiun (12.7% or 177,192) and two opposition parties –
"Orinats Erkir" and "Heritage" with 6.8% (95,256) and 5.8% (80,890)
respectively.

HENCEFORTH EACH ELECTION WILL BE BETTER THAN PREVIOUS ONE IN ARMENIA, RA PRIME MINISTER IS SURE

Noyan Tapan
May 16 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving on May 16 newly appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia
Massimo Lavezzo Cassinelli, RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian expressed
the hope that like former Ambassador Marco Clemente he will also
considerably contribute to further development of Armenian-Italian
relations in various spheres.

In his turn, the Ambassador assured that he will exert every effort
for strengthening for even more political, economic cooperation and in
general Armenian-Italian cooperation in all spheres having prospects
for the country attaching importance to development of partnership
both within the framework of European Neighborhood EU policy and
bilateral partnership.

The Ambassador first congratulated RA Prime Minister on the
occasion of holding the parliamentary elections mainly in line with
international standards and commitments assumed in the international
sphere. S. Sargsian expressing confidence that henceforth each election
in Armenia will be better than the previous one said: "No one can say
that the electoral system in his country is so perfect that nothing
should be done for perfecting it any more," the Prime Minister said
adding that Armenia will continue its steps aimed at improving the
electoral system.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA government
Information and Public Relations Department, during the meeting both
sides attached importance to the Italian experience, especially in
a number of spheres: tourism, small and medium-sized business and
other spheres, taking into consideration enlargement of cooperation,
joint interested work within the framework of Poverty Reduction
Strategic Program.

TURKEY’S ARMENIANS IN CROSSFIRE BETWEEN ‘FANATICS’ ON BOTH SIDES

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 14 2007

Photo: Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, patriarch to Turkey’s Armenian
community, feels Turkish Armenians are caught in the crossfire as
fanatics on either side attack one another.

Speaking to Zaman daily journalist Nuriye Akman, Patriarch Mesrob
II expressed his frustration with religiously motivated attacks in
Turkey, including last year’s killing of an Italian pastor and the
more recent slaying of three Bible publishers in Malatya.

"I can say that we sometimes experience the feeling of ‘being stuck
in between’ Turkish and Armenian fanatics. This sometimes appears to
me as being stuck in a crossfire and sometimes two kinds of love. Two
fires, for the nationalists on both sides are firing at each other
unabated, which is harder on us as the Armenians of Turkey. Two
kinds of love, because we have adopted and we love the language,
traditions and culture of both sides. For this reason, as I always
say, establishing peace between these two peoples would make Turkey’s
Armenians the most happy."

The patriarch also told Akman that having lived in a Muslim country for
centuries offered the benefits of an environment of tolerance between
different religions. "Church bells ringing and the Muslim prayer call
mix with each other, particularly in Ýstanbul, and create a mystical
atmosphere. At the end of the day both the church bell and the ezan
praise God’s name and call believers to prayer. We should stand against
any formation that might threaten this environment of tolerance."

Mesrob II also said he found it hard to believe what was currently
going on in Turkey. "In the neighborhood where I grew up we all lived
together as Turks, Armenians, Greeks and Jews and played together as
kids. Everybody used to know the dates of holidays for all religions
and exchanged greetings during these times. Now that I look at these
recent painful incidents we have been through I hardly know my country
that I had known as well as my own life."

The patriarch also expressed his opinion that it was time for Turkey
to improve dialogue with Armenia and the diaspora. "Journalists, youth
organizations, academics and civil society organizations should make
frequent visits to both countries and improve humane relations between
the two countries. Difficult issues could be dealt with later. First
mutual confidence and understanding should be established."

Patriarch Mesrob II also offered his belief that if Turkey’s Armenian
community was represented in the Turkish Parliament it would contribute
greatly to improving tolerance and understanding. "If our political
parties were more supportive of Armenian students who might be
interested in politics, they would have made a concrete step to
improve the more abstract concepts of citizenship and tolerance."

Common grounds between Islam and Christianity

The patriarch said there were many common points between Islamic and
Christian mysticism. "Mysticism is actually tantamount to transcending
the dogma. Is it possible not to agree with [Turkish Sufi thinker]
Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi on most issues?" He said Mevlana’s message
was most important, referring to Mevlana’s widely known poem, "Come,
come again, whoever you are, come!" The patriarch interpreted Mevlana’s
call as an invitation to the door of God. He also said he respected
Islam’s Prophet Mohammed as the founder of a great civilization. "I
feel great respect," he explained.

Sarkozy in France

The patriarch expressed hopes that Nicolas Sarkozy, who recently
won the presidential elections in France, would change his staunchly
anti-Turkish discourse once he took office. In response to a question
asking what would happen if a bill, taken up by the French Parliament
earlier, criminalizing the denial of Armenian claims of a genocide
committed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915, the patriarch said if the
bill reappeared on the agenda it would harm French-Turkish relations.

Instead, he opined that a board of Turkish and Armenian historians
as well as French historians should be set up to investigate
the allegations and the relations of the two nations throughout
centuries. "True, painful events happened under the Union and Progress
government [which came to power in 1908], however it would be wrong
to leave an entire history behind the shadow of those incidents,
given the friendly relations the Turkish and Armenian people have
had since the fifth century."

–Boundary_(ID_PP5tTNJ3akTaioU90Yk rNg)–

CFSP Statements
13.05.2007
/CFSP_Statements/May/0513Armenien.html

EU Presidency statement on the parliamentary elections in Armenia

The Presidency of the European Union notes with satisfaction that the
parliamentary elections held in Armenia on 12 May were, on the whole,
conducted fairly, freely and largely in accordance with the
international commitments which Armenia had entered into. The
Presidency welcomes the fact that, compared to previous elections,
significant progress has been made.

The Presidency also welcomes the fact that the parliamentary elections
were observed and monitored closely and in a professional manner by a
comprehensive ODIHR election observation mission and by delegations
from the OSCE and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblies. The
Presidency has taken note of the interim joint statement issued by
these election observation missions on 13 May.

Looking ahead to the presidential elections due to be held at the
beginning of 2008, the Presidency calls on Armenia to investigate and
resolve the procedural problems which still exist, particularly those
concerning vote-counting but also the isolated cases of irregularities
which were observed.

The Presidency of the European Union is very much in favour of
intensifying cooperation with Armenia. This would breathe new life
into the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Action Plan agreed
under it.

PanARMENIAN.Net

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Armenia
12.05.2007 15:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian who was in Strasbourg to attend the 117th
session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council
of Europe met Mr Thomas Hammarberg, Council of
Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights. The parties
discussed a scope of issues including Mr Hammarberg’s
upcoming visit to Armenia.

Minister Oskanian also met State Secretaries of Spain
and Sweden.

When briefing on Armenia’s fulfillment of its
commitments to the CoE, the RA FM noted that Armenia
is concerned in a fair and free parliamentary election
and voiced hope for a positive report of the
OSCE/ODIHR observers.
Mr Oskanian also replied to the questions referring to
Armenia’s regional ties, parliamentary elections and
negotiations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, the RA MFA press office reported.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
May 11 2007

Fear Stalks Armenian District on Eve of Poll

Regional governor accused of intimidating opponents, leaving voters
with few choices in assembly ballot.

By Gayane Mkrtchian in Syunik (CRS No. 391 10-May-07)

Armenia’s southern mountainous region of Syunik used to be loved for
its spectacular scenery, but nowadays it is more associated with its
controversial `marzpet’ or governor who is making waves during the
current parliamentary election campaign.

`The marzpet of Syunik is the master of the situation – in the
negative sense, of course,’ said Harutiun Hambardzumian, head of the
non-governmental organisation The Choice is Yours. `He controls
everything. The authorities organise the elections perfectly so that
there are no evident violations of law. But people are scared and
terrorised. The atmosphere of fear is so strong that people do not
dare to revolt, they do what they are told.’

The governor, who is appointed by the central government in Yerevan,
is Suren Khachatrian, more commonly known by his nickname Litska, a
modified form of the Russian word `lisa’ or fox, signifying his
alleged cunning.

In recent elections, the city of Goris 250 kilometres south of
Yerevan, has always elected the candidate of the pro-government
Republican Party of Armenia, backed by Khachatrian.

The head of the regional electoral commission Arman Stepanian says
that he is proud of the high turnout his district always enjoys, and
that he has never seen any irregularities in the polls.

The candidate for the forthcoming May 12 election for the opposition
nationalist Dashnaktsutiun party – formerly a member of the governing
coalition of Armenia – disputes this, and is highly critical of the
governor’s role in elections.

`In Syunik, especially in Goris, there have been many gross,
outrageous violations of people’s rights,’ said Samvel Harutiunian.
`Syunik rightly has the most negative electoral record in our
country.’

There are many serious allegations against the governor and his
family, several of them raised by the Yerevan newspaper Aravot.
Khachatrian strongly rejects them all, while conceding that several
of his relatives have got into trouble with the law.

The governor’s nephew, Mayis Khachatrian, is serving a jail sentence
in Yerevan, having been transferred there from Goris prison on health
grounds. He was convicted of having stabbed 33-year-old Hovhanes
Badalian to death. Other relatives have been accused of acts of
aggression and violence by the Yerevan media but have not been
prosecuted.

IWPR tried to put the allegations to the governor, but was unable to
get an interview.

Although an election campaign is in progress, the opposition parties
have barely been able to hold any meetings in the towns of Syunik –
Goris, Sisian and Kapan.

When Vazgen Manukian, a former Armenian prime minister and a veteran
of the Soviet-era independence struggle, visited Kapan, he was denied
both a hotel room and prevented from organising a meeting with
voters. Manukian said that the manager of a hotel in Goris where he
tried to get a room told him he received got angry calls from the
police asking why he was giving shelter to an `enemy’.

The press secretary of the opposition Heritage Party, Hovsep
Khurshudian, said they were constantly receiving alarming reports
from Syunik and had lost the services of almost 40 party activists
who came under pressure. He said that Syunik was the only place in
Armenia where voters were even afraid to take campaign leaflets from
activists.

`As soon as they saw us approaching, they just turned around and
left,’ he said. `It’s a feudal regime here, it’s unacceptable for
Armenia.’

Khachatrian said he knew nothing about harassment of Manukian and
that no one in his district was being intimidated. `I’ve been elected
parliamentary deputy three times by majority vote,’ he told Aravot.
`I’ve been elected mayor and head of city administration, but with no
violations. We do not pressure anybody. People have their own views.’

The local leader of the Heritage Party, Mher Kumunts, blames
opposition parties and the public for being passive and colluding in
the climate of fear. `The weakness of the people is abused by other
forces who act more aggressively,’ he said. `We ourselves are the
creators of our fear; we wouldn’t be scared by others if we weren’t
afraid ourselves.’

Meanwhile, residents feel they have little choice come the weekend
election. One local approached by IWPR in Goris market said,
`Everyone here says they will vote for the Republican Party because
they don’t want to lose their jobs.’

Gayane Mkrtchian is a reporter with ArmeniaNow,