Author: Boshkezenian Garik

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| 14:47:13 | 15-04-2005 | Politics |
THIS IS A DIFFERENT OBJECT
In 2002 the RA Government got the right to make the list of the objects of
state importance near which social events are forbidden.
The RA President residence, the Central Bank, the National TV and Radio
companies, the Armenian nuclear power station, the gas underground stores,
their serving buildings and the upground sputnik `Orbit-2′ are included in
the list.
`The including of the first four objects in the lists directly contradicts
the aim of organizing meetings, because the meetings are usually directed to
the executive bodies; besides they also contradict the 26th article of our
Constitution and the 11th article of the European convention’, said Vardan
Pogosyan, head of he non-governmental organization `Democracy: Center of
Political and Law Investigations’, during the round table in which the RA
Law about `Organizing meetings, marches and demonstrations’ was discussed.
In other objects, according to him, there can be restrictions, but all of
them must be confirmed by law, as the 44th article of the Constitution
states that the restrictions can be confirmed only by law.
`The decision of the Government is no law, and if the legislative body
decides a list of restricted objects, they must be directly confirmed by the
RA Law about `Organizing meetings, marches and demonstrations’, comments
Vardan Pogosyan.

Turkey calls on Armenia to agree to joint research on Armenian massacres
AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2005

Turkey’s foreign minister told an open session of parliament Tuesday
that his government is calling on Armenia to jointly research the
killings during World War I, Armenians say was a genocide.
Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians during World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman
Empireas as part of a campaign to force them out of eastern
Turkey. Turkey denies this.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s call, unusual in its openness, comes
two weeks before the 90th anniversary of the date that Armenians mark
as the start of the killings. Turkey is keen to head off Armenian
pressure on European countries and the United States to mark the
anniversary by recognizing the killings as a genocide.
There was no official reaction in Armenia to Gul’s call, but Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in February that Armenia had no
intention to conduct additional research on an issue that it regarded
as a historical fact.
Gul said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a letter to
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, inviting Armenia to help set up a
joint research committee.
“No doubt, a positive response from Armenia to our call, would
contribute to improving our relations,” Gul said. “We call on all
countries to use their influence on Armenia and encourage it to accept
this call.”
Turkey has no diplomatic ties with Armenia.
France and Russia have already declared the killings a genocide and
there is strong pressure from Armenian diaspora groups on the
U.S. Congress to recognize the killings as genocide.
The issue is extremely sensitive in Turkey and Turks in the past could
face prosecution for saying the killings were genocide.
The issue was rarely talked about in the past in Turkey, but recently,
facing EU pressure, Turkey has been opening up on the subject.
In rare self-criticism, Gul said Turkey has neglected to properly
respond to the Armenian accusations.
“Unfortunately, Turkey has failed to do necessary homework … and
this has led to the false image that Turkey was hiding something,”
said Gul.

Armenian president favours equal business opportunities
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
13 Apr 05
[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held a working
meeting with the newly-elected members of the board of the union of
industrialists and entrepreneurs.
They informed the Armenian president about problems raised at a recent
congress of the union and said that they expect assistance in solving
them. The meeting discussed issues concerning the creation of
conditions for competition, assistance to the export of products and
other issues.
The Armenian president pointed out that measures are being taken to
eliminate favouritism and ensure equal competition in business. The
president also said that in this connection, the presidential
administration’s supervisory service has conducted checks among
officials of tax and customs structures to find out whether they
monitor the business of people under their supervision. The service
has also prepared a list of 300 malicious tax defaulters.
[Kocharyan] I regard you as my colleagues and we must clearly discuss
all issues related to the economic policy of our country. It is
important to trust each other in solving these problems. I am sure
that if there is no ideal situation in this sphere, we will not be
able to resolve these problems. But life has shown that we are able to
stand up to competition in this region. This is our best advantage. No
oil resources can substitute it.

Modesto Bee, CA
April 11, 2005, Monday, ALL EDITION
WALK OF REMEMBRANCE
A group of young people carrying “March for Humanity” banners made
their way through Modesto on Sunday as part of a 19-day march meant
to draw attention to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
About 14 young people, ages 17 to 24, began their walk in Fresno on
April 2 and expect to reach Sacramento by April 21. They were joined
by other supporters en route and began Sunday’s walk at the Modesto
airport. By late afternoon, the group, above, was heading north on
McHenry Avenue toward Escalon. “Our goal is to raise awareness about
the Armenian genocide, to have it properly commemorated,” said Serouj
Aprahamian, 23, of Los Angeles. California and 36 other states
recognize the genocide, but the federal government does not. About
1.5 million Armenians were killed between 1915 and 1923, when the
Ottoman Empire ruled Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSIAN: “MAY 9, BEING A DOUBLE HOLIDAY FOR OUR NATION, IS
CORDIAL TO EVERY ARMENIAN FAMILY”
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. An enlarged session of the
Government’s Committee on organizing celebrations dedicated to the
60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was held at
the RA Defence Ministry headed by Serge Sargsain, the Chairman of the
Committee, the Defence Minister. Regional governors of all the marzes
of the republic, heads of numerous departments, responsible persons
for organizing and holding the event were present at the session. As
Colonel Seiran Shahsuvarian, the RA Defence Ministry’s Press Secretary
informed Noyan Tapan, the process of holding celebrations dedicated to
the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was
discussed at the session. On the whole, approving works done up to
date, those present made a number of proposals concerning holding
events up to the mark. On behalf of 9015 veterans of the Patriotic War
now alive in Armenia, Major General Rafik Karapetian, the Chairman of
the Council of Veterans’ Union of Labor, Armed Forces and Legal Bodies
of the Great Patriotic War, represented their proposals and
particularly the request addressed to the Yerevan Mayor to name a
school in Yerevan after General Safarian, to which Mayor Yervand
Zakharian responded that the issue will get its solution during a
week. Presenting the list of TV and radio broadcasts during the year,
Aleksan Harutiunian, the Chairman of Public TV and Radio Company’s
Council informed about remarkable films, being shot at “Yerevan”
studio of TV films, telling about Armenian soldiers burried in
Europe. Academician Fadey Sargsian, the President of the National
Academy of Sciencies, expressed in his speech deep appreciation to the
RA President, RA Government and particularly to the Defence Ministry,
to those present for approaching organization of anniversary
celebrations of the Great Patriotic War with great warmth and
readiness, emphasizing that it is more than necessary not for veterans
but for the young generation, directed to education of its military
patriotic soul. Summ! ing up re sults of the meeting, Serge Sargsian
mentioned: “I am sure that May 9, being a double holiday for our
nation, is cordial to every Armenian family. And I am more sure that
proper holding of the glorious holiday is provided by tender-hearted
and affecting approach of each of us to the work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
FRANCE DOES ITS BEST FOR FAIR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
12.04.2005 03:29
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «No hearing over the Karabakh issue is scheduled in the
French Senate. On the whole I do not have information whether the hearings
will be held or not,» President of the French-Azeri Friendship Group of the
French Senate Ambroise Dupont stated, when clearing out the Azeri press
reports on the coming hearings over the Nagorno Karabakh issue in the French
Parliament. «The work being done by the French Senate President Christian
Poncelet is important to us. In this respect, maybe the aforementioned
hearings are held within the framework of «the four» – between the Chairmen
of the Parliaments of the South Caucasian countries and the French Senate
President. It should be noted that the Senate group, called Audit, considers
the state in the conflict zones, including that in the South Caucasus,» he
noted. The Friendship Group leader noted that after the meeting of Chairmen
of the Parliaments of the South Caucasian states in Versailles the next
meeting within that format was held in Tbilisi. Answering the question on
the probability to expect an impartial stand of France in the Karabakh
settlement «within the context of the frequent accusations of France
supporting Armenians,» Mr. Dupont said that the French State and the
Government as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, do their best for the fair
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. However, in his words, it does not mean
that France is an arbitrator between «the players.» «If we imagine France as
an arbitrator in that «game», it will turn out that not the arbitrator
determines the rules of that «game». The rules of the «game» should be
determined by the «players» themselves. However, in any case the peaceful
option of solution of the Karabakh conflict is desirable. I would even say
that the peaceful option is the guarantee of the existence of this region,»
Mr. Dupont added. The French guest also noted that Paris follows with
attention the talks within the OSCE MG framework. On the essence of the
Friendship Group assistance to the solution of the conflict Mr. Dupont
stated that Armenians are known better than Azeris in France. «You just said
it yourself that French is often considered a pro-Armenian state. Sometimes
it is true, sometimes it is not. It is true, as Armenians live throughout
the world, including there are many in France. Thus we know Armenians better
than Azerbaijan and Azeris. I personally make efforts for Azerbaijan to
become more known in France», he summed up.

Pan Armenin News
ARMENIA NEW SECURITY STRATEGY TO BE WORKED OUT BY SECOND HALF OF 2007
12.04.2005 06:30
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Security Strategy of Armenia is expected to be
submitted to the National Assembly already in the second half of the year
2007, Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia lieutenant general Artur Aghabekian
stated at a seminar devoted to Armenia’s joining to the NATO Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). In his words, the Strategy will become the
main force in the defense reforms planned to be implemented before 2015,
after which the working out of the Security Doctrine will begin. As noted by
Mr. Aghabekian, NATO has only a consultative role in the working out of
these documents, specifically in training personnel, introduction of methods
and management. `We do not expect any financial support from the NATO in
these issues,’ A. Aghabekian noted.

Itar-Tass, Russia
TASS
April 12 2005
Yerevan draws up Armenia-NATO partnership plan

YEREVAN, April 12 (Itar-Tass) – A document featuring the main
directions of a plan for individual partnership between Armenia and
NATO will be submitted to the alliance’s headquarters within a
month’s time, Armenian deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday.
The foreign ministry official, Armen Baiburtyan and Deputy Defence
Minister Artur Agabekyan spoke on Tuesday at a seminar, organized
here by the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies.
`A political decision to join that programme came when it became
clear that the implementation of that plan could help reform and
update the Armenian security sphere, while the republic, for its
part, could make steps that are the core of the partnership plan,’
the top Armenian diplomat said.
According to the deputy defense minister, the Armenian army is facing
serious transformations. He said the country would be guided by the
principle of stage-by-stage work in reforms in defense sphere.
Agabekyan said the country seeks `to create by 2015 an army meeting
the demands of the 21st century’.
He said the main principles underlying reforms in the defense sector
are their `realistic nature, stage-by-stage work, flexibility, broad
analysis and democracy’.

Turkish Press
April 12 2005
Press Scan
ERDOGAN STRONGLY CRITICISES EUROPE
CUMHURIYET- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is currently in
Norway, said that there were some people who tried to divide Turkey
and that the west was manipulating certain concepts. Erdogan also
gave the message that a letter would be sent to 11 countries which
took the Blue Book (which covers Armenian claims of genocide) as
reference, asking them to apologise from Turkey. Erdogan also
stressed that there was no concept like Kurdish minority in Turkey.
”We should also make a distinction between the concepts of PKK and
Kurd,” he said.

WE ALL WILL WIN IF WE ACTUALLY CONSIDER KARABAKH AS INALIENABLE PART
OF ARMENIA: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, APRIL 11. ARMINFO. “We will all win if we actually consider
Karabakh as an inalienable part of Armenia,” Armenia’s President
Robert Kocharyan said during his meeting with Yerevan State University
students today when asked about the mainland Armenians negative
attitude toward their Karabakh compatriots this particularly referring
to officials of Karabakh origin and on the bad treatment of Karabakh
Armenians to mainland Armenia soldiers serving in Karabakh.
The former problem seems to be tending towards resolution while the
latter part is not a problem at all, says Kocharyan noting that
anecdotes have appeared of late this being a good proof of a problem’s
alleviation. Kocharyan notes that except Defence Minister Serzh
Sargsyan and he there are few Karabakh Armenians in the Armenian
government. But he personally considers himself as much mainland as
Karabakh Armenian. “I have never separated myself from Armenia. It was
I who initiated the Dec 1 1989 decision on reunification [of Armenia
and Karabakh],” says Kocharyan noting that the problem of treatment
towards people from “other territories” is typical of other countries
too.