Author: Chavushian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL INTO LAW

International Herald Tribune, France
March 7 2007

YEREVAN, Armenia: Armenia’s president on Wednesday signed into
law legislation allowing dual citizenship, a move that could vastly
increase the sway that the country’s vast diaspora holds over political
life in the tiny ex-Soviet republic.

The presidential press service said Robert Kocharian signed the
multipart bill into law, but gave no further details.

Last week, ruling party lawmakers in the 131-seat National Assembly
voted 66-5 to pass the legislation over the objections of opposition
lawmakers who boycotted, saying it would increase potential for
corruption, though most opposition parties support the overall concept.

The law allows dual citizenship for Armenians 18 years or older who
have lived in the country continuously for three years; who marry
Armenian citizens; who have a child who is an Armenian citizen or
other new stipulations.

Dual citizens will be able to vote in elections but only if they
physically cast their ballots in Armenia. Dual citizens will not be
able to run for the presidency, parliament or the Constitutional Court.

The issue is an important change for the small country of about 3.3
million, which has a massive ethnic diaspora worldwide – estimated at
between 9 million and 12 million – with particularly large communities
in the United States and France.

Expatriate Armenians send massive amount of humanitarian and financial
aid back to their homeland, and often subscribe to a harder political
line on key issues of national interest, such as relations with
neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey.

FOREIGN MINISTER OSKANIAN CONCLUDES WASHINGTON VISIT

A1+
[06:43 pm] 06 March, 2007

Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian, spent Monday March 5 in
Washington, visiting with members of the US administration as well
as US congressmen.

His first meeting was with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, with
whom the Minister discussed various items on the Armenia-US agenda,
including trade, the Millennium Challenge program, democratic and
economic reforms, and US assistance to Armenia.

The two also discussed the upcoming Parliamentary election. The
Secretary made clear that the US expects that the elections will be
conducted according to international norms and standards.

The Foreign Minister assured the Secretary that Armenia understands
the significance of the upcoming parliamentary elections, within the
context of Armenia’s internal political development, as well as an
indication of the maturity of democratic processes within Armenia,
and the impact of the conduct of the elections on various assistance
programs with the US and the EU.

Minister Oskanian briefed the Secretary on the current status of the
Nagorno Karabakh resolution process, as well as on Armenia’s relations
with Turkey. On Nagorno Karabakh, the Minister reiterated Armenia’s
firm commitment to the principles currently being negotiated, and
expressed concerns that there may be attempts to deviate from this
process, both in content and in procedure.

Regarding the continuing absence of relations with Turkey, the
Minister repeated Armenia’s readiness to establish relations with
Turkey, without preconditions of any sort. The Minister reiterated
that open borders would greatly affect the environment in the region,
and spur regional cooperation and growth.

The two also discussed the pending Genocide resolution in the US
Congress.

Following the meeting with the Secretary, Minister Oskanian met with
US Assistant Undersecretary of State and US Minsk Group co-chair Matt
Bryza. The two discussed Nagorno Karabakh and the upcoming meeting
of the ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, in Geneva, on March 14,
together with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group.

Later in the day, with the co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian
Caucus, Minister Oskanian outlined the broad US-Armenia agenda,
and ways in which Congress can play a role.

During the meeting, the Genocide issue was also discussed. In referring
to the pending Genocide reaffirmation resolution, the Minister
explained, "The Armenian government, in contrast to the leadership in
Ankara, does not seek to lecture elected American officials on this
core human rights issue. Sadly, the Turkish government continues to
export its policy of genocide denial, seeking to impose upon the US and
other nations the very intolerance that inspired Section 301 and led
to the murder of journalist Hrant Dink. This should not be tolerated
by any individual or any country. The Armenian government has faith
in the American democratic process and respects the integrity of US
Congressional decision-making."

During his visit, the Minister also met with representatives of
Armenian advocacy groups in Washington and shared thoughts on current
issues.

SURB MARIAM ARMENIAN CHURCH OF SAIDABAD RE-CONSECRATED IN CALCUTTA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 06 2007

CALCUTTA, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Saint Table and
18 crosses of the columns of the restored Surb Mariam (Saint Mary)
Church of Saidabad were consecrated in Calcutta on March 4. The
re-consecration of the church was carried out by Archbishop Aghan
Paliozian, the India and Supreme East Patriarchal delegate and
with participation of Archimandrite Oshakan Gyulgyulian, the Indian
Armenian spiritual primate, friar Vardan Navasardian and deacon Tigran
Baghumian, monks of the Mother See. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
the Surb Mariam Armenian Church of Saidabad was built in 1758, with
personal resources of prominent merchant, benefactor Khoja Petros
from Jugha. The church was completely restored on the initiative of
the newly elected church administration of Calcutta this year. A new
church tower and hotel were built, the big territory of the church
was put in good order and earlier illegally captured territories were
returned to the Armenian community.

"IT WAS BUT GENOCIDE"
Norair Hovsepian

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
March 5 2007

On February 28 thousands of people visited the Memorial of Stepanakert
to commemorate the victims of the pogroms in Sumgait in February
1988. We met Arthur Babayan there whose family had a narrow escape
from violence in Sumgait. At that time Arthur was 5 but he remembers
the horror of the massacres in Sumgait. "At midnight the Azerbaijani
mob attacked our neighborhood," he said. They left everything and ran
away to their friends who lived in other parts of the town. The next
day they found their apartment robbed and in a mess. This is the story
of thousands of other Armenian families who lived in Sumgait. "They
did not sell tickets to us because our family ended in "yan," Arthur
Babayan said. Fortunately, their family saved.

But many others got killed. "It is genocide, and the world must
recognize it," says Arthur Babayan. The question of the return of
refugees is constantly raised during the talks for the settlement
of the Karabakh issue. "It’s impossible. After what we witnessed
we’ll never return to Azerbaijan," Arthur Babayan said. "The war in
Artsakh was the first step towards fighting injustice our people have
undergone. We must go on by all means," NKR Prime Minister Anushavan
Danielian said to news reporters at the Memorial. Part of refugees
who escaped from Azerbaijan settled down in the capital and have
urgent problems to solve. The government launched last year a program
of aid and apartments to refugees from Sumgait and other places in
Azerbaijan. "This year the first major program will be implemented,"
the prime minister said. The program will include the refugees of not
only the capital but also the regions, he said. However, thousands
of Armenian families displaced from Azerbaijan live in different
countries, which means the first step towards demanding compensation
should be a realistic evaluation of the events of 1988. Sumgait was
the inadequate reaction of Azerbaijan to the righteous claims of
the Armenians of Artsakh, said Masis Mayilian, deputy minister of
foreign affairs of NKR. "People were killed for their ethnicity. The
international law defines such acts as genocide." Masis Mayilian
assured that the NKR foreign ministry is constantly making efforts
to present the reality of the crime to the international community.

However, the fact that the international community fails to give an
adequate evaluation means that there is much more to do.

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
March 2 2007

Cyprus gov’t slaps new preservation order on Melkonian property

02/03/2007

Cyprus Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis issued a new preservation
order on Friday for the disputed estate of the Melkonian school in
Nicosia which could cause indefinite delays to the administrators’
efforts to dispose of the land.

The order was published in the Official Gazette and has immediate
effect, which means that no one can harm any part of the old
buildings erected in 1925 or cut any of the trees of the forest along
Limassol Ave. planted by the first orphans who found shelter in
Cyprus after the Genocide of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks.

A previous order, declaring most of the 125,000 sq.m. property a
heritage site with `historical, architectural and national
importance’ had been overturned by the Supreme Court in Nicosia last
December following an appeal by the lawyers of New York-based AGBU.

The Armenian community of Cyprus then wrote to the President of the
Supreme Court, the Attorney General, political party leaders and the
Interior Minister expressing dismay at the decision and called on all
parties involved to review the matter and reinstate the preservation
order.

Reports published in the Cyprus media and reported on CyBC public
television in February suggested that the Town Planning Dept. had
reviewed the case and was working on a new preservation order based
on stronger arguments justifying the decision.

`I am delighted with this news as it shows the determination of the
Republic of Cyprus and in particular the Minister of Interior to
protect this important site not only for the Armenians of Cyprus and
the whole Diaspora, but also for all the people of Cyprus for whom
the Melkonian has been and will always be a jewel with historic
value,’ said the Armenian Representative in the House, Vartkes
Mahdessian.

The Melkonian Alumni, who were at the forefront of the struggle to
save the Melkonian ever since the decision to close the school was
made three years ago, were praiseful of the efforts of the people at
the Town Planning Authority.

`They seem to have appreciated more than some people in Cyprus and
abroad the true value and importance of this historic school and the
need for quality education,’ the Alumni said.

The Alumni also made references to the justification used to
reintroduce the new preservation order according to which it is
deemed imperative `to protect the larger part of the property with
historic traditional buildings as a unified whole, as the property
with its structured and natural environs is part of the larger
historic and traditional town planning network of Nicosia, which must
be protected.’

The Alumni conclude that `with such decisions, as well as the general
support of the whole community, hopes to reopen the school one day
are revived. We thank the Representative, Mr. Mahdessian and the
Minister, Mr. Sylikiotis, for all their efforts in this direction.’

ARMENIAN PARTIES SUBMIT CANDIDATE LISTS TO ELECTIONS COMMISSION

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
March 1, 2007 Thursday 2:13 PM MSK

The Armenian ruling party has submitted its list of parliament
candidates to the Central Elections Commission. The elections will
take place on May 13.

Prime Minister Andranik Margarian tops the candidate list of the
Republican Party, while party political council chief and Defense
Minister Serzh Sargsian ranks second, and party deputy chairman and
Speaker Tigran Torosian ranks third.

The Central Elections Commission has also received candidate lists
from the People’s Party of Stepan Dermichian, the National Unity Party
of Artashes Gegamian, and the opposition Republic Party of ex-premier
Aram Sarkisian.

Three large parties, including Prosperous Armenia and Dashnaktsutyun,
have not submitted their lists.

The canvassing campaign will start on March 4.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA TO PROPOSE ITS CANDIDATES IN 27 ARMENIA’S MAJORITY DISTRICTS

Arminfo
2007-03-01 14:21:00

A session of the Council of the Republican party of Armenia was
held the day before, at which the party’s proportional list has been
finally approved. It was also resolved in which majority districts
the candidates from RPA will stand for.

According to the Council’s decision, the candidates from RPA will
stand for in the Republic’s 27th and 41st majority districts. The
first ten of the proportional list included the RPA’s chairman, Prime
Minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan, the chairman of the party’s
Council, RA Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan, RPA deputy chairman,
RA Parliament speaker Tigran Torosyan, the Minister for Territorial
Administartion Hovik Abramyan, the Head of the "People’s party"
deputy group Karen Karapetyan, Razmik Zorbyan, the Head of RPA’s
faction Galust Sahakyan, the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission
on science, education , culture and youth affaires Hranush Hakopyan,
a businessman Harutiun Pambukyan and the chairman of the Parliamentary
Commission on Financial-Budgetary Affaires Gagik Minasyan. Then, the
Ministers David Harutiunyan, Karen Chshmarityan, Vardan Aivazyan,
Vardan Khachatryan, Manuk Topuzyan, Aram Harutiunyan and Andranik
Manukyan come.

69-YEAR-OLD GURGEN TAMARIAN THROWS HIMSELF FROM YEREVAN’S HAKHTANAK BRIDGE ON FEBRUARY 28

Noyan Tapan
Feb 28 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 28, at about 13:25,
Malatia Police Department received a signal that a man had thrown
himself from Yerevan’s Hakhtanak bridge. The investigation group
found the corpse of 69-year-old Gurgen Tamarian, resident of Yerevan,
on the scene.

According to the report of RA Police Public Relations Department,
the investigation is carried out by Malatia-Sebastia community’s
Prosecutor’s Office.

ARMENIAN TEAM OF GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING TO PARTICIPATE IN BIG INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN IRAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 27 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The team of the Greco-Roman style
of wrestling of Armenia left for the city of Mashad, Iran, on February
28 to take part in the big international tournament. 8 wrestlers,
including Europe champions and prize winners Karen Mnatsakanian,
Movses Karapetian, Abas Jndoyan and Hovhannes Haytayan, are involved.

ARMENIAN DAILY ACCUSES US EMBASSY OF MEDDLING IN TV COVERAGE

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan,
27 Feb 07

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on
27 February headlined "What will the US embassy dictate tomorrow?"

It became known yesterday that the US embassy was rather unnerved by
the fact that the news conference of the founder of the Heritage Party,
Raffi Hovhannisyan, at the Urbat Press Club was not sufficiently
covered by TV, as they believe. Moreover, the embassy phoned TV
companies and demanded explanations in this regard.

Perhaps the given situation can seem disrespectful towards commonsense
to some people. After all, it is up to a TV company to decide how
to cover a particular event and whether to broadcast it at all. But
this is not the first case, is it? US embassies all over the world
constantly show disrespect for commonsense. They consider it quite
possible to interfere in the internal affairs of both foreign countries
and private companies, to dictate TV companies whom to show, how much
to show and how to show.

What will the US embassy in Armenia decide to dictate tomorrow? Who
is allowed to participate in an election, and who is not. Who has
won and who has lost.

Lately, we had to remind the US embassy in Armenia on another occasion
of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention. It says all people having
personal and diplomatic immunity must "respect the laws and regulations
of the host country and not interfere in its internal affairs".

If the host country considers the interference in its internal affairs
to be too persistent, it usually declares the interfere persona non
grata even without explaining the reasons (in accordance with Article
9 of the Vienna Convention) or explaining it by activity incompatible
with a diplomatic post.

The principles "we will do as we like" and "we will dictate to whoever
we like" are applicable to some extent to the internal affairs
of one’s own country but are absolutely inapplicable to foreign
affairs. However, it is quite difficult to imagine a situation when
someone in the United States dares to phone a TV company and demand
explanation as to why the address of a particular politician was not
sufficiently covered. And it is quite easy to imagine where exactly
the US TV company will send the person who phoned.