Author: Ekmekjian Janet

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS DECLARE ASSETS
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 12 2007

All nine politicians seeking to stand in Armenia’s forthcoming
presidential election have released their mandatory income and asset
declarations, with Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian claiming to own no
real property in the republic, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to income declarations obtained by RFE/RL from the Central
Election Commission (CEC), Sarkisian stated that he only co-owns
an apartment in his native town of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh’s
capital.

He also told the CEC that he only has 58 million drams ($191,000)
in bank savings, about 40 paintings and an unspecified number of
antiques. He did not estimate the monetary value of those items,
saying only that some of them date back to the 18th century.

Sarkisian, who has lived in a state-owned residence ever since
moving to Yerevan from Stepanakert in 1993, is believed to wield huge
influence on economic affairs, maintaining close ties with some of
the country’s wealthiest businessmen. Political opponents have long
alleged that the prime minister has amassed a huge fortune while in
office, a charge he denies.

Also claiming to have no real property is former parliament speaker
Artur Baghdasarian, who leads one of the two opposition parties
represented in the National Assembly. Baghdasarian lives in an
expensive apartment in downtown Yerevan and reportedly has business
interests. He said in his income statement that he only has some
$215,000 worth of cash on his bank accounts.

Another leading opposition candidate, former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian, declared ownership of a three-story house in Yerevan
and some 10,000 square meters of adjacent land that was granted to
him by the government after he lost power in 1998. Ter-Petrosian also
told the CEC that he co-owns office space in two separate locations
in the city center and has no personal bank savings.

Ter-Petrosian’s mansion is much bigger than even the home of
Tigran Karapetian, a controversial millionaire businessman and TV
commentator. Karapetian, who speaks on his own ALM TV station on a
virtually daily basis, said he also owns five cars and 2,300 square
meters of business property.

Karapetian’s declared home is smaller than a three-story apartment
owned by Vazgen Manukian of the opposition National Democratic Union
party. Manukian also owns two Russian-made cars.

Another major candidate, Vahan Hovannisian of the governing Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, declared the largest amount of money on
his bank accounts equivalent to roughly $250,000. He also claimed to
own two apartments in central Yerevan and a plot of land in a village
outside the capital.

Under the Armenian Election Code, individuals seeking registration
as presidential candidates also have to deposit an equivalent of
$20,000 with the CEC. The electoral authority has until January 20
to process applications from the nine contenders and decide whether
to put their names on the ballot.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN LEAVING FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

armradio.am
11.12.2007 10:08

President Robert Kocharyan will leave for the United Arab Emirates
today for a working visit, President’s Press Office reports.

The delegation headed by the President comprises RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Trade and Economic Development Nerses
Yeritsyan, Head of the President’s Staff Armen Gevorgyan, President
of the State Tax Committee Gagik Khachatryan, other officials.

December 12 in Abu Dhabi RA President Robert Kocharyan is expected to
meet with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa
ibn Zaid Al Nahayan, following which Mr. Kocharyan will meet with
UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Robert Kocharyan will also meet with the Director General of the
Abu Dhabi Development Fund Ahmad Al Mazru and will attend the solemn
ceremony of opening of the Armenian Embassy in The United Arab Emirates
and will met with representatives of the local Armenian community.

Agreements on bilateral cooperation in the spheres of agriculture,
tourism, air communication will be signed in the framework of the
meeting.

On the last day of the visit Robert Kocharyan will leave for Ras al
Khayma, where he will meet with Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler Shaikh
Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

The delegation headed by President Kocharyan will return to Yerevan
on December 13.

LEVON EFFENDI AND THE RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Armen Tsaturyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Dec 11 2007
Armenia

Trying to completely devaluate the achievement of our country in the
issue of the recognition of Genocide in the last 10 years, during
December 8 demonstration Levon Ter-Petrosyan came out with different
anti-national statements and conclusions.

The principle chosen by Levon Effendi in the evaluation of Armenian
authorities in their policy regarding the recognition of Armenian
Genocide derives from his practical interests. Which he formulates
in the following way: "Politics is not words but first of all
actions and only actions." Based on this principle the ex-president
states that, by including the issue of the recognition of Armenian
Genocide in Armenia’s foreign policy agenda the government in power:
" can’t differentiate practical politics from making announcements
and swaggering" and periodically reach a deadlock.

It is indisputable that during his years of power Levon Ter-Petrosyan
didn’t even try "to put pressure" on Turkey and the issue of the
recognition of Armenian genocide has never been included in the
Foreign policy agenda.

Turkey didn’t give way to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s friendly gestures
and has always imposed new and new pre-conditions for eliminating the
blockade. As a consequence the process of the international recognition
of Armenian Genocide marches on the same spot, and it was during
the power of this very government that this issue recorded decisive
success. Those who have any knowledge about arithmetic can count the
results and conclude that if in the first sphere the achievements of
the former authorities are the same, in the second the present ones
have definitely recorded indisputable and apparent results in the
issue of the recognition of Armenian Genocide.

Trying to devaluate the achievements in this sphere as well, in his
speech delivered in December 8 demonstration Levon Ter-Petrosyan
advanced the idea, that by raising the issue of the recognition of
Armenian Genocide from the UN tribune the government in power, in
reality was trying to make heroes from themselves: " Had Kocharyan
and Oskanyan had more serious intentions, they must have started a
concrete process aimed at the recognition of the Genocide, by the
protocol established under the UN charter, the result of which should
have been the relevant resolution passed by that organization."

A question arises here – what do they call the policy of regulating
the process of the world recognition of Armenian Genocide, if not
increasing the votes in support of this issue, given in the UN and
only after that making the issue a matter of discussion in the United
Nations Organization?

Is it a secret for anyone that, to settle any issue in UN, you must
first of all get the approval of pivotal countries such as the USA,
France, Russia and other countries of the Security Council? The fact
that the issue of the recognition of Armenian Genocide that has been
adopted by Russia and has even obtained a force of all law by France
is knocking at the doors of the US Congress and House of Commons of
Great Britain, can’t be refuted even by Levon Effendi.

What did we get from the parade of the international recognition of
Armenian Genocide that has been recorded due to the consistent policy
pursued by the government in power?

First: we obtained and in future will obtain new and new guarantees
for security from the superpowers and separate countries that have
already recognized and will recognize Armenian Genocide.

Second: It was during the recent ten years that the world really
came to know our country and our people, and learning about our past,
not only did they show interest and sympathy towards Armenia but also
made the issue of reinstating the violated rights the components of
international politics.

Third: The "power of right" achieved by Armenia in the international
arena, became one of those factors that made our "use of force in"
Nagorno Karabakh comprehensible for the international community."

Though even now Levon Ter-Petrosyan is trying to "naively" state
that only if we establish "kind-friendly relations and atmosphere
of trust" with our neighbors, will Turkey definitely recognize
Armenian Genocide. A question arises here how is Levon Effendi going
to establish the "kind-friendly relations and atmosphere of trust"
with our neighbors, when for Turkey the pre-condition of friendly
relations is our giving up the "Genocide allegations".

This means either the ex-President is so naive that he didn’t manage
to learn lessons from the failure of his policy towards Turkey,
or most probably he is trying to mislead himself and us.

ARMENIA, UNITED STATES INTEND TO COMBAT NUCLEAR SMUGGLING WITH JOINT EFFORTS

ARKA News Agency
Dec 11 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. Armenia and the United States intend
to combat nuclear smuggling with joint efforts.

On Monday, the United States and Armenian governments held initial
discussions at the U.S. Embassy to consider the Nuclear Smuggling
Outreach Initiative (NSOI). The talks were aimed at negotiating a
bilateral action plan to combat nuclear smuggling, the embassy’s
press office reports.

"Representatives of the U.S. Departments of State, Energy, and Homeland
Security, as well as experts from the European Union and International
Atomic Energy Agency were joined by 19 representatives from 11 Armenian
government agencies, including the National Security Service, the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, the Border Guard Service, the Armenian
Nuclear Regulatory Agency, the Justice Ministry, Foreign Ministry,
Prosecutor General’s Office, State Customs Committee, Ministry of
Nature Protection, Armenian Rescue Service, and Ministry of Defense",
the press release says.

According to the press release, American and Armenian officials
discussed modes of potential cooperation in preventing, detecting, and
responding to illicit trafficking of nuclear and highly radioactive
materials. Both sides affirmed the need for a coordinated response
to combat nuclear smuggling.

Through NSOI, the United States has already entered into joint
action plans to combat nuclear trafficking with Ukraine, Georgia,
the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan, and has a tentative agreement
with Tajikistan.

"The United States and Armenia hope that the NSOI will promote greater
U.S.-Armenian cooperation on international security issues.

American officials plan to return to Armenia in spring, 2008 to
continue discussion of the NSOI", the U.S. Embassy’s pres office
says.

"WHY DO THEY SUPPRESS?"

A1+
[03:01 pm] 11 December, 2007

The amendments to the tax law, particularity, amendments to the
simplified tax, already bother small and middle entrepreneurs. They
come into force on 1 January. According to the amendments, each
merchant of a fair should be an accountant.

Reflecting on this economist Edward Aghajanov said to "A1+":
"Privileged conditions are set up in regard with small business all
over the world, since it solves many social issues".

"The world experience proves that only small and middle business
creates new employment places, while big business swallows and
reduces employment places. I wonder that they do not promote small
business, change the taxes, while small business is unable to hire
accountants. Why do they suppress it?"

We should remind that according to the supplements to the law on
simplified tax, all privileges of small and middle businesses are
abolished.

WHITE TO SARKISIAN AND BLACK TO PETROSIAN

A1+
[05:44 pm] 10 December, 2007

Yerevan Press Club, Team Research Centre and the Open Society Institute
Assistance Foundation have monitored the Armenian television and
radio on the eve of the election campaign. Today they presented the
results of the November monitoring.

Mass Media turn out to have taken a profound interest in two
presidential candidates, Armenia’s Premier Serzh Sarkissian and former
President Levon Ter-Petrossian.

YPS Chairman Boris Navasardian states that Serzh Sarkissian is
mostly mentioned in positive contexts while Levon Ter-Petrossian in
negative ones.

Out of 944 reports about Serzh Sarkissian 14 were negative, 162
positive and 768 neutral. Only 10 reports about Levon Ter-Petrossian
were positive. 293 reports were negative, and 196 neutral.

CENTRAL BANK FINDS IT INEXPEDIENT TO MAKE COMMENTS DURING PRE-ELECTORAL PERIOD

Panorama.am
21:24 08/12/2007

"Central Bank finds it inexpedient to comment the fluctuations of
foreign currency cost, and spreading of too much false currency in
the market, as the appropriate structures started the investigation,"
answered Tigran Sargsyan, the CB president to Panorama.am journalist’s
question about how much foreign currency was brought into Armenia
and how much of it was false.

According to him as soon as they got the alarm they started to carry
out operative activities. "We are more interested in stability in the
financial market, and we are especially alarmed by the instability
in weekends," said T. Sargsyan.

According to him CB carries out an investigation in the currency market
and supervision is held in commercial banks. Who is the chief gambler,
and which are the tools used, how do they get into Armenia? "These
are very fragile questions, and it is early to answer them," said
T. Sargsyan. At the same time he said that after the presidential
elections CB will present the detailed information about this gambling.

AZERBAIJANI MP OFFERS HOLDING DEBATES ON NAGORNO KARABAKH IN PARLIAMENT

arminfo
2007-12-08 13:10:00

ArmInfo. Parliamentarian Gudrat Hasanguliyev offered in today’s
sitting of the parliament to hold discussions on Nagorno Karabakh, APA
reports. As APA reports, he mentioned that such a discussion was held
in the parliament during Heydar Aliyev’s presidency. Mr. Hasanguliyev
noted that the document on Nagorno Karabakh presented to the sides
in Madrid does not meet Azerbaijan’s interests. The parliamentarian
offered to invite Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to
parliament and hold discussions.

"People should know what issues the 10-item document covers," he
said. Gudrat Hasanguliyev also said that Armenia will not compromise,
unless Azerbaijan refuses commitment on peaceful solution to the
conflict.

PUBLISHER ZARAKOLU TRIAL POSTPONED TO JANUARY 31, 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.12.2007 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Publisher Ragip Zarakolu was on trial on Wednesday,
facing a jail sentence of up to three years for insulting national
identity under article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which makes
it a crime to "insult Turkishness," has been used in the prosecution
of writers and intellectuals.

Prosecutors accuse Zarakolu of "insulting Turkishness" for publishing
a Turkish-language translation of a book by British author of Armenian
origin George Jerjian titled "The Truth Will Set Us Free."

The book urges reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and covers
the Armenian Genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I.

"Ragip Zarakolu did not write the book. I did. In fact the information
inside my book that the prosecution finds objectionable is not even
mine. The information belongs to eminent scholars and writers,
such as Dr. Vahakn Dadrian, Dr. Taner Akcam and Stephen Kinzer, a
Turcophile American journalist. I used their information to promote
a ‘fresh’ understanding of history between Turks and Armenians, an
understanding that would help both peoples move forward in this new
and fast-changing century," Jerjian said in a letter sent to the 2nd
Court of First Instance in Istanbul, where Zarakolu is being tried.

"These writers are not liars, who fabricate stories to undermine and
destabilize Turkish society: they are writers who want to the truth
to emerge, for the benefit of society and their fellow men. They are
not criminals, who inflict pain and suffering on their fellow men;
they are heroes who should be celebrated for liberating and enriching
their society," Jerjian said in the letter.

"In fact, Honorable Judges, I would state to you Ragip Zarakolu did
not insult and ridicule the Turkish nation and republic. … Honorable
Judges, I urge you to acquit Ragip Zarakolu, for he is an innocent
man," he concluded.

The trial was previously adjourned until Jan. 31, 2008, in order for
the defense to prepare, as Zarakolu’s lawyer, Ozcan Kilic, was unable
to attend the hearing on Wednesday, Zaman reports.

Ragip Zarakolu, the founder of Belge Publishing House, has long faced
legal harassment for publishing books on controversial subjects in
Turkey, especially on minority and human rights in Turkey. In 1990-ies,
his Turkish translation of Franz Werfel’s The Forty Days of Musa Dagh
resulted in imprisonment for him and his wife.

In 2005 Ragip Zarakolu was given the Freedom of Expression Award by
the Norwegian Authors’ Union. In 2007, he was honored with Freedom
of Press award of the Turkish Union of Journalists.

UNLESS THERE IS ONE BEGGAR, ALL OF US ARE BEGGARS

Panorama.am
20:41 07/12/2007

"Pain and lost belief" was what an imprisoned woman from "Abovyan"
jail wanted to draw. "It is what I feel now," said one of the
participants in today’s exhibition. The meeting was organized by
"TRTU" cultural NGO; it is already several years this NGO organizes
"Pyunik" cultural program in the "Abovyan" jail. The mission of this
NGO is to stimulate those, who are imprisoned, to take part in the
cultural and social life of the country.

According to Temik Khalapyan, the head of the organization, the
creative works of the imprisoned are already presented in the foreign
countries. Today the sixth exhibition took place with the support of
OSCE-Yerevan. Totally 150 works were presented in the exhibition: 100
wooden works, 40 pictorials, and potteries. 350 minors and 50-60 adult
women took part in those six exhibitions carried out in this jail.

"The date of the exhibition (December 7) is not chosen by chance," said
Saro Sarukhanyan, the director of People’s Art Museum. According to
him, the Armenians must continue the culture common to them: Armenians.

The director continued saying that everything must be done in order
children continue creating both those who are imprisoned and those
who are set free. "If there is a single beggar in our country, then
all of us are beggars," said the director and expressed his wish to
see all the jails empty.

One of the participants, a minor imprisoned who is already 2 years
there said that when working and creating days become shorter and
besides they get profession. He said that he promises when he gets
out of jail he will continue the work.

Gevorg Danielyan, the minister of justice was also present in the
exhibition; he said that these kinds of events are of much importance
as they can cause the change of mentality our public feels upon
the imprisoned.