Author: Ekmekjian Janet

“HUMAN RIGHTS 96” PARTY EXPRESSES ITS SOLIDARITY WITH EDITOR OF “IRAVUNK” NEWSPAPER BEATEN THE DAY BEFORE
Yerevan, September 7. ArmInfo. The “Human Rights 96” party expresses
its solidarity with the “Iravunk” newspaper editor, Hovhannes Galajyan,
beaten the day before y the two unknown people, and states of its
readiness to assist to the disclosure of this case.
According to the party’s statement, received by ArmInfo today,
the present criminogenic situation in the Republic indicates that
the authorities do not control the situation in the country. “The
officials, called to assure the security of Armenia’s citizens,
deal with political activities instead of fulfilling their official
commitments, which results in the growth of crimes in the country “,
the statement says.
To be noted, the editor of “Iravunk” (“Right”) newspaper, Hovhannes
Galajyan, was attacked and beaten by two unknown people that day
before in the Komitas Street, on his way to the work. According to H.
Galajyan, the motive of the attack relates to his professional
activity, since he has no personal enemies. However, the journalist
found difficulty in saying which article exactly had caused
dissatisfaction of the attack clients.

VARTAN OSKANIAN EMPHASIZES TOPICALITY OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF RURAL COMMUNITIES
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The third
Armenia-Diaspora forum coincides with the celebration of the 15th
anniversary of Armenian independence and this is an occasion to
cast a retrospective look and to estimate the way passed, as well as
to try to determine our mistakes and to outline our future steps,”
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian declared at the September
4 meeting with scientists at the National Academy of Sciences of
Armenia. He presented the forum agenda and explained that this year it
is planned to pay much attention to discussion of general issues and
first of all to implementation of concrete programs. In particular,
the minister pointed to the topicality of the development program of
rural communities, within the framework of implementation of which it
is planned to provide assistance to 50 villages. In response to the
question of one of the scientists, why the problems of the Georgian
region of Samtskhe-Javakheti populated with Armenians are ignored at
such forums, the minister said that, of course, this problem concerns
Georgia, but Armenia cannot remain indifferent to the fate of its
compatriots and much is being done in this direction. “But subtlety
should be shown here. We cannot take unanimous steps. After all,
there are interstate relations and in consideration of the current
geopolitical situation in our country, including the Nagorno Karabakh
problem, we should show extreme caution in our relations with Georgia,”
Vartan Oskanian declared. Issues relating to dual citizenship were
also paid a special attention at the meeting. In the minister’s words,
the law “On Dual Citizenship” should never contain provisions that
can have a negative impact on the state security of Armenia. “It is
good that the forum will be held soon and this will enable to discuss
the issue at the forum and to hear the voice of the Diaspora.” Vartan
Oskanian said that the number of registered participants of the forum
has reached one and a half thousand, but this is not the final number
yet. He did not exclude that this number can reach two thousand.

SEMINAR FOCUSED ON SELF-DETERMINATION TO LAUNCH SATURDAY IN AUA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 4 2006
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. A seminar focused on self-determination
is to launch Saturday in American University in Armenia.
The university’s press office told ARKA News Agency that Tom Musaelyan,
professor at the university, will present “self-determination” concept.
Anna Maralyan, a student, will speak on Montenegro’s independence
and Kosovo problems.
Emil Babayan, a lecturer at the university, is to speak about
Karabakh’s independence.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND SPECIAL ENVOY OF PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA
DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 1,
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the delegation led by
Samuel Moncada, Special Envoy of President of Venezuela, Minister of
Higher Education. Vartan Oskanian mentioned that Minister Moncada is
the first official of Venezuela to visit Armenia. As NT was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the
interlocutors discussed the possibilities of development of bilateral
relations, activization of cooperation within the framework of
international organizations. It was mentioned that the small Armenian
community of Venezuela can play the role of a bridge for the two
peoples to get to know each other better.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: “THE DAY OF KNOWLEDGE OPENS THE DOOR LEADING TO
REALIZATION OF DREAMS”

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the Day of
Knowledge, RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian sent a
congratulating message to pedagogues, students and schoolchildren of
the republic. “The Day of Knowledge is one of the brightest holidays
of our calendar. It opens the door leading to realization of dreams
for thousands of children and young people on every September 1,” is
said in the message. In NA Speaker’s words, that holiday is equally
favourite for everybody, irrespective of the age, post and
profession. “Of course, we still have much to do in the direction of
reforms of our educational system to create full conditions for
high-quality education, but I’m sure that temporary problems and
difficulties will not push you away from your aspirations towards the
education and science,” T.Torosian mentioned in his message.

REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL NOT SUPPORT SAHAKYAN, IT IS NOT A PACK OF WOLVES
Lragir.am
01 Sept 06
Late in the evening of August 31 the Council of the Republican Party
including 72 members decided with 63 votes not to support Arman
G. Sahakyan, the head of the Ajapniak regional organization of the
Republican Party in the local election in October. Meanwhile, Galust
Sahakyan announced that not only the Republican Party but also other
political parties will support his son. A night after the
`history-making’ decision of the council of the Republican Party, in
the morning of September 1 the head of the Council of the Republican
Party commented on the actions of the political party.
`What opinion should I have if you present the outcome of the voting,’
Serge Sargsyan first threw a stone at Galust Sahakyan, and added, `The
political party is not a pack of wolves, and the political party does
not have to defend any member of the party in any affair. Every member
of the party should realize that they are inside the organization,
there are interests of the organization, there are the regulations of
the party, there is order, and on making decisions for their private
problems they are accountable for their actions, they should think for
themselves. They decide, they make a decision without the political
party, if they do not take into consideration the political party, why
should they expect the support of the political party?’
Serge Sargsyan made his comments at Monte Melkonyan Military College,
where the acting head of the municipality of Ajapniak Artsrun
Khachatryan was also present, who had announced that he will run for
election. Artsrun Khachatryan and Serge Sargsyan were talking warmly.
We asked the chair of the Council of the Republican Party whether it
is possible that the Republican Party will support another candidate
in the local election. `For the time being no, but as soon as the
council of the political party decides to support a candidate, you
will learn,’ stated Serge Sargsyan.

Regnum, Russia –
Sept 1 2006

Grave of Apostle Matthew, possibly, found in Armenian monastery on
Issyk-Kul Lake
Kyrgyz archeologists are sure that they have found the grave of
Apostle Matthew in the Armenian monastery on the shore of Issyk-Kul
lake, says archeologist Vladimir Ploskikh.
He says that this summer his expedition carried out excavations on
the north-eastern shore of Issyk-Kul and found the Armenian
monastery, which, according to a map of XIV, is the place where
Apostle Matthew is buried.
The legend says that Apostle Matthew died on his way to Greece after
founding several Christian communities en route. The document kept in
Venice says that there is an Armenian monastery in the place called
`Issyk-Kul’ and it is there that Apostle Matthew is buried.
However, Ploskikh says that they need additional research to prove
this fact, reports the Kyrgyz service of Radio Liberty.

EVANS PRAISES U.S.-ARMENIAN TIES, ‘SHARED VALUES’
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug. 31, 2006
John Evans, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Armenia, said on Thursday
that U.S.-Armenian relations have grown closer during his two-year
tenure in Yerevan and will develop further in the years to come. He
insisted that Armenia is slowly but steadily becoming a democratic
state that shares “fundamental values” with the United States.
Evans also would not be drawn on President George W. Bush’s
controversial decision earlier this year to replace him by another
career diplomat, which has been widely attributed to his public
description of the 1915-1918 mass killings of Armenians in Ottoman
Turkey as genocide.
“I do believe that Armenian-American relations are improving,” he
told RFE/RL in an interview. “We are doing many more things together
these days. Particularly there has been a growth in our cooperation
in the defense and security area. There is more American investment
here every day, although it’s growing slowly.”
“I think there is every reason to imagine that Armenian-American
relations will prosper in the future as I believe they have in the
last few years,” he said.
The remarks echoed statements by other U.S. officials who have praised
the Armenian leadership for sending a small contingent of troops to
Iraq and stepping up cooperation with NATO. Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State Matthew Bryza said last March that Washington and Yerevan are
“working hard together to help Armenia to realize its desire to have
stronger relations with the Euro-Atlantic family”
“Armenia and the United States have some fundamental shared values
which help us to understand each other better,” Evans said. “This
is one of the reasons I believe that Armenia’s future is with the
democratic countries of the world. I think Armenia has all the basic
preconditions to become a leading democracy in this part of the world.”
The Armenian government’s democratic credentials, tainted by chronic
vote rigging, will again come under international scrutiny during
parliamentary elections that are due to take place early next year.
The authorities have pledged to do their best to ensure that the vote
is free and fair. However, a recent U.S.-funded opinion poll suggested
that seventy percent of Armenians do not trust these assurances and
anticipate a repeat of serious fraud reported during the previous
polls.
Evans noted that one of the key obstacles to the proper conduct of
Armenian elections is a “fear to step decisively in the direction of
trusting the voters to make the right choices about those who represent
them.” “It’s a psychological barrier,” he said in an apparent reference
to the country’s rulers. “But I think eventually this barrier will
be crossed … The time for massive falsification of voting results
has passed. We have seen what has happened in other countries where
people have played tricks with the election returns.”
Evans went on to argue that Armenia, which will officially celebrate
the 15th anniversary of its independence on September 21, is still a
young state and needs more time to “mature” as a democracy. “There is
nothing which says that the road towards greater democracy is going to
be always straight, that there won’t be obstacles, that there won’t be
occasional steps back,” he said. “But in the long run, that is where
Armenia should be headed, and I think that’s where Armenia is headed.”
Local opposition leaders and some political analysts believe,
however, that Armenia’s existing flawed political system is becoming
increasingly entrenched and will be even more difficult to democratize
in the future. They point, among other things, to the authorities’
handling of last November’s constitutional referendum, the official
results of which claimed a record-high voter turnout despite eerily
empty polling stations across the country.
Speaking about serious challenges facing Armenia, Evans singled out
the need to ensure its long-term energy security. “I think that’s
very important for a country like Armenia that does not have its own
sources of energy in the form of hydrocarbons and whose nuclear plant
is aging and needs to be closed down in the next decade,” he said.
The 58-year-old diplomat further praised the double-digit economic
growth reported by the Armenian government in recent years, but
cautioned that it “has not been even” and has mostly benefited
Yerevan. “Yerevan is booming,” he said. “There are traffic jams,
the sound of construction never ceases. But if the entire country
is to develop in a healthy way, more attention needs to be given to
smaller cities and towns.”
The U.S. administration moved to help to reduce that development
gap when it approved early this year $235.6 million in additional
economic assistance to Armenia under its Millennium Challenge Account
program. The bulk of the sum is to be spent on upgrading rural roads
and irrigation networks. U.S. and Armenian officials say rural poverty
in Armenia will decrease considerably as a result.
Evans is expected to leave Yerevan early next month, two years
after he handed his credentials to President Robert Kocharian. The
normal diplomatic term for U.S. ambassadors abroad is three years. In
announcing the envoy’s replacement in May, the White House gave no
reasons. Leaders of the influential Armenian community in the U.S.
are convinced that the move resulted from his public recognition of
the Armenian genocide.
“The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th
century,” Evans had declared during a February 2005 meeting
with Armenian-American activists in California, contradicting the
long-running policy of successive U.S. governments. They have avoided
using the word “genocide” with regard to the extermination of some
1.5 million Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire for fear of
antagonizing Turkey, a strategic NATO ally.
Evans did not explicitly deny that this was the reason for his sacking,
but refused to comment on the issue, saying that it is an internal
U.S. affair. “This is not a subject that I have ever discussed here
in Armenia,” he said.
Asked whether he feels hard done by, he said: “No. I would say that
at this point it’s time for me to move on to other things, and I look
forward to doing that. I may write a book about some of these issues.
The future will tell.”
Evans, who will retire from the U.S. diplomatic service after returning
to Washington, revealed that he has received a “nice note” from Bush
that thanked him for his work in Armenia. He also commended Bush’s
choice of the next U.S. envoy in Yerevan, Richard Hoagland, as a
“consummate professional.”
Hoagland, currently the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan,
has still not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate amid a continuing
Armenian-American outcry against Evans’s dismissal. About a dozen
pro-Armenian senators and some 60 members of the U.S. House of
Representatives have expressed serious concern at the controversial
recall, demanding explanations from the Bush administration and the
State Department.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, bowing to pressure from
Armenian-American lobbying groups, has postponed a confirmation vote
on Hoagland’s nomination until the end of next month. At least one of
its members, Republican Norm Coleman of Minnesota, has said he will
vote against the ambassador-designate, citing the latter’s refusal
to publicly term the Armenian massacres a genocide.

TALKS LAUNCHED FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPERT GROUP INVOLVEMENT IN INVESTIGATION OF FIRES
Source: À.Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group has started talks to include an expert group in
its discussion process. This Group had been established to investigate
the fires on occupied grounds of Azerbaijan, said Andzhey Kaspsik,
Special Envoy to Acting Chairman of OSCE, Trend reports with reference
to ANS TV Channel. This matter depends on the parties positions
said Kaspsik.
Kaspsik said the talks are held with Azeri and Armenian Foreign
Ministers on this issue. Expert group should draw the action plan
including the fires reasons, damage from fires and fires prevention
in the future.
He added that although the expert group is only involved in discussions
and military issues at this stage, the situation will definitely
be solved.
–Boundary_(ID_CaQPJasieEFl9RjlyTx3UA)–

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SEEKS NO MEMBERSHIP IN POLITICAL PARTIES
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA – Novosti-Armenia/. Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan seeks no membership in political parties, presidential
spokesman Victor Soghomonyan said Wednesday at a press conference
in Yerevan.
In his words, the president has never wanted to join any party.
Soghomonyan also said he would remain non-partisan as well. He said
presidential staff will do the same.