Author: Emil Karabekian

THE POLICE BANNED AGAIN

A1+
[02:21 pm] 04 September, 2008

The parents of victim-soldiers who died in their military units
while at service started a sitting-strike in front of the Government
building by the entrance stairs, but the policemen forcingly removed
them from there.

"You have made a show", the policemen were claiming. "We wish you
a show like this in your homes," replied the dead serviceman’s aunt
Susanna Galstian. Her nephew had been at Army service in Agarak unit
in Meghri district and died on May 9, Victory Day this year. "He was
the only son of my brother. They don’t have any other children. The
officers got drunk on that day, beat the offspring and threw him into
the petroleum tank, as if he got drowned. 23 more days and he would
be back home from his service," Susanna talked to "A1+" in tears.

"I’ve been told that my son had died out of electricity shock, but
in that case his clothes would be torn out. His officers had killed
him and scared the other soldiers not to give any testimony otherwise
they would be punished more bitterly." The mother of serviceman Tigran
Ohanjanian who died on August 31, 2007, told "A1+".

According to dead soldiers’ parents’ words they have met Deputy Head
of National Security Service who invited them to his office tomorrow.

Today there was another act of complaint towards Government by the
residents of "the zone of alienation" who demanded to meet the Prime
Minister. However their shouting "Prime-Minister" and loud whistling
didn’t reach the PM.

NKR PARLIAMENT URGES TO TAKE STEPS FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF KARABAKH

armradio.am
15.05.2008 12:58

The three factions of the NKR National Assembly "Democracy,"
"Motherland" and "Dashnaktsutyun Movement" – issued their conclusion
on the process of international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic and presented the primary steps to be taken towards this end,
Mediamax reports.

The factions suggest the NKR President and Government to "to take
practical steps for the establishment of legal interstate relations
with the Republic of Armenia to reinforce the current level of
cooperation and plan new priorities deriving form regional and
international processes."

The parliamentarians also suggest "to work out and present to
consideration the NKR National Security Doctrine." Before the
elaboration and consideration of the doctrine the President and
the Government are suggested to establish a special working group on
issues of strategic analysis and information, which will be engaged in
organization and coordination of propaganda and anti-propaganda. It
is suggested to use the potential of the NKR representatives abroad
and the Armenian community.

The Deputies urge to "make consecutive efforts for the international
recognition of NKR, making full use of the opportunities of
parliamentary diplomacy."

Tufts Daily, MA
April 28, 2008
Armenian Genocide issue requires sustainable solution
By Harout Harry Semerdjian

This month, the world once again commemorates the 1915 mass killings
and deportation of over two million Armenians by the Young Turk regime
of the Ottoman Empire. Ninety-three years after the first genocide of
the 20th century, the United States and the international community
should, at last, compel the leadership of Turkey to seek a real and
sustainable solution to the Armenian Genocide issue by ensuring that
the country comes to terms with its past, as well as adopts some
much-desired changes in its policies toward Armenia.

The Armenian issue is one of the main foreign policy challenges for
the Turkish state today, which emerges not only in its policies toward
Armenia, but also in its relations with countries on nearly every
continent of the globe. Vehemently denied by Turkey, the 1915 events
have been accepted as genocide by over 20 countries of the world,
including such important nations as France, Russia and Canada. In
addition, 40 out of the states have affirmed the Armenian massacres as
genocide, and this reality should not be dismissed as mere local state
politics. These states, covering a huge portion of the country both in
terms of geography and population, speak the voices of their
people. Given this trend, then, it may be only a matter of time for
the remaining 10 states to follow the footsteps of the others – which
may eventually compel the United States government to affirm the 1915
events as genocide.

Last year, as the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee brought the
Armenian Genocide Resolution to a vote in the full House of
Representatives, it was certain that the resolution would pass with a
majority of at least 227 co-sponsors. However, with threats of an
invasion of northern Iraq (which eventually took place) as well as a
possible halt to military relations with the United States, Turkey was
successful in convincing the White House to use its acute leverage
over several congressmen to pull out their support from the
resolution.

But this cannot be interpreted as a political victory for Turkey for
several reasons, the most important being that the congressmen have
not argued against the reality of the Genocide. They have cited
Turkey’s geo-strategic importance for the United States, and at least
one congressman who temporarily withdrew his support has explicitly
stated that "it is a good resolution and horrible timing." In other
words, these congressmen have arrived at the conclusion that genocide
took place in 1915 and they are ready to support legislation that
would set the U.S. record straight on this historical issue, but they
will vote on it when their dependence on Turkey regarding Iraq
subsides. Hence, the resolution has been postponed to sometime this
year – but it will undoubtedly resurface.

It would be na’ve and premature to interpret this development as a
final "victory" for Turkey. Rather, it can be seen as Turkey having
indirectly bought some precious time – which should not be
wasted. Turkey, foremost, has to use this opportunity to directly
communicate with Armenia on this issue in order to avoid third
parties, such as the U.S. Congress, from legislating history. Turkish
leaders should immediately consider opening the border with Armenia
and establishing diplomatic relations with the country. This move
would not only help build bridges between the countries and their
societies through economic and cultural contacts, it will also allow
the two sides to understand and assess the issues amongst
themselves. Without any preconditions, Armenia has already expressed
its desire to open the border and establish relations between the two
countries.

The Turkish leadership has very explicitly expressed its extreme
discontent with the congressional resolution as well as similar
preceding resolutions internationally. Doubtless, introduction of such
resolutions will not stop here and will only escalate in the coming
months and years, particularly as the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide nears.

I believe Turkey has an important opportunity here to prevent third
countries from adopting resolutions on the Armenian issue by taking on
the matter directly and officially with Armenia. Until then, the
Armenian Diaspora, largely a creation of the great dispossession and
mass deportations of Armenians in 1915, will continue to push for
recognition through their home countries. This brings no real benefit
to either Turkey or Armenia; it mainly brings a short-term
psychological comfort to diaspora Armenians, who see no results on the
issue between their homeland and Turkey and feel compelled to take the
matter into their own hands. The United States and the international
community should therefore challenge the Turkish leadership to adopt
changes in its Armenian policy, which will undoubtedly benefit both
sides and help build long-overdue bridges between the two nations.

Harout Harry Semerdjian, a Doctoral Candidate at the University of
Oxford, is an alumnus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and
the University of California, Los Angeles. He may be reached at
[email protected]

One more project on electricity export

12-04-2008 12:23:34 – KarabakhOpen

Currently a program of development of energy sector is being drafted,
which involves exploitation of energy resources of the major rivers of
Karabakh, construction of small water power plants, thanks to which
Karabakh may start exporting energy, said Prime Minister Ara
Harutiunyan in a consultation yesterday.

The prime minister underlined that during the drafting of the program
an issue of review of tariffs occurred but the prime minister says it
is necessary to avoid change of tariffs.

Ara Harutiunyan underlined that currently Karabakh supplies 45 percent
of its demand, and imports power from Armenia. With regard to the
national energy company, Artsakh Energy, Ara Harutiunyan said the
company not only did not foster but also hindered the development of
the energy sector, sustaining major losses. The head of state urged to
reduce power loss. He said this year the sector generated 12 percent
more profit but it is not a limit.

Losses of power in Stepanakert and Hadrut were reduced, unlike
Kashatagh, Martakert and Shahumyan where the people in charge received
a warning.

The head of the electricity board of Kashatagh says electricity bills
60 kWh of which is subsidized by the government are not paid. The prime
minister proposed reviewing the mechanism of subsidizing. Loss of power
in the region is 52 percent compared with 72 percent in the same period
of last year. However, it is not enough. In Martakert the loss of power
is 23.6 percent, in Shahumyan 38.6 percent.

The prime minister said the heads of the regional offices of Artsakh
Energy will be fired if the situation does not change.

Several years ago the ex-prime minister Anushavan Danielyan worked out
a program of construction of small water power plants. The program
seemed realistic but it was not brought into being. The ex-prime
minister explained that there were no investors. If the current program
also relies heavily on investors, it may end up in the same way as the
previous program.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Some 68 per cent of voters to participate in presidential election
15.02.2008 18:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some 68 per cent of voters will participate in the
February 19 presidential election, said Aharon Adibekyan, director of
Sociometer center.

The Armenian General Prosecutor’s Office made a statement, in which it
reminded on criminal liability for violations of the electoral
legislation.

The General Prosecutor’s Office stressed that the following violations
are considered criminal offence: making obstacles on the way of
realization of the electoral right and work of the electoral
commissions; falsification of elections, or the results of voting;
spreading slanderous information about candidates or parties;
infringement of the order of electors’ lists composition, their
publication or provision of those lists to citizens or parties;
double-voting, or voting instead of another person; preparation and
distribution of spurious ballots; making obstacles on the way of free
will of the citizens; non-return of the seal of the electoral
commission, violation of the established order of seal guarding; entry
to the polling station with weapon; non-provision of protocol copies
of the electoral commissions, making obstacles on the way of
examination of the electoral documents by the proxies, members of
electoral commissions, observers or media representatives.

General Prosecutor’s Office urged Armenian citizens to turn to the
law-enforcement bodies in case of revelation of such violations,
Armenian media reports.

LEADER OF YOUTH WING OF SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC HNCHAKIAN PARTY BEATEN IN YEREVAN
Translated by A.M

AZG Armenian Daily #211
16/11/2007

Local Politics, Criminal

The leader of the "Sarkis Tkhruni" youth’s wing of the Social-Democrat
"Hchakian" Party, Narek Galstian, was beaten in Yerevan today morning.

As the "Hnchakian" party office informs, 10.00 – 11.00 AM Narek
Galstian was stopped in the taxi he had taken on the way to the
party office. He was taken out of the car and severely beaten in the
street. At present Narek Galstian is at the reanimation department
of Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center.

Certain sources assure that the incident had political background
and explain it by Galstian’s involvement in opposition activity.

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2007

HIGHFEST 5th INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL STARTS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Highfest 5th international
performing arts festival started on October 4 in Yerevan with the
performance "The Canterville Ghost" of the Lucia Armenian company of
actors. Its opening was followed by a theatrical parade and fireworks
in Charles Aznavour Square. According to Artur Ghukasian, the
festival’s Chairman, nearly 100 performances will be presented by 33
countries’ companies of actors in the days of the festival being held
on October 4-14. 17 theaters will take part in this already
traditional theater festival. The companies of actors will perform on
all Yerevan stages and open squares.

"Five years ago the festival was founded as a theatrical one, but
later it became a festival of performing arts. We tried to expand the
festival’s framework by involving new and interesting works created
in other spheres of art, which are also a theater by their form," the
festival’s Chairman said.

Artur Ghukasian said that renowned artists, international festivals’
chairmen, theater critics will take part in the Yerevan festival.
They will hold seminars and round tables on the spot dedicated to
cultural policy and art management in Armenia.

According to A. Ghukasian, the festival will give Armenian spectators
an opportunity to watch different countries’ best performances of
pantomime, dramatic, puppet performances, as well as those of modern
dance theaters. It was mentioned that a Festival of Puppet and
Children’s Theaters will be also organized within the framework of
Highfest.

Mike Ribalta, the Chairman of the Fira Tarrega Spanish theatrical
festival, said that he is glad to take part in this young festival
and expects not only to see interesting performances, but also to
learn. Mike Ribalta, who has arrived in Armenia on a three-day visit,
will try to help young and talented actors and interesting companies
of actors. "I have not only come to watch good, bad or average
performances, but I wish to help young people to make an attempt to
perform abroad as well."

Author: Ruzanna Bagratunian
Editor:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES FOUR BILLS AND LEGISLATIVE PACKAGES DISCUSSED THE DAY BEFORE
Author: Meliqian Gayane
Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. At the morning sitting on October 2,
the RA National Assembly passed the four bills and legislative packages
discussed the day before that make some amendments and additions in
a number of laws.

An addition was made in first reading to the Law on Profit Tax, as a
result of which non-residents registered in offshore areas will lose
their tax privileges.

The amendments and additions, which were passed in first reading to
the Law on Value Added Tax and several laws, stipulate a number of
provisions previously prescribed by the RA government’s decisions
and other legal acts: these provisions are related to control and
supervision over legal entities, as well as natural persons engaged
in entrepreneurial activity.

The NA passed in first reading the addition to the RA Law on Provision
of the Earth’s Interior for Exploration and Mining with the Aim of
Using Minerals (Concession). By this addition, information about the
respective Earth’s interior site shall be provided to tax bodies with
the aim of using this information in supervisory work.

The package of additions and amendments to the RA Law on Higher and
Post-Graduate Education and the RA Law on Education was adopted fully
in second reading. Based on this, a former student who interrupted
his/her studies has the right to enroll again in a higher educational
institution, irrespective of the reason for interrupting studies,
within 10 years. Besides, students of the paid education system
(without the right of delay) will receive the right to be transferred
to the free education system – based on the excellent annual results
of studies.

ARMENIAN JUDO TEAM NOT TO LEAVE FOR BAKU

A1+
[05:01 pm] 26 September, 2007

The World Judo Cup Final is due on October 13-14 in Baku. The winners
will participate at the Olympic Games scheduled for 2008 in Beijing.

The Armenian team will not participate at the championship. The
Armenian Judo Federation (AJF) didn’t even consider the question. While
discussing the upcoming championship the AJF took into consideration
our sportsmen’s security and found it useless submitting an
application.

Let’s remind you that after extended negotiations the Armenian
Wrestling team participated at the World Wrestling Championship held
in Baku, September 17-24.

Besides, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev guaranteed the Armenian
side’s security in the country.

ANC DISCUSSES US-ARMENIA RELATIONS, ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION WITH CONGRESSWOMAN WATSON

armradio.am
06.09.2007 10:30

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR) met with
Congresswoman Diane Watson in her Los Angeles district office on
Wednesday, August 15th to discuss the latest developments regarding
H.Res.106, (the Armenian Genocide resolution) as well as the local
vibrant Armenian American community in her district. ANC-WR Community
Relations Director, Haig Hovsepian attended the meeting with Miss
Suzy Bezikian, a constituent of the Congresswoman’s and former ANCA
Leo Sarkisian Intern.

"It was a great opportunity to reconnect with the Congresswoman,
whom I first met as an intern with the ANC in Washington, D.C.,"
said Bezikian.

"I appreciated the opportunity to let Congresswoman Watson know how
much we value her support of and leadership in advancing the Armenian
Genocide resolution as well as US-Armenia relations," he added.

The Congresswoman presented her recent initiatives to promote
Hollywood’s contribution to the public perception of America. She
pleasantly noted the diversity of the congressional district and
praised Armenian American contributions to its development and richness
of culture.

Bezikian and Hovsepian discussed the local Hollywood ANC’s activities
as well as that by other Armenian community organizations such as the
Armenian Youth Federation, which hosts an annual Hollywood neighborhood
beautification project.

First elected in 2001, Congresswoman Watson represents California’s
33rd Congressional District which includes Hollywood, the heart of
Los Angeles, and Culver City. She serves on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee as well as the House Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform. She was one of the early cosponsors of H.Res.106 and in March,
she authored a dear colleague letter regarding the ongoing destruction
of Armenian religious and cultural monuments in the eastern part of
the Republic of Turkey.