Author: Emil Lazarian

GENERALS CONTINUE TO LEAVE RA DEFENCE MINISTRY: SEYRAN SAROYAN ALSO INTENDS TO NOMINATE HIS CANDIDATURE AT NA ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. According to reliable sources,
General Seyran Saroyan, Commander of Armenian army’s 4th corps, is
also going to nominate his candidature at the May 12 parliamentary
elections and has put in an application to leave the Defence Ministry
for this purpose. S.Saroyan is likely to nominate his candidature
by majoritarian system in the town of Martuni, Gegharkunik region,
and General’s father is likely to nominate his candidature in the
place of his residence, electoral district N 19 of Armavir region.

According to the same source, RA Deputy Defence Minister A.Aghabekian
who has declared about his intention to resign and to restore his
membership to ARFD is going to nominate his candidature at electoral
district N 26 of Yeghvard and actively works in this direction.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY FOREIGNERS GROWS IN 2006 IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. 147 out of 6917 persons called for
criminal liability in 2006 in Armenia were foreigners (this number
was 110 in 2005), at that, 91 of them were from CIC countries (69 in
2005). Hovhannes Hunanian, Deputy Chief of RA Police, reported this
at the February 7 press conference. At the same time, he said that
in the period under review 129 crimes were committed by foreigners
in Armenia (109 in 2005), 40 out of them by citizens of Georgia,
32 Iran, 29 Russia, 4 Syria, 4 Lebanon, 3 Egypt and 3 India.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN ALL PROBABILITY, FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS WILL BE FALSIFIED, YOUNG POLITICAL FIGURES SAY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Today a great number of Armenian
young people take part in country’s political life, but not proceeding
from their political views, but "due to pursuing career or material
interests." Hayk Asatrian, Chairman of ARFD Nikol Aghbalian youth
union, gave assurance at the February 7 dispute of young political
figures. Narek Galstian, Chairman of Sargis Tkhruni student youth
union of Social-Democrat Hnchakian party, stated that personally he
knows a number of young people who personally took part in falsifying
the previous elections. In his words, it has become "fashionable"
to "become the derivative of deans at universities, to reach 4th
year without any knowledge, then to join various "bazes" for wearing
an expensive suit in the future." Adrine Avagian, head of National
Democratic Union’s youth wing, said that currently the political field
is distorted and the Armenian youth is also to blame for this. Touching
upon the forthcoming elections, the dispute participants said that
in all probability, they will be falsified. "From one election to
another falsifications become bigger and bigger in Armenia and we have
no expectations from these illegitimate authorities," A.Avagian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNTIL NOW DRAM’S APPRECIATION HAS NOT YET SERIOUSLY AFFECTED COMPETITIVENESS OF ARMENIAN GOODS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The appreciation of the Armenian dram
has not yet seriously affected competitiveness of Armenian goods. The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Representative to Armenia Nienke
Oomes expressed this opinion. Making a speech at the Yerevan Office of
the Caucasus Research Resource Center, N. Oomes said that as a result
of the appreciation observed in recent years, the ratio of the real
exchange rate and productivity (per capita income) of the Armenian dram
has approached the average indices in the world (previously it was much
lower). As a result, competitiveness of Armenian goods has declined but
it still remains at the average global level. According to the speaker,
competitiveness of Armenian goods may decline to a dangerous extent,
if the processes of average salary growth and the dram’s appreciation
continue without the respective growth of producrivity. N. Oomes
indicated four reasons for the dram’s appreciation: 1. The growth of
labor productivity and, as a consequnece, the increase of people’s
incomes, 2. The increase in monetary remittances and other transfers
from abroad, 3. Positive phenomena in foreign trade (for example,
an increase in prices of exported copper), 4.

"Dramization" of the economy (as demand for the dram grows, it reduces
the value of the dollar). In the opinion of IMF representative,
the Central Bank of Armenia can suspenf the growth of the dram’s
real exchange rate for a short time but this may lead to a jump in
inflation in a few months.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OYP TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS INDEPENDENTLY, PARTY CHAIRMAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of
Law) Party will take part in the May 12 parliamentary elections
independently, without making alliance with any other party. OYP
Chairman Artur Baghdasarian declared this at the February 7 press
conference. In his words, this February 6 decision of party’s Board
does not mean at all that they exclude cooperation with another
political forces. In A.Baghdasarian’s words, OYP is willing to
cooperate with all forces which are for democracy development in
Armenia. He stated that they will also cooperate with the parties which
have structures abroad and fight for Armenia’s interests abroad. The
OYP leader said that currently the pro-governmental field leans on four
parties – Republican Party of Armenia, Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous
Armenia), ARFD and United Labor Party. As A.Baghdasarian forecast,
the authorities are going to create the 5th pole as well, in which some
extraparliamentary forces will be included. In A.Baghdasarian’s words,
the most important is to exclude falsifications at the forthcoming
parliamentary elections "in order not to disgrace our country once
more."

In his words, though it is the authorities who are first of all
responsible for holding of fair elections, nevertheless, all political
organizations should do their best in this direction. A.Baghdasarian
also reported that the list of OYP candidates to be nominated
by the majoritarian system will be ready in the second half of
February. "There is no exact decision on my nomination yet," he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HRANT KHACHATRIAN PROPOSES CREATING MONITORING GROUP CONTROLLING FULFILMENT OF COURT DECISIONS RELATING TO PARTIES AND OPPOSITIONISTS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Constitutional Law Union (CLU) party
Chairman Hrant Khachatrian proposes forming a monitoring group enjoying
public confidence, controlling fulfilment of court decisions relating
to parties and oppositionists, on the initiative of opposition parties
and with participation of leaders enjoying people’s full confidence. He
proposes that this group should function at least until the end of the
parliamentary elections. As it was mentioned in the report provided
to Noyan Tapan, on January 31, RA Appeal Court sustained the claim
of a number of members of CLU management invalidating the results
of elections of CLU 17th conference held on September 16 2006. In
consideration of current complicated interrelations between legal and
political systems, some representatives of opposition camp without
touching upon the decision expressed apprehension that in the future
this can be a precedent for undue intervention into some party’s
internal affairs by the state. "We abruptly reject all opinions,
according to which the issue of falsification of voting results of
intraparty elections is not subject of bringing it to court. At the
same time, being loyal to our principles, we consider our duty to
provide transparency and publicity in further processes aimed at
party’s rehabilitation, control of independent observers enjoying
confidence," the report read.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN EYE CARE PROJECT TO CONDUCT FREE OF CHARGE EYE SCREENING FROM MARCH IN MARZES OF KOTAYK, LORI, SHIRAK AND TAVUSH

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Eye Care Project
(AECP) American charity organization will conduct free of charge eye
screening in the coomunity of Kanaker-Zeytun, Yerevan, from February
19 till March 15. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Nune
Yeghiazarian, the Director of the Armenian office of the organization,
the initiative is being implemented within the framework of the
program entitled "Primary and Ophthalmologic Healthcare Alliance" of
the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and AECP. In
her words, eye screenings will be conducted at 15 schools of the
community (including 4 special ones), 15 kindergartens, 3 charity
canteens as well at the district head’s office for the vulnerable
groups of the community.

N.Yeghiazarian mentioned that the AECP recently completed its
activity in the marz of Ararat where 13765 people were screened,
including 8084 children. 1080 patients were sent to the Mobile Eye
Hospital for further examination and treatment, 349 people were
operated on, and 124 ones got laser treatment. The organization
will conduct eye screenings in the marzes of Kotayk, Lori, Shirak
and Tavush starting from March. It was also mentioned that the AECP
continues doing works in the direction of founding the "Eye Bank"
at the S.Malayan Ophthalmological Center. It will be the only one
in the region and will be engaged in getting and conservation of
eye tissues, providing with transplants which will be used during
different eye operations. The AECP was founded in 1992, in the U.S.,
by American Armenian ophthalmologist Roger Ohanesian. The Yerevan
Office of the organization was opened in 2002.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 3 2007

I am from Trabzon, but not one of those…

by KERIM BALCI

Identifying oneself with a hometown is a human need. Being from a
certain city provides a person a reference point to give meaning to
the world. `I am from this and that place’ refers to a consciousness
standing in this and that place and perceiving the surrounding
realities from the angle that place supplies. In many languages, the
relationship between `temporal-spatial reality’ of the self and
`cognitive meaning given to the world around that self’ is reflected
in the words: stand-understand in English and mawqif-wuquf with the
same meanings in Arabic.
Identifying with a city as a hometown, with a country as a fatherland
or with the geography of a religion as the Holy Land is not only
about the nostalgic backlash of memory nor about a social mechanism
to relate to other `co-placer.’ It is about who you are. You not only
identify yourself with a place; you make it a part of your identity.
And the perceived identity of your city, your country, may stick onto
your identity in an unpleasant way. This was the main reason why the
Greek philosopher Diogenes, who, upon being asked to give the name of
the city-state in which he had been brought up, responded with the
remark that he was a citizen of the world: cosmopolitan. If you are
not an Athenian in Athens, it is better to be cosmopolitan, he should
have thought.
Well, I am from Trabzon. I was born and raised in Samsun, but my
reference point in life, my identity has always been
Trabzon-centered. The perceived image of this city has suddenly
turned to an ultranationalist, violent and lawless one. This
pejorative image spread so quickly that many from Trabzon feel the
need to say `I am from Trabzon, but…’ This is the same apologetic
feeling I observed in Muslims of the West after 9/11. Deep inside
every Muslim in the West was an imposed sense of guiltiness.
Ogün Samast, an ideologically poisoned and manipulated young man from
Trabzon, murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink two weeks
ago. Within those two weeks, Trabzon was put under inquiry by the
police and politicians and worst of all, by journalists. Some had
neo-Marxist ideas that economic inequalities were pushing the youth
to marginal ideologies and violence. Others were more thinking more
in terms of social psychology, claiming that as a frontier city
against Russian and Georgian Christian influence, Trabzon developed a
nationalist version of Islamism. There were more to-the-point
analyses of the inner dynamics of Turkish educational politics and
the influence of `Almancis,’ the second and third generation Turks
who settled as workers in Germany and other European countries.
None dared to say that this was an isolated case, and stereotyping
all the people from Trabzon on the basis of two or three cases is as
silly as this joke: An imam in Rize, a neighboring city, had recited
the call for evening prayer during a Ramadan earlier than he should
have. Since this call is also the call for breaking the fast, all the
people of Rize broke their fasts earlier than they should have.
Later, the Mufti of the city decided that this early fast-breaking
was unacceptable and made a public call to the people of Rize to fast
one day extra as a substitute for that day. To his astonishment, he
received calls from people of Rize who were settled in Germany on
whether they should also fast that extra day.
Tragicomic as it is, the sense of guilt among the people of Trabzon
is almost the same. What happens to me when I, as a person born and
raised in Samsun but who has visited Trabzon only twice in my life,
feel a necessity to say that I am not of those radicals? This feeling
itself is more dangerous than the fact that there are some marginal
groups in this wonderfully beautiful city, my hometown…

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘PANAMA, BELGIUM AND WE HAVE THIS’

Panorama.am
20:33 06/02/2007

"The legislation has taken the Christian form", Chairman of NA
standing commission on state legal issues, Rafik Petrosyan noted,
concerning the amendments to the Judiciary code made in the period
from the first to second reading. He added that only Panama and
Belgium have the Judiciary code.

He reminded his colleagues that he has voted "for" the draft law,
adopted in the first reading, but now he offers to bring for voting
the bill, taking into consideration the positive conclusion of the
commission.

According to David Haroutyunyan, Minister of Justice, the courts of
bankruptcy have been withdrawn from the list of specialized courts,
besides, 3 criminal, 3 civil and 1 administrative courts will be
created, by the way, they will be formed till Jan 1, 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISN’T WATER POLLUTED?

A1+
[05:46 pm] 06 February, 2007

On January 30 "Noushikyan Association" turned to "Yerevan Water" LTD
as the company wanted to get acquainted with the technical conditions
of roundabout way of the water pipeline passing through Aghayan 19
and Teryan 56. But three days ago, the constructors damaged the water
pipeline as a result of which the running water became polluted.

Rouben Torosyan, head of the commission protecting citizens’ rights,
assures that "the project under question hasn’t undergone legal
proceedings and is therefore illegal". In this respect, he submitted
an application to the RA General Prosecutor. On February 8-12 the
court will hold hearings on citizens’ claim against the RA Ministry
of Environment.

Rouben Torosyan assures that the water pipeline was fixed with the
help of wood pieces as a result of which the water became no good
for drinking. The representatives of water irrigation system were
indignant as the company initiated the construction without any
permission and preliminary examination.

Henrik Martirosyan, chief architect of "Yerevan Water" Kentron
branch, told A1+ that it is beyond their jurisdiction to permit the
construction; it is upon the municipality to decide. In case the
municipality submits a decision on construction, they only give the
technical conditions of passing round of the water pipeline.

"We only have a right to make checking in three months and review the
work of technical conditions", says Mr. Martirosyan. As for the water
pollution, Mr. Martirosyan noted that they got no complaint from the
citizens and were unaware of that problem.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress