Author: Emil Lazarian

DIAKONIA TO BUILD 200 COTTAGES FOR ARMENIAN VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Armenpress
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: The Swiss Diakonia charity
organization will build 200 cottages for Armenian insecure and
vulnerable families lacking proper housing.

Diakonia is a Christian development organization working together
with local partners for a sustainable change for the most vulnerable
people of the world.

Diakonia has already built this year 18 cottages in Armenia raising
the number of families for whom it has built homes to 58. The families
are selected by Swiss members of a special commission.

Simon Ter-Petrosian, chairman of a government commission handling
charity projects, said Diakonia will also built a school for children
of three remote villages in Sisian region, located close to each
other. Children in these villages have to make every day a long
journey to attend schools in neighboring villages.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRE GOES ON AT "NAIRIT"

Yerevan, December 26. ArmInfo. The fire at the Yerevan "Nairit"
plant goes on.

To remind, a fire happened on December 24 morning at "Nairit"
plant in two containers with ethanol of 300 tons each. It succeeded
to extinguish one of the containers the same day in the evening. The
fire in another container was localized by December 25 morning and it
was extinguished on December 26 at 1:59 AM. However, a self-ignition
took place again in the container at about 2:58 AM.

"POLICY OF GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES CAN RESULT IN A NATIONAL CATASTROPHE": SOUTH OSSETIAN COMMUNITY

Permanent news address:
12:24 26.12.2006

A round-table discussion was held in the capital of South Ossetia,
Tskhinvali. The discussion titled "Russian Vector of Georgian Policy in
Sociopolitical Coordinates of Caucasus" was held at the office of the
South Ossetian branch of the Caucasian Institute for Democracy. Members
of youth movements, Georgian, Armenian and Russian communities in
South Ossetia, NGOs and reporters participated in the meeting.

After the discussion, the participants passed a statement. REGNUM
publishes the full text of it:

"For recent years, the Georgian-Russian relations have been
characterized by increasing tensions, causing anxiety and serious
concern with peoples of Caucasus.

Georgian authorities are trying to switch attention of the population
from problems of poverty, corruption, economic crisis, which are
consequences of failure of their own policy, to artificially formed
images of enemies in the person of South Ossetia and Abkhazia,
representing the Russian Federation as the main source of all their
problems.

Staking at force in its aspiration towards putting South Ossetia and
Abkhazia under its jurisdiction, Tbilisi has been involved in an
unprecedented militarization, concealing its provocations against
South Ossetia and Abkhazia by propagandist statements announcing
their peaceful intentions addressed to the West.

Rejecting the historic memory of good neighborhood and friendship,
Georgian leaders resort to the language of threats, establish an
unfavorable atmosphere and make null and void the years-long effort
in the conflict settlement. The policy pursued by Georgian leadership
can result in grave and unpredictable consequences for Georgia and
the Caucasian region in general.

Saakashvili’s aggressive policy makes suffer the whole Georgian
nation. People are suffering colossal losses, being deprived of
an opportunity to trade with Russia. South Ossetian Georgians live
in the atmosphere of permanent fear expecting another provocation
from Georgia.

Participants of the round-table discussion address the UN and OSCE
member-countries calling to condemn the dangerous Tbilisi policy aimed
at exacerbating the situation and aggravating hostility in Caucasus
and to take all measures in order to prevent from deterioration of
the situation, to give up intriguing and start solving the problems
of the Georgian people properly."

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA GRADUALLY DISTANCES ITSELF FROM THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT

Yerevan, December 26. ArmInfo. Russia gradually distances itself from
the South Caucasus, said Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of Caucasian
Media Institute, political expert, at Friday Club, Tuesday.

He said that from the point of view of economic cooperation, the
European community is a more important partner for Armenia. As regards
the cultural commonness with Russia, it embraces rather the older
generation than young. At the same time, the political expert admits
that Russia occupies leading positions for Armenia in the issues of
military-political cooperation.

In response to ArmInfo’s question regarding the frequent murders of
Armenians in Russia on the ground of national intolerance and the
respond of the Armenian authorities to them, Alexander Iskandaryan
said: "Harsh statements by the authorities could be an adequate
respond. However, it would not be enough to provide security to
Armenians in Russia. This will just damage the relations with Moscow,
which is not desirable for Yerevan. From this point of view, the
position of our leadership is rational. It is just like the behavior
of an ostrich." He noted that during the pogroms of 1993-1994 and
deportation of Armenians, no representatives of the Russian media
wrote about those events. Now, the picture is quite different due to a
"flash" in the consciousness of Armenians.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV HAD GREAT CONTRIBUTION IN DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-TURKMEN CONTACTS, RA PRIME MINISTER MENTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 25 2006

ASHKHABAD, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 24, the delegation
led by RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian took part in the funeral
of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov. "On behalf of the Republic
of Armenia government, the whole Armenian people we present our deep
condolences to the whole Turkmen people in connection with irreparable
loss, untimely death of Turkmenistan’s great son, country’s first
President Saparmurat Niyazov," RA Prime Minister wrote in the book of
condolences. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA government Information
and Public Relations Department, A.Margarian in his notes mentioned
Saparmurat Niyazov’s great role in development and deepening of
Armenian-Turkmen relations. "He will always remain in our people’s
grateful memory as a person and statesman who provided invaluable aid
to our republic, to thousands of our compatriots at the fatal moment
for our people," A.Margarian’s note of condolence read.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN MAYOR SHOULD BELONG TO SOME PARTY, YERVAND ZAKHARIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 25 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "I am convinced that henceforth
Yerevan Mayor should belong to some party and after the 2007
parliamentary elections all posts should be politicized." Yerevan
Mayor, RPA Board member, Yervand Zakharian declared at the December
25 press conference. He also stated that probably after the 2007
parliamentary elections he will not remain on the Mayor’s post. In
Y.Zakharian’s words, an official should not be non-partisan, as it
is this or that party that assumes responsibility for government’s
activity and economic programs of certain period. "In the past three
or four years the majority of officials in the government were RPA
members. The main motive force has always been RPA and I consider
it right to be RPA member and henceforth I should carry out all
commissions, programs the Republican Party of Armenia will consider
as expedient," Y.Zakharian declared.

MARAT GHULIAN WINS TITLE OF CHAMPION OF ARMENIA OF INTERNATIONAL DRAUGHTS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 25 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The men’s championship of Armenia
of international draughts was held on December 16-24 at the Yerevan
Sports School of Sports and Logical Games. 5 of the 10 participants
are masters of sport.

Marat Ghulian got 7 points from 9 possible ones and won the title
of the champion of Armenia. Multiple champion of the republic Ruben
Khachikian is on the 2nd place with 6.5 points. Nshan Alaverdian
and Armen Marutian shared 3rd-4th places with 6 points each. All the
prize winners represents Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN POLITICAL ANALYST: CURRENT TBILISI’S POLICY PREDETERMINES DISINTEGRATION OF GEORGIA INTO SEVERAL SMALL STATES

Permanent news address:
17:16 12/25/2006

Current Tbilisi’s policy predetermines disintegration of Georgia
into several small states, Armenian political analyst Hrazdan Madoyan
said at discussion "Georgia’s policy and national security" organized
by Mitk Analytical Center on December 25. As a REGNUM correspondent
informs, according to him, at present moment Georgia’s main problem is
that it failed to consolidate ethnic groups living in its territory
and become a single nation, which poses the country’s future under
question. At present time, the Georgian authorities resort to the
tried method of "divide and rule," setting Georgia’s ethnic groups
against each other.

Under the pretext of improving living standards they started resettling
Adzharians into the Armenian-populated Javakheti. As the authorities
say, Adzharians were resettled from villages that were in danger
of mudslides. Improving living conditions of Adzharians, who lived
in the subtropical area, came to settling them into a mountain area
with severe climate and high seismic activity. Naturally, as Madoyan
believes, in reality the matter did not concern improving living
standards, the true reason was an attempt to weaken both Armenians
and Adzharians instigating an artificial conflict. Under the same
pretext and with the same aim, Svans were resettled to the town of
Tsalka, which again instigated ethnic discord used by Georgia. "It
has become clear today that such policy is being pursued in order
to expel Armenians from Javakh, and this in the long was Turkey’s
instead of Georgia’s aim," Madoyan said. He reminded that Turkey
repeatedly announced that it should settle the issue of joining
Azerbaijan by Nagorno Karabakh and Nakhichevan and by Javakheti. To
implement this project a decision was made to bring back Meskhetian
Turks to Javakheti. "Today Javakh is the only obstacle that separates
Turks of Azerbaijan and Anatolia; after Meskhetian Turks settle in
the territory, the obstacle will be overcome and Armenia will find
itself in an absolute blockade," he noted.

"So, when we say we have no problems with Georgia, we, knowingly or
not, encourage implementation of Turkish programs," Madoyan noted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ANTHEM REINSTATED, FOR NOW
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 25 2006

The National Assembly passed on Monday a bill that reinstates Armenia’s
post-Soviet national anthem that controversially lost its official
status earlier this month amid wrangling between members of the
governing coalition.

The song "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland) automatically ceased to be
the national anthem on December 6 as the Armenian parliament failed
to meet a constitutional deadline for reaffirming it or introducing
a new state symbol. The deadline was set by one of the amendments
to Armenia’s constitution that were enacted by the authorities in a
disputed referendum late last year.

The amendment was widely seen as a prelude to the abolition of "Mer
Hayrenik" which was the official anthem of an independent Armenian
republic in 1918-1920 before being reinstated by Armenia’s first
post-Communist government in 1990. President Robert Kocharian and
many of his political allies, backed by some artists and composers,
consider its tune and lyrics too unsophisticated.

But their plans have met with strong resistance from some opposition
groups and, more importantly, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun), a member of the governing coalition which had
founded the First Republic. They forced the government last month to
scrap the results of a contest for a new Armenian anthem.

Still, the government kept open the possibility of anthem change on
November 29, pushing through the Kocharian-controlled parliament a
bill that gives "Mer Hayrenik" only a "provisional" status. It took
the legislature almost a month to pass the bill in the third and final
reading due to objections from Dashnaktsutyun and opposition factions.

The bill will come into force only ten days after being singed into law
by President Robert Kocharian and published in the Official Gazette,
meaning that Armenia still has no official anthem. "I hope that
the president of the republic will quickly sign the bill into law,"
said parliament speaker Tigran Torosian.

Torosian, who voted for the bill despite favoring a permanent status
for "Mer Hayrenik," also disagreed with those who believe that
Armenian television channels will not be able to begin the New Year
with a traditional rendition of the anthem. "Nothing prevents us from
playing ‘Mer Hayrenik’ on December 31," he told reporters. "This is
a situation where punctuality is not that important."

Vahan Hovannisian, Torosian’s deputy affiliated with Dashnaktsutyun,
boycotted Monday’s parliament vote, insisting that the bill’s
controversial clause is "nonsensical" and disrespectful towards
Armenian statehood. "That nonsense stems from the government’s
weakness," he said. "In essence, the government bowed to pressure
from pseudo-intellectuals opposed to ‘Mer Hayrenik.’"

"I don’t think that the fight is over because ‘Mer Hayrenik’ will
remain a national anthem in the foreseeable future," added Hovannisian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOR ACQUITTED ARMENIAN SOLDIERS JUSTICE NOT QUITE DONE
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 25 2006

The three Armenian soldiers who have been sensationally cleared
of murder charges will push for the prosecution of law-enforcement
officials and judges that nearly condemned them to a life behind bars,
it emerged on Monday.

Zaruhi Postanjian, a young lawyer who has led their prolonged battle
with the state security apparatus, said that her clients will seek
"material and moral compensation" for spending about three years in
jail on what human rights groups consider trumped-up charges. She said
the botched criminal investigation into the mysterious killings of
two other army conscripts has been accompanied by torture and other
gross violations of due process.

"Military police officers, military prosecutors and judges carried
out actions that are punishable by criminal law," she told RFE/RL.

"We will strive to ensure that they get a fair punishment for what
they did to these innocent men."

Razmik Sargsian, Musa Seropian and Arayik Zalian were set free on
Friday after being unexpectedly acquitted by Armenia’s Court of
Cassation. In a landmark ruling, it overturned life sentences handed
to them by a lower court and ordered a fresh inquiry into the deaths
of fellow soldiers Roman Yeghiazarian and Hovsep Mkrtumian.

All five men served in an army unit stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh’s
northern Mardakert district. The swollen corpses of Yeghiazarian
and Mkrtumian bearing traces of violence were recovered from a local
reservoir in January 2004. Several soldiers from their battalion were
promptly arrested by military prosecutors on suspicion of involvement
in the crime. One of them effectively testified that the killings
were committed by Captain Ivan Grigorian, the battalion’s Karabakh
Armenian commander.

The investigators, however, dismissed the testimony, releasing the
suspects and arresting Sargsian, Seropian and Zalian instead. They
claim that the three servicemen brutally murdered their comrades
following a brawl over a food parcel that was delivered to one of them.

The accusations are essentially based on Sargsian’s videotaped
"confession" made after fours days of interrogation in April 2004.

Sargsian has insisted all along that the confession was extracted
under duress and threats of rape. His face is clearly swollen and
bruised in video of the interrogation shown by the investigators
last year. According to Postanjian, the 21-year-old is now in need of
"serious medical treatment."

A court in Stepanakert dismissed the allegations of torture, also
made by Seropian and Zalian, sentencing all three men to 15 years
in prison in April 2005. Their protestations of innocence were also
rejected by the Armenian Court of Appeals that extended the jail
terms to life imprisonment last May. The extraordinary verdict was
strongly condemned by local and international human rights groups
before being struck down by the Court of Cassation. It was the first
known case of an Armenian court defying military prosecutors.

Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General on Monday refused to comment
on the unprecedented acquittal. "We will not react until we get a full
copy of the Court of Cassation verdict," a spokeswoman told RFE/RL.

Deputy Prosecutor-General Jahangirian, who was Armenia’s chief military
and oversaw the troubled inquiry until recently, also declined
comment. Jahangirian said he continues to believe that the three
soldiers are guilty moments before they were cleared of the charges.

Postanjian, who screamed in disbelief as she heard the ruling on
Friday, admitted that the development took her and the two other
defense attorneys by surprise. But she said they do not feel that
their mission has been fulfilled and will demand punishment for those
who have handled the high-profile case.

"Yes, the three young men are now free," said Postanjian. "But their
nearly three-year imprisonment must be compensated not only materially
but morally so that individuals working as military police officers,
prosecutors or judges do not commit such illegalities in the future."

That, according to her, means launching criminal proceedings against
five military prosecutors and other investigators that arrested
and interrogated Sargsian, allegedly without a warrant, as well
as the judges that convicted the three soldiers. Postanjian warned
that failure to do so would force the defense lawyers to file civil
lawsuits and take their case to the European Court of Human Rights
in Strasbourg.

"If Armenian courts do not compensate Razmik Sargsian, Musa Seropian
and Arayik Zalian for the material and moral damage inflicted on them
and if they fail to punish individuals who have committed those crimes,
then the European Court will certainly address the matter," she said.

Postanjian and the two other defense counsels, Ashot Atoyan and
Stepan Voskanian, are themselves facing a criminal investigation for
allegedly showing contempt for three judges of the Armenian Court
of Appeals that jailed the conscripts for life. The Office of the
Prosecutor-General opened a criminal case against the lawyers on
October 10, the day after the Court of Cassation, Armenia’s highest
body of criminal justice, agreed to consider their appeal against
the extremely controversial sentences.

Postanjian rejected the allegations as a "fabrication" aimed
at discouraging herself and her colleagues from challenging the
law-enforcement agency. She also repeated their suggestions that the
killings were the work of Captain Grigorian, the Karabakh Armenian
officer. "There are numerous clues leading to the commander of the
battalion," she said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress