Author: Emil Lazarian

“THEY SECURE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS INSTEAD OF TEACHING”

A1+
[02:50 pm] 19 May, 2006

The students of the departments “Accountancy and Audit” and
“Statistics” of the Yerevan State Economic Institute Finance faculty
have been holding an action of complain since 10AM opposite the
Ministry of Education of Science.

The students have been boycotting the studies for the last four
days. They also hold actions of complaints with posters saying
“Respect our opinion” and “No to Zeytun”.

The reason of the anger of the students was the announcement of
the newly appointed rector of the institute Yuri Suvaryan that the
above mentioned departments must be separated from the faculty and
joint the faculty of Informatics and economic cybernetics which is
located in Zeytun near the famous market. According to the student,
the building is supposed to be under construction. Besides, it is not
provided with necessary literature and cafeteria, and is separated
from the cultural centers. Besides, it is too small and is hardly
enough for the present students in it.

“There are people among us who come from Hrazdan, Eghegnadzor and
they need more than three hours to come to the Institute. And now they
will have to take an extra taxi and spend 2000 AMD more and still be
late for the lesson,” one of the students said.

Four of the students have already been threatened to be expelled from
the Institute. Another student said that several lecturers are also
blamed by the Institute authorities for not wanting to go to Zeytun.

They also think that they are transferred as new departments are
supposed to be opened. “They are doing it on purpose,” the students
say.

According to the students, if the new departments are sent to Zeytun,
next year no one will want to apply for them. “The authorities
themselves told us that they want to secure the high number of
students,” they said.

Today the students sent a letter with 200 signatures to the Ministry
of Education. They were promised to get an answer within a week. But
deputy Minister of Education Ara Avetisyan said that he is not aware
of any letter and that this kind of problems are solved inside the
Institute.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHY DID SERGE SARGSYAN LEAVE FOR SOCHI AFTER THE AIR CRASH

A1+
[07:11 pm] 19 May, 2006

Aram Karapetyan is almost sure that the Russian side is not responsible
for the crash of the “Armavia” plane A-320. Moreover, he tends to
think that there was a problem on board. According to him, the fact
that the plane crashed so suddenly comes to prove that there was an
explosion on board.

Aram Karapetyan noted that they have information that the plane was
not fuelled in the airport. Mr. Karapetyan mentions that no Russian
source gives information about 8 tons of fuel which is constantly
mentioned by Armenian sources.

According to him it is very strange that the Defense Minister left
for Sochi after the crash instead of the Minister of Transportation
or the Attorney General.

According to the leader of the Party “New Times” even if there was
an agreement to hide the real reasons of the accident, “it was the
agreement of two people and not that of the Russian country”. And two
days ago something happened after which the Russian sides received an
order to find the record boxes by all means. “Something happened the
day before yesterday and now the RF authorities will do everything
to find and decipher the record boxes”. As for what happened, Aram
Karapetyan promised to tell later.

He said that he will make public the documents found as a result of
their own investigation. As for now, “I can tell you that there were
no offensive expressions in the conversation with the dispatchers. It
is very bad to mix policy with aviation. The Russian side realizes
that if they do not find the record boxes the issue will be exploited
further. The boxes will make it possible to reveal the truth”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RF PUBLIC CHAMBER COMMISSION CONDEMNS ACT OF VANDALISM BY AZERBAIJAN AT ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN NAKHIJEVAN

Yerevan, May 19. ArmInfo. May 17 session of the Russian Federation
Public Chamber Commission for Cultural and Spiritual Heritage condemned
the desecration of Armenian cemetery in Nakhijevan as act of vandalism
by Azerbaijan. The editorial office of the “Yerkramas” newspaper
of Armenians of Russia informs ArmInfo that the session studied the
“Appeal of Moscow Roundtable Participants: Armenian Cultural Monuments
of Nakhijevan – act of vandalism by Azerbaijan.”

The session was chaired Metropolitan Klement, Moscow Patriarchy.

In his report, Victor Krivopuskov, President of the Society for
Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia, mentions the desecration
and ruining of the ancient Armenian cemetery with 4,000 khachkars
(middle age Armenian Christian monuments) by Azerbaijan in Old Juga,
Nakhijevan, in December 2005, despite the efforts of UNESCO.

Since the period when Nakhijevan became part of Azerbaijan, 27,000
hearths of Armenian cultural heritage of the 7-19th centuries
were destroyed. Factually, Azerbaijan is waging a state policy of
liquidating the ethnic proofs that testify to Nakhijevan’s belonging
to Armenia.

Speaking at the session were the historian and film director Kim
Bakshi, the writer and a member of the Union of Russian Writers
Council Valentin Osipov, President of the International Academy of
Spiritual Unity of Peoples, Georgy Trapeznikov, President of the
Russian-Armenian Commonwealth organization, Yuri Navoyan, Chairman of
Moscow Friendly Association “Nakhijevan” Sergey Abgaryan. They declared
that during the last years Azerbaijan has been waging a state policy of
falsifying the history of Russia and Armenia consciously misleading its
people and the international community, which affects the historical,
the present and the future interests of Russia, its relations with
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Public Chamber Commission for Cultural and Spiritual Heritage
expressed an intention to study how Azerbaijan preserves the cultural
and spiritual heritage of other peoples together with other commissions
of the Public Chamber for tolerance and freedom of religion, culture,
globalization and national strategy of development, international
cooperation and public diplomacy.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LA COMMUNAUTE ARMENIENNE PROTESTE

Le Figaro, France
19 mai 2006

Pascal Chamassian, president du Conseil de coordination des
organisations armeniennes de France pour la region Provence-Alpes-Côte
d’Azur, a appele a “la demission du president de l’Assemblee nationale,
Jean-Louis Debre, qui a manque aux devoirs de sa charge en levant
la seance alors que le debat parlementaire aurait pu se poursuivre
jusqu’au vote”. Selon Pascal Chamassian, “tout etait ecrit d’avance
et nous venons de vivre un deni de democratie”. Jules Mardirossian,
president de l’association pour le memorial du genocide armenien
de Lyon – recemment profane – s’est dit pour sa part “d’autant plus
ulcere que notre combat n’a rien de communautariste, contrairement
au reproche qui nous est souvent adresse. Nous nous considerons
avant tout comme des Francais, et reclamons la protection de la loi
contre le negationnisme”. Pour le president du memorial du genocide
armenien de Lyon, “il est inconcevable de laisser des manifestants
turcs defiler dans une grande ville de notre pays avec des pancartes
où l’on peut lire : “Il n’y a pas eu de genocide armenien !”. Armen
Seropyan, president de la Jeunesse armenienne de France, a ajoute
que “l’ajournement de la proposition de loi dans des conditions
risibles provoque une grande humiliation chez les Francais d’origine
armenienne, qui ont toujours fait preuve de beaucoup de moderation
et de patience”.

–Boundary_(ID_bZEVd+1RNQ3m+z2ToVcIMA) —

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARYAN: ARMENIA NEEDS TO INTENSIFY COOPERATION WITH ARABIC COUNTRIES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006

YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. Armenia needs to intensify cooperation with
Arabic countries, as the RA President Robert Kocharyan said while
accepting credentials from newly-appointed Ambassador of Kuwait in
Armenia Madjdy Ahmad Al-Dafiri (residence in Tehran).

According to the Press Service of the RA President, Kocharyan attached
great importance to the role of Kuwait in this process.

Touching upon relations between the two countries, interlocutors
pointed out existence of great potential for development of future
cooperation between the countries. When discussing development
of economic relations sides pointed out primary importance of
replenishment of agreement-legislative base, as well as information
exchange and direct contacts between business circles of two countries.

After completing the meeting Al-Dafiri presented the situation in
Kuwait and regional developments.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANS ARE NOT THE FIFTH COLUMN

Lragir.am
19 May 06

Georgian Member of Parliament Van Bayburd assessed the talks that
Turkish forces will be deployed in Javakheti after the pull-out
of the Russian military installations as fantastic. “First of all,
the interests of the Georgian state, secondly, Georgia takes into
account and honors the interests of neighboring Armenia,” said Van
Bayburd. According to him, economic cooperation between Georgia and
Turkey is not a reason to draw such conclusions. “I am fully convinced
that there will come a time when Turkey and Armenia will have normal
relations. The question of the genocide cannot be ignored, however, for
it is an essential component of the ethnic consciousness of Armenia,”
stated Van Bayburd.

“If Russia had been reluctant to withdraw from the region, it would
not have signed the documents of the summit in Istanbul. Russia should
not have called the locals Armenians to defend it. Why should they
think in Georgia that the Armenians are the country’s fifth column,”
said Van Bayburd.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMORIAL TO THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE OPENED IN ITALY

ArmRadio.am
19.05.2006 11:24

Memorial to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide will
be opened in the capital of Italy. “To the memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims. The Big Genocide, April 24, 1915,” it is engraved
on the memorial. The signature of the Mayor of Rome is also engraved
on the monument, which means it is being erected with the support of
city authorities.

Round Table – Regulation of Water Supply Services

Public Advocates Union (PAU) invites you to participate at the round table
discussion on current problems in the process of regulation of water supply
services. The discussion will take place at Tekeyan Centre, on May 23rd
2006, at 11:00.

Representatives of Public Services Regulatory Commission, State Committee of
Water Systems and other stakeholder organizations will participate in the
discussion.

Public Advocates Union

23 Marshal Baghramyan Ave. #25a, 375019

Yerevan, Armenia,

Tel: (37410) 58 88 37

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: <;

CENN INFO

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel:+995 32 75 19 03/04

Fax:+995 32 75 19 05

E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]

URL: <;

ANOTHER GROUP OF ORINATS YERKIR MEMBERS DISMISSED

Panorama.am
18:05 18/05/06

According to government press services, a number of Orinats
Yerkir members were dismissed from their posts by RA prime minister
Andranik Margaryan’s decision, among them RA Regional Administration
Deputy Minister Gagik Aslanyan, RA Energy Deputy Minister Hrachia
Musaelyan. Also prime minister dismissed Artak Sahradyan, Deputy
Education minister who is not a member of Orinats Yerkir party.

With other decisions of the prime Vahe Vardapetyan was dismissed from
the position of RA Tavush regional governor, Hrachik Khachatryan RA
Aragatsotn deputy regional governor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: L’ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE ENTERRE LA PROPOSITION DE LOI

Agence France Presse
18 mai 2006 jeudi

L’Assemblee nationale a enterre jeudi une proposition de loi socialiste
reprimant la negation du genocide armenien de 1915, après des incidents
et une bataille procedurière autour de ce texte sensible.

L’examen du texte, qui avait commence dans la confusion, a ete
interrompu sans etre acheve et son vote reporte sine die sous les cris
de colère de plusieurs dizaines de partisans de la cause armenienne
masses dans les tribunes du public. Certains, dont le realisateur de
Marius et Jeanette, Robert Guedigian, ont meme eclate en sanglots.

La proposition de loi vise a completer par un volet penal la loi
du 29 janvier 2001 par laquelle la France reconnaît le genocide
armenien. Elle fait de la negation du genocide un delit punissable
d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000 euros d’amende.

Elle divise les partis au dela du clivage droite/gauche, est
contestee par des historiens et provoque la colère d’Ankara qui
nie tout genocide. Le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
a menace la France de sanctions commerciales.

L’Elysee avait fait savoir avant le debat que cette question devait
etre examinee dans un “esprit de responsabilite”.

Les deputes UMP et le gouvernement ont tout fait pour retarder les
debats multipliant et allongeant les interventions lors de l’examen
d’un autre texte socialiste, qui precedait celui sur l’Armenie. Il
ont rendu ainsi impossible le vote de la proposition inscrite dans
une “niche” (seance d’initiative parlementaire) limitee a 5 heures
maximum de debat.

Une incertitude planait sur ce vote. Des deputes UMP sont favorables
au texte et certains comme Eric Raoult avaient meme depose deux
propositions de loi identiques.

Mais les socialistes ne sont pas non plus unanimes. Le chef de file
du groupe, Jean-Marc Ayrault, a fait part de ses “extremes reserves”,
de meme que Jack Lang.

Le president du groupe UMP, Bernard Accoyer, en a profite pour
rejeter sur le PS la responsabilite du non achèvement des debats. Il
a denonce leur “double langage” leur reprochant d’avoir inscrit trois
propositions de loi pour une seule niche.

La communaute d’origine armenienne, estimee a 500.000 personnes
(80.000 dans la region de Lyon et autant dans la region de Marseille),
represente un electorat non negligeable.

Lors du debat, Philippe Douste-Blazy (Affaires etrangères) a qualifie,
sous les invectives de deputes de tous bords dont Patrick Devedjian
(UMP), le texte de “geste inamical” pour la Turquie.

“La Turquie est un partenaire economique et commercial de premier
plan”, a-t-il rappele tout en assurant que “la cause armenienne
etait juste”.

“Ce n’est pas nous qui ecrivons l’histoire, elle est le fait des
hommes. Les historiens l’analysent, les professeurs l’enseignent,
nous ne faisons que la constater”, a argumente Didier Migaud (PS),
qui s’est defendu de “considerer l’actuelle Turquie comme responsable
de ce genocide.

Estimant que “le devoir de memoire imposait des règles ecrites”,
Francois Rochebloine (UDF) a juge que “le negationnisme sous toutes
ses formes devait etre sanctionne”.

“Aujourd’hui, le peuple armenien a recouvre une part de lui-meme,
perdue il y a 90 ans”, a lance Frederic Dutoit (PCF).

Les Armeniens estiment que jusqu’a 1,5 million des leurs ont peri
dans un genocide orchestre par l’Empire ottoman entre 1915 et 1917.

Ankara affirme que des massacres ont ete commis de part et d’autre
et recuse les accusations de genocide.

–Boundary_(ID_4Mdsno5ilymxvc51/Lgodg)- –

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress