Author: Emil Lazarian

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: RUSSIA’S STEPS TOWARDS ARMENIA MAKE ANXIOUS EVEN THOSE
WHO ARE FOR FIRM ALLIANCE WITH RUSSIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The solutions to energy problems
between Armenia and Russia that have an economic character indeed
are considered as a political compulsion. Vahan Hovhannisian,
RA NA Vice-Speaker, member of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Bureau,
expressed such an opinion at the April 20 meeting with journalists,
commenting upon the sale of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan Thermal
Power Plant (TPP) to Russia for the purpose of mitigating the tariff
for gas. “Everybody understands that Russia could also propose
other ways out, more beneficial for Armenia but it did not do it,”
he mentioned. According to V.Hovhannisian, in the economic plan the
solution is optimal “as if you have a nothingness having a cost of
several dozens of millions, i.e. a half-built building, and have
neither a possibility to complete nor to run it, it is beneficial
to sell it at the maximum price”. The only problem, according to
the speaker, is the difficulty of looking for an alternative but
it should not be connected only with Russia. Because of Armenia’s
geographic position this alternative is connected with Iran which is
currently in rather a hard position itself. According to the speaker,
we should also think about internal resources, not only in the respect
of development of energy also development of economy in general. “I
think that the main work to be done at present should be aimed at
building the second, more secure, powerful and modern nuclear power
plant,” NA Vice-Speaker mentioned. Answering journalists’ questions,
Vahan Hovhannisian said that “as a result of Russia’s steps towards
Armenia being not well thought-out” really a growth of anti-Russian
moods takes place in the country. “Such steps taken by Russia towards
Armenia really make anxious also those who are for a firm alliance
with Russia,” V.Hovhannisian declared.

According to him, it becomes obvious that economic interests start to
dictate a political direction to the Kremlin. “Therefore, the debt
of 100 mln is not remitted to Armenia and we pay for gas a larger
sum than Turkey,” NA Vice-Speaker emphasized.

ACCORDING TO TURKISH NEWSPAPER, 65% OF PBS STATIONS AIRED ROND TABLE
FOLLOWING DEMONSTRATION OF “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

ISTANUL, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The film “The
Armenian Genocide” of Andrew Goldberg was aired on April 17 by the
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Citing BBC Radio, the newspaper
“Marmara” (Istanbul) reported that over 348 TV stations aired
the film. Prior to the airing, it was announced that many Armenian
organizations and families have assited with the film making. According
to the one-hour film, the mass extermination of the Armenians in Turkey
started in the 1890s under Sultan Abdul Hamid. During their deportation
in 1915, the Armenians were killed on the orders and decison of the
central authorities. Such leaders of “The Young Turks” as Enver Pasha,
Taleat Pasha and Jemal Pasha were sentenced to death and pleaded guilty
to committing the genocide. It is noted that the Armenian massacres
are qualified as a genocide. Taner Akcham, of the Minnesota University
(US), Fatma Myuge Gochek, of Michigan University, historian Halil
Berktai express their opinions in the film, their position on the
issue of the Armenian Genocide differing from the official position
of the Turkish state. The documentary also features some ordinary
citizens of Istanbul and Eastern Anatolia, telling in Turkish or
Kurdish what they heard from their grandparents, undelining that,
to put it simply, these events were massacres. Some young Turks note
that there is no information about such a genocide in the history of
Turkey they know and that “the Turkish people is not the one to have
committed a genocide”. At the same time, the Turkish daily “Sabah”
reported in the April 18 issue that following the demonstration of
“The Armenian Genocide”, 65% of PBS TV stations aired a round table
with the participation of American Armenian scientist and writer
Piter Balakian and progressive Turkish intelelctual Taner Akcham,
from one side, and such deniers of the Armenian Genocide as Turkish
historian Omer Turan and American historain Justin McCarthy, from the
other. To recap, prior to it, tens of thousands of Armenians from the
US and many other countries called on PBS not to broadcast the round
table, pointing out that the Armenian Genocide is an established fact,
and the issue of whether it was committed indeed should not be made
a subject of debate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSIAN DOES NOT THINK THAT THERE ARE CHANGES IN NEAREST FUTURE
IN ISSUE OF INVOLVEMENT OF KARABAKH IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Azerbaijan
wants to tear many things for its benefit, to make new proposals
what is inadmissible for us,” Serge Sargsian, the Secretary of the
RA National Security Council attached to the President, the Defence
Minister stated at the press-conference taken place at the end of
the military exercises held in Nagorno Karabakh. “If each of us makes
an attempt to tear for him more things for obvious, clear purposes,
we can hardly come to common denominator,” the Minister emphasized.

According to Serge Sargsian, the Armenian side never violates
conditions of cease-fire: “We just respond to press, and there are
few shots.” As for the issue of involvement of Nagorno Karabakh in
the negotiation process, Serge Sargsian mentioned: “I do not think
that there will be changes in future. Of course, it’s desired that
Nagorno Karabakh as well participates in the negotiations, but not
everything happens according to our wish.” The Minister estimated
normal the political situation in Armenia: “The political process
seems to develop in normal way, and, of course, such a situation
have a more favourable influence than when political passions are
imflamed. Of course, a more favourable atmosphere may be created, but
this one is also enough.” According to Serge Sargsian, a tolerance
is necessary for a favourable atmosphere as well as it is necessary
to avoid unwarranted political ambitions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The US mediator had meetings at the Minitry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 13:35

The Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia informs
that “preceding the visits to Baku and Yerevan, US Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann was received April 19 at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.”

“Issues related to the coordination of further steps for the progress
of the settlement process in the OSCE Minsk Group format were discussed
during the meeting,” the press release of the Russian MFA says.

Today Steven Mann will arrive in Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Vardan Oskanyan: The mediators can suggest new wording of the principles

ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 15:31

“If Azerbaijan accepts the right of self-determination of the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia is ready to seriously discuss the issues
of elimination of war results,” RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
declared today. According to the Minister, “it is our position in
the negotiations process.”

Commenting upon the latest statements on the mediators’ “new
suggestions,” Vadan Oskanyan said that this characteristic is both
“correct and incorrect.”

A one-page document on the principles of regulation is put on
the negotiations table. Agreement has been reached only on some
principles. I think when the mediators speak about “new suggestions,”
they mean new wording of the principles, which have not been agreed
upon. The principles have not changed,” the Foreign Minister clarified.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Final Planning Conference on Rescuer-2006 Exercise Started in Yerevan

20.04.2006 12:13

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The final conference on Rescuer-2006 exercise
started in Yerevan in April 19. During the conference David J. Wheeler,
the Kansas Army National Guard Commander said military cooperation
between Armenia and the U.S. is very important.

In his words, teamwork experience is significant for regional emergency
situations. At that he gave a high estimate to the organization works
carried out by the Armenian party.

250 participants from 12 countries will take part in the
exercises. Rescuer-2006 exercises are of command and staff nature
and are aimed at organizing and comparing the work of the military
and medical department of the Armenian MOD with the Rescue Service
of Armenia, as well as expansion of cooperation opportunities with
NATO partner states.

Baku Can Resort to Hostilities at Pinch

20.04.2006 12:12

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Today Azerbaijan cannot alone take a decision to
resume hostilities, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated
in an interview with Haykakan Jamanak newspaper.

“Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev’s capabilities in this issue are
rather restricted. They can take such step at a pinch only,” Oskanian
said. In his words, Azerbaijan realizes that it’s pregnant with a great
number of negative consequences and “it will be the last attempt to
resume hostilities, since it will legalize Karabakh’s status.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMBERS OF PACE COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN PARLIAMENT

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 19 2006

On April 17 Tigran Torosyan, Head of NA delegation in PACE, NA Vice
President, received Vera Oskina, Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men and Jannick Devaux, PACE Secretariat
officer, who were on an official visit in Yerevan.

Mrs. Oskina noted that she is preparing a report on the women’s
state in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. She was interested in the
women’s role in the political life of Armenia, involvement in the
local self-governance, the issues of trafficking and family violence
and demography in these spheres.

Mr. Torosyan noted that the trafficking and family violence are
extraordinary phenomena contradicting Armenian traditions and are
of little percentage. Touching upon the women’s involvement in the
political processes, the NA Vice President noted that the women
of Armenia prefer to be more involved in public than in political
activity: about 99% of women are heads of public organizations.

Regarding the allocation of 25% to the women in the electoral lists,
in Mr. Torosyan’s opinion, “the positive” discrimination is also
unacceptable, and we should not promote the women’s political
involvement with unnatural steps.

During the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were discussed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO APPROVAL OF EU-ARMENIA INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP ACTIONS PLAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA President
Robert Kocharian attached importance to approval of the EU-Armenia
Individual Partnership Actions Plan within the framework of the EU New
Neighborhood policy as quickly as possible at the April 19 meeting with
the delegation of participants of EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee’s 8th sitting. The President mentioned that it will enable
to have more systematized relations with EU and to move forward
more purposefully. “We see the future of Armenia that has chosen
the European way of development in efficient management, efficient
political system and economy and this can be achieved only through
deep and large-scale reforms,” the President emphasized. The President
presented the last developments of the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh
settlement and Armenia’s approaches. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
President’s Press Service, issues regarding the events around Iran,
Armenian-Turkish relations were also touched upon. In connection with
Turkey RA President said that Armenia’s approach is unequivocal: the
country is ready to build practical relations with Turkey without any
preconditions. The interlocutors also attached importance to deepening
democratic processes in Armenia, to organization and holding of the
upcoming elections in correspondence with the European standards.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

QUALITY CONTROL OF GOODS IMPORTED FROM TURKEY TIGHTENED UP IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Customs Committee (SCC)
adjunct to the Armenian government is cooperating with various Armenian
quality certification bodies with the aim of tightening up the control
over quality of goods imported from Turkey, especially foodstuffs. NT
correspondent was also informed from the SCC press service that the
rumors that a ban was imposed on the import of goods from Turkey do
not correspont to reality.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress