Author: Emil Lazarian

A1+

`WE LOST THE CHANCE’

[04:21 pm] 14 April, 2006

Armenia lost the chance to avoid the pressure of
Russia. `I think we must speak to Russia in their own
language. When Russia said gas will cost 110 USD,
Armenia was to say that they will take a loan from
Iran for the fifth block of the heat generating plant
and enlarge the diameter of the gas pipeline; now do
what you want. That is to say, we could use the
opportunity and avoid the pressure,’ said Vazgen
Manoukyan, head of the National Democratic Union in
the `Mirror’ club today.

He expressed doubt that the Armenians have their
finger in the raise of the costs. `I don’t want to go
deep into the matter. The reason of my supposition is
the fact that the agreements about the stability of
the gas price are usually signed for 25 years, but the
agreement with Armenia was signed for three years.’
Vazgen Sargsyan said he is sure that the gas tariffs
will be raised during these years.

Head of the Armenian Christian-Democratic Party
Khosrov Haroutyunyan who was the other guest of the
`Mirror’ club is not concerned about the sale of the
fifth block of the heat generating plant. Instead he
is concerned by the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia as it is
clear that since 2001 Russia has changed its policy
and uses the energy issues as weapon. According to
him, it is not important who produces the energy but
rather who supplies the raw material. Khosrov
Haroutyunyan thinks that Armenia must construct a
second nuclear power station and «preferably not with
Russia fuel».

As for the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia, according to
him, Armenia must not allow the participation of a
third party in the project. Khosrov Haroutyunyan
thinks that the deal must be discussed in the
Parliament and rejected by the Parliamentarians. He
also blamed the deputies for not adopting a law
prohibiting the sale of state property to a foreign
state in order to prevent suchlike deals.

«There is no Parliament. What is the Parliament?
Nothing but a toy in the hands of Robert Kocharyan»,
Vazgen Manoukyan said adding that even if Khosrov
Haroutyunyan were in the Parliament he would not be
able to do anything.

ARDARUTIUN IS GRATEFUL TO AMERICANS

Lragir.am
14 April 06

During the parliamentary briefing on April 14 the secretary of the
Ardarutiun Alliance Victor Dallakyan thanked the U.S. government for
the Millennium Challenge Corporation grant of 235 million dollars to
Armenia.

Victor Dallakyan compared the action of the U.S. government with the
aid to the first republic of Armenia, when the United States aided
Armenia with a great amount of food to save Armenian children from
starvation.

However, besides gratefulness one of the leaders of the opposition
expresses concern. Victor Dallakyan fears that the government of
Armenia may dissipate the millions allocated for rural
infrastructures.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHERE MONEY OF HRAZDAN 5 GOES

Lragir.am
14 April 06

For the leader of the Armenian Christian Democratic Party Khosrov
Harutiunyan it is not clear why the money from the sale of the fifth
generating unit of Hrazdan to Russia should be transferred to the
balance of the Ministry of Defense. According to the leader of the
National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan, this means that `they do
whatever they want, so far they have got away with it, and they will
do whatever they want,’ says Vazgen Manukyan, hinting at the country’s
leadership.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN INTERESTED IN ORGANIZATION OF PRESIDENTS’
REGULAR MEETING WITHIN AS SHORT TERMS AS POSSIBLE

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The negotiation
process of the Karabakh conflict settlement continues, it is not
dead,” Bernard Fassier, the French Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
stated at the April 13 press-conference. He confessed that of course,
what the Co-Charmen expected, did not take place in Rambouillet:
“Before the Rambouillet meeting we have a non-filled glass and have a
hope to fill more than half of it, what did not succeed. But one must
take into account that the glass did not turn over.” Fassier
emphasized the great activeness round the settlement process,
mentioning the great number of the Co-Chairmen’s visit to the
region. The French diplomate did not exclude that the next week, after
the Easter, his American partner Steven Mann will visit the
region. B.Fassier did not excluded, either, that he will again visit
the region in late April, early May: “How you may understand, all
those visits are paid not on private initiative, those are visits
regulated and agreed at the level of the Co-Chair countries’
capitals.” He informed that he leaves for Moscow on April 14 where his
meeting with Russian Co-Chairman Yuri Merzlyakov and Deputy Foreign
Minister of Russia Karasin will take place. The three Co-Chairmen’s
consulting meeting in Moscow is scheduled for early May, after what
the Co-Chairmen will together visit the region. Bernard Fassier
mentioned that the goal of such an activization of the Co-Chairmen’s
work is organization of the regular meeting of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan soon. “We want again to create a possibility
for the two Presidents’ meeting, naturally, now I can say neither time
nor place of the meeting: nothing is known yet,” the French diplomate
said. According to him, if a possibility is created to organize the
meeting in June, then it will be good, and if not, then the
Co-Chairmen have a hope to organize the meeting in July.

According to Bernard Fassier, it depends on schedule of activity of
themselves, Presidents, and of the fact what an agreement the
Presidents will reach: “In the Co-Chairmen’s opinion, as soon the
meeting takes place, as good it will be.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONUMENT TO AREMINAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE ERECTED IN LYONS

LYONS, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenians of Lyons
(France) resumed construction of a monument to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide. Last month, the construction work was forcibly
discontinued after a number a complaints filed. In this connection the
mayor of Lyons provided explanations saying that the court permitted
the construction based on a number of legal amendments submitted to
court. According to the newspaper “Marmara” (Istanbul), the monument’s
construction will be completed until April 24 – Day of Remembrance of
the Armenian Genocide victims. To recap, the decision to erect a
monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide aroused discontent of
the city’s Turkish community. Some Turkish nationalists on March 18
even staged a protest, which did not deteriorate into clashes with
members of the Armenian community only thanks to police intervention.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH ARMENIAN BENEFACTOR TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO
SHEKHER VILLAGE COMMUNITY OF NKR

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 meeting with NKR
President Arkadi Ghukasian, French Armenian benefactor Karpis
Nikoghosian presented the program of providing the school built in
2002 in the village of Shekher, Martuni region, with his and Nikol
Nikoghosian’s funds, with a separate gymnasium. The benefactor also
informed the President about a number of long-term programs aimed at
development of cultural and sports-cultural life in the
village. K.Nikoghosian assured that the program of scholarship
envisaged for school-leavers who entered higher educational
institutions will also continue.

A.Ghukasian greeted the benefactor’s initiatives and mentioned that
the authorities in their turn are ready to render necessary assistance
to implementation of such programs useful for the nation.

CHARITY PROGRAMS OF ABOUT 92 MLN DOLLARS IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Report of Simon Ter-Simonian, the
Chairman of the Coordinating Commission of the Government’s charity
programs, about works implemented within the framework of the charity
and humanitarian aid programs during the 2005 was taken into
consideration at the April 13 sitting of the RA Government. As
S.Ter-Simonian informed journalists after the sitting, 145
international and republican organizations, implemented charity and
humanitarian programs of 41.84 bln drams (about 92 mln U.S. dollars)
in the republic during the last years. Among those programs, 53 ones
were long-term and 92 ones were short-term. Like the previous years,
the “Hayastan” (Armenia) all-Armenian fund, Social Investments Fund of
Armenia, Armenian organizations recognized in Diaspora (Armenian
branch of the “Fund for Armenian Relief” American charity organization,
Armenian Gospel Mission, etc.) implemented various and volumnious
programs. It was mentioned that loads of about 14.92 bln drams duty
cost were imported in 2005 the republic from 137 countries on the
address of 137 organizations. It’s about 3.5 bln drams less compared
with 2004, what, according to the Commission Chairman, is provided by
gradually passing from humanitarian aid to development programs. 69.5%
of imported loads is of the health care sphere and only 1.8% is food
products. The main part of loads, 73.9% was imported from the U.S.,
4.6% from Switzerland, 3.2% from Iran, 3.2% from Germany.

S.Ter-Simonian also informed that 33% of charity works was implemented
in the sphere of health care, 19% in the sphere of education and
science, 16% in the spiritual sphere. It was also mentioned that no
overdue medicines were imported Armenia after 2004. Import of used
toys and “Pentiun-1” and “Pentiun-2” computers to Armenia was also
prohibited.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OIL DOES NOT RISE TO TRIALEP MOUNTAINS

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Oil of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyan oil pipeline does not rise to the section of
Trialep mountains (Tsalka-Borzhomi border line in Georgia). A-Info
agency reported it, citing the unverified data of a source. In the
opinion of experts, oil fails to reach this section because of its
small amount and the steep slope of the pipeline. It is noteworthy
that the oil pipeline was constructed through Trialep mountains with
the intention to bypass the Armenian-populated Javakhk, although in
case of passing through Javakhk it would have been shorter and less
expensive.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2005 CITIZENS MOST OF ALL PROTEST AGAINST ACTIVITY OF POLICE,
SOCIAL SECURITY BODIES AND COURTS

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The report about the RA Ombudsperson’s
activity during 2005 and violations of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms was discussed at the April 13 sitting of the RA National
Assembly. It was taken into consideration. Armen Haroutiunian,
presenting the speech, who undertook the Ombudsperson’s post in this
February, considered purposeful to present his predecessor’s, Larisa
Alaverdian’s activity based on the existing statistical data. He
promised to present his own conclusions about violations of the human
rights and fundamental freedoms in the country during discussion of
the 2006 annual report. According to the report, during 2005 the
Ombudsperson got 1551 written appeals, more than 34% (533 complaints)
of what was accepted for discussion. A.Haroutiunian considered it to
be a positive index as in European countries this index falters within
borders of 20-25%. Citizens mostly protest against the police, social
insurance bodies, courts and the Yerevan Mayor’s Office. As for the
marzes, complaints got from Yerevan (978) outbalance. 191 complaints
addressed against the police relate to legality of arresting people,
keeping them arrested, search, and other actions of that character.
The most part of complaints relates to violation of citizens’ rights
during compulsory sale of their property in the city of Yerevan. The
RA Ombudspreson’s claim on that occasion is at present discussed at
the Constitutional Court.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006

Political parties and associations protest Ramil Safarov’s sentence

Source: Trend
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev

14.04.2006

Alongside the injustice shown at issuing the life sentence on Azeri
military officer Ramil Safarov charged with killing Armenian officer
in Hungary, the sentence itself is issued by the order of Armenian
lobby, Trend reports with reference to Mamed Alizadeh, chairman of
Deliberative Council and leader of Azerbaijan Democratic World Party.

He said that R. Safarov was issued such a sentence, as Azerbaijan’s
society was not eager to protect his rights. «Armenian lobby in
Hungary did much for issuing such a sentence on our compatriot. In
this regard we should do our best to have the Appeal Court of Hungary
change the penalty»,- he outlined.

On this matter Umud party has disseminated a statement saying
Hungarian court has shown its injustice on the case of Azeri officer.
«The last words said by R.Safarov show that he had killed Ramenian
officer not in revenge, he was provoked to commit the crime. This
fact should have promoted the penalty softening. However, 5eh court
didn’t mind his words».

Umud party officials also suggest the influence of Armenian lobby on
the judge.

Azerbaijan Way movement also regarded the verdict issued by Judge
Andrash Vashkuti as biased. The movement officials said fair judge
should have thoroughly analyzed the case, but the judge did not take
R.Safarov’s feelings into consideration.

Vurgun Eyyub, first deputy chairman, Mussavat, says it had been very
unfortunate to present him a national hero as such position had a bad
influence on the judge. Mr Eyyub opines that official Baku should
persuade Hungarian Appeal Court to change the penalty.

Vahdat, Islamic, Social-Democratic, Great Creation, Civil unity and
Ana Vatan parties also protested R.Safarov’s unfair sentence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress