Author: Emil Lazarian

NATO RECOGNIZES AZERI TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, OFFICIAL SAYS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 12 2006
Baku, April 11, AssA-Irada
“NATO recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. This has been
taken as a key principle in the organization’s framework agreement,”
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told a news conference on Tuesday.
He said that although the document contributes to upholding
international legal norms, taking measures against a country [Armenia]
that occupies the territories of a partner state is outside the
alliance’s authority.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BOTH SIDES ‘SHOULD BE READY’ FOR WAR OVER GARABAGH
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 12 2006
Baku, April 11, AssA-Irada
The Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian has said Azerbaijan and
Armenia should be prepared for a possible resumption of hostilities
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
“Both countries’ defense ministries should be ready for the launch
of military action either tomorrow, or in two days,” he said.
The conflicting sides failed to agree upon the issues of principle
during the negotiations between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian in Rambouillet, France in February, which was followed by
Azerbaijan’s threats to use force to liberate its territories from
under occupation.
As for the ceasefire violations on the frontline that have become
frequent of late, Sarkisian regarded this as “natural”.
“The gunshots have always been heard and there is no difference where
they are fired from,” the Armenian minister alleged.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAZEYAN CALLS ON PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS BY OUR OWN STRENGTH
By Marietta Khachatrian
AZG Armenian Daily
13/04/2006
Albert Bazeyan, chairman of National Revival party, expressed concern
about the recent incidents with Yerkrapah Union. He said that the
law enforcement bodies didn’t arrest one of the organizers of the
attempted murder against Sasoun Mikaelian, member of Yerkrapah Union,
though they were informed about that a week earlier. Bazeyan said that
the suspect who wasn’t arrested was attacked and wounded. As a result,
he was taken to the hospital. “If the criminals are not punished,
the crime causes another crime, while the punishment of the criminals
is of mere preventive character,” he said.
He also reminded about the incident in Armavir, stating that Rustam
Gasparian survived by a miracle and is recovering at present. Bazeyan
believes that the threats of the authorities to deport Zhirayr
Sefilian, former commander of Shushi battalion, is conditioned by the
fact that Sefilian and his colleagues criticized the recent tendencies
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. “In the conditions, when
the enemy constantly threats to settle the conflict through war the
presence of the members of Yerkrapah Union of home guards in Armenia
is very important,” Bazeyan said. He called for all participants of
Artsakhi war to unite and struggle for the rights of their colleagues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN WANTS TO SEND MAN INTO SPACE
Armenpress
Apr 11 2006
MOSCOW, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: Iran wishes to send a man into space. The
country plans to ask Russia for help and Russia is not opposed to
the idea, a Russian expert said on Tuesday.
“The idea of the first spaceflight by an Iranian is very attractive
to Iran in the light of the country’s ambitions to become a key state
not only in the region but in the whole Islamic world,” the director
of the Russian Centre for Modern Iranian Studies, Rajab Safarov,
was quoted by RIA-Novosti as saying while on a visit to Tehran.
Safarov said “the Russian side does not object” to helping Iran. He
added that the Iranian leadership would put the proposal to Russia
“in the very near future.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SAAKASHVILI ASSIGNS HIS DEFENSE MINISTER TO PROMOTE WINES
Armenpress
Apr 12 2006
TBILISI, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS: Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili
was quoted by his press office today as saying that he has assigned
defense minister Irakli Okruashvili to promote Georgian wine on new
foreign markets.
“I have instructed Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli to be in charge of
the promotion of Georgian wine on domestic and CIS markets; this will
be his prime goal until Russia lifts embargo on imports of Georgian
wine. I have also instructed defense minister Irakli Okruashvili to
take charge of issues related to the export of Georgian wine to new
foreign markets,” said Saakashvili after attending the Georgian-Chinese
business forum in Beijing.
He also said that Okruashvili’s experience in business management
was the reason behind his decision.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FACTS OF “OUTRAGEOUS” PRIVATIZATION TO BE EXTENDED TO PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
Lragir.am
13 april 06
The Report on the Program of Privatization of State Property 2001-2003
took two and a half working days from the National Assembly. Yet it
is not clear if the report will be adopted or not.
On the last day of debates on April 12 the leaders of parliament
factions addressed the parliament. Five factions addressed the
parliament. The United Labor Party, Orinats Yerkir and Ardarutiun were
against the adoption of the report for the same reason, which was,
however, formulated differently. The ULP and Orinats Yerkir announced
that privatization was not transparent, and the proceeds were several
times lower. Victor Dallakyan from Ardarutiun was much tougher, “an
outrageous privatization took place,” and people who are responsible
for what happened must accept liability. If the program is not adopted,
“the government deserves a red card.”
Hence Victor Dallakyan offers four options to the political forces:
approve the program and accept liability, reject the program and
withdraw from the coalition, reject the program and stay in the
coalition, reject the program and give a vote of no confidence to
the government. The words of the ARF member Levon Mkrtichyan gave
no idea about the stance of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation;
the speaker offered to hold debates on the problem. There is nothing
left to do but to wait for the vote of the ARF. Only the Republican
Party approves the report. By the way, the Republicans were eager
to persuade that the outcome of privatization in 2004 is discussed,
probably to place the responsibility on the coalition, born in 2003.
Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan kept his promise he had made on the eve,
and brought specific examples. 33 Moscovyan Street – one square meter
was sold at 40 dollars, the market price is 1000-1200 dollars.
Baghramyan Street – one square meter was sold at 30 dollars, the
market price is 900-100 dollars. In Arabkir and Zeytun districts
state property was sold at 10-20 dollars per square meter, the market
price is 300-500 dollars. 4600 square meters of Arabkir Water Sports
School was sold at 4 dollars per square meter, “100 times less than
the market price.” Of course, this does not concern all the cases of
privatization. However, Arthur Baghdasaryan says those people must be
stopped. “The monitoring of about 200 companies revealed that only 27
companies committed to investments, the rest were alienated without
fixing any commitments to invest,” stated the speaker of the National
Assembly. And the monitoring of 100 companies that had committed to
invest revealed that 37 million was invested instead of 140 million
dollars. The result is that investments are less by 100 million,
and “several thousands of jobs were not created and no one accepted
liability.” The majority of sold companies were privatized by direct
sale to the buyer, known beforehand. In the past ten years 535 nursery
schools and 250 libraries were sold. “Sooner or later all the officials
will have to account for their actions,” said Arthur Baghdasaryan.
Therefore, Arthur Baghdasaryan emphasizes the importance of enhancing
government control, and as the first step he will send the report of
the Audit Chamber of the National Assembly to the Office of Public
Prosecutor. “They have appropriated millions and have to account
for it. We must build a country of law by actions, not words. An
unpunished offense will reoccur.” Arthur Baghdasaryan instructs the
executive, namely the Department for Management of State Property,
to be more consistent, pursue the enforcement of the law.
The law bars privatization of nursery schools, educational and health
care institutions.
“I wish all the best to my country, and no one can criticize me for
that,” said Arthur Baghdasaryan, calling for not republicanizing the
issue. It is not against the Republican or any other party. “It is
concern about the problem.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF ENERGY BECOMES OBSOLETE
Lragir.am
13 april 06
The Ministry of Energy of Armenia has already become obsolete and
can be dissolved, stated Edward Aghajanov, economist, April 12. The
reason is, according to him, the sale of the fifth generating unit
of the Thermal Power Plant to Russia, as well as the transfer of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Russia, ensuring Russian monopoly in
the energy sector of Armenia.
The problem, according to him, is not the price at which the fifth
generating unit was sold. The problem is that a country’s energy
capacity cannot be entirely sold to another country. “The danger is
that Russia, in fact, controls not only energy generation but also the
network of distribution. Thus, Russia can form a rigid structure that
will shatter the energy security of Armenia,” announced the economist.
He says there was a better way of operating the fifth generating
unit. Iran had offered a loan of 150 million dollars to Armenia to
be repaid by energy, produced at the fifth generating unit within
20-25 years. And Armenia could have kept the fifth generating unit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ELECTIONS IN 2007 AND 2008 MAY CUT THE MILLENNIUM MONEY
Lragir.am
13 april 06
The group of U.S. Congress representatives and John Danilovich,
Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, who
arrived in Yerevan with the group, are pleased with their meetings
in Armenia. Jim Golby mentioned that the main purpose of their visit
was to study conditions for launching the Millennium Challenge program.
The U.S. government will grant 235 million dollars to Armenia
within 5 years. The money will be spent on the development of rural
infrastructures.
Jim Golby says the Millennium Challenge program is a dynamic program
of U.S. assistance to countries which are committed to fair governance
and a transparent society, and they believe that Armenia proceeds
along this path.
The director of the MCC John Danilovich stated that their visit to
the region established their commitment to implementation of the
agreement signed March 27 in Washington.
John Danilovich said during their meetings with the speaker, foreign
minister and president of Armenia they became convinced that the
government of Armenia is eager to implement the program successfully.
The corporation will assist the government of Armenia in a successful
implementation of the program. Besides, Danilovich said the MCC will
control the implementation of the program to prevent corruption. For
this purpose the American side lays emphasis on the engagement of
civil institutions in the implementation of the program. During their
visit that lasted for almost three days John Danilovich and the U.S.
Congress representatives met with non-governmental organizations. He
said hopefully the non-governmental organizations will get widely
engaged in the MCC program.
He assured that the program will help to cut poverty, promote
democracy and judiciary reforms and development of other spheres of a
transparent and open society. With regard to the level of democracy
in Armenia John Danilovich said democracy is a continuous process,
and Congressman Golby said the basic principle of democracy is fair
elections, and the MCC would not launch the program if the government
and the society of Armenia did not seek for fair elections. Jim Golby
said fair election is not just voting; it is electoral registers,
campaign, fundraising. He stated that the elections in 2007 and
2008 may call a halt to the program of the MCC if they do not comply
with the standards of democracy. The Congress representative stated,
nevertheless, that the United States is hopeful the elections will
be fair.
The delegation of the U.S. Congress representatives, which had arrived
in Yerevan from Georgia, left for Azerbaijan full of hopes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARLIAMENT MAY INTERFERE WITH ELECTION TO PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY
Lragir.am
13 april 06
The National Assembly may actively influence the outcome of election
of the new president of the NAS. An indirect interference is meant,
which may have a significant role, however.
The point is that the parliament decided to empower the directors of
institutes to vote to the election of president of the Academy. This is
regulated by law, and the academicians will turn to the parliament. No
doubt expanding the range of eligible members of the academy may
essentially modify the scenario of the election if there is such. Ten
voters is not the same as twenty voters. Moreover, the categories
of voters vary. In other words, the members of the presidium of
the NAS have a motivation, differing from that of the directors of
institutes. Hence, the decision of the parliament may have a deciding
role in the election of the president of the academy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WE ARE RUINING THE FOUNDATIONS OF JUSTICE IN TURKEY
TDN
Thursday, April 13, 2006
The chief prosecutor of the Turkish supreme court, Nurettin Ok,
must definitely stand behind a recent statement he made about how the
leadership of Turkey has not put enough importance on the independence
of justice in this country and how politics has made its way into
the justice system itself.
Mehmet Ali Birand
Nurettin Ok, the chief prosecutor of the Turkish supreme court,
must definitely stand behind a recent statement he made about how the
leadership of Turkey has not put enough importance on the independence
of justice in this country and how politics has made its way into
the justice system itself. Ok’s analysis of the situation is spot
on. He has touched on the most important reason for the crisis being
experienced in the system today. There are phrases that you repeated
over and over in the government. They go: “Justice is independent. No
one should fear the scales of justice. Justice will arrive at the
truth.”
The public, however, perceives things a bit differently. Whether true
or not, the public sees these phrases as sometimes being hollow,
sometimes meaningful, but definitely not consistent. This is the
result of some of the justice system’s past acts. In his column
on Tuesday Hurriyet’s Ertugrul Ozkok gave a few clear examples of
what I’m talking about. Pointing at a list of allegations about
the Welfare Party (RP) and the Milli Gorus (National View) movement
prepared by two of our most famous prosecutors, Savas and Yuksel,
Ozkok notes that rather than relying on any concrete evidence, these
allegations were based on personal opinions. What Ozkok says in his
column in true. This is also the impression among many members of
our society. Our leaders give the impression they are pleased with
the results emerging from the courts, which reflect the conditions
of the day or the direction the political winds are blowing. Let’s
look back into the past a bit… The words of former Justice Minister
Sami Turk, who said Article 312 of the penal code was interpreted in
an exaggerated manner, had a great effect on the public.
In former allegations a few articles from a writer, or even accusations
based entirely on rumor, would be accepted as information. General
applause for the prosecutors creating these questionable allegations
started to raise eyebrows and elicit questions from other circles.
After all, these were like the methods employed under communism during
the cold war years. Later, these methods continued, in an approach
seen as being protective of the secular republic and the unity of
the nation.
There’s no doubt that we were acting with good intentions.
But this sort of winking at justice brought along with it terrible
effects on the justice system as a whole.
Another important point is that we never attached enough importance
to the education of judges and prosecutors.
We didn’t prepare them for the changing conditions in Turkey and
in the world at large. We didn’t expand their horizons enough. We
treated them as though they were just any old bureaucrat. We didn’t
compensate them properly for the work they were doing. And now we
complain. But don’t we reap what we sow?
No matter what happens, if we don’t stop meddling in justice, Turkish
society as a whole will never trust it.
Ismet Berkan, the general editor of Radikal, also touched on a critical
point in his column yesterday.
The case against a group of journalists who criticized a court
decision to stop the Armenian conference held in Istanbul was dropped
this week. The journalists, for whom prison sentences of up to 10
years apiece were being sought, are Hasan Cemal, Ismet Berkan, Haluk
Sahin and Erol Katircioglu. In addition, the Bagcilar 2nd Criminal
Court, which was deciding matters in this case, announced that Kemal
Kerincsiz, a board member of the Legal Union Foundation, would not
be allowed to interfere in the case from now on.
Berkan noted: “We always talk about the heavy load on the justice
system. But this case actually shows why there has been such an
unnecessary increase in the load.” And in truth, there really is a
completely unnecessary load on the justice system, and it is being
increased, in fact, by our prosecutors themselves. Saying, “I’m going
to file a case and let the courts decide,” the prosecutors escape all
responsibility while clogging up the schedule of the courts. Completely
needless cases are filed against people.
They are brought before the public clamoring argument, and our image in
the world abroad is simultaneously ruined. The sensation behind these
cases grabs everyone’s immediate attention, though no one hears when
the cases are rejected. And thus, the idea that Turkey is a country
that tries to prevent freedom of thought is the only real lasting
impression remaining after everything is said and done.
Prosecutors, get to work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress