Author: Emil Lazarian

NOT A SINGLE ARMENIAN IN BAKU
A1+
23-02-2005
The RA delegation with Andranik Manoukyan, Minister of Transport, at
the head, will take part in the TRACECA 4th inter-governmental
conference whichwill take place in Baku on April 21-22. «The Kharabak
Liberation Organization» has called the Azerbaijan Government to
hinder the arrival of Armenian in Baku.
According to Akif Nagi, leader of the organization, if the Azerbaijani
society was able to prevent the Armenians from participating in the
NATO celebrations, then it will succeed no now too. According to him,
if the authorities do not take steps, they will organize actions of
complaint in Baku.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S PM DISPLEASED WITH PARLIAMENT’S INTERFERENCE IN GOVERNMENT’S
WORK
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan has instructed his subordinate structures not to answer the
requests of the councils set by Parliament Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan
and not to take part in their work.
In an interview to Haykakan Zhamanak Margaryan says that it’s not the
government’s duty to help these councils and that parliament speaker
has no legal right to set up such structures. This is direct
interference in the cabinet’s work. Margaryan notes that he has never
allowed himself to meddle with the parliament’s work. “If there are
any issues of concern for the parliament they can be raised in
parliamentary commissions or at parliamentary hearings,” he says.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Feb 22 2005
Dashnak Leader Warns Of Election Bloodshed
A leading member of the governing Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun) warned on Monday failure to ensure the freedom and
fairness of Armenia’s forthcoming local elections could spark armed
clashes between supporters of rival candidates.
Armen Rustamian, the number one figure in the leadership of
Dashnaktsutyun’s Armenia branch, said the authorities should
therefore reform the electoral legislation and speed up the country’s
broader democratization.
`If we fail to deepen electoral reforms to the extent required by
international standards, we could witness very sad results. In
particular, clashes in local constituencies,’ he told RFE/RL,
referring to the local polls slated for October.
He said those clashes could be as serious as a February 4 gunfight
between two business clans in Yerevan that left at least one person
dead and several others wounded. It was the most massive shootout
reported in Armenia in years. Dozens of its participants have
reportedly been arrested or questioned by the police.
Dashnaktsutyun, which is a junior partner in President Robert
Kocharian’s coalition government, has for months been lobbying for
sweeping amendments to Armenia’s Election Code. It is particularly
pushing for a sizable increase in the number of parliament seats
contested under the system of proportional representation.
The nationalist party is also looking to increase its presence in
local government bodies. No Armenian city or town is currently
controlled by it.
Rustamian argued that electoral reform is essential for accelerating
the `slow course’ of democratic reforms, echoing concerns expressed
by other Dashnaktsutyun leaders in recent months. They went as far as
to threaten to quit the ruling coalition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENTEL RESUMES ISSUE OF EASY CARDS
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21. ARMINFO. Under the mobile communication
development program, ArmenTel resumed the sell of mobile communication
cards “Easy Cards” on 21 February through its service points. The
company’s press-service informs ARMINFO.
According to the source, at the first stage, Easy Cards will be issued
to the natural persons who applied to the company on January 19,20, 21
2004. The press- service notes that the purchased cards must be
activated before May 1 2004. Otherwise, they will be cancelled. The
company promised to inform of satisfaction of additional applications
if there are so.
Earlier, Commercial Director of ArmenTel Zakarias Kotsimpos said that
starting from the end of February 2005 the company would start issuing
Easy Cards in the unlimited quantity. It should be noted that the
second operator of mobile communication in Armenia, K-Telecom, intends
to start provision of cellular communication services in Armenia
already in May 2005. At present, the number of mobile communication
subscribers of ArmenTel is some 200,000 people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHARITY
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
19 Feb 05
The public organization “Hanganak” was established in June, 2004
which differs from other organizations as it implements only charity
programs. According to the director of the program, gynecologist Gohar
Hovhanissian, the aim of the organization is to improve the life of
sole pensioners living in Stepanakert, including their health ane
providing them with necessary medicine. “Taking into account the fact
that pensioners in Karabakh are the most indigent class in Karabakh
and need aid, we decided with the founders to implement a social
and medical program,” said Gohar Hovhanissian. Presently “Hanganak”
provides aid to 150 pensioners living in Stepanakert. According to the
director of the program, the organization is presently going through an
important stage. The success of the program will determine whether the
organisation is accomplished. Much depends on the work of its members.
LAURA GRIGORIAN.
19-02-2005

ARMENIAN OFFICER KILLED IN BUDAPEST AWARDED MEDAL FOR BRAVERY POSTHUMOUS
PanArmenian News
Feb 19 2005
19.02.2005 15:46
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By a decree of Armenian President Robert Kocharian
Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian, who was killed in Budapest, is
awarded with Medal for Bravery for courage and selflessness displayed
during his service. February 19 – on the day of murder of G. Margarian,
killed last year, – the relatives and friends of the Armenian officer,
politicians, culture and science figures as well as public gathered
in Yerablur pantheon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAY OF ARMENIA TO BE HELD IN JAPAN IN SUMMER 2005
PanArmenian News
Feb 19 2005
19.02.2005 15:01
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 7 this year within the framework of an
international exhibition a Day of Armenia will be held in Japan, head
of the Department of Foreign Economic Policy of the Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development of Armenia Garegin Melkonian stated. In
his words, Armenia will be presented with an individual stand at
the exposition. At present talks on accession of the country to the
International Exhibitions Organization are being held and Armenia may
become the organization member by the yearend. In Melkonian’s words,
over 30 exhibitions are planned to be held Armenia in 2005. These
will be organized by Logos Expo Center, Expo Media, Commercial and
Industrial Chamber, Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the
Armenian Development Agency. The expositions will be held under the
aegis of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development.

WCC leader sees destabilization effort
Indianapolis Star
Feb 19 2005
The Lebanese moderator of the World Council of Churches said this week
that the assassination of his country’s former prime minister was a
“tragedy of far-reaching consequences” and an attempt to destabilize
the country.
Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and at least 13 others were killed
Monday when a massive car bomb exploded as Hariri’s motorcade drove
through Beirut.
“After a long war, security in Lebanon was being re-established and
reconciliation was happening,” Catholicos Aram I, the WCC moderator
and head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (see of Cilicia), said at a
news conference in Geneva, where the international ecumenical body’s
central committee was meeting.
“This assassination was an attempt to destabilize the situation,”
Ecumenical News International, the Geneva-based news agency, quoted
Aram I as saying.
Aram’s comments echoed those of other Arab leaders.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF BENON V. SEVAN ON THE INTERIM REPORT OF THE IIC
Azg/arm
18 Feb 05
Benon Sevan, UN Undersecretary General, has been often spoken of lately
in connection with scandal over Oil-for-Food Programme as result of
which he was temporarily discharged by Kofi Annan. Benon Sevan denies
accusations and he wrote in a letter to a friend that “he is ready
to fight tillâ~@¦ the hell grows cold”. He also wrote that he was
going to retire as he has served at the UN for 40 years. Below we
present excerpts from announcement of Erik Lewis, his counsel.
It is unfortunate that the Independent Investigative Committee
(IIC) has succumbed to massive political pressure and now seeks to
scapegoat Undersecretary General and former Executive Director of the
Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan, for problems within the Oil-for-Food
Programme. After eight months of investigation with more than 60
employees and a $30 million budget, the IIC needed to produce a
“smoking gun.” As Mr. Volcker has conceded, there is no smoking gun.
Mr. Sevan never took a penny.
Benon Sevan has served the UN for forty years in some of the
most difficult assignments in the world-including Afghanistan and
Iraq as well as Angola, Burundi, Kosovo, Rwanda, Somalia and South
Lebanon. Suicide bombers tried to kill him, blowing up his office in
Baghdad and killing his dear friends and colleagues. Mr. Sevan ran the
largest humanitarian program in UN history, a program that literally
saved tens of thousands of innocent people from death by disease and
starvation. He is enormously proud of his service and the thousands
of his colleagues who served with him, both at UN Headquarters and
in Iraq.
The difficulties with running a program of this magnitude and
sensitivity under a severe sanctions regime were all identified by
Mr. Sevan throughout the life of the program. Mr. Sevan confronted both
the Iraqis and members of the Security Council without fear or favor.
It is important to note what the IIC has not found. They have
not found – because they cannot – that Mr. Sevan ever accepted
anything from anyone. They have not found – because they cannot –
that Mr. Sevan ever took any action or failed to take any action
other than in the best interests of the Oil-for-Food Programme and
the United Nations. Apparently, however, the IIC has concluded,
based on undisclosed statements by officials of the former Saddam
regime, that Mr. Sevan “cited” a company to Iraqi officials,
one of thousands of companies that received contracts for oil and
humanitarian supplies. Mr. Sevan had no interest in that company or in
any of the other companies associated with the program. Mr. Sevan’s
goal throughout the life of the program was to expedite the pumping
of oil in order to pay for urgently needed humanitarian supplies in
full compliance with the mandate established by the Security Council.
The IIC also makes the bizarre claim that Mr. Sevan’s statements
concerning income duly and properly reported on his financial
disclosure forms years ago “are not adequately supported by the
information reviewed by the Committee.” The Committee admits that
it bases this specious statement on a conversation with someone in
Cyprus who purports to be familiar with the finances of Mr. Sevan’s
late aunt. Mr. Sevan has been entirely forthcoming with respect to
the timing and manner of income received from his late aunt. It is
ludicrous to contend that in 1999 Mr. Sevan disclosed fictitious gifts
from his aunt on his forms in anticipation of misleading the IIC,
which would not even be created until 2004. Moreover, the IIC made
this “finding” without ever bothering to question Mr. Sevan regarding
this subject.
Unfortunately, in the current political climate, the IIC needs to find
someone to blame. And so the IIC tries to scapegoat Mr. Sevan for
mentioning a company to the Iraqis as part of his role in advancing
the process of trading oil for food. As Mr. Volcker’s statements
to The New York Times on January 7 made clear, the IIC was looking
to blame Mr. Sevan before they ever interviewed him. The IIC has
turned its back on the principles of due process, impartiality and
fairness which were to govern its investigation and it has caved in
to the pressure of those opposed to the mission of the UN.
Eric L. Lewis, Counsel to Mr. Sevan; [email protected]
–Boundary_(ID_BzoCYkxYY073hNbTZJ7lmQ)–

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS TO VISIT ARMENIA FEBRUARY 23-24
PanArmenian News
Feb 18 2005
18.02.2005 16:03
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ February 23-24 NATO Secretary General’s Special
Representative for South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons will
pay a call to Armenia to introduce Officer-Coordinator Romualdas Razuks
to the Armenian leadership. Let us remind that early February Robert
Simmons and Romualdas Razuks visited Georgia and Azerbaijan. When in
Baku Robert Simmons stated that though NATO is examining the situation
around Karabakh “the Alliance is not going to mediate in the process”.