Author: Hambardsumian Paul

TO START A CAMPAIGN IS A SERIOUS RISK
Harutyun Gevorgyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Dec 1 2007
Armenia

ARFD Armenian organization convened its extraordinary Supreme Assembly
yesterday. The only issue of the agenda was the nomination of Vahan
Hovhannisyan’s or Armen Rustamyan’s candidacy for presidency.

Before the election of the candidate, by the delegates of the Supreme
Assembly, V. Hovhannisyan and A. Rustamyan delivered speeches.

The Representative of ARFD Armenian Supreme Body Armen Rustamyan
summed up the results of the meetings with the people after the
nomination of the Supreme Assembly that took place in September and
the pan-national voting on November 17-30.

" 285697 voters participated in the pan-national election initiated
by ARFD. 6211 ballot-papers were annulled because the electors
voted for the both candidates. Vahan Hovhannisyan obtained 53% of
the votes, 149217 votes, and 132719 or 47% of the electors voted for
Armen Rustamyan. Our regulations don’t presume that the pan-national
elections would have a direct influence on the choice of the delegates
of Supreme Assembly. But meanwhile they can’t ignore the choice of
our people. That is why I withdraw my candidacy and I call you to
vote for my inseparable friend – Vahan Hovhannisyan."

Member of ARFD Bureau Vahan Hovhannisyan underscored in his speech that
passing its political path Dashnaktsutyun has gained the reputation of
a trustful friend, never handing its principles over. " Our attitude
towards the authorities and the degree of our cooperation with them
from the restricted neutrality to a coalition partnership has been
conditioned by the formation of the government and their political
course. It has been already nine years that we are trying to make
essential changes in all the spheres of life and to build bridges of
reconciliation between the government in power and society. And it
is up to you to judge whether we have managed it or not."

The speaker also underscored all the negative phenomena existing in
the government system that haven’t been eradicated yet. "The extremist
perception of the inherited liberal ideologies, the distortion of
the state’s role in the regulation of the free market have led to
the existing economic system, when the country is governed by the
economic groupings having power. Those groupings have monopolized
the most profitable sphere of economy, forming an atmosphere that is
far from a free competition. The monopoly has stopped to be only an
economic phenomenon and it also hinders political progress.

We can’t demand system changes from the ex-government that has become
active recently. It is excluded. We know them very well and we haven’t
forgotten anything. The experience of our cooperation is enough for
us to demand it from the government in power. We are ready to make
these changes with our own efforts. The choice mustn’t be between
the past and the present. We choose the future. We go to elections
with our own candidate."

>From the 80 delegates of the Supreme Assembly 79 participated in the
closed voting. Three ballot-papers were annulled, because they gave
their votes to the both candidates. 16 delegates voted for Armen
Rustamyan and 60 for Vahan Hovhannisyan.

TURKEY CARRIES OUT PROPAGANDA AGAINST FACT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EVEN IN PRISONS OF COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
Nov 16, 2007

ADANA, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. In one of the prisons of Adana the
actors of the Chukurova’s Center of Culture and Art have staged the
"Yell: the tale of the so-called Armenian Genocide" performance.

As the Turkish press reports, the performance has been staged within
the frameworks of the cultural events organized by the management of
the prison for the prisoners.

Idris Shahin, the Head of the Chukurova’s Center of Culture and Art,
declared that the above-mentioned performance "telling about the
tale of the Armenian Genocide" will also be performed in a number of
villages of Turkey.

ICG WARNS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT MAY RESULT IN WAR

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 15 2007

Azerbaijan may be tempted to seek a military solution in the next
decade to end the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh if the two
countries fail to resolve the conflict, a respected think tank warned
in a report released yesterday.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) urged the two sides to agree
on basic principles, warning that failure to do so, accompanied by a
"dangerous arms race and belligerent rhetoric," could lead to increased
cease-fire violations in the next five years.

Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, has been
under the occupation of Armenian troops since early last decade.

Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in protest of the occupation
and says normalization of relations with Yerevan now depends on
a set of factors, including the withdrawal of Armenian troops from
Nagorno-Karabakh. But Armenia has so far shown no sign of willingness
to consider a withdrawal.

The ICG report said Armenia believed that time was on its side and
that Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto independence will become a reality
increasingly difficult to ignore as time passes, but warned that
"playing for time is dangerous for all concerned."

The riskiest period, it said, could be around 2012, when Azerbaijan’s
oil money is likely to begin to dwindle, at which point a military
adventure might begin to seem a tempting way to distract citizens
from an economic crisis. "Important oil and gas pipelines near
Nagorno-Karabakh would likely be among the first casualties of a
new war, something Europe and the US in particular have an interest
in avoiding."

According to the report, the international community, including the
Minsk Group authorized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) to facilitate negotiations, should step up efforts
to prevent this from happening.

"The wider international community, not just Minsk Group co-chairs,
should coordinate efforts to impress on Baku and Yerevan the need
for progress, specifically early agreement on a document of basic
principles. Nagorno-Karabakh needs to be put at the centre of relations
with both countries. The EU special representative in the region should
become more active on the issue, and the EU should use the first
reviews of its action plans with both countries to promote conflict
resolution and the development of transparent, credible institutions
which can underpin peace efforts," the report said. It added,
"Engagement is needed now to avoid the danger of war in a few years."

EURASIA COOPERATION FOUNDATION YEREVAN OFFICE TO OPERATE OFFICIALLY STARTING FROM FEBRUARY 1

Noyan Tapan
Nov 15, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting from February 1, 2008,
the Yerevan Office of the Eurasia Cooperation Foundation (ECF),
which is the legal successor of the Eurasia Foundation in the South
Caucasus, will operate officially. The ECF also has registered offices
in Georgia and Azerbaijan. The president of the Eurasia Foundation
Horton Beebe-Center said at the November 15 press conference that
since 1992, the Foundation has implemented programs of over 30 million
dollars in Armenia.

According to the head of the ECF Armenian Representative Office Gevorg
Ter-Gabrielian, the ECF will continue to operate as a financing and
program implementing organization. In particular, it will implement
programs aimed at improving the business environment and promoting the
regional cooperation. Among the regional program is, particularly,
"Armenia-Turkey Regional Dialog and Cooperation" program aimed at
developing the capacities of the governmental, NGO and business
circles of the two countries.

The US charge d’affaires in Armenia Joseph Pennington said that the
Eurasia Foundation has played a great role in developing the civil
society and regional dialog in the South Caucasus. In his words, the
creation of the new foundation should expand these efforts, ensuring
the preparation and implementation of a greater number of investment
programs at the local level. It was stated that since 1992, with the
assistance of the USAID and other donors, the Eurasia Foundation has
invested about 70 million dollars in the South Caucasus and implemented
more than 1,700 grant and technical assistance programs.

"HERITAGE" BOYCOTTED NA SESSION

A1+
[07:36 pm] 15 November, 2007

Deputies of the "Heritage" fraction left the NA session hall as a sign
of protest announcing the violations against Narek Galstyan, chairman
of "Sargis Tkhruni" Youth Student Union of "Hnchak Social Democratic
Party". Then all members of the fraction, except Raffi Hovhannisian,
visited the hospital where Narek was in the reanimation department.

The parliament completed the discussion of the 2008 state budget
and passed to the discussion of the amendments to the RA Electoral
Code. Head of the working group Samvel Nikoyan presented the proposals
of the deputies that were taken into account in the draft.

Samvel Nikoyan expressed his gratitude to the opposition for
constructive work, while Deputy Armen Ashotyan criticized the
"Heritage" for boycotting the session and noticed that the fraction
which talked about human rights and fundamental freedoms more than any
other fraction had no members in the NA Standing Committee of Human
Rights. It should be mentioned that the fraction has 7 members, while
the NA has 9 Committees. "They could use their fraction’s resources
more productively", said Ashotyan.

IT IS ENVISAGED TO STAMP VOTER’S PASSPORT IN CASE OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 15, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. At the evening sitting on November
15, the RA National Assembly started the discussion of the package of
amendments and additions to the RA Electoral Code. Samvel Nikoyan –
the co-author of the draft, secretary of the "Republican Party of
Armenia" faction, presented the new articles included in the package
after its adoption in the first reading. Only after their adoption in
first reading at the November 16 special session, the whole package
will be discussed in second reading.

In particular, at the suggestion of "ARF" faction, the requirement
on putting a stamp about participation in the voting on the last
page of the voter’s identity document during national elections was
stipulated in the draft. With the aim of preventing cases of double
voting, the availability of the indicated stamp will be checked before
the voter casts his envelope in the ballot-box. In order to ensure
secrecy of the vote, the "Orinats Yerkir" faction’s proposal was
accepted, according to which voting booths are placed on tables in
the polling station in such a position that the voter will face the
electoral commission with his back turned to the wall (when voting),
or else voting booths are fixed to the wall.

Before the draft’s discussion, Armen Martirosian stated on behalf
of "Heritage" faction that their faction condemns the "gross,
aggressive actions" committed against the leader of the youth wing
of the Social-Democrat Hunchak Party Narek Galstian, as a result of
which the young man was taken to hospital. The faction stated that
it will not participate in the discussion and left the hall in protest.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT APPOINTS DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, COUNCILOR OF SUPERVISORY CHAMBER

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 13 2007

YEREVAN, November 13. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian has signed
two decrees by which Levon Yolyan is appointed Deputy Chairman of
the Supervisory Chamber for a term of six years and Gagik Mkrtumian
Councilor of the Supervisory Chamber for a term of five years.

The RA Parliament adopted a law, December 25, 2006, on the Supervisory
Chamber, according to which the latter is an independent state body
of supervising budgetary funds, as well as state and public property.

By the law, the Supervisory Chamber also controls government
subventions, grants, privatization programs, the annual report of
the Central Bank of Armenia and management of the public debt.

The Supervisory Chamber acts on the principles of independence,
legality, objectivity and publicity.

The Supervisory Chamber consists of Chairman, Board and
Administration. The RA Parliament appoints the Chairman for the term
of six years. The Board consists of five members, appointed for the
term of five years. The Deputy Chairman is appointed for the term of
six years. RA NA Deputy Speaker Ishkhan Zakarian was appointed Deputy
Speaker of the Supervisory Chamber on November 5.

TAX LEVERS ON THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH

A1+
[02:42 pm] 13 November, 2007

"Latest developments around "GALA" TV Channel in Gyumri and freedom
of speech are incompatible in Armenia", said of the central office
of civil initiatives in the press release on putting forward Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s candidature during the presidential elections.

The RA governmental bodies, headed by the RA Tax Service persecute
"GALA" TV station for broadcasting Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s 21 September
speech and elucidating 26 October gathering in the Liberty Square
in Yerevan.

"The Governmental system feels that new TV Channels in Armenia want
to get rid of authorities’ censorship and by persecuting "GALA" they
want to frighten other TV stations as well", said the press release,
supporting "GALA" TV Channel, journalists for committing professional
duties, declaring that they will take all possible measures to protect
their constitutional right of freedom of speech. "We appeal to all
mass media in Armenia not to yield in pressures and to commit them
to providing the public with objective information".

It should be reminded that the State Tax Service has completed the
checking-up at "GALA" TV Channel in Gyumri and will send the results
to the Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the press release of the department of public relations
of the State Tax Service, in the result of budget check-up at "GALA"
TV Channel it was found out that started from 2005 September till 2007
September the company has concealed the real income for advertising
services avoiding paying state taxes.

SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN HOPES THAT OPPOSITION, IN ANY WAY, WILL MANAGE TO SETTLE ISSUE ON COMMON CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENCY

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The issue on the shift of power
will not be settled by the 2008 presidential elections as the
center of the authorities, according to the amended Constitution,
is not the institute of the President but the National Assembly and
the government. Therefore, as Shavarsh Kocharian, the Chairman of
the National Democratic Party, mentioned at the November 13 press
conference, even if an opposition candidate is elected president,
the factual power of the country will continue to be in the hands of
the National Assembly and the government. And if a representative of
the authorities is elected president, in his words, "the unicenter,
autocratic system" will be consolidated in Armenia. This, in its turn,
as Shavarsh Kocharian stressed, will slow down the democratic processes
of the country.

"The efforts made for finding a common opposition candidate in the
current stage were not crowned with success and, therefore, there will
be a struggle between the current and former authorities," Shavarsh
Kocharian said. At the same time, he expressed hope that before the
deadline for the nomination of candidates, the opposition figures
will, however, manage to find a common candidate. In his words, that
candidate will be a real alternative the former authorities cannot be.

NCC Installs New Leadership
By Nathan Black

Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Nov. 10 2007 11:11 AM ET

As the National Council of Churches (NCC) in the USA reshapes amid
budget shortfalls, top officials were installed Thursday to lead the
ecumenical group.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, who represents the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) in Washington, and the Rev. Dr. Michael
Kinnamon, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) clergyman, were
installed as NCC president and general secretary, respectively.

Aykazian is the third Orthodox president and the first from the
Oriental Orthodox tradition, according to NCC News Service. He will
succeed outgoing president Michael Livingston, who served in the office
since January 2006, as the 24th NCC president in the group’s more than
50-year history.

Kinnamon was unanimously elected to succeed the Rev. Bob Edgar, who
resigned on Aug. 31 to head the Washington-based advocacy group Common
Cause, becoming the ninth general secretary of the ecumenical
organization.

Both officials will take office Jan. 1.

As general secretary of an organization representing Protestant,
Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and Living Peace
churches, Kinnamon acknowledged differences among the various faith
groups but stressed the church of Jesus Christ is "already one."

"Unity is not synonymous with agreement," he said, according to NCC
News Service. "We understand that we have deep disagreements and try to
address them. This is a consequence of being in Christ.

"We can fight like cats and dogs and still sit at the same table," he
added.

The installation ceremony took place during NCC’s General Assembly Nov.
6-8 in New York.

The ecumenical group announced a period of reorganization and a staff
cut of 14 positions due to an "expected budget shortfall" for fiscal
year 2008.

The National Council of Churches was founded in 1950 and claims a
membership of 45 million people in more than 100,000 local
congregations in the country.