Author: Harutyunian Christine

COURT REFORMS CAN BE CONSIDERED SUCCESSFUL, JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS

Noyan Tapan
April 17, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The court reforms in Armenia can be
considered successful, the newly appointed minister of justice of the
RA Gevorg Danielian said during a talk with reporters. Nevertheless,
according to him, not all institutions and solutions can be considered
as acceptable for future application. "These are new institutions,
and when we use the best expertise, including that of Western
Europea, it is not possible to rapidly choose best solutions, which
are applicable to Armenia, and, unfortunately, it is impossible to
localize these solutions – due to some peculiarities of our country,"
the minister said.

G. Danielian indicated the necessity of abolishing some legislative
provisions granting inappropriate privileges as a problem requiring
urgent solution. In particular, it is envisaged to make an amendment
in the law on the service of compulsory execution of court acts (CECA),
which will enable to subject CECA employees to disciplinary liability.

The minister attached special importance to improvement of inmates’
conditions in penitentiary institutions: construction must be done
there.

Although diseases, particularly tuberculosis, are not widespread in
penitentiary institutions, the minister expressed his concern that
there are still several dozen patients.

He said that it is planned to demolish the ministry’s building
destroyed by the recent fire and to build a new one in the same
place. The damage done by the fire has prevented the government
from participating in the proceedings in the European Court of Human
Rights but the ministry is going to announce soon that the Republic
of Armenia is prepared to continue its participation in proceedings of
the European Court. According to G. Danielian, the personal archive of
the staff and the archive of the civilian registry office, which were
damaged by fire, have been restored. Some documents were impossible
to restore but it does not prevent the ministry from functioning.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE: THE KARABAKH ISSUE CAN BE SOLVED IF THERE IS POLITICAL WILL

armradio.am
16.04.2008 14:39

"I am very much of the view that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is one that
could be resolved, and actually, with just a little bit of will, could
be resolved relatively quickly," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
said after the meeting of the Turkish-American group in Washington.

"We have been close several times within the Minsk process, where
we have the cooperation of several countries including Russia, the
European Union, the United States. It is just going to take taking
a couple of difficult decisions and getting an agreement between
Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh," the Secretary of State
declared.

"It needs to be done. I have made the case to both the Armenian
Government and to the Azeri Government that they are falling behind
the rest of the region because they will not resolve this conflict
between them. And frankly, there is plenty of, if you wish to use the
word blame, to go around on both sides. This could be done if there’s
political will and it ought to – it ought to be done," Rice concluded.

IN 2007 REAL GROWTH OF NKR ECONOMY MADE 8, 8%

DeFacto Agency
April 16 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 16.04.08. DE FACTO. On April 15 the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic government approved the bill "On Approving Annual Account
on Realization of NKR State Budget for 2007", which will be presented
to the Parliament’s consideration.

According to the information received at the NKR government’s press
office today, the Minister of Finance Spartac Tevossian stated the
state budget had been successfully implemented. In part, economy’s
real growth made 8, 8%.

In connection with the 16th anniversary of the NKR Defense Army,
Shoushi’s liberation and the Victory Day, a decision was made to grant
lump sum allowance to separate categories of citizens. Since July 1,
2008, the persons honored with "People’s" title will receive 40,
000 drams per month.

Ara Harutyunian stated the talks concerning opening a branch of the RA
Agricultural Academy in Stepanakert are being held, which, according
to the PM, would enable to widen agriculture with new qualified cadres.

RESOLUTION CONDEMNING DINK ASSASSINATION CO-SPONSORED BY 59 CONGRESSMEN

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.04.2008 17:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A congressional resolution condemning the
assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, gained
additional support as Representatives Michelle Bachmann (R-MN),
Charles Gonzales (D-TX), Zack Space (D-OH) and Tim Walberg (R-MI)
signed on as the bill’s latest cosponsors, the Armenian Assembly of
America told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The lawmakers added their support following meetings with the Armenian
Assembly in Washington, bringing the current number of cosponsor to
59. They join Representatives Jerry F. Costello (D-IL), Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Collin C. Peterson
(D-MN), Ed Royce (R-CA), Paul Ryan (R-WI), John Sarbanes (D-MD),
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) who have added
their names to the list of supporters in recent months, calling on
Congress to adopt H. Res. 102. The Assembly-backed bill, introduced
last January by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), condemns Dink’s
murder, honors his legacy and calls on Turkey to take appropriate
action to protect freedom of speech by repealing Article 301 of the
Turkish penal code.

"I am proud to cosponsor this resolution and help to ensure that the
life and legacy of Hrant Dink are not forgotten," Bachmann said. "I
applaud the Assembly in their efforts to support America’s Armenian
community."

The Assembly appreciates the growing bipartisan support for this
important human rights legislation," said Bryan Ardouny, Executive
Director of the Armenian Assembly. "Hrant Dink was a law-abiding
citizen who believed in democratic ideals and peaceful change. It is
only fitting that in his memory, Congress take a strong stand against
Turkey’s inexplicable use of Article 301 to indict citizens for openly
discussing the Armenian Genocide."

Dink’s life was violently taken in broad daylight, in front of his
office at Agos, the newspaper he founded and directed since 1996. An
outspoken advocate for democratic reform, he stood trial several
times for his public comments on the genocide and was convicted in
October 2005 for "insulting Turkishness" under Article 301.

H. Res. 102 is currently pending before the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden,
Jr. (D-DE) introduced a similar measure in the Senate last February,
which passed on March 29, 2007. The Biden resolution condemns Dink’s
assassination and urges Turkey to take appropriate action to protect
freedom of speech by repealing Article 301.

For more on Dink, including background information, official statements
and media reports, please visit the Hrant Dink Resource Page.

THE AGE OF VANISHED OPPORTUNITIES
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 15, 2008
Armenia

Leader of Armenian Christian-Democratic Party Khosrov Harutyunyan
responds to the questions of "Hayots Ashkharh" daily.

"Do you still believe that the agenda of the "negotiations" between
the opposition and the authorities is not exhausted? Don’t you think
that the continued "escalation" of intolerance and enmity by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan and his surrounding reminds of the saying "once a wolf
always a wolf, a leopard can’t change its spots?"

"Unfortunately we didn’t manage to maintain and develop the democratic
achievements our people used to have during and after the elections. In
essence we lost the opportunity to improve the quality and the
contents of the state governing by means of political dialogues and
mutual understanding, thus contributing to the democratization of
the public life.

The period after March 1, in this regard can be considered a period
of vanished opportunities.

When Ter-Petrosyan announces that he has only two principle resources
of political struggle – foreign mediation and enmity, even in case of
possessing very bright imagination it is very difficult to consider
this struggle political. Hatred is poison by which a person usually
harms firstly himself. To sew hatred little by little, but constantly,
means to poison the public organism. It is impossible to cure by
hatred.

For me this mode of action is simply intolerable and incomprehensible.

Hatred – towards whom, your own people? Hatred – among different groups
of people? Believe me it is extremely destructive and it can’t have
anything in common with politics."

"Once Ter-Petrosyan closed his door on the face of the Catholicos of
all Armenians today his followers have started a campaign aimed at
discrediting Armenian Apostolic Church in the person of the Catholicos
of All Armenians."

"Similar stance towards the church is completely intolerable. There is
a feeling that they have set a task to shatter the founding pillars of
the state and the national statehood. I’m really concerned about it and
our party joins the recently published appeal of the intellectuals. We
do believe the historical role of Armenian Apostolic Church in our
history is really great and similar infringement upon the church and
His Holiness is really intolerable.

The task of the church is also very complicated. After the 70 years
of atheism, it is facing the really difficult duty of restoring the
meaning of the religious authority. It is also not an easy process
and what we must do is to support His Holiness in this issue. This
is evident. For Armenian Christian Democratic Party these issues are
much moral actual and we are very sensible towards them."

"In recent times they threaten to take the power by force, in case
the hope for "peaceful takeover" is exhausted. Doesn’t this mean that
the conversations about negotiations is naïve, mildly speaking?"

"Unfortunately the intimidations regarding the intensification of
tension are maintained. God Willing I’m wrong. Anyway the role of the
authorities is very important in this issue. After all it is from the
authorities that people demand law and order, as well as qualitative
change of the political process and it is natural, because people
usually make demands to the structure that is competent to take
decisions. Consequently the government in power must take certain
steps, no matter what the opposition thinks about it.

The ruling power must form the agenda of the dialogues, and appeal
to all the political powers in the written form, to inform them that
this or that day they are starting open discussions and dialogues by
this or that agenda.

Those who consider themselves responsible will participate, those
who don’t will be responsible for exacerbating the situation.

Second: we must understand that the election returns can’t be a
matter of discussion any more; they are from the field of political
adventurousness. In essence even the western observers and the
international structures don’t link the post-election events,
especially the tragic events of March 1 with the elections and all
the more as the legitimacy of the President. In reality they have
nothing to do with one another, because the results of the voting
are credible and trustworthy for the overwhelming majority of society.

Unfortunately the events of March 1 cast shadow on the election
returns, but it doesn’t mean that the legitimacy of the elections is
vulnerable. This is the essential thing."

–Boundary_(ID_RmzlnQJCJbDXPG+TLscqB A)–

LUXURIOUS WEDDING OF AUSTRALIAN-ARMENIANS SURPRISES LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Noyan Tapan
April 15, 2008

SIDNEY, APRIL 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Australian Armenian
Sesil Bahar and Sasoon Arzadian were married at the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Surrey Hills. The father of the bride Anton, founder of
Anton’s jewellery, made an exquisite heart-shaped diamond ring with
a matching wedding band for his daughter. As the Herald Sun writes,
after that big and unforgettable wedding, with 400 guests, the couple
set off for their honeymoon in the United States.

ARMENIAN MP: PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN WILL FIND AN EFFICIENT METHOD OF WORK WITH GOVERNMENT

arminfo
2008-04-14 18:51:00

ArmInfo. "I am sure that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has
made a right choice appointing Tigran Sargsyan prime minister",
Vardan Bostanjyan, the Vice Chairman of the standing parliamentary
commission on economic issues, an Armenian MP from the faction of
Prosperous Armenia party, said to ArmInfo correspondent.

According to him, he worked with Tigran Sargsyan at the Institute of
Economics since 1984. "Tigran Sargsyan is a professional, he showed
his worth both in politics and economy", Bostanjyan said. The MP thinks
that Sargsyan will manage to work with four political forces included
in the coalition. "Though the prime minister is a non-partisan, I
think he will be able to work with the coalition. First and foremost,
a high-ranking official should work for his country, and this is higher
than any party identification. Tigran Sargsyan will find an efficient
method of work with the government", the MP said. Commenting upon
the fact that Artur Baghdasaryan, the leader of the Law-Governed
Country Party, and Vahan Hovhannisyan, a member of the Bureau of
the ARF Dashnaksutyun Party, criticized the authorities during their
pre-election campaign and entered the coalition after the election,
Bostanjyan expressed his negative attitude to this phenomenon: "I think
that dignity should prevail in any circumstances. A man should never
forget about his dignity and pride", Bostanjyan stressed. He added
that he has no information whether Prosperous Armenia will maintain
its ministerial portfolios after the new government is formed. "The
ministerial portfolios are not the most important thing. The most
important thing is that Armenia should be a developed and prosperous
country", Bostanjyan noted.

PanARMENIAN.Net

`Armenia after the Election’ hearing to be held in U.S. Helsinki Commission
12.04.2008 14:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of
the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki
Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will
hold a hearing entitled, `Armenia after the Election,’ on Thursday,
April 17 at 2:00 p.m. in room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office
Building.

`Since the February 19 presidential election, Armenia has experienced
its most serious political crisis in over a decade. The March 1
confrontation between the authorities and supporters of the opposition
resulted in at least eight fatalities and the imposition of a state of
emergency, causing serious damage to Armenia’s reputation. Although
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkissian has been elected President, some
opposition leaders refuse to recognize the outcome and government
opposition relations remain tense. The state of emergency has been
lifted but restrictions on freedom of assembly continue in effect,’
says the text published on the Commission’s website.

The hearing will focus on the ramifications of these developments for
Armenia and the United States, especially the ongoing Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) negotiations on Nagorno
Karabakh and Armenia s qualifications for assistance from the
Millennium Challenge Account.

The hearing will be attended by Mr. Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Mr. Vigen
Sargsian, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Armenia,
Mr. Arman Grigorian, Spokesman for former President Levon
Ter-Petrossian.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF "AZAT ARTSAKH" NEWSPAPER ANSWERS…

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on April 11, 2008
NKR Republic

Editor-in-chief of "Azat Artsakh" newspaper answers the Azerbaijanian’s
newspaper’s questions "Hafta ichi" ("During the week") Azerbaijanian
daily newspaper disturbs You.

Dear editor-in-chief Murad Petrosian, we’d like to take an interview
from you. I have sent you questions, but your journalists have
answered, that You haven’t time yet. Today we wait for your answers. We
send again the questions. – Is it true, that foreign companies operate
in Nagorno-Karabakh? – Yes, it’s true – If it’s not difficult,
name, please, what foreign companies operate in Nagorno-Karabakh,
and what are they occupied with? – These companies are private, and
belong to citizens of North and South America, Asia and different
countries of Europe, as well as Australia. – What do you think, Is
Karabakh independent or not?. If it is independent, then why till now
any state hasn’t recognize it? – Nagorno-Karabakh is an INDEPENDANT
REPUBLIC for a long time, and not only me: There isn’t anybody in
our republic who wouldn’t like and accept our INDEPENDENCE. – Do you
consider you as the citizen of Azerbaijan? As all the states, besides
Armenia, find out, that Karabakh is an Azerbaijanian territory… –
Absurd question: Azerbaijan compeled us a war, because of which
our villages and towns were ruined, nearly every Karabakhian family
suffered human losses… And after all that you ask "Do I recognize
me as the citizen of Azerbaijan?".We all are NKR citizens. Karabakh
is an armenian land. The world, in fact, recognizes it, but legal
registration shifts on our and your shoulders. – What do you think
about problem settlement? In what do you see the way out? – You are
against our independence, we are-for, there isn’t the third one.

Someone should concede. For us a concession is equal to death. And
for you it would be only a great step on the way of civilization and
justice. Or-or: there isn’t the third variant – new war.If you will
not refuse fro your claims, so I think, that war is inevitable. As for
us there is no a way out : better a great war at once, than periodic
"sumgaits" – Do the Armenians living in Karabakh want war or not? –
Nobody wants war: it’s a terrible thing. But you dont leave for
us any choice, if you demand submission of Nagorno-Karabakh to
Azerbaijan. Even two native brothers don’t get on long without
quarrel in one house and what about the two people – with various
culture, belief, language, customs and traditions…Sooner or later
contradictions and collisions will appear – even in such advanced,
tolerant region as Europe is. Look, what is happening in Belgium,
England, France, Spain, Greece, Germany, Yugoslavia.It is impossible to
force artificially people to joint residing.Doubly it’s impossible for
fighting people having on a basis of these conflicts historical roots,
PERIODICALLY repeating bloodsheds. On the contrary, world countries are
obliged to favour comprehensively to their separate coexistence.They
should come naturally to joint coexistence through moral psychological
and cultural evolution. Any artificial group mixing has two final
results: either the small people is observed, or periodically
repeating blood- sheds last till one of them appear completely lost or
modified.It’s the LAW of sociological science established by reality,
given by Nature. – Have you friends, relatives in Azerbaijan? If you
have, what are they, legal experts or journalists? – In Azerbaijan I
have neither friends nor relatives. Last time I was there 20 years ago.

– Your opinion about "national diplomacy". Can this factor help
conflict settlement. – Not only "national diplomacy" but any
diplomacy in the sanction of our problem is useless. As PUBLIC
CONSCIOUSNESS is liable to a change, but you will not change it by
diplomacy.Only practic sensation, practic factor can effect only on
public consciousness in the case of our conflict. – Would you like to
cooperate with Azerbaijanian mass-media? – I don’t see eny harm from
cooperation with Azerbaijanian mass-media, but there is an essential
handicap. The "authors" of the first "shots", FIRST blood-sheds are
the representatives of Azerbaijan nation…. I mean sumgait butchery
but any Azerbaijanian hasn’t apologized for criminal act. On the
contrary, all seek to simulate. And it speaks that any words about an
opportunity to find common language, to come to "general denominator"
– are unpromising. Where there isnt fair approach, there can not be
confidential relations, and without these relations there cannot be
a positive result from any dialogue. – Thank You very much

LEAVES AS A POLITICAL KNIGHT

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 11, 2008

"Robert Kocharyan’s farewell was a real precedent of the political
culture, he left as a political knight. During the political period
that we have faced, knighthood made up a small element and suddenly
he was the one to create a precedent of a political knighthood.

We have grown up and lived in a country where the former one was
either murdered or annihilated and immediately forgotten. We must
little by little become accustomed to this situation. There is a
simple truth: when you don’t appreciate the former one you will never
appreciate the present one. The one who came must take into account
this factor." Alvard Petrosyan told our correspondent.