Author: Hovhannisian John

PARLIAMENTARIAN’S DEMAND TO GENERAL PROSECUTOR

Panorama.am
20:08 11/09/2007

"Today the situation in Vanadzor is very tense. On August 25 the
head prosecutor of Lori was murdered, and I think this case has to be
solved. I demand that the general prosecutor study all evidence and
reveal who the responsible persons are, and have them punished." Thus
spoke Viktor Dallakyan, NA deputy from Vanadzor, during announcements
at a NA session.

In his words, Vanadzor citizens became quite concerned after learning
on news broadcasts that witnesses to the crime had been beaten.

"In other words, methods from 1937 are being used to squeeze
people," Dallakyan continued. Therefore, in his opinion, the general
prosecutor should put an examination into action to reveal these
illegal activities and punish those responsible.

"I thus demand that the general prosecutor solve this serious crime,
while at the same time punish those individuals who are forcing people
to give false testimony," as read Dallakyan’s demand.

A SINGLE MOTHERLAND TWO INDEPENDENT REPUBLICS
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar
11 Sept 2007

Yesterday on the occasion of the launch of the second sitting of 4th
congress parliament NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan convened a conference
to introduce the main colors of the mosaic of the discussions and to
answer the questions of the journalists.

According to the speaker the agenda of the current sitting will mainly
include issues related to the economic development of the country,
legislative initiatives adopted by the previous National Assembly by
the first or second reading and reports. The report on the fulfillment
of 2006 budget was discussed yesterday.

Responsible representatives from the Central Bank and other structures
will also appear with similar reports in the near future.

The previous National Assembly overlooked their reports during May
hustle and bustle. Later the parliament will start discussing program
related documents, including the discussion of 2008 state budget.

Besides that there will be appointments of certain pivotal
positions. The first one is the appointment of the Prosecutor General,
whose candidacy, according to the amended Constitution is confirmed
by the parliament, by the proposal of the President. This issue
will be discussed by the parliament either today or tomorrow, as the
President has already appealed to the National Assembly to reaffirm
Aghvan Hovsepyan in the position of the Prosecutor General.

In future nominations will start in the council of justice, NA
representatives in TV and Radio national committees, and Head of
Supervisory Palace – issues bound for the parliament after July 7
and must come to an end in six months time.

Thus, according to T. Torosyan soon the Prosecutor General will appear
in the National Assembly and respond to the questions of the MPs,
give clarifications regarding the most recent sensational cases,
for example regarding the motives of changing the precautionary
measures of ex-Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanyan. Yesterday the
journalists were trying to get the answers to these questions from
the Speaker of the National Assembly.

What is the attitude of NA Speaker to the announcement made by the
Head of ARF fraction Hrayr Karapetyan, according to which in case
the process of Minsk Group enters a deadlock Dashnaktsutyun will
come out not in favor of NKR recognition, but from the position of
the reunification of Armenia and Karabakh. " I respect the stance
of Dashnaktsutyun and all the other parties. But one thing is clear
for me – the only way to guarantee NKR legal independence is its
recognition by international community.

Especially, in case of exercising the right to self-determination, all
the legal, historical, and political bases exist for the recognition
of NKR independence. Of course there are serious difficulties in
the world and particularly in Europe connected with the fulfillment
of those rights, but we must try to overcome these difficulties,"
Tigran Torosyan underscored. Moreover, he said, " It is the only right
version, close to the reality. The opposite one is fraught with serious
consequences." The speaker also reminded us about the famous clause
of PACE 1416 resolution, according to which any territory can become
independent, by the democratic support that is to say referendum of the
population of that territory. Whereas," the continuation of the clause
underscores that in case of unification it will be considered as an
aggression of a COE member-country towards another member-country. We
don’t have the right to overlook the norms of international law. Yes we
are a single nation, with a single motherland and a single goal. But
we must have two independent republics to achieve that goal. This is
the truth," speaker of the National Assembly states.

The speaker also said, three of the delegations representing Armenia,
in the international arenas (PACE, OSCE PA and the staff of delegates
of the inter-parliamentary union) is not replenished and will be
completed immediately after the current four-day session. T.

Torosyan, ex officio, leads the delegation of CIS parliamentary summit,
because it is the demand of the tradition that is why," Armenia should
try to stand out by its productive proposals and not other things."

The journalists also inquired about the issues discussed during the
morning session of the Republican fraction and whether Serge Sargsyan
participated in those discussions. " The presence of the Prime Minister
in the session of the fraction is quite natural, I think. As you know
the Prime Minister is also the acting party leader and it is natural
that he should have participated in the regular session before the
four-day sitting? It has always been like that and there is nothing
strange in it. We have discussed general approaches and principles
regarding the activity of our fraction in the parliament.

We haven’t discussed any special draft law or issue."

BLOG: POLITICAL MINEFIELD OFFERS RICH PICKINGS FOR JOKES
By Jill Worrall

The New Zealand Herald
Monday September 10, 2007

The 14th century Tsminda Sameba church overlooked by
5047m Mt Kazbek. Photo / Jill Worrall

There’s little work available in the Georgian town of Kazbegi, just
20km from the Russian border.

The two nations are not on speaking terms at present so the border is
closed. Kazbegi is now without its usual rumble and belch of trucks,
buses and vans – it’s a forlorn place where men sit in doorways with
nothing to do.

So, I’m not altogether surprised when the jeep drivers tell us it’s
not safe to walk up to the 14th century Tsminda Sameba church that
sits perched on a hill overlooked by 5047m Mt Kazbek, Georgia’s
highest mountain.

"There are two bears on the path," they tell us, seriously. We should
take the jeeps to be safe. So we do.

Interestingly the black-robed priest and his small flock of pilgrims
who take the path arrive safely at the church – maybe they had a
higher level of divine protection.

The closed border is a graphic example of why the Caucasus would be
no place to cut one’s teeth in the field of international relations.

While Georgia and Russia are at loggerheads, Georgia and Azerbaijan
are talking to each other so their borders are open. But don’t even
contemplate trying to cross from Azerbaijan into Armenia – those two
nations are bristling with tension over disputed territory.

Advertisement AdvertisementArmenia is however, friendly with Iran,
which in turn is regarded a little guardedly by Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile, Armenia and Turkey are caught in long-standing enmity. And
to compound things further Armenia and Georgia are possibly a little
envious of the Azeris’ oil-fields, while Georgia and Azerbaijan seem
a little miffed about the amount of money Armenia receives from its
wealthy diaspora.

It’s rich pickings for collectors of national jokes too.

Georgians, for example, are teased about their claims to be the first
to make wine, along with several other "firsts".

The region is the political geographer’s paradise – a soap opera of
kinship, enmity, envy, spies and the usual pot pourri of other human
emotions that can both divide and unite.

The Tsminda Sameba church . Photo / Jill Worrall But political
minefields seem a long way away up at the little stone church of
Tsminda Sameba where the wind billows the priest’s gowns and Mt
Kazbek and its snowfields loom on the skyline on a cloudless blue
Caucasian day.

MORE SPORT HALLS FOR MINORITIES

Press TV
Sept 7 2007
Iran

An Iranian official says that the ‘Physical Education Organization’
will actively continue construction of sports facilities for the
minorities.

Iran’s Presidential advisor for sport, Mohammad Aliabadi, said
"we have already assisted the minorities develop sports facilities,
and will do so again in the future."

"Recently, we have provided the ground for construction of a sports
complex for the Iranian Jews and the Physical Education Organization
will extend necessary assistance to complete the complex," the
official said.

Aliabadi recalled his presence at the ‘Armenian World Competitions’
in Armenia and the fact that the contenders were delighted to see
him join the team members. "The Armenian sportsmen were spirited when
they found that the Iranian officials are next to them," he stated.

The presidential advisor referred to the Iranian minors who are playing
in various Iranian national teams such as football and basketball
and said that Iran is a country where minorities leave in peace and
harmony with the rest of the society.

180 MASS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ACCREDITED FOR COVERING PROCEEDINGS OF AUTUMN SESSION OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Noyan Tapan
Sep 7, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The autumn session of
the National Assembly of the fourth convocation will start on
September 10. According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan
correspondent by Anahit Adamian, the head of the Public Relations
Department of the National Assembly, 180 mass media representatives
have been accredited for the purpose of covering the proceedings of
the session.

REPUBLICANS THINK THERE IS NO HISTORICAL NECESSITY

Largir
Sept 5 2007
Armenia

Armenia is a democratic country and it is quite normal when a candidate
is named or another or their political team names a candidate. It
is normal, for Levon Ter-Petrosyan as for any other candidate. The
author of these sentences is the press secretary of the Republican
Party which tried to express the stance of the Republican Party
on the nomination of Levon Ter-Petrosyan on September 5 at the
Friday Club. "My subjective opinion is today the discourse about the
historical necessity for the nomination of Levon Ter-Petrosyan as an
individual and a political figure is pointless.

Why? Because as a historian I should note that historical necessity
occurs when the country faces a crisis. Armenia is going through the
second stage of its development, reforms," Edward Sharmazanov says.

According to him, Ter-Petrosyan’s nomination will not make the
Republican Party change its election strategy but a change in tactics
is possible.

By the way, Edward Sharmazanov says because Armenia is not in crisis,
and there is no need to save the country, the Republican Party will
not join the meetings of opposition leaders initiated by Paruir
Hairikyan, even if they are invited. By the way, Artsahes Geghamyan
had proposed inviting the Republican Party during the second meeting of
the leaders. According to the press secretary of the Republican Party,
the opposition is considering ways of saving the country, meanwhile,
the Republican Party cannot see a situation from which the country
needs to be saved. As to the likelihood of the Republican Party to
accept the principles of the program of the opposition which would
give opposition’s support to Serge Sargsyan, the press secretary
of the Republican Party says "the Republican Party has a clear-cut
political program which underlies the government program, shared by
their other political partners."

"If we get a normal proposal, a normal program proposal, which could
be included in the election program, we may consider it.

Nevertheless, talks about the candidates, including our candidate,
will be more objective and timely when they will have already been
declared as candidates," Edward Sharmazanov says.

DINK FAMILY LAWYER TO STAND TRIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.09.2007 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Legal proceedings were launched in Turkey against
Tuncel Sayman, the lawyer of killed Agos editor Hrant Dink. The
action followed Sayman’s statement that lawyer Kemal Kerincis is "a
disrespectful man". The statement was made during the court session
on Arat and Hrant Dink cases in May 2006.

Mr Sayman said his words were not addressed to anyone in the
session. However, Turkish deputy prosecutor general Beyoglu Hayreddin
Uysal demands a two-year sentence for Tuncel Sayman, who is accused of
"outrage," Radical newspaper reports.

The Istanbul prosecutor’s office wants a 3-year imprisonment for
Hrant Dink’s son Arat Dink and his fellow Sargis Serobyan, who are
charged of "insulting Turkishness. They were accused because of the
repeated publication of Hrant Dink’s interview where he spoke of the
Armenian Genocide recognition.

In case Arat Dink is found guilty, he can face deprivation of liberty
from 6 months up to 3 years.

ARMENIA READY FOR PROMOTION OF NAM OBJECTIVE

Islamic Republic News Agency
Sept 4 2007
Iran

Armenian Foreign Minister Garen A. Nazarian said here Tuesday that
Armenia is ready and willing to contribute to NAM goal which is
elimination of all human rights violations in all parts of the world.

Nazarian said at the NAM Ministerial Meeting for Human Rights and
Cultural Diversity that Yerevan believes that promotion of cultural
diversity is the best way of protecting human rights and fundamental
freedoms.

He said, "We are convinced that our beneficial cooperation will
result in full achievement of the common goal: elimination of all
human rights violations in all parts of the world."

He added that his country is convinced that the protection and
promotion of human liberty should be central undertaking of the
international community.

CAR INDUSTRY IS NOT SAUSAGE MAKING

Lragir
Sept 4 2007
Armenia

We need effective governance, new technologies in economy to make
Armenia competitive in the region, said the leader of the National
Democratic Party Shavarsh Kocharyan on September 4 at the Hayeli
Club. He said Armenia is behind of all the countries of the region by
the rate of development and competitiveness. Shavarsh Kocharyan says
if Armenia does not have natural resources, oil, gas, etc, it does
not mean it has no resource to go ahead and become competitive. The
leader of the National Democratic Union says democracy is this
resource. "Armenia has significant opportunities. These opportunities
depend on the state of the political sphere, movement towards
democracy," Shavarsh Kocharyan says.

Hrant Bagratyan who was also hosted by the Hayeli Club agrees that
Armenia is behind of its regional neighbors by all the main indices.

He gave some indices regarding the correlation of the budget and the
GDP. Hrant Bagratyan says in 1995 the budget of Armenia totaled 19.9
percent of the GDP. "It is the budget, including the grants. Georgia
was 11 percent, Azerbaijan 16.6 percent, Iran 23.1 percent, Turkey
21.7 percent," Hrant Bagratyan compares, showing that over this period
Armenia has developed indeed but our neighbors developed faster.

Hrant Bagratyan disagrees Azerbaijan develops thanks to oil. Hrant
Bagratyan says industries are growing in our neighboring country at
a high rate. "Besides IT, Azerbaijan is developing car industry. Soon
the car factory will be operated. Car industry has 1520 manufacturing
processes, unlike food industry, sausages and ice cream or sweets
which have three manufacturing processes," Hrant Bagratyan says. By
enumerating this difference he it is not a matter of arguing that
it used to be better before than now but that maybe the track the
country had chosen was the right one.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT REGION ON SEPTEMBER 15-17

Noyan Tapan
Sep 4, 2007

BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Foreign Minister, Vardan
Oskanian, who is in Brussels, met with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs,
Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzliakov on September 4. According to the
report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, also took part in the meeting.

The current process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement, the possibilities
of overcoming the existing disagreements after the last meeting between
the Armenian and Azeri Presidents were discussed during the meeting
held on the Co-chairs’ initiative. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
presented the results of the negotiations held with the Azeri Foreign
Minister, Elmar Mammadiarov, the day before.

During the meeting, they also touched upon the term of the OSCE MG
Co-chairs’ visit to the region. According to the preliminary agreement,
the latters will visit the region on September 15-17.