Author: Hovhannisian John

MEMORANDUM OF SOUTH CAUCASUS PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY SIGNED IN GEORGIA
Pan Armenian News
17.06.2005 02:49
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Memorandum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
South Caucasus was signed in the Georgian Parliament June 16. Georgian
Speaker Nino Burjanadze, Vice-Speaker of Armenian Parliament Tigran
Torosyan and Azeri Milli Mejlis MP, one of the leading figures of
Eni Azerbaijan ruling party Siyavush Novruzov participated in the
signing ceremony, reported Novosti Gruzia (News Georgia). At a joint
briefing held upon the completion of the signing of the document, Nino
Burjanadze underscored the importance of the event. “This step became
possible based on the experience of the Baltic Interparliamentary
Assembly,” Burjanadze said. The Georgian Speaker remarked that “Azeri
and Armenian politicians could overcome the differences and barriers
to realize goals referring to European integration and accession to
the NATO from a joint position.” As all participants of the briefing
states, the South Caucasian states together can make more successful
steps to develop their countries and the region as a whole. Speaking of
the problems available in the region, including conflict settlement,
the briefing participants said they were sure it was possible to
overcome them. At that it was noted that the meeting participants
expect notable outcomes from the work of the South Caucasus PA by
2007. As it was mentioned at the briefing, the South Caucasus PA
should become a serious guarantor of stability in the region.

AZG Armenian Daily #111, 17/06/2005
UNO
ARMENIA – DEPUTY CHAIR AT 60TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION
Press service of RA Foreign Ministry informed that on June 13 Armenia
was elected a deputy country-in-chair at 60th UN Assembly Session. The
60th UN General Assembly will open on September 14.
Armenia, as a deputy country-in-chair, represented by ambassador
Armen Martirosian, permanent representative of Armenia at UN, will
participate in the work of the main committee. The main committee
is responsible for the work of the General Assembly, including the
discussion of the issues in the agenda and suggestions submitted by
the UN member countries for adoption.

Taz, die tageszeitung
16. Juni 2005
Meinung und Diskussion; S. 11
Ohne EU keine Armenien-Debatte;
DIE RESOLUTION DES BUNDESTAGES IST BEREITS WIEDER ÜBERHOLT
von STEFAN REINECKE
DIE RESOLUTION DES BUNDESTAGES IST BEREITS WIEDER ÜBERHOLT
Es gibt viele gute Gründe für und gegen einen EU-Beitritt der Türkei.
Das Thema Armenien, der Völkermord, der 1915 von den Jungtürken an
der armenischen Minderheit verübt wurde, gehört zu jenen, die für
einen EU-Beitritt sprechen. Die Fortschritte in der Türkei sind zwar
höchst zaghaft. Aber dass das Jahrzehnte währende Sprechverbot
aufweicht, ist ein Ergebnis des Drucks der EU. Druck ist dabei eine
ungenaue Beschreibung: Es ist schlicht klar, dass die Türkei ohne ein
halbwegs aufgeklärtes Verhältnis zu den eigenen Verbrechen nicht
Mitglied der EU wird. Dass kürzlich eine wissenschaftliche
Armenien-Konferenz in der Türkei verboten wurde, ist ein schlechtes
Zeichen – aber kein Dementi der segensreichen Rolle der EU. Solche
Aufklärungsprozesse verlaufen nie geradlinig, sondern stets umwegig.
Die parteiübergreifende Armenien-Resolution, die der Bundestag heute
verabschiedet, wirft nun ein zwiespältiges Licht auf die Lage. Zum
einen ist diese Resolution moderat im Ton und eindeutig in der Sache
– und damit ein Beispiel, wie man ohne moralisches Herrenreitertum
und Besserwisserei Kritik übt. Das ist auch ein Verdienst der CDU,
die die Debatte nicht als Munition gegen einen türkischen EU-Beitritt
benutzt hat. Gleichzeitig scheint diese Resolution schon heute von
gestern zu sein. Denn seit der Armenien-Debatte im Bundestag vor acht
Wochen hat sich die Welt verändert. Das Nein zur EU-Verfassung hat
die Erweiterungsbefürworter geschwächt. Mit Merkel und Sarkozy sind
in den wichtigsten EU-Staaten entschiedene Gegner des türkischen
Beitritts auf dem Weg zur Macht.
Falls Merkel und Sarkozy den Schalter in den Verhandlungen mit der
Türkei auf “Non” umlegen, dürfte auch die Armenien-Debatte erledigt
sein. In der Türkei, weil man sich, nicht zu Unrecht, betrogen fühlt
– in der EU, weil die Frage aus dem politischen Fokus verschwindet.
Damit droht der faszinierende Prozess, wie Druck von außen und
Selbstaufklärungskräfte im Inneren im Zusammenspiel das Bild einer
Gesellschaft verändern, am Ende zu sein – noch bevor er richtig
begonnen hat.
–Boundary_(ID_f93Tg5r2ctdf19NsN2RrWA)–

500 PEOPLE COME IN NEW TIMES PART RALLY WEDNESDAY
YEREVAN, JUNE 16. ARMINFO. A 50,000 strong human ring will be formed
round the presidential palace in the next few days this ending in
change of government in Armenia, the leader of the New Times party
Aram Karapetyan said during NT rally in Malatia Sebastia community
Wednesday.
Karapetyan said that many buses with NT activists were prevented from
coming to the rally with four NT regional leaders forced to stay
at home. He reported the director of the Malatia Sebastia fair to
threaten his employees with dismissal if they took part in the action.
Karapetyan is sure that this will not stop the revolution. He says
that he had met with the leader of the Justice bloc Stepan Demirtchyan
and would meet with other opposition leaders too. He is sure that
the opposition will unite. Simply the parliamentary opposition should
stop so ardently clinging to their deputy mandates.
Some 500 people came to the rally. They welcomed Karapetyan with
bread and salt, flowers and orange flags of the new times.

FREEDOM HOUSE (PressRelease), DC
June 15 2005
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Goldfarb
212-514-8040 x12
STUDY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEMOCRACY IN FORMER SOVIET
COUNTRIES
New Freedom House Study Warns of Obstacles From Authoritarian Regimes
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, June 15, 2005 Recent developments in Ukraine,
Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan have altered assumptions about democracy’s
prospects in the former Soviet Union, raising questions about what a
new democratic spring means for countries from Central Europe to
Eurasia, according to a major study released today by Freedom House.
The study, Nations in Transit 2005, presented today at a briefing in
Brussels, suggests that the Rose Revolution in Georgia in 2003 and
the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004, as well as more recent
events in Kyrgyzstan, may have opened a new wave of democratic
expansion in the post-Soviet environment. The study warns, however,
that the failure of leaders throughout the region to uphold
commitments to democracy and to preserve their own citizens’
meaningful voice in governance is a political dead end.
“The findings of this year’s Nations in Transit study make clear that
citizens in the former Soviet countries have what it takes to make
their countries democratic,” said Freedom House executive director
Jennifer Windsor. “In particular, Ukraine’s extraordinary return to
the democratic path in 2004 confirmed the potential for the peaceful
spread of liberal democracy and free markets to former Soviet
countries still suffering under corrupt and authoritarian regimes,”
she said.
Nations in Transit 2005 is available online.
Country-by-country summaries and regional ratings are also available
.
Based on the study, which tracks the movement of countries toward or
away from democracy, Freedom House urges Western leaders concerned
with encouraging democratic practices and good governance in the
region to:
Assist countries in consolidating important democratic gains. For
example, ensure that additional U.S. foreign assistance is delivered
to Georgia, which has been selected for enhanced support under the
Millennium Challenge Account.
Engage and provide incentives to countries, such as Moldova, whose
leaders have communicated a desire for greater integration with
Western democracies.
Consider new strategies to deal with consolidated authoritarian
regimes such as in Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan.
Address countries that are backsliding. Press President Vladimir
Putin to make good on pledges to advance democracy in Russia and
address democratic deterioration in Armenia.
Promote nonviolent approaches to change and provide clear and
effective responses to violence when it does occur.
“With the stakes so high, the transatlantic community must renew
efforts to support good governance, independent media, civil society,
the rule of law, and free and fair elections in the former Soviet
states,” said Nations in Transit editor Jeannette Goehring. “The
community also must devise new strategies to deal with governments
that are increasingly consolidating authoritarian rule and give
assistance to countries that previously may have been overlooked.”
Russia warrants special attention. “The fate of Russian democracy has
enormous implications, both for the former Soviet region and
globally,” said Ms. Windsor. “The fact that democracy has failed in
so many countries of the former Soviet Union is due in part to the
increasingly authoritarian Russian example. The U.S. and Europe
should press Moscow to play a constructive role in supporting
democratic practice both at home and abroad.”
Freedom House found that the eight new European Union members from
Central and Eastern Europe held their position as the highest ranking
countries in the study. These countries-Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia-continued
to show the strongest overall performance in the key areas of
democratization tracked: electoral process; civil society;
independent media; governance; corruption; and judicial framework and
independence. However, Nations in Transit also points to the need of
all these countries to tackle widespread corruption.
The Balkan countries showed signs of increased stability in 2004, yet
still confronted substantial challenges to democratic consolidation.
Bulgaria and Romania both joined NATO in 2004 and remained on the
road to joining the European Union in 2007. At the same time,
analysis of both countries makes clear that attention is still needed
in areas such as advancing judicial reform, fighting corruption, and
increasing media independence.
The Western Balkan countries of Albania, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Macedonia, and Serbia-Montenegro (including Kosovo) face the most
substantial challenges of democratic consolidation in the Balkans. At
the Brussels briefing, Jasna Jelisic, an advisor to the Nations in
Transit study and a journalist with the Sarajevo-based weekly news
magazine Dani, noted that these countries are “only halfway down the
road to joining the European community of democratic nations and
building prosperous, open societies.”
“Although much remains to be done, the events of 2004 demonstrated
that the European integration process is having a major positive
impact on democratic consolidation and stability in the Western
Balkans and is giving hope to people for the future,” Ms. Jelisic
said.
Zamira Eshanova, another advisor to the study and regional expert on
Central Asia for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said: “The turmoil
from power successions-those that have occurred and those that are
anticipated, though nobody knows when-is having an increasingly
destabilizing effect on Central Asia. The question is: What
institutions are in place and how will relative levels of democratic
strength and weakness play out in post turmoil regimes?”
NATIONS IN TRANSIT 2004: THE RATINGS
Produced annually, the Nations in Transit study provides
comprehensive analysis of transitions in 27 post-Communist countries
(plus Kosovo) by tracking progress and setbacks in electoral
processes; civil society; independent media; governance; corruption;
and judicial framework and independence. It also provides a unique
set of comparative ratings based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1
representing the highest level of democratic development and 7 the
lowest. Nations in Transit 2005 is an updated edition of surveys
published in 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, and 1995. The
2005 study covers the period from January 1 through December 31,
2004, and includes for the first time separate analysis and ratings
of national democratic governance and local democratic governance.
Largest Improvements in Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Both Ukraine
and Bosnia-Herzegovina experienced ratings improvements in 4 out of 7
Nations in Transit categories-the highest number in the study.
Ukraine’s ratings improvements were more substantial owing to the
extraordinary challenges the country overcame in late 2004 and the
success of pro-democracy supporters in reinvigorating and
jumpstarting democratic political development in the country.
Ukraine’s ratings improved significantly in the categories of
electoral process, civil society, independent media, and judicial
framework and independence. As in previous years, Bosnia continued
slow but steady democratic progress and received modest ratings
advances in the categories of electoral process, independent media,
judicial framework and independence, and corruption.
Largest Declines in Russia and Azerbaijan, Deterioration in Armenia.
Russia and Azerbaijan both experienced ratings declines in 4 out of 7
Nations in Transit categories-the greatest number in the study-owing
to the consolidation of authority by presidents in both countries. In
Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev’s efforts led to declining ratings
for electoral process, civil society, independent media, and judicial
framework and independence. Russia’s more substantial declines
occurred in the categories of electoral process, civil society,
independent media, and judicial framework and independence. Russia’s
performance in 2004 stands in stark contrast to the positive changes
noted in neighboring Ukraine. Over the last two years, Armenia has
shown a less dramatic but still disturbing decline in the areas of
electoral process, independent media, and judicial framework and
independence.
Electoral process.
(+) Nine countries or territories experienced ratings improvements
for electoral process: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo,
Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
(-) Five countries or territories experienced declines in electoral
process: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland, Russia, and Tajikistan.
Civil society.
(+) Eight countries or territories showed gains for civil society:
Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Latvia, Montenegro, Romania, Tajikistan,
and Ukraine.
(-) Three countries or territories experienced setbacks for civil
society: Azerbaijan, Russia, and Slovenia.
Independent media.
(+) Seven countries or territories experienced improvements for
independent media: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan,
Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.
(-) Eight countries or territories showed declines in independent
media: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Romania,
Russia, and Tajikistan.
New Governance Ratings
Eight countries or territories showed better national democratic
governance than local democratic governance: Armenia, Croatia,
Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Thirteen countries or territories showed better local democratic
governance than national democratic governance: Albania, Belarus,
Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Poland,
Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Eight countries or territories received the same ratings for national
and local democratic governance: Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria,
Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
Judicial Framework and Independence.
(+) Nine countries or territories had ratings improvements in this
category: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia, Kosovo, Latvia, Macedonia,
Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan..
(-) Seven countries experienced setbacks in their ratings for this
category: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, and
Russia.
Corruption.
(+) Five countries showed improvements in their ratings for
corruption: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, and
Slovakia.
(-) Four countries showed regression in their ratings for corruption:
Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, and Turkmenistan.

BUNDESTAG TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION JUNE 16
Pan Armenian News
15.06.2005 03:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Bundestag will Thursday discuss and adopt the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, journalist Ashot Manucharian living
a working in Germany stated, RFE/RL reports. In his word, the term
“genocide” is used in the resolution. At the same time it says that
“many independent historians and international organizations define
the mass killings of Armenians as Genocide. “Thus the Bundestag
on one hand does not want to subject Turkey to sharp criticism but
on the other hand does not want to conceal the historical truth”,
Manucharian noted. The Bundestag asks the Armenian people for their
forgiveness, as partly through approval and through failure to take
effective preventive measures there was a German co-responsibility for
this genocide, the resolution says. To remind, preliminary discussion
on the resolution was held April 21. Despite the pressure exerted
by the Turkish government, the Turkish Embassy in Germany as well as
Turkish organizations, all the parties represented in the Bundestag
decided to adopt a document on the Armenian Genocide till September.

CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE NEEDED FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH?
A1plus
| 13:26:54 | 11-06-2005 | Politics |
Does the draft constitutional amendments adopted in the first
reading guarantee freedom of press? Should freedom of press be
fixed in the constitution? Won’t the Presinent’s absolute right of
forming commissions including the NCTR become sword of Damocles
for TV companies. We asked President of the Yerevan Press Club
Boris Navasardyan and chairman of the Associating of Investigatong
Journalists to comment on the issues.
Boris Navasardyan
The Constitution should create guarantees for any democratic institute.
Freedom of speech is not an exception. I think we will have serious
problems with censure during the next several years. It would not
harm if the Constitution excluded any kind censure. Declarations on
freedom of press should be adopted. The acting Constitution empowered
the President to solely form commissions. It refers not only to press
but to any independent body. The right of the parliament to form
various independent commissions should not be ruled out. The role
of the parliament in the formation of National Committee on TV and
Radio should be primary.
Edik Baghdasaryan
There is not a problem of Constitution and law in Armenia. Who said
that the Constitution should guarantee freedom of speech? Is there
need to fix in the Constitution a clause that would fording spiting
in the street or nibbling sunflower seeds? No. Thus freedom of speech
should be clear as it is.
Mher Arshakyan

HAKOBYAN NOT TO TAKE PART IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
A1plus
| 15:04:04 | 13-06-2005 | Sports |
Vladimir Hakobyan who has the highest reputation among the Armenian
chess-players, will not take part in the European Chess individual
Championship which will start on June 17. According to the Armenian
Chess Federation it is accounted for by the fact that Vladimir
Hakobyan has already secured his place in the World Championship and
has decided not to take part in the European Championship.
Vladimir Hakobyan has left for Qatar recently and is realizing coach
work there helping the local best chess-players.
The European Chess Championship will start the coming Friday, in which
the other Armenian chess-players will participate. Besides the medals,
the best players will also gain the right to take part in the World
Championship.

Renseignor
12 juin 2005
Les forces russes présentes en Géorgie seront transférées en
Arménie…
La Russie entend évacuer ses forces présentes en Géorgie et les
transférer dans la base Gouméri, en Arménie. A ce propos, un sénateur
américain s’est dit inquiet des conséquences du transfert des
équipements militaires russes de la Géorgie vers l’Arménie.
” Le transfert et l’installation des équipements militaires russes
dans les régions contentieuses au Caucase compliqueront davantage la
situation “, a rapporté dans son édition de samedi le quotidien 525
publié à Bakou, citant le sénateur américain Charles Higuel. En tant
qu’un état souverain, l’Arménie se doit d’en finir avec les bases
russes sur son sol et de trouver avec la Russie une solution à ce
problème. Environ 1 500 effectifs des forces russes sont installés, à
présent, dans la région de Gouméri, située au nord-ouest de
l’Arménie. (La voix de la république islamique d’Iran le 06-06-2005)
Igor Savolski qui dirige la délégation de Russie aux négociations sur
le retrait des deux bases militaires russes de la Géorgie, n’exclue
pas l’éventualité du financement international de cette opération. Au
cours d’un entretien avec les journalistes à Tbilissi, il a déclaré
que le retrait d’une grande quantité de matériel de guerre était un
processus laborieux qui prendrait trois ans et demi. Le financement
international aiderait à le faciliter. Le diplomate a confirmé qu’une
partie de l’armement serait transféré à la base russe en Arménie.
L’accord définitif sur le retrait des bases russes de la Géorgie a
été obtenu au terme de négociations longues et difficiles.

Zaman, Turkey
June 12 2005
‘I will Defend the Opening of the Border and You will Say There is No
So-Called Genocide’
By Fatih Ugur, Tuncay Kayaoglu, Zaman, Cihan News Agency
Published: Sunday 12, 2005
zaman.com
The meeting in Armenian between Justice and Development Party (AKP)
deputy Turhan Comez and his Armenian collegue Khachatur Sukiasyan has
produced an interesting dialogue.
Comez proposed to Sukiasyan, one of the most important businessmen of
the country, ‘Let us go to our parliaments and make a statement about
the opening of the borders and leaving the Armenian genocide claims
aside’. However, the Armenian deputy did not welcome the idea. While
both of the deputies agreed that the problems should be left aside
and they should think about the future, Sukiasyan said that the
Turkish-Armenian border remaining closed was something
incomprehensible. Upon Comez’s suggestion to prepare a list of the
existing problems and work on them, the Armenian deputy said he did
not want to talk about the problems and repeated that all the
problems should be put aside. Upon this, Comez said, ‘Let’s work
together. When I make a speech about the opening of Armenian border
gate in the Turkish Parliament, you, in your parliament, explain that
the events taking place in 1915 were not a genocide, that this issue
should be examined by the historians and explain your respect for
Turkey’s territorial integrity. This will be a small step but it will
be an important start.”
Saying that they should not trivialize these kinds of problems,
Sukiasyan said the relations should start without any pre-conditions.
Indicating that the events taking place in 1915 were very painful,
Sukiasyan said: “Even if you step on somebody’s foot, you apologize.’
Upon this, the AKP Deputy reminded of what the Armenian gangs did in
1915 and the diplomats assassinated by the Armenian organization
ASALA. Upon these remarks, the Armenian deputy told: “These things
are in the past now. We should not give damage to each other.” Comez
replied, “By establishing civil bridges, we can cope with many
problems. It is very important even to talk about these problems.”
Saying that the closing of border gates is meaningless, Sukiasyan
emphasized that the public should be taken into consideration and
added: ” The events of 1915 made us hostile to each other. After the
opening of the border gates, we may have an opportunity for joint
growth and development. Armenia has a great and bright future. Let us
act together to make this region grow. There are problems even
between the brothers. The most important problem between us is the
opening of borders. We are neighbors, let us act as neighbors.”