Author: Hovhannisian John

OSCE AND CoE WELCOME AGREEMENT TO CHANGE RECENTLY AMENDED ASSEMBLY LAW

A1+
21 April, 2008

The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
and Council of Europe’s Venice Commission today welcomed the agreement
reached with leading Armenian state representatives to make changes
to the recently amended assembly law.

"We see this agreement as another step in the long-standing cooperation
between the Armenian authorities, the ODIHR and the Venice Commission
on the legislative regulation of public assemblies", said Ambassador
Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.

"The Venice Commission and the ODIHR look forward to receiving the
drafts of the new amendments and stand ready to review them in light
of relevant international standards", said Gianni Buquicchio, General
Secretary of the Venice Commission.

In a legal opinion published on 28 March, the ODIHR and the Venice
Commission raised serious concerns about the amendments to the Law
on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations which
was passed shortly after the violent events of 1-2 March.

During a visit to Yerevan on 15-16 April, a delegation from the
ODIHR and the Venice Commission delegation met with Tigran Torosyan,
the Speaker of the National Assembly, Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of
Justice, and presidential adviser Gevorg Mheryan.

It was agreed to repeal or change the amendments introduced to tighten
provisions for peaceful assemblies, in particular with regard to
spontaneous gatherings. These changes would bring the law closer to
its original content, which had been assessed positively by the ODIHR
and the Venice Commission.

Based on the agreement reached, new amendments will be drafted and
submitted to ODIHR and the Venice Commission for another review. The
ODIHR and Venice Commission experts suggested that sufficient time
be allowed for public discussion of the amendments.

ARMENIAN, GREEK WORSHIPPERS SCUFFLE AT JESUS’ TOMB

FOXNews
April 20 2008
USA

JERUSALEM — Dozens of Greek and Armenian priests and worshippers
exchanged blows in Christianity’s holiest shrine on Palm Sunday, and
pummeled police with palm fronds when they tried to break up the brawl.

The fight is part of a growing rivalry over religious rights at the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the site where tradition
says Jesus was buried and resurrected. It erupted when Armenian clergy
kicked out a Greek priest from their midst, pushed him to the ground
and kicked him, according to witnesses.

Two Armenian worshippers were briefly detained by Israeli
police. Scores of Armenian supporters staged a protest outside the
police station during the questioning of the two, beating drums
and chanting.

The Holy Sepulcher is shared by several Christian denominations
according to a centuries-old arrangement known as the "status quo."

Each denomination jealously guards its share of the basilica, and
fights over rights of worship at the church have intensified in recent
years, particularly between the Armenians and Greeks.

The Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Armenians and Greek
Orthodox, follow a different calendar than Western Christians and
began Easter Week observances on Sunday.

Father Pakrad, an Armenian priest, said the presence of the Greek
priest during the Armenian observances violated the status quo. "Our
priests entered the tomb. They kicked the Greek monk out of the
Edicule," he said.

Pakrad accused the Greek Orthodox of trying to step on the Armenians’
rights. "We are the weak ones, persecuted by them for many centuries."

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch in the Holy Land, Theofilos III, told
The Associated Press the Armenians are pushing to change the rules,
and try to challenge was he said is the dominance of his church in
the Holy Land.

"This behavior is criminal and unacceptable by all means," he
said. "They wanted to trespass on the status quo concerning the order
that regulates the services between the various communities."

Last year, pre-Christmas cleaning in the Church of the Nativity turned
ugly when robed Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests went at each other
with brooms and stones. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem —
built over Jesus’ traditional birth grotto — also falls under the
status quo arrangement.

The status quo divides the Holy Sepulcher among the Armenians, Roman
Catholics and the Greek Orthodox who have the largest share. The
Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox churches also have
duties to maintain specific areas.

TANER AKCAN: IT IS NOT EASY FOR A NATION TO ADMIT THAT ITS NATIONAL HEROES WERE CRIMINALS AND LIARS

arminfo
2008-04-18 14:41:00

ArmInfo. The book ‘A Shameful Act – Armenian Genocide and the Question
of Turkish Responsibility’ by Turkish writer Taner Akcan was presented
in the former building of the Greek Parliament in the Athens.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service told ArmInfo the book contains
Turkish facts on Genocide of Armenians in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey.

The source reports the book was published and translated into
Greek in cooperation with HayDat Commission in Greece and Papazisis
Publishers. The author Taner Akcam, Greek parliamentarian Evangelos
Venizelos and Pandio University Professor Marios Evriviats spoke at the
presentation ceremony. In his speech, Turkish writer in particular said
he was often asked why Turkey denies Genocide of Armenia and whether
it takes such a stance not to face the necessity of compensation? The
author believes that Turkey denies Genocide only for moral reasons
since every nation has its heroes and leaders building the nation. It
is often very difficult to realize the lacks of these heroes and
admit that they were criminals and liars. Descent of national heroes
may have irreversible effect.

Armenian Ambassador to Greece Vahram Kazhoyan, Greek parliamentarians
and local Armenian community representatives participated in the
presentation ceremony. The book was presented also in Saloniki.

FOUR MAJOR DEMANDS
Karine Asatrian

A1+
15 April, 2008

"None of the Armenian delegation members could expect relief at PACE
session after March 1 events", Avet Adonts, member of "Bargavach
Hayastan" Party (Prosperous Armenia), told "A1+". "We all knew the
issue would be thoroughly discussed. In fact, March 1 events found
an objective response at the European Council."

The draft resolution on the state of Armenian democratic institutions
was discussed at the monitoring committee session today. The resolution
will be passed on April 17 after being discussed at PACE session.

There were 4 major demands in the draft resolution introduced by
Georges Columbier and John Prescott: 1) to conduct negotiations between
Parliament and people, 2) to set free those not guilty, 3) to carry
out a thorough investigation of March 1 events, 4) to reconsider the
changes in the "Law on rallies, demonstrations and marches".

The implementation of resolution terms will be discussed 3 months
later at PACE summer session.

"SCREAMERS" TO BE SCREENED IN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Noyan Tapan
April 15, 2008

LOS ANGELES, APRIL 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. There will
be a free screening of Director Carla Garapedian and System of a
Down’s acclaimed movie "Screamers" at the James Bridges Theater
of the University of California of Los Angeles. There will be a
discussion immediately following the screening, then a reception
will take place. The film "Screamers" introduces the band’s efforts
to persuade both the British and U.S. governments to recognize the
Armenian genocide and also traces the history of modern-day genocide –
and genocide denial.

ONE MORE VICTIM OF YEREVAN MELEES

DeFacto Agency
April 14 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 14.04.08. DE FACTO. A 19-year-old serviceman Tigran Abgarian
wounded in Yerevan March 1-2 melees, made by Levon Ter-Petrossian’s
supporters, died in Yerevan Mikaelian hospital in the evening of
April 11.

T. Abgarian was brought to reanimation with a gunshot. Doctors fought
for the casualty’s life to the end; however, they did not manage
to save him. Thus, the number of the killed in the melees reached
9 people.

The case on the fact of provocation and organization of mass disorders
is being investigated by the RA Special Investigation Service.

HOW TO CURB AZERBAIJAN’S AGGRESSIVE DESIRES
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 11, 2008

Yesterday, during and after the discussions over the National
Assembly’s statement on the "Nagorno Karabakh Conflict" (proposed by
NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan), the native parliamentarians introduced
interesting considerations and practical proposals in response to our
questions. How to counteract the Azerbaijani blackmail tactics and
impart a "more initiatory character" (as enshrined in the document)
to the passive policy implemented by the Armenian side with regard
to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict?

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN (ARFD)

"In a conference held recently in Berdzor (Kashatagh), the NKR
leadership introduced a brilliant document which, for the first time,
plainly states the following, ‘we do not manage to repopulate the
liberated territories because, when speaking on different occasions,
different state officials and politicians express their willingness
to cede the territories to Azerbaijan.’ And our sole response to the
present-day Azerbaijani-Turkish extensive aggression is to repopulate
those areas.

Perhaps, it’s time for the National Assembly to sum up the extensive
material accumulated as a result of the hearings and discussions over
the Karabakh issue and publish its conclusion as to what ideas the
Armenians finally have about the fair solution of the Karabakh issue
and, why not, introduce it as the Parliament’s attitude.

In this connection, I would like particularly to speak about the policy
implemented with regard to the Karabakh issue in general. Never ever in
the course of the negotiations has Azerbaijan said what concessions it
is going to make. We have never heard anything about it. They say they
are ready for mutual concessions and then announce, ‘if the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan is not restored, we’ll start a war.’

And we, for some reason, go into details and say, ‘we’ll cede this
territory, we’ll return this region etc.’

What region? What territory? It’s time, after all, to speak about this;
and not only speak but also make steps. Charity foundations may have
a serious role here, but this has to be a national program which,
I think, should be touched upon by the National Assembly during the
next discussion over the Budget.

Another observation: you say Azerbaijan uses blackmail against the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Why does it use blackmail? Because
the Minsk Group is the world’s most specialized structure in terms of
dealing with the Karabakh settlement process, and their proposals are
little by little becoming more pro-Armenian. That’s why Azerbaijan
is becoming furious and undertaking relevant steps.

But this doesn’t mean we are satisfied with the Minsk Group. We
are not.

But if they are threatening us with the prospect of dissolving the
Minsk Group, we mustn’t clutch at that as a drowning man would clutch
at the foams of water. If they want to dissolve the group, let them
do so. In that respect, I believe, our tactics is feeble. We should
have quit the negotiation process the day Azerbaijan destroyed the
cross-stones of Jugha in a barbaric manner; we should have threatened
them with discontinuing the talks. Whereas we are proceeding with
the talks as if nothing had happened.

ARMENIA’S NEW PREMIER TO REMAIN NON-PARTISAN

Public TV
April 11 2008
Armenia

[Presenter] Who will be included in Prime Minister [Tigran] Sargsyan’s
cabinet and will any structural changes take place in the cabinet? This
will become clear in a few days. Sargsyan advised journalists to
wait patiently for the end of consultations with President [Serzh]
Sargsyan. Will the fact that he is not a political party member
prevent him from being strict when working with ministers who are
to be appointed by the coalition? Asked this question, Sargsyan said
he did not agree with this opinion. He said he was not going to join
any political party, adding "never say never".

[Passage omitted: Tigran Sargsyan said he agrees with President
Sargsyan’s views voiced in the inauguration speech.]

Like we freed banks from corruption, we will do the same thing with
the economy, Tigran Sargsyan said and explained what he meant when
saying he would be tough and demanding.

[Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, addressing journalists] This means
first of all that the duties of the ministers will be clearly defined
and that the ministers should be able to describe the results they
have to achieve during their work, and as the prime minister, I
will make sure those results are achieved. If not, the ministers’
work will be given assessments publicly.

CORNET-AM CJSC TO START PROVIDING WIDE RANGE OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES IN ARMENIA IN 2008

arminfo
2008-04-11 15:17:00

ArmInfo. Cornet-AM CJSC is going to start providing a wide range of
telecommunication services in Armenia in 2008, Director General of
Cornet-AM Boris Demirkhanyan told ArmInfo correspondent, Friday.

According to him, the company obtained a licence for exploitation
of the public network of electronic communications in Armenia,
which implies rendering of the widest range of services, including
telephony and IP television. These services became possible after the
complete liberalization of the telecommunication market in Armenia
since October 1, 2007. Today, Cornet-AM provides various services
in Armenia, including provision of access to internet and creation
of network systems. It is planned to launch the WiMaе network in 18
towns of Armenia in 2008, and Cornet-AM intends to start exploiting
this network in the middle of 2008, the director general said.

To exploit the network throughout Armenia, the company applied to
the Public Service Regulatory Commission for certain frequencies in
the regions. The company already has the required frequency range
in Yerevan, and the network has been operating since summer 2006,
he said. After WiMax is launched, there will be an opportunity to
provide a wide range of services and Cornet-AM’s supply will depend
on demand for a certain service, Demirkhanyan noted.

The Russian company "Comstar – United Telesystems" has 75% of shares
in the capital of Cornet Enterprises Ltd, which is the sole owner
of Cornet-AM CJSC. To note, the multi-sectoral holding AFK System
controls "MTS", "Comstar", "Svyazinvest", "Sitronix", "Sistema Gals",
"Detsky Mir", "Inturist".

–Boundary_(ID_ng8915cQuzSG xjR/7vCy1A)–

VICKEN SONENTZ-PAPAZIAN ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA – WESTERN REGION

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

WATERTOWN, APRIL 10, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian
National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR) this week welcomed long
time activist Vicken Sonentz-Papazian as its new chairman.

Originally from Watertown, Massachusetts, Papazian has been involved
with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) since 1985. "I
look forward to building on the impressive successes of the Armenian
National Committee – Western Region," stated Papazian.