Author: Jagharian Tania

MONITORING IS IMPETUS

A1+
[02:44 pm] 05 December, 2007

more images RA Prime Minister Serzh Sarkissian received the delegation
headed by Georges Colombier, the rapporteur on Armenia in the
Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Colombier told Armenia’s
Prime Minister that their visit is aimed at getting acquainted with
the situation in Armenia six months after the parliamentary elections
and two months ahead of the presidential ones. They are interested
in the developments in the country in the pre-election period.

"I’m glad that the reforms in a number of directions have been
accomplished, including the amendments to the Constitution, the
Electoral Code, the reforms in the judicial sphere, which helped
register positive progress in Armenia," Georges Colombier said. The
Armenian Premier welcomed the visit of the PACE Monitoring Committee
delegation to Armenia and noted that the monitoring conducted by the
Council of Europe is an additional impetus for the implementation of
reforms in compliance with the preset schedule.

The parties also turned to the upcoming presidential elections in
Armenia, conduct of free and fair elections, issues relating to
freedom of speech and plurality of opinions, corruption combat,
as well as the recent developments of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Dec 6 2007

Freedom of press in Turkey faces obstacles despite improvement
Thursday, December 6, 2007

ISTANBUL – Turksih Daily News

Incidents of violence against journalists and legal harassment of
the media in Turkey have dropped significantly since the 1990s, but a
recent study has revealed that there are still obstacles to freedom
of press.

`Goodbye to Freedom?’ is the survey on media freedom across
Europe published by the Association of European Journalists (AEJ),
covering 20 countries in eastern and western Europe. The survey
highlights evidence that freedom of press in Europe is threatened by
restrictive laws, hidden political and commercial agendas, threats of
imprisonment, intimidation and in some cases, murder. The survey
investigates the situation in 19 countries as well as the European
Union. The Turkey section was written by Doðan Týlýç, AEJ’s first
vice president.

`Despite the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s
promises that restrictive laws will be repealed or eased, the freedom
of journalists to report fully and objectively on the nation’s
affairs is still seriously limited by legal and other obstacles,’
according to the survey.

The murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, editor of the
weekly Armenian-language newspaper Agos last Jebruary outside his
Istanbul office, and the attempt to prosecute the Nobel Literature
Prize-winner Orhan Pamuk are given as examples to `the twin dangers
of nationalist violence against liberal-minded writers and of
criminal prosecution through Turkey’s archaic laws banning insults
against Turkish identity or state institutions.’

`In 2006 a total of 293 people faced legal action based on the
country’s illiberal laws on free expression,’ the survey revealed.
`In some cases the army itself has brought prosecutions against
journalists who investigated or criticized the military’s involvement
in politics. Turkey’s criminal laws are out of line with its Council
of Europe obligations and incompatible with press freedom.’

The survey also criticizes attempts to censor Internet sites. `Some
Turkish courts have in some cases responded to allegations of
cyber-crime by banning access to whole Web sites, even when the
complaint concerns only a small segment of the site in question,’
according to the survey. It cites the example of the video-sharing
site YouTube being temporarily blocked in Turkey last September by a
court order over a video allegedly insulting Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,
the founder of the modern Turkish Republic.

`Despite the diversity and vigor evident in the media, Turkish
journalists face an array of significant obstacles to media freedom
and independence,’ Týlýç wrote in the report. `Greater solidarity is
needed among Turkish journalists, especially to organise strong
professional and trade union bodies which can effectively push for
better conditions and defend the media against undue political and
commercial influences,’ he added.

The AEJ is an independent, self-funding association for journalists
in Europe with more than 1000 individual members in over 20 national
sections. It promotes professional contacts across Europe’s borders,
open debate on European issues, and the freedom and independence of
media and journalists in Europe.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA BECOMES A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
MIDDLE EAST COMMITTEE OF "RELIGIONS FOR PEACE"

The founding meeting of the Middle East Committee of the international
organization "Religions for Peace" was convened in Alexandria, Egypt on
December 3.

As an honorary President of the organization, Catholicos Aram I was invited
to personally attend the meeting. Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Affairs
Officer) represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia at the meeting.

During the opening session Bishop Nareg conveyed to the participants the
greetings of the Armenian Pontiff, announcing that he was recently elected
as President of the Middle East Council of Churches and actively continues
his inter-faith and inter-church activities.

The General Secretary of the "Religions for Peace" organization, Dr. William
Vendli then presented a report which proposed to set up a committee in the
Middle East.

The details of the establishment and activities of the regional office were
agreed on after daylong discussions between participants.

Bishop Nareg was elected as a member of the founding committee of the
organization’s Middle East committee.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PARUYR HAYRIKIAN ACCUSED THE OPPOSITIONAL FORCES OF ARMENIA

Mediamax
November 27, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Leader of "National Self-Determination" party
Paruyr Hayrikian stated in Yerevan today that the initiative on
nominating a single candidate from opposition for the position of
the Armenian President failed because of the excessive ambitions of
the politicians.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today,
Paruyr Hayrikian stated that during the consultation with the leaders
of oppositional parties he realized the "true destination of Armenian
politicians". According to him, "scoundrels, KGB agents, mentally
sick and ignorant people are present in the oppositional camp today".

Paruyr Hayrikian stated that during the upcoming presidential
elections he will support the representative of the political force,
"which will be ready to turn Armenia into the most democratic country
in the world".

He also stated that he will "think about his nomination only in case
the political figures ask me to do that".

MOST SIGNATURES WERE SERGE SARGSYAN’S

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 27 2007

The leader of the Dashink Party Samvel Babayan stated in reply to
Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s statement that Samvel Babayan had expulsed
Serge Sargsyan from Karabakh he was going to release some facts on
what role each member of the former government of Armenia had during
the military actions, who created obstacles to the liberation of the
territories, who prevented supply of weapon, what they did at airports,
on the roads, why some were sent to Zangezur, and so on. On November
27 the reporters asked Paruir Hairikyan hosted at the Hayeli club to
comment on this, who had been the commandant of Zangezur in that time
of the war.

"It is very bad when a person aspiring to presidency brings about
such intrigues. It is as bad when he gets a response, but whether it
is slander or not, it is necessary to respond to it. If you did not
mention that I was the commandant then, I would decline to answer.

But I would like to sound more precise, I was appointed commandant
of the most dangerous area for two months, because we were already
there. I never speak about it because it is the duty of every Armenian
to fight when the homeland is in danger. I have never acted as a
Yerkrapah and I will never do. Unfortunately, we had lots of victims,"
Paruir Hairikyan says.

He says at that time to prevent people from leaving Artsakh in
Zangezur they blocked the way of men leaving Artsakh. "We let them
go in case there were signatures from Artsakh. There was to be two
signatures, Robert Kocharyan’s and Serge Sargsyan’s," Paruir Hairikyan
says. According to him, men were allowed to leave for Armenia if they
had two signatures. "For the period when I was the commandant, in the
regions of Martakert and Shahumyan, it was mainly Serge’s signatures,
we are still keeping several hundreds of such documents, I mean at the
time when I was the commandant, Serge Sargsyan was present," Hairikyan
says. He says in the presidential election they had better speak about
programs rather than these things, adding that in that dangerous period
Vazgen Sargsyan stated in an interview he had a holiday in Greece.

"GREATEST MISTAKE OF FORMER AUTHORITIES IS THAT NO TRADITION OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WAS FORMED IN COUNTRY," FORMER VICE SPEAKER BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Nov 28, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. It is necessary to unite the
opposition forces for the purpose of conducting control in electoral
stations in order to avoid falsifications in the 2008 presidential
elections. This statement was made by Arshak Sadoyan, the Chairman
of the Bloc of National Democrats, at the press conference held
on November 27. According to him, 10 thousand "strong people" are
necessary for conducting control over all the 1923 electoral stations
of the republic, whereas the Bloc of National Democrats can provide
only 200-300 people.

He called to all the candidates running for presidency for responding
to his suggestion on uniting resources for the purpose of conducting
control over elections by December 5. According to Arshak Sadoyan, all
those forces, which will not agree to take part in the struggle against
electoral falsifications, will, in fact, agree to "drawn" elections.

According to Karapet Rubinian, a member of the National Movement of
Armenia and the former Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, the
greatest mistake of the former authorities was that no tradition of
shifting power through democratic elections was established in the
country. However, making the control over elections the main problem,
the opposition is not likely to achieve success since even in case of
finding large-scale falsifications, it will be impossible to prove
that they have influenced the results of the elections. Karapet
Rubinian considers it a real problem to create a situation so as the
authorities do not dare to make false figures public. In this respect,
according to the speaker, the fact of the opposition coming up with
a common candidate would be of great significance.

In response to the questions of journalists, Karapet Rubinian
expressed conviction that there are all the preconditions for
revolution in Armenia, as most of society do not want to any longer
endure the current regime. The thing is that whether they will manage
to direct the potential of that dissatisfaction to the development of
democracy in Armenia. From this point of view, according to him, Levon
Ter-Petrosian, the first President of Armenia, enjoys the greatest
opportunities. Irrespective of the fact that there is little time
left before the presidential elections, the speaker does not exclude
the possibility of special elections. "If the people find enough
strength in themselves to resist and get rid of the criminal group,
everything will be decided before the elections," Karen Rubinian
expressed conviction.

T.B. CENTERS REORGANIZED INTO CLINICS AND HOSPITALS

ARMENPRESS
Nov 29 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Next year Armenian health authorities
will complete reorganization of all 11 tuberculosis prophylactic
centers into clinics and hospitals.

Tatevik Kostanian, head of the national anti-tuberculosis program,
said clinics will conduct examination and diagnosing of T.B. patients
who will be treated later in hospitals.

It takes up to six months to treat a patient with
tuberculosis. Patients will spend the first two months of treatment
in hospitals and when the danger of infection passes they will be
visiting hospitals to get their medications.

The process of reorganization was started in 2006 after the government
approved a relevant decision.

Tatevik Kostanian said the process is over 90 percent. All 10
T.B. prophylactic centers operating outside Yerevan have been
reorganized.

ARONIAN TO COMPETE WITH YAKOVENKO, AND HAKOBIAN WITH ONISHCHUK IN THIRD STAGE OF WORLD CHESS CUP TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Nov 29, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The additional games of the second
stage of the World Chess Cup Tournament are scheduled for November
29 in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Armenian grand masters
Levon Aronian and Vladimir Hakobian do not take part in the game. On
November 30 the games of the third stage will take place and 32 chess
players will take part in them.

In this stage Aronian will compete with Dmitri Yakovenko (Russia)
and Hakobian with Alexander Onishchuk (the United States of America).

ARMENIA AND TURKEY ARE INDIVISIBLE

A1+
[11:55 am] 30 November, 2007

The Armenian football team under 19 will compete with Turkey at the
second phase of the European Football Championship try-outs.

To remind: after the sortition the Armenian team was involved in
Group 7 with Turkey, Ukraine and Spain.

The latter is the acting European champion under 19.

It is due to mention that the Armenian team won over Lithuania at
the first phase. Experts think Armenia faces a serious ordeal as the
team’s competitors are rather strong.

To note: only one of the teams under question has a right to reach
semi-finals.

The meetings are scheduled for the spring of 2008. The venue of the
matches is still unknown.

ACCORDING TO ARMEN JIGARKHANIAN, ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN FRIENDSHIP SHOULD BE OBSERVED AS REGULARITY

Noyan Tapan
Nov 30, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A group of famous Russian art and
cultural figures had a meeting with the students of the Yerevan State
University on November 30. Film producer Grigor Gyardushian, who lives
in Moscow, famous actor and Soviet people’s artist Armen Jigarkhanian,
Mikhail Svydkoi, the Chief of the Federal Agency for Culture and
Cinematography of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Piotrovsky, the
Director of the State Hermitage, actors Igor Kostolevski, Veniamin
Smekhov, Aleksander Shirvindt, the Art Director of the Satire Theatre
of Moscow, and Viktor Loshak, the Editor-in-Chief of the monthly
Ogonek, were included in the delegation , which has arrived from
Russia. It should be mentioned that the premiere of the new film "Rud
and Sam" by G. Gyardushian, with Armen Jigarkhanian in the main role,
was held in the "Moscow" cinema on the eve.

Mikhail Shvydkoi spoke about the Armenian-Russian cultural relations
and stressed that most of the intellectuals of the Russian cinema
have Armenian roots.

Armen Jigarkhanian mentioned in his turn that he is proud of being
an Armenian. He also declared that there is no need to persuade the
Armenian people to be friends with Russians as Armenians know well
both the Russian people and Russia. The Armenian-Russian friendship,
in his conviction, is a regularity.