Author: Kajoyan Gevork

OSCE HOLDS DISCUSSION ON NEW ARMENIAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE

armradio.am
15.11.2011 18:00

The OSCE Office in Yerevan supported an expert workshop today to
review and discuss the theoretical and practical issues of Armenia’s
new draft criminal procedure code.

The event is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the U.S.
Department of Justice in co-operation with the Armenian Constitutional
Court, Justice Ministry and Yerevan State University.

“Today’s workshop is the first in a series of events meant to
thoroughly review the draft and discuss recommendations of all
interested parties, such as civil society organizations, lawyers,
judges and academics,” said Carel Hofstra, Acting Head of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan. “We have been assisting the Armenian authorities
and the working group in the drafting process in co-operation with
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.”

The general part of the draft Code was prepared by a working group
initiated by the Armenian Justice Ministry, which was tasked to follow
up on the recommendations included in the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) report on the trials that took
place in the aftermath of the March 2008 post-election violence in
Yerevan. ODIHR provided expert opinion on the concept of the new
Criminal Procedure Code in November 2010. An OSCE expert joined the
working group in the elaboration of the draft.

Hrayr Ghukasyan, Law Professor leading the working group, added:
“One of the main principles of our working group’s operation is
transparency. This means a continuous discussion with all parties
involved, listening to their opinions and acknowledging criticism. We
will take into consideration the outcome of today’s discussion and
upcoming workshops; they will be a valuable contribution for the
Code’s drafting process”.

Armenian criminal procedure code presently in force was adopted
in 1998.

ORGANIZERS OF JUNIOR EUROVISION 2011 PROMISE AN AMAZING SHOW IN YEREVAN
Sona Hakobyan

“Radiolur”
15.11.2011 17:36

Gohar Gasparyan and Avet Barseghyan will host the Junior Eurovision
2011 in Yerevan on the 3rd of December.

Organizers promise a marvelous show and unforgettable impressions. The
show will be organized jointly with the heads of delegation of the
Junior Eurovision 2011, head of the Armenian delegation Gohar Gasparyan
told a press conference today.

Those who wish to be present at the concert should hurry, as the
cheap tickets have already been sold out, she said.

Sirusho and Vladimir Arzumanyan are the two stars that will appear at
this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the organizers in Armenia
have revealed. Yet they do not name the chief guest of the event.

The 12 years old Dalita is the girl that will represent Armenia at
the 2011 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in… Armenia with her song
“Welcome to Armenia.”

WILL SYUNIK MARZPET BE FIRED?

Republican Party MP Lernik Alexanyan condemns the latest scandal
that involves Syunik marzpet (regional governor) Suren Khachatryan,
saying it is an ugly phenomenon.

“We need to find out the causes of the incident. As you know, a
criminal action has been launched on the incident. We cannot judge
the sides unless more details are revealed,” Alexanyan told A1+
when commenting on the recent incident between Suren Khachatryan and
entrepreneur Silva Hambardzumyan during which the marzpet unexpectedly
attacked the woman and beat her in the Armenia Marriott Hotel in
Yerevan.

Asked whether the RPA was going to dismiss Suren Khachatryan, Alexanyan
said, “One can be relieved of his duties for poor work or misconduct. I
cannot answer the question until we know more details on the incident.”

On November 9, entrepreneur Silva Hambardzumyan announced that
Khachatryan had stolen 102 million drams’ worth of equipment from her
gold mine (Sipan 1). Following the accusations, on November 14, Suren
Khachatryan attacked and beat the women in the Armenia Marriott Hotel.

ARMENIA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SEEKS TO CURB LIBEL SUITS

epress.am
11.16.2011

Armenia’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday instructed lower courts to
be more cautious in handling libel lawsuits filed against media and
generally avoid imposing hefty fines on them.

The ruling could curb a sharp rise in defamation cases that followed
the adoption by the Armenian parliament in April 2010 of controversial
amendments to media legislation, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reports.

The amendments decriminalized libel but drastically toughened
financial penalties for such offences. About 30 libel suits have
since been filed by current and former government officials and
government-linked businessmen.

Independent media outlets as well as local and international media
watchdogs consider this a serious threat to press freedom in the
country.

The state human rights ombudsman, Karen Andreasyan, added his voice to
these concerns last month. He asked the Constitutional Court to look
into the corresponding article of Armenia’s Civil Code and consider
declaring it unconstitutional.

The court upheld the legality of the clause but issued several
significant instructions on how it should be enforced by the Armenian
judiciary. In particular, it ruled that media outlets cannot be
held liable for their “critical assessment of facts” and “evaluation
judgments.”

“For the role of the media is greater than merely reporting facts,”
the court chairman, Gagik Harutiunian, said, announcing the verdict.

“The media is obliged to interpret events and facts in order to inform
the society and foster debate on issues important to the society.”

The ruling stressed that broadcasters, newspapers and online news
services found guilty of defamation of character must generally
be ordered to issue an apology or provide other “non-material
compensation” to plaintiffs.

It also said that the amount of libel damages set by Armenian courts
should depend on the financial strength of media outlets facing
legal action.

“They must take into account the size of the respondent’s income
and not impose a disproportionately heavy financial burden on the
respondent that would have a decisive negative financial influence
on the latter’s activities,” concluded the panel of nine judges.

Virtually all Armenian newspapers struggle to pay thousands of
dollars in damages typically demanded by plaintiffs. One paper,
Haykakan Jamanak, had to resort to public fundraising after being
fined 6 million drams ($15,800 USD) last February.

Andreasyan was satisfied with the Constitutional Court’s interpretation
of the libel legislation, calling it “sufficiently encouraging.” He
expressed confidence that district-level and courts will not be able
to ignore the ruling.

“It will have a positive influence even in case of the worst possible
judge,” Andreasyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

There was no immediate reaction to the Constitutional Court’s decision
from Armenian media associations.

SEVEN FILMS ABOUT ARTSAKH LIBERATION WAR IN SIX LANGUAGES

Times.am
Nov 14 2011
Armenia

Well-known Zvetana Paskalaeva will present her new film about Artsakh
conflict on coming week. The film consists of seven parts, lasts 3.5
hours and is presented in six languages. The film starts from the
beginning of armed conflict and lasts till Shushi liberation.

“Karabakh wounds” is the headline of the film. It was released in the
USA. This film is considered a unique initiative about the Artsakh war.

The seven parts are presented with the strategic rounds and chronology.

There is a part which tells about children and old people who had to
live in war. Every part tells the viewer about a round of war. Shushi
liberation is the concluding of the story. According to the author
this film will have a great influence on the international society. At
the same time she rates the message which is directed to the Armenian
young people: they must know the value of the Artsakh freedom.

ARMENIAN SCIENTIST ARAM AGHASYAN WINS TOP ST. LOUIS ZOO CONSERVATION AWARD
BY DIANE TOROIAN KEAGGY ~U

STLtoday.com

Nov 14 2011
St. Louis, MO

The St. Louis Zoo gave its top conservation prize to Armenian
scientist Aram Aghasyan who is creating parks and sanctuaries to
protect Armenia’s wildlife. The zoo’s WildCare Institute is working
with Aghasyan, senior scientist with the Academy of Sciences, to save
the endangered Armenian mountain viper. Aghasyan received the award
at the Marlin Perkins Society Dinner last week.

The zoo also honored longtime volunteer and trustee Mahlon B. “Lonnie”
Wallace, III, Interco Charitable Trust and Peabody Energy, which
donated $2.5 million the zoo’s Living Promise campaign.

ASHTON TO DISCUSS THE KARABAKH CONFLICT WITH SERZH SARGSYAN

Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 14 2011
Russia

Karabakh conflict will be one of topics for discussion during the
regional visit of the European Union High Representative for foreign
affairs and security, Catherine Ashton, to Armenia from November
16-17, Armenia Today refers to representatives of the EU delegation
in Armenia.

During the visit, Ashton will meet with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Minister of Foreign
Affairs Edward Nalbandian. In addition, she will hold meetings with
representatives of the civil society of Armenia.

Ashton will discuss issues of parliamentary elections and relations
between Armenia and the EU, as well as the political situation,
regional issues, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Armenian-Turkish
process.

TURKISH PRESIDENT TO DINE WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN A TUXEDO PREPARED BY ARMENIAN TAILOR

news.am
Nov 14 2011
Armenia

ISTANBUL. – Turkey’s Head of State Abdullah Gul is meticulously
preparing for his visit to London, which is scheduled between November
22 and 24.

And during his visit to the Buckingham Palace on the invitation of
Queen Elizabeth II, Gul will also dine with the Queen, and therefore
he placed an order for a long tailed tuxedo to an Istanbul-Armenian
tailor, Radikal daily of Turkey writes.

CHARLES LONSDALE: FINAL AGREEMENT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE IS A MATTER OF POLITICAL WILL

Panorama
Nov 14 2011
Armenia

During these four years, we saw fewer state meetings on
Nagorno-Karabakh than we would like to see, outgoing British Ambassador
to Armenia Charles Lonsdale told reporters in Yerevan.

According to the Ambassador, everything must be done to achieve
peaceful settlement of the conflict through negotiations, and UK will
continue supporting the OSCE Minsk Group.

“We would like to see a peace agreement: it depends on both
governments. Though there is no final agreement yet, we must not forget
that large-scale negotiations proceed, and there is a basis for signing
an agreement. Certainly it is praiseworthy for both governments but
to achieve a final agreement is a matter of political will,” said
the diplomat.

A. ISKANDARYAN: TURKEY FACING CHALLENGES WITH ALMOST ALL NEIGHBORS

Panorama
Nov 14 2011
Armenia

“Turkey is more alarmed by the events in the eastern parts of the
country – war along the border with Syria. Turkey is forced to take
drastic measures, including the problem with Northern Iraq, which make
the Turkish experts live really anxiously,” Alexander Iskandaryan,
the director of Caucasus Institute, said in a news conference.

“To conclude, in the aftermath of Mister Davutoglu’s initiative of
“zero problems with neighbors” or even without it, Turkey today faces
serious challenges with almost all its neighbors,” said the expert.

Referring to Israeli statements of military strike against Iran, the
expert said that “Iran isn’t Iraq” and that Iran’s nuclear research
facilities are located deep in the mountains which isn’t so easy to
attack, besides, Iran threatens with counteroffensive attacks.

“I consider those statements as threats of a definite format,” said A.
Iskandaryan.