Author: Kalantarian Kevo

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT’S DEBATES FOCUS ON STATE OF MEDIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 31 2007

The next meeting of Azerbaijani Parliament started today, APA reports.

The parliamentarians focused on the state of freedom of expression
and press in the country most of all during the debate of current
problems. Parliamentarians Sabir Rustamkhanli, Panah Huseyn, Igbal
Agazadeh, Gudret Hasanguliyev and others said they were anxious about
the group of journalists’ seeking asylum from foreign countries. They
said such activity of journalists damages the international image
of the country. The parliamentarians reminding summer session of
Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe will start stated that
the problems in media should be solved by the session.

Vice-speaker of the Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov asserting the speech
of parliamentarians stressed that several journalists used it as a
campaign and try to derive benefit from it.

MP Sayavush Novruzov accused the journalists who appeal to foreign
countries to make show.

"There are several journalists who present themselves as the
representatives of other nations for seeking asylum from foreign
countries. And why only the journalists of the same newspapers claim
that there is not freedom of expression in Azerbaijan? The journalists
of the other newspapers would claim on it, if there was not freedom
of expression in Azerbaijan. On the other hand, several political
parties want to be popular by making use the state of media," he said.

MP Panah Huseyn welcomed lifting the ban on azan with loudspeakers.

Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s opinion "The
alternative of the peace is war" said that they debated this issue
with several NGOs.

"We decided that all the political forces should demonstrate national
solidarity," he said.

Huseyn also initiated the proposal of holding closed debate in
Parliament regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev addressing the meeting proposed to raise the
salary of parliamentarians.

Sayavush Novruzov proposed amending the draft on "Freedom of religious
faith". The parliamentarian said that amendments should be made to
draft on holding religious ceremonies.

DELEGATION LED BY MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF POLAND ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation led by Minister of
Internal Affairs and Administration of Poland is arriving in Armenia
on May 29 on a two-day visit. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it from Information and Public Relations Department of RA
Police. For the present, we have not managed to receive information
about Minister’s meetings within the framework of the visit and the
goal of his visit.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN CITIES’ ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, May 29. /ARKA/. An international youth conference focused
on environmental problems of cities sitting in mountainous terrain
launched Tuesday in Armenia.

Vilen Hakobyan, a member of the board of Armenian National Academy of
Sciences said the conference is focused on solution of two problems –
environment protection and succession of scientists breeds.

In his words, transition period’s difficulties affected such sensitive
areas as science and environment protection.

Hakobyan said that science and environment protection areas had been
fallen into neglect over the years of transition.

"Succession of scientists breeds is very pressing problem in all
post-soviet republics. Such conferences inspire hope that this sequence
won’t be interrupted and CIS common scientific space will be preserved.

The conference will last until. Some 100 young scientists from Russia,
Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Germany,
Norway and Israel are present at the event. The conference is organized
by Center of Ecologic and Noosphere Studies, OSCE and UNESCO Yerevan
office.

"WHAT A DISGRACE!"

A1+
[05:09 pm] 25 May, 2007

Human rights defenders, civil society activists and representatives
of political organizations held a debate at the Pressing Club on May
25 on the arrest of Alexander Arzumanyan.

"The arrest of Alexander Arzumanyan, the former Foreign Minister
of Armenia, on alleged charges of money laundering is unprecedented
because no other citizen of Armenia has ever been accused of getting
a transfer," says Vardan Harutiunyan, a human rights activist.

"Alexander Arzumanyan’s arrest is groundless, and there is no
evidence," said Vahe Grigoryan, Arzumanyan’s attorney. Davit
Shahnazaryan shares his opinion, and endorses Alexander Arzumanyan’s
refusal to interrogation.

The participants of the debate agree it is clear persecution,
connected with the Civil Disobedience Movement initiated by Alexander
Arzumanyan. Larissa Alaverdyan, the defender of human rights, stated
that Alexander Arzumanyan was arrested in an effort to threaten the
society, it was a challenge to the society. The participants of the
debate agreed to this and therefore they underlined the importance of
consolidation of the civil society to stop the government and put an
end to arbitrariness. Davit Shahnazaryan suggested coordinating the
public, political and civil support to Alexander Arzumanyan.

The participants of the debate decided to adopt a statement addressing
the relevant government agencies, including RoA President Robert
Kocharuian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan and the National Security
Service, urging to set Alexander Arzumanyan free. All the NGOs
are welcome to sign the statement. The statement will be titled,
"Release Alexandre Arzumanyan immediately and stop legal procedure."

To remind, Alexander Arzumanyan was detained on May 7.

He is accused of money laundering. On May 10 Court of First Instance
chose two months’ imprisonment as a restraint.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION RALLY HAILS OSCE REPORT ON PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Arminfo
25 May 07

Yerevan, 25 May: The Armenian opposition is holding yet another rally
in the vicinity of Matenadaran [an institute and museum of manuscripts]
in central Yerevan.

About 1,500-2,000 people are participating.

The rally is organized by the New Times party, the Republic party
and the Impeachment bloc, as well as the Social Democratic Hunchak
Party. Unlike the previous rallies, the leaders of the People’s Party
of Armenia are not present.

[Passage omitted: rally organizers criticize the authorities for not
sanctioning a rally in Liberty Square]

Addressing the rally, Impeachment bloc leader and Haykakan Zhamanak
newspaper editor-in-chief Nikol Pashinyan said the opposition’s
fight against the "sergeant dictatorship" [play on Prime Minister
Serzh Sargsyan’s name] will go on until the current leadership of
the republic is brought to justice.

He described as the opposition’s victory the new interim report of
the OSCE observation mission on the [12 May] parliamentary election
in Armenia since the observers have begun to notice violations and
fraud they did not see two weeks ago.

[Passage omitted: other details of the rally]

NEXT SITTING OF COUNCIL OF CIS PRIME MINISTERS TO BE HELD IN ASHKHABAD IN NOVEMBER

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

YALTA, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Due to the strained home political
situation in Ukraine, the prime minister Victor Yanukovich hastily
left Yalta for the capital city of Kiev on May 24. For this reason the
first deputy prime minister of Ukraine Nikolay Azarov participated in
the May 25 sitting of the Council of Prime Minister of CIS Countries.

The sitting was conducted by the council chairman, prime minsiter of
Tajikistan Akil Akilov, who, before passing to the agenda issues,
congratulated the Armenian prime minister Serge Sargsian on his
appointment and wished him success.

Then the CIS executive secretary, chairman of the executive committee
Vladimir Rushaylo presented his considerations about agenda issues.

Passing to the agenda issues, the prime ministers discussed issues
related to cooperation of CIS countries in various spheres. In
particular, the prime ministers made decisions on the folowing
agreements: on formation of the common electricity and energy market of
CIS countries, on training and qualification improving of experts, on
cooperation in the sphere of physical culture and sports, on social and
legal guarantees of CIS peace-keeping forces’ personnel, on financial,
technical and rear supply for the activities and personnel of the
collective forces, on training of personnel for police and police
troops, as well as on draft interstate program on complex measures
for prevention of bird flu in the territory of CIS countries, draft
interstate program on joint fight against crime and drug trafficking.

The Council of CIS Prime Ministers also made decisions on creation of
the council of heads of state and public television and radio companies
of CIS countries and on holding the 7th international sports games
of CIS countries in Kishinev in 2008.

A number of financial problems were also discussed at the sitting.

It was decided to hold the next sitting of the Council of CIS Prime
Ministers in Ashkhabad on November 22.

At the conclusion of the siiting, the ceremony of signing the summary
documents took place, as well as a joint press conference of the CIS
prime minister was held.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
delegation headed by the Armenian prime minister will return to
Yerevan late May 25.

YEREVAN’S PYUNIK LEADER ON TOURNAMENT TABLE IN ARMENIAN FOOTBALL HIGHEST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Games of 7th tour were held in the
Championship of Armenian Football Highest League. The following results
were registered: Pyunik – Shirak 1 to 2, Mika – Gandzasar 3 to 2,
Banants – Kilikia 3 to 0, Ararat – Ulis 2 to 0.

After the 7th tour the teams were arranged on the tournament table in
the following succession: Pyunik 16, Banants 14, Ararat 13, Mika 13,
Shirak 8, Gandzasar 8, Kilikia 4, Ulis 3 points.

RA PRESIDENT APPOINTS JUDGES OF COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian signed
a decree on May 23 about appointing judges of the RA Courts of First
Isntance.

According to the decree, Vazgen Lalayan was appointed the judge of
the Court of First Instance of the communities of Avan and Nor Nork,
the city of Yerevan, and his commission of the judge of the Court
of First Instance of the communities of Kentron and Nork Marash,
the city of Yerevan, was stopped.

Khachatur Baghdasarian was appointed the judge of the Court of First
Instance of the communities of Kentron and Nork Marash, the city
of Yerevan, and his commission of the judge of the Court of First
Instance of the communities of Avan and Nor Nork, the city of Yerevan,
was stopped.

Haroutiun Yenokian was appointed the judge of the Court of First
Instance of the marz of Ararat, and his commission of the judge of
the Court of First Instance of the marz of Shirak was stopped.

Armen Khachatrian was appointed the judge of the Court of First
Instance of the marz of Shirak, and his commission of the judge of
the Court of First Instance of marz of Ararat was stopped.

DELEGATION HEADED BY SERZH SARGSIAN ARRIVES IN YALTA

Armenpress
May 24 2007

YALTA, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS: Delegation headed by the Armenian Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsian arrived today in Yalta on a two-day meeting
to participate in the regular session of the prime ministers of
CIS countries.

Armenpress correspondent reports that the agenda of the session
which will take place on May 25 includes a wide range of issues on
cooperation among the CIS member-countries. The participants of the
session will also sign a number of documents.

On his way to Yalta, in the airport of Simferopol Armenian prime
minister had a short conversation with the head of the Senior Rada of
Crimea Anatoli Gritsenko and head of the Council of Ministers Victor
Plankida who came to meet him.

The delegation headed by Serzh Sargsian comprises Chief of Staff of
Government, Minister Manuk Topuzyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham
Gharibjanyan, Permanent Representative of the Republic Armenia in
the CIS Statutory and other bodies Oleg Yesayan, Armenian Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Armen Khachatrian,
Authorized Representative of the Republic of Armenia in the CIS
Commission on Economic Affairs of CIS Economic Council Artak Vardanian,
heads of departments from the Office of Government and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, other officials.

CONNECTICUT BECOMES THE FIFTH STATE IN UNANIMOUS CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR H.RES. 106 AND S. RES. 106

ArmRadio.am
25.05.2007 10:33

Connecticut has joined Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island
to become the fifth state with a complete Congressional delegation
in support of both H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106. Grassroots activists
played a key role in gaining Congressional cosponsorship of the
resolution, reports the Armenian National Committee of America –
Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

With the recent additions of Congressmen John Larson (D-CT-1), Joseph
Courtney (D-CT-2), and Christopher Murphy (D-CT-5), the Connecticut
delegation now unanimously supports the Armenian Genocide resolutions
in the Senate and House of Representatives. Senator Christopher Dodd
(D-CT), Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
(D-CT-3), and Congressman Christopher Shay (R-CT-4), were all original
cosponsors of S. Res 106 and H. Res. 106.

In recent months, the ANCA-ER coordinated efforts with several
grassroots activists, including two sibling, Harout and Sona, who felt
that it was necessary to take action and get their Representatives to
sign on. "As an Armenian, I felt like I had to do something. Calling
my Representative was the least I could do in order to help get this
recognized. We must continue to take an active role in Armenian
communities throughout the Diaspora to fight for our cause,"
commented Sona.

Arppie Charkoudian, a dedicated activist and Chairwoman of the ANC
of Connecticut, has been working to expand the grassroots activity
throughout the state. "The Connecticut Armenian community is smaller
than other communities in the Eastern Region, but our persistence and
continued follow up with our Representatives truly made a difference
in their support of the legislation," commented Charkoudian. "By
continuing the grassroots initiatives that the ANCA has to offer we
can ensure that the interests of the Armenian American community are
represented properly."

Currently, the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have 20 of 22 Representatives
signed on to H. Res 106, and nine of twelve Senators signed on to
S. Res 106.