Author: Karagyozian Lena

Minnesota Daily via U-Wire
University of Minnesota
June 6, 2007 Wednesday

Minn. rep’s new bill seeks to solve murder

By Mitch Anderson, Minnesota Daily; SOURCE: U. Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS

In May 17, 2004, Minnesota native and University of Minnesota alumnus
Joshua Haglund was found brutally murdered outside his apartment in
Yerevan, Armenia.

Three years later, Haglund’s family still searches for answers to
questions surrounding his death. Now, with the help of a new bill
introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Betty
McCollum, D-Minn., they hope to find some of those answers.

McCollum introduced the Joshua Haglund Justice and Peace Act of 2007
earlier this year. The bill calls for the U.S. government to work
with Armenia to resolve Haglund’s murder, in addition to allocating
$250,000 toward a University learning abroad scholarship established
in his honor.

Haglund, 33, taught English in the former Soviet Union republic as
part of a program at the state-run Linguistics University in Armenia,
an exchange program overseen by the U.S. State Department. He is
believed to be the first American citizen to die of violence in
Armenia.

"As a parent, it’s something you never really expect to hear," said
Haglund’s mother, Maxine Haglund-Blommer. "I was in shock for about a
year and a half after his death, and I’m still not over it
completely."

Haglund graduated from the University in 1995 with a degree in
political science, but not before studying abroad in Puerto Rico and
taking a year off from school to travel to India and Japan. He spoke
Spanish fluently and also dabbled in speaking Japanese, Hindi and
Russian.

He moved to Toronto in 2001 where he earned a Masters of Education in
second language education at the Institute for Studies in Education.

Job prospects for Haglund slowed in 2001 after a SARS outbreak in
Toronto and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was at that point that
Haglund enrolled in the English Language Fellow Program, which sent
him to Armenia.

A case gone cold

The passage of time since Haglund’s murder has done little to clear
up details surrounding his death. The investigation was formally
suspended in 2004 when police failed to produce a suspect.

Haglund was openly gay, and Armenian officials have speculated that
his death was a hate crime in a society with a low tolerance for
homosexuality.

His family is not so sure. In October 2004, brothers James and John
Haglund, along with their mother, traveled to Armenia to seek answers
about their brother’s death. During their trip, the family hired a
team of prominent Armenian lawyers to further investigate the case.

The lawyers, Tigran and Marina Janoyan, insist that Armenian law
enforcement authorities badly mistreated innocent people and
deliberately ignored key facts connected to the murder. The lawyers
also hinted that police may already know who committed the crime.

In a written statement sent to the Yerevan prosecutor’s office and
several Armenian newspapers, the lawyers outlined what they believe
to be several deliberate missteps by Yerevan police as part of a
high-level cover-up. The lawyers cite prevailing prejudices against
gays in Armenia and allege certain suspects were given the benefit of
the doubt because of their influential acquaintances.

Shortly after releasing the document, the lawyers were forced to flee
Armenia because of repeated threats made on their family.

Barb McKenzie, Haglund’s sister, said she didn’t believe the official
explanation for her brother’s murder.

"Part of the reason is they can use Josh’s sexuality to conclude why
he was killed and cover up the real reasons," McKenzie said. "In my
heart and mind I think the theory that our attorney came up with (is
right)."

Pailak Mzikian, an Armenian native living in Germany, said he
believes that Armenia isn’t alone in dealing with issues of
intolerance.

"Gangsters, thugs and hooligans are everywhere in every country,"
Mzikian wrote in an e-mail. "To generalize from the deeds of those
few onto a nation or a country is wrong.

"I have seen some open homosexual bars and night clubs in Yerevan, so
there must be an active gay scene there," he said. "On the other
hand, Armenians are very tied to their Christian roots and their
church. I think you can compare it very well with some areas in the
U.S."

Fate of the bill

As for the fate of the proposed bill, congressional spokesman Josh
Straka said he felt optimistic about its chances.

"Family and friends of Joshua across the nation have worked hard to
get other members (of Congress) to sign on as co-sponsors," he said.
"I think there’s a very real shot for this bill to move forward this
year."

McCollum introduced a similar bill last year on the anniversary of
Haglund’s death, but a companion Senate bill was never introduced and
the House bill failed to make it through committee.

Remembering Joshua

Haglund’s family established a memorial fund in his name shortly
after the murder. The scholarship is given annually to a University
student planning to study abroad in one of the countries that Haglund
visited.

University Learning Abroad Center director of finance Trish Blomquist
said that the fund would need $25,000 to become permanently endowed,
which means it would establish the scholarship for as long as the
center exists.

Currently, the family has raised $13,000 through a golf tournament
fundraiser and personal donations.

McKenzie said although nothing will ever bring her brother back, the
scholarship is the best way to memorialize him.

"His passion was to educate people around the world and better their
lives," she said. "Now, there’s one less person in this world doing
that, and if we can encourage others to do it because of Joshua’s
interests, then we are continuing his legacy."

More information about the Joshua Haglund Memorial Peace Scholarship
and his life can be found at

VARDAN OSKANIAN MEETS OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2007

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met with OSCE Minsk Group
co- chairs in Yerevan. Andrzej Kasprzyk, personal representative of
OSCE Chairman-in-Office also participated in the meeting, APA reports.

The sides debated the basic principles on the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Moreover, Azerbaijan and Armenia presidents’
scheduled meeting in St Petersburg was also debated.

The Messenger
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Poti-Caucasus Ferry Route at Risk
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Armenia remains Russia’s strategic ally in the South Caucasus. Armenia’s
economic sector has been for a long time tied to the Russian market
although, currently, the Kremlin has no transportation links with Armenia.
Transportation blockade aimed to "punish" Georgia during the "spy row" last
October has negatively influenced Armenia in the process.
Last year, Russia unexpectedly blocked the Kazbegi-Lars customs checkpoint –
the only customs checkpoint controlled by Georgians on the Georgian-Russian
border. Russian authorities argued the checkpoints needed renovations. The
route continues to be blocked and it hurts not only Georgia’s interests but
also those of Armenia.
The checkpoint at the Roki Tunnel is not well- controlled, linking Russia
with Tskhinvali separatist authorities.
Russia hoped that the Georgian administration would get accustomed to
travelers and cargo passing through separatist-controlled customs
checkpoints. However, the Georgian government is not supporting this idea.
As a result, Russia has lost its transportation link with Armenia.
The railway connection with Russia is very important for Armenia too.
Armenian experts calculated that Armenian economic sector was losing USD 500
million annually because of the closed railway via Abkhazia.
A while back, Armenia actively demanded that Georgia open the railway,
although they also asked Russia to allow Georgians to control the customs
checkpoints at Psou (Russian-Abkhaz border) and the Roki Tunnel. The Russian
authorities did not do this and later imposed a transportation blockade.
But to support Armenia’s interests, Russia was obliged to help create the
Poti-Caucasus ferry route.
This ferry route doesn’t make much sense as the cost to transport cargo
appears to be very expensive and if the railway via Abkhazia is reopened, no
one will need it.
According to the Chairman of Armenian Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs Arsen Kazarian, currently the Poti-Caucasus ferry route is not
functioning, as it does not have any cargo to load. He also expressed
dissatisfaction about the tariffs for the route.
Armenian authorities worry that the new ferry route will not last long. The
Swedish company Reserve Capital Enterprising Corporation that controls the
ferry intends to sell 45 percent of the shares in the near future.
According to the Armenian newspaper Aiots Ashkher, the Swedish company wants
to attract funding from Armenian companies to reduce its business risk and
to decrease possible losses to the company as well.
The newspaper reports that when the Poti-Caucasus ferry route was opened,
the company bragged that cargo transportation would not take much time and
it would be cheaper compared to the Poti-Ilichevsk ferry route. Now it is
clear that the cost is approximately the same and cargo arrives in 2 days
instead of 7.
At the same time the owner of the Swedish company wants to be the sole cargo
transporter from Yerevan to Poti and this could put Armenians in a difficult
position. If the existing problems are not solved, the Poti-Caucasus ferry
route will have no future.

75 MILLION DRAMS ALLOCATED FROM STATE BUDGET FOR POPULATION THAT SUFFERED FROM SPRING FLOODS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 06 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 6 sitting, the Armenian
government made a decision to allocate funds from the state budget
with the aim of assisting the population that suffered from spring
floods. The Deputy Minister of the Territorial Governance Vatche
Terterian told reporters that under the decision a total of 75 million
drams (about 214 thousand USD) has been allocated from the state
budget for partial assistance of households of Ararat, Aragatsotn,
Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Tavush marzes, including 200 thousand drams to
Aragatsotn marz where the damage done was not considerable, 1.4 mln
drams – to Ararat marz, 45 mln drams – to Gegharkunik marz, 14.7 mln
drams – to Kotayk marz and 7 mln drams – to Tavush marz.

V. Terterian said that this sum does not cover those farms, to which
the government will show a special attitude. According to him, the
destroyed state and community roads must be inventoried in order to
determine the total amount of damage.

COALITION AND COLLABORATION SIGNED WITH PRESIDENT’S SUPPORT

Lragir.am
06-06-2007 19:50:43

Today at the office of the president Serge Sargsyan on behalf of
the Republican Party and Gagik Tsarukyan on behalf of the Bargavach
Hayastan Party with the participation of President Robert Kocharyan
signed an agreement on creating a political coalition with the support
of the president. For its part, the political coalition signed with
Armen Rustamyan on behalf of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party an agreement
on collaboration, the press service of the president reported.

The purpose of the political coalition is to form a legislature and
government which enjoys the confidence of the society and sustain
the achievements of the past years.

The signed documents are aimed at working out a common action plan of
the government combining the pre-election programs of the Republican
Party and the Bargavach Hayastan Party, the implementation of the
action plan of the government and the goals of the pre-election program
of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun which mostly coincides, as well as to meet
the challenges Armenia is facing.

The parties of the political coalition and collaboration committed to
a common policy in cooperation with one another and the president of
the republic. They committed to sufficient efforts for the effective
implementation of the government policies, provide fulfillment of
their obligations assumed on signing agreements by their members and
recommended persons included in the government, and reject steps
which may directly or indirectly jeopardize the goals set down in
the agreements.

The political coalition and the collaboration declared the
following goals: sustainable and secure economic development and
essential reduction of black economy, use of more fair mechanisms
of distribution of income, improvement of anti-corruption efforts,
making the legislation comply with the amended Constitution, setting
down constitutional guarantees in the legislation for balance of
powers, creation of favorable conditions for the civil society, and
a fair and effective system of administration to finish the public
service reforms.

UNSETTLED CONFLICTS IN CIS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE NON-OFFICIAL SUMMIT IN ST. PETERSBURG

ArmRadio.am
06.06.2007 11:44

Any question of mutual interest can be discussed at the non-official
summit of the CIS leaders, the Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee
Vladimir Rushaylo declared in Baku, APA reports.

In his words, since the agenda of the non-official summit has not
been determined beforehand, any question of mutual interest can be
discussed. The unsettled conflicts on CIS territory will be in the
centre of attention, he said.

Let us remind that the non-official CIS summit will take place June 10
in Saint Petersburg simultaneously with the economic forum. Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan are expected to meet in the framework of
the summit.

GEORGIANS ARRESTED IN ARMENIA

A1+
[06:30 pm] 05 June, 2007

On 4 June the employees of the RA Police Criminal Investigation
Department and the employees of the Criminal Investigation Department
of Yerevan together with the employees of the Criminal Investigation
Department of Tbilisi arrested Khanik Kasuev, born in 1981 in Georgia,
in an apartment on Arabkir 51 Street.

The latter has been searched by the Criminal Investigation Department
of Tbilisi since 2006 September for murder and for keeping illegal
ammunition.

Kakha Sikharulidse, born in 1983 in Georgia, was arrested in Ptghavan
village by the employees of the RA Criminal Investigation Department,
the regional department of Tavush and by the employees of Noyemberyan
and Bagratashen departments and kept in the police department of
Noyemberyan. Kakha Sikharulidse was investigated by the Tbilisi police
for murder and for keeping illegal ammunition.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: TURKISH WRITER ZULFU LIVANELI NAMED ‘SECOND ORHAN PAMUK’

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.06.2007 19:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Many Turks could not believe that the Armenian
Genocide really took place. During formation of the Republic all
kept silent and wished to forget what had happened, Turkish writer,
musician and MP Zulfu Livaneli said.

"Armenians’ tragedy is a part of a greater debate Turks had to start
to discern the truth. The discussions of this issue are more important
than the pressure exerted on Turkey to acknowledge responsibility
for the Armenian Genocide," Livaneli said, Marmara newspaper reports.

Some Turkish media describe Livaneli as ‘second Orhan Pamuk’.

REVENUES OF ARMENIAN STATE BUDGET GROW BY 28.2% IN JANUARY-APRIL 2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
May 31 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-April 2007, the RA state
budgetary revenues amounted to 150.2 bln drams (over 540 mln USD),
while expenditures – to 140.8 bln drams, which ensured fulfilment of
the government-approved programs for the first half of 2007 by 66.2%
and 53.5% respectively and fulfilment of the annual programs by 29.6%
and 25.9% respectively.

According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, the revenues of
the state budgey grew by 28.2% or 33.1 bln drams on the same period of
2006. Taxes and duties increased by 26.5 bln drams, non-tax revenues –
by 5.6 bln drams, revenues from capital operations – by 1.2 bln drams,
whereas official transfers declined by 222 mln drams. In accordance
with the Law on the 2007 State Budget of the Republic of Armenia,
extrabudgetary resources of state institutions were also included
in the state budget, with their revenues making over 3.2 bln drams
in the first four months of 2007 against 3.1 bln drams in the same
period of last year.

84.7% of the state budgetary revenues in January-April 2007 formed
at the expense of tax revenues. State duties accounted for 3.8%,
non-tax revenues – for 8.3%, revenues from capital operations – for
3.1%, and official transfers accounted for 0.1% of budgetary revenues.

80 PERCENT EXPECT NEGATIVE ANSWER

A1+
[12:37 pm] 01 June, 2007

On June 1, the Constitutional Court conducts hearing on the appeals
of four oppositional parties To remind, the Impeachment Bloc, the
Republic, The New Times and the Orinats Yerkir parties submitted
appeals to the CC to challenge the majoritarian election results.

A1+ suggested its readers answering the question, "Will the
Constitutional Court satisfy the appeal of the oppositional forces?"

80 % of the respondents gave a negative answer.

Only 4 per cent think the appeal will be satisfied.

13 % think that the CC will satisfy the opposition’s appeal partly.

Over 337 people participated in the polling.