Author: Karapetian Hovik

Turkish Press
June 13 2005

Press Review

TURKIYE

AKP DEPUTY VISITS ARMENIA

Turhan Comez, Balikesir deputy from the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP), who is carrying out contacts in neighboring Armenia,
yesterday met with French Ambassador Henry Cuny in Yerevan. During
their talks, Cuny said that some 20-25 Turkish students who can speak
French might study at the French University in Yerevan and Armenian
students studying at the French University could go to a Turkish
University as part of a student exchange program. Comez the first
Turkish parliamentarian to visit Armenia also met with Ghiro Manoyan of
the nationalist Dashnaksutiun Party. He said the meeting was unofficial
and pointed to the importance of exchanging views. Manoyan said it
was the first time he had met with a Turkish politician, adding that
he was hopeful that two nations could live in peace. /Turkiye/

A1plus

| 15:45:15 | 13-06-2005 | Politics |

PRESIDENT MUST BE RESIGNED BY REFERENDUM

The last week’s poll question of “A1+” was the following, “What
possibility for RA President’s dismissal should the Constitution
provide? “. 222 readers took part in it.

The majority (60.8%) think that the President can be resigned by the
decision of the 2/3 of NA deputies and the referendum. 23% think that
the basis must be the decision of the 2/3 of NA deputies and 2/3 of
Constitutional Court members. 9% think that there must be no bases
for the dismissal of the President, and 7.2% was undecided.

This week the poll question is “Is press free in Armenia?”. Before
voting we offer you to read the materials in the “Article” section
of our site.

Armenpress

STRATEGY FOR E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEM TO BE SENT TO GOVERNMENT APPROVAL

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS: A senior official of Armenian finance and
economy ministry said today the ministry will submit in few weeks to
government’s approval the strategy on introduction of e-procurement system
for government agencies to conduct online shopping.
Karen Brutian, head of a ministry department, said the strategy will
serve as a basis for further improvement of online shopping in Armenia. He
also said the system will help companies, organizations, banks, ministries
and businesses to sell goods and services online in a convenient, fast and
efficient manner and will result in decreased corruption risks. Gurcharan
Sinhk from World Bank Armenia office said the introduction of e -procurement
system will also allow to economize time and funds meant for organization of
tenders. John Davidson from USAID praised Armenia for its progress in this
area. World bank released two years ago a $247,000 grant for development of
e-procurement system, but so far only $25,000 have been utilized. Brutian
said the grant was not used fully as they found that they had to specify the
main direction of the work.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 10 2005

Zahle campaign gets up close and personal

By Adnan El-Ghoul
Daily Star staff
Friday, June 10, 2005

On the campaign trail

BEIRUT: The electoral race in the Zahle district has not attracted as
much attention as other areas, despite the presence of influential
figures such as the area’s MP Elias Skaff, who had been courted –
indirectly – by Saad Hariri through Bekaa MP Mohsen Dalloul and Zahle
MP Nicolas Fattoush.

But Skaff has ended the negotiations suddenly, without explanation,
and announced an incomplete electoral list in alliance with the
Armenian Tashnag Party and Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement.

Despite his last-minute divorce from the two MPs, who since have
formed a separate list, Dalloul and Fattoush maintained positive
relations with Skaff in the hope he would reconsider his stance.

However, their cordial behavior did not last long.

In contrast to the nationwide electoral race, where serious and
controversial issues are (somewhat) being addressed, the battle in
Zahle seems to be focused more on minor disputes and personal
accusations and counteraccusations over schemes, corruption and
financial scandals.

The three MPs had divided amongst themselves the spoils from many
local and international ventures over the past 15 years. They appear
to be proving true an old Arabic proverb that says, “The thieves got
away with scheming only to be caught while fighting over the shares.”

In a statement allegedly published by one of Skaff’s campaigning
staff, embarrassing accusations were leveled against Dalloul and
Fattoush, claiming the pair had made their fortunes on illicit
activities involving the mishandling of private and public funds.

Skaff’s denial of who published the statement in local newspapers was
dismissed

by Fattoush, who said he was well aware of who was behind the
accusations.

“I worked closely with Skaff’s campaigning team and I know their
dirty tactics very well,” Fattoush said.

He continued by claiming to know the true reasons behind Skaff’s
reluctance to join Hariri’s list.

He said: “Skaff said in front of everyone that he was broke and under
heavy personal debts.”

One can’t help but wonder why Fattoush would raise the issue of
personal debts if it were not an indication Hariri had refused to
relieve Skaff of his financial burdens?

While candidates in Zahle continue to argue publicly, the rest of the
country is engaged in fierce battles over decisive issues concerning
the country’s future, state institutions and the regional role.

One can only speculate as to why key figures such as Hariri or
high-ranking Hizbullah officials have kept their distance from Zahle.
Winning Akkar would represent a major breakthrough for Hariri, just
as his risking a visit to the border towns in the South injected
additional confidence in the resistance and Aoun going to the
southern suburbs for the first time has been a large boost to his
campaign.

What can Zahle offer the national campaign when its leaders continue
to bicker over their deceitful deals that seem to have been the only
grounds for their “national unity, sovereignty and independence?”

Armenia’s Shikahogh Nature Reserve and Mtnadzor Forest at Great Risk

YEREVAN, Armenia, June 8 /PRNewswire/ — Armenia, a country in the
South Caucasus which historically had forest cover of 40-45 percent,
is today at perilous risk of becoming completely deforested. Current
estimates place forest cover at around eight percent, and at current
rates of cutting, the last of the forests could be gone in as little
as 20 years.

Despite this, the Armenian government recently announced plans to
build a highway in the southern part of the country right through the
middle of the old growth Mtnadzor (Dark Canyon) forest, which occupies
about half of the Shikahogh nature reserve, one of only three pristine
reserves in the country.

According to reports, the plans call for cutting at least 14,000 old
growth trees and 90,000 younger ones. The Shikahogh reserve,
established in 1958, is home to innumerable rare and endangered plant
and animal species, including up to 12 leopards, whose habitats would
be gravely threatened by the road’s construction.

A coalition including Armenia Tree Project (ATP), Armenian Forests
NGO, World Wildlife Fund, and Armenian Assembly of America have been
working together to identify viable alternatives to the proposed route
and put a stop to the plan to begin immediate construction until
public hearings are held.

ATP founder Carolyn Mugar has sent a letter about the issue to the
President of Armenia, Minister of Nature Protection, Minister of
Transportation, and other high-ranking officials. “The Shikahogh
forest reserve provides unique habitats for many rare and endangered
plants and animals whose survival depends upon the government’s
responsible stewardship. We call on you to protect this reserve for
the sake of future generations of Armenians and the world’s
ecosystem,” wrote Ms. Mugar.

The Armenian government has cited “strategic” reasons for choosing the
route through the reserve, but hasn’t provided adequate justification
for the plan, which would violate numerous national laws and
internationally signed treatises to protect such nature preserves.

To date, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Defense
have stated their intention to move forward with construction
plans. In response, the Minister of Nature Protection announced his
intention to resign if the road is constructed through the
reserve. This stated determination to ignore alternative routes has
led many to question the true motivation for the government’s plan,
given the monetary value of the oak trees from the old growth forest
that will be destroyed.

“The construction of the proposed road through the preserve will
introduce pollution from passing vehicles into this almost pristine
forest, destroy the habitat for rare wildlife and migratory paths, and
attract illegal logging, depriving future generations of Armenians of
an irreplaceable resource. The encroachment by illegal loggers has
already destroyed much of Armenia’s forests during the past decade,”
added the ATP founder in her letter.

“[If Armenia’s government] does not demonstrate responsible management
of its natural and historical heritage, it weakens its ability to
protect Armenia from the impact of destructive policies in neighboring
countries. Any gains that may be realized by building this road
through the preserve will be far outweighed by the long-term
environmental and political damage that Armenia will suffer. We most
urgently ask you to consider an alternative route,” concluded
Ms. Mugar in her appeal.

Note for editors: Photos of Shikahogh nature reserve and rare leopard
photographed this year in southern Armenia are available. Contact ATP
office or visit Web site _http://www.armeniatree.org_
() . ARMENIA TREE PROJECT Jason Sohigian
65 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Tel: (617) 926-8733 Email:
[email protected] Web:
SOURCE Armenia Tree Project

06/08/2005 09:05 ET

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN CONSULATE GENERAL TO OPEN IN TABRIZ

06.06.2005 08:27

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan Mohammadali Sobhanallahi
met with Armenian Ambassador to Iran in Tabriz today to discuss the
development of bilateral trade and economic relations, Irna agency reports.
The parties highlighted the opening the Armenian Consulate General in
Tabriz, acceleration of the construction of the transit highway (instead of
the Kajaran tunnel) and the railway between Armenia and the province of
Eastern Azerbaijan. They also discussed the possibility of conducting joint
trade and industrial exhibitions. The RA Ambassador noted that the
establishment of the Consulate will contribute to the Iran-Armenia
cooperation. The negotiations on the issues can open after the reformation
of the new Iranian government. To note, the Armenian-Iranian border
stretches for 35 kilometers along the territory of Eastern Azerbaijan.

CONSTRUCTION GROWS BY 26% IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2005 COMPARED WITH INDEX OF SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. 110 new dwelling houses of a total
area of 52,171 sq.meters were put in commission in January-April of
2005, which exceeded the 2004 index by 17.2%. According to the RA
National Statistical Service, construction work of 37 bln 758.3 mln
drams (about 84 mln USD) was done in the same period, including the
building and assembly work of 30 bln 866.9 mln drams. The amount of
the construction work during the first four months of 2005 grew by
26% on the same period of last year, the building and assembly work –
by 23.9%.

HEALTH MINISTRY TO SEEK $7 MILLION GRANT FOR TACKLING MALARIA AND TB

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian health ministry said it is going
to ask later this month the Global Fund for Fighting AIDS, Malaria and
Tuberculosis for a $7 million grant to fight against tuberculosis and
malaria. Elizabeth Danielian, a senior official of the health ministry,
said the Fund had released already money for fighting AIDS.

Also this year the French charity Medicines Sans Frontiers is to
launch a three-year and $3.8 million worth program to fight against
tuberculosis in Armenia. It will be a pilot program and will be tested
in Yerevan only.

Doctors indicate the growing number of TB cases in Armenia, but say the
mortality cases have decreased. Officially 6,165 people are registered
with TB, last year alone 1,600 new cases were revealed. The number of
mortalities was 148, including a child. Mortality rate per 100,000
people was 4.6, a 6.2 percent decrease over 2003. In Armenia people
with TB are eligible to free medical treatment.

LOOKING FOR THE WAY OF TRUST

A1plus

| 18:59:54 | 03-06-2005 | Politics |

“The Venice Commission has positively evaluated an anti-constitutional
term”, this was the opinion of the initiative “Cooperation for the
sake of Open Society” about the evaluation of the European experts
of the RA Electoral Code amendments. Particularly, they referred to
the inclusion of the Judges into the electoral Committees. We tried
to find out the opinion of the Venice Commission secretary Gianni
Bukikio about the issue.

“There is such a system in many European countries. In the RA
Constitution there is a term which prohibits the judges to take part
in the work of the authorities, but the electoral committees are not
state structures, they are independent structures. The problem must be
solved by Armenia himself. Our offer was that the court offices must
be able to appoint lawyers in the committees”, commented Mr. Bukikio.

And OSCE Venice Commission head Christian Schtrohal added, “There is
not a single model which must be chosen for all the countries. In every
country elections are held individually. Here the trust of electors for
the electoral process is important, and in order to reach this trust
you must create a professional and balanced electoral administration
in which everyone will trust”.

Keine Milde bei Ehrenmorden
Wiesbadener Kurier – 02.06.05 01:36 Uhr
In der Türkei ist gestern ein neues Strafgesetzbuch in Kraft getreten, mit dem das Land die Forderung der Europäischen Union nach einer Reform seiner Rechtsordnung erfüllen will. Diese erste grundlegende Neufassung der Strafvorschriften seit Gründung der türkischen … … So könne die Forderung nach Abschaffung der Wehrpflicht oder eine Erwähnung des “Völkermordes” an den Armeniern zu einer strafrechtlichen …

Presserat widerspricht Reform
Frankfurter Rundschau – 01.06.05 22:31 Uhr
Türkische Journalisten fürchten Eingriff in die Meinungsfreiheit … … wer sich etwa für das Recht auf Kriegsdienstverweigerung einsetzt oder die Verfolgung von Armeniern im Osmanischen Reich als “Völkermord …

Türkei stärkt die Rechte von Frauen
Süddeutsche – 01.06.05 22:12 Uhr
Neues Strafgesetzbuch Türkei stärkt die Rechte von Frauen,Vergewaltigung in der Ehe ist erstmals strafbar und Jungfräulichkeitstests sind nur noch bedingt zulässig. Auch sogenannte ”Ehrenmorde” … … wobei als Beispiele die offizielle Armenien- und Zypern-Politik genannt wurden. Dieser Artikel, der als Zugeständnis an nationale Kreise gilt …

Neues türkisches Strafrecht in Kraft getreten
TAZ – 01.06.05 22:06 Uhr
Trotz massiver Proteste der türkischen Journalistenvereinigung ist gestern nach zweimonatiger Verzögerung die große Strafrechtsreform in der Türkei in Kraft getreten. Das Reformwerk, welches das alte Strafrecht von 1923 komplett ersetzt, war von der EU 2004 als eine der wesentlichen Voraussetzungen für den Beginn von Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Türkei angemahnt worden. … bei dem in der Begründung des Gesetzes als Beispiel der Völkermord an den Armeniern genannt worden war. Angesichts der schwammigen Formulierung …

Umstrittenes neues Strafrecht in der Türkei in Kraft
Welt – 01.06.05 21:33 Uhr
Istanbul – Das neue türkische Strafrecht, das dem Land den Weg in die Europäische Union ebnen soll, ist am Mittwoch in Kraft getreten. Unklar war noch, ob auch die in der letzten Woche verabschiedeten Änderungen wirksam werden, da Staatspräsident Ahmet Necdet … … aus Zypern und nach Anerkennung des Völkermordes an den Armeniern genannt. Oktay Eksi, Chef des türkischen Presserates, macht der Regierung von …

Türkei reformiert Strafrecht Journalisten fürchten um die Meinungsfreiheit
Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten – 01.06.05 20:09 Uhr
Istanbul – Erfolgreiche Demokratisierung sieht anders aus. Trauriger Beginn einer neuen Ära , lautete am Mittwoch die Schlagzeile einer türkischen Zeitung. Ein anderes Blatt warnte seine Leser: Ab sofort sind Sie weniger frei. Dabei hätte der 1. Juni in … … oder nach einer Anerkennung des Völkermordes an den Armeniern bestraft werden. Die Sorgen der Journalisten sind vor allem wegen der …

Kickboxer schlug zu: Drei Zähne kaputt!
WAZ – 01.06.05 16:45 Uhr
Mit zwei blauen Augen ist ein 20-jähriger Kickboxer gestern im Gericht davon gekommen. Der Armenier hatte zwei Jugendliche übel zusammen geschlagen, die Strafe fiel mit 120 Arbeitsstunden milde aus auch, weil er zum Schluss ein Geständnis ablegte und sich … … Bei einer Schulabschlussfeier im Juni 2004 hatte der Armenier einem 17-Jährigen aus nichtigem Anlass Faustschläge ins Gesicht verpasst und ihm …

Personalia
Neue Musikzeitung – 01.06.05 12:28 Uhr
Die neue musikzeitung hat ihre interaktiven Tätigkeiten ausgeweitet. Mit dem Kulturinformationszentrum stellen wir die engagierte Diskussion in das Zentrum der Aktivitäten im Netz. An dieser Stelle können Fragen gestellt, Informationen verbreitet und die Arbeiten … … Für ihn engagierte Irvine Arditti den Armenier Ashot Sarkissjan, der unter anderem als Solist beim Ensemble Intercontemporain mitgewirkt hat und …

Medienfreiheit im neuen Strafrecht in der Türkei eingeschränkt
Tagesanzeiger – 01.06.05 12:27 Uhr
ISTANBUL – In der Türkei ist ein neues Strafgesetz in Kraft getreten. Das Gesetz war vergangene Woche vom Parlament verabschiedet worden und löst das 80 Jahre alte Strafrecht ab. Trotz einiger rechtsstaatlicher Verbesserungen nach den Vorgaben der EU ist das … … Zypern und nach einer Anerkennung des Völkermordes an den Armeniern genannt. Der Chef des türkischen Presserates, Oktay Eksi, macht der

–Boundary_(ID_gGpSgLU22Ab8UGbVsI5lKA)–