Author: Khoyetsian Rose

TERRY DAVIS PUBLISHES REPORT ON SECRET DETENTIONS IN EUROPE
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.06.2006 17:51 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A report related to allegations of rendition flights
and illegal detentions has been published today by Terry Davis, the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, as a part of his inquiry
under Article 52 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This
procedure is parallel to the investigation conducted by Senator Dick
Marty on behalf of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.
37 of the 46 Council of Europe member states were asked to clarify
and complement the information already submitted in response to the
questionnaire of 21 November 2005, in which the Secretary General
requested explanations about the effective implementation of the
European Convention on Human Rights with respect to activities of
national and foreign intelligence services and aircraft which may
be used for rendition purposes. The governments were also asked
to provide information on possible involvement of public officials
and the official investigations into allegations of unacknowledged
detention or rendition flights.
The replies from the governments and the analysis are available on
the Council of Europe web site. The Secretary General will shortly
make recommendations to the Council of Europe governments on specific
legal measures to be taken at national and European level in order to
reinforce the existing protection against rendition, illegal detention
and the outsourcing of torture.

INTERNATIONAL GENOCIDE MEMORIAL MAY BE CONSTRUCTED IN CALIFORNIA
Yerkir
14.06.2006 17:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region expressed it support this week for AB 1210, legislation that
calls for the construction of an International Genocide Monument in
Sacramento’s State Capitol Park.
The California State Legislature took the first step this year
in working to construct an International Genocide Memorial in the
State’s Capitol.
Authored by State Assembly member Lloyd Levine, AB 1210 was introduced
in 2005 and is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee. If
passed, the legislation would call for the establishment of an
International Genocide Memorial Commission to determine the design,
construction, and dedication for a memorial, on the grounds of Capitol
Park, to honor genocide victims.
The State of California has a longstanding history in protecting the
rights, history and culture of all its citizens, including those who
are survivors and descendents of genocide and crimes against humanity.
An International Genocide Monument in the State Capitol would not
only serve as a symbol for remembrance of past genocides, but also as
a tool to educate thousands of students who visit the State Capitol
annually for class trips.
If constructed, the monument would recognize crimes perpetrated
against the Sudanese in Darfur and the Tutsis in Rwanda, the Armenians,
and the Jews, among others.
Noting the ANCA-WR’s support of AB 1210, Chairman Steven Dadaian said,
“The passage of this legislation that would bring about a permanent
reminder of past atrocities, is especially important in the face
of genocides that are still shamefully denied today, such as the
Armenian Genocide.”
On behalf of all Armenian Americans, the ANCA-WR commends the
California legislature and Assembly member Levine’s leadership
for their efforts to create an enduring symbol of remembrance and
recognition in California for all victims of genocide and injustice,
reported the ANCA.

THE YOUTH UNITED AGAINST THOSE WHO LEFT
A1+
[02:55 pm] 14 June, 2006
An unprecedented event took place in the new political history of
Armenia – the representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
the Armenian Pan-National Movement and the Armenian Republican Party
united in one format and signed a document. This took place within
the framework of the youth structures of the parties.
The Club of Young Politicians displayed initiative condemning
the phenomena which are already becoming normal in the political
field. “We, young politicians, regardless of our political views
and approaches, condemn such vicious principles as non-fidelity
to principle, treachery, and immoral careerism. We call on all
the political powers in the RA, public figures and journalists to
boycott the immoral activity of the above mentioned ‘politicians'”,
the joint message of the young politicians says. It was signed by
the representatives of nine political powers.
As for the reason of the initiative, the last straw was the incident
with the “Heritage” party when the members of the party learned that
their young colleague Edgar Hakobyan engages in espionage. After
being dismissed from the party Hakobyan convened a news conference
and started to slander the party the member of which he used to be.
By the way, this was the last case of the kind. Before that there
were suchlike cases in the Republican Party, in the Party “New Times”
and the OYP. The young politicians gathered to condiment not the
individuals who left their parties, but the phenomenon in general.
“If the political system is not well realized, this does not mean
that they can wander from this party to that and see where they can
have more profit,” said Arman Vardanyan, the president of the Club
of Young Politicians.
According to Narek Malyan, the head of the youth wing of the Party
“New Times”, a politician must have fidelity to principle as it is
also good for the journalists who try to find out the principles of
this or that politician in their interview. And if he does not have
principles, that what is he working for?
On the whole the young politicians were concerned by the fact that
this phenomenon is gradually becoming usual in Armenia. They claimed
that the society must understand the danger that comes from those
people and condemn them. They offered to make a list of “outcasts”
– a so-called “black list” which will include the names of the
politicians they must beware.
And today besides signing the statement the young politicians announced
that they will boycott those who have betrayed their parties; they
will not have debates with them and will not unite with them in one
format. They also advised all the political powers not to cooperate
with those who have left their parties as he who has betrayed once
will do it a second time.

YURI SARGSYAN AWARDED GOLD MEDAL OF RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 13:32
Today RA Minister of Education and Science Levon Lazarian visited the
State Engineering University of Armenia to Participate in the sitting
of the University Administration. The Minister awarded a memorial medal
to the former Rector of the Engineering University Yuri Sargsyan and
thanked him for his industrious activity for about two decades.
Later Levon Lazarian introduced the new Rector of the State
Engineering University of Armenia Vostanik Marukhyan to members of
the University Administration.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenia Already Fulfilled Major Commitments to CE
10.06.2006 14:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia has already fulfilled basic requirements on
commitments to the Council of Europe (CE), Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian
stated at a news conference in Yerevan after a meeting with Ago
Monitoring Group of the CE Committee of Ministers. In Oskanian’s
words, Armenia will have to make the legislation comply with the
reformed Constitution now.
«This refers to reforms in the Criminal Code, Law on Media and the
Electoral Code,» the Minister said. In his words, during the meeting
with the Ago Monitoring Group the Karabakh settlement was also
discussed. «We presented some details of the talks and developments,»
the Armenian FM underscored.

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:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I MEETS WITH THE NEW ARMENIAN
MP IN THE CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT
His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected Armenian MP in the Cypriot
Parliament, Vartkes Mahdessian in the Veharan on June 5. The MP visited
Antelias to receive the Pontiff’s blessings as a new MP. Archbishop Varoujan
Hergelian (Catholicosal Vicar to Cyprus) and Tsolag Tutelian (member of the
Central Executive Council) also attended the meeting.
The Catholicos congratulated Mahdessian on his election. He advised the MP
that as the representative of the entire Armenian community of Cyprus, he
should work with commitment to strengthen to comprehensiveness and internal
unity of the community. The Pontiff added that the MP should coordinate
efforts with the Catholicosal Vicar to Cyprus, to gather the
Cypriot-Armenians around the Church.
His Holiness advised that the government-Armenian community contacts should
be more organized always having the community’s collective interests in
mind. The MP promised to do his best in this direction in cooperation with
all the structures of the community.
##
View photo here: tm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission 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.

RA FM: SHORTLY RESUMPTION OF MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT
AREA SEEMS UNLIKELY
Yerevan, June 9. ArmInfo. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
considers the shortly resumption of military operations in the
Karabakh conflict area unlikely, RA FM said in an interview to
“Kentron” TV channel.
According to him, such a threat is not real at present, though the
situation may change. Having reminded that Azerbaijan often talks
about it, Oskanyan said not only the Armenian party but also other
counties and experts, who think that Azerbaijan is not ready for war
today, answer this question. “War is a war and Azerbaijan has already
a bitter experience, having tried to resolve the problem in a military
way twice, and both times – with fiasco. The third attempt will become
the last mistake for Baku. I think the military solution will not be
in their favour”, Oskanyan said.

TURKISH DEPUTY PREMIER SIGNS BSEC PROTOCOL IN RUSSIA
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
7 Jun 06
Sochi, 7 June: Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Mehmet Ali Sahin signed the additional protocol to the international
cooperation agreement of BSEC – Black Sea Economic Cooperation –
member states in Russia on Wednesday [7 June].
Sahin told reporters that the agreement envisages assistance and
solidarity between BSEC member states in case of natural disasters,
as well as disasters caused by human beings.
Within the scope of the agreement, liaison offices (in all BSEC
member countries) will be established for exchange of information
in emergency.
On 25 June 1992, the heads of state and government of eleven countries
(Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine) signed (in Istanbul) the summit
declaration and the Bosphorus statement giving birth to the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC). It is a model of multilateral political
and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony
among member states, as well as to ensure peace, stability and
prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in
the Black Sea region.

THE CHESS PLAYERS WERE AWARDED WITH MEDALS OF “MOVSES KHORENATSI”
A1+
[08:06 pm] 06 June, 2006
According to the decree of President Robert Kocharyan international
Grand Masters Levon Aronyan, Karen Asryan, Smbat Lputyan, Vladimir
Hakobyan, Artashes Minasyan, Tigran Nalbandyan, Arshak Petrosyan and
Gabriel Sargsyan were awarded with medals of “Movses Khorenatsi”
for their significant share in the RA chess sphere and for their
victory in the Chess World Olympiad.
Today Robert Kocharyan handed the highest state awards to the members
of the Armenian men’s team which won the gold medal of the 37th Chess
World Olympiad and the Olymiad Cup.
Kocharyan claimed that all Armenians watched their participation
attentively and the victory greatly encouraged all Armenians spread
all over the world.
According to Kocharyan the result of the participation of our
team could be anticipated from their start which inspired great
expectations.
The chess players noted that they left for Turin with triumphant
inclination and they felt the assistance of their compatriots during
the whole tournament.
Robert Kocharyan, the president of the Chess Federation and the
members of the Armenian chess team referred to further activities of
the chess players and the prospects of chess promotion in our country.
Kocharyan urges that such victory may serve as a good imputes for
the chess development and may become an inspiring example for many
other chess players.

AS OF DECEMBER 31 2005 ARMENIA’S STATE FOREIGN DEBT MAKES 1 BLN 99 MLN USD
Noyan Tapan
Jun 06 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Discussions of the report on execution
of the law on the 2005 state budget started at the joint sitting of
the RA National Assembly standing committees on June 5. RA Deputy
Minister of Finance and Economy Atom Janjughazian was the principal
speaker. According to the governmental report, in 2005, the economic
growth made 14%, exceeding the programmed index by 6%. GDP in nominal
expression made 2 trillion 244 billion drams, per capita GDP –
697,421 drams or 1,524 USD. In 2005, the state budget revenues made
374.7 bln drams against the programmed index of 375.2 bln drams,
the budget expenditures – 417.5 bln drams or 97.1% of the specified
annual program, while the deficit made 42.8 bln drams or 78.3%. The
underfulfilment of expenditures by about 12.3 bln drams and of deficit
by 11.8 bln drams is mainly conditioned by underfulfilment of credit
and grant programs implemented with foreign financing. Particularly,
the World Bank has not provided a tranche of 10 mln drams of its
Poverty Reduction Assistance Credit. In 2005, credit resources of 22.7
bln drams or 59% of the programmed index was received from foreign
donors. As of December 31, 2005, Armenia’s state foreign debt made
1,099.2 mln USD or 22.4% of GDP against 1,182.9 mln USD and 33.1%
in 2004. Out of this sum, 919.7 mln USD is credit liabilities of
the Armenian government, 176.4 mln USD – credit liabilities of the
Central Bank of Armenia, and 3.1 mln USD – guarantees provided by the
government. The net current value of Armenia’s foreign debt declined
from 735.1 mln USD in 2004 to 701.8 mln USD in late 2005.
In terms of this index, Armenia is among countries with small burden
of debt.