Author: Maghakian Mike

GEORGIAN OMBUDSMAN DISCUSSES RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TSALKA
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 21 2006
Tbilisi. March 21 (Prime-News) – The Tuesday session of the Council
on Ethnic Minorities of the Ombudsman’s Office of Georgia was
dedicated to the recent developments in the town of Tsalka of the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
MP Van Baiburt, Zinaida Bestaeva, State Minister for Civil integration
and Davit Darchiashvili, Executive Director of Open Society Georgia
were attending the session.
According to Sozar Subari, Ombudsman, it is necessary to facilitate
dialogue between the parties. The murder in Tsalka was a pure crime,
but the following developments made it clear that that there are
serious problems in the region with regard to relationship of the
different ethnic groups, that might stir ethnic conflicts. That factor
makes attention by the government and society more necessary.
MP Van Baiburt said that some problems with regard to relation of
different ethnic groups definitely contribute to the ongoing tension.
He also surveyed the problems with regard to governance and said that
the tension must be eradicated by the central government, as the local
residents of Georgian origin do not discredit ethnic minorities in
the region.
The members of the Council also discussed negligence by the
Establishment, saying that the local population of the region lives in
extremely harsh economic conditions and there are no state programs
implemented in the region that could contribute to civil integration
of the ethnic minorities.
The members of the Council said that the issue on language for
record keeping was one of the most urgent. According to them, special
programs must be elaborated to sea to teaching of Georgian language
to the local residents, but it can take 5 or 10 years.
The representative of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Georgia
also discuss the murder of the young man of Armenian origin in Tsalka
and said that the law enforcements are doing their best to eradicated
violation of human rights for ethnic reasons and are ready to cooperate
with the Office of Ombudsman.
The members of the Council on Ethnic Minorities are to visit the
region, which is mainly populated with Armenians, and will study the
issue on the spot.

DEPUTY SPEAKER SAYS THERE IS HOPE WITH REGARD TO PRICE OF GAS
Lragir/am
21 March 06
On March 14 and 15 the Russian-Armenian Parliamentary Committee
discussed the price of the Russian gas. The head of the Armenian
delegation Vahan Hovanisyan announced without details that there were
positive moves and there is reason for optimism.
The deputy speaker of the Russian Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky announced
that if Armenia wants to buy gas at a lower price, it has to enter
the Russia-Belarus Union. Vahan Hovanisyan said this is the opinion
of one person, or the political party he represents, and the Russian
Federation did not offer this to Armenia. The price of gas and the
steps and standpoint of Russia that are far from being pro-Armenian,
have kindled anti-Russian moods both in political circles and among
people. Pro-Russian stance is being replaced by pragmatism, states
Vahan Hovanisyan, who explained to Russians that if “insensible
persons dominate Russian politics, they will bring about changes”
that will not benefit the Russian Federation.
In Yerevan Vahan Hovanisyan elucidated for the Armenian reporters
that the price of gas is boosted by Gasprom and not the Russian
state. “It is not important that the state owns 51 per cent of shares
of Gasprom.” Vahan Hovanisyan believes that the Russian Federation is
becoming a country which lives under the rules of liberal markets,
where the economy dictates policies. In this case there is nothing
left to do but to “make changes in our national interests and introduce
new components in the Russian-Armenian relations.”

BITTER FRUITS OF REFERENDUM
Panorama.am
14:23 20/03/06
Today the for-day sessions of the National Assembly began with
the bitter recollection of the referendum of constitutional
amendments. The Parliamentary minority, particularly “Ardarutyun”
(Justice) representative Victor Dallakyan suggested to his
parliamentary colleagues to form a temporary committee to “carry out
corresponding examination and give a political estimation to what
had happened.” Hmayak Hovhannisyan had an analogical speech. Yet the
dream of the parliamentary minority did not come true as after the
voting for the question the image was as follows: 20 for, 0 against,
and 27 abstained form voting. The result of the voting made Aram
G. Sargsyan think: “The unpunished crime is fraught with the danger
to be repeated.”
Victor Dallakyan came to the following conclusion: “In this way the
Parliamentary majority proved that they took part in falsification
of the referendum.” In reply to these ideas of the oppositional
representatives NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan said: “The committee
were to give the estimation that already exists. And voting is the
right of every political body.”

GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: KARS-AKHALKALAKI IS A NO-OPTION RAILROAD
Lragir/am
20 March 06
Georgia has to build the Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad, every country
needs transit routes, and we will be glad if the Gyumri-Kars railroad
is operated, stated Revaz Gachecheladzeh, Georgian Ambassador to
Armenia on March 20.
According to him, Georgia has no reasons to reject economic flows
determined by the railroad, with the annual capacity of the Georgian
ports of 22 billion tones.
Soon the ports will not supply the demands of developing Georgia. Revaz
Gachecheladzeh thinks that the Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad is favorable
for Javakheti too. “Not all the freight is for transit, part of it
remains. Besides, crafts will develop in Akhalkalaki.” The ambassador
suggests viewing Kars-Akhalkalaki as a purely economic project that
will become part of the Beijing-Paris highway.
Georgia, which welcomes the re-operation of Gyumri-Kars, will not
try to influence Turkey or Azerbaijan in the question of opening the
borders, however. ” First because even the Minsk Group cannot influence
Turkey and Azerbaijan,” and besides, “like Armenia, we also conduct
a complementary policy, we want to have good relations with everyone,
and especially our neighbors. The question of opening the borders is
your internal affair.”
Everyone understands that Kars-Akhalkalaki is not favorable for
Armenia. The ambassador does not say anything with regard to this. The
Georgian-Armenian economic relations were not satisfactory but there is
progress. For instance, in Georgia they are already selling Armenian
products – juice, cigarettes, cement, etc. Besides, the Armenians are
building a hotel in the resort town of Kobuleti. “We assist the inflow
of the Armenian capital to Georgia. I think you would assist the inflow
of the Georgian capital to Armenia. Our markets are small, and if we
unite, both countries will benefit,” assures Revaz Gachecheladzeh.
The Armenians and Georgians are also implementing regional
projects. The second transmission line of electricity from Armenia
to Georgia is being built.
If it joins the Iran-Armenia line, something that Georgia is eager for,
trilateral cooperation would facilitate the export of electricity among
these three countries. Georgia would like the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
to reach Georgia and have a sufficient capacity to transport gas to
Europe, which would be favorable for both Armenia and Georgia. But
“Armenia decided to construct a small pipeline.”

ARMENIAN PM APPOINTS GEVORK KOSTANYAN TO ARMENIAN DEPUTY JUSTICE MINISTER POST
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 15, 2006
YEREVAN, March 15. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
appointed Gevork Kostanyan to the post of Armenian Deputy Justice
Minister on Tuesday, Government’s press service told ARKA News Agency.
Gevork Kostanyan was born in 1977 in Yerevan. He was graduated from
Yerevan State University in 1999 with legal expert diploma.
Kostanyan has been Armenian Justice Ministry’s Adviser on legal issues
over a period between 1995 and 1999.
After serving his national duty in Armenian army in 1999 to 2001,
he continued his work in Justice Ministry as the Minister Adviser
and later as Deputy Chief of Justice Ministry’s Staff.
>>From 2004 till his today’s appointment Kostanyan worked at
Justice Minister Adviser position. He is married and father of one,
non-partisan.

CONSTRUCTION OF “YERANKYUNI” SPITAK DISTRICT TO BE COMPLETELY OVER IN APRIL
Noyan Tapan
Mar 16 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. It’s envisaged to completely finish
the program of building of the “Yerankyuni” (Triangle) district
of Spitak in April. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed from
the Public Relations Department of the “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund
implementing the program, the internal repairs of the last 2 out of
district’s 11 buildings are proceeding at present. It was mentioned
that like the buildings already put into exploitation, each of these
buildings will also have 3-2-room 8 apartments.
One of the “Yerankyuni” district’s buildings was built with the
financing of the “Hayastan” Fund’s German local body and the rest 10
with the funds of the British local body. To recap, the Fund started
the district construction in 1999.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PROPOSES INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL MECHANISMS OF CONTROL OVER ECONOMIC ENTITIES WITH BIG LIABILITIES
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to the activities of the
service ensuring the mandatory execution of court acts were discussed
at the March 15 working consultation conducted by the RA President
Robert Kocharian. According to the RA President’s press service,
the RA Justice Minister, the RA Minister of Finance and Economy,
heads of the tax and customs bodies, the RA Prosecutor General and the
Chairman of the RA Cassation Court participated in the consultation.
The consultation participants spoke about the shortcomings and abuses
committed by economic entities in fulfilling their tax and customs
liabilities. It was noted that these shortcomings and abuses result
in improper fulfilement of liabilties towards the state.
R. Kocharian instructed the heads of the appropriate structures to
find solutions for making amendments to the current legislation and
using additional mechanisms of control over economic entities with
big liabilities. He said that the steps to be taken should first of
all be aimed at the fight against shadow economy and prevention of
illegal economic activity.

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY OPENS AT ART ACADEMY
Noyan Tapan
Mar 07 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition of the Sculpture
Department final course students’ works dedicated to March 8, the
International Women’s Day, opened on March 7 in the gallery of the
Yerevan Art Academy. 6 students’ small-sizes marble, bronze and copper
sculptures are presented in the exhibition hall. Karen Aghamian,
the Painters’ Union Chairman mentioned that the exhibition gave an
opportunity to “value and re-value the Armenian woman, revealing her
mistery of millenniums.” According Academy Rector Aram Isabekian, the
students presented interesting works. According to him, those prove
once more that the Academy students are talented and have particular
way of thinking.
A.Isabekian also informed that the 60th anniversary of the Art
Academy will aslo be marked this year. Within the framework of this
anniversary numerous exhibitions will be organized as well as an
album will be published.

QUOTES FROM THE TURKISH PRESS 8 MAR 06
Quotes package from BBC Monitoring
8 Mar 06
Tension between army and government
Hurriyet (centre-right) “The public prosecutor [in Van] has shown
great irresponsibility and violated legal norms by including the name
of Ground Forces Commander Gen Yasar Buyukanit in his indictment,
accusing him of interfering with the judiciary and setting up a
gang… How can a public prosecutor have the nerve to put in his
indictment an accusation which could cause a great crisis in Turkey
without having any serious evidence?”
(Commentary by Tufan Turenc)
“You will be deceived if you regard this crisis as being just
about ‘a commander, a prosecutor and an indictment’. This is a
regime problem. This is another aspect of the [anti-republican]
counter-revolution that is going on all around.” (Commentary by
Bekir Coskun)
“For two days, against a background of a big media campaign, it has
been said that the accusation against Gen Buyukanit is meaningless.
However I think a judgment is necessary to understand what is what
and that the Pandora’s box has been opened cannot be closed again.”
(Commentary by Cuneyt Ulsever)
Posta (tabloid) “The picture that emerges after the judgment begins,
words that are going to be said at the phase of hearing witnesses will
create many mini crises. We are going to go through a very difficult
process… If we can overcome this with calm, the democratic regime
will be greatly strengthened; if not we shall all be shaken by the
earthquake.” (Commentary by Mehmet Ali Birand)
Milliyet (centrist) “Turkey is going through the pains, the
problems of a general and rooted change. The army, the judiciary
and politicians must act as their counterparts do in developed
democracies… Everyone must show a talent for ‘solving problems
without turning them into a crisis’, which is the most important sign
of being developed.” (Commentary by Taha Akyol)
“Why is there an insistent search for a conspiracy against the regime
through this indictment? Would it not be better if we, the media,
could put judicial reform on the agenda and discuss the need for
that…?” (Commentary by Hasan Cemal)
Yeni Safak (liberal, pro-Islamic) “Turkey is going through a great
transformation. We are transforming into a more democratic, more
transparent country with more respect for rights and freedoms… In
every system that is restructuring, some things can get out of
control during the process… The indictment by the prosecutor can
be considered as such an event. Despite all claims to the contrary,
it is also understood that the prosecutor has not been engaging in
political manipulation.” (Commentary by Fehmi Koru)
Cumhuriyet (secular, Kemalist) “On one side, an Anglo-American
initiative is pulling Turkey into the deepening Middle East trap in
Iraq. On another, it is surrounded by the Armenian, Greek Cypriot
and Greek states’ demands. On another side, it is under attack by
the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Also, in the middle of such a picture,
the AKP [Justice and Development Party] government is making a move
against the army. Is there any other such example in history?”
(Commentary by Ilhan Selcuk)
Iran’s nuclear ambitions
Milliyet “There are two reasons for Ankara’s sensitivity over this
issue [Iran’s nuclear programme]. 1. Iran’s challenging the world on
this issue is going to cause an international crisis and this will
create great tensions, especially in our region. 2. Iran’s having
atomic weapons will tilt the balances in the region to its advantage
and this will encourage the Tehran regime regarding its own aims.
That’s why Turkey wants diplomatic efforts to continue and a compromise
to be reached between Iran and IAEA [International Atomic Energy
Agency]” (Commentary by Sami Kohen)

AZERI LEADER SAYS KARABAKH SOLUTION DEPENDS ON POLL, AGAINST DEMOCRACY “EXPORT”
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
8 Mar 06
[Presenter] The resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has
been discussed during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to
Japan. The president reiterated Baku’s loyalty to the peace process.
At the same time, he said that Baku’s position on the resolution will
be formed in an opinion poll, if the talks remained deadlocked. Our
correspondent Vaqif Aydinoglu in Tokyo has the details.
[Correspondent by phone over Ilham Aliyev addressing meeting in
Japan] The Nagornyy Karabakh resolution will depend on the results
of an opinion poll, President Ilham Aliyev told a meeting at the
Japan Institute of International Affairs today. The president made
a detailed speech on the conflict. Then he answered questions from
participants in the meeting.
Asked about Azerbaijan’s step should the talks yield no results,
President Aliyev said that although the sides were close to achieving
results several times, Armenia found some dubious pretexts to postpone
the talks repeatedly. A glaring example of this is the recent
Ramboillet meeting, he said. He said that the Azerbaijani public
would decide what steps should the country take if the talks were to
fail. The president said that the public should have the final say.
The issue will be submitted to the public for discussion and only after
this, Azerbaijan might reconsider its position. The president told
the meeting that despite all these difficulties, Azerbaijan has been
very successful in the economic and political spheres over the past
years. The meeting organized at the Japan Institute of International
Affairs was attended by some ministers of the Japanese government
and ambassadors and diplomats of numerous countries in Japan.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Russian ITAR-TASS news agency reported at 0744 gmt 8 March that Aliyev
warned foreign forces against the attempts to “export democracy” to
Azerbaijan. He said that “the export of democracy does not work. There
should be an evolutionary process… The attempts to export democracy
lead to social and political problems and undermine stability… As
regards our country, it will decide itself how to live and develop.”]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress