Author: Tvankchian Parkev

SERZH SARGSYAN AND BERGE SETRAKIAN ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO ROLE OF NEWLY ESTABLISHED MINISTRY OF DIASPORA IN ARMENIA-DIASPORA COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2009

EREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 25, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan received ABGU President Berge Setrakian. S. Sargsyan highly
assessed AGBU’s activity for the sake of the nation and aimed at
preservation of the Armenian nation.

Presenting Union’s work and further tasks, the AGBU President said
that the Union undertook new programs, which are mainly aimed at
strengthening Diasporan Armenian new generation’s contacts with
the homeland.

According to the report of the RA President’s Press Office,
the interlocutors also spoke about preservation of Diaspora’s
potential, consolidation of Diasporan Armenians around national goals,
preservation of the Armenian nation, educational and other problems
attaching importance to the role of the Ministry of Diaspora in
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.

THIS YEAR THE "STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE" AGENCY TO ORGANIZE 6 LABOR FAIRS IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
March 26, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS: During this year "The State Employment
Service" agency of Armenian Labor and Social Affairs Ministry will
organize 6 labor fairs in the republic. Head of the labor consultation
and information department of the Agency Tsoghik Bezhanian told
Armenpress that one of the fairs will be held in Yerevan, the others
– in the provinces. According to Ts. Bezhanian, compared with the
previous years this time the "State Employment Service" has adopted
a flexible policy in the issue of organization of fairs.

Those provinces will be selected, where there is a demand
for employees. "We want the organization of labor fairs be
purposeful. Studies of the labor market will show in what provinces
and what spheres investments are made and where there is a demand of
employees",- Ts. Bezhanian said.

She noted that the fairs which were organized previously gave
high results, an active participation was registered and many
people found jobs. There were numerous positive feedbacks by the
employers. Research of the labor market will give an opportunity to
gather information on the changes that take place in the economy and
the labor market. Results of the research will give an opportunity to
assess the short time tendencies of the economy and the labor market,
to discover the predictable job places, demand of the employers towards
the labor force, to clarify prospects of enhancement of employer –
"State Employment Service" cooperation and to point out the directions
of implementation of joint programs.

PRESS RELEASE
Date: March 25, 2009

Armenian National Committee of South Florida
Contact: Albert Mazmanian
Email: [email protected]

ANC OF FLORIDA JOINS LAUNCH OF GENOCIDE PREVENTION MONTH

— Kick-off Forum to Include Sneak Preview of Documentary "Last
Survivor"

Miami, FL – In conjunction with Genocide Prevention Project’s
launch of Genocide Prevention Month (GPM) on April 2nd, the ANC of
South Florida will take part in a panel discussion organized by the
Jewish Community Relations Council and co-sponsored by various
organizations to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in
Darfur and efforts to secure concrete U.S. action to stop the
killing.

Panelists will include: Councilman Andre Williams, Esq. City of
Miami Gardens; Reverend Patrick O’Neil, Archdiocese of Miami;
Michael Pertnoy, Activist, Filmmaker, & Genocide Intervention
Network Carl Wilkens Fellow; Joe Sachs, Holocaust Survivor; Michael
Toumayan, Descendant of Armenian Genocide Survivor; and Rositta
Kenigsberg, Holocaust Documentation & Education Center, Inc.

"The Genocide Prevention Project’s efforts to spotlight genocide in
April – the month that saw the beginnings of the horrors of the
Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and now,
Darfur – calls critical attention to the vital role each and every
one of us can play to end the cycle of genocide," said Toumayan.
"The panel discussion is an opportunity to provide a forum to
examine fundamental moral issues caught between competing
interests."

The event, taking place at Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus,
Room 718 from 6-8pm, will allow for an intimate discussion with the
panelists on their involvement with genocide prevention efforts. A
sneak preview of the documentary film "The Last Survivor" will also
be shown, which can be viewed at
The documentary, created by filmmakers Michael Pertony & Michael
Kleiman, explores the idea of genocide in the 21st century, focusing
on the connectivity between past and present as well as our

commonalities as human beings. Suggested contribution for those
attending includes two non-perishable food items and used cellular
phones.

Cosponsors of the event include the Armenian National Committee of
South Florida, Miami Dade College, Rabbinical Association of
Greater Miami, Students Taking Action Now Darfur, Urgent Times, and
Urgent Action. For more information email [email protected] or
[email protected].

Genocide Prevention Month was launched earlier this year by the
Genocide Prevention Project, which is working in conjunction with
several organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) to encourage renewed action in April to end the
cycle of genocide. For more information about the project, visit

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
####

UNITED NATIONS SIX-YEAR PROGRAM TO BE LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
20:26 23/03/2009

The Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan received the UNICEF
Representative in Armenia Laylee Moshiri-Gilani, reports the public
relations department of the Government.

The Prime Minister said that cooperation with the children’s fund is
something special during this period of world financial crisis. He
added that the Government of Armenia defined that 2009 more attention
should be paid to the social affairs of the country and children, their
healthcare, education and security are the highlights to this issue.

Ms. Moshiri-Gilani mentioned that the United Nations start a new
six-year long program in 2010 covering mother and child care, healthy
food, children’s education, protecting children from exploitation,
etc. Ms. Moshiri-Gilani said that the fund expects to receive
contribution from the Armenian Government.

CounterPunch, CA

Weekend Edition
July 5 / 6, 2008

An Indicator of National Reconciliation?

On Soccer and Politics in Lebanon

By KARIM MAKDISI

Amidst the torturous negotiations to form a `national’ unity
government in Lebanon’and the rhetoric employed by both March 14 and
opposition members alike about building a strong `nation’ to bind all
of Lebanon’s communities’Lebanon’s national soccer team recently
completed the last of six qualification round matches for the 2010
World Cup. The results have been nothing short of disastrous, with
consecutive `home’ and `away’ defeats to Saudi Arabia (1-4, 1-2),
Uzbekistan (0-1, 0-3), and Singapore (1-2, 0-2), and fourteen goals
conceded in the process. Far from being a trivial sporting matter, the
manner of Lebanon’s defeats illustrates the Lebanese political class’s
chronic lack of imagination and willful neglect of a genuine
nation-building project that could transcend sectarian or clientalist
considerations.

soccer and national projects have always gone hand-in-hand in the
modern period. The fascist Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini famously
used Italy’s triumph in the second world cup of 1934 to bolster his
fascist project in Italy. Iran’s memorable victory over the USA in the
1998 World Cup boosted not only Iranian nationalism but also third
world solidarity; while the shameful German-Austrian collaboration in
the 1982 World Cup (with the full knowledge of the political and
commercial interests) to deny a brilliant Algerian team from
progressing into the latter rounds recalled European colonial bullying
practices. India withdrew from the 1950 World Cup after their national
sensibilities were apparently slighted when their request to play with
bare feet was turned down by FIFA, the world soccer association. South
Korea’s astonishing run to the world cup semi finals it co-hosted in
2002 expressed strong national solidarity, while the 2006 World Cup
showcased an attack-minded German team that clearly raised the
national morale and confidence of its German hosts. Indeed, soccer has
also been used to unite divided communities within a country as was
the case when France’s 1998 World Cup triumph showcased a team
composed mostly of African and Arab origins, or when Spain’s 2008
European Championship triumph brought together Castilians, Catalans
and even Basques under the banner of the Spanish flag.

soccer also tends to express certain collective traits or what might
be called `soccer culture.’ Commentators and fans often conjure up,
albeit in admittedly stereotypical terms, national (or even regional)
characteristics such as Itay’s cautious but effective catenaccio,
Germany’s steely resolve, Holland’s individualism, Spain’s brittle
confidence, England’s work ethic and inflated sense of self-worth,
Brazil’s artistry, South Korea’s collective spirit, Latin players’
flair and fiery temperament, and African players’ power. Like all
clichés, of course, these descriptions in fact describe
particularly famous, or infamous, phases rather than unchangeable
realities. Brazil’s decline on the world stage’measured in terms of
thrillingly uninhibited play, the only currency anyone really cares
about when discussing Brazil’depicts the flaws of such clichés,
as does Spain’s recent victory in the European Championships where the
team’s undoubted talent and spirit helped them beat their poor
confidence demons.

What of Lebanon’s national `soccer culture’ then? soccer is Lebanon’s
national sport, with kids nation-wide utilizing what space is allowed
them within the concrete jungle that is now Lebanon to play, emulate
their heroes, and shout the iconic global soccer anthem: `g*****oaaal!’
Lebanese of all sects, classes and regions follow international soccer
tournaments passionately, and it is common for Lebanese to engage in
ritual bragging on the streets, obnoxiously honking cars, waving
flags, chanting as `their’ team (usually European or Brazil) win an
important match. Yet soccer has never really been allowed to develop
by Lebanon’s authorities that are ever mindful of protecting sectarian
identities and preventing a genuine national spirit from emerging. The
Lebanese soccer association remains highly politicized, and largely
discredited, while the league itself continues to be’inexplicably,
given the huge potential for development’non-professional and marked
by indiscipline and poor fitness. Moreover, star players’most recently
Rida Antar, Lebanon’s most successful export who plays for FC Koln in
Germany’routinely turn their nose up at representing their country
with little or no negative consequences.

It is difficult then to identify Lebanese national soccer
characteristics beyond the traditional regional rivalries that have
been transformed into highly politicized sectarian ones. The teams
that play in Lebanon’s top division are now generally identified by
overtly sectarian (and thus political) affiliation. Thus, al-Ansar is
a `Sunni’ (read: Hariri) team, the new champions al-`Ahd are the
`Shia’a’ (`Hizbullah’) team, Homentmen are an Armenian team, Hikme a
Christian (Lebanese Forces) team, and al-Safa is a Druze (Jumblatt)
team. Some teams, most notably Nijme’a traditional powerhouse and one
of the most popular Lebanese teams’have indeed traditionally drawn
support from across the sectarian spectrum, but they are in real
danger of losing this national support given the highly charged
atmosphere that exists today. It is equally difficult to comprehend
why Lebanese soccer failed to evolve in national terms during the post
civil war period given both the commercial and nationalist appeal of
such a project. Like nearly all other national `civil society’
initiatives that failed during the 1990s, such as the environmental
and human rights movements, soccer’s dangerous potential to unite
people was extinguished by its cooption by the sectarian elite and
indeed the largesse of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri who used
soccer not so much as a national unifier as much as a marketing tool
for his own controversial Reconstruction project.

The events of the past three years have produced two definitive
moments that further illustrate the Lebanese authorities’ attitude and
explain why Lebanon’s soccering future will remain bleak, just like
all national projects in Lebanon, so long as the existing political
class and system remains in place. The first was the Council of
Minister’s decree in 2005 preventing fans from attending club matches,
meaning that such matches were held behind closed doors, a most
demoralizing punishment generally used by soccer associations
worldwide to sanction clubs in extreme cases of crowd trouble. The
explanation for this Council of Ministers’ decision was that this was
a pre-emptive measure to avoid sectarian trouble-making among
Lebanon’s partisan fans. Considering that the overtly sectarian nature
of the political discourse served by the political hacks and
politicians broadcast on television 24 hours a day was never seriously
addressed, this decision reinforced a clear philosophy of Lebanon’s
ruling political class: `only we get to control and distribute
sectarian poison.’ Perish the thought that the `Lebanese street’ might
initiate or take control of its own destiny, or that this `street’
might actually behave in a more dignified manner than its
leaders. Such a scenario’genuine national unity, national
reconciliation outside of official control’is the biggest threat to
the established sectarian order in Lebanon. Even in light of the Doha
Agreement of 21 May, the Council of Minister’s decree remains in
effect and there is no reason to think that it will be rescinded in
the near future.

The second illustrative moment occurred during the recent world cup
qualifying round matches against Saudi Arabia. It is customary
worldwide that group matches include `home’ and `away’ matches for the
teams drawn together. On 2 June, Lebanon played Saudi Arabia `away’ in
Riyadh, performing fairly well until the closing stages when a clear
lack of fitness meant that the close 1-2 score became 1-4. For the
`home’ game scheduled five days later (7 June), Lebanon naturally
should have played in Beirut. However, presumably due to the on-going
political and security problems, Lebanon agreed to play its `home’
again outside of Lebanon. Still, when a `home’ team is compelled to
play abroad (this is normally the world federation’s decision taken in
exceptional circumstances, as usually national federations fight quite
hard to retain their home advantage), it selects a neutral country to
play in, preferably one that would still give it some kind of
advantage in terms of support. So, Lebanon could have played in a
nearby venue with Lebanese expatriates such as Damascus, Amman or even
Cyprus.

As it happens, Lebanon’s `home’ game fixture was scheduled nearly
three weeks following the Doha Agreement and selection of Lebanese
President when there was a positive mood, so Lebanon could easily have
demanded to play its game’a crucial tie by then that would determine
if it had any chance of staying in the tournament’in Beirut. It is
easy to imagine the following scenario: the Doha accords produced a
positive national mood, the tents in downtown Beirut were lifted,
Lebanese flags waved everywhere, nationalist music broadcast, so why
not unite behind a national soccer team as a unifying event? Why not
at least play in Doha? No, the Lebanese authorities sanctioned what
this writer believes to be an unprecedented decision to play its
`home’ game against Saudi Arabia in¦.Saudi Arabia. Much can be
said about the fact that Lebanon’s parliamentary majority leader and
Prime Minister in waiting, Sa’ad Hariri, is a Saudi subject and that
Lebanon’s political class on both sides of the political divide
panders to Saudi’s petrodollars (the opposition did not protest this
unseemly episode). However, the most likely explanation for this
incredible decision’Lebanon was trounced 3-0, and in its final match
against Singapore, only ten players bothered to even show up for the
final practice match’is that Lebanon’s authorities simply do not
care. They are unimaginative, incapable of thinking or planning for a
nation or national projects as their interests do not reside in such
endeavors.

I recently asked a long-term Nijme fan if he was unhappy about the
government’s continued ban on spectators attending matches. He replied
that recent events, which have exacerbated sectarian tensions in
Lebanon, have made this question moot as they had removed the thin
line between soccer and politics, and thus made his support for Nijme
impossible for the time being. The fan is a Shi’ite, but a Hariri
person (a Sunni) owns Nijme, and alas the scars of Lebanon’s on-going
cold civil war are clear. Rather than use Lebanon’s national soccer
team to unite people and aid in the reconciliation of its communities,
Lebanon’s authorities instead continue to neglect such potential while
its ruling class encourages further division amongst the country’s
soccering communities that would preserve their power and their
stranglehold in formulating, and sustaining, Lebanon’s fragile
sectarian identity.

For those who used the recent Doha agreement to manufacture euphoria
in the streets of Beirut and evoke empty promises of yet another `new’
dawn in Lebanon, let them instead lift their ban on soccer fans
watching live matches, de-politicize the soccer association,
professionalize the soccer league, and above all find creative ways to
unite the Lebanese behind a national team they can be proud of. For
the rest of us, we would be wise to keep a close eye on the fate of
Nijme soccer club and the evolution of its support base that may turn
out to be the best indicator of national reconciliation in the
country.

Karim Makdisi is an Assistant Professor of International Relations in
the Dept. of Political Studies and Public Administration at the
American University of Beirut. He can be reached at:
[email protected]

AutoChannel Press Release
March 19 2009

J.C. Agajanian – 2009 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee

TALLADEGA, Ala. March 19, 2009: If it had a motor and it was a sport,
J.C. Agajanian was interested in it. From the 1930s through the 1960s,
Agajanian was involved in numerous forms of motorsports, both as an
owner and a promoter, though he is most closely associated with Indy
Car racing.

Agajanian (pronounced Ag-uh-jane-ian) was a California native and
founding member of the United States Auto Club who owned two cars that
won the Indianapolis 500. But he also promoted motorcycle and boat
racing, and he was one of the first west coast organizers to embrace
stock car racing.

`He had a very broad interest,’ said Agajanian’s son, Cary. `He loved
anything with speed, and he loved the promotion business and the
ownership business of racing cars. He just loved every aspect of the
motor racing business, no matter what it was.’

In honor of his dedication to all forms of motorsports, Agajanian has
been named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction
class of 2009. Joining Agajanian in this year’s class are NASCAR Cup
driver Donnie Allison, seven-time NASCAR Modifieds champion Jerry
Cook, longtime NASCAR team owner Bud Moore and NASCAR pioneer and car
owner Raymond Parks.

The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, April 23 at the SPEED
Channel Dome adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway.

`I’ve been aware of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame for a
long, long time and have been through it before. I was always hopeful
that they would recognize my dad,’ Cary Agajanian said. `So this is a
great honor. When you look at the inductees over the years, you know
it’s a very prestigious and honored roll call. So our family has great
pride in them taking my dad in. It’s a great thing.’

The son of Armenian immigrants, Agajanian was born in 1913 in San
Pedro, Calif. His birth name was Joshua James, but an aunt who did not
speak much English kept calling him Jessie instead. Jessie eventually
evolved into J.C., and the nickname stuck.

Agajanian initially wanted to be a race car driver, but his father
disapproved because of the dangers involved in the sport. So Agajanian
became a race car owner and promoter. While still in his 20s he was
named president of the Western Racing Association.

After World War II, Agajanian became heavily involved in Indy Car
racing and made the trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy
500 every year from 1948 through 1971. During that time, his cars won
three pole positions, set four tracks records and picked up two
victories, in 1952 with Troy Ruttman as the driver and in 1963 with
Parnelli Jones behind the wheel.

`That was without any doubt the pinnacle of his career. It was the
ultimate,’ Cary Agajanian said. `He looked at it as his greatest
accomplishment. It was really a great, great thrill in 1963, to do it
a second time. He had other great finishes through the 60s and into
the 70s, but ’63 was the height of it.’

J.C. Agajanian’s father, who had prevented his son from pursing a
career as a driver, was a strong supporter of Agajanian’s other racing
interests.

`Once he knew my dad wasn’t going to drive a car and be at risk, he
was very supportive of it,’ Cary Agajanian said. `He really encouraged
and helped my dad in the racing business. He took the train from
L.A. to Indy every year and walked around like the proud owner.’

Agajanian also tinkered with the mechanical side of the sport. With
the help of his crew members, he came up with several technological
and safety innovations, including the creation of the air jack.

Agajanian died in 1984 at the age of 70. Since his death he has been
inducted into a number of hall of fames, including the National Sprint
Car Hall of Fame, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the National
Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

About the International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum

Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of
motorsports. Each year, the annual International Motorsports Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony is held on the grounds of the museum to honor
those men and women chosen for induction from among the greatest names
in all of motorsports.

Armenian prime minister: Artsakh Hydropower Plant OJSC’s entry into IPO
market to give a fresh impetus to stimulation of Armenia’s economic
development

2009-03-20 22:29:00

ArmInfo. Artsakh Hydropower Plant OJSC’s entry into IPO market will
give a fresh impetus to stimulation of Armenia’s economic development,
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said during the presentation of
public offering of Artsakh HPP, Friday. The Armenian governmental
press- service quotes T.Sargsyan as saying: "The start given today to
investors to purchase the HPP’s shares may give serious signals to
investors and the society, as well as mark the beginning of activation
in the financial market. I want to emphasize with content that the
given initiative belongs to Nagorno-Karabakh, I am sure that it will
serve its goals. The given project has a number of advantages and is
attractive for investors. In any crisis situation the most reliable
investments are those made in infrastructures", – he said.

Artsakh HPP was founded on 1 November 2007. The NKR Government is the
owner of 100%-shares of the company. The latter generates electric
power by means of Sarsang HPP.

EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE TO SAVE THEM

Lragir.am
13:24:09 – 20/03/2009

The Armenian ministry of Defence issued a statement saying "The
Armenian soldiers undergo psychical, moral repression and physical
violations by the Azerbaijani special services, in which result they
are constrained to make false statements.

This kind of approach of the Azerbaijani official structures towards
the military captives as well as prohibition to have any contact with
their parents and relatives is a rough breach of the international
rights, namely the 3rd and 4th Conventions of Geneva. Meanwhile,
the Armenian side has always procured the possibility for the
Azerbaijani military captives to contact their relatives, to have
medical assistance, etc. Unlike this fact, the Azerbaijani side
has not given any information through the Red Cross International
Committee about the Armenian military captive Paruyr Simonyan up to
date. Moreover, P. Simonyan has been deprived of his rights, which
is a rough breach of above mentioned conventions.

The Azerbaijani military captives, whom Armenia, according to the
international norms, returned to Azerbaijan, according to our reliable
information, are subject to torture: as a rule they are being exposed
to criminal persecution and as a result they are sentenced to long
years of imprisonment.

The Armenian ministry of Defence states again its devotion to
the international norms and brings the circumstance of using the
military captives as inner propaganda subjects the attention to the
international public and structures especially the UN and the Red
Cross, demanding to put an end on this inhumane State activities.

They also remind that all the soldiers of Armenia, including the
military captives, are under the protection of the Armenian ministry
of defence and everything possible will be done for their freedom.

The Armenian ministry turns to the sons of the Armenian Nation who
become captives by Azerbaijani special services, saying:

"Soldiers, we fully comprehend the inhumane situation you are in now,
in Azerbaijan. We are well aware of the cruel steps of the Azerbaijani
special services.

You committed breaches of the disciplinary norms of the military
service and as a result you turn out to be in the enemy’s hands. But
you are your fatherland’s sons and bearing worthy responsibility for
your mistake is a peculiarity of an Armenian man and a soldier. Play
any possible trick with the enemy to save you life and find your
way Home.

Remember, that your motherland like your parents is always waiting
for you to return.

This is the call of your Homeland," is said in the statement.

ALMOST BLACK WEDNESDAY

168 Zham
March 19, 2009
Armenia

In about three hours the median rate will be publicized and I am sure
that [the Armenian national currency] dram will appreciate, Central
Bank of Armenia [CBA] president Artur Javadyan told us yesterday
afternoon [18 March]. There was some appreciation of US dollar at
the stock exchange yesterday. The rate was 373.44 against the rate
of 375.22 registered on the previous day (the dollar deals stood at
3.4m dollars at the exchange yesterday).

But yesterday, the dollar was more expensive in the currency market
when compared with the previous day. Even the CBA rate rose from
372.11 to 374.66 yesterday. The "official" exchange rate of the US
dollar did not correspondent to the real picture in the market. The
situation in the market was almost the same as it was on 2 March, on
the eve of the "black Tuesday". The banks and the currency exchange
offices were not selling dollar, or were selling in small quantities
at the rate of 377-380 drams per US dollar.

According to the rumours circulating in the financial and banking
circles, dollar is expected to rise sharply today. So, it is quite
possible that the CBA may shift to a policy of "plunging" exchange
rate.

icial_Says_Azerbaijan_Could_Be_Suspended_Over_Amen dments/1513237.html

Council of Europe Official Says Azerbaijan Could Be Suspended Over Amendments

Azerbaijani officials say 90 percent of voters approved the
constitutional amendments.

March 19, 2009

By Ron Synovitz

The president of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities says amendments to Azerbaijan’s constitution,
which were passed in a public referendum on March 18, violate
commitments on democracy made by Baku in 2002.

Ian Micallef told RFE/RL that one of the main concerns is a
controversial amendment that scraps term limits for the president —
essentially allowing President Ilham Aliyev to continue running for
reelection for the rest of his life.

Micallef said implementation of such an amendment would cause Baku’s
delegation to be suspended from the congress and could eventually cost
the Azerbaijan its membership in the Council of Europe, the
continent’s leading human rights body.

"We are speaking here on democracy and the rule of law. We believe
that if there is no limit [on presidential terms], the fact is that a
president can turn into a dictator," Micallef said.
We are speaking here on democracy and the rule of law. We believe that
if there is no limit [on presidential terms], the fact is that a
president can turn into a dictator.

"We believe that a country, a state, should be working on very sound
principles of democracy which were obviously part of the commitments
which Azerbaijan gave to the Council of Europe upon its accession to
the Council of Europe," he added. "Then we are there obviously to
defend that right — to defend such values."

Micallef said moves by the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities could come as soon as its next meeting, which is
in early April. He says a decision to suspend Baku’s delegates from
the congress also would be considered as a recommendation for
Azerbaijan to be suspected from the Council of Europe.

In Baku, the head of Azerbaijan’s delegation to the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) responded to Micallef’s
remarks by saying that Micallef was misinformed about the situation in
Azerbaijan.

‘Freedom Of Choice’

Samed Seyidov, who also is a member of Aliyev’s ruling Yeni Azerbaycan
Party, said that visiting members of the PACE had assured him that the
referendum was conducted in a democratic way.

"The result of the referendum gives us an opportunity to take steps in
future, steps which will be acceptable not only for Azerbaijan…but
for future relations with our European partners and, first of all, the
Council of Europe," Seyidov said. "In some cases, as I know, the
absence of information about the referendum and absence of objective
analysis — and some information that is coming from not-so-reliable
and not-so understandable sources in Azerbaijan — have created some
misunderstandings. Even inside the Council of Europe and even between
the international organizations."

Preliminary official results from the referendum show voters
overwhelmingly supporting the constitutional amendments.

The Central Election Committee in Baku has said turnout on March 18
was more than 70 percent of the country’s 4.8 million eligible voters.
It also says more than 90 percent of those who cast a ballot voted in
favor of the constitutional amendments.

Aliyev supporters say they should have the right to elect him as
president indefinitely.

Aliyev’s supporters have argued that the removal of an existing
two-term limit for the presidency would strengthen the freedom of
voters to choose their leader.

"Democratic conditions have not been violated. We have the right to
choose who we like as our president," electoral official Nariman
Mavsumov said. "But why should we deprive the president of the right
to more than two terms?"

But the European Commission for Democracy Through Law, also known as
the Venice Commission, says arguments like Mavsumov’s only sound
attractive in theory.

The Venice Commission says explicit term limits are needed in any
democracy to prevent a president from becoming an authoritarian
leader. It says that is because an incumbent president can easily use
various referendums and elections to strengthen his or her position
and secure reelection.

The commission says that constitutional limitations on successive
terms are meant "to limit the risk of negative consequences for
democracy" that arise when the same person has the possibility of
occupying the presidency for an excessive period of time.

Opposition Cries Foul

Opposition groups in Azerbaijan — which had called for the vote to be
boycotted — are alleging that the referendum results are tainted by
massive fraud.

Liberal Party leader Lala Shovket said monitoring by opposition groups
shows that turnout was 14 to 15 percent — below the 25 percent
threshold needed to make the vote valid and far from the official 70
percent turnout released by election officials. Shovket suggested the
low turnout was an indication the constitutional amendments did not
enjoy the popular support the regime says they did.

Other opposition leaders allege irregularities such as ballot-box
stuffing and multiple voting as well as harassment of opposition
campaigners and the use of government control over the media to
dominate debate in the weeks before the vote.

Isa Qambar, leader of the opposition Musavat Party and Republican
Movement, claimed that the turnout and referendum results were
falsified in order to keep members of Aliyev’s family in power.

"First of all, people said no to Aliyev’s regime. This is the
undisputable and important reality of the referendum," Qambar told
RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service.

"The second point is that the referendum was designed to prolong the
Aliyev family’s hold on power — but will eventually shorten it. We
are representatives of a civic movement that will continue to struggle
in this direction," he added. "I am sure that this fight will end with
the victory of Azerbaijani people."

The opposition civil movement For Karabakh and Republic said on March
19 that it plans to take legal action to cancel the results.

Separation Of Powers

The Venice Commission had warned before the March 18 vote about why
scrapping presidential term limits is a cause for concern. It said a
key principle of the rule of law is the separation of powers between
different branches of the government. It says that in countries with a
presidential system, power tends to be concentrated on the executive
while the powers of the legislature or the judiciary are relatively
weaker.

It says that a regular change of regime through the process of
elections is "the very method to prevent too strong a concentration of
powers in the hands of the president." The Venice Commission also has
noted that comparative studies show the constitutions of most
countries with an elected president impose limits of either one or two
terms.

Until the March 18 referendum, Belarus was the only European
presidential republic that did not limit the number of consecutive
terms for a president. Presidential term limits in Belarus were
removed after a referendum in 2004 — a move that also was criticized
by the Venice Commission for distorting the balance of power in
Belarus.

In the case of Kyrgyzstan, the Venice Commission has pointed out that
in a system where the powers of the president are almost unrestricted,
a constitutional limitation on the number of times a president can be
reelected "may be the only effective check on presidential powers."

Khadija Ismayilova of RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service contributed to this
report from Baku