Author: Tvankchian Parkev

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS SHOW THEIR BACKING FOR SIT-IN DEMONSTRATORS

Haykakan Zhamanak
July 29 2008
Armenia

"They visited North Avenue"

Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and the leader of the
People’s Party of Armenia, Stepan Demirchyan, paid a surprise visit
late on 28 July to the participants of the sit-in demonstration on
North Avenue, which is in its 24th day.

Needless to say that the demonstrators were very excited about this
visit. The leaders of the Popular Movement spoke with people, asked
them how they were doing. Although Ter-Petrosyan and Demirchyan
spent only 15 minutes there, everybody noticed that they were in
high spirits. The participants of the sit-in demonstration attribute
the visit and the leaders’ good mood to the rally scheduled for
1 August, or rather to the processes that unfolded in the period
between the rally held on 4 July and the one set for 1 August, to
be more specific. In particular, it is becoming obvious that the
ground is slipping under [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan’s feet:
neither Armenian citizens here in Armenia, nor the international
community support him. Ter-Petrosyan promised to pay another visit
to North Avenue.

PACE PRESIDENT: PROMISES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY CONCRETE MEASURES

A1+
29 July, 2008

The release of people detained following the events of 1 and 2 March
is important to start the badly needed process of reconciliation in
Armenian society. "It should be clear that the detention of people
in relation to those events, other than those who committed grave
violent crimes, is unacceptable to the Assembly. I therefore urge
the authorities to use every means available to them to release
these people as soon as possible. Only in this way can the process
of reconciliation and dialogue be assured." said Mr de Puig. The
President of PACE also expressed his concern about the continued
pre-trial detention of a number of opposition leaders, contrary
to the request of the Assembly. "This is an issue that should be
urgently resolved in the coming weeks" he declared. In relation to
the independent inquiry, it is clear that without the participation of
the opposition that supports Mr. Ter-Petrossian in the Commission set
up by the National Assembly, its work and findings will not meet the
standards of impartiality and credibility demanded by the Assembly. The
President of the Assembly therefore fully supported the proposals of
Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammerberg to constitute a separate
commission, based on parity and consensus and with the involvement of
international experts, to establish the facts with regard to the events
of 1 and 2 March. The President of PACE noted with satisfaction that
these proposals are in principle acceptable to both authorities and
opposition. The PACE President stressed that the Armenian authorities
should not wait until January to achieve tangible results on these
two issues. It is important that the authorities send a clear signal
to the Assembly of marked and irreversible progress before the next
meeting of the Monitoring Committee in September; otherwise there
is a serious risk of repercussions during the autumn session of
the Assembly. Mr de Puig made an official visit to Armenia from 23
to 24 July to deepen co-operation between Armenia and the Assembly
and to encourage the implementation of Assembly Resolutions 1609 and
1620. During his visit he met with the President of the Republic, the
Speaker of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs, as well as members of different political factions
in the Parliament. In addition, Mr. de Puig met the Human Rights
Defender, the Catholicos of All Armenians and former RA President Levon
Ter-Petrossian. Besides the implementation of Assembly Resolutions
1609 and 1620, the President of the Assembly also discussed the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and relations between Armenia and Turkey. The
President stressed that the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh can only be
resolved through peaceful means and that any attempts to resolve the
conflict by military means would be unacceptable to the Assembly. The
President, therefore, expressed his full support for the efforts
of the Minsk Group to resolve the conflict based on the principles
of territorial integrity and self-determination in accordance with
international norms and principles. "The Assembly stands ready
to assist the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Armenia to help find a
lasting solution to this conflict, if they so wish." declared Mr de
Puig. The President listened with great interest about the initiatives
taken by the President of Armenia to normalise relations with Turkey,
and offered the full support and assistance of the Assembly to improve
the relations between these two member states of the Council of Europe.

ANC PAC
104 N. Belmont St.
Suite 200B
Glendale, CA 91206
Press Release
ANC-PAC Endorses Little Armenia’s
Congresswoman – Diane Watson
July 28, 2008

Los Angeles, CA – The nation’s largest and most active Armenian American
political action committee, the Armenian National Committee – Political
Action Committee (ANC-PAC) has endorsed Congresswoman Diane Watson. Watson
represents California’s 33rd Congressional District, which includes the area
known as Little Armenia in Hollywood. The Congresswoman, who serves as a
senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been a staunch
supporter of Armenian American issues since her election to the U.S. House of
Representatives in 2001.

"Diane Watson is the best friend the Armenian American community in Little
Armenia could wish for," commented longtime Hollywood activist and ANC-PAC
supporter Garo Ispendjian. "We are pleased to endorse her re-election and are
honored that she is a firm ally for her constituents of Armenian descent.
Whether you call her office for a matter dealing with Social Security or on a
human rights subject, Diane and her staff are always thoughtful and always
effective in addressing your concerns", Ispendjian added.

Congresswoman Watson’s record of support on Armenian issues spans a vast
range of issues; from securing self-determination for the people of
Nagorno-Karabagh, ensuring that Armenian Americans are properly counted in
the upcoming 2010 U.S. Census, to properly recognizing and seeking justice on
the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier this month, Watson used her position as a member of the House
Government Reform and Oversight Committee to encourage the federal government
to make a robust effort to count all Armenian Americans during the upcoming
2010 U.S. Census. A comprehensive count of Armenian Americans is important
because it impacts the services and amount of resources the federal
government will provide to our community.

Recently, Watson pressed Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs, on the Bush Administration’s denial of the
Armenian Genocide. The confrontation with Fried occurred at a June 18, 2008
hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, entitled "The Caucasus:
Frozen Conflicts and Closed Borders." In speaking with Fried, Watson
remarked, "Let me get you on the record: this administration does not think
that what happened in 1915 was genocide? Yes or no? Yes or no?" Fried
awkwardly replied, "We have never denied…." until the Congresswoman cut him
off: "Can you give me a yes or no?" she asked again. Fried hesitated and then
replied: "Ma’am, I am trying to."

The Watson-Fried exchange may be viewed at

In addition to consistently scoring grades of "A" in the annual ANCA
Congressional Report Card, Watson has also garnered a grade of "A+" for her
outstanding effort to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur. The ANC-PAC is
proud that Congresswoman Watson has visited Darfur and supported all
legislative efforts to place pressure on the regime in Khartoum, Sudan to
stop the killing.

In 1975, Diane Watson became the first African American woman to be
elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education. In
1978, she was elected to the California State Senate, where should would
serve for well over a decade. Following a brief stint as U.S. Ambassador to
the Federated States of Micronesia, she was elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives in a special election held on June 5, 2001.

The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action
committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress
who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at
the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American
community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a
century old tradition of Armenian American engagement on the public policy
issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the
White House. For more information, you may logon to

MACROECONOMIC STABILITY ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITY TASK

ARKA
July 28
TSAKHKADZOR

Ensuring macroeconomic stability and maintaining high-rate economic
growth is one of the priority tasks of the RA Government, RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated at a business forum "Armenia’s global
competitiveness: national projects" held in Tsakhkadzor last Saturday.

"Quite high rates of economic growth have been recorded in Armenia over
the last ten years. Our major achievement is macroeconomic stability,
which is due to the control over on-budget expenditures and budget
deficit, and low inflation rates," T. Sargsyan said.

The RA Premier said that it is macroeconomic stability that creates
the most favorable conditions, and the Government’s task is to maintain
long-term stability.

"Of course, it is a necessary, but insufficient, condition,
because in achieving macroeconomic stability we failed to achieve
social integration, solidarity and social responsibility. So the
accomplishment of the tasks is the second issue on the agenda,"
T. Sargsyan said.

He pointed out that the social integration problem has hardly been
considered over the last 15 years. The authorities believed that an
emphasis on economic growth would subsequently resolve all the other
problems, which proved to be false.

"The economic growth rates could be lower, but social responsibility
and integration lay the foundations for long-term development and
more favorable conditions for people. So social integration is of
primary importance for Armenia, and we will direct our efforts to
accomplish these tasks," the RA Premier said.

Armenia recorded 5.9% economic growth in 2000, 9.6% in 2001, 13.2%
in 2002, 14% in 2003, 10.5% in 2004, 14% in 2005, 13.4% in 2004 and
13.7% in 2007.

10% economic growth is budgeted in Armenia for this year.

The per capita GDP reached $2,844 last year against $593 in 2000. The
per capita GDP was $659.3 in 2001, $739.9 in 2002, $874.1in 2003,
$1,112.8 in 2004, $1,523.7 in 2005 and $1,989 in 2006–0–

A1+

JHANGIRIAN ATTENDS COURT SITTING
[02:15 pm] 25 July, 2008

On July 25 Armenia’s Administrative Court hears the case of ex Deputy
Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangirian. He demands to revoke Decrees N
NH-28-A ¨ N NH -29-A signed by the RoA President on February
23, 2008. Under the disputed decrees Jhangirian was relieved of the
post and reduced to the rank.

The court sitting is presided over by Justice Artsrun Mirzoyan. Just
at the beginning of the sitting Artsrun Mirzoyan banned shooting and
A1+’s cameraman was invited out. The decision made Jhangirian believe
that the sitting would be held in the same distorted way and the court
will bring in an adverse verdict.

The claimant’s petitions were rejected one after another. The
respondent side, the Head of the President’s Personnel Hovik
Abrahamian, had sent a written-letter to Artsrun Mirzoyan and the
claimant earlier and didn’t attend the court sitting.

Gagik Jhangirian petitioned to involve and question Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian as a witness but the petition was
rejected. Presently, the claimant’s advocates are going to demand the
judge’s resignation.

Meantime, people grouped in the corridor demand an urgent release of
Gagik Jhangirian.

AMENDMENTS TO RA CONSTITUTION OF 2005 WHICH ASSURE LACK OF JURISDICTION OF EX- PRESIDENT FORCE OPPOSITION TO SEARCH FOR JUSTICE IN HAGUE

ArmInfo
2008-07-24 17:48:00

Amendments to RA Constitution of 2005, which assure lack of
jurisdiction of ex-President Robert Kocharyan, force the opposition
to search for justice in Hague, Chairman of the Union of political
scientists of Armenia Hamayak Hovhannisyan told journalists. ‘It is not
a secret that adoption of amendments, advocated by Robert Kocharyan,
in particular, Article 56.1, exempts ex-president from liability for
his deeds in a period of his presidency’, he said.

H. Hovhannisyan thinks that it would be more correct ‘not to wash dirty
linen in public’ and start judicial proceedings against R. Kocharyan
just in Armenia, however, the afore- mentioned amendment deprives
the opposition of this opportunity.

‘By adoption of amendments , we doomed ourselves to use of services
of Hague tribunal. Some Pharisees say that Azerbaijan tries to use
it for its purposes, however, the opposition has no alternative in
this situation’, H.

EUROPEAN OFFICIAL CONDEMNS ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES FOR JAILING PEOPLE WITHOUT TRIAL

ArmInfo News Agency in Russian
July 23 2008
Armenia

The Council of Europe cannot allow a country that is a member of
the organization to hold people in jail for a long time without
being convicted, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe [PACE], Lluis Maria de Puig, has said at a meeting
with Armenian MPs.

The PACE president pointed out that if someone committed violence,
he or she is already a criminal and must be convicted, the press
service of the Armenian parliament has told Arminfo. "Holding people
in prison only on the basis of suspicions raises questions about
trust in the government," the assembly head concluded.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 22, 2008
Armenia

14th General Assembly of ARDF Armenian organization took place in
Vanadsor on July 18-20.

The Assembly discussed the activity of the graduated General Body,
confirmed the forthcoming programs to be implemented in political,
advocacy and organizational spheres.

Touching upon the political issues the Assembly justified the decision
on joining the newly formed coalition.

Meanwhile it recorded that this participation is conditioned by
political reforms in the country, the future development of democracy,
anti-corruption struggle, annihilation of economic monopoly, as well
as concrete results expected in the settlement of social democratic
issues.

Discussing the activity of NA Temporary Committee investigating
March 1-2 developments the General Assembly underscored that the
committee must completely reveal those tragic events and try to meet
the expectations of the society.

Touching upon the foreign political problems it was over again
enshrined that Turkey’s pre-conditions for the establishment of
Armenian-Turkish relations are really unacceptable and that the fact of
the Genocide shouldn’t become a matter of discussions and bargaining.

In the framework of the organizational agenda the Assembly declared
the coming years as a period of the consolidation of the organization
and involvement of new forces.

At the end of the Assembly the new General Body has been elected by
the following staff.

Armen Rustamyan, Artyush Shahbazyan, Gagik Gevorgyan, Tatul
Harutyunyan, Igor Sargsyan, Hayrapet Babayan, Hrach Tadevosyan,
Hrayr Karapetyan, Michael Manukyan, Mushegh Manasyan, Romik Manukyan,
Ruben Margaryan, Simon Simonyan, Vartges Atoyan, Vlad Kochunts.

During its first session the newly elected General Body elected Armen
Rustamyan as the representative of the General Body.

JEWISH POLITICIANS NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE "GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS"

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
July 21, 2008 Monday

The Jewish politicians are not going to recognize the genocide
of Armenians. In their opinion, it was Armenians, who in the
beginning of XX century slew the Turks. Chairman of Israel-Azerbaijan
inter-parliamentary group of friendship, member of the Knesset Joseph
Shagal considers that concerning recognition of the Armenian genocide
the Jewish Parliament will make objective decision.

Having emphasized, that Israel and Azerbaijan are connected with
unbreakable ties, J. Shagal has noted, that on volume of oil purchased
from Azerbaijan, Israel holds the second place among the world states.

Official Tel Aviv supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Tens
mutual official visits are annually carried out. Armenia, on the
contrary, does not represent any strategic value for the State of
Israel. Diplomatic and economic relations have formal character. Though
the group of Armenians also lives in Jerusalem, this community does not
show any activity in the country, but there are infringements of laws
of the country, cases of evasion from military service and payment of
taxes. For this reason, Israel will never recognize, contrary to its
interests, the notorious statements of Armenians, J. Shagal underlined.

In turn, the leader of community of the Mountainous Jews of Azerbaijan
Semyon Ikhiilov has assured, that the Knesset would never recognize
genocide of Armenians because in the Israeli Parliament there is a
powerful group of support for Azerbaijan led by our fellow countryman
Joseph Shagal. According to Ikhiilov, from hands of Armenians in
the beginning of XX century were killed more Turks, rather than
Armenians. The Mountainous community of Azerbaijan has already begun
work with purpose to prevent recognition in Knesset the so-called
genocide of Armenians.

Mr. Ikhiilov said: The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the
great leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev always concerned to
Jewish people with respect. Therefore, owing to such policy with full
confidence it is possible to tell, that there is no anti-Semitism
in Azerbaijan.

AMERIABANK LAUNCHES NEW DEPOSIT PROGRAM

ArmInfo
2008-07-18 17:41:00

Ameriabank has launches a new deposit programs this month, Ameriabank
press-service reports.

Under the program the bank has introduced the following deposits:
‘Standard’, ‘Capital’, ‘To Relatives’, ‘Moneybox’, ‘Practical’ and
‘Convertible’. In particular, deposit ‘Standard’ maturity is at
least 30 days. The minimum amount of deposit is 75,000 AMD. Deposit
‘Capital’ allows replenishing the deposit, and the interests are
calculated on the actual balance. The minimum amount of deposit is
60,000 drams. Deposit ‘To Relatives’ is registered on a third party
that can enjoy all the rights of depositor. The minimum amount of
deposit is 100,000 drams. Deposit ‘Moneybox’ is registered on the name
of a child. The depositor can fill the amount both in conformity with
the coordinated amount and term and any time and any amount convenient
to him.

The minimum amount of deposit is 30,000 drams. Deposit ‘Practical’
with the minimum amount of 300,000 drams allows flexible management of
funds. In particular, one can fill or reduce the amount of deposit by
30% without losing the accumulated interests. Deposit ‘Convertible’
allows changing the currency of deposit during the whole time of
the Deposit receiving the interests accumulated earlier. The minimum
amount of deposit is 300,000 drams.

The bank reports that the new deposits of Ameriabank have a series
of privileges: gifts – MasterCard Standard, MasterCard Gold plastic
cards, free annual service. At least 0.5% additional interest rate
if the deposit exceeds 30 million drams or equivalent in foreign
currency. Ameriabank data say the bank’s time deposits for first half
of 2008 were up 2.6 times to 8.9 billion drams. The capital base of
the bank is 26 million US dollars.