Author: Vardanian Garo

ORINATS YERKIR HOLDS CONSULTATIONS WITH PUBLIC-POLITICAL FORCES OF ARMENIA ON THREE MAIN PROBLEMS

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law)
party continues to hold political consultations with public-political
forces, acting in Armenia, on three main problems: fullfiling
the obligations of the country before the Council of Europe and
concerning the democratic reforms; elections of local authorities;
urgent foreign political issues of Armenia. Consultatiosn with ARF
Union, People’s Party of Armenia, “People’s Deputy” faction of the
National Assembly, National Democratic Union, Democratic Liberal Union
of Armenia, “Hzor Hayrenik” (Powerful Fatherland) party, Ramkavar
Azatakan (Liberal Democratic) Party of Armenia, “Nor Zhamanakner”
(New Times) party, People’s Party, “Hanrapetutiun” (Republic) party,
Constitutional Right Union party, Liberal Progressive Party and Human
Rights and Democracy party already took place. As Noyan Tapan was
informed from the Press Service of “Orinats Yerkir” party, urgent
issues both on deeping of democratic reforms and on holding, based on
democratic principles, free and justice elections of local authorities
were of general approve during the meetings. The party expresses its
readiness to continue political consultations with those political
parties and public organizations which will express readiness to meet
with representatives of “Orinats Yerkir” around the above-mentioned
themes and organize discussions. The party will represent brief report
on the meetings after the consultations are over.

Najarian steamrolls his way to victory
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader

Plenty of support, strong credentials help attorney best three
incumbents in council race

Glendale News-Press
April 7, 2005

GLENDALE — This time, Ara Najarian had some breathing room.

An attorney and trustee for Glendale Community College, Najarian
dominated the Glendale City Council elections on Tuesday, receiving
9,054 votes — 1,244 more than anyone else. He was the only candidate
in a field of 19 to get more than 10% of the vote, and he beat three
incumbents.

Najarian’s success is a far cry from his run for the college district
board in 2003, when outstanding provisional and absentee votes
propelled him from third place to second.

Najarian said he learned the secret for success during that 2003 race.

“The importance of reaching out to the different communities was
really something that I became acutely aware of,” he said. “You’ve
got to reach out across the entire swath of Glendale — rich, poor,
apartment owners, homeowners, young, old, Armenian, non-Armenian,
Korean, Latino — to be a successful candidate.”

Najarian’s ability to reach out to the community may have helped
him gain widespread support, but his formula for success was more
expansive.

His experience as a college trustee and a former city transportation
and parking commissioner gave him strong credentials on two major
issues — transportation and education.

“He’s not an unknown commodity,” Councilman Rafi Manoukian said.

Najarian stayed above the fray in much of the mud-slinging and
accusations of dirty politics, preferring to run a clean and positive
campaign. Challenger John Drayman described Najarian’s campaign as
smart, honest and decent.

He supports the Americana at Brand, but unlike the three incumbents,
he was not a central player in the Americana debate.

By staying out of that debate in 2004, he avoided alienating large
segments of the community.

“He was not the one who cast the vote one way or another,” said Mayor
Bob Yousefian, who finished second behind Najarian. “The ones who
cast the votes were the ones who were attacked.”

Glendale’s Armenian-American community gave Najarian strong support,
including an endorsement from the Armenian National Committee.

Over the last six years, since Manoukian first galvanized the city’s
Armenian-American electorate, that segment of voters has become a
political force.

For the first time, Armenian Americans have a majority on the council.

“To Armenians, it’s a big deal,” Yousefian said. “This is the first
time it’s happened. [Armenian Americans] are getting the perception
that it’s OK to be involved, it’s OK to go out and vote, and it’s OK
to run for office.

“It also sends a different message — these are three Armenian
candidates who had a following that was more than just Armenians. The
bottom line comes to, who is a good candidate? As far as I’m concerned
and Ara’s concerned and Rafi’s concerned, the number one issue to us
is what is in the best interest of the city.”

JOSH KLEINBAUM covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235
or by e-mail at [email protected].

PRESS RELEASE

The Armenian Studies Program
Phone: +972-2-588-3651
Fax: +972-2-588-3658
E-mail: r [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Michael E. Stone

April 2005

BREAKING THE SILENCE

HEBREW U. COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WITH SPECIAL EVENT

JERUSALEM — The Hebrew University of Jerusalem will host on May 2 an
emotional evening of reflection and introspection in commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide. Ninety years after the massacre of about
1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks, the event will feature
an insightful lecture by Professor Israel Charney, Executive Director
of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, and His
Beatitude Patriarch Torkom Manoogian will be joining the ceremony.

His Excellency Mr. Tsolag Momjian, Honorary Consul of the Republic
of Armenia, and Professor Michael E. Stone, Professor of the Armenian
Studies at HU, will also offer inspiring speeches. Reception at Beit
Belgia on the Hebrew University Givat Ram campus begins at 6:30pm
and the event commences at 7:00.

Charney will speak out against the denial of genocides, with a focus
on much of the world’s refusal to recognize the Armenian massacre.
He will praise those who have recently been willing to devote some of
their energies to caring about the murder of other peoples alongside
their major focus on their own situations.

“We have an absolute moral responsibility to recognize the Armenian
Genocide,” said Charney. “Respecting and honoring the memory and
history of each and every genocide is the first essential step towards
creating new means of preventing genocide to all people in the future.”

With only around 100,000 survivors of the Armenian Genocide alive
today, Mr. Momjian, the Honorary Consul of Armenia, expressed hopes
that such an evening would “open the minds of young people” to the
concept of the Armenian Genocide.

“For 90 years the Armenians have been living with the tragic memory
of the family they lost,” he said. “To deny the genocide is to deny
a very important part of Armenian culture, history and life.”

AZG Armenian Daily #060, 06/04/2005

Home

TREE-PLANTING IN THE CENTER OF YEREVAN

Soon Flowers Will Decorate Capital

320 trees, mainly breadfruit trees and maples, have been already
planted in Abovian, Koryun, Terian, Moskovian and other streets of
Yerevan Kentron borogh. On April 16, “Kentron Greenery Planting” CJSC
will plant other 1000-1200 trees and 12-13 thousand bushes. Samvel
Aghajanian, head of “Kentron Greenery Planting” company, said that
Yerevan Municipality promised to provide the communities of the
city with trees, so that the residents can plant trees in their own
yards, too.

The employees of “Kentron Greenery Planting” will soon begin
planting flowers in the neighboring streets of the Theatre Square,
while in several parts of Mashtots avenue the former lawns will be
restored. Samvel Aghajanian assured that the lawn of the Republic
Square will be bigger and more beautiful this year, decorated with
new sorts of flowers.

Abovian Boulevard also will be rich in flowers except for the park
as there are problems with the water supply system. Besides, the
half-built construction in the park hasn~Rt been ruined yet and now it
has turned into a garbage heap. There used to be a lawn with flowers
in the past. They hope that this year this problem will be solved.

“Will Yerevan ever become a city of roses?” we asked Aghajanian. He
said that “If the water supply system functions properly, we can
do everything.” The reconstruction works of the water supply system
have already began.

By Ruzan Poghosian

LITHUANIAN NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA APRIL 5

04.04.2005 04:09

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Lithuanian delegation headed by National Defense
Minister Gediminas Kirkilas will pay a formal visit to Armenia April
5-7, Armenian Defense Ministry’s press service reported. The visit
will be held on the invitation of National Security Council Secretary,
Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian. The Lithuanian Minister
is scheduled to meet with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II,
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vardan Oskanian and Defense Minister Serge Sargsian On April 5
Gediminas Kirkilas will visit the Military Institute after Vazgen
Sargsian and meet with the teaching staff. April 3 the delegation
members are expected to attend Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath to
the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims. Visits to Matenadaran,
the depository of ancient manuscripts, and the National Gallery are
as well scheduled. The delegation is to depart from Yerevan on April 7.

PanArmenian News
March 30 2005

PHILIP KIRKOROV HOPES GREEK REPERTOIRE WILL HELP ARMENIANS TO FORGET
HIS `PRO-TURKISH’ PAST

30.03.2005 05:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Philip Kirkorov is not going to refuse from
concerts in Yerevan despite the fact that the Armenian young people
urge the arrangers to cancel the event, Komsomolskaya Pravda Russian
newspaper reports. When commenting on his `pro-Turkish’ repertoire
the singer noted, `The host country confuses the Greek songs I am
performing now with Turkish ones. It their problem but not the
problem of the whole Armenian nation’.

The Messenger

Monday, March 28, 2005, #055 (0829)

Energy crisis worsens

Country plunged into darkness as gas and electricity switched off to most
regions
By Christina Tashkevich

Georgia has been paralyzed by another energy crisis over the last few days:
the country’s regions have been virtually without electricity for several
days, and in Tbilisi too there have been severe curtailments.

Furthermore, while half of Tbilisi was last week in darkness because of the
failure of the electricity system, several regions also had their gas supply
disconnected because of ongoing rehabilitation work on gas pipelines being
carried out by Tbilgazi.

Officials say the crisis is a result of several factors. Prime Minister
Zurab Noghaideli noted that problems with electricity supply are largely the
result of damage caused by an avalanche two weeks ago to both Russian and
Georgian sections of the Kavkasioni high transmission line providing Georgia
with Russian electricity.

On Saturday Noghaideli went to Kodori Gorge to see the damaged Georgian
section of the line.

“Because of the accident affecting Kavkasioni the water resources in
Georgian hydroelectric stations, including Enguri, were exhausted,” Minister
of Energy Nika Gilauri said on Friday, adding that the cold weather had also
contributed to the crisis.

Answering public protests that what electricity there was had been unfairly
distributed, Gilauri said “there was such a deficit in the system over the
last few days that there was no schedule at all.” He promised that
electricity resources would be “optimally distributed” even to the regions
from now on.

Minister Gilauri thinks that such a crisis was inevitable. “The whole system
has depended on imports for years, and not on local sources,” he said.

Gilauri reported that the situation was improving, however. On Thursday the
Salkhino transmission line was put into operation, he said, providing the
system with an additional 300 megawatt. In addition the third power unit at
Tbilsresi was switched on after rehabilitation following a fire in January.

“But, of course, it’s not enough to fully overcome energy crisis,” Gilauri
said.

On Friday Telasi announced that Vake, Saburtalo, Vera and Dighomi districts
have no problems in electricity supply because according to the existing
supply scheme those districts get direct supplies from Armenia through the
Alaverdi line.

Gilauri thinks that another line of electricity imports from Azerbaijan
could be opened, although he added that this would mean overcoming some
technical difficulties.

“We will make a final decision on the Enguri rehabilitation issue soon,” the
minister added, saying that in the meantime the government would work
according to a plan to provide Georgia with a 24-hour electricity supply
from October 2006.

Several Georgian MPs linked the crisis to the issue of the Russian military
bases in Georgia, although Prime Minister Noghaideli dismissed this, saying
“this should not be linked with the withdrawal of Russian bases from
Georgia.”

The PM noted that reconnecting Kavkasioni so as to permit renewed imports
from Russia was of vital importance, particularly given government plans to
disconnect Enguri hydroelectric power station for rehabilitation from the
beginning of April.

“It’s very important to us to resume imports from Russia at the level we
need while Enguri is being rehabilitated,” he said, adding that the
rehabilitation of Enguri would help prevent similar crises in the future.

The electricity crisis coincided with Tbilgazi’s rehabilitation work in
several Tbilisi districts, which meant gas supply was switched off.
Noghaideli said the government must find the reasons for the coincidence.

General Director of Tbilgazi David Morchiladze explained on Friday that “the
technical state of the pipeline system is bad and we are doing minimal
rehabilitation work to make it more safe.”

Morchiladze thinks the government must work out an energy security program
must to avoid another potential crisis next winter.

The crisis is set to continue: while the citizens of Tbilisi suburbs closed
roads and even the railway on Friday in protest, Gilauri predicted that
“this situation will last for approximately one week.”

Saakashvili calls for patience, better government

On Saturday, President Mikheil Saakashvili issued a statement regarding the
energy crisis in the country in which he said that “the crisis will continue
till new energy plants start operating,” adding that “construction of new
plants is being launched and one of them will start operating by the end of
this year.”

The President accused some officials of making the situation worse by not
paying “proper attention towards the population.”

He complained, for example, that the government “learned about a 10 day gap
in water supply in Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi and Ponichala districts only after
the population had blocked the traffic.”

“The gamgebeli (district governor) didn’t even meet the people and never got
interested in their problems. He should quit … Every governor who ignores
people will be strictly punished,” Saakashvili stressed.

The president said that Minister of Energy Gilauri is working to resolve the
energy crisis, but “won’t be able to build in only a few months what was
being ruined during the past 14 years.”

“The only solution is to produce our own electricity, as we all have seen
what it is to be depended on Russia,” he added.

Christian sects in Syria celebrate Easter
by Ghossoun

Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
March 27 2005

DAMASCUS, Mar 27 (SANA) – Christian sects in Syria who follow the
Western calendar on Sunday celebrated Easter through performing
prayers, masses and preaches.

Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Roman Catholics Gregorius
III Laham chaired a large masse in Roman Catholic Patriarchate in
which he spoke about the sublime values of Easter and the divine
message conveyed by Christ for salvation of humanity as a whole.

The Patriarch spoke about the current critical situation in the region
where Syria is exposed to big pressures and challenges expressing
the Syrian people~Rs belief in and absolute trust in President Bashar
al-Assad~Rs wise leadership .

He said: ” peace is the only guarantee for the joint living and
understanding among peoples is the key of security, stability and
progress in the region.”

In similar sermons the spiritual leader of the Anglican church in
Damascus, Botrous Zaour and archbishop of the Armenian Orthodox in
Damascus Armache Balandian spoke in their separate sermons about the
humanitarian message of the Christ to free human beings from their
sin and suffering.

They talked about the difficult circumstances in the region,
suffering of the Palestinian people due to the Israeli occupation,
the fierce attacks targeting Syria and Lebanon in a bid to hurt the
Syrian-Lebanese relations, make Syria bow down and abandon its national
stances for imposing the so-called Greater Middle East Project.

They called for adherence to our unified ranks and national unity
for facing all possible pressures and schemes.

In this respect and on directive from president Bashar al-Assad, the
Minister of the Presidential Affairs Dr. Ghassan Laham conveyed the
President’s heartfelt congratulation to the spiritual leaders of the
Christian sects on the occasion of the Easter, wishing them success
in their work.

Dr. Laham visited His Eminence Patriarch Gregorius III Laham of
the Roman Catholics with the attendance of the Vicar Patriarchal
Archbishop Isidor Battikha, Archbishop Elias Tibbi at the Patriarchate
of the Assyrian Catholics, leader of the Anglican church in Damascus,
Botrous Zaour and archbishop of the Armenian Orthodox in Damascus
Armache Balandian and others.

The spiritual leaders of the Christian sects expressed gratitude to
President Assad for his kind congratulations, wishing His Excellency
success in leading the country and care for all the citizens for the
best interest of Syria and the Arab Nation.

Awkaf Minister, Ziyad Eddin al-Ayyoubi also visited the spiritual
leaders of the Christian sects and offered them his congratulations
on the occasion of Easter.

During the meeting the spiritual leaders hailed the national unity
and coexistence which Syria enjoys.

Secretary of Damascus branch of the Baath Arab Socialist Party, Khalil
Mashhadya and Damascus Governor, Mohammad Bashar al-Mufti also visited
the spiritual leaders to congratulate them on Easter.

NEWS Press
24 mars 2005

Amnesty International – TURQUIE – La liberté de la presse menacée par
le nouveau Code pénal

par Amnesty International

Ces jours derniers, les groupes de presse turcs ont exprimé leur
préoccupation au sujet du nouveau Code pénal, qui doit entrer en
vigueur le 1er avril 2005. Des organismes professionnels, tels que le
Conseil de la presse et la Société des journalistes de Turquie, ont
appelé le gouvernement à revoir de toute urgence la nouvelle
législation, dont ils craignent qu’elle ne limite la liberté de la
presse. Le ministre de la Justice, Cemil Cicek, a déclaré que le
gouvernement pourrait revoir cette législation. Amnesty International
partage les préoccupations des organismes de presse et exhorte le
gouvernement à prendre des mesures pour mettre le droit turc en
conformité avec le droit et les normes internationaux relatifs aux
droits humains concernant la liberté d’expression.

Certes, le nouveau Code pénal introduit beaucoup de changements
positifs – tout particulièrement en supprimant les articles
discriminatoires à l’égard des femmes – mais il contient encore de
nombreuses restrictions aux droits fondamentaux. Certaines
dispositions, que les autorités ont déjà utilisées par le passé en
violation des normes internationales relatives à la liberté
d’expression, ont été conservées. Par exemple, l’article 159 de
l’ancien Code pénal, qui qualifiait d’infraction le fait « d’insulter
ou de dénigrer » diverses institutions publiques, et dont Amnesty
International avait demandé l’abrogation à plusieurs reprises,
réapparaît à l’article 301 du nouveau Code pénal, dans un chapitre
intitulé « Crimes contre les symboles de la souveraineté de l’État et
contre l’honneur de ses organes » (articles 299 à 301). Amnesty
International craint que ce chapitre ne soit utilisé pour poursuivre
des personnes pour la seule expression légitime de leurs désaccords
et opinions.

Par ailleurs, certains nouveaux articles semblent introduire de
nouvelles restrictions aux droits fondamentaux. Par exemple,
l’article 305 du nouveau Code pénal qualifie d’infraction les « actes
contraires à l’intérêt fondamental de la nation ». L’explication
écrite qui accompagnait le projet de Code pénal lors de son examen
par le Parlement citait, à titre d’exemple, des actes tels que « la
propagande en faveur du retrait des soldats turcs de Chypre ou d’un
règlement de ce problème au détriment de la Turquie […] ou le fait
de prétendre, contrairement à la vérité historique, que les Arméniens
ont été victimes d’un génocide après la Première Guerre mondiale ».
Amnesty International considère que toute condamnation pénale pour de
tels propos – sauf en cas de volonté ou de probabilité de déclencher
des violences dans un délai imminent – constituerait une violation
flagrante des normes internationales relatives à la liberté
d’expression.

En outre, beaucoup des articles du nouveau Code pénal prévoient des
peines plus élevées lorsque le « crime » a été commis par voie de
presse et laissent entrevoir la possibilité de condamner des
journalistes à des peines de prison. Le président du Conseil de la
presse, Oktay Eksi, a qualifié la nouvelle législation de « revers
fâcheux pour la liberté d’expression et la liberté de la presse ».

Complément d’information

Le nouveau Code pénal a été présenté par le gouvernement comme moins
restrictif et plus démocratique ; il a été adopté précipitamment par
le Parlement en septembre 2004 sous la pression de l’Union
européenne. Cette pression semble avoir eu pour conséquence de
limiter les consultations avec les membres de la société civile, tels
que les représentants de la presse et les groupes de défense des
droits humains, et pourrait avoir contribué à la persistance de
certains problèmes dans la nouvelle législation.

Amnesty International est aussi préoccupée par des aspects du Code
pénal portant sur d’autres domaines que la liberté d’expression. Par
exemple, l’article 122 du nouveau Code pénal, qui interdit la
discrimination pour des raisons « de langue, de race, de couleur, de
genre, d’opinion politique, de croyance philosophique, de religion,
de confession, etc. », a été amendé au dernier moment afin que l’«
orientation sexuelle » n’y figure pas. Amnesty International déplore
donc le fait que la discrimination fondée sur la sexualité ne soit
pas considérée comme une infraction dans la nouvelle législation.

En outre, l’organisation s’inquiète du maintien d’un délai de
prescription pour les affaires de torture. En effet, même si le
nouveau Code pénal allonge ce délai, les procès d’auteurs présumés de
torture sont souvent reportés délibérément jusqu’à ce que les
poursuites soient abandonnées pour cause de prescription, ce qui
contribue à créer un climat d’impunité. Étant donné que cette
situation se produit souvent et que la torture est une norme
impérative du droit international général, Amnesty International
considère qu’il ne devrait pas exister de prescription pour ce crime.

–Boundary_(ID_EnjyZxuY/JV1MUHktsVwyw)–

Putin, Kocharyan attend opening ceremony of Year of Russia

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 25, 2005 Friday

YEREVAN, March 25 — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan have arrived at the State Opera and Ballet
theatre on Friday to attend a ceremony of opening the Year of Russia
in Armenia.

The Russian festival that will be held on a large scale in Armenia will
give a powerful impetus to the development of cultural contacts between
Russia and Armenia, a Russian source in Yerevan told Tass on Friday.

The Russian festival is an important stage for the realization of
the Russo- Armenian Declaration on cooperation in 2003-2005 and a
Protocol of Intent in the field of culture, it said.

“Russia invariably attaches great importance to strengthening
of friendly contacts with Armenia – its reliable and strategic
partner,” President Putin said in a message addressed to his Armenian
counterpart on the eve of the festival. “I am confident that the Year
of Russia in Armenia will promote further rapprochement of the two
countries, development of friendship and a direct dialogue between our
people. Events devoted to the 60th anniversary of victory in World War
II are of particular importance in the program of the festival. That is
a tribute paid to the exploit and heroism of all those who shoulder-to
shoulder fought against fascism,” Putin said in the message.

For his part, Robert Kochyaran said in his message to the Russian
president that “the festival “The Year of Russia in Armenia” that
coincides with the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of victory
over fascism is of symbolic significance. This heroic page in our
common history linked the fates of our people and brought them closer
together.”