Author: Vasilian Manouk

MANVEL BADALIAN: CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP ATTESTATION PROCESS AWAY FROM CORRUPTION RISKS WITHOUT NGOs AND MEDIA

Noyan Tapan
April 23, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A seminar-discussion dedicated to the
strategy of stability of anti-corruption monitoring network was held
on April 22 in Yerevan on the initiative of the Eurasia Cooperation
Foundation.

During over one year and a half the monitoring team consisting of seven
NGOs implemented an all-embracing program aimed at reducing corruption
risks in the civil service sphere, through monitorings of contest and
attestation processes of civil servants. At the program’s new stage,
besides contests held in the Civil Service Council, monitorings of
contest processes in the RA Ministries of Education of Science, Health,
Labor and Social Issues were also held. A cooperation memorandum was
signed between the RA Civil Service Council and monitoring network
of NGOs within the framework of the program.

Vache Kalashian, the Chairman of one of the organizations included
in the monitoring network of program’s implementation, the Union
of Armenian State Servants, said that the program’s main goal was
to ensure mutual contact between the public and the state through
contest attestation processes monitoring, because, if we have that
mutual contact, "we will have an efficient state, a legitimate
machinery of state." At the initial stage five NGOs, the Union of
Armenian State Servants, the Association of Armenian Young Lawyers,
the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Civil Initiative of Reliable
Information, took part in the monitoring, the Armenian branch of
Transparency International also presented the program to its delegates,
at present the number of organizations having joined the network has
reached seven.

In the first part of program’s implementation the grant was given
by the Eurasia Foundation and Yerevan Office of OSCE, at present the
program’s implementation continues with the financing of the Eurasia
Foundation. There is willingness to implement such a program in other
spheres, as well, in particular, on court and judicial reforms.

"I attach much importance to state-society contact and the situation,
in which we sometimes find ourselves, public intolerance, distrust,
lack of confidence, distrustfulness, to some extent are the consequence
of these phenomena," Manvel Badalian, the Chairman of the RA Civil
Service Council, said in his turn. According to him, without NGOs
and media the Civil Service Council will not be able to control the
attestation process by keeping it away from corruption risks.

IN COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS ARMENIAN TRICOLOUR RAISED IN FRONT OF PEABODY CITY HALL

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

PEABODY, APRIL 22, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On April 17 the
he deep red, blue, and orange colors of the Armenian flag was raised
in front of City Hall in remembrance of the 93rd anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. The flag was raised by the only Genocide survivor
able to attend this year’s event, 98-year-old Carl Mootafian. This
ceremony has become a meaningful tradition in Peabody since former
Mayor Peter Torigian, whose father was a Genocide survivor, first
organized the event 30 years ago. "Pete was not only a great mayor,
he was someone who had a great love for Armenian people," said Mayor
Michael Bonfanti.

NEW DRAFT LAW ON DEFENSE TO BE SUBMITTED TO GOVERNMENT LATER THIS MONTH

armradio.am
22.04.2008 16:11

"The new draft Law on Defense will be submitted to the Government
by the end of this month, from where it will be presented to the
Parliament," RA Deputy Defense Minister Ara Nazaryan said, presenting
the main directions of defense reforms during today’s seminar on
"The NATO summit in Bucharest: New expansion, new challenges, new
opportunities."

Ara Nazaryan noted that the adoption of the new Law on Defense
is extremely important for implementation of successful defense
reforms. The deputy Minister underlined the importance of the National
Security Strategy and the Military Doctrine in 2007. Ara Nazaryan
noted that these two documents are "rather flexible" and in case of
necessity, they can undergo some changes.

The Deputy Defense Minister reminded that the Law on Special Civil
Service was adopted at the end of past autumn and came into force on
January 1, 2008. The necessary documents envisaged by the provisions of
the law will be adopted in June. Ara Nazaryan said that in particular
it will be decided which positions can be occupied by civilians.

"The given process is rather hard first of all from the psychological
point of view. That is why its accomplishment should take place
without any haste," the Deputy Defense Minister said.

INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCES BY PHOTOS

Panorama.am
16:20 21/04/2008

Today in the architectural museum-institute of Armenia photo exhibition
was organized to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The exhibition
was organized by "Shushi" charitable foundation.

More than 220 photos shot before 1914 were presented in the
exhibition. "We tried to provide as much information by photos as
possible," said Bakur Karapetyan, the chairman of the foundation.

The exhibition was a specific overview of the Western Armenia, its
economy, cultural life, Armenian politicians, their houses, monuments,
traditions and everything which could create the image of Armenia
and Armenians.

According to B. Karapetyan, those photos are the indisputable evidence
of the fact that once Van, Kars, Erzrum, Sebastia, Kharberd and
Diarbekir were part of Armenian land.

The deputy minister of culture Gagik Gyurjyan said that they are
intended to give people in the rural communities to see the exhibition
in their own cities.

ONLINE EXPOSITION LAUNCHED AT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM INSTITUTE WEBSITE

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.04.2008 14:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An online exposition was launched at the website
of Armenian Genocide Museum Institute.

The site will probably be available in Russian and Turkish as well,
Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Director Hayk Demoyan told a news
conference in Yerevan today.

"We have arranged the photos by date and place.

Besides, we published a book by Rubina Perumian who tells about
metamorphosis of Armenian identity in modern Turkey, Armenians
converted to Moslemism, suppression of national minorities and Ankara’s
policy of denial. We also published "Deportation and Annihilation",
a book by Turkish researcher Hasan Amca," he said.

Hayk Demoyan also informed that a scientific conference dedicated to
150th birthday of Johann Lepsius, who numerously raised the Armenian
Genocide issue in Europe and called on Young Turks to stop the
massacre, will be held this year.

AN ACTION TO PROTECT THE TEKHUT WOOD ORGANIZED BY YOUNG ECO-ACTIVISTS OF ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-04-21 15:18:00

ArmInfo. The bike ride to protect the Tekhut wood, where exploitation
of the copper-molibden deposit, was organized by young eco-activists
of Armenia on Sunday, in Yerevan.

About 50 bikers with placards "Let’s save Tekhut" were riding at
Yerevan streets for several hours. Organizers of the bike ride are
sure that it is still possible to save the unique wood. The bike ride
was organized within the frames of the ecological green festival
supported by the WWF and being held in Armenian since 28 March of
the current year.

HOW SHOULD THE CUSTOMS COMMITTE WORK?

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 18, 2008
Armenia

President Serge Sargsyan yesterday had a working meeting with the
State Customs Committee operating under the Government.

As mentioned by the President, all those who are not ready to perform
their obligations conscientiously should be removed from the system,
and those who are ready to work honestly and render services to the
public and the state will be provided with assistance.

"Our country cannot have individuals and agencies that will have the
opportunity to use pressure against the customs bodies or be engaged
in smuggling," S. Sargsyan emphasized.

In the estimation of the President, being engaged in smuggling is
equal to receiving unearned income which ruins the economy, creating
unequal conditions, and entrepreneurial activity becomes a torment
for a conscientious entrepreneur.

The primary task, according to S. Sargsyan, is the strict struggle
against the so-called "shadow folder" e.g. when a 95 year-old man
living in one of the marzes is registered as an individual allegedly
owning an enterprise which circulates billions of Drams. In a few
months’ period, the enterprise naturally closes and its traces are
not to be found.

"Many of you are aware of the problem; I am even sure that some people
even know who exactly is engaged in such activities, but no measures
are being undertaken," he underscored.

The next problem the President touched upon was the struggle against
the import of the goods which are registered as custom-free products
and no Value Added Tax is paid for them. The President says a large
quantity of such products has been found as a result of the recent
check-ups. "I am sure that without the participation of a customs
officer, such things are impossible," Head of the state emphasized.

Serge Sargysan demanded that the leaders of the customs bodies pay a
special attention to the issue of temporary imports; when a temporary
import is formulated, they import some products which should allegedly
be recycled, but then they are exported from the republic.

The next problem to which the President drew the participants’
attention concerned the so-called control prices. The President is
convinced that the customs bodies do not have the right to change the
prices once a week at their own will. Although the law gives them
this opportunity, their work should be extremely transparent and
accessible to the public. All the control prices should be posted
on the Web sites of the customs bodies, and any person engaged in
entrepreneurial activity should have access to them.

According to Serge Sargsyan, the customs body should work in a way
to achieve the declaration of the prices offered by the importer. The
President believes the state will suffer absolutely no losses in case
the tax agencies and the customs bodies work in conditions of normal
cooperation with each other.

Azeri leader says war with Armenia not over yet

AzTV, Azerbaijan
April 19 2008

Azerbaijan’s is still at war with Armenia and its army is in a
position to retake the territories lost during a war in the 1990s,
President Ilham Aliyev has said.

"Only the first phase of the war has finished. The war has not
yet ended," state television on 19 April showed Aliyev telling
a group of soldiers in a bunker close to the heavily militarised
Azerbaijani-Armenian cease-fire line.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan had the most powerful army in the region,
and that military spending this year would total Armenia’s overall
state budget.

"We have the most powerful army and the strongest military potential
in the region. We should strengthen it further," Aliyev said, adding
that the military budget would be increased from the current 1.3bn
dollars to nearly 2bn dollars this year.

The president also scoffed at Armenia as a foreign "outpost".

"Unlike Armenia, we are not an outpost of any country. Unlike Armenia,
we defend our borders ourselves," he said.

AZERBAIJANI MP DISTRIBUTES DOCUMENT AMONGST PARLIAMNETARIANS IN PACE

AzerTag
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Ganira Pashayeva, member of the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Delegation
to PACE, during the Assembly’s session, distributed amongst
parliamentarians a document called "Armenia’s behavior increases
tension".

The document says "Armenian authorities, violating the norms of
international law held presidential elections in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, too. This contradicts the country’s
obligations before the Council of Europe (CoE), and damages the
negotiation process to achieve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

To divert the international community’s attention from the February 19
presidential election, which aroused internal crisis in the country,
the Armenian Armed Forces launched violent attacks against Azerbaijani
Armed Forces and innocent people.

The Armenian authorities proved that they do not honor the UN and
CoE resolutions. The Council of Europe must increase its efforts to
prevent such actions and take appropriate measures".

The document was submitted to the CoE Secretariat after it was signed
by parliamentarians from Italy, Lithuania, Germany, Moldova and Turkey.

The PACE Bureau will accept a decision regarding the document.

AZERI LEADER SLAMS ARMENIA’S "INSINCERITY"

Turan
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Horadiz, 18 April: The Azerbaijani army is the best army in the
region in terms equipment and fighting capacity. President Ilham
Aliyev said this on Friday [18 April] addressing refugees in the
village of Horadiz [Fuzuli District] after visiting the front line
and meetings with servicemen.

"We are paying constant attention to the issues of strengthening
the armed forces and [the country’s] military budget for this year
will total 2bn dollars. We should obtain liberation of the occupied
territories and our army will do it," Aliyev said.

He condemned the world community for indifference to the occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. "They call us to peace talks and compromises. As
if Armenia occupied our lands in a peaceful way. What a compromise
they talk about? There will be no compromises concerning the issue of
territorial integrity. A day will come and all the occupied territories
will be liberated," Aliyev said.

Then he accused Armenia of being "insincere" and artificially
dragging out the negotiations. "In words they agreed to withdraw
from five districts, and later on from the two other districts around
Karabakh. But in deeds they are populating Lacin [District connecting
Nagornyy Karabakh with Armenia]. That shows insincerity of Armenians
who do not implement agreements that were reached," Aliyev said.

Then he accused the world community of [using] double standards
that manifests itself in "tolerant" attitude to negative events in
Armenia. When something happens in Azerbaijan, everyone reacts to this,
Aliyev said with dissatisfaction.

He also touched on geopolitical issues, saying that [super] powers
were struggling for influence in the region. And certain pressure is
being exerted on countries [in the region]. "We are an independent
state and will not yield to pressure," Aliyev said.