Author: Virabian Jhanna

ARMENIA, CZECHIA NEED TO ACTIVELY COOPERATE WITHIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

armradio.am
18.06.2008 16:48

On June 18 Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
Tigran Torosyan received the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to
Armenia Ivan Estrab.

Stressing the recent development of relations between the parliaments,
NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan noted that Czechia’s experience as a member
of the European Union is very interesting and useful for Armenia,
taking into consideration that Armenia has proclaimed European
integration as one of the priorities of its foreign policy.

Ambassador Estrab, who is making his first visit to Yerevan, shared
his impressions, noting that he will often visit Yerevan and Armenia
and has already felt the necessity to visit the marzes, as well. The
Ambassador underlined the great interest of his country in deepening
the relations with the countries of the South Caucasus, especially
Armenia, noting that from 2009 for the first time the Czech Republic
will preside over the European Union and now it is already preparing
to assume that difficult task, having the objective to develop
relations with Eastern neighbors of the EU. The Czech Republic is
ready to contribute to the development and security of the South
Caucasus region.

The parties referred to the forthcoming official visit of the President
of the Czech Senate to Armenia: Mr. Estrab conveyed the greetings of
the Senate President to Tigran Torosyan and noted that he is already
preparing for the visit and attaches great importance to it from
the perspective of deepening of interstate and interparliamentary
relations. Mr. Torosyan noted that Armenia also attaches great
importance to the visit as an impetus for the development of relations
in all spheres.

Reference was made to the necessity of active cooperation within
international organizations.

"ARMENIA TOOK MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS"

Panorama.am
20:35 16/06/2008

Today the National Assembly of Armenia held a discussion on
"implementing the recommendations of the PACE article 1609" NA
project authorized by the deputies presenting coalition – Hranush
Hakobyan, David Harutyunyan, Karen Karapetyan, Heghine Bisharyan,
Hrayr Karapetyan and Avet Adonc.

Hranush Hakobyan presented the announcement and mentioned that based
on the NA law the rights of the parliamentarian opposition have been
increased and some privileges are provided. According to those changes
the parliamentarian opposition representatives are given a right to get
positions of NA committee chairmen and deputy chairman. According to
her the law on "holding meetings, marches, demonstration and rallies"
is also revised which is affirmed by the Venice committee. By the
special order of the president a working group is formed leaded by the
Minister of Justice to work on recommendations providing independence
of court system.

Talking about the dialogue which should be held between authorities
and opposition representatives, she said that Public Council is aimed
to deal with the current issue and as well as establishing interim
working group in the NA which should investigate March 1-2 events. The
deputy said that in stead of forming an independent working group
which should study March events, they made a decision to form an
interim working group to meet the point.

Fresno Bee (California)
June 11, 2008 Wednesday
CHASE EDITION

Raisin-industry giant Garabedian dies;
Fowler farmer united growers for bargaining and led two agencies.

by Jim Steinberg The Fresno Bee

Richard Garabedian, a prominent Fowler raisin grower and power in the
organizing of his fellow farmers, stood by his convictions even when
they embroiled him in a conflict within his industry.

Mr. Garabedian, 76, who had suffered cancer and pneumonia, died
Sunday, five days short of his birthday.

He played a major role in rallying growers to unite for bargaining to
achieve better prices and protect standards for their raisins. He had
served as chairman of the Raisin Administrative Committee, a
quasi-governmental agency supervising raisin marketing orders,
regulating crop quantity and quality.

And he was a board member for more than 26 years for the Raisin
Bargaining Association, a grower group that negotiates with packers,
including the raisin cooperative Sun-Maid Growers.

Mr. Garabedian was born in his parents’ ranch house along McCall
Avenue, said his wife, Ellie. His parents, Dick and Martha, had
escaped Ottoman Turkey in 1912. His family settled in Massachusetts
and then Wisconsin. Snow didn’t suit the Garabedians, so they moved
west to the San Joaquin Valley.

Mr. Garabedian attended area schools and graduated from Selma High
School and Fresno State College, earning a teaching credential. He
served in the U.S. Army, then taught school for one year.

He followed his heart, and left teaching for farming. Asked her
husband’s hobbies, Ellie Garabedian replied, "Work."

Kalem Barserian, a raisin farmer and general manager of Lion Raisins,
the Selma grower and processor of California raisins, called
Mr. Garabedian "an industry leader ever since we were young men. He
was always vital, keeping growers together and fighting for their
rights."

They had occasional differences, Barserian said, but respected each
other and had breakfast together just last week.

Barserian said Mr. Garabedian exercised leadership in two agencies
vital to raisin growers. He served decades, some years as chairman,
for the Raisin Administrative Committee. The committee operates under
the U.S. Department of Agriculture to administer the federal marketing
order that regulates production and quality standards of California
raisins.

Mr. Garabedian and Barserian worked to organize raisin growers who,
until the 1960s, made the best individual deals they could make for
their crops with whatever buyers they could find. Raisin prices stood
at $230 per ton in 1966, Barserian said. The price last year was
$1,210 per ton, "and it’s still not enough."

He and Mr. Garabedian had differences over pricing, advertising and
other issues, Barserian said, but they maintained mutual respect:

"The raisin industry was his whole life. I can’t say enough how much
good he did for the industry."

Mr. Garabedian saw conflict during more than a half-century in the
raisin industry. He filed a lawsuit last year, alleging that leaders
of the Raisin Bargaining Association had defamed, slandered and
libeled him. His lawsuit was dismissed in Fresno County Superior
Court, but raisin grower Jake Mooradian said Monday that his friend
had been treated badly by those he had helped.

"It just didn’t work out," Mooradian said. "He was unselfish in the
amount of time he put in for the raisin industry."

Barry Kriebel, president of Sun-Maid Growers, called Mr. Garabedian a
farmer passionate about the raisin industry and one in the middle of
its controversies.

"He loved talking about farming, raisins and people in the
industry. He was a very engaging guy," Kriebel said.

"I can say this," Ellie Garabedian said. "No one devoted himself to
the industry like he did. He was treated very unfairly. It was a great
disappointment, a huge heartache."

Daughters Linda Cole and Christine Tehlirian called their father a
hardworking man who lived for his family and asked little in
return. Some may have feared him, they said, but eventually realized
that Mr. Garabedian was "just a big softie."

Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in St. Gregory Armenian Church in
Fowler. = The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or
(559) 441-6311.

INFOBOX

Richard Garabedian

Born: June 13, 1931

Died: June 8

Occupation: raisin grower

Survivors: wife, Ellie Garabedian; daughters, Linda Cole and Christine
Tehlirian; and son, Richard Garabedian

DISCUSSIONS ON USA AMBASSADOR

Panorama.am
20:16 10/06/2008

The discussions on appointing Maria Yovanovich as Ambassador of the USA
in Armenia will be held in the end of June. As Panorama.am reporter
has been informed by the press service of the Embassy, the exact day
of the discussions is not definite.

After the question is defined in Foreign Relations Committee of US
Senate the question will be discussed in Senate.

Note that the candidature of the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to become
the Ambassador of the US in Armenia was recommended this year in March.

Remind that the position of US Ambassador is vacant since 2006 when
Ambassador John Evans was called back for using "Armenian Genocide"
expression in his speech.

KARABAKH DISCUSSED MECHANISMS OF INFLUENCE OF EUROPE ON POST-ELECTION ARMENIA

KarabakhOpen
11-06-2008 12:20:29

A few days ago the Karabakh-based Open Society NGO held a round-table
meeting on the response of European organizations to the Armenian
presidential election. The initiators of the discussion tried to find
out the mechanisms of influence of the European organizations on the
home political process in countries which are members of the Council
of Europe.

Members of the parliament committee of external relations,
representatives of the foreign ministry and NGOs participated in
the discussion.

The round-table meeting was conducted by the chair of the European
Integration NGO (Armenia) Karen Bekaryan. He underlined that the
election was observed by the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

In its first preliminary report the OSCE observed a number of
shortcomings but described the election as mostly compliant. The second
preliminary report which was released two weeks later noted that the
election was compliant but the post-election process causes worry. The
last report which made a political evaluation almost repeated the
PACE resolution 1609 the implementation of which will be discussed
in the PACE summer session on June 19 and 23. If the resolution is
not implemented, sanctions will be applied to Armenia.

With regard to the mechanisms of influence that Europe has, Karen
Bekaryan also pointed to the attitude of the other main actors toward
the election.

In particular, it was underlined that the United States is conducting
a wait-and-see policy, which causes certain tension. "If you remember,
the European countries and the CIS congratulations came immediately
after the election, whereas the congratulation of the United States
waited long. The stance of Russia was opposite to that of the
United States. Once again the European organizations functioned as
balancers. The role of the OSCE in this was great, which includes not
only the European countries but also Russia and the United States,"
Karen Bekaryan said.

According to him, the PACE reported two circumstances, the government
of Armenia could not ensure a normal, full post-election process
and in a state of confusion it took steps which contradict to
European values. First of all, the prohibition of rallies and
demonstrations. On the other hand, Resolution 1609 calls the
opposition to act in accordance with the law, accept the decision of
the Constitutional Court and appeal to the European Court of Human
Rights. Many interpreted this point as an appeal of Europe to dispute
the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia at the European
Court and to hold another election. Although there is a .problem,
Karen Bekaryan says, the ECHR is not empowered to repeal the results
of elections in any country.

In answer to the question what will happen in case Armenia is
deprived of the right to vote in the PACE, Karen Bekaryan said this
sanction is the most "severe" one in the PACE. "If Armenia does
not implement the resolution, it will be deprived of the right to
vote. For Armenia, which has an unresolved conflict over Karabakh,
the loss of the right to vote may have a negative effect," said Karen
Bekaryan. He also underlined that the use of sanctions will mean that
the country is listed among those countries which have nothing to do
with democracy. Besides, such an attitude of the European Union which
is the main donor of Armenia may cause economic problems. It will be
also a political blow to the image of the country, which may affect
the stance of Armenia in the talks mediated by the OSCE.

With regard to how Armenia implements the requirements of the PACE,
Karen Bekaryan said Armenia simply will not manage to carry them out
in time.

There are things, however, which cause concern regarding time. On
the one hand, an effort was made to solve the problem of rallies and
demonstrations, on the other hand, the parliament started discussing
the report of the ombudsman. If the discussion of the law on rallies,
despite its shortcomings, was viewed as a positive step, the criticism
of the report of the ombudsman will cause the opposite reaction. "Is
it the right time to put pressure on the ombudsman, which will be
viewed as aggressive behavior during the meeting of the PACE?" Karen
Bekaryan said.

He thinks that if during the upcoming rally of June 20 all the relevant
agencies perform their functions if the mechanisms of assemblies
which are acceptable for the world work, no problems will occur. But
if one of the sides decides to answer provocations with provocations,
problems will occur by all means.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: "ARMENIA SHOULD MEDIATE PROVISION OF POLITICAL REFUGE FOR AZERBAIJANI DESERTERS"

Today.Az
/politics/45558.html
June 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenia should mediate provision of political refuge to Azerbaijani
deserters by third countries", considers political scientist Levon
Melik-Shakhnazaryan.

"When Azerbaijani soldiers go over to us, we should not return them
to Azerbaijan", said he at a press conference commenting on the
expediency of exchange of hostages with Azerbaijan.

He considers that the fact that Azerbaijan does not agree to hold
talks regarding return of Armenian citizens is because of "impunity"
of Baku’s actions. He thinks adequate policy towards Azerbaijan by
the authorities would not only promote return of Armenian citizens,
but also "cause tensions in the neighbor country".

The political scientist said Azerbaijani soldiers, trespassing the
Armenian border, usually seek political refuge.

"But our actions are too "civilized", when we return these soldiers
to Azerbaijan, where they undergo trial. If we do not do it, the flow
of Azerbaijani military men to Azerbaijan will increase, which will
cause social tensions in Azerbaijan", considers Melik-Shahnazaryan.

OKTAY ASADOV: BAKU STANDS FOR SOLVING THE CONFLICT BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW

armradio.am
10.06.2008 15:07

Addressing the summit of the Council of the Heads of Parliament
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Speaker of the
Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Oktay Asadov declared that unsolved Nagorno
Karabakh conflict presents a threat not only to the South Caucasus,
but also the Black See Region and the world as a whole.

"The unresolved Karabakh conflict hampers the development of our
country and creates a threat to the peace and stability all over
the world," he noted. The Azeri Parliament Speaker declared that
official Baku stands for solving the conflict based on principles of
international law.

In his speech Asadov underlined the necessity for close cooperation
between the countries of the Black See Region and said that cooperation
will increase the role of the region in world politics and economy.

IFC READY TO PURCHASE SHARES OF ARMECONOMBANK IN CASE OF ADDITIONAL ISSUE

ARKA
June 9, 2008

YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. International Finance Corporation (IFC) is
ready to purchase shares of Armeconombank in case of an additional
issue, the Head of IFC Office in Armenia Nerses Karamanukian said at
the annual stockholders meeting in Armeconombank.

Karamanukian pointed out the successful cooperation of IFC with
the bank.

Particularly, the Corporation provided credit lines to the bank twice
and is satisfied with the results, he said.

Representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) Irakliy Mekvabishvili, in his turn, stressed that Armeconombank
is a system-forming bank in Armenia’s banking system and that the
bank’s development process is completely reflected in the structure
of its liabilities. He pointed out all possible assistance provided
to the bank by EBRD, particularly the syndicate loans provided with
involvement of major European banks.

The EBRD welcomes the dividend distribution process (annual of 12%)
among the stockholders as of the end of 2007. It is not bad, although
the stockholders would like even more, Mekvabishvili said expressing
hope for improvement of performance by Armeconombank.

Ð~]e also stressed that the EBRD will provide both financial and
corporate management assistance to the bank. "We will make every
effort so that Armeconombank develops and follows a productive course
in its operation," he said.

Armeconombank Open Joint Stock Company was registered on August
26 1991.

More than 75% of the bank’s shares belong to the principal shareholders
– EBRD (25% + 1 share) and the founders of "SIL" concern Sukiasian
family (50.6%).

By March 31, assets of Armeconombank had totalled over 43.2bln drams,
total capital – 8.6bln drams, and net profit 116.6mln Drams by the
end of the first quarter. The bank has 45 branches operating in the
territory of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. -0–

–Boundary_(ID_Rq5TR2Wh7MEfLFU8xY2KsQ)–

JIRAYR SEFILYAN SET FREE

arminfo
2008-06-09 17:58:00

ArmInfo. Today the imprisonment term of the Karabakh war hero,
commander of "Shushi" separate battalion Jirayr Sefilyan finished
and he was released from "Vardashen" prison where he spent 18 months.

He thanked those who met him especially journalists which the bridge
between him and the society. Sefilyan said he is going to continue
the fight for restoration of justice in the country. As for his
Armenian citizenship, Sefilyan said it will be given to him sooner
or later. "If they do not give me citizenship at present, it will be
given to him by the factually elected president", – Sefilyan said and
added it would be simply funny in any other country if the commander
which had many times signed papers about demobilization of servicemen,
is not citizen of the country. Asked about the forthcoming rally on
20 June, Sefilyan replied major part of victory has been ensured and
there is still a little to be done. At the same time he said they
may need weeks to gain final victory.

After meeting his supporters Sefilyan visited Erablur where Karabakh
war veterans have been holding hunger strike for two weeks. Sefilyan’s
supporters gave him a symbolic passport of an Armenian citizen.

Panorama.am

09:31 07/06/2008

EXPERT: -NOTHING IS CHANGED-

Yesterday took place the special session of the
Defender of Human Rights in the National Assembly and
today lawyer Hrayr Tovmasyan talked with Panorama.am
reporter sharing his view points and evaluations.

-Anyway the fact that such session took place in
Armenia is light point. It is common to the world but
it is not in Armenia,- said the expert. He said that
it is gratifying that the report is publicly
available. He said that he was concerned that the
Defender of Human Rights and the General Prosecutor
would start justifying their activities taking into
account some conditional points.

-The prosecuracy finds that the Ombudsman should have
discussions with the administrative bodies before
writing a report and only after present his position,-
said the expert and added that the institute of
Ombudsman should not only direct but should provide
consultation and predetermination mission.

To the question what it gave to us, the expert said
that actually it gave nothing, -The General Prosecutor
stated his points and the Ombudsman his.-

Source: Panorama.am