Author: Zaminian Bedik

Panorama.am

13:42 15/12/2007

CAMPAIGN ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN LAUNCHED

This year the Council of Europe has announced a campaign year of
violence against women, Armine Tanashyan, deputy department head at
the ministry of employment and social affairs, told Panorama.am. She
said the campaign started in Armenia on December 11 and continues now.

In the words of Tanashyan, the campaign runs under the slogan ”Do not
be silent, do not tolerate, respond and join.” ”This campaign aims
to spread the fact that violence against women is a violation of human
right and not a custom. This is a human problem and not a problem for
any one country,” she said.

Source: Panorama.am

BARBARIAN ACTIVITIES OF NEW JUGHA INTRODUCED TO INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF NATIONAL TRUSTS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. This year for the first time Armenia
as well has taken part in the 12th International Conference of National
Funds called National Trusts, which was held in New Delhi, the capital
of the Republic of India, between December 3 and 5.

The National Trust is a charitable organization founded at the end of
the 19th century in England, which is involved in the preservation and
restoration of the national culture and historical-cultural monuments.
Homonimic organizations bearing a close resemblance to the
above-mentioned organization have been created in 40 countries of the
world. The conferences of the International Conference of National
Trusts are convocated once in two years in one of the countries, which
has founded National Trusts.

As Gagik Gyurjian, the RA Deputy Minister of Culture and the Head of
the Armenian delegation, stated at the press conference held on
December 13, delegations from 54 countries of the world have taken part
in the conference and have discussed issues concerning the preservation
of immovable and movable cultural values and historical-cultural
monuments, the reproduction of living and non-material cultural values,
as well as many other issues concerning this sphere.

In the words of Gagik Gyurjian, it was very important for the Armenian
delegation to take part in "The preservation of cultural heritage in
natural disaster and conflict zones" sitting since the Azeri side had
already started to spread regular misinformation on the Azeri monuments
allegedly being destroyed in "the territories captured" by Armenia.

The Deputy Minister declared that the report of Mkrtich Zardarian, a
chief scientific worker of the Institute of Ethnography and Archeology
of the National Academy of Sciences, has completely arranged the
situation, by thoroughly introducing the complete fact of the
destruction of the khachkars (commemorative cross-stone) of Jugha, as
well as the non-operative policy displayed towards that question by the
international structures for the preservation of cultural monuments. In
addition to this, the video cassette of the "Jugha" documentary film
and the brochure with photos were distributed to the participants.

At the end of the 12th International Conference of National Trusts the
International National Trusts Organization was established on the
initiative of the participants. Not having a corresponding national
organization, according to Gagik Gyurjian, Armenia cannot become a
member of the International Conference of National Trusts as yet,
however, at present measures are being taken in that direction.

ARMENIA GENERATES 1.40 BILLION KWH OF HYDROELECTRICITY IN NINE MONTHS.

Water Power & Dam Construction
December 13, 2007

Armenia’s National Statistics Service has reported that Armenia
generated 1.40 billion kWh of hydroelectricity in the first nine
months of this year, a year-on-year decrease of 5.8 per cent.

Hydroelectricity accounted for around 30% of total Armenian electricity
production between January and September.

LAW ON THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN ARMENIA IS IMPERFECT, BUT A LAW IS A LAW AND WE OBSERVE IT, ARFD CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT SAYS

2007-12-13 15:08:00

ArmInfo. ‘The Law on the Right to Vote in Armenia is imperfect and
contains many disputable points, but a law is a law and we observe
it’, Vahan Hovhannissyan, a member of ARFD party Bureau, a candidate
for president from ARFD said at a press conference at the National
Press Club.

As regards the refusal of Passport and Visa Department to provide
some politicians with references of 10- year permanent residence in
the country necessary for running for president, V. Hovhannissyan
said it is a result of lifting the ban of dual citizenship in 2005
and not adopting a relevant law so far. He also mentioned that ARFD
Bureau representative Hrant Margaryan has been permanently residing
in Armenia since 1989. However, he was naturalized only in 1998
despite his numerous applications. ‘Nevertheless, we have not asked
for backdating his citizenship as a law is a law and we respect and
observe it’, V. Hovhannissyan said.

OUTGOING AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA VISITS THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

armradio.am
11.12.2007 17:02

The Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Armenia Stefan
Dimitroff, who is completing his mission in our country.

According to the Press Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
during the meeting His Holiness expressed appreciation for the
development of Armenian-Bulgarian relations and the cooperation
between the two countries.

In the face of Ambassador Dimitroff the Catholicos expressed gratitude
to the Head of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria and the Synod of the
Church for recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 8 2007

Government called upon to shed light on Malatya murders

The investigation and trial of the suspects in the brutal murders of
three Bible publishers in the southeastern city of Malatya last April
have been marred by serious allegations of cover ups and obstruction
of justice, but the government could intervene, according to a number
of prominent columnists, political leaders and lawyers.

The government has so far remained inactive in the face of what seems
to be a process of grave obstruction of justice but could act and
change the course of events, columnists, political leaders and
lawyers said in their appeals to the Justice and Development Party
(AK Party) on Friday.

A number of incidents have suggested that there have been attempts to
cover up facts and destroy evidence regarding the murder of three men
at the Zirve Publishing House in Malatya. On Thursday, Turkish
newspapers published scanned copies of documents proving the
statements of a police chief to be a lie. The Malatya police chief in
a statement to journalists earlier this week said some video
recordings of one of the suspects in his hospital bed, which form
crucial evidence for the trial, had been delivered to the
prosecution. However, the scanned documents, signed by a senior
officer with the Malatya police and addressed to the chief public
prosecutor, showed that the camera records had been "destroyed."
Although the prosecutor’s office on Friday ended the debate saying
all of the camera records were in its possession, too many other
shady details have indicated that the suspects appear to be protected
by an invisible shield.

"Obstruction of justice or at least suspicious incidents come one
after another in a case being followed by everyone very carefully.
However, neither statements nor denials relating to these allegations
are convincing," wrote Star daily’s Mustafa Karaalioðlu yesterday.
"Everybody has some sort of responsibility in the correction of this
shameful situation, but the biggest responsibility lies with Interior
Minister Beþir Atalay," he added, calling on the minister to take a
brave step and get to the root of the Malatya murders, although that
root might well be made up of parts of the state or the security
forces.

The recent confusion about the video recordings comes after the
revelation of phone transcripts proving the existence of disturbing
links between the murder suspects and some state agencies, including
the military. However, the investigation scandal in the Malatya case
has been sadly reminiscent of the legal process over the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, whose lawyers failed to bring
before the court vital evidence showing that the Trabzon police did
not do anything to protect Dink, although they had been tipped off
about the murder more than once.

In other words, destroying or obscuring evidence, protecting police
officers who have committed crimes or simply ignoring important
evidence is nothing new. Head of the Human Rights Association (ÝHD),
Hüsnü Öndül, who spoke to Today’s Zaman, made the same point. `The
Malatya case shows the usual practice of the protective shield of the
state with its security forces and judiciary. The security forces and
the judiciary here are protecting each other by not conducting a
detailed investigation. Those who are protected are the hit men who
say they committed the murders with `nationalist feelings’, secret or
non-secret services they had contacts with, meaning police and
military intelligence units. The common point among all these similar
incidents is this protection.’

Öndül said, in addition to the Dink murder, the same pattern was
evident in the murder case of Trabzon’s Father Andrea Santoro, killed
last year by an ultra-nationalist teenager and the attempt to
assassinate Akýn Birdal, a former head of the ÝHD.

Öndül said the murderers in all these cases said they committed the
acts out of nationalist and patriotic feelings, but the
investigations were never successful because the state prosecutors
and judges have the same mentality. `The judiciary’s approach is a
one that is state-oriented rather than protecting the rights of the
people. Minorities’ differences are perceived as a threat to state
security. According to Öndül, the only way to break through this
shield is a `strong and determined political will.’

`Only the government can do this. However they currently take no
initiative regarding these cases, which is tantamount to protecting
the perpetrators.’

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a lawyer representing the Malatya victims,
asserts that since the government failed to bravely trace the
disturbing connections revealed between a bookstore bombing and
security forces in 2005, it cannot bring the facts out in similar
cases that have occurred since then.

Cengiz also expressed his belief that if the government does show
courage now and shed light on Malatya, worse incidents may happen. He
notes that the murder of Father Santoro, Dink and the Malatya
Christians are all hate crimes and that they should be taken very
seriously. `Or worse things can happen. Look at the beating of that
Greek journalist [Andreas Rombopulos] in Ýstanbul yesterday,
[Wednesday]. He was lucky to have not been killed.’ Cengiz warned
that the xenophobic and chauvinistic anger building in society could
be turned toward the entire Greek or Armenian community sooner than
we might even anticipate.

So do those in Parliament here these cries? Main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Malatya deputy Mevlüt Aslanoðlu said:
`This is an incident that will grow many branches. This has to be
investigated thoroughly. We suspect that there is a structure here
like that of Susurluk,’ Aslanoðlu noted, recalling yet another
incident revealing links between crime and the state. In the
incident, a police chief and an internationally sought mafia leader
were killed together in a car accident in the northwestern township
of Susurluk in 1996. `We will be following up on the case because
this has turned into an issue of honor for Turkey. The government,
too, should be fearless and face this with determination. This will
be a huge test in the EU accession process for the government.’

`There are certain shady points,’ admitted Mehmet Ocaktan, a deputy
of the AK Party. `I will bring this issue up at a meeting of our
human rights committee on Dec. 12 and propose setting up a
subcommittee on it. This should be investigated thoroughly and the
shady areas should be illuminated.’

Today’s Zaman Ankara Bureau contributed to this article.

———————————————— —————-

Theologian accused of involvement in Malatya murder
Suspects in the investigation of the brutal killing of three
Christians at Zirve Publishing House in Malatya in April of last year
have links to numerous individuals in the state, including security
officers, the police and even prosecutors, but the most surprising
link they have is to an academic. Ruhi Abat, a research assistant at
Malatya University’s Department of Theology, was accused in a letter
— signed by a man named Ali A. — of having incited Emre Günaydýn,
one of the three suspects captured at the site of the murder. The
picture above shows Abat in a conference on `Islam, [Christian]
Missionaries and Destructive Activity.’ Abat refused to comment on
the accusations directed at him. Photographs and information related
to him have been removed from the Web site of Malatya University’s
Department of Theology. Abat’s research focused on missionary
activity. He is also the author of an article titled, `The Breaking
Points in the Discourse of Dialogue between Religions,’ and `The
Claims Missionaries Spread about Belief in God,’ both available on
the Internet. Erkan Acar Ýstanbul

08.12.2007

BARIÞ ALTINTAÞ ÝSTANBUL

ARMENTEL FINISHES INTRODUCTION OF NEW BILLING SYSTEM OF FIXED-LINE
PHONE COMMUNICATION

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. ArmenTel company has finished the
introduction of the new billing system of the fixed-line phone
communication. This system provides users of fixed-line phones with the
opportunity of using the following services:

– Making payments in various ways (including the use of payment cards
and "cash in" devices that provide the opportunity to make on-line
payments.

– Sending of bills and decipherments by the electronic post.

– Control of the fixed-line phone number account. It allows to avoid
accumulation of a large debt when, for example, the phone line is used
by a third person and there is a virus in the computer. In such cases
the phone number is diconnected when the maximum amount of the bill
stipulated by the user is exceeded, and it happens before the monthly
bill for the given phone number is presented.

– Automatic connection of the phone number when the user makes payments
and repays debts. Henceforth phone numbers of subscribers of the
digital stations will be connected immediately after making a payment.

– Implementation of centralized billing throughout Armenia, which
allows to make calculations (of payments, phone conversations and other
services) for Yerevan and regions at the same time.

As a result of the introduction of the new billing system,
disconnection of fixed-line phone numbers (during the first 4-5 days,
the disconnection will be one-sided: users will receive calls) will
finish automatically – by the system. Based on it, payments for
fixed-line phone communication have to be made in the period stipulated
by the agreement, that is, until the last day of the month to follow
the reporting month (for example, the payment for November has to be
made until December 31 inclusive).

According to information of the PR department of ArmenTel company, in
2008, a new service will be introduced for users of fixed-line phone
communication, which will allow to manage services and see
decipherments via the Internet.

ACTIONS MADE TO SIL CONCERN HAVE PURELY POLITICAL CAUSES, OFFICE OF CIVIL INITIATIVES OF L. TER-PETROSIAN’S NOMINATION STATES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 7, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. In the recent months, by the
administration’s order, different links of state power have launched
an open attack on economic entities belonging to the family of
Sukiasians. This was mentioned in the statement spread by the office
of civil initiatives of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s nomination. According
to it, that process has started after Khachatur Sukiasian, an RA MP,
the Chairman of the Sil Concern company, declared that he is going
to support the candidature of first RA President L. Ter-Petrosian in
the forthcoming elections.

"The attack is manifested not only in illegal actions of tax and law
enforcement bodies. The TV companies and other media under authorities’
control have started spreading false information about this economic
structure, trying to discredit the trade marks belonging to the family
of Sukiasians," the statement read.

Condemning this conduct, the authors of the statement mentioned that
these actions done to the Sil Concern, being on the list of the ten
biggest tax-payers of Armenia, which have purely political causes
and are rulled from one center, are helpless attempts to prevent
victory of all-national movement by an administration, which, losing
the ideological struggle, makes illegal actions.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Tigran Torosian invited to attend first session of new Duma convocation
06.12.2007 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, Armenian NA Speaker Tigran Torosian met with
Russian Ambassador to Armenia Nikolay Pavlov, the RA NA press office
reported.

During the meeting, Ambassador Pavlov handed Mr Torosian an invitation
to attend the first session of the new Duma convocation.

Assuming the invitation, the Armenian Speaker congratulated Russia on
successful parliamentary elections and voiced assurance of further
development of the Armenian-Russian interparliamentary relations.

ARMENPRESS

KOCHARIAN COMMEMORATES EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS; President Robert
Kocharian traveled today to Armenia’s second largest
town of Gyumri for a commemoration of the 19th
anniversary of a destructive earthquake in 1988 that
killed some 25,000 people and razed to ground
northwestern Armenia.
Robert Kocharian laid a wreath to a monument
erected in front of Savior’s Church in central Gyumri
in commemoration of the earthquake’s victims.
Kocharian and other government officials observed a
minute of silence by a memorial before Bishop Mikael
Ajapahian, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian
Church, conducted a special service of repose for all
victims of the quake.
President Robert Kocharian was accompanied by
deputy prime minister Hovik Abrahamian, Gyumri mayor
Vartan Ghukasian and regional governor Lida Nanian.
After the ceremony Kocharian spoke to local people
who came to the monument to remember their beloved and
family members.
Governor Nanian said 4,000 families in Gyumri are
still living in temporary dwellings.
Mrs, Nanian said the government will not finance
construction of new homes in the earthquake zone next
year and will spend instead 800 million drams on
buying new apartments for several hundred homeless
families.