NURSUN EREL: TURKISH COURT WILL NOT STOP ME TO SAY WHAT I WANT

Panorama.am
16:31 29/11/06

Reporters from Azerbaijan and Turkey arrived in Yerevan within the
framework of "Dialogue: Azerbaijan-Turkey-Armenia" launched by a civic
initiative "Alternative start." Nursun Erel, a Turkish reporter, was
asked if she personally recognizes the genocide of Armenians. She said,
"I am not a historian and not an expert but I will do everything for
an open dialogue to take place."

This is not the first visit of Ernel to Armenia.

During her last visit, in 2001, she me with historians and attended the
museum of genocide. "I think a tragedy happened. But I also believe
it must not become a fixed idea. We must create a better world for
our generations," she said.

The reporter said the genocide of Armenians is not a taboo in Turkish
mass media. She said they openly discuss the opinions of historian
on genocide, e.g., Taner Akchama who believes that genocide took place.

Asked if her colleagues are not prosecuted based on article 301 which
considers insult of the dignity of the Turkish nation any mentioning
of the Armenian genocide, she said the Turkish reporters are not
happy with article 301 and continue fighting against it because any
word can be taken out of context and serve the base for prosecution.

About 60 writers, scientists and publicists are convicted based on
article 301.

NGO HEAD COMPLAINS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS

Panorama.am
17:41 29/11/06

"2007 elections are practically over," Ruben Torosyan, head
of Human Rights-96, said in a regular meeting of Anti-criminal
movement. Torosyan has applied to become a member of the movement.

Torosyan said the upcoming elections will run smoothly. "In the
past, they broke the boxes, now they have stepped to propaganda," he
said. Moreover, there is an impression that the authorities in power
and OSCE observers have some kind of agreement between themselves. They
will come and register than everything went right, he said.

Torosyan complained that international observers came for 2 days only
during the last elections but preserved themselves the right even
to speak about advocacy. "And our observers, who conducted works for
3-4 months, were ignored," he said.

PRESENT NATIONAL ANTHEM TO STAY AS LONG AS A NEW ANTHEM IS FOUND

Panorama.am
18:21 29/11/06

The parliament adopted by the first reading a draft on the national
anthem of Armenia. Sixty-four deputies voted for, 6- against and 4
– abstained. Three of the deputies who voted against were from the
United Working Party (UWP).

Hasmik Poghosyan, minister of culture and youth affairs, said all the
suggestions were considered in the draft. Every Monday, the national
anthem will be played at schools before the classes. The government
proposed to keep the present national anthem as long as a new one is
found.

PUBLIC TV CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY

Panorama.am
18:40 29/11/06

The public TV is 50 and radio is 80 years old and the radio TV
management wanted to make a gift on the anniversary. "In a month
or two, public radio station will end its technical upgrading. The
public TV will also finish its technical upgrading and repair works
in summer. It is very important because it is not possible to create a
new TV station with old equipment," Alexan Harutunyan, board chairman
of radio – TV company said.

Speaking about content, the board chairman said soap operas will be
considerably cut short. New political programs are expected. Also,
program with international format will be increased, like My Right
program or 100 Options.

Speaking about the parliamentary elections, Harutunyan, said they
will do everything to deserve a "very good" mark by OSCE and EU
institutions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BEAST ON THE MOON TO BE STAGED IN CHICAGO

Armenpress
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: A theater in Chicago, USA, called
Trap Door will stage on December 10 Richard Kalinoski’s play "Beast
on the Moon," written in 1992, which has as its protagonists two 1915
Armenian genocide survivors.

The play since received great acclaim and has been staged all over
the world in regional and community theatres. Beast on the Moon is
a two-act play which depicts the lives of two Armenian genocide
survivors, beginning in 1921 when Aram Tomasian, the portrait
photographer, is 21 and his picture bride, Seta, is an orphan of 15.

This is a beautiful human drama of loyalty to one’s ancestors which
drags with it the constant reliving of a traumatic past, this is a
story of a young newly wed couple coming of age in America where hope
and self reinvention are possible.

According to Illinois state’s genocide education network, the play is
being staged to encourage genocide teaching. Last August the Illinois
State’s Assembly adopted a decision on mandatory teaching of Armenian
genocide at the state’s schools.

ARMENIA EXPECTS TO GET $30 MILLION FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK FOR RURAL ROAD REHABILITATION

Armenpress
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The Asian Development Bank has
pledged today expertise assistance to Armenian authorities to help them
to prepare a program for rehabilitation of rural roads. A memorandum
to that end was signed today in Yerevan.

The government of Armenia hopes to receive a $30 million credit
from the bank next year for major repair of about 260 km long rural
roads. This project is expected to be launched in 2008.

Transport and communication minister Andranik Margarian said it was a
good program, adding the ultimate goal was to rehabilitate and build
good roads for all communities across the country.

Manukian said also that some 1,200 km long of rural roads will be
repaired on funds Armenia expects to receive as extra aid from the
U.S.-government funded Millennium Challenges Corporation.

Armenia’s overall road network is 7,700 km. Some 1,560 km are road
linking Armenian provinces with each other, 1,980 km roads link
regional centers and 4,320 km are rural roads.

Experts estimate that 61 percent of rural roads are in a very poor
state and only 11 percent are in good condition.

GENERAL ANDRANIK’S SWORD AND MEDALS HANDED TO HISTORY MUSEUM OF ARMENIA

Armenpress
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: In a high-profile ceremony defense
minister Serzh Sarkisian handed today the sword and the medals of
General Andranik to Armenian History Museum. Speaking to reports the
minister said the defense ministry released money from its off-budget
to buy the sword and the medals.

"A French Armenian told me that a Briton who held Andranik’s sword
and medals wished to sell them.

Naturally I could not remain indifferent and after receiving president
Kocharian’s O.K. we bought these relics for Armenia," the minister
said.

The sword and the medals were first kept at the Armenian embassy in
France and then brought to Armenia. Sarkisian said he had no concerns
that this move would be termed by his political opponents as part of an
election campaign. "I think there are people who may think that way,
but we have to do our job. If someone thinks that I roved across the
globe in search of these relics he is mistaken," the minister said.

General Andranik medals are six decorated on him by Russia, France and
the Armenian Catholicos. General Andranik fought against the Ottoman
Turks in Western Armenia, then in Bulgaria and was instrumental in
stopping Turkish invasion of Eastern Armenia in 1918-19.

In 1919 Andranik disbanded his army and left with a group of loyal
solders rather than be involved in political infighting. In 1922
he settled in Fresno (USA.) He died in Fresno in 1927. Some months
later his remnants were conveyed to Per-Lashez cemetery in Paris. His
remains were moved to Yerablur cemetery in Yerevan in 2000.

EUROCOMMISSION SUGGESTS CEASING TALKS WITH TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 13:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Eurocommission has suggested to partially
freeze the talks with Turkey over its membership in the EU, reports
AFP referring to an anonymous source at the EU. According to his
information, that step by the EU top executive is due to Turkish
authorities refusing to open ports for ships sailing under the flag
of the Republic of Cyprus. It is reported that the talks will be
ceased on 8 out of 35 items referring to relations of Turkey with
Cyprus authorities. A Cyprus representative stated that the Turkish
party will have to compromise sooner or later, as without adjusting
the entire list of requirements the EU accession will be closed to it.

December 11, 2006 EU FMs will gather for a wide-composition
meeting. They will have to adopt or reject the Eurocommission
proposal. British PM Tony Blair has already stated that Turkey’s
refusal from EU membership will be "a serious mistake."

November 27 the talks between EU, represented by Finnish FM Erkki
Tuomioja, and Turkey over Cyprus were futile, given the Eurocommission
presenting an ultimatum to Turkish authorities demanding to meet all
requirements to the united Europe. For latest several months the EU
threatened Turkey with full or partial stopping of the talks, if it
closes ports to Cyprus ships. In exchange Ankara demands canceling
sanctions against unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
in compliance with agreements of 2004, reports Lenta.ru.

ERDOGAN DENOUNCES EUROCOMMISSION DECISION TO CEASE TALKS WITH TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 13:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that he
denounces the EU decision to temporarily cease talks with Turkey on
EU accession.

"The Eurocommission decision is unacceptable to us," the Turkish PM
said. Due to that decision Erdogan even canceled his news conference
at the NATO summit. The Eurocommission has recommended that EU member
states partially interrupt talks with Turkey in response to Ankara
refusal to open its ports for Cyprus ships. 8 items out of 35 are
the point. They refer to limitations Turkey has introduced against
the Republic of Cyprus, reports Vek.

ARMENIA WORKS FOR QUALITATIVELY ENHANCING RELATIONS WITH NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 13:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia views relations with the NATO as an
important component of European integration policy, Armenian PM
Andranik Margaryan stated in an interview with the Commersant. In
his words, development of cooperation with the NATO issues directly
from the interests of regional security and Armenia will continue
joint programs with the Organization. "We work for qualitatively
enhancing the relations with the Alliance. Armenia has always advocated
development of regional cooperation within the Partnership for Peace
program and supports all NATO steps in that respect," he remarked. The
IPAP has had a central role in Armenia-NATO relations since 2004. "At
the same time Armenia is a CSTO member and builds its national security
system within the framework of that Organization," the PM added. He
noted that the desire to join an international organization is the
sovereign affair of any state. "In this regard we refer to Georgia’s
willingness to join the NATO with understanding. It is important not
to admit appearance of new dividing lines in our region, where there
are many unsolved conflicts. Our position issues exactly from that
principle," Margaryan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress