CRIMINAL GROUPINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICAL ONES
A1+
[03:34 pm] 05 September, 2006
Aram Karapetyan, leader of the “New Times” Party, claims that the
visit of Vyacheslav Ivankov (nicknamed Yaponchik), representative
of the Russian criminal world will be one of the most significant
events in the political life of Armenia. According to some sources,
the visit is anticipated by the end of the week.
It is yet unknown what business the Russian criminal has in our country
but Aram Karapetyan maintains that pre-election groupings in Armenia
will be done in two directions; specification of relations between
authorities and opposition on the one hand and between criminal –
non-criminal groups on the other. Aram Karapetyan urges that criminal
– non-criminal groupings during the pre-election period are more
actual. He doesn’t think that there will be any chance of fair and
just elections. “The administrative livers are still in the hands of
the officials, and electronic media are still under control.” By the
way, it is noteworthy that none of the above-mentioned media, that’s
to say TV channels, was interested in the meeting with the leader
of “New Times” and didn’t come to cover his press conference. In
comparison with them, Russian newspapers, especially “Nezavisimaya
Gazeta,” which published Karapetyan’s article, are greatly interested
in Aram Karapetyan. The advertisement of the article was published
on the first page of the newspaper. It reads, “Moscow is no more
interested in Kocharyan. The relations of the two countries are on
the verge of collapse.”
Today the leader of the “New Times” Party claimed that the contents
of the advertisements has nothing to do with his article. He also
added that he gave no money to the newspaper for his article.
Asked the question what the opposition will do during the pre-election
period taking into account the specification of criminal – non-criminal
relations, Aram Karapetyan answered that the representatives of
the opposition will unite during the pre-election period under the
following motto, “We say no to criminal elements in political sphere.”
By the way, Mr. Karapetyan is convinced that there is some discord
among our high-rank officials as well.
“The division of administrative livers has already started, and
Serge Sargsyan is displeased with it. All those who ignore the God,
have a rather unhappy end.”

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SWIM IN SEVAN “FREE OF CHARGE”
A1+
[04:29 pm] 05 September, 2006
“Dilijan” national park will have 36600 hectares territory instead
of the former 28000 hectares. The Ministry of Environment intends
to hold discussions on the territorial enlargement with the Dilijan
community and a few rural communities. The new borders of the park
will be established after the discussion.
Vardan Aivazyan, Minister of Environment , assures that this project
implemented within the framework of SORFECO&ONF international program
will enhance eco-tourism in “Dilijan” and will give a chance to have
profit from other sources besides timber.
“Eco-tourism and agro-tourism are universally accepted in the world
practice. We have much work to do in the territory of the park. The
impassable roads will be cleaned. Cottages will be built in certain
places,” announced the minister during his meeting with journalists
today.
Asked the question whether the development of eco-tourism in Dilijan
will be like that of Sevan (that’s to say whether there will be illegal
buildings and illegal levies), Mr Aivazyan said, “Nothing will be
built in the reserve area where no economic activity is permitted.”
As for the 2000 – 3000 AMD taken from the visitors in Sevan, the
Minister of Environment Protection once more reminded the rights of
visitors, “They may take money only when they do any service. The law
on Sevan says that any person has the right step into water area. So
you are free to swim free of charge as much as you want.”
Mr. Aivazyan claims that Dilijan will not suffer much because of the
program as international organizations having great experience in
this sphere are involved in the program.
In comparison with the minister, Ashot Davtyan, head of “Dilijan,”
is not yet sure what outcome the program might have on the national
park as they haven’t had such an experience so far.
We shall try not to harm nature but as this is our first experiment
we cannot anticipate positive results,” says Mr. Davtyan.
“Dilijan” got the status of national park in 2002.
Before that, it was a reserve which implies the absence of economic
activity. Many rare trees such as beech, maple, have preserved in
that area.
The head of the park notes that today Dilijan is one of the
well-preserved forests in the country. “I don’t want to boast on this
score. It is determined by the fact that Dilijan has had gas since
1994 which made it possible to preserve the forest.”

ANTHEM IS NOT PEANUTS, IT SHOULD HAVE HISTORY
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
On September 5 at the Hayeli Club Doctor Henrik Hovanisyan and Poet
Davit Hovanes discussed the adoption of the new national anthem and the
scandal connected with it. There was a shade of dismay in the voice of
Henrik Hovanisyan that he had not been included in the commission of
22, which deals with choosing a new anthem. Davit Hovanes, a member
of this committee, was offended because the song by Komitas “Hayastan
Yerkir Drakhtavair” got only 3 votes and was left out. In answer,
Davit Hovanes resigned from the committee.
The discussion did not grow into a debate because the speakers agreed
on most questions. For instance, everybody knows the members of the
commission, the adoption of the anthem is not an urgent matter, etc.
Henrik Hovanisyan says now is not the time when the questions are
solved confidentially, the symbol of the state should be chosen in
public debates, after a retrospective view into the history. Davit
Hovanes agrees that we need to choose several works from our poetry
and choose the best. And he thinks that the best is “Hayastan Yerkir
Drakhtavair” by Komitas. But since this option was rejected, Davit
Hovanes suggests not changing the anthem, although the change of the
anthem was a “political order”, calm down and try again, and this
time include Henrik Hovanisyan in the commission. Henrik Hovanisyan
also agrees that there is no need to hurry. Davit Hovanisyan says,
“It is an abject reason to have a new anthem by September 21.”
Generally, Davit Hovanes gave evaluations lavishly. For instance, he
says, the lyrics of the anthem of Soviet Armenia by Sarmen are “dull
and tasteless”, “writing lyrics for the music by Aram Khachaturyan
is the same as replacing the leg of a person with two legs with a
prosthesis”, “the work by Komitas is stronger than time and it will be
sung forever”, “an anthem is not peanuts for everyone to eat”. Davit
Hovanes heard the latter from Ruben Atayan, who studied Komitas.
Two out of five variants, which are in the final round, are criminal,
Davit Hovanes says. Armen Soghomonyan, a senior official of the
Ministry of Culture wrote lyrics for the music by Aram Khachaturyan,
“and the commission works in the orbit of the ministry of culture,
and is led by the minister of culture,” he says. The second is the
anthem by a person with the nick Ararat B. Davit Hovanes says, “It
took me an hour to get the name of this person from the commission
members, I pointed to him and said he might be a member of the
commission, maybe he is a Turk or a traitor, or was convicted for
five times.” Davit Hovanisyan was more obstinate than the members of
the commission. He declined to tell the name to the news reporters,
although everyone knows already that Ararat B is Razmik Davoyan. And
since Razmik Davoyan is a member of the commission, he cannot submit
his work for contest. By the way, after this revelation Razmik Davoyan
is already writing another anthem and signs his real name.
The speakers think it is not worthwhile to return to the music
composed by Aram Khachaturyan because it will bring along the
political past. The present anthem is also political past but we
worship this past. Henrik Hovanisyan is for the music by Mansuryan
written for the poem by Yeghisheh Charents, although he says it is
a difficult and complicated work and very few can sing it. Davit
Hovanes says Yeghisheh Charents wrote a marvelous poem but it is not
an anthem. Aram Khachaturyan is also a genius but “his music was the
anthem of another country.”
And people prefer Aram Khachaturyan (43 out of the 85 songs were
written for the music by Aram Khachaturyan) because “people still have
a grudge. Their souls are in that country.” “At any rate, “Hayastan” by
Komitas will be the anthem of our country,” Davit Hovanes asserted. He
did not specify when and how but he stated that today the anthem
will be chosen by political trade. On the other hand, Davit Hovanes
does not deny that the work of the commission may produce no results,
for quite different processes are underway in the National Assembly.

THE STORY OF A DECLARED BRIBE
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
The Ministry of Environmental Protection cancelled the license of
Global Gold Mining Company to explore the mine of Marjan, stated
Vardan Aivazyan, the minister of environmental protection September
5. He said the license was cancelled because the company failed to
implement the contract liabilities on exploration of the mine.
The license gave rise to a real scandal. Vardan Aivazyan is said
to have demanded a bribe of 3 million dollars from the leadership
of Global Gold Mining, namely the manager of the company, American
Armenian businessman Van Grigoryan. There was information that their
talk was recorded and the tape was extended to the president of
Armenia. It was mentioned that John Evans did it. The minister of
environmental protection announced that he did not demand a bribe,
therefore there can be no recording. The U.S. Embassy also refuted
the fact of a recording. However, only some sources state that
the U.S. ambassador handed the recording to the president. Other
sources said that the recording was extended to Robert Kocharyan by an
authoritative American Armenian businessman, who has close relations
with Van Grigoryan. With regard to this Victor Soghomonyan, the speaker
of Robert Kocharyan announced that he did not know anything about
this recording. It is notable that the speaker did not announce that
the president did not get such a recording, he only said he did not
know anything. Consequently, either he hinted that president could
have got such a recording or Robert Kocharyan does not have secrets
from Victor Soghomonyan.

COMMITTEE MEMBER SAYS CRIMINALISM OBSERVED IN DECIDING NATIONAL ANTHEM OF ARMENIA
Panorama.am
14:30 05/09/06
Two out of 5 options of the national anthem of Armenia, which have
passed to the second level, are criminal whereas the remaining three
are worth consideration, David Hovhannes, former member of special
committee on national anthem, told reporters today. David Hovhannes
left the committee on August 28 saying that the work did not satisfy
him. He thinks that the committee reaches too quick decisions due
to the urgency to have the national anthem by the 15th anniversary
of the Armenian statehood. “Is this one day worth to impose a song
on the nation for the next 10-15 years?” he raises the question. Two
texts were proposed under the music of Aram Khachatryan, which David
Hovhannes thinks, are a pile of words and not a piece of art. The
author of one of the texts is Arsen Soghomonyan, who supervises a
division at the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs. “As a result of
inevitable political trade the parliament will pass “Our Motherland” as
the national anthem,” David Hovhannes made this forecast.

NEW TIMES PARTY LEADER SAYS CRIMINALISM TOP CONCERN OF ARMENIA
Panorama.am
15:09 05/09/06
The leader of New Times Party (Nor Jamanakner), Arman Karapetyan,
has criminalism as its top concern. He thinks that opposition should
have the slogan “No to criminalism!” at the doors of elections. The
opposition must expect support of masses because it does not have
oligarchs and Mafiosi in its lines.
Karapetyan claims that processes are out of politics and are guided
“by non classical criminals who have no prison records but make dirty
money.” Nothing is more important for the party leader than that
“Yaponchik comes to Armenia to settle issues.”
“It is very clear that administrative resources are being
divided. Serzh Sargsyan takes that very close to heart because he has
a wish to be the sole person from the side of authorities. Therefore,
he tries to press Prosperous Armenia,” Karapetyan shares his opinions
on authorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVANS DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE POSITIVE
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
Aram Karapetyan, the leader of Nor Jamanakner Party told news reporters
September 5 that the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans did not
take part in the positive processes in Armenia, ARKA reports.
According to Aram Karapetyan, the party he leads has announced this
for a number of times. Aram Karapetyan believes that John Evans’s
diplomatic mission will end on September 8 since on the previous day
the U.S. Senate will appoint a new ambassador.
John Evans, who has been the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia since summer
2004, leaves office this fall. We have learned that John Evans is
preparing to leave, and one of the prestigious restaurants of Yerevan
has been reserved for a banquet.
Aram Karapetyan says the depreciation of te U.S. dollar in Armenia does
not fit into any logic. “The dollar cannot fall by 7 percent within
a day in a separate country if the depreciation on the international
market is only 2.5 percent,” says Aram Karapetyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S ATTITUDE TO DISCUSSING FIRES IN UN IS NORMAL
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told news reporters September 5 there
is nothing worrying about the fact that the problem of fires at the
front line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was included in the draft
agenda of the 61st session of the U.S. General Assembly.
“You see, the agenda is there, the Azerbaijanis reported the problem of
fires to the UN. This is perhaps their right, in the long run. However,
considering that there is a Minsk process, there is the OSCE which
attends to these matters, the United Nations cannot do anything new in
preventing or eliminating the fires. Simply we do not think there is
necessity and we think that Karabakh and Azerbaijan may cooperate over
the problem of fires and settle the problem at the front line. Simply
the involvement of the UN with regard to this question is impertinent,”
says Vardan Oskanyan.
He does not deny that the issue raised by the Azerbaijanis will
nevertheless appear on the agenda of the 61st session of the UN
General Assembly. However, this does not worry official Yerevan.
“You see, it depends on the decision that will be made.
Subsequently, we will decide our steps,” says Vardan Oskanyan. He says
they received a letter from Karel de Gucht, the OSCE CiO proposing
to send an OSCE mission to the region to monitor the area of fires
and give an evaluation.
“Karabakh must eventually become engaged, and it will be enabled by
their cooperation, and Armenia, a facilitator of these processes, has
already said there is no problem. Therefore, the participation and
involvement of the UN in these processes is impertinent, we think,”
Vardan Oskanyan says.
He thinks that the anxiety of Azerbaijan to prevent the fires is
not bad but only if it involves cooperation with Karabakh and the
right organizations.

CIVIL INITIATIVE FOR LAWFUL ELECTIONS
Press Service Of Orinats Yerkir
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
On September 4 the Orinats Yerkir faction of the National Assembly
held a discussion in the framework of the Civil Initiative for Lawful
Elections”, the main directions of which are:
1. Amendments to the electoral code to make it comply with
international standards and will lead the forces inside and outside
the parliament who are for reforms to consensus;
2. A clear system of training of members of electoral committees,
which will guarantee an equal approach for all the political parties;
3. Transparency of the electoral process, providing pro-active
mechanisms of civil control;
4. Guaranteeing freedom of the media, other institutions of the
civil society in the electoral process, which presupposes several
legislative reforms in the nearest future.
The leaders and representatives of 14 political parties (including
ARFD, People’s Party, Labor Party, National Self-Determination Union,
National Democratic Union, Republic, Orinats Yerkir) and NGOs.
Over 50 political parties and NGOs endorsed the initiative (including
Constitutional Right Union, Democratic Path, Alliance, and other
political parties). However, since the National Assembly refused
to provide the hall, it was impossible to invite all of them to
the discussion.
In presenting their standpoints the participants of the discussion
pointed to the steps intended to guarantee lawful elections, approved
the Civil Initiative for Lawful Elections and discussed the mechanisms
of future cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHAT TIGRAN TOROSYAN DID IN STRASBURG
Lragir.am
05 Sept 06
The Times Yerevan informed that the daughter of the speaker of the
National Assembly Tigran Torosyan was admitted to work in the European
Union. Our source informs that Tigran Torosyan, the leader of the
Armenian delegation to the PACE used his position to facilitate his
daughter’s placement in the PACE, not the European Union. Our source
in Strasburg informs that for several months Tigran Torosyan has been
asking the PACE officials to solve the problem of his daughter’s
job. He asked and even made some “sacrifices”. Personal or state,
we will touch upon this in the future.