CE NOT TO INVESTIGATE FACTS OF FIRES IN KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.09.2006 16:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The probability for the Council of Europe to
investigate the fact of fires in Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent
territories is very little, reported the CE Department for Political
Affairs. The source noted that the process is rather difficult.
“The matter is that the CE does not have an official stance
specifically on that issue, as the organization does not have a
technical and material basis for checking the reliability of the facts
presented. The Council of Europe has expressed its attitude, based
on conclusions of other reliable organizations, e.g. the OSCE, whose
experts visited territories, where the fires occurred. According to
the mission conclusions, the fires were a result of a natural calamity.
Unfortunately, we as an organization cannot either confirm or deny
this information. We merely trust to OSCE data. The OSCE has larger
capacities for doing that.”

45,000 ARMENIANS EXPECTED TO SPEND SUMMER VACATIONS IN AJARIA
Armenpress
Sept 05 2006
BATUMI, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Some 45,000 Armenians are expected
to have spent their summer vacations in Georgia’s autonomous region
of Ajaria on the Black Sea coastline by the end of September. The
anticipated figure will be up from 20,000 in 2005.
During a meeting with Armenian ambassador to Georgia, Hrach Silvanian,
the region’s prime minister Levan Varshalomidze said at the beginning
of September some 35,000 Armenians had already spent a week or more
in Ajaria’s sea resorts.
The ambassador went to Ajaria to welcome the crew of Cilicia ship,
patterned from a medieval Armenian merchant vessel that arrived in
Georgia after traveling through several seas and will be transported
from there to Armenia.
The region’s prime minister said the growing number of Armenians
choosing Ajaria as their vacation destination has brought about the
necessity of opening a Armenian consulate in its capital Batumi.
The prime minister also promised to instruct Batumi municipality to
help fence the Armenian church of Batumi.

ARMENIANS ARE RECONSTRUCTING THE AZERI TOMBS
A1+
[02:20 pm] 05 September, 2006
more images Surik Truzyan, head of Nor Khachakap community has got
a videotape revealing the brutal acts of the Azeris while destroying
his ancestors’ tombs.
Surik Truzyan is from Koushi, Dashkistan region. He was forcibly
displaced with his compatriots 17 years ago and resettled in the
village of Nor Khachakap which was inhabited by Azeris and was called
Saral till 1988. It is noteworthy that contrary to their vandalism,
the Azeri tombs have been cleaned and restored in Armenia. (You may
see the reconstructed Azeri tomb in the picture)
“The Azeris treated our tombs very badly; they completely destroyed
them and broke the khachkars,” says 74-year-old Ashot Kyalabyan.
The Armenia and Azeri tombs are side by side in Nor Khachakap. The
Azeri tombs of the village have been restored this year on the
initiative of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly. Regardless of the fact that the Azeris destroyed their
ancestors’ tombs the residents of the village treat it normally.
Arthur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor office, claims that the tomb
of his ancestors which is in the territory of Azerbaijan, in the
village of Vernishen, Shahoumyan Region, is far from being in a proper
state. But in his opinion the conflict has aroused so many problems and
caused so much trouble that new demolitions are irrelevant. “Humanity
is not simply a term; it also implies respect and good treatment to
the memory of your rival.”
Asked whether there is any probability that the Armenian tombs may
be reconstructed in Azerbaijan like the Azeri tombs in Armenia, Arzu
Abdulajev, head of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly in Azerbaijan,
answered that he had no notion of the state of the Armenian tombs in
Azerbaijan as they mainly worked in Baku and added, “It will cause
no more trouble as we take measures on this score.” By the way, an
Azeri journalist who was in Armenian in summer noted that Armenian
tombs may hardly be reconstructed in Azerbaijan.
Nine hundred USD was spent on the reconstruction of the Azeri tombs
which lasted five months.
By the way, the RA Government allocated 2 million 308 thousand AMD
to find the places of the Azeri tombs and cultural monuments in the
territories of Armenia and Karabakh and to take their photos.
And what work is being done by the above-mentioned sum allocated by the
government? The press service of the Ministry of Culture informed us
that they are implementing some work but they didn’t go into details.
According to the data of the Azeri media, the Azeris, formerly living
in the territory of Armenia, handed applications to the European Court
of Human Rights with the request to compensate their real estate of
20 milliard USD left in Armenia. By the way, the Azeri media notes
that Armenians have ruined all the Azeri tombs in Armenia.

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