DRAFT LAW ON REPATRIATION DEVELOPED
Panorama.am
16:08 22/05/06
Union of public organizations Yerkir dealing with repatriation
developed a draft law “On repatriation,” Union Head Sevak Artsruni
told a press conference today.
In his words, the union addressed a letter to the National Assembly
in September, 2005 with a request to adopt the law on repatriation
and develop a national program on repatriation. The initial copy of
the draft law, submitted by union Yerkir, was not approved and asked
for further elaboration. The document was elaborated with the support
of Scientific Educational Fund Noravank and the Center for Strategic
and National Research. In Sevak Artsruni’s words, if the issue is
speculated in the political field, it will do more harm than good.
Speaking about the repatriation in financial and investment terms,
S. Artsruni said that the most danger comes not from oligarchs
of Armenia but low-level bureaucracy. In fact the process of
repatriation has already started, Artsruni says, but without legal
backing the repatriates are not sure that they won’t face problems
in the motherland.

THEY SAY GOOD-BYE THANKING EACH OTHER
A1+
[07:00 pm] 22 May, 2006
109 deputies arrived at the Parliament hall today to be present at
the resignation of the NA President.
First Arthur Baghdasaryan read out the names of the deputies who left
the OYP faction. Then RA deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan informed
that according to the 20th article of the NA regulations Arthur
Baghdasaryan has submitted a letter of resignation from the post of
the NA President.
Arthur Baghdasaryan started his resignation speech thanking all
the deputies irregardless of their political beliefs and attitudes
towards him, the NA staff, the journalists and his colleague parties –
the ARF and the Republican Party.
Then he started criticizing. “Social surveys show that 70% of the
population of Armenia is afraid. We will fight against the society
of fear. We will fight for the free society”, Arthur Baghdasaryan
announced today. He said that if the present rates of birth and death
are preserved, even if no one leaves the country, in 2050 there will
be 500 thousand people left.
“When we said that the state must support young families they said it
was populism. It is not populism; it is the road to the development
of the country. We think that social-economic reforms must be
deeper. Being part of the authorities for three years we tried to
introduce our approaches. Many good things have been done, but many
have been omitted. And now we have decided to follow our own route”.
After Arthur Baghdasaryan, Mher Shahgeldyan, the President of the NA
Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs,
and Gagik Mkheyan, the President of the NA Standing Committee on
Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment resigned too. After that
the members of the OYP left the hall.
Before that Tigran Torosyan who presided over the session thanked
Arthur Baghdasaryan and the OYP for the joint work for the last
three years.
By the way, Arthur Baghdasaryan announced that in 2003 he was honestly
for Robert Kocharyan.

“KOCHARYAN IS AT THE HEAD OF EVERYTHING”
A1+
[07:31 pm] 22 May, 2006
The residents of the Kozern district will organize acts of complaint
opposite the President’s residence demanding the privatization of
their own houses.
Organizing acts of complaints in front of the Government and the
Yerevan municipality buildings and not getting any answers the
residents of the district realized that “Robert Kocharyan is at the
head of everything.”
“He must give the guarantees. The Government and the municipality have
been trying to deceive us for months. We will come here every day in
case of need,” Anahit Hovhannisyan, resident of the Kozern district
says. She thinks that the houses are not allowed to be privatized
on purpose as the district is considered a realization zone. Anahit
complains that people who have been living here for 70-100 years are
not allowed to privatize their houses, whereas the oligarchs who
came to their district 2-3 years go have already privatized their
houses. According to the residents, there are about 400 people living
in Kozern.
“Give us the possibility to keep our own property”, Sasoun Lazarian
demanded. He has decided to apply to the structures of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation in the Armenian Diaspora and ask for help.
By the way, residents of other realization zones of the capital had
joined the participants of the act of complaint today.
Let us add that a number of policemen “protected” the President’s
residence. There were even more policemen than during the meetings
organized opposite the Government building. There were also children
among those gathered. Instead f going to school they had come to the
Baghramyan street together with their parents.

WILL THE AVIATION ISSUE BE DISCUSSED?
A1+
[08:17 pm] 22 May, 2006
Secretary of the Justice bloc faction Viktor Dallakyan announced today
about the initiative to gather signatures planning the discussions
the NA of the situation in the civic aviation and the activity of
the government in this connection in.
“On May 11 a legislative initiative has been introduced and in order
to discuss that draft on June 12 we offer the deputies to gather 44
signatures, to include the issue in the agenda and to discuss the issue
during the June 12 special session”, Viktor Dallakyan addressed the
NA majority. He mentioned that the issue is especially urgent taking
into account the circumstances of the May 3 crash of the Armenian
plane in Sochi.

NO MATTER HOW UNNATURAL IT SEEMS
By Ruben Hayrapetian in Moscow
AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006
The coverage of the Armenia A320 crash in Russian media is viewed in
Armenia as an expression of sympathy from the Russians. In general,
it is so. Yet, no matter how indiscreet raising this issue may seem,
it turns out that even the coverage of such a tragic accident cannot
avoid being politicized. Media reports that followed the crash reveal
underlying themes.
So, what are the Russian papers writing? The crash of A320 early
this month and the fire at the Brussels airport are viewed as a
manifestation of rivalry between Boeing of the USA and European
Airbus. The Russian printed press writes that in this rivalry the
US monopolistic interests coincide with Washington’s foreign policy
in the region where “pro-Russian” Armenia upsets its plans regarding
monopoly in Caspian basin.
In terms of time the crash coincided with the Vilnius get-together of
anti-Russian forces where US vice-president Dick Cheney’s speech caused
panic in Kremlin. Russian FM Sergei Lavrov’s toothless response that
Cheney’s assistants misinterpreted “our democracy” reduced Russian
leadership’s comeback to minimum. It’s clear that a scandal with
world leaders at the threshold of hyped up G8 summit in Petersburg
was not playing into president Putin’s hands.
Reportedly, the Kremlin “warned” mass media to overlook the American’s
ultimatum-like speech. But on the other hand, how to mitigate the
fact of humiliation before a public challenge? It is here that the
mass media resorts to full-scale broadcast of Armenian jet crash. A
very human, distracting and respectful way towards the “strategic
partner”…

‘GOLDEN APRICOT 2006’ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO LAUNCH JULY 10-15
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006
“Golden Apricot 2006” international film festival will launch in
Yerevan on July 10-15. Moris de Hadeln, Godfrey Regio and Arsine
Khanjian will lead the competitions for the fiction films, documentary
and “Armenian Panorama” competitions respectively. The organizers of
the festival informed that 257 films from 56 countries will participate
in the festival.
Besides the competition program, the festival also had 4 out of
contest programs. Best 10 European films shot in 2005-2006 will be
represented within the framework of “One Day in Europe” program. While
“The Summer Euphoria” program will include 10 films picked up by Andrey
Plakhov. The new films by the festival guests will be included in
“Yerevan Premier” program, while “The Documentary World” program will
represent the films chosen by the organizers. On July 12-13, “Directors
without Borders” international seminar will be held in Yerevan by
the financial assistance of the European Cultural Parliament.
The organizers of the festival informed that Artavazd Peleshian,
one of the most contemporary prominent directors, will attend the
festival as an honored guest. He will receive the prize of “Golden
Apricot 2006” for the greatest contribution to the world cinema.
Harutyun Khachatrian stated that they have settled many issues and the
festival can compete with other festivals that cost $4-5 million. It’s
worth mentioning that the festival is being held within the framework
of budget of $300 thousand.
Mikeal Stanboltsian stated that they try to be strict when chosing
the Armenian films, trying to represent the most interesting ones,
so that the foreigners get familiarized with Armenian cinema.

TODAY IS CHARLES AZNAVOUR’S BIRTHDAY
A1+
[06:30 pm] 22 May, 2006
Robert Kocharyan has sent a congratulating message to renowned singer
Charles Aznavour on his birthday.
“I congratulate you on your birthday. Your image of an excellent
artist and a Great Armenian supported many people. You are the pride
of our nation. Many generations have admired your songs and your
patriotic spirit.
I wish you, my great friend, good health and long creative life”.

A 70-MINUTE FILM ABOUT “TURKISH GENOCIDE” DISSEMINATED IN RUSSIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006
Turkey keeps on distorting facts as it fights international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.
Another manifestation of this policy came into sight in Russia where,
by the way, the Genocide is recognized by the State Duma. But that was
no obstacle for Komersant-Dengi journal to insert a 70-minute film on
the “Turkish genocide committed by the Armenians” in its recent issue.
Speaking to daily Azg, Ara Abrahamian, chairman of the Armenians of
Russia, labeled the film “absurd” that does not deserve to be commented
on but added that they wait for explanation from the Russian magazine.
Mr. Abrahamian said that there is no man by the name of the ad owner
as the publishing house gave it. He said that the Union works with
the Armenian Embassy in Moscow to find who is behind the ad.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PATRICK DEVEDJIAN: GENOCIDE IS NOT ONLY A HISTORIC FACT BUT ALSO A LEGAL NOTION
AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006
French-Armenian politician Patrick Devedjian, deputy of the Union for
Popular Movement and adviser of interior minister Nicola Sarkozy,
dubbed “comedy” the May 18 session of the French parliament that
discussed a draft law on criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial.
Below we present his interview with Le Figaro:
– Mr. Devedjian, are the results of the parliamentary discussions
surprising to you?
– I did not think they would dare to go that far. The aim of the
comedy that we witnessed was to prolong the discussions not to put
the draft for discussion. This game was organized by the socialists’
spearhead and part of the rightists acting apparently on demand.
This is a disaster for the parliament where seems to be a ban on
discussing concerns facing the French.
– The government also pressed arguments to justify its opposition.
– The foreign minister was the government’s representative. He
explained that Turkey should not be distressed by adopting this
bill. I am astonished over his arguments on trade relations, which is
not only immoral but also wrong. Should I say that around 1.5 million
people fell victim to the Armenian Genocide?
Besides, the market economy is no subject to Ankara’s orders. Turkey
threatened with sanctions. But the next year our export to Turkey
rose by 32 percent.
– What will you tell historians opposing the draft?
– History is not the historian’s manor. Genocide is not only
a historic truth but also a legal notion that is defined in
the French Penal Code. The parliament is entitled to deal with
legal issues. Nevertheless, I stand for free historic debates. The
issue that we discuss today is the shameful Turkish denialism in
France. The legislative power’s interference is necessary to avoid
clashed between communities.

SOCIOECONOMIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED MORE RESOLUTELY: ARMENIAN SPEAKER
Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Socioeconomic reforms in Armenia should be
implemented more resolutely, Armenian Speaker, Leader of “Orinats
Yerkir” party Artur Bagdasaryan reported.
According to his forecasts, under the conditions of the current death
rate and labor migration, only 500,000 people will be left in Armenia
by 2050.
“However, when we speak about giving young families welfare payments,
we are blamed for populism. It is not populism, but our way of the
country’s development,” Bagdasaryan said.
According to him, implementation of democratic reforms, combat against
corruption, patronage and clannish economy should be more resolute,
and human rights protection should be a political priority.
“We believe that democracy and freedom, but not fear in the society
should be Armenia’s future,” Bagdasaryan stated and re-confirmed his
adherence to the struggle against fear in the society in the name of
a free society.