MORALS AND MANNERS OF OUR COUNTRY
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot.am
07 Sept 06
As it is known, journalism isn’t one of the most dangerous
professions. It’s better to work as the head of district. You sit
at your residence; take bribes, pay others and you have nothing to
worry about. Being a customs or tax inspector isn’t also bad. But it
is also relative, as it was affirmed yesterday.
Our main newspapers /including ”Iravunq”/ have 3-4 publications,
which touch human interests, abuse and offend them. The offended person
has several ways to act: 1/ not to pay attention to the publication,
2/ try to answer, 3/ to turn to the court, 4/ to beat the author
or editor-in-chief.
This last way of reaction, which is illegal and immoral and which
was used against editor-in-chief of ”Iravunq” newspaper Hovhannes
Galajian, shows the morals and manners of our state.
Everyday we face to those morals and manners. For instance, our
newspaper published that Tatul Manaserian’s had left “Justice”. We
tried to speak to Mr.
Manaserian supposing that he would like to give explanations. But
the parliamentarian refused because he was offended. A person phoned
me in the same day instead and said that I MUST publish his article
defending Mr. Manaserian.
Threats and violence are used instead of civil way of solution.
As I understand, Robert Kocharian and Serge Sargsian are less
interested in using violence against journalists. Each case of
such violence is recorded in all kind of international reports as
the greatest “minus” of our state and authority. I don’t think that
Galajian’s attack is ordered by the highest authority. But we have all
reasons to accuse just the authorities for that violence. Because Hamo
from Bangladesh and ”Alraghatsi Lyovik’s” guard of Tzakhkadzor villa
have got light punishments for using violence against journalists
on May 5, 2005. Because the morals and manners of our country are
like this.
–Boundary_(ID_wMc4XhJ185ymR+Wx0tI0mA)–

ARMENIAN MEDIA MUST IGNORE AGGRESSIVE DISPLAYS OF CRIMINAL WORLD
Yerevan, September 7. ArmInfo. “Armenian Mass Media must ignore the
aggressive displays of criminal structures,” says Hovhanness Galajyan,
editor of the newspaper “Iravunk,” at the discussions on the topic
“Armenia at the pre- election stage and the violence wave with respect
to Mass Media representatives,” Thursday. To recap, H. Galajyan
was beaten up by the two unknown, Wednesday. H. Galajyan says the
criminals phoned and threatened to him last night. He explains the
incident with the fact that the criminal structures in Armenia are
sure that only violence may exert pressure on Mass Media.
He called journalists stop giving a way to fear for the pressure they
are subjected to brings no results.
In his turn, Tatul Hakopyan, the analyst of the Armenian Public Radio,
is sure that many groupings will do their best to take control over
many newspapers in the election race of 2007. He says that all those
interested in getting as many votes as possible may increase the
circulation of some newspapers up to 20,000 copies. He explains
that at present only newspapers tend towards free pluralism of
opinions. As regards e-media, including TV and radio companies, they
observe political ethics with respect to the incumbent authorities,
T. Hakopyan said.

SERGE SARGSYAN: I AM NOT USED TO RESPOND TO ANY STUPIDITY OF MISERABLE PEOPLE ADDRESSED TO ME OR TO PUNISH THEM
Yerevan, September 7. ArmInfo. “I am not used to respond to any
stupidity of miserable people addressed to me or to punish them,”
said Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan asked about his attitude to
the publications by some mass media saying that the editor of Iravunk
newspaper H. Galajyan was subjected to an attack because of his article
“Why the super minister is angry?.”
The article, particularly, says that President of Russia Vladimir
Putin allegedly informed President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan that
Serge Sargsyan cannot be his successor on the post of the president.
To recap, two unknown attacked H. Galajyan Wednesday when he came
out of the entrance of his building in Komitas street.

“HUMAN RIGHTS 96” PARTY EXPRESSES ITS SOLIDARITY WITH EDITOR OF “IRAVUNK” NEWSPAPER BEATEN THE DAY BEFORE
Yerevan, September 7. ArmInfo. The “Human Rights 96” party expresses
its solidarity with the “Iravunk” newspaper editor, Hovhannes Galajyan,
beaten the day before y the two unknown people, and states of its
readiness to assist to the disclosure of this case.
According to the party’s statement, received by ArmInfo today,
the present criminogenic situation in the Republic indicates that
the authorities do not control the situation in the country. “The
officials, called to assure the security of Armenia’s citizens,
deal with political activities instead of fulfilling their official
commitments, which results in the growth of crimes in the country “,
the statement says.
To be noted, the editor of “Iravunk” (“Right”) newspaper, Hovhannes
Galajyan, was attacked and beaten by two unknown people that day
before in the Komitas Street, on his way to the work. According to H.
Galajyan, the motive of the attack relates to his professional
activity, since he has no personal enemies. However, the journalist
found difficulty in saying which article exactly had caused
dissatisfaction of the attack clients.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL BECOME A PRIORITY SPHERE OF THE ARMENIAN ECONOMY
Yerevan, September 6. ArmInfo. In the nearest future the construction
industry will become a priority sphere of the Armenian economy, said
director of AEPLAC Tigran Jrbashian during the presentation of the
‘Armenian Economy – 2005’ annual report.
To the opinion of Mr. Jrbashian the construction market will swiftly
develop due to considerable demand – Armenia has disadvantage of
numerous CIS states in accommodation space per head. Mr. Jrbashian
said that the growth of the Armenian economy in the coming years
will mostly depend on the competitiveness of Armenian goods on the
foreign market. He said that the Armenian export should be enhanced
by developing the finance sector. The Armenian currency (AMD) will be
go on consolidating until the finance sector becomes able to transform
the population incomes into investment savings.

OUTGOING US ENVOY SAYS ARMENIAN TIES “VERY DEVELOPED”
Arminfo
7 Sep 06
Yerevan, 7 September: US ambassador John Evans has highly assessed
the level of Armenian-US relations, he told Armenian Public TV.
The ambassador’s mission in Armenia is coming to an end.
He said that Armenian-US relations were very developed, and the sides
were closely cooperating in the diplomatic and strategic fields, as
well as in the social and economic spheres. “The most important thing
is to ensure balance between these areas,” ambassador Evans noted.
He added that Armenia was moving in the right direction, developing
democracy, and there were all prerequisites in these terms for Armenia
to become a leader of democratic processes in the South Caucasus
region. “However, the process of democratization is daily work in
all countries. This is a goal everyone aspires to,” the diplomat
noted. He added that the US embassy is developing programmes aimed
at strengthening democracy in Armenia, which envisages the holding
of democratic elections. “Armenia’s future is a path of democratic
development,” he concluded.

ARMENIA HAS POTENTIAL FOR BECOMING LEADER OF DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
Yerevan, September 7. ArmInfo. US Ambassador in Armenia John Evans
highly evaluates Armenian-US relations.
In an interview to Armenian Public Television Evans says that
Armenian-US relations are very well developed and the sides tightly
cooperate in diplomatic, strategic, social and economic spheres. The
main point is to ensure balance between those spheres, says Evans.
He notes that Armenia is moving in the right direction in its efforts
to develop democracy and there are all prereqisites for the country
to become the leader of democratic processes in the South Caucasus.
However democratization is a daily work in all countries – a goal
everybody seeks to achieve.
Evans says that the US Embassy is working out programs to strengthen
democracy in Armenia and to ensure democratic elections in the
country. Armenia’s future is the road of democratic development,
says Evans.

KARABAKH LEADER, BREAKAWAY DNIESTR REGION’S REP DISCUSS RELATIONS
Arminfo, Yerevan
7 Sep 06
Stepanakert, 7 September: The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, Arkadiy Gukasyan, has received members of a delegation
from Moldova’s Dniestr Region – Lyubomir Ribyak, the chairman of
the parliament’s commission on foreign affairs and Sergey Simonenko,
the deputy chief of the department on foreign affairs of the Foreign
Ministry – who are in Stepanakert to attend the festivities to mark
the 15th anniversary of Karabakh’s independence.
The sides discussed a number of issues concerning the economic
development of both republics and a peaceful solution to conflicts
in the post-Soviet area.

EIGHT ARMENIAN BOXERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 18:00
The youth boxing national team of Armenia left for the city of Agadir,
Morocco. Eight sportsmen included in the national team will take part
in the world championship. The team comprises Hayk Mkrtchian (48 kg),
Derenik Gizhlarian (51 kg), Azat Hovhannisian (54 kg), Robert Yeghisian
(57 kg), Ara Pluzian (60 kg) Arman Hovikian (64 kg), Tsolak Ananikian
(81 kg) and Vagharshak Aslanian (heavy weight category). The delegation
is headed by Secretary General of RA Boxing Republican Federation Levon
Hovhannisian. The world championship will be held on September 6-17.

AP INTERVIEW: CELEBRATED TURKISH NOVELIST RECOUNTS STRUGGLE WITH ULTRANATIONALISTS
Suzan Fraser
AP Worldstream
Sep 07, 2006
For best-selling Turkish author Elif Shafak, September promises to
be a month of joy and tribulation.
Nine-months pregnant, the University of Arizona literature professor
is set to give birth to her first child. Another important date looms:
the start of her trial on charges of “insulting Turkishness” in her
novel that deals with the waning years of the Ottoman Empire.
In a quiet cafe in the backstreets of Istanbul’s historic Beyoglu
district _ where Turks, Armenians, and Jews once lived in harmony _
Shafak reflected on the peculiarities of a case in which it is nothing
she said herself that is being put on trial, but words she gave to
a fictitious Armenian character.
“I think my case is very bizarre because for the first time they are
trying fictional characters,” Shafak, a striking woman with unruly
locks of blond hair, told The Associated Press.
If convicted Shafak, who divides her time between Tucson, Arizona,
and Istanbul, could face three years in prison. Turkey has refused
her request to delay the Sept. 21 trial because of her pregnancy.
The case will be closely watched by the European Union, which has
repeatedly insisted that Turkey abolish laws that limit freedom of
expression if it is to fulfill its dream of joining the elite club
of nations _ which sees itself both as an economic bloc and a beacon
of liberal, democratic values.
Shafak said the law on insulting Turkishness “has been used as a
weapon to silence many people. … My case is perhaps just another
step in this long chain.”
That chain includes Turkey’s best known novelist Orhan Pamuk _ a
perennial candidate for the Nobel Prize in literature _ and dozens of
other writers and intellectuals forced to defend themselves against
charges of “insulting Turkishness.”
Shafak says he has received hate mail from nationalists calling her a
“pawn of the enemies of Turkey.”
Although most of the cases have been dropped for technical reasons _
such as the case involving Pamuk _ and no one has ended up in prison,
the trials have raised serious questions about whether Turkey is
ready to embrace European values.
To Shafak, the trials, brought forward by a coalition of
ultranationalist lawyers, are an attempt to resist EU-inspired changes
toward a more democratic and pluralistic Turkey that some see as
a threat to the powerful central state, which has strong ties to
the military.
Yet Shafak sees reason for hope: The surge in nationalism, she
says, is a clear sign that Turkey is truly undergoing a momentous
transformation.
“This ultranationalist movement is taking place not because nothing
is changing in Turkey, but just the opposite, because things are
changing,” said Shafak. “The bigger the transformation, the bigger
their panic.”
Shafak’s novel, “The Bastard of Istanbul,” touches upon the massacres
of Armenians during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, telling
the tale of a Turkish and an American-Armenian family whose lives
become intertwined.
The book also deals with other taboos _ domestic violence and
incestuous rape _ which are rarely discussed in this conservative,
predominantly Muslim country.
But it was the fictional Armenian-American characters in the book who
are sending Shafak to court. In one passage, a character is deeply
concerned about the prospect of his niece being brought up by a
Turkish stepfather.
“What will that innocent lamb tell her friends when she grows up?” the
man asks. “(That) I am the grandchild of genocide survivors who
lost all their relatives to the hands of Turkish butchers in 1915,
but I myself have been brainwashed to deny the genocide because I
was raised by some Turk named Mustapha!”
Later, a radical Armenian-American blogger who goes by the name of
Lady Peacock/Siramark writes: “Do you think (the Turks) are going
to say: Oh yeah, we are sorry we massacred and deported you guys,
and then contentedly denied it all.”
Turkey insists that the mass evacuation and deaths of up to 1.5 million
Armenians during World War I was not a planned genocide. Labeling
it as such can be considered a criminal offense. The book has sold
60,000 copies since it was published _ considered a big hit in Turkey
where readership is low.
The daughter of a female diplomat who raised Shafak alone _ her father
left when she was young _ the novelist said she first became aware of
the Armenian issue after Armenian militants killed dozens of Turkish
diplomats in the 1970s and 1980s.
“My very first acquaintance with the word Armenian was so negative,
it just meant someone who wanted to kill my mother,” Shafak said. “I
then started to ask questions, ‘why so much hatred against Turkish
diplomats? What is behind this?'”
She does not take sides on the genocide debate, but criticizes Turkey
for what she calls a “collective amnesia” of the atrocities.
“Turks and Armenians are not speaking the same language,” she
explained.
“For the Turks all the past is gone, erased from our memories. That’s
the way we Westernized: by being future-oriented… The grandchildren
of the 1915 survivors tend to be very, very past-oriented.”
The English version of “The Bastard of Istanbul” is to be published
next year.