NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR EU COOPERATION CREATED UNDER ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2006 14:59 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During its today’s recurrent session the Armenian
Government decided to form a National Council for Cooperation with
the EU, as well as a Commission to coordinate the cooperation,
reports the Press Service of the Armenian Government. The statute
of the Council and the Commission were adopted at the meeting, as
well as their composition, chaired by the Armenian PM. The National
Council will include civil society representatives, elected based on
their experience and the goal of the organizations they represent.

ASSOCIATION SPENDS 5 MILLION DRAMS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY MINIBUS DRIVERS SMOKE WHILE DRIVING
Armenpress
Sept 07 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Medical Association
has spent 5 million drams to carry out a three-month long program to
monitor the application of the anti-tobacco law in public transport
and raise the population’s awareness about smoking risks.
Some 2.3 million drams of this money were a presidential grant given
to the Association as the winner of a competition announced to choose
an organization to carry out the program. The other 2.7 million drams
were the Association’s input.
Parunak Zelveyan, the president of the Association, told a news
conference today that the survey found that 5 of 10 minibus drivers
defy the requirements of the anti-tobacco law by smoking while
driving. He said some 500 passengers and 100 drivers were covered by
the survey that also found that out of 100 drivers 77 are smokers.
Only 23 percent of drivers put out their cigarettes when passengers ask
them to do so and only 42 percent of drivers knew that the law forbids
their smoking when driving, while 21 percent never heard of the law.
Of passengers only 34 percent knew about the law.
Almost 95 percent of male and 84 percent of female passengers spoke
against drivers’ smoking while driving. They said they never rebuke
drivers for smoking just to avoid conflicting situations.
Zelveyan said after the end of the program chief managers of companies
running minibuses were invited for a consultation but only one turned
out. When asked by telephone the managers said they forbid their
drivers to smoke while driving.
Zelveyan said a sub-law envisaging a punishment for smoking drivers
should be developed and applied, but he did not elaborate what kind
of measure could be applied.

STATEMENT OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB, JOURNALISTS UNION OF ARMENIA, INTERNEWS ARMENIA, COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, HELSINKI COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA, CENTER OF LAW AND FREEDOM
Panorama.am
16:40 07/09/06
In the morning of September 6 our colleague, the Editor of “Iravunk”
newspaper Hovhannes Galajian, was attacked and beaten.
During the past months the cases of threats and violence against
journalists and media have become more frequent, yet those guilty have
either not been found or have not been punished. Yerevan Press Club,
Journalists Union of Armenia, Internews Armenia, Committee to Protect
Freedom of Expression, Helsinki Committee of Armenia, Center of Law
and Freedom have repeatedly announced that the unpunished violations
of freedom of speech and press generate new crimes: people, incapable
of civilized dialogue, choose the way of intimidating journalists
and media.
In our country it seems to become a sad tradition of striking the
media at the times of political tension.
Such attitude towards media, intensifying in the view of upcoming
parliamentary elections, endangers the possibility to ensure
transparent elective process.
We condemn this yet another act of violence against the journalist,
and we demand that the law enforcement bodies find and punish the
implementers and orderers of this perpetration.
Yerevan Press Club Journalists Union of Armenia Committee to Protect
Freedom of Expression Internews Armenia Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Center of Law and Freedom September 7, 2006.

THEY WILL EXERT PRESSURE BUT NOT ON EVERYBODY
A1+
[03:11 pm] 07 September, 2006
The pressure exerted on Hovhannes Galajyan, editor-in-chief of the
newspaper “Iravounq” was not restricted with beatings. Hovhannes
Galajyan claims that those “villains” rang him at about 4:00a.m.,
swore and threatened him once more. Asked what threats they said
Hovhannes Galajyan answered “ordinary” ones.
Anyway, Galajyan doesn’t consider himself a “sufferer” and assures
that nothing will change either in his behaviour or in the activity
of the newspaper.
Today a number of media representatives have gathered to discuss the
mechanisms which might ensure the free and independent activity of
journalisms in Armenia.
Everybody realizes that the pressure exercised on journalists
will still strengthen. Pressure will be mainly directed to the
representatives of press as even the European specialists mentioned
that “diversity of opinions is provided mainly by press.”
Tigran Haroutyunyan, director of “Noyan Tapan” Agency claims that the
beating of journalists is “the logical continuation of the actions
which began a few years ago. Narine Dilbaryan, member of the Press
National Club, noted that the illegality existing in the country has
gone out of control. “Even the authorities cannot control the criminal
elements, whose crimes were revealed. The illegality is already ruled
from a few centres.””
At the end of long debate they came to the conclusion that journalists
must combat against pressure with joint efforts. But it won’t work
either as the sphere of journalism is disrupted. Hayk Gevorgyan, a
correspondent of “Haykakan Jamanak” daily, reminded the time when the
disruption began. After the embattlement of “A1+” and “Noyan Tapan”
TV Channels, a number of “free and responsible” media separated from
the whole sphere and made an announcement according to which there
is no freedom of speech in Armenia. The fact that the auditorium was
overcrowded at the beginning of today’s discussion and it became
deserted only 30 minutes later testifies to the fact that today
journalists cannot unite and they still remain in various parts of
“barricades.”

ARMENIA OCCUPIES THE LAST PLACE IN THE FIRST GROUP
A1+
[03:45 pm] 07 September, 2006
Azerbaijan – Khazakhstan, Finland – Portugal and Poland – Serbia
meetings were held in the elimination trials of “Euro – 2008” alongside
with Armenian – Belgium meeting. All these meetings ended in a draw –
1:1. Only Armenia lost the meeting to Belgium by 0:1 and appeared in
the last place of the 1st group.
1st group
1. Finland 2 meetings 4 points
2. Serbia 2 meetings 4points
3. Belgium 2 meetings 4 points
4.Khazakhstan 2 meetings 2points
5. Portugal 1 meetings 1points
6. Poland 2 meetings 1points
7. Azerbaijan 2 meetings 1points
8. Armenia 1 meetings 0 points
Thus, we can say that only the Armenian football players didn’t manage
to gain points. But we mustn’t forget that in comparison with other
teams Armenian team has held only one meeting so far. Specialists
think that among the first group teams Finland, Belgium, Portugal,
Poland and Serbia are likely to appear in the final phase. But the
first meetings showed that other teams may take the fans unawares.
Other group meetings were also held. Germany beat San – Marino
with surprising scores 13:0. Current World champion Italy lost to
ex-champion French 1:3. At present Italy is in an awful state and
the team may be left out of “Euro – 2008” final phase if they don’t
display proper participation.
To note, Northern Ireland beat Spain 3:2 in Belfast which was the
most striking meeting of the tournament.

“THE VILLAGE HEAD GIVES LANDS TO HIS RELATIVES”
A1+
[04:21 pm] 07 September, 2006
It is already three years the residents of the village Masrik,
Gegharqouniq Marz, have been trying to get rid of the village head
Gagik Saroyan by various means of complaints. Gagik Saroyan, head
of the community, has been ruling the village for 18 years and was
reelected on June 25.
This has aroused new complaints among residents and as a result of
it they organized a rally opposite the Government premises. Sanasar
Ghulyan, the confidant of Susanna Barseghyan, candidate for the village
head, claims that Gagik Saroyan was elected with “gross frauds.”
Most of his votes(194) “he collected from his native village Norakert
and on account of the dead.” Whereas the other candidate who didn’t
win the election got “191 votes” only from Masrik.
Besides election frauds, the strikers claim that Gagik Saroyan hasn’t
done anything for the villagers since he officially took his office.
The village refugees complained most of all saying that the village
head “takes their lands and gives them to his acquaintances or
relatives living in Norakert as the head himself comes from that
village.”
The residents of the village voice hope that Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan will listen to their complaints and assist them. Otherwise
they will have to turn to foreign embassies and ask them for dwelling
places in other territories.

SERGE SARGSYAN DOESN’T STRUGGLE AGAINST THE “MISERABLE”
A1+
[05:04 pm] 07 September, 2006
“I neither struggle against the miserable nor ignore them, I simply
neglect them,” this was Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan’s answer to
the question on Hovhannes Galajyan’s suspects.
Reminder: yesterday morning unknown people attacked and beat Hovhannes
Galajyan. The latter has suspects that the incident may be connected
with his analytical article titled “What makes the super minister
nervous.”

TIME IS ACHILLES HEEL OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND CRIMINAL CORPS
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
07 Sept 06
If there was anyone who wanted evidence and facts on the criminal
ruling the country, on September 6 they got two at once. The editor of
the Iravunk Newspaper was attacked and the head of the Department of
Investigations of the Tax Agency Shahen Hovasapyan was assassinated. At
first sight there is no cause and effect relation between these two
accidents, but it is a mistake to divide these two.
Both the attack and the assassination, as well as all the previous
attacks and killings are grouped under the “flag” of the organized
Republic of Armenia. And if the Republic is organized, it means
everything is organized.
One only has to find out who the organizer is. The government had
put forward the idea of an organized state, aspiring to be by far
the most organized in the region. In other words, the government is
the organizer of everything. This is perhaps absolute truth. The only
problem is who the government is. Who do we consider government, the
president, the National Assembly, the government, the law enforcement
agencies or all together? Who is government in the Republic of
Armenia? This question, which appears rather banal and rhetorical, has
in fact an essential meaning. All the answers depend on the answer
to this. Unfortunately, at present and regularly, there is only
one answer to this question – the criminal is in power in Armenia,
which kills and violates whenever, whoever, wherever and however it
wants. And the formal government, which appears as the three branches
of power, cannot give facts to prove the opposite.
There are as many facts on the criminal rule as one may wish:
the crossroad of the Nairi Cinema, the forests of Tsaghkadzor, the
roundabout in Malatia, the roundabout of the Thermal Plant of Yerevan,
the Ashtarak-Gyumri road, Byron Street. The list can be continued. And
the guilty did not get an adequate punishment, the punishment they
deserved. And what punishment can there be if the punishment is
provided for by the law, whereas the law enforcers keep violating the
law? What is punishment if those who are supposed to institute the
punishment beat journalists and steal their cameras and recorders as
trophy? Usually, when there is nothing else to plunder in the area of
the war, those who are used to plundering roll up their sleeves and
get down to work at peace, and in order to do everything “honestly”,
they declare war to the society to justify themselves later that they
did not steal, they took away the trophy.
In this situation, it is natural that it is possible to stay in power
only with the support of the criminal, because this is the other rank
of people for whom trophy is a value, a meaning of life.
Consequently, a plunderer government has formed in the country
the Armenian society has to deal with in the 21 century. In such
a country, expecting a public event other than assassination and
assault is utopia. If the public wants to have other expectations,
it should first of all realize that expectations from the present
government are illusions.
In this case, the question occurs what and from whom the public may
expect if it cannot rely on the government. The answer is as clear
as it could be. Especially if we ask the question “what expectations”
before all the other questions. In this situation, the public may have
only one expectation – to remain alive. And if this is the expectation,
the public can rely only on itself for its security. There is only
one way out: either everyone should stay at home to remain alive or
everyone should go to the streets to remain alive. But not now. The
time will come. Do not get cheated by the “lure” of the criminal and
leave the positions earlier.
Having people come out is the only and the last chance of the
administrative criminal, so that they are ready to make each
other a “lure” for the public. In other words, we already know the
Achilles heel of the criminal. It is the time. Therefore, let’s get
synchronized. And let them wage the war against one another. Like the
brave hero of Haszek says, “Let’s meet after the war, at 18 o’clock.”

A NATION CANNOT LIVE WITH PERCEPTION OF PAST ONLY
Lragir.am
07 Sept 06
The society in Armenia has lost social flexibility and turned into
castes, stated Hmayak Hovanisyan, the chair of the Union of Political
Scientists September 7 at the Pakagits Club in connection with the
state and the society.
“The social flexibility of the society is declining, and castes
are forming, in fact, which resemble the social pattern typical of
the eastern tyrannies,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan. According to him,
people who even went through genocide had respectable leaders,
whereas the picture is the contrary now. The political scientist
thinks that the consequence of this state of things is the violence,
which has become continuous. “In our reality, the criminal world has
already lost the perception of fear or borders, and became brazen
to the extent that even the commissioned officers, who have passed a
military way, are becoming a target,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan hinting
at the assassination of Shahen Hovasapyan, the head of the Department
of Investigations of the State Tax Agency.
“Today they worship Mammon, money is a god, money is everything.
Money is higher than the most precious thing, human life. And if
today man assesses money higher than his life, it is clear that that
for him money is more important than someone else’s life.
Therefore people are assassinated,” thinks Hmayak Hovanisyan.
For the present state of the society, Hmayak Hovanisyan quotes
Robert Kocharyan’s words at the famous meeting of the Council of
Security in 1998 when Kocharyan said that Armenia may develop like
Israel, insulated, no relations with the neighbors. Hmayak Hovanisyan
says the comparison is good in some sense because life showed that
it is possible to increase both the budget and the foreign money
transfers. In the long run, however, it is wrong to compare Armenia
with Israel because the Israeli society has an integrated and common
idea of its past, present and future, and the Armenian society is
common only with regard to the past, and is currently turning into
castes, which makes a secure future impossible.

OPEN UP THE LISTS, HMAYAK IS COMING
Lragir.am
07 Sept 06
“I want to clarify something once and for all. Hence, I have always
been guided by my own ideas. Whenever I cooperated with one political
force or another, I had only one purpose: to bring into being my own
ideas through the possibilities of that organization,” confessed Member
of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan, political scientist, September 7 at
the Pakagits Club in connection with the parliamentary election and
in an effort to shut the mouths of people “who are trying to stain
his faultless biography”.
And people are trying to stain the “faultless” biography by remembering
and reminding Hmayak that he ran in one parliamentary election on
the ticket of the People’s Party and in the other election on the
ticket of the National Unity Party. And judging by this “consistency”,
people are trying to find out which party ticket Hmayak Hovanisyan will
prefer. But before answering this question the political scientist
first states which idea he prefers, by the way, it is his idea about
the underlying necessity to form a political class.
“I’ve told Robert Kocharyan for a number of times, Serge Sargsyan
in 2002, 2001 that I consider forming an effective political
class, political elite in the country to be a priority. Not a
stable-fashion establishment but an effective political class,”
says Hmayak Hovanisyan. He does not approve the forces which become
engaged in politics to guarantee the security of their own capital
and have turned this capital into a political resource. He says he
will meet the force which will set an aim to push forward professional
legislators, professional politicians.
“I know I will be encountering challenges. Yes, I will. I will be
looking through the lists. If I see that one team of another, with me
as one of the coaches, may, in fact, reach that level and represent
those political qualities in the parliament, and if this team considers
me worth, I will think about it,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan.
But when someone asked what may happen if no team invites him, Hmayak
Hovanisyan said, “Don’t be so naive.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress