THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS A CASTE
Lragir.am
07 Sept 06
The Republican Party has a type of thinking typical of a caste. This
is the opinion of Member of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan, the chair
of the union of political scientists in connection with the election
of the head of the community of Ajapniak, namely the developments
connected with the decision of the political party not to support
the candidate Arman Sahakyan. Hmayak Hovanisyan was amazed by Galust
Sahakyan’s statement that the state starts from the family, and for
him the family is above everything.
“You see today I have every reason to argue that there isn’t such
a political party, a Republican Party is where man is guided by
the moods, approaches Stalin expressed when he said I will not
exchange the commander with the soldier. This was the resource of
the victory. When his son was captured, and they offered to exchange
Pauliss with his son, he announced, I will not exchange the commander
with the soldier,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan, comparing with the state of
the Republican Party, when the political party, in fact, decided not
to support the son of one of its old members. And the political party
is said to have made this decision on the initiative of the chair of
the council of the Republican Party Serge Sargsyan, who also accused
the Sahakyans for the decision they made by themselves. Therefore, it
is interesting to know what Hmayak hinted at by citing Stalin’s words.
“In other words, in this case we may consider supporters, people
with common ideological purposes. And what is this when someone is
preoccupied with supporting his family, the placement of his son?
This clanization, formation of castes has taken place, these closed
castes have been set up and he says the interest of his caste,
his family is above all. What does the other say? Aghvan says for
him the interests of the people of Aparan are important of all. Both
cases are clear manifestations of sectarianism. People are unable to
understand that if you are a politician, you have to treat every young
man equally, like your own son, and not distinguish them. You have to
realize that your son is one of them,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan. However,
after defining clearly the caste origin of the decisions of Aghvan
Hovsepyan and Galust Sahakyan, political scientist Hmayak Hovanisyan
declined to interpret, make suggestions about or analyze (which
Hmayak Hovanisyan prefers to all the others) the motivation of Serge
Sargsyan’s decision. Meanwhile, if Aghvan and Galust think about the
interests of their families each, it is interesting to know whose
interests Serge Sargsyan thinks about, who decided not to support
Galust Sahakyan’s son, his fellow party mate.
“You should ask the question about his motives to him,” says Hmayak
Hovanisyan, recalling the Russian proverb, “Another man’s soul is a
dark forest”.

REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SHORTSIGHTED, PRESIDENT SAYS
Lragir.am
07 Sept 06
Robert Kocharyan thinks that the Republican Party is an organization of
shortsighted figures. At least, Robert Kocharyan thought so in February
2000, asserted Hmayak Hovanisyan September 7, 2006. The member of
parliament announced that in 1998 people relied on Karen Demirchyan
and the People’s Party he had set up. To emphasize his importance,
Hmayak Hovanisyan even announced that at that time one needed his
signature to be admitted to this political party. Hmayak Hovanisyan
says if the People’s Party had not been the only positive force in
those years, Vazgen Sargsyan would not have united the Republican
Party with the People’s Party to save his image.
“I was the only person who was against setting up the alliance of
Unity,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan, mentioning that not only he but also
President Kocharyan had a bad opinion about the Republican Party.
“You can find it out, on TV, he said this in late February 2000 that
the Republicans are shortsighted, whereas there are bright figures in
the People’s Party, etc,” says Hmayak Hovanisyan, emphasizing that
Robert Kocharyan said this before the historical moment of March
3 when Stepan Demirchyan, Andranik Margaryan and Gagik Jhangiryan
offered an ultimatum to the president, demanding the resignation of
Serge Sargsyan, the head of his administration.
Hmayak Hovanisyan tells his history saying that it should also be
a lesson for Serge Sargsyan, who joins the Republican Party and
endangers his reputation instead of thinking about improving his image.

US FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE RICHARD HOAGLAND
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 11:07
The US Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote today on
Ambassador-designate to Armenia Richard Hoagland. The candidacy of
the latter was presented by George W. Bush late in May.
During panel discussions in then US Senate some of the Senators called
on Hoagland to clarify his position on the Armenian Genocide. They
demand explanation why Ambassador John Evans is being recalled.
The vote on Hoagland scheduled August 1 was postponed. Todaay
the Committee members are to take a final decision on Hoagland’s
candidacy. In case of a positive vote it will be presented to the
Senate’s confirmation.

OSCE HELPS CONDUCT STUDIES ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 11:28
The results of two studies on trafficking in human beings in Armenia
conducted with support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan will be presented
on September 8.
A general study on “Trafficking and Labor Exploitation of Armenian
Migrants.
A Sociological Survey” was carried out by the Armenian Sociological
Association (ASA) while the focused study entitled “Children in
Orphanages and Special Schools in Armenia: Potential Victims of
Trafficking and Exploitation?” was implemented by the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS).
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan,
Mr. Valery Mkrtoumian, Chairman of the Inter-Agency Commission on
Anti-Trafficking Issues and Head of the International Organizations
Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry and Ms. Blanka Hancilova,
Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan will address
the audience. The two authors of the studies– Ms. Alvard Petrosyan,
Member of the Armenian Parliament, Chairwoman of the Executive Board
of the Armenian Relief Society and Dr. Gevorg Poghosyan, President
of the Armenian Sociological Association–will present the results
of respective surveys.

SENATOR SCHUMER URGES HOAGLAND TO CLARIFY HIS POSITION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.09.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the eve of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
consideration of Richard E. Hoagland as America’s next Ambassador to
Armenia, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), sent a letter to Hoagland
criticizing the Administration’s policy on the Armenian Genocide
and urging the nominee to clarify his position on the matter,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America. In his letter, Schumer
also expressed concern that the current Ambassador, John M. Evans,
is being prematurely replaced for properly recognizing the Armenian
Genocide. “I am concerned that the Senate is reviewing your nomination
for this post as a result of Ambassador Evans’ departure, possibly
because of statements he made which, in my view, accurately describe
the Armenian Genocide as such,” Schumer wrote.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TALKS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN ON UN RESOLUTION PRACTICALLY OVER
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 11:45
Practically, Armenia and Azerbaijan have completed the negotiations on
the UN General Assembly resolution, which refers to the situation on
the territories neighboring Nagorno Karabakh, acting press secretary
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Karapetyan said, MEDIAMAX
reports.
“The talks are nearly over. Probably, the resolution will be presented
in the UN General Assembly on September 7. At this point we think we’ll
manage to agree upon the text of the resolution, the content of which
will be acceptable for the Armenian side. It should be noted that the
Armenia side has already agreed to permit the OSCE mission to visit
the inflammation sites. If the core of the resolution is to be UN
support to the OSCE, then we’ll consider it a constructive result,”
Vladimir Karapetyan said.

NEXT OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV MEETING TO BE HELD IN LONDON
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 12:51
The next round of negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict on the level of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
will take place September 13 in London, Azeri Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov told the journalists on Wednesday, “Interfax”
agency reports.
“Most probably, the format of the talks will allow us to have separate
meetings with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” Mammadyarov said.

VARDAN OSKANIAN RECEIVED THE MUFTI OF SYRIA
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 13:31
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian received the delegation led
by Syrian Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Badr-Eddine Hassun, reported the
Press Service of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs. The Foreign
Minister highly assessed the visit of the Syrian delegation and the
dialogue between two confessions.
Marking the high level of relationships between Armenia and Syria
and absence of political discrepancies Vardan Oskanian said it’s a
good basis for further development of cooperation. The interlocutors
noted the considerable role of the Armenian community of Syria and
its contribution to the development of relations between the two
states. They also referred to some regional problems and the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement process.

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF IRAN TO VISIT ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
07.09.2006 15:19
September 11 the delegation headed by the Chairman of the Islamic
Parliament of Iran Haddad Adel will arrive in Armenia, Tehran based
“Alik” newspaper informs.
According to the newspaper the Chairman of the Parliament will visit
Armenia in the framework of his tour to CIS countries. The delegation
comprises Iranian Armenian MPs Gevorg Vardanyan and Robert Beglaryan,
as well as member of the Academy of Sciences of Iran Harmik Davtyan.

JOHN EVANS: THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHICH ARE SPOKEN ABOUT ONLY IN U.S.
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 07 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. John Evans,
the U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary who finished
his mission to the RA, in response to a question of a correspondent
of the Public Television of Armenia if, however, the Ambassador’s
pronounciation of the world “genocide” was a diplomatic error or a
personal opinion, mentioned that he does not discuss this issue in
Armenia. In his words, there are some issues which are spoken about
in the U.S. Responding the question “However, do you go, because
you pronounced the word “genocide” at a meeting with the American
Armenian community?” the Ambassador said, “They would not say like
that, you say in that way.” He did not exclude that he may once write
a book where there will be exhaustive answers and the complete picture
will be seen. John Evans also informed that he intends to have a rest
in New York for about a year as soon as he returns the Fatherland,
then to return Washington, but not for a diplomatic service: “I have
left the sphere of diplomacy, retired , but it does not mean that I
will do nothing,” the former Ambassador to Armenia said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress