GOVERNMENT HAD NO RIGHT TO SELL 5TH POWER-ENGINEERING UNIT OF “HRAZDAN” THERMAL POWER STATION
Panorama.am
13:56 13/04/06
The head of “Human Rights – 96” party Rouben Torosyan has decided
to appeal to the Court demanding to invalidate the Government’s
resolution about selling the 5th power-engineering unit of Hrazdan
thermal power station. Rouben Torosyan addressed RA Defence Minister
Serge Sargsyan with an “Open suggestion”. In the above mentioned
note it was particularly stated: “Dear Minister, if you list the
Government members among those who have the right to possess state
property, then we advise you not to forget about law substantiation
while talking about that. According to the latter the Government has no
right to pass a resolution about sale of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan
thermal power station. While passing that resolution the Government
has ignored the RA citizen’s constitutional right to participate in
state government. We inform you and other coalitional Ministers that we
are going to take certain measures to call you to responsibility and
liquidate the results of the above mentioned violation. Best regards,
president of the party Rouben Torosyan.”
The latter also represents the list of the first measures taken. In
addition Rouben Torosyan has presented information to RF Ambassador
N. Pavlov about their initiatives to liquidate the Government’s above
mentioned resolution. And he has also presented information about
“just the usual kind of corruptive processes” to US Ambassador John
Evans and executive manager of “War-calls of Millennium” corporation,
Ambassador J. Danilovich.

TURKEY WILL WATCH TODAY ATOM EGOYAN’S “ARARAT” FILM
ArmRadio.am
13.04.2006 16:53
Today Turkey will watch Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” film. Last year an
attempt was made to screen this film telling about the Armenian
Genocide in one of the cinemas of Istanbul.
However, its screening was canceled because of the protests raised
by nationalist groups. This evening the film will be aired by private
KanalTurk TV Channel.
How has the film found itself in Turkey? A Turk engaged in the sale of
films brought it to Turkey, and corresponding bodies did not prohibit
this. One of the Turkish Companies acquired the permission to screen
the film and attempted in 2005 to present it to the attention of
the public. Neither last year, nor this time the Turkish government
prohibited the screening of the film. The heads of the above-mentioned
companies were just afraid of the threats of the nationalists to set
the cinemas on fire.
Editor-in-chief of the Armenian “Agos” newspaper of Istanbul Hrant Dink
told “Radiolur” correspondent Maria Papyan that he watched the film at
the Kahn festival, after which he tried to bring it to Turkey. However,
he did not manage this again because of Turk nationalists.
“These days Turks raised a noise that Hrant Dink does not like the
film,” the editor noted.
KanalTurk will air the film without cuts and censorship.
According to Hrant Dink, the Spokesman of the above-mentioned TV
Company said that the decision to screen the film was taken after the
survey revealed 72 percent of the citizens willing to see Egoyan’s
film on the Armenian Genocide.
How did it happen that a private TV Company is airing a film
contradicting to Turkish history? Doesn’t Turkey, knocking the doors
of the European Union, try to present itself to the international
community in the most advantageous way?
At least for us, Armenians, the reasons of screening the film are
clear.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT URGES CRACKDOWN ON SMUGGLING
Mediamax news agency
12 Apr 06
Yerevan, 12 April: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan held a meeting
today with the head of State Customs Committee, Armen Avetisyan. They
discussed the committee’s activity in last three months and the fight
against smuggling.
Armen Avetisyan told the president that customs duties collected in
the first quarter of 2006 had totalled 31.5bn drams which was 400m
drams more than planned.
The two men also discussed the recent agreement with Georgia on the
closure of the Bagratashen border market.
In this connection, Kocharyan instructed to draw a map of all transit
routes used by smugglers and establish full control over these routes
as soon as possible till the establishment of a relevant border zone.

OSCE MG RECURRENT MEETING TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW
Yerkir
13.04.2006 11:52
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement are going to meet in Moscow,
Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov said.
He said the outcomes of the co-chairs’ April visits to the region
will be discussed at the meeting. Besides, they will discuss the
agenda of the regular visit to the region scheduled for early May.
According to Yuri Merzlyakov, the precise date and plan of the visit
have not been decided yet but most probablythe mediators will first
pay a visit to Baku, then Yerevan and Stepanakert. The co-chairs
will also discuss the possibility of the meeting of the Armenian
and Azerbaijani FMs in May. Yuri Merzlyakov refuted reports on his
separate visit to the conflict region.

YURI MERZLYAKOV: THERE ARE NO CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE MEDIATORS
ArmRadio.am
13.04.2006 17:39
“Fassier will explain everything to you. Ask him. Together we
shall pay a visit to the region in early May. The one who has the
opportunity visits the region. There are no other reasons for this,”
Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told in his
phone talk with “Radiolur” correspondent Tatul Hakobyan, in response
to the question why the mediators are visiting the region separately.
In response to the question whether Russia does not find itself in
an unequal position, when French and US Co-Chairs visit the region,
Merzlyakov responded, “I never think that way, I completely trust my
colleagues. Moreover, I’m not going to arrive in the region, since on
April 21 I’ll meet Armenian Foreign Minister in Moscow. You should not
ask me this question. Today Fassier will explain everything to you.”
Merzlyakov confirmed in his interview to “Radiolur” that there are
no contradictions between the mediators, they work as a team.

PACE CONFIRMS THE DECISION TO SEND A FACT-FINDING GROUP TO THE REGION
ArmRadio.am
13.04.2006 17:48
PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education confirmed today
the decision to send a fact-finding group to the South Caucasus in
May. The group will be headed by the reporter on issues of cultural
heritage Edward O’Hara, member of the Armenian delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, President of the
Democratic Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan informed.
He noted that the major aim of the group will be to investigate the
place of destruction of Armenian khachkars in Nakhijevan.
Stepan Demirchyan the Committee on Culture, Science and Education
decided to call upon Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities to support
the activity of the group.

SAFAROV SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Yerkir
13.04.2006 17:59
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Azeri officer Ramil Safarov was sentenced to life
imprisonment for murder of Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan that
he committed on February 19, 2004.
Budapest court judge Andras Vaskuti announced the verdict, according
to which Ramil Safarov is sentenced to life imprisonment without the
possibility of parole for the first 30 years, the Public TV Company
of Armenia reported.

IT’S ALL THE SAME
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot.am
12 April 06
The businessman Levon Poghosian refused of his deputy mandate on
Monday as business and legislative activities are forbidden to
combine. Earlier the deputy Khachatur Sukiasian refused of any post
of “Sil Concern” even of the post of its president. These actions
of business, state and human ethics are exceptions, which affirm the
appropriateness. In general our deputies and officials are indifferent
towards all kind of demands of the law. The deputy Alexander Sargsian
was telling the journalists proudly about his business in the USA
but it left no trace besides the replies of the press.
If we try to describe the general figure of the NA oligarch deputy we
can say that a/ he is too impudent, b/ illiterate, c/ has birdbrain,
d/ is sponsored by one of the officials of the ruling clique. Those
persons even don’t want to give their lost money back to casino,
why should we trust them in the state budget? But we don’t, they live
without our confidence very well.
As we haven’t elected the president, deputies, they don’t have any
dependence from us and don’t want to please us, the citizens. I have
written for four times in the newspaper that mountains of garbage are
appeared in Hambartsumian Street in front of my house. The situation
of yesterday is produced in the photo. And as the district mayor
isn’t elected by the population and isn’t going to be elected later,
he doesn’t worry about what we think of him. The time of elections
will come to an agreement with the ruling clique, will bribe some
people, and will fill some ballot boxes and will be reelected.
So it’s all the same whatever you write.

“THE IMPORTANT IS TO NEUTRALIZE THE ROOT OF THE EVIL”
Margaret Yesayan
Aravot.am
12 April 06
The leader of “Republic” party Aram Sargsian assures.
Mr. Sargsian, the most important event of last days is the gas
price and refreshment of the project “Estate instead of debt”. The
PM Andranik Margarian marked that bargain successful, you, as the
former Prime Minister of Armenia how do mark this bargain?
– I think that ‘Estate instead of debt” and “Estate instead of gas”
solve other problems in reality which can be formulated in this way;
“Everything instead of post”. It’s obvious that the authority of
Armenia delivers the last blow to the possibilities of the energetic
security of the country. The problem isn’t in becoming Russia’s
vassal, the problem refers to the state and State system of the
country. The property of the country mustn’t be sold either to Russia
or other country, then to speak of independence and profits. These
authorities overpassed themselves and the deadlock proves it. There
is no reasonable explanation for the circumstance that the government
sells its suspicious strategic partner those resources, which would
form profitable and stable guarantees for the energetic security
of Armenia. I don’t know, I can simply guess, instead of which the
president of the state devote the property of the country to another
country and then boasts hypocritically, did you see what I did, I saved
your pocket money. But there is a question, why did the Caucasian
tiger become a frightened cat at once? I think that this bargain is
only the circle of those unsuccessful bargains, which starts from
ArmenTel and won’t be over until Armenia has a piece of land.
– Factually you are against the bargain, but what do you suggest
instead, again revolution?
– If there is another way for Armenia and Yerevan not to be devoted
to the foreigners and the future of Armenians and Armenia not to be
sold day by day.
Suggest yourself; I’ll join to you. I think you are sure that the
country can be empties but it won’t be disappeared. The gas price
will be raised in price in three years, what mechanisms will be
formed in those three years. No empire will subdue its interests to
the interests of another, especially to an “outpost” country.
This is axiomatic. Though axioms aren’t proved but the complete failure
of “Estate instead of debt” project can serve as the axiomatic proof.
– Then what does the opposition suggest?
– Opposition and authority succeed each other in civil countries,
which fill posts by the free election of the people for serving people
and achieving their projects. The authority in our country considers
the opposition its enemy.
Unfortunately we can simply be against to all these. But
tomorrow… Our party is designing a project about the law of
nationalization, because when a law exists about privatization and
anti-state system the best version for avoiding of its abuses is the
adoption of a balanced law about nationalization, which will allow
to consider invalid all illegal bargains irrespective Who, When and
What has privatized.
– You have proposals on the NK conflict settlement. Have you got
any reply?
– Nothing. Never mind. It is spoken of mutual concessions. We are
agree.
Mutual concession suggests mutual profits. Where is it? And the profit
of Azerbaijan is obvious in the proposed versions. And as it is a fast
period I’d like to cite Matthew’s word’s “Good tree can’t give bad
fruits, neither the bad tree can give good fruits. Every tree which
doesn’t give good fruit is cut and thrown into fire.” It’s rather
severe but fair judgment. Will we be able to neutralize the root
of evil, if we are we’ll be able to provide for profitable result
and if we aren’t the Armenian land will be emptied, we’ll loose the
current state.

GEORGIA RATIFIES AGREEMENTS ON PULLOUT OF RUSSIA MILITARY BASES
Editor: Luan Shanglin
Xinhua, China
April 13 2006
2006-04-14 03:46:13
MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) — Georgia’s parliament ratified Thursday
the agreements on the pullout of Russian military bases from the
Caucasus Mountain nation and transit of Russian military cargoes on
the country’s territory.
In the accord signed by Russian and Georgian officials in the Black
Sea resort of Sochi on March 31, the two sides agreed to complete the
phased withdrawal of the Russian bases and other military installations
in Georgia by the end of 2008, Russian newsagencies said.
The first document envisions the gradual withdrawal of the Russian
bases and military facilities during 2008. The Russian base in
Akhalkalaki will be closed in 2007 and in Batumi in 2008. Russian
servicemen will deal with pulling out hardware and other property.
The second agreement determines the procedure of transit of military
cargoes of the Russian Defense Ministry via the territory of Georgia
and the personnel, including servicemen of the 102nd military base
in Gyumri (Armenia).
The agreement on transit is effective within five years and it may
be extended if necessary. Both sides have the right to annual the
agreement if “any point of the agreement is violated or the movement
of hardware and cargoes poses a threat to security and interests of
Georgia, and its population,” Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Meraba
Antadze said.
In his words, both agreements are effective. “This point was included
in the agreement on the insistence of Georgia because it was not
ruled out that the State Duma may delay the ratification of these
agreements. Under this point, Russia obliged to comply with the
agreement when it was signed,” the Georgian diplomat stressed.
Russia inherited four military bases in Georgia from the Soviet Union
and has withdrawn two of them. It struck a deal with Georgiain May
last year to pull out the remaining two bases by the end of 2008.
Nearly 3,000 Russian servicemen are deployed in the Akhalkalakiand
Batumi bases.