ARTHUR BAGDASARYAN WASN’T IN THE HALL TODAY
A1+
[02:12 pm] 23 May, 2006
Today the Parliament resumed its work rather actively and efficiently
passing 31 bills unanimously within the first 30 minutes. By the way,
the most striking was that the bills were supported by deputies who
quitted the Orinats Yerkir and by deputies who are still members of
the party. Mainly it was Vram Gyurzadyan who voted for all the bills.
NA deputy president Tigran Torosyan presented Gegham Manoukyan, deputy
of the Dashnaktsutyun party elected by proportional system who has
so far participates in the voting process with abstentions. Arthur
Bagdasaryan was not present in the hall today.
Viktor Dallakyan, secretary of “Justice” bloc informed that so far
25 signatures have been collected in order to discuss aviation
issues. This step was initiated yesterday at 13:30 p.m. If they
don’t get the required sum, 44 signatures, he is going to give his
evaluation of the matter during the parliamentary announcements.
On the whole, parliamentarians look forward to the time of
announcements where they predict to hear interpretations on the
“accusations” and “explanation” of the parties Orinats Yerkir and
National Unity.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL IS INTERESTED IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
A1+
[02:44 pm] 23 May, 2006
Today President Robert Kocharyan received Robert Simmons, special
envoy of the NATO Secretary General on South Caucasian affairs.
The key issues of the discussions were connected with NATO – Armenia
cooperation.
Giving his positive evaluation of the procedure of the Individual
Partnership program with the NATO, Robert Simmons noted that
significant progress in realizing the program provisions is evident
within this short period. On this score the sides attached a great
importance to the implementation of reforms and enhance of democracy
in the system of the defense of the country’s security.
While viewing the relations with the NATO in the political framework of
the Armenian integration into European structures, Kocharyan stressed
that a interdepartmental committee has been set up which will handle
with the problems of confronting work with various structures and
going ahead in a more systemized way. The committee will frequently
report the President on their actions and progress on this score. “Our
objective is to keep abreast with the work, go ahead more quickly and
realize the joint program to full extent,” mentioned Robert Kocharyan.
Taking into account the request of the guests President Kocharyan
referred to the recent developments of the Karabakh conflict
settlement.

SERGE SARGSYAN’S BROTHER THREATENED A JOURNALIST
A1+
[03:22 pm] 23 May, 2006
Today NA deputy, member of the Armenian Republican party and Serge
Sargsyan’s brother Alexander Sargsyan mouthed indecent curses at Taguhy
Tovmasyan, correspondent of “Iravunk” and then threatened her by saying
“the end won’t be a good one.”
Taguhy Tovmasyan only informed in the newspaper that Sashik Sargsyan
participated at the birthday party of one of their district authorities
in the restaurant “Shant” on May 3. During the party some of the
drunken authorities remembered that they had certain problems with
Sashik Sargsyan, to say more precisely, the latter was involved in
a story connected with large sums of money, so the above mentioned
authorities decided to settle their affairs with Sargsyan in the yard
of the restaurant.
Today in the Parliament Alexander Sargsyan was eager to find out who
gave Taguhy Tovmasyan the information.
The latter answered that in case the information doesn’t correspond to
the reality Sashik Sargsyan may bring an action or demand refute. “Do
you know who I am?” declared Sargsyan. Ashot Aghababyan, member of the
Republican Party was also present during the incident and he tried to
calm down the “deputy,” whereas the latter continued his curses about
the journalist in the presence of many people. “If you don’t reveal
the source of the information, you will have many problems. You know
who I am, don’t you?” threatened Sargsyan in the end.
Hrant Khacatryan, NA deputy was also involved in the incident who
claimed, “If you have any problems turn to us, you know both us and
the newspaper. What do you want from journalists?”

WHAT WILL THE NEW DEPUTY DO IN THE PARLIAMENT?
A1+
[03:56 pm] 23 May, 2006
“I would like to hear more political debates in the Parliament instead
of non political ones,” Gegham Manoukyan, NA new deputy informed
us today.
He entered the Parliament as a result of a procedure which certain
political analysts call a collapse of the Coalition. It means that
in case OYP didn’t quit the Coalition, and Levon Lazarian wasn’t
appointed the Minister of Education, Gegham Manoukyan wouldn’t go to
the Parliament.
But he is of different opinion. “The Coalition exists, and it is
independent of certain people. There is a Coalitional memorandum which
is the base of the Coalition. There is a principle of the Coalition,
a document which testifies to the existence of the Coalition.” In
Gegham Manoukyan’s opinion the political state of internal affairs is
quiet in the country and nothing strange or extraordinary has happened.
“The changes are normal and logical on the threshold of elections,”
he claims. By the way, the latter will continue his creative work. “I
would like to be engaged in journalism and I shall continue my work.”
Asked whether he will be involved in political or legislative activity
in the Parliament he answered, “Whenever any deputy deals with only
political issues in the Parliament he harms the activity of the
Parliament, politics and legislative activity are connected.”

OPPOSITION IS NON-LICENSED ACTIVITY
Lragir.am
23 May 06
“I congratulate Arthur Baghdasaryan on the final establishment of
the Orinats Yerkir Party,” said the leader of the Ramkavar Party of
Armenia (Liberal Democratic Party of Armenia) Harutiun Arakelyan May
23, assessing the recent developments related with the coalition and
the Orinats Yerkir Party.
The Ramkavars say Orinats Yerkir made a political decision. The members
of parliament who left the party for the mandate and their businesses
also made a political decision. The leader of the Ramkavar Party does
not share the joy of certain members of parliament, for they also
have entrepreneur members of parliament. Harutiun Arakelyan relies
on his experience as a person who witnessed rats in politics.
“In 1993-1994 the same happened in our political party. Members of
parliament tended to affiliate with the Ramkavar Party; well, they had
heard about the Diaspora, a rich political party, etc. Later they left,
however. The new bureau of the political party has changed its style
of work to prevent this from reoccurring,” said Harutiun Arakelyan.
The Ramkavar Party has worked out with the Hzor Hayrenik Party 100
amendments to the electoral legislation to reduce and eliminate the
influence of economic factors and businessmen on political processes.
“We especially underline two: application of the proportional system of
vote and lifting of the immunity of members of parliament.” According
to Harutiun Arakelyan, the latter will make the mandate of a member
of parliament less attractive for a businessman. “They will leave
the National Assembly alone. The National Assembly has deviated from
its main function – the National Assembly is a place where laws are
made.” For the opposition, it is neither a place, nor a geographical
location, and Harutiun Arakelyan says it is funny when Orinats Yerkir’s
affiliation with the opposition is met with slings and arrows.
“Opposition is a stance. Some oppositionists have assumed a status
as if they are supposed to get a license for being opposition.
We do not need anybody’s permission for our opposition stance.”
The Ramkavar Party will stand for elections in 2007 and 2008. It will
act seriously. The question of candidates and alliances with other
political forces will be decided in the extraordinary congress of
the political party in February 2007.

IRAN REPORTS SUSPECTED BIRD FLU DEATHS
Armenpress
May 23 2006
TEHRAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS; Medical officials in Iran say local
tests indicate two people have died of bird flu. If confirmed by
international laboratories, they will be the country’s first deaths
from the H5N1 strain of the disease.
A 41-year-old man and his 26-year-old sister are among five members of
the same family who became sick after returning from a trip to the town
of Marivan, close to their home in the northwestern city of Kermanshah.
Officials say the three surviving relatives are in hospital and one
of them remains dangerously ill. A number of Iran’s neighbors have
reported deaths from the virus in recent months. Bird flu has killed
at least 123 people, mostly in Asia, since December 2003.

ALL-ARMENIAN ISSUES MUST BE SETTLED WITH ARMENIA
Lragir.am
23 May 06
The Ramkavar Party of Armenia (Liberal Democratic Party of Armenia)
has not had cooperation and contacts with the president of the World
Congress of Armenians Ara Abrahamyan since 2003, stated the leader
of the party Harutiun Arakelyan May 23. As a co-founder of the World
Congress of Armenians, the Ramkavar Party is not “delighted” with
the activities of this organization. Harutiun Arakelyan goes frank
and says there is likelihood inside the political party to secede
from the Congress: “Currently I hold them back.”
The Ramkavar Party also dislikes the recent initiative of the World
Congress of Armenians to take Turkey to court. First of all, it is an
emotional decision: it would mean declaring war on Turkey. Besides,
“Armenia must participate in the settlement of all-Armenian issues.”

SHUSHI FOUNDATION EXPECTS DONATIONS FROM ARMENIANS TO RESTORE TOWN’S MONUMENTS
Armenpress
May 23 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS: The Shushi Foundation and the Haypost
company (Armenian Post) have signed an agreement to help efforts to
restore the town of Shushi in Nagorno-Karabakh and its cultural and
historical monuments. Under this agreement every Armenian can transfer
a symbolic sum of 500 Drams (a little more than one US Dollar) to the
Foundation’s account, approving that way the Foundation’s initiative.
Bakur Karapetian, an author who is also the manager of the Foundation,
said his Foundation, established in 2000, has registered and
mapped around 525 monuments in the town and its outskirts. He
said architects have measured about 220 buildings dating back to
18 and 19 centuries. Karapetian said Shushi is the only Armenian
town that has been preserved since the 19-th century and therefore,
‘its atmosphere and colors should be preserved,’ which in turn could
promote development of tourism in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Karapetian went on to say that Shushi can become at the same time a
place where Christian and Muslim civilizations and cultures can meet,
because Shushi was also a place where the Muslim Shia culture met
with Christian culture. He said one of the town’s mosques was already
repaired. Karapetian said his Foundation wants also to set up a center
to study the history of the struggle for Karabakh independence. The
Foundation was able to materialize part of its ideas only thanks
to donations.
Under the agreement Haypost offices will accept transfers and send
them on the Foundation’s account once in a fortnight. Names of people
donating their 500 drams will be placed on the Foundation’s website.
Armenians in Diaspora can also join the initiative.
They can find information how to do it by visiting

RUSSIAN HISTORIAN: TURKEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Yerkir
23.05.2006 15:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) -Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide of
1915, as the fact is grounded by undisputable proofs, head of 19th
century department at the State Historical Museum, PhD in history
Viktor Bezotosny has told a REGNUM correspondent.
According to him, the question of recognizing the “historic truth” is
a question of time. “The whole world knows about the events of 1915
and calls them Genocide. It strange, that only one country rejects
it and tries to misinterpret and escape from historic facts.
There good and bad pages in history of any country. Well, they should
maker bold and take responsibility to tell the truth, otherwise
memory of those killed in those awful years is being defiled,” Viktor
Bezotosny is quoted as saying. The historian believes that the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 and the Holocaust are results of domestic policies
pursued by countries that committed such villainy.
It is worth mentioning, Russia recognized the Armenian Genocide
officially.
Fact of the Genocide was recognized by many countries, including
France, Uruguay, lower chamber of the Italian parliament, several
US states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales,
Swiss National Council, Canadian House of Commons and Polish Seym.

“RESIGNATION” TRAGIC COMEDY AT THE ARMENIAN NA
Panorama.am
15:33 22/05/06
The resignation of Arthur Baghdasaryan raised turmoil at the National
Assembly. The deputies were repeatedly mentioning Baghdasaryan’s name
in their speeches and giving different assessments to Orinats Yerkir.
Artashes Geghamyan reminded that those deputies who are left within
the party are of bad fame.
Particularly he addressed Hohvannes MARGARYAN, saying, “you speak
about milk powder.”
Vahan Hovhannisyan, who was chairing the session had to calm deputies
down for several times. Geghamyan was demanding air in order to
clarify who is who.
Baghdasaryan doubted if there will be any TV company which would be
willing to accept them. Vahan Hovhannisyan assured that Yerkir Media
can host them.
Arthur Baghdasaryan said that it was a difficult decision for him
because he has worked with coalition for a long time. “If that is a
game for some people let that game be played on them,” he said.
Speaking about the possibility of vote on his resignation, he said
he refused to put the issue on vote because that could be subject
for manipulations.
Some could say that he does not want to go. “I wanted to go with
dignity,” he said.
He was angry that the opposition does not want to accept OY. “Let’s
pull the rope together. They do not want. Why? What is the
reason?” Baghdasaryan asked.
Tigran Torosyan reminded the deputies that Arthur Baghdasaryan’s
resignation cannot become an issue in the agenda. It will be approved
if Baghdasaryan’s confirms it in 5 days.
P.S. The reporters asked Vahan Hovhannisyan if Yerkir Media will
provide air to the abovementioned politicians and why he is sure that
the TV company will do so. Hovhannisyan said that the head of Yerkir
Media is his friend and he will speak him into that.