PanARMENIAN.Net
Turkey Speaking of Freedom of Speech without Recognizing Genocide
Ironic

20.05.2006 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian addressed the Strasbourg
session of the CE Committee of Ministers May 19. Touching upon the
outcomes of the fifth year of Armenia’s Council of Europe membership,
Oskanian noted the advancement of reforms aimed at boosting democracy
in the country. He especially underscored the repeal of death penalty
and adoption of amendments to the Constitution in compliance with
European standards.
Minister Oskanian addressed the Council in French and spoke about
democratic processes, democratic reforms and in that context, he
raised three issues: Armenian Genocide, destruction of an Armenian
cemetery in Nakhichevan and the Karabakh issue.
“First, even as there is a momentum over the world toward adopting
democratic processes which assure the development of free societies
where freedom of expression is an essential component of life, the
Turkish government has become more and more aggressive in denying the
Armenian Genocide abroad and criminalizing its discussion at home,’
Oskanian said. `As a result, there is a natural response to such
denial in some of our member countries, to attempt to legislate
against all denialist efforts. The irony is that the Turkish
government considers this a travesty of freedom of speech and
expression, without recognizing the Genocide. At the same time they
sustain their own right to punish their own citizens, who use the
term,” the Minister emphasized, reports the Armenian MFA Press
Service.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Oskanian Called Destruction of Armenian Cemetery in Nakhichevan
20.05.2006 14:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ When addressing the 116th session of the Council of
Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Armenian Minister of
Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian addressed the issue of destruction of
Armenian khachkars in Nakhichevan. “I can only wish that the ideas and
ideals of Europe came automatically with membership. Perhaps then I
would not be here today to mourn the irreversible, irrational,
intentional destruction of a medieval Armenian cemetery on the
territory of Azerbaijan,’ he said.
The Minister emphasized, `Thousands of massive, uniqueArmenian
khachkars – stone sculptures which had survived through – centuries
are no longer there. A cemetery has been wiped out and the hillside
has been turned into a shooting range. This barbarism is a blatant
attempt to wipe out traces of Armenian presence on those lands,”
Oskanian said, reports the Press Service of the Armenian MFA.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Karabakh Conflict Has No Military Solution
20.05.2006 15:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ When addressing the 116th session of the Council of
Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Armenian Minister of
Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian addressed the issue of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “Upon membership, Armenia and
Azerbaijan made a commitment to see a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict,» he said. «There are positive
elements in the negotiations process in which we have been involved
over these last several years, but that can produce results only if
the parties understand – and clearly declare – that they don’t have a
military option here.
Europe offers a new context for negotiation: regional cooperation and
post-war reconciliation. This is the Europe – the place of peace and
cooperation – to which our two countries belong, ” Vartan Oskanian
remarked, reports the Armenian MFA Press Service.

PanARMENIAN.Net
France to Discuss Bill Criminalizing Armenian Genocide in November

20.05.2006 15:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The most important role, played in the dropping of
the motion to penalize those who deny the Armenian Genocide in France
yesterday, was undertaken by Parliamentary Speaker Jean Louis Debre,’
the Zaman newspaper writes. Though not customary, Debre, a close
friend of President Jacques Chirac, took the decision of directing the
session where the draft was discussed. It is very rare for
parliamentary speakers in France to chair the sessions where motions
brought by the opposition are discussed. Debre gave the deputies
discussing the first item of the session the unlimited right to speak,
which diminished the time remaining. He twice allotted a break to ease
the tensions that rose because of this. In the statement he made after
the session, Debre said, `We can write the history of neither France
nor its relationships among other nations,’ and repeated once again
that he is against the bill. Nevertheless, the PS must also use its
next `right to determine the agenda’ for the motion to reach the
parliamentary agenda again, which would be possible only in November.
Alexis Govciyan, Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Armenian
Organizations of France, who foresaw the delay of the bill until
November. Even the Armenian associations, the architects of the
project, did not expect the bill to pass in the first attempt.
Turkish analysts note that the discussion is postponed due to coming
parliamentary and presidential elections in France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
20:29 19/05/06

FAIR LOOK TO CHILDREN IN ORPHANAGES
`You can overcome all difficulties because, unlike children who were
brought up in wealthy families, you are more persistent and
lively. You know life better,’ Alvard PETROSYAN, NA Deputy, former
head of Armenian Assistance Union (AAU) addressed to orphanage
graduates today in Tekeyan cultural center during a seminar `My
Right. ‘
Within the framework of state assistance program 56 orphanage
graduates will be provided with flats in different areas of the
republic. AAU selects the flats. They are purchased by Employment and
Social Affairs Ministry. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
14:36 20/05/06

PEOPLE FAILED TO VOTE EVEN THE FIRST SECONDS
Today the final of the 51st international contest Eurovision 2006 will
take place in Athens. Armenia, that takes part in this contest for the
first time, must take an active part in voting as other participating
countries do. However, it is not excluded that we will see the same
situation this night as two days ago. Mobile operators ArmenTel and
VivaCell could not provide quality connection as a result of which
numerous calls from Armenia were not registered.
ArmenTel and Vivacell assure that sms messages sent during the first 3
minutes have reached their addressee. However, that is not quite
so. Reports on sent messages even for the first few minutes came a day
after the semi-finale at 19:30 in the evening. (What an extraordinary
efficiency!). They read as follows, `Unfortunately, voting is
over. Thank you for your participation.’ The question is for what
participation.
Public TV of Armenia has required mobile operators in Armenia to
ensure quality connection during the voting of Eurovision 2006
final. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
14:51 20/05/06

IS IT BAD TO BECOME A PRIME MINISTER?
`It is excluded that the president of the republic uses 3rd term in
office during the upcoming elections,’ Garnik Isagulyan, president’s
adviser on national security issues told a news conference today.
Answering on the possibility in his becoming a prime minister,
Isagulyan said, `This person who has led a fight for issues of prime
importance for this country for 20 years, first of all for Karabakh
conflict regulation, will take steps that people will speak about,’
Isagulyan said. The adviser did not detail what is so bad in becoming
a prime minister. `I am sure he will have a much greater impact on the
Armenian political life and mind than a prime minister could do. I
don’t speak about a public office,’ he said.
For Isagulyan, the most acceptable and probable candidate for the
president of the republic is Serj Sargsyan. Answering to the question
that the exit of Orinats Yerkir from the ruling coalition was Serj
Sargsyan’s plan to get rid of his possible rival during presidential
elections, the adviser said that it has nothing to do with rivalry. `
God bless neither Serj Sargsyan nor any other person have said that
they want that post,’ president’s adviser said.
/Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
16:26 20/05/06

RETURN GAME ARMENIA-SAN MARINO TO BE HELD JUNE 9
The return game of Armenia-San Marino young football players’ combined
teams (players up to 21 years old) will be held in Yerevan June 9, the
chief coach of the Armenian young football players’ combined team
Samvel Petrosyan told a press conference today. In his words, in case
of a victory or draw game, the Armenian team will get the chance to
play in the selection round of European Championship. The chief coach
also told that the team will play without legionary. Edgar Manucharyan,
a player from Dutch Aiaks got an injury and will not play. The case of
Jorik Ohanessyan, a player from Greek Olimpiakos, is also under
question. However, two players from Russian teams are considered
instead.
Talking about May 17 game between Armenia and San-Marino,
S. Petrossyan said that our players could win a higher score. `Our
team did not use several opportunities. And the only goal into our
gates was a result of one of the player’s mistake.’ However, those who
win are not judged. After the lost score, the footballers did not lose
their heads and could lead the game up to the victorious end with a
score 2:1./Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
16:43 20/05/06

SMUGGLING OF MOBILE PHONES
Criminal case is instituted at the National Security Service
Investigation Department on the incident of smuggling of 433 cell
phones costing USD 70,000 equivalent 30 mln Armenian dramS. The phones
were brought to Yerevan from Dubai on May 17 Yerevan-Dubai flight.
According to General Prosecutor’s Office web page information,
G. Hairapetyan, a businessman, is arrested with a suspicion in the
case. /Panorama.am/

GIBRAHAYER
e-magazine
SPECIAL EDITION – SATURDAY 20/05/06 – 22:00
VICTORY IN BOLIS
Zaruhi Harutyunyan wins her first ITF title in Turkey
Gibrahayer Saturday 20 May, 2006 – Armenia’s rising tennis star 15 year old
Zaruhi Harutyunyan won her first ITF title by defeating South Africa’s number
one player Bianca Swanepoel in the singles of the international world
ranking tournament that concluded today at the Enka Sports Club in Bolis.
In a three-set nail-biting final that was watched by local tennis fans and
cheering Bolsahays, Harutyunyan found herself losing 3-1 and 15-40 in the
final set before regrouping and fighting back to clinch the set, the match
and the championship, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
“I refused to let the championship slip away after having come so close …
not here, not today”, said young Zaruhi in a telephone interview after the
match. “I look forward to doing equally well in the second tournament this
week,” she concluded.
The TED tournament begins on Monday in Bolis.
Today’s championship win will most likely place her in the top 300 in the
world, a dramatic climb of 900 positions in a few months when she began her
tour in January 2006 in Bangladesh at position 1245 in the world.
Harutyunyan has been practising in Cyprus since September 2005 in a program
with the Cyprus National tennis team and since March 2006 in England, with ex
Wimbledon champion Jo Durie in the Academy of Alan Jones in Hazelwood.