ELECTIONS WILL BE AN EXAM FOR DEMOCRACY
A1+
[02:38 pm] 20 April, 2006
“EU is concerned with holding fair and free elections in Armenia,”
in today’s press conference the EU delegation chief and the State
secretary of Australian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler informed
the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. Winkler is in Yerevan on
regional call.
Vardan Oskanyan spoke of elections, “Elections are the first exam
for democracy, the EU thoroughly observed that procedure.”
One of the journalists, present at the conference claimed that
there were many frauds in the RA previous elections and wondered,
“Doesn’t this give a ground to assume that the EU applies dual
criteria?” “The criteria are the same in the EU, and your Minister
has already promised that the 2007 – 2008 elections will be fair and
just,” urged Hans Winkler avoiding the direct answer.
He also spoke of the HKR conflict and mentioned that the EU is eager
to solve the matter in peaceful way and will assist that procedure
with all possible means.
He avoided mentioning all the possible lingers which may be applied
by the EU towards militarist Azerbaijan, “That issue is to be solved
by the two sides; we only hope they will find a solution.”
The participants of the press conference also referred to energy
diversification issue. Hans Winkler claimed that the EU is concerned
with the Metsamor nuclear station closure as it is not in line with
today’s criteria from technical point of view. But it is upon the
country to decide whether to close or not the old nuclear station.
“For instance, Austria readily gave up the idea of having nuclear
energy,” announced the Austrian State secretary. Asked the question
whether the fact of giving the 5th energy block of the Hrazdan heat
generating plant to Russia is connected with the idea of energy
sources diversification, the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
answered that it doesn’t matter at all whom the energy buildings are
given or estranged.
“They cannot contravene the energy needs of the country,” said Vardan
Oskanyan. Hans Winkler maintained that each sovereign country makes
its decisions and the meditation of the EU is in vain.
As for the sell of the Armenian pipeline to the RF Hans Winkler didn’t
have any answer as, “The matter is still obscure, I cannot definitely
say that there is such a matter or not unless the deal is made.”
While speaking of Armenian-EU relations Hans Winkler voiced hope that
the activity program will be ready soon and the cooperation will
become firmer in the realm of “New Neighbors” program. He avoided
speaking of Turkish – Armenian relations and the Armenian genocide
acknowledgement and didn’t say that Turkey is to recognize the great
crime against humanity.

U.S. EMBASSY HOLDS FIFTH ANNUAL JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH
Panorama.am
14:09 20/04/06
The U.S. Embassy in Armenia is proud to announce that it will hold
its fifth annual Jazz Appreciation Month in Armenia April 26-30. This
year”s program will include multiple events including film showings, a
jazz dance performance, and Armenian and American jazz music concerts,
which are open to the public.
The Judy Bady Quartet from New York City, along with many well-known
Armenian jazz musicians, will take part in this week-long celebration
of jazz. A new addition to this year”s events is a jazz dance
performance at the Paronyan Theater.
Tickets for all performances are on sale at the Opera and Paronyan
Theater box offices. Additional information can be found on the
U.S. Embassy website at
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH 2006 “Colors of Jazz”
Wednesday, April 26, 12:00 pm National Aesthetic Center, Children’s
Art Museum, Abovian Street 13 Armenian young musicians will play live
American jazz music while student painters create live performance
art. No tickets needed.
Jazz Dance Performance “American Suite” Wednesday, April 26, 7.00 pm
Paronyan State Theater A twelve-person Armenian professional dance
troupe will perform interpretive dance to jazz music.
“Jazz Parade” Saturday, April 29, 7.00 pm Opera House This gala event
will feature various well-known Armenian bands and the American Judy
Bady Quartet, and will bring the audience through the various ages
and genres of jazz music.
“Judy Bady Quartet” Sunday, April 30, 7.00 pm Opera House The American
Judy Bady Quartet, a jazz band from New York, will perform jazz
standards and original compositions.

TURKISH WEB-SITE: “BAKU WILL ATTACK ARMENIA IN A FEW DAYS”
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 02:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azeri army will attack Armenia in a few days” the
Media Forum, an Azeri newspaper, reports referring to
Turkish web-site.
“Diplomatic sources provided the information,” the web-site
reports. According to the web-edition, “the Azeri government
has seriously prepared for liberating Karabakh and official Baku
has resolved to launch a war”. The intense relations between the
U.S. and Azerbaijan are due to “forthcoming military operations in
Karabakh”. “Hurhaber.com” states that U.S. President George Bush will
receive an Azeri representative today. The web-site points out that
“Bush has a positive attitude towards Azerbaijan launching military
operations in Karabkh”.

EU EMPHASIZED THE RIGHT FOR SELF-DETERMINATION
Lragir.am
20 April 06
The two-day session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee finished on April 19. A conclusion of 38 points was
adopted. After the meeting the co-chairs of the committee Ms. Marie
Anne Isler Béguin and MP Armen Rustamyan gave a news conference. The
speakers said a broad range of questions was discussed during
the session, from internal policies in Armenia and the upcoming
election in 2007 and 2008 to Nagorno Karabakh and Turkish-Armenian
relations. Marie Anne Isler Béguin appreciated the high level of
debates and in-depth consideration of issues. By the way, during the
debates one of the Europeans repeatedly used the phrase “occupied
territories.” According to Armen Rustamyan, there is nothing to worry
about, and often the questions are made sharper on purpose to have
an open and productive discussion.
Out of the mentioned 36 points of the conclusion 6 refer to Nagorno
Karabakh and all the six favor the Armenian party. It was unanimously
accepted that the settlement of the Karabakh issue should involve
the rights for self-determination of nations and the minorities,
the settlement of the conflict by military means should be excluded,
the fact that NKR is not recognized should not damage the rights
and freedoms of people who live there, there should be guarantees
of security, etc. The Europeans will discuss the same questions with
the Azerbaijanis. Sure enough, the Azerbaijanis will try to reduce,
if not remove pro-Armenian phrases. Armen Rustamyan says it will not
be easy, for in Yerevan all these were adopted unanimously, in other
words, the EU guarantees what was written. By the way, the previous
efforts of the Azerbaijanis failed thanks to the determination of
the EU delegates. Marie Anne Isler Béguin is hopeful that Azerbaijan
will accept the right of nations for self-determination.
The EU delegates are currently similarly determined, and hoping that
one day we or our children will enter the European Union, advise to
hold elections in compliance with European standards that are known to
everyone, and prepare the society for the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict and learn to live side by side with their neighbors, like
France and Germany, which used to have a lot of problems.
Besides, in all their meetings, including that with Robert Kocharyan,
the EU representatives said they would like to be televised again. They
also said that for elections complying with European standards only
laws are not enough, these require political will as well. They are
willing to monitor the elections in 2007 and 2008. They said and set
down in the conclusion that in Armenia corruption is one of the major
setbacks in economic and social development, and called for a more
consistent struggle against this vice.
–Boundary_(ID_7ZjHY7w6VM/AV3kqU7Y4mw)–

EU AGAINST NUCLEAR PLANT
Lragir.am
20 April 06
The Co-chair of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee
Marie Anne Isler Beguin announced April 19 in Yerevan that during
all the talks with Turkey the EU raises the issue of the Armenian
genocide. The EU which recognized the Armenian genocide in 1985 did
not change, noticed Marie Anne Isler Beguin. She said a country, such
as Turkey, which keeps its borders closed for its neighbor, cannot
become member of the EU. According to Ms. Marie Anne Isler Beguin, the
membership of Turkey is greatly determined by this question as well.
The session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee was
held at the National Assembly, and on these days photos picturing
vandalism against Armenian monuments in neighboring countries are
displayed in the building of the Armenian parliament. The EU delegation
saw these pictures and watched a documentary film about the demolition
of Armenian khachkars in Nakhidjevan. Marie Anne Isler Beguin announced
that the EU is against demolition of any cultural heritage.
With regard to internal problems of Armenia, the EU representative
said there is no wish to leave Armenia without electricity but the EU
thinks that it is not a good idea to prolong the life of the nuclear
plant of Metsamor or to build another nuclear plant in Armenia. Armenia
should consider alternative energy sources.

OBSERVERS JOINED MILITARY EXERCISE IN KARABAKH
Lragir.am
20 April 06
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan, the Primate of Artsakh Diocese
Archbishop Parghev Martirosyan and Defense Minister of Armenia Serge
Sargsyan watched the military exercise of the armed forces of Karabakh
on April 19. In an interview during the exercise Arkady Ghukasyan
said the army has become more effective. NKR Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan said this exercise is particularly important because the
army was ready for action. “We laid special emphasis on cooperation
of types of troops and involvement of aviation,” said Seyran Ohanyan.

ARMENIA WILL LOSE IF IT MAKES A BAD CHOICE
Lragir.am
20 April 06
“I alone cannot guarantee a fair election, and I alone cannot promise
that the election will be free and fair,” stated Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan April 20 in a news conference.
He finds only one clear thing about the elections in 2007 and 2008;
if the elections are bad, apart from moral damage Armenia will suffer
material losses. “The Millennium Challenge program is an evidence
to this. The program stipulates compliance with certain standards,
and a breach of standards would mean losing the 235 million dollars
to be provided by the MCC program,” says Vardan Oskanyan, repeating
that will mean that if Armenia makes a bad choice, it will lose the
“moral as well as material support of its friends.”

ARMENIA IS READY TO DISCUSS TERRITORIES IF…
Lragir.am
20 April 06
If Azerbaijan recognizes the right for self-determination of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia is ready to consider the
question of elimination of the consequences of the war. Foreign
Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan reasserted April 20 the official
standpoint of Armenia on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The
consequences of the war are the problems of territories and the return
of refugees. Vardan Oskanyan does not specify if Armenia will discuss
the consequences after the self-determination of the people of Armenia
or since the moment when Azerbaijan simply agrees to recognize the
right for self-determination, leaving the discussion of options for
future. The foreign minister of Armenia simply announces that Armenia
will consider the consequences of the war if Azerbaijan accepts that
the people of Karabakh should decide their status independently.
From: Baghdasarian

EU WOULD NOT EXPLAIN TO ARMENIA WHAT FAIR ELECTION IS
Lragir.am
20 April 06
There are standards of free and lawful elections for the countries of
the EU, the CoE and the OSCE, which are obligatory for everyone. On
April 20 this idea was stated by Hans Winkler, Chair of the EU Troyka,
Secretary of State of Austria, in a news conference in Yerevan. He
said the European Union emphasizes the importance of the upcoming
presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia and is willing to
monitor these elections. In answer to the question of a news reporter
if there is a border, below which falsification is acceptable and
above which it is not acceptable, the state minister of Austria said
a fair and free election is clear for everyone, and did not find it
necessary to explain what a lawful and fair election is, saying that
this notion does not need an explanation.

ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN POLAND TO MARK THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 10:24
Armenian Youth Association in Poland in cooperation with other Armenian
organizations will mark the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
on April 23 in Warsaw. Apart from the members of the Armenian community
in Poland, famous artsits, historians, politicians and diplomats will
take part in the event.
The program includes a silent march, which will end at the Turkish
Embassy in Poland.An anniversary meeting will be held in the
Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw. Speeces will be delivered by Mr. Maciej
Bohosyan, the Representant of The Armenian Minority at the Goverment
of Poland, Mr. Ashot Galoyan, the Ambasador of the Republic of Armenia
in Poland. Mr. Rafael Amirian, the President of the Poland-Armenia
Association. A discussion with participation of invited guests will
be organized as well.