RA PRIME MINISTER AND RF PRESIDENT’S AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE EXPRESS ANXIETY ON OCCASION OF VIOLENCES COMMITTED UPON ARMENIANS IN RF
Noyan Tapan
Jun 19 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 16 meeting of RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian and the delegation headed by Dmitry Kozak,
the RF President’s Authorized Representative to the South Federal
Okrug of the Russian Federation, the sides attached importance
to stimulation of the bilateral mutually benefitial cooperation
of administrative subjects of Armenia and Russia, particularly,
among separate regions of the South Federal okrug, taking into
account both their being close to Armenia in the geographic sense,
and presence of the great Armenian community. A.Margarian emphasized
that possibilities of development of an effective cooperation not only
at the level of the two states’ Governments but also at the level of
separate administrative subjects are also periodically discussed at the
Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.
Mentioning that the first event organized within the framework of the
Year of Armenia in Russia in 2006 at the regional level was holding
of the days of Armenia in the region of Rostov, A.Margarian thanked
Vladimir Chub, the Governor of the Rostov region who was present at
the meeting with the RF delegation staff, for the warm reception of
the Armenian delegation, preparing and holding the events at a high
level. The RA Prime Minister expressed confidence that events to be
held in the marz of Astrakhan in June and in the country of Krasnodar
in August within the framework of the year of Armenia in Russia will
take place as successful as those ones were.
The interlocuters emphasized that improvement of the transport
communication between the two countries may considerably assist
stimulation of the mutual cooperation, particularly, regular usage
of the Poti-Caucasus railway-ferry direction and re-opening of the
Abkhazian part of the Georgian railway, what will give possibility
to increase volumes of goods circulation.
During the meeting A.Margarian expressed anxiety on the occasion of
cases of violences and murders committed upon Armenians in the Russian
Federation during the recent period. He expressed confidence that
the administration of the Russian Federation including ones of its
separate administrative subjects as well will take serious steps to
reveal those quilty and to call them to account as well as to prevent
similar events from now on.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information and
Public Relations Department, D.Kozak as well expressed anxiety on the
occasion of the above-mentioned cases and condemned them. He assured
the RA Prime Minister that those are not led especially against
Armenians, and the authorities of Russia do their best to reveal and
exclude similar crimes.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION BECOMES INTERREGIONAL ORGANIZATION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006
MOSCOW, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A conference of the
Association of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia was held
in Moscow. It made a decision to reorganize the Association from
a regional NGO into an interregional one, as well as to change its
name. According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians
of Russia, now this Association of people’s diplomacy will be named
Russian-Armenian Friendship and Cooperation Association.
Prominent Russian public figure, writer, political scientist Viktor
Krivopuskov was reelected its President for a five-year term.
The conference called on the RF leadership and the Russian people
on behalf of the organization to join the international community’s
condemnation of facts of vandalism in Azerbaijan manifested in December
2005 in the city of Old Jugha (Julfa) towards the Armenian medieval
cemetery and four thousand khachkars (cross-stones) – masterpieces
of small architecture and property of the world civilization being
under UNESCO’s protection.
The delegates of the conference made proposals to the Presidents of
Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia about manifesting a political will
and devotion to age-old traditions of these peoples to live in peace,
friendship and consent when solving the Nagorno Karabakh problem. Only
the way of peaceful and fair negotiations, in the opinion of the
Russian-Armenian Friendship and Cooperation Association, can bring
the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples mutual consent, neighborhood of
friendly hearths and happiness in their families.
In a special statement the organization condemned the cases
of murders of citizens, in particular, of Armenian nationality,
committed in Moscow and in other regions on the ethnic ground over
the past months. The conference expressed anxiety in connection with
the negligence of law enforcement and special services responsible
for prevention and disclosure of murders, well-timed isolation of
persons infected with the poison of xenophobia, racial discrimination
and nationalism introduced from without. The conference also made
an appeal to the Armenian Diaspora in Russia, to the people and
media with a request not to dramatize the situation, not to extend
estimations to criminal actions of some degenerates to the whole
public-political situation in Russia, to more actively use the holding
of Year of Armenia in Russia for strengthening and developing the
age-old friendly ties between the Russian and Armenian peoples.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“HAMSHEN” ARMENIAN ENSEMBLE FROM SOCHI RECOGNIZED BEST DANCING GROUP AT SEA BREEZE FESTIVAL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006
KRASNODAR, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “Hamshen”
folk ensemble of Armenian music, song and dance of the Center of
National Cultures of the settlement of Lazarevski, city of Sochi,
received grand prix in the Folk Dance nomination at the festival
held in Sochi within the framework of the Sea Breeze National Contest
of Young Talents. The festival was held by the “Children of Russia”
fund for support to development of children’s creation, and performers
and creative collectives from many regions of Russian Federation took
part in it.
According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, the Hamshen ensemble performed dance “Berd” (“Fortress”)
and a pot-pourri from folk dances of Armenians of Hamshen (Armenians
of Hamshen came from the region of Hamshen in the territory of the
historic Armenia, currently in Turkey).
As Honored Worker of Culture of RF Vitali Postnikov, principal
ballet-master of the State Philharmony of Vologodski region, chairman
of festival’s jury, mentioned, “Hamshen” was the only group that
presented folk dance at the professional level. Besides the Winner Cup,
the “Hamshen” ensemble was given a special diploma for preservation
of national traditions and a valuable present.
The “Hamshen” ensemble cannot take part in the “One Nation – One
Culture” Second All Armenian Festival of Culture though it had applied
for participation earlier. The reason is that no funds were found in
the Krasnodar territory for financing the tour of the young artists
to this festival.

ARMENIANS OF ANAPA MARK KHACHKAR DAY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006
KRASNODAR, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A traditional
holiday, Khachkar Day, was marked in the village of Haykodzor, Anapa
region, Krasnodar territory. The holiday is dedicated to the date of
placing a khachkar (cross-stone) in this Armenian village. The 15th
anniversary of khachkar’s placing is marked this year.
According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, the festivity started with a prayer of clergymen of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, after which head of the city-resort of
Anapa Anatoli Pakhomov made a greeting speech. Diplomas were given to
the most active public figures of the Center for Armenian National
Culture of Anapa Region from the city administration. Diplomas were
also given on behalf of the Center to the people who spared no efforts
to the advantage of the region and the Armenian community.
The festivity was accompanied by a feast and performances of creative
folk groups, among which there were not only Armenian groups but also
those representing other peoples of Krasnodar territory, for instance,
Greeks and Cossacks.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS TO LEAVE FOR ISTANBUL FOR WEEK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians will leave for Istanbul for a week.
Ara Gochunian, the editor-in-chief of the Istanbul “Zhamanak” (Time)
newspaper informed Radio Liberty, that “as in the case of Karekin I,
it is a return visit for the visit paid by Supreme Patriarch of the
Greek Orthodox Church Bartholomew I, who participated in 2001 in the
closing ceremony of the event dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of
adopting Christianity as the state religion in Armenia.” At the same
time, according to the same source, His Holiness Patriarch pays the
first patriarchal visit to Istanbul during his enthronement.
Unlike the visit paid by latter Karekin I Catholicos, the Istanbul
viceregent will receive His Holiness Karekin II. “Vazgen I Catholicos
once visited Ankara as well where he met with high-ranking officials
of the capital of Turkey. The present visit of the Catholicos of
All Armenians is not official, has a status of an interchuch visit,”
Ara Gochunian mentioned.

“HOW DO YOU DO, ARMENIA” FESTIVITY HELD IN MINSK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006
MINSK, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 18, the
Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Life jointly with
the Hayastan cultural-educational association of Minsk presented a
festive program “How Do You Do, Armenia.” According to the Yerkramas
(Territory) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, the festive event
was held for the purpose of popularizing the culture and life of
the Armenian people among the Belarusian population, as well as
for preserving the customs and traditions of Armenians living in
the republic.
The “Erebuni” folk dance ensemble conducted by Ruzanna Avanesian
performed in the festive program. The artists presented such items as
“Rebirth,” “Palm Sunday” and “Wedding Dance.” The Armenian Diaspora
had prepared a subject photoexhibition under the title “Dreams
about Armenia” telling about the history and culture of the ancient
country. The guests of the festivity also helped themselves to the
dishes of Armenian traditional cuisine.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET IN KIEV WITH PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER OF UKRAINE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 19 2006
KIEV, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian paid an official visit to Kiev on June 18. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, the Minister’s meetings with President of Ukraine Victor
Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov and Foreign Minister Boris
Tarasyuk are scheduled for June 19.
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will leave Kiev for Geneva on
June 20 to participate in the opening sitting of the UN Human Rights
Council.
Minister Oskanian’s meetings with representatives of the Armenian
community of Switzerland are also envisaged in Geneva.
Minister Oskanian will return Armenia on June 21.

THANKS TO RUSSIANS ONE DAY ARMENIANS WILL SAY RUSSIA, GO HOME!
Lragir.am
19 June 06
In the June 16 meeting the government of Armenia made a decision on
reorganization of Armenergo, Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant, Sevan-Hrazdan
Cascade, and a merger with Armgasard CJSC. On the same decision, the
privatization package of Armgasard must be ready by September 1, 2007.
“The purpose of this decision of the government is to set up a large
holding, which can bring the Republic of Armenia to its knees,
dictate a harder policy and stipulations,” says economist Edward
Aghajanov. Moreover, according to the economist, this merger is
completely out of law in the sense that the Thermal Power Plant of
Hrazdan belongs to the Federal Property Fund of Russia, Sevan-Hrazdan
Cascade belongs to the Russian RAO EES. “I, for instance, cannot
understand the point of a merger between the Armenian Armenergo and
the Russian companies,” asks Edward Aghajanov, adding that the legal
basis of the merger is not clear yet, it is not clear what changes
will be made to the standard capital. “The decision smells a rat,”
says the economist.
Aghajanov says it is impossible that this company will be owned by
another country than Russia because “Russia intends to and has already
achieved energy colonization of Armenia,” which is not in the interests
of the Russians. Therefore the anti-Russian moods are rapidly growing
in Armenia, and everybody realizes that Russia is not a strategic
partner, these are relations of vassal and senior. This policy will
lead to a point when the Armenians will rise and say, Russia go home,
Yankee welcome, thinks Aghajanov. According to him, there are other
preconditions which have been talked about for a great number of
times. For instance, the Unites States has provided assistance of 1.5
billion dollars but has never pointed to the energy sector and said
give it to me. Unlike Ukraine, which owed 1.4 billion, Moldavia 700
million, Georgia 158 million dollars, we owed only 97 million dollars
to Russia, but it got hold of all the important units of the energy
sector says Aghajanov. Moreover, Georgia’s 158 million-dollar debt
was reconstructed on Georgia’s demand and proposals.
“But Russia is conducting an extremely dangerous policy for its
country. It is, in fact, restoring the former ministry of oil and
gas industry. Gasprom was national, Sibneft was nationalized too,
which will lead to the Venezuelan disease,” believes Aghajanov. When
the oil companies of Venezuela were private, the quality of life in
the country was second to the United States. After nationalization
these companies became objects of bureaucracy and corruption, and
now Venezuela is one of the poorest countries in the world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALL GUYS NEED IS MONEY
Lragir.am
19 June 06
According to economist Edward Aghajanov, Tigran Sargsyan, the president
of the Central Bank of Armenia, lies when he says that the government
does not intervene in the dollar-dram exchange rate.
“It is worthwhile to remind him that on October 7, 2005 he personally
announced that the exchange rate of the dram does not float in Armenia,
it is controlled by the Central Bank.”
The exchange rate of the national currency is not an end in itself;
it must foster economic development, whereas we move in the opposite
direction. “Due to the artificial increase of the exchange rate, the
export rate went down by 2.9 percent over the past 4 months. It is very
simple. The high exchange rate of the national currency hinders local
production and export and favors importers, it is a simple axiom,”
says Edward Aghajanov. According to Aghajanov, we should have done
what all the normal countries do.
For instance, the United States had a huge trade deficit, comprising
5 percent of the GDP. The economists alarmed that it threatened
the U.S. economy. Our deficit is a record, 817.5 million drams,
16-17 percent of the GDP. This is very dangerous for our economy. The
United States launched a policy of a low exchange rate of the national
currency to promote local production and export, and make imports
expensive, says Aghajanov, whereas ours “either do not understand or
play in the field of import.”
Edward Aghajanov repeats the opinion that the games with the exchange
rate of the dollar and the dram have also a political context.
“If formerly one had to pay 150 thousand drams to appear on a party
ticket, now they have to pay 500 thousand dollars. It is clear that
all the guys need is money to enter the parliament again,” concluded
Edward Aghajanov.

“THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF ARMENIA WILL, OF NECESSITY, UNDERGO REFORM”
June 19, 2006
Lragir.am
20 June 06
Interview with Alexander Arzoumanian, Minister of Foreign Affair of
Armenia, 1996-1998
How would you assess the internal political situation in Armenia?
The behavior of senior officials in Armenia attests to the fact that
the country’s political system is on the verge of collapse. Both the
internal political situation and international developments have led
to the marginalization of the regime. The limits of what the regime
is able to do have narrowed and the methods it uses to maintain
its dominance have become ineffective. The upcoming elections of
2007 and 2008 have created within the governing camp an atmosphere
of intra-system fear for its own future. The regime has nothing to
offer anymore and cannot justify its relevance to the country.
Has the withdrawal of the Orinats Yerkir party from the governing
coalition played a role here?
Although the senior officials have done whatever they can to persuade
the public at large that nothing extraordinary has happened within
the governing system with Orinats Yerkir’s leaving the coalition,
they themselves realize that the foundation that the government’s
ability to function is based on has crumbled. The rules of the game
established in the 2003 coalition agreement, based on which the regime
has functioned so far, no longer exist. Kocharyan now finds himself
beyond the control of the coalition parties, and can act at his own
discretion. He has skillfully taken control of the parliamentary corps,
in fact turning the Republicans and the Dashnaks into a parliamentary
minority. The government and the parliament are under his thumb.
The foundation of Kocharyan’s authority is the power ministries and
the business elite. No other political force or official is in control
of these structures. They cannot control these structures for a simple
reason – these structures don’t submit to any one else.
They don’t submit because they don’t understand what’s going on. This
is natural. For the first time we have a situation in Armenia where
the acting president is required to leave his office in 2008. For the
clan system, this situation doesn’t make sense. A clan never yields
its position; it does all it can to preserve its existence. But the
current situation makes preserving its existence impossible.
Therefore, each member of the clan is trying to solve his problems
on his own. And here the initiative is in Kocharyan’s hands.
How so?
Kocharyan has decided to solve the problem of his own personal future
at the expense of everybody else. As for how he is going to do it,
no one knows yet. But everyone realizes that he will stop at nothing.
The fate of his former companions-in-arms doesn’t interest him much.
Since Orinats Yerkir withdrew from the coalition, the parliamentary
business elite has found itself in a rather paradoxical situation.
For the big businesses, the parliamentary mandates acted like a shield,
in other words, guaranteed the protection of their property.
Besides, in exchange for their service, the
businessmen-parliamentarians expected from the government preferential
terms for their businesses. And that’s how it was as long as the
governing camp didn’t split up.
But didn’t all the businessmen-parliamentarians from Orinats Yerkir
immediately leave the party, once again assuring Kocharyan of their
obedience?
At present, the property of businessmen with parliamentary mandates
is becoming a target for Kocharyan’s political ambitions – creating
the danger of losing that property. The degree of their obedience
has increased sharply. None of the businessmen knows Kocharyan’s
political plans, and this deepens their anxiety.
Moreover, Kocharyan’s actions don’t suggest a desire to transfer power
to his political base, the Republican Party, or to Serge Sargsyan.
Kocharyan is confidently expanding his political party, Prosperous
Armenia, without taking anyone into consideration. At the same time,
no businessmen or influential officials are allowed to join the
party. Such a governing camp is a novelty for Armenia. The question
arises–if the people in Kocharyan’s environment have no place in
his party, then where is their place going to be? This is not an idle
question, since the nomenklatura wants to know its place in the future
governing system. They want to know, but nobody tells them.
The anxiety of these so-called influential people has now become
palpable. Serge Sargsyan, Andranik Margaryan, and Aghvan Hovsepyan are
beginning to realize that they have no place in Kocharyan’s plans. They
are amazed, since the logic of the clan system should have made this
impossible. And they even attempt independent initiatives, all the
while remaining keenly aware that the guarantee of their strength
lies in supporting Kocharyan.
But Serge Sargsyan doesn’t conceal his presidential ambitions.
Many people thought that if Kocharyan had to leave, the most obvious
step would have been to strengthen the Republican Party, putting Serge
Sargsyan at its helm and shoving this army into power. But that is not
what Kocharyan is doing. To all appearances, Kocharyan has realized,
or has been made to understand, that such a plan for transferring
power would lead directly to a revolutionary situation.
Such a reproduction of power would serve as a catalyst for the
consolidation of the people, and the political forces and the regime,
with its old and new faces alike, would become the target of this
revolutionary energy.
Will the opposition benefit from Arthur Baghdasaryan’s joining it?
Arthur Baghdasaryan’s joining the opposition might animate the
opposition movement to some extent. The regime has created a
potential avenger for itself. Irrespective of whether the public is
indifferent, whether it doesn’t trust anyone including Baghdasaryan,
the enfeeblement thrust on the public at large over the years has,
perforce, produced a certain vengefulness. Sociological surveys attest
that our society is in search of an avenger figure, no matter who
that avenger might be.
The public consciousness in Armenia has become irrational, and any
force, even a radically destructive one, will be able to win public
sympathy if it demonstrates the ability to punish the regime.
What developments can we expect?
Developments will be sudden. The political system of Armenia will,
of necessity, undergo reform. The regime knows that these changes may
be qualitative, unraveling the internal political tangle even before
the 2007 parliamentary elections. That is why the desire of some
officials to artificially accelerate the reproduction of power has
become noticeable. But Kocharyan himself hinders everyone. Therefore,
we may witness some anti-Kocharyan sallies from within the governing
system, on the part of those who see their imminent political demise.
But an internal coup will not satisfy the people. Not even their
hatred of Kocharyan will induce the people to support any part of
this system that is corrupt to the core, no matter how they may try
to use the people’s hatred to prolong their own existence. They will
all have to leave together. There is no alternative.
Of course, it would be better if the people didn’t choose vengeance.
A lot will depend on the political forces in Armenia. A policy of
reforms should be implemented based on the values of independence,
statehood, and democracy. After all, political change only has value
if it leads to the establishment of full-fledged constitutional order
in Armenia. Otherwise, it’s in vain.