HAMLET GHUSHCHIAN ADMITS HIS WRONGDOING TO PARTIALITY FOUND PLACE IN FILM ABOUT SAMVEL BABAYAN
Noyan Tapan
May 16 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. TV journalist Hamlet Ghushchian
apologizes to Samvel Babayan, the former Commander of the Artsakh
Defence Army, the Chairman of the “Dashink” (Alliance) party for
one-sidedly presenting facts in the film shot about the latter. He
stated about it at the May 15 meeting taken place at the “Pakagits”
club. After March 22, 2000, attempt made upon NKR President Arkadi
Ghukasian’s life, of organization of which Samvel Babayan was accused,
H.Ghushchian, who was the head of the “Or” (Day) information program
of the “Armenia” TV then, shot the “The Hell’s and Heaven’s Ruler”
film dedicated to those events. According to the journalist, Samvel
Babayan’s supporters’ opinions did not find place in the film as
there was nobody expressing such opinions then. And according to
H.Ghushchian, facts presented in the film and operative shootings
used in it were given by the NKR authorities, particularly, by the
Prosecutor’s Office, Tax Inspectorate, State Television of Artsakh.
“Factually, a number of officials of legal structures of that time
and especially Prosecutor General Mavrik Ghukasian led us into error,”
H.Ghushchian stated. According to him, after the film many people were
sure that S.Babayan and his supporters were worthly panished. According
to H.Ghushchian, only in few months after the legal procedure opinions
were expressed that the action brought aganist the General has a
political colouring, and that the accusations found place in the
criminal case “not so much correspond to reality.”
H.Ghushchian presented the document given to him by the “Dashink”
party, according to which, facts concerning more than 80 cars,
goldenware and diamonds of 3 mln dollars total value, etc. belonging
to Samvel Babayan were exaggerated in the information submitted
to him then. The journalist who returned Armenia after having been
absent for 3 years, visited Samvel Babayan. The latter, according to
H.Ghushchian, showed knightly attitude and forgave him. “Journalist’s
ethics requires that I, first of all, apologize to former Commander
of the Artsakh Defence Army, Lieutenant General Samvel Babayan and to
all those televiewers, who, factually, were given wrong information,”
H,Ghushchian stated. He informed that he is going to shoot a new
film about Samvel Babayan in which the two sides’ opinions will be
presented. Responding colleagues’ questions, H.Ghushchian stated that
either in 2000 or now he did not and does not implement anybody’s
order, he is not a member of any party, including the “Dashink” party,
and his statement does not relate to state elections expected in the
country. H.Ghushchian informed that from Moscow where he worked as
the press secretary at Chairman of the Union of Armenians in Russian
and the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamian, he returned getting
a proposal from businessman Hrant Vardanian to head the “Grandmedia”
TV holding which is being newly created.

ARAM SIMONIAN ELECTED YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY RECTOR
Noyan Tapan
May 16 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Aram Simonian, the Yerevan State
University Pro-Rector on the Humanities, who was the acting Rector
as well during the last one month, was elected the Yerevan State
University Rector on May 15 with the correlation of 41 “for” and 24
“against” votes of the management council members of the institution
of higher education. The newly elected Rector is a member of the
Republican Party of Armenia. Gagik Ghazinian, the YSU Law Department
Dean competed with Aram Simonian for the Rector’s post. To recap,
at the March 22 elections of the YSU Rector which was held at three
stages, Gagik Ghazinian got 36 votes, Aram Simonian got 20 ones. During
the previous election only 1 vote did not last out Gagik Ghazinian for
becoming the Rector. We must also mention that 7 members of the council
were changed a day before the Rector’s election. It was beforehand
stated that particularly RA Justice Minister David Haroutiunian,
Director of the National Institute of Education, “Orinats Yerkir”
(Country of Law) party member Victor Martirosian, RA NAS Philosophy
and Law Institute Director Gevorg Poghosian left the council staff
according to their applications. Meanwhile, one of them, Victor
Martirosian said that he did not present any application for leaving
the council staff: “They accepted, and they removed.” “I think that the
Rector’s election took place corresponding to the law and in favourable
atmosphere,” Serge Sargsian, the YSU Council Chairman, Secretary of the
RA National Security Service attached to President, Defence Minister
stated in the interview to journalists. Responding journalists’
question how it happened that 7 members left the council staff at the
same time, on the eve of the election, Serge Sargsian said: “This
questions must not be addressed to me as I have no right to change
the members’ staff. But those changes correspond to the law. Those
people who presented applications, left the council.” According to
Serge Sargsian, Gagik Ghazinian’s getting fewer votes during this
election is provided by changes taken place during the pre-electoral
50 days: “People changed their opinions.” “I’s a strict supporter
for the university is an open system, works on an open field, is
open not only for students and lecturers, but also for the society,”
newly elected YSU Rector Aram Simonian stated.

EUROPEAN MOVEMENT IN ARMENIA ORGANIZATION AWARDS PRIZES FOR “BEST EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTION”
Noyan Tapan
May 15 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of celebrations
dedicated to days of Europe in Armenia, the “European Movement in
Armenia” public organization organized in Yerevan “The Best European
Contribution” awarding on May 11-18. RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian
got the certificate in the nomination “The Best European of the
Year.” The “Paris Coffee” company was recognized the best European
investor for its European style, and the “Ayas” sea investigations
club was awarded a prize for presenting the culture of Armenia in
Europe by the means of the “Cilicia” vessel. Representatives of the RA
National Assembly, Government, international organizations, foreign
diplomatic organizations in Armenia as well as Henry Croner, the
Secretary General of the International European Movement participated
in the awarding. Just the latter awarded “The Best European of the
Year” certificate to the NA Speaker. Artur Baghdasarian expressed
an opinion, that Armenia must continue the way of integration in
Europe. “Programs of the European Union will give new appearance and
filling to development of our country. Freely developing economy and
society may do much more that all the governmental programs together,”
he emphasized.
The “European Movement” has offices in 42 European states, and this
gives Armenia possibility to cooperate with European countries. The
European Days in Armenia will be accompanied by a number of information
and youth events.

RUGBY TEAM OF ARMENIA BECOMES LEADER
Noyan Tapan
May 16 2006
ABOVIAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the championship of the “3B”
division of the European Association of Rugby (FIRA-AER), the Armenian
National Team’s meeting with the team of Slovenia took place in the
central playing field of the city of Abovian on May 13. Participants
and spectators of the meeting respected with one minute silence memory
of the 113 plane crash victims of the Yerevan-Sochi flight The play
was held with superiority of the field owners among who Donabedian,
Boyajian, Hayrapetian and others were striking. Belgian trainer
M.Meersman’s final whistle fixed the Armenian team’s convincing victory
with 42:6 (19:6) scores. About 5 thousand spectators were present at
the game, what is a record index for rugby in Armenia. After this
victory, the team of Armenia comes to the first horizontal of the
tournament table of the “3B” division having 9 points (three victories
in three games). The team of Armenia will hold the next game on June
4 in Siauliai, with the team of Lithuania.
To recap, teams of Hungary and Bulgaria are also among the competitors
of Armenian rugby players in the division.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN NOT TO TAKE PART IN NATO PA PLENARY SITTING
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 16 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian President
Robert Kocharian will not take part in the plenary sitting of NATO
Parliamentary Assembly (PA) to be held on May 26-30 in Paris. Viktor
Soghomonian, Spokesperson for RA President, reported this to radio
Liberty. “The President has received an invitation from President of
NATO PA Pierre Lellouche but, unfortunately, he cannot take part in
the sitting as his agenda of these days is busy. OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs are to arrive in Yerevan on these days, the festivities
dedicated to the Holiday of Republic are to be held on May 28,” Viktor
Soghomonian said giving a negative answer to the question, whether this
is connected with the current home political situation. The analysts
had made suppositions that a Kocharian-Aliyev meeting could take place
in Paris. According to different sources, Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev has accepted the invitation to visit Paris. The three Co-chairs
of Minsk Group will arrive in the region in the period from May 25
to May 30, but, according to the Spokesperson, the concrete day of
arriving to Yerevan is not known yet.

QUESTION OF SPEAKER REMAINED
Lragir.am
16 May 06
The Republican Party seems to have decided to agree tacitly to home
political processes. The leaders of this party except Galust Sahakyan
decline to express their opinion on the fate of the coalition,
the vacant offices of Orinats Yerkir and the likely candidates
of the new speaker of the National Assembly. Several days ago, on
the day when Arthur Baghdasaryan announced about his resignation,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, always ready for contacts with
press, managed to evade news reporters waiting for him at the State
Engineering University of Armenia. Several days later, at another
educational institution, Yerevan State University, Deputy Speaker
Tigran Torosyan gave a rather long and far-reaching reply to the
question of possibility of his nomination.
“The National Assembly still has a speaker, and when his place becomes
vacant, we can consider candidacies. Now there is no need for this,”
said the Republican deputy speaker. Tigran Torosyan gave a similarly
meaningful answer to the question if it would not be worth leaving the
position of the speaker of the National Assembly to maintain parity,
considering that the government is led by the Republican. “If there
is a vacancy, we will discuss different issues. Today the speaker of
the National Assembly is in office,” said Tigran Torosyan.
His answers to the other questions about the standpoint of the
Republican on the current situation and possible steps were no less
interesting. “I want to repeat for the third time that we will discuss
it when there is a vacant position. I repeat for the fourth time,”
said Tigran Torosyan. Well, maybe he doubts that the speaker of the
National Assembly will quit, and the position will remain vacant. “I
have to repeat for the fifth time,” said Tigran Torosyan and smiled.

NATIONAL GALLERY CONTINUES SHOWING SAMPLES OF CLASSICAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
Noyan Tapan
May 16 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. 26 films by famous French film director
Jean-Luc Godard will be shown in May-June at the cinema hall of the
Armenian National Gallery. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
by Melik Karapetian, the author and organizer of cinema programs,
employee of the Educational Department of the Armenian National
Gallery, in April he prepared and presented to the cinema spectators
another two interesting programs: 10 films on jazz by Ken Burns and
8 films by famous film-maker of the 70-s of the previous century,
one of the founder of the independent film John Cassavetes. After
the Gallery’s reopening in 2004, Melik Karapetian organized the
first program where he presented 6 Armenian mute films. American
films brought from the National Museum of Washington were shown
in September of the same year. A separate subject film program
has been prepared for each month since 2005 March: documentary and
retrospective reviews on art are organized every Sunday and Wednesday
at the National Gallery. The entrance is free for all those who are
fond of European and classical films. “In this issue the National
Gallery is greatly assisted by the foreign embassies in Armenia, but
the main material is prepared by me from my personal film archives,”
M.Karapetian said. He said that at present he has 1700 films, which
are presented to the spectators by different subject programs 10
months running. “The idea of showing these films occured to me in
the years when no festivals were organized in Armenia yet and there
were no cinemas that could import and show real films for certain
layers of the society,” M.Karapetian said. According to him, their
main spectators are young people, students, cinematographic figures
and finally visitors appreciating the real cinema.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSYAN’S PLANS WERE DISTORTED
Lragir.am
16 May 06
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan announced several days ago that
the home political developments in Armenia favor his plans. Using
the opportunity, the news reporter of the Lragir asked the defense
minister if the secession of Orinats Yerkir from the coalition
also favored his plans. “No,” Serge Sargsyan’s answer was brief and
unambiguous. However, the minister of defense knows what he is going;
first of all is going to “adjust” his plans. “A plan cannot be a
dogma. Any plan changes, and we will try to adjust the plan to the
Armenian reality,” said Serge Sargsyan to our news reporter.

STATEMENT OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC
Lragir.am
16 May 06
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
These days, tragic events took place in Shoushi 18 years ago which
played a significant role in the further escalation and increase of
the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict: on May 16-17, 1988, the leadership
of the Azerbaijani SSR via its emissaries and local Azerbaijani
authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Shoushi region started the
deportation of the Armenian population of the town of Shoushi. These
actions which became possible due to the impunity of the Armenian
pogroms organized the same year in the town of Sumgayit pursued the
aim to extirpate the Armenian element in Nagorno Karabakh.
Absence of adequate estimate, first of all, of the USSR leadership
to these actions which, according to international-legal norms were
an act of ethnic cleanings, allowed the Azerbaijani SSR authorities
to realize pogroms and deportation of the Armenian population of
the republic in 1988-91s (Khanlar, Kutkashen, Vartashen, Shamkhor
regions, the town of Mingechaur, etc. – November-December of 1988,
Kirovabad – November 1989, Baku – January 1990, “Kolco” operation –
April-June 1991) which actually created preconditions for the following
full-scale aggression against the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs focuses the attention of the
international community to the fact that the militaristic rhetoric and
charging of the atmosphere of xenophobia in the Azerbaijani society is
the continuation of the policy conducted by the Azerbaijani authorities
and calls to give a worthy evaluation to these events and recognize
the international-legal responsibility of the Azerbaijani Republic
for mass violation of the basic rights of the Armenian population of
the former Azerbaijani SSR and unleashing of aggressive war against
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, which will have immense significance
for strengthening the security and peace in the region and will allow
to approach the final solution of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT
Lragir.am
16 May 06
Ara Abrahamyan, the president of the Union of Armenians of Russia, is
likely to become aware of the home political developments in Armenia
to be able to answer the questions of news reporters. He stated this
May 16 to news reporters in Yerevan.
Meanwhile relying on the information he already has, Ara Abrahamyan,
nevertheless, assesses the home political developments as negative.
“A far as I know, I assess it as negative, but every political
party and every government is free to decide, and we must respect
their decisions and wait for further developments. Now we should
draw necessary conclusions; well, this one seceded, but what is the
next step going to be?” says Ara Abrahamyan in connection with the
secession of the Orinats Yerkir Party from the coalition.
The negative thing, according to Ara Abrahamyan, is that the coalition
came to an end. In fact, the leader of the Union of Armenians of
Russia, unlike the Republican and Dashnaktsutiun, thinks that with
the secession of Orinats Yerkir the coalition broke up. At any rate,
what happened was negative, thinks the Armenian businessman living
in Russia. “You know, if it goes on this fast, if the coalition
breaks up this fast, if a political party is ruined within a day,
there is nothing positive in it. This is statehood, but this is
their decision. The reality, the developments followed one another
too fast, and we need to take our time and give our assessment. But
it was their decision, everyone has the right to decide, of course,
all of them are smart people, they made a decision, and time will show
who is wrong and who is right,” says Ara Abrahamyan. He thinks that he
needs to find out first what, in fact, happened on the home political
arena. It is also a matter of personal interest for Ara Abrahamyan,
because the Union of Armenians of Russia is likely to become engaged
in the home political developments. Ara Abrahamyan says it is early
to consider if the organization he leads will run for parliament in
2007, but he says that their engagement is inevitable.
“Considering that over half a million Armenian citizens live in
Russia, and we have a Union of Armenians of Russia, we are supposed
to participate, watch or support. Of course, we are going to run
for parliament, we are going to have our proposals, debates. I often
meet with leaders of political parties and the authorities. We are
consulting, and we are going to make a decision,” says Ara Abrahamyan.
In the parliamentary election in 2003 he supported the Ramkavar Party,
helped the party to distribute computers to schools during their
campaign, but the Ramkavar Party did not enter the parliament.
Ara Abrahamyan may therefore have decided to run for parliament anew.
He says the Union of Armenians of Russia will decide the form and
degree of engagement, taking into account the interests of the members
of the Union who are citizens of Armenia, and the members who are
citizens of Russia, as well as the legislation of Armenia.
“We are trying to comply with the laws, because we know what
an election is, and what kind of engagement we should have. Our
engagement should not disturb the state of things, the peace,”
says the leader of the Union of Armenians of Russia. Nevertheless,
he says presently it is necessary to consider better things than the
election, drawing conclusions from what happened, and contribute to
the development of the economic and political sphere.