Turkish minister says Greek “genocide” monument, French resolution
could harm relations

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
12 May 06
Izmir: Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has
said that the erection of a monument to commemorate the so-called
“Greek Pontusian genocide” in Thessaloniki, Greece, overshadowed the
improving friendly relations between Turkey and Greece.
Interviewed by an Anatolia correspondent in Izmir upon arriving for a
visit there, Gul noted that Izmir mayor and his team had done the
right thing by deciding not to sign a protocol twinning Izmir and
Thessaloniki in response to the erection of the monument.
Gul pointed out that bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece
were making encouraging progress, adding that they had been informed
that some non-government organizations in Turkey would take steps and
that a monument to those who lost their lives during the War of
Liberation would be erected in Kesan.
Emphasizing that neither country could benefit from such retaliatory
steps, Gul went on to say, “Such things were done in the past and they
proved to be useless over the long term. Thus, such actions, offending
the other side, should have been avoided. I believe the mayor’s
decision was right.”
Gul also disclosed that they were making serious efforts about a
resolution -recently tabled in the French parliament – qualifying the
denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide” as a crime.
Pointing out that their efforts were not aimed at provoking the public
but cautioning France about the possible consequences of the
resolution – which would deeply offend Turkey – before it was too
late, Gul said they had summoned Turkish ambassadors in Ottawa and
Paris to Ankara to get detailed information about the matter.
“This is an issue which concerns not only the government but also the
public,” Gul said, adding that French non-government organizations and
businessmen had cautioned their government that the resolution, if
adopted by the French parliament, would harm bilateral ties.
Gul noted that he had also discussed the matter with French Foreign
Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy at length and said, “As far as I can
see, the French government is also making utmost efforts. Sometimes
issues connected with domestic politics could seriously hurt a
country’s broader interests. I believe the French government will
place a higher priority on French interests.”
[Passage omitted]

Climate of fear reigning in Armenia – speaker
Arminfo
12 May 06

Yerevan, 12 May: The mass departure of businessmen MPs from the
faction of the Orinats Yerkir (Law-Governed Country) Party is due to
the climate of fear reigning in Armenia, the speaker of the Armenian
National Assembly and leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party, Artur
Bagdasaryan, said at a news conference today.
“I do not blame the MPs who quit our party because they took this step
out of fear. The climate reigning in the republic frightened these
people so much that as soon as they heard about disagreements between
me and President Robert Kocharyan, they hurried to leave our party,”
Bagdasaryan said. I have shared bread and salt with the MPs who quit
the party for many years, he said.
[Passage omitted: The Orinats Yerkir Party decided to quit the ruling
coalition yesterday]

DRAUGHT YEAR 2001
Lragir.am
13 may 06
In 2011 the secondary schools of Armenia will not have alumni,
announced the deputy minister of education Norayr Ghukasyan on May
11. Fortunately, it will last for only a year. The `eclipse of alumni’
is determined by the transition to eleven-year secondary education in
2001. Children who went to school in 2000 will study for 10 years and
will leave school in 2010. Children who went to school in 2001 will
study for 11 years and will leave school in 2012, and the secondary
schools will have no alumni for a year. However, it is good that the
teaching staffs learn this several years ahead. It is bad for the
alumni of 2010, however. If no one is going to leave school in 2011,
and consequently fewer students will go to universities, the income of
the school and university teachers will go down, because there will be
no one to buy presents for teachers and there will be less bribing and
presents on admittance. And since the teaching staffs learned this
years ahead, the `scrupulous’ representatives of this system will
surely try to fill the gap of this drought’ year the year that will
come before, in other words, the alumni of 2010 will have to `pay’ for
the alumni-free year too. It is also possible, however, that the
scrupulous teachers and professors start thinking for themselves in
2006, to fill in the gap of 2011 little by little. In this case, the
burden of the alumni of 2010 will be divided to the upcoming five
years.
However, it is also possible that the burden of `compensation’ is laid
on the shoulders of the alumni of the year coming after the year of
`drought’.
In other words, they may begin spending more than the alumni before
2011. In that case we may be sure that it will become a fixed price,
and will never drop. And who knows, maybe the transition to an 11-year
school education in 2001 was intended to create an artificial deficit
of alumni to cause the prices go up. In economy when they want to
increase the price of a product, they create an artificial
deficit. And we know that by a tradition of decades the system of
education has come to form a visibly essential part of the GDP of
Armenia, even though its black structure.

WHICH IS BETTER, ELECTORAL FRAUD BY SKINHEADS OR TEACHERS?
Lragir.am
13 may 06
A striking tendency can be observed inside the Armenian system of
governance. Government officials multiply their positions, mainly at
the expense of the sphere of education. On May 12 Andranik Margaryan,
Prime Minister of Armenia over the past 6 years, alumni of the
Department of Cybernetics of SEU, was elected chair of the Council of
Alumni of SEU. During the meeting of the Council of Alumni Andranik
Margaryan was elected unanimously. May 12 is apparently a lucky date
for Andranik Margaryan, for six years ago this day he was appointed
prime minister of Armenia, and at that time nobody thought that
Andranik Margaryan would become the most long-lived prime minister in
the modern history of the Republic of Armenia. The prime minister, of
course, announced after a year of office that the work of a prime
minister is like that of a gladiator. It would be interesting to know
how the prime minister will characterize the position of chair of the
Council of Alumni. Considering that this is a technical university,
the prime minister will probably compare his new position to a
terminator.
After Serge Sargsyan the prime minister is the second to take up
leadership of a society of alumni. The minister of defense is the
leader of the alumni of Yerevan State University. By the number of
alumni SEU apparently is not inferior to the State University, which
is already a big benefit. But if Serge Sargsyan has taken up the
higher education system, Andranik Margaryan is gradually getting hold
of the secondary education system. He demonstratively admitted school
teachers to his political party on May 1 to demonstrate that for him a
teacher is the real worker. There is nothing left to do but to
persuade teachers that election is the real job. And this will not
take much effort.
An implicit remark that the lay-off policy was not finished or needed
revision would be enough.
On the other hand, it is commendable that the government elite of
Armenia have `taken up’ the sphere of education with such zest. Itis
commendable and reassuring. It is much better when school and
university teachers falsify the election that skinheads. While you are
trying to teach skinheads something, the OSCE has already learned
everything. Whereas there will be no need to teach teachers and
professors, they would teach others rather. Besides, itis beneficial
for the voter too. A skinhead hits, a teacher explains.

HOW ARE ALUMNI OF ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY GOING TO LOOK EACH OTHER IN
THE FACE?
Lragir.am
13 may 06
In the May 2 meeting of the Council of Alumni of the State Engineering
University of Armenia, the new staff of the council including 29
members was elected. The staff is rather interesting. Besides the
election of Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan chair of the council, a
number of businessmen, proprietor members of parliament and ministers
were included in the council of alumni.
However, it is hard to imagine how the council is going to work if its
members dislike one another.
For instance, Members of Parliament Areg Ghukasyan and the owner of
Yerevan Beer Factory Ahsot Baghdasaryan are members of the council.
Businessman Hrant Vardanyan is also member of the council. The latter
does not `get on well’ with Areg Ghukasyan and Ashot Baghdasaryan.
Moreover, Hrant Vardanyan has banned AR Channel belonging to him to
video or show them either in the parliament or anywhere else. If this
rule is broken, and these persons despised by Hrant Vardanyan appear
on AR, the salary of the guilty is cut. One can only imagine how these
people are going to take care of the State Engineering University
together and take pride in being alumni of this university.

RUSSIA IS REGAINING KARABAKH
Lragir.am
13 may 06
Over the past week the experts of the Russia-based Strategic Culture
Foundation headed by the director of this organization Vladimir
Maximenko were in Karabakh. They visited villages, military units, met
with the government, ordinary people. At Stepanakert Press Club they
met with news reporters. Alarge amount of data on Karabakh can be
found on the Internet, but they are not always true. Most people, even
Armenians, tend to think that the war is going on in Karabakh, and
only several dozens of soldiers live here. Whereas, the Russian
experts say the situation is quite different.
In an interview with us Expert Alexander Krilov, Ph.D., said he
visited many post-Soviet countries, and compared with them life in
Karabakh is much better. `On May 9 we went to the central square of
Stepanakert and were astonished. We saw well-dressed young people,
cheerful but calm. There are no drunkards, drug addicts. This is
something unusual for us,’ said Alexander Krilov.
For the attitude of Russia towards Karabakh, the Russian expert said
presently only tendencies can be considered. `The official standpoint
is the same: resolution in the framework of territorial integrity. At
the same time, progress is reported on a non-governmental level. Last
year the Caucasian Institute of Russian Democracy became engaged in
Karabakh. As far as I know, they aided considerably the Russian
community, funded educational and cultural programs. We learned here
that the Russian Orthodox Church is going to build a church in
Stepanakert. Thus, though on a level of humanitarian organizations,
Russia’s returning to Karabakh,’ said A. Krilov.

KARABAKH NGOs DISCUSS ACHIEVEMENTS OF 12 YEARS OF CEASEFIRE
Lragir.am
13 may 06
On May 12 NKR celebrated the 12th anniversary of the
armistice. Helsinki Undertaking 92 organized a round-table meeting
with NGOs and invited Speaker Ashot Ghulyan. What have you done over
these 12 years, did you use this period rationally? Public opinion on
this question is not unanimous. First, the representatives mentioned
that Karabakh should become involved in the talks. Karen Ohanjanyan,
the coordinator of Helsinki Undertaking 92 noticed that the present
format of the talks cannot lead to a resolution in the context it was
raised. Member of Parliament Maxim Mirzoyan says political conjuncture
changes constantly, and activities should be made to correspond it. If
in 1991 we had to hold a referendum and declare our independence, now
we have to think in accordance with other parameters to guarantee our
independence and security.
Independence is independent home and foreign policies. In this sense
we can hardly be considered independent. We lack a constitution, we
held the first parliamentary hearings on the Karabakh issue quite
recently, we have a large number of economic irregularities. This led
to the discussion of a settlement at the OSCE Minsk Group unacceptable
for us, namely recognition of the independence of Karabakh within the
borders of the Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh plus a tiny
corridor,’ said Member of Parliament Maxim Mirzoyan.
The speaker of the National Assembly Ashot Ghulyan noticed that the
standpoint of the NKR government has not changed since 1991. It is
guaranteeing the independence and security of the people of NKR. A lot
has changed since 1991, namely with respect to the issue of
territories. Did the standpoint change? In answer to this question
Ashot Ghulyan said it is difficult to have ready schemes every
time. Do we have a ready plan of actions in case the United States
strikes our neighbor Iran? This question of Karen Ohanjanyan also
remained without an answer. As an achievement, the participants of the
round-table meeting mentioned the contrasts found in Karabakh. The
money spent on the billiard contest and expensive song festivals could
be spent on repairs ofthe Republic Hospital, which is in a terrible
condition. Doctor Lyudmila Grigoryan says one of the `peculiarities’
of the year is the wrong choice of priorities.
Another peculiarity is the lack of mechanisms of public debates on
burning issues. In 20 days from the parliamentary hearings on the
Karabakh issue it turned out that people had different opinions on
these hearings. During the round-table meeting the hearings were
criticized, but no one was able to answer the question why these
evaluations are made so late.
`The Jewish fund will always be full of billions, because the society
is sure this money is spent duly and is not stolen,’ says former
member of parliament Valery Ghazaryan. Sociologist Davit Gharabekyan
says the chief problem of our independence is that we have not learned
to solve our problems ourselves.
We are still waiting for someone from `above’ to tell something or to
blame someone.

WEST WAITS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE, BUT ARMENIA HAS NO ALTERNATIVE
Lragir.am
13 may 06
Member of Parliament Shavarsh Kocharyan announced May 13 the
evaluation of the parliamentary election 2007 by the West depends on
the alternative of the political sphere rather than the degree of
irregularities.
`All the evaluations of Armenian elections are objective, but their
consistency depends on if the West can see an alternative. If there is
an alternative, the West is consistent,’ says Shavarsh Kocharyan.
And for Armenia European integration has no alternative, says the
leader of the National Democratic Party. He says even the government
understands this, and the evidence to this is Arthur Baghdasaryan’s
statements.
`The fact that today the Orinats Yerkir emphasizes democratization,
European integration. This is something positive, positive in the
sense that it displays that there is no other alternative for
Armenia. In other words, this shows that even the regime acknowledges
this, simply Arthur Baghdasaryan opposed to the other branches of
power and put the question more acutely out of certain aims,’ says
Shavarsh Kocharyan. Besides, he does not exclude that Arthur
Baghdasaryan could have decided to resign and secede from the
coalition relying on signals from the West.
`In fact, the West has a positive attitude towards him, this is
obvious. But its continuity depends on people’s attitude,’ says
Shavarsh Kocharyan, emphasizing again that the West supports those who
offer an alternative tothe present government.

SOCIETY DECIDES WHO IS OPPOSITION AND TO WHAT DEGREE
Lragir.am
13 may 06
Shavarsh Kocharyan, the leader of the National Democratic Party, was
among the first who commented May 13 on the resignation of Speaker
Arthur Baghdasaryan and secession of the Orinats Yerkir Party from the
coalition.He stated at the Azdak Club that he had predicted this
political divorce two years ago.
Shavarsh Kocharyan says having such big political ambitions the leader
of the Orinats Yerkir Party could not stay in the government because
no place had been foreseen for him in the first three positions.
`In the context of the upcoming election, there should obviously be a
package solution: president, prime minister, speaker. It is obvious
that pretenders are many, and Arthur Baghdasaryan was not one of them,
and realizing this and having serious political ambitions, Orinats
Yerkir either had to accept a lower position and to lower their
ambitions, or become opposition with big ambitions,’ says Shavarsh
Kocharyan.
According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, it does not matter what place Orinats
Yerkir will have in the opposition, or how the other opposition forces
will accept it. He says the attitude and evaluation of the people and
society will be more important and deciding. Shavarsh Kocharyan says
the assessment of the government by Orinats Yerkir and its
self-assessment for the years in government is also very
important. The leader of the National Democratic Party believes that
similar statements are not enough to become opposition, therefore
Shavarsh Kocharyan advises to wait for the future actions of Orinats
Yerkir.
He does not exclude that Arthur Baghdasaryan’s step was a result of
agreement with the government. However, Shavarsh Kocharyan does not
insiston it either. He considers the step of Orinats Yerkir
inevitable, because this political party has big ambitions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARLY ELECTION IS IMPROBABLE
Lragir.am
13 may 06
After the resignation of the speaker of the National Assembly there
was no possibility of dissolution of the parliament and an early
election. This is the opinion of the leader of the National Democratic
Party Shavarsh Kocharyan.
Shavarsh Kocharyan said May 13 that all the political processes
underway are determined by an anticipation of the parliamentary
election 2007 and the constitutional reform. According to the leader
of the National Democratic Party, the renewed constitution has made
the role of the speaker and prime minister equal to or even higher
than the role of the head of state, and the presidential election 2008
will not be deciding. Everything will be decided in 2007.
Shavarsh Kocharyan hence points to the activity of businessmen, who
are setting up a political party to gain a place in the parliament,
because they understand that questions will no longer be solved by a
single person.
`These people are tempted, they want to decide, they do not want to
serve.
This is another threat, danger that Armenia is facing. Either 2007
will bea serious step towards a more democratic system or this
opportunity will be used by those people, and we will have a fusion of
political power and black economy. This would set us far back, we
would have serious problems,=80=9D says Shavarsh Kocharyan.
The most probable candidate of the next prime minister is Robert
Kocharyan, he says. However, it means that the president elect in 2007
will appoint an intermediate prime minister until 2008 when the office
of Robert Kocharyan ends. Shavarsh Kocharyan declined to name a
candidate of intermediate prime minister, saying that the government
knows better. Shavarsh Kocharyan, whoin fact comments on major points
rather, says in 2007 there will be no absolute majority in the
parliament. The majority, according to Shavarsh Kocharyan,will look
like a mosaic, for Robert Kocharyan to be an acceptable candidate.
`The majority needs to be like a mosaic. There cannot be a powerful
political force in the majority. If there is such a force, it will
claim to nominate its candidate,’ says Shavarsh Kocharyan.
He announces that the newly established parties, including the
Bargavach Hayastan Party, are to guarantee this mosaic. Shavarsh
Kocharyan says his political party will not ally with Bargavach
Hayastan. The National Democratic Party has not chosen who to ally
with, and is predominantly bound for running for parliament with a
separate ticket, says the person who will probably be the first on the
list, with the name Shavarsh Kocharyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress