ATTEMPT OF ILLEGAL IMPORT OF OPIUM FROM IRAN PREVENTED
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. RA State Customs Committee employees
prevented at the Meghri Customs Center a case of illegal import of
about 300 grams of opium type of drugs. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the information service of the committee, the drug was found out in
pockets of trousers of citizen of Iran Catrina Aslanian, a passenger
of a bus arrived from Iran. Preliminary investigation is implemented
at the National Security Service on the criminal action brought on
the occasion of the fact.

RA BILL “ON NATIONAL MINORITIES” WORKED OUT
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The seminar organized on May 2 by the
“Cooperation for the Sake of Open Society” initiative was dedicated
to the discussion of the Armenian authorities’ policy towards the
national minorities living in the country and to the discussion of
the bill “On National Minorities”. According to Hranush Kharatian,
the author of the bill, Head of the Department on Issues of National
Minorities and Religion attached to RA government, the preparation
of the bill became necessary after signing of the “International
Convention on National Minorities” by Armenia. She mentioned that the
rights of the national minorities had been already stipulated by a
number of RA laws, including the Constitution and the law “On Working
Activity”. H.Kharatian said that the bill “On National Minorities”
envisages free use of the national language, possibility to get
education in the native tongue, preservation of the cultural values,
etc. She drew attention to one of the clauses of the bill relating to
the formation of the electoral bodies of the communities. According
to H.Kharatian, this circumstance will contribute to more effective
cooperation of the national minorities with the executive power.

70 VIDEO CAMERAS TO BE PLACED IN GYUMRI STREETS FOR TAKING CONTROL OF TRAFFIC LAWS BREACHES
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
GYUMRI, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Soon the breaches of traffic laws in the
country will be controlled by speedometers and video cameras. The
traffic police department of Gyumri has already presented to the
respective structures the list of the city’s streets where these
devises should be placed. As Noyan Tapan was informed by Gurgen
Dertsian, Head of the Gyumri traffic police department, it is envisaged
to place 70 video cameras, 14 speedometers and 30 new traffic lights
in Gyumri.

ROUND TABLE CONCERNING IMPLEMENTATION OF OBLIGATIONS UNDERTAKEN WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF AARHUS CONVENTION BY ARMENIA ON ISSUE OF DALMA GARDENS TO BE ORGANIZED IN MAY
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. A round table concerning implementation of
obligations undertaken within the framework of the Aarhus convention
by Armenia in the process of building of Dalma gardens will be held
in Yerevan on May 10. Representatives of the “Center for Regional
Development” (“Transparency International-Armenia”), “Human Rights
Protection Armenian Center after Sakharov” and “Armenian Botanical
Society” public organizations informed about it at the April 28
press-conference. Representatives of the RA Government and the Yerevan
Mayor’s Office are invited to the round table being organized by the
above-mentioned NGOs. Participants of the press-conference informed
that by its April 7, 2006 expert’s conclusion, the Aarhus Convention
Compliance Committee recongized the Armenian authorities’ actions
relating to the request concerning Dalma gardens not corresponding to
a number of articles of the Aarhus Convention. At the same time the
committee presented proposals to the RA Government on the occasion
of stimulating usage of principles of the Aarhus Convention. The
committee, at the same time, proposes to undertake practical and
legislative events in the direction of solving existing problems of
accessibility of information relating to environment, to secure the
practical usage of processes of society’s participation in all levels
of making decisions, to undertake corresponding practical events in the
direction of securing accesibility of justice, etc. The conclusion was
made in responce to 3 NGOs’ application sent in 2004. The application
touches upon problems of accesibility of information and public
participation in processes of making decision by the RA Government on
the occasion of change of purposeful meaning of lands and tenancy of
some plots of Dalma gardens of Yerevan. According to conclusion of the
committee, by not giving corresponding information to applicants by
bodies implementing functions of public management, Armenia violated
principles of Article 4 of the convention, and by not securing
complete participation of the society in the process of concrete
decisions concerning building, it partly violated principles of
a number of other articles of the convention. The RA Government
violated principles of the convention as well, not securing the right
of interested representatives of the society to apply for court
examination. To recap, before addressing to the Aarhus Convention
Compliance Committee, the Yerevan Court of First Instance of Kentron
and Nork-Marash communities refused to accept the claim of NGOs to
recognize the RA Government’s decisions invalid because of their
not corresponding to the Aarhus Convention, and the RA Court of
Cassations Chamber on Economic and Civil Cases left the complaint of
the organizations concerning overturning the above-mentioned decision
without upholding.

3 SPORTSMEN OF VANADZOR TO PARTICIPATE IN JUNE IN TOURNAMENT OF POWER TRIATHLON TO TAKE PLACE IN CZECHIA
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
VANADZOR, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In the tournament organized in Yerevan by
the RA Power Triathlon Federation, 3 members of the Vanadzor “Shotokan”
team, Haroutiun Toumanian, Andranik Hakobov and Kristina Tokalian,
took the 1st places in different weigth categories and got possibility
to participate in June in the international tournament to take place
in Czechia. As Gagik Saroyan, the Chairman of the Federation informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, Sargis Torosian, who was announced
the absolute leader of this tournament for the 4th time continuously,
was also awarded gold medal. The “Voskevaz” team took the 1st place,
and the “Shotokan” and “Olympia” teams of Vanadzor took successively
the 2nd and 3rd places.

“VETERANS’ UNION OF RA PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE SYSTEM” FOUNDED
Noyan Tapan
May 02 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 02, NOYAN TAPAN. “Veterans’ Union of RA Prosecutor’s
Office System” was founded on April 28. At the foundation meeting,
Rafael Karapetian, the Chairman of the organization committee was
elected the organization Chairman, Aghvan Hovsepian, the RA Prosecutor
General was elected the Honorary Chairman. Aram Tamazian and Gagik
Jhangirian, the Deputies of the RA Prosecutor General participated in
the foundation meeting of the union. The latter mentioned that the
union may expect in its activity the assistance of the Prosecutor
General’s Office, and some members of the union may be involved in
the certification committee staff and participate in legislative
initiatives of the Prosecutor’s Office. According to the regulations
adopted in the foundation meeting, the Union has a goal to pass the
working experience of veterans of the Prosecutor’s Office to young
employees, to assist formation of a democratic, social, legal state,
support process of legislative and legal reforms.
Veterans of the Prosecutor’s Office system envisage to aim efforts of
their organization to legal bringing up of wide strata of the society
as well, assisting just by it increase of public confidence towards
legal bodies, particularly, the Prosecutor’s Office.

IN ALL PROBABILITY, “YES EM” INTERNATIONAL FESTIVEL TO BE ORGANIZED WITH TWO YEARS PERIODICITY FROM NOW ON
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 02 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The quality of the
last year films presented to the “Yes Em” (I am) international youth
festival was higher than this year. Film director Ruben Gevorgiants,
the jury head, the Chairman of the Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia
stated about this at the April 28 press-conference. According to him,
111 films of 206 ones placed orders beforehand, will be shown during
days of the festival starting on May 3. He also mentioned that film
directors of 12 countries of the world, including Ukraine, France,
Russia, Canada, will participate in the festival. R.Gevorgiants
also mentioned that 20% of applicants are participants of the
previous year. And in general, 64% of participants of the festival
is Armenians. The jury head informed that, in all probability, the
festival will be organized from now on with 2 years periodicity
as valuable films containing interesting and new speech are not
created within a year. According to film critic Suren Hasmikian,
the last year festival, in essence, had two interesting disclosures:
“The first is that it finally succeeded to remind the spectators that
a film is watched in cinema halls, and the second is disclosure of
the new generation of woman directors and operators. This is almost a
new event for history of Armenian cinematography.” S.Hasmikian is sure
that the festival will not be able to solve all problems existing in
the sphere of cinematography: “They will not be solved by organizing
one or two festivals.” The film critic also mentioned that deficit of
thinking, new speech are noticed among today’s young creators: “They
know the language of cinematography well, but the lack of dramaturgy
and speech depreciates created films.” The organization committee of
the festival defined 9 prizes: the best feature film, best documentary
film, best student’s work, best operator’s work, best director’s work,
best music clip, best animation film, best advertising clip,
best video-art. All prize-winners will get a diploma and a
prize. R.Gevorgiants also informed that a new prize after Ara Vahuni,
in the memory of the prominent film director passed away recently is
defined in the nomination of documentary films.

SOUREN ZOLIAN:TODAY, NAGORNO KARABAKH HAS APPEARED IN THE SITUATION OF A PERSON WITH NO PASSPORT
Stepanakert, May 02. ArmInfo.Professor Souren Zolian, Doctor of
Philology, Rector of the Yerevan State Linguistic University, is
delivering lectures at the Artsakh State University currently.
ArmInfo correspondent informed that Mr. Zolian said in the interview
to NKR Public Radio that the professors of the YSLU regularly arrive in
NKR to deliver lectures at the Artsakh State University. Mr. Zolian is
going to hold lectures on Linguistics. “We witness the construction
process of the Artsakh University, it develops and grows, new
professions are being taught. This testifies to the fact that NKR lives
a full fledged life,” he said. As for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, he said that at present, unfortunately, NKR has appeared
in the situation of an individual with no passport. Certainly, the
political recognition is very important, but at last, a person is
recognized for his true features and not by its passport,” he said.

ARMENIAN SPEAKER, US MEDIA WATCHDOG OFFICIALS DISCUSS REFORMS
Arminfo
2 May 06
Yerevan, 2 May: Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Artur
Bagdasaryan met the deputy executive director of Freedom House, Thomas
Melia, the head of the organization’s European office, (?Christi
Eventon), and the editor-in-chief of the Economist Intelligence Unit
publication, Anne Walker, today.
At the meeting, Melia briefed Bagdasaryan on the organization’s
annual report for 2006, noting that the report contained assessment
methodology and standards, the press service of the Armenian parliament
told Arminfo.
The sides discussed the pace of reforms in Armenia and stressed the
importance of expanding democracy, developing economy, holding free
elections and ensuring freedom of speech in holding these reforms
successfully in countries that are going through a transitional
period. The parties also noted the importance of reliable information.
The sides also discussed a number of other issues of mutual interest.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS KARABAKH MIGHT BECOME PART OF IRANIAN ISSUE
Arminfo
2 May 06
Yerevan, 2 May: “I have to say with regret that the Karabakh issue is
becoming part of the Iranian dossier,” the leader of the opposition
Armenian Liberal Progressive Party [ALPP], Ovanes Ovanesyan, said at
the Ayli discussion club today, commenting on US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann’s statement that the year 2006 will see
a breakthrough in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
The USA for the first time holds negotiations on the settlement of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict unilaterally, and the Iranian dossier
gave a significant impetus to the efforts of the US State Department,
Ovanesyan said. The ALPP leader believes that the Islamic Republic
of Iran is posing a serious threat to the entire world.
At the same time, he said that linking the Iranian dossier with
the Karabakh problem was unfavourable for Armenia because it would
lead to the strengthening of Baku’s positions. “The USA intends to
organize energy transit from Central Asia via Azerbaijan, which is why
[Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev will be given the status of a
global politician,” Ovanesyan said.
Asked by an Arminfo correspondent whether this meant suspension of
the West’s support for democratization in Azerbaijan, Ovanesyan said:
“The USA will be strengthening Azerbaijan’s positions in the world
and at the same time, will continue funding democracy in Azerbaijan –
the two do not contradict each other.”
The opposition leader said that the Armenian authorities should make
every effort “to prevent the Karabakh problem from becoming part of
the Iranian dossier”. He accused Yerevan of inaction but did not
specify what measures the ALPP suggested to prevent “the Karabakh
problem from becoming part of the Iranian dossier”.