YEREVAN DENIES PLANS FOR KOCHARIAN TRIP TO WASHINGTON
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
April 25 2006
The Armenian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday dismissed a newspaper report
that quoted one of its senior officials as saying that President
Robert Kocharian will likely visit Washington soon for talks with
U.S. President George W. Bush.
“A visit by the president of Armenia to Washington is not planned,”
the ministry spokesman, Hamlet Gasparian, said in a statement.
In an interview posted on its English-language website on Monday,
the Turkish daily “Zaman” quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosian as saying that Kocharian is likely to be “another guest”
at the White House shortly following Friday’s meeting between Bush
and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev.
Gasparian suggested that the remarks attributed to Kirakosian were the
result of a “partial distortion of his words or their translation.” The
Armenian diplomat spoke about the possibility of Kocharian’s trip to
the U.S. capital only in “general” terms, he said.
Bush’s unexpected invitation to Aliev is attributed by observers to
mounting international tensions over Iran’s controversial nuclear
program and U.S. efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict this
year. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian implied earlier that the White
House sees no need for similar talks with Kocharian because Armenia,
unlike Azerbaijan, has largely accepted international mediators’
existing peace proposals on Karabakh.

“THE PROBLEM IS THE PURPOSE RATHER THAN THE PROGRAM”
Lragir.am
25 April 06
One of the recent important events in the political life of Armenia was
the appearance of the Bargavach Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia). A
week ago the program of this political party was published, which is
characterized by analysts as liberal and exceptional for the past
10 years. The chair of the faction of the Republican Party Galust
Sahakyan says the program is rather profound.
“There is a perception in press, in the society that all the political
parties are similar. It is natural, for our state and nation are
facing the same problems, and there must be similarities in their
functions. However, I think, the way and approaches of the Bargavach
Hayastan Party is acceptable for all the political parties, especially
that the problem is not the program or bylaws but the purpose for
which the political party was set up.”

SCIENCE DUTY ON COMPANIES
Lragir.am
25 April 06
On April 25 Member of Parliament Tatul Manaseryan held a debate on his
new bill at the National Academy of Sciences. The member of parliament
is going to introduce the bill on the science duty to the National
Assembly. Tatul Manaseryan has thus foreseen certain tax privileges
and a new kind of duty. In accordance with the bill introduced by
the member of parliament, the companies which promote development
of science, the use new technologies and bring into being scientific
researches, will have certain tax privileges. It is not clear, however,
what privileges exactly are foreseen. The member of parliament says
these public debates are organized to solve these problems. These
debates will also allow deciding the size of the duty. The member of
parliament finds that the science duty should be imposed on companies
which are not related to science. The author of the bill finds that the
size of the duty and other details should be decided through debates.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: CURRENTLY THE NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS IS IN AN ACTIVE PHASE
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 17:52
MEDIAMAX Agency informs that RA President Robert Kocharyan declared
today in Yerevan, “I see no connection between the activation of
the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the situation
around Iran.” The President said this in response to the question of
a Lithuanian journalist during the joint press conference with the
President of Lithuanian Valdas Adamkus.
Robert Kocharyan declared that “he does not feel any pressure from
the US in the settlement process.” RA President underlined that the
American, Russian and French Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group “have the
same position and work coordinately.”
Robert Kocharyan said that “currently the negotiations process is
in an active phase,” noting that it is not the result of pressure on
the part of the mediators.
“The mandate based on which the Co-Chairs are launching their
activity does not envisage execution of pressure on the parties to
the conflict. The mediators solely simplify the efforts of the parties
directed at finding a solution, ” RA president said.

GEORGIA, ARMENIA SIGN TRANSPORT AGREEMENT
Prime-News, Tbilisi
25 Apr 06
Tbilisi, 25 April: Road transport entering Armenia from Georgia
will be exempt from paying [Armenian] road fund tax. An agreement to
that effect was signed in Tbilisi on Tuesday [25 April] by Georgian
Economic Development Minister Irakli Chogovadze and Armenian Transport
and Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan.
Chogovadze said that the agreement would allow both passenger and
freight carriers from the two countries operate between Georgia and
Armenia without any restrictions and extra costs.
Manukyan said that road fund tax exemption for Georgia was the Armenian
government’s response to the decision of the Georgian government,
which in 2005 abolished such a tax for vehicles from Armenia and all
other countries.
Under Armenian law, heavy vehicles carrying passengers and freight
pay between 200 and 280 dollars into the country’s road fund, while
cars are charged between 18 and 20 dollars.
The road fund tax exemption agreement between Armenia and Georgia
will come into force after ratification.

ARAM KARAPETYAN APPLIED TO AMBASSADORS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL
Lragir.am
25 April 06
On April 25 the leader of the political party Nor Zhamanakner (New
Times) Aram Karapetyan informed the ambassadors of the United States,
Russia, Iran, Great Britain and the OSCE office to Armenia about the
April 21 incident. On the same day Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan,
the head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan, and the
president of the Council of Public TV and Radio Alexan Harutiunyan
received letters from the same person. On April 21 12 armed men
wearing masks attacked Aram Karapetyan and the cars accompanying him.
The driver and three bodyguards of the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner
Party were injured, one of the cars was badly damaged. Later it became
known that it was an operation of the National Security Service for
illegal weapon.
In his letter to the ambassadors Aram Karapetyan draws their attention
to “cases of political banditry, and indignant with increasingly rough
intervention of force agencies in political processes, anticipates
an adequate assessment of similar actions, which contradict to
democracy.” A CD with photos of people and cars after the operation
of the National Security Service was attached to the letter.
As for Gorik Hakobyan and Alexan Harutiunyan, Aram Karapetyan suggests
that they give him the tape of the operation (four cameras had filmed
the operation) to publish it. The TV company Alexan Harutiunyan heads
announced about the incident and promised to broadcast the tape,
but it has not been shown on television yet.
Aram Karapetyan suggested that Aghvan Hovsepyan suit an action
“against the organizers of this political banditry.”
According to the leader of Nor Zhamanakner, the operation was ordered
by the head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan and his
assistant Hrach Harutiunyan and assisted by the head of the General
Anti-Terrorist and Constitution Department Nanyan and the head of
the Constitutional Department Yepiskoposyan. Aram Karapetyan has
information that the second round of the operation was going to be
a similar attack on the office of the political party, which did not
take place, however.
By the way, besides the CD Aram Karapetyan wanted to attach the
conclusion of a forensic expert. However, the District Attorney of
the community of Erebuni (the incident took place in Erebuni), as
well as the City Attorney and the General Attorney refused a forensic
examination. “Without any reason. This is unlawful. Yeltsin shot at
the White House but never used “Alpha” for intervention in political
processes,” said Aram Karapetyan to our news reporter.
Aram Karapetyan says the incident was ordered by the country’s
leadership, and the statement of the National Security Service that
there was resistance is false. “I told them not to resist, otherwise
there would be more casualties. There were over 300 people over the
place and they, the National Security Service, could have shot. They
admit making a lot of mistakes after having analyzed the incident. The
National Security Service spread other false information that my
drivers and bodyguards are not members of our political party.”

FRENCH MEDIA COVER THE TOPIC OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 16:10
The French media turned today to the topic of the Armenian Genocide. A
number of articles were published particularly in the popular “Figaro”
daily. The newspaper turned to the legislative initiative to execute
sanctions against Genocide deniers.
It was noted that the French Parliament is going to discuss the
legislative initiative of Socialist MP Didie Migo on May 18. This
project will be the continuation of the Law on the Armenian Genocide
adopted by the French Parliament in 2001.
“Figaro” notes that according to the project, the punishment for
Genocide deniers will range from five years of imprisonment to a
charge of 45 thousand Euros.
The newspaper referred also to the memorials to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide raised in Lyon and Marseilles.

RA PRESIDENT NOT GOING TO PAY A VISIT TO WASHINGTON
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 16:38
Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Hamlet
Gasparyan declared today that RA President’s visit to Washington is
not expected.
The Press Secretary said this commenting upon the interview of the
Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosyan to the Turkish “Zaman”
newspaper.
“The Armenian President is not expected to pay a visit to the
US. Inference of such conclusions from the Deputy Foreign Minister’s
speech is probably the result of incorrect translation or partial
distortion of his words. In his interview Arman Kirakosyan spoke not
about the Armenian President’s visit to Washington, but about the
fact that the good relations with the US provide for the opportunity
for such visit,” Hamlet Gasparyan declared.

LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT HERE ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 17:26
At the invitation of RA President Robert Kocharyan, the President
of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and Mrs. Alma Adamkie arrived today in
Armenia on a two-day official visit.
The Lithuanian President was officially welcomed at RA President’s
Office, following which the two Presidents had a meeting. The leaders
of the two countries discussed issues related to Armenian-Lithuanian
bilateral relations, EU-Armenia cooperation and regional questions. The
parties exchanged views on urgent international questions.
Later the Armenian-Lithuanian negotiations continued in an enlarged
format.
The primary directions of economic cooperation and the opportunities
of activation of these were discussed.
At the end of the meeting an agreement on promotion of investments
and mutual defense was signed between the governments of the two
countries. Presidents of Armenia and Lithuania gave a joint press
conference.

39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD – NUMBER 008
CONTENTS
Monday, April 24, 2006
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
[Statements by Members]
*   *   *
Armenia
Mr. Gary Goodyear (Cambridge, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on this day we commemorate
a dark chapter in history. The genocide of 1915 took the lives of an
estimated 1.5 million Armenians.
    Canada’s legislature, from a Senate resolution passed on June 13, 2002
to the adoption of a motion in this House on April 21, 2004, has finalized a
complete acknowledgement recognizing the Armenian genocide.
    Canada greatly values the contributions that Armenians make to our
national life. On this solemn day of remembrance, together, our nations look
with hope and determination toward a future of peace and prosperity for all
and freedom from ignorance.
    I commend the Prime Minister for his courage and leadership in doing the
right thing yet again and I join the Armenian communities in and around
Cambridge, across this great nation and all corners of the globe, in the
observance of this, the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
*   *   *
The Armenian people
    Ms. Raymonde Folco (Laval – Les Îles, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on April 7, the
House addressed the subject of the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
[English]
    Today, we commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide
which the House condemned as a crime against humanity in April 2004. On
April 25, tomorrow, we will remember the 6 million Jews deliberately
murdered by Nazis during the second world war.
[Translation]
    Without hesitation, we have labeled these massacres as genocides
because, for racial, ethnic, religious or political reasons, certain
countries have sought to annihilate these populations in violation of their
right to life.
    Canadians have lost family members in these genocides.
[English]
    It is our responsibility to commemorate the memory of these victims as
we reflect on the senselessness of these sadistic atrocities. Canada must
serve as an example to the world that all peoples, regardless of their
colour, ethnicity or religion can live with dignity and respect.
    Finally, I would like to welcome to Ottawa Canadians of Armenian origin
from my riding of Laval – Les Îles.
*   *   *
[Translation]
The Armenian people
    Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
    [Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
    Parts rashnon serpazan hayr sirelli hay kebektsiner.
    [Translation]
    Today, April 24, we commemorate the 1915 Armenian genocide that claimed
1.5 million victims. The first genocide of the 20th century wiped out more
than half of the Armenian population.
    Two years ago, the House passed the Bloc Québécois’ Motion M-380
recognizing the genocide.
    The Conservative government must do its utmost to ensure that
recognizing these barbaric acts means more than just passing a motion. We
should adopt an act of formal acknowledgement out of respect for families
who lost relatives under horrible conditions and to show that we will never
again accept genocide.
    There are 18,860 Quebeckers of Armenian origin, 5,880 of whom live in
Laval. I am speaking on their behalf today to express the hope that nobody
will ever have to experience such a tragedy again.
    [Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
    Guetse high jogovourthe.
*   *   *
ORAL QUESTIONS
[Oral Questions]
Foreign Affairs
    Hon. Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough – Agincourt, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on
April 21, 2004, I was deeply gratified as the Parliament of Canada voted to
recognize the Armenian genocide. Today there continues to be human rights
violations against the Kurds and the Cypriots in that part of the world.
    When will the Prime Minister have the strength of his convictions and
have his foreign minister officially recognize the Armenian and Pontian
genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire?
    Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member opposite
will note that the Prime Minister did acknowledge the terrible suffering and
loss of life that occurred over 92 years ago with the Armenian people. In
fact, he noted in his question as well that there were not only one but two
motions passed in the Parliament of Canada in recent years and this
government, as we did in opposition, supported those motions then as we do
today.
*   *   *
[English
Armenia
    The Speaker: Following discussions among representatives of all parties
in the House, I understand there is an agreement to commemorate the Armenian
genocide.
[Translation]
    I call on the hon. members to rise to observe a moment of silence.
    [A moment of silence observed]
*   *   *
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress