RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – PRECONDITION OF TURKEY ACCESSION TO EU
Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 05:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The “April 24” Committee of the Federation of
Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands submitted a petition on the
need of inclusion of recognition of the Armenian Genocide and opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border into the preconditions of Turkey’s
accession to the EU to Chairman of the Standing Commission for
European Affairs of the Parliament of the Netherlands Van Heteren –
otherwise the standard of good neighborly relations will not serve
its purpose. Virtually all parliamentary factions were present at
the handing of the petition. Dutch FM Bott has raised the issue many
times, however the standard was not included in the framework document
of talks on Turkey’s accession to the EU. The “April 24” Committee
petition notes the need to include the issue of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Turkey in the framework document. The petition
also notes that Turkey keeps denying the Armenian Genocide not only
inside the country, but also in Europe countries. The Committee
document also notes that good neighborly relations between countries
are part of the Copenhagen standard, thereupon Turkey has to open
borders with Armenia before the start of the talks on accession to the
EU, which will be followed by establishment of diplomatic relations
with Armenia. If this is not the case before the beginning of the
talks, these issues should be included in the framework document,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian MFA.

Armenian premier, Argentinean minister discuss ties
Arminfo
30 Aug 05
Yerevan, 30 August: The lack of political problems between Armenia
and Argentine fosters the productive development of bilateral ties,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and Argentinean Minister
of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship Rafael Bielsa
said at their meeting in Yerevan today.
The sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation with the
UN and other international organizations, the Armenian government’s
press service told Arminfo. Markaryan expressed hope that Argentine
would continue maintaining its position on the Karabakh issue at
different international organizations. Markaryan said that Armenia was
also ready to assist Argentine in various international organizations.
[Passage omitted: Sides also satisfied with the development of
economic ties]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Norway to invest 10m dollars for development programmes in South Caucasus
Arminfo
30 Aug 05
Yerevan, 30 August: Norway intends to invest 10m dollars in the
development programmes of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan between 2005
and 2007 within the framework of Norway’s cooperation programmes on
the South Caucasus and the UN, Norwegian State Secretary, Kim Traavik,
has said at a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.
The Norwegian state secretary pointed out that this investment will
be made in the spheres of state management, power engineering and
ecology. Speaking about the Armenian-Norwegian relations, Oskanyan
pointed out that the Armenian side was ready to intensify and expand
mutual cooperation. He particularly pointed out the importance of
developing bilateral cooperation.
Presenting Armenia’s approach to regional tasks at the guest’s request,
Oskanyan particularly spoke about the latest events regarding the
Karabakh problem, as well as relations between Armenia and Turkey.

HE JUSTIFIED HIMSELF
A1+
| 15:59:29 | 01-09-2005 | Official |
Today Armenian President’s press service issued the following
statement: “During the special NA session on August 29 some deputies
expressed discontent with the formulation of the agenda stated in
the President’s decree of July 11 on the calling of a special sitting.
The President’s press service reported that Robert Kocharian signed
the decree on July 11 basing on the letter of the NA Chairman and
the agenda stated in it: “The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia
(with amendments): second reading.”

AS IT WAS EXPECTED
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| 14:30:59 | 01-09-2005 | Politics |
Today, after the three-day discussions the Armenian National Assembly
has adopted in the second reading the constitutional amendments with 98
votes “for”, 0 – “against” and 1 abstainer. The opposition did not take
part in the voting thus saying “no” to the constitutional amendments.
To all appearances, the draft constitutional amendments will be given
the third reading on September 12.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LIFE-SAVING PATH
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| 13:42:05 | 01-09-2005 | Official |
The reformation of schools and the education system is one of the most
important tasks to be settled step by step. We are very consistent
in this issue”, Armenian President Robert Kocharian noted in his
message on the occasion of the beginning of the new academic year
and the Day of Knowledge celebrated today.
The statement of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II says in part,
“Despite the ordeals that befell the Armenian people literacy and
written language always served as the life-saving path leading to
re-birth and rendering the opportunity to preserve our religion. This
year we are celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the
Armenian letters what impacts particular importance to the beginning
of the school year.”

FIRST OF ALL – GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
A1+
| 12:48:57 | 01-09-2005 | Politics |
The commission of April 24 of the Armenian organizations of Netherlands
sent in a petition to the Chairman of the Standing Commission for
European Affairs of the Dutch parliament with the demand to include
the Armenian Genocide recognition and opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border in the EU-Turkey negotiation agenda.
The petition says that after the resolution adopted by the EU on
December 17, 2004 on opening the negotiations with Turkey on October 3,
2005 Turkey still pursues the Genocide denial policy not only within
the country but also in the European structures.
The petition also says that since establishment of normal relations
with the neighbor states is one of the Copenhagen criteria Turkey
should open the borders with Armenia till the start of the negotiations
thus promoting the establishment of diplomatic relations with the
republic.

RUSSIAN NEWSPAPER INTENTIONALLY MISLEADS READER ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 04:28
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Monday the Armenian Parliament started consideration
of the draft of changes to the Constitution of Armenia. According to
the Kocharian Administration, it is necessary to make the Organic Law
“comply with European standards. However, in the opinion of observers
there is probability for the package of amendments to be transformed
into the new draft of the Constitution of Armenia. If this is the case,
the incumbent state head can get the right to start presidential
career from the beginning, i.e. maintain tenure for at least two
terms,” Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) writes. The opportunity of such a
transformation of the Republic Constitution has seriously alarmed the
Armenian opposition. Thus, as NG reports, leader of the Democratic
Party of Armenia, member of the political council of Justice bloc
Aram Sargsyan stated, “The republic authorities have initially tried
to push forward the amendments being discussed by the Parliament at
present as draft of the new Constitution, availing themselves with
the dual interpretation of the document title “Constitution of Armenia
(with amendments).” The opposition is not happy about the amendments,
in compliance with which the President – not the Parliament – has
the right to appoint the Government head. According to A. Sargsyan,
in case the deputies twice disapprove of the PM candidacy, Kocharian
acquires the right to dissolve the Parliament. “The adoption of this
amendment in case of the undertaking of prolonging tenure will allow
the President to become the PM and push through a dirigible successor
as the President,” A. Sargsyan said. However, Armenian authorities
do not see grounds for such apprehensions of the opposition. Thus,
Armenian President’s Press Secretary Victor Soghomonyan stated that
the amendments being considered by the Parliament are “nothing but
merely amendments to the Constitution of Armenia in force.” They are
legally designed as amendments and they will be such. The changes
in the Constitution will not entail passing a new Organic Law,” V.
Soghomonyan said. Meanwhile, as reported by NG, “Russia doubts the
frankness of Armenian official authorities.” In the opinion of a
newspaper informed source in the Russian President’s Administration,
“the transformation of the amendments being considered into the
draft of the new Constitution of Armenia and its following adoption
is inevitable.” “As far as it is known, all basic political forces
of Armenia have come to consensus over the issue. There is no doubt
that the amendments will become the final version of the Armenian
Constitution,” a Kremlin Administration top official told NG.
Simultaneously he doubts the option when Kocharian will resort to the
third presidential tenure is real. “The changes in the Constitution
can rather be considered as a concession by the Armenian leaders
under the Council of Europe pressure, as well as partially a move
toward the internal opposition. The draft of changes suggested is
aimed at reforming Armenia into a parliamentary republic, expansion
of the power of the Parliament and the Prime Minister. Besides,
Kocharian has stated many times that it is not his final tenure. He
most probably agrees to concessions to leave in peace later, not to
awaiting for internal political instability and maybe reserving the PM
chair for himself,” the NG source said. Armenian political scientist,
pro-rector of the CIS Caucasus Institute Aleksandr Iskandaryan agrees
with this. In his words, the formally adopted amendments limit and do
not strengthen the President’s authority. “The opinion of third tenure
for President Kocharian is totally impossible in my opinion. The
amendments being discussed in the Parliament at present are agreed
with the Venice Commission of the CE, which is utterly important to
Armenia and may become basis for introducing them,” A. Iskandaryan told
NG. Meanwhile, it should be noted that in compliance with article 50
of the Constitution of Armenia (with amendments), the President of
the Republic of Armenia is elected for a term of 5 years. The same
person cannot occupy the office of the President for more than two
terms successively. Special attention should also be paid to the fact
that the “very informed” authors of the article state Robert Kocharian
was elected for the first tenure in 1996. It should be noted that the
R. Kocharian was elected in the course of the presidential election
held March 30, 1998. Thus, one should note that the authors of the
article published in NG, to all appearance, aimed at intentionally
misleading readers, who do not have much information.

PRAGUE PROCESS MADE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROSPECT CLOSER
Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 03:11
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ When commenting on the situation around the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, CE Secretary General Terry Davis stated
the Prague process launched a year ago has considerably made the
settlement prospect. CE Sec. Gen. regretted over the frequent breaks
of the cease-fire regime and the casualties of both parties. When
commenting on the situation in Azerbaijan in an interview with the CE
Information Office and answering a question on the CE actions in case
of a “recurrent gerrymander of the election in Azerbaijan,” Davis said
that much will depend on the PACE observers’ conclusion. “Thus I do not
want to make any decisions beforehand,” he said. The CE Sec. Gen. also
reported there are a number of shortcomings in Azerbaijan in freedom
of gathering and expression.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HANRAPETUTYUN PARTY CONDOLES
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| 16:43:01 | 01-09-2005 | Official |
Hanrapetutyun Party expressed condolences to U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans in view of the numerous damages and victims caused by the
hurricane Katrina.
“During these hard days all the civilized society is praying for the
repose of the souls of the innocent victims”, the statements signed
by party chairman Aram Sargsyan says.