A1plus

| 15:18:38 | 12-04-2005 | Politics |

WHY DON’T JOURNALISTS GO TO KARABAKH

How do the Armenian media influence the Karabakh problem settlement?

Expert of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies Alvard
Barkudaryan is concerned over the fact that some media publish interviews
with minor political figures «just to fill their pages with information»,
thus doing more harm than good. «Such publications give the impression that
Karabakh is still a part of Azerbaijan. There are no broadcasts about
Karabakh, journalists do not go there, and moreover, they lack the
perception of Karabakh and of people living there’, Ms. Barkhudaryan says.

According to her, it was more or less understandable why journalists avoid
visiting military zone; to date such behavior is at least incomprehensible.
She is also concerned over the lack of professional analysts and censures
the journalists, who do not pay homage to the internal policy. «The
information being spread by some media at present is neither favorable nor
pro-Armenian», she resumed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus

| 15:00:39 | 12-04-2005 | Politics |

IS AZERBAIJAN GOING TO EXERT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA?

US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is arriving in Baku this Tuesday.
Well known sources of information report that the head of Pentagon is
arriving to discuss the deployment US military bases in Azerbaijan. Thus,
Assistant News cites US Professor of International Relations Hakim Kaufman:
«To date the US spreads out troops in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Iraq
preparing for the war against Iran.

Sunday Times weekly adheres to the same opinion.

As for the military bases in Azerbaijan, they will perform several more
functions such as guard of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, for
example. And last but not least, Azerbaijan is going to use the presence US
military bases as an instrument for exerting pressure on Armenia in Karabakh
issue.

A1plus

| 14:36:03 | 12-04-2005 | Politics |

PARUYR HAYRIKYAN STRUGGLING FOR HIS RIGHTS

Chairman of National Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan invited
journalists to the building of the Central Bank of Armenia on occasion of
the anniversary of the events taken place a year ago when a peaceful rally
was dispersed by the police. However Mr. Hayrikyan has another important
news to announce.

He informed that the government is trying to deprive the union of the
building located in the neighborhood of the Central Bank and of the
editorial office of «Independence» periodical.

Paruyr Hayrikyan did not clarify why he has chosen today for making his
statements. He noted that he had a conversation with leader of the People’s
Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan, who reiterated, «We will follow
constitutional path».

A1plus

| 13:14:06 | 12-04-2005 | Social |

CINEMA TO SOLVE PROBLEMS OF INVALIDS

Some organizations have chosen a specific way to discuss the problems of
invalids. These days Armenian and foreign films dedicated to the problems of
disablement will be shown.

To note, similar programs are implemented in Georgia, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan,
Uzbekistan and Russia. Besides the demonstration of films, seminars with the
participation of children and adults will be held while the media will work
for developing public awareness and destroying the prejudice of the society
towards disabled people

A1plus

| 19:15:37 | 12-04-2005 | Politics |

INSTITUTE OF ARBITER TO BE INTRODUCED

Lately Minister of Justice David Harutyunyan took part in the 26-th
conference of Ministers of Justice of the CE member-states in Helsinki. Now
the Minister is firmly determined to reform the juridical system.

During today’s press conference he stated that using the experience of a
number of countries the reforms will be carried out proceeding from the
interests of the citizens first of all. For example, if the criminal is not
able to make amend to the aggrieved person, the state will recompense a part
of it.

The most important novelty is the introduction of the institute of arbiter.
Taking into consideration the fact that after serving his sentence the
criminal can become more embittered in some countries the victim and the
criminal are being reconciled and the criminal is not sent to prison.

The institute of arbiter is acting in Austria, Germany, Spain, France,
Portugal, Poland and even in Georgia. The Justice Minister informed that the
public works will be used as a punishment in some cases and the
investigators will not impede the reconciliation of the parties. However
this institute will not be applied to all the criminals, the Minister said.

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 13/04/2005

Diaspora

VAHAGN TATRIAN HONORED IN USA

The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in America organized an evening
of honor dedicated to Prof. Vahagn Tatrian, specialist in Armenian Genocide
studies. The president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Dr. Vartan
Grigorian and Dr. Stephen Feinstein, director of the Center for Holocaust
and Genocide Studies of Minnesota University, praised Tatrian’s activity.
Head of the Diocese, Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian, passed to Vahagn Tatrian
the medal of St. Sahak Partev on behalf of Catholicos of all Armenians
Karekin II and his message. “Dear Mr. Tatrian, your social and literary
activity as well as your contribution in Armenian Genocide acknowledgement
process and in condemning such crimes deserves high praise… We are sure
that you will continue your activities directed to condemning the Armenian
Genocide and the other heinous atrocities all over the world in order to
prevent such crimes in future”, reads the message.

RA president, foreign minister and president of the National Academy of
Sciences sent their letters of gratitude to Vahagn Tatrian, too.

By Nana Petrosian

A1plus

| 20:47:36 | 12-04-2005 | Politics |

FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS NO ALTERNATIVE

Today «not really free» Armenian citizens gathered at the monument to
Komitas with the belief that the freedom should become real. Today a
recurrent rally in support of `A1+’ TV Co initiated by a number of public
organizations was held. Participator of the Turning Point forum Gayane
Markosyan said that problems in our country can be solved via public
rebellion and assistance.

The actions in support of A1+ have been carried out for already 10 days.
Over 3200 citizens signed under the demand to publish the list of free
frequencies and conduct a fair tender.

Leader of Cooperation in the Name of Democracy public organization Stepan
Danielyan stated, «All the same, we will win, the freedom of speech has no
alternative. Today an initiative group to find out what happened to the
equipment confiscated from the car belonging to «A1+» Company. To remind,
the car was taken to penalty ground after the procession on the occasion of
the 3-rd anniversary of depriving the company of air.

A1plus

| 20:04:30 | 12-04-2005 | Official |

RA NA SPEAKER MET WITH BORIS GRYZLOV

Armenian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, who is on formal
visit to Russia at present, met with Russian Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov to
discuss a number of issues including the Property for Debt agreement, ferry
communication as well as the legal status Armenians residing in Russia.

During the meeting Boris Gryzlov noted that a business plan was drawn up and
repair and construction works carried out in Mars plant and it will soon be
ready for exploitation. The Property for Debt agreement also became the
topic of conversation between Arthur Bahghdasaryan and Chairman of the
Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly Sergey Mironov.

When opening the exhibition dedicated to the 90-th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide organized in the Federation Council of the RF Sergey
Mironov noted that the Armenian people befell one of the gravest tragedies
in the history of humanity and it should not be forgotten. This exhibition
is a tribute to the memory of the Genocide victims, he said.

A1plus

19:25:30 | 12-04-2005 | Official |

ELECTIONS EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

Today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan summoned a conference with
the participation of a number of ministers and department heads.

Chairman of the Central Election Committee Garegin Azaryan proposed to hold
the elections of the local self-government bodies in Yerevan in September
and in the regions in October. At that he highlighted the formation of
constituencies and clarification of the lists of the voters.

Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan presented the process of the spring
agricultural works. He also informed that almost in all the regions of
Armenia measures for the prevention of spring floods have been undertaken,
as the government provided the essential funds.

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 13/04/2005

Home

ARMENIAN SIDE READY FOR MUTUAL CONCESSIONS WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL INFLUENCE,
ROBERT KOCHARIAN SAYS

Yesterday, Robert Kocharian, RA President, met with the students and the
professors of the Economy Faculty of the Yerevan State University. He
discussed inner political and economic issues during the meeting. Robert
Kocharian stated that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a primary
issue on the inner political agenda but not a single state instance has put
forward a territorial demand yet. President said that the coming political
figures should deal with the legal consequences of the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. “We should consistently struggle for the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” he said.

As for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Robert Kocharian said that the
Armenian side had never denied that the issue can be settled only based on
mutual concessions, as the alternative variant of the mutual concessions
made by the sides can mean the capitulation of one of the sides, while none
of them are eager to take that step. While the mutual concession of the
Armenia side are connected with the inner political and economic stability
of Armenia. He denied the concerns that the international community is
forcing the sides to make mutual concessions. “On the contrary, the
mediators definitely announce that they are ready to apply all their
political and economic resources to assist the sides to achieve the
settlement of the issue. The Armenian side is ready to make mutual
concessions quite voluntarily without any external influence,” he said.

They also discussed issues concerning education and the shadow economy of
the country.

By Tamar Minasian