El Pais
June 27, 2004
Un nuevo rey para Las Vegas
SANDRO POZZI
Kirk Kerkorian logra hacerse con los casinos de Madalay por 7.900
millones de dolares. El leon que nunca duerme. Eso es lo que dicen en
Las Vegas del multimillonario Kirk Kerkorian, al que sus 87 anos de
edad no le pesan nada. Tampoco la inmensa fortuna que ha ido amasando
con sus manos, con la que parece no conformarse. El accionista
mayoritario de los estudios MetroGoldwynMayer (MGM) y del operador de
casinos MGM Mirage esta a un paso de convertirse en el mas grande
entre los grandes en el mundo de los juegos de azar y del negocio de
las convenciones, al anunciar la compra de su rival Mandalay Resort.
BODY:
A Kerkorian -numero 65 en la lista de los hombres mas ricos del
planeta, segun Forbes- le bastan tres minutos para oler una buena
operacion. Los negocios, dice, son “el elixir de la vida”. Y mientras
mas grande sea la operacion, mejor. Es raro ver al magnate en eventos
publicos Ni siquiera se pasea por sus casinos. Lleva mas bien una
vida al margen de la sociedad mientras teje tras las cortinas la
expansion de su imperio. Nada que ver con el ganster Bugsy Siegel,
quien en 1946 abrio en Las Vegas el primer casino con neones, el
Flamingo. Sin embargo, su historia esta intimamente ligada al
boulevard del juego desde hace 35 anos.
Kirk Kerkorian esta considerado, de hecho, como uno de los pocos
hombres de negocios que apostaron por transformar la imagen del vicio
de la Sin City -la ciudad del pecado-, para convertirla en todo un
icono del capitalismo y del negocio. La adquisicion de Mandalay
Resort por 7.900 millones de dolares, anunciada hace dos semanas, es
un paso mas en esa direccion. Sin tener que salir de Las Vegas, este
magnate californiano, hijo de inmigrantes armenios, controlara 11
hoteles de casinos, entre ellos los famosos Bellagio, Mandalay Bay,
Excalibur, Lu-xor, New York New York o el Circus Circus.
Kerkorian tendra mas plazas hoteleras de las que nunca pudieron tener
juntos el multimillonario tejano Howard Hughes y Stephen Wynn,
antiguo dueno de la cadena Mirage. Lo unico que le falta es el Caesar
Palace. Hasta el punto que dicen que Las Vegas, una de las metropolis
de mayor crecimiento en EE UU, es propiedad de una sola compania. Su
reino en el mundo del juego ira mas alla aun. Con la adquisicion de
Mandalay, su imperio se extendera a otros Estados del pais -Nevada,
Misisipi y Nueva Jersey- y Australia.
MGM Mirage, donde Kerkorian posee el 57% del accionariado, contara
con un total de 30 propiedades y sumara 75.000 plazas hoteleras, el
40% de las maquinas tragaperras y el 44% de las mesas de apuestas del
pais. A esto hay que sumarle 186 kilometros cuadrados de espacio en
centros para convenciones en las principales ciudades de EE UU. MGM
contara con 70.000 empleados y unos ingresos superiores a los 7.000
millones de dolares anuales.
La adquisicion de Mandalay es la segunda mas importante que en los
ultimos cuatro anos va a realizar MGM, tras hacerse en 2000 con el
control de Mirage en una operacion valorada en 6.400 millones de
dolares. El propio Stephen Wynn explica que Kerkorian siempre se bate
a si mismo: “Cuando habia hoteles con 400 habitaciones, el construyo
uno con 1.512 plazas en 1969. Despues se supero con uno de 2.000 y
luego otra vez con un gigante de 5.000”. Si el mafioso Bugsy Siegel
esta considerado como el creador de Las Vegas, a Kirk Kerkorian se le
atribuye la era de los megaresort.
La adquisicion de Mandalay, como todas las apuestas fuertes, esta
sujeta a varios riesgos. Por un lado, esta el control de las
autoridades reguladoras, que podrian imponer la venta de determinados
activos y la cesion de licencias para evitar una concentracion
excesiva en el sector. La otra es la amenaza de un nuevo ataque
terrorista en suelo estadounidense, que podria dejar la operacion en
zona peligrosa, ya que Las Vegas esta considerada como un objetivo
posible.

Tehran Times, Iran
June 28 2004
Labor Minister Calls For Bolstering Iran-Armenia Ties
TEHRAN (IRNA) — Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Safdar Hosseini
here on Sunday met with the head of the Presidential Staff of
Armenia, Artashes Toumanian, and called for bolstering of
Iran-Armenia ties.
Alluding to an upcoming visit of President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami to
Armenia, he expressed hope the fifth Iran-Armenia Joint Commission
session will be held without delay.
Hosseini referred to the several signed agreements on electricity,
energy, gas and oil between the two countries and praised the
countries’ “outstanding” bilateral cooperation. The minister of
labor, while praising the increasing volume of trade exchanges
between Tehran and Yerevan, said: “Both sides can bolster their
relations due to the existence of many potential.”
Toumanian lauded the efforts of the Iranians to bolster relations and
expressed hope these relations would serve the interests of both
countries even more.
Toumanian also said the project to construct the “Kajaran” tunnel is
one of the most viable joint projects under way and would have no
problems going into operation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

27 June 2004
Bush Has Productive Meetings in Turkey, Senior Official Says
President meets with Turkish government, religious leaders
By David Anthony Denny
Washington File Staff Writer
Istanbul, Turkey — President George Bush had “very good meetings” with
Turkey’s president and prime minister in Ankara June 27, according to a
senior administration official.
Briefing the press on background at the Conrad Hotel, the official said that
Bush’s meetings with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdowan “show that from this moment forward, Turkey sees its
aims in Iraq as parallel and consistent with” the United States. The
official said the leaders discussed territorial integrity of Iraq, and Bush
said the subject was of critical importance to the United States.
The leaders also talked about PKK (Kurdistan Worker’s Party) terrorists,
which operates out of Kurdish-occupied northern Iraq. Bush agreed that the
PKK is a terrorist organization, and said the United States wants to work
with Turkey to combat the group.
Bush expressed sympathy over the three Turkish workers kidnapped in Iraq
recently, the senior official said. Bush told the Turkish leaders that the
kidnapping “demonstrates the kind of enemies we’re dealing with” — those
who “seek to export chaos” to Iraq and elsewhere. International community
needs to unite to combat this threat, according to the senior official.
On the subject of Cyprus, which is now in its 30th year of division into
Greek and Turkish enclaves, Bush thanked Turkey for its “extraordinary”
efforts, the senior administration official said. United Nations Secretary
General Kofi Annan had come up with a good plan to end the division, and the
Turkish government and Turkish Cypriots “did a lot to promote this plan,”
though it was rejected by Greek Cypriots, the official said.
The U.S. and Turkish officials also discussed the Broader Middle East
Initiative, the senior official said. He noted that Erdogan had gone to the
Group of Eight summit in Sea Island, Georgia, to support the initiative.
Turkey’s a secular democracy with a Muslim majority, the official said, and
while perhaps not a model for the entire Middle East, the country
demonstrates that secular democracy can flourish in a Muslim society.
After leaving the Turkish capital and flying to Istanbul, Bush met with
several of the ancient city’s religious leaders, said the senior official.
Included in the group were the government’s general director of religious
affairs, an Islamic mufti, the chief rabbi, and Assyrian, Armenian, and
Greek Orthodox metropolitans. He said the meeting with religious leaders
also went very well. Its purpose was to recognize the contributions to the
city’s life by religious minority groups, some of which have been part of
Istanbul for centuries.
Afterward, Bush met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. This
was, in the senior official’s words, “a terrific meeting.” He added that the
Summit was “closing in on a number of really strong” positive
accomplishments. He predicted that they may include:
— A NATO statement announcing agreement on training mission in Iraq,
containing a positive answer to last week’s request from Iraqi Prime
Minister Ayad Alawi for NATO to train Iraqi troops;
— Expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for
Afghanistan, moving outside of Kabul with Provincial Reconstruction Teams
(PRT’s).
— An Istanbul Declaration on how NATO’s expanding to meet challenges of
21st century;
— A NATO contribution to President Bush’s Broader Middle East Initiative;
and
— NATO will mark the coming termination of its mission in Bosnia after nine
years.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information
Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: )

Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America, Inc.
417 W. Arden Ave., Suite 112C, Glendale, CA 91203
TEL 818-547-3372,
PROJECT HARMONY
Presents
Armenian Schools Connectivity Project (ASCP)
by
Mourad Mouradyan (Technical Manager)
Knarik Nazaryan (Senior Regional Coordinator)
Bryan Wockley (The US program Coordinator)
Tuesday 29, 2004 7:00PM
at
Armenian Society of Los Angeles
221 South Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204.
Admission Free
The presentation will include past achievements of Project Harmony in
Armenia, over the last 2 years, through which 270 out of the 1400 total
number of schools have been equipped with computer labs and internet
connectivity. Recently a Mobile Computer/Internet Lab has been added to
this program to serve outlying regions that have not yet been equipped with
permanent labs.
There are several purposes for the trip around the US this summer.
Primarily, the visiting team is seeking to update the Diaspora community as
well as others interested in the development of technology education and
business in Armenia on the status of the Armenian Schools Connectivity
Project (ASCP). There have been several exciting developments recently in
ASCP including the launch of a Mobile
Computer Lab that will travel and provide internet access and training to
some of Armenia’s most remote regions on a rotating basis via satellite
uplink.
In general, the main purpose is to meet with individuals who are aware of
the ASCP network, have an interest in tech education and proliferation in
Armenia, and may be willing to serve as advisors to the program to preserve
this valuable resource.
Separately, the visiting team is looking to promote partnership
opportunities between schools and communities in the US and those within
the ASCP network in Armenia. The ECA has recently approved the proposal
for increasing the number of teacher exchanges and training opportunities
we can offer to US teachers in support of our partnership building process.
Teacher exchanges will continue for the coming three years, including
annual national follow-up training conferences for those participating in
collaborative school partnership programs.
Recently, the grant renewal for the ASCP has been approved by the State
Department to begin July 1 of this year. However, part and parcel to the
grant provision is a required plan for scaling down US Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding to internet school centers
over the course of the coming years.
There is a great interest in meeting with representatives of
schools in the Glendale and greater LA area who might be interested in
participating in Project Harmony facilitated school partnerships with
schools or communities in Armenia. Participation in these training
conferences, collaborative projects, and teacher exchanges is fully funded
by the ECA grant awarded to the Project Harmony ASCP.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pravda.RU
WCO, EurAsEc sign memo of understanding
18:50 2004-06-26
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Eurasian Economic Community
(EurAsEC) that comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and
Kyrghyzstan (Ukraine, Armenia, and Moldova have observer statuses) signed a
memorandum of understanding in Brussels on Friday. The document was signed
by WCO General Director Michel Danet and EurAsEC Secretary General Grigory
Rapota.
The chief of the WCO that groups 162 countries was pleased that the memo was
signed, the initiative that was supported by Russia’s State Customs
Committee.
Mr. Danet said to representatives of the EurAsEC countries that now on the
WCO could accept requests, raise funds and implement programs to reform the
national customs services thereby promoting economic growth.
“We have been cooperating with the WCO for two years now. EurAsEC has been
granted the status of its regional customs center,” said Mr. Rapota.
The five member-countries are working to create the single economic space
within EurAsEC, Mr. Rapota told RIA Novosti. “There is the council of
customs chiefs that is dealing with the problem. Since EurAsEC is not a
closed club it seeks cooperation with the whole of the international
community. The memorandum with the WCO is therefore a step towards achieving
this goal,” said Mr. Rapota.
Mr. Rapota emphasized that the WCO had singled out the Russian Customs
Academy as a regional center for training customs experts.
© RIAN

armenianow.com
25 June 2004
Chemical Concern: Mothers in farm regions threatened by harmful pesticide
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Research conducted on 30 women in three regions of Armenia found that 25
had traces of the chemical DDT in their systems.
Decades ago, Soviet health officials banned the use of DDT
(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), a pesticide used to kill weeds and bugs
in agriculture crops.
As in other countries, USSR scientists concluded that exposure to the
powerful chemical could lead to birth defects, could promote the incidence
of cancer, cause liver failure, effect the nervous system. Exposure was
especially dangerous for pregnant women.
Tests were conducted on 30 mothers.
The research began last year and is now in its second phase, testing women
in maternity homes of Ararat, Masis, and Aparan regions – farming districts
where pesticides are used for treating vineyards and other crops.
“We examine 30 women from different regions in every stage of our research,
however thousands of women have similar problems in Armenia,” says Albert
Mayrapetyan, director of Scientific Research Institute on Environment,
Hygiene and Preventive Toxicology at the Ministry of Health. “And if we’ve
found those substances in mother’s milk, this already shows that those
pesticides are put into use in the surrounding area. During the second stage
of our research we will examine the negative affect of that milk on the
health of the newborns.
“Considering the threat, prohibition during Soviet times was very strict and
DDT was out of use right away. However, our latest research shows that it is
still are a threat to people.”
“The existence of DDT in milk can lead to various negative consequences
during the period of a child’s development, beginning with mental
development damage up to nervous and immunity damage,” says Lilia Simonyan,
representative of a non governmental organization that focuses on women’s
health.
Simonyan says women become exposed to the chemical while working in gardens
or fields where DDT has been applied.
And while the rate of incidence may seem alarming, Karine Saribekyan, head
of Mother and Child Health Department at the Ministry of Health, says that
research is not yet a reason to discourage mothers from breastfeeding.
“Mother’s milk is irreplaceable for a newborn and it’s not a wise thing to
refuse from feeding babies in a natural way,” says Saribekyan. “Specialists
have to start teaching villagers how to use pesticides wisely and to find
out where DDT came from.”
There are different opinions regarding the reappearance of DDT, but there
hasn’t been any specific conclusions about its renewed use.
The chairman of the Union of Greens Hakob Sanasaryan says the DDT was not
destroyed after it was banned, but it was kept and after a while was again
put into circulation.
According to Mayrapetyan DDT is being smuggled in from Azerbaijan and Middle
Asia.
“Even though usage of DDT is prohibited, the import of pesticides is in
general free for individual small owners and it’s impossible to have a
complete control of this situation,” says the head of Plant Cultivation
department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Gagik Manucharyan.
According to specialists, during Soviet years everything was systematized
and experts oversaw the use of agricultural chemicals. Today, however,
villagers have their own land and their means of farming is practically
unregulated.
“We have been doing researches for five years in regions and carry out
information campaigns on how and what quantities pesticides have to be used
in,” says Simonyan. “The awareness level is not so high.”
Mayrapetyan says DDT in mother’s milk is not the only trace of pesticide
misuse.
“As a result of our research we found out that in the region where a large
quantity of pesticides is being applied, health problems are incomparably
higher than for instance in mountainous regions where they use very little
pesticides,” he says. “Now, another study is in process regarding the number
of stillbirths, and anomalies in the ‘risk’ area and the preliminary picture
is not encouraging at all

armenianow.com
25 June 2004
Abuse of Power?: Regional head maintains post despite criminal involvement
By Zhanna Alexanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A state official suspected of complicity or execution of five crimes,
including one that involved a murder, has continued his government post
despite personal and professional connections that could influence criminal
investigations.
Ara Poghosyan, head of the Armavir Region Real Estate Cadastre Department
was charged nine months ago with hooliganism, embezzlement, official
falsification, exceeding authority and concealment. He could face up to five
years in prison if found guilty.
Prosecutor Arshakyan says there are no obstacles to the investigation.
Paragraph 152 of the Criminal Justice Code stipulates that a state official
charged in a crime is liable to suspension during investigation ” if there
are satisfactory basis to assume that he can become an obstacle for the
investigation while staying in the position”.
In Poghosyan’s case, key witnesses in the charges against him are his
employees, and his daughter is a secretary in the office conducting the
investigation.
Poghosyan, however, has continued in his position, in which he is
responsible for assigning various licenses regarding use and sales of
property.
Numerous complaints sent by attorneys representing Gevorg Kurghinyan to the
Chief Prosecutor’s Office and administration of President Robert Kocharyan
haven’t yielded any results.
“This problem will be solved before the preliminary investigation is over.
There is a possibility we will relieve him of his post,” says prosecutor of
Armavir Region Ivan Arshakyan, “we haven’t arrested him as there is a
question of presumption of innocence. He doesn’t create obstacles for
carrying out objective investigation of the case.”
On September 2 last year, an argument between Poghosyan and Gevorg
Kurghinyan, to whom Poghosyan had granted a privatization license, turned
into a scuffle during which Poghosyan’s nephew pulled a knife on Kurghinyan.
An hour later Poghosyan summoned another meeting with Kurghinyan at a petrol
station in the village of Norapat. Poghosyan and a gang of supporters met
Kurghinyan and three of his relatives.
A fight broke out during which Poghosyan’s nephew, Artak Hakobyan, fired two
times with at submachine gun, killing Kurghinyan’s 18 year old son, and
wounding his nephew.
The murder investigation recently completed and Hakobyan’s trial has begun
in the Court Of First Instance in Armavir.
The investigation into Poghosyan’s part in the crime was expected to
conclude today.
Inessa Petrosyan, attorney for Kurghinyan, made a motion to include
Poghosyan as an accessory to the murder.
“Is a person who commits an act of hooliganism compatible with being a state
official,” asked Petrosyan, a member of the Armenian International Union of
Lawyers.
Petrosyan has argued that Poghosyan should be tried along with his nephew.
Kurghinyan (standing) speaks for his dead son.
“Poghosyan’s illegal activities became a motive and cause of the serious
crime, the murder,” Petrosyan says. “There is a question of attaching
documents on Poghosyan’s case to the main case, however the state official
continues to hold his position.”
After complaints made by Kurghinyan’s side, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office
combined the charges into one case. Several months later, when Chief
Prosecutor Aram Tamazyan was replaced, the case was again divided.
Kurghinyan’s side complains that dividing the case is an attempt by the
Chief Prosecutor’s Office to avoid bringing more serious charges against
Poghosyan.
ArmeniaNow made several attempts to reach Poghosyan, but was repeatedly told
he was not in. Vladimir Yavrumyan, attorney for Poghosyan and Hakobyan,
would not comment on his clients’ case.
The law concerning suspension of an official charged in a crime is
apparently intended to eliminate the possibility of influence or hindering
an investigation.
Kurghinyan is convinced his son’s murder investigation cannot be objectively
investigated as long as Poghosyan maintains his position.
“Ara Poghosyan’s daughter works in the same Prosecutor’s Office as a
secretary and office manager and with her help the principle of secrecy of
preliminary investigation cannot be applied,” says Kurghinyan.
The General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Anna Poghosyan is in fact a
secretary in the office carrying out the investigation against her father.
“I warned beforehand that nobody show her or let her see documents of the
case,” says prosecutor Arshakyan. “So she cannot have any influence on the
investigation process.”
Ara Poghosyan is also a cousin of Minister of Trade and Economic Development
Karen Chshmarityan.

armenianow.com
25 June 2004
>From the World Stage to Armenia: Internationally renowned quartet to perform
in Yerevan
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow arts reporter After three years of effort to get them to Armenia,
the world-renowned Kronos Quartet is scheduled play in Yerevan June 29 at
Aram Khachatryan Philharmonic Hall.
As far back as 2001, the Armenian Informational Music Center has been trying
to get the quartet to Armenia. For a number of reasons, including
scheduling, and the musicians’ concern that Armenia was in an “unstable”
region, invitations have been turned down.
“We simply cannot count how many and what kind of numerous letters we have
sent to the quartet’s manager telling about Armenia and about the rich
Armenian cultural background,” says chief manager of the center Sona
Hovhannisyan.
“Only in the end of 2003 we got an answer to our letters and it seemed to be
unbelievable that their managing director Janet Cowperthwaite wrote that
‘thanks to your latest letter the musicians gave in and agreed to visit
Armenia’.”
The quartet, comprised of David Harrington on first violin, John Sherba on
second violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan Jeanrenaud on cello, is known
for its experimentation and its ability to cross genres of rock, jazz and
classical music. The group, formed in San Francisco in 1973, has won
numerous international awards, including three Edison Prizes ( Netherlands),
Rolf Schock Prize in Music ( Sweden), a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music
Performance, amongst others.
Tuesday night’s performance is part of Perspectives XXI International Music
Festival, the fifth in Yerevan.
Over the years, more than 450 pieces have been written or arranged for
Kronos. The quartet’s extensive repertoire includes Alban Berg, Alfred
Schnittke, George Crumb, Astor Piazzolla. As early as 15 years ago, the
quartet ordered a composition from Armenian composer Avet Terteryan and
within the past few years, composers Ashot Zohrabyan and Tigran Tamezyan
have written compositions performed by Kronos.
While it is not unusual for Armenia to host the occasional regionally-famous
classical musician or conductor, getting an internationally-known group is a
rarity.
“This is our cultural policy to invite music stars to Armenia,” says
director of Armenian Information Music Center composer Stepan Rostomyan. “Of
course, it is very hard. Every time it takes two-three years for
successfully finishing negotiations but Armenia with its cultural potential
and history is as good as other countries where visits of stars are a usual
and habitual thing.”
The sanctioning of Perspectives XXI identifies Armenia as a “serious country
and organization”, Rostomyan says, making it easier to negotiate with
world-class artists. During last year’s festival London Symphonietta and
Jury Bashmet performed in Yerevan.
“It would be more impressive if the festival was carried out under high
patronage of the country’s president,” Rostomyan says. “In general when such
musicians are invited to a festival then these kind of events are carried
out precisely. We haven’t gotten consent yet but we still have hope,” says
Rostomyan.
The Khachatryan hall holds 1600 seats. Ticket prices for the concert range
from $5 to $35- higher than average for Yerevan concerts, but according to
one vendor, ticket sales are high.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

armenianow.com
25 June 2004
Outside Eye: A non-Armenian’s view of life in his adopted home
By John Hughes
ArmeniaNow Editor
It’s good to see that the Government of Armenia is taking seriously the
mandates of the Council of Europe to clean up its muddied and bloodied
record on protection of human rights.
As a condition of membership in the Council, leaders of the country were
told by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that the
practice of jailing political dissidents would have to stop.
And so it has.
The case of Lavrenti Kirakosyan is a sparkling example of how the boys on
Baghramian Avenue have turned a page, to comply with Council demands.
Problem is, they turned the page backward.
It would appear that what has happened with Kirakosyan is no different than
what was happening in Armenia 30 years ago, when Communist leaders
fabricated charges to justifying jailing (or worse) those who spoke ill of
The Party.
A few details for clarification . . .
Lavrenti Kirakosyan is a leader of the National Democratic Party, one that
opposes the administration of President Robert Kocharyan.
During an anti-government demonstration outside the Opera House in April,
Kirakosyan was arrested and charged with disobeying a police officer. He
received a sentence of 10 days in jail.
Two hours before he was to be released, police were sent to search his home,
on a claim that he illegally possessed firearms (belonging to alleged
associates). A search turned up no such weapons. So police searched again.
This time, police found 59 grams of marijuana, for which Kirakosyan has been
sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Kirakosyan is known in his village as a community leader who doesn’t even
smoke cigarettes, much less anything stronger.
It is true that this is not his first arrest (though the first on drug
charges). During other times of political tension in 1996, he was jailed on
charges that appeared as transparently invented as the ones by which he is
now being held.
Some things about the cops’ discovery:
1. The dope was found on top of a water heater, where other objects in the
same place were covered with dust, yet the bag holding the pot was not
dusty.
2. Drug sniffing dogs participated in the search and found nothing.
3. Police say they photographed the search, including the discovery of the
evidence. But they say the film was damaged, so they have no photographs.
4. Two men from Kirakosyan’s village were called in to witness the search.
Both say nothing was found until a second search turned up the contraband.
But both also say police coerced them into signing statements to the
contrary.
I don’t know Lavrenti Kirakosyan. Nor do I share his view that Kocharyan
ought to be kicked out of office.
I do, though, know that decent people in this country are routinely abused
by the power structure Kocharyan represents. And I suspect many of those
citizens would agree that the schemers in power are making a joke of the
Council of Europe – a body that, for whatever mandates it might impose,
seems terribly inept at enforcing compliance.
The upshot of the matter is this: Far from the eye of PACE, in Strasbourg,
the heavys in Yerevan can make it appear as though they’re behaving
properly. “Look,” they can say, “we didn’t jail a political dissident, we
jailed a drug dealer.”
Lavrenti Kirakosyan faces 18 months in prison on, at best, questionable
charges. And the message clearly enforced is that if authorities want to put
somebody away, they’ll find a way to do it. Just like in the old days.
While we’re on the topic . . .
Edgar Arakelyan is serving an 18-month sentence stemming from his
participation in a political rally that turned violent.
To break up a crowd of demonstrators, police used water canons, percussion
grenades, tear gas and riot batons.
Arakelyan had a plastic water container, and when police struck with their
weapons, he struck back with his, an empty Jermuk bottle.
Nearly three years ago a bodyguard for President Robert Kocharyan beat a man
to death in a café. Aghamal “Kuku” Harutyunyan was found guilty of negligent
manslaughter. He never saw the inside of a jail.
The sentence for throwing a plastic bottle during a police-dominated melee?
Eighteen months.
The sentence for beating a man to death in a café? Zero months.
The difference? That’s the question the Council of Europe should consider if
it is serious about enforcing human rights in Armenia.

Norwegian premier’s meeting with Armenian leader not “anti-Azeri” – envoy
ANS TV, Baku
25 Jun 04
[Presenter] Norwegian ambassador Steinar Gil does not regard the
Strasbourg meeting between [Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan and
his country’s prime minister as surprising. The ambassador explained
this by Norway’s chairmanship in the Council of Europe.
[Correspondent over video of the Council of Europe building] We
reported in yesterday’s edition of the “Xabarci” news programme that
Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik attended the opening of
an exhibition called “Fridtjof Nansen and Armenia” at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] in Strasbourg
on 24 June. We managed to clarify the position of the Norwegian
ambassador to Azerbaijan, Steinar Gil, on Norway’s attention to
Armenians. Mr Gil said there was nothing surprising in the prime
minister’s visit to the event and his meeting with Kocharyan. He added
that PACE Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer had also joined the
meeting.
[Gil on the phone in Russian with Azeri voice-over] Many people meet
Kocharyan. Why are you paying so much attention to this issue?
Naturally, our prime minister meets numerous leaders, particularly at
the current stage when Norway is the chairman of the Council of
Europe.
[Correspondent] Ambassador Gil also attempted to defend Fridtjof
Nansen, a Norwegian Nobel prize winner, who is known for his active
assistance to Armenians and for promoting the so-called genocide. The
ambassador said that he is helping not only the Armenians, but also
the Turks, Greeks, Russians and Ukrainians who had suffered from World
War I. The interesting point is that Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell
Magne Bondevik was specially invited to the Nansen event. In view of
the fact that Norway has not recognized the Armenian genocide, the
premier’s visit gave the Armenians a great opportunity in this regard.
Ambassador Gil ruled out that issues damaging to Azerbaijan were
discussed at the meeting between Kocharyan and the prime minister.
[Gil] This was a normal meeting. How did you know that it was
anti-Azerbaijani?
[Correspondent] This is the position of the Norwegian ambassador to
Azerbaijan. The Armenian media writes that representatives of the
Scandinavian country were greatly affected by the exhibition dedicated
to Armenian refugees.
Zaur Hasanov, ANS.