Armenian foreign minister in Iran says situation stable back home
Azg, Yerevan
13 Apr 04
Text of Tatul Akopyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Azg on 13 April
headlined “We are at an uncertain stage on Karabakh”
The domestic political situation is stable in Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan
has said in Iran. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said
yesterday at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport that “We are at an uncertain
stage on the Karabakh issue.” In an interview to Iranian state TV,
Oskanyan noted that, after the presidential elections in Azerbaijan,
official Baku had not expressed a specific position on the Karabakh
settlement. “On 16 April in Prague I shall meet Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. We hope that after that meeting Baku will
specify its position,” Oskanyan said.
Asked about Yerevan’s attitude towards the American programme “Greater
Middle East”, Oskanyan replied: “We are not aware of the details of
the programme; we know about it from the press, there have been no
discussions with us in connection with it.”
Yesterday evening, during a meeting with Armenian church
representatives in Tehran, Oskanyan touched on the domestic political
situation in Armenia. “The domestic political situation is stable in
the country, in a short period of time we can overcome the prevailing
situation. The authorities are ready to negotiate with the opposition
without preconditions. The domestic political situation leaves an
impression of instability, but in reality it is stable,” Oskanyan
said.
The Armenian foreign minister said that “In the business sense we are
very close to construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.” The
Armenian ambassador to Tehran, Gegam Garibdzhanyan, said the problem
in the gas pipeline construction had been solved. He said that Iran’s
oil minister would soon visit Armenia and the final document would be
signed and construction of the 141km gas pipeline would
start. Garibdzhanyan said that construction of the Kadzharan tunnel
would start this year as well.
Today Oskanyan will meet the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National
Security Council, Hasan Rowhani, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and
the first vice-president of Iran, Mohammad Reza Aref.

Authorities to prevent “political extremism”, says Armenian president
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Ashot Kocharyan, the spokesman for the Armenian president, today
presented the president’s position on recent events in the country.
This is the full text of the statement submitted to Mediamax news
agency by the Armenian president’s spokesman:
“In recent days the behaviour of the aggressive political minority, in
particular, the calls for a change of authorities and violence,
unsanctioned rallies and marches, has acquired the form of political
extremism. This is especially dangerous for a country, which is
devoted to democratic values and is carrying out radical economic
reforms, as it endangers its stability and the prestige it has gained.
“In the prevailing situation the law-enforcement agencies were obliged
to ensure public order within the framework of the law. The police
intervened when the normal work of the National Assembly and Armenian
president had been disrupted by the opposition’s actions, which in
this way also endangered the country’s constitutional structure. The
protesters did not obey the legal demands of the police and
demonstrated disobedience.
“All state structures are acting within their constitutional
authorities, fulfilling the obligations imposed on them to ensure the
normal life of the country and people.
“The authorities will use all legal means to prevent new displays of
political extremism.”

Russian TV cameraman beaten up at Armenian opposition rally
Channel One TV, Moscow
13 Apr 04
A Russian Channel One TV cameraman, Levon Grigoryan, was beaten up as
he was filming the opposition rally in Yerevan, Channel One reported
on 13 April.
Grigoryan was attacked by riot police and he regained consciousness
only in the ambulance. His camera was broken and the tape with the
footage of the events on it had disappeared. Video shows his jacket,
covered in blood.
Video also shows night-time pictures of the riot police dispersing the
rally.

Armenian policemen break up rally, arrest opposition activists
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian police broke up an opposition rally on Bagramyan Avenue
outside the buildings of the National Assembly and the US embassy in
the centre of Yerevan.
The police started a special operation to force the protesters out of
the avenue at about 0200 2100 gmt . The law-enforcement agencies
resorted to force immediately after the protesters refused to abandon
the road voluntarily. Water cannons and charges were used in
dispersing the rally. The operation to disperse the protesters took
about 10 to 15 minutes. The press service of the police has not yet
issued any reports on the dispersal of the rally.
According to the opposition newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak Armenian Times
, many protesters received bodily injures in clashes with the
police. The paper reported that after the dispersal of the rally, the
law-enforcement agencies carried out arrests at the headquarters of
the opposition Anrapetutyun Republic Party, the National Unity Party
and the People’s Party of Armenia.
Aykakan Zhamanak also reported that two of the paper’s correspondents
Ayk Gevorkyan and Avetis Babadzhyan, who were covering the night
events on Bagramyan Avenue, were badly beaten up by the police.
Passage omitted: reported details of the rally

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Police Break up Opposition Demonstrations in Armenia 2) OSCE Concerned over High Political Tension in Armenia 3) Authorities Firm in Resolution to Preserve Stability 4) President Meets with Leaders of Parliament Parties, Welcomes Dialogue 5) Oskanian, Kharrazi Focus on Karabagh and Economic Cooperation 6) Juharian Wins Wrestling Championship in Europe 1) Police Break up Opposition Demonstrations in Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Yerkir)--Political confrontation between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his rivals took a violent twist on Tuesday when special police forces broke up an opposition rally in the center of Yerevan, at 2:00 AM local time, a few dozen meters away from parliament and the US embassy. "People are panicking and are running down Marshal Baghramian Avenue. Police are using water cannons. They have taken away the barbed wire that was in front of the parliament building and started charging the demonstrators," said RFE/RL Yerevan bureau correspondent Hrach Melkumian, speaking live from the scene. "We saw these water cannons coming toward us and they starting drenching us. Then special police forces started throwing [blank] grenades at the crowd. We heard explosions and ran away in panic." Yesterday, some 10,000 protesters were stopped by police on Marshal Baghramian Avenue while marching toward Kocharian's office. No violence was reported then. Approximately one-third of the demonstrators decided to camp there for the night, turning the protest into an improvised open-air music festival. As soon as the security raid started, opposition supporters spread out in various directions and attempted to break through the police cordon. Some found refuge in smaller streets, others in private houses nearby. Police today confirmed the operation, saying only that several people were injured and others detained during the night raid. Armenia's Noyan Tapan news agency quoted Yerevan city health officials as saying 16 demonstrators were hospitalized. Armenian state television showed pictures of policemen being assaulted by people identified as protesters and security officers receiving medical treatment. It gave no details of civilian injuries. In comments broadcast on state-run television today, Interior Ministry spokesman Sayat Shirinian said protesters provoked the security forces. "Police repeatedly warned demonstrators that their unlawful actions would be met with adequate reaction if they were to continue. But, despite this, the transgressors went on for quite a long time with their antisocial actions. On top of this, in response to [our] warnings, they started moving menacingly toward police forces," Shirinian said. Shirinian said protesters assaulted security officers with stones and petrol bombs while shouting antigovernment slogans and calling for the violent overthrow of the existing regime. The opposition denies these claims. One female demonstrator said the streetlights went out suddenly and that the police moved in without prior warning. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) gave a mixed assessment of the overnight unrest. In comments made to RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin suggested that both protesters and police forces were to blame for the violence. "We don't share the opinion that the demonstration was purely peaceful, because all sorts of provocative statements were being made and stones were being thrown [at police forces]. But that's not the point. We are against any kind of violence, and we conveyed our concerns with this regard personally to [President Kocharian]," Pryakhin said. RFE/RL's Yerevan Bureau reports that the offices of Armenia's main opposition parties were raided during the night and several activists detained. Some, such as lawmaker Shavarsh Kocharian of the Justice (Artarutyun) alliance, were released shortly after. None of the main opposition leaders were detained. National Unity Party Chairman Ardashes Geghamian said he was among the protesters on Marshal Baghramian Avenue and that he escaped with only slight injuries. Yesterday's march marked the culmination of four days of anti-Kocharian protests led by the Justice alliance and the National Unity Party. In a bid to defuse the mounting political tension, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)--one of the three partners in the ruling coalition--last week proposed that Justice and its allies have a say in domestic affairs through the National Security Council, warning that "either we shall all win, ensuring the rapid and stable development of the country, or we shall all lose, reaping the devastating consequences of confrontation and civil conflict." The ARF's statement called for real and guaranteed reforms in the life of the country and its people, as the substance of the agreement, that it proposed would include: The formation of an electoral system that entirely meets international standards; Constitutional reforms that strengthen democratic mechanisms; A comprehensive fight against corruption, the shadow economy, and the system of clans. However, the opposition rejected the offer. Lawmakers of the ARF and the two other coalition partners--the Republican Party and Rule of Law (Orinats Yerkir)--unexpectedly walked out of yesterday's parliamentary session. ARF parliamentarian Vahan Hovhanissian said the boycott by the coalition partners sought to avoid possible violence between their supporters and anti-Kocharian street protesters. Whether the opposition will be able to stage further antigovernment rallies in the coming days remains unclear. 2) OSCE Concerned over High Political Tension in Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress)--President Robert Kocharian met with the head of The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, to discuss practical implementation of programs to tackle corruption and the necessity to improve Armenia's election law; he also attached importance to carrying out Armenia's poverty reduction program. Pryakhin expressed concern about political tensions in Armenia, stressing that the use of force against peaceful demonstrators is "unacceptable;" he nevertheless endorsed police claims that they behaved aggressively. He also denounced various political forces for exploiting the names of international organizations, including the OSCE, which he said seeks to promote "establishment of civil society," and stands for maintenance of constitutional order and legality in Armenia. 3) Authorities Firm in Resolution to Preserve Stability YEREVAN (Armenpress)--A presidential spokesman said on Tuesday that the opposition's calls for a change of power and violence, along with its unsanctioned rallies and marches, have developed into political extremism that stands to jeopardize Armenia's stability and tarnishes the international image of a country that has chosen the path of democracy and radical reform of its economy. Spokesman Ashot Kocharian argued that law-enforcement bodies were forced to intervene to maintain public order, and that their actions did not go beyond the framework set by law. "The police interfered after the anti-government rally had disrupted the work of the president and the parliament, endangering the county's constitutional order," he said. He said police stepped in after demonstrators refused to obey their orders. "The capital is under the full control of the authorities and all government agencies are functioning normally. The authorities are firm in their resolution to apply all measures, according to law, to preserve stability and stave off manifestations of extremism," he said. 4) President Meets with Leaders of Parliament Parties, Welcomes Dialogue YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--President Robert Kocharian welcomed the ruling coalition's initiative to begin dialogue with the opposition without any preliminary conditions on both sides. Kocharian met with the leaders of the ruling coalition and representatives of the United Labor Party (ULP), and People's Deputy parliamentary factions to discuss the situation in the country. The Republican party was represented by Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and National Assembly Vice-speaker Tigran Torosian; the Orinats Yerkir by Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian and Mher Shahgeldian; the ARF by Levon Mkrtchian and Armen Rustamian; the People's Deputy by Karen Karapetian; and the ULP by Gurgen Arsenian. Vice Speaker Tigran Torosian, said the having assessed the domestic political situation in the country, the president proposes a range of measures to ease the tension. The participants agreed that the possibility of dialogue had not yet been ruled out. Torosian reiterated the ruling coalition's willingness for dialogue with the opposition, adding that initiating the meeting should serve as concrete evidence. He expressed confidence that the opinions on both sides would coincide on vital issues as long as it occurs at a negotiation table. Torosian added that the opposition's all-or-nothing position calling for the president's resignation, is already not constructive. 5) Oskanian, Kharrazi Focus on Karabagh and Economic Cooperation Tehran (IRNA)--Iran and Armenia discussed the expansion of already increasing bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues, including Mountainous Karabagh Republic. Visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, told his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, that developments in Karabagh, as well as upcoming negotiations with Azeri officials, are important and stressed the need to maintain regional consultations, particularly with Iran, for the sake of regional stability. "What is of crucial importance to us," said Oskanian, is that Iran has managed to implement a balanced policy toward Armenia since its independence, and displayed neutrality on the Mountainous Karabagh issue." Kharrazi proposed the continuation of ministerial level talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran supports dialogue in settling the Karabagh issue." Oskanian voiced readiness to hold negotiations with Azerbaijan on any level. "This is why we are going to Prague and we expect Azerbaijan to specify its position regarding to the process," but was quick to criticize Azerbaijan's newly appointed foreign minister for announcing that Baku would neither tolerate Karabagh's independence, nor its joining Armenia. "Such statements will create serious political problems for them. It would be preferable if the newly appointed minister refrained from such statements and got involved in the negotiations instead," Oskanian said, stressing that sooner or later Azerbaijan will have to review its approaches. Considering the high-level political relations already established between the two countries, the sides focused on economic cooperation--the Kajaran tunnel, construction of the Arax hydro-electric power station, and specifically, the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Both Iran and Armenia expect the project to boost cooperation between them, and play an important regional role. Construction on the pipeline is expected to begin soon after finalizing the agreement between the two countries. Oskanian and Kharrazi signed a Memorandum on Understanding that provides a $1 million permanent loan to Armenia, and also discussed cooperation in the health care, education, and culture sectors. Oskanian also met with the secretary of Iranian National Security Council Yasan Rohani, first vice-president of Iran Mohammad Reza Arif, Iran's minister of information Ali Yunesi, as well as representatives of Iran's Armenian community. 6) Juharian Wins Wrestling Championship in Europe YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Greco-Roman style wrestler Vahan Juharian (60 kg weight category) from Gyumri snatched the gold at the European championship in Aparanda, Sweden. Juharian was the only one among six Armenians to win a medal, beating his Turkish rival in the final 4-1. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

A1 Plus | 15:19:39 | 13-04-2004 | Politics |
PEOPLE PARTY HEADQUARTER SURROUNDED
Police prevented People Party’s leader Stepan Demirchyan from giving news
conference by surrounding his office.
Demirchyan could do little more than giving brief answers to the questions
journalists put to him. He denounced the law enforcement’s last night attack
on demonstrators as terror against own people.

A1 Plus | 14:38:03 | 13-04-2004 | Politics |
RESULT OF NIGHT VIOLENCE
Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper’s correspondent Hayk Gevorgyan is on the photo.
Ten demonstrators rushed Monday night into Emergency Hospital of Yerevan’s
Nor Nork district with various injuries are already undergone medical
examination.
Five of them were released from the hospital, three are kept in hospital as
they health is in precarious state, and two transferred to neurosurgical
hospital with suspected brain injuries.
According to unconfirmed information, Haykakan Zhamanak correspondent Hayk
Gevorgyan was taken to police station right from the hospital.

A1 Plus | 12:08:49 | 13-04-2004 | Politics |
VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY
Levon Grigoryan’s blood-stained jacket on the picture.
Journalists became victims of brutality as well.
Aykakan Zhamanak newspaper reporter Hayk Gevorgyan was badly beaten and his
camera broken. Another correspondent of the same newspaper was rushed in
hospital with major injuries.
Policemen dressed as civilians severely beat Russian ORT TV channel’s
cameraman Levon Grigoryan on the scene and broke his BETACAM camera.

US raps Armenia for crackdown on opposition protests
Tue Apr 13, 3:45 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States expressed concern about the
“sharp escalation” in tension between Armenia’s government and the
opposition, and rapped Yerevan for its crackdown on demonstrators
calling for the resignation of President Robert Kocharian.
At the same time, the State Department called on both the authorities
and the opposition to engage in dialogue and avoid any actions that
could lead to violence or infringe on the right to peaceful assembly.
“The United States is concerned about the current political situation
in Armenia, particularly the sharp escalation in confrontation between
the government and the opposition,” spokesman Richard Boucher said in
a statement.
His comments came after Armenian opposition leaders vowed to continue
their campaign to force Kocharian’s resignation following the breakup
of an anti-government demonstration by police with water cannons,
arrests of protestors and the alleged ransacking of two political
party offices.
The police have defended their tactics, but the United States appeared
to side with the protestors, who claimed the authorities had used
indiscriminate violence against their peaceful demonstrations.
“Physical assaults, raids on political party offices and widespread
arrests and detentions of opposition activists by the police do not
contribute to creating an atmosphere conducive to political dialogue,”
Boucher said.
“We call on all sides to respect the role of peaceful assembly and to
take all steps to prevent violence,” he added.
Armenia’s opposition has been staging almost nightly protests in
Yerevan for the past week to push its demands for the resignation of
Kocharian — blamed by many Armenians for repressive rule and low
standards of living.
The stand-off with the opposition stems from a presidential election
last March that Kocharian’s opponents alleged he rigged to secure a
second term in office. International observers said at the time the
vote fell short of democratic standards.

A1 Plus | 16:33:29 | 13-04-2004 | Politics |
NIGHT ASSAULT WITNESSES COMMENTING ON POLICE’S LIBELOUS STATEMENT
The rally participants denounced the police statement about bottles with
explosives and stones thrown by demonstrators as a malign slander.
Plastic bottles with water were in hands of protesters, they explain. They
find the police statement about stones absolutely ridiculous, as there is
not a single stone on Baghramyan Avenue.
They insist the police assaulted innocent marchers without any illegal move
from their side.
Witnesses say elderly women, young people, journalists and cameramen were
thrown down over the night. The authorities do everything to suppress the
truth.