ARMENIAN EX-SPEAKER ACCUSED OF ‘TREASON’
By Karine Kalantarian and Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 27 2007

Statements reportedly made by Armenia’s former parliament speaker
Artur Baghdasarian in his secretly recorded conversation with a senior
British diplomat constitute high treason, President Robert Kocharian
claimed on Friday.

It was Kocharian’s first public reaction to the publication by a
pro-presidential newspaper of purported details of Baghdasarian’s
recent private meeting with the number two official in the British
embassy in Yerevan. The leader of the opposition Orinats Yerkir Party
was quoted as urging the European Union to criticize the Armenian
authorities’ handling of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"It’s hard to imagine that the former chairman of the National
Assembly could fall so low," Kocharian told students at Yerevan State
University. "I don’t want to use legal terms. For me, this is a real
manifestation of treason. That manifestation is all the more ugly
given that it was done at his own initiative."

Kocharian made it clear, however, that Baghdasarian will not be
prosecuted under a relevant article of the Armenian Criminal Code.

"We have received hundreds of phone calls in connection with that fact,
various kinds of comments as to how such a politician can take part
in the elections," he said. "But I don’t think it would be right for
state bodies to come up with some tough actions.

"The elections are coming up, and let every voter decide whether
patriotism and dignity matters to them. If it doesn’t, let them vote
[for Baghdasarian’s party.]"

Baghdasarian supported Kocharian and was considered one of his
potential favored successors until Orinats Yerkir was forced to quit
Armenia’s governing coalition one year ago. The populist party is now
one of the main opposition contenders of the elections scheduled for
May 12.

The British embassy on Thursday acknowledged that one of its top
diplomats met Baghdasarian at a Yerevan restaurant last February but
condemned the "dishonest" recording of their conversation revealed by
the newspaper "Golos Armenii." The paper, which is staunchly supportive
of Kocharian, published what it described as excerpts from that
conversation on Saturday and Thursday. The ex-speaker was quoted as
saying that the EU should issue "some signal of alarm" before May 12.

Baghdasarian was quick to hit back at Kocharian’s extraordinary
accusation. "I consider it condemnable and unacceptable," he told
reporters during a campaign trip to the southern town of Echmiadzin.

"The traitors are all those who rig elections and disgrace the
fatherland."

Speaking to RFE/RL earlier on Friday, Baghdasarian repeated his strong
condemnation of the "Golos Armenii" reports. "This is a violation of
not only the constitution and laws but moral norms," he said. "Even
worse is the fact that the content of the conversation was distorted
and dirty comments were made about it."

"I have said and am repeating now that Armenia’s upcoming elections
must meet international standards and that the international community,
to which Armenia has assumed obligations, must closely follow the
upcoming electoral processes," he added.

Kocharian, meanwhile, was anxious to dispel widespread suspicions that
the secret recording, which is illegal under Armenian law, was the work
of the National Security Service (NSS). "After reading the first report
I immediately instructed the National Security Service to contact the
newspaper and examine all circumstances of that recording," he told
university students. "Sadly, what was reported … fully corresponds
to reality."

Kocharian stressed the fact that another opposition leader, Aram
Karapetian, has said that he got hold of a copy of the scandalous
recording before it was published by "Golos Armenii." Karapetian was
summoned to the NSS on Thursday to provide further explanations. He
claimed after the interrogation that the former KGB itself recorded
the conversation and deliberately planted a compact disc containing
the audio on his office doorstep to deflect suspicions about its
involvement in the affair.

The pro-opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak" published on Thursday
other details of Baghdasarian’s meeting with the British diplomat
identified as Richard Hyde, the deputy chief of mission, which were not
reported by "Golos Armenii." In particular, Baghdasarian was quoted
as detailing vote irregularities allegedly planned and committed by
the governing Republican Party of Armenia.

According to "Haykakan Zhamanak," the Orinats Yerkir leader said the
elections can already be considered to have been falsified. "We know
that," Hyde was said to have replied.