Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION HALTS “PRETENCE” DIALOGUE WITH AUTHORITIES

Mediamax news agency
27 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian opposition decided to halt its participation in political
consultations with the ruling coalition, which took place at the
initiative of the speaker of the Armenian National Assembly in
parliament yesterday and today, member of the Justice opposition
block’s faction Viktor Dallakyan told journalists today.

A Mediamax parliamentary correspondent reported that Dallakyan pointed
out that the meetings between opposition and coalition
representatives, which took place in the Armenian parliament on 26-27
April, cannot qualify as “dialogue” between the authorities and the
opposition. According to Viktor Dallakyan, “these were political
consultations the holding of which is envisaged by the Armenian
National Assembly’s regulations”.

Viktor Dallakyan said that the opposition decided to halt its
participation in the consultations after the coalition
representatives, having a majority in the parliament refused to
discuss two out of 10 items presented by the opposition. In
particular, the deputy said, the coalition refused to consider the
issue of providing the Armenian citizens with the right to free
transportation and decided not to delay the voting for the bill “On
the procedure of staging meetings, rallies, marches and
demonstrations” in the third final reading scheduled for tomorrow.

Viktor Dallakyan said that today the authorities have again blocked
the highways connecting Yerevan with regions of the republic in order
to hamper the opposition adherents’ participation in the rally, which
will take place on Freedom Square, in the centre of the Armenian
capital, at 1600 today. “The authorities want to create the pretence
of a dialogue with the opposition but they continue to pursue a terror
policy in relation to their own people,” Viktor Dallakyan said. He
added that the opposition will not resume its participation in the
political consultations till the ruling coalition and the authorities
ensure the observance of rights and freedom of the Armenian citizens.

Armenian foreign minister wants normalization of ties with Turkey

TRT 2 television, Ankara
24 Apr 04

Armenia wants a dialogue without preconditions with Turkey. Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan talked to our correspondent Olcay
Kirac in Yerevan.

He said: We want normal relations with all our neighbours. Also with
Azerbaijan, but especially with Turkey. We are going through a period
when there are no important issues between the two countries. There
are certain historical issues between us. We cannot ignore them but we
must be able to put them aside and engage in a normal dialogue between
the two countries. In order to do that, we need good neighbourly
relations. At this stage, I see no reason why our dialogue with our
neighbour Turkey cannot be normalized. We expect the Turkish
government to lift the conditions it has been positing for the
normalization of our relations. We expect that. Let us leave aside the
preconditions and let us sit at the negotiating table. Let us discuss
our bilateral issues, solve them and normalize our relations.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 24 2004

US ANALYSTS CALL NATO TO STRENGTHEN ITS ROLE ON SOUTHERN CAUCASUS

As was reported by correspondent of AzerTAj from the USA, the Central
Asia-Caucasus Institute of Studies in Washington has prepared
research work on the subject `Establishment of stability on Southern
Caucasus: multilateral safety and the role of NATO’. Authors of
research are known experts on the region Frederic Starr, Vladimir
Sokor, Svante Cornell, William O’Malley and Roger McDermott.

At the forum, which has been lead by institute, authors have
acquainted representatives of political circles in Washington with
the basic moments of the uncompleted research. The 90-page scientific
work included conditions of safety in each of three states of
Southern Caucasus, interests of various geo-politic forces in region,
military potential of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, the detailed
information on the program `Partnership for Peace’, carried out here
by NATO, the materials displaying the military assistance by the USA
and the Western circles to Georgia and Azerbaijan. Then, the authors
have presented their recommendations concerning policy of NATO in the
states of Southern Caucasus.

Speaking at the forum, Vladimir Sokor noted that earlier the West
looked at Southern Caucasus as the region located on border of Europe
and Asia. Recently such approach has changed. The reason is connected
to three factors – weakening of the authority of Russia in region,
revealing of huge natural resources of the Caspian basin being a key
for the future power resources of the West, and the role, which plays
the region in antiterrorist struggle. Vladimir Sokor marks that there
is a need for wider participation of the NATO in the region. In his
opinion, summit of the Alliance, which will be held in Istanbul in
June of this year, can become a favorable forum for demonstration of
support of intentions of Georgia and Azerbaijan to become members of
the NATO and for statement by the Alliance of priorities of safety on
Southern Caucasus. The cooperation offered by NATO to these two
countries, should touch and Armenia. However, the question on
membership of Azerbaijan and Georgia in the Alliance should not
depend on objections of Armenia and Russia.

Speakers at the forum have emphasized that to speak about regional
economic or social development, not having provided safety of
Southern Caucasus, is inappropriate. In this sense, the
Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict and other conflicts in
region should be shortly settled, and available foreign military
forces should be removed from the region.

Statement On The Commemoration Of The Armenian Genocide, April 24, 2004

April 21, 2004

Between the years of 1915 and 1923, a million and a half of Armenians were
brutally murdered as a result of a calculated plan to eliminate Armenians
from the Ottoman Empire. Men, taken from their families and homes, were
separated out and killed. Women, children and elderly were sent on forced
death marches across the Syrian desert. These actions constituted the first
genocide of the 20th century and one of the most vicious and tragic events
in world history.

One and one-half million Armenian lives were lost, countless more were
persecuted, and the entire Armenian community suffered. As we reflect on
these horrible years, Armenian Americans know this story and its relevance
in history. Tragically, some question its historical accuracy. To prevent
future genocide is to face the reality that it exists. Knowledge of past
genocides in different parts of our world assists in arming us to prevent
such acts from occurring again.

At the outset of the Jewish Holocaust, Adolph Hitler said that no one
remembered what happened to the Armenian people during the genocide. He then
proceeded to implement his Final Solution.

Today, Armenians are continuing to work to rebuild and strengthen their
great nation. After facing years of injustice and persecution, the Armenian
people’s spirit remains strong.

I join you in commemorating the 89th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
As we remember these sad years, we must never forget that an act of genocide
is not only an act of hatred toward one particular group, but toward all
humankind. May we learn from the tragedy of the Armenian genocide and
recommit ourselves to full equality, respect, and acceptance for all people.
An important first step is the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the
United States Government and the world as a whole.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
April 16 2004

LAW ON GOVERNMENT ADOPTED

At the April 14 meeting the National Assembly adopted the law `On
government’ according to which the institution of the vice prime
minister was preserved. The number of the vice prime ministers is not
maintained, the authority for deciding it is granted to the president
of the republic. During the meeting it was mentioned that if there is
only one prime minister in Russia, in Armenia there is none, then
keeping several vice prime ministers in Karabakh is lavishness.

NAIRA HAYRUMIAN

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 21, 2004 Wednesday

Armenian opposition organises march in central Yerevan

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

About 2,000 people marched through the centre of Yerevan on Wednesday
evening, bringing an unauthorised opposition rally to an end.

Police escorted the march but did not interfere. No incidents were
reported.

The opposition said it would organise a march on Saturday, April 24,
when the victims of the Ottoman empire’s genocide in 1915 will be
remembered.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 21, 2004 Wednesday 2:19 PM Eastern Time

Man carrying 3 kg of illegal diamonds detained at Moscow airport

MOSCOW

Customs officials at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo-2 airport have detained a
national of Armenia, who was trying to take into Russia a load of 2.6
kilograms of rough diamonds, press spokesmen for the airport’s
customs service said.

The smuggler, 39, was detained at 22:30 Moscow time Tuesday. When the
customers were checking the passengers of a Yerevan-Moscow flight,
they found that the man had a strange fabric belt under his sweater.

It contained 12 plastic bags with jewels the size of 0.5 carats to 2
carats. Their total weight was 2.65 kilograms.

Wednesday, the experts were working to establish the cost of the
confiscated consignment.

One of them indicated that a carat of a gem-quality stone would
usually cost about a hundred U.S. dollars, while the price of cut
diamonds would depend on the quality of cutting.

The Armenian man is now subject to a criminal case invoking charges
of smuggling.

Armenian paper critical of state policy on Iran gas pipeline

Haykakan Zhamanak
17 Apr 04

Text of Erdzanik Abgaryan’s report by Armenian newspaper Haykakan
Zhamanak on 17 April headlined “Kocharyan is giving a big gas pipeline
to a Turk as a gift”

It is no secret that the European Union has a positive attitude
towards the idea that the Central Asia-Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
should go via Armenia, suggesting the closure of the Armenian Nuclear
Power Station, which meets the interests of the people’s
security. Iran’s position on this issue is absolutely good.

But it is strange and tragicomic that the special representative of
the EU for the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, and Iran’s Foreign
Minister Kamal Kharrazi have tried to persuade the Kocharyan
administration to agree to build the gas pipeline via Armenia. So the
gas pipeline caused a stir last week.

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan] Oskanyan, who fails all strategic
issues together with his chief [Armenian President Robert Kocharyan],
visited Tehran and finally buried the hope that the gas pipeline will
be constructed via Armenia. Information sources disseminate
contradictory information about that visit and it may be concluded
that the Armenian authorities and their secret services were behind
that flow of disinformation. But on 13 April Iran’s Oil Minister
[Bizhan Namdar-]Zanganeh announced that a contract on the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline is already ready and he will soon visit Armenia for
signing it. Saying that the volumes of Iranian gas supplies are
limited by 1,500m cu.m. annually, Zanganeh in fact confirmed that the
constructed pipeline will not be a transit one. That is, Armenia is
withdrawn from this international programme just the same way as it
was withdrawn from other international and regional programmes. As a
result of it, the Armenians will be deprived of those significant sums
that would be charged for transit, and of many jobs, and it is even
more tragic that Armenia will be sidelined from all international
interests.

As can be seen, the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will also be under
Russia’s control as Russia’s Itera will be the gas pipeline’s
operator. We do not accuse Russia, we accuse its Armenian stooges:
Kocharyan and his administration who betrayed our national
interests. Nevertheless, it is obvious that Russia’s diplomatic
position on this gas pipeline is based not only on its aspiration to
preserve its monopoly on gas supplies to Europe, but also on its aim
to establish deeper relations with the Turks and Azerbaijanis. The
point is that the Russians also know that the Central Asia-Iran-Europe
pipeline will be undoubtedly constructed. And if not via Armenia, it
may be constructed via Turkey or Azerbaijan.

So withdrawing Armenia from the regional and international cooperation
programmes, as well as from the Central Asia-Iran-Europe gas pipeline
system, Russia simply cooperates with Turkey and Azerbaijan in the
issue of sidelining Armenia from the world processes. So we can say
that the “national” socialist Dashnaks and the law-abiding persons who
have turned the National Assembly into barracks, headed by Kocharyan,
are handing the strategic interests of Armenia to the Turks on a
plate. And today’s opposition, at its mass rallies, is obliged to
disclose this crime along with other crimes of the Kocharyan
administration which flouts the interests of the Armenian people and
statehood.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Patriachate of Jerusalem
P.O. Box 14235
Jerusalem (Old City), Israel
Contact: Bp. Aris Shirvanian, Fr. Issahag Minasyan
Tel: +972 2 626 4853
Fax: +972 2 626 4861
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

12 April 2004
OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE

EASTER EVE HOLY FIRE CREMONY CONDUCTED PEACEFULLY

The Easter Eve Holy Fire Ceremony was held on Saturday, 10 April 2004 and,
despite tension, dispute and concern of break out of violence, was conducted
peacefully in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

This year’s representative of the Armenian Patriarch as torch-bearer was
Bishop Vicken Aykazian a senior member of St. James Armenian Brotherhood,
and the Diocesan Legate, and the executive director of the ecumenical Office
of the Armenian Church in Washington DC. Accompanying the Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Irenios I Bishop Vicken entered the Holy Tomb of our Risen Lord
together with The Greek Orthodox Patriarch where each lit his bundle of
candles from the oil lamp placed on the Holy Tomb.

Then both proceeded towards the respective windows in the chapel of the
Angel, through which each respectively passed the candles out to the
faithful. The ceremony was held under heavy police presence and security
measures, and the number of participating Christian faithful of the
Armenian, Greek, Coptic and Syrian Orthodox Churches was initially limited
by the Police. These measures were taken after the failure of the intensive
negotiations between the Armenian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs to
reach a solution over the burning issue of centuries long Status-Quo
protocol regarding the Holy Fire Ceremony. The issue of the Holy Fire
ceremony is not yet legally resolved.

However, the Israeli government undertook to finally resolve this issue in
the immediate future.

DIVAN OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

The Independent (London)
April 9, 2004, Friday

SPORTING DIGEST: BOXING

Scott Harrison will defend his World Boxing Organisation
featherweight title against William Abelyan on 29 May at the Braehead
Arena, Glasgow. The Cambuslang fighter has been due to face the
Armenian for his last defence of the title last month before Abelyan
withdrew through injury. However, after defeating the stand-in
opponent Walter Estrada, Harrison will finally face Abelyan who has
recovered from a shoulder problem.