Author: Boshkezenian Garik

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website:

March 16, 2006

Armenia’s First Ombudswoman Presented Her Special Report

Yerevan — The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened
a roundtable on “Gains and Losses Experienced by the Citizens of
Armenia in Year 2005.”

The meeting brought together political and social activists, human
rights advocates, analysts, experts, and media representatives.

NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks, “The authorities had declared the constitutional referendum
of 2005 as a crucial step toward the establishment of democracy
and legitimacy in Armenia. However, after the immediate ‘passing’
of the constitutional amendments, human and civil rights not only
deteriorated, but repression including unlawful arrests against
politically active citizens continued, followed by similar violations,
this time, against political parties. A vivid illustration of this is
the illegal closure of the Heritage Party’s headquarters. Moreover,
the first Ombudswoman of the Republic of Armenia Larisa Alaverdian
was dismissed for performing her designated duty.”

Prior to discussing her special report, Larisa Alaverdian expressed
dismay that the public had lost the ability to read and comprehend
written texts of political or legal nature. Subsequently, she
briefly presented her 20-page special account on the situation of
human rights in Armenia in the year past. Unfortunately, she was not
allowed to present this report to the National Assembly. “I would
like to call this report also ‘An Infringement Upon the Right of
Effective Legal Protection,’ an entitlement set forth by Article 13
of the European Convention,” Alaverdian noted. With respect to the
large-scale encroachment upon the property rights of the residents
of the Northern Avenue and Biuzand Street in downtown Yerevan,
Mrs. Alaverdian observed that in democratic countries for the sake
of state interests, private assets of people at times are alienated,
but with proper compensation. Yet in this case, compensation was not
only unforthcoming, but people through the courts were forced to sign
purchase agreements and on top be subjected to state and income taxes.
Larisa Alaverdian had made an appeal to President Robert Kocharian
and Prime Minister Andranik Margarian concerning this matter. She had
even addressed a formal letter to the President with respect to the
widespread violation of human rights. Yet, she received a response in
which she was charged of breaching Section 5 of Armenia’s Constitution,
that is for misusing her official power.

The next speaker, Heritage Party’s political secretary Vardan
Khachatrian gave his assessments of the constitutional referendum of
2005. According to him, “As a result of the ruling powers’ methods of
‘passing’ the constitution and ‘establishing’ democracy, the notions
of ‘state,’ ‘constitution,’ and ‘democracy’ have been discredited in
the eyes of the majority of the people who draw a perfect parallel
between the current authorities and the unlawfulness which is reigning
in the country.”

Khachatrian pointed that the way out of this situation is carrying
out a fundamental transformation, but not ruling out the prospect
for a peaceful revolution.

The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and
policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists
in attendance. Also noteworthy were interventions by Raphael Ghazarian
and Vahan Shirkhanian from the Forum of Intellectuals of Armenia; MP
Tatul Manaserian; MP and chairman of the Democratic Path Party Manuk
Gasparian; MP and chairman of the Constitutional Right Union Hrant
Khachatrian; MP and chairman of the National Democrats’ Alliance Arshak
Sadoyan; deputy chairman of the National Unity Party Gagik Tadevosian;
chairman of the Democratic Motherland Party Petros Makeyan; “18+1”
political union observers’ mission chief Vahagn Khachatrian; Republic
Party member Rafik Mkrtchian; deputy chairman of the National Rebirth
Party Armen Mkrtchian; deputy-chairman of the Liberal Progressive
Party Edward Antinian; director of the Heritage Party’s main office
Gevorg Kalenchian; chairman of the Social-Ecological Party Armen
Dovlatian; deputy chairman of the “Victims of State Needs” NGO Sedrak
Baghdasarian; members from National Democratic Union, Alliance,
and Christian Democrat Union of Armenia parties; and many others.

In the ensuing discussion Academician Raphael Ghazarian charged the
opposition leaders for pursuing their personal ambitions instead of
in unity bringing the nation out of this situation.

In Dr. Tatul Manaserian’s opinion the reasons for the current situation
should be searched within ourselves since the public has become very
apathetic as to the future of the country.

Member of Parliament Manuk Gasparian called upon the participants to
work together in getting at least one or two independent television
channels to reopen so that people can come out of the informational
blockade and be informed of the illegalities of the ruling powers and
what is happening in the country. Avetik Ishkhanian of the Helsinki
Committee was in concurrence with Mr. Gasparian and added that the
public’s apathy was due to the suppression of freedom of speech and
that our citizens’ first real defeat came when A1+ and Noyan Tapan
were closed down.

Deputy chairman of the National Unity Party Gagik Tadevosian’s question
as to the validity of the conclusion that the falsification of the
constitutional amendments had resulted in more illegalities by the
government was answered in the affirmative by Mrs. Alaverdian. She
agreed that the ruling administration’s declaration according to which
93 percent had said “Yes” to the new constitution was a disgrace and
that the very same powers were very much aware of this fact.

In his turn, Avetik Ishkhanian stated that in line with confidential
information ascertained from fairly high state echelons, with the
exception of military servicemen, only 7 percent of the eligible voters
had actually cast ballots in the constitutional referendum. Whereas
Vardan Khachatrian added that they had received information on a mere
6.5 percent voter turnout.

In his closing remarks, NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian noted the
fact that Armenia’s social elite underscores ideological discussions
and the search for the roots and solutions for the problems facing the
country. And in the words of Khurshudian, this roundtable is its proof.

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues,
and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law
and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and
public institutions.

The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating
Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of
various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five
commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues,
Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth
constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.

For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03;
fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit

ARMENIA SHOULD KEEP DISTANCE FROM HISTORY TO NORMALISE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 15 2006

YEREVAN – “Armenia should maximally keep the distance from the
history. Only in this case normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
is possible”, expert, political scientist Stepan Grigoryan stated in
an interview with Armenian PanARMENIAN.Net news site.

In his words, ARF Dashnaktsutyun is guilty in conclusion of the Moscow
Treaty on March 16, 1921, which signed it on behalf of Armenia. “It was
exactly when we lost everything and the Kars Treaty, signed October 13
of the same year, merely fixed that loss,” he remarked. In his words,
no party will win anything in case of revision or denouncement of
the Moscow Treaty.

“I am repeating, if we do not refer to history, but start establishing
relations with Turkey, it will notably weaken Azerbaijan’s position
in the region. In fact Armenia is able to break the Turkey-Azerbaijan
tandem for its interest”, Grigoryan emphasized.

Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from ISRO aggrees Grigoryan: “Armenians live in the
past more than today. They are obbsessed with the past. They made the
1915 a legacy and first one to believe was themselves. They live in
a created world not in the 21st century. Ankara has made enermous
efforts to normalise the relations, however no one step has been
taken by the Yerevan Governmet. Good relations between Turkey and
Armenia would help both sides. We need dialogue even to discuss the
past. Without dialogue both side can only create more biases.”

LAND BERLIN COURT PREVENTED POLICE FROM PROHIBITING “TALAAT PASHA ACTION”

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2006 21:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The court of Land Berlin yesterday evening prevented
the police from prohibiting the so-called Talaat Pasha Action scheduled
for March 18-19. However the human rights advocating organizations
and political figures supported the police and censured the court’s
decision, which will be appealed in the supreme legal instances. They
called upon the leadership to bar actions targeted at denial of
genocides and crimes of war, reported Yerkir Media TV Channel.

To remind, the other day the German police barred a series of rallies
the Turkish organizations planned to hold in Berlin in mid March. The
prohibition was based upon Article 189 of the German Criminal Code,
which bars to express “disrespect for the dead”. In its statement
the German authorities used expression “dead in 1915” to avoid term
Armenian Genocide. The rallies are planned to start with an event
titled Talaat Pasha Action within “Big Program – 2006” initiative
advanced by a number of Turkish political figures urging the Bundestag
to withdraw the Resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

It should be also reminded that in 2005 the Bundestag apologized to
the Armenian people and adopted a resolution saying that Germany being
an ally to Turkey during World War I bears responsibility for the
Armenian Genocide. The Resolution also calls upon Ankara to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.

US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA ONCE AGAIN REFUTES REPORTS OF POSSIBLE WITHDRAWAL OF AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS

YEREVAN, MARCH 14. ARMINFO. The US Embassy in Armenia has once again
refuted the reports of possible withdrawal of Ambassador John Evans.

This followed the Mar 10 letter of Congressman Frank Pallone,
Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, to US Secretary of State
Candoleezza Rice, where he expressed his extreme disappointment that
Evans “is being forced from office based upon truthful and forthright
statements last year about the Armenian Genocide” and asked for an
explanation as to why Evans was removed from his post.

To remind, in a briefing Mar 7 Evans said that like all diplomats he
served his president. Nobody can expect to hold his office for ever.

He said that he did not know when he was to leave Armenia, but he had
not personally sent in his resignation. He said that he did not know
for how long he would stay in office, but he would stay US ambassador
to Armenia until he went onboard the plane to leave the country.

In this turn, Deputy Assistant Deputy of State for Europe and Eurasia
Matthew Bryza told journalists in Yerevan that there were no plans of
Evans’ withdrawal. He called him an excellent leader of an excellent
team. He said that he would prefer not to comment on the president’s
decisions, including those concerning staff changes.

ARMENIA AGREES TO COVER EXPENSES OF BAKU-BASED TRASECA SECRETARIAT

Armenpress
Mar 14 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian constitutional court ruled
today that an agreement signed by Armenia on funding of the TRASECA
secretariat that is seated in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, does
not breach the constitution.

Transport and communication minister Andranik Manukian said all 12
members of TRASECA agreed in 2005 April to provide funds for the
secretariat to cover its expenses, which were earlier covered by the
European Commission. Manukian said the secretariat’s annual budget
makes 600,000 euros and each country’s contribution will be about
50,000 euros.

He also said the European Commission will provide 2 million euros for
examination of the technical condition of Yerevan-Tbilisi railway,
as well as 1,800,000 euros for repair of destroyed sections of the
railroad. Armenia has already received 5.5 million euros from the
European Commission as part of TRASECA program.

OSCE OFFICE HELPS OPEN AARHUS CENTER IN TAVUSH YEREVAN, MARCH 14,
ARMENPRESS: The OSCE Office in Yerevan has supported the opening of
an Aarhus public environmental information Center in the capital of
Armenia’s Tavush province, Ijevan.

“The Center will promote public access to information, participation
in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters —
the three main pillars of the Aarhus Convention ratified by Armenia
in 2001,” said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE
Office. “Serving as a unique link between governmental authorities
and non-governmental organizations in the field of environmental
policy-making and awareness raising, the Center will help create a
climate of transparency in environmental affairs and contribute to
the democratization and good governance in the region.”

The OSCE Office in Yerevan supports the establishment of a network
of Aarhus Centers in Armenia to promote the principles and values of
the international Aarhus Convention and to address security related
environmental issues.

DANIEL FRID TO VISIT YEREVAN AND BAKU

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 9 2006

Tbilisi. March 09 (Prime-News) – Daniel Frid, Deputy Secretary of
State on Europe and Eurasia, will visit Yerevan and Baku.

Sean McCormack, official representative of the US Department of State,
stated about that to journalists.

According to him, Daniel Frid will visit the region the next week.

Aim of the visit will be to discuss results of the recent meeting
between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in France.

YEREVAN UNDERGROUND CELEBRATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. On March 11 the Yerevan
Underground(Subway) aft.

K. Demirchyan CJSC will celebrate its 25th anniversary by an official
opening and a concert at Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall.

In an interview to ARMINFO, Director of the Underground ( Subway)
Vahagn Hakobyan mentioned that nearly 800 million people has been
using underground ways starting from the day of its
foundation. According to his data, the daily number of passengers is
50 000 people, with 6,000 of them being exempts.

Despite the one way ticket payment is 50 drams, the cost value is 92
drams, he underlined. V. Hakobyan stated that the remaining 42 drams
are subsidized by the RA State Budget. Thus, in 2005 the subsidies
made up 697 million drams, in the current year this figure will be
increased by 177 million drams. V.

Hakobyan mentioned also that the wages fund of underground personnel
was increased by 11 million drams in January 2006 due to the
assistance of Yerevan Municipality, which became the 100% shareholder
of the Underground in accordance with a relevant Governmental
decision. Since January 2006 the wages of the employees increased by
20%, and the average wages are now 54 000 drams.

According to V. Hakobyan, introduction of an electronic card system
instead of the present token system is currently settled, as well as
acquisition of new equipment, and water draining problem and
automation of all systems are being considered. 400 mill drams are
necessary for settlement of all the above problems, V. Hakobyan
says. For this purpose the Yerevan Underground is negotiating with
World Bank, RA State Government and Yerevan Municipality. The director
mentioned that during 2005 Underground CJSC received 145 million of
the 400 million with help of the Municipality. In fact, two escalators
were repaired. V. Hakobyan said under the Master Plan of Yerevan in
2010 a new underground station “Ajapnyak” will be put into
exploitation, with some $5 million have already been spent on the
construction. Three more stations will be put into operation by 2020.

At present 10 underground stations are operating in Yerevan with the
railway runs 12.1 km. The number of employees of “Yerevan Underground
CJSC aft K.

Demirchyan is 1,200 people, including 55 having 20 year of length of
service and 100 have been working in the infrastructure since the very
day of its operation on March 7, 1981.

Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2006

UK: No Armenian Genocide Took Place

By Foreign News Desk, Istanbul
Published: Saturday, March 11, 2006
zaman.com

Apparently, the British government does not regard the 1915-16
incidents during the Ottoman era as “Armenian genocide.”

In a letter sent by the British Foreign Ministry upon the initiatives
of a UK-based Turkish institution, it is stated the incidents do not
fit the category of genocide. British diplomats speaking to Zaman
also confirmed this. London refutes the claims in the Blue Book (Mavi
Kitap) that caused a crisis between Turkey and UK. The book, said to
be “the biggest support” for the so-called Armenian genocide, claimed
more than 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered during the
incidents.

The Committee for the Protection of Turkish Rights (CPTR) fighting
against the claims of Armenian genocide with the participation of
various non-governmental organizations has reached a new point in
their works. The committee has been trying to annul the unilateral
“so-called genocide” decisions of the municipalities of Gwynedd and
Edinburgh and has obtained a letter from the Foreign Ministry about
the result of a meeting it held with top level ministry officials.

According to the letter, the evidences on the incidents “are clearly
far from convincing the British government.” Therefore, “the 1915-16
incidents do not fit the definition of genocide in the UN Convention
on Genocide in 1948.” The letter also points out “it is very hard to
fully understand the incidents that took place more than 90 years ago
and developed under the circumstances of the First World War,” and
reasserts that the official view on this issue is quite “clear”.

British diplomats Zaman met in London said the 1915-16 incidents are
a massacre and tragedy, but confirmed they do not have sufficient
evidence to describe the incidents as genocide, according to the UN
Convention on Genocide in 1948.

British sources added both the present and former governments
followed the same line for the 1915-16 incidents. The fact that the
British Foreign Ministry clarified its attitude about the Armenian
incidents has been appreciated by the Turks.

OSCE MG: SPRING 2006 IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2006 18:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Spring 2006 is an important milestone in resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, US Department of State Senior
Advisor for Eurasia, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Steven Mann stated
upon his arrival in Baku. “We think we will achieve considerable
results in 2006,” Mann said, reporting that during the two-day visit
to Baku he is scheduled to have meetings with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. The discussions
will focus on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He is also
scheduled to hold meetings with representatives of civil society and
entrepreneurs. Mann accompanies Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried during the latter’s regional visit to
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, and Turkey. On March 14-15, Assistant
Secretary Fried will meet with Georgian officials, while March 15-16
he will hold talks in Yerevan. On March 16 Mr. Fried will depart
for Ankara, Turkey, and will return to the United States on Friday,
March 17, Trend agency reports.

CE SECRETARY GENERAL SENDS FOLLOW-UP LETTER ABOUT SECRET PRISONS TO ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 13 2006

YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Terry Davis has written to Armenia as a follow-up to his inquiry in
the context of the alleged CIA secret prisons and rendition flights
in Europe. According to the CE Yerevan office, Davis has written
to the Foreign Ministers of 37 of the 46 Council of Europe member
states asking to complete or clarify their replies in response to
his initial request of 21 November 2005. According to the press
release, letters were also send to the following countries: Andorra,
Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova,
the Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and United
Kingdom. The deadline for the replies to the follow-up letters has
been set for 7 April.