Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – ON THE AGENDA OF THE U.S.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
VARDAN GRIGORYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on June 21, 2008
Armenia

The US House of Foreign Affairs Committee recently held a hearing
devoted to the following topic: `Caucasus: Frozen Conflicts and Closed
Borders’. And the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate was engaged
in approving the candidacy of Mary Jovanovich as the new US Ambassador
to Armenia.

It is, undoubtedly, quite easy to see a certain link between the
above-mentioned two discussions which were organized simultaneously,
almost at the same time, because the topics devoted to Armenia were the
pivotal issues included in the agenda of the hearings of both Houses.

Furthermore, the Committees of both the House of Representative and the
Senate held more attractive and fundamental discussions over the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States.

In that context, both the official viewpoints of the US Republican
Administration were expressed and the proposals of the Democratic
majority of Congress and separate pro-Armenian MPs were advanced

It is noteworthy that on June 19, on the eve of the above-mentioned
hearings and discussions organized by the US legislators, Ken
Khachikyan, Head of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
received a letter from Barrack O’bama.

The candidate of the Democratic Party reconfirmed his previous
statements on the necessity of recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
appealing to the Bush Administration to change the previously adopted
attitudes with regard to the matter. This means that the Democrats are
pushing the recognition of the Armenian Genocide into the agenda of the
pre-election campaign, becoming a target of criticism for the opposing
party and its administration.

It’s quite clear why in the explanations given to the US House of
Foreign Affairs Committee Daniel Fried, Under Secretary of State on
European and Eurasian Issues, touched upon the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and the regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Moreover, he not only focused on those issues but also revealed the
American `zero variant’ of the regulation of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, a topic that was a subject of endless discussions during the
past years.

It consists of two parts.

1. Turkey’s putting up with the dark pages of its history

2. Armenia’s willingness to recognize the existing borders and not to
demand territories from Turkey.

However, attaching importance to the necessity of `putting up with the
dark pages of history’, Daniel Fried avoided answering Congressman
Dyane Watson’s question as to why the United States refuses to
recognize the mass killings of the Armenians as Genocide.

The same was repeated in the Senate during the discussions organized on
June 19. In response to the persistent questions of Democrat Robert
Menendez, Mary Jovanovich, candidate for the US Ambassador to Armenia,
characterized the 1915 events as `Great Massacres’; on the other hand,
however, she made an evasive response with regard to the attitudes
adopted by the current administration, saying that `President George
Bush, as well as the former Presidents elected from the two parties did
not recognize the 1915 events as Genocide’.

That’s to say, the American diplomat tried `to make it clear’ to the
Democrat-Senator that the President of the country rather than she was
responsible for making a decision in that regard. Obviously, this kind
of contradictory answer may serve as grounds for putting a veto on the
candidacy of Mary Jovanovich since the concept `Great Massacres’ is one
of the Armenian variants of defining the term `Genocide’. However,
Senator Menendez also touched upon the fact that G. Bush’s policy
prevented M. Jovanovich from presenting 1915-1923 events in an exact
manner, i.e. characterizing them as Genocide. In other words, the
Senator revealed the true culprit. Thus, with the help of the Senate
discussions, the Democrats created a political precedent: to touch upon
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide at the most heated moment of
the presidential campaign.

Apart from the `oral’ questions asked on June 19, Mary Jovanovich is to
answer the written questions of the Senators as well. One of those
questions has been asked by presidential candidate Barrack O’bama.

Regardless the outcome of the Senate Discussions over the issue of
appointing the new US Ambassador to Armenia, the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide will become a subject of more active debates during
the coming months. The Democrats will try to attract the votes of the
electors while the Republicans will try to act as the defenders of the
American `national interests’, reminding all the time of Turkey’s
importance for the United States.

Thus, the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide is being
consistently included in the agenda of the upcoming debate between B.
O’bama and J. McCain, becoming a powerful tool for the American
diplomacy to use pressure against Turkey. All this can be estimated as
a new and important stage in the process of the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS A STATEMENT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PACE 1609 RESOLUTION

ARMENPRESS
June 17

With 80 for, 4 against and 2 abstained the parliament adopted today a
statement on the implementation of the PACE 1609 resolution. Members
of the Heritage faction were the ones who voted against.

The document points out the steps which were carried out for the
implementation of the resolution.

In the statement the National Assembly registers that the suggestions
of the resolution are directed towards developing democracy in Armenia,
improvement of national legislation, protection of human rights and
freedoms as well as maintenance of peace in the country. It is noted
that in two months after the adoption of the resolution concrete
steps were carried out and the works still continue.

In its first reading the parliament adopted today the draft law on
the structure of the Armenian government. The second and the third
readings are expected to be conducted during the urgent session.

FAVORABLE TAX CONDITIONS FOR TRADE CREATED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

DeFacto Agency
June 17 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 17.06.08. DE FACTO. The most available and favorable taxation
system has been established in the Nagorno-Karabakh trade sphere,
the Spokeswoman of NKR State Tax Service Mary Hayrapetian stated in
an interview with KarabakhOpen.

According to Mary Hayrapetian, the tax organ displays objective
approach in the realization of control works. "One of our tasks
is creation of favorable taxation field with equal conditions
and protection of interests of honest taxpayers. Taking it into
consideration each member of the society should show understanding
of the task, condemn non-payment of taxes considering it a crime and
realize that taxes are means for the settlement of social and economic
tasks. Their non-payment hampers economic growth, which, in its turn,
negatively influences on the level of the population’s welfare".

Commenting on the reasons of activation of carrying out control
works in the trade sphere Mary Hayrapetian noted it was conditioned
by aspiration for revealing and struggle against huge shady
circulations. "Reduction of amounts of shady economy will ensure more
favorable and equal conditions for taxation", the Spokeswoman of the
NKR State Tax Service said.

TRAINING ON RIGHTS MONITORING FOR ARMENIAN POLICE AND PUBLIC MONITORS

armradio.am
16.06.2008 17:24

Detention standards and human rights monitoring are the focus of a
two-day training course that began today in the Gegharkunik province
of Armenia.

Participants in the course, which was organized by the OSCE Office
in Yerevan in co-operation with the Armenian Police, include heads,
deputies and inspectors from Armenia’s northern regional police
departments and police detention centres, officers from the Public
Order Department of the Armenian Police, and members of the Public
Monitoring Group.

"The training is designed to increase police officers’ knowledge
of standards of treatment of arrested and detained persons, and
to enhance the monitoring capacity of members of Public Monitoring
Group for Police Detention Centres. I hope this training will also
facilitate a dialogue between the police and the Public Monitoring
Group to help foster co-operation and trust," said Ambassador Sergey
Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Trainers leading the course include Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman of
the Armenian Helsinki Committee; Krassimir Kanev, Chairman of the
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and Board Member of the Association for
the Prevention of Torture; Karen Mehrabyan from the Public Order
department; and Erik Svanidze, formerly on the European Committee
for the Prevention of Torture.

A similar two-day training course will be held on 18 and 19 June in the
Vayots-Dzor province for police officers from regional departments and
police detention centres from the southern part of the country. The
newly appointed members of the Public Monitoring Group for Police
Detention Centres will also take part in the course.

ARMAVIA OPENS REGULAR FLIGHTS FROM "SHEREMETYEVO" TO YEREVAN

Analytical Information Agency
June 16 2008
Russia

The airline "Armavia" (the largest carrier of Armenia) since June, 16th
opens regular flights from OJSC "International airport "Sheremetyevo"
(IASh) to Yerevan. It is spoken about in the report of the airport.

Flights to Yerevan will be carried out by modern air courts Airbus
319. Flights are planned to be made daily from the terminal C of the
airport "Sheremetyevo" by the total area of 40ths sq.m. which has
been opened in March, 2007.

The airline "Armavia" is the leader of the aviation market and the
national carrier of Armenia. The company is based in 1996.

NOT SEWING HATRED BUT CRITICISM SHOULD BE THE JOB OF THE OPPOSITION
LILIT POGHOSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on June 13, 2008
Armenia

This week the National Assembly worked diligently, trying to normalize
the public life declined from its right route due to the post-election
developments, something that is enshrined in PACE famous resolution.

In response to our questions member of the `Republican’ Parliamentary
Faction, Chairman of NA Standing Committee Hranush Hakobyan assessed
the effectiveness of the implemented work.

`The working group established by the recommendation of the country’s
President elaborated a program of events for the realization of
resolution 1609. The conversation is firstly about setting up an
independent body to investigate the details of March 1 developments.
The discussion of this issue ended today, and the committee will start
its activity during the extraordinary session on Monday.

The second important issue is the review of the restrictions on massive
events. As you know the negative norms that were included in the law
passed on November 17 are no more. The only thing left is, the
President’s signature. The release of the political prisoners is also
one of the important issues.’

‘Do you mean those political figures detained in connection with March
1 developments are political prisoners?’

`In my view law enforcers should answer this question. Everyone must
have opinion and must express this opinion. Expressing opinion of
course is not a legal norm, but that expression was included in the
resolution and the Prosecutor’s, almost every day makes announcements

regarding who has been released, who admitted his fault, who was freed
from punishment, how many detainees are still in prison, etc.

It is very important to clarify the reason of the death cases. This is
the key issue faced by our society and far not the Council of Europe
and NA temporary committee has lots of work in this direction. All the
crimes must be disclosed.

The second very important principle is the issue of giving strength of
law to the rights envisaged for the opposition. Of course opposition
always has rights and can realize these rights as a political force
represented in the parliament. The changes made in the regulation
extend the opportunities given to the opposition, in terms of political
debate, development of parliamentary culture etc.

It is the parliamentary majority that makes decisions, but they can’t
ignore the opinion of the minority. I don’t think we are separated into
different camps and, that one camp wants to build the country and the
other wants to destroy it.

After all we all face one task to move the country forward. It is
another thing that the methods and approaches are different. It is
natural. The authorities use their levers to solve the problems faced
by the country and the job of the opposition is to criticize, to
propose alternatives, rather than sewing hatred and pointing at the
failings all the time, trying to pressurize the authorities.

Haykakan Zhamanak, Armenia
May 29 2008

Armenian PM has no real power, ex-president plans to return

The Armenian opposition Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper has said that
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has no real power and that former
President Robert Kocharyan is planning to become president again.

The newspaper said on 29 May that it was Deputy Prime Minister Armen
Gevorgyan who actually decided the agenda of Cabinet meetings and that
no-one could meet Tigran Sargsyan without Gevorgyan sanctioning the
meeting. Haykakan Zhamanak said that Gevorgyan frequently convened
meetings, but that no-one understood the purpose of those meetings.
The daily also accused National Security Council Secretary Artur
Baghdasaryan of interfering in the government’s work.

Members of the governing coalition – the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation – Dashnaktsutyun and the Prosperous Armenia Party – have
received orders to hinder the work of Prime Minister Sargsyan and his
government, the daily said. Former President Robert Kocharyan will do
his best so that Tigran Sargsyan fails as a prime minister and
Kocharyan takes up the post, Haykakan Zhamanak alleged.

The report also said that Kocharyan is planning to become the leader
of the Prosperous Armenia Party, which is currently led by businessman
Gagik Tsarukyan. The newspaper quoted unnamed pro-government sources
as saying that Kocharyan has plans to become president again.

The struggle between President Serzh Sargsyan and Kocharyan, which was
not obvious up to now, has transferred to the personnel field. Serzh
Sargsyan is trying to get rid of Kocharyan’s staff, Haykakan Zhamanak
said. The daily also reported a rift among members of the governing
coalition and lack of confidence in President Serzh Sargsyan.

[translated from Armenian]

PanARMENIAN.Net

Bako Sahakian: use of force won’t resolve Karabakh conflict
14.06.2008 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Militarization and the militaristic rhetoric of
Azerbaijan have no psychological influence on us, said Bako Sahakian,
the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

-The use of force will cause innumerable victims on both sides but
will not resolve the Karabakh issue. First of all, the balance of
forces in the region is effective. Second, the armed force of our
country is able to rebuff Azerbaijan’s aggression. In this case we
will enlarge the area of security, since it will be the only way of
guaranteeing peace for our people,- he said.

Asked whether the NKR authorities suppose that return of Azeri
refugees to Karabakh is possible, Mr Sahakian said, -The government of
our republic does not rule out return of the Azerbaijani refugees to
Karabakh. However, we are confident that it is impossible before
political solution of the issue. Thoughtless actions may lead this
contingent of refugees to other tragic consequences. It is also
necessary to synchronize the issue of the Azerbaijani refugees with
the issue of the Armenian refugees. Today, however, it is viewed
unilaterally. Naturally, it does not satisfy us,- KarabakhOpen
reports.

PACE CORAPPORTEURS JOHN PRESCOTT AND GEORGE COLOMBIER TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON JUNE 15
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NOYAN TAPAN
June 12, 2008

Th e PACE corapporteurs John Prescott and George Colomier will arrive
in Armenia on June 15, Radio Liberty was informed by member of the
Armenian delegation in the PACE Avet Adonts.

According to the PACE press service, during the visit the corapporteurs
will meet with president Serge Sargsian, prime minister Tigran
Sargsian, representatives of the parties forming the ruling coalition
and of the opposition, including the first president of Armenia
Levon Ter-Petrosian, members of the working groups set up with the
aim of implementing PACE resolution No 1609 and electoral legislation
reforms, as well as with lawyers of arrested opposition figures and
members of NGOs.

The purpose of the visit is to see how the requirements of resolution
No 1609 are being fulfilled in Armenia. The corapporteurs will present
their conclusions at the Monitoring Commitee’s sitting at the end of
next week, during which a decision will be made whether to include the
issue of Armenia in the agenda of the PACE session to start on June 23.

9TH SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS DEPARTED FOR KOSOVO
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PanARMENIAN.Net
12.06.2008

The 8th shift of the Armenian peacekeepers returned from Kosovo on
June 11, RA Defense Minister’s spokesman, col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"The 8th shift of the Armenian peacekeepers has served in Kosovo since
December 5, 2007. The 9th shift the peacekeepers departed staffed as
a company," he said.

Presently, Armenian servicemen are performing their peacekeeping
mission within the Greek battalion. The Armenian blue helmets
number 34.

According to a protocol of amendments to the memorandum on mutual
understanding between Armenia and Greece, an extra rifle company will
be dispatched to Kosovo.