Author: Hovhannisian John

A REPORT ABOUT THE SITUATION OF THE WOMEN

A1+
[06:50 pm] 17 April, 2006

Today in the RA Parliament Mrs. Vera Oskina, the reporter of the
PACE Committee of the equality of rights between men and women,
and Mrs. Zhanik Devo, worker of the PACE secretariat, were received
by Tigran Torosyan, the head of the RA delegation to PACE and NA
Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Oskina mentioned that she is preparing a report about the situation
of the women in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. She was interested
in the role of the women in the political life of Armenia, their
involvement in the local governing bodies, the issues of trafficking
and family violence in Armenia and the statistics in these fields.

Mr. Torosyan mentioned that trafficking and family violence contradict
to the Armenian traditions and form a negligible percent. Referring
to the involvement of the women in the political events he mentioned
that the Armenian women prefer to be engaged in social activities
than political, as 99% of the heads of NGOs are women.

As for the fact that 25% of the electoral rolls is allotted to women,
according to Mr. Torosyan, “positive” discrimination is not good
either and we must not contribute to the involvement of women with
unnatural steps.

During the meeting other issues of mutual interest were discussed too.

RUSSIAN ANALYZERS ESTIMATE THE 90% OF ARMENTEL SHARES $180 MILLION

Yerevan, April 13. ArmInfo. Russian analyzers appreciate the 90%
shares of ArmenTel $180 million. Referring to MDM bank expert Phillip
Townsend, ‘Vedomosti’ newspaper, Russia, reports that last year
‘Vympelcom’ company started talks with the Greek owners of ArmenTel
about the possible purchase of ArmenTel, but the talks were suspended
because of the position of the Armenian Government. Now when the
matter has been cleared with the Government, the negotiations are
renewed. To Phillip Townsend’s opinion ‘Vympelcom’, owner of BILINE
trademark, will have no problem with buying ArmenTel as in 2007 the
company will posses as minimum $850 million free cash.

According to ‘Vedomosti’, in its turn the OTE company, Greece,
stated that it has started considering various variants of dealing
with the 90% of ArmenTel shares after settling the matter with the
Armenian authorities.

Other cell-operators of Russia also expressed interest in purchasing
ArmenTel. ‘Systema Telecom’ company is also interested in ArmenTel,
told ArmInfo correspondent public contacts director of the company
Anna Boyko. Similar statements were made by ‘Megaphon’ press secretary
Marina Belasheva and ‘Vympelcom’ press secretary Yulia Ostroukhova.

“Mobile service operators are searching for new opportunities to invest
their money to promote their businesses and the purchase of Armentel
is not a bad opportunity,” says managing partner of ACM-Consulting
Mikhail Alexeyev. He notes that despite small population – 3.2 mln –
Armenia still has a low rate of mobile service use – 20%. The country’s
mobile market began to actually develop only last year when K Telecom
started its work in the country, says chief editor of Comnews Leonid
Konik. During ArmenTel’s monopoly people queued for months to get
mobile cards and bought SIM-cards for $200 on the black market.

OTE bought ArmenTel in Mar 1998 from the Armenian Government (41%) and
Transworld Telecommunications (49%). The company committed itself to
invest $200 mln in Armentel in exchange of 15-year monopoly but failed
its commitments. As a result, in late 2004 the Armenian Transport
and Communication Ministry gave one more mobile service license to
K-Telecom. ArmenTel and the ministry refuse to say yet why OTE is
going to sell ArmenTel’s assets.

U.S. DEPARTMENT FOR JUSTICE OFFICIALLY REGISTERED NKR REPRESENTATION IN WASHINGTON

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 20:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. Department for Justice published a report on
the activities of formally registered lobbying organizations. According
to the report, the Department of Justice has officially registered
the Representation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic lobbying
organization. At that the American sources remark it doesn’t mean
official recognition of Karabakh independence by the United States,
since organization by any name can be registered in the U.S.

The lobbying activities in the U.S. are regulated by the law and they
are considered to be the forth power, since their aim is to exert
influence of the U.S. policy, reported RFE/RL.

“GRAND – PRIX” WILL BE HELD IN ARMENIA

A1+
[02:58 pm] 13 April, 2006

The most significant tournament of judo “Grand – Prix” will be held
in Armenia in October of 2007.

Today the European Judo Union Romanian Chair Marius Vizier declared
about it. The latter is now in Armenia on special invitation. “I am
in good relationship with the Chair of the Armenian Judo Federation
Alexander Avetisyan and I always get delighted with the victory of
Armenian sportsmen. When the Armenian sportsman (Armen Nazaryan)
won the European Championship of 60 kg I was really glad.” The
“Grand – Prix” tournament will be held for the second time. It was
first held in Moscow. Only the champions and winners of European and
World Championships as well as Olympic games can participate in the
tournament. Being the organizer, Armenia will have one sportsman in
each weight category. 250 thousand USD will be spent on the meetings
including 100 thousand prize fund.

In Marius Vizier’s opinion the tournament will contribute to the
development of judo in Armenia. “You already have good sportsmen and
you only need such a great tournament for further progress which will
help your sportsmen to see the strongest sportsmen and strive to have
good results.” By the way, Marius Vizier presented 1000 kimonos to
the Armenian judo federation and promised Armenian judo trainers to
hold seminars in summer for them with the participation of excellent
specialist who will try to enlarge their knowledge.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 7-13, 2006

HIGHLIGHTS:

“PRESS-CLUB+”: PEOPLE’S PARTY OF ARMENIA DISCUSSING FOREIGN POLICY AND
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

PARLIAMENT CONFERENCE IN THE ABSENCE OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS

“GOLOS ARMENII” REPLIED TO “INFORMATION TERRORISM”

BEAUTY CONTEST AMONG DISABLED

“PRESS-CLUB+”: PEOPLE’S PARTY OF ARMENIA DISCUSSING FOREIGN POLICY AND
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

On April 11 the fifth talk show of “Press Club+” series went on the evening
air of “Yerkir-Media” TV company.

The invitees of the program host, the Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily Aram
Abrahamian were the leaders of People’s Party of Armenia as guests and NGO
representatives as experts. The TV discussion focused on the priorities of
the Armenian foreign policy and the freedom of expression in the country.

It is expected that at 21.00 next Tuesday “Press Club+” will give floor to
the representatives of United Labor Party, sharing their opinions on the
issues of the day.

PARLIAMENT CONFERENCE IN THE ABSENCE OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS

On April 6-7 at the RA National Assembly an international conference
“Fighting Corruption in Armenia. Strengthening of Cooperation between the RA
National Assembly, Civil Society and the Media” was held. The event was
organized by RA NA, Eurasia Foundation, OSCE, UN Development Program.

On the first day of the conference during the panel sessions the issues of
cooperation between the parliament and the civil society, the role of state
and public oversight bodies and media in the anticorruption activities were
discussed. On the second day debates were held in three working groups. The
working group “Role of the Press in Fighting Corruption” (coordinated by the
President of Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardian) produced a set of
recommendations, presented below.

The first group of recommendations (items 1 and 2) referred to the
enhancement of the media role, the second group (items 3-5) – to the
establishment of most favorable conditions for media and journalists to
assist this enhancement, the third group (items 6-8) – exclusion of
corruption in the information environment itself.

1. To form a public expert council at the RA NA to assess all the
legislative initiatives on media. To ensure the interaction of NA, the civil
society and media in the process of harmonization of media legislation with
the renewed Constitution.

2. To envisage a periodical TV program cycle on investigating corruption
cases using public information and material resources and implementing
public and expert oversight of the professionalism and objectivity of these
programs.

3. To strengthen the guarantees of legal protection and security of media
and journalists on duty. To eliminate the differences in the punishments
stipulated for the insult of state officials and ordinary citizens, to
abolish imprisonment as punishment for libel. To improve the legislation on
freedom of information and protection of sources, to ensure its application,
eliminating the controversies existing in various laws.

4. To assist the training and retraining of journalists specialized in
corruption reporting and journalistic investigations, to create voluntary
structures of media self-regulation and their public accountability.

5. To assist the protection of journalists’ labor rights, the application of
principles of professional and editorial independence, establishment of
legal mechanisms in the relations between the owners (employers) and the
media professionals.

6. To improve the mechanisms of public oversight of the effectiveness and
targeted use of public and budget funds. To assist the implementation of
antitrust legislation in media system, ensuring the transparency of
ownership.

7. To take steps to ensure real independence of bodies that regulates and
manages the broadcasting sphere. To apply in practice the provisions of the
RA Law “On Television and Radio”, stipulating the possibility of involving
public experts in the conductance of broadcast licensing competitions.

8. To remove from the RA Law “On Postal Communication” and the draft law “On
introducing amendments and additions to the RA Law ‘On Advertising’ ” the
provisions that contain risks of monopoly and corruption.

At the panel session on the first day of the conference one of the foreign
participants asked the NA deputies present in the room to raise their hands.
Not a single hand went up. The Armenian MPs did not honor the media working
group with their presence either. Yet, the main purpose of the conference
was the search for possible ways of cooperation between the National
Assembly and the civil society (as confirmed by the event title, too). In
reality, everything was confined to the discussion of anticorruption issues
between the representatives of the “fourth estate” and the “third sector” –
who have sufficient joint debates at various events with different subject
matter, including the corruption. In this regard one cannot help asking: why
did the conference have to be hosted at the National Assembly? For the
participants to have to go through the security barriers and undergo the
quite unpleasant personal examination procedure?

“GOLOS ARMENII” REPLIED TO “INFORMATION TERRORISM”

On April 8 “Golos Armenii” newspaper apologized to its readers for their
inability to buy at many newspaper stalls the issue of April 6, since, “as
the news vendors explained, all the copies were bought out by unknown people
in the morning”. In the opinion of “Golos Armenii”, the reason of the action
was the article of its correspondent Ara Meliksetian “Human Resources as the
Party Gold”, and “its ‘heroes’ tried not to make it public”.

The article was dealing with numerous violations revealed at “Hayseismshin”
research institute. It said in particular that in late February the
conclusion of the inspection made by the Control Service of the RA President
was sent to RA Minister of Urban Development Aram Harutiunian, however, no
measures were taken. This idleness is explained in the story by the fact
that the Minister of Urban Development and the director of the research
institute (ministerial structure) are members of “Orinats Yerkir” party (Ed.
note: the party is in ruling coalition).

The incident was qualified by the newspaper as “information terrorism” and
in the issue of April 8 repeated the publication of the article “that hit
the target so well”. “Golos Armenii” expressed confidence that “the talk
about the content of the article and the disappearance of the issue will
continue” and a hope that “‘Orinats Yerkir’ will not be rich enough to buy
every print run of ‘GA'”.

BEAUTY CONTEST AMONG DISABLED

On April 6 at the Yerevan House of Chamber Music the award ceremony of the
Third National Beauty Photo Contest among Disabled was held. The contest was
held by “Unison” NGO with the assistance of a number of Armenian companies.
The information support to the event was provided by the Public Television
of Armenia, “Aurora” Radio, “AR”, “Kentron” TV companies and Second Armenian
TV Channel. Such actions, as the organizers believe, help to break the
stereotypes in the society and show that the disability is not an impediment
for the fair sex.

“Miss Beauty”-2006 title (the Grand-Prix of the contest) was awarded to Anna
Martirosian (Yerevan), “Vice Miss Beauty” (the first prize) – to Narineh
Ghukasian (Abovian). The second prize was granted to “Miss Charm” Henrietta
Khachatrian (Echmiadzin). The third award went to “Miss Smile” Marineh
Yeshilian (Yerevan). The award and the memorial gift from Yerevan Press Club
to “Miss Smile” were awarded by a jury member, the YPC Executive Director
Mikhail Diloyan.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

SAFAROV’S VERDICT TODAY
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
13/04/2006

Life Imprisonment or…?

The Azerbaijani embassy in Hungary refused to hand the Hungarian
court alleged 100 thousand signatures witnessing for the defense
of Ramil Safarov charged with murdering Armenian serviceman Gurgen
Margarian during Nato exercises in 2004. According to Azeri Day.az
agency, the 3-member Azeri delegation transporting the signatures to
Budapest was rejected an admission to the embassy.

As was preliminarily reported, today the Hungarian court will bring
in the verdict for the Azeri murderer. In prosecutor’s words, Safarov
was sane while committing the crime and deserves 30 years in prison
with no right to amnesty.

THE COUNTRY THAT WILL TRY TO RESOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT THROUGH MILITARY MEANS WILL HAVE NO PLACE IN THE COE

ArmRadio.am
11.04.2006 18:13

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene
van der Linden told in exclusive interview to MEDIAMAX Agency that
the country that will undertake military resolution of the Karabakh
conflict will be excluded from the Council of Europe.

“In case military actions restart in Nagorno-Karabakh, I do not think
that the presence of the country that employs armed forces for the
resolution of the conflict is possible in the Council of Europe,”
Rene van der Linden said.

PACE President called on the parties to the conflict to refuse form
militant statements and to realize that the conflict may be resolved
solely in the peaceful way.

AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS GARABAGH PROBLEM IN HIS VISIT TO US

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 11 2006

“Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the United States
scheduled for 28 April has long been planned. During the visit,
bilateral issues between the two countries will be discussed,”
Ali Hasanov, head of Presidential Administration socio-political
department told journalists.

Mr.Hasanov said that President Aliyev will have talks with US President
George Bush.

“Measures are being implemented in the field of uniting our efforts to
solve global world, energy and other issues as well as establishing
peace in a number of hot spots of the world in cooperation with
the United States,” Hasanov said. “We are jointly cooperating in
energy and transport projects in the Caspian Sea basin. The US also
supports Azerbaijan’s integration into world unions. There exists a
close cooperation between several NGOs, democratic institutions of
the US and Azerbaijan with regard to democratization and protection
of humans rights,” he added.

During the visit, the discussions will focus on Azerbaijan-US both
bilateral and international relations as well as regional relations
in the South Caucasus and Eurasia.

Hasanov also said the United States as co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group
will focus attention on preserve of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

“The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents at Rambouillet,
and talks between the Minsk Group co-chairs and the Presidents before
that have represented certain positive nuances. We strongly want
that the problem be solved this year. We want main principles to be
put forward and pressures be exerted on the sides to agree to these
principles. Truth is known, Armenia has occupied the territories of
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has the right to liberate its territories.

Actions will be taken about that. We not only expect the United States
and Minsk Group co-chairing countries but also have confidence in them
to exert pressure on Armenia. Who is responsible for implementation
of the UN Resolution? If Russia, France, US ignore it the OSCE Minsk
Group is pointless institution then. It is natural that the United
States does not want that the war break out in the South Caucasus,
we do no want it either. We do not want our oil revenues to be spent
on war. However, for the sake of liberation of our territories we’ll
mobilize not only oil revenues but also family incomes. It is important
to put pressure on Armenia to prevent war,” Hasanov emphasized.

The head of the department do not think that the Azerbaijan- US talks
will also focus on Iran issue. He said Iran and US will decide their
relations themselves.

“This issue concerns these two countries. We have relations with the
US as well as with Iran. Our citizens have close contact with Iran,”
he concluded.

COUNTRY, WHICH RESORTS TO SOLUTION OF KARABAKH ISSUE BY FORCE, WILL BE EXPELLED FROM CE

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.04.2006 22:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The country, which resorts to solution of Karabakh
issue by force, will be expelled from the Council of Europe (CE),
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Rene
van der Linden stated today. “In case hostilities resume in Nagorno
Karabakh, I do not consider a country, which uses armed forces to
solve the conflict can stay in the CE,” he said. The PACE President
urged the parties of the NK conflict to give up militant statements
and recognize that the conflict can be solved by peaceful tools
exclusively, reports Mediamax.

WHERE ARE THE 350 LOST SOLDIERS?

A1+
[02:04 pm] 11 April, 2006

“We are sure that your sons are alive and they will return by all
means. We beg you not to lose your last hope,” the high-rank officials
of the Defense Ministry have told the relatives of the missing soldiers
these words for 12 years in Erablur. The same words could be heard
today on the international day of Unknown Soldier and war prisoners.

The chairman of the “Unknown soldiers’ relatives’ council” Rima
Arakelyan spoke for the unknown soldiers’ mothers today, “We become
comforted when our sorrow and grief become universal.” This is a
quotation from Mrs. Arakelyan’s official speech. In fact the relatives
of missing soldiers have no comfort today. “We haven’t lost our
hopes. But it is already 14 years since my son lost, and I haven’t
heard from him all those years. We get information from non official
sources. We mustn’t betray our sons and we must confess; the country
does not take adequate measures to find our sons. We have nobody to
turn to and get a definite answer,” said Mrs. Arakelyan. They agree
that the country faces serious problems today but it mustn’t forget
the people who contributed to its victory.

According to the data of the “Unknown soldiers’ relatives’ council”
there are about 350 missing soldiers in our country the majority of
which got lost after the war while serving in the army. The efforts
of the relatives to find the missing soldiers haven’t had positive
results either. “The mothers of the Azeri lost soldiers also face the
same problem but they forget their grief when speaking of 20 percent
territory and demand it from us. This attitude is incomprehensible
for us,” assumed Rima Arakelyan.

Anyway, the Azeri women said during the meeting of Armenian and Azeri
lost soldiers’ mothers that there is at least one Armenian war prisoner
in Azeri homes in certain regions of the country. The question whether
this datum is warranted or not can’t be answered so far as Azerbaijan
declares that there are no war prisoners in their country. “The efforts
of finding missing soldiers are at a deadlock,” said the vice chairman
of “Community and Right” Suren Hovhannesyan. The missing soldiers’
mothers are sure that the measures of finding their sons will not have
their positive results unless there is a state approach to the matter.