Author: Hunanian Jack

ARMENOLOGY SCHOOL TO BE ESTABLISHED ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.02.2010 15:56 GMT+04:00

On February 26, Armenian Ministry of Education and Science and Hai
Dat foundation concluded a Memorandum of Understanding envisaging
implementation of "Appreciation of the past helps us get to know
ourselves" program.

While signing the Memorandum Armen Ashotyan, RA Minister of Education
and Science, mentioned, "The program aims to improve teaching level
of Armenian studies and to develop up-to-date teaching-methodological
base at comprehensive schools."

According to the minister, program activities include creation of
Armenian studies classrooms as well as libraries at schools. Besides,
teachers will take special trainings. It’s also important to create
a high school specialized in Armenology, where gifted children will
study. Within the framework of the program, a credit transferring
system for universities will be developed.

Bagrat Yesayan, chairman of Hai Dat foundation, stated for his part
that it’s important to facilitate continuous improvement of Armenian
studies both at schools and universities of Armenia.

"That sector of education is the weakest and needs more funding. We
hope to create an Armenology school network in 21 countries upon the
completion of 3-year program. Afterwards, the high school, specialized
in Armenology will be formed," he said.

Minister Ashotyan expressed his gratitude to chairman of Hai Dat
foundation for the idea of cooperation and said, "Should the program
be successfully implemented, we hope to introduce it in NKR, too."

AZERBAIJAN MUST COMPENSATE $100 BILLION, SAYS AYVAZIAN

Aysor
Feb 26 2010
Armenia

"The liberated territories around the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic belong
to the people of Artsakh and cannot be considered as a compensation
for Armenians, who born in Azerbaijan," told journalists Director of
Assembly of Armenians of Azerbaijan, Grigory Ayvazian.

"The issue of territories must be solved at the state level. As
for Armenian community of Azerbaijan, we don’t think it is the best
solution to settle them on these territories," he said adding that
these territories do not belong to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is under obligation to compensate for the damage to
Armenians of Azerbaijan, said Grigory Ayvazian. He added: "As for
money, compensations for property stand by $70 billion. Sure, it’s
impossible to go without compensation for moral damage. This is
totally $100 billion."

CONSULTATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF TAX ADMINISTRATION

armradio.am
26.02.2010 18:18

President Serzh Sargsyan convened consultations on the improvement
of tax administration, President’s Press Office reported.

The consultations were attended by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the
Head of President’s Staff, the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture,
the Head of National Security Service, the Chief of Police, the
Prosecutor General, the Chief of State Revenues Committee, the Chief
of the Presidential Control Service, other officials.

President Sargsyan called the attention of the participants to the
necessity of fighting the negative phenomena existing in the field of
tax administration. The President underlined that among other measures,
it’s necessary to deepen the interdepartmental cooperation.

President Sargsyan attached importance to reducing the volume of
shadow economy. Serzh Sargsyan gave instructions to the heads of
corresponding agencies and required to work jointly to raise the
effectiveness of the fight against evils existing in the field.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 19-25, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ISSUES OF GENDER EQUALITY

INCIDENT IN FRONT OF THE RA PROCURACY

RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SECURED THE APPLICATION OF THE FOUNDER OF "A1+" TV
COMPANY

INVESTIGATION ON THE CASE OF VIOLATIONS AT PRECINCT 10/19 DISMISSED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ISSUES OF GENDER EQUALITY

On February 23, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media"
TV company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project,
supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC
President Boris Navasardian were dramatist Karineh Khodikian and Geghetsik
Grigorian, Associate Professor of Armenian State University of Economy. The
discussion centered on the issues of gender equality in Armenia.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on March 2, at
21.15.

INCIDENT IN FRONT OF THE RA PROCURACY

On February 24 in front of the RA Procuracy an incident with the free lance
journalist Gagik Shamshian occurred. According to Shamshian, he was shooting
on the street before the beginning of the session of the RA Procuracy
Collegium, when a young man came up to him, abusing and demanding to stop
shooting and to get away. Afterwards he started to beat the journalist, then
entered the building of the Procuracy. Gagik Shamshian also told YPC that
despite the injuries, he waited till the end of the Collegium session and
attended the press conference of Aghvan Hovsepian, RA General Prosecutor. As
to the journalist, he announced about the crime at the press conference, and
Aghvan Hovsepian asked him to address to the RA Procuracy with a notice on
the attack. Gagik Shamshian also noted that right after the assault he
called the RA Police on the hotline. Shamshian ensures that he had time to
take a picture of the assaulter, while the incident should have been
recorded by the camera fixed at the entrance of RA Procuracy.

Later, while Gagik Shamshian was receiving medical assistance, it turned out
that his eardrum was injured.

On the same day, on February 24, Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression,
Yerevan Press Club, Internews Media Support NGO, Media Diversity Institute,
"Asparez" Journalist’s Club of Gyumri, Vanadzor Press Club, and Goris Press
Club released a statement, which emphasized that Gagik Shamshian "was taking
photos of the high-ranking officials of law enforcement bodies, who were
arriving to the Collegium, i.e., was on professional duties. Meanwhile from
the way the assaulter freely entered the Procuracy, he may be directly
related to the law enforcement bodies". "The public can expect that another
case of violence against a journalist will be followed up. And if the
attacker is not revealed and punished this time, we will have all the
reasons to believe that the law enforcement bodies are simply refraining
from disclosure of such crimes", the statement of seven journalistic
associations stated, in particular.

On February 25 "Aravot" daily published the photo of the young man, which,
as to Shamshian, has assaulted him. In the report on the incident near the
Procuracy "Aravot" also noted that, according to the newspaper’s
information, "the assaulter is an investigator of the General Investigative
Department of the Police".

Kentron Procuracy of Yerevan instituted criminal proceeding on Articles 164
("Impeding the legitimate professional activities of journalist") and 118
("Beating") of the RA Criminal Code. The investigation is conducted by
Kentron Police Department.

RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SECURED THE APPLICATION OF THE FOUNDER OF "A1+" TV
COMPANY

On February 23 RA Constitutional Court delivered a judgment on the
application of the founder of "A1+" TV company, "Meltex" LLC, regarding the
compliance of Point 1 of Article 204’28 of the RA Civil Procedure Code ("The
competences of the court in case of revision") with the Main Law. As it has
been reported, in the application, lodged on August 19, 2009, "A1+" founder
stated that the abovementioned Point enables the court to confirm the
previous judgment on a case without securing the filed suit on
reconsideration on the ground of new circumstances. Namely this provision
made a basis for the RA Court of Cassation to decline on February 19, 2009
the demand of "A1+" founder to reconsider the two rulings of the Court of
Cassation (of February 27 and April 23, 2004) on suits of "Meltex" LLC
versus National Commission on Television and Radio under new circumstances
in the case. A new circumstance became the judgment of the European Court of
Human Rights of June 17, 2008, recognizing the refusals to grant "A1+" a
broadcast license to be a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, i.e., of the
right of the applicant to freely impart information and ideas. At the
hearings, started on December 15, 2009, the Constitutional Court mentioned
that in September 2009, in another case, Point 1 of Article 204’28 was
already recognized contradicting to the Main Law (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
December 11-17, 2009).

At the session of February 23 the Constitutional Court affirmed that Point 1
of Article 204’28 of the RA Civil Procedure Code contradicts the Main Law.
According to the delivered judgment, the founder of "A1+" can reapply to the
Court of Cassation with the same demand – to reconsider the two court
rulings of 2004 on suits of "Meltex" LLC versus NCTR under new circumstances
in the case.

INVESTIGATION ON THE CASE OF VIOLATIONS AT PRECINCT 10/19 DISMISSED

The RA Special Investigative Service dismissed the investigation on the case
of violations at precinct 10/19 of Yerevan, made on January 10, 2010 (day of
elections to the vacancy formed in the RA National Assembly). On January 14,
RA Central Electoral Commission has cancelled the elections at precinct
10/19, due to numerous violations. On January 19 the RA Procuracy informed
that proceedings were instituted on Points 3 and 5 of Part 2 of Article 149
of RA Criminal Code ("Obstructing the realization of electoral right, the
work of electoral commission or the implementation of the authorities of
election participants").

As it has been reported, among the violations at the precinct 10/19
incidents with journalists were also observed. Thus, the representatives of
one of the candidates for deputy prohibited the free lance journalist Gagik
Shamshian and Anush Martirosian, correspondent of Armenian Service of Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty, from shooting and interviewing. After a verbal
skirmish the journalists were forced out of the polling station. Later, on
that day the same people forced Hayk Gevorgian, observer of "Haykakan
Zhamanak" daily, and Gohar Vezirian, correspondent of "Chorrord
Inknishkhanutiun" newspaper, out of the polling station (see details in YPC
Weekly Newsletter, January 14-21, 2010).

As Mr. Gevorgian, the special investigator of RA Special Investigative
Service, informed YPC, the inquiry of the violations at precinct 10/19 was
dismissed for failure of proof.

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:

THE THEATRE NEEDS AN ART DIRECTOR

Aysor
Feb 23 2010
Armenia

"I do feel the lack of the art director. He must come and realize the
policy of the theatre and not to come and make performances only",
– Stepan Davtyan the director of the Armenian national theatre after G.

Sundukyan, who mentioned that the theatre needs "an art director who
will have concrete functions."

According to S. Davtyan, the art director of the theatre "should
realize the policy of the theatre, organize festivals and tours,
create troops of actors and purchase new plays, etc."

"The art council cannot realize so many functions, it is a counseling
body, each month it reads this or that play and says yes either to
this or to that one", – the theatre director said.

According to S. Davtyan there is another problem there too. He
mentioned that the theatre "shouldn’t be called national in vain,
and it should be realized also by the government."

SERZH SARGSYAN’S CARNIVAL NIGHT: DREAMS AND TRUTHS ABOUT ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT
A. Hasanov

Today
61982.html
Feb 18 2010
Azerbaijan

I strongly recommend to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to carefully
watch the "Carnival Night," which has been a favorite movie of several
generations. Painfully, his behavior reminds of that of the movie’s
main character.

"There is a rule to happily celebrate the New Year!" Serafim Ivanovich
Ogurtsov used to say.

"There is a rule to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations," says
Sargsyan in almost all his speeches.

Armenia’s attempts to get the Turkish Parliament to ratify the Zurich
protocols, which were amended by the Constitutional Court of Armenia,
seem too comical.

Thus, the "Armenian Ogurtsov" has already borrowed a quote from
Ivanovich, which says: "I personally bear no responsibility for all
that was here today!"

Sargsyan said in an interview with Al-Jazeera that Turkey is delaying
the Armenian-Turkish normalization process. Of course, it is impossible
to deceive all at once…

Moreover, Armenia’s "thesis" no longer puts a smile on the faces
of those whose support Armenia hoped to attract. As a result, the
country more and more turns into a rogue states, a regional dwarf,
whose actions have already bothered many.

Armenia’s leadership is not invited to any major world forums and the
country’s officials don’t even meet their president on his returns from
visits abroad. His recent working visit to London is a proof of that.

This brings to mind another Carnival Night hero, lecturer Nikadilov,
who wandered backstage shouting "People! Ay-oo-oo!"

Apart from lack of signs of warmth at London’s airport, Sargsyan was
not received by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. After something like
this, a self-respecting head of state would at least be ashamed and
would make some conclusions. But we’re talking about Sargsyan here.

According to Serzh Azatovic, Barack Obama "does not respond to the
process of recognizing the ‘genocide’ of Armenians. Those in Azerbaijan
are very well aware how the concepts of the Armenian dream and honesty
are far from each other.

I am convinced that the Armenian president’s dream, the "Armenian
genocide" to be recognized by the United States, will be as different
as this one.

I will once again indicate Armenia’s true place as a rogue state,
which can sometimes be used for purposes of others, but will never
be respected.

The reason behind such an attitude towards Armenia is its own policy
of ignoring all international standards and claiming the territory
of neighboring countries. This kind of "music" caresses the ears of
Armenian nationalists and terrorists.

Sargsyan better remember the "thesis" of comrade Ogurtsov: "It is
necessary that the music will take you, lead you, but not take away."

ARMENIA-TURKEY TIES, KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NOT CONNECTED – STEPANAKERT (PART 2)

Interfax
Feb 16 2010
Russia

Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is in no way connected
with the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, said president
of the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh region, Bako Saakian.

"Although Turkey continues attempts to link these two processes, such
an approach cannot be justified now or in the future," Saakian said
at a news conference after talks with the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s Chairman-in-Office and Kazakh Foreign
Minister Kanat Saudabayev.

"Armenian-Turkish relations have nothing to do with the Karabakh
conflict. Not only the governments of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
but international organizations say that," Saakian said.

Nagorno-Karabakh "pins certain hopes on Kazakhstan’s presidency of
the OSCE in matters of settling the conflict. We voiced our ideas in
the talks and we hope they will be heeded," he said.

A discussion of the Karabakh conflict in the context of international
law will bring us closer to a settlement, he said.

EXPERT: MICRO-BUSES MAKE ABOUT 90% OF TOTAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT OF YEREVAN

ARKA
Feb 18, 2010

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. Micro-buses make about 90% of total
public transport of Yerevan, said Armen Poghosyan, Head of NGO
"Association of Armenian consumers" during the presentation of the
program "Actions providing ecological security and reduction of
negative impact on public transport".

General project of Yerevan states that the share of micro-buses on
public transport should not exceed 19.2%.

Yerevan is overburdened with transport working with gas and fuel
which negatively influences on ecology.

Poghosyan said that despite the promises of Yerevan authorities about
importing new buses and trolley-buses which are secure from ecological
point of view, their share in public transport makes only 2-3%.

"If we could assist in the increase of this indicator, we can consider
this issue closed", said Poghosyan.

The program "Actions providing ecological security and reduction of
negative impact on public transport" is implemented with the support
of OSCE Yerevan Office.

Goal of the program is restriction of dangerous influence of public
transport with joint efforts of society, authorities and local
governance bodies.

GENOCIDE RESOLUTION DOES NOT BODE WELL: ANKARA

news.am
Feb 18 2010
Armenia

Consideration of Genocide resolution in Congress does not bode well
for Armenia-Turkey reconciliation and hinders maintaining of stable
peace in the Caucasus, said Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu, TRT reports.

Davutoglu also noted that Ankara assigns high priority to similar
initiatives within reasonable limits, underlining that they have
already presented their views to all interested parties.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to consider the Armenian
Genocide Resolution on March 4, 2010.

TWO WAVES OF GLOBAL CRISIS: EBRD’S ANALYSIS OF ARMENIAN ECONOMY

news.am
Feb 17 2010
Armenia

At the presentation of the EBRD Transition Report 2009 in Yerevan,
Helena Schweiger, EBRD Principal Economist for Armenia, pointed out
that the first wave of the global crisis did not affect Armenia,
as the Armenian banks were not seriously dependent on the global
financial market nor were derivatives actively used. So the Armenian
banks’ conservative policy proved to be of benefit to both commercial
banks themselves and the country as a whole.

The second wave of the crisis, which developed from an economic into
a financial one, changed the situation. Armenian guest workers’
businesses in Russia went bad, which affected money transfers
to Armenia. The amount of money transfers to the country showed a
30.6% decrease (a total of U.S. $694.9m) in 2009 against 2008, which
immediately affected many business sectors, particularly construction,
which is actually paralyzed.

After outlining the present state of the Armenian economy, EBRD
experts turned to the saving recipes for economic recovery. First of
all, they pointed out the necessity for reforming Armenia’s business
environment. As regards the means of achieving success, the EBRD
experts singled out the Government’s anti-monopoly policy.

It is common knowledge that, in an Armenia-like country, business
integration with power creates perfect conditions for monopolies. A
number of markets are shared by few market members or only one economic
entity dominates them, which is actually the same.

The Government’s economic policy actually encourages big business.

Some goods markets, which are, in fact, fully controlled by narrow
business circles, are "tightly closed" for other businessmen. And,
of course, in trying to get access to monopolized markets, "the
newcomers" encounter various obstacles.

Underlining the role of small-to-medium business, the EBRD urged the RA
Government to support them. The EBRD, for its part, supports Armenian
businesses irrespective of their being small or big ones. No other
explanation for the attention such an influential bank pays to such
"a trifle" as retail trade can be offered.

We would like to remind the readers that the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the STAR supermarket chain
signed credit agreements last year. Under the agreements the EBRD
was to allocate a total of U.S. $5.5m to the STAR chain. Under the
circumstances, when small and medium-sized enterprises can hardly
compete with their "big counterparts", the EBRD’s support for big
businesses seems to be contrary to its slogans.