Author: Jalatian Sonya

REFUGEES DISPLACED FROM AZERBAIJAN TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR PRIVATIZATION OF APARTMENTS OCCUPIED BY THEM BY JUNE 30, 2010

Noyan Tapan
March 18, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on March 18
passed a number of bills and legislative packages (discussed on the
same day), by which amendments and additions are made to some laws.

In particular, a package of government-proposed amendments to the RA
Code of Administrative Infractions, the RA Criminal Code, and the RA
Law on Currency Exchange Regulation and Control was passed in second
reading and completely.

Based on it, greater responsibility is envisaged with respect to
persons who violate the requirements of the currency legislation.

The bill on amendments to the Law on State Registration of Property
Rights was passed in second reading and completely, by which the
provisions stipulating the grounds for appointment and dismissal
of heads of the State Cadastre of Real Estate and its territorial
units were declared invalid, with the aim of eliminating the possible
contradictions to the RA Law on Civil Service.

The parliament also passed in first reading the government-proposed
bill on an amendment to the RA Law on Provision of Apartments Built
for Refugees Displaced from the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1988-1992 to
Refugees with the Right of Ownership. According to the main speaker,
first deputy minister of territorial administration Vache Terterian,
the studies show that within the period envisaged by law, not all
refugees have applied for being provided the apartments they occupy
with the right of ownership, so in order to solve the problem of
privatization, it is proposed extending the deadline for presenting
applications until June 30, 2010.

A PERMANENT EXHIBITION-SALE OF ARMENIAN PRODUCTS TO BE ORGANIZED IN SYRIA

ARMENPRESS
March 16, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS: A permanently functioning
exhibition-sale of Armenian products is intended to open in
Syria. Head of Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Martin
Sargsian told Armenpress that during such exhibitions organized
in Syria different Armenian products found a wide consumption and
evoked great interest. Already one suchlike exhibition-sale with the
participation of 80 Armenian companies has been organized.

M. Sargsian informed that an exhibition of Syrian goods will also
be organized in Armenia in May. Such an "exhibition cooperation"
is also intended to be launched with Belarus: native products will
reciprocally be presented in the two countries.

Other exhibitions are also intended. Particularly a one-week
exhibition-sale of Indian goods has kicked off March 14 in
Yerevan. M. Sargsian considers conduction of such exhibitions justified
because within the frameworks of them the Armenian businessmen are
able to find new markets and partners for them in abroad as well as
to establish joint enterprises as a result of which the trade turnover
between these countries increases.

Prime Minister of Armenia: Everyone should be concerned bout corruption
at universities in Armenia

2009-03-13 19:10:00

ArmInfo. ‘All of us should be concerned about the problem of corruption
at the higher educational universities in Armenia’, Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan told media Friday.

He called it very delicate issue. ‘We have a big army of honest
professors devoted to their work and we should not accuse them all of
corruption. At the same time, we are aware of the other side of the
problem. In this context, formation of civil society is of great
importance. Public should condemn this phenomenon as well as the
students and their parents who give bribes alongside with the
professors who take these bribes. It is necessary to develop public
intolerance to such idea as bribe’, the premier said.

To recall, a day before, a group of young people were walking along
Yerevan streets with photos of professors and the word ‘bribe taker’
written on them.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Bryza confirms presidential meeting in Prague May 7
14.03.2009 21:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew
Bryza stressed progress in interrelations between the Azerbaijani and
Armenian Presidents.

"I think there is progress after the talks Presidents Ilham Aliyev and
Serzh Sargsyan held in November 2008 and January 2009," he
said. "There are certain disputes on new appeals. The sides failed to
reach common opinion but there is progress."

"Co-chairs have already reached a principal agreement on a new
Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting during Eastern Partnership Summit in Prague on
May 7," Bryza said.

183 citizens receive money they won as result of February 6 lottery of
cash register receipts

80

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. As of March 10, 183 citizens have
already received the sums of money they won as a result of the March 6
lottery of February cash register receipts. The lottery was held by the
RA State Revenue Committee.

According to the website of the State Revenue Committee, 166 citizens
have won 5 thousand drams each, 17 citizens – 20 thousand drams each.
Another receipt with a 50 thousand dram prize is being examined by the
Committee. The deadline for receiving monetary prizes is March 31.

Azerbaijani political scientists express opinion on agreement expected
to be signed between Turkey and Armenia in April – OPINION

13 Mar 2009 17:02

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. Azerbaijani political scientists expressed
their opinion on the article about Armenia-Turkey relations published
in today’s edition of Turkey-based Star newspaper.

The Star wrote that negotiations between Armenia and Turkey were about
to end and official document would be signed soon. The article writes
that according to the document the Nagorno Karabakh issue was not put
forth as the main stipulation, Turkey’s borders with Armenia will
open, mutual commercial relations will be established and a joint
commission will be set up in connection with the events of 1915.

Political scientist Vafa Guluzadeh considers that Turkey can not make
Karabakh problem the theme of discussion with Armenia. He told APA
that Karabakh problem had not been discussed between Turkey and
Armenia.
`False reports always spread about it. What has Turkey talked about
Karabakh with Armenia? Nothing. Turkey can not discuss Karabakh
problem with Armenia. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia are separate
states. They should cut off all relations with Armenia, if they raise
Karabakh problem. On the other hand, Minsk Group deals with the
solution to the problem. Ankara-Yerevan negotiations focus on
restoration of Turkey-Armenia relations, not on Turkey’s solving
Karabakh problem. All this concerns bilateral relations. Therefore,
Karabakh problem can not be included into this framework,’ he said.

Aydin Mirzazadeh told APA that the articles were version of the newspaper.
`This is approach of journalist and there is no need for commitments
without existence of any documents. Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani
lands and there will not be any relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan till the liberation of lands. Turkish officials state
regularly that Azerbaijan’s interests are Turkey’s interests.
Therefore it is not right to comment on the newspapers’ articles.
Turkey always makes statements on friendship and partnership regarding
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan demands liberation of its lands,’ he said.

Politologist Gabil Huseynli told APA that the articles of the
newspaper `Star’ were real and noted that secret negotiations had been
conducted between Turkey and Armenia for eight months.

`MPs from AKP leaving for Washington stated that such kind of
situation would occur. The borders are planned to open in April. The
US demands it from Turkey. The issue will not conclude with opening of
borders and establishment of diplomatic relations is taken into
account,’ he said.

To him, Armenia is expected to refuse claims on so-called Armenian
genocide in return for it.

`Turkey takes steps basing on Madrid proposals in connection with
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Turkey says that if Azerbaijan conducts
negotiations basing on Madrid proposals, Turkey will take warm
position on the issue and can agree to regulations of the issue within
the framework of OSCE MG. Turkey does not bear responsibility for the
issue,’ he said.

Head of the Political Innovation and Technology Center Mubariz
Ahmedoglu thinks that Turkey is making serious mistake. He said
Armenian organizations in Turkey had an opportunity to weigh with AKP
government. `Armenians are using March 29 and April 24 to achieve
their goal. Their priority was to cause row between Azerbaijan and
Turkey over the past five years and at last they achieved it.
Therefore the Karabakh issue passed to the back plane. This issue will
damage Turkey’s policy in the region’.

Ilgar Mammadov has different thoughts. In his opinion, the Turkey’s
current policy is completely meeting the Azerbaijan’s interests.
`Despite believable and unbelievable versions published in the
newspapers, Turkish diplomacy is making very great contributions
toward the protection of Azerbaijan’s interests. If there are changes
in the Turkey’s diplomacy toward Armenia, I am completely sure that
these steps will be made to support Azerbaijan and to protect its
interests only’.

Rasim Musabeyov told APA that there is no need to react to the
publications in the press. `This issue is under the question whether
Armenians and Turks will solve this issue or not, because there are
some issues ahead of the false `genocide’ claims in April. Turkey is a
great state and has own interests. We are expecting that Turkey will
not donate its principal position for any small issue. If Erdogan says
so, it could be commented, but there is no need to make comment on
some publications in the press. I don’t expect that it will happen
this April’.

Hürriyet , Turkey
March 11 2009

Prosecutor says apology petition legal

ANKARA – An Ankara prosecutor who aruges that the Armenia apology
petition campaign launched late last year is not illegal has asked the
Justice Ministry to issue a written directive to that effect.

The "I apologize" campaign was launched Dec. 15. Though it has drawn
harsh criticism within Turkey, approximately 29,000 people, including
many intellectuals and journalists, have signed the petition, which
reads in part: "My conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed
to and the denial of the Great Catastrophe that the Armenians were
subjected to in 1915."

Armenia claims up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed
in 1915 under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies this,
saying that any deaths were the result of civil strife that erupted
when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.

A complaint was lodged against the organizers of the petition
campaign. After a preliminary inquiry, Ankara Prosecutor Nadi
Türkaslan said the petition is protected as a freedom of
expression and thus the organizers could not be prosecuted.

On March 3, a court overturned the prosecutor’s finding,
saying that criminal proceedings could be initiated against the
organizers. The decision allows prosecutors to seek the permission of
Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Å?ahin to launch an investigation.

Charges made against the organizers will be based on penal code
Article 301, which criminalizes insulting Turkishness and also
requires ministerial approval to start any proceedings. Prosecutor
Türkaslan, in a letter to the Justice Ministry, called for a
directive to annul the ruling and asked that the case be sent to the
Supreme Court of Appeals.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2009

Complaint filed against nationalist group over racist placard

A criminal complaint has been filed against a nationalist group in
central EskiÅ?ehir province over a placard displayed in early
January in the group’s office barring Jews and Armenians from
entering.

The Directorate General of Provincial Associations in
EskiÅ?ehir filed a criminal complaint yesterday against the
chairman and board members of the Federation of Osmangazi Culture
Associations, accusing them of using the federation for purposes other
than those stated in its bylaws. The complaint came in the wake of the
racist placards displayed in the federation’s office.

Niyazi Ã?apa, chairman of the federation, and several colleagues
called a press conference on Jan. 6, just after the Israeli military
began its three-week operation in Gaza. They were holding placards on
which appeared such phrases as `No Armenians or Jews are allowed
through this door’ and `It is free for dogs to enter.’ Ã?apa
said they were saying dogs are more valuable than them [Jews and
Armenians].

The protest drew the ire of many, who accused the group of attempting
to damage the peaceful atmosphere in the country.

The criminal complaint stressed that Ã?apa and federation board
members went beyond the organization’s purpose as stated in its bylaws
and demanded that they be punished. The EskiÅ?ehir Public
Prosecutor’s Office is considering the complaint.

A similar complaint was previously filed by the Human Rights
Association (Ä°HD), which accused the federation of
`discrimination on the basic of race or religion’ and `inciting the
public to hate and of hatred.’ The association demanded that
Ã?apa and his colleagues be sentenced to up to four-and-a-half
years in prison each. Ã?apa and his associates will stand trial
at the EskiÅ?ehir 4th Court of Peace on May 6.

11 March 2009, Wednesday
MEHMET KURU ESKIÅ?EHIR

Armenia participates in ITB Berline exhibition

YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. Armenia is participating in the annual
international tourist exhibition ITB Berlin 2009, which has been opened
in Berlin, Germany.

Mekhak Apresyan, Head of the Tourism and Territorial Economic
Development, RA Ministry of Economy, reported that 12 Armenian travel
agencies are participating in the exhibition. He also pointed out that
it is for the first time that Nagorno-Karabakh has its own stand at the
exhibition as an individual tourist center.

`Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation in the exhibition is the result of
joint efforts of the Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh sides, Armenian and
Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Offices as well as the agencies in charge of
the tourist industry in both the countries,’ Apresyan said.

He said that the government agencies have to a much greater extent been
involved in arranging Armenia’s participation in the exhibition this
year.

The annual exhibition ITB Berlin 2009 is a significant even for the
world’s tourist industry. Among the participants in the exhibition are
international tourist federations, travel agencies, hotels and
insurances companies.

Among the visitors are businessmen, hotel managers, and publishers of
literature for tourists. Besides promoting new ideas and achievements,
the ITB Berlin exhibition presents a wide variety of products for
tourists.–0–

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 6-12, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

REPORT OF THE RA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER FOR 2008 RELEASED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

On March 7, 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 Human Rights and Governance Grants Program.
The guests of the host, YPC President Boris Navasardian were Artak Davtian,
deputy of the RA National Assembly of Republican Party of Armenia, member of
RA NA Standing Commission on State and Legal Issues, and Artak Zeinalian,
member of Political Council of "Republic" party, Armenian National Congress
representative. The discussion centered on the freedom of assembly, in the
context of the opposition rallies, resumed on March 1, and Armenia’s
international commitments.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday,
March 14, at 17.40.

REPORT OF THE RA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER FOR 2008 RELEASED

On March 10 the Annual Report of the RA Human Rights Defender Armen
Harutiunian on the Activities of the Defender and the Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms Violations in Armenia in 2008 was presented at the
Congress Hotel in Yerevan.

Talking about different aspects of his activities, particularly, in the
sphere of information and public relations, the ombudsman emphasized that
the cooperation with media in whole is succeeded. At the same time, in the
opinion of Armen Harutiunian, the media does not always reflect adequately
the points of view expressed by him. Touching upon the information sphere,
the ombudsman noted the one-sided news coverage by the Public Television of
Armenia, as one of the unsolved problems to this very day. For example he
brought his extraordinary public report "On Presidential Elections of
February 19, 2008 and the Post-Election Situation", released on April 25,
2008, which "was not even mentioned" on the air of the public broadcaster.
However, a month later, when objections to the report where raised by the RA
General Prosecutor’s Office and the RA Ministry of Justice, they were
covered "several times" by the Public Television, "with comments of
different officials of the abovementioned bodies".

One of the sub-sections of the annual report refers to the right of freedom
of information. In the opinion of Armen Harutiunian, there are serious
problems with realizing that right. "In fact, there is a lack of pluralism
on TV, as for the print media, it is often transformed to insult, giving
raise to an improper and inacceptable culture for our society", the
ombudsman stresses, in particular. Like in the report of 2007, Armen
Harutiunian once again pays attention to the absence of appropriate sublegal
acts, ensuring the procedure of the application of the RA Law "On Freedom of
Information". Thus, point 1 of article 10 of the Law sets forth that
providing information or duplicates (copies) of documents by state
institutions and organizations, local self-administration bodies is
implemented according to the procedure defined by the RA Government.
Nevertheless, to present day this procedure has not been defined. Besides,
according to point 4 of article 11 of the Law, the rejection to provide
information can be appealed to authorized state body or to the court.
However, so far there is not a proper body, the report notes.

The amendments to the RA Law "On Television and Radio", adopted on September
10, 2008 and suspending the broadcast licensing competitions until July
2010, were considered by the ombudsman as "regressive and explicitly
contradictory" to the European Court of Human Rights ruling of June 17, 2008
on the case of "A1+" TV company.

Talking about the situation after the 2008 presidential elections, the
ombudsman thinks that the activities of a number of media have contributed
to the escalation of the tension in the society: "A most vivid example of
such unacceptable coverage was demonstrated by the First Channel of the
Public Television of Armenia, which not only neglected the President’s
Decree on State of Emergency, but also made an infringement of the
requirement of Article 28 of the RA Law "On Television and Radio",
prohibiting the prevalence of a political stance in the programs broadcast
on public television." The National Commission on Television and Radio,
which, in accordance to the Law, is the independent regulator and is to
implement the control over the activities of the broadcasters, Armen
Harutiunian’s report stresses, failed to perform one of its main functions
and did not prevent the violations of the Decree provisions not only by the
PTA First Channel, but also most of the private broadcasters. At the same
time, the ombudsman says, in the second half of 2008 "some positive changes
and elements of pluralistic news coverage were observed in the activities of
the PTA First Channel".

The annual report of the Human Rights Defender touches upon the situation on
the "GALA" TV company of Gyumri. In particular, in the opinion of the
ombudsman, "it raises doubts the circumstance", that the tax violations made
by the founder of the TV company and other problems were revealed "only
after "GALA" manifested a critical stance towards the authorities".

The ombudsman notes that in 2008, like in the previous years, cases of
impeding professional activities of journalists have been fixed.
Nevertheless, a great number of such incidents remained unpunished. The
Human Rights Defender statements, listed in the report appendix, concern the
attacks on journalists, in particular: on correspondent of "Haykakan
Zhamanak" daily, Lusine Barseghian, on August 11; on acting head of the
Armenian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Hrach Melkumian, on
August 18; on Chairman of "Investigative Journalists" NGO Edik Baghdasarian
on November 17.

At the presentation of ombudsman report for 2008 Armen Harutiunian awarded
diplomas for contribution to development of tolerance and freedom of speech
to Anna Israelian, the observer of "Aravot" daily, and Larisa Alaverdian,
the First RA Human Rights Defender, now RA National Assembly deputy of
"Heritage" party.

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

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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