Author: Kafian Jirair

Panorama.am

15:55 22/03/06

NA PROVED ITS VALUE

To everybody’s surprise today the NA passed a number of laws discussed
yesterday.

When the illuminated indicator board represented the number of the
registered Deputies (95) the leader of the session NA Speaker Arthur
Baghdasaryan asked each of the Deputies to press their button. After
the request of the NA Speaker the illuminated indicator board
registered the proper number: 90. However, today the native Deputies
passed a number of draft laws including the draft laws about making
changes in the laws `About Advertisement’, `About State Dues’, `About
Police’, `About Privatization of State Property’ etc. /Panorama.am/

LEVON ARONYAN SHARES 1ST TO 2ND PLACES IN THE SUPER CHESS TUURNAMENT IN MONACO

ArmRadio
21.03.2006 17:20

After three rounds Grand Master of Armenia, 2005 World Chess Cup holder
and winner of the 2006 Linares Super Chess Tournament Levon Aronyan
shares the 1st to 2nd places with Russian Alexander Morozevich at the
“Amber” Super Chess Tournament held in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Levon Aronyan has gained a total of four points and continues to lead
together with the Russian chess player.

GEORGIA TEMPTED BY IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PROJECT – AMBASSADOR

Yerkir
17:23 | 20/ 03/ 2006

YEREVAN, March 20 (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) – Georgia is
interested in a project to transport natural gas from Iran via Armenia,
a Georgian diplomat said Monday.

“We are interested in the project to construct an Iran-Armenia
pipeline. However … the pipeline being built has a smaller diameter
than was expected at 700 mm,” said Revaz Gachechiladze, Georgia’s
ambassador in Armenia.

If constructed, the pipeline would not be enough even for Armenia,
he said, adding that both Georgia and Armenia would benefit from
transit using a pipeline of larger diameter.

The agreement to build the 141-km pipeline was signed in May 2004,
and will cost an estimated $210-220 mln, including $120 mln for the
Armenian section. Construction started in Armenia November 30, and
the project is to be finished by January 2007.

Under the agreement, Iran will supply Armenia with 36 bln cubic meters
of natural gas over 20 years, with an option to extend the contract
for five years and increase total supplies to 47 bln cu m.

The natural gas will be used for electricity generation for Armenia’s
domestic needs and for export to Iran.

Iran began natural-gas supplies to Georgia via Azerbaijan to ease
a crisis that erupted amid freezing temperatures in January after
explosions on a pipeline in Russia, previously Georgia’s only
supplier. However, frequent supply interruptions due to technical
failures in Azerbaijan have caused problems with the transit.

Statement by Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe on
the occasion of the International Day for Elimination of Racial
Discrimination

Europe should fight hidden racism and discrimination

Strasbourg, 20.03.2006 – Sometimes, racist people commit acts which are
as stupid as they are outrageous. Burning down a Roma settlement or
vandalising a Jewish or Muslim graveyard, for example, is offensive and
causes great distress, but it is visible, blatantly illegal and
relatively easy to deal with. Or, at least, more difficult to ignore.

However this form of racism and discrimination is only the tip of the
iceberg. Beneath the surface of apparent equality, people belonging to
ethnic, religious, sexual or any other minorities, continue to be
confronted with various forms of intolerance and discrimination.

The vicious circle of popular bigotry and populist politicians finds
easy victims in any group of people who fall outside the prejudiced
perception of “normality”. The worst, of course, is institutional
racism and discrimination, operated by bureaucrats and sanctioned with
an official stamp from the public authorities.

This phenomenon is far more widespread than we think, and it affects
virtually every aspect of life, from housing to education, from health
to employment.

To help our member states to deal with these problems in an effective
manner, the Council of Europe adopted Protocol No 12 to the European
Convention on Human Rights (CETS No. 177
< ueVoulezVous.asp?NT=3D177&CM=3D1&
CL=3DENG > ) in 2000. The Protocol introduced the broadest possible
prohibition of discrimination, guaranteeing that no one shall be
discriminated against by any public authority on any ground. By
signing, the member states agree to transform their good intentions into
legally binding obligations.

It took five years to get the ten ratifications required for the
Protocol to enter into force. Even today, almost six years after it has
been opened for signature, only 11 countries have ratified it. Today,
on the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I
congratulate all of them: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Georgia, Netherlands, San Marino, Serbia and
Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. At the same
time I express the hope that our other 35 member countries will follow
their example.

Eleven countries 1 have not yet signed the Protocol, and 24 countries 2
have only signed it and have not yet completed the process of
ratification.

1 Andorra, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Poland,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
2 Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine

Press Release
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 153a06
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

TELL US THE TRUTH ABOUT ARMENIANS
Ratemo James Onsoti, Maseno University

Daily Nation , Kenya
March 19 2006

Publication Date: 3/20/2006
The unfolding events about the alleged Armenian mercenaries are truly
mind-boggling, fascinating and awesome.

As the saying goes, where there is smoke there is fire. I am simply
appalled by the accusations and counter-accusations between the
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders and the Government over this
sensitive issue.

Seemingly the ODM luminaries Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga have
a lot to divulge only that time doesn’t seem right. On the other
hand, the Government is obviously concealing the damning truth about
the saga, but like a pressure cooker, I am sure it will explode on
their face.

What we are seeing in the Press is nothing but injured beasts and
rattle snakes terribly struggling to cling onto life.

According to reports in the press last week, the Kenya Airports
Authority security officials were not informed of the presence
of the two Armenians at the centre of the mercenary claims when
the foreigners addressed a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport.

The fact that Commandant Moses Nyakwama and his CID counterpart Judy
Ndeda were not in the know over the presence of the foreigners and
even their press conference leaves a lot to be desired.

A seemingly powerful hand or an enraged rattle snake, able to bypass
formal procedures, must be behind the whole saga.

Why are the Armenians being handled like small gods by the police?

Why have they not been arrested yet they have made grave remarks about
a plot to overthrow the Government? Why and who is protecting them?

Their lawyer is another perfect source of information on who the men
really are. How come he staged a perfect press conference without
raising eyebrows? Surely there must be foul play here.

Now to my icon Musyoka: I know you are a Christian, but I feel you
have a lot more to tell Kenyans about the scandal.

The same applies to Mr Odinga. The Armenians are claiming to possess
video evidence of a meeting between them and the Langa’ta MP.

What Kenyans are demanding is the correct explanation of what is
happening. Whether it comes from the Government or ODM is not the
issue. We only want to know exactly what’s happening.

“DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS HOWEVER YOU CAN,” ARTHUR ABRAHAM SAYS

Panorama.am
13:49 18/03/06

“Im iravunk” (My Right) newspaper conducted an
exceptional interview with IBF Box champion Arthur
Abrahamyan (sport name Arthur Abraham).

Q: What will you advise to “Im Iravunk” readers? Do
they have to defend their rights by their fists or by
law?

A: It’s a good question. They have to defend their
either with fists or by law depending on the
circumstances and necessity.

Q: During your life in Armenia you went in for cycle
racing. What is your success in that sport?

A: I have been champion of Armenia among teenagers for
several times. Later I left that sport when I left for
Germany.

Q: How much did it help you in box and what did it
give to you?

A: It gave me durability. Cycle racing is a very
poignant sport and it helped me become World Champion.

Q: Recently your uncle has sent you a woolen mattress
from Armenia…

A: Where did you learn that from?

Q: Anyway, did it help you to become champion?

A: Well, it helped so mush as I could sleep well.

Q: Do you agree that any victory is the result of
struggle?

A: All the victories are.

Q: Nevertheless, what is your formula of victory?

A: Discipline. It includes everything, and if a
sportsman is disciplined all the results will come
automatically.

Q: And what did life in Germany give you?

A: Again discipline. I used to be late for the
trainings for 10-15 minutes in the past, and now there
is nothing of the kind. On the contrary, I always go
5-10 minutes earlier.

Q: And what do you think, can Armenia become Germany
form that point of view?

A: Armenia doesn’t matter in this case. Every person
has to work over him to be come disciplined himself.

Q: You used to train in Sports School after
Yengibaryan and one of these days you visited it. In
what state was the school and what can be done?

A: There was no state at all. Everything must be done
from the very beginning.

Q: Today most young people smoke and use alcohol. What
would you advise them as a person they want to
resemble?

A: I advise everybody, not only the young, to go in
for sports not to become professional but to become
estranged form the street life. Little children go in
for sport involuntarily, but when they grow up sport
becomes a need. But it cannot be done by words; every
person must think and do on his own. /A. PETROSYAN/

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Ukraine concludes WTO talks with Armenia, Columbia
16:44 | 17/ 03/ 2006

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 17 2006

KIEV, March 17 (RIA Novosti, Olga Bernatskaya) – Ukraine has concluded
talks with Armenia and Columbia in its bid to join the World Trade
Organization, the country’s economics minister said Friday.

“We have concluded the WTO accession talks with Armenia and Columbia,”
Arseniy Yatsenyuk said, adding that there have also been positive
developments in the negotiations with Australia.

The minister said that the country’s hopes about accelerating the
negotiating process after it signed a bilateral agreement with the
United States had materialized.

A presidential administration official previously said that the
country could complete talks on joining the body governing global
trade as early as at the end of March 2006.

Ukraine has signed protocols with the majority of WTO members,
including with the United States on March 2, on mutual access to
commodities and services markets. In mid-February, the U.S. granted
it market economy status after the European Union declared Ukraine
a market economy at the end of 2005.

3 THOUSAND TAKE PART IN BURIAL OF GEVORGYAN KILLED IN TSALKA

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2006 22:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 14 burial of Gevorg Gevorgyan, 23, brutally
killed in the regional center a few days ago, was held in Ghushchi
Armenian village of Tsalka region, Georgia. Some 3 thousand people
took part in the ceremony. In spite of hard road conditions, some
500 persons arrived from Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda.

During the mourning ceremony public figures, citizens demanded
just verdict regarding the murderer from Georgia. Three persons are
arrested on suspicion of committing the murder of Gevorg Gevorgyan
and attacking his friends, though the number of those attacking is
some 15, reports A-Info.

ARMENIAN MFA ADVISES AZERI MEDIA NOT INTERFERING WITH US-ARMENIA RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2006 23:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to a report of Azeri-Press agency,
“official information on recall of US Ambassador from Armenia John
Evans is confirmed. A request of agreement for appointment of a
new US Ambassador to Armenia is sent to the Armenian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA).” As MFA Spokesperson Hamlet Gasparyan told
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the Armenian Foreign Ministry is not aware
of any requests of the kind. He advised “Azerbaijan’s media mind their
own business and not to decide matters of recall and appointment of
Ambassadors for the US and Armenia.”

Gasparyan was also surprised by the fact that Armenian journalists
“use Azeri sources.”

ARMENIAN MINISTER BURNS THE BRIDGES

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 16 2006

Baku, March 15, AssA-Irada
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has made an outrageous
statement, alleging that Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh has never been part
of Azerbaijan, which could jeopardize the ongoing talks to settle
over a decade-long dispute.

“Garabagh is Armenian land. Armenians have lived here for thousands
of years and defended their sovereignty,” he maintained.

The minister stated that his country had allegedly never put forth any
territorial claims in the official meetings and that “it is impossible”
for Garabagh to be under Azerbaijan’s control.

“Azerbaijan has no moral right to claim Upper Garabagh, as it tried
to take over these territories through military interference several
times in 1990s. If Armenians had not taken the needed steps, there
would not be a single Armenian left there by now,” Oskanian alleged.

Azeri officials have repeatedly stated that the country’s territorial
integrity could not be bargained upon and that any solution to the
dispute must envision liberation of Azeri land from under Armenian
occupation and the return of refugees home.