Author: Karagyozian Lena

LOCKETT FACES ‘ARMENIAN WARRIOR’

BBC News
Nov 1 2006

Gary Lockett will make the second defence of his WBU middleweight
crown against Roman Aramian at Newport Sports Centre on Saturday,
18 November.

Aramian, 23, who was born in Armenia but has German nationality,
has 19 wins from a 26-fight career with 13 KOs.

The "Armenian Warrior" has won his last six fights, five by stoppages,
but has rarely fought outside of Germany.

"I’ve seen this guy’s record and he looks like a right tough nut to
crack," said Cwmbran-man Lockett, 29.

"I’m preparing for a long night, but once I lock on to him with my
heavy right hand and left hook then I know I can take him out."

Bradley Pryce will make the second defence of his Commonwealth light
middleweight title on the undercard.

Also in action will be Welsh fighters Gavin Rees, Barrie Jones, Kerry
Hope and Nathan Cleverley, although none of the opponents have yet
been confirmed.

MONUMENT TO COMPOSER KHACHATURYAN UNVEILED IN MOSCOW

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Nov 1 2006

MOSCOW, November 1 (Itar-Tass) – A bronze monument to composer Aram
Khachaturyan was unveiled in the public garden near the House of
Composers in Bryusov Lane here on Tuesday.

Taking part in the ceremony were Lyudmila Putin, the wife of the
Russian president, Robert Kocharyan, Armenia’s president and Yuri
Luzhkov, the mayor of Moscow.

The monument was erected nor far from the house where the classic of
Soviet music had lived.

Sculptor Georgy Frangulyan and architect Igor Voskresensky have
designed the monument. They commemorated the maestro at the moment
of his creative inspiration, surrounded by music instruments.

"It’s very symbolic that the monument is situated in such a place,
not far from the conservatoire and the House of Composers," Lyudmila
Putin said

She underlined that the sculptors had "portrayed in their artwork
the soul and character of the composer and his music."

"The monument symbolizes the friendship between our peoples; and I’m
sure live flowers will always be seen at its foot, as bright as his
music," Lyudmila Putin said.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, who came to the ceremony
together with his spouse Bella, noted that Khachaturyan’s life, fate
and creative career are "is a vivid example of interlacing fates of
our peoples."

"It’s very significant when a person is equally liked and viewed as
belonging to the nation, in Armenia, as in Russia," Kocharyan said.

He also noted the significance of the location of the monument.

"Everything around is linked with music, and it’s very important that
Khachaturyan’s image reminds all of us about a happy future of our
nations," the Armenia preisdent said.

Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who cut the red ribbon at the foot of the
monument together with the Armenian leader, recalled his studies in
a children’s brass band.

"Aram Ilyich often came to see us and personally supervised all our
musical knowledge and skills," Luzhkov said.

He said it the famous maestro’s visits to an outlying House of Culture,
belonging to a chemical plant, were of special pride to local kids.

Luzhkov underlined that the monument to Khachaturyan was opened
during the Year of Armenia in Russia, "when we are solving problems
of spiritual and political communication between our citizens."

People’s Artist of the USSR Aram Khachaturyan created the world-famed
ballets Spartacus and Gayane, symphonies, instrumental concertos,
and music to the films Masquerade, Admiral Ushakov, and Othello,
and to theatrical productions.

EUROPEAN UNION HIGHLY ESTIMATES ECONOMIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues connected with implementation
of the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation signed between Armenia
and European Union, approval and implementation of the Actions Plan
worked out within the framework of the European Neighborhood policy
were discussed at the 7th sitting of RA-EU Cooperation Committee held
on October 25 in Brussels. Karen Chshmaritian, RA Minister of Trade and
Economic Development, Co-chairman of RA-EU Cooperation Committee, said
this at the October 31 press conference. In his words, the European
party highly estimated economic reforms implemented in Armenia and
emphasized the necessity to continue measures aimed at stability of
economic growth. It was mentioned that at the sitting, an agreement was
reached on continuing cooperation in spheres of providing security of
the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and using alternative energy sources
in Armenia. In K.Chshmaritian’s words, issues relating to perfection
of legislation after RA constitutional reform, fighting corruption
in Armenia, democracy and human rights, Nagorno Karabakh problem,
RA-Turkey relations, programs of assistance provided to RA by EU were
discussed at the sitting. The Minister said that the Armenian party
drew attention to inappropriate complication of procedure of granting
permits of entering Schengen agreement countries for Armenians in the
recent period. An agreement was reached to include this question in
the sitting’s protocol. As the Minister said, the European side made
sure that delay in giving of the status of a country with a market
economy to Armenia has purely technical character and is connected
with internal procedure issues.

K.Chshmaritian also reported that the issue of this status was
discussed with the Head of the European Commission General Trade
Management at the October 26 meeting. Possibilities of establishing
a free trade regime between RA and EU, as well as issue of creating
EU Information Center in Armenia were also discussed.

WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR HOLDING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS?

ArmRadio.am
31.10.2006 17:21

"For holding free and fair elections it is necessary for the
authorities and the opposition to demonstrate adequate political
will, people should be active and must realize the importance of the
elections," MP, President of the National Democratic Party Shavarsh
Kocharyan said during the discussions of the Electoral code. He added
that only the amended Electoral Code cannot guarantee the conduct of
proper elections.

According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, one of the basic approaches that
can promote the conduct of fair elections is the application of
proportional election system.

The Deputy considers that the mechanism of formation of electoral
commissions is also very important. In his words, the commissions must
include an equal number of authority and opposition representatives.

"Generally the whole election process must be transparent. Observers
must have equal rights with commission members," he noted.

AMBASSADOR ARA AYVAZIAN AND KIND OF NORWAY DISCUSS PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Armeninas Today
Oct 30 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ara Ayvazian,
the Ambassador of Armenia to Norway handed his credentials on October
26 to Harald V, King of Norway. The ceremony of handing credentials
was followed by the private conversation of the King of Norway and
the Armenian Ambassador, during which the sides discussed approaches
and prospects of development of the bilateral relations. During
the private conversation numerous displays of the two peoples’
friendship preceded the Armenia-Norway interstate ties, particularly
great humanist Fridtjof Nansen’s activity beneficial for Armenias,
were specially touched upon. At the request of the King of Norway,
Ambassador Ara Ayvazian presented the political and economic state of
Armenia and mutual relations with the neighbouring countries. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, the sides emphasized the necessity of development of the
dialogue of civilizations as an important mean addressed to regional
and international stability and strengthening of security.

TURKISH TRADE MINISTER CRITICIZES EU "DOUBLE STANDARDS"

Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English
30 Oct 06

Essen, 30 October: "Abatement of Turkish public’s interest in EU
membership is because of implementation of double standards towards
Turkey," Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun said on Monday
[30 October].

Speaking at inauguration of a symposium organized by the Turkish
Studies Centre in Germany’s Essen city, Coskun pointed to the
importance Turkey attaches to relations with EU.

"Turkish government will continue to carry out works on the way to
EU membership with patience and tolerance," Coskun indicated.

Coskun said EU’s double standards could be seen in stance of France
and at Cyprus question, noting that, "the Greek Cypriot party who voted
`No’ in the referendum in Cyprus was awarded with EU membership. Also
adoption of the bill on criminalizing denial of so-called Armenian
genocide by the French national assembly caused very big reactions
in Turkey."

"Such kind of double standards has certainly negative impacts on
Turkey," he added.

"With a trade volume exceeding 23 billion dollars, Germany is the
biggest trade partner of Turkey. Turkish enterprises in Germany are
also successful," Coskun stated.

Coskun will leave Germany for Turkey in the evening.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

MONITORING OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMENIA FORMAL

YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. The monitoring of the human rights
sector in Armenia is formal, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of
Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan told reporters today. He pointed out that
the values proclaimed in Armenia are mostly declarative.
Ishkhanyan reported the human rights sector has been long closed for
surveys, and only since 2001, after Armenia’s admission to the
Council of Europe, monitoring of human rights has become systematic.
He said that the availability of conducting monitoring at
institutions of confinement since 2001 can be considered the
progress.
"However, a group of public observers does not have a possibility to
visit police departments, but only places of imprisonment before
trial, though lawless actions take place mostly at police
departments," he said.
Ishkhanyan also pointed out that the close structure for monitoring
are still the armed forces of the country, in spite the fact that
they are included in the list of obligations before the CE.
"Some public organizations have access to the armed forces, however
the army infrastructure is mostly closed for the public. We learn
about happenings in the army from parents and relatives of the
servicemen, mostly about tragic incidents," he said.
In this relation, the HCA chairman said that monitoring of human
rights is aimed not only at revealing the situation in a specific
sector, but first of all making an impact on it. R.O. -0–

EurasiaNet, NY
Oct 26 2006

ARMENIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TAKES ON NEW POLITICAL WEIGHT
Haroutiun Khachatrian 10/26/06
A EurasiaNet Commentary

As the date for Armenia’s parliamentary elections draws closer,
recent amendments that diversify access to the Constitutional Court,
the country’s highest judicial body, have expanded the opportunities
for the opposition and ordinary citizens alike to take aim at the
government.

Under amendments approved in a November 2005 referendum, the
ombudsman, local governments, judges and prosecutors, and ordinary
citizens who have exhausted all other avenues for appeal may now
bring cases before the Court. Access was previously restricted to the
president, the government and one-third of the Assembly’s deputies.
(The amendments reduced that limit to one-fifth.)

The result has been a much busier court. Between 1997 and 2005, the
Court heard only a handful of cases that challenged the
constitutionality of laws. By contrast, since last year’s referendum,
private citizens have submitted more than 130 cases for the high
court’s review. To date, the court has accepted 10 for consideration,
according to Arman Dilanian, head of the court’s department of legal
advisors in charge of handling such cases.

September 13 marked a turning point in the country’s judicial system
when the Constitutional Court heard its first case brought by private
citizens. Two elderly women challenged the government’s refusal to
pay pensions and salaries to citizens without the use of identity
cards equipped with unique personal identification (PIN) numbers.
Since the start of the identity card program in 2002 (named "Social
cards"), many people expressed opposition to the need to enter PIN
numbers in order to gain access to funds. The court found for the
plaintiffs, thereby requiring the State Social Protection Fund to pay
1,317 retirees who were earlier denied their pensions.

The cases brought before the court have also given Armenia’s largely
fragmented opposition a welcome avenue for the criticism of the
government. The next parliamentary election is scheduled to take
place in May 2007.

One such instance occurred in September when the government
introduced to parliament a draft law on construction right-of-way
claims. The proposed bill was the result of the court’s first
decision under the amended Constitution, on April 18, which found
that regulations used to evict property owners from their homes in
downtown Yerevan to make way for new construction projects were
unconstitutional. The topic is a sensitive one; opposition members,
among others, argue that many of the projects are linked to members
of President Robert Kocharian’s inner circle. Parliament in late
October is grappling with a second draft law proposed by the
government on the issue after the earlier bill failed.

Further opportunities for wrangles with the government lie ahead.
Another case, also brought by Armenia’s ombudsman, Armen
Haroutiunian, challenges a provision in the law on political parties
that provides for the dissolution of parties which do not receive a
certain minimum of votes in a general election. No hearing date has
yet been scheduled for the case.

A third, brought by Artak Zeilnalian, one of the leaders of the
opposition party Hanrapetutiun (Republic), challenges a Civil Code
provision that blocks lawsuits against the authorities for violation
of certain rights.

The public reaction to these events, however, has been unusually
muted, despite the apparent improvement in the ability of ordinary
Armenians to defend their civil rights. Some analysts refuse to
comment, deeming the process "unimportant."

The motivation for the silence from some corners is clear. The
government has lost most of the recent cases brought before the
court. The opposition, for its part, is unwilling to recognize any
positive aspect of the "illegal referendum," which it charges was
rigged. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive.]

In the past, public interest in the court’s activities has increased
only during parliamentary and presidential elections. The court has
the final say on disputed vote results, and, in the past,
occasionally proved a significant political factor in the outcome of
elections. After Armenia’s presidential elections in 2003, for
instance, the court called for a national vote of confidence to be
held, even while refusing to invalidate the election results. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

AZERBAIJANIS OF TURKEY PROTEST AGAINST ADOPTION OF THE BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT

ArmRadio.am
26.10.2006 14:20

Azerbaijani organizations of the Turkish cities of Izmir, Izmit,
Mughla, Antalya, Ankara, Manisa, Edirna and Istanbul held a joint press
conference, where they expressed protest against adoption of the bill
penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial, "Trend" agency reports.

"With all our strength why call on France: No to the Armenian
Genocide," says the joint statement adopted by Azerbaijani communities
of Turkey.

THE MORMONATOR: MITT ROMNEY’S BLINDING AMBITION. PLUS, THE INEXPLICABLE OPPOSITION TO AN ARMENIAN-GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

The Phoenix, MA
Oct 25 2006

Political dynasties are as American as apple pie. Since the Civil War,
witness the marks made – or still being made (for better or worse) –
by the Tafts of Ohio, the Stevensons of Illinois, the Roosevelts of New
York, the Bayhs of Indiana, the Bushes of Connecticut and Texas, the
Clintons of Arkansas and New York, and the Kennedys of Massachusetts,
New York, and Rhode Island.

Now comes Mitt Romney, son of George, who as governor of Michigan
in 1968 unsuccessfully sought to become the first Mormon elected
president. Son Mitt hopes to succeed where dad George failed. And
Mitt, the governor of Massachusetts, is not going to let anything
stand in his way. On the surface he is as smooth and as gentlemanly
as his dad. But in his heart Mitt is a sharpie, as cold as he is
ambitious. Like George Bush II, who saw his dad outflanked on the right
by Reagan, and on the left by Clinton, Mitt Romney is not going let the
failings of his paternity mess with his success. His will to power,
whatever the price, is straight out of Nietzsche. And his desire to
do his dad one better, whatever the cost, feels like pure Freud.

Armchair analysis aside, Mitt Romney’s dedication to his own success is
undebatable. With the help of Christy Mihos (a politically delicious
irony), he strong-armed Republican acting governor Jane Swift aside
to stake his claim to Beacon Hill. He shamelessly fudged his Utah
residency to get on the Massachusetts ballot. He cavalierly abandoned
Massachusetts’s voters after two years in order to launch his White
House run, and he held on to his office to use it as a convenient bully
pulpit. From that perch he morphed from a centrist to a right-winger,
flip-flopping on choice and suggesting – with a straight face – that
the sort of stem-cell research conducted at Children’s Hospital and
Harvard Medical School should be criminalized. Mitt Romney: what
an hombre.

In his latest exercise in duplicity, Romney secretly lobbied an
influential member of the Mormon church’s innermost ruling council
to leverage resources in the service of his White House campaign. The
scandal of this is that Romney has long sought to wrap himself in the
mantle of Roman Catholic John Kennedy, who in his 1960 presidential
run stressed that he would not be an ideological slave to the pope.

On the eve of that election American Protestants – especially the
evangelicals and fundamentalists whom Romney now courts so assiduously
– still feared Rome’s potential influence on the American Caesar. (What
a difference 50 or so years can make.)

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