Author: Kharatian Ani

ARG PAYS BACK $40 MILLION GOVERNMENT LOAN

ARKA
March 19, 2010

YEREVAN, March 19, /ARKA/. ArmRosGazprom (ARG), Armenia’s national gas
distribution company, said it has paid a $40 million loan provided
by the government. The loan, repayable in six months at the annual
interest rate of 11 percent, had been approved by the government during
a cabinet meeting held in the northern Armenian city of Vanadzor on
October 1, 2009.

A government statement issued after the meeting said it would be
allocated from the state budget "in the fourth quarter of 2009."A
statement by ARG spokeswoman said the loan was used for financing the
ongoing construction of a major thermal-power plant in the central
town of Hrazdan. ARG said the loan was paid back ahead of schedule.

ARG is the only company dealing with import and distribution of
Russian natural gas coming to Armenia from Russia via Georgia. It
was established in 1997. Russian Gazprom holds 80 percent in it,
the rest is owned by Armenian government.

HENCHMAN AUTHORITIES MUST BE ELIMINATED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

Tert.am
18:42 ~U 17.03.10

The verdict announced in relation to Nikol Pashinyan’s case, the
former chief editor of the local Armenian daily Haykakan Zhamanak
("Armenian Times"), can be considered as proof of political persecution
and political terror by the Armenian courts, according to a statement
released by Conservative Party of Armenian.

"By a ruling of the illegal authorities of the Republic of Armenia,
Nikol Pashinyan – the leader of the parliamentary election campaign
Impeachment Alliance since 2007 – will be in jail until the next or
early presidential and parliamentary elections. Taking this into
consideration, the Conservative Party states that the political
platform of the at-one-time alliance is today the only acceptable
one, that is, to overthrow the henchman authorities beginning from
top to bottom," reads the statement disseminated by the party’s
Central Council.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA PREPARING FOR UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

ArmInfo
2010-03-17 11:20:00

ArmInfo. Ministers from Orinats Yerkir Party were replaced because
of evident odds between Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and part of
the political coalition, says Stepan Safaryan, Head of the Hertitage
opposition party faction in the parliament, in an interview with
ArmInfo.

He believes that there are also obvious disagreements between the
Republican prime minister and the other wing of the Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA). "RPA led by President Serzh Sargsyan are concerned
about the fact that Orinats Yerkir party may use its administrative
levers in the spheres it leads and will hereby create problems to the
RPA," the parliamentarian said. He is sure that new ministers from
Orinats Yerkir party are just de-jure members of the given party,
but they are loyal to Serzh Sargsyan.

Earlier, the president replaced Minister for Emergency Situations
Mher Shahgeldyan with Armen Yeristyan, who previously occupied the
position of the first deputy head of the Police. The former head of
the Real Estate Register, Adviser to the President Manuk Vardanyan
is appointed Minister of Transport and Communication replacing Gurgen
Sargsyan (OY PArty).

STUDENTS OF YEREVAN KENTRON ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PARTICIPATE IN THE REGULAR OPEN LESSON

parliament.am (National Assembly)
March 17 2010
Armenia

Within the framework of the Open Doors policy of the National Assembly
on March 15 the regular open lesson was held in the parliament, where
the 10th form students of the schools of Yerevan Kentron administrative
region took part this time. The NA Speaker Hovik Abrhamyan held the
open lesson. "It’s very important to take part in the works of the
state from this age, have state way of thinking, see the structure
and problems of the state," addressing the 10th form students said the
Speaker of the Parliament. Hovik Abrahamyan introduced to the students
the structure, functions of the parliament, the powers reserved by
the Constitution. The NA Speaker said that the Open Doors policy is
carried out in the National Assembly, the aim of which is to make the
higher legislative body of the country accessible and transparent for
the people. Speaking about the parliamentary elections and electoral
system the Speaker of the Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan informed the
participants of the open lesson that the RA Electoral Code is in
the phase of reforming. In the nearest future it will be sent to
the Venice Commission for expertise, after which taking into account
all the remarks and proposals, the reformed version of the Code will
be adopted, which supposes that here the elections will be held in
accordance with the European standards. The Parliament Speaker said
that the functioning 12 standing committees in the parliament in
the nearest future will regularly visit the marzes, big and small
settlements of the republic, will get introduced with the problems,
and coming back to the capital will raise the problems before the
responsible persons, joint discussions, parliamentary hearings will
be organized, and as a result of all this, the issues which had
not been solved for years will get public sounding and solution. The
Parliament Speaker also spoke about the Armenian-Turkish relations and
NK problem. Noting that the President of the Republic pursues open,
initiative policy, Mr. Abrahamyan said that after the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border and establishment of diplomatic relations the
economy of Armneia will greatly benefit. Touching upon the settlement
the NK problem Hovik Abrahamyan noted: "The most important thing
for us is the status of NK and the security of NK people." The NA
Speaker noted that the basis of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
the recognition of the right of the Nagorno Karabakh people and the
execution of that right. Therefore, the issue should be solved within
the limits of reasonableness and truth.

Then the NA Speaker answered the students’ questions. To the question
if our army is efficient the Parliament Speaker answered that the
Armenian Army is the most efficient in the region, but it does not mean
that we shall be pleased with what achieved. We should permanently
develop our military knowledge, have more capable military, be alert
and trained.

One of the participants of the open lesson was interested in complying
our educational system with European standards and when the diplomas
of our higher educational institutions will be recognized in European
countries. Hovik Abrahamyan said that a number of diplomas are
recognized outside the borders of Armenia, and the integration to the
European educational system has already started and it successfully
continues.

Several students participating in the open lesson were interested in
the young diplomats’ work and future. The NA Speaker said that the
diplomats had much do in the foreign policy of the state, it is a
decisive work; therefore the diplomats should be professionals. Hovik
Abrahamyan gave examples of the gradually activating parliamentary
diplomacy, mutual visits, meetings, which only help in the works of
the state.

In the name of the teachers and students the pedagogues accompanying
the children thanked the NA Speaker for the warm reception, expressed
trust that for the juniors standing on the threshold of life the open
lessons like this can be decisive.

CONFRONTING GENOCIDE

Today’s Zaman
March 17 2010
Turkey

Have you ever tried to tell someone directly what his problem is? This
person, for example, may have a deep inferiority complex, and this
may be very obvious to you.

Do you think it would be helpful to say this to him upfront? "Hey,
you have an inferiority complex, be aware of your problem and correct
yourself!" If this kind of "help" worked, millions of people would
not spend years seeing psychiatrists and psychoanalysts.

Let us assume you even know what the root cause of his problem is. You
know his childhood, and you know what kind of specific traumas in his
childhood caused his problems today. Would it help to tell him this
root cause? "Your father used to beat you up a lot, and therefore,
this caused you to have very low self-esteem." Would this work? I
do not think so. You cannot reach his subconscious self by simply
saying the "truth." The logical "content" does not make what is
subconscious conscious.

Do you think that if the Armenian genocide bill passes all stages at
the US Congress and is spelled out by the US president in his speech
on April 24, this would help Turkish society confront its past? If the
numbers of these Armenian genocide resolutions increase, I believe
Turkey, like a neurotic person, would lose its logic and start to
do anything to restore "her broken honor." In my previous article,
I tried to explain how counterproductive these "genocide resolutions"
are, and some Armenian readers protested.

They want to think that Turkey will confront what it has denied for
a hundred years by simply being forced by these resolutions. One
reader even accused me of blackmailing Armenians by saying that these
resolutions just reinforce nationalistic positions in Turkey.

Today there are so many Turks in Turkey who do not believe that there
is a shadowy network called Ergenekon which tried to pave the way
for another coup d’état. No matter what kind of evidence you show
them, they simply believe there is no such organization and the whole
process is just a fabrication by the current government in Turkey.

They do not want to believe the existence of Ergenekon gang. Ergenekon
is not something belonging to the past; it is happening right now. So
basically they do not believe what they see with their own eyes. Why?

Because this confrontation threatens their "fundamental beliefs,"
their sense of "identity." They are so-called "modern," "secular"
Turks. If they start to confront Ergenekon, they may have to question
the whole history of the Turkish Republic, military interventions,
massacres and many other things.

Confronting Armenian genocide is a hundred times more difficult than
confronting today’s Ergenekon. Members of the Committee of Union and
Progress (Ittihat ve Terakki), which carried out atrocities against
non-Muslims in Turkey in 1915 and onwards, became very active figures
in the establishment of the new Turkish Republic in 1923. And the
killing machine TeÅ~_kilatı Mahsusa (secret organization) turned
into the "deep state" in modern Turkey.

Slowly, gradually the tragedy of non-Muslims became taboo. This taboo
has been reinforced by a very strong indoctrination through education,
media and other devices.

So, confronting Armenian massacres is not simply confronting a
historical event, it also means breaking down many myths the Turks
believe and identify with.

As I have repeatedly written in this column, I wholeheartedly believe
that this confrontation with our past is the key for a brighter future
for this country, to get rid of our deep neurosis, to gain a real sense
of identity and self-confidence and to bury our bloody "deep state"
structures in the graveyard of history. But I also believe that,
as happens with individuals, this will take time and should happen
by opening the hearts of Turks to past tragedies in this country.

Can the outside world help Turkey? Yes, I think so. But this cannot be
done by issuing genocide resolutions one after another. In my opinion,
the European Union can play an important role in encouraging Turkey
in this endeavor. The EU can pressure the Turkish government to make
reforms in the field of freedom of expression. This infamous Article
301 (against denigrating Turkishness) of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)
should be abolished once and for all at the very least. Widening
the scope of freedom of expression will help to deepen the already
existent internal discussion about past atrocities in Turkey. The
EU can encourage Turkey to set up independent history commissions
in agreement with Armenia. The EU can lobby to stop the passage of
Armenian genocide resolutions by third parties’ parliaments in exchange
for a promise from Turkey to make sure that these commissions will
be independent, impartial (Turkish members will be internationally
respected historians, not the ones who have written the official
Turkish history), and their findings will be accepted.

Turkey should open its archives to these commissions and should be
in full cooperation with them. These commissions should proceed
step-by-step and produce a written corpus and should not confine
themselves to a simple finding of whether the 1915 events should
be called genocide or not. These kinds of "final wordings" should
be uttered at the end of a long period, let us say in five or 10
years’ time.

The EU can also encourage Turkish and Armenian NGOs to work together
in all areas in which they have mutual interests. Not to mention
the need for opening borders between Turkey and Armenia, resuming
negotiations and enacting protocols.

Finally, I think Armenian and Turkish artists should come together
and produce common films, documentaries and songs, which will help
us to see things with the eyes of our hearts. That is what we need,
after all!

17 March 2010, Wednesday
04522-109-centerconfronting-genocidebr-i-by-i-bror han-kemal-cengizcenter.html

IN DUSK OF MOTIVATIONS: US, SWEDISH VOTES ON GENOCIDE IN ARMENIA
by Didzis Melkis

Diena newspaper
March 16 2010
Latvia

The recent vote by a the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House
of Representatives to declare that the mass murder of Armenians in
Turkish territory during the latter days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915
was genocide led, a few hours later, to the recalling of the Turkish
ambassador. The reaction was identical a week later after the Swedish
parliament approved a resolution on genocide against Armenians.

The issue of genocide against Armenians has been a hot potato for
the grandees of the world for many years now, and it is by no means
a lack of political courage that has led many of them to refuse to
swallow it. Sadly, the issue has become a means for demonstrating,
in terms of relations with Turkey, which country is the main one at
any specific moment. Accordingly, the government officials who are
chewing on this hot political tidbit are, in a sense, interested
in making sure that it remains just as hot and not swallowed as it
has always been. This is an emotionally sensitive issue, and sadly
enough, it sometimes has nothing whatever to do with the remains of
the Armenians who were killed.

Processes in US, Sweden

The documents that were approved in the United States and Sweden were
based on different reasoning. The incident in Sweden was, to a certain
extent, simpler. Of decisive importance in approving the resolution
was an MP of Kurdish Origin, Gulan Avci, who ignored her faction’s
thinking on the matter and joined leftists in Parliament to give the
resolution the deciding vote – 131 to 130. Swedish leftists used the
issue so as to cozy up to powerful America, while Avci decided that
the issue of the Armenians could be used to point to her own ethnic
group’s hope for historical justice.

In America, too, the document was approved by a bare majority of 23
votes against 22, but the motivations there are less clear. The US
government has traditionally faced powerful lobbyists who work on
behalf of Israel’s interests, and it is thanks to them that because
of good relations between Turkey and Israel, a similar document about
genocide against Armenians did not see the light of day in 2007.

Recently, however, a new government in Turkey has caused greater
tensions between Israel and Turkey, and no one can swear that the
change of attitudes in the United States vis-a-vis the Armenian
genocide is not, to one extent or another, linked to this fact.

The point is that there used to be a totalitarian form of governance –
on in which the centralized message was based on old Eastern legends
about "peace prevailing in the city of Baghdad." In recent years,
however, there have been new manifestations of a sense of freedom in
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, New York and Washington – manifestations which
may cause suspicions about the rise of Islam in Turkey.

Context of Issue

The fact that this specific denunciation of genocide is not all that
easy to interpret in terms of subject and context can be seen in the
fact that US President Barack Obama and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl
Bildt have expressed their unhappiness with what happened. Both men
are trying to soften the effects. Bildt supports Turkish membership in
the EU, arguing that if the EU opens itself towards Turkey seriously,
that will in and of itself resolve many of the issues that have
been painful up until now. Obama’s direct concern is about the need
for Turkey, as the second largest country in NATO, to continue to
support the alliance in the end game of the post-war situation in
Iraq, to support the mission in Afghanistan, and to put pressure on
Iran because of its nuclear programme.

The influential Armenian diaspora in the United States, as well as in
France, which is sceptical about Turkey, played a very significant
role in this matter. If we are to comprehend the complexity of this
issue, however, we must understand that the immediate reaction of the
Turks to the demand that the destruction of Armenians a century ago be
declared genocide is itself a counter-demand – Armenia must withdraw
its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, which the majority of international
opinion believes to belong to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, for its part,
is a Turkish ally. The Azeri diaspora, meanwhile, carries substantial
weight in Iran. In supporting rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey,
the EU is also interested in a good relationship with the resource-rich
Azerbaijan, not least so as to reduce dependency on Russian gas.

Turkey’s Views

It must also be taken into account that Turkey does not deny the fact
of the murders which took place so long ago. It insists, however,
that the murders were not planned, and so they represented individual
crimes, but not genocide. Turkey and Armenia are encircled by
historically and currently delicate issues. Their presidents have met.

A joint document of friendship is being drafted. The two countries are
slowly but nevertheless moving towards a normalization in relations,
and international observers should respect the pace at which this
is happening.

Rapid democratization is occurring in Turkey. In 2006, the writer
Orhan Pamuk, who would go on to win the Nobel Prize in literature,
was sued in court just for mentioning the murder of Armenians. Today,
by contrast, this historical issue is being discussed in public –
so quickly that public opinion sometimes just cannot keep up.

POWER TRANSMISSION LINE-BREAK DISCONNECTED 34 BEELINE BASE STATION

ArmInfo
2010-03-16 12:13:00

ArmInfo. CJSC ArmenTel (Beeline brand) announces that the problems
with calls in the Beeline mobile network were the result of the power
transmission line-break by high wind that disconnected 34 base stations
of Beeline. ArmenTel recalls that unsuccessful calls are not charged
in the Beeline network.

ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline brand) is the subsidiary of VimpelCom Group.

The VimpelCom Group consists of telecommunications operators
providing voice and data services through a range of wireless, fixed
and broadband technologies. The Group includes companies operating
in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and
Armeniaas well as Vietnam and Cambodia, in territories with a total
population of about 340 million. The Group companies provide services
under the "Beeline" brand. VimpelCom was the first Russian company
to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").

VimpelCom’s ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VIP".

MILLI MAJLIS MP ACCUSES OPPOSITION OF AID TO PRESSURE UPON AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
March 16 2010

When discussing today the government’s report on activity in 2009
Milli Majlis MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev accused the opposition of pressure
upon Azerbaijan.

He said that the parliament’s opposition bloc Azadliq and opposition
party Musavat assist to pressure upon Azerbaijan.

"Such pressure is apparent and is strengthening. For example, the
United States fails to appoint its ambassador to Baku, publishes
corruption reports on Azerbaijan, discusses themes of genocide
of Armenians and obtains opening of Turkish-Armenian border,"
Hasanguliyev says.

LEFT PARTY OF SWEDEN DETERMINED TO GET ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNIZED

News.am
March 16 2010
Armenia

Below is an interview with Ulla Hoffmann, the former leader of the
Left Party of Sweden.

NEWS.am: On March 11, the Swedish Parliament held a discussion of a
resolution on the Genocide of the Armenians and other peoples residing
in Turkey. That was a heated and intense discussion, the vote results
being evidence thereof. What is the essence of the two views expressed
at the Riksdag?

Answer: Our opponents did not deny the very fact of the genocide,
without, however, spelling the term "genocide" itself. They believe
it is a historical, rather than a political, problem. Therefore,
it should be discussed by historians, not in Parliament. Moreover,
Armenia and Turkey are now holding active negotiations, and the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide may thwart the process. That
was their second argument.

NEWS.am: That argument was put forward at the discussion held by the
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations.

Answer: Yes. But, of course, it has nothing to do with the reality. If
nations have a sincere wish to establish good relations, they should
turn over a new leaf. If any disagreements, "black spots," remain, no
reconciliation is possible. Besides, I think it is a process between
the regimes, rather than between the peoples, which does not inspire
much confidence. But open border are necessary – for Armenia as well.

But if it requires forgetting national history and not mentioning
the Genocide, it is too high a price.

NEWS.am: The Left Party of Sweden you have been representing for
many years has raised the issue of the Armenian Genocide before. It
was on the party’s initiative that Riksdag voted for recognizing the
Genocide. One gets the impression it is a matter of principle for you.

Answer: Certainly. We are also convinced it is of high importance for
Sweden as well. For new genocides to be prevented, the previous ones
have to receive recognition and a proper assessment. If it had been
done in time, many other tragedies – including the Holocaust, which
was recognized — would have been prevented. Also, many Armenians,
Assyrians and Greeks reside in Sweden. They must be sure that the
country remembers and cares for its citizens.

NEWS.am: The Swedish political circles and mass media actively
discussed the adoption of the bill. What about the public? Was it
concerned over the problem?

Answer: Yes, it really was. An Internet poll conducted after the
discussion is evidence. Most of the respondents said the Swedish
Parliament must recognize the Genocide. We are also informed of the
Swedish Government’s opinion and of Turkey’s reaction. But we do not
know anything about Armenia’s reaction, particularly about President
Serzh Sargsyan’s response. I cannot understand his silence.

NEWS.am: About the Swedish Government’s reaction. Like in 2000,
it will obviously be opposing the bill at further stages.

Answer: New parliamentary elections are to be held this September. The
Left Party, which forms a coalition with Social Democrats and the
Greens, hopes for success. Therefore, it will participate in forming
a new government. The issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide will
finally be settled then.

Polish News Agency PAP, Poland
March 12 2010

Polish, Armenian premiers discuss Eastern Partnership, economic cooperation

Warsaw, 12 March: The EU Eastern Partnership project, economic
cooperation and bilateral relations were the main topics of talks
between Poland and Armenian PMs Donald Tusk and Tigran Sargsyan,
respectively, in Yerevan on Friday.

Our meeting confirmed close ties linking poles and Armenians at the
level of nations, states and ordinary people, the Polish PM told a
joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart.

He added that the Armenian PM reminded him that Polish-Armenian ties
date back to nearly 1,000 years ago. Historic and contemporary
confidence is a rare and precious value in politics, Tusk stressed.

Tusk recalled that Poland was one of the prime movers of the EU
Eastern Partnership project. The partnership is aimed at closer
cooperation between the EU and its eastern partners, namely Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. For partnership
programme the EU had assigned EUR 600 million by 2013.

This is a project important for entire Europe, Tusk said. He said he
hoped for improvement in economic cooperation with that country.

The Polish PM said the two countries signed an agreement on Friday
aimed at boosting mutual economic contacts.

The economic agreement is a successive step (on the way to develop
cooperation — ed) but it surely is not the end of our close
collaboration. I am sure it will bring good results for Poland and
Armenia, Tusk said and expressed hope that Armenia would share with
Poland its experience in nuclear energy.

Sargsyan assessed that the economic agreement would help increase
investments in both countries. He added that an inter-governmental
commission would be set up to deal with economic and financial issues.

In Yerevan Tusk also discussed political stability in this region of
Caucasus. The Polish side, as always, support peaceful solutions to
conflict in line with the principles of the international law.

PM Donald Tusk arrived in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia on Friday,
after previously visiting Azerbaijan and Georgia.