Author: Navasardian Karapet

Genocide Problem in The Congress

Navasardian Karapet

GENOCIDE PROBLEM IN THE CONGRESS

Aravot
16 Sept 05

The commission of foreign relations of the Chamber of Representatives
of the US Congress discussed yesterday the draft over Armenian
Genocide yesterday. The resolution produced by the congressmen George
Radanovich, Adam Shif, the cochairmen of the group on Armenian issues
at the Congress Frank Palouni and Jo Nolenberg calls on the US
President to provide for reflecting the reality of the Armenian
Genocide truly in the American foreign policy. The draft repeats the
project, which was affirmed by the commission of foreign relations in
2000 but was removed from the agenda of the Chamber of representatives
of the US Congress by Bill Clinton’s interference at the last
moment. Clinton warned the chairman of the Congress Denis Hastert that
the “adoption of the draft may cause further negative consequences for
the United States.”

This time more than 120 Congressmen are ready to assist the adoption
of the resolution. And the discussions in the commission were positive
for us; those who were for the adoption of the draft were making
speeches more. But the example of the Parliament of Germany was being
cited more making us to suppose that the same version will be adopted;
the draft will be adopted without the word Genocide. Yesterday
midnight in our time the commission didn’t take a decision yet. In
case of adoption the draft may put in the agenda of the session of the
Chamber of representatives of the US Congress.

Syria’s grand mufti underlines religious tolerance

Navasardian Karapet

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syria
Sept 15 2005

Syria’s grand mufti underlines religious tolerance

Syria’s grand Mufti and the Armenian consul discussed Wednesday the
religious tolerance in Syria as well as in the Arab region saying “we
have been carrying both Islam and Christianity as an honor message
that benefits all people and countries.”

Mufti Ahmed Hassoun appreciated Armenian people’s honorable stances
towards Arab and Moslems’ issues, particularly the “Palestinian just
right of establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as a
capital.” For his part, Armenian Consul underlined the deep-rooted
relations that connected the two countries and peoples in all fields,
stressing the necessity of developing and enhancing them to serve the
interests of both countries.

Following Turkey Azerbaijan Continues Refusing to Coop. with Armenia

Navasardian Karapet

FOLLOWING TURKEY AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES REFUSING TO COOPERATE
WITH ARMENIA WITHIN WTO

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Until final peace Azerbaijan will not
cooperate with Armenia within World Trade Organization, Azeri Deputy
Foreign Minister Mahmud Mamedkuliev says in an interview to Trend.

This does not contradict the WTO position especially as Armenia has
undertaken an obligation not to prevent Azerbaijan from joining the
organization. At the very beginning of the talks Azerbaijan got the
WTO administration to set such an obligation to Armenia and the
Armenian FM officially confirmed its compliance with it.

To remind, it is not the first time Mamedkuliev is speaking about
provisos for joining WTO. At a briefing July 7 he also spoke of
Baku’s official position. Azerbaijan is planning to join WTO in
coming 2-3 years. Armenia joined the organization in Dec 2002. Then
Turkey agreed to Armenia’s admission on condition that it will not
cooperate it the country within WTO.

PACE Armenian and Azeri delegations may meet in October

Navasardian Karapet

PACE ARMENIAN AND AZERI DELEGATIONS MAY MEET IN OCTOBER

Pan Armenian News
13.09.2005 04:31

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The sitting of the PACE Temporary Commission for
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, formed in compliance with
the PACE Resolution 14-16 was held in Paris yesterday. Deputy Chairman
of the Armenian NA, PACE Armenian delegation head Tigran Torosyan
detailed the session. In the course of the discussions Links British
NGO Executive Director Dennis Sammut presented a historical excursus
to the prehistory of the conflict and the current situation. “The
report was interesting and balanced, it formed an unbiased notion of
the conflict,” T. Torosyan noted. Later head of the OSCE Department
of the Armenian MFA V. Nersisyan acquainted those present with
Armenia’s stand over the conflict and the settlement prospects. Azeri
Deputy FM Araz Azimov was supposed to present his country’s posture,
however, he presented his own stand. These speeches were followed
by a report of the OSCE MG Co-Chairs Bernard Fassier (France) and
Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), as well as American Co-Chair Steven Mann’s
representative. The main idea put forward by the report was that
it is impossible to solve a conflict based only on principles of
territorial integrity and people’s right to self-determination. “It
is necessary to apply both Helsinki principles – the territorial
integrity along with the so-called “occupied territories” and the
right to self-determination along with the issue of the status,” the
report says. In his statement PACE Rapporteur on NK G. Lennmarker
repeated the ideas of his famous report, emphasizing the idea of
providing large autonomy to NK as part of Azerbaijan. EU Special
Representative for South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie also presented his
viewpoint. The speech of Russian delegation head Constantine Kasachev
may be marked out of these statements. “Conflicts have different causes
and the CE should not duplicate OSCE,” he noted. Turkish delegation
leader tried to repeat Azerbaijan’s legend on 20% of occupied lands,
however got confused and presented other figures. T. Torosyan noted
in his statement that besides the conflict settlement it is necessary
to solve several important issues. The first is clear division of
mandates between the OSCE, CE and PACE. The OSCE MG should deal
with conflict settlement issues, the CE with forming an atmosphere
necessary to solve the conflict. He also noted that it is impossible to
solve that conflict without application of the principle of people’s
right to self-determination. In response to Azerbaijan’s statements
PACE Armenian delegation member Shavarsh Kocharyan cited many facts
evidencing militant propaganda and belligerent statements by the Azeri
party, which obviously violates the PACE Resolution 14-16. Upon the
completion of the discussions the Commission continued work and it was
decided to hold the next meeting in December. However it is necessary
for the Armenian and Azeri delegation to meet in the course of the
October session to discuss further actions.

National Currency To Be Put Into Circulation In NKR In The Near Futu

Navasardian Karapet

NATIONAL CURRENCY TO BE PUT INTO CIRCULATION IN NKR IN NEAR FUTURE

Pan Armenian news
12.09.2005 02:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ National currency – Dram – will be put into
circulation in Nagorno Karabakh in near future. The information has
been already confirmed by the Central Bank of Armenia. As it was
reported earlier, it is not ruled out that the Karabakh Dram will
be recognized as official means of paying in Armenia. The number
of the Karabakh drams issued made 1 million banknotes, valuing in
2 and 20 drams and coins valuing in 1 and 5 drams as well as 50
lumas. The Central Bank of Armenia via the Karabakh branches of
Armenian commercial banks will launch the circulation. Meanwhile
the Azerbaijani authorities appeared oversensitive on learning this
news. Official Baku addressed a protest to the U.S. Department of
State and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the currency
was printed by an American company and the Austrian State Printing
Plant). The Azeri MFA demanded the currency be conveyed to it. The
U.S. State Department promised to assist, however the money remained
in Karbakh. To note, among the unrecognized states the Transdnesrt
only has issued its national currency, reported by IA Regnum.

Armenian Arms Smuggling Case Transferred To City Court

Navasardian Karapet

ARMENIAN ARMS SMUGGLING CASE TRANSFERRED TO CITY COURT

RIA Novosti
September 09, 2005

MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) – The case involving Samvel
Avestisyan, accused of smuggling arms from Armenia to sell to the
United Arab Emirates, has been transferred to the city court of
Domodedovo in the Moscow region from the Moscow Region Prosecutor’s
Office.

The press service of the prosecutor’s office said that on March 26,
2005, Avestisyan was arrested in the customs hall of Domodedovo
Airport with 16 devices used in weapons navigation systems.

Avetisyan is accused of entering Russia with equipment that could
be used as means of launching weapons of mass destruction, the press
service said.

“Because such equipment can be used to create the means of launching
weapons of mass destruction, the government has instituted particular
laws for their transport through Russia’s customs borders.”
The accused is currently in custody.

Armenian Parliament Adopts Draft Constitutional Reforms In SecondRea

Navasardian Karapet

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN SECOND READING

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1. ARMINFO. Today Armenian MPs adopted the draft
constitutional reforms in the second reading by 98 votes “for.”

In his speech, Vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan said that adoption of draft
constitutional reforms at November referendum will open wide prospects
for further democratic development of the country. He said the draft
considerably differs from the effective Constitution of Armenia. Thus,
the document secures a real balance between the power branches,
creates guaranties of independence of the judicial power. It also
expands the powers of the local self-government bodies and guarantees
observation of human rights and freedoms, the vice speaker said.

Torosyan said fundamental changes are proposed in the sphere of
government formation. The draft deprives the president of his right
to dismiss the prime minister, the president is empowered to propose
the parliament to made such a decision. Besides, the draft provides
the president for appointing the prime minister in case of a relevant
proposal by the absolute parliamentary majority or at least relative
majority. Torosyan thinks an important step that the draft provides
for formation of the government on the basis of a special law and
not by the decree of the president. All this provisions evidently
restrict the president’s powers and expand those of the legislative
power, the vice speaker said. He also said the draft increases in
the role of the executive power in the domestic political and foreign
political processes, as in conformity with the draft, the president
is no longer head of the government and the decision by the executive
power are not subject to the president’s ratification.

Torosyan called it important that the draft does not consider the
president head of the Armenian Justice Council, and the procedure of
advancing candidates for the membership of the Council is regulated by
the law, which creates real guarantees of independence of the judicial
power. He thinks important that the draft provides for election of
Yerevan Mayor and not appointment. The effective Constitution allows
governors to make proposals to the government on dismissal of the
heads of the communities, meanwhile, the draft allow making such
decisions only the Constitutional Court.

Besides, the draft allows the communities to establish inter-community
unions and independently form and use community budgets. He also
pointed out the reforms related the activity of the Supervisory
Chamber, stating that existence of an independent Supervisory
Chamber and constitutional guaranties of its independence upgrade
its role. Torosyan called an important step towards human rights
protection the fact that the draft provides the parliament for
appointing Ombudsman. Besides, each citizen of Armenia as a right to
apply to the Constitutional Court to protect his rights and freedoms.

It should be noted the parliamentary opposition represented by the
Justice bloc and the National Unity party did not take part in the
voting and refused from supporting the draft reforms, calling its
supporters to vote against the document at November referendum.