Author: Tigranian Ani

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

CONFLICT BETWEEN “EUROPEAN INTEGRATION” AND “AZG”

“ARAVOT” DAILY ADOPTED ITS ETHICS CODE

MDI EVENTS ON DIVERSITY

NEW PROJECTS FOR THE RUSSIAN-SPEAKING AUDIENCE

“168 HOURS” – A YEAR ON MEDIA MARKET

CONFLICT BETWEEN “EUROPEAN INTEGRATION” AND “AZG”

On September 8 at Congress Hotel in Yerevan the press-conference of the
Chairman of “European Integration” NGO Karen Bekarian was held. The reason
for the meeting with journalists was the publication in “Azg” daily on
August 17, 2005, titled “One Armenian Way of European Integration”. The vast
article was based on the letter of Armenian State Award laureates Ashot
Zakarian, Alexander Kashin and the USSR State Award laureate Marat Krmoyan,
addressed to the RA National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian (Karen
Bekarian is also the expert of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign
Relations). The letter, in particular, accused the NGO head in “harming the
international reputation of his country by his activities”. The publication
told about the conflict that arose in the course of implementation of a
research project by Cosmology Unit of the Yerevan Physics Institute of the
RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, headed by Dr. Vahagn
Gyurzadian. The project was funded by the US Trade Development Agency,
contracted by US “Sky Broadband Services”, Inc., and subcontracted by
“European Integration”, acting as a treasurer.

According to Karen Bekarian, in late January 2005, two month before the
project ended, Vahagn Gyurzadian proposed that “European Integration”
transfer the remainder of the grant (making up over 70% of the funds
transferred to the subcontractor – $ 102,720.45) to the account of a natural
person, contrary to legal norms. Then the implementer attempted to get the
amount transferred to the account of “Cosmology” NGO that was not registered
at that point – as confirmed by RA Ministry of Justice in reply to the
inquiry of “European Integration”. Because of the mistrust of the
subcontractor, the issuance of money to the implementer was suspended. The
lengthy debates between the parties of the project did not clarify the
situation; Karen Bekarian resolved to pass on a demand draft for this amount
to the US Embassy in Armenia.

As the head of “European Integration” noted at the press-conference, his
organization did not intend to publicize the conflict and only had to do so
after “Azg” refused to publish a response to the article of August 17.

To the question of why “European Integration” did not file a suit against
“Azg”, Karen Bekarian explained that he believes the activities of such
institutes as NGOs and media extremely important and that the litigations
between them will damage the common cause – the establishment of civil
society in the country.

In his letter to the head of “European Integration” of August 31 the Chief
Editor of “Azg” Hagop Avedikian explained the reasons for the refusal to
publish a response “at this point”. Since the latter is “over than twice as
long as” the article itself and “does not provide factual proofs”, “does not
refute” the information, published by the newspaper. The Chief Editor of
“Azg” informed YPC that he does not exclude the possibility for publishing
Karen Bekarian’s response, should the requirements above be met.

“ARAVOT” DAILY ADOPTED ITS ETHICS CODE

On September 8 in a front page editorial “Aravot” daily published its
Professional Ethics Code. The document was developed by the creative staff
of the daily and adopted by consensus on September 6. The free-lance
correspondents of the newspaper expressed their consent with these norms of
professional conduct, too.

The Ethics Code of “Aravot”, having 8 clauses, stipulates in particular: to
clearly distinguish between fact and opinion; to ensure accuracy and
objectivity in publication; to provide a right to respond to people
criticized or accused in the newspaper; to avoid of insult and labeling; not
to criticize other media or journalists on the pages of “Aravot” and not to
respond to criticism of the latter; to observe the confidentiality of
information sources; not to publish information about the private lives of
people, unless it refers to the revenues of officials or facts of
corruption. Besides, the Ethics Code makes a reservation that “Aravot” does
not express the opinion of any political group, and the comment in the front
page editorial is the personal opinion of an author, not reflecting the
stance of the daily and not influencing the focus of other pieces.

As YPC was told by the Chief Editor of “Aravot” Aram Abrahamian, signing of
the Ethics Code will not be a mandatory requirement when hiring new creative
staff. “This is rather a manifestation of good will, and not an obligation.
However, the journalist who has violated the Code will find it hard to work
on team”, Aram Abrahamian stressed.

The Ethics Code of “Aravot” (in Armenian, Russian and English languages) can
be viewed on the web-site of the daily:

Notably, “Aravot” was the first national medium of Armenia to publish its
norms of professional conduct.

MDI EVENTS ON DIVERSITY

On September 3-5 in Yerevan a training seminar for non-governmental
organizations representing various minorities and socially vulnerable groups
was held. On the last day of the seminar journalists took part in it, too.
The training on media relations of NGOs was organized by the London-based
Media Diversity Institute (MDI) under “Minority Empowerment and Media
Development in South Caucasus” project, implemented with the financial
assistance of the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Netherlands. The ways and methods to improve the cooperation between the
“third sector” and “the fourth estate” were discussed in the interaction,
moderated by Tim Grout-Smith and Lily Poberezhska (“Media Player
International” consultancy partnership, UK) and Elina Poghosbekian (Yerevan
Press Club).

The issues of minority coverage by the media were the main subject for
another MDI event, held on September 3-4 in Istanbul, again under the
project above. The conference of the journalism professors from Armenia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan aimed at introducing the structure and methodology of
curricula of “Reporting Diversity” course, to be taught this academic year
at a number of universities in the three countries of South Caucasus.
Journalism professors from Austria, Hungary and Russia shared their
experience with the participants of the Istanbul conference.

NEW PROJECTS FOR THE RUSSIAN-SPEAKING AUDIENCE

On September 3 the Russian language “Golos Armenii” newspaper was published
with a 4-page supplement “Monitor.ru”. This digest of publications in
Armenian and foreign press will be issued weekly, on Saturdays.

>From September 12 the viewers of “Yerkir-Media” TV channel can watch the
newscasts of “Yerkirn Aysor” program in Russian language, too. As YPC was
told by the head of the TV company Gegham Manukian, the 20 and 30-minute
Russian language news will be aired by “Yerkir-Media” every day, except
Sunday, at 19.30 and 01.00.

Both projects are implemented with the support of “Caucasian Institute for
Democracy” Development Foundation. According to the General Director of the
South Caucasus branch of this non-profit organization Armenika Kivirian,
“Caucasian Institute for Democracy” was established this year and is based
in Moscow. In Armenia the South Caucasus branch of the Foundation started
its operations in August 2005. Among its objectives is the assistance to the
development of national media and book publication, Armenika Kivirian said.

“168 HOURS” – A YEAR ON MEDIA MARKET

On September 9 “168 Zham” (“168 Hours”) weekly celebrates its first
anniversary.

Yerevan Press Club congratulates the colleagues on their first birthday,
wishes them prosperity and success.

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

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN

____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

AUSTRIAN, AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Die Presse, Vienna
8 Sep 05

Text of report by “hd” entitled “Diplomacy before the match”, published
by Austrian newspaper Die Presse on 8 September

Vienna: “I am glad I came to Vienna on the day of the soccer
match between Austria and Azerbaijan (for the world championship
qualification in Baku – the editor) and not the day after”,
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov joked after working
talks with his Austrian counterpart Ursula Plassnik in Vienna on
Wednesday [7 September].

While bilateral relations were classified as “very good” by both
sides, as expected, Mammadyarov was “not quite satisfied with the
extent of economic cooperation”. He hopes, in particular, for an
increase in investments. “We are planning quite a few things in the
economic field”, Plassnik said, supporting him. The Austrian foreign
minister cited as an important issue of the talks the action plan
for Azerbaijan within the framework of European neighbourhood policy,
which is coordinated by EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

By “supporting smaller initiatives in the nongovernmental field”,
Austria wants to contribute to settling the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan over Nagornyy Karabakh. The Armenian enclave seceded
from Baku in 1991, which has, however, not been recognized at the
international level. Despite some progress, it is still a long way
until the conflict can be settled, Mammadyarov said.

AZERI OFFICIAL DECRIES ARMENIAN NGOS’ PROPOSAL TO MONITOR POLLS

Sarq, Baku
8 Sep 05

Text of APA report by Azerbaijani newspaper Sarq on 8 September
headlined “Armenian NGOs want to monitor the election”

Armenian NGOs want to observe the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan,
the secretary of the Central Electoral Commission [CEC], Vidadi
Mahmudlu, has told APA.

The CEC secretary said that the intention of the Armenian NGOs is
another provocation by Yerevan and that Azerbaijan will thwart such
efforts. Mahmudlu also said that international organizations have not
answered the CEC’s appeal for assistance in acquiring a list of voters
in the Xankandi constituency [Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin].

“The election will be held in the Xankandi constituency. This is
definite. However, it is still not clear if the Armenians will vote
in the election or not. Therefore, the election might fail in that
constituency,” he said.

CAMP INSTEAD OF BARRICADES

A1+

| 17:32:56 | 06-09-2005 | Social |

Today at 9 a.m. policemen pulled down the barricades at Byuzand
Street. They met no resistance as the street residents were afraid
of arrests.

Last evening at about 7 p.m. policemen arrived at Byuzand
street. However, seeing a crowd they retired. Maybe they refrained
from rough actions because pictures of Robert Kocharian were stuck
to the walls to be pulled down.

To note, today the residents of Buzand Street sent an appeal to
Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan. The appeal said that a camp for
children will open between Abovyan and Zakiyan Streets. The Mayor
has not granted permission yet, however the residents have already
started preparatory works.

MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE TO BE FOUNDED IN SAN PAOLO, BRAZIL

Yerkir
05.09.2005 16:10

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The government of Brazil has passed a decision
to establish a Museum of Tolerance (Museo de Tolerancia) at the
State University of San Paolo with sections dedicated to grave crimes
against humanity, including the violence against Indians, Inquisition,
Holocaust and other genocides.

As reported by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the $10-million-worth
projects will be completed in one and a half year. The museum
is likely to have a section on the Armenian Genocide. In protest,
Turkey’s ambassador to Brazil sent a letter to the project director
on August 23, claiming the events that occurred during WWI “were
painful but cannot be characterized as genocide.”

Armenian Council General Ahsot Yeghiazarian, joined with Armenian
Revolutionary Federation’s South America Central Committee member
Tigran Bokhchalian and professors Hakob Keshishian and Yervand Tamjian,
paid a visit to the project director on August 31 and handed a letter
stating that despite the Turkish government’s denial of the Genocide,
it is proven by thousands of documents, and expressed hope that the
a section on the Armenian Genocide would find its permanent place in
the museum’s expositions.

PHONE CONVERSATION

A!+

| 12:08:55 | 30-08-2005 | Official |

Today Armenian National Assembly Chairman Artur Baghdassaryan
had a phone conversation with Lithuanian Parliament Speaker
Arturas Paulauskas to discuss the fulfillment of international and
interparliamentarian agreements achieved during Mr. Paulauskas’s
formal visit to Yerevan.

The parties also considered the agenda of the World Summit of the
parliament chairmen to be held in New York.

ARMENIA DOES NOT BELIEVE CIS IS ABOUT TO DISINTEGRATE
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 30, 2005 Tuesday

Armenia does not share the opinion that the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) is about to disintegrate, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanyan told a news conference in Yerevan on Tuesday. He
takes a positive view of the meeting of the CIS summit in Kazan.

“At the Commonwealth summit in Kazan, the presidents confirmed their
adherence to the CIS, and their readiness to develop cooperation in the
existing frameworks and in the new ones,” the Armenian minister said.

“I cannot say that the CIS countries adhere to the common stand on
reforming the United Nations,” the minister acknowledged. “All of
them, however, share the view that the United Nations reform should
be comprehensive, should apply not to the Security Council alone and
should be accepted by the overwhelming majority of the member-states,”
the minister said.

“Armenia is for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, which
should also envisage the broadening of the Security Council,” Oskanyan
said. In this context Yerevan “is for the increase of the number of
permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council,” the
minister said. At the same time, it is recognized in Armenia that
“such important transformations can only be made given the consent
of the overwhelming majority of United Nations members.”

SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND OUTLAYS OF THE FIRST SEMESTER

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
29 Aug 05

In the first half of 2005 NKR state budget receipts totaled 3470.8
million drams, surpassing the plan by 25.3 per cent. The receipts
have been accumulated from return on tax, state duties and non-tax
receipts. In the accounting period the budget outlays totaled 8467.6
million drams, which is 77.3 per cent of the plan. Since the first
half of the previous year the state budget receipts have grown by
32.1 per cent, totaling 842.5 million drams. Return on tax has grown
by 813.8 million drams, return on state duty by 64.9 million drams,
and non-tax receipts by 101.7 million drams. In the first half of
2005 the NKR state budget receipts have mainly come from return on
tax which comprises 74.5 % of total return. State duty comprises 5
per cent of budget receipts, other revenues 12 per cent, return on
capital transactions 8.5 per cent. In the past period return on tax
totaled 2587.4 million drams, which is 130 per cent of the plan. It
should be noted that tax collection exceeded the level maintained in
the law by approximately 597.1 million drams. Since the same period in
2004 return on tax has grown by 45.9 per cent. Against 48.6 per cent
of the first half of 2004, in the first half of 2005 the VAT comprised
53.8 per cent of return on tax, totaling 1388.6 million drams. The
VAT collection has grown by 61.2 per cent or 527.2 million drams since
the first half of 2004. Excise duty collection totaled 150.5 million
drams, comprising 5.8 per cent of return on tax against 9.8 per cent
in 2004. Income tax collection totaled 405.5 million drams, growing
by 58.6 per cent since 2004. The main reason for this growth is the
salary. Profit tax collection totaled 184.9 million drams, comprising
7.1 per cent of return on tax. Lump-sum tax collections totaled 74.4
million drams, which is 2.9 per cent of return on tax. Return on tax on
trade totaled 159 million drams, growing by 72 per cent or 66.5 million
drams since the first half of 2004. State duty totaled 172.8 million
drams, surpassing the semester plan by 11.7 per cent. Since the first
half state duty collection has grown by 60.2 per cent or 64.9 million
drams, the reason for which is the increase in the fees for state
registration, legal documents and licence. Non-tax receipts totaled
415.4 million drams. Since the first half of 2004 these have grown
by 32.4 per cent or 101.7 million drams, the reason for which is the
increase in payments of the rent for state property, including land,
share capital, and other non-tax income. State budget receipts from
capital transactions in the accounting period totaled 295.2 million
drams of which 138.7 million drams has come from the privatization
of the state property, 156.5 million drams from disposal of state
capital assets. In the first half of 2005 budget spending totaled
over 8467.5 million drams. 78.4 per cent was current expenditure
and 21.6 per cent capital expenditure. Since the first half of the
previous year expenditure has grown by 45 per cent or 2628.7 drams,
which is determined by the increase of expenditure on salaries,
social transfers, services and capital expenditure. The expenditure
plan of the first half of 2005 was implemented by 77.3 per cent and
in the framework of the allocations the applications for financing
presented and registered by government bodies were satisfied. In
the accounting period over 6637.3 million drams were allocated for
current expenditure, which is 73.8 per cent of the plan. 22.8 per
cent of current expenditure or 1512.2 million drams was directed at
the sphere of education and science, 25.8 per cent or 1712.2 million
drams was provided for social insurance and social security, 6.7 per
cent or 447.9 million to the health sector, 4.4 per cent or 292 million
drams to culture, information and sport. In the accounting period over
508.4 million drams was provided for subsidies, comprising 7.7 per cent
of current expenditure and 91.1 per cent of the semester plan. In the
first half of the current year social transfers totaled 1286.1 million
drams, which is 19.4 per cent of current expenditure and 75.8 per cent
of the semester plan. Social transfers are divided into three groups:
allowances 388.2 million drams, retirement benefit 308.8 million drams,
and subsidies to communities 217.2 million drams. Since the first half
of 2004 almost all the social transfers have increased. 3075.6 million
drams was spent for goods and services, which comprises 46.3 per cent
of current expenditure and 68.4 per cent of the plan. It has increased
by 46.6 per cent or 978.4 million drams since the same period of the
previous year. In the first half of 2005 capital expenditure totaled
1830.3 million drams, comprising 93.9 per cent of the plan. Since the
same period of the previous year capital expenditure has increased
2.5 times, by 1102.8 million. In the accounting period accumulation
of debts was prevented in all expenditures.

ARMENIAN SCHOOLS IN IRAN NEED MORE TEACHERS

Armenpress
AUG 25,2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS: Children from Armenian families in Nor
Julfa in Iran are fluent in their native tongue, like their parents
due to 12 hours of Armenian language -course for students of elementary
schools and 5-6 hours for secondary schools.
The Armenian-called schools in Iran are actually schools in which the
majority of subjects are taught in Farsi, providing also an extensive
course in the Armenian language and history and though their history
textbooks say nothing about the 1915 Armenian genocide in Turkey
teachers take every opportunity to refer to it. School curricular are
subject to constant revision in line with new requirements, carried
out by local specialists and through constant contacts with Armenian
education ministry. But according to Vazgen Movsisian, who teaches
at local Katarina school there is a growing demand for teachers,
though the nearby Isfahan University has an Armenian department.
Armenians have lived in Iran as a religious minority for the last 17
centuries. During this period, they have managed to preserve their
language, and their religion. Armenians came in mass to Iran during
the reign of Safavid King, Shah Abbas, who moved 300,000 of them
from the Western and Eastern Armenia to Iran in early 17th century
for political and economic reasons.
They were housed in the Julfa area, which lies outside the city of
Isfahan, and in the Gilan province. They later scattered throughout
the Isfahan province and then into the Tehran Mazandaran, and Gilan
provinces as well as Urumiyeh, the center of Western Azerbaijan. The
Armenian community is said now to be estimated at around 200,000. After
the revolution of 1978, forty thousand Armenians are said to have
migrated abroad, particularly to the ex-Soviet Republic of Armenia.
Armenians have nearly 40 schools, including eight high schools, the
administration of which is supervised by the Education
Ministry. Armenians also have their representatives in the parliament.

Council of Europe official arrives in Azerbaijan to discuss Karabakh

Azartac news agency, Baku
22 Aug 05

The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), Rene van der Linden, arrived in Baku on an official visit on
21 August.

Asked by our Azartac news agency correspondent about the purpose of
his visit at the Heydar Aliyev international airport, Rene van der
Linden said: “The South Caucasus is a priority region for the Council
of Europe. Processes under way here are constantly in the centre of
PACE attention. It is my duty as PACE president to gain an insight
into regional developments. I have visited Armenia and Georgia to this
end, and currently I am in Baku. I intend to hold a number of meetings
here and hold an exchange of opinions on the resolution of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and other issues and
to learn the position of Azerbaijani officials. You know that a
favourable situation has now developed for the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and we should take advantage of this and
achieve the resolution of the problem.”

The guest also answered other questions from journalists.

Meeting Rene van der Linden at the airport were the first deputy
chairman of the Milli Maclis [parliament], Arif Rahimzada, the head of
the executive staff of parliament, Safa Mirzayev, and other officials.