Author: Topchian Jane

DECISIONS OF EUROPEAN COURT REACH US IN HALF A YEAR

A1+
[05:42 pm] 17 July, 2007

The European Court of Human Rights has issued its first verdict against
the Republic of Armenia this winter. Armen Lazarian, member of the
National Renaissance party has not yet received that decision.

Armen Lazarian had applied to the European Court in 2003 to dispute
his right of free movement violated by the RA authorities during
the 2002 gatherings and rallies, when he was brought to the police
station and arrested for a night and fined 500 drams.

The European Court’s decision should have been enforced 100 days
after it was made, but Armen Lazarian has not received an official
response from the RA Ministry of Justice.

"I do not know whether one deals with a state or not", said Armen
Lazarian. According to the rule, the decision of the Court should be
translated officially and sent to the applicant, so that the latter
will be able to take further steps in accordance with RA legislation.

Deputy Minister of Justice Gevorg Kostanyan, who is the RA
representative to the European Court informed us that the decision
of the Court "Armen Lazarian aginst the Republic of Armenia" had
been translated but they do not have the authority to give it to
Armen Lazarian.

"We have translated the decision and sent to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to authenticate the translation. It will be uploaded on our
website when it is ready", responded the media department of the
Justice Ministry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they received the translation
of the decision only yesterday, and their function was to identify
the translation.

When the translation of the decision is verified it will be sent back
to the Ministry of Justice.

Afterwards, it will be uploaded on the Ministry’s official website.

Armen Lazarian has the right to apply to the Court of Cessation
without applying to the First Instance Court or to the Appeal Court
and use the decision of the European Court as a precedent for all 200
people, who faced similar charges in the court but had not applied
to the European Court.

Reflecting on Serge Sargsyan’s statement that Europe liked to talk
but did not take measures, for example in opening Turkish frontiers
with Armenia, Armen Lazarian said: "And you like to talk about
European integration, but what do you do on the matter? When you take
appropriate measures, then you will receive a corresponding response
from Europe".

AMERICAN PARTY KEEPS UP WITH EVENTS REGARDING RADIO LIBERTY, RUDOLF PERINA SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 16 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to bilateral relations
and regional issues were discussed at the July 16 meeting of the RA
Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanian, and the U.S. Charge d’Affaires
to Armenia, Ambassador Rudolf Perina. The interlocutors also in
general outline discussed the current stage of the Nagorno Karabakh
negotiations.

R. Perina said that the American party keeps up with the events
regarding Radio Liberty. He expressed the hope that the negotiations,
which have started lately in connection with that problem, will be
given a mutually beneficial solution.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, Vice-Ambassador Anthony Godfrey completing
his mission in Armenia was present at the meeting.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 15 2007

Election watch

The shift to the `right’ has been widely debated in Turkey lately. In
fact the `surge of nationalism’ is one of the most highlighted issues
in Turkish media reporting and political analysis. However
nationalism is the founding principle of the republic (nation-state).
These terms are interchangeable in the Turkish political vocabulary.
Nationalism is also the backbone of the educational system. Every
child that starts elementary school is reared as a nationalist
(servant of the nation-state) first, a citizen second and, finally,
as a human being. So, a rise or surge of nationalism is not a correct
diagnosis. What we witness as rising is a dense feeling of loss of
stability, fear emanating from the incapacity of the system to solve
its age-old problems and loss of trust to a world outside the borders
that is perceived as hostile to Turkey.
In sum, what we witness today is an assiduous feeling of defeatism.
One source of this feeling is the entropy of the system to produce
solutions to fundamental needs and structural problems. The other is
the alarming atmosphere created by the old middle class, faced with
losing power and privilege. The old middle class had attained its
status and power through state service. It is through the state
apparatus that it ruled over society, set its own standards, set the
pace and direction of change and controlled the economy. However in
the past decade and a half a new middle class has emerged through the
market place and services. It came out of Anatolia; it transferred
its ambition and capital to the cities, enlivening both the
metropolitan areas and its place of origin. This network that
connected Anatolia and the urban centers not only acted as a medium
to carry capital and entrepreneurship from the countryside, but also
to carry traditional habits (dress codes, etc.) and parochial values
as well.

The old middle class began to lose ground to its traditional, but
more vibrant and private counterpart. The latter is richer, more
innovative and independent (of the state), but at the same time it is
culturally conservative, religious and more parochial concerning
living habits. They owed nothing to the state for their status,
wealth and business while the old middle class relied on the state
for status, position, power and livelihood. When the state began to
be `infiltrated’ by the new middle class by way of political prowess
and electoral victories, i.e., by forming governments and a series of
privatization initiatives that reduced the state’s economic power
previously wielded by the old middle class, the latter began to sound
alarm bells. It claimed that the regime was under an unprecedented
degree of danger and that Turkey was about to be partitioned by
`internal and external enemies.’ If this is a `surge of nationalism,’
we are on the wrong track. That is why electoral debates add up to
nothing but a cacophony of accusations and negative labeling. Real
issues are not discussed, except perhaps superficially.

Yet there is a shift to the `right.’ This happened in particular when
the incumbent Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government
lost its EU perspective and adopted an anti-Western stance recently.
Reforms and public expectations toward future membership of the union
provided both an incentive and a frame of reference. Once this was
lost the farther right began to cultivate anti-EU, anti-American,
anti-Kurdish and anti-Armenian feelings. If these negative feelings
are internalized by wider masses and those masses believe that so
much threat to national integrity can only be warded off by military
might, then we will have fascism around the corner.

Who will be bearer of possible fascism in Turkey? Have no doubt, it
will be the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the party of the old
(republican) middle class that yearns to reclaim the state power it
has lost to a new middle class. The second bearer will be the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ardent defender of corporatism
and ethnic purity. This party might be called `lumpen nationalist’
because it is supported by poorer and excluded groups of Central
Anatolia and more modest districts of towns that are of ethnic
Turkish stock. These groups have always looked to the state for
support and protectionism. The MHP provided many services and favors
to its clientele at periods when it shared state power through
coalition governments. It became the conveyor belt of state spoils
for lower middle classes that feel that the state is infiltrated by
non-Turkish elements and the country is betrayed by ethnic groups
that are not of Turkish origin, who share a sinister plan to divide
and to devour the country.

We may call the CHP’s nationalism an `elite (or elite’s)
nationalism,’ while we may call that of the MHP `parochial (I prefer
lumpen) nationalism.’ By looking at pre-election public opinion
polls, both parties will make the election threshold. No doubt they
will try to form a `nationalist front’ coalition if the number of
seats they command allows it. One is tempted to ask what good such a
xenophobic and contentious nationalism could contribute to a Turkey
that has solved few basic problems and been bleeding internally due
to exclusive ethnic nationalism? It is with this major concern that
many people will still vote for the AK Party: not that this party
caters to the needs of secular, urban and modern social groups fully,
it is because this party has not been duped with nationalism on the
one hand and it is more market friendly, which makes it more
sensitive to international liaisons and realities.

If this statement is true, it is quite a pity to see how limited the
choices of the Turkish electorate are. On the one hand there are
parties that people will vote for without genuine enthusiasm. On the
other, the names they will vote for are put before them by a few men
who have drawn up the lists. Caught between an authoritarian system
that may be even worse and party bosses who have little regard for
public preferences, the electors will vote for the lesser evil rather
than the best choice that is beyond their reach.

15.07.2007

Politics NJ, NJ
July 11 2007

The Armenian factor

By Matt Friedman – July 11, 2007 – 4:55pm
Tags: Joseph Ariyan, Gerald Cardinale,

Armenian-Americans seem like an odd group to go to battle over, but
both 39th district state Senate candidates are vying for their
support.

It’s common for politicians to court specific ethnic groups if
they’re numerous enough to have an impact at the polls, but what
makes Armenian-Americans different is their tiny population. There
are just over 8,200 Armenians in Bergen County, according to the 2000
census, and about 17,000 statewide. But despite their small numbers,
they’re cohesive and politically active, and they can be a powerful
political force if they coalesce behind a single candidate. Now the
support of the Armenian-American community has become a point of
contention between Democratic state Senate candidate Joe Ariyan,
who’s of Armenian heritage, and long-time Republican incumbent Gerald
Cardinale, who just sponsored a Senate resolution that will appeal to
many in the community.

Ariyan has demonstrated impressive fundraising prowess considering
he’s never held a competitive elected office, raising about $200,000
so far. And a lot of that money has come from Armenian-Americans.

Ariyan’s first major fundraising event was a reception hosted by an
Armenian friend, and about 60 Armenian sounding names – which
generally end in `ian,’ according to Ariyan – appear in his campaign
filings. Using that rule of thumb to recognize Armenian names, it
appears that Armenian-Americans had donated about $80,000 to Ariyan’s
campaign as of his last filing.

The last high profile Armenian-American politician in New Jersey was
former Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian, a Republican who challenged
Frank Lautenberg for Senator in 1994. The Armenian-American
community rallied around Haytaian during his years in office, and the
same kind of support has gone to Ariyan, a Democrat. But Ariyan
insists that his background isn’t an automatic in with local
Armenians.

`It’s not just like `you’re Armenian, here’s a check’ believe me.
They see me as a viable candidate because I’m a moderate, objective,
rational person,’ said Ariyan. `When these Armenians step up,
they’re stepping up just like everyone else, because they see a
moderate, credible person who wants to serve the public.’

While Armenians are as economically and politically diverse as any
American ethnic group, they tend to share one common political goal:
national recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Empire. Many countries have classified the event as a
genocide, but the United States has not.

Jason Capizzi, Executive Director of ARMENPAC, a federal
Armenian-American Political Action Committee, said that most issues
of concern to Armenians need to be addressed on a national level.
But one way to achieve that is to get state governments to pass
resolutions.

`Joe comes from an area where there are a lot of Armenians who
believe he’s qualified and has got a real chance,’ said Capizzi.
`It’s really easy for everyone to get behind him.’

Just last month, Cardinale introduced Senate Resolution 115, which
designates April 24th as `Armenian Martyrs’ Day’ to commemorate the
Armenian Genocide. Resolutions on the Armenian genocide have been
introduced before in the Assembly by Chuck Haytaian, and more
recently by 38th district members Joan Voss and Bob Gordon, but this
was the first time Cardinale ever sponsored one.

`Some of my Armenian friends asked me to do it,’ said Cardinale, a
legislator since 1980. `They’re doing a fundraiser for me, and one
of them said `Since Chuck has been gone this hasn’t been
reintroduced, would you do me the favor of reintroducing it?’

Cardinale’s sponsorship of the resolution would almost certainly be
uncontroversial under normal circumstances. But it has Ariyan’s
campaign accusing Cardinale of trying to take a small but loyal and
well-paying chunk of voters away from of his base.

`It’s blatant pandering 26 years too late. He’s never done it
before. Coincidentally it’s an election year, and he submits this
ten months before (April 24th),’ said Ariyan. `If it weren’t
disingenuous, it would be a commendable gesture, but the fact is this
is the first time in 26 years.’

Cardinale insisted that he has long ties with the Armenian community,
nothing that he suggested the judicial nomination of Edward A.
Jerejian, who became Bergen County’s first Armenian-American judge.

`I think its fair to say that when some of my Armenian friends saw
this activity on behalf of the Armenian community, they were a bit
outraged, being that there’s a very positive impact on the Armenian
community here in Bergen county through my efforts of getting the
first Armenian americfan judgeship,’ said Cardinale.

He added, `If you’re a political candidate, you don’t want to allow
your opponent to get a whole homogenous group….. I’ve enjoyed the
support of a lot of Armenian Americans in the past….. I want them to
understand that even though I have an opponent who has a common
heritage with them, that doesn’t mean I’m going to write them off.’

TWO CANDIDATES TO TAKE PART IN JULY 22 SPECIAL ELECTIONS OF HEAD OF SHENGAVIT COMMUNITY OF YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Jul 13 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Two of the four candidates registered
in the special elections of the head of the Shengavit community
of Yerevan to be held on July 22 have officialy declared about
their self-rejection. This information was provided to a Noyan
Tapan correspondent by Artashes Hovhannisian, the Chairman of
Constituency Electoral Commission 11. Thus, Gagik Avetian, a member
of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) party, and non-party Robert
Masumian ("Benzin" ‘Petrol’ Rubo) refused to take part in the further
electoral campaign. Non-party Sargis Hovhannisian ("Cadillac Seroj")
and independent Mushegh Movsisian will continue to compete in the
electoral campaign.

KAPAN-MEGHRI ALTERNATIVE ROAD TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION ON SEPTEMBER 15

Noyan Tapan
Jul 11 2007

KAPAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Andranik Manukian, the RA Minister of
Transport and Communication, was in the Syunik region on July 10
on a working visit for the purpose of getting acquainted with the
construction of the Meghri-Kapan alternative road on the spot. The
Minister, expressing satisfaction with the work done said that the
road construction is in the focus of the RA President’s attention. In
A. Manukian’s words, it is envisaged to put the road into operation on
September 15. The Minister also said that the issue of reconstruction
of the Kapan-Tatev-Shinuhayr road is at the stage of discussion.

CANVASES OF AIVAZOVSKY, SARYAN AND MINAS STOLEN

Hayots Ashkharh
10 July 07

Unknown individuals have stolen the canvases by Armenian outstanding
painter Hovhannes Aivazovsky from the flat of a Moscow inhabitant
pensioner.

Based on the data of legislative bodies the robbery has been performed
within the period of July 3 to July 8, in the building located in
Novocheryomushkinskaya Street.

"A 71-year-old pensioner appealed to the police department and
said that while he was in his country house, unknown individuals
have broken the balcony window of the flat on the seventh floor and
stolen 20 thousand dollars and 13 paintings of outstanding painters
Hovhannes Aivazovsky, Martiros Saryan, Bellinni, Yavlensky, Shebuev,
Puny, Sera, Gustav Lusso and Minas Avetisyan," representative of law
enforcement agencies said.

THE VOLUME OF CORPORATE COUPON BOND OPERATIONS OF ARARATBANK CAME TO 90.7MLN AMD ‘ARMEX’ FROM 12 MAY TO 30 JUNE IN ARMENIAN STOCK EXCHANGE ‘ARMEX’

arminfo
2007-07-09 16:21:00

The volume of corporate coupon bond operations of ARARATBANK in
Armenian Stock Exchange came to 90.743 mln AMD from 12 May to 30
June . As press service of ARARATBANK informed ArmInfo, off- exchange
circulation with the corporate coupon bonds amounted to 100mln AMD. As
ArmInfo correspondent was earlier informed in ARARATBANK, the given
non-documentary corporate coupon bonds were emitted by the bank on
3 May with a volume of 250 mln AMD on 25 thousand bonds the nominal
value of each of which was 10 thousand AMD. The circulation period of
the bonds is 12 months with an interest rate of 8% per annum, which,
on average, is by 2% higher than the bursarial curve. Coupon payments
are expected to emit at a quarterly basis according to the schedule:
on 13 August ,2007; 12 November, 2007; 11 March, 2008 and 12 May,
2008. The bank will quarterly pay on coupons 2%per annum, in connection
to which the effective rate of interest will come to 8,24%. "Cascade
Investment" company acted as an underwriter of the emission.

The register of the bonds’ holders will be maintained by Central
Armenian Depository. As Ashot Ossipian, executive director and
management representative of ARARATBANK informed ArmInfo, by the
bonds’ emission is conditioned the bank’s reputation as being a good
emitter in connection with long-term strategic planning aimed at the
future launching of the bank’s shares in market as well as at its
reorganization into an open join-stock company.

On 1 April of the current year, the total capital of ARARATBANK
amounted to $10.8mln, the assets rate- $33.3mln, the total provision
of crediting-$9.8mln. The bank is active in the market of state
loan obligations, in particular, investments in the state securities
totaled to $8.7mln as of 1 April or 26% of total assets, ensuring by 31
times annual increase. On 18 June of the current year ARARATBANK was
given the status of an agent of Armenian Government in internal debt
management. As of 2006, the bank’s net income totaled $2.5mln. It
should be noted that before ARARATBANK the bonds were emitted by
ARMECONOMBANK at the end of 2005. In 2006 bonds of the Universal
Credit Organization "Cascade Credit" and of the industrial enterprise
"Shen Concern" were launched in market.

VARIOUS JOURNALISTS, WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS CHARGED UNDER ARTICLE 301 OVER VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS

Media For Freedom, Nepal
July 6 2007

(BIANET/IFEX) – Since article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code was
ratified, around 100 writers, journalists and academics have been tried
under it. The authorities look set to continue using the law to target
those who discuss controversial topics. Although there was a plan
to review the law, the government has now accused non-governmental
organisations of not producing a common draft on the recommended
changes and therefore, is not going to amend the article.

Thus, dozens of people will spend time in court again.

Human rights activists had called on the ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP) and the main opposition party, the Republican People’s
Party (CHP), to change the law, arguing that the fact that Hrant Dink
was tried under Article 301 made him a target for murder.

Before the assassination of Hrant Dink, Prime Minister Erdogan had
suggested a collaborative effort with the CHP but was rebuffed by
CHP leader Deniz Baykal.

Currently, magazines "Nokta" and "Tempo", newspapers "Birgun", "Agos"
and "Gundem", and publishers Doz and Sorun are on trial over news
and articles they have published.

Ahmet Sik, a journalist for "Nokta" magazine, which has closed down,
and security expert Lale Sariibrahimoglu are both on trial over an
interview article entitled "Military must stay away from domestic
security" which was published on 8 February 2007. They will appear
before a Penal Court in Bakirkoy, Istanbul, on 24 October.

In the case against "Tempo", after Ibrahim Guclu, speaker for
the Diyarbakir Kurd-Der Association, gave an interview to "Tempo"
journalist Enis Mazhar Tayman. Guclu, Tayman and, initially, the editor
concerned, Neval Barlas, were charged with "degrading Turkishness and
the republic" and "inciting the public to disobey laws". Proceedings
against Barlas have now been dismissed as the author of the interview
is clear. The court case will continue on 16 October.

In another case, Eren Keskin, a lawyer and the former Istanbul branch
president of the Human Rights Association (IHD), is still on trial
over an article entitled "Special forces at work", which commented
on the Hrant Dink murder. His case continues on 27 September.

Meanwhile, writer and director Umur Hozatli is on trial under article
301 over two articles published in the "Gundem" newspaper, entitled
"Irritating devotion" and "A good father has started working". His
trial continues on 19 September.

On 16 May, the court considered five charges against Hozatli, former
"Gundem" editor-in-chief Irfan Ucar and writer Sinan Kara. A statement
from the newspaper’s owner, Hasan Bayar, who is living abroad, is
still to be procured.

In yet another case, Ali Riza Vural, an editor with Doz Publishers,
is being tried for the publication of Iraqi Kurdish leader Mesut
Barzani’s two-volume book, "Barzani and the Kurdish National
Freedom Movement". He is charged with "insulting and ridiculing the
republic". His case continues on 18 July, at a Penal Court in Beyoglu,
Istanbul.

The case against Hrant Dink’s son Arat Dink, the managing editor
and licence holder of "Agos" newspaper, Serkis Seropyan continues
on 18 July at a Penal Court in Sisli, Istanbul. They are charged
with "degrading Turkishness". The case is based on the republished
interview by Reuters news agency with Hrant Dink, in which he stated
that he believed an Armenian genocide happened.

In another case, Osman Tiftikci, author of the book, "The evolution
of the army from Ottoman times to today", and Sýrrý Ozturk, of Sorun
Publishers, are on trial for "degrading the army". Because Tiftikci
lives abroad, a writ of summons has been issued. The case continues
on 4 July.

–Boundary_(ID_JuU5OvYNk3IdwhccjbNPEg)–

Panorama.am

17:53 04/07/2007

Contradicting wishes of the President functioning and the Vice-president

National Assembly PA Victor Dallakyan believes the government to have
two candidates for the 2008 presidential elections, one of which will
be HYD representative. The PA proves his supposition mentioning that
there exists a competition for a more powerful governance within the
government, especially within the president functioning and the
vice-president. `Those parliamentary assemblies that have the majority
and a vice-president, become dominating in the country life. In this
case, the president turns into an English Queen as far as he cannot
ask the functioning vice-president to resign without parliamentary
majority consent’ said V.Dallakyan.

Regarding his words the basis of this competition is the contradiction
of R.Kocharyan’s becoming the youngest pensioner and Serj Sargsyan’s
wish of gaining monolithic government. V.Dallakyan announced today
that even in HHK there are parties concerned. As a truth of existing
contradictions the MP mentioned the lack of quorum in the parliament
the day before.

Source: Panorama.am