Author: Zaminian Bedik

A1 Plus | 19:22:18 | 19-04-2004 | Politics |

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN TAKEN HARD-LINE STANCE

“If the opposition tries to attract public attention by clogging the capital
‘s roads, the police will do what ought to do”, President Kocharyan said in
his interview with Russia’s Izvestia newspaper .{BR}

It is the forth time Kocharyan has said in his interviews with Russian news
agencies the opposition movement’s recent splash had been prompted by
Georgian velvet revolution.

Our reality can’t be compared with Georgian, he said.

Kocharyan hinted that condemnation statements of international structures
are encouraging political extremists.

Answering to Izvestia newspaper’s correspondent if he finds possible some
compromise with the opposition, Kocharyan ruled out any concession from his
side and urged opposition MPs to return to parliament and work.

Asked does he intend to make some changes in his policy, for example, to
launch a large-scale anticorruption campaign, as Georgian president does,
Kocharyan said “no, we have intention to intensify our efforts to eliminate
poverty”.

KOCHARIAN RECEIVES RFE/RL PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today the president of RFE/RL Thomas Dine and the head of
RFE/RL Armenian Service Hrayr Tamrazian. Kocharian press office said
that Thomas Dine spoke about the RFE/RL activities and its future
plans, mentioning that the radio station has quite a big audience in
Armenia.

At the request of the guests the president spoke about his position on
the current political situation. The press service also said the
president and the guests exchanged their views on a variety of issues.

Armenian Dashnaks offer opposition membership of security body

A1+ web site
12 Apr 04

April headlined “Armen Rustamyan: The Dashnaks are ready for
concessions”

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD] issued a
statement on Monday [12 April] containing a package of proposals to
the opposition.

The Dashnaks offer opposition representatives membership of the
president-affiliated Security Council headed by Defence Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan as a way out of the political turmoil in Armenia.

A member of the Dashnaktsutyun party board, Armen Rustamyan, [the
chairman of the Armenian National Assembly’s standing commission for
foreign relations] and a member of the Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary
fraction, Levon Lazarian, answered journalists’ questions.

[Journalist] Was the statement coordinated with the coalition?

[Rustamyan] This is a call for dialogue, which has already been
offered by other members of the coalition.

[Journalist] Do you view yesterday’s arrest of Republic Party member
Suren Surenyants, an attack on the head of the party’s Ararat office
and today’s detention of six opposition activists as a call for
dialogue?

[Lazarian] If the opposition has no intention to abandon its
ambitions of obtaining power, this should dictate the political
situation.

[Journalist] What will be Dashnaktsutyun’s actions in the event of
confrontation with people?

[Rustamyan] People do not want confrontation. The Dashnaks intend to
do their best to prevent confrontation. If we fail to avoid it, we
will consider other solutions.

[Journalist] Do you not think that this is a deadlock?

[Rustamyan] Disagreements are increasing and tomorrow we can grow even
more hostile. All possible efforts should be made to prevent any
clash.

[Journalist] If clashes occur, do you not think they can grow into a
civil war?

[Rustamyan] I do not think that confrontation can turn into a civil
war. There are some rational ideas in the opposition stance, but, at
the same time, there is a hard-line approach. The authorities consider
the opposition as a revolutionary force. In all countries, the
authorities’ main tool is the law. Our current constitution gives the
authorities sweeping powers, while opposition activists put themselves
above the law.

[Journalist] If the coalition rejects your proposals, then what will
be your attitude?

[Rustamyan] Possible agreement could speed up our country’s
development.

[Journalist] Might you quit the coalition in case of failure to reach
accord?

[Rustamyan] We are not tied up by the current status quo. The
Dashnaktsutyun party is eager to compromise and ready to prove that
right now.

[Journalist] Asked about the idea of appointing opposition members to
any post, the defence minister said that he found it ridiculous. How
can you imagine an opposition representative in the Security Council?

[Rustamyan] Any step will be well thought out. Today’s situation needs
concessions from at least one side.

[Journalist] In what issues are you ready for compromise?

[Rustamyan] The anticorruption campaign and constitutional reforms.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: George Kassis, Executive Director
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 54; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

April 13, 2004
___________________

ACEF SENDS $2.7 MILLION TO ORGANIZATIONS, PARISHES

It was a big payday this year for local parishes and other Armenian
organizations.

The Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF) recently distributed $2.7 million
to 151 beneficiaries, income generated in 2003 from endowments managed by
ACEF. Because of successful investment planning, ACEF was able to
distribute $2.7 million compared to last year’s distribution of $2.4
million.

Individuals who establish funds with ACEF designate beneficiaries. The
principal investment is never touched. Each year part of the income is
added to the principal, allowing it to grow in the face of inflation. The
other half of the income is sent to the Diocese, Armenian organizations, and
local parishes. This plan assures these organizations receive annual
financial support for generations.

Because of successful investment planning, ACEF was able to distribute $2.7
million this year, compared to last year’s distribution o $2.4 million.

The largest amount, $1.25 million, went to help fund ministries and programs
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) — efforts such
as youth ministry, college outreach, Armenian and Sunday Schools, music and
deacon training, and mission parish support.

“With the ongoing support of the funds invested in ACEF, the Diocese is able
to spend less time worrying about raising funds and more focused on reaching
Armenians with the Lord’s word,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Eastern Diocese. “When people create endowments for the Diocese,
we’re assured they’ll continue to support our ministries for generations to
come.”

The second largest check was sent to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New
Rochelle, NY, which received $286,000 for 2003. With the support offered by
the money invested in ACEF, St. Nersess is able to identify future clergy
and lay ministers, train them to assume responsibility, and offer programs
that support and educate current lay and clergy leaders.

Funds earmarked for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin brought in $244,000
in income in 2003.

HELPING AT HOME

Local parishes are often named as beneficiaries of ACEF funds. St. James
Church of Watertown, MA, was the parish with the largest income from ACEF
investments in 2003, a total of $104,000. That’s a large portion of the
parish’s yearly $700,000 budget.

St. James has a total of $2.1 million invested by ACEF. Of that, $400,000
is in endowments established by individuals and designated to benefit the
parish. The rest of the principal is money raised by the parish
specifically for its endowment.

Since assuming the pastorship in Watertown in 1999, Fr. Arakel Aljalian has
made it a mission to increase the parish’s endowment, with the goal of
eventually having half the parish budget covered by endowment income. He
said the steady income allows the parish to do more programming and frees it
from fund-raising worries.

“If you have a strong endowment fund, you can do more educational,
spiritual, youth, outreach programs,” Fr. Aljalian said. “Our church was
built by the hands of the parishioners in the difficult times of the
Depression. I try to remind my parishioners that it is our obligation to
continue that legacy left by our grandparents, to make sure this church will
be here for a long time. And with the continued, yearly financial support
of endowments, we can bring our community together at St. James.”

The principal donations invested in ACEF remain untouched in perpetuity.
The income generated from the investments is distributed to beneficiaries
named by the establisher of the fund. Some income is also used to build up
the principal, so future distributions can keep pace with inflation and even
grow.

For more information on the Armenian Church Endowment Fund and to establish
your own fund, contact George Kassis, executive director of ACEF, by
e-mailing [email protected] or calling (212) 686-0710 ext. 54.

* * *

Top 10 Beneficiaries of 2003 ACEF income
Eastern Diocese: $1,251,097
St. Nersess Seminary: $286,692
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: $244,639
St. James Church, Watertown, MA: $104,370
Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School, NY: $101,516
St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ: $69,385
Fund for Armenian Relief: $63,769
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem: $50,503
ST. Tarkmanchatz School: $43,876
Holy Cross Church, New York, NY: $43,176
St. Gregory the Enlightener, White Plains, NY: $30,382

# # #

DOMESTIC POLITICAL SITUATION SHOULD NOT BE DRAMATIZED: CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL

YEREVAN, APRIL 10. ARMINFO. The current domestic political situation in
Armenia should not be dramatized, Secretary General of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha said at a
press-conference at the Armenian National Assembly today. He said that
during his meetings with the country’s leadership, alongside with
other issues, the domestic political ones were discussed. However,
Nikolay Bordyuzha said that no reasons for concern about the domestic
political situation in Armenia exist. “All we saw that the situation
in the country develops quietly,” he said.

Armenian police chief calls on people to stay out of illegal rallies

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
6 Apr 04

[Presenter] The head of the Yerevan Police Department announced today
that an investigation is under way to reveal the people who broke
journalists’ cameras during the rally organized by the National Unity
Party [on 5 April]. The head of the police department also confirmed
that in cooperation with relevant services, checkpoints had been
posted on roads leading to the capital, preventive measures had been
implemented, and suspects with aggressive behaviour who took part in
the rally had been invited to police departments.

[Head of the Yerevan Police Department Col Nerses Nazaryan, captioned]
Fifteen minutes before the beginning of the rally, Mr Gegamyan [leader
of the National Unity Party Artashes Gegamyan] called on people who
gathered outside the Nairi cinema to move forward and continue the
rally there. This caused chaos which disrupted the work of the city
transport and of various facilities located in that area. This also
provoked the dissatisfaction of the citizens who against their will
became participants in the rally. Why am I saying rally? Because
during meetings with voters, they ask questions and answer them. In
this case, only Mr Gegamyan made a speech, which, in my opinion, could
have been done on TV, newspapers, but not by disrupting traffic.

All preventive measures will be taken in cooperation with appropriate
services. I would also like to note that schoolchildren and teenagers
became participants in the rally. As a person responsible for the
political situation in Yerevan, I would like to appeal to out citizens
to stay out of provocation and illegal developments and not to let
anyone turn our day by day flourishing city into the scene of illegal
demonstrations and rallies.

EUpolitix, Belgium
April 6 2004

Georgia key to Europe’s security interests

Europe’s security and progress in the fight against terrorism depends
on forging closer ties with Georgia, the country’s President Mikhail
Saakashvili said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee,
Saakashvili said only Georgia’s `unequivocal membership’ of Europe’s
new `neighbourhood’ policy, with possible future EU membership, would
guarantee stability in the region.

A new strategy for stronger relations with the an expanded EU’s new
neighbours will be unveiled in May and the future status of the
former Soviet state and other Caucasus countries in the plan is not
yet known.

`Europe can only guarantee its future when it embraces its
neighbours,’ Saakashvili told MEPs.

`A safer and more prosperous union cannot be done by creating new
borders or dividing lines.’

As well as providing Europe with greater energy security and new
markets, Georgia was a `frontline partner in the fight against
terrorism’ and a `net contributor to lasting European stability,’ he
argued.

Saakashvili, who has built himself the reputation of a crusader
against corruption and a champion of economic recovery and market
reforms, was given a warm welcome by MEPs.

The 36 year old US-educated lawyer, currently the youngest president
in the world, has also won the praise of US President George W Bush
for vowing to turn his poverty-stricken nation into a western-leaning
democracy.

As one of the leaders of the `rose revolution’ – a series of public
protests that forced former President Eduard Shevardnadze to resign
in November – Saakashvili swept to power in January with 96 per cent
of the vote.

Since coming to power, he told MEPs, his administration had cracked
down on criminal bosses and mafia-like structures within the
government, evicting five corrupt ministers from their posts.

`Fighting corruption is a top priority of my government and I am
confident we will succeed,’ he said.

And the pro-Western leader stressed that EU membership was not
outside of Tbilisi’s radar screen, arguing that there was not much
difference between Romania and Bulgaria – who hope to join the EU in
2007 – and Georgia.

`Perhaps we should wait two or three years before seriously debating
future membership of the EU…but we must keep an eye on that
possibility,’ he said.

`European identity is very clear. We are Europeans and we understand
that we should behave as Europeans in a peaceful fashion.’

But European Commission chief Romano Prodi was less committal about
Georgia’s prospects for future membership.

Following a meeting with President Saakashvili, Prodi said the EU
would concentrate on developing ties under a political and
cooperation agreement (PCA) but made a point of refusing to comment
on membership possibilities.

He said the commission in May would make recommendations to EU
leaders on relations with Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia under its
new neighbourhood policy.

The EU was also commited to pouring in financial aid to the country,
he stressed, pointing to a 30 million programme to assist reform,
with 3.6 million dedicated to reforming the judiciary.

Paul Krekorian
Member of the Burbank Board of Education
1900 West Olive Avenue
Burbank CA 91505
818-848-7750 office tel
818-848-7749 office fax
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
April 5, 2004

PAUL KREKORIAN ENSURES INCLUSION OF COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
IN COUNTY SCHOOLS CALENDAR

At the request of Burbank Board of Education Member Paul Krekorian,
the April 24 commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will be added to
the annual calendar of important educational events published by the
Los Angeles County Office of Education. In response to Krekorian’s
request, the County Office agreed that the commemoration of the
Genocide is a `significant educational event.’ Expressing regret that
it had previously been excluded, the County Office gave written
assurance to Krekorian that the commemoration of the Genocide will be
included in all future editions of the educational events calendar.

The calendar is distributed to educators throughout Los Angeles
County. It is an important tool for teachers and administrators
because it identifies important religious holidays and cultural
commemorations that occur during the school year. When Krekorian
learned that the calendar currently omits the April 24 remembrance of
the Armenian Genocide, he immediately contacted the County
Superintendent, Dr. Darline Robles, to remedy the omission.

In his letter to Robles on February 17, Krekorian wrote:

`April 24 of each year is the annual worldwide commemoration of
thebeginning of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. As you may know,
approximately one and a half million Armenians were killed at the
hands of the Ottoman Turks in Anatolia between 1915 and 1923, in the
first genocide of the 20th Century. In fact, it was the mass
killings, `ethnic cleansing’ and attempted extermination of the
Armenians that caused Polish jurist Rafael Lempkin to coin the very
word `genocide.”

`In the Burbank Unified School District and many other parts of the
County, notably including the Los Angeles, Glendale and Montebello
unified school districts, a significant number of Armenian-American
students recognize April 24 as a day of mourning and attend church
services, community gatherings and other commemorative events on that
day. Further, instruction about the Armenian Genocide is now mandated
in high school world history classes, and April 24 provides an
opportunity for teachers to address important issues involving bigotry
and intolerance as well as the historical facts of the Genocide. I
believe it is imperative that all teachers in the County be informed
about the tragic significance of this date to Armenians and to the
world.’

Paul Krekorian, a lawyer, was elected to the Burbank Board of
Education in April of 2003. He is believed to be the first
Armenian-American ever elected to any public office in the city of
Burbank.

This is a media release from the office of Paul Krekorian, a member of
the Burbank Board of Education. It does not necessarily reflect the
policies or opinions of the Burbank Unified School District or of its
Board of Education as a whole.

Armenian opposition to oust separatist Karabakh leader – Azeri paper

Ekspress, Baku
4 Apr 04

Text of Huseyn Bakuvi report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 4
April headlined “It has started: A coup is being plotted in Xankandi”

A new separatist movement, Karabakh-88, was set up in Xankandi
[Stepanakert] yesterday. Eduard Agabekyan and candidate of physics and
mathematics Gagik Bakhunts, members of the initiative group of the
movement, held a news conference in this connection. They said that
the major goal of the new movement was “to reach world recognition of
the state independence” of Nagornyy Karabakh.

“We are the people who laid the foundation of the national liberation
movement of Nagornyy Karabakh. Therefore, we believe that apart from
having recognized Karabakh’s independence, we have the right to try to
establish a fair and normal government here. Our major goal is to
restore the status quo of the national spirit of the Karabakh
Armenians of 1988,” Bakhunts said.

In addition, Bakhunts and Agabekyan said that they were ready for
cooperation with all political forces in Karabakh, adding that there
should be “the rule of law rather than dictatorship”.

In analysts’ opinion, the strengthening of the opposition camp in
Armenia and the growing tendency towards a power change in the country
have also affected Nagornyy Karabakh.

The latest issue of Masis Weekly newspaper reported that the
“unexpected” opposition activity was registered in Nagornyy Karabakh:
“Armenia’s Peoples, National Unity, Ramkavar Azatakan and four more
opposition parties, as well as the Justice bloc, want to overthrow
Karabakh leader Arkadiy Gukasyan. To be more precise, they are going
to start the process to oust Armenian President Robert Kocharyan not
in Armenia, as many believe, but in Nagornyy Karabakh, by neutralizing
Gukasyan.”

The Karabakh-88 movement is also said to target Gukasyan who “has
sidelined true nationalist forces from the government and created
dictatorship”. It is no coincidence that at yesterday’s news
conference, Bakhunts and Agabekyan spoke about “the rule of law rather
than dictatorship”.

Apart from this, the Nagornyy Karabakh Communists merged with the
Yerkrapa union of volunteers to set up the Path of Justice and
Salvation bloc. As is clear from the title of the bloc, Armenia’s
Justice bloc is behind this organization.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
April 1 2004

Armenia: Government Threatens Opposition With Criminal Prosecution
By Jean-Christophe Peuch

Stepan Demirchan

A long-standing dispute between Armenia’s ruling coalition and rivals
of President Robert Kocharian reached new heights yesterday as
judicial authorities said they had launched criminal proceedings
against the country’s main antigovernment alliance. Earlier this
week, opposition leaders said they would carry on with plans to stage
nationwide street protests in hopes of forcing Kocharian’s departure.

Prague, 1 April 2004 (RFE/RL) — The Prosecutor-General ‘s Office in
Yerevan has launched a criminal case against the main opposition
Justice (Artarutiun) alliance, which it suspects of plotting to
forcibly remove President Robert Kocharian from office.

In a statement released yesterday, the Prosecutor-General’s Office
blamed Justice for a series of recent unsanctioned rallies that
purportedly called for regime change through violence and
“overthrowing the existing constitutional order.”

“We are united and determined to fulfill the people’s will in a bid
to restore constitutional order and establish a legitimate government
in Armenia.”Contacted by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, the
Prosecutor-General’s Office said the investigation would help
determine whether charges should be brought against any particular
individual.

Looming tensions between the three-party ruling coalition and the
opposition boiled over on 30 March when a Justice lawmaker
unexpectedly took the floor in the National Assembly (parliament) to
publicly challenge the authority of the head of state.

Addressing the legislature, parliamentarian Viktor Dallakian said
opposition parties soon intended to peacefully end President Robert
Kocharian’s rule. “[We will] start the process of ending Kocharian’s
regime beginning by 12 April,” he said. “To that end, [we plan] to
organize nationwide rallies which will start at a date that will be
announced by 5 April. We are united and determined to fulfill the
people’s will in a bid to restore constitutional order and establish
a legitimate government in Armenia.”

Brushing aside belated offers of dialogue, made separately by all
three partners in the ruling coalition — Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian’s Republican Party, the Rule of Law (Orinats Yerkir) Party,
and the Dashnaktsutyun Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dallakian
further attacked Kocharian’s rule. “Power in Armenia is in the hands
of a junta,” he said. “In a bid to scare the people, Kocharian
recently reminded all that he is the commander-in-chief of the armed
forces and Defense Minister [Serzh Sargsian] keeps saying the army
will help restore public order. These statements are
anticonstitutional and go beyond the framework of legality.”

Presidential spokesman Ashot Kocharian described Justice’s threats as
“baseless and aggressive” and warned against any attempt at removing
the head of state by force.

The opposition claims the March 2003 presidential election that saw
Kocharian win a second five-year term with more than 67 percent of
the vote was rigged.

Kocharian’s main challenger, People’s Party leader Stepan Demirchian,
garnered only 32 percent of the vote. Demirchian is the son of late
parliament speaker Karen Demirchian, a former Communist Party boss
who was killed in the October 1999 shootings in the assembly.

Following his defeat in the presidential race, Demirchian took the
head of Justice — an alliance made of the People’s Party and other
opposition groups — with a view to grabbing a majority of seats in
the May 2003 parliamentary elections. But the polls, marred by
violence and irregularities, saw the victory of Kocharian’s allies.

Justice, which has only 15 representatives in the 131-seat assembly,
has since then regularly boycotted parliamentary sessions to protest
Kocharian’s successful attempts at allegedly “usurping power” and
“muzzling critics.”

After the opposition in early February failed to initial a
constitutional debate that would have paved the way for a national
vote of confidence in Kocharian, Justice decided once again to shun
the assembly.

The alliance’s nationwide protest plans are now supported by the
National Unity Party, another opposition group that has nine
representatives in parliament.

Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service yesterday after the
prosecutor-general threatened his group with criminal proceedings,
Demirchian said he and his allies remained undeterred in their
determination to obtain a change of regime. “The constitution of the
republic of Armenia says the seizure of power by individuals is a
crime,” he said. “This is [precisely] what happened in Armenia. The
opposition says it wants to restore constitutional order. Thanks to
the opposition’s efforts there has been no [large-scale] violence or
unrest so far.”

Political tension became suddenly palpable on 28 March, when scuffles
broke out between Justice protesters and Kocharian’s sympathizers in
the northwestern city of Gyumri (formerly Leninakan). Police detained
at least nine opposition activists. Demirchian has blamed authorities
for the incident, saying it proved Kocharian’s regime was
“agonizing,” or in its death throes.

On the day after the Gyumri brawl (29 March), parliament initiated a
debate on a controversial government draft bill on rallies and public
gatherings. Lawmakers yesterday gave first-reading approval to the
proposed legislation.

Although the draft eases procedures for holding demonstrations, it
gives law-enforcement agencies extended powers to quash protests that
are seen as threatening public order. That notably includes violent
incidents and calls to forcibly overthrow the government.

The opposition claims the draft bill — which is reportedly being
examined by the Venice Commission (the “constitutional watchdog” of
the Council of Europe) — is tailor-made to allow authorities to
disrupt any anti-Kocharian protest.

Earlier this week, Armenia’s Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs warned against political unrest in the country, saying
it could undermine the economy and jeopardize efforts to reach a
peaceful solution on the territorial dispute with neighboring
Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.