A1+

THERE IS ONLY ONE PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

[06:22 pm] 28 April, 2006

`The role of each of us is important in the realization of democracy,
everyone starting from the journalists must understand that much
depends on him,’ announced Nikol Pashinyan, the editor-in-chief of the
daily `Armenian Times’. According to him, the society begins to
understand it, and people begin to realize their responsibility.

`We cannot understand what is going on in the political field. We are
suffering from intellectual and moral vacuum,’ Nikol Pashinyan
says. According to him, the politicians do not know what to do. `If
the authorities carry out their passive task to keep the power, the
opposition does not know how to carry out its active task to take the
power.’

Agreeing with the opinion that the politicians will not start working
until the journalists urge them, Pashinyan noted, «The majority of the
deputies goes to the Parliament to have a nap. If it weren’t for the
journalists, they would take their beds with them and sleep there»,
Nikol Pashinyan said.

He notes lack of honesty in the political field, as well as in the
information field. According to him, the journalists are not honest
enough with the people, and this is a problem of national security, as
the citizens of the country are sometimes not aware of what is going
on in the country.

According to Pashinyan, the situation in the television field is
conditioned by the absence of the «A1+» TV Company. «If there a TV
Company like «A1+», it creates competition». According to him, today
the journalists misinform people instead of informing them.

He also noted that the ecological, energy and economic issues are
completely ignored in Armenia. There is only one problem: the
political one which is connected with the second article of the
Constitution: the power belongs to the people. As soon as this problem
is solved, all the others will be solved too.

A1+

THE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH FALSE MEDICINE FOR 6 MONTHS

[09:15 pm] 28 April, 2006

After receiving the alarm the «Investigation Center for medicine and
medical technologies» revealed as a result of laboratory
investigations that the ampoules which were supposed to contain
«Zefuroxim» contained «Ampiciline» instead.

According to Satenik Beybutyan, the head of the health administration
of the Shirak region, the false medicine arrived at the Gyumri
hospital about six years ago and was used there until February 13 of
the current year. The medicine was used, although the doctors noted it
did not give any results.

They applied to representative of the «Glaxo-Smith Klein» company
Armen Khachatryan asking to examine the medicine. «It turned out that
the medicine did not correspond to standards», the head of the
hospital said. The medicine was bought buy the ex head of the hospital
Felix Grigoryan. At present they claim it is impossible to learn who
exactly sold them the medicine and how it arrived at the hospital.

TV Company «Tsayg» of Gyumri

Panorama.am

15:34 28/04/06

NEGOTIATIONS OR MEETINGS ABOUT MEETINGS?

`All the normal countries in the world have inner and foreign
policy. In addition to those, there is another field of policy among
the Armenians which is called Karabakh,’ the head of Caucasian
Institute of Mass Media Alexander Iskandaryan says. By the way, the
Institute has organized `Caucasus 2005′ scientific conference in
Yerevan during which questions dedicated to North and South Caucasus
will be discussed, particularly the developments that took place in
the region during last year.

Alexander Iskandaryan is sure that the developments in the scopes of
Karabakh policy are the same as two years ago, and the same is
expected to happen this year. Looking at the negotiation process
during the first three months of 2005-2006 in retrospective the
politician calls it: `Meetings about meetings’. That is, as a result
of the meeting in London last April the Foreign Ministers of Armenia
and Azerbaijan agreed upon the next meeting to take place in
Paris. Later, in Paris the meeting in Rambouillet was arranged, and in
Rambouillet it was decided that a round table should be organized in
Washington D.C. /Panorama.am/

Belarus and Azerbaijan

Use a long spoon

Apr 27th 2006
>From The Economist print edition

A tale of two presidents, and of American short-sightedness

TWO rigged elections, with political arrests before the vote and protesters
battered afterwards; behind them, two moustachioed, post-Soviet rulers. The
balder one, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, was reviled by the United States before
and after last month’s pointless presidential poll in Belarus. The
other-Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan, whose allies swept the board in an absurd
parliamentary vote last year-this week fulfils his longstanding ambition to
meet George Bush in America. Mr Bush’s hospitality is a mistake, for two
reasons.

The first is moral. Mr Aliev inherited his presidency from his father in
2003; the Alievs have run Azerbaijan for almost all its post-Soviet
existence, as Mr Lukashenka has Belarus. Under Aliev junior, human rights
have been extolled in theory but abused in practice, probably as much as in
Belarus. And Azerbaijan is a world champion of corruption. Still, the use of
double standards in foreign policy is not exactly a surprise: even
governments committed to spreading democracy must compromise and hold their
noses occasionally. The important question may not be whether Mr Aliev’s
visit is morally defensible, but whether it is politically sensible. It is
not.

Here is the case for overlooking in Mr Aliev what is excoriated in Mr
Lukashenka. Belarus is a poor, landlocked Slavic nation; Azerbaijan is a
Muslim petro-state on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Oil and gas are
starting to flow via twin pipelines from its offshore deposits to the
Mediterranean. Its southern neighbour is Iran: Donald Rumsfeld, America’s
defence secretary, has been a mysteriously frequent visitor, and rumours
swirl about just how helpful Mr Aliev is being with America’s military
operations. Azerbaijan’s northern neighbour is Russia: Mr Aliev is part of
the West’s competition with the Kremlin for influence in the former Soviet
Union.

In this competition the Americans can sometimes afford to be principled. For
example, they denounced Islam Karimov, the brutal president of Uzbekistan,
after his troops massacred protesters last year, even though it cost them an
airbase. But oil and geography supposedly make Azerbaijan too important to
risk alienating its president. In any case-and unlike in Ukraine in 2004-the
opposition is too weak and fractious to offer a real alternative. When they
meet, it is said, Mr Bush will try to nudge his guest along the path to
democracy.

Unfortunately, Mr Aliev has already proved adept at simulating liberal
instincts, rationalising abuses and promising improvements: Azerbaijan, he
will doubtless plead in Washington, DC, is a country in transition. But, in
deed, Mr Aliev has been intolerant of opposition and too tolerant of
corruption and inequality. The oil billions about to flood into Azerbaijan
will reinforce his already formidable position. And in his part of the
world, where the top man is thought responsible for more or less everything,
a handshake from Mr Bush will look like a cast-iron imprimatur, no matter
what lesser American officials may say. State-run television in Azerbaijan
is unlikely to dwell on any criticisms Mr Bush offers in private.

This public validation will be bad for Azerbaijan, but ultimately for
America too. Something else that Mr Aliev has in common with Mr Lukashenka
is that neither can rule for ever. If Mr Aliev can be pressured into change,
Azerbaijan has the potential to become a well-off, democratic Muslim state.
If he is not, America may one day be faced with an oil-rich Muslim country
in a volatile region that is disillusioned with democracy and the West, and
susceptible to other ideas.

CIS INTERSTATE BANK COUNCIL REELECTS ARMENIAN CB PRESIDENT AS ITS CHAIRMAN

Yerevan, April 28. ArmInfo. Apr 25 the Council of the Inter-State
Bank, set up by the CIS countries, reelected the President of the
Armenian CB Tigran Sargsyan as its Chairman, reports the CB press
service.

The Inter-State Bank was set up in 1996 is an international
credit-financial organization which carries out payment transactions
and develops investment-credit activities in the CIS. The founders are
the central and national banks of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
and Moldova. The Armenian office was opened Aug 1 1997. The
headquarters are in Moscow.

Thursday, April 27, 2006
**************************************
RUSSIAN PROVERBS
*******************************
“A wounded falcon will be pecked to death even by a crow.”
*
“Every day is different from another: one day it’s cold, next day freezing.”
*
“To a sinking boat all winds are in the wrong direction.”
*
LIONS AND FLIES
**********************************
The unfairness of life is never as evident as when you are insulted by someone because he thinks he is invulnerable or you are in no position to retaliate. In such moments it is useful to remember that every Achilles has his heel and even a fly can drive a lion crazy.
*
WHO’S WHO
**********************
Because I refuse to drop my pants and bend over, I am thought of as an unpatriotic non-conformist.
Very probably I am more conservative, patriotic, and traditionalist than our so-called revolutionaries. A hundred years ago they challenged the might of the Sultan. I am now challenging the might of our mini-sultans. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you may now decide who’s who and what’s what.
#
Friday, April 28, 2006
************************************
“The British are a tolerant people,” I read in a commentary this morning. My first thought: When, O when they will say this about us?
*
In Antranik Zaroukian’s NEW ARMENIA, NEW ARMENIANS (Beirut, 1983) I read the following story: In Moscow they didn’t know what to do with Stalin’s body. They asked the French if they would like to have it and the French said no. They asked the Germans, Italians, Greeks, Spaniards, and a few other people, and they all said no. Finally Israel said, “We’ll have it. Send it over.” The Russians said, “No way. We will never send Stalin’s body to Israel.” “Why not?” the Israelis wanted to know. “Because,” the Russians replied,” “in your land there is the possibility of resurrection.”
*
We desperately need pundits who will tell us things we don’t know, instead of reminding us over and over again that Turks are butchers and liars, and we are their victims.
*
When asked for a favor, a friend tells me, an Armenian academic is reported to have said, “What’s in it for me?”
*
The more I live among men, the more I prefer the company of dead writers.
*
You may know a thousand things he doesn’t know, but if you don’t know that single thing he knows, forever after he will think of you as an ignoramus.
*
One reason I can’t stand idiots is that I have been one all my life, and I continue to be one today. How else to explain my illusion that if I share my understanding with my fellow Armenians, I may make myself useful to them.
#
Saturday, April 29, 2006
***************************************
It is said that when the Buddha ignored an insult by a passerby, one of his disciples wanted to retaliate. The Master stopped him with the words: “When someone offers me a bowl of rice and I am not hungry, I don’t eat it.”
*
Anonymous: “Sometimes what matters is not who you are but where you are.”
*
A question to our editors and pundits: If a member of your family is molested or raped, do you feel the need to speak of molesters and rapists every time you open your mouth? Why do you discuss Turks whenever you put pen to paper? Doesn’t the nation deserve the same degree of consideration as members of your own family?
*
During the last few days I have read three books by Antranik Zaroukian, a survivor. Does he mention Turks? I don’t remember. Maybe once or twice, and only in passing. But I am not sure. As lawyers say when they are through cross-examining a witness, “Nothing further, your Honor.”
*
What could be easier than making mistakes? What could be infinitely more difficult than admitting them? I don’t say this in reference to Turks, or for that matter, to Armenians who have committed their share of blunders, but about myself.
##

60 PERCENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE PREFER LIVING ABROAD

Lragir.am
28 April 06

Between 2002 and 2005 147 000 citizens left Armenia. In the past
several years the continuous migration of people from Armenia is often
illegal. These people often lack knowledge of migration and other laws
of the country they leave for. The Armenian branch of the Czech-based
Man in Trouble NGO conducted a survey from February 24 till March 10
to trace the cause of the outflow of people, which has already become
a tradition in our country. The results of the poll suggest that 56.9
per cent do not have any income, 13 percent earn very little, and only
9 percent earn 50-200 thousand drams monthly. By the results of the
same poll, 9.8 per cent of people appeared in a camp of refugees, 4.9
percent had legal jobs abroad, 7.3 percent worked illegally. 26
percent of questioned people would sell their house to leave abroad.

During the poll the citizens suggested legislative reforms, social and
economic improvement and protection of human rights as the best ways
of struggle against migration. They say no one would leave Armenia if
these things were guaranteed.

Since 2005 there is a hotline at Man in Trouble NGO. 475 citizens have
already called. Statistics shows that the callers are people of
different social classes who want to find out how they can get a legal
job in Europe, live there permanently, get a status of a refugee and
study there.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VICTOR DALLAKYAN COPIED AAM PROGRAM FOR BARGAVACH HAYASTAN

Lragir.am
28 April 06

Member of the bureau of the All-Armenian Movement Aram Manukyan told
the reporter of Lragir.am April 27 that the programs of the AAM and
Bargavach Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia) might be quite similar.

`If they copied the wise things, it must be rather similar. But
writing is one thing, and acting is another thing. I haven’t read
it. I do not have the health and vigor to read a hundred-page-long
program. My approach is more general: the birth of a new political
force is impossible in Armenia. The offices of all kinds of political
ideologies have been occupied, the ones that are being set up are
either a person’s political party or units, stemming from the
conjuncture,’ says Aram Manukyan. He refuted the information that the
intellectual potential of the All-Armenian Movement, namely several
members of the party, contributed to the creation of the program of
Gagik Tsarukyan’s political party.

`Well, if you consider Victor Dallakyan (pro-AAM), I don’t know. I
know there are approaches that are close to the AAM’s, it is quite
normal. Not in terms of people. In terms of ideas, I also have heard
that they used these. I am glad about it, I do not feel bitter, I am
even glad that the AAM is not there absolutely, but the ideology of
the AAM triumphed,’ says Aram Manukyan.

He learned from press that the program of the Bargavach Hayastan Party
was written by the secretary of the Ardarutiun Alliance Victor
Dallakyan. Aram Manukyan says he trusts the information in press and
he is even convinced that it is true. `In fact, I know it is true. He
took our program, other programs, copied, made up a nice program,
that’s all,’ says Aram Manukyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA IS MADE TO GIVE

Lragir.am
28 April 06

It depends on the conditions how expedient it will be to give the
section of Iran-Armenia running through Armenia to Russia, said Kiro
Manoyan, member of the ARF Bureau, answering the question of
Lragir.am. Nevertheless, he said it would be better if the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline belonged to Armenia and Iran. However, Kiro
Manoyan also said that Armenia might be made to give the pipeline to
the Russians.

`The government might have to give something in some place,
it is not a matter of joy or wishes. The foreign minister, for
instance, announced about funding, how it should be funded,
etc. However, it is preferable if the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
belongs to Iran and Armenia only, or at least the country which has
great possibilities and influence on the energy sector in Armenia is
not engaged,’ says the representative of Dashnaktsutiun
(Armenian Revolutionary Federation). Kiro Manoyan says it would be
better if the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline were the way where Russia
would have no influence.

A1+

CAUCASUS WAS RICH WITH EVENTS IN 2005

[04:19 pm] 28 April, 2006

The annual international conference which started today in hotel
`Armenia-Marriott’ was devoted to the tendencies of political, social
and economic development and events in the countries of Northern and
Southern Caucasus.

Scientists, journalists and public figures from Armenia, Georgia,
Russia, Israel and other countries were present at the
conference. Only Azerbaijan was not represented. According to chief
scientific worker of the Russian Academy of Science Alexander Krilov,
the reason was the problem with security guarantees. He himself spoke
about the place of Azerbaijan in the world and the tendencies of its
development.

According to Alexander Krilov, Azerbaijan has the lowest economic
index among all the CIS countries, although the Azeri government has a
different opinion. According to the Russian analyst, the reason of
the low economic index is the increase of the expenses of the budget
after the intensive export of oil, and the shadow economy which forms
about 20-25%. Nevertheless according to the Azeri government, this is
a normal index.

The Azeri opposition claims that the information about opening many
workplaces in Azerbaijan does not correspond to the reality. As for
democracy, all the problems in the country are solved with the special
methods of the authoritarian regime.

Lasha Bakradze, professor of the Management European School, made a
report about Georgia titled «Georgia – 2005: road to future». He
represented the situation in his country after the «rose
revolution» partly with humor, and partly with criticism. He
represented the information about the five fold raise of the budget of
the country and the twofold raise of the old-age pension which
according to him was ridiculous.

«Health examinations are not carried out in the hospitals», he
mentioned adding that the citizens of Georgia must solve their
problems on their own initiative. He said that the index of the
exposure of crimes is still very low, and the conditions in prisons
have not been improved.

Alexander Iskandaryan, the head of the Mass Media Caucasian Institute
made a report about Armenia in 2005 titled «Spiral development of
Armenia». He said hat it is difficult to speak about Armenia in
Armenia and voiced hope that he will not be criticized hard. He
mentioned that alongside with usual inner political problems in this
case the Karabakh conflict is added too. According to him, there is no
progress in this sphere, «The sides meet only in order to arrange
the following meetings».

As for the Armenian opposition, he mentioned that if we used to speak
about weak authorities and weak opposition, now we speak about weak
authorities and absence of opposition. According to Alexander
Iskandaryan, the foreign policy in 2005 lasted 14 months: it started
with the problem of Upper Lars and ended with the raise of the costs
of gas.