CONFERENCES ON DEMOCRACY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES TO BE ORGANIZED IN YEREVAN AND HAGUE

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues of development of the
Armenian-Nethelandian interparliamentary cooperation were discussed
at the March 24 meeting of RA National Assembly Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian with Eimert van Middelkoop, Senator of the Upper House of
the Parliament of Netherlands. An agreement was reached on organizing
conferences on issues of development of democracy in Yerevan and
Hague joint with the Parliament of Netherlands within the framework
of the “New Democracy” program. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
NA Public Relations Department, Artur Baghdasarian asked to pass his
congratulation to the Parliament of Netherlands for recognition of the
Armenian Genocide what will prevent any repetition of similar crimes.

ACCORDING TO AGHASI ARSHAKIAN, WEST USES DOUBLE STANDARDS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Double standards are used by western
media and politicians in the issue of the elections held in Armenia
and Belarus.

Aghasi Arshakian, a member of the “Azgayin Miabanutiun” (National
Unity) faction stated about this at the March 24 parliamentary
briefing. Participating in the presidential elections of Belarus as an
observer, Arshakian congratulated citizens of Belarus in the interview
given to media of that country on the occasion of holding free and
just elections. The Deputy mentioned that when the authorities used
violence against the participants of the rally of many thousands
in Yerevan, nobody protested against it. But when in Minsk where
“no blood came from anybody’s nose and just 20-30 people were taken
their arms and taken away, it raised world yell.” According to Aghasi
Arshakian, “such total fillings as there were in Armenia, weren’t
in Belarus.” The deputy who visited more than 15 polling stations,
according to himself, saw no violation. Just the opposite, unlike the
Armenian elections, the voters stand in a queue and congratulate each
other on the occasion of the President’s being elected.

AZERI LEADER RENEWS KARABAKH WAR THREATS
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech rep.
March 27 2006

Azerbaijan issued on Monday a fresh threat to win back Nagorno-Karabakh
by force, with President Ilham Aliev warning that he may unleash an
all-out war against Armenia “at any moment.”

Addressing officers of the National Security Ministry, the Azerbaijani
successor to the Soviet KGB, Aliev said there is still a chance of
a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, but did not specify
whether he thinks it can be achieved this year. He instead urged his
countrymen to be prepared for renewed fighting.

“I think that the peace potential has not yet been exhausted.

Therefore, we will of course remain faithful to the peace process,”
Aliev said in remarks broadcast by the Azerbaijani TV station ANS.

“But at the same time, we must be ready for any eventuality and
that is why Azerbaijan has stepped up its army building efforts in
recent years.

“Our military spending has increased over the past years, and it will
increase further. This is our sovereign right, this is our job. Our
country is in a state of war.”

“The opposite side must know that Azerbaijan is capable of securing
its territorial integrity through war at any moment,” he added.

The comments came against the background of fading hopes for
an imminent Karabakh settlement that stemmed from major progress
registered in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks in the course of last
year. Aliev and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian were widely
expected to hammer out a framework peace agreement when they met
in France last month. However, the two-day summit mediated by U.S.,
Russian and French diplomats ended in failure.

Shortly afterwards Aliev reverted to his regular public threats,
always shrugged off by Armenian leaders, to resolve the conflict by
military means. Kocharian responded by warning that Baku’s refusal
to make major concessions to the Armenians could lead Yerevan to
formally recognize Karabakh’s independence.

The Azerbaijani leader’s bellicose rhetoric was indirectly criticized
on Friday by the European Union’s new special representative to
the South Caucasus. “An attempt on the Azeri side to resolve the
conflict by military means will have very serious consequences,”
Peter Semneby told RFE/RL. “It may not be successful in the first
place, and it will also seriously damage Azerbaijan in terms of its
investment climate and reliability as a partner.”

Aliev’s chief foreign policy aide, Novruz Mamedov, was quick to
dismiss the warning. “If Azerbaijan can indeed discredit itself as
a partner if it starts war to liberate its own lands, how come that
Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories in a war and has kept them
under occupation for 15 years, but this has not discredited Armenia
anyhow?” Mamedov told the Azerbaijani ATV channel.

Meanwhile, the international mediators insist that the peace process
may still be salvaged but seem undecided about their next steps.

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said last week that they will
either visit the conflict zone or arrange another round of
Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations soon.

“HANRAPETUTIUN” PARTY PROPOSES TO TAKE MEASURES IN DIRECTION OF ENERGY SAFETY OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Rise in prices envisaged for gas
and for energy following it will cause rise in prices for all the
services and products of first necessity. This circumstance will not
only strike a blow on the social state of the widest strata of the
society of Armenia but will also obstacle the natural development of
the economy of Armenia, the social polarization will reach dangerous
sizes. This is said in the March 24 statement of the “Hanrapetutiun”
(Republic) party. The “Hanrapetutiun” party considers necessary to
review the present Armenian-Russian relations and secure alternative
factors addressed to the energy safety. Particularly, to satisfy needs
of Armenia by a quick operation of the Armenian-Iranian gas pipe, and
to reach increase of political and economic weight by the Iranian gas
transit. It is also proposed to consider development of the atomic
energy corresponding to the world standards and creation of a new,
safer atomic power station primary.

MAMMEDYAROV: NK CONFLICT RESOLUTION TALKS HAVE TO BE CONTINUED
Author: R. Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 27 2006

“Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution talks have to be continued.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is ready to go on negotiations and there
can be no timeout, “Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammedyarov
told on March 27, adding that “works within the frames of the Paris
process have to be continued”, Trend reports.

“This is the position of the president Ilham Aliyev. However, if
the dialog will be fruitless, we will apply another measures,” the
minister said.

Commenting the statement made the Armenian Foreign minister, Vardan
Oskanyan, claiming that “in the modern state of things next step in
negotiations has to

be done by Azerbaijan”, the minister said that “this sort of statements
have an aim of affecting domestic policies in Armenia.”

“Azerbaijani position remains unchanged. We were talking and we
are talking about the liberation of the occupied lands. Territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan has to be restored. Refugees and forcibly
displaced persons have to be returned to their homes,” Mammedyarov
said, adding that any sort of the conflict regulation has to be in
accordance with the Azerbaijani constitution.

“If we want to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem we have to consider
the international law principles as well,” the Minister concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA HOSTS INDIAN DIAMOND AND BUSINESS DELEGATION

Tacy, Israel
March 27 2006

A delegation from India and Dubai of consisting of heads and
representatives of major diamond and jewelry, IT, film production,
metal processing, pharmaceutical, tourism, and food industry
enterprises are visiting Armenia for three days to discuss business
cooperatives with Armenian partners. Armenian Minister Vartan Oskanian
received the delegation, headed by Harshad R. Mehta, Honorary Consul
of the Republic of Armenia in Mumbai. Mehta is the owner of a large
diamond cutting operation in Armenia.

Oskanian briefed the Indian businessmen on Armenia’s business
climate and the government’s investment involvement priorities. Also
participating in the meeting were Ashot Kocharian, Armenian’s
Ambassador to the Republic of India and Reena Pandey, India’s
Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia.

ine/magazine.asp?id=3555

PRESIDENT’S PRESS SECRETARY DISPROVES PUBLICATION OF “KOMERSANT” NEWSPAPER ABOUT COMPENSATING RISE IN GAS PRICE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 25 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Victor Soghomonian,
the RA President’s Press Secretary disproved the information of the
“Komersant” newspaper, according to what Russia agreed to compensate
the rise in the gas price by selling armament to Armenia at low
prices. “I must say that I have read today’s publication of the Russian
“Komersant” newspaper with surprise,” Mrs. Soghomonian mentioned
in the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent. “I cann’t reason
why the authors of the publication made such imaginary insistences
and then made conclusions going far away. But, however, I consider
necessary to probably say that this article in today’s publication of
the “Komersant” newspaper where it is said that as a compensation for
raising the tariffs for the Russian gas, Armenia will buy armament
from Russia at low prices, has no connection with the reality,”
the RA President’s Press Secretary emphasized.

RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES THEATER FIGURES AND THEATER-LOVERS ON OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL THEATER DAY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On March 27, RA
President Robert Kocharian addressed a congratulatory message on the
occasion of the International Theater Day. The message provided to
Noyan Tapan by RA President’s Press Service, read: “I congratulate
the Armenian theater figures and theater-lovers on the occasion of the
International Theater Day. The spiritual-cultural, as well as social
development of our people would be impossible without the Armenian
theater. Today also the continuation of its traditions and giving a
new modern meaning to the theater are important for the progress of
our people and society. The spectator appreciates the great devotion
of our actors, producers, all theater figures to their work and
professional skills.

Congratulating on the occasion of the holiday, I wish the
representatives of our theater art creative success, crowded halls
and loud cheers”.

GROUP OF THEATER ARTISTS CONFERED RA HONORARY TITLES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By RA President
Robert Kocharian’s March 25 decree, RA Honorary Titles were given
to a group of workers of the theatrical art for the considerable
contribution in the sphere of the theatrical art and on the occasion
of the International Day of Theater. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the President’s Press Office, the People’s Artist’s title was
given to opera singer Barsegh Toumanian, honorary artist’s title was
given to Hovhannes Babakhanian, an artist of the Yerevan Hrachia
Ghaplanian Dramatic Theater, Hrant Tokhatian, an artist of the
Yerevan Chamber State Theater, Derenik Martirosian, an artist of
the Hovhannes Toumanian Puppet State Theater, Lala Mnatsakanian, an
acrtress of the “Mher Mkrtchian” Artistic Theater and Karen Sargsian,
the editor-in-chief of the Alexander Spendiarian’s Opera and Ballet
National Academic Theater. Theatrical critic Varsenik Grigorian,
Hakob Ghazanchian, the Artictic Head-Director of the Yerevan Young
Spectators’ Theater got titles of Honoured Art Figure. and Grisha
Sahakian, the main painter of the Yerevan Young Spectators’ Theater
got title of the Honoured Culture Figure. By another decree of the
President, Kamo Arzumanian, the Director of the Kapan Alexander
Shirvanzade State Dramatic Theater was awarded Movses Khorenatsi medal.

GOLDBERG’S “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” FILM TO BE SHOWN FREE PASS AT LOS ANGELES CINEMA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 27 2006

LOS ANGELES, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Andrew Goldberg’s
“Armenian Genocide” documentary film will be shown free pass on April
17 at one of Los Angeles cinemas. The 650 thousand dollars film was
completely financed by American Armenian organizations. As Radio
Liberty informs, the author of the film who gave the most part of the
10 thousand dollars necessary for renting the cinema, said: “We’ll
show the film day and night as long as we’ll feel its necessity.” On
the same day the “Armenian Genocide” film will be broadcast by the
Public Broadcasting Service – PBS but after that a dispute on the
genocide will be broadcast in which besides two representatives of the
Armenian community, two historians disproving the genocide will also
participate. The American Armenians consider inadmissible the dispute
of the Armenian Genocide as well, emphasizing that the Genocide is
a fact that may not be disproved.

The PBS refused the show Goldberg’s film without a dispute after what
Goldberg decided to rent a cinema of Los Angeles populated with many
Armenians and to show his film free of charge.