DASHNAKTSUTYUN PARTY’S ACTIVITY CONTRADICTS ARMENIAN LAW

A1 Plus | 14:45:22 | 17-05-2004 | Politics |

Supreme Council parliamentary club issued a statement on Monday
saying activity of Dashnaktsutyun Party, a ruling coalition member,
in Armenia contradicted to Armenia’s law on parties. It means the
party has to be dismissed.

Supreme Council parliamentary club is struggling for that. The club
appeal to different authorities – from courts to president Kocharyan –
but received no response.

The club members reiterated their determination to keep on struggling.
“Armenian government makes absolutely no efforts to prevent corruption,
especially at top levels”, they say.

Not a single party in the republic cares about constitutional
violations, the statement says.

Andranik Margarian’s record
by Haroutiun Khachatrian

NT Highlights #19 (521)
17 May, 2004

Recently world leading media announced that Silvio Berlusconi, the
Prime Minister of Italy, was registered in the Guinness Book of Records
as the head of the most long-living government in his country since
WW II. The length of the government’s life is really sensational,
no less than three years!!! Not one of fifty governments of this
country was able to survive that long. But almost the same is true
for the current Prime Minister of Armenia, Andranik Margaian. He marks
the fourth anniversary in office (the previous record was 3.5 years)
and his government too, is the most long-lived among ten cabinets of
the post- Soviet Armenia.

I don’t think that this is a case to discuss the question on how
does the selection of issues worth mentioning in Guinness Book of
Records take place. Maybe, the factor of Italy’s proximity to London
matters (otherwise, Arthur Rasi-Zadeh, who occupies the office of
the Prime Minister of Azerbiajan since 1996, would be in that book
much earlier). However, Margarian’s record is worth mentioning.

First, it is the period of the most stable political development of
the country. This statement strange as it may look, is nevertheless,
correct. Despite the presidential and parliamentary elections of last
year, the policy of the Armenian leadership remains the same since
at least 2001. It is another question on how correct this policy is.

Second, Margarian’s cabinet is the first to demonstrate the viability
of the balance mechanism put in the Constitution. Whereas, the in the
first years of independence, the prime ministers were team members
of the President, after the elections of May 1999, the government
was formed by the majority of the Parliament, which did cooperate
with the President, but was not part of his team. Vazgen Sargsian was
the first Prime Minister of this type, but he was killed in less than
five months, on October 27, 1999. His brother, Aram, tended to compete
with the President, but failed. Margarian, who took the office in May
2000, preferred to cooperate with Kocharian. As a result, his party
(and his Government) have become one of the pillars of Kocharian,
and now, after the “controversial” elections of 2003, Kocharian needs
the support of Margarian’s party even more than vice versa.

Third, Margarian’s case has put the end to the discussions about
“technical” and “political” cabinets. Having no brilliant knowledge
on economy, Andranik Margarian could form a rather efficient economy
team. It not only could reach the best economy performance in Armenia’s
history and one of the best in CIS (with an average GDP real growth
of 10.5% a year). It also has been implementing a rather correct
development program, which includes not only efforts to increase the
living standards in the country, but also important infrastructure
reforms, such as introducing PIN-numbers, creating cumulative pension
systems, improving communications and many others.

Of course, Margarian, and his Republican Party share responsibility
for all negative aspects of current Armenia, from violations during
the elections to adoption of laws which create real perspective for
Armenia to become a “Police country”. Probably, they believe this
is an affordable price for years of stability and growth. Who knows,
maybe they are right.

PRESS RELEASE

Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and
the Cilician Catholicosate will meet in Antelias, Lebanon

ANTELIAS, LEBANON – The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia will host a
dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Catholicosate. The
first meeting took place in June 2000, in Tehran, Iran. His Holiness Aram I
took part in this meeting as the guest of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Antelias meeting will have two parts. The first part will deal with
theological, moral and social issues related to Christian-Muslim dialogue in
the context of Armeno-Iranian relations and collaboration. The second part
will include representatives from Christian and Muslim dialogue committees,
community leaders and other personalities from the region and will address
mainly issues related to Christian-Muslim collaboration.

Speaking about this conference His Holiness Aram I said: “This meeting is
important for two reasons: First, we have a large and well-established
community in Iran. Therefore, it is vitally important that we together
address issues and challenges pertaining to Armenian-Iranian co-existence.
Second, the world of today is one of dialogue, interaction and
interdependence. The globalized world challenges all religions to identify
and strengthen those common values which sustain the life of societies.
Within this context I consider Christian-Muslim dialogue of crucial
importance. We must accept and respect each other, and we must collaborate
together to face common moral evils that disintegrate our societies,
generate moral decay and distort the image of God in human beings”.

More than two hundred thousands Armenians live in Iran. They are mainly
centered in Tehran, Isfahan and Tabris. The Armenians constitute the largest
Christian minority in the country and they have two deputies in the
parliament.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Iran, Armenia discuss gas deal

Persian Journal, Iran
May 15 2004

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan in a meeting with Oil
Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh in Yerevan Friday referred to Iran as
a major partner of his country in the region.

In the meeting, Oskanyan said that the agreement signed between the two
countries on sale of gas to Armenia is in line with Iran’s political
will to expand the mutual friendly ties. He further underlined Iran’s
decisive role and stance in the region.

Armenia, Iran sign accord for 20 years of gas deliveries

IranMania News, Iran
May 15 2004

YEREVAN, May 14 (AFP) – Armenian and Iranian energy ministers Thursday
signed an accord under which Iran will supply 36 billion cubic meters
of gas to Armenia, in exchange for electricity, over 20 years starting
in 2007.

The sides did not elaborate on the gas tariffs set for the deliveries.

Gas will flow into Armenia through a planned pipeline linking the two
neighbours on which construction is to begin at the end of the year.

“The construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline has political and
economic importance for our country and foresees economic benefits
for both of our nations,” Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen Movsysian
said after signing the accord with his Iranian counterpart Bijan
Namdar Zanganeh.

The two countries had already signed an accord over the 140-kilometer
gas pipeline’s construction, at an estimated cost of 220 million
dollars.

Russia, Ukraine, China and the United States had already voiced
interest in participating in the project, the Armenian minister said.

Movsysian also declared that Armenia was not ready to accept the
European Union’s offer of 100 million dollars to close down the
Metzamor nuclear power station, which Europeans consider dangerous.

Armenia is currently dependent on Russian gas, which is supplied via
a pipeline that crosses through Georgia.

For the annual 1.2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, Armenia pays
55 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.

EU: Concentrate on Implementation from Now on

Zaman, Turkey
May 15 2004

A document that outlines the European Union’s (EU) position for
next week’s Partnership Council meeting calls on Turkey to focus on
implementing its reforms.

Zaman acquired the document that states the stance of Europe for
the 43rd Partnership Council between Turkey and the E.U. that will
be held on May 18. The document points out serious interruptions
in the implementation phase of the reforms even though it expresses
pleasures about the reform process. “Implementations have a drawback,”
states the document as it acknowledges the progress Turkey has made
in many areas; however, first steps in harmonizing with the acquis
communitaire have yet to be taken.

Some of the positive points the document specifically mentions are
the abolishment of the State Security Courts, the removal of military
representatives from the Council of Higher Education, as well as the
latest Constitutional package that extends the freedom of the press.
The 19-page document emphasizes that ending the isolation of Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has already been determined;
however, Turkey is requested to end sanctions on Greek Cypriot ships.
The E.U. also devotes importance to improving the mutual relations
between Armenia and Turkey.

The meeting of the Partnership Council next Tuesday (May 18)
constitutes the most important juncture prior to the critical
progress report on Turkey that is expected to be released both at the
E.U. June summit and on September 29. The document states all E.U.
member countries have adopted the E.U. standpoint for the Partnership
Council, and it is unlikely to change.

“Thorough and effective implementation of the reforms is essential,”
states the document while heavily criticizing bureaucracy. It
points out in addition that despite the fact three schools have begun
education in Kurdish, significant difficulties in implementation still
remain. Local officials in some regions have not been satisfactorily
informed about the reforms.

While there are a few practical results of the reforms concerning
non-Muslims, Ankara is urged immediately to make a detailed law that
would solve several of these issues, especially non-Muslims’ rights
of property ownership.

The document states that ill treatment, torture, and other prohibitions
still go on in some prisons. It requests that the government increase
its efforts to punish those responsible for tortures.

The document also touches upon the profound disappointment about the
verdict handed down in the Leyla Zana case. It emphasizes that the
result violates the spirit of the reforms. It is also noted that the
case is already in the appeals phase.

05.15.2004 Selcuk Gultasli Brussels

Parliamentary Chairperson Visits Strasbourg

Civil Georgia, Tbilisi
May 15 2004

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze left for Strasbourg on
May 15 to participate in the European Conference of Presidents of
Parliament to be held at the Council of Europe on May 17-19.

“A number of bilateral meetings with my counterparts will be held,”
Nino Burjanadze said before departure.

Trilateral talks between Armenian, Azeri and Georgian Parliamentary
Chairpersons are also scheduled.

The conference will bring together more than sixty Presidents and
Speakers of the Parliaments of 45 member states.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri MP Slams BBC

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
May 15 2004

A pro-government member of the Azerbaijani parliament on Friday
slammed British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) for sending its
reporters to Nagorno-Karbakh (NK) without getting official permission
from Baku.

“I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must react to this,” said
Anar Mammadkhanli, adding that not only BBC, but also some other
foreign news agencies send their correspondents to NK without
receiving permission from the Azerbaijani authorities.
Nagorno-Karabakh – a former autonomous region of Azerbaijan – is
being occupied by Armenian troops since they took control over the
region in 1991-94 war.

Armenian lives come into focus
By Bob Strauss, Film Critic

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA
Redlands Daily Facts, CA
San Bernardino Sun, CA
May 15 2004

Vahe Babaian’s serious, slightly autobiographical film “After
Freedom” comes well-packed with worthy intentions. Set in Glendale’s
Armenian-American community, it’s perceivably honest about the
day-to-day struggles of recent – and not-so-recent – immigrants. It
also tries to tell a kind of “Mean Streets” story of aimless, somewhat
criminal young men without resorting to cheap melodrama.

The film succeeds on those counts. But in his first feature, Babaian
is both too close to the material and not seasoned enough of a
writer-filmmaker to generate much audience involvement. Despite some
solid performances (and partly because of a few lousy ones), the film
is sabotaged by clunky dialogue and sequences that go on too long,
often to nowhere.

Although it isn’t made clear in the opening narration, the film’s
protagonist Michael Abcarian (Mic Tomasi in a controlled, soulful
performance) is probably an Iran-born Armenian, like Babaian. This
would explain his father’s good job back home with a British airline.
(I could be wrong, but I don’t believe there were many flights between
London and small Soviet republics during the Cold War.) Anyway, once
Dad moved the family to Glendale, the American dream proved elusive.

Now elderly, widowed and defeated by a series of demeaning jobs,
Michael’s father, Leon (Greg Satamian), worries about the employment
prospects of an old man who can’t drive. Michael, who does dead-end
supermarket work himself, feels both guilty for not doing better and
responsible for keeping what’s left of the family intact.

This doesn’t sit well with his ambitious girlfriend Ana (Sophie
Chahinan), who has an opportunity to open a store in San Francisco.
But she’s also a fairly patient type who puts up with Michael’s
endless hours of cruising and hanging out at the gun shop with his
dopey pals, blustery small-time crook Avo (Shant Bejanian, in the
film’s best performance) and trouble-prone Mato (Ioannis Bogris), who
is obsessed with smuggling his brother into the country through Mexico.

We get some of the usual immigrant movie moments; there’s a wedding
and a first-time walk on the beach by a character in his 20s. But for
the most part, Babaian displays a knack for immersing viewers in the
small distinctions and similarities of Armenian-American life without
overloading on the ethnic signifiers.

In tone and presentation, “After Freedom” is about as far away from the
“Big Fat Greek Weddings” of the world as it can be, and its realism in
that regard is only to be lauded. But next time, hopefully, Babaian
will display a better sense of what’s interesting and what’s not
about the world he knows and appreciates so well.

Thousands Protest In Yerevan Against Kocharian

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
May 15 2004

15 May 2004 — Several thousand Armenian opposition supporters
protested in the streets of the capital Yerevan late on 14 May to
demand the resignation of President Robert Kocharian.

Interfax reported that police estimated no more than 4,000 people
participated in the peaceful demonstration, while organizers claim
30,000 people attended the rally.

The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations since last
month. Opposition members says Kocharian rigged a presidential runoff
in March 2003 to secure a second term in office and is demanding that
he either organize a national referendum of confidence in his rule
or step down.

Kocharian was in Moscow for talks with Russia’s President Vladimir
Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov during the protest.