Asbarez.com news rooom :) 08-07-2000

[Guest]

1. Ghoukassian Rejects Autonomy as Option

STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)--The Nagorno-Artsax Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian recently met with representatives of the European Center for Political Studies and the co-authors of the South Caucasus Stability Pact, Michael Emerson and Natalie Tucci, who had come to the region on a fact-finding visit.

 

During the meeting, the President noted that although not all of the provisions of the Pact were acceptable to Nagorno Artsax, the project authors' concern with the problems of the region evidenced the interest of the international community in establishing a comprehensive, lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

 

The Artsax presidential press secretary Eduard Atanessian issued an announcement saying, that if Caucasus Stability Pact members "understand self-government, as autonomy--or even the highest level of autonomy--then such an approach would be unacceptable."

 

This announcement was based on comments by Emerson, who outlined that relations between entities in the South Caucasus should be guided by the provisions set forth by the team, the Artsax presidential office announcement stressed.

 

Ghoukassian's office said the terms of the pact, not only aim to study uniqueness of the South Caucasus region, but also look into and define the terminology used by international entities regarding matters of importance in the region.

 

The unacceptability of the "highest autonomy" was being called into question by Ghoukassian, based on the terminology used by international mediators.

 

Michael Emerson said that during his meetings with the Presidents of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, he had the opportunity to get acquainted with the positions of these countries concerning the future of the region, as well as concerning the Pact's provisions. Emerson also stated that their visit to Stepanakert pursued the same goal.

 

Arkady Ghoukassian presented Nagorno Artsax Republic's position on the settlement. He highlighted the importance of such meetings for the resolution of regional problems, specification of positions and establishment of mutual confidence between the conflicting sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Parties Choose Slate For Lebanon Elections

BEIRUT--A statement issued by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party Monday, publicized the formal list of candidates running for upcoming parliamentary elections as representatives of the Lebanese-Armenian community.

 

The candidates will represent Armenian communities in the Beka, Beirut and Metn districts.

 

The announcement stated that talks between political parties had been ongoing, in an effort to bring about a united list of candidates representing the entire community. However, the announcement pointed out, the Armenian Democratic League (Ramkavar party) opted to make its own political alignments and thus is not represented on the united list.

 

"This unnecessarily premature move by the ADL, which veered from the national posturing [of the community] brought forth a crisis within the party, as a result of which, the ADL Lebanon regional executive resigned," explained the joint announcement.

 

Parties explained that talks with religious leaders of all denominations, community organizations and other leaders, resulted in a productive dialogue, which enabled to alienate forces which aimed to create schism within the larger community, and brought about a list of United Armenian Bloc. Below is the list of candidates

 

George Kasarji (Armenian Apostolic seat-Bekaa) -

 

Abraham Dedeyan (Armenian Evangelical seat seat/Beirut's first district, no party affiliation).

 

Mihran Safarian (Armenian Apostolic seat/Beirut's second district, Huchnak member);

 

Hagop Pakradouni (Armenian Apostolci seat/Beirut's third district, ARF);

 

Artur Nazarian (Armenian Apostolic/Beirut's third district, no party);

 

Stepan Abajian (Armenian Catholic seat/ Beirut's third district, no party); and

 

Sebouh Hovnanian (Armenian Apostolic seat/North Metn, ARF).

 

The two parties urged all voters to take part in the elections and vote for the United Armenian Bloc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Ghoukassian Says No To Moving Babayan Case

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The ex-defense minister of Artsax Samvel Babayan, who was arrested on charges of plotting to assassinate Artsax President Arkady Ghoukassian last March 22, had renounced his testimony on April 6 at the beginning of the investigation, said Babayan's lawyer Zhudex Shakarian.

 

Shakarian insisted that Babayan's confession was forced by physical abuse. He added that Babayan was threatened with a criminal case that might be launched against his wife.

 

Meanwhile a number of politicians both in Artsax and Armenia applied to Armenian and Artsax leadership calling on them to hand the trial to an Armenian court.

 

The signatories to the appeal say a number of gross violations of the arrested persons' rights were reported during the pre-trial process and that is why the trial cannot be held unbiased in Artsax. They say the handing of the case to an Armenian court will raise the international image of Artsax.

 

However, Artsax president Arkady Ghoukassian is strongly opposing this demand. Speaking to Artsax television on August 3 he said that these demands are "not serious." He said the case had been handed to Artsax Supreme Court and the trial is to begin in about 20 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Issue Of Russian Military Base In Akhalkalaki To Be Considered This Fall

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--The withdrawal of the military bases from Georgian territory has not affected the general situation in Akhalkalaki. As known, the Armenian population in this region is categorically against the Russian base being re-deployed, as it provides the local population with jobs and satisfies 90 percent of their social and economical needs.

 

Javakhk Compatriotic Union representatives told Noyan Tapan that no excesses were observed during the process, as the local military base is not involved in it. Only the Vizian military base stationed near the Georgian capital of Tbilisi has been involved in this pull-back.

 

Discussions of the issue of the Russian military bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi are scheduled for late September or early October of this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Slovak Concert Dedicated to Genocide

BRATISLAVIA, Slovakia (Noyan Tapan)--A concert was held Saturday at the large concert hall in the capital of Slovakia, marking the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

 

The concert was also dedicated to the well-know Slovak-Armenian soloist Gourgen Hovsepian, who was accompanied by pianist Hasmik Gabrielian.

 

Prior to the concert, a lengthy presentation was given on the Armenian Genocide, as well as mentions were made regarding the 1,700th anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity as a state religion. The repertoire included pieces by Gomidas, and were presented by Hovsepian.

 

High-level Slovak government officials, parliament members and artists were present at the gala concert, which became an important step in raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide in Central Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Unity Bloc Rift Deepens

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Unity bloc, the main political force behind Armenia's present government, moved closer to disintegration on Monday as one of its two member-parties admitted sharing some key views of the opposition Right and Accord bloc - one of the cabinet's most fierce critics.

 

The center-left People's Party of Armenia drifted further away from the governing coalition when its chairman, Stepan Demirchian, held another meeting with Right Accord leader Artashes Geghamian, declaring a convergence of their political agendas. "It was concluded that the two parties have common and mutually complementing approaches on a number of issues of vital importance to the people," the two men said in a statement.

 

Speaking to RFE/RL, they made it clear that the document is not a prelude to the establishment of a new opposition alliance, at the possibility of which Geghamian hinted last week. On Monday Geghamian described relations with the People's Party as an "emerging partnership." Demirchian, for his part, said the media should stop "making a fuss" about the ongoing consultations between the two organizations.

 

Still, their increasingly conspicuous contacts drew a veiled warning from Prime Minister Andranik Markarian's Republican Party that makes up Unity along with Demirchian's party. A senior Republican Party member, Galust Sahakian, said "if there are eventually certain changes in the bloc, the People's Party will be fully responsible for that." The Republicans "do not fear shadow warnings and can cooperate with anyone else," he told RFE/RL.

 

Friction between the Unity parties were heightened last month when a crucial vote in the parliament left them divided over government plans to privatize the country's energy distribution networks. Opposition to the sell-off is one of the points of agreement between the People's Party and Right and Accord, according to Demirchian. The two center-left groups favor a stronger government involvement in the economy, while the Republicans largely support the liberal policies implemented by successive Armenian cabinets.

 

The People's Party's final break with the government would lose premier Markarian 24 seats in the 131-member parliament. However, observers note that Markarian can still control the National Assembly without People's Party support, especially if he continues to enjoy the backing of President Robert Kocharian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Armenia Releases Azeri POW

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Armenian authorities released an Azerbaijanii prisoner of war on August 5 without any preconditions.

 

The prisoner, Ismail Ismailov, a resident of the Azerbaijani Nakhichevan autonomous republic, was seized by Armenian soldiers last week.

 

Ismailov was turned over to Azerbaijani authorities in the Yeraskh district on the border between Armenia and Nakhichevan.

 

According to Armenian defense ministry, Liz Boudraux, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Armenia office participated in the turnover.

 

The Armenian defense ministry reported that the release was a move that could strengthen the mutual confidence between the two nations. The Azerbaijani authorities thanked the Armenian authorities on behalf of the released soldier's parents and expressed hope that such a move would only have a positive reflection in Azerbaijan and promised to act similarly in the future.

 

Boudraux called this step "promising" and said such a quick release of Azerbaijani POW would only promote stability and confidence on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and speed up the settlement of the Nagorno Artsax conflict.

 

She also noted that this was the first case where the prisoner wasn't transported to Yerevan after his arrest. Instead, he was returned to Azerbaijan in a week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Armenpress On Strike Over Wage Arrears

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Employees of Armenia's official news agency Armenpress went on a one-day strike on Monday to protest the government's continuing failure to pay their salaries. A notice sent to subscribers the previous day explained that Armenpress will stop wiring news dispatches in an attempt to induce the authorities to respect their budgetary obligations.

 

The agency staff have not been paid since March. Of 36 million drams ($70,000) earmarked for the country's sole state-owned wire service by the government's budget for this year only 8 million has been made available so far. The agency is also owed large sums of money from many local publications. According to Norayr Poghosian, an Armenpress reporter, the problem of wage arrears has acquired a "chronic" nature in recent years.

 

The government department of information and book publishing, which supervises Armenpress's activities, moved promptly to soothe the strikers, promising a partial payment of the back wages. The head of the department, Eduard Militonian, told their representatives that the money will be paid on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Ambassador, Lebanese President Discuss Bilateral Relations

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Armenian ambassador to Lebanon Arman Navasardian met with the president of Lebanon General Emil Lahoud on August 3.

 

During the meeting, the two sides touched upon Armenian-Lebanese relations, regional and international political problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. President Returns From Vacation

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—President Robert Kocharian ended his vacation on Monday and resumed his official duties, the presidential press service told Noyan Tapan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Government Staff Has New Parliament Liaison Officer

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Prime Minister Andranik Margarian signed a decree Monday appointing Amalia Yengoyan Head of the Department for the Government Staff's Relations with the National Assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. Memorial Day for Victims Of Assyrian Genocide Marked

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—The Assyrian genocide is observed on August 7. Their largest scaled genocide took place from 1914 to 1918, when 750,000 Assyrians were slaughtered in the Ottoman Empire. In 1933 about 250,000 Assyrians were slaughtered in the vicinity of Shemel.

 

Chairwoman of the Assyrian Youth Center Ashur Irina Gasparian said that the issue of recognition of the Assyrian genocide is being raised all over the world. Conferences discussing this issue for the first time have been held in Sydney, Australia and San Jose, Calif. A committee for the recognition of the Assyrian genocide has been set up in Europe, which includes Assyrians residing in Armenia. Over a dozen of Assyrian organizations adopted a Declaration on cooperation with similar Armenian organizations, such as Hay Dat. In that connection, a petition was presented to Armenian authorities. Gasparian pointed out that Assyrians residing in Armenia pin their hopes not foreign organizations, but in Armenia, whose government meets Assyrians halfway in preserving their native language and national culture. She laid special emphasis on the decision of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia on the allotment of out-of-competition seats at the Yerevan State University for ethnic Assyrians, as well as the establishment of a council for the preservation of the Assyrian language.

 

"I think that Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks must unite in getting their genocides recognized, and the Armenian state will take a step towards the recognition of the Assyrian genocide," Gasparian said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Tunnel Construction To Be Completed By End Of 2000

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—The recently constructed juncture in the Vorotan-Arpa tunnel will make it possible to bypass the epicenter of rock eruption, similar to the one that took place in the second face of the tunnel in February of this year. Arpa-Sevan CJSC Director told Noyan Tapan that the project on bypassing the epicenter was launched a few days ago and the construction crew has already drilled five meters deep.

 

If properly financed, the project will be completed by the end of 2000, the manager said.

 

The construction of the 22-kilometer-long tunnel began in 1981. According to the design, water of the Vorotan river from the Spandarian reservoir will be channeled to Arpa-Sevan. The operation of the tunnel will allow 165 million cubic meters of water to be channeled from the Vorotan river to Lake Sevan every year that will raise the level of the lake by 10-15 centimeters per year.