Armenian News - Kocharian Warns Opposition Against More Protests

President Robert Kocharian said Thursday that he will not prolong the
state of emergency in Yerevan but warned that Armenian security bodies
would not hesitate to break up more anti-government demonstrations
planned by opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian.

Kocharian also effectively dismissed international calls for an
independent investigation into the March 1 clashes between riot police
and thousands of Ter-Petrosian supporters demanding a re-run of the
February 19 presidential election.

The violence, which left at left at least seven opposition supporters
and one police officer dead, led to the imposition of the 20-day state
of emergency. All rallies and other public gatherings in the capital
were banned as a result.

Kocharian said the Armenian authorities will not sanction rallies for
`some time' even after the expiry of emergency rule on Friday. `People
who shot at law-enforcers [on March 1] are still at large, there is no
guarantee that the same people will not try to organize various
provocations or shootings at the next rally and then blame that on the
police,' he told a news conference.

The Armenian parliament approved this week a government bill that will
make it easier for the authorities to prohibit anti-government protests.
They will now be able to do that by citing threats to `state security,
public order, public health and morality' reported by the police and the
National Security Service. Ter-Petrosian has dismissed the amendments
as unconstitutional.

Kocharian warned the opposition leader, who had served as Armenia's
first president from 1991-1998, against staging unsanctioned street
protests. `I forbade the police from taking any steps [against
opposition demonstrators] before the events of March 1, but will now
demand that they take strict measures,' he said, adding that he is
determined to restore stability in the country before handing over power
to Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sarkisian on April 9.

Ter-Petrosian says that the authorities themselves instigated the worst
street violence in Armenia's history by breaking up his supporters'
non-stop sit-in in Yerevan's Liberty Square and then firing at thousands
of people who gathered elsewhere in the city center later on March 1.

Western powers have also questioned the official version of events, with
the European Union and the Council of Europe urging the authorities in
Yerevan to agree to an `independent investigation' of the bloodshed.
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human
rights, suggested last week that such an inquiry be conducted by a
special commission of prominent Armenians `trusted by the public.'

Kocharian insisted, however, that Armenian law-enforcement bodies and
the Office of the Prosecutor-General in particular are independent and
competent enough to investigate the deadly unrest. He said they can only
agree to international experts' involvement in their ongoing
investigation that has resulted in mass arrests of opposition leaders
and activists.

Both the EU and the United States have expressed serious concern
about the unprecedented government crackdown. U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried
reiterated those concerns on Thursday, saying that Armenia should
"pull itself together and get back on a democratic path."

"We welcome the lifting of the state of emergency, but there are other
problems and these need to be addressed,' Fried told RFE/RL. `People
who have been arrested for rioting and violent actions, that's one thing.
But people who have been arrested for more questionable reasons need
to be let go, there needs to be normalization, there needs to be a
dialogue with the opposition.'

`Look, this is a troubling situation for all of Armenia's friends,' he
said.

Kocharian effectively dismissed such calls, saying that law-enforcement
authorities have been quite lenient towards opposition protesters. He
argued that some 800 people were detained in connection with the
March 1 events and that only just over a hundred of them are currently
under arrest pending trial.

Washington threatened last week to `suspend or terminate' $236.5 million
in economic assistance which it promised to provide to Armenia under its
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program. The money was due to be
spent on the reconstruction of Armenia's battered rural roads and
irrigation networks.

Kocharian claimed to be untroubled by the possible termination of the
five-year aid package, saying that the Armenian government will find
other sources of funding for the rural development projects, if need be.
`If they make such a decision we will look for other ways of fully
implementing that program,' he said. `I have no doubts that we will find
those ways.'

Kocharian also downplayed U.S. President George W. Bush's
failure so far to congratulate Sarkisian on his hotly disputed victory
in thepresidential election. Kocharian said he himself was congratulated
by Bush only after being sworn in for a second five-year term in office in
April 2003. That, he said, did not prevent Armenia from recording higher
rates of economic growth and `cooperating effectively' with the United
States in the following years. `So maybe it's a good sign,' he told
journalists jokingly.

In fact, Bush stopped short of congratulating Kocharian on his equally
controversial reelection and cited instead serious irregularities that
were reported during the Armenian presidential election of
February-March 2003. `In a spirit of friendship, I share the
disappointment of the OSCE and others who have observed that Armenia
missed an opportunity to make an example of a democratic election,' Bush
said in an April 2003 letter to Kocharian.

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Opinion

A PERSPECTIVE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FROM INSIDE ARMENIA

Since Tuesday's presidential elections in Armenia, I have received a number of well-intentioned e-mails from diasporan Armenians who have strong opinions about the outcome, and the methods with which that outcome was reached. Many of these authors have used language bordering on the hysterical and offensive to characterize the current situation in Armenia. Some state that they have received their information from sources within Armenia, including a number of "opposition" websites.

Well, since I am actually in Armenia, I would like to explain a few things, which may not occur to those who don't live here. And as a resident of this country for the past seven years, I think I have earned the right to make certain observations and criticisms emanating from personal experiences.

Armenia is not the United States. Therefore, there is no accepted tradition or institutional culture when it comes to many political activities to which Americans are accustomed. Democracy and democratic principles in Armenia are developing and progressing. It may not be happening at a pace that is acceptable to many; nevertheless, it is happening. Notwithstanding the pace, however, each and every Armenian, whether in Armenia or in the diaspora, has a solemn responsibility to support and encourage the maintenance, strength and endurance of our statehood.

Stability for our state is a high priority, one that may be difficult to comprehend for anyone or any people who, having enjoyed free and independent statehood for centuries, thus take it for granted. In the U.S., we accept America as no longer an experiment - it is a fait accompli. By contrast, Armenia is at a crossroads, and our very survival is at stake. Turkey continues its illegal blockade of Armenia and refuses to establish diplomatic ties with us. We are still technically at war, and although the cease-fire with Azerbaijan has held for more than 10 years, it is still a fragile and tenuous one. The threat of resuming hostilities and aggression by the Azeris is one that we live with every day, and has been one of the reasons, I believe, that unlike Georgia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet countries, Armenia has persevered and remained free of major civic unrest in recent years. We understand that unity is our weapon and our strength. And although internally we may have sharp disagreements and heated political arguments, Armenians know well that at the end of the day, no one, no nation, no country and no international organization can be relied upon to save us this time from complete annihilation. I am sure many of you would agree.

It is true, the elections were not flawless. Deficiencies of all sorts were observed and are an unfortunate reality. However, the constitution of the Republic of Armenia worked: scheduled elections did take place, and a president who is term-limited is willingly stepping aside and giving up the power entrusted to him by the people. This may no longer be a revolutionary concept in California, Massachusetts, or Illinois, but for the former Soviet Union, it's an important, if symbolic, step. (For those who need further info, see Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, etc.)

Furthermore, international observers from the United States, Europe and Russia were present before and during the election to monitor the campaign atmosphere and balloting. They issued an 11-page report on the day following the elections. You can read it here: www.osce.org/item/29779.html. [See page A8 for the executive summary.] The report is available in English and Armenian, and was prepared by the OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission. The report is cr itical in some areas, and offers praise in others, which was to be expected. In a nutshell, the monitors presented their findings, stating that the 2008 presidential elections were "mostly in line with international commitments."

This is not an apologia. We all want Armenia to do better. We all wait for the day when elections in Armenia are completely fair and transparent. And that day will come when our citizens fully become aware of their rights and responsibilities, and when the western "culture" of elections, voting, campaigning and political platforms become better integrated into Armenian society.

But just because that day is not here yet, does not mean that we throw up our arms, give up on democracy and think it merely an experiment gone bad. It has been said that democracy is a very bad form of government - it's just much better than anything else that's been tried in history. It would be hard to find anyone today, whether the authorities of Armenia or the opposition, who would seriously argue that abandoning our republican form of government because we haven't yet perfected it, is a logical or preferred path to follow.

We must therefore take great care before making frantic accusations, for they are heard by us as well as our adversaries. The mental laziness of giving in to wild conspiracies does not serve the long-term endurance of Armenia or the diaspora. For the first time in more than 600 years, Armenia is free and independent, and we are therefore obligated to place our national interests ahead of our personal gains or aspirations.

By Fr. Ktrij Devejian

Fr. Ktrij Devejian is the foreign press secretary of the Catholicate of All Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Born and educated in the United States, Fr. Devejian has lived in Armenia for the past seven years.

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Russian Official Voices Support For Yerevan

A senior Russian diplomat commended and voiced support for Armenia's
embattled leadership on Thursday as he wrapped up a two-day visit to
Yerevan that focused on the post-election unrest in the country.

`Riots, chaos in the streets is a very dangerous thing for any country,
and I believe that the events of March 1-2 showed the citizens of
Armenia just how dangerous that path can be. It does not solve any
problems and instead brings about instability, uncertainty about the
future,' Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said, referring to the
last opposition demonstration in Yerevan marred by deadly clashes
between security forces and protesters.

`In my view, the government of new Armenian statehood has passed this
dangerous phase, this dangerous test and is now stepping on to a very
certain path of political reforms and dialogue,' he told journalists.

The political situation in Armenia, Russia's main regional ally, in the
wake of last month's disputed presidential election topped the agenda of
Karasin's talks on Wednesday with departing President Robert Kocharian
and Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sarkisian. Russia has
closely followed the post-election developments in the country, with
President Vladimir Putin discussing it in a March 10 phone call with
Sarkisian. While calling for a dialogue between the Armenian government
and the opposition, Putin reaffirmed the Kremlin's recognition of
Sarkisian's victory in the election and invited the latter to visit
Moscow.

Sarkisian's office said on Thursday that the Armenian premier will fly
to Moscow on March 24. It said he will meet Putin and Russia's
President-elect Dmitry Medvedev to discuss `a broad range of issues of
mutual interest.'

According to Karasin, Sarkisian and Kocharian now `understand and
control' the domestic political situation. `They have certain plans for
the future, plans for bringing the constructive opposition into the
legal field and starting dialogue,' he said. `I hope that this tendency
will prevail and Armenian society will again acquire stability and
predictability. Russia is ready and interested in assisting in that by
all means.'

It was not clear if by `constructive opposition' Karasin meant former
President Levon Ter-Petrosian and his opposition allies. Unlike Western
envoys who have visited Yerevan since March 1, the Russian diplomat
declined to meet Ter-Petrosian.

`The information which the president, the prime minister and the foreign
minister gave us was absolutely sufficient,' Karasin explained. `Having
said that, we definitely have information about what they in the
opposition camp think. We have an embassy here, we have friends in all
spheres of Armenian political and public life. So rest assured that we
possess information of various caliber.'

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NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA BY 2016
AZG Armenian Daily
20/03/2008

During a round-table discussion, dedicated to Dr. Gerd Rosenkratz's
"Nuclear Energy. Facts and Fiction" book, Deputy-Minister for Power
Engineering of Armenia Areg Galstian told the reporters that Russia,
the USA and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) not only
approve the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia, but
are also working out a strategy of preferential deliveries of nuclear
fuel to the country, which will help develop Armenia's nuclear power
engineering more actively,

According to the Deputy-Minister, the feasibility study of the new
NPP in Armenia will be completed by September-October 2008. He
also reminded that the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is to
be shut down by 2016; therefore the new one is to be ready before
that. "Economic estimations show that there is no alternative to
the nuclear power engineering in Armenia. Estimations on creation
of alternative generation sources have been made over the past 8
years. For this purpose, well-known foreign firms were involved in
the process, however, their estimations showed that the most optimal
variant is developing of the nuclear power engineering", Galstian said.

At present the Metsamor NPP generates 45% of total electricity in
Armenia. Armenia and Russia have already set up a joint venture for
prospecting of uranium in Armenian territory. Earlier Armenia ratified
an agreement on active participation in the work of the international
uranium enrichment center in Angarsk. The participation in this project
will help Armenia not only to supply its NPP with fuel but also to
export uranium (provided that the present prospecting expedition finds
sufficient uranium resources). Armenia's total uranium resources are
estimated at 60,000 tons. Experts say that the construction of a new
1,000 MW NPP will cost $1.5bln.

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ABOUT 12,000 ARMENIANS APPLY TO AXA FOR COMPENSATIONS
ARMENPRESS
March 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS: About 12,000 Armenians from across
the world, who are descendants of life insurances policyholders,
issued by the French Insurance Company AXA to Armenians, who perished
during the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman empire, have applied
for compensations.

Barsegh Gartalian, executive manger of an office established in Los
Angeles, USA, to deal with applications, said to Armenpress they are
now registering, verifying and analyzing the applications.

He said the bulk of applications are from Armenians in the USA,
Armenia and France. He added it will take from 6 to 12 months for
the process of compensation payment to start.

Last year AXA agreed to pay $17.5 million to descendants of life
insurance policyholders.

U.S.-based Mark Geragos along with attorneys Vartkes Yeghiayan and
Brian Kabateck had filed a class action lawsuit in a California federal
court against AXA for failing to pay death benefits for the insurance
policies purchased by Armenians in Turkey prior to the 1915.

The proceeds of the agreement, which was mediated by Federal Judge
Dickran Tevrizian, are to be disbursed as follows: Up to $11 million
for the heirs of life insurance policyholders; $3 million to be
contributed to a newly-created French-Armenian charity; and $3 million
for attorneys' fees and legal/administrative.

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