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ARMINFO'S PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER BEATEN BY POLICEMEN MARCH 19. The press photographer of ARMINFO Meruzhan Minassyan was beaten Tuesday 5:30 pm by policemen and taken to one of Yerevan's police department. The policemen "did not like" the actions of Minassyan, who was shooting the scrape between them and the women picketing the presidential palace. They dragged him behind the "live shield" and began clubbing his back and hands and showering him with abuses. Minassyan cannot remember their faces as they were in uniforms and helmets. The certificate did not help. Minassyan was shoved into a Zhiguli car and taken to the Arabkir police department. There he was released after showing his Iranian passport (Iranian citizenship proved to be more convincing that a journalist's certificate). Minassyan was given back his camera and other personal things. One can clearly see bruises on his neck.
ARMINFO is outraged at the illegal actions of the policemen and
demands that the police should hold an inquiry into the incident and
punish those who trample on the freedom of speech and people's right
to access of information.-
PRES.KOCHARYAN GIVEN PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE TODAY
MARCH 19. The re-elected Armenian president Robert Kocharyan was given presidential credentials at Armenia's Central Electoral Commission today. CEC Chairman Artak Saghradyan said that the credentials are issued in accordance with the CEC's Mar 11 declaration of Kocharyan's re-election to second term.
While receiving the credentials Kocharyan thanked his voters for
their confidence. "We have much to do to fulfill our electoral
program. So, let's roll up our sleeves and get down to work."
ARMEN SARGSSIAN'S ARREST CAUSED ADDITIONAL TENSION
MARCH 19. The arrest of Armen Sargssian, who is charged with being involved in the assassination of Director of the Armenian Public Television Tigran Sargssian, has caused an additional tension in the country, which is not beneficial to the authorities, Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated at his meeting with journalists, commenting on the opposition's statement of the authorities' using the case for political purposes and neutralizing their political opponents.
According to him, it is the reason why on receiving a report on
sufficient evidence being available, he asked the Prosecutor's
Office of Armenia to arrest Armen Sargssian only after any other
legal steps are excluded. "In this case, evidence was not only
sufficient, it was so convincing that the Prosecutor's Office could
not make another decision. Another decision would mean concealing the
crime, which is a violation of the law," Kocharian said, adding that
this decision was made by the Prosecutor's Office, and all the
complaints must be addressed there. "The Sargssians must realize that
they bear a moral responsibility to the state and the people. Being
involved in a grave crime is disrespect for both the country and the
memory of one of its outstanding sons, Vazgen Sargssian," Kocharian
said, that it is the court that has the final say on this case.
AD HOC COMMISSION TO STUDY OMISSIONS RECORDED DURING PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
MARCH 19. A Commission has been set up to study the omissions recorded during the presidential election in Armenia, Armenia's President Robert Kocharian told reporters today.
According to him, the Commission will draw conclusions on how to
prevent violations during the May 25 parliamentary elections. "The
international observers' assessments will also be analyzed and
compared with the actual picture," Kocharian said, adding that the
Commission will present the results of its work in two weeks.
ORGANIZERS OF RALLIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS SEEK REVENGE AT FORTHCOMING
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
MARCH 19. The systematic organization of rallies and demontsrations by the opposition is connected with the forthcoming parliamentary elections, Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan told journalists today. He said that the organizers of the rallies seek to sow dissent between the people of mainland Armenia and the Diaspora. For many years already Kocharyan and his government have been trying hard to unite them and now too they are firmly resolved to continue these efforts. That's why the authorities will adequately respond to any attempts to violate the law. "Constantly speaking about legality the opposition itself is taking illegal actions today." "Rallies are not the best tactics after all."
Kocharyan said that he will only welcome legal actions on the part of
the opooisition, like appealing to the Constitutional Court against
the results of the last presidential election. Such issues are not
settled by demonstrations in other countries; nor do people there
rally to attain discharge of a detainee.
BULGARIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED ROBERT KOCHARYAN ON RE-ELECTION
MARCH 19. President of Bulgaria Georgi Pirvanov congratulated his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan on re-election for the second term.
The presidential press-service informed ARMINFO that the
congratulation message in particular says:" The Republic of Bulgaria
pays a great importance to development of the Armenian-Bulgarian ties
based on traditional fraternal relations of the two peoples, on
mutual understanding and aspiration of the two states for integrating
into European structures." Bulgarian President expressed hope for the
personal contacts and an effective dialogue will contribute to
realizing the great potential of the Armenian-Bulgarian relations and
cooperation around the issue of international importance.-
ANY COMMENTS ON ARMEN SARGSSIAN'S ARREST YET EARLY TO MAKE
MARCH 19. It is early to make any comments on the arrest of Armen Sargssian, who is charged with being involved in the assassination of the well-known journalist, Chairman of the Board of Armenia's Public Television Tigran Naghdalian, Vice-Chairman of the "Powerful Fatherland" party Stepan Margarian told a press conference.
According to him, it is not yet known what happened. At the same
time, Margarian expressed his regret over the fact that this happened
to brother of Vazgen Sargssian, who fell victim to the terrorist act
on October 27, 1999.
"POWERFUL FATHERLAND" PARTY TO FOCUS ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN
CASE OF ITS VICTORY IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
MARCH 19. The "Powerful Fatherland" party will first of all focus its attention on the constitutional reforms if it overcomes the 5% barrier in the parliamentary elections in Armenia, the party leader Vardan Vardapetian told a press conference.
According to him, the constitutional amendments mostly concern
reforms of the state and local government systems. Vardapetian
pointed out that the policy being implemented now has resulted in
Yerevan's share of Armenia's financial funds totaling 77%. Yerevan
also bear the major part of the burden of export-import operations,
which does not contribute to a proportional development of all
Armenian regions. Vardapetian also pointed out that the latest
developments in Armenia have shown that the country needs a strong
Parliament, as the issues the Parliament is supposed to decide are
actively discussed during rallies, which is of danger to the
country's future.
INTERFERENCE OF ARMENIA'S PRESIDENT IN WORK OF THE COUNTRY'S
PARLIAMENT CAN BE EFFECTED ONLY IN FORM OF COOPERATION WITH FACTIONS
MARCH 19. Armenia's President can interfere in the work of the country's parliament only though cooperating with parliamentary factions, Pres.Kocharyan told journalists today. Other interference is inadmissible. Kocharyan reminded the journalists that the agenda of the current parliamentary session includes the issue of ratification of a credit agreement with the WB. This is a large credit program aimed at covering Armenia's budgetary deficit, which is directly connected with the payment of wages, pension and benefits. "To wreak the parliament's work now means to deprive the people of this financial opportunities."
Kocharyan also stressed the importance of the program of
constitutional amendments. "Constitutional reforms are a big and
crucial process," Kocharyan said expressing hope that this time the
parliament will secure quorum for discussing this issue.
ONE MORE JOURNALIST SUFFERS AS RESULT OF PICKETS IN YEREVAN
MARCH 19. One more journalist, the staffer of the "Or" (Day) newspaper Kristrina Mnatsakanian, has suffered as a result of pickets in defense of Armen Sargssian, who has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the assassination of Chairman of the Board of Armenia's Public Television Tigran Naghdalian.
According top Mnatsakanian, she "got in the way" of women-debaters.
Seeing a recorder in the journalists' hands, the picket participants
started a brawl, using foul language. The women seized the recorder
from Mnatsakanian's hands and threw it on to the soil to break. When
the journalist tried to pick it up, the women began treading on her
hands. Levon Babamian, representative of the election staff of the
ex-candidate for presidency Garnik Margarian, saved the journalist
from the frenzied women.
ARMENIA'S CEC ACTED AS PARTY CONCERNED IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,
ARTASHES GEGHAMIAN'S SUPPORTERS CLAIM
MARCH 19. Armenia's Central Electoral Commission acted not as organizer, but as a party obviously supporting one of the presidential candidates in the February 19 presidential election, the lawyer Ruben Hovhannissian stated at the CC's sitting today. Hovhannissian represents the interests of the presidential candidate, Chairman of the "National Unity" party Artashes Geghamian, who appealed against the results of the first round of the presidential election. During today's sitting of Armenia's Constitutional Court (CC), Ruben Hovhannissian stated that the CEC concealed from the public the real number of inaccuracies found during the first round of the presidential election - 11,460 instead of the CEC-announced 2,000. Considering the fact that, according to the CEC, Robert Kocharian received 49.5% of votes and needed 3-4 thousand more votes for a final victory, this number being less than that of the inaccuracies, the results of the first round must be invalidated. The lawyers Nune Hovhannissian and Gevorg Nersissian, who represented the CEC at the court sitting failed to give a clear answer to the court's question as to why the CEc did not respond to the complaints lodged by proxies for some of the presidential candidates during the first round of the presidential election, did not take measures after the international experts' negative resolution on the results of the first round, as well as why the protocols of six election commissions, recording the results of 175,000 people's voting do not contain the date they were drawn up on, which is of paramount importance for the counting of votes.
As a result, Armenia's CC made a decision on re-counting of votes in
10 polling stations in the presence of proxies for Artashes
Geghamian and of the CC members. The CC also decided to find out the
exact time on February 20 the CEC received the final protocols of
voting at six of the aforementioned polling stations.
The CC will continue the consideration of Artashes Geghamian's
claim.
GOVERNMENT NOT ENTITLED TO INTERFERE IN ACTIVITIES OF PROSECUTOR'S
OFFICE
MARCH 19. The Government is not entitled to interfere in the activities of the Prosecutor's Office nor is it responsible for the latter's work, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated responding to the question asked by the Parliament member Hrant Khachatrian concerning the activities of the Prosecutor's Office of Armenia, which is investigating the case of attack on the Parliament member Haik Babukhanian during the presidential election campaign.
The Premier stated that the Prosecutor's Office acts within the law,
and, after the investigation is completed, the case will be sent to
court. The Prosecutor's Office, much less so the Government, is not
supposed to consider individuals' arguments concerning a case,
Margarian said. He pointed out that he and the "Republic" party
condemned the act of violence against Haik Babukhanian.
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS' REPORTS ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARMENIA
CONTAIN NO ACCUSATIONS ADDRESSED TO AUTHORITIES
MARCH 19. The reports of international observers, including the OSCE and EU referring the recent presidential election in Armenia contained no accusations addressed to the country's leadership, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at today's Parliamentary session.
He said observers did not specified the election as not conforming to
international standards. Oskanyan said the election was really not
ideal, however, according to observers' reports, violations were
registered both on the party of the authorities and the opposition,
which casts shadow on the country's authority. "The coming several
months will be really difficult for Armenia's foreign policy, as the
world community expected much more from Armenia and the contacts in
the international arena will be followed by our explanations and
justifications," Minister Oskanyan said. Regarding the influence of
foreign observer's estimations on the process of the Karabakh
conflict's settlement, Oskanyan said he sees no considerable
connections between these processes, which will not depend on each
other in case of maintenance of domestic political stability.
MEASURE OF RESTRAINT APPLIED TO ARMEN SARGSSIAN CANNOT BE CHANGED
MARCH 19. No change of the measure of restraint applied to Armen Sargssian is possible now, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian told reporters today. Armen Sargssian is charged with masterminding the assassination of the well-known Armenian journalist Tigran Naghdalian.
Margarian stated that neither he not the Government members are
able to satisfy the demands made by Greta Sargssian, Armen
Sargssian's mother. This is the task of the Prosecutor's
Office of Armenia and judicial bodies. He advised Greta Sargssian not
to resort to extreme steps, including a hunger-strike. "I remain in
friendly relations with the members of my friend Vazgen Sargssian's
family and will do my best, but within the law, to clear up the
case," Margarian said. The possibility of transporting the
arrestee to hospital is being considered now, as he is complaining of
his health. Margarian reported that doctors have visited Armen
Sargssian and if they find his health endangered, his transportation
to hospital will soon be possible. "But now there is a criminal case,
which is investigated in conformity with the law," Margarian said.
ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES' BALANCED POLICY RELIEVED TENSION: PREMIER
MARCH 19. The Armenian authorities' balanced policy has considerably relieved tension in the country, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian told reporters.
According to him, a testimony to this is an appreciable decrease in
the number of participants in the opposition's rallies and less
aggression showed by the opposition itself. "The people cannot be
constantly strained and make legally ungrounded political demands. It
is time for preparations for the next election campaign in
Armenia, the parliamentary elections and allowing the people to make
their choice," Margarian said.
JUDGE'S DISEASE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAY IN TRIAL OF OCTOBER 27 CASE
MARCH 19. The delay in the trial of the October 27 case is accounted for by the judge's disease, Minister of Justice David Harutiunian stated at the Armenian National Assembly today.
According to him, three power branches are operative in Armenia - the
Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary - and all the questions
should be addressed to the last named. The Minister regards as
tactless the statement made by Parliament member, representative of
the People's Party Emma Khudabashyan, who proposed that Parliament
members and journalists visit the judge to make sure of his
competence. "A commission to examine the state of a person's health
cannot be formed just for the interest's sake," the Minister said,
reminding the parliamentarians of the "medical secret."
US EMBASSY IN YEREVAN: POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF ARMENIA
GUILTY IN VIOLATIONS DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
MARCH 19. US Embassy in Yerevan is of the opinion that it is the country's political leadership that is guilty in the violations registered during the presidential election in Armenia, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at the Armenian Parliament today. He said one should not confuse the concept "political leadership" with the "leadership," as the first case concerns both the authorities and the opposition. Minister Oskanyan said that he is not concerned either about the external factors able to influence the settlement of the Karabakh conflict or the domestic political situation in the country any more. If we fail uniting to solve the domestic political problems of Armenia, the situation can arouse a serious concern then, Vardan Oskanyan said. He added that this will create problems both with the settlement process and the situation in the region as well.
Minister Oskanyan did not rule out a possibility of pressure on the
country by external forces, at the same time noting that the country
had suffered such kind of pressure before, but has overcome it due to
the domestic political stability. Oskanyan said unlike the previous
years, the opposition made considerable violations during the recent
presidential election. He refused from naming the observers who
presented the proofs of these violations. Foreign Minister brought
an example of the letter published in the opposition press addressed
to PPA Leader Stepan Demirchyan and allegedly signed by Governor and
Senator of the State California. Oskanyan urged the PPA leader to
come out with condemnation of the false letter. At the same time, he
pointed out the existence of serious violations made by the
authorities, adding that they did not influence the results of the
election. Numerous congratulation messages addressed to the
re-elected president Robert Kocharyan are evident of it, Foreign
Minister said.
PPA MEMBER CHARGES ARMENIA'S LAW-ENFORCERS WITH VIOLATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS
MARCH 19. Armenia's law-enforcement agencies prevent peaceful processions, citizens' participation in the opposition's rallies, illegally detain persons, the member of the Armenian Parliament, representative of the People's Party Vardan Mkrtichian. According to him, 82 persons have been held administratively responsible, some of them have been arrested. Another 12 persons have been detained during the last three days, some of them being women. Several women, as well as a photographer of the "ARMINFO" News Agency, an Iranian citizen, have been beaten up for attending the action of protest in front of the presidential palace. Mkrtichian pointed out that court sittings are held behind closed doors in the absence of lawyers. Responding to this charge, Minister of Justice David Harutiunian pointed out that each person can enjoy his rights as long as he does not infringe on others' rights. Ad it is the reason for the restrictions stipulated by constitutions of many states. In this aspect the Minister disagrees with the claim on the restriction of lawyers' rights. Each person has the right to legal defense. In question are the political figures that are trying to perform the functions of legal defence, without being lawyers. As regards closed court sittings, Harutiunian pointed out that any judge has the right to impose restriction on attendance at court sittings, considering the aggressiveness shown during the first trials. HEADLINES OF 19 MARCH
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