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LAW "ON INFORMATION FREEDOM" DEMOCRATIC IN OUTWARD APPEARANCE: DAVID HARUTIUNYAN
According to him, the Law is faulty, contains numerous contradictions, including its very name. It is natural that the Law should have evoked a negative response of the country's public. The Minister explained that Article 24 of the RA Constitution stipulates citizens' right to receive and disseminate information. However, the name of the Law, "On Information Freedom" only stipulates the rights to receive information, without saying anything on dissemination of information. "The issue under discussion is not void of political nuances, so a certain result is of paramount importance for us," Harutiunyan said. The Minister gave assurances that the goal of the Law is ensuring real freedom of information. The Law needs revising to become effective, the Minister said. Within this end in view, the RA Ministry of Justice applied to the OSCE and USAID for assistance in engaging an expert to examine Armenia's mass media legislation. Harutiunyan does not deny that Armenia's legislation is rather contradictory. After Armenia declared independence it had 70,000 legal acts adopted 50 and more years, and only 30 legal acts now remained that need revising. "NEW TIMES" PARTY WILL LEAD POPULAR MOVEMENT AGAINST AUTHORITIES: ARAM KARAPETYAN YEREVAN, MARCH 20. ARMINFO. As long as the "New Times" party is not ready to lead the popular movement against Armenia's current authorities, it will render assistance to the opposition by participating in rallies and other actions, Chairman of the party, Head of the Center of Strategic Initiatives "Perspective" Aram Karapetyan stated at the "Azdak" discussion club. According to him, as soon as the "New Times" party leads the popular movement against the country's authorities, the "play will be over." "Unfortunately, in politics it the stager of a play does not always finish it," he said. Karapetyan stated that the day that early presidential election is appointed in Armenia, he will present his election program to the public. He reported that he has selected members of his shadow cabinet, which, however, does not include opposition representatives. He pointed out that his shadow cabinet is composed of professionals. He did not rule out the possibility that the cabinet can include professional members of the current Government as well. He stressed that if the "New Times" party comes to power, representatives of the incumbent authorities will not be persecuted. Commenting on the opposition's activities in struggling the current authorities, Karapetyan stressed that the opposition can only gain victory if it acts within the Constitution. He expressed confidence that a bloodless democratic revolution can be staged in Armenia. On the other hand, Karapetyan did not rule out the possibility of excesses on the authorities' part. He stressed that, according to the information at his disposal, the opposition intends to struggle against the authorities in peaceful ways, but the authorities may use force. However, the international structures warned the Armenian authorities that the country will become a political outcast if the authorities use force in response to the opposition's peaceful actions. OOSTLANDER REPORT REAFFIRMS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTIONS ON THE GENOCIDE ISSUE BRUSSELS, MARCH 20. ARMINFO. The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy (AFET) adopted on March 17th, 2004, the report "on Turkey's progress towards accession," written by Dutch Christian Democrat Representative, Mr. Arie Oostlander (PPE), by a vote of 39 for, 2 against and 7 abstentions. The adopted report "requests Turkey to reopen the borders with Armenia and to promote good neighborly relations with Armenia, to work together to promote equitable solutions to the regional conflicts and not to take any action that would stand in the way of a historic reconciliation." In another compromise amendment adopted by the Committee, the report wishes for "the establishment of a dialogue between Turkish and Armenian academics, social and non-governmental organizations in order to overcome the tragic experiences of the past as has been expressed in its earlier resolutions. "Though a reasonable dialogue between peoples is always desirable, Mr. Oostlander's report fails to recognize that Turkey is still today far from demonstrating the slightest serious intention to conduct dialogue with Armenia and Armenians. Consequently, it is not possible to camouflage the crime suffered by the Armenian people with well-meaning wishes," stated Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. Arie Oostlander's report will be submitted to European Parliament vote during its plenary session in the coming weeks. HUNGARIAN OMBUDSMAN TAKES INTEREST IN CASE OF AZERBAIJANI OFFICER-KILLER YEREVAN, MARCH 20. ARMINFO. Hungarian Ombudsman has taken an interest in the investigation on the case of an Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov kept in custody in Budapest. Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova told Baku-based "525" newspaper. It should be noted R.Safarov killed his Armenian colleague Gurgen Margaryan on Feb 19 with an axe. Hungarian Police completes the investigation on this crime. At present Safarov is in the prison of maximum security. Ombudsman said that she addressed a letter to her Hungarian colleague with a request for a fair preliminary investigation and trial in this case. In her letter, the Azerbaijani Ombudsman also touched upon the problem of translator, as Ramil Safarov has very poor knowledge of Russian language and suffers difficulties when interrogated in Russian. Suleymanova said that no reply has been received from the Hungarian Ombudsman, Professor Lenkovich, so far. In its turn, the Baku-based "Echo" newspaper reports that the lawyer Elchin Usubov, officially representing Safarov's interests in Hungary, managed to meet the defendant and solve all the problems of the given stage. The lawyer brought Safarov's words that he "is very concerned about the fact that several forces in Baku try to raise an issue of his awarding and proclaiming a national hero. He does understand why it is done, and considers such statements insulting the memory of the people whose relatives were killed in Karabakh war," Elchin Usubov said. Giving an assessment of the protection by the Hungarian lawyer Peter Zalay (name as given), Usubov said: "I would not want to comments on this now. I can say only that he is not the best lawyer in Hungary exactly." HEADLINES OF FEBRUARY 20 MARCH
43.8% ECONOMIC GROWTH REGISTERED IN NKR IN 2003
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YEREVAN, MARCH 20. ARMINFO. The Law "On information freedom" is only
democratic in outward appearance. In fact it lacks some important
elements necessary for democratic development," RA Minister of
Justice David Harutiunyan stated at a round-table "Reforms of
Armenia's mass media legislation and its conformity with the European
standards."
