armenianow.com
25 June 2004

Outside Eye: A non-Armenian's view of life in his adopted home

By John Hughes
ArmeniaNow Editor

It's good to see that the Government of Armenia is taking seriously the mandates of the Council of Europe to clean up its muddied and bloodied record on protection of human rights.

As a condition of membership in the Council, leaders of the country were told by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that the practice of jailing political dissidents would have to stop.

And so it has.

The case of Lavrenti Kirakosyan is a sparkling example of how the boys on Baghramian Avenue have turned a page, to comply with Council demands.

Problem is, they turned the page backward.

It would appear that what has happened with Kirakosyan is no different than what was happening in Armenia 30 years ago, when Communist leaders fabricated charges to justifying jailing (or worse) those who spoke ill of The Party.

A few details for clarification . . .

Lavrenti Kirakosyan is a leader of the National Democratic Party, one that opposes the administration of President Robert Kocharyan.

During an anti-government demonstration outside the Opera House in April, Kirakosyan was arrested and charged with disobeying a police officer. He received a sentence of 10 days in jail.

Two hours before he was to be released, police were sent to search his home, on a claim that he illegally possessed firearms (belonging to alleged associates). A search turned up no such weapons. So police searched again. This time, police found 59 grams of marijuana, for which Kirakosyan has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Kirakosyan is known in his village as a community leader who doesn't even
smoke cigarettes, much less anything stronger.

It is true that this is not his first arrest (though the first on drug charges). During other times of political tension in 1996, he was jailed on charges that appeared as transparently invented as the ones by which he is now being held.

Some things about the cops' discovery:

1. The dope was found on top of a water heater, where other objects in the same place were covered with dust, yet the bag holding the pot was not dusty.

2. Drug sniffing dogs participated in the search and found nothing.

3. Police say they photographed the search, including the discovery of the evidence. But they say the film was damaged, so they have no photographs.

4. Two men from Kirakosyan's village were called in to witness the search. Both say nothing was found until a second search turned up the contraband. But both also say police coerced them into signing statements to the contrary.

I don't know Lavrenti Kirakosyan. Nor do I share his view that Kocharyan ought to be kicked out of office.

I do, though, know that decent people in this country are routinely abused by the power structure Kocharyan represents. And I suspect many of those citizens would agree that the schemers in power are making a joke of the Council of Europe - a body that, for whatever mandates it might impose, seems terribly inept at enforcing compliance.

The upshot of the matter is this: Far from the eye of PACE, in Strasbourg, the heavys in Yerevan can make it appear as though they're behaving properly. "Look," they can say, "we didn't jail a political dissident, we jailed a drug dealer."

Lavrenti Kirakosyan faces 18 months in prison on, at best, questionable charges. And the message clearly enforced is that if authorities want to put somebody away, they'll find a way to do it. Just like in the old days.

While we're on the topic . . .

Edgar Arakelyan is serving an 18-month sentence stemming from his
participation in a political rally that turned violent.

To break up a crowd of demonstrators, police used water canons, percussion grenades, tear gas and riot batons.

Arakelyan had a plastic water container, and when police struck with their weapons, he struck back with his, an empty Jermuk bottle.

Nearly three years ago a bodyguard for President Robert Kocharyan beat a man to death in a cafe. Aghamal "Kuku" Harutyunyan was found guilty of negligent manslaughter. He never saw the inside of a jail.

The sentence for throwing a plastic bottle during a police-dominated melee? Eighteen months.

The sentence for beating a man to death in a cafe? Zero months.

The difference? That's the question the Council of Europe should consider if it is serious about enforcing human rights in Armenia.

ArmenPress
June 25 2004

GEORGIAN POLICE ARREST TWO ARMENIANS ON TRAFFICKING CHARGES

TBILISI, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS: Georgian police have arrested two ethnic Armenians, Ashot Hovhanesian and Marina Mnatsakanian, on charges of running a criminal group involved in trafficking of women. The Armenians are accused of trying to transport 15 young women from Uzbekistan to the United Arab Emirates UAE). The women had been promised jobs in Georgia, but when they arrived in the Georgian capital they were told they would get their passports only in Dubai, the girls however refused to travel to the UAE and were locked in a Tbilisi apartment.

According to Georgian laws, the criminals could face up to 20 year
imprisonment. "We have to carry out a detailed investigation, as the group seems to be well-organized and most likely that was not its first attempt to transport women for prostitution," a prosecutor Boris Mchkheidze was quoted by RFE/RL as saying.

I’m sorry to hear that Raffi on Cilicia.com has decided to suspend his logs, but fear not, the mention of him maybe finding new people tolog is an indication that he will be back quite soon, so check in to “Life in Armenia” from time to time. I'll be sure to announce to you all when that time comes.

As for the excuse that HETQ played a big role because Raffi didn’t want his logs reposted and for that being his main reason for him to no longer log, I find that to be a really bad excuse. Raffi clearly stated in a bulk e-mail I got right after April 3th, that had all the logs and then some, to distribute it to everyone the receiver knows. One of the people I sent it off to was Edik, the guy that Raffi blames at HETQ, who did as Raffi asked.

On top of this, Raffi should be very happy that HETQ reposted his logs about Arpil 13th, as I’m positive that word got all the way back to Robert Kocharian and he understood that downplaying or covering up April 13th would be a bad idea and that future such violations could be seen by roaming, credible Diasporian eyes.

Anyway for whatever reason Raffi chose to stop logging, I’m sorry to see him go, but know that he will return soon.

A1 Plus | 14:34:20 | 17-06-2004 | Social |

A MONKEY TO EACH OFFICIAL?

The protest action held for defense of the political prisoners near theGeneral Office of Prosecutor has today ended in the unique awards. Eleonora Manandyan, Chair of "New Armenia" social organization introduced 3 statues of monkeys - the prizes set for attitude towards the political prisoners.

The statue of the monkey closing its eyes with own hands, "I see
nothing", was given to Armenian Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan.

The monkey with closed ears, "I hear nothing" was awarded to Pargev Ohanyan, Judge of the First Instance Court of Kentron-Norq Marash Communes, for the trial of Edgar Araqelyan.

"I say nothing", the monkey closing its mouth, was given to Public TV Company of Armenia. Other representatives of Mass Media as well, "H2", "Armenia", "Arm News", "Yerevan" TV Companies could win the latter prize. But Public TV Company was preferred.

"The pickets proved that one can achieve his purposes just by
overcoming the sense of fear. We will keep fighting and will carry it through", Manandyan says.

Opposition representatives were present for the award. Albert Bazeyan thinks a Grand Prix was to be handed to Robert Kocharyan.

All the prizes will be sent to the "winners" after the protest action.

This one should be titled “Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian once again elects a band-aid solution to a problem he and his cabinet perpetuates”

After you are done reading this article in full, read my comments that follow.

RFE/RL Armenia Report - 06/16/2004

Armenian Proposals For Extra U.S. To Be Ready 'Next Month'

By Gevorg Stamboltsian

Prime Minister Andranik Markarian said on Wednesday the Armenian government will finalize by the end of next month its proposals for the use of additional U.S. government assistance which it will likely receive under Washington's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program.

Markarian spoke after chairing the first meeting of an ad hoc commission of senior government officials which is tasked with assessing the country's urgent needs, discussing possible ways of meeting them with the promised extra U.S. aid and submitting a relevant plan to the American side.

Under the terms of the MCA, Armenia and 15 other developing nations selected by the U.S. government last spring must themselves specify how much money they need and how they would use it. Top executives from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) which runs the scheme visited Yerevan late last month for the first discussions on the subject with Armenian officials.

They made it clear that the aid allocation to Armenia is not a forgone conclusion and will depend on the quality of the proposals. According to senior U.S. diplomats, it will also be contingent on the improvement of Yerevan's "poor" human rights record.

Speaking to journalists, Markarian said that the government would like to primarily spend the MCA funds on the reconstruction of the battered infrastructure of the country's impoverished rural regions that have hardly benefited from recent years' economic growth. He said that would mean rebuilding schools, countryside roads and irrigation networks. "All of these programs must be in line with our [12-year] poverty reduction strategy," he said.

Asked how much the Armenian side expects to get from the MCC, he said: "It is too early to talk about sums [of money]. But according to our preliminary estimates, [the government will ask for] between $500 million and $600 million in the next five years."

Finance and Economy Minister Vartan Khachatrian came up last week with an even more ambitious aid target: $700 million, of which $100 million should be made available as early as this year. But he was more cautious and vague in his comments on Wednesday. "Even [the MCC] don't know what will happen," he said.

Khachatrian reiterated that the government commission in charge of the MCA is open to proposals from Armenian non-governmental organizations. He complained that it has received only two aid projects so far.

Armenia has already received over $1.5 billion in regular U.S. assistance since independence. It will get at least $78.4 million worth of further assistance in the course of this year.

##

Now that you got this far, go one step further and visit www.mca.gov and read the documents they have so you can understand that Prime Minister Markarian and his ad hoc commission of senior government officials, missed the point of MCC is suppose to be helping.

“What types of activities will the MCC fund?

The MCC's mission is to achieve economic growth and reduce poverty. Examples of areas that are directly tied to a country's productivity and economic growth include agricultural development, education, enterprise and private sector development, governance, health, and trade capacity building. However, these categories are meant to be illustrative, not exclusive. Because country ownership is a hallmark of the MCA, decisions on specific MCA investments will be made on a country-by-country basis and will fit within each country's overall growth and poverty reduction strategy.”

So here is a program that could in fact help to kick-start real economic growth, but instead the PM and his ad hoc commission think that it would be best that we concentrate over $500 million on “rebuilding schools, countryside roads and irrigation networks,” instead of helping with enterprise and private sector development, as rebuilding of schools, roads and irrigation systems are a sure way that the PM and the people who are by his side can skim off so they can get richer and more powerful.

If you ask me, until Armenia gets control of corruption, it really should pass on applying for any more "loans" that will further bog down development. In addition to this, check out who the board of directors are. MCC sounds to me like a bad idea and just another IMF or World Bank type of Amreican run operation to further harness control of developing nations. What will MCC and the US government expect from us in the future for “helping us out” and making us more dependent?

BTW, MCC can not force Armenia to enter into it's program. It has only approved Armenia for this aid and only if Armenia is interested in it can it apply. On the other hand, a begger never passes up a hand-out and knowing the PM and those in power, they will take anything they can now, since in the future, they will not be the ones paying the price that comes with MCC and other aid that they build their personal economic growth with.

I hope that someone from the MFA reads this post and passes it on to the PM and his ad hoc commission, as if they do move forward with their plan to ask for $500+ million for what they say they will, you can be sure someone will embarrass the hell out of them for this very big mistake ;)

ARMENIA - SOURCE AND TRANSIT COUNTRY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS TRAFFICKING TO UAE, TURKEY, RUSSIA AND EUROPE

WASHINGTON, JUNE 15. ARMINFO. Armenia is primarily a source and transit country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation mainly to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Turkey, as well as Russia, Greece, and other European countries. Trafficking to Russia, Turkey and the U.A.E. for the purposes of labor exploitation was an increasingly significant problem, says the annual trafficking report of US State Department.

There were a few cases of trafficking in women from Uzbekistan to
Armenia for sexual exploitation. Advocates expressed concerns about internal trafficking and trafficking of orphans, but no confirmed cases were uncovered. The Government of Armenia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Cooperation between police and NGOs increased the number of investigations, and provided police a greater under-standing of international and domestic sources of trafficking. The government should improve legal instruments to create more effective tools for law enforcement and should improve the transparency of its anti-corruption programs. Article 132 of the criminal code, adopted in August 2003, prohibited trafficking in persons for mercenary purposes with a maximum penalty for aggravating circumstances of four to eight years of imprisonment. These penalties were not commensurate with other grave crimes, such as rape.

Previous reports highlighted trafficking to the U.A.E., and during the reporting period, police investigated suspected trafficking operations to Dubai involving an estimated 90 women. Police initiated two criminal investigations under Article 132 on trafficking in persons and 17 under Article 262 (operating a brothel), nine of which referred to pimping abroad or trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation. Corruption was a problem, and two police officers and two airport officials received administrative penalties for abuse of power related to a trafficking operation to the U.A.E. The government cooperated with Georgia and the U.A.E. in investigating and apprehending traffickers, including cooperating in the return of a suspected trafficker from the U.A.E. to stand trial in Armenia. Law enforcement improved its record of victim identification and referrals to a service-providing NGO. In one operation, police identified eight foreign prostitutes, suspected they were victims and referred them to an NGO for assistance. Armenian NGOs provided most victim assistance, but cooperated well with police. In order to alleviate vulnerabilities of an at-risk group, the government adopted a program to provide apartments to children who graduated from orphanages, and provided assistance to poor families with needy children. Prevention activities increased during the reporting period, especially through the use of mass media. The National Police were featured in several training films and TV shows on trafficking, and the Ministry of Education approved anti-trafficking educational lectures for secondary and university students. In January of 2004, the government approved an anti-trafficking national action plan for 2004-2006. The government contributed the equivalent of $11,000 of its own funds to support the work of the National Anti-Trafficking Commission, and foreign donors provided the remaining funds.

Azeri Student Responds With Effusive Apologies

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

In contrast to the obscene and threatening e-mail Rauf Zeynalov (an Azeri university student) had sent on April 30th to Garen Vrtanesyan, the web master of an Armenian web-site, he sent in response to our last week's column an e-mail full of regrets and apologies. In his e-mail addressed to the "readers of The California Courier," Zeynalov repeatedly expressed his regrets for offending Armenians. In fact, in his letter, the word "apology" appears 12 times and the word "sorry" 4
times. Here is his lengthy and rambling letter:

"I am writing in order to ask for apology for a recent incident happened with an e-mail I send (sic) to Ms. Karen [Mr. Garen] Vrtanesyan. First of all, I would like to ask for sincere apologies to everyone who has been affected and hurt from my letter. I understand that a lot of people are hurt because of my words, and I am ready to apologize to everyone, and I hope one day I will have your forgiveness. With this letter, I ask for apology of all readers of The California Courier, and for apology of everyone that has been harmed from my words.

"Second, I would like to explain the situation and why this incident
happened. At the time of writing the letter to Vrtanesyan, I lost myself due to my emotions and I forgot that the language I was using should never be used. As everyone knows the Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has resulted in death of lots of innocent people from both sides. And during these conflicts, as a resident of Karabakh, we lost our relatives, house, and assets and became a refugee in Baku, Azerbaijan. We have been settled in a hostel in the capital of Azerbaijan, with four family members. All of these problems made me very emotional and when I read an article in www.armenianhouse.org about an Azerbaijani soldier, I became victim of my emotions when I was writing to Vrtanesyan. All of these reasons that I have mentioned above made me quite emotional and made me forget what kind of language I was using in my letter to Vrtanesyan.

"But after analyzing the case deeply, I understood that whatever the reasons are, I should not use that type of language with anyone. So I would like to ask my sincere apologies. I am not such type of person who is using that kind of language and I would like to say that the language type which was used by me was only and only result of my emotions for that time. In order to prove myself and to show that I am not that kind of person, and I am really sorry for being victim of my emotions, I would like to apologize to Vrtanesyan and to all readers of The California Courier. The incident that happened with Vrtanesyan was due to losing myself in my emotions for very short time. I regretted writing that letter immediately after I send (sic) it, but it was too late, because a lot of people were hurt from my action. I want to ask sorry (sic) to everyone, and I hope that everyone accepts my apologies.

"I am really aware of my action, I am really aware of the damage my actions caused, and I would like to ask once more apologies of everyone, for using slang type of language in my letter to Vrtanesyan. I am extremely sorry for my action and I would like to say that I am also ready to ask for apologies to every individual.

"I understand that my letter has affected many people. Therefore, I am open to ask sorry (sic) to every person and every community that has been affected from my letter, which, I emphasize, was written in a moment when I was victim of my emotions.

"Again I want to ask my deep apology to everyone for the incident, and I can assure everyone, that not only this kind but also any kind of incident will never happen again. I hope you will accept my apologies very sincerely and will take them into consideration."

It is not very often that we get a letter of apology from a Turk or an Azeri for sending an offensive or threatening e-mail message. While we commend Zeynalov for apologizing and recognizing his mistake, we are dismayed that he uses the Karabagh conflict as an excuse for his inexcusable action. We cannot overlook the fact that his apology may be an attempt to have his suspension from the American University in Bulgaria reversed and is trying to save his full scholarship from Soros Foundation's Open Society Institute. His contention that he "regretted writing the offensive e-mail immediately after sending it" does not hold water. He sent an apology six weeks later, only after realizing that it was in his best interest to do so. Finally, a psychoanalyst should evaluate and treat Zeynalov to ensure that he is totally rid of his demons, before he is readmitted to the University, and before Armenians can forgive his hate crime.

Journalist Attackers Fined By Court
By Karine Kalantarian 11/06/2004 12:39

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
June 11 2004

A court in Yerevan convicted Thursday two men of involvement in last
April's unprecedented attack on journalists covering an opposition
rally but stopped short of imprisoning them, fining each of them
100,000 drams ($182) instead.

Ashot Avetisian and Hrair Harutiunian admitted assaulting journalists and smashing their cameras and were found guilty of "deliberately damaging property" belonging to other persons. The light punishment was demanded by city prosecutors who cited "many mitigating circumstances" such as the defendants' confession of their guilt. The trial was dismissed as a farce by some of the journalists subjected to violence during the April 5 demonstration held in the Armenian capital by the opposition National Unity Party (AMK). "For me it's obvious that they were simply carrying out orders on that day," one of those reporters, Anna Israelian of the "Aravot" daily, told RFE/RL. "I still don't have an answer to the question of how strictly those carrying out orders must be punished.

"The pre-trial investigation and the court did not wish to establish the complete picture of what happened on that day. They just buried the case."

The AMK demonstration was nearly disrupted by about two dozen men who hurled eggs at the party's leader Artashes Geghamian and set off firecrackers. Journalists at the scene filmed the attempted disruption only to have their video and still cameras smashed by the well-built thugs. According to eyewitnesses, among them an RFE/RL correspondent, scores of police officers led by General Hovannes Varian stood nearby and looked on as the ugly scene unfolded. Their conspicuous refusal to intervene prompted speculation that the violence was engineered by the Armenian authorities.

Of all journalists questioned in connection with the case only Israelian has testified that the two defendants were among the attackers. The two other journalists, including a cameraman for state television, said they do not remember the men's faces.

Avetisian and Harutiunian, for their part, refused to be cross-examined in the court, asking their lawyer to read out their written pre-trial testimony. They both denied being hired by anyone to stir up trouble and claimed to have found themselves at the site of the Geghamian rally "by chance."

The announcement of the court verdict followed a brief but extremely tense trial. The small courtroom was packed with about 30 burly men who appeared to be the defendants' friends or acquaintances. Several of them blocked entrance to the courtroom before the start of the hearings, preventing journalists from entering it and ignoring their protests. They did not relent even after being approached by the court chairman, Zhora Vartanian.

"Step aside and let them go in," Vartanian told them. "Listen to me, I am the chairman of this court."

The journalists were allowed to make their way into the courtroom only 15 minutes later. But two of them, officially listed as "victims" in the case, walked out shortly afterward in protest against the psychological pressure exerted by the attackers' friends. Police guards showed up only half-way through the trial.

My montage of Onnik's pictures from the April 5th journalist attack made it's way on to the front of Aravot newspaper!

AGBU London lecture Series

PHOTO PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

POVERTY, TRANSITION AND DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA

Centre for Armenian Information and Advice
105a Mill Hill Road, Acton
London W3 8JF
Nearest tube: Acton Town

29 June 2004. 7:30 pm. Admission Free.

AGBU London is pleased to host a presentation on poverty in the
republic of Armenia. The speaker, Onnik Krikorian is a British photojournalist living in Armenia for the past five years. He identifies some of the crippling poverty and its probably long term consequences in Armenia today. The purpose of Krikorian's presentation is to share information, to cultivate a better understanding of everyday realities in Armenia, and to foster informed discussions when considering the future of Armenia and Armenians. The AGBU, the largest Armenian philanthropic organisation in the world, has a vested interest in promoting such understanding of Armenia.

The Armenian Government recently declared a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) to reduce poverty in Armenia to 20% by 2015. This is a major undertaking that merits serious attention and forms the backdrop to our guest speaker. Krikorian will share his insights through his experience working with international organizations and NGOs operating in the Republic, as well as his every-day interaction with ordinary people in Armenia. His talk will be illustrated with probing photographs and commentaries. He will also address other related issues such as corruption and the democraticization process in the Republic of Armenia today.

Finally, Krikorian will present a multimedia CD of his photographs and articles. This CD project was partly supported by AGBU London and aimed at NGOs working in Armenia. Copies will be available at the event.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: While in Armenia Krikorian has written and
photographed for the United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF), Mйdecins Sans Frontiиres (France), Transitions Online, New Internationalist, Fox News, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, The Los Angeles Times, as well as Armenian Forum (Gomidas Institute), The Armenian Weekly, and others. He is currently working for the Association of Investigative Journalists of Armenia / HETQ Online.

For more information about the above presentation or AGBU (London)
please contact Ara Sarafian at (020) 7602 7990 or email ara@gomidas.org.uk