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The Armenian Weekly; April 19, 2008; News

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  • The Armenian Weekly; April 19, 2008; News

    The Armenian Weekly
    80 Bigelow Avenue
    Watertown MA 02472 USA
    (617) 926-3974
    [email protected]
    http://www.ar menianweekly.com

    * * *

    The Armenian Weekly; Volume 74, No. 15; April 19, 2008

    News:

    1. After the Rain: Armenia Faces Challenges in a New Era
    By Christian Garbis

    2. Special Issue

    ***

    1. After the Rain: Armenia Faces Challenges in a New Era
    By Christian Garbis

    YEREVAN (A.W.)'The streets are bustling with activity in Armenia's
    capital. Road construction projects are partially paralyzing the city
    once again after a two-month break. The economy on the surface appears
    to be booming, with the exchange rate holding steady at 305 dram to
    the dollar. Yet Armenia finds itself at a socio-political crossroads,
    the first of its kind since the nation declared independence from the
    Soviet Union. The country is still spiritually reeling from the crisis
    of events that crippled the nation for nearly one month.

    Throughout March and well into April, the arrests of oppositionists
    and even those suspected of having connections to opposition
    supporters persisted. Scores of people remain jailed amid sharp
    criticism from the Council of Europe and strong concern expressed by
    the United States. Aram Sargsyan, former prime minister and brother to
    slain Vazgen Sargsyan, who is one of the key players in the opposition
    movement, was formally accused by the authorities of conspiring
    against the state, although like People's Party leader Stephan
    Demirchian, he has not been arrested. At least 100 people are being
    detained as political prisoners. The crackdowns are viewed by Western
    nations as being a blow to democracy in Armenia.

    International monitoring organizations such as the Council of Europe
    have expressed serious concerns about the mass political arrests. On
    March 31, the organization called for an independent investigation
    regarding the events of March 1 and for all political prisoners to be
    released. Human Rights Watch along with the Council of Europe called
    for the Armenian government to toss out its ban on public assemblies.

    On April 2, about three dozen jailed opposition figures organized a
    hunger strike, among them former foreign minister Alexander
    Arzumanian. The protest began to fade as the health of some of the
    detainees declined drastically. On April 9, opposition leader and
    former president Levon Ter-Petrossian called for the hunger strike to
    end so that activists could prepare for renewed protest movements in
    the future. Meanwhile, Ter-Petrossian curiously remains under house
    arrest despite the fact that nearly all of those closest to him
    politically, notably Pan-Armenian National Movement party members,
    have been jailed.

    The country's new era ushers in a change of leadership. Former
    Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian was sworn into office as
    president on April 9. Just one day before his inauguration, he
    announced that he would appoint Central Bank of Armenia Chairman
    Tigran Sargysan'who bears no relation'as prime minister.

    Both Serge Sarkisian and former President Robert Kocharian worked
    hand-in-hand in setting policies and procedures behind the scenes
    during Kocharian's service as country leader, and there is concern
    that the mechanisms put into place by the two political giants will
    only gain momentum under Sarkisian's reign.

    Tigran Sarkisian's appointment was well received by the coalition
    members. He is perceived as a neutral player on the political scene as
    he holds no allegiance to any political party. Both Armen Rustamian of
    the ARF-Dasknaktsutiun and Arthur Baghdasarian of Orinats Yerkir made
    public statements acknowledging that Sarkisian was the best man suited
    for forming a new government, citing his long experience as an
    official responsible for managing the financial sector.

    Although four leading political parties'Orinats Yerkir, ARF-D,
    Prosperous Armenia, and the Republicans'agreed to join forces in a
    pro-government coalition, they have not yet come to an agreement over
    how they will share ministerial posts. Yet each party anticipates
    retaining control of the ministry seats they had been appointed during
    the Kocharian administration.

    Critics of Tigran Sarkisian's appointment claim that President
    Sarkisian did not even consult his own party before making his choice,
    thereby snubbing some senior Republican members. The prime minister of
    Armenia must form his government within 20 days after having taken
    office.

    Nevertheless, two key positions were filled by President Sarkisian on
    April 9. Eduard Nalbandian, who served as the Armenian Ambassador to
    France, was appointed foreign minister, replacing outgoing Vartan
    Oskanian. Also, colonel-general Seyran Ohanian, a veteran of the
    Nagorno-Karabakh war, was designated as the new minister of defense.

    Since the end of the state of emergency, mass public meetings have
    been restricted and police presence, although fairly light, is still
    evident in places where crowds tend to gather, notably in Liberty
    Square, which circles the Opera House in downtown Yerevan. Despite the
    restrictions, clumps of people can be seen loitering along the
    Northern Boulevard across from the Opera House playing chess or eating
    fast food in alternative forms of protest. On Monday, the wives and
    relatives of oppositionist political prisoners held a demonstration
    demanding their husbands' release in front of the French embassy,
    which is situated on the site of the March 1 clashes. No one was
    arrested. The group of spouses signed a declaration in March calling
    for the activists to be freed from jail.

    Freedom of speech is not only repressed among free-thinking citizens,
    but broadcast waves are also being blocked. Last autumn, GALA TV of
    Gyumri broadcasted a recorded speech made by Ter-Petrossian during
    which he harshly criticized the Armenian government. Since then, the
    authorities have been scrambling to find ways to shut down the station
    legally. Last month, the station held a telethon to raise
    approximately $87,000 that it supposedly owed in fines for unpaid
    taxes; the amount was paid in full. Pensioners were even said to have
    donated 5,000 dram ($16) from their meager monthly stipends to the
    cause. Now GALA TV is being forced to find a new broadcast tower for
    its transmitter as Gyumri's City Hall is suddenly claiming ownership
    of the one the station presently uses, purportedly illegally.

    An unspoken, persistent resentment is still in the air six weeks after
    the events of March 1, which claimed 10 lives to date. Although people
    carry on as if they are fully confident in their new leader, they have
    no choice but to exhibit that sense of confidence, whether or not it
    is sincere. In today's Armenian society, dissent is not to be
    tolerated on any plane of criticism.

    -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------

    2. Special Issue

    Next week, subscribers of the Armenian Weekly and 10,000 new
    households will receive the April 26 special issue, in magazine
    format. With 88 pages in English and Armenian, the magazine features
    research and analysis from leading scholars and commentators, as well
    as photographs from genocide sites and memorials worldwide.
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