Armenian NGOs against Armenian Involvement in Iraq

[ 24.09.2004 ]

On September 24 Women's Republican Council organized the round table with
participation of NGOs, involved in the ecological and women’s issues, dedicated
to the problem of sending Armenian forces in Iraq. About 15 NGO representatives
expressed their concern regarding this fact. The participants of the round table
signed the message to the National Assembly. The draft text of message (in
Armenian) is avilable at


http://www.hra.am/arm/index1.php?goto=guest&id=49


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=guest&id=61

Alleged Manucharian Attacker Questioned By Police

[22.09.2004]

On September 17, 2004 Vrezh Osipyan, who had been identified by Ashot
Manucharyan as one of his attackers, and whose picture had been published by
Hetq Online and the newspaper Aravot, visited Aravot's editorial office. Osipyan
said that he had been in Moscow and two days ago had received a call saying his
that his picture was in the papers. He took the first available flight home.

Osipyan says he doesn't know Ashot Manucharyan and had nothing to do with the
April 22, 2004 attack. An excerpt from his conversation with Edik Baghdasaryan
can be found at



http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1822


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1823

Armenian Tycoons Devised Tricks Shielding Their Bodyguards from Law

[22.09.2004]

Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office has sent the case on violence committed
against Aravot newspaper correspondent Anna Israelyan and Photolur photographer
Mkhitar Khachatryan to Kotayk community’s first instance court.

It should be reminded that both Anna and Mkhitar were badly beaten by a
well-known tycoon’s bodyguards and barred from doing their work.

The case papers sent so far didn’t reach the destination. Iravunk newspaper and
Noyan Tpan news agency voiced alarm at the lost case. Liberty radio station
correspondent tried to clarify the case fate.

Nothing became clear: the case left Prosecutor’s Office but hasn’t been seen in
court.

Anna Israelyan says there is nothing surprising in what happened. “Our justice
is good at doing miracles and our tycoon’s resourcefulness is unlimited. They
devised new and new tricks shielding their bodyguards from the law”, she said.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1821

Open Government Laws Provide a Key to Democracy and Development

[28.09.2004]

September 28 is the International Right to Know Day. Right to Know Day marks the
fact that people have a right of access to information held by governments and
public bodies about the activities and decisions that affect their lives.
Throughout the world, more than 50 countries have enacted access to information
legislation which opens government records to public scrutiny.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1825

Armenians Unable To Change Regime, Says Global Freedom Survey

[24.09.2004]

An annual global survey of freedom by a respected U.S. watchdog paints a largely
bleak picture of political rights and civil liberties in Armenia, concluding
that its citizens have been unable to change their government through elections
since independence.

According to Freedom House, the country remains “partly free” due to chronic
electoral fraud as well as “some limits” on press freedom and “widespread
violations of due process.”


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1824

The whole text of the report can be found at

http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/armenia.htm 




OSCE Office Holds Conference in Armenia on Role of Media in Combating
Corruption

[28.09.2004]

The role of the media in the fight against all forms of corruption was the focus
of a conference organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The two-day event, held
over the weekend in Tsakhkadzor, brought together more than 30 journalists.

Together with representatives of the National Assembly, the Presidential
Administration, the Prosecutor's Office and civil society, they discussed what
the media can do to help combat corruption in Armenia as well as forms of
co-operation with the authorities.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1827