Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05YEREVAN1939
2005-11-02 13:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO PRESS CONFERENCE ON

Tags:  KMDR OPRC KPAO AM 
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021333Z Nov 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001939 

SIPDIS

EUR/PPD-CFITZGERALD AND JBASEDOW, EUR/CACEN-JDEHART AND
KWITMER, EUR

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO PRESS CONFERENCE ON
DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS


SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------- --------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001939

SIPDIS

EUR/PPD-CFITZGERALD AND JBASEDOW, EUR/CACEN-JDEHART AND
KWITMER, EUR

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: MEDIA REACTION TO PRESS CONFERENCE ON
DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS


SUMMARY
-------------- --------------


1. SUMMARY: On October 27, Ambassador Evans and USAID
Mission Director Robin Phillips held a press conference on
U.S. democracy assistance programs. The press conference
focused on planned U.S. assistance to help Armenia hold free
and fair parliamentary elections in 2007 and presidential
elections in 2008. The purpose of the conference was to
begin to focus attention on the importance of the 2007/2008
elections, as well as to explain our assistance programs to
the media amid recent speculation in the press that U.S.
assistance is either funding a revolution or supporting the
opposition. The media extensively covered the event, with
many outlets focusing on the Ambassador's comments that "the
U.S. does not favor revolutions in the streets." Much of
the opposition media criticized these statements, while pro-
government outlets tended to quote these statements without
editorial comments of their own. One newspaper continued
its vendetta against the Ambassador. END SUMMARY.

OPPOSITION MEDIA CRITICIZE STATEMENTS AGAINST REVOLUTION
-------------- --------------


2. During the press conference, Ambassador Evans stated,
"The United States does not favor revolutions in the
streets. Revolution is the product of failure. We favor
evolution. We believe that the way to choose leaders is at
the ballot box, not in the streets." Pro-opposition press
responded largely negatively to these statements.


3. IRAVUNK, an oppositionist newspaper, quoted Ambassador
Evans's statement against revolutions and commented, "This
textbook truth was presented by the ambassador of a country
that is carrying out color revolutions throughout the world.
With this, the Ambassador contradicted the position
expressed so far by the leaders of his country."


4. "168 HOURS," also an oppositionist newspaper, stated,
"The most interesting statement by John Evans was that the
U.S. does not support street revolutions. The comments are
needless..." The article continues, "Of course, the press
conference was interpreted differently by different media
outlets. The pro-government media mentioned with open
satisfaction that the U.S. does not support the plans of the
opposition; the opposition media were very disappointed and

dissatisfied; others simply presented the ideas expressed
during the press conference without any comments."

PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA REPORTS ON THE AMBASSADOR'S STATEMENTS
AGAINST REVOLUTION
-------------- --------------


5. HAYOTS ASHKHAR, a pro-government newspaper, published an
article entitled, "The U.S. Does Not Support Street
Revolutions." The article states, "When asked whether he
thinks it is possible that the referendum will lead to a
revolution, the Ambassador gave a comprehensive answer, 'The
United States does not support street revolutions.'"


6. NOVOYE VREMYA, a Russian-language pro-government
newspaper, reported, "The head of the U.S. diplomatic
mission stated that the U.S. supports evolutionary
development in Armenia. This wish of the U.S. diplomat was
accepted by the local oppositionists without enthusiasm.
Some of them directly hinted that Evans's words are not an
order, that the referendum is doomed to fail, and that
people will take to the streets on the evening of November

27. 'What can such statements from a State Department
representative mean on the eve of our constitutional
referendum?' asked the opposition mass media, who at the
same time accused the American diplomat of being pro-
government."

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND POLITICIANS RESPOND TO THE
CONFERENCE
-------------- --------------


7. The media reported on the response of government
officials and politicians to the press conference. A1+, an
independent news agency, reported, "Yesterday, U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans held a press conference in
which he presented U.S. government programs supporting the
2007-2008 elections. Today this step of the Ambassador was
commented on by various members of parliament with differing
points of view--as an attempt to meddle in the internal
affairs of Armenia, and as a way to speed up the
democratization process." The article states that deputies
from the opposition Justice bloc consider the U.S. program
"both a contribution to the development of democracy and
interference in the internal affairs of the country."

8. NOVOYE VREMYA also reported on the response of
politicians and officials to the press conference. An
article in the newspaper states, "The reaction of local
politicians to the State Department initiative varied. For
example, the leader of the United Labor Party, Gurgen
Arsenian, reacted to the proposed package without additional
emotion and noted, 'It's our fault that this kind of package
came into existence. Our elections were not only far from
international standards, but also gave grounds for mistrust
among our society and all the branches of power.'" The
article continues, "The Deputy Parliament Speaker, Vahan
Hovhannisian, does not share the optimism of some of his
colleagues. Hovhannisian considers it normal that a young
democratic country is given advice by an experienced
country, but wonders if the U.S. 'is once again following
double standards.' Hovhannisian is concerned that the U.S.
has kept silent about the 'shameful things that happen in
Azerbaijan in regard to the lack of freedom of speech and
human rights issues.' Hovhannisian complained, 'When we
close the streets to demonstrators, the West immediately
submits a package of suggestions and recommendations to us.
So, I am forced to believe that the actions of the State
Department are determined by oil interests.'"

"HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK" CONTINUES CAMPAIGN AGAINST AMBASSADOR
EVANS
-------------- --------------


9. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, a radical oppositionist daily,
continued to publish personal attacks against Ambassador
Evans. An article entitled "Just Like Himself," states,
"When asked how the fact that one of the opposition parties
was not provided an area for its party congress fits into
the context of democracy, Evans answered that single cases
should not be extrapolated upon. We should hope that Evans
is also a single case and not an example of all Americans."


10. A second article entitled "Is There Life On Mars? The
U.S. Ambassador Likes Pilaf," states, "During the question
and answer session, the Ambassador tried to distract
journalists, talking of journalist training programs
proposed in the project, and asked journalists to keep their
questions short if he promised to keep his answers short in
turn." The article continues, "This continued to the point
when Evans's patience was exhausted and he announced that he
needed to go to lunch. This was the end of the press
conference even though journalists still had questions to
ask." (Note: Journalists in Yerevan tend to ask lengthy
questions that amount to political diatribes. Before ending
the press conference, the Ambassador invited journalists who
had additional questions to submit them to the Public
Affairs Section. End Note.) (Comment: The Embassy has
made several attempts to improve relations with this
newspaper. It appears, however, that the editor-in-chief
has chosen to pursue a personal campaign against the
Ambassador. End Comment.)

EVANS