Month: June 2005

ISSUE NOT SOLVED YET
A1plus
| 13:35:08 | 03-06-2005 | Social |
The acting period of the working group investigating the issue
of the deposits of the Armenian citizens has been prolonged for
two months. Let us remind you that the working group was formed on
February 5, 2005 on the basis of the decree of Robert Kocharyan. The
acting date of the Committee was 4 months and the time was up at the
beginning of June.
The Committee accounted for the prolonging of the acting period by
the necessity to deeply investigate the international experience on
the issue and to renew the data about the deposits of the Armenian
citizens in the USSR Saving Bank.

THE FRENCH “PUT FIRE” INTO THE SUNDUKYAN THEATRE
A1plus
| 12:32:17 | 03-06-2005 | Social |
Yesterday at about 09:00 – 09:15 p.m. the Theater after Sundukyan
sent a fire alarm. 3 fire fighting cars arrived at the place of
incident. One of the workers of the theater told that there was a
terrible smoke inside the building. “We checked every room, there
was no fire, but we decided to call the fire brigade”, he said.
One of the fire fighters climbed up the 4th floor. Some 15 minutes
later he told his co-workers from the 4th floor window that the alarm
was false. What had happened? One of the workers of the French Embassy
had entered the building and informed that perhaps the smoke was from
the fire burnt near the Embassy building. And really it was that.

TURKEY DID NOT ALLOW THE NATIONAL TEAM OF MACEDONIA TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN
A1plus
| 17:23:04 | 03-06-2005 | Sports |
The National team of Macedonia was not able to arrive in Yerevan
yesterday evening, as it was planned, in order to take part in the
match with the Armenian national team on June 4. The plane in which
the Macedonian team was coming to Yerevan was forced to return to
Skopje from Turkey.
After losing a day the Macedonian national team will arrive in Yerevan
today at about 8:00 p.m. Factually, the Macedonian footballers will
arrive only 24 hours before the game, which may considerably affect
the game tomorrow.
Besides, the coach of the Macedonian team has invited 8 new players
to the team among whom there are 2 goalkeepers. After this game it
will become clear which team will take the 5th place in the group.
Let us remind you once more that the Youth teams will play at 3:00
p.m. by local time in the Hrazdan stadium, and the National teams –
at 8:00 p.m. by local time in the Hanrapetakan stadium.

THE CONSTITUTION CAN BECOME THE BEGINNING OF THE CHANGE OF AUTHORITIES
A1plus
| 17:02:41 | 03-06-2005 | Politics |
Members of the National Democratic Union leaded by Arshak Sadoyan
made a political decision yesterday to carry out an action. The
action will be organized for the European structures and for the
COE in particular. During the period of time between the first and
second readings of the draft constitution Sadoyan will represent
about 30-40-offers on the basis of his draft demanding to include
them in the coalition draft. Arshak Sadoyan is sure that none of them
will be accepted in the Parliament, and explains his act this way,
“At least, let people understand: what else can I do?”
The leader of the NDU is convinced that after the failure of the
constitutional referendum in 2003 the authorities will do everything to
introduce their constitution. “The referendum will become the Armenian
variant of the Ukrainian and Georgian processes”, says Sadoyan. The
latter held a press conference today to inform that he has managed
to meet the Venice Commission experts who are in Armenia.
Earlier there was information that the guests will not meet the
representative of any political power during their visit. Arshak
Sadoyan announced today that he had been informed in the COE office
that the program of the visits in Armenia was formed neither by the
Venice Commission experts nor the COE Armenian Office, but by the NA
deputy President Tigran Torosyan.
Nevertheless, NA deputy Arshak Sadoyan has managed to meet the Venice
Commission experts. According to the deputy, it turned out during
the meeting that the experts have been deliberately misinformed
several times. For example, the RA authorities did not send them
the additional changes in Arshak Sadoyan’s draft on the basis of the
offers of the Commission. Form now on Arshak Sadoyan will not count
on the NA and will send all the documents to the Commission himself.
As for the Constitutional referendum, Arshak Sadoyan will join the
oppositional powers which will say “No” to the Constitution. “This
can become the beginning of the change of authorities”, the deputy
in convinced.

OSCE AND COE ROUND TABLE ON THE FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION IN ARMENIA
A1plus
| 16:50:03 | 03-06-2005 | Official |
Today in Yerevan, the freedom of assembly in Armenia has been the
focus of a roundtable co-sponsored by the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. The OSCE ODIHR and the
Venice Commission presented recommendations on draft amendments to
the Armenian Law on Conducting Gatherings, Meetings, Rallies and
Demonstrations which had been adopted in the first reading at an
extraordinary session of the Armenian National Assembly.
The ODIHR and the Venice Commission have been engaged in consultations
with Armenian authorities and civil society on the legislation
since March 2004. “The process whereby laws are drafted and adopted
is as important as their content. A good law requires prior broad
consultations reaching out to stakeholders”, said the ODIHR Director,
Ambassador Christian Strohal, in his opening remarks.
Mr. Buquicchio, Secretary of the Venice Commission, added: “A
democratic approach to the right to freedom of assembly must be
developed and supported with the participation of all in the Armenian
society”.
In their comments ODIHR and Venice Commission experts noted significant
improvements in the text of the amendments. However, the experts noted
a number of remaining concerns, particularly regarding proscribed
locations and spontaneous assemblies.
The ODIHR and Venice Commission experts, as well as most participants
in the roundtable suggested that Armenian authorities ensure monitoring
of the application of the law.
The roundtable gathered experts, government officials,
parliamentarians, members of political parties, civil society
representatives and diplomats. It is a part of a wide-ranging
co-operation between the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR on
legislative reviews and support in a number of countries. The OSCE
Office in Yerevan joined in organizing the event.

“LUFTHANSA” NOT FRIGHTENED BY ARMENIAN POVERTY
A1plus
| 16:22:32 | 03-06-2005 | Social |
“The Armenian Government has allowed us to realize 3 flights a week”,
said Gunten Ott, regional director of the aviacompany “Lufthansa”
in Russia and CIS countries in today’s press conference. Let us
remind you that the head of the RA Civic aviation has announce that
“Lufthansa” has the right to realize only two flights. Today with the
flight “Munchen-Yerevan” “Lufthansa” started its activity in Armenia.
The company which has existed since 1925 realizes flights in Armenia
after certain investigations. “According to our investigations Armenia
is not so rich, I could even say it is one of the poor countries
of the world”, says Gunter Ott. But he hopes that they will have
passengers. “We are concerned not to transport passengers from Armenia,
but also to bring tourists to Armenia”, he mentioned. “Lufthansa” has
also established discounts for the Armenian passengers up to June 30 –
$299 to Germany, $349 to Europe, and $599 to North America and Africa.
By the way, the company which was founded in Germany gets
65% of its profit abroad. In Armenia they will cooperate with
“Armavia”. “Lufthansa” realizes flights in more than 375 directions
in 93 countries and 2003 it was recognized as the largest aviacompany
by the number of the passengers.

THE RIGHT OF LAND OF THE ARMENIANS LIVING NEAR THE BORDER OF GEORGIA IS IN DANGER
A1plus
| 15:56:46 | 03-06-2005 | Social |
The Georgian Parliament is discussing the new draft Land Code which
has been adopted by first reading.
In the draft law a number of deputies have offered to introduce a
special point. According to it, the only land-owner in the 5-kilometre
border zone can be recognized the country. If the offer is accepted,
it will have e negative effect on the grave social conditions of the
Armenians and Azeris living near the borderline.
During the first discussion of the draft law the offer has bee rejected
by the State Minister Kakha Bendukidze and a number of other deputies.
The information is provided by the agency “A-Info”.

CHILDER DROWNED
A1plus
| 18:16:03 | 03-06-2005 | Regions |
According to the Emergency Shirak region Administration, on June 3 at
about 2:00 p.m. from the Shirak region Krashen village the dead bodies
of 12-year-old Arthur Nahapetyan and 13-year-old Janik Nahapetyan
were taken to the Gyumri Austrian children’s hospital.
The brothers were drowned in the small pool of the village built last
year. The dead bodies were taken out of the pool by the residents
of the village. The Police Akhouryan department is investigating
the case.

THE ACTIVITY OF ARMENIA WILL BE EVALUATED IN ANOTHER CLOSED EUROPEAN SESSION
A1plus
| 18:11:33 | 03-06-2005 | Official |
On 3 June, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the GRECO
monitoring commission headed by Mr. Carlo Chiaramonte, a member of
the GRECO Secretariat.
Minister highly valued the work of the commission and noted that
Armenia seriously understands the need to take necessary steps to
make the fight against corruption more effective.
During the last five days, the GRECO delegation had met with officials
and specialists responsible for the fight against corruption, through
legislative reforms and other steps. During the next six months, the
commission will draft a report with conclusions and recommendations for
steps to be taken in Armenia to overcome this obstacle to democratic
and economic development.

IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOK UPON SOUTHERN CAUCASUS AS A UNITED ECONOMIC CIRCLE
A1plus
| 17:57:42 | 03-06-2005 | Official |
Today in the NA hall the session of the Parliamentary Investigations
European Center Macro Economic Investigations working group took place
with the participation of representatives form different courtiers.
NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan voiced hope that the discussions will
contribute to the activization of economic reforms in our country. Or
the economic development of both Armenia and Southern Caucasus Arthur
Baghdasaryan found 3 main issues important: first, the realization of
free competition market and creation of the corresponding legislation
field, second, combat against shadow economy and corruption, and third,
development of small and medium business.
According to him, it is necessary to look upon Southern Caucasus as
a united economic circle and to investigate the perspectives of its
development and integration in the context of regional development.
The speakers making speech on the theme «Potential and Challenges
of Armenia and Other Countries of Southern Caucasus» referred to the
possibilities and problems of the economic development of the region,
as well as to the fields where the necessity of reforms is more urgent.
–Boundary_(ID_nDWMkexk1OqMXW9rri/g3g)–