Month: September 2006

UNITED COMMUNISTS ARE NOT AGAINST ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

The United Communist Party of Armenia is not against the return of
the All-Armenian Movement to the political sphere. The leader of the
United Communist Party Yuri Manukyan also thinks that "in fact, every
political ideology has the right to exist, including the All-Armenian
Movement." Yuri Manukyan thinks the All-Armenian Movement is the
"product" of the right wing of AAM.

"If it cannot get on well with political parties dominating the right
wing, this is not our problem. And if it managed to set the importance
or necessity of its stance on the settlement of the problems the
people, the country are facing as its objective, again it is not our
problem, it is their problem," says the leader of the United Communist
Party of Armenia.

He states he is not an enemy of the AAM but a political opponent.

However, he is against that the attempts of the All-Armenian Movement
to return are presented with the name of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHY DID "RIGHTIST PATRIOTS" FAIL?

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

Why did the attempt of uniting rightist patriots in Armenia undertaken
by the Progressive Party undertaken last year with its leader Tigran
Urikhanyan, to which the United Communist Party led by Yuri Manukyan
fail? Almost a year past the failure of the initiative, on August 31
Yuri Manukyan presented the cause of failure of the initiative of
unification. The problem was not the money but ambitions who would
take up leadership.

"Suppose that Manukyan with his age and experience was patiently
waiting until they would offer him. But there were young people,
individuals, especially women who wanted to lead it. And it is
unpleasant, not pleasant, no matter the way they passed. It is another
thing when they offer and you reject," says Yuri Manukyan.

PROPORTIONAL OR MAJORITY SYSTEM, IT IS NOT IMPORTANT

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

It does not matter much for the United Communist Party what changes
will be made to the Electoral Code, and which system of election will
be preferred, proportional or majority, or what their correlation
will be. The leader of the United Communist Party, who showed up at
the Pastark Club August 31, said the problem is the political will
rather than the quality of the Electoral Code.

Nevertheless, the leader of the United Communist Party said he is
for 100 percent proportional system of election because the failure
of the political system does not allow pursuing ideological struggle
under the majority system.

THEY DO NOT THINK ANY MORE THAT SERGE SARGSYAN DESERVES

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

There is a year and a half to go before the presidential election,
and it is early to speak about a candidate, stated Yuri Manukyan, the
leader of the United Labor Party, August 31 at the Pastark Club. He
said if the Communist parties come together, they can name a candidate
who bears the rightist ideology, but at any rate it is early to speak
about a candidate, says Yuri Manukyan.

It is notable that a year ago Yuri Manukyan did not hide that they
preferred Serge Sargsyan as a candidate because he is the best
prepared figure in the political sphere. Presently, Yuri Manukyan
already considers it early to give names.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CNN WILL MAKE US BEAUTIFUL

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

Armenia will be advertized on CNN. On August 31 the government approved
the conditions of CNN for advertising Armenia on this channel. The
decision was made in accordance with the government policy on
tourism provided for by the law on tourism. The deputy minister of
trade and economic development Tigran Davtyan was instructed to sign
the letter of agreement foreseen by the decision which will enable
signing a contract with CNN and "present our country as sustainable,
safe, favorable for business, investments, as well as attractive
for tourists."

The expenditures on advertisement will be covered on the funds
allocated for turning Tsaghkadzor a center of tourism in the framework
of the program of development of tourism in Armenia.

WHAT ALLIANCES WOULD BE MORE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE SOCIETY?

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

August 31, 2006 [Report on Internet Survey]

The possible pre-electoral (or post-electoral) alliances of the RA
National Assembly are one of the most actively discussed themes in
the context of the political rearrangements going on in Armenia.

Bringing out some hypotheses we are not aimed at modeling all the
possible alliance groups and (or) public expectations directed to them.

The presented survey makes it obvious, that for the society the
two possible EXPECTATIONS PROMOTING alliances are "Bargavatch
Hayastan"-"Orinats Erkir" (57%), then "HJK"-"Orinats Erkir" (23%).

The survey was conducted through Internet (website: )
from July 25 to August 30, 2006 (activated in 07.25.2006 and archived
in 08.30.2006).

If the mentioned parties participate to the RA national Assembly
elections with alliances, what party will you vote in favor of first?

(Respondents could answer up to 2 questions)

Survey results

Bargavatch Hayastan (Gagik TSARUKYAN) – Orinats Erkir (Arthur
BAGHDASARYAN) alliance 57%

HJK (Stepan DEMIRTCHYAN) – Orinats Erkir (Arthur Baghdasaryan)
alliance 23%

Azgayin Miabanutyun (Artashes GEGHAMYAN) – Orinats Erkir (Arthur
BAGHDASARYAN)) alliance 8%

HJK (Stepan DEMIRTCHYAN) – Azgayin Miabanutyun (Artashes GEGHAMYAN)
alliance 4%

Bargavatch Hayastan (Gagik TSARUKYAN) – HHK (Andranik MARGARYAN)
alliance 3%

Bargavatch Hayastan (Gagik TSARUKYAN) – Azgayin Miabanutyun (Artashes
GEGHAMYAN) alliance 1%

Bargavatch Hayastan (Gagik TSARUKYAN) – HJK (Stepan DEMIRTCHYAN)
alliance 1%

Vox Populi public opinion Research centre of

"Electoral Systems’ Centre"

STATEMENT OF ARMENIA FOUNDATION
Armenia Foundation

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

At the request of the local bodies Armenia Foundation once again
touches upon the construction of the North – South highway in
NKR. Although the foundation regularly reported to the media about the
construction of the highway, now, in refuting the misinformation by
unconsciencious media, we announce officially that the construction
of the highway goes on normally.

Roadworks are underway on seven sections of the highway
simultaneously. The construction of the 5.2 km section Kichan – Drmbon
finishes soon (contractor Chanshin C.J.S.C.). The construction of
several sections will end soon, and will be operated late this year:
Stepanakert – Karmir Shuka 8.7 km (contractor Karavan Ltd.), Tsakuri
– Hadrut 11.1 km (contractor Vrej Ltd.), Drmbon – Martakert 11.6 km
(Virage Ltd.). the 6.9 km section (contractor Veratsnund Ltd.) and 6.4
km section (contractor Chanshin Ltd.) of Kichan – Drmbon will end at
the end of this year. Raodworks on Azokh – Tsakuri 10 km and Drmbon –
Martakert 4.865 km are underway.

In 2006 Armenia Foundation built 90 thousand sq m of tarmac. In 2006
Armenia foundation signed a 1 m 200 thousand dollar contract with LK &
D International Investment Group to settle the problems connected with
imports of bitumen and help the building companies. Already 1200 tons
of bitumen was imported to Armenia.

As to the problem of quality of construction, such problems may occur
under every circumstance, and when necessity occurs, the foundation
turns to the NKR government and other relevant organizations and
warns contractors. On the whole, the foundation has enhanced control
on the quality of construction.

CHECKPOINT OF VERIN LARS WILL BE OPEN FOR 3 YEARS

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

The answer of Vladimir Karapetyan, acting head of the Department of
Press and Information of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the
question of the department of Armenpress News Agency:

"The mass media, refering to the statement of the Russian embassy to
Georgia, informed that the checkpoint of Verin Lars will be opened
temporarily. Do you confirm this information?"

"In fact, according to the August 30 statement of the Russian embassy
to Georgia, the checkpoint of Verin Lars – Kazbegi will be open but
with some restrictions, possibly from August 30, 2006 to September 3,
2006, 6 o’clock PM.

The Armenian embassy to Georgia asked the Russian embassy to elucidate
the mode of the checkpoint for the citizens of Armenia.

They said in the abovementioned period the citizens of Armenia will
be allowed to pass the checkpoint of Verin Lars – Kazbegi, but only
pedestrians and small cars. It was pointed out that trucks and buses,
including minibuses will not be allowed."

COUNTRY OF NAIV AND FRIGHTENED OFFICIALS

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

On August 31 the trial of the editor-in-chief of the Jamanak Yerevan
Newspaper indicted for avoiding subscription by forged document was
resumed. The trial ended, the speeches of prosecution and defense
and verdict are left.

None of four witnesses showed up. For the witnesses Tigran Harutiunyan
and Arshak Khachatryan, they announced that they are not in Armenia,
for Karen Khachatryan they said they did not find him at home. Maybe
he was playing backgammon with the neighbor? Nobody found it out. No
explanation was given about Garush Mansuryan. Their testimonies were
read. Surprisingly, everyone learned from the media that the marriage
certificate and the birth certificates of his children are forged. "We
believed and trusted his mother, Mrs. Emilia, who worked at the
president administration", said the naiv officials who took or gave
documents to Mrs. Emilia. By the way, the same court sentenced the
70-years-old municipality official for giving a false document. It is
not clear why the officials who were as careless were not involved
in the case. Or how can one describe a country where on hearing the
phrase "president administration" senior public officials tremble with
fear and bow as low as possible? Send your answers to the president
administration and the copies to the first instance courts of Yerevan
Center and Nork-Marash.

It is known that Arman Babajanyan was accused on the grounds of a
letter signed by his former neighbor Khachatryan. Khachatryan wrote
that he felt it was his duty to inform the law-enforcement agencies
that Arman Babajanyan avoided military service by forged documents.

It is not clear why the neighbors of public officials never "fulfill
their civil duties". It is not clear how the counsel for prosecution
Janna Kotikyan insists that the letter was not anonymous when there
is no evidence that such a neighbor exists.

Meanwhile, it is illegal to sue on the grounds of an anonymous letter
or announcement.

Arman Babajanyan’s friend Vahe Abovyan and his wife Armine Arakelyan
did not mention in their testimonies that their certificate of
marriage and birth certificate of their children were forged by Arman
Babajanyan. They did not announce that those documents were stolen
and lost. Whereas, Arman Babajanyan’s attorney Robert Grigoryan found
out that it is possible to get the copy of anyone’s birth certificate
in the United States for 17 dollars.

He got the copies of birth certificates of the children of Vahe
Abovyan and Armine Arakelyan and presented to the court. Attorney
Robert Grigoryan also presented positive references from the mayor
of Glendale, the group of the Armenian media of the United States,
other persons and organizations. The reference of the Armenian media
of the United States seemed suspicious to Janna Kotikyan. Anyway. The
next sitting of the court will be on September 4.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DONATION OF FOUNDATION TO NKR GOVERNMENT

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

Armenia Foundation bought 500 copies of the film "Welcome to Nagorno
Karabakh" in three languages. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary
of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic the foundation gave
200 copies to the NKR government. The foundation will give the other
300 copies to its benefactors, who contribute to the programs of the
foundation in Artsakh.

Armenia Foundation, Department of Public Relations

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress