Month: October 2006

REGIONAL TV CHANNELS MADE TO BROADCAST KENTRON PROGRAMS

Panorama.am
13:44 20/10/06

Mesrop Movsisyan, editor of A1+, told Panorama.am that Grigor Amalyan,
chairman of TV and Radio National Committee, makes 11 regional TV
channels re-broadcast the programs of Kentron TV station. "They even
tell when the broadcast should be made and mention that it must be
done in pre-election period," Movsisyan details.

Movsisyan said that Amalyan refers to violations by these companies as
an excuse in forcing them to show this or that program. For example,
they show films, which have no license, the committee says.

It must be mentioned that Murad Guloyan, member of parliament, is the
main shareholder of Kentron TV company. Guloyan is a close friend of
Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of Prosperous Armenia and also a member of
parliament. Prosperous Armenia has launched active advocacy programs
in the regions. No wonder that Kentron TV station is required to be
aired in the regions. /Panorama.am/

OMBUDSMAN CONCERNED WITH VIOLATIONS AGAINST REPORTERS

Panorama.am
14:35 20/10/06

Armen Harutunyan, human rights ombudsman, made in-depth analyses and
recommendations on the violence against reporters and on limitation
of freedom of speech, Harutunyan said during a seminar on freedom of
speech at the doors of parliamentary elections. The ombudsman stood
against the amendments in the Law on TV and Radio saying H1 should
be equally regulated as private TV companies.

Editor of A1+ is concerned that the air is unevenly distributed among
opposition and pro-government candidates. He said the words of the
opposition leaders are distorted so that the opposite of what they
say is aired. So, ordinary people lose trust to mass media outlets
and start believing street gossips. /Panorama.am/

MARXIST LEADER HELPS ARMENIAN DIPLOMATIC BRAINS

Panorama.am
14:44 20/10/06

Davit Hakobyan, chairman of Armenian Marxist Party, thinks it is
his duty to help the "diplomatic brains" of Armenia. Hakobyan thinks
Armenian diplomats have to seriously talk to Zatulin and people like
him. Earlier reports say that Konstantin Zatulin, deputy of Russian
State Duma, said Armenia should support Russia in Russian-Georgian
conflict. Hakobyan thinks this statement of Zatulin is a "political
blackmail."

Hakobyan believes Russia should have clearer disposition to Azeri
Turks, Osman Turks, European and American if she wants Armenia to have
clear-cut pro-Russian disposition. The Marxist also believes Russia
should recognize Nagorno Karabakh as international subject. Hakobyan
urges foreign policy makers to fully engage in diplomatic art so that
Armenia is not presented on the diplomatic altar of big superpowers as
"a chicken gift" once again. /Panorama.am/

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA CONCERNED WITH UNEVEN TAX REVENUES

Panorama.am
15:18 20/10/06

The leadership of Armenia paid attention that tax revenues flow
unevenly from the regions. Seiran Avagyan, adviser to the Armenian
president, said that the head of the republic held a meeting on
the issue.

"Businesses mostly register their head offices in the capital whereas
the production itself is in the regions. So, tax revenues do not flow
to other self-government units," he explained. In the words of the
adviser, it is necessary to define what a branch office means and
launch reforms in economic legislation.

Vahan Movsisyan, head of United Financiers said, "funds are sufficient
only for payment of some four employees in the regions. They cannot
provide any services to residents. That is why rural dwellers do not
pay taxes." /Panorama.am/

COFFEE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY HEADS INDICTED IN MONEY EMBEZZLEMENT

Panorama.am
16:25 20/10/06

Soon Royal Armenia, a coffee distribution company, will start lays
off of its employees. In the first phase, 48 employees will be
dismissed. The future unemployed must thank Customs State Committee
and National Security Service investigation officials.

Gevorg Minasyan, company lawyer, said they do not have raw coffee
under their disposal at the present situation. The customs service
put a ban on more than 100 tones of coffee dispatch failing to process
necessary documents. The ban is made due to a criminal case instituted
against company directors Gagik Hakobyan and Aram Ghazaryan. The
latter are indicted for customs violations, document fraud and money
embezzlement. /Panorama.am/

OSCE OFFICE ORGANIZES WORKSHOP ON COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
17:41 20/10/06

Developing and implementing a national strategy and action plan to
combat trafficking in human beings and best practices in the field
were discussed at a workshop that ended in Yerevan today.

The two-day event, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, brought
together Government officials and representatives of international
and non-governmental organizations.

The event followed a trafficking responses assessment initiated by
the OSCE Office between 9 and 20 October.

Experts Hana Snajdrova from the Czech Interior Ministry and Barbara
Sidoti, formerly with the International Centre for Migration Policy
Development – were invited to assess the Armenian trafficking responses
and conduct the workshop.

"A national strategy is an important tool which can help strengthen
the capacity of the State and society to combat human trafficking,"
said Barbara Sidoti. "In order to be effective, the strategy has to
involve both State institutions and civil society. Serious efforts are
required from the side of the Government to co-ordinate the process
and support it by allocating the necessary resources." Participants
discussed how a national strategy can lead to an effective plan of
action and highlighted the importance of progress indicators and
monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for periodical revisions of the
strategy and the action plan. The Armenian national strategy to combat
trafficking in human beings expires in December, and the authorities
are working on the next plan for 2007-2009.

COFFEE RESELL COMPANY HEADS SUED IN COURT

Panorama.am
17:47 20/10/06

The directors of one of large coffee resell companies, Royal Armenia,
have been under arrest for more than a year. They are indicted in
customs fraud and money embezzlement. Their cases were forwarded to
the district court after 1 year and 8 month long investigation.

Gevorg Minasyan, company lawyer, refuted all the charged saying,
"We are utmost sure all the charges are groundless." He said public
court will make it clear for everybody. The court hearing date and
the name of the judge are not known yet. /Panorama.am/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALMOST ALL COORDINATORS OF MILLENIUM CHALLENGES-ARMENIA SELECTED

Panorama.am
17:48 20/10/06

The regional center of development "Transparency International"
presented today several remarks concerning the board of beneficiaries
of the Millenium Challenges – Armenia. Sona Aivazyan, executive
director of the center, said the rights of board of beneficiaries
are mentioned but not the responsbilities.

Reminder: American Millenium Challenges Accord officially kicked off
in Armenia on September 29, 2006. In the framework of the program
the American side will provide a grant of $235 million for poverty
reduction in rural communities and for economic growth. /Panorama.am/

US State Department: French Bill on Armenian Genocide "Senseless"

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2006 13:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian
Genocide "is senseless," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Fried stated at a news conference
in Brussels.

"I share the opinion that the bill does not make sense," he said. In
Fried’s words, the US and the President Bush had made many statements
on massacre of Armenians in WWI, but did not call it a Genocide.

Daniel Fried noted Washington wishes for Turks and Armenians to
honestly consider the issue. "I am convinced that the wording similar
to that adopted by the French Parliament stimulates that process,"
the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State said, reports RFE/RL.

Zvartnots Yerevan Airport to Charge 2 Euros for Security Beginning on November 1

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ New security fare will be introduced at Zvartnots
international airports beginning on November 1. Based on the
regulations of the International Federation of Civil Aviation, each
person arriving, departing or transiting will have to pay 2 Euros. The
Central Administration of the Civil Aviation of Armenia reported that
owing to the fight against terror the International Federation and
other international organizations suggested that airports introduce
new security technologies. Specifically, to identify passengers in
Zvartnots dactylogram identification equipment will be used, reports
IA Regnum.