Month: October 2006

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

10,7 THOUSANDS TRANSACTIONS ON REAL ESTATE REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN
AUGUST 2006

YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. The number of transactions on real
estate reduced by 37,3% and made 10790 in Armenia in august 2006,
against similar period in 2005.
According to the RA State Cadastre in charge for regulating real
estate, the number of transactions increased by 14,4%, as compared to
July 2006.
At that in August 2006, most transactions were registered in Yerevan
– 42,8%, and the least – in Vayots-Dzor region – 2%. Meantime in
Kotayk region of Armenia 13,3% and in Ararat – 7,4% of total numbers
of transaction were registered during the reported period.
The share of Armavir region made 6,6% of the total number of
transactions on real estate registered in August 2006, that of Lori –
6,1%, Aragatsotn – 5,9%, Shirak – 5,4%, Syunik – 4,3%, Gegharkunik –
3,6%, and Tavush – 2,7%. S.P.–0–

EurasiaNet, NY
Oct 26 2006

ARMENIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TAKES ON NEW POLITICAL WEIGHT
Haroutiun Khachatrian 10/26/06
A EurasiaNet Commentary

As the date for Armenia’s parliamentary elections draws closer,
recent amendments that diversify access to the Constitutional Court,
the country’s highest judicial body, have expanded the opportunities
for the opposition and ordinary citizens alike to take aim at the
government.

Under amendments approved in a November 2005 referendum, the
ombudsman, local governments, judges and prosecutors, and ordinary
citizens who have exhausted all other avenues for appeal may now
bring cases before the Court. Access was previously restricted to the
president, the government and one-third of the Assembly’s deputies.
(The amendments reduced that limit to one-fifth.)

The result has been a much busier court. Between 1997 and 2005, the
Court heard only a handful of cases that challenged the
constitutionality of laws. By contrast, since last year’s referendum,
private citizens have submitted more than 130 cases for the high
court’s review. To date, the court has accepted 10 for consideration,
according to Arman Dilanian, head of the court’s department of legal
advisors in charge of handling such cases.

September 13 marked a turning point in the country’s judicial system
when the Constitutional Court heard its first case brought by private
citizens. Two elderly women challenged the government’s refusal to
pay pensions and salaries to citizens without the use of identity
cards equipped with unique personal identification (PIN) numbers.
Since the start of the identity card program in 2002 (named "Social
cards"), many people expressed opposition to the need to enter PIN
numbers in order to gain access to funds. The court found for the
plaintiffs, thereby requiring the State Social Protection Fund to pay
1,317 retirees who were earlier denied their pensions.

The cases brought before the court have also given Armenia’s largely
fragmented opposition a welcome avenue for the criticism of the
government. The next parliamentary election is scheduled to take
place in May 2007.

One such instance occurred in September when the government
introduced to parliament a draft law on construction right-of-way
claims. The proposed bill was the result of the court’s first
decision under the amended Constitution, on April 18, which found
that regulations used to evict property owners from their homes in
downtown Yerevan to make way for new construction projects were
unconstitutional. The topic is a sensitive one; opposition members,
among others, argue that many of the projects are linked to members
of President Robert Kocharian’s inner circle. Parliament in late
October is grappling with a second draft law proposed by the
government on the issue after the earlier bill failed.

Further opportunities for wrangles with the government lie ahead.
Another case, also brought by Armenia’s ombudsman, Armen
Haroutiunian, challenges a provision in the law on political parties
that provides for the dissolution of parties which do not receive a
certain minimum of votes in a general election. No hearing date has
yet been scheduled for the case.

A third, brought by Artak Zeilnalian, one of the leaders of the
opposition party Hanrapetutiun (Republic), challenges a Civil Code
provision that blocks lawsuits against the authorities for violation
of certain rights.

The public reaction to these events, however, has been unusually
muted, despite the apparent improvement in the ability of ordinary
Armenians to defend their civil rights. Some analysts refuse to
comment, deeming the process "unimportant."

The motivation for the silence from some corners is clear. The
government has lost most of the recent cases brought before the
court. The opposition, for its part, is unwilling to recognize any
positive aspect of the "illegal referendum," which it charges was
rigged. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive.]

In the past, public interest in the court’s activities has increased
only during parliamentary and presidential elections. The court has
the final say on disputed vote results, and, in the past,
occasionally proved a significant political factor in the outcome of
elections. After Armenia’s presidential elections in 2003, for
instance, the court called for a national vote of confidence to be
held, even while refusing to invalidate the election results. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Oct 26 2006

The joy of cooking

By Linda Pinkow/ Staff Writer
Thursday, October 26, 2006 – Updated: 02:01 PM EST

They’ve been cooking for months.

In teams of 10 to 15, the women of the First Armenian Church of
Belmont have been preparing and freezing ingredients for traditional
Armenian pastries, breads and other delicacies.

Their work culminated in the church’s annual Fall Harvest Bazaar
last Saturday, where hundreds of area residents sat down to a
collectively prepared feast for lunch or dinner – or both – and went
home with home-made snacks as well as Armenian books, CDs and crafts.

Proceeds from the bazaar help support orphans and students in
Armenia and Lebanon, and other charities and church programs.

"Each food item is made by a different team," said Carol Nahigian
of Arlington, as she helped sell take-home packages of cheoreg (small
strips of sweet dough), manti (rolls filled with meat), string
cheese, and yalanchi (grape leaves stuffed with rice and pine nuts).

"The real old-timers, they grow their own [grape leaves]," said
Nahigian. They pick the leaves in June, boil them and then freeze
them.

"That’s like a big party when they all get their leaves in June,"
she said.

Nahigian said it takes cooperation to cook together: "One is team
captain, and you have to do what she says."

But cooperation in the kitchen is a tradition, she added:
"Armenians never worked alone."

Helping to dish out the luncheon buffet, Seta Norian of Lexington
said last week was the busiest.

"I’ve been here almost every day this week," she said.

Norian pointed out that the women of First Armenian Church cook
together "year round." They prepare traditional meals for holidays
and fundraisers.

Cooking together, she said, "You get ideas off each other, and
you enjoy each other’s company."

The men of the church had their own culinary camaraderie. Some of
them were in the church’s large kitchen, preparing the kebabs for the
meals.

The buffet also included rice pilaf, salad and fresh pita bread,
and there was cappuccino, popcorn and cotton candy between the meals.
But attention really focused on the three tables of sweets.

There was cheese beoreg in puff pastry or filo dough, paklava
(known in other countries as baklava), shaabiat (triangles of filo
dough with sweet cream filling and ground pistachios), kadayif with
nuts or with cream, and assorted cookies.

There were also Halloween-theme cookies and brownies created by
the Sunday School parents and children.

"I could eat this always," said the Rev. Gregory Haroutunian,
wiping the remains of a cheese beoreg from his fingers.

Haroutunian, who has been pastor of First Armenian Church for
almost three years, explained that his congregation, "from the
youngest to the oldest," prepares for the annual Fall Harvest Bazaar
with "enthusiasm."

The women, in particular, "are so gratified seeing the people’s
joy," he said.

"They’re happy that people are happy, and that’s what we were
praying for," said Haroutunian. "You want this to be a blessing to
the community."

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 26 2006

Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party Leader Met with OSCE PA Vice
President

Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

26.10.2006

The Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (ADRP) Asim
Mollazadeh met with the Vice President of OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly, Head of the Ukrainian delegation in OSCE Oleg Bilorus.

The meeting focused on the regional problems, Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, co-operation within `Organization for
Democracy and Development – GUAM’ and relations between Azerbaijan
and Ukraine, Trend reports with reference to the Press-Service of
ADRP.

Asim Mollazadeh stressed that irrespective of the principles of
territorial integrity of the European countries and the principles of
Security in Europe after the World War II, the OSCE demonstrates
passivity in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He underlined that the member-countries of `Organization for
Democracy and Development – GUAM’ should act from a unified position
in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and other conflicts.

In his turn, Bilorus stated that conducting referendum in occupied
territory of any country is contrary to the international
legislation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Oct 26 2006

Council of Europe official backs Turkey’s EU bid

ANKARA – The European Union and Turkey should work to resolve their
differences because a possible disruption of Ankara’s accession talks
would be "in no one’s interest," the president of the Council of
Europe’s parliamentary assembly said here Thursday.
"I belive that both the EU and Turkey have very important interests
in this process," Rene van der Linden, a Dutch Christian Democrat,
said in an interview with NTV television after talks with Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul.

In comments on EU criticism that Turkey had alarmingly slackened its
reform drive over the past year, Van der Linden urged Brussels to
take into account that Ankara’s progress, albeit slow, was "in the
right direction."

"There should be a balanced approach… The EU should encourage
Turkey’s reforms so that Turkey can have confidence in this
(accession) process," he said. "A disruption (in the talks) will be
in no one’s interest — neither in the EU nor Turkey."

Van der Linden expressed hope that a row over Turkey’s rejection to
grant trade priviliges to Cyprus would be resolved and urged Ankara
to make efforts to ensure freedom of expression.

He denounced a draft law voted at the lower chamber of the French
parliament on October 12 that forsees a year in jail for anyone who
denies that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians during
World War I as a "contradiction" to European values of free speech.

But at the same time, he stressed, Ankara should ensure that those
who say the genocide did happen are not prosecuted in Turkey.

A string of intellectuals, among them the winner of the 2006 Nobel
Literature Prize, Orhan Pamuk, have been put on trial for
"denigrating Turkishness" over remarks contesting the official line
on the 1915-17 massacres, which Ankara fiercely denies constituted
genocide.

The Council of Europe is not an EU institution, but it is also
closely watching Turkey’s respect for human rights.

The EU will issue on November 8 a crucial report on the country’s
progress towards membership, which will largely determine the future
of its accession talks.

Regnum, Russia
Oct 26 2006

Georgian citizen ready to pay $3,000 for Azerbaijani passport

One of Georgian citizens, who is temporarily in Baku, is going to
receive passport of Azerbaijani citizen soon in order to return to
Moscow without problems. The citizen informed a Day.Az correspondent
he managed to settle the problem for $3,000 at a district police
station in Baku. However, he categorically refused to name the police
station, where he managed to receive the new passport.

The information was disproved at the Azerbaijani interior ministry.
It was stressed there that citizen of a foreign state should at first
reject citizenship of his native country in order to receive Azeri
citizenship. `As for illegal receiving of Azerbaijani Republic’s
citizenship, it is punished in complete accordance with severity of
law.’ That is why, as it was informed at the ministry, if such facts
are revealed, person, who received illegal passport and state
official assisted in that, will be severely punished.

It is worth stressing, in contrast to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia
have a visa-free regime for their citizens. Meanwhile, as it became
known to REGNUM from informed sources, in connection with aggravation
of Georgian-Russian relations and sanctions, introduced by Russian
side, Georgian citizens receive Armenian citizenship, changing, at
that, endings of their Georgian family names -dze and -shvili for
Armenian one -yan in order to enter legally into Russian territory
and to obtain more comfortable conditions of their stay there.
According to reliable sources, such camouflage costs $5,000. It is
worth stressing; there is no visa regime between Armenia and Russia,
too. Also, it became clear from talks with representatives of
Georgia’s Armenian community that tens of Georgianized Armenians hade
already changed their family names’ endings. Mainly, these processes
take place in Tbilisi and in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. According to
the source,"many people wish to get back Armenian family name;
however, many of them fear for inadequate actions of ethnic
Georgians."

Business Wire (press release), CA
Oct 26 2006

Children of Armenia Fund Raises $2.3 Million for Model Cluster Project

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) raised a
record $2.3 million at its 2006 Save a Generation Awards Dinner, held
Friday, October 20, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. The money
raised will be used for the expansion of COAF’s Model Village program
to a cluster of six villages in a disadvantaged rural region of
Armenia.

COAF hosted more than 350 guests for the annual gala event. Jane
Fonda, Oscar®-winning actress and humanitarian, delivered the keynote
address, and COAF honored Mr. George Pagoumian, a philanthropist who
is an insurance industry giant. The event also recognized the
accomplishments of two outstanding corporate leaders, Pierre Michel
Fattouch and Eduardo Eurnekian, who have invested in several vital
businesses in Armenia. Andrea Martin, Emmy® and Tony® award winner,
was master of ceremonies.

The evening celebrated the success of COAF’s Karakert Model Village
project, an integrated comprehensive approach for poverty reduction,
which has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of
life for more than 1,200 children since its commencement two years
ago.

`COAF has transformed a 5,000-person rural village by establishing
sustainable health care, schooling, transportation, water and
economic growth,’ said Garo H. Armen, PhD, founder and chairman of
COAF. `With the money raised from the gala, COAF can now move forward
by executing a broader village revitalization program by targeting
six villages, with a combined population of 17,000 – of whom 5,000
are children.’

The COAF annual awards dinners have raised more than $5 million since
2001, placing funding emphasis on the Model Village project, the
first such program ever to be undertaken. The project has been
recognized by international aid agencies, such as the United Nations
Development Programme and the World Bank, as an exemplary template of
sustainable development throughout the world.

About COAF

Founded in 2000, the Children of Armenia Fund is an independent,
nonprofit, nongovernmental organization (501(c)(3). COAF seeks to
reverse the impoverished conditions affecting significant numbers of
Armenia’s children by revitalizing Armenia’s villages and
implementing projects that provide immediate and sustainable benefits
to children and youth.

Contacts
For Children of Armenia Fund
Sunny Uberoi, 212-994-8206
or
Anna Sargsyan, 212-994-8234
or
[email protected]

Aravot, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

THE ADOPTION OF ANTHEM WILL BE DELAYED

It is obvious that the parliament won’t have time to realize the
demand coming from the constitutional amendments: about adoption of
the law "About anthem" till December 5.

The ARF faction postponed for 30 days discussion of the draft of law
"About national anthem" in the sitting of the NA state legal
commission on September 20. The government hasn’t produced a
legislative initiative about the RA national anthem’s text and music
based on the contest commission’s decision to the NA. The commission
has made a decision to propose the government to announce a new
contest for the text of Aram Khachatrian’s won music.
It isn’t also obvious / besides the ARF/ the position of
parliamentary forces in favor of what version they will vote. Grigor
Margarian, the head of "Businessmen" faction told us: "We haven’t
finally studied, it is still being discussed". Mkrtich Minasian from
"People’s deputy" faction who had voted for restoring the Soviet
Armenia’s anthem in the answer to our question whether it was his
decision or the faction’s said: "It was my personal opinion.
Evaluation of music and song is a personal feeling. And "People’s
deputy" will still discuss this question."
Another member of the commission, ULP head Gurgen Arsenian also voted
for the music of Soviet Armenia’s anthem. "I think that the most
perfect music is that one for which I have voted." And to the
question whether his voting means that the ULP faction will vote for
the melody of the Soviet Armenia, Mr. Arsenian answered that they
would vote freely.
It is known that the positions in "Justice" bloc are different: NDU
leader Vazgen Manukian is for "Mer Hayrenik" /the current anthem/ and
the DPA leader Aram Sargsian is for Aram Khachatrian’s melody.
Supposedly this faction will also vote freely. But head of Justice
Stepan Demirchian informed that they haven’t discussed that question
yet; "I myself like Aram Khachatrian’s music. But I think there is no
historical necessity to change the national anthem. Many things must
be changed in our country before the anthem".
After a conversation with OEP faction secretary Heghine Bisharian we
found out that this party was also oriented: "We think it is better
to save the current anthem. Nowadays the country has more serious
problems to solve. "National Unity" also has the same opinion, and
secretary of the faction Alexan Karapetian said: "I think the
agiotage round the selection of national anthem must be over, and the
forces should solve the problems the population need in".
It seems both versions aren’t preferable for RPA head of council
Serge Sargsian who told the journalists yesterday: "If it was
possible to have an anthem by Charents’ words and Aram Khachatrian’s
music, I’d be the greatest fan of that anthem".
RPA leader, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian answering to "Aravot’s"
question about his opinion about the Soviet Armenia’s anthem said:
"Only the music is admissible for me. When there aren’t suitable
words the old text is associated. In answer to our question how he
refers to "Mer Hayrenik" current anthem, he answered: "As there is no
better version, it must remain".

Anna Israelian

Aravot, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

MAJORITY SYSTEM AS AN ADDITIONAL STYMULUS

When Hranush Hakobian says she is elected by majority system as a
parliamentarian without any falsification, she isn’t completely
sincere. Certainly, it is difficult to imagine that she keeps a band
in Gavar, which attacks on polling stations during the elections and
decide the results of the elections as other parliamentarian of
majority system do. But let Mrs. Hakobian admit if she didn’t have
good relations with Communist, then ANM and Kocharian’s regimes, if
she opposed to one of them, will she manage to fill a post in the
parliament?
The factor of fortuity sometimes operates. For example Ruben Hakobian
was elected as a parliamentarian in the Center of Yerevan in 1995 who
was the only ARF representative in the NA. In 1999 Vano Siradeghian
won in the parliamentary elections in his native Lori, when the whole
state machine was against him. In 2003, Victor Dallakian was elected
in another region of Lori. But the exception of such cases proves the
fact that nobody has succeeded in electing twice by majority system
and opposition status. The majority seats as the "reserves" of the
authority. Currently both "People’s deputy", the majority Republicans
and OEP members who left that party lately and the major part of
independent parliamentarians elected by majority system vote as the
president’s residence orders. So 37-38 seats, if not 41 of the future
parliament are in the authority’s pocket.
But the authorities have more weighty reason to keep more seats for
majority system. It’s all the same the businessman will become
parliamentarian personally or by party list. These are different
thinks in practice. The oligarch has stronger motivation to work for
the authority if he is nominated by majority system. T’s all the same
for the party it will have 63 or 56 seats in the parliament but for
the oligarch this is a matter life and death as he can fill the 57
place in the party list or doesn’t fill at all. That’s why he is
interested to solve his problems by majority system. Majority
electoral system is a special award for the oligarchs’ good work.

Aram Abrahamian

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

SERGE SARGSYAN WANTS FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTION IN 2007

I can say one thing, we did not give the Iran-Armenia pipeline to
anyone, said the minister of defense, the chair of the
Russian-Armenian interstate commission Serge Sargsyan October 25 to
news reporters. `I can say one thing: we did not give the
Iran-Armenia pipeline to anyone. The director of Armrusgasard has
told about it in detail. There is not a document. I promise you once
again that I will ask the director of Armrusgazard to talk to you
about the details of these problems,’ said Serge Sargsyan to the news
reporters, who were literally pursuing him.

They asked different questions to the defense minister on different
developments. For instance, Serge Sargsyan was asked why Robert
Kocharyan did not receive the U.S. envoy to the OSCE. `Why are you
asking me that,’ answered the defense minister.

In answer to the question if he will become president of Armenia, the
defense minister said, `If you help to hold a good, transparent, free
and fair parliamentary election in 2007, I will make a decision.’