Month: November 2006

IDEOLOGICAL DISCREDIT
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
Yesterday our communists celebrated November 7. As usual a group
of pensioners put wreaths at Myasnikian and Shahumian monuments and
then walked a little under red flags. Some people may laugh at poor
old men, who naively believe that there is machine of time, which can
send us to 30 years ago. But such people become lesser year by year,
and the problem of communist restoration isn’t actual any more.
The ideas of human equality, public useful work, social justice is
as valuable and utopist as any other idea. But in our former country
those ideas were being discredited systematically. Not going to the
early decades, let’s remember what happened to the middle generation in
’70-80-s. Each worker wanted to steal something from the factory of
“public property”, storekeeper was one of the respectable positions,
policemen and prosecutors had an image of robbers, secretaries of
regional committees were taking bribes from recruits etc. Those weren’t
“separate omissions”; it was a generally adopted practice.
What did remain from bright ideas? Almost nothing. When that system
reached to its logic end, our communists didn’t try to save the
rational, social0democratic part of that idea; instead they began
playing on nostalgia. The RA authorities delivered the last blow
to the communists, separating the Communistic Party into several
“Communistic Parties”. As a result our political system was deprived
of some important elements.
But the situation wouldn’t be so anxious if only communist idea was
discredited. Liberalism and nationalism were also discredited during
15 years. As a result of “market relations” use, we have several
illiterate officials, who rule the country, and the liberalism
have become an old nonsense, when even the member of former liberal
government Hakob Movses says that Turks, as an ethnos, aren’t able
to create a high level literature.
So, before parliamentary elections the lack of ideas has its objective
reasons.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POLITICIANS DISCUSS ELECTORAL CODE AMENDMENTS
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 8 2006
The issue of forming electoral commissions featured prominently during
Wednesday’s discussions of amendments to the Electoral Code organized
by Armenia’s largest independent election-monitoring organization
called “The Choice is Yours”.
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday found the Electoral Code
provision allowing the presence of judges in electoral commissions
unconstitutional and ordered all judges currently involved in
commissions as members to stop their activities and lawmakers to make
appropriate amendments in the Code.
Senior Republican Party member Samvel Nikoyan thinks this is a matter
to discuss and reach an agreement. The ruling party’s representative,
however, stopped short of expressing either his party’s or his personal
view on who should replace judges in electoral commissions.
Gegham Manukian, of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, thinks
it is yet early to speak about concrete proposals. “But I am sure
that the issue will be specified before the second reading of the
Electoral Code,” he said.
Orinats Yerkir’s Hovannes Markarian thinks it will only be fair if the
political forces represented in parliament get an equal representation
in electoral commissions. “We have six political forces in parliament
— three opposition and three pro-government. So let’s enable these
political forces to be represented by two members each and we will get
12 commission members. This will be a fair approach,” he underlined.
“If we have five or six pro-government political parties winning in
next elections, what will happen in the commissions, will they not form
the commission by saying there is no opposition?” Felix Khachatrian,
a representative of the opposition Artarutyun faction in the Central
Election Commission, queried. “Three years ago we said judges have
no right to be present in commissions both by the constitution and
moral principles.”
And opposition “Hanrapetutyun” (Republic) Party senior member
Artak Zeynalian urged Armenia’s lawmakers to be more responsible
in adopting laws. “Every lawmaker at the National Assembly should
bear responsibility and make sure that no norm contradicting the
constitution and the rule-of-law principle is adopted.”

BIRTH RATE DECLINED TWICE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
According to the minister of employment and social security Aghvan
Vardanyan, the rate of the demographic growth in Armenia is highly
worrying, the news agency ARKA reports. The minister stated that
over the past 25 years Armenia has been facing serious demographic
problems. Against the annual 80-84 thousand children born in Armenia
the late 1980s and the early 1990s, the annual rate of birth has
been 40 thousand children over the past 2-3 years. The rate of birth
has halved. One of the chief reasons, according to Aghvan Vardanyan,
is the problem of government assistance to young families.

BELARUS PREPARED TO PROVIDE EVERY ASSISTANCE ON FINAL DOCUMENT ON RESOLUTION
OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IN MINSK – BELARUSIAN AMBASSADOR
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
Nikolay Patzkevich, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador
of Belarus to Azerbaijan, stated on 8 November in Baku that Belarus
is prepared to provide every assistance to the final document on the
resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
in Minsk.
We are deeply concerned about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We
understand the essence and outcome of the conflict, he noted. “As
a result of our experience of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station,
Belarus fully understands the problems of internally displaced people,”
the diplomat stated. It results in multi-million losses in funds,
moral and human losses for the Government and the State.
“We hope the conflict will be resolved on the basis of international
principles and are prepared to render every assistance on the signing
of a peace agreement in Minsk.”

ARAM KARAPETYAN ANSWERS SERGE SARGSYAN
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
In answer to Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan’s hints in his interviews
addressed to me I state that recently Mr. Sargsyan breaks down rather
often. Every time he answers an important question, he either calls
people wretched or says that criticizing him makes some people feel
more important. I should mention at once that unlike Mr. Sargsyan,
who became minister of defense by chance, with only philological
education, I became established in the sphere of science getting my
first academic title at the age of 26.
It is evident that though Mr. Sargsyan and I function in the Russian
geopolitical sphere, he has lost in this sphere by his short-sighted
and illogical moves, which is the cause of Serge Sargsyan’s nervous
breakdown.
Although we beieve that the minister of defense is real danger for
the society of our country, we agree that the reality has changed,
or as Mr. Sargsyan says, “it is not like 5, 7 or 10 years ago”,
and we will not hit a minister or another government official on the
head for expressing opinion. After the imminent change of power we
will quiely and in a civilized way lead the present government to
the nearest court of law.

ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE STOPPED UNTIL ELECTION 2007
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Amalia Kostanyan, Chair of the Center for Regional
Development/Transparency International stated November 6 that it is
not expedient to withdraw Armenia from the list of countries assisted
by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, reports the news agency
ARKA. Amalia Kostanyan said it is not right to deprive the people of
Armenia of assistance from international organizations, namely the
MCC because separate representatives of the government are corrupt.
“People are extremely poor and really need the help of the
international community.”
Instead Amalia Kostanyan thinks it is necessary to reinforce the
monitoring of the use of financial aid provided to the country. “Over
10-15 years that Armenia gets assistance no case of prosecuting a
government official for misuse or misappropriation of these funds
has been reported.” Amalia Kostanyan thinks the assistance of the
MCC should be stopped until the parliamentary election 2007.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPENING BORDERS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA IS IMPOSSIBLE UNDER PRESENT SITUATION – HEAD OF IGDIR MUNICIPALITY
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
Opening the borders between Turkey and Armenia is impossible under
the present situation, the Head of the Igdir Municipality of Turkey,
Nurettin Aras, stated in an exclusive interview with Trend.
According to him, the European Union (EU) member-countries insist
on opening the Turkish-Armenian borders. “There are no relations
between Turkey’s entrance to the European Union and the opening of
the borders with Armenia, and it does not reflect within the Helsinki
Charter. However, the EU Head and member-countries are constantly
pressurizing Turkey on this issue and calls for its borders to open.
This matter is touched upon at each level and the pressure is
unavoidable,” Aras said. He stressed that recently, a number of
countries put this question as a condition for Turkey’s entrance into
the European Union. “Will the borders be opened as a result of these
pressures? Never!!! The Turkish Constitution does not allow it,”
he added.
According to Aras, to open the Turkish-Armenian borders it needs
not only to recognize the existing borders, but also Armenia should
improve its relations with Azerbaijan, as well as open the transport
route to Baku.
Aras positively assessed the initiatives to open a transit
corridor between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran via Nakchivan
Autonomous Republic. “Together with the opening of the rail link
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku, there is no reason not to support the
construction of the railway stretches to Iran through Nakchivan. It
will be of mutual benefit. Consequently, the Silk Route will develop,”
Aras concluded.

CHILDREN LEAVING ORPHANAGE WILL GET APARTMENTS
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
The minister of employment and social affairs Aghvan Vardanyan told
news reporters that the government has allocated 379 million drams to
provide the children leaving the orphanage with apartments. He says
this is a novelty in Armenia. “In 2007 it is foreseen to provide
50 children leaving the orphanage with apartments,” he said. The
government has allocated 1.2 billion drams for 935 children of 8
orphanages of Armenia. For 1010 residents of 4 old people’s homes
the government allocated 1.1 billion drams. The salaries of workers
of orphanages and old people’s homes will grow.

NUMBER OF ARMAVIA EMPLOYEES TO BE REDUCED FROM CURRENT 490 TO 400
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Work on technical, personnel and
other improvement is underway at the airline Armavia after the crash
of A-320 plane on May 3 near Sochi. Armavia’s owner Mikhail Baghdasarov
said on Novemeber 7 that the company has overcome the crisis.
Responding to NT correspondent’s question, he noted that it is planned
to reduce the number of the airline’s employees from current 490
to 400. “There are many people in Armavia, who, in addition to not
working, also spread rumors that the company is allegedly being sold,”
M. Baghdasarov said.
In his words, he will develop the Grand insurance company founded
by him because “we are afraid of trusting others to insure the
aviation.” According to him, in their pursuit of profits, some
insurance companies do not reinsure their risks in “strong companies”
and “if there is something, problems will arise.” He said that
insurance companies keep part the sum envisaged by the insurance
contract and give the remaining sum to the reinsurer. Reinsurance
is often done in the amount of 60-80% of the value of the contract
subject. If the price of an aerobus makes 30 million dollars, the
insurer “gets quite a large sum from reinsurance, while we are left
0.1-0.5%”.
In the words of M. Baghdasarov, after the May 3 tragedy the financial
“losses were minimal” thanks to the fact that all risks related to
Armavia were reinsured.

OSCE CHAIR-IN-CHIEF HOPES FOR POSITIVE COURSE OF COMING MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
“Unfortunately, the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan this
year had nearly no progress, therefore, they gave no results, the
OSCE Chair-in-Chief, FM of Belgium, Carel de Gucht, told the Baku
“Zerkalo” newspaper.
As the source reports, C. de Gucht has also reminded about the coming
visit of Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, to Belgium, during which
the Karabakh conflict solution ways will be discussed as well. “This
meeting will be preceded by the negotiations of Foreign Ministers,
Mamediarov and Oskanyan, scheduled for the midst, November. As for
me personally, I have some definite assumptions regarding the coming
meeting results but I will not yet make them public, since my personal
opinion may affect the development of events. However, I hope for a
positive course of negotiations and believe they will more effective
than the previous ones”, Carel de Gucht said.