Month: November 2006

HEARING OF ACTION BROUGHT BY ASSOCIATION OF AGROECOLOGISTS OF ARMENIA AGAINST MAYOR’S OFFICE STARTS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The hearing of the action brought
by the Association of AgroEcologists of Armenia against the Yerevan
Mayor’s Office started on October 30 at the Court of First Instance of
the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan. The Association
of AgroEcologists of Armenia disputes the Yerevan Mayor’s decision
on recognizing invalid the agreement signed between the Botanical
Institute of the National Academy of Sciences and itself. According
to the mentioned agreement, the association was alloted a plot
of 5 hectares for foundation of an ethnographic center. It was
envisaged to build in the center 18 two-storey buildings for 100-120
tourists. According to the claimant, the alloted territory was already
cleaned, filling of grounds for 12 houses was implemented. It was also
mentioned that more than 60 mln drams (about 150 thousand U.S. dollars)
were paid for architectural-construtional works, and the association
was indepted to the projecting and construction organizations. In
words of representatives of the Association of AgroEcologists of
Armenia, there was no deviation from the envisaged program. But,
the term fixed by the contract for the envisaged works did not
complete yet, when the Mayor’s Office made a decision on recognizing
invalid the agreement given earlier by itself, with a reasoning of
the association’s not implementing the undertaken obligations. But,
the representative of the Mayor’s Office was not able to answer
chairing judge Gayane Karakhanian’s question which those obligations
were. She only mentioned that she would present additional information
to the court at the next sitting. At the same time, the Mayor’s Office
representative particularly justified adoption of the new decision
with the public displeasure on the occasion of the issue as well
as with the circumstance that the program contradicts goals of the
activity of the botanical park.
The next court sitting will take place on November 10.

WORKS ENVISAGED BY ORDER OF STATE REGISTRATION OF REAL ESTATE TO FINISH IN ARMENIA TILL LATE 2007
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Works envisaged by the order of
defining addresses and numbering as well as state registration of
addresses of the real property will finish in all the settlements
of the republic, including Yerevan as well, till late 2007. Kamo
Areyan, the Deputy Mayor of Yerevan stated about it at the October
30 press conference. He reminded that the RA Government affirmed on
December 29, 2005, the order of naming, renaming the RA urban and
rural settlements, innersettlement geographic objects as well as
of defining addresses and numbering of the real property in those
settlements.” By the Government’s decision, during 2 years legal
bodies must bring in correspondence with the mentioned order defining
of addressed in Yerevan and other cities. K.Areyan emphasized that
the base of defining addresses of the capital was formed by the
Yerevan Mayor’s instruction. The whole economics of addresses of the
capital has already been inventoried: 1258 streets and lanes, 4566
many-apartment buildings with 216750 flats, 31124 individual dwelling
houses and 5348 public, production objects and constructions. The
Deputy Mayor also mentioned that the authorized body for numbering
buildings and constructions in Yerevan, giving addresses is the Mayor,
and the state authorized body for registration of an adress is the
RA Government’s State Committee on Land-Survey of Real Property.

“CUP OF ZEYTUN” INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT DEDICATED TO 15th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Cup of Zeytun” 10th traditional
international tournament of judo wrestling which was dedicated to
the 15th anniversary of the RA independence was held in Yerevan on
October 27-29.
Representatives of Armenia Karen Isahakian (56 kg, Vanadzor),
Artur Srapian (60 kg, Gyumri), Aram Ghazarian (73 kg, Armavir),
Armen Ispirian (81 kg, Yerevan), Maria Martinova (48 kg, Yerevan)
and Karine Ghevondian (57 kg, Yerevan) won in the youth struggle. Judo
wrestlers of Armenia were the first in 6 of the 9 weight categories of
the juvenile competitions. In total 305 sportsmen, including ones from
Georgia as well, participated in the tournament. As Davit Khitarian,
the Chairman of the organization committee of the tournament, the
coach mentioned in the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent,
participation of representatives of the Georgian judo rich in
traditions of this kind of sport greatly assists growth of mastery
of judo representatives of Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian

“NEW THREATS AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN THE 21st CENTURY” INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE STARTS ITS WORKS IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Ways of solution of the problems
arisen before Armenia and the region will be discussed during the
international two-day conference entitled “New Threats and Global
Challenges in the 21st Century” being held in Yerevan. The conference
is organized by the Yerevan Office of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), according to the characterization
of the head of which, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, today the main
problem of the Armenians and whole mankind is unification of the
intellectual potential as it will be possible to stand challenges
of the 21st century only in this way.” As military-political expert
Richard Kirakosian stated on October 31, the first working day of
the conference, there is no such a country in the world which will be
able to alone solve the three main problems arisen at present before
the mankind: globalization, information revolution, anti-terrorism
struggle. In his words, “in our days countries need more cooperation,
less competition.” In R.Kirakosian’s words, Armenia must overcome first
of all the inner problems connected with stimulation of the demographic
growth, keeping of natural resources, development of science and
technics as well as implementation of democratic government. As
R.Kirakosian emphasized the first precondition for political just
elections is presence of political will. Tigran Sargsian, the President
of the RA Central Bank also emphasized the importance of increase of
efficiency of government. He mentioned that according to data of the
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, there are 7 problems the modern
world is interested in, and the first of them relates to efficiency
of government. Other problems, as T.Sargsian presented, relate to
liquidation of poverty, creation of working places, struggle againts
terrorism arisen on the basis of Islamism, etc. According to foresight
of the RA CB President, world processes will develop either one-pole,
by the U.S. hegemony, or with some poles, U.S., China, India, created
as a result of the dialogue of civilizations. In the second case,
in T.Sargsian’s words, Armenia must orient which civilization it
belongs to or present itself as a bearer of a separate civilization.

NEW ORDER OF GETTING FREE PRIMARY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE TO FUNCTION IN ARMENIA FROM 2007
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Every citizen of Armenia may
get, within the framework of the state order, free primary medical
assistance and service guaranted by the state from any doctor working
at licensed medical institutions, who he will choose and at who he
will register according the fixed order.
Samvel Hovhannisian, the Chairman of the Armenian Association of
Family Doctors informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent about it. He
mentioned that according to the new order, if a citizen did not choose
the doctor of his place of settlement, but chose another doctor,
a form on his removal will be filled in. In S.Hovhannisian’s words,
it will give possibility to transfer the money allocated from the
state budget for the given person on the account of the medical
institution chosen by the citizen.

TARIFF FOR NATURAL GAS TO RISE IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Soon the ArmRosGazprom company
will apply to RA Public Services Regulatory Commission with a bid
of raising tariff for natural gas for producers. Karen Karapetian,
Chairman of company’s Board, General Executive Director, informed
journalists about it at the October 31 press conference. He also said
that in 2009 the population should be ready for paying “logically
formed” new tariff for gas. However, K.Karapetian did not mention how
much this “logical” tariff will be. Commenting upon the fact of gas
tariff’s remaining unchanged in Armenia for 3 years due to the sale
of Hrazdan TPP’s 5th power unit, K.Karapetian said that this regards
only price for gas paid on the border.

EUROPEAN UNION HIGHLY ESTIMATES ECONOMIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues connected with implementation
of the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation signed between Armenia
and European Union, approval and implementation of the Actions Plan
worked out within the framework of the European Neighborhood policy
were discussed at the 7th sitting of RA-EU Cooperation Committee held
on October 25 in Brussels. Karen Chshmaritian, RA Minister of Trade and
Economic Development, Co-chairman of RA-EU Cooperation Committee, said
this at the October 31 press conference. In his words, the European
party highly estimated economic reforms implemented in Armenia and
emphasized the necessity to continue measures aimed at stability of
economic growth. It was mentioned that at the sitting, an agreement was
reached on continuing cooperation in spheres of providing security of
the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and using alternative energy sources
in Armenia. In K.Chshmaritian’s words, issues relating to perfection
of legislation after RA constitutional reform, fighting corruption
in Armenia, democracy and human rights, Nagorno Karabakh problem,
RA-Turkey relations, programs of assistance provided to RA by EU were
discussed at the sitting. The Minister said that the Armenian party
drew attention to inappropriate complication of procedure of granting
permits of entering Schengen agreement countries for Armenians in the
recent period. An agreement was reached to include this question in
the sitting’s protocol. As the Minister said, the European side made
sure that delay in giving of the status of a country with a market
economy to Armenia has purely technical character and is connected
with internal procedure issues.
K.Chshmaritian also reported that the issue of this status was
discussed with the Head of the European Commission General Trade
Management at the October 26 meeting. Possibilities of establishing
a free trade regime between RA and EU, as well as issue of creating
EU Information Center in Armenia were also discussed.

ACCORDING TO DPA, PROBLEM OF LIQUIDATION OF DISBALANCE AMONG PENSIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED PRIMARY
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Democratic Party of Armenia
proposes all the political forces represented at the Parliament
to work out by the primary order and to present for discussion
the draft on an all-embracing law on pensions satisfying needs of
social security. It is said in the statement spread on October 30
by the DPA Republican Council, expressing criticims addressed to
parliamentarians who adopted in the first reading by the majority
of votes the draft law on the deputy’s pension. To recap, it is
envisaged to define the size of pension at the moment of the latter’s
appointment according to the 75% of the RA NA deputy’s officiating
rate of pay. The deputy’s salary is 300 thousand drams at present,
75% of which will make 225 thousand drams. It is envisaged to fix
429 thousand drams as the deputy’s salary in 2007. 75% of it will
make 315 thousand drams. In the opinion of the statement authors,
this initiative creating a privileged status will not become a cause
for public indignation if “the decision on liquidating the shouting
disbalance among pensions, making humiliating pensions of hundreds of
thousands of regular indigent citizens of the republic corresponding
at least to content of the minimal basket was considered primary, or,
at least, was combined with it.” The DPA expresses confidence that
any step addressed to rise of pensions in general will be justified
only in the case of adoption of the all-embracing law on pensions
satisfying needs of social security. The party expresses readiness
to take corresponding joint steps to implement this issue relating
to wide interests of the society.

RUBEN HOVSEPIAN ELECTED HEAD OF ACHAPNIAK COMMUNITY
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The brother of RA Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian, non-partisan Ruben Hovsepian won October 29 elections
in the Achapniak community of Yerevan. He will hold this post in the
coming 4 years.
According to the final protocol of district electoral commission
N 6, 18932 electors or about 25% of total number of community’s
electors took part in voting. Another two candidates, ARFD member
Gagik Sargsian and Head of Achapniak territorial structure of the
Democratic Way Party Ishkhan Arshakian received 2416 and 1920 votes,
respectively. No application-complaints were received by district
electoral commission N 6 in the fixed term.

SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN: IMPROVING ELECTORAL CODE IS NECESSARY, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT CONDITION FOR HOLDING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The promises of the authorities
about holding free and fair elections and the process of the Electoral
Code’s amending contradict to each other. RA MP Shavarsh Kocharian,
Chairman of the National Democratic Party, declared this on October
31 at the Pastark club. In his words, the content of the Electoral
Code’s amendments expresses the real intention of the authorities. In
the MP’s words, the newly independent countries that really strive
for democratization use exclusively the model of elections by the
proportional electoral system and those going towards authoritarianism
the majoritarian one. As an example of the last one he mentioned the
last parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan held by 100% majoritarian
electoral system.
Attaching importance to introduction of 100% proportional electoral
system in Armenia, Sh.Kocharian said that such elections should
be held by the rating principle, that is the place taken by a
candidate on the party electoral roll should be decided by an
elector. Sh.Kocharian also attached importance to use of principle
of balance in the process of formation of electoral commissions,
according to which pro-governmental and opposition political forces
should be equally represented in the commissions. The MP also
said that if in early November RA Constitutional Court sustains the
opposition’s lawsuit, according to which judges’ inclusion in electoral
commissions is anti-constitutional, NA will have to touch upon the
issue of commissions’ formation. NDP Chairman also touched upon the
amendments to the Electoral Code, which create “holes” for electoral
violations. In his words, it would be a good idea to put voting-papers
into envelopes, if the law excluded the possibility of marking them. In
Sh.Kocharian’s opinion, for insuring against violations printing and
delivery of voting-papers should be controlled by one body. Besides,
the law should exclude the possibility of nomination of one candidate
at an electoral district. The MP said that the Venice Commission also
expressed the same opinion about the last two points. Sh.Kocharian
gave assurance that improving the Electoral Code is a necessary, but
not sufficient condition for holding free and fair elections. In his
words, even if the parliament rejects the amendments proposed to the
Electoral Code and the acting variant of the law remains in force,
holding of free and fair elections is possible in this case, too,
if the authorities indeed have such an intention.