Author: Chmshkian Vicken

29% OF ARMENIAN POPULATION ARE UNDERFED

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 1 2006

29 percent of the population of Armenia are underfed, states the report
of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The report states that
Armenia has managed to halve hungry people. The authors of the report
point to the immense number of malnourished people in Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan. These countries and Armenia are included in the list
of countries which are facing serious food security problems. The
experts state that Azerbaijan and Georgia have made considerable
progess in this sphere. There are 700-800 thousand underfed people
in these countries against 2.5 million in 1993-1995.

The UN report states that there are 25 million undernourished people
in the countries with a transitional economy, 21 million live in
the CIS. The worst situation is in Tajikistan, 60 percent of the
population is underfed.

The report states that it will be impossible to bring into being the
goal set in 1996 in the summit of Rome to halve hungry people in the
world by 2015.

NO ISSUE RELATING TO WITHDRAWING TROOPS DISCUSSED AT MEETING BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI DEFENCE MINISTERS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar
Abiyev’s statement, according to which allegedly at the October 20
meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Defence Ministers the first
issue raised by him and discussed related to "withdrawing Armenian
troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories" does not correspond
to reality. According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA
Defence Ministry Press Service, no issue of the kind was discussed at
the meeting held in the Ijevan-Ghazakh part of Armenian-Azerbaijani
border, at the suggestion of Andrzej Kasprczik, Personal Representative
to OSCE Chairman-in-Office, within the framework of measures aimed
at increasing mutual confidence between the sides. They only spoke
about border control and cease-fire preservation.

MONUMENT TO ARAM KHACHATRYAN OPENED IN MOSCOW

ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 10:53

A monument to world famous composer Aram Khachaturian was opened
in the center of Moscow, not far from the House of Composers. The
festive ceremony was attended by RA President Robert Kocharyan, the
Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, and the First Lady of Russia Lyudmila
Putina. The bronze statue was installed not far from the house,
where the composer lived and worked. Sculptor Georgy Frangulyan
and architect Igor Voskresenski pictured the maestro surrounded with
musical instruments. "It is very symbolic that the monument was placed
in this area, not far from the House of Composers," Lyudmila Putina
said during the opening ceremony.

RUSSIA CAN MAKE ANY MOVE TO PREVENT GEORGIA FROM JOINING NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 17:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia has two clear objectives as regards Georgia,
Chief of the Department of CIS Countries of the Russian Institute of
Strategic Research, Candidate of Historical Sciences Alexander Skakov
said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. "I am nor speaking of a
fantastic dream to see Georgia a friendly state. Russia insists on
maintenance of the current format of peacekeeping operation in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia without making any attempt to internationalize
the peaceful process. It first of all wishes the settlement to be
convenient not for Moscow or Tbilisi but for the people of these
unrecognized republics," Skakov remarked.

He underscored that Georgia’s aspiration to join the NATO tenses
the relations. "We do not eye the NATO as hostile organization but
the anti-Russian vector has strengthened after Latvia, Estonia and
to some extent Lithuania and Poland joint the Alliance. Georgia will
boost this anti-Russian mood. We do not think that Georgia’s joining
the NATO is a decoded matter Influential states like Germany, France
and Canada hold an opinion that the further enlargement of the NATO
is inappropriate. Besides, Georgia will not meet the NATO standards
in the near future not to mention the unsettled conflicts on the
Georgian territory. The matter concerns only Tbilisi’s joining the ID
(Intense Dialogue). It does not lay any obligation on the Alliance
and does not determine Georgia’s membership on the NATO. That is why
it cannot arouse Russia’s discontent. Each country itself decided
its military allies," the Russian expert said. However, he remarked
Russian can take any move to prevent Georgia’s membership in the
NATO. "Some forces in Tbilisi, Washington or Brussels may think that
Russia "swallowing" NATO’s enlargement towards the Baltic states will
tolerate Georgia’s joining the Alliance.

Russia can for example one-sidedly recognize the independence of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Thus.

Georgia will have to choose whether to grant independence to seceded
autonomies and bravely head for the NATO or stay in actual war with
Russia and forger about the NATO, since the Alliance will never accept
Georgia, which is in state of war with its northern neighbor. Tbilisi
can get into its own trap," Skakov underscored.

NATIONAL UNITY COULD NOT VOTE FOR OR AGAINST ELECTORAL CODE’S AMENDED VARIANT, FACTION SECRETARY SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. 90% of proposals of the National
Unity and Ardarutiun (Justice) factions was included in the new draft
Electoral Code, as a result of which the code was considerably improved
and voting against would be wrong from moral point of view. Alexan
Karapetian, Secretary of RA NA National Unity faction, reported this
at the October 30 dispute at the Hayeli Mirror club, explaining the
faction’s decision not to take part in voting of draft of amendments
and additions to the Electoral Code. In his words, the National
Unity could not, either vote for the draft as it did not include the
opposition’s proposal of passing to 100% proportional electoral system.

A.Karapetian gave assurance that only 100% proportional electoral
system can result in liquidation of many electoral violations that
are mainly committed by candidates nominated by the majoritarian
system. Samvel Nikoyan, RPA faction member, expressed bewilderment
in connection with the fact that issues not included in the draft are
discussed in connection with the amendments to the Electoral Code. In
his words, as early as a year ago when political forces represented
at NA started to work out amendments to the Electoral Code, an
agreement was reached not to touch upon proportional-majoritarian
electoral systems and formation of electoral commissions, as it
was clear from the very start that approaches towards these issues
will differ. Besides, in 2005 NA had already made amendment to the
Electoral Code, according to which correlation of MPs elected by
majoritarian and proportional systems from 56/75 became 41/90. In
response, A.Karapetian said that this was not a political agreement,
but a bargain, as a result of which the People’s Deputy group that
does not represent a political force received one seat at electoral
commissions. In the MP’s words, the fact that the Business MP group
has no such right is evidence of a double approach.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR MOSCOW

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006

YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has left
for a two-day working visit to Moscow. The RA presidential press
service reports that Robert Kocharyan is to hold a private meeting
with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The RA President is also scheduled to hold meetings with RF Premier
Mikhail Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

In Moscow President Robert Kocharyan is to take part in a ceremonial
unveiling of a monument to the great Armenian composer Aram
Khachaturyan.

SECRET POLICE CHARGE DENIED BY EU CANDIDATE
by Jamie Smyth In Brussels

The Irish Times
October 28, 2006 Saturday

ROMANIA: Romania’s candidate for the post of EU commissioner has
rejected allegations that he collaborated with secret police during
the communist era or accepted corrupt payments.

Romanian prime minister Calin Tariceanu and president Traian Basescu
also backed their nominee yesterday, describing media reports carrying
the allegations as unsubstantiated.

However, senator Varujan Vosganian, who was nominated on Thursday
for the high profile post, has still not received the endorsement of
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, leading some EU
insiders to speculate he is now a "dead man walking".

Mr Barroso’s spokesman said consultations were still ongoing over
Romania’s nominee, who is relatively unknown in Brussels circles.

"There are no specific vetting procedures but there are certain
requirements that a member of the commission must fulfil," said the
spokesman, who denied there were problems with the nominee. "No one
is afraid of anything, people are consulting."

Media reports in Romania carried two specific allegations against
Mr Vosganian: that he collaborated with the Securitate secret police
during the communist era and that he received money inappropriately
from a businessman.

At a press conference in Bucharest Mr Vosganian strenuously denied
the allegations.

"I had never co-operated . . . with the Securitate or intelligence
organs," he said. "Since 1990 my income came exclusively from my
salary as senator, leader of the Armenian community and the writers’
union, and dividends from my two small companies." EU sources said Mr
Barroso was being very careful to scrutinise Mr Vosganian’s background
before deciding whether to back him. "He doesn’t want a repeat of
the Buttiglione affair," said one source, referring to the European
Parliament’s rejection of the Italian nominee to the commission in
2004, who Mr Barroso had supported.

Other sources predicted Mr Vosganian was a "dead man walking" after
failing to get the endorsement of Mr Barroso at a meeting with him
on Thursday.

Mr Barroso endorsed Bulgaria’s nominee after a meeting on the same day.

Difficulties over the appointment of the Romanian commissioner
coincided with renewed tensions between EU officials and industry
commissioner Gunter Verheugen.

Civil servants are reported to have asked for Mr Verheugen’s
resignation following his strong criticism of EU officials.

Earlier this month the German commissioner launched a scathing
attack on officials saying they are far too powerful, have their own
fiefdoms and advance their own opinions as the official position of
the commission.

iBerkshires.com, MA
Oct 27 2006

Piano Virtuoso Tchougarian to Perform
– October 27, 2006

Armenian piano virtuoso Karen Tchougarian will bring his
distinguished and international talent to EPOCH Assisted Living at
Melbourne on Friday, Nov. 3, at 3 p.m. EPOCH Assisted Living is
located at 140 Melbourne Road.

Tchougarian studied at the Komitas University in Armenia and the
University of Arkansas. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from
the Manhattan School of Music and has won many performance
competitions, including the 1999 Artists International Auditions. As
the winner, Tchougarian made a fully sponsored debut at Carnegie
Hall. Tchougarian will perform a full range of music from classical
to movie scores to jazz and waltz.

Part of EPOCH Assisted Living’s programs for residents, this
performance is open to visitors at not charge but a reservation is
requested at 413-499-1992.

Imedi TV, Georgia
27 Oct 06

ETHNIC ARMENIAN MOVEMENT RALLIES IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA TO DEMAND
RELEASE OF LEADER

[Presenter] Supporters of the Javakhk movement are holding a rally in
front of the cultural centre in Akhalkalaki [a predominantly ethnic
Armenian town in southern Georgia]. The Javakhk members are calling
for one of their leaders, Vakhtang (?Chakhalyan), to be released.
Chakhalyan was one of those behind the seizure of the local
administration building in Akhalkalaki on 8 October. He is being held
in Yerevan. Young people appeared at the rally in special outfits
with Armenian flags on their sleeves. Political statements are being
made at the rally.

[Arab Batoyan, addressing crowd in Russian] Those who want to improve
their lives risk being arrested. Today it will be for illegally
crossing the border but tomorrow it could be for breathing in too
much air. We call on the leaders of Armenia and Georgia not to
resolve their problems at the expense of the future of Javakhk
[Javakheti] and to take into account the interests of our people. We
gathered here to demand the immediate release of illegally detained
Chakhalyan. Thank you.

[Artur Polosyan, captioned as Javakhk member, addressing crowd in
Russian] In all these years not one job has been created. The
government of this country promised to create thousands of jobs in
Akhalkalaki to replace those lost when the Russian military base is
withdrawn. However, that has not yet happened. That could lead to a
tense social and economic situation. It is not possible to resolve
social and economic problems in the region just by painting the
facades of buildings.

VARUZHAN VOSKANIAN APPOINTED ROMAIA’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

ArmRadio.am
26.10.2006 16:30

The Prime Minister of Romania CÄ~Clin Popescu-TÄ~Criceanu has appointed
Senator Varuzhan Voskanian the representative of his country in the
European Commission. Varuzhan Voskanian chairs the national union of
Romanian Armenians.

Voskanian’s candidacy needs to be approved by the President of
the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso and the European
Parliament. Voskanian will assume office, when Romania joins the
European Union on January 1, 2007.

48-year-old Varuzhan Voskanian, a mathematician and economist, chairs
the Senate Committee on Finance and Budgeting and stands out for his
liberal views, the "Associated Press" reports.

–Boundary_(ID_s+Szx/E6SxTEfkO5gVYVdg)–