Author: Emil Lazarian

ACCORDING TO MILLIYET, NO NECESSARY MEASURES ARE TAKEN FOR SECURITY OF AGOS AND OTHER ARMENIAN INSTITUTIONS OF ISTANBUL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 02 2007

ISTANBUL, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Security
Service of Istanbul did not take necessary measures in the direction of
defending the Agos editorial office and other Armenian institutions. As
Marmara states, the Turkish Milliyet newspaper wrote about it. The
newspaper correspondent states that after adoption of the Armenian
resolution by the Parliament of France, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian,
the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey addressed to the Governor’s Office,
demanding to take under protection a number of Armenian institutions,
and that responding this appeal, the Istanbul Governor’s Office
prepared a 7-page list of institutions of primary importance of
protection. The Agos editorial office was the 12th in this list. In
spite of it, no measures of security were taken in front of the
editorial office after Hrant Dink’s murder. On the next day after
Dink’s murder the Istanbul Governor and security head explained it
during the press conference by the fact that Hrant Dink did not ask for
protection. "18 editors are at the present moment under the protection
of our service, but Hrant Dink did not ask us for such protection,"
Istanbul Governor Guler said at the press conference. Milliyet presents
October 12, 2006 decree of the security service deputy head by which
it was demanded to set the Armenian Patriarch’s appeal going. But in
spite of that decree, no measures of security were taken in front of
the Agos editorial office, and criminal Ogust Samast was not noticed
by video cameras placed by the Security Service, and it would remain
unknown if it was not accidently shot by the camera of an institution
placed in the neighbouring street. The newspaper reminds on this
occasion that no measures of security were taken even after the issue
when the Police was informed about preparing an attempt at Hrant Dink.

MY INVOLVEMENT IN RPA PROPORTIONAL LIST IS RESULT OF JOINT WORK, HRANUSH HAKOBIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. "The Parliament is being politicized
where the work must be team. And one must strengthen that work and
assist some team."

RA National Assembly deputy, non-partisan Hranush Hakobian who was
nominated for the coming parliamentary elections with the proportional
list of the Republican Party of Armenia expressed such a viewpoint at
the March 2 press conference. In H.Hakobian’s words, her involvement
in the RPA proportional list is a result of joint work with the party
and the estimation of that work.

"Still after the 2003 parliamentary elections, the RPA easily and
with pleasure gave the post of the Chairperson of the NA Standing
Committee on Science, Education, Culture to a non-partisan person,"
she said. Responding the question why she was not nominated by the
majoritarian electoral system, H.Hakobian mentioned that she has
already proved 5 times that "she can be nominated and elected by the
majoritarian system: today there is not need of it any more." In her
words, there are all the preconditions for holding fear elections as
"it is allowed to shoot the whole process of election and calculation."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TAX REVENUES OF ARMENIAN STATE BUDGET INCREASE BY 21.1% IN JANUARY 2007 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January 2007, tax revenues of the
RA state budget made over 28.1 bln drams (about 77.26 mln USD),
which ensured 6.4% of the annual program. According to the RA
Ministry of Finance and Economy, tax revenues increased by 21.1%
or 4.9 bln drams on the same month of 2006, mainly at the expense
of VAT. VAT revenues amounted to about 16 bln drams, making up 56.8%
of the total tax revenues in January. 9.2 bln drams of this sum was
received from taxation on the Armenian borders, 6.8 bln drams – from
domestic turnover of goods and services. VAT revenues of the state
budget grew by 59.3% or 5.9 bln drams on the same month of 2006. Taxes
from both import and domestic turnover increased. In January 2007,
7.8% of tax revenues of the RA state budget were excise tax revenues,
which amounted to 2.2 bln drams.

Particularly, 1.6 bln drams was received from taxation of imported
goods subject to excise tax, including 845.5 mln drams from taxation of
imported gasoline and diesel fuel and 723.5 mln drams – from taxation
of imported cigarettes. State budgetary revenues from taxation of
goods, which are produced in Armenia and subject to excise tax, made
614.7 mln drams, 553.1 mln drams of which was received as excise tax
on cigarettes made in Armenia. Excise tax revenues declined by 34.4%
or 1.2 ln drams on January 2006, mainly due to a decrease in taxes
from imported and domestically produced cigarettes, as well as imported
gasoline. 12.5% of tax revenues in January was ensured at the expense
of profit tax of over 3.5 bln drams. Profit tax revenues declined by
0.4% or 13.9 mln drams on January of last year. Income tax revenues of
the RA state budget amounted to 2.2 bln drams in January 2007, which
is less by 22.8% or 635.7 mln drams than the index of January 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND LORI REGIONAL GOVERNOR DISCUSS PRIORITY PROBLEMS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Priority problems of Lori marz
were discussed at the March 1 meeting of the RA President Robert
Kocharian and the Lori regional governor Aram Kocharian. The
interlocutors discussed problems related to putting large regional
industrial enterprises into operation, as well as the 2007 programs
on development of agriculature in the marz. The president expressed
concern over low rates of apartment construction for the families
in rural areas which were left homeless by the earthquake. According
to the RA President’s press service, R. Kocharian gave instructions
concerning the discussed issues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DUTCH FM VERHAGEN: SOUTHERN CYPRIOTS ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN YOUR EU PROCESS

Hurriyet, Turkey
March 1 2007

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen arrived in Ankara as part of the
delegation accompanying Queen Beatrix of Holland two days ago, and met
yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on a variety of topics.

Verhagen reportedly reiterated to Gul that the Netherlands
administration believed that during the EU accession process for
Turkey, there were certain responsibilities which the Southern Cypriots
had to live up to. The two ministers also dicussed the Armenian claims
of genocide, as well as the controversial article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘IMPEACHMENT BLOC’ AMONG ARMENIAN VOTE CONTENDERS
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
March 1 2007

A small opposition alliance pursuing the single goal of impeaching
President Robert Kocharian was officially registered to contest the
May 12 parliamentary elections on Thursday.

The bloc bearing the English-language name Impeachment formally
consists of two small parties supporting former President Levon
Ter-Petrosian. But the driving force behind it is the Aylentrank
(Alternative) movement that was launched late last year by a group
of prominent politicians and intellectuals in opposition to Kocharian.

Some of them, notably former parliament speaker Babken Ararktsian,
used to hold senior positions in the Ter-Petrosian administration.

Others are much younger Western-oriented figures like Nikol Pashinian,
editor of "Haykakan Zhamanak," Armenia’s best-selling daily. Pashinian
told RFE/RL that Impeachment’s list of candidates will be submitted
to the Central Election Commission (CEC) by Saturday.

As well as campaigning for regime change, Aylentrank claims to offer
an ideological alternative to Armenia’s current leadership, which
it accuses of rolling back political reforms and endangering the
country’s sovereignty. The movement embarked on a campaign of rallies
on February 20 in a bid to win over the hearts and minds of Armenians.

However, its first rally was attended by up to 1,000 people,
highlighting Ter-Petrosian allies’ persisting lack of popularity. The
next Aylentrank gathering is scheduled for Friday.

Aylentrank leaders hoped that Impeachment would unite a wide range
of big and small opposition parties refusing to recognize Kocharian’s
legitimacy. But none of the opposition heavyweights has shown interest
in the initiative. Even some Ter-Petrosian allies are skeptical
about it.

Meanwhile, the Kocharian-controlled CEC voiced no objections to the
bloc’s name as it promptly registered Impeachment in the presence of
journalists. Still, the CEC chairman, Garegin Azarian, had trouble
uttering the word "impeachment" during the public ceremony, cutting
short his customary congratulation of a newly registered election
contender. "We congratulate … ," Azarian paused, grinning. "I had
better not say that. Let’s move on," he added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOUSE DEMOLITIONS CONTINUE IN YEREVAN
By Shakeh Avoyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
March 1 2007

Security forces used force to evict on Thursday yet another family
in downtown Yerevan whose old house has been confiscated by the state
to be torn down by private real estate developers.

The family of nine persons were forced out of their eight-room property
after refusing to accept a $23,000 compensation offered by municipal
authorities. Citing "public needs," the authorities have decided to
give it to the owner of an adjacent building housing a night club
and a department store.

The evicted residents say the proposed compensation is worth a
fraction of the market value of their home and insufficient even
for buying a tiny apartment on the city outskirts. The authorities
counter that the sum is modest partly because some parts of the house
were constructed illegally.

The main house owner, Samvel Gharibian, has unsuccessfully challenged
his family’s displacement in two courts. He filed an appeal to
Armenia’s Court of Cassation and is currently awaiting a judgment.

Justice Ministry bailiffs, backed up by special police, cited the
lower court rulings as they broke into Gharibian’s house. His wife and
one of the daughters put up fierce resistance to the law-enforcement
officers, screaming and condemning them as "fascists." The pregnant
young woman was injured in the scuffle and required medical assistance.

In the meantime, dozens of other people, who have already been evicted
from other old neighborhoods of Yerevan, gathered outside in a show of
solidarity with the Gharibian family. "You don’t defend the interests
of the people," one man shouted at the bailiffs.

"I’m not the one who is forcing them out," countered one of the
officials.

Hundreds of families have been affected by the ongoing controversial
redevelopment which is rapidly changing the city center. Many of them
have been similarly unhappy with the modest amount of compensations,
alleging high-level government corruption. Some have resisted eviction
by filing lawsuits and even building barricades.

The Armenian constitution stipulates that private property can
be taken away by the state "only in exceptional cases involving
overriding public interests, in a manner defined by law, and with
a prior commensurate compensation." The process has until now
been regulated only by government directives, however. Armenia’s
Constitutional Court effectively declared it illegal in April, but
stopped short of ordering the authorities to return the increasingly
expensive land to their former owners. It only ordered the government
to pass a bill regulating all aspects of urban development.

The government-controlled parliament approved such a bill last November
amid strong protests from the opposition minority which considers it
too discretionary. It essentially allows the authorities to continue
to demolish old houses in the capital and other parts of the country
by simply invoking "needs of the public and the state."

The government again used that prerogative at a weekly meeting on
Thursday, approving redevelopment projects in some parts of the
Armenian capital. A government press release did not specify those
areas.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROBLEMS OF REFUGEES WERE DISCUSSED IN ROUND-TABLE MEETING
Anahit Gabrielian

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
01 March 07

Recently the NKR organization of refugees has held a round-table
meeting in Stepanakert. Besides refugees, representatives of
government agencies had been invited, namely Serge Amirkhanian, head
of the Department for Migration, Refugees and Resettlement, head
of the political department of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Margaret Karapetian, the deputy rector of Artsakh State University
Valery Javadian, as well all as reporters. The round-table was on
the problems of refugees displaced from Azerbaijan in 1988-1992, who
live in NKR. The problem of housing of refugees remains urgent. 33
families have been living for 18 years now at one of the dormitories
of Artsakh State Universities, which lacks conveniences. In Ajapniak,
a suburb of Stepanakert, 14 houses were built for refugees but these
families refuse to move into new houses, because there is no transport
and conveniences they say. On the eve the representative of the
organization of refugees and the head of the government agency which
deals with the problems of refugees had visited the new residential
area with a group of refugees, and the disadvantages of the new houses
frustrated the refugees who long for moving into new houses. Margaret
Karapetian, a senior official of the foreign ministry, says settling
people in bad conditions means violating their rights. The participants
heard with interest the representative of the foreign ministry that
the international organizations are interested in a peace settlement
of the issue and possible cooperation between NKR and the EU. Serge
Amirkhanian, the head of the NKR department for migration, refugees
and resettlement, said soon the conditions in the new residential
area will be improved, and another 13 houses will be built this year.

Besides, if there are families who own land in any other area, a
house will be built for them on that plot. He also said the refugees
who can afford to buy an apartment may get assistance. As for the
suburb of Ajapniak, Serge Amirkhanian says hopefully there will be
people who will wish to live in the new neighborhood. The chair of
the organization of refugees Sanasar Sarian said the organization
was set up to protect the refugees and their rights. At the same
time, he called on the refugees for active participation in the
political and economic life of the country. In cooperation with
the International Alert the organization of refugees of NKR makes
efforts to restore confidence between the conflict parties, which
is an important precondition for the settlement of the problem. The
participants endorsed the goal of the organization, at the same time
they pointed to the dual standards in solving their problem.

Namely, we are made to agree to the return of the Azerbaijani refugees,
meanwhile, the number of Armenian refugees and their status is never
discussed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATE BUDGETARY REVENUES OF RA GROW BY 44.7% IN JANUARY 2007 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. In January 2007, the state budgetary
revenues of the RA made over 40.4 bln drams (about 111.1 mln USD),
while budgetary expenditures – 18.6 bln drams. The programmed annual
indices on revenues approved by the Armenian government were fulfilled
by 8%, expenditure indices – by 3.5%. According to the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy, state budgetary revenues grew by 44.7% or 12.5 bln
drams on the same period of last year. In this sum, taxes and duties
grew by 5.1 bln drams, non-tax revenues – by 6.1 bln drams, revenues
from capital operations – by 1.6 bln drams, whereas official transfers
declined by 373.1 mln drams. Most of the state budgetary revenues –
69.6% was formed at the expense of taxes. State duties made up 2.8%
of budgetary revenues, non-tax revenues – 17.7%, and revenues from
capital operations – 9.9%.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA DRAM APPRECIATES BY 2.1% AGAINST US DOLLAR IN FEBRUARY 2007

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.2% inflation registered in the
Armenian consumer market in February 2007 was accompanied by a 2.1%
decline in the settlement exchange rate of the Armenian dram against
the US dollar (the dram appreciated). According to the RA National
Statistical Service, a 0.2% growth in consumer prices was regsitered
in February 2006, which was accompanies by a 0.4% decline in the
exchange rate of the Armenian dram. In February 2007, the average
settlement exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar
made 356.14 drams, which is lower by 20.9% than the respective index
of February 2006 (450.11 drams).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress