Author: Emil Lazarian

62 PERCENT OF ARMENIANS THINK THAT THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK: GALLUP SURVEY
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
62 percent of Armenians think that the country is on the wrong
track, while 31 percent think that the country is going in the right
direction, say the results of a national poll conducted by Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in Armenia.
39 percent of Armenians see improvement in the country’s economy,
while 21 percent think it is declining.
26 percent of Armenians say their household’s financial situation
has improved, while 24 percent say it has declined.
29 percent of Armenians are satisfied with the development of
democracy, while 68 percent are not.
An overall majority of Armenians think that it will take a long time
to improve things in their country.
The poll was commissioned by IRI, was conducted by the Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in coordination with the Armenian
Sociological Association, and was funded by USAID.
It was conducted from July 31 to August 10, 2006 among 1,200 Armenian
residents (voters) aged 18 years and over who were interviewed
face-to-face. The margin of error does not exceed 3 percent.
GALLUP INSTITUTE: MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS IN ARMENIA OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT FUTURE
Majority of respondents in Armenia (57%) are optimistic about
future, say the results of a national poll conducted by Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in Armenia.
In addition, 31% of the polled have a neutral attitude to future,
and only 10% are pessimistic about the future. 5% of respondents feel
themselves insecure and feel fear for future, 4% feel apathy, 27%
do not pin hopes with future, 45% hope that situation will improve
in future. Majority of the Armenian respondents do not think that
the situation improved during the last year. 23% think the situation
worsened, and 18% see progress in the year passed.
The poll was commissioned by IRI, was conducted by the Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in coordination with the Armenian
Sociological Association, and was funded by USAID.
It was conducted from July 31 to August 10, 2006 among 1,200 Armenian
residents (voters) aged 18 years. -M-
GALLUP INSTITUTE: MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS IN ARMENIA CONCERNED OVER
SITUATION WITH UNEMPLOYMENT IN COUNTRY
Majority of respondents (42%) in Armenia are concerned over the
situation with unemployment in the country, say the results of a
national poll conducted by Gallup Organization/Baltic Surveys in
Armenia.
22% of the polled connect their concern with the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict, 32% are concerned over the social-economic situation in
the country. 16% of the polled are concerned over the development of
economy and industry in the country, 10% are anxious at corruption,
10% at democracy and respect for human rights. In addition, 12%
of Armenian residents are concerned over migration problem and 7%
over the foreign political course. Recognition of Armenian Genocide
arises concern of only 3% of respondents in Armenia.
GALLUP INSTITUTE: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT WILL ATTRACT THE SUPPORT OF
THE MAJORITY OF THE ARMENIAN POPULATION IF IT FULFILLS ITS PROMISE
TO CREATE JOBS
The Armenian government will attract the support of the majority of the
Armenian population if it fulfills its promise to create new jobs, say
the results of a national poll conducted by Gallup Organization/Baltic
Surveys in Armenia.
Thus, 37% of respondents think necessary the creation of jobs, 18% of
the polled are for the rise of wages and pensions, 14% are concerned
over the development of economy, 21% are concerned over the democracy
level, 15% of the polled think necessary fair elections. In addition,
8% of the polled residents of Armenia are concerned over insufficient
measures of fight against corruption, 3% are for the change of the
government, 3% are for assistance to the unsecured sections of the
population. Only 2% of respondents are concerned over attaching
Nagorny Karabakh to Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DID THE PLANE TOOK GOLD AND DRUGS TO SOCHI ONCE IN THREE MONTHS?
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
There is no official statement on the crash of the Armenian A320 May
3 in Sochi, which took 113 lives. According to the initial conclusion
of the Interstate Aviation Committee, the cause of the crash was the
mistake of the pilot. Five months later the Russian media recalled the
plane. In answer to this, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram
Karapetyan stated some questions October 25 in Yerevan, which he will
extend to the Attorney General on October 26. Aram Karapetyan said he
got the information that gave rise to his questions from the media,
as well as the National Security Service of Armenia and his source
in Armavia. This is the only plane crash in Armenia over the past 20
years, and unfortunately, the government is trying to forget about it,
stated Aram Karapetyan.
Q. 1. In the first telegram Yerevan received after the crash of the
plane it was stated, “the plane disappeared from the display of the
radar.” According to Aram Karapetyan, experts say such telegrams
are sent when the plane explodes. Did the procuracy pay attention to
this circumstance?
Q. 2. Did a criminal group try to get the plane land in Sochi and
not return to Yerevan? Was there a fight? Was the captain of the
liner beaten?
Q. 3. Why did not the plane return to Yerevan when the dispatcher of
Sochi warned that it is impossible to land there? Who in the territory
of Georgia made the plane return to Sochi, and the plane did not get
to its destination?
Q. 5. Did the security service of the airport check all the VIP
passengers? Did these passengers carry weapon, explosives? Were they
checked? Are there records of the checking? We have learned that the
VIP lounge is under 24 hour surveillance. Were these records and the
video tape confiscated and attached to the criminal case?
Q. 6. Is the information in the Russian media true, or is the reality
different but it is presented this way to settle certain political
problems?
Q. 7. Is it true that after deciphering the information of the data
recorders the French party extended information on 6 parameters
instead of the required 40 to the Russian party?
The cause of the crash was not the mistake of the pilots, states the
leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party. Considering that nobody gives
explanation or information to the National Assembly, Aram Karapetyan
stated, “In most cases certain government agencies make no efforts,
and it appears that the National Assembly is neglected. The society
cannot get information.” This leads to emergence of various rumors.
For instance, Aram Karapetyan has heard that this plane took gold
and drugs to Sochi once in three months.
According to Aram Karapetyan, all the documents of the crashed plane
were in another A320 of Armavia which burnt in the hangar in Belgium
after the crash of A320.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS OF ARMENIA SYMPATHIZE WITH GEORGIA
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The leader of the Christian Democratic Party of Armenia Khosrov
Harutiunyan stated October 25 at the Hayeli Club that in the current
state of Russian and Georgian relations their sympathy is with
Georgia. “Any sovereign country is free to choose its geopolitical
line if this choice, I repeat, does not threaten the security or
strategic interests of the third country or countries. If there is a
threat, it should have been negotiated instead of barring the import
of Borjomi or wines,” says Khosrov Harutiunyan.
He says Georgia does not benefit from this situation and the action
of President Sahakashvili, whereas Russia suffers from the methods of
its reaction, says Khosrov Harutiunyan. According to him, however,
nobody or no country is supposed to judge the actions concerning
the relation of other states, and not judging Georgia and Russia
the leader of the Christian Democratic Party judges Armenia, the
Armenian parliament saying that the parliamentary diplomacy can act
as a mediator because there are restrictions on the activities of
the executive. For instance, Khosrov Harutiunyan says Armenia could
accuse Georgia of creating demarcation lines in the Caucasus by its
policy. “Meanwhile, our parliament didn’t even make a statement on
the existing situation although the new Constitution empowers it,”
says Khosrov Harutiunyan, noting that this shows that the parliament
is a political impotent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN-TURKISH EXHIBITION OPENED IN “MOSCOW” CINEMA
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
“Merhabarev” photo-exhibition opened in the “Moscow” cinema today.
The exhibition is the first joint project of Armenian and Turkish
photographers. Coordinator and participant of the program
Ruben Mangasaryan said that during the mutual visits in 2006
photo-correspondents of the Armenian “Patkerphoto” and Turkish “Nar”
agencies had taken the photos of Yerevan and Istanbul, and now 130
photos will be exhibited in Yerevan.
“This exhibition will familiarize the two, which, being immediate
neighbors, have isolated themselves with closed borders,” said Turkish
photographer Osjan Yurdalan, adding that in the photos they tries to
present the everyday reality.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JAPAN HOPES FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 15:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 24 newly appointed Japanese Ambassador
to Armenia Yasuo Saito (residence in Moscow) presented copies of
credentials to Deputy FM of Armenia Gegham Gharibjanyan, reports the
Press Office of the American MFA. During the meeting the Japanese
diplomat noted the importance of development of Japanese-Armenian
relations and hoped for strengthening these. He expressed readiness to
contribute to that goal. The parties discussed the matter of opening
Armenian Embassy in Japan and that of Japan in Armenia, as well as
international matters, specifically nuclear tests in North Korea.
Gharibjanyan also briefed the Ambassador on the current situation
with the Karabakh issue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NANCY PELOSI: IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT US RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 17:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),
a longtime supporter of Armenian American issues who is expected to
become Speaker if the Democrats win a majority in the House this
November, pledged today to support Armenian Genocide legislation
next year during in the 110th session of Congress. In a statement
released to Harut Sassounian, Publisher of the California Courier,
Congresswoman Pelosi stated that: “I have supported legislation,
including H.Res.316, that would properly acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide. It is imperative that the United States recognize this
atrocity and move to renew our commitment to eliminate genocide
whenever and wherever it exists. This effort enjoys strong bipartisan
support in the House, and I will continue to support these efforts
in the 110th Congress.”
Congresswoman Pelosi’s statement is consistent with her past record
of energetic and principled support for U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, dating back nearly 20 years, Harut Sassounian told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN GAS DELIVERY VIA IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE TO START DECEMBER 20
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 18:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iranian gas will be received in Armenia via the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline earlier than planned, stated Director
of High-Voltage Electric Grids – the customer, which has ordered
the building of the Armenian part of the gas pipeline – Sahak
Abrahamyan. In his words, the gas pipeline is expected to be
commissioned December 20 this year instead of January 1, 2007. Sahak
Abrahamyan also reported that the building works on the 38-kilometer
part of the 40-km lot of Meghri-Kajaran are over. The estimated cost
of the building of the 40-km lot is $35 million.
80% of this sum are lent by the Iranian Development Bank to the
Armenian party, while the rest will be allocated from own sources,
reports IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UN CONDITIONAL MODELLING-PLAY HELD AT RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN UNIVERSITY
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. With the assistance of the
Armenian Association of the United Nations, a group of students
of the International Relations Department of the Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) State University held on October 24 a modelled variant
of the UN Security Council sitting where every participant
“represnted” a UN member state. The main theme of the “sitting”
was the Palestinian-Israeli crisis on the occasion of which the
participants adopted a special resolution after a discussion lasted
for some hours. In words of Valeri Tkachuk, the representative
of the UN Public Information Department, “UN modelling is a too
interesting play,” which has been held already for some years
not only among young students but also among ready specialists,
politicians and diplomates. In his words, the event held in the
Slavonic University is the 3rd among the 7 modellings envisaged in
Armenia and “it’s gratifying that, by happy coincidence, this event
was held just on the day of the UN foundation, October 24.” In words
of Armine Halajian, the board responsible for information, the event
has mainly an educational goal as every participant, being involved
in discussions and undertaking role of any country’s representative,
study deeply that country’s history, geography, foreign policy, etc.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAREKIN II CATHOLICOS EXPECTS BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES’ SUPPORT IN AFFAIR OF BUILDING OF ARMENIAN CHURCH
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving on October 24 at the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Sergey Sidorsky, the Prime Minister
of Republic of Belarus who is on an official visit in Armenia,
Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
expressed satisfaction with making closer and strengthening the
Armenian-Belarusian relations at the state level, considering them
natural consequence of centuries-old friendship of the Armenian and
Belarusian peoples. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Services
of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, the Armenian Patriarch thanked
in the person of the Prime Minister the authorities of Belarus as
well for the attentive and careful attitude towards the Armenian
community. His Holiness expressed confidence that the authorities
will support the Armenian community in the affair of construction of
an Armenian church in Belarus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND TURKISH PHOTOJOURNALISTS’ JOINT EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Exhibition of Armenian and Turkish
photojournalists under the title Merhabarev took place on October
25 at Moscow cinema of Yerevan. The exhibition was organized by
the Caucasian Media Institute with the sponsorship of the Embassy
of Switzerland in RA. The Merhabarev is the first joint program of
photojournalists of Patkerphoto Armenian and Nar Turkish agencies. In
the words of the Patkerphoto founder, photographer Ruben Mangasarian,
five Armenian photographers took photos of Istanbul and five Turkish
photographers took some pictures in Yerevan streets. In the words
of Turkish photojournalist Oscan Yurdalan, the exhibition’s name,
Merhabarev, is a double greeting consisting of Turkish word “merhaba”
and Armenian “barev” (greeting). He said that he communicates with
his Armenian colleagues “in the language of documentary photography,
which enables “to concentrate upon the present at the same time sending
a message to the future.” And photojournalist Anahit Hayrapetian said
that in Istanbul she has worked with representatives of various local
strata and has never met any obstacle or pressure. “We, Armenians,
by saying “Turks” imagine a savage people, which indeed is not so,”
Anahit said. As she affirmed, it is already time that ice between
the two peoples melt.