Author: Khondkarian Raffi

A new president can disagree with the package

28-12-2007 10:33:58 – KarabakhOpen

The international mediators can develop a draft on the Nagorno Karabakh
peaceful agreement before the presidential elections in Armenia, if
both the sides agree upon the basic principles of conflict resolution,
OSCE MG Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said.

The mediators submitted written proposals to Azerbaijan and Armenia
during the meeting in Madrid in the end of November. Due to the
confidentiality of the process, no details were announced on the issue.

`The proposals offer nothing new’, said Merzlyakov.

The Russian mediator stated that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs hope to
get reaction of both sides during their visit to the region in the
middle of January. `In Madrid, the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers presented their opinions. But the sides are studying the
proposals,’ Merzlyakov said.

He did not exclude that the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan may
meet after the Co-chairs’ visit to the region. The co-chairs are also
planning to visit Nagorno Karabakh, Trend reports.

The haste of the OSCE Minsk Group mediators is conditioned by the
possible shift of characters in the negotiation process after the
presidential elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan, RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian said.

`A new president can disagree with the package, that is why the
mediators press for a soonest bargain,’ he said. `Armenia’s positions
are firm but disagreement with the package at the table will provide
new chances for Azerbaijan. Anyway, the international community will
not allow to bring the achievements to naught.’

`The status of Nagorno Karabakh is the key issue in the talks. The
Co-chairs and international organization know this. However, we are
still at the beginning of a long process,’ he said.

`The document under discussion refers to the settlement principles
which should be submitted to lawyers if approved by the sides. Most
items have been already coordinated and the mediators suppose that it
can be brought to a final shape. However, there are a number of
problems which require serious talk,’ the Minister told Shant TV
channel.

Some progress was fixed in the Karabakh peaceful process during the
recent years, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said.

`Armenia’s policy is neither defensive nor aggressive. It’s remarkable
that the right of Karabakhi people to self-determination is fixed in
the present package of proposals. It’s an item we could only dream
about some 10 years ago. The OSCE Minsk Group and other international
structures aware of the core of the problem put difference between the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other conflicts,’ the Minister said.

`The document on the table is the result of efforts applied by the
sides. There are still uncoordinated issues and that is why the
mediators resort to shuttle diplomacy. We have numerously stated that
OSCE MG latest package of proposals provides a good opportunity for
Karabakh resolution. It contains balanced principles that should be
carried to logical completion,’ he said.

The Minister noted that the visit of mediators in 2008 will determine
the trend of further talks. `In the framework of the negotiations we
established normal relations with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov,
since normal relations are essential for efficient talks,’ Mr Oskanian
said in an interview with Shant TV Channel.

In 2008 construction of the road Karmir Shuka-Martuni will be completed

29-12-2007 12:46:31 – KarabakhOpen

Next year the reconstruction of the region of Martuni will be funded by
both the government and Armenia Foundation from the funds raised during
Telethon 2007. The construction of the road Karmir
Shuka-Sos-Chartar-Gishi-Martuni will finish. Schools and new water
pipelines will be constructed. `Next year we will face a shortage of
builders,’ said Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan during his recent visit
to Martuni.

PRESIDENT OF COUNTRY SHOULD NOT HAVE A BUSINESS, HRANT BAGRATIAN SAYS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. "I hope that Kocharian’s power will
not have its continuation after the presidential elections," the former
Armenian prime minister Hrant Bagratian stated at the December 21 press
conference. He characterized the current situation in Armenia as a
complex one because the concentration of wealth has gone the limit, and
17% of the country’s GDP is managed by two persons: Robert Kocharian
and Serge Sragsian. "The president and the prime minister of this kind
cannot be neutral managers. Today the banking sector and huge part of
imports are in the hands of the president, who also plays a serious
role in the mining industry and construction," H. Bagratian said.

In his opinion, if S. Sargsian becomes the president, his business
rather than the country will develop. "The country’s president may not
have a business, and if he has one, he cannot be a good, neutral
manager. Whereas, today he is the biggest businessman," the former
prime minister said.

According to him, the current authorities are accusing the former ones,
whereas big enterprises have been privatized under the current
authorities as well. For example, the Zangezur copper and molybdenum
enterprise was sold for only 132 million dollars, which is equal to 6
months’ profit of this enterprise. Meanwhile, the growth of molybdenum
prices have exceeded several times the oil price growth. The new owners
have been given 3 years to pay this sum. H. Bagratian added that
Haysavingsbank and Ardshininvest Bank have been sold in the same way.

In the words of H. Bagratian, there is no real economy in the country
because the production volumes are lower than in 1997. He said that
such a country cannot be competitive and have a future.

The former prime minister noted that only 4-5% growth has been
registered in Armenia as compared with 40% growth of Azerbaijan’s
economy, whereas a completely different index should have been
registered in Armenia. Today the 2008 state budget of 2.5 billion
dollars is spoken about, which is more by only 180 billion drams as
compared with 2007’s budget. By estimate of H. Bagratian, the
programmed growth is completely conditioned by transfers of 700-800
million dollars from abroad. "There will be additional demand of
700-800 million dollars, goods of this amount will be imported, the
president and the prime minister will strengthen their importing
structures even more, while the Central Bank of Armenia will again
reduce the rate of the US dollar a bit so that the profit will
increase," he underlined.

In his words, if the degree of the economy’s independence declines or
there is a war, we "will be in a worse situation". Therefore, according
to him, Armenia’s chances to win the war will be much lower.

12-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ALSO TO RECEIVE FREE DENTAL SERVICE HENCEFORTH

Noyan Tapan
Dec 20, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s 12-year-old children
will also receive free dental service henceforth. Such a decision
was made at the RA government’s December 20 sitting.

As Haroutiun Kushkian, the RA Minister of Health, said after the
sitting, as a result of the program of care for 6 and 12-year-old
children’s mouth cavity implemented in the recent years with the
state budget funds it was cleared up that these children have
dental diseases. Therefore, according to the Minister, taking into
consideration the possibilities of the 2008 state budget, henceforth
besides 8-year-old children, 12-year-old children will also receive
free dental service. The Minister said that 9, 10 and 11-year-old
children will also receive free medical service henceforth.

H. Kushkian also said that in consideration of priority of care of
mother’s and child’s health and importance of health care of women
of reproduction age, it has been decided to carry out treatment of
out genital diseases of women in birth and post-natal period free
of charge.

The Minister said that for the purpose of solving the problem of
vacancies of doctors in the regions, the order of compensation of
work done by doctor-specialists sent to the regions will be worked
out jointly with the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy.

MEETINGS OF THE PRESIDENT OF NKR

Azat Artsakh Tert
Dec 21 2007
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

On 19th of december president Sahakyan received the head of the
administration of the president of Armenia,secretary of security
council Armen Gevorkyan.

Wide circle of questions was discussed. Two sides emphasized the
necessity to expand further mutual cooperation and to make such
meetings systematised.M. Mousayelyan , the head of the administration
of the president Sahakyan also was in the meeting.

At the same day Sahakyan received russian businessman and
philanthropist Karen Bagdasarov.Mr Bagdasarov informed the president
that relaunching of the mill will be in process in short time.

Prime minister A. Harutyunyan also was in the meeting.

On 20th of december, the president received the directors of all
the ensembles in NKR. President worried about the situation in this
sphere and told them that the aim of invitation is the solution of
the problems with joint efforts.

Minister of culture N Gasparyan also took part in the meeting.

President Sahakyan signed order on rewarding vice colonel Mikaelyan,
the head of Martakert department of NSS, with the rank of colonel. At
the same day, the rank of colonel was granted to the head of
cadres division of NSS vice-colonel K. Matinyan. senior information
department of the administration of the president of NKR A. Garamyan
appointed on the post of the general prosecutor of the republic On
19th of december in plenary sitting of national assembly of NKR, as a
result of secret voting yes-24, no-3, major-general of police of NKR
A. Garamyan appointed on the post of the general prosecutor. We must
mark that it’s first appointment after the adoption of constitution
of NKR,represented by president and by secret voting of NA.

"ARMENIAN TURKISH RELATIONS HAVE REACHED A DEADLOCK"

A1+
[08:20 pm] 19 December, 2007

Armenian-Turkish relations have reached a deadlock and although its
reasons are partially correct but they do not give a final answer
to the question, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia
Vahan Hovhannissian said during the parliamentary hearings on
"Armenian-Turkish relations: Issues and perspectives."

According to Mr. Hovhannissian, cooperation has never been established
between democracies and autocracies.

At the same time, he noted that he is far from the idea that Armenia
is already a country of classical democracy. However, according to the
Vice-Speaker, Turkey is a classical example of dictatorship, since
it tries to control not only the present, but also the past. That
is the reason why any serious investigation of the Armenian Genocide
and its reasons is excluded, and the information about these events
is closed for the Turkish society. Besides, according to him, until
murderers like Taleat Pasha, Enver and Jamal are considered to be
national heroes, "nothing will come out."

DEMIRCHIAN SEES POPULAR SUPPORT FOR TER-PETROSIAN
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 19 2007

Opposition leader Stepan Demirchian defended on Wednesday his decision
to endorse Levon Ter-Petrosian’s presidential candidacy and said
Armenia’s former president is enjoying growing popular support.

Demirchian, who was the main opposition candidate in the previous
presidential election, insisted that Ter-Petrosian has a "quite high"
approval rating as evidenced by strong attendance at his recent
rallies in Yerevan. "It has to be pointed out that there have been
no such big rallies since 2003," he said, recalling massive crowds
pulled by him at the time.

"The rallies show that [Ter-Petrosian’s rating] is on the rise,"
Demirchian told a news conference. "But everything still lies ahead.

Everything will depend on work organization. The election campaign
has not yet started."

"When the airwaves open up and the first president and forces
supporting him are able to communicate their views to the population, I
think it will be possible to radically change the situation," he added.

President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and
their allies maintain that Ter-Petrosian is too unpopular to stand
a chance of winning the February 19 election and will not be even
the main opposition candidate. They cite opinion polls conducted by
pro-government organizations which show that less than 5 percent of
Armenians will vote for their former leader.

Demirchian, who claims to have been robbed of victory by Kocharian
in the 2003 vote, dismissed those polls as fraudulent. "Opinion polls
have always been used as a smokescreen for vote rigging," he claimed.

"They gave me 0.9 percent support [in 2003,] even though we won in
the first round. So do not take those polls seriously."

Demirchian’s People’s Party of Armenia (HZhK) is the largest of a dozen
opposition parties that have rallied around Ter-Petrosian. His decision
not to run for president again and endorse Ter-Petrosian instead
reflected recent years’ decline in his popularity that culminated in
the HZhK’s dismal performance in last May’s parliamentary elections.

U.S. EXPECTS POSITIVE DECISION OF ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ON HOLDING EXIT POLL DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 17 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The United States considers
that the RA National Assembly elections held in May were a step
forward in development of democracy in Armenia. As Joseph Pennington,
Charge d’Affaires of the United States, said at the December 17 press
conference, the Unites States hopes that the presidential elections
of February, 2008 will be a step forward, as compared with the May
elections.

He refused to comment upon the issue of whether the amendments of the
electoral legislation made just two months before the elections will
have a positive impact on the holding of the elections. At the same
time, the American diplomat stated that the U.S. is for any efforts
aimed at holding the elections in line with international standards.

J. Pennington reminded that as far back as before the parliamentary
elections, the United States started implementing a large-scale
program in Armenia aimed at perfection of electoral processes. The
program includes checking of lists, holding of training seminars
for representatives of political parties and members of electoral
commissions. According to him, the United States is a little
disappointed that this time CEC has not espressed such readiness as
in May in the issue of its members’ retraining.

As regards holding an exit poll in Armenia, J. Pennington said that
similar surveys are held by the U.S. in many other countries. According
to him, these surveys have two purposes: they contribute to rise of
population’s confidence to electoral processes and the second, thanks
to the surveys it is cleared up what strata of country’s population go
to polls and with what purpose. He said that interrogation of voters
after the voting will help to present Armenian society better from
the political point of view.

J. Pennington said that the exit poll will be held in Armenia by
the International Republican Institute, which has a rich experience
in holding of such polls. He stated that the United States is very
grateful to the Armenian Prime Minister for his approval of holding
an exit poll and expects the RA government to make a positive decision
over that issue.

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES LAW ON "MAKING AMENDMENTS TO RA ELECTORAL CODE" WITH OBJECTION AND SUGGESTIONS OF RA PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia adopted the law on "Making amendmends to the RA
Electoral Code" with the objection and suggestions of the President of
the Republic of Armenia with 86 for, 2 against and 1 abstaining votes
in the special sitting of the RA National Assembly held on December
18. The members of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) and Orinats Yerkir
(Country of Law) factions present at the sitting voted against and
abstaining, correspondingly. By the law, which is coming into force
since January 1, 2008 the Electoral Code is brought in conformity with
the RA Administrative Procedure Code adopted on November 28 this year.

By the first reading the National Assembly adopted the amendments and
addenda envisaged in the valid law on "Declaration of property and
incomes of natural persons" and the bill on "Definition and review of
provision tariffs of services for conducting an obligatory technical
examination of transport means by technical diagnostics means" and
following from it the package envisaging an addendum in the valid
law on "Body regulating public services" by the second reading.

NKR PRESIDENT HAS VISITED A NUMBER OF OBJECTS OF STEPANAKERT

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Dec 17 2007

On December 14th, the NKR President Bako Sahakian visited a number
of objects of Stepanakert.

At the beginning, the President visited the former building of
republican polyclinic, where after restoration, a Centre of Tourism
would operate. On a place, getting acquainted with the project of
the Centre and today’s conditions of the building, the head of the
country assigned to preserve all the constructional norms and satisfy
their high quality during the realization of restoration works.

Then Bako Sahakian visited furniture factory of Stepanakert. The
President went round the shops, which had suffered during the war,
got acquainted with the models turning out in only acting shop. The
President considered impossible to work and manufacture competitive
production in such conditions, emphasizing the necessity of acceptance
of complex measures for correction of the situation.

The next point of the President’s visit was NKR local police office,
where the President also paid attention to adverse conditions of a
building. Bako Sahakian also got acquainted with the works realized
by the police office.

The head of the country visited also NKR Supreme Courte, city
Prosecutor’s Office of Stepanakert, as well as investigatory isolation
cell of police, got acquainted with building and working conditions
of those offices.

The NKR Prime Minister A.Haroutyunian, the leaders of corresponding
ministries, the mayor of Stepanakert accompanied the President
during the visit. (Central administration of information of the NKR
President’s stuff reported).