Author: Nalbandian Albert

WILL THEY MAKE LAWS A REALITY?

A1+
[02:56 pm] 10 December, 2008

The Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Hovik Abrahamyan, issued a
congratulatory message on Human Rights Day. The message states:

"In 1948 the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and ever since 1950 December 10th has been celebrated
as Human Rights Days.

Both the world and people have changed over the past 60 years,
however, the human rights and freedoms formed in the times of Greek
philosophers, have mostly stayed unchanged. The notion formed in
France 219 years ago, in 1789, has acquired a new and more complete
meaning today, preserving the most essential, the idea that from the
very birth people are bestowed with basic rights, which should be
guaranteed by the state.

After gaining independence the Constitution of the Republic of
Armenia also consolidated the human rights and freedoms. After the
constitutional reforms the Institute of the Human Rights Defender was
established in Armenia, and in a short while the National Assembly
appointed a Human Rights Defender whose supreme duty is to defend
human rights and freedoms in Armenia.

After the constitutional reforms the Standing Committee on Defense
of Human Rights and Public Issues was established at the National
Assembly, having the task to provide support and information to
the citizens in the sphere of defense of human and citizens’ rights
and freedoms.

Offering my congratulations on Human Rights Day, I want to ensure
that the laws and agreements targeted at the defense of human rights
and freedoms will remain in the focus of attention of the National
Assembly. Special attention will be paid to their accomplishment,
since no matter how ideal the laws are, it’s possible to improve the
life with correct implementation of laws."

LORI REGION ALREADY HAS ANTI-CORRUPTION CENTER

Lragir.am
15:54:40 – 09/12/2008

On December 10, 2008 the anti-corruption center of the region of Lori
will open its doors for the people of the region. The anti-corruption
center is set up by the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office
and is part of the Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center
NGO’s program of creation of center for protection and support of
interests in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor.

The Center will have branches in the towns of Spitak, Stepanavan,
Tashir, Alaverdi. The anti-corruption center will provide free legal
consultancy to citizens who suffered from corruption and dispute
violation of rights at courts of law. The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
Vanadzor office will provide anonymous and free consultancy through
the toll-free telephone 0 8000 1112. The program is implemented by
the Casals & Associates Inc. which implements the USAID Mobilizing
Action Against Corruption Activity.

JOINT VISIT OF CAUCASIAN MPS TO GERMANY

The Messenger
Dec 9 2008
Georgia

Georgian, Armenian and Azeri MPs undertook a 5 day visit to Germany
on November 9-14. This informational visit was held as part of the
German Technical Cooperation project "Legal and Justice Reforms in the
South Caucasus" at the invitation of the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development. The Chairman of the Parliamentary
Committee on European Integration David Darchiashvili and the Vice
Chairman of the Legal Committee Akaki Minashvili participated in the
visit from the Georgian side. The Chairmen of the Armenian and Azeri
Parliamentary Legal Committees, David Harutyunyan and Ali Huseynov,
represented Armenia and Azerbaijan in Germany.

The aim of the visit was to inform MPs of the experience of the
German Parliament and share views on the important issues of legal and
judicial reforms in the South Caucasus. The principles of working of
the Bundesrat and Bundestag and the role of the Federal President’s
administration in the lawmaking process were discussed, among
other things, during the meetings held in the Federal Presidential
Administration, the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

At a meeting of the German-South Caucasus Parliamentary group in the
Bundestag the participants spoke about the relations of the German
Federation with the South Caucasus countries. At the round table
meeting held at the Berlin representation of GTZ, the participants
of the visit together with the Chairman of the German Judges’ Union
and the Head of the Berlin Advocates’ Union talked about the practice
of involving interest groups in the lawmaking process in Germany and
the South Caucasus countries. During the same sorts of meetings the
delegation members discussed the demands of the European Neighbourhood
Policy with representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Federal
Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The participants also met the Deputy Minister for Economic Cooperation
and Development Erich Stather. The parties spoke about cooperation
between the Federal Government and the South Caucasus Countries
on the issue of promoting the rule of law and also discussed joint
plans for the future. During the visit the participants expressed a
willingness to deepen their cooperation in a regional format. Most of
all this referred to the composition of explanatory notes on draft
laws, the practice of publishing draft laws and sharing experience
in the involvement of interest groups in the lawmaking process.

The German Technical Cooperation project "Legal and Justice Reforms
in the South Caucasus" has been operating in the region since 2002 as
part of the Caucasus initiative of the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development, which aims to create economic
and democratic stabilization in the Caucasus. Joint informational
visits, seminars and round tables are held within framework of
this project, which spreads throughout the whole South Caucasus
region. Important judicial issues are being discussed at these
meetings with representatives of all three countries of the South
Caucasus. One of the most important objectives of the project is to
promote professional dialogue and raise the legal knowledge of the
population in the region.

As an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development
with worldwide operations, the federally-owned Deutsche Gesellschaft
fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH supports the German Government
in achieving its development policy objectives. It provides viable,
forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and
social development in a globalised world. Working under difficult
conditions, GTZ promotes complex reforms and change processes. Its
corporate objective is to improve people’s living conditions on a
sustainable basis.

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTIES, AMENDMENTS IN TAX LEGISLATION MAY ENDANGER ARMENIAN ECONOMY

Noyan Tapan

Dec 5, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The tax legislation amendments
presented by the RA government to the National Assembly with the aim
of ensuring the execution of the 2009 state budget may be dangerous
for the Armenian economy under conditions of the global economic
crisis. Several deputies of the National Assembly expressed this
concern at the December 5 sitting of the NA Standing Committee
of Economic Issues. In particular, member of "ARF" faction Artsvik
Minasian said that the heavy tax burden may reduce circulating assets
of enterprises and hinder the expansion of their activities.

The package submitted by the government includes 11 bills, including
bills on value added tax, profit tax, fixed payment and honorary
payments.

According to the deputy chairman of the State Revenue Committee Aharon
Chilingarian, the amendments proposed in these bills are aimed at
encouraging investments and local production.

In particular, it is proposed that enterprises with an annual turnover
of less than 58.2 million drams, part of whose operation is taxed by
charging fixed payments, should be given the opportunity to choose the
united tax regime. Among such enterprises are hotels and hairdressing
saloons. A. Chilingarian said that this amendment is proposed at the
suggestion of entrepreneurs themselves, in order to rid them of long
checks and red tape.

In the opinion of deputies, it is risky to raise the rates of fixed
payments. Particularly, the matter concerns fixed payment for hotels
without qualification: it is envisaged fixing the monthly payment at
3 thousand drams per a square meter, which, according to deputies,
is an excessively high payment.

The deputies also expressed discontent with the mechanism of
introducing value added tax (VAT) in agriculture. In the words of
member of "Heritage" faction Larisa Alaverdian, the proposals to
create farms is reminiscent of the Soviet-time collectivization
which, according to the rules of that time, also was allegedly to
be voluntary.

ARPA Institute
18106 Miranda St., tarzana, CA 91356
Tel/Fax:(818)586-0010
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Press Release: Waste Management Conference in Armenia:

On September 25 and 26, 2008, a conference on waste management
organized jointly by the ARPA Institute, the State Engineering
University of Armenia (SEUA, formerly the Polytechnic Institute), and
the Ministry of Nature protection of Armenia, was held at the Nuclear
Training Center of the SEUA. Waste management is an enormously
important issue in Armenia as it is embarking on a course of rapid
economic growth. Opening remarks were made by the Deputy Minister of
Education and Science of Armenia, Hon. Bakrat Yesayan and
Prof. Vostanik Maroukhyan, president of the SEUA. The conference was
held under the direction of Prof. Laert Hovhannissyan, Pro-rector of
the SEUA. The local media was also invited. There were over 60
attendees from the government, academia, public and private
organizations, and graduate students. Presentations were made by local
experts from the Yerevan State University, the SEUA and other
universities, the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Ministry of
Education and Science and the Yerevan Municipality. As Yerevan and Los
Angeles are formally `Sister Cities,’ representatives from the City of
Los Angeles in the persons of Dr. Ara Kasparian, Director of the
Environmental Management Program, Bureau of Engineering, Department of
Public Works and Mr. Varouj Abkian, Assistant Director of Bureau of
Sanitation, Department of Public Works, City of Los Angeles, made
presentations on the current methodologies used for dealing with waste
management issues in Los Angeles. Both domestic and industrial waste
management were adressed in detail. At the conclusion of the
conference there was a panel discussion with the participation of
experts from Los Angeles and various experts from Armenia. Dr. Anahit
Alexandryan, the deputy Minister of the Ministry of Nature Protection,
who is in charge of hazardous waste management in the country and who
has been our liaison with the Government of Armenia, also made a
presentation stressing the importance of cooperation with International
organizations. Commitments for further cooperation and interactions
for the benefit of both Armenia and Los Angeles were made by the
organizers and the participants. For information and/or involvement in
activities of ARPA Institute please contact the above mentioned.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ANDREA VICTORINI

_centre_8/official_news_en.php?&date=122781600 0
Friday, 28th of November, 2008

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic
of Armenia Andrea Victorini and coordinator of German Technical
Cooperation Association’s "South Caucasian Private Business Stimulation
Program" Frank Tibitanzel.

Appreciative of the Armenian-German cooperation, the Prime Minister
noted with satisfaction that the FRG is the second largest investor
in Armenia behind the United States. In this context, both sides
highlighted the programs carried out by the GTZ in our country. The
parties have discussed such government priorities and relevant
proposals as should be taken account of while developing future
cooperation programs. The guests imparted their intention to open
a local office of German Technical Cooperation Association’s "South
Caucasian Private Business Stimulation Program."

Frank Tibitanzel spoke of the importance of new programs aimed at
boosting the operations of private companies, among which he mentioned
"South Caucasian Private Business Stimulation Program." With a view to
starting cooperating under the above-said program, the German side has
had several contacts with the representatives of public and private
sectors in Armenia in order to outline the cooperation areas. Export
stimulation, enhanced food security, community strengthening and the
removal of trade barriers were underscored by the guests.

Highlighting the above-stated principles, the Prime Minister said that
priority is given to such programs as may be conducive to economic
growth in the country. Tigran Sargsyan said that currently this issue
is important not only to Armenia, but also to the global economics,
as a whole. According to the Prime Minister, any investment program
should be viewed from this very standpoint in 2009.

Armenia, Belarus FMs discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional
issues

armradio.am
28.11.2008 12:02

Within the framework of his visit to Belarus, the Foreign Minister of
Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of
Belarus Sergey Martinov. The parties discussed a wide range of
bilateral, regional and international issues.

The interlocutors stressed the necessity of enlarging the existing
contractual-legal field to ensure the deepening of further cooperation.
The Ministers attached importance to the visit of the Armenian
Parliament Speaker, Hovik Abrahamyan, to Belarus in the first half of
the next year.

Sergey Martinov asked to convey to the Prime Minister of Armenia,
Tigran Sargsyan Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorkin’s invitation
to visit Minsk.

Ministers Nalbandian and Martinov noted the growth of commodity
turnover over the past years, which today reaches about $30 million.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the ways of overcoming the
inequality of import and export.

The Armenian and Belarusian Foreign Ministers discussed the
opportunities of launching cooperation in the field of culture,
appreciating the intention to conduct the Culture Days of Belarus in
Armenia in 2009 and the Days of Armenia in Belarus in 2010.

At the request of Sergey Martinov, Edward Nalbandian presented the
latest developments in the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict
settlement.

The me
eting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Belarus was
followed by a joint press conference, after which Edward Nalbandian
gave an interview to Belarusian TV.

AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY URGES TURKEY TO BE CAREFUL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
Nov 27 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 26 November /TrendNews corr. A.Huseynbala/ The
Azerbaijani opposition party supports Turkey to be more active in
policy of South Caucasus and to develop relations with Armenia.

"Both Turkey and Armenia are greatly interested in negotiations between
themselves," Isa Gambar, leader of Musavat Party, told TrendNews on
26 November.

Relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken off in 1993, as
Armenia has held a campaign against Turkey in the international
arena with false Armenian genocide claims and has occupied 20% of
the Azerbaijani territory. Turkish President Abdullah Gul received
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation and left for Yerevan
to watch a football match between the National teams of Armenia and
Turkey under qualification stage of the European Championship on 6
September in 2008.

Diplomatic efforts are being made to normalize relations between
two countries after Gul’s visit. At the same time, Turkey seeks to
mediate in settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Ali Babacan, Turkish Foreign Minister, organized a meeting
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers in New York
at the end of October. A trilateral meeting is expected to take place
again soon.

According to Gambar, Armenia’s one of interests in development of
relations with Turkey is to make Nagorno-Karabakh a matter of second
importance in Turkey’s foreign policy priorities.

" Armenia wants that steps, which will meet Armenia’s interest,
should be taken in settlement of other problems with Turkey, by
freezing situation on solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,"
Gambar said. Therefore, governmental officials and politicians
of Turkey should not enable to realize Armenia’s intention to make
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, which contradict Armenia’s interests,
a matter of second importance, the leader of Musavat said.

Opposition Musavat party was founded in Baku in October 1911. The
third (restoration) sitting of Musavat party was held on 7 November
1992 in Republican Palace in Baku. Gambar was elected head of the
Musavat party in a landslide in a secret vote.

Gambar was the speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament from 1992 to 1993. In
2003, he ran for presidency. The party is represented by 4 MPs in
the Parliament.

BOON WAS BEATEN AND ROBBED

A1+
[04:05 pm] 24 November, 2008

Today the RoA Police issued a statement about the recent attack on
the Director General of "Hay Post" CJSC Hans Boon.

FIRST ATTACK

At 10.30 p.m. June 12, 2008, Yerevan citizens Yury Ohanyan and Samvel
Hovhannisyan roughly violated public order and picked up a row with
citizens of the Netherlands Yurgen Dolstray and Hans Boon. They
suspended serious injuries. Yury Ohanyan and Samvel Hovhannisyan are
taken into custody. They are charged under Article 258 of the Criminal
Code / criminal action and criminal conduct/.

SECOND ATTACK

At 11.45 p.m. October 10, 2008, Director General of "HayPost" CJSC Hans
Boon, 1956, was reported to have been taken to St. Grigor Lusavorich
medical centre with a concussion of the brain. Boon was discharged from
hospital the following day after refusing further medical treatment.

On October 15 Deputy Director General of "HayPost" Aram Kh. informed
the Kentron police station that Boon didn’t want to give a written
explanation to the case. He was leaving for Holland and promised to
give explanation after his return.

On October 16 Hans Boon departed for Holland where he received
treatment.

On October 18 a medicolegal report was received on the case, which
held: "Hans Boon had received corporal injuries with a blunt tool in
the result of which he got fatal injuries which couldn’t have been
caused by a slight fall."

The preliminary investigation revealed that on October 10 Hans Boon
went to work as usual and didn’t leave the building the whole day. At 7
p.m. "Hay Post" representative Nver A. accompanied him home. Hans Boon
lived alone in Saryan street. At 11:00 p.m. resident of a neighbouring
house Samvel G. found Boon lying on the ground. After giving Boon
first aid Samvel’s wife Anahit T. called an ambulance.

Later in hospital Hans Boon told deputy Director Manager Arman
Kh. that he didn’t remember what had happened to him and refused to
give an explanation.

In the morning when dressing he noticed that four bank cards, ID and
over 350 000 drams were missing from his pocket.

Boon’s bodyguard Rafael S., driver Volodya V. and assistant
Mara. K. have been invited to an interrogation. They turned out to
know nothing about Boon’s private life.

Investigation is underway.

"TURKISH DISINFORMATION TO BECOME POPULAR IN ARMENIA"

Panorama.am
15:23 24/11/2008

"After the football game of Armenia-Turkey some mass media covered
that during the game the night illumination of Genocide monument was
switched off. Though much time passed, but I can not force me not to
remember that. Turkish disinformation has become popular in Armenia
which created serious problems for the museum," said Hayk Demoyan,
the director of Genocide Museum of Armenia.

The director said that he is ready to listen any critics but to see
that Turkish disinformation is being used based on some political
reasons, he can not tolerate that. "Although illumination is not
under the responsibilities of the museum, that night the lights were
switched on," said H. Demoyan and added that an evidence to that are
records and photos.