Author: Talalian Arpi

BBC names global talent finalists

A Liberian refugee and a six-piece Brazilian rock
group are among the finalists in the BBC World
Service’s search for the world’s best young band.

More than 1,000 artists, all aged 18 or under, entered
the Next Big Thing competition in September.

The seven finalists are expected to fly into the UK
next week to perform at the BBC’s famous Maida Vale
studios.

A winner will be chosen by a panel of music industry
experts, including Cathy Dennis and William Orbit.

The competition was open to groups and solo artists in
any genre of music, as long as they were under 18 and
performed their own songs.

High standards

Producer Simon Pitts said the entries came from 36
countries, "from Armenia to Azerbaijan and from
Uruguay to Ukraine".

"People have been very surprised at the quality of the
entries," he said, "but we weren’t, because we had
faith in the idea from the beginning".

THE FINALISTS
Silva (Armenia)
Sweet Cherry Fury (Brazil)
MLK and The Dreamers (USA)
The Skagz (UK)
NiC (Malawi)
Mishkini (Ghana)
Stefan Abingdon (UK)

The standard of the submitted tracks was so high that
the panel who drew up the shortlist could not decide
on the required six finalists – and chose seven
instead.

They include 17-year-old Armenian pop singer Silva
Hakobyan, and Malawian rapper NiC, who performs in
Greek and English.

Londoner Stefan Abingdon, whose hip-hop track My Dunks
has also made the shortlist, said he was "really
excited" to have been chosen.

"I’ve been trying to set up my music for the past four
years and it’s starting to get somewhere now," he
said.

The 17-year-old will be travelling to Maida Vale for
the final of the competition, but producers say some
of his competitors may not be able to complete the
journey.

"We have an act in Ghana, Mishkini, who is a Liberian
refugee," said Pitts.

"He didn’t have a birth certificate or a passport this
time last week. He’s now trying to get hold of them,
as well as a visa."

The BBC is working with British embassies to help
artists arrange travel to the UK in time for next
week’s recording.

Celebrity judges

The Maida Vale session takes place on 6 December, and
the judges will announce the winner when the programme
is broadcast on 9 December.

The panel includes William Orbit, who has produced hit
singles for Madonna and All Saints, and Cathy Dennis,
who wrote Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out of My
Head.

Other members of the jury are Geoff Travis, who set up
the influential Rough Trade record label, and
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo,
from Benin.

Peter Gabriel will also appear as a special guest,
giving his verdict on the final seven acts.

The winner receives a trophy proclaiming them the
world’s best young band.

"It’s a massive opportunity for international
exposure," said Pitts. "The chances are great that 163
million people will hear the track and know the
artist’s name."

The Next Big Thing is part of the BBC World Service’s
Generation Next season, which focuses on young people
and how they approach relationships, education and
work.

It is hoped that the competition will become a regular
event.
Story from BBC NEWS:
ainment/6191276.stm

Published: 2006/11/29 10:02:05 GMT

© BBC MMVI

DEVELOPMENT BUDGET NORMAL IN NKR

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 28 2006

November 27 a Draft Law "On the NKR’s State Budget for 2007" was
considered in the course of a sitting held in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic /NKR/ Government.

While presenting the Draft Law to the Government’s members, the NKR
Minister of Finance and Economy Spartac Tevossian stated the state
budget’s revenues had been provided in the amount of 30902, 4 millions
drams, while expenditures – 32893, 9 millions drams. Deficit will
make 1991, 5 millions drams. 19402, 4 millions drams of the revenues
are expected to be received from RA as an interstate credit under
condition of repayment until January 1, 2010, rate 0, 01 % a year.

Summing up the sitting’s results, the NKR PM Anoushavan Danielian
took a favorable view of the measures taken on providing high rates
of the economy’s development and voiced confidence "as a result we’ll
have a normal development budget".

November 28 a government’s sitting will be held, after which the NKR
state budget will be brought before the Republic’s Parliament.

JONATHAN HENICK: "US WANT PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 28 2006

"The US wants the peaceful solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"All three co-chairs try for this. The reason why Matthew Bryza did
not come to Azerbaijan is that trying to achieve peaceful solution he
regularly meets with Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Karabakh,"
US Public Affairs Officer to Azerbaijan Jonathan Henick told the APA.

He did not take his stance on the problem of sanctions by the US in
case Azerbaijan demands its territories by war.

"We only want peaceful solution of the problem. This the best way and
at the same time Ilham Aliyev’s position. As to sanctions, I can not
make any statement about it," he said.

URL:

FEATURE: DIPLOMATIC MINEFIELD FOR POPE’S VISIT TO TURKEY
by Christopher Wade, dpa

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
November 27, 2006 Monday 10:28 AM EST

DPA POLITICS Turkey Religion Pope FEATURE: Diplomatic minefield for
pope’s visit to Turkey Christopher Wade, dpa Ankara When Pope Benedict
XVI arrives in the Turkish capital Ankara on November 28 the usual
thronging crowds that accompany most papal visits abroad will not
be present, the prime minister may be in another country and the
president will not be waiting to meet him as the pope steps down from
his aircraft.

The papal visit has been surrounded by controversy since it was
first mooted when Pope John Paul II was still head of the Catholic
Church. The original invitation was issued by Greek Orthodox Patriach

Bartholomew I, whose seat is in Istanbul, an invitation that the
Turkish state said the patriarch had no right to send.

It may seem like a triviality, but Turkish officals took exception
to the invitation on the grounds that since the pope is the head of
the Vatican State, then the invitation must be issued by the head of
the Turkish state, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

After a seemingly long wait, Sezer finally did issue an invitation
which the then pope accepted.

The controversy seemed over until German-born Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
was elected pope in April, 2005. Turkish newspapers immediately
recalled that when he was a cardinal, Ratzinger had said that Turkey
should not become a member of the European Union.

Then came the pope’s September 2006 speech in which he quoted a 14th
century Byzantine emperor who had said that Islam was a religion
spread by the sword. Muslims in Turkey and many other countries
immediately protested.

While the pope expressed regret for the upset his comments had caused
he did not give an unequivocal apology.

The president of the state-controlled Religious Affairs Directorate,
Ali Bardakoglu, has said that while the visit may help to improve
relations between the Catholic and Muslim worlds, the pope should
offer a complete apology for his remarks.

"The trip won’t resolve all of the problems but it will be a good
step in the direction of dialogue," Bardakoglu told Italian newspaper
La Stampa.

In his capacity as head of state, the pope will meet the Turkish
president and Bardakoglu and will later travel to Ephesus, the site
where Mary, mother of Jesus is thought to have spent her final days.

He will then move on to Istanbul where he will meet Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Bartholomew I.

While Vatican officials have said this will be the highlight of
the pope’s trip, a chance to further relations and heal old wounds
between the the Catholic and Orthodox church, it is being looked at
with suspicion by Turkish officials.

The status of the patriarch is a particular thorny diplomatic issue
in Turkey. Turkey does not recognise Bartholomew’s title of "His
All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch," instead referring to him as the
spiritual leader of the Greek minority in Turkey, a minority whose
numbers are perhaps just 5,000.

The Catholic Church, however, does recognise Bartholomew’s title and
each time the word "ecumenical" is used a diplomatic furore erupts
in Turkey.

Celebrations in Ankara for the 2003 Silver Jubilee celebrations of
Pope John Paul II’s pontificate, where Bartholomew paid tribute to
the pope’s role in spreading peace, were boycotted by government
and opposition politicians as well as state officials due to the
invitation issued by the apostolic nuncio, the Vatican’s ambassador,
which stated that the "ecumenical patriarch" would be present.

There were even calls for the apostolic nuncio to be expelled from
the country.

Yet another possible diplomatic controversy could occur when the pope
visits Armenian Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan.

The Turkish state completely denies all claims that the massacres of
Christian Armenians during the First World War constituted a genocide
and observers will be watching Benedict closely for any comments he
makes on the controversial issue.

The Turkish government has stressed that it believes the pope’s trip
to Turkey will help Catholic-Muslim dialogue. But in general it has
reacted coolly to the visit.

It remains unclear whether Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will
even be meeting Benedict, having said he plans to fly to Latvia to
attend a NATO Summit. Both Turkish and Vatican officials have denied
that this is a snub and last minute indications Sunday were that
Erdogan would in fact meet the pope before leaving for Riga.

Papal visits abroad are normally associated with large crowds of the
faithful turning out to greet the leader of their church and local
politicians trying to grab some of the limelight. Benedict’s trip to
Turkey could hardly be more opposite.

FLOWERS OF TURKEY
Gerhard Pils

Kurdish Info, Germany
e=News&file=article&sid=5010
Nov 26 2006

Kurdishinfo-I am the Austrian teacher, who had to leave Turkey because
of mentioning the word "Kurdistan" in a completely apolitical member
in the Austrian school in Istanbul.

During the last decades Turkey experienced an enormous touristic
boom. At present about 20million visitors are pouring into the country
each year, among thema considerable number with an interest in Turkeys
natural beauties. Unfortunately this desire to learn more about nature
is hindered gravely by the lack of well illustrated literature. With
4153 species of ferns and flowering plants infull colour this
book intends toclose the gap.It should make plant identifications
mucheasier for both, professional botanists but also interested
"laymen" as entomologists, geographers, gardeners ornaturalists.

Knowledge of the Turkish Flora is still rather rudimentary in
comparisonwith the situation in European countries. This is due
partly to its highbotanic diversity, but also to the peculiar
development of scientific botany in Turkey. Until the middle of the
20. century, floristic exploration was mainlydone by foreigners. The
most importantof these early pioneers was PIERRE EDMOND BOISSIER,a
Swisscitizen. Withhis monumental "Flora Orientalis"(5 vols.,
1867-1888) he laid the fundamentals for all further research
in this area. The first local botanist with an international
reputation was GEORGES VINCENT AZNAVOUR (1861-1920), a wealthy
Armenian of Christianconfession. His collection of plants fromthe
Bosporus regioncomprised about 20.000 samples. After his deathTurkish
botanyagain sank back into stagnation. One possible reason was repeated
ethnic cleansing by the Turkish Republic. Thereby a considerable part
of the intelligentsia was slaughtered or expulsed, namely Armenians
andGreeks.

A final impetus to the explorationof the Turkish flora came from
the Flora of Turkey Project (DAVIES & al. 1965-2000). Specialists
frommany European countries contributed to this monumental work. One
of the most active collectors at that time wasmy compatriot Mrs.

FRIEDERIKE SORGER(Linz). Her private herbarium of Turkish plants
finally comprised about 33,000 samples. The Flora ofTurkey Project was
also a considerable stimulus for the development of systematic botany
in Turkey. Inconsequence the last supplement to the "Flora of Turkey"
was already published by an exclusively Turkish team of scientists
(GUENER & al. 2000).

The present book is the result of my 5-years stay as a teacher at the
Austrian school ("Avusturya Lisesi") inIstanbul. Fieldwork for this
project was originally planned for at least 8 years. Unfortunately,
however, my Turkish work permit was withdrawn suddenly in summer
2004. TheTurkish authorities argued that I was ~Da danger to the
security of the Turkish Republic". But apart froma single use of
the word "Kurdistan" in a completely apolitical manner there was
no concrete accusation whatsoever against me. Unfortunately, the
Austrian government showed no interest at all in startingdiplomatic
quarrels with the Turks because of this human rights violation
against an Austrian teacher.Therefore all my attempts to take legal
steps against this completely arbitrary verdict were underminedby
the Austrian authorities. In the end also my wife lost her jobat the
Austrian school and we had to leave Turkey*

*The withdrawal of my working permit was an obvious violation of
articles 6 und 8 of the Human RightsConvention (right for a fair
trial, protection of the family) and the Agreement of Association
between Turkey and the EU. Nonetheless theAustrian education ministry
ordered my immediate transfer back to Austria,refusing any possibility
of objection. In addition the Austrian ministry of foreign affairs
did everything possibleto hinder my defence against the Turkish
verdict. For form’s sake the lawyer of the Austrian embassyin
Ankarawas entrusted with my defence.But the man did not even write
a simple objection in time. In last minute I had todo everything by
myself, including translation works. Then at the crucial moment of
deciding over a suit against the Turkish authorities, I was forced
to renounce due to false informations from the ministry. Attempts
of the Austrian Television Company (ORF) to inform the public about
the affair were blocked. Only some monthslater, when my case already
had been discussed in the Austrian press, the ORF was allowed to
report; but thiswas done in a completely one-sided manner. Finally
the education ministrydirectly intervened, forbidding any further
information of the press. But the peak of hypocrisy was reached by
Dr. U.Plassnik, Austrian minister for foreign relations, when she
informed the public about her personal efforts to solve my case. As
far as I can judge,these efforts had been purely symbolic. Their
intention was to deceive the public over the previous nine month of
continuous sabotage byher own ministry.

With our return to Austria my botanical projects in Turkey came to
an abrupt end. Also this book could not be finished in the planned way.

A lot of species I would have liked to include could not be
photographed any more (e.g. Phelypaea tournefortii, Zelkova
carpinifolia). But nonetheless about 45% of the Turkish Flora could be
illustrated, making this photo guide by far the most comprehensive
one for Mediterranean, Black Sea and Irano-Turanian flora. As I
intended to keep the book within reasonable dimensions, text hat to
be limited to an absolute necessary minimum. Therefore no keys were
added. For non specialists they would be of a rather limited use,
whereas for scientific purposes they never could replace the use of
"Flora of Turkey".

The preparation of a book of this kind would have been completely
impossible without the continuous support of my wife Inge. In the first
years she was a most reliable and patient companion on my journeys to
the most remote corners of Anatolia. At this time we climbed together
a lot of the best known peaks of the country. After the birth of our
son Felix, she took by far the bigger part of parental obligations,
thus keeping me free for further work on the project.

Another crucial point was access to scientific literature. In Turkey
I was confronted with such a lot of bureaucratic obstacles that I
decided to do my literature studies whenever possible in Austria.

Most disappointing was the refusal of admitting loans, photocopies
or photos by the Istanbul office of WWF, which is in custody of a
rather interesting collection of local botanical literature.

The contrast to the generous and always friendly treatment by my
Austrian colleagues could not have been greater. Dr. G. Leute and Dr.

R. Eberwein, both botanists at the Karnter Landesherbar, gave me free
access to scientific literature in a completely unbureaucratic way.

The same is valid for the botanists at the Vienna Natural History
Museum, Dr. E. Vitek und Dr. B. Wallnofer as well as for Doz. Dr. F.

Speta (Biologiezentrum Linz). The latter also controlled my
identifications of Scilla and Ornithogalum and identified Ornithogalum
cydni, not included in Flora of Turkey. Mag. H.

Standhartinger (Linz) had the kindness to review the English text.

All of them I would like to thank for their help.

VISIT TO TAVUSH REGION
By Naira Poghossian And Sevak Hakobian

Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation restarted its visits to the
regions of Armenia with a visit to Tavush region. During these visits
meetings with students, community authorities and residents as well
as visits to clinics and schools are organized.

The issues raised during such meetings are consistently followed
up and settled. Last week Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
Vahan Hovhannissian, representative of ARF’s Supreme Body, NA deputy
Armen Rustamian, Ministers of Healthcare, Agriculture, and Science
and Education Norayr Davidian, Davit Lokian and Levon Mkrtchian,
as well as members of ARF’s Armenia Supreme Body visited Tavush region.

New departments will be opened at Ijevan University

The Ijevan branch of Yerevan State University has 1373 students. The
university has a number of departments. This year a distance learning
department for education was opened at the university. "32 teachers
were accepted to the distance learning department.

These are mostly teachers from the remote border villages. The tuition
fees for them are very low but a contract is signed with them to
ensure that after finishing these courses they will continue working
in their schools," rector of Ijevan University Samvel Arakelian
says. The rector suggested that a department of English language
should be opened at the university.

"The 82 schools of Tavush region lack teachers of foreign languages.

None of the students from this region who graduate from language
departments in Yerevan has returned to the region," Arakelian noted.

The Minister of Science and Education Levon Mkrtchian welcomed this
idea. Mkrtchian and Vahan Hovhannissian met the students and faculty
of the university.

Among the issues raised by the students were the necessity to establish
post-graduate studies programmes, establishment of a research center
on the historical and cultural monuments in the region, issues related
with professional orientation of the students.

Mkrtchian stressed the importance of professional orientation noting
that the Ministry is planning to produce brochures and organize
various events to assist the youth with their professional orientation.

The students addressed their questions regarding the Hay Dat
activities, Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy to Vahan
Hovhannissian.

Hovhannissian called on the students to take the ownership of
the country, to participate actively in the processes going on in
Armenia. Rector of the Ijevan University Samvel Arakelian awarded
Education Minister Mkrtchian the title of honorable professor of the
university for the latter’s contribution to the improvement of the
education system in the country.

Community issues

The ARF delegation had a meeting with residents of Tavush region.

Among the issues raised by Tavush residents were the necessity for
renovation of the community schools and cultural centers, and provision
of agricultural credits.

The Mayors of two villages complaint that the town of Ijevan is
appropriating their agricultural lands. One of the Mayors assured
that his village does not even have a border with Ijevan. The village
residents are protesting against such arbitrary actions and demand
not to take their lands or at least find a consensus solution.

The village of Berkaber is facing a different problem – as one of
the local self-government employees informed, the village has debts
of 5 million drams accumulated over the period of 1997-2000. "The
problems is that our agricultural lands are close to the border
with Azerbaijan and it is impossible to use these lands. Therefore,
the village cannot collect taxes. We are asking your assistance with
this issue," Yurik Tamrazian from Berkaber said.

The village residents complained that they cannot receive credits
even though the interest rates for such credits go up every year.

There were some problems connected with natural gas pipelines. One
of the village mayors requested assistance with completing the
gasification of the village since the community itself does not have
enough resources for laying the gas pipeline.

Teghut Village

Teghut village has 400 households with a total population of 1600
people. The village mayor Gevorg Tamrazian said one of the problems
in the village was lack of a kindergarten. Currently, an arrangement
has been made with the Governor’s Office and the school building will
be used to host a kindergarten.

The village clinic lacks necessary medicines and equipment. The
Healthcare Minster Norayr Davidian promised to follow up on this
issue. The bridge connecting the village road to the main highway
has been renovated with the assistance of the Agriculture Minister
Davit Lokian.

The village school was renovated in 2004. However, the school lacks
furniture, books and computers. Director of the school Melanya
Poghossian assures that there are good teachers in the village but
they do not have any access to professional training programs.

Minister Levon Mkrtchian assured that the Ministry will assist the
school with procurement of furniture and computers.

People were surprised to see officials in their villages

The residents of Teghut village had not seen so many high-ranked
officials in their community for a long time. Many of them brought
written complaints. Among the issues raised by the village residents
were problems connected with return of bank savings, low pensions and
social benefits. Vahan Hovhannissian addressed these issues explaining
that the 2007 budget envisages increase of pensions and benefits, as
well as introduction of a more flexible system for benefit allocation.

There were many complaints connected with healthcare services – even
though the healthcare services in policlinics should be provided free
of charge, many people complained that the doctors demand payment
for their services.

Director of the policlinic in Dilijan Greta Zhamharian assured
that the clinic provides free of charge healthcare services but the
population is not aware that such services should be delivered free
of charge. The Minister also assured that expired medicaments are
not allowed to be imported to Armenia. At the same time, 150 tons
of expired medicaments are accumulated in the country since their
destruction requires significant financial resources.

Patients in Dilijan prefer to get treatment in Yerevan

Healthcare Minister Norayr Davidian met with the staff and patients
at the Dilijan city hospital. He noted that the hospital’s budget
has increased since 2003 amounting to 40 million drams in 2006. The
hospital has received new equipment. However, the main problem it is
facing is lack of an emergency ambulance vehicle.

The new building of the hospital was completed this year and it has
modern equipment. Renovation works are currently underway in the
remaining buildings of the hospital. The Minister noted that the
number of patients in the hospital will decrease since now they will
be able to receive free of charge treatment in the policlinics. The
Minister expressed his concern that only 20 out of 90 beds in the
hospital are used.

Davidian stated he was against laying off hospital staff. He
promised that their salaries will be raised in 2007. One of the
doctors complained that those patients who have money prefer to get
treatment in hospitals in Yerevan even though the hospital in Dilijan
has highly qualified staff and doctors. The Minster noted that the
doctors should try to improve the services they provide since the
fact that patients go to Yerevan to get treatment means that they do
not trust the local doctors.

The healthcare sector is developing

Minister Norayr Davidian assured that Armenia is among top countries in
terms of the development of the healthcare sector. The money allocated
to procurement of medical equipment is increased every year.

The healthcare sector has received grants of 50 million dollars due
to the accomplished improvements. Funding is allocated for retraining
of doctors. Equipment is provided to the hospitals and clinics based
on their requests through the governor’s offices. Upon the request
of the head of surgery department, the Minister promised to provide
the hospital an X-Ray equipment.

Attendance to policlinics doubled

The policlinic’s budget amounted to 79 million drams this year, the
Minister stated. Attendance to the policlinic has doubled after the
services provided here were made free of charge.

The director of the policlinic Greta Zhamharian noted that the
information posters provided by the Healthcare Ministry were very
important in terms of raising the population’s awareness as to the
services provided. The Ministry also assists the clinic with medical
supplies and equipment.

The series of regional visits organized by ARF’s Supreme Body will
continue to cover all regions of Armenia and the issues raised by the
population will be addressed and solved to the maximum extent possible.

VAZGEN MANUKIAN AND RAFFI HOVANNISIAN HEAD NEW CIVIL MOVEMENT

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. "The confrontation of the
authorities and community is the reason of many problems of Armenia."

Vazgen Manukian, the Chairman of the National Democratic Union stated
about it at the November 25 civil movement forum.

In his words, the foundation for confrontation between the pupil
and authorities was laid still in the middle of 90s. Particularly,
owing to falsification of results of the referendum on adoption of the
1995 Constitution and 1996 president’s elections, "the authorities
gained a victory on the society." "Powerful authorities were formed
in this way, aimed to struggle with inner enemies. Now the scattered
and disappointed society stands against the strong power of Robert
Kocharian and Serge Sargsian and it is impossible to do anything in
this scattered way," the NDU leader stated.

V.Manukian mentioned that today it is spoken about finding ways of
uniting the society with the goal to confront the force in hands
of which the power is. He explained that just unification of the
society is the main goal of the civil movement being formed. At the
same time, in his words, this unification must not be founded round
this or that individual.

Raffi Hovannisian, the other head of the civil movement being founded,
former Foreign Minister of Armenia, a member of the "Zharangutyun"
(Heritage) party council seriously criticized the activity of
the present ruling administration, accusing it of boundlessness,
unprecedented pressure upon the people, illegality and being
corrupted. In his words, phenomena like illegality and boundlessness
will continue from now on as well if the society will remain in the
state of indifference in which it is now. "It is the time to start
a struggle for establishing the human rights. We must struggle till
the day when the justice exult," R.Hovannisian stated.

CITIZENS DO NOT REMEMBER CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 27 2006

"If in a year after the Constitutional Reform you ask a citizen what
positive things happened in real life, you are sure not to hear any
answer or explanation," stated Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the
Nor Zhamanakner Party during the discussion at the National Press
Club in a year after the referendum on Constitution on November 27,
2005. He thinks that the citizens do not remember what amendments
were made to the Constitution a year ago.

According to him, the political consequence of the referendum on
Constitution is that it made clear to the society and the international
community that it is impossible to reach real changes in Armenia
through ballot. The second consequence, according to Aram Karapetyan,
is that the possibility of ensuring real progress in the country was
wasted, because the amendments to the Constitution were not the will
of people. The third important consequence is, according to Aram
Karapetyan, the unanimous approval of the society for the call of
the opposition to boycott the referendum.

"It is another problem that the opposition failed to use this support
for objective and subjective reasons," Aram Karapetyan says.

According to him, the current internal political processes, especially
in the government camp, when political parties are set up on money, and
politics is confined to distributing potatoes, are also a consequence
of the falsified referendum. "When the Constitution is raped, the
other laws can be raped as well," said Aram Karapetyan describing
the behavior of the government and pro-government forces.

ALTERNATIVE NOT TO SEEK PARLIAMENT SEATS

Armenpress
Nov 27 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: Nikol Pashinian, chief editor of
an aggressive independent newspaper, Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian
Time) said people who are proponents of liberal views and ideas are
uncertain which party to join because of numerous parties which say
they profess these same values.

Pashinian, who is one of the founders of a public initiative called
‘Alternative’ said the "Alternative’ was founded to save liberal
ideas and values from what he dubbed as ‘amorphous liberal processes."

He said the Alternative was beyond party affiliation and anyone,
no matter what party he belongs, can join the initiative. The sole
condition is that this person should accept their values and ideology
and their rules of game.

He said such notions as a pro-government force or an opposition
force should be revised because ‘in many cases their do not differ
in terms of their vision of Armenia’s future and ways to resolve its
major challenges."

He said the Alternative, designed as a future model, would begin
political activity only after winning an army of supporters. "There
are many smart people in Armenia who have things to say but they have
no platform. We shall provide that platform to them’ he said.

Pashinian also said the Alternative had not plans to contest the 2007
parliamentary elections. "It is not a plot to win a couple of seats
in the parliament," he added.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

APPLICATIONS FOR A UNITED KINGDOM VISA IN ARMENIA: BIOMETRIC
FINGERSCANS

>From 1 December 2006 the British Embassy in Yerevan is introducing
biometric data collection (fingerscans), the press-service of the
British Embassy told ArmInfo.

This is part of a world-wide biometric identification process,
designed to protect an individual’s identity, facilitate future entry
to the UK, combat visa fraud and abuse of the UK’s immigration and
asylum systems. With effect from 1 December 2006 all visa applicants,
irrespective of nationality, will have to apply in person at the
British Embassy in Yerevan and have their fingerscans taken.

All visa applicants must have their fingerscans taken, with the
exception of children under the age of five. An exception may also be
granted to applicants, who for genuine medical reasons cannot provide
fingerscans. The following categories of applicant are also exempted
from providing their fingerscans: Holders of Diplomatic passports and
accompanying dependants travelling on official government business.
Holders of Official passports who are travelling on official
government business in the United Kingdom. United Nations officials
holding UN Travel Documents who are travelling on official UN
business. Commonwealth and NATO armed forces personnel posted for
service in the UK Holders of a certificate of entitlement confirming
right of abode in the United Kingdom.

Fingerscans will be collected from each applicant by using an
electronic scanner. No ink, liquid or chemical will be used and the
procedure will take no more than two minutes to complete.

If an applicant refuses to provide fingerscans, the application
cannot be processed.

All applicants should ensure that their fingertips are free from any
forms of decoration (henna, for example), abrasions or other markings
prior to attending the British Embassy as these may affect their
ability to provide acceptable fingerscans. Visa applications cannot
be processed until applicants are able to provide acceptable
fingerscans.

For further information about the application process please contact
us on +374 (010) 26 43 01 or by email at [email protected]