Author: Toneyan Mark

AZG Armenian Daily #106, 10/06/2005
Karabakh diary
CHAIRMAN OF NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SATISFIED WITH PARLIAMENT’S WORK OF 5
YEARS
On occasion of the end of NKR parliament’s 3d convocation, chairman of the
parliament, Oleg Yesayan, called a press conference on June 8 to present the
work of the National Assembly.
As a result of parliamentary elections in 2000, 4 parties united in 2
fractions — National Democratic and Armenian Revolutionary.
During the past 5 years, the National Assembly adopted 329 laws, 276 of
which were submitted to the government and 53 were adopted at deputies’
initiative. Besides, the NA took a number of important decisions and made
statements.
Yesayan underlined that no parliament session failed during this period
thanks to the lawmakers’ activity and responsibility.
NKR parliament is in close cooperation with the National Assembly of
Armenia. Thanks to this cooperation, the authorities have considerably
advanced in improving National Assembly’s legislation. Artsakh put into
circulation RA civil and penal codes, legislations on family and work.
Yesayan stated that the NA Control Chamber carried out audits at state and
non-governmental establishments and submitted conclusions on state budget’s
projects and expenditure. A few reports on infringements were submitted to
NKR chief prosecutor.
The work of the National Assembly was transparent both for journalists and
for the public. Yesayan thanked all journalists for impartial and timely
coverage of the work of the parliament.
Commenting on the statement of some political forces that Artsakh needs to
be a parliamentary state, said that Nagorno Karabakh should be ruled by a
president so far as the international community recognizes it. A powerful,
president, powerful government and powerful parliament — that is what will
help to settle all issues, he concluded.
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

Fifty international observers to monitor polls in Nagornyy Karabakh Republic
[NKR]
Arminfo, Yerevan
9 Jun 05
STEPANAKERT
The election campaign in the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] is
proceeding as normal and the electoral commissions have received no
complaints as yet, the chairman of the NKR Central Electoral
Commission, Sergey Nasibyan, has told journalists.
About 89,000 voters have been registered in the republic by now, an
Arminfo correspondent reported from Stepanakert.
One hundred seven candidates will run under the first-past-the-post
and six parties and one bloc under the proportional representation
system.
To recap, voting will be held in 275 electoral districts and one
office will be opened in the Republic of Armenia by the NKR
representative office for citizens of Karabakh who are temporally
living in Armenia.
Transparent ballot-boxes will be used during the voting. According to
preliminary information, about 50 international observers will monitor
the elections on 19 June.

Racing Post
June 8, 2005, Wednesday
FOOTBALL: ROMANIA COULD CUT LOOSE AGAINST WEAK ARMENIANS
by KEVIN PULLEIN
Romania striker Adrian Mutu (right) could prosper against weak
Armenia in tonight’s World Cup European qualifier
ROMANIA have not enjoyed much luck lately, but they could restore
some morale in this evening’s World Cup Group One qualifier at home
to Armenia.
Buy their supremacy at 2.2 with Sporting.
The Romanians are nowhere near as good now as they were in Euro 2000,
when they justly eliminated England from the competition, but they
still have a reasonable, technically proficient outfit.
In their Euro 2004 qualifying group they finished one point behind
Denmark, who went on to make a good impression in P ortugal, and
level with Norway, who progressed to the play-offs instead of them
because of a superior head-to-head record. In their World Cup 2006
qualifying group they have been drawn with Holland, who have beaten
them home and away, and Czech Republic, who beat them in Prague.
The Romanians have, however, won four of their five other games. The
one exception, it is true, was in Armenia, where they surrendered a
lead to draw 1-1. But more representative results over a longer
period of time suggest Romania are superior to Armenia – and perhaps
by more than 2.2 goals in Constanta.
Romania have won home and away to Macedonia and at home to Finland,
and both those countries are significantly better than Armenia.
As if to illustrate the point, Armenia have already lost by two goals
at home to Finland and three goals away to Macedonia, as well as by
one goal at home.
It is rare, but not completely unknown, for firms to underestimate
the favourite in what is expected to be an international mismatch,
and this may be another occasion when they have done so.
The Fifa world rankings provide a reliable, if not infallible, method
of evaluating the relative strength of international teams. Romania
are currently 89 places and 252 ranking points ahead of Armenia.
Past experience suggests this might entitle them to be considered
more than 2.2-goal favourites at home to Armenia. Recommendation Buy
Romania supremacy 8pts at 2.2 (Sporting)

RUSSIA TO REMOVE SOME 2,500 UNITS OF MILITARY HARDWARE FROM SOUTH
CAUCASUS IN 2005-2008
YEREVAN, JUNE 7. ARMINFO. Russia will remove some 2,500 units of
military hardware (tanks, armoured troop carriers, guns) from the
South Caucasus in 2005-2008, Russian DM Sergey Ivanov said during the
Monday opening of the St.Petersburg World Congress of Military
Medicine.
The equipment together with 80,000 tons of ammunition and other
materiel will be carried by sea from Batumi (Georgia). Some 2,500
Russian soldiers, officers and their relatives will leave the region
during the period.
Ivanov noted that the redeployment of Russian military equipment to
Armenia complies with the CAFE Treaty especially as it will be taken
to a Russian base rather than given to Armenia.

AZG Armenian Daily #103, 07/06/2005
Education
INVESTORS ARE SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION
Visit to Polytechnic University
Zaven Yekavian, head of Galust Gyulbenkian Foundation’s Yerevan office, and
Aramayis Mirzakhanian, professor at the Swedish Royal Technical Institute,
visited the Yerevan State Polytechnic University. The guests visited the
laboratory of automatic electronic equipments that was opened last year.
This laboratory was founded by the efforts of the Swedish Royal Institute of
Technologies and Galust Gyulbenkian Foundation. It is equipped with
electronic technologies and contemporary computers. The press office of the
Polytechnic University informed that the sides decided to continue the
cooperation and purchase more equipment for the laboratory and make
investments in the industry.
The press office also informed that, by the decree of the university
administration, Yuri Sargsian, rector of the University, awarded Zaven
Yekavian with the Golden Medal of the Yerevan State Polytechnic University
that symbolizes his contribution to the development of the University and
the educational system of Armenia. While Aramayis Mirzakhanian, graduate of
the Polytechnic University, professor at the Swedish Royal Technical
Institute, was announced the winner of “The Graduate of the Yerevan State
Polytechnic University 2005” competition.
By Tamar Minasian

Hay Dat expands activities
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
3 June 05
Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Hay Dat Central Council
opens in Yerevan on June 4. Hay Dat has offices in Washington,
Brussels, and Moscow.
The latest addition was the Beirut office, opened last year, to pursue
the Hay Dat goals in the Middle East. Over 30 local and regional
committees operate across the globe. The Central Council comprises the
representatives of the mentioned offices, as well as representatives
from Artsakh, Javakhk and Armenia.
ARF Bureau members Karo Armenian and Hakop Ter-Khachatrian shared
their views with Yerkir on the coming forum, the works of the offices
and committees, as well as the results of the Hay Dat conference held
in Yerevan in 2003.
Touching upon the 2003 conference, Karo Armenian noted that it helped
better understand the tasks to be undertaken in order to keep up with
the international processes and present our views. New directions have
been adopted in the United States, Canada, Europe, Moscow and the
Middle East, and a completely new program has been put together.
The Hay Dat activities were carried out in two fields: the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and supporting the
Armenian economy development process.
When asked why the economy was included in the Hay Dat agenda,
Armenian said, “It was included in our agenda because the development
of the Armenian economy greatly hinges on foreign aid and
international loans. These processes happen everywhere. We realized
that the Hay Dat offices and committees could play a substantial part
in supporting Armenia’s diplomacy.”
In his turn, Bureau member Hakop Ter-Khachatrian noted that this issue
was put on the Hay Dat agenda since Armenia’s independence as an
additional factor to support the basis of the Armenian state.
“The Hay Dat offices and committees immediately engaged in the
process, and a lot is being done today. Under the resolutions of the
ARF General Convention, the Armenian Genocide recognition is no more
the only goal of the Hay Dat. Supporting the development of the
economy became an issue of our agenda. We backed the Armenian foreign
diplomacy, in accordance to the ARF decisions, to aid Armenia as much
as we can and to reinforce its international positions,” said
Ter-Khachatrian, adding also that the voice of the Armenian
communities sound in all these processes, often having a vital role in
the policies of governments.

RF diplomat, EU envoy for S Caucasus discuss Transcaucasia status
By Sergei Bushuyev
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 3, 2005 Friday
MOSCOW, June 3 — Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery
Loshchinin and Special Representative of the European Union for
South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie met on Friday to discuss the current
situation in the Transcaucasian region, an official at the Russian
Foreign Ministry said.
The sides exchanged opinions on the situation in the Transcaucasian
region and on settlement of conflicts in Georgia’s much-troubled
region of South Ossetian and the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorny
Karabakh in Azerbaijan, the official said.
Loshchinin and Heikki Talvitie “confirmed commitment to continuing
cooperation with the countries of the Transcaucasian region and to
peaceful political settlement,” the official added.

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN PMs DISCUSS PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF GEORGIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 2. ARMINFO. Armenian and Georgian prime ministers
Andranik Magraryan and Zurab Nogaideli discussed today the problems
of the Armenian community of Georgia’s Samtskhe Javakheti region.
Nogaideli said that the Georgian authorities are planning a program
of the region’s social-economic development. The PMs agreed to meet
next time in Samtskhe Javakheti in June or Aug 2005.
Margaryan said that Armenia is ready to assist Georgia in implementing
the program. Nogaideli said that Georgia may need support in restoring
roads and schools in the region.
The sides also discussed the issue of preservation of Armenian
monuments in the territory of Georgia. Nogaideli said that a special
task force will be created to find solutions to the problem.

AZG Armenian Daily #101, 03/06/2005
Interview
CHAIRMAN OF WAC ARA ABRAHAMIAN SHARING WITH HIS THOUGHTS ON RUSSIA,
DEMOCRACY AND ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
The interview we present below is composed of questions that the chairman of
World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamian answered during a reception at
Russian consulate in Los Angeles on May 25. Most of 450 participants were
Armenians.
– What can you say about Khodorkovsky case?
– As you know, Khodorkovsky and his colleague were charged with fraud,
particularly tax-avoidance, with illegal appropriation of property and with
a number of other crimes. For me the vital point is whether the court was
just and whether Khodorkovsky was guilty of law violation. This is not the
only lawsuit of its kind. Lawsuits were once filed against Gusinsky and
Berezovsky. The important thing is that the authorities have understood that
the Khodorkovsky case has a negative impact on investments in Russia, and
President Putin took several steps to show that Russia’s line of protecting
private property and of market reforms is the same. For that purpose he
suggested a few changes that are called to restore the trust of overseas
investors in Russian authorities.
Putin repeatedly stated that the Khodorkovsky case will have no precedents,
that the right of private property will be respected and Russia has no
desire to turn off the road of market reforms.
– What’s the state of democracy in Russia?
– This issue is very much exposed to abuse. Many, especially liberals,
communists and national-bolsheviks find that the country is diving into
tyranny. Such moods are connected with the removal of direct elections of
governors and of the system of majority vote at the State Duma.
But the President opened the brackets in his letter. By taking away
governors’ elections, Putin offered a system that will at least make
regional authorities more democratic, insofar as representatives of parties
that won regional polls will be appointed governors and will form the
executive body. In fact, authorities turn to parliamentary system on
regional level.
Bitter tongues say that this is a preparation for the President to occupy
the post of prime minister after resignation. Regardless the purpose of
those changes, they evidence that the gap between people and authorities
getting narrower and that democracy is expanding. The parliament has got the
right of parliamentary examination — something we didn’t have in past. It
strengthens parliament’s positions against executive authorities and somehow
restores the levelers of control and counterweight in order to storm
bureaucracy and officialdom.
President Putin’s message was full of appeals for struggle against
bureaucracy, officialdom and squalor of tax collecting bodies. I think in
this regard, as Mark Twain would put it, rumors about democracy being killed
in Russia are obviously overstated.
– Will Fradkov’s government be sacked?
– This question is being widely discussed, in political circles as well.
Many see this government as not really productive. I think the last decision
up to the President. We may say that this government’s achievements are
extremely modest. But if the President does not dismiss the government now,
he will have to work with it till 2007 — year of election campaign to State
Duma.
Yet, I think that the President will sack this government but perhaps after
it carries out a number of non-democratic reforms in order to have prime
minister that will be his assignee.
– Will Putin remain in politics after 2008 and in what position?
– I myself would like to know the answer to this question. Putin is a rather
young and robust man with great experience of state governing and I have no
doubt that he will remain in Russian politics. Meanwhile, not in the role of
Gorbachev or Yeltsin but as a politician who will influence political
processes. Whether he will be a prime minister or a head of ruling party —
Putin and his team have to decide.
China’s experience shows that Den Syaopin, occupying no state position, was
one of the most influential figures of the country’s political life. So I
think that Putin will also remain as an influential figure in Russia’s
political system regardless the position he will occupy.
– What’s the condition of interethnic relations in Russia?
– Russia’s demography reveals negative dynamics for ethnic Russians as the
number of Muslims, refugees and immigrants increases.
There are problems in interethnic relations as we are trying to create a
democratic nation where each ethnic group, as our President says, will feel
well. Skinheads, chauvinistic and fascistic groups pose a serious threat.
There are also xenophobic moods towards natives of Caucasus and Jews.
But it should be noted that the central leadership is implementing rather
productive policy to eliminate those confrontations and conflicts. I
spearhead Armenians’ Union of Russia and the Board of Round Table. The last
organization includes in fact all heads of non-governmental and religious
organizations. We do everything possible to have constructive cooperation
with the authorities in order to suppress interethnic confrontations and
clashes.
to be continued

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION COMING UP
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
01 June 05
The parliamentary election to be held on June 19 is truly in the
focus of attention of the society of Nagorno Karabakh. Because
of the disputed issue of Nagorno Karabakh the upcoming election
has acquired both home and foreign political importance. Like
in other democratic countries, in Nagorno Karabakh elections are
held by general, equal and secret ballot. Before 2004, the order
of holding elections was maintained by the law on NKR President,
the law on Election to NKR National Assembly, and the law on local
authorities. In December 2004 the Electoral Code of NKR was adopted,
which includes all the laws on election. The law on Election to NKR
National Assembly was first adopted in 1994. In 2000 the new law on
parliamentary elections was adopted, with improved basic principles
of the former law in accordance with the European and international
standards. The electoral code adopted in 2004 modified the electoral
legislation. According to Article 32 of the Electoral Code, before
the election central, district and local election committees are set
up. Before the enactment of the electoral code, according to Article 41
of the law on Election to NKR National Assembly, the Central Election
Committee consisted of 9 members of which three were appointed
by the head of state. One of the three members appointed by the
president was to be a representative of one of the political parties
of NKR. Three members appointed by the National Assembly were chosen
from among the political alliances and public movements represented
in the parliament, choosing only one representative from a political
party. The other three members of the committee were appointed by the
government. Besides, the Central Election Committee was set up for
five years, 69 days before the election. After the enactment of the
Electoral Code, the Central Election Committee is set up again for five
years but 40 days before the election. The president appoints three
members of the committee. One member is appointed by the political
parties and alliances which have political factions in the National
Assembly. If the number of the political parties and alliances
which have factions in the National Assembly is not above three,
each political party appoints two members of the Central Election
Committee. If the political party or the alliance having faction in the
National Assembly does not nominate a candidate before the last day of
constituting the Central Election Committee, the members are chosen
from among the members of other factions. At present two political
parties – the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and
the Democratic Party of Artsakh (formerly Democratic Union Artsakh)
– have factions in the National Assembly. The Central Election
Committee of NKR consists of seven members, three appointed by the
president, and two by ARF and the Democratic Party each. The order of
constituting district committees has been changed as well. According
to Article 42 of the former law on Election to NKR National Assembly,
the district committees were set up by the regional administrations and
municipalities, the members were chosen from the staffs of businesses
and organizations, members of political parties and NGOs. According
to the new Electoral Code, district election committees are set up
in the same way as the Central Election Committee: three members are
appointed by the head of state, the political parties and alliances,
which have parliamentary factions, appoint one member each.
The next essential innovation is that for the first time the candidates
stand for parliament on party tickets as well. 22 candidates have been
nominated under the majority system, and 11 on party tickets. Before
all the 33 members of parliament were elected under the majority
system. The number of the seats in the National Assembly has been
considerably reduced since 1992. In the Supreme Soviet of first
convocation there were 81 members of parliament. At present there are
22 electoral districts in NKR (equal to the number of the candidates
standing for parliament under the majority system). Stepanakert
is divided into 8 electoral districts, the region of Martuni 4,
the region of Hadrut 3, Martakert 3, Askeran 2, the regions of
Shahumian and Kashatagh 1. There is more than one polling station in
each electoral district. The majority of polling stations are again
in Stepanakert. The number of polling stations in Stepanakert is
23. According to the Electoral Code, the number of voters registered at
one polling station should not be more than 2000. Thus, serious changes
have been made to the NKR electoral laws for the sake of transparency
of elections, the evidence to which is the changes in the order of
constituting election committees on all the levels. The new law does
not provide for any role of the local authorities and the government in
setting up committees. Today we may state that the election committees
are formed by elective institutions (president and parliament) and
not appointive bodies (ministers, regional administrations).
The changes which at first seem to have a formal character play
an essential political role. For example, they make it difficult,
if not impossible, to engage administrative resources to influence
polls. Changes in legislation, as well as fundamental changes
in the home policy of the republic, resulting from the powerful
democratic wave after the well-known events of 1999 – 2000, had a
direct influence on the society and turnout in elections. The period
preceding the upcoming election can be regarded as the most active
of all the previous elections in the history of NKR. Currently,
167 candidates run for the election, 115 under the majority system,
and 81 on party tickets. In the election in 2000 113 candidates were
registered, 88 are independent candidates and 25 were nominated by
political parties. In 1995 the total number of candidates was 81.
The number of candidates has increased 1.4 times since the previous
election to the National Assembly. 75.5 per cent of the members of
parliament of the present National Assembly will again stand for
parliament both under the majority system (49 per cent or 16) and
on party tickets. In the capital of NKR, Stepanakert, the number of
candidates from each electoral district is 10, in the regions the
number of candidates from each electoral district is 4 or 5. The
increase in the number of candidates once again confirms that there
is democratic environment in the home policy of NKR. 54 candidates
running for the election under the majority system (47 per cent)
represent different political parties. 61 candidates (53 per cent)
are independent candidates. The picture of nomination on party tickets
is the following: the political alliance Dashnaktsutyun – Union 88 –
18 candidates (6 were simultaneously nominated under the majority
system), Azat Hayrenik Party – 17 candidates (9), NKR Communist
Party – 10 candidates (4), Mer Tun’ Hayastan Party – 4 candidates
(3), Social Justice Party 4 candidates (1), Baroyakan Veratsnund –
3 candidates. The political parties also stand for parliament under
the majority system. The picture is the following: Dashnaktsutyun –
Movement 88 – 20 candidates, NKR Communist Party – 12, Democratic
Party of Artsakh – 10, Azat Hayrenik Party – 9, Mer Tun’ Hayastan
Party – 4, Social Justice Party – 1, Armenakan Party – 1.
To make forecasts on the staff of the future National Assembly would
mean contradicting to the law. Nevertheless, we would like to point
out that it would not be correct to think that the new parliament
will be formed of the members of a certain political party. As it was
mentioned above, the number of candidates, representing a political
party, nominated under the majority system constitutes 47 per cent
of all the candidates. The rest are independent candidates. Besides,
there are candidates on party tickets who are not members of any
political party.
The Democratic Party of Artsakh is the first by the number of
such candidates (6 candidates, constituting 24 per cent of all
the candidates). The political alliance Dashnaktsutyun – Movement
88 is in the second place with 3 candidates (16.6 per cent of
candidates). Naturally, independent members of parliament will also be
elected, which will influence the correlation of political forces in
the National Assembly, and the latter will influence the home policy
of the republic.
DAVIT BABAYAN.
01-06-2005