Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

6.6% GROWTH IN CBA EXPENDITURES ENVISAGED IN 2007
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. By the 2007 draft state budget,
the overall administrative expenditures of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) make 3.56 billion drams, which exceeds by 6.6% this year’s budget
of the CBA. During the discussion of the 2007 draft state budget in the
RA National Assembly standing committees on November 1, CBA Chairman
Tigran Sargsian said that this growth in expenditures is conditioned
by setting up several new structures within the CBA. Particularly,
a unit on fight against money laundering and terrorism and a new
supervisory body have been created. Besides, the Armenian-German
Fund that operates as part of the CBA and aims to provide credits to
small and medium business will implement a new program on crediting
the small energy from 2007. According to T. Sargsian, in 2007, the
CBA staff maintenance expenditures will increase by 6.5% , expenses
on information and professional literature – by 10%, expenses on
communication means – by 15%, etc. The expenditures on capital
investments and purchase of fixed assets will increase by 31.5% in
2007 on 2006. This is due to construction of a new building in the
area adjacent to the building of the CBA: the construction started
in 2006 and will finish in 3 years. This will allow to unify all the
administrative bodies of the financial system, while the area currently
occupied by the CBA will be transferred to the government. In 2007,
the CBA will start the construction of its branch in Shushi to ensure
the security of dram circulation in Nagorno Karabakh. According to
T. Sargsian, given the fact that the Armenian dram is the official
means of payment of Nagorno Karabakh, it is expedient to have a
structure there for accumulation of some part of the dram reserves.

ACCORDING TO DPA, PROBLEM OF LIQUIDATION OF DISBALANCE AMONG PENSIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED PRIMARY
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Democratic Party of Armenia
proposes all the political forces represented at the Parliament
to work out by the primary order and to present for discussion
the draft on an all-embracing law on pensions satisfying needs of
social security. It is said in the statement spread on October 30
by the DPA Republican Council, expressing criticims addressed to
parliamentarians who adopted in the first reading by the majority
of votes the draft law on the deputy’s pension. To recap, it is
envisaged to define the size of pension at the moment of the latter’s
appointment according to the 75% of the RA NA deputy’s officiating
rate of pay. The deputy’s salary is 300 thousand drams at present,
75% of which will make 225 thousand drams. It is envisaged to fix
429 thousand drams as the deputy’s salary in 2007. 75% of it will
make 315 thousand drams. In the opinion of the statement authors,
this initiative creating a privileged status will not become a cause
for public indignation if “the decision on liquidating the shouting
disbalance among pensions, making humiliating pensions of hundreds of
thousands of regular indigent citizens of the republic corresponding
at least to content of the minimal basket was considered primary, or,
at least, was combined with it.” The DPA expresses confidence that
any step addressed to rise of pensions in general will be justified
only in the case of adoption of the all-embracing law on pensions
satisfying needs of social security. The party expresses readiness
to take corresponding joint steps to implement this issue relating
to wide interests of the society.

IN PROTECTION OF ARMAN BABAJANYAN
A1+
[07:50 pm] 31 October, 2006
Today a group of journalists and NGOs issued an announcement in
protection of Arman Babajanyan, editor-in-chief of “Yerevan Time”
newspaper.
“The violations against the media representatives on the eve of the
elections give ground for serious concerns.
We view the verdict brought in connection with Arman Babajanyan’s
case within the framework of these violations and encroachments.
The verdict was unprecedented due to its seriousness and is
rather harsh; it doesn’t go in line with the committed crime and
its consequences. The verdict could have been milder taking into
consideration the existing facts.
Besides, there was certain discrimination against the editor of
“Yerevan Time” and the law on “citizens escaping from compulsory
military service via and breeching the fixed order” was ignored. Under
the above-mentioned law, any 27-year-old citizen escaping from
compulsory military service can get identification card in case he
pays the required money and avoid punishment.
Taking into account all the above-mentioned points, we can assume
that Arman Babajanyan’s arrest was more connected with his work and
political orientation.
Arman Babajanyan has appealed to the corresponding body dealing with
the issues of 27-year-old citizens who escaped from military service
from 1992-2005 with the request to apply the law in his case.
We join the announcement asking the Court of First Instance to
re-view the verdict and to apply the above-mentioned law in Arman
Babajanyan’s case.
Nikol Pashinyan, “Yerevan Time”
Gegham Nazaryan, “Hayk”
Shogher Matevosyan, “The Forth Power”
Vardan Haroutyunyan, advocate
Boris Navasardyan
Mesrop Haroutyunyan
Ashot Melikyan
Edik Baghdasaryan, “Investigative Journalists” NGO
Karen Hakobyan, “Hope” NGO
Seda Melikyan, “Spiritual Armenia” NGO
Lala Aslikyan, “Hope” NGO
Michael Danielyan, “Helsinki Assosiacion”
Zara Postanjyan, advocate
Ahot Atoyan, advocate

COMSTAR-UTS HAS ACQUIRED 75% AND ONE SHARE OF CALLNET, AN ARMENIAN TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY
Analytical Information Agency, Russia
Oct 30 2006
Comstar-UTS OJSC has acquired 75% and one share of Callnet, an Armenian
telecommunication company, with a possible exercise of an option to
buy out the remaining share, Comstar says.
“This is the first deal of the planned and declared in October 2006
acquisitions that will enable us to use the funds raised during the
IPO to realize our investment program in regions,” Comstar’s General
Director Erik Franke said.
Callnet is one of the four Armenian operators holding a traffic
transit license. Its 100% subsidiary – Cornet – is the only Wi-Max
supplier in Armenia.
In 2005, Callnet’s proceeds doubled y-o-y to $4.3 mln.
Comstar-UTS holds fixed-line telephony assets of Sistema JSFC. They
are 53.04% shares of MGTS, 100% shares of MTU-Inform CJSC , 100%
shares of Telmos CJSC, 100% shares of MTU-Intel CJSC (including its
100% subsidiary Golden Line).
In 2005, Comstar’s net income under US GAAP grew by 39.% to $106 mln.
Proceeds rose by 30.6% to $907.6 mln.
s1803649.htm

THERE IS NO PROBLEM CAPABLE OF VIOLATING AZERBAIJAN-RUSSIA TIES
by Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
October 29, 2006 Sunday 06:42 AM EST
Russia and Azerbaijan achieved pushing aside all unsettled problems
in their relations, claimed President Ilkham Aliev. “There is no
single problem now which can darken our relations. On the contrary,
we have very good achievements in developing cooperation in the
economic, political and cultural spheres,” the president said in an
interview with members of the foreign mass media, the text of which
was circulated in Baku on Sunday through official channels.
Aliev noted that Russia is one of the three co-chairmen of the Minsk
OSCE Group, having a mandate of a mediator in settling the Karabakh
conflict. He called as “positive experience of work with Russian
officials and their policy on settling the Karabakh problem”.
“We see tht the Russian government takes sincere efforts at a peaceful
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict,” the president said,
noting that the period of tension between the two countries which
was present in the 1990s, is over. Aliev noted that Year of Russia
in Azerbaijan is nearing completion, and the year 2005 will be Year
of Azerbaijan in Russia.
He does not believe that good relations with Armenia prevent Russia
from having similar good relations with Azerbaijan. Replying to
reporters, Aliev also said that tension between Russia and Georgia
“has not influenced and will not influence” Baku’s relations with
Moscow and Tbilisi. “The two countries are our neighbors. We have
good relations with both of them, which are relations of strategic
partnership,” he said in conclusion.

The South Caucasus in between Russian claims and Georgian pro-western policy
28.10.2006 15:15
Armen Manvelyan
“Radiolur”
This week the constantly sharpening relations between Russia and
Georgia turned into a real crisis. The scandal connected with the
arrest of Russian Officers accused of spying served as a reason for
`diplomatic war.’ In Georgia it was expressed with anti-Russian
statements, in response to which the Russian side undertook mass
deportation of Georgian nationals and withdrawal of Russian citizens
from Tbilisi. The situation has got so tense that the press is already
discussing the possibility of a military clash. In the current
situation Russia actually utilizes all its power to apply economic
sanctions against Georgia, while the latter is trying to get the
support of the US and European structures in the unequal struggle
against its Northern neighbor.
The tense situation is a serious blow not only for the conflicting
sides, but also for the region as a whole and Armenia, in
particular. Regional instability exerts not only political, but also
economic impact on us. It’s no secret that good relations with both
Russia and Georgia are of strategic importance for Armenia. We are
linked to the parties with political, military and regional questions,
and it is clear that we are probability one of the few countries, if
not the only one, to be interested in the improvement of relations
between the sides. Turning to the relations between the two countries
we can say that we observe the clash of Russian claims and pro-Western
policy of Georgia, that is to say that Russia is aspiring to resume
the status of its ever great power, while relying upon the `West will
save us’ principle Georgia refuses to launch a dialogue with its
northern neighbor. The whole danger of this kind of policy of official
Tbilisi is rooted in the fact that for coming to terms with Russia on
some important question, let’s say the gas issue, the West mat betray
the Georgian interests, as it was the case in the UN Security Council,
where the Russian side managed to have an anti-Georgian bill pass,
which ascribed the whole responsibility for the situation in Abkhazia
to official Tbilisi, and the activity of Russian peacekeepers was
considered effective. Russians managed to have the bill pass through
concessions to the US in the North Korean issue. The same refers to
the question of Georgia’s accession to NATO. The West, particularly
the United States, does not conceal its positive toward this
aspiration of Georgia; however, it simultaneously declares that NATO
will not send peacekeepers to the conflict zone. Besides, it is known
that the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia comprise serious
obstacles on Georgia’s way to the North-Atlantic Alliance. No matter
how mach Russia protests, it will not manage to prevent Georgia’s
entry into NATO, while Abkhazia and South Ossetia can permanently
block Georgia’s entry into this military block, since NATO will never
accept a country having two unsettled conflicts on its territory.
Nevertheless, it should be stated that unfortunately Armenia can do
little in a situation, where the sides do not wish to listen to each
other and speak the language of ultimatums. It is clear that both
Tbilisi and Moscow do not wish to allow any mediation for negotiating
with each other, but official Yerevan should apply every effort to
bring the parties to the bargaining table, refusing from unacceptable
statements against each other. At the same time the sides must realize
that for having influence over the South Caucasus, Russia needs to
have good relations with Georgia, while accomplishment of the Western
policy of Tbilisi is possible only after establishment friendly
relations with Moscow.

PAMUK WINS, TURKEY LOSES
Washington Post,DC
Oct 25 2006
Istanbul, Turkey – The most important story in Turkey over the past
two weeks was Orhan Pamuk winning the Nobel Prize for literature. The
announcement came an hour after the French National Assembly passed
a resolution making it a criminal offence punishable by five years
in jail to deny that a genocide against the Armenians of the Ottoman
Empire was committed during World War I.
Pamuk himself was once tried for defaming “Turkness” because he said
“a million Armenians and thirty thousand Kurds have been killed in this
land” in the course of an interview he gave to a Swiss newspaper. Many
of his detractors viciously linked the two developments. They argued
that the prize was given to Pamuk not because of his literary
accomplishments, his recognition as a master of the novel who
transformed this literary form and raised substantive questions
about East and West and their relations in his work but because of
his political stance. The public in general was unable to rejoice in
the accomplishment of one of its own.
This peculiar and rather unhealthy reaction is a reflection of
the growing self-absorption of the public in Turkey and a growing
mistrust of the West. Such a mood of xenophobic nationalism ill-suits
Turkey’s current trajectory and undermines its future projects. The
deterioration of Turkey’s relations with the West and the rise of an
anti-Western orientation will harm Turkey’s long-term interests.
Beyond that such a development will exacerbate the West’s legitimacy
problems, further fuel anti-Western rage in the Middle East and
beyond and seriously undermine pro-Western and/or secular forces in
the region as well as assisting in Iran’s ascent.

WHO CAN CHEAT RAFIK PETROSYAN?
A1+
[07:14 pm] 25 October, 2006
“It is impossible to cheat Rafik Petrosyan”, announced the head of the
NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs during the discussion
of the draft on “Alienation of property for state and public needs”.
In this case the one who failed to cheat him is the RA Government which
took out an article from the draft according to which the residents
who have received compensation can no more appeal previous decisions.
Rafik Petrosyan claims that now the Government has introduced a new
complicated article who on the whole is the same.
Minister of Justice David Haroutyunyan persuaded the deputies to
adopt the draft which has thrice been rejected. The Minister even
blamed the Parliament noting that today the citizens suffer because
of the absence of the law.
V. Lazarian from “Justice” faction who has introduced a 9-page pack
of offers about the draft announced that not the NA is guilty for not
adopting the law but he Government which does not introduce a draft
worthwhile adopting.
The discussion will continue tomorrow.

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
PRESS RELEASE ~ October 25, 2006
(617) 923-1933
AYF-YOARF Hosts Annual Senior Seminar at Camp Haiastan
WATERTOWN, Mass. – From October 6 to 8, Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
members from across the Eastern Region gathered at Camp Haiastan in Franklin,
Mass., for an annual seminar, this year focused on knowledge and activism.
Over 40 AYF senior members from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Jersey, New
York, Boston, Albany, Chicago and Providence attended five lectures and
various night activities organized by the AYF Seminar Committee.
“Senior Seminar is one of many events we have on the AYF calendar and
actually one of the best ones,” said AYF Seminar Committee chairperson Nora
Keomurjian, “It provides our membership the unique opportunity to really get
to know one another, which they otherwise do not have at the larger events.”
The first lecture on Saturday, “The AYFer: Birth of Activism,” was given by
Dr. Ara Chalian from Philadelphia. Attendees spent the full session
discussing the role of AYF leadership in the Armenian community and what
exactly that should be. In a discussion format the group considered issues
of what leadership is and talked about successful examples.
Following Chalian was Dr. Asbed Kochikian who presented “Modern Armenia:
Challenges from Within and Without.” The lecture focused on the political
scene in Armenia, with a lively discussion about the problems, their source
and the future direction of politics as they affect the people in Armenia.
The afternoon session featured a lecture titled “The Lebanese Israeli
Conflict and its Effect on the Armenian Community: What Does the Future
Bring?” Given by Jirayr Beujekian, the talk covered historical and
contemporary issues in the Lebanese Armenian community and its future
directions.
The final session of the day was given by Kochikian who outlined
“Nagorno-Karabakh Yesturday and Today.” During the lecture Kochikian gave a
detailed historical account of the conflict in its political dimension.
After the lecture, all attendees were divided into groups for a game based
on the Karabagh war.
“The topics were intriguing, which made for interesting conversations,” said
AYF Central Executive member Lauren Da Silva, “The lecturers discussed
current affairs, which opened the mind of the attendees.”
During the evening, the group went out to Pinz, a bowling ally/arcade, to
spend some time relaxing after a long day of discussion and capture the
flag. Following the outing, members returned to camp where they sang
Armenian patriotic songs by the bonfire.
The following morning, the final lecture was given by the AYF Central Hai
Tahd Council, with Washington AYF member Vahan Callan. The group discussed
Hai Tahd activism by students on university campuses. In his portion, Callan
outlined his experience in Michigan starting a campus Armenian club. The
group also outlined other methods of becoming active: supporting fellow
student groups with similar goals, and attending and organizing lectures.
“This year’s senior seminar was a great way to bring together the leaders of
the AYF community,” said New Jersey AYF member and seminar attendee Serge
Kechichian, “The discussions and lecturers were very informative and
worthwhile.”
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Seminar 1: Over 40 AYF senior members attended lectures and various night
activities organized by the AYF Seminar Committee
Seminar 3: Dr. Asbed Kochikian (center) presented a lecture on modern
Armenian politics, bring to light the problems, their source and the future
direction of politics in the Republic

RUSSIA’S PUTIN PLEDGES TO ATTRACT 300,000 BACK TO RUSSIA BY 2010
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 24, 2006 Tuesday 4:28 PM EST
DPA x Russia Society Russia’s Putin pledges to attract 300,000 back
to Russia by 2010 Moscow Amid an unprecedented demographic crisis,
Russia proposed Tuesday to repatriate 300,000 Russians living abroad
as President Vladimir Putin vowed to make it easier for all foreigners
to live and work in the notoriously immigrant-unfriendly country.
Putin, speaking Tuesday at the opening ceremonies of the so-called
Congress of Compatriots in St. Petersburg, promised measures to
increase immigration, to be introduced January 15.
His comments followed a pledge by Federal Migration Service head
Konstantin Romodanovsky to spend nearly 200 million dollars to lure
50,000 native Russians to the country in 2007. The following years
would respectively see 100,000 and 150,000 return.
To attract people back to Russia, Romodanovsky told government-
controlled newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Tuesday, the service would
try to concentrate immigration in 12 of Russia’s 89 regions and open
a number of offices in countries including Germany.
The migration service’s five existing representative offices,
in contrast, are all in former Soviet countries: Armenia, Latvia,
Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan and Turmenistan.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russians have immigrated in droves
to the West. An estimated 200,000 Russian natives live in Germany.
Many of the regions designated special resettlement zones are in
Siberia, and others like the Tver region, north-west of Moscow, are
suffering from rampant depopulation. None of the 21 ethnic republics –
inhabited by non-Russian indigenous groups – was on the list.
Russia’s population has fallen to 142 million from 149 million in
the last 14 years. Losing 700,000 people per year, the UN says Russia
could be home to a mere 80 to 100 million by 2050.
Siberia and the Far East have always been among Russia’s least-
populated areas, and many here fear China will overflow into Siberia,
overwhelming the Russian population. The ethnic republics, on the
other hand, have seen positive growth in recent years.
Putin noted that to sustain an economy Russia needed to see immigration
numbers jump, no matter the ethnicity of the newcomers.
“In the modern world, a country’s economy, not its military, determines
its power and potential for development,” the Russian leader said.
“Leading Russian companies will have to draw qualified workers without
regard to their ethnicity.”
But with a surge in racially-motivated violence in recent years,
Putin’s hopes conflict with present realities. This year alone has
seen over 20 hate killings, and a St. Petersburg court last week
acquitted 17 in the 2004 murder of a Vietnamese student.
The Russian president, however, promised to simplify legalization
procedures and improve social benefits for all immigrants in Russia,
beginning January 15.
The speech came the same day figures showed that 5,000 Georgian
immigrants had been deported back to the Caucasus nation this year.
Putin also said the government would step up its efforts to protect
the Russian language and its speakers across the former Soviet Union.
On Tuesday, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered his country’s
parliament to consider switching from the Cyrillic alphabet, which
is used in Russia, to Latin letters.
“I think we have to return to the question of moving to the Latin
alphabet,” Nazarbayev said, Interfax reported.
But Nazarbayev, one of Putin’s closest allies, also said students
should be taught three languages in Kazakh schools: Kazakh, English
and Russian.