Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ELECTIONS ARE AHEAD
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[07:24 pm] 09 November, 2006
Today the residents of North and Main Avenues, Firdus and Kozern
districts and the gardeners of Dalma and Nor Norq, organised a rally
of complaint opposite the National Assembly.
They called on the NA deputies to discuss their version and proposals
of the draft bill on “Alienation of Property for Public and State
Needs.” But their attempts were a failure as the NA passed the old
version with 61 votes for. “We approve of the law but not in its
current form,” complained the residents.
“They were elected due to the residents’ votes. Let them not forget it
and not become the stooges of the government. The government has once
more revealed its “real face.” We see the interests of the government
quite well,” said Sedrak Baghdasayan, one of the rally participants.
By the way, the strikers urged the authorities, “We did everything
within the framework of the law, whereas our-high rank officials
breeched it. They will soon start election campaigns. And the acting
authorities will be treated just the way they treat people. They stir
us to be disobedience… “

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SELLING ITS STAKE IN ARMENTEL TO FUTURE BUYER
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 8 2006
The Armenian government is likely to sell its 10 percent stake in
the Armenian Telephone Company (ArmenTel) to its future buyer if the
latter vows to end its monopoly on Armenia’s telecom market.
Armenia’s Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukian,
who was entrusted last week to manage the state-held share in the
company, announced Wednesday that the government will not object to
Vimpel-Communications buying the remaining 10 percent share if the
Russian mobile operator rejects all types of monopolies currently
enjoyed by ArmenTel.
“We kept our shares to be able to influence somehow the company’s
decisions during the meetings of its shareholders,” Manukian said,
adding that if the monopoly provisions are reconsidered ‘prices
will result from competition and there will be no question of tariff
policy regulation.’
“It seems to me that the government’s participation with its 10
percent stake will not give anything. For us it is important that the
monopoly provisions be removed,” the minister said, giving assurances
that the government will not give up its stake otherwise.
Vimpel-Communications agreed last week to buy a 90 percent stake in
ArmenTel Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA for
341.9 million euros ($436.3 million) plus about 40 million euros
(US$51 million) in debt.
ArmenTel has about 600,000 fixed-line and 400,000 mobile subscribers.
Vimpel-Communications operates phone services in Russia and Kazakhstan
and recently acquired cellular operators in Ukraine, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan and Georgia. The Group’s cellular license portfolio covers
a territory with a population of about 237 million.

KASPRZYK: TO MAINTAIN CEASEFIRE AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS SHOULD HOLD NEGOTIATIONS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
“There is stability in Azerbaijan and Armenian front line,” special
representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Anjey Kasprzyk told
journalists, APA reports.
He said that for maintenance of ceasefire Azerbaijani and Armenian
ministers should hold negotiations.
“Defense ministers should have a chance to discuss the details of the
maintenance of ceasefire regime. I agree with the position of both
governments. The ceasefire regime is connected with the demonstration
of political will. The monitoring I hold helps to reinforce the
ceasefire regime and I always felt support from both sides.It proves
that the sides are interested in the maintenance of ceasefire regime,”
the representative said.

‘BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR TOWN PLANNING EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN
AZG Armenian Daily
08/11/2006
The opening ceremony of the seventh specialized exhibition of the
Iranian Republic in Armenia “Building Materials and Equipment for
Town Planning” was took place recently, on November 4 in the Yerevan
K. Demichyan’s Sport- Concert Complex.
Levon Aharonian, the Director of the Iran-Armenia Chamber of Commerce,
stated in his speech during the opening ceremony that building
materials, sanitary engineering, electrical appliances, furniture
of about 20 companies of the Iranian building industry were going to
be exhibited at the exhibition till November 10. In particular, the
production of ALVAN, KNAUF GATE, GAPEX, KHORASAN ELECTRIC Companies,
which have already gained the attention and the trust of the Armenian
construction companies will be displayed at the exhibition. In
his turn, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran
to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, added that that the exhibition is
directed to introduce the Armenian and Iranian businessmen to each
other He emphasized that the collaboration of high ranked officials
and businessmen of Armenia and Iran will certainly lead to the opening
of new economic spheres in both countries. Meanwhile, the RA Energy
Minister, the cochairman of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental
Commission, Armen Movsessian, said that a real progress is being
observed in the Armenian-Iranian relations in the course of the recent
years. The Commission, the work of which is aimed at the formation of
a legal field for the two neighboring states, plays a significant role
in it. As for that, A. Movsessian emphasized that the Commission’s
activity is mainly fixed on the development of Armenia-Iran economic
relations. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia
to Iran, Karen Nazaryan, said, in his turn, that the diplomatic
representations in two countries spare no efforts to contribute to
the development of Iran and Armenia trade-economic cooperation. He
also expressed hope that organization of such exhibitions will have
long-term prospects.

‘DISINFORMATION ON ARTICLE 301 IS OF TURKISH ORIGIN’
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman, Turkey
Nov 6 2006
Turkish Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek has said that there was
disinformation in Turkey regarding the “notorious” Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code and it was of Turkish origin.
The controversial article has been used to try many journalists and
writers in court under criminal charges for “insulting Turkishness,”
generally for topics related to the ‘Kurdish question’ and an Armenian
genocide.
Cicek was speaking at the Turkish Journalist Federation’s general
assembly meeting in Ankara on Sunday.
He pointed out that most of the issues labeled as “incomplete”
in the EU’s Progress Report on Turkey, which are hindering Turkey,
were reported to the EU by some people in Turkey.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DRAFT CONSTITUTION
ITAR-TASS, Russia
Nov 2 2006
YEREVAN, November 2 (Itar-Tass) – The parliament of the self-proclaimed
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic approved in the second reading a draft
Constitution. It was adopted by a special session of the National
Assembly of the republic in Stepanakert on Wednesday evening.
The draft was approved by the overwhelming majority of deputies,
with one “against” and one abstention. The legislature decided to
put the document to a republic-wide referendum which is likely to be
set on December 10. A referendum was held on that day in 1991: 99.8
percent of voters were in favor of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence
from Azerbaijan.
Head of the working group of the local Constitutional Commission and
republican prosecutor-general Armen Zalinyan said that legislators were
very active discussing the document. According to Zalinyan, following
the adoption of the draft in the first reading, the commission received
several hundreds of proposals from population as well as legislators
and parliamentary factions.

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
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[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.
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