Category: News

Azerbaijan Announces Major Military Spending Boost
Agence France Presse
Nov 10 2004
ASTARA, Azerbaijan — Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said Nov. 9 that
defense spending in Azerbaijan would grow by nearly one third in 2005,
after rival Armenia unveiled plans to significantly boost its own
military budget.
“Our parliament is discussing next year’s budget, where spending
will grow by 25 to 30 percent, and this includes military spending,”
Aliyev told reporters.
Aliyev’s comments followed a proposal made Monday by Armenia’s
parliament to raise defense spending by 20 percent to $99 million
in 2005.
Aliyev gave no dollar figure for defense spending in Azerbaijan,
but a finance ministry source said that military spending in 2004
amounted to just under $150 million.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a border war, as the Soviet Union
broke up, that killed 35,000 people and displaced about one million
civilians. It ended with an uneasy ceasefire in 1994, with Armenian
forces in control of the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, which under
international law is a part of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan still claims the territory and the two countries remain
locked in a state of war, with gunfire between the two sides exchanged
periodically.

ARMENIA: REPORT SHOWS SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN POVERTY
Haroutiun Khachatrian: 11/09/04
Eurasianet Organization, USA
Nov 10 2004
A recent economic survey in Armenia, showing a significant decline in
the number of citizens living in poverty, has placed President Robert
Kocharian’s administration in a somewhat awkward position. While
Kocharian has been eager to show Armenians that living standards
are improving, the report’s findings could complicate the Armenian
government’s efforts to secure international aid for poverty-reduction
programs.
The annual survey of household incomes by the National Statistical
Service, a non-governmental agency, contained a full range of startling
statistics. Among the most surprising: the percentage of Armenians
living below the poverty line fell from 50 percent in 2002 to 42.9
percent in 2003. Similarly, the number of poorest Armenians – those
who earn less than 7,742 drams (about $15) per month – also took a
surprising plunge — from 13.1 percent of the population in 2002 to
7.4 percent in 2003. At the same time, the survey indicated that the
country’s income gap between rich and poor narrowed slightly.
The statistics reveals that the poverty reduction rate in Armenia
far exceeds the government’s projections as outlined in its Poverty
Reduction Strategic Paper (PRSP) released earlier this year. In the
PRSP, for example, officials estimated that that it would take until
2012 before the so-called “very poor” could be reduced to less than 8
percent of the population. The NSS figures show that this benchmark has
been surpassed a full eight years ahead of the government’s schedule.
Given the NSS findings, questions are already being raised about the
accuracy and potential effectiveness of the government’s anti-poverty
blueprint. While officials have been happy to tout the reduction
in poverty, already one government minister has disputed the NSS
findings. At a recent news conference, Vardan Khachatrian, the minister
of finance and economy, described the results as difficult to trust
and too optimistic.
Some economic experts share Khachatrian’s doubts. “I cannot see the
reasons which could bring about such a drastic change in the percentage
of the population made up by the very poor,” said Ruben Yeganian, a
researcher at Yerevan’s Institute of Economic Problems. The decrease
was particularly improbable for 2003, when Armenia’s inflation rate
soared in response to an increase in foreign grain prices, Yeganian
asserted. That year, bread prices increased by 31 percent between
January and December, causing an overall 8.6 percent increase in the
consumer price index, compared with a 2-percent rise the previous year.
A recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) echoes
Yeganian’s assessment. The October 18 study, titled “Armenia:
Instability Ahead,” states that while the market reforms of the
1990s may mean Armenia is now enjoying a relative boom, relatively
few Armenians have seen a vast improvement in living standards. “The
benefits of economic recovery are not equally shared,” the report
found. “There is little sign of poverty decreasing.” [For additional
information see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Contradicting the NSS, the ICG report cited statistics that show 55
percent of the population lives in poverty, with wealth concentrated in
Yerevan and in “circles close to the government.” Meanwhile, the exodus
of educated, well-trained workers — one of the main obstacles to an
Armenian economic comeback — continues. Favored labor markets include
Russia, Central Europe, Ukraine and Turkey, where potential salaries
are higher than the $78 average monthly salary to be had in Armenia.
The poverty issue has figured prominently in the ongoing power struggle
between Kocharian and opposition political parties. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In an attempt to outflank his
critics, Kocharian unveiled a 12-year plan for fighting poverty in
June. Yeganian speculated that the government may have cast doubt
on the NSS findings in order to prevent a decrease in foreign aid
programs. An additional factor feeding official concerns, Yeganian
suggested, is the decrease in value of the US dollar against the
Armenian dram over the last year. As a result, the incomes of
Armenians, when denominated in dollars, appear to have increased.
The Armenian government counts heavily on international aid to
promote economic stabilization efforts, including anti-poverty
programs. Armenia hopes to receive $100 million for various economic
development schemes in 2004 from the US Millennium Challenge Account
program, aid monies that are contingent the country’s record for
democratic reform and human rights. Also in support of Kocharian’s
agenda, the World Bank has pledged to deliver $250 million by November
2004 for work on rural schools, infrastructure and irrigation systems.
Some representatives of the NSS themselves have admitted to being
caught off guard by the survey’s results. Hovik Hohannisian, head of
Food Security Statistics, raised questions about the criteria used
to determine who is “very poor,” saying that the food basket used to
determine purchasing power was actually more like a “bread basket.”
Meanwhile, one of the country’s main creditors, the World Bank,
said it saw no reason to doubt the NSS data, the Bank’s Yerevan
spokesperson, Vigen Sargsian, told EurasiaNet. Aside from the World
Bank, the NSS’s data is routinely cited by international organizations,
including the International Monetary Fund. The NSS also receives
advice from representatives of the European Union and the US Agency
for International Development.
Editor’s Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.

In interview with VOA, Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, calls
his country ‘dynamic & fast-growing’
Voice of America, DC
Nov 10 2004
In the interview, conducted on 9 Nov., the President declared that
“in the last year, nearly 100 thousand new jobs have been created,
and the production of oil has gone up by 2.4 percent.”
Aliyev also addressed the Azeri-Armenian conflict and the participation
of Armenian delegates in the forthcoming annual conference of NATO’s
Parliamentary Assembly in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. “We cannot
isolate ourselves,” he said. “We want international events – seminars,
conferences – to be held in Azerbaijan.”
More details from the interview will be available at
and

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 9 2004
VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV TO THE SOUTH
REGIONS OF REPUBLIC
[November 09, 2004, 22:48:47]
President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on 9 November has
visited south regions of country.
Head of the Azerbaijan State was warmly greeted at the railway
station of Astara, south region of the Republic. At the Heydar Aliyev
Square, he met representatives of public and residents of the region.
Here, the Head of State had a warm meeting with residents of Astara.
Then, speaking were representatives of farmers who thanked the Head
of State for care and attention for the residents, for creation of
working places in the region. They, in particular, have highly
estimated expedient policy of President Ilham Aliyev for employment
of people, development program of the regions of Republic.
Then, President Ilham Aliyev made speech.
In his speech, the Head of State reminded that residents of Astara
had confided in him a year ago during the presidential elections and
now he tries to realize his promise he gave to them. President of
Azerbaijan spoke of the socio-economic reforms conducted in the
country, development of economy, which enables to open new working
places. Noting that during a year there has been opened over 100
thousand of working places, 70 thousand of which are constant working
places. “Today, according to the development rate, Azerbaijan has
become one of the most dynamically developing country not only in the
region, but also over the world. The large economic projects being
realized in the Republic enables Azerbaijan to strengthen its
position in the world community”, the President emphasized.
As a result, the international organizations positively treat and
support position of the Republic in settlement of the painful problem
of our people – the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh confect.
Many influential world organizations back fair cause of the Country.
The stronger is economy of the country the stronger is its position
in the world, the Head of State underlined.

Newly-elected SB speaks of its priorities
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
November 05, 2004    
Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Armenia Supreme Body (SB)
representative Armen Rustamian, and SB member and National Assembly’s
ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian held a news conference on Wednesday,
following the ARF Armenia organization’s 8th Supreme Convention,
held last weekend.
Rustamian noted that the convention was unique since it was the first
time the ARF was a part of the government.
The convention pointed out that a large part of priorities included in
the ruling coalition’s memorandum has not been fulfilled, Rustamian
said, adding that coalition, however, was successful in easing the
political tension following the elections, and strengthening the
stability in the country.
Rustamian also said the convention was not satisfied with the pace
of anti-corruption measures of the government.
Rustamian underscored that “making the national course irreversible”
will be the pivotal goal for the newly-elected Supreme Body. “We have
continuously stated that since 1998 the course of the country has been
changed, but we need serious steps to make that course irreversible,”
he said.
“To reach that goal we have decided to continue our presence in the
coalition government.” He, however, added that his party “reserves
the right to review its presence in the coalition government if the
objectives and the conditions of the coalition, set in the memorandum,
are violated.”
As regards the Karabakh conflict, the convention has underscored
the imperative of Karabakh’s full participation in the peace talks.
In respect of the Javakhk issue, the convention has stated that the
Javakhk Armenians are in dire socio-economic state which results in
growing exodus, Rustamian mentioned. The Armenian government should
work with the Georgian government to change the situation.
The convention has also considered the Armenian-Turkish relations,
concluding that Turkey is not ready for joining the European
Union. Turkey should firs admit to the Armenian Genocide, and maintain
neutrality in the Karabakh confrontation.
Touching upon the issue of sending Armenian troops to Iraq, Rustamian
said the convention has stated that Armenian government should be
guided by the UN resolutions, but meanwhile practice caution in order
to prevent Armenian communities of the Middle East from becoming
targets of international terrorism.
Concluding the news conference, Rustamian said the convention also
has discussed the relations between the government and the opposition,
as well as issues related to the reforms of the constitution and the
Electoral Code.
Regarding the latter, Rustamian pointed out that the ARF may consider
its further presence in the coalition in case the EC is not changed
to increase the portion of National Assembly members elected under
party lists.
–Boundary_(ID_NTh0vhLDPCOasWzZJIvzpQ)–

The larger the role of government, the greater the divide among us
By Walter Williams
SunHerald.com, MS
Nov 10 2004
Recent elections pointed to deepening divisions among American people,
but has anyone given serious thought to just why? I have part of the
answer, which starts off with a simple example.
Different Americans have different and intensive preferences for
cars, food, clothing and entertainment. For example, some Americans
love opera and hate rock and roll. Others have opposite preferences,
loving rock and roll and hating opera. When’s the last time you heard
of rock-and-roll lovers in conflict with opera lovers? It seldom,
if ever, happens. Why? Those who love operas get what they want,
and those who love rock and roll get what they want, and both can
live in peace with one another.
Suppose that instead of freedom in the music market, decisions on
what kind of music people could listen to were made in the political
arena. It would be either opera or rock and roll. Rock and rollers
would be lined up against opera lovers. Why? It’s simple. If the
opera lovers win, rock and rollers would lose, and the reverse would
happen if rock and rollers won. Conflict would emerge solely because
the decision was made in the political arena.
The prime feature of political decision-making is that it’s a zero-sum
game. One person or group’s gain is of necessity another person or
group’s loss. As such, political allocation of resources is conflict
enhancing while market allocation is conflict reducing. The greater
the number of decisions made in the political arena, the greater is
the potential for conflict.
There are other implications of political decision-making. Throughout
most of our history, we’ve lived in relative harmony. That’s
remarkable because just about every religion, racial and ethnic
group in the world is represented in our country. These are the very
racial/ethnic/religious groups that have for centuries been trying to
slaughter one another in their home countries, among them: Turks and
Armenians, Protestant and Catholic, Muslim and Jew, Croats and Serbs.
While we haven’t been a perfect nation, there have been no cases
of the mass genocide and religious wars that have plagued the globe
elsewhere. The closest we’ve come was the American Indian/European
conflict, which pales by comparison.
The reason we’ve been able to live in relative harmony is that for
most of our history government was small. There wasn’t much pie to
distribute politically.
When it’s the political arena that determines who gets what goodies,
the most effective coalitions are those with a proven record of
being the most divisive – those based on race, ethnicity, religion
and region. As a matter of fact, our most costly conflict involved
a coalition based upon region – namely the War of 1861.
Many of the issues that divide us, aside from the Iraq war, are
those best described as a zero-sum game, where one group’s gain
is of necessity another’s loss. Examples are: racial preferences,
Social Security, tax policy, trade restrictions, welfare and a host
of other government policies that benefit one American at the expense
of another American.
You might be tempted to think that the brutal domestic conflict seen
in other countries at other times can’t happen here.
That’s nonsense.
Americans are not super-humans; we possess the same frailties of other
people in other places. If there were a severe economic calamity,
I can imagine a political hustler exploiting those frailties here,
just as Adolf Hitler did in Germany, blaming it on the Jews, the
blacks, the East Coast, Catholics or free trade.
The best thing the president and Congress can do to heal our country
is to reduce the impact of government on our lives. Doing so will not
only produce a less divided country and greater economic efficiency
but bear greater faith and allegiance to the vision of America held
by our founders – a country of limited government.
Dr. Walter E. Williams is professor of economics at George Mason
University in Fairfax, Va. You may write to him at Creators Syndicate,
5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

IN THIS ISSUE:
*** NGOs 2004 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
***SUPPORTING THE ELDERLY
*** GARNI AESTHETIC EDUCATION SCHOOL REOPENED
*** STEPANAVAN YOUNG LEADER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD
*** VISITING MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN
*** SIXTH ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
*** NGO AGAINST PESTICIDES
*** NGOs 2004 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
On October 15-17, the Academy for Educational Development, with financial
support of USAID and in collaboration with World Learning and the AAA NGO
Training and Resource Center, organized the NGOs 2004 Conference and
Exhibition. Almost 280 NGOs from all regions of Armenia participated in this
event, introducing their programs and discussing new ways of networking with
stakeholders. Representatives of state structures, international and donor
organizations and experts also participated in the event, which highlighted
various sectors of NGO activities. NGO representatives shared their
experience and knowledge and discussed common issues. Among the topics
addressed during 14 working sessions/roundtables of the conference were NGO
Collaboration with State and Local Governments, NGO Collaboration with
International Donor Organizations and Diaspora, NGO Collaboration with the
Business Community and Mass Media, Developing Regional and Community-Based
NGOs, NGO Code of Conduct, NGO Legislation, NGOs and Poverty Reduction, NGOs
and Fighting Against Corruption. During the conference, NGOC specialists A.
Lazarian, N. Harutiunyan and A. Kurdova spoke respectively on the Armenian
Picture of NGO-Business Cooperation: Analysis and Suggestions; Strategic
Approach to Fundraising; NGO Legislation and Taxation.
Contact: Academy for International Development
10 Aygedzor St.
Tel.: (374-1) 26-69-36; 26-69-87
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
***SUPPORTING THE ELDERLY
On the occasion of the International Day of the Elderly, the AAA NGO Center
organized a visit on October 7 for representatives of Armenian Mass Media to
Martuni town to become acquainted with NGO activities carried out in support
of the elderly. The Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO meets the urgent
social needs of the lonely elderly by providing various social services, and
developing self-assistance mechanisms of cooperation in the community.
Providing food and hygiene products, primary healthcare services to those
who have no opportunity to go out of their homes, other care, household
services, legal consultancies, preparing legal documents, creating a day
center for social and psychological support of the elderly – this is the
list of services provided to the elderly in this community. As stated by one
project beneficiary, “We – sick and isolated people – now feel that we are
being cared for and that we are part of the community.” The project is
implemented with financial assistance received from the AAA NGO Training and
Resource Center through USAID.
Contact: Anahit Gasparyan
Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO
Martuni, 8 Proshian St.
Tel.: (374-62) 4-43-00; 4-36-04
E-mail: [email protected]
*** GARNI AESTHETIC EDUCATION SCHOOL REOPENED
Through the efforts of the Gifted Children Charitable NGO, the Aesthetic
Education School of the Garni village of Kotayk region was reopened after
previously suspending its activities because of scarcity of resources.
Within the framework of the NGO’s Way to the Arts project, implemented with
the assistance of the Jinishian Memorial Foundation, community members
mobilized efforts to restore the school building. These activities
contributed not only to developing mutual trust within the community, but
also to forming social partnership between the NGO, local self-governing
body and commercial companies. To provide smooth functioning of the school,
the Gifted Children NGO provided necessary literature, consultancy and
methodic materials. For comprehensive aesthetic education and leisure time
of the Garni village children, the NGO plans to restore and renovate the
first floor and yard of the school, contributing to implementation of
educational and cognitive projects, as well as holding exhibitions,
meetings, performances and other events.
Contact: Victoria Keshishyan
Gifted Children Charitable NGO
7 Tigranyan St.
Tel.: (374-1) 22-25-93; 56-54-59
E-mail: [email protected]
*** STEPANAVAN YOUNG LEADER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD
The goal of the YouthActionNet international program is to develop the
leadership skills of young people, and promote and contribute to their
active participation in community processes leading to positive change.
Annually, the program recognizes 20 outstanding young leaders, aged 20-28,
with awards. This year, for the first time, a representative from Caucasus
and Armenia was among the winners – Lilit Stepanyan of the Stepanavan Youth
Center NGO. For the award giving ceremony, winners from various continents
were invited to Argentina, where a seven day seminar was organized aimed at
development of their skills. “If we are afraid of and avoid difficulties,
instead of facing and overcoming them, there will be no progress and
development”, says Lilit Simonyan.
Contact: Lilit Simonyan
Stepanavan Youth Center NGO
Stepanavan, 13 Meghapart St.
Tel.: (374-56) 3-22-91; 2-21-16
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** VISITING MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN
On October 14, the Armenian Assembly of America’s trustees, within the
framework of their visit to Armenia, visited the Prkutiun Center of Disabled
Children NGO, beneficiaries of which are mentally retarded children. In the
NGO’s day center, according to their capabilities, the mentally retarded
children learn reading and writing, as well as receive food and individual
and group assistance of a psychologist and defectologist. Through a grant,
received from the AAA NGOC, integration groups function within the center
allowing the mentally retarded children to learn painting, needlework,
rice-grain decoration and computer skills together with healthy children. On
October 14, the mentally retarded children sang, danced, recited for guests
and presented their handicrafts. At the end of the program, AAA trustees
provided some financial assistance to the NGO. Prkutyun will use it for
renovation activities and obtaining food and presents for the beneficiaries.
Contact: Arpenik Abrahamyan
Prkutiun Center of Disabled Children NGO
33 Chekhov St.
Tel.: (374-1) 42-78-50; 42-65-84; (374-9) 38-34-81
E-mail: [email protected]
*** SIXTH ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
On October 22-23, the sixth assembly of the Armenian Association of Family
Physicians NGO was held with participation of Association members,
representatives of interested state structures, NGOs, international
organizations and pharmaceutical companies. During the assembly, issues
related to the introduction of family medicine were discussed. The assembly
had scientific and practical direction: number of issues on disease
management within the primary healthcare system were discussed. The
Association’s activities for the past five years and its future plans were
discussed. The problem of an imperfect relevant legislative framework was
particularly emphasized; it was especially noted that despite the fact that
there are 250 physicians with certificates of family physicians, not
everyone works as a family physician in Armenia. As stated by the NGO
Chairman S. Hovhannissyan, with the assistance of the Association members,
the relevant legislative framework is being gradually developed, which will
contribute to the widespread and optimum introduction of family medicine in
Armenia.”
Samvel Hovhannissyan
Armenian Association of Family Physicians NGO
49/4 Komitas St.
Tel.: (374-1) 23-48-51
E-mail: [email protected]
*** NGO AGAINST PESTICIDES
On October 11, 2004, on the initiative of the Armenian Women for Health and
Healthy Environment NGO, a theatrical performance was held in the Verin Dvin
village school of Ararat marz. The performance, the message of which was
using foods free of pesticides, was part of the NGO’s For A Toxic-Free
Future In Armenia project. Its goal is to reduce the risk of exposure of
pesticides on human health and environment in Ararat marz. Dissemination of
factsheets, information sheets, posters, newspaper articles and organizing
TV programs and performances are aimed at raising the awareness of the
population of ten villages on pesticides and their harmful impact on health.
To promote cooperation with local and regional authorities, healthcare
institutions and NGOs, seminars, lectures and other meetings on the topic
Preventing Exposure of Pesticides are organized. The project is implemented
with financial assistance received from AAA NGO Center through USAID.
Contact: Elena Manvelyan
Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment NGO
24 Saryan St., #65
Tel.: (374-1) 62-66-20
E-mail: [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________
Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for the
NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is provided by
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) Individual
NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the NGOC. The NGO
Center is not responsible for the clarity of information provided by
individual NGOs.
Dear Readers,
The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector at any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.
Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
NGOC staff.
Contact Information:
In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St.,
Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (374-1) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
Fax: (374-1) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
In the United States:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

OPPOSITION OFFICIAL CHIDES ARMENIAN HEAD FOR LACK OF PROGRESS IN KARABAKH
TALKS
Noyan Tapan news agency
9 Nov 04
Yerevan, 9 November: “I think (Armenian President Robert) Kocharyan’s
complexes are to blame for the transformation of the Karabakh conflict
into a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Kocharyan
believes that his successor in the post of president of the NKR
(Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) is unable to conduct negotiations since
he is not as clever as he is,” Aram Sarkisyan, member of the political
council of the Anrapetutyun (Republic) Party and former prime minister,
has said.
He thinks that Robert Kocharyan, who has transferred the Karabakh
conflict into a territorial dispute, has driven this issue of big
politics into a deadlock.
“The public and political parties consider it necessary for Nagornyy
Karabakh to return to the negotiations process. Other points of
views are out of the question since the problem is precisely about
Karabakh’s self-determination,” Aram Sarkisyan said.
He thinks that the major task of the peaceful settlement of the
conflict should be not to make any of the sides feel themselves losers
since the realization of defeat, at least, indicates an approaching
wave of dissatisfaction. In this context, the former prime minister
thinks that the Armenian side should put the accent on the right
of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh to self-determination. The
Karabakh people should themselves decide whether they want to be
part of Armenia, remain independent or enjoy any other status, Aram
Sarkisyan said. “After all, it is up to them to decide. It is clear
that a settlement should be legally based on the right of the nation to
self-determination, rather than, as the Council of Europe says, filing
a suit with a court which will decide who is right and who is wrong.”
In the meantime, Aram Sarkisyan noted that neither the Armenian nor the
Azerbaijani public were ready for mutual compromises. He said that it
was necessary to prepare the public and in this context, for a start it
is necessary to continue contacts at the level of public organizations.
He is confident that delaying the problem harms both sides. “The time
of behind-the-scene talks has passed, the talks should not be an end
in itself but should produce a concrete solution to the problem. But
the authorities in Armenia and Azerbaijan have neither enough resources
nor the political will for that,” Aram Sarkisyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THAT’S ALL
A1 Plus | 20:10:53 | 09-11-2004 | Politics |
After four hours in session, The Prosecutor General’s Office handed
down its unprecedented decision to dismiss isolated case on the
October 27 terrorist act masterminds because of lack of evidence.

AMENDMENTS TO SMOKING RESTRICTION BILL DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT
A1 Plus | 14:44:23 | 09-11-2004 | Politics |
A bill on amendments to smoking restriction laws was discussed Tuesday
at a regular parliamentary session. It is the second time the bill
has been put on the National Assembly’s floor.
When the bill was submitted for lawmakers’ consideration the first
time, it was failed to get a majority of votes.
After making some changes in the bill, the authors presented it again.
The authors say the bill is softer than Convention on Struggle against
Smoking. The bill will be voted soon.