ALTERNATIVE NOT TO SEEK PARLIAMENT SEATS

Armenpress
Nov 27 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PRAISES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Armenpress
Nov 27 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian parliament speaker Tigran
Torosian described today the outcome of the last year November 27
referendum on a set of constitutional amendments as an event of
‘exclusive significance for Armenia’s pace towards full democracy."

Speaking to reporters on this occasion Torosian advised some forces
which ‘are going to organize actions (apparently to reiterate that
the referendum was rigged) to display serious approach towards the
constitution and the country’s future.’ Torosian said, however,
that no one rejects that the referendum was marred by breaches, but
he argued that despite the reported vote fraud the referendum brought
about very essential changes, which would become tangible after next
year’s parliamentary elections when some of these amendments would
be enforced.

As one of these essential changes Torosian singled out a provision
giving the opposition and ordinary citizens the right to challenge
government’s decisions and parliament laws in the Constitutional Court.

Torosian said now was the best time to make use of these changes and
hold clean and just parliamentary elections in 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER: RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS NO PRECONDITION FOR GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily
28/11/2006

"The recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915
is no precondition for good neighborly relations between Turkey and
Armenia", RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, said in the interview
to France-Presse.

Mr. Oskanian expressed confidence that the "interdiction may be
overcome by cooperation of the Armenian and Turkish people." He called
"dubious" the proposal of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
to shape a joint commission of scholars-historians to investigate
the events of 1915-1917 in the Ottoman Turkey. "No joint commission
can be shaped before diplomatic relations between official Ankara
and Yerevan are established. The question is a political one and it
should be considered from the relevant viewpoint. Turks have never
been so mobilized, on the state level, about the negation policy,
before," Mr. Oskanian emphasized. He added that Turkey’s aggression on
Armenian Genocide grows simultaneously with its recognition by other
countries. He emphasized that French Parliament’s adoption of the law
envisaging criminal prosecution for denial of the Armenian Genocide
was a "definite response to Turkish government’s policy of denial."

Mr. Oskanian said that at present, only the recognition of the Genocide
is the only issue in the agenda of Armenia’s foreign policy and that
nobody should fear about its demand for contribution. At the same
time, Ra Foreign Minister agreed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is quite a serious obstacle in Armenia’s relations with Turkey and
that "Ankara’s definite solidarity with Azerbaijan works against very
Turkey, because it risks the country’s credibility for undertaking
the role of the East-West bridge." Mr. Oskanian didn’t agree with
correlation of Nagorno-Karabakh and South Cyprus, as the first appeared
as a result of USSR’s collapse and the second occurred on the UN
member-state’s territory. He agreed that both Cyprus and Armenia see
obstacles in Turkey’s membership in EU but none of these countries
work against Turkey. "We do have common questions to discuss but we
do not unite against anyone", Vartan Oskanian underscored.

AZERBAIJANI VERSION OF TV CHANNEL CLOSURE
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
28/11/2006

National Council of Azerbaijani TV and Radio has taken a decision
to discontinue the activity of ANS TV and ANS CM radio station. The
situation reminds the story connected with Armenian A1+ TV when the
channel’s license was not prolonged putting an end to broadcast and
the process of issuing a new license was endlessly delayed.

According to Azeri-Press agency, the license of ANS TV and ANS CM radio
station was suspended after many warnings and sanctions. ANS TV does
not agree with such an argument for suspension and is going to appeal
the decision of the National Council of Azerbaijani TV and Radio.

Yet, before any court in the country has taken up the discussion of
this issue, technicians of the Telecommunications and Technologies
Ministry of Azerbaijan began dismantling broadcasting equipments
of the channel and the territory of the company was cordoned by the
police. Though the Council’s decision was to take effect at 3.00 pm
on Friday, the channel aired news at 15.20 pm that day.

Representatives of other mass media, political parties and
international structures have voiced concern over these actions of
the authorities.

So far the crackdown on oppositional media is what characterizes the
preparation for upcoming parliamentary elections.

TELEPHONE TARIFFS TO REMAIN UNCHANGED TILL MARCH 1 2007
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
28/11/2006

This year, on October 13, the State Commission on Public Services
disapproved the appeal of "ArmenTel" company according to which
the tariffs for a number of services, including the wire telephone
connection, provided by the company would sharply grow. The sides
failed to come to agreement on the tariffs and the issue was discussed
again at the recent sitting of the commission.

As you know, certain changes took place recently, in particular,
"ArmenTel" was sold to the Russian "VimpelCom" and Oleg Bliznyuk,
became the head of the company.

Armen Arshakian, head of tariff policy department of the commission,
informed that due to the sides’ failure to come to agreement, it was
decided to approve the December 7 tariffs as transitional till March1,
2007. Thus, the tariffs will remain unchanged till that day. At the
same time, the commission decision envisages that "ArmenTel" may make
some corrections and new suggestions concerning its tariffs till then.

Oleg Bliznyuk, head of "ArmenTel," said that taking into account the
fact that the company’s owner was changed quite recently; they also
asked the commission to prolong the current tariffs till March 1, 2007.

FROM JANUARY 1, 2007, MINIMAL SALARIES TO TOTAL TO AMD 20,000

AZG Armenian Daily
28/11/2006

>From January 1, 2007, the minimal salaries will amount to AMD
20,000. As compared with the data in 2006, the increase will make
AMD 5,000. Aghvan Vardanian, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs,
stated this at RA National Assembly. He said that the minimal salaries
will rise by AMD 5,000 and in the course of the coming 3 years they
will amount to AMD 30,000.

This process may be accelerated subject to the existence of necessary
funds, he said. According to him, AMD 505 million will be allocated
from RA state budget for the settlement of the given problem. About
7500 employees will be involved in the given program in total.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS TO WORKERS OF TV AND RADIO
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
28/11/2006

President Robert Kocharian awarded medals and titles to the workers
of TV and radio on the occasion of 80th and 50th anniversaries of
the TV and radio respectively. Armen Amirian, executive director of
the National Radio, Spiridon Hambardzumian, coordinator of Haylur
news program and Marat Ordian, deputy director of the Public TV were
awarded Movses Khorenatsi medals.

Raisa Mkrtchian, soloist of TV and radio’s symphonic orchestra, was
bestowed the honorable title of People’s Artist, Mark Petrosian, the
author of Classic Channel program of the Public TV and Suren Rshtuni,
chief director of the TV.

The title of merited journalist was awarded to Artur Bakhtamian,
Haylur’s senior news announcer, Tatevik Baghdasarian, author of the
Night Channel program of Public Radio, Sargis Najarian, program
director of Stereo-studio Karen Vardanian and news presenter of
Radiolur, Varouzhan Olkinian.

"WHERE ARE YOU, WOMEN?"

A1+
[05:03 pm] 27 November, 2006

On November 25 a number of young people with candles and posters walked
from the Cascade to the Republic Square, towards the Foreign Ministry,
and read an open letter to the RA Foreign Minister. The participants
of the march wanted more women specialists to participate in the
process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

"It can play a major role in the settlement of the conflict",
said the members of the women’s coalition "Women for peace in South
Caucasus". They reminded Vardan Oskanyan that in 1991 the RA ratified
the convention eliminating all the forms of discrimination against
women. The participants of the march asked the Foreign Minister to
support the women in having their contribution to the settlement of
the conflict.

By the way, both women and men participated in the march. They
distributed leaflets to the passers-by which said, "The voice of the
women should be heard", "Not only warriors, but peace-keepers are
needed for long-lasting peace", and "Where are you, women?".

KOCHARYAN TO LEAVE FOR MINSK

A1+
[05:20 pm] 27 November, 2006

On November 28 Robert Kocharyan will leave for Minsk in order to
participate in the recurrent session of the Presidents of the CIS
countries.

The sitting of the council of the CIS country heads will be opened
with the meeting of the Presidents.

Later on the plenary session will take place in which the Foreign
Ministers will also participate. The main issue to be discussed is
the report about raising the CIS efficiency and the perspectives of
its development.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANOTHER ACT OF CIVIC DISOBEDIENCE

A1+
[07:39 pm] 27 November, 2006

more images "Shame on you", "Leave, traitors"…

These were what the victims of "state needs", the former residents
of the center of the city said while walking from the Parliament
building to the Constitutional Court where the participants of the
civic disobedience movement were waiting for them. By the way, the
participants of the protest action carried brooms which have already
become their symbol.

As far as today is the first anniversary of the Constitutional
referendum, the residents of Kentron had gathered to express their
discontent with the members of the Constitutional Court. "Last
year the Armenian nation boycotted the farce. Today we have come to
express our discontent with the members of the Constitutional Court
who close their eyes to the illegal actions of the authorities. At
present they are adopting an anti-constitutional law about alienation
of property", said founder of the Civic Disobedience movement, former
Foreign Minister Alik Arzoumanyan.

He called on those present, "This movement will become more and
more powerful day by day. Our only demand is that Kocharyan and
his criminal group should leave. We will not wait for the recurrent
illegal elections".

Arkadi Karapetyan, head of the NKR "Erkrapah" Union, said, "We
protected this country during war. Today we are ready to protect it
in peace too".

Residents of both the city and the regions participated in the protest
action. Elmira Kostandyan, owner of Dalma gardens, held a broom in
her hands and promised to sweep everything unclean in the country.

Another old man from the regions demanded, "Let’s take an ax and put
an end to this situation".

After the speeches the participants of the action moved on to the
Parliament building again as the deputies were discussing the RA Law on
"Alienation of property for state and needs".

By the way, the founders of the movement were the first the leave
the site.