PARLIAMENT MEMBER UNDERSCORES POLITICAL WILL OF AUTHORITIES AND VOTER HIGH TURNOUT FOR FREE ELECTIONS
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: An opposition parliament member
revealed today that in order to hold just and free elections Armenian
authorities and the opposition should display sufficient political
will, while the ordinary citizens should be active and realize the
key importance of elections.
Shavarsh Kocharian, who is also chairman of a minor National Democratic
Party, told a round table discussion of the revised election code
that no matter how good an election code is it cannot ensure free
and fair elections without political will and voter activity.
Kocharian echoed a range of pro-government and opposition parties
which argue that elimination of single-mandate election system and
transition to 100 percent proportional system when all members of
the National Assembly are elected by party lists is one of the key
mechanisms that can help ensure free polls.
He cited the example of former communist countries of Central
Europe which he said have all passed to proportional election
system, while authoritarian regimes have chosen single-mandate or
majoritarian system. Another key factor to ensure free elections,
according to Kocharian is that all-level election commissions must
have representatives of the opposition wing.
“The whole election process- from ballot printing, ballot casting to
ballot calculation must be made as transparent as possible and the
rights of proxies must be specified, he said.

NEW CRITICISM OF CHAIRMAN OF ROMANIA’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
The European Commission is looking forward to a new candidacy of a
European commissioner from Romania. To remind, the country’s prime
minister previously appointed the chairman of Romania’s Armenian
community, head of Romanian Parliament’s Financial Committee, Varuzhan
Voskanian. Yet, Voskanian was compelled to withdraw his candidacy
after a few episodes of his biography surfaced.
According to European media, Voskanian is suspected to be an
intelligencer of Romania’s Sekuritate special service. Reportedly,
he ran a small right-wing party was financed by a Romanian
businessman. Varuzhan Voskanian denies the accusation. President of
the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso backs the candidacy of
Monica Makove, justice minister of Romania.

155 SCHOOLS IN YEREVAN TO BE HEATED BY ELECTRICITY THIS WINTER TOO
By Karine Danielian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
This year, already 50 Yerevan based schools have local heating systems
and 45 of them are ready for the coming winter. Kamo Areyan, deputy
mayor of Yerevan, said this at the regular press conference. The rest
155 schools under the control of the Yerevan Mayor’s office will be
heated by electricity. As a result of inventory, the experts found
out that the schools need to purchase 120-130 heaters more.
Yerevan Municipality pays Double Attention to City’s Damaged Buildings
This year the framework of the rehabilitation of the dwellers of the
damaged buildings will be enlarged.
Last year only one building was built for the dwellers of the third
and fourth class damaged buildings. As a result, 43 families received
homes. Kamo Areyan, Deputy Mayor of the Yerevan city, said this at
the regular press conference.
It is envisaged that this year, two buildings with 100 apartments
will be built for 136 families. Another building with 36 apartments
will be renovated for safe dwelling. He added that the state is going
to allocate AMD 2,1 billion for realization of all these projects.

GAS PRICE TO GO UP AGAIN
A1+
[06:13 pm] 31 October, 2006
But it will remain the same for the residents
Today Karen Karapetyan, executive director of “ArmRusGasArd,” repeated
his words that their company has little profit. It is the largest
tax-payer in the country, and they intend to get at least 40 million
USD annual profit.
For instance, the company will have only 3 million 750 thousand USD
profit by the end of the year but they have already made investments
of 83 million USD.
Mr. Karapetyan claims that the gas tariffs are comparatively low in
Armenia. “We might issue an application to the Committee Regulating
Public Services by the turn of the year to increase the tariffs,” said
Karen Karapetyan and then, trying to comfort the journalists, added,
“But it doesn’t refer to the subscribers, don’t worry on this score.”
This refers to the companies utilizing gas all over the country. The
state gave them subsidies to compensate part of the increased tariffs.
Mr. Karapetyan was also concerned about the wrong distribution of the
subsidies. “If the subsidies were distributed effectively, it would
give an excellent opportunity to the Armenian manufacturers to take
their products to the international market,” says the director of
“ArmRusGasArd.”
Karen Karapetyan announced that their company also intends entering
the international market in order to prove that besides cognac,
Armenia can have other brandy as well.

29% PEOPLE REMAIN HUNGRY
A1+
[05:44 pm] 31 October, 2006
Armenia is included in the list of CIS countries where there are a
lot of people feeding abnormally.
According to the report of the FAO (Food and Agricultural
Organization), 29percent of the Armenian population don’t eat well
and sufficiently.
Alongside with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Armenia appeared in the
last place in the CIS countries’ list with its index.
In this respect, Belorussia, Ukraine and Russia are in better state.
As for Armenia’s neighbors, Georgia and Azerbaijan have serious
progress in this sphere among the former Soviet countries according
to the UNO.
The report says that the total number of the people who were on the
verge of hunger reached 2.5 million in Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1993 –
1995 whereas this number was curtailed to 700 thousand in 2001 – 2003.
The FAO sees progress in Armenia as well. If 52 percent of the
population didn’t feed properly in 90s, today, their number reduced to
29 percent though the FAO specialists claim that the above-mentioned
index is again high and troublesome.
According to the UNO specialists, the insufficient nourishment is
determined by wars, natural disasters and the extreme poverty caused
by these factors.
From: Baghdasarian

LET RUSSIA CALM DOWN
A1+
[06:30 pm] 31 October, 2006
“Russia is Armenia’s main partner,” claimed Karen Chshmarityan,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development, while commenting on the
RF president’s announcement.
Vladimir Putin was concerned that Russia is in the third place due
to its investments in Armenia, its military partner.
The minister says that Russia was in the first place in 1991 – 2005
by the index of its total investments.
Russia invested 67.5 million USD in Armenia in 2005.
By the way, 42.6 percent of the gross foreign investments and 49.9
percent of the direct investments in 2001 – 2005 were made by the EU
member countries.
An abrupt increase has been perceived since 2003.
Last year the total foreign investments in Armenia outnumbered 400
million USD; 215 million of which was made by the EU countries.
Germany, Greece and France are leaders of investment initiatives
in Armenia.

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

WAS “GASPROM” WRONG IN ITS CALCULATIONS?
A1+
[08:07 pm] 31 October, 2006
According to the Russian company “Gasprom,” they already possess more
shares in ArmRusGasArd.
Let us remind you that the founders of the Armenian “ArmRusGasArd”
company, the RA Government and “Gasprom,” have 45 percent shares and
the Company “Itera” has 10 percent shares.
The representatives of “Gasprom” have lately announced that they
already possess 58 percent of the total shares.
Karen Karapetyan, executive director of “ArmRusGasArd” said his
opinion on this score.
Mr. Karapetyan finds the concern why 70-80 percent of the Armenian
energy sphere should go to one country illogical. This namely refers
to the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline which will be given to “Gasprom”
and after possessing the packet of shares Russia can close the gas
tubes entering to Armenia any time. “It doesn’t matter who the owner
is and what nationality he belongs to. If the country wants efficient
administration, it must alienate certain objects,” announced Karen
Karapetyan.
There was an attempt to remind him that “Gasprom” was not estranged
it is still a state institution. But Mr. Karapetyan answered, “Who
says that the energy bloc is liberal in Russia. I think it is more
liberal in Armenia than in any other CIS country.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WIFE OF FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER VOICES HER SUGGESTIONS
Panorama.am
12:25 31/10/06
“A monument should be raised to the memory of political prisoners who
did not have graves,” Hasmik Navasardyan, wife of Ashot Navasardyan,
who was sentenced to jail in the Soviet era for his strive for
independence, said. Hasmik Navasardyan has a number of other
suggestions aimed to raise the concerns of political prisoners in
front of the state. She thinks the government ought to declare one
day as a day of political prisoners in a year. She also suggests
writing a book about.

KOCHARYAN MEETS WITH FRADKOV
A1+
[07:10 pm] 31 October, 2006
Today, RA President Robert Kocharyan met with Russian Prime Minister
Michael Fradkov.
“We see great progress in the Russian-Armenian collaboration, but a
number of issues in the transportation-communication sphere hinder this
fruitful co-operation,” said President Kocharyan during the meeting.
At the same time he added that the issues connected with transportation
are compensated by investment projects, namely in the construction
and energy fields.
In Michael Fradkov’s words, he will meet with his Armenian counterpart
in Moscow on December 1 to discuss the issues of the two countries’
cooperation.
Igor Levitin, Minister of the RF Transportation and co-president of
the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental committee, was also present
during the meeting of Robert Kocharyan and Michael Fradkov.