OFFICIAL ESTIMATES POST-SOVIET EXODUS
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 30 2006
At least 900,000 people have left Armenia since the break-up of the
Soviet Union and the resulting near collapse of the Armenian economy,
a senior government official said on Monday.
“According to our estimates, the number of people that have
out-migrated from the country since 1992 varies between 900,000 and one
million,” Gagik Yeganian, head of the Armenian government’s Migration
Agency, told RFE/RL.
The number of Armenians who have gone abroad, mainly to Russia,
in search of employment has long been a matter of contention, with
various government officials, independent experts and politicians
suggesting different figures. Citing a census conducted five years
ago, the government puts Armenia’s current population at, at just
over 3 million, sharply down from the late Soviet level of 3.8 million.
The census also found that some 200,000 people reside and work on a
“temporary” basis. Its results are challenged by opposition politicians
who say that the out-migration occurred on an even larger scale.
Yeganian claimed that the exodus all but ground to a halt in 2001 and
insisted that Armenia is not facing a demographic crisis at present,
even if thousands of its citizens continue to seek asylum in the
West and European Union countries in particular for economic reasons
each year.
Experts agree that a small percentage of the Armenian migrants began
returning to their homeland several years ago, buoyed by its slow
economic recovery. But they also point to the difficult reintegration
of the returnees into Armenian society resulting from a continuing
lack of jobs.
Yeganian said the government has no specific plans to spur the modest
repatriation and is using instead its scarce resources to improve
the plight of people that have chosen to stay in Armenia. He also
dismissed hopes for a sizable increase in the country’s as a result
of a recent constitutional change that enables foreigners of Armenian
descent to become citizens of Armenia. “To hope that the influx of
permanent residents will increase after the introduction of dual
citizenship would be wrong,” he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN CONFIRMS RUSSIAN CONTROL OF IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 30 2006
President Robert Kocharian confirmed on Monday that Russia’s state-run
Gazprom monopoly will gain a controlling stake in Armenia’s national
gas distribution company that will almost certainly own the incoming
gas pipeline from Iran.
Gazprom’s board approved and announced on Friday the issuance of
additional shares in the ArmRosGazprom (ARG) operator, saying that it
will buy all of them and thereby raise its ARG stake from 45 percent
to 58 percent.
Kocharian confirmed the information as he met with Russian President
Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. “I would like to immediately inform you
that all of our serious agreements on energy projects with Gazprom
are entering the implementation phase,” he said in remarks posted
on the Kremlin’s website. “Just a few days ago, they were finally
approved by the Gazprom board.”
The Armenian government has until now owned another 45 percent of ARG,
with the remaining 10 percent belonging to ITERA, a private Russian
gas exporter.
There has been no word yet on whether the Russian giant will
pay Armenia anything for gaining control of its gas distribution
network and further tightening the Russian grip on the Armenian energy
sector. All the signs are that the ARG takeover is part of last April’s
controversial deal that allowed Armenia to avoid a doubling of in the
price of gas imported from Russia until January 2009 in exchange for
handing over more energy assets to Gazprom.
One of those assets is the incomplete but modern Fifth Unit of the
country’s largest thermal power plant located in the central town of
Hrazdan. Gazprom initially confirmed but later refuted reports that
it will also get hold of the Armenian pipeline from Iran as part of
the deal. Armenian officials also denied that.
Nonetheless, Russian control of the first 40-kilometer Armenian section
of the pipeline, slated for completion this winter, now seems a forgone
conclusion. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian revealed last week
Yerevan’s plans to incorporate the pipeline into ARG, saying that “it
would be illogical to have two gas distribution networks in Armenia.”
The ARG chief executive, Karen Karapetian, likewise indicated on Friday
that his company’s ownership of the pipeline is imminent. “The question
is whether the Iran-Armenia pipeline will be a separate enterprise
or will be given to ARG,” Karapetian told reporters. “In my view,
giving to ARG would be logical.” “ARG has offered to take over that
pipeline,” he added.
The pipeline in question was supposed to end Armenia’s strong
dependence on Russian gas and other energy resources. Critics say that
by placing it under Russian control the Armenian government would
only deepen that dependence. Moscow is thought to have already made
sure that the pipeline’s diameter is not large enough to allow Iran
to export its gas to Georgia and other countries via Armenia.
This and other economic issues apparently topped the agenda of
Kocharian’s talks with Putin, who described as “shameful” the fact
that Russia is only the third largest foreign investor in Armenia. “I
say ‘shameful’ because it is odd that Russia does not occupy the first
place in terms of investments in the economy of its strategic partner,”
Putin said.
It is not clear if the two men discussed the Kremlin’s controversial
blockade of Georgia which is seriously hurting Armenian companies
trading with Russia. Meeting with their Russian colleagues earlier
this month, senior Armenian lawmakers exposed Yerevan’s frustration
with Moscow’s perceived failure to reckon with the interests of its
main regional ally in its dealings with the pro-Western government
in Tbilisi. Some of the visiting Russian parliamentarians demanded,
for their part, that Armenia make a clear-cut “choice” between Russia
and Georgia.
However, the Kocharian administration has avoided taking sides in
the latest Georgian-Russian confrontation, expressing hope for its
peaceful settlement. Parliament speaker Tigran Torosian reiterated
those hopes at a meeting with the Georgian ambassador to Armenia,
Revaz Gachechiladze, on Monday. According to Torosian’s office,
Gachechiladze praised Yerevan’s stance as “balanced and acceptable
to the international community.”

PROSECUTOR’S BROTHER ELECTED YEREVAN DISTRICT CHIEF
By Hovannes Shoghikian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 30 2006
A brother of Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian swept to a predictable
victory in a weekend election in Yerevan’s western Ajapnyak district
that has long been considered his de facto fiefdom.
According to preliminary results of the election released on Monday,
Ruben Hovsepian won 76 percent of the vote. His main challenger,
Gagik Sargsian of the governing Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun), came in a distant second with 13 percent, followed
by a third candidate who got 10 percent, official figures showed.
Only 25 percent of Ajapnyak’s 73,000 or so eligible voters cast their
ballots, underscoring a widespread sense that the outcome of the vote
was always a forgone conclusion. Incidentally, all three candidates are
affiliated with Aghvan Hovsepian’s supposedly apolitical Nig-Aparan
organization that unites prominent natives of a region in central
Armenia.
Sargsian was quick to concede defeat. “It can be said that the
elections took place without violations,” he told RFE/RL. “There were
a couple of minor violations that did not affect the election results.”
The Dashnaktsutyun activist said at the same time that Sunday’s vote
was not fair, alleging that local voters were bullied and bused to
polling station in droves by Hovsepian’s loyalists. He said he stood
no chance of countering his rival’s “huge administrative leverage.”
The chairman of the district election commission, Samvel Yeranian,
said he has received no written protests from election officials
or candidate proxies as of Monday afternoon. He said no violence or
other serious incidents were reported on voting day.
Ajapnyak has long been the scene of a bitter rivalry between two local
clans that flared up into violence during elections held there in the
past. Artsrun Khachatrian, Ajapnyak’s previous mayor representing
Hovsepian’s faction, has ruled the district for the past six years
and was preparing for another showdown with Arman Sahakian, a young
leader of the rival clan linked with the governing Republican Party
of Armenia (HHK).
Sahakian was effectively forced to pull out of the race after the
HHK’s governing board refused to back his candidacy in August at the
apparent behest of Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. The unexpected
move fueled speculation about a deal cut by Sarkisian and Hovsepian.
The incumbent Ajapnyak mayor decided not to seek reelection and to cede
the post to the influential prosecutor’s brother shortly afterwards.
The election outcome will solidify Ajapnyak’s status as a key
stronghold of Aghvan Hovsepian. The latter reportedly controls several
lucrative businesses in the area and is thought to have far-reaching
political ambitions. His Nig-Aparan group is the driving force behind
a recently formed political party which intends to make a strong
showing in next year’s parliamentary elections. Leaders of the party,
called Association for Armenia, have not ruled out the possibility
of forming an electoral alliance with the HHK.

TURKISH ANTALYA TO HOST MEETING OF PACE EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY GROUP
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006
A meeting of the Group of European Democracy of PACE (Paliamentary
Assembly of Council of Europe) is expected to be held in the Turkish
city of Antalya on 2-6 November, 2006, MP Ganira Pashayeva, a member
of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, informed Trend.
Members of the Azerbaijani delegation presented in the PACE European
Democracy Group is Azerbaijani MPs Ganira Pashayeva and Aydin
Mirzazadeh who will participate at the forthcoming meeting.
Ganira Pashayeva pointed out that relations between the Council
of Europe and EU (European Union) are expected to be the centre of
attention with participants of the meeting. “The situation on the
Middle East as well as the future activity of the Group will be
discussed during the meeting”, she said.
The MP added that an issue on France’s National Assembly’s passing a
bill that envisages a punishment for denying the so-called Armenian
“genocide” is expected to be discussed by the participants of
the meeting as well. “The forthcoming meeting will also focus its
attention on issues connected with the damage to the European values,
freedom of speech and human rights”, said the Azerbaijani MP.
According to her, the issue on relations between Turkey and the EU
will be discussed as well during the forthcoming event.

FOREIGN MINISTER: ACTIONS PLAN ON EU NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY TO BE SIGNED IN NOVEMBER 14, 2006
Author: E. Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006
An actions plan on the EU Neighbourhood Policy are expected to be
signed by the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia
in Brussels in November 14, 2006, Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan`s
Foreign Minister, told, Trend reports.
According to him, ideas expressed by the Co-Chairmen of OSCE
Minsk Group on the results of the last meeting in Moscow might be
discussed. Touching upon a possible meeting between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents, the Foreign Minister pointed out that this
issue can be solved only after November 14. He also added that after
that date, OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chairmen are expected to visit
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

A MEETING DEVOTED TO ISSUE OF PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT OF GUAM MEMBER-STATES LIKELY TO BE HELD IN BAKU
Author: E.Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006
The first issue that was raised and discussed during the meeting
held with Armenian Defence Minister Serg Sarkisyan was an issue
on withdrawal of the Armenian occupation forces from the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, Safar Abiyev, Azerbaijan`s Defence Minister
told today, Trend reports.
He also told that a meeting of the Defence Ministers of CIS
member-states is expected to be held in a week where the Azerbaijani
Defence Minister will also participate. In addition, an issue
on holding a meeting of the Chiefs of the General Staffs of GUAM
member-states inn Baku to discuss an issue on forming a peacekeeping
element within this organization is under consideration now as well.
At present, works on the status of this element are underway. Issues
connected with the staff of the forthcoming element are under on
consideration now.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR MOSCOW
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has left
for a two-day working visit to Moscow. The RA presidential press
service reports that Robert Kocharyan is to hold a private meeting
with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The RA President is also scheduled to hold meetings with RF Premier
Mikhail Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.
In Moscow President Robert Kocharyan is to take part in a ceremonial
unveiling of a monument to the great Armenian composer Aram
Khachaturyan.

SURVEY: MOST ARMENIANS FIND THAT ARMENIA IS ON WRONG WAY OF DEVELOPMENT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Majority of citizens of Armenia find
that Armenia was on a wrong way of development, according to the data
published in the social survey, conducted by the Gallup institute
with the assistance of the Armenian Sociological Association.
62% surveyed find that Armenia was on a wrong way of development,
31% – advocate direction of the country’s development, 7% – evaded
the question.
Besides that 2% surveyed are sure that Armenia’s economy developed
actively, 37% – reasonably, 39% find that no changes at all are
observed in this sphere, 15% assure that the economic state of the
country continually worsens, 6% – that it is in recession, and 1% –
find it difficult to answer.
At that 11% surveyed are sure that the country needs little time to
improve the situation in the country, 82% – much time, 7% – find it
difficult to answer. 57% find themselves optimists, 10% – pessimists,
and 21% – gave neutral answer.
According to the survey, 1% surveyed are absolutely satisfied with
financial state of their family, 25% – reasonably satisfied, 50% find
that the situation did not change, 17% – are not satisfied at all,
and 7% – completely dissatisfied.
1200 inhabitants of Armenia 18 upward took part in the survey,
conducted during the period between July 31 and August 10, 2006. The
survey was held by request of the International Republican Institute
(IRI) with the financial support of the USAID.

CONFERENCE ON HISTORY OF YEREVAN TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA’S CAPITAL
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. A scientific conference on the history of
Yerevan is to be held in Armenia’s capital on October 31-November 2,
2006. The press service of Yerevan Municipality reports that reports
are to be made by the workers of the Museum of Yerevan’s History, of
the Institute of History, Institute of Archeology and Ethnography,
RA Academy of Sciences, lecturers of the Department of History,
Yerevan State University.
About 30 reports will deals with the ancient and modern history of
Yerevan, the capital’s historical places, manners and customs of the
city and latest developments.
The Museum of History of Yerevan will mark its 75th anniversary in
2006. The Museum is currently located at the Yerevan Municipality. A
collection of articles entitled “Yerevan” has been published this
year.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH FRENCH AMBASSADOR
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Defense held a meeting
with the outgoing French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny.
Press Secretary of the RA Minister of Defense, Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvaryan reported that during the meeting Sargsyan pointed out
that Armenian-French relations are developing from year to year. The
Minister also stated that a striking evidence of this is French
President Jacque Chirac’s visit to Armenia.
Sargsyan thanked the French Ambassador for his efficient activities in
Armenia and contribution to the development of defense cooperation. He
wished Henry Cuny success in his further activities.
In his turn, Ambassador Cuny expressed his appreciation of Armenia’s
attitude toward France. He pointed out his special attitude toward
the Armenian people and culture. He pointed out that he has collected
a rich library about Armenia.
Ambassador Cuny expressed the confidence that during his next
visit to Yerevan peace will be established in the region, and the
Armenian-Turkish border will be re-opened. Closed borders are an
anachronism, unbecoming behavior for the countries applying for
joining the European family, Cuny said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress