ELECTIONS TO LOCAL ADMINISTRATION BODIES IN JAVAKHETI SEEM TO BE HELD WITH VIOLATIONS
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
“United Javakhk” Democratic Union began its pre-electoral
campaign on September 25 in the villages of Akhalkalaki region of
Georgia. According to “Javakhk-Info,” Vahagn Chalakhian, member
of the movement, stated that none of the political parties agreed
to cooperate with their union. Notwithstanding this fact, “United
Javakhk” Democratic Union managed to propose its candidacy in 22
poling stations.
As for the coming October 5 elections to the local administration
bodies, Chalakhian stated that there may occur serious violation cases,
as till now, the current local administration bodies of Javakheti
are not confident that they will be re-elected for the second term.

PERVEZ MOUSHARAF: RECOGNIZING ISRAEL WILL MEAN A POLITICAL SUICIDE
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
‘Recognizing Israel will mean a political suicide,” President of
Pakistan Pervez Mousharaf stated this in New York, yesterday. CNN-TURK
informed that in particular, Mousharaf said that, recognizing Israel,
Pakistan would lose the role of a bridge that it takes between the
Islamic world and the West. He said that they cant’ take an initiative
that would lead to Pakistan’s isolation from the Islamic world. At
the same time, Mousharaf added that they might recognize Israel,
only after Palestine is declared an independent state.
By the way, Mousharaf’s “Line of Fire” book has won large-scale
popularity in the world. In New York Mousharaf stated that Pakistan was
forced to participate in the anti-terrorism war under the pressure of
the USA. In the abovementioned book, he specifies about the threats of
USA directed to Pakistan. “After September 11, Washington warned us:
either you are with us, or we will make your country return to the
stone age,” Mousharaf emphasized.

IDEA ITSELF IS NONSENSE
By Gegham Qyurumian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
The 3d Armenia-Diaspora-2006 forum set a main purpose of improving
rural infrastructures and stopping population flow from villages. The
idea to settle problems of the villages by reconstructing schools
and clinics is just a simple example of manifestation of the best
wishes. To prove the point I’ll remind of a number of slaughterhouses
in villages built on tens of thousand US dollars. When they were built
on Diaspora’s money and were officially opened officials trumpeted
that they were designed to bring relief to villagers. Absurdly enough,
agriculture representatives today ask each other if anyone has ever
seen a single calf in these slaughterhouses.
Those buildings doomed to idleness give a hint that a similar
fate awaits other rural infrastructures as it is not due to their
absence that rural residents leave the villages but due to absence
of necessary means to buy clothes and stationery for their children
to go to school. But there was no such item on the forum’s agenda. It
is the extremely low productivity of Armenian farmers’ work that puts
them on the edge of immigration.
The forum did not touch upon this situation but instead set a goal
of increasing the rural population by one in each village. Authors
of the project should be informed that in 15 rural communities out
of 24 selected growth of population has been recorded, according
to population census of 2001. According to the forum’s glamorous
“Eliminating Rural Poverty” magazine, Getik village of Gugharkunik
region, for one, has 530 residents whereas the census of 2001 has
counted 471 people. Jrap village of Shirak region in 2001 had a
population of 784 people, but according to the magazine this number
is 1051. This situation can be explained by the return of municipal
population to their roots to try to somehow keep body and soul together
in the village. It was necessary that the forum of powerful people
raised the issue of overcoming this situation.
Anyone acquainted with the very day life of Armenia will testify that
2/3 of goods that we consume is an import that reaches to 1 billion
USD. The interest of some of high-ranking officials to see a market
full of imports can be understood. But one cannot understand why the
officials neglect the possibility to solve country’s problems by the
work of Armenian farmers.

ARMENIAN THEATRE GETS AWARD IN EGYPT
By Marietta Makarian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
Two years ago Suren Shahverdian staged Sara Cane’s “Psychos 4:48”
at Gabriel Sundukian Academic Theatre.
4:48 is the time when the author wrote her last letter at the age of 29
and committed suicide. This drama has participated in 7 international
festivals winning several awards. At the 18th International Festival
of Experimental Theatres in Egypt on September 10-20 “Psychos 4:48”
won a prize. Among 64 participating countries, Palestine, Syria,
Armenia and Russia got prizes for the best actress, the best actor,
the best stage director and the best performance. Young director
Suren Shahverdian wins a prize and a diploma for the best director
for the second time. The promising director will soon stage “Neurosis
of Grandparents” play of German playwright.

HEAD OF BRITISH “GLOBAL STEEL HOLDINGS” COMPANY IN ARMENIA
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/09/2006
RA Government’s Press Department informed that RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian met with Promad Mital, chairman of the British
“Global Steel Holding” company’s board. He informed RA PM that his
company intends to carry out long-term investment programs in the
sphere of mining industry. He stated that, being rich in metals and
rock minerals, Armenia can provide big capacities and prospects
for a carrying out long term programs to a company that has the
experience of working in a dozen of countries of the world for about
50 years already. RA PM Andranik Margarian assured the readiness of
RA Government to assist “Global Steel Holdings” in realization of
its projects in Armenia.

THE MINSK GROUP HAS NO OFFERS; THERE ARE OFFERS TO THEM
A1+
[06:43 pm] 27 September, 2006
There will be no new offers about the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in 2006, the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs informed
the co-chairs of the Dortmund conference. The co-chairs sent a letter
to the participants of the conference informing them about this and
about other developments after the 10th round.
Representative of the Armenian side of the group in the Dortmund
conference working on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, former
Defense Minister Vagharshak Haroutyunyan gave several details about
the content of the letter. Namely, the 11th round will take place in
October in Moscow. According to Vagharshak Haroutyunyan, during the
whole process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict the only realistic
variant for the sides was the frame convention which was signed by
all the sides of the conflict – Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
According to the co-chairs of the Dortmund conference, this document
points at the real ways of settling the conflict. And as far as the
OSCE Minsk group is not going to introduce any new offers in 2006,
the co-chairs of the Dortmund conference offer the OSCE Minsk group
co-chairs to discuss the principles of the frame convention and to
try to find solutions within the framework of the convention.
Vagharshak Haroutyunyan reminded about the main principles the frame
convention was signed about, “Karabakh receives an interim status and
becomes a negotiating side, takes up commitments and signs documents
as a side of the conflict”.
The other possible approach is to settle the problem by two
phases. The first is to create an atmosphere of mutual trust by means
of compromise. And as soon as there is progress, the ways to settle
the conflict can be found by means of three-party negotiations.

ARMENIA WAITING FOR CHARLES AZNAVOUR AND THE FRENCH PRESIDENT
A1+
[07:39 pm] 27 September, 2006
more images Late in the evening renowned French-Armenian chansonnier
Charles Aznavour is to arrive in Armenia. He is coming in connection
with the September 30 celebration within the framework of the year
of Armenia in France.
On that very day the opening ceremony of the French Square on the
crossroad of Sayat-Nova, Baghramyan and Mashtots avenues will take
place; later on Charles Aznavour will sing in the Republic Square
together with his friends. The opening of the French Square will take
place in the presence of the Armenian and French Presidents.
If you have a walk around Yerevan, you’ll have the impression that
the whole city, everyone from ordinary citizens to high officials,
is getting ready for the arrival of the guests.
According to preliminary data, on September 30 the French Square will
be decorated with the flags of both countries. A memorial board will
be opened with the date of the opening of the Square and the names
of the Presidents of both countries as initiators. A stage will be
constructed where the Presidents will stand together with their wives.
It is noteworthy that the decoration of the Republic Square where the
concert will take place is carried out by Russian workers. Deputy
mayor of Yerevan Vano Vardanyan said that they are not responsible
for these works as the renowned singer brought the crew himself.
The workers of the Security Service are also ready for the day,
although they are sure that there will be no emergencies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“THERE IS STILL HOPE”
A1+
[08:28 pm] 27 September, 2006
“Justice” bloc did not participate in the discussion of the Electoral
Code together with the Venice Commission and the experts from
OSCE/ODIHR, whereas “National Unity” and “Orinats Yerkir” did.
Leader of the National Democratic Party Shavarsh Kocharyan participated
in hte discussion not as representative of “Justice” bloc but as the
author of the alternative variant. The processed version of the draft
was introduced into circulation in the NA on September 20.
Let us remind you that the mentioned draft Electoral Code was not sent
to the Venice Commission, hence it can’t be discussed. Nevertheless,
according to Kocharyan, even today it can be considered an alternative
variant, taking into account the fact that the draft gives the
solution of those problems upon which the experts and the authors of
the present draft cannot agree.
“We are realistic enough to understand that the chances of the draft
are close to nothing, but it doesn’t mean that the situation is
completely hopeless”, said Shavarsh Kocharyan. He voiced hope that
their offers will be taken into account while adopting the offered
amendments.
Shavarsh Kocharyan said that no matter how nice their draft might be,
the experts of the Venice Commission cannot defend it. And if all the
representative of the opposition had signed it, the situation would
be completely different. According to Kocharyan, the draft has been
sent to all the factions by NGO “Democracy”; it has been discussed
by the opposition, but no agreement has been concluded. “I have an
impression that the whole oppositional field is in a swamp. And as
soon as someone wants to get out of it, the others pull him back”,
the deputy said.

THE DISCUSSION OF THE GUAM OFFER IS NOT CONSTRUCTIVE
A1+
[08:42 pm] 27 September, 2006
The offer of GUAM to discuss the conflicts in the UN General Assembly
61st session became reason to postpone the meeting of Foreign Ministers
Oskanyan and Mammadyarov.
“Introducing the offer of GUAM into the agenda of the UN General
Assembly changed the situation, and the meeting was postponed”, said
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in an interview to radio station
“Azatutyun”.
“We needed to clear up the situation together with the co-chairs in
order to find out the possible developments. That’s what was done
during this meeting”, Oskanyan said in connection with his September
26 meeting with the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs. “I’m satisfied with
the explanations. Now we have a better idea of the situation and thus
we will decide what to do next”.
Press Secretary of the Foreign Minister Vladimir Karapetyan informed
“A1+” that according to the official position of the Armenian side
“it is extremely non-constructive to take the conflict to a structure
consisting of 190 members where there can be to specialized approach
towards the issue. Besides, the OSCE has been engaged in the issue
for more than 12 years and is well aware of the whole process”.

RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE DID NOT BECOME A PRECONDITION
A1+
[08:53 pm] 27 September, 2006
Today the European Parliament adopted a report about Turkey which
did not include the provision making the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide a precondition for becoming member of the EU. Instead,
according to the decision of the European Parliament, the opening of
the Armenian-Turkish border has become a precondition.
Nevertheless, the adopted variant of the report includes a call on
Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Let us remind you that the resolution adopted last September included
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition. It is
noteworthy that the report was a legal one and does not have obligatory
power; it can be taken as advise, though extremely criticizing.
“The European Parliament regrets that the process of reforms has
slowed down”, the report says stressing that during the 11 months of
the process of membership in the EU Turkey has recorded “insufficient
progress” in securing freedom of speech, and defense of the rights
of women and religious and national minorities.