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

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES NEW-APPOINTED SWEDISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan
received Friday newly appointed Swedish Ambassador to Armenia Hans
Gunnar Aden, Armenian Defense Ministry’s press office reports.
The minister and the ambassador discussed Armenia’s role in
geopolitical processes and the republic’s cooperation with NATO as part
of Individual Partnership Program and Partnership in the Name of Peace.
Sargsyan and Aden also considered the current stage of Karabakh
conflict settlement stressing the importance of OSCE Minsk Group’s
mediation in this process.

NKR PRESIDENT SIGNS LAWS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR) Arkady Ghukasyan signed a number of laws on October 28, 2006.
The NKR President signed the Forest Code and the Law on Primary,
specialized and specialized secondary education.”
President Ghukasyan also signed amendments to the NKR Law “On
protection of selection achievements” to the NKR Land Code.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES HEADS OF EU DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
received Friday heads of EU diplomatic missions in Armenia,
presidential press office reports.
At this meeting, Kocharyan welcomed the completion of consultations
over the European Union’s New Neighborhood program and expressed
hope that it will get final approval in November. He said that this
program would make Armenia-EU ties closer.
The head of state spoke about the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement as well as Russian-Georgian tension and its impact on
Armenia’s economy.
The diplomats discussed issues related to coming national elections
with the president and stressed the necessity of ensuring transparency.
Kocharyan said observers would be invited for watching the process
of the elections.
Parliamentary elections are to be held in 2007 and presidential in
2008.

37% OF RESPONDENTS: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES SHOULD CREATE JOBS TO WIN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. Survey conducted by Gallup institute
in association with Armenian Sociologic Association shows that 37%
of Armenian citizens are convinced that Armenian authorities have to
create new jobs to win public confidence.
According to the survey’s results, 18% of respondents think the
authorities should increase pensions and salaries, 14% of surveyed
citizens pointed out economy development as the way to win public
support, 15% singled out transparent elections, 7% fulfillment of
promises given to people and 8% crackdown on corruption.
Besides, 4% of surveyed citizens think the authorities should pursue
a correct policy to enjoy public support, 3% said the members of
parliament should be replaced by others, 3% are convinces that the
authorities should render help to homeless and old people and 2%
to make Nagorno-Karabakh a part of Armenia, 3% to cut taxes, 17%
gave other answers and 9% refused to answer.
It is remarkable that 39% of respondents had absolutely no interest
in political developments, 30% expressed mid-scale interest in them
and 31% high interest.
As many as 1200 older-than-18 Armenian citizens were surveyed at
the order of International Republican Institute (IRI) with financial
support of USAID.

VLADIMIR PUTIN FINDS “SHAMEFUL” INACTIVENESS OF RUSSIAN INVESTORS IN ARMENIA
Regnum, Russia
Oct 30 2006
On October 30Russia’s President Vladimir Putin received Armenia’s
President Robert Kocharyan, who is on a work visit in Moscow. As a
REGNUM correspondent reports, before the talks with Robert Kocharyan,
the Russian president said he found it “shameful” that “Russia is
only third in investments to the economy of its strategic partner.”
At the same time, the Russian president noted that for the last
year goods turnover between Russia and Armenia increased by 60%,
which indicates development of the economic relations.
In his turn, Robert Kocharyan informed that all Yerevan’s agreements
with Gazprom are being implemented. “All the contracts on energy
projects with Gazprom are entering the stage of implementation,”
the Armenian president said, expressing hope for intensification of
Russia’s investment policy. “Next year, the situation will change
significantly, I cast no doubts on it,” Robert Kocharyan is quoted
as saying. He also says that several days ago the process of complex
modernization of the Russian-Armenian Armenal aluminum plant was
completed.
Gazprom and the Armenian government signed the contract for 25 years.
It outlines strategic principles of cooperation in gas and energy
projects in the Armenian territory. The document envisages that
ArmRosgazprom acquires the fifth energy reactor of the Hrazdan Nuclear
Power Plant and gas facilities from the Armenian government.
Final passing of property for the facilities is to be completed by
January 1, 2007. On October 27, Gazprom Executive Board approved
acquiring additional issue of ArmRosgazprom, as a result share of
the Russian company in ArmRosgazprom authorized capital stock will
increase from 45% to 58%.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER SAFAR ABIYEV CONSIDERS VIOLATION OF CEASEFIRE NORMAL
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev discussed the violation of
ceasefire with his Armenian colleague Serge Sarkisian at the meeting
in Gazakh.
It was decided to ensure the maximum maintenance of ceasefire, Abiyev
told journalists, APA reports. He noted that the violation of ceasefire
is normal as there are thousands of servicemen in Azerbaijan-Armenia
contact line. Expressing his position on the Armenian military training
the minister said that Azerbaijan also holds military training in
the contact line and there is no need to worry.