CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH-SOUTH HIGHWAY HALTED
Lragir.am
23 Aug 06
Recently the construction of North-South Highway in Nagorno Karabakh
Republic has come to a halt, moreover, many sections of the new
road are already ruined. In this connection Armenia Foundation and
the NKR government accuse each other. The causes are said to be the
lack of bitumen, tenders with breaches, etc. We have learned that
Armenia Foundation sent the results of the audit of construction of
the highway to the procuracies of Armenia and Karabakh. It is notable
that the tenders are won by the relatives and friends of high ranking
officials of Armenia and NKR.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOU WANT A PROJECT? HERE YOU ARE!
Lragir.am
23 Aug 06
The Alliance of National Democrats led by Arshak Sadoyan published
a project August 23, which is intended to guarantee a transparent
and fair parliamentary election in 2007. Arshak Sadoyan says an
extremely dangerous situation has occurred in Armenia, threatening
the country’s future development. Sadoyan believes that not all the
pro-government forces but some of them are likely to forge the results
of the elections.
The leader of the Alliance of National Democrats announces that
the political forces and NGOs, who are worried about the country’s
future, should come together and come together to fight for fair
elections. Arshak Sadoyan says there may be assistance from the
international community since there were a number of tough statements
that “this time election fraud will not be forgiven”.
And the Alliance of National Democrats has assumed the role of
prevention of electoral fraud. The project is ready, or the draft
project is ready, which will be edited during the roundup in early
September. In accordance with the project, Arshak Sadoyan proposes
four main activities to guarantee a fair election: publication of
ballots abroad, electronic vote, classes for the local observers,
proxies and candidates of members of election committees, held
independently from the government, propaganda of democratic values
and free and fair elections on TV and radio and in the press, as well
as public meetings including international figures for the government
to avoid using violence during these meetings. These activities are
included in the draft project of the Alliance of National Democrats.
Arshak Sadoyan says it is open for proposals by other political parties
and NGOs. If there are proposals, they will be adopted during the
hall meeting in September, to which representatives of international
organizations and embassies will be invited as well.
Arshak Sadoyan says the idea of the project was approved by the
foreigners with whom he discussed it. Among international organizations
the leader of the Alliance of National Democrats points to the OSCE,
the UN, USAID, the U.S. Embassy. The project was written with the
consideration of the embassy. Arshak Sadoyan has foreseen that the
activities of the project will be implemented on the 6.5 m dollars
that the United States earmarked for a fair election in 2007.
“We asked, well, what are you going to do, you are going to give the
money to the government, and they are going to give it to the police
to make the electoral register precise, etc, so you want to spend the
money this way. They said no. We asked how they are going to spend
it then. They said when you present a project, we will discuss it and
decide how. So we decided to work out this project after their answer,”
says Arshak Sadoyan. The project, he says, was presented to John Evans,
who remains the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
By the extravagant calculations of Arshak Sadoyan, the project costs
maximum 2.5 m dollars. Sadoyan even suggests setting up a board of
trustees including foreigners who will control spending of the money
they will give.
“If the project is not adopted, we are going to appeal to the
international community, try to meet with the media, such as CNN,
the New York Times, etc. and ask if they are not pretending. We say
give 2.5 m out of 6.5 m dollars and control it to prevent fraud. We
say we are setting up a special board of trustees including your
representatives not to allow anyone to state that they are doing a
revolution on international money. You refuse? So? Either you want
to do a revolution secretly and you give the money or you give it to
the government to misappropriate it later,” Arshak Sadoyan present
the plot of possible settling of accounts, in case the project is
rejected, of course.
Arshak Sadoyan is definitely worried by the approach of the opposition
towards this project. He says the aspirations of individuals do now
allow uniting around a common project, but he hopes that his project
will be an exception.

TURKISH TROOPS IN LEBANON WOULD CREATE INSTABILITY, SAYS BRUSSELS GROUP
p?id=4520)
23/08/2006
The European-Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy has added
its voice to those opposing Turkey’s participation in any peace-keeping
contingent in southern Lebanon, because of its continued abuse of
human rights, continued occupation of the north of Cyprus and Turkey’s
close military ties with Israel.
The EAFJD announced in Brussels that it “welcomes with relief the
cease-fire that has put an end to the Israeli bombings of Lebanon
and to the suffering of the people. The Federation also supports the
International Community’s current efforts aimed at the normalization
of the region under the aegis of the United Nations.”
However, it is “gravely concerned about the possibility of Turkish
troops participating in the peacekeeping force in this sensitive
region.
“Let’s remember that Turkey is the old colonial power of the Near East
with clear territorial ambitions vis-a-vis Arab countries. Turkey’s
record of genocide, torture and suffering is permanently inscribed
in the collective
memory of the Lebanese. Furthermore, Turkey’s current abuse of
its own ethnic minorities, including those of Arab nationality,
is a well-known reality in the region,” declared Hilda Tchoboian,
chairwoman of the European-Armenian Federation.
“The presence of Turkish troops in an international force would
be a serious mistake with dire consequences for the peacekeeping
operations. Turkey is not a peacemaker. Turkish forces will only
aggravate the current delicate
situation in South Lebanon by adding Turkey’s own regional liabilities
to the present complexities in Lebanon. After so much suffering,
the Lebanese people deserve better,” added Hilda Tchoboian.
The European-Armenian Federation also emphasizes that Turkish
troops would be particularly ineffective and inappropriate due to
the fundamental conflict of interest between their responsibility
as credible and responsible peacekeepers and the higher national
interests of Turkey anchored in the extensive requirements of its
military and strategic alliance with Israel.
The Federation therefore urges the International Community to make
a more suitable choice for the makeup of the UN peacekeeping force.

CHIEF PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE FINDS ANOTHER MEMBER OF CRIMINAL GROUP WHICH WAS SENDING WOMEN TO DUBAI FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
Armenpress
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: Officials from Armenian chief
prosecutor’s office have found another member of the criminal
band which was cheating women and sending them to Dubai for sexual
exploitation.
Chief prosecutor’s office official said that the member of the group,
K. Ghandilian, having neither permanent place of living nor job,
lived in the apartment of his partner from Gyumri. There he met with
L. Bagarian who suggested earning money by sending women, who are in
bad social condition, to Dubai promising them well-paid good job there.
In September 2005, in one of the streets of Gyumri Ghandilian met
one of his acquaintances H. Z. and offered her job in Dubai, saying
she would work their as a waitress and would get high salary.
Being in socially bad condition she agreed but as soon as they reached
Dubai the criminals took the passport from the woman and made her
work as a prostitute. Ghandilian’s case has been sent to Shirak’s
court of first instance.

DRAW CONCLUSIONS BUT DON’T MAKE A TRAGEDY OUT OF IT
Lragir.am
23 Aug 06
Arshak Sadoyan criticized Victor Dallakyan who quit Ardarutiun
Alliance. He also criticized the opposition. Arshak Sadoyan told news
reporters August 23 that he condemns the passivity of the Ardarutiun
Alliance over the past few months. However, Sadoyan said he thinks
Dallakyan’s step had nothing to do with activity or passivity, the
question is opposition’s being or not being.
“I condemn Victor Dallakyan who quit Ardarutiun Alliance, the post of
its secretary. At any rate, however, it is normal, man has freedoms
and rights, this is another question. I think serious conclusions
should be drawn. At any rate, this is not a big problem to make a
tragedy out of it. Moreover, there should always be clarity,” says
Arshak Sadoyan. He says the more clear people’s approaches, system
of values become, the better for politicians, the opposition.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MAY MEET IN SEPTEMBER
ArmRadio.am
23.08.2006 16:10
The next meeting between Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
may be held in September. “Yesterday I had a talk with the French
Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and we discussed the opportunities
of the recurrent meeting.
Several suggestions were proposed regarding the time and place of the
meeting, and I have agreed to holding this meeting,” Azeri Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov declared in response to the question about
the opportunity of the recurrent meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian.

PACE RAPPORTEUR ON CAPTIVES AND MISSING PERSONS TO VISIT KARABAKH IN SEPTEMBER
ArmRadio.am
23.08.2006 17:00
PACE Rapporteur on Captives and Missing Persons Leo Platvoet intends
to visit Nagorno Karabakh in September.
“I visit the region in June and I was in Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi,
where I had meetings with authorities and relatives of the missing
persons. In September I’ll pay another visit to the region, namely
Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabakh,” the PACE Rapporteur told “Trend”
agency.
Leo Platvoet informed also that the report on the captives and and
Refugees will be ready by the turn of the next year.

THE AZERBAIJANI SIDE ONCE AGAIN DID NOT LEAD OUT THE OSCE MISSION TO THE FRONT LINE
Lragir.am
22 Aug 06
On August 22, according to the agreement reached earlier with Nagorno
Karabakh Republic’s authorities the OSCE mission conducted a regular
monitoring of the contact line of armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan.
>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was carried
out by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in -Office Andrzey
Kasprzyk and his Field Assistant Irzhi Aberle (Czechia).
The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned schedule without
any violations of cease-fire regime. However, the Azerbaijani side
once again did not lead out the OSCE mission to the front line.
>From the Karabakh side the monitoring group was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry
of Defense.
Press-Service Of The NKR MFA

OPPOSITION FINDS OUT THE EXACT NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE MEMBERS
Lragir.am
22 Aug 06
Currently the opposition is preparing for developments in fall and the
parliamentary election by visits to regions, organizational problems
of local organizations and finding out the exact number of their
supporters and members, announced Hrant Khachatryan at the Pastark
Club on August 22 at the Pastark Club. He even emphasized that the
opposition, namely their political party are trying to find out the
number of members of the party who are able to struggle. This may
mean that the opposition is likely to fight for the parliamentary
election. Hrant Khachatryan does not deny this likelihood.
“I said “able to struggle” for those members of our political party
who must be included in the divisional committees.
And considering the former experience, they need to have some features
of gladiators to be able to resist. We are not likely to attack,
I am not calling for an armed confrontation, but people need to be
able to struggle to counteract the armed criminal, empty-handed, and
their clean hands may help them in struggle,” says Hrant Khachatryan.
Hrant Khachatryan says the main strength of the opposition against
the money of Bargavach Hayastan and the criminal of the Republican
Party is the people’s support. He thinks that the situation in the
upcoming parliamentary election will be close to a situation at
war. The leader of the CRU says the opposition is currently holding
debates and meetings to reveal the visible points in common for
cooperation. Hrant Khachatryan says in mid-September the CRU is going
to hold an assembly of the political party. “We think it will be highly
probable and expedient that the opposition come together in control
over elections, but several alliances form before the election, which
would contain more comprehensive ideological projects and elements,”
says Hrant Khachatryan.
He does not deny that the opposition may cooperate with certain
pro-government forces. Hrant Khachatryan is for the elimination of
the barrier between the government and the opposition perceived by the
public. The leader of the CRU says this barrier is the result of the
situation that occurred after October 27. Hrant Khachatryan says,
however, that this division did not facilitate change of power,
whereas the dialogue and debate between the opposition and the
government is a necessary factor for the electoral system, thinks
the leader of the CRU.
“I do not mean a secret arrangement between the opposition and
pro-government forces for some wretched percentage. I mean a serious
public debate on in which sphere, which individuals and which moods
correspond to the aspirations of the public. I think the elections are
not a period of war, but a period when all the forces representing the
public take a serious test,” says the leader of CRU. For his political
party, Hrant Khachatryan says in the process of elections they will try
to cooperate with all the forces working on the level of individuals,
“be it the head of state, the prime minister, the attorney general
or some other influential person.”
“Because they all have serious leverages, the future of the Republic
depends on them. In the course of time using connections, for the
time being, I think that I personally and out political party have
the possibility to appeal to their conscience and thought and we
must use all the possibilities to prevent them from throwing the
history of the nation and people back by another 20 years being led
by their craving for power,” says Hrant Khachatryan. He says he
wishes the pro-government and opposition forces became separated
from the oligarchic criminal element, “even if it is on the level
of individuals, members of some parties”. Hrant Khachatryan thinks
that the prime problem of Armenia is not the steady behavior of the
political force but the establishment of the system of government on
a political organization, it does not matter whether this political
organization is not sustainable and established. Hrant Khachatryan
says Armenia needs a real liberal system, and pseudo-liberalism is
the country’s enemy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF PASSED ITS OPPOSITION TO TURKISH TROOPS DEPLOYMENT TO PRIME MINISTER SANIORA
Yerkir
22.08.2006 13:14
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Central Committee of Lebanon, comprised of Hovik Mkhitarian
and MP Hakob Bagratuni, met on August 19 with Lebanese Prime Minister
Fuad Saniora.
The ARF delegation voiced the Lebanese Armenian community’s
opposition to deployment of Turkish troops in south Lebanon as part
of international peacekeeping forces.
The delegation requested that the government discuss the issue of
the Turkish troops pointing out that such deployment would cause the
disappointment of not only the Lebanese Armenians but also Armenians
worldwide who have continuously supported Lebanon.
The prime minister took the expressed positions with understanding
saying, however, he had difficulty to secure an adequate number of
peacekeepers in the international forces.
Speaking to the press afterwards, MP Bagratuni expressed the Armenian
community’s support for the prime minister’s efforts in the domestic
and international area and its endorsement of the UN Resolution 1701.
He, however, reiterated the Armenian community’s opposition to
the participation of the Turkish military in the international
peacekeeping mission.
“We explicitly told the prime minister that we are against of the
presence of even one Turkish soldier,” Bagratuni noted.