HEAD OF RPA FACTION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS AGAINST RETURN OF MUSIC OF
ARMENIAN ANTHEM OF SOVIET PERIOD

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Galust Sahakian, the head of the RPA
faction of the RA National Assembly estimates positive the
government’s decision concerning prolonging for one year the activity
of the “Mets Hayrenik” (Great Fatherland) state anthem. The deputy
also foresaw at the October 27 briefing that “the problem will not be
solved during the coming one year, and it must be prolonged till it
becomes a public demand or a new anthem is born.”
G.Sahakian spoke against return of the music of the Armenian anthem of
the Soviet period. “I’m not against Aram Khachatrian’s music, but it
served a system which is inadmissible today.”

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS TO MEET IN MOSCOW ON OCTOBER 30

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian will
leave on working visit for Moscow on October 30. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA President’s Press Office, on the same day the
President of Armenia will have a private conversation in Kremlin with
his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin.
Robert Kocharian will have meetings with RF Government Chairman
Mikhayel Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as well. The President
of Armenia will participate in the capital of the Russian Federation
in the solemn ceremony of opening of the monument to prominent
composer Aram Khachatrian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT PAID TO MEMORY OF 1999 TERRORISM VICTIMS IN PARLIAMENT YARD
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly deputies, staff
representatives and journalists accredited at the Parliament paid
tribute of respect on October 27 to memory of 8 statesmen-politicians
became victims of terrorism committed on the same day 7 years
ago. Wreaths and flowers were laid to the monument erected in the yard
of the Parliament. It perpetuates memory of NA Chairman Karen
Demirchian, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, NA Deputy Speakers Yuri
Bakhshian and Ruben Miroyan, Minister for Operative Issues Leonard
Petrosian, deputies Armenak Armenakian, Henrik Abrahamian and Mikayel
Kotanian died in 1999 in the conference hall of the Parliament.
“Irrespective of the fact that 7 years passed after this tragedy, but
people who knew victims of that terrorism, who worked with them,
especially who was at the Parliament, in the hall on that tragic day,
I’m sure that will bear during their whole life both pain and suffers
that they have had in that hall,” NA Speaker Tigran Torosian said to
journalists. In his words, the most important is to make consequences
for such a tragedy never takes place in the world from now on, in the
basis of which, in his opinion, was spite and hatred. “People who died
on that severe day, did not live end in itself, lived for the sake of
ideas, for the sake of programs, for the sake of principles, and the
greatest tribute for them, I think, will be development of Armenia,
that’s, implementation of those programs, ideas and goals which the
victims of that severe day professed,” the NA Speaker said.

ALVARD PETROSIAN: CONSIDERING RUSSIA OUR ELDER BROTHER IS SERVILITY

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenians should be sober when
estimating other countries’ actions towards Armenia and should not
suffer from unselfishness. Alvard Petrosian, member of RA NA ARFD
faction, expressed such an opinion at the October 27 press
conference. For instance, today Armenians are filled with gratitude
towards France for the French parliament’s establishing punishment for
denial of the Armenian Genocide. But, in A.Petrosian’s words, it
should be taken into consideration that “unless this proceeded from
the interests of the French state, this country would not make such a
decision.”
According to ARFD faction member, she also considers as unacceptable
the approach, according to which Armenia cannot live without
Russia. A.Petrosian said that though she as an intellectual was formed
in the atmosphere of Russian culture, has always admired Russian
literature, she is convinced that even in relations with a friendly
country one should not lose sense of national dignity and should not
forget that Russia has its interests as well. “We are a very important
refuge for Russia, but considering Russia our elder brother is
servility,” A.Petrosian declared. Commenting upon RF State Duma Deputy
Konstantin Zatulin’s statement about clarification of Armenia’s
position on Russian-Georgian conflict, A.Petrosian gave assurance that
“if our people holds its spine straight, no country’s official will
dare to expert pressure upon us.”

HENRY CUNY: CLOSED BORDER IS ANACHRONISM, INCOHERENT POSE FOR A COUNTRY
HAVING APPLIED FOR JOINING EUROPEAN FAMILY

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 27, Serge Sargsian, RA
Defence Minister, Secretary of the National Security Council under RA
President, received Henry Cuny, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia, who completes his diplomatic
mission in Armenia. As NT was informed from RA Defence Ministry Press
Service, speaking about Armenian-French relations deepening day by
day, the Minister said that their bright evidence is French President
J.Chirac’s visit to Armenia, which was a great event in the country’s
life. Henry Cuny said that he highly estimates Armenia’s warm attitude
towards his country and added: “I have a special attitude towards the
Armenian people and its culture. I am convinced that peace will be
established and the borders will be open when I visit Armenia next
time. Closed border is anachronism, incoherent pose for a country
having applied for joining the European family.” Serge Sargsian,
expressing gratitude for efficient activity developed during his
tenure, in particular, for cooperation in the military sphere, wished
the Ambassador success in his further work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT CONSIDERS FORMATION OF LEGAL-CONTRACTUAL FIELD AS PRIMARY
FOR ARMENIAN-SWEDISH ECONOMIC COOPERATION

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 27, Hans Gunnar Aden,
newly appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia (residence Stockholm)
handed his credentials to RA President Robert Kocharian. Congratulating
the Ambassador, RA President highly estimated the current level of
Armenian-Swedish political dialogue. Ambassador Aden said that
henceforth his country will give more time and attention to relations
with South Caucasian countries, including Armenia.
The parties considered President Robert Kocharian’s recent official
visit to Sweden as an important stimulus for further development of
bilateral cooperation. Currently some work is being done in concrete
directions around the agreements reached during the visit. In the
interlocutors’ opinion, in the respect of extension of cooperation new
possibilities are also created within the framework of European
Neighborhood policy. Attaching importance to economic component of
Armenian-Swedish relations, Robert Kocharian considered as primary
formation of legal-contractual field for cooperation, holding of
business forums for getting acquainted with one another’s
abilities. According to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA
President’s Press Office, at the meeting they also spoke about
Armenian-Turkish relations, regional problems.

REGIONAL CARDIOLOGICAL CLINICS TO BE BUILT IN GORIS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to build in Goris
with the assistance of the Union of Armenian Physicians of France a
regional Cardiological Clinics which will serve not only the marz of
Syunik but also the NKR. The program will be implemented by the
“Hayastan” (Armenia) All-Armenian Fund. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by the Public Relations Department of the
fund, representatives of the union will arrive in Armenia on October
30 to discuss the program details.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPPOSITION HAS NOT MADE FINAL DECISION YET TO PUT FORWARD THEIR
CANDIDATURES AT ALL MAJORITARIAN ELECTORAL DISTRICTS, PPA BOARD
SECRETARY SAYS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. ARFD greets the principle, according
to which political figures should be represented at the Armenian
parliament.
Gegham Manukian, NA ARFD faction Secretary, said this at the October
27 press conference touching upon the opposition’s idea of nominating
their candidatures at 42 majoritarian electoral districts. He said
that Dashnaktsutiun in principle is for 100% proportional electoral
system, but only if a wide political agreement is reached around its
formation. Galust Sahakian, RPA faction Head, welcoming opposition’s
intention, said that it “will have a positive impact on the whole
electoral process.” In his words, the opposition should have done this
earlier, during the local self-government elections. In the opinion of
Mekhak Mkhitarian, Secretary of the Business deputy group, it is still
early to pass to 100% proportional electoral system in Armenia.
Reminding that 5 out of 10 members of the Business group were elected
by the majoritarian system, M.Mkhitarian gave assurance that the
Armenian people more trusts individuals than political forces. The MP
greeted the initiative of heads of opposition political forces to
nominate their candidatures at majoritarian electoral districts.
M.Mkhitarian also said that opposition political forces can check
their own rating among the people in this way. As Stepan Zakarian,
Ardarutiun (Justice) faction member, PPA Board Secretary, said, the
opposition has not made a final decision yet to nominate their
candidatures at all majoritarian electoral districts. The MP said that
this is merely a proposal that needs to be discussed. In his words,
under current conditions of Armenia it is possible that people give
preference not to a political figure, but to a person who solves their
daily problems.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: BOTH LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM OBSERVER MISSIONS WILL
BE INVITED TO ARMENIA FOR 2007 STATE ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President greeted the end of the
consultations around the Actions Plan within the framework of the
European New Neighborhood policy at the October 27 regular meeting
with heads of diplomatic representations of EU member countries
accredited in Armenia. He expressed the hope that it will be finally
adopted in November, thanks to which Armenia-EU relations will become
more systematized. “The large package of Armenian side’s proposals is
evidence that we are disposed to work seriously and expect joint
efficient activity,” R.Kocharian said. At the diplomats’ request RA
President commented upon the current developments in the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement, Russian-Georgian strained relations and its
impact on the Armenian economy, as well as other regional issues.
According to RA President’s Press Office, at the meeting, they also
touched upon the forthcoming state elections and especially stressed
the necessity to hold them fairly. R.Kocharian said that both
long-term and short-term international observer missions will be
invited for the purpose of electoral processes monitoring.

DIASPORAN ARMENIANS ARE CONFIDENT IN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FUTURE OF
ARMENIA, WB YEREVAN OFFICE DIRECTOR SAYS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has shown a two-digit
economic growth in recent years, and there is no reason for a decline
in this growth in the future. Roger Robinson, the World Bank Yerevan
Office Director, expressed this opinion during a press conference on
October 27. This was the last press conference of Roger Robinson, who
has completed his mission in Armenia and received a new appointment in
Kyrghyzstan. The new director of the WB Yerevan Office will be
appointed within a month. R. Robinson said that some sectors of
Armenia still need to be reformed, particularly customs, tax, public
services and civil service sectors. According to him, during 4.5 years
of his term of office in Armenia, the WB has financed programs of a
total of 300 million USD, during the implementation of which the
Armenian government has shown a skilful approach. He noted that
Armenians living abroad, especially those in Russia, invest their
money in Armenia, which means that they are confident in the political
and economic future of Armenia.