ROBERT KOCHARYAN HAS ONE MORE CHOICE
Lragir.am
08 Aug 06
It was not a surprise to see the head of the State Customs Agency Armen
Avetisyan in the first row of the Republican Party and not because
nobody remained in the political sphere, especially in the government
of Armenia, who can surprise the public. Simply the head of the State
Customs Agency Armen Avetisyan could not have been anywhere else. More
exactly, he should either have been where the law provides for or in
the Republican Party. It seems that there is nothing strange about his
presence to deserve special attention but as soon as we state that the
customs committee controls imports and exports in Armenia, it becomes
apparent that Armen Avetisyan acquires special importance. Even more
than the presence of the “authorities, who have quite recently become
Republicans. When the gates of Armenia are under control, control
over the internal movement becomes a matter of technique.
Hence, it is clear that Armen Avetisyan needs the Republican Party
enriched by Serge Sargsyan more than the Republican Party needs Armen
Avetisyan who how became rich nobody knows. And that Armen Avetisyan
is rich becomes clear from his cars, villa in Tsaghkadzor, expensive
Zilli suits. The society has even stopped asking Avetisyan where he
got such possessions. Armen Avetisyan has already explained once that
his wealth is from the Soviet years when his father was the director
of a building enterprise. It is not clear whether he realizes or not,
but Armen Avetisyan confesses that his possession is illegal simply
he hints that his father earned this illegal income, not he. The head
of a Soviet building enterprise could not saved so much money with
salary to live an oligarchic life in the post-Soviet Armenia.
At present, however, the problem is not how Armen Avetisyan lives such
luxurious life. It is a matter of future when neither the Republican
Party will help Avetisyan nor Avetisyan will help the Republican
Party. But presently they are convinced that they need each other. As
I have mentioned above, it is clear why they need each other. Perhaps
it is not accidental that after the extraordinary conference of the
Republican Party rumors were circulated that the president is likely
to dismiss Armen Avetisyan. But the spokesman of the president later
refuted this information. It may mean that Robert Kocharyan and the
Republican Party have agreed on their actions. But this impression
seems real only in case of a scrutiny. The point is that the process
of forming power has started in the Republic.
Perhaps this is what Serge Sargsyan meant when he said in three or
four months his initiative will produce its fruits. In this sense it
becomes clear that Robert Kocharyan is facing the necessity to hold
power of course if he is no likely to retire. As for the intentions of
the president, nobody knows about these intentions. However, during
a meeting with the students of Yerevan State University a year ago
he explained that he does not say anything about being or not being
but he is convinced that he is not worse than anyone. Hence, it means
that Robert Kocharyan is not thinking about retiring from power after
retiring from the post of president in 2008.
However, in this case it is at least surprising that not thinking
about retiring from power he is not considering, for instance,
dismissing the head of the Customs Agency. The point is that the
present situation makes impossible think about power and not think
about getting rid of the criminal. Maybe Robert Kocharyan thinks that
Armen Avetisyan is not part of the criminal system and attended the
conference of the Republican Party as an independent expert. Maybe.
Robert Kocharyan probably knows the pattern and structure of the
criminal better because for a long time he has built his power on it.
But the problem is that currently the native criminal is passing into
the hands of Serge Sargsyan, and the criminal is not a smart lamb to
“suckle two mothers”.
But if Robert Kocharyan is convinced that the head of the Customs
Agency is not part of the criminal, either he must personally explain
to the public or instruct Armen Avetisyan to explain why return on
customs has a very small share in budget receipts. Or how does it
happen that Armenia becomes a transit country of drug trafficking. At
least, both facts are set down in the evaluations of authoritative
international organizations. The International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank emphasize the low level of collection of taxes and customs,
and the report of the U.S. Department of State announced several
months ago that the government officials of Armenia are involved in
trafficking in drugs and are not punished.
If the president fails to answer these questions, the society has the
right to think that Robert Kocharyan does not control the situation.
The international organizations, which warn about the disturbing
situation in customs, also have the reason to think so.
Hence, the president also has a choice. He may either dismiss the
head of the State Customs Agency and thereby display that he keeps the
situation under control or choose capitulation and start negotiations
with the Republican Party on his future status. The second variant
is perhaps easier, considering that Robert Kocharyan has a great
experience in negotiations. But the case of Aliyev is different,
they are in the same situation, whereas in the case of the Republican
Party the negotiations will be absolutely different.
Because unlike Robert Kocharyan, the Republican Party and Serge
Sargsyan have already made their choice.
HAKOB BADALYAN

STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN AVOIDS COMMENTING UPON VICTOR DALLAKIAN’S LEAVING “ARDAROUTIUN”
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. “Nothing unexpected took
place, and I think, Mr.Dallakian must give explanations and
commentaries.” Commenting upon NA “Ardaroutiun” (Justice) faction
Secretary Victor Dallakian’s leaving, faction head Stepan Demirchian
made such a statement at Radio Liberty. Before the NA session, the
“Ardaroutiun” faction will elect a new secretary and will actively
work at the Parliament. Stepan Demirchian still considers early to
speak about the possible soon cooperation of Victor Dallakian and the
“Ardaroutiun” faction: “In any case, if Dallakian remains faithful
to his opposing position, the cooperation is not excluded.” Vazgen
Manukian, a member of the “Ardaroutiun” faction, the Chairman of
the National Democratic Union relates normally to news about Victor
Dallakian’s joining “Bargavach Hayastan” (Prospering Armenia). “It
is natural, elections approach, and different politicians must make
decisions. The “Ardaroutiun” faction was created in the reality of
2003. The reality of 2006 has changed. So, everybody must himself
decide what way he takes. It’s his right,” he said. Hrant Khachatrian,
a member of the faction, the Chairman of the “Sahmanadrakan Iravunk”
(Constitutional Right) union stated relating to the same issue that
he is a supporter of the political freedom, and every person must
himself decides his place and position. “One must just wish that Victor
Dallakian remains in the new political unit as much principal as he
was in the “Ardaroutiun” faction,” he mentioned. In the opinion of
Aram Sargsian, a member of the “Ardaroutiun” faction, the Chairman
of the “Hanrapetoutiun” (Republic) party, Dallakian’s step was not
unexpected, and that issue was, in essense, solved. “Every person
himself makes a decision about his place and role, and the time
gives estimation to the given action,” he emphasized, adding that he
does not think that, by this step, Dallakian or “Bargavach Hayastan”
will get anything. “Just the opposite, I am of the opinion that every
pro-ruling party solves one problem: they unite for everything remains
the same. And we unite and go to changes, for the changes are real. I
do not see that “Bargavach Hayastan” wants any change. Today’s state
completely satifies them, they want changes for everything remains
the same. And Victor Dallakian added those rows,” A.Sargsian said. “A
ruling pyramid exits in the political field, and Robert Kocharian
and Serzh Sargsian, who characterize the evil, unjust, falsification,
corruption, are on the top of the pyramid.
Another, opposing pyramid must be formed which must have its top,
and that top must chracterize the good, just. And the struggle must
be between those two pyramids,” the head of the “Hanrapetoutiun”
party is sure.

YEREVAN LAKE TO BECOME RESTING ZONE IN COMING ONE-TWO YEARS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Lake will be so clean in
one-two years that people will rest near that lake instead of going
to Sevan. Vrezh Gabrielian, the Deputy Chief of the Rescue Service
of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration stated about it at
the August 7 press-conference.
According to him, the territory near the lake will also be in good
order.
V.Gabrielian mentioned that Lake Yerevan must become safe in
the sense of both ecology and emergency situations. According to
him, planning-estimate works of 17 mln drams (about 41.5 thousand
U.S. dollars) were ordered for cleaning the lake, moving and burying
mud in a safe territory.

LEVON ARONIAN IS DEFEATED AT FINAL OF DARTMOUTH INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
DARTMOUTH, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The 19th class chess international
super tournament with participation of 8 most powerful grand masters of
the world finished in August 6 in Dartmouth. Levon Aronian from Armenia
lost the last 3 games after 4 uninterrupted drawn games. Kramnik and
Svidler got 4.5 points from 7 possible ones. Kramkin having higher
coefficients was recognized the winner.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA COURT OF CASSATION OVERWORKED
YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first half year of 2006, the
RA Courts of First Instance accepted 29 thousand 176 civil cases,
on 20 019 of which verdicts were issured (among them 15 552 ones
were issured by satisfying the claim), 2181 cases were not examined,
and 6976 cases were left for the second half year of 2006. 57 of
verdicts concerned cases relating to applications on protection
of the electoral rights during elections. Hovhannes Manukian, the
Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation informed about it at the August
7 press-conference. He reminded that in the first half year of 2005, 50
thousand 779 cases were registered at the RA Courts of First Instance,
on 37 147 of which verdicts were issured. It was mentioned that 2509
appeal complaints were got against 19 962 verdicts subject to appeal
at the RA Court of Cassation on Civil Cases. 1396 of appeal complaints
were not satisfied. 1391 cassation complaints were presented to the
Chamber of Civil and Economy Cases of the RA Court of Cassation. 63
of them were left without satisfying. 16 thousand 62 verdicts were
factually not appealed and came into legal force. According to
H.Manukian, in the first half year of 2006, 2509 cases entered the
RA Appeal Court on Civil Cases. On 1080 of them verdicts were issued:
50 cases among them were quashed, 788 were left without examination,
641 ones were left for the second half year of 2006. Compared with
the verdicts issued by the Courts of First Instance, 1396 verdicts
of the Appeal Court were of same context, 304 verdicts were of quite
another context, 168 verdicts were of partly other context. According
to data of the Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation, from the 1080
verdicts issued at the RA Appeal Court on Civil Cases, 831 cases
were appealed at the Chamber of Civil and Economy Cases of the RA
Court of Cassation, 501 of which were not satisfied, 249 verdicts
were not appealed and came into legal power. He informed that in
January-June of 2006, 4500 cases entered the RA Economic Court on
1563 of which verdicts were issued and decisions were made, among
them, 164 cases were quashed, 370 cases were not examined, 10 ones
were sent according to subjection, 2557 were left for the second half
year of 2006. From the 1563 verdicts issued by the RA Economic Court,
297 cases were appealed at the Chamber of Civil and Economic Cases of
the RA Economic Court, 192 of which were not satisfied, 1266 verdicts
were not appealed and came into legal force. H.Manukian mentioned that
the RA Court of Cassations continued working overworked (the Chamber
on Criminal and Soldiers’ Cases of the court examined in the first
half year of 2006 30 complaints relating to criminal cases as well),
what does not give the Court of Cassation a possibility to function
as the highest judicial instance of the country. According to him,
a possibility was given for that court for the main function reserved
by the RA Constitution, an identical usage, security of the law by
the legislative reforms on the judicial system come into force from
August 5, according to which, the RA Court of Cassation got a right
of registering only important cases according to their discretion.

SYRIA AND ARMENIA TO COOPERATE IN SCIENTIFIC FIELD
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 – 07:10 PM
ALEPPO, (SANA) – Syria and Armenia discussed Tuesday ways of enhancing
and developing the bilateral relations between the two friendly
countries particularly in scientific field.
For his part, Armenian Charge’d Affair Ashor Mana Sirian pointed out at
aspects of joint cooperation between Aleppo University and Armenia’s
universities particularly in the cultural domains, underlining the
necessity of deepening the scientific and cultural relations between
the two countries.
A.Zeitoun / S.Younes

PUTIN AWARDS ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP TO ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS GAREGIN II
Interfax, Russia
Aug. 8, 2006
Moscow, August 8, Interfax – Russian President Vladimir Putin has
awarded an Order of Friendship to Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos Karekin
II of All Armenians.
The Order of Friendship was conferred on Karekin II “in recognition
of his great contribution to the development and strengthening of
Russian-Armenian friendly relations,” the Kremlin press service told
Interfax on Tuesday.
Karekin II is the 132nd Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All
Armenians. He is an honorary member of the Armenian Academy of Sciences
and holder of national awards of the USSR, Jordan, Rumania, Ukraine
and France.

YEREVAN ANNOUNCES CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH, BUT TAX REVENUE STILL LAGS
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Aug. 8, 2006
By Emil Danielyan
Armenia’s economy is on track to expand at a double-digit rate for
a sixth consecutive year, earning the government in Yerevan more
praise from Western lending institutions. The Armenian authorities
say that growth may slow down in the coming years but will still be
strong enough to bring about a further drop in poverty and a sizable
increase in the still modest public spending.
Official macroeconomic data for the first half of this year show the
country’s gross domestic product increasing by almost 12% despite a
slight decrease in industrial output. Trade and Economic Development
Minister Karen Chshmaritian blamed the drop on July 26 on a continuing
downturn in the local diamond-cutting industry, which produces one of
Armenia’s key export items. He assured reporters that the impending
reactivation of two large industrial enterprises in Yerevan will
significantly boost the manufacturing sector in the second half.
The continuing robust growth has created additional inflationary
pressures on the economy, leading the Armenian Central Bank (CBA) to
twice raise its refinancing rate in recent months. The benchmark rate
is currently set at 4.25%, up from last January’s level of 3.5%. The
bank hopes that the new rate will help to keep inflation within a 3%
limit in 2006. The Armenian authorities say this growth is one of
the reasons for a renewed appreciation of the national currency, the
dram. It has gained more than 10% in value against the U.S. dollar
since January and is now worth 30% more, in dollar terms, than it
was in late 2004.
Western donors, notably the International Monetary Fund, have been
quick to heap more praise on Armenia. “Armenia’s economic performance
has been impressive in recent years: double-digit growth since 2001 in
an environment of low inflation; a strengthening external position;
a reduction in poverty; and, more recently, a notable improvement
in tax performance,” the IMF’s managing director, Rodrigo de Rato,
said during a late June visit to Yerevan. “The authorities have done a
commendable job in maintaining sound macroeconomic policies,” he added,
promising to reward them with $34 million in additional IMF loans.
“Even China is not achieving that sort of growth,” observed Jeroen
Kremers, another senior IMF official. The macroeconomic performance
also earned Armenia this summer its first-ever credit ratings by two of
the world’s leading risk-assessment companies. The BA2 and BB- grades
assigned to it by Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch, respectively,
indicate a medium-level of creditworthiness and a relatively high risk
of doing business. Armenian Finance Minister Vartan Khachatrian and
Tigran Sarkisian, chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, insisted
at a July 25 news conference that the ratings are quite high for an
ex-Soviet state and will facilitate foreign investment.
The Armenian economy shrank by half in 1992 and 1993 following
the Soviet collapse and the outbreak of the wars in Karabakh and
elsewhere in the South Caucasus. Its slow recovery began in 1994
and accelerated several years later, despite Azerbaijan and Turkey’s
continuing economic blockades of Armenia resulting from the unresolved
Karabakh conflict. Armenian growth has averaged nearly 12% since 2001,
according to official statistics endorsed by the IMF and the World
Bank. The real impact on living standards on the country has been a
matter of contention, however.
The Armenian government says the proportion of Armenians living below
the official poverty line fell from 56% to 34.6% between 1999 and
2005. But the picture is rather mixed on closer inspection. While
increased prosperity is visible in Yerevan (e.g., skyrocketing real
estate prices, proliferating cars, shops, and other small businesses),
many regions outside the Armenian capital have seen little development
over the past decade. The economic upswing has clearly not been
accompanied by the creation of a sufficient number of new jobs, with
some independent studies suggesting that unemployment may still be as
high as 30%. The uneven distribution of the benefits of growth also
manifests itself through massive tax evasion by Armenia’s wealthiest
citizens, many of them having close ties with the government.
Although the Armenian government’s tax revenues have been growingly
steadily and considerably, they still made up only 14.5% of GDP last
year, one of the lowest ratios in the former Soviet Union. President
Robert Kocharian’s top economic adviser, Vahram Nercissiantz, admitted
recently that the Armenian state budget, projected at just over $1
billion in 2006, should have been much bigger given the real volume
of economic activity in the country.
The Kocharian administration claims to be tackling the problem in
earnest. It has promised in particular to raise by 40% the salaries
of civil servants and schoolteachers as well as pensions in the
next three years. The pledge is part of the Armenian government’s
short-term economic outlook that predicts a GDP growth of at least 6%
a year from 2007 through 2009. Officials say Armenia’s GDP per capita
will rise from the current $1,600 to $2,300 as a result.
Fitch also offered a “stable outlook” for the Armenian economy in
a report released last June. But the Western credit rating firm
cautioned that the economy remains “vulnerable to shocks” due to a
low level of monetization and underdeveloped financial services. It
also said the authorities in Yerevan should do more to “strengthen
governance and the still relatively immature political system, as
well as reduce the high level of corruption.”
(Noyan Tapan, August 1; Azg, July 26-27; RFE/RL Armenia Report,
June 28, June 8; Hayots Ashkhar, June 20)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lawmakers hit stack of state bills
Los Angeles Daily News
Aug. 8, 2006
Progress over politics emphasized
BY HARRISON SHEPPARD, Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – On their first day back in session after summer break,
state lawmakers swept Monday through hundreds of bills dealing with
everything from the Armenian Genocide to colored contact lenses,
trying to clear their desks before bills expire Aug. 31.
Lawmakers said despite the gubernatorial election looming in November,
they believe they can set aside partisan differences and collaborate
on important legislation, as they did earlier this year on the state
budget and the infrastructure bond package.
“For sure, Democrats want to get that top (governor’s) job back,”
said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, D-Los Angeles. “We all want that
top job back, but at the same time we realize how important it is to
get things done for Californians.
“The way one can characterize where we are is that political ideology
comes second to progress. That’s going to be the focus over the next
three weeks.”
One of the bills approved Monday was AB 1524, by Sen. Jackie Speier,
D-San Mateo, which allows heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide
who live in California to file legal claims against banks in an effort
to recover assets looted by the Turkish government in the early 1900s.
“Over 900,000 Armenian-Americans reside in California,” said
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles. “Many of their families
were killed in the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923 and their
assets were abruptly seized by the Turks and placed in German banks.
No effort has been made by these banks to return their assets to
their rightful owners.”
The bill, which has already passed the Senate, went through the
Assembly on a 65-2 vote.
A similar bill was approved Monday for victims of the Mexican
repatriation in California during the 1930s, in which legal U.S.
citizens of Mexican descent were forcibly and illegally deported to
Mexico. Some experts estimate that more than 400,000 legal citizens
were deported from California during a wave of anti-immigrant hysteria
and the loss of jobs during the Great Depression.
The bill, SB 1765, allows victims to file claims for loss of property
or injury due to the forced repatriations.
Another bill that passed prohibits the sale of colored contact lenses
without a prescription. The bill’s author, Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi,
R-Lodi, said the lenses, which change the color of a person’s eyes
without enhancing vision, can often be misused without a proper fitting
and care instructions, leading to infections and possibly blindness.
“These colored contact lenses are used indiscriminately by people,”
said Nakanishi, who is also an ophthalmologist. “In fact, if it’s not
looked after, it can cause infection and cornea ulcers. The ulcers
are bad – you can turn blind from it.”
Some of the problems are caused when users, particularly teenagers,
share the lenses, which can lead to contamination and infection. They
may wear the lenses for too long without taking them out and cleaning
them.
Among other topics the Legislature is expected to tackle in the waning
days of the session are cable competition, minimum wage, greenhouse
gases and redistricting.
–Boundary_(ID_QKEBP1Ouvi1RWnEwYWj tmA)–

OSCE supports public monitoring of pre-trial detention centres in Armenia
Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Aug. 8, 2006
YEREVAN, 7 August 2006 – Human rights non-governmental organizations
today began monitoring the conditions in pre-trial detention centres
as part of a project supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The project will initially run for three months. It aims to gather
information about human rights standards in the detention centres
so that suggestions on how to improve the situation and increase
government accountability can be made. A monitoring report will
be presented to the Armenian police that is in charge of pre-trial
detention centres.
“The establishment of a monitoring mechanism for pre-trial detention
facilities in Armenia is a remarkable step forward to establish full
public monitoring for all places of detention in the country,” said
Lars Gerold, an ODIHR Rule of Law expert.
In recent years the OSCE Office and the ODIHR have supported the
creation and work of the Armenian Prison Monitoring Board, which
observes the conditions within Armenian pre-trial detention centres.
The ODIHR provided funding for the institutional set up of the board
for at least three months and assisted with training for the members
of the board.
The OSCE has invited Kassimir Khanev, Chairman of the Helsinki
Committee of Bulgaria, to provide advice and share experiences with
the Armenian monitors.
“Public oversight over detention centres provides an opportunity to
make sure that the rights of detainees are adequately protected,”
he said.
Mr. Khanev will participate in several monitoring visits together
with his Armenian colleagues. Earlier this year, the OSCE provided
special training for the monitors.