WILL GALUST’S DREAM COME TRUE?
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
Already the former deputy mayor of Yerevan Arman Sahakyan said
the reason for his resignation is the election to the head of the
community of Ajapnyak in fall. Arman Sahakyan said he is likely to
run in the local election. Therefore, he submitted his resignation,
which was accepted by Arman Sahakyan’s party leader, Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan. The factor of the political party was not secondary
because the system of governance is concerned. The Republicans will
now be deployed in the community of Ajapnyak. Arman Sahakyan was
first nominated head of the community of Ajapnyak in 2003. However,
Arman, the son of Galust Sahakyan, was defeated by the encumbant
candidate Artsrun Khachatryan. Khachatryan is the representative of
the so-called clan of Aparan, the protege of Nig Aparan, the honorary
chair of which is Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan.
At that time the Republican Party failed to have its candidate win.
In fact, the Republican Party did not take pains to win and came
to an agreement with Nig Aparan. Naturally, it happened under the
“godfatherhood” of the president administration. There is information
that Galust Sahakyan, Arman Sahakyan’s father, had a grudge on the
leader of the Republican Party because they did not go all the way
to defend his son and make him head of the community. And now Arman
Sahakyan is going to try again, in fact. And though the attempt and
the trier are the same, the situation has changed considerably. The
Republican Party is not the same, and the Attorney General is not
the same either. Of course, it is not known whether Nig Aparan and
Artsrun Khachatryan are also going to try. However, the fact that some
time before the election of the head of the community Arman Sahakyan
resigns from the post of the deputy mayor of Yerevan proves that he
has certain guarantees, nevertheless. And these guarantees are thanks
to this change of the situation. Three years ago the interests and
goals of the government were somewhere else, and fitted into the
principle of “one for all and all for one”.
Now this logic does not work any longer. The Attorney General, who
had just made a bid for becoming a serious political factor three
years ago, is now announcing that he is not going to became engaged
in politics. In other words, Aghvan Hovsepyan announces that he will
not join the Republican conglomerate led by Serge Sargsyan. In this
case, the Republican Party and the wealth of this party, i.e. the
administrative criminal, cannot make a compromise with the Attorney
General if he once again struggles for the office of the head of
the community of Ajapnyak. And this office, as well as the office of
the head of community in general, is a vital need for the Republican
Party which is now working in the reproduction mode. Consequently,
this time the Republican Party will go all the way. Or most probably
there will be no struggle if Arman Sahakyan confidently resigns from
the office of deputy mayor. After all, he failed once and he would
be more cautious not to lose what he already has. Even if he did
not think about it, his experiened father would give him advice,
who has already become convinced that it is not so “profitable”
to rely on the almightiness of the Republican Party.
But it should be noted that the situation has changed. Everybody
knows this, especially Galust Sahakyan and his son. If three years
ago Serge Sargsyan supported the Republican Party, three years later
he is already the chair of the Council of the Republican Party. In
other words, at present Serge Sargsyan is simply for, in other words,
he has a clear and determined interest. Moreover, the Attorney General
failed “to do politics”, he did not join Serge.
Consequently, it should be supposed that Serge Sargsyan “solved
the question” of Arman Sahakyan to become head of the community of
Ajapnyak. In fact, Sargsyan did what Margaryan failed three years
ago. Whereas, it was a simple wish of the brother-in-arms to make his
son head of the community. If the leader of the party cannot fulfill
such simple wishes, and fulfilled only his similar wish to make his
son head of community, the Republicans may naturally come to think
that he is unable to solve more complicated problems, consequently
a more able leader is needed.
After all Galust Sahakyan is not the only Republican who has wishes.
On the other hand, he may not be the only one whose wish came true.
After all, there is a lot of time until the local election, and
if we assume that Serge Sargsyan guaranteed the election of Arman
Sahakyan, it is a question whether someone gave this guarantee to
Serge Sargsyan. And the disappointment with the new leader will be big.
HAKOB BADALYAN

ALREADY TO GOVERN BY A CONCEPT
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
The government of Armenia adopted the concept of management of
state property during the meeting on August 3. It means that further
management, including privatization of the state property will be
carried out in accordance with this long-term concept. “It provides
for the principles, goals and objectives of management of the state
property,” says Ashot Markosyan, the assistant head of the Department
of State Property Management.
It is notable that the government of Armenia has privatized 80
percent of the state property and has just remembered the necessity
of a concept for the remaining 20 percent and adopted it. Perhaps
the remaining 20 percent is of special value for the government and
it should be sold in a special way, in accordance with a concept.
Besides, it is more fashionable, not to allow accusing of not having
a concept. In the meantime, there was not a concept when it was
needed, but when there is almost no state property, the concept of
its management is adopted.
Ashot Markosyan says the concept concerns not only privatization but
also the enterprises which have already been privatized. According
to Ashot Markosyan, one of the underlying questions of the concept
is the question of the authorized representatives of the state to
companies partly shared by the state.
“The problem is that presently there are problems with their functions,
rights and duties. For instance, on what basis does the authorized
representative of the state make one decision or another or endorse one
decision of another? The next problem is their salary. Today, in fact,
this question is in the air. The concept sets the objective to approach
it from the point of view of public interest,” says Ashot Markosyan.
On the whole, the concept of management of state property has a single
goal: the government needs to manage state property effectively,
and if it is going to privatize it, the public interest should be
taken into account. This lofty goal of the concept suggests that so
far the government has not managed the state property effectively and
did not privatize it in favor of the public interest. Simply now
they are thinking about tomorrow. After all, noting is eternal,
including power, and perhaps in preparing to leave the executive
decided to adopt a concept to make the next government also to manage
the state property effectively and privatize it in favor of the public
interests. We can only appreciate the farsightedness of the government
and even forgive some short-sighted steps of the conceptless times.

CO-CHAIRS TO WAIT FOR PARTIES TO REPLY
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs discussed the current stage of the
settlement of the Karabakh issue in Paris. The Embassy of France
to Armenia delivered the statement of the U.S., French and Russian
co-chairs to the news agency ARKA on August 3. During the meeting
the co-chairs also got acquainted with the results of the regional
visit of their American colleague.
The statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs emphasizes that
proceeding from the G8 statement on the conflict over Karabakh the
co-chairs discussed the ways of settlement of the problem, which will
be presented to the conflict parties, and will wait for their reply.

CENTRAL HOTEL OF SHUSHI TO BE RECONSTRUCTED
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
American Armenian businessmen and benefactors, the co-owners of the
former central hotel of the town of Shushi the Papayants family and
Abo Poghikyan (U.S.) are visiting Karabakh. Several years ago the
9-storey hotel was transferred to the benefactors, which was partly
repaired by the owners of Armenicum. At that time there was a plan to
open an anti-AIDS center in Shushi. This aim was not fulfilled, and it
was decided to transfer the hotel for benefactors for reconstruction.
According to the co-owners, the hotel will be opened by early May
2007. It is also foreseen by the same project to improve the park
near the central square. The reconstruction of Shushi is gathering
momentum. And there is already a need for a comfortable hotel.

ABDULLAYEVA PLACES GHUKASYAN IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
On August 3 Arzu Abdullayeva, the chair of the Azerbaijani National
Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly, gave a news conference in Baku.
This news conference is interesting in the sense that Abdullayeva
told about her visit to Armenia and especially Karabakh. The news
conference of the Azerbaijani defender of human rights revealed some
interesting details concerning Arkady Ghukasyan. Maybe these are not
revelations but in this case Arkady Ghukasyan should also announce
about it or deny Abdullayeva’s words. And according to Abdullayeva,
Arkady Ghukasyan said, “the agreement of Armenians to the settlement
involving a common state was a concession and a chance for Azerbaijan
which Azerbaijan missed, however”. But it is not all that Ghukasyan
said and that Abdullayeva told in his homeland.
According to Abdullayeva, Arkady Ghukasyan considered the discussion
of an interim status possible. “An interim status is interesting,
however we must know what is awaiting us in the future,” said the NKR
president according to Abdullayeva. But this is not the end. According
to the Azerbaijani defender of human rights, Ghukasyan recognized the
right of Azerbaijan to work out the status of Karabakh. This is the
end. Hopefully this will be the end of Ghukasyan as the NKR president.
We should ask Arkady Ghukasyan what he considers himself to be in
Karabakh, a president, a governor or a self-declared official. If he is
a president, of which country? If he is the president of Karabakh, what
interim status the head of the state which was declared independent
in 1992 is talking about? It is clear that the state has not been
recognized yet but Arkady Ghukasyan may be convinced that it will
not be recognized if the head of this state speaks about an interim
status. Moreover, he also speaks about the right of Azerbaijan with
regard to the status. The right of the same Azerbaijan which used
aggression against Karabakh. The same Azerbaijan, from which Karabakh
became independent, at the expense of thousands of victims. And now
the president of this independent country not only considers the
existence of some interim status possible but also recognizes the
right of a state to interfere although our people gave thousands of
victims to become free from this state.
If Arkady Ghukasyan considers himself a governor, he made a serious
subordination mistake, speaking about something which is the right
of the president of Armenia, because he works out the foreign policy
of the country. And if Arkady Ghukasyan is a self-declared official,
in this case Karabakh needs to hold a presidential election as soon
as possible, for someone may decide to grant an interim status to an
independent state. Hurry to save Karabakh!
It is also possible that Arkady Ghukasyan has serious expectations
that after reaching an interim status until 2007 he will have a
chance to be president for another two terms in Karabakh with a new
status. Especially that Matthew Bryza hinted that the spring of 2007
is a favorable period for a definitive agreement. Devil knows what may
happen, and if before the NKR presidential election in 2007 Karabakh
is given a new status, Arkady Ghukasyan will get a legitimate chance
for nomination which he does not have now. It should not be forgotten
even if the country’s independence is forgotten, that the devil jokes
when God allows him to.
However, it is also possible that Ghukasyan does not forget, and the
devil is not joking, simply Abdullayeva is lying. It is not excluded,
because they all are human beings and tell lies, especially in their
homeland. And in that case it is not enough that Arkady Ghukasyan
publicly refutes Abdullayeva’s statement. The society does not
have a reason to believe Ghukasyan more than Abdullayeva or vice
versa. Especially that Azerbaijan is the homeland for Abdullayeva’s
lies, and Karabakh is for Ghukasyan’s. However, it is wrong to tell
lies in the homeland, otherwise this time God will not try, God will
punish immediately.
HAKOB BADALYAN

“KILIKIA” ARMENIAN SAILING SHIP TO ARRIVE AT NIZHNI NOVGOROD TODAY
Yerevan, August 3. ArmInfo. The “Kilikia” Armenian sailing ship will
arrive at Nizhni Novgorod today. As the “New Region ” informs, the
yacht will moor to the foot of Chkalovsk stairs at 1:00 PM.
To be reminded, the sailing ship was built in 2004 by the participants
of “Ayas” Yerevan club of sea investigations based upon ancient
manuscripts and miniatures and using medieval technologies. The
yacht carried out its first voyage the same year, having sailed by
Mediterranean Sea. In 2006, the yacht has sailed by Venice-Amsterdam
route, passing Spain and France.

LEGENDARY FRENCH FOOTBALL PLAYER TAKES PART IN OPENING OF SMALL
ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS IN YEREVAN
Yerevan, August 3. ArmInfo. The legendary French football player,
the vice president of the National Football Federation of France,
FIFA and UEFA executive Michel Platini has taken part in the opening
of small artificial turf fields in Yerevan’s Avan and Kanaker-Zeitun
communities.
During his visit Platini will meet with Armenian PM Andranik Margayan,
President of the Football Federation of Armenian Ruben Hayrapetyan,
local political, sport and public figures.
Asked by journalists to comment on the Zidane-Materazzi incident
during the World Cup 2006 final, Platini said: “I was shocked like
everybody. I think Zidane’s red card was absolutely fair!”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT DISCUSSED ISSUES OF RESTORATION OF BIGGEST HOTEL IN
SHUSHI WITH AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN
Stepanakert, August 3. ArmInfo. The issues of restoration of the
biggest 9-story hotel in Shushi were discussed during the meeting
of NKR President Arkadiy Ghukassyan with the American businessmen
and patrons, the co-owners of the former Shushi central hotel, the
family of Palayants and Akop Pokhikyan.
As ArmInfo was told in NKR President’s press-office, during the
meeting, the businessmen told the NKR President about the course of
repair-renewal operations and plans. It is scheduled to put the hotel
in commission by the beginning of May, 2007. The President noted
the importance of retaining a unified architectural image of the
city of Shushi during restoration and construction works. He highly
appreciated the contribution of Serzh Palayants and Akop Pokhikyan in
the implementation of charitable and investment programs in Nagorno
Karabakh.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN AN EXHIBITION OF ARMS IN MOSCOW
Yerevan, August 3. ArmInfo. The delegation of the Republic of
Armenia will take part in the international “MVSV-2006” military
equipment exhibition, started yesterday in Moscow. The exhibition
is dedicated to the 15-th anniversary of the formation of the CIS –
Commonwealth of Independent States, and is sponsored by the Defense
Ministry of Russia. The Defense Ministry informed ArmInfo that the
Armenian delegation will be lead by Deputy-Minister for Defense Yuri
Khachaturov. The main exposition is placed on the whole are of the
Pan-Russian Exhibition Center, and the other part of the program will
be represented on a polygon in the suburbs of Moscow. It is expected
that over 400 exponents from over 10 states of the world will take
part in the exhibition
Representatives of Belarus, Great Britain, France, Poland, UAE,
Israel, Ukraine, Japan will be present to the event. Also delegations
from Indonesia, China, India, Malaysia, Jordan, Venezuela, Myanma,
Uganda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Libya, Angola, Kongo, Finland,
Yemen, Greece, Iran, Bulgaria and other states.

CASES OF DEATH CONNECTED WITH SERVICE REDUCE BY 51.3% AT RA ARMED FORCES
DURING FIRST HALF YEAR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. 19 cases of death connected with
service were fixed at the RA Armed Forces during the first half year
of 2006 instead of 39 ones of the first half year of 2005 (reduction
made 51.3%). During the same period of time, 574 servicemen got bodily
injury of different levels of seriousness in return for 477 cases of
the same period of the previous year. Cases of general bodily injuries
increased by 97, and cases of serious bodily injury reduced by 11.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress