LOCAL ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA: DEFEAT WILL PROVE “VIRTUALITY” OF ARMENIAN LEADERS OF JAVAKHETI
Regnum, Russia
Oct 5 2006
On the eve of the Oct 5 local elections in Georgia, the situation in
Samtskhe-Javakheti (mostly Armenian region of Georgia) seemed to be
calm. Some voters even called it “pacified,” thereby, drawing the
observers’ attention to the merciless (till the very last campaign
day) exploitation of strengths and means by the opponent forces. The
atmosphere was tense: some opponents even clashed. The most scandalous
incident – it has even got to the prosecutor’s office – took place
in the Akhalkalaki village of Khorena on Sept 25: representatives
of United National Movement and the Industrialist had a very radical
squabble on that day. As a result, the Akhalkalaki prosecutor’s office
instituted criminal proceedings… Thus, the Oct 4 “pacification” did
not mean that the opponents were exhausted, simply, it is forbidden
to canvass on the eve of elections.
However, the very notion “legal order” can be interpreted quite
differently. Particularly, many people are failing “to find themselves”
in the lists, but, instead, are finding the names of emigrants and
even deceased. The most interesting point is that they can’t complain
of it in “legal order” – the courts are no longer considering such
cases. In any case, for well known reasons, today, the “legal field”
notion in Georgia is specified by the Law On Local Self-government,
whose indisputable advantages over the version of 2001 has become
a bone of contention for the opposing political forces. The law
specifies the legal, economic and financial bases and state guarantees
of local authorities, the procedure of their formation, their powers
and relations with government bodies.
Particularly, local self-government in Georgia has authority to
appoint executives in its territories through electoral municipal
assembly and also:
a) to manage and dispose of the property it owns;
b) to manage and dispose of the land resource it owns;
c) to consider and approve and to amend its draft budget;
d) to impose and collect local taxes, to fix their rates within
admissible limits;
e) to collect local payments;
f) to plan land tenure, to delimitate territories, to establish and
change borders;
g) to regulate local passenger operations;
h) to regulate trade;
i) to plan local traffic except on roads of international and
inter-state significance;
j) to regulate problems related to the conduct of assemblies, rallies,
demonstrations;
k) to name streets and squares.
The above (small) part of local self-government’s powers already show
the indisputable advantages of the new version of the law and are
especially valuable in administrative-territorial units like the mostly
Armenian (in particular) districts of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka
district of the neighboring Kvemo-Kartli region. We would like to
remind you that the Armenian population makes up half of the region’s
demography. Many voters say that it was due exactly to the advantages
of the law that none of the candidates mention in their programs the
traditional demand for “Armenian cultural autonomy” within Georgia.
Nevertheless, the law has lots of discriminative deficiencies.
Particularly, Akhalkalaki district, which has 65 villages (electoral
areas), has been divided into 22 constituencies (sakrebulo) in quite an
interesting “proportion”: if 5 Georgian villages have 5 sakrebulos,
50 Armenians villages have only 17 sakrebulos. The imbalance is
not only quantitative but also demographic: the Georgian village of
Brtena, which has 204 voters and the Armenian village of Kartikama –
2,446 voters – have each one vote in the municipal assembly.
One more novelty of the law is that the Municipal Sakrebulo should
have 10 party-list members. The ruling party of Mikhail Saakashvili,
United National Movement, has quite big share in this list.
Particularly, in Akhalkalaki district it is represented by economist
Gagik Mahtessyan, present governor Artur Yeremyan, director of the
radio center Khachik Ayvazyan, director of the B/P Association LTD
Alexan Torossyan, director of the Agricultural Water Supply Agency
Lyova Kazaryan, director of the Akhalalaki Resource Center Nartsiss
Karapetyan and others – a total of 19 candidates.
The party has no less big a share in the single-mandate lists. In some
districts of Samtskhe-Javakheti it even has no rivals – in Ninotsminda
district it has no single opponent. In other mostly Armenian districts
the situation is different: in Akhaltsikh district UNM’s opponents
are the Road of Georgia party and the Conservatives, while in Tsalka
district of Kvemo-Kartli region – the Industrialists.
Nevertheless, most observers say that the rivalry will be just a
formality. The only district where one can expect some struggle
is Akhalkalaki, where UNM will be opposed by United Javakh, led by
Vahagn Chakhalyan.
It should be noted that the movement figures in the lists of the
Industrialists as “national parties” are denied registration in
Georgia. Unlike its opponent, United Javakh (Industrialists) has
almost no administrative resources: all 12 candidates are unemployed.
“At the same time, we have strong representation and firm ideological
positions in single-mandate districts,” says Chakhalyan. “At first,
we thought about boycotting the elections as, today, you can’t even
imagine free and fair voting in Georgia. We discussed this question
with representatives of Armenian organizations and tried to convince
them that it is dangerous to get involved in this game.
The danger is of ideological nature as the defeat will prove
virtuality of the demands of the Armenian population and their very
leaders. Unfortunately, we have failed to come to terms – the servants
of the present authorities have got into a dangerous game and we had
no other way but to accept this challenge.”
Observers say that the most severe struggle will be exactly in
Akhalkalaki.

ROMANIAN PRESIDENT IN YEREVAN: NO COUNTRY SHOULD JOIN THE EU HAVING NATIONAL PROBLEM
Regnum, Russia
Oct 5 2006
Armenia is going fully to use opportunties envisaged by NATO Individual
Partnership Action Plan, which was approved in December 2005;
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan stated during his meeting
with Romanian President Trajan Basescu in Yerevan. According to him,
Armenia is ready to consider Romanian contribution and participation
in the program’s fulfillment in such context.
In his turn, Mr. Basescu assured; being friendly country, Romania
will contribute to Armenia in all situations, assisting to it, as
far as possible, to approach to the European Union. According to the
Romanian president, no one country should join the EU, having national
problem. He reminded of problems between Romanians and Hungarians,
appeared several years ago, as a result of which, Romania was being
isolated for two years. “Europe should not reconcile itself to such
contradictions because it is multinational organization,” the Romanian
president said.
As REGNUM was informed at the Armenian presidential press office,
the parties also discussed regional problems, prospects, and current
state of Armenia’s relations with neighbors, including Turkey, as
well as last developments in process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement. Trajan Basescu assured; Romania would continue to hold
neutral position on Karabakh problem.

OSCE BROKERS NEW ROUND OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS
The New Anatolian
Oct 5 2006
Envoys from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) on Tuesday brokered a new round of talks between
foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia on the conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Yuri Merzlyakov, a Russian diplomat who co-chairs the so-called Minsk
group of the OSCE dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said
the two nations’ foreign ministers were to meet Friday in Moscow. He
said a time and venue for a meeting of presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan remain to be negotiated.
The foreign ministers’ meeting would restart bilateral talks which
have been interrupted recently due to the lack of progress.
OSCE envoys held talks in Armenia Tuesday a day after visiting
Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a region in Azerbaijan that has been under the
control of Armenian and ethnic-Armenian Karabakh forces since a 1994
cease-fire ended a separatist war. The region’s final status has
not been worked out, and years of talks under the auspices of OSCE
mediators have brought little visible result.

SABANCý: TURKISH ECONOMY MAY BECOME GROWTH ENGINE OF EUROPE
The New Anatolian
Oct 5 2006
Turkish Industrialists & Businessmen Association (TUSÝAD) Chairman
Omer Sabancý has stated that Turkey could not be a member of the
European Union without convincing the European public opinion, and
added “Truths about Turkey should be told. A fair evaluation should
be made. Turkey’s membership in EU is an additional value for all.
Turkish economy may become growth engine of Europe. ” TUSÝAD Chairman
delivered a speech in Paris, France at a panel titled ‘Global
Challenges of Europe and Turkey’ within the scope of Turkish Week.
Reminding that the TUSÝAD demanded the abolition of article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code within the context of freedom of _expression,
Sabancý went on to say, “When we make steps toward more freedom
of _expression, I cannot comprehend the attitude on freedom of
_expression in France”, referring to recent attempts in France
to legislate a prohibition on any speech against alleged Armenian
Genocide issue. Sabancý added he thinks such an attitude befitted a
country fearing the truths.
Minister Tuzmen’s speech At the same panel State Minister for Foreign
Trade Kurþat Tuzmen also delivered a speech.
Regarding Turkish economy, Tuzmen said, “Turkey made more than half
of its foreign trade (which will exceed 200 billion USD in 2006 in
grand total) with Europe this year, and France is very important in
this regard.”
“Our economic performance is better than many EU countries especially
the new EU members. We are the fastest growing country of Europe in
the last three years. We catch the highest speed in export increase
not only in Europe but also in OECD. Turkey’s EU membership will be
for the interest of both our country and the EU,” Tuzmen noted.
He said that Turkey will have important contributions to increase EU
economy’s competitive power as well as dynamism.
–Boundary_(ID_+wDnQ/bsuUGMgYJkttKsaw)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVENTED THE OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS’ VISIT TO STEPANAKERT
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs did not visit Stepanakert because of
unfavorable weather conditions.
ArmInfo correspondent reports from Stepanakert that the US, French
and Russian Co-Chairs had to arrive in Nagorno Karabakh October 4,
but the visit was hindered because of thick fog. The mediators were
due to meet with Arkady Ghukasyan.
The Co-Chairs have already left Yerevan for Moscow, where the Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanian and Elmar
Mammadyarov are scheduled to meet on October 6. Today RA Foreign
Minister will leave for Moscow.

MATTHEW BRYZA: THE US EQUALLY APPRECIATES ITS STRONG TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006
The US equally ppreciates its strong ties with Azerbaijan and Armenia,
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza told ArmInfo,
commenting on the report of the Azerbaijani “AzerTag” state agency,
which ascribes him a biased pro-Azerbaijani position.
Referring to the Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of
Azerbaijan, “AzerTag” agency reported in particular that during
the meeting with Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiev US Co-Chair
Matthew Bryza had mentioned, “Azerbaijan is an important country
for the United States, which highly appreciates the achievements of
Azerbaijan in political and economic spheres.” Besides, according to
the information of the Azeri agency, in response to the statement
by Minister Safar Abiev that “in case the peaceful talks yield no
results, Azerbaijan will regain the territorial integrity itself,”
Matthew Bryza had said Azerbaijan surpasses Armenia in all spheres,
calling on Azerbaijan to wait a little more.
Commenting on the report of the Azeri agency, the US Co-Chair Matthew
Bryza said in his interview that the information of “AzerTag” it
incorrect and does not express the whole essence of what he said
during the meeting with the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan. The US
appreciates the strong ties with Azerbaijan in a number of spheres,
and this refers also to Armenia, the mediator mentioned.

TURKEY MARKS 80 YEARS OF ADOPTION OF SWISS CIVIL CODE
The New Anatolian
Oct 5 2006
The New Anatolian/ Ankara
The country is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the adoption of
the Swiss Civil Code, after a cold snap between the two capitals,
with Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocker in Turkey on a visit.
Ties between the countries cooled after a Swiss public prosecutor
launched a criminal investigation against the head of the Turkish
History Foundation (TTF) in Switzerland over a speech he made denying
the Armenian “genocide,” a violation of Swiss law. Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul described the Swiss investigation as “unacceptable” and
“absolutely contrary to the principle of free speech.”
Historian and Turkey expert Hans-Lukas Kieser, in an interview with
swissinfo, explained how the Islamic sense of justice, the remnants
of the Ottoman Empire and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s aspirations of
European legislation came together.
Q: How did Turkey come to adopt a large part of Switzerland’s
legislation 80 years ago?
HANS-LUKAS KIESER: An important reason was that a brand new state
was being created by a young elite — some of whom had studied in
Switzerland.
The Swiss Civil Code was also considered to be the most modern,
the most simply formulated, the most concise and with the greatest
popular touch.
Q: What changes did this “legal revolution” cause?
KIESER: There were violent changes. Family law is to a certain extent
the nucleus of society and this shift meant the complete abolition
of the Sharia tradition.
Q: Were there also changes concerning women’s rights?
KIESER: Of course. Under traditional Islamic law women are seriously
disadvantaged when it comes to inheritance or divorce and that changed
at a stroke — even if it’s been effective for only a part of society.
Q: Did the introduction of the civil code go smoothly, or were there
obstacles?
KIESER: One of the largest obstacles is power being imposed from those
at the top — in other words, not a grassroots democracy. In this
respect there was resistance to this very authoritarian behavior by the
state, not only from traditional Islamic groups but also from liberals.
Even though the civil code was widely accepted by the elite, its
implementation took decades. It’s only recently that we’ve been able
to talk of a more or less complete implementation.
Q: Did the civil code cause differences of opinion between Turkey
and sympathetic Islamic states?
KIESER: The introduction of the civil code and the abolition of Sharia
law led to resistance, especially from Islamic thinkers and religious
academics. These intellectuals considered that it could only lead to
a decline of Islamic teaching.
Q: The Turkish Civil Code was revised at the end of the 1980s. Did
this lead to a greater religious influence?
KIESER: No. It emphasizes just how dramatic the legal revolution had
been in this respect, as it’s still holding up. The revision took
place at the same time as that of the Swiss Civil Code. The Swiss
federal court’s decisions and commentaries were even translated.

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC TO INVEST IN ARMENIA’S IT SPHERE
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation intends to invest in the development
of the IT sphere of Armenia.
October 6 Representatives of the Mitsubishi Electric Company will
meet with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and the prospects of
implementation of programs will be discussed.
The Mitsubishi Electric will participate in the DigiTec2006 exhibition
to be held October 6-8 in Yerevan.

ALEXI GEOVCHIAN: THE YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006
“Although the Year of Armenia in France is a cultural event, it will
help Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in political affairs also,” noted
Alexi Geovchian, member of the Democratic Party of France, President
of the Board coordinating French-Armenian organizations. In his words,
it is a great historic event and an exceptional opportunity.
Alexi Geovchian said in an interview with “Armenpress” that the Year
of Armenia is exceptional also in the sense that France will get to
know Armenians not only as people that suffered genocide, but also
as a nation having three thousand years of history and culture. Next
year the attitude of the French towards Armenia and Armenians will be
quite different. In Alexi Geovchian’s opinion the Year is a wonderful
opportunity to promote tourism. In his words, Armenian spirit is
already felt in France. Especially after the joint press conference
of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, whole French media
started speaking about Armenia.

SERGE SARGSYAN PAYING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006
October 3 the delegation headed by Secretary of the Presidential
Council on National Security, RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan
participated in the opening ceremony of the 14th “Defendori
International” exhibition of defense systems.
The same day members of the delegation visited the Military Academy
of Land Forces of Greece, where they met with the leadership of the
Academy and the group of Armenian students there.
The delegation visited also the Military Museum of the Defense
Ministry. An agreement was reached with the leadership of the Museum to
arrange exhibition dedicated to the history of Armenian Armed Forces.
October 4 the delegation had a meeting with National Defense Minister
Evangelos Meymarakis. Issues related to the current process and
prospects of Armenian-Greek bilateral military cooperation, a number
of agreements have been reached on the expansion of cooperation in
the spheres of military education and peacekeeping.
The same day in the Armenian Embassy RA Defense Minister met with
representatives of the local Armenian community. Later Serge Sargsyan
gave a press conference to Greek mass media, where he summed up the
results of the visit.