5 ARMENIAN CITIES WILL DEVELOP WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UNO
A1+
[04:57 pm] 08 June, 2006
Today, five cost-sharing agreements were signed with five
municipalities and Memorandum of Understanding with the US Agency for
International Development (USAID) for projects in the scope of UNDP
Armenia Performance Budgeting project. In addition, United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) presented the Performance Budgeting
Manual.
The ceremony, held in UN House in Yerevan, was attended by
municipality teams, experts of the project, USAID representatives,
as well as representatives of the US Treasury Department, Armenia
Social Investment Fund, Government and the media.
The “Performance Budgeting in Local Government” training manual
presented today is a product of a comprehensive and in-depth work
in the framework of the Performance Budgeting initiative supported
by UNDP. The manual presents experiences gained during training
courses, advisory meetings, and joint seminars and actual budgeting
processes conducted in the five pilot towns of Armenia (Ijevan, Masis,
Abovyan, Vedi and Dilijan). It provides a detailed description of local
performance budgeting principles, framework, budgeting process phases,
and budget planning, execution, and oversight. It is designed to become
a step-by-step guide for other communities in Armenia and abroad.
According to the manual, the UNDP will assign 20 000 USD to each
community which in its turn is to add 20 000 USD to that sum. The
only exception is Ijevan as the money assigned to this community by
the project will be doubled and will be 80 000USD.
According to Narine Sahakyan, head of the UNDP social-economic project
each community will spend the money in its own way. “For instance,
in Abovyan the money will be spent on heat supply of kindergartens.
In Masis the entrances of blocks of flats will be reconstructed. The
busiest street will be reconstructed In Vedi and finally in Dilijan
in addition to all above mentioned matters illumination problem will
be solved. As for Ijevan, the garden of sculptures will be set up,”
she says.
Since its inception in 2005, the Performance Budgeting Project
has generated much interest among local self-governance bodies
in Armenia. The goals of the project are to support further
decentralization in Armenia, strengthen the capacities of local
self-governance bodies, and facilitate accountable and measurable
public expenditure management. It assists in the implementation of
performance budgeting during community planning, monitoring, and
evaluation processes ensuring citizens’ participation in the whole
process. This is new to not only Armenia, but also to the region.
Ms. Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident
Representative made a welcoming speech and ensured the transparency
of the project. She urges that this is a good chance for Armenian
regions to combat against poverty and to eliminate that phenomenon.
Mayor of Ijevan Varujan Nersisyan attaches great importance to the
project and joint cooperation with the UNO and claims that a number of
community matters will be solved. “We have registered 30% growth in our
income which is an excellent result for the city and if we work at the
same rate we voice hope that next year our income will increase more.”

THEY REMEMBERED ABOUT THE FRONTIER VILLAGES
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[05:41 pm] 08 June, 2006
Our authorities finally realized that the economic growth is only
obvious in Yerevan. It is necessary to promote the economic growth
of rural areas as well in order to provide compete development of
the country.
The 3rd Armenia-Diaspora Summit which will be held on 18 – 20 September
will serve this aim. The agenda of the summit will be the economic
promotion of the rural regions.
Today Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian informed that first of all they
want to assist the frontier villages the number of which is about 150.
“A question will be aroused – to reconstruct the substructures of
the rural areas, to contribute to their economic development and to
create conditions for decent life and work in rural areas with the
joint efforts and contribution of the RA Government, business circles,
Diaspora, and many international organizations.”
By the way, this idea probably occurred to our authorities
after international organizations became interested in RA rural
territories. The interest of foreigners towards Armenia made our
officialdom reconsider their own approach to the economic growth and
the terrible state of Armenian villages.
The date of the summit will coincide with the 15th anniversary of the
RA Independence. In Oskanian’s opinion serious work was implemented
in order to strengthen the Armenia-Diaspora relations.
“Armenia-Diaspora Summit is a serious institutional structure,”
announced Vartan Oskanian in today’s press release and connected it
with the festival “One nation, one culture” Pan Armenian games, and
the festival “Golden Apricot.” Two forums will be held during the
summit; economic, organized by the Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development and agro-forum, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Vartan Oskanian presented the program; the plenary session will
be convened on the first day of the summit, on September 18 during
which the Presidents of RA and NKR, the Catholicos of all Armenians
will deliver speeches. The key issues of the next day meeting will
be related to the Armenian rural areas.
The participation of the summit is free but the participants must
place their orders in advance.

A LAW GENERATING MONOPOLY
A1+
[07:33 pm] 08 June, 2006
On June 8 at the House of Journalist in Yerevan a press-conference
was held, where the representatives of journalistic associations spoke
about the draft amendments to the RA Laws “On Postal Communication”,
“On Licensing” and “On State Duty”, proposed by the RA National
Assembly deputies of the United Labor Party Gurgen Arsenian and
Grigor Ghonjeyan.
According to the draft amendments developed by them, the provisions
on licensing of organizations who implement subscription for print
periodicals and their delivery should be removed from the respective
laws.
In April this year similar amendments to the Law “On Postal
Communication” were proposed by Yerevan Press Club.
The drafts of the ULP faction meet the requirements of the journalistic
community and the press disseminating agencies. However, as it was
stated at the press-conference, the stance of the Government does cause
concern. The Government agrees that the subscription service does not
have to be licensed, yet maintains that the subscription delivery
is actually the same as the letter delivery, and its licensing is
necessary as conditioned by the interests of the consumers.
In the opinion of journalistic associations, the functioning of
the Law “On Postal Communication” as the Government sees it will
mean a shutdown for many private companies engaged in newspaper and
magazine delivery by subscription: their small profits will not afford
the payment of 5 million AMD for the license (over $ 11,500). The
monopolist position, with all the resulting negative consequences, will
be taken by the national communication operator “Haypost” (“Armpost”).
Putting an equality sign between the deliveries of open print
periodicals with letter delivery is completely illogical: the
letters contain confidential information and hence the activity of
the organizations that deliver them to the addressees must be under
certain control of the state.
Meanwhile, on June 7 the RA State Commission for the Protection of
Economic Competition admitted that “Armpost” has already taken a
dominating position on the market in several services, including
interstate post, telegraph and urgent messaging service.
On June 9 the proposed amendments to the RA Law “On Postal
Communication”, “On Licensing” and “On State Duty” will be considered
by the RA NA Standing Committee on the Issues of Finance, Loan,
Budget and Economy.
The material was provided by the YPC.

THE POLICY OF RESTRAINT AND TOLERANCE WAS ADOPTED
A1+
[07:41 pm] 08 June, 2006
“There are conflicts in the region but the bases of the work of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the BSEC must be the existing general
values,” announced NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan summing up the work of
the 27th BSEC plenary session.
Tigran Torosyan will deliver a press release today together with the
heads of the Assembly delegations.
Torosyan voiced hope that both the work in the scope of the
Parliamentary Assembly and the heads of the delegations will contribute
to the solution of the matters and conflicts existing in the region.
Asked the question what is the attitude of the heads of the delegations
to Turkey’s attempt to omit Armenia from the regional economic projects
the head of the Azei delegation answered that economic cooperation
will be established between the two countries as soon as the Karabakh
conflict is settled.
Head of the Russian delegation Alexander Zasokhov also underlines that
first of all we must concentrate on conflicts and settle the current
matters which unite the countries of the region. “I want to focus on
the fact that the policy of restraint and tolerance was adopted.”
Gagik Minasyan, head of the Armenian delegation noted that Armenia
is really left out from a number of regional issues and he expressed
his regrets on this score. The steps taken in this sphere will later
have their direct influence. I am convinced that one of the most
important factors to settle the already existing conflicts is the
mutually profitable economic cooperation.
The economic policy realized by our neighbors doesn’t contribute to
the solution of the existing issues, on the contrary, it leads them
to a deadlock.”
While speaking about the construction of the
Kars-Akhalqalaq-Tbilisi-Baku railway Gagik Minasyan reminded that the
official position of the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly was announced in
the previous session which is as follows, while implementing regional
projects not only the regional interests but also the interests of
each country of the region must be taken into account.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES MID-TERM EXPENDITURE PROGRAM
Armenpress
Jun 08 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: The government of Armenia has approved
today a mid-term expenditure program for the next three years. Deputy
finance and economy minister Pavel Safarian said this program will
serve as the basis for drafting next year’s budget.
Safarian said the mid-term program projects 6 percent real GDP growth
rate for the next three years and a 3 percent inflation. He said
budget revenues are projected to rise to 447 billion drams in 2007,
to 507 billion drams in 2008 and to 560 billion drams in 2009.
He said the share of taxes in the overall GDP will be rising 4-5
percent in the next three years. From 15.2 percent expected this
year they are envisaged to grow to 15.6 % in 2007 and to 16.6 percent
in 2009.
Government expenditures will be growing 47 billion drams in 2008
and 47 billion drams in 2009. The extra money will go to education,
health, defense and force bodies. The mid-term program is supposed
to go to parliament’s consideration before July 1.

THE CONDUCTOR SEEMS TO REGAIN HIS CONSCIOUSNESS
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[07:59 pm] 08 June, 2006
Outstanding conductor Ohan Douryan’s health is still troubling. But
there is an anchor of hope that he may regain his consciousness
judging by his state today and yesterday; Maestro nodded in answer
to the questions of different doctors. He also raises his hands
subconsciously and makes various movements.
His close friend Vahan Vardapetyan informed us that especially
his right hand is very active. And though now the conductor still
breaths with the help of artificial apparatus his state has become
stable within the recent 4 days. The doctors cannot say how long the
critical state will last.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LAW ON POSTAL COMMUNICATION AGAIN IN THE AGENDA OF MASS MEDIA
Panorama.am
15:22 08/06/06
“The practice of the law has indicated that the concept of “postal
communication services” has been misinterpreted since subscription
services is also understood under it. Those organizations that offer
only subscription services are equalization with organizations that
offer wide variety of other postal services. Therefore, they are
charged for licensing similar to complex postal services – 5 mln
Armenian dram. Such approach will cause liquidation of subscription
services and will end up in monopoly in the field, Boris Navasardyan,
head of Yerevan Press Club said today. According to him, the law
is unfavorable in terms of economy and contradicts to a number
of legal acts, including article 27 of the Armenian Constitution
which protects freedom of information. He said small subscription
services cannot afford AMD 5 mln license fee. “They will withdraw
from the market soon,” he said. After all, the service will be
concentrated in the hands of the national operator – Haypost and
the field will be monopolized. Armen Davtyan and Rafael Tadevosyan,
representatives of Bliz Media and Press Attache also doubted the
logic of the law. “Suppose, I take a credit and pay AMD 5 mln. But
then I have to increase my service fees and in the end the burden
will lay with the customers,” A. Davtyan said assuring that this is
not in the interest of the government proclaimed policy to support
small and mid size businesses.
The interest in the law is connected with the proposal of United
Working Party to make amendments in the law on postal service. The
draft gives solutions to the abovementioned problems and satisfies the
people concerned, as Navasardyan said. The people interested, however,
are concerned that the government will downplay the bill.

SUCH A LIE NEVER HEARD FROM PARLIAMENT STAGE
Panorama.am
16:24 08/06/06
Today Black Sea Economic Cooperation 27th parliamentary assembly closed
in Yerevan. The assembly will hold its next session on November 22-23
in Baku.
Tigran Torosyan, NA Speaker who chaired the session, handed over to
Azeri delegation head Asaf Hajiev a hammer, symbol of chairmanship. The
Azeri deputy read the statement of Azeri Mejlis Speaker Ogtai Osadov
which said in particular, “We are neighbors determined by history and
we should live in peace. There is no alternative to that.” However,
it turns out that Azeris have another alternative – the war as stated
by another Azeri delegation member, Musa Guliev. In his words, if all
the options for conflict regulation end up, the only solution would
be the war.
Asaf Hajiev words excelled all the lies ever heard in the Armenian
parliament. “We invite all parliamentary assembly members to Baku which
has been prominent with its internationalism and tolerance throughout
the history,” he said. Most probably, the Azeri does not remember that
quite recently Armenian defense minister Serz Sargsyan did not leave
for Baku because Azeris said they cannot provide security guarantees.
These words will be remembered in November which is not so far. It
will be then clear if Azerbaijan will do everything to ensure the
works of the parliamentary assembly, especially with the participation
of Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

5 LICENSE COMPANIES DEPRIVED OF THEIR LICENSES
Panorama.am
17:05 08/06/06
Five Armenian insurance companies, Yerashkhik, Avuar, Goba, Ermed and
Inorient are deprived of their licenses to engage in insurance. Such
decision was reached at the council of Central Bank, CB press services
report.
According to the decision, the companies were discharged from insurance
because they violated insurance law of the republic. For example,
the license of Yerashkhik was cut because it has violated the minimal
capital requirements and failed to pay state dues on license. Another
company Goba did not submit to CB documents confirming contribution
to minimal capital.
Those entities that have concluded contracts with any of the 5
companies may terminate they contracts and receive the insurance
sum back.
At the moment 18 insurance companies operate in Armenia.

IS MURDER OF OTHER NATIONALS A POLICY IN RUSSIA?
Panorama.am
18:55 08/06/06
Murder of other nationals has become common in Russia.
Our nationals also are murdered and abused in the country. Only the
last case was qualified as murder based on national identity. However,
none of the criminal cases has been unveiled. Many think that this is a
national policy and some think that they are individual cases. Today
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanyan said that they try to
regulate the issue through ambassadors. “We believe that these are
individual cases and not a policy,” he said. Many think that Russia
chief prosecutor was dismissed particularly because he could not
discover the murders.
Several days ago about 10 public organization and young people staged
demonstration in front of Russian Embassy and Armenian foreign ministry
on that issue.