MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT BELIEVES SERGE SARGSYAN WILL NOT OCCUPY ANDRANIK
MARGARYAN’S PLACE AND WILL NOT RESIGN
Lragir.am
21 July 06
In reply to forecasts that on joining the Republican party with
his administrative and economic resource the defense minister will
gradually take up the role of the formal or informal leader of the
party, Rep. Armen Ashotyan stated July 21 at the Pastark Club that the
Republican Party has a leader, and the powers of the party hierarchy
are set down clearly. Armen Ashotyan said Serge Sargsyan will be
offered the post of the chair of the Council of the Republican Party.
Of course, there is no doubt that the powers of the Republican Party
are set down clearly, but the powers of the government hierarchy
of Armenia are set down equally clearly, which however, did not bar
Serge Sargsyan from having greater powers than the post or posts he
occupies allow. Armen Ashotyan says he is not very close with Serge
Sargsyan and he does not know if his possibilities are greater than the
post. Meanwhile, it is not necessary to be close with Serge Sargsyan
to know this. It is enough to observe which of his possibilities makes
businessmen, heads of communities and other officials announce that
they will be where Serge Sargsyan is.
Or what would happen with the hope of the Republican for becoming
powerful in case the defense minister resigns from his post? “I don’t
think it is possible. Although the president of Armenia appoints
ministers, particularly the minister of defense, I think such a
scenario is not possible, I even think it is impossible.
Political activity and political post do not contradict, and the post
of the minister is political, Mr. Sargsyan is a civilian, who took
up the post of defense minister, two functions, two spheres must be
independent. As a minister of defense, Mr. Sargsyan will work in his
sphere, as a chair of the council of the party he will work in his
sphere,” says Armen Ashotyan.

Republican Party to hold a special sitting
ArmRadio.am
22.07.2006 11:36
The Republican Party of Armenia will hold its special sitting today.
Preceding the parliamentary elections the Party is testing its
forces. Some code changes are envisaged. Particularly, the position of
the President of the Party’ s Council will be resumed. It is noted that
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will be elected to the position. The
majority of the People’s Deputy faction, President of the Football
Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan and Head of Kentron community of Yerevan
Gagik Beglaryan also joined the Republican Party.

International scientific conference on issues of cardiology to open in
Yerevan
ArmRadio.am
22.07.2006 11:48
A two-day international scientific conference dedicated to issues of
cardiology will open in Yerevan today. Some 200 doctors form Yerevan
and marzes will participate in the conference.
The scientific conference aims at introducing Armenian doctors to
the latest novelties in the world medicine.

Sitting on the “Resumption of transportation of passengers in the Black Sea” held in Moscow
ArmRadio.am
22.07.2006 14:30
A meeting dedicated to the “Resumption of transportation of passengers
in the Black Sea” was held in Moscow. Representatives of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Greece and Turkey participated in
the sitting, “Trend” reports. The sitting was held in the framework
of the international collaboration of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization countries, which is presided over by the
Russian Federation.
Issues related to the regular passenger ties in the Black Sea basin and
he prospects of resumption of these were discussed during the meeting.

OLIGARCHS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FAIR SOCIAL SYSTEM
Lragir.am
22 July 06
Society is feudalized, stated Alvard Petrosyan, ARF July 21, the news
agency ARKA reports. Petrosyan said the notion of oligarch is equal
to that of feudal for her. The member of parliament emphasized that
the oligarchs or feudalists are not interested in creating a fair
social system, which would protect the interests of workers. The
lack of social protection is the reason why a “middle class” is not
forming in Armenia. It is not forming, and in the next election they
will again cheat people.

CHURCH IS BUILT IN STEPANAKERT, CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ARRIVED
Lragir.am
22 July 06
On July 22 the first stone will be laid in the fundament of the first
church in Stepanakert. The Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B
arrived in Stepanakert to participate in this ceremony.
Several buildings will be pulled down in the neighborhood of the
polyclinic of Stepanakert. In accordance with the plan, an immense
compound will be built to become the seat of the Artsakh Diocese.
Compensation for expropriation will mount so high that it is not
clear how much only the preparation for building will cost.
Over the past 10 years the only church in Stepanakert was in the hall
of the Home of Culture. Although there is an ancient church in the
downtown, which somehow appeared in the territory of a restaurant.
They say the church, which is called Vararakn, was built by the
Armenian King Vachagan.
In November an American started building a church in Stepanakert
on Hekimyan Street in memory of his son Hakob. The building will be
over soon.
There are churches in almost every village in Karabakh. Although
fanatic believers are hardly found in Karabakh, the way to the church
has always been open.

PRODUCTION OF PRECIOUS STONES DECLINED
Lragir.am
22 July 06
Production of precious stones in Armenia is declining, announced
the president of DCL Gagik Abrahamyan July 21, the news agency ARKA
reports. According to him, it is caused by the international crisis,
and does not depend on the Armenian producers. Abrahamyan also said
that the crisis is temporary.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNANCE
Lragir.am
22 July 06
On July 21 Edward Aghabekyan, the mayor of Stepanakert, gave a news
conference and presented a report on the past 6 months. During the news
conference he made a number of interesting statements. For instance,
the mayor of Stepanakert says the draft Constitution of Karabakh
makes think that it was written hastily. “As if we are in a hurry,”
said Edward Aghabekyan. The draft is imperfect, especially with regard
to the institution of local government. There is not a clear division
of powers. “First they said the draft provides for semi-presidential
governance but I did not find any signs of semi-presidential governance
there,” said Edward Aghabekyan.
Edward Aghabelyan was elected mayor of Stepanakert two years ago in
tense struggle with a pro-governmental candidate. He is the leader
of Movement 88 Party, which allied with Dashnaktsutiun, forming the
only opposition faction in the National Assembly with three members
of parliament.
When Aghabekyan was elected mayor despite the plans of the government,
experts said the government would do everything to prove that
Aghabekyan is unable to settle problems. Such an attitude of the
government is evident. It became known, for instance, that this year
the government cut subsidies to communities by 30 percent.
“With such a growth of the GDP cutting subsidies cannot be explained,”
said Edward Aghabekyan. Moreover, it became known that the cut-down
included the most sensitive social programs, namely repair of roofs
of buildings damaged during the war, and repair of houses of killed
liberation soldiers. After the war out of 263 blocks of Stepanakert
the roofs of 26 buildings were repaired only. The problem is urgent for
the people of Stepanakert, and it may give rise to a social protest.
According to the mayor, although the parliament adopted the law
on local governments in 1998, the powers and duties of government
agencies and municipalities are not clearly set down thereby enabling
abuse. The mayor says the powers of local government must be broader.

219 LEBANON ARMENIANS WERE EVACUATED TO YEREVAN
Lragir.am
22 July 06
On July 21 219 Lebanon Armenians were evacuated from Aleppo to Yerevan
by two special flights. 60 citizens of Lebanon with Armenian origin
are registered with the Armenian Embassy to Lebanon, who want to come
to Armenia. Citizens of Lebanon, Armenian citizens of other countries
who are in Lebanon, as well as relatives of citizens of Armenia are
granted a three-month visa free of charge. Already about 380 Armenians
have been evacuated to Armenia.
On July 23 128 Armenians, including 53 children, will fly from Tel
Aviv to Yerevan. The representative of the Armenian foreign ministry
will fly to Tel Aviv to facilitate problems with documents on the spot.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAGIK TSARUKYAN DECLINED REPUBLICAN’S INVITATION
Lragir.am
22 July 06
The extraordinary assembly of the Republican Party on July 22 did not
have many guests. Few parties, even too few parties had been invited.
It became clear that the reason is the peculiarity of the assembly
rather than that of the Republican Party or other political parties.
“Considering the peculiarity of this assembly, it is not an ordinary
assembly, no programs will be presented, therefore we considered it
necessary to invite our colleagues in the parliament.
People’s Deputy and Businessmen groups were also invited,” says
Tigran Torosyan.
>From among colleague parties only Dashnaktsutiun was represented
by leaders, namely Armen Rustamyan, member of the ARF Supreme Body,
and Spartak Seyranyan. From party chiefs the minister of communication
and transport Andranik Manukyan was invited, whose party is known with
the name “Solidarity”. Whereas Gagik Tsarukyan of Bargavach Hayastan
Party (Prosperous Armenia) did not show up at the assembly as a guest,
although the Republicans say he had been invited.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress