RA MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY AT RA PRESIDNET’S OFFICE
ArmRadio.am
19.05.2006 17:55
Issues related to 2007-2009 medium-term expenditure programs, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation and international financial structures
were discussed today during the working meeting of President Robert
Kocharyan and RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatryan.
The Minister informed that the discussions of medium-term expenditure
programs have come to an end. These expressed the Minister’s
instructions on raising the minimum salary and increasing the funds
directed at medical services and social problems of servicemen.
Vardan Khachatryan informed that this year for the first time the
programs presented by the International Monetary Fund were approved
not by the Board of Directors, but via query, which means these are
being accomplished without problems.

RA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER’S VISIT TO VANADZOR
ArmRadio.am
19.05.2006 18:04
On May 19, 2006, Mr. Armen Harutyunyan, the RA Human Rights Defender,
visited Vanadzor for the first time during his term in the office,
which was also his first visit to the marz.
He was the guest in the Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Center
(ACRPC) and had a meeting with the organization’s chairman and heads
of departmen ts. The CARPC Chairman presented the organization’s
activities;
The Defender met with more than a dozen of representatives of Vanadzor
NGOs in the ACRPC HR Library.
Within the framework of the visit Mr. Harutyunyan met also with
Mr. Henrik Kochinyan, the Governor of Lori marz, and Mr. Samvel
Darbinyan, the Mayor of Vanadzor City.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INDEPENDENCE OF KARABAKH IS NOT IN RUSSIA’S INTERESTS
Lragir.am
19 May 06
Vladimir Putin told Robert Kocharyan to reject the invitation of the
President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Leluche, who has already
met with the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev. Russian political
scientist Andranik Mihranyan is said to have made such a statement
on May 18 in Yerevan. On May 19 he was invited to the Hayeli Club,
and the news reporters tried to find out from him if this information
was true. He said he had not asked Putin or Kocharyan and he does not
know what they talked about, or whether they talked or not. Andranik
Mihranyan said it was Robert Kocharyan’s decision to decline the
invitation and there has been no pressure on behalf of Moscow.
“At least I do not know about it. You know that the heads of state
decide themselves the advantages or disadvantages of taking one step
or another. I think in the current reality it was much more compliant
with the interests of Armenia, therefore Kocharyan did not go to that
summit,” says Andranik Mihranyan.
The meeting in Paris would probably be part of the process of
settlement of the Karabakh conflict if it would take place at all. It
is difficult to tell what its influence and result would be. Andranik
Mihranyan says he is optimistic about the settlement of regional
issues. Mihranyan points to the model of Kosovo to underlie the
settlement of these problems. According to him, Putin and Lavrov have
already announced to the West that the independence of Kosovo should
be assumed as a precedent and be applied to Transdnyestr, Abkhazia
and Osetia. Andranik Mihranyan says it is the duty of the Armenian
diplomacy to extend the list and include Nagorno Karabakh. “In order
for Russia to recognize, the Armenian diplomacy should explain that
this is in the interests of Russia,” says Mihranyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COPPER, DIAMONDS AND ALCOHOL DRINKS COMPRISE 242 MILLION OUT OF 235 MILLION GROWTH
Lragir.am
19 May 06
“Who is ruling, and why are they ruling so that our national producers
suffer, have they done harm to the president of the Central Bank, and
why are they ruling so that our importers receive tremendous profits,
have they done something good for the president of the Central
Bank?” On May 19 one of the main opponents of the president of the
Central Bank Tigran Sargsyan, economist Edward Aghajanov asked these
questions to Sargsyan remotely. However, Tigran Sargsyan will hardly
answer these questions because these had been asked before and were
not answered by the person who is in charge of the monetary policy of
Armenia. Edward Aghajanov is mostly dissatisfied with the monetary
policy of the Central Bank, which results in the revaluation of the
dram. The economist believes that this is extremely bad for the local
producers, and turns production and export of goods inconvenient in
Armenia. Due to the revaluation of the dram, says Aghajanov, Armenian
producers are paying extra taxes, whereas importers have appeared in a
privileged situation. We need a policy of a low exchange rate of the
national money to develop export, says Edward Aghajanov, because in
a country with a small market such as Armenia export does not have
alternatives. He says that because of the revaluation of the drum
the indices of industry and exports have gone in free fall. Edward
is dissatisfied with the growth of exports in 2005 too. According
to the economist, 39 percent of exports, about 235 million dollars,
do not make quality.
“Copper and molybdenum comprise 175 million out of 235 million.
In addition, it is due to the growth of prices on the international
market rather than the growth of their physical volume. Diamonds
brought a growth of 37 million dollars, 27.5 million is food and
drinks. Hence, 242 million out of a 235 million growth is these three
products,” says the economist. According to him, these indices are
set down in government statements on the input of technologies in
the economy, innovation and a focus on information technologies.
“Well, does anyone offer these figures to the prime minister, the
president? Small Armenia has two ministries of economy. Great America,
which holds one third of the world GDP, does not have a ministry
of economy, whereas Armenia has two. One is called “the Ministry of
Finance and Economy” and the other is called “the Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade” but there is nobody to tell the prime minister
or the president that guys, see what a situation the country is in,
we are in a recession, the deficit keeps growing, we go in free fall,
our production is not competitive,” says Edward Aghajanov.

ONLY SERGE SARGSYAN AND HMAYAK BELIEVE
Lragir.am
19 May 06
The leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party (New Times) Aram Karapetyan
assures that he has the report of one of the ambassadors to Armenia,
where Armenia is characterized as a tertiary country. According to
Aram Karapetyan, the ambassador informed his leadership that what is
accepted in many countries of the world is not accepted in Armenia.
To work in Armenia you have to take money from others instead of
paying yourself, to assure them that you are their friend.
Armenia is also unique because at difficult moments there always
appears someone who starts dictating scenarios. This is a situation of
controlled crisis, defines Aram Karapetyan and says, “This is a very
unserious thing because no justifications of the offered scenarios are
given. In Armenia, for instance, Serge is the only person who believes
that Serge Sargsyan may win a free and fair election. Only someone
who has a vivid imagination or is carrying out someone’s order may
suggest this.” In this context, Aram Karapetyan suggests appointing
Hmayak to all the offices to settle the question of scenarios.
Aram Karapetyan thinks this time the Armenian elections will be held
in accordance with the scenarios of the leadership, because there
are geopolitical developments, factors, there are force-majeure: the
issues of Iran and Karabakh, home political developments in Georgia.
“The Armenian government was not lucky. The question of Iran
emerged. In the geopolitical sphere Armenia does not have a position.
The head of state has to refuse to go somewhere not to have to make
arrangements.”
Currently any activity may cause a strong revolutionary surge,
predicts the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party. However,
for a victory the opposition also needs geopolitical support,
believes Aram Karapetyan. Besides, the opposition needs to establish
conditions to guarantee free and fair elections; freedom of campaign,
elimination of participation of the first public channel, criminals
and law enforcement agencies, which live on “the taxes that we all
pay.” Without the support of the geopolitical sphere a campaign
is possible but a victory is not. “We had such an opportunity in
2003, but the leaders were not resolved enough.” Nevertheless, Aram
Karapetyan thinks that the political processes will be unpredictable.

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN CALL FOR REVOLUTION NOT EVOLUTION AFTER SPEAKER’S RESIGNATION
Aravot, Yerevan
18 May 06
Opposition politician Aram Sarkisyan has said that the only way
to solve problems in Armenia is by means of “a revolution”. In an
interview to the Armenian newspaper Aravot, he commented on Speaker
Artur Bagdasaryan’s resignation and said that Armenia may be forced to
hold an extraordinary presidential election soon because of President
Robert Kocharyan’s failure to establish control over the situation
in the country. The following is the text of Margarita Yesayan’s
report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 18 May headlined “There is no
evolutionary way” and subheaded “The chairman of the Republic Party,
Aram Sarkisyan, drew this conclusion after the recent events”:
[Aravot correspondent] How do you assess what happened to the
Law-Governed Country Party [LGCP]? Such stories happen to almost all
political forces of Armenia from time to time and this is becoming
a bad tradition.
[Sarkisyan] The incumbent authorities have privatized almost all
spheres of the Armenian economy, as a result of which a monopolist
economy has taken shape. They are running the economy. Now they are
doing the same thing in the political field, trying to privatize it.
But this is a way that certainly leads to a catastrophe. We live in
the 21st century, but unfortunately, they are guided by the logic of
the 19th century.
[Correspondent] Do you think it is normal for a political force within
the government to always criticize the government and then defect to
the opposition for some reason?
[Sarkisyan] Every political force has its programme, goals and ideology
to pursue. Unfortunately, there are many adventurers parties of the
pro-government camp. Believe me if a similar process starts against
the Republican Party of Armenia [RPA], very few people will remain
with [Prime Minister] Andranik Markaryan than with [Speaker] Artur
Bagdasaryan. If a similar process starts against [Armenian President]
Robert Kocharyan or [Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan, nobody will
remain with them. Those who left the LGCP had joined the party not
because of its ideology, but because they wanted to have a “roof”
[protection racket] for their business, evade taxes and acquire
property. Now that this “roof” does not exist any more and they can’t
get their slice of the government pie, those people went where they
could get such a slice.
[Correspondent] Can Robert Kocharyan use the current situation in his
own interests by telling international organizations that since there
is such a situation in the country, he cannot settle any problem and
give clear answers to the Karabakh issue?
[Sarkisyan] I agree with this view. Excuses like I broke my leg while
skiing, a foundation has to hold a meeting in the country and the
purely childish explanation that his watch is broken, do not work
any more. There is only one excuse: it is impossible to control the
domestic political situation. In turn, this might lead to more serious
threats. I think Robert Kocharyan’s failure to participate in a NATO
summit can be viewed in this context. The international community is
putting forward demands to him. He has put himself a situation and
I can’t help but feel sorry for him.
[Correspondent] Some people think that as a result of what happened
to Artur Bagdasaryan, Serzh Sarkisyan has found himself in a more
favourable position in the forthcoming presidential election. The
government had two likely presidential candidates and they are trying
to knock one of them out.
[Sarkisyan] I do not think Serzh Sarkisyan has gained anything. This
will not give him public support. What he lacks is public support
and real votes. Sarkisyan has administrative and financial resources
anyway. But I am sure that Armenia will end up in a force-majeur
situation and an extraordinary presidential election will be held
before the parliamentary election.
[Correspondent] If Artur Bagdasaryan defects to the opposition, do
you think he will unseat other opposition leaders, among whom there
are too many presidential contenders anyway?
[Sarkisyan] That is not right. There is too much room in the
opposition and any party that joins the opposition above all proves
that not everything is in order in the government and there is a
crisis. The more forces defect to the opposition, the easier it
becomes to overcome this crisis. But in our country everything is
the other way round. The opposition and authorities are determined
in elections, and in our country the opposition has always won the
election. Why do you think I don’t go to parliament? Because I think
it is illegitimate. If someone thinks that the previous election was
accompanied by violations and that future elections must be fair,
I regard this as a positive thing. The Republic Party has clearly
said that in this country, the only way to solve the problem is a
revolution. Artur Bagdasaryan tried to prove that there is also an
evolutionary way to solve problems. And here is the result. I think
he saw for himself that there is no evolutionary way. The only way
is a revolution.

ARMENIAN CLERGY CRITICAL OF US MOVIE ON JESUS CHRIST
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
19 May 06
[Presenter] The “Da Vinci Code” move directed by Ron Howard today
started its triumphal march in Russia, Armenia and a number of Asian
countries despite discussions, criticism and protests.
Before the premiere of the movie, the Vatican called on religious
people of the world to boycott it, because it offends the holy book.
The movie was made on the basis of the book “The Da Vinci Code” by
American novelist Dan Brown. The central plot of the movie is that
Jesus Christ allegedly married Mary Magdalene and they had a child.
Meanwhile, an opinion poll carried out in the UK testifies that 60
per cent of respondents agree with this allegation.
The “Da Vinci Code” is also being demonstrated in Yerevan and Dan
Brown’s book has already been on sale in Yerevan shops for several
months.
The Armenian Apostolic Church has harshly criticized Dan Brown’s
book. The Apostolic Church regards Dan Brown’s ideas as entirely
unacceptable and considers his scandalous book to be an insult against
the Christian religion.
[Yegishe Sarksyan, senior priest of the Gevorkyan seminary] Of course,
it has nothing to do with Christianity. This is only a way to insult
Christianity. It is clear that sensible people will never adopt these
inhuman ideas.

STRUGGLE FOR VACANT OFFICES
Lragir.am
19 May 06
Deputy Speaker Vahan Hovanisyan, Dashnaktsutiun, stated May 19 that
Dashnaktsutiun will get the education and culture portfolio only.
“However, the executive is not merely ministers; it is a wider and more
complicated structure. I think the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
will get other positions in the government and is ready to assume
more responsibilities.”
Vahan Hovanisyan probably means the vacant position of the governor
of Gegharkunik. The Republican is also seeking for this position,
the main candidate is the former “master” of this office, presently
the director of the Underground of Yerevan Vahagn Hakobyan.
The Republicans are said to be resolved in preventing the expansion of
Dashnaktsutiun in the executive. For his part, Vahagn Hakobyan does
everything possible. It should be noted that sanctions are imposed
on the Underground of Yerevan for delaying payments for water and
electricity.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND VARDAN OSKANYAN YIELDED TO PRESSURE FROM DASHNAKTSUTIUN
Lragir.am
19 May 06
On May 19 in Yerevan the Russian political scientist Andranik
Mihranyan recalled rather interesting things about the Turkish-Armenian
conciliation committee. Mihranyan was one of the four Armenian members
and, he says, he was amazed by the critical attitude in Armenia.
“There was an impression that certain people were confusing the
society,” says Andranik Mihranyan. His next words revealed that
these people were affiliated with Dashnaktsutiun who pushed President
Kocharyan and Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. Mihranyan says he can
understand why Robert Kocharyan and Vardan Oskanyan were indifferent
towards the conciliation committee.
“The coalition includes the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutiun), which categorically rejects such contacts, and I
think the executive stood aloof from the activities of the committee
due to this pressure. Even Hrayr Hovnanyan, who was one of the key
encouragers, stepped back. Van Grigoryan was even dismissed from the
Armenian Assembly of America,” says Andranik Mihranyan. He says he
respects the activities of Dashnaktsutiun for Hay Dat, but this does
not mean that a national problem can be someone’s monopoly.

U.S. EXPLAINED EXPEDIENCY OF KARS-GYUMRI RAILROAD TO TURKEY
Lragir.am
19 May 06
Armenia should attempt to have the U.S. State Department push Turkey
to open the Kars-Gyumri railroad and prevent the construction of
Kars-Akhalkalaki not to allow weakening of the geopolitical position
of Armenia, said the Russian political scientist Andranik Mihranyan
May 19 at the Hayeli Club. He said there was a similar effort by the
Turkish-Armenian conciliation committee.
“At least when the Turkish-Armenian conciliation committee existed,
I know that the U.S. State Department pushed Turkey, offering the
argument that it would be a shorter route to supply ammunition to
the American forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, this question is presently deadlocked, and generally
the Turkish-Armenian question is deadlocked,” said Andranik Mihranyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress