UNDP ALLOCATES $100 THOUSAND FOR EACH OF CITY COMMUNITIES
By Karine Danielian
AZG Armenian Daily
20/04/2006
RA Fund for Social Investments and UNDP signed a memorandum,
yesterday. According to it, a joint social program will be carried out
in the city communities of Masis, Dilijan, Vedi, Abovian and Ijevan
cities of Armenia. The program includes solution of such issues as the
streets’ illumination, reconstruction of the streets, kindergarten
and school edifices, restoration of the city infrastructures. It
is envisaged to spend about $ 100 thousand for each community. The
program will be carried out in 2007-2008.
“The program will contribute to the transparent governance of the
communities and to decentralization.
The publicity will have full access to the information about the works
carried out within the program. Before passing to the practical steps,
we will hold meetings in the communities and the community members
will decide which problems to settle first of all,” Ashot Kirakosian,
executive director of RA Fund for Social Investments, said in the
interview with Azg. Mrs. Consuelo Vidal, UNDP Resident Coordinator,
also emphasized the importance of implementation of such programs.

8 COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF 13 IN YEREVAN
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
20/04/2006
Community Heads Appointed or Elected?
As it is known, the issue of Yerevan’s status was one of the key
issues before constitutional amendments were adopted. After a long
wait the amended constitution declared that the capital should have
the status of a community and its head should be elected.
Currently two options of Yerevan’s governance system are being
discussed.
According to sources close to the government, the first option
suggests decreasing the number of communities from 13 to 8 and then
making elective the posts of city mayor and community heads.
The second option suggests making mayoralty elective and leaving the
community heads to be appointed by the government.
It’s hard to say now which option will have more appeal for the
authorities but one can assume that the latter will strive to pass
the first one. Why?
For the post-Soviet Armenian authorities the issue of elective
mayoralty was an argumentative issue. Neither the former nor the
present-day presidents and authorities wanted to have elective
mayoralty in Yerevan. While taking the mayor’s office, Vano Siradekhian
openly stated that it is inadmissible to have elective mayor. The
same opinion dominates today, and the authorities stubbornly refuse
to yield to the EU’s demand. Elective mayoralty used to be viewed as
a threat to the executive power as the overwhelming majority of our
country’s human and natural resources is concentrated in the capital.
Therefore, the option of elective mayor and community heads is
preferable for the authorities. The danger of this option lies in the
fact that Yerevan will get divided and cease being one united organism
with all negative consequences stemming out. This separates Yerevan
with its mayor and community heads tangled up in their interests
and powers, with no vertical subordination to the authorities and
consequent irresponsibility. This may suit well for the authorities
but would be disastrous for the capital.
The mess in the city construction will continue, green zones will
keep vanishing, garbage-collecting and transport issues will remain
unsolved as the mayor and community heads will go on blaming each
other for the city’s problems.
For Yerevan and its residents elective mayor and appointed community
heads should be more preferable as it will help keep the capital
united, will secure vertical subordination and will make clear who
is responsible for city maintenance. For the abovementioned reasons,
it’s hard though to believe that this option will be chosen.

THE SHAGHAT INHABITANTS ARE NOT READY FOR SOWING
A1+
[01:11 pm] 20 April, 2006
In the village Shaghat of Sisian region the sowing areas of grain
annually curtail. The peasants face such a problem because of fuel
increase and difficulties connected with the realization of local
products. The inhabitants of Shaghat have realized only 50 – 60
hectares autumn sowing instead of the 350 hectares of the previous
year and they will supply this lack with the spring sowing. Now it
is time for spring sowing but the peasants complain that they are
not ready for sowing.
The agricultural work is also lingered by the fact that the village
is adjacent to the borderline. It has 1030 hectares lands 230 hectares
of which is not cultivated because of the above – mentioned fact.
About 1000 hectares pasture and meadow lands are not available for
usage either.
According to the data of the previous year average harvest per 1
hectare grain sowing area was 12g. The Community Chief Hovhannes
Arzumanyan claims that the low index of the crop yield is determined by
a number of factors, such as the poor quality seed, unfavorable weather
conditions, the wrong land cultivation and the lack of technical
means. The harvesting is postponed because of the combine absence.
There are 80 hectares potato sowing areas in the village. On this
score, they counter the problem of realization and have to sell their
product with 50 – 70 AMD.
Soon the village will have milk purveyance service in the initiative
of “Ashtarak milk” company which will contribute to the problem
of realization.
COMPENSATION WILL BE GIVEN TO 1300
About 1300 out of 47 000 Sisian citizens who put their money in
“ArmKhnayBank” by June 10, 1993 will get compensations. 140 families
have applied to the social service of the Sisian regional centre
since April 12 and 300 applications were taken on the whole.
The regional centre workers will visit and register the citizens who
are included in the compensation list but cannot go to the regional
centre because of health problems.
“Syuni” TV channel of Sisian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MAP”
A1+
[05:54 pm] 19 April, 2006
“The RA Foreign Minister mentioned that if the Azerbaijani side
expresses fidelity to principles, which can contribute to reaching
fundamental agreement. In my opinion that will take place after
the return of the refugees. It is included in the program of
the Minsk group, and the two sides confirm that together with the
sovereignty right. We want the two Presidents to sign that fundamental
agreement. You must have courage”, announced Mary-Ann Isler Begen,
co-chair of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation Committee. She
also spoke about a certain map, “We would like to see the map which
was made or will be made the special representative”.
Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan represented the impressions
of the Armenian side. “We have an impression that Azerbaijan is
elated with the perspective of the large amounts of money thinking
they will spend it on their army. Instead of paying attention to the
negotiations the Azeri Government pays attention to other things. If
the international community and the EU can explain to Azerbaijan that
the negotiation process has no alternative and the peaceful settlement
is the only option, that will contribute to finding a solution for
the conflict. ”
He also thanked the EU for supporting the process of settlement of
the conflict.

THE EUROPEANS REPRESENTED THE KEY TO THE SOLUTION
A1+
[05:26 pm] 19 April, 2006
Armen Roustamyan Opposes
During the 8th session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation
Committee in Armenia critical announcements were made about the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In particular, member of the
Committee Hannes Svoboda announced that the Armenian armed forces
must leave the occupied lands, they must be given a special status;
a referendum will solve the status problem, the refugees must return
to their houses, and peace-keeping forces must be allocated in
those areas.
By the way, he said all this as an agreement with the Armenian
side. Several other Europeans claimed that the areas are occupied
by the Armenian side and it is not a secret for anyone. NA deputy
Armen Roustamyan had to answer these claims, “The RA did not occupy
any lands. The history of the conflict is that Azerbaijan committed
aggression against the Karabakh people in answer to their raising the
issue of sovereignty. We must not forget the 1988 events in Sumgayit;
there are facts, and we can prove whatever we say with facts.
This aggression was beaten by the Armenian forces and control was
established over the areas according to the 51st article of the UN
legislation. We ask you to check everything yourselves.”
He informed that the getting acquainted with the history of the
conflict the Europeans will make sure that the RA is a side involved
in the conflict and not one that started it, “RA cannot fully replace
NKR in the negotiations. We cannot represent the sovereignty right
instead of the Karabakh people and decide their fate.”
“We demand that Karabakh participate in the negotiations and this
is a necessity in order to make the negotiation process more real,”
Armen Roustamyan said informing the European concerned with the
Karabakh conflict those options which are acceptable for Armenia,
“Our approach is clear: Karabakh must make use of its sovereignty
right unconditionally and without restrictions. Speaking about
sovereignty as part of Azerbaijan when they will speak about the
defense of the rights of national minorities in the territory of a
country is completely out of this context. Naturally, the variant
acceptable for us is independence.”
Roustamyan informed that Armenia has seen what autonomy offered by
the Azeri side means by the example of Nakhijevan. “The Autonomous
Republic of Nakhijevan had the highest status in the former USSR.
And in that status all the Armenians were evicted from there while
according to the data of the year 1927, 40% of its population was
Armenian. Today there are no Armenians there. You have also seen
what they have done with the cultural heritage. Seeing all this,
how do you imagine that the Karabakh people will ever agree to have
that highest status as part of Azerbaijan? It is absurd. ”
The head of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations also said it
was totally absurd that the Armenian side too is required to refrain
from militant statements, as “it is no secret that the Armenian side
does not want a new war.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FUTURE IN EFFICIENCY
A1+
[06:13 pm] 19 April, 2006
Today Robert Kocharyan received the delegation of the participants
of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation Committee 8th session.
Underlining the importance of establishing a private cooperation
plan with Armenia as soon as possible within the framework of the
EU New Neighborhood policy, Robert Kocharyan said that it will give
them the possibility to have coordinated relations with the EU and
to go forward, “We see the future of Armenia in efficient governing,
efficient political system and economy, and it can be reached only
by means of radical reforms,” the head of the country underlined.
At the request of the European Parliamentarians the President
represented the recent development of the negotiations of the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict and the approaches of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A 6-DAY ACTION OPPOSITE THE PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE
A1+
[06:49 pm] 19 April, 2006
Four women and a man were standing opposite the President’s residence
today with posters demanding justice in their hands. A police car
was parked nearby.
These people have been here for the last six days demanding justice
for their sons and relatives who were sentenced to life imprisonment
yesterday for the murder of two soldiers in a NKR military basis. Even
after the court decision the relatives of the accused continue to
demand justice.
Sister of Hayk Zalyan, Liana Zalyan mentions that their only aim is
to make the President’s administration listen to their demand. “We
want our innocent boys to be set free. It they do not want to reveal
the real murderers let them not punish the innocent”.
The parents of the boys also invite attention to the fact that
during the trial yesterday Movses Mkrtoumyan, the father of one of
the murdered soldiers, announced that he does not believe that the
accused are guilty.
As for the participants of the act of complaint, none of the workers
of the President’s residence is interested in them. On the first day
they took their letter to the waiting room themselves. While taking
it the workers of the waiting room informed them that the answer will
be ready in a month and will be sent by mail. As for the other days,
no one has ever tried to meet them.
“We do not know how long we will sit here. Perhaps until we are
received,” Liana Zalyan says. The mother of Musa Serobyan who was
sentenced to life imprisonment too thinks that they must visit
different organizations so that everyone comes to know their problem.

RESOLUTION ADOPTED
A1+
[08:36 pm] 19 April, 2006
“Corruption is one of the main problems which hinder the economic
and social development of Armenia”, the resolution adopted in the
EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation Committee 8th session. It calls
on the RA authorities to fully realize the anti-corruption strategy
adopted in 2003 and especially the 24 instructions by GRECO given on
March 10, “This is a very urgent issue”.
The document also refers to the results of the 2005 referendum:
on the one hand they welcome the reforms realized, which gave us
the possibility to balance the three branches of power and to make
the political system more balanced. On the other hand they mention
serious violations which were recorded by international organizations,
especially the CE.
The first version of the document included statements not so favorable
for Armenia, but thanks to the efforts of the Armenian side they
were excluded from the document. In particular, the rights of
territorial integrity and sovereignty were replaced by “The right
of self-determination of the people and respect for the rights of
national minorities”.
“This can refer to Karabakh as if the refugees return to Karabakh
and it obtains independence, the refugees will become minorities and
we will respect their rights”, Armen Roustamyan said. The document
also stipulates the importance of the status of Karabakh, security
guarantees, and the return of the refugees and the participation of
Karabakh in the negotiation process. It is also mentioned that the
fact that Karabakh is a non-recognized state cannot be ground for
not respecting the rights of the population of Karabakh.

THE “A1+” ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED WITH KOCHARYAN
A1+
[08:43 pm] 19 April, 2006
During the meeting with the RA President Robert Kocharyan Mary-Ann
Isler Begen, co-chair of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation
Committee, spoke about the importance of the role of free and
independent Mass Media in a country which enhances democracy. She
informed that it would be better to give some TV Companies the right
to broadcast again.
Asked by “A1+” if she spoke clearly about the issue of “A1+” with the
President Mrs. Begen answered that she has said, “If you want to show
that there is freedom of speech in the country, give back the license
to “A1+”.
Mrs. Begen also announced, “We will be particular about free and fair
elections and we will have a large group of volunteer observers”. She
informed that a working group has already been created which will
carry out preliminary work.

ELECTIONS WILL BE AN EXAM FOR DEMOCRACY
A1+
[02:38 pm] 20 April, 2006
“EU is concerned with holding fair and free elections in Armenia,”
in today’s press conference the EU delegation chief and the State
secretary of Australian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler informed
the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. Winkler is in Yerevan on
regional call.
Vardan Oskanyan spoke of elections, “Elections are the first exam
for democracy, the EU thoroughly observed that procedure.”
One of the journalists, present at the conference claimed that
there were many frauds in the RA previous elections and wondered,
“Doesn’t this give a ground to assume that the EU applies dual
criteria?” “The criteria are the same in the EU, and your Minister
has already promised that the 2007 – 2008 elections will be fair and
just,” urged Hans Winkler avoiding the direct answer.
He also spoke of the HKR conflict and mentioned that the EU is eager
to solve the matter in peaceful way and will assist that procedure
with all possible means.
He avoided mentioning all the possible lingers which may be applied
by the EU towards militarist Azerbaijan, “That issue is to be solved
by the two sides; we only hope they will find a solution.”
The participants of the press conference also referred to energy
diversification issue. Hans Winkler claimed that the EU is concerned
with the Metsamor nuclear station closure as it is not in line with
today’s criteria from technical point of view. But it is upon the
country to decide whether to close or not the old nuclear station.
“For instance, Austria readily gave up the idea of having nuclear
energy,” announced the Austrian State secretary. Asked the question
whether the fact of giving the 5th energy block of the Hrazdan heat
generating plant to Russia is connected with the idea of energy
sources diversification, the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
answered that it doesn’t matter at all whom the energy buildings are
given or estranged.
“They cannot contravene the energy needs of the country,” said Vardan
Oskanyan. Hans Winkler maintained that each sovereign country makes
its decisions and the meditation of the EU is in vain.
As for the sell of the Armenian pipeline to the RF Hans Winkler didn’t
have any answer as, “The matter is still obscure, I cannot definitely
say that there is such a matter or not unless the deal is made.”
While speaking of Armenian-EU relations Hans Winkler voiced hope that
the activity program will be ready soon and the cooperation will
become firmer in the realm of “New Neighbors” program. He avoided
speaking of Turkish – Armenian relations and the Armenian genocide
acknowledgement and didn’t say that Turkey is to recognize the great
crime against humanity.