Whose Social Problems Is Labor Party Solving?

Navasardian Karapet

WHOSE SOCIAL PROBLEMS IS LABOR PARTY SOLVING?
Lragir.am
01 June 06
The post of the chair of Health and Social Committee will be given
to the United Labor Party, the political party of Gurgen Arsenyan,
on an arrangement made inside the government. The leader of the ULP
told the news reporter of Lragir.am on May 31 that they are going to
nominate Mnatsakan Petrosyan, member of the ULP faction.
This is very interesting because Mnatsakan Petrosyan is genuinely
concerned about the social problems of citizens. Quite recently,
the National Assembly passed the law on cutting the lump-sum tax
on the import of cigars to Armenia. No doubt, the law improves the
social state of cigar importers, cutting the lump-sum tax from 1.5
million to half million drams per 1000 cigars. Moreover, the cigar
importer is a citizen of Armenia, consequently Mnatsakan Petrosyan
started thinking about the social state of the citizens long before
taking up the post of chair of committee. It is also possible that
he was nominated thanks to this.
The point is that Mnatsakan Petrosyan is nominated by the ULP
faction. It is said that Gurgen Arsenyan, the leader of the ULP
faction, imports cigars to Armenia. Gurgen Arsenyan is also said to
own the building built in front of the Conservatoire, which is going
to be a cigar club. However, it is also possible that all this is an
exaggerated picture of the possibilities of Gurgen Arsenyan, which
is far from being true. Consequently, the nomination of Mnatsakan
Petrosyan has nothing to do with the cigars, and it was done for
the sake of the Republic of Armenia and for the sake of well-being
of citizens.

“Speaking Books” Three Laser Discs Released For Blind Children AndOn

Jagharian Tania

“SPEAKING BOOKS” THREE LASER DISCS RELEASED FOR BLIND CHILDREN AND ONES WITH POOR EYESIGHT
Noyan Tapan
May 31 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. “Speaking Books” three laser discs
were released for blind children and ones with poor eyesight. Their
presentation took place on May 30 at the “Narekatsi” art union. As
Gayane Klekchian, the author of the “Speaking Book” project informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, favourite, but little known works
of Armenian and world literature were involved in the disks. Blind
children and ones with poor eyesight will have possibility to get
acquainted with works of Ghazaros Aghayan, Stepan Zorian, Charents,
Sayat-Nova, William Saroyan, Leonid Yengibarian. One of the disks
is in the Russian language where works of Anna Akhmatova, Visotski,
Marina Tsvetayeva are involved. Works are performed by actors Guzh
Manukian, Tigran Nersisian, Greta Mejlumian, Zhirayr Dadasian and
others. “We made an attempt by the disk to take blind children to the
world of books as they have no possibility to see and read,” Klekchian
mentioned. According to her, those disks will be distributed among
pupils of Yerevan special school No14 as well as to pupils of the
Artsakh Rehabilitation Center.

Russians Deny Ethnic Motive Of Murders

Vasilian Manouk

RUSSIANS DENY ETHNIC MOTIVE OF MURDERS
Lragir.am
01 June 06
The leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party of Armenia Harutiun
Arakelyan and the leader of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan
expressed their opinions on the murder of Armenian young men in Moscow
over the past month.
Tigran Karapetyan. There must be special investigation for each
Armenian, and there is no need for the special services to leave
for Moscow, this issue must be raised on a government level both in
press and on television. Our foreign minister must react. Besides,
I am surprised that the Union of Armenians, I am not sure it is World
or Universal, Ara Abrahamyan who makes speeches and announces that
we are united. Where is our unity? Why cannot we see their influence?
Why don’t they take action? When I was in Russia, we could get
on well with the Kazaks, but the skinheads are more serious than
the Kazaks. The government agencies of Armenia, the head of state
should issue a note. There is certain dependence on Russia, and our
relations are not equal. We are shy like a small brother. There may
be a tendency, but it is more important that there are victims. It is
clear that there is no tendency, but when they kill a man in broad
daylight in the street, it is a problem. We must be categorical. We
can take steps. At any rate, we must note that there is an intention
because nothing happens by accident.
Harutiun Arakelyan. I think, be it Russia or another state, our
relations should be those of a state, and if necessity occurs, we must
issue a note. Moreover, it has been less than a year that they started
writing, but there were murders for decades. Not, say, of Armenians
but of foreigners, but we suffered more. Today everything seems to be
more coordinated, and it is high time that Ara Abrahamyan, who calls
himself “the king of kings” but is not capable of anything, to join
the Armenian state and demand explanations for everything. As a leader
of an Armenian party, I would call Armenia to issue an ultimatum to
Russia, and if a similar case occurred, to nationalize all the Russian
companies starting with the energy sector. The Russian law enforcement
agencies set forward different motives. They avoid speaking about
the ethnic motives, which reveals their connivance. Recently the law
enforcement agencies have begun speaking about the ethnic motive of
killings because they are unable to hide it any longer.

Waiting For Election 2007

Hakobian Adrine

WAITING FOR ELECTION 2007
Lragir.am
01 June 06
On June 1 the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Harutiun Arakelyan
was trying to debate with the leader of the People’s Party Tigran
Karapetyan. They spoke about redistribution inside the coalition. The
topic is outdated, said Harutiun Arakelyan. Tigran Karapetyan, however,
was faithful to his stance of a controversial person.
If Harutiun Arakelyan thinks that Arthur Baghdasaryan made
a political decision and became opposition, Tigran Karapetyan
thinks Arthur Baghdasaryan is not opposition. The leader of the
People’s Party disagrees that any party can be government and become
opposition. Orinats Yerkir did not become opposition in elections.
This man of principles, however, first says that the United Labor
Party, which replaced Orinats Yerkir, appeared in the right place at
the right time and took the opportunity, then he says they did the
right thing. It should be noted that the United Labor Party is Tigran
Karapetyan’s partner and supplies an influx of money for his ALM
TV. Nevertheless, Tigran Karapetyan thinks that Arthur Baghdasaryan
was forced to leave the coalition because he had started playing his
own game and express his own standpoint abroad.
For future developments, Harutiun Arakelyan thinks the government has
set a goal of reproduction and, unfortunately, “people’s will is so
often neglected, there is so much fraud and violence that it has come
to appear habitual and is not thought to be important. The main area
of political struggle is the parliament, there are no conditions
for political forces outside the parliament.” Tigran Karapetyan
thinks most parliament forces will not be in the parliament after
the election 2007, there will be less fraud. And the forces, which
are shouting abuse at one another today, are losing people’s support,
which is favorable for the others.
If the Liberal Democratic Party does not enter the parliament in 2007,
Harutiun Arakelyan will resign. Tigran Karapetyan, whose motto is
“first popularity, then democracy,” is less responsible.
“We will continue our efforts.” In other words, there will be nothing
on ALM TV but Tigranovision.

Whites Begin And Continue With Blacks

Talalian Arpi

WHITES BEGIN AND CONTINUE WITH BLACKS
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
01 June 06
Hence, it turned out that only Robert Kocharyan considers the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs and the Day of the Republic important. He was
alone to explain his staying here with the visit of co-chairs and
the Day of the Republic. While the Minister of Defense of Armenia
went to Torino for a holiday to watch the World Chess Olympiad on the
days of the visit of the co-chairs. In fact, as a defense minister,
Serge Sargsyan has nothing to do with the co-chairs; they mostly
meet with the president and foreign minister. The recent visit of the
co-chairs was unprecedented by its format, however, and surprisingly,
the secretary of the Council of National Security of Armenia, the
defense minister of Armenia was not in Armenia, he was watching chess.
Whereas, the Karabakh issue, is one of the prime issues of national
security, if not the key one.
Hence, supposedly, the World Chess Olympiad is of more importance
to the minister of defense from the point of view of national
security and defense than the unprecedented meeting of the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs. Serge Sargsyan is also the president of the Chess
Federation of Armenia, and he is in Torino as a president. However,
as the president of the Chess Federation of Armenia he had never
participated in the World Chess Olympiad and other international
tournaments before. Hence, in fact, not only the visit of the Minsk
Group was unprecedented, but also the step of the defense minister
of Armenia. It is possible, of course, that the success of the chess
team is more important than the recurrent visit of the Karabakh
conflict mediators. And our chess team is really good. Who knows,
it might not be that good if Serge Sargsyan were not in Torino?
Moreover, nobody knows whether the defense minister would have gone
to Torino if his plans had not been thwarted, which he confessed
on May 15, the day of election of the new rector of Yerevan State
University. This is highly probable in the context of the recent
home political developments in Armenia. Coalitions collapse and are
created, new ministers are appointed, new parliament posts are taken
up, attention-grabbing details of restaurant parties are published,
journalists undergo abuse, the state of aviation is discussed,
the black boxes of the plane are found. The minister of defense is
in Torino, watching the Chess Olympiad, to show that the minister
of defense would not waste time and effort on political shows, and
prefers the important job of upholding the country’s reputation.
On the other hands, there are the plans. Aren’t these developments
anyhow related to these plans? Have these plans been thwarted to a
degree that everything needs to be started from the zero point, the
Olympic gold of Torino or some other medal? However, on the other hand,
it would be useful to follow the games of our chess players and the
course of events in Armenia. In this case, much may be understood,
and the Olympic logic of many home political developments may become
clear. Or the degree of thwarted plans may become known.
“You may lose the battle, but you may find your love,” sang the
customs officer in the film “The White Sun of the Desert”, who did
not take bribe but “worried about the homeland.” And no doubt much
has been thwarted in our country, to a degree than one has to go as
far as the Alps to see better from afar. The game is almost over. I
wonder who is going to start with the whites next.

Vardan Oskanyan On A Visit To Kazakhstan

Emil Lazarian

VARDAN OSKANYAN ON A VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN
ArmRadio.am
01.06.2006 11:00
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is on an official visit to
Astana. Today he will deliver a speech at the Diplomatic Academy of
Kazakhstan. In the evening he will leave for Almati.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

All-Ukrainian Festival Of Armenian Art To Be Held In Kiev

Kamalian Hagop

ALL-UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL OF ARMENIAN ART TO BE HELD IN KIEV
ArmRadio.am
01.06.2006 13:00
June 2-4 “My Armenia” all-Ukrainian festival-contest of Armenian art
will be held in Kiev.
Ukrainian media report that he project has been initiated by President
of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine, Director General of the festival
Ashot Avanesyan.
The festival will be headed by famous singer Tamar Avetisyan, it will
be presided over by film director Roman Balayan. The jury comprises
opera singer Susanna Chakhoyan and artist Boris Yeghiazaryan. 275
participants all over Ukraine will take part in the contest.

Elections Of Chairman Started At The National Assembly

Kajoyan Gevork

ELECTIONS OF CHAIRMAN STARTED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ArmRadio.am
01.06.2006 14:05
Elections of Chairman started today at the National Assembly. Head of
the Republican Party faction Galust Sahakyan suggested NA Vice-Speaker
Tigran Torosyan’s candidacy. Member of the People’s Deputy group
Hahob Hakobyan suggested Galust Sahakyan’s candidacy.
The latter, however, withdrew his candidacy. The Chairman will be
elected through secret ballot.