Manouk Gasparyan To Turn To The Court Tomorrow

Emil Lazarian

MANOUK GASPARYAN TO TURN TO THE COURT TOMORROW
Panorama.am
14:37 03/04/06
Tomorrow RA NA Deputy Manouk Gasparyan is going to bring an action
against RA State Committee to regulate Public Services. As M. Gasparyan
informed in the talk with Panorama.am correspondent he is preparing
all the necessary documents at the moment. Yet, the Deputy hasn’t
determined yet which Court he is going to turn to: the Economic Court
or Court of first Instance.
“First of all I’m going to demand to stop using gas tariff of 90 drams
for a cubic meter from April 10. I intend to get the tariff reviewed
until April 10,” M. Gasparyan mentioned. As the latter said the gas
price must be 73 drams on average. Whereas the Committee exceeds the
tariff up to 65 drams for an enterprise and raises it up to 90 drams
for inner consumers without having a corresponding resolution and
the consent of the political structures. “I consider the Committee
has exceeded its commission,” the Deputy emphasized.
Touching upon the announcement of Michael Baghdasarov concerning
the fact that Russia is going to sell gas to Armenia by $68,
M. Gasparyan said: “It turns out that Russia has suggested new
conditions to Armenia, i.e. to give the 5th power-generating unit
of Hrazdan heat electro power station as well as Iran-Armenia gas
main to the Russian side. The whole nation and I in particular are
against this; the Government is also against and will not run the
risk of handing in our property to the Russian.” As we understood,
the deputy thinks the gas price for Armenia is going to be $110 for
1000 cubic meters. According to the predictions by M. Gasparyan not
less than in a year this number will reach $230-250. “The Russian
head for this very policy,” the deputy summed up.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Perhaps There Is Something To Learn From The Hungarian

Emil Lazarian

PERHAPS THERE IS SOMETHING TO LEARN FROM THE HUNGARIAN
Panorama.am
14:27 03/04/06
Today at the news briefing the head of Municipality Staff Souren
Koshetsyan asked for time from the citizens as “time is necessary to
deserve trust”.
Yet, the highlight of the conference of the head of stuff was his
verification that the whole staff of the Municipality is charged to
carry out the commissions of President.
To remind, during the visit to the Municipality President Kocharyan
expressed his discontent concerning the Municipality activity and left
giving certain commissions. One of the latter is refers to reducing
the contacts official-citizen as well as giving comprehensive and
substantial answers.
Working with “one window” the Municipality has received 4915 notes
and applications in the first three months of the year. The latter
number has increased by 23% in comparison with the same period of
2005. The municipality has been given 7135 commissions in concern with
that. Nevertheless, the head of the Municipality staff is not satisfied
with their work and to say the opposite “will not be true”. “We really
carry out quite serious work,” he added.
Two of the workers of this institution “working quite serious”
are going to leave for Budapest to learn how to work perfectly. The
matter is that they have found out that the principle of one window
“works quite productively” in Budapest.
However, while the Municipality is going to improve its work skills
in far away and learn how to give comprehensive answers to the
citizens, today in front of the Municipality building the “victims”
of Northern Avenue, Dalma gardens, as well as Saralanj realizing
areas demanded from Mayor Yervand Zakharyan: “Don’t neglect our
rights!”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assistance To Iran

Nalchajian Markos

ARMENIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAN
Lragir.am
03 April 06
The press service of the government of the Republic of Armenia issued a
press release on April 3, informing that the government is considering
the question of aid to the Islamic Republic of Iran where an earthquake
took place on March 31. For this purpose, on the instruction of Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan the minister of territorial management
Hovik Abrahamyan gave condolences to the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Alireza
Haghighian. At the same time, he asked to find out what kind of aid
our southern neighbor needs, for the government of Armenia to provide
necessary assistance within its possibilities.

Where Shade Is Less

Madatian Greg

WHERE SHADE IS LESS
Lragir.am
03 April 06
The lowest level of black economy in Armenia is in the IT
sector. According to the news agency, Garegin Chugaszyan, the director
of Foundation of Information Technologies, told this to news reporters
on April 3. “The lowest level of black economy is in the IT sector,
for marketing is entirely done abroad, in Armenia only salaries are
paid, and black means are not required in this sphere,” said Garegin
Chukaszyan. He reminded that presently 5000 specialists are employed
in the IT sector, and the average salary is 400-500 U.S. dollars.

Government Has Its Own Plan For Academy Of Sciences

Tadevosian Garnik

GOVERNMENT HAS ITS OWN PLAN FOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Lragir.am
03 April 06
According to the information we possess, the government has worked
out a plan of a dignified retirement of the president of the National
Academy of Sciences. While the director of the Fundamental Scientific
Library Henry Nersisyan is trying to prove through the mass media that
his 13 accusations against Fadey Sargsyan on violations of the bylaws
and financial breaches are true, the government of Armenia decided
that the annual general meeting of the NAS will take place on April
5, and Fadey Sargsyan will resign. They say he will be adviser to the
prime minister of Armenia. By the way, Henry Nersisyan announces that
the articles of the bylaws on the election of academicians and the
general meeting are violated, and financial breaches count several
dozens of million drams. Whereas, if Fadey Sargsyan resigns, there it
will not be necessity to hear the conclusion of the academic commission
that has investigated the accusations of Henry Nersisyan. Then a new
president of the NAS will be elected. Presently the names of four
people are mentioned: the vice president of NAS Edward Ghazaryan, the
former rector of Yerevan State University Radik Martirosyan, another
former rector of Yerevan State University Norayr Arakelyan, and the
present rector of the State Engineering University of Armenia Yuri
Sargsyan. Henry Nersisyan suggests abstaining from predictions. “See
what happened at the University.”

Money Laundering In Academy

Baghdasarian Karlen

MONEY LAUNDERING IN ACADEMY
Lragir.am
03 April 06
Academician Henry Nersisyan, the director of the Fundamental Scientific
Library of the National Acаdemy of Sciences, gave the first news
conference in his life on April 3 to state that his 13 accusations
against the president of the National Academy of Sciences Fadey
Sargsyan are still there, and he continues the struggle for the sake of
the academy: “We need fundamental changes. We cannot go on like this.”
Henry Nersisyan had prepared for the news conference as a scientist
would do. The speaker had 8 thick folders at hand, he distributed
30 pages of information and facts to news reporters, spoke for over
an hour, and as a scientist, only in the end did he conclude that
“the policy conducted by Fadey Sargsyan has led to a terrible
situation.” Henry Nersisyan divides his accusations into four
groups. Each accusations is based on facts.
The worst violation of the bylaws of the National Academy. The
election to the members of the Academy must be held every years, but
the elections are not held regularly. There has been no election since
2000. A general meeting should be held twice or three times a year,
but it is held only once a year. Fadey Sargsyan has set up a bureau,
which makes decisions, and these are applied without being ratified
by the presidency. Henry Nersisyan goes farther. According to him, on
March 12, 2004 Fadey Sargsyan was not reelected, because no election
was held on that day. “There were three questions on the agenda of the
annual general meeting of the National Academy of Sciences on March
12, 2004: the report of the President of the NAS Fadey Sargsyan, the
report of the Vice President Vladimir Barkhudaryan, and discussion
of the report. Later the academicians were invited to another hall
to vote. And they elected Fadey Sargsyan. The academicians were not
aware of this.”
Financial breaches are greater in number. Henry Nersisyan says about
40-50 million drams out of the sum provided for the honorariums of
academicians is saved. “The government allocates for 137 people,
about 90 receive it.” Fadey Sargsyan declines to say what happens to
this 50 million, although Henry Nersisyan has inquired for a number
of times. Not having the consent and awareness of Henry Nersisyan, the
presidency of the Academy of Sciences has leased the space, belonging
to the library. It does not have such a right, for the library is
a state non-profit organization. Moreover, Henry Nersisyan does not
know where the rent for the space belonging to the organization he
heads goes. He does not know because Fadey Sargsyan would not tell him.
There are also problems connected with government funding. The
institutes with a staff of 130-135 people annually receive 40 million
drams. And the presidency of the Academy of Sciences, which is a
“managing body and does not do scientific research,” annually gets 130
million drams and additionally 40-50 million drams. Fadey Sargsyan
would not say where these additional millions go. He does not say
either where the means of the fund of the president of the Academy
of Sciences – 17.5 million drams – goes. It is obvious that these
sums are not spent for the academy. Only 30 million is allocated
for equipment and apparatus. Not a cent was added to these from the
additional funds. What is more, the library headed by Henry Nersisyan
will get less funding this year than last year. Instead, the sums
that arrive under the name “special projects” go to Fadey Sargsyan’s
friends and relatives: Vice President of the NAS Yuri Shukuryan
gets 18 million, the medical genetic center with only 16 workers,
headed by Fadey Sargsyan’s daughter Tamara, receives 35 million. All
the construction in the academy over the past 10 years was carried
out by the same company Akunkshin, no tenders were held. “Expensive
and low-quality building is carried out. There is enough ground to
suggest that money is laundered.”
–Boundary_(ID_GIf2dsmcNuCVp3UAyR1T8Q )–
From: Baghdasarian

A New Authorized Plan Of Saving Armenia

Tatoyan Vazgen

A NEW AUTHORIZED PLAN OF SAVING ARMENIA
Lragir.am
03 April 06
It is possible that in 2006 Raffi Hovannisian will present a detailed
report on his notion of development of Armenia. Hovannisian stated
this during his news conference on April 3 at the Pakagits Club. The
interesting thing about the statement is that Raffi Hovannisian cannot
be found in the model of development he will present. The leader of
the political party Zharangutiun stated several times that for him
power is not a goal, and according to him, this should be the motto
of qualitative changes in Armenia, guiding all the political forces.
“For me it does not matter whether there will be early or scheduled
elections in Armenia if their quality does not change. A large-scale
consolidation is necessary for qualitative changes,” says Raffi
Hovannisian. He says this is the only way of achieving change of
power and quality of governance. His presence in this new quality of
governance is not necessary for Raffi Hovannisian.
“Power is not the meaning of my life,” he says. Of course, he does
not deny that he would try to satisfy the public and civil demand if
there is such.
Raffi Hovannisian will begin the process of transforming power from a
goal into a means from his political party. He remembers that during
the meeting in May, when the election to the party’s bureau will be
held, he will demand that there be several candidates of the leader
of the party.
“We have to get rid of the complex of a political party of one person,”
says Raffi Hovannisian. Thus he hints at his fellow oppositionists
who mostly suffer this complex. According to Raffi Hovannisian, one
of the reasons of failure of the opposition movement is that everyone
wants to be leader.
“The recent activities of the opposition need a self-critical
approach. There was, in fact, a public, civil demand, but I think
there were both organizational and ideological drawbacks, also in the
sense that everyone wants to be leader, axis,” says Raffi Hovannisian.
He says there are small axes within the opposition, and the problem
now is to organize a consolidated movement. Raffi Hovannisian believes
that the movement will develop within the current year.
“We should give up the gladiator’s “you or me” approach,” says the
leader of the Zharangutiun Party. According to him, this struggle
must have one main goal – “to mobilize citizens” for them to feel
the power of initiative. For this purpose Raffi Hovannisian’s party
is going to be in the regions, halls, and “to listen to people.” “As
well as to listen to the citizen, not only propagate downward. We
have lost the art of listening,” says Raffi Hovannisian.

Raffi Hovannisian Does Not Exclude Cooperation With Pro-Governmental

Topchian Jane

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE COOPERATION WITH PRO-GOVERNMENTAL PARTIES
Lragir.am
03 April 06
Their slander cannot force my family and me to leave my home country,
stated the leader of the Zharangutiun Party Raffi Hovannisian on
April 3. The politician facing the problem of losing the office of the
political party states that such a meanness of the government cannot
stop his struggle for democracy and the rights of the citizens. “For
my family and me the homeland is not a place of gaining profit,”
says Raffi Hovannisian. He said when he went to the soiree at the
Opera on April 1, the policemen started inquiring if he was not going
to organize a new rally in the Square of Azatutiun.
“When they take away my office, my home, a small tent will be enough
for me. The recent experience showed that tents are what the government
fears,” says Raffi Hovannisian. He states that he would continue the
struggle with his fellow oppositionists, and in the upcoming months
they will find the way of coming together. “Everyone tends to feel
that by an artificially imported revolution the situation in Armenia
will not change. However, it is also obvious that evolutionary changes
typical of developed and civilized countries is not a way out for
Armenia. A new approach is required. It is necessary to look for new
values within this year, before the next early or scheduled election,”
states Raffi Hovannisian.
Raffi Hovannisian is apparently going to look for new values not
only within the opposition but also in the pro-governmental camp. He
mentions that first he will start with his fellow oppositionists. The
leader of the Zharangutiun Party, however, makes rather ambiguous
and transparent implications about partnership with the old and new
pro-governmental political parties. “Besides the opposition there are
new political parties and old political parties, each of them have
devotees, and I am not supposed to judge them. If there is a value,
it must be brought forward,” states Raffi Hovannisian. He reminds,
however, about the importance of admitting mistakes committed
formerly, and states that the political forces should step out of
their personal interests and realize at last, that the state and not
power is at stake.
Nevertheless, Raffi Hovannisian considers the possibility of
reproduction of power more probable, saying that every rational
analysis will suggest this, considering the reality. “Sometimes I am
not sure if what I do now is politics or something else. But I will go
on, and I will stay in Armenia till the end,” says Raffi Hovannisian.

Karabakh Denies Azeri Cease-Fire Violation Report

Zakarian Garnik

KARABAKH DENIES AZERI CEASE-FIRE VIOLATION REPORT
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
3 Apr 06
The defence ministry of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic has denied
the Azerbaijani reports on the violation of cease-fire.
Quoting the press service of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, the
Azerbaijani mass media reported the violation of the cease-fire regime
in the area of Fuzuli District on 2 April, as a result of which one
Azerbaijani soldier was killed, another wounded.
The spokesman for the Defence Ministry of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, Senor Asratyan, said the Karabakh side is observing the
cease-fire regime. The [Azeri] report is wide off the mark and is
purely a propaganda campaign by the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry
whose aim is to attract the attention of the international community,
Senor Asratyan said.