STRANGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PENSIONS
Lragir.am
15 June 06
The gap between the pensions of servicemen and other workers is
considered very often. However, nobody has been able to explain so far
why a teacher who worked for 50 years gets 17 thousand drams, whereas a
worker of the Office of Public Prosecutions gets 100 thousand. During
the June 14 meeting of the government Member of Parliament Arpat
Avanesyan asked the government why the size of the pension varies
from 10 thousand to 300 thousand drams. Vasili Avetisyan, the head of
the Retirement Fund, said the executive works in accordance with the
laws. Speaker Ashot Ghulyan said we should consider increasing the
low retirement benefit rather than lowering the high pensions. Nobody
said, however, how the average retirement benefit could be raised up
to 50-60 thousand drams in the nearest future. Besides, nobody said
who is responsible for injustice and if the principle of justice
should be applied to deciding the size of pensions.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN HATES PLAYERS ON THEIR OWN
Lragir.am
15 June 06
The fate of the newly established political parties is unpredictable,
stated Aram Harutiunyan, the leader of the National Agreement Party,
June 15, at the Pakagits Club. He said the Bargavach Hayastan Party
and Unity for Armenia Party do not differ from the ruling parties.
According to Aram Harutiunyan, uncertainty awaits the Unity for
Armenia Party. The leader of the National Agreement Party says this
political party has two poles – Member of Parliament Karen Karapetyan
and Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan. Saying that Robert Kocharyan
does not like when his subjects play on their own, Aram Harutiunyan
forecasts that the Unity for Armenia party may not reach the finish
it was designed for.
Aram Harutiunyan predicts uncertain future for the Bargavach Hayastan
Party, referring to this political force as a charity. Aram Harutiunyan
says the political team of this political party is not known, it is
rumored. According to the leader of the National Agreement Party
the members enlisted in the Bargavach Hayastan Party do not hurry
to announce about their choice because the future of this political
party is certainly unpredictable unless the political team of this
party becomes known. “Much depends on the stance of Serge Sargsyan,”
says Aram Harutiunyan. According to him, Serge Sargsyan will run for
parliament on the Republican party ticket. Aram Harutiunyan says Serge
Sargsyan will not be playing on his own. At least he thinks that the
defense minister does not play on his own because Robert Kocharyan
and Serge Sargsyan are “Siamese twins.”

“IF IT WAS MY FLAT, I WOULD THINK TO MOVE INTO OR NOT”
Margaret Yesayan
Aravot.am
15 June 06
The NA chairman Tigran Torosian says.
The members of the commission of Venice have mentioned in Yerevan that
for holding normal elections in Armenia we need in normal ”Electoral
Code”, do you agree with such appraisals, do we only need in it?
We need in not only the ”EC”. I clearly said during the NA chairman’s
elections that we must reform the omissions in the code by all means
but the formation of necessary moral-psychological atmosphere, inter
party relations are very important, too. I’m sure that our parties
aren’t enemies, they are rivals, partners, though the relations
sometimes turn into hostility. The most important thing is this and
if all parties realize this, they will understand that they have
a lot of general interests and profits, in connection with holding
elections corresponding to all standards. Here what we must be able to
provide. We must hope that the coming year will give an opportunity
to form the necessary moral-psychological atmosphere though with
small steps. This isn’t less important, than the ”EC” amendments,
the use of constitutional amendments in life, than any other action.
What kind of impression do you get when you look at the hall of
parliament as the NA chairman, is there any change?
My approaches, principles, opinions are never changed in filling or
leaving any post. I know my partners very well, we have worked together
for 7 years and I have been the NA deputy chairman for 7 years, so
there is nothing I didn’t know but knew now. I have enemies neither
in the parliament nor among parties. I have a lot of friends and I’d
be very glad if we managed to regulate this atmosphere using these
relations. Certainly I can guess that it will seem to some people
as something romantic, but I’m optimist in general. In any case we
should do our best.
Do you share the standpoint that becoming the NA chairman the situation
of the RPA became difficult as the responsibility was increased and
that selection was made for a special intention; to ”spoil” your
party before parliamentary elections.
No, I don’t share that standpoint, I don’t agree with it. We
have always declared that we are completely responsible for the
events in the country and for those good things, which are done in
the country, and for those omissions, mistakes that exist in the
country. Unfortunately we speak less about good things, though I
think it is worth to speak about good things.
There were publishments in the press that you were moving into
governmental summer residence, have you already moved?
No I haven’t, and I’m glad that I have an occasion to speak about
it. First of all I must say that I have decided to move but the
strangest thing is that that the publishment of the press was invented
and anonymous. But the most amusing thing was that I didn’t live in
that flat on Mashtots avenue for 7 years. So I can’t go out everyday
from there and not greet neighbors. The flat where I live with my
family isn’t ours. And I think the state official who is offered to
live in such conditions mustn’t refuse of it and keeps living in
a flat, which doesn’t belong to him. If it would my flat, I would
think to move into summer residence or not. But in this case it can
be very strange thing and can cause some appraisals with political
context. For that reason I have decided to move.
–Boundary_(ID_or3pi7gTevoZaEiBnzyIYA)–

MORAL IS IN ACCORD
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot.am
15 June 06
Tigran Torosian’s appointment as the NA chairman became important with
the following declaration; ”There are cases when morality is beyond
every law. And not showing these mutual curses in the days of morning
is quite justified”. It is spoken about declarations pronounced on
2 of May, which weren’t broadcasted because of tragic air crash on
3 of May. It seems from the first sight that Mr. Torosian is right,
we all were so painted that we would hardly listen to the curses of
deputies. But it is only at the first sight. If we think a little, it
will be quite strange to subdue the law by the leader of legislative
body. Law is a severe, ”heartless”, formal obligation. Moral norms
are more sweet and exiting but unfortunately subjective formulations
“written” on the sand.
We can find moral justification for everything. The oligarch who
doesn’t pay taxes says himself; ”I have so many workers, do so many
benevolent actions”. Liska or Manvel who beat those whom they don’t
like say ;We have poured blood for this land”. So the law is the most
right thing. It is a red light, stop; it is a green light, drive. But
when traffic lights are out of order and divers drive understanding
each other, “morality”, quarrels start from here. Everything is in
accord here; it is impossible to determine the limit after which the
law must be subordinated to moral norms.
The above-mentioned case can also been regulated by law; a/ deciding
not to broadcast deputies’ declarations at all, b/deciding not to do
it in mourning days, c/ to adopt a special law that those deputies who
curse are deprived of the right of speech till the end of session. As
much traffic lights are as better.
I should remind that that the American legislation begins at the
supposition that every person is a criminal inside his mind. And
it was justified; the majority of people who came to the continent
had run from Europe for different reasons. We also need in such
legislation as we have been trained in the conditions of the Soviet,
non-juridical state.
There is certainly another version, to make Kashpirovsky seance
injecting morality into our society. But that version is as possible
as the victory of Trinidad & Tobago in the Football World Cup.
–Boundary_(ID_nQeHM+qTzPgmgaliPP9ETw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL ARMENIAN-ITALIAN BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 10:33
International Armenian-Italian business forum will be held today
in Yerevan.
The event has been organized by the Union of Manufacturers and
Entrepreneurs of Armenia, the Italian “Olston” Company and the Embassy
of Italy in Armenia.

ANCA WELCOMES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO BLOCK US SUBSIDY FOR ARMENIA RAILROAD BYPASS
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 11:03
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the
vote by a powerful Congressional panel to block US taxpayer funding
for an unnecessary and costly proposed railroad between Turkey and
Georgia that would, if built, circumvent Armenia and, in the process,
undermine the economic viability of the existing Caucasus railroad
route through Armenia.
With a unanimous voice vote earlier today, the House Financial
Services Committee adopted the amendment offered by panel member Joe
Crowley. The measure prohibits the Export-Import Bank from providing
any assistance “to develop or promote any rail
connections or railway-related connections that traverse or connect
Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that
specifically exclude cities in Armenia.”
“We thank Congressman Crowley, his colleagues Ed Royce and Brad
Sherman, and all the members of the Financial Services Committee for
protecting American taxpayers from subsidizing an ill-advised and
over-priced railroad project that – at the insistence of Turkey and
Azerbaijan – has been proposed solely to exclude Armenia,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

SERGO YERITSYAN APPOINTED ADVISER TO RA PRESIDENT
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 12:00
With President Robert Kocharyan’s decree of 14 June, Sergo Yeritsyan
has been appointed Adviser to RA President.

VLADIMIR KARMIRSHALYAN APPOINTED RA AMBASSADOR TO CHILI AND URUGUAY
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 12:12
According to President Robert Kocharyan’s decree dated June 14,
Ara Ayvazyan has been dismissed from the position of RA Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Chili and
the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. RA Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Argentina Vladimir Karmirshalyan
(seat in Buenos Ayres) has been appointed to the position.

DELEGATION OF RF SOUTHERN FEDERAL DISTRICT TO VISIT ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 12:30
June 15-16 the delegation of RF Southern Federal District headed by
Plenipotentiary Representative of RF President will be in Yerevan. The
delegation comprises the Governor of Rostov region V. Chub, Commander
of RF North-Caucasian Military District, Army General A. Baranov.
During the stay in Armenia the Russian delegation will have meetings
with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
and the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.
At 09:30 June 16 the delegation will visit the Genocide Museum.

IT’S EARLY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE REASONS OF THE A-320 CRASH, ARMAVIA COMPANY SAYS
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 12:44
“All comments of anonymous sources about the reasons of the crash of
the A-320 jet near Sochi are void,” “Arminfo” correspondent was told
at the press service of Armavia Company.
The Company informed that it is not correct to speak about the
reasons of the tragedy, unless the decoding of the black boxes is
completed. The official results will be made public by the Interstate
Aviation Committee.
The press service denied the suggestion that such “anonymous”
information may pursue certain objectives. However, sources close
to aviation circles of Armenia are concerned that some of these
“anonymous” information may be paid for to expel the national
transporter of Armenia from the market.