WE’LL DO OUR BEST TO CORRECT THE ELECTORAL ROLLS
Panorama.am
18:33 17/10/05
The Coordinator of Coordinating Council Mher Shahgeldyan had a meeting
with journalists in the National Academy of Science.
Concerning the upcoming referendum he mainly focused on the electoral
rolls.
“I would not say that the situation is hopeless or vice versa. But
there are many problems to solve. The important one is to correct
the electoral rolls.
The Department of Visa and Passport must deal with that question,
as we had serious problems during the previous elections”, – said
M. Shahgeldyan and added, “There is also the president’s recommendation
to the chief of the police concerning that problem”. /Panorama.am/

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IS SATISFACTORY
Panorama.am
17:55 17/10/05
“The local elections were generally in keeping with the Council of
Europe’s electoral standards. The electoral process was generally
satisfactory”, – said today a delegation of the Congress of Local
and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe who arrived
to observe local elections in Yerevan and in various towns and
villages in the Tavoush, Lori and Armavir regions. To the question
“Have you heard about illegalities and kidnapping in Etchmiadzin?”,
head of the delegation Sean 0’Brien answered, “Of course, I heard
about such actions, but we cannot say something exactly”, and added,
“For example, we were present during the ballots counting in one of
the polling station in Etchmiadzin, everything was normal”.
The members only said that there were some little irregularities,
like somebody didn’t find her/his name in the electoral rolls or
there were some persons’ names who died long time ago etc. “We’ll
inform the authorities about these, as we are sure that they will,
by all means, correct these mistakes”, – said the member of the
delegation Christopher Newbury.
David Lloyd-Williams told that during their visit in Vanadzor they saw
150-200 angry people opposite the headquarter of one of the candidates.
People came with their passports to get bribes. But inside the
headquarter they found out that it was only nonsense. “And we left
the area”,- claimed Mr. Lloyd-Williams. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BIRD FLU LESS PROBABLE IN ARMENIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
Healthcare
No Cases Registered Till Today
This is the time of the year that birds leave Armenia for warmer
countries thus diminishing the probability of bird flu in the
republic. Yet, Vartan Ayvazyan, ecology minister of Armenia, warned
the hunters to give up their hobby for a while.
Healthcare minister Norayr Davidian informed that the Ministry
receives weekly information on the bird flu for the ire region and
takes measures to suppress any case of the flu. The officials in the
Ministry are trying to acquire appropriate vaccines.
The minister said that there was an epidemic of bird flu back in 1918
that took the life of 50 million people.

RASUL GULIYEV RETURNS TO BAKU
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
He Is Charged With Appropriating $100, Selling Petrol To Armenians
During Karabakh War and Cooperating With Pro-Armenian Forces
One of Nakhijevan clan members, former Azerbaijani parliament
speaker Rasul Guliyev was due to return home from the United States
on London-Baku charter flight yesterday night. Late Heydar Aliyev
and Guliyev were in good relations before 1995 until the speaker of
the parliament embarked on forming his own team within the clan to
counter the Aliyevs in fight for presidency.
In his message to the Azeri society, Guliyev, who spearheads
oppositional Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, said that he does to
cause bloodshed by his return. “It is possible that there will
be disturbances at the airport on October 17. We have operative
information about imminent provocation including an assault on the
airport,” Ramil Usubov, interior minister of Azerbaijan, said. Usubov
called for the representatives of diplomatic missions and journalists
to stay away from the airport, as “clashes are probable.”
Yasar Aliyev, deputy head of Baku police, was quoted by the Azeri
press as saying that nobody will be allowed to enter the area of
Heydar Aliyev International Airport to meet Rasul Guliyev. Zakir
Garalov, head prosecutor of Azerbaijan, stated that a special cell
of European standards was prepared for Guliyev.
According to RFERL, Guliyev is returning to secure democratic
parliamentary elections on November 6. He had announced earlier that
he will return to Baku in company of US congressmen and a group of
journalists. Rasul Guliyev is charged with appropriating more than $100
million from the state budget, selling petrol to the Armenians during
the Nagorno Karabakh war and supporting pro-Armenian forces in America.
In the face of the upcoming parliamentary elections the Azeri
authorities emphasize the “fact” of the cooperation of the country’s
opposition and Armenian special services but not the Karabakh
issue. Sill in August 3, the police arrested Ruslan Basirli, leader of
Yeni Fikir oppositional party on charge of a coup attempt organized
in concert with non-governmental American organizations and Armenian
special services. During the last weeks Ramin Tagiyev and Sayid Nuri,
the same party’s leaders were also arrested.
President Ilham Aliyev’s assessment of the pre-election situation
is as follows, “Wonderful conditions have been created for the
elections.” The international organizations hold to other views. In
its report on pre-electoral Azerbaijan, the Human Rights Watch called
on the Western governments to adopt a tougher line in regard to the
violence in Azerbaijan.
The report also writes that the growing violence that the opposition
activists face from the hands of law-enforcers “casts doubt
on government’s obligation to hold free and just parliamentary
elections.” The report says that the US and EU should “condemn the
violence in pre-election campaign forestalling further aggravation.”
As it is known, the police quelled three last rallies by Azadleg Union
beating tens of participants and detaining hundreds. The head of the
PACE stated in Baku last week that Azerbaijan has not fulfilled the
proposals of the PACE to hold free and just elections.

TUNES OF DUDUK IN POLAND
By Heghine Vatinian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
A recent international festival in Warsaw hosted participants from
Armenia, Georgia, America, France, England and India. All states
presented their unique national cultures.
The representatives of Armenia and Georgia performed on September
11. Duduk player Gevorg Dabaghian was the main soloist of the Armenian
delegation. The Armenian ensemble was comprised of kamancha player
Norayr Davtian, kanon player Shushanik Saghatelian, dap (tambourine)
player Kamo Khachatrian, second duduk Emanuel Hovhannisian and singer
Arus Gulanian. The concert was composed of solo duduk accompanied by
kamancha, kanon and dhol.
Asked whether it is possible to awaken love for duduk and Armenian
folk music among the younger generation, one of the musicians said:
“The Armenian folk music is as unique and incomparable as the Armenians
themselves. As to children’s preferences I should say that their
upbringing depends on us.
Everyone should make efforts to raise children beautifully. Duduk
is our national mentality, our soul. Tens of pupils and hundreds of
students follow our footsteps. That’s great.”

REPRESENTATIVES OF RA OMBUDSWOMAN NEEDED ALSO IN REGIONS
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
In 2006, AMD 130 million will be allocated from RA state budget
for the staff of RA ombudswoman. Larisa Alaverdian, RA ombudswoman,
thinks that this sum is not enough for the activities of Ombudsman’s
Institute. Only the rent of the territory where the office is amounts
to AMD 20 million. Mrs.
Alaverdian thinks that there should be representatives of RA
Ombudsman in four regions at least, namely, Shirak, Gegharqunik,
Syunik and Tavush.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HEADS OF YEREVAN SATISFIED WITH BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR CAPITAL
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
There is no discontent about the budget allocations envisaged for the
needs of the capital. Kamo Areyan, deputy mayor of Yerevan, assured
that it is quite possible to carry out all the elaborated programs
within the framework of the allocations for the next year. Yerevan will
receive AMD 389.760.9 thousand in 2006. AMD 5 billion are envisaged
for the 12 communities of the capital.

ARMENIA TO BE PROPERLY REPRESENTED ABROAD
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
The allocations from RA state budget envisaged for RA foreign policy
will amount to AMD 8.117.820. RA Foreign Ministry will receive AMD
700.570.7 for the current expenses of the ministry, as well as AMD
119.797 for ceremonial needs. The fees Armenia is to pay will total
to AMD 1.053.545.3. While AMD 4.164.784.7 of budget allocations are
envisaged for TA Embassies. AMD 2.000.000 will be spent on purchasing
buildings for RA Embassies. The salaries of the employees of RA
Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic services will grow by 40%.

DAY OF ARMENIAN PRESS
By Marietta Makarian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
It is already the second year that the Armenian journalists mark
the day of Armenian press. The government’s decision in 2004 made
October 16 the day of Armenian press, in honor of the first issue of
Azdarar magazine. In 1794-96 priest Harutyun Shmavonian started the
Armenian press.
After congratulating Armenian journalists on the press day, Astghik
Gevorgian, chairman of the Journalists’ Union, made public the names
of “Azdarar” prizewinners. The prize in periodical press nomination
went to editor-in-chief of Avant-Garde magazine Juliet Martirosian,
the prize for best regional paper went to editor of Lusardzak,
Fahrad Apujanian, the prize for TV journalism went to head of “Karot”
working group, Manuk Muradian, the prize for radio journalism went
to Gohar Martikian for “The Life Formula” program and the prize for
photo journalism went to Hakob Berberian of Golos Armenii for creating
the series of photos on Artsakh war.
Astghik Gevorgian informed that the laureates of “Golden Pen” award
make up the jury of both the “Golden Pen” and “Azdarar” awards. Only
the members of the Journalists’ Union of Armenia are eligible for
the awards.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT BELGIUM
Armenpress
Oct 18 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert
Kocharian is leaving October 19 for Belgium on a three-day routine
visit. Kocharian’s press office said the presidential delegation
comprises also deputy parliament chairman Tigran Torosian, foreign
and trade and economic development ministers, Armenian ambassador to
Belgium, other government officials and journalists.
In Brussels Kocharian will meet Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstad,
Senate president Anne-Marie Lizin and parliament chairman Herman
de Kroy.
Kocharian will also meet European Commission President Manuel
Baroso, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana, president of the European Parliament Joseph
Borell-Fontels, NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and
other officials.
In Brussels Kocharian and the president of Belgian Senate will lay a
wreath to Armenian Genocide Memorial. Kocharian will also attend the
inauguration of the new Armenian embassy building and will also meet
with members of the local Armenian community and visit a fair titled
‘Made in Belgium.’