ARMENIA’S BUDGET EXPENSES TO TOTAL $1BLN IN 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2005
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. The budget expenses are to total $1bln
in Armenia in 2006, Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan
told reporters. According to him, the current economic growth in
Armenia allows additional funds to be directed to the social sector.
Specifically, legislative amendments will allow the Government to
pay AMD 35,000 birth grants and AMD 70,000 allowances to low-income
families. “We will continue this selective policy and increase yearly
allocations,” he said. In 2006, Armenia’s budget revenues are to
total AMD 380bln, and budget expenses AMD 450bln. 7.5% GDP growth,
and 3% inflation are expected next year. ($1 – AMD 443.07) P.T. -0-

SPEAKER OF ARMENIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR WIDE POPULARIZATION OF REFORMS
Pravda, Russia
Oct 5 2005
02:07 2005-10-05
“When we speak about changing the ruling elite in Armenia we must
consider that in two and three years accordingly parliamentary and
presidential elections will take place,” said Speaker of the National
Assembly of Armenia Artur Bagdasaryan at a briefing Tuesday.
“If someone tries to prove that the constitutional reforms are
ineffective, I’m open to a constructive dialogue. Maybe, the current
draft is not ideal, but it has been approved by the Council of Europe’s
Venice Commission and international community,” added the speaker.
According to Bagdasaryan, on the threshold of the referendum on
constitutional changes in Armenia, people are divided into four
groups – those, who are against all changes, those, who agree with
the changes, those, who are uninformed about the reforms, and the
last group are speculating about the reforms.
“We must start a wide campaign to inform people about the current
reforms. However, this process must not be a monopoly of the ruling
coalition, and should involve all political and social forces.
Constitutional reforms help creating more transparent government
system”, said Artur Bagdasaryan, REGNUM reported.

BLOCKADE OF ARMENIAN BORDER BY TURKEY UNACCEPTABLE TO EUROPE
Pan Armenian
04.10.2005 14:34
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan met with
President of the CE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Giovanni di Stasi, reported the Press service of the Government
of Armenia. Positively evaluating the CE-Armenia cooperation for
almost 10 years in forming local self-government bodies and control,
A. Margaryan said the mutually favorable cooperation would further
continue. He welcomed Giovanni di Stasi’s visit to Armenia, especially
that election of local government bodies is held in Armenia observed
by the Congress monitoring mission. Giovanni di Stasi emphasized
that notable improvement is registered in the field: the percentage
of population participation is growing, the government and society
acquire some experience in forming democratic institutions. Speaking of
constitutional amendments, the CE Congress President underscored the
importance of establishment of election of Yerevan Mayor. Giovanni
di Stasi expressed readiness to promote Armenia in fulfilling the
demands of the Charter on Local Self-Government Armenia had ratified
in 2003. The parties also discussed regional cooperation at their
meeting. Margaryan emphasized Armenia is for active cooperation in
the South Caucasus and will continue efforts in this respect. In
his turn Giovanni di Stasi considered the blockade of the Armenian
border by Turkey unacceptable. He highlighted the idea of formation
of regional center for local government bodies. In his opinion,
it will promote establishment of economic, social and cultural
cooperation between them. Welcoming the idea the Armenian PM expressed
readiness to support initiatives that would held solve common regional
problems. Mr. Margaryan also welcomed the Transborder Cooperation in
Europe conference opening in Yerevan October 5.

ARMENIAN SPEAKER MET WITH CIS IPA
Pan Armenian
04.10.2005 14:04
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan today met with
Secretary of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Mikhail Krotov,
reported the Press Service of the NA of Armenia. In the course of the
meeting the parties discussed the meetings of CIS IPA Commissions on
Economics and Finance and Science and Education opening in Yerevan
October 5. Mikhail Krotov informed Artur Baghdassaryan on the current
works of the CIS IPA.
Besides, the interlocutors discussed matters referring to the CIS
IPA plenary session to be held in St. Petersburg.

REFERENDUM ON AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON NOV. 27
ARKA News Network, Armenia
Oct 4 2005
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a
decree on holding the referendum on Amendments to the RA Constitution
on November 27, 2005; RA Presidential Press-Service reported ARKA
News Agency. The decree was signed according to the RA Constitution,
RA Law “On Referendum”, and taking into consideration proposal of
the RA National Assembly to put the draft amendments to Constitution
on referendum.
RA National Assembly adopted amendments to the RA Constitution in
the third and final reading on September 27, 2005. The previous
referendum on amendments to Constitution in 2003 failed. Amendments
to Constitution are Armenia’s main commitment to the Council of
Europe. A.A. -0–

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON DESERTERS FROM MILITARY SERVICE
ARKA News Network, Armenia
Oct 4 2005
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. The RA Parliament has approved amendments
to the law “On persons that did not do their military services under
law.” One of the authors of the bill Hrair Karapetyan reported
that the law is expected to remain in force until the end of the
autumn call-up, as practice has proved its effectiveness. “Numerous
citizens, which were no longer prosecuted, returned to Armenia and,
after paying certain sums, could restore their full citizenship,”
Karapetyan said. He pointed oyut that the bill, which was drafted
in cooperation with the RA Ministry of Defense, will also apply to
officers transferred to the reserve. According to him, under one
of the amendments funds accumulated on a special account are to be
directed to military needs.
The application of the Law “On persons that did not do military
service” resulted in $1mln being transferred to Armenia’s state
budget. P.T. -0–

RA NA SPEAKER: INCLUDING OF ISSUE OF “FROZEN DEPOSITS” OF ARMSAVINGSBANK ON AGENDA OF PARLIAMENT HAS UTMOST IMPORTANCE
ARKA News Network, Armenia
Oct 4 2005
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. The fact that an issue of “frozen deposits”
of the Armsavingsbank was included on the agenda of the current 4-day
parliamentary session has utmost importance, Speaker of the Armenian
Parliament Arthur Baghdassaryan told journalists. He said that it is
the result of the “exclusive political consensus of all political
forces and independent parliamentarians”. He said that there were
attempts to compromise him and the party “Orinats Yerkir” headed
by him, but political consensus resulted in including this issue on
the agenda, as “this issue relates to 2.2mln people”. He said that
the atmosphere of solidarity and tolerance should be preserved for
final resolution of this issue. He also said that no one political
force tries to privatize this issue and it should be solved to avoid
future speculations.
He expressed confidence that the Republican Party of Armenia
will follow the agreements achieved, as they are clear, public and
indisputable. Baghdassaryan also pointed out that all necessary funds
will be provided by the state budget. A.A. -0–

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT
ARKA News Network, Armenia
Oct 4 2005
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan is for the
development of sport in the country. Awarding prizes to the winners
of the 4th games held among Yerevan’s comprehensive schools, the
President stated that the organization of competitions in Armenia is
the evidence that sport is back at schools. Kocharyan pointed out the
necessity of all necessary measures to create conditions for people
“to feel shame for not being sport-lovers.” “Healthy and well-educated
young people are the best guarantee of Armenia’s development and
security. That is why we will continue the construction and repair of
schools and do out best for our schools to be the best in the region
in the technical and educational aspects,” Kocharyan said. He stressed
that he will do everything in his power for Armenia’s society to be
based on knowledge and healthy mode of life, which will allow it to
build up stable and secure future. The winners of the 4th competition
among Yerevan schools are School #56 in the Arabkir community, School
#91 in Malatia-Sebastia and School #6 in Erebuni. P.T. -0–

SERPENTS ET DEMONS CORNUS: LA PROPAGANDE ANTI-ARMENIENNE D’UN ARTISTE AZERI (MAGAZINE)
Agence France Presse
3 octobre 2005 lundi 8:09 AM GMT
BAKOU 2 oct 2005
Sur une swastika, un serpent noir aux crochets suintant du venin
aspire a la domination mondiale, mais en est empeche a temps par des
tenailles metalliques manipulees par six bras puissants.
Ce n’est pas une affiche de propagande de la Seconde guerre mondiale
decrivant les efforts allies pour contenir l’Allemagne nazie, mais
une oeuvre recemment exposee a Bakou, l’une des dernières de Kerim
Kerimov, artiste azerbaïdjanais qui s’est donne pour mission de
denoncer “l’hegemonie armenienne”.
Rampant sur le globe en direction de l’Azerbaïdjan, le serpent
represente l’Armenie qui veut une “Grande Armenie”, assure M.
Kerimov, tandis que les six bras qui tiennent les tenailles sont
ceux des “frères turcs” de l’Azerbaïdjan, comme la Turquie et le
Turkmenistan.
President du Comite national azerbaïdjanais des geophysiciens, M.
Kerimov n’est pas qu’un artiste. C’est un scientifique bien connu des
milieux petroliers pour le rôle qu’il a joue au milieu des annees 1990
dans la signature du “contrat du siècle”, qui a marque le lancement
de la participation occidentale dans le developpement des reserves
petrolières azerbaïdjanaises de la mer Caspienne.
Peu de gens savent qu’il est l’auteur prolifique de dessins politiques
publies depuis un demi-siècle maintenant, dans les journaux sovietiques
puis ceux de l’Azerbaïdjan independant.
Une grande partie de son oeuvre s’en prend a l’Armenie et met en avant
la politique officielle de Bakou contre son voisin qui, suite a une
guerre sanglante au debut des annees 1990, a de fait pris le contrôle
du Nagorny-Karabakh, territoire azerbaïdjanais peuple en majorite
d’Armeniens et qui a proclame unilateralement son independance.
La plupart des gens a Bakou vous diront que l’Azerbaïdjan est entoure
d’ennemis, parmi lesquels bien sûr l’Armenie, forte du soutien russe
et de sa riche diaspora, mais egalement les forces d’opposition en
Azerbaïdjan meme, ainsi que certains ayatollahs iraniens.
M. Kerimov va plus loin encore et trace le portrait d’Armeniens
monstrueux et cornus posant une patte griffue sur la carte de
l’Azerbaïdjan ou placant une bombe geante entre le pays et son
allie turc.
Kerim Kerimov, 72 ans, a appris a dessiner a l’ecole du realisme
socialiste, a une epoque où l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Armenie faisaient
partie d’un meme pays, et se decrit lui meme comme un disciple du
caricaturiste sovietique Boris Efimov.
Et si M. Efimov etait celèbre pour ses dessins de propagande
representant un Hitler difforme, M. Kerimov a pour cible l’ennemi
moderne de l’Azerbaïdjan.
“Je ne veux pas que les Armeniens me considèrent comme un ennemi”,
dit-il cependant, affirmant avoir ete menace de mort par toutes sortes
d'”ennemis” de l’Azerbaïdjan.
“Je veux qu’ils realisent que la politique qu’ils mènent n’est pas
bonne: alors la vie sera meilleure pour nos deux peuples”, estime-t-il.
Mais ses bonnes intentions ont peu de chances d’etre entendues par
les Armeniens, qu’il represente dans ses dessins en demons poilus ou
en membres du Ku Klux Klan en cagoule blanche.
L’Armenie, qui fait l’objet d’un blocus de ses voisins turc et
azerbaïdjanais, est accusee par certains de ses adversaires de chercher
a etendre son territoire.
L’enclave du Nagorny Karabakh, habitee aujourd’hui par quelque 145.000
Armeniens et soutenue par Erevan, s’est unilateralement separee de
l’Azerbaïdjan a l’issue d’un conflit arme qui a fait près de 25.000
morts.
L’Azerbaïdjan ne reconnaît pas les autorites independantistes du
Karabakh et considère que la region est occupee par l’Armenie depuis
le cessez-le-feu de 1994.
–Boundary_(ID_FnP8WaToXVRU4vSEE4MfWg)–

TURKEY MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE: LIBERAL PARTY OF SWEDEN
AINA, CA
Oct 4 2005
Folkpartiet, the Liberal Party of Sweden, held its Congress in
Gothenburg on 19-21 August. The Congress forms the policy for the
future and is Folkpartiet’s highest decicion taking body. Eight
thematic manifestos were debated and adopted, on issues such as
integration, education, justice and home affairs and globalisation.
All documentation are available (in Swedish). One of the issues were
the genocide on Armenians and Assyrians during World War One in the
Ottoman Empire. Folkpartiet decided to make following statement:
“The genocide that Armenians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Chaldeans and
Pontic Greeks were exposed to has for long time beeing viewed as a
Turkish-Armenian affair. Turkey belong to the European fellowship and
has in several respects fulfilled the requirements for membership in
EU. In short time from now negotiations are planned about when the
membership should begin. Turkey must take their responsibility and
make the truth known about the genocide on Armenians and others, and
aknowldedge the suffering of the victims. EU should bring considerable
pressure to Turkey in order for them to aknowledge the genocide on
Armenians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Chaldeans and Pontic Greeks. Turkey and
other countries should open their archives and in other ways promote
research about this dark side of the region’s history. Strong lobby
is also required to make sure that Turkey respect the Kurdish and
the Christian people’s rights.”
Folkpartiet is one the third biggest party according to the latest
election in 2002. They are expected to form the government with
the non-Socialist parties after next year’s general elections. In
Folkpartiet there are several politicians that work with Assyrian
related issues such as the EU-parliamenterian Cecilia Malmstrom,
Cecilia Wikstrom and Fredrik Malm; the president of the Liberal
Youth Federation.
Translated from Swedish by Ninos Maraha