A1+
| 12:26:41 | 17-09-2005 | Politics |
POTENTIAL VOTERS ARE NOT NUMEROUS
The constitutional referendum to all appearances will be held on November
20. According to the preliminary data, the draft will be submitted to the
last reading in the NA October 3-7. The operating Constitution says that the
draft submitted to the referendum is considered adopted of over half of the
voters but no less that a third of those included in the electoral rolls
vote `for’.
This week we tried to find out whether our citizens are going to take part
in the upcoming referendum. We surveyed 100 people. Only 19% of the
respondents are going to participate in the referendum. `I wish dual
citizenship were adopted’, a woman said. Some are going to vote `for’
because according to the draft the Mayor of Yerevan should be elected but
not appointed.
24% of those surveyed are going to vote `against’. `I am going to vote
`against’ over some reasons, for example, after the resignation the
President cannot be called to account’, one of them said.
35% confessed that they will not take part in the referendum because they
are not aquatinted with the issue. 22% found it hard to answer. Some of them
cannot decide whether the reviewed Constitution is progress or regress.

A1+
| 12:12:21 | 17-09-2005 | Politics |
AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE KEPT ON TENTERHOOKS
Opposition will say `no’ to the constitutional amendments. However some
tactical issues are still being discussed. According to Justice faction
secretary Victor Dallakyan the faction will convoke a sitting after Robert
Kocharyan signed the decree on condution of the referendum.
40 days is not a short term for spreading anti-propaganda, he is convinced.
In his opinion, taking into account the fact that 800 thousand votes `for’
are essential for providing a quorum the opposition should first of all try
to call the citizens to boycott the referendum or vote `against’. `The most
important thing people have to realize is that no one can force them to go
to the polling station and vote’, he says.
Victor Dallakyan thinks that the presence of 2 observers from each party
will become a serious obstacle for electoral fraud.
National Unity secretary Alexan Karapetyan also attaches importance to the
activities of the opposition and vigilance of the election committee
members. Contrary to Victor Dallakyan he considers that the citizens should
take part in the referendum and say `no’ to the constitutional amendments.
In his opinion the anti-propaganda should be spread by means of direct
communication with the people. `We should keep the authorities on
tenterhooks to reduce the volume of fraud’, A. Karapetyan noted.
Diana Markosyan

FOREING FOSTER PARENTS TO PRESENT REPORT ON CARE OF CHILD ONCE A YEAR

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the new order of
fostering children, foreign foster parents must present a report on
the care, health and education of a foster child to the RA Embassy to
the given country once a year. Lala Ghazarian, the Chief of the
Department on Issues of Family, Women and Children of the RA Ministry
of Labour and Social Affairs, informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent
about this. It was mentioned that the new order was worked out to
control care of children fostered by foreign citizens. According to
L.Ghazarian, in future, it is envisaged to define control towards care
of children fostered by RA citizens as well.

DISAPPOINTMENT AT WEST INCREASES IN AZERI SOCIETY, ARIF YUNUSOV SAID
YEREVAN

SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Today anti-western and first of all
anti-American moods are increasing in Azerbaijan as hope for the
support of the US in solution of Karabakh problem is disappearing.
Arif Yunusov, Head of the Conflictology and Migration Department of
Azerbaijan’s Institute of Peace and Democracy, declared this at the
sitting dedicated to problems of Islam in the Caucasus and Central
Asia held within the framework of the great international forum in
Krynits (Poland).
According to him, simultaneously with the disappointment at west
pro-Vahabist moods are increasing in the Azeri society as the idea of
Vahabists about the solution of the Karabakh conflict by war is
greatly supported by the population.
Arif Yunusov pointed to the presence of certain dualism in issues of
Islam in Azerbaijan. Namely: Azerbaijan’s division into Shiits, which
make 65% of population, and Sunnits making 35%. Besides, in expert’s
opinion, it’s also interesting that the rich layers of the society
gravitate towards the Vahabists and the poor layers to the neighboring
Iran. A.Yunusov expressed anxiety about possible strengthening of
Iran’s positions among adherents of radical Islam in Azerbaijan. In
particular, according to him, weak control on the Azeri-Iranian border
contributes to strengthening of position of Islamic Iran in
Azerbaijan.
Answering the question of Noyan Tapan’s correspondent, what awaits
secular Azerbaijan in the respect of strengthening of radical Islamic
moods, Arif Yunusov said: “We still have 10-15 years. The generation
brought up in the USSR is still playing an active role, but the new
generation is also growing. And if suddenly a war begins in Iran,
thisn together with the Karabakh conflict and Iraqi war will
strengthen anti-American moods in the Azeri society for even more.”

WINTER WHEAT

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
16 Sept 05
This year 85 thousand 781 tonnes of wheat was produced in Nagorno
Karabakh, said the vice minister of agriculture Vladimir Zakiyan. This
year the harvest of wheat exceeds the previous year’s harvest by over
7500 tonnes. Nevertheless, according to the vice minister, this is
not a good rate because the estimates were much higher. Poor harvest
was caused by weather. In April it was especially dry, whereas in this
month arable crops require the highest amount of moisture. There were
no problems with agricultural machines because this year the necessary
amount of combine harvesters was acquired. According to the minister,
the region of Hadrut had the highest yield per hectare. Compared to
the previous year the rate was higher this year, and wheat produced
this year totals 12 thousand 972 tonnes. In Askeran the total yield is
18 thousand 690, Martakert 16 thousand 228, Martuni 23 thousand 043,
Shushi 654, Kashatagh 9 thousand 614 and Shahumian 163.5 tonnes.
However, there are problems connected with the upcoming winter
tillage. V. Zakiyan said that the grain producers are dissatisfied
with the low price for wheat and did not sell the grain. The ministry
is presently taking measures in this reference. The recent consultation
with the heads of the regional administrations was on this issue. The
NKR government provided a significant sum to aid farms and regions
which lost the harvest because of natural disasters. The sowing of
winter wheat will begin at the end of September and the beginning of
October. Tillage has already started.
LAURA GRIGORIAN.
16-09-2005

THE FIRST SESSION STARTED

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
16 Sept 05
On September 14 the first meeting in the autumn session of the NKR
National Assembly took place. The meeting was conducted by Speaker
Ashot Ghulian. The parliament decided to place the members of
parliament Garik Grigorian, Ararat Danielian and Romela Dadayan in
charge of the counting commission. During the discussion of the agenda
the parliamentary faction Hayrenik proposed to discuss the election of
chairman of the Audit Chamber of the National Assembly. The speaker
said the question had not been on the agenda because it was not ready
for discussion yet and would probably be presented at the next
meeting. Meeting the request of the faction, the speaker announced
five minutes break. After the break the members of the faction
continued to insist on their point. The proposal was put to vote but
did not receive a sufficient number of votes. The members of
parliament confirmed the agenda of the meeting and the legislative
programme of the session. Then the chairman of the Central Election
Committee Sergey Nasibian presented the message of the NKR Central
Election Committee on the June 19, 2005 election to the National
Assembly of NKR. The minister of economy and finance Spartak Tevossian
presented the annual report on NKR State Budget 2004 and the message
on the budget performance in the first half of 2005, as well as the
annual report on implementation of the 2004-2006 programme of
privatization, which were confirmed by the National Assembly. The
National Assembly also approved the amendments to the NKR law on
lump-sum tax which were enacted. The National Assembly discussed the
package of tax documents including the amendments to the NKR law on
the use of cash machines, the amendments to the law on taxes, the NKR
law on profit tax and the NKR law on lump-sum tax. The vice chief of
the NKR State Tax Agency under the NKR government Levon Voskanian
presented messages and comments on the bills. Taking into
consideration the approval of the standing committee on finance,
budget and economic management, the parliament adopted the amendments
to the law on taxes and enacted the other bills. The vice minister of
social security Emma Gabrielian gave explanations on the amendments to
the NKR law on social security of children devoid of parental
care. The chairman of the standing committee on social security Arpat
Avanessian said the committee approved the amendments. The amendments
were adopted. By the proposal of the government the bills of
amendments to the law on lump-sum tax on petrol and diesel fuel, the
law on lump-sum tax and the law on tax on trade were withdrawn from
the agenda. The National Assembly adopted the bills on consular
service, diplomatic service and international agreements presented by
the foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikian. The last bill discussed by
the parliament on September 14 referred to the legislative regulation
of archiving. The head of the department of archiving under the NKR
government Albert Ghazarian presented the message on the bill. The
standing committee of production and industrial infrastructures
approved the bill and the law was adopted. At the request of the
Ministry of Justice the National Assembly passed the interpretation of
the NKR law on internees, presented by the chairman of the standing
committee on state and legal matters Youri Hayrapetian. Article 1,
section 2 of the law maintains that a person is detained if their
arrest on criminal charges is a means of deterrence. In accordance
with the bylaws of the National Assembly the members of government
answered the questions of the members of parliament. The questions
referred to different spheres of social and economic life of the
country. In the end Vice Speaker Rudik Hyusnunts presented a
statement asserting that election corresponding to the international
standards was held, which brings us closer to democracy. He pointed
out that it is a serious political capital necessary for effective
legislative work for everyone independent of the political camp one
belongs to.
NKR NA.
16-09-2005

A1+
| 20:19:23 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
LIBRARY IN SUPERMARKET?
Today in Amiryan Street Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan and President of
Unibank took part in the ceremony of laying the fundament of a cross
functional building.
The future complex will cover the territory of the library after A.
Isahakyan. However the Mayor of Yerevan showed no interest in the fate of
the library.
The Unibank management informed that an additional construction will be
built near `Amirya Plaza’ and the library will function there.
To note, the complex will function as a supermarket.

A1+
| 19:22:56 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
THERE IS DIFFERENCE
What the difference between the present model of the Karabakh conflict
settlement and the one of 1997? When responding to this question Justice
faction member Shavarsh Kocharyan said, `The new model provides for stepwise
settlement, however it recognizes the right of Nagorno Karabakh for
self-determination.’
To remind, in 1997 it was proposed to return the territories, settle the
refugee issue and then open negotiations on the status of Karabakh.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2005
Russian charge d’affaires calls conference of separatist republics
`meaningless’

Baku, September 15, AssA-Irada
Russian charge d’affaires in Azerbaijan Piotr Burdikin has said that
the recent conference attended by representatives of separatist
entities from Upper Garabagh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Dnestr has
no political importance. `The conference has no political weight.
This is a meaningless event’, he told journalists on Thursday.
Burdikin said that no interest is shown for the conference in his
country and it did not draw the attention of Russian politicians. The
event is of `familiarization nature’, he said.
The Russian diplomat said that the conference should not been seen as
an event affecting Azerbaijan’s interests, as no political decisions
can be made there.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 14 2005
Representatives of separatist republics meet in Moscow
Baku, September 13, AssA-Irada
Representatives of self-proclaimed republics of the Commonwealth of
Independent States are attending discussions in Russia. A four-day
conference, `CIS Abkhazia, Yugoslavia, Dnestr, South Ossetia and
Upper Garabagh as a reality in the post-Soviet areas’, started in
Moscow on Tuesday. Attending the event are experts and scholars from
socio-political organizations of the Garabagh separatist regime,
which occupied Azerbaijan’s territories with the aid of Russia.
Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov has said that
there is no legal basis for the documents to be signed by the
self-proclaimed republics.
`Since these are unrecognized entities, their discussions or any
document they sign will have no legal results.’
As for the fact the discussions took place in Russia, Khalafov said
official Moscow did not provide its permission for the meeting and it
was therefore informal.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress