THE LAW NEEDS TO BE EDITED
Srbuhi Vanian
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
11 Sept 05
On September 8 the meeting of the standing committee of finance, budget
and economic management of the NKR National Assembly took place. It
was conducted by the chairman of the committee A. Harutyunian. At
the meeting members of government and officers of the tax service
were present. The committee discussed the annual report on the state
budget of 2004, the 2005 budget message of the Ministry of Economy
and Finance, the draft decision of the NKR National Assembly on
the annual report of 2004 on the implementation of the 2004-2006
programme of privatization of the state property. A. Harutyunian
once again informed that the performance of the state budget of the
previous year was satisfactory. Presenting the annual report on the
state budget of 2004, the chief treasurer N. Baghdassarian mentioned
that the performance of budget receipts was 127.5 per cent. In 2004
budget receipts grew by 1 billion 420 million drams. The actual
outlays were totaled 94.5 per cent. In 2004 the loan provided by
Armenia totaled 11.2 million drams. The members of parliament were
interested if the factors which determined the increase of budget
receipts were analyzed. The representatives of the tax service
mentioned that the increase was mainly determined by stricter control
on tax collection, the GDP and the arrears. In answer to Member of
Parliament S. Hakobian’s question why certain spheres, such as the
health sector, were not financed 100 per cent, N.
Baghdassarian answered that the financial means were provided in
accordance with the applications presented by them, and in the health
sector the amount is determined by the number of patients. Presenting
the information on the performance of the state budget in the first
half of 2005, the treasurer mentioned that in the accounting period
against the estimated 2770.2 million drams the actual receipts
totaled 3470.8 million drams (125.3 per cent, growing by 842.5
million drams since the same period of the previous year). Instead
of the estimated 1991.3 million drams return on tax totaled 2587.4
million drams, and instead of 411.5 million drams non-tax return
totaled 415.4 million drams (100.9 per cent). The loan provided by
Armenia (which is a source of covering the budget deficit) totaled
6680 million drams. N. Baghdassarian informed that the balance
of the beginning of the year, totaling 1701.6 million drams, was
directed at covering the budget deficit. In the first half of 2005
the state budget expenditure totaled 8467.6 million drams (77.3 per
cent of the estimated amount). The treasurer also presented a set of
macroeconomic indices describing the country’s social and economic
situation. According to him, the GDP of the first half of the current
year totaled 20.1 billion drams (growing by 22.6 per cent against
the previous year). The volume of industrial production is about 7.8
billion drams, gross agricultural output is 4.9 billion drams. The
volume of building is 4.4 billion, foreign trade 28.1 billion drams
(export totaled 8.8 billion, import 19.3 billion drams). The average
salary is 49 526 drams, growing since the previous year by 29.8 per
cent. There was an increase in the income of people (by 16.8 per cent)
and the expenses (23.8 per cent). The question of privatization of
the state property caused heated discussions. It was stated that the
law on privatization of the state property needs to be edited.

MONITORING
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
10 Sept 05
On September 8, 2005 the OSCE mission conducted a monitoring of the
front line between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
Azerbaijan, near the village of Levonarkh, Martakert Region, NKR. On
the side of the NKR Defence Army the monitoring was conducted by
the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk and the field assistant of the personal representative
Peter Kee (Great Britain). During the monitoring no violations of
the ceasefire were reported. However, the Azerbaijani side, unlike
the Karabakh side, did not take the OSCE monitoring mission close
to the front line. On the Karabakh side the monitoring mission was
accompanied by the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKI: WE CONSIDER ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS TO BE STRATEGIC
ARKA News Agency
Sept 12 2005
YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. Armenian-Russian relations are
strategic, Russian Liberal-Democratic Party leader and Russian Duma
Vice-Speaker Vladimir Zhirinovski said answering ARKA News Agency
question. “This always has been the same because Armenia earlier than
others wanted to join Russian Empire”, Zhirinovski said. In his words,
the relations have always been beneficial to Armenia as well as to
Russia. In his opinion, they have always been honest and open.
“I support them, because this is our gateway to Middle East”, he said.
At the same time, the Russian politician said, Georgia’s policy
unwilling to open Moscow-Tbilisi-Yerevan railway is hampering
Armenian-Russian relations. He denounced this policy as wild. “Why
not to open borders? Let people travel, carry goods. Everybody will
take advantage from that”, Zhirinovski said wandering why Georgia
pursues such a policy. In his opinion at least cargo trains couldn’t
move through this railway. In particular, Georgia could send cargoes
to Russia and Armenia would pay it for that and “everybody will take
advantage from that”. However, Zhirinovski noted that Georgia remain
steadfast in rejecting that. “They closed the way and nothing else.
This is a real blockade. Hitler used to do the same. You are blocking
Armenia and Krasnodar region”, he said. M.V. -0–

THE RA PRIME MINISTER LEAVES FOR NEW YORK TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 60TH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ARKA News Agency
Sept 12 2005
YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. The RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
and RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian left for New York to
participate in the 60th session of the UN General Assembly. According
to the RA Government’s Press Service Department, the RA Prime Minister
will participate in meetings at top levels that will take place on
Sep 14-18 in the UN Central Office. Meantime, he will participate in
the top-level meeting “For the Financial Development” together with
other top officials of states, held at the meeting of francophones.
Margaryan will have several meetings in New-York, in particular,
with the administration of the Millennium Challenges corporation,
the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund, the Coordinator
of UN Development Program, and will participate in the ceremony of
putting wreaths to the Memorial of victims of the terrorist attack of
September 11. Margaryan will also meet representatives of the Armenian
Community of America. In the framework of the visit Margryan and his
wife will participate in a reception organized by the US President
Jorge Bush and his wife.
Margarya’s speech at the session of the General Assembly is to take
place on Sep 16. On Sep 18 Margaryan will return to Yerevan. A.H.
–0–

THE FINAL SEMINAR “TRANSPARENCY OF THE WORK OF THE STATE BODIES AND ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION” TO TAKE PLACE IN TSAGHKADSOR (ARMENIA) ON SEPTEMBER 17-18
ARKA News Agency
Sept 12 2005
YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. The final seminar “Transparency of the
Work of the State Bodies and Accessibility to Information” will take
place in Tsaghkadsor (Armenia) on Sep 17-18, according to the National
Center for Monitoring Processes of Liberalization. According to the
press release, the goal of the seminar is to increase the influence
of the Mass Media on public opinion, contribute to formation of trust
between the state bodies and the Mass Media, as well as to increase
their role in covering and analyzing the problem of corruption in
Armenia. The RA President’s Press Secretary, heads of public relations
services of various ministries and NGOs are expected to participate
in the seminar.
The first stage of the seminar was held in 2004, the second -in June
-July 2005. The seminars were organized by the National Center for
Monitoring Processes of Liberalization with the support of the OSCE
Yerevan Office. A.H.-0–

ARMENIA TO ACCEPT CHAIRMANSHIP IN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF ORGANIZATION OF BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION
ARKA News Agency
Sept 12 2005
YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. Armenia will accept chairmanship in
Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation in November, 2005; Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Arthur Baghdassaryan said at the briefing before the autumn session of
the RA national Assembly. He also reported that Speakers of Parliaments
of a number of countries will Armenia on his invitation, particularly
of Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Brazil. He said that the
Speaker of the State Duma of Russian Federation is expected to visit
Armenia in December, 2005. He also reported that some important events
will be organized at the RA NA, namely the seminar “Rouse Route” will
be held together with NATO. Several dozen delegations and parliamentary
missions are expected to visit Yerevan in this regard. The meetings
of two permanent commissions of the CIS Parliamentary Assembly are
also expected to be held in Yerevan. A.A.

ARF PRESENTS STRATEGIC PROGRAM ON EXPORT PROMOTION
By Naira Poghossian
Yerkir/arm
September 09, 2005
Considering promotion of exports as one of the most important
challenges at the present stage of development of the Armenian
economy, Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Supreme Body
of Armenia presented a concept paper on the national strategy for
export promotion.
“Sustainable economic growth can be ensured only if the volume of
exports increases drastically, domestic producers are promoted and
the export of Armenian goods and services increases. Taking this into
consideration, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party initiated
elaboration of a national strategy for export promotion.
Economists, experts and specialists from Armenia and the Diaspora
participated in the elaboration of the strategy”, ARF Supreme Board
advisor on economic issues in charge of the strategy for exports
promotion Ara Nranian commented at the launching of the Concept Paper.
“As opposed to our neighbors that have a variety of natural
resources, we have to rely only on human resources. The Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Party, adhering to its principles deriving
from national ideology, is ready to undertake responsibility in
addressing the strategic challenges of Armenia’s overall development
and strengthening. The present strategy includes science, education
and politics,” head of ARF’s parliamentary faction Levon Mkrtchian
commented.
Secretary of ARF’s faction Hrayr Karapetian noted that the
Concept Paper contains clear-cut directions for implementation
of the strategy as well as measures aimed at promotion of foreign
economic policies. “Armenia is facing the challenges of poverty,
inequality, corruption, poor governance and low competitiveness on
the international markets.
The government’s action plan states that promotion of exports
is a priority for the government’s economic policies. However,
the government does not have a package of actions and measures to
address this priority. Therefore, the national strategy for export
promotion is aimed at becoming a working mechanism for addressing
the government’s priority.”
A number of scientific and academic institutions, government agencies
and specialized organizations have commented on the draft Concept
Paper. Mainly positive comments have been received so far.
At the same time, those organizations have also presented their
suggestions and recommendations regarding the government’s policies
for export promotion.
Dean of the Economics Department at Yerevan State University Haik
Sargsian emphasized the importance of the document noting that there
is no alternative to it yet. He pointed out the necessity to further
clarify the mechanisms for regulation of the economy.
The majority of the recommendations have been considered while revising
and editing the final draft of the Concept Paper. The Concept paper
includes an analysis of the existing situation with exports. The
importance of the issue as well as the objectives and principles of
export promotion are defined in the document.
It contains clear-cut directives for realization of the strategy as
well as a set of measures directed at promotion of exports dealing
with activization of foreign economic policies, regional integration,
application of alternative mechanisms for exports financing, promotion
of Armenian products on the international markets, awareness raising,
etc.
The concept paper also addresses such issues as the necessity of
political will for implementation of the strategy, establishment of the
necessary institutional framework, intra-governmental coordination,
etc. The national strategy for export promotion must unite all the
strata of the society – the government and the opposition, all the
political parties, the business sector and the whole population of
the country.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party is presenting the concept
paper to the attention of the Armenian government and will proceed with
its efforts to turn it into a priority economic policy for the country.

BOOK OF WAY, THE WAY OF THE BOOK
By Armine Ghazarian
Yerkir/arm
September 09, 2005
Within the framework of the European Heritage Days a series of events
were launched in Matenadaran on September 3. The series titled “Book
of way, the way of the book” will continue till September 18.
September 3-7 have been declared Days of Science and Culture. An
event devoted to the Armenian-German science was held on September 6
devoted to the 85th anniversary of expert of Armenian Studies, devoted
promoter of Armenian-German relations Gevorg Abgarian (1920-1998).
The event started in Matenadaran and continued in the National Library.
Minister of Culture Hovik Hoveyan, Minister of Culture and Science
of Saxonia-Anhalt Land in Germany Jan-Hendrik Olberz, director of
Mesrop Center and Lepsius’ Archives Hermann Goltz and other guests
attended the event.
Director of the National Library David Sargsian greeted the guests
and opened the exhibitions of the Library’s German archives and Gevorg
Abgarian’s works. The exhibition includes fiction, historic literature,
as well as books on music, arts and archaeology.
Armenian translations of German writers’ works as well as German
translations of Armenian writers’ works were presented at the
exhibition. Some books with Johannes Lepsius’ autographs, books
published by Martin Luther, books of classical and modern German
authors were also exhibited.
Director of the National Library David Sargsian noted in his
opening remarks, “We hope that these meetings will results in
arrangements to foster inter-library relations with such an important
scientific-cultural region as Saxonia-Anhalt.”
Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan and Minister of
Culture and Science of Saxonia-Anhalt Land in Germany Jan-Hendrik
Olberz extended their greetings to the participants of the event.
The latter presented to the National Library a publication of three
volumes of Johannes Lepsius’ documentary archives (Germany, Armenia
and Turkey in 1895-1925). Director of Lepsius’ Archives and Mesrop
Center Hermann Goltz and Armenuhi Drost-Abgarian from Halle University
and Mesrop Center presented their reports. Gevorg Abrahamian’s works
were presented at the event.

IS THERE ANY PLACE FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE NEW IRAQ?
by Simon Caldwell
The Times (London)
September 10, 2005, Saturday
Simon Caldwell on the exodus that could follow if Sharia is enshrined
in the constitution.
EXACTLY a week after the London bombings of July 7, two Iraqi bishops
met Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor over dinner at a Roman Catholic
church in Chelsea.
Archbishop Louis Sako, of Kirkuk, and Auxiliary Bishop Andreas Abouna,
of Baghdad, were in the capital on business: they specifically wanted
the cardinal to approach the British Government on behalf of Iraq’s
Christians, who, they said, were fleeing their country at the rate
of 30,000 people a month.
The two Chaldean Catholic leaders wanted Britain to intervene to try
to stop Sharia being incorporated into the draft Iraqi constitution,
fearing that they would become second-class citizens if Islamic
religious law were imposed. Instead they wanted the constitution to
be secular, guaranteeing equality under the law for all Iraqis.
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor “listened to their concerns”. Under Sharia,
non Muslims are accorded “dhimmi” status under which they may have
to pay special taxes. Since Saddam Hussein was removed in 2003, the
experiences of Baghdad Christian alcohol vendors, for example, have
included visits from the Hawza (Shia religious authorities), who have
extorted cash penalties on the grounds that Sharia was being violated.
Sharia is being enforced with greater vigour in the Shia-dominated
south of the country, where barbers have been attacked for shaving
men of their beards. All women, including Christians -who under Saddam
could wear the latest fashions and make-up, and go to work -are under
pressure to wear the hijab.
Many have escaped for Baghdad and the cities of the north, but even in
Mosul they are made to wear headscarves. Others have sought sanctuary
abroad, principally in Syria and the United States.
The Church in Mesopotamia is one of the oldest in the world; the
majority Christian group, the Chaldeans, still speak Aramaic, the
language of Jesus Christ, and the Assyrian Church of the East was
founded in the region in AD33.
For centuries, such communities have not only coexisted harmoniously
with their Muslim neighbours but have been respected for their
contribution to the life of society. Saddam, a Sunni Muslim,
nationalised their schools in 1971 but he tolerated them, appointing
Tariq Aziz, a Chaldean Christian, as his deputy Prime Minister.
It was only after the first Gulf war that the Christians began to
feel unwelcome in the land they have inhabited for 2,000 years. In
1990 they numbered more than a million. By the outbreak of the second
war the number had shrunk to 800,000 but even then, relations with
Muslims remained cordial.
With the growing insurgency and the radicalisation of the Islamic
factions, Christians found themselves in an awkward position. They
were identified with the Western occupiers by Islamist militants,
and last year churches were targeted in a spate of bombings, yet
at the same time they found themselves excluded from the political
reconstruction of their country by their “Christian” occupiers.
Today, the biggest challenge to the Christian community is the
postwar settlement.
“There is a danger that we could have religious government,” Bishop
Abouna said.
“If we mix them both together -politics and religion -it will be
chaos. It will destroy everything.”
Bishop Abouna was chaplain to the Chaldean community in London
until his episcopal ordination by Pope John Paul II in 2003. He
once defended the American presence in his country on the grounds
that Iraq needed help in security and development. Soon afterwards
he protested, along with other Christian leaders, when Paul Bremer,
the American civil administrator of Iraq -and a Catholic – refused
to allow a Christian representative on the interim governing council.
Nor were any Christians invited to take a seat in the interim Iraqi
government after elections this year, although great efforts were
made to include every other “ethnic” faction. When the constitution
was drafted, there was no one at the table to press the case for the
Christian minority.
The Christian leaders decided to make their voices heard. At the
end of June, a group of ten Chaldean, Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian
and Evangelical leaders sent a joint letter to the Iraqi interim
President Jalal Talabani, the Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari and the UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan to say that they feared discrimination if
Sharia was enshrined in the constitution. “If there is a move towards
the confirmation of the role of the Islamic religion in Iraqi society,
then it is only natural to confirm the role of other religions that
have been historically established in Iraq,” they said.
They were ignored, even after Pope Benedict XVI received assurances
from the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebar, during a meeting
in Castelgandolfo, Italy, last month, that their rights would be
guaranteed. The constitution had missed its August 15 deadline,
partly because of wrangling over the role of Islam, but the final
document asserted, in Article 29(a), that “no law can be passed that
contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam”.
According to Neville Kyrke-Smith, the UK director of Aid to the Church
in Need, a Catholic charity working to help persecuted Christians,
Iraqi Church leaders are concerned that under such a settlement the
remaining 650,000 Christians “will be wiped out”.
A fortnight ago, in a call from Baghdad, Bishop Abounaagain asked
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor to intercede. This time the cardinal
responded by writing a letter to Jack Straw in which he warned
the Foreign Secretary that the constitution posed a “real threat”
to religious freedom, that it meant “devastating consequences for
minority rights” and that there would be an “exodus of Christians”
fleeing the rule of the mullahs.
“A stable and democratic Iraq, which I know the British Government
seeks, can only be constructed on respect for the human rights of
all citizens,” the cardinal told Mr Straw last week. “I would urge
you, therefore, to use your office to influence the parties to the
constitution to enshrine specific guarantees which establish the
equality of non-Muslims.”
The Foreign Office, however, insists that “Iraq is a sovereign country
and it is up to them how they vote and draft their constitution. It
is not our prerogative to steer the course of decision-making.”
The cardinal, in any case, was overtaken by events. On Wednesday it
was announced that the constitution had been finalised and sent to
the printers: there will be no more changes before a referendum on
October 15.
Iraq’s Christians have had a bad war of liberation. They constitute
only 3 per cent of the population, perhaps their only hope for equal
rights now lies with the Sunnis of Fallujah, Ramadi, Tikrit and Samarra
who are likely to reject the constitution for reasons of their own.

KURDOS EN ARMENIA
J. O.
El Pais, España
9 septiembre 2005
El cine de las antiguas republicas sovieticas ahora independientes se
abre paso poco a poco en los festivales internacionales mostrando
mundos tan apasionantes como desconocidos para la mayoria de
los mortales. Unas peliculas que, por desgracia, raramente llegan
despues a las salas comerciales espanolas. Por eso resulta doblemente
gratificante el estreno de la, por otra parte, notable Vodka lemon,
coproduccion entre Armenia y varios paises europeos, ganadora del
premio a la mejor pelicula de la seccion Contracorriente de la Mostra
de Venecia del ano 2003.
Su director, Hiner Saleem, kurdo nacido en Irak, sabe lo mucho que ha
sufrido su pueblo sin estado y lo mucho que han sufrido los armenios,
habitualmente masacrados por la Historia, incluyendo el genocidio a
manos de los turcos durante la I Guerra Mundial.
Sin embargo, su pelicula mantiene un tono optimista dentro de la
pobreza que esta retratando: la de un viudo cuyos unicos bienes son
un viejo armario, un uniforme militar y una pirrica pension, y la
de una viuda que malvive como dependienta de una absurda tienda de
vodka situada en medio de la nada.
Dotada de un humor aplastante de puro ingenuo, con una sutileza
cercana al cine mudo de Buster Keaton, Vodka lemon relata de forma
pausada y minimalista la existencia de este par de desamparados que,
no en vano, se mueven por el mundo con semejante y cadencioso ritmo.
Saleem despliega una preciosa puesta en escena en la que siempre
retrata desde el mejor encuadre, el mas adecuado para mostrar la
determinada situacion que esta contando. Asi, casi siempre huye de
los primeros planos en beneficio del (muy bello) plano general y
unicamente utiliza aquel cuando va a aportar algo mas que una frase
intrascendente.
Nieve etica
Ademas, el director aprovecha los inhospitos paisajes nevados no solo
de una forma estetica sino tambien etica, ya que estos siempre sirven
para mostrar la verdadera situacion social de sus criaturas.
El pueblo armenio se debate entre la mera supervivencia de las
generaciones mas adultas y la habitual inmigracion de los jovenes:
a Moscu, a Paris, adonde sea. “No echas de menos cuando los rusos
estaban aqui?”, pregunta el protagonista de la historia a otro perro
viejo como el. “No, entonces no teniamos libertad”, responde con
rapidez y contundencia su companero de fatigas.
Tierra apegada a las tradiciones, segun se desprende de lo que Saleem
pretende contar, Armenia deambula por su reciente independencia con
el recuerdo de lo que fue, a un tiempo, el abrigo y el yugo de la
antigua Union Sovietica. Los mayores no se ponen de acuerdo y los
jovenes inician un camino hacia, quiza, ninguna parte huyendo de una
situacion que les mantiene atados a unas costumbres que ya ni siquiera
ven como suyas.
Pelicula poblada por las miradas complices y los silencios repletos de
calor en medio de una gelida realidad, mas que por vacias declaraciones
y farragosas explicaciones, Vodka lemon representa de una forma tan
simpatica como dramatica lo que es hoy un pais de vocacion sufridora
abandonado a su propia suerte, habitado minoritariamente por otro
pueblo, el kurdo, que, como afirma el propio director, nacio adulto
porque a sus gentes les robaron la ninez.
–Boundary_(ID_bLjYh12HvMY1RTyWxsn5HA)–