US EMBASSY THANKS ARMENIA FOR HUMANITARIAN AID
A1+ website
12 Sep 05
The US embassy [to Armenia] has expressed its heartfelt gratitude to
Armenia on behalf of the US people and the government for humanitarian
aid provided by the Armenian government for clearing the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina.
The US people are deeply touched and are grateful for the generous
offer of the Armenian government, other world countries, individuals
and organizations.

MILITANT GROUP THREATENS TO KILL LEBANESE HOSTAGE IN IRAQ
Al-Manar Television, Beirut
12 Sep 05
Excerpt from report by Lebanese Hezbollah TV Al-Manar on 12 September
[Passage omitted] In a related development, an armed Iraqi group
has threatened to kill a Lebanese citizen it had abducted, saying
that he works for an alcohol distribution company that deals with
the occupiers. This came in a videotape posted on the Internet. The
self-proclaimed Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Group,
said that it will release the abducted Lebanese citizen if the company
for which he works leaves Iraq as soon as possible, or else, the
statement added, the company and the abducted citizen will face dire
consequences. Speaking in the videotape, the hostage introduced himself
saying that he holds Lebanese and Cypriot nationality, adding that his
name is Gharabit. His Armenian family name was not clear in the tape.

70% PASSIVE VOTERS
A1+
| 15:23:17 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
September 18 community heads will be elected in three communities of
Yerevan. After than each Sunday in different communities the citizens
will elect the community head and alderman. “Will you take part in
the election to the local self-government?” We addressed this question
to 100 citizens September 5-8.
30% of the respondents found it hard to answer our question. Some
of them were unaware of the coming election. 40% said they will not
vote. Only 35% answered they will take part in the election.
“I have no belief. They speak well but do nothing”, a woman said. To
note, 80% of the respondents mentioned of the absence of any belief.
“I will certainly go and vote. It’s my civic duty,” a woman of 40
said. “In case we do not go there will be more falsifications” said
a man, who, in his words, was a member of the electoral committee
for 5 times. About 30% of those surveyed are going to vote against all.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION FACTION ENDS BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT
Mediamax news agency
12 Sep 05
Yerevan, 12 September: The sixth session of the third Armenian
parliament convened in Yerevan today to consider an agenda of 86
items and ratify 30 agreements.
At a briefing in Yerevan the speaker of the Armenian parliament,
Artur Bagdasaryan, emphasized the forthcoming consideration of the
package of constitutional changes in the third final reading. He spoke
for the conduct of the constitutional referendum in a free atmosphere
and stressed that “the time of falsifications has passed away”.
The parliament faction of the opposition National Unity Party returned
to the parliament, while the faction of the Justice bloc continues
to boycott the work of the parliament, which started in February
2004. Today Bagdasaryan called on the Justice bloc to rejoin the
parliamentary sessions and take up full law making activities.
The 15th anniversary of the parliament of independent Armenia will
be solemnly marked in November, the speaker said.
The speakers of the Slovakian, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian and
Brazilian parliaments will visit Armenia this year at the invitation
of the chairman of the Armenian National Assembly [parliament]. A
seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will take place in Yerevan
in October.

“WE DON’T WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME”
Lena Badeyan
A1+
| 18:16:36 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
“The USSR Constitution was recognized as the best in the world by the
UN experts. However its implementaion led to execution of millions
of people”
With these words New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan explained that
he does not expect any positive outcomes of the upcoming election to
the local self-government.
The New Times leader has found plenty of faults in this structure,
particularly in the relations established between the community heads.
“Should the community head be subordinate to the Mayor? As a matter
of fact the system is common. If we suppose that the Mayor wants to
make some changes in the Kentron community, what instruments will
he have to influence upon the community head?” he says. According to
Aram Karapetyan how many time the Electoral Code should be reviewed
the election to the local self-government will serve as resource
providing victory at parliamentary or presidential election.
Head of another political force – National Consent party- Aram
Harutyunyan is also doscontent with the reviewed Electoral Code. He
considers that the coalition and opposition have “cut out” the EC
for their own interests. “I do not expect anything positive, since
political will is essential for it”, he said.
Members of the National Consent consider that despite the amendments
to the EC the “money” struggle will prevail at the forthcoming
election. Over this very reason the party does not want to take part
in the electio. “We do not want to play this game”, Aram Harutyunyan
stated.

INSTRUMENT OR TRUST?
A1+
| 16:25:35 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
The Republican Party of Armenia is one of the those parties to pay much
attention to the election to the local self-government. They evidently
know the “sweetness” of the fruit they reap after the election.
“We attach a very important role to this structure, that is why we
think that people who enjoy the trust of the nation should be elected
to head a community. And the political function of the community
should be also preserved”, RPA head Galust Sahakyan stated in an
interview with A1+. In his words the numeral advantage of RPA in the
local self-government bodies proves that the party is popular among
the people. Galust Sahakyan also admits that the local self-government
bodies are in some case an instrument in the authorities’ hands.
Something like a vicious circle forms – the authorities promote the
formation of the local self-government bodies, which in their turn
promote falsifications and reproduction of power. “It is incorrect to
call it reproduction. One should admit that out party enjoys the trust
of the population. If representatives of other parties want to occupy
these posts they should grip the field in time”, G. Sahakyan noted.
Will the RPA manage to keep the posts in case it loses power? “If the
RPA loses power it will not mean that it has lost the trust of the
people”, Galust Sahakyan stated when answering this question. To note,
the RPA leader is convinced that the Electoral Code has undergone
enough changes to provide transparent election.
When reminded that the opposition considers the local self-government
bodies to be an instrument used by the authorities during the
parliamentary or presidential election and the acting Constitution
empowers the government to dismiss the community head Galust Sahakyan
said he can’t remember a single case when the government pressed
for dismissal of a community head. However he emphasized that the
constitutional amendments have raised the status and independence
of the local self-government and the issue can be considered to be
settled when the amendments are adopted.

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTION WITHOUT “MONEY” ELEMENT
A1+
| 19:05:15 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
A new line is being observed in the political field in Armenia. It
starts with the election to the local self-government, United Labor
Party chairman Gurgen Arsenyan considers. In his opinion, in the
process of formation of the city authorities the election to the
local self-government is a intermediate period.
Political forces could test their possibilities during the election
to the local self-government.
-How is the ULP going to test its possibilities?
-The formula is as follows: the election to the self-government are
important but not decisive. The ULP has worked out several electoral
scenarios. We are carrying out a serious experiment in the Arabkir
community using exclusively propaganda and organizational elements.
-Have you ever applied a “money” instrument in the course of election?
-Yes, we have. This elements justifies itself in Armenia, however we
would like to find out the “netto” of the propaganda element.
-Don’t you take into account the fact that other political forces may
prefer using other elements and you party will fall in unfavorable
conditions?
-We are a new political structure and we wish to clear up the real
picture of our two-year activities. We do not attach much attention to
the election to the local self-government. However the parliamentary
election is decisive for us.
-In you opinion, how important is election to the local self-government
for ordinary citizens?
-It can be very important for politically active citizens.
-Which are the slogans of the ULP?
-“Participation is the most important thing”, “the will of an
individual only”, “let’s build the future together”, and so on.
Interview taken by Victoria Abrahamyan

EXPERIMENT
A1+
| 16:40:33 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
New registers of voters will be put into operation during the upcoming
election to the local self-government bodies. The voters will find
their names compiled not by the local administration but by police
license and passport department
“A lot of incorrect date was registered in the rolls during years”,
acting head of the Nubarashen community Robert Asatryan said. In his
words, the names of many people who do not leave in the community
are registered in the rolls.
R. Asatryan also assured that the registers of voters compiled by them
for the last election were absolutely not correct, however “by the
court decree a very small number of voters took part in the election.”

YOU MUST SPOIL BEFORE YOU SPIN, PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Lena Badeyan
A1+
| 17:52:07 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |
The election to the local self-government start in several days. This
time the Electoral Code which came into force on July 20 will be put
into operation. However certain faults have been already found.
According to Emin Yeritsyan, the chairman of Council of Communities
public organization, the first and principal fault is the order of
compiling the electoral rolls. “The responsibility is put upon the
police department on passport and visa. However they failed to provide
the needed quality”, he said.
Taking into consideration these facts we addressed chairman of the
Central Election Committee, author of some amendments to the electoral
rolls Garegin Azaryan, who is convinced in positive outcomes. “The
assessment of the work is not included in the authority of a
public organization. I am conviced that the decision to pass the
responsibility to another empowered body was corrent. I admit that
there really exist some faults but they will be corrected within next
40 days”, he said.
Anyway both parties are convinced that no violations will be fixed in
the course of the election. G. Azaryan noted that during 2.5 election
to the local self-government were held rather successfully.
May the reviewed Electoral Code be violated when it’s first used? Our
interlocutors hold different opinion on this question. “The presence
of several opposite parts supposes that each part will first of all
look for a loophole”, Emin Yeritsyan considers. “Law can always be
violated and it does not depend on its faults. Tha fact is that our
candidates do not have proper electoral culture and in case they are
defeated they try to arrogate their own mistakes to the unsatisfactory
work of the election committees or the faults of the Electoral Code.
Nevertheless G. Azaryan is convinced that the laws can be reviewed
constantly “our Electoral Code gives the possiblity to hold elections
meeting democratic standards”.

YEREVAN DAY TO BE CELEBRATED
A1+
| 14:20:32 | 12-09-2005 | Social |
Yerevan deputy mayor Arman Sahakyan confesses that in connection
with the Yerevan Day there will be a huge celebration with a lot
of fireworks. He mentioned about it during today’s briefing in the
municipality.
By the Government decision the Yerevan Day is celebrated every second
Saturday of October. This year it will be October 8. The event will
last two days. The director of the event is Vigen Stepanyan.
The deputy mayor also referred o the other fields of his arrangement.
Speaking about the commerce and service field, he confessed that
there is still street commerce in Yerevan. “We must realize that the
problem cannot be solved in 2-3 years”. The most terrible thing is
probably the open-air sale of construction materials. There are 256
suchlike places in the city.
The combat against mourning accessories street sale is also in
process. The hope of the municipality is the law which is still
being discussed. According to the law, the sale of coffins must be
realized near the cemeteries only.
Referring to culture once again Arman Sahakyan informed that the fees
of the pupils with special needs studying in musical schools will be
paid by the municipality.