WILL REFERENDUM FAIL?
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| 15:19:19 | 06-09-2005 | Social |
“If the referendum on constitutional reform were scheduled for the next
Sunday would you take part in the voting?” Vox Populi, a project of
the Center on Policy Attitudes held a telephone survey of 668 Yerevan
residents September 2-4, 2005
The survey showed that the Armenian citizens are not ready to adopt
constitutional amendments at present. Below are the results of
the poll.
Yes, I will – 13%
I probably will – 11%
I probably won’t – 23%
No, I won’t – 37%
Undecided – 16%
To note, the majority of the respondents were not familiarized with
the contents of the constitutional amendments

NEW HEAD OF THE RED CROSS
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| 17:57:02 | 05-09-2005 | Official |
Today the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received the newly
appointed head of the International Committee of Red Cross delegation
Yves Arnoldy.
The Minister underlined that the Armenian side finds the efforts of
the ICRC to find those missing in action after the Karabakh war and
to exchange was prisoners extremely important.
Yves Arnoldy mentioned that the new programs teaching international
humanitarian law and principles started by the office together with the
higher and intermediate educational institutions will be continuous.
Yves Arnoldy was represented by the ex-head of the International
Committee of Red Cross delegation Peter Krakoling.

ARMENIAN NOTARIES TO JOIN IULN
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily #158
06/09/2005
In 2002, the government of Armenia adopted a law on “Notary’s office”
that completely matches with standards of the system, the International
Union of Latin Notaries (IULN) thinks. The IULN delegation visiting
Armenia these days, spoke to a press conference together with Armenia’s
justice minister Davit Harutyunian.
Minister Harutyunian said that the current notary system of
Armenia assumes creation of equivalent mechanisms including notary’s
office. The Latin notary system being the foundation of the Armenian
one, the primary issue for today is joining the IULN. Mr. Harutyunian
said that the membership process launched following the adoption of
the law. This is the last visit of the IULN delegation during which
the issue of Armenia’s membership to the IULN will be discussed.
Jean-Paul Decor, president of international cooperation committee of
the IULN, noted that they assessed the law on “Notary’s office” and the
quality of notarial services. He even labeled the Armenian law one of
the best in the world and the work of Armenian notaries conscientious.
The delegation members visited 3 notary’s offices in Armenia and made
inspection. The secretary of the committee Mr. Krams said for his part,
“I think you can feel proud for your new generation of notaries”. It
should be noted though that the delegation’s opinion on notary system
in Armenia was formed as a result of talks with notaries themselves and
inspections but not as a result of encounters with citizens. Besides
the notary’s offices of Yerevan, IULN delegation will visit notaries
in other regions of Armenia.
In general, membership to IULN is a long process but it’s hard to
say what in practice will it give Armenian citizens that can hardly
agree with the praises of the International Union of Latin Notaries.

AMB. EVANS BEING ASSURED THAT ROBERT KOCHARIAN IS UNLIKELY TO BE ELECTED FOR THIRD TIME
AZG Armenian Daily #158
06/09/2005
John Evans, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, who was present at
the presentation of “Organization of Security and Cooperation
in Europe. Last Stage” book didn’t comment on the issue of the
constitutional reforms. He only advised the journalists to look
through the interview he gave to radio Liberty the day before.
Mr. Ambassador said that the United States do not consider the shift
of administration as a necessary precondition for democratization of
Armenia and they will spare no efforts to secure independent and just
presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia in the future. He
reassured that the U.S. will assist the package of constitutional
rights. Mr. Evans said that there is an opportunity to carry out the
relevant amendments in Armenia, at present.
The U.S. Embassy to Armenia called the package of constitutional
amendments as “a extremely important procedure” in the “A Time for
Responsibility” publication. “The U. S. supports the forces that
actively participate in the current process of constitutional reforms
in Armenia,” Mr. Evans said. He added that his country calls for
all the parties to conduct a constructive and responsible dialogue
around that issue. “The rules for a political game are defined by
the constitution in each country and each political party should be
responsible for definition of those rights,” the article says.
“We don’t try to dictate the Armenian electors how to vote. The
only thing we want to say is that it’s a very important issue and
deserves the attention of the electors and responsible discussions
at RA National Assembly,” Mr. Evans emphasized in his interview to
“Liberty.” Mr. Evans doesn’t share the concern of the Armenian
opposition that think the constitutional rights will help Robert
Kocharian to pretend for presidents’ position for the third time.
“Several very competent people assured me that it is no realistic
prospect,” the Ambassador said.
In response to the issue what will happen in case of violations in
the referendum in November, Mr. Evans said that the cases of violation
in this very corner of the world may cause this or that very serious
complications, particularly, the clashes in the streets. “We witnessed
such cases in some of the countries. Such lessons should be clear not
only to Armenia but also to all the countries of this region. The
people are expecting fair and independent elections, the U.S. also
wants to see that, too,” Mr. Evans said.

OSCE LEADER TO CONVEY “ALIYEV’S FRANK VERBAL MESSAGE” TO KOCHARIAN
Pan Armenian News
06.09.2005 03:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel will convey “a very frank verbal message of Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev” to Armenian President Robert Kocharian in the
course of their today’s meeting. Mr. Rupel stated it after a meeting
with NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan late last night. In the words of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, who had arrived in Yerevan, the solution
of the Karabakh problem should be found as a result of conciliation
of two principles: territorial integrity and people’s right to
self-determination. D. Rupel noted that “the details that should be
discussed in the course of the talks are the point.” A. Ghukasyan’s
conversation with D. Rupel continued longer than it was planned before,
which in the NKR President’s words evidences the OSCE interest toward
the NKR authorities’ stand. He called the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
visiting the region twice an unprecedented fact. “This evidences
desire to facilitate the process and speed it up,” A. Ghukasyan stated,
reported Mediamax.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH IMF YEREVAN OFFICE HEAD
Pan Armenian News
06.09.2005 03:04
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian yesterday
met with head of International Monetary Fund Yerevan office Hasan
al Atrash, reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. In
the course of the meeting the parties discussed matters of economic
reforms and Armenia-IMF cooperation. R. Kocharian noted that Armenia
is consecutive in implementation of reforms and the work already
carried out has provided for considerable results. Hasan al Atrash
appreciated the process of reforms in Armenia, adding this evaluation
will be included in the report on Armenia. He specially noted economic
growth and poverty reduction processes, stating the Armenian poverty
reduction program can serve as an example for other countries. The IMF
representative noted regulation of budgetary processes and monetary
policy as an important acquisition.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE VISITED ODESSA
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 07:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On invitation of Mayor of Odessa E. Gurvits Armenian
Ambassador to Ukraine Armen Khachatrian paid a call to Odessa August
1-4, RA MFA press center reported. Within the framework of the
festivities A.
Khachatrian met with governor of the Odessa region V. Tsushko and
Mayor of Odessa E. Gurvits. The interlocutors discussed a wide range
of issues referring to the development of the Armenian-Ukrainian
relations. In part, they noted the vital importance of the
Ilichevsk-Poti ferry line. During the visit Armen Khachatrian also
met with the representatives of the local Armenian community.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HISTORY TO BE PRESENTED IN BRAZILIAN TOLERANCE MUSEUM
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 07:32
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The government of Brazil has passed a decision to
establish a Museum of Tolerance (Museo de Tolerancia) at the State
University of San Paolo with sections dedicated to grave crimes
against humanity, including the violence against Indians, Inquisition,
Holocaust and other genocides. As reported by the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, the $10-million-worth project will be completed in one and
a half year. The museum is likely to have a section on the Armenian
Genocide. In protest, Turkey’s ambassador to Brazil sent a letter to
the project director claiming the events that occurred during World
War I “were painful but cannot be characterized as genocide.” Armenian
Council General Ahsot Yeghiazarian, joined with Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s South America Central Committee member Tigran Bokhchalian
and professors Hakob Keshishian and Yervand Tamjian, paid a visit
to the project director and handed a letter stating that despite the
Turkish government’s denial of the Genocide, it is proven by thousands
of documents. They also expressed hope that the section on the Armenian
Genocide will find its permanent place in the museum’s expositions.

VISITING OSCE HEAD, AZERI OPPOSITION DISCUSS POLLS, KARABAKH
Aytan Feyzullayeva, Ceyhun Asgarov, Samara Quliyeva, ANS.
ANS TV, Baku
5 Sep 05
[Presenter] Visiting OSCE chairman-in-office [Slovenian Foreign
Minister] Dimitrij Rupel has shown more interest in the [6 November
parliamentary] election rather than in the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem. The guest met opposition members and human rights activists
to discuss the polls.
[Correspondent over video of Azeri and OSCE flags] During the talks
in Baku, the OSCE chairman-in-office and Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel discussed preparations for the 6 November parliamentary
election and the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. At
his meeting with members of political parties, Rupel talked about
the situation in the run-up to the election.
[Ali Karimli, chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party]
We discussed the failure to carry out the proposals put forward by
the OSCE, the Council of Europe and other international organizations
in order to ensure a free and fair election. The discussions also
focused on changes to the composition of electoral commissions and
the electoral code. Rupel said that the Council of Europe Venice
Commission and the OSCE’s bureau in Warsaw had again come up with
joint proposals. They will again insist that changes be made to the
electoral code.
[Eldar Namazov, co-founder of the Yeni Siyasat electoral bloc] I
think that the meeting will yield results. In any case, the other
side [members of the authorities] will convey to the authorities his
opinions about the issues we raised.
[Human rights activist Novella Cafaroglu] Elections to the Azerbaijani
parliament and to the parliament of Naxcivan [exclave] will be
held at the same time. This runs counter to our electoral code,
he [Rupel] noted. Many spoke about the distribution of voters’
cards. For instance, officers are given voters’ cards both at home
and at work. The most important issue today is the need to use ink
to mark voters’ fingers in order to get rid of election rigging and
all other anti-democratic methods.
[Correspondent] The OSCE chairman-in-office also held official
meetings. The meeting with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
held behind closed doors, mainly focused on the situation in the
run-up to the election, preparations for the voting and the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem. They also exchanged views on the results of the
meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian
counterpart Robert Kocharyan in [Russia’s] Kazan.
Following the meeting, Rupel said that he would disclose details of
the talks at a news conference.

QUANTITY OF LAWMAKERS DOES NOT STAND FOR QUALITY
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily #158
06/09/2005
Decreasing Deputies to 100 Will Be Only Positive
According to the 63d article of the new draft constitution by the
coalitional government, the number of deputies will remain unchanged
— 131.
No one of Armenian lawmakers at the discussions of draft on
constitutional amendments — neither party members, nor non-parties —
touched on the issue of the number of deputies in the future National
Assembly. It is perhaps the most cogent evidence that all of them,
regardless the place they occupied in the political field, do not
want to reduce chances of appearing in the next parliament.
If the coalition’s proposal to maintain the number of 131 deputies
should somehow be considered natural, the opposition should have
had another approach. But as the discussions showed, none of them
suggested limiting the number of deputies in the parliament.
To put it mildly, President Robert Kocharian’s stance in this regard
is difficult to understand. He had previously highlighted this issue
as the greatest progress in the package of amendments. A rejected
draft constitution suggested 100 deputies instead of 131. Though
a parliament of 70-80 lawmakers is well enough for a country with
3 million population; the number of 100 can also be accepted with
some reservation.
Why 100 and not 131? Firstly, any number ending in 1 is
unacceptable. The proposal of 131 instead of 130 deputies came during
parliamentary discussions of 1995 from Grigory Avagian. Besides
being an acclaimed scientist, the latter was the father-in-law of
Babken Ararktsian, the then chairman of parliament. So the proposal
was accepted without serious discussions. Its logic was that an odd
number will not allow votes to split equally. Yet, it is clear that
the votes may be equal if equal numbers of deputies say “yes” and
“no” and one abstains.
100 seats in the parliament instead of 131 means first of all having
bigger electoral districts with minimum chances for the local well-offs
to enter the parliament and greater chances for the political parties
to put up their candidates as the bigger electoral districts will
demand bigger expenses and work. Big and populous districts contribute
to appearance of political unions, i.e. establishment of political
field. But, as a matter of fact, only party list elections contribute
to it.
Another argument for fewer deputies in the parliament is the fact
that more lawmakers do not work more effectively. With 131 seats in
the parliament today, the average attendance to the parliamentary
sessions is 5-10.
Not less solid an argument is the economy of state resources. The
point is not the unjustified high salary (250-300 thousand drams)
which deputies themselves do not reckon on, but the money that deputies
receive for diverse operations and deals from the state budget.
Cutting the number of deputies will get Armenian society’s acclaim. The
only hope that Armenian parliament will reduce the number of its
seats to 100 is on President Kocharian as the deputies will never
take such a decision themselves.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress