Author: Dabaghian Diana

CONSTRUCTION GROWS BY 39.6% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006,
construction work of 393 bln 803 mln drams (over 915.7 mln USD) was
done in Armenia, including construction of production facilities
of a total of 145 bln 478.7 mln drams. In this construction, the
amount of building and assembly work made 355 bln 109.5 mln drams,
including that of production facilities of a total of 110 bln 556.4
mln drams. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the
construction work done in January-September 2006 exceeded by 39.6%
that in January-September 2005, while the building and assembly work
– by 37%. In January-September 2006, 464 new apartment buildings
of the total area of 264 thousand 493 sq.m. were delivered for use
at the expense of humanitarian aid, funds of the population and
organizations, which exceeds by 124.8% the total area delivered for
use in the same months of last year. In the period under review, 4 new
comprehensive schools for 700 pupils were delivered for operation in
Armenia. Particularly, a school for 200 pupils was put into operation
in Artashat region with state budget resources, and 3 schools were
put into operation with a World Bank loan. 31 comprehensive schools
were repaired in Armenia in the indicated period. Particularly, 22
schools were repaired with state budget resources, and 9 ones – with
a WB loan. In January-September 2006, fixed assets of 260 bln 21.9
mln drams were put into operation, including production facilities
of 61 bln 63.6 mln drams.

ARMENIA IS READY TO OPEN ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER BUT OFFICIAL ANKARA’S POSITION WILL NOT YET ADMIT THIS:
ARMENIAN MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 31 2006

Armenia is ready to open the Armenian-Turkish border without any
preliminary conditions, however, official Ankara’s position will not
yet admit this, said Karen Chshmarityan, the Armenian co-chairman
of the Committee for Armenia-EU Cooperation, the Minister of Trade
and Economic Development, at today’s press-conference devoted to the
results of the seventh session of the Committee held in Brussels on
October 25.

According to him, during the session, the Armenian side presented
its approaches to this problem which were taken by the Europeans into
consideration. Particularly, the Armenian delegation appealed to the
EU to pay special attention to this issue, as Chshmarityan considers
that the regional cooperation under conditions of the closed border
acquires virtual importance.

To note, the Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1992.

Official Ankara links its unblocking to the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to the renunciation of the territorial
claims on Turkey. Nevertheless, the annual commodity turnover between
the two states, with due regard for reexport and reimport, makes up
about $100 mln, according to non-official data.

GEORGIAN ARMENIAN ACTIVIST RELEASED

Regnum, Russia
Oct 30 2006

30 October: On 30 October, Armenia’s Court of Appeal made a decision
to change the measure of restraint regarding Vaagn Chakhalyan,
member of the [Georgian-based] United Javakhk democratic alliance,
and release him, our Regnum correspondent reports.

Earlier, the court of first instance sentenced Chakhalyan to two
months of preliminary confinement.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT LEAVING FOR MOSCOW ON WORKING VISIT TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2006 12:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian is
departing for Moscow on a working visit, reported the RA leader’s
press office. On the same day he will meet with Russian President
Vladimir Putin.

Robert Kocharian will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail
Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and participate in the unveiling
ceremony of the monument to composer Aram Khachaturian.

Panorama.am

15:12 27/10/06

GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO KEEP TO THE CURRENT NATIONAL ANTHEM

The executive approved RA Law on National Anthem with
some changes to be submitted to the National Assembly.
The government did not approve the decision of the
tender committee, which selected music without song as
the national anthem. The government decided to keep
the current national anthem for one more year until a
new national anthem will be selected. Ruben
Hovasapyan, member of Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnakcutiun) approved the decision,
saying, `It will make our motherland stronger for one
more year.’

The tender committee selected the music of Aram
Khachatryan which was the national anthem of Soviet
Armenia. Hovasapyan said Aram Khachatryan’s music was
only attachment to the national anthem of the Soviet
Union, saying it by no means discredits the great
composer. He also said despite of all shortcomings,
Our Motherland, the current national anthem of
Armenia, has biography and reflects the creation and
declaration of our independent republics. /Panorama.am/

From: Sebouh Z Tashjian <[email protected]>
Subject: The Republican Party Will Be Neutral

A1+

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL BE NEUTRAL
[02:26 pm] 27 October, 2006

Head of the Republican Party faction Galust Sahakyan thinks that this
time the NA will adopt the RA draft law on «Alienation of property for
state and public needs». The draft has been turned down three times.
Galust Sahakyan thinks that it was not thanks to the opposition that
the draft was rejected; according to him, the draft has in fact been
adopted, simply quorum was not secured.

`This time quorum will be secured and the draft will be adopted’,
announced the head of the Republican Party faction. Let us remind you
that the discussion of the draft finished yesterday in the Parliament
and the voting was postponed at a proper hour as there were not enough
deputies in the Parliament building in order to secure quorum.

By the way, Galust Sahakyan informed that they will not defend any
candidate in the October 29 elections of Ajapnyak community
head. According to him, their neutrality will contribute to the
fairness of the elections.

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

NEW IDEAS ABOUT SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, in fact, put forward new ideas about
the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh, stated the foreign
minister Vardan Oskanyan October 25 from the chair of the parliament.
He said that the co-chairs had offered these ideas on October 6,
during his meeting with Elmar Mammedyarov in Moscow. During the
meeting of the ministers and the co-chairs in Paris on October 24 the
conflict parties presented their standpoints concerning these new
ideas. Armenia also presented the standpoint of Karabakh, says Vardan
Oskanyan, reminding that before his visit to Paris he had visited
Stepanakert and met with the leadership of Karabakh.

The foreign minister of Armenia says that judging by the standpoints
presented during the meeting in Paris, there is no agreement on the
new ideas. But apparently there is hope, and the co-chairs decided to
try again in Brussels on November 14.

Besides, Vardan Oskanyan announced in the parliament that the return
of the territories is included in the agenda of the talks over
settlement, however, the first issue of the package is the
self-determination of the people of Karabakh and the status of
Karabakh. Then the other questions follow. In addition, the question
of the Armenian territories, namely part of the NKR regions of
Martakert and Martuni controlled by Azerbaijan is also negotiated.
However, Oskanyan said, this question is not on the same level with
the teritories controlled by the Armenian side. Vardan Oskanyan also
announced that maybe the package will be applied stage by stage but
it will by all means be adopted as a package, assured the minister.

BAKU POLICY DOES NOT PROMOTE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

Yerkir
26.10.2006 16:27

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – When speaking of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in an
interview to Jane’s Center, which holds military and political studies,
Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan expressed confidence that
"the conflict should be solved peacefully via compromises.

" However, in his opinion, Azerbaijan’s policy does not promote
it. "Today officials of Azerbaijan speak of resumption of
hostilities. Their military expenses doubled within the past year,"
Sargsyan noted. In his words, according to estimates of independent
experts, Azerbaijan is not able to solve the Karabakh issue by force
still. "If hostilities resume, Armenia will again have an upper hand,"
Serge Sargsyan said.

Speaking of oil revenues of Azerbaijan, which Baku intends to spend on
solution of the Karabakh issue, Serge Sargsyan reminded that in early
90s Azerbaijan had an advantage in number and arms, inherited from
the USSR. "In 1992 they surrounded Armenians of Karabakh and only a
few believed that we can succeed. Neither now, nor many years later
they will have the advantage, they had 14-15 years ago. Azeri option
of military solution of the Karabakh issue failed then and will fail
again. I hope that Azeri leaders will give up those approaches earlier
or later," Sargsyan underscored, reports RFE/RL.

TURKEY’S ALLIES ARE COMMON SENSE AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
By Barin Kayaoglu
View: Barin Kayaoglu

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 25 2006

Several bizarre reports exploded last week in reaction to the French
parliament’s vote two weeks ago. In a non-binding advisory note, the
Higher Council of Radio and Television (Radyo Televizyon Ust Kurulu –
RTUK) asked TV stations across the country to stop broadcasting French
films. Meanwhile, quoting the French journal Le Nouvel Observateur,
reports came in that France would open an official trade bureau in
Northern Iraq to compete with Turkish businesses operating there. The
news will likely draw a lot reaction from certain circles in the near
future. One should not be too surprised to see if the French legation
was to be blamed for being a backdoor initiative to create further
chaos and turmoil in Turkey’s southeast and Northern Iraq.

Turkey’s worst enemy is the volatility of its reactions. Some people
have already come up with weird ideas such as abandoning French
classes in schools, boycotting French tourists, or even boycotting
Turkish companies that are joint-ventures with the French. These are
not healthy indications. Turkey must realize that in the tumultuous
times ahead, its allies are nothing but common sense and freedom
of expression.

Exercising common sense means that Turkish people have to think and act
in a cool-headed manner. This might sound like a strange suggestion,
but they have to behave in such a way that they would advise their
kids to behave in stressful situations. "He who stands up in rage
sits down at a loss" is a common proverb that every Turk hears while
growing up. Everybody should adhere to this principle.

Everybody should see that the larger goal is to refute the claims
that what happened to the Armenian citizens of the Ottoman Empire in
the 1910s was not genocide by the definitions of international law,
but a massacre of another sort, which was reciprocated by the Armenian
side. Everybody should see the bigger picture that only by expressing
their views in a civilized manner can Turkish people expect to succeed.

Another way to disarm the claims of the French parliament and the
Armenian Diaspora is for Turkey to bring forward its other potential
super-ally, freedom of expression. The American founding father Thomas
Jefferson once said "it is error alone which needs the support of
government; truth can stand by itself." In this light, Turkey must
realize that any laws that punish non-violent forms of speech hurt
Turkey more than its adversaries in the long run. Last week, the
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan called Turkish reactions to
the French vote "hypocrisy" because Turkey still curbed discussions
on certain aspects of its past. As much as the Armenian government has
its own share of hypocrisy in this debate, Mr. Oskanyan has a point.

Putting intellectuals on trial for speaking their mind is unacceptable
and unbecoming of a country like Turkey. Only by granting opposing
voices an audience and nurturing meaningful discussion on the subject
can Turkey thwart the baseless allegations.

Indeed, this will comport with Ataturk’s legacy. It will be to the
point to bring a story that was discussed in this column a few weeks
ago: During the 1930s, President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Prime
Minister Ýsmet Ýnonu assigned the eccentric apparatchik Recep Peker to
draft a report that would give a new sense of mission to Cumhuriyet
Halk Partisi (CHP-Republican Peoples’ Party). Peker’s 1936 report,
which proposed the reorganization of the RPP along the lines of the
Italian Fascist Party, met Ataturk’s bitter resentment.

Ataturk reportedly exclaimed "what the hell has Recep done again?"

and elucidated his vision for Turkey to his aide Hasan Rýza Soyak as
follows: "Should an anti-monarchical current take over the world in
the future, even those who demand a sultanate can form a party in this
country." Today, I believe, even those who call the Armenian tragedy
"genocide" should be able to have their say.

Turkey must stop doing some of the things that it is doing right now.

It should stop racing the French to stupidity. It is a contest that
is hard to beat. Turkey should refrain from passing futile laws about
French imperialism in Algeria (that it was tantamount to genocide).

The point is debatable and precisely for that reason Turkey should
gather a conference of scholars from both sides in a posh location
in Istanbul or the Aegean coast in order to garner international
attention. The juxtaposition would be too hard to miss for anyone:
Whereas France forcefully curbs freedom of expression, Turkey is
promoting it. But in order to augment that overture, all laws in
the penal code that criminalize anything other than an open call to
violence must either be changed or stricken out. By taking that last
step, Turkey can go traverse vast distances.

Turkey’s strongest allies in its struggle against the senseless
and fruitless allegations by France and the Armenian Diaspora are
common sense and freedom of expression. At the moment, by behaving
the way that they are behaving, Turkish people are weakening these
two partners. If their problems are addressed forthwith, they will
help Turkey prevail.

+++

Barýn Kayaoðlu is a Ph.D. student in history at the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia and a regular contributor to
the Journal of Turkish Weekly.

E-mail: [email protected]

———- NOTES

(1) "RTUK: Fransýz filmlerini yayýnlamayýn" (RTUK: Do not broadcast
French films), ntvmsnbc.com, October 20, 2006; available from

(2) "Fransa Kuzey Irak’ta temsilcilik acýyor" (France to open legation
in Northern Iraq), ntvmsnbc.com, October 19, 2006; available from

(3) "Oskanyan: Tepkiler ikiyuzluluk" (Oskanyan: The reactions
are hyprocrisy), ntvmsnbc.com, October 21, 2006; available from

(4) See Barýn Kayaoðlu, "The Armenian Question Between Genocide,
Tragedy, and Hypocrisy," Journal of Turkish Weekly, October 11, 2006;
available from

(5) Teoman Gul, Turk Siyasal Hayatýnda Recep Peker (Recep Peker in
Turkish Political Life) (Ankara: Kultur Bakanlýðý, 1998), 29.

–Boundary_(ID_/UmEhE8KMSDbP4VZqk4u9w)–

‘OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO GIVE THE VILLAGERS A CHANCE TO GET RICH’
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
26/10/2006

The United Nations Development Program and "Hayastan" Pan-Armenian
Fund have decided to unite their efforts and abilities in reducing
rural poverty in Armenia.

Yesterday, the sides signed a memorandum of mutual understanding.

Director of "Hayastan" Pan-Armenian Fund, Naira Melkumian, and
UN permanent coordinator in Armenia, Consuelo Vidal, emphasized
the importance of cooperation of rural communities and local
authorities in productive implementation of the program. The rural
communities will be selected based on the level of poverty and the
level of unemployment. Border villages will also be included in the
program. Consuelo Vidal said that a group at the Armenian Foreign
Ministry engaged in this issue and the UN already have a common
elaborated program. The UN permanent coordinator underscored that
while studying the problems of rural communities, people themselves
indicate their needs and priorities that include social issues as well.

"I am sure that the result of this cooperation will be decisive in
terms of reducing poverty. Our ultimate aim is to give the villagers
a chance to get rich," Naira Melkumian said.