Author: Nalbandian Eduard

THE ELECTORAL BRIBE ISN’T THE MAIN WAY
Aram Abrahamian

Aravot, Armenia
Nov 1 2006

One of the famous politicians has told during one of discussions
lately that the press, focusing on the electoral bribes, assists the
authority propaganda, the aim of which is to prove that the elections
are rigged with the help of corruptibility of the population. It is
indeed very proper approach for the authorities: they admit that they
commit a small crime, hiding the big ones.

Frankly speaking, I haven’t noticed that the whole press is led by
that logic but that politician’s observation is right; the bribe,
which is given to the voters, is a small, assisting way for the
falsifiers. For example, there are 2 million voters in Armenia, 100000
voters from that two million have voted under influence of electoral
bribe, does it provide the victory of the authority candidates or
parties? Certainly, it doesn’t. And then everybody admits that the
constitutional referendum was rigged and no electoral bribe was given.

Expediency prompts that filling ballots isn’t also the main way
of rigging the elections. It is difficult to imagine that about 1
million ballots were filled in 2000 polling stations of Armenia. It is
much more possible that the number of filled ballots isn’t over 100
thousands. In addition to that figure one more 50 thousands voters,
the representatives of corrupted bureaucracy and the members of their
families who frankly vote for the authority. In addition to it the
army. We got 300000. Then where do 1-1,5 million votes come from,
which the authority always registers in favor it?

The answer is obvious and it may be elucidated by the example of that
same constitutional referendum. The following becomes clear from the
private conversations with "falsifiers of polling stations"; about
250 voters /200 ‘for’, 50 ‘against’/ came to vote in the polling
station which has 2000 voters. The falsifiers added to that 250 a
small ‘1’ making it 1250. The main way for providing the "victory of
the authority" is to "draw figures".

I can’t say how the participation of voters will be in the coming
parliamentary elections. I hope the opposition will not boycott and
will send its representatives to the polling stations.

If all oppositionist parties have 2000 uncorrupted representatives
and the OSCE send 2000 uncorrupted observers, it is possible that
the elections will be held a little fairly. There is easier version;
to sit and gamble; "The elections will be rigged".

SCHIFF LAUDS LEADER PELOSI’S COMMITMENT TO GENOCIDE RECOGNITION LEGISLATION

Asbarez
11/1/2006

WASHINGTON–Congre ssman Adam Schiff, the author of Armenian
Genocide legislation, which passed the House International Relations
Committee, Friday, commended Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
for her support of Genocide recognition legislation. Pelosi recently
committed to support Armenian Genocide legislation in the 110th session
of Congress if she becomes Speaker of the House.The Speaker of the
House is responsible for the House Floor schedule and determines what
legislation is brought to the floor for a vote. With Leader Pelosi’s
past support of Genocide recognition legislation, it is anticipated
that if she becomes Speaker of the House she would schedule a vote
on a Genocide resolution.

"There is no hiding the fact that one and a half million Armenians
were deliberately murdered at the beginning of the 20th Century, and
it is high time that we as a nation recognized these heinous crimes
for what they were – a genocide," Schiff said."I stand with Leader
Pelosi in her commitment to get this important legislation passed.."

Over the last five and a half years, Schiff has worked hard to ensure
the U.S. and the international community recognizes the Armenian
Genocide.In June of 2005, Schiff secured a commitment for a mark-up
on Armenian Genocide Recognition legislation from House International
Relations Committee Chairman, Henry Hyde (R-IL).A mark-up is the
final hurdle a bill must pass before a vote by the full House of
Representatives is possible. The mark-up followed in September of
2005. Congressman Schiff’s work with Chairman Hyde enabled the House
International Relations Committee to pass Armenian Genocide legislation
(H. Con. Res. 195 and H. Res. 316) for the first time in five years.

Schiff’s resolution (H. Con. Res. 195) commemorates the Armenian
Genocide and urges Turkey to acknowledge the role of the Ottoman Empire
in it.The resolution also urges Turkey to go beyond recognition of
the Genocide and reach a just resolution with the Armenian people.

After passing the Schiff resolution, the Committee then approved a
second resolution sponsored by Congressmen G. Radanovich (R-CA),
Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), Adam Schiff and Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
that also recognized the Armenian Genocide (H. Res. 316).

Although Congressman Schiff’s legislation passed the House
International Relations Committee with overwhelming support, Speaker of
the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has refused to bring the legislation
to the House Floor so all Members can vote on it.

Congressman Adam Schiff is a member of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues.He represents California’s 29th Congressional District,
including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale,
Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena,
and Temple City.

RA DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER TO PARTAKE IN CSTO CONSULTATIONS

ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 13:56

The delegation led by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Armenia, RA First Deputy Defense Minister,
Colonel-General Mickael Harutynyan left for Moscow to participate in
the sitting of Chiefs of General Staffs of the Armed Forces of CIS
member states and consultations of Chiefs of General Staffs of the
Armed Forces of CSTO countries, RA MOD Press Service reports.

During the consultations of Chiefs of General Staffs of the Armed
Forces of CSTO member states it is envisaged to discuss the CSTO
coalition army building by 2010, the format of the mechanism of
cooperation of the CSTO joint Staff and General Staffs of member
countries, military-technical cooperation, joint training of
specialists.

TURKISH ANTALYA TO HOST MEETING OF PACE EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY GROUP
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006

A meeting of the Group of European Democracy of PACE (Paliamentary
Assembly of Council of Europe) is expected to be held in the Turkish
city of Antalya on 2-6 November, 2006, MP Ganira Pashayeva, a member
of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, informed Trend.

Members of the Azerbaijani delegation presented in the PACE European
Democracy Group is Azerbaijani MPs Ganira Pashayeva and Aydin
Mirzazadeh who will participate at the forthcoming meeting.

Ganira Pashayeva pointed out that relations between the Council
of Europe and EU (European Union) are expected to be the centre of
attention with participants of the meeting. "The situation on the
Middle East as well as the future activity of the Group will be
discussed during the meeting", she said.

The MP added that an issue on France’s National Assembly’s passing a
bill that envisages a punishment for denying the so-called Armenian
"genocide" is expected to be discussed by the participants of
the meeting as well. "The forthcoming meeting will also focus its
attention on issues connected with the damage to the European values,
freedom of speech and human rights", said the Azerbaijani MP.

According to her, the issue on relations between Turkey and the EU
will be discussed as well during the forthcoming event.

BEFORE ELECTION IT IS NOT CLEAR WHO IS GOVERNMENT AND WHO IS OPPOSITION

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 30 2006

Samvel Nikoyan, member of the Council of the Republican Party and
Alexan Karapetyan, deputy leader of the National Solidarity Party,
started their October 30 debate at the Hayeli Club like real gentlemen
and with a sense of humor: one let the other start first.

"We’ll let everything go except power," Samvel Nikoyan said. "And
money," added Alexan Karapetyan. In fact, it became clear over what
issues the government and the opposition will never come to a peaceful
compromise, and what it takes the opposition to be happy.

And the debate was over the Electoral Code.

Alexan Karapetyan repeated that a 100 percent proportional eelction
code is preferable, after the election the political forces assume
political responsibility and it has been 15 years they are ready
for it. Like all the other Republicans, Samvel Nikoyan thinks that
we are not ready for a 100 percent proportional system, and besides,
there is political agreement on 90 seats for the proportional system
and 41 for the majority system. The next painful issue is the order
of setting up electoral commissions. Alexan Karapetyan stated that it
is wrong to include the parliamentary groups in the commissions. "The
majority of the People’s Deputy Group became Republicans. It appears
that the Republican Party has two representatives to the commissions.

You use these seats into trade. The People’s Deputy is a button
for you to push." Samvel Nikoyan proposed looking forward. This is
already past.

Alexan Karapetyan has a negative opinion on the charity stepped up by
the political parties. First because they break the electoral code and
the law on the political parties, and besides "there is no guarantee
that the same will not occur during the elections." And if Alexan
Karapetyan also adds that such steps are taken under the auspices of
the president, "nobody can break the law and get away with it if he
is not protected by the president." Samvel Nikoyan disikes this kind
of charity because "I fear that the political and ideological battle
will move onto the sphere of distributing seeds to farmers."

Samvel Nikoyan made a peculiar statement. According to him, it is
difficult to tell before the election who is opposition, who is
pro-government, and therefore it is wrong to accept an equal number
of representatives of these forces to the electoral commissions. For
instance, Samvel Nikoyan thinks that the Republican Party and the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun will become rivals before the election. But the
Republican Party and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun will remain government,
won’t they? Samvel Nikoyan declined to answer this question.

National Assembly of Armenia
Oct 27 2006

Sittings of Standing Committees in National Assembly

On October 29 the sittings of the National Assembly Standing
Committees were held.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit,
Budgetary and Economic Affairs presided over by Mr. Gagik Minasyan, 6
issues were debated. All the drafts were endorsed to be put on the
agendas of the session and four-day sittings.

Mr. Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Central Bank, presented the
legislative initiative of the Government on Making Amendment to the
RA Law on State Budget.

The executive body proposes to make amendments to the laws on
Accredited Payments and on Taxes.

The draft on Making Addendum to the Law on State Registration of
Legal Entities was presented for the evaluation. The MP Mr. Karen
Karapetyan submitted the draft.

It was informed that the draft on Food Safety is ready for the
adoption in the second reading.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs,
Health Care and Environment presided over by Mr. Mnatsakan Petrosyan,
the government-submitted drafts on Making Addenda to the RA Law on
the RA Budgetary System, on Making Amendment to the RA Law on Nature
Protection Payment Rates, on Substance that Deplete the Ozone Layer,
on Making Addendum to the RA Law on State Duty, on Specially
Preserved Nature Locations, on the RA National Water Program were
debated in the second reading. Mr.Simon Papyan, Deputy Minister of
Environment, presented the drafts. He noted that the proposals and
recommendations on drafts had been received.

The Committee decided to hold debates on the drafts on Plants
Protection Quarantine, on Making Amendments to the RA Law on State
Agrarian Inspections, on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law
on Administrative Offences in the second reading within 24 hours
after the debates in the first reading. The drafts were endorsed to
be put on the draft agenda of the four-day sittings.

At the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Defence, National
Security and Internal Affairs, presided over by Mr. Aramayis
Grigoryan, Mr. Ararat Mahtesyan, Deputy Head of Police, presented for
the second reading the drafts on the Approval of the RA Police
Disciplinary Code, on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on
Service in Police. The drafts were endorsed to be put on the draft
agenda of upcoming four-day sittings.

Mr. Artur Aghabekyan, Deputy Minister of Defense, presented for the
first reading the drafts on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law
on Legislative Regime of Martial Law and Law on Defense. The drafts
will be endorsed to be put on the agendas of the NA autumn session
and four day sittings.

The NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, presided over
by Rafik Petrosyan, debated the draft on Making Amendments and
Addenda to the RA Law on Administrative Offences in the first
reading, which was presented by Mr. David Avetisyan, Deputy Minister
of Finance and Economy.

The MP Mr.Viktor Dallakyan presented the draft Law on Making
Amendments to the RA Electoral Code in the first reading. The MP
Mr.Arshak Sadoyan presented his version of the draft Law on Making
Amendments to the RA Electoral Code in the first reading. This draft
got the MPs’ negative conclusion.

The MP Mr. Tatul Manaseryan presented the draft on Establishment of
the NA Standing Committee on the Armenian Genocide.

Mr. Rafik Petrosyan informed that according to Mr. Ashot Melkonyan,
Director of History Institute, historians are not against the
establishment of the Committee. Mr. Petrosyan also is in favor of the
establishment of the Committee.

Mr. Davit Harutyunyan, Minister of Justice, presented the drafts on
Making Addendum to the RA Law on Service of Compulsory Enforcement of
Judicial Orders, on Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA on
Treatment of Arrestees and Detainees, on Making Amendments and
Addendum to the RA Law on Criminal Executive Service, on Making
Amendments to the RA Law on the Enforcement of the RA Criminal Code,
on Making Amendment and Addendum to the RA Criminal Code, on Making
Amendments and Addenda to the RA Criminal Procedure, on Making
Addenda to the RA Criminal Executive Code, on Making Amendment to the
RA Law on Administrative Offences.

The MPs debated in the third reading the draft on Making Amendments
and Addenda to the RA Law on Trade Unions.

The debated drafts will be endorsed to be put on the agendas of the
NA big session and four-day sittings, excluding the MP Mr. Arshak
Sadoyan-submitted draft on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA
Electoral Code.

The ARF-submitted draft on the RA State Anthem was postponed for 30
days.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

SERGE SARGSYAN MET WITH NATO CONSULTATION GROUP

October 26 Secretary of the Security Council under RA President, RA
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with the members of the NATO
international consultation group.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the RA MOD Press
Service, Slovenia’s Plenipotentiary FM Damian Bergant, Advisor to
Lithuania’s National Defense Minister James Gribovsky, the U. K. MOD
official John Drievinkievich, Baltic Defense College Senior
Scientific Worker Margus Colgan, Director of Latvia’s Foreign Affairs
Institute Atis Lejins and others are in the foreign delegation.
In the course of the meeting the representative of the U. K. noted
the consultation group approved all the provisions of the RA national
security strategy draft referring to the development of the state and
civil society. Touching on the security issues the delegation’s
members discussed the geopolitical situation in Armenia and stated
two of four neighbor states – Azerbaijan and Turkey had blockaded the
border with Armenia, while other vitally important ways passed via
Iran and Georgia, where the situation is complicated too. Speaking of
Armenia’s foreign political course the delegation’s members remarked
it was mainly conditioned by the two issues, which are very important
for any Armenian – Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian Genocide in
Turkey. The guests stated under the circumstances Armenia had decided
to pursue a balanced policy.

Panorama.am

17:42 26/10/06

LOCAL PRODUCTION OF VODKA BOLSTERED

Soon equal conditions will be created for local producers and
importers of vodka which will promote local production. The government
made changes in several laws today, including on Customs Code, On
State Tariffs, On Excise-Tax, On Licensing.

Vakhtang Pirumyan, state incomes policy department head of the staff
of the ministry of finance and economy, told a briefing shortly after
the government session that the customs duty for import of vodka will
be raised which is 240 Armenian drams per one liter
today. /Panorama.am/

RIA OREANDA
Economic News
October 26, 2006 Thursday

RUSAL Opens the ARMENAL Plant after Large-Scale Modernization

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS. RUSAL, the world’s third largest aluminium
producer, has announced the opening of one of the most advanced foil
mills in the world, "RUSAL ARMENAL" in Armenia after extensive
modernization. Total investment into the project has exceeded $70
million.

The tender for the modernization of the plant was won by German firm
Achenbah who started the programme in 2004 and completed it in a
record period of 23 months. The modernization programme included the
installation of supercasters, which are continuous casting and
rolling units.

The programme developed a non-waste process cycle, abandoned the use
of ingots, improved the quality of products and cut expenses
significantly. The preparatory rolling mill has also been fully
modernized and is now equipped with monitoring tools and a process
control system.

Modern environment-protection and labour safety systems have been
implemented at the plant. In particular, the process of lubricant
steam collection removal and condensation system has been updated,
modern fire-fighting equipment has been installed and a complex fire
alarm system has been introduced. RUSAL Armenal will produce 25,000
tonnes of foil per year, of which 18,000 tonnes will be a thin 6-9
micron foil, which is the most popular product in Russia and abroad.

The plant is expected to operate at full capacity in mid-2007 and
become one of the major aluminium foil producers in the region. The
plant’s share in the total volume of foil products in the CIS will
amount to 12% and its main sales markets will be Europe and USA.

ARMENAL is the only aluminium foil production facility in the
Caucasus and Central Asia and has already received enough orders to
operate at full capacity. RUSAL is considering an opportunity to
expand the plant’s production capacity up to 40,000 tonnes of product
per year.

The "RUSAL ARMENAL" foil mill was established in Yerevan in May 2000
on the basis of the Kanakersk Aluminium Smelter and is one of the
largest manufacturing enterprises in Armenia. It was acquired by
RUSAL in 2000. Together with the "RUSAL SAYANAL" plant (The Republic
of Khakassia) it forms the packaging division of the Company. It is
certified according to the quality management system international
standard ISO 9001.

KAREN KARAPETIAN: TRANSFER OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE’S ARMENIAN
SECTION TO ARMRUSGAZPROM IS LOGICAL

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The ArmRusgazprom company has
already made a proposal to the Armenian government to transfer the
40-km Meghri-Kajaran section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to the
company. Karen Karapetian, Chairman of ArmRusgazprom Board and General
Executive Director of the company, told this to reporters on October
26. According to him, this deal is logical because the gas pipeline
connects the Iranian gas transportation system with that of
ArmRusgazprom. K. Karapetian said that there are various forms of
transferring this section of the gas pipeline, including "the Armenian
side makes a capital investment and increases its divident."