Author: Tambiyan Samvel

OSCE envoy praises Azeri, Armenian leaders for easing border tension

Arminfo
14 Jul 05

YEREVAN

The situation on the contact line is calmer now and the cease-fire is
holding owing to a political accord between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents reached at the presidents’ meeting in Warsaw on
the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit, the personal
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office on the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, Andrzej Kasprzyk, told reporters today.

He said that the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan had been
informed about the outcome of monitoring [of the contact
line]. Measures were taken at the presidents’ Warsaw meeting in order
to ease the situation on the contact line. [Passage omitted:
monitoring to start next week]

NIKITA MIKHALKOV: IT IS BETTER ALWAYS TO REST ALWAYS UPON OWN
TRADITIONS

YEREVAN, JULY 13. ARMINFO. “As all the new in life, “Golden Apricot”
festival also should rest upon both the great history of its country
and people’s traditions”, stated world-famous film director, actor,
president of Russian Film Union and honorary guest of the festival
Nikita Mikhalkov at today’s press-conference.

He noted that during his short stay in Yerevan he had had time to feel
the spirit of Armenian temperament. Mikhalkov noted that at present
“Golden Apricot” forms its own traditions based on the long-year
experience of cinematographers of previous generations and people’s
traditions.

RA CONSTITUTION SUBMITTED TO SECOND READING

A1+
12-07-2005

July 11 Robert Kocharyan signed the decree on convening special
session of the National Assembly on August 29, 2005.

The second reading of draft constitutional amendments is on the
agenda.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 6 2005

PACE Monitoring Committee meeting starts in Baku

Baku, July 5, AssA-Irada
A two-day meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee started in Baku on Tuesday.
Co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan Andreas Gross and Andres Herkel, as well
as the rapporteur on the Upper Garabagh conflict David Atkinson and
the Committee members are attending the meeting.
In his opening speech, the Milli Majlis (parliament) Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov said Azerbaijan has fulfilled all of its commitments to the
Council of Europe (CE), as the country’s parliament has passed over
40 relevant decisions. Alasgarov noted that the `political prisoners’
issue has been fully resolved in Azerbaijan after President Ilham
Aliyev signed decrees on pardon.
Touching upon the November parliamentary elections, the Speaker said
they will play an important role in the democratic development in the
country. All the needed steps will be taken to conduct democratic and
transparent elections, he said.
Commenting on the amendments made to the Election Code, Alasgarov
said the recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights and the CE Venice Commission have been
taken into account in the bill.
The Speaker said that Azerbaijan hopes for the PACE support in the
areas of democratization and human rights.
The Monitoring Committee members were briefed by leaders of political
parties, representatives of NGOs and media and heard reports from
Minister for Justice Fikrat Mammadov, Interior Minister Ramil Usubov
and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.*

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| 15:08:56 | 05-07-2005 | Social |

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST WINNER AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Ukrainian singer Ruslana, the winner of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest,
agreed to support the campaign against human trafficking at a meeting in
Kyiv with Helga Konrad, the OSCE Special Representative on Combating
Trafficking in Human Beings.

“I have been looking for opportunities to make use of my popularity for the
benefit of the European community,” said Ruslana, who is already a UNICEF
Goodwill Ambassador. “I am very grateful for the chance to join the
anti-trafficking campaign and be involved in solving the pressing problem of
human trafficking in the Ukraine and in other European countries.”

Helga Konrad said: “Ruslana’s ability to reach the young people in the
Ukraine and beyond makes her an asset in helping raise awareness of the
risks of human trafficking – this modern form of slavery.”

Ruslana met OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Dimitrij Rupel, in Ljubljana earlier
this year to discuss human trafficking.

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| 14:27:44 | 05-07-2005 | Official |

KOCHARYAN CONGRATULATED ARMENIAN CITIZENS

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan congratulated the citizens of the
republic on the Constitution Day.

`Within the past decade our Constitution has demonstrated its viability and
has pointed out the way to overcome the hardest situations. The Organic Law
of our country is the major guarantor of civil accord, rule of law and
stability. At this stage the process of constitutional reforms has ripened
and reached its final phase. Much work has been done to that end by state
bodies, political forces and specialists. We have also made international
commitments thereupon. I am sure that the natural course of reforms of the
Constitution is of high importance for the progress of our country. I
congratulate the citizens on the Constitution Day and hope that the Organic
Law of Armenia will remain the legal basis for the life of the people and
the state,’ the congratulation statement of the Armenian President says.

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| 11:11:17 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY OF POLITICAL CONSENSUS CREATED IN ARMENIA

Though various mechanisms of adoption of Constitution are applied in
international practice, Armenia has chosen the variant of referendum.

At that the barrier is very high: for the adoption of the Constitution more
than half of the voters and no less than 1/3 of those who have suffrage
should vote for the draft. There is also another demand stipulated by the
CoE: the new Constitution should not have the fate of the previous draft.
However there exists an opinion that even with strong desire the essential
participation of the voters cannot be secured.

I think people should vote. A unique opportunity of political consensus has
been created in Armenia and I think people should take the occasion’,
deputy, member of Orinats Yerkir party, Mher Shahgeldyan says. The society
would be more active of were informed of the changes in detail. `It was not
easy to do it before, since we were working at the changes with the Venice
Commission. Today, when the coalition political forces of Armenia, the
opposition and the Venice Commission came to agreement on the principal
clauses the draft can be presented to the society. People should know what
document they are going to adopt’, he says.

NA deputy, Justice faction member Grigor Harutyunyan also supports the idea
of adopting the Constitution via referendum. He also supports the strict
demands. `Now specialists and political forces should explain to the society
the fact of the matter’, he says.

It should be also taken into account that a whole package of reforms is
submitted on referendum. They say that 80% or 90% of the proposals of the
European structures were adopted. In states with parliamentary government
system the changed would be presented by items. But our situation is
different. `We have the parliament and the people vote for the whole
document, since various items of the Constitution are interrelated – the
government system, human rights, Ombudsman and the Justice Council, local
self-government and development of democracy. It would be unadvisable to
hold a referendum on each item in a country like Armenia.

Lena Badeyan

ARKA News Agency
June 30 2005

RA PRESIDENT MAKES THE FIRST CALL, USING THE SERVICE OF THE SECOND
PROVIDER OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE VIVACELL

YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan made the
first call, using the service of the second provider of mobile
communications service VivaCell. According to the ARKA’s reporter,
the call was made during the presenting ceremony devoted to the
beginning of work by VivaCell. The President of “K-Telecom” Pierre
Fattouch noted in his speech that VivaCell opens a new century of
communications in Armenia and is going to enlarge its network
throughout the country. “We hope that we will set low tariffs and
ensure high quality like in developed countries of the world”, he
said. According to him, investments of the company make already $75
mln., and there is possibility to increase their amount to serve up
to 400 thsd subscribers. Fattouch stated about the readiness to
participate in development of administrative resources. “We will
develop the Armenia network by applying Armenian forces and
potential”, he said.
>From July 1, VivaCell officially sets to providing services in the
sphere of mobile communications.
To note, VivaCell is a trademark of “K-Telecom” Company, which on Nov
4, 2004 was acknowledged by the RA Government the winner of the
tender for providing of mobile communications services.
ArmenTel, 90% of shares of which belong to OTE Greek Company and 10%
-to the RA Government, used to be a monopolist in the RA
communications market. A.H.-0–

ARMENIAN BRANDY MOSTLY EXPORTED

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| 14:05:00 | 30-06-2005 | Politics |

“Pernod Picard Company is successfully developing activities in
Armenia. We are satisfied with the results of the work and are proud
to represent the high-quality Armenian trade mark abroad”, Tierry
Bieu at the meeting with Robert Kocharyan.

In Mr. Bieu’s opinion after the privatization of the brandy factory
the company’s main goal is the improvement of the quality of the
production. In his words, the volume of export and sale have increased
10 times as compared to 1990. At that over 90% is exported to Russia
and Ukraine.

He also noted that along with the increase of brandy amount produced,
the purchase of grapes also increased. Last year the factory bought
grapes to the sum of 3 billion AMD. This year the sum will grow
with 20%.

Stating the improvement of the quality as a priority issue, he also
said that the company is trying to create favorable conditions for
the employees.

Robert Kocharyan in his turn noted that Armenia has obtained a serious
partner and there is no doubt that the privatization of the brandy
factory was a right bargain.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES NEW-ELECTED IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD

ARKA News Agency
June 28 2005

YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sent
a message to newly elected Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
congratulating him on his election, Armenian Presidential Press
service says. “Congratulate you on behalf of Armenian people and
personally on your election to the post of the President of friendly
country”. Armenians attach a great importance to relations with Islamic
Republic of Iran, Kocharyan said in his message. “I hope for further
development of the relations between our countries for the sake of
our nations”, the massage says. Armenian President also wished sound
health and good luck to his Iranian counterpart as well as peace and
prosperity to Iranian people. M.V. -0–