Author: Tashjian Arbi

OUR PROBLEM IS TO REVEAL SHORTCOMINGS

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
22 Aug 2006

On August 25 the NKR president signed the decree on setting up the
Committee on Ethics of Public Officials under the NKR president. The
chair Murad Petrossian assured in a news conference that the media
would regularly be informed about the activities of the committee. On
August 17, the members of the committee met with news reporters. The
first group of questions was on the activities of the committee and
its methods. In the beginning, Murad Petrossian stated that a number
of negative phenomena in our society (including corruption, misuse
of power, breaking laws) should be perceived as the everyday reality,
and we should try to help the society evaluate these phenomena duly.
According to him, this is not a purely local thing. This problem
persists in developed countries as well. Murad Petrossian believes
that one of the goals of the committee is to present corruption to the
society as it is. Murad Petrossian presented the objectives of the
committee, namely its members must make essential efforts to reveal
negative phenomena in different spheres. At the same time, they are
supposed to create a so-called bank of cadres. With regard to timing,
the chair of the committee said priorities would be outlined after
a survey in every sphere. Throughout this work contact between the
committee and the public will be sustained. For further actions,
Murad Petrossian said they would start with gathering information
on every sphere and every settlement. "These data will be classifies
and wait for their turn," he said, adding that efforts will be made
in cases which will be extremely harmful for the public life. By a
preliminary plan, the committee will work with several educational
institutions. Then efforts will be made to battle breaking traffic
rules by people riding in their own cars, who are left unpunished. In
answer to the question whether the committee will be able to influence
the behavior of a non-conscientious official in one way or another, the
chair of the committee said their goal is to reveal negative phenomena
and to enable replacement of non-conscientious officials by more
qualified people. The rest is the problem of other agencies. During the
news conference the bylaws of the committee were discussed as well,
namely the staff of the committee is not limited. One needs to be
known "as an honest person and have the reference of at least three
of the members of the committee" to be included in the committee. The
news reporters were not allowed to take part in the second part of
the meeting, during which "definite cases were to be discussed,"
the chair of the committee said. He promised to inform the media
about the findings of the meeting within a month.

Norair Hovsepian.
22-08-2006

FLAG OF KRASNODAR TO BE ERECTED ON MOUNT ARARAT

AZG Armenian Daily
24/08/2006

A group of climbers from, Russia, headed by Vardan Vardanian has
made its way to the biblical Mount Ararat, the shrine of the Armenian
people. According to Yerkramas newspaper, the members of the group,
climbers from "Everest" club in Krasnodar – businessmen, CEOs, artists,
photographers – have already arrived in Iran from where they will
cross the Turkish border and begin climbing. On the halfway the
Russian climbers will meet foreign climbers to conquer the mount
together. The group dedicates the climb to the Days of Armenia in
Russia. In Vardanian’s words, they will erect the flag of Krasnodar
on the Mount Ararat.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA TO BE HELD IN SITUATION "CLOSE TO MARTIAL"

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 22, 2006

"Elections to Armenia’s National Assembly in 2007 will be held
in a situation close to martial," Chairman of the oppositional
Constitutional Law Union, Grant Khachatryan, has announced at a news
conference on August 22. According to him, during the fighting for
parliamentary seats the opposition should come forwards as a united
group in controlling the election process. "The opposition should be
a united group to let the elections come fairly and without fraud,"
Khachatryan is quoted as saying.

As for ideological positions, the party leader believes that from
this point of view it would be a mistake to step forth by a single
party ticket. "Several opposition blocs should be presented at the
elections united with a single idea," he noted. However, as Grant
Khachatryan put it, contrary to the authorities that are "represented
in the country by two faces" the opposition has not made public its
message. "Preparation work is being held in the opposition now.

Numbers of party members are being confirmed, possible unions
are considered," he notes adding that "the opposition nowadays is
sending its whole energy towards residents of Armenia’s provinces
and communities." "We have been carrying out local congresses in the
provinces, electing party officials," Khachatryan says.

"The two faces" of the Armenian power, according to Khachatryan, differ
completely fro one another. "The first face is a forceful one, it is
notorious in the press and public discussions for its criminal ties;
the other one is a nice and friendly face, as if it is presenting
a claim to improve the situation in the republic, but it is nothing
but a semblance," the opposition leader believes.

It is worth mentioning, the ruling coalition in Armenia is presented
by two parties, Dashnaktsutiun Revolutionary Federation and Armenia’s
Republican Party. The prime minister’s position belongs to the
Republicans. In mid-September, the Constitutional Law Union intends
to hold a party congress.

OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS EXTRAORDINARY ELECTION MIGHT BE HELD IN ARMENIA

Arminfo
22 Aug 06

Yerevan, 22 August: The head of the Justice bloc and the leader of the
People’s Party of Armenia, Stepan Demirchyan, does not rule out the
possibility of extraordinary parliamentary and presidential elections
being held in Armenia.

In an interview with Iravunk newspaper, he said that people had
lost patience and they were convinced that political methods were
ineffective in the struggle against the current authorities.

If the authorities rig elections once again, this will have
unforeseeable consequences and in this case responsibility will rest
with the authorities, Demirchyan said.

Rocky Mountain News, CO
Aug. 18, 2006

Walks planned for genocide awareness
By STORY TOOLS

August 18, 2006

Journey for Life and Journey for Humanity plan walks through five
Front Range cities to honor the memory of genocide victims and raise
awareness and action to prevent future genocides.

The walk will be lead by Essie Garrett, 1996 Olympic Torchbearer for
the State of Colorado.

Journey for Humanity, sponsored by the United Armenian Students, a
non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, began the journey on
June 27 and will terminate in Washington, D.C. in November.

The Dead Weight of Complacency, a photographic exhibit created by the
Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action, shows a series
of genocides. It will be displayed outside the Denver City and County
Building.

The exhibit will advance to Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, Fort Collins
and Greeley where the group will speak on how Americans can help end
genocide in the future.

Times and locations for the walks and exhibits are:
~U 10 a.m. Monday, steps of Denver City and County Building
~U 3 p.m. Tuesday, band shell, southwest corner of Broadway and
Canyon, Boulder
~U 11 a.m. Wednesday, Longmont Free University, 505 Main St.

~U 3 p.m. Thursday, Peters Park at Loveland Museum, corner of 5th and
Lincoln in Loveland
~U 1 p.m. Friday, Old Town Square Plaza, Fort Collins
~U 11 a.m. Aug. 28, Greeley History Museum, 714 Eighth Street, Greeley

SITTING OF COUNCIL OF BENEFICIARIES OF "MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT – ARMENIA" PROGRAM TO LAUNCH AUGUST 17

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 14, 2006

YEREVAN, August 14. /ARKA/. A regular sitting of the Council of
beneficiaries of the "Millennium Challenge Account – Armenia" program
will be held in Yerevan on August 17, the member of the Council Levon
Barsegyan reported. He said that the Council plans to approve the
statue of the Council of beneficiaries during the sitting.

The Council of beneficiaries under the "Millennium Challenge Account –
Armenia" program was organized on May 2, 2006. It consists of nine
NGO representatives, two representatives from the associations of
water consumers, beneficiary communities and farming economies.

The agreement on giving Armenia $235.5mln loan for five years under
the "Millennium Challenge Account" American corporation was signed
in Washington on March 27.

The corporation was founded at the beginning of 2004 under the State
Department’s program, aimed at developing economies and reducing
poverty in the world.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 11, 2006

MINISTER: 68 SMALL ENTITIES ESTABLISHED IN AGRICULTURAL SPHERE OF
ARMENIA IN 2005-2006

YEREVAN, August 11. /ARKA/. In 2005-2006, 68 small entities, which
need serious financial and legislative support, were established in
the agricultural sphere of Armenia, RA Minister of Agriculture David
Lokya informed during a working talk with the Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan.
Press service of the president reported that pointing out importance
of this aspect, Kocharyan said that a long-term program should be
worked out and the reprocessing branch must become the main driving
force of agriculture’s development.
During the meeting sides pointed out that starting from January 1,
2009, VAT will be imposed on agricultural goods in Armenia.
Particularly there is an agreement on exemption from VAT those rural
economies, turnover of which does not exceed AMD 8 mln. For others
VAT rate will be set at 8-12% level, which can have serious influence
on their activities.
Kocharyan inquired about the present situation in the sphere of
agriculture of the republic, problems of villagers, as well as
governmental support to this sphere. S.P.–0-

DIRECTOR OF "MERCI" FASHION JEWELRY SHOP KILLED IN HIS FLAT

Noyan Tapan
Aug 10 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Dead body of Armen Grigorian, the
"Merci" fashion jewelry shop director, with numerous tures of skull
bones, was found on early August 9. The dead body was found in the
latter’s flat, on the bed, with tied hands and feet. A.Grigorian
died at his place, because of serious body injuries. According to the
information of the RA Prosecutor’s General Office, a criminal action
was brought on the fact at the Prosecutor’s Office of the Yerevan
communities of Kentron and Nork-Marash. The action was brought on
the signs of Article 104.1 of the RA Criminal Code.

ARAM SARKISYAN: ANY DOCUMENT SIGNED BY KOCHARYAN ON NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT WILL BE ILLEGITIMATE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006

"If security strip around Nagorno Garabagh is given to Azerbaijan,
we will get the people to rebel," said Armenian Democratic Party
leader & former aide to President Aram Sarkisyan.

As he said, any document on the settlement of Nagorno Garabagh conflict
signed by Kocharyan will be illegitimate.

"’Kocharyan does not represent Nagorno Garabagh. Besides, Armenia
has not recognized Nagorno Garabagh as an independent state. Finally,
if Armenia takes this step, Nagorno Garabagh will have to reconsider
its position," he underlined.

CENTRAL BANK CAN BE DISSOLVED
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
9 Aug 06

It is known to every citizen of Armenia that the Central Bank of
the Republic of Armenia is not related with the exchange rate of the
dollar. The Central Bank is only for finding clarifications or excuses
for the depreciation of the dollar, which it does with great devotion,
it is unclear to whom.

On August 9 the Central Bank held an event, which has little direct
relation to the exchange rate of the dollar. And before the event the
press secretary of the Central Bank even told the news reporters not to
ask questions about the exchange rate because the topic is different,
and the speakers are not competent in the exchange rate.

And the topic was foreign money transfers. The Central Bank conducted
a survey with the help of the World Bank to assess the transfers. The
survey, the results of which were presented to news reporters, involved
households, the persons who make transfers and the companies, which
provide transfers. The survey was conducted in the months of February
to April in 2006.

And why are they presenting the results four months later? Well,
sure, they were summing them up. They asked for three months and
summed up for four months. And they finished now when the exchange
rate of the dollar is dropping fast, and naturally the society wants
to know why or due to who. And this is the best moment to tell how
big the influx of transfers to Armenia is, which naturally has an
impact on the exchange rate of the dollar, because the dollar is also
a product, and if there is too much of it, the price drops. This is
only our supposition, of course, but the Central Bank would not tell
everything. We are supposed to realize some things ourselves. And the
Central Bank merely says 37 percent of households in Armenia receive
foreign money transfers, mainly from Russia and the United States.

The receivers of money transfers said they spend the money for
everyday expenses.

Imagine that one third of the population of Armenia live on the money
they get from their relatives abroad, and do not even save it, spending
about 80 percent on everyday needs. In the meantime, the government of
Armenia does not worry that over one third of households in Armenia
are being robbed. Plus the people whose income is in Armenia but in
dollars or drams equal to the exchange rate, it is apparent that over
half of the population of Armenia is impoverished, and the government
calmly follows the process. One should not exclude that it also calmly
benefits from it.

We should also add people who get transfers, which are not reported
anywhere because these are delivered from hand to hand. Considering
this, we will see that over half of the population of Armenia suffers
from the dropping exchange rate of the dollar. The problem is that
the revaluation of the dram does not improve the state of people who
get income in drams. The income of these people remains the same,
whereas the prices in drams soar. Hence, the monetary and loan policy
of the government does not favor anyone.

It should also be taken into account that several hundreds of
thousand pensioners, whose income is in drams, and who are the
favorite example of the Central Bank, in reality live on the money
they get from abroad. In other words, it is hard to believe that over
70 percent of the population of Armenia gets income or more exactly
lives on the income they get in Armenia. Therefore, the Central Bank
should do the contrary rather, ask for three months and count for
four months. And generally, it will be better if the Central Bank
neither asks, nor counts, and dissolves as soon as possible. Anyway,
the dollar will float without the help of the Central Bank.