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News, 15 Jun, 2007.
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All newspapers report that, at the invitation of President Robert Kocharian, Greek President Karolos Papulias will be in Armenia on June 26-28 with his spouse on an official visit.
HAYOTS ASHKHAR, ARAVOT, ARMINFO and ARMENPRESS report on the press conference of the American jazz musicians Bobby Sanabria and “Quarteto Ache” band held in the U.S. Embassy yesterday and publicize the performances of the band to be held in Yerevan within the framework of “American Jazz in Armenia” 6th annual program.
AZG, HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, ARAVOT and IRAVUNK write about the Freedom House Report 2006, according to which the general index of Armenia dropped. Specifically, newspapers mention that backsliding was registered in the indicators on democracy, free mass media and governance. Regarding the voting processes, civil society, court system and corruption, the indicators remained the same. The newspapers quote the report saying that the “rigged election promoted increased cynicism towards the authorities and participation in public activity. In addition, Armenian society lost faith in the will of the authorities to take measures for fighting corruption.”
AZG and RESPUBLIKA ARMENII cover the interview of Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian to Kentron TV on June 13 in which he stated that Azerbaijan’s lack of political will is the basic obstacle in the negotiation process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Vartan Oskanian noted that on the negotiation table there is a three-page “quite logical and binding document, certain provisions of which cause optimism.” The Armenian Foreign Minister stated that the frequent aggressive statements of the Azerbaijani side do not correspond to the real content of the talks, which suggests that Baku is not serious about negotiating. Oskanian also stated that another meeting of the presidents is possible at the beginning of October, within the framework of the next CIS countries summit.
Regarding the issue of recognition of Kosovo’s independence, Oskanian said that the international recognition of Kosovo’s independence should become a precedent for the settlement of other conflicts, based on the right of people for self-determination. However, he also stressed that, “Irrespective of what the future of Kosovo will be, the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh will be decided upon, based on the right of people for self-determination and there will be no deviations from that.”
Referring to the joint use of Gabala Radar Station by Russia and the United States, Oskanian said that if Russia and the USA agree upon the joint use of the Gabala Radar Station located in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan will become a “playing card” in the hands of Moscow and Washington. Vartan Oskanian opined that the use of the Gabala Radar Station by the USA may further worsen Iranian-Azerbaijani relations. The Armenian Foreign Minister is quoted as saying, “If there was such a station in Armenia, and if we received such a proposal, I would recommend that the President and the government turn it down, as it could make the country vulnerable.”
AZG, HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, ARAVOT and IRAVUNK report that, according to the government press service, the Government decreed yesterday to dismiss the Regional Governor of Shirak, Romik Manukian, (Armenian Revolutionary Federation); by another decree, the Government appointed Vardges Matevosian from Republican Party as Vayots Dzor Regional Governor. According to HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, Matevosian, known by his nickname “Hunter”, owns a ‘safari’ in Vayots Dzor.
AZG, HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK and ARAVOT report on the protest in front of the Government building yesterday of numerous residents affected by redevelopment schemes in Yerevan. Citizens, forced out of their houses in the city center in order to give way to multimillion construction projects, accused Prime Minister Serzh Sargsian of not keeping his promise to meet them to discuss ways to settle their problems. Newspapers report that Deputy Mayor Karen Vardanian met with the activists and told them that a special committee was established, in which residents will also be included, to discuss the issues concerning them.
HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTYUN, HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, ARAVOT and RESPUBLIKA ARMENII report that the first meeting of the new government took place yesterday, during which Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said that the new government of Armenia has just eight months left for proving that it is efficient. The government plans to finalize its program of action and submit it to the National Assembly for approval by the end of this month.
Newspapers report that the Armenian government approved amendments to the law on social protection of military servicemen to provide lump-sum assistance to be spent on settlement of social problems for the servicemen who became invalids, as well as for the families of the fallen. As stated by the Chief of the Department of Social Protection of Servicemen at the Armenian Defense Ministry, Colonel Souren Harutyunian, the lump-sum assistance of 10,000 AMD or 100,000 AMD will be allotted once a year from the state budget. The Chief of the Department will make the decision up to 10, 000 AMD, while the Minister of Defense will decide on assistance up to 100,000 AMD.
ARAVOT published the letter of three Orinats Yerkir party members, Chairman of the Youth Union of the party Samvel Farmanian, Vice-Chairman of the party’s Youth Union Marsel Abrahamian, and the Spokesman on Foreign Political Issues Tigran Mkrtchian, in which they express their desire to terminate their activities as party members.
RFE/RL reports that representatives of Armenia’s governing coalition appear to be withholding the contents of the agreement signed last week. According to RFE/RL, the originals of the agreement signed between the Republican Party and the Prosperous Armenia Party on forming a governing coalition and the separate cooperation deal of the two with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) are presumably kept in the safe in President Robert Kocharian’s office. RFE/RL reports, “The two parties of the new coalition do not appear to hold copies of the agreements, with very few people confessing that they have actually seen the original document and are familiar with its contents. Not a single lawmaker approached by RFE/RL could provide a copy of the document for publication. Meanwhile, the parties signing the agreement last Wednesday, in the absence of the media, agreed to have the document published in the media at a later date.” |
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