Comments of Hamlet Gasparyan, Press Secretary of Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry, on participation of Armenia in Iraqi reconstruction projects. Question: ”Armenia’s media outlets have offered varying interpretations on the fact that Armenia is not included in the list of countries able to compete for Iraqi reconstruction projects. It is even said that because Armenia’s position vis-à-vis the Iraqi crisis was “reserved” Armenia...

Parliament special sitting period wasn’t over today. This week’ activity of MPs was unprecedented since no bill had been discussed for 2 days. Parliament working was drawn out because MPs don’t accept the amendments to the tax package. Parliament will most probably finish the special sittings tomorrow. 2004’ state budget, tax package amendments and some other laws will be put to voting.

Armenian Ramkavar-Azatakan party proposes amendments to Police Law adopted in 2001. Party activists are convinced that though laws are being adopted after international experts’ scrutiny, they shouldn’t remain unchanged forever. “Life is moving ahead, and laws need to be improved”, they say finding that there are many provisions in the law contradicting Armenian Constitution and Human Rights International Convention.

Swearing ceremony of newly elected member of Constitutional Court Kim Balayan took place on Monday in Armenian National Assembly. Balayan was elected by the parliament. President Kocharyan was present here. Justice and National Unity parliamentary fractions’ members boycotted the ceremony. Not a single of them was present in the hall.

On December 13 “Justice” Bloc’ demonstration-meeting with the population of Shengavit Commune took place. Bloc initiated a group of public meetings aiming to win amendments to the “Law on Referendum” in Parliament through making the people active, which will enable to conduct President’s Trust Referendum. Bloc Secretary Viktor Dallakyan informed that the Karabakhi clan led by the non-elected president was to be blamed for the bad social...

The former president of Azerbaijan, Heidar Aliyev, has died aged 80 in a US hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He had been suffering from heart and kidney problems and was admitted to the clinic in August after first being treated in Turkey. The corpse of the former president will be transported to Azerbaijan tomorrow. 7-day-long mourning was announced for in Azerbaijan. He became the former Soviet...

The members of Central Election Committee have today told the journalists at the special sitting their impressions over the parliamentary elections in Russia. Atom Mkhitaryan made a speech at the sitting, who watched the elections as an OSCE observer. According to him, on the day of election he managed to visit more than 10 polling stations with his Irish colleague. There were some election breach,...

It turns that another group independent of OSCE Minsk Group has been acting for 3 years. It works out the suggestions on Karabakhi conflict settlement. The group assembles at the well-known place “Snegiri” near Moscow. The 5th meeting of it has recently taken place. The suggestions of 3 years were elaborated and introduced to OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. It is noteworthy that among those...

Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev met in Geneva. Minsk Group Co-chairs as well partook in the meeting. After the official ceremony the Co-chairs left and Kocharyan and Aliev continued twosome meeting in private. Nothing was yet released about the results of the meeting. The meeting lasted 1 hour. Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev called it productive.

National Press Club held a discussion on complementary policy on Wednesday. “Armenia heads for European integration road. The fact that Europe has no military presence in Armenia let the republic to pursue complementary policy either toward Russia or the U.S.A”, said Foreign Ministry official Ashot Voskanyan. He finds this policy very favorable to Armenia. The head of strategic center “Prospect” Aran Karapetyan doesn’t understand how...

”The present political field reminds of a camomile – if one doesn’t like Robert Kocharyan is in Opposition, if likes him is pro-governmental”, “National Conciliation” Party Chair Aram Harutyunyan introduced the political field this way. Though it is not clear in what field his party acts, Aram Harutyunyan considers himself in Opposition. But he is not against Kocharyan. If Kocharyan and a person with a communistic past put their candidacy,...

December 10 is celebrated as the World Day on Protection of Human Rights. On that occasion Union for National Self-Determination held a press conference. Union Chair Paruyr Hayrikyan commented on the human rights in Armenia. According to Hayrikyan who used to be the Chair of the Committee on Protection of Human Rights, Armenia has joined almost all the significant international covenants regarding...

Parliament has today discussed the “Law on the Armenian Language” and the issues on protecting the Armenian in general. Parliament’ Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth held special parliamentary hearings on the problem. The scientists, teachers and intellectuals present for the discussion shared the opinion that ”Law on the Armenian Language” is rather liberal and some amendments to it are needed. Besides, a state approach...

On Monday, Union for National Self-determination lost lawsuit against Yerevan municipality. The UNS leader Paruyr Hayrikyan who appeared before the court as plaintiff said the union had filed a motion asking to authorize the rally due to be held at Republic Square on December 10 but denied permission to stage the event on that place and offered another one instead. Municipality official Karine Danielyan,...

On December 10 – Day on Human Rights, “Union for National Self-Determination” had initiated to stage a meeting on the Republic Square. For that purpose it applied to Municipality but was rejected. Municipality suggested holding the demonstration elsewhere. USD leaders have appealed to the Court.

Former MP Gurgen Eghiazaryan held a press conference in Azdak Club. He analyzed “Georgian Syndrome and the Expectations in Transcaucasus”. ”Our neighbor has never behaved like a good neighbor”, former Deputy Minister of National Security started his comments on Georgia this way. Why? According to him, that country has problems, which it tries to solve harmful to Armenia. ”4 years ago the Authorities of Georgia acted cynically to move...

”New Times” Party founded by Aram Karapetyan, turned not to be registered in the Justice Ministry and hasn’t yet claimed for registration. After the Law on Parties had been approved only 59 out of 114 political parties produced applications to the Ministry for re-registration. 7 claims for re-registration have been ignored till now reasoning lack of correspondence with Law. 2 of those refused, “Social-Democrat Hnckak Party” and “Social...

Yerevan Press Club supports Mass Media Bill while National Press Club opposed. “In August of this year, we realized that it would be easier to work on the Mass Media Bill proposed by Justice Ministry instead of making alterations in ours”, Yerevan Press Club Chair Boris Navasardyan said at news conference on Wednesday. Navasardyan upheld the bill saying despite some shortcomings it is good enough to be put in force. He said international...

On Wednesday, Chair of National Press Club Narine Mkrtchyan, speaking at a news conference, said the club intended to demand Justice Deputy Minister Ashot Abovyan’s and the head of parliamentary commission on culture Hranush Hakobyan’s resignation accusing the above-mentioned officials of deceiving the parliament and the community by saying influential international organizations have given approval...

Armenian lawmakers passed a bill on amendments to Minimal Salary Law. Under the amended law, subsistence salary of 13,000 drams will be paid from January1, 2004. Before that, minimal salary set by law was 1,000 dram but, in fact, a 5,000-dram subsistence salary is being paid in the republic.

Armenian National Assembly embarked on the 2004 state budget discussion today. Lawmakers didn’t manage to complete the budget discussion, because today’s session was the last in this year. A special session is to convene till the end of the year.

Parliament has today discussed the bill on “Alternative Military Service”. Bill author Vahan Hovhannissyan announced that during the period from the first stage to the second he had received about 50 suggestions from MPs, which had mainly been taken into account and amendments had been made. The main change is the following: the clause, under which only the members of the religious organizations...

One more political party, “New Times” was set up. The first sitting of it took place. 773 founder-representatives of the party unanimously elected party founder Aram Karapetyan the chairman. Before being elected he announced that a serious party was established in the Armenian political field. ”The way we have passed within 10 months proves that many have shared the thoughts, which candidate for presidency Aram Karapetyan has voiced. In...

Bill on Television and Radio has today been put to discussion in Parliament. The bill, authored by MP Vazgen Khachikyan, will be put to voting tomorrow. Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan appeared with a report taking into account that Parliament finishes 2003’ activity this week. He confessed that none of more than 100 bills approved was on culture sphere, and there’s no bill on it on Parliament...