Voting in the 15 October Azerbaijan presidential election was generally well administered in most polling stations but the overall election process still fell short of international standards in several respects. International observers noted a number of irregularities in the counting and tabulation. These are the conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) in Baku, deployed...

”Power in Armenia is seized, and the present regime is responsible for the situation in the country”, Albert Bazeyan, “Republic” Party Chair, announced at the conference before the meeting. He posed a rhetorical question: ”Have the powers that became authoritative with “Let’s change our life!”, “Let’s build a country of law!” mottoes changed our life or are they going to build a law country? No, we think”. Bazeyan said...

MPs Albert Bazeyan and Aram Sargssyan talked about the issue on Nuclear Power Station at the journalists’ request during the conference of “Justice” Bloc. Bazeyan reminded that the Authorities had assumed the obligation to EU to cease it and promised Russia to hand it for accredited management for 25 years. But a complementary solution was found. On the one hand they promised to close it and...

Ruling Coalition to Embark on 2004 Budget Discussion The schedule of the 2004 budget coming discussions was considered at the ruling coalition’s routine session. It was decided that before putting the budget on the National Assembly floor, the coalition member parties would consider it and make final conclusion. The budget is to be discussed by the coalition on October 20. Macroeconomic indexes...

33 of all registered to vote come to the polling stations. At the moment, all candidates for presidency have already voted and each of them is convinced of his victory. No large-scale election irregularities are recorded.

Armenian Press Club held “2003 Elections in South Caucasus Countries and Impact on the Region’s Processes” two-day seminar in Tsakhkadzor on weekend. Elections in Armenia are already over while in Azerbaijan and Georgia they are to be held soon; Azerbaijan is on presidential election footing and Georgia is preparing for parliamentary ones. “Election gives a good chance to every nation to ensure democratic development and make a step ahead...

On October 10 the 4th special session of People’s Party of Armenia took place in Cinema House. The issue on making the party’ regulations appropriate to the Law on Parties was on the agenda. Before referring to the key point of the agenda, PPA leader Stepan Demirchyan introduced their stances over the political situation. According to him, they aim at consolidation of “Justice” Bloc, and there are no discrepancy or conflicts inside....

MP Albert Bazeyan, who is one of “Republic” party’s leaders and “Justice” parliamentary fraction member, spoke in National Press Club. The fraction is going to come up with a formal proposal of amendments to the Referendum Law to be discussed and voted on in parliament. Then confidence referendum will be held, Bazeyan said. Our correspondent asked Bazeyan to comment on the statement of Constitutional Court’s head that referendum demand...

Justice Union’s MPs speaking today in parliament announced that a rally is to be held by the opposition on October 17 at 17:00. MP Viktor Dallakyan, one of the union’s leaders, said in his speech that Armenia is placed in the list of 49 poorest countries of the world. 80% of the country population is leaving in poverty, 600,000 people are included in family benefits system, 530,000 re pensioners, 114,000 are disabled, 442,000 – orphans....

The issue on recognition of the credentials of the Armenian MPs wasn’t discussed in CE, so powers of Armenia are automatically recognised there. ”I don’t think that all the problems were solved by recognising the credentials. A new process began”, Tigran Torosyan, who was the head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to PACE full session, says. “The new process” in his evaluation refers to practical collaboration with CE and...

The process of the 2 elections in Armenia was talked about at the full session of PACE. Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan commented on it: ”CE stance is known. Naturally, there was no wish to reject it. Of course, both elections fell short to the international standards. But there is willingness for the coming elections to be up to those standards”.

In connection with the trust referendum of the president the public is gradually prepared for the version that the issue might be commented upon by double standard. Constitutional Court Chair Gagik Harutyunyan first made the step-check with “reduction of social resistance”. Later the standpoint spread, saying CC just suggested a decision on trust referendum and didn’t made it. ”Justice” Bloc members don’t accept this version...

”If Turkey is a NATO’ member since 1952, does it mean that it is allowed to do everything? Must one forget vandalism that country has committed towards its neighbours and to consider it a democratic country?”, the Armenian journalists voiced their dissatisfaction to NATO representatives at the seminar on “NATO and Security Prospects in Armenia”. It is obvious that the Armenian public can’t tolerate Armenia’s membership to NATO...

Ramkavar-Azarakan party held a press conference on Saturday to make public its two statements. The first statement is related to the 1988-1991 pogroms in Azerbaijan against Armenians. The second one concerns Armenian-Turkish border opening. The party Co-chair Harutyun Arakelyan noted that Azeri authorities as well as the opposition used anti-Armenian propaganda in their election campaigns. ...

Armenian Liberal-Democratic Union’s leader Seyran Avagyan spoke on the party’s objectives at the press conference held today. Avagyan said Liberal-Democrats intend to focus their activity on the party construction and composition. He also said despite the fact that not a single Liberal-Democrats’ candidate has been elected in the parliament, the union would continue struggling to put into reality its program. The party is eager to co-operate...

If a country doesn’t want to keep aloof, it must co-operate with NATO. One can sum up the seminar on “NATO and Security Prospects in Armenia” this way. NATO representatives having visited Armenia set themselves tasks to find attitude of Armenian Media representatives towards NATO. Before becoming aware of the standpoints of Armenian journalists, Despina Ino-Afentul, worker of NATO’ Department on Information and Relations with the Public,...

In connection with Teachers’ Day for contribution in education sphere under Robert Kocharyan’s October 2 decree some teachers of various districts of Armenia were decorated with Movses Khorenatsi medal. A group of teachers were conferred upon honorary title of a teacher. On October 3 Robert Kocharyan handed them the high state awards. He said that reforms in education sphere are in process...

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”Arthur Baghdasaryan is the courtesan of Robert Kocharyan”, journalist Vardan Vardanyan announced at today’ press conference in Press National Club. Besides the above-said, Vardanyan also made a group of responsible statements. ”Parliament Speaker is a liar. Justice Deputy Minister Ashot Abovyan and Parliament’ Education and Science Committee Chair Hranush Hakobyan are liars, too”. Passing the Law on “Mass Information”...

Today Parliament passed the Law on “Mass Information” through the first stage . 64 MPs voted for the Law, 10 against it and 1 MP abstained from voting. 14 MPs didn’t partake in the voting. Only a part of “Justice” Bloc boycotted voting. All the “National Unity”’ MPs were those having voted against the Law.

National Assembly members embarked on Mass Media Bill discussion today. The law on mass media being in force since October 8, 1991 needed to be brought to correspondence with European standards. Provisions of the new draft law don’t allow freedom of speech abuse. The bill specifies right to take legal action against journalists for libelling. This prompted discontent of considerable number of...

Robert Kocharyan intends to tour India and Romania by the end of the year, said President’s Press Secretary Ashot Kocharyan at the press conference held Tuesday. He said Armenian President as well plans to visit Brussels to meet with high-level officials. President’s Press Secretary spoke on results of the CIS summit in Yalta. In his words, the Yalta summit was unprecedented event because of...

Today Parliament has been trying to approve the agenda on 3-day sittings for 1,5 hours. The issue regarded including the bill over “Mass Information” on agenda of the 3-day sittings. ”Justice” Bloc in the person of Arshak Sadoyan, Viktor Dallakyan and Shavarsh Kocharyan, called not to enter the issue upon the agenda. Moreover, Press National Club suggests an alternative bill, guarantying freedom and independence of the press activity....