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PACE'S MONITORING GROUP ARRIVED IN YEREVAN

OCTOBER 15. A PACE monitoring group arrived in Yerevan today. As ARMINFO has learned from vice chairman of the parliamentary commission for foreign relations Armen Roustamyan, the PACE representatives will monitor the fulfillment of Armenia's obligations to the Council of Europe. The members of the group will meet with Armenia's leadership and representatives of Karabakh. Besides, they are going to visit the Noubarashen jail to meet with those imprisoned for religious reasons as well as representatives of NGOs, religions organizations and media. The next day the PACE representatives will hold negotiations with head of the OSCE Yerevan Office, ambassador Roy Reeve. Roustamyan also said the visit will last till Oct 19.-0-

KARABAKH'S SIFAN 54-55 POST WAS FIRED FROM THE AZERI SIDE

OCTOBER 15. The Sifan 54-55 post situated on the Karabakh-Azeri frontier was fired from the Azeri side for over three hours the Oct 13-14 night, ARMINFO has learned from the headquarters of the Karabakh army. Mines of the enemy exploded on the section by the Oct 14 morning. The Karabakh side did not open any fire in response.-0-

ARMENIA'S GOVERNMENT TO INFORM PUBLIC OF NEW COMMUNICATION PRICE PROPOSED BY "ARMENTEL"

OCTOBER 15.On October 3, the telecommunication monopolist, "ArmenTel" company, submitted to the government a new package of prices for a wide range of services, but the government is not ready to inform the public yet. The government will express its attitude within a month, Minister of Justice David Harutiunian told a press conference. It is to be noted that earlier Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukian told journalists that the changes of communication prices proposed by "ArmenTel" were not considerable. -0-

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT AND ARMENTEL CANNOT REACH ANY AGREEMENT

OCTOBER 15. The introduction of a per-minute payment system for local calls in Sept 1, 2001 by the "ArmenTel" company is illegal, and the company will be called to account, in the event of switching off the telephone subscribers' phones for not paying the per-minute. Armenian Minister of Justice David Haroutiunyan once more made this statement today at a press-conference, without specifying concrete arguments against the "ArmenTel" company, to which the government has been referring. Haroutiunyan pointed out that the telephone subscribers must claim damages. It is noticeable that before Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication assured journalists that the government will support the interests of telephone subscribers in the court. The monthly subscriber's fee is 900 drams for physical persons, taking into account the value-added tax and 2700 drams for legal persons. Manukyan called the population not to pay more. The "ArmenTel" company told ARMINFO correspondent that the per-minute payment system has been already introduced in Sept 1, and the relevant accounts will be presented to subscribers in a few next weeks.

GOVERNMENT REDUCES TELEPHONE NUMBERS

OCTOBER 15. According to the ointradepartmental instructions, the number of telephones at ministries and establishments has sharply reduced during the last month. At his today's meeting with journalists Minister of Justice David Harutiunian pointed out that the instructions have nothing in common with the introduction of the per minute billing system by the "ArmenTel" company. This measure is accounted for by the government's intention to reduce the budget expenses on the telephone conversations, the minister said. According to the data at the disposal of the ARMINFO agency, the Ministry of Industry and Trade disconnected 50 telephone number during one month. No information on other ministries has been received.

HEAD OF TERRORISTS CALLED PROSECUTION FOR WITHDRAWING CHARGE AND STOPPING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AGAINST DEFENDANTS OF CASE ON TERRORIST ACT IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT.

OCTOBER 15. The head of terrorists Nairi Hunanyan called the prosecution for withdrawing the charge and stopping the criminal prosecution against defendants of the case on terrorist act carried out in the Armenian parliament in 1999. He said that he had acted out of extreme necessity and explained the reasons of his deed many times. Hunanyan reiterated he was guided by his desire to save the Armenian people from threat of dictatorship. He called the prosecution to carefully examine the case and testimonies of all the defendants. The court made a decision not to attach Hunanyan's call into the case. Hunanyan said he will apply with another call to the Armenian people through his lawyer. The another six defendants were returned to the session hall today. Hunanyan's protocols of the judicial questioning beginning from June 13 will be announced for them.

17 PARLIAMENTARIANS REQUEST PROSECUTOR GENERAL NOT TO TAKE INTO CUSTODY MUSHEGH SAGHATELIAN

OCTOBER 15. 17 members of the Armenian National Assembly requested the prosecutor general of Armenia as well as the minor court of the Yerevan Center and Nork-Marash districts not to take into custody the former head of Department for Execution of Criminal Sentences Mushegh Saghatelian, the member of the "Hayastan" (Armenia) deputy group Ghukas Ulikhanian told ARMINFO. But the deputies' request proved ineffective. As it was reported earlier, by the court decision Mushegh Saghatelian was taken into custody today. He is charged with preparing a false denunciation, disclosing state secret, official abuse with the use of violence, use of false documents and hooliganism.

PRISONER AGHABEK HAYRAPETYAN, ACCUSED OF MURDER OF TWO FELLOW SERVICEMEN, CONTINUES HIS HUNGER STRIKE

OCTOBER 15. It's over 100 days that the prisoner Aghabek Hayrapetyan, condemned for the murder of two his fellow servicemen. The chairman of the "Fund against legal arbitrariness" Larisa Alaverdyan informed an ARMINFO correspondent. According to her, today she met with the Prosecutor General of Armenia Aram Tamazyan. In the course of the meeting they came to agreement that a lawyer of the fund will examine the materials of Hayrapetyan's case, after which the organization will give its estimation of the degree of the guilt of the latter. Alaverdyan al;so informed that a conference of specialist doctors was held on Oct 12, which recognized the state of the prisoner as very serious. It should be noted that Hayrapetyan announces a hunger strike already three times. He protests against, from his point of view, unjust verdict. Hayrapetyan has been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment.

MUSHEGH SAGHATELIAN'S ARREST IS OF POLITICAL CHARACTER

OCTOBER 15.The arrest of the former head of the Department for Execution of Criminal Sentences Mushegh Saghatelian is of exclusively political character, say the statement of the "Republic" party provided to ARMINFO. The authors of the statement believe that the country's authorities are thus trying to exert pressure on the opposition and take it under their control. "The authorities are trying to discredit the opposition and neutralize its attempts aimed at the impeachment of President Robert Kocharian," the statement says. The members of the "Republic" party believe that the authorities' target are the political forces that "are consistent in completely disclosing the terrorist act in the Armenian Parliament on October 27, 1999, and are expressing their viewpoint on the authorities' current policy." According to the party, Saghatelian has become a hostage in the authorities' hands. "We will not yield to provocations and will get Saghatelian released by law." As it was reported earlier, Saghatelian was taken into custody by the court decision. He is charged with a number of serious crimes. Saghatelian had repeatedly stated that he had the information on the organizers of the terrorist act in the Parliament and brought accusations against the president and the minister of defense. It is to be noted that Saghatelian is a member of the "Republic" party.