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COMING-UP OF EVENTS FROM ARMINFO JANUARY 24, 2003 1. At noon - the chief of the staff of the presidential candidate Vazgen Manoukyan, Alexander Boutayev, gives a press-conference in the office of the National-Democratic Union party, 12 Abovyan St. 2. At noon - the presidential candidate Aram Karapetyan gives a press-conference at the National Press-Club, 2 Arshakounyats St. (10 floor). 3. At noon - a presentation dedicated to the 6th anniversary of the cooperation between the Rizo Kagaku corporation (Japan) and the Limush company at the Business Center of AUA, 9 Alek Manoukyan St. 4. At noon - presentation of grants to scientists at Armenia's National Academy of Sciences, 24 Bagramyan Avenue. 5. At 4 pm - the celebration of the 80th anniversary of military commissariats in the hall of AUA, 40 Bagramyan Avenue 6. At 3 pm - presidential candidate, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, Aram Sargsyan, gives a press-conference at the House of Journalists of Armenia. At 11 am - a meeting in the SME Development Center in the reception House of the Armenian Government, 1 Melik-Adamyan St. Armenia's President, presidential candidate Robert Kocharyan visits the Ararat region.
The leader of the Hanrapetoutyun party, Aram Sargsyan, presidential
candidate makes a visit to the Gegharkunik region.
VLADIMIR PUTIN ANNOUNCED FREE TRADE ZONE IN CIS TERRITORY FACTUALLY
COMPLETED
He said there are a number of goods of special interests for the
budget formation for Russia, taking into account its to some extent,
"one-sided" export of power raw materials. There are agreements
almost with all the CIS member-states, only VAT exemptions are made
on gas and oil operations, Putin said. Bilateral agreements have been
concluded with all these states, except the Ukraine, the president
said. He pointed out the state budget of Russia receives $600-650 mln
less annually for lack of such an agreement. Putin explained that in
conformity with the agreements signed, inside the country, supplier
will not be charged VAT, he will pay it to the country he exports gas
and oil to. The president said it is economically justified, but only
if economy is diversified. It must lead to mutual increase of the
flow of goods, Russian president said. However, all this do not
apply to the Ukraine. He said according to specialists, no counter
flow of goods is expected from that country. In this connection,
Putin said Russia's position at the given moment necessitates
agreements with the partners on mutual consideration of the
interests.
LUCERNE CONFERENCE PROPOSED AZERBAIJAN TO OPEN BOUNDARY WITH ARMENIA
JANUARY 23. It is very pity that Azebraijan and Armenia do not trade and cooperate with each other. If they cooperated and opened the boundary, I am sure, donors and international banking establishments would help them with additional loans. Swiss Finance Minister Kaspar Villiger made this statement at an international conference in Lucerne, Swissinfo reported. Among the conference participants were Georiga, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. All them were given a choice: "opening of boundary in exchange for foreign finances." Probably, trying to soften the blow, the Swiss minister proposed cooperating and exchanging "goods and services," stipulating that he understands and admits the fact that several states have deep political disputes.
The conference participants stressed the relations of Azerbaijan and
Armenia, pointing out that the Karabakh conflict broke out
immediately after these states received independence in 1991.
Although the armistice was concluded in three years, the breach of
relations hit both parties.
ALL NATURAL PERSONS OF ARMENIA TO DECLARE THEIR PROPERTY, INCOMES
AND EXPENSES
JANUARY 23. All the natural persons of Armenia will declare their property, incomes and expenses. The corresponding bill was approved today during the sitting of the Government of Armenia. ARMINFO was informed in the press service of the government, now the bill will be sent to the parliament of the country. The document proceeds from the state program in introduction of the system of declaration of property, incomes and expenses of the citizens of Armenia. The bill envisions gradual implementation of the program, expanding different sections of society. The executive power, introducing the system of declaration of property, incomes and expenses of natural persons, intends to strengthen the control over citizens' fulfilling their obligations to the state budget, reduction of shadow economy and formation of mechanisms on struggle against financial abuses.
During the discussions interested ministries and offices were
instructed to make their proposals to the Ministry of Finances and
Economy, as well as to Taxation service of Armenia for generalizing
the draft document.
ELECTION GUIDE PUBLISHED
JANUARY 23. On the threshold of the Feb 19 presidential election in Armenia the Caucasian Institute of Mass Media has published an "Election Guide" in Armenian, Russian and English to serve the Armenian and foreign journalists who are coming to Armenia to cover the election. According to the deputy director of the institute and the editor of the book, Mark Grigoryan, the guide was published in 3,000 copies with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development. Grigoryan said that the authors faced a very pressing deadline as the pre-electoral programs of most presidential candidates were not ready at the time the book was published. For example, that of Pres.Kocharyan was promulgated only Dec 21.
The guide has four chapters and gives concise information about
Armenia, its political structure and freedom of speech situation. It
also contains excerpts from Armenia's legislation referring
presideNtial election, particularly, articles from the Constitution,
Electoral Code, the laws on mass media. Then follow the biographies
and pre-electoral programs of the presidential candidates.
COURT SESSION OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST "IRAVUNK" NEWSPAPER POSTPONED
TO JANUARY 30
JANUARY 23. Because Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan is very busy, the hearing of the legal action of President of the "Armenian Traders" OJSC Arthur Gyurjyan against the "Iravunk" newpaper was postponed to Jan 30, 2003, Editor-in-Chief of the "Iravunk" newspaper Hovhannes Galajyan told an ARMINFO correspondent.
According to him, the legal action against the newspaper was entered
when the newspaper's editors refused to publish the refutation of the
article "I Promise to Unmask the Investigation Group," based on the
materials of Varouzhan Gyurjyan's criminal case. Gyurjyan was accused
of the organization of the assassination attempt on Armenian MP Melik
Gasparyan. According to Galajyan, after passing the "non guilty"
verdict, Varouzhan Gyurjyan demanded that the newspaper's editors
should publish the refutation. However, Galajyan said he lodged the
claim with the court because the newspaper's editors did not publish
the refutation without having any arguments.
INVESTIGATION OF TIGRAN NAGHDALIAN MURDER CASE SUBJECT OF POLITICAL
SPECULATIONS OF ARMENIA'S AUTHORITIES: ARMEN YEGHYAN
JANUARY 23. The investigation of the assassination of Chairman of the Board of the Armenian Public Television and Radio Tigran Naghdalian has become a subject of the Armenian authorities' political speculations, Coordinator of the "Initiative of Defense of Liberated Territories" organization Armen Yeghyan stated at a press conference held at the office of the "National Unity" party. According to him, 90% of the 25 persons arrested during the first two days after Naghdalian's murder took part in the war of liberation of Nagorny Karabakh and disagree with the Armenian authorities' position on the final settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Yeghyan claimed that the authorities are thus trying to exert pressure on the forces that object to the surrender of the liberated territories around Nagorny Karabakh to Azerbaijan as a compromise. As an example he cited the fact of detention and taking into custody of the organization member, hero of the Karabakh war Sargis Karapetian. In searching Karapetian's house policemen found a fire-arm, which was the reason for his being arrested. According to Yeghyan, Karapetian, who is currently in custody, is being subjected to moral and physical pressure.
Vice-chairman of the Political Council of the "Homeland and Honor"
Grigor Sargssian, and the member of the Union of Socialist Forces and
Intelligentsia Azat Arshakyan, who attended the press conference,
were arrested and put to prison for 10 days on a charge of using foul
language and resisting law-enforcers. Sargssian stated that after a
certain judge Margarian charged him with using foul language, adding
"Have a 10-day imprisonment, and we will see...", he [Sargssian]
was subjected to moral pressure for 10 days.
LEVEL OF PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY MUST BE RAISED IN ARMENIA
JANUARY 23. The level of press photography in Armenia must be raised in Armenia, one of the leading press photographers in Armenia Ruben Mangasarian said at a meeting organized as part of the World Press Photo exhibition that opened in Yerevan on January 17. According to him, the level of press photography is low not only in Armenia, but also in Georgia and Azerbaijan. As regards Armenia, Mangasarian pointed out that local newspapers mostly use photos from archives and prefer political topics. Many of them do not even have their own press photographers and make use of services rendered by agencies or Internet sites. Newspapers do not often use the free site created by the Armenian "Patker" Photo Agency in cooperation with the Georgian "Media Center" News Agency and the Azerbaijani "Zerkalo" newspaper. According to Mangasarian, to raise the level of press photography in Armenia, the Caucasian Institute of Mass Media will organize training courses for beginner-press photographers. The meeting was followed by a demonstration of Ruben Mangasarian's short documentary "Superior to All", which is based on the author's works. HEADLINES OF 23 JANUARY
LUCERNE CONFERENCE ON THE CIS-7 INITIATIVE
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JANUARY 23. The formation of the free trade zone in
the CIS territory is "factually completed," Russian President
Vladimir Putin said yesterday at the session of the State Council.
