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FORMER CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY ARAM KARAPETYAN INTENDS TO APPLY TO ARMENIAN CEC DEMANDING RECALCULATION OF VOTES FEBRUARY 27. Talking to ARMINFO today, the former candidate for presidency, Head of the Center of Strategic Initiatives "Prospect" Aram Karapetyan intends to apply to the Armenian Central Electoral Commission for recalculation of the votes at several polling stations in the country.
He said only in case of receiving a negative response of the CEC, it
will be possible speaking of an application to the Constitutional
Court of Armenia. Aram Karapetyan said his participation in the
actions of protest is explained by the lack of trust in the judicial
instances of Armenia. "Since 1991, I cannot remember a case, when the
courts support the opposition," the political scientist said. He
pointed out that the actions of the opposition will continue, as well
as illegal arrestees of their participants by the law-inforcement
bodies. Karapetyan is sure that the incumbent president will use all
the administrative resources to minimize the increasing influence of
the opposition on the wide sections of the population.
OFFICIAL BAKU NOT AGAINST RE-ELECTION OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT
KOCHARYAN
FEBRUARY 27. Official Baku is not against re-election of the Armenian President, the citizen of Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan, said Chief of the Public and Political Department of the Executive Staff of the Azeri President Ali Hasanov.
As regards the fact that the Armenian people has a freedom of choice,
Hasanov said, if the appointment of an Azeri citizen meets the
juridical procedures of Armenia, there are no problems at all. He
said Azerbaijan will be guided by the conclusion of experts of
international organizations on the Presidential election in
Armenia.
PRESIDIUM OF ENGINEERING ACADEMY OF ARMENIA ISSUES STATEMENT ON
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
FEBRUARY 27. The Presidium of the Academy of Engineering of Armenia considers inadmissible the "clamor of rallies" that has been raised in Armenia after the first round of the presidential election in Armenia.
In its statement provided to ARMINFO the Presidium of the Academy
points out: "The election campaign must be civilized, with an active
involvement of mass media, organizations of disputes, meetings, press
conferences. The presidential candidates must clearly state their
positions and strategies, which, in the first round, was only done
by the incumbent President Robert Kocharian and Chairman of the
National Unity' party Artashes Geghamian," the statement says.
According to the authors of the statement, the rallies accompanied by
threats addressed to opponents, attacks on shops and other
violations of law, which can be observed now, are incompatible with
the standards of civilized society. The authors of the statement are
confident that the voters will express their will and elect a worthy
president if all the standards of the election campaign are observed
and the presidential election is well organized and fair.
SELF-DETERMINATION UNION YET UNCERTAIN AS TO WHOM TO SUPPORT DURING
RUN-OFF ELECTION
FEBRUARY 27. The Self-Determination Union party has not yet decided as to whom to support during the Mar 5 run-off election. In its today's statement SDU says that the first round of the election was unfair. Hence, its results must preferably be declared invalid and a new election must be appointed. But this is possible only if one of the presidential candidates files an official complaint and if the Constitutional Court approves it. The conduct of a repeated election will be justified only if no more rigging is made and the falsifiers of the first round are severely punished. Despite active discussions SDU's regional offices have not yet decided whom of the two candidates to support. Of the 38 members of SDU's board 11 have given preference to Robert Kocharyan, 8 to Stepan Demirtchyan, the rest still being uncertain. That's why the party has decided to keep neutral for the time being. At the same time, neutrality is not typical of SDU as it has always had a clear position on any political issue. That's why the party continues negotiating with both candidates. Meanwhile, it has certain demands to both of them. Robert Kocharyan must release the people arrested during the recent unsanctioned rallies, must punish the falsifiers of the first round and must publicly explain why the process of constitutional reforms is being delayed. In his turn, Stepan Demirtchyan must bring clarity to his program and decide who exactly comprises his team. SDU will give preference to whomever starts first to fulfil these demands.
As for Artashes Geghamyan, whom SDU supported during the first round,
"he must file a complaint to the Constitutional Court, no matter how
long it will take the CC to consider it." "We perfectly realize what
kind of CC we have today, but we have no alternative for the time
being."-
GOVERNMENT APPROVES LIST OF DIPLOMATIC POSTS
FEBRUARY 27. In conformity with the Law "On diplomatic service" the Armenian Government has approved the list of diplomatic posts today.
The Government's press service reports that the Government has also
approved the proposal for the signing of the Agreement "On
guaranteed equal conditions for general education to citizens of the
CIS countries and on social protection pupils and teachers of
educational institutions." The Government also made a decision
re-organizing the "Mkhitar Sebastasi" education complex into a state
noncommercial organization.
ROBERT KOCHARIAN MEETS WITH ACTIVE MEMBERS OF HIS ELECTION STAFFS
FEBRUARY 27. Armenia's President Robert Kocharian, who is running for the second term of presidency, has held meetings with active members of a number of his election staffs.
The presidential press service reports that Robert Kocharian met with
active members of his election staffs in Yerevan's Achapnyak,
Malatia-Sebastia, Shengavit and Center communities.
MEETING OF GEORGIAN, ARMENIAN AND AZERI PARLIAMENTARIANS STILL
NOT RESUMED
FEBRUARY 27. ARMINFO-BLACK SEA PRESS. The meeting in Tbilisi of the Georgian, Armenian and Azeri parliamentarians that was interrupted yesterday because of a conflict between the Azeri and Armenian delegations, has not been resumed so far. The Georgian parliamentarians continue consulting with their Armenian and Azeri counterparts, a BLACK SEA PRESS reporter was informed at the parliamentary press center. The Armenian delegation demands that the Azeri colleagues apologize in written form for provoking a conflict during the yesterday's meeting. They claim that the Azeris had violated the agreement achieved at the previous meeting of parliamentarians under which neither the Azeri nor the Armenian parties were to touch upon the sore points at the South Caucasian Initiative meetings.
Today at 16:00 p.m. the "Tbilisi-Marriott" hotel is holding a press
conference of the participants of the meeting. Yesterday after
opening the conference "South Caucasus and Europe", the Azeri
parliamentary delegation asked the participants of the forum to pay
tribute to the memory of residents of the town of Hojala, the victims
of the 26 February 1992 hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh, with a
minute of silence. The Armenian delegation left the conference-hall
protesting against the proposal. The meeting was interrupted.-
UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA REFUTES ACCUSATIONS AGAINST REPUBLICAN
PREFECTS CONCERNING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN MASS FALSIFICATIONS DURING
ELECTORAL PROCESS
FEBRUARY 27. The Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) categorically refutes accusations of some political forces and representatives of the media concerning the participation of the prefects of 930 republican communities in the falsifications at the first round of the presidential election, says the UAR statement received by ARMINFO.
According to the same source, the conclusions of some political
forces concerning the violation of the electoral process are based on
one or two individual facts. The authors of the document say that
they highly assess the positive changes observed in the republic
during the last years. In particular, they say that some reforms are
being implemented in the spheres of the local self-government bodies
and the power decentralization, which, in its turn, is creating
conditions for the development of the local democracy. "Being members
of different parties, we are willing to see the results of the
economic and constitutional reforms, the development of Armenia's
democracy and its joining the European Family," the statement
says.
IN MAR UNIBANK STARTS ATTRACTING TWO TYPES OF JUBILEE DEPOSITS WITH
HIGHER INTEREST RATES
According to Unibank's executive officer Vardan Atayan, the bank's
ordinary interest rates range from 7 to 12% for AMD deposits, from 4
to 10.5% for USD deposits, and from 3 to 9.5% for EUR ones. The rates
depend on the amount and term of deposits as well as on the interest
repayment frequency.
The first time Unibank used this tactics was last X-mas, when it made
surprise to its investors. Dec 1-Jan 1 it attracted 6-month deposits
at 11.5% (in case of monthly repayment of interests) and at 12% (one
time redemption) against former 9% and 9.5% respectively. This
allowed the bank to increase its deposit base by $600,000 by the end
of the fiscal year.
It should be noted that Unibank represents the Union of Armenians of
Russia. It has been working in Armenia since Oct 9 2001. Its
authorized capital totals $5 mln.
UNIBANK PLANS TO ISSUE CURRENCY DISCOUNT BONDS
FEBRUARY 27. In one month Unibank is going to issue one-year currency discount bonds for a total of $1-2 mln at 11% a.p.. According to the bank's executive officer Vardan Atayan, the nominal value of the bonds will most probably be $1,000. Depending on the situation on the financial market, the emitter-bank envisages redeeming a bond upon its presentation by the holder.
"We hope for successful circulation of the bonds on the secondary
stock market," Atayan said.
It should be noted that the first currency discount bonds were issued
by Armenian Development Bank Feb 3 2003.
CEC APPROVES ORDER OF REGISTRATION OF PROXIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
AND BLOCS IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
FEBRUARY 27. The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia has approved the order of registration of proxies of the political parties and blocs that are nominated for Parliament by the ticket election system.
Under the CEC's decision, identity cards are issued to proxies of
political parties and blocs nominated for the Parliament by the
ticket election system after the party lists are registered by the
CEC, and authorized representatives of the said parties and blocs
submit applications. Proxy cards are issued within five days after
submission of applications to the CEC. A proxy is considered
officially registered after the CEC approves and issues a proxy card
to him.
ARMENIA'S CEC APPROVES ORDER OF REGISTRATION OF PROXIES OF CANDIDATES
FOR DEPUTIES BY MAJORITARIAN SYSTEM
FEBRUARY 27. Armenia's Central Electoral Commission approved today the order of registering proxies of candidates for deputies of the Armenian parliament by majoritarian system. According to the order approved, the proxies receive sealed certificates from their respective district ECs five days after their registration and filing of applications by their action groups. A proxy is considered registered after his certificate is approved by a corresponding district EC and after this certificate is submitted to the plenipotentiary representative of the proxy's action group, the candidate himself or his representative.
The CEC also approved the forms of the certificates of parties and
blocs running in the elections by proportional system, of the
certificates of candidates for deputies by majoritarian system and of
the certificates of their plenipotentiary representatives.
CEC PROLONGS POWERS OF DISTRICT ELECTION COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 27. The Central Electoral Commission has approved a decision prolonging the powers of district election commissions for the presidential run-off election. Under the decision, the powers of district election commissions expires seven days after the official announcement of the run-off results, on March 18. If the run-off results are appealed against in court, the powers of the election commission will expire after the court verdict comes into force. ARMENIAN FILM "DOCUMENTALIST" AMONG FIVE BEST FILMS OF CIS AND BALTIC STATES AT "NIKA" FILMFESTIVAL The film of the Armenian film-maker Haroutyun Khachatryan "Documentalist" together with the five best films from the Ukraine, Latvia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will be presented for the nomination "Best Film of CIS and Baltic States" at the 16th "Nika" filmfestival held in Moscow yesterday. According to RIA "Novosti," President of the Pan-Russian Cinematographic Art Academy Eldar Ryazanov and "Nika"'s Artistic Director Yuli Gusman pointed out during a press conference that it is the first time that the festival has exceeded the limits of the Cinema House. The contest program will be shown at all city cultural houses. It should be noted that a change in the voting procedure has been made. Some 564 members of the Pan-Russian Cinematographic Art Academy will vote to determine the owner of the oldest national film award. CRIMINAL BRANCH OF ANM IS IN POWER NOW FEBRUARY 25. The criminal branch of the ex ruling party, Armenian National Movement, is currently in power in Armenia, member of the ANM Border David Shahnazaryan said at a press-conference today. He said that this list is topped by Pres.Kocharyan, who was ANM member not long ago. This fact is a blemish on ANM's history and Shahnazaryan's own reputation as it was he who solicited for Kocharyan. Besides, Kocharyan does not represent any concrete political force. "Such a personality is leading Armenia to political deformation, unlike the other presidential candidate, Stepan Demirtchyan, the responsibility for whose actions will be assumed by the People's Party of Armenia." HEADLINES OF 27 FEBRUARY
UNIBANK's REP. OFFICE IN MOSCOW WILL START OPERATING WITHIN A MONTH
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FEBRUARY 27. In Mar Unibank is going to start
attracting new types of jubilee call deposits with higher interest
rates: a one-month victory-deposit dedicated to the 100th birthday of
Soviet marshal Iosif Bagramyan (6% a.p.) and a one-mont
culture-deposit on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Soviet
composer Aram Khachatouryan (8% a.p.).
The new deposits will allow to increase the bank's deposit base by
$1-2 mln by July 2002.
