The problem of resettlement of refugees in Armenia is not solved even 15 years later the great stream of them.12.000 families are still homeless. The problem has become more serious as the latter-day owners of the temporary dwellings began evicting the homeless refugees. Government itself caused the problem. No legal paper was given to the refugees at resettlement. The people, having recently privatized...

“Yerevan’ Centre for Environmental Security and Control” guards the ecological state of Yerevan, and Municipal Directorate of Ecology Ministry controls it “, Khajak Karayan, Centre Head told the journalists at Journalists’ House. He evaluates the ecological state of Yerevan as satisfying. “Municipal service began working more intensively, there is progress”. Centre periodically organises visits. As a result of them, 1250 cases for...

“Let the orphanage graduates procure dwelling by their own salaries!” , this standpoint was made today at Ministry of Social Welfare, where the state program for providing orphanage graduates with living quarters. The state budget has envisaged 200 million drams to implement “State Support to the Graduates of Trusteeship Organizations of Armenian Orphanages” program. Armenian Minister of Social Welfare Razmik Martirosyan informed other...

Armenian Ministry of Social Welfare has been executing “When September Comes” program for the second year. The program was worked out for the children, left out of secondary schools because of social conditions, and the families, granted allowances and having 3 and more schoolchildren. The press release says on the whole the program helps to ease the problems of more than 17.000 families, supporting about 57.000 children. Relief sorts are...

Today Gagik Harutyunyan, Chairman of Constitutional Court held a press conference, at which he announced that under CC decision, Stepan Demirchyan’s application was ignored. By the same decision, it was stated “Armenian president was elected by election results” , Harutyunyan said. He announced if the dubious votes for the winning candidate were added to the votes of the other, “they would have no impact” . Why did CC choose the version...

October 27 trial didn’t take place. Judge Samvel Uzunyan recovered at last and appeared to the Court. But defendant Vram Galstyan was ill. The insulator has informed the Court that Galstyan “displays strange behaviour, aggressiveness, complains of heartaches and receives proper treatment” . The trial was postponed by an uncertain period. Trial participants will be informed about restart. Advocate Oleg Yunoshev, the representative of Aram...

Today the retailers held a protest action near Yerevan Municipality. They assure Municipality prohibits them to work, to earn the daily bread . Protestors made suggestions: “If our leaders are unable to maintain us, we have no other alternative but just leaving Armenia. We are not protected in our own country and we are hungry. We are sure we will live better abroad. Why do they make us leave...

CC decided to leave unchanged CEC March 11 decision, under which Robert Kocharyan is declared the president of Republic of Armenia . CC suggested Parliament and Armenian president to make an amendment to the Law on “Referendum” within a year, and then to “conduct a trust referendum” . Viktor Dallakyan, Stepan Demirchyan’s representative to CC, refused commenting on the “trust referendum”. “I’m not obliged to explain any nonsense...

In connection with the Police Day of Armenia policemen were today marching along the republic stadium after Vazgen Sargssyan, making photos, accepting congratulations and advises of high rankers. They also promised “at the parliamentary elections to keep protecting social order with the same resoluteness as when at the presidential ones” . Arsen Barseghyan, assistant of orderly for Gugark Police...

On April 15 president Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on making amendments to the presidential decree of March, 16, 2002, on “Approval of the Structure of Armenian Government”. Under the decree, Ministry of State Property Management will be reorganised as a Governmental Directorate for State Property Management . The decree also says before the reforms for state management system are over,...

Constitutional Court has been surrounded by policemen since morning. CC apprehended that the people outside might somehow hamper discussion on the suit over declaring invalid the presidential elections in 2003 . At 10:00 AM CC member Hrant Nazaryan reported there is no difference between the computer version of list for proxies in CC and the original of the same list in CEC. Consequently CEC...

Armenian Foreign Ministry and CE are to hold a two-day joint seminar “Mass Media and Elections: Influence on Public Choice”. MPs, experts and media representatives participate in the seminar. Journalists are going to discuss how media outlets have been highlighting presidential elections in the course of election campaigning, what were the obstacles they have faced and how they’ve overcome them. Taking into account imminent parliamentary...

On April 11 at the meeting in Armenian Agency for Development in formation on recent period of activity of the agency was given. Tom Rulland, head of development program for markets of small and medium enterprises of Armenian agriculture, reported on the results of the exhibition in Arab Emirates. Program worker Armen Matosyan said Gulf countries are interested in foodstuffs of Armenian agriculture....

“Any country having wish for development must bring in the system of individual codes” , Andranik Saratikyan, head of “Nemrut” Information and Analysis Centre, thinks. Ministry of Social Welfare invited journalists to a seminar to increase awareness of bringing in individual codes. According to Mr Saratikyan, introduction of such system proceeds both from the interests of state and citizens. Individual codes will be given to all the...

Larissa Alaverdyan, Chairman of the Fund on “Against Legal Violence” and member of Committee for Human Rights affiliated with Armenian president says works on the problem of the Armenian cemetery in Baku continue . Azeri Authorities aim to pass a way across the cemetery and the issue over remains transfer arose. It was stated contact with Baku Mayor was set and a little Armenian group is expected to be able to visit the cemetery. “We...

On April 11, the International Day of Prisoners of War a measure in Erablur at a Monument of an Unknown Soldier, took place. Union for Missing Liberation Fighters of Armenia has arranged the measure. Union Chair Rima Arakelyan said our sons continue suffering in Azeri prisons and that monument is somewhat of idea and not a cemetery. Representatives of social organisations, families of missing...

Parliament of this convocation turned to be strong enough not to pass the bill on “Mass Information”. For lack of quorum, 43-for, 2-against, 2-abstaining, the bill was not passed in the first reading. Justice Deputy Minister Ashot Abovyan said to journalists: “Journalism aggressiveness won” and added he had nothing to lose: “It’s up to you. You can not pass it if you don’t want to” . But Tigran Torossyan informed us Government...

The rally arranged by Opposition took place at Matenadaran today. Despite the heavy rain, a few thousands of people gathered there. Opposition leaders – Albert Bazeyan, Aram Karapetyan made speeches. Aram Karapetyan said in particular: “We provided CEC decision behind barbed wires. We don’t advise Constitutional Court to make an anti-popular verdict because we can do so as they themselves make decisions behind wires” . Communist Khoren...

Today everything was done in order that citizens of Armenia may remember Robert Kocharyan. Police Department of Information and Relations with Public informed traffic on the streets neighbouring Republic Square would be stopped . But what was happening along Yerevan streets was surprising for everyone. Since 9:00 AM conveyance means have been prohibited to drive to Republic Square. It was also impossible...

It has again been proved today power in Armenia depends on policemen. They used all the means possible to block those marching from Matenadaran to Republic Square. Robert Kocharyan hadn’t yet put his hand on Holy Bible and Constitution to read out the inaugural address when the policemen began beating the unarmed citizens with rubber truncheons. Even Arshak Sadoyan, Aramayis Barseghyan etc, members...

On April 10 the bill on “Mass Information” will again be put to the vote in Parliament. National Press Club is holding a protest action with “No Censorship!” motto that will start on April 10 at 11:30 AM from Baghramyan entrance of Parliament building. National Press Club

Crowded rally took place today in front of presidential residence. Rally participants, the “Yerevan Electrotransport” employees, demanded repayment of their salaries for 7 months. They are on strike the 6th consecutive day. The company’s financial difficulties have begun 2 years ago. The problems are being repeatedly discussed but the discussions produced little effect. Their solution has brought the employees nothing but frequent change...

After the rally today at Matenadaran the IA bodies arrested 5 men. Names of 3 are known - Vartan Khachatryan, Arsham Gazaryan /Republic Party/ and Hrach Hambardzumyan /Sevan structure of People's Party of Armenia/. By the way, women managed to snatch some men from the hands of the policemen or else the number of those arrested would be more. The women having organised the rally are sure the arests will continue at night as well.

“Mr Kocharyan, if You don’t come to reason, the next president will be a woman” , women announced at the rally held on the occasion of the Holiday on Motherhood and Beauty. Hot topic of the day, People’s Party suit in CC, demanding to declare invalid the second round of the presidential elections, was referred to. Women had made an address to Constitutional Court, demanding it to make a just verdict. They also informed that Armenian women...