| June 2 |
Speaking at an informal
press conference in Yerevan, Parliamentary Speaker Khosrov Harutiunian
states that President Robert Kocharian is against calls by some political
groups for early, pre-term elections for a new parliament and prefers
to keep the current parliament in place through the end of its four-year
term which expires in the summer of 1999. The speaker adds that Kocharian
shares his view that the current parliament should only be dissolved
in the event of an exceptional case of "political crisis"
and that it is highly unlikely that the legislature will be able to
pass a new election law anytime soon. |
| June 2-3 |
Prospects for the course
of the international mediation effort of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to reach a negotiated solution to
the Nagorno Karabagh conflict brighten following separate meetings
between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and European Union Commissioner
for Foreign Relations Hans van den Broek and U.S. State Department
special envoy Stephen Sestanovich in Yerevan. One of the main topics
discussed is the merits of a "package" solution in the negotiations
which would address a majority of the issues, including political
status, over the current OSCE proposal of a staged solution. These
meetings follow a recent meeting in Beirut between French President
Jacques Chirac and Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian during
which the French president expressed his support for the comprehensive
"package" approach to the negotiations. Azerbaijani presidential
adviser Vafa Guluzade is also reported to be reconsidering such an
approach so long as it preserves Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
|
| June 5 |
President Kocharian joins
his counterparts from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova,
Romania, Turkey and Ukraine for a summit of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) organization in Yalta. The summit participants
adopt a declaration and charter defining the BSEC as a regional economic
organization and discuss transforming the Black Sea region into a
free-trade zone to foster greater economic and trade relations between
member states |
| June 6 |
President Kocharian presents
a formal nine-point program on governmental reform to the recently
created commission empowered to study constitutional reform. According
to the terms of the president's proposals, the broad powers of the
presidency would be subject to new restrictions, the government would
be significantly decentralized, greater access to the country's constitutional
court would be ensured, and the current law banning dual citizenship
would be abolished. Kocharian states that he is seeking to cede more
power to the parliament and the judiciary and will specifically restrict
the president's broad power to dissolve parliament and end the current
mandatory presidential endorsement necessary for new government decisions.
The proposals are to be presented in a national referendum following
parliamentary approval. |
| June 6-7 |
According to new government
statistics released by the economics ministry, the Armenian economy
grew by 6.4 percent for the first three months of the year. Industrial
output expanded by 4.3 percent and foreign investment reached new
record levels of $100 million. The government statistics also show
inflation of 8 percent in late March before dropping by 2 percent
in April, with annual inflation projected at a manageable ten percent
for the year. Although exports have risen by 58 percent to a level
of $56.7 million, the country is still faced with a significant trade
deficit due to a burdensome level of imports cited at $201 million.
The government also notes substantial improvement in tax collection
as revenues have increased by 84 percent over the same period last
year. |
| June 8 |
Following controversial
statements made on national television by Haik Babukhanian, the editor
of the Union of Constitutional Rights newspaper "Iravunk"
a few days earlier, parliamentary speaker Khosrov Harutiunian files
libel charges against him. Babukhanian's televised statements included
condemnations of the parliament as being "95 percent criminal"
and was elected in 1995 only through "illegal means." The
prosecutor-general's office then summons Babukhanian to their offices
for questioning in the course of the libel proceedings. Babukhanian
responds by threatening to stage a strong defense by calling members
of the opposition electoral commission and their allies who, he alleges,
were "beaten up and intimated" during their work in the
1995 parliamentary elections. The chairman of the Union of Constitutional
rights party, Hrant Khachatrian, issues a statement strongly defending
Babukhanian and dismisses the libel charges as "outrageous."
Former presidential candidate Khachatrian supported Kocharian for
president after losing in the first round.
Nagorno Karabagh President Arkady Gukasyan announces his acceptance
of the recent resignation of Prime Minister Leonard Petrosian. The
president refuses to comment on rumors that he will assume the duties
of prime minister himself, but states that the resignation stems from
differences over economic policy and is not related to any power struggle
within the Karabagh government. Defense Minister Samvel Babayan states
that he would not accept the post of prime minister if it is offered
to him, but insists that he will not remain indifferent to the composition
of a new cabinet, warning that he will resign unless "young,
experienced and skilled people" are appointed to the new cabinet.
The defense minister adds that his brother Garen has resigned his
post as interior minister to end rumors of an internal power struggle.
A prisoner exchange with Azerbaijan is canceled after the two sides
are unable to agree on terms. Azerbaijani officials had proposed exchanging
Armenian civilians for Azerbaijani POWs, but this proposal was rejected
by Nagorno Karabagh officials. |
| June 11 |
Speaking on the floor
of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Frank Pallone urges
the Minsk Group chairs to adopt a new approach to the Karabagh peace
talks by rejecting failed efforts to impose Azerbaijani control over
Karabagh. Pallone also expresses concern over recent reports of Turkey's
delivery of NATO Howitzer artillery and F-16 fighter aircraft to Azerbaijan.
Pallone is co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
and recently traveled to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh with Congressman
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI). |
| June 12 |
Armenian refugees from
the Shahumian region of Nagorno Karabagh meet in Yerevan with embassy
personnel of the three countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group.
The Armenian refugees are seeking support for repatriation to their
homes that they were forced to leave in June 1991 to escape attacking
Azerbaijani OMON forces. |
| June 13 |
Deputy Prime Minister
Jirair Boghossian is named as Nagorno Karabagh's new Prime Minister
to replace Leonard Petrosian , who resigned earlier in the month.
Gukasyan announces the appointment at a news conference in Stepanakert
and is joined by Parliamentary Speaker Oleg Yessayan and Defense Minister
Samvel Babayan in an effort to show solidarity amongst Karabagh's
political leaders. |
| June 17 |
: A delegation comprising
members from several commissions of the Council of Europe arrive in
Stepanakert for a two-day visit. The delegation meets with Karabagh
government officials as well as representatives of non-governmental
organizations. The main focus of the delegation's visit, however,
will be to assess the current state of negotiations and to determine
the Karabagh government's position on the peace process. |
| June 19 |
A press conference is
held in Yerevan to announce the founding of a new political party,
the "Rule of Law State Party." According to one of its founders,
Albert Baghdasarian, the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on
State and Legal Affairs committee, the new party will seek legal representation
for all citizens and will work toward ensuring the rule of law. Baghdasarian
adds that the development of democracy in Armenia remains hindered
by a series of contradictory laws and by the general public's ignorance
of their civic rights and liberties.
President Kocharian meets with visiting officials from the Council
of Europe and tells them that Armenia's integration into European
structures and organizations is one of his government's top priorities.
The president notes that Armenia is striving to become the most stable
and democratic country in the region. That same day, a demonstration
of some 2500 participants is held in Yerevan to protest the planned
sale of the country's brandy distillery to the French group Pernon-Ricard.
President Kocharian issues a decree establishing a new consultative
body to participate in the government's formulation of policies and
legislation. This new body, called a special consultative council,
is to be comprised of members of all major political parties and groups,
including those without representation in parliament. The council's
decisions and recommendations will be non-binding, but the creation
of the council fulfills a significant campaign pledge by Kocharian
to introduce greater transparency to the governmental decision making
and policy formulation processes. |
| June 20 |
The director of the Medzamor
nuclear power plant, Suren Azatian, meets with a visiting delegation
of Russian nuclear experts and technicians in Yerevan to review current
bilateral efforts to ensure the plant's operational safety system.
Although there have been no reported accidents or crises since the
plant was reopened three years ago, Russian technical personnel continue
to assist in the routine repair and waste disposal functions necessary
for the operation of the Medzamor facility.
The Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS), Boris Berezovskii, meets with Kocharian during a visit to Yerevan.
The CIS official discuses the situation in Nagorno Karabagh, stating
that the "oil factor" will have little influence on the
course of current mediation efforts and reviews plans for greater
cooperation between Armenia and the CIS and the expansion of economic
and commercial relations. Berezovskii also promises to conduct a personal
fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabagh sometime later this summer.
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| June 22-23 |
Reporting on the visit
of Armenian-American billionaire Kirk Kerkorian to Armenia, President
Kocharian announces that Kerkorian has pledged an additional $100
million in new donations. The additional moneys will be used for the
construction of a major highway from the southern Armenian Meghri
district on the Iranian border to the Georgian ports of Batumi and
Poti and for the rebuilding of the country's second largest city,
Gyumri, in the northern earthquake-damaged area of the country. Kerkorian
also reviews the status of the $100 million entrepreneurial investment
fund he launched last year, which seeks to provide financial assistance
to new businesses in the form of low-interest loans. |
| June 23 |
Nagorno Karabagh
President Arkady Gukasyan issues a decree modifying the governmental
structure of the republic into a new system of eleven ministries and
four "state departments." The new structure will alter the
current ministry of finance and economy into a new ministry of economic
and structural reforms endowed with supervisory powers over privatization
and state investment. The governmental department for tax administration
and collection is also to be independent of the finance ministry.
In a related decree, the president calls on newly appointed Prime
Minister Jirair Poghosian to form a new government within a month.
This move is seen as a serious attempt to focus on economic reform
and to spur growth in Nagorno Karabagh. |
| June 26 |
Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian responds to criticism over his recent remarks suggesting
the possible unification of Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia by dismissing
it as an Azerbaijani attempt to garner international support by taking
the remarks out of context. The foreign minister adds that Azerbaijan
refused to address his offer of establishing direct talks between
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabagh and states that Armenia holds
no preconditions for such talks. |
| June 29 |
Finance and Economy Minister
Eduard Sandoyan presents a package of draft legislation to parliament
calling for an expansion of the existing set of income taxes for small
businesses. Under the current law, much of the country's small businesses
enjoy preferential rates of income tax in the form of a system of
"fixed payments," whereby such enterprises such as open-air
markets, service sector firms and kiosks are subject to a set payment
depending on their size and location. The minister claims that the
new legislation will improve the efficiency and scope of tax collection
and enforcement and will significantly raise new revenue for the government.
In an announcement issued by the Nagorno Karabagh government, local
elections are to be held throughout the republic on September 27th.
The announcement is followed by a governmental directive instructing
all local and municipal bodies to assist the Central Election Commission
in preparations for the voting. |
| June 30 |
Argentine President Carlos
Menem arrives in Yerevan for a one-day visit and meets with President
Robert Kocharian. The two presidents discuss proposals for increased
bilateral economic cooperation and sign an agreement on "the
fundamentals of friendly relations." Additional agreements are
signed covering cooperation in nuclear energy, health care, culture
and education. The Argentine president also reviews the planned investment
by his country's Bridas energy company in a project to construct a
natural gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia. Argentina has a sizable
and politically active Armenian community and President Kocharian
visited Argentina during his tenure as president of Nagorno Karabagh.
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