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Guards In Baku Square Make Pressure On Journalists

Representatives of the Ministry for  Emergency Situations and “Azenerzhi”, which are taking guard of the Flag Square, made a moral pressure on a group of journalists who arrived to clarify the reason for the lowering the flag. They refuse to answer the question why the flag has been lowered and rudely push aside the journalists from the square. “This is a state object and it is not allowed to photograph it!” cried the big fellow in the form of employee of “Azenerzhi”, and demanded that a passing police car arrested the journalists. However, the policeman turned to be cleverer that the security of “Azenerzhi” and sent him away.

The behavior of the representatives of the Ministry for Emergency Situations was very rude and defiant, they demanded not to approach the area and do not shoot. They have demonstrated a willingness to use force if the journalists do not go away. The press workers demanded not to disturb them to do their work and told that the Flag Square is not a closed object, and that the prohibition of the Ministry and “Azenerzhi” was absolutely illegal. However, all requirements of the journalists did not have effect. And no one can give an answer to the question why the Flag Square is guarded by the representatives of Azenerzhi. 

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Journalists Become Targets In Egypt

Journalists covering the revolt against President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt have found themselves the targets of widespread anger and suspicion in an apparently coordinated campaign that is intended to stifle the flow of news that could further undermine the government. 

No news organization seemed exempt from the rage, which escalated as the week wore on. Whether from Western or Arab media, television networks or wire services, newspapers or photo syndicates, journalists were chased through the streets and had their equipment stolen or smashed. Some were beaten so badly that they required hospital treatment.

If the aim was to suppress coverage, the actions were somewhat effective. Major television networks from around the world were largely unable to broadcast from Tahrir Square, the center of antigovernment protests, on Thursday. The Egyptian state news agency had earlier asked foreign reporters and crews to move out of the hotels near the square.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it had received nearly 100 reports of damage to news organization property or of individuals being detained or attacked.

Source: The New York Times

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Law is Law. And the Citizens Prefer to Enjoy Their Kindred Relations

Armine Arakelyan, a citizen of Kentron district of Yerevan who pays conscientiously the rates for public services demanded by Kentron condominium every month, wanted once to know what the money collected of the inhabitants is spent on. So she applied to the condominium with a questionnaire made by herself receiving however a denial.

Without delay Armine applied to the court and brought in an action against Kentron condominium.

“It is my right to know what the money is spent on, and if the condominium administration act legally, it won’t be difficult for them to hand information to the habitants,” says Armine.

The court verdict was for Arakelyan and Kentron condominium was obliged to give the information demanded by the citizen, however the condominium managing staff didn’t change their opinion.

“Are we the law victims?” asks Robert Galoyan, head of Kentron condominium. “If so, let all the habitants come and demand an account. And we’ll leave our job and answer their questions. Our state budget is created of the citizens’ taxes. Go and ask the president to give an account. Say that it’s your right and see whether he gives information or not.”

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Attention. Obstetric Expenses Cared by the Government in Armenia

For already five months a state program of delivery aid is conducted in Armenia, according to which each pregnant woman is given an identity card to enjoy any kind of medical services related to pregnancy and obstetric free of charge. But according to the complaints addressed to the special hot line of the Ministry of Healthcare illegal collection of money is still continued at maternity hospitals.

According to the Ministry in July of this year 60 people out of 140 applying to the hot line complained of the medical institutions’ work realizing obstetric.

Karine Saribekyan, head of Mother-Baby Healthcare Department of the Ministry of Healthcare says people have complained of both extortion and confusion caused at medical institutions, particularly in regard to free and paid services.

“The woman is offered a paid ward, telling as if the free ones are busy. Moreover sometimes it is offered also to share a paid ward with another patient. This is illegal and people should be aware of this. In this respect many complaints were especially received to the address of the medical center “Shengavit”,” says Karine Saribekyan.

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Village Head’s Amiability at the Expanse of Peasants’ Property

There is a disputable problem in Ayrum village of Lori region which hasn’t been solved for years because the village management has rather means than courage to struggle against the authoritative officials of the region and the republic.

The village has about 400 hectare land, more than half being in hands of former and present officials. And not only the reserve, but also the peasants’ properties are concerned.

“If the peasant’s land is taken away and given to the rich, how will the peasant feel?” asked Manvel Vardanyan and gave the answer to his question, “For already several years I can’t stand for my own land. My living conditions are terrible.” And he told that once he used to have an orchard with 80 trees in it. The new “owners” of his own land have rooted them up and now are sowing corn instead.

These events began 10 years ago. Then the mayor of Lori region was Henrik Kochinyan (executing from 1998 to 2007). Some of the peasants unable to cultivate their lands, as well as to pay the taxes once saw their lands to be cultivated by the mayor’s brothers. (One of them, Hovhannes Kochinyan, is a former parliamentarian of the National Assembly, the other one – Haykaz Kochinyan – the head of neighboring village Shnogh.) The peasants mentioned also Artush Boshyan’s name, head of the RA Police Department of Alaverdi, as a famous village land user.

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“I Don’t Want to Give Them My Property”

“Every day President Sargsyan speaks on developing the small and medium size enterprises. Now we are the representatives of that branch, but we are thrown away and the huge area is given to one owner for money making and for only an oligarch getting rich. Maybe later on we would work for him as a slave. But why? I don’t want to give them my property,” says Nikolay Melikyan.

Nikolay is one among those 28 businessmen, who have privatized properties near Botanic Park, an area conterminous to Acharyan Avenue and Tsarav Aghbyur Street. Here there are shops of building materials and car spares, a lot of service centers, but their existence is no longer under threat.

On April 21, 2005 the government came to a decision to separate the mentioned area, 9400square meters, for state needs – for construction. The mayor was assigned to provide realization of the construction projects from 2005 to 2009.

For this reason in July 2006 mayor Yervand Zakharyan adopted Decision 1119-A and assigned the “Investment Project Implementation Unit of Yerevan Construction” (PIU) to realize the construction projects.

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