“When President Robert Kocharian stated in 2002 that he had created 40,000 new jobs in Armenia, to many this figure appeared strange and unreal,” “Haykakan Zhamanak” reminds. “Now, however, it turns out that this figure does not correspond to the reality not due to having been inflated, but due to having been understated, because the number of jobs created over the last few years is more than two million.”
The paper says this is by no means an exaggeration, explaining: “The years of Kocharian’s power have shown to us all that going to elections, participating in the elections of the president, members of parliament, prefects or local council members is not a civil duty, but a job for which every voter is paid. “Of course, these jobs created by Kocharian also have a shortcoming. This work is not permanent, and the salary within five years makes 10,000 to 25,000 drams.”
Meanwhile, the paper thinks that the advantage of these jobs is that “our voters going to work use free transportation.” “Haykakan Zhamanak’s” conclusion is as follows: “If some people have inexhaustible reserves of oil or gas, then our people have an inexhaustible reserve of votes, and it is this resource that can bring us to a new level of development.”
All print media reflect on the recent local elections, describing the atmosphere in which particularly mayoral elections were held.
“168 Zham” writes: “Sunday’s local elections in Gyumri passed in an extremely tense atmosphere. But contrary to expectations, during the whole day of the ballot, no serious incidents were registered here.”
“Or had the law-enforcers applied serious measures in advance?” the paper queries. “Like in other towns in Gyumri the wings of power were rivals here. The coalition in Gyumri was also divided into two wings. Nevertheless, all the mechanisms of vote rigging employed during the presidential and parliamentary elections were applied here as well.”
“Vote in Gyumri was unprecedented for local elections by its tension, the number of inaccuracies in the voter lists and the overt nature of distributed electoral bribes,” “Aravot” writes in its article entitled “A Psychopath Has Been Reelected Mayor”.
Another common subject for all print media’s Tuesday edition is the upcoming constitutional referendum.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” discusses the constitution provision regarding the election of Yerevan’s mayor, which is now an appointed post. The paper writes referring to the recent statement of Yerevan’s mayor urging Yerevan residents to vote for the constitutional amendments that also will make their mayor an elected post: “Yervand Zakharian is wasting efforts. He should do his campaign not before Yerevan residents, but before the one who will decide who is going to be Yerevan’s mayor. In this case, as it was before, it will be Robert Kocharian even if the amendments are adopted.”
“That is, nothing will change in Zakharian’s career if constitutional changes are adopted,” the paper concludes
“Iravunk” writes: “It is not “Yes” and “No” that are important to the United States.” An informed source in the country’s Foreign Ministry tells “Iravunk” that the White House has issued a stark warning to the Armenian authorities that the United States is more concerned with the ways of achieving “Yes” or “No”.
“That is, the referendum must pass in accordance with democratic standards and the Armenian authorities must ensure the unimpeded right of citizens to make their choice,” “Iravunk” concludes.
(Shakeh Avoyan)
The paper says this is by no means an exaggeration, explaining: “The years of Kocharian’s power have shown to us all that going to elections, participating in the elections of the president, members of parliament, prefects or local council members is not a civil duty, but a job for which every voter is paid. “Of course, these jobs created by Kocharian also have a shortcoming. This work is not permanent, and the salary within five years makes 10,000 to 25,000 drams.”
Meanwhile, the paper thinks that the advantage of these jobs is that “our voters going to work use free transportation.” “Haykakan Zhamanak’s” conclusion is as follows: “If some people have inexhaustible reserves of oil or gas, then our people have an inexhaustible reserve of votes, and it is this resource that can bring us to a new level of development.”
All print media reflect on the recent local elections, describing the atmosphere in which particularly mayoral elections were held.
“168 Zham” writes: “Sunday’s local elections in Gyumri passed in an extremely tense atmosphere. But contrary to expectations, during the whole day of the ballot, no serious incidents were registered here.”
“Or had the law-enforcers applied serious measures in advance?” the paper queries. “Like in other towns in Gyumri the wings of power were rivals here. The coalition in Gyumri was also divided into two wings. Nevertheless, all the mechanisms of vote rigging employed during the presidential and parliamentary elections were applied here as well.”
“Vote in Gyumri was unprecedented for local elections by its tension, the number of inaccuracies in the voter lists and the overt nature of distributed electoral bribes,” “Aravot” writes in its article entitled “A Psychopath Has Been Reelected Mayor”.
Another common subject for all print media’s Tuesday edition is the upcoming constitutional referendum.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” discusses the constitution provision regarding the election of Yerevan’s mayor, which is now an appointed post. The paper writes referring to the recent statement of Yerevan’s mayor urging Yerevan residents to vote for the constitutional amendments that also will make their mayor an elected post: “Yervand Zakharian is wasting efforts. He should do his campaign not before Yerevan residents, but before the one who will decide who is going to be Yerevan’s mayor. In this case, as it was before, it will be Robert Kocharian even if the amendments are adopted.”
“That is, nothing will change in Zakharian’s career if constitutional changes are adopted,” the paper concludes
“Iravunk” writes: “It is not “Yes” and “No” that are important to the United States.” An informed source in the country’s Foreign Ministry tells “Iravunk” that the White House has issued a stark warning to the Armenian authorities that the United States is more concerned with the ways of achieving “Yes” or “No”.
“That is, the referendum must pass in accordance with democratic standards and the Armenian authorities must ensure the unimpeded right of citizens to make their choice,” “Iravunk” concludes.
(Shakeh Avoyan)