Public debate project may fail, paper saysApril 18, 2012 - 16:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia Liberty media outlet received a grant by U.S.-based National Democracy Institute (NDI) to organize public debates between parliamentary candidates in different constituencies. The debates were expected to be held in Congress Hotel in Yerevan, Hraparak paper reports. However, this project may fail because almost no candidate including the opposition ones agrees to participate in public debates. Hraparak contacted Radio Liberty director Aghasi Yenokyan to find out whether the issue of debates has finally failed or not. Yenokyan replied this is not true for now because negotiations with candidates are still underway. According to the paper, the process may be delayed until May 4, since candidates in Armenia prefer to sit alone and answer questions which are agreed upon in advance, while debates may feature awkward questions thus revealing the real capacities of the future deputies. That's why the candidates prefer avoiding “the trouble”, namely the debates, paper says. Top stories The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |