Russian general denies reports he was detained in Georgia – 1
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
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19/05/2006 19:14

TBILISI, May 19 (RIA Novosti) – General Valery Yevnevich, a deputy chief
commander of Russia’s land troops, played down speculation Friday that he had
been detained by Georgian military police earlier in the day.
“I am fulfilling the objectives I have been set,” Yevnevich said. “I have
faced no travel problems in Georgia.”
Aleko Sukhitashvili, chief of Georgia’s military police, said the general and
officers accompanying him had not been detained.
But Russia’s Foreign Ministry said police had stopped Yevnevich’s car near
the town of Gori in eastern Georgia, but after he had been identified the car
had been allowed to proceed.
“I am traveling quietly to Tbilisi [Georgia’s capital],” said Yevnevich, who
oversaw the withdrawal of military hardware from the Russian base in
Georgia’s Akhalkalaki.
The pullout from Akhalkalaki, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border
with NATO-member Turkey, began May 15.
Under a March 31 agreement between Russia and Georgia, Russian troops are to
leave two Soviet-era military bases in Georgia by 2008.

House Subcommittee maintains military aid parity between Armenia and
Azerbaijan

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 13:00

Early reports from Capitol Hill sources indicate that the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations approved by voice
vote to maintain military assistance parity between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, despite the Bush Administration’s request to break the
parity agreement and provide 40% more in assistance to Azerbaijan,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Sources on Capitol Hill reported that the key foreign aid panel also
allocated $62 million in US aid for Armenia and $5 million for Nagorno
Karabagh for fiscal year (FY) 2007. The amount represents a $12
million increase over President Bush’s FY 2007 budget request, but is
lower than last year’s appropriation of $75 million. The Subcommittee
also rejected efforts by Azerbaijan’s lobbyists to weaken Section 907
restrictions on US assistance to Azerbaijan, due to its ongoing
blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.

Overall, the Subcommittee approved $21.3 billion in foreign aid
spending, an increase of $600 million over last year’s budget.

“We commend the members of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee for
contributing to the continued stability of the Caucasus by maintaining
parity in military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan and fighting back
attempts to further weaken Section 907,” stated Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. “We also appreciate the efforts of our
friends to increase Armenia’s assistance above the level proposed by
the President and to provide $5 million in aid to Nagorno Karabagh. We
look forward to action by the Senate and later in conference committee
– to bring assistance to Armenia to at least last year’s figure of $75
million,” added Hamparian.

Military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan will include $3.5million
in foreign military finance (FMF) and $790,000 in International
Military and Education Training (IMET). Economic assistance to
Azerbaijan was set at $29 million, $1 million morethan the
Administration’s budget request.

GOOD LUCK ARMENIA!!! GOOD LUCK ANDRE!!!

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 14:30

Everyone’s attention is still centered on `Eurovision’ annual song
contest. Today the final of the contest will be held in Athens. 14
other finalists will compete for the first place together with the 10
semi finalists who qualified for the final.

`Eurovision-2006′ is not over yet, but it has already hit a record
with the number of journalists accredited to highlight the event. The
financial expenses exceed 12 million Euros. More than one million was
spent to secure the sound and light effects. 2 000 policemen guarantee
the security of the participants. The viewers try to guess the winner
even before the end of the contest. Bets equal to 300 thousand Euros
have been made at bookmaker’s offices.

During these days `Radiolur’ has received a lot of letters from
Andre’s fans in different sites of the world. A group of Armenian
young people from Salonik tell they are looking forward to Andre’s
entry this night. They gathered in Hovakimyan Hall to cast their votes
for the representative of Armenia. On behalf of Greek Armenians the
young people express their support for Andre and Armenia in this
important event.

Andre surprised the Europeans, as well. One of the foreign media
reports that Andre surprised and enraptured with his unpredicted show
program.

To remind, up to 20 calls can be made from one telephone number, after
exceeding the number the line will turn off automatically.

Thus, in a few hours it will become known whether the Armenian
tricolor flag will waver on the European screen.

Although the Europeans have already managed to like Andre’s `Without
your love’ song, Armenia’s victory depends on the activeness of
Diaspora Armenians.

We call on Armenians and non-Armenians of Europe, `VOTE FOR ANDRE
TONIGHT.”

`Union for the sake of Armenia’ received warm reception in Artik

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 14:40

Gatherings of regional subdivisions of the `Union for the sake of
Armenia’ Party were held in a number of communities of Yerevan, as
well as in Vanadzor, Sisian, Nor Hachn, Tashir and
Artik. Intellectuals, youth and the NA People’ s Deputy faction
support the newly created party.

Members of the initiative group of Artik subdivision answered the
questions of concern of citizens.

Regional development, improvement of education level in marzes,
organization of high-quality medical assistance. These are the major
targets of the ` Union for the sake of Armenia’ Party.

`Accomplishment of these aims will become possible, in case the
socio-economic situation in the country improves, and the party has
great potential for this,’ said Vladimir Badalyan, member of the
People’s Deputy faction of the National Assembly.

Garnik Isagulyan: No political crisis expected in the country

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 15:00

`There is no crisis in the domestic life of Armenia, and it is not
expected in the future,’ said today Garnik Isagulyan, Adviser to RA
President on National Security, thus disappointing all those who
expect sensational events. The reason is very simple: we enter a
vacation period. And in September-October the political forces will
calmly and peacefully prepare for 2007 parliamentary elections. Garnik
Isagulyan assures that these elections will be held normally, he does
not see grounds for the opposite. So far the Adviser to the President
does not see the groups and political forces that will make an
alliance.

According to Garnik Isaghulyan, what happened to `Orinats Yerkir’
Party was simply the result of disagreements within the coalition, and
should not be presented as an internal crisis. He rejected the talks
that the party was punished for not obeying the President’s Office.

President Kocharyan will not suggest his candidacy for the third term,
Garnik Isagulyan says

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 15:25

President Robert Kocharyan will not suggest his candidacy for the
third term, Adviser to the Presidnet on National Security Garnik
Isagulyan said today in a press conference. Mr. Isagulyan did not
reject, but indirectly excluded the opportunity of Robert Kocharyan’s
occupying the Prime Minister’s position.

As for Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan’s candidacy, Garnik Isagulyan
said he is the most prepared politician in Armenia now, who will
secure the maintenance of the current political line.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian-German intergovernmental consultations to be held in Yerevan

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 11:55

Armenian-German intergovernmental consultations of financial and
technical cooperation will take place today and tomorrow in
Yerevan. It is particularly envisaged to discuss issues of energy,
health, mortgage market and promotion of small and medium-sized
businesses.

>From the Armenian side the Intergovernmental Commission is co-chaired
by Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatryan. The German
co-chair is the Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Rolf
Baldus.

37th World Chess Olympic Games to start in Turin

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 12:10

The 37th World Chess Olympic Games will start today in Turin, which
will be attended also by Armenian chess players. The Armenian men’s
chess team ranks the third in the world. Our major rivals are the
Russian chess players.

The Armenian men’steam comprises Grand Masters Levon Aronyan, Vladimir
Hakobyan, aren Asryan, Smbat Lputyan, Artashes Minasyan and Gabriel
Sargsyan. The women’s team comprises Lilit Lazarian, Elina
Danielyan, Nelli Aghinyan and Siranush Andreasyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

`Museum night’ in Armenia.

ArmRadio.am
20.05.2006 12:17

`Museum night’ action has been declared today in Armenia. From 5 pm. to 1
a.m. thematic events accompanied with musical programs will be organized in
all state museums.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARYAN WILL GET A HIGHER STATUS THAN THAT OF PRESIDENT OR PRIME MINISTER

Lragir.am
20 May 06

Analyses of home political developments highlighting Robert
Kocharyan=80=99s aspirations to hold power are not true. This
sensational statement was made by Garnik Isagulyan, adviser to Robert
Kocharyan, on May 20. He said that the wrong direction of these
analyses is due to not knowing Robert Kocharyan. Garnik Isagulyan
assures that he knows Robert Kocharyan. Isagulyan states that Robert
Kocharyan devoted 20 years of his life to the solution of key issues
for state building, never appeared in a secondary position, was always
among the first. Introducing Kocharyan to the public, Garnik Isagulyan
said this person would never place his personal ambitions above the
interests of the state, and would never act for the sake of his
office.

The reporter of Lragir.am asked Isagulyan if this means that Kocharyan
will not run for the third term or become prime minister. Isagulyan
denied the third term, and for becoming prime minister he said time
will show that those analyses are wrong. Considering the third term
and the office of prime minister impossible, however, Garnik Isagulyan
did not move Robert Kocharyan, who is used to primary positions, to
the background. `I think he will have influence on the Armenian
political thought and in a much higher position than the prime
minister,’ stated Garnik Isagulyan, clarifying that he does not mean
the office. And he leaves the office to Serge Sargsyan. Isagulyan says
he endorses Serge Sargsyan as the successor of the
president. According to Garnik Isagulyan, Serge Sargsyan is the
best-prepared figure in the political life of Armenia, and his
`inheritance’ will help to maintain the present political line of
Armenia.