LONG-TERM STABILIZATION OF AMD REAL EXCHANGE RATE RECORDED FIRST
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. Long-term stabilization of the AMD real
exchange rate has the for the first time been recorded in Armenia this
year, President of the RA Central Bank Tigran Sargsyan told a press
conference. He pointed out that the influence of this factor on
exports and import must be considered in this aspect. The CB President
restrained from making forecasts for the second half of 2004. Sargsyan
added that last year, though the AMD nominal exchange rate got
stabilized its devaluation was 10 per cent.
The CB is currently conducting inspections at commercial banks to
reveal violations of foreign currency position and performed but not
registered operations. The CB President pointed out that no violations
of foreign currency positions have bee recorded today. According to
him, in conditions of the slump of the USD exchange rate during the
last two weeks, losses were sustained by the banks with long currency
position, most Armenian bank being such. However, despite the serious
situation on the currency market, banks were uninterruptedly serving
their clients. Sargsyan pointed out that the daily volume of financial
operations performed by Armenia’s banks is 50mln. USD.
In general, the CB accounted for the situation that developed on the
country’s currency market by the fact that US dollar flows to Armenia
in the first half of 2004 exceeded last year’s index by
50%. Specifically, transfers from abroad through commercial banks
totaled 300mln. USD in the first half of 2004 as against 200mln. USD
last year. A sharp increase in the number of transfers by means of the
international payment systems Western Union and Money Gram was
recorded. Sargsyan stressed that the liberalization of Russian
legislation (one person can take out of the country up to 10,000 USD)
allowed a sharp increase in the currency flows to Armenia, which
covers the funds received from the “Lincy” Foundation (56-60mln. USD)
last year. According to Sargsyan, the rate of increase in the volume
of transfers will be maintained until the end of the year, which is
confirmed by the much better state of the current account than was
forecast.
The CB intends to publish its position on the advisability of
long-term structural reforms. Specifically, the RA Central Bank will
present its point of view of the necessity of introducing instruments
of neutralization of long-term influence, if the AMD stabilization
continues.

GERARD L.GAFESCHYAN MUSEUM OF MODERN ART WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN
ARMENIA IN 2007
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. Some $25 mln will be used for construction
of Gerard L.Gafeschyan Museum of Modern Art included in the Cascade
architectural complex. The construction is supposed to be started in
the autumn of the current year.
Talking to ARMINFO, PR-Coordinator of the Fund of Gasfeschyan Museum
Sirvard Karapetyan said that the construction of the upper area of the
Cascade, which is just partially repaired also depends on selection of
a definite type of architectural project of the museum. She said that
many design-orgnaizations have responded to the tender announced by
the fund, presenting their project of construction. The final results
of the tender will be announced in autumn, before beginning of the
construction works. It should be noted that one of the tender
participants, a Viennese COOP HIMMELBLAU, proposed that the museum be
constructed on the upper space of the complex. Two other companies
from the USA and Holland will complete with this company at the final
stage of the tender. The construction is supposed to be completed by
2006-2007.
A collection of the treasures of a prominent billionaire, Armenian by
origin, Gerard L.Gafeschyan (Glass Art), the glass works by such
artists as Stanislav Libenskiy and Yaroslava Brikhtova will be
exhibited at the Museum. The billionaire will present part of his
collections of the works of a famous Brazilian sculptor Fernando
Botero, whose work “Cat” made from black bronze decorates the lower
area of the Cascade.
It should be noted that Gafeschyan allocated $30 mln for constriction
of the Museum and exploitation of the whole complex Cascade, part of
these funds will be used to replace 20 escalators with new ones.

CSTO’s INTERFERENCE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH, GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICTS
INADVISABLE: NIKOLAY BORDYUZHA
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. Interfering in such delicate matters as
relations between conflicting parties is inadvisable for the CSTO,
Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha stated in his interview to “Rosbalt”,
responding to a question about the CSTO’s participation in the
settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.
According to him, the CSTO is not directly involved. “The CSTO
member-state are. Russia is involved in settling both conflicts,”
Bordyuzha said. According to him, professionals who know the problem
and have dealt with for many years must work there. “The only thing we
do is thoroughly following the trends to properly respond if it comes
to hostilities,” he said. According to him, the organization’s task is
being ready to propose to the Collective Security Council political
measures to neutralize negative consequences.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONE OF MOST ANCIENT GRAINS FOUND IN SOUTH CAUCASUS AND MIDDLE ASIA
FOUND IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. While exploring the rocks in the canyon of
the river Kasakh a group of Armenian and French archaeologists has
found a monument of mesolite (epipaleolite) quite unique for the South
Caucasus and Middle East region, says Boris Gasparyan, the head of the
group, the employee of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of
the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
Found in the Kmlo caves near the village of Apna, Aragatson region,
were not only fragments of obsidian tools but also a wild wheat grain
dating back from a period 10,000-8,000 years ago. If the experts
confirm the age of the grain it will become one of the oldest grains
ever found in the region’s mesolite monuments (11,000-10,000 years
ago).
The discovered cultural layers are well preserved which is a good
opportunity to collect enough scientific materials about the
period. Despite threat of caving-in the archaeologists are going to
continue the excavations. The group consists of three research
teams. Besides the Kmlo caves they are exploring the traces of the man
living in the areas of so called paleo lakes (middle paleolite). There
they have found sites of primitive men who are assumed to do hunting,
fishing and collecting.
Another group is examining the rock paintings found in the cave
Gegamavan I, 1 km of the Kmlo caves. The unique paintings are in ochre
– a substance said to be used only in late eneolite and early bronze
(IV-III). Meanwhile the Gegamavan I paintings date back from
neolite. The neolite man proves to already master the linear drawing
technique. The paintings depict animals mostly deer. So the findings
have shown that the rock painting traditions widely presented in the
mountains of Gegama, Sunik and Aragats are older than they were
thought to be.
The objective of the expedition is to study the ancient history of the
use of obsidian as a tool of the primitive man. Obsidian tools are
widely spread over the territory of historical Armenia and perfectly
characterize social-economic relations of the Stone Age.
The expedition is financed by Gfoeller Foundation (US).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A NUMBER OF EVENTS COMMEMORATING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 90TH ANNIVERSARY TO
BE HELD ABROAD IN 2005
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. A number of events commemorating the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be held abroad in 2005.
A special state commission has already been set up led by Armenia’s
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
The key event will be the Apr 2005 international conference on the
Armenian Genocide. FM Vardan Oskanyan says that the conference will
receive wide response worldwide and many well-known scientists and
politicians will take part in it.

BAKU NEWSPAPER “ECHO” ACCUSES AZERI AMBASSADOR TO UZBEKISTAN OF GOOD
RELATIONS WITH ARMENIANS
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. The Baku newspaper “Echo” “accuses” the
Azeri ambassador to Uzbekistan Aydyn Azimbekov of good relations with
Armenians.
There are certain materials about Azimbekov’s activities in
Tashkent. The newspaper says that during the construction of the new
building of the embassy the windows and doors were made by local
Armenians with whom some embassy employees are good friends. Accusing
Azimbekov of building summer houses for his colleagues for the money
meant for the House of Azerbaijan the author of the article says that
he has the recording of the ambassador’s saying that Armenian children
will visit the House of Azerbaijan.

UPFPA CHAIRMAN GUDRAT HASANGULIYEV CRITICIZES AUTHORITIES
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO-TURAN: The United Popular Front Party of
Azerbaijan will hold in early August a protest action against arrival
of Armenian officers for participation in NATO training courses in
Baku.
UPFPA chairman Gudrat Hasanguliyev said at today’s press conference
that international organizations, particularly NATO, insist on arrival
of Armenian representatives in Baku. Thus, NATO demonstrates
“disrespect” of Azeri nation and state. “This is aimed at forcing the
nation of Azerbaijan to yield to the existing situation and forget
about Nagorno Karabakh”, said Hasanguliyev.
He also criticized the position of the leadership of
Azerbaijan. According to Hasanguliyev, the Head of State expresses
readiness to liberate the occupied territories by military methods, if
no peace solution is found. However, the Head of State does not
specify when it will happen – under the current regime or 20-30 years
after, ironizes Hasanguliyev.
He also charged the authorities with refusal to register his party. He
considers this is aimed at preventing his followers from participation
in municipal elections.
As for the upcoming elections, gaps in electoral legislation may call
in question the holding of municipal elections in Baku, Sumgayit and
Ganja. Hasaguliyev complained that his inquiry on the matter to the
leadership of the Parliament is remaining unanswered.–

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
23 July 2004
Foreign Minister Oskanian Receives Thailand-Armenia House of
Representatives Friendship Group

On 23 July, Minister Oskanian had a meeting with members of
Thailand-Armenia House of Representatives Friendship Group of the
Kingdom of Thailand. The Group was headed by Senator S. Kulcharoen.
During the meeting, the parties discussed fostering cooperation
between the inter-parliamentary groups of Armenia and Thailand and
increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
Minister Oskanian stressed the importance of closer economic ties
between Armenia and Thailand and expressed hope that the visit of Thai
parliamentary delegation to Armenia will render new quality to the
friendly ties and bilateral relations of the two countries.
Mr. Norayr Der-Kevorkian, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Thailand, also
participated in the meeting.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
23 July 2004
Foreign Minister Oskanian Receives Joint Mission of US German Marshall
Fund and Project on Transitional Democracies
Minister Oskanian received a joint mission of the German Marshall Fund
(GMF) of the US and the Project on Transitional Democracies (PTD) on
22 July.
On the same day, GMF-PTD mission members met with the President of
Armenia and Deputy Minister of Defense. On 23 July, the mission
visited Stepanakert to meet with the Nagorno Karabagh authorities.
The objective of the mission is to study the history of Nagorno
Karabagh conflict and its consequences and obtain the views and
positions of leaders of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
The mission, convened in the framework of a joint GMF-PTD Project on
the Resolution of Frozen Conflicts in Europe, aims at informing lead
experts and decision makers in Washington and Brussels on the Karabagh
conflict, thus encouraging interested governments to render support
for the settlement of the conflict.
In addition to the above issues, the program of the mission included
discussions on regional development.
The mission will present its findings to senior officials of the US
Administration and Congress.

ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN COMMITTED SUICIDE IN PENZA RUSSIAN CITY
27.07.2004 13:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A citizen of Armenia has committed suicide in Penza
Russian city by jumping out of the window of his suite, situated on
the 5-th floor of Russia Hotel. As reported by Interfax news agency,
the tragedy occurred July 26 at about 9 a.m. Resulting from the fall
the man got numerous fractures and died in the ambulance car. The
37-year-old entrepreneur from Yerevan had lived in Russia Hotel for a
week. Criminal proceedings are instituted on the occasion of the
suicide, the causes are being investigated.