ARKA News Agency – 02/23/2005

ARKA News Agency
Feb 23 2005

RAO `UES Russia’ is satisfied with cooperation with Armenia in the
area of energy development

RA President conducts working meeting with the Chairman of State Real
Estate Cadaster

RA President meets with Renato Bruson

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister receives head of International
Committee of Red Cross Eastern Europe Program

RA President meets with head of UNICEF Yerevan office

RA President extends his condolences in connection with Iran
earthquake

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RAO `UES RUSSIA’ IS SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA IN THE
AREA OF ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

MOSCOW, February 23. /ARKA/. RAO `UES Russia’ is satisfied with
cooperation with Armenia in the area of energy development, as stated
Anatoli Chubays, the Chairman of the Board of RAO `UES Russia’, told
ARKA. `We quite positively evaluate what has been done so far’, he
said. According to Chubays, quite different development stage is
meant here, that is not just electric connection and supplies of
electric power, purchase and sale, but `investments, modernization of
the existing facilities and our management’. `We are oriented on
maximal openness with our partners in respect of potential projects’,
he said. Chubays also noted that RAO `UES Russia’ has no goal in
itself `to fill up the whole region with electric power produced by
the company’. `We move towards you and you-towards us. Both are done
when it’s mutually advantageous. It’s sensible and right’, he said.
In Armenia RAO `UES Russia’ monitors financial inflows of Armenian
Atomic Power Plant and owns Sevan-Hrazdan Hydroelectric Power Plant
(HPP) and Hrazdan Heat Power Plant (HPP).
The financial inflows of APP in September 2003 were transmitted into
trusty management of Russian Inter RAO UES, daughter enterprise of
RAO UES Russia (60% of shares) and Rosenergatom (40%) for 5 years.
International Energetic Corporation CJSC was founded in May, 2003 by
RAO UES Russia for exploitation of Sevan-Hrazdan CJSC passed to
Russia to compensate part of debt for supply of nuclear fuel for
Armenian Atomic Power Plant. Hrazdan HPP was passed to Russia to
partially redeem the state debt of Armenia to Russia. The station was
estimated at $ 31 mnl. It will be managed by an operator appointed by
Russian side. The operator will be determined from the mid of March
2005. A.H. -0 –

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RA PRESIDENT CONDUCTS WORKING MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF STATE REAL
ESTATE CADASTER

YEREVAN, February 23. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian conducted
working meeting with the Chairman of State Real Estate Cadaster Manuk
Vardanian. Vardanian represented the president present stage of the
process of legalization of illegal constructions. Kocharian assigned
to legally regulate the process of registration of rights on property
at the line of illegal constructions before the completion of the
development of legal package on hypothec.
According to press release, the President also assigned to regulate
the process of conduction of auctions and contests on sale or lease
of lands. The offered changes will include the agreement on deal,
plan of land plot. Given document must be signed not only by the
winner of the contest, but also by the head of the community as
authorized body. L.D. –0 –

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RA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH RENATO BRUSON
YEREVAN, February 23. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian has met
today with the renowned Italian opera singer Renato Bruson. The RA
presidential press service reports that Renato Bruson intends to give
a solo concert in Yerevan as part of the arrangements on the occasion
of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The singer shared
his impressions of Yerevan with the Armenian President, expressed his
admiration by the `Aram Khachatryan’ concert hall and the Armenian
orchestra. Bruson expressed his regret that he is too busy to prolong
his stay in Armenia and get to known the country and its people
better. He said that to fill the gap he considers it worthwhile to
come to Armenia once more, but as a tourist. The Ra President thanked
Renato Bruson for his intention to take part in the commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide and assured him that he will `not miss the
chance to listen to [him]’. P.T. -0–

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ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE OF RED CROSS EASTERN EUROPE PROGRAM

YEREVAN, February 23. /ARKA/. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul
Margaryan received today Head of Program for Eastern Europe of
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Isabel Barras . As
Armenian Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department told ARKA,
during the meeting the sides discussed issues concerning the course
of implementation of arrangements achieved in February 2004 during
Chief Delegate of ICRC in Europe, North and South Americas Beatrice
Megevand-Roggo’s visit to Yerevan.
Margaryan especially stressed the role of ICRC in seeking solutions
for humanitarian problems facing by Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. In
her turn Isabelle Barras informed Armenian Deputy Minister on ICRC’s
future programs. T.M. -0–

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RA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH HEAD OF UNICEF YEREVAN OFFICE

YEREVAN, February 23. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian has met
today with the newly appointed Head of the UNICEF Yerevan office
Sheldon Yett. The RA presidential press service reports that Mr. Yett
informed the Armenian President that a $17mln. 5-year cooperation
program is shortly to be signed with the RA Government. Yett made a
high appraisal of the reforms in Armenia’s public health and
education spheres.
In his turn, the RA President expressed satisfaction with the current
cooperation, voicing a hope that it will reach a higher level under
Sheldon Yett’s direction. P.T. -0–

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RA PRESIDENT EXTENDS HIS CONDOLENCES IN CONNECTION WITH IRAN
EARTHQUAKE

YEREVAN, February 23. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian extended
his condolences to Mohammad Khatami, the President of Islamic
Republic of Iran in connection with the destructive earthquake in
Iran. As the Press Service of RA President told ARKA, the message, in
particular, states `With deep sorrow we received the news of the
earthquake which took the lives of many people. Please, accept my
sincere condolences on behalf of Armenian Government and me
personally’. L.V.–0–