Month: June 2005

KARABAKH CONFLICT IS A PROBLEM SETTLED LONG AGO: BABKEN ARARKTSYAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 2. ARMINFO. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a problem
settled a long time ago, though there is no document on the settlement,
stated one of ideologists of the Armenian Nation-wide Movement Babken
Ararktsyan at today’s press-conference.
In his opinion, signing Istanbul Charter, Robert Kocharyan was
agreed long ago to solve the problem in the level of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. “No need to expect much from foreign minister
Vardan Oskanyan, he is “unhappy man”, nothing depends on him and
he speak only what he is ordered. The frozen settlement process may
continue very long, Armenia in future also will be out of big energy
projects turning into the region’s appendix and a dump for Russia’s
military-and-technical wastes”, Ararktsyan stated. -r-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXPERT OF VENICE COMMISSION ADVISES ARMENIANS “TO DEMOCRATIZE” THEIR MENTALITY
YEREVAN, JUNE 2. ARMINFO. If the authors of the draft constitutional
amendments of Armenia do not accept the remarks of the Venice
Commission of the Council of Europe, then Venice experts will be very
disappointed and come out with the same strict statement they made
recently. Member of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio stated
after the meeting with the representatives of the ruling coalition
of Armenia, who are the authors of the draft amendments.
Of course, the Venice Commission is not authorized to apply any
sanction against the countries, who does not respect its proposals,
nevertheless, the Council of Europe, European Union and OSCE consider
the opinion of the commission, he stressed. Despite the fact that
the draft amendments was considerably elaborated, three issues are
principal for the Venice Commission – to ensure balance between
the branches of power, independence of judiciary and expansion of
the authorities of local self-government bodies. According to the
Venice expert, the parties has not reached a consensus regarding
these three issues.
Mr. Buquicchio said that the meeting with the representatives of
the coalition was very effective and passed in constructive and
friendly atmosphere. Commenting on the statements of several Armenian
politicians on that the recent statement of the Venice commission was
of a political nature and was aimed to ensure parity between Armenia
and Azerbaijan in CE, Gianni Buquicchio stressed that the statement
contained only political estimation of the draft amendments. At
the same time the Venice expert expressed hope for that a document,
which meets European standards and elaborated in the atmosphere of
political consensus, will be submitted to referendum in October of
this year. He said that the Constitution of Armenia must satisfy all –
firs of all Armenians, then Europeans.
In his turn, Vice Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, Head of the
Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, expressed hope for that the remarks of the European experts
will be accepted. At the same time he said that serious work must be
done for that.

FIRST DEPUTY FM RUSSIA AND EU SPECIAL REP. IN SOUTH
CAUCASUS DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH, GEORGIAN-OSSETIC AND
GEORGIAN-ABKHAZIAN CONFLICTS
YEREVAN, JUNE 4. ARMINFO. First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia
Valeriy Lochinin and EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus
Heikki Talvitie have discussed Nagorno Karabakh, Georgian-Ossetic
and Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts.
According to the web-site of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides
exchanged opinions on the situation in the region, the process of the
above conflicts’ resolution. They pointed out the parties’ adherence to
further development of cooperation with the states of the Transcaucasus
and peaceful political settlement, the source reports.

RA BUDGET REVENUES IN JANUARY-APRIL EXCEED BY 32.3% INDEX OF SAME MONTHS OF 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-April of 2005, the RA state
budget revenues and official transfers grew by 32.3% on the same period
of last year to 107 bln 382.6 mln drams (about 245 mln USD). According
to the RA National Statistical Service, in the period under review,
the budget revenues grew by 28.7% to about 104.5 bln drams, with the
tax revenues increasing by 26.6% to 88.3 bln drams, and the state duty
revenues declining by 5.1% to 4.4 bln drams. The budget expenditures
made 92 bln 142.1 mln drams in January-April of 2005, which exceeded
by 13.3% the respective index of 2004. The budget surplus amounted
to 15 bln 240.5 mln drams.

DAY OF OPEN DOORS TO BE ORGANIZED FOR DEAF PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH
HEARING DIFECTS AT LEADING ARMENIAN MEDICAL CENTERS ON JUNE 14
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 14, RA Ministry of Health
will organize a day of open doors at nose, throat and otological
departments of leading Yerevan and regional medical centers. Noyan
Tapan’s correspondent was informed from the Ministry that free medical
services will be rendered to people with hearing defects and people
suffering from different kinds of deafness on June 14.

RA PRESIDENT AND US SENATOR DISCUSS REGIONAL PROBLEMS AND REFORMS CARRIED OUT IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues concerning extension of
Armenian-American interrelations were discussed at RA President
Robert Kocharian’s meeting with Chuck Hagal, US Senator, and Charles
Wald, Deputy Commander of US European Command. RA President said
that Armenian-American relations develop dynamically giving new
opportunities for cooperation. Senator Hagal said that really great
progress was fixed in our bilateral relations during the previous
several years and attached importance to provision of continuation
of this process. Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press
Service that the American party once more emphasized the importance
of assistance rendered by Armenia in struggle against terrorism and
mentioned that Armenian peace-makers fulfil their mission in Kosovo
and Iraq with great responsibility. During the meeting the parties
exchanged opinions about regional problems, as well as touched upon
the reforms carried out in Armenia.

SERGE SARGSIAN: ARMENIAN-AMERICAN MILITARY COOPERATION HAS BEEN FAIRLY EXTENDED TODAY
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian-American relations develop by
rather good rates. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian, Secretary of the
National Security Council attached to RA President, declared this at
his meeting with the delegation headed by US Senator Chuck Hagal with
participation of US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Armenia John Evans and Deputy Commander of US European Command Charles
Wald. Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Defence Ministry’s Press Service
that Serge Sargsian mentioned that the Armenian-American military
cooperation that started three years ago has been fairly extended
today. The same can be said about cooperation with NATO. Senator Hagal
thanked the Minister for efforts made in international struggle against
terrorism, Armenia’s participation in peace-making actions in Kosovo
and Iraq and stated that Armenian Armed Forces have succeeded today
thanks to reforms and establishment of democratic institutes. With
regard to Karabakh conflict’s settlement Serge Sargsian once more said:
“We are sure that the problem can be only solved by peaceful means
and the Minsk Group plays a great role here.”

ARMENIA AND GEORGIA INTERESTED IN RELAUNCHING ABKHAZIAN SECTOR OF GEORGIAN RAILWAY IN SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME
TBILISI, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Government
Information and PR Department, the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who is on a working visit to Tbilisi with the aim of
participating in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of CIS
Countries Governments on June 2-3, had a meeting with his Georgian
counterpart Zurab Nogaideli on June 1. Prime Ministers of the two
countries expressed their satisfaction at the activization of bilateral
contacts and mutual visits, which, according to them, promotes the
trade and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia. Noting
the efficient work done by the Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental
Commission on Economic Cooperation, they discussed the implementation
of the decisions made at the third meeting of the Commission held
on July 26, 2004. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the
Commission in September. A. Margarian expressed his gratification
at the establishment of an active dialog on the issue of regulating
Georgia’s state debt to Armenia, as a result of which an agreement
has been reached to reformulate the debt. He said that Armenia gave
Georgia an comprehensive answer as to the issue of the Turkmenian gas
transition in 1993-1995, so neither the Georgian nor the Turkmenian
side have any unsettled financial problem. During the meeting,
agreements on cooperation in new directions in the sphere of energy
were reached. The Prime Ministers discussed in detail the problem
of constructing a new high-voltage electric line between Armenia and
Georgia. Z. Nogaideli reasserted Georgia’s interest in the country’s
participation in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, in response to which
A. Margarian noted that the first stage of the project is underway,
but the Armenian side does not rule out conducting discussions on this
proposal with Georgia in the future. The Prime Ministers discussed the
demarcation of the border lines of the Armenian-Georgian state frontier
and decided to to hold a joint meeting of the bilateral commissions
dealing with this issue in November. As regards transport problems,
both sides stated their interest in relaunching the Abkhazian sector
of Georgian railway as soon as possible, from which, according to
Prime Ministers, the economies of the two countries will benefit. The
problems of the Armenian community of Georgia, especially of the
Armenians of Javakhk, were addressed at the meeting. Z. Nogaideli
reasserted the intention of the Georgian authorities to implement
a program on the improvement of the social and economic situation
in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The sides agreed to have a working
meeting in Javakhk in July or August. Expressing his appreciation
of Armenia’s willingness to cooperate in implementing the program
aimed at solving the problems of Javakhk, Z. Nogaideli noted that
the issues of cooperation in the construction and repairs of roads,
schools, etc. can be discussed at the meeting in Javakhk. A. Margarian
expressed confidence that the Georgian authorities will make every
effort to solve problems related to protection of the Armenian
cultural and historic monuments in the territory of their country. A
decision was made to set up an Armenian working group to deal with
this problem, which will examine the legislative field of Georgia
and submit proposals for the solution of the problem.

BATTERIES OF H2 ECONOMY COMPANY TO BE DISPAYED AT EXHIBITION IN US
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The H2 Economy CJSC has moved into
a new reconsructed building with 5 laboratories. The company,
which was founded in 2000 on the initiative of the American Armenian
businessman Gerald Gafesjian, is the only one in the region to conduct
research on the development of energy resources and hydrogen fuel
batteries. According to Chairman of the company Aghasi Manukian,
hundreds of such batteries have been sold in almost all the
countries. It was noted that the company is going to display its
production at an exhibition to be held within the framework of an
international conference in the US state of Mississippi on June 7-8.

CEPF MANAGEMENT SURPRISED AT RA GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAY THROUGH SHIKAHOGH RESERVE
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The management of the Critical
Ecosystems Partnership Foundation (CEPF) is surprised at the position
of RA government in the issue of construction of the Meghri-Kapan
highway through the territory of Shikahogh reserve. CEPF started to
implement its first projects in Armenia. Dan Martin, Foundation’s
Chief Executive Director, informed at the June 1 press conference that
2 out of 6 projects on Armenia concern strengthening of regimes of
Khosrov and Shikahogh reserves. Dan Martin, in particular, mentioned
that he doesn’t understand the position of the state structures,
which, on the one hand, approve a strategic program on creation of
new protected territories and, on the other hand, discuss a project
quite opposite to it. In any case, according to him, the Foundation
is a non-state and non-political organization and can’t exert any
pressure upon the government. “We will continue implementing projects
contributing to nature conservation,” he said. Karen Manvelian, CEPF
project Coordinator in Armenia, emphasized that there is an alternative
project of a strategic highway passing over the reserve. According
to him, RA Ministry of Transport and Communication groundlessly
exaggerates the costs on laying of the alternative highway and doesn’t
take into account the ecological and economic damage expected in case
of implementation of the road construction project through Shikahogh.