Month: October 2005

EUROPEANS PRAISING THE CONSTITUTION

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| 20:07:36 | 12-10-2005 | Official |

Today Robert Kocharyan had a meeting with the Ambassadors of the EU
member-countries to Armenia and the representative of the European
Committee delegation.

Next week the President is supposed to visit Brussels and the European
structures. During the visit he will discuss the perspectives of
cooperation, particularly issues about the European Neighborhood
program.

The sides also exchanged thoughts about the Constitutional
referendum. They were of the same opinion that the reforms offered are
a step forward and they will allow to correspond the Constitutional
to the European standards.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANTI-PREACHING HEADQUARTERS FORMED

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| 19:46:54 | 12-10-2005 | Politics |

“The Justice bloc says no to the Constitutional amendments”, after
the 2-hour session of the bloc announced secretary Viktor Dallakyan
who will act as coordinator of the works of the anti-preaching
headquarters.

According to him, “There are two things the structure must do – hold
meetings with the people and do organizational work with the observers’
missions and the representatives of the bloc in the Committees”.

October 18 and 19 meetings will be held in Aragats and Martouni. The
table of the rest of the meetings will be cleared later. Possibly the
Justice bloc will soon make a joint announcement with the National
Unity. According to Viktor Dallakyan, he has already spoken with
Artashes Geghamyan.

By the way, during the session two variants of saying “No” were
discussed – to vote or to boycott. According to the People’s Party
secretary Grigor Haroutyunyan, except the National Democratic Union
which has already announced about its intention to boycott the
referendum, the rest of the parties have chosen the first strategy.

According to him, as the blocs are not allowed to create a fund, the
parties to raise money for the anti-preaching. “And we are not going
to tell you where from as we do not want to risk those businessmen
who may finance us”, he added.

Member of the Republican Party political Council Smbat Ayvazyan said
that the Party has made offers which will be discussed during the
bloc session.

And founder of the “National Renaissance” Albert Bazeyan thinks that
they can decide whether to boycott or not even three days before
the referendum.

What is important is that they must be accompanied with acts of
complaints, “otherwise the boycott will be too passive”.

EU CONSIDERS BUILDING KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY INEFFICIENT

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 19:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The EU does not support the project of building
Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, considering it inefficient,” stated a
representative of the European Commission Directorate General for
Transport and Energy. The EU considers Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway,
which makes part of the TRACECA project, to be a more efficient one,
he said. “Azerbaijan and Turkey are participants of the TRACECA and
we have informed these countries on our stand,” the EC representative
stated. He also reported that the EC has received an official letter
from Armenia, displaying Armenian party’s readiness to let transit
cargo pass via Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway through its territory. “This
proposal of the Armenian party gives hope,” the EC representative
stated, reported Mediamax.

SPECIFIC WAYS OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN YEREVAN AND ASTANA OUTLINED

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 18:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Priority directions of economic cooperation between
Armenia and Kazakhstan are outlined, stated Armenian Co-Chair of the
Armenian-Kazakh Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic Cooperation,
First Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sergey Avetisyan at the Commission
session in Yerevan yesterday. In his words, the major goal of the
Commission is to form a corresponding legal framework between the
two countries. A trend toward increase of trade between Armenia
and Kazakhstan has begun to show, the Kazakh Co-Chair, Deputy FM
Nurlan Onjanov remarked. He informed that in Echmiadzin, Armenia a
tinned food factory functions based on Kazakh capital. The parties
noted transport questions among problematic ones. It should be noted
that agreements on cooperation in tourism, agriculture, humanities,
transport and mortgage crediting were signed during the session.

The volume of commodity turnover between the two countries makes $18
million. The next meeting of the Armenian-Kazakh Inter-Governmental
Commission for Economic Cooperation will be held in Astana in 2006,
reported IA Regnum.

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVED RUSSIAN TRANSPORT MINISTER

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| 16:08:04 | 13-10-2005 | Official |

Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with Minister
of Transport of Russia, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical
Cooperation Igor Levitin.

In R. Kocharian’s words, the Commission is an important mechanism
in the Armenian-Russian relations, that were always marked with
efficiency. The parties discussed bilateral cooperation programs,
paying special attention to issues of development of energy,
transport and communication. As of restoration of communication
via the Abkhaz part of the railway, the state of the rail line and
conditions necessary for its restoration are being examined at present,
the parties said. The conditions include participation of Russia,
Georgia and Armenia as well. The parties also discussed matters of
beginning exploitation of Armenian enterprises, conveyed to Russia
within Property for Debt Treaty.

In Levitin’s words, Russia is interested in soonest exploitation of
these enterprises, so a special working group is formed to that end.

EXCHANGE OF UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE WITH ARTUR BAGHDASSARYAN

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| 15:48:55 | 13-10-2005 | Official |

October 13 RA National Assembly Chairman Artur Baghdassaryan received
newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.

During the meeting A. Bozhko noted that he will keep the development
of interparliamentary ties in the limelight of his diplomatic mission.

According to the Ambassador, Armenia and Ukraine have chosen the
European path and have a big potential for interaction, in part,
Armenia’s legislative experience can be useful for Ukraine on the way
to the World Trade Organization, while the Ukrainian experience will
help Armenia in the process of constitutional reform.

The Ambassador also presented the current situation in Ukraine.

Alexander Bozhko stressed the importance of carrying out the
constitutional reforms. At that the RA NA Speaker noted that the
referendum has been already fixed for November 27 and there are all
the preconditions to advance in strengthening democracy.

The parties also touched upon issues of mutual concern.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEXT SESSION OF COUNCIL OF CIS GOVERNMENT HEADS TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 25

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 20:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Next session of the Council of CIS Government
heads is scheduled November 25, reported the CIS Executive Committee
in Minsk. Some 30 issues, 21 of which are ready for consideration,
are to be submitted for discussion. These include forming common
electric energy market of the Commonwealth states, complex of
medium-term measures to promote competitive production at the CIS
internal market and those of third countries up to 2010. The agenda
draft also includes the bill of Convention on Border Cooperation and
the issue of introducing changes and amendments to the provision on
Inter-State Council of Natural and Man-Caused Emergency Situations.

In the course of the session of the Council of CIS Government Heads 25
various documents are suggested to be signed without discussion. These
include agreements on foundations of harmonizing technical regulations,
on joint methodology of customs statistics in foreign trade, on
competition for Commonwealth Prize for achievements in production and
service quality, on concept of development of adult education in CIS
states, on cooperation in work with the youth. A significant part of
documents arranged for the signing is devoted to defense matters and
those of interaction between law-enforcement bodies. Specifically,
agreements on state interaction in fighting trafficking, trade of human
organs and tissues, on cooperation in struggle against hijacking, on
a bureau of coordination of struggle against organized crime and other
dangerous types of crimes are proposed for signing without discussion.

The set of military issues includes signing of documents on targeted
program for providing complex counteraction of CIS armed forces to
air force and means attacks, on making assignments for creation
and development of united antiaircraft defense system of the
Commonwealth states in 2006, on extending the term of implementation
of common programs of enhancement of the united antiaircraft defense
system. These and other questions were considered at the 25th session
fo the CIS Economic Council in Moscow October 12.

AZIMOV: NO OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV PRIVATE MEETING SCHEDULED IN LJUBLJANA

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 20:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The peace talks over settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict should continue until all resources are used up,
Azeri Deputy FM Araz Azimov stated yesterday. “Conflict settlement
opportunities are still available,” he said, noting the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairs plan to have a number of meetings before visiting the
South Caucasus. After their visit to the region they are scheduled
to have a meeting with Azeri and Armenian FMs in Ljubljana, where
the OSCE FMs will convene in early December. He also noted that no
Mammadyarov-Oskanian meeting is planned in Ljubljana yet. “A meeting
of that kind may only be held in a special case,” he said. As of the
date of the following meeting of the Azeri and Armenian Presidents,
the Azeri Deputy FM said, “the date of a new meeting is not known.”

When commenting on official Baku attitude towards the reports
and proposals of the International Crisis Group (ICG), Azimov said
organizations like the ICG were unofficial ones. “ICG recommendations
and proposals are an outcome of personal deliberations of its
representatives,” the diplomat said, noting the proposals will not
be considered by Azerbaijan at the official level. At the same time
A. Azimov remarked, “the document, made public by the ICG, contains
many mistakes and shortcomings owing to insufficient information
and expert incompetence.” “No one can point out the quantity of
Azerbaijan’s budget assignments for military needs,” the Deputy FM also
said. Official Baku proceeds from its own resources when increasing
defense spending. “The Government of Azerbaijan makes efforts to
develop all spheres of state activities, including the strengthening
of the military power,” Azimov underscored. “Army enhancement is a
essential part of state development.

Servicemen are the same citizens of Azerbaijan and their salaries
should be increased as well,” A. Azimov concluded.

LEVITIN SURE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN GOODS TURNOVER GROWTH POTENTIAL NOT USED UP

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 20:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ All preconditions are available for promoting
mutually favorable Russian-Armenian trade and economic cooperation,
stated Russian Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental
Commission, Transport Minister Igor Levitin at the opening of the
Commission session. Levitin’s statement specifically notes, “The former
six months of this year are characterized by considerable increase of
the growth rate of mutual trade, which is equal to 16.7% according
to preliminary data. Preservation of this dynamics will allow RF
become the leader among major trade partners of Armenia. Investment
cooperation keeps successfully developing and this promotes
commercial growth. Many of our CIS partners consider the trade
and economic cooperation between Russia and Armenia an experience
worth paying attention to. I am sure the potential of growth of the
commodity turnover is not used up. Russia does not cancel the matter
of gas supplies to Armenia in its agenda, as well as expansion of
trade of oil products that will allow enhancing the energy dialogue
between our countries. The normative and legal basis of cooperation,
including the organization of train-ferry communication between Poti,
Georgia and Kavkaz, Russia, forms good preconditions for that. Due to
a number of reasons the communication cannot show all its advantages
yet. However, I assure you that the Russian party will make all
efforts necessary for the ferry line to have demand in the system
of transport communication between our countries. I would like to
underscore the need to expand economic relations between Armenia and
its regions with the constituents of the Russian Federation.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION POTENTIAL UNDERUSED

Pan Armenian
13.10.2005 19:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Considerable activation of economic cooperation
Armenia and Russia is observed within past 5 years. The commodity
turnover has increased 30%, stated Armenian Co-Chair of the
Armenian-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission, Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan at the opening of the Commission session. “I consider
important to note that the activation takes place not only between
state organizations, but also between private companies. This let
us hope that correct guidelines are chosen in the Armenian-Russian
cooperation,” Mr. Sargsyan said. In his opinion, active participation
of two states in solution of transport communication issues also
formed basis for creation of new joint projects.

Apparently, the potential of cooperation is underused, the Minister
added.

“To be more exact, we have used a paltry part of the potential. Thus,
we see large opportunities for increasing the technical component of
our cooperation in forming advanced agriculture,” Sargsyan stated.

“We are interested in Russia’s new experience in innovation policy
and creation of technological parks. Within that context enterprises
Armenia has conveyed to Russia that have a considerable scientific and
technical potential may be a link,” he added. Business goes there,
where it feels more comfortable, S. Sargsyan remarked. “I consider
discussing steps that would promote forming a more favorable business
atmosphere at a Forum expedient.

It is well known that taking businessmen’s opinion into account
is useful.

It might be necessary to provide business information to entrepreneurs,
perfect customs procedures, organization of consignment stores, etc.,”
the Minister stated.

He specially noted the intensively growing direct ties between Russian
regions and Armenia. Armenian trade houses were founded in a number of
regions of Russia. The building of the House of Moscow has started
in Yerevan. The diversification of this kind pleases because it
will be able to use the whole cooperation potential owing to direct
relations. “In all affairs, even so more in inter-state economic
cooperation cultural and human ties have had a special role. Here
we have a large reserve, gained during several centuries. It is the
firm foundation we can build the further cooperation stories on,”
S. Sargsyan remarked. In his words, “during the work of the Commission
we have been trying to solve the matter of regular launching of
Kavkaz-Poti train-ferry passage for a long time. The Russian party
considers absence of commercial load from Armenia a cause preventing
Kavkaz-Poti regular passages, Serge Sargsyan concluded