Month: September 2006

ARMENIAN NPP TO BE STOPPED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2006, FOR PLANNED PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REFUELING

ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday

The Armenian NPP will be stopped for 45 days from October 1, 2006,
for planned preventive maintenance and refueling, the NPP Director
General, Gagik Markossyan, told ArmInfo correspondent.

According to him, it is scheduled to implement five NPP
safety-enhancement measures during this period. The most important
measure is upgrading of the reactor protection system, which is
financed by EU within the frames of the TACIS program with cost of 1,3
mln Euro. The means for NPP safety level increase are traditionally
allocated by the USA, IAEA, EU. The owns means of NPP are aimed
at assemblage and designing. G. Markossyan added the nuclear fuel
in a necessary quantity has been already delivered to NPP 10 days
ago. G. Markossyan hopes all the repair and refueling works will be
carried out at a stated time.

To be noted, the NPP was handed over under financial control of "INTER
RAO UES" CJSC, which is an affiliated structure of RAO "UES of Russia"
and which pays for the delivery of the new batch of nuclear fuel to
NPP. Two power units of Russian model VVR-440 with total capacity of
815 MW are installed at the Armenian NPP. The first unit had been
commissioned in 1976, the second one – in 1980. In the beginning,
1989, the NPP was abandoned for political reasons, and the second power
unit with capacity of 404 MW was restarted in the beginning, 1995.

ARMENIAN BEAUTY TO REPRESENT ARMENIA AT BEAUTY CONTEST "MISS EUROPE JUNIOR- 2006" FOR THE FIRST TIME

ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday

A 19-years-old Mariam Melyan will represent Armenia for the first
time at the Beauty Contest "Miss Europe Junior-2006", to be held
October 14, 2006, in a Czech town of Liberec, the President of the
International Organizational Committee of "Miss & Mister World"
Contest, Ashot Khachatryan, said at yesterday’s press-conference.

A. Khachatryan noted that M. Melyan has underwent a difficult
selection round in July, 2006, with participation of 40 girls. The
main requirements, besides good physical data , included knowledge of
English, computer and Internet. Today M. Melyan leaves for Prague to
actively prepare for the coming Contest. Moreover, she will take part
in the Contest "Miss Talent" to be held in Tunis on September 30 –
October 6, 2006. Besides M. Melyan, the girls at the age of 20 from
30 countries of the world, including Russia, will participate in the
Contest "Miss Europe Junior- 2006". To be noted, M Melyan is the only
representative of the Caucasian region in this Contest.

ARMENIAN MPs AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS START DISCUSSING AMENDMENTS TO ARMENIA’S ELECTORAL CODE

ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday

Today Armenian MPs and Venice Commission experts have started
discussing draft amendments to Armenia’s Electoral Code.

All parliamentary forces except Justice opposition bloc are taking
part in the discussions.

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torossyan says that the
discussions were constructive and specific. The sides discussed
6 points Armenia’s political forces have failed to agree on,
particularly, the procedure of appeal against election results and
voting. Tomorrow the sides will sum up the proposals made today and
will submit the document for the Armenian Parliament’s approval within
a month.

The member of the Venice Commission Gael Martin-Micallef (France)
says that the document has been substantially improved but there
are still many unacceptable and moot points. The Venice Commission
has made 13 recommendations, particularly, on the order of electoral
commission formation.

Concerning Justice bloc’s recalling its signature under the document
Martin-Micallef says that he was unaware of it, he has just learned
the news and deeply regrets at it.

NO ISSUE, CONCERNING ARMENIA, TO BE DISCUSSED AT COMING OCTOBER 2-6 AUTUMN SESSION OF PACE

ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday

No issue, which directly concerns Armenia, will be discussed at the
coming October 2-6 Autumn Session of PACE, the Head of the Armenian
delegation in PACE, RA Parliament Speaker, Tigran Torossyan, told
ArmInfo correspondent, when asked about the coming PACE session agenda.

He noted all the issues, discussed in PACE, are somehow or other
related to Armenia. He also noted the issues, related to the matching
of the country’s legislation with the new clauses of the Constitution
will be also discussed during the meeting, to be held tomorrow with
PACE monitoring group members. T. Torossyan informed the reporters for
monitoring in Armenia prepare a report on matching the RA legislation
with the Constitution. Their visit to Armenia is devoted just to this
issue, T. Torossyan said.

TURKISH MPS HOLD TALKS IN GERMANY ON OBSTACLES TO EU ACCESSION

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
26 Sep 06

Berlin, 26 September: Members of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
Commission met members of EU Commission of German Federal Parliament
in Berlin on Tuesday [26 September].

Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Aydin Dumanoglu
told reporters after the meeting that they discussed problems of
Turkish citizens who are living in Germany as well as obstacles before
Turkey’s EU accession process.

"We exchanged views about Cyprus question, so-called Armenian genocide,
and privileged partnership which concern Turkey," he added.

On the other hand, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy
Onur Oymen told reporters that Turkish side expressed uneasiness
about so-called Pontus and Syrian genocide allegations as well as
headscarf issue. [Passage omitted]

UK FIRM OFFICIALLY GIVES ARMENIAN POWER GRID TO RUSSIAN COMPANY

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan,
27 Sep 06

The [British] Midland Resources Holding Ltd has officially handed the
management of the Electricity Networks of Armenia to Russia’s Inter
RAO UES [Unified Energy Systems of Russia].

Russia’s Inter RAO UES manages more than 20 facilities in Europe and
Asia. The company promises to overhaul the Electricity Networks of
Armenia with new methods and investment programmes.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS ACCESSION PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
27 Sep 06

Strasbourg, 27 September: European Parliament on Wednesday [27
September] approved Turkey report which was prepared by Dutch
parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings.

During voting of the report, 429 parliamentarians voted positive
against 71 parliamentarians, and 125 parliamentarians abstained.

The report, which is not binding but recommendatory, calls Turkey to
accelerate reforms on the path to EU membership.

The report wants Turkey to speed up reforms and implementations
especially on freedom of expression, religious rights, minority
rights, civilian-soldier relations, women rights, labour unions,
cultural rights and independence of jurisdiction areas.

Expressing pleasure over Turkish government’s preparing the 9th
reform package, the report recommended the new anti-terrorism law
not to include restrictive elements against basic rights and freedom.

The report called Turkey to amend Articles 216, 277, 288, 301, 305
and 318 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) claiming that they are open to
arbitrary interpretation.

The report also strongly condemned PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]
terrorist organization.

Noting that discharge of Van Public Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya from
his post was concerning, the report claimed that developments after
Semdinli incidents showed that the role of army continues in Turkish
society.

The report asks Turkey to drop 10 per cent election threshold, and
thus, a broader representation, including Kurdish parties, will be
provided at Turkish parliament.

Noting that a new constitution may be needed to reflect the reforms
on the path to EU membership, the report also condemned attack on
Council of State.

Expressing regret that Turkey could not record a progress in religious
freedom area since the last report of EP, the report calls Turkey to
overcome problems in education of clerics of minorities as well as
their owning properties.

Condemning the attacks of PKK terrorist organization, the report
stressed that EP is in solidarity with Turkey in fight against
terrorism.

The report calls Turkey to abolish village guard system, to find
democratic solution to Kurdish problem and to apply European standards
in custody and arrests.

The report noted that modern, democratic and secular Turkey can
undertake a constructive role in dialogue among civilizations. It
also asked Turkey to take necessary steps and swiftly open border
gate with Armenia to start diplomatic and good neighbourhood relations
with this country.

The report also wanted Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot
vessels, stating that Turkey’s recognition of all EU countries
including Greek Cypriot administration is a compulsory part of EU
negotiation process.

EU ENVOY URGES TURKEY TO OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan,
27 Sep 06

Yerevan, 7 September: "The decision to keep the Turkish-Armenian border
closed has no justification," the EU envoy for the South Caucasus,
Peter Semneby, has said in an exclusive interview with Mediamax
news agency.

"I think that the issues with Turkish-Armenian relations should have
been settled a long time ago. We have told the Turkish authorities
that the decision to keep the Turkish-Armenian border closed has no
justification. At the same time, solution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict will most likely rapidly result in the opening of the border,"
Semneby said.

EU RAPPORTEUR SEES ADOPTED PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY AS "FAIR"

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
27 Sep 06

Strasbourg, 27 September: EP [European Parliament] Turkey rapporteur
Camiel Eurlings said (regarding the Turkey report) that it has mainly
returned to its first shape.

Speaking after the voting of the report, Eurlings said that the
current shape of the report is fair.

Expressing pleasure on withdrawal of the call on recognition of
so-called Armenian genocide before Turkey’s EU full membership,
Eurlings said that it is not right to ask for new pre-conditions
from Turkey.

The proposal of Greek parliamentarians for Turkey to recognize
so-called Pontus Greek and Syrian genocide was rejected during the
voting of the report.

The expressions about Pontus Greeks and Syrians was included in the
part about Armenians, and stated that Turkey should adopt the same
attitude towards other minorities like Pontus Greeks and Syrians.

The report calls Turkey to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia
and lift economic obstacles with that country, stressing that studies
of historians, academicians and researchers on historical archives
should be supported and encouraged.

The report noted that Turkey should solve its border problems in a
friendly way.

RULING PARTY MPS VIEW EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S REPORT ON TURKEY

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
27 Sep 06

Strasbourg, 27 September: Turkish MPs from [ruling] Justice and
Development Party (AKP) expressed their views on the Turkey report
which was approved by the European Parliament today and said the
evaluation report is better than the report prepared by Foreign
Affairs Commission.

AKP Deputy Chairman Saban Disli, Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE) Turkish delegation leader Murat Mercan and Turkish
Parliament EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis spoke at a
joint press conference after EP’s decision, on Wednesday.

AKP Deputy Chairman Disli said that they met representatives of EP
in Brussels and Strasbourg prior to EP’s decision. "We relayed them
the message that, it wouldn’t be beneficial to anyone to accept the
report prepared by Foreign Affairs Commission," Disli added.

Disli mentioned that they succeeded on their attempts and the lawmakers
dropped their demand that Turkey must acknowledge the so-called
Armenian genocide before it can join the European Union. He also
expressed his gladness on the refusal of French lawmakers proposal
for Turkey’s privileged partnership to the EU.

Saban Disli said that the report is not worse than the prior reports
and he added "however, there are parts of the report that bothers us.

We expect them to act fairly especially on the Cyprus issue. We hope
them to take a decision that rewards Turkish Cypriots"

Disli stated that for the first time EP documents mentioned that
Turkey’s economy is going well.

Meanwhile, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Turkish
delegation leader Murat Mercan said that the claims on Turkey’s reform
period has slowed down are not true. "It is in our hands to change
this misunderstanding" he added.