Month: October 2006

OPPOSITION NEWSPAPER MAY BE DEPRIVED OF PREMISES IN AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2006 13:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The committee on state property of Azerbaijan has
brought a suit to the economic court with a demand to evict Azaldyg
opposition newspaper from premises in the center of Baku. According
to the suit, the offices of National Front Party, Our Way newspaper,
Turan news agency, the Foundation of Democracy Development and some
other structures should also be evicted from the building. The state
committee requested the court to consider invalid the decision of
the city administration that granted the premises at the disposal of
the Azaldyg and also urged the newspaper to make amends totaling $30
thousand for using the premises without paying the rent. Meanwhile
Azer Akhmedov, the Azaldyg director said that the decree of the Mayor
doesn’t call for rent from any structure. The editorial staff rates the
move as pressure and an attempt to close the opposition newspaper. In
their opinion the campaign launched against the newspaper is a state
order authorized at ‘the highest level’, reports RFE/RL.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT KAZAKHSTAN IN NOVEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2006 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today newly appointed Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to
Armenia Aydimes Bozjigitov (residence in Almaty) handed credentials to
RA President Robert Kocharian, reported the RA leader’s press office.

President Kocharian remarked he expects activation of the
Armenian-Kazakh relations from the establishment of Kazakhstan’s
representation in Yerevan. According to the sides, the formal visit of
Armenian President to Kazakhstan scheduled for November will convey
a strong impulse to the development of relations. The interlocutors
also noted that Armenia and Kazakhstan are CIS leaders in carrying
out reforms. The Ambassador said he will first of all strive for
activation of economic ties between the two states. In his words,
the Armenian community of Kazakhstan should be an important factor
contributing to bilateral cooperation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

L’OREAL – RECURRENT VICTIM OF TURKISH BOYCOTT

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.10.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Having called for a boycott against French oil
company Total last week, the Turkish Consumers Union has declared
that next target is L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics group, in
protest of the adoption of the Armenian Genocide bill by the French
parliament. Bulent Deniz, chairman of the Turkish Consumers Union,
announced on Thursday that they would put all the products of French
cosmetic giant L’Oreal on the boycott list next week.

Turkey’s main consumer group last week decided to publicize one French
company or brand every week and encourage Turks to boycott it until the
French bill is annulled. L’Oreal has been in the Turkish market since
1989 and has increased its sales throughout the country 45 percent
in the last five years. Last a boycott began for Total, a French gas
station, with a reported 30 percent drop in sales, reports zaman.com.

GEORGIA CONTRIBUTES TO THE ISOLATION OF ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2006 GMT+04:00

Implementation of Kars-Aqhalqhalak-Tbilisi-Baku project can get under
way, regardless the counteraction of the banking commission of the
USA Senate.

The decision of the banking commission of the USA Senate concerning
the fact that the export and import Bank of the USA will not grant
any insurance arrangements, loan or any other financing for the
railway construction of Kars-Aqhalqhalak-Tbilisi-Baku led Tbilisi into
doubt-Georgian Government has seriously thought over the expediency
of the realization of Kars-Aqhalqhalak-Tbilisi-Baku project.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The explanation to it is a simple one-Mikhail
Saakashvili does not want on any account to do what is against the
will of the USA. Indeed, lately the policy of Georgia more and more
has been evoking the displeasure of the USA. It is not by chance
that President of Georgia has turned for help to GUAM (Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldavia) and Europe in adjustment of
disputes. But these are the particulars. The essential thing is
that Kars-Aqhalqhalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway can become the second
Baku-Tbilisi-Ghehyan (BTG), since Kazakhstan is sure to join in its
construction and, most probably China will as well. The long and the
short of it is that something like Transeastern express will come
out of it. Indeed, as for any grand project implementation, first
of all stability and security of the road sites are needed. But that
is exactly what the countries are yet unable to guarantee. By prior
agreement each country bears the responsibility for its site of the
permanent way and if, God forbid, the rails detonate or if something
gets out of order, Georgia, Azerbaijan, or Turkey will have to pay off
separately. On the whole, maybe nothing like that will ever happen,
but commercial projects of that sort are always calculated to details
and even the most unforeseen consequences are taken into account.

According to Turkish-Azerbaijan calculation the construction will
cost more than 400 million dollars.

The implementation of the construction works should already launch in
January 2007, as all the participants promise. At least Z. Mamedov,
head of Azerbaijan transportation department in Baku and Binali
Iyildirim, the minister of transportation and communication of Turkey
have announced so in Baku.

Besides, it should be particularly underscored that the works will
commence even in case if only Azerbaijan and Turkey are ready to invest
in the project ("Trend"). Projects of three important documents were
considered in the course of the trilateral negotiations that took
place in Baku: framework agreement on the project, obligations of the
Georgian side concerning the taking of the site under construction
of the railway, as well as credit agreement among Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Turkey, and on the whole mutual understanding has been reached.

Turkey is ready to single out its allotment for the construction that
makes 220 million dollars, and Azerbaijan gives 200 million dollars
for the repair of Aqhalqhalak-Baku road site. 200 million dollars are
spent on the maintenance of "parallel’ engineering, of communication
and transport infrastructures, service stations, trans-shipment
junctions, etc. and all that is carried out in a natural way. That
is to say it already makes approximately 500-600 million dollars.

It is quite possible that the cost of the project will reach 1 milliard
dollars. But in Baku and Ankara everybody knows well enough that for
the isolation of Armenia any money can be paid. By the way, that is
what they do not without the help of Georgia.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

OSCE MINSK GROUP COCHAIRMEN TO MEET IN PARIS

Armenpress
Oct 19 2006

BAKU, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen from
Russia, France and USA are planning a meeting in Paris later this
month.

The Azerbaijani Trend news agency quoted the Russian cochairman,
Yuri Merzlyakov, as saying they are likely to meet on October 23,
a day before the planned meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyarov.

Merzlyakov also said the cochairmen will meet after the minister’s
talks to review their outcome.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES GIVING ARMENIAN POST COMPANY TO A DUTCH FIRM

Armenpress
Oct 20 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government has
reconfirmed revoking an agreement with Converse-Invest company that
was granted by it the right to manage Hay Post (Armenian Postal
Services) company.

Armenian transport and communication ministry said the government
has approved the process of giving Hay Post to concession management
of Hay Post Trust company. It said this process was managed with the
assistance of a Dutch ING consulting firm.

The ministry said Hay Post Trust is owned by PostFinance Dutch
investment company, which the ministry said is offering assistance
to postal companies of developing countries.

KOCHARYAN WANTS TO LEAVE WITH LAURELS?

A1+
[06:38 pm] 18 October, 2006

Former member of Justice bloc Viktor Dallakyan does not hurry to
inform us which party he will join.

According to him, he is a politician who says what he wants to say
when he finds it necessary and not when others force him to.

"I have never attempted to become member of any party as I have thrice
been elected in the Vanadzor electoral area N36 without being member
of any party", Viktor Dallakyan said in answer to questions about
his failed attempt to become member of "Prosperous Armenia".

Is it possible for him to be nominated during the coming elections
by the majority system? "It depends on the wish of the voters. As
for the party lists, I do not exclude any possibility", he said.

He does not exclude the possibility of reproduction of the present
authorities either. But he assured that in case of free and fair
elections in Armenia "the present authorities can claim not more than
3-4 chairs".

"I think Kocharyan would not wish to fabricate the 2007 Parliamentary
elections as his authorizations finish a year later. I don’t think
he would like to join criminal groupings. Besides, he would like to
leave with the laurels of a reformer and guarantee of fair elections",
Mr. Dallakyan said.

AMBASSADOR RECEIVED IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY

A1+
[04:02 pm] 18 October, 2006

RA deputy foreign ministers Arman Kirakosyan and Armen Bayburdyan
have received the delegation of US permanent representative to OSCE,
Ambassador Julia Finley.

The sides discussed issues about the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk group, the relations
of Armenia with Turkey, the energy security of Armenia, the 2007
Parliamentary elections in Armenia and the reforms in the legislative
field.

The sides also referred to the activity of the OSCE Yerevan office
and the course of realization of programs by the office.

At the end of the meeting Ambassador Finley briefed the deputy
ministers on the activity of the US permanent representative in the
OSCE structures.

ROBINSON LEAVES TOO

A1+
[07:20 pm] 18 October, 2006

Robert Kocharyan had a farewell meeting with Roger Robinson, the head
of the Yerevan office of the World Bank. Mr. Robinson is finishing
his mission in Armenia.

Robert Kocharyan said that the past years of cooperation with the
World Bank were very efficient in the development of the economy
of Armenia. He mentioned the reforms of state structures, the
development of infrastructures, and the programs aiming at the
reduction of poverty.

Roger Robinson said that he is glad to see the changes in Armenia
and to realize that the World Bank has its contribution in it.

Kocharyan wished Robinson success in his future work voicing hope
that it will be as effective as it was in Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian

TOROSYAN MET THE CHAMPIONS

A1+
[07:47 pm] 18 October, 2006

Today chess club "Mika" of Yerevan, the winner of the European
women’s club championship, was received in the NA. Elina Danielyan,
Maya Chiburdanidze, Maya Kurtsidze and Nelly Aghinyan returned from
Austria with victory.

NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan congratulated the chess players on their
brilliant victory mentioning that this is the first time the Armenian
women surpass the Armenian men. The NA Speaker qualified the victory
in Austria as very important.

By the way, Tigran Torosyan did not forget to thank Michael
Baghdasarov, the sponsor of the team, underlining his contribution
not only to the development of the economy of Armenia, but also to
the development of sport. The NA Speaker awarded Michael Baghdasarov
with the NA certificate, and the chess players with watches.