Month: November 2006

GAZPROM PIPE DEAL POINTS TO ALLIANCE WITH IRAN
by Julian Evans in Moscow
The Times (London)
November 8, 2006, Wednesday
GAZPROM has bought control of a gas pipeline being constructed between
Iran and Armenia, in what analysts say is an attempt to protect the
European gas market from an unwanted competitor.
Last year Gazprom signed an agreement with the Armenian Government,
under which Armenia would have to pay only $110 (£ 58) per cubic
metre of gas -about half the market price -in return for Gazprom
taking a 45 per cent stake in a joint venture called ArmRosGaz, which
controls both Armenia’s domestic gas distribution business and the
soon-to-be-completed gas pipeline from Iran.
Last weekend, during the visit of President Kocharian of Armenia
to Moscow, Gazprom raised its stake in ArmRosGaz to 58 per cent by
buying an additional $119 million of shares in the company.
Gazprom now has control over the Iran-Armenian pipeline, which would
be the first to supply Iranian gas to Europe and could have become
a rival source of gas for Western Europe, which is increasingly
dependent on Gazprom.
Alexander Medvedev, deputy chairman of Gazprom, told The Times:
“It’s a profitable project for us. We hope to use the joint venture
to become involved in extraction and development , and possibly help
supply gas through the joint venture to Western Europe, as well as
Pakistan and India.”
Mr Medvedev’s remarks seem to indicate the desire in the Kremlin to
make Iran an energy ally and partner, rather than a competitor, in
the gas sector. Last week Valeri Yazev, the chairman of the state
Duma committee on energy, also called for a gas alliance between
Russia and Iran.
Iran has 27,000 billion cubic metres of gas -18 per cent of the
world’s supplies -making it the second-biggest supplier of gas in
the world after Russia. Analysts believe that 62 per cent of Iran’s
potential gas reserves remain undeveloped.
Valeri Nesterov, oil and gas analyst at Troika Dialog, said: “If
Gazprom didn’t have a controlling stake in the Iran-Armenia project,
it would be much easier for Iran to use it to compete with Gazprom’s
supplies to Western Europe. But Gazprom tries to avoid competition
as much as possible.”
European countries increasingly are considering Iran as an alternative
supplier to Gazprom. Another possible pipeline under consideration
for Iranian gas is the Nabucco project, which was approved by the
European Union this year. Nabucco, which will cost an estimated £
3 billion, will take gas from the Caspian region and bring it to
Western Europe. OMV, of Austria, is the main backer of the project,
construction of which is scheduled to finish in 2011.
The pipeline initially will take gas from Azerbaijan, but several
European energy ministers have called for it also to take Iranian
gas. The project was originally designed to take Iranian gas,
though the focus switched to Azeri gas when Iran clashed with the
International Atomic Energy Agency over its nuclear research programme.
FROM RUSSIA BY PIPELINE
Gazprom produces half the gas used in the European Union; four fifths
of that gas passes through pipelines crossing Ukraine. The relationship
of Gazprom and its former Soviet bloc customers has been rocky.
January 2006
Russia and Ukraine in dispute over gas prices and fail to agree a
pricing deal.
Russia cuts gas supply to Ukraine. Ukrainians steal gas in transit
to other European countries, which affects supplies to Germany and
Hungary as well as about 25 per cent of the EU’s gas supply. Russia
threatens to raise the price of natural gas supplies to Georgia.
May 2006
Russia and Ukraine seek agreement on pricing, trying to do a deal
in Brussels
July 2006
Belarus told that it, too, must pay market price for gas. Supply cut
off Belarus siphons gas from supply.
October 2006
Nordpipe pipeline plan unveiled. Europe clamours to be still more
reliant on Russian gas. The pipe is to run from near St Petersburg and
along the Baltic seabed to Germany. It will bypass Ukraine and Belarus.
November 2006
Russia and Ukraine agree gas supply deal for 2007
–Boundary_(ID_9yqznRzudBhZGE5Y9NPiWA)–

SERGE SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS SHOULD CONTINUE THE MISSION IN IRAQ
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
“I think that Armenian peacekeepers should continue carrying out
peacekeeping mission in Iraq,” Secretary of the Presidential Council
on National Security, RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan told
“Armenpress.” The deadline for the memorandum of understanding on
“Commanding the multinational division within the stability forces
of Iraq and regulation of similar questions” is December 2006. The
Minister noted that the decision on prolonging the term of the
memorandum should be taken by the National Assembly.
At the suggestion of RA Defense Minister and with the decision of
the National Assembly the memorandum was once prolonged last year. In
January and June 2006 the Armenian military division comprised of 46
people left for Iraq to carry out peacekeeping mission within the
Polish division. The Armenian military unit will stay in Iraq by
January 2007.
Up to now 354 peacekeepers have already carried out peacekeeping
missions in Iraq and Kosovo.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN DOES NOT RULE OUT THE MEETING WITH HIS AZERI COUNTERPART
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
“I’m not very optimistic about the process of the Karabakh conflict
settlement,” President Robert Kocharyan said during the meeting
with representatives of the Kazakh-Armenian community in Astana,
“Armenpress” reports. “I thought that 2006 was a year of opportunity
for us: there were no election processes either in Azerbaijan or
in Armenia, and we tried to actively negotiate with the President of
Azerbaijan to settle question, but it was not a success,” the President
said. He underlined that recently the Foreign Ministers of the two
countries also met to discuss the possible ways of settlement of the
question. “It is possible that this month they will meet again, and in
case it inspires hope that we can move forward, I do not rule out that
I will meet with the President of Azerbaijan late November. Nothing
is definite here,” Robert Kocharyan informed. In his words, the recent
meetings do not inspire great optimism. “The impression is that we did
not manage to achieve progress during this year,” RA President stated.

COMMON GRAVE FOUND IN ON OF TURKISH VILLAGES MIGHT BE THE CEMETERY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Turkish gendarmes have ordered the residents of one of the villages
to keep silent about a community grave found on October 17, which
might be a cemetery of Armenian Genocide victims. According to the
Kurdish “Ulkede Ozgur Gundem” newspaper, when digging a grave for
one of their relatives, residents of Kserabebaba village found a cave
full of bones and skulls of about 40 people. The villagers suggested
this was the grave of about 300 Armenian dwellers of Kserabebaba, who
fell victims of the 1915 genocide. They applied the Police Department
of Ankara. Turkish Army Officers ordered to close the entry to the
cave and keep silent about the Armenian remnants revealed in the
village. They assured that investigation would be launched on the
case. However, the Kurdish paper informs that Turkish Police tried
to conceal the information. Journalists were not allowed to enter
the cave. The village dwellers were instructed not to show the way
to the cavern.

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION TO CONTINUE FINANCING OF ITS PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. “Though the Armenian public
negatively related to Richard Hoagland’s candidature, appointed on
the post of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
U.S. to Armenia, the U.S. Government does not see other candidature
for that post.” Anthony Godfrey, the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. to
Armenia stated about it at the November 8 press conference.
Responding the journalists’ questions, he also stated that during
the current year, the Millennium Challenge American corporation will
continue financing of its programs in Armenia. At the same time,
A.Godfrey mentioned that existence of just management in Armenia is
very important, and Armenia must do its best for the coming elections
are just. To recap, not long ago the Freedom House international
right protection organization called on the Millennium Challenges
corporation to stop showing assistance to a number of countries,
including Armenia as well, because of not securing protection of
political rights and civil freedoms.
Alex Russin, the Chairman of the Millennium Challenge corporation in
Armenia, touching upon this issue as well, mentioned that he hopes
that the 2007 forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia will
prove correctness of the corporation’s solution about financing of
Armenia, and owing to it, the cooperation will continue. At the same
time he emphasized that the corporation is not based on separate
facts that’s why injustice of elections may not become a reason for
stopping financing.

YEREVAN POSITIVELY ESTIMATES POSSIBLE MEDIATION OF POLAND IN STANDARDIZATION OF ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia
positively estimates the readiness of Poland to present itself as
mediator in the affair of standardization of the relations between
Armenia and Turkey. Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian
informed journalists about it on November 7, commenting upon the
statement made by Bogdan Borusevich, the Senate Marshal of Poland,
about his country’s readiness to become a mediator in that affair.
In V.Oskanian’s words, the Polish side’s proposal was presented to
the Foreign Ministry of Armenia two months ago, and just then the
Armenian side gave beforehand a positive response, but no reaction
followed from the Turkish side. “At present contacts are not end in
itself for Armenia, the result is important for us. If Armenia takes
a step forward, there must be confidence that it will bear fruit.
Otherwise, we’ll clash with the next disappointment which may entail
worsening of the situation,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia stated.
At the same time, as V.Oskanian stated at the Parliament on the same
day, because of shortage of resources, year by year it becomes more
and more difficult for Armenia to compete with Turkey and Azerbaijan
in propaganda of its position on issues like Nagorno Karabakh one
or relations with Ankara. In his words, those countries year by year
increase resources for propaganda addressed against Armenia: millions
of dollars are spent on it. Mentioning that Armenia is not able to
give such resources, V.Oskanian considers necessary attraction of
foreign capital.

US TO CONTINUE ASSISTING ARMENIA WITH STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRACY
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. A wide range of issues related to
the Armenian-American cooperation was discussed during the November
8 meeting of the Co-chair of the US-Armenia Task Force (USATF),
Co-ordinator of the Office of US Assistance to Europe and Eurasia
Thomas Adams and the Deputy Ambassador of the US to Armenia Anthony
Godfrey with the Armenian President Robert Kocharian. According to
the RA President’s press service, the interlocutors underlined the
special role of the USATF in the bilateral relations.
The Armenian president expressed his appreciation for the target
assistance that the US government provides for the successful
implementation of reforms in Armenia.
Prior to the upcoming national elections, the interlocutors spoke
about the organization of electoral processes and the holding of free
and fair elections. It was noted that the US will continue assisting
Armenia with strengthening of democracy.

CONCERTS OF STATE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA OF ARMENIA IN GERMANY, SLOVAKIA AND CZECH REPUBLIC ARE BRILLIANT:
TOURS OF KOMITAS STRING QUARTET FOLLOW THEM
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The State
Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia (SPOA) as well for the first time
participated in the annual authoritative festivals of classic music
held in September and October in Germany, Slovakia and the Czech
Republic. As SPOA Director Ruzan Sirunian stated at the November 7
press conference, the orchestra concerts were held brilliantly and
enjoyed the spectators’ warm reception. During the festivals the
orchestra performed Aram Khachaturian’s Concert for Violin, pieces
from the Spartak ballet, Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetic” Symphony No6,
Shostakovich’s Symphony No6 and other works.
R.Sirunian mentioned that after the successes having had in Germany,
the SPOA was involved in the Meistersingerhallen concert season
of Nuremberg, and the Bratislava and Prague festivals organizations
proposed the SPOA to cooperate in future as well and to be continuously
involved in their festival programs. “We have high-quality orchestra,
but it is very difficult to perform with orchestras like the BBC,
Czech philharmonic orchestras. But, performances of our orchestra were
received with “bravos” and “encores.” We again proved the world that
the SPOA has high professional readiness and may perform in any country
where they like and estimate classic music” R.Sirunian mentioned.
As Ashot Grigorian, the head of the Armenian community of Slovakia,
the main organizer of the Armenian Culture Days in Slovakia, informed
Noyan Tapan, they got a great number of phone calls from the concert
spectators who expressed words of admiration concerning the exclusive
high professional performance of the Philharmonic Orchestra of
Armenia and especially concerning chief conductor Eduard Topchian’s
skillfulness. And now, in A.Grigorian’s words, lovers of the classic
music in Bratislava wait impatiently for the next concert: performance
of their favourite quartet after Komitas. The quartet will go on
tours to Slovakia and the Czech Republic on November 13.
As the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Eduard Tadevosian,
the artistic head of the quartet, the quartet received the invitation
to perform concerts from Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman of the Armenian
community of Slovakia. The concerts being organized in Slovakia will
be held within the framework of the Days of Armenian Culture. Works
of Tchaikovksy, Shostakovich as well as Arno Babajanian’s quartet
dedicated to the memory of Shostakovich will be performed at the
concerts.
Ashot Grigorian mentioned in his turn that the quartet’s concerts
in Prague will give special brilliance to the music festival, and in
this issue, he is too grateful to Aleksan Sargsian, the Chairman of
the Armenian Union of the city of Jihlava, the Czech Republic, who
undertook organization of the quartet’s concerts in Prague (November
16) and Jihlava (November 17).
It also became known that after the concerts in the Czech Republic
and Slovakia, the quartet will leave for Moscow to take part in the
jubilee concert dedicated to Arno Babajanian’s 85th anniversary.
Conductor Konstantin Orbelian will head the concert to take place at
the Music House hall of Moscow on November 28. Armenian and Russian
pop singers will also participate in the concert.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT CALLS FOR TAKING ACTIVE PART IN NOVEMBER 23 TELETHON AT NEW YORK MEETINGS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On November 7,
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian visited the central office of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) where he met with organization
Chairman Perch Sedrakian.
As NT was informed from the General Information Department under NKR
President, the interlocutors touched upon a number of issues relating
to programs implemented by AGBU in Artsakh and cooperation prospects.
In his speech P.Sedrakian assured NKR President that henceforth the
Union will continue and will extend programs of restoration of Artsakh
villages and financing of various educational and cultural programs
in the country.
Congratulating AGBU on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its
foundation, A.Ghoukassian expressed gratitude to the organization’s
whole staff in the person of P.Sedrakian for all-round assistance to
Artsakh and wished success in its activity carried out for the sake
of the nation.
In the evening of the same day NKR President met with the leading
staff and members of the U.S. Eestern Coast’s Association of
Armenian Jewellers. At the request of the meeting participants
Arkady Ghoukassian touched upon the situation in NKR, emphasizing
country’s economic progress registered in the issue of restoration
and development in the post-war period. In his speech the President
especially stressed the important contribution of the Armenian Diaspora
in the above mentioned process.
During the meetings NKR President called for taking an active part
in the coming telethon.
During his visit to New York Arkady Ghoukassian was accompanied by
RA Ambassador to UN Armen Martirosian, NKR Resident Representative
to U.S. Vardan Barseghian, as well as Chairman of Board of Directors
of New York Branch of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund Gevorg Toroyan.
To recap, NKR President had left for U.S. to take part in the
organization activities of annual charity telethon of the Hayastan
All Armenian Fund dedicated to restoration of NKR Hadrut region’s
infrastructures to be held on November 23 within the framework of
the Artsakh Revival program.

ARMAVIA PROSPERS AND IS NOT FOR SALE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The owner of Armavia Airlines Mikhail Baghdasarov refuted the news
about the sale of Armavia on November 7. He said that the company has
overcome the crisis and will not be sold. Mikhail Baghdasarov even
suggests who could have spread these rumors. According to the owner,
these are the workers of the company who get a salary but instead
of working they spread rumors. Baghdasarov stated that these workers
will be fired soon. He says that the disaster of May 3 taught him a
lesson, and now he is likely to make major technical and structural
changes in Armavia. The owner is likely to lay off 90 out of the
490 emloyees of the company, and he thinks that a staff of 400 is
sufficient and optimal.
Instead, Mikhail Baghdasarov confirms that he has sold his 30 percent
of stocks of the former Armsavingsbank, presently VTB Armenia. He
is negotiating the sale of his share with the leadership of VTB,
and he says if VTB refuses to buy his share, he will sell it to
another buyer. He is sure to sell because Baghdasarov says he is
dissatisfied with the management of VTB. Particularly, Baghdasarov
disliked the decision of the VTB leadership to close down 40 branches
of VTB Armenia in the regions of Armenia.