Month: March 2007

"OUR ELECTORATE NEVER TO AGREE TO GET IN WITH ANOTHER ELECTORATE," ARF FACTION HEAD STATES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The rating of the Dashnaktsutiun
party rather increased as if compared with the previous elections,
and the ARF will have more places in the new Parliament. ARF faction
head Hrayr Karapetian expressed such a viewpoint during the March 2
parliamentary briefing. Responding the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s
question, H.Karapetian mentioned that though Dashnaktsutiun makes
a part of the coalition, but one can not say to the rating of the
government also increased. In his words, Dashnaktsutiun differs by its
activity both at Parliament and out of Parliament. In H.Karapetian’s
words, Dashnakstutiun is a stable political force which never changes
its principles, irrespective of the fact if it is opposition or a
part of the authorities.

Besides, the attitude once existed towards Dashnaktsutiun gradually
changes. In H.Karapetian’s words, ARF representatives were received
well during the meeting with the people in 90s, but they used to come
up and ask at the end: "Isn’t Dashnaksutiun the people’s enemy?" In
H.Karapetian’s words, in the ideological sense, there is no serious
opposition today in Armenia like Dashnaktsutiun was once. He quoted
ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian, in whose words, if the
opposition really strives for power, it can not have a rest abroad
for months. In the ARF faction head’s words, the struggle for power
demands great offerings. "Those people must be ready for everything
but I have the impression that they are not so decisive today,"
H.Karapetian mentioned. In his words, just lack of that resoluteness
was, "maybe superfluous ambitions" that did not allow the opposition
to unite. He mentioned that it is not obligatory for the parties
making a part of the authorities to make an alliance. As for the
ARF, it has traditionally participated in the elections alone. "Our
electorate will never agree to get in with another electorate,"
ARF faction head stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

129 SPORTSMENT TO TAKE PART IN YOUTH BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Youth Boxing Championship of
Armenia will be held at the "Dinamo" gym of Yerevan on March 7-11. 129
representatives of the marzes and cities of Armenia will participate
in the competitions. The marzes of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Tavush
did not place orders.

EU SUPPORTS OSCE MG’S EFFORTS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 2 2007

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. The European Union (EU) supports the OSCE
Minsk Group’s efforts toward the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
stated at his meeting with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.

The Press and Public Relations Department, RA Government, reports
that during the meeting Peter Semneby expressed hope for success of
the negotiating process due to the efforts of all the negotiators.

The EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus has arrived for
a two-day visit to Yerevan today.

MILITARY OPERATION OF U.S. AGAINST IRAN WILL CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS FOR ARMENIA, ARMEN ASHOTIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. "In consideration of
transport-communication and energy cooperation between Armenia and
Iran, a possible military operation of U.S. against Iran may cause
great economic problems for Armenia." RA MP Armen Ashotian, Board
member of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), declared this in his
interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent. In connection with this he
mentioned the project of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, third line of
electric conductivity being built between Armenia and Iran, joint
construction of Meghri HPP on the Armenian-Iranian border, etc. In
A. Ashotian’s opinion, there is nothing to oppose to the East-West
corridor being created by Turkey and Azerbaijan except development
of our own communication programs, in which Iran plays a considerable
part. In connection with a possible military operation of U.S. against
Iran he also expressed anxiety with the fate of Armenian community of
Iran reminding that according to official data, 200-thousand Armenian
community lives in Iran. Being a religious minority, this community
nevertheless enjoys great privileges. A. Ashotian especially mentioned
the circumstance that Iran plays a very important stabilizing role in
the region, including relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In
his words, today Armenia is in a very complicated situation, as
partnership with U.S. develops rather intensively. "Can we find a
right formula in this case and can we put our problems higher than
the problems of our allies and other states? All this will depend on
the quality of our political elite, which, unfortunately, currently
is rather engaged with preelection race than analysis of possible
regional changes and their consequences for our country," A. Ashotian
declared. He also assured that necessary analysis of foreign situation
is being implemented within RPA.

ARMENIAN CB LEAVES REFINANCING RATE UNCHANGED

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 2 2007

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. On March 2, 2007, the Board of the Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA) made a decision leaving the annual refinancing
rate unchanged – 4.75%.

The CBA Board believes that inflationary pressures are maintained in
Armenia, which is accounted for by economic growth and large-scale
inflow of funds. On the other hand, the CBA Board members pointed out
that the external inflationary pressures were considerably relieved
in January-February 2007.

The CBA Board considers it possible to ensure a ±1.5% corridor within
the planned 4% inflation rate. The CBA Board intends to apply for
the revision of interest rates after the information on inflation
and economic growth has been published.

In February 2007, 0.2% inflation was recorded in Armenia compared to
January 2007, with 1.5% annual inflation recorded in February 2007
compared to February 2006.

–Boundary_(ID_VP43wiZ/e4WJcDlKUPGNcg)–

FOR THE PRESENT, NO ONE EXPELLED FROM PPA EXCEPT SMBAT YEGHIAZARIAN

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. By the decision of the Political
Board of People’s Party of Armenia (PPA), Smbat Yeghiazarian, head
of Abovian territorial organization, member of Political Board, was
expelled from the party. He had lately accused Party Chairman Stepan
Demirchian of cooperating with the authorities. PPA Spokesperson Ruzan
Khachatrian informed Noyan Tapan correspondent about it. She refuted
the information that allegedly heads of initial organizations of
Abovian region’s a number of villages have also submitted applications
on leaving the party. R. Khachatrian said that at the March 5 sitting
of Abovian territorial organization’s Board a decision was made to
continue working and preparing for the parliamentary elections. The
Board has assumed management of the territorial organization until
the election of a new secretary.

PROGRAM ON DEVELOPMENT OF TSAKHKADZOR DECLARED TOURISM CENTER TO BE COMPLETED IN 2015

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Measures of the target program
"Tsakhkadzor as Tourism Center in line with International Standars"
will continue until 2015. Mekhak Apresian, Head of the Tourism
Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development,
told this to NT correspondent. According to him, the program,
which was approved by a governmental decision on June 9, 2005,
envisages development of Tsakhkadzor infrastructures, extension
of international cooperation in the tourism sector, as well as
implementation of marketing studies and measures on creation of
Tsakhkadzor’s image – familiarization trips, creation of web sites,
publication of advertizing and informational materials in famous
periodicals, etc. He said that the Armenian government’s February 1,
2007 decision to declare Tsakhkadzor a tourism center has two goals:
first, to present to the world the traditions and unique natural
and climatic conditions of this place, secondly, to bring it in line
with international standards. "Such status will make Tsakhkadzor more
attractive for investors and donor organizations." It was mentioned
that on the initiative of Tsakhkadzor mayor’s office, more than ten
Russian tour operators and journalists paid a familiarization visit
to Tsakhkadzor in late January.

500 UNAUTHORIZED BUILDINGS DISMANTLED IN YEREVAN IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Construction done in Yerevan has become
more controllable and there are no cases of latge-scale unauthorized
construction.

Hrachia Muradian, Chief Advisor to Yerevan’s Mayor, said at the March
5 press conference that despite control, some citizens continue to
attempt unauthorized construction. According to him, 500 unauthorized
buildings were dismantled in Yerevan in 2006. There are over a
thousand unauthorized buildings in th city now. H. Muradian noted
that the mayor’s office instructed the Urban Development and Land
Supervision Department and the city municipalities to control and
prevent design violations during legal construction.

EMISSIONS FROM ALAVERDI COPPER SMELTING COMPLEX MUST BE REDUCED BY 70% BY 2009

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Sulphur dioxide emissions from the
Alaverdi Copper Smelting Complex amount to 24 thousand tons annually,
for which Armenian Copper Program (ACP) CJSC makes an environmental
protection payment of 120 mln drams (about 288 thousand USD) every
year. NT correspondent was informed from Marzpet Kamalian, Deputy
Head of the State Environmental Protection Inspection of the RA
Ministry of Nature Protection that these emissions exceed 4-8fold the
permissible norm. According to him, in 2005 ACP company presented a
5-year program of environmental protection measures, under which in
2008 the complex’s emissions shall be reduced by 10%, while starting
from January 2009 – by 70%. M. Kamalian said that if the program
obligations are not fulfilled in time, the environmemtal payment to
be made by the company will be increased several times, as a result
of which the complex will either close or be declared bankrupt. ACP
Director Gagik Arzumanian noted that the most widespread method of
reducing exhaust gases is to produce sulphuric acid from them.

However, according to him, there are no prospects of sulphuric acid
production in Armenia now because such production can be organized only
in conditions of a stable and reliable sale market. That is why the
company tries to find other solutions to this problem. In the words
of Samvel Jamalian, a resident of the city of Alaverdi, the complex
does not use titanium filters and a dam to prevent arsenic from being
poured into the Debed River. "Filters were cut and sold, while the
dam is dilapidated and nobody builds a new one," he said, adding that
in recent year cases of congenital defects and various diseases have
become frequent in Alaverdi. The ACP director explained that no filter
or other similar equipment was dismantled and sold from the enterprise
which was re-launched in late 1997. At the same time, G. Arzumanian
noted that filters do not reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide: their
main function is to clean gases of dust in order to process them. As
for the dam, according to G. Arzumanian, unlike previously, now copper
is not refined at the plant so dangerous elements, including arsenic,
remain in concentrate. That is, the company sells unrefined black
copper. "The "arsenik graveyard" in Alaverdi belongs to the former
factory and has no relation to ACP company," G. Arzumanian noted.

SHOTS FIRED INTO AIR IN ISTANBUL AFTER REQUIEM SERVICE DEVOTED TO MEMORY OF HRANT DINK

Arminfo
2007-03-05 19:40:00

Shots fired into air in Istanbul after requiem service devoted to
memory of Hrant Dink

On March 4, shots were heard near the St. Virgin Mary Church in
Istanbul, when the ceremony of the fortieth day obit of Hrant Dink,
the editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish "Agos" newspaper, had
just finished in the church.

According to Radio Liberty, the requiem service was held by Archbishop
Mesrob Mutafian, the Patriarch of Constantinople of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

At 2:15 PM, Sunday, two young men entered the yard of the church,
fired into the air and ran away. They were arrested Sunday evening
and taken to the Department of Struggle against Terrorism. The young
men’s names were published in the "Hurriet" newspaper, Monday.

To remind, Hrant Dink was murdered by 17-year old Ogyun Samast in
front of the "Agos" editorial office in Istanbul on Jan 19, 2007.