Month: April 2007

RF FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SERGEY IVANOV ARRIVES IN ARMENIA ON WORKING VISIT ON APRIL 10

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. First Deputy Prime Minister of
the Russian Federation Sergey Ivanov will arrive in Armenia on a
two-day working visit on late April 10. RF Minister of Transport,
Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on
Economic Cooperation Issues Igor Levitin and other officials will
also arrive in Yerevan in the delegation staff.

S. Ivanov’s meetings with RA President Robert Kocharian and Prime
Minister Serge Sargsian are scheduled for the same day.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information and
Public Relations Department, S. Ivanov and the delegation headed by
him will visit during the day Kanaker No21 secondary school of the
Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DELEGATION OF PACE INTERIM OBSERVATION COMMITTEE TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON APRIL 10

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe interim observation committee on
parliamentary elections in Armenia arrives in Yerevan on April 10. Leo
Platvoet (Netherlands), George Colombier (France), Bernard Market
(Monaco), Ewald Lindinger (Austria) are involved in the delegation
staff.

The delegation’s meetings with the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission
head in Yerevan and RA Central Electoral Commission Chairman are
envisaged on April 11.

The delegation members will have meetings on the same day in the
Council of Europe office with representatives of public organizations
and mass media, ambassadors of the Council of Europe member countries.

Members of the PACE interim committee headed by Leo Platvoet will have
meetings on April 12 with representatives of factions and groups at
the National Assembly. Meetings with representatives of the "Bargavach
Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia), "Zharangutiun" (Heritage) parties
and "Aylentrank" (Alternative) political movement are scheduled
for the same day. Meetings are also envisaged with members of the
Constitutional Court and the head of the RA Ombudsman’s Office staff.

The Chairmen of the RA Radio and Television National Committee
and Television and Radio Company Council, Justice Minister Davit
Haroutiunian and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian will
receive the delegation on April 13.

NA Speaker Tigran Torosian will receive the delegation at the National
Assembly. RA President Robert Kocharian will receive the delegation
members on the same day. A meeting with Central Electoral Commission
Chairman Garegin Azarian is also envisaged.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA NA
Public Relations Department, results of the PACE observation group’s
visits will be summed up at the press conference to take place at
the National Assembly.

The delegation will leave Yerevan on April 14.

CAR OF ONE OF CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTY REGISTERED AT ETCHMIADZIN ELECTORAL DISTRICT No19 FIRED, ANOTHER’S PRE-ELECTORAL OFFICE TAKES FIRE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. An armed attack took place at the
night of April 7-8 upon the car of RPA member Hakob Hakobian (Choyt),
a candidate nominated at Etchmiadzin electoral district No19 by the
majoritarian electoral system. The pre-electoral office of another
candidate registered at the mentioned electoral district, non-partisan
Susanna Haroutiunian took fire on the same day.

As H. Hakobian informed Radio Liberty, the attack took place at about
the midnight when he visited with his friend one of his structures
in the village of Zvartnots. In his words, 20-30 bullets hit the car.

Responding the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question, Sona Truzian,
the Press Secretary of the RA Prosecutor General affirmed that they
shot the BMW car belonging to the deputy’s brother which was used by
H. Hakobian. She also mentioned that a criminal action was brought
on the occasion of the case.

In S. Haroutiunian’s words, 4 rooms of her pre-electoral office took
fire in the morning, at about 4 o’clock. In her opinion, the organizer
of the fire was her rival Sedrak Saroyan.

To recap, other 2 candidates, former commander of the 4th army corps
of the Armed Forces of Armenia, General S. Saroyan and member of the
Republican Party of Armenia, assistant to Arabkir community head,
nominated by the civil initiative Hakob Hakobian, are also registered
at Etchmiadzin No 19 electoral district. S. Saroyan was nominated by
the Republican Party, other candidates were nominated by the civil
initiative.

START OF ARF PRE-ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED ON YEREVAN AZNAVOUR SQUARE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. At the threshold of the May 12
parliamentary elections the ARF announced start of its pre-electoral
campaign on the Yerevan Charles Aznavour square. As Armen Rustamian,
a representative of the ARF Armenia Supreme Body, the Chairman of
the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations mentioned, the ARF,
participating uninterruptedly for the 3rd time in the NA elections
by the proportional electoral system, the previous time as well held
the first event of its campaign on the same square. In his words,
it has its symbolism: the party may meet with the people with open
forehead, responding for what it did and did not do.

In A. Rustamian’s words, the coming elections are unprecendeted ones:
"we shall really solve the issue of formation of the authorities,"
and the most important thing is to pass this goal to the people. In
his words, the ARF has a task to inspire people with confidence of
safety and security what is missing at present. It was also mentioned
that sensitive stability existed in Armenia that’s why the party kept
itself restrained in many issues.

ARF Bureau member, NA Deputy Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian in his turn
welcame the new period of time which, in his opinion, will open on
May 12. In his words, the authorities at present "have many obliged
friends" but the people must turn its face upon the authorities to be
formed as a result of the elections. He also mentioned that "there
are no invented, false, sham biographies" in the ARF proportional
list in which, by the way, non-ARF members are involved, either.

NA ARF faction head Hrayr Karapetian re-affirmed that the party has
always been for the principle of the parliament’s being formed by
100% proportional electoral system, but had to compromise. He also
reminded the voters that there are people who strive for appearing
at the parliament at any cost to insure their business, to make laws
serve their interests, and that means that it will not be possible
to solve social problems tomorrow. H. Karapetian assured that the ARF
is decisive in the issue of continuing its numerous half-implemented
programs.

"We expect hard work to win together," ARF Bureau representative Hrant
Margarian stated. He assured that the ARF will not give electoral
bribe and he himself is sure that the party will have the people’s
vote as the ARF was not identified with the bad and kept its face.

Patriotic songs and ones dedicated to the ARF were performed after
each of the speakers’ speeches, and the event was completed by a
concert program.

MORE AZERIS WANT A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT TO KARABAKH ISSUE

ARMENPRESS
Apr 10 2007

BAKU, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: A public opinion poll conducted by a
controversial Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) among residents
of Azerbaijani capital Baku has found that 51 percent of Azeris would
prefer to take up arms ‘to liberate’ their lands, which are under
Armenian ‘occupation."

The portion of those who would prefer a peaceful settlement to the
dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh is 41 percent, while 8
percent were uncertain.

The proponents of the military way of settling the conflict are mainly
young men.

KLO experts said the number of people wishing a peaceful settlement
has grown over their previous survey, but they attribute it to what
they termed as ‘weak patriotic propaganda.’

HAYASTAN FUND BRINGS WATER TO MARDAKERT

ARMENPRESS
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund said
today it has brought daily water to more than 600 inhabitants of the
frontier Vaghuhas Village of the Martakert Region.

Today Vaghuhas has a 9-km pipeline, 4 water-receiving stations,
and a reservoir with a capacity to store 50m3 of water. The old
internal distribution network has been fully renovated. The project
was implemented with the allocations of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Argentina local committee and funds raised during the 2005-Telethon.

Vaghuhas and the neighboring villages were almost entirely deprived
of drinking water. The villagers received water a few hours a week
while some 95 families had no water at all. The Vaghuhas water supply
network was built in 1975 and had never been repaired. The pipelines
and internal distribution network had in time decayed and deteriorated.

Water supply issues are issues of great urgency for Nagorno-Karabakh
in general. The Karabakh independence war greatly damaged the border
Region of Martakert and currently its infrastructures need serious
reconstruction.

In the framework of the Artsakh Revival project, launched in 2006, by
the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, 60 rural communities of the Martakert
Region are gradually coming back to life. With funds raised during the
2005 telethon, along with the Vaghuhas water supply, the All-Armenian
Fund brought natural gas to the village of Aradjadzor. Now the 850
inhabitants of the village enjoy the comfort of having natural gas
in their homes.

In 2006, another project started and is underway to improve the network
supplying water to Martakert, and the villages of Mets Shen, Maghavuz,
and Varnkatagh.

A new 30-km water-main will be connected to the pipelines of these
three villages ensuring drinking water for the population of Martakert
and the three neighboring villages, to a population of overall 5,160
people. The project is carried out with means allocated by the Fund’s
French local committee and donations gathered during the 2005 Telethon.

In 2007, an important water supply renovation project started in
the Vank Village with a population of 1,450. The villagers have
water only a few hours a week. The water spring runs out from the
nearest hills. The existing distribution network was built in 1958
and currently is in desperate conditions.

In Vank Village, a 5-km new pipeline will be constructed and the 7-km
internal distribution network will be restored with the donations
made by the Fund’s local committees of France and East Coast USA,
as well as the St. Sarkis Charitable Fund of Great Britain and the
people of Armenia. Due to the new reservoir, nearly 370 families will
be provided with water.

Beginning from this year, the Artsakh Revival project has started at
full gear in the Hadrut region as well. You can be informed about the
works carried out for construction of gas and water supply networks, as
well as health care institutions and schools in our upcoming reports.

"Hayastan" All Armenian Fund is a non-profit organization established
in 1992 with the aim of facilitating humanitarian assistance and
infrastructure development in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The Fund
has 19 affiliate structures worldwide.

"PARLIAMENT ELECTED THROUGH FALSIFICATIONS IS IMMORAL," PP CHAIRMAN TIGRAN KARAPETIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. "We expect honest and fair
parliamentary elections, for which our party will do its best," Tigran
Karapetian, Chairman of People’s Party, stated at the April 10 press
conference adding that "stormy struggle will go on, especially in
the majoritarian system." As Chairman of People’s Party estimated,
"holding falsified elections is immorality and the parliament elected
in this way is immoral."

Saying that the motto of People’s Party is "The people is our partner,"
T. Karapetian said that in difference to some parties, People’s Party
has worked with the people for five years and has its co-thinkers. "I
do not know with whom they have worked and on whose ideology they
rely," T. Karapetian said. In his opinion, many people were laughing
at his centripetal position formerly, while today all forces have
become centripetal. Besides, in his words, the People’s Party has
been engaged in charity in all past five years and not only in the
preelection period. T. Karapetian called the people "for demanding
fair elections and not yielding to pressures and electoral bribes."

Touching upon the preelection program of the party headed by him, T.
Karapetian said that it has three pivotal points: "moderate
privatization, development of industry, which in its turn, will
contribute to creation of new jobs, and all-round mechanization
of agriculture."

In response to the question, how many votes the People’s Party will
receive at the forthcoming parliamentary elections, T. Karapetian
answered smiling: "Only God and Serge Sargsian know this."

PSRC APPROVES AEN INVESTMENT PROGRAM

ARMENPRESS
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory
Commission (PSRC) has approved today the investment program of the
Armenian Electrical Networks (AEN) company for 2007-2009, whereby
the Russian-owned company has pledged to spend a total of 27 billion
Drams in the next three years to upgrade one of the biggest power
grid facilities of the country.

Yury Gavrilenko, an official of the AEN, owned by a subsidiary of
the Russian Unified Energy Systems (UES), said the company plans
to invest 12,2 billion Drams this year to upgrade the facility and
improve its safety operation.

AEN was sold to Interenergo BV, a subsidiary of the Unified Energy
Systems (UES), Russia’s main power utility, for $73 million.

Before the sale it was owned by a British-registered Midland Resources
Holding Ltd, which bought the energy distributing networks at $37
million in 2002. The Armenian government expected at that time the
privatization to put an end to huge annual losses, about $50 million,
at the state-run enterprise.

ATG TO TEST NEW VARIETIES OF HARICOT, MAIZE AND SUDAN GRASS

ARMENPRESS
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS; The Armenian Technology Group (ATG),
a non-profit organization, based in Fresno, California, USA, will
implement this year a pilot program in Ararat, Tavush and Armavir
regions to test three American species of haricot.

The Yerevan Office of the ATG said three species had been tested
already last year yielding a very good outcome and bringing substantial
profits to farmers who planted it on their lands.

Also two varieties of American lentils will be planted in these areas
this year to see what they would yield. The ATG plans also to test
three verities of American maize which would be used as fodder.

Apart form that the ATG will plant five hectares of land with Sudan
grass in Yeghegnadzor as fodder and the yield will be given to a goat
farm established there with the help of the USDA.

ARMENIAN PREMIERE OF VERDI’S NABUCCO OPERA TO MARK 70th FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF STATE ACADEMIC CHOIR OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian premiere of Verdi’s
Nabucco opera will take place with concert performance of the State
Academic Choir of Armenia on April 19, at the Aram Khachaturian concert
hall. It will be dedicated to the 70th foundation anniversary of the
choir. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Hovhannes
Chekijian, the choir artistic head and director, USSR People’s Artist,
the choir performed Nabucco still in 1985, in Leningrad.

In his words, the series of events dedicated to the jubilee of
the choir will start in Yerevan and the marzes with the April 19
concert. H. Chekijian stated that it is envisaged to organize one
concert of spiritual music at the Yerevan Saint Gregory the Illuminator
church if Karekik II Catholicos of All Armenians gives his agreement.

The State Academic Choir of Armenia was founded in 1937. H. Chekijian
has headed the choir since 1961. During the latter’s officiating,
the choir only abroad had more than a thousand of concerts.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress