Month: April 2007

RUSSIA FM GOES TO ARMENIA FOR OFFICIAL VISIT

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
April 3, 2007 Tuesday

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov left on Tuesday for an official
visit to Armenia, where he will discuss with the Armenian leadership
ways to boost cooperation, in particular in the energy sphere, as
well as will consider regional issues.

"The implementation of agreements on the intensification of
cooperation, in particular in the fuel-and-energy sphere, reached at
talks of the two presidents" will be among the focal points on the
agenda of Lavrov’s visit, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail
Kamynin said.

"Russian-Armenian trade reached almost half-a-billion dollars in 2006,
and the amount of cumulative Russian investment in Armenia makes up
800 million dollars," the high-ranking diplomat said.

Much attention will be paid to regional issues, he added. The sides
will discuss "joint steps to improve the situation in Transcaucasia,"
the spokesman stressed.

"Within the context of discussions on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement,
the Russian side is ready to contribute to the search for a political
solution on the basis of mutually acceptable agreements between
Yerevan and Baku," he emphasized.

"We also expect to hear how the election situation in Armenia is
assessed," Kamynin added. "We expect that a parliamentary election will
be organized at a high level. We shall contribute to it by sending
to Armenia observers working within the framework of CIS and OSCE,"
the diplomat said.

The Russian foreign minister is expected to hold talks with Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan and his Armenian counterpart Vartan
Oskanyan. Lavrov is also planning to meet with Russian diaspora.

KOSOVO SCENARIO CANNOT INFLUENCE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT, ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS

Mediamax news agency
3 Apr 07

Yerevan, 3 April: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated in
Yerevan today that "Nagornyy Karabakh steadily moves along the path
of self-determination, and possible resolutions of other conflicts
cannot influence this process".

Mediamax reports that, speaking during the joint news conference with
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Vardan Oskanyan stated that
"precedents have certain importance, however each conflict should be
considered in its own context".

Commenting on the presentation of [UN envoy] Marti Ahtisaari’s report
on the Kosovo status in the UN Security Council today [3 April],
Sergey Lavrov stated that "we do not consider that the result of
the discussion is predetermined". He stressed that "Russia’s stance
has not changed: we will support only an option which will suit both
Pristina and Belgrade".

ARMENIAN PARTY TO CHANGE TACTICS AFTER LEADER’S DEATH – SPOKESMAN

Arminfo
3 Apr 07

Yerevan, 3 April: There is no split in the Republican Party of Armenia.

Despite media reports the party has not split into an old and a new
wing, the party’s press secretary Eduard Sharmazanov told a news
conference today.

The party is working with cohesiveness, decisiveness and purpose as
party leader [late Prime Minister] Andranik Margaryan bequeathed,
Sharmazanov said.

"Margaryan proved with his life that politics and morals are compatible
concepts," he said.

After Margaryan’s death the tactics of the party will change because
Margaryan had the main function as the party leader, Sharmazanov
said. However, the strategy, and moreover the ideology of the party,
will not change.

Andranik Margaryan died of a heart attack at the age of 56 on 25 March
[2007]. After his death the duties of the chairman of the Republican
Party have been assigned to the chairman of the party’s board,
Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan. The board of the party nominated
Sargsyan to the post of prime minister late at night on 2 April.

RUSSIA WANTS DEMOCRATIC ELECTION IN ARMENIA – MINISTER

Mediamax news agency
3 Apr 07

Yerevan, April 3: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated
in Yerevan today that Russia does not have any "special stance"
on the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Armenia.

Mediamax reports that Sergey Lavrov stated that "Armenia is our
friend, and we are sincerely interested that the elections are held
in accordance with generally accepted democratic norms".

The Russian foreign minister noted that the Russian side would
completely use a 10-percent quota that exists for the OSCE members
when forming observation missions. Russia will send 30 observers to
Armenia within the framework of the observation mission of the OSCE
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in the
upcoming parliamentary election in May.

FRANCE INTERESTED IN THE RAPID RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmRadio.am
04.04.2007 14:31

During the meeting with Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Lady of Azerbaijan,
President of the Heydar Aliyev Fund, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador,
and Deputy of Milli Majlis, President of the French Senate Christian
Ponslet declared that " France is interested in the rapid resolution
of the Karabakh conflict." He underlined that the ties are developing
between France and Azerbaijan in the political, economic and cultural
spheres.

For her part, Mehraban Aliyeva noted that the President of Azerbaijan
lIlham Aliyev is satisfied with the development of relations between
the two countries.

ARMENIA’S GDP GROWTH THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE CIS

ArmRadio.am
04.04.2007 14:50

Armenia is the second among the CIS countries with the growth of GNP
in January-February of the current year. This is evidenced by the
data of the Interstate Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of
Independent States.

The highest growth of GDP was registered in Azerbaijan (41.7%). Armenia
follows with 9.2% growth. The GDP growth reached 9% in Belarus, 8.8%
in Russia, 8.6% in Ukraine, 4.6% in Tajikistan and 3.6% in Kyrgyzstan.

"IN DEFENCE OF NKR ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE" IS 10

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The 10th anniversary of the "In
Defence of NKR Organization Committee" unitying 25 public-political
organizations was marked. As Aram G. Sargsian, the Organization
Committee Chairman, NA Deputy mentioned at the April 3 event, the
organization committee is a rare structure which was kept till now
almost with its initial staff.

According to the organization committee statement, they turned to
the RA National Assembly for it recognized the complete independence
of the NKR from Azerbaijan arising of the legal and international
norms. "We find that the most decisive word in the issue of outcome
of the NKR problem belongs to the Artsakh people the right of which
to be its own master was recognized on April 3, 1990, by the law "On
Settling Issues Relating to the Union Republic’s Leaving the USSR,"
is said in the statement.

"In the name of Legal Justice" film was shown during the event. In one
of its extracts A. Sargsian expressed an opinion that the NKR issue
settlement entered deadlock what is also provided by the authorities’
being corrupted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA MUST NOT OBSERVE TURKEY’S RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS SUPREMACY OF FOREIGN POLICY, RA FORMER PRIME MINISTER SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. If Russia needs that country will
demand from Armenia to "lower" the demands towards Turkey in the issue
of the Armenian Genocide recognition. Responding the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question, former RA Prime Minister Hrant Bagratian
expressed this opinion at the April 3 discussion held in the "Hayeli"
club. Arsen Ghazarian, the Chairman of the Union of Industrialists and
Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia also participated in the discussion
relating to regional problems.

In H. Bagratian’s words, the official viewpoints of Moscow which is the
strategic partner of Armenian were expressed particularly by RF Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to it, unlike the U.S. Department
of State, official Moscow did not form a clear opinion concerning the
Armenian-Turkish relations. According to H. Bagratian’s estimation,
the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottaman Turkey was recognized by
the RF State Duma within the humanitarian context in 1995 as an event
but not as "a political line." In his words, Armenia must not observe
Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a supremacy of the
foreign policy.

A. Ghazarian agreed with the former RA Prime Minister’s opinion that
as the relations with Turkey and conflicts existing in the region
have not been settled Armenia was not able to become a participant
of any oil, gas or transport project. The speakers were of the same
opinion also in the issue that in the case of promoting military
actions by the U. S. against Iran, Armenia will lose the possibility
of communicating with the world through the territory of Iran, and
will be able to do it only through the territory of Georgia.

Besides, great inflow of Iranian Armenians towards Armenia will start.

In H. Bagratian’s words, the Armenian side must either make
compromises or settle territories neighboring to Karabakh for
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. At the same time, it must state
at the international level that "we need territory for living." In
the former Prime Minister’s words, Armenia must not observe Turkey
as an enemy country and must use all possitbilities of starting a
dialogue with that country.

A. Ghazarian, being a supporter of establishing relations with Turkey,
considered possible implementation of a new genocide of Armenians in
Turkey. He reached this opinion, observing developments taking place
in Turkey during the last four years.

NEW ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC JOINT PROGRAMS CAN ALSO HAVE REGIONAL INVOLVEMENT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to development of
the Armenian-Russian mutual relations were discussed at the April
4 meeting of RA President Robert Kocharian and RF Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov. The sides appreciated the present level of cooperation
in all the directions and mentioned that it gives new possibilities of
widening the partnership. It was particularly spoken about prospects
of implementing new economic joint programs which may have not only
bilateral but also regional involvement.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, R. Kocharian and S. Lavrov also touched
upon regional problems and their possible developments, exchanged
viewpoints concerning positions of the two countries on those problems.

6TH FESTIVAL OF BRITISH FILMS STARTS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The 6th festival of British films
started on April 3 with show of The Constant Gardener film at the
Yerevan Nairi cinema.

This film was awarded prizes at different international festivals,
including the Oskar prize of the American Academy of Motion Picture
Art and Sciences, for the woman’s best minor role.

Anthony Cantor, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Great Britain to Armenia mentioned opening the festival that the goal
of the festival of British films already become traditional is to
present British best and modern films to the Armenian film lover. In
the Ambassador’s words, the festival is held in Yerevan already for
the 6th time, and in Gyumri for the 3rd time (April 5-7).

The price for tickets will make 500 drams in Yerevan. The profit got
from it will be used for charity goals. And the show of films will
be free of charge in Gyumri.

Other 4 films in English and Russian will be shown till April 7. The
films will be shown in few halls. The English shows will be accompanied
by Armenian captions.