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ARMENIAN TOURIST OPERATORS DISCONTENTED WITH TAX POLICY

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Head of the Department of Indirect
Taxes of the State Tax Sevice Andranik Muradian stated at the April 7
discussion that since 2004, tourism into Armenia has been exempt from
VAT, whereas VAT was imposed on tourism out of the country last year.
According to him, these changes aim to promote tourims. Yet this
explanation did not satisfy the members of the Armenian Union of
Tourist Operators into the Country who had initiated the discussion.
In particular, they underlined the necessity of granting certain tax
privileges to tourist operators in case of participating in exhibitions
and running advertizing campaign abroad. They expressed an opinion that
the maximum amount of representative costs per day abroad (which makes
50 thousand drams or abou 101 USD) needs reviewing. Director of the
company First Travel & Service Karen Andreasian touched upon another
sensative issue of the Armenian tourist operators. According to him,
tourist operators who own buses have to pay a fixed tax in the amount
of 120 thousand drams for renting a bus for a day. K Andreasian
stressed that this makes most tourist operators without autopark
bear part of the tax burden, which in its turn leads to an increase
in the tourism package cost. In his view, such taxation will result
in the closure of almost all the tourist agencies in Armenia. So it
was proposed that VAT should be introduced instead of the fixed tax
in case of motor transport rent. The Union’s executive director
Arayik Vardanian told NT correspondent that such discussions with
representatives of the Tax Service and other state bodies will make
it possible to solve somewhat the problems in the sphere. He said
that certain legislative improvements and a favorable investment
field are necessary to promote tourism into the country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAUGHTER COMPANY ROLLING-STOCK SET UP

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the RA Law on
Joint-Stock Companies, at the April 7 RA government sitting, a
decision was made to reorganize the CJSC Armenian Railway by means of
separation and to set up a daughter CJSC Rolling-Stock. The powers of
management of Rolling-Stock’s shares, which represent state property,
are reserved for the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication.
According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
relations between CJSC Armenian Railway as the main company and
its daughter company Rolling-Stock will regulated on the basis of
agreementss signed by them.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mullah-run Majlis Speaker Attends Pope’s Memorial Service in Tehran

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Apr 9, 2005, 17:32

Iran’s mullah-run majlis speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel known as
“Gholam Shire’i” in majlis, attended a memorial service held for
late Pope John Paul II here on Friday at Tehran’s St. Joseph Church,
IRNA reported.

In the ceremony, held by Tehran’s Assyrian Catholics, religious
authorities of the Iranian Armenian, Assyrians, Jews, Armenian deputies
in Majlis, military attache of Italy’s Embassy in Tehran and Tehrani
Catholic citizens paid tribute to the late pontiff.

In a brief interview with the reporters, Gholam Shire’i said that
the world today needs peace and justice more than anything else,
notifying that the real basis for peace and justice is believing in
God and the Resurrection Day.

He also said that that basis is common among followers of all
monotheist religions and that consolidations among followers of
various true religions would lead to prevalence of peace, justice
and freedom throughout the world.

Concerning the character of the late Pope John Paul II, the world
Catholics’ leader, Haddad Adel reminded “We respect his grave efforts
aimed at promotion of peace and justice in the world.”

Gholam Shire’i stressed that all religious minorities in he country
are fully respected and speaker that the minorities have been living
peacefully with their Muslim fellow citizens for centuries in Iran.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Turkish Blue Book
By Zeynep Ercan

The New Anatolian / Ankara
2005-04-09 18:52:15

Armenians have a “Blue Book” said to compile the evidence supporting
the so-called Armenian genocide committed by the Turks. Why can’t
the Turks have a book telling the Turkish version of events, which
reveals the truth about the Armenians and that shows how the real
massacre was done against the Turks, not the Armenians?

The “Turkish Blue Book” or, “The False Claims of the So-called
Armenian Genocide and Armenian Violence and Massacre of the Turks,”
written by Ismet Binark, was published a few weeks ago as the 16th
periodical publication of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO).

The book is 342 pages, printed on a blue-colored quality paper in
reference to the Armenian “Blue Book,” which has been harboring the
so-called Armenian genocide claims for nearly a century.

Binark is an award-winning archivist. In his book, he falsifies the
genocide claims with an extensive range of proofs including photos
and official documents.

The book is introduced by ATO Chairman Sinan Aygun, who writes,
“From the first day of its existence, Turkey has been the target
of efforts to destroy and shatter it.” In Binark’s preface to his
work he explains his principal motive for writing the book: “It’s
unacceptable and incomprehensible that some of our supposed friends
and allies expend so much effort in forcing Turkey to acknowledge
our responsibility for the so-called genocide thesis, which is not
supported by any documents.”

The book reveals the facts that there were surely Armenians who died
in southern Anatolia region in 1915, but that they died because of
the events of World War I and emigration.

Summarizing his book, Binark explains that the real massacre was
in fact committed by Armenians against innocent Turkish villagers.
Binark has this to say about the perverse distortion of the facts
regarding these events and their significance in the present time:
“The so-called Armenian genocide is sometimes brought to the table,
in both domestic or foreign politics, by so-called allies or enemies
of Turkey. There is no doubt the issue will always be part of Turkey’s
political context and an issue in Turkey’s international relations.”

He also expressed his personal viewpoint as to why someone should
learn about these events: “To be ignorant of the issue and to not
reply to these false claims is not an acceptable position given the
weight of history. It should be noted that by neglecting the massacres
of the Turks throughout history, the world ignores the common values
of humanity and kills the idea of universal justice.”

The Turkish Blue Book is a piece of art disguised in appearance as
an historical document, which should be read by everyone.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATION OF ARMENIA DISCONTENT

A1plus

| 15:18:36 | 09-04-2005 | Politics |

It is obvious that the authorities of the republic intend to combine
the referendum on constitutional amendments with the upcoming elections
to the local self-government bodies in autumn.

The Communities Association of Armenia, whose members initiated a
draft of constitutional amendments still in 1998, considers such
approach to be inadmissible. Board member of the Association, head
of the Armenian delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities of Europe, Emin Yeritsyan notes, “The government’s right
express distrust to the elected head of the community or the right
to determine the duration of his office is an example of restricting
clauses of the acting Constitution. They should be withdrawn.”

The Association members are convinced that all the three drafts of the
constitutional amendments imply serious limitations, the most important
of it regarding Yerevan. The Communities Association members hold
the opinion that the Mayor of Yerevan should be an elective person
and a two-tier government should be established.

Some balance of government is secured by the local community
council, which has not been formed in all the communities. «In small
communities this institute is acting while in larger ones it bears a
formal character. It depends on the activity of the given community
and psychology of its residents”, Emin Yeritsyan says.

Some members of the Communities Association consider that the term
of the community head should be fixed on 5 years instead of adopted
3. «The elections are held at the first and last year, thus per
se the head of the community holds the office for a year only»,
Mr. Yeritsyan explains.

The Association has a certain viewpoint as regards to the expression
of distrust to the community head. «I think that the wording
“pre-term suspension of authority” should be used instead of “pre-term
dismissal from office”. The head of the community found himself in
a very interesting situation when being controlled by the society,
the local community council and the government. The latter has the
right to undertake measures in respect of delegated authorities.

To note, the Association considers that the community head should be
empowered to apply to the Constitutional Court.

By Lena Badeyan

–Boundary_(ID_p80kLsbxBQFOj0vBdJGvRg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus

17:09:29 | 08-04-2005 | Sports |

THE FAILURE OF “PYUNIK” IN THE ARMENIAN CUP

The Armenian Champion and cup-winner “Pyunik” disqualified from the
Armenian Cup 2005. In the second match against “Kilikia” no goals
were scored, and as far as “Kilikia” had won the previous game 1:0,
they will continue to play.

The failure of “Pyunik” testifies to the fact that the team has serious
personnel problems, and with these players it cannot pass the barrier
of the first phase of the Champions League. It is difficult to say
if in the coming Championship of Armenia “Pyunik” will be invincible
or not.

It is already known that the champion will soon have a new foreign
coach who at the same time will be the coach of the National Team.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YELTSIN WAS NOT EXPECTED IN BAKU

A1plus

| 17:02:51 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

Boris Yeltsin, the first President of the Russian Federation, who
is in Azerbaijan on a 4-day visit, has announced in Baku that in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict the Russian point of view is well
known and no changes are anticipated.

It is noteworthy that the members of the Azerbaijani organization
of freeing Karabakh were against Yeltsin’s visit. The members of
the organization remind that while being President Mr. Yeltsin had
a strict attitude towards Azerbaijan.

“We must not forget that Yeltsin helped Armenia openwardly. Henceforth
his visit to Azerbaijan must be forbidden”, said Akif Nagin, head of
the organization. Nevertheless, the members of the organization have
announced that they will not organize an action against Yeltsin.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus

20:21:02 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR LEAVING ARMENIA

Today the Russian Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov rendered his last press conference as
ambassador.

By the existing criteria Dryukov has been ambassador for quite a
long time. Before leaving Armenia Anatoly Dryukov thanked all those
with whom he had worked for keeping the Armenian-Russian relationships
on a high level.

“The Russian Federation considers Armenia as an independent and
sovereign state which has its profits”, mentioned the ambassador.

By the way, the ambassador who has worked in Armenia for many years
foresaw that in the near future the starting of military actions
between Armenia and Azerbaijan is impossible.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHO IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA?

A1plus

| 20:09:18 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

In the course of spreading whispers about the coming change of
authorities gossips are heard that the Armenian Republican Party,
getting ready for special Presidential elections, already has its
candidate. According to the information the candidate is RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan. The journalists tried to clear up the
information from the Minister himself.

«We have 3 more years. Why the rush? », mentioned the Minister
without denying the news. «That the parties are getting ready for
parliamentary elections is a fact. The Republican Party is not an
exception», said Serge Sargsyan.

By the way, if there are 3 years before the Presidential elections,
the Parliamentary elections will take place in 2 years.

–Boundary_(ID_/VbcWLtL1C1cdzbjct3Dcw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRIVATE HOUSE SALE-PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS DECREASE 27.2% IN FEBRUARY COMPARED WITH SAME MONTH OF 2004

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. In February, 2005, 354 transactions
on sale and purchase of private houses were made in Armenia,
85 of which in Yerevan. The number of transactions declined 27.2%
(12.4% in Yerevan) compared with February, 2004, at the same time it
increased 18.4% compared with January, 2005 (4.9% in Yerevan, 23.4%
in the marzes). The monthly growth of 1 cubic meter of private houses
made 2%. In February, the minimum and maximum prices of a private
residential house with a 250-sq.meter building and a 400-sq.meter
personal plot made in Yerevan communities: Kentron – $255-1,000,
Arabkir – $205-900, Kanaker-Zeytun – $140-360, Nork-Marash – $120-550,
Avan – $125-280, Erebuni – $130-320, Davtashen – $140-700, Shengavit –
$125-350, Ajapniak – $125-320.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress