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IN MID APRIL ARMENIAN PEACE-KEEPING UNIT’S ROTATION TO TAKE PLACE IN KOSOVO

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Deputy Minister of Defence Artur
Aghabekian stated at the April 6 press conference the Armenian
peace-keeping unit will arrive in Yerevan from Kosovo on April 13,
while the next unit will go to Kosovo on April 14. Deputy Minister told
reporters that no incident occured during the Armenian peace-keepers’
activities in Iraq. According to Artur Aghabekian, Armenia will
submit its proposals to NATO with respect to participation in the
NATO Individual Partnership Activities Program until late April. The
speaker noted that each country decides itself on the form of its
participation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER REPRESENTS SITUATION IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TO LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 6, Vartan Oskanian,
RA Foreign Minister, received Gediminas Kirkilas, Lithuanian
Defence Minister. Issues of mutual interest were discussed during
the meeting. The importance of cooperation between the 2 countries
within the framework of development of European integration of South
Caucasian countries was discussed. Mentioning Armenia’s progress
in this direction, in particular, in the issue of preparation of
the Country Action Plan aimed at extension of relations with NATO
and EU-Armenia action plan in the “European Neighborhood” policy,
the interlocutors mentioned Luthuania’s connecting role between the
region and these structures. According to the Press Service of RA
Foreign Ministry, the sides also touched upon a number of regional and
international issues. V.Oskanian represented the current situation in
Karabakh settlement to the Lithuanian Minister. Mentioning that the
conflict can’t have a military settlement, the interlocutors expressed
anxiety in connection with the recent violations of cease-fire regime
on the contact-line.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“Vision International People Group” Opens Its Base In Armenia

YEREVAN, April 6. /ARKA/. A delegation of the “Vision International
People Group” company and the MISSIA International Benevolent
Fund is to arrive in Armenia today. The Armenian office of the
“Vision International people Group” company reports that the
delegation is headed by the President of the MISSIA Fund and wife
of the President of the “Vision International People Group” company
Margarita Buryak. The main goal of the visit is opening the “Vision”
company’s base in Armenia as well as holding a charity action of
the “Zatik” children’s home. The delegation is scheduled to hold
meetings at the RA presidential residence, Holy Echmiadzin, as well
as to visit the Memorial to the victims of the Armenia Genocide of
1915. A stand and the “Vision Lane” are to be opened at the Yerevan
Botanical Gardens. The delegation of the “Vision” company is also to
hold a presentation-exhibition at the RA National Academy of Sciences.

The “Vision International People Group” company was founded on
July 14, 1996, and is one of the world largest companies producing
healthcare goods. The main directions of the company’s activities
are bioactive additives, curative cosmetics, clothing, aromatic
cosmetics. The company’s strategic partner is one of the largest
cosmetics-producers “Arkopharma”, in cooperation with which the
“Vision” company constructed the “Nuripharma” factory in Ireland. The
company currently has official representative offices in Russia,
Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary,
Czechia, Poland, Bulgaria.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT TO HOLD ‘WIDE DISCUSSIONS’ AROUND NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE

Azg/arm
7 April 05

On May 6, they are going to hold “wide discussions” around the Nagorno
Karabakh issue in the parliament of Azerbaijan. Mediamax informed
that Murtuz Aleqserov, head of the Azeri parliament, said that the
morning and the evening sittings of that day will be dedicated to the
discussion of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. He said they are going to
discuss the report of the OSCE Fact-Finding Mission, the policy of
inhabiting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenians, the facts of “planting
drugs in the occupied territories, as well as the policy of terror
conducted against the Azeris.”

It is envisaged to adopt a statement as a result of the discussions
and send it to the UN and other international organizations.

It’s worth mentioning that on May 29-30 hearings on the Nagorno
Karabakh issue were held at RA National Assembly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ELEMENTS OF PACKAGE AND STAGE-BY-STAGE SOLUTION VARIANTS TO BE CONSIDERED

Azg/arm
7 April 05

Kazimirov Describes Today’s Process as ‘Dead Standstill’

If the package solution of Karabakh issue was the only alternative
for the Armenian side for the last years, then today elements of
stage-by-stage solution are in process of discussion, Vladimir
Kazimirov said yesterday at discussions organized by Cooperation
for Open Society NGO and Yerevan Press Club. Former Russian OSCE
co-chair’s opinion is based on the hearings on Karabakh issue at the
National Assembly of Armenia on March 29-30.

The foreign minister of Armenia stated during the hearings that the
elements of both package and stage-by-stage solution are on the
table of discussions, “including the political status of Nagorno
Karabakh”. Vartan Oskanian labeled the present stage of settlement
process a “tough stage” and reconfirmed, in fact, that the solution
cannot be only that of package. Official Yerevan gave up demanding
exclusively package solution according to which all issues – the
status of Karabakh, neighboring territories, return of refugees,
guarantees for security – are to be solved by one package.

“If people wish to choose the stage-by-stage solution this issue needs
really to be discussed in the parliament and then tell the authorities
that we lose our time and that we should take the stage-by-stage
solution. All variants are just variants. I treat none of them as
traitorous or heroic. The issue needs to be solved”, Vartan Oskanian
said to a press conference on December 13, 2004.

How close are the sides to the resolution? The Russian co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk group told the Liberty Radio on the eve that the Minsk
group prepared a new package of suggestions that will be put before
Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev and “everything now depends on the
presidents’ decision”. “We have reached to a point that a high-level
political decision needs to be taken, and the two presidents have to
give clear orders to their foreign ministers”, Yuri Merzlyakov said.

The Foreign Ministry of Armenia is unaware what stands for the
Russian co-chair’s optimism. The Minsk group will meet Armenian
and Azeri presidents separately in London on April 15. The press
secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparian, told daily Azg
that the meeting of Oskanian and Mamediarov “is not envisaged, there
is no arrangements”. Apparently, the Minsk group will hand out the
“new package of suggestions” in London.

Former Russian Minsk group co-chair, Vladimir Kazimirov, does not
agree at all that the sides are close to settlement. Conversely, he
thinks that the process is in “dead standstill”. Instead, Kazimirov
offers his own solution variant of small packages – “the guarantee
plan”. Kazimirov considers the package solution an ideal one but
emphasizes that it is unreal.

Official Yerevan occasionally states that it will reach recognition
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. So, Oskanian noted on December
22 of 2004 that, “The realization of Karabakh’s self-determination
right may be not immediate”. Logically this mean that the status of
Karabakh is being left over for the future and the other key issues
– neighboring territories, refugees, guarantees for security – are
being settled separately.

Concerning a possible referendum in Nagorno Karabakh, Vladimir
Kazimirov who has been looking into the Karabakh issue since 1992
thinks that “the referendum is the last way out” when all other means
are used up. Meanwhile he asks when the referendum will take place,
in 5, 10 years, who will take part and similar questions.

By Tatoul Hakobian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO USA MEETS WITH CONDOLEEZZA RICE

   WASHINGTON, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian embassy in the USA said
on April 5, 2005, Ambassador Tatoul Margarian met with Secretary of
State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, and presented the copy of the credentials
accrediting him as Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the United States of America.
   During the meeting with Dr. Rice, issues of mutual interest to the
United States and Armenia, such as U.S.-Armenian bilateral relations,
and regional developments and challenges were discussed.
   Ambassador Margarian expressed gratitude for the continuous
support of the United States Government since Armenia’s independence
and for constructive involvement of the United States in the
settlement of regional problems, and expressed his readiness to exert
every effort to enhance the bilateral relations and partnership
between the United States and Armenia.

–Boundary_(ID_ZHuciFTP+oy3t+wwO/c9vw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lithuanian DM believes his country should recognize Armenian Genocide

06.04.2005  17:29    

YEREVAN (YERKIR)- Lithuanian Defense Minister Gedeminas Kirkilas,
accompanied with Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian and top army
officers, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial of Genocide Victims
to pay his respects, Armenpress reported.

“We the politicians should make sure that genocides are not repeated,”
Kirkilas said, adding that it should be condemned by all. He also noted
that no document on the Armenian Genocide is in official circulation
in Lithuania but as a politician he believes that the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by Lithuania would be right.

–Boundary_(ID_TblFpWGm3bWWYyA3p3C/IQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AUTHORIZED CAPITAL OF SIL INSURANCE TOTALS 231.5 MLN AMD

YEREVAN, APRIL 5. ARMINFO. Apr 1 the authorized capital of Sil
Insurance, one of the leading Armenian insurance companies, was
increased nearly fourfold to 231.5 mln AMD, says the company’s director
Levon Mamikonyan.

In 2004 the volume of the company’s insurance premiums grew by 35%
to 234 mln MD. The volume of compensations totalled 32.6 mln AMD –
100% growth against 2003 with the planned level being 79.5 mln AMD. In
2004 the company made 1,099 contracts worth a total of 57 bln AMD.
The net profit fell by 12% to 15.3 mln AMD against 17.4 mln AMD
in 2003 – this because of big volume of compensation. In 2004 the
company dealt with 94 insurance cases against 43 ones in 2003. In
several indices the company has gone 1-2 ranks up.

Mamikonyan says that Sil Insurance continues leading in car
insurance. Last year the company insured 2,960 cars with 452 contracts
made. In 2004 the company increased the number of realty deals –
540 against 183 in 2003. The growth in realty insurance is due to
developing mortgage crediting in Armenia, says Mamikonyan.

Cargo insurances is third in number of deals. In 2002 and 2003 the
company tested this product and in 2004 entered the open market –
95 deals in 2004 against 37 ones in 2003. 99% of the deals are for
international cargo operations. Yerevan Brandy Company, US Embassy
in Armenia, Ararat Cement Plant, Noy Wine-Brandy Plant and other big
companies are Sil Insurance’s clients in the sphere.

In 2004 the company reinsured 88.7% of insurance risks against 90%
in 2003. In reinsurance Sil Insurance cooperates with HSBC Brokers,
TRYG Baltika, Rosgosstrakh, Ingosstrakh and one of the biggest
reinsurance companies in the world French SCOR

Concerning plans Mamikonyan says that this year the company is going to
start providing travel and medical insurance services. Travel insurance
is yet a small market in Armenia. This is a very painstaking business,
says Mamikonyan. This market has been small because an average of
2,000 people have travelled outside the country until recently. But now
the interest is beginning to grow as is the number of travelers abroad.

In Armenia Sil Insurance actively cooperates with Armeconombank,
Artsakh and Prometey banks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian, Belgian MPs discuss ties

Arminfo, Yerevan
4 Apr 05

Yerevan, 4 April: Armenian MPs met a delegation of the Chamber of
Deputies of the Belgian parliament led by its chairman Herman de Croo
in an extended format at the National Assembly today.

On behalf of all Belgian MPs, Herman de Croo expressed readiness to
help Armenian delegations in international structures, the National
Assembly’s press service has told Arminfo. Croo said that Armenia was
an important country in the South Caucasus and added that Belgium was
interested in its democratic and economic development. He welcomed
Armenia’s readiness to establish friendly relations with all countries
in the region and said this would guarantee the development of the
region. Croo said that all political forces of his country were
represented in the delegation, which was a rarity.

For his part, Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan thanked
the Belgian parliament for the recognition of the Armenian genocide
back in 1998. Bagdasaryan said Armenia attaches great importance to
the visit by the Belgium delegation. He said this was the first high
level visit by a Belgian delegation to Armenia. Bagdasaryan expressed
the hope that the visit would give a boost to the development of
Armenian-Belgian relations.

The speaker also talked about the great importance of Belgium’s help
in getting Armenia involved in the EU’s New Neighborhood policy.

Touching on regional processes, Bagdasaryan pointed to Armenia’s
attempts to forge friendly relations with all countries of the region
and its readiness to resolve all issues through negotiations. However,
not always do the neighbors respond positively, he said.

By participating in the South Caucasus parliamentary initiative
along with Georgia and Azerbaijan, Armenia hopes for the creation of
a parliament of the South Caucasus countries which will serve as an
arena for discussing regional issues, Bagdasaryan said.

[Passage omitted: Armenia wants to integrate into Europe]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA STANDING COMMITTEE INTENDS TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF INCLUDING ELECTORAL
CODE DRAFT REFORMS ON NA PLENARY SITTING AGENDA

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The NA Standing Committee on State and
Legal Affairs plans to discuss at the April 8 sitting the issue of
including two draft laws on amendments and additons to the Electoral
Code on the agenda of the NA plenary sittings. The draft to be debated
in the second reading has not been brought to its final form on April
5. In particular, the disputable issue of electoral commissions’
forming is absent. The proportional-majoritarian ratio has already
been included in the draft. It envisages to elect 70% of the overall
number of deputies by the proportional electoral system, while 30%
– by the majoritarian system. The second draft to be debated was
prepared by the head of the deputy group “People’s Deputy” Karen
Karapetian. The draft, which was put into circulation relatively
recently – on November 24, 2004, proposes setting the above ratio at
60% to 40%. In addition, it is proposed that a representative of each
NA deputy group be included in the electoral commissions.