Author: Badalian Vardan

ARONYAN IS AGAIN CHAMPION
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
The Armenian chess player Levon Aronyan, champion of the Chess
Olympiad, won Mainz Open Chess 960 tournament, the news agency ARKA
reports.
Formerly Aronyan took part in this tournament but was not successful.
This time Levon Aronyan defeated Peter Svidler, Russia 5:3, whom he
had lost 3.5:4.5 last time.
Mainz Open Chess 960is was established in 1996 by the former chess
champion Bobby Fischer. The rules of the tournament initiated by
Bobby Fischer are the same except for the arrangement of chess pieces
at the start of the game. Fischerandom Chess Computerized Shuffler
shuffles the classical position of pieces just before the start of
the game. And the number 960 in the name of the tournament shows the
possible starting positions.

RUSSIA RE-DEPLOYS ITS MILITARY HARDWARE FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA
ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug. 17, 2006
TBILISI, August 17 (Itar-Tass) – A convoy of 13 tracked vehicles and
trucks will leave the Russian military base in Akhalkalaki, Georgia,
on Thursday and will head for a military base in Gyumri in Armenia.
This is the 12th and the last shipment of Russian military hardware
from Akhalkalaki base to be re-deployed in Armenia, the Akhalkalaki
base headquarters told Itar-Tass. Most Russian military hardware and
weapons from the Akhalkalaki base are being sent to Russia, the rest
will be delivered by truck convoys to Gyumri.
Russia plans to complete its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki before the
end of 2007 and close the base a year later in 2008.

RA PRESIDENT EXPECTS FROM NEWLY APPOINTED JUDGES HONEST AND IMPARTIAL WORK
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Oath ceremony of
Armen Khachatrian and Rafik Melkonian, the newly appointed judges
of the Court of First Instance of the marz of Tavush took place
at the August 14 sitting of the Justice Council, in RA President’s
presence. Undertaking the high post of a judge, they took the oath to
subject only to the Constitution and laws when implementing justice,
to be impartial and principal, just and humanist, to keep high the
authority of the state and court. According to the information
submitted to Noyan Tapan from the RA President’s Press Office,
congratulating the newly appointed judges, Robert Kocharian said that
he expects from them honest, impartial and principal work.

ANNUAL GROWTH OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION IN ARMENIA OVER LAST FEW YEARS 30%
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 14, 2006
YEREVAN, August 14. /ARKA/. Over the last few years, the annual growth
of major construction in Armenia amounts to 30%, Armenian Minister
of Urban Development Ara Harutunyan told journalists on the occasion
of the celebration of the Day of Builder in Armenia on August 13.
He pointed out that over the last five-six years, serious construction
companies have appeared in Armenia, receive applications for serious
construction both inside and outside the country.
“You know what we have inherited, and in what sad plight there
construction companies were. That is why, a situation that could
allow implementation of construction work should have been created,”
the minister said.
Harutunyan said that this sector is distinguished not only
by highly-skilled specialists, but also by being technically
well-equipped. In this context, he pointed out the significance of
continuing investment programs.
“Construction is a business, and one should gain profit here and make
investments in it,” the minister said.
According to the National Statistical Service, the major construction
in Armenia in January-June 2006 totaled AMD 165,624.9mln, 31.8%
increase compared with January-June 2005.

“If We Can’t Use Our Fleet at a Time of Crisis, What’s the Point of
Keeping It There?”

ArmRadio.am
12.08.2006 14:12
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee and the head of
the State Duma Working Group on Legislative Support for the Operation,
Financial Welfare and Social Guarantees of Military Servicemen,
Civilian Personnel and Their Dependents, Mikhail Babich, speaks in an
interview with Gazeta correspondent Madina Shavlokhova about how the
legislative branch plans to solve the problems facing the military.
Q: How many military bases does Russia have in the near abroad now?
A: There are three to four bases in Central Asia. There are bases in
Armenia, Belarus and Ukraine. The Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed
in Sevastopol.
Q: Has the status of our bases outside the country been determined?
A: Yes. There are international agreements ratified by the parliaments
of all countries where we have our military contingents. Everything is
all right with their legal status. But there are some problems in
details.
Q: Where do we have most of all problems?
A: In Ukraine. But politics have nothing to do with this. There are
other reasons that come to the fore. For example, the size of the
lease payment for the use of the Black Sea Fleet’s base.
Q: Wasn’t the size of the lease payment determined in the middle of
the 1990s when the agreement on the division of the Black Sea Fleet
between Russia and Ukraine was signed?
A: It was. We divided the Fleet in accordance with the previously
agreed-upon terms. The size of the lease payment was determined in
1997. But today our Ukrainian colleagues say the economic situation
has changed and the lease payment should be much higher. This is wrong
because Russia, as a legal successor to the Soviet Union, assumed many
obligations and honors them. Our position is clear: increasing the
lease payment for the Black Sea Fleet’s base is out of the
question. One must not forget whose financial resources have been
invested in the development of this base and who paid Ukraine’s debts
to the European Union for the use of the Black Sea.
Q: Is this where our disagreements with Ukraine end?
A: I wish it were so! There are many disagreements over social
guarantees to military servicemen, the privatization of their housing,
and dual citizenship of our military. The State Duma Defense
Committee, jointly with the Defense Ministry of Russia, has prepared
two bills: “On Social Guarantees for Military Servicemen Undergoing
Military Service in Military Units of the Russian Federation Stationed
in the Territories of the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and
Kyrgyzstan, and Civilian Personnel of These Units” and “On the Terms
of Mandatory Pension, Social, and Health Insurance of Civilian
Personnel, Members of Military Families within Military Units of the
Russian Federation Deployed in the Territories of CIS Member States.”
The first bill has gone through all stages approval in the government
and will be submitted to the State Duma this fall. The draft budget
for 2007 already envisages funds for its implementation. The second
bill has not yet been discussed with ministries.
Q: Several years ago our ships stationed in the Sevastopol Bay were
not let out to take part in military exercises. Has anything changed?
A: We no longer have such acute situations. But then, the Fleet is
different and Russia’s policy is tougher. I can hardly imagine any
forces trying to prevent our Fleet from carrying out its missions. And
yet from time to time there emerge different frictions over the use of
military infrastructure, airspace or training ranges.
Q: Can the Russian Fleet be used for psychological pressure in an
international conflict, for example in the Georgian-Abkhazian
conflict?
A: This is one of the disputable issues. For example, there is an
emergency situation where the Fleet has to be used for its direct
purpose. Our Ukrainian colleagues think that if Ukraine assumes a
neutral position in such a conflict, Russia may not use its Black Sea
Fleet. And if Russia does otherwise, Ukraine will press for an early
withdrawal of the Russian Fleet from its territory. A fleet or any
military unit is deployed in a certain place in order to be used in
the interests of the state wherever necessary. There are relevant
international practices. If we cannot use our fleet at a time of
crisis, what’s the point of keeping it there.”
Official Kremlin Int’l News Broadcast
August 10, 2006 Thursday

75. 689 ArCa Plastic Cards In Circulation In Armenia

ArmRadio.am
11.08.2006 16:51
In the 2nd quarter pf 2006, the number of local cards “Armenian Card”
(ArCa) in circulation increase by 10,714 or 1.16 times and reached
75,689 at the end of June, 2006, Armenian ARKA News Agency reported.
The Payment and Information System Development Department and the
Settlement System Department, Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) report
that During the period under review, a total of 331,729 transactions
worth AMD 9,828mln were effected by means of ArCa cards – an AMD
2,734mln or 1.31-time increase in volume, and 63,030 or 1.23-time
increase in the number of transactions.
Two transactions were effected a month on the average, with the
average volume of one transaction being AMD 29,000 – an AMD 2,000
increase compared to the 1st quarter of 2006.
The average share of one cash dispenser was 714 ArCa cards. A total of
106 cash dispensers served ArCa cards.At the end of the 2nd quarter of
2006, 19 commercial banks issued and served plastic cards in Armenia,
17 of them were members of the ArCa system.
During the period under review, the total volume of transactions by
means of all types of plastic cards was AMD 30,944, with the number
reaching 719,878. a total o 176,104 plastic cards were in circulation
at the end of June 2006, 19,430 more than at the beginning of the 2nd
quarter of 2006. ($1 – AMD 399.66)

NO APPEALS FROM NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO ERMITAJ
Author: A. Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006
No appeals from Nagorno-Karabakh concerning the displays put in the
Russian State Museum of Ermitaj have not been received, the Chief of
the Press Centre of Ermitaj Larisa Karabelnikova told Trend.
According to her, the museum which has collected more than 3 million of
exhibits does not have any separate exhibitions devoted to Azerbaijan,
particularly to Nagorno-Karabakh.
“These are ancient exhibits, and they belong to the Department
of East. The period they belong to there were neither exhibits of
Nagorno-Karabakh nor other countries “, she stressed. She also pointed
out that if Armenians decide to dispute these exhibits, then experts`
and arts critics` involving to this process will be needed.
It should be noted that according to the Informational Agency of
REGNUM, the Director of the so-called Artsakh Historic Museum of
Local Lore Melanya Balayan told that in the Depertment of Azerbaijan
of X-VII Centuries BC of Ermitaj, a golden seal found on the territory
of the Village of Arachadzor of Mardakert District of Nagorno-Karabakh
was put. Nagorno-Karabak was marked as the place where this seal was
found, and in this connection the Armenian party corresponds with
the Ermitaj Board.
In his turn, the Director of the Department of Policy and Culture
of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Republic Fikret
Babayev told Trend that such an appeals are not of significance. F.
Babayev thinks that everybody including a natural person has a right
to apply to Ermitaj. On F. Babayev`s opinion, such an appeals cannot
be the cause of disputing of ancient exhibits.

KASPRZYK AND THE AZERBAIJANI PROPAGANDA
Lragir.am
10 Aug 06
Andrzej Kasprzyk, the special representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, refuted several directions of the Azerbaijani
propaganda machine in an interview with the news agency Trend. In
particular, he mentioned that in the beginning of this year the
situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani front line was tense, while in
May it became quiet. According to Kasprzyk, as a result of skirmishes
there were about 20 casualties from both parties.
If we compare this number with the figures the Azerbaijani
propaganda offers, we may suppose that Baku pursues certain aims
in presenting a higher number. Most probably, it wants to prove the
international community that Armenia is more aggressive than “defeated
Azerbaijanis”. It is possible that on a convenient opportunity all
these facts will be used to station international forces in the region.
In fact, Kasprzyk refuted and added that the OSCE monitoring of the
front line helps to sustain the cease-fire. He also touched upon
the problem of fires and mentioned that the fires were not unusual,
they simply occurred too often. Kasprzyk said the Azerbaijani party
presented a good package of documents for this year. He mentioned
that the fires did not damage the settlements except Aghdam, where
the fire went farther than the border.
As for cooperation in this sphere, he did not receive any proposals
from the parties, Kasprzyk said. Maybe because it is a vacation time.

THE FILES WILL DO THEIR JOB
Lragir.am
9 Aug 06
The deal Property for Debt, which is so successfully slowing down,
has given rise to a rather serious process within the government of
Russia. The Lragir has written a number of times about this topic,
which is having new developments. The opinion is increasingly becoming
dominant in the Russian government that this deal, which first seemed
to be profitable for Russia, was but cheating.
Naturally, Russia considers itself to have been cheated in the sense
that these enterprises were assessed higher that their real value is,
and their physical and moral state requires more efforts than it had
been thought.
Our source from the Kremlin says the Russian government has accumulated
considerable materials about the deal of property for debt, which was
managed by the Armenian minister of defense Serge Sargsyan and the
former vice prime minister of Russia Klebanov. Our source informs that
these materials provide sufficient ground for serious conclusions on
machinations and misuse. The Kremlin does not hurry to publish these
materials. We have learned that these materials will be published on
an expedient political occasion, connected with the campaign of the
Armenian parliamentary election.

ARMENTEL MONOPOLY BLAMED FOR INTERNET FAILURE IN ARMENIA
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Armenia
Aug. 8, 2006
Armenia’s leading Internet service providers blamed the ArmenTel
telecommunications monopoly on Tuesday for a four-day effective
disruption of the country’s Internet connection with the rest of
the world.
The connection was cut off on Friday and was extremely slow in the
next three days due to what ArmenTel officials described as two
separate accidents on a fibro-optic cable that handles virtually all
of Armenia’s external Internet traffic. The Greek-owned company, which
has a controversial legal monopoly on the service, said the cable was
seriously damaged in neighboring Georgia and off the Russian Black
Sea coast and will not be fully repaired at least until the end of
this week.
A company spokeswoman, Hasmik Chutilian, told RFE/RL that the Internet
communication, which remained erratic on Tuesday, will be carried
out through reserve channels running across Georgia and Iran until
the repairs are over.
Service providers claimed, however, that the bulk of the Armenian
Internet traffic was rerouted to Turkey via Georgia. They also slammed
ArmenTel for its failure to put in place an alternative satellite link
that would end Armenia’s reliance on a single cable that regularly
gets damaged on Georgian territory.
According to Grigor Saghian of Arminco, Armenia’s largest Internet
provider, there have been at least two dozen such accidents since the
beginning of last year. “I am surprised that they are not creating
a reliable and fast satellite connection. It will cost them only
$100,000 or so,” he said.
Earlier this year, the Armenian government obligated ArmenTel to
issue licenses to those providers that are willing to launch satellite
links and pay the telecom operate for using them. “ArmenTel is still
not giving those licenses,” said Saghian.
Albert Tonoyan, deputy head of the Web.am provider, said his company
applied for a license several months ago and is still awaiting a
reply from ArmenTel. “The monopoly does not make ArmenTel interested
in finding quick solutions,” he told RFE/RL. “They are only keen
to make money. They act as slowly as possible and invest as little
as possible.”
The ArmenTel monopoly, a key term of the company’s 1998 takeover by
Greece’s OTE telecom giant, has long been blamed for the poor quality
and relatively high cost of Internet connection in Armenia. Analysts
consider it a serious obstacle to the development of information
technology, one of the new and most promising sectors of the Armenian
economy. The Armenian government has declared the sector’s expansion
a top economic priority.
The government has reportedly decided that the new owner of ArmenTel,
which was put up for sale by OTE last spring, will not inherit the
Internet monopoly from the Greeks. The latter are expected to announce
the winner of an ongoing international tender for ArmenTel by the
end of this month.
In the meantime, the providers are counting substantial losses which
they claim to be incurring as a result of the Internet disruption. In
Saghian’s words, it made a dent not only in their finances but
Armenia’s image in the international IT community.
“A single accident like this may have nullified several years of
work to promote IT in Armenia,” said the Arminco executive. “There is
hardly any other country in the world that declares IT a top priority
but may have no Internet connection for several days.”