Author: Dabaghian Diana

COOPERATION IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS HIGHLIGHTED
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
June 21 2006
On June 20, the members of the NA Standing Committee of Defence,
National Security and Internal Affairs met the delegation of the
Committee of Foreign Relations, Defence and Security Affairs of the
Senate of the Czech Republic.
Aramayis Grigoryan, Committee Chairman expressed conviction that the
visit is an important step in the development of the Armenian-Czech
relations. He considered important the cooperation between the
parliaments, relevant committees of tow countries. The cooperation was
considered useful in the international organizations in particular,
within the framework of CE and NATO, the experience of the Czech
Republic in the integration to the European structures and experience
exchange in the legislative field was highlighted. Mr. Grigoryan
introduced the activity of the committee, the current level of
Armenia-NATO relations. The cooperation in the spheres of defense
reforms, fight against terrorism, improvement of the legal field was
considered important with NATO. Mr. Grigoryan noted that Armenia joined
the process of planning and reviewing Partnership for Peace, as well
as the agreement on the status of the Armed Forces NATO-Partnership
for Peace.
Rostislav Slavotinek, Vice President of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, Defence and Security Affairs of the Senate of the
Czech Republic, expressed conviction that the visit will boost the
friendship and cooperation of two countries. The cooperation at the
level of committees in the sphere of inter-parliamentary cooperation
was highlighted. Mr. Slavotinek briefly presented the structure of the
Czech parliament, the committee’s functions, spheres, and touched upon
the peculiarities of the Czech army, reforms of the police system. It
was noted that the Czech parliament is bi-cameral and consists of
Deputies Chamber and Senate. The Senate is shaped by the principle
of majority electoral system, 81 MPs. The Czech army is professional
from January 1, 2005, and it has 30000 soldiers. Mr. Slavotinek noted
that in the Czech Republic a military university of having high quality
and proposed the Armenian side to send officers there for training.
During the meeting the sides touched upon the problems of regional
cooperation, highlighted the activation of parliamentary cooperation.
Other issues of bilateral interest were also discussed, the directions
of further cooperation were pointed out.

Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
Contact: Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2006
Armenia Fund’s Martakert Regional Development Underway
Large-Scale Program Implementation on Schedule
Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund – U.S. Western Region is pleased to
announce that its large-scale regional development plan for the war-torn
Martakert Region in Nagorno-Karabakh is currently underway. The multi-level
development program was developed by regional and urban planning experts
from the United States, France, and Armenia. The plan focuses on developing
the region through a series of projects that include construction of new
schools, healthcare facilities, drinking and irrigation water systems, and
regional agricultural development.
While Armenia Fund’s main affiliate in Armenia jointly with Nagorno
Karabakh’s relevant government agencies, including the office of the Prime
Minister and Ministries of Construction, Agriculture and Health was focusing
on the design and planning phase of the project, its 19 worldwide
affiliates, including the U.S. Western and Eastern Regions were busy
collecting the promised pledges from the past November Telethon. At the same
time, the regional affiliates are undergoing rigorous financial audits in
order to maintain high levels of transparency and ensure the proper
implementation of financial accounting policies, both internal and external.
All Armenia Fund projects undergo a comprehensive planning stage before the
construction begins. This includes preparation of a conceptual design,
construction design as well as independent architectural, technical and
technological expert review. Once the construction design package is ready,
Armenia Fund announces a two-stage construction competitive bid process in
the local newspapers and on its website and accepts construction proposals
from construction firms. Once the proposals are submitted, the Bidding
Committee, which consists of Armenia Fund construction and legal experts,
representatives of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Relief
Society and Armenian Assembly of America, as well as government
representatives from Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, reviews submitted
proposals. Participating construction firms are checked against their
qualifications, prior experience, organizational, technical and
technological ability as well as quoted time and cost needed for the
completion of the project. The winner is chosen by a vote. Armenia Fund then
signs a construction contract with the winning firm. Depending on the scale
of construction this process and its entire planning stage may take several
months.
During the construction, Armenia Fund, the designing firm, which produced
the construction design, as well as representatives from the Armenia Fund
affiliates sponsoring the project, controls the process by frequent visits
to the construction site. Once the construction is over, Armenia Fund
withholds 10% of the entire payment as the new structure enters its one-year
warranty period. If any defects are found, the construction firm is required
by law to correct them. Once the warranty period is over, Armenia Fund
disburses the remaining 10% of the payment and transfers the structure to
the balance sheets of the local government. From that point maintenance
becomes the responsibility of the government.
The statuses of the various projects within the Martakert Regional
Development Plan are presented below:
Water Main Pipeline – Drinking Water Systems
Armenia Fund will construct a 30-km-long drinking water pipeline to deliver
water to the town of Martakert, with a population of 5,000 people. The
pipeline will double water supply to the city. The construction competitive
bid process is in its final stages. The winning firm will begin construction
within a month.
Water Distribution Networks
Armenia Fund will construct drinking water distribution networks in the
villages of Maghavuz, Mets Shen, Vaghuhas and Varnkatagh. Armenia Fund’s
Argentinean affiliate is sponsoring the project in Vaghuhas. As a result of
the project every household of these villages will have a constant, abundant
supply of fresh drinking water. The construction competitive bid process is
in its final stages.
Healthcare
The healthcare component will largely focus on the complete reorganization
and reconstruction of the Martakert Regional Hospital, alongside with an
emergency ambulance dispatch center with 5 new ambulances. The project is
being spearheaded by the U.S. Western Region affiliate. Conceptual design
has been prepared by Los Angeles based hospital architect Arturo Fribourg in
collaboration with the NKR Health Ministry. Currently the final construction
design is being prepared. Five new ambulances have been ordered.
Agricultural Development
The U.S. Eastern Region affiliate, Armenia Fund USA is spearheading the
agricultural development program. The affiliate is closely working with the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ministry of Agriculture. The first Agricultural
Development Association is in the process of being formed. Some of the
modern tractors, trucks and other agricultural equipment have already been
purchased from China and Belarus. More will be purchased as the project
progresses.
Education
Construction of the new school in Madaghis village has already begun. The
foundation and the first floor are complete. The project is sponsored by
Armenia Fund’s Canadian affiliate in Toronto. The affiliate has also
sponsored the construction of a new school in Verin Horatagh village, which
is in its construction design stage. Construction design of another school
in Kochoghot village, sponsored by Armenia Fund’s French affiliate, is in
the process as well.
Natural Gas Pipeline
Responding to the critical energy demands of the fledgling region, the
International Board of Trustees of Armenia Fund has decided to construct a
regional gas pipeline, including a distribution network for two
highly-populated villages – Chldran and Arajadzor. Currently, the plan is
undergoing design development.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of “Hayastan”
All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698

ENLARGED DISCUSSIONS ON BILL “ON YEREVAN” TO BE ORGANIZED
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The current works and reforms in
the sphere of territorial government were discussed at the June 20
working meeting of RA President Robert Kocharian and RA Minister of
Territorial Government Hovik Abrahamian.
First of all they spoke about the necessity to give quick solutions
to problems connected with potable and irrigation water that emerged
in consequence of rise of air temperature. The President charged to
organize a duty and to strengthen control over the irrigation system
for villagers to get water in time an in a sufficient amount. They
also touched upon the changes made in the Yerevan Water Canal and
Armwatercanal.
H.Abrahamian presented the positions of the government and NGOs about
the bill “On Yerevan” and was instructed by R.Kocharian to organize
an enlarged discussion with participation of political forces, NGOs
and the government.
The issue of transferring social services to the jurisdiction of town
communities and the possibilities of implementing pilot programs in
some towns in the future was discussed. They also spoke about the
proposal of the State Committee of Cadastre to raise the cadastre
value of the land and decided that the respective departments should
present their motivations in connection with this issue.

DEPUTIES EXPRESS CONCERN ON CENTRAL BANK POLICY
Panorama.am
14:33 20/06/06
“The devaluation of dollar and evaluation of the Armenian dram are
not related to economic patterns but to paradoxes,” Gagik Melikyan
from Republican Party told a debate today during a discussion with
his opponent Tatul Manaseryan from opposition. He is sure that Central
Bank has become uncontrollable, “a state within a state on which the
whole population depends on.”
Tatul Manaseryan shared his concerns saying “authorities are also
discontent with CB Head Tigran Sargsyan’s policy.”

RA FOREIGN MINISTER OFF TO UKRAINE
ArmRadio.am
19.06.2006 10:26
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will start on an official visit
to Ukraine today. During the visit the Foreign Minister is scheduled
to meet the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister
Yuri Yekhanurov and Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk.

GEORGIAN MINISTER INVITES ARMENIANS TO AJARIA
Panorama.am
15:03 19/06/06
Today Armenian-Georgian friendship train will leave for Batumi from
Yerevan for the first time. The opening of the rout was officially
celebrated on June 17. Georgian economic development minister Irakili
Chogovadze thanked the routers for completing their job in short
time. “Armenians will have cheap and comfortable opportunity to come
to Ajaria,” he said.
According to Georgian minister, 20 000 tourists went to Georgia last
year and this year the number is going to rise to 50 000.

WHILE WRITING TRANSDNESTR IS KARABAKH IMPLIED?
“Golos Armenii”
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 13 2006
The process of establishment and actual recognition of the so-called
unrecognized states on the CIS territory is being hastened. The report
titled “The State Sovereignty of the Transdnestr Moldavian Republic
(TMR) Pursuant to International Legislation” provides ample evidence
of the fact. The report has been prepared by a group of experts –
scientists from the Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, Cambridge Universities,
as well as the participants of the Dayton agreements on Yugoslavia’s
division.
According to the report’s resume, the TMR corresponds to all the
criteria submitted to the U.N. member countries, and yet the TMR
was formed in line with the international legislation. However,
it is noteworthy that all the postulates the report’s authors are
based upon almost fully correspond to the situation connected with
the declaration of the Nagorno Karabakh’s independence.
While reading the report one considers if “Nagorno Karabakh” is written
instead of “Transdnestr” the substitution will be difficult to notice.
Judge yourselves.
First, the report’s authors say “the territory Transdnestr is situated
on has never been a part of Moldova”; “historically Transdnestr has
never been within Moldova”. The postulate is directly employed to
Nagorno Karabakh. The Armenian party has always stated and confirmed
by a legal folder that Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of
Azerbaijan in history, just because Azerbaijan state did not exist
up to early XX century, when such a state formation was established
by the Soviet government.
The experts write: “Modern Republic of Moldova bases its emergence
and existence on the one-sided declaration of independence that
announced forced amalgamation of Moldova and Transdnestr implemented
by Stalin at the beginning of the World War II deprived of any “real
legal foundation”, that is to say it was realized illegally…” The
difference between Transdnestr and Nagorno Karabakh is only that
Nagorno Karabakh was included as a curtailed autonomous region
within the Azerbaijani SSR illegally, having no legal basis not at
the beginning of the World War II, but in 1921 by a decision rendered
by a body called “RSDRP Caucasian Bureau”.
Then experts underscore: “The juridical and actual analysis proves
that during the USSR’s collapse Moldavian SSR disintegrated to two
successor states – Moldova and Transdnestr – and that the present
border between them totally corresponds to the traditional historical
border separating them since the early medieval period…” As it
is known, during the USSR’s disintegration the Azerbaijani SSR also
actually broke up to two state formations: Nagorno Karabakh and the
Azerbaijani Republic, yet the latter declared itself to be cessionary
of the Republic of Azerbaijan of 1918, while Nagorno Karabakh was not
within Azerbaijan then. The boundaries of the Azerbaijani SSR and
former Nagorno Karabakh autonomous region were drawn artificially:
certain territories were cut down from the Nagorno Karabakh autonomy.
However, as a result of a war imposed by Azerbaijan on NKR and won
by the latter the borders have become more logical and at present
they reflect the objective historical realities much closer.
The American experts write: “When Moldova withdrew from the Moldavian
SSR Transdnestr had already separated and governed its territory
regardless of Kishinev”, which totally corresponds to the history of
the NKR’s formation as well.
The experts sum up: “Many years of the international practice
reflected in charters enable us to mention the criteria applied to
define statehood: constant population, certain territory, government,
capacity to establish relations with other states. Nowadays Transdnestr
corresponds to all the requirements. It has its own democratically
elected President and a legislative organ being controlled by the
opposition party now. Its government is in command of armed forces
and holds discussions with other states. In case of TMR the state’s
viability is established, as well as legitimacy of the process of
the state’s formation.
Over half a million people living in Transdnestr occupying the
territory of 4,163 cube meters successfully conform with all the
indications of statehood along the lines of the international law.
Transdnestr has well-functioning government with its own organs,
Constitution, currency, levy, law and population surpassing the amount
of inhabitants of a lot of member states of the U.N.”. It all is also
applicable to Nagorno Karabakh, has been repeatedly mentioned by the
international experts, n part, the observers at the elections of the
NKR power bodies. NKR concedes to TMR only in the size of population,
however, the difference is not principal, as there are a lot of states
conceding to the NKR by the size of population in the U. N.
Ruben MARGARYAN P.S. To note, the American experts’ report does not
refer to the fact that, if Russians have already “self-determined”
in Russia, Transdnestr does not have the right to self-determination
…For Ilham Aliyev’s information.

TURK CHAIRMAN OF NATO PA SUBCOMMITTEE ATTEMPTS TO REFUSE FACT OF GENOCIDE AT MEETING WITH RA NA SPEAKER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA NA Speaker Tigran
Torosian received on June 13 members of joint delegations of the
Future Security and Defence Capabilies Subcommittee of the Defence
and Security Committee and the Democratic Management Subcommittee of
the Security Civil Measurement Committee of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly.
The NA Speaker mentioned that Armenia’s relations with the NATO develop
dinamically and expressed satisfaction with their level. It was also
mentioned that within that framework the Individual Partnership Actions
Plan has an exclusive meaning. Tigran Torosian considered the state of
Armenia’s associated member to the NATO PA as an important stimulus
for deepening relations, attaching importance to the issue that
those relations develop not only in the defence direction but also
in the directions of making the legislation going with democratic,
political and European standards. The Parliament Speaker separated
this period in life of Armenia as time of preparing for the 2007 and
2008 state elections and making the legislation corresponding to the
constitutional amendments. Then Tigran Torosian answered questions
of the delegations members that relate both to relations of NATO and
Armenia, and to works of region and National Assembly.
Vahit Erdem, the Chairman of the Future Security and Defence
Capabilities Subcommittee mentioned about their mission that the
problem is review of Armenia and NATO relations, taking into account
that as a result of geopolitical changes, the NATO was also changed
and turned into a structure of defending peace in the world which is
open for any country. Representative of Great Britain Frank Cook will
prepare the regional report.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
Erdem was interested in how Armenia prepares for the elections. NA
Speaker Tigran Torosian presented in details that the Parliament is
today engaged in reforms of the Electoral Code, the Venice Commission
experts’ opinion has already been got, after discussions of which and
agreeing with the political forces at the autumn session, the National
Assembly will already receive the Electoral Code. He also mentioned
that some principles are being experimented for to be defined and
improved in action. For holding elections corresponding to democratic
standards, the NA Speaker attached importance to creation of beneficial
moral-psychological atmosphere and cooperation of all parties.
Vitalino Canas, the representative of Portugal was interested if
Armenia, considering membership to the European Union as its’ foreign
political supremacy, is not going to join the NATO either. Tigran
Torosian reminded that there are EU member countries which are not
NATO members, and it is a normal phenomenon. He re-affirmed that
membership to the European Union is supremacy of foreign policy of
Armenia, and all steps are undertaken in the direction of Armenia’s
membership to the EU, and Armenia has made no statement about its
intention to join the NATO, and it said that it is successive on the
way of deepening relations, what is being done.
Chetin Kazak, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Democratic
Management, the representative of Bulgaria was interested in relations
of Armenia with two neighbors. The NA Speaker mentioned that Armenia
has stated many times that he is for normal relations with neighbors,
without proposing pre-conditions, and finds that contacts, discussions,
an open dialogue are necessary for establishing relations. Some
steps have already been taken at the PACE and within the framework
of the South Caucasian Parliamentary Initiative, and Tigran Torosian
expressed a hope that neighbors as well will have readiness to take
steps forward.
Speaking about the report being prepared, Tigran Torosian mentioned
a number of principles that needs improvement: it was particularly
mentioned in the report that Armenia’s “international symphathizers”
consider that a genocide took place, when it’s necessary to mention
the EU member countries and the Europarliament which recognized the
Genocide. In response, representative of Turkey Vahit Erdem refused
the fact of the Genocide: according to his insistence, neither 1915
Armenian Genocide took place nor there was a state order to kill
Armenians, and it may be spoken just about 400-500 thousand people who
themselves attacked Turks by Russians’ instigation. Tigran Torosian
interrupted Turk deputy’s “history lecture” and calling on him to be
proper, considered incompatible such a behaviour with the post occupied
within the framework of the international organization. Tigran Torosian
reminded Vahid Erdem that he has no right to give estimations either to
Genocide or to Europarliament or to countries recognized the Genocide.

CB’S POWERS OF ARMENIAN FINANCIAL MARKET MEGAREGULATOR WILL ALLOW IT SECURING OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY OF COUNTRY’S INSURANCE MARKET: LLOYD’S REPS.
Yerevan, June 14. ArmInfo. The Central Bank’s powers of the Armenian
financial market megaregulator will allow it securing openness
and transparency of the country’s insurance market. Darren Warkcup
Representative of Heritage Managing Agency Ltd. Syndicate 1200, London
Corporation Lloyd’s, and Brian Salmanpour, Representative of the
Council of London Gate Group, told ArmInfo. The representatives have
recently visited Armenia for the first time, where Armenian CB Council
member, Vache Gabrielyan, informed them of the supervision mechanisms.
D. Warkcup believes important that the powers of megaregulator were
laid on the Central Bank as the chief banker tries to transfer the
insurance market to the open field i.e. to secure transparency of
this business for potential clients. As regards the CB’s aspiration to
bring the law on insurance in the line with international standards,
it will help the market develop and attract more foreign companies to
Armenia. This, in its turn, will develop competition and create more
attractive conditions for clients. In fact, only reliable insurance
companies will maintain their positions in the market. B. Salmanpour
touched upon the prospects of introduction of compulsory insurance
in Armenia stating that it will play an important role both for
the economy on the whole and for development of insurance market,
in particular. It is first of all aimed at protection of consumers’
interests as it will allow the market become well- organized, and
the public – more aware of their demands, he said.
In conclusion, D. Warkcup stated that the stable economic growth
in Armenia will allow insurance companies extending their activity,
specifically, capitalization is in question. Due to it, new services
will be provided to clients, the competition will be increased. In
fact, only specialized stable companies will remain in the market,
others will amalgamate. Of course, the share of reinsurance of
Armenian companies in the Lloyd’s market is so insignificant that it
is not worth mentioning. The annual turnover of Lloyd’s Corporation
considerably exceeds the budget of Armenia. Nevertheless, the
corporation’s underwriter noticed Armenia and other CIS countries
which were avoided by other foreign reinsurers, D. Warkcup said.

PACE CALLS FOR AZERI-ARMENIAN CO-OP ON POWS
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur
on migration, refugees and population has called on Azerbaijan and
Armenia to cooperate on prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons.
“Collaboration between relevant bodies of the two countries is pivotal
to solve the problem, in particular, in terms of simplifying the
exchange of information,” Leo Platvoet told a news conference at the CE
Information Office in Baku upon completion of his visit to the region.
The rapporteur said both countries had expressed readiness to forge
contacts to address the problems faced by these persons, and called
for stepping up efforts in this area. He said the key objective was
to arrange cooperation between the two countries.
“The fact that the sides are making such statements is evidence that
the idea of establishing a joint institution may soon come into being,”
he said, adding that this option has already been applied by the Red
Cross in the Balkans.
Platvoet said the entity could include representatives of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and both communities of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. He added,
however, that he had no discussions on the issue during his visit to
the two countries.
Platvoet said the goal of the visit was to prepare a report on captives
and missing persons in the South Caucasus based on his findings. The
document will mostly cover humanitarian issues and have no bearing
on politics, he stressed. “It will not touch on political aspects,
as this could compromise the work being done.”
The rapporteur said the report will be finalized in fall and further
submitted to PACE’s winter session for consideration.
“We have met with the family members of missing persons to study their
problems. These mainly concerned collection of information. We also
found out that their relatives are facing social problems. All these
developments will be reflected in the report,” Platvoet said.
The rapporteur met with members of the Azeri delegation at PACE.
Several proposals he made during the discussions were not accepted
by the MPs. He suggested that the Azerbaijani side collaborate with
the institutions and NGOs in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and send the
parents of the missing persons to Armenia to assist in searching for
them, which did not go down well with the Azerbaijani representatives.