Author: Dabaghian Diana

Minister says “not a single” weapon smuggled out of Armenia
Regnum, Moscow
23 Mar 05
An Armenian citizen, wanted by the police, is accused of trying to
smuggle arms into the USA. Meanwhile an investigation showed that not
a single weapon was smuggled out of Armenia, the secretary of the
National Security Council under the Armenian president and defence
minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, said on 23 March.
According to him, there has always been tight controls over arms depots
in Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh. “Not a single theft has ever been
registered,” the minister noted.
To recap, Armenian citizen Artur Solomonyan and his brother Levon
Solomonyan and a few others, were detained on suspicion of arms
trafficking into the USA. Both of them have been wanted by the police
since 2001 for dodging military service.
According to the investigation, the Armenian citizen was in charge
of the international criminal gang comprised of citizens of Armenia,
Georgia and the USA.

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005
EXPLOSION IN YEREVAN DUE TO STRUGGLE AGAINST SHADOW ECONOMY, ARMENIA
CUSTOMS COMMITTEE CONSIDER
24.03.2005 05:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The explosion that took place next to the building
of the State Customs Committee at the Government of Armenia is related
to the active struggle with shadow economy and the toughening of the
customs administration, Regnum news agency reported referring to the
Press Service of the Customs Committee of Armenia. At that the Press
Service informs that everyone, who “hopes to break the will of the
Committee in struggle with shadow economy by such steps, that the
Committee will be consistent in revealing the customs offences by
toughening administration.” According to the source, the morning
incident again proves that measures to improve and toughen customs
administration are effective.

Eurosport.com, UK
March 24 2005
Injured Meerdink pulls out of Dutch squad
Winger Martijn Meerdink has pulled out of the Netherlands squad for
World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Armenia after damaging knee
ligaments during training on Thursday. “It was very unexpected and it
looks rather serious,” said the Netherland’s coach Marco van Basten.
PSV: Keeping it tight!
The AZ Alkmaar player will be replaced by Feyenoord’s Romeo Castelen
for Group One matches against Romania in Bucharest on Saturday and
Armenia in Eindhoven on Wednesday.
“It was very unexpected and it looks rather serious,” Netherlands
coach Marco van Basten told a news conference.
“Martijn did very well in his first time with the squad and he fitted
into the group and trained well, but these things prove the toughness
of top sport.”
Van Basten also explained why he left Bayern Munich striker Roy
Makaay out of the squad.
“It surprised me that Makaay played last weekend for Bayern but my
medical staff informed me that he was not ready for these two
matches” Van Basten said.
“Makaay is still in a recovery process and we don’t want to disturb
that.”
Experienced midfielder Philip Cocu will be fit to face Romania, who
are level with the Dutch at the top of the group on 10 points but
have played one game more.
“I spoke with Philip and he is likely to join Friday’s training
session but even without a training Philip convinced me that he would
be ready to play,” said Van Basten.
Van Basten is expecting Romania to adopt a cautious approach despite
their coach saying publicly that they would be going all out for
victory.
“We studied their 5-1 win over Germany last year and that showed they
have a lot of good players with technical skills,” Van Basten said.
“They have proved their strength in the past during European and
World Championships, so we will face tough opponents.”
Possible Netherlands team:
1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Jan Kromkamp, 3-Khalid Boulahrouz, 4-Joris
Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 8-Denny Landzaat, 6-Mark van
Bommel, 10-Philip Cocu; 7-Dirk Kuijt, 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 11-Arjen
Robben.
Reuters – 24/03/05

Russia, Georgia in thorny talks over bases’ withdrawal
By HENRY MEYER
AP Worldstream
Mar 23, 2005
Russia and Georgia held thorny negotiations in Moscow on Wednesday
on the withdrawal of Russia’s two Soviet-era military bases from its
small southern neighbor.
Georgia, where a pro-West leadership took power last year, is keen to
assert the impoverished Caucasus Mountain state’s independence from
its former imperial master and has been pushing Moscow to hand back
the bases within two years.
Russia has said it needs at least three to four years, or up to a
decade, to complete the pullout. It is also demanding compensation.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday the cost of
withdrawing from the military installations would be US$250-US$300
million (Aâ~B¬191-Aâ~B¬229 million).
The head of the Russian delegation at Wednesday’s talks, Igor Savolsky,
said the disagreements between the two sides were not huge but were
“fundamental,” the Interfax news agency reported.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili, who has dispatched a
deputy foreign minister for the two-day negotiations, said in Tbilisi
on Tuesday that she hoped an agreement could be reached.
The ITAR-TASS news agency quoted an unnamed Russian diplomat as saying
that Moscow insisted on assurances that Tbilisi would not host bases
from other countries.
A Georgian minister last week said that Tbilisi was willing to
guarantee that NATO troops would not be stationed on its territory,
which would give the alliance a foothold along Russia’s southern
frontier.
But on a more contentious note, the diplomat said that Russia also
wanted to set up a joint anti-terrorist center at one of the bases _
a demand categorically rejected by Tbilisi, which sees it as a fig-leaf
for a continued Russian military presence in Georgia.
Russian observers have said that Russia is concerned that pulling out
all its forces from Georgia could put at risk its base in neighboring
Armenia, one of Moscow’s closest allies in the region. Armenia does
not share a border with Russia and all Russian equipment and personnel
have to transit Georgian territory to get there.
–Boundary_(ID_/5mcL/RV8/qqz/+q7U1YdA)–

Azerbaijan News Service
March 23 2005
ARMENIAN SIDE FIRES AT AZERBAIJANI POSITIONS IN AGHDAM REGION
2005-03-23 10:43
Armed forces of Armenia in occupied Shikhlar village of Aghdam
region shot Orta Qishlaq village of the same region at midnight for
4 hours on March 23. ANS Qarabaq bureau Armenian forces in occupied
Qarvand village of Aghdam fired from machine and sub-machine guns on
Azerbaijani positions in Mirashelli too. Enemy forces targeted houses
in the villages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kommersant, Russia
March 18 2005
The Independent Cling to the Unrecognized
Moscow wants to strengthen ties with the CIS at the expense of the CIS
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Georgy Khaindrava
expressed alarm on Thursday over the meeting of the leaders of
Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh that took place in
Moscow the day before, saying it `will not bring Russia and Georgia
closer.’ The meeting will have impact beyond Georgia. It indicates
that the Kremlin is implementing its plan to defend its interests in
the former Soviet Union. The main blow will be directed against
GUUAM, an organization that, with Western help, seeks to be an
alternative to the CIS, which is dominated by Russia.
Khaindrava was in Moscow while the meting of the leaders of the
unrecognized republics took place. He was taking part in a meeting of
the cochairmen of the Mixed Control Commission. On Thursday, after
two days of negotiations, Khaindrava was in high spirits and
characterized Russia’s role in settling the conflicts with the
breakaway republics as `constructive.’
Khaindrava even suggested that the long-awaited agreement on
friendship and cooperation between Moscow and Tbilisi might be signed
soon. He also mentions two impediments to the agreement that still
remain: Moscow’s support for North Ossetia and Abkhazia and the
Russian military bases remaining in Georgia. Khaindrava’s optimism is
not misplaced, however. Russia has almost convinced Georgia that its
bases will be gone by 2008. The foundation of a joint antiterrorism
center will allow Russia to retain some military presence in Georgia.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili’s only complaint is that he
wants the Russian withdrawal to be completed by 2007, before the 2008
elections.
Russia and Georgia are far from agreement on the issue of the
breakaway republic, however. Georgia’s cautious reaction to the
meeting of the Abkhazian, South Ossetian and Nagorny Karabakh leaders
suggests that Tbilisi does not yet suspect Moscow’s plans.
Settling the problem of the rebellious autonomies was one of the
Saakashvili’s main pre-election promises. So far, he has succeeded
only in Ajaria, which had never declared its independence. In Moscow,
as well as Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, they are concerned that he may
sanction the use of force there. They say it may happen even this
summer. It seems that Moscow has decided to take preventive measures.
Sources in the breakaway republics their leaders may have a new plan,
to set up a single government with Georgia on the principles of
federalism and equality, such as exists in Serbia and Montenegro.
Tbilisi has no such thing in mind, however. The timing for the plan
is not good either. Montenegro announced it intentions to separate
from Serbia a few weeks ago. Moscow seems to be counting on its
success, however. It is important to it that the settlement process
it is sponsoring be perceived as progressing. The proposal ideally
should soften Tbilisi’s tone in the negotiations.
This is not the end of Kremlin’s foreign policy plans.
There have been ever growing doubts about Moscow’s foreign policy in
recent years. Moscow explains its setbacks in former Soviet countries
as the result of increasing Western influence in an area that had
been considered exclusively Moscow’s sphere of influence and sees the
goal of breaking up the CIS behind it all. The parliamentary
elections in Moldova, where the side supported by Moscow again lost,
showed that the tendency is becoming stronger. Meanwhile, Ukraine and
Georgia have declared a strategic partnership and drawn Moldova into
it as well.
The leaders if the Tbilisi-Chisinau-Kiev axis will try to draw in
still more CIS states. Even though Moscow managed to sow the seeds of
dissent in the GUUAM organization, founded in the late 1990s with
Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova, the idea of a
bright future without Russia remains alive. So Russia is acting more
decisively. The obvious weak spot in GUUAM is Uzbekistan. Its leader,
Islam Karimov, although he plays up to the West, is authoritarian and
not likely to become close to democratic revolutionaries Viktor
Yushchenko and Saakashvili. Karimov will be reminded of that when he
visits Moscow at the end of the month as well.
Russia has ways of influencing the other GUUAM members too. The
presence of Nogorny Karabakh President Arkady Gukasyan at the meeting
of the leaders of the Georgian breakaway leaders is a message to
Azerbaijan (Nagorny Karabakh is claimed by that country), where a
united opposition is preparing for parliamentary elections this fall.
Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov was unable to attend Wednesday’s
meeting, but he will be present at a similar meeting in April.
by Alexander Reutov
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
March 18 2005
The conception and program of activity for joint combating terrorism
is approved at today’s session of the Council of Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of states-members of the CIS
Round-table on race discrimination situation in Armenia to be held on
March 22
RA President meets with speaker of Byelorussian chamber of reps
Staff of Armenian Ombudsman Office to receive training in Poland and
Lithuania
Organizing committee `In defense of NKR’ urged RA NA to recognize
NKR’S independence
*********************************************************************
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION APPROVES PLAN OF
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
STEPANAKERT, March 17. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh central Election
Commission convened a session Wednesday to set a plan and list of
expenditures related to the parliamentary elections scheduled for
June 15 2005. The commission has also made 29 decisions related to
procedural matters, as our correspondent reports. According to
Central Election Commission, candidates can be nominated from Apr 5
to 10. Registration of the parties participating in elections and
candidates running for parliament seats in individual races will be
made from May 10 to 15. Election campaigns will be run from May 16 to
June 17. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES $75MLN TO ARMENIA FOR A DECADE OF ITS
ACTIVITY IN THE REPUBLIC
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The UN World Food Program has provided
$75mln to Armenia for a decade of its activity in the republic.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and Regional Director
of the Program Emir Abdullah discussed Thursday the issues related to
the program, as Armenian National Assembly’s Public Relations
Department told ARKA. The ten-year program is to be completed in
2006. In his opinion, after his visit to Gegharkunik and Tavush
Armenian regions the WFP should be continued in Armenia, he said.
Armenian Speaker, in turn, noted that especially mountainous and
remote regions are badly in need of support.
The sides arranged to discuss the opportunity for continuing the
program.
WFP organization provides food aid particularly to the elderly,
families having many children, the disabled and refugees and also
conducts trainings for farmers as well as provides food to 11
thousand schoolchildren in four Armenia’s provinces and implements
Food for Work program.
WFP cooperates with the U.S. agents, with World Vision Armenia and
Ìission -Armenia organizations M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA GOVERNMENT ALLOTS AMD 190 MLN FOR MAKING OF JUBILEE MEDALS
DEDICATED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The RA Government allotted AMD 190 mln for
making of jubilee medals dedicated to 60th anniversary of victory in
Great Patriotic War, Public Relations and Press Department of RA
Government told ARKA News Agency today. ($1 = AMD 468,23). L.V. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIA’S UN REPRESENTATIVE ARMEN MARTIROSYAN: REPORT MADE BY OSCE
MISSION TO CHECK FACTS IS FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Report made by OSCE Mission to Check Facts
is favorable for Armenia, as Armenia’s UN Representative Armen
Martirosyan told journalists today. In his words, contrary to Azeri
side’s expectations, the Mission found no facts confirming
allegations that Armenia pursues policy of Azerbaijani territories
settlement, excepting Lachin area, which has always been mentioned in
a separate clause of all documents. `We have always said settlement
is nowhere but Lachin and the OSCE Co-chairs have corroborated that’,
Martirosyan said.
In his opinion, the report will ease tension around Armenia. ‘But
another issue appeared: how Azerbaijan is going to act in the created
situation, especially taking into consideration the bellicose
statements made by Azerbaijani side and the destructive stance taken
by Azeri authorities and taking into account that those statements
are being made for internal consumption to present another victory to
Azeri people’, he said.
Martirosyan also said the report would be published soon and
available for everybody. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
CHIEF OF RA POLICE, HEAD OF OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SIGN AGREEMENT ON
RENOVATION OF RA POLICE TRAINING CENTER
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Chief of the RA Police, Lieutenant-General
Haik Harutyunyan and Head of the OSCE Yerevan office Vladimir
Pryakhin signed an Agreement on Renovation of the RA Police training
center. The OSCE Yerevan office reports that the signing of the
agreement inaugurates the first stage of a program of assistance to
the RA Police. The agreement is aimed at bringing the main training
terms to conformity with the European experience. The document also
envisages the provision of equipment and teaching aids to the Center.
`This day is a turning point in our work under the program of
assistance to the RA Police, as this initiative is a basis for
forming a well trained municipal force,’ Pryakhin said during the
signing ceremony. He added that the document is a good example of
mutually advantageous and constructive cooperation between Armenia
and the OSCE, which is aimed at developing democratic institutions
for the Armenian people’s benefit. In his turn, Chief of the RA
Police Haik Harityunyan pointed out that the program envisages the
creation of necessary conditions for the development of modern police
training.
A memorandum of understanding signed in July 2003 stipulates four
main directions of the assistance program: renovation of the training
center, its strengthening, introduction of a municipal police model
in one of the Yerevan communities and the elaboration of a new
signal-response system.
The program is to be implemented by the OSCE Yerevan office in
cooperation with the RA Police, under the direction of the Department
for Strategic police Affairs, OSCE Secretariat in Vienna. The program
is being sponsored by Belgium, the USA and Sweden. P.T. -0–

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
March 17 2005
Teach in Armenia this summer
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Volunteers seeking international high school level experience are
invited to apply to a three-week summer school opportunity in
Yerevan, Armenia, sponsored by the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City
Association. The group will depart from Logan International Airport,
Boston, on June 28, returning to Boston July 21. Airfare, home-stay
accommodations, meals, transportation and tours will be provided in
program costs.

People with conflict resolution workshop skills; computer
education; English as a second language; sports; team building;
diversity and tolerance program experience; environmental education;
media; rule of law; ethics; government; student senate; human rights;
value clarification; peer leadership; free market economy; or project
ideas and activities which promote civil society are encouraged to
apply.

Class size is approximately 15 Armenian high school students
with strong English language ability and six students from local high
schools, including Belmont High School. Students are selected in an
open, merit-based competition, and enrollment in the summer school is
free. Volunteers are selected on the basis of application, sample
lesson plan, passport approval, and recommendations. Where distance
precludes a personal interview, a telephone interview will be
arranged.

Your commitment will include teaching two hours a day for 2 1/2
weeks; submitting lesson plans or outline prior to departure; and a
three- to five-page summary of your teaching experiences upon return.
Sightseeing and learning about life in Armenia while summer school is
in session are included. Some knowledge of Russian or Armenian is
helpful, but not necessary as all students in the program speak
English.

For more information contact Joanne Hartunian, program manager,
at 617-484-0776.

Glendale News Press
Published March 15, 2005
Glendale foiled at home
Tennis: Boys’ squad, which wins just three doubles sets and shows
inexperience, concludes nonleague portion of schedule with 11-7 loss to
Burbank.
By Charles Rich, News-Press and Leader
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Once the members of the Glendale and Burbank high
boys’ tennis teams emerged from the fenced-in courts, the respective coaches
assessed the chief difference between the teams.
It took about two seconds for Burbank Coach Paul McNiff and Glendale Coach
Bob Davidson to reach the same conclusion: Burbank showed more aggression by
attacking the net during the close sets.
That proved to be the biggest factor in Burbank posting an 11-7 nonleague
road victory against Glendale on Monday.
Burbank (5-2) won five of its sets by two games or less, leaving Glendale
(4-3) in a bind.
“[Burbank] attacked the net, and that helped them win a lot of close ones,”
Davidson said. “They were also stronger than us in doubles. Our inexperience
in doubles showed, and we should have done better in singles.”
The Bulldogs — who are ranked No. 9 in CIF Southern Section Division II —
won six of the nine doubles sets. It wasn’t entirely easy for Burbank, which
needed a pair of 7-5 wins from Sarkis Khachatryan and Osheen Abramian
against Glendale’s Hovik Ovakimyan and Aram Ambartsumyan and Arbi Vartan and
Hakob Grigoryen.
Burbank clinched the win when Khachatryan and Abramian beat Ovakimyan and
Ambartsumyan.
“We figured to win in doubles,” said McNiff, whose team won its fifth
consecutive match after opening the season with losses to Loyola and
Oakwood. “We were more aggressive at the net and put the volleys away.”
The Nitros got two wins from singles player Hovik Mazmanyan and the doubles
tandem of Ovakimyan and Ambartsumyan.
Mark Lewin, Burbank’s No. 2 singles player, won two sets. One of those came
in a 7-6 (7-5) battle with Edgar Khovakimyan.
“Glendale’s got a good team, and they are younger than us,” McNiff said.
“I’ve been able to finalize my lineup, and that’s helped.”
Glendale and Burbank begin league competition this week.
The Nitros open Pacific League with a road contest against Crescenta Valley
today. The Nitros took third in league last year behind Arcadia and
Crescenta Valley.
Burbank, which finished second in the Foothill League behind Valencia in
2004, will meet visiting Canyon on Thursday.
* CHARLES RICH covers sports. He can be reached at (818) 637-3228 or by
e-mail at [email protected].

THREE KILLED IN ACCIDENT NOT FAR FROM YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MARCH 15. ARMINFO. Three people were killed in a car accident
near the village of Ush, on the 13th km if Ashtarak-Aparan highway at
approximately 19:00. The car VAZ21-21 crashed into a lorry, the press
service of the Armenian Police informs. As a result, the two drivers
Karo Melkonyan and Behur Azim (whose nationality was not found out) as
well as a passenger of “Niva” Yervand Avetisyan died. The
circumstances are being studied, investigation is underway.