Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN MINISTER PRAISES RUSSIA FOR SECURITY LEVEL IN POWER GRID

Arminfo
6 Feb 07

Yerevan, 6 February: After the Razdan thermal power plant was handed
over to the Russian Federation, the possibility appeared to use all
the four energy units simultaneously and without problem, Armenian
Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan has said in the National Assembly.

He said that the Russian side has implemented investment in such
a way that they had not affected electricity tariffs. As a result,
even if all other power generating facilities stop, Armenia will be
able to provide consumers with required amounts of electricity thanks
to thermal power plants. "The republic has never before have such a
security level in its power grid," the minister stressed.

[Passage omitted: the Razdan thermal power plant was handed over to
Russia to cover Armenia’s state debt of 100m dollars]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AIT IMPLEMENTS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON STUDENT EXCHANGE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 06 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Institute of Tourism –
the Armenian branch of the Russian International Academy of Tourism
is the only regional higher edicational institution that prepares
specialists in the tourism sector. The institite’s rector Robert
Minasian told NT correspondent that with the aim of implementing
educational programs and improving the staff quality, AIT is
cooperating with a number of international organizations, as well as
educational institutions.

According to R. Minasian, an agreement has been reached with Vattel
educational institution (France), which prepares hotel and restaurant
business experts, to open a branch in Armenia in September. He said
that graduates of this branch will have the opportunity to work in
European tourist organizations.

Besides, last year an agreement envisaging an educational program
on student exchange was signed between the AIT and Infachikar higher
educational institution (Iran).

The ATI rector informed NT correspondent that it is also envisaged
to found a UNESCO Department at the Sorbonne University, thanks to
which students of the AIT will be able to continue their studies at
this university.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN UNABLE TO STOP NAGORNYY KARABAKH REPUBLIC’S TOURISM DEVELOPMENT – NKR OFFICIAL

Mediamax news agency
6 Feb 07

Yerevan, 6 February: "Azerbaijan’s political hysteria about our
participation in the international tourism market will not be able to
impede the development of tourism in the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
(NKR)," the director of the NKR tourism development agency, Sergey
Shakhverdyan, has told Mediamax.

Commenting on Azerbaijan’s protest at the circulation of booklets about
the organization of tours to Nagornyy Karabakh at an international
tourism exhibition in Madrid, Shakhverdyan said that "tourism does
not recognize state borders, and people go where they want along the
route that is convenient to them".

He said that Azerbaijan’s attempts to politicize these issues "are
devoid of common sense and will not affect the development of tourism
in Nagornyy Karabakh".

Shakhverdyan recalled that an almost 40-per-cent increase in visits
to Nagornyy Karabakh by foreign tourists is recorded annually.

IN WASHINGTON, GUL MEETS WITH CHENEY

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Turkish Press
Feb 6 2007

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday began his contacts
in Washington. First Gul met with Vice President Dick Cheney and
then held talks with National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley. Gul
reportedly conveyed Ankara’s concerns over an Armenian resolution
possibly reaching the floor of the House of Representatives, warning
that should the measure pass, relations between the two allies could
be seriously damaged. He also stated that Turkey has had enough of
the terrorist PKK and expressed Ankara’s impatience on the issue,
urging US officials to take concrete steps, and soon. Furthermore, he
touched on the Kirkuk issue, adding that Ankara favors the preservation
of Iraq’s territorial integrity. As part of his contacts, Gul today is
expected to meet with his counterpart Condoleezza Rice at a noontime
luncheon. Tomorrow the foreign minister is scheduled to have talks
with congressmen from the House of Representatives to seek support
to prevent the Armenian resolution from reaching the House floor. In
addition, Gul will address during a gathering of the German Marshall
Fund think-tank. After completing his contacts in Washington, Gul
will proceed to New York.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ABOUT TO KISS THE ASSASSIN’S FOREHEAD
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
06/02/2007

Security Services, According to "Radical" Making a Hero of Hrant
Dink’s Murderer Samast

In 36 hours after Hrant Dink’s murder the security forces of Turkey
detained Ogun Samast in the region of Samsun. Major Turkish newspapers,
publishing the photograph of the murderer were asking a question,
"how did the Turkish flag with Ataturk’s device "The native land is
holy andits fate cannot be left to chance" appear on the background
of the photo".

Experts, sent by Prime Minister Erdogan to Samsun, found out that
the photograph was made at the Samsun Office of the Turkish National
Security Service’s Anti-Terror Department. Apparently, a criminal case
will be roused against the photographers for violating the law about
national state emblems. Nevrtheless, neither the photograph itself,
neither its implication of making a hero of the murderer, rouses such
interest as a video recording, broadcast by one of the private Turkish
TV channels on February 1. The video tape shows servicemen of Turkish
Police and Gendarme departments welcoming Samast as a hero and making
a cue to take a photo with him on the background of the aforementioned
flag. The leading newspapers of Turkey reacted rather griveously to
the recording. "They were about to kiss the assasin’s forehead, says
"Radical".

On February 2 the Head Command of the Turkish Gendarmerie denied
all the publicationc concerning the photograph of Samast. The
representatives of the service stated that the publication of the
tape was specially aimed at discrediting and defaming the Turkish
law enforcement structures and the military forces.

AWARDS
Armenouhi Minasyan

A1+
[06:05 pm] 05 February, 2007

The 15th anniversary of the formation of the Armenian army is still
being celebrated in Gyumri. 45 army officers have been awarded the
medal "Armenian Land keeper".

6 officers of the Gyumri 4th company were awarded the medals of
"Fifth Brigade". 26 more soldiers were awarded with souvenirs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIND YOUR NAME

Panorama.am
18:54 05/02/2007

The presentation of "RA national register" was held on February 7 by
the First Deputy Head of RA Police, Ararat Mahtesyan. The activities on
formation of the register lasted 1.5 years. Now citizens of Armenia,
who have the right to vote, may search their names in the list put
on the Internet. In case of not finding their names, they may appeal
to the head of their community or to the regional body of passport
and visa department, respectively 7 and 5 days before the conduct of
the elections.

Representatives of offices, who have taken part in formation of the
register of electors, as well as representatives from diplomatic
missions, public and political organizations, were invited to attend
the presentation.

During the presentation Chairman of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,
Goran Lenmarker came out with a greeting speech.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN KILLED IN MOSCOW

A1+
[08:57 pm] 05 February, 2007

Monday night CEO of transportation entrepreneurship of the N3
construction trust Michael Vardazarov was shot dead. The criminals
shot him twice and left, Newsinfo reports.

The businessman was taken to hospital, but the doctors failed
to save his life. The first eyewitnesses of the crime were
questioned. According to them, there were two killers. They ran away
with a "Niva".

The Prosecutor’s office has taken all the measures to reveal the
identity of the criminals.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONLY PROCEEDING FROM ECONOMIC INTERESTS WE SHOULD NOT AGREE TO OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER, RAPA CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 05 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The majority of Armenian political
forces perceives the coming parliamentary elections as a matter of
life and death forgetting that life will not end on May 12. Haroutiun
Arakelian, Chairman of Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia (RAPA),
declared this at the 14th special deputy meeting of the party held
on February 5. He stated that instead of presenting serious economic
proposals and programs many people are engaged in using black political
technologies.

H.Arakelian said that RAPA has worked out a program, "the basis
of which is centralization of the mental potential of Armenians
throughout the world." As he affirmed, thanks to powerful mental
energy the Armenian nation will achieve much success.

Touching upon the issue of Hay Dat mentioned in the resolution of the
deputy meeting, the party chairman stated that "we must not ignore
the memory of Armenian Genocide victims" and not agree to opening of
Armenian-Turkish border only proceeding from economic interests. In
H.Arakelian’s words, any large-scale crime committed towards the
mankind consists of three stages. The first stage is preparation
with use of government’s levers, the second is implementation and the
third is slurring over the crime traces. H.Arakelian emphasized that
the current Turkish government "implements the third stage completely."

Touching upon Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, he said that RAPA is
the only party, which qualifies the mass slaughter and deportation
of Armenians in 1988 in Sumgayit, Baku, Kirovabad and other towns
as a genocide. But today, as RAPA chairman stated, Armenia loses the
propaganda war on Nagorno Karabakh problem. "The solution of Nagorno
Karabakh problem will accelerate if Artsakh is also involved in the
negotiations," H.Arakelian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI EMBASSY IN SPAIN PROTESTS AT TOURIST BOOKLETS FOR BREAKAWAY KARABAKH

Trend news agency, Baku
5 Feb 07

5 February: The Azerbaijani embassy [in Spain] has taken serious
measures following the illegal actions of Armenia’s tourist
company Amistad-Tour which, as part of its participation in an
international tourism exhibition in Madrid, circulated booklets about
the organization of tours to Azerbaijan’s occupied region of Nagornyy
Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s consul in Spain Nicat Sadixov has said in an
exclusive interview with Trend.

The embassy sent a note to the World Tourism Organization demanding
that measures be taken against the illegal actions of the Armenian
company. Embassy officials also met exhibition organizers who were
briefed on the actions of the company running counter to international
norms and rules.

As a result of prompt measures the company’s booklets were stopped
from being circulated.

To recap, in its advertising booklets the Amistad-Tour company
published the map of Nagornyy Karabakh as an independent republic.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress