Author: Emil Lazarian

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2006
Musa Panahov: Vietnam-Armenia railway impossible without Azerbaijan
[ 10 Nov. 2006 17:43 ]
The decision, made at Korean conference of the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, on laying a
railway line from Armenia to Vietnam is impossible to come true,
Azerbaijani Transportation Minister Musa Panahov told APA.
The commission Executive Secretary KIM Hak-Su told media that the
conference discussed issues concerning construction of
Armenia-Vietnam railway, intensification of the activities in
North-South transport corridor etc.
Mr. Panahov says Azerbaijan joined Trans-Asia Railway Convention at
the conference.
`Azerbaijan stipulated that Azerbaijan will not resume any relations
with Armenia until it withdraws its armed forces from Azeri lands and
sign a peace agreement. The railway line can’t come true with
Azerbaijan,’ he underscored. /APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 10 2006
Armenians Pleased with Democrats’ Victory
By Zaman, Washington
Friday, November 10, 2006
zaman.com
The Armenian lobby in the United States is happy about the victory of
the Democrat Party in the congressional elections. Armenians find the
new Congress leaders closer to themselves and hope that the genocide
claims will pass into law.
A written statement released by the American Armenian Assembly (AAA)
expressed the Armenians’ satisfaction over Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s
new post as Speaker of the House.
Brian Ardouny, the executive director of AAA, said if the alleged
genocide passed in Congress, new opportunities would arise for them.
Sending a statement last month to Harut Sassounian, the owner of the
California Courier, Pelosi said she was in support of the Armenian
claims on genocide and added, `This initiative has the strong
supports of both parties in the House of Representatives. I will
continue backing these efforts in the 110th Congress.’
The American Armenian National Committee also remarked that they were
quite happy about Nancy Pelosi’s new post.
Preparing reports and maintaining files on politicians according to
the extent they support their allegations and making these public for
the Armenian people, the Armenian organizations in the country are
known to have been harboring hatred against President Bush and the
former chairman of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert for
not backing their unfounded claims.
The majority of those closer to the Armenian policies are from the
Democrat Party.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
NKR BUDGET OWN REVENUES INCREASED BY ONE-THIRD
January-September, 2006 the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic /NKR/ state
budget own revenues made 6 milliards 846 millions drams, which is 34,
2 % more as compared with the same period last year.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR Ministry of
Finance and Economy, the budget revenues had been mainly ensured at
the expense of tax incomes, which made 81, 5 % of the revenues’ total
amount.
For the same period the state budget expenses made 16 milliards 981,
8 millions drams. During the 9 months of the current year 5 milliards
188, 2 millions drams were spent for capital expenditures, which is
70, 6 % more than the same period last year. As compared with the
same period 2005 current expenses for the salary of the state
institutions’ employees increased by 15, 5 % making 3 milliards 50, 4
millions drams.
For January – September, 2006 the NKR social insurance state fund’s
own revenues made 1 milliard 809 millions drams, which is 15, 3 %
more than the level of the same period last year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azad Hye
November 10, 2006
Reported by Ara Ashjian
A decision was made to construct an Apostolic Armenian Church in the city of
Dahuk in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
During his recent parochial visit to Kerkuk, Zakho, Dahuk and other
locations, Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Primate of the Diocese of Iraq,
inspected the plot granted to the Armenian community by the Government of
Iraqi Kurdistan, on which the church would be constructed. The dedication of
the 16 foundations of the church is expected to take place during the
Archbishop’s next visit to Dahuk.
It is worth mentioning that there are recently four Armenian Apostolic
(Orthodox) churches in Baghdad; one church in each of Kerkuk, Zakho and
Basrah; a church in the village of Avzrouk in the Governorate of Dahuk and
two churches in Mosul (one of which was a target of terrorist act in 2004
and is now almost ready to serve the believers, following a renovation
project funded by the Iraqi Government).
On the other hand, construction work is going ahead for a multi-apartment
project in the Riyadh suburb (Camp Sarah Khatoun) in Baghdad. The building
site, the construction of which is supervised by the Armenian Apostolic
Prelacy, consists of two stories with a total of 18 residential apartments
and 6 commercial shops. The generated income will be used for the
restoration and maintenance service of the complex. Each apartment will host
one or two members of the community.
See photos: 21sks41
Original Arabic text available at:
p;id=51
Ara Ashjian’s articles are posted also at:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 11 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers expected to meet in
January
[ 11 Nov. 2006 16:08 ]
`Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers’ next meeting is expected
to be held in January,’ Special representative of OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Anjey Kasprzyk said, APA reports quoting to the
Russian press.
He said he appealed to the sides about it, but hasn’t received an
answer yet.
The Defense Ministers Safar Abiyev and Serge Sarkisian met on the
initiative of Anjey Kasprzyk on October 20. They discussed the
problem of preservation of ceasefire regime.
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry Press Service Department told the APA
they are unaware of Anjey Kasprzyk’s statement. /APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Aravot, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
SLAP IN THE POLICE SYSTEM
The Police haven’t detected yet the attack on former Minister of
Internal Affairs, general Suren Abrahamian.
Deputy chief of RA Police Ararat Mahtesian has informed Panorama.am
lately that those who have attacked on Suren Abrahamian haven’t been
detected yet. «We have carried out a great work, interrogated a lot
of persons, have made serious joint works but the event remains
undetected’, – Mr. Mahtesian said and added that Suren Abrahamian’s
neighbors had also been interrogated but in vain. And the deputy
chief of Police mentioned other reasons for not detecting the case.
«Mr. Abrahamian wasn’t able to testify in the first two days.’ The
correspondent understood from Mahtesian’s words that Suren Abrahamian
was himself guilty, as he didn’t testify at once though the police
have made an enormous work.
Suren Abrahamian told `Aravot’ on this occasion: `If there have a
problem to demonstrate a scaled work, our street a little short for
it, it will be better to interrogate inhabitants on Kievian street
or, perhaps, the whole Arabkir community». Mr. Abrahamian then said
more seriously: «Maybe Mahtesian doesn’t know that the person who
rendered first aid at the first second was a major of police, the
officer of central machinery. Frankly speaking, I don’t want to
accuse the investigator or operative official, as they are simply
executors, however they work. But now I want to ask a question. Has
this case been discussed once at any official of high rank? Who from
the ministers, deputy ministers or Yerevan municipal department did
place this case under control? These are elementary things the
importance of which I and professionals can understand».
The general affirmed again that the case was more a moral pain for
him than a physical: «But that slap didn’t cause so much damage to me
than to the whole system, they will reap the fruits of their actions
sooner or later. In my case I feel underlined negative attitudes of
the RA Police leadership towards my person but they don’t understand
that this will turn against them.
Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, replying to the observation as if
what happened to Suren Abrahamian was organized by the third power to
embroil internal political forces of Armenia had said: `What does the
third power mean, the second power has committed it which considers
these people as it enemies.’ Suren Abrahamian promised to speak about
these affirmations in the near future.
Anna Israelian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 11 2006
Murderer Ramil Safarov may be returned to Azerbaijan
11.11.2006 13:35
Judge of the Constitutional Court of Hungary Andrash Bragyova has
declared in Baku that Azeri Officer Ramil Safarov who brutally killed
Armenian Officer Gurgen Margaryan and was sentenced to life
imprisonment by Hungarian Court, may be returned to Azerbaijan.
According to the Azerbaijani `Uch Nockta’ newspaper, he `expressed
hope that when taking decisions about Ramil Safarov the Supreme Court
of Hungary will take into account the complexness of the motives of
crime.’ He voiced confidence that the Armenian lobby will have no
influence on the verdict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 11 2006
RA Parliamentary delegation leaving for Saint Petersburg
11.11.2006 12:20
November 14 the delegation headed by Chairman of RA National Assembly
Tigran Torosyan will leave for Saint Petersburg to participate in the
27th plenary session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. The
delegation comprises member of the Standing Committee on Social
Policy and Human Rights of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly
Hermine Naghdalyan, President of the CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly’s Economy and Finance Committee Gagik Minasyan, member of
the Standing Committee on International Cooperation and Political
Issues of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Grigor Ghonjyan.
In the framework of the 27th plenary session on November 17
conference on `Improvement of cooperation of CIS member states to
counter current security challenges and threats’ will be held in
Saint Petersburg.
The meeting of the Caucasian four, featuring Parliament Speakers of
Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Azerbaijan is scheduled November 16.
November 17 NA Chairman Tigran Torosyan will leave Saint Petersburg
for San Marino to participate in the sitting of PACE Standing
Committee, where the question of affirming the stability pact for the
South Caucasus will be discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
CONSTRUCTION OF THIRD HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE, CONNECTING
POWER SYSTEMS OF ARMENIA AND IRAN, TO START IN BEGINNING, 2007
It is scheduled that construction of the third high-voltage
transmission line (PTL), which connects the power systems of Armenia
and Iran, will start in the beginning, 2007, RA deputy Energy
Minister, Ara Simonyan, told ArmInfo correspondent.
According to him, a credit Agreement is signed between Armenia and
Iran as of today, as well as a Contractor Agreement. The total amount
of the third PTL construction will make up about 65 mln EURO with
15%-share of Armenia’s co- financing . To note, the Principal of the
third PTL construction is the “High-Voltage Transmission Lines”
Armenian CJSC and the Contractor is the “Sanir” Iranian Company. It
is scheduled that the extension of the third two-chain PTL through
armenia’s territory will make up 300 km and 100 km – through the
territory of Iran. Its transfer capacity will make up 400 MW with
voltage of 220 kV in the RA territory and 230 kV in the Iranian
territory. A Memorandum had been signed in Yerevan on February 12,
2004, on construction of the third power transmission line between
Iran and Armenia. The Energy Minister of Iran, Habibolla Bitaragf,
had informed the journalists then that the construction of three PTL
is called to assure power flows between Iran and Armenia, exchange of
the Armenian power energy by the Iranian gas, as well as repayment
for the rendered engineering-technical services and electric
equipment of Iran by power energy. Two PTL with capacity of 200 MW
each connect Iran and Armenia at present. After construction of the
third line, the transfer capacity between the countries will rise to
800 MW.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 11 2006
Richard Giragosian: Democrats may prioritize issues other than the
Armenian Genocide
11.11.2006 12:11
Marlena Hovsepyan
“Radiolur”
`US elections can give new quality to Armenian-American relations, as
well as to the US policy in the region and Iraq,’ famous
American-Armenian political analyst Richard Giragosian said in an
interview with `Radiolur.’ The most important for Armenia is that
Democrats having pro-Armenian position comprise majority.
`The Party which is more close to Armenians has become more powerful,
Democrats are prevailing in the Congress, and now the competition
should launch with Bush, the Republican Party and the White House,
the expert said.
According to his prediction, after the elections the Democrats,
particularly the Armenian Issue supporter, will get more active.
After these elections Armenians have the opportunity to reinforce the
Armenian-American relations: `This is one more window for the
Armenian Genocide recognition.’
According to the analyst, Turkish-American relations are surviving
the worst period because of the war in Iraq and the Kurdish issue.
For the first time in US history military relations are worse than
the political ones.
New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is known for her pro-Armenian
position. Can we anticipate that the newly elected Senate might
recognize the Armenian Genocide? `Speaker Pelosi’s past is really
associated with the Armenian Genocide recognition, she is really
famous for her pro-Armenian position. But the US policy has more
important questions in the outlook – Iraq, Afghanistan, domestic
issues, economic questions, etc. `I’m afraid they will not attach
that much attention to Armenian issues, considering other challenges
more important,’ Richard Giragosian responded. Nevertheless, if the
Congress undertakes a pro-Armenian step and recognize the Armenian
Genocide, the White House can just veto the bill.
Is it possible that after the elections the Department of State will
decide to recall the newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia Richard
Hoagland? `The White House will continue backing Hoagland’s candidacy
not to yield to the victory of Democrats and the pressure of the
Armenian lobby,’ Richard Giragosyan says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress