Author: Emil Lazarian

RECONSTRUCTION OF 5th POWER UNIT OF HRAZDAN TPP TO BE COMPLETED IN MID 2008
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to complete the
reconstruction of the 5th power unit of the Hrazdan Thermal Power
Plant (TPP) and the installation of its 140-mw gas-turbine facility
by mid 2008. Chairman of ArmRusgazprom Board, General Executive
Director of the company Karen Karapetian said during the October 31
press conference that 180 million dollars will be invested for this
work. To recap, Gasprom company (Russia) purchased the 5th power unit
of Hrazdan TPP for 248.8 million USD. According to K. Karapetian,
the Armenian government did not assume any obligations concerning
the repayment of this investment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU COUNTRIES’ 53.9% SHARE IN DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA IN 2003 INCREASES TO 76.5% IN 2005
Noyan Tapan
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-August 2006, European
Union (EU) countries accounted for 36.9% of Armenia’s foreign
trade. 50.8% of goods exported from Armenia was exported to EU
countries. In the indicated period, EU countries accounted for
30.6% of Armenia’s imports. The RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmaritian presented this data during the October
31 press conference, noting that the EU is the most active trade
partner of Armenia. According to him, in 2001-2005, the average
annual share of the EU in Armenia’s foreign trade made up 36.9%,
its share in the country’s exports – 37.3%, in imports – 32.3%. In
the same period, the companies of EU countries accounted for 42.6%
of foreign investments in Armenia, their share in direct investments
over this period amounting to 49.9%. In 2003, EU countries accounted
for 53.9% of the direct foreign investments in Armenia, while in 2005 –
for 76.5%. K. Chshmaritian said that in 2005, foreign investments in
Armenia amounted to 400 million USD, investments of EU countries’
companies – to 215 million USD, 187 million of which was direct
investment. According to the minister’s forecasts, in 2006, the total
amount of investments in Armenia will grow by about 20%. The minister
noted that Greece is in first place by the amount of investments in
Armenia in 2005, followed by Germany and France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU: OSCE MG BECAME ACTIVATED LATELY
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.10.2006 16:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Opinion that France should be expelled from
co-chairing the OSCE MG is heard frequently,” Azeri FM Elmar
Mammadyarov said. “On the whole within the process the OSCE passed
a resolution on April 24, 1992 determining the mandate of the OSCE
Minsk Group. The document indicates that Armenia and Azerbaijan are
parties to the conflict, while the Armenian and Azeri communities of
NK are interested parties. Thereupon, some people start speaking of
changing the mandate, etc. The process should first of all be launched
at the OSCE and it will take time,” he remarked.
“The co-chairs become more active lately and positive outcomes were
reached with their participation. I would like to mention the role of
the co-chairs, especially the US, in discussion of the resolution on
the fires in occupied territories at the UN GA. They reached certain
consensus, owing to which a resolution was adopted by the UN GA for
the first time in the history referring to the matter of occupied
territories, having to do with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
As it is known, a monitoring group of experts visited the region,
specifically the NK. At present we are awaiting for the results of
their work over the report. The document will probably made public
in mid-November,” Mammadyarov said, reports Day.az.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKS LAID BLACK WREATHS IN FRONT OF FRENCH CONSULATES GENERAL IN GERMAN CITIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.10.2006 17:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Union of Turkish Associations in Europe laid
black wreaths in front of French consulates general in four German
cities – Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart – to protest the
bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide that was approved
by French National Assembly on October 12th, 2006. Recep Yildirim,
the Chairman of the Union of Turkish Associations in Europe, said
that France, which defended human rights and freedom of expression,
has blackened its history due to adoption of the bill.
Yildirim added, “we hope that the bill will not be approved in the
Senate.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WWF TO CONTINUE PROTECTION OF ARMENIAN LEOPARDS
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
KAPAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: Arthur Khoyetsian from the Armenian
office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said the office has planned
a set of measures for the next year as part of a bigger project aimed
to help Caucasian leopards.
Some 10-12 leopards are believed to live in Armenian forests, mainly
in the southern province of Syunik and in central Ararat province. The
total number of leopards in the South Caucasus is about 20-24, with
another 10-12 in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Some 5-7 leopards are thought to live also in Nagorno-Karabakh
forests. Khoyetsian said four-wheel cars, binoculars and other
equipment were given to special anti-poaching groups of local
residents in these provinces and special classes were conducted for
rural schoolchildren.
The leopard is included in the Red Data Book of Rare and Endangered
Species (Red Book) in all countries of this region and in the UNEP-WCMC
Database on Threatened Animals of the World. Several years ago the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) started a special project for protection
of leopards in Armenia. The leopard was thought to have disappeared
from the region in the 1960s, but absence of special surveys until
the end of 20th century did not allow to exactly evaluate the leopard
condition in the Ecoregion.
The situation with the leopard population in the Caucasus is critical,
which is caused by the continuation of over hunting of ungulates
(bezoar goat, roe deer, wild boar, etc.) – primary prey species, and
poaching of the leopard itself. The long-term goal of this project
is conservation of the Caucasus leopard in its historical range in
the Ecoregion.
Khoyetsian said WWF Armenian Office will bring next year red deers,
which are on the verge of extinction in Armenia, from Georgia to
resettle them in Armenian forests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONUMENT TO WORLD-FAMOUS ARMENIAN COMPOSER OPENS IN MOSCOW
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
MOSCOW, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: As part of Year of Armenia in Russia
monument to the world-famous Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian was
inaugurated today in Moscow with the participation of the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina,
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and others.
The monument made by sculptor Georgi Frangulian and architect Igor
Voskresenski is erected near the House of Composers. “The opening
of the monument is one of the best events of the Year of Armenia in
Russia declared by the presidents of the two countries. Year, within
the framework of which we are giving new impetus to our spiritual,
economic, political and human relations,” Moscow mayor said adding
that Aram Khachaturian is the classic of world culture in the works
of which people see national music and Armenia’s beauty.
Luzhkov highly assessed the public activity of Khachaturian and pointed
out that it is a high time to combine the spiritual potential of the
two countries.
President of Armenia Robert Kocharian said that it is a great honor and
pride for any nation when a monument to its sons is being erected in
another country. And the pride doubles when the son, in this case Aram
Khachaturian, is loved in Russia as much as he is loved in Armenia.
According to the Armenian president, the life and fate of Aram
Khachaturian is wonderful example which shows how the cultures
and fates of the Armenian and Russian peoples are merged. “We are
often being asked whether we do everything necessary so that the
new generation remembers about our distinguished and general pages,
how our fates are tied with each other.
The works of Aram Khachaturian always remind us about our general
past,” Kocharian said.
The Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina considered it symbolizing
that the monument to the composer has been erected nearby the music
institutions of Moscow where Aram Khachaturian lived and worked.
She said the monument also symbolizes the friendship existing
between the Armenian and Russian peoples. The Chairman of the Russian
Composers’ Union Vladislav Kazeni said that Aram Khachaturian’s music
is eternal and tells about happiness, love and beauty of the world
for which everyone must fight.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WAS “GASPROM” WRONG IN ITS CALCULATIONS?
A1+
[08:07 pm] 31 October, 2006
According to the Russian company “Gasprom,” they already possess more
shares in ArmRusGasArd.
Let us remind you that the founders of the Armenian “ArmRusGasArd”
company, the RA Government and “Gasprom,” have 45 percent shares and
the Company “Itera” has 10 percent shares.
The representatives of “Gasprom” have lately announced that they
already possess 58 percent of the total shares.
Karen Karapetyan, executive director of “ArmRusGasArd” said his
opinion on this score.
Mr. Karapetyan finds the concern why 70-80 percent of the Armenian
energy sphere should go to one country illogical. This namely refers
to the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline which will be given to “Gasprom”
and after possessing the packet of shares Russia can close the gas
tubes entering to Armenia any time. “It doesn’t matter who the owner
is and what nationality he belongs to. If the country wants efficient
administration, it must alienate certain objects,” announced Karen
Karapetyan.
There was an attempt to remind him that “Gasprom” was not estranged
it is still a state institution. But Mr. Karapetyan answered, “Who
says that the energy bloc is liberal in Russia. I think it is more
liberal in Armenia than in any other CIS country.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WIFE OF FORMER POLITICAL PRISONER VOICES HER SUGGESTIONS
Panorama.am
12:25 31/10/06
“A monument should be raised to the memory of political prisoners who
did not have graves,” Hasmik Navasardyan, wife of Ashot Navasardyan,
who was sentenced to jail in the Soviet era for his strive for
independence, said. Hasmik Navasardyan has a number of other
suggestions aimed to raise the concerns of political prisoners in
front of the state. She thinks the government ought to declare one
day as a day of political prisoners in a year. She also suggests
writing a book about.

TRANSPORT ISSUES STYMIE ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
“Economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia is developing but
this process is being stymied because of the issues in the sphere of
transportation,” Armenian president stated during the meeting with
Russian prime minister. Yet, investment projects in the spheres
of raw materials processing, construction and electricity offset
transport issues.
Prime minister Fradkov said that he will discuss cooperation issues
between the two states with his Armenian counterpart in Moscow on
December 1. The next day first deputy prime minister of Russia Dmitri
Medvedev will take part in the closing ceremony of Armenia’s Year in
Russia in St. Petersburg.
Igor Levitin, co-chair of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental
commission and transport minister of Russia, also took part in the
get-together of the Armenian president and Russian PM.
President Kocharian, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and Russia’s first
lady Lyudmila Putina took part in the unveiling ceremony of the bronze
statue of world-famous composer Aram Khachaturian yesterday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESENTATION OF RA EMBASSY BUILDING TAKES PLACE IN GREECE
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
ATHENS, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A reception dedicated to the 15th
anniversary of the independence of Armenia as well as the presentation
of the new Embassy building took place at the Embassy of the Republic
of Armenia to Greece on October 26. Representatives of the Greek
authorities, of the Armenian and Greek clergy, business circles,
Armenian community and mass media, diplomats accredited in Greece
participated in the event. According to the information submitted
to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, the official opening of the Embassy building took place
in November 2005, within the framework of the RA President’s official
visit to Greece.
Then, some necessary works were done, and only during this summer
it became possible to promote the Embassy’s complete activity in the
new building.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress