Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, US DELEGATION DISCUSS AID PROGRAMME, KARABAKH

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
12 Apr 06

A US delegation led by Congressman Jim Kolbe is in Yerevan. The
delegation also includes Congressman Scott Garrett and Millennium
Challenge Corporation Chief Executive Officer John Danilovich.

At a meeting with the delegation, President Robert Kocharyan said that
Armenian-US relations were dynamically developing and the Armenian
side was expecting clear and open partnership relations with the
corporation. The president said that the programme was important as
it covered all regions of Armenia, could lead to great qualitative
changes and would contribute to the reduction of the gap between
rural regions and Yerevan.

The sides also spoke about the importance of fair management, good
economic indicators and fight against corruption. They stressed the
importance of improving the Electoral Code and also touched on the
Karabakh conflict.

[Video shows Kocharyan meeting the delegation members at the
presidential residence]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SALE OF POWER PLANT’S UNIT TO STRENGTHEN ENERGY SECURITY – ARMENIAN PREMIER

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Apr 06

[Presenter] New gas prices are coming into force from 10 April. The
population will pay 65 drams instead of 59 drams for 1 cu. m. of
gas, whereas commercial enterprises will pay 94.5 dollars for 10,000
cu.m. [as heard].

Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan again confirmed that the government
would do everything possible to keep gas and electricity tariffs
unchanged in the next three years. He also said that there had been
no agreement between Russia’s Gazprom company and Armenia on the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Speaking about the sale of the fifth unit
of the Razdan thermal power plant, he said that it was not connected
with the gas price.

The prime minister described the deal as a successful transaction
which would strengthen Armenia’s energy security.

[Andranik Markaryan, captioned] This is a successful deal. We sold
the unit for 250m dollars on the condition that 140m dollars will be
invested into its reconstruction and upgrading in two years’ time.

This will strengthen our energy security. From this point of view,
I consider this is a right decision and the Armenian government has
got an opportunity to use this money to finance domestic gas consumers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPORTERS WHO COMMENTED ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CONFERENCE STAND TRIAL AGAIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 02:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 11 the Istanbul court resumed the hearings on
the case of 5 Turkish journalists, who are accused of commenting on
the Armenian Genocide conference held in Istanbul. “These 5 leading
and democratic reporters stand trial for their publications but I am
convinced they will be acquitted,” Istanbul-based “Akos” newspaper
editor Hrant Dink stated, reported RFE/FL.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAZPROM AND ARMROSGAZPROM LEADERS DISCUSSED HRAZDAN-5 RESTORATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 19:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday Gazprom Management Committee Chairman
Alexey Miller and ArmRosgazprom Director General Karen Karapetyan
held a working meeting, reported Gazprom’s press office. The parties
discussed the fulfillment of the agreements on strategic principles
of cooperation signed by Gazprom and the Armenian government. Special
attention was paid to the purchase and restoration of the 5th unit
of the Hrazdan Heat Power Plant for the efficient processing of
natural gas into electric energy. To remind, April 6 Gazprom and
the government of the Republic of Armenia concluded a 25-year term
agreement on the strategic principles of cooperation in the gas and
energy projects on the territory of Armenia. The document provides
for the purchase of the 5th unit of the Hrazdan Heat Power Plant
(Hrazdan-5) and some objects in gas sector. The draft purchase and
sale agreements are to be concluded till April 14, 2006.

Gazprom will finally assume the right of possession till January
1, 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POWERS TRY TO DERIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM KARABAKH ISSUE SETTLEMENT PROCESS, EXPERT MENTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. “Just like the “Property for Debt”
agreement, the last Armenian-Russian bargain regarding the 5th block
of Hrazdan TPP is in no way connected with the national and state
interests of Armenia,” Stepan Safarian, head of the researches of
the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
declared this to Noyan Tapan correspondent.

According to him, the bargain is connected with the current
geopolitical situation formed in the South Caucasus. In Safarian’s
opinion, today the Karabakh problem is the most dominating one and
has subordinated to itself other problems regarding Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In the expert’s estimation, the U.S. has become much
more active in the process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement and in this
context the authorities of the two countries have appeared in a very
“pitiful” position. And for the purpose of making advantage of this
“pitiful” position, the powers, including Russia, try “to derive the
maximum benefit”.

Meanwhile, Armenia, transferring entities of strategic importance
to Russia, once more expects Russia’s assistance in failing the
settlement process or avoiding the settlement. In the expert’s
affirmation, Robert Kocharian’s conduct, as well as Russia’s
position are conditioned by the pressure of the U.S. in the issue
of Karabakh settlement. In this respect, according to Safarian,
it is rather noteworthy that the former balance was violated and
the Azerbaijani President was officially invited by U.S. President
Bush. He reminded the 2001 Key West negotiations when U.S. President
Bush received Robert Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev “only provided that
they will agree to realize the Key West principles”. “Of course,
the disappointment was great later as Heydar Aliyev refused this
variant and doing so, saved Robert Kocharian, but in any case, this
time the accents of the U.S. on Azerbaijan are obvious,” the expert
mentioned. In Safarian’s estimation, the current processes of Karabakh
settlement can be qualified as “Key West-2” but in a perfected variant
when the U.S. and the West in general apply such technologies in the
negotiations process that “the possibilities of tacking are minimal in
difference to the 2001 Key West negotiations but it is a bit difficult
to imagine in what ways these technologies will be implemented”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESENTATION OF ALMANAC “ARMENIA IN A TRANSFORMING WORLD” TOOK PLACE IN ACNIS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the almanac
entitled “Armenia in a Transforming World” took place on April
12 at the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS). Presenting the almanac prepared according to 2005 results,
Stepan Safarian, head of ACNIS researches, called the attention
of those present to the works included in it: the work by Martin
Malek, research officer of the Austrian National Academy of Defence,
entitled “State Collapse as a Phenomenon of International Relations”,
research dedicated to the chronology and ways of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with 11 maps (authors S.Safarian
and A.Barkhudarian); results of sociological surveys conducted by
the Center among the population and experts in 2005; the work by a
member of the Constitutional Court, professor Felix Tokhian entitled
“Reform of the Electoral Code and Constitution in Armenia”; “Some
Aspects of Armenian-Russian Economic Ties in the Light of the Format
“Property for Debt” by Hovsep Khurshudian, etc. Speaking at the
presentation, Center expert H.Khurshudian mentioned the topicality
of studies of Armenian-Russian economic contacts in the light of
the last bargain with “Gasprom”, as a result of which the 5th block
of Hrazdan TPP was transferred to the management of the Russian gas
monopolist. He especially drew the attention of those present to the
circumstance that at first it was supposed to transfer the right of
finishing the construction of the 5th block of Hrazdan TPP to one of
Iranian companies on terms very beneficial for the Armenian side, but
subsequently the government made quite another decision. Khurshudian
made a brief economic and political analysis of the last agreement,
as well as implementation of the agreement “Property for Debt” and
made a supposition that these agreements could have a “shady side”
and could be the consequence of the Russian political influence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOCIETY FOR ARMENIAN-BULGARIAN FRIENDSHIP ESTABLISHED IN VANADZOR

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006

VANADZOR, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April,
11, 2006 in the city of Vanadzor was established a Society for
Armenian-Bulgarian Friendship. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
Press Service of the Embassy of Bulgary to Armenia, as a chairman of
the Society was elected Mr. Samvel Darpinyan, the mayor of Vanadzor
city, and as an executive secretary of the Society – Ms. Sonya
Malumyan. The establishment of the Society was realized with the
participation of the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of
the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic Armenia Mr. Stefan Dimitrov.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RESTORERS’ SCHOOL TO BE FOUNDED IN ARMENIA WITH ITALIAN SPECIALISTS’ ASSISTANCE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Government
of Italy allocated in 2006 35 thousand evros and the Embassy of
Italy to Armenia – 29.5 thousand evros for keeping and restoring the
historic-cultural monuments in Armenia. Roberto Nocella, the Second
Secretary of the Embassy of Italy to Armenia stated about this at
the April 11 press-conference. According to the Second Secretary of
the Embassy, Armenia was given this year scholarship for 26 months,
from the scholarships being allocated by the Italian Government to
specialists of different countries for studying the Italian Language
and culture. Those scholarships will be given in Armenia first of
all to those specialists who are engaged in study of architecture,
restoration of frescos and fastening of monuments. Roberto Nocella
emphasized that sources of the Armenian-Italian friendship, having deep
roots, continues to productively develop today as well. According to
him, following the UNESCO example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of his country implements activity aimed to keeping monuments in
different countries of the world. According to R.Nocella, restoration
of a cultural monument in any country may be considered the best
cultural dialogue.

According to Professor Gaiane Casnati, the Director of the
Armenian Architecture Study and Documentation Center of Milan, the
Armenian-Italian joint works have given their positive results in the
direction of restoring monuments since 2000. The monastic complex of
Marmashen was restored, the preliminary appearance of the Yereruyk
temple is studied at present. The state of wall-paintings of the
Kobayri monastery will be studied with the help of Italian specialists
and their restoration scheme will be drafted this year. Gaiane Casnati
mentioned that Italian specialists jointly with the Government of
Armenia participate in works of fastening the castles of Amberd and
Dashtadem. She informed that seminars with participation of Armenian
and Italian architects will be organized in Armenia during this
year. According to G.Casnati, the final goal of that joint activity
is creation of the Restorers’ School in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZNAVOUR LIGHTS CANDLE IN GOSHAVANK AND HAGHARTSIN CHURCH

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006

IJEVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. World famous chanson
singer Charles Aznavour visited Goshavank and the Haghartsin church
complex, accompanied by his son, Misha, on April 9. Aznavour was met
in the village of Gosh with great warmness, “salt and bread.” Girls
of the village presented him flowers, and an old woman from the
village presented some jam prepared by herself. Dozens of families
from the regions of Ijevan and Dilijan came to see Aznavour. The
latter presented them autographs, was photographed with them.

Aznavour lighted candle in Goshavank and the Haghartsin church.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF YOUNG ECOLOGISTS TO TAKE PLACE IN NOYEMBERIAN IN JUNE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

NOYEMBERIAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The international conference
of young ecologists will take place in the city of Noyemberiam,
the marz of Tavush, on June 28-30. Sahak Atanesian, the Chairman of
the ecological “UniEcofor” company, the initiator of the conference
informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent about this. Show of ecological
films and organization of a competition are envisaged within the
framework of the conference. By the way, still in 1994, S.Atanesian
found out Asian Minor tritons in the “jil gol” reservoir of the
village of Hagvi. According to him, it was considered till that,
that those amphibians live only in mountains of the Western Caucasus
and Asia Minor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress