Author: Emil Lazarian

Paris-Normandie
6 avril 2006

Un père ivre blesse sa fille et sa femme

Sous l’emprise de l’alcool, un père de famille arménien a agressé sa
femme et l’une de ses filles à coups de couteau. Il a été placé en
détention en attendant son jugement.

Samoklin Sardarian, 38 ans, dort en prison depuis lundi. Cet Arménien
hébergé avec sa famille dans un foyer Aftam du Havre a blessé avec un
couteau son épouse et sa fille le samedi 1er avril. Les victimes sont
hors de danger. Présenté en comparution immédiate lundi devant le
tribunal correctionnel du Havre, l’homme a demandé un délai pour
préparer sa défense comme le permet la loi.

En revanche, le parquet a sollicité son placement en détention,
accordé par les juges, en attendant son jugement le 10 mai prochain.
L’agression s’est produite lors d’une dispute, sur fond d’alcool.
Ivre, le prévenu est devenu rouge de colère lorsqu’il a appris que sa
plus grande fille n’emmenait pas sa petite soeur à l’église.

Nerveux

Je souhaite une expertise psychiatrique de M. Sardarian demande son
avocate, Maître Céline Boisseau. Le tribunal a accepté cette requête.
Un expert se penchera donc sur son cas. Pour justifier la détention
provisoire, la substitut du procureur a mis en avant un trouble
exceptionnel à l’ordre public et la nécessité de protéger les
enfants: Il aurait pu tuer sa femme et sa fille. Il a fait preuve
d’une violence extrême. Ses quatre enfants sont insérés et
scolarisés. Il convient de les protéger. C’est quelqu’un d’impulsif
et d’imprévisible.

L’avocate assure que son client fait tout pour se soigner. Il voit
déjà un psychiatre et a conscience de son comportement violent. Il
est sujet à de véritables crises de nerf. En attendant son jugement,
il peut être logé ailleurs et vivre éloigné de ses proches. Je
sollicite un contrôle judiciaire. Au final, le tribunal a reconnu la
nécessité de l’héberger ailleurs, mais il a opté pour la maison
d’arrêt.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA-DIASPORA SECOND ECONOMIC FORUM TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia-Diaspora second economic forum
will be held on September 20, 2006. RA Deputy Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Tigran Davtian told reporters about it on April
6. According to him, website will be created
for the efficient organization of the forum. The deputy minister said
that the Diasporan Armenian capital makes up 50-60% of the total
amount of foreign investments in Armenia. To recap, the
Armenia-Diaspora first business forum took place in September 2003.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM SIGNED

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Minister of Finance and Economy
Vardan Khachatrian and Director of the World Bank Yerevan Office Roger
Robinson on April 7 signed the Renewable Energy Program approved by
the World Bank. The program’s total cost is 8 mln dollars, 5 mln
dollars of which is a credit provided by the International Development
Association (IDA), and 3 mln dollars is a grant of the Global
Ecological Fund (GEF). The program will be assisted by the Armenian
government for the purpose of enhancing the electricity generation
capacities, which are private property and are operated by the private
sector, by using renewable power-bearing substances, as well as for
reducing carbon dioxide emissions, removing the obstacles to the
development of renewable energy. According to the press service of the
RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Renewable Energy Program has
two components: 1) support for elimination of obstacles and assistance
to the program’s implementation, 2) investment financing. The IDA
resources and the grant will be provided to the Renewable Energy and
Energy Saving Fund, which will allocate money to private investors
through a financial intermediary. It is expected that after the
program’s completion, it will help create an extra capacity of about
80 megawatt for generation of renewable energy, adding an annual
amount of 200 gigawatt/hour to the electricity generation
structure. Carbon dioxide emissions are expected to decrease by about
130 thousands tons a year. The program will be co-financed by the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that will
allocate 7 mln dollars and the Cafesjian Family Foundation to provide
3 mln dollars. The credit will be given to Armenia on standard terms
of the Interenational Development Association – it is repayable over
40 years with a 10-year grace period.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“GAZPROM” REFUSES FROM IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE

Yerevan, April 7. ArmInfo. “Gazprom” has refused from the gas pipeline
Iran- Armenia.

Within several hours, OJSC “Gazprom” has made corrections to the
information already published by the OJSC “Gazprom” Department for
Mass Media telling about an agreement with the Armenian Government
which determines the strategic principles of cooperation in the gas
and energy projects in the territory of the country for 25 years. The
new edition of the press release published by “Gazprom” official web
site contains no provisions on Iran-Armenian gas pipeline. The initial
press release submitted to Mass Media on April 6 was announcing that
the agreement provides for the CJSC “ArmRosgazprom” buying the
constructed 40 km section of Iran-Armenian gas pipeline and the fifth
power unit of Hrazdan TPP (Hrazdan-5) from the Armenian Government.
Besides, the initial press release was indicating that the CJSC
“ArmRosgazprom” is charged with the functions of the customer of the
second 197 km section of Iran-Armenian gas pipeline. Whereas, the new
edition tells only about the purchase of “Hrazdan-5.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh analyst: Ilham Aliyev justifies militarization and
hyper-centralization by Karabakh factor

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15:44 04/07/2006

`Oil drug heavily influenced minds of Azerbaijani politicians: their
optimism , caused by inflow of oil dollars into Azerbaijani economy and
Azerbaijan’s advantages concerning Armenia turns into bragging and creating
political mythology, which are very dangerous for societies,’ stated
Karabakh analyst David Karabekyan to REGNUM.

At the same time, he stressed, most likely Baku will intensify its activity
in foreign policy in future, wishing to strengthen its positions as
independent actor of sub-regional and regional politics, that more and more
firmly and harder proclaims its interests and readiness to defend them. `In
the situation, when the neighboring country strengthens its pressure on us,
it is necessary to defend our position more fundamentally, more heartily to
correct errors, look for resources to solve problems. I personally believe
that to deal with aggressive regime, propagating hatred against Armenia, is
the same as to put out fire with petrol or to try to calm down predator
with victim’s meat. Every new concession will cause new demand,’ said
David Karabekyan.

The analyst stressed, by manipulating the Karabakh factor, Azerbaijani
leaders solve questions of internal policy and of their power’s
strengthening. ` Manipulating the Karabakh factor, Aliyev-senior succeeded
in dismissing his fellow countrymen from Nakhichevan Abulfaz Elchibey from
the presidential post, and conjointly, having clearly calculated political
state of affairs in the country and around Transcaucasia, he got rid of
competitors-representatives of national security, defense and law
enforcement agencies, and opponents, as well as suppressed mutinies in
Lenkoran and people’s liberation movement of Lezghins, living in the North
of Azerbaijan,’ said David Karabekyan.

According to the analyst, Aliyev-junior smartly uses the factor for
justifying of military expenditures growth, hyper-centralization of
governing, and abundantly wide and active participation of power
structures’ representatives in social and political life of the
country. `As for the struggle against opposition, everything is easy and
effective here. Like his father, Aliyev-junior succeeded in persuading
Azeri and international community, that the post and political niche,
occupied by him, are exactly those, he is to occupy and will do it for
benefit of all and everyone. In contrast to impulsive and unpredictable
Saakashvili, Aliyev is predictable and bears certain traditions. It means,
unlike his opponents-oppositionists, Aliyev-junior intends to carry out
more reserved and considered policy in direction Russia-West and
Iran-Turkey-Russia-USA. Evidence of it is pretended successes of his
regime, which are proclaimed by Azerbaijani propaganda to be real, in
Karabakh settlement, economy, and growth of Azerbaijani factor in regional
policy,’ said David Karabekyan.

The analyst believes, forces opposing to the current regime are not able to
change fundamentally the situation in the country, whereas the ruling
regime demonstrate that it anyhow pushes the country forward.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan not to join anti-Iran coalition – deputy foreign minister

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
6 Apr 06

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has denied that
Azerbaijan is going to join the anti-Iran coalition, Azad Azarbaycan
TV reported on 6 April.

Speaking at a news conference on the results of his recent visit to
the USA, Azimov said: “How can Azerbaijan join the anti-Iran coalition
if the latter does not exist.” He said “such an issue cannot be
considered at all”, adding that Azerbaijan is not going to join any
coalition against any state.

Azimov said that Azerbaijan wants to establish good-neighbourly
relations with all states in the region. He also expressed hope that
as a result of the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
relations with Armenia will also normalize.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH AND IRAN ARE NOT RELATED

Lragir.am
07 April 06

For the United States, the conflict over Karabakh is an important
issue, and it is not realistic to say that the United States is eager
to resolve the conflict soon in the context of a possible campaign
against Iran. Thus Mher Shahgeldyan, Chair of the Committee of
Defense, Internal Affairs and National Security, explained the
activity and interest of the U.S. in the settlement of the conflict.

In his opinion, the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is important
for the United States in the context of regional policies, and is
viewed separately from the Iranian issue.

Mher Shahgeldyan says it is absolutely clear that the United States
seeks for a rapid settlement of the issue. In this regard the member
of parliament believes that Armenia should commend the efforts of
international organizations, the world, centers of power for the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Mher Shahgeldyan particularly emphasized that the authors of these
efforts exclude application of force, which favors the stance of
Armenia.

BETTER CONDITIONS FOR DOCTORS IN REGIONS

Lragir.am
07 April 06

During the presentation of the World Health Organization Report on
Human Resources on April 7 in Yerevan Minister of Health Norayr
Davidyan announced that alumni of the state medical universities will
be seconded to work in the regions. `This refers to students studying
on state scholarship. It will increase the flow of doctors to the
regions of the country.’ Norayr Davidyan said the shortage of doctors
is especially felt in border and mountainous areas. He said the
Ministry of Health of Armenia has worked out a program of sending
specialists to work in the regions. The program is implemented
currently and involves providing better conditions for doctors working
in far regions: high salary, allowances, accommodation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA wants to see defence minister next Armenian leader – agency

Iravunk, Yerevan
7 Apr 06

Text of report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 7 April According to
our source, efforts are under way to bolster the positions of Defence
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and the American authorities are behind this
plan. The White House sees him as a politician who is capable of
resolving the issues that worry the USA, in particular the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. But, as the source says, Serzh Sarkisyan is
nowadays more concerned about the deterioration of his relations with
Russia and with his former patron [Russian Defence Minister] Sergey
Ivanov.

It cannot be ruled out that the USA will assume the role of a mediator
and try to strengthen and deepen Sarkisyan’s relations with Moscow.
Incidentally, a reduction in the price of the Russian gas may become a
way to boost Serzh Sarkisyan’s authority.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s gas giant denies buying Iran-Armenia gas pipeline

Arminfo
7 Apr 06

Yerevan, 7 April: Gazprom has refused to take the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. The Gazprom open-type joint-stock company has corrected the
report on the 25-year agreement signed by the Armenian government
which the company’s public relations department published earlier. The
agreement defines strategic principles of cooperation in gas and
energy projects in Armenia.

The provisions regarding to the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline have been
fully omitted from the new version of the press release which has been
posted on Gazprom’s official website. The initial version of the press
release, sent to the mass media on 6 April, said that Gazprom will
take the ArmRosgazprom closed-type joint stock company from the
Armenian government, including a 40-kilometer section of the Iran
-Armenia gas pipeline and the fifth energy unit of the Razdan power
plant, under the agreement. It also said that the Armenian government
will give ArmRosgazprom the functions of the project owner of the
construction of the second section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
which is 197 km long.

The new version of the document only mentioned taking the fifth energy
unit of the Razdan power plant from the Armenian government.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress