Author: Emil Lazarian

ACCIDENT AT KAPAN COPPER MINE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

KAPAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Gagik Parsadanian, 48, of the city of
Kapan, died as a result of an accident that occured on April 3 at the
copper mine owned by SIF Ltd. No investigation has been started by the
prosecutor office of Syunik marz yet, since an expert conclusion is
required for it, while the Syunik regional body of Armminetechcontrol,
whose function was to make such conclusions, has been liquidated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SUSPECT IN AGHAJUR MAN MURDER CASE ARRESTED

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

IJEVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Gagik Sakanian, 24, of Aghajur village
(Tavush marz), received two stabs with a knife and died during a
quarrel between some local young men and a group of students who came
to Aghajur from Yerevan on April 2. According to the information
provided to NT correspondent by the prosecutor office of Tavush
marz, Rafael Davtian, of Yerevan, 4th year student of Yerevan State
University’s geoligical department, was arrested on suspicion of
having committed the murder. A deliberate murder charge was brought
against him under Article 104 of the RA Criminal Code. The prosecutor
office of Tavush marz is conducting an investgation into the case.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSISTENT FIGHTING CORRUPTION TO GREATLY PROMOTE DEEPENING OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian National structure of the
Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) was
founded with participation of all groups and factions represented at
RA National Assembly. On the occasion of the foundation of the GOPAC
Armenian National structure RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian made
a statement, which, in particular, said: “By the foundation of the
GOPAC Armenian National structure we once again confirm the necessity
and resolution to eradicate corruption in our country. I am convinced
that consistent fighting corruption and unbiassed application of the
law will greatly promote deepening of democratic reforms, development
of a free and competitive market. It is unequivocal that the active
participation and efficient cooperation of the parliaments, civil
society institutions and mass media will greatly contribute to the
defeat of corruption, which is finally accompanied by the victory
of democracy”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAZPROM TO DELIVER CHEAP GAS TO ARMENIA IN RETURN FOR CONTROL OF GAS NETWORK

FORBES
April 6 2006

MOSCOW (AFX) – The Armenian government has signed an agreement with
Gazprom which will give the Russian gas group control over the former
Soviet republic’s gas distribution network and its part of the planned
Armenia-Iran gas pipeline in return for charging moderate gas prices
until 2009.

Gazprom has pledged to charge its neighbour 110 usd per 1.000 cubic
metres of gas deliveries until Dec 31 2008 and pay 248.8 mln usd
towards subsidising gas prices for the period.

Deliveries to Europe are currently priced at 230 usd per 1.000
cubic metres.

Under the deal Gazprom will be allowed to acquire a controlling
interest in gas distributor ArmRosGazprom as well as a section of
the 40 kilometre gas pipeline linking Armenia and Iran currently
under construction.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO SELL 5TH POWER UNIT OF HRAZDAN TTP TO ARMROSGASPROM

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 6 2006

Yerevan, April 6. /ARKA/. The RA Government will sell the 5th power
unit of the Hrazdan TPP and the first section of the Iran-Armenia
gas main to ArmRosgasprom. A relevant agreement has been signed
between the RA Government and the Russian “Gasprom” holding company
for 25 years. The agreement stipulates the principles of strategic
cooperation in implementing gas projects in Armenia.

The agreement sets the price for Russian natural gas in Armenia,
$110 for 1,000 cubic meters until January 1, 2009.

The agreement stipulates the purchase of the 5th power unit of
the Hrazdan TPP and a 40-km-long section of the Iran-Armenia gas
main from the RA Government by the Armenian-Russian “ArmRosgasprom”
company. Under the agreement, the RA Government is to grant the right
to the construction of the 2nd section of the Iran-Armenia gas main
(197 kilometers) to the “ArmRosgasprom” CJSC.

Preliminary purchase-and-sale agreements are to be signed before
April 14, 2006. Before January 1, 2007, the facilities in question
are to be completely transferred to ArmRosgasprom.

To ensure efficient energy generation by means of gas, the sides will
combine their efforts in renovating the technologically integrated
property complex Hrazdan 5 with one control center, as well as in
contructing a gas-turbine unit with a capacity of up to 140 megawatts.

Further operation of the energy facilities will allow the fuel costs
to be reduced. The agreement also stipulates the export of electric
energy generated by Hrazdan 5.

The “Gasprom” OJSC’s share in the authorized capital of the
“Armrosgasprom” CJSC will constitute qualified majority.

The Armenian-Russian “ArmRosgasprom” holds a monopoly of the supply
and distribution of Russian gas in Armenia. The RA Government and the
“Gasprom” OJSC hold 45% of the company’s shares each, the rest 10%
being held by the “Itera” oil and gas company.

The construction of the 120-km-long Iran-Armenia gas main is estimated
at US $120mln. The construction of the first section, Meghri-Kajaran,
got under way on November 30, 2004. The second section runs from
Kajaran to Ararat through Sisian and Jermuk. The gas main is expected
to be put into operation in 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE DURING THE MONITORING AT THE FRONT LINES
Author: E. Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006

Monitoring that was held at the front line between Azerbaijani and
Armenian armed forces according to the current OSCE mandate has passed
without any incidents, the Defense Ministry press-service told Trend.

The monitoring took place near the Mazamli village of Kazakh district.

>From Azerbaijani side monitoring was supervised by the personal
representative of the OSCE chairman, ambassador, Andjey Kasprshik
with his assistants, Imre Palatinus and Yuri Aberle.

Monitoring from the opposite side was supervised by the OSCE chairman`s
field assistants, Alexander Samarski, Harry Eronen and Peter Key.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAZPROM SETS GAS PRICE FOR ARMENIA

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
April 6 2006

RBC, 06.04.2006, Moscow 14:17:08.Gazprom and the Armenian government
have signed an agreement that sets the gas price at $110 per 1,000
cubic meters until January 1, 2009, the company’s press service
reported.

Starting from April 2006 Russia raised gas transit tariffs for Armenia
from $56 to $110 per 1,000 cubic meters.

Armenia has no gas production facilities, and is entirely dependent
on gas imports. Gazprom is the only gas exporter to Armenia at the
moment. In 2005 gas supplies to Armenia amounted to 1.7bn cubic meters.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WASHINGTON DENIES PRO-ARMENIA BIAS

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006

A high-ranking US official has said Washington supports a fair and
peaceful settlement to the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict that meets the interests of both sides,
despite some analysts describing US government’s financial aid to
Armenia as an indicator of bias.

The allocation of more financial assistance to Armenia than Azerbaijan
does not imply that the United States favors this country on the
conflict resolution, said the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza. Washington backs
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and a conflict resolution based
on the United Nations resolutions, Bryza said during his visit to
Baku jointly with a State Department Policy Planning Director Stephen
Krasner on Monday.

“The UN Security Council resolutions represent worldwide laws and we
support them. We are interested in the continuation of peace talks.

The key issue here is for the sides to reach agreement that would
benefit both of them,” the American official added. Commenting on the
operation of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic’s office in
the U.S., Bryza said this is in line with American laws. He said US
legislation does not ban the opening of any entity’s representation
in his country despite certain restrictions. “We allow any given
organization to operate in the United States unless this runs counter
to our laws. There is nothing illegal about the activity of an
organization from the Garabagh region or the Cyprus Turks’ community
in the U.S. But personally, I have not had any officially meetings
with the Upper Garabagh representatives.” In a meeting with President
Ilham Aliyev, the head of state said the successful development of
multi-lateral US-Azeri relations was essential for the whole region
and expressed hope for further expansion of cooperation. Heisner
thanked Azerbaijan for its contribution to the anti-terror campaign in
Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots and said bilateral relations
were of strategic importance for his country.

‘Double standards’ The American officials met with opposition leaders
to exchange views on the social and political situation in Azerbaijan
after last year’s parliamentary elections, as well as democracy
and human rights. The current status of the Garabagh talks was
also reviewed during the meetings with the leaders of major Musavat,
Popular Front and Azerbaijan Democratic Parties, and the National Unity
Movement, according to the US embassy. A source from the PFPA said
the opposition raised the issue of what they described as a double
standard policy pursued by the U.S. with regard to Azerbaijan. The
US officials are expected to attend an international conference on
transparency in extractive industries. The event focusing on the
experience of pilot countries will take place next Thursday as part
of the fourth meeting of the Coalition on the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative (EITI).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANYAN ARRIVES IN RUSSIA ON VISIT
05.04.2006, 22.20

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 6 2006

MOSCOW, April 5 (Itar-Tass) — Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanyan arrived in Moscow on a three-day visit on Wednesday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said, “Relations
with Armenia have lately acquired the nature of strategic and allied
partnership and are characterised by positive dynamics.”

At the talks in Moscow the sides will discuss “the implementation
of top-level agreements on the enhancement of Russian-Armenian
cooperation, including in the transport, and fuel and energy sectors,
as well as direct economic ties between Russian regions and Armenia,”
Kamynin said.

The Year of Armenia in Russia will be one of the priority topics at
the talks, he added.

Special attention will be given to “the coordination of efforts to
step up political interaction against terrorism.”

“The sides will exchange views on the coordination of efforts in
international organisations and on important regional problems, as
well as interaction in the CIS, including the Collective Security
Treaty Organisation,” the diplomat said.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh settlement will dominate the agenda. … Russia
calls for continued Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue at different levels,
primarily between the presidents of the two countries. We believe
that the parties to the conflict should work out a mutually acceptable
solution themselves,” the spokesman said.

Russia “is ready to provide the most active assistance in this case
both on a bilateral level and as a co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,
and become a guarantor of the reached agreements.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN ARMY OFFICER WILL BE SENTENCED ON 13 APRIL IN BUDAPEST

Today, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006

Trial of Azerbaijani Army officer Ramil Safarov, who is indicted for
murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, in Budapest brought
together Azerbaijani students, Turks living in Hungary as well as
many media representatives.

Head of the Azerbaijan-Belgium House Bulent Gurjami, who attended
the trial in Budapest, told APA that after reviewing the reports, the
judge presiding the court process at the beginning asked to consider
opinions of experts newly included into the materials of the criminal
case. The defendant’s petition was refused.

Public prosecutor said in his one-hour speech that all evidences were
against Ramil Safarov. The prosecutor concluded that Ramil Safarov
preplanned this crime and it was not accidental that it was committed
on the eve of the anniversary of the Armenia-Azerbaijan war. Taking
into account that this was the first crime committed by Safarov,
the prosecutor asked to sentence him for 30 years in jail.

The lawyer of Ramil Safarov addressing the court said that the
Azerbaijani officer did not commit the murder consciously and his
unconsciousness was proved by experts. The trial was appointed to
April 13. Ramil Safarov will address the process with final statement
and will be sentenced.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress