Author: Emil Lazarian

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HAS MEETINGS AT FOREIGN MINISTRY AND PARLIAMENT OF CZECH REPUBLIC
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2006
PRAGUE, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Arman Kirakosian,
the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia was on a working visit to the
Czech Republic on April 3-4. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the Czech Republic, Arman Kirakosian had meetings with Jaroslav Basta,
the Foreign Minister’s First Deputy of the Czech Republic and Jaromir
Plisek, the Director General of the Territorial Department. The sides
discussed issues concerning development of bilateral relations,
possibilities of completing the legal-contractual field between
Armenia and the Czech Republic, of widening commercial-economic
ties. For giving new filling to relations of the two countries,
interlocuters discussed the necessity of mutual official visits in
future. The RA Deputy Foreign Minister also had meetings with Edvard
Outrata, the Deputy Speaker of the Czech Parliament and Jan Kavan,
the Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Committee.
Issues connected with widening interparliamentary ties, visit to be
paid to Armenia by Czech parliamentaries in coming May were touched
upon during the meetings. Within the framework of his visit to the
Czech Republic, Arman Kirakosian participated in the international
conference dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. The conference where
he made a speech was organized at the Czech Senate by Senator Jaromir
Stetina and the Armenian community. Scientists and historians from
the Czech Republic, U.S., Germany, France, Slovakia made speeches
at the conference. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the RA Deputy Foreign
Minister had a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community
of the Czech Republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING FAMILY BENEFITS INCREASES IN GEGHARKUNIK
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
GAVAR, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of people receiving
family benefits has increased in the first quarter of 2006 in the
Gegharkunik region. Thus, in 2004 the number of beneficiaries amounted
to 11722, in 2005 11547, while in the first quarter of 2006 12013
people. At the Health Protection and Social Security Department of
Gegharkunik Administration they condition the increase of the number
of beneficiaries by the circumstance that the government reduced the
lower brink of poverty estimation. In accordance with the regions’
districts, the number of beneficiaries in the first quarter of 2006
was distributed in the following way: Martuni 4599, Gavar 1824,
Sevan 1805, Vardenis 2385 and Chambarak 1400.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST ISSUE OF “ARMYANKA” MAGAZINE IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The first issue of the “Armyanka”
(“Armenian Woman”) magazine in the Russian language was published
in Yerevan on the initiative of a number of journalists. As Narine
Baghdasarian, the editor-in-chief of the periodical, said at the
April 6 presentation, the magazine published in 4000 copies will be
also spread in CIS countries, especially in Russia.
The “Armyanka” has several departments: health protection,
travel, letters, interviews, etc. According to N.Baghdasarian, any
interesting story or proposal of a woman-reader will be published in
the magazine. “It seems that the Armenian woman has been spoken much
about but this is not enough. We will try to present the reflections
and feelings of the Armenian woman by means of this magazine,”
N.Baghdasarian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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