Author: Emil Lazarian

“WE SHALL FIND AN OPTIMAL VERSION FOR GAS PRICE”
A1+
[06:43 pm] 04 April, 2006
Today while answering the question on gas price increase at the
press conference the NA Chairman Arthur Baghdasarian announced that
the Armenian side will admit any solution to gas price through the
mechanism of compromise. He hopes that certain agreement will be
reached on that matter with the Russian side. Arthur Baghdasarian
rejected the rumors about giving the Russian side the Energy and
Power Station of Hrazdan and the Iran – Armenian gas main.
But the NA Chairman is not against the solution of the matter by this
method. Moreover, he thinks that the project “Property in place of
the debt” was a successful bargain. Now we must take care of those
enterprises, make the Russian side exploit them and import the product
to the Russian market. We shall find an optimal version for gas price.”
When Mr. Baghdasarian was directly asked about his position about
giving the Russian side the Energy and Power Station of Hrazdan and
the Iran – Armenian gas main he answered that they are against any
bargain contradicting our national security and interest, but the
details of the bargain must be appreciated properly.
DON’T LOOK FOR COMPLIMENTS, MR. BAGHDASARIAN
At today’s press conference Arthur Baghdasarian also spoke about the
program “Parliamentary week” which has aroused public resonance. He
said he receives 2 – 3 international delegations a day and it is not
his guilt that his meetings are broadcast in the program.
He didn’t want to comment on Galust Sahakian’s announcement that the
program is Baghdasarian’s monologue. In regard of various political
parties’ announcements about the program “Parliamentary week” Arthur
Baghdasarian said that he will say who and how much pays for different
announcements in due time.
By the way, the NA Chairman urges that they have held a survey and
can say how much time each fraction is given during the program. As
it turns out they are all given equal opportunities. Anyway, Arthur
Baghdasarian expressed his wish to have a separate TV Channel which
will give a full coverage of the Parliamentary procedure. “I can
assure you that there is not free frequency and you will not succeed
in attempting to find it.” In response to our remark on the matter he
said, “Some people view the Parliament as a link out of the State and
we have difficulties in finding free frequency as it is not profitable
for them,” but they will have a separate TV channel and the rumours
about “Parliamentary Week” will end.
By the way, it is already 4th year of “A1+”‘ embattlement, and when
Arthur Baghdasarian was asked to estimate the level of speech freedom
the latter answered, “I miss “A1+” and wish it regain its broadcasting
licence.”
ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN COMBATS WITH HIS DEEDS
“The licentious behavior deprives people of their hope,” Arthur
Baghdasarian claimed while speaking of corruption combat and did not
go into details.
He mentioned that corruption may be combated with actions and words,
he prefers combating with deeds and added that an international
conference will be held in Armenia on corruption combat from April 6 –
7 in which representatives from 10 countries will participate.
“Such international conferences are always held in Georgia. They will
also be held in Armenia in 2006 on the theme of combating intimidation,
chemical weapon spread and for the purpose of implementing democratic
reforms.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ERDOGAN’S ADVISOR SAYS TURKS ENTRUST WHAT IS MOST DEAR TO THEM TO ARMENIANS
Armenpress
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS: Egemen Bagis, Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s foreign policy adviser and Justice & Development
Party (AKP) deputy, said international observers expected Turkey to
open its border with Armenia.
Speaking at the New York Foreign Relations Council, he said Turkey
recognized Armenia as a sovereign state. “We do not have diplomatic
relations with Armenia, but we respect Armenians’ sovereignty as we
respect the sovereignty of all other former Soviet republics,’ he
was quoted by RFE/RL as saying. Bagis said Turkey did not open its
borders with Armenia and did not seek establishment of diplomatic
relations because ‘Armenia does recognize these borders.”
“Armenian Constitutional does not say that Armenia recognizes its
border with Turkey,’ he was quoted as saying.
He then said around 50,000 Armenian citizens were living now in Turkey,
the majority without relevant permissions. He claimed the majority
of Armenian citizens worked as babysitters in Turkish families.
“Turks have entrusted their children, the dearest they have, to
Armenians, which is evidence there is no enmity between them. This
means we have much in common,” he was quoted as saying.
Meantime a survey conducted by Sociometer polling center among 1000
young Armenians revealed that the overwhelming majority was against
normalization of relations with Turkey if this is to be done by
ignoring Armenians’ territorial claims to Turkey and without its
acknowledgement of the 1915 genocide. The Sociometer said 90 percent
of respondents said they were against that way of improvement of
relations with Turkey. The share of those who would seek economic and
other ties with Turkey before it recognized the genocide and met other
Armenian demands was only 4 percent., while 6 percent were undecided.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA STATE BUDGET REVENUES GROW BY 6.5% IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA state budget revenues grew by
6.5% to about 55.1 bln drams (about 125 mln USD) in January-Februry
2006 on the same period of last year. According to the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy, most of the state budget revenues – 85.8% formed
from tax revenues. The state duty accounted for 3.8% of the budget
revenues, non-tax revenues – for 5.2%, incomes from capital operations
– 4.5%, and official transfers – for 0.7% of the revenues. Expenditures
of over 48 bln drams were incurred with state budget resources during
the period under review. The budget expenditures grew by 26.5% on the
same period of last year, which is mainly conditioned by an increase
in capital expenditures and spending on transfers and services. 10.5%
of the current budget expenditures – 4.4 bln drams was allocated for
payment of salaries of state employees. Expenditures on salaries
increased by 25.7% in January-February of 2006 on the same months
of 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OTE SEEKS BUYER OF ITS ARMENTEL SHARES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The OTE company (Greece) announced
that following the negotiations with the Armenian government, it is
looking for a buyer to purchase 90% of its shares in the ArmenTel
company. According to the AFX news agency, it is not for the first
time that OTE is trying to leave Armenia where it previously has
serious problems. It was also noted that HSBC Holding has assumed
the role of OTE’s financial advisor. According to some information,
a number of large Russian companies have expressed an intention to
acquire ArmenTel’s shares and thus enter the Armenian telecommunication
market. To recap, in 1997 OTE acquired 90% of the shares of ArmenTEl
that previously had a monopoly in Armenia’s telecommunication
sector. The remaining 10% of shares are the Armenian government’s
property.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN GAS TO GET INTO ARMENIA TILL END OF THE YEAR
Regnum, Russia
April 5 2006
“Iranian gas will begin to get into Armenia till the end of the current
year,” Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gegam Garibjanyan
is quoted as saying by a REGNUM correspondent at opening ceremony of
“Iran. Armenian Look” International Scientific-Practical Conference
at Russian-Armenian (Slavic) State University in Yerevan.
According to him, several agreements, including one on construction
of Iran-Armenia pipeline, signed during visit of Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan to Iran in December 2005, are priorities for the
republic. Also, Gegam Garibjanyan mentioned similarity of approaches
of Armenia and Iran to problems, which appears with neighboring
countries. “Despite nearly 10-year-long war with Iraq, Iran carries
out diplomatic policy with the country, not using experience of
military solution of problems,” stressed the deputy head of the
Armenian foreign ministry.
According to Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Iran
to Armenia Ali-Reza Hagigian, Iran emphasizes its relations with
Armenia in context of regional peace and economic development. In
its turn, Rector of the Armenian Slavic University Armen Darbinyan
mentioned importance of the opened conference, adding Armenia would
not forget Iranian humanitarian aid rendered during difficult years
of the economic blockade. Armenian scientists and analysts presented
their reports at the conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAHMUD MAMMADGULIYEV: “WE WILL TRY TO RETAIN BOUND TARIFFS ON STRATEGIC GOODS IN CURRENT FORM DURING ADMISSION TO WTO”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 5 2006
Azerbaijan’s admission tot eh World Trade Organization (WTO) depends
on negotiations conducted by the republic and all talks held in this
direction are progress. Journalists were given this explanation
by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, head of the delegation
representing Azerbaijan in WTO Mahmud Mammadguliyev (APA).
Mr.Mammadguliyev said that nest talks on admission to WTO may be held
in Geneva city of Switzerland at the end of this year.
Mr.Mammadguliyev speaking about the last meeting of the Working Group
held from March 27 to April 1 said that negotiations were held in
three directions – bilateral, multilateral on agricultural issues,
and on preparation to the next meeting of the Working Group: “The
requirements set for Azerbaijan during negotiations were related mainly
to improvement of the legislation in the fields of standardization,
customs, taxes and trade. Our partners are concerned about lack of
progress in this question. We have a plan to solve these problems
at least within two years. Besides, we must make some concessions
and maybe, we will do it. These concessions may be advantageous for
Azerbaijan, too. The main question is the status which Azerbaijan will
be granted when being admitted to the Organization”. According to the
Deputy Minister, the Azerbaijani party is interested in admission to
WTO as a developing country. So, 10% concessions are provided for
the WTO member-countries with this status in internal bounties in
the agricultural field: “Malaysia supported Azerbaijan’s admission
with this status, other partners – both the USA and European Union
countries fell into silence. Most likely, with silence they expressed
their consent”.
The head of the delegation said that negotiations are currently held
with the USA, European Union countries, Canada, Turkey and Japan,
and Norway is expected to join these talks.
It should be noted that one of the requirements set by WTO for
Azerbaijan was reduction of bound tariffs. After admission to the
Organization, maximal level of bound tariffs will be determined.
There two types of bound tariffs in Azerbaijan – applied level
and determined maximal level. The maximal level is not used in
Azerbaijan. When a danger for the market emerges, this opportunity
is used. Very liberal bound tariffs (not exceeding 15%) are applied
in Azerbaijan. In the current proposals, the partners claim that
existing bound tariffs are high and want their reduction. “We will try
to retain bound tariffs on strategic goods, and some agricultural and
industrial sectors in the current form”, – Mr.Mammadguliyev stressed.
Regarding Armenia’s influence on Azerbaijan’s admission to WTO,
the Deputy Minister added that Armenia assumed a WTO commitment
not to impede Azerbaijan’s membership in the Organization. Besides,
Mr.Mammadguliyev commenting Armenia’s situation in the Organization
said that Armenia does not agree to the opportunities gained in WTO:
“They want to have more opportunities, what is inconsistent with the
WTO’s principles and that is why, this problem is not solved in a
positive way. Azerbaijan does not hold any negotiations with Armenia
at preparatory meetings and no talks are possible with that country”.

THE AZERI EDGE: WITH OIL, QUESTIONABLE ELECTIONS, AND A RISING ISLAMIC PRESENCE, AZERBAIJAN MAY BE AT CROSSROADS
by Peter Church
04/05/2006 12:00:00 AM
The Weekly Standard
April 5 2006
IN NOVEMBER 2005, Azerbaijan held parliamentary elections. Voter
participation was down 20 percent from the 2000 elections, and
President Ilham Aliev’s party won overwhelmingly in what was regarded
by international observers as a questionable, if not fraudulent,
election. The small but increasingly visible Islamic Party of
Azerbaijan was again barred from running, as in past elections. The
opposition bloc lost again, as it has in every election over the past
12 years.
Dodgy elections in an impoverished, oil-rich, quasi-dictatorial
former-Soviet republic isn’t exactly big news. But seen against a
backdrop of the recently opened BTC oil pipeline, an almost 20 year
conflict with neighboring Armenia, an antagonistic southern neighbor
in Iran, an unsettled dispute to the north in Chechnya, and a rising
Islamic revival, Azerbaijan is actually standing in the middle of
some powerful geopolitical tectonic plates. The West would do well
to pay more attention to the goings on there.
I ARRIVED IN AZERBAIJAN at the end of last November, just in
time to take measure of post-election claims of fraud, opposition
demonstrations, and the mounting frustration with the political system
that is fueling an Islamic revival. I was surprised when the customs
agent in Baku asked me if I was a terrorist. I’d arrived from Kabul
wearing a beard and learned later that Azeris often refer to Salafis
as sakkaliar, or “bearded people.” As an ultra-strict sect of Sunni
Islam, Salafism in Azerbaijan is on the rise.
After 70 years of Soviet rule, when religious practice was driven
underground, Islam
is experiencing a revival in Azerbaijan. Almost 94 percent of
Azerbaijan’s 8 million inhabitants are culturally Muslim, with about
70 percent of those being Shia. If religious practice waned under
Soviet-enforced secularization, today, according to a 2004 survey
sponsored by the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, almost 97
percent of Azeri Muslims call themselves “believers.” Nearly a quarter
of Azeris support governance by sharia (with higher proportions
reported along the borders in the north and south) and nearly 30
percent apply Islamic codes to their family lives.
Even in Baku, where secularization imposed by Soviet fiat has been
replaced by the secularizing effect of attracting foreign investment,
Salafis are gaining in-roads. Amidst the city’s new five-star hotels,
downtown shops displaying designer Italian suits, bars catering to the
oil men, and the $40-a-night girls, the Salafis count up to 20,000
adherents. Mosques in Baku typically attract about 300 worshipers
for Friday prayers. But Abu Bakr Mosque, the town’s Salafi mosque,
attracts some 5,000 worshipers.
THIS RISE OF A VISIBLE SALAFI PRESENCE in Azeri society are
complicated, but they are explained in part by a combination of
geographical and historical forces. And it has been pushed along
by the fighting between Azeris and Armenians that erupted over the
disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region when the Soviet empire began to
buckle in 1987, along with the persistent conflict in Chechnya.
(The fact that Nagorno-Karabakh was home to a concentration of
Armenians in Azeri territory is the vestige of the 1828 Treaty of
Turkmenchay between Iran and Russia, which historically, along with
Turkey, have had the greatest influence over Azeri fortunes.
Azerbaijan’s first attempt at independence was short-lived, lasting two
years between the 1917 collapse of czarist Russia and the invasion
of the Red Army in 1920. Also a result of the 1828 treaty, today
some 16 million Azeris live in northern Iran–almost a quarter of
Iran’s population.)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DOES NOT COMMENT ON POSSIBILITY OF GREEK OTE SELLING ARMENTEL
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 02:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Ministry of Justice does not comment
on the reports that OTE Greek company considers the possibilities of
selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds, Spokesperson of the Armenian
Ministry of Justice Ara Saghatelyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
Today media reported that OTE Greek telecommunication group considers
the possibilities of selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds. “After
consultations with the Armenian Government the OTE announced that it
has began consideration of opportunities for selling 90% shares of
ArmenTel it holds,” the OTE release says.
HSBC Bank is the consultant in the deal, the group added. The OTE
bought 90% of shares of ArmenTel Armenian company in the end of 1997,
also acquiring monopoly for telecommunication services for 15 years.
Meanwhile, hearsay that spread in Armenia lately said Megafon Russian
company may buy ArmenTel.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN DIPLOMAT: EUROPE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE TOO DEPENDENT
17:56 04/04/2006
Perspectives of the Iranian nuclear problem, place and role of Iran
in regional and international security, as well as influence of power
centers on events around Iran, became discussion issues between Deputy
Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Ali Akbar Jouhar and several Armenian
experts at Noravank Scientific-Educational Center.
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, the Iranian diplomat rather fully
presented matter and process of Iranian nuclear problems’ development,
unambiguously stating that from the very beginning and till present,
Iran has been openly cooperating with IAEA experts.
“They visited all the facilities they wanted, and stressed in
all their reports, Iran did not change peaceful character of
its nuclear program,” mentioned Jouhar. “When we realized, the
international community just ignores our interests – was Iranian
‘nuclear dossier’ worth to be considered by UN Security Council? –
we decided to continue our research under IAEA auspices,” said the
Iranian diplomat. Ali Akbar Jouhar counted those main arguments,
used by certain countries against Iran and its nuclear program:
“The USA maintain, that a state, which has big reserves of energy
carriers, does not need nuclear power engineering.
Second, they doubt of our intentions, reasoning from fact, we have not
timely presented our report for IAEA. Third, Americans speak about
possibility of developing by Iran its nuclear weapon as time goes
by.” “All these arguments do not stand up to criticism – how may a
developing state does not need science and development of new energy
possibilities? Second, today, number of states is not IAEA member
at all; the fact did not prevent them to develop both atomic science
and finally their own nuclear weapon. At the same time, in contrast
to Iran, they did not develop atomic science by themselves, using
their own potential, but they received everything ‘in boxes’. Now,
Israel possesses more then 200 nuclear-tipped warheads, not being
IAEA member,” he stressed.
According to the deputy ambassador of Iran to Armenia, aim of Iran’s
opponents in the question is to hamper Iran’s development, and
weakening of this key country of region. “At present, there are four
main points in Euro-Asian continent – Central Asia, Caucasus, Persian
Gulf – Iraq, and Middle East.” “Iran always played stabilizing role in
region, and without powerful and stable Iran crisis’s in Afghanistan
and Iraq, unstable situation in Caucasus and Central Asia would have
spread to the whole region, and have destabilized international
situation on the whole”, believes the Iranian diplomat. “Iran was
victim of Hussein regime, although it disputed American military
invasion; it was victim of Taliban regime and al Qaeda, established
with active participation of USA. “How has it turned out, Iran is
now considered in Western policy as terrorist state?” asked Ali
Akbar Jouhar himself. According to him, tasks of geopolitical scale
are pursued by such position of Western states, including ones of
hampering international positions and influence of China and Russia.
“We enabled Europe to solve the problem, fully cooperating with us,
but Europe turned out to be too dependent and uncoordinated. Now,
those countries, which somehow relied on Europe, may really evaluate
its weight and abilities,” he stated. Mentioning Russian position,
Ali Akbar Jouhar stressed, Iranian side expected somewhat more from
Moscow, while UN Security Council was resolving. “Of course, Russia
and China played positive role in the process, some work was done by
them, and resolution became different one, comparing with USA initial
draft. But we expected more”, he stated.
Mentioning perspectives of establishing of joint consortium with
Russian side to enrich uranium, Jouhar informed, talks on the problem
continue. “President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated at UNO, Iranian
side is ready to found international consortium in its territory with
participation of western companies,” he reminded.
“Iran and Russia have to evaluate and realize themselves their role and
interests in international scene, as well as that positive role, played
by Iran to secure stability and security in region,” he stated. “Now,
our relations with Russia and China develop in positive direction,
and these both countries insist on solution of Iranian nuclear problem
in the framework of IAEA,” reminded the Iranian diplomat.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO GENOCIDE HELD IN UN WITH EFFORTS OF AMBASSADORS OF ARMENIA AND RWANDA AND ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
PRAGUE, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The conference on
the theme “Genocide: Yesterday and Today: With What Lessons We Enter
21th Century” organized at the UN with efforts of the Ambassadors of
Armenia and Rwanda and the Armenian General Benevolent Union finished
late the last week. “It must still be estimated as a regular discussion
held at the UN, this wasn’t held under the UN patronage. The UN gave
only the hall, though UN secretary general Kofi Annan’s assistant
for policy participated in the discussions as well,” Professor Vahakn
Dadrian, the Director of the Genocides Researches Center of the Zoryan
Institute, presented the Armenian veiwpoints at the discussions said
to Radio Liberty. Responding the question what a goal the UN has,
giving place to such discussions, Vahakn Dadrian said that the UN is
not a scientific center, but is a political body, so the main goal
is prevention of future genocides. “The goal is to study the first
and last genocides of the 20th century, to take lessons of them to
prevent future genocides,” Vahakn Dadrian mentioned. Radio Liberty
also informs that among a number of historians and researchers of
genocides, Professor Dadrian arrived in Prague to participate in the
conference concerning the Armenian Genocide organized in the Senate
of Czechia on April 4.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress