Author: Emil Lazarian

VARIOUS EVENTS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN ECONOMY TO BE HELD IN RUSSIAN
REGIONS THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The most important economic
sphere-related event of Year of Armenia in Russia – the festival of
Armenian goods will take place in November at the pavilion “Armenia”
of the All-Russian Exhibition Center in Moscow. Mushegh Sargsian,
deputy director of exports and enterprise development of the Armenian
Development Agency (ADA), told NT correspondent that an
Armenian-Russian business forum will be organized during the
exhibition as well. It was noted that various events dedicated to the
Armenian economy will be held in some Russian regions: in May – in
Samara region, in June – in Astrakhan and Leningrad regions, in July –
in Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, in August – in Krasnodar and
Kemerovo regions, in September – in Rostov region and in October – in
Perm region. According to M. Sargsian, it is envisaged that the ADA
will organize exhibitions of Armenian products and Armenian-Russian
business forums in Russian regions, while in some regions these events
will be combined. The character of the exhibitions and business forums
will be determined by the demand that the given region’s market has
for Armenian goods and the opportunity of entering this market. It was
indicated that the governor of Perm region has already proposed that
the ADA should organize Armenia’s participation in the industrial fair
to be held in the city of Perm in June. An invitation to take part in
a similar event has also been received from Kazan. According to
M. Sargsian, Armenia has also received an invitation to participate in
the traditional business forum held in Saint Petersburg under the
aegis of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. The event will take
place in June. It was noted that the ADA organized Armenia’s
participation in 2004’s business forum and an exhibition of Armenian
production within its framework, at which Armenia had a great
success. This year’s business forum took place in the format “Southern
regions of the Russian Federation, Armenia, Czeck Republic”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Garegin II Thanked Canadian PM for Support of Armenian Genocide
Recognition

23.03.2006 20:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Canadian Armenian delegation, led by the Primate
His Eminence Bagrat Galstanian, met with Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper in his Parliament Hill office. During the meeting the
Primate congratulated the Prime Minister on his recent election, and
thanked him for actively supporting discussion of Armenian issues at
the Parliament, especially the passage of Bill M-380 by the House of
Commons in 2004, which recognized the Armenian Genocide. The Primate
told Mr. Harper that he was gratified to hear the policies of the
Conservative government on social issues, and offered his cooperation
towards enhancing dialogue with Church and interfaith community
leaders in Canada. Bagrat Galstanian also presented a letter from His
Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. `We highly appreciate this important action,’ said the
Catholicos in his letter to the Prime Minister, referring to Bill
M-380. `We look forward that during your term in office, there may be
further tangible cooperation between Canada and the Republic of
Armenia, leading to official diplomatic representation in Yerevan,’
added His Holiness.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
US and Turkey Hampered Recognition of Armenian Genocide by UN in 70s

23.03.2006 23:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Already in 70s of the 20th century US and Turkish
Governments worked closely to prevent recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the UN. According to the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA), lately unclassified documents of the US State
Department show it. These documents mainly represent US State
Department correspondence with the American delegation to the UN and
Ambassador to Turkey and contain recommendations how to cooperate with
the Turkish Government and the Turkish delegation to the UN not to
admit recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
«Documents shed light on the fact of close cooperation between the US
and Turkish Governments in denial of the Armenian Genocide,» ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
NKR Public Negative on International Crisis Group
24.03.2006 00:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The public of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was
negative both on reports and recommendations of the International
Crisis Group (ICG), Chair of the Standing Commission for Defense and
Security of the Supreme Council of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in
1992-1995, Chairman of Tradition NGO Valery Balayan stated in an
interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, a whole range
of rhetoric questions arises when acquainting with ICG documents and
they remain unanswered. «Which of the parties to conflict invited the
ICG as a mediator? If none, who imposes them upon us? What do they
have to do with the conflict? Do they have any views of the many
aspects of the conflict? If they do, which are these, etc.,» he said.
Balayan also remarked that `ICG professionalism arouses special
perplexity. In their reports they often make conclusions based on
doubtful articles of interested parties in favor of the same party.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006
37 APARTMENTS FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES TO BE CONSTRUCTED UNDER CHARITY
PROGRAM IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. 37 apartments for homeless families will
be constructed under the `Construction Program of All-Armenian
Catholicos Garegin II’, the `Armenian Habitat’ organization reported.
`This program is aimed at eliminating homelessness in the country and
will be implemented by the `Armenian Habitat’ charitable
organization’ in association with the Armenian Apostolic Church under
the patronage of All-Armenian Catholicos Garegin II,’ the
press-release reports.
Particularly, 24 apartments will be constructed in the town of Gavar,
Gegharkunik region, in September 2006.
`Armenian Habitat’ acts in Armenia since 2000, and implements the
activities aimed at eliminating homelessness in the capital and eight
Armenian regions. 150 Armenian families have already been provided
with apartments with the support of this organization. R.O. –0–.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Conflicts Similar to Karabakh Can Be Solved Only on Expiry of Long
Time
24.03.2006 00:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Neither 2006, nor any other coming year can make a
«break» in settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as bloody
conflicts like this can be settled only on the expiry of long time,
Chair of the Standing Commission for Defense and Security of the
Supreme Council of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in 1992-1995,
Chairman of Tradition NGO Valery Balayan stated in an interview with a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, forecasting the exact number
of years necessary for that is impossible. A break is being just
outlined in the settlement of the Cyprus issue after 30 years, no
break can be seen in the Palestinian issue. `Please, recall how long
the conflict on the Indo-Chinese peninsula lasted, while issues have
remained until now. This is also true of any conflict of the 20th
century,’ he said.
In Balayan’s opinion, to make the terms shorter, the negotiations
should be intensified, the format of the talks should be expanded,
society should participate, confidence measures should be
arranged. `The conflict will not be settled for no particular
reason. It is a very hard work and it demands qualified and
professional approach,’ he emphasized.
As of a repeated referendum in the NKR, Balayan believes that comments
are unnecessary here. `In their time Azeris of Nagorno Karabakh just
refused from participation in it. I do not see what can change their
viewpoint now or on the expiry of the term, invented by the ICG,’ the
Tradition NGO Chair said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEWFOUND U.S. INTEREST IN AZERBAIJAN PROMISES MORE HEADACHES FOR BAKU
By Taleh Ziyadov
aleh+Ziyadov
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
On March 13-14, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried and U.S. Special Negotiator for Eurasian
Conflicts and U.S. Minsk Group co-chair Ambassador Steven Mann visited
Azerbaijan for a two-day official trip.
During their visit, the U.S. officials held talks with President Ilham
Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and Minister for Economic
Development Heydar Babayev. They also met with local journalists,
civil society representatives, and a leader from the main opposition
party.
Fried said that the goal of his trip was to examine the situation in
the region after the unsuccessful Rambouillet summit, when President
Aliyev and Armenian President Robert Kocharian failed to agree on a
“framework document” covering the key principles of a Karabakh peace
process (BakuToday.Net, March 17). He added that there were other
discussion topics pertaining to the future of the region, including
energy security and the Iranian nuclear program (Zerkalo.az, March
15).
Fried and Mann also toured Georgia and Armenia before stopping in
Turkey. In Ankara, Fried met with Turkish officials and discussed the
possibility of opening the Turkish-Armenian border (New Anatolian,
March 18). Ankara, however, responded that it would keep the border
shut until Armenia ends its occupation of Azerbaijan and removes the
anti-Turkish clauses from the Armenian Constitution (Zaman.com, March
18).
While in Azerbaijan, U.S. officials discouraged Azerbaijan and
Armenia from using military rhetoric and urged Baku and Yerevan to
prepare their respective societies for peace, not war. After
reiterating their hopes fora possible breakthrough in the peace talks
in 2006 and describing the idea of a new war as “catastrophic,”
U.S. officials also were reminded of the friendly economic and
political relations between the United States and Azerbaijan
(Zerkalo.az, March 15).
“At present Azerbaijan adheres to a clear and strong position
reflecting the national interests of the country. Nevertheless, the
approach doesn’t hinder the continuation of constructive
negotiations,” noted Fried (Today.az, March 14).
Even after the disappointing results in Rambouillet, U.S. co-chair
Steven Mann was still optimistic. “I think both presidents take the
peace process seriously and the communities of both countries support
the idea of a peace agreement. No one wants [a new] war,” remarked
Mann following the failed negotiations in France last month (Today.az,
February 22).
In Azerbaijan, however, local media interpreted the diplomats’
statements in Baku as an attempt to put pressure on Azerbaijan, so
that Baku would agree to a peace deal that is not in Azerbaijan’s
national interest.
Referring to an anonymous diplomatic source, the independent daily
Zerkalo reported that, during their visit, the Washington emissaries
had tried to convince President Aliyev to agree to the principles of
the OSCE Minsk Group’s recently failed proposal and wanted assurances
that Baku would support a possible U.S.-led coalition against Iran
(Zerkalo, March 21).
Other experts in Azerbaijan also pointed out the Iranian question and
have raised skepticism about the sudden U.S. interest in speeding up
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. In an interview with
Nezavisimaya gazeta, Azerbaijani political scientist Anar Safikhanov
declared that there is something else behind U.S. interest in
Azerbaijan.
“The main reason why international mediators, especially Washington,
hurry with the resolution of the Karabakh conflict is the
deteriorating situation around the Iranian nuclear program. The United
States wants peace and stability in the nearby South Caucasus region,
so that it could move ahead with its plans to further isolate
`intractable’ Iran,” stated Safikhanov (NG.ru, March 13).
“The U.S. considers the South Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan, an
arena that could be used for isolation of Tehran or as `lily pad’ base
in casethe U.S. would launch a military attack against Iran,”
concluded Safikhanov (NG.ru, March 13).
While asked about a possible U.S. military attack on Iran, Fried
responded, “We do not think about [the military option] and hope that
the international community would convince Tehran to quit its nuclear
program” (Regnum.ru, March 14).
Moreover, the Zerkalo article speculated about Moscow’s role in the
peace process and stated that Azerbaijan should not count on Russia’s
help in balancing U.S. pressure. Moscow has been interested in the
status quo in the Karabakh conflict as a mechanism for preserving its
own influence in the South Caucasus. This time, however, “Russia
decided to abandon its `reliably ally and regional outpost’ [Armenia]
and its `strategic partner’ [Azerbaijan] in favor of the U.S.,”
according to the article (Zerkalo, March 21).
Indeed, as a result of Washington’s newfound interest in the South
Caucasus, particularly Azerbaijan, official Baku may find itself in a
difficult predicament. On the one hand, Azerbaijan will have to
balance the U.S. pressure for speeding up the Karabakh peace process
with its own demand for resolution of the conflict within the
framework of its territorial integrity. On the other hand, Baku should
walk a fine line in responding to U.S. demands for closer military and
security cooperation with the United States, while at the same time
not offending neighboring Russia and Iran.
The Azerbaijani government will not sign an agreement that could
jeopardize its territorial integrity either today or in the
future. Thus, for the time being, Azerbaijan is likely to play along
in improving military-to-military relations with the United States, in
hope that this could alleviate the U.S. pressure on issues concerning
the unfavorable parts of the Karabakh peace proposal.
Published by _The JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION_ ()
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
NECESSARY BUT NOT ENOUGH
06:22 pm 23 March, 2006
It turns out that the rumors about men’s absence in Armenia do not
fully correspond to reality. The Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
promised in the press to give `A1+’ new premises before it releases
the building on15 Grigor Lusavorich. At first we didn’t take the Prime
Minister’s oral promise seriously as making promises and not keeping
them has developed into a habit in Armenia, but the Prime Minister,
being an official person of the country kept his promise `manly’, as
they use to say in Armenia,’ said the Chairman of the `A1+’ TV channel
Mesrop Movsesian.
Today the representatives of the `A1+’ TV channel visited the 5th
floor of the `Yerevan Project’ Institute on Buzand Street which had
been offered by the Prime Minister. `A1+’ TV channel is offered 240
square meters territory. In Mesrop Movsesyan’s opinion the area
complies with their needs today. The TV channel `A1+’ will readily
move into the new premises but at this moment it will be equal to
appearing in the street and ceasing the media activity. `Today we were
accompanied to the new building by the constructors and the
representatives of the State Property Managing Department. They also
saw that it is in a hopeless state and it is impossible to move there
at present,’ said Mesrop Movsesian. Anyway, he is grateful to the
Prime Minister and the State Property Department for the care. `After
providing all the necessary conditions in the offered place which
require time and serious investments the personnel of `A1+’ will move
in. At present we have one more concern; on which basis is the
building given to us; will `A1+’ face the problem of releasing the
premises in the future?’ wondered Mr. Movsesian. As for the date when
`A1+’ will move into the new place on Buzand Street Mr. Movsesians
responded, ‘We are ready to move right now if we find it possible to
continue our work in that area. Today I can not put the staff in front
of a dilemma. I can’t repair the place either as the National Science
Academy is not going to compensate the money invested by `A1+’ on 15
Grigor Lusavorich. I think we must contemplate over it together and
find solutions with joint measures.’

A1+
RESIGNED AND APPOINTED
06:04 pm 22 March, 2006
By the decision of the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Gagik
Vardanyan has been resigned from the post of the RA deputy Minister of
Commerce and Economic Development.
By another decision of the Prime Minister Arayik Grigoryan has been
appointed RA deputy Minister of Commerce and Economic Development. In
2001 through 2005 he was director of the commercial farm «Urartu».
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES 10 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ON MARCH 23

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly ratified on
March 23 the Agreement on Intergovernmental Courier Communication
signed in Minsk on January 22, 1993, and the protocol on making
amendments to this agreement signed in Moscow on May 27, 1997. The
parliament also ratified 8 international agreements related to the
transport and communication sectors, particularly: – the Customs
Convention on Containers signed in Geneva on December 2, 1972, – the
International Convention on Facilitation of Cross-Border
Transportation of Cargos by Railway signed in Geneva on January 10,
1952, – the conventions on the Agreement on International Motor
Transportation of Cargos signed in Geneva on May 19, 1956, and July 5,
1978, – the charter of the International Postal Union signed in Vienna
on July 10,1964, – the European Agreement on the Major International
Motorways signed in Geneva on November 15, 1975.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress