Author: Emil Lazarian

WORLD BANK SAYS GAS PRICE HIKE NOT TO AFFECT STRONGLY ARMENIAN ECONOMY
Armenpress
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS; A World Bank representative said today
in Yerevan the Bank will unveil its study on possible repercussions
of Russia’s decision to double the price of natural gas it sells to
Armenia in a week.
Rodger Robinson, World Bank resident representative, told a news
conference that according to preliminary estimations, the gas price
hike will affect Armenia’s economy, but the scale of that negative
impact will not be “too big”. Robinson said the higher price of gas
will affect current electricity tariffs, but declined to elaborate
saying it would be more appropriate to speak about hike’s aftereffects
only after completing the Bank’s study.
But he said the Central Bank of Armenia’s goal to ensure a three
percent inflation was realistic.
Robinson said his forecast was based on the fact that despite ongoing
rise of fuel price at world markets it has had no negative impact on
Armenian economy which has been reporting a two-digit economic growth
for several consecutive years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY: AZERBAIJAN LIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2006 00:24 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The information discrediting the Armenian officers,
who are taking a course organized by the European Center for Security
Issues in Garmisch-Partenkirchner is false from beginning to end,
Armenian Ambassador to Germany Karine Ghazinian told PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In her words, if the facts presented by the Azeri side were
true the course administration would have brought them to the notion of
the Embassy. “No one addressed us either from Garmisch-Partenkirchner
or the Marshall Foundations.
Moreover, the Embassy has already furnished the essential information
to the RA Ministry of Defense and the Department of Home Affairs,”
Ms. Ghazinian said.
To remind, earlier Azeri-press news agency published 2 reports on March
15. The first report said that an Armenian officer taking the course
of the European Center for Security Issues after George Marshall made
an attempt to rape Ukrainian police captain Natalia Kostroma. The
second report said “major Artem Hakobian uttered unquotable words
addressed to Georgia. During a discussion he said that the Samtskhe
Javakheti region of Georgia is historically Armenian territory and
that official Tbilisi is “U.S.’s gendarme” in the region.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHMENT OF RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WIT GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2006 21:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey is interested in the establishment of
railway communication with Georgia and Azerbaijan, Turkish President
Ahmed Necep Sezer stated in Tbilisi. “We continue the works for the
realization of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway project.
We wish this main to supplement the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil
pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline,” Mr. Sezer said
at a briefing after the meeting with Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili. When touching upon the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil
pipeline Mr. Sezer said the ceremony of the first tanker loading
will take place in Ceyhan this summer. He also invited Saakashvili
to participate in the ceremony, reported ITAR-TASS.
To note, Armenia rates the construction of the Baku
-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars as economically inexpedient, since the
project is a counterbalance to the existing Kars-Gyumri-Tblisi-Baku
railway.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. CONGRESSMEN CALL TO PRESERVE PARITY IN MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO YEREVAN AND BAKU
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2006 21:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) called on their U.S. House colleagues today
to join them in cosigning a letter calling on the leadership of
the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian
provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The letter notes that
members of Congress are “deeply troubled” that the Administration’s
request for military aid for Azerbaijan is considerably higher then
the request for Armenia. By signing the letter, legislators will add
their voice to the effort to ensure that the agreement struck in 2001
between the White House and Congress to keep aid levels to these two
countries equal is fully respected. In addition, the letter calls
for a hard earmark of at least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year
$5 million allocation for Nagorno Karabakh, and the preservation of
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN RECEIVES SENIOR U.S. DIPLOMATS
Armenpress
Mar 16 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS: US assistant secretary of state
for European and Eurasian affairs Daniel Fried, and Steven Mann,
US cochairman in the OSCE Minks group, mediating talks on Karabakh
dispute, who arrived in Yerevan on March 15 later afternoon, were
received today by president Robert Kocharian and met with foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian.
Kocharian’s press office said the two sides exchanged views on a
set of issues of bilateral interest, as well as discussed regional
and energy-related issues. They also discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution process and referred to the Millennium Challenges
Account program.
A separate press release from the foreign ministry said the two sides
exchanged views on a set of issues of bilateral interest and stated
that resolution of the current regional conflicts would allow a full
use of available potential of the region. Oskanian and U.S. diplomats
dwelt also on Armenian-Turkish relations, focusing, particularly,
on opening of borders and resumption of communication routes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF TALEAT PASHA WAS CELEBRATED
A1+
09:44 pm 15 March, 2006
More images On March 15 in 1921 opposite the house N14 in Hardenberg
street in Berlin the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Turkish
Government and one of the main organizers of the Armenian Genocide
Taleat Pasha was killed with a gun.
The avenger was 24-year-old student Soghomon Tihliryan. The act of
vengeance was carried out by the decision of the 10th Conference of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The actions named after the
Greek Goddess of vengeance Nemesis meant to punish the main organizers
of the Armenian Genocide.
Today in Yerevan the anniversary of the event was celebrated in which
about 200 people participated. The celebration took place near the
monument to Tihliryan.
Member of the Supreme Council of the ARF Armen Roustamyan explained
in his speech the meaning of the day, underlined the efficiency of
the plan “Nemesis” noting that “the demand of the Armenians was fair”,
and the trial held in Germany proved that it is not a crime to punish
the organizers of a Genocide.
During the celebration national songs were performed.
By the way, it was mentioned that in the 15th district of Ajapnyak
a monument will be erected to Gevorg Chaush.
By the way, the Security Administration of Berlin prohibited to hold a
march in Germany on March 15-18 in memory of Taleat Pasha and against
the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI COMMUNITY IN HUNGARY HEARD NOTHING OF SAFAROV CASE
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2006 19:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We heard nothing of Ramil Safarov and we hear about
this case for the first time,” stated Islan Vashari, a member of the
Azeri community in Hungary, who arrived in Baku to take part in the
Second World Azerbaijanis Congress. He regretted over the occurrence,
saying he will try to acquaint with trial on Safarov case upon return
to Budapest, APA reports.
February 19, 2004 lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Armenia Gurgen
Margaryan, sent to Budapest to take English courses within the NATO
Partnership for Peace Program, was brutally hacked by Azeri officer,
who took the same courses. Safarov is indicted in compliance with
article 116.2 of the Criminal Code of Hungary (murder, committed
with special cruelty, and attempt at lives of over one person), which
provides for punishment varying from imprisonment of 10-15 years to
life sentence.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICANEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
March 13, 2006
U.S. Government Donates Personal Protective Equipment to Support
Armenia’s Preparedness to combat Avian Influenza
On March 13, 2006, U.S. Ambassador John Evans met with Armenian
Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokyan to officially mark the donation of
1,500 set of personal protective equipment from the United States of
America to the government of Armenia. The equipment, which includes
coveralls, latex gloves, protective boots, goggles and masks,
is designed to be used by individuals involved in avian influenza
surveillance and response efforts. The bulk of the equipment, 1,125
complete sets, will be given to the Ministry of Agriculture to support
Armenia’s efforts to develop an active agricultural surveillance
program. The remainder of the equipment, 375 complete sets, will be
given to the Ministry of Health for use as needed by laboratory staff
and health care workers. This donation is part of an on-going effort
by the United States to assist the Armenian government in responding
to the threat of avian influenza.
The United States has also provided and continues to provide technical
and other types of assistance to support this effort.
Avian influenza is a global threat that does not respect
national boundaries. No country is immune, and every country has
a responsibility to be prepared. The United States government is
actively engaged with foreign partners around the world to combat
this threat. This donation is evidence of our commitment to assist
Armenia in responding to the threat of avian influenza.
More information on avian influenza as well as advice for American
citizens living in Armenia can be found on the U.S. Embassy’s website
at
rch/news031306.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE THIRD PAN-ARMENIAN WRITERS’ CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS
The preparatory works for the third Pan-Armenian Writers’ Conference to be
held in Antelias on April 6-9 are underway, according to a press release by
the preparatory Committee.
In consultation with the presidency of the Union of Writers of Armenia, the
Committee has already sent invitations to all the writers in Armenia,
Nagorno Karabakh and the Diaspora. More than 90 writers from Armenia,
Nagorno Karabakh, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, France,
Germany, Greece, Switzerland, England, Australia, Georgia, the United States
and Canada have already accepted the invitations.
All writers can participate in the conference. Interested individuals can
contact the preparatory Committee for more information on the following
address:
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax : (+961-4) 419 724
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE COMMITTEE
His Holiness Aram I received the chairman of the Muslim-Christian dialogue
committee, Mir Hares Shehab, on March 14. The two discussed the internal
situation of Lebanon particularly within the context of the ongoing
political dialogue in the parliament.
Hares Shehab passed some information on to His Holiness and expressed his
opinions on various issues. His Holiness welcomed all initiatives that aim
to establish close cooperation between Lebanon’s communities, strengthen the
country’s internal unity and its independence and sovereignty. His Holiness
expressed hope that the initiative and the resulting discussions on various
levels would soon yield to practical results.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress