Author: Emil Lazarian

UPI INtelligence Watch…
United Press International
June 1 2005
On May 3 Uzbekistan announced it was withdrawing from the
Georgia-Ukraine-Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan-Moldova pact, known informally
as GUUAM. Now Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian says Armenia
may consider joining GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova)
if it receives an official invitation proposal. Oskanian made his
observation in response to a comment by Ukrainian parliamentary
Speaker Vladimir Litvin that other countries, including Armenia,
may join GUAM. Oskanian sounded a cautious note, remarking, “Before
joining any organization one should study its goals and principles
of activity” even as he noted “GUAM is currently reconsidering its
goals and principles.” Only two months ago Oskanian ruled out Armenia
facilitating its ties with GUUAM or seeking observer status in the
organization. In late 2000 Oskanian harshly criticized GUUAM, stating
that the grouping “negatively affects the integration processes in
the CIS,” noting then that all GUUAM member states were represented
in the CIS and that “nothing hinders them from solving problems
of economic integration within the framework the Commonwealth of
Independent States.”

ATAA Chairman: Allegations About So-called Armenian Genocide Are Not Humanitarian, But Political
Turkish Press
June 1 2005
ANKARA (AA) – Allegations about so-called Armenian genocide were not
humanitarian, on the contrary, they were political, Vural Cengiz,
the chairman of the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA),
said on Tuesday.
Holding a news conference after holding talks with the Turkish
government officials, Cengiz said, “we support the latest attitude of
the Turkish government against allegations about so-called genocide.”
“Any attempt to open the border crossing between Turkey and Armenia
will not eliminate those allegations since the Armenian plan is
composed of four stages: terrorism, recognition, compensation and
claims for territory. Armenian diaspora describes Republic of Armenia
as eastern Armenia and eastern part of Turkey as western Armenia,”
he said.
Cengiz added that they were planning to hold demonstrations to express
their reaction against those allegations.

German conservative: new government would honor decision to open Turkish EU talks
AP Worldstream
Jun 01, 2005
A new German government would honor a European Union commitment to
open membership talks with Turkey, but would push for the country to
be granted a “privileged partnership” instead, a senior opposition
figure said in comments published Wednesday.
Opinion polls have given the conservative opposition a strong lead
over Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s Social Democrats ahead of elections
expected in mid-September. Unlike Schroeder, the conservatives oppose
Turkish EU membership, arguing that the largely Muslim country would
over-stretch the bloc culturally and financially.
EU membership talks with Turkey are set to start Oct. 3.
“We opposed this decision … but we can’t unilaterally reverse it,”
Bavarian Governor Edmund Stoiber told the weekly Die Zeit. “But it
is also clear that the negotiations would acquire a new direction
with a conservative-led government.”
“We don’t want entry, but rather a privileged partnership for Turkey,”
said Stoiber, Schroeder’s challenger in 2002 elections. Conservative
leaders have yet to define how such a “privileged partnership”
would work.
“We have to consider very carefully whether a country where women
are oppressed on World Women’s Day, torture is still practiced and
references to historical truth _ the Armenia issue _ are seen as
an attack on its identity fulfills the European canon of values,”
Stoiber was quoted as saying.
Turkey has passed sweeping reforms to meet requirements for EU
membership, such as abolishing the death penalty and granting cultural
rights to Kurds.
Stoiber noted, however, that “negotiations can be broken off if
certain conditions are not fulfilled.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEWLY APPOINTED SPANISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TO RA PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, June 1. /ARKA/. The newly appointed Spanish Ambassador
to Armenia Francisco Javier Elorsa Cavengt marquis de Denerva has
presented his credentials to RA President Robert Kocharyan. The RA
presidential press service reports that during the meeting the RA
President stressed the intensification of Armenia-Spanish cooperation
requires the revision of the current potential and new measures.
In his turn, the Spanish Ambassador pointed out that to contribute
to the bilateral economic relations he intends to organize Spanish
businessmen’s visit to Armenia. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CB PRESIDENT TO PARTICIPATE XIV INTERNATIONAL BANK CONGRESS
Pan Armenian News
01.06.2005 04:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 1 on the invitation of the Russian Central
Bank President head of the Armenian CB Tigran Sargsian departed for
Saint Petersburg to take part in the XIV International Bank Congress
entitled “Banks: regulations and economy”. The RA CB President will
give a report on the financial-crediting policy, currency regulations
and banking control. The Congress participants are expected to
discuss the prospects of development of the Russian banking system
for 2005-2008, the strategy of the development at the present stage,
urgent issues referring to the regulation of the activities of the
Russian crediting organizations, interaction of banks and economy,
etc., IA Regnum reports.

A1plus
| 19:36:10 | 31-05-2005 | Politics |
GAS WILL NOT RISE IN PRICE IN NEAR FUTURE
“Can you render the poor people the opportunity to lay gas at a
normal price” asked Yerevan resident Armen Makaryan when addressing
ArmRosGazprom Deputy Director Ashot Hovsepyan during a round table
organized by the Union of Consumers. According to A. Makaryan, only
10% of the resident in the street have natural gas installed in their
flats as 3000 ADM is demanded for 1 meter of pipe.
“It is the fault of the companies”, Ashot Hovsepyan justified. He
assured that they are not able to provide the gas supply throughout
the whole republic. They have no rights to control the organizations
that received licenses for conduction of construction words.
As for the violations of the gas supply rules and damages, A. Hovsepyan
noted that in Armenia the situation is better than in Ukraine or
Rostov-on-Don. He also reported that last year 30 people dies because
of violations of the safety regulations due to wrong construction of
the flue in private houses.
To note, A. Hovsepyan informed that gas will not rice in price in
the near future.
In 2005-2007 the company is going to invest 21 billion 562 million
AMD for the restoration of gas industry. Presently 270000 houses in
Armenia are supplied with natural gas.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER IN KOSOVO
Pan Armenian News
31.05.2005 08:49
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant General
Artur Aghabekian is in Kosovo to inspect the Armenian peacekeepers,
who serve within the Greek battalion. In the course of the visit to
Kosovo, A. Aghabekian met with representatives of the American command
of the East international battalion located in Kosovo and the Greek
battalion command. It should be noted that Artur Aghabekian is the
first representative of the Armenian Armed Forces visiting Kosovo,
where Armenian peacekeepers serve since 2004, Mediamax reported.

HEADS OF PRESIDENTIAL STAFFS OF ARMENIA, RUSSIA DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION
YEREVAN, May 31. /ARKA/. Heads of Presidential Staffs of Armenia and
Russia Artashes Tumanyan and Dmitry Medvedev discussed a number of
issues related to Armenian-Russian cooperation Tuesday in Yerevan.
According to Armenian Presidential Press service, the sides stressed
the necessity of searching ways for full-scale exploitation of the
Armenian enterprises handed over to Russia under a property-for-debt
program. Besides, issues related to Caucasus ferry complex launching,
some regional economic programs and Iran-Armenian gas pipeline were
discussed at the meeting. M.V. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA, RUSSIA CONSIDER CUSTOMS STATIONS NECESSARY FOR OPERATION OF FERRY SERVICE
YEREVAN, May 31. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Defense, Co-Chairman of the
Armenian-Russian Economic Cooperation Commission Serge Sargsyan
has held a meeting with Head of the RF Presidential Staff Dmitry
Medvedev. The Information and Propaganda Department, RA Ministry
of Defense, reports that the sides emphasized that the Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s visit was an impetus to more effective
settlement of a number of issues. Speaking of the current level of
Armenian-Russian economic cooperation, Sargsyan pointed out that about
160 intergovernmental, and interagency agreements are currently in
effect. The sides pointed out main directions that require specific
steps. In particular, the sides pointed out the necessity of putting
into operation a ferry service, which is of vital importance for
Armenia.
Pointing out a high level of bilateral relations in the defense
sphere, the sides stressed the importance of intensifying traditional
Armenian-Russia cultural and humanitarian ties. P.T. -0–

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
May 31 2005
Iran-Armenia economic cooperation of constructive nature
Tabriz, May 31, IRNA
Iran-Armenia-Cooperation
Head of Iran-Armenia Chamber of Commerce Aha Ronian said here Tuesday
that existing economic ties between Iran and Armenia had a constructive
nature.
Speaking at Iran-Armenia economic confab, he said that mutual economic
cooperation would have numerous economic privileges for both sides and
this required endeavors by businessmen and traders in both countries.
Given Iran’s great economic potentials, the country could be considered
as a reliable partner for Armenia, he said.
To join WTO, it is vital to adopt new strategies to prepare the
grounds for accession to the world body, he said.
The Iran-Armenia trade center which is to become operational in the
near future would play a very significant role in expanding economic
cooperation between the two countries, he said.
An exclusive trade exhibition is to be held in the center, he said.
Iran-Armenia held a joint economic commission in Tabriz to review
further expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
During the two day seminar, the two sides’ businessmen and economic
experts are to study grounds for further promotion of economic
cooperation between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress