Author: Emil Lazarian

WORKSHOP “TASKS OF MODERNIZATION OF STRATEGY AND POLICY OF DEVELOPMENT
OF SMALL AND MIDDLE-SIZED ENTERPRISES OF ARMENIA” HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MAY 30. ARMINFO. Workshop “Tasks of modernization of strategy
and policy of development of small and middle-sized enterprises of
Armenia” was held in Yerevan on May 27.
ARMINFO was informed in the press office of Ministry of trade and
economic development of Armenia, reports on issues of perfection of
the legislative field of the mentioned sector, as well as on problems
of availability of financial resources and technical assistance were
presented during the seminar. The ministry of trade and economic
development plans to organize a number of discussions of the
aforementioned issues, which are very important for the development
of the market of small and middle-sized enterprises in the republic.
representatives of government structures, business circles of Armenia
and foreign countries will take part in the discussions.

ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DESIGNED BY ARMENIAN SPECIALISTS INSTALLED IN DELHI AIRPORT
YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The work on installation of the
electronic management and information system designed by the Armenian
specialists is currently underway at Delhi Airport. Stating this at
the May 30 press conference, the Indian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Deepak Vohran, who is completing his mission
in the country, noted that “this systen is perfect”. Appreciating
Armenia’s potential in the sphere of high and information technologies,
the ambassador pointed out significant prospects for cooperation of
the Armenian and Indian experts in this sphere.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACCORDING TO VENICE COMMISSION, DRAFT ARMENIAN CONSTITUTION NEEDS DRASTIC CHANGES
STRASBOURG, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The Council of Europe’s Commission
for Democracy through Law (“Venice Commission”) has assessed the draft
constitutional amendments, as adopted by the Armenian National Assembly
in a first reading on 11 May 2005. According to the Council of Europe
Information Office in Armenia, the members of the Venice Commission’s
Working Group on constitutional reform in Armenia expressed their deep
dissatisfaction with this text, as most of the Commission’s comments
have not been taken into consideration, notably those concerning the
balance of powers between the President and the Parliament – which
implies a stronger role of the National Assembly -, the independence
of the judiciary and the election of the Mayor of Yerevan (instead
of his/her appointment by the President). “The draft constitutional
amendments need to be drastically revised before they undergo the
second reading” said Kaarlo Tuori, member of the Venice Commission in
respect of Finland. The members of the Working Group also stated that
if the text does not fully reflect the Venice Commission’s opinions,
the whole constitutional reform process would fail to bring Armenia
closer to European values and attain the aim of further European
integration. Representatives of the Working Group will visit Armenia
on 2 June to discuss these issues with the Armenian authorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF RA FOREIGN MINISTRY’S CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
AND ARMENIAN DIPLOMATES ACCREDITED ABROAD TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Annual conference of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry’s central administration and heads of the RA diplomatic and
consular representations accredited abroad took place on May 30 in
Yerevan. A number of issues, including issues concerning Armenia’s
bilateral cooperation with Iran, Turkey, CIS countries, European
countries, as well as a number of issues connected with international
organizations were discussed at the meeting.

Conflicting signals from Russia on the start of its withdrawal from Georgia
ITAR-TASS news agency
30 May 05
Moscow, 30 May: Russia will begin the process of removing its military
bases from Georgia in August this year, the deputy commanding officer
of the Group of Russian Forces in the Caucasus, Vladimir Kuparadze,
said today.
He was commenting on the joint declaration on the withdrawal, adopted
in Moscow by the Russian and Georgian foreign ministers.
“We will begin the process of withdrawal in August, since this applies
to both our bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi. By agreement with Georgia,
between summer and autumn this year we will remove 40 pieces of armour
including at least 20 tanks by sea to the port of Novorossiysk,”
he said. “The withdrawal of servicemen from Georgia will begin later
because a lot of other equipment, weaponry and various assets remain
at the bases.”
“A timetable for withdrawing the remaining assets and also personnel
will be negotiated later,” Kuparadze added. [Passage omitted]
[The bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi are “ceasing to perform their
designated functions and will operate in withdrawal mode from the
moment this declaration is signed”, Interfax news agency reported at
1345 gmt, quoting from the text of the declaration.]
[Russian and Georgian experts will start working out the technical
aspects of implementing the Declaration from Tuesday 31 May, ITAR-TASS
reported at 1211 gmt.]
[However, in another Interfax report at 1242 gmt, a source at the
Ministry of Defence in Moscow said the withdrawal would not start
before 2006. “Given that the federal budget for this year contains no
provision for removing the bases from Georgia, the process can begin in
2006,” a “senior Russian military officer” told the agency. “We have
to withdraw not only personnel but also all movable assets including
military hardware,” he said. “One option is to temporarily move some of
this equipment to Russian military base No 102 in Gyumri (Armenia). Let
me point out that handing this equipment to the Armenians is not
under consideration; it will be stationed solely at base No 102.”]

PRESENTATION OF COMING TO AGREEMENT AND PEACE TO PEACEFUL MEANS JOHAN HALTUNG BOOKS TO BE HELD ON MAY 31 IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, May 30. /ARKA/. Presentation of Coming to Agreement book by
Roger Fisher and Peace to Peaceful Means Johan Haltung is to be held
on May 31 in Yerevan.
According to International Center for Human Development (ICHD), these
books were translated to Armenian in the frame of To New Leadership
European Commission’s program. M.V. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russo-Georgian Joint Declaration – Details
Civil Georgia, Georgia
May 30 2005
The Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries published a joint
declaration, which outlines the process of withdrawal of Russian
military bases from Georgia. It also deals border delimitation and
conflict resolution issues. The Joint Declaration was signed by the
to Ministers – Sergey Lavrov and Salome Zourabichvili, after talks
in Moscow on May 30.
According to the declaration Russia committed itself to putting its
two military bases, in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, into “a pullout regime”
starting from the signing of this declaration. The Russian side pledged
to finish withdrawal process in the course of 2008. The Russian side
has no right to carry out rotation of arms, or equipment during this
pullout process. But has right to rotate solders currently serving
on the bases.
The sides also agreed to launch talks over an agreement, which
should prescribe details of setting up of a joint Russo-Georgian
anti-terrorist center. Part of the personnel and equipment of the
Russian military base currently stationed in Batumi will be used for
setting up of this center.
Pullout of the Military Hardware
Withdrawal of military hardware from the Russian military bases will
be launched in 2005 and at least 40 armored vehicles, including 20
tanks, will be withdrawn before September 1, 2005.
The process of withdrawal of military hardware from Akhalkalaki
military bases should be over by the end of 2006.
The complete withdrawal of military hardware, including from Batumi
military base, should be over by October 1, 2007, “and not later the
end of 2007, taking weather conditions into account.”
For the purpose of withdrawal of military hardware the Georgian side
has undertaken to enable the Russian side to deliver necessary spare
parts to the military bases.
Handover of the Military Facilities
The Russian side will hand over to Georgia those military facilities
which are not used by the Group of Russian Troops in Trans-Caucasus
(headquarters in Tbilisi) before September 1, 2005.
The communications relay facility in Kojori and a training ground in
Gonio, Adjara Autonomous Republic will be also handed over to Georgia
by September 1, 2005.
While, the Armor/Tank Repair Factory No 142 in Tbilisi will be handed
over to Georgia before June 15, 2005.
The process of hand over of all the military facilities, which are
not part of the Russian military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki,
should be over before January 1, 2007.
Route of Withdrawal/Financing
Georgian side will assist Russia in the process of pull out of military
hardware and personnel via port of Batumi, airport of Batumi, as well
as via Ninotsminda, which borders Armenia.
The Russian and Georgian sides will cooperate in an attempt to raise
additional funds to cover transportation expenses.
Anti-Terrorist Center
Part of personnel, equipment and infrastructore currently belonging
to Batumi military base will be used for setting up of a joint
Russo-Georgian anti-terrorist center.
Details about this joint anti-terrorist center will be outlined in
a separate agreement, which is expected to prescribe the number of
those personnel and equipment, which will be used for the center.
According to the joint communique the sides pledge to develop agreement
over the joint anti-terrorist center in the near future.
Gudauta Military Base
The sides agreedto continue work over the launch of international
monitoring of a military base in Gudauta, breakaway Abkhazia, under
the aegis of the OSCE.
Russia claims it has already closed down its base in Gudauta, as
envisaged by 1999 OSECE Istanbul treaty; however Georgian insists on
international monitoring of the base to verify the fact of closure.
Borders
The joint communique says that Russia and Georgia expressed interest
to finalize an agreement over delimitation of Russo-Georgian state
borders during 2005.
Conflicts
The sides expressed readiness to work over a political settlement of
conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia “solely through peaceful means”
based on the principle of respect of Georgia’s territorial integrity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri official warns Russia against redeployment of troops to Armenia
MPA news agency
30 May 05
Baku, 30 May: “All countries of our region have to give up actions
that may cause tension or whip up the spirit of militarism. This is
the position of Azerbaijan,” Deputy Foreign Minister Xalaf Xalafov
said when commenting on the redeployment of Russian military bases
from Georgia to Armenia.
By arming the aggressor, Russia not only hampers a negotiated
settlement to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Its actions also
affect stability and security in the region as a whole. All countries
of the region have to realize their responsibility, Xalafov stressed.
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia are also members of the conventional
forces in Europe treaty. Azerbaijan is unequivocally opposed to the
presence of foreign military bases on the territory of a state which
poses a threat to the republic.
[Passage omitted: background information]

ABOUT 60% OF PLANNED AREA SOWN WITH CROPS BY LATE MAY
YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the recent reports, as of
May 20, 89,890 ha or about 60% of the planned area was sown with crops
in Armenia. According to the Plant Growing Department of the RA
Ministry of Agriculture, 56.7 thousand ha (64% of the planned area)
was sown with grain crops, 23,280 ha (65.7%) with potato, and 9,910 ha
(44%) with vegetables.

Agence France Presse
27 mai 2005 vendredi 8:13 PM GMT
Question arménienne: Erdogan n’approuve pas les critiques de son ministre
ISTANBUL
Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a affirmé vendredi soir
à Istanbul que les déclarations du ministre de la Justice Cemil
Cicek, qui avait accusé les participants d’une conférence sur la
question arménienne de “trahison”, ne reflétaient pas la position
gouvernementale.
“Cemil Cicek est le porte-parole de notre gouvernement. Il a fait une
déclaration, mais celle-ci n’est pas une déclaration du gouvernement,
c’est une déclaration personnelle”, a affirmé aux journalistes M.
Erdogan, cité par l’agence de presse Anatolie, à son retour d’une
visite officielle au Kazakhstan.
Les organisateurs de la conférence auraient du poursuivre leurs
travaux en dépit de la déclaration de M. Cicek, a-t-il ajouté, selon
Anatolie.
M. Cicek a qualifié mardi de “coup de couteau dans le dos de la
nation turque” un projet, inédit en Turquie, de conférence qui doit
examiner d’un oeil critique la position officielle du pays sur les
massacres d’Arméniens commis entre 1915 et 1917 dans l’empire
ottoman.
Accusant ses participants de “trahison”, le ministre a menacé les
organisateurs de poursuites judiciaires.
La réunion d’académiciens et d’intellectuels turcs “critiques”, qui
devait initialement débuter mercredi dans la prestigieuse université
stambouliote de Bogazici, a été reportée par ses organisateurs après
les déclarations de M. Cicek.
La diatribe du ministre a soulevé une vague de protestation aussi
bien dans la presse turque, qui y a vu une atteinte à la liberté
d’expression, que dans les milieux diplomatiques et politiques
européens -les Verts allemands notamment la qualifiant de “grave
erreur politique”.
Plusieurs pays ont reconnu le caractère génocidaire des massacres de
1915-17, une approche catégoriquement rejetée par Ankara. L’Union
européenne, avec laquelle la Turquie doit entamer des négociations
d’adhésion le 3 octobre, a pour sa part recommandé à ce pays de faire
face à son passé.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress