Author: Felekian Ara

PanARMENIAN.Net

U.S. studies Putin’s proposal, simultaneously preparing to place air
defense system in Eastern Europe
09.06.2007 14:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to share
the use of the Gabala radar station was a surprise for the United
States, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated. She said,
this offered will not have any influence on US’s plans to place air
defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. `The United States
studies Vladimir Putin’s offer, simultaneously we continue preparation
works for placing air defense system in Eastern Europe. One does not
choose sites for missile defense out of the blue. It’s geometry and
geography as to how you intercept a missile. We have to see whether
Azerbaijan makes any sense in the context of missile defense.’ Rice
underscored, Associated Press reports.

At the G8 summit in Heiligendamm Vladimir Putin proposed the United
States to share the use of the Gabala radar station in the north of
Azerbaijan, which scans the Indian Ocean, Middle East and most of
North Africa.

FRIEND OR PARTNER?
By Ruben Hayrapetian, Moscow

AZG Armenian Daily
07/06/2007

Recently publications about Armenia in the Russian press became
quite frequent. Most of the materials come immediately from Yerevan,
Armenia, where the major Russian newspapers have re-established
their representations.

Nevertheless the most interesting articles are those written by Russian
authors, with their objective and subjective points of view. Lately
"Vremya Novostey" (News Time) published an article by Yuri Soukhov,
who visited Armenia and Karabakh and wrote down all that he had seen
and heard.

The article is most focused on Armenian-Russian strategic
partnership. Soukhov, having spoken to numerous politicians, social
workers and statesmen both in Armenia and Karabakh during his trip,
came to conclusion that Armenia, still remaining the "last ally and
number one partner" of Russia, has problem of misunderstanding the
Russian policy. One thing that Armenians are most curious is about
how can Russia give a "gift" of $6 billion to Iraq while being so
strict with the Armenian debt of only $100 thousand.

Soukhov also points out that Armenians doubt whether the Russian armed
forces deployed in Armenia will defend the country of their location
in case of military conflict.

During his journey to Karabakh ("Karabakh is just another Armenia,"
he notes), Soukhov came to conclusion that there the life conditions
are much better than in many Post-Soviet "independent" states.

Armenians of Karabakh for the most part rue that Russia is often
standing back from defending the interests of Armenia and Karabakh
for the sake of preserving political domination over Armenia and
Azerbaijan.

Analusing the inner political situation in Armenia, Soukhov said that
the parliamentary elections were good for Russia. He agrees with
the most of Armenian political scientists that the opportunity of
"colored revolution" is excessively low in Armenia, but admits that
the Armenians may shift to European orientation by slow "evolution".

ARMENIAN CEC APPROVES ARFD PARTY LIST

ArmInfo
2007-06-06 16:10:00

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia has approved the list
of ARF Dashnatsutyun party after the parliamentary election of May 12.

The party list comprises 16 people: Vahan Hovhannissyan, Armen
Rustamyan, Alvard Petrosyan, Artyush Shabazyan, Mikael Manukyan, Arthur
Aghabekyan, Ruzanna Arakelyan, Araik Grigoryan, Ashot Spoyan, Karen
Vardanyan, Hrayr Karapetyan, Aramayis Grigoryan, Lilit Gasparyan,
Artsvik Minasyan, Ara Noanyan, and Gagik Gevorgyan. However,
the representative from the opposition bloc Justice at CEC Felix
Khachatryan refused to sign the final protocol on the party lists.

It is already known that Vahan Hovhanissyan is left on his position of
Vice Speaker. Armen Roustamyan will also continue his activity as head
of the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs. The ex- defence
minister Arthur Aghabekyan will head the Parliamentary Commission
for Defence, Internal Affairs and National Security. Moreover, ARFD
will have three ministerial portfolios: Minister of Education and
Science Levon Lazarian, Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, and
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Aghvan Vardanyan. In addition,
the party will have two positions of governors.

Leaders of the Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia are
to sign a Memorandum on formation of a coalition in the presidential
residency at 4:00pm local time, Wednesday. ARFD is to sign another
memorandum of cooperation with these parties outside the coalition. At
6:30pm the CEC will hand the deputy mandates. The first session of
the National Assembly of the fourth convocation is scheduled for June
7 at 10:00am.

PM SERGE SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE DELEGATION OF "GAZPROM"

ArmRadio.am
05.06.2007 15:48

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received today the Deputy Chairman of
"Gazprom" Managing Board Valery Golubev and the delegation headed by
him, which comprised hief of the "Gazprom" OJSC Board, member of the
"HayRusgazard" CJSC Anatoly Podmishalski and Head of the Foreign
Economic Relations Department of "Gazprom" Stanislav Tsygankov.

During the meeting the parties appreciated the cooperation between
"Gazprom" and the Armenian Government. Valery Golubev characterized
"HayRusgazard" as a one of their joint companies launching rather
effective activity, noting that on the occasion of the 10th anniversary
of the company they intend to invite representatives of their joint
companies in other countries to Armenia to show how effectively
the company operates, what success it has achieved during 10 years
of existence.

The Deputy Chairman of "Gazprom" Managing Board presented to the
Armenian Prime Minister the future programs of the company and
investment projects. Issues related to future cooperation were
discussed.

NATO’S SPRING SESSION OF PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLTY HELD IN MADEIRA

Noyan Tapan
Jun 04 2007

MADEIRA, JUNE 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The spring session of NATO Parliamentary
Assembly (PA) was held on May 25-28 in Madeira (Portugal). On the
invitation of S. Lan, PA Secretary General, M. Mkrtchian, Head of
Armenian Mission to NATO, took part in the session as an observer.

According to the data, received from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, Jose Lello, PA Chairman, Gillerme Silva,
Deputy Chairman of Portugal’s Parliament, Yaap de Hoop Scheffer,
NATO’s Secretary General, Luis Amadon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Portugal, Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of Macedony and Nino
Burjanadze, President of Georgian Parliament made pivotal speeches
at the session.

NATO’s activities in Afghanistan, Russia’s internal developments and
foreign policy approaches, regulation of Kosovo’s problem, NATO-EU
practical cooperation, anti-missile defence systems, climate changes,
Georgia’s economic and political reforming and its accession prospects
to NATO, as well as the interrelations between the state and religion
in the Black See region were the key subjects of discussion in the
5 committees: Political, Defence and Security, Economy and Security,
Science and Technology, Civil Dimension of Security. At the session
PA Chairman for the first time clearly declared about the necessity
of developing a new strategic concept paper for NATO.

The next important issue that should be focused on, is the geographical
inclusion of Alliance in terms of membership and partnership, as well
as a more productive cooperation with UN and EU.

One negative feature of the session was the sharp contrast
between Russia and Alliance member countries. This was expressed
in Georgia’s unequivocal assistance, in the issues of Kosovo’s key
problem regulation, allocation of the American anti-missile system
in Poland and Czek country.

A part of Netherlands MP Bert Middel’s draft report on "State and
Religion in the Black See Region" represented the situation in
Armenia. The author of the report fairly comes to the conclusion
that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict had no religious origin from
the beginning. The Azerbaijan deligation actively tried to prove
the contrary. This report must again be discussed during PA autumn
session to be held in October in Reykjavik.

It is the responsibility and the obligation of every citizen to
protect the Constitution

Stepan Sargsyan
02-06-2007 11:36:56 – KarabakhOpen

After reading the response of the NKR CEC chair Sergey Nassibyan
regarding Bako Sahakyan’s residency status, one finds himself confused
as to how to react: disbelief, shame and embarrassment for one’s
government or simply amusement? It’s still unclear how this situation
will be resolved, or whether anyone (be it a private citizen, a
journalist or law-enforcement agencies) will give continuation to the
situation with Bako Sahakyan’s residency status. What is clear,
though, is that the registration of Bako Sahakyan’s candidacy creates
legal questions, if not at the level of the CEC, then definitely at
the level of the municipal police. Judging from the CEC chair’s
explanation, the logical continuation would be the opening of an
investigation to get to the bottom of this. Obviously, all questions
have not been answered.

This entire affair is very humorous because of the apparent
incompetency of its very participants and initiators. Preoccupied with
the planning of the bigger strategy of presidential elections, the
members of the civil initiative group who proposed the candidacy of
Bako Sahakyan simply glossed over the small detail related to the
candidate’s ability to satisfy basic eligibility requirements. For
such a flap (lack of attention to detail) self-respecting directors
fire the responsible employee from the company. And thanks to another
example of a lack of attention to detail (with a much more serious
consequence), the municipal police issued a certification confirming
the candidate’s residency in Stepanakert for the last 10 years. This
is called an example of a lack of attention to detail, because we hope
that government bodies, whether local or state level, would not issue
a false document intentionally.

Yet the fun part does not end here. In his attempt to justify the
candidate’s registration, the CEC chairman inadvertently implicates
another government body in wrongdoing and, in addition, justifies the
deviation from the Constitution and its requirements on the basis of a
technicality. Isn’t this hilarious?

Let’s say it was the mistake of the police department, which
mistakenly issued a certification attesting to his residency
status. But CEC already knows that the candidate did not reside in NKR
for the past ten years. What are they going to do, just state that
they have an invalid piece of paper that states otherwise and
continue?

However, one grave issue here is the CEC chair’s lack of understanding
regarding the responsibility of the citizens when it comes to
protecting the Constitution. It is the responsibility and the
obligation of every citizen to protect the Constitution, irrespective
of their post (governmental or private), wealth and physical
ability. Constitution declares everyone equal. Therefore, it is
unnecessary to scold an NGO for doing its job, which is to check up on
a government body to ensure they operate properly and protect the
Constitution. That’s what checks and balances/

ARMENTEL CJSC ORGANIZES AN EXHIBITION OF PICTURES ‘COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDISH BRIGHT COLORS’ AT THE YEREVAN CHILDREN’S PICTURE GALLERY

ArmInfo
2007-06-01 16:45:00

The ArmenTel CJSC organized an exhibition of pictures drawn by the
alumni of the Fine, Applied and Decorative Arts studio college at
the Yerevan Children’s Picture Gallery, Friday. The exhibition was
entitled "Communication with Childish Bright Colors" and dedicated
to the International Child Protection Day.

"It is amazing that children could depict this topic in their works,
as it is rather complicated for children’s perception", Oleg Bliznyuk,
Director General of ArmenTel, said. He emphasized the fact that the
studio hasn’t lost children’s creativity traditions. O.Bliznyuk noted
that ArmenTel and VympelCom attach special significance to the topic
of children, and such activities will be held in the future as well.

6-14 year-old children expressed their ideas of communication with red,
black and yellow colors characteristic of ArmenTel and VympelCom. The
ArmenTel company presented the studio’s children with paints, canvases
and brushes.

IMF ADVISOR STATES AMD APPRECIATION HAS POSITIVE IMPACT
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
01/06/2007

A senior official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said
today that around a 25 percent appreciation of Armenia’s national
currency-Dram-against US Dollar and other hard currencies in the last
two years, has had a significant and a very positive impact on the
country’s macroeconomic situation.

The assessment came from David Owen, a senior advisor of the IMF
Middle East and Central Asia Division, who spoke today in Yerevan
to media. As a proof he cited an average annual 20 percent growth in
exports, saying the preliminary economic indices of the first months
of the year show that the positive growth will go on.

"As a result of transfers the governments themselves decide what kind
of a policy to pursue," he stressed, adding that "We believe that
the flexible exchange regime, executed by the government of Armenia,
along with strict taxation and budget policy have promoted low-level
inflation and high economic growth,’ he said.

David Owen suggested that the government should place more efforts
on revenue collection, which he said is still on low level and also
to expand tax base by improving taxation administration.

EXAMS START TOMORROW

A1+
[02:23 pm] 31 May, 2007

Joint and graduation exams at schools are on 1 June.

Preparatory activities it 4 schools in Gjumri have ended. The
examination rooms are ready; two video cameras are put in each
room. Today, by casting of lots, will be decided the names of people
to be present at each examination center from the knowledge assessment
center. No representatives from schools will be present during the
examination, as well as no Armenian Language or Armenian Literature
specialists.

Before opening the examination envelopes only observers, parents and
mass media representatives should be present in the rooms.

Director of "Oyunjyan" school in Gjumri is confirmed that pupils will
be able to overcome the examination difficulties, while director of #
10 school doubts on it.

Heads of examination centers will receive closed examination envelopes
on 1 June at 6 a.m. The joint examination will last 180 minutes,
graduation examination 90 or 100 minutes.

In two days the results of the examinations will be released. Until
2009 pupils will take similar examinations from all subjects.

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND: SWITZERLAND IS A COUNTRY REALIZING AZERBAIJAN’S INCREASING ROLE IN THE REGION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 29 2007

Azerbaijani Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ambassador to Switzerland
Elchin Emirbeyov interviewed by the APA

– How do you appreciate the current state of Azerbaijan-Switzerland
relations?

– Azerbaijan-Switzerland relations are developing rapidly within the
recent two years. Our embassy opened in this country in October, 2005
and it gave impetus to the development of the relations between the
two countries. Ex-Foreign Minister, present president of Switzerland
Michelin Calmy-Rey visited Azerbaijan in February last year and four
bilateral important agreements were signed on economic and juridical
spheres. Presidents of Azerbaijan and Switzerland met in Davos late
in January this year and debated on bilateral relations. It should
be noted that embassy of Switzerland is planned to be opened in Baku.

Swiss government passed a decision basing on our proposal to open Baku
office of the embassy in Ankara, charge d’affaires heads the office
at present. Switzerland realizes increasing role of Azerbaijan in the
region, they want to review the issue on physical representation of
Switzerland in the region and understand that the embassy once opened
in Tbilisi can not cover all three countries.

– What concrete steps are expected for the further development of
the relations between the two countries?

– Azerbaijan and Switzerland will have debates on political and
security issues this year. Both Azerbaijan and Switzerland intend to
exchange views on the countries’ geostrategic importance and role in
international processes. We do our best to organize high-level visits
from Switzerland to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Switzerland by
the year-end. Besides, a lot of events will be organized in cultural
sphere in 2007-2008.

– Are you satisfied with the current state of economic relations
between Azerbaijan and Switzerland?

– Trade turnover between the two countries was $ 28,000mln. last year,
this figure beat $ 100mln. this year. This increase was not due to
the cooperation in energy sphere. Switzerland does not buy oil and
gas from us. Switzerland is one of our greatest investors in non-oil
sector. Swiss Holcim Company runs OJSC Garadagh-Sement. Switzerland is
getting more informed about Azerbaijan, its economy, Swiss businessmen
get interested in Azerbaijan and the conditions allow them investing
in this country. It has positive influence on the economy of both
countries.

– You have also been accredited as Ambassador to several international
organizations and the Holy See. Vatican’s Secretary of State is
expected to participate in the opening ceremony of newly built
church. When will this visit take place?

– Bilateral relations with Vatican are developing quickly. In this
context the erection of new Catholic Church is very important and both
Azerbaijan and Vatican is interested in the high level of organization
of the ceremony. This issue is being discussed both by our Embassy
and Vatican nuncio to Azerbaijan. Two sides are interested in the
representation of high ranking Vatican officials in the ceremony. At
the present time we discuss to hold the ceremony in November. We
want Vatican’s second person, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary
of State to take part in the forthcoming meeting. If he will not be
able to visit Azerbaijan we then consult with Azerbaijan side the
visit of cardinal responsible for culture and interreligious affairs.

Another option stays on newly appointed foreign minister He is
interested to visit Azerbaijan. The date of the visit is being
concretized now.

– Do you cooperate with Azerbaijan Diaspora in Switzerland?

– We do not have many compatriots in Switzerland. Here the number of
Azerbaijanis does not increase some hundred people. The number of
Azerbaijani students has increased here recently which is positive
indicator. Azerbaijanis receive education in popular universities
and colleges and at secondary schools. This let us to participate
in the daily intellectual life of Switzerland. Most of Switzerland
Azerbaijanis have come here from Igdir province of Turkey and Iran.

We as Embassy invite them to different meetings facilitating
communication between them.

– Are there many Azerbaijanis applying Switzerland government for
refugee status?

– There were many Azerbaijanis applying for refugee status recently.

Federal Migration service requested us to provide assistance them.

Azerbaijanis presenting themselves as Armenian were asked by our
consul workers whether they are Azerbaijanis or people trying
to receive refugee status illegally. Rightist parties have huge
influence in Switzerland and they do not want Switzerland to become
US. They appreciate is as a threat for Switzerland nation. That is
why migration to S3itzerland has stopped recently. The number of
Azerbaijanis illegally resided in Switzerland is five times less that
those from Armenian and Georgia. Azerbaijan and Switzerland do not
have serious problems in this field.