Author: Jalatian Sonya

FRANCE NOT TO HINDER EU-TURKEY NEGOTIATIONS
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2007

French president Nikolas Sarkozy sent a secret messenger to
Ankara. According to "Figarot," the messenger is to contribute to the
solution of the disputes on the negotiations for Turkey’s membership
to EU.

Sarkozy doesn’t intend to put a veto on three new issues of the June
26 negotiations. In coming December, Sarkozy will put forward the
issue of Europe’s borders at the CE Summit, instead. He is going to
suggest shaping of a working group that will elaborate the principles
of the neighbourhood policy.

SECOND SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO BE BUILT IN 2008 – AGENCY

Arminfo
30 May 07

Yerevan, 30 May: HayRusgazard closed-type joint-stock company plans
to invest 33bn drams (93m dollars) in the construction of the second
section of the Iran-Armenia [gas] pipeline in 2007. In all, the company
plans to invest 52bn drams (150m dollars) for the implementation of
the project.

The chairman of the board and CEO of HayRusgazard, Karen Karapetyan,
has visited the construction area of the Kajaran-Ararat [section of
the] pipeline together with experts.

The press service of HayRusgazard reported that the construction of
the 40 km Meghri-Kajaran section, as well as the 197.4 km section
of the pipeline with a diameter of 720mm in the direction of
Kajaran-Sisian-Jermuk-Ararat, will allow to raise the capacity of
the system of gas transport. It will also provide the entry of the
Iranian natural gas to Armenia in agreed volumes.

[Passage omitted: technical and contractual details]

Karapetyan said that the work on this section of the gas pipeline,
stretching about 200 km, is planned to be done in 2007-08. In 2007,
150 km of pipes will be bought, and 85 km of the pipeline will be
constructed. He said that all the three shareholders of the company
have the right to take part in the additional emission of shares with
their proposals and partial participation.

[Passage omitted: background details]

LEVON ARONIAN PLAYS DRAW SECOND GAME AGAINST MAGNUS CARLSEN

ARMENPRESS
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS; Armenian chess star Levon Aronian played
draw his second game against Norway’s Magnus Carlsen with the white
pieces.

They are playing in Russia’s Kalmykia, the venue of a knock-out format
that sees 16 players in fray, out of which four will qualify for the
prestigious World Championships to be held in Mexico later this year.

In the first round Aronian took a full point form the young Norwegian
They will play four games more and the winner will meet with either
Michael Adams of UK or Alexei Shirov of Spain.

AID AGENCY WILL NOT SUPPORT RAILROAD BYPASS

ArmRadio.am
30.05.2007 09:59

The Armenian Assembly of America commends Congressman Brad Sherman
(D-CA) for securing an assurance from the Oversees Private Investment
Corporation (OPIC) that the agency would not support a proposed
railroad linking Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan while bypassing
Armenia. OPIC helps US businesses invest overseas.

"It is important that OPIC not repeat the mistake of
the Baku-Tiblisi-Cheyan pipeline," Sherman said in a press
statement. "Taxpayer funds should not go for projects that deliberately
seek to isolate a friend of the United States, and I appreciate the
commitment not to get involved in the railroad project."

The proposed railway, estimated to cost upwards of $600 million,
excludes Armenia from economic and regional transportation
corridors. Armenian government officials have repeatedly said that
a new costly railway is unnecessary given that a railroad linking
Armenia, Georgia and Turkey already exists.

Last June, the House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved
a provision sponsored by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), along
with Sherman and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), prohibiting the Export-Import
Bank from supporting the rail link project. That provision was adopted
and is now a law.

"The Assembly thanks Congressman Sherman for his leadership on this
issue," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The proposed project,
sponsored by the Turkish and Azeri governments, runs counter to US
policy goals which seek to foster regional cooperation and economic
integration, and includes open borders and transport and communication
corridors. OPIC’s assurance helps ensure that the US will not be
party to the flawed policies of Armenia’s neighbors."

LEVON ARONYAN LOST TO MAGNUS KARLSEN

ArmRadio.am
30.05.2007 11:44

Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan lost to Magnus Karlsen of Norway
in the third round of the tournament of World Champion challengers
underway in Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmikia.

The score is 1.5:1.5 after three rounds.

In the fourth tour Levon Aronyan will play with white figures.

MEETING OF ISRAYEL HAKOBKOKHIAN WHO STOPS HUNGER-STRIKE AND PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA SERGE SARGSIAN DOES NOT TAKE PLACE YET

Noyan Tapan
May 30 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The meeting between Israyel Hakobkokhian,
a deputy’s candidate stopped the hunger-strike in protest against the
electoral violations taken place during the elections at electoral
district No11, world boxing champion and RA Prime Minister Serge
Sargsian did not take place yet, because of the latter’s being
busy. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by I. Hakpbkokhian.

To recap, I. Hakobkokhian started a termless hunger-strike at the
building of the RA Central Electoral Commission on May 16 and stopped
it in 5 days, on May 21, after Prime Minister S. Sargsian’s visiting
him and persuading to stop the hunger-strike and meet when he gets
well, to discuss his demands.

"If a person loves his country, he must respect, estimate heads of his
country. The Prime Minister came up to me, proposed that I have a rest,
then we meet, speak about my demands. I did not refuse his proposal,"
I. Hakobkokhian explained.

He emphasized that he expects from the meeting with the Prime
Minister "a true conversation, human mutual understanding." "It is
not important for me who is my head, the important one is how he
heads. The important slogan for me is not "For You, Armenia" but "For
You, Armenians" as if foreigners live in Armenia, I do not need such
a country. I suppose that based on the slogan "For You, Armenians"
I will speak with the Prime Minister and have approximate notion if
the promises given by him during the pre-electoral campaign will be
kept," the former hunger-striker presented in details.

He added that if his meeting with the Prime Minister will not give
the expected results, he will use another way of struggle, besides
the hunger-strike.

I. Hakobkokhian avoided mentioning especially which way of struggle
he will use. I shall not reveal that secret yet for my opponents do
not prepare against it, and are surprised with my next step how they
were surprised with this step," I. Hakobkokhian mentioned.

Responding the question if one may suppose that the next step of the
struggle will be directed against the Prime Minister, I. Hakobkokhian
said that the next step of the struggle will be directed "against the
country heads who proposed to choose them, promising that they can head
the country so well. It is not limited only by the Prime Minister."

In I. Hakobkokhian’s words, the goal of his termless hunger-strike was
to prove the heads of Armenia that "the people are not sheep: there
are people who are ready to take such steps in the name of truth,
in the name of their self-respect."

DEVEDJIAN DIT NE PAS SOUHAITER ENTRER AU GOUVERNEMENT

Agence France Presse
27 mai 2007 dimanche 8:17 PM GMT

Le secretaire general delegue de l’UMP, Patrick Devedjian, a affirme
dimanche ne pas souhaiter entrer au gouvernement, jugeant qu’etre
ministre serait incompatible avec ses responsabilites actuelles.

"Non, je ne le souhaite pas pour dire les choses clairement, puisque
j’ai des responsabilites qui me prennent beaucoup (…) Cela ne me
paraît pas compatible avec les responsabilites que j’ai maintenant",
a-t-il declare sur France 3, selon la transcription, fournie par la
chaîne, de ses propos a l’emission France Europe Express.

Le president de la Republique Nicolas Sarkozy a indique a plusieurs
reprises qu’il nommerait des secretaires d’Etat après les elections
legislatives.

Le 14 mai, M. Devedjian, un proche du chef de l’Etat a qui l’on pretait
l’ambition de devenir ministre de la Justice du gouvernement Fillon,
s’etait dit ironiquement "pour aller très loin dans l’ouverture,
très loin, y compris jusqu’aux sarkozystes".

En 2002, alors qu’il revait deja de la Justice, il avait ete nomme
ministre delegue aux libertes locales. Il etait ensuite devenu ministre
delegue a l’Industrie.

Patrick Devedjian a, au cours de la meme emission, evoque la
reforme en cours des statuts de l’UMP, indiquant que cette refonte
se concretiserait après les legislatives et que le parti n’aurait
"plus de president".

Jean-Pierre Raffarin, charge par Nicolas Sarkozy d’une mission sur
la future gouvernance de l’UMP, avait propose vendredi une direction
collegiale de six ou neuf membres.

–Boundary_(ID_eTj+hP+vYFCJfilFZfSp1A)–

PanARMENIAN.Net

New terminal opened in Zvartnots airport
26.05.2007 15:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ From June 1 the passengers of Zvartnots
International Airport will be offered services in a new waiting
room. The solemn opening ceremony took place May 25 with participation
of President Robert Kocharian, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II,
Argentinean Armenian entrepreneur, owner of Corporation America,
president of Zvartnots-Armenia International Airports Eduardo
Ernekyan, government members, MPs, businessmen and diplomats.

`Today we are putting into operation the best passenger terminal in
the region,’ Mr Eknekyan said adding that it’s the initial
$100-million part of the general investment program. $100 million will
be additionally invested in the airport till 2010.

When addressing the audience President Kocharian said this
construction will perfectly correspond to the image of developed and
competitive Armenia. He also thanked Mr Ernekyan for the work done and
wished him every success in the implementation of the second stage of
the investment program.

The ERDB and the German Investment Development Company have granted a
$30 million credit for a 7-year term for modernization of Zvartnots
airport.

Preliminary staff of the Armenian government outlined

ArmInfo
2007-05-25 19:25:00

Republican Party of Armenia has already reached preliminary
arrangement with Prosperous Armenia party, ARF Dashnaktiutyun and
United Labour party on the government formation and the candidates to
the leading posts in the parliament. According to the made
arrangement, three portfolios will be given to the PA party and ARFD
each, and one – to the ULP, all the rest portfolios to the RPA.

Thus, according to the ArmInfo sources close to the RPA, the present
Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan (RPA) will get
a post of the speaker of the National Assembly, Ishkhan Zakaryan
(Prosperous Armenia Party), the head of the Physical Culture and
Sports committee will become vice-speaker of the parliament. Vaan
Hovanisyan (ARFD) will again become vice-speaker of the
parliament. Justice Minister David Arutyunyan, Finances and Economy
minister Vardan Khachatryan, Industry and Economic Development
Minister Karen Chshmarityan and Ecology Minister Vardan Ayvazyan will
not preserve their ministerial portfolios. David Harutyunyan (RPA)
will become the head of Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs
in the new parliament, Vardan Khachatryan (RPA) – of Standing
committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs, and Ara
Babloyan (RPA), head of medical centre "Arabkir" – of Standing
Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment.

Foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan, Defence Minister Mikael Arutyunyan,
Transport and Communication Andranik Manukyan (RPA), minister-head of
the government’s machinery Manouk Topyzyan will preserve their
ministerial portfolios. Karen Karapetyan (RPA), the head of deputy
group "People’s deputy" will become Territorial Administration
Minister. Hermine Nagdalyan (RPA), member of standing committee on
Finance-Credit, Budgetary and Economic affairs will become Finance and
Economy minister. The leader of the United Labour Party Gurgen
Arsenyan will become Industry and Economic Development
minister. Businessman Harutyun Pambukyan (RPA) will become Energy
Minister. Harutyun Kushkyan (Prosperous Armenia Party), director of
medical centers Erebuni and Nairi will become Health Minister. Deputy
chairwoman of Civil Service Council Arevik Petrosyan (PAP) will become
Ecology Minister. Tigran Mukuchayn, ex-deputy justice minister, will
become Justice minister. Vardan Vardanyan (PAP), deputy transport and
communication minister, will become Minister of Urban
Development. ARFD despite its earlier statement not to take a formal
part in the government formation, nevertheless entered in the staff of
executive power preserving three out of four ministerial
portfolios. They did not manage only to preserve the post of Health
Minister. Levon Lazarian will head Education Ministry, Agvan
Vardanyan – Labour and Social affairs Ministry and David Lokyan –
Agriculture Ministry. Members of the PAP will become governors of
Shirak and Kotayk regions.

PRESS TV, Iran
May 26 2007

Yervan unveils Ferdowsi statue
Fri, 25 May 2007 22:35:02

Armenia’s ARYA University has unveiled a statue of the Iranian epic
poet Abualqasim Ferdowsi Tusi in a ceremony held in Yerevan today.

Professors and students from Iranian studies faculties participated
in the event with the Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Haqiqan,
unveiling the statue.

Alireza Otoufi, the Iranian cultural attaché in Armenia, thanked the
Neyshabur city council for dedicating this statue and stressed the
importance of spreading Ferdowsi’s thoughts in the world and
especially in Armenia.

Otoufi said that based on agreements made with Neyshabur city
council, statues of Attar and Kamal ol-Molk will also be dedicated to
Armenia next year.

Garnik Asatoriyan, the head of Iranian studies department in Yerevan
University said, "This statue is not only a gift but also it
represents friendly relations between the two Neyshabur city council
presented Yerevan University with a statue of Khayyam last year.