Author: Kafian Jirair

ACCORDING TO RPA DEPUTY SPEAKER, ARMENIA IS MADE CONDITIONS TO RETURN KARABAKH TO BE INVOLVED IN REGIONAL PROGRAMS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia remained out of the regional
developments. Andranik Hovakimian, the Board Seputy Chairman of
the Armenian National Movement (ANM) made such a statement at the
June 21 debate organized at the "Hayeli" club. According to him,
all those economic programs which have been implemented by now in
the region, went round Armenia. The most important among them is
the Baku-Jeyhan pipeline, possibility of countsruction of which the
Armenian authorities called in question. At present the same is said
concerning construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak railway which will
also go round the territory of Armenia.

Another participant of the debate, Samvel Nikoyan, the Deputy Chairman
of the Republican Party of Armenia, a NA Deputy mentioned that Armenia
has been made conditions to return Armenia into Azerbaijani staff for
Armenia is involved in regional economic programs. According to him,
the Baku-Jeyhan pipeline was a program of political meaning. "The only
prize for all these is Karabakh: Turkey and Azerbaijan which clearly
put the question, have a weighty participation in all those programs,"
he emphasized.

According to Andranik Hovakimian, the Baku-Jeyhan pipeline has never
been connected with returning Karabakh. Another issue is that Armenia’s
involvement in that program was provided by the political solution
of the Karabakh problem.

According to him, the Armenian authorities have stated for already
two months that the Karabakh issue entered deadlock. Hovakimian
mentioned that if the authorities are not able to solve this issue,
let them resign, and new authorities are elected during just elections.

According to Hovakimian, the ANM has stated long before that there
is no alternative for a phasal solution of the Karabakh issue. "The
problem of the Nagorno Karabakh status hinders the negotiations process
as it is obvious that the sides have opposite viewpoints concerning
the status: one must let the status aside and attempt to solve the
problem in another way, in the way the ANM proposed." According to
the speaker, by the phasal variant proposed in 1997 the circumstance
of Nagorno Karabakh’s factually being out of Azerbaijani staff would
be fixed internationally, "and we’ld do our best for Armenia and
Karabakh develop economically, and it becomes possible to negotiate
concerning the status already from positions of power."

According to him, the authorities are not ready for solution of
the Karabakh problem and do their best for "the status quo" is kept
"even at the price that Armenia occupies economically the last place
in the region."

According to Samvel Nikoyan, if the status issue is pushed backround
by the present variant as well, then it is at last done with the
conditions of holding a referendum. He emphasized that it is a great
compromise by Armenia and there is a misgiving that the great part
of the society or political forces may even not accept this variant
with which the authorities agreed as for conceding the important
acquisitions, the Armenian side will get a document which may clearly
not work in the case of change of geopolitical realities.

OIC SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S FAIR STANCE ON SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT, IRAN’S FM MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 21 2006

"Organization of Islamic Conference supports Azerbaijan’s fair stance
on settlement of Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh",
said Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in a news conference
in Baku.

Mr. Mottaki is here to participate in the 33rd Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers.

Speaking of the high level of the Iran-Azerbaijan relations, Manouchehr
Mottaki noted he was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev,
and discussed with him prospects of further development of bilateral
ties.

The Iranian Minister said that the agenda of the 33rd Session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers also includes a range
of problems, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which raises
concern of Muslim countries.

Mr. Mottaki also revealed Iran’s stance on the increasing tension
over its nuclear issue.

He stressed that his country will give a response only after it
carefully considers the package of intensives offered by five permanent
U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.

SHADOW ECONOMY IN PETROLEUM MAKES UP 400%, OPPOSITION SAYS

Panorama.am
15:13 20/06/06

In a debate with Gagik Melikyan, Tatul Manaseryan from opposition
stated that twice as little petroleum is reported in Armenia today
against 1995 in case of cars being three times more than in 1995.

"The decline in petroleum demand may be explained that cars are being
fueled now with gas," explained his opponent Gagik Melikyan. However
Manaseryan did not agree saying that gas-feeling stations are opening
every day. Manaseryan is sure that if shadow economy in Armenia is
70-80%, the shadow in petroleum is 400%.

RUSSIA AND IRAN TO ESTABLISH A JOINT VENTURE IN OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION

Source: Vzglyad, June 15, 2006
Agency WPS
The Russian Oil and Gas Report (Russia)
June 19, 2006 Monday

Presidents of Russia and Iran Vladimir Putin and Mahmud Ahmadinezhad
reached an agreement on establishment of a joint venture in the oil
and gas sector. Analysts consider economic expedience of the project
disputable.

At his meeting with Ahmadinezhad Putin said, "Our companies are
negotiating on pooling of efforts in the oil and gas sector including
establishment of a joint venture. We will support these initiatives
of our Iranian partners." The President of Iran is prepared for
broadening of economic cooperation with Russia. Ahmadinezhad remarked,
"As to the energy sector, if we cooperate efficiently we will be able
to receive much bigger results, for example, in gas industry. We can
cooperate closely both from the standpoint of gas pricing and from
the standpoint of determination of the main transportation flows."

Leaders of the two countries do not disclose the details of
negotiations on establishment of an oil and gas joint venture.

Analysts presume that cooperation between Russia and Iran can
be promising in transportation. Andrei Zorin, leading analyst of
investment company Barrels, comments, "Iran has a problem with gas
pipelines and Russia can help Iran in this aspect. Iran has very big
gas reserves and Russia has possibilities for gas delivery."

Iran owns 16% of global natural gas reserves. The main fields are
located on the seabed of the Persian Gulf and in the northeast of
the country. By 2010, Iran plans to increase annual output to 290
billion cubic meters a year. Full-scale gas export will begin by the
same time. For increase of supplies Iran may try to restore the gas
pipelines chain IGAT: IGAT-1 with capacity of 9.6 billion cubic meters
a year built in 1970 for gas export to Armenia and Azerbaijan and
IGAT-2 with capacity of 27 billion cubic meters a year construction
of which has not been accomplished because of the Islamic revolution
of 1979 in Iran.

Both pipelines require reengineering. Their putting into operation
may enable Iran to supply gas to Europe via Ukraine. Extension of the
existing gas pipeline from Iran to Turkey to Greece is considered as
an alternative option.

Oil reserves of Iran are very big too. In 2005, the country had proven
reserves of 132 billion barrels (about 10% of global reserves). In
2005, Iran produced 4.2 million barrels per day and exported about
2.7 million barrels of this quantity. In 2005, Iran was the fourth
largest oil exporter of the world.

Iranian constitution prohibits sale of shares of national oil
producing enterprises to foreign companies or granting of oil
production concessions to foreigners. Oil fields in the country are
being developed by Iranian National Oil Company. However, at the end
of the 1990s some foreign investors came to Iranian oil industry.

These are French companies Total and Elf Aquitaine, Malaysian Petronas,
Italian Eni and Chinese CNPC that receive a part of produced oil
under "compensation contracts" and after expiry of a contract hand
the fields over to the Iranian state-run company.

Zorin presumes that with assistance of Russian companies Iran can
develop the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. The expert explains, "Russia
has enough gas of its own, that is why the countries can negotiate
on re-export to Europe. Russia is not admitted to European markets
eagerly. Along with this, the country has a possibility to establish
interaction with Iran in setting of sufficiently high gas prices. Now
the end buyers in Europe receive gas fivefold more expensive in
comparison to the price at which gas is sold by Gazprom."

Economic cooperation between Russia and Iran may trigger critique
of Moscow on the part of the US. The Administration of George Bush
does not wish to compromise with Ahmadinezhad. America insists on
stopping of the Iranian nuclear program. According to unofficial
information, the US Administration is considering a possibility of
military resolving of the conflict with the regime of Ahmadinezhad.

Operations in Iran will be connected with certain risks for Russian
companies. Alexander Razuvaev, director of the analytical department
of financial company Megatrustoil, comments, "It is necessary to pay
the due to the policy of President Putin. Russia has its own interests
and it is necessary to defend them. From this standpoint it is useful
to play on the contradictions between the West and Iran."

Zorin presumes, "Iranian gas fields are at the stage of development
and it is in the interests of Russia to participate in Iranian gas
projects. Conversations of Americans about human rights and Iranian
nuclear program represent only a pretext for establishment of control
over oil and gas of this country in case of war. That is why Russian
expansion is necessary. Of course, the US will be discontent. It is
possible that Russia will be reproached like in case of the nuclear
program of Iran."

According to experts, not only state-run companies but also large
private corporations will be able to implement Russian foreign policy
in the Middle East.

Zorin says, "Many companies, first of all, Gazprom and LUKoil and
possibly Rosneft are interested in such cooperation." Razuvaev says,
"Of course, if a political decision is made Gazprom will be the company
that starts cooperation with Iran. If this is oil industry, this will
possibly be Rosneft. In the past, Tatneft tried to enter Iran. It is
possible to understand them because they have a poor resource base."

Analysts are convinced that decision to broaden cooperation with Iran
in the oil and gas sector is dictated by political reasons.

Razuvaev concludes, "From the standpoint of business, Iranian President
is such a partner that it is better not to have because reputation
risks are high. Probability of beginning of a war against Iran is
high now. If the US wins the new authorities will invalidate the
contracts signed by the government of Ahmadinezhad."

THE CZECHS GOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE COALITION

A1+
[03:58 pm] 19 June, 2006

On June 19 the members of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations met the delegation of the Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate of the Czech
Republic. The delegation is in Armenia on official visit.

Member of the Committee Yaromir Shtetina mentioned that on the
initiative of the Armenian community of the Czech Republic and with the
support of former President of the country Vatslav Havel a conference
was organized in the Senate two months ago about the 1915 Armenian
Genocide. The delegate voiced hope that in autumn the Czech Senate
will adopt an announcement about recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Asked by the Czech side if there are positive changes in connection
with the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, if the Minsk group
has exhausted itself and if there is a need for a new format, Armen
Roustamyan answered that there is no need for a new format as the OSCE
Minsk group has been engaged in the settlement of the issue since 1992,
is deeply aware of anything connected with the conflict and has made
three valuable offers during the past eight years.

As for why there is no progress in the negotiation process, according
to Mr. Roustamyan, in contrast to Armenia, the Azeri side turns down
all the offers and refuses to sign any documents.

At the guests’ request Mr. Roustamyan referred to the relations
between the EU and Turkey and between Armenia and Turkey mentioning
that Armenia has expressed its readiness to start relations
with Turkey without any preconditions, but the Turkish side keep
putting forward preconditions including those in the context of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

The Czech side added that the negotiations of Turkey about membership
in the EU will continue at least 10-15 more years.

During the meeting the perspectives of the development of the relations
of the countries and other issues of mutual interest were discussed.

HAUNTED BY HISTORY; ANI, A DISPUTED CITY

The Economist
June 17, 2006
U.S. Edition

Efforts to excavate and conserve a little-known historical site are
snarled up by regional rivalries

The ruins of a contested capital are still hostage to geopolitics

WHATEVER you think about ghosts, it is hard to speak of this desolate
plateau on Turkey’s eastern edge without using the word "haunted". A
millennium ago, Ani rivalled Byzantium as one of the great cities
of the Christian world. At its height, the Armenian capital had
over 100,000 inhabitants. Now all that stands is an impressive wall,
and the gaunt but beautiful remains of churches and mosques randomly
scattered across a vast expanse of grassy earth. On a hot day in early
summer, with flowers blooming and birds swooping through the ruins,
the place is utterly empty.

Ani’s location at one of Eurasia’s nodal points, where rival
civilisations either clash or co-operate, has been both a blessing and
a curse. The "silk route" linking Byzantium with China ran through
it. But less than a century after it became the Armenian capital in
961, the city began falling victim to waves of conquerors, including
Seljuk Turks, Georgians and Mongols. In 1319 it was devastated by
an earthquake.

Even as a ruin, Ani has been a disputed city. In 1921 when most
of the site was ceded to Turkey, the Armenians were dismayed. They
have since accused the Turks of neglecting the place in a spirit of
chauvinism. The Turks retort that Ani’s remains have been shaken by
blasts from a quarry on the Armenian side of the border.

Turkey’s authorities insist that they are doing their best to conserve
and develop the site. "By restoring Ani, we’ll make a contribution
to humanity," says Mehmet Ufuk Erden, the local governor. "We will
start with one church and one mosque, and over time we will include
every single monument." The culture ministry has listed Ani, with
an Armenian church on an island in Lake Van, among the sites it is
keenest to conserve. For a country that was reluctant, until recently,
to accept the cultural heritage of non-Turks, this is a big change.

But some scholars say more is needed. "Piecemeal restoration is no
substitute for a master plan for Ani as a whole," argues Stefaan
Poortman of the Global Heritage Fund, a California-based conservation
group that helps to manage endangered historic sites. And making a
master plan for a site straddling two countries is impossible unless
they co-operate. Could it happen? In September, some 14 Black Sea
countries hope to meet in Istanbul to dicuss their cultural heritage.

So Turks and Armenians will get a chance to talk about Ani, if
history’s ghosts can be exorcised.

Airport gun scandal hits Kenyan President
By Steve Bloomfield in Nairobi

Sunday Independent/UK
18 June 2006

An armed standoff at Kenya’s main airport has not only caused airlines
to consider whether it is safe to fly to Nairobi, but has led President
Mwai Kibaki to go on television to explain who is and who is not a
member of his family.

Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan – flamboyant, gold-chain-wearing
Armenian businessmen known in Kenya as the Artur brothers – allegedly
brandished guns at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta airport when their guests
were asked to open their luggage by customs officials. But instead
of being arrested, the pair were quietly deported to Dubai.

A subsequent raid at their Nairobi home reportedly uncovered a cache
of weapons, body armour and balaclavas, as well as government-issue
number plates, fake passports and access-all-areas passes for all
Kenya’s airports. Opposition politicians have alleged that the men
enjoyed state protection, and there are claims that President Kibaki
and his family are linked to the Armenians.

Only the security concerns prevent the affair resembling an
over-the-top daytime soap opera. The Armenian "brothers" are not
related, and may actually be Russian. One claims to be in love with
Winnie Wangui, the daughter of a woman who President Kibaki has
repeatedly been forced to deny is his second wife.

The controversial Armenians first came to prominence in Kenya in March
after an armed raid on the East African Standard newspaper, which
had been critical of the government. The Internal Security Minister,
John Michuki, made no attempt to deny the government was behind the
attack, saying: "If you rattle a snake, you must be prepared to be
bitten by it."

But it later emerged that Kenya’s most senior police officer had not
been informed about the operation, and the weapons, balaclavas and
body armour found at the Artur brothers’ Nairobi home are similar to
those used in the raid.

President Kibaki, meanwhile, has come under fire for failing to
discuss the airport security breach or allegations from opposition
politicians that the men had enjoyed state protection.

A commission of inquiry has been set up, and the head of Kenya’s
CID, along with the airport security chief, has been suspended. But
opposition politicians have called for Mr Michuki to be sacked,
and parliament has promised to set up its own inquiry.

DELEGATION OF RF SOUTHERN FEDERAL DISTRICT VISITED TSITSERNAKABERD

ArmRadio.am
16.06.2006 12:25

In the framework of the two-day visit, the delegation of RF Southern
Federal District headed by Plenipotentiary Representative of RF
President Dmitri Kozak visited today the memorial to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide to pay tribute to the memory of the Genocide victims.

Dmitri Kozak wrote in the memorial book at the Genocide Museum,
"Let similar tragedies never repeat anywhere. Let the Armenian nation
flourish.

Later the Plenipotentiary Representative of RF President laid a wreath
of flowers at the memorial to the Genocide victims and planted a
symbolic fire-tree as a sign of Armenian-Russian friendship.

Dmitri Kozak told the journalists that today he will have meetings
with representatives of RA Government. A number of issues of bilateral
cooperation will be discussed.

CEREMONIAL LEAVE OF FIRST YEREVAN-BATUMI TRAIN SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 17

Yerevan, June 15. ArmInfo. The first Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan trip of
passenger train will ceremonially open on June 17, on Saturday. Head
of the Armenian Railway Department for Transportation, Hakop Khrimyan
told ArmInfo.

He said the first trip was scheduled for June 15, however, it was
postponed at the request of the Georgian prime minister who expressed
desire to participate in the opening ceremony. Armenian Minister
of Transport and Communications Andranik Manukyan and the heads of
Armenian and Georgian railways will participate in the ceremony. A.
Khrimyan said the train will leave on uncountable days of the week.

To note, the railway communication was opened for summer rest of
Armenian tourists in the Black Sea coast in Georgia. The train will
leave at 9:10 PM local time and arrive in Batumi at 1:40 AM. One ticket
in double compartment costs 18,703 drams, the ticket in four-place
compartment – 9,297 drams. The tickets on the return way from Batumi
will cost tourists 21,256 drams and 10,542 drams, respectively in
terms of lari.

PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS AND FACTIONS DISAGREE WITH THE CBA PRESIDENT

ArmRadio.am
16.06.2006 16:22

During today’s briefings Parliamentary groups and factions, except for
the Republican faction, expressed their disagreement with the comments
of the President of Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan on dollar
deflation. Head of the ARF faction Hrayr Karapetyan said that the
increase of the exchange rate of the Armenian dram is artificial and
it hits the interests of local producers. This, of course, does not
refer to "People’s Deputy" and "Businessman" factions and the United
Labor Party, since they were not participating in the last briefings
of the spring session.

Turning to the latest conclusions of the Venice Commission regarding
the Electoral Code, Head of "Justice" block Sepan Demirchyan
reconfirmed that in case the coalition refuses to accept the four
preconditions they suggest, they will recall their signatures from
the document. Stepan Demirchyan underlined that execution of reforms
is important rather than the reforms themselves.

Speaking about future plans, the Parties noted that in summer they
will be engaged in settlement of internal party issues, preparing
for the prelection period to start in the fall.