Author: Kanayan Tamar

ARMENIAN TRANSPORT MINISTER: NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR CONSTRUCTION PLANNED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2017

/ARKA/
August 11, 2011
YEREVAN

Investment program on construction of North-South transport corridor
is planned to be completed in 2017, Armenian Transport Minister Manuk
Vardanyan said Wednesday at this investment program presentation
aimed at attracting contractors.

The Armenian government approved this program as well as a $500-million
financial agreement with Asian Development Bank on January 14, 2010.

“As a result, Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport communication will be
improved,” Vardanyan said.

On August 2, Armenian transport ministry announced an open tender
for selecting contractor for reconstruction of 11.7 kilometers of
Yerevan-Ashtarak road, 38 kilometers of Yerevan-Ararat road and 42
kilometers of Ashtarak-Talin road.

The minister said that after the launch of this investment program
two other roads – Sevan-Dilijan-Noyemberyan-Bagratashen and
Yerevan-Aparan-Vanadzor-Bagratashen – will be reconstructed and a
road will be constructed near Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport.

He said that that the 556-kilometer North-South corridor will create
a gateway to the Black Sea and European countries through Georgia’s
territory. He said this corridor would solve also freight problems.

“Taking into account the average speed of 100-120 km/hour, it can
be said that the way from Yerevan to the Black sea will be passed in
4.5 or 5 hours,” he said.

Vardanyan said that the next tranche, which is under discussion now,
will be targeted for reconstruction of sections of the road to Gyumri
and for rehabilitation of road sections in Armenia’s southern areas.

“Results of the tender will be released in late September, their
estimation together with the Asian Development Bank and approval
by the Armenian government will take one month, and recruitment of
builders will start in October,” he said answering the question ARKA
News Agency put up to him.

The first tranche of Asian Development Bank – $70 million, an
agreement on which was signed on October 12, 2009, was intended for
reconstruction of Yerevan-Ararat and Yerevan-Ashtarak road’s sections.

The second tranche of $210 million agreed on May 30, 2011, were
targeted for rehabilitation of a section of Ashtarak-Talin road.

MORE BOYS BORN IN ARMENIA

Tert.am
12.08.11

At an Aug. 12 press conference, Karine Kuyumjyan, Head of the Census
and Demography Division, Statistical Service of Armenia, reported
that 8,977 boys and 7,661 girls have been born in Armenia this year.

“That is 117 boys per 100 girls,” she added.

MEDVEDEV ET ALIYEV SE RENCONTRENT A PROPOS DU KARABAKH
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 12 aout 2011
KARABAGH

Le president russe Dmitry Medvedev a rencontre mardi son homologue
azeri Ilham Aliyev dans ce qu’il a ete decrit comme des pourparlers
” extremement francs ” sur l’avenir du processus de paix
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Les deux leaders n’ont fait aucune declaration publique après la
reunion qui s’est tenue dans la ville russe de Sochi.

Le Kremlin a dit qu’ils ont discute ” des questions centrales dans les
relations russo-Azeries ” et de ” l’etat du processus de negociation
dans le règlement du conflit du Nagorno-Karabakh. ” Le Kremlin n’a
pas donne plus de renseignements.

” Bien sûr, le règlement du Nagorno-Karabakh est un des sujets les
plus importants ” a dit Dmitry Medvedev a Aliyev dans ses remarques
televisees faites au debut des pourparlers.

” Je voudrais avoir une conversation extremement franche avec vous
sur ce que faire ensuite et comment les evenements pourraient se
developper en tenant compte de notre dernière reunion trilaterale
[le 24 juin avec le President armenien Serge Sarkissian] qui s’est
tenu a Kazan et des reunions precedentes tenues dans le meme format
” a-t-il dit.

Ilham Aliyev a loue la participation active de Medvedev dans la
recherche de la paix au Karabakh. Il a dit que la douzaine de sommets
organises par Medvedev au cours des trois dernières annees ” a beaucoup
fait pour rapprocher les positions des parties l’une de l’autre. ”

” C’est le problème principal de la securite regionale et, bien sûr,
l’Azerbaïdjan est interesse a une resolution rapide du conflit plus
que quiconque ” a ajoute Ilham Aliyev.

TBILISI PUTS “GEORGIAN OIL AND GAS CORPORATION”, “GEORGIAN RAILWAY”, “GEORGIAN ENERGY SYSTEM” ON SALE

Today.az
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

The government of Georgia intends to sell the shares of “Georgian
oil and gas corporation” that owns North-South gas pipeline. APA
reports that Georgian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources
Georgi Khetaguri said it was discussed at the recent meeting of the
government and the draft amendments were approved.

Khetaguri said the shares will be put on sale in London, New York
and other leading stock exchanges. In the initial stage, 25 percent
of the shares will be put on sale.

“Along with the shares of “Georgian oil and gas corporation”, the
shares of “Georgian railway”, “Georgian energy system” and other
strategic companies will be put on sale in western stock exchanges.

Khetaguri said the initial process started.

“We have agreed with the investment banks to start registration for
the placement of shares in the stock exchanges,” he said.

Khetaguri’s statement caused concern in Armenia. Armenian publications
write that the fate of the Georgian part of the gas pipeline from
Russia to Armenia may be brought into question. Armenian newspapers
write that Azerbaijani companies may buy the management right of
the pipeline.

/APA/

‘FRANCE HAS OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE PROCESSES AS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR’

news.az
Gun.Az
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

France has rather economic interests related to Azerbaijan and cultural
interests related to Armenia.

France is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group with an
opportunity to influence processes and President Nicola Sarkozy’s
visit to the region will therefore be significant.

The remarks came from Rasim Musabayov, member of the Azerbaijani
Parliament and politicial expert.

France has rather economic interests related to Azerbaijan and cultural
interests related to Armenia. France’s political interests are related
to Georgia in many cases, Musabayov said.

The expert recalled that Sarkozy appointed former ambassador to
Georgia as foreign minister when he came to power.

‘All this show that France has certain interests. But I don’t think
that the meeting visit produce any serious results. Sarkozy made great
efforts to prevent developments back in 2008. These all are related to
internal policies of France. Sarkozy does not enjoy much rating today.

But he still wants to be elected president for the next time.

Sarkozy thus wants to expand successes he has achieved so far. I
don’t think France has made much efforts in terms of Karabakh conflict
lately. Anyway, Jeaques Chirac was much more involved in the conflict
resolution. Nevertheless, France can influence processes as a Minsk
Group co-chair,’ the MP stated.

RULING PARTY ANNOUNCES AZERBAIJAN’S CONCEPT TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
T. Hajiyev

Trend
Aug 11, 2011
Azerbaijan

The concept put forward by Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement is based on international law.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi is the next step in the
negotiations to resolve this conflict, Deputy Executive Secretary
of the New Azerbaijan Party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli told the official
website of the ruling party.

Gurbanli recalled the recent tripartite meeting in Kazan and said
Russia is active in resolving this conflict given Armenia’s current
situation, economic and social challenges.

He said Aliyev openly talks about Azerbaijan’s concept on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at all meetings.

“The principles and norms of international law put the territorial
integrity and sovereignty in the forefront,” he said. “Azerbaijan’s
main requirement at all the talks is its territorial integrity and
sovereignty.”

COUP SUSPECTS ‘PROTECTED’ BY TOP GENERAL, SAYS CELIK

Hurriyet
Aug 11, 2011
Turkey

Former Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅ~_bug “protected” suspects
in an alleged military plan targeting the ruling government, Deputy
Prime Minister Huseyin Celik claimed in critical comments Thursday.

“The Turkish Armed Forces is a 1 million-strong community, from its
chief of General Staff to the soldiers, and among them there may be
some 1,000 people who seek to stage a coup. But you put the institution
under suspicion if you institutionally protect these people,” Celik
told CNNTurk on Thursday, referring to Gen. BaÅ~_bug, who headed the
military when the alleged “Internet Memorandum” was prepared.

The ongoing Internet Memorandum case refers to an alleged document by
the General Staff about setting up 42 Internet sites to distribute
propaganda against the ruling Justice and Development Party, or
AKP, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and Greeks and
Armenians.

“Did he [BaÅ~_bug] do what was necessary? [I wish] he had handed over
those people even when they were in active service to the military
judiciary. You know the memorandum was prepared within the chain of
command in the army. If this is true, this means it was prepared with
the initiative of the top figure in the military,” Celik said.

According to the deputy prime minister, BaÅ~_bug characterized
weapons unearthed in the probe as pipes and called the memorandum
with signatures on it a “piece of paper” in a press conference, while
indicating that those who engage in anti-democratic approaches can’t
remain in the army.

“The Internet Memorandum is one of the most interesting incidents in
Turkish history. It is hard to swallow,” Celik told CNNTurk.

“I don’t want to accuse anybody. The judicial process continues,”
he added. “I hope it will reveal who is right and who is wrong and
the public conscience is relieved.”

THE RESORT TO BE BUILT IN “HAGHTANAK” PARK WON’T BE DISNEYLAND

Mediamax
Aug 11, 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The program for “Haghtanak” park reconstruction
is worked out by “Harry Goddard” American company and has nothing to
do with “Disneyland”.

Mediamax was told this in the Department of Development and Investment
Programs of Yerevan Mayor’s Office.

The program provides building modern free and paid areas in the park.

An amphitheater, children playgrounds, park amusements and other
modern entertainment facilities will be available in the park.

Landscape gardening and pavement modernization is due to be carried
out in the park’s free area.

The park’s reconstruction will last 3 years, but it will be partially
opened at the end of the first year of the construction.

The program will be financed by Russian resident, Armenian businessman
Ruben Vardanyan, and the total volume of the investments will make
about USD60mln.

ARMENIA TO HAVE SEISMIC HAZARD PROBABILITY MAP

news.am
Aug 11, 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian government approved on Thursday the “Seismic hazard
probability map of 1:500000 scale in the territory of Armenia” project.

The map will be drawn based on probability approaches to seismic
hazard assessment accepted by the international seismologic practice,
government press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. The unique
computer programs will allow using alternative seismic models.

Besides, the executive body made amendments in its previous two
decisions. According to it, each employee will have fair terms of
vacation for five or six days’ working mode.

ST. RIPSIME CHURCH REPAIRED

ARMENPRESS
August 11, 2011
KAPAN

“Dino Gold Mining Company” CJSC has started repair works in St.

Ripsime Church of Geghanush region, Kapan. The Church has been built
in 1870 by 6 Armenian refugees.

“It is the first time the company implements repair works of a church.

We received the proposal by responsible entities of the church. It is
already 10 days we have started the works, and we will finish them
by the end of the month,” PR Manager of the company Norayr Aghayan
said in an interview with Armenpress’ Syuniq correspondent.

According to the clergyman of the church Aharon Melqumyan, a plenty of
work has been carried out in the church during the previous 3 years
by philanthropists from abroad and ZCMC. “Dino Gold Mining Company”
also supports the Sunday school adjacent to Geghanush Church.