Author: Kanayan Tamar

KARABAKH CONFLICT A SOURCE OF DANGER FOR REGION – ALIYEV

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
August 29, 2006 Tuesday 11:54 AM MSK

A lack of a solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a
predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, is a source of a
major danger for the region, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said after
Monday talks with Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek in Bled, Slovenia.

"The absence of a solution to this problem represents a constant
source of considerable danger for the region. And my opinion is that
the sooner this conflict is settled, the quicker peace and prosperity
come to the region and the risks are reduced," Aliyev told a joint
news conference with Drnovsek.

Azerbaijan’s position is based on international law, he said.

"Naturally, a solution based on the norms and principles of
international law is the sole possible way to end the conflict.

Azerbaijan will continue to pursue its policy within these boundaries,"
the Azeri president said. Karabakh talks are currently proceeding
within the Prague format, which generally involves a stage-by-stage
settlement process, he added.

"In our opinion, it is an acceptable option. We hope that Armenia
will eventually demonstrate its constructive position and make its
own efforts to sort out this problem," Aliyev said.

9081 FIRST GRADE PUPILS TO ATTEND YEREVAN SCHOOL IN STARTING SCHOOL YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Aug 28 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. 9081 first grade pupils, instead
of 10873 of the previous year, will attent secondary schools of the
capital in the new school year. As Kamo Areyan, the First Deputy Mayor
of Yerevan stated at the August 28 press conference, by the Mayor’s
instruction, issues of proper water and electricity supply of schools
of the capital, providing school emergency rooms with necessary
medicine and corresponding medical circumstances must be settled
till August 30. And the Yerevan state motor vehicle inspectorate,
according to K.Areyan, will implement strengthened control of safe
traffic on September 1-10 in territories near schools. In the Deputy
Mayor’s words, first grade pupils will be given all text-books free
of charge. Pupils of other grades will be given text-books for rent:
they must be returned at the end of the school year.

FIVE MARZES OF ARMENIA TO GET ASSISTANCE BY 5TH STAGE OF COMMUNITY
SELF-HELP FUND PROGRAM

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Five marzes of Armenia will get
assistance by the 5th stage of the Community Self-Help Fund program
being financed by the U.S. Embassy to Armenia and the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID). The goal of the program having been
implemented by the Save the Children organizations since 2003 is to
improve social and economic conditions of communities, giving small
grants for current programs of communities. As Irina Saghoyan, the
head of the Save the Children organization Armenian Office mentioned
at the August 25 ceremony of giving the grants, the 5th stage of the
program was announced in this March. In her words, 6 of the presented
134 programs were chosen. Those are the creation of the Antenatal Care
Center at the Agarak hospital; renovation of the Community Center in
the Artavaz-Pyunik Community of the marz of Kotayk; reconstruction of
the potable water pipeline in Areg village of the marz of Aragatsotn;
improvement of the drinking water supply system in Mets Parni village
of the marz of Lori; renovation of the kindergarten No4 in Sevan,
the marz of Gegharkunik; construction of the fence in Gavar special
school, the marz of Gegharkunik. The total cost of the 5th stage of
the program is 101.817 U.S. dollars. John Evans, the U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia handed grants to representatives of the marzes. In his words,
international organizations undertand that it’s time to pay attention
to marzes of Armenia. It was also mentioned that 40 programs of vital
meaning for inhabitants of communities were financed during the 4
stages of the Community Self-Help Fund program. Communities have
contributed over 30% of the projects’ costs, providing volunteer
labor and donated materials.

AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN TO FOUND MODERN CANCER CENTER IN ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 23, 2006

YEREVAN, August 23. /ARKA/. The well-known American businessman,
President of the "Huntsman" corporation John Huntsman intends to
found a modern cancer center in Armenia.

The RA presidential press service reports that this issue was
discussed at a meeting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan held with
the businessman and a delegation headed by him.

The President considers the idea interesting and promising. He
expressed his willingness to render all possible assistance.

Robert Kocharyan also pointed out the importance of assistance programs
in the education sector. He stressed that in implementing its policy
the Armenian Government considers individuals’ potential.

The Armenian president expressed the confidence that the effective
cooperation with John Huntsman will be continued, and his ideas will
be put into practice.

"Everything Mr Huntsman does is done with love, loyalty and faith,"
Kocharyan said.

The sides also discussed Armenian-American relations. At the guest’s
request the Armenian President addressed the economic situation in
Armenia, and prospects for development.

US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA JOHN EVANS TO COMPLETE HIS MISSION IN SEPTEMBER 2006

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 22, 2006

US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans will finish his mission in
September of the current year, a REGNUM correspondent informs.

Responding to question of journalists, how he evaluates US Congress’
activity, which recalled him ahead of scheduler, as well as new
ambassador Richard Hoagland, John Evans said: "I do not have any
evaluation of US Congress activity; I will finish my mission in the
first part of September."

It is worth stressing, most likely, recall of US Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans was caused by his statement on the Armenian Genocide in
1915 in Ottoman Turkey. On February 19, 2006, John Evans said about
"importance of Armenian Genocide’s recognition" during his meeting
with representatives of San Francisco Armenian community. "I will
call it Armenian Genocide today," Mr. Evans stated.

Representatives of US administration and officials avoided to use
‘genocide’ word concerning events, which took place early in last
century in Turkey, preferring to use various euphemisms. "No US
official has ever denied the fact. Things should be called by their
names," he stressed. "The Armenian Genocide was the first one of 20th
century," Mr. Evans said, stressing, at that, that world was not being
prepared for appropriate reaction at that time. He assured that he
was going to work on the problem strongly.

It should be reminded that possible new US Ambassador to Armenia
Richard Hoagland is now US Ambassador to Tajikistan. A scandal is
about to happen in Armenia because of his nomination.

Eurasec to focus on energy, customs on Day 2 of Black Sea summit

RIA Novosti
16/08/2006

MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti) – Post-Soviet leaders will continue a
two-day informal summit in southern Russian Wednesday, focusing on a common
energy market and customs union as part of the five-member Eurasian Economic
Community (Eurasec).

The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus joined
Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi Tuesday,
along with the prime minister of Armenia, which is an observer in the
organization.

"The agenda includes the formation of a customs union within the
organization," a Kremlin source said earlier in the week. "Strategy and
tactics for the community’s progress will be discussed in this context."

Ukraine’s prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, is also attending the summit as
part of his first foreign trip in his new capacity, which he assumed on
August 4.

Putin and Yanukovych are expected to focus on controversial issues of
bilateral relations, including supplies of Russian natural gas to Ukraine.

"Russia believes President Putin and Premier Yanukovych will have the chance
to have an extensive talk during the informal summit," said Sergei
Prikhodko, a Russian presidential aide.

Yanukovych, who is currently meeting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov,
said he was seeking to improve Russian-Ukrainian relations during his trip
and prepare the ground for a future meeting between the Russian and
Ukrainian presidents.

The Kremlin official also said the leaders would discuss formation of the
common energy market as part of a Russian initiative to set up international
centers offering nuclear fuel services announced by President Vladimir Putin
at the Eurasec summit in St. Petersburg in January.

"We need to create a prototype of such global infrastructure that would
enable all concerned parties to have equal access to nuclear energy. I would
like to emphasize that non-proliferation requirements have to be reliably
observed in the process," Putin said.

The president said the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic
Energy Agency, should oversee the centers.

"A system of IAEA-controlled international centers offering nuclear fuel
services, including enrichment, without discrimination, should become a key
element of the suggested infrastructure," he said then.

The Kremlin source said the leaders would also discuss the preparation of
documents establishing the legal basis for Uzbekistan’s accession to
Eurasec.

The five members of Eurasec, set up in 2000, agreed in January to admit
Uzbekistan to the organization, which also includes Moldova, Armenia and
Ukraine as observers.

ANOTHER 46 U. S. PEACE CORPS TO HOLD THEIR SERVICE IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
16.08.2006 19:14

The event dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Peace Corps
(PC) and the oath ceremony of the PC 46-member group arrived in
Armenia, took place in Yerevan, Noyan Tapan reported.

According to PC Director Patrick Hart, the volunteers’ group that
will undergo its service in Armenia during the coming two years,
participated in the preparatory courses organized in Vanadzor. He also
mentioned that more than 500 volunteers having undergone service in
Armenia from 1992 up today had a goal to present the American values
and culture to the Armenian society as well as to get acquainted with
the Armenian culture, to study the Armenian language.

According to the estimation of John Evans, the US Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, the cooperation taking
place in any sphere between Armenia and the U.S. assists development
and strengthening of prosperity and democracy in Armenia. According
to his words, that cooperation is based on the human and ideological
generality in the two countries’ relations.

Armenian Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchian, Deputy
Minister of Nature Protection Hakob Matilian and Deputy Minister
of Health Care Tatul Hakobian appreciated the role and meaning
of activity promoted by the U.S. Peace Corps in Armenia. They also
mentioned that the PC activity is based on the best traditions of the
U.S. Constitution and democratic ideology. And according to words of
Salpi Ghazarian, the Foreign Minister’s Special Assistant, the main
mission of the PC Armenian volunteers is "to bring America to Armenia
and to take Armenia to America."

LEADERS OF SIX EX-SOVIET STATES DISCUSS CUSTOMS UNION, ENERGY MARKET, WTO BIDS
Vladimir Isachenkov

AP Worldstream
Aug 16, 2006

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday with leaders of five
other ex-Soviet states to discuss creating a customs union and common
energy market, and to coordinate their bids to join the World Trade
Organization.

Leaders from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
joined Putin at his Black Sea residence in the resort of Sochi for
talks focused on adding more substance to the Eurasian Economic
Community _ a grouping that aims to restore economic ties lost after
the 1991 Soviet collapse.

In addition to creating a customs union and a common energy market,
proposals include water energy regulation in Central Asia and setting
up a Eurasian hydroelectric consortium.

The grouping’s long-held cooperation plans have stalled amid
differences over the size of their economies and levels of their
development as Russia maneuvers to re-establish its clout in former
Soviet republics.

At the start of the session, Putin said the group’s members should
coordinate their efforts with their bids to join the World Trade
Organization.

"Our intentions to deepen cooperation in the framework of the Eurasian
Economic Community, including the setting up of a customs union, should
be clearly and precisely coordinated with the pace and details of WTO
accession for each of our nations," Putin said in televised remarks.

Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have been involved in WTO accession
talks, but for the grouping’s other members, joining the global trade
body has remained a distant perspective.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian was attending the meeting as an
observer, as was Ukraine’s new prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, on
his first trip abroad since being confirmed to the post by parliament
earlier this month.

The Kremlin strongly backed Yanukovych’s fraud-marred 2004 presidential
bid, and his return to the premiership was widely seen as a victory
to Moscow’s interests in Ukraine and a counterbalance to Ukrainian
President Viktor Yushchenko’s efforts to move his nation closer to
the West.

Yanukovych on Tuesday said he and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail
Fradkov, reached a tentative deal on Russian natural gas supplies to
Ukraine next year.

He also reaffirmed his campaign pledge to make Russian the second
state language in Ukraine, but added that his Party of Regions for
that needs a two-third majority in parliament which it doesn’t have.

On Tuesday, Putin met for one-on-one talks with several of the leaders,
including Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The two leaders
signed a series of agreements intended to streamline customs tariffs
and tariffs for transporting Kazakh cargo via Russian railroad lines.

NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA GROWS BY 11.6% IN FIRST HALF OF 2006

Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. 122,528 tourists came to Armenia
in the first half of 2006 against 109,750 ones in the same months of
last year (a 11.6% increase). According to the RA National Statistical
Service, in the first half of this year, 119,451 people left Armenia to
travel abroad, which exceeds the index of January-June 2005 by 13.3%.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN TRADE TURNOVER GROWING – PUTIN, KOCHARIAN

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
August 15, 2006 Tuesday 7:19 PM MSK

The Russian and Armenian presidents agreed that trade between the two
countries is growing and expressed their hope for good prospects in
bilateral relations.

"Trade turnover is growing, and I am sure there are good prospects
for this grow and a desire of the business community to develop
relations of partnership," Russian President Vladimir Putin said
at a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in the run-up
to the opening of an informal Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC)
summit in Sochi on Tuesday.

The Armenian president also pointed to growth in mutual trade turnover,
but emphasized that "it would be difficult to achieve good quality
without resolving the problems of communication and transportation."

Kocharian proposed that the two countries focus on the "investment
component" and mentioned a project in which the Russian aluminum giant
Rusal was involved and which had been announced in Sochi two years ago.

The presidents also expressed their willingness to discuss difficult
problems facing Armenia.

"As for the well-known complex problems in the region, I believe we
will have time to talk about them as well," Putin said.