Author: Karapetian Hovik

SERGE SARGSIAN CONSIDERS SALE OF HRAZDAN TPP 5th UNIT TO RUSSIA TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian
consideres the sale of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan Thermal Power
Plant to Russia to be a successful and favorable deal. He expressed
this opinion in an interview to Radio Liberty on April 11. In repsonse
to the criticism that only 150 mln USD was needed for repairs of the
5th unit and there was no necessity to sell it, S. Sargsian said
that at least 180 mln USD was to be spend and the return on these
investments would come in 10 years at best. “That is, we would have
a enterprise operating at a profit in 2017 at best. And how much
would this profit be, how much would the gas price increase?… As
they say, only Nostradamus can answer these questions,” the minister
added. S. Sargsian does not subscribe to the opinion that all energy
capacities of Armenia have been given to one state. “First, not all
capacities. Second, if we think more carufully about it, we’ll see
there is no difference here, Not a difference at all.

And third, when economic deals and politics are being mixed, one gets
neither politics nor economy as a result,” S. Sargsian noted.

EXPERIENCE OF ENTERPRISE INCUBATOR FOUNDATION TO BE PRESENTED AT WORLD CONGRESS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Work expetience of the Enterprise
Incubator Foundation (EIF) will be presented as the best example
during the world congress of business incubators to be held in Saint
Louis (US) on May 1-5. EIF Director Bagrat Engibarian announced it
at the April 11 press conference. In his words, EIF is not only an
incubator of enterprises engaged in the information technologies (IT)
sector but also an agency that assists the enterprises not making
part of the incubator by offering the models which were developed in
Armenia. B. Engibarian said that EIF gives advice to the appropriate
Ukrainian bodies with the aim of creating an enterprise incubator in
this country.

Ii is also envisaged to use EIF’s experience for establishing a
similar incubator in Georgia. As an evidence of EIF’s successful
activities, he indicated the fact that the donor organizations and some
international organizations on development programs implementation in
Armenia have cofinanced EIF’s programs by allocating 3 mln USD. It
was noted that the impact of the EIF on development of Armenia’s
IT sector was acknowleged by the famous KPMG audit and consulting
company. In the opinion of B. Engibarian, EIF’s contribution to a 15%
annual production growth of the Armenian IT sector and attraction of
considerable investments (in 2005, investments of 14.4 mln USD were
made) was quite significant. To recap, the EIF is operating under the
5 mln-dollar World Bank program envisaged for 2002-2005. The program
has been extended until late 2006, after which the EIF will operate
by self-financing principle.

AIR FRANCE OPENS REGULAR FLIGHTS TO ARMENIA

Today, Azerbaijan
posted on April 10 2006

Air France has begun regular flights between Paris and Yerevan.

According to Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency Airbus A-320 planes seating
159 business and economic class passengers will be used on the route.

Cities in Eastern and Central Europe are Air France’s priority
destinations, Air France Senior Vice President for Europe and North
Africa, Etienne Rachou said.

“Our company tries to keep abreast with the development of our
countries’ relations, contribute to higher economic and tourist
exchanges with Armenia, bearing in mind the large Armenian Diaspora
in France,” he said.

Air France hopes that passengers from Los-Angeles, U.S., where the
largest Armenian Diaspora resides, will guarantee high seat occupancy
rates. The company offers many connection flights across the Atlantic
Ocean.

“This is a strong political message on the eve of the Year of Armenia
in France festival,” French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuni said.

The launch of Air France flights to Yerevan “proves that Armenia is
of strategic interest to French investors,” he said.

URL:

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION COUNCIL OF CIS AND BALTIC STATES TO HOLD A SITTING IN ESTONIA

ArmRadio.am
11.04.2006 11:05

43rd sitting of the Railway Communication Council of CIS and Baltic
states will start today in the capital of Estonia.

The Armenian delegation is headed by Chief of the Railway Agency
Ararat Khrimyan. A number of issues related to the cooperation of
railway agencies of CIS and Baltic states will be discussed.

AZG Armenian Daily #064, 08/04/2006

Exibition

ARMENIAN PAINTING REPRESENTED AT “TREE OF TRADITIONS” EXHIBITION IN
ST. PETERSBURG

“The Tree of Traditions” fine art exhibition is being held within the
framework of Armenia’s Year in Russia with the participation of
“Palaces of St. Petersburg” international music festival on March
30-April 10. According to the press release of “Mediatrend” company,
the artists participating in the exhibition are St. Petersburg
residents. 250 paintings, graphical works, sculptures and the samples
of decorative applied art are represented at the exhibition. The
pieces of the artists that created in 1960-ies and contributed to
development of art life in St. Petersbourg during these years occupy
the central part in the exhibition. In particular, such Armenian
artists as Zaven Arshakouni, Levon Hayrapetian, Levon Lazarev belong
to this period. While Valery Apinian, Ashot Khachatrian, Grigory
Grigorian, Lyova Beyboutian, Aleksander Aghabekov represented the
painting and sculpture of the 80-ies of XX century. The pieces by
most of these artists are exhibited at such museums as the
Tretyakovskaya State Gallery and the Russian Museum.

The official ceremony of opening the exhibition was held on March 30
in St. Petersbourg.

By Sousana Margarian

A1+

JAVAKH PREPARES TO COMBAT BIRD FLU

[03:25 pm] 07 April, 2006

With the arrival of spring the Akhalqalaq and
Ninotsminda regions get ready to combat bird flu.

The fact of the presence of many lakes in the region
is especially dangerous. In all the schools of the
region special courses are held for the pupils.
Special protective clothes and tools have been brought
from Tbilisi, as well as groups of volunteers have
been created to control the lakes. The majority of
them are veterinaries.

According to `A-Info’ agency, the created groups work
round the clock with several shifts. According to the
chief vets of the Akhalqalaq and Ninotsminda regions,
they are ready to withstand bird flu.

SCC CHAIRMAN PAYS WORKING VISIT TO GEORGIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The working visit of Armen Avetisian,
Chairman of the RA State Customs Committee (SCC) adjunct to the RA
Government, to Georgia started with a meeting with Head of the Customs
Department of Georgia Zurab Antelidze at the Bagratashen customs on
April 5. According to the SCC press service, it is envisaged that
A. Avetisian will discuss issues of the two countries’ cooperation in
the customs sector during the meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister
Zurab Noghaideli as well. A. Avetisian and Z. Antelidze also addressed
the issues related to the fight against smuggling and other issues of
mutual interest. The SCC chairman familiarized himself with the process
of constructing the new building of Bagratashen customs point, after
completion of which control over passengers’ compliance with customs
rules will be carried out in line with European standards. Besides,
an area of 1.5 thousand square meters to ensure the proper conditions
for customs examination and reloading of cars is being build at the
customs point.

ARMROSGAZPROM TO OWN HRAZDAN THERMAL PLANT 5TH ENERGY BLOCK AND IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2006 21:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Government will convey the 5th Energy
Block of Hrazdan Thermal Plant and the first part of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline to ArmRosGazprom. The corresponding agreement for 25 years
determines strategic principles of cooperation in gas and energy
projects in the territory of Armenia. According to the arrangement,
Russian gas price makes $110 for 1 thousand cubic meters till January
1, 2009.

According to the agreement the Armenian Government pledges to grant
ArmRosGazprom CJSC functions of the customer of the second part
of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, which makes some 197km. According
to Gazprom Press Service, the preliminary sale contract should be
concluded before April 14, 2006. The ownership of the objects will
be finally conveyed before January 1, 2007. Upon the completion
of the deal Gazprom Public Corporation share in ArmRosGazprom CJSC
establishment capital will make qualified majority.

ROSTELECOM DOES NOT HAVE CLEAR INFORMATION ON ARMENTEL ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.04.2006 00:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ To all appearance, Rostelecom company is not
going to buy shares of telecommunication monopolist of Armenia
– ArmenTel company, a Rostelecom officer told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. He added that he in person does not posses any information
on the company’s intention to buy ArmenTel. In his words, Rostelecom
considers several directions to expand its activities outside Russia,
“however ArmenTel company is not in that list.” To note, throughout
the day it was not possible to get in touch with any person, who
could provide more detailed information.

To remind, the Armenian press reported yesterday OTE Greek company
is selling 90% of ArmenTel shares.

Meanwhile, Russian media name MTS, Vympelcom, Rostelecom among more
probable buyers.

WHO WILL REPLACE THIS LEADERSHIP?

Lragir.am
06 April 06

For the United States democracy is a means of making countries
predictable for the sake of their strategic interests. Kiro Manoyan,
member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, stated his opinion
April 6 at the National Press Club. He says in this context it is
useful to consider the attitude of the United States towards the South
Caucasian countries, and one need not wonder why no fruit and flower
revolutions took place there.

Kiro Manoyan thinks by spreading democracy the United States wants
to make the country predictable and easily manipulated. Thus the
Dashnak figure thinks it is logical that the United States is not
seeking for a change of power, because they do not have a problem
of predictability with regard to the present government. Moreover,
they do not have a more predictable candidate.