Author: Karapetian Hovik

VARTAN OSKANIAN AND PITER SEMNEBY THOROUGHLY DISCUSS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A wide exchange of
thoughts around issues regarding regional cooperation, settlement
of conflicts, Armenia-EU relations took place at RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian’s April 5 meeting with EU Special Representative Piter
Semneby who arrived in Armenia on a 3-day cognitive visit. Minister
Oskanian congratulated Ambassador Semneby in connection with
the latter’s appointment and wished him success in his mission,
highly estimating the activity of EU Special Representative to
the South Caucasus, in particular, the large-volume work of first
Representative, Ambssador Heikki Talvitie. The interlocutors had a
thorough discussion about the negotiations process on Nagorno Karabakh
settlement. In this connection Minister Oskanian presented P.Semneby
the last developments and Armenia’s approaches in the direction of
continuing the negotiations process. The sides also touched upon
the process of working out of the Armenian Actions Plan within the
framework of the European Neighborhood policy, as well as separate
aspects of settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations. Immediately
after the meeting V.Oskanian’s and P.Semneby’s joint press conference
was held at RA FM press hall. According to RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, the discussions between V.Oskanian and
P.Semneby went on over a working dinner with the participation of
Fokion Fotiadis, European Commission’s Deputy Director General on
Foreign Relations. Piter Semneby was born in 1959 in Sweden. He
got education at Stockholm economic school, Stockholm and Upsala
Universities, Harvard University Management School after J.Kenedy. In
2002-2005 he was the OSCE mission head in Croatia. In 2000-2002 he
was the head of OSCE mission in Latvia. In 1997-2000 he was the head
of Swedish Foreign Ministry’s Board on European Security and Defence
Policy of the Department on European Security.

P.Semneby worked in Swedish Embassies in Germany, Ukraine and the USSR,
as well as in 1992 in OSCE mission in Georgia. He masters the English,
French, German, Russian and Serbian-Croatian languages.

NON-FOOD COMMODITY PRICES GROW BY 0.5% IN ARMENIA IN MARCH 2006

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The 0.5% price growth registered on
the Armenian non-food commodity market in March 2006 was mainly due to
a 0.8% growth in the prices of gardening items, a 2.7% growth in the
prices of detergents, and a 5.2% growth in jewelry prices. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, during the indicated petriod
a 0.1-0.3% price growth was registered in the commodity groups of
furniture, cultural goods, cosmetics, building materials, clothing,
textile and footwear, a 0.1% price fall in the commodity groups of
fuel and personal hygiene items, while the other commodity groups’
prices remained unchanged on the previous month.

TURKEY RENEWS SUPPORT FOR BAKU OVER KARABAKH

Agence France Presse — English
April 4, 2006 Tuesday 3:15 PM GMT

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Tuesday renewed his country’s
support for Azerbaijan in its territorial dispute with its fellow
former Soviet republic of Armenia.

The dispute over the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabkh
“should be resolved within the framework of the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan,” Sezer told reporters after meeting his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

This is “in line with international norms,” Sezer added.

The status of the mountainous region, controlled by Armenian forces
since Yerevan and Baku signed a ceasefire in 1994 after a six-year
war, remains unresolved and Turkey has backed the Azerbaijanis in
the dispute.

The ceasefire is periodically broken and tensions have escalated
as troops form both sides make the annual move into high mountain
positions during the spring thaw. At least half a dozen soldiers have
been killed this year alone.

Sezer was speaking at a news conference during a two-day official
visit to Baku, where he also lauded economic ties with the booming
Caspian Sea oil economy, saying total trade volume would hit one
billion dollars (800,000 euros) in 2006.

Both Turkey and Azerbaijan have severed ties with Armenia, closing
borders and imposing an economic blockade on Yerevan as a result of
the Karabakh dispute.

Ankara is under European Union pressure to normalize ties with Armenia
but worries that reconciliatory moves sought by the bloc may damage
its alliance with Azerbaijan.

Turkish-Armenian ties have also been strained by Yerevan’s campaign to
have the World War I massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire
internationally recognized as genocide.

FIGHT CORRUPTION WITH ACTIONS, SAYS THE SPEAKER

Lragir.am
04 April 06

During his visit to Washington Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan reached
arrangements to hold an international conference on struggle against
corruption in Yerevan on April 6 and 7, 2006. On April 4 the speaker
of the National Assembly Arthur Baghdasaryan announced that over
10 countries of the world, including the United States, Germany,
Great Britain, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, will participate in the
conference. “The aim of the conference is to enter the authoritative
Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption,” stated
the speaker of the National Assembly. “We have chosen the following
context – the role of the parliament and the civil society in the
struggle against corruption, because the role of the parliament,
the civil society and their cooperation is essential to fostering
struggle against corruption by effective mechanisms,” informed Arthur
Baghdasaryan.

The speaker of the National Assembly thinks that cooperation of these
institutions and the mass media implies more transparent debates on
any issue.

“I think the conference is a good opportunity to voice that struggle
against corruption is a political priority. Unfortunately, the brazen
manners of certain people rob people of their enthusiasm to struggle
against corruption,” said Arthur Baghdasaryan, adding that “certain
people” behave brazenly in everything. “But we must do everything
to strengthen the law against voluntarism,” said the speaker of the
National Assembly, who says that struggle against corruption should
be with actions, not with words.

AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, TRADE UNIONS AND PRODUCERS

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
03 April 2006

On March 30 the official meeting of the members of government, the
Federation of Trade Unions, the Union of Producers and Businessmen
and the National Assembly took place to sign a document setting on
cooperation of the government, the Federation of Trade Unions and
the Union of Producers and Businessmen.

NKR Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Danielian mentioned in his address
that the Federation of Trade Unions of Karabakh was established in
1968 and operated until 1996. In 2003 the National Assembly adopted
the law on trade unions.

Under this law trade unions were again founded in 2003 and
2004. Emphasizing the importance of the principles set down in the
document, Ararat Danielian pointed out the role of the trilateral
agreement for our young republic, which has chosen the way of
democracy. The president of the NKR Federation of Trade Unions Ara
Ghahramanian said the document defending the interests of workers is
an indicator of the development of democracy in the country. “We have
been to different building companies and saw that the interests of
workers in a number of companies are violated. For instance, workers
do not even have overalls. I think this is a pressing problem,
and it is extremely important to take actions with regard to this
and other issues, infringing on the interests of workers,” said Ara
Ghahramanian. Then the parties signed an agreement of 17 articles,
which will be in force for a year.

Polish Senate Speaker Arriving in Armenia April 3

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2006 00:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Polish delegation led by Bogdan Borusewicz,
the Speaker of the 6th term Senate of the Republic of Poland,
will pay a formal visit to Armenia April 3-4, reported the RA NA
press service. April 3 Borusewicz will meet with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and Catholic of
All Armenians Garegin II. Besides, the Polish delegation will lay
a wreath to the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and meet
with the Polish community of Armenia. April 4 the delegation members
are scheduled to meet with Armenian National Assembly Speaker Artur
Baghdassaryan, Vice-speakers, heads of commissions, parliamentary
groups and factions. Meeting with businessmen is as well expected.

Armenia transferred important energy objects to Russia. Who will receive compensation?

Regnum, Russia
March 31 2006

Yerevan Haykakan Jamanak newspaper states, citing proved sources,
Russia and Armenia signed an agreement on transfer to Russian side of
5th power-generating unit of Hrazdan thermoelectric power plant and
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. According to the newspaper, the power unit
of Hrazdan TPS will be transferred for $250 million; it enables to buy
Russian gas for decreased price during next 2.5 years. The newspaper
publishes no data concerning mechanisms and price of transfer to
Russia Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. At the same time, according to it,
Russian side may become owner of the pipeline. “Iran might block the
deal, but Iranian side will not do it, if Moscow does not hamper in
its nuclear program,” supposes the Armenian newspaper.

It writes, on the eve, a big feast took place at the Armenian Energy
Ministry, at which Gazprom top-level representatives were present.

Meanwhile, a REGNUM correspondent tried to receive comments of
Armenian Energy Minister’s Secretary, but in vain. It was stated at
the ministry, they might comment on the situation in the afternoon,
i.e. the energy institution needed, at the moment, 3h to decide the
complicated question, on which, talks have been conducted more then
one year.

It should be reminded; Russia has been supplying gas to Armenia
for $65 per 1000 m³ till present. But tomorrow, on April 1, delay,
granted to Armenian side by Gazprom, will finish, and form the day
gas price for Armenia will total, according to preliminary agreement,
$110 per 1000 m³. Earlier, top-level Armenian officials assured,
new gas price, raised by Russia, will not influence social level
of country’s citizens. However, for period, when parties continued
talks on future gas price, and possible compensation mechanisms,
ArmRosGazprom Company – exclusive gas supplier to Armenia – requested
Armenian Commission on Regulation Public Services to raise gas tariffs
for domestic consumer. From April 10, the tariff will total 90 drams
($0.20) per 1 m³ for population, consuming up to 10,000 m³ per month;
for enterprises (mainly of energy sphere), consuming over 10,000 m³,
the tariff for 1000 m³ will total $146.51. The tariffs for population
will increase by 52.5%, for enterprises – by 85.2%.

Hrazdan TPS addressed to the regulating body too, suggesting
recalculation of tariff for produced energy, in connection with
gas price increase. The TPS requested to fix price of 21.36 drams
($0.47) for 1 kwh, instead of former 11.37 drams, in connection with
gas tariffs’ increase. The new Hrazdan TPS’s tariff increases by 90%,
comparing with current one. In its turn, Armenian Electric Systems JSC,
which is rented by RAO UES daughter enterprise for 99 years, stated,
if the Commission decides to raise tariffs for produced energy, it
will be possible, the AES JSC will request it to change tariffs for
domestic consumers.

In such situation, Armenian citizens have only to wait and hope. If
information on transfer of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan TPS to Russian
side corresponds with reality, the question arises: who is going to
receive compensation for Russian gas prices – Armenian government
or citizens?

–Boundary_(ID_ncqLrPGCH5l4a7/hkYJfBA)- –

250 PARTICIPANTS FROM 12 COUNTRIES TO TAKE PART IN RESCUER 2006 EXERCISES IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2006 00:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During its today’s session the Armenian Government
adopted the signing of an agreement on holding Rescuer 2006 exercises
in the territory of Armenia, the Government Press Service reports. The
exercises within the NATO Partnership for Peace Program will be held
July 12-28. 250 participants from 12 countries will take part in the
exercises. Rescuer 2006 exercises are of command and staff nature
and are aimed at organizing and comparing the work of the military
and medical department of the Armenian MOD with the Rescue Service
of Armenia, as well as expansion of cooperation opportunities with
NATO partner states.

NAGORNO KARABAKH FOREIGN MINISTRY: “EVERY SILENT SUPPORT OF CONFLICT PARTIES MAY DESTABILIZE THE WHOLE SOUTH CAUCASUS”

15:43 03/30/2006

Foreign Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh has published a statement
concerning yesterday’s breaking up of OSCE monitoring of contact
line between armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan by the
Azerbaijani side. NKR Foreign Ministry states:

“On March 29, this year, during monitoring conducted by the OSCE
mission to the east of Seysulan village of Martakert district of NKR,
Azerbaijani armed forces broke cease-fire, shooting towards NKR armed
forces’ positions. As a result, in order to guarantee security of
the mission members, Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman Andrzej
Kasprzyk decided to stop the monitoring. Attracting attention of the
international community to repeated facts of violations by Azerbaijani
armed units of Azerbaijani-Karabakh contact line, which became regular
last time, the NKR Foreign Ministry believes it to be necessary to
state these actions are immediately caused by continuing militant
rhetoric of the Azerbaijani leadership, which are not properly
evaluated by interested states and organizations.

Attempts of mediators to make all sides of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
equally responsible for breaking up of the cease-fire, establish
preconditions for Azerbaijan’s impunity, as actual initiator of
violations. It is absolutely unacceptable. In this connection, the
Foreign Ministry believes, every silent support of conflict parties
may break achieved stability and destabilize situation in whole
South Caucasus.”

GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DESCRIBES ARMENIA AS “BEST PARTNER”

Armenpress
Mar 29 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian agriculture minister
David Lokian, who is also a cochairman of the Armenian-Greek
intergovernmental commission on economic, industrial, technical and
research cooperation, described today Greece as ‘a country that has
been Armenia’s friend for centuries.”

Addressing the 4-th session of the commission that opened today in
Yerevan Lokian said today Greece has serious presence in Armenia. He
said this level of relationships may sometimes result in what he
described as ‘deviations,’ saying also that one of the goal of
this commission is to settle problems that arise. He said president
Kocharian’s visit to Greece last November gave a fresh push to boosting
various-level bilateral contacts and ties. Lokian said he hoped that
all major and minor discrepancies existing in bilateral relations
will be papered over during the meeting.

Greek deputy foreign minister Evripides Styliandis, the Greek
cochairman of the commission, said the Greek party would work to
promote political and economic relations with Armenia. “We shall
resolve all problems inherited from the past and will try to breath in
new life into our economic relationships and raise them to the level
of political interaction,’ he said, adding that part of these problems
had been discussed and there was hope that they would be settled. Mr.

Styliandis also said his government would help Armenia to take forward
its Plan of Actions developed to boost relations with EU as part of its
European Neighborhood Program (ENP). He then emphasized the role of
the Armenian community of Greece in attracting new Greek investments
to Armenia, saying Greek investments in Armenia have reached now 1
billion euros.

‘Armenia is one of the best friends and partners of Greece,” he
said. The session will continue on March 30. The Greek delegation
is expected to visit the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, meet with
prime minister Andranik Margarian, Armenian Catholicos Karekin II
and president Robert Kocharian.