Author: Khondkarian Raffi

INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES EXPRESS READINESS TO SUPPORT ARMENIA IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. A two-day international conference
entitled “The role of NA-civil society cooperation in fighting
corruption” started on April 6 at RA National Assembly. Representatives
of the Armenian parliament, different departments, NGOs, mass media,
as well as foreign experts, delegates of different international
structures take part in the conference. The conference was organized
by RA NA, the Eurasia Foundation, USAID, OSCE and UNDP.

Eurasia Foundation Vice-Chairwoman on the South Caucasian Region Andrea
Harris, U.S. Ambassador to RA John Evans, UN Resident Coordinator
Consuelo Vidal,OSCE Yerevan Office Head, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin
attached impotance to fighting corruption, the steps taken by the
Armenian authorities in this direction by now, particularly, to the
“Anti-corruption” program adopted 3 years ago by the government,
to ensuring of the respective legislative field, as well as to RA
NA’s joining the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against
Corruption (GOPAC). Meanwhile they mentioned that there is still
much to do in this sphere and expressed their readiness to support
Armenia. According to the speakers, a political will is necessary
for really fighting corruption. They expressed the hope that packages
containing measures on fighting corruption in different directions,
as well as packages of stable mechanisms will be worked out after the
conference and the international organizations will initiate grant
assistance programs to promote their implementation.

ENVOY POINTS TO GROWING EU INTEREST IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – ARMENIAN AGENCY

Mediamax news agency
5 Apr 06

Yerevan, 5 April: “I am not happy with statements about a possible
military resolution to the Karabakh conflict. During my recent visit to
Azerbaijan I said that any attempts to resolve the conflict militarily
will entail catastrophic consequences,” the EU special representative
for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, said in Yerevan today.

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, Peter Semneby said that the
Armenian and Azerbaijani leaderships bear “historical responsibility”
for the conflict settlement and that 2006 is a very convenient year to
resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. “The window of opportunities is
still open and the European Union is ready to render every assistance
to the peace process,” the EU special representative said.

Peter Semneby noted that “my mandate focuses more on the assistance
to the conflict settlement than the mandate of my predecessor Heikki
Talvitie, and this is a political signal of the EU’s growing interest
in the settlement of frozen conflicts”. He said that the EU’s increased
interest in conflict settlement is also explained by the fact that
Armenia and Azerbaijan are expanding their relations with the EU
within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Peter Semneby said that the European Union could play a significant
role in the implementation of projects of post-conflict rehabilitation
in the region after the signing of a peace agreement.

The EU could also take part in peacekeeping efforts.

The EU special representative stressed that the EU’s growing interest
in the conflict settlement does not at all mean that the format of
the OSCE Minsk Group will be changed. Peter Semneby said that they
“are doing their job well”.

RUSSIA’S GAZPROM DOUBLES GAS PRICE FOR ARMENIA

Radio Mayak, Moscow
6 Apr 06

[Russian state-owned gas major] Gazprom and Armenia have signed an
agreement on gas delivery. Russia will sell gas to the neighbouring
republic at 110 dollars per 1,000 cu.m. until 2009.

Until 1 April 2006 gas was sold at 56 dollars per 1,000 cu.m. This
was an extension granted by Gazprom to the Armenian side, which has
now expired.

After the price increase, gas tariffs rose 50 per cent for the Armenian
population and doubled for Armenian enterprises.

SEMNEBY: “I BELIEVE A DOCUMENT ON SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT WILL BE SIGNED”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 5 2006

Each conflict has its own peculiarities and the Kosovo model cannot
be applied to all the frozen conflicts in the post soviet space. Once
tested model cannot be applied to all the other conflicts,” European
Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told
(APA).

Referring to the Nagorno Garabagh conflict, Mr. Semneby said it is
very specific one.

“The settlement of this conflict should be based on negotiations. The
conflicting parties are likely to complete the talks and I think
a document will be signed on the settlement. As for compromise,
in my opinion it should be elaborated through long and delicate
negotiations,” Semneby emphasized.

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES BREAK CEASE-FIRE IN TOVUZ AND AGHDAM

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006

Armenians keep on violating the cease-fire. Azerbaijan’s Defense
Ministry informed APA that the companies of the Armenian armed forces,
from their positions in 1.7 km south-east of Mosesgekh village of
Armenia’s region of Berd, fired on the positions of Azerbaijani armed
forces located in an unnamed height of Tovuz region from 17.55 till
18.00 on 3 April.

>From their positions in 2.5 km south-east of the occupied village
Javahirli of Aghdam region, the enemy forces fired on the positions
of Azerbaijani forces located near Ahmadahgali village with submachine
and machine guns from 21.00 till 2.00.

The enemy was silenced by response fire. No causalities were
reported.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AT CZECH SENATE TO ADDRESS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Yerkir
04.04.2006 15:39

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A one-day international conference titled ‘The
Armenian Genocide’ will be held on April 4 at the Czech Senate,
Noyan Tapan reported, citing the Radio Liberty.

The conference has been initiated by the Armenian Club of Prague and
Senate member Jaromit Shtetina.

Professor Vahakn Dadrian of the Zorian Institute will make a report
on the documents kept in the Turkish archives. Prominent German human
rights advocate Tessa Hoffman will present the issue of the Armenian
Genocide recognition in the light of human rights. European Armenian
Federation Chairperson Hilda Choboian will speak of the European
Union’s role in the recognition process.

The Turkish views in the coference will be presented by Yelda Ozcan,
a Turkish scholar residing in Germany.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian will attend the
conference.

ATTEMPT UPON LIFE IN ARMAVIR

Noyan Tapan
Apr 03 2006

ARMAVIR, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. At about 3:30 pm, April 1, an unknown
person in a white car “Vaz-2174” with licence plate 280C785 shot
with an automatic arms of 5.45 calibre at 35-year-old resident of
the village of Janfida Rafik Gasparian who was driving a black Hummer
car with licence plate 020C444 and ran away. According to the report
of Armavir region’s Prosecutor’s Office, R.Gasparian did not die and
was only injured. On April 1, 2006, a criminal case was instituted
at Armavir region’s Prosecutor’s Office on the signs of the 6th
clause of 2nd part of Article 34-104 and 1st part of Article 235 of
RA Criminal Code.

ARONYAN IS THE THIRD IN THE WORLD

A1+
[06:46 pm] 03 April, 2006

FIDE made public the list of the best chess players of the
world. The list is topped by the world champion Veselin Topalov from
Bulgaria. After winning the Linares tournament Levon Aronyan improved
his rating and moved on to the third place.

The top ten is the following:

1. Topalov – 2804

2. Anand – 2803

3. Aronyan – 2756

4. Svidler – 2743

5. Leko – 2738

6. Ponomaryov – 2738

7. Morosevich – 2730

8. Karmic – 2729

9. Gelfand – 2727

10.Ivanhoe – 2723

As for the other Armenian chess players, Vladimir Hakobyan is in the
16th place, Karen Asryan – in the 61st and Smbat Lputyan – in the 94th.

WHICH POLITICAL FORCE WILL SUPPORT MIKHAIL BAGHDASAROV?

Lragir.am
03 April 06

Heading for the election 2007, more than the forces called political,
the big representatives of the economic sector are preparing for it.

Some of them already have set up political parties, others are just
setting up, yet there are others, who are likely to give financial
support to some political parties. The actions of these businessmen
are determined, not necessarily openly, by the concern to protect
their businesses and property.

In this connection, there is a fourth type of businessmen who do not
publicly do something that would allow accrediting them to the first
three types of oligarchs. Probably, the most vivid representative of
this fourth conventional type of oligarchs is Mikhail Baghdasarov.

According to the famous Western magazine Forbes, the turnover of
his companies totals 200 million dollars, but he not only confirms
figure offered by the Forbes, but also mentions that the turnover
may be over 200 million dollars.

But the owner of this turnover does not take part in the “great
movement” of oligarchs for the protection of their property. And
since he is one of the biggest businessmen of Armenia, the society
may wonder why he does not display a political compulsion to protect
himself. “There are several ways of protection, with a gun or by
supporting one political force or another, which is close to your
heart. It is not necessary to set up a political party,” says Mikhail
Baghdasarov. However, he does not say which party he is going to
support if he is not going to set up his own political party. He
explains this silence by the young age of our political parties,
which, except the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, are hardly
10 years old, and have not even made up their mind what to want or
what to choose. “We are now studying the conditions. Yesterday we
liked one party, today we like another party, tomorrow we may choose
yet another one. The political party that will develop the economy,
with actions and not words,” says Mikhail Baghdasaryan. He says when
something is done in Armenia, it is not spoken about.

“Therefore, many people think that here it is worse than elsewhere. But
it better to act and keep silent than to speak and not do anything. In
other words, when we have something, we do not keep it, we appreciate
it when we lose it,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov.

“Today so many political parties are set up, parties of sportsmen,
businessmen, law enforcement bodies, and one can hardly make head or
tail of it, but we will support those who want to develop economy,
science, sports,” says the president of Mika Limited. Gagik Tsarukyan
perfectly complies with these criteria; he set up the Prosperous
Armenia Party, owns big companies and the president of the National
Olympic Committee. Not denying Tsarukyan’s contribution to economy
and sport, Mikhail Baghdasarov, however, reminds that Tsarukyan is
not alone to support sport.

NKR FM POSITIVELY ASSESSED DARTMOUTH GROUP EFFORT FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2006 23:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosian
received the delegation of the American-Russian working group of the
Dartmouth Conference on regional conflicts lead by Harold Saunders
and Vitaly Naumkin, who arrived to the NKR within the regional visit
framework. The meeting participants discussed the draft framework
peaceful agreement compiled upon the outcomes of 9 rounds of the
dialogue between the societies of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh by the Dartmouth Conference initiative. During the meeting
the parties presented the principal ideas and principles that lay
in the basis of the document. In their opinion, the draft framework
does not offer decisions. It is targeted at the establishment of a
settled dialogue between the conflicting parties.

For his part, the NKR FM positively assessed the effort of the
working group for the conflict settlement. He specifically noted the
participation of Karabakh in the negotiation process. Georgy Petrosian
underscored that the mediators and the international organizations
concerned should realize the moral responsibility for the maintenance
of armistice in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict region.