Author: Khondkarian Raffi

ARMENIA GETS US AID GRANT, PROMISES ELECTION REFORMS
By David Gollust
Voice of America
March 28 2006
State Department
Armenia has become the eighth country to receive a grant under the
Bush administration’s Millennium Challenge foreign aid program.
Accepting the $235-million grant at a State Department ceremony Monday,
Armenia’s foreign minister said his government will be responsive to
international criticism of its handling of a constitutional referendum
last November.
Condoleezza Rice with the Armenian delegation at the State Department
in Washington The Millennium Challenge program, a key initiative of
the Bush administration, makes aid money contingent on recipient
countries’ meeting commitments to democratization, open markets,
and fighting corruption.
In accepting the $235-million Millennium Challenge grant to fight
rural poverty in his country, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
pledged that his government will take action to address international
concerns about the constitutional vote.
The United States and European countries were among the critics of
the November 27 referendum on a package of constitutional amendments.
Armenian opposition parties challenged official results that said 65
per cent of eligible voters had turned out and approved the package
by a 93 percent margin. Council of Europe observers said the vote
had been marred by fraud and ballot-box stuffing.
The semi-private Millennium Challenge Corporation, which administers
the aid program, reiterated U.S. concern when it announced the
five-year grant in December.
At Monday’s ceremony attended by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
the Armenian foreign minister said corrective steps are already under
way to assure the fairness of legislative elections in May of 2007
and a presidential vote in 2008:
“Our task until then is to partner with the United States and European
governments to implement the necessary corrective steps to improve
the conditions necessary for an honest and fair expression of peoples’
voices,” said Vartan Oskanian. “In this regard, we welcome the American
proposal for certain structural reforms and education and public
outreach efforts. We have already begun the process of verifying
voter lists. We are making progress in reforming the electoral law
with the active participation and agreement of all political forces
in our parliament.”
For her part, Secretary Rice noted that Armenia had acknowledged the
“difficulties” of last year’s vote and promised corrective actions.
She said the United States stands ready to help insure that the
legislative and presidential elections are free and fair.
The Armenia program aims at helping the country’s rural poor by
building nearly 1,000 kilometers of roads in the countryside and
improving irrigation and water distribution systems.
Foreign Minister Oskanian said two-thirds of rural Armenians do not
have access to central water systems, and efforts to move crops to
market are hampered by a poor secondary road system.
Nonetheless, he said despite the unresolved conflict with neighboring
Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and other problems, including a lack
of mineral wealth, the Armenian government’s liberal policies have
produced the highest economic growth rates in the region.
At the grant ceremony, attended by leaders of the Armenian-American
community, among others, he pledged that the process of democratic
and economic reform in his country is “irreversible.”
The grant to Armenia is the second-largest thus far under the
Millennium Challenge program. It brings the total amount of funds
committed to $1.5 billion to a total of eight countries, mainly in
Africa and Latin America.
Started in 2004, the program got off to a slow start as would-be
recipient-countries wrestled with complicated eligibility rules,
but it has gained momentum after a personnel shakeup last year.
The Bush administration had hoped to be able to dispense $5 billion
a year under the program but congressional funding has fallen well
short of that goal.

PROXIMITY IN POSITIONS OF AZERBAIJAN AND BELGIUM IS BASE FOR PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE – ARIF MAMMADOV
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 28 2006
Interview of Trend with Arif Mammadov, the Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Benelux countries
and the European Union
Question: How do you estimate the current level and perspectives for
the development of relationships between Azerbaijan and Belgium?
Answer: The relationships between Azerbaijan and Belgium differ for
their friendly character, there are broad opportunities, particularly,
economic capacities for further development of bilateral relationships
and we try to utilize every opportunity for consolidation of the
relationships. The establishment of diplomatic bonds between the two
countries dates to 17 June 1992, while the diplomatic representation
of Azerbaijan in Belgium has been functioning since 1995.
Despite comparably short period of establishment of diplomatic
relationships, it was possible through joint efforts to familiarize an
ordinary citizen of Belgium with Azerbaijan, its ancient history, rich
culture, huge economic potential. Today one can listen to Azerbaijani
music on Belgium Radio in the performance of our [Azerbaijani]
composers, read familiarity articles about Azerbaijan in the magazines,
while some Azerbaijani musical instruments, including tar and saz,
are displayed in the Royal Museum of musical instruments, the biggest
in Europe. Moreover, a monument dedicated Dada Gorgud epos was erected
in the Center of Brussels.
The top-level political contacts are developed intensively. During
the last visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Belgium
in May 2004 the two sides signed bilateral documents promoting the
development of economic relationships. The parliamentary bonds continue
successfully. Last year the chairman of the Chamber of Representatives
of Belgium paid an official visit to Baku.
This year the chairman of the Senate of Belgium is expected to pay
an official visit to Azerbaijan. Next year it is planned to open
an embassy of Belgium in Baku, which will undoubtedly intensify the
bilateral relationships. Our plans also include the establishment of
the Belgium-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce, which would play a major
coordinating role for Belgium entrepreneurs in the search of partners
in Azerbaijan. Active cooperation is carried out in the sphere of
military cooperation. There was reached an agreement on signing of
a Memorandum on mutual understanding in the military sphere and the
sides had exchange of texts of the draft Memorandums.
Proximity in the relationships between Azerbaijan and Belgium are real
base for broad and productive dialogue in all levels. It is necessary
to note that in connection with chairmanship at the OSCE this year,
Belgium’s interests in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict have increased. The Foreign Minister of Belgium paid one of
his first visits to Baku as an OSCE chair and mulled both multilateral
and bilateral issues.
Question: What efforts are taken in the issue of development of
interstate relationships with Luxemburg?
Answer: On 15 March 2005 I presented my credentials to Great Herzog.
Though Luxembourg is a small country, the amount of per capita
incomes is higher than the EU. The banking system is very much
developed in Luxembourg. With this consideration talks have been
held with the Agency for Transition of Financial Technologies, ATTF,
on rendering assistance to Azerbaijan in the training of banking
specialists. Under the project it is planned to organize short-term
and long-term courses for the improvement of the banking system both
in Baku and in Luxembourg.
The improvement of the legal agreement base of the relationships
continues. Draft text of an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of
culture, education and science has been submitted to the consideration
of Luxembourg. An agreement on avoiding dual taxation, which is
scheduled for signing in the near future, has been initialed. Close
contacts have been established with different state bodies of the
country. The cooperation within the framework of international
organizations, including UNESCO and ECOSOS, go on successfully.
Question: In what stage are the mutual relationships with the
Netherlands?
Answer: The Azerbaijani embassy received an accreditation in the
Kingdom of the Netherlands on 26 January 2005. Last year a number of
meetings were held at the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands with
respect to discuss issues of development and strengthening of the
Azerbaijani-Dutch cooperation in different spheres both in bilateral
format and in the international organizations. Close relationships
have been set up with many state bodies and public organizations.
They conduct constant work with the governmental international
organizations in Hague, such as the International Tribunal, the
International criminal Court, and EuroPol. Work over the achievement
of an agreement with the Dutch organization on education, attraction
of Azerbaijani students to different universities of the Netherlands
is also being cared out.
Positive tendency in the relationships between Azerbaijan and
the Netherlands also reflects on the strengthening of economic
relationships. Increase which has been observed in the goods turnover
between the two countries over the past few years testifies for it.
Work over the development and improvement of the legal-agreement
base not only in the political and humanitarian, but also economic
sphere, is underway. The discussions on inclusion of Azerbaijan into
different economic, humanitarian programs, which are implemented by
the Netherlands, continue.
Question: In what stage is the issue on coordination and adoption of
an Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Plan?
Answer: The Action Plan is an important program instrument of
the European Neighborhood Policy. It is intended to reflect major
milestones of strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.
Azerbaijan implemented substantial work with regard to hold talks
on the Action Plan with European partners. The official opening and
the first round of talks were held last December. The second round of
consultations was conducted in Brussels on 7 March 2006. Summarizing
the results of the talks I want to say that we succeeded to achieve
agreement on a number of questions. However, there are some items
still to be coordinated. So, there is necessity in one more meeting.
In general, I can’t say that the Action Plan should be ready by
autumn meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Council of Cooperation, which
is expected to adopt this document. But for the time being both the
EU and Azerbaijan are carrying out painstaking work over the text of
the document to meet the deadline.
Question: What about the resolution of an issue on opening of the
European Commission’s diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan?
Answer: A resolution on the opening of a representation of the European
Commission in Baku has been already taken – it is to open and set up
activities in 2007. At present a special representative of the EC on
Azerbaijan, Alan Waddams, represents the organization.
>>From 2003 to February 2006 Heikki Talvitie, a Finnish diplomat,
had been the EU special envoy on South Caucasus. From February 2006 a
Swiss diplomat, Peter Semnebi, replaced him in this post. Along with
different tasks, he is also in charge of assisting the resolution of
existing conflicts in the region.
Question: What work is being carrier out for unifying the efforts of
the Azerbaijani Diaspora in the EU countries, including Belgium?
Answer: Several organizations representing the Azerbaijani Diaspora
function in Belgium, but, unfortunately, there is no unity among
them. The Diaspora mainly includes ethnic Azerbaijanis, citizens of
Turkey and Iran. There is also small Diaspora comprised of Azerbaijani
citizens.
Our embassy tries to unite common efforts in the name of Motherland.
At present the key task of the work with the Diaspora is assistance
in the establishment of a unified, strong, efficient body, which
could unify all Azerbaijanis. It is necessary to maintain or install
national originality, culture, language. We try to render comprehensive
assistance to our Diaspora in the organization of different culture
events, political actions. The embassy permanently carries out joint
meetings with the participation of representatives of Diaspora, marks
Novruz Bayram, the Independence Day of Azerbaijan, and Solidarity
of World Azerbaijanis. It all target unification of uncoordinated
organizations, representing the Azerbaijani community in order
to enable them to state Azerbaijan’s stance from the tribunes in
accessible for diplomats.
It is very important to establish and strengthen the youth, the student
organizations in Europe. They could be base for lobby activities in
the international organizations.
Work experience in Europe testifies that the practice of conduct
of pickets and demonstration by the Diaspora is less efficient. It
is necessary to carry out painstaking work on the level of student
organizations, as the results can be achieved only at the expense of
the high intellectual level.
Question: What are the perspectives for Euro-integration of
Azerbaijan? What is the most difficult in this process?
Answer: Perspectives for the development of relationships are of
course very good and the talks on Action Plan testify for it. The EU
is interested in the cooperation with Azerbaijan and considers it as a
country which plays important role in ensuring the energy security of
the EU. However, the Euro-integration requires tremendous efforts and
close interaction between different bodies of the EU and Azerbaijan
on the expert level.
Due to some problems, we could not achieve the adoption of European
standards, establishment of necessary legislative basis and sanitary.
With huge capacities of export of agriculture products and fish,
unfortunately, we are unable to realize it. Even import of Greece nuts
from Azerbaijan was ceased due to high-toxic substance – aflotoxine –
in connection with non-observation of technical norms while collection
and preservation of the product.
Frequently, people without knowledge of foreign languages come to
Europe for different important events, where no interpretation is
provided. As a result, there is no benefit of their participation
and additionally, it damages the country’s image.
Concerned on the above-mentioned it is necessary to carry out a set
of actions on the improvement of personnel working in the direction
of Euro-integration. It is also necessary to give incentives to the
attraction of highly educated specialists to the state service. The
state service should become more attractive than the work in the
foreign companies.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE PRIMATE OF LEBANON AND THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY AUTHORITIES VISIT ANTELIAS
A delegation of 50 representatives from all the bodies of the Diocese of
Lebanon headed by Primate Bishop Kegham Khatcherian visited His Holiness
Aram I on March 21.
The purpose of the visit was to thank His Holiness on behalf of the Armenian
community of Lebanon and to express its gratitude at the end of his second
term as moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the first
extension ever in the history of WCC.
Bishop Khatcherian spoke about the course of His Holiness Aram I’s
ecumenical work during the last 30 years, first as Vartabed Aram, then as
Bishop and later as Catholicos Aram I. His Holiness’ constant efforts in
this field came first as a representative of the Armenian Church and then as
the moderator of this international organization.
The Primate pointed out that due to His Holiness’ dedication and important
contribution, the Armenian Church gained honor and the respect of the
various churches of the world. “His Holiness’ efforts and work concentrated
on simultaneously introducing our church, pursuing the Armenian Cause in
international circles and opening up our Church’s and nation’s values to
other churches and nations,” said Bishop Khatcherian.
His Holiness Aram I said that his life has one course and one purpose:
service. He said that both in the Armenian Church and WCC he has served holy
purposes, such as cooperation between churches.
His Holiness stated that he has done all he can during the last three
decades to introduce the Armenian Church’s and nation’s values to the
various churches of the world. He also assured that he will continue his
involvement in ecumenical work by various means and functions. He stressed
on the field of inter-religious cooperation taking into consideration the
current world’s concerns and challenges.
His Holiness also spoke about the Armenian community of Lebanon. He
expressed his happiness for the participation of the community, through its
three political parties, in the dialogue the aim of which is securing the
country’s unity.
The Pontiff emphasized the important role of the Armenian community in the
Diaspora. He said it was imperative to give a new drive to Armenians. His
Holiness expressed the support of the Catholicosate of Cilicia as well as
his personal support for the Armenian Community Authorities of Lebanon,
announcing that he will be taking important initiatives in this regard in
the next few months.
His Holiness then answered a number of questions related to ecumenical and
inter-religious issues as well as the political life in Lebanon.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

ANCA SHARPLY CRITICIZED TURKEY’S LOBBYIST
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2006 23:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s top Washington, DC lobbyist, former
Louisiana Congressman Bob Livingston, in perhaps his most strident
attack to date, has accused Armenian Americans of seeking to impose a
“tyranny of the minority” by urging the Congress to adopt human rights
legislation concerning the Armenian Genocide, according to documents
obtained this week by the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).”It’s truly the height of hypocrisy for a paid foreign agent
for Turkey – a government that violates the rights of its citizens
on a wholesale basis – to try to diminish the role that American
citizens play in the formulation of our nation’s foreign policy,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
In letters sent to Congressional offices last September, prior
to the House International Relations Committee’s consideration of
Armenian Genocide legislation, Livingston, escalated his rhetoric to
unprecedented levels, arguing, in his capacity as a paid agent of a
foreign government, that he believed the measure “cater[s] to a small
minority of citizens promoting the narrow goals of the minority at
the expense of America’s broader interest.” He went on, in an example
of overstatement rare even by Washington, DC standards, to contend
that Armenian Genocide legislation “is the truest expression of the
tyranny of the minority.” The panel rejected Livingston’s attack,
voting 40 to 7 to approve the legislation.

HAROUTIUN KHACHATRIAN’S FILM “POET’S RETURN” TO BE SHOWN AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL GALLERY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 27 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Film director
Haroutiun Khachatrian’s film “Poet’s Return” will be shown at the
National Gallery of Washington on April 30, within the framework
of the program of Washington “DC Filmfest” international film
festival. Margaret Parsons, Head of the Films Department of the
National Gallery of Washington, first saw the film during the showing
organized at the Rotterdam international film festival, after which
she sent an invitation of showing the film to the film director. As
Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed from the Press Service of the
“Golden Apricot” (“Voske Tsiran”) international film festival, every
year the National Gallery of Washington selects works more interesting
in the respect of art for showing.
Numerous noteworthy and modern films have been shown at the “DC
Fimlfest” festival having a history of 17 years. Besides the special
prize of the spectator, this year the festival has also instituted
a new prize, “Capital Focus”.
In 2003, the prizes of the spectator were given to world-famous Chinese
film director Chen Kay Ge, veteran of French film making Costa Gavras,
famous Italian film maker and actor Jacques Perin.

ARMENIANS BROKE CEASE-FIRE IN GAZAKH AND TOVUZ
Azerbaijan Press Agency
March 27 2006
Armenians violated the ceased-fire in the direction of Azerbaijan’s
regions of Gazakh and Tovuz.
The Defense Ministry informed APA that the companies of Armenian armed
forces, from their positions in Mazamli village, Gazakh, fired on the
opposite positions of Azerbaijani armed forces and Mazamli village
from 15.15 till 19.35 on 26 March.
Armenian forces again fired on Azerbaijan’s positions in unnamed
mountain height in Gazakh from their positions in 2.2 km to Vazashen
village, Ijevan, from 23.20 till 23.30. The enemy forces, from their
positions in 2.7 km of Aygezor village, Berd, and 1.7 km south-east
of the mountain Lagzival, fired on the Azerbaijani Army’s positions
near Munjuglu and Garalar villages of Tovuz region.
The enemy was silenced by response fire, no loss is reported.

TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
March 24, 2006
U.S. Department of State Donates Physical Techniques Equipment to Armenian Police
On March 24, 2006 the United States Department of State donated
approximately $40,000 of physical techniques equipment to the Police of
the Republic of Armenia for the training of Armenian Police officers
at the Police Academy and Police Training Center. U.S. Embassy Charge
d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey opened the donation ceremony, which took
place at the Police Academy.
The physical techniques equipment, which was funded by the Department
of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
(INL), includes gym mats, Redman instructor suits, body opponent bags,
rubber training knives, guns, handcuffs, and boxing bags. The First
Deputy Head of Police accepted the equipment for the Government
of Armenia and presented Ambassador Evans with a Certification of
Gratitude from the Police Academy of the Republic of Armenia.
During the event, Charge d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey stated, “The police
force is the one democratic institution with which the population has
the most contact. That is why it is most important for the police to
change how it is perceived by the population. A fit, well-trained,
professional force gives the people of Armenia — and visitors —
the impression that Armenia is a country which cares about citizens’
rights and about citizens’ safety.”
2406.html

ON COMING TO POWER NATIONAL UNITY WILL PUNISH

Lragir.am
25 March 06
The members of the National Unity Party announced that they started
publishing information on corruption in the government of Armenia,
particularly, the bankruptcy deal of Armenian Airlines and the
corresponding agreements signed by the government and Mika Ltd., the
agreements signed by Zvartnots Airport and Mika Ltd. several years ago
on supplying fuel to the airport, as a result of which the state
budget suffered losses of millions of dollars, and Mika Ltd. is not
likely to recover these.
The members of this party have been discussing this question over the
past week; the same was in the Azdak Club on March 25, where the guest
was Alexan Karapetyan. He presented once again the contract, which
inflicted losses of millions on the state and brought profit of
millions to certain government officials and to Mika Ltd., the
president of which is Mikhail Baghdasarov, known for his close ties
with the ruling elite.
The deputy leader of the National Unity Alexan Karapetyan failed to
explain clearly, however, why they recalled the deals signed several
years ago. Karapetyan says they are presenting them in a period when
the leadership makes statements about their struggle against the
government. `We want to publish cases of corruption to show that if
they were resolved to fight corruption, they should have prevented
these cases. We want to show that the statements of the government on
struggle against corruption are mere words and populism,’ says the
leader of the National Unity.
It turns out that if the government did not speak out about struggling
corruption, the National Unity would not speak about cases of
corruption either. ` No, we have always spoken out, and if you do not
believe, you can come to the office of our party and read the book by
Artashes Geghamyan, where all his speeches are collected, and you will
see that it contains all these examples,’ says Alexan Karapetyan.
And these will remain there, or will merely serve as material for news
conferences of the Unity. The Unity members will not submit this
material and documents to the Office of Public Prosecutor. Alexan
Karapetyan says that their public addresses are enough for the public
prosecutor to investigate these cases. Their job is to announce. `We
promise that we will reveal all the cases of abuse and the guilty on
coming of power,’ says Alexan Karapetyan. When we inquired whether the
promise referred to coming to power or to punishing,

Karapetyan stated that the promise referred to the punishment. `You
should not even doubt that we will come to power,’ said Alexan
Karapetyan.

SOGHOMONIAN REFUTES REPORT ABOUT ALLEGED COMPENSATION OF INCREASE IN GAS
PRICE BY PROVIDING ARMS AT DISCOUNT

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Russian newspaper “Kommersant”
reported in the March 24 issue that Russia allegedly agreed to
compensate Armenia for an increase in the gas price by selling arms to
Armenia at a discount. It is envisaged that starting April 1, the
price of the gas that Russia supplies to Armenia will increase from
the current 54 dollars to 110 dollars for 1,000 cubic
meters. According to the newspaper, this year Russia intends to sell
arms to Armenia at much lower prices, in some cases – almost
gratis. By the newspaper’s estimates, it will allow the RA state
budget to save 23-50 mln USD this year, thanks to which the government
will be able to compenaste for the gas price increase. The press
secretary of the Armenian President Victor Soghomonian refuted the
information of “Kommersant”. “I must say that I read today’s
information of the Russian newspaper “Kommersant” with surprise,” Mr.
Soghmonian said to NT correspondent. “I cannot judge why the
information authors made such imaginary statements and then came to
such a far-fetched conclusion. Nevertheless, I consider it necessary
to say that the part of today’s information of “Kommersant” which says
that Armenia will buy ammunition at low prices from Russia as a
compensation for the increase in the Russian gas price has no relation
to reality,” the press secretary of the Armenian President noted.

NO REPAIR WORK DONE AT BAGRATASHEN MARKET

IJEVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In response to deputy Hovik Abovian’s
inquiry about the Bagratashen market, RA Minister of Finance and
Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated in the RA National Assembly that
this border market was closed on the initiative of the Georgian
side. The minister said that repair work is underway at the market
with resources of the RA state budget. However, NT was informed that
repair work is being done neither in the Georgian section nor in the
Armenian one. A customs-quarantine building is now being constructed
at the Bagratashen customs point, 5 km from the border market.