Author: Khoyetsian Rose

AZERBAIJAN PAYING A HIGH PRICE FOR REFUSING FROM RUSSIAN GAS. RETURN TO MAZUT BLACK OIL
By A. Haritiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
10/01/2007

In Azerbaijan the prices for fuel, electricity, water and gas has
considerably grown in the past few days.

For example, gasoline prices have grown about 50% coming to 50-60
cents. This situation is most probably caused by Azerbaijan’s refusal
of Russian Gas.

ITAR-TASS informs that the Azerbaijani side has stopped
Baku-Novorosiysk oil transfer. The Azeri authorities plan to process
the oil, previously transferred to Russia, to mazut, and use it as
fuel instead of Russian gas.

According to experts, this decision may cause global growth in prices
for various goods and services in Azerbaijan. On the other hand such
a decision may make one think that Azeri authorities are confident
of the potential and the economical growth of the country.

In context with this issue the question of Azerbaijan’s gas supply
to Turkey and Georgia, as the agreements about the Shah-Deniz deposit
can become inconsistent at present.

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO BE PUT INTO COMMISSION IN MARCH-APRIL 2007

ArmRadio.am
10.01.2007 14:49

Currently Armenia does not feel the need for supply of Iranian gas,
ArmInfo was told at the Press Service of RA Ministry of Energy.

According to the source, construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
is generally completed, and currently it is being tested. The works
are set to be completed by March-April, 2007, after which the pipeline
will be put into commission.

Most of construction works have been carried out by Iranian
contractors.

As it had been earlier announced by Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan, in
the first phase, before the increase of the capacity of Kajaran-Yerevan
pipeline, Armenia will be receive 300-400 million cubic meters of
gas annually. The annual demand of Armenia comprises 2 billion cubic
meters, which is provided due to supplies from Russia. Armenia will
provide energy to Iran in exchange for gas.

CONGRESS MIGHT ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY APRIL 24

ArmRadio.am
08.01.2007 15:28

The resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be most
probably adopted by April 24 of the current year. "Armenpress" was
told at the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) that the
latest changes in Washington provided a good opportunity to Armenians
to break the denialist policy of Turkey.

"Our friends from Congress will soon again present their resolution
and during these four months everything will be done to secure its
adoption," those in ANCA are confident. Frank Pallone’s speech in
early December also provided a basis for optimism. He had noted that
the resolution would be definitely presented and had called on his
colleagues to promote the bill. The "Associated Press" periodical
quoted Congressman Adam Sciff as saying that today the Congress has
the best opportunity to adopt the resolution.

One of these days the "Daily News" expressed concern that "American
Armenians will do their best to reach the recognition of the
genocide." "The Armenian lobby has never been as strong as today,
and they comprehend it pretty well," the paper noted.

It’s worth mentioning that in the previous Congress the adoption of
the resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide was backed by
106 Congressmen.

The bill was unanimously adopted in the Foreign Relations Committee
of the House of Representatives. However, its adoption in the House
of Representatives was prevented by Speaker Denis Hustert.

New House Speaker Nanci Pelosi is known for her pro-Armenian position
and she has already declared she will continue promoting the adoption
of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

RA NA SPEAKER TIGRAN TOROSIAN’S NEW YEAR CONGRATULATION MESSAGE

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly Chairman
Tigran Torosian sent a New Year congratulation message in which it is
said: "Dear compatriots The 2006 also became a page of history which
was significant not only as a jubilee year though the 15th annivesary
of our state is itself a peculiar event for our people lost the
statehood for centuries. 2006 was characteristic from the viewpoint of
deepening democracy and protection of the human rights. Owing to the
constitutional amendments, both every citizen of our country and
parliamentary opposition got an effective mechanism to protect their
rights at the Constitutional Court. The year is important also from
the viewpoint of the Nagorno Karabakh problem settlement. After being
fixed in the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe, the right of nations to self-determination found its place
both among main principles of the settlement stated by the Co-Chairmen
and in approaches of all the European structures. The economic growth
of the some previous years strengthened the economy and created all
the bases that the growth of the 2007 state profits is first of all
addressed to assistance of the education, science and culture, just
and equal allocation of profits is secured in favour of considerable
increase of our citizens’ well-being. I congratulate everybody, wish
peace, happiness and love, towards each other and our Fatherland."

TURKEY SENDS NOTE TO AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 26 2006

Turkey Foreign Ministry send note to Azerbaijan twice, APA Turkey
bureau reports. The notes covers the incident happened on December 19,
that is Sertab Erener and Armenian-born pianist Burak Bedikyan were
not allowed to Azerbaijan and send back.

Turkey FM appealed to Azerbaijan FM and Azerbaijani Embassy in
Ankara and asked to give information about the incident. Azerbaijani
Ambassador to Turkey Zakir Hashimov in his statement to the APA denied
the notes given by Turkey FM. The ambassador said if something like
this had happened, first I would know about it. The counsellor of
Azerbaijani Embassy Jeyhun Mamadov said that Bedikyan did not appeal
to the embassy to get visa. According to his words, Azerbaijani side
did it because there could be many Azerbaijanis in the concert hall
that lost his relatives in Karabakh war and in this case it would be
difficult to ensure Armenian musician’s security.

Mammadov noted that this event will not negatively affect Turkey
-Azerbaijani relations and Azerbaijani side will express its attitude
to the case tomorrow.

Azerbaijani FM did not take a stance on the fact.

It should be noted that Sertab Erener and Berdikyan arrived in
Azerbaijan on December 19 to take part in 10th anniversary of
Azercel. But they were deported from the airport.

ARMENIAN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES REPORT 40 PERCENT INPUT INTO GDP

Armenpress
Dec 25 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: A senior official of the Armenian
National Center for Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
predicted today that the share of small and medium-sized businesses
in the country’s overall GDP this year would grow from 39.8 percent
in 2005 to 40 percent.

The head of the center, Ishkhan Karapetian, said this will be two
times more than in 1999. According to approximate estimates, the
share of small and medium-sized businesses in Armenian exports this
year would rise to 17 percent from 16.4 in 2005.

The government of Armenia has released this year 350 million drams from
its budget to give a boost to development of small and medium-sized
businesses.

Ishkhan Karapetian said another 110 million in aid came from
international organizations and local authorities.

He said the Center provided credit guarantees to 87 companies in the
amount of 342 million drams securing a total of 628 million drams
credit package. He said the Center has provided overall 776 million
drams worth credit guarantees.

The average credit amount was 7.2 million drams and the amount of
average credit guarantee offered by the Center was about 4 million
drams at an average 15.5 percent interest rate. He said the companies
which received support created 348 new jobs.

Thirty-four percent of these companies deal with industry, 25 percent
render services, 37 percent are engaged in businesses and 4 percent
in construction.

CHRONICLE-DOCUMENTARY FILM "MEMORIES ABOUT LEVON NERSISIAN" DEMONSTRATED

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The famous and popular lecturer of
Yerevan State University Levon Nersisian would be 75 on December 24. At
the memorial event organized at the Narekatsi Art Center on December
21, his relatives and friends said that he was a legendary person
with great influence on intellectuals and students. His every lectiure
was a long-avaited holiday for students, a unique monospectacle with
a skilful combination of speech and mimicry that would attract by
its unique and magical power students of different specialities from
various higher educational institutions. In the words of the Chairman
of the Union of Writers Levon Ananian, Levon Nersisian was one of the
highest intellectuals of the 20th century, "a great connoisseur of
culture and an amazingly erudite person." Levon Nersisian never sought
laurels. To him the notion of homeland was not limited to Armenia –
"His homeland was the infinity of time and space." The film critic
Tavros Dashtents said that not being a dissident in the Soviet time,
Levon Nersisian, however, was an undesirale person for many due
to his candid and honest character. The chronicle-documentary film
"Memories about Levon Nersisian" by the filmmaker Alexander Kajvorian
was demonstrated at the event. The film shows the great intellectual
through recollections of his contemporaries – poet Henrik Edoyan
and sculptor Ara Shiraz. Besides, the film contains scenes showing
L. Nersisain in the last years of his life. It is noteworthy that Levon
Nersisian played several roles in films made at the Armenfilm studio.

INFORMATION SOFTWARE ON EXTERNAL STATE CONTROL OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY BUDGETS INTRODUCED

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. An information software on
external state control of Armenian community budgets was developed
and introduced with joint efforts of the RA National Assembly
Control Chamber (CC) and Germany’s Technical Cooperation Association
(GTZ). Its presentation took place on December 22. According to the
CC Department Head Samvel Yolian, the software’s use will allow
to increase efficiency of control, implement current checking of
community budgets, analyze the budget data and ensure electroning
storage of reports and important correspondence. The software
database contains various laws and normatice acts related to
the sphere, treasury reports on fulfilment of community budgets,
other statistical data. It was noted that an agreement was reached
on presenting reports on fulfilment of community budgets from the
country’s treasury system through electronic carriers. Alexander
Baghdasarian, GTZ local coordinator, said that the development and
preparatory work for introduction of the software within the framework
of the Armenian-German cooperation started as long ago as 2002: German
experts held several seminars for the staff of the NA Control Chamber,
as well as provided computers and improved working conditions. "During
the second stage of the program, considerable work with the Control
Chamber of the German state of Hessen is being done to improve the
legislative field," A. Baghdasarian said. In his words, with GTZ’ss
advice, a draft law on the RA NA Control Chamber was developed and
submitted to the parliament.

‘HOVER’ CHORUS GIVES SUCCESSFUL CONCERTS IN FRANCE
By Artsvi Bakhchinian in France

AZG Armenian Daily
20/12/2006

Recently, in France "Hover" chamber chorus gave a number of concerts
within the framework of Armenia’s Year in France. On December 1-9,
the chorus gave six concerts at the French churches in Paris, Nantes,
Marseilles and elsewhere. Conducted by Sona Hovhannisian, the chorus
performed mainly Armenian both spiritual and secular music.

They also performed the pieces of the European composers. It’s worth
mentioning that the last two CDs of the chorus are very popular with
the French listeners. They are particularly interested in "The Road"
CD that contains spiritual songs. In Marseilles, "Hover" have a
joint concert with "Musicatreize" popular French chorus, which is
conducted by Roland Hayrabedian. This vocal group mainly performs
contemporary music. Together with "Hover, " "Musicatreize" perfomed
"Horovel of Lory People" by Komitas. Almost all of the concerts by
"Hover" were followed by the publication of booklets about the art
of Komitas. We can state without any exaggeration, that the series of
"Hover" concerts was a true victory of the Armenian art in France. Sona
Hovhannisian and the members "Hover" chorus kept performing great
concerts and brilliantly carried out their mission of the ambassador
of the Armenian art almost every day, despite the travel difficulties
and the distances they covered.

A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OF NKR NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE AWARDED MARTIAL SERVICE MEDAL

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2006

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. In connection with the
professional holiday of the national security service employee,
on December 19, NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian signed a decree
on awarding Martial Service medal to a number of employees of the
sphere. As Noyan Tapan was informed from the Press Service under NKR
President, according to the agreements, for skilful, brave actions
contributing to fulfilment of martial tasks and for their courage
shown when defending NKR borders Martial Service medals were given
to Sanasar Baghdasarian, Samvel Grigorian, Vardges Grigorian, Hrant
Khosrovian, Komitas Karapetian, Arayik Hovsepian and Viktor Kocharian.