Author: Khoyetsian Rose

DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN SECTOR REQUIRES STATE ASSISTANCE, ARMENIAN PM STATES

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 22 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. "After becoming independent,
Armenia adopted a policy of establishing market relations in the
economy, for which purpose liberalization values-based economic
reforms were launched. 15 years later, we can state confidently that
our country has got through the decline period typical of the first
stage of redical changes and now shows a two-digit economic growth."

The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian said this at the
opening ceremony of the second international Armagroforum in Yerevan
on September 22.

According to the prime minister, the land privatization done in Armenia
before the collapse of the Soviet Union not only produced positive
results but also created various problems whose solution takes much
time and effort. However, the diligence and enterprise of Armenian
peasants allow to overcome some of these problems. At the same time,
A. Margarian noted the development of agrarian sector services and
infrastructures is in need of state assistance. He expressed confidence
that the forum participants will specify the assistance program and
identify opportunities for the implementation of new ones.

The prime minister attached importance to the US government’s
Millennium Challenge Armenia Program, which will assist with solution
of rural and agricultural problems.

The Armenian President Robert Kocahrian’s message to forum participants
says that although two years have passed after the first forum,
considerable development has been registered in Armenia’s agrarian
sector during this short period of time. According to the Armenian
president, the reforms and programs in the country’s agrarian sector
have created serious prerequisites for developing rural areas and
agriculture. "However, there are also numerous problems, whose solution
we see in international cooperation and efficient use of Armenia’s
economic potential," the message reads.

The RA Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokian noted that the discussions,
meetings and agreements of the fist forum have had their practical
continuation, as evidenced by the further development of trade and
economic links with many countries, the extended implementation
of programs in Armenia by a number of international organizations,
and the promotion of mutually beneficial relations between foreign
businessmen and local producers. The minister expressed a hope that
the second forum will also create new opportunities for extending
the international cooperation in the agrarian sector.

A number of workers of the agrarian sector were presented with Anania
Shirakatsi medals and gold medals of the RA Ministry of Agriculture.

The US Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative Consuelo
Vidal and the Director of the World Bank Armenia Office Roger Robinson
addressed the forum participants.

President Aliyev: "Creation of two Armenian states can be a threat to Europe"

Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 23 2006

23 September 2006 [13:16] – Today.Az

Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a big obstacle to the development of the
relations between Europe and South Caucasus, Azerbaijan’s President
Ilham Aliyev told Bertelsmann Forum 2006 in Berlin.

"Europe should play decisive part in the settlement of the conflict
and work for a peace accord in the region," President added.

"Armenia is the only state in the world without national minorities
and in this regard, creation of two Armenian states is impossible
and not in line with international norms and principles and poses a
threat to future Europe," he stated.

Romanian President Traian Basescu supported the position of Azerbaijan
and drew attention to the fact that defence of the rights of ethnic
minorities must not violate the territorial integrity of a country.

"Ideas not in accordance with European standards will not be
effective. Every ethnic minority can’t establish its own state. There
exists an experience of authority; the conflicts have to be settled
on these principles," he said.

Azerbaijani President also answered questions on global energy,
Azerbaijan’s oil and gas policy, BTC and other projects, and
international issues, APA informs.

URL:

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPATES IN THIRD ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE
Celebrates Armenia’s Independence

Yerevan, Armenia – Led by Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian,
an Armenian Assembly delegation traveled to Armenia this week to
commemorate the 15th anniversary of the nation’s independence and
take part in a major pan-Armenian Conference.

The Armenia-Diaspora Conference, a three-day event designed to explore
new possibilities and prospects, began on September 18 with opening
remarks by Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian, an official blessing
by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cillicia. Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian and representatives of several
religious, philanthropic, cultural and youth organizations also
addressed the opening session.

The Assembly delegation included Chairman Hovnanian, Treasurer Edele
Hovnanian, Board Member Noubar Afeyan, Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny and Country Director Arpi Vartanian.

Executive Director Ardouny, who addressed the Conference on behalf
of the Assembly, commended Armenia for all of its accomplishments
during its 15 years of independence.

"Throughout this decade and a half, marked with global power shifts,
regional fragility and domestic transition, the people of Armenia
and Karabakh demonstrated a stoic sense of commitment to freedom,
and a resounding ability to succeed where it matters most," said
Ardouny. [Text of speech attached]

Edele Hovnanian discussed the Birthright Armenia program which
she founded, while Noubar Afeyan spoke on behalf of Armenia 2020,
a scenario-building initiative that focuses on possible development
models for what Armenia could look like in the year 2020.

The Conference agenda also included a plenary session on a Rural
Poverty Eradication Program which was led by Armenia’s Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan. The session featured an overview presentation,
statements by sponsors and partners and discussion and debate.

A forum entitled "New Answers to Old Questions: Armenians in the 21st
Century" began with opening remarks by the Chairman of the Armenian
National Assembly Tigran Torosyan. The forum included four panel
discussions entitled "The Nation, State and Identity; The Mechanics
of Diaspora-Homeland Relations; and Repatriation and Territory of
Common Identity and A Look at Diaspora 2020." The final panel was
moderated by Assembly Board Member Noubar Afeyan and Edele Hovnanian
was a discussant.

The Conference wrapped up with speeches by Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian, Chairman of the Armenia-Diaspora III Planning Commission,
who discussed the importance of the pan-Armenian event, followed by
President Kocharian who stressed the significance of the Armenian
Diaspora before officially closing the program.

Assembly leaders also joined Conference participants in a wreath-laying
ceremony at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial.

On September 21, Assembly leaders participated in Armenia’s
Independence Day celebrations in and around Yerevan. Board of
Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian sent a letter to President
Kocharian congratulating him and the people of Armenia on this
historic anniversary.

Chairman Hovnanian praised Armenia for its ability to overcome
the challenges that it has faced, stating "Our young republic has
overcome many challenges in the past fifteen years and as always,
our people persevere with dignity and patience, facing down the many
socio-economic hardships accompanying an economy in transition. Tested
time and time again, they are more determined than ever to build a
stable and prosperous country and a better future for all Armenians."

President George W. Bush also wrote to President Kocharian, conveying
America’s well wishes to the people of Armenia on this milestone
occasion.

"The ties of friendship between our countries are strong and enduring,"
President Bush wrote. "The United States will continue to support
the government and people of Armenia in their efforts to build a
stable and democratic nation, as well as to promote a peaceful,
negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I commend
you on Armenia’s success since independence, and I look forward to
strengthening further the already excellent relationship between our
two countries."

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###
NR#2006-084

Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:

ss/2006-084/2006-084-1.jpg

Caption: Executive Director Bryan Ardouny (center) joins Diasporans
from around the world at the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference.

06-084/2006-084-2.jpg

Caption: Participants of the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference at
the Demirchian Sports Complex in Yerevan.

Editors Note: Below is the full text of Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny’s remarks.

ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE III
SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2006
YEREVAN

President Kocharian,
President Ghoukassian,
Your Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Your Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Honorable Guests, Friends and Colleagues:

On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, I congratulate the people of
Armenia, and Armenians worldwide on the fifteenth anniversary of the
independence of Armenia. I also wish to extend special thanks to the
Armenian government for the excellent organization of this conference,
and the outstanding hospitality afforded us.

Armenia deserves tremendous credit for all of its accomplishments
during this short, historic, and at times, difficult period of
independence. Throughout this decade and a half, marked with global
power shifts, regional fragility and domestic transition, the people
of Armenia and Karabakh demonstrated a stoic sense of commitment to
freedom, and a resounding ability to succeed where it matters most. We
are confident that in the future too, the spirit and talent of our
people, including the activism of our youth will continue to guide
our progress, consistent with our shared vision of a free, secure,
prosperous and democratic homeland, at peace with its neighbors,
a recognized leader in the region, and fully integrated within the
global community.

The value of the Diaspora as both an element and dimension of Armenia’s
national security is taking shape. This phenomenon is clearly visible
in the outline of the public version of Armenia’s draft national
security strategy, which considers the Diaspora as both a bridge to
the world, and a catalyst for pan-Armenian integration. We welcome
this process.

Our communities worldwide do indeed bring a global dimension to the
Armenian identity, which, powered by a measure of spiritual integrity,
social energy, mutual commitment, and collective organization,
transcends borders and distances, affording us a capacity of mutual
awareness and reach that many other nations seek, but seldom attain. We
view this conference as an opportunity to discuss and learn from other
participants, on how we can best capitalize on this advantage based
on an integrated assessment of our needs and resources, and having
Armenia’s nation-building as a primary concern.

This conference also has a clearly defined focus: the Diaspora’s
contribution to Armenia’s rural development, through projects
strengthening communities in the country’s border areas. The program
deals with development and investment — a core track for Diasporan
involvement in Armenia, and a major focus of our conference this
week. We welcome the government’s commitment to assure the integrity
of the program, through all relevant phases and aspects of planning,
implementation and oversight.

It is heartening to see so much entrepreneurship and commercial
activity taking place in and around Yerevan. Armenia’s progress in
macroeconomic and other structural reforms, according to the World
Bank, IMF, and others, is impressive. While the country has sustained
economic growth in double digits, statistics also point to a growing
poverty gap in society.

That is why the government’s program for rural rehabilitation is so
important and complements a five-year, $235 million special U.S. grant
to Armenia under the Millennium Challenge Account. This compact
between our two countries, concluded this spring, supports road
and irrigation infrastructure development in Armenia’s regions. The
Armenian Assembly has taken a very active role in endorsing Armenia’s
eligibility for this grant. The Assembly was pleased that the historic
signing of the compact, in which Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice participated, took place
during the Assembly’s Advocacy Conference. The compact is extended
in recognition of Armenia’s progress in democratic reform, among
other areas. Armenia’s continued eligibility for this and many other
programs depends on the success of that reform – the most important
source of its competitive strength in the region, and ultimately,
its path to greater geopolitical leverage.

Armenia’s democratic development, its international standing,
and the effectiveness of our advocacy are interrelated. We have a
unique opportunity to increase the pace and solidify the integrity
of Armenia’s national reforms. Armenia is soon entering an election
season, and shall have more than one occasion to demonstrate to its
people and the international community that Armenians are committed
to democracy and the rule of law.

As a non-partisan advocacy organization, our mission is to ensure a
secure, prosperous and democratic Armenia. Therefore, we are critically
interested in seeing democracy and the rule of law succeed.

Indeed, there are many challenges facing all of us, including continued
attempts to deny the Armenian Genocide, and thus the continued
need to ensure its universal affirmation. As we meet here today,
lawyers are gathering in federal court in Massachusetts to hear a
lawsuit brought by a Turkish association and others challenging the
ability to teach about the Genocide in Massachusetts classrooms. We
met this latest affront to the memory of our ancestors by assembling
a top notch legal team and joining with survivors, teachers and the
Massachusetts Attorney General in taking the fight right to those
who would deny Genocide and revise history.

We will also continue our efforts to ensure robust levels of assistance
to Armenia and Karabakh, maintain parity in U.S. military assistance
to Armenia and Azerbaijan, and support the people of Karabakh’s right
to self-determination. Karabakh has earned its right for statehood,
having demonstrated an exemplary competence both on the battlefield,
and in state-building. As a responsible party to the cease-fire,
it should be entrusted with similar responsibilities in the peace
process as well.

As Armenia progresses in its nation-building, and the U.S.-Armenia
relationship matures, we too realize the need to adjust our approach
and agenda to the evolving parameters of this growing relationship,
ever-mindful of the changing landscape of regional and international
politics. We must meet attempts to isolate or exclude Armenia and
Karabakh head on. We cannot and must not let economic strangulation
become the next killer. We simply cannot stand for it.

That is why we strongly supported congressional legislation to bar
U.S. assistance for a rail bypass of Armenia. Earlier this year, we
successfully fought for, and secured a unanimous vote in the House of
Representatives, which did just that. We will continue our advocacy
efforts in this regard.

In parallel, we will review other critical policy areas, which take
stronger note of Armenia’s needs in energy security, access to regional
infrastructure, increased regional trade and investment, and core
capacities in intellectual property, technology and communications
infrastructure. Support for assistance programs targeting education,
healthcare, social, and cultural needs is also important.

This conference is about building partnerships for Armenia
and the Diaspora, and that includes partnerships across our
communities. Armenia’s challenges are multi-dimensional; therefore our
responses must be as well. Guided by the principle of inclusiveness,
non-partisanship and respect for the choices made by the people of
Armenia and Karabakh, we can make change happen and take great pride
in our future.

As Armenia and Karabakh celebrate their 15th year of independence and
the Armenian Assembly readies for its 35th anniversary, we pledge
to continue our efforts to ensure a stronger, more prosperous and
democratic homeland and an even more effective Armenian Assembly with
the resources to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

We look forward to combining our efforts with all who share this
vision.

Thank you.

–Boundary_(ID_0kGp2AOppTgYw5iDDBq32g)–

RA AND NKR PRESIDENTS DISCUSSED KARABAKH TALKS

De facto- Armenia
2006-09-21 13:42:00

September 20 the present stage of the Karabakh talks was discussed
at a meeting of the RA President Robert Kocharyan and the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukasyan.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA President’s
Press Service, in the course of the meeting the parties also considered
the issues referring to the Nagorno Karabakh’s social-economic
development.

The NKR President congratulated the RA President on the 15th
Anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

HHK WELCOMES ANM AS CONSTRUCTIVE AND GOOD OPPOSITION

Panorama.am
15:56 19/09/06

"We will have a constructive and good opposition in the face of
All-Armenian National Movement (ANM)," Galust Sahakyan, Armenian
Republican Party (HHK) faction head at the parliament, told a debate
with Davit Shahnazaryan, ANM board member. Sahakyan said so after a
discussion running on Karabakh conflict settlement and interpolitical
situation.

Shahnazaryan said there can be no interpolitical situation in the
country until Karabakh conflict is resolved. Moreover, he thinks the
current authorities do not want to find settlement to the conflict. "If
until the year 2006 the processes in Karabakh conflict settlement were
bad for us after 2006 the situation sharply changed into very bad,"
Shahnazaryan said.

Sahakyan did not share the pessimism of Shahnazaryan and said that
Karabakh conflict settlement depends on the will of superpowers. "We
have become a subject for game for superpowers," NA deputy said
suddenly stating that NKR conflict will be settled in the year 2012.

Shahnazaryan noted that Azerbaijan managed to include NKR conflict
in U.N. agenda whereas the Armenian authorities failed to raise the
problems of destroyed cross-stones in Nakhijevan and Old Jugha in
the U.N. agenda. Shahnazaryan said, "Armenian authorities look like
a rabbit with such policy."

Sahakyan softly rejected saying serious progress has been recorded
in Karabakh conflict settlement in the course of few years. He said,
"The whole world considers Karabakh more democratic than Armenia and
considerably more than Azerbaijan."

OSCE OFFICE ORGANIZES TRAINING COURSE FOR ARMENIAN ADVOCATES AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS

Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 19 2006

Some 60 advocates and public defenders took part in a training course
on advocacy skills and human rights that ended in Yerevan today.

Organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Armenian Chamber of
Advocates and the Council of Europe, the two-day event focused on the
concept and the application of articles 5 (the right to liberty and
security) and 6 (the right to a fair trial) of the European Convention
of Human Rights.

"Effective protection of human rights in court depends on the
professional preparedness of the defense lawyers," said Silvia Pogolsa,
Human Rights Officer at the OSCE Office.

"This is particularly important due to the recently held qualification
examination, designed to enlarge the number of licensed advocates in
Armenia. We hope this training course will equip advocates and public
defenders with the necessary knowledge to be able to effectively
apply provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in their
daily work."

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS REAL, AUTHOR SAYS
By Kristen Stimola – News Writer

Lehigh University The Brown and White, PA
Tuesday, September 19, 2006

"The Armenian genocide is to World War I as the Holocaust is to World
War II," Peter Balakian, author of the critically acclaimed book,
"Black Dog of Fate," said Thursday.

During World War I, the Turkish government allegedly massacred
Armenians. The facts of the masacre and the use of the term "genocide"
are still being disputed among some countries and organizations.

Balakian’s talk was spurred from a letter written to the Lehigh Patriot
last year, which was previously called The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.

The letter was from an Armenian student who was telling his story,
the following week the letter was contradicted by the Turkish Student
Union.

More than 30 students were protesting outside Whitaker Lab and police
were on guard. A hundred students, faculty, and community members
attended the lecture.

"Genocides are crimes against humanity," Balakian said.

The Turkish Student Union was handing out pamphlets denying the
Armenian genocide.

Balakian said some writers are facing jail sentences from publishing
information about the Armenian genocide.

"Turkey doesn’t allow intellectual freedom," Balakian said. "You are
being denied access to your own history."

Turkey leads the world with the number of writers and reporters on
trial for reporting on this issue.

"What’s controversial inside Turkey isn’t controversial in the rest
of the world," Balakian said.

The movement for Armenia began in Boston’s Faneuil Hall in November
of 1894.

The President of the United Friends of Armenia was Julia Ward Howe,
a speaker against the Turkish massacres of Armenians.

Balakian said Armenians were drafted into amele taburlari, labor
battalions of the Ottoman army.

Stripped of weapons, they were massacred while on labor
assignments. The plan was to get rid of all able-bodied men first.

"People say, ‘denial of genocide is the final stage of genocide,’"
Balakian said.

Clara Barton was the first person to take the Red Cross out of the
United States to aid Armenian survivors in 1896. This was the first
movement of its kind.

Previously, the United States had sent money, but this was the first
time they went to the country in person.

Balakian said he thought the Armenian genocide should be taught in
history as a part of World War I.

He said it was the first modern example of genocide and a landmark
event that changed history.

Balakian said the history of the 21st century cannot be explained
properly without understanding the Armenian genocide.

Balakian’s award-winning book, "Black Dog of Fate," recounts the
experiences of his ancestors during the Armenian genocide.

It was selected as a Notable Book of 1997 by the New York Times and was
described as "at once a family memoir, a history of the extermination
of the Armenians in Turkey, and the story of a young man’s passage
into adulthood."

"Black Dog of Fate" earned the 1998 PEN Martha Albrand Prize for Memoir
and the 1998 New Jersey Council for the Humanities Book Award. It
was also a best book of the year selection for the Los Angeles Times,
Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal.

TIME AND HISTORY DEMAND NEW APPROACHES AND BEHAVIOR MODELS FROM ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.09.2006 14:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Time and history demand new approaches and behavior
models from Armenia. What has been done by state and various other
organizations for 15 years of independence is not coordinated and
its not enough for solving national problems, Chair of preparatory
commission, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at the opening of
the Armenia-Diaspora Third All-Armenian Forum. In his words, it is
necessary to unite efforts of Armenian people, to determine national
priorities for attaining our goals.

"Now independent Armenia, as never before needs the support of
the Diaspora. At the same time, each our compatriot living abroad
should feel the state capable to protect and help him," the Armenian
FM remarked.

He also underscored that at the beginning of the 21st century the
Armenian people got an opportunity for spiritual, cultural and economic
development for the sake of national interests.

IRAN PRO LEAGUE PREVIEW: PEYKAN

Iran Sports Press, MD
Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:14:00

TEHRAN- (IranSportsPress.com): With the start of the new season in
Iran, IranSportsPress.com will be having a short preview of each team,
analyzing each team’s additions and departures. Here is the preview
of Peykan.

Nima B and Niloufar M., edited by Mahdi Rahimi

Founded: 1967
Based: Tehran
Sponsored by: Iran Khodro
Stadium: Iran Khodro
Capacity: 10,000

The team is known to have one of the better organizations in terms
of facilities and management.

With the 3 big signings Peykan should stay clear from
relegation. Players such as Milad Nouri, Bayatinia and Gholamin will
make sure Peykan will manage to get the necessary points to have a
good season.

Players OUT: Ali Latifi, Miguel Alberto Barto, Hossein Babaie,
Mehdi Vaezi, Morteza kashani, Amir Abbas Ghafoorihaye Asl, Shahrooz
Ghavi Mazhab,Mehdi Khakpour, Reza Shahmoradi, Rashid Hoveyzeh,Amin
Bagheri,Shahin bani Ahmad, Reza Hadad, Mansour Ahmadzadeh.

Players IN: Hossein Ashna(Fajr), Hossein Memar(Saipa), Mehdi
Mohamadi(Shahab Zanjan), Meisam Khosravi(free), Milad Nouri(Foolad),
Mohamd Gholamin(Malavan), Mohsen Bayatinia(Pas), Reza Azizi(Iran Khodri
Rey),Iman Heidari(Iran Javan Booshehr), Amir Hossein Aslanian(free),
Mokhled Ali Naser(Iraq).

Headcoach:Samoel Darabinian
Coach:Naser Poormehdi, Asghar Modirroosta.

Goalkeepers coach: Saeed Azizian.

Key players this season

Peykan’s best transfer was the promising Foolad player, Milad Nouri.

Mohammad Gholamin, Malavan’s top scorer and Mohsen bayatinia from
Pas were other good additions to Peykan team.

Prospects this season

Unlike Mes Kerman, Peykan was rest assured of advancing to IPL near the
end of the season. After finishing 2nd in Group 2 of First Division
games, they were to face Group 1 winner, Pegah Gilan. Peykan, with
former coach Farhad Kazemi in charge, managed to defeat Pegah Gilan
1-0 at home and a valuable draw in Rasht, to be the first team to
promote to IPL.

However, Farhad Kazemi switched to Saba for the new season and Peykan
hired Armenian Darabinian for the 6th IPL season.

For their preprations, they head to Turkey for 12 days for couple of
Friendly games and ongoing team training.

Agence France Presse — English
September 12, 2006 Tuesday 3:54 PM GMT

Iran eyes new Armenian pipeline

Iran wants to build a second natural gas pipeline to energy-strapped
neighbor Armenia, the Islamic republic’s parliament speaker
Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel said on Monday.

Speaking during a two-day visit to Armenia, Hadad-Adel said "the two
sides are discussing the possibility of the construction of a second
Iran-Armenia pipeline."

Because of its dispute with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave, Armenia has been unable to take advantage of Azerbaijan’s
energy reserves or participate in regional hydrocarbon transport
projects.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six year war ending with an uneasy
cease-fire in 1994 over the majority ethnic-Armenian enclave in
Azerbaijan.

Hadad-Adel said a new Iranian gas pipeline would serve primarily to
supply Armenia with gas but added that "the possibility of
transporting gas to third countries through the territory of Armenia
is not excluded."

"An important part of our relations is cooperation in the area of
energy," Hadad-Adel said of ties with Yerevan.

Iran has already undertaken the 220-million-dollar construction of a
natural gas pipeline to the Caucasus nation, which has until now
depended on Russia for all of its gas needs.

Under a 20-year contract, Armenia is projected to receive some 36
billion cubic meters of gas through the conduit starting in January
of next year, breaking Russia’s stranglehold on its gas market.

Armenia will foot part of the bill for the initial pipeline with
deliveries of electricity which it produces at a Soviet-era nuclear
power plant.

Armenia and Iran also recently began construction of a hydroelectric
power plant on the Araxes river, which serves as the two nations’
border.

Armenia has depends on Russia and Iran for most of its trade because
of an economic blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and ethnically-linked
Turkey over the Karabakh dispute.