Author: Nadirian Emma

THE STORY OF A DROP OF BITUMEN

Lragir.am
26 July 06

Most people remember that before building, more exactly not building
a New Country Party Artashes Tumanyan, the head of the administration
of the president, was building the old country, more exactly, he
built the roads. By the way, there is a point of view that Artashes
Tumanyan could not build the New Country because he was building the
old country. Today it is already a history, but many episodes are
becoming known.

People who followed the activities of Lincy Foundation remember that
the United States stipulated that bitumen for roadworks should not be
bought from Iran. Our source assures that bitumen is imported from
Iran by one of the coalition parties. And the source standing close
to Lincy Foundation says Artashes Tumanyan coordinating the work of
the foundation registered a company in Kuwait with the help of the
same political party, which allegedly imported bitumen produced in
Kuwait via Iran but in fact Iranian bitumen. The point is that the
Iranian bitumen is cheaper than the bitumen produced in Kuwait. It
should be noted that Artashes Tumanyan was the third on the party
ticket of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in 2003.

FROM NOW ON ARMENIAN JUDGES WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN ACCEPTING GIFTS

Yerevan, July 25. ArmInfo. From now on the Armenian judges will have
to be very careful in accepting gifts, Armenian Justice Minister
David Haroutyunyan said during a press-conference today.

He said that the inter-department working group set up in Mar 2006 and
consisting of 16 representatives of the presidential administration,
government, judiciary, public prosecutors office, Chamber of Lawyers,
parliament and police has successfully completed its work on a package
of court system reforms. One of the key points is that the Armenian
judges must abstain from accepting any kinds of gifts. They can do
this only during weddings, their own birthdays and birthdays of their
relatives but then too they should report on gifts to the Commission
on Ethics.

Haroutyunyan said that specialized administrative courts and courts
on bankruptcy will be formed in Armenia. The Economic Court will be
dissolved, the Court of Cassation divided into two chambers of three
judges each. From now on it will be the authority of the Council of
Justice to announce vacancies and to test applicants for judges. Of
25 judges passing the exam the Council will select 16 ones and will
submit the list for the President’s approval. However, they will
enter into their offices only after completing a 1.5-year training
course at special School of Judges.

Haroutyunyan said that judges have no right to have private businesses
or to hold some paid position. They must be politically neutral and
not affiliated to any party. They can take part in elections only as
voters or electoral commissioners.

At the same time, Haroutyunyan refused to comment on his future
political activities saying that this was not the topic of the
discussion.

PROBLEMS OF COMMUNITY AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
24 July 2006

On July 21 Edward Aghabekian, the mayor of Stepanakert, gave a news
conference and presented a report on the activities of the City Hall in
the first half of 2006. The receipts of the community budget totaled
over 120 million as on July 20, whereas in 2004 receipts totaled
103 million. According to the mayor, it was enabled by anti-shade
actions, namely the collection of tax on land and tax on property was
improved. "The growth of return on tax was viewed in the context of
reduced government subsidies (by 30 percent). The rate of growth of the
GDP is rather high," said the mayor of Stepanakert. Edward Aghabelyan,
informing that the volume of building went down, because they had
to direct additional funds to summer salaries of teachers. Over the
past five years the collection of public duties (notary registration,
civilian registry) has gone down. The problem is that government
agencies are assigned to collection of public duties, which are only
then transferred to the community budget. The mayor believes that
collection of public duties will grow if collection of public duties
is decentralized, which would enable more transparency. Another
important problem for Stepanakert is water supply. June draught
gave rise to serious problems. "Last year five artesian wells were
dug and two were repaired, which supply over 9000 cu m water to the
community. We have estimated that if the infrastructure is improved,
the entire population of Stepanakert can be supplied with running
water, if not 24 hours than at least during half of the day," said
the mayor of Stepanakert. At present an additional pumping station
is prepared for operation in Aygestan. There are also problems with
the pumping stations inside the city. Every pumping station has one
pump instead of two. Besides, the pumps are not powerful enough. The
reserve fund of the government allocated 18.5 million drams to buy
new pumps. The mayor said a City Hall official has gone to Moscow,
and the new pumps will be delivered to the community within this week
and will be operated in August or in September.

NVARD OHANJANIAN. 24-07-2006

DEFENSE MINISTER ATTACKS

Lragir.am
24 July 06

"I think the best election ever held in the Republic will be in 2007,"
stated Serge Sargsyan, the newly elected chair of the Council for
the Republican Party Serge Sargsyan July 22. The journalists were
naturally interested to know why Serge Sargsyan thinks so.

"Because I will be seeking for it, and there is every reason for it,"
answered Serge Sargsyan. If the minister announces that it will be the
best election "because he will be seeking for it", it is interesting
to know whether he did not seek for it in previous elections or he
did not seek for it enough so the previous elections were not the
best. The reporter of the Lragir asked this question to the minister
of defense and received an insulting answer.

"Of course, I sought for it. Unfortunately, some people who are
doing this job do not understand Armenian well. The best means better
than all the others, in other words, there were good elections, and
this one will be the best. Because in every election the observers
reported that there was progress compared with the former elections,
but there were shortcomings as well," explained Serge Sargsyan in
Armenia. We are grateful to him for this explanation, but there are
a number of other important things, which also need an explanation.
With our ability to understand Armenia, we are trying to reason like
the defense minister. Hence, if the best means better than all the
others, it means the election 2003 was also the best because there
was progress compared with the previous election. Consequently, the
election in 1999 was the best because there was progress compared with
1998 and so on. It turns out that all the elections in our Republic
were the best if we are guided by the logic of explanation given by
the defense minister. Everyone who accepts this logic let elect him
president first.

GIBRAHAYER
e-magazine
The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine
Circulates every Wednesday
Established in 1999

FROM THE WAR ZONE BACK TO CYPRUS

Gibrahayer – More than 250 Cypriots were successfully flown back to
Cyprus from Lebanon, in an joint operation staged by the Foreign
Ministries of Cyprus and Greece.
The war in Lebanon and the fear of escalation prompted
Cypriots who had gone to Lebanon to contact the Cyprus Embassy and
seek their advice on alternative methods of leaving the country.
In seven separate groups the Cyprus Embassy arranged the
evacuation during last week. In the group of evacuees that left on
Thursday night, was the Office Administrator of Armenian MP Vartkes
Mahdessian, Nayiri Mouradian and her two sons – Vahakn and Varak –
who had gone to Lebanon a week earlier.
Nayiri Mouradian – originally from Lebanon, married in Cyprus
for two decades – talked to Gibrahayer on the day she arrived. "We
were contacted by the Cypriot Consul who arranged for us to gather at
the Greek Embassy on Thursday evening at 7:15 pm" she said. "From
then on it was a long drive to the Syrian border and everyone was
scared because Israeli bombing had not stopped since Wednesday".
The "Thursday convoy" of two buses, draped in Greek flags
first arrived in Tripoli at 8:30 pm, then to Tartoos and at 11:00 pm
they were at the Syrian border which they crossed from 11:00 – 1:00
am.
Ten hours later they were on the Damascus – Larnaca – Athens
flight and at noon they arrived at Larnaca airport and greeted by
family and press.
"For people who have not gone through this kind of experience
it was very scary. My sons did not stop asking questions throughout
the journey. They were frightened but relieved on arrival. As for me
I had lived these frightful experiences before and relived them
again" concluded Nayiri Mouradian to members of the Cyprus press at
Larnaca airport.
Armenian representative in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes
Mahdessian took an active involvement in the assistance and
evacuation of Armenian Cypriots from Lebanon and in close
co-operation with the Cyprus Ambassador in Lebanon Kyriacos Kouros,
helped evacuees reach their destinations safely.
Meanwhile in Armenia, 100 Armenian citizens arrived in Armenia
last night with a direct Aleppo-Yerevan flight. Armenian authorities
also announced that Armenians from Lebanon would receive a status of
‘temporarily protected
persons’ if they arrived in Yerevan and asked for it.
Thousands of foreign nationals have been using Cypriot ports
and airports to flee the war zone, while a number of Lebanese
citizens – who had left their country a few weeks ago – used our exit
points as entry points back to Lebanon to reunite with their
families.

HAMAZKAYIN SEVAN DANCE ENSEMBLE STRANDED IN BEIRUT EVENTUALLY LEAVE
VIA JORDAN

AAP correspondents in Beirut – Members of the Australian
"Hamazkayin Sevan Dance Ensemble" stranded in Lebanon have
been eventually evacuated through Jordan. 45 young performers and 36
parents and supervisors travelling with them remained bunkered down
in their Beirut hotel as the Israeli military continued its attacks
on the Lebanese capital.
They eventually crossed the border on buses and travelled to
Jordan where accommodation arrangements have been made for a short
wait before flying to Sydney. The hush-hush evacuation took place at
around 2.00pm Australia time and the buses crossed the border around
4.30pm on Monday.
Cyprus was one of two possible destinations for the Dance
Ensemble and on Monday, Cyprus Hamazkayin Chairman Arto Tavitian
contacted the Central Executive Offices of Hamazkayin in Beirut to
offer the services of the Cyprus Oshagan Branch, if the need arises.
Eventually, between the ferry trip to Cyprus, the road option
to Syria and the exodus through Jordan was taken by the Group.
Foreign Minister of Australia Alexander Downer said it was
hoped to bus a number of Australians across the border into Syria,
and then on to Jordan. A representative of the Dance Ensemble Ms
Iskenderian, said that while everyone was in good health the group
remain frightened by the bombing and wanted to return home.
for the latest in the War in Lebanon click here , or visit the
constantly updated pages of the largest circulation Armenian Daily
Aztag’s online version. (English and Armenian)

Finally, the Cyprus Branch of the Hnchakian Party called upon the
AGBU to open up the gates of Melkonian to Armenian Children of
worn-torn Middle East. Should the same appeal not have been directed
to the Cyprus AGBU leadership as well?".
tatiana’s corner by Tatiana Ferahian

Turkish proverb of the week
"Tırnagın varısa – kaÅ~_ı baÅ~_ını."
Phoneti cally: Turnayun varusa – kashu bashunu.
Literally: If you have fingernails – scratch your head.
Idiomatically: If you have the resources you can meet your needs.
COULD THESE 5-DAY STATS BE TRUE?
250 innocent civilians dead, 650 wounded
500,000 refugees fleeing the south
25 bridges destroyed
all airports and sea ports bombed
no electricity
no fuel
complete Air and Sea blockade and partial Land blockade
losses estimated to 4 billions dollars (infrastructure, economy,
tourism)

ARMENIAN EDITOR COULD FACE NEW PROSECUTION FOR REFERRING TO ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE

(Reporters without borders for press freedom – 19 July, 2006) The
Istanbul public prosecutor yesterday opened a new investigation
against Hrant Dink, the managing editor of the Armenian-language
weekly Agos, this time for referring to the massacre of Armenians in
1915 as genocide.
Dink used the term in a 14 July interview for the British news
agency Reuters about his suspended sentence of six months in prison
for "insulting Turkish identity." He could face up to three
years in prison if convicted on the new charge.
Related LA Times editorial sent by Vartkes Sinanian. click here

DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ARMENIA BEGIN NEXT WEEK

(Gibrahayer 17 July, 2006) Karian Travel have announced that as of
July 31, 2006, they will begin chartered flights to Yerevan which
will be brought to us by ArmAvia Airlines and Sputnik Travel Agency.
For more information you can contact the following numbers in
Limassol, Nicosia and Larnaca: 25316849, 25318949, 22765760,
24643360.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONES TALKS ON TURKEY REPORT

(Source: ABHaber) The European Parliament on Tuesday postponed
debates on a draft report entitled "Turkey’s Progress Towards
Accession" which includes a variety of criticisms of Turkey, until
early September.
Debates on the report, prepared by EP Committee on Foreign
Affairs Rapporteur and MEP Camiel Eurlings, are now set for an EP
session Sept. 4 to 7.
The decision to postpone talks comes after some 400 proposals
for amendments to the draft report were submitted. Moreover at
Tuesday’s session of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee, some members
stated that translation of the amendment requests will take a long
time. However European diplomats stated that there are many
conflicting views surrounding the proposed amendments.
While Eurlings said that more debates about Turkey are
necessary, other MEPs recalled the latest developments on Cyprus as
well as Turkey’s plans to implement certain reforms on women’s
rights, obligatory religious lessons and religious minorities and
requested the inclusion of these developments in the report. Other
MEPs noted that the European Commission will also announce a progress
report on Turkey and underlined the importance of back-to-back
issuing of the two reports.
The draft report criticised a number of issues, including
Cyprus, a slowdown in the EU reform process, the situation in the
southeast, problems with religious minorities, cultural rights and
civil-military relations. It raised particular concerns about the
Semdinli incident, during which a bookshop in the southeast was
allegedly bombed by members of the security forces, and called for an
impartial and objective investigation into the incident.
Turkey’s reservations to open its airports and harbours to
the Greek Cypriots will have serious implications for the EU process
and could even bring it to a halt, warned the draft report. The
highly critical report also called on Turkey to take steps towards
the recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration during the
accession process and raises the idea of an early withdrawal of
forces from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It also
calls on the European Council to renew efforts to implement trade
regulations with Northern Cyprus.
The EP report severely condemned the killing of Council of
State Judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin, expressing concern over the
low-level of security offered to judges by the police despite clear
and public threats, and called on the government to rectify the
situation. The EP also condemned a resurgence of violence in the
southeast by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and
stressed that there can never be an excuse for violence against
Turkish citizens in any part of the country. The report also
expressed solidarity with Turkey in fighting terrorism.
On the Armenian issue, the EP took note of a Turkish proposal
to set up a bilateral committee of experts to deal with the tragic
experiences of the past and of Armenia’s position on the proposal. It
also urged the Turkish and Armenian governments to continue their
process of reconciliation leading to a mutually acceptable proposal
and asked Turkey to take the necessary steps, without any
preconditions, to establish diplomatic and good neighbourly relations
with Armenia and open the land border as soon as possible.
Armenians in China
Armenians lived in China long before the twentieth century,
but because the twentieth century brought us the first Genocide,
followed by the Russian revolution, our people fled their respective
homes in Turkey and Russian Armenia. The only available road was via
Trans-Siberian railroad all the way to Manchuria, the northern
province of China.
These Armenians have survived the genocide, the world
depression of 1930s, the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1932 and
the takeover of the country by the Chinese communist army -The
Paludiun, i.e. the Eighth Army, headed by Mao-Tse-Tung.
These Armenians rebuilt their lives, formed families, had
children, and built a church in the city of Harbin in 1927. They
worked hard and gave their children a good education so that the new
generation would go ahead and lead productive lives and always keep
their identity through their faith, their church and their nation.
click here for the complete article at the website of the Armenian
Studies program of the California State University.
news in brief
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (12.07.06) reports that a
big fire broke out in occupied Pentadakylos (Sourp Magar Monastery
area) and helicopters from Adana and Mersin assisted on extinguishing
the fire. The fire destroyed 45 donums of land with pine, cypress,
carob and olive trees. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Azerbaijan’s President Heydar Aliyev fired his FM Hasan Hasanov for
his involvement in a crooked real estate deal. Hasanov was accused of
converting a Turkish financed Foreign Ministry residence into a
hotel-casino in Baku. This was linked to a 1996 Turkish scandal that
involved collusion among Turkish government figures, mafia bosses,
drug lords and corrupt police according to an official Turkish
investigative report.
sports
Marcos Baghdatis heads the line-up of players for 11 Zonal ties in
the 2006 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas this weekend on 21-23 July. The
world No. 10, who has already played 27 ties for Cyprus since making
his debut at the age of 14 in 2000, travels to Cairo for the Davis
Cup Play-offs against Egypt to help Cyprus avoid relegation.
Zaruhi Harutyunyan results. Click here

Zaruhi Harutyunyan
VICTORY IN SCOTLAND !
(Gibrahayer Monday July 17) Armenia’s hope in world tennis, Zaruhi
Harutyunyan of Armenia bagged her fourth title of 2006 in Scotland,
demolishing in the final Anastasia Nebojanko 6-1, 6-2 who in the semi
finals had eliminated tournament number one Alexa Guarachi of the
United States.
However, Harutyunyan’s true determination and champion
characteristics in the Scottish Championships emerged in the semi
finals – when she fought off all odds – against Caitlin Smith,
7-6(4), 6-7(6),7-5.
A position in the top 200 is now well in her grasp and if she
continues this winning tempo her chase for a Grand Slam participation
may come much sooner than we all anticipate.
For Zaruhi Harutyunyan’s activity in 2006 – click here
CONTRIBUTE TO ZARUHI’S WORLD TOUR
Laiki Bank Strovolos Industrial Area, Stavrou 96 I, 2034, Strovolos:
Account No. 101-08-037631 for Zaruhi Harutyunyan under Simon
Aynedjian
International transfers at IBAN CY30 0030 0101 0000 0101 0803 7631
Swift Code address LIKICY2N
gibrahayer calendar
Wednesday July 19, 2006 – Commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of
the Turkish invasion to Cyprus at the Presidential Palace Garden.
Main Speaker President Tassos Papadopoulos. Concert by George
Dalaras.
Sunday July 23 – Annual traditional Khanasori Arshavank celebrations
organised by ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Cyprus Committee, and affiliate
organisations. Venue: Last year’s picnic site at "Loumada ton Aeton."
Sunday 16-30 July – Hamazkayin Forum – Yerevan – Armenia. Visit the
Hamazkayin Forum site at:
12 – 30 July – Khalkidiki Summer Camp organised by the ARS of Greece
for 12 – 16 year old Armenians. Sosse Chapter of ARS (HOM) Sosse
Cyprus announce that 18 Armenian youth from Cyprus are participating.

–Boundary_(ID_domHV6uEQ/xhox+ce3R 4lQ)–

SERGE SARGSIAN JOINS RPA

YEREVAN, JULY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister,
Secretary of the National Security Council under RA President,
has become a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). Party
Spokesperson Arshak Zakarian informed radio Liberty on July 18 that
"Serge Sargsian’s application has been sustained: he is already a
party member."

He said that the party’s coming congress will decide what position
Serge Sargsian will occupy in the party. RPA congress will be held
on July 22.

STATEMENT OF THE NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
18 July 2006

>>From the beginning of June 2006 the fires on Nagorno Karabakh
territory bordering with Azerbaijan have been taking place. The
situation is a subject of serious anxiety for Karabakh authorities as
it poses a threat for the security of the NKR and its population. A
special commission for studying circumstances and revealing reasons
of the inflammation was established in the NKR. Representatives of
ministries and departments responsible for security issues were
in the commission. For the purpose of localization the centers of
the inflammation and non-admission of fire spreading the subunits
of fire-prevention service and the NKR Department for Emergency
Situations, as well as the leadership of local administrations and
population were mobilized. A twenty-four-hour duty was organized
in all the communities with the object of averting emergency
situations. Nevertheless, the situation in these regions, which in
connection with the ongoing fires is becoming worse, is fraught with
unfavorable long-term consequences for agriculture and food security
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The number and area of the fires
of wheat fields in the adjoining with Azerbaijan territories have
sharply risen. As a result of the work of the NKR special commission,
the incontestable data, indicating the fact that the reasons of
the fires were intentional hostile activities of Azerbaijani side,
were received. By these actions the official Baku pursues a goal to
undermine the economy of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and prevent from
advancing development. For screening its activities the authorities
of Azerbaijan from the very outset launched a wide-ranging propaganda
trying to lay the blame on Karabakh side both in local and foreign
mass media, which is a continuation of a propaganda and psychological
war against the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and is an
awkward attempt to draw a veil over the aggression act. We would
like to remind that as early as 2001 the leadership of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic suggested through the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement a package of steps on
establishing confidence between the parties to the conflict, in
particular, cooperation on non-admission of ignition of pastures
and agricultural lands in the adjoining regions to Azerbaijani
side. Unfortunately, at that time the initiative of the official
Stepanakert was not supported in Baku and was not honored with proper
attention by the OSCE Minsk Group. Moreover, as early as June 15,
2006, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to the Office
of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in Office with a
request to conduct a crisis-monitoring in the territory bordering with
Azerbaijan to estimate the real situation on the spot and disprove
far-fetched accusations of Azerbaijani side. We would like to draw
the attention of the international community and, in particular, the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group to the circumstance that if they do
not to take measures concerning the hostile activities of Azerbaijan
the official Stepanakert will have the right to undertake adequate
corresponding activities for ensuring security of the republic. July
17, 2006

AA. 18-07-2006

Aging Oil Tankers May Provoke Ecological Disaster in Caspian Sea — Russian Expert

MosNews
Created: 18.07.2006 12:07 MSK (GMT +3),

A Russian environmental official warned Monday of potential ecological
disaster in the Caspian Sea if aging oil tankers are used to transport
crude from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan to be pumped through a U.S.-backed
pipeline that bypasses Russia, the Associated Press news agency
reported.

Oleg Mitvol, deputy chief of the Federal Service for Supervision of
Natural Resources, told reporters that small-capacity, single-hulled
tankers commonly in use on the sea were more likely to leak or spill
crude oil.

Western countries have pushed Kazakhstan to increase its oil exports
via the U.S.-backed pipeline that runs from Azerbaijan via Georgia
to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Mitvol said increased
shipments in the older ships would put the sea at greater risk.

"Oil deliveries by single-hull tankers pose a real threat to this
unique ecological region," he said at a news conference. "Why should
they worry about single-hulled oil tankers on, say, the Mediterranean
Sea, but not on the Caspian Sea? Why is the Caspian not worthy of
such protection?"

Kazakhstan, which possesses the largest oil deposits in the Caspian
Sea, currently exports most of its oil via Russia, but has been
seeking to establish alternative routes. Last month, it signed up
to pump its oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Talks to
build an extension of the pipeline under the Caspian, however, are
in their infancy, and in the meantime, Kazakhstan’s tiny fleet of
aging Soviet-era tankers is expected to increase crude shipments to
Azerbaijani oil terminals.

Russia strongly opposed the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and instead
pressed for Caspian oil to continue going through its network of
pipelines to the Black Sea.

Russia and the other four Caspian countries — Turkmenistan,
Azerbaijan, Iran and Kazakhstan — have been in tough talks for
years on dividing the sea and its resources, and there is no deal in
sight yet.

Azerbaijan: Bryza Will Discuss New Proposals on Karabakh in Yerevan

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.07.2006 14:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE MG American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza will
visit Yerevan and Baku to discuss new proposals on settlement of
the NK issue, Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists. "We
were informed that he has some new elements he wants to discuss,"
Mammadyarov said. In his words, Bryza will stay in the region from
July 31 to August 1.

At that Mammadyarov noted that if the Azeri party finds opportunity for
progress in the talks over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
in the proposals the US mediator is going to bring with him, Baku
may agree to organizing the next meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs.

"We have been working over basic principles for 2 years already. We
have agreed over most of these.

However, some serious problems remain, and if Bryza arrives with
any new ideas that can move the process forward, we will be ready
to continue the process. A meeting can be organized if necessary,"
Mammadyarov said, Interfax reports.

Armenian minister says all resources to be used in "fight against oil" –
agency

Regnum, Moscow
14 Jul 06

14 July: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said that
Yerevan can match the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Kars
(Turkey) – Akhalkalaki (Georgia) – Tbilisi – Baku railway with
its internal resources, international resources and the resources
of the diaspora. He was commenting on the official launch of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in the context of isolating Armenia
from regional projects and on the prospects of construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway again bypassing Armenia, or to
be more precise by passing the already existing Kars – Gyumri (Armenia)
– Tbilisi – Baku railway.

"We have carried out serious economic reforms. Our figures and
appearance are different from those of the countries of the region. But
this is the reform of the first generation. We should carry out the
reform of the second generation, in this case our achievements will
multiply.

"Today we are using 1-2 per cent of all the resources of the Armenian
diaspora. There is lack of trust. But new relations and the right
policy will bring about significant positive changes, large investment
and increased confidence.

"We are also conducting noticeable democratic reforms. A presidential
election is approaching. The incumbent president [Robert Kocharyan]
does not have the right to be elected for a third term. But there
are projects started by the president that need to be completed. Our
task is not to think about what political force will come to power,
but to build a policy for 10 years ahead. We
must take our county on a qualitatively new plane, and we have this
possibility. Armenia will become a reliable international partner,"
Vardan Oskanyan said. "In the fight against oil we must use our
resources," he added.

As was already reported, the official inauguration ceremony for the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline took place in Turkey on 13 July.