Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

TEHRAN NOT INFORMED ABOUT GAZPROM’S WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

Regnum, Russia
June 13 2006

No changes had been made in Armenian-Iranian agreement on the
Iran-Armenia pipeline construction, Iranian Vice-Ambassador to Armenia
Ali Akbar Jokar stated during a news conference on June 13.

According to him, making of changes is conditioned by all parties’
agreement. "We are not informed about a wish of the Russian side to
participate in the pipeline construction. Information, that Russian
Gazprom has received Iran-Armenia pipeline’s section, is not confirmed
during Armenian top-level officials too," the vice-ambassador stated.

Also, Ali Akbar Jokar stated that the pipeline is constructed within
the schedule – "the pipeline will be put into operation on the target
date." "Iran assumed obligations to supply gas to Armenia and it will
keep its word," Jokar concluded.

It is worth reminding that earlier Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander
Ryazanov stated that Gazprom would solve question of its participation
in Iran-Armenia pipeline construction by the end of 2006. According
to him, there was agreement between the company and the Armenian
energy ministry, but it had frame character and did not consider
details. Ryazanov informed that working group was established to
discuss questions, connected with list of energy objects, which
would enter into the project later, as well as with scheme of gas
processing. Intergovernmental agreement would also be needed for
Gazprom’s participation in Iran-Armenia pipeline’s construction.

It is worth reminding that pipeline’s 40-km long Megri-Kajaran
section is constructed due to $30 mln Iranian credit. The pipeline’s
construction is to be finished till 1 January 2007. At the first stage,
Iran will supply into Armenia 1.1 bln cubic meters of gas annually,
and since 2019 – 2.3 bln cubic meters of gas annually.

After the pipeline’s construction will be finished, it will be
connected up to ArmRosgazprom gas-main system.

RA AMBASSADOR PRESENTS ESSENCE OF POLITICAL REFORMS IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA TO PRESIDENT OF AUSTRIAN NATIONALRAT

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 14 2006

VIENNA, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues relating to
the home political situation in Armenia were discussed at the the June
13 meeting of Armenian Ambassador to to Austria Ashot Hovakimian with
President of Austrian Nationalrat Andreas Khol.

Ambassador Hovakimian presented the essence of the political reforms
implemented in the country through constitutional amendments,
the current interrelations between Armenia and its neighboring
countries. The Ambassador expressed bewilderment that Turkey –
a country intending to become a EU member, keeps in a blockade a
country cooperating with EU within the framework of the European
Neighborhood policy.

A.Hovakimian attached importance to the role of Austria in the issue
of further development of EU-Armenia cooperation within the framework
of the European Neighborhood policy.

RA Ambassador also touched upon the issue of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide mentioning that the international community gradually
moves towards this.

A.Khol mentioned that Armenia has a good reputation in the Austrian
public perception, which is partly conditioned by Franz Werfel’s
contribution, as well as the activity of the Mechitarist Congregation
of Vienna.

According to RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
on June 9, RA Ambassador was also received by President of Austrian
Bundesrat Sissy Roth-Halvax. Armenian-Austrian interparliamentary
relations, as well as prospects of establishment of cooperation among
Armenian marzes and Austrian regions were discussed at the meeting.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL KEEP SECRET A-320 CRASH CAUSES UNTIL OFFICIAL DECISION OF EXPERTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 13:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian authorities have been advised of the
causes of the crash of the Armenian plane but they are not empowered to
make the information public yet, RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
told reporters yesterday. In his words, the authorities will keep the
information secret until the official decision of experts in announced.

To remind, On May 3 night Airbus-320 owned by Armavia national carrier
crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler airport killing all of
113 people aboard, including 6 children and 8 crewmembers. Among them
were 26 Russian citizens, one Ukrainian and one Georgian citizen,
while the rest were Armenian citizens.

Meanwhile, an anonymous source in the investigating committee said the
faults of the crew have become the reason for the A-320 jet crash in
the Black Sea. The decoding of the flight recorders showed that the
pilots "have lost spatial orientation" in bad weather conditions. It
was also ascertained that the pilots had taken a too big list when
making the second turn by order of the flying control officer. These
factors, specialists say, led to the catastrophe.

SITUATION IN JAVAKHK REACHED DEADLOCK OVER ABSENCE OF STEPS FOR CHANGING SITUATION

Yerkir
14.06.2006 16:44

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The socio-economic problems of Javakhk are urgent
for the governments of Armenia and Georgia, chairman of “Javakhk”
friendly association Shirak Torosian stated in Yerevan. In his words,
the situation reached a deadlock because no one takes serious moves
to change the situation.

“No serious investigations are carried out to reveal the causes of the
tension. Instead some Armenian politicians make public statements that
conflict with the interests of Armenia and the Armenian population of
Samtskhe-Javakhetia. Sometimes it seems they do not even know where
Javakahk is located,” Torosian remarked.

Shirak Torosian underscored that the region is an Armenian historical
land with aboriginal population, which standing on a geopolitical
crossroad can play an important role for the improvement of the
Armenian-Georgian relations.

“The Georgian language is essential for the integration of Armenians
into the state structures. The Armenian language should be recognized
as the second state language in the region. It’s inadmissible to
prohibit it,” the association chairman said.

As for the idea of independence of the region, Torosian considers
that presently the necessity of raising the level of the local
administration is more urgent. “The Akhalkalaki authorities should
have the right to form the budget and deal with the cultural and
educational issues. Separatism is not in the interests of Armenians. If
Georgia becomes a federal state Javakhk will become a unit of the
federation. Unlike Abkhazia and South Ossetia we do not strive for
separation,” Shirak Torosian stated.

MINISTER PUNISHED ARARAT GOLD

Panorama.am
16:45 13/06/06

Nature protection minister Vartan AIVAZYAN will ban Ararat Gold
to settle near lake Sevan, the minister told a press conference
today. “If they continue working with the same methods, they will not
get permission,” he stated. Aivazyan was asked if they will authorize
Ararat Gold to build a factory near Sevan in case they change their
methods, Aivazyan answered, “after all, they are an economic entity.

They will receive permission only if they meet nature protection
responsibilities.”

The Nature Protection ministry has punished the factory and required
that it stops work for three month. “The level of cyanogen has
exceeded the required norm in their production,” the minister
said.

KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION OFFERS TO ESTABLISH PROFESSIONAL ARMY IN AZERBAIJAN
Author: E.Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006

The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) offers to establish in
Azerbaijan a professional army, Akif Nagi, the chairman of KLO, made
such a statement at the round table held on June 12, Trend reports.

He noted that it was need to involve the officers participating in
the first Karabakh war in the creation of the professional army.

“Army creation is of great importance for Azerbaijan of which 20
percent territory is under occupation. The Azerbaijanis conducted
several successful military operations during the first Karabakh war,”
told Nagi.

According to him, the large-scale military operations started on June
12, 1992 demonstrated the force of Azeri army and military efficiency
of officers and soldiers. The experience of this way confirms the
necessity to transfer to the recruitment for the army on contracted
or professional base. Besides, Nagi ruled out the necessity to present
this topic to the regular discussion of public.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 9 2006

2006 TO BE YEAR OF SERIOUS REFORMS IN JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM OF
ARMENIA: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. 2006 will be the year of serious reforms in
the judicial and legal system of Armenia, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian reported during the ceremony of taking the oath by the
judges, appointed by the presidential decree as of 1 June 2006.
Kocharian pointed out that the first round of judicial and legal
reforms was implemented in 1998-1999. However, the following logical
steps were somewhat late.
The president reported that the development of the package of
judicial conception is now completed, and discussions of the document
initiated in the Public Prosecutor’s Office. `Our objective is to
fully prepare the legislative package of reforms,’ Kocharian said.
The following judges of the Economic court Samvel Grigoryan and Taron
Ghazaryan, judges of the Courts of first instance Alexander Ghazaryan
(Erebuni and Nubarashen districts of Yerevan), Samvel Tadevosyan
(Kentron and Nork-Marash districts), Harutyun Yenokyan and Hovhannes
Melkonyan (Shirak region) took the oath at the sitting of the Council
of Justice of Armenia at the presence of the Armenian President. R.O.
–0–

OSKANYAN: “AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT IN BUCHAREST”

Today, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006

“No progress was made at the meeting between Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in Bucharest,” Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated.

In his words, matters over which Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
failed to reach consensus in Rambouillet, were not agreed upon in
Bucharest either.

“Despite the new formula and approaches OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
proposed, they failed to reach agreement,” Oskanyan said. At that
he noted that the Kocharian-Aliyev meeting was held in a normal
atmosphere.

“Nevertheless the FMs of the two countries are commissioned to
continue talks over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
try to find common points before the next meeting of the presidents,”
Oskanyan added, according to APA.

URL:

OFFICIAL YEREVAN CONCERNED ABOUT ENROACHMENT UPON ARMENIANS IN RF

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Foreign Ministry
has already informed the RF Foreign Ministry’s Press Spokesman who
was in Yerevan recently, about its concern about nationalists’ killing
6 Armenians in the RF starting from early 2006. Gegham Gharibjanian,
the RA Deputy Foreign Minister informed journalists about it on June
6 at the RA National Assembly.

According to him, the problem will be discussed during the coming
high-ranking meetings. He himself, as a coordinator of ties with CIS
countries, intends to speak with RF Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

According to G.Gharibjanian, the problem itself is serious, and the
Foreign Ministry of Armenia and the RA Embassy to Moscow look after
events carefully.

“We must come to the point that there will be no similar cases
with our citizens,” the Deputy Minister emphasized. At the same
time he noticed that “there is a problem of observing the happened
from a more global viewpoint” irrespective of citizenship of killed
people. According to Gharibjanian, displays of chauvinism as well
as interracial clashes, exist not only in the RF but in “any country
where cheap manpower has appeared during the recent years” so it is
not proper to look for a Slavonic or other track. The Deputy Ministr
is more than sure that display of enmity in the RF towards Armenians
may not obstacle the Armenian-Russian relations as the latter are
seriously strategic and “are not based on few individuals.” He is not
of the same opinion with the circulated viewpoint either that in the
issue of preventing cases of chauvinism or punishing those guilty,
the RF authorities’ pasiveness proves that criminals enjoy patronage
of some state structures. According to Gharibjanian, one of reasons
for the recent dischargement of the RF Prosecutor General may be his
not preventing displays of chauvinism. He also expressed an opinion
that one of steps of the new Prosecutor to be appointed soon will be
the struggle against interracial clashes.

VARDAN OSKANYAN RECEIVED THE AMBASSADOR OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

ArmRadio.am
07.06.2006 17:18

June 7 RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received the newly appointed
Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Armenia Enver
Khalilovich (seat in Moscow). The latter handed the copied of his
credentials to Minister Oskanyan.

Vardan Oskanyan congratulated the Ambassador on appointment and wished
success in carrying out his high mission.

Minister Oskanyan noted that the relations between Armenia and Bosnia
and Herzegovina are at the initial stage of development. He emphasized
the importance of establishing a legal field between the two countries,
which will promote the deepening and activation of existing ties. The
interlocutors attached importance also to the cooperation within
international organization.