Author: Nalbandian Albert

PanArmenian News
Feb 25 2005

ARMENIAN PREMIER MET WITH SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

25.02.2005 15:43

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
met with Syria’s Ambassador to Armenia Hassan Al Raslan, who is
completing his mission in Armenia. During the conversation the
parties noted of the satisfactory level of the Armenian-Syrian
cooperation in agriculture, science, education and culture. Andranik
Margarian and Hassan Al Raslan featured the regularity of sittings of
the Armenian-Syrian intergovernmental commission. The Armenian
Premier said he is convinced that the resolutions adopted at the
third sitting of the commission will considerably contribute to the
further development of bilateral relations. Before the departure
Andranik Margarian wished Syria’s Ambassador progressive work and
expressed hope that in the person of Hassan Al Raslan, who is
completing his mission in the republic, Armenia will have one more
friend abroad.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Feb 24 2005

Chief of Russian Railway Calls for Restoration of Link via Abkhazia

Chief of the state-run Russian Railway Company Genadi Fadeev said
on February 24 that restoration of the railway link through Georgia’s
breakaway republic of Abkhazia `will be the key for resolving
problems in the Caucasus,’ RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The railway link via Abkhazia has been defunct for the past eleven
years, after the armed conflict in the region ended. However, Russia
unilaterally restored rail traffic between Moscow and the Abkhaz
capital of Sokhumi in 2004.

Genadi Fadeev said that the current situation with the railway
communication is absolutely acceptable for Abkhazia. `[Rail] traffic
is organized there,’ he added.

He also said that involved parties should launch talks in order to
restore the railway connection between Russia and Georgia via
Abkhazia, which will also be beneficial for Armenia.

PanArmenian News
February 23, 2005

PUTIN AND BUSH POSSIBLE TO DISCUSS KARABAKH PROBLEM, ARMENIAN PREMIER
CONSIDERS

23.02.2005 13:52

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian did not
rule out that the Karabakh problem will be discussed during the
meeting of Vladimir Putin and George Bush in Bratislava, RFE/RL
reports. In his words, taking into account that Russia and the US are
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the Presidents of the two states are
likely to discuss the Karabakh conflict among other regional
problems. “I do not think that the US and Russian Presidents will
come to decisions not known to the conflicting parties so far”,
Andranik Margarian noted.

PanArmenian News
Feb 21 2005

ARMENIAN-IRANIAN BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN 2005

21.02.2005 12:59

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An Armenian-Iranian business forum is to be held in
2005, the person in charge of economic issues of the Iranian Embassy
in Armenia Ali Najafi said. He conditioned the importance of the
forum by the necessity of providing Iranian and Armenian businessmen
with the information on economic aspects of the two states. When
touching upon the Iranian investments in Armenian economy Ali Najafi
noted that the numerous representations of Iranian companies in
Armenia give hope that the amount of the investments will be still
increased.

ARMENIAN PM: WE HOPE BUDAPEST COURT TO ARRIVE AT FAIR VERDICT ON CASE OF ARMENIAN OFFICER MURDER

PanArmenian News
Feb 19 2005

19.02.2005 14:02

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We hope for the Budapest court to arrive at a
fair verdict over the case of murder of Armenian officer Gurgen
Margarian”, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated,
Armenpress reported. A. Margarian said he was sure that the results
of the expertise unambiguously show that Ramil Safarov has committed
the crime intentionally, in cold blood and he was compos mentis. All
attempts by the Azeri party to protract the trial at various pleas,
to shift it to the political plane and even to make a hero of R.
Safarov in Azerbaijan will fail, he stated. “Of course we cannot
revive Gurgen Margarian, but we should keep making efforts at every
level for a fair verdict to be returned,” Andranik Margarian said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S PRESS SECRETARY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO INDIA

PanArmenian News
Feb 18 2005

18.02.2005 18:42

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed a decree
on dismissing Ashot Kocharian from the post of Press Secretary and
his appointing Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to India, the President’s press service reports. According to another
decree Karen Nazarian was appointed Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Iran.

ITV, UK
Feb 18 2005

Djorkaeff set to join MLS giants

Breaking News, Friday February 18 2005

Former France international Youri Djorkaeff is joining Major League
Soccer outfit New York/New Jersey Metrostars.

The 36-year-old former Monaco, Paris St Germain, Internazionale,
Kaiserslautern, Bolton and Blackburn striker is eager to start his
new life in the United States after finally sealing the deal with the
MLS.

“This is a new life starting for me,” Djorkaeff, a member of France’s
1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning teams, told a Paris press
conference on Friday.

“I have been spoilt throughout my career and I had decided to retire
if the deal with New York fell though.

“I had no wish to join a club in Qatar. On the contrary it was a
sporting and life choice, as it’s always been a dream for me to live
in the United States.

“I am leaving France on Sunday with all my family who are also eager
to start this new adventure with me,” added the veteran forward,
whose family roots are in Armenia and who is an honorary citizen of
that country.

Djorkaeff wants to help soccer develop in the United States.

“I have been in touch with them since I was at Bolton,” added the
Frenchman, who said that his three-month spell at Ewood Park earlier
this season was mainly to keep him fit.

“I really wanted to move to the United States. The MLS is a very
interesting league. There are 12 clubs this season but there will be
14 next which shows there is a real desire to take it forward.

“I would like to sort of open a door. Soccer is not well known in
America and I want to contribute to making it more popular.”

The length of Djorkaeff’s contract has not been revealed.

He said: “I can’t tell for how long I will stay because when you sign
for an American club there is no definite time.”

Club president Nick Sakiewicz added: “It’s been two years of
discussions. Youri is a real gentleman and I will be very happy to
see him play every weekend for us.

“As long as Youri has fit legs, he will play with us.”

The American league will kick off on April 2 with the Metrostars
facing Real Salt Lake City.

Djorkaeff is to join his future team-mates in Ecuador where the team
are currently following a pre-season training programme.

FINDINGS OF OSCE MISSION TO CONTROLLED TERRITORIES TO BE SUBMITTED TO OSCE MG
CO-CHAIRS IN LATE FEB

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14. ARMINFO. The findings of the OSCE mission to
the territories controlled by Nagorny Karabakh will be submitted to
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in late Feb, says the Russian co-chair
of the OSCE MG Yuri Merzlyakov.

After considering the findings the co-chairs will send them with their
comments to the OSCE chairman-in-office Dimitry Rupel and then will be
examined by the OSCE standing council. Merzlyakov expects this to end
by mid Mar. Before that the OSCE MG will meet to consider the findings
and the results of the last Prague round of the Karabakh peace talks.

The possibility of new visits will depend on the results of the
mission. It was not a regular visit of the OSCE MG, says Merzlyakov
refusing to give his opinion of the mission saying that it may not
coincide will the official findings.

Everest Northern Wall 2005 International Non-Commercial Expedition

Everestnews.com
14 Feb 2005
Green line is 2004 route, red line is proposed 2005 route

On top of the highest peak in the world, climbers will lift banners against
terrorism and in favor of peace when they summit Mt. Everest in a climb
dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Victory in World War II.
This Russian Expedition, called the “Everest Northern Wall 2005
International Non-Commercial Investment Project”, will begin with departure
from Moscow on March 1 with Everest ascent beyond base camp to be March
24-June 1. The team of 39 climbers will approach the mountain from the
center of the Northern wall.

In anticipation of the Everest expedition, a Peace March-Memory March was
held September 19-November 3 of 2004. Those participating in the march
visited all the regions of the Northern Caucasus and almost all points of
tension. They covered over 10,000 km. and carried with them the Banner of
Peace donated by heirs of M. Yegorov and M. Kantaria, prominent heroes of
World War II.
The banner, delivered to the Everest climbers, will be part of the mission
for peace represented by the summit of Everest. The expedition will receive
live international coverage on both radio and television when banners are
lifted to peace and victory on Everest’s peak.
The expedition is looking for additional sponsors, if interested please
e-mail
# Name Sport rank Position City Note
“Everest Northern Wall 2005 International Expedition”
1 Vladimir I. Prikhodko 1 Head of the expedition Moscow , RUSSIA
Team 1, the center of the Northern Wall of Everest
2 Kazbek B. Khamitsayev Master of Sports Chief Coach of the expedition
Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA
3 Alexander L. Zelensky Master Candidate Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA
Candidate
4 Yuri V. Proyaev Master Candidate Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
5 Eugeni V. Gudenko Master Candidate Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
6 Alexander P. Glazov Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
7 Serguei V. Yegorin Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
8 William T. Gagiyev 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
9 Anatoli D. Abisalov 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
10 Vitali V. Ivanov Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
11 Igor O. Bondarenko Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
12 Dmitri N. Zhirnov 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
13 Alexander V. Rodin 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
14 Maxim N. Akulov 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
15 Alexander N. Yakovenko Master of Sports Climber Moscow , RUSSIA Candidate
16 Nikolai A. Totmyanin Master of Sports Climber St. Petersburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
17 Alexei V. Bolotov Master of Sports Climber Yekaterinburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
18 Eugeni M. Vinogradsky Honored Master of Sports Climber Yeketrinburg ,
RUSSIA Candidate
19 Valeri N. Pershin Honored Master of Sports Climber Yeketrinburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
20 Sergei V. Borisov Int’l Master of Sports Climber Yeketrinburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
21 Victor I. Igolkin Master of Sports Climber Magnitogorsk , RUSSIA Member
22 Yuri V. Oleinikov Master of Sports Climber Magnitogorsk , RUSSIA Member
23 Gennadi P. Kiriyevsky Master of Sports Climber Magnitogorsk , RUSSIA
Candidate
24 Sergei G. Bogomolov Honored Master of Sports Climber Saratov , RUSSIA
Member
25 Sergei I. Bershov Honored Master of Sports Climber Kharkov , UKRAINE
Candidate
26 Alexei V. Raspopov Master Candidate Climber Almaty , KAZAKHSTAN Candidate
27 Giya O. Tortladze Master of Sports Climber Tbilisi , GEORGIA Candidate
28 Fabricio Zangrilli Climber USA Candidate
29 Robertson Hemish Climber AUSTRALIA Candidate
30 Peter G. Leonov Master of Sports Climber Makhachkala, RUSSIA Candidate
31Chad Kellogg Climber USAMember
Team 2, the North-Eastern Crest
31 Valri G. Rogozin Master Candidate Climber Magnitogorsk, RUSSIA Candidate
32 Igor K. Korenugin Master Candidate Climber Voronezh, RUSSIA Candidate
33 Victor Ye. Perevalov 1 Climber Moscow, RUSSIA Candidate
34 Gaik D. Tonoyan Int’l Master of Sports Climber Yerevan , ARMENIA Member
35 Tigran N. Nersesyants Master Candidate Climber Yerevan, ARMENIA Member
36 Leo A. Sarkisov Honored Master of Sports Climber Tbilisi, GEORGIA Member
37 Mikhail Ye. Melnikov Int’l Master of Sports Climber Minsk , BELORUSSIA
Member
38 Alexander G. Maximenya Master of Sports Climber Minsk, BELORUSSIA Member
39 Nikolai F. Zhilin Master of Sports Climber Yekaterinburg, RUSSIA Member
Support Team

ONLY 7.3% OF ARMENIANS EXTREMELY POOR

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11. ARMINFO. Only 7.3% of Armenian citizens are
extremely poor says the head of the social assistance department of
Armenia’s Labour and Social Security Ministry Astgik Minasyan.

These are people scoring 41.01 and more points of eligibility for
poverty allowance. The families with such an index will get 6,000 AMD +
4,000 per child in Mar 2005, while families living in highlands and
borderline regions will get 4,500 AMD. Large families – 6 children
or more – will get 22,000-24,000 AMD.

The families scoring 38.01-41 points will get 6,000 AMD + 3,500 AMD
per child and 4,000 AMD for highland and borderline region residents.
34 or less point scorers will get 6,000 AMD plus 3,000 AMD and 3,500
AMD respectively. This year the beneficiary families with a new born
child will get 70,000 AMD instead of 35,000 AMD. The additional 35,000
AMD can be received at office or regional social services.

Last year 135,000 families got poverty benefits. Some 20 bln AMD has
budgeted to this end this year against 16 bln AMD last year.