Author: Nanijanian Alex

THE SHIRAK RESIDENTS ARE BEING INOCULATED

A1+
[01:20 pm] 15 June, 2006

Measures to prevent the bird flu are being taken in Shirak marz though
no case of the disease has been registered in the region so far.

The region has received about 10 thousand dose inoculums and has
inoculated the inhabitants free of charge.

Chief of the Regional Antiepidemic Board Karine Tairyan claims that in
case they are ordered to stop the measures immediately by the central
headquarters they will resume them in September – October as the flu
and other contagious diseases spreading through air, like respiratory
infaction grow acute especially in that period.

TV Company "Ttagy," Gyumri

MARGARYAN: RUSSIA’S PARTICIPATION IN IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE’S CONSTRUCTION "WILL NOT INFLUENCE THE PROCESS"

Regnum, Russia
June 15 2006

All questions, concerning Iran and construction of Iran-Armenia
pipeline, have been solved or are being solved, Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan stated, being interviewed by a REGNUM correspondent,
commenting on a statement of Iranian vice-ambassador to Armenia.

It is worth reminding that recently Iranian Vice-Ambassador to Armenia
Ali Akbar Jokar stated that the Iranian side had no information
about Russia’s wish to take part in construction of the pipeline. The
vice-ambassador stated that information about handing over a section
of the Iran-Armenia pipeline to Gazprom was not confirmed at meetings
with top officials.

According to Andranik Margaryan, if Russia participates in the
pipeline’s construction, "the fact will not influence the process."

It is worth stressing that the Iranian vice-ambassador stated recently
that Armenian-Iranian treaty on construction of the pipeline was not
changed anyhow. Ali Akbar Jokar pointed out that agreement of all
parties was a necessary prerequisite of changes.

IFC TO ACQUIRE 10% OF INECOBANK SHARES

AZG Armenian Daily
15/06/2006

The International Financial Corporation is willing to acquire 10% of
Armenian Inecobank’s shares. According to Regnum agency, the deal is
estimated at $1.3 million whereas the bank’s total capital amounts to
$12.3 million. The bank has 6 shareholders. The purchase of Inecobank
by the IFC will enlarge the latter’s presence in Armenian banking
sector. Besides acquiring 10% of the bank’s shares, IFC will assign
$4 million to Armeconombank for small and average business development
and hypothecary credit.

VAN NUYS MAN RAN INVESTMENT SCAM
Priscilla Rodriguez Reporting

KNX1070, CA
June 14 2006

VAN NUYS, CA (KNX) — Melkon Gharakhanian ran an investment scam
that swindled mostly Armenian-American victims out of millions is
scheduled to be sentenced today.

Gharakhanian pleaded guilty in January to one count of mail fraud,
and faces two to four years behind bars if the judge follows the
recommendations in a plea deal he made with prosecutors.

He admitted to being one of the leaders of a Glendale investment firm
that misspent money it took from people between 1999 and 2001.

The amount calculated by Gharakhanian and prosecutors was between
two and a half million and ten million dollars in total.

The judge determined that clients lost even more than that, he could
face more jail time than the plea deal proposes.

PAKISTANI ENVOY VISITS FRONTLINE REGION

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006

Pakistan has no political or economic relations with Armenia due to
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, its ambassador in Baku Mohammad
Hafeez said during a visit to the western Tovuz region bordering on
Armenia on Thursday.

The ambassador told the press that this was his first visit to the
frontline areas and he would visit other borderline districts of the
country afterwards.

Although the Tovuz district is not part of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh,
an Azeri region under Armenian occupation, civilians and residential
areas there are often subjected to shooting by Armenians.

During the visit, the Pakistani diplomat became familiar with the
living conditions of residents in the Alibayli village.

"I will share my impressions with ambassadors of other countries upon
returning to Baku. Let them come and see firsthand the suffering of
people living in the frontline territories," the ambassador added.

Parliament member Ganira Pashayeva, who initiated the envoy’s visit,
said she was holding discussions to arrange trips by ambassadors of
Western countries to the country’s frontline regions.

"Most of them have pledged to visit these areas. For instance, British
ambassador Laurie Bristow decided to tour the countryside in July or
August," she said.

ARMENIAN AGENCY ARMINFO “IMPLEMENTS A SPECIAL PROGRAM TO DESTABILIZE THE SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN”: AZERBAIJANI MP

Baku, June 13. ArmInfo. “The Armenian news agency ArmInfo implements a
special program on destabilization of the situation in Azerbaijan,”
Azerbaijani parliamentarian Mussa Guliyev told journalists, APA
reports. M. Gulyev attended the 27th session of OBSEC Parliamentary
Assembly in Armenia. He said Ogtay Asadov did not congratulate the
Armenian speaker Tigran Torosyan on his election. He said that such
information aroused tension in the Azebaijani public.

Commenting on the T. Torosyan’s words that Ogtay Asadov addressed
him a congratulation message, Mussa Guliyev said his colleague Asyaf
Hajiyev read out congratulations addressed to Russia only on the
occasion of the Independence Day. “No other congratulation was read
out. Simply, ArmInfo agency prepared a special program to destabilize
the situation in Azerbaijan. The agency spread this information in
Azerbaijan via Internet. Now, the information war between Armenia
and Azerbaijan continues despite the observance of the cease-fire by
Azerbvaijan. Their journalists acted quite aggressively with respect
to Azerbaijan. Whereas our press is not aggressive. Out press is more
interested in creating tension in the relations of the government
and the opposition,” the Azerbaijani MP said, APA reports.

To note, commenting on this information spread by the Azerbaijani
party, Speaker Tigran Torosyan told ArmInfo: “It is simply senseless
speaking of this topic. All you heard the text read out by the member
of the Azerbaijani delegation. What can I add to it?”

GOLD RESERVES ARE NOT FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA, SAID PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BANK

Lragir.am
13 June 06

The president of the Central Bank of Armenia announced June 13 that
it is not favorable for Armenia to have gold reserves in the upcoming
years. According to the president of the Central Bank, having gold
reserves is favorable when the foreign assets exceed the foreign debt,
reports the news agency ARKA. The gold reserve of Armenia was sold in
2003 when Tigran Sargsyan was the president of the Central Bank. Tigran
Sargsyan assures that the sale of the gold reserve was determined by
the necessity to transfer 3 billion dollars to the state budget of
Armenia. At that time the gold reserve totaled 15 million dollars,
while the foreign assets reached 770 million dollars.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MET IN PARIS

ArmRadio.am
14.06.2006 11:09

According to the agreement reached after May 5th meeting of Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Bucharest, the Foreign Ministers of the
two countries Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov met yesterday
in Paris.

The talks were attended by the Russian and French Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard fassier, as well as
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej
Kasprzyk.

The principles and approaches of the conflict resolution were discussed
during the meeting.

The parties agreed to continue the talks to bring the positions closer.

US COMPANY INVESTS $1 500 000 INTO AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES UNDER ARMENIAN OCCUPATION

Today, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006

Foreign companies continue to invest capital to Azerbaijan’s
territories under Armenian occupation to exploit natural resources
there.

As APA reports, the investigations proved that US ATA-Vank-Les Company
has invested $1 500 000 in Nagorno Karabakh.

This company engaged in making parquets. Besides, Swiss Andronik
Shpon Company engaged in woodworking has invested $340 000 in the
region. Armenia’s Max Wood Ltd has invested $144 300 in Karabakh.

The Ministry also reports that capital costing $35 million was invested
in renewing of the economy of the so-called “Nagorno Karabakh Republic”
in the period between 2001 and 2003. Foreign capital shares $25
million of this investment, Armenia shares $5 million and the same
amount is shared by businessmen acting in Karabakh.

Karabakh Armenians living in the US, Canada, France, Australia,
Switzerland, Lebanon, Russia and Armenia continue to make investment
in Nagorno Karabakh.

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FOREIGN MINISTER MRS. MICHELINE CALMY-REY IN ARMENIA ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT

ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 10:26

Deputy Chairman of the Federal Council of the Confederation of
Switzerland, Foreign Minister Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey is in Armenia
on an official visit.

Today she will be received by her Armenian opposite number Vardan
Oskanyan.

After the meeting the parties will sign a convention on excluding
double income and property taxation. The Foreign Ministers will give
a joint press conference.