Author: Nanijanian Alex

235 MILLION FOR ELECTORAL FRAUD

Lragir.am
14 April 06

The Millennium Challenge Corporation gave 235 million dollars to
Armenia on a condition. The money will be provided gradually, and if
any of the requirements of the corporation is breached, such as a
regression in human rights or democracy, for instance, the sum will
not be provided. The leader of the National Democratic Union Vazgen
Manukyan thinks this stipulation is favorable for the government, not
for the population. The leader of the NDU spoke to the Americans on
April 14 and explained his standpoint.

`They say the election in 2007 will be fair. Can you understand what
this means? The government does not care, they will falsify the
election if we fail to stop them. But this stipulation means that if
we speak about fraud, the government will tell people: look, because
of the opposition Armenia will not receive the money that was to be
spent on the construction of roads,’ said Vazgen Manukyan to the
Americans, and added, `you are not encouraging fair elections in 2007,
you want the opposition to be ashamed of speaking.’

Vazgen Manukyan thinks after the regression of democracy it is time to
`reconstruct democracy, although the word `democracy’ has lost its
value.’ If power in Armenia belonged to people, in the context of its
strategic interests Russia would have to account to the people of
Armenia. `They are not a fool but they can see that people’s opinion
should not be taken into consideration. And they do: they allow too
much to the government, legitimize, defend the support of Russian
power.’

BERNARD FASSIER: WAR CANNOT BE A SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 13:05

“The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are deeply confident that there is
no alternative to peace in the Karabakh issue,” French Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier declared yesterday at a news
conference in Yerevan.

He expressed concern over the fact that following the Ramboulliet
meeting of Armenian and Azeri Presidents there have been clashes and
even victims at the contact line.

“We should remind the parties that war can in no way be a solution
to the problem. War is the worst way for both countries, since it
will not resolve anything: despite the outcome of the war, the two
countries will find themselves at the former initial position,”
Bernard Fassier declared.

The mediator called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to build a joint future
without returning to what has been in the past and without centering
attention on who has been guilty in the past. He urged to follow the
example of France and Germany, which found the formula of peaceful
and mutually beneficial coexistence after long wars and confrontations.

Bernard Fassier refuted all the talks about changing the format of
the negotiations process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

According to him, the OSCE Minsk Group format is a constant one.

“We are decisive to use every chance for the settlement of the
conflict. It is a new approach in the activity of the Co-Chairs,”
Ambassador Fassier declared.

According to him, the Co-Chairs tried to work out some agreement
based on fundamental principles in Ramboilliet. He considers
that consent on basic principles will simplify the adoption of an
inclusive agreement. Fassier noted that the Co-Chairs aim at finding
the suggestions, which will be directed at the improvement of the
future agreement.

ARMENIAN WINE WILL NOT REPLACE GEORGIAN GOODS, GEORGIAN MP SAYS

Prime News Agency, Georgia
April 13 2006

Tbilisi. April 13 (Prime-News) – Armenian wine will not replace
Georgian wine in Russia, Giorgi Tsagareishvili, member of the Right
Opposition faction of the Parliament of Georgia told Prime-News
on Thursday.

According to him, intention of Avak Arutunian, Chairman of Wine
Producers Association of Armenia to replace Georgian wines with
Armenian production was not affordable, as Armenia has not tradition
of production of semi-sweet wines and it produces only sweet wines.

As for alcoholic drinks, Armenia produces only brandy, but Armenian
wine makers also use several Georgian brands that they have purchased
in the post-soviet period.

According to Avak Arutunian, Chairman of Wine Producers Association
of Armenia, the ban imposed on import of Georgian and Moldovan wines
to Russia is profitable for Armenia, as it will be able to fill the
gap with Armenian alcoholic drinks, Regnum news agency said

“The government of Armenia must start promotion of wine exporters
through long term and preferential credits. That money will be
necessary for promotion campaign in Russia and transportation of
wines. If the government of Armenia hesitates, tomorrow it may be
late”, Avak Arutunian was quoted as saying.

According to him, Georgian wine is the immediate rival for Armenian
one. Armenian wine has never been cheap because of transportation
expenditures, but now Armenian wine may compete with Georgian, he said.

33 wine enterprises operated and produced 2,5 m litres of wine in 2005,
Avak Arutunian said.

The similar statements were made by Pirmakhmad Dostiev, head of Wine
Department of Khurokvor Tajik corporation. But, according to the
Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia the Georgian
party was submitted an official letter by Tajikistan providing for
apology for the statement made with regard to replacement of Georgian
wines with Tajik goods.

MEDIATORS PRESS FOR ANOTHER ARMENIAN-AZERI SUMMIT ON KARABAKH
By Armen Dulian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 13 2006

The OSCE Minsk Group is trying to arrange another meeting of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in a last-ditch attempt to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict this year, its French co-chair Bernard
Fassier said on Thursday.

“It will be good if that meeting takes place in June or, if that is
not possible, in July,” he told a news conference after holding talks
with Armenian leaders in Yerevan.

Fassier, who held similar talks in Baku earlier this week, said
Presidents Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliev would most likely meet
on the sidelines of a high-level international forum. The French,
Russian and U.S. mediators are already looking for opportunities to
again bring the two leaders face to face.

The most recent Armenian-Azerbaijani summit, held at the French chateau
of Rambouillet on February 10-11, failed to live up to unusually
high expectations fuelled by the mediators’ upbeat statements. Many
had hoped that Aliev and Kocharian will reach a framework agreement
on Karabakh.

According to Fassier, the Minsk Group co-chairs still hope to build on
major progress in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks that was apparently
made last year. He pointed to the ongoing flurry of diplomatic activity
involving the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers as well as
the envoys representing Moscow, Paris and Washington.

Fassier’s U.S. colleague, Steven Mann, is due in Baku and Yerevan
later this month. The co-chairs plan to meet in Moscow early next
month to discuss details of the possible fresh talks between Aliev
and Kocharian, the French diplomat said.

BETWEEN EU AND MOROCCO TO BE USEFUL FOR ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 13, newly appointed Ambassador
of the Kingdom of Morocco to Armenia Abdeljalil Saubry (residence Kiev)
handed his credentials to RA President Robert Kocharian. Congratulating
the Ambassador on the occasion of his appointment, the President
expressed the hope that during his tenure certain progress will be
registered in the bilateral relations. According to Ambassador Saubry,
his country attaches importance to deepening of cooperation with the
South Caucasian states in consideration of the great resources of the
region. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press Service,
the sides highly estimated Armenia’s traditional close contacts with
the Arab world and expressed readiness to undertake concrete steps
in the direction of deepening the cooperation. In this respect they
considered formation of the respective legal-contractual field,
organization of mutual visits, activization of business contacts
and exchange of information to be their priority. Considering the
experience of cooperation formed between EU and Morocco as useful,
Robert Kocharian said that currently a process has started in the
Armenia-European Union relations that begun in Morocco many years ago.

“ARMINCO” COMPANY RECOGNIZED ONE HAVING PREDOMINANT POSITION IN INTERNET SERVICES MARKET

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA State Committee on Economic
Competition Protection recongized the “Arminco” company the one having
predominant position in the market of providing internet services. As
they informed from the committee’s Press Service, such a decision
was made at the April 12 sitting of the committee during which the
application got from “ArmenTel” on the occasion of that issue was
discussed. The committee researches found out that more than 1.9 bln
drams service was provided by 10 big internet providers during 2005,
37.1% of what falls to lot of “Arminco”. According to shares, the
“Netsys” (18.1%), “Kornet-AM” (15.6%), “Exolt” (14.5%), “Web” (9.8%)
companies follow “Arminco.” 454.6 mln drams service was provided by
21 economy entities acting in the market of international services of
satellite getting of data (getting of data with the help of satellite
to provide internet service to user). But none of them, according to
the research, occupies more than 33.3% of the market, though there
is no economy entity having predominant position in this market. It
was also found out, that only “ArmenTel” provides services of line
rented for exchanging data, just which was considered the one having
a predominant position in that market.

ARMENIAN MINISTER, US DELEGATION DISCUSS AID PROGRAMME, REGIONAL ISSUES

Noyan Tapan news agency
12 Apr 06

Yerevan, 12 April: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan today
received US Congressman Jim Kolbe (Arizona’s Eighth Congressional
District, Republican), a member of the House Financial Services and
Budget Committees, Scott Garrett (New Jersy’s Fifth Congressional
District, Republican), and Millennium Challenge Corporation Chief
Executive Officer, ambassador John Danilovich.

The congressmen are in Armenia as part of their regional tour.

They discussed Armenian-American relations, in particular, the
implementation of an agreement with the Millennium Challenge Programme
(MMC) and the opening of an office in Yerevan, the development of a
free economic system in the country and the strengthening of democracy,
and also some other issues of mutual interest, the Armenian Foreign
Ministry press service told Noyan Tapan.

The sides also noted the importance of openness and transparency for
the public when it comes to funds given to Armenia within the framework
of the Millennium Challenge Corporation as well as the importance of
the Armenian government’s adherence to democratic principles.

The sides also discussed regional issues, Armenian-Iranian and
Armenian-Turkish relations.

Minister Oskanyan briefed on the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict after the Rambouillet meeting.

ARMENIAN MPS APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO ENERGY LAW

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
11 Apr 06

Yerevan, 11 April: Armenia’s National Assembly today approved a draft
law on amendments to the energy law in its first hearing.

Eighty-six legislators voted for the draft law, Mediamax’s
parliamentary correspondent reports.

The amendments to the energy law aim to create mechanisms for
attracting foreign and private investments to the construction of a
new nuclear power plant in Armenia.

Under the draft, Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant cannot be
privatized, Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said. He added
that new provisions of the law refer only to the construction of a
new nuclear plant.

CITY SUBBOTNIK TO BE HELD ON APRIL 15 IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. During the April 15 city subbotnik
a special attention will be paid to the cleaning and planting of
trees in yards. As Romik Kosemian, Head of the Nature Protection
Department of Yerevan Mayor’s Office, informed at the April 10
press conference, it is already 3 weeks that planting of trees is
implemented in the capital, instead of 30 thousand trees planned for
planting in communities of Malatia-Sebastia, Erebuni, Shengavit and
Nor Nork, 49 thousand trees and 25 thousand bushes have been already
planted there. Planting of trees continues in other communities,
too, and in total, about 90 thousand trees will be planted by
late May. R.Kosemian said that by the program of planting trees in
Yerevan, starting from 2004, the work has been implemented by about
60%. In 2005-2007, in total, green zones with a square of about 260
hectares will be restored in Yerevan. About 16 thousand trees have
been already planted in the territory near the restaurant “Paros,”
in the Park of Victory and in the Nor Nork community. According to
R.Kosemian, for the purpose of protecting the green zones, this year
the Mayor’s Office will allocate 200 mln drams (about 445 thousand
USD) for the repairs of the irrigation network with a length of 20
km and Prefectures will allocate 250 mln drams for construction and
restoration of intra-communal irrigation networks.

It was also mentioned that this year the communities will allocate 400
mln drams for preservation of a green zone of 600 hectares. R.Kosemian
also informed that starting from May, the Mayor’s Office in association
with the Ministry of Nature Protection will start to make inventory
of trees on pavements, in parks and yards.

UNLESS OSCE MG PRESSURES ON ARMENIA, ITS ACTIVITIES WILL BE SENSELESS – AZERI STATE OFFICIAL
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 11 2006

Azerbaijan expects the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to make an impact
on Armenia. If the United States, France and Russia close eyes on the
occupation of areas, we should search justice not at the OSCE Minsk
Group, but somewhere else,Trend quotes Ali Hasanov, the head of the
Public-Political Department of the Azerbaijani President’s Apparat,
as stating on 11 April.

Hasanov said that Minsk Group should affect on Armenian for
rehabilitation of peace and stability in the South Caucasus. In the
opposite, the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group will be senseless.

Meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Armed Forces in Ramboillet,
as well as talks held earlier with the participation of Minsk Group
co-chairs on the intensification of the hint at the intensification
of peaceable resolution this year. These talks add positive chances
for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “We want the
major principles of the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be
outlined this year and putting of pressures on the sides to achieve
solution to the problem. The occupation of the Azerbaijani lands and
demand for the observation of the international rule of law are on
focus on the international community. However, Azerbaijan will never
step back from its positions and principles in the resolution of the
conflict. We will return our lands if we could resolve the conflict
in a peaceable way. In the opposite Azerbaijan will retain a right
for rehabilitation of territorial integrity,” he underlined.

He noted that Baku understands the concerns of foreign countries
unwilling the rehabilitation of war. No foreign country, in particular
the world powers participating in the global projects together with
Azerbaijan does not want Azerbaijan to liberate its occupied lands
in an armed way, or rehabilitation of the conflicts in the South
Caucasus. “It will probably have negative impact on the regional
cooperation, implementation of international projects in the region. We
try to prevent the armed resolution of the conflict and hope to resolve
the conflict through talks, as we well understand the calamities of
the war and do want it. We don’t want to spend all capacities and
incomes from dynamic development of Azerbaijani economy on war. We are
keen on directing the oil revenues on the development and expansion
of infrastructure, the road laying, construction of airports,
rehabilitation of sea ports, and prosperity of the region. We are
not thinking of war, but progress. The same time we can’t reconcile
with the occupation of our lands. So, in case of necessity we will
spend all wealth on the liberation of the occupied territory. Our
patience is limited,” Hasanov underlined.