Author: Tamamian Anna

AZERBAIJAN’S WTO ACCESSION POSSIBLE BEFORE RUSSIA’S

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 7 2007

It is not ruled out that Azerbaijan will be admitted to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) before Russia, APA-Economics reports
quoting responsible secretory of State Commission for Azerbaijan’s
WTO accession. Russia is not able to put forth any claim against
Azerbaijan as Russia itself is preparing for WTO membership.

As for Armenia’s interference with Azerbaijan’s accession to the
World Trade Organization (WTO), Mr.Muradov underlined that, Armenia
will do its best to impede Azerbaijan: "Armenia will try to get
opportunity to restore economic with Azerbaijan relations which is
inevitable."

MUCH WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESOLVE SO-CALLED FROZEN CONFLICTS: OSCE PA PRESIDENT

arminfo
2007-07-06 12:48:00

"In the young democracies of both Central Asia and the Caucasus, much
work still needs to be done." The President of OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly Goran Lennmaker particularly pointed to the unresolved,
so-called frozen conflicts, notably in Nagorno-Karabakh, but also in
Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. These all carry high human,
economic and political costs, Goran Lennmarker said in Vienna before
the 16th annual session of OSCE in Kiev.

OSCE headquarters told ArmInfo that Goran Lennmarker expanded on
his own active involvement in seeking a peaceful solution to the
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan about Nagorno-Karabakh –
first as the Special Representative on Nagorno- Karabakh of the
Parliamentary Assembly and now as its President.

"For some time now, I have talked about ‘a golden opportunity’ for
an agreement and now, after another visit to the Caucasus, I believe
more than ever in that opportunity," said the President.

A good framework agreement that addresses the main concerns of all
parties has been presented by the Minsk Group, co-chaired by France,
Russia and the United States, he said. It is ready to be signed by
the leaders of the two countries, if the political will is there.

"The alternative, a new war, is unthinkable." The advantages of
a peace accord for the two countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
are huge. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons
and refugees could return and re-start their lives. With a peace
agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh, he continued, the two countries and
Georgia could, in earnest, work to build a region characterized by
security, democracy and prosperity.

He said that as Western Europe reaches out eastward, it was
important to understand the difficulties in building new, independent
nations. That work will not be completed overnight. But engagement
must continue not just for the sake of these countries but for the
sake of all of Europe, Goran Lennmarker said.

The Messenger, Georgia
July 5 2007

Armenian Imports Three Times Its Exports

By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

>From January to May of this year, cargo turnover in Armenia increased
by 39.1 percent over the same period in 2006, reaching nearly USD 1.6
billion.

According to the news agency Regnum, the value of exported goods was
USD 423.6 million (a 24.9 percent increase) with imported goods
equaling USD 1.1 billion (a 45.3 percent increase)-meaning that
Armenia faces similar trade problems as Georgia. The amount imported
exceeds the amount exported by almost three times.

Cargo turnover with CIS states came to USD 506.8 million-33 percent
of the entire cargo turnover, exceeding the 2006 amount by 60.6
percent. The main trading partner for Armenia is Russia. Trade with
Russia reached USD 224.6 million, 14.6 percent of total trade
revenue. That’s 64.2 percent more than the 2006 value.

Trade turnover with the EU reached USD 579.2 million, chalking up
growth of 29.3 percent. Trade with the US came to USD 75.3 million, a
52.8 percent increase.

In the first five months of the year, Armenia exported USD 134.2
million in goods to CIS states-including USD 82.8 million.

Exports to the EU were worth USD 197.7 million, an increase of 7.3
percent. USD 18.7 million in goods was exported to the US.

That same period saw Armenia importing USD 322.1 million in goods
from CIS states, yet another significant increase, coming to half
again the previous years’ number. USD 209.8 million in imports came
from Russia, a 65 percent increase. Imports from EU states were worth
USD 340.5 million; from the US, USD 73.2 million.

On the map, Armenian trade with Russia should naturally go through
Georgia, but the slew of Russian travel and trade embargoes on
Georgia make it necessary for cargo to take a more roundabout route.

Nagornyy Karabakh is always for restoration of contacts with
Azerbaijan, the NKR president’s advisor says

arminfo
2007-07-04 16:36:00

Nagornyy Karabakh Republic has always been for restoration of contacts
with Azerbaijan, the NKR president’s advisor, Arman Melikyan told
ArmInfo correspondent when commenting on the latest visit by
Azerbaijani intellectuals to Nagornyy
Karabakh.

Saying that separate representatives of the Azerbaijani intelligentsia
assess this visit as "the necessity of having contacts with Azerbaijani
citizens", Melikyan added that . , – Melikyan said and added that
Azerbaijan is coming to understand that without participation of
Nagornyy Karabakh the conflict cannot be settled. , – Melikyan
concluded.

Lawyer Hrayr Ghoukassyan Has Questions to Investigation in Levon
Ghulyan’s Death

arminfo
2007-07-04 14:21:00

The examination of Levon Ghulyan’s death arouses a number of serious
questions, Hrayr Ghulyan, the lawyer of the legal successors of L.
Ghulyan, said at a press conference, Wednesday.

He stressed the necessity of verifying if one can get such traumas not
compatible with life as a result of falling. In addition, experts have
arrived at a conclusion that the traumas were a result of falling onto
an obstacle. However, they do not specify the trauma received. The
investigation must also expose who the hand traces on the window (which
Ghulyan is officially said to have fallen out of ) belong to, the
lawyer said.

Hrayr Ghoukassyan is sure that the conclusions that there were no harms
caused to the body after death neither confirm the police version nor
deny the possibility of murder, incitement to suicide etc..

Rene van der Linden uses cliche and diplomatic expressions offering
support in the matter of the ‘frozen conflict’s’ settlement in the
South Caucasus, the NKR president’s advisor thinks

arminfo
2007-07-04 14:21:00

PACE President Rene van der Linden uses cliche and diplomatic
expressions offering support in the matter of the "frozen conflict’s"
settlement in the South Caucasus, the NKR president’s advisor Arman
Melikyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

much these interests coincide with ours. This is a problem that claims
settlement. Anyway, it is a problem, who, whom and how can actually
help in this region>, – Melikyan said.

To recall, at present PACE president is in Armenia within the framework
of the regional visit. Speaking on the eve of his visit, Rene van der
Linden said that his aim in returning to the region is to see how PACE
can do more to solve the frozen conflicts in the countries of the South
Caucasus.

PanARMENIAN.Net

If U.S. doesn’t agree on Putin’s proposal Russia will have to take action
04.07.2007 17:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s first Vice Minister Sergey Ivanov didn’t
rule out that the United States will reject Russia’s proposal and
warned of adequate countermeasures. `If our proposals are not accepted
Russia will continue explaining its position, earnestly and
patiently,’ Ivanov told journalists.

`At the same time we will take adequate measures to provide
security. To say more, we have already taken some steps. An asymmetric
and effective response has been already found,’ Sergey Ivanov
said. `We know what we are doing. It’s 100 percent security under any
circumstances,’ he added, ITAR-TASS reports.

During the G8 summit in Heiligendamm Russia’s president proposed
George Bush to use jointly the Gabala radar station leased by Russia
from Azerbaijan.

The other day in Kennebunkport, Mr Bush welcomed the initiative but
said the U.S. won’t refuse from plans to install anti-missile defense
assets in Eastern Europe.

VIVACELL COMPANY PROVIDES MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR ASSISTING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jul 2, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The VivaCell company provided more
than 100 thousand dollars for the purpose of assisting the inclusive
education program in Armenia. With the funds provided by the company,
in particular, inclined planes will be built in eight inclusive schools
of Yerevan and the Tavush region, teachers’ retraining courses will
be held, resource classrooms will be created in some schools. Besides,
three minibuses adjusted specially for the disabled will be purchased
for the purpose of ensuring children’s taking to school and back.

Narine Hovhannisian, the Head of the General Education Department of
the RA Ministry of Education and Science, said on July 2, when signing
the agreement, that 14 inclusive schools function in Armenia, at which
attend 257 children needing special conditions for education. At the
same time, she said that many disabled children are still isolated
from society and are not involved in the general education.

Ralf Yirikian, the Director General of VivaCell, said that the
private sector bears responsibility towards the country where it
promotes activity.

In his words, the latter should do everything possible to reduce
social inequality, especially among children.

Sheldon Yett, a representative of UNICEF in Armenia, expressed the
hope that the other Armenian companies will also follow the positive
example of VivaCell.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONCERNED ABOUT RFE/RL FUTURE IN ARMENIA
By Anna Saghabalian and Harry Tamrazian in Prague

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
July 2 2007

Visiting senior representatives of the Council of Europe warned the
Armenian authorities on Monday against effectively pulling RFE/RL off
the air, saying that its Armenian-language broadcasts are essential
for political pluralism in the country.

The members of a Council of Europe body monitoring Armenia’s compliance
with its membership obligations to the Strasbourg-based organization
arrived in Yerevan on a regular fact-finding mission that comes in
the aftermath of the May 12 parliamentary elections.

Armenian leaders say that their handling of the vote, described
as largely democratic by European observers, marked significant
progress towards the fulfillment of those commitments and hoped to
earn corresponding praise from the so-called Ago Group. However,
the visit was clearly overshadowed by their controversial drive to
amend the Armenian laws on broadcasting and state duties in a way
that could end RFE/RL’s widely accessible broadcasts.

Ambassador Per Sjogren, head of the group representing the Council
of Europe’s decision-making Committee of Ministers, made a special
statement on the issue at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian. He said the planned ban on retransmission of foreign
broadcasts by Armenian state radio could result in a "serious and
adverse impact" on press freedom.

Sjogren also criticized the government proposal to impose heavy fees
on private radio stations engaging in such re-broadcasts. He said the
"disproportionately high broadcasting fees" would strongly discourage
those stations from doing business with foreign broadcasters like
RFE/RL.

"This approach would be contrary to the public interest and the
important contribution that independent and free media should make to
fostering public debate, political pluralism, and diverse opinions,"
the Swedish diplomat said.

Expressing his personal position on the matter, Oskanian again voiced
support for continued unfettered activities of RFE/RL’s Armenian
service. "I hope that a solution will be found as a result of which
Radio Liberty will continue its broadcasts in Armenia," he said.

Oskanian also promised to convey the Council of Europe concerns to
his government.

Sjogren and other members of the Ago Group are due to meet President
Robert Kocharian and parliament speaker Tigran Torosian on Tuesday.

RFE/RL’s future in Armenia was high on the agenda of their meetings
earlier on Monday with Armenian opposition parties and non-governmental
organizations.

In Vienna, meanwhile, the top official at the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe monitoring freedom of the media,
Miklos Haraszti, reiterated his concerns about the draft amendments
in question. In a phone interview with RFE/RL, he said they could
"significantly weaken Armenians’ access to information."

Haraszti also said that he will convey his concerns to the OSCE’s
Vienna-based governing Permanent Council in a special report.

SLOVENIA TAKES UP ROLE OF EU PRESIDENCY IN MACEDONIA

Makfax, Macedonia –
July 2 2007

s of July 1, Slovenia represents the Portuguese EU presidency in
Macedonia and Montenegro, where it will perform duties on behalf of
Portugal as long as Slovenia takes-over the EU presidency next January.

Slovenia, according to rules set by the European Union, will hold the
role of EU presidency in Skopje and Podgorica for a period of one year,
as Portugal which took over the rotating EU presidency on July 1 has
no embassies in Macedonia and Montenegro.

Italy will chair the EU in Albania on behalf of Portugal. France will
carry out duties in Armenia and Kuwait and Slovakia will carry out
the duties of EU presidency in Belarus.

Slovenia, in line with guidelines by EU presidency, will carry out
the EU activities in Skopje and Podgorica pertaining to foreign
and security policy, policing and judicial co-operation in criminal
matters. /end/