Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

RA NA will work to draw Karabakh in talks

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.04.2008 15:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenians should combine efforts for international
recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, RA National Assembly
Speaker said.

"We will offer the President and government to develop a basis for
security and defense of Nagorno Karabakh," Tigran Torosian said at
a join news conference with NKR NA Speaker Ashot Ghulian.

Commenting on the RA NA statement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement, Mr Torosian said, "The statement is still under
discussion. We though it urgent to debate the document with our NKR
counterparts."

Tigran Torosian emphasized that the Armenian parliament will work
to draw Nagorno Karabakh into talks as a full-fledged party, IA
Regnum reports.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT KEEN TO PURGE CUSTOMS SERVICE OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS

Public TV
April 17 2008
Armenia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has strongly criticized the work of
the State Customs Committee while meeting the leadership of this body
on 17 April. Sargsyan said that only those specialists who will serve
the state honestly should work in the customs sphere. "All those who
are not ready to carry out their duties diligently can say goodbye to
the system. There cannot be any bodies, individuals in our country,
who will have an opportunity to put pressure upon customs bodies,
or who can take up a risk of smuggling," the president said at the
meeting. The following is text of report by state-owned Armenian
Public TV on 17 April

[Presenter] President Serzh Sargsyan today discussed with the leaders
of the State Customs Committee the issue of clearing the customs system
of dishonest staff and the issue of fighting smuggling decisively. The
leader of the country said that people who communicate with customs
officials are rightly infuriated with the corruption and protectionism
that prosper in this area. Sargsyan believes a strict struggle against
the so-called "left" wallets is a priority when a wallet is opened for
a 95-year-old man from some region if he has an enterprise with a flow
of billions of drams, but a few weeks or months later this enterprise
naturally closes down and the traces disappear. The president is sure
that some people in the customs [committee] know who specifically is
engaged with ‘left’ wallets, but are taking no measures.

[Correspondent] President Serzh Sargsyan has strongly criticized
the work of this entity while meeting the leadership of the State
Customs Committee under the government of Armenia. Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan, the chief of presidential staff, Armen Gevorgyan, and
other officials attended the meeting as well. First, the president
mentioned that, along with its professional qualification, the
customs [committee] more often cause indignation among the people
who communicate with the system.

[President Serzh Sargsyan] For all those who are more or less
acquainted with the work of the customs bodies, it is clear that
today’s customs bodies essentially differ from those of several years
ago in terms of their professional qualification, the availability of
equipment, and of course, and in the first instance – by carrying out
their obligations in respect of the state budget. This is undoubtedly
an achievement, but unfortunately at the same time evil phenomena have
prospered in society as well – corruption, protectionism, arrogant
attitudes. This undoubtedly hampers the development of our economy and
causes justified anger among all those who communicate with the system.

[Correspondent] According to Serzh Sargsyan, only those specialists
who will serve the state honestly should work in the customs sphere.

[Sargsyan] All those who are not ready to carry out their duties
diligently can say goodbye to the system. There cannot be any bodies,
individuals in our country, who will have an opportunity to put
pressure upon customs bodies, or who can take up a risk of smuggling.

[Correspondent] According to the president’s assessment, smuggling
is equal to receiving an income without working, which damages the
economy and creates unequal conditions, and entrepreneurship becomes
a torture for a diligent entrepreneur. While touching upon the issue
of the measure of commodity prices, the so-called control prices,
Sargsyan said that the customs bodies do not have the right to wilfully
change prices every week. Any person who deals with business should
have the opportunity to get acquainted with all the control prices at
any moment at the website of the customs body. The prices presented
by the importer should be declared. Sargsyan said he believes that
if the state cooperates normally with the customs bodies, it will
not lose any luma [1/100th of the Armenian currency – dram].

[Sargsyan] All control prices should be on your websites. Any person
dealing with business in Armenia has the right to know at any moment
at what price one pencil is imported into Armenia. This should be
clear to all of us. I know, you can tell reasons, you will tell
this pencil is of the second category, one is of the first category,
the other of the fourth category, one is produced in this country,
the other – in another country. I understand these problems, so you
place the prices for the four categories.

[Correspondent ] To learn about the cases of smuggling within the last
quarter, the president addressed senior officials in the department
for combating smuggling.

[Sargsyan] Who is from the department for fighting smuggling? Take
a seat. How much smuggled commodities did you disclose in this quarter?

[An unidentified official] Sixty cases of smuggling were discovered
this quarter.

[Sargsyan] What is the amount for the smuggling cases? 100,000 drams,
150,000 drams?

[Unidentified official] To tell you the truth, I do not know.

[Sargsyan] So how do you work if you do not know? The result of your
work should be it. If you do not know the result of your work, so how
do you work? Those who outstep the threshold will be held accountable.

[Correspondent] Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that many of
the sphere’s representatives already know who is involved in drug
smuggling, but do not take measures. The president attaches importance
to the struggle against importing other commodities which are treated
the same as those not subject to customs fees and VAT. He said recent
checks have discovered numerous such cases. "I am sure that such
things are impossible without the involvement of customs officials,"
the president of the country said.

[Sargsyan] We should go down the route of self-cleaning. We should
raise the quality of the service provided. With its work, the customs
[committee] is obliged to contribute to the development of business in
Armenia. One huge area in the perfeceting of our business environment
is yours.

[Correspondent] Sargsyan demanded from the customs leaders that
they pay great attention to the problem when temporary imports are
registered, commodities are imported into the republic, which are
allegedly processed and exported. The president said smuggling is
in fact being legalized and this covers dozens of billions of drams,
which our country needs much.

[Sargsyan] All of us should live in a normal country, where one
can engage in business without complications. All studies show that
small and medium businesses are those who face difficulties first and
foremost. No big businessman has any problems in Armenia, especially
with the customs sphere. Does it suggest anything to you? We are
saying: "Create equal conditions", "Equal conditions for everyone"
– this is our task.

[Correspondent] The president of the country also said that
accomplishing the re-equipment program is a priority. This foresees
the improvement of the working culture of the customs [committee]
and civilized rules of communicating with people. Zaruhi Arzumanyan,
Arman Gharibyan, Vardan Petrosyan, Haylur.

AZERI EXPERTS SLAMS US STATE SECRETARY’S KARABAKH REMARKS

EKHO
April 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani political analysts have criticized US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice for her remarks that urged Azerbaijan and Armenia
to show political will and take a difficult decision concerning the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

"If political will of the USA allows to change this country’s attitude
to the conflict, the aggressor country will have to act in a similar
way. Azerbaijan does not need to take tragic decisions and make
concessions in the conflict that was sparked by the occupation of
20 per cent of historical Azerbaijani lands," head of the Centre
for Innovations and Political Technologies Mubariz Ahmadoglu
told the Azerbaijani Russian-speaking newspaper Ekho published on
18 April. He said that it is the USA that should take a difficult
decision concerning the Karabakh conflict.

Political analyst Oqtay Sadixzada told Ekho that Armenia, not
Azerbaijan should make concessions in the Karabakh conflict.

"Azerbaijan demands that international law is observed and its
territorial integrity is restored… As to Armenia, this country is not
ready for a constructive dialogue. And Condoleezza Rice understands
that very well," Ekho quoted Sadixzada as saying. He said he did not
expect any progress in the conflict settlement in the near future.

"We are far from any specific agreements, especially that the existence
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is advantageous to the USA, as well
as to Russia and France [the co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk
Group for the Karabakh settlement]," he said.

UN READY TO SHARE LABOR MARKET WITH ARMENIA

Panorama.am
20:35 18/04/2008

Today the fourth round day of "Reforms in universities by
cooperation. Tempus project" was held in the Yerevan State
University. 54 countries are involved in the project and 27 of them
are European Union countries, and the rest countries of Middle East,
Balkan, Easter Europe and Mediterranean. Armenia is also involved in
the project.

The project covers educational reforms and structural projects
which involve structural society and education, topical nets, and
organizational reforms and public sectors. The mission of the project
is the cooperation of the current countries in the labor market and
universities.

"We are intended to make the Armenia of 2010 country of educational
projects," said Levon Lazarian the minister of education and
science. He added that national reform of qualities should be drafted
and showed to the world.

According to the minister there is no other choice and the reform
should be principle one. The other reform concerns the professors’
staff. "We must bring the education together with the science and the
professor who made a paper late in 60th can not give the same to the
youth," he said.

The rector of the YSU Aram Simonyan said that due to the current
project a faculty of social work is opened in the university which
serves as a positive example to other regional countries.

The Ambassador and the representative of the European delegation Raul
de Luzenberger said that it is obvious Armenia is long to make the
reforms in the educational filed.

NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF RISE IN GAS PRICE MAY BE MITIGATED ONLY BY RESOURCES OF STATE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, ECONOMIST VARDAN BOSTANJIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
April 17, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Prices will go up in many sectors
due to the rise in the gas price, and Armenia has no other resources
of mitigating the negative consequences, except for resources of
the state financial system, economist Vardan Bostanjian, member of
the National Assembly "Prosperous Armenia Party" faction, expressed
an opinion at the April 17 press conference. According to him, the
Armenian government has developed a set of measures, by which an
attempt will be made to mitigate as much as possible the consequences
of the rise in the gas price, especially for the vulnerable groups of
the population. 1.2 bln drams (about 3.87 mln USD) will be allocated
from the state budget for this purpose. Besides, it was officially
announced that the electricity tariff will not change by late 2008,
which will also reduce the consequences of the growth of the gas
price. V. Bostanjian advised gas users to "establish a saving mode
of consumption", a mechanism of "restrained use".

The economist said that a lot of factors affect price fluctuations in
Armenia, including such factors as the situation in global markets,
the absence of resources of strategic nature in Armenia, as well as the
geopolitical location of our country. However, in his words, "there
are some factors that allow to take certain measures". He pointed
out such factors affecting the fluctuation of prices as the absence
of wholesale markets, the existence of monopolies and shadow economy.

V. Bostanjian said that the president Serge Sargsian has inherited
from his predecessor Robert Kocharian "an economy which is not in so
terrible a state, and there are opportunities to improve its state
currently and continuously".

INTERSTATE AGREEMENT OR PLAN AGAINST NATO

KarabakhOpen
17-04-2008 10:26:47

On April 18 the recurrent meeting of the joint parliamentary commission
of Armenia and Karabakh will take place in Stepanakert. Although
the meeting is said to be a recurrent one, it is obvious that it is
going to discuss an important issue for everyone – a comprehensive
agreement between Armenia and NKR. The agreement, as it has already
been noted, will include a point providing legal basis for Armenia
to defend Karabakh in case of aggression.

The decision on such a document was made 17 years after the declaration
of independence of NKR. It was not made even during the war when
hundreds of Armenian volunteers arrived in Karabakh to defend the
people of NKR.

Apparently the situation in the world has changed. The race
between the U.S. and Russia to spread their influence has become
tougher. The likelihood of NATO to expand in the East and the South
are perceived by Russia as efforts to bring "its" people to power in
some countries. However, Moscow considers the most adequate response
to NATO the threat to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The president of Abkhazia Sergey Bahapsh approves the likelihood of
the Russian government to open a Russian representation to Abkhazia
and South Ossetia.

What makes indignant is that the issue of recognition of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia is viewed in the context of Georgia membership to NATO,
stated the leader of the People’s Party of South Ossetia Roland
Kelekhsayev in commenting on the information that the Russian foreign
ministry recommended the president of Russia to recognize Abkhazia
and South Ossetia only in case of accession of Georgia to NATO or
military aggression against those states.

Is the interstate agreement between Armenia and Karabakh part of
this plan?

And in which case this agreement cannot be signed? If what?

PEABODY TO MARK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TOMORROW
by Stacie N. Galang

The Salem News
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
April 16, 2008 Wednesday
Beverly, Massachusetts

Apr. 16–PEABODY — Although fewer survivors remain, the city will
continue its tradition of commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide tomorrow morning by raising the country’s flag
outside City Hall.

The ceremony was begun in the early 1990s by former Mayor Peter
Torigian and has continued since, mayoral aide Mary Bellavance said.

Torigian’s mother survived the catastrophic event.

"This ceremony is our small way of paying tribute to the martyrs of
the Armenian Genocide," the former mayor is remembered for saying.

Bellavance, Mayor Michael Bonfanti, Torigian’s daughter Mary Torigian
Foley and others from the Torigian family have helped carry on the
annual commemoration.

"We have not missed a year," Bellavance said.

Bonfanti will lead off a short program inside City Hall following the
11 a.m. flag raising. The Rev. Vartan Kassabian of North Andover’s
St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church will give both the blessing
and the guest remarks. Filmmaker Apo Torosyan will give a video
presentation called "Witnesses."

The genocide was a Turkish campaign between 1915 and 1923 to
exterminate the Armenian people living in the crumbling Ottoman
empire. The campaign included death marches and concentration camps.

At tomorrow’s commemoration, Congressman John Tierney or a
representative from his office is expected to give remarks.

After the ceremony, light refreshments will be available.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
April 17, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REP. SMITH PRESSES STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL ON
AZERBAIJANI THREATS TO ATTACK NAGORNO KARABAGH

— Azerbaijani "War Drums are Beating" Warns NJ Legislator
during U.S. Helsinki Commission Hearing on Armenia

WASHINGTON, DC – A senior State Department official came under
intense questioning today over the Administration’s unwillingness
to confront Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s escalating threats
to launch his nation’s growing military arsenal against Nagorno
Karabagh "at any time," reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

Representative Chris Smith’s questioning took place during a
hearing called by the Congressional Commission for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) to examine the
impact of the recent Armenian elections on the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict and the overall state of U.S.-Armenia relations. A
leading Congressional voice on foreign policy and an energetic
defender of human rights, the New Jersey legislator pressed Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza to explain the State
Department’s response to threats of renewed Azerbaijani aggression,
which he quoted from at length for the benefit of his colleagues,
the panel of witnesses, and a standing-room only audience gathered
for the hearing. Noting that Azerbaijani "war drums are beating,"
he explained that it was only natural for Armenians to take a
defensive position against a potential "sucker punch" from
Azerbaijan. He asked, pointedly, "what clear and totally broadcast
in advance penalty would Azerbaijan suffer if it initiated
hostilities?"

Bryza, who devoted the bulk of his testimony to the elections and
the overall state of democracy in Armenia, sidestepped Congressman
Smith’s question, choosing instead to speak in broad terms about
U.S. mediation efforts: "In terms of penalty, I wouldn’t want to
speculate on that because all the various scenarios are so
unpredictable. What I can say is that any resumption of armed
hostility in and around Karabagh would be tragic – tragic for
everybody. Absolute disaster. Who the heck knows what the outcome
would be of the fighting, but as I said before, I think any
fighting would lead to the perpetuation of the current situation."
Bryza noted that Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) had on several occasions impressed upon him the
importance of the U.S. forcefully challenging Azerbaijan’s war
rhetoric. Calling portions of the border between Nagorno Karabagh
and Azerbaijan a "Caucasus Hiroshima," he noted that he shared
Representative Smith’s concern regarding regional tension and noted
that both the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents were scheduled to
hold Nagorno Karabagh talks in the near future.

Also testifying alongside Bryza, were Vigen Sargsian, a senior
assistant to the President of Armenia, Serge Sarkissian, and Arman
Grigorian, a spokesman for former Armenian President Levon Ter
Petrossian who teaches at the College of William and Mary in
Williamsburg, Virginia. The hearing was chaired by Congressman
Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and included the participation of the
Commission’s Co-Chairman, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD).

Sargsian welcomed the interest shown by Armenia’s Congressional
friends in the elections and, in his remarks, placed the recent
difficulties in the broader context of the growing U.S.-Armenia
relationship and the steady progress of Armenia’s democratic
development. He updated the Commission on the steps toward
reconciliation underway in Armenia and invited outside assistance
for inquiries into the unrest. "At their heart," he pointed out,
"the challenges we are confronted with today have less to do with
the conduct or even the outcome of the February 19th elections –
which, while imperfect, reflected the will of the Armenian
electorate – and more to do with efforts by an element of the
opposition that, having lost at the ballot box, sought to challenge
this outcome through illegal and ultimately extra-constitutional
means."

Grigorian, in his remarks, offered a sweeping indictment of the
Armenian government and the conduct of the elections, setting
conditions for President Ter Petrossian’s willingness to engage in
dialogue with four of the five major Armenian political parties
that have entered into a broad-based coalition agreement: "We
understand that we will have to negotiate with the regime, even if
we do not and will not accept its legitimacy… They must come to
terms with the idea that the dismantling of the current
kleptocratic system, in one way or another, will have to be the
purpose of these negotiations, or the negotiations will have no
purpose."

GROWTH OF FOIL-ROLLING PRODUCTION OF RUSAL UC IN 1Q, 2008, BY OVER 18% HAS BECOME RESULT OF PLANNED ACHIEVEMENT OF DESIGN CAPACITY BY ARMENAL PLANT

arminfo
2008-04-16 12:43:00

ArmInfo. Growth of foil-rolling production of RUSAL UC in 1Q, 2008,
by over 18% has become a result of planned achievement of design
capacity by ARMENAL plant, the press release of RUSAL reads.

According to the Company data, mining of grew by 13,1% to 4 537 288
tons as compared with 1Q, 2007. The volume of alumina production
increased by 3,5% to 2 837 030 tons as compared with the similar
period, 2007. Aluminum production grew by 9,4% to 1 096 236 tons,
that has become a reason of achievement of full design capacity by
Khakas aluminum plant. Output of cast production with high added
value grew by 17,8%, and its share made up 52% of the total volume
of aluminum production. Growth of foil-rolling production made up
18,4%. The total investments in 1Q, 2008, reached about $457 mln,
among which the investments for expansion, reconstruction, upgrading
and re-equipment of the active enterprises made up about $235 mln.

Commenting on the results of the Company’s activity in 1Q, Director
General of RUSAL Alexander Bulygin said: "Stable growth on all the
production indicators, reached during three months, 2007, is the
best proof of successful integration with the frames of the united
company, created a year ago. Having assured and tightened the position
of the biggest producer of aluminum and alumina in the world, we
prepared a good basis for beginning of implementation of a strategy
of diversification and turning our company into one of the leaders
of the world mining industry".

SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT OF THE AAA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

armradio.am
15.04.2008 17:45

President Serzh Sargsyan received the President of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America Hrayr Hovnanian,
President’s Press Office reported.

The interlocutors spoke about Armenia-Diaspora and Armenia-US
cooperation.

Hrayr Hovnanian said the Armenian Assembly expects to continue the
cooperation with the new President and serve to the Armenian people
with his activity.