Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

RA FOREIGN MINISTER HAS MEETINGS WITH RF SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY, OSCE MG RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR AND RUSSIAN ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN IN MOSCOW
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2006
MOSCOW, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian’s 3-day working visit to Moscow started on April
5. The same day in the evening Minister Oskanian met with Secretary
of RF Security Council Igor Ivanov. During the conversation the
sides touched upon the current state and development prospects of
Armenian-Russian bilateral relations, as well as exchanged thoughts
about a number of issues of mutual interest, regarding regional and
international security. In the morning of April 6, V.Oskanian met with
OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chairman Yuri Merzliakov at the Armenian
Embassy in RF. Then Minister Oskanian received a number of Russian
Armenian businessmen. At the meeting the Minister highly estimated the
latters’ interest and confidence in Armenia’s economic potential and
market. Expressing gratitute for the programs implemented in Armenia
by the Armenians from all parts of the world, Minister Oskanian also
mentioned the necessity to systematize this process. In particular,
presenting the program aimed at promoting the development of the
Armenian villages, V.Oskanian informed that it will be one of the
main issues to be submitted for discussion at the Armenia-Diaspora
third Forum to be held on September 18-19. At the meeting, during
which an interested dialogue on prospects of Armenia’s development
and Armenia-Diaspora cooperation in different spheres proceeded, the
businessmen expressed readiness to take part in these discussions and
to assume implementation of concrete programs. In the second half of
the day RA Foreign Minister made a speech under the title “Cooperation
and Security in the South Caucasus” at Moscow Carnegie Center,
which is one of the Russian leading research centers of political
and public sciences. Representatives of Russian state and political
circles, scientific-research and higher educational institutions of
Moscow, diplomatic missions in RF, Russian and foreign media had come
to listen to RA Foreign Minister’s speech. In the evening Minister
Oskanian will meet with the Armenian students of Moscow State Institute
of International Relations at RA Embassy. According to RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, in the morning of April
7 Vartan Oskanian will meet with RF Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

AZERBAIJAN MILITARY BUDGET REACHED $600 MILLION
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2006 21:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The amount of funds assigned from Azerbaijan’s
budget for the Armed Forces has come from $170 million to $600
million. According to a decree of Azerbaijan’s President, monthly
additions, those for title and other expense items of servicemen are
to be increased two times. Beneficial mortgage credits are also to
be provided to them, Trend reports.

IRAN: WHAT IS ALLOWED TO THE WEST IS NOT ALLOWED TO AZERBAIJAN
“PanARMENIAN.Net” analytical department
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2006 GMT+04:00
“Azeris want to unite and create united Azerbaijan. But they should
not even dream about that”, said the ambassador of Iran in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan wants to enlist the support of United States in the
settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and makes a curtsey towards
Turkey hoping that United States will note that. And since Turkey is
still one of the strategic partners of US in the region, the actions
of Azeri authorities are more than “justified”.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second world congress of Azeris was really an
“event” for the Azeri Diaspora, which is scattered, uncoordinated
and at times simply harmful for Azerbaijan. It is not a hard job to
bring examples proving the idea: numerous criminal battles in Russia,
odd actions “in support of Turkey” which obviously does not need any
support, though skillfully uses the Azeri factor struggling against
the international recognition of Armenian genocide. Thing that have
happened this time may from the first glance look strange or even
accidental. Statements against Iran, appeals to the people of South
Azerbaijan to unite and finally – announcing that Persian poets are
Azeri poets.
Most likely, Azerbaijan wants to win the support of United States in
the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and makes a curtsey towards
Turkey hoping that United States will note that. And since Turkey is
still one of the strategic partners of US in the region, the actions
of Azeri authorities are more than “justified”. Even more “justified”
is the behavior of Azeris in the light of threats to Iran. It is true,
but nevertheless Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan. Iran accepts threats
quite adequately. Azerbaijan cannot afford things that the West can,
all the more appropriation of Persian cultural heritage.
The mess stirred up after the announcements made by the chairman of the
world congress of Azeris Javad Derekhty about the creation of united
Azerbaijan. In reply to this, the ambassador of Iran in Azerbaijan
said: “They want to unite and create united Azerbaijan. But they
should not even dream about that”.
This announcement was followed by the reaction of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Iran. The diplomatic note from Iranian foreign
ministry said: “Under conditions when Azerbaijan has faced the
problem of territorial integrity, such announcements contradict to
national interests and are harmful for the strengthening of mutual
relations. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly
urges Azerbaijan to immediately put an end to such actions, stop the
activities of anti-Iranian elements and maintain the amicable agreement
between the two countries. Let us live and see how Azerbaijan benefits
from such announcements. Though I am the ambassador of the Islamic
Republic of Iran in your country, I myself am an Iranian Azeri. In
Iran there is a large number of parties and organizations, which
try to undertake certain actions in the republic. We do not create
favorable conditions for them. Such announcements may create serious
problems in future. It is necessary to put an end to speculations
of that kind. The state should not allow anyone to speak out against
the interest of another country during an official event.
Such people will not do good to Azerbaijan”.
It is not we to decide will they do good or not. But the fact is
that official Baku has already started rewriting not only their own
history, but also the history of Iran. Azeri “historians” seem to
have forgotten that playing with Iran is very dangerous.
Iranian Ambassador Suleymani has reminded once again that everything
written by the former President of Iran Mohammad Khatami about the
fact that Nizami Gyanjevi is an Iranian poet is plain truth. Nizami
wrote and created in Persian. He does not have any literary works in
Azerbaijani. “Azerbaijan doe not have a single proof, not a single
fact that could testify to the fact that Nizami wrote in Azerbaijani.
He did not read his poems in Azerbaijani. He read them in Persian
and later they were translated into Azerbaijani”, the ambassador
said. He also spoke against calling Shakhriar an Azeri poet. It is
noteworthy that the phenomenon of presenting Iranian poets as Azeri
poets began yet in 1960s with the coming of Heidar Aliev first as a
head of National Security Office and later as First Secretary of the
Communist Party of Azerbaijan.
In this connection it is worth quoting the phrase of 19th century
English Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli: In reply to the question why
there is no anti-Semitism in Great Britain, Disraeli (a christened Jew)
said: “the English simply do not think that Jews are smarter”.

‘DASHNAKTSUTIUN’ PARTY WORKED OUT A CONCEPT OF GRANTING ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP AS A SECOND ONE
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. The ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party worked out a
concept about granting a second Armenian citizenship to Armenians
residing abroad, said the head of the party’s parliamentary group
Levon Mkrtchian. The concept contains the main terms of adopting dual
citizenship in Armenia which will be taken as a base for corresponding
legislation. To the opinion of ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party members, persons
with dual citizenship that have resided in Armenia for several years
and have fulfilled al their civil duties must be give the right to
elect and be elected. Also a list of offices, to which citizens of
only Armenia can be admitted, must be published.
The concept says that the persons with dual must pay taxes and do
military service in only one of the states of their citizenship. The
concept provides for simplified order of becoming of citizenship for
Armenians from all over the world. Mr. Mkrtchian said that this term
is also in accord with the Constitution of Armenia, which is based
upon the principle of blood and not of terrotory.
L. Mkrtchian and his party fellow A. Rustamian said that all the terms
of the party’s concept are taken from the experience of other states
and are to be regulated also by international agreements. They said
those terms will be submitted to the National as a draft legislation
bill in autumn 2006.

UEFA CHIEF EXECUTIVE ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer
Olsson, arrived in Yerevan on an official visit on April 3, at the
invitation of Chairman of the Football Federation of Armenia Ruben
Hayrapetian, had a meeting with FFA Chairman Ruben Hayrapetian on the
same day at which Ishkhan Zakarian, the Chairman of the Sports State
Committee attached to the RA Government, was present as well. The
UEFA Chief Executive, touching upon the state created after the
Evro-2008 drawing of lots, when the national teams of Armenia and
Azerbaijan must compete with one another, said that the UEFA is ready
to create a commission which will be both in Armenia and Azerbaijan,
will study the created state and make conclusions. Ch.Osslon mentioned
that the wish of the UEFA is that meetings take place in Armenia
and Azerbaijan, but it’s clear that there are difficulties connected
with issues of security. Osslon mentioned at the same time that they
do not want to touch upon political problems and have a hope that
they will find solutions for the issue isn’t turned into a political
problem. He specially emphasized that Armenia has a very stable and
firm position in this issue what is very valuable. On the same day
the UEFA Chief Executive visited the Matenadaran (Armenian repository
of ancient manuscripts), the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and had
meetings with Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the Press Secretariate of the Football Federation of
Armenia, the solemn opening ceremony of the second small field with
artificial grass surface took place in the address of Khorenats 47
(in the yard of former “Druzhba” department store) at 11:00, April
4. The UEFA Chief Executive and the FFA Chairman were to be present
at the ceremony.

A NEW AUTHORIZED PLAN OF SAVING ARMENIA
Lragir.am
03 April 06
It is possible that in 2006 Raffi Hovannisian will present a detailed
report on his notion of development of Armenia. Hovannisian stated
this during his news conference on April 3 at the Pakagits Club. The
interesting thing about the statement is that Raffi Hovannisian cannot
be found in the model of development he will present. The leader of
the political party Zharangutiun stated several times that for him
power is not a goal, and according to him, this should be the motto
of qualitative changes in Armenia, guiding all the political forces.
“For me it does not matter whether there will be early or scheduled
elections in Armenia if their quality does not change. A large-scale
consolidation is necessary for qualitative changes,” says Raffi
Hovannisian. He says this is the only way of achieving change of
power and quality of governance. His presence in this new quality of
governance is not necessary for Raffi Hovannisian.
“Power is not the meaning of my life,” he says. Of course, he does
not deny that he would try to satisfy the public and civil demand if
there is such.
Raffi Hovannisian will begin the process of transforming power from a
goal into a means from his political party. He remembers that during
the meeting in May, when the election to the party’s bureau will be
held, he will demand that there be several candidates of the leader
of the party.
“We have to get rid of the complex of a political party of one person,”
says Raffi Hovannisian. Thus he hints at his fellow oppositionists
who mostly suffer this complex. According to Raffi Hovannisian, one
of the reasons of failure of the opposition movement is that everyone
wants to be leader.
“The recent activities of the opposition need a self-critical
approach. There was, in fact, a public, civil demand, but I think
there were both organizational and ideological drawbacks, also in the
sense that everyone wants to be leader, axis,” says Raffi Hovannisian.
He says there are small axes within the opposition, and the problem
now is to organize a consolidated movement. Raffi Hovannisian believes
that the movement will develop within the current year.
“We should give up the gladiator’s “you or me” approach,” says the
leader of the Zharangutiun Party. According to him, this struggle
must have one main goal – “to mobilize citizens” for them to feel
the power of initiative. For this purpose Raffi Hovannisian’s party
is going to be in the regions, halls, and “to listen to people.” “As
well as to listen to the citizen, not only propagate downward. We
have lost the art of listening,” says Raffi Hovannisian.

HEAD OF MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CORPORATION TO VISIT ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 31 2006
Yerevan, March 31. /ARKA/. Executive Director of the USA Millennium
Challenges Corporation John Danilovich is to be on a visit to
Armenia on April 10-15, 2006, RA Minister of Finance and Economy
Vardan Khachatryan told a press conference. The goal of the visit is
discussing the details of the Millennium Challenges Corporation~Rs
program in Armenia and getting acquainted with preparatory work.
Danilovich intends to get acquainted with the terms of establishing
the Corporation~Rs office in Armenia, which is expected to be opened
in June 2006, as well as with the projects implemented and planned
under the program.
On March 27, 2006, the Millennium Challenges Corporation and the
Republic of Armenia signed a 5-year compact worth $235.5mln under the
program of assistance to Armenia. The program envisages 6% poverty
reduction through a steady increase in agricultural produce.
The Millennium Challenges Corporation was founded early in 2004 under
the US Department of State~Rs program of economic development and
poverty reduction worldwide. P.T. ~V0–

PROGRAM OF EVENTS TO BE HELD WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE APPROVED
PARIS, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The third sitting of joint committee
on organization of Year of Armenia in France was held on March
29 in Paris. The Armenian and French delegations discussed the
process of preparation of the year and the program of events at the
sitting. Within the framework of the sitting Armenian Ambassador to
France Edvard Nalbandian and Director General of the Cooperation and
Development Program of France Phillip Etienne signed working documents
that stipulate the agreements achieved earlier and establish the
principles of organization of Year of Armenia in France. According to
the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, at the sitting the Armenian logo was approved
and the program of Year of Armenia in France, that includes about
200 events to be organized in more than 40 cities, was summarized. In
the symbolic aspect Year of Armenia in France will be held from 2006
September 21 to 2007 July 14, from the Armenian National Holiday
to the French National Holiday. The solemn opening of the year will
take place in late September 2006 in Armenia and the solemn closure
in early September 2007.

45 PER CENT OF IRAN-ARMENIA AND ANOTHER THERMAL POWER PLANT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO RUSSIA
Lragir.am
31 March 06
On March 31 Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party
and Republican Gagik Minasyan were to discuss the energy security
of Armenia at the Hayeli Club. The debate, however, involved a wider
range of issues.
First the topic. Aram Karapetyan thinks that the best solution for
the energy system of Armenia would be the establishment of joint
ventures. But we preferred to give, we implemented a program “Property
for Debt.” According to Aram Karapetyan, probably it is not the worst
thing that we gave the property to the supplier of row materials. “At
least, we will not have problems with other countries.” Aram Karapetyan
thinks that 45 per cent of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and another
thermal power plant will be transferred to the Russian Federation. “We
have given so much that the transfer of these is objective.” Unlike
Aram Karapetyan, Gagik Minasyan spoke about the past and future of
the energy sector of Armenia and omitted the present. “Ten years
ago we could not build a gas pipeline from Iran. Now it is being
constructed. We must increase the amount of energy generated by
water power plants to 3.7 kWh out of the 6 billion kWh. It is about
1 billion now.” For this reason the government of Armenia spurs the
construction of small water power plants, states Gagik Minasyan. “Let
us consider the news about transferring the Iranian gas pipeline and
the water power plant to Russian Federation to be news,” offered the
Republican MP.
Moreover, Gagik Minasyan thinks the complementary policy of Armenia
has led to the ability to combine the interests of the West,
Russia and Iran in Armenia. In addition, “all the international
organizations, engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh issue, accept
the standpoint of the Armenian party and reject the standpoint of the
Azerbaijani party.” Aram Karapetyan disagrees. “The complementary
policy is applied to the economy, and applying it to politics is
Vardan Oskanyan’s know-how. What complementarism is concerned if one
comes and presses on us and we give them whatever they want, another
comes and presses on us, demands something, we give it to them. As
a result we remain barefoot.”
Aram Karapetyan thinks the Iranian gas pipeline width is small due
to pressure from the outside. “The gas pipeline is intended to supply
gas to Armenia in case the Russian gas pipeline is blown up. Whereas
Khanjyan had also foreseen the construction of an oil pipeline.”
The only question to which the parties agreed was the nuclear plant.
Armenia should never give up on nuclear energy. Moreover, Armenia
should build another nuclear plant or replace the nuclear plant of
Metsamor by a modern one of a capacity of at least 1000 megawatt and
a regional importance. Considering that Turkey and Iran have greater
wish and possibilities to build powerful nuclear plants, the speakers
think there is no time to wait. However, a nuclear plant costs 1.7-2
billion dollars. We know this. We also know that we do not have so
much money. Either they do not know, or they do not want to tell
where we could get this money.

MINISTERS EVADE QUERY ON ARMENIAN ‘BROTHERS’
Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 03/31/2006
Daily Nation, Kenya
March 30 2006
A question on the presence of two foreigners at the centre of mercenary
allegations was not answered because of confusion on which ministry
is responsible.
The question, by Mr Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya, Narc), was deferred for
the second time in a week after it became apparent that no ministry
was willing to answer it.
The question on the controversy surrounding Armenians Artur Sargsyan
and Artur Margaryan first appeared on the Order Paper on Tuesday.
Mr Kamotho wants to know if the two businessmen are really investors as
they say, the kind of business they are in and why they were accorded
high security by the state. He also wants to know if the two have
any links to the Armenian government.
The question was first directed to the ministry of Foreign Affairs,
but could not be answered after assistant minister Danson Mungatana
said it should be referred to the minister for Internal Security in
the Office of the President. Mr Mungatana said he would consult with
OP to have the question answered.
But when the question came up yesterday, it had been redirected to
the ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons.
There was even more confusion when Mr Ananiah Mwaboza, an assistant
minister in the ministry, said he could not answer the question
because it should have been directed to the Office of the President.
Mr Mwaboza’s reply caused uproar, with several Opposition MPs rising
on points of order to demand that the question be answered.
Mr Gor Sungu (Kisumu Town East, Narc) said the Government was not
interested in answering the question and was taking Parliament for
a ride.
Dr Abdullahi Ali (Wajir North, Kanu) accused ministers of “taking
Parliament for a joke” and insisted that the question be answered.
Speaker Francis ole Kaparo said he was also amused by the answer given
by the assistant minister: “There are some issues that amuse, and this
is one of them. This question has been redirected from one ministry
to another. Why is that no minister wants to handle this issue?”
Mr Paul Muite (Kabete, Safina) said the leader of Government Business
should explain why no minister was prepared to answer the question.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua agreed
there was confusion. Ms Karua, who is the deputy leader of Government
Business, promised that the question would be answered on Tuesday.
She said: “I want to promise that the question will be answered on
Tuesday, even if it is me who will answer the question under the
doctrine of collective responsibility.”
Parliament does not sit Friday to Monday.