Author: Tvankchian Parkev

ARMENIA’S INTERNET LINK BREAKS . . . AGAIN

TeleGeography, D.C.
Aug. 7, 2006

Armenia has been cut off from the internet for the second time,
after cable failures interrupted connections. The breaks, on 4 and 5
August, were caused by cable breakdowns in the Kutaisi region and a
break on the Black Sea seabed link. No information on when the damage
will be fixed is available, but the outages are an embarrassment
to the government which sees information technologies as key to the
development of the national economy.

NKR PRESIDENT DISCUSSED ISSUES OF RESTORATION OF BIGGEST HOTEL IN
SHUSHI WITH AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN

Stepanakert, August 3. ArmInfo. The issues of restoration of the
biggest 9-story hotel in Shushi were discussed during the meeting
of NKR President Arkadiy Ghukassyan with the American businessmen
and patrons, the co-owners of the former Shushi central hotel, the
family of Palayants and Akop Pokhikyan.

As ArmInfo was told in NKR President’s press-office, during the
meeting, the businessmen told the NKR President about the course of
repair-renewal operations and plans. It is scheduled to put the hotel
in commission by the beginning of May, 2007. The President noted
the importance of retaining a unified architectural image of the
city of Shushi during restoration and construction works. He highly
appreciated the contribution of Serzh Palayants and Akop Pokhikyan in
the implementation of charitable and investment programs in Nagorno
Karabakh.

SLOVAK WRESTLER PREPARES FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HEADED BY ARMENIAN SPECIALIST

TSAGHKADZOR, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. 19 years old Mikhal Herbachik,
a member of the team of Slovakia also participates in the
educational-sporting gathering of the free-style wrestling team of
Armenia being held in Tsaghkadzor. The Slovak sportsman, headed by
trainer Kajik Kostanian from Abovian, is preparing for the world
youth championship to start in Guatemala on August 31.

KARABAKH POLITICAL EXPERT ABOUT FORTHCOMING VISIT OF OSCE MG US
CO-CHAIR TO STEPANAKERT

Stepanakert, July 29. ArmInfo. On the eve of the visit of the newly
appointed US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza to
Nagorny Karabakh, Karabakh political expert David Babayan has given
an interview to ArmInfo concerning his expectations from the visit.

He says that the visit is of both procedural and political nature. In
terms of procedure, each newly appointed co-chair should visit
conflicting countries, should see the situation with his own eyes,
should establish personal ties with the leaders. So, in this light,
this will be a kind of acquaintance visit. Still, in terms of
politics, one cannot avoid visiting Nagorny Karabakh. It is not a
secret that Nagorny Karabakh together with Azerbaijan is the key party
to the conflict, irrespective of who is negotiating today. The
restoration of the trilateral negotiating format or direct talks
between Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan is just a matter of time. In
this light, Bryza’s visit is very important especially now that the
efforts to resolve the conflict exclusively through Armenian-Azeri
presidential talks have failed.

To remind, Bryza is to visit Stepanakert today and is to meet with NK
President Arkady Ghoukassyan.-0-

IMF-RA NA COOPERATION TO CONTINUE

YEREVAN, JULY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly is ready to search
for new ways of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund
(IMF). RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian declared this on July 27,
receiving IMF Resident Representative James McHugh finishing his
mission in Armenia and IMF new Representative Nienke A.Oomes.

T.Torosian expressing gratitude to J.McHugh for the active work in the
previous years, stressed the contribution of IMF and its
representatives to the economic achievements of Armenia. NA Speaker
also expressed the hope that the efficient cooperation will also
continue with new IMF Representative Nienke A.Oomes. Referring to the
experience of post-Soviet countries, T.Torosian said that in the first
years of the independence economic reforms, formation of free economic
relations and free market were mainly considered as important, but in
the course of time it became obvious that the political reforms are
brought to the forefront and their delay can impede economic
development and progress.

J.McHugh said that IMF mission will arrive in Armenia in September to
study the latest developments and execution of the events. He
positively estimated the two-year reforms and said that henceforth IMF
will also suggest its approaches for the Armenian government to make a
choice. He also said that IMF supports CBA’s policy of appreciation of
nominal value of national currency understanding all difficulties
caused by great inflow of foreign currency to Armenia.

As NT was informed from NA Public Relations Department, mentioning the
direct connection betweeen the tax-customs policy and appreciation of
nominal value of national currency, the sides expressed readiness to
find joint solutions.

EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN PAINTERS OPENS IN KRASNODAR

KRASNODAR, JULY 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Within the
framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia, an exhibition "Garden of
my soul.." of Armenian painters was opened in the Kovalenko Museum of
Art in the Krasnodar region of Russia on July 27. As the newspaper of
Armenians in Russia "Yerkramas" informs, the phrase of the title of
the exhibition is taken from the work "The Word coming from the depth
of heart" by Armenian poet and religious figure of the 10th century
Grigor Narekatsi.

The works by great painter of sea-scapes Ivan (Hovhannes) Ayvazovski
"The Foggy Morning," "The Moon Night in the Crimea" and others opened
the layout. The works from the funds of the Kovalenko Museum of Art
of the Krasnodar region, private colections, collections of the
painters are also presented in the exhibition. Connoisseurs of art saw
works by famous Armenian painters Martiros Sarian, Dmitry Nalbandian,
Nikoghos Nikoghosian and the masters, whose life and creative work is
connected with the art and culture of the Krasnodar region Avetisian,
Shakhbazian, Amian, Arakelian.

Part of the exposition is dedicated to Georgy Petrosian, cellebrating
his 75th anniversary this year, whose creative work is connected with
Armenia as well as with Russia. Georgy Petrosian is a pupil of a
famous Soviet paiter Alpatov. In his works he depicts the nature of
Armenia, images of figures of the Armenian culture and history.

Works by modern painters of Armenia Elibekian, Abramian, Zakarian,
Maltsev and others, presented to the exhibition by the families
Khachatrian and Arakelian, continue the layout of the exhibition.

The exhibition will continue untill August 20.

GROWTH OF IMPORT AS COMPARED WITH EXPORT DOES NOT GIVE OCCASION FOR ANXIETY,
MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERS

YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The circumstance that in the first six
months of 2006 the exports of goods from Armenia (without diamonds)
increased by 7.6 percent as compared with the same period of the
previous year (making 1 bln 159.7 mln USD) and imports increased by
30.6 percent (834.9 mln USD) cannot be an occasion for anxiety, as in
the total amount of imports the most part falls to machines-equipment
and new technologies. The tax costs of imported goods also contributed
to the growth of imports amounts. RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmaritian informed journalists about it at the
July 26 press conference.

In his words, in the above mentioned period only two big companies
imported machines-equipment and technologies amounting to 70 mln
euros. It is expected that the Armenian companies of mining sphere
will export equipment and technologies of 50-60 mln USD in 2006. It was
said that in total, the tax cost of imported goods increased by 18%.

As the minister prognosed, investments in the direction of import of
equipment and technologies will provide a serious growth of release
of industrial production and its export in 2007.

For 15 Years Baku Is Deprived of Opportunity to Propose Any Status to Sovereign NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.07.2006 15:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Elmar Mammadyarov either knows history bad or,
more probably, pretends not to know it, political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, when commenting
on the interview of the Azeri FM. The Armenian political scientist
reminded that "today, in the beginning of the 21st century" Triest
free territory does not exist any more. "It was divided between Italy
and former Yugoslavia already in 1974. Nevertheless, in that statement
of Mammadyarov Azeri mentality, when economic welfare is regarded as
of paramount importance in any contradictions, is notable.

Mammadyarov believes that having become rich Azerbaijan will become
attractive to Karabakh Armenians. The Minister does not want to think
that there are things more important that oil and dollars.

I say nothing that only a small group of leaders, not all of the
population, profit from oil dollars," Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

As of Bashkortstan and Tatarstan examples, the political scientist
underscored that the Constitution of those subjects of Russia
allows them leaving Russia via referendum. "These developments will
hardly suit Baku. However, these conversations have only theoretical
value. Azerbaijan is deprived of opportunity to propose any status
to sovereign NKR for 15 years already."

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ARMENIAN PROGRAM NEEDS INDEPENDENT MONITORING,
ASPAREZ CLUB CHAIRMAN IS CONVINCED

YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The name of the director of the
Millennium Challenge fund’s Armenian program will become known in the
coming days. Nazeli Vardanian, Chairwoman of the Armenian Forests
NGO, informed about it on July 24, at the presentation of current
developments of participation of civil society in the program. At the
same time, she did not wish to mention the names of 3 candidates sent
to the U.S. for approval.

N.Vardanian said that 5 NGOs elected in the Board of Beneficiaries
of the Armenian program will control the whole process of program
implementation. It was also mentioned that these organizations have
the veto and can use it in case of disagreement in any issue.

Levon Barseghian, Chairman of Board of the Asparez club, said that
the Regulations of the Board of Beneficiaries will be ready in the
coming days. In his words, the public notification organized in
connection with the program is rather bad: 750 thousand villagers
are not almost aware of the program, while the program is aimed
at improving their life conditions. It was also mentioned that the
program needs an independent monitoring, as about 180 mln USD will
be spent on implementation of construction works.

NON-PARTISAN MPs ALSO JOIN RPA

YEREVAN, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. RA non-partisan MPs also have joined
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). According to NT’s reliable
information, Karen Karapetian, Head of the People’s Deputy MP group
elected from Lori region Tashir electoral district N 39, members of the
same group, Vladimir Badalian elected from Yerevan Kentron community
electoral district N 16 who was Director of Hrazdan sports complex
before the parliamentary elections of 2003, Artush Simonian elected
from Kanaker-Zeytun electoral district N 5 (before being elected an
MP he was the Deputy Director of Armenian Airlines), Levon Sargsian
elected from Arabkir community electoral district N 6, Chairman of
Yerevan Flouring Mill CJSC, as well as two out three Hakob Hakobians
– members of the group, elected from Etchmiadzin electoral district
N 26 and Vardenis (Gegharkunik region) electoral district N 34 (the
latter Chairman of Arpa-Sevan OJSC).

To recap, 3 out of 17 members of the People’s Deputy MP group, Mkrtich
Minasian (Yerevan electoral district N 2), Yerem Karapetian (Artashat
electoral district N 23), Rafik Petrosian, Chairman of the Standing
Committee on State and Legal Issues (Yerevan electoral district N 3)
have been RPA members since 2003.

Chairman of the Armenian Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetian,
Yerkrapah Sasun Mikayelian, businessman Haroutiun Pambukian are among
the independent MPs having joined RPA lately.