Author: Varosian Antranik

RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER DISCUSS BOOSTING COOPERATION

ARMENPRESS
Feb 06 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Serzh
Sarkisian received today his Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov whoa
arrived here Tuesday evening. The government press office said Zubkov
conveyed to Sarkisian cordial greetings from the Russian president.

"He (Vladimir Putin) asked to convey to you the gratitude for visiting
our country in September 2007, as well as for the fact that our
relations are developing so dynamically," he said.

According to Zubkov, president Vladimir Putin wished good health to
Sarkisian and would like Russian-Armenian relations to develop the
way they are developing now, or even better.

Later speaking at a news conference Zubkov said Russian and Armenian
government officials discussed a variety of questions in an expanded
format and outlined a new plan of actions for the future.

He said Russia and Armenia "have good prospects for a further
development of cooperation,’ adding that both countries will try
to expand their trade this year from the current $700 million to
$1 billion.

The Armenian prime minister said there is a good basis for both
countries to enhance their multilateral relations. He, particularly,
pointed out that the trade last year rose 65 percent to exceed $700
million.

He said Armenia is selling now more products, including agricultural
goods, in Russia. Russian investments in Armenian economy in 2007 made
$175 million. Overall Russia has invested in Armenia over $1 billion,
largely into energy, transport, communications and industrial sectors.

Serzh Sarkisian said a special focus in the talks was on issues
hindering further increase in trade and expressed hope that handing
the Armenian Railways to a concessional management of the Russian
Railway company will help eliminate part of these transport-related
obstacles. He said Armenia is set to become a supplier of building
materials for Russian Sochi that will host the 2014 Winter Olympic
Games.

ARMENIA JOINS DEAL ON INTERNATIONAL URANIUM CENTER IN RUSSIA

RIA Novosti, Russia
February 6, 2008

YEREVAN, February 6 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia signed an agreement to
join an international uranium enrichment center in Russia on Wednesday
during the Russian prime minister’s visit to the Caucasus state.

"This is an important document that will create conditions for
Armenia’s joining the nuclear non-proliferation regime," Russian
nuclear chief Sergei Kiriyenko told reporters after talks between
prime ministers Viktor Zubkov and Serzh Sarkisyan.

The center, part of Moscow’s non-proliferation initiative to create
a network of enrichment centers under the UN nuclear watchdog’s
supervision, will be based at a chemicals plant in Angarsk, Siberia.

The center will also be responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste.

ARMENIA HELD THE 6TH POSITION AMONG CIS COUNTRIES BY INVESTING IN THE COUNTRY’S BASIC CAPITAL

2008-02-07 15:20:00

ArmInfo. According to the results of 2007, Armenia held the 6th
position among CIS countries by investing in the basic capital of the
country, securing 19,7% annual growth (667 bln AMD at constant prices).

The Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS says that the first
position was held by Tajikistan, whose investment in the basic
capital doubled to 2272 mln TJS in 2007. The 2nd position was held
by Uzbekistan – 31,3% (3967 bln UZS), the 3rd position – by Ukraine –
28,5% (102 bln UAH), 4th place – by Russia – 21,1% (6419 bln RUR), 5th
place – by Moldova – 19,9% (14.9 bln MDL). The index of investment in
the basic capital of Azerbaijan in 2007 increased by 17,8% (6.8 bln
AZM), Belarus – by 15,1% (25.3 trillion BYR), Kazakhstan – by 8,2%
(3234 bln KZT), Kyrgyzstan – by 3,7% (24.4 bln KGS).

At the average, the volume of investments in the basic capital in
the CIS countries increased by 20% as compared with 2006 (in 2006 –
by 15%).

NOT KNOWN TO WHAT COUNTRY SAMIR MAMMADOV HAS BEEN HANDED OVER

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 4 2008
Azerbaijan

The family of Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammadov, who was captured
by Armenian armed forces on December 24, 2006 and handed over to the
third country on January 31 this year, has not been informed of his
whereabouts, the soldier’s father Nazim Mammadov told APA.

He said that they can not specify to what country Samir has been
handed over.

"We have appealed to relevant state bodies. But we are not told about
it," he said.

Eldar Safarov, Defense Ministry spokesman told APA that, it is not
known to what country Azerbaijani soldier has been handed over.

Safarov noted that the case is under investigation.

The whereabouts of Samir Mammadov, who has been handed over to the
third country on January 31, are not publicized. Samir Mammadov was
captured by Armenian armed forces in Gazakh region of Azerbaijan on
December 24, 2006.

Rep. Schiff and Councilman Garcetti join Armenian American Community
Leaders At ANCA press conference

armradio.am
01.02.2008 10:09

Some fifty reporters and community leaders gathered at the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA Western Region headquarters
yesterday for a press conference announcing the ANCA endorsement of
Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic Presidential primary.

Speakers at the press conference included Obama supporters, Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA, 29th district), Los Angeles City Council President Eric
Garcetti, ANCA National Board member Raffi Hamparian and Armenians for
Obama Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian. Each outlined Sen. Obama’s proven
record and commitment to bringing about meaningful change in U.S.
governance and commitment to Armenian American concerns.

"Today, we endorse an individual, a senator, a leader’a purveyor of
hope’who can change the tone, tenor, and policies in Washington, DC.
We, as an organization, believe that Barack Obama is the individual to
get this job done," explained ANCA National Board Member Raffi
Hamparian. Hovsepian concurred noting that, "Barack Obama, on the key
issues of importance to our community, has adopted very favorable
positions. Whether it is recognition of the Armenian Genocide, aid to
Armenia, or self-determination and independence for Karabagh, on all of
these issues, Barack Obama is with us."

Hamparian and Hovsepian went on to cite Sen. Obama’s strong statement
on U.S.-Armenia relations, issued on January 19th, where he outlined
his strong support for the passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
currently before Congress and his commitment to promoting Armenia’s
security "by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades."

House Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor, Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA), noting that successive U.S. presidents have reneged on campaign
pledges to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, stated "I think
we have in Senator Obama a person of impeccable principle. I am
confident that the commitments he makes are the commitments he keeps."
In his January 19th statement, Sen. Obama had stated, "As a senator, I
strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106
and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize the Armenian
Genocide."

Councilman Garcetti echoed these sentiments, noting that, "His [Sen.
Obama’s] principles are not just ones that he trots out when it’s
convenient. It’s very easy for someone to say pro-Armenian things in
front of an Armenian group, but he [Obama] went to Azerbaijan, where,
in Azerbaijan, he said that it was time to end the blockades; and there
he also said it was time for Turks to recognize the Genocide. It speaks
volumes about the sort of leader he will be, the sort of diplomat he
will be, and the sort of president he will be."

Armenian Grand Masters partake in the Moscow Open 08

armradio.am
02.02.2008 15:05

The Moscow Open 2008 chess tournament kicked off in the capital of the
Russian Federation today. The tournament features 300 chess players,
including 100 Grand Masters. Armenai will be represented by more than
20 players, who will play in Groups A and B.

Grand Masters Vladimir Hakobyan, Karen Asryan, Artashes Minasyan, Elina
Danielyan and Zaven Andreasyan will play in Group A. Grand Master
Vladimir Hakobyan is at the top of the list.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE RECEIVES 17 APPLICATIONS ON VIOLATIONS OF ELECTORS’ RIGHTS DURING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

arminfo
2008-02-01 13:41:00

ArmInfo. As of January 30 the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia
received 17 applications on violations of electors’ right during
the presidential campaign, including 11 of them were published in
the press.

Prosecutor General’s Office press-service told ArmInfo 3 criminal cases
have been initiated on the basis of the applications on attacks on
campaign headquarters, electors bribing, attempts to collect passports
of electors, as well as on the procession by cars organized by the
supporters of the presidential candidate, first president of Armenia
Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

DEPUTY RAISES EYEBROWS WITH ICJ PROPOSAL

Today’s Zaman
Jan 31 2008
Turkey

Veteran Turkish diplomat Þukru Elekdað has said Ankara and Paris
could jointly take an almost decade-old French parliamentary decision
recognizing the controversial World War I-era killings of Anatolian
Armenians as genocide before the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) in order to determine whether the century-old incidents can
be accurately categorized as acts of genocide according to a related
UN convention.

The controversial decision bluntly stating that "France publicly
recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915" was made in January 2001,
leading Ankara to launch strong protests of Paris, including the
cancellation of a number of major projects with actual or potential
French involvement.

In October 2006 the French parliament approved a bill that made it
a crime to deny that the Ottoman Turks committed "genocide" against
Anatolian Armenians during World War I, despite Ankara’s protests
and a warning that this would "poison" the deeply rooted relations
between the two countries. Later in the year, the Turkish military
announced that its ties with France had been suspended after the
French legislature’s approval of the so-called genocide bill.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Elekdað’s
proposal presented in Paris following talks at the French parliament
as part of a Turkish parliamentary delegation has so far never been
voiced as an official stance by Ankara. Foreign Ministry officials
approached by Today’s Zaman briefly stated yesterday that this
should be considered a personal view of Elekdað, who was formerly an
ambassador to the United States.

"We can go to the ICJ with France and ask whether the law adopted
in France in 2001 is in compliance with the agreement in 1948 and
whether the 1915 incidents constitute genocide," Elekdað was quoted as
saying by the Anatolia news agency, in an apparent reference to the
1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide. He noted that the delegation shared this view with French
lawmakers during their talks.

Head of the Turkish delegation Yaþar Yakýþ, a former foreign minister
and chairman of Parliament’s European Union harmonization commission,
said Turkey has no official policy on taking the Armenian issue to
the ICJ. He, however, added that certain studies on the issue have
been conducted at the Foreign Ministry.

Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered
in orchestrated killings during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey categorically rejects these claims, saying that 300,000
Armenians, along with at least as many Turks, died in civil strife
that emerged when the Armenians took up arms for independence in
eastern Anatolia and sided with the Russian troops who were invading
Ottoman territory.

–Boundary_(ID_aIG0BfaXb/3PXX+mn6o5qA) —

ARMENIA WILL START BUILDING NEW NPP IN 2010 – PM

Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
January 30, 2008

The construction of the first power unit of a new nuclear power plant
(NPP) in Armenia will begin at the end of 2010, Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian has announced addressing the staff of the Armenian NPP.

"We already have a partner – a major entity in Europe that is ready
to invest in the project of building a new NPP power unit. We will
sign an agreement with our partner in September and start building
the new unit at the end of 2010," he said.

Sarkisian said that energy security is a major task for his country.

The need to develop nuclear power engineering arises in the context of
growing world prices for oil and gas, he said. The state is determined
to increase allocations on the safe operation of the nuclear facility.

Energy Minister Armen Movsisian said that the new NPP would be built
in the grounds of the existing one because it has the entire necessary
infrastructure. The construction of the new NPP is expected to last
for five years. Early estimates say the new NPP will have a capacity
of 1,000 megawatts.

OVER 13 BILLION DRAMS RECEIVED FROM PRIVATIZATION OF STATE PROPERTY IN 2007

Noyan Tapan
Jan 31, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. At the January 31 sitting, the
Armenian government discussed the state property privatization
program’s results in the 4th quarter of 2007. The deputy head of
the RA State Property Management Department Ashot Markosian told
reporters that 5 companies, the separated property of 2 companies and
one small object were privatized in the indicated period. 4 companies
were privatized through direct sale.

Last year 13 bln 319 mln 980 thousand drams (over 43.6 mln USD)
was transferred to the state budget as a result of privatization,
including 280 mln 833 thousand drams in the 4th quarter. The indicated
sum includes the money received from sale of the Armenian government’s
10% of ArmenTel shares. Besides, 5 bln 438 mln 54 thousand drams of
privatization resources was transferred to communities last year.

A. Markosian said that until now 2,006 big and medium companies
(including 9 ones in 2007), 7,302 small objects and 99 incompleted
construction objects have been privatized in Armenia.