Author: Virabian Jhanna

NAIRIT PLANT MAY BECOME LARGEST CONSUMER OF OIL REFINERY IN MEGHRI

ARMINFO News Agency
February 14, 2007 Wednesday

The Nairit chemical plant of Yerevan may become the largest consumer
of an oil refinery which is to be built in Meghri, Syunik region of
Armenia, under the Armenian-Russian agreement, Radik Martirosyan,
the President of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, said in
his answer to an ArmInfo correspondent’s question.

According to R.Martirosyan, in case this project is implemented,
Armenia’s chemical sphere will develop faster. All the institutions
of the chemical sector will get an opportunity to work with a new
oil refinery, he emphasized.

To note, Viktor Soghomonyan, the press-secretary of the Armenian
President, has recently announced about the project of construction
of the oil refinery in Meghri. Particularly, he noted that a lot of
work has still to be done at the project. According to V.Soghomonyan,
the Armenian, Russian and Iranian sides will hold negotiations on
the project of construction and get agreement upon using the oil. All
the issues will be addressed in the final version of the project.

To remind, according to Russian sources, the Gazprom Neft company
intends to build an oil refinery in Armenia and the Iran-Armenia
oil pipeline. The oil refinery’s capacity will be 7 mln tons of oil
per year. The total value of the project is $1.7 bln, infrastructure
exclusive. $1 bln will be spent on the infrastructure.

CONSTRUCTION TO BOOM THIS YEAR TOO

Panorama.am
16:15 12/02/2007

As recent few years, we will breath the dust of construction and
listen to the noise of construction trucks. New roads will be built
and old ones renovated this year in Yerevan, too.

Samvel Danielyan, chief architect of Yerevan, told a briefing today
that several roads will be renovated and underground passes will be
built in Yerevan.

In the words of Danielyan, the state budget and municipality will
release money for building underground passes. "All sites that will
hinder the construction will be eliminated," he said.

North Shore Times, Australia
Feb 9 2007

`Our Glad’ painted in a new light

08Feb07

GORDON artist Diana Cole wanted to paint a portrait of Gladys
Berejiklian for the exhibition Power in the House because she saw her
as someone totally commited to Parliament.

“I’ve painted two portraits and now I have to work out which one to
enter,” Cole said.

“I’d like to submit one for the Archibald Prize if the paint is dry
in time but my main objective is the Power in the House exhibition.”

Before she began painting, Cole spent some time on research.

“I like a portrait to include references which tell something about
the subject,” she said.

“Gladys has Armenian ancestry and Armenians are proud that their
country was the first totally Christian nation.

“Crosses on the border of the painting are a reference to
Christianity.”

As elected Member for Willoughby, Gladys represents an area including
Artarmon, Cammeray, Castle Cove, Chatswood, Naremburn, Northbridge
and Willoughby.

She also lives in Willoughby.

Cole’s home is in Gordon but she feels that Willoughby is almost her
second home because she has spent so much time with the Sketch Club
at the Workshop Art Centre in Laurel St.

“I like to paint portraits of people who interest me,” Cole said.

“I do not accept commissions because I am a figurative artist, not a
portrait painter.”

Member for Willoughby since 2003, Ms Berejiklian is the first person
of Armenian descent to be elected to NSW Parliament.

It was another “first” for Ms Berejiklian, who as president of the
NSW Young Liberal Party was one of only four female presidents in the
Party’s history.

Having her portrait painted was a also a “first”.

“I never thought I would have it done,” she said.

“I didn’t think I’d have the courage but from the moment I met Diana
I felt confident.

“I have enjoyed seeing how she works and I like the way she paints
real people.”

A1+

DEAD BODY NEAR SCHOOL
[04:14 pm] 09 February, 2007

On February 9 at about 03:00 a.m. the Central department of the police
received information from the hospital that the dead body of Gor Yaghoubyan
(b. 1986) with injuries in the back had been found near the Argentinean
School N76 and taken to hospital.

The police officers revealed that earlier that day G. Yaghoubyan and his
friends Gagik, Petros Abel had had a fight with Haroutyun, Ghazar and Armen.
During the fight Haroutyun hit G. Yaghoubyan with a knife.

Haroutyun Adlikhanyan (b. 1989), Ghazar Ghazaryan (b. 1980) and Armen
Sargsyan (b. 1986) have been arrested. The case is investigated by the
prosecutor’s office of Arabkir and Qanaqer-Zeytun.

New Anatolian, Turkey
Feb 9 2007

Baykal hints at deeper plot in Dink murder

The New Anatolian / Ankara
09 February 2007

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
yesterday said that if accusations unleashed by suspects in the last
month’s murder of journalist Hrant Dink turn out to be true, this
would highly likely drive Turkey into chaos.

The second man said to be behind the killing, Yasin Hayal, was quoted
as saying in his testimony that Erhan Tuncel, arrested on charges of
soliciting the murder before his being a former police informant came
to light, engineered the attack.

Baykal told reporters, on his way to Munich where he is expected to
attend an international security conference, that if Tuncel was the
man behind the murder, it means the police had used a man who
actually planned the murder.

Baykal called it a heavy blow to the police that it cannot dismiss
easily. "Then it is hard to think that it is an individual plot,"
Baykal said, adding that this possibility raises questions as to
whether certain people used Tuncel as a pawn.

"Tuncel’s silence makes one think he is under the protection of
certain people," he added.

AZG Armenian Daily #024, 09/02/2007

Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations

AZERI DIPLOMATS HAVE LACK OF EDUCATION… ALSO OF
BRAINS, MAYBE…

Keeping an eye on Azerbaijani press, one can think that not everything
in that country can satisfy even international requirements. As an
example can be taken the comments of Tair Tagizade, representative
of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s Information Center, about Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian’s recent statement concerning the
Trans-Caspian pipeline. Venerable Tagizadeh called Mr. Oskanian’s
words "ravings of an aged horse". Surely, diplomats suffering of such
idiotism, can be hardly found throughout the history of international
relations. It is remarkable that in this way aforementioned Mr.
Tagizade offends also his boss – Elmar Mamedyarov, who negotiates
with Oskanian as equal.

By Aghavni Harutiunian

RA PRESIDENT SIGNS A DECREE ON RATIFYING THE NATIONAL SECURITY DOCTRINE

ArmRadio.am
08.02.2007 13:35

February 7 RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on ratifying
the National Security Doctrine of the Republic of Armenia, guided by
Article 49 of RA Constitution and taking as a basis the suggestion of
the interagency commission established in compliance with presidential
decree dated December 15, 2005.

RA National Security Doctrine was approved of at the sitting of
the Presidential Council on national Security held January 26,
2007. The document sets the fundamental values of national security
of the Republic of Armenia. These include independence, security
of the state and the nation, peace and international cooperation,
preservation of the national identity, well being.

The main guarantees of accomplishment of the National Security Doctrine
are: the effectiveness of the state governance system, rule of law,
reinforcement of democratic values, impartiality and independence of
the judicial power, efficiency of the Armed Forces, productive activity
of security and aw-enforcement bodies, foreign policy providing for
effective international involvement, ensuring social justice.

ARMENIAN PLAY AT TRABZON THEATER

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 7 2007

The slaying of Agos’ weekly newspaper Editor in Chief Hrant Dink
has brought the issue of violence in the city of Trabzon into the
limelight again.

There is another side to Trabzon, though. The Trabzon Art Theater
has been staging a play by Hagop Boranyan titled "Baðdasar Kardeþ"
(Brother Baðdasar) for the past two months. Director Boranyan,
who spoke to Dink a short while ago, said: ‘He was not an enemy
of Turks; he had promised to help us stage the play in Ýstanbul’
Although spoken about throughout the nation for a different reason,
Trabzon has been responding to violence and discrimination through
art. Hagop Boranyan — who is of Armenian origin and whose ancestors
lived in Ýstanbul during the days of the Ottoman Empire — has been
staging his play "Baðdasar Kardeþ" in Trabzon for two months with no
problems. The play’s translator, Diran Lokmagozyan, is a writer for
Agos — the newspaper for which Hrant Dink was the editor in chief —
while the stage manager is Hrant Hakobyan, who was a personal friend
of Dink’s. The play, a co-production between Armenians and Turks with
a cast of 10 people, was staged in Armenia during Ottoman rule.

Necati Zengin, stage producer at the Trabzon Art Theater, said:
"Trabzon is a city that has an interest in theater. It is important to
both see and display this side of Trabzon." Zengin said he had some
hesitations going into the project but added that they "received no
negative reactions during rehearsals and the staging of the play.

Our attendees are from every segment of society."

Zengin discovered the play during a visit to Yerevan during in
October. Hrant Hakobyan, who lent his full support to Zengin, helped
with preparations to have the play performed in Trabzon. "Bagdasar
Kardeþ" is is the end result of a 40-day process of preparation.

The play, which tells the story of the relationship between a
middle-aged man, his young wife and a third person, is being staged
in Turkish for the first time at the Huseyin Kazak Cultural Center.

Zengin says the play "may initially seem like a play about a love
triangle, but it is actually a parody of the meaningless relationships
that we see in the tabloids every day — ones that are labeled ‘love’
— it’s a mockery of such relationships."

The play features Ýbrahim Gursoy, Suleyman Sýrtkaya, Songul Kamber,
Tarýk Kemerci and Filiz Aydýn in the lead roles and will be on tour in
Armenia in May of this year. Stage manager Zengin has indicated that
there will be no changes in their program because by recent events. The
play will be staged at Trabzon Huseyin Kazaz Culture Center on Feb. 16
at 7.p.m. and in March. For more information, call 0 462 321 47 03.

——————————————— ———————————–

[FOOTNOTE]

‘ Dink wanted to stage the play in Ýstanbul’ Zengin visited Dink at the
Agos office in Ýstanbul on his way back from Tehran. He spoke about
that day, saying" "I saw Hrant Dink for about three hours. During
our meeting the play ‘Bagdasar Kardeþ’ came up. He mentioned this
play in two or three of his articles for Agos.

He added that he wanted the play to be performed in Ýstanbul and said
he would do anything he could to help with the arrangements. We lost
him shortly thereafter. It feels like the death of a sibling for me;
he was absolutely not an enemy of Turkey."

07.02.2007

–Boundary_(ID_8pBBwabh 2CO4R20dK1z1Jw)–

ORINATS YERKIR PARTY DID NOT SUPPORT INITIATIVE TO UNITE ARMENIAN OPPOSITION

Regnum, Russia
Feb 7 2007

An uneasy situation occurred in Armenia in connection with the
forthcoming elections, and the situation will divide those who
are weak and unite those who are strong, leader of the opposition
Orinats Yerkir party, ex-chair of the parliament Artur Bagdassaryan
announced at a news conference today. He reminded that as early as
today Europe is showing interest in the upcoming elections. He also
said that Armenia needs to cooperate closely with NATO, which will
result in political consequences and, of course, to cooperate with
the EU in order to become a member of the European community.

Artur Bagdassaryan noted once again that there was no need for
opposition to unite in a single bloc; according to him, it will only
make it easier for the authorities, only one strike will be enough to
neutralize protest forces. Speaking of participation of his party in
the elections, he said that Orinats Yerkir will go to the parliamentary
elections on its own without blocking with any force.

As he said, a very interesting pre-election situation established
in Armenia, and the elections 2007 can be treated as "a window of
opportunity." Meanwhile, he said that obstacles are being put in
conducting election-campaigns, as 1 minute of broadcasting costs
100,000 dram, which is, according to him, several times more than
a minimal salary. Bagdassaryan stressed that responsibility for
conducting fair elections is first of all on the authorities, which
are obliged to create equal conditions for all political forces.

It is worth mentioning, after the parliamentary elections 2003 Orinats
Yerkir entered the ruling coalition together with ARF Dashnaktsutyun
and the Republican Party. In May 2006, Orinats Yerkir party left the
ruling coalition and entered the protest camp. The party’s leader
Artur Bagdasaryan resigned from the post of the parliamentary speaker.

WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO TIE OUR PROBLEMS ON EUROPE, RA DEFENCE MINISTER FINDS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 05 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Before joining the European Union,
Armenia must be able to solve its own problems. Serge Sargsian, the
RA Defence Minister stated about it on February 4 in the interview
given to the "Armenia" TV.

In his words, Armenia may not oblige its problems among which the
Karabakh problem and democratization of the society to the European
family. "We have no right to tie our problem on them, and they will
not accept us with this problem," the Minister mentioned.

Touching upon the outer and inner challenges addressed to the national
security, S.Sargsian mentioned that those are mutually connected with
each other and they must be confronted in parallel. In his words,
the Nagorno Karabakh problem, being first of all an outer challenge
is an inner challenge as well: "One must be able to unite the people
for it is ready to make a united decision." In the Minister’s words
though 15-16 years passed after the independence of Armenia, there
are still phenomena of the transitional period in the country what is
not only an inner problem, either, and is in the center of attention
of the international society.