Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ALIYEV TO DISCUSS KARABAKH ISSUE IN US
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 00:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the
United States scheduled for 28 April has long been planned. During
the visit, bilateral issues between the two countries will be
discussed,” Ali Hasanov, head of the Presidential Administration
social and political department told journalists. Mr. Hasanov said
that President Aliyev will have talks with US President George Bush,
State Secretary Condoleezza Rice and OSCE MG American co-chair Steven
Mann. The Nagorno Karabakh issue and relations with Iran will be in
focus of the meetings, Hasanov said.
Hasanov also criticized the OSCE MG activities. “If Russia, France,
US shut their eyes on “Armenia’s aggression” the OSCE Minsk Group
is pointless institution then. It is natural that the United States
does not want the war to break out in the South Caucasus, neither
do we. We do not want our oil revenues to be spent on war. However,
for the sake of liberation of our territories we’ll mobilize not only
oil revenues but also family incomes. It is important to put pressure
on Armenia to prevent war,” Hasanov remarked.
The head of the department does not think that the Azerbaijan-US talks
will also focus on Iran issue. He said Iran and US will decide their
relations themselves. “This issue concerns these two countries.
We have relations with the US as well as with Iran.
Our citizens keep in touch with Iran,” he concluded, APA reports.

UN SYMBOLE DE L’AMITIE FRANCO-ARMENIENNE
par Charmot Francois
Paris-Normandie , France
10 avril 2006
Vendredi en fin d’après-midi, le depute-maire Jean-Louis Debre et
Edvard Nal Bandian, ambassadeur d’Armenie, ont plante un abricotier
dans le parc Francois-Mitterrand.
Entoures de nombreuses personnalites, parmi lesquelles le prefet et
le depute Jean-Pierre Nicolas, les deux hommes, qui ont aussi devoile
une plaque destinee a commemorer l’evenement, ont, l’un et l’autre,
rappele l’amitie qui unissait nos deux pays et nos deux peuples.
Une amitie qu’il convenait de materialiser de manière durable, en
cette annee de l’Armenie en France.
–Boundary_(ID_AU3NerCcEZQl3xQEyDnyww)–

THE DEPUTY DID NOT ORGANISE AN ENCROACHMENT
A1+
[03:27 pm] 11 April, 2006
Today the Armavir deputy Nahapet Gevorgyan who rarely appears
in the Parliament was present in the session after a long
absence. According to the data of the mass media the latter is
suspected in the organization of encroachment on the Chairman of
the “Erkrapah-Kamavor Alliance” (“Alliance of Volunteer-Defenders”)
of Armavir Rustam Gasparyan.
Let us remind you that Rustam Gasparyan was taken to hospital
with serious bodily injuries. There are certain versions on their
hostility; some sources say that they had business affairs with
each other and their conflict is connected with the so-called market
“Sadakhlu.” Others say that Rustam Gasparyan is going to the Parliament
but their territory already has a deputy – Nahapet Gevorgyan.
Today answering the question of the correspondent of “A1+” Nahapet
Gevorgyan refuted the accusations addressed to him and said, “I have no
connection with the encroachment, and all the accusations are false.”
Asked why he doesn’t sue the people spreading such rumors he answered,
“I am not inclined to such things.
Everything is aspersion; I have nothing in common with it.”
While answering the question of “Aravot” newspaper whether he ever
had any problems with Rustam Gasparyan the deputy said, “No, never.”

VELTI RAISING £10M FOR EXPANSION IN BALKANS AND TURKEY
By Maija Palmer,IT Correspondent
FT
April 10 2006 03:00
Velti, the Greek mobile phone technology company, will on Monday
announce plans to list on London’s Aim in a move expected to raise
£10m in new money and value the company at up to £35m.
The company, whose financial backers include Nicholas Negroponte, the
founder of the MIT Media Lab, is planning to use the funds to increase
its presence in the Balkan and Turkish telecommunications markets.
Velti provides software and services that allow mobile phone operators
– including Vodafone Greece – to track and manage the content that
their subscribers access. It also provides technology for media
companies wanting to offer content or run promotions over the mobile
phone network. Velti currently works with mobile phone operators
and content companies in Greece, Turkey, Armenia and Cyprus but is
planning to expand its business into Romania and Bulgaria as well as
deepening its penetration in Turkey.
Alexandros Moukas, chief executive, said it was an optimal time to
enter these markets.
Mobile phone penetration in the Balkans is still about 60 per cent,
lower than levels in the rest of Europe, but growing quickly.
Both Vodafone and OTE, the Greek mobile phone operator, have signalled
plans to expand in the region.
Velti, which was founded in 2000 and employs 90 people, has seen
recent strong growth. Revenue rose 31 per cent to â~B¬4.9m (£3.4m)
in 2005 while pre-tax profit jumped from â~B¬29,000 to â~B¬1.1m.
–Boundary_(ID_b9+Tt/Iu/Zf1W6ILC/vvNw)- –

Today, Azerbaijan
April 8 2006
Defense Ministry: “Rumors about order of mobilization in Azerbaijan
are not true”

08 April 2006 [08:01] – Today.Az

“Some TV channels and newspapers aim at generating public excitement
by having recently spread reports that mobilization has been ordered
in Azerbaijan, and military units in home front have been dislocated
to battle field,” Defense Ministry spokesman, major Ilgar Verdiyev,
stated.

As APA reports, he said that ratification of the bill on mobilization
by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief did not mean the start of
mobilization. This law existed in all countries worldwide, including
the former Soviet countries.
“However, some aims to cause public panic. Mobilization is ordered by
the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” the Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Major Verdiyev also commented on dislocation of military units in
Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline and sending of soldiers drafted in April
to the battle field directly. He said that military units and
equipment could be dislocated in any place in the country and it’s a
regular process.

“As coming to send new draftees directly to the frontline, it is
possible only after 6 months of service. Majority of units of the
Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces are located near the front line. Do not
believe in hearsays that aim to make people worry,’ Verdiyev
stressed.

According to the bill on mobilization, not only citizens but also
conditions of various spheres of the country economy, cars owned by
civilians and other equipment and etc should be registered.

The mobilization in Azerbaijan is carried out by the same system
existed in the Soviet Army, and servicemen in reserve have not been
called to meetings since 1994.

URL:

Charente Libre
6 avril 2006
Trio Alpha: un ménage à trois qui pratique la musique de chambre
par Laurence GUYON
Trois jeunes musiciennes charentaises ont formé un trio avec violon,
violoncelle et piano. Le groupe fourmille de projets
Entre l’enseignement, l’orchestre et la musique de chambre, on est
comblées, sourit Cécile Mardikian, unanimement approuvée par Cécile
Boy-Riva et Rachel Maté. Les trois jeunes musiciennes ont en effet
décidé d’ajouter une corde à leur… archet en créant le Trio Alpha
(1). A l’école nationale de musique d’Angoulême, Cécile Mardikian
enseigne le violon, Cécile Boy-Riva le violoncelle, et la pianiste
Rachel Maté, le déchiffrage. Elles ont leur place au sein de
l’orchestre Poitou-Charentes et d’Opus 16, et Rachel Maté mène aussi
une carrière de soliste. Abondamment dotées de premiers prix de
toutes sortes, elles totalisent, depuis leur plus tendre enfance,
plus de 80 ans de pratique musicale à elles trois. Elles n’ont donc
plus à faire leurs preuves. Et pourtant…
Comme pianiste, on est souvent seul, confie Rachel Maté, venue de
Londres. Alors on a parfois besoin d’échanger avec d’autres. Monter
une formation en trio permet de trouver un équilibre. Cécile Boy-Riva
avait l’expérience du quatuor à cordes: Dans ce cas, le violoncelle
est principalement une basse. Avec le trio, je peux m’exprimer
totalement, mon instrument a toute sa place. Pour Cécile Mardikian,
ce trio avec piano, unique dans le département, permet de faire
entendre tout un répertoire aux Charentais… en nous faisant
plaisir.
Et puis il y a la nécessité d’avoir une activité artistique
complémentaire: Je ne conçois pas d’être prof sans jouer, commence
Cécile Boy-Riva. Ce serait comme un chirurgien qui donnerait des
cours sans opérer, poursuit Cécile Mardikian. Et puis, reprend la
violoncelliste, ça permet de se perfectionner pour la pratique
instrumentale, il y a un gros travail personnel sur chaque oeuvre. Et
puis il y a la recherche sur l’interprétation, qui les oblige à
s’interroger sur ce que le compositeur a voulu dire, et sur la
meilleure façon de rendre ce sentiment.
De la France à l’Arménie
Alors les trois amies ont franchi le pas, et ont fondé leur groupe il
y a maintenant deux ans. Si pour l’instant, elles se sont plutôt
cantonnées à des concerts à visées pédagogiques, les projets ne
manquent pas. Leur répertoire actuel va de Beethoven à Haydn, de
Schumann à Brahms, en passant par Ravel, Fauré ou Chostakovitch. Nous
avons aussi un projet axé sur la musique française, avec justement
Gabriel Fauré, et Thierry Escaich, un compositeur gé d’une
quarantaine d’années, expliquent-elles.
Elles veulent monter un concert dédié à la musique arménienne, pour
marquer à leur façon l’année de l’Arménie en France. Un autre concert
est en gestation, en hommage à Henri Dutilleux, compositeur français
qui fête cette année son 90e anniversaire. Et puis le trio a envie de
participer à des concours, à des masterclass, histoire de se frotter
à d’autres, de relever d’autres défis.
Au fait, pourquoi ce nom de Trio Alpha ? Rachel Maté éclate de rire:
On ne pouvait pas l’appeler “Trio Cécile”, parce que je ne m’appelle
pas Cécile. Non, c’est parce qu’on débute… Alpha, c’est la première
lettre de l’alphabet grec. C’est le début d’une longue histoire,
sourit Cécile Boy-Riva. Rachel Maté ajoute: C’est aussi une référence
à la musique contemporaine. Nous rêvons d’être les premières
interprètes d’une oeuvre qui aurait été écrite pour nous.
La musique contemporaine revient souvent dans leurs préoccupations.
Car si elles ont un solide répertoire classique ou romantique, elles
affirment: C’est important de jouer la musique de compositeurs
vivants. C’est notre rôle à nous de continuer ça.
(1) Concert-conférence, vendredi
7 avril à 12h30 au conservatoire
Gabriel-Fauré, autour de l’oeuvre
de Chostakovitch, avec le Trio Alpha. Entrée libre.

Czech News Agency
April 4, 2006 Tuesday
STETINA TO SUBMIT BILL ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Prague, April 4 (CTK) – Senator Jaromir Stetina (for the Green Party)
wants to submit a bill by which the Czech Republic would recognise
violence committed against Armenians in the Ottoman empire in 1915 as
genocide, he told an international conference on the Armenian
genocide that was held in the Senate today. Turkey has refused to
recognise the extermination of Armenians as genocide and some Czech
and foreign politicians view this as a possible obstacle to Turkeys
admission to the European Union. Armenians consider April 1915 when
the government of the Ottoman empire arrested more than 2,300
Armenian leaders as the beginning of the genocide in which up to 1.5
million Armenians were killed in the following months and years.
Turkey denies that the Armenian genocide happened and links these
events with the fight against Armenians who, it says, collaborated
with the Russian army. It says that the accusation of the genocide is
supposed to delay its entry to the EU. According to Turkey, some
300,000 to 500,000 Armenians were killed during these events. “This
is the denial of the genocide by the whole nation. Europe should put
certain obstacles to Turkeys entry to the EU. Europe is based on the
principles that would be threatened if such Turkey joined the EU,”
chairwoman of the European-Armenian federation Hilda Tchoboian from
France said at the conference. “No government in Europe, except for
France, has recognised the genocide. The parliaments of some
countries are an exception,” Vahakh Dadrian, an expert pn genocide
who cooperates with Harvard University in the USA, said. Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirasosyan said that Armenia had not
registered any real changes in the position on the genocide as
efforts to deny it continued. “This prevents us from settling our
relations with Turkey,” he said. Stetina said it was important for
Turkey that seeks to join the EU to come to terms with its past. He
said that the recent passage of a similar law in Slovakia inspired
his activities. Former Slovak prime minister Jan Carnogursky told the
conference about Slovakias experience. By passing such a law, the
Czech Republic would join some two dozen countries that have passed
such legislation, including France, Russia, Italy, Switzerland,
Canada and Slovakia. The European Parliament recognised the killings
of Armenians as genocide in 1987. vv/dr/ms

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
April 6, 2006 Thursday 7:09 PM EET
Gazprom inks deal to freeze gas price for Armenia, buy assets there
MOSCOW, April 6 (Prime-Tass) – Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom
has signed an agreement to freeze its natural gas price for Armenia
at U.S. $110 per 1,000 cubic meters until January 1, 2009 and to buy
natural gas and electric power assets from the Armenian government,
Gazprom said Thursday.
Under the agreement, Armenia’s natural gas monopoly ArmRosgazprom,
which is affiliated with Gazprom, will buy the fifth generator of the
Hrazdan thermal power plant from the Armenian government, Gazprom
said. The plant’s four other generators are owned by Armenia’s
government and managed by Russia’s electric power monopoly UES. The
plant has an annual capacity of 1,100 megawatts.
Additionally, Gazprom is expected to increase its stake in
ArmRosgazprom to “a qualified majority” from the current 45%, Gazprom
said in both press releases. The Armenian government also holds 45%
in ArmRosgazprom, while Russian independent gas producer Itera holds
10%.
The agreement is considered preliminary. Gazprom said that by April
14 it plans to sign other preliminary purchase deals, which will
elaborate on the current agreement.
Under the agreement, Gazprom’s acquisition of the assets must be
completed by January 1, 2007, Gazprom said.
Gazprom also retracted Thursday an earlier press release, which said
that under the agreement, ArmRosgazprom is expected to buy a gas
pipeline between Armenia and Iran from Armenia’s government, and
published a “revised” press release, which referred to “Armenian
natural gas assets” without mentioning the pipeline.
In the retracted press release, Gazprom said that ArmRosgazprom would
buy a 40-kilometer stretch of the Iran-Armenia pipeline, which is
currently being built, and would also order the construction of
another, 197-kilometer stretch of the pipeline.
Earlier this month Gazprom hiked its gas price for Armenia to $110
per 1,000 cubic meters from $56 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Gazprom used to subsidize gas exports to former Soviet countries but
has recently hiked gas prices for Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan and
Georgia.
The move followed the pro-Western “color revolutions” in Ukraine and
Georgia in 2003-2004, which soured their relations with the Kremlin.
Gazprom said earlier that its gas prices for former Soviet countries
would be constantly revised depending on the market situation.
Gazprom is also in talks on increasing its gas price for Belarus next
year, which was believed until recently to be exempt from price
hikes, being Russia’s closest ally.
Last year Gazprom exported 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas to
Armenia.

EUROPEAN UNION – ARMENIA ACTION PLAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED FROM 2007
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged that the European Union
– Armenia Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy will be
approved by the Armenian government and the European Commission by late
2006 and its implementation will start in 2007. RA Deputy Minister of
Trade and Economic Development Tigran Davtian stated this at the April
6 press conference. According to him, 90-95% of the issues related to
the action plan’s development were specified during the negotaiations
between the sides in early March. The remaining issues will be
clarified in working order or at the next stage of negotiations. Then
the action plan will be agreed on with the governments of 25 EU
member states. The action plan is an instrument for carrying out the
National Program for implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement between Armenia and the EU. It is envisaged to implement this
program in the next three-four years. According to Tigran Jrbashian,
Armenian Director of the Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice
Centre (AEPLAC), after approval of the action plan, the amount of
funds to be allocated by the EU to Armenia for budgetary assistance,
advice and formation of infrastructures will grow 4-5fold.
The current annual ammount of EU assistance to Armenia makes about
20 mln euros.
Besides, the EU will increase crediting volumes through the European
Investment Bank.

ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT’S PASSENGER VOLUME MAKES 182.1 THOUSAND DURING THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The volume of passengers of Zvartnots
International Airport made 182.1 thousand in the first quarter of
2006, or by 3.3 thousand passengers fewer than in the same period
of last year. 101.3 thousand passengers departed from the airport
and 80.8 thousand arraived during the first three months of 2006
against 102.1 thousand and 83.3 thousand passengers respectively
last year. NT correspondent was informed at the RA Civil Aviation
Main Department that the volume of cargo transportation made 1,807
tons in January-March 2006, which is by 73 tons less than in the same
period of 2005.
It was noted that during the indicated period, 1,423 take-offs and
landings were made at Zvarnots Airport, or by 106 fewer than in the
same period of last year. The passenger volume of Shirak Airport
(Gyumri) made 3.1 thousand and the volume of cargo transportation –
3.3 tons, which represents a decline by 11.7 tons and 3.4 thousand
passengers compared with the same petriod of last year.