Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Armenian MPs pass law on building depot for used nuclear fuel
Arminfo
25 May 05
YEREVAN
The Armenian parliament today adopted in its third and final reading a
draft law giving permission to the Armenian Nuclear Power Station
closed-type joint-stock company to build a depot for used nuclear
fuel.
Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan, who presented the bill, said
that at present the delivery to Russia and processing of 1 kg of
nuclear fuel used by the Armenian Nuclear Power Station will cost
2,000 dollars. In addition, in the future Armenia might develop
technologies to produce power from used nuclear fuel.
The depot is designed to store used nuclear fuel for 50 years, after
which the depot will be inspected.
The minister also noted that used nuclear fuel loses 70 per cent of
its radioactivity in the first few years, but fully only over 130
years. The construction of the depot is to cost 10m euros.
[Passage omitted: minor details]

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER MEETS WITH HEADS OF THE CHAMBERS OF THE
BELGIAN PARLIAMENT TODAY
YEREVAN, May 23. /ARKA/. RA National assembly speaker Arthur
Baghdasaryan met with the Chairwoman of the Belgian Senate Anne-Marie
Lizin and the Speaker of Belgian House of Representatives Herman De
Croo within the framework of his official visit to Benelux
countries. As the Public Relations Department of RA NA told ARKA News
Agency, meting are scheduled with Armenia-Belgium Interparliamentary
Friendship Group, representatives of social, political and scientific
organizations, head of the Belgian diamond treatment centre and
members of Armenian community of Belgium. Tomorrow, Arthur
Baghdasaryan will hold talks with the President of the European
Parliament Josep Borrell. On May 25, the delegation headed by
Baghdasaryan will leave for the Netherlands to meet with the Chairman
of Dutch Senate Ivon Timerman and Speaker of House of Representatives
Frantz Wesglas, as well as the Director of International Organization
for Banning Chemical Weapon Rogelio Pfirter and head of the UN
International Court Shi Czyuung. On May 27, Armenian delegation will
head to Luxemburg and will be received by Grand Duke Henry of
Luxemburg, Speaker of the Luxembourg’s Parliament Lusien Walier and
Luxemburg’s Minister on Foreign Affairs and Migration Issues Nicola
Schmidt. L.V.-0-

Armenie. L’alphabet national a 1.
Le Telegramme
22 mai 2005
L’alphabet national a 1.600 ans. L’Armenie a inaugure hier une ”
allee des lettres antiques ” destinee a marquer les 1.600 ans de son
alphabet, invente par le pretre Mesrop Machtots en 405. 36 lettres
de pierre ont ete erigees a 1.600 mètres d’altitude, non loin de la
capitale armenienne, Erevan.
Les 36 lettres de l’alphabet de Machtots, completees depuis par trois
autres, sont toujours en usage aujourd’hui. Les Armeniens considèrent
que leur alphabet a ete un puissant facteur d ‘ identite de leur
communaute, notamment pendant les periodes de domination persane
et turque.
–Boundary_(ID_0sO9qFLLJO7Xq2w3jKEp+g)–

POP: ALBUM REVIEWS
The Independent – United Kingdom
May 21, 2005
Tim Perry
System of a Down ‘Mesmerize’ (Sony)
Their first album since 2001’s breakthrough Toxicity, this is the first
instalment of a conceptual double-album which will be completed soon by
the release of Hypnotize. Still, there are enough ideas on this single
disc to last most bands an entire career, as this Armenian-American
outfit bring their cacophonous metal to an even higher plain. HHHHH
The Coral ‘The Invisible Invasion’ (Deltasonic)
Incredibly prolific and still under 24, these Merseysiders return
with their fourth and most accomplished album to date. Initially they
may have come across as a one-trick pony, but, with Geoff Barrow
(Portishead) at the control desk, they’ve matured magnificently,
offering more dimension and space to their tunes, which nowadays
range from charming pop to dark psychedelic workouts. HHHH
Son Volt ‘A Retrospective: 1995-2000’ (Warners/Rhino)
After leaving the highly influential Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar formed
SonVolt and debuted in 1995 with the amazing Trace. Although there are
some startling omissions here, this album collects tracks from their
three albums, plus demos, live takes and soundtrack contributions to
give a decent picture of a great alt.country band. HHHH
Dive Dive ‘Tilting at Windmills’ (Diablo Music)
This quartet has been knocking around Oxford for years and, although
John Peel championed them extensively, it’s still a wonder that a
band can spit out a dozen tracks of pure, aggressive pop-rock of such
quality without wider recognition. HHHH
Art Brut ‘Bang Bang Rock And Roll’ (Fierce Panda)
The idea of Art Brut ” matching some primal new-wave chords with a
non- singer and some chatty lyrics ” should not work. But, as the
debut single ‘Formed a Band’ hinted, enthusiasm can go a long way.
That’s proven here by some highly infectious singalong anthems.
Stupid but fun. HHHH
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

French Open Draw
AP Worldstream
May 20, 2005
Draw for the French Open, which starts Monday and ends June 5 at Stade Roland Garros (wc-wild card):
Men
Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, vs. Robin Soderling, Sweden
Nicolas Almagro, Spain, vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany
Christophe Rochus, Belgium, vs. Qualifier
Michael Llodra, France, vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25), Chile
Dominik Hrbaty 17, Slovakia, vs. Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia-Montenegro
Sjeng Schalken, Netherlands, vs. Qualifier
Qualifier vs. Kevin Kim, United States
Alberto Martin, Spain, vs. Carlos Moya (14), Spain
David Nalbandian (10), Argentina, vs. Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus
Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, vs. Jeff Morrison, United States
Oscar Hernandez, Spain, vs. Qualifier
Qualifier vs. Mario Ancic (18), Croatia
Juan Ignacio Chela (31), Argentina, vs. Rainer Schuettler, Germany
Victor Hanescu, Romania, vs. Michal Tabara, Czech Republic
Luis Horna, Peru, vs. Jerome Haehnel, France
Potito Starace, Italy, vs. Tim Henman (7), Britain
Rafael Nadal (4), Spain, vs. Lars Burgsmuller, Germany
Mardy Fish, United States, vs. Xavier Malisse, Belgium
Peter Wessels, Netherlands, vs. Ricardo Mello, Brazil
Qualifier vs. Richard Gasquet (30), France
Sebastien Grosjean (23), France, vs. Juan Monaco, Argentina
wc-Thierry Ascione, France, vs. Davide Sanguinetti, Italy
Andrei Pavel, Romania, vs. wc-Florent Serra, France
Paradorn Srichaphan, Thailand , vs. Radek Stepanek (16), Czech Republic
Joachim Johansson (11), Sweden, vs. Fernando Verdasco, Spain
Lee Hyung-taik, South Korea, vs. Alex Calatrava, Spain
wc-Gilles Simon, France, vs. wc-Olivier Patience, France
Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, vs. David Ferrer (20), Spain
Jiri Novak (26), Czech Republic, vs. Bjorn Phau, Germany
Felix Mantilla, Spain, vs. Tomas Zib, Czech Republic
Dmitry Tursunov, Russia, vs. Stefan Koubek, Austria
Julien Benneteau, France, vs. Gaston Gaudio (5), Argentina
Guillermo Coria (8), Argentina, vs. Kenneth Carlsen, Denmark
Qualifier vs. Robby Ginepri, United States
Jurgen Melzer, Austria, vs. Wayne Arthurs, Australia
Gilles Muller, Luxembourg, vs. Mikhail Youzhny (29), Russia
Tommy Haas (21), Germany, vs. Florian Mayer, Germany
Vince Spadea, United States, vs. Albert Costa, Spain
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Spain, vs. Olivier Rochus, Belgium
Qualifier vs. Nikolay Davydenko (12), Russia
Tommy Robredo (15), Spain, vs. wc-Peter Luczak, Australia
Qualifier vs. Jean-Rene Lisnard, France
Gustavo Kuerten, Brazil, vs. David Sanchez, Spain
Scott Draper, Australia, vs. Thomas Johansson (19), Sweden
Juan Carlos Ferrero (32), Spain, vs. Karol Beck, Slovakia
Fabrice Santoro, France, vs. Jan Hernych, Czech Republic
Thomas Enqvist, Sweden, vs. Qualifier
Raemon Sluiter, Netherlands, vs. Marat Safin (3), Russia
Andre Agassi (6), United States, vs. Qualifier
Jonas Bjorkman, Sweden, vs. Igor Andreev, Russia
wc-Arnaud Clement, France, vs. Alexander Popp, Germany
Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, vs. Nicolas Kiefer (28), Germany
Feliciano Lopez (24), Spain, vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France
Qualifier vs. Santiago Ventura, Spain
Albert Montanes, Spain, vs. Sargis Sargsian, Armenia
wc-Gael Monfils, France, vs. Guillermo Canas (9), Argentina
Ivan Ljubicic (13), Croatia, vs. Mariano Puerta, Argentina
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
Qualifier vs. Nicolas Massu (22), Chile
Filippo Volandri (27), Italy, vs. Cyril Saulnier, France
Greg Rusedski, Britain, vs. Qualifier
Jose Acasuso, Argentina, vs. Max Mirnyi, Belarus
wc-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, vs. Andy Roddick (2), United States
Women
Lindsay Davenport (1), United States, vs. Katarina Srebotnik, Slovenia
wc-Mailyne Andrieux, France, vs. Peng Shuai, China
Tatiana Panova, Russia, vs. Qualifier
Virginie Razzano, France, vs. Dinara Safina (25), Russia
Daniela Hantuchova (20), Slovakia, vs. Qualifier
Denisa Chladkova, Czech Republic, vs. Catalina Castano, Colombia
Ludmila Cervanova, Slovakia, vs. Aiko Nakamura, Japan
Qualifier vs. Kim Clijsters (14), Belgium
Vera Zvonareva (9), Russia, vs. Qualifier
Qualifier vs. Maria Kirilenko, Russia
Jelena Kostanic, Croatia, vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn, Thailand
Vera Douchevina, Russia, vs. Mary Pierce (21), France
Flavia Pennetta (32), Italy, vs. Jill Craybas, United States
Marta Domachowska, Poland, vs. Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, France
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
Cho Yoon-jeong, South Korea, vs. Patty Schnyder (8), Switzerland
Elena Dementieva (4), Russia, vs. Barbora Strycova, Czech Republic
Sanda Mamic, Croatia, vs. Lisa Raymond, United States
Akiko Morigami, Japan, vs. Angela Haynes, United States
Maria Elena Camerin, Italy, vs. Karolina Sprem (31), Croatia
Silvia Farina Elia (18), Italy, vs. Anne Kremer, Luxembourg
Shenay Perry, United States, vs. Arantxa Parra Santonja, Spain
wc-Sophie Ferguson, Australia, vs. Mariana Diaz-Oliva, Argentina
Yuliana Fedak, Ukraine, vs. Elena Likhovtseva (16), Russia
Venus Williams (11), United States, vs. Marta Marrero, Spain
Fabiola Zuluaga, Colombia, vs. Qualifier
Alyona Bondarenko, Ukraine, vs. Sesil Karatantcheva, Bulgaria
Julia Schruff, Germany, vs. Shinobu Asagoe (19), Japan
Amy Frazier (27), United States, vs. Meghann Shaughnessy, United States
Emilie Loit, France, vs. Claudine Schaul, Luxembourg
Tatiana Perebiynis, Ukraine, vs. Emmanuelle Gagliardi, Switzerland
Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, Spain, vs. Anastasia Myskina (5), Russia
Nadia Petrova (7), Russia, vs. Mashona Washington, United States
Abigail Spears, United States, vs. Severine Beltrame, France
Kveta Peschke, Czech Republic, vs. Dally Randriantefy, Madagascar
Shahar Peer, Israel, vs. Marion Bartoli (28), France
Tatiana Golovin (17), France, vs. Lilia Osterloh, United States
Antonella Serra Zanetti, Italy, vs. Marlene Weingartner, Germany
Martina Sucha, Slovakia, vs. Tathiana Garbin, Italy
Maria Vento-Kabchi, Venezuela, vs. Elena Bovina (12), Russia
Jelena Jankovic (15), Serbia-Montenegro, vs. Anna Smashnova, Israel
Roberta Vinci, Italy, vs. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Germany
Qualifier vs. Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic
Zheng Jie, China, vs. Francesca Schiavone (22), Italy
Ana Ivanovic (29), Serbia-Montenegro, vs. Stephanie Foretz, France
Iveta Benesova, Czech Republic, vs. wc-Pauline Parmentier, France
Alina Jidkova, Russia, vs. wc-Alize Cornet, France
Evie Dominikovic, Australia, vs. Amelie Mauresmo (3), France
Svetlana Kuznetsova (6), Russia, vs. wc-Mathilde Johansson, France
Qualifier vs. Eleni Daniilidou, Greece
Marissa Irvin, United States, vs. Nicole Pratt, Australia
Sania Mirza, India, vs. Gisela Dulko (30), Argentina
Magdalena Maleeva (24), Bulgaria, vs. Rika Fujiwara, Japan
Qualifier vs. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain
Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain, vs. Qualifier
Conchita Martinez, Spain, vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne (10), Belgium
Nathalie Dechy (13), France, vs. Michaela Pastikova, Czech Republic
Silvija Talaja, Croatia, vs. Samantha Stosur, Australia
wc-Youlia Fedossova, France, vs. Kristina Brandi, Puerto Rico
Nuria Llagostera Vives, Spain, vs. Ai Sugiyama (23), Japan
Paola Suarez (26), Argentina, vs. Anna Chakvetadze, Russia
Qualifier vs. Klara Koukalova, Czech Republic
wc-Camille Pin, France, vs. wc-Aravane Rezai, France
Evgenia Linetskaya, Russia, vs. Maria Sharapova (2), Russia

A1plus
| 17:03:41 | 19-05-2005 | Politics |
WAR FOR BUSINESS
Today the owners of the currency exchange points situated in a tight
row in Tigran Mets Street organized a protest action and went on
termless strike. They are exasperated with checks and cavils that have
become frequent recently. However the main reason for the strike is
the decision by the Central Bank, according to which the points should
be located at least at the distance of 50 meters from each other.
The owners and employees of the exchange points state that the
authorities want to grasp the business from private owners and leave
it in hands of several people. They say that about 3000 people will
lose their job if the CB closes all the exchange points in Kasyan
and Tigran Mets Streets.
According to the protesters 12 pointes were forcibly closed today in
Tigran Mets Street and 8 points ~V in Kasyan Street. They suppose
that the authorities wish the banks under the supervision of the
state only to exercise the exchange function.
Some of the owners of the exchange points agree to speak with
journalists but prefer not to introduce themselves. If within several
days later their demand remain without response they are not going
to undertake either measures. «We are powerless», they say.
Meanwhile long queues appeared at the exchange points of the branches
of Areximbank and Promethey bank located in Tigran Mets Street.
–Boundary_(ID_ASmkb8PDS0qXmLldEV+wng)–

Arinc: Turks Have Never Committed Genocide Throughout Their History
Turkish Press
Published: 5/18/2005
CANBERRA (AA) – Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on
Thursday that Turks had never committed genocide throughout their
history.
Arinc, who is currently in Australia on an official visit, met
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer.
Replying to questions of the A.A correspondent following the
meetings, Arinc said, “I expressed Turkey’s regret over recognition
of allegations regarding the so-called Armenian genocide in some
countries. Bitter events occurred during the World War I. However,
Turks have never committed genocide throughout their history. Not
national parliaments but historians should deal with such events.”
Referring to Turkey’s EU membership bid, Arinc said, “relations between
Turkey and the EU have been continuing for the last four decades. On
December 17th, the EU decided to open entry talks with Turkey on
October 3rd 2005. However, both public opinions and politicians of
some European countries are opposed to Turkey’s membership. Some
of them are against enlargement of the EU while the others think
that Turkey’s predominantly Muslim population would contradict the
EU. These are prejudices.” “In fact, Turkey-EU relations are based
on mutual interests. Turkey will make important contributions to
the EU. Negotiation process will start on October 3rd. We know that
the process will last for a long time and will not be easy at all,”
Arinc added.
Arinc will proceed to Sidney on Friday. He is expected to return to
Turkey on Saturday.

MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV WITH PRESIDENT OF CZECH REPUBLIC VACLAV KLAUS
Azer Tag
[May 17, 2005, 14:55:51]
On May 17, President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev met
with his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus. Both leaders have expressed
satisfaction with the cooperation between the two countries in
political, economic and other spheres noting the expected opening of
the Azerbaijan Embassy in Prague would promote further development of
the bilateral relations bringing them to a qualitatively new level.
In particular, the Presidents stressed the importance of enhancing
Czechia-Azerbaijan cooperation in the sphere of tourism.
President Ilham Aliyev also spoke of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh noting despite its hard consequences for his
country, it supports peaceful and international law-based settlement
of the problem.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus has expressed his support for the fair
stance of Azerbaijan as for the issue.
The two Presidents have also exchanged views on a number of other
issues of mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIA’S CEC RESPONDS ON CRITICISM BY HIS SUBORDINATE FROM OPPOSITION
YEREVAN, MAY 14. ARMINFO. “I would advice opposition member of
Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission Felix Khachatryan to do his
own work rather than to criticize mine, says Chairman of CEC Garegin
Azaryan commenting on Khachatryan’s severe criticism of his work
During a recent press-conference Khachatryan called Azaryan a passive
incompetent falsifier.
Azaryan says that this all is just a reaction to the forthcoming
changes in CEC and adoption of new electoral code. Moreover Khachatryan
better mind his own business – in two years he has failed to make
a single draft decision this being the key duty of an electoral
commissioner. “It is easier to cry about poorly made voters’ lists
than to work off one’s considerably big salary,” says Azaryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri, Armenian leaders likely to meet in Warsaw, Russian minister says
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
15 May 05
VIENNA
The countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and
the USA – are planning to organize the Nagornyy Karabakh negotiations
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents on the sidelines of
the Council of Europe summit in Warsaw, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov said here today.
“Since the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders will attend the Council of
Europe summit, they are likely to have a meeting,” he said.
[Passage omitted: Lavrov’s schedule in Vienna]