Author: Zakarian Garnik

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

28-03-2006

Millennium Challenge Corporation Signs Five Year, $235 Million Compact
with Armenia

In a signing ceremony at the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin
room on March 27, Chief Executive Officer of the US Millennium
Challenge Corporation, Ambassador John Danilovich and Armenia’s
Minister of Finance and Economy, Vardan Khachatryan signed a $235.65
million Compact between MCC and the Republic of Armenia. Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and MCC Chair, US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice spoke at the signing.

Minister Oskanian’s statement:

I am here today, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Armenia
and my colleagues here from the Armenian government, to thank President
Bush, Secretary Rice, Ambassador Danilovich, the US government and
the American people, for including the Republic of Armenia in the
Millennium Challenge Compact.

President Bush’s visionary approach to development, which complements
the invaluable assistance that has already been provided to Armenia
through USAID and other US programs, continues the best tradition of
American missionaries, from whom Armenians had benefited greatly.

The MCC is a natural extension of their practice -doing good
born of one’s own convictions, but with the intent to nourish the
recipient’s sense of self-worth and ability. In the 21st century,
when philanthropy is not about charity but about finding solutions
to deep-seated problems, we welcome the US government’s decision to
assist and support directly those countries who have determined to
rule justly, to invest in people and to promote economic freedom –
in order for their citizens to live in dignity and security.

I see here our colleagues from other recipient countries, and I am
certain that they join me in saying that with this grant, the US is
recognizing the reality and duality of our lives – persistent poverty
in the face of progress.

On the one hand, one third of Armenia’s population continues to live
in poverty, two-thirds of our rural communities are not directly
connected to a central water distribution system, and most of our
secondary and tertiary roads do not provide the necessary access.

On the other hand, Armenia has managed, against great odds, with an
unresolved conflict and with closed borders, to be ranked first in
the world in best utilization of foreign assistance, to privatize and
to legislate such that our economy is ranked among the world’s most
liberal, and to register the highest economic growth in the region,
without the benefit of extractive resources.

That is why a long consultative process concluded that for significant
poverty reduction, we would request MCC funds to be spent in two
critical areas of infrastructure. Our program has been consciously
designed to complement the work of other donors.

With this signing of the Millennium Challenge Compact, Armenia is aware
that we have the obligation to build on the confidence that has been
placed in our government and people. Just as economic development is
a facilitator of democratization, so is democracy a tool for further
and deeper economic development. We understand that the US Government
has chosen to use these funds for economic development, only when a
society and its leadership comprehend their political responsibility
to nurture and sustain democratic practices.

Armenia is among the world’s youngest democracies and our democratic
and economic reforms are irreversible. Our significant progress
notwithstanding, we recognize that much remains to be done to make
these reforms comprehensive. We know that corruption must not be
tolerated and that the law must rule, that the principles of democracy
must be transformed to traditions of democracy in our country.

Madame Secretary, the elections of 2007 and 2008 will test our
democratic practices. Our task, until then, is to partner with the US
and European governments to implement the necessary corrective steps
to improve the conditions necessary for an honest and fair expression
of people’s voices.

In this regard, we welcome the American proposals for certain
structural reforms and education and public outreach efforts. We’ve
already begun the process of verifying voter lists, we’re making
progress in reforming the electoral law with the active participation
and agreement of all political forces in parliament. As in years past,
OSCE monitors will be present and will monitor elections.

In other words, Madame Secretary, Armenia and Armenians are determined
to benefit from the intent and content of the Millennium Challenge
Compact. Because our people deserve no less.

RA MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND YOUTH AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES GRANT COMPETITION FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. One of the priorities of strategy
of the 2006-2007 state youth policy adopted by RA government is the
regulation of the youth legislative field, solution of problems of
regional youth. For the very purpose youth centers will be established
this year in all Armenian regions.

5 mln drams (about 11 thousand USD) has been allocated from the
state budget for the foundation of each of them. They will be aimed
at raising the efficiency of conducting the state youth policy in
the regions. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Analysis
and Programs Elaboration Department of RA Culture and Youth Affairs
Ministry’s Center for Organization of Youth Events, international
cooperation programs are also considered as important. They will be
implemented in 3 directions: European Union, Council of Europe and CIS
countries. In particular, agreements on realizing Council of Europe
grants within the limits of 140 thousand euros in coming 2 years
in Armenia were reached and together with the UNDP it’s envisaged
to implement programs on providing credits to young families or
businessmen in the Armenian border regions.

Besides, some measures are being undertaken for the purpose of
strengthening contacts between the state and the youth NGOs. RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs has annouced a grant competition
within the limits of 1.5 mln drams for youth NGOs.

Today, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006

“Refugees and Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia”
on PACE spring session agenda

24 March 2006 [14:27] – Today.Az

Declaration on “Refugees and Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Georgia” was included into Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) spring preliminary session agenda. Project of the
given document was prepared by the Latvian reporter of the Committee
on Migration, Refugees and Population, Boriss Cilevics.

As Trend informs, the document, referred by number 10 835, states in
particular; “The situation of refugees and displaced persons in
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia continues to be an obstacle for the
development of these countries in economic, socio-political and
health terms.”

Efforts to find a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict have not
as yet produced results. Border incidents still occur, the fate of
missing persons has yet to be solved and landmines continue to cause
injury and death. There remain urgent humanitarian needs which are
becoming ever more difficult to satisfy as donor fatigue sets in.

Urgent humanitarian needs, however, must be increasingly supplemented
by international development aid to provide a future for the refugees
and internally displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
There are, however, some positive signs that the three countries are
moving forward with the local integration of their refugees and
displaced persons, thus allowing these people to regain their dignity
and prepare for the future.

“It is difficult to gauge the number of refugees and displaced
persons in the region. By law or by virtue of administrative
practice, the three countries tend to recognize the descendants of
persons displaced in various capacities within the region as
“refugees” or “displaced persons”, with the result that the total
number of refugees and displaced persons never seems to decrease.”

The majority of refugees and displaced persons are in that situation
because of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and deportations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Without a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the objective
of enabling refugees and displaced persons to return to the regions
from which they came is impossible to achieve. Furthermore, the
progress of the dialogue designed to solve the practical problems
refugees and displaced persons face, particularly with regard to the
return of their identity documents and the official restitution of
their property, is not satisfactory.

The Assembly welcomes the fact that the three countries have now
embarked on programs for the local integration of their refugees and
displaced persons. Article 13 of the resolution project, indicates
that “In Azerbaijan three categories of people need to be
distinguished: displaced persons who had to flee Karabakh, displaced
persons from the districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan that are,
strictly speaking, occupied, and Azerbaijanis from Armenia, who are
refugees under international humanitarian law.”

URL:

`Treasures of Echmiadzin’ exhibition to be held in the Moscow State Museum
after Pushkin

ArmRadio
24.03.2006 14:25

In the framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia `Treasures of
Echmiadzin’ exhibition will be held April 1-20 in the Moscow State
Museum of Arts after Pushkin. MEDIAMAX Agency informs that the opening
ceremony of the exhibition will be held on March 31.

>From March 30 to April 10 exhibition of works by Armenian artists of
Saint Petersburg will be held in the Northern capital of Russia. The
exhibition will be held in the framework of the Year of Armenia in
Russia with participation of the Saint Petersburg Governmental
Committees on Foreign Relations and Tourism and Culture, as well as
the Chief Consulate of the Republic of Armenia.

AVET DEMURIAN’S “SECRETS OF INTERVIEW” HANDBOOK PUBLISHED

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. At present there is lack of necessary
education handbooks for teaching future journalists in the
institutions of higher education of Armenia. Astghik Gevorgian, the
Chairwoman of the Journalists’ Union of Armenia stated about this at
the March 22 presentation of the “Secrets of Interview” book authored
by Avet Demurian, the Deputy Chairman of the Yerevan Press
Club. According to Boris Navasardian, the Chairman of the Yerevan
Press Club, that handbook in which Russian and Western journalism’s as
well as the author’s own professional experience is presented, will be
useful for journalists from the viewpoint of not only holding an
inteview but in general for getting acquainted with the methodology of
getting information. As Avet Demurian mentioned that creation and
publication of the “Secrets of Interview” handbook as well as of his
“I State News” book published before that were financed by the
U.S. Embassy to Armenia. He expressed hope that the Embassy will also
finance works of creating the “Reporting as Genre” book to be
published in 2006. The “Secrets of Interview” handbook was published
with print run of 1500 copies 1000 of which in the Armenian, 500 ones
in the Russian languages. The most part of the print run will be
freely given to institutions of higher education having departments of
journalism. A.Demurian has worked for many years as the Armenian
bureau head and personal correspondent of the Russian RIA “Novosti”
agency, is the founder of the Armenian “Arka” agency, and is the
correspondence of the “Associated Press” agency in Armenia at present.

INFORMATION PROGRAMS OF AKHALKALAK AND NINOTSMINDA TV COMPANIES TO PASS TO SELF-FINANCING

Noyan Tapan
Armeninans Today
Mar 21 2006

AKHALKALAK, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “Objective”
and “Andradardz” (Reflection) everyday information programs broadcast
by the Akhalkalak ATV-12 and Ninotsminda “Parvana” TV companies
will pass to self-financing from now on. Only two years ago those
programs started to be broadcast by financial-technic assistance of the
Tbilisi Office of the OSCE Commissioner for Ethnic Minorities and the
“Internews.” According to the “A-Info” agency, today the project has
already been completed, and the TV companies themselves will decide
the future of the information programs. According to ATV-12 Director
Vahrad Tkoyan and “Parvana” Director Kostandin Vardanian, in spite
of difficulties, an attempt will be made to keep the information
programs for there are of great demand among the local inhabitation.

THE REAR OF KARABAKH ARMY STRENGTHENED

Lragir/am
20 March 06

The army is the chief guarantee of our security, said NKR President
Arkady Ghukasyan during the housewarming ceremony of the houses
built for the officers of the Defense Army. In the 13th quarter of
the center of Stepanakert two blocks of 12 apartments were built. On
March 20 the documents of the apartments were given to 24 officers.

During the opening ceremony President Ghukasyan said the government
and the army command must solve together the problems that will allow
our soldiers to carry out their duty, knowing that their families
are secure. “We defend our independence and try to fulfill the things
that our killed friends had dreamed of,” said Arkady Ghukasyan.

Seyran Ohanyan, Minister of Defense, said in 2005 750 million drams
was allocated for the housing of servicemen. In 2006 1 billion 200
million drams was allocated for the same purpose. Another 300 million
drams will be provided for the construction of houses for the families
of killed azatamartiks.

Armenia confirms soldier taken captive in Azerbaijan

Arminfo, Yerevan
18 Mar 06

The spokesman for the Armenian Defence Ministry, Col Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, has confirmed that an Armenian soldier had been taken
captive in Azerbaijan, Arminfo news agency said on 18 March.

The agency quoted an Azerbaijani official as telling the International
Committee of the Red Cross and the international working group for
POWs, hostages and missing persons that the soldier, who had gone
missing on 3 March, was taken captive by Azerbaijan.

Taviani Brothers Agreed to Mitigate Script of Film on Armenian Genocide

NIAN.Net
18.03.2006 01:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has protested against Taviani brothers,
world-wide known Italian film directors, going to shoot a film
called Lark Farm, dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sent complaints to the Italian MFA.
Turkish Premier Erdogan drew the attention of his Italian counterpart
Silvio Berlusconi to the matter. The latter promised to do his
best “not to harm Turkish-Italian relations.” After calls of the
Turkish MFA, Taviani brothers agreed to mitigate the film script a
bit. They reported they will change the script and will accentuate
not the Armenian Genocide, but a love story. Turkey highlights it,
as Euromirage sponsors the film. The sum makes 600 thousand euros.
Turkey annually pays the organization 1 million euros. Thus Turks
conclude that an anti-Turkish film is shot at the expense of funds
from Turkey, the Marmara Istanbul newspaper reports.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006

AZERBAIJANI EMBASSY IN MOSCOW SUBMITS NOTE OF PROTEST TO RUSSIA~RS
FOREIGN MMINISTRY
[March 17, 2006, 18:33:14]

Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow submitted a note of protest to
Russia’s Foreign Ministry against the information published on the
Caucasus-related page of the Inter RAO EES company’s website.

In its note, the Embassy points to “inadmissibility of publications
reflecting the violation of territorial integrity of the Azerbaijan
Republic”, and requests the Russian Foreign Ministry to call on the
Inter RAO EES to eliminate the errors and distortions, and not allow
their repetition in future.

The Embassy also asks to forward the text of the note to the Inter
RAO EES for its personnel to have correct information about the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh deals with by the
Russian Federation as co chair of the OSCE Minsk group.

On the webpage, the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by Armenian
armed forces is presented without pointing to its belonging to the
Republic of Azerbaijan; the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is not
mentioned as part of the Republic of Azerbaijan; names of several
Azerbaijani towns are presented as they sounds in Armenian: the
Azerbaijani towns Shusha as Shushi, and Lachin as Kashatag.