GEGHARQOUNIQ HAS A NEW 12.5-KM ROAD

A1+
[01:57 pm] 04 December, 2006

On December 2 the new inter-community 12.5-km highway
Gavar-Gegharqouniq was opened with the presence of Minister of
Agriculture David Loqyan.

The Minister congratulated the residents of Hatsarat, Gandzak,
Saroukhan, Lanjakhbyur and Gegharqouniq communities mentioning
that this part of the road is at the center of attention of the
Government. The asphalting work started in May of the current year.

About 1 million 300 thousand USD has been invested.

According to Gavar mayor Gourgen Martirosyan, the budget of the city
has allotted 10 million AMD for the purpose and will allot another
seven million in 2007.

During the meeting with the residents Minister of Agriculture David
Loqyan answered their questions and said that in 2007 about 50 projects
will be realized in the region.

ARMENIAN CULTURE EXHIBITION OPENS AT HERMITAGE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2006

SAINT PETERSBURG, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who visited Saint Petersburg on the occasion of closure of
Year of Armenia in Russia, took part in the opening of an exhibition
under the title Armenian Culture on December 2 at Hermitage. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it from RA government Information and Public
Relations Department. This exhibition that opened at Hermitage after
repairs of exhibition-halls and will be constantly renewed includes
I-XIX centuries. Hellenistic culture in Armenia is presented with an
exclusive graceful historic sample, which is a gift from the Armenian
government to Hermitage: this is the capital of the heathen temple of
Garni. The exhibition widely presents the art and culture of medieval
Armenia, especially its miniature painting. The Hermitage displays
include ancient Armenian manuscripts created not only in Armenia,
but also beyond its bounds.

The exhibition also includes the Cilician Armenia. XVII-XIX centuries’
Armenian silversmiths’ samples of fine taste – church and consumer
accessories, make a considerable part. Khachkars (cross-stones)
are also widely displayed.

Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovski, RA Minister of Culture and Youth
Affairs Hasmik Poghosian and Head of RF Culture and Cinematography
Federal Agency Mikhail Shvidkoy in their speeches attached importance
to this valuable exhibition as one more evidence of Armenian-Russian
friendship and cooperation. After the exhibition’s opening, RA Minister
of Culture and Youth Affairs and Head of RF Culture and Cinematography
Federal Agency signed a cooperation program for 2007-2009.

MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN KARABAKH TO PARTICIPATE IN CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

Armenpress
Dec 04 2006

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The overwhelming majority of
residents in Nagorno-Karabakh will go to the polls next week to
participate in a constitutional referendum, set for December 10.

Out of 500 respondents questioned during a public opinion survey
conducted by the Union of Journalists of Nagorno-Karabakh, 431 said
they will participate in the referendum, 37 said they will not and
29 were undecided.

The poll was conducted between November 15-25 in the capital city
Stepanakert and in all regions of Karabakh. More than half-281- of
respondents were people with higher education, 216 had secondary
and vocational education. Also 242 respondents were aware of the
constitution text, 154 were not and 101 read only parts of it.

STRATEGY PLAN ON NATIONAL SECURITY SECOND IMPORTANT DOCUMENT

Panorama.am
16:31 04/12/06

Strategy plan for national security of Armenia is the second important
document in the country after the constitution, Garnik Isagulyan,
adviser of the Armenian president on national security issues, told
a press conference today.

In his words, the difference is that this document may be amended upon
need. Isagulyan said the document is based on the report submitted by
Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan as of 16 February 2006. The adviser
said all the suggestions are considered in the draft.

After studying the experience of 30-40 countries, the inter-agency
committee working on the draft concluded that it is not expedient to
fix the Strategy as a law.

"It may pose difficulties in making changes which may be dictated by
the political situation and the reality in the country and the region,"
Isagulyan said. He also said 7 sessions were held and the last one
will take place soon after which the document will be submitted for
the approval of the government. After the government approves it, the
document will be signed by the president as a decree. Isagulyan could
not tell exact deadline for the approval of the document.

MODERNIZATION OF STANDS

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[02:20 pm] 04 December, 2006

The owners of the stands in the Barekamutyun underground station are
worried about the process of the modernization of the stands. According
to one of the owners, Armen M., "We are afraid that they will take
away our stands". Head of the commerce and service administration of
the Yerevan municipality Karen Gevorgyan said that the issue has been
regulated with the district municipality.

Mr. Gevorgyan informed that until 2008 all the stands and kiosks
in the streets of the capital will be modernized. The municipality
has calculated over 6700 such stands. A special committee has been
created to check their documents and the legality. In case of not
having proper documents and/or not having modern appearance the stands
will be deconstructed.

Mr. Gevorgyan mentioned that this is the first time during the last 15
years they have ever deconstructed a stand. 152 of the 386 stands in
Kentron community are to be deconstructed. The communities of Ajapnyak,
Isakov, Davtashen, Sebastia and Andranik are to come next. There are
700 stands there 300 of which are subject to deconstruction too.

ANTI-GOVERNMENTAL RALLIES PROCEED IN BEIRUT
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
05/12/2006

The Friday rallies aimed at toppling PM Fouad Siniora’s cabinet
continue in Beirut. While quenching the protest rally of adherents
of the Shia oppositional organizations 1 man was killed and 12 were
wounded.

The lasting anti-governmental rallies at the weekend were organized
by Hezbollah and Amal movements, Reuters reports. The Shias set up a
tent camp in front of the Government’s residence. Though a part of
protestors was driven away, the rally participants are inclined to
continue their demonstration until the Government resigns.

The governmental crisis in Lebanon began after the resignation of the
6 ministers representing the interests of Hezbollah and Amal as well
as Pierre Gemayel’s assassination.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT ADVISER NAMES THREE PARTIES AS ESTABLISHED

Panorama.am
16:52 04/12/06

Garnik Isagulyan, adviser to the Armenian president on the issues of
national security, thinks that only three parties are established
in the country – Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) and Armenian Pan-national
Movement (HHSh). These parties have ideology and are real political
forces in Armenia, the adviser said.

Speaking about upcoming parliamentary elections, Isagulyan said that
clear alternative programs must be proposed. "Opposition forces do
not submit such programs and, therefore, we do not witness political
combat during the elections," he said. Isagulyan believes that the
opposition forcers behave as losers.

The adviser pointed out that President Kocharyan will engage in
politics after his term and will play a considerable role in the
political life of the country.

NEWSPRINT SHORTAGE MAY FORCE ARMENIAN PAPERS OFF THE STANDS

Golos Armenii, Yerevan,
Dec 2 2006

"The Armenian press is at the threshold of black Wednesday"

It is very much possible that most of the Armenian newspapers will
not be issued beginning from next Wednesday as there is no newsprint
in Armenia. "Today, about 150 t of our newsprint are in Vladikavkaz
and another seven wagons are in Ilyichevsk," Vrezh Markosyan, director
of the Tigran Mets printing house, has said.

The lion’s share of Armenian newspapers is printed at the printing
house.

"We are unable to collect the newsprint from Vladikavkaz as the
Verkhniy Lars checkpoint is closed. As for Ilyichevsk, they refuse
to load the newsprint on the ferryboat. Thus, all roads are closed
to us. Our stocks of newsprint will be enough only till 6 December,"
Markosyan added.

At first sight, such a catastrophic situation is a regular and
logical consequence of the escalation of tension in Russian-Georgian
relations. Moreover, there is an unofficial theory which proves the
political context of the story. When transporting cargo via Ilyichevsk,
Ukraine gives preference to the cargo of Georgia, its partner in GUAM
[regional alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova]. The
potential of the ferry service is limited and in such a case the
Armenian cargo finds itself off the board.

This assumption seems to be true but as we were told at the Armenian
Transport and Communications Ministry, the official reason is
disagreement between two Ukrainian organizations: the state-run
company Ukrzaliznytsya, which manages the railway, and the private
company Ukrferry, which uses the Ilyichevsk-Batumi ferry service.

They have a financial conflict which has reached the court. For this
reason, the operation of the ferry service has been paralysed since 9
November. A representative of the Armenian railway, Karen Pogosyan,
said that there are currently about 200 wagons [of newspaper] bound
for Armenia in Ilyichevsk [figure as given].

SERGE SARGSYAN IS THE PRESIDENT ISAGULYAN DREAMS OF

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[06:33 pm] 04 December, 2006

"We tried to create a document which proceeds from the reality and
answers all the questions the RA faces today", stated Garnik Isagulyan,
the advisor of the RA President on security issues. The discussion
about the RA National Security draft strategy took place in club
"Urbat".

Seizing the opportunity, the President’s advisor thanked RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan. "The Defense Minister who is also the head
of the committee processing the draft said from the very beginning
that the work on the draft will be open, and everyone must have
their contribution to its development", mentioned Mr. Isagulyan. He
also informed that the draft Strategy will not be widely discussed;
it will just be sent to corresponding bodies.

Studying about 30-40 international security doctrines, Mr. Isagulyan
realized, "In this changeable world, if the document is adopted as
a law, we will have serious problems. I’d prefer the Government to
adopt the document which will be sent to be ratified by the President".

Mr. Isagulyan did not deny the fact that the security doctrines of the
country are written for a certain historical period. "The document
must include the processes that take place in the world and in the
region and how the RA must act in the context of those processes". In
this connection the security strategy will change alongside with the
situation in the world.

Speaking about the Presidential elections, Mr. Isagulyan claimed
that his favorite candidate is Serge Sargsyan, especially thanks to
his activity in different fields including chess, army, security,
education, etc. He informed that he will spare no effort to support
Serge Sargsyan in the coming elections.

OSCE CIO: BREAKTHROUGH FELT IN KARABAKH PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Although some progress had been made in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement, it would be unwise to expect a solution
in Brussels, said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister
Karel De Gucht on December 4 in Brussels at the two-day meeting of the
Council of the OSCE Foreign Ministers. Foreign ministers from the 56
OSCE participating States will focus on tackling protracted "frozen"
conflicts and further improving OSCE efficiency. Minister De Gucht
said Belgium had worked to redress the balance between the three
dimensions of security – politico-military, economic-environmental
and human. He also noted progress had been made on small arms and
light weapons, reports Trend news agency.

The meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers will
be held within the OSCE FMs’ sitting in Brussels.