AZG Armenian Daily #211, 04/11/2006
Anniversary
130TH ANNIVERSARY OF HRACHYA ATCHARIAN MARKED IN ALEPPO
Armenian cultural associations of Aleppo celebrated the 130th
anniversary of Hrachya Atcharian a few days ago. Among participants
who held speeches were Bishop Shahan Sargsian, head of the Armenian
diocese in Beria, Archbishop Petros Miriatian, head of the Armenian
Catholic community, Harutyun Selimian, head of the Armenian Evangelical
community, Levon Sharoyan and others. They presented the great
linguist’s contribution at large and recalled his human qualities.
By Gohar Gevorgian

BUDGET PLANS 40% HIGHER SALARY FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Panorama.am
14:38 03/11/06
The amount of salary of top public officials will depend on the amount
of minimum salary, Pavel Safaryan, deputy minister of finance and
economy, told a parliament hearing on state budget. In his words, if
the minimum salary does not go up, the salary of top officials will
not increase, either. The state budget envisages 40% higher salary
for top officials. The average base salary of public employees will
go up to 104.5 thousand drams instead of present 87 thousand.
Safaryan said expenditures for keeping state administration will
increase by 5.2 billion drams, 67% of which are salaries and pension
funds. Rise of expenditures is determined by institutional changes.
Some 174 more people will be employed in the public sector in 2007.
Speaking about state subsidies to communities, deputy minister said
3.3 bln more drams will be released. /Panorama.am/

Georgia, Gazprom Discuss Gas Price Hike
By MISHA DZHINDZHIKASHVILI
Nov. 3, 2006, 12:53PM
Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia said Friday it was trying to persuade
Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom to reconsider its decision to
more than double the price for gas supplies, but would also seek to
diversify its energy imports.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli told a Cabinet meeting that
the price hike was obviously political because other former Soviet
nations were paying far less. A day earlier, Georgia’s foreign
minister said the new rate was “the price we pay for our choice”
of a pro-Western path.
OAO Gazprom said Thursday it plans to charge Tbilisi $230 per
1,000 cubic meters of gas, compared with the $110 that it pays now,
increasing economic pressure against Moscow’s small southern neighbor.
Nogaideli pointed out that Ukraine got a price of $130 for next year
and Armenia $110, and some European Union nations paid less than
$230, an apparent reference to the three Baltic states. He said that
Georgian officials were talking to Gazprom hoping to reduce the price
it requested.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili criticized the planned increase
but played down its potential effects. “I don’t expect any catastrophe,
but certainly it’s a bad precedent for everybody. Energy cannot
and should not become a political tool,” he said during a terrorism
conference in Monaco.
Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said that talks were taking place with
Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey to secure alternative supplies of gas.
Analysts in Georgia warned of a repeat of the gas war between Russia
and Ukraine at the start of this year when Gazprom cut off supplies.
That stoppage, amid fierce negotiations over a higher price demanded by
Gazprom, was seen as punishment for Ukraine’s pro-Western policies. It
also briefly interrupted deliveries to Europe, sending lasting shock
waves through the European Union nations already wary of overdependence
on Russian energy supplies.
Ukraine, which finally agreed to pay almost double at $95 per 1,000
cubic meters, has since managed to limit the increase for 2007 to $130
after Russian-leaning Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych took over as
head of government in the wake of his party’s success in March polls.
Neighboring Belarus faces a fourfold rise in gas prices, although
Gazprom is believed to be willing to compromise if the country hands
over 50 percent of the state pipeline through which Russian gas
transits to western Europe.
“Russia is increasingly using the energy weapon for political reasons,”
said Georgian political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze. “There is only
one aim, to punish Georgia for its policy of integration with NATO
and European structures.”
–Boundary_(ID_YhNcMp+Z2hzWIOr3 875VTQ)–

Early pullout of garrison from Tbilisi to begin in 2nd half of Nov
02.11.2006, 17.50
TBILISI, November 2 (Itar-Tass) – Early pullout of the Russian
garrison from Tbilisi will begin in the second half of November, the
headquarters of Russian troops in Transcaucasia /GRVZ/ told Itar-Tass
on Thursday.
“A schedule for the withdrawal of the servicemen and equipment of the
Tbilisi garrison has been drawn. This schedule is being coordinated
with Georgian authorities, who will ensure the safety of the pullout of
the equipment and the servicemen, in line with the existing accords,”
a military official said.
“A meeting between representatives of the GRVZ and the Georgian Defense
Ministry will take place within the next few days, who will discuss
the procedures of withdrawing equipment and personnel. A small group
of GRVZ officers will continue service at the Russian military bases
in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, to ensure the process of completing the
pullout of these bases from Georgia,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday, Troops commander of the North Caucasus military
district /SKVO/, General of the Army Alexander Baranov all Russian
servicemen will leave the Tbilisi garrison by the end of this
year. A total of 100 units of equipment and 350 tonnes of property
and ammunition will be withdrawn.
Two freight trains with garrison property will be evacuated to Russia,
and another two – to the Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia,
through Azerbaijan.
The early withdrawal is being implemented at the instruction of
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.
Baranov also promised housing to all the servicemen from among the
withdrawing troops who will be transferred to reserve in the near
future.

REFORMS IN SCIENCE EXPECTED
Panoraman.am
16:30 03/11/06
After the government approved timetable of reforms in science,
three working groups were created which separately developed
draft reform projects. Ara Avetisyan, deputy minister of science
and education, told a press conference today that three papers
were drafted to ensure multiple opinion. After discussions, one
single document was developed. Avetisyan said the draft will be
suggested for public hearing in November. In the words of the deputy
minister, special attention was paid to management and financial
mechanisms. /Panorama.am/

PARTICIPATION IS ALREADY SUCCESS
A1+
[06:16 pm] 03 November, 2006
Miss Armenia 2006, 22-year old Marina Vardanyan was included into
the top 12 during the competition “Miss Europe 2006”. Manager of
the national agency “Miss Armenia” Karen Aristakesyan considers this
success taking into account the fact that Armenia was one of the 33
countries which participated in the competition.
Mr. Aristakesyan is displeased with the Armenian Mass Media which
did not share this success. Marina Vardanyan herself told a news
conference today that she would like to be included into the top 5,
but she is not displeased with her present result.
Marina has graduated from the Yerevan State University, faculty
of Russian language and literature and is going to continue her
post-graduate education.
She is also going to engage in fashion. She has not yet had offers
from European fashion houses but she hopes that there will be offers.

POLICE FAILS TO DISCLOSE ABRAHAMYAN’S CASE
Panorama.am
16:53 03/11/06
Ararat Mahtesyan, deputy police head, told Panorama.am that the
attackers on Suren Abrahamyan, former interior affairs minister, are
not found. “A lot of work has been done, interviews were held at the
investigation department. However the case has not been discovered
yet,” he said.
Speaking about the reasons for the failure to disclose the case,
Mahtesyan said Abrahamyan failed to report during the first two
days. He also said nearby residents were interviewed but without
effects.
Mahtesyan proudly stated, however, that 86% of crimes are disclosed in
Armenia saying it is exclusively good result among newly independent
states. /Panorama.am/

VimpelCom to Acquire Armenian Telecom Operator
Panorama.am
20:34 03/11/06
OAO VimpelCom, Russia”s second-largest cellular company, said today
it agreed to buy 90 percent of an Armenian phone company for 341.9
million euros ($434.2 million), as it looks to expand beyond the
saturated Russian market.
VimpelCom has signed an agreement with Greece”s Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization SA, the Moscow-based company said
today in a PRNewswire statement. The company will also assume about
40 million euros in net debt and obligations.
The closing of the purchase of Armentel by VimpelCom is subject to
the fulfillment of certain conditions, including approval by the
government of Armenia.
Commenting on the signing of the purchase agreement, Alexander
Izosimov, Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, said: “We are
pleased to announce the signing of this agreement that will enable
our entry into Armenia, the sixth CIS country outside of Russia in
which VimpelCom will have operations. With approximately 40% mobile
market share, Armentel occupies a strong position in the Armenian
market and we will work to enhance this position.”
VimpelCom is also active in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
and Georgia./Panorama.am/

HEAD OF POLISH SENATE TO VISIT ARMENIA
Armenpress
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Bogdan Borusevicz, head of Poland’s
Senate, will arrive in Armenia on November 5 on an official visit.
Armenian parliament press office said on November 6 he will be received
by parliament chairman Tigran Torosian. On the same day Borusevicz is
scheduled to meet with members of a tiny Polish community of Armenia.
Then he will meet with prime minister Andranik Margarian. On November
6 Polish officials will lay a wreath to the Genocide Monument and
on November 7 they will meet with Catholicos Karekin II, head of
Armenian Church.

KOCHARIAN TO VISIT KAZAKHSTAN
Armenpress
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: On November 6 president Robert
Kocharian will pay a two-day official visit to Kazakhstan at the
invitation of his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev.
Kocharian’s press office said Kocharian-Nazarbaev talks will be
followed by enlarged negotiations. It said also a set of agreements,
particularly, on avoiding double taxation, will be signed in Astana.
In Astana Kocharian is scheduled to meet with Kazakh businessmen and
members of the Armenian community.