GROSS AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT OF ARMENIA GROWS BY 15.6% IN SEPTEMBER ON AUGUST 2006
Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006, the
gross agricultural output of Armenian made 370.6 bln drams (about
861.7 mln USD), remaining at the level of the same period of last
year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the gross
agricultural output grew by 15.6% in September on August 2006. In the
first nine months of 2006, the gross output of livestock farming made
138,427.3 mln drams, exceeding by 6.7% the index of the same period
of 2005, while the gross output of plant cultivation made 232,140.7
mln drams, declining by 3.6% on the same period of last year. There
was a growth in the production volumes of main livestock farming
foodstuffs, except eggs. Meat and poultry production exceeded by
9.7 thousand tons or 15.1% the index of the same months of 2005,
milk production increased by 26.7 thousand tons or 5.1%.

1,994 SMALL AND MIDDLE COMPANIES PRIVATIZED IN ARMENIA AS OF OCTOBER 1 2006
Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. At the November 2 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the report on privatization process
in Armenia in the third quarter of 2006, which was presented by the
head of the State Property Management Department adjunct to the RA
government. NT was informed about it from the RA Government Information
and PR Department. According to the report, as of October 1, 2006,
1,994 small and middle companies (10 of them – in 2006), 99 incomplete
construction and 7,298 “small” objects were privatized. 2 out of
the 7 companies offered in the quarter under review were privatized,
3 privatization agreements were signed. Out of 3 objects offered for
privatization through tender, a tender for a company and an incomplete
construction object was held (compared with 4 out of 13 objects in
the 3rd quarter 2005).
Agreements were signed with purchasers of 4 objects privatized by
direct sale (compared with 1 last year). 18 objects were offered
for privatization through auction, including shares of 3 companies:
all actions were held (compared with 4 and 1 last year). No “small”
objects were privatized (5 were privatized in the same period of
2005). According to the report, in the 3rd quarter of 2006, out
of 164 companies in the liquidation process, 3 were liquaidated,
another 3 were declared bankrupt.

ACCORDING TO “HAYOTS ASHKHARH”, RUSSIA MAY CARRY OUT “GAS RE-ARRANGEMENT” WITH IRAN
Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Under conditions of newly strained
relations between Russia and Georgia, Armenia can insure itself
against a gas blockade and at the same time to counterbalance its
transport-related dependence on Georgia by the prospect of increasing
the energy dependence of that country.
This is said in the November 2 issue of the daily “Hayots Ashkharh”
when summarizing the RA President Robert Kocharian’s working visit
to Moscow.
According to the newspaper, given the speedy operation of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipleline and prospect of passing ArmRusgazprom’s
control package of shares (from 45 to 58%) to Gazprom, it is not
difficult to conclude that the Russian side is trying to use the
version “re-arrangement of the functions” of the gas pipelines running
into the South Caucasus. “That is, Armenia will receive gas from Iran,
while in all likelihood Russians will offer Georgia to pay a twice
as high price,” the daily writes. According to “Hayots Ashkharh”,
in the coming months Armenia may “be more frank” in the issue of
suspending the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak railway scheduled
to start in January 2007, i.e. it will get an extra leverage of
pressure on Georgia. Noting that despite the serious signals regularly
received from Russia, Armenia managed to move the Javakhk factor
out of the Russian-Georgian confrontation field, “Hayots Ashkharh”
concludes that now by starting the Kars-Akhalkalak construction, it
is Georgia rather than Armenia will face the temptation to “arouse”
the Javakhk factor and play it against itself.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA ACTS AS GO-BETWEEN IN TURKEY’S RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, ABDULLAH GUL THINKS
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006
Within the framework of the regular session of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation in Moscow on Nov. 1, Turkish foreign minister Abdullah
Gul met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. At the end of the
meeting Gul pointed out to Russian foreign minister’s readiness
to act as a mediator in relations between Turkey and Armenia and
stated that Russia backs Turkey in its wish to settle the Cyprus
issue in the UN. “We think the Greeks’ strategy of transferring the
issue from the UN to the EU is unacceptable. In this respect Russia
backs our position. Meanwhile, president Putin and other responsible
Russian officials display resolution to contribute to development and
activation of trade relations with the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus’,” Abdullah Gul stated.
Asked by a journalist, Turkish foreign minister said that they also
discussed the Armenian issue, and Lavrov showed interest in Turkey’s
proposal of a joint commission and expressed readiness to help in
setting it up.

PRICES OF GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL DECLINE BY 5.8% AND 0.8% RESPECTIVELY IN ARMENIA IN OCTOBER 2006
Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. A 5.8% and 0.8% decline in the
prices of gasoline and diesel fuel respectively was registered in
Armenia in October on September 2006. According to the RA National
Statistical Service, the price of gasoline declined by 3.3%, while
that of diesel fuel grew by 0.7% in Armenia in October 2006 on October
2005. The growth in the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel made 9.1%
and 11.7% respectively in October 2006 on 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘FRENCH DIPLOMATIC OFFICE TO KURDISTAN’ TO OPEN IN NORTHERN IRAQ IN JANUARY
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006
Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq, is going to lave for Paris for two
days’ official visit. It is envisaged that he will meet with French
President Jacques Chirac, French Foreign Minister Fillippe Douste
Blazy and Speaker of the French Parliament within the framework of the
official visit. Dwelling on the visit of Talabani, Hurriyet wrote in
its November 1 issue that after the adoption of the bill criminalizing
denial of the Armenian Genocide, France is going to take the second
step that may cause Turkey concern.
The question is that France is ready to open a diplomatic office of
Kurdistan in Erbil city, Northern Iraq. The French Foreign Ministry
stated in its official web site that “in the beginning of the coming
year, in Erbil (Kurdistan), the opening ceremony of the embassy’s
office will take place.”
We wonder why does Turkey feel insecure? Is it because the “embassy
office” becomes the diplomatic office of France to Kurdistan? In other
words, by opening the above office, France recognizes “Kurdistan”
that has been shaped in the North of Iraq.
Probably, that’s why it wasn’t accidental when Hurriyet turned
to the speaker of the French Foreign Ministry with the request to
explain the situation. In response, the French FM Speaker stated
that “France, just like Turkey, supports the territorial integrity
of Iraq. We have an embassy in Baghdad. Anyway, we are going to open
“the embassy office” in Erbil city, Northern Iraq, that is going to
function under the control of the French Embassy to Iraq.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISRAEL IS INTERESTED IN BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN PIPELINE
AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006
Israel is displaying certain interest in Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey
pipeline. The country wants to join the pipeline as a user and as a
further transfer point for the energy carriers, Benyamin Ben-Eliezer,
Minister of Israel’s National Infrastructures, stated in the course
of the conference in energetics in Haifa. Ben-Eliezer added that the
oil and gas pipelines may develop in the following way: they begin in
Azerbaijan, pass through Georgia and Turkey, and the Mediterranean sea
and end in Israel. Anyway, the minister stated that Israel is ready
to both make large-scale purchase of energy carriers and offers its
territory for spreading the Caspian oil in the Asian markets.
Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia, who participated in the
conference, once again touched upon the Russian-Georgian relations
and emphasized that Russia conducts anti-Georgian policy.

SMALL HPS TO GENERATE 10-15% OF COUNTRIES ELECTRICITY
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006
During the last 3 years 17 small hydro power stations (HPS) were built
in Armenia as against 18 HPSs in 2004, Robert Nazarian, head of the
Commission Regulating Public Services, said at a seminar dedicated
to issues of financing projects for construction of small HPSs. He
also said that by 2010 50 more small HPSs will be built making their
total number 97. The small HPS will generate 10-15% of the countries
electricity in 4 years.
A department chief at the Commission, Abgar Budaghian, presented
in details the tendencies of development in the sphere of small
HPSs. He informed that currently the small HPSs account for 2-2.5%
of electricity. Most of the 51 HPSs that are being built today are
located on, irrigation systems and drinking water sluices. In 2010
their combined power will amount to 175 megawatt and 644 million
kilowatt-hour a year. To reach this index 47 million drams is needed
to be invested in the sphere.
Electricity tariff during 15 years for the HPSs built on natural
currents will amount to 4.5 cents for 1 kilowatt-hour (without VAT);
for the HPSs built on irrigation systems it will be 3 cents and 2
cents for those on drinking water sluices. This means that risks for
investors are reduced to minimum to attract finances for development
of the sphere.
Tamar Babayan, representative of Armenia’s Regenerative Energetics
Fund, presented the small HPSs loan mechanisms. She said that the
World Bank, International Development Association and the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development participate in financing
of the project. The minimal amount of the loans is $30 thousand and
maximal is $2 million. Loans are available both in USD and AMD. Money
needed for construction of a small HPS is $500 thousand. The loan
can be granted on terms of increasing the amount of generated energy,
raising stations’ power to 10 megawatt etc.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN TO TAKE PART IN MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS
AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006
Yesterday night the 13th MTV Europe Music Awards took place in
Copenhagen, Denmark, RFE/RL reports. One of the key performers in
two successive years have been the System of a Down rock band which
is struggling to get the best alternative band title this year two.
Last year the band not only won in this nomination but also became
one of the revelations of the Lisbon contest and was granted the right
to close the ceremony. All 4 members of this American rock band have
Armenian origin – Serge Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odajian and
John Dolmayan.

A NIGERIAN STUDENT KILLED IN KIEV
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
03/11/2006
First Racial Crime committed in Ukraine
The prosecutor’s office of Darnica community of Kiev instituted a
lawsuit on the murder case of Godnrouz Mieev, Nigerian citizen. He
was killed in the evening of October 25 near the “Poznyak” underground
station in Kiev.
Komersant Ukrainian newspaper wrote that the witnesses stated 5
skinheads came out of the underground station and attacked the Nigerian
young man. The passers-by called the emergency and the police. But the
Nigerian citizen died of the knife wound he got on his back, before
the police and the emergence arrived. The criminals managed to escape.
Godnrouz Mieev lived in Ukraine for a year. He had graduated from
the National Economy Institute and had a degree in Economics. He was
married to a Ukrainian woman. The witnesses state that the skinheads
would shout “Save Ukraine from the Ugly” in Russian and Ukrainian
languages when attacking the Nigerian.
After the murder, a number of rights advocating organizations stated in
their web sites that the murder was done on the grounds of racism. The
fact that the criminals didn’t touch $400 and personal belongings of
the victims is another proof that testifies to this statement.
The Darnica prosecutor’s office refuses to make any comments to
journalists.