SUSPECTED THIEVES OF ARMENIAN MONUMENT ARRESTED IN FRANCE

Agence France Presse — English
December 5, 2006 Tuesday 12:36 PM GMT

Two men suspected of stealing a bronze monument in France commemorating
the 1915-1917 mass killings of Armenians have been arrested in a
Paris suburb, police said.

The two apparently stole the 300-kilogramme (660-pound) sculpture,
which showed the Armenian alphabet, and melted it down to sell it
off as scrap metal, investigators said.

Officers said they did not believe there was a political motive for
the theft, which occurred two days after the French parliament adopted
a bill that, if it eventually becomes legislation, will make it a
crime to deny the Armenian slaughter was anything less than genocide
by Ottoman Turks.

The October 13 theft of the monument just west of Paris attracted
international attention because of the political context, and because
of Turkey’s furious reaction to the proposed French bill.

The two suspects, aged 26 and 29, were arrested in the southwest
Paris suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux after the theft of copper pipes
in the area.

ARMENIA FOR FIRST TIME TO TAKE PART IN PARIS INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia for the first time will
take part in the Salon Mondial Du Tourisme international tourism
exhibition to take place on 2007 March 15-18 in Paris. Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by Susanna Azoyan, Director
on Marketing of Tourism Development Armenian Agency. In her words,
the Tourism Development Armenian Agency will provide its visitors
exhaustive information about Armenia’s tourism abilities and Armenian
travel companies will present their tour packages. S.Azoyan said that
Armenian tourism abilities have been already presented to French
specialists at the Armenian-French Economic Forum held on November
23 in Marseilles. In her words, the French side has inquired about
the policy carried on by Armenia in the sphere of tourism and its
investment abilities. "French businessmen wish to make investments
in Armenia especially in the sphere of winter tourism and they are
interested whether there is another place for tourism development
in Armenia except Tsakhkadzor," the representative of the Tourism
Development Armenian Agency said.

WAR DISRUPTS, BUT DOES NOT DETER, LEBANESE PRODIGY
by Pirate Irwin

Agence France Presse — English
December 5, 2006 Tuesday 8:27 AM GMT

Four years ago renowned American athletics coach John Smith tipped
Lebanese sprinter Gretta Taslakian as a future star if carefully
nurtured.

Four years on a mixture of personal misfortune and war has prevented
it from happening.

She may be just 21 but the four years since Smith spotted her on the
training track at the 2002 Busan Games have not been kind to Taslakian,
whose descendants were Armenian and fled to Lebanon during the 1915-17
genocide by the Turks.

Now her generation are discovering what it is like to be bombarded
having come through the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon-based
Hezbollah in July which left a huge swathe of Lebanon destroyed and
thousands dead.

"We were preparing for the Asian Games this summer and then the
war started in July," said Taslakian, who is one of a five-strong
Lebanese team here for the Asian Games athletics which gets underway
on Thursday.

"What happened was very dramatic in Lebanon so we were not in the
right frame of mind to train for this big event.

"Because of the war the Lebanese championships were cancelled so the
Lebanese Federation sent us (with the help of governing body the IAAF)
to Singapore where we stayed for three months and we worked on the
technical rather than the physical areas."

Taslakian, national recordholder in the 100, 200 and 400m,
is realistic about her chances of success at the Games given her
disrupted preparation.

Her ultimate goal is for an emotional triumph next year at the Asian
Championships in Lebanon.

"The Asian Games would be a fantastic preparation for the Asian
Championships in Lebanon next year," said Taslakian, whose father
inspired her to take the sport up aged 15.

"I cannot guess what my result will be here as I have not competed
for a long time but I aim to beat my personal best in the 200m."

Things looked distinctly rosier not only for Lebanon but also for
Taslakian two years ago as she went to the Athens Olympics and was
not disgraced while running a personal best in the 200.

She was rewarded by the IAAF with a nine-month scholarship to train
in Cologne, Germany, with higher class facilities than she could ever
hope for back home. But it didn’t go as planned.

"It was originally a dream come true," she said.

"I tried to make the most of my good fortune but I tore a calf muscle
and couldn’t do what I had in mind.

"The good side was that when I was fit I was able to compete with
high class athletes but on the down side I didn’t get the attention
of the coaches because they prefer to focus on the star athletes.

"So I felt very alone without my family and friends," added Taslakian.

BUDGETARY EXPENDITURES ON GOODS AND SERVICE PURCHASE INCREASE BY 13.6% IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-October 2006, 148.9 bln
drams (over 350 mln USD) was allocated from the RA state budget for
the purchase of goods and services, which made up 54.3% of the state
budget’s current expenditures. The annual program was fulfilled by
76.6%. According to the data of the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy,
expenditures on purchase of goods and services increased by 13.6% on
the same period of 2005, which was mainly conditioned by an increase
in allocations for defence, education and health care.

In the first ten months of this year, capital expenditures made more
than 67.1 bln drams, which ensured the annual program’s execution by
74.4%. The state budget’s capital expenditures grew by 32.9% or 16.6
bln drams compared with January-October 2005, mainly conditioned by
an increase in allocations for road services, housing and communal
services and education. In the period under review, the crediting from
the state budget amounted to 13.9 bln drams, with most of the money –
about 13.7 bln drams being provided to the NKR. Loans of a total of
120.4 mln drams were given to repressed citizens for the purpose of
house construction. Out of the credits provided earlier, 810.2 mln
drams was repaid to the state budget, about 174.4 mln drams of which
was repaid by Georgia. As a result, the net crediting made 13.1 bln
drams, which ensured the execution of the annual program by 80.5%. The
net crediting from the state budget grew by 16.3% or over 1.8 bln
drams on the same period of last year, mainly due to an increase in the
interstate credit provided to the NKR from the 2006 state budget. In
January-October 2006, 7.2 bln drams was allocated for the servicing
of state debt, with the annual program being executed by 70%.

4.2 bln drams of this sum was allocated for servicing the domestic
debt, and 3 bln drams – for servicing the foreign debt. Expenditures on
state debt servicing decreased by 13% on the same months of 2005. This
year money was saved in connection with the decreased expenditures on
both domestic and foreign debts servicing as a result of less issue
of 6-month state bonds and the Armenian dram’a appreciation.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECLINES BY 0.9% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-October 2006, industrial
production of 523 bln 619.6 mln drams (about 1 bln 231 mln USD)
was manufactured in Armenia. Industrial production of 537 bln 88.1
mln drams was sold, including production of 45 bln 588.9 mln drams
– in CIS countries, that of 143 bln 689.4 mln drams – in other
countries. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the
physical volume of industrial production declined by 0.9% in the
first ten months of 2006 on the same period of last year, while
the industrial production without production and distribution of
electricity, gas and water – by 0.4%. With respect to 78 out of the
124 main goods produced in January-October 2006, the level of the
same period of 2005 was either achieved or exceeded, including 46
out of the 71 goods of production and technical significance and 32
out of the 53 consumer goods.

ESTONIA FOR MIN INVITES HIS ARMENIAN COLLEAGUE TO VISIT ESTONIA

Baltic News Service
December 5, 2006 Tuesday 3:07 PM EET

Meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan in Brussels on
Monday, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Urmas Paet invited the Armenian
minister to come to Estonia on a visit.

During the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the ministers
meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), Paet and Oskanyan spoke about relations between the two
countries, the EU neighborhood policy action plan for Armenia and
the conflict over Mountain-Karabakh.

The ministers stated that while relations between the two countries
are good, there’s a lot of room for development, spokespeople for
the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

They agreed that political consultations between the two ministries
will be held next year to evaluate the state of affairs in relations
and set out plans for the future.

Paet invited his Armenian colleague to visit Estonia.

The ministers expressed their satisfaction with the EU neighborhood
policy action plan’s being very precise with regard to Armenia and
focusing on concrete activities.

Paet said implementation of the action plan would have a substantial
effect on the development of the countries of South Caucasus and a
positive effect on the entire region.

The Armenian foreign minister described Estonia’s reform experience
as in every way valuable and welcome for Armenia.

CBA LEAVES REFINANCING INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 5 sitting,
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Board left the CBA refinancing
interest rate unchanged – 4.75%, NT was informed from the CBA
press service. According to the CBA Board, although the inflation
pressures coming from the external sector and related to high
international prices of power bearing substances and some other
goods (particularly granulated sugar) formed this year still remain,
inflation pressures expected to come from this sector in the next 12
months will be milder. A high economic growth continues, mainly in
the construction and service sectors. The expected increase in the
population’s incomes due to the economic development, combined with
growing remittances keep moderate inflation pressures. At the same
time, under conditions of the continuing dramization of the economy
and the seasonal increase in demand for the Armenian dram at the
end of the year, the CBA’s meeting this demand by purchasing foreign
currency will cause a liquidity surplus. The CBA Board takes the view
that neutralization of this suplus is possible at the current level
of the interest rate. If the current prospects of economic development
continue, the CBA Board does not rule out that the interest rate will
be changed in the coming months.

ONLY ARSHAK HAYRAPETIAN STANDS ON PEDESTAL OF HONOUR OF ROSTOV TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

ROSTOV-ON-DON, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The free-style
wrestling international tournament finished on December 5 in
Rostov-on-Don. Armenian sportsmen are also among representatives of
5 countries. Only Arshak Hayrapetian (66 kg, Yerevan) stood on the
pedestal from them. He won the 3rd place.

SARATOV TOURNAMENT IS OF PREPARATORY CHARACTER FOR GABRIEL SARGSIAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

SARATOV, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. International tournament in the
memory of famous chess figure Aratovski finished in the city of
Saratov, RF, on December 6. More than 2 dozens among 148 participants
were grand masters.

Representative of Armenia Gabriel Sargsian had the highest rating. He
got 5.5 points from 9 possible ones and shared the 24th-43rd
places. The tournament was of preparatory meaning for G.Sargsian,
as in a month the Armenian grand master will take part in the B
tournament of the Wijk Aan Zee traditional festival.

International master Arman Pashikian shared the 3rd-11th places
with 6.5 points, and Aghasi Inants shared the 43rd-72nd places with
5 points.

SLOVAK PARTIES DIVIDED OVER TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
by Igor Stupnan

Sme, Bratislava, Slovakia
Dec 1 2006

"Even Pope does not change KDH’s opinion on Turkey"

Even the Pope’s visit to Turkey and his words that Ankara should
enter the European Union have not changed the opinion of Hrusovsky’s
Christian Democratic Movement [KDH] and Slota’s Slovak National Party
[SNS]. They still reject the admission of Muslim Turkey to the EU.

Other parliamentary parties say that if Turkey meets the criteria
for entry, there is no reason to prevent its integration.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the meeting
with Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday [28 November] that the head of the
Catholic Church wanted his country to enter the EU. The Vatican did
not refute the prime minister’s statement, but its spokesman was
more cautious and explained that the Pope did not have any power
to influence Europe’s decision to admit Turkey, but he supported
Turkey’s integration.

KDH leader Pavol Hrusovsky says that he does not have enough
information on whether the Pope said that he wanted Turkey in the EU.

According to Hrusovsky, someone has just "understood" his words,
taken out of context, in this way. The KDH sticks to the opinion,
which has also been recommended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
that Turkey should become a privileged partner of the EU.

The KDH would not change its opinion even if it heard the Pope clearly
say that Turkey should enter the EU. "Our political standpoint does
not have to change along with the Holy Father’s opinion. The Holy
Father is representing the church, while I am representing a political
party, and these opinions do not have to be identical at all times,"
said Hrusovsky.

Rafael Rafaj, chairman of the SNS deputies’ club, said that Turkey
had a serious deficit in democracy and European traditions, which
is why it would be premature to speak about its entry. Rafaj thinks
that "zero tolerance" should also apply to privileged partnership,
because if the door is only slightly opened for someone, it will
never be closed again.

Prime Minister and Direction [Smer] leader Robert Fico supports EU
enlargement by countries that are prepared for it. "For me, it is not
decisive at all what religion a country is practising. Sometimes I
have a feeling that this is currently a decisive topic that influences
some countries’ behaviour."

Movement for a Democratic Slovakia [HZDS] deputy Zdenka Kramplova said
that the set criteria were decisive for entry. However, she does not
think that Turkey will meet these criteria sooner than in 20 years.

Gyula Bardos, head of the Hungarian Coalition Party [SMK; MKP in
Hungarian] deputies’ club, also said that Turkey must first fulfil
the EU criteria and religious belief should not play any role.

Slovak Democratic and Christian Union [SDKU] Deputy Chairman Pavol
Kubovic noted that his party supported the commencement of open-ended
accession talks with Turkey and nothing has changed about this.

Former Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said during the previous
election period that if Turkey, as well as the countries of former
Yugoslavia, were in the EU, Europe would be safer.

A Eurobarometer survey of last year showed that 50 per cent respondents
in Slovakia were against Turkey’s entry into the EU. On the initiative
of the KDH, Parliament adopted a resolution that the Ottoman Empire
had committed genocide against Armenians.