WILTON PARK CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Wilton Park well-known organization’s
conference under the title “The South Caucasus: Perception of the
Region and Challenges” is being held on November 6-9 in Yerevan, for
the first time in the South Caucasus. The conference was organized by
RA Foreign Ministry jointly with the Wilton Park British organization.
The conference being held in Armenia is to answer the following
questions: which are the problems and abilities of the region situated
on the crossroad of the East and the West, what lessons were learnt
during the 15 years of independence, what kind of economic policy is
demanded from the governments, business and international financial
institutions for contributing to the economic growth, investments and
efficient management, how can this policy, including policy of economic
integration, energy and transport, help to build a new region in the
developing environment, how can measures aimed at building confidence
and open borders contribute to mutual understanding, which is the
way of European integration without conflicts in the region.
As NT was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department, Special Representative of UK Government to the South
Caucasus Brian Fall, Deputy Foreign Ministry of Georgia Georgy
Manjgaladze, Special Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the
Nagorno Karabakh issue Andrzej Kasprzyk, former Special Representative
of EU to the South Caucasus, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie and others
will make reports at the conference.
The Wilton Park is one of the most authoritative and leading centers
of conferences in the world, which has organized more than 1000 events
since 1946. It works as an independent academical institution attached
to the Foreign Affairs Department of the United Kingdom. It is 6
decades this intitution unites representatives of various countries
of the world for the purpose of discussing the most urgent issues
of politics. The Wilton Park is going to organize 60 events during
2006. Among the main subjects of the conferences are political,
security and economic issues, as well as environment and terrorism,
social reforms and influence of information revolution.

POVERTY LEVEL DECREASES IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary results
of summarized study of living standard of home farms conducted in 2005
by RA National Statistical Service, 29.8% of RA population is poor,
4.6% extremely poor. According to the results of study conducted in
2004, these indices made 34.6% and 6.4%, respectively, and according
to the results of 1998/99 56.1% and 21%.
For the above mentioned periods, the abject (food) poverty line was
calculated in the amount of 13.266 thousand drams (about 30 USD),
12.467 thousand drams and 11.21 thousand drams and the general poverty
line in the amount of 20.289 thousand drams, 19.373 thousand drams
and 17.663 thousand drams.
In 2005, 2004 and 1998/99, the level of poverty and abject poverty in
Armenian towns made 30.7% and 5.3%, 36.4% and 7.5%, 62.1% and 26.2%,
respectively, in Yerevan 32.6% and 4%, 29.2% and 6.1%, 58.4% and 24.8%,
in other towns 37.8% and 7.2%, 43.9% and 9.2%, 65.5% and 27.4%, in
rural populated areas 28.3% and 3.2%, 31.7% and 4.4%, 48.2% and 14.1%.
In 2005, poverty level in RA regions fluctuated from 19.2% (Vayots
Dzor) to 42.5% (Shirak), abject poverty level from 1.8% (Vayots Dzor)
to 8.7% (Kotayk).

V.OSKANIAN: GUL’S INSISTENCE THAT ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER IS ESSENTIALLY OPEN IS DISINGENUOUS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. “We remain amazed that a letter
sent by President Kocharian to Prime Minister Erdogan in April 2005
remains ignored, simply because the Turkish authorities did not like
the response contained therein, and do not wish to broaden the scope
of discussion beyond history.” Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan
Oskanian said about it, commenting upon Turkish Foreign Minister
A.Gul’s interview to Radio Liberty. Noyan Tapan was informed about
it by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department.
In Foreign Minister’s words, President Kocharian clearly said to Prime
Minister Erdogan that the “suggestion to address the past cannot be
effective if it deflects from addressing the present and the future. In
order to engage in a useful dialog, we need to create the appropriate
and conducive political environment. It is the responsibility of
governments to develop bilateral relations and we do not have the
right to delegate that responsibility to historians.
That is why we have proposed and propose again that, without
pre-conditions, we establish normal relations between our two
countries.”
In that context, President Kocharian said, “an intergovernmental
commission can meet to discuss any and all outstanding issues between
our two nations, with the aim of resolving them and coming to an
understanding.”
Foreign Minister Gul’s recent comments to Radio Liberty, insisting
that the existence of flights between Armenia and Turkey, and of
Armenian citizens in Turkey, is evidence that “the borders are
essentially open,” in V.Oskanian’s opinion, is disingenuous. First,
the number of Armenians from Armenia living and working in Turkey
do not approach the numbers he claims. Second, open borders assumes
direct contacts between peoples, unobstructed relations across the
border and a functioning transport infrastructure.”
“We stand by our response which we consider to be a positive one and
we wonder whether the Turkish insistence on a historical commission
is genuine,” V.Oskanian said. In his words, “after all, we have in
fact agreed to discussions on all issues, in the context of open
borders. Further, so long as Article 301 which criminalizes mere
discussion of the genocide topic remains on the books in Turkey, an
invitation to open dialogue cannot be taken seriously. Finally, outside
Turkey, scholars – Armenians, Turks and others – have studied these
issues and have reached their own independent conclusions. The most
notable among these is the May 2006 letter to Prime Minister Erdogan
by the International Associationn of Genocide Scholars wherein they
collectively and unanimously affirmed the fact of the Genocide and
called on the Turkish government to acknowledge the responsibility
of a previous government.”
“In light of these complex realities, we can only repeat our readiness
to enter into dialogue and normal relations with our neighbor,”
the RA Foreign Minister stated.

REPRESENTATIVE OF TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL DOES NOT EXCLUDE THAT AID TO ARMENIA WILL BE “FROZEN” PROVIDED THAT NORMAL ELECTIONS BE HELD
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the studies of the
Transparency International conducted in 169 countries of the world,
Armenia is among countries with a high level of corruption. Amalia
Kostanian, Chairwoman of the Center for Regional Development of
Transparency International Armenia NGO, declared at the November 6
press conference within the framework of the Actual Subject program
of the National Press Club.
She explained that according to used methods, calculation of corruption
level starts from one point, i.e. the most corrupted are the countries
where this index is close to one. It is two years running that the
index of corruption in Armenia is “2.9,” which, in A.Kostanian’s
words, is evidence of failure of fighting corruption announced by
the country’s authorities.
“In spite of anti-corruption laws adopted in the country, signing of
a number of conventions in this sphere, fighting corruption in Armenia
has an imitation character. No high-ranking official was punished for
taking bribe during the three years of official fighting corruption
and, which is the most important, on the threshold of elections the
authorities bear no responsibility for factual failure of this fight,”
A.Kostanian declared.
She especially dwelt upon such problem as political corruption, the
brightest manifestation of which is falsifications during elections.
Besides, manifestations of political corruption are also creation of
unequal conditions for agitation during electoral campaign, electoral
bribes, etc.
As regards the recent statement of the Freedom House international
human rights organization containing appeal for the Millennium
Challenge corporation for ceasing to provide aid to a number of
countries, including Armenia, in connection with not ensuring political
rights and civil freedoms, A.Kostanian did not exclude that aid to
Armenia within the framework of the above mentiond program can be
“frozen” provided that normal elections be held in Armenia.

EX-PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA WELCOMES TRANSACTION ON SALE OF 90PCT STAKE IN ARMENTEL TO RUSSIAN VIMPELCOM
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
“I welcome this transaction and I am very glad that just a Russian
company has become the owner of the telecommunication operator of
Armenia,” said Armen Darbinyan, the ex-prime minister of Armenia,
Rector of Russian Armenian (Slavonic) University, commenting on sale
of 90pct stake in ArmenTel to Russian VimpelCom.
“I know that VimpelCom is a serious company introducing modern
principles of management. I wish it success in the Armenian market,”
A. Darbinyan said. He expressed regret that in 1998 when Armenia set
ArmenTel for sale, there were no Russian companies to apply for it.
It was probably because the process of initial accumulation of capital
and “distribution” of Russian assets was not over then, A. Darbinyan
supposed. “Approximately in 2001, leading Russian companies started
an active search of additional investment projects, first of all,
in CIS. Of course, the price of this stake was not the same as in
2001, however, Russian companies are ready to pay for expansion,
which is pleasant.”
To recap, the Greek OTE announced about an agreement on sale of 90pct
stake in Armenia to the Russian Vimpel Communications for $381.9
million, including about $40 million financial debts and liabilities
of the company. VimpelCom Vice President for International Investment
Ties Valery Goldin said the company intends to make investments in
improvement of the subscribers net and communication level in Armenia
to meet the Russian standards. High quality standard of the net is
the prior task of the company, he said. The given task applies to
the quality of the technical net, expansion of the service zone to
meet the demand of consumers, development of distribution net and the
payment system, V. Goldin said. Speaking of possible difficulties of
the Greek company in the work in the Armenian market, V. Goldin said
the specifics of the work in the post-Soviet countries is identical.
While, VimpelCom has got relevant experience in the Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. “It seems to us that we’ll
not have big problems in the Armenian market,” he said with optimism.

ARMENIAN DRAFT BUDGET FOR 2007 ENVISAGES 100.4 BILLION DRAMS FOR DEFENSE SPHERE
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
The draft budget of Armenia for 2007 plans to allocate 100.4 billion
drams or 281 million US dollars under the USD exchange rate fixed
in the draft for the defense sphere, Armenian Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan told journalists. The minister added that the parliamentary
discussions on the draft budget are likely to result in a rise of
the initial sum.
The minister said that an agreement has been reached on provision of
the 3.5% of GDP to the defense sphere. While in 2006 this indicator
was 3%. “The higher is GDP in Armenia and the stronger is the economy,
the higher will be allocations to the defense sphere,” Serge Sargsyan
said. He said the budgetary funds will be equally distributed,
including 48% will be directed to wages and social expenses. The
wages of officers will be risen to 165,000 AMD in 2007.
The minister said the budgetary allocations to the sphere are enough
to maintain the fighting capacity of the army. “Of course, these
funds are incomparable to the one billion dollar defense budget of
Azerbaijan, but they are enough in case of a rational and purposeful
use,” the minister said. Serge Sargsyan said that “serious armaments”
will be acquired next year. He expressed hope that Armenia’s future
budgets will also have social orientation.

RA DM CONSIDERS STATEMENTS OF SOME OPPOSITIONAL FIGURES ABOUT “PERSECUTION BY POWER STRUCTURES” RIDICULOUS
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
“The statements of some oppositional figures, of the “New Times”
party ” leader, Aram Karapetyan, in particular, about persecutions by
the power structures ridiculous”, RA Defense Minister, the Chairman
of the Board of the Republican party of Armenia, Serzh Sarkissyan,
told the journalists today.
“It is very difficult to say what hazard may these people pose to put
pressure upon them. Perhaps, they try to be self- affirmed in such a
way. These figures have a loose tongue, you know, the situation is
not such it was 5, 7 or 10 years ago, when a head could be broken
for one word”, S. Sarkissyan said. Talking of the opposition’s
intention to allocate its candidates in 41 majority districts, the
Minister noted it is a good plan but hardly implemented, since it
will be difficult for the opposition to find so many leaders. “There
are two-three people in the whole opposition who could win per the
majority system”, the Minister said, however, he did not call the
names of these oppositionists.

RA DM: IF CRIMINAL BRAWL ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE ON A-320 LINER BOARD, IT WOULD BE ANNOUNCED AT OFFICIAL LEVEL
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
“If a criminal brawl had actually taken place on A-320 liner board
and that could become the reason of the airplane crash, it would
be announced at an official level long ago”, RA Defense Minister,
Serzh Sarkissyan, told the journalists today.
“You know, not only the Armenian side, but Russia and the liner
producer, the French-German “Airbus” Concern also examined this case.
If there was a brawl in fact, the Russian and French experts would not
hide this circumstance and would openly state about it”, S. Sarkissyan
said.
To be reminded, A-320 airplane of the “Armavia” Air Company had
fallen into the Black Sea when landing in the airport of Adler. All
the passengers and the crew members died. The veteran of the Armenian
aviation , a first-class pilot, Vladimir Poghossyan, has recently
informed that there was a criminal brawl on the crashed liner board ,
which has become the reason of the tragedy. However, this statement
was denied in the Republic’s official circles.

POLAND IS READY TO RENDER ASSISTANCE IN ESTABLISHING ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS: MARSHAL OF POLISH SENATE
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
Poland is ready to render its assistance in establishing
Armenian-Turkish relations, said Marshal of the Polish Senate Bogdan
Borusevich at a meeting of Armenian and Polish MPs, Monday.
He said that for this purpose the Polish Foreign Ministry offered
the Armenian Foreign Ministry to present its approaches of Armenia’s
interests in Turkey and Turkey’s interests in Armenia, which would
contribute to establishing relations between the two states and
achieving mutual understanding. The Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Tigran Torosyan thanked Poland for recognizing the Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey, 1915, and pointed out that Poland’s offer is very
interesting, but hardly practicable if official Ankara’s position
is taken into account. In this matter, Armenia’s position is known,
said Torosyan and added that official Yerevan is willing to begin a
dialogue with Ankara without any preliminary conditions. Torosyan
considers the Armenian blockade from the side of Turkey, which is
taking steps to join the EU, unacceptable.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN 2007 ARMENIA WILL GIVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH 19.4 BLN AMD BUDGETARY CREDIT
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
In 2007 Armenia will give Nagorno-Karabakh 19.4 bln AMD budgetary
credit.
Today, at budget hearings in the Armenian Parliament, Deputy Minister
of Finances and Economy of Armenia Pavel Safaryan said that since
1997 Armenia has been giving budgetary credit to Nagorno-Karabakh in
compliance with the scheme agreed with Stepanakert beforehand.
According to this scheme, expenses for defense sphere, membership
fees to international organizations, and expenses for repayment of
foreign credit debts are deducted from the total budget of Armenia.
The 4.4% of the amount left is sent to Nagorno-Karabakh as a budgetary
credit.