COMPLETING HIS MISSION IN ARMENIA JOHN EVANS WILL ALSO COMPLETE HIS
DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ambassador of the
U.S. John Evans completing his diplomatic mission in Armenia has not
been appointed to any new post. He declared in his interview to radio
Liberty that he has not even asked for it as he is leaving the
diplomatic service. In response to the question, whether it was his
decision, he Ambassador said: “Yes, the documents on my resignation
were submitted by me.” In connection with his untimely recall Evans
said that there is no precise term for any ambassador: “All of us
serve the President. I was very glad to receive a positive message
from President Bush recently. He expressed gratitude to me for my work
in Armenia.” In response to the question, whether he retracts his
words on the Armenian Genocide voiced by him in February last year in
the U.S., which, as Armenian circles of America affirm, became the
reason for the Ambassador’s recall, Evans said: “I have never
discussed this issue here, in Armenia. And what I have done is
registered and is accessible for everybody on the website of the
U.S. Embassy.” In connection with Richard Hoagland nominated to the
post of Ambassador to Armenia by the U.S. administration Evans said
that he has worked with him and highly estimates his professionalism.

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH OSSETIA PRESENTS CONGRATULATIONS TO ARTSAKH PEOPLE
ON OCCASION OF 15th ANNIVERSARY OF NKR PROCLAMATION

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A delegation
of the Republic of South Ossetia is in Stepanakert for the purpose of
taking part in the festive events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
proclamation of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. On September 1, NKR
President Arkady Ghoukassian received members of the delegation,
Deputy Foreign Minister Alan Pliyev and Deputy Minister of Defence and
Emergency Situations Ibrahim Gassiyev. The guests conveyed NKR
President South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity’s congratulations
and wishes addressed to Artsakh authorities and people on the occasion
of the 15th anniversary of proclamation of NKR. As Noyan Tapan was
informed from NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, the meeting
participants touched upon peaceful settlement to conflicts in the
South Caucasian region, processes of building of statehood in
non-recognized republics, as well as post-war rehabilitation and a
number of issues relating to socio-economic development.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND SPECIAL ENVOY OF PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA
DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 1,
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the delegation led by
Samuel Moncada, Special Envoy of President of Venezuela, Minister of
Higher Education. Vartan Oskanian mentioned that Minister Moncada is
the first official of Venezuela to visit Armenia. As NT was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the
interlocutors discussed the possibilities of development of bilateral
relations, activization of cooperation within the framework of
international organizations. It was mentioned that the small Armenian
community of Venezuela can play the role of a bridge for the two
peoples to get to know each other better.

VLADIMIR KARAPETIAN REFUTES ZAMAN’S REPORT ON NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
ARMENIA AND TURKEY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. No negotiations
are going on between Armenia and Turkey. Vladimir Karapetian, Acting
Spokesperson of RA Foreign Ministry, declared this commenting upon the
September 1 report of the Zaman Turkish daily at the request of NT
correspondent. According to the report of the above mentioned
newspaper, the negotiations of the officials of the two countries’
Foreign Ministries aimed at creating a joint commission of
“historians” between Turkey and Armenia that stopped in 2006 April are
going on at present. The Acting Spokesperson of RA Foreign Ministry
also excluded any consultation or discussion of Turkish and Armenian
diplomats on this issue in the near future.

CONSUMER PRICES GROW 2.% IN ARMENIA IN AUGUST 2006 ON DECEMBER 2005

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The index of consumer prices made
102.7% in Armenia in August 2006 on December 2005, 101.5% in
January-August 2006 on January-August 2005, 107.2% – on August 2005,
and 102.8% – on the year 2005. The average monthly growth of consumer
prices in January-August 2006 made 0.3% against a 0.5% decline in the
same period of last year. Accoprding to the RA National Statistical
Service, a 0.9% price fall on the Armenian consumer market was
registered in August on July 2005, which was greatly conditioned by
seasonal fluctuations in the prices of some foodstuffs. A 1.8% fall in
the prices of foodstuffs (including alcoholic drinks and cigarettes)
was registered in the country in August on July 2006. Over the same
period, there was a 0.4% growth in the prices of non-food commodities,
and a 0.2% decline in service tariffs. The price index of foodstuffs
(including alcoholic drinks and cigarettes) made 102%, that of
non-food commodities – 102.7% and the index of service tariffs –
103.8% in August 2006 on December 2005. The price index of foodstuffs
(including alcoholic drinks and cigarettes) made 108%, that of
non-food commodities – 105.3%, the index of service tariffs – 104.5%
in August 2006 on August 2005, the same indices made 101.3%, 103.5%
and 103.5% in January-August 2006 on the same months of 2005. The
price index of foodstuffs (including alcoholic drinks and cigarettes)
made 101.3%, that of non-food commodities – 104.6%, and the index of
service tariffs – 104.4% in August 2006 on the year 2005.

2% GROWTH IN GASOLINE PRICES AND 5.8% GROWTH IN DIESEL FUEL PRICES
REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN AUGUST 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 2% growth in the prices of gasoline was
registered in Armenia in August on July 2006. The prices of diesel fuel grew
by 5.8% over the indicated period. According to the RA National Statistical
Service, the growth in the prices of gasoline and diesel fule made 18.1% and
7.2% respectively in August 2006 on August 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOLIDAY OF DECLARATION OF NKR INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATED IN REPUBLIC
SEPTEMBER 2

Stepanakert, September 1. ArmInfo. NKR people celebrates the 15th
anniversary of Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s formation on September
2. In the talk with ArmInfo wown correspondent in Stepanakert, the
Karabakh political scientist, David Babayan, noted one can literally
state that the Karabakh movement has become a cradle of rebirth of the
Armenian state system as a whole. It was just Karabakh which created a
completely new configuration of Armenia-Artsakh (Karabakh)-Diaspora in
the Armenian history and politics. There was no such a configuration
before, Babayan noted.
According to him, even when there was no Armenian state system, there
existed one united ethno-cultural and political space, at that,
Karabakh was a center of political activity of all the Armenians for a
long time (since XV century after the Kilikian Armenia fall) in view
of the fact that it had the main attributes of political independence
and self-government for that time, i.e. national nobility, clergy and
army. Artsakh had turned out separated from Armenia both
administratively and culturally only in 1921, when it was transferred
to Azerbaijan by bolsheviks, Babayan said.
As for Diaspora, he said, though the Armenian always existed, but in
XX century it underwent fundamental transformations. After the
well-know events in the Osman Turkey in 1915, the Diaspora started to
develop independently and separately, having created a specific
subculture, the main consolidating element of which the memory of 1915
Genocide can be called. The Diaspora became stronger and influential
enough in a number of countries, especially in the USA, and it
directed its main political activity at Genocide recognition and
maintenance of this idea in Diaspora.

RA DM TREATS PUBLICATIONS OF HOME MASS MEDIA ABOUT DETAILS OF ARMENIAN
AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS’ MEETING IN SOCHI WITH HUMOR
Yerevan, September 1. ArmInfo. RA Defense Minister Serzh Sarkissyan
treats with humor the publications in home mass media about the
details of Armenian and Russian Presidents’ meeting in Sochi, where,
according to publications, his candidacy as a future President of
Armenia was allegedly discussed.
In today’s talk with journalists, he noted that he wonders at
shortsightedness of some politicians and journalists, but he treats
everything with humor since he knows what is a twosome talk of
Presidents of two countries. “It means this man, who had introduced
this information in Mass Media and who misled the public, thinks he
has more possibilities than the special services of the world and he
may have such an information. Such people have one purpose, they want
to come to the power top and to influence the public”, Sarkissyan
said.

JOHN EVANS LEAVES ARMENIA SATISFIED
Yerevan, September 1. ArmInfo. US-Armenian relations have been
developing, particularly, in defense and security, US investments
though slowly but have been growing, US Ambassador John Evans who is
completing his diplomatic mission in Armenia says in an interview to
Radio Liberty.
He says that Americans and Armenians have common basic values. Armenia
has all prerequisites for becoming the leader of democratic processes
in the region. However, there is no political culture in the country
yet and there is still psychological fear lest the ordinary voter
might be allowed to determine his fate on his own. Evans says that the
elections of 2007 and 2008 may become a significant step towards
deeper democracy in Armenia and the Armenian authorities are working
to this end. International organizations will certainly help Armenia
to ensure electoral transparency, however, the key subject during the
elections will be the Armenian people.
Evans points out progress in all spheres of bilateral cooperation. In
the last four years US investments have been slowing but steadily
growing. In order to attract big US investments Armenia should improve
its court and education systems, reform tax and customs services.
Evans says that the US may significantly help to overcome the
discrepancy between the development of Yerevan and the
regions. However, the most serious task is to form effective, stable
energy system.
Evans says that it was good that the OSCE MG co-chairs have
promulgated the Karabakh conflict settlement principles, particularly,
the ones stressing the inadmissibility of new war and the necessity of
negotiations.
Evans has not got any new appointment. He says that he is not
resigning against his will and that he has served his president well.
Evans does not retract his words that the actions organized by the
Young Turkish government against Armenians in 1915 were Genocide.
Evans says that he is very much satisfied with his work in Armenia.

AGRC PROVIDES SCHOOL CHILDREN OF ARARAT WITH ALL NECESSARY STUFF
Yerevan, August 31. ArmInfo. The ‘Ararat Gold Recovery Company’
organizes a celebration for the school children of the Ararat town of
Armenia. It has become a tradition that each year head of AGRC
B.K. Sharma provides 320 pupils of Ararat schools with all necessary
stuff – textbooks, copybooks, pens, pencils, schoolbags, etc.