ASSEMBLY HOLDS BRIEFINGS IN MICHIGAN AND NEW JERSEY
ArmRadio.am
28.08.2006 14:13
The Assembly’s Executive Director Bryan Ardouny traveled to Farmington
Hills, Michigan and Wayne, New Jersey to meet with local supporters
and discuss critical issues facing the Armenian-American community.
In those meetings, Ardouny provided an update on his meetings with US,
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh government officials during his recent
trip to Armenia, as well as a legislative update. He also answered a
variety of questions asked by supporters regarding the Appropriations
Bill for FY 2007, the pan-Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Rail
Measure and the confirmation hearing of US Ambassador to Armenia
Designate Richard Hoagland.
“We have had numerous successes throughout this Congressional cycle
from House approval of a provision to prevent Export-Import Bank
funding of a rail bypass of Armenia to the resounding International
Relations Committee vote last September on affirming the Armenian
Genocide,” said Ardouny. “However we have many challenges ahead and
it’s heartening to meet with so many committed activists. I would
like to especially thank the Assembly’s Regional Council Members for
making these events possible.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MAY MEET IN SLOVENIA
ArmRadio.am
28.08.2006 14:36
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanian and
Elmar Mammadyarov are scheduled to meet in Slovenia today, ANS TV
Channel reports.
Acting Armenian MFA Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetyan sais,
however that no agreement has been reached on the meeting between
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanian and
Elmar Mammadyarov.
Speaking about the possibility of the meeting in Slovenia, Vladimir
Karapetyan noted that the Foreign Ministry possesses no such
information. However, he did not rule out the opportunity of the
Foreign Ministers meeting.
August 27-28 Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is participating
in the “Caspian Prospects 2008” conference in Slovenia. The conference
welcomes also heads of states, Foreign Ministers, EU and NATO Special
Representatives to the South Caucasus, representatives of international
organizations and political scientists.

THE OTHER SIDE OF FAKE DAMAGES
By Mher Ohanian
Yerkir.am
August 25, 2006
Hiding profits and stating damages through inflated expenses is
something that is widespread among the business community.
Businessmen in both the developed countries and developing ones
attempt to profit from doing so. Governments, in turn, try to thwart
tax evasion cases through laws and tax administration. It looks like
the Armenian tax authorities are trying to do the same.
Judging by the “List of taxpayers who have stated damages in 2005,”
released by the State Tax Service, one gets an impression that the key
goal of the Armenian businessmen is to get damages instead of profits.
It turns out that any business – production of mineral water,
beer or soft drinks, jewelry, import of gasoline or real estate —
is non-profitable in Armenia. The same goes for bottling Coca Cola
or selling Mercedes or even owning markets. To cut it short, every
business in Armenia is loss-making, according to that list.
Apparently, our businessmen least interested in their images: what’s
more important is making mega profits taking advantage of the loopholes
in the legislation.
Most of the businesses operating in such lucrative sectors as
construction, transportation, production of soft drinks, import of
cigarettes and others have stated petty profits thus paying more than
modest taxes.
Even those tycoons, who are also legislators, are not shamed of
registering their businesses in offshore zones, and by taking advantage
of the laws they have passed evade taxes.
None of those businesses have declared themselves bankrupts and
no court has ever ruled them bankrupt. Those businesses continue to
flourish and their owners make mega profits because they have powerful
protection or pay bribes to tax authorities.

CHINA AND KAZAKHSTAN INTERESTED IN KARS-TBILISI-BAKU RAIL PROJECT
ArmRadio.am
28.08.2006 15:45
China and Kazakhstan are interested in the project of construction
of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway bypassing Armenia, “National Interests”
news agency of Kazakhstan reports, referring to Turkish media.
The source notes that the Chinese intend to join the construction
of the railway, which should start in 2007. In case the project
is a success, Turkey will turn into the major transport and energy
corridor linking Europe, Caucasus and Asia. It is supposed that the
railway will transport 20 million tones of cargoes annually. After
the exploitation of the transport network, Kars city will be linked
to Shanghai. The Kazakh agency reports that Turkey connects great
hopes with the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku rail project, which, Ankara is sure,
will fundamentally change the face of the region. The railway will
establish an immediate link between Azerbaijan and Turkey, which
goes in line with the strategy of Baku and Ankara to reinforce the
military-political relations.
To remind, the project will cost $400 million. According to some
Turkish experts, the accomplishment of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku project
will lead to the considerable weakening of Armenia’s and Russia’s
positions in the region.

AZERI MEDIA DISSEMINATE RECURRENT MISINFORMATION
ArmRadio.am
28.08.2006 16:50
Armenian Defense Minister’s Press Secretary, Colonel-General Seyran
Shahsuvaryan refuted the recurrent misinformation of the Azeri media
on the violation of the cease-fire regime by Armenia on August 27.
Seyran Shahsuvaryan characterized this report as the recurrent lie
of Azerbaijani media.
It should be noted that Azeri media reported yesterday that the
Armed Forces of Armenia opened fire on Azerbaijani positions from
the Southeastern positions 1km away from Gyulustan village between
19:45 – 20:15.

ILHAM ALIEV TO MEET WITH US MEDIATOR MATTHEW BRYZA
ArmRadio.am
28.08.2006 17:05
Today in Lyublyana Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev will meet with
the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza.
The President of Azerbaijan is paying an official visit to Slovenia
and this morning he held talks with his counterpart Yanosh Drnovshek.
Ilham Aliev participated also in the “Caspian perspectives 2008”
international conference in Bled city. Matthew Bryza also arrived in
Slovenia to partake in the conference.
At the conference Armenia is represented by Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE US SHOULD USE ENERGY RESOURCES OF THE REGION TO HELP SETTLE CONFLICTS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
ArmRadio.am
28.08.2006 17:53
Former Special Adviser to US President on Assistance to post-Soviet
countries Richard Morningstar considers that the US should use
energy resources of the region for the development of regional
economic cooperation and settlement of the conflicts in the South
Caucasus. Richard Morningstar said this in an article published in
the Central Asia – Caucasus magazine.
“How can we speak about real cooperation in the region if the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unsettled and Armenia cannot gain
profit from the region’ s development? The Unites States should
continue presenting to the parties the benefits that will become
available in the result of the conflict settlement and should
encourage to go on with the efforts to reach a fair solution,”
declared the ex-diplomat, who is currently teaching in Harvard and
Stanford Universities.
Richard Morningstar considers also that “Turkey should aspire to
reach compromises with Armenia and play a positive role in the Nagorno
Karabakh process.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REGISTRATION OF DANGEROUS FACILITIES GATHERS MOMENTUM
Noyan Tapan
Aug 28 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 27 elevators were registered
in May 2006 at the National Technical Safety Center (NTSC) of the
RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development. In July their number
made 400, while in August – over 4 thousand. Major General Ashot
Petrosian, the center’s director, stated this at the August 28 press
conference. According to him, under the RA Law on State Regulation
of Technical Safety that took effect on January 1, 2006, the persons
operating dangerous production facilities are obliged to get registered
at the NTSC until September 1, 2006. He said that those who operate
dangerous facilities and fail to get registered until September 1
will be liable to a fine in the amount of 1,000 minimal salaries
(1 mln drams or about 2,500 USD). If an organization continues to
operate without being registered, its operation will be suspended by
order of the RA Minister of Trade and Economic Development, and it
will be fined in the amount of 2,000 minimal salaries.
A. Petrosian said that registration at NTSC is free of charge. In
case of failure to inform about accidents at such facilities, a
fine in the amount of 2,000 minimal salaries is envisaged. Experts
of dangerous facilities also bear responsibility envisaged by law:
if an accident occurs at a facility which has a positive conclusion
after undergoing an examination and it is revealed that this facility
did not meet the normative requirements, the expert is fined in the
amount of 500 minimal salaries. NTSC director informed those present
that the center has branches in Kapan (Syunik marz) and Vanadzor (it
services Lori and Shirak marzes). In his words, 5,147 elevators are
registered at the NTSC, which is 80% of all operating elevators in
Armenia. The process of registration is active in Yerevan’s Kentron
community, while the city’s Ajapniak community, the cities of Vanadzor
and Abovian are noted for their passiveness.
So far, 5 elevators not meeting the respective normative requirements
were revealed by the center’s experts. He noted that the process of
registering edicational institutions, boiler-houses and gasoline
filling stations is proceeding slowly. For example, only 50% of
filling stations has been registered so far. Out of 389 operating
mines, 141 are registered at the NTSC, registration of another 18
is in progress. Filling stations, as A. Petrsosian put it, are the
most punctual. In particular, Flash company has registered its filling
stations at the center, while Mika is slow to do so, though the Hrazdan
cement plant (belonging to Mika) has been registered. Some big mining
companies, including those operating copper and molybdenum mines,
have applied for registration.

V.OSKANIAN PARTICIPATES IN “CASPIAN OUTLOOK 2008” FORUM IN SLOVENIA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 28 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Forign Minister Vartan Oskanian
participates in Bled (Slovenia) in the August 27-28 “Capsian Outlook
2008” forum jointly organized by the Foreign Ministry of Slovenia
and the Ljubljana Institute for Strategic Studies. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
during the forum which is dedicated to relations of the European
Union and South Caucasus, a discussion will take place concerning the
geopolitical meaning of South Caucasus and Caspian regions for the EU,
as well as concerning economic, strategic and political prospects.
Heads of states, Foreign Ministers, NATO and EU Special Representatives
to South Caucasus, high-ranking officials of international
organizations, famous international experts, politicians participate
in the forum. RA Foreign Minister’s speech is envisaged during the
“Caspian Outlook 2008” forum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA SPEAKER SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE ON OCCASION OF SILVA KAPUTIKIAN’S DEATH
Noyan Tapan
Aug 28 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian sent a
telegram of condolence on the occasion of prominent poetess, laureate
of state prizes Silva Kaputikian’s death. The telegram, submitted
to Noyan Tapan by the NA Public Relations’ Department, particularly
reads the following: “I got to know with the deepest grief about
Silva Kaputikian’s death. Silva Kaputikian’s contribution is great in
the Armenian literature: her poetry, prose and publicizing writings
became best pages of the Armenian literature of the previous century
and this one. A poet’s loss is always people’s loss: I’m sure that
not only connoisseurs of her poetry but also our compatriots living
in Armenia and abrod grieve about her death. I express my sincere
sympathy to Silva Kaputikian’s relatives and friends.”