CHAIRMAN OF RA NA COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND CZECH PARLIAMENTS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 20, members of RA National
Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal
Affairs met with the delegation of Czech Republic Senate’s Committee
on Foreign Relations, Defence and Security.
Committee Chairman Aramayis Grigorian gave assurance that the visit
is an important step in development of Armenian-Czech relations. He
attached importance to cooperation between the parliaments, respective
committees of the two countries. Cooperation at international
organizations, in particular, within the framework of CE and
Euroatlantic Alliance, Czech Republic’s experience in the issue of
integration to European structures and exchange of experience in the
legislative field was considered to be important. Aramayis Grigorian
presented the Committee’s activity, the current level of Armenia-NATO
relations.
In cooperation with NATO he attached importance to cooperation in
the spheres of defence reforms, fighting terrorism, perfection of
the legal field.
A.Grigorian mentioned that Armenia has joined the planning and
reconsideration process of the Partnership for Peace, as well as the
agreement On the Status of the Armed Forces of NATO – Partnership
for Peace.
Rostislav Slavotinek, Vice-Chairman of Czech Senate’s Committee on
Foreign Relations, Defence and Security, gave assurance that the visit
will promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In
the sphere of interparliamentary cooperation he attached importance
to cooperation at the level of the committees. R.Slavotinek briefly
presented the structure of the Czech parliament, the Committee’s
functions, spheres, touched upon the peculiarities of the Czech
army, reforms in the police system. It was mentioned that the Czech
parliament consists of two Chambers – the Chamber of Deputies and
the Senate. The Senate is formed by the principle of majoritarian
electoral system, it consists of 81 deputies. The Czech army has
been professional since January 1 2005, it has about 30 thousand
servicemen. Czech Republic is a member to NATO and takes an active
part in the programs of NATO. Slavotinek mentioned that a Military
University having a high qualification works in Czech Republic and
proposed that the Armenian side send officers to study there.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department,
at the meeting the sides touched upon issues of regional cooperation,
attached importance to activization of parliamentary cooperation. Other
issues of bilateral interest were also discussed, the directions of
future cooperation were outlined.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL REVISED VERSION OF RA NATIONAL SECURITY DRAFT STRATEGY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Interdepartmental
Commission Coordinating Development of the RA National Security Draft
Strategy headed by Secretary of the National Security Council under
the Armenian Presidennt, RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian on June
20 held a final draft discussion sitting.
According to Spokesman for the RA Defence Minister Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvari an, the commission approved the final revised version of
the document. During the process of developing the draft, about 615
proposals received by the interdepartmental commission were taken
into consideration. A draft dictionary of main terms of the National
Security Strategy was also presented to the sitting participants.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

40 REFUGEE FAMILIES IN ARTASHAT GET FLATS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
ARTASHAT, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Artashat Mayor’s Office
allocated flats to 40 refugee families. The flats are provided with
sanitary junction, electrecity and heating system. As the Noyan
Tapan correspondent informs from Artashat, it became possible
only as a result of finishing construction of the many-apartment
building half constructed still since 1990s by money allocated
from the state budget. The construction was implemented by the
“Artashatshin” LTD. According to Artashat Mayor Gagik Muradian, two
other many-apartment buildings will be put in the service in the city
in 2007, and new ones will add them in future.

SERGE SARGSIAN TO LEAVE FOR MINSK TO PARTICIPATE IN SITTINGS OF COMMITTEE OF CSTO SECURITY COUNCILS SECRETARIES AND COUNCIL OF DEFENCE MINISTERS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by the Secretary
of the National Security Council under the Armenian President, the
RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian on June 21 leaves for Minsk in
order to participate in the sitting of the Committee of Secretaries of
the Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) and the sitting of the Council of the CSTO Defence Ministers. NT
was informed about it from the spokesman for the RA defence minister
Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian.

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AND OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF MEDIA DISCUSS ISSUES RELATING TO REFORMS OF THIS SPHERE IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to freedom of media in
the territory of OSCE, legislative reforms of this sphere in Armenia,
as well as proposals to implement joint programs were discussed at
the June 20 meeting of RA Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdian
with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, the sides expressed satisfaction with the
current level of Armenia-OSCE relations in the sphere of freedom of
media and expressed willingness to continue to cooperate in the future.

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: COMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TO BE TOUCHSTONE FOR DEMOCRATIZATION OF COUNTRY
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Vahan Hovhannisian, the RA National
Assembly Deputy Speaker and Levon Mkrtchian, the RA Education and
Science Minister met on June 19 with Anthony John James Cantor, the
Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
to Armenia and A.Page, the Deputy Chief of the Foreign Ministry’s
Eastern Department.
Vahan Hovhannisian touched upon the inner developments of the country,
reforms addressed to the European integration, political formations,
parliamentary and presidential elections to take place in 2007
and 2008.
According to Vahan Hovhannisian, the presidential elections will
greatly depend on the coming parliamentary elections. They will
be a touchstone for democratization of the country as well, so all
political forces must spare no efforts not to allow breakings. The
legislative, economic and political reforms being implemented in
the country are on a right way, though there are faults in their
implementation. Outer factors also leave their negative stamp on
development of economy of Armenia, particularly Turkey’s blockade and
Azerbaijan’s non-constructive position connected with settlement of
the Karabakh issue.
Responding A.Page’s question, what foresights of settlement of the
Karabakh issue exist, the NA Deputy Speaker informed that there were
three proposals within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group which
Armenia accepted, and Azerbaijan refused. The latter wants not to
see the problem, but to liquidate consequences what is not possible
withouth solution of the problem. Vahan Hovhannisian considered
inadmissible the Azerbaijani intention to solve in future by power
by accounting of the oil factor and the international community’s
not taking serious steps against that phenomenon.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
A.Page mentioned that some economic circles may connect solution of
the issue with the oil factor but it is not the official position of
the Great Britain, and assured that his country does its best to find
a mutually beneficial solution for settlement of the Karabakh issue.

SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN: WE SHOULD NOT POLITICIZE SITUATION IN JAVAKHK BUT TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS STEP BY STEP
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Of course, the
result of discussion of problems accumulated in Javakhk (region of
Samtskhe-Javakheti in Georgia populated with Armenians) at the state
level would be higher than at the level of experts and NGOs, but
we have problems and they need to be discussed,” Hranush Kharatian,
Head of the Department of Armenian Government on Issues of Religion
and National Minorities, declared. At the June 20 press conference
dedicated to summing up the results of the working meeting among
experts and representatives of NGOs of Armenia and Georgia held lately
in Akhalkalak, she also emphasized that unless the political figures
have a will or possibilities to discuss the problems of Javakhk, this
should be done by experts and NGO representatives as any dialogue
is necessary.
Another participant of the working meeting, MP Shavarsh Kocharian
mentioned that Javakhk is faced with many problems, including problems
of self-government, problem of language and problems of socio-economic
character. The latters have become deeper after withdrawing the Russian
military base from Akhalkalak where 1500 local residents worked. As
the MP estimated, the situation deepens in Javakhk, which can result
in an explosion. And in this respect, in his opinion, we should not
politicize the situation but try to solve the problems we have there
step by step.
Shavarsh Kocharian mentioned that there are issues, in particular,
the issue of not mastering the Georgian language, the solution of
which requires certain time or transitional period. According to him,
no one doubts that the state language of Georgia is Georgian but
study of the Georgian language should not be done at the expense of
ousting of the Armenian language.
Hranush Kharatian expressed an analogous point of view. According to
her, if the Georgian authorities decide to be engaged in this problem,
they have no sufficient funds for this. In her opinion, a weighed
approach should be applied in this issue. While, today the Georgian
state takes hasty steps in this issue and the population of Javakhk
also reacts hastily and emotionally.
The participants of the meeting expressed the hope that this meeting
will become a prologue for further discussion of problems of Javakhk
at the level of experts and NGOs.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT AJARIA IN JULY
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by the Georgian
Minister of Economic Development Irakli Chogovadze was received
on June 17 by the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. The
delegation visited Yerevan in connection with opening a direct railway
communication Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan.
NT was informed about it from the RA Government Information and
PR Department.
Noting the dynamic development of economic and political
relations between Armenia and Georgia, the sides underlined the
importance of timely and efficient implementation of mutually
decisions and agreements. A. Margarian indicated the opening of
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan railway communication as the best evidence of
it. According to him, the agreement on the launching of this direct
railway communication was reached during his meeting with the Georgian
President and the Prime Minister last summer. Congratulating each other
on this important event, the interlocutors expressed confidence that
the improvement of transport communication between the two countries
will undoubtedly be a stimulus for cooperation and promotion of trade
and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia.
I. Chogovadze expressed confidence that the opening of
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan railway communication will encourage
development of tourism between the two countries. According to him,
the Georgian government is making considerable investments in Ajaria
for infrastructure improvement: road repairs, hotel construction,
reconstruction of the airport, etc, thanks to which it is envisaged
to receive about 50 thousand tourists from Armenia instead of 20
thousand last year.
The sides also addressed the problems of Javakhk. I. Chogovadze said
that being aware of the urgency to solve the socioeconomic problems
of the region, the Georgian authorities have already allocated funds
for repairs of infrastructures, especially roads, in Javakhk.
A. Margarian said that he will visit Ajaria during the sitting of
Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission to be held this July.

ACCORDING TO IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR, ARMENIA HAS CLEAR PROGRAMS OF ECONOMIC REFORMS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has clear programs of economic
reforms. The IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato stated this at the
June 17 press conference. He was in Yerevan in order to participate in
the IMF/World Bank Dutch Constituency meeting on June 17-18. Rodrigo
de Rato came to this conclusion after meetings with the RA President,
the RA Prime Minister and the governmental economic team.
In his words, the IMF is prepared to cooperate with Armenia in
the future as well by allocating concessional loans to ensure
the continuity of economic reforms initiated by the Armenian
government. The implementation of the 34 mln-dollar second credit
program on poverty rediction and economic growth for 2005-2008 is
currently underway, after the completion of which ways of providing
assistance to Armenia will also be decided based on proposals of the
Armenian government. Since 1994, the IMF has allocated 350 mln USD to
Armenia, with concessional loans making up 80% of these funds. The IMF
managing director expressed confidence that the Armenian government
will continue reforms in the tax sector.
The RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian noted during
the June 18 press conference to summarize the results of the IMF/WB
Dutch Constituency meeting in Yerevan that it would be useful to
study Croatia’s experience of economic reforms, as well as Georgia’s
ongoing reforms in tax sector.
According to him, in the last 3-4 years, Georgia has increased the
ratio of tax revenues to GDP to 20%, whereas in Armenia this index
makes 14.5%.
V. Khachatrian said that Armenia gives priority to increasing the
taxation base without raising taxes. He reminded that the country’s
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper envisages a 0.4-0.5% growth in the
tax revenues/GDP index, which, however, has not been achieved due to
a high growth of GDP – 12% annually.
Besides, in the opinion of the minister, this ratio is small because
the construction and agricultural sectors, which account for a large
share of GDP growth, are exempt from some taxes.

HOUSE MEMBERS CALL ON EU TO ENCOURAGE TURKEY REFORM AND RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006
WASHINGTON, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Assembly of America commended longtime Armenian issues supporter,
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), for urging the European Union
(EU) to press Turkey to meet its accession criteria, properly recognize
the Armenian Genocide and end its ongoing blockade against Armenia.
The congressional correspondence, addressed to European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso and signed by nearly two dozen lawmakers,
states that Turkey’s progress towards establishing guarantees for
democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect and protection of
minorities remains wholly inadequate.
The bipartisan letter states in part: “Of particular concern is
Turkey’s lack of interest in considering improvements in areas that are
of paramount importance for the integrity and credibilty of Turkey’s
bid for membership.
Principal among such areas is the question of Turkey’s diplomatic
recognition of Armenia, and the removal of its blockade, as a
major impediment to regional security and development in the South
Caucasus. Equally critical is Turkey’s abilty to end its official
policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide, and come to terms with
its genocidal legacy.”
“It’s time for Turkey to get serious about meeting its European Union
accession criteria,” Maloney said. “I hope that the EU will make very
clear to Turkey during these talks that it must remove its blockade
against Armenia and end its official policy of denial of the Armenian
Genocide.”
The United States has called upon Turkey to restore economic, political
and social ties with Armenia, while the European Parliament has
adopted a resolution urging Ankara to open its border with Armenia,
and recognize the genocide, as a precondition to membership to the EU.
The Armenian government, in principle, has never opposed any negotiated
outcome to Turkey’s accession talks with the EU.
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian has been quoted as saying,
“Armenia has never been against Turkey’s accession to the European
Union. We only said that the process of accession and the demands
put forward by the European Union must be the same for all candidate
countries.”
Kocharian has added that EU-candidates “should establish good relations
with all their neighbors and recognize the pages of their history no
matter how difficult they are.”
“[Membership] will have a positive nature for us, since we will
have a more predictable neighbor and the border between Armenia and
Turkey will become our border with the European Union,” according
to Kocharian.
“The Assembly thanks Congresswoman Maloney for spearheading this
initiative and looks forward to President Barroso’s response,” said
Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “As the accession
process moves forward, it is imperative that Turkey take the necessary
steps to strengthen civil society and democratic institutions, rather
than criminalizing free speech as seen with Orhan Pamuk.”
Hovnanian added that it is past time for Turkey to significantly
improve its abysmal human and minority rights record and deal firmly
and squarely with its genocidal past.
The congressional letter was signed by Representatives Tammy Baldwin
(D-WI), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa
(D-CA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX), Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ), Sue W. Kelly (R-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Carolyn B. Maloney
(D-NY), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI), James
P. McGovern (D-MA), Michael R. McNulty (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano
(D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), Steven
R. Rothman (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), John E.
Sweeney (R-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Diane Watson (D-CA).