ARMENIAN NPP STOPPED FOR REGULAR REPAIR AND REFUELING
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006
YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. Armenian Nuclear Power Plant ceased
operating on Sunday because of regular repair and refueling, Gagik
Markosyan, the plant general director, told ARKA News Agency on Monday.
In his words, the plant was stopped for 45 days. Fuel comes from
Russia. “The fuel price remains pegged”, Markosyan said without
mentioning it. He said this is a commercial secret.
He said that, within these 45 days, the plant authorities would take
certain measures in cooperation with TACIS EU program and U.S. Energy
Department to enhance its security.
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was launched in January 1980. The second
407.5-megawatt block is operating now. Speacialists say the plant
can function until 2016.
In 2003, the control over plant’s financial means were handed over
to INTER RAO UES, whose parent company is RAO UES Russia (60%) and
Rosenergoatom (40%).

AZERI MEDIA MISREPRESENTED FASSIER’S WORDS
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 20:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The only obstacle for continuation of talks and
success in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is the absence
of trust between the peoples, OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza
said at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, the goal of the
current visit has been achieved, since there is readiness to resume
talks. “We do not say that we overcame the obstacles but we noticed
the readiness to move forward,” Bryza said.
For his part Yuri Merzlyakov underscored that the resumption of
contacts will proceed on the basis of the documents submitted by the
mediators in May 2006.
According to French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the Bucharest talks
form the foundation of the talks. “I would like to reiterate that
the parties will fail to come to an agreement without mediation,” he
said. He also remarked that the Azeri press misrepresented his words
in Baku. “I did not say anything about NKR’s participation in the
talks. In general, media was inaccurate in quoting,” Mr Fassier said.

TURKEY ‘CRITICIZED’ JACQUES CHIRAC FOR STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 12:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey criticized French President Jacques Chirac,
who said that Ankara should recognize the Armenian Genocide before
joining the European Union. In an official statement, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry says that these comments were “received with a
profound sadness”. “Last year, when the practices of his country at the
time of the colonialism were for the international agenda, President
Chirac said that the historic incidents should be left with the
historians”, the statement says. To remind, French President Jacques
Chirac during his first state visit to Armenia said that Turkey should
recognize the Armenian Genocide before becoming EU member. “Any country
increases by recognizing its dramas and its errors,” he remarked.

U.S. CONGRESSMEN CALLED ON GEORGE BUSH TO EXPAND ENGAGEMENT WITH KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The congressional letter, signed by 77 members and
sent to the White House on September 29, highlights a long history
of U.S. support to Nagorno Karabakh and the will of the people of
Artsakh to build a democratic and economically viable country.
As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the NKR Representative Office
in the U.S., the letter also notes the continuation of Azerbaijan’s
destructive policy, which threatens peace and stability in the
region and “goes against U.S. interests.” Most importantly, the
congressional letter advocates for expansion of U.S. political and
economic engagement with Nagorno Karabakh.
The letter said in part: “As we work towards peace, the United
States can and must expand its engagement with the lawfully and
democratically established Nagorno Karabakh Republic. These ties
should not be dictated by outside forces but rather should be guided
by the shared values of our two nations. […] We should build on this
success by investing in developmental and good governance programs that
will strengthen Nagorno Karabakh’s economy, democratic institutions,
and promote even greater cooperation on a range of regional and
security issues.”
“Everyday, we are advancing in building a country of our dreams – a
free, democratic and prosperous Artsakh. Fifteen years of independent
statehood have proved the righteousness of the historic path chosen
on September 2, 1991. Throughout these years, the people of Artsakh
have been truly blessed to enjoy the political and economic support
of the U.S. Congress.
We are deeply thankful to the American people for their generous
economic assistance that helped restore dozens of war-torn
villages, drinking water supplies and medical facilities,” said NKR
Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONFERENCE ON PROSPECTS OF NATO-SOUTH CAUCASUS COOPERATION TO BE HELD IN TBILISI
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 13:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 10 the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and
the International Center of Conflicts and Talks of Georgia will hold
an international conference titled “Prospects of cooperation between
NATO and South Caucasian states”. The conference will be attended by
Georgian government members, representatives of political parties,
NGOs, media and experts. FNF Head of South-Caucasus-Project Wolfgang
John, ICCT project director Giorgi Khutsishvili, NATO PA member Elke
Hoff, Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava and Georgia’s
Republican Party expert on foreign policy Ivliane Khaindtava will
give reports, said Trend news agency.

STRATFOR EXPERTS DON’T BELIEVE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TILL YEAREND
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 14:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The analysts of Stratfor, a security consulting
intelligence agency, do not consider that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
will be settled till the end of the year even in case of a new round
of talks.
Azerbaijan is reinforcing its army but has not made big achievements
yet. Meanwhile, according to the experts, during the next three
months Azerbaijan will have a new source of income – a gas pipeline
will be put into operation in addition to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline. The Stratfor analysts suppose that the Georgian conflicts
will aggravate and the referendum in South Ossetia scheduled for
October 12 will worsen the situation.
Georgia will long to strengthen ties with the West, first of all with
the United States. Russia will try to encourage separatist movements
and undertake steps to hinder the possibility Georgia’s joining the
NATO, the experts say, reported RFE/RL.

ARMAVIA FIXES 30% GROWTH OF MOSCOW-YEREVAN PASSENGER FLOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armavia national carrier has fixed a 30% growth of
the Moscow-Yerevan passenger flow.
“Armavia national carrier fixes the growth of the Moscow-Yerevan
passenger flow from the airports of Vnukovo and Domodedovo,” said
Armavia’s press service.
This is mostly conditioned by the suspension of air communication
between Russia and Georgia. It should also be noted that increase
of the number of passengers departing from Yerevan for Moscow is not
observed, reports newsarmenia.ru.

FULL SENATE BLOCKS US SUBSIDY FOR KARS-BAKU RAILWAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 15:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America welcomed
the adoption by the US Senate of legislation protecting US taxpayers
from funding an unnecessary and costly proposed railroad between Turkey
and Georgia that would, if built, circumvent Armenia. The Senate,
during its final day in session before the November 7 mid-term
elections, passed the measure by unanimous consent as part of its
reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. On September 21 the Senate
Banking Committee, during its consideration of the Export-Import
bill, had agreed to add the railway language, offered initially as an
amendment by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), to the larger measure. The
Menendez Amendment was ultimately accepted as a “manager’s amendment”
by Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Ranking Democrat Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD) and unanimously approved by the panel. “Armenian
Americans welcome the Senate’s strong stand against the efforts of
Turkey and Azerbaijan to institutionalize their blockades of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian,
reports asbarez.com.

GERMAN KFW BANK TO GIVE 12 MILLION CREDIT TO BOOST ARMENIAN MORTGAGE MARKET
Armenpress
Oct 04 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The German government-owned KfW bank
will soon allocate a 12 million euro credit to Armenia’s Central Bank
to support the country’s developing mortgage market. The Central Bank
will distribute the German credit among 6 local commercial banks and
2 crediting organizations which will offer mortgage loans to Armenians
wishing to buy new apartments and houses.
KfW’s credit is given with a payment period of 40 years and at 0.75
percent annual interest rate. The first tranche will be 6 million
along with 1.5 million euro grant that will be used for consulting
services and organization of training courses for local specialists.
This program is supposed to give a boost to local mortgage market,
to force interest rates down and extend repayment period. Karapet
Gevorkian, a representative of the KfW in Armenia, said to a news
conference today that under the German bank’s terms, mortgage loans
must be allocated in national Armenian currency, their amount must
not exceed 12 million drams or $30,000 and the repayment period must
be no shorter than 10 years.
Another mandatory term is that borrowers must have life and property
insurances. Gevorkian said the interest rate will be defined by the
local market.
First credits from the KfW loan will be issued next year.
Currently interest rate are between 10-15 percent annually. Experts
estimate there is a $150, million demand for mortgage credits now.

ARMENTEL PROMISES TO RESTORE TELEPHONES IN ALL ARMENIAN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Armenpress
Oct 04 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: ArmenTel telephone operator has
pledged a $30 million investment to digitize completely or partially
telephone communication transmission and inter-operability systems
in 20 provincial centers across Armenia by the end of this year.
The company, owned by the Greek OTE, said as a result virtually
all rural communities in the country will have telephone
communication. ArmenTel will also repair existing infrastructure,
will install CDMA wireless network and will concurrently digitize 80
percent of telephone lines in the capital city Yerevan.
By the end of the year ArmenTel will also install ADSL system that
will allow a speedy and quality Internet connection.