1200 Armenians Kept Captive in Azerbaijan
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2006 14:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Taking into account the number of missing among the
civic population of the Shahumyan region and a part of the Mardakert
region, Azeris hold captive some 1200 people, said Mikael Aramyan,
the president of the Fund Against Violation of Law. In his words, many
of them are most likely not alive now. “I should mention that there
are cases of captivity from both sides. All the essential measures
for their release are taken. However it’s hard to know the number of
case for certain. In 1994-96 over 20 Armenian children were found
and exchanged. We keep in touch with them. However the Azeri side
denies the fact of holding captive Armenian civilians or servicemen,”
Aramyan said, reported De Facto news agency.

Matthew Bryza Not Likely to Arrive in Yerevan with New Proposals
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2006 14:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I do not suppose that OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair
Matthew Bryza will arrive in Yerevan with extremely new proposals
on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, political scientist,
Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In
his words, the appearance of new proposals is possible only after
coordination with the other Co-chairs. “However, we do not possess
such information to date,” he remarked adding that he doesn’t fancy
what a new proposal can be like.
To note, the visit of OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza is scheduled
for July 29.

Matthew Bryza Concerned in Promoting U.S. Policy in Region
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2006 15:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza is
concerned in promoting the U.S. policy in the regions rather than in
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “Consequently he
will press for guarantees for non-resumption of hostilities and the
U.S. has many capabilities for that,” he underscored.
To note, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Matthew Bryza
may arrive in Yerevan July 29 with new proposals on the Karabakh
conflict settlement.

Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents Not to Meet in Moscow
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2006 15:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A meeting of Armenian President Robert Kocharian
and Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev is not scheduled within the framework
of the informal summit of the CIS leaders, RA President’s Spokesman
Victor Soghomonyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
To note, July 21 Robert Kocharian is departing for Moscow to
participate in the informal summit of the leaders of the CIS member
states.

Erdogan: Turkey to Make No Concessions on Cyprus
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2006 15:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
had important messages for the European Union upon his arrival in
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend the 32nd
anniversary commemoration of the Turkish operation on the island.
Erdogan was met by TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer upon
his arrival at Ercan Airport, and told him, “We’ve fulfilled our
obligations, and the international community should immediately lift
the unfair sanctions imposed on Turkish Cyprus.” Erdogan made clear
that Turkey will not make any concessions.
Later on, Erdogan held a joint press conference with TRNC President
Mehmet Ali Talat following a meeting between the two leaders. Erdogan
reiterated that Turkey wants a UN-backed solution to the Cyprus
problem. “The world should remove the isolations imposed on the TRNC so
that Turkey may fulfill its responsibilities. We have always supported
a peaceful solution, and will continue to do so.”
Furthermore, Erdogan stressed Turkey will continue to be a “brother”
to the TRNC as it has done in the past. Talat also offered support
for Erdogan’s peace plan, and called on Greece and Greek Cyprus to
do the same. Turkey welcomed the message that UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan may step in to resolve the Cyprus issue, and highlighted
the importance of Greek Cypriot’s starting negotiations.
Erdogan reassured the TRNC saying, “Don’t worry. We will not open
Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.” Erdogan later met former
Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas at his office. “We are pursuing
your goals. We will make no concessions over the Cyprus issue,”
Erdogan reportedly told Denktas, reported Zaman.
To remind, the EU has warned Turkey of the possible breakdoen of the
talks id Ankara fails to put into operation the additional protocol
to the customs union that was signed in July, 2005. The union provides
for opening of Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

ARMENIA APPROVES SALE OF ELECTRICITY NETWORKS TO RUSSIA
Armenpress
MOSCOW, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s authorities have authorized a
U.K.-based Midland Resources Holding Ltd. to sell its 100% stake in
the Armenian Electricity Networks (AEN) to Interenergo, a subsidiary
of Russia’s Inter UES.
Interenergo is a joint venture of Inter UES (60%), a subsidiary
of Russia’s electricity monopoly Unified Energy System (UES), and
state-owned Rosenergoatom (40%), the world’s largest nuclear energy
company. The deal was approved by the Public Services Regulatory
Commission of Armenia Wednesday. Under Armenian energy legislation,
the company was not entitled to sell its shares in the AEN without
obtaining permission from the Armenian government and the committee.
Interenergo said it was willing to lease AEN for a 99 year
term. Midland Resources had acquired 100% of AEN shares for $40
million.
Margarita Grigorian, a spokeswoman for AEN, could not tell when the
deal will be formalized and would not disclose its price, saying it
would be announced after signing the deal.

ARMENIAN IMPORTS GROW IN HALF 1, EXPORTS SLIGHTLY DOWN
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: In the first six months of 2006 Armenia’s
foreign trade amounted to $1.395 billion, posting a 12.7 percent growth
from a year ago. Armenia’s National Statistical Committee (Armstat)
said the volume of foreign trade without cut diamond output, was $1.159
billion, a 23.3 percent year-on-year upsurge. Armenia’s exports in
January-June stood at $437.7 million, down 0.6 percent from a year
ago, while imports amounted to $951.8 million, marking a 20 percent
year-on-year growth. Armstat said exports, not counting cut diamonds,
was $324.8 million and imports $834.9 million. Growth from a year ago
was respectively 7.6 and 30.6 percent. Armstat also said population
money incomes in this time span amounted to 684.4 billion Drams,
while expenses rose to 685.3 billion Drams. Some 545 billion Drams
were spent on purchase of goods and services. Growth from a year
ago was respectively 17.4 and 19.2 percent. Armstat also said the
number of officially registered unemployed by the end of June stood
at 90,000, down 7 percent from a year ago. Average wages were 59, 600
drams, 21.6 percent higher from a year ago. Wages in public sector
were 41,800 drams (approximately $100) and 73,000 drams in private
sector. Growth from a year ago was respectively 21.9 and 20.7 percent.

ARMENIA POSTS 11.8 PERCENT GDP GROWTH IN HALF 1
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenia GDP in the first half of 2006
rose to 809.235 billion Drams, posting an 11.8 percent year-on-year
growth. The growth against May was 40.7 percent.
Armstat said industrial output, not counting indirect taxes, amounted
to 300.7 billion Drams. Not counting diamond sector, the figure was
299.1 billion Drams, while not counting power, gas, water production
and distribution it was 244.6 billion Drams.
Armenia produced in the first half of 2006 3.2 billion kilowatt hours
electricity, down 7 percent from a year ago. Agricultural output in
this time span was 118.9 billion Drams, which was 7.2 percent higher
from a year ago.
The volume of major construction, in money terms, was 165.6 billion
drams, 32 percent higher on year-on-year terms. The volume of retain
trade across the country rose to 320.7 billion Drams, a 12 percent
increase from a year ago.

ARMENIA QUESTIONS VERACITY OF AZERI REPORTS ABOUT
ENLARGEMENT OF MINSK GROUP COCHAIRMEN
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has questioned today the veracity
of media reports in Azerbaijan claiming that Washington was holding
secret talks with Paris and Moscow in an effort to snatch out their
accord for enlargement of the make-up of the so-called OSCE Minsk
group cochairmen, who are the only authorized international mediating
group spearheading talks for ending the Karabakh conflict.
Vladimir Karapetian, an acting spokesman for Armenian foreign ministry,
told Armenpress that the composition of the Minsk group cochairman
could be changed only with permission of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“We doubt the veracity of these reports in Azerbaijani media,” he
said, adding that no US officials had approached Armenia to learn
its attitude.

Iran Addresses Azerbaijan Notes on Forest Fires
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.07.2006 16:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran has sent to Azerbaijan a note in the risk
of spreading of fires to the near-border regions, Azeri Minister
of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyn Bagirov said. “Since
2002 Azerbaijan has received notes from Iran on the possible risk
of spreading of the forest fires in Karabakh security zone onto
the territory of Iran. I say this because our arguments are often
considered to be unimpressive, and this is the argument of a third
party,” the Minister said.
To note, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karl De Gucht submitted to the
Armenian and Azerbaijani MFA a report on the outcomes of the monitoring
held in the near-border regions by his Personal Representative
Andrzej Kasprzyk.