BUSINESSMAN UNION BORN IN PARLIAMENT
Panorama.am
00:28 26/05/06
Those deputies that left Orinats Yerkir party have formed Businessman
parliamentary group, including 10 businessmen, headed by Grigor
MARGARYAN, Tigran TOROSYAN, NA Vice Speaker, told NA session today.
“We are going to deal mainly with the economic field.
Being a member of a party restrained us a little bit.
Now we will have more freedom,” Samvel Shahgeldyan, a union member
told Panorama.am.

380 THOUSAND TOURISTS TO VISIT ARMENIA IN 2006
Panorama.am
00:38 26/05/06
According to modest estimates, 380 thousand tourists will visit Armenia
by the end of 2006. Last year, their number totaled 318 thousand, in
2004- 262 thousand and in 2000- only 40,000, deputy minister on trade
and economic development Ara Petrosyan told reporters today during
the ceremonial opening of the 6th international exhibition on tourism.
In his words, tourism entered a new stage of development in Armenia
ensuring 20-25% rise per annum.
According to the deputy minister, one tourist spends $1000, including
airfare. Speaking on tariffs on tour agency services and hotels,
A. Petrossyan noted that 6 years ago the fees were considerably
higher. “New entities enter into market today and, as we all know,
the more entities, the lower the prices,” he said.
The international exhibition on tourism, which takes place in cinema
Moscow, will run until May 27.
American Union of Tourist Agencies, Armenian agency on tourism
development and the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development organize
the event.

MELTEX REFUSED IN BROADCASTING
Panorama.am
00:41 26/05/06
Today the National Commission on Television and Radio rejected Meltex’s
licensing on radio broadcasting at 90.3 Mherz frequency channel on
the territory of Yerevan. According to tender regulations, 80% of the
product must have been locally produced with 64% own programs. The
tender package did not include information on funding which the company
should invest. Another company – Ulis Media – presented investment
package of 30 mln drams. Meltex scored 22 whereas Ulis Media scored
29 according to rating voting.
The National Commission on Television and Radio also refused to
give license to Meltex for broadcasting at 90.7 Mherz frequency on
the territory of Yerevan. The reason was that the package lacked
information on funding and investment. Radio Pro won the tender
which scored 29 according to rating voting. Meltex scored 22. The
best bidder plans to invest $5 thousand on technical equipment of the
studio, $15 thousand on advertising and $10 thousand on modernization.

WILL GURGEN ARSENYAN AGAIN IMPORT CIGARS?
Panorama.am
01:09 26/05/06
Today the National Assembly of Armenia adopted by a second reading the
draft law on making amendments in the Law On Fixed Fees on Cigarette
Products. Mnatsakan PETROSYAN, NA Unified Employment Party (MAK)
block member, has had this idea since 2005. He is also the author of
the draft.
According Mnatsakan Petrosyan, the studies show that 3800 cigars have
been imported into Armenia with customs cost of about USD 10 thousand
in 2004. In 2005 only 400 cigars were imported paying 600 thousand
Armenian drams in customs tax. However, the deputy is sure that in
2005 20,000 cigars are imported into Armenia by illegal channels. In
2006, no cigars have been imported. He says that high customs fees
determine shadow economy in import of cigars, paying 1500 Armenian
drams per one cigar whereas in the shops they cost only 1200-1500
Armenian drams. “It is not possible. We see risk for corruption
here. We should bring that out of shadow economy,” he says.
After the amendments are made in the law, cigar importers will pay
only 550 AMD as customs tax which is double cheaper.
But doesn’t this law support another MAK member Gurgen Arsenyan’s
business? The latter deals with import of cigars through ArsOil
company.
“Gurgen Arsenyan does not import cigars any more. We try to contribute
to the state budget. The state will win in the long run. This is a
real change,” Petrosyan says.

THOMAS DE WAAL: MONTENEGRO INDEPENDENCE RECOGNITION NOT PRECEDENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 13:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recognition of Montenegro’s independence is not
a precedent, Caucasus Project Coordinator and Editor at the Institute
for War and Peace Reporting Thomas de Waal told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, a civilized detachment like Armenia’s
secession from the USSR took place. “The Kosovo issue is much more
interesting. Will Kosovo receive independence without Serbia’s full
consent?” de Waal remarked.

NATO PA SESSION STARTS IN PARIS
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 13:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The regular session of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly will be held in Paris May 26-30. During the first
day Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk and one of the
Belarusian opposition leaders Alexander Milinkevich will address
the parliamentarians from 26 member states. Milinkevich will also
answer the questions by the members of the NATO PA political committee
council on May 27. The agenda also includes the joint sitting of the
NATO PA and the Alliance Council to be held 30. On that day Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
are expected to deliver a speech.
The recurrent session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that unites
340 parliamentarians from Northern American and European states will
be dedicated to the issues referring to the NATO transformation,
international and regional security, peacekeeping operations within
the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond its borders.
Sittings of the NATO PA political, defense and security, economic and
security, science and technology as well as civic security committees
will be held within the session framework, reported RIA Novosti.
To note, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan will represent Armenia at the session.

CONGRESSMAN KENNY MARCHANT JOINED CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 14:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly welcomed the announcement today
that Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-TX) has joined the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, bringing the total membership to 158 to
date, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. Marchant is the
first Republican from the Lone Star State to join the Caucus.
“The Assembly appreciates Congressman Marchant’s expression of support
and decision to join the Armenian Caucus,” said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. “It is our hope that the Congressman will
coordinate with the Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) to foster greater ties between
the United States and Armenia.”
Marchant, who is currently serving his first term in office,
represents the 24th Congressional District which encompasses portions
of Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant Counties. The Congressman serves
on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Workforce,
and Government Reform Committees.
Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Marchant
served nine terms as a Texas State Representative. During his tenure
in the state legislature, he served as Chairman of the Texas House
Committee on Financial Institutions, Chairman of the House State
Affairs Committee, and Chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus.

CEASEFIRE PRECONDITION FOR KARABAKH TALKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 15:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The ceasefire at the contact line of the Nagorno
Karabakh and Azeri armed forces is generally preserved. However from
time to time tension increases, Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk stated. In his words, everyone
should remember that each party to conflict wished to maintain the
ceasefire. “The ceasefire is also a precondition for the delicate
talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,” he remarked.
He also noted that a casualty or fire that lasts over 20 minutes is
considered to be a ceasefire violation.
“We expect the parties to show maximal restraint at the frontline. If
serious incidents are fixed we expect the parties to use the safety
communications.
Much depends on the commanders, since they observe discipline in the
military units,’ Kasprzyk emphasized.
In his opinion, the monitoring factor has a stabilizing effect and
alleviates tension. “There were cases when a party requested for a
monitoring of a certain sector to stabilize the situation. Monitoring
is also a warning both the conflicting parties and the OSCE Minsk
Group, since there is a risk of escalation,” Andrzej Kasprzyk said,
reported Trend.

FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY TO BE HELD IN HOLLYWOOD
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 16:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Cultural Foundation and Armenian
Youth Federation – Western Region (AYF-WR) have organized a festival
celebrating Armenian Independence Day to be held on Sunday, May 28,
in the heart of Little Armenia. This year, Hollywood Blvd.
will be blocked off between Vermont and Alexandria just for the
event. A variety of vendors, diverse entertainers, live performers,
writers and organizations will be on hand from 10 AM to 6 PM to
celebrate Armenian culture, reported Asbarez.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PAN-ARMENIAN FESTIVAL IN GYUMRI
A1+
[01:06 pm] 26 May, 2006
The 7th pan-Armenian festival of intellectual games took place in
the cultural house after gousan Ashot.
The participants of the festival came from different regions of
Armenia – Tavoush, Shirak, Lori, Syunik, Yerevan and Artsakh.
The festival was held with groups. The groups included doctors,
lecturers and people of other professions.
The team of Goris was represented by the professors of the Goris State
University. The team of Gyumri took the first place, Goris was the
second, and the third place was shared between Artsakh and Noyemberyan.
TV Company “Last” of Goris.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress