ACCORDING TO VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN, ARF DOES NOT PRETEND ON PARLIAMENTARY HEADING POSTS TO REMAIN VACANT
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. It will be decided at the coming sitting
of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Supreme Body of Armenia who will undertake
the deputy’s mandate remained vacant by the proportional electoral
order. Armen Rustamian, the ARF Supreme Body representative, the
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent about it. To recap, the above-mentioned
mandate has been vacant since NA “ARF” faction head Levon Mkrtchian’s
having been appointed the Minister of Education and Science by the
RA President’s May 17 decree. NA Deputy Speaker, ARF Bureau member
Vahan Hovhannisian, responding journalists’ questions, informed that
the deputy’s vacant place, in most probability, will be occupied by
Gegham Manukian, the head of the information and political programs
of the “Yerkir-Media” TV company, who is the regular next candidate
of the proportional list of the party. According to V.Hovhannisian,
the issue of election of the new head of the parliamentary faction
is also in process at present. Present Secretary of the faction Hrayr
Karapetian is one of possible candidates. Responding the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question, Vahan Hovhannisian said that the ARF does
not pretend at present on posts of the chairmen of the parliamentary
standing committees to remain vacant soon, “though it has a candidate
for any post.” As for undertaking new posts as a result of the last
re-arrangements in the executive power, then the ARF “is ready for
that responsibility, both in the sense of staff and experience, and
resoluteness.” According to Vahan Hovhannisian, it is most probable
that the ARF will undertake new posts in a number of circles of the
executive power, but it is not spoken about new ministerial portfolios.

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: FRANCE TO TOUCH UPON POSTPONED DRAFT SOONER OR LATER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Sooner or later,
France, as the leader of Europe, will again touch upon that issue,
and we’ll have success this time.” Vahan Hovhannisian, the NA Deputy
Speaker, an ARF Bureau member said to journalists on May 19, touching
upon the postponing of the votion at the French NA the previous day
for the draft envisaging criminal liability for denying the Armenian
Genocide. According to him, clashes of interests are understandable,
including the one that big financial and economic circles which are
interested in Turkey influence on the Government. “But there are other
circles as well, and they will become active now,” V.Hovhannisian
assured.
According to him, the blackmail implemented by Turkey is not surpising,
either, as during the last 250 years it “has been Turkey’s main way
of leading policy.” He also emphasized that Turkey’s reaction in
the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide proves that the
foreign policy being implemented by Armenia is becoming effective,
and that the taken course is right.

ACCORDING TO ARAM KARAPETIAN, INNER-POLITICAL CRISIS OF ARMENIA RULED OVER BY AUTHORITIES
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. A state of ruled over crisis has
been created in Armenia. Aram Karapetian, the Chairman of the “Nor
Zhamanakner” (New Times) party expressed such an opinion at the May
19 meeting taken place at the National Press Club. According to him,
the “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party’s and its head Artur
Baghdasarian’s actions are ruled over by the authorities. According to
Karapetian, on the one hand, the OYK actions are provided by the French
factor, on the other hand, by country President Robert Kocharian’s and
OYK Chairman Artur Baghdasarian’s mutual relations. In his opinion,
Baghdasarian has had rather good relations with Kocharian, due to
what he became the NA Speaker then: “I do not think that all those
were forgotten, and Artur Baghdasarian is so opposing that may act
in some way without agreeing.”
According to the opposing figure, all these are connected with the
expected geo-political developments. Suppose, if a necessity arises to
gain time connected with the Karabakh issue, in the case of a rulable
crisis, it is possible to dissolute the Parliament at any moment,
to hold new parliamentary elections and to state that a critical
situation is created in the country. In Aram Karapetian’s opinion,
one of the goals of the ruled over crisis is to create a parliamentary
crisis. According to him, either special parliamentary or special
presidential elections will be in Armenia. He mentioned that connected
with the Iran issue, the Karabakh problem, processes taking place in
Georgia, Armenia will appear in a state when force majeurs may become
basis for a serious process. In Karapetian’s opinion, the one, that,
according to him, the President had not to leave the country to avoid
any compulsion connected with the Karabakh settlement, speaks about the
fact that Armenia has no role today in the geo-political field. In the
opinion of the “Nor Zhamanakner” Chairman, in the created situation,
any action of the authorities, either it is a special parliamentary
or a special presidential election, or any mistake made while rulling
over the crisis, may result a big revolutionary wave.

NATO SECRETARY’S GENERAL SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA ARRIVES IN ARMENIA ON MAY 22
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Robert Simmons, the
NATO Secretary’s General Special Representative to South Caucasus and
Central Asia arrives in Armenia on May 22. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, during
the two days working visit, R.Simmons will meet with RA President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, NA Deputy Speaker
Tigran Torosian and other high-ranking officials. R.Simmons’ meeting
with RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian will take place on
early May 22. RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian’s and NATO
Sectetary’s General Special Representative’s joint press conference
will take place on late May 23.

59 ISSUES, 16 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS INVOLVED IN DRAFT AGENDA OF FORTHCOMING NA FOUR-DAYS SITTINGS
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Drafts to the decision on making
additions to the agenda of the 7th session of the 3rd convention
of the RA National Assembly and to the agenda of the May 22-25 NA
four-days sittings were discussed at the May 19 working consultation
which was presided by Tigran Torosian, the Deputy Speaker of the
Parliament. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations
Department, 11 draft laws were involved in the part of additions of the
agenda of the seventh session of the NA third convention. 59 issues,
16 international agreements were involved in the draft agenda of the
coming four-days sittings of the Parliament. The draft to the decision
on making additions to the agenda of the seventh session of the third
convention of the National Assembly and the draft agenda of the May
22-25 NA four-days sittings will be affirmed at the May 22 sitting
of the Parliament.

PRODUCTION OF 23 INCOMPLETED FILMS FINISHED AT HAYFILM AND HAYK FILM STUDIOS IN 2005
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Production of 23 out of the 29 films
made at Hayfilm and Hayk state film studios in 2001-2005 was finished
in 2005. The production of the remaining 6 incompleted films is in
progress at Hayfilm, and it is envisaged to complete this process
this year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the
total production cost of the completed films makes 381.4 mln drams
(abouit 854 thousand USD). 65.9% of the total production costs or
251.3 mln drams was incurred in 2005. The revenues of the above
mentioned film studios in 2005 amounted to 552.4 mln drams, 480.2
mln drams of which was received from the RA state budget. The total
financial expenditures of the two film studios made 551.1 mln drams.

ARMENIA PARTICIPATING IN “EUROVISION-2006” FOR FIRST TIME TAKES 8TH PLACE
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Lordi” rock group from Finland was
recognized the winner at the final stage of the “Eurovision-2006”
song festival taken place in Athens on May 20. Armenia which was
participating in the competition for the first time, took the honorary
8th place as a result of the votion of spectators of 38 countries. And
this means that the representative of our country gets a possibility to
participate in the final stage of the next, “Eurovision-2007” festival,
without participating in the semi-final. Andre’s “Without Your Love”
song was given the highest, 12 points, by Belgium, Russia each, 10
points by Holland, France, Greece, Turkey each, 8 points by Ukraine,
Belarus, Spain, Israel, Bulgaria each. 7 points were given to Armenia
by Cyprus and Moldova, 5 points by Poland, 3 points by Germany, 2
points by Lithuania, 1 point was given by Romania. Representative of
Russia Dima Bilan took the 2nd place at the festival, representative
of Bosnia and Herzegovina Hari Mata Hari took the 3rd place.

GAS CONSUMPTION DECLINES IN ENERGY SECTOR AND INDUSTRY
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first quarter of 2006, 508.7 mln
cubic meters of natural gas was sold in Armenia, or by 22.72 mln cubic
meters less than in the same period of last year. The gas consumption
by the population grew by 39.43 mln c.m. on the first quarter of 2005,
while gas consumption in the energy sector and industry declined by
66.38 mln c.m. and 11.56 mln c.m.
Director General of ArmRusgazprom company Karen Karapetian
stated this at the May 22 round table at the Clib of Economic
Journalists. According to him, the gas payment collection for last
year made up 105% or 26.2 bln drams (about 59 mln USD), with 10.4 bln
drams of this sum being transferred to the state budget, and 5.8 bln
drams – allocated for operational costs. 8.7 bln drams was invested
in the system last year: for extension of the distribution network,
increasing the number of users, etc. Approximately the same amount
will be invested this year. It was noted that over the last three
years, about 60 mln USD has been invested in ArmRusgazprom’s system.

1.2 BLN DRAMS TO BE INVESTED IN ABOVIAN GAS DEPOT THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. This year it is envisaged to invest 1.2
bln drams (about 2.7 mln USD) in the Abovian gas depot. This sum will
be used to restore the design completeness of three gas holes and to
construct a saline water pipe and saline water depository. Director
General of ArmRusgazprom company Karen Karapetian stated during the
May 22 round table that this invsetment will allow to store 110 mln
cubic meters of gas in 2006-2007 instead of the current amount of 95
mln cubic meters. In the past five years, investments in the gas depot
have amounted to 1.8 bln drams. K. Karapetian said that by the design
capacities, it is possible to store 200-215 mln cubic meters of gas
in the depot. According to him, the company has developed a program
of reconstruction and modernization of the Abovian gas depot that
envisages investments of 25-30 mln USD. However, as the company’s
director general noted, these funds will be invested only if other
regional countries take interest in the use of the gas depot.

INTENSIVE PROCESS OF GAS SUPPLY RESTORATION TO BE COMPLETED IN ARMENIA BY LATE 2006
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. As of January 1, 2006, the number of
actual users of ArmRusgazprom company made 531,853 against 485,585
users in the Soviet time. ArmRusgazprom’s Director General Karen
Karapetian said during the May 22 round table that 41 cities and 376
rural communities of Armenia have been provided with gas supply. It
is planned to provide Davidashen and Nor Nork communities of Yerevan
(where there was no gas supply network previously) with gas supply in
June-July. K. Karapetian said that gas supply provision work of 899.3
mln drams (about 2 mln USD) was done in the first quarter of this
year, as a result of which the number of actual users has increased
by another 11,624, while that of possible users – by 5,100. It was
noted that the intensive stage of gas supply restoration process will
be completed in Armenia by 2007. The company has launched a move,
under which those to submit an application for gas supply provision
in the period from April 1 to August 1 may become ArmRusgazprom’s
users without making a prepayment of 40,000 drams. According to
K. Karapetian, under agreements signed with Converse Bank and Anelik
Bank, credits will be given to citizens to carry out in-house assembly
work. The credist are repayable over a year and carry interest rates
of 18-22%. The in-house work is done by ArmRusgazprom only.
From: Baghdasarian