ANOTHER SCUFFLE IN TSALKA

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[09:17 pm] 27 April, 2006

In the Greek village Edikilisia a scuffle was initiated by Armenians
and Greeks on the one hand and by Svans on the other hand. The scuffle
was motivated by the toasts of Armenians and Greeks drunk to their
nations which wasn’t approved by Svans.

The special groups of the Georgian Interior Ministry and National
Security Service meddled with their brawl, and mainly Armenians and
Greeks suffered as a result of this interferance.

According to the agency “A-INFO” only the mediation of the Georgian
Parliament deputy could abate their rage.

The situation is stable in Tsalka after that incident.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIVERS FLOOD IN ARMENIA

Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Heavy showers of the recent few days have
exceeded the monthly average sediment in Armenia. In fact, several
rivers flooded, Armenian Rescue Service press-center told ArmInfo.

The Rivers of Tsits Kar and Galou, Aragatsotn region, flooded on
April 25 damaging the riverside agricultural lands. The bridges
linking the town of Aparan to the villages of Lusagyugh and Saralanj
were flooded as well. Representatives of the Town Planning and Road
Building Department of Aragatsotn Regional Administration and rescuers
arrived at the place of the flood. The River Arpa flooded the riverside
territories. Heavy hail damaged the gardens and other plants in the
village of Chiva. The damage caused is currently estimated.

EXACERBATION OF IRAN-USA RELATIONS CAN INFLUENCE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Stepanakert, April 26. ArmInfo. Exacerbation of Iran-USA relations
can affect the situation in South Caucasus region and influence
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said in an interview to ArmInfo
correspondent David Babayan, political scientist from Karabakh.

According to Mr. Babayan, the Azeris are especially in the Iran-USA
relations. Azerbaijan is standing for political resolution of the
of the controversies on one hand and on the other Azerbaijan is
afraid of Iran’s military attack in case war starts and Azerbaijan
becomes the ally of the USA. The political scientist added that in
some sense Azeri authorities are interested in the exacerbation of
the situation in Iran, aiming to unite the so-called ‘Southern’ and
‘Northern’ Azerbaijan with the help of America. Taking an active part
in the campaign against Iran on the USA’s side, Azerbaijan longs to
obtain the sympathies of the West and settle the Karabakh conflict
to its own benefit.

“RUSSIA FOR RUSSIANS!” SLOGAN WILL RUIN RUSSIA

Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. A number of Russian politicians, public
figures and sportsmen from the Union of Civil Resistance to Fascism
have asked the Public Prosecutor of Russia to give a legal assessment
of the growing xenophobia in the country.

Russian TV reports them to urge the Public Prosecutor to take measures
against the authors of the slogan “Russia for Russians!”

The chairwoman of the commission on information policy of the Russia’s
Federation Council Lyudmila Narusova says that the slogan “Russia
for Russians!” is not only non-constructive but also criminal and is
leading multinational and multi-religious Russia to collapse.

“Hence, we are asking you to give a legal assessment of this slogan
and to take measures against those propagating it,” she says.

PHOTO EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN TURKEY AND NAKHIJEVAN OPENS IN WASHINGTON

Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. The photo exhibition of the Armenian
cultural monuments in Turkey and Nakhijevan was held at the
Armenian Embassy to USA, on April 24. The Armenian Organization for
Architectural Researches initiated the photo-exhibition. The Press
Service of RA Foreign Ministry informed ArmInfo about this.

The photo exhibition is aimed to show the world that the Armenian
historical-cultural monuments are being consistently ruined one after
another. Holding speech at the opening ceremony, Tatoul Margarian,
RA Ambassador to USA, highly estimated the research works of the
Armenian historical monuments out of Armenia. He added that the issue
of the monuments’ preservation is a very actual one. In particular,
he pointed out the destruction of the Armenian Middle Age grave yard
in Old Jugha,(Nakhijevan. The exhibition will be on for 10 days. The
representatives of the Armenian Diaspora and many American political
figures have already visited the exhbition.

PRICES FOR INTERNET SERVICES TO FALL BY 10-15% ON AVERAGE FROM MAY 1 IN ARMENIA: FORECAST

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006

YEREVAN, April 27. /ARKA/. Prices for internet services will fall
approximately by 10-15 on average, the technical director of “Arminco”
company Grigory Sagiyan reported.

According to him, it is due to the price-cutting on average by 25%
made by “ArmenTel” Telecommunication Company for internet services on
15 April. “The prices decreased by 29% for large customers of internet
services, by 20% for medium customers, and by 10% for small customers,”
he said.

ArmenTel Telecommunication Company confirmed the information about the
price-cutting on average by 25%. They pointed out that this decision
was made in keeping with ArmenTel’s commercial policy.

GEORGIA IS OBLIGED NOT TO SELL ROAD GAS PIPELINE FOR 5 YEARS

AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006

According to Georgia Millennium Challenge Fund, Georgia is not
allowed to sell the road pipeline for five years. Georgia undertook
this commitment, when receiving financial sources within the
framework of Millennium Challenges Corporation. The Corporation will
allocate $295 million envisaged for four projects. Particularly,
the financial sources are allocated for the construction of
Akhaltskhe-Akhalkalaki-Ninotsminda road, for the reconstruction of the
country’s road gas pipeline and for restoration of its energy system,
for development of infrastructures and agriculture.

It’s noteworthy that in case of selling the road gas pipeline, the
Russian Gazprom is likely to purchase that. Yet, the US authorities
are obviously against this deal. This position may be the most probable
reason for Georgia to undertake the abovementioned commitment.

POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTIONS IN IRAN WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE SITUATION IN ARMENIA

Yerevan, April 27. ArmInfo. Possible military operation against
Iran will directly affect the situation in Armenia and have negative
influence on all the South Caucasus region, said on a press conference
at the ‘Mirror’ club ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party Bureau member Kiro Manoyan.

Speaking about Turkey’s position in case of a war against Iran,
Mr. Manoyan expressed an opinion that Ankara will stay aside of the
military actions, as it did with Iraq.

In his return Armenian National Movement party member Aram Karapetian
added that Moscow will cease supporting Iran if a war is unleashed. In
that case the situation around Armenia will become hopeless.

LEADER OF NEW TIMES PARTY BELIEVES AUTHORITIES TO BE “IN POLITICAL AGONY”

Yerevan, April 27. ArmInfo. “The acts by the National Security Service
officers with respect to my personal guard and the driver testifies
to the ‘political agony of the authorities,'” Leader of “New Times”
party, political expert Aram Karapetyan said at the discussion club
“Pastark,” Thursday.

Commenting on April 21 detention of his guard and the driver suspected
in illegal possession of arms by the National Security Service
officers, A. Karapetyan said “the officers of the elite subdivision
“Alfa” carried out so poor detention, how they will operate in case
of a real danger”? Moreover, the detained gas pistols have not been
returned so far despite the promises to do it the other day, Karapetyan
said. He expressed regret that the NSS involved a woman-teacher into
the list of its agents. In his words, the alarm about the weapons of
his guard was received just from school.

He believes the involvement of force and elite structures into
political processes inadmissible. It was practiced in backward
and authoritarian states, he said. Probably, the authorities feel
the strengthening external pressure on them in connection with
Karabakh conflict and the developments around Iran and try to show
the world “who is the master of the house.” Armenia has only one
way out. That is, to gain time, which requires a change of power
and a close cooperation with Russia by formation of a Confederative
Union. As regards the party “New Times,” it will organize a rally
and a procession to the Police building demanding the law-enforcement
bodies to stop interfering into political processes, Karapetyan said.

ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS COUNCIL OF JAVAKHK TO HAVE FEW REPRESENTATIVES IN COUNCIL ATTACHED TO GEORGIAN OMBUDSMAN

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Public Organizations’ Council of Samtskhe-Javakhk addressed to the
National Minorities’ Council attached to the Georgian Ombudsman with a
proposal of membership. According to the “A-Info” agency, the Council
made such a decision arising of the principles of the National
Minorities’ Council’s Declaration. According to the preliminary
agreement and arising of the circumstance of having more than 20
public organizations in its staff, the Samthskhe-Javakhk Armenian
Public Organizations’ Council will have few representatives in the
National Minorities’ Council attached to the Georgian Ombudsman.