EBRD to provide US$ 20-21 million for reconstruction of “Zvartnots” airport
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 13:23
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will
provide a credit of US$ 20-21 million for reconstruction of the
international “Zvartnots” airport. The credit will be provided for
the period of seven years.
In 1994 EBRD had provided 17 million for the construction of the
freight terminal in “Zvartnots” airport.

RF Minister of Transport arriving in Armenia
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 15:49
Russian Transport Minister, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Economic Commission Igor Levitin is to arrive in
Armenia on a working visit on July 11. The Transport Minister is
accompanied by Head of the Interstate Aviation Committee Tatyana
Anodina.
During the visit, the Russian delegation is scheduled to meet Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan, Secretary of the Presidential Council of
National Security, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan, as well as other
top officials of the Armenian Government. During the meetings issues
of bilateral cooperation and investigation of the A-320 crash near
Sochi on May 3 are to be discussed, reports IA Regnum.

VARTAN OSKANIAN EVALUATES FRAME AGREEMENT PROPOSED BY OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS
AS ALL-EMBRACING AND BALANCED
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “I do not perceive
the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs as a statement aimed
at ceasing the Minsk process,” RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
declared at the July 11 press conference. As he affirmed, in their
statement the Co-chairs “want to say that the document proposed by them
is a balanced synthesis of everything done over the past two years.”
In the Minister’s opinion, if the sides start to conduct the process on
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in this direction, it
is possible that new opportunities will be created in the negotiations
process.
Vartan Oskanian again confirmed the position of the Armenian
side on the frame agreement proposed by the Co-chairs. “This
is really an all-embracing, balanced document envisaging right
mutual concessions. Of course, it is not ideal for any side, but is
acceptable for all sides that want to solve the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict through a compromise. So, we really want Azerbaijan to
return to reconsideration of this document,” the Armenian Foreign
Minister declared.
According to him, there is no contact with Azerbaijan at present. He
informed that the American Co-chairman is to pay a visit to the region
soon, which will become a reason for establishing some contacts and
planning the next steps. At the same time, he found it difficult to
say, whether the American side will assume the initiative to organize
the next meeting of the Presidents.
As for the developments connected with the EU New Neighborhood program
and, in particular, discussion of the Actions Plan proposed by Armenia,
Vartan Oskanian informed that Finland currently presiding in the
EU expressed interest in the quick solution of issues connected
with the Actions Plan within two months. The Ambassador of Finland
accredited in Armenia will arrive in Yerevan on July 22 for clarifying
a number of issues connected with Armenia’s participation in the New
Neighborhood program.

Lilit Lazarian to participate in an international chess tournament in Krasnokurinsk
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 14:48
Leading Armenian woman chess player, Grand Master Lilit Lazarian
will participate in a celebrated international chess tournament to
start July 21 in Krasnokurinsk, Russia.
Among the participants of the tournament are Katerina Lakhno of
Ukraine, Maya Chiburdanidze of Georgia and Anna Kovalevskaya of Russia.

VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO HOLDING FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
IN ARMENIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to the Electoral Code
and cases of fire in areas near Azerbaijan were the main subjects of
discussion at RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian’s July 10 meeting with
OSCE Yerevan Office Head, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin.
Congratulating Tigran Torosian on the occasion of being elected as
Parliament Speaker, Vladimir Pryakhin expressed OSCE’s readiness
to provide support in the issue of improving the Electoral Code
attaching importance to holding the forthcoming state elections
in correspondence with the democratic standards in the respect of
Armenia’s future development.
NA Speaker stated that discussions will be held in mid-July for the
purpose of clarifying the parliamentary forces’ positions on the
proposals of OSCE and Venice Commission experts around amendments to
the Electoral Code and the final clarifications will be made in August,
after which in October the Electoral Code will be discussed and adopted
by the National Assembly. For holding the elections in accordance with
the democratic principles the Parliament Speaker attached importance
not only to perfection of the legislation, but also to formation of
a favorable atmosphere between the authorities and the opposition
and to working out machanisms of responsibility. T.Torosian attached
importance to OSCE’s assistance in the respect of expert evaluations
and at the level of unbiassed observation mission expressing the hope
that the elections will be held at a new qualitative level.
In connection with the speculations of Azerbaijani propaganda that
started over a month ago, T.Torosian said that Azerbaijanis spread
misinformation in all directions, including the international
structures, about cases of fire in areas adjoining Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan. He reminded that on June 15, the NKR
Foreign Ministry applied to the OSCE Office with an expectation to
conduct the respective observation and to clarify the issue, but
no official response was received for the issue to be considered
concluded. V.Pryakhin promised to convey the NA Speaker’s concern to
his chiefs.
They also touched upon the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen’s statements
and expectations on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement. It was
mentioned that when pursuing the goal to quickly solve the conflict
exact estimations should be given to the conduct of the sides, in
particular, to the bellicose statements and agitation of hatred of
the Azerbaijani side.
In connection with the possibility of Saint Petersburg meeting
between the two countries’ Presidents T.Torosian said that the
meetings will not give anything new henceforth, as far as there are
no mechanisms that will enable to clarify who declined the agreement
reached beforehand.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from NA Public Relations Department,
issues relating to NA staff within the framework of OSCE programs
were also discussed at the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IGOR LEVITIN ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Igor Levitin, RF Transport Minister,
Co-chairman of Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission, will
arrive in Armenia on a working visit on July 11. NT was informed
about it by Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, Spokesperson for RA Defence
Minister.
According to the Regnum agency, Head of the Interstate Aviation
Committee Tatyana Anodina will also arrive with Igor Levitin.
During the visit the delegation will have meetings with RA President
Robert Kocharian, RA Defence Minister, Secretary of the National
Security Council under RA President, Serge Sargsian and other
high-ranking officials. Issues relating to bilateral relations, as
well as the investigation of the accident of Armavia airline’s A-320
plane will be discussed at the meetings.

ARMENIAN KAREN ANDREASIAN AMONG VICTIMS OF IRKUTSK PLANE ACCIDENT
IRKUTSK, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The name of RF citizen
Karen Andreasian is also on the list of the victims of the accident
A-310 plane of Russian Sibir airline carrying out Moscow-Irkutsk flight
on Sunday. Vladimir Karapetian, Spokesperson of RA Foreign Ministry,
informed radio Liberty about this.

Vardan Oskanyan: Armenia and Azerbaijan not holding consultations to bring
positions closer
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 16:46
“Currently Yerevan and Baku are not holding any consultations for
bringing close the positions of the parties on the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict,” RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan declared
today during the joint press conference with the Lebanse Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.
RA Foreign Minister did not rile out that the expected visit of the
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza to the region could
bring forward some vividness in the peace process.
“It’s difficult to say, however, whether the American side will come
forth with a new initiative,” Vardan Oskanyan said.
“WE have declared a number of times that we consider the mediators’
suggestions acceptable. The document is not ideal, but it includes a
correct combination of concessions. We continue to hope that Azerbaijan
will return to the negotiations table to discuss this suggestion of
the mediators,” RA Foreign Minister declared.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: TURKEY’S APPLICATION UNDER SCRUTINY
BRUSSELS, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On Wednesday, July
12th, the European Parliament’s Committee for Foreign Affairs will vote
on a draft resolution on “Turkey’s progress toward accession,” but not
until it considers some 343 amendments submitted to the report prepared
by Mr Camiel Eurlings (Conservative, the Netherlands), reported the
European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).
While Mr. Eurlings’ report made only vague references to Armenian
concerns, the amendments tackle key conserves comprehensively. Many
parliamentarians from the main political parties – including the
Conservative, Socialist, Liberal, and Communist – unanimously call
on Turkey to “withdraw without condition the blockade of Armenia” and
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as “a prerequisite to accession”.
Further, many amendments urge the European Commission and Council to
include the Armenian Genocide as a perquisite in the Revised Accession
Partnership – the roadmap of the negotiation process.
“We hail the initiative of these Members of the European Parliament
whose amendments are going to embed these important issues within the
current negotiation process,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson
of the European Armenian Federation. “We invite their colleagues
from the Foreign Affairs committee to follow this path in adopting
these amendments.”
Overall, the Eurlings report cites Turkey’s numerous breaches of
international law, including the invasion and subsequent occupation
of Cyprus, the Kurdish issue, as well as, the crackdown on minority
rights and freedom of speech.
The report underlines the total absence of progress in 2006. It also
points out that the negotiation process will not automatically lead
to accession, particularly if Turkey refuses to ratify the Ankara
protocol which extends the customs union to all member states,
including Cyprus. Finally, it rebukes the Council, which – according
to the report – harmed the credibility of the negotiations by refusing
the Austrian presidency’s proposal to consider political criteria
throughout the process.
“Twenty years ago, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on ‘a
political solution to the Armenian question’ the findings of which were
considered ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to Turkey’s accession. Twenty
years later, none of these issues has been resolved. Given these
circumstances, the continuation of the negotiations, without dealing
with the root concerns, is a political anomaly which must stop,”
commented Hilda Tchoboian.
“We urge the executive bodies of the European Union to regain their
credibility on these critical issues, by listening to public opinion
and advancing strong, non-negotiable demands with regard to Turkey,
most notably the acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. Otherwise,
each step forward in the accession process of this denialist State
will mean a retreat for Europe, until its fundamental values completely
vanish,” concluded the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: ARMENIAN-IRANIAN ECONOMIC CONTACTS INCLUDE ELEMENTS
OF REGIONAL COOPERATION AS WELL
YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Rather high political level of relations
between Armenia and Iran is built on the centuries-old friendship
between the two peoples, on cultural-historical communities and
mutual respect and confidence. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
declared this on July 11, receiving IRI Minister of Medical Services
and Medicine Kamran Bagheri Lankarani.
A.Margarian expressed gratitude to the Iranian President and
government for their efforts in the issue of providing permanency
in the relations with Armenia. He expressed confidence that the
agreements reached between the Presidents of the two countries will
be fulfilled under extension of cooperation and full-value use of
the potential existing in various spheres. From this point of view
the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the work of the
Intergovernmental Commission.
According to RA Government Press Service, the interlocutors also
touched upon a wide range of issues regarding construction of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, third line of electric conductivity,
construction of a joint HPP on the river Araks, fact of exploitation
of the new repaired sector of Armenia-Iran motorway, building of
wind power plants by Iran in Armenia, the opening of which took place
in 2005.
A.Margarian emphasized that Armenian-Iranian economic contacts
include elements of regional cooperation, as well, so it is possible
to involve other regional countries in these relations. RA Prime
Minister said that during his recent visit to Georgia the authorities
of this country showed interest from point of view of joining
the Armenian-Iranian partnership. A.Margarian also emphasized the
importance of the memorandum on mutual understanding in the sphere
of health protection signed in April 2005 between Armenia and Iran,
which includes a great number of events.