50 TOURISTS FROM FRENCH CITY OF VALENCE VISIT IJEVAN EVERY YEAR
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 2000, about 50 tourists
from the French city of Valence visit Ijevan every year. Mayor
of Ijevan Varizhan Nersisian stated this during the May 18
press conference. According to him, Ijevan and Valence have been
sister-cities for 10 years. With the assistance of the Valence mayor’s
office, since 2000, French experts in tourism have been invited to
Ijevan under the program on cooperation between the two cities in
the tourism sector. On their advice, about 70 apartments have been
repaired and furnished in Ijevan, as the city lacks the appropriate
hotels to accomodate a large number of tourists. V. Nersisian said
that thanks to the assistance of the Valence mayor’s office, French
teachers from Ijevan underwent training in France, as well as some
young people from Ijevan – students of Yerevan Linguistic University
after V. Bryusov were provided the opportunity to attend courses for
transaltors and tour guides in France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ASSIGNS ARARAT REGIONAL GOVERNOR TO ASSIST PEASANTS WHO SUFFERED AS RESULT OF FLOODS
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to state assistance
for elimination of the consequences of sping floods in Ararat marz
were discussed during the May 18 working meeting of the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian and the regional governor of Ararat marz
Alik Sargsian. The President gave the regional governor assignments
on providing assistance to the peasants – owners of land plots and
gardens damaged by floods and continuous rains. According to the RA
President’s press service, the current work on the social, economic,
health, cultural and educational programs to be implemented in the
marz this year were discussed at the meeting.

A COMPARATIVE NOTE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIES OF THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
By M. Alkhazashvili
Translated by Tiko Giorgadze and Diana Dundua
The Messenger, Georgia
May 18 2006
The countries of the South Caucasus countries can be distinguished
by their high rate of economy growth. In 2005 the Azerbaijani economy
grew 26.4 percent – the highest rate of all CIS countries, although it
should also be considered that in Azerbaijan the oil sector accounts
for 41.3 percent of the country’s GDP.
According to Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Artur Rasizade without the
oil sector then the per capita GDP, which is currently estimated at
USD 4,700, would drop to USD 900. Furthermore, an important part of
the country’s oil revenues are in the hands of foreign investors.
In Georgia, economic growth was 9.3 percent last year, with an
inflation rate of 6.2 percent. Georgia’s economic growth was primarily
a result of the service and construction spheres. The construction of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Erzurum gas pipelines were important
factors in the country’s economic growth.
In 2005 Armenian economic growth, with the help of a negative inflation
rate of – 0.2 percent, totaled 13.9 percent. The Armenian economy is
not dominated by any single sector and therefore its economic growth
comes from several areas – industry, construction, agriculture and
the service industry.
The situation in the taxation-budgetary spheres is practically the
same in all three South Caucasus countries and all three countries
are working to increase their tax accumulation levels.
In 2005 Georgia introduced its new Tax Code which contained
liberal taxation tariffs. As a result of this reform the taxation
administration has been significantly improved.
Azerbaijan’s state budget is mainly filled by the revenues received
from selling oil and oil products. But in Georgia almost half of
the state budget revenues (47 percent) came from the collection of
transport taxes.
In 2004-2005 the character of both Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s state
budget policies was similar in that the increase of budgetary sources
was targeted at defense and the state capital investment field.
In 2005 Georgia significantly increased the financing of its defense
sphere. Georgia has allotted almost USD 325 million for staffing its
military and modernizing its army’s equipment. This sum totaled 0.6
percent of the GPD.
Azerbaijan’s defense expenses in 2006 are set to total USD 650
million – four times more than the sum allotted by Armenia for its
own state defense.
The top two imports and exports for the three South Caucasian countries
are as follows:
Imports Exports
Armenia Diamonds, precious stones 19.7%, Gas 14.6% Jewels,
semi-precious stones, precious metals 35.4%, Metals 33.2%
Georgia Oil & oil products 13.5 %, Vehicles 7.2% Scrap metal 19.1%,
Wine 9.2%
Azerbaijan Machinery and technical equipment 18.7%, Iron 17.4% Oil
86.5%, Iron 1.01%.

ARMAVIA ACQUIRES NEW A-319 PLANE
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 18, the airline Armavia
acquired a A-319 plane of the Airbus company on leasing. The plane
was manufactured in late 2004, in the French city of Toulouse,
and was operated for a year – from 2004 to December 2005 by the
CIT company (U.S). According to Armavia’s press release, prior to
being sent to Armenia, the plane underwent technical servicing in
Mexico. This 134-seat plane has 8 business class seats and 126 econom
class ones. Armavia has an A-320 plane, two A-319 and a YAK-42. The
company is conducting negotiations on acquiring on leasing a
70-75 seat CRG plane of U.S. production. According to the press
release, all medium-term and long-term projects of Armavia are in
force. Particularly, work is underway to open Yerevan-New York-Los
Angeles and Yerevan-Milan flights.

VIDEO FEATURES LOCAL WORLD WAR II VETS
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
May 18 2006
The new documentary, “Our Boys: Armenian World War II Veterans,” will
be shown in a special program on Thursday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at
the Armenian Library and Museum of America, 65 Main St., Watertown.
In 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, Tom Spera,
the son of a veteran of the war, was determined to find a way to
honor Armenian-American soldiers who had served their country. He
collaborated with filmmaker Roger Hagopian to produce the “Our Boys”
video, featuring oral histories interspersed with personal and
historical photographs from the wartime period.
The film’s interviewees attend the Armenian Memorial Church in
Watertown and the First Armenian Church of Belmont. These men –
some barely out of high school at the time – reflect upon the
bombing of Pearl Harbor, their induction into the service, their
harrowing journeys aboard troop transport ships through rough seas,
correspondence with their families back home, poignant and humorous
moments, and near-death experiences during combat.
Life on the home front is recalled by the wives and relatives of
the veterans. They worked for the armed services and in factories,
served as air raid wardens and plane spotters, comforted the wounded
in hospitals, and, in groups, attended USO dances, meeting soldiers
who, at a moment’s notice, could be shipped out to war.
Filmmakers Hagopian and Spera will be on hand to answer questions
and discuss the making of the video, which runs for approximately
55 minutes.
Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). There will be
a question and answer period and reception with refreshments following
the video.
The Armenian Library and Museum is located in Watertown Square at
the corner of Main Street and Church Street. Parking is available
behind the museum building and in adjacent areas. The event will
begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.
The program will take place through the cooperation of ALMA and
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research in
Belmont. For more information, contact NAASR at 617-489-1610, or
e-mail [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IJEVAN BORDERS TO EXTEND
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The new administrative borders of Ijevan
to include a 2,600-ha area instead of the current area of 260 ha will
be approved soon by the Armenian government. Mayor of Ijevan Varuzhan
Nersisian stated this at the May 18 press conference. He said that a
new master plan of Ijevan has been developed. In his words, approval
of this document will be conducive to an increase in tax revenues
of Ijevan by creating preconditions for speeding up the process of
alienation of the community lands. It was noted the Ijevan own revenues
programs have been executed since 2000: this year, the own revenues
program amounted to 42 mln drams against 33 mln drams last year.
According to the mayor, only 5 years ago Ijevan’s budget (own revenues
and state subsidies) made 17 mln drams, while in 2006, the budget
makes 162 mln drams (about 360 thousand USD). According to the mayor,
Ijevan currently has a population of 21 thousand.

VARUZHAN KARAPETIAN RUNS HIS BUSINESS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
NOYEMBERIAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Varuzhan Karapetion, who was released
from a French prison after spending there 20 years for killing the
Turkish consul in 1983, is currently running a business in Armenia. NT
correspendent was informed at the Tavush regional administration that
V. Karapetian signed a contract with the regional administration on
leasing 60 ha of land outside the administrative borders of communities
for a 25-year period. These areas are meadows and pastures adjacent
to the car tunnel of the city of Dilijan.
According to informed sources, V. Karapetian also owns a car enterprise
that services the Ijevan-Yerevan microbus route.

ARTASHAT TILE FACTORY TURNS OUT 4-5 THOUSAND SQUARE METRES PRODUCTION MONTHLY
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
ARTASHAT, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Production turned out by the Artashat
tile factory has enjoyed wide demand for 6 years continuously both in
Armenia and in some foreign countries. Raw material of tile is brought
from the village of Lanjazat, the marz of Ararat, then after having
been reprocessed for 5-10 days, it becomes a ready material. Besides,
as much clay becomes older as production is of better quality. As
the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the factory, tile of
4-5 thousand square meters is turned out every month.
Already for five years builders of the “Vahagni” district, the “Ararat
Shin” trust, “Jrashkharh” (Waterland), different building organizations
and individuals are regular clients of the factory. Frenchmen as well
gave a high estimate to Artashat tile. As a result of the friendship
created between the city of Clamar and Artashat, the center of the
Ararart marz, Frenchmen visited the factory many times, bought,
according to them, production corresponding to European standards.

M.F.A.: WE EXPECT FRANCE NOT TO ALLOW ANY INITIATIVES THAT WILL HARM OUR HISTORICAL RELATIONS
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 18 2006
ANKARA – “We expect the French parliament to reject the draft law
envisaging punishment of those who deny so-called Armenian genocide,”
said Namik Tan, spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
on Wednesday.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Tan said, “we expect France
not to allow any initiatives that will harm our historical relations.
We welcome that the French government and people share the same views
with us.”
The French parliament will debate the draft law tomorrow.

DISCUSSION OF ARMENIAN BILL POSTPONED AT FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
PARIS, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The discussion of the bill criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide planned for the May 18 session of
French National Assembly was postponed due to lack of quorum. According
to Noyan Tapan’s reliable sources, the Armenian bill will not be
included in the agenda of French National Assembly until October
2006. Speaking at the parliament Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Foreign
Minister, declared that the issue of the Armenian Genocide “should be
left to the historians” and Turkey should itself establish peace with
its own history. To recap, the author of the bill criminalizing the
denial of the Armenian Genocide is the opposition Socialist Party at
the French parliament. According to the bill, minimum imprisonment
of 1 year and a fine amounting to 57 thousand USD is set for those
denying the fact of the Armenian Genocide.