TURK CHAIRMAN OF NATO PA SUBCOMMITTEE ATTEMPTS TO REFUSE FACT OF GENOCIDE AT MEETING WITH RA NA SPEAKER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA NA Speaker Tigran
Torosian received on June 13 members of joint delegations of the
Future Security and Defence Capabilies Subcommittee of the Defence
and Security Committee and the Democratic Management Subcommittee of
the Security Civil Measurement Committee of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly.
The NA Speaker mentioned that Armenia’s relations with the NATO develop
dinamically and expressed satisfaction with their level. It was also
mentioned that within that framework the Individual Partnership Actions
Plan has an exclusive meaning. Tigran Torosian considered the state of
Armenia’s associated member to the NATO PA as an important stimulus
for deepening relations, attaching importance to the issue that
those relations develop not only in the defence direction but also
in the directions of making the legislation going with democratic,
political and European standards. The Parliament Speaker separated
this period in life of Armenia as time of preparing for the 2007 and
2008 state elections and making the legislation corresponding to the
constitutional amendments. Then Tigran Torosian answered questions
of the delegations members that relate both to relations of NATO and
Armenia, and to works of region and National Assembly.
Vahit Erdem, the Chairman of the Future Security and Defence
Capabilities Subcommittee mentioned about their mission that the
problem is review of Armenia and NATO relations, taking into account
that as a result of geopolitical changes, the NATO was also changed
and turned into a structure of defending peace in the world which is
open for any country. Representative of Great Britain Frank Cook will
prepare the regional report.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
Erdem was interested in how Armenia prepares for the elections. NA
Speaker Tigran Torosian presented in details that the Parliament is
today engaged in reforms of the Electoral Code, the Venice Commission
experts’ opinion has already been got, after discussions of which and
agreeing with the political forces at the autumn session, the National
Assembly will already receive the Electoral Code. He also mentioned
that some principles are being experimented for to be defined and
improved in action. For holding elections corresponding to democratic
standards, the NA Speaker attached importance to creation of beneficial
moral-psychological atmosphere and cooperation of all parties.
Vitalino Canas, the representative of Portugal was interested if
Armenia, considering membership to the European Union as its’ foreign
political supremacy, is not going to join the NATO either. Tigran
Torosian reminded that there are EU member countries which are not
NATO members, and it is a normal phenomenon. He re-affirmed that
membership to the European Union is supremacy of foreign policy of
Armenia, and all steps are undertaken in the direction of Armenia’s
membership to the EU, and Armenia has made no statement about its
intention to join the NATO, and it said that it is successive on the
way of deepening relations, what is being done.
Chetin Kazak, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Democratic
Management, the representative of Bulgaria was interested in relations
of Armenia with two neighbors. The NA Speaker mentioned that Armenia
has stated many times that he is for normal relations with neighbors,
without proposing pre-conditions, and finds that contacts, discussions,
an open dialogue are necessary for establishing relations. Some
steps have already been taken at the PACE and within the framework
of the South Caucasian Parliamentary Initiative, and Tigran Torosian
expressed a hope that neighbors as well will have readiness to take
steps forward.
Speaking about the report being prepared, Tigran Torosian mentioned
a number of principles that needs improvement: it was particularly
mentioned in the report that Armenia’s “international symphathizers”
consider that a genocide took place, when it’s necessary to mention
the EU member countries and the Europarliament which recognized the
Genocide. In response, representative of Turkey Vahit Erdem refused
the fact of the Genocide: according to his insistence, neither 1915
Armenian Genocide took place nor there was a state order to kill
Armenians, and it may be spoken just about 400-500 thousand people who
themselves attacked Turks by Russians’ instigation. Tigran Torosian
interrupted Turk deputy’s “history lecture” and calling on him to be
proper, considered incompatible such a behaviour with the post occupied
within the framework of the international organization. Tigran Torosian
reminded Vahid Erdem that he has no right to give estimations either to
Genocide or to Europarliament or to countries recognized the Genocide.

AGREEMENT ON DEVELOPMENT CREDIT BETWEEN REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION RATIFIED
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on June 14
ratified the agreement on development credit, which was signed between
the Republic of Armenia and the Internatioanl Development Association
(IDA) on April 7, 2006. The IDA will allocate for Armenia a credit
equivalent to 3.5 mln SDR for the purpose of implementing the renewable
energy program in the country. The credit is repayable over 40 years.

NATIONAL UNITY FACTION’S INITIATIVE TO CONVENE SPECIAL SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FAILS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The NA National Unity faction’s
initiative to convene a special session of the National Assembly
with the aim of setting up an ad hoc commission failed. The task
of the commission would be to examine losses incurred by the local
producers and population as a result of the unfounded appreciation of
the Armenian dram in 2005-2006. By the end of the signature collection
deadline – June 14, 1:20 pm, only 26 deputies joined the initiative,
whereas the signatures of at least 44 deputies are required in order
to convene a session. According to the faction member Aghasi Arshakian,
7 deputies from the National Unity faction, 8 from the Justice faction,
5 from the Orinats Yerkir Party, 3 independent deputies and 3 from
the People’s Deputy group joined the initiative.

ANPP’S OPERATION TO BE DISCONTINUED FROM OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 15 FOR REFUELING
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The operation of the second power unit
of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) will be discontinued from
October 1 for 45 days for the purpose of regular refueling and repair,
the nuclear plant’s director Gagik Markosian told NT correspondent.
To recap, the RAO UES company, which has assumed the ANPP’s management
since 2003 for a 5-year period, imports nuclear fuel.

BILATERAL MEETINGS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF IMF DUTCH GROUP MEMBER STATES TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN ON JUNE 18
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Parliamentary hearings on cooperation
between Armenia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will
be held in the RA National Assembly on June 16. During the event,
representatives of the IMF, the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy and
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) will make speeches. Olga Stankova,
of the IMF Foreign Relations Department, stated this during a seminar
“The Role of IMF in Transitional Economies” on June 14.
According to her, IMF’s delegation will meet with the RA President,
government members and the Armenian Governor to IMF on June 17. On
June 18, bilateral meetings of representatives of the IMF Dutch Group
members states (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Armenia, Israel, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania,
Ukraine) will take place to discuss issues related to mutual trade,
tax regimes and obligations towards each other.
To recap, Armenia joined the IMF in May 1992, the country’s quota
in the IMF currently makes 92 mln SDR (about 135 mln USD) or 0.04%
of the overall quota. Armenia’s right of vote is 1.17 votes or 0.05%
of the total number of votes. The total amount of IMF’s credits and
loans to Armenia makes 123 mln 320 thousand SDR.

MEMORIAL-KHACHKAR TO PLANE ACCIDENT VICTIMS ERECTED IN BAGRATASHEN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
IJEVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. A memorial-khachkar (cross-stone) to the
victims of Armavia airline’s A-320 plane crashed on May 3 was erected
on June 13 in the village of Bagratashen, Tavush region. 29-year-old
Armenuhi Kirakosian, a resident of Bagratashen, was also among the
victims. Her corpse was not found. The memorial was erected by her
relatives.

FOREIGN COMPANIES TAKE INTEREST IN ARMENIAN SEISMIC INSULATORS AND THEIR USE TECHNOLOGIES
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Negotiations on sale of rubber-metal
seismic insulators made in Armenia and their use technologies are
underway with companies from the US, Russia, Romania, Italy, Turkey,
Iran, India and Nepal.
Mikael Melkumian, chief expert of the engineering research center of
the American University of Armenia, Chairman of the Armenian Seismic
Resistant Construction Association, stated this at a press conference
on June 13.
According to him, so far Armenia has sold seismic insulators in the
US and Syria. Seismic insulators are produced in many countries, with
each manufacturer having its own technology secrets. M. Melkumian noted
that despite their high quality, the price of Armenian insulators is
lower: a complete set of seismic insulators produced at 4 Armenian
plants costs 550-750 dollars. At the same time, these plants do not
yet intend to transfer their production technologies.

CBA TO EXAMINE IMPACT OF RUBLE-DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS ON AMOUNT OF REMITTANCES FROM RUSSIA
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) is
taking steps for examination of the impact of Russian ruble-US dollar
exhange rate fluctuations on the amount of remittances from Russia to
Armenia. IMF Resident Representative to Armenia James McHugh stated
this on June 14 during a seminar “The Role of IMF in Transitional
Economies” organized by the CBA.
He said that the Armenians currently working in Russia often exhange
their incomes in Russian roubles for dollars and then transfer these
amounts to Armenia. According to him, during surveys, those receiving
remittances from Russia usually do not provide correct information
about the amount of remittances.
It is noteworthy that according to experts, a large share of
remittances of over 1 bln USD that those Armenians received from abroad
in 2005 was from Russia. Remittances have a considerable impact on
Armenian dram – US dollar fluctuations.
J. McHugh noted that based on the data of an IMF’s analysis published
in late 2005, the exchange rate of the dram was undervalued in the
past few years, whereas today there is a tendency to value it higher.

LITTLE POSITIVE MOVEMENT IN OHAN DURIAN’S HEALTH STATE
Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The health state of conductor Ohan
Durian moved to the “Nairi” medical center with heart apoplectic
stroke at night, June 1, is estimated stably grave. As Siranush
Martirosian, the Deputy Chief Doctor of the center informed the Noyan
Tapan correspondent, there is a little positive movement. According to
her, artificial breathing apparatus is still connected to the patient.

RA AMBASSADOR PRESENTS ESSENCE OF POLITICAL REFORMS IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA TO PRESIDENT OF AUSTRIAN NATIONALRAT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 14 2006
VIENNA, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues relating to
the home political situation in Armenia were discussed at the the June
13 meeting of Armenian Ambassador to to Austria Ashot Hovakimian with
President of Austrian Nationalrat Andreas Khol.
Ambassador Hovakimian presented the essence of the political reforms
implemented in the country through constitutional amendments,
the current interrelations between Armenia and its neighboring
countries. The Ambassador expressed bewilderment that Turkey –
a country intending to become a EU member, keeps in a blockade a
country cooperating with EU within the framework of the European
Neighborhood policy.
A.Hovakimian attached importance to the role of Austria in the issue
of further development of EU-Armenia cooperation within the framework
of the European Neighborhood policy.
RA Ambassador also touched upon the issue of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide mentioning that the international community gradually
moves towards this.
A.Khol mentioned that Armenia has a good reputation in the Austrian
public perception, which is partly conditioned by Franz Werfel’s
contribution, as well as the activity of the Mechitarist Congregation
of Vienna.
According to RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
on June 9, RA Ambassador was also received by President of Austrian
Bundesrat Sissy Roth-Halvax. Armenian-Austrian interparliamentary
relations, as well as prospects of establishment of cooperation among
Armenian marzes and Austrian regions were discussed at the meeting.