MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION HEAD ARRIVING IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.04.2006 20:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chief Executive Officer of the US Millennium
Challenge Corporation John Danilovich is arriving in Yerevan
today. In the words of Minister of Finance and Economy of Armenia
Vardan Khachatryan, the aim of the visit is to discuss details of the
Millennium Challenge Account in Armenia, acquaint with preparation
works on establishment of the Millennium Challenge Corporation office
in Armenia, planned to be run in June 2006. Within the framework
of the visit projects already implemented in Armenia within the
Millennium Challenge Account and planned programs will be considered,
reports Novosti-Armenia.

To remark, the Compact on providing $235.5 million for 5 years
within the Millennium Challenge Account was signed in Washington by
V. Khachatryan and J. Danilovich on March 27.
From: Baghdasarian

5TH SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO LEAVE FOR KOSOVO IN FIRST DECADE OF MAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.04.2006 21:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 5th shift of Armenian peacekeepers will
leave for Kosovo in the first decade of May, Armenian MOD Head’s
Spokesperson, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. To
remind, the 4th shift of peacekeepers, who numbered 34, left for
Kosovo on October 19, 2005. The 4th shift is distinguished with the
battalion comprising skilled servicemen, who had already visited
Kosovo once. To remind, Armenian peacekeepers located in the zone of
US responsibility. Armenian servicemen mainly protect check-points
and special destination objects.

ARMENIAN SQUARE OPENED IN EVRO NORSE TOWN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.04.2006 21:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 7 a ceremony of opening of the Square of
Armenia was held in Norse Evro town, reports the Press Service
of the Armenian MFA. During the ceremony French Parliament
President Jean-Louis Debre and Armenian Ambassador to France
Edvard Nalbandyan planted an apricot tree brought from Armenia
for the occasion. Addressing the participants of the ceremony,
Jean-Louis Debre spoke of centuries-old traditions of Armenian-French
friendship. Today Armenia-France relations are of fraternal nature,
evidenced by Year of Armenia in France, Jean-Louis Debre said. During
the meeting before the opening ceremony the French Parliament President
and Armenian Ambassador discussed matters relating to Armenian-French
relations today.

“ZAKHARYAN, LEAVE US”

A1+
[02:04 pm] 10 April, 2006

The ex residents of the realization zones of the capital were gathered
today opposite the Yerevan municipality building and demanded
the resignation of the Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakharyan. “He is a
criminal and must be charged: we have proof for this,” says Sedrak
Baghdasaryan, one of the participants of the meeting opposite the
municipality building.

According to Baghdasaryan and Vachagan Hakobyan, another participant
of the meeting, Mr. Zakharyan “squeezes money out of every square
meter of the North Avenue”. The above mentioned citizens claim that
those who construct buildings in the North Avenue “pay the mayor 20
USD for every square meter.” According to them, this is the reason
why skyscrapers are built.

The participants of the meeting quoted several state and Governmental
decisions and the projects by Tamanyan according to which the height
of the buildings around the Opera House must not exceed 20-25 meters.

The ex-dwellers of the realization zone have been struggling for their
rights for the last two years turning to different state structures
and choosing different ways of complaint. Their case is even being
heard in the Constitutional court. They have been waiting for an answer
for the last three weeks, but still in vain. This fact puzzles them.

They comment on the fact quoting the Law, “If they accepted the case,
they must make a decision within ten days. So what’s the matter?” The
only answer they managed to get from the Constitutional Court is that
they must have the opinion of specialists and experts.

The participants of the meeting still pin their hopes on the Court
although they do not exclude the possibility that under the present
authorities even “the fairest court” cannot stand the test.

ARMEN NAZARYAN WON SILVER MEDAL

A1+
[02:17 pm] 10 April, 2006

In the judo world “Super Cup” championship in Moscow Armen Nazaryan
from Hrazdan won silver medal in the 66kg weight category. In this
championship Armenia was also represented by Hambardzum Tonoyan (66kg)
and Hovhannes Davtyan (60kg) who did not win medals.

The Armenian Judo Federation informs that after the Moscow competition
the Armenians sportsmen will prepare for the European Championship
in Tampere.

There will probably be three sportsmen in Finland including Armen
Nazaryan.

SUBBOTNIK ON THE EVE OF EASTER

A1+
[04:01 pm] 10 April, 2006

“What’s the use of the tree planting if young and old trees are
periodically chopped down?” This sort of questions were asked during
the municipality briefing in which Romik Kosemyan participated. The
head of the Municipality ecological administration gave details about
the course and results of the tree planting this year.

According to the information, in early 2006 the municipality intended
to plant 30 thousand trees and 40 thousand bushes, together with the
reconstruction of the irrigation systems in the same places. The
municipality decided to join the famous program “Joint Tree
Planting”. Together they will plant 90 thousand trees.

According to Kosemyan, about 260 hectares of non-irrigated land has
been included in the joint program. The municipality has allotted
about 200 million AMD for the realization of the project.

Let us also add that April 15 is announced a subbotnik.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS WORK SEPARATELY

A1+
[04:08 pm] 10 April, 2006

OSCE Minsk group French co-chair Bernard Fassier has started a regional
visit. According to “Trend” agency, he arrived in Azerbaijan this
morning. He intends to carry out consultations in Baku about the
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

During the visit Bernard Fassier will meet Azeri President Ilham
Aliev. Tomorrow he will render a press conference in the French
Embassy in Azerbaijan. The journalists were informed in the Embassy
that after the Baku visit Fassier will arrive in Yerevan.

Besides this, another regional visit will be organized soon: on
April 18 OSCE Minsk group American co-chair Steven Mann will visit
the region. This information was given by the Azeri Foreign Minister
Elmar Mamedyarov.

Mann will try to get acquainted with the attitudes of Armenia
and Azerbaijan towards the US offers about the settlement of the
conflict. Let us remind you that this visit will be the second after
the Rambouillet meeting of the two Presidents.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO ONE WANTED TO BUY THE 5TH BLOCK

A1+
[04:43 pm] 10 April, 2006

The sale of the 5th block of the Hrazdan heat-electric generating
plant has nothing to do with the reduction of the gas price: at least
this is what RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan claims.

“We sold the 5th block not in order to reduce the price of gas as it
remains the same – 110USD. The sale has nothing to do with the price”,
the Prime Minister says.

According to him, this is a successful deal. “Years ago we wanted
to give the plant to them by the program “Property for Debt”. One
of the conditions was that they must reconstruct the plant. They did
not agree.

We put it up to auction but no one wanted to buy it”, Andranik
Margaryan informed. He claimed that Iran has never been a potential
buyer. They just wanted to give loans for 20-25 years after which
Armenia would have to return the sum.

According to the Prime Minister, the plant was sold for 250 million
USD. “One of the conditions was that they must invest 140 million USD
within two years. And this is not a threat to our energy security,
but vice versa”.

EXTRA WORK COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN CITY ON APRIL 15

Panorama.am
14:23 10/04/06

“The works of greenery planting in Yerevan have been completed by 60%,”
informed the head of Municipality Board of Environmental Protection
Romik Kosemyan in the course of news briefing today. As he said more
than 40 thousand trees have been planted in Yerevan from March 25
to April 8. In the coming days trees will be planted in Arabkir,
Avan and Ajapnyak communities.

As Romik Kosemyan noticed 90 thousand trees and bushed will be planted
in Yerevan. “We are going to increase the green territory in the
city to 260 hectares,” he mentioned. The totals will be summed up on
April 22, and on April 15 community service activities are going to
be held in the city. Moreover, the city Government intends to build a
new irrigation net 20 kilometers length. 200 million drams have been
let from community budgets with a view to realize the above mentioned
intention.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VARTAN OSKANIAN CONCLUDED A ONE-DAY WORKING VISIT TO THE SYRIAN CAPITAL

Panorama.am
14:00 10/04/06

In Damascus, on April 8, Minister Oskanian met with Syrian Foreign
Minister Walid al-Moualem. During that meeting, the two spoke at
length about bilateral as well as regional matters. They specifically
focused on cooperation in international forums, educational and
economic exchange, as well as institutional cooperation. They also
spoke at length about the Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process,
Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as the situation in Iraq and other
matters in both regions.

Earlier in the day, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also received the
Armenian delegation. Minister Oskanian informed him about political
and economic developments within Armenia and in the region.

President Assad expressed his appreciation at the traditionally warm
relations between Armenians and Syrians and said that should serve
as a foundation for deepening ties, especially in the economic sphere.

The Minister’s Damascus visit concluded with a reception at the
embassy, attended by representatives of community organizations and
religious leaders.

On Sunday, the Minister will be in Aleppo at the 100th anniversary
celebration of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the 75th
anniversary celebration of the Armenian Youth Association.

Press and information department of Ministry of foreign affairs of
the Republic of Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress