“AZERBAIJAN IS FORCED TO SIGN PEACE AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE FOR
DEFEATED COUNTRY BY THE AGENCY OF MINSK GROUP”
Democratic Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
Organization of Garabagh Liberation holds that there are clear
attempts to state that Azerbaijan should compromise in the latest
statement of co-chairmen
Accordingly to news, recently group of Azerbaijani politician
scientists and human right activists informed about their support for
“Frame Agreements” prepared by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen aiming at
regulation of Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Among persons who signed the
said agreement there are member of leaders’ staff of “Soros” Fund in
Azerbaijan, Rasim Musabekov, chairman of “Fund in the name of
Azerbaijan”, Eldar Namazov, Zardusht Alizade, Arzu Abdullayeva, head
of “Turan” agency, Mehman Aliyev etc. Representatives of Organization
of Garabagh Liberation expressing their attitude to this issue
manifested their surprise regarding the fact that above persons
support such unacceptable proposal.
Organization of Garabagh Liberation states that Azerbaijan is forced
to sign peace agreement acceptable for defeated country by the agency
of OSCE Minsk Group. Leadership of the mentioned structure is against
the above “frame agreements”, underlining that co-chairmen of Minsk
Group don’t take into consideration the fact of occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia: “Discussion of the status of the
regime of “Nagorni Garabagh Republic” is proposed as the principal
issue, instead of regulation of the conflict itself”. At the same
time, there is no mention of international sanctions which should be
applied to Armenia”.
Accordingly to Organization of Garabagh Liberation, “Frame
agreements” contain ambiguous attitude towards occupied territories.
“Thus, for some time Lachin and Kelbejer will be peculiar buffer zone
between Armenia and Nagorni Garabagh, on the territories of which
Armenia will place armed forces. Document also points that
co-chairmen would be able to coordinate issues on legal status and
referendum within proposals concerning referendum. However, it
contradicts to the interests of Azerbaijan”.
Moreover, Organization of Garabagh Liberation considers it
unacceptable for Azerbaijan including proposal of OSCE Minsk Group on
peacemaking forces location on conflict territory: “This proposal
helps to maintain so-called regime, created by Armenians in Nagarno
Garabagh. Peacemaking forces will not serve for Azerbaijanis’
interests, those who would return to their own lands, contrariwise
they will provide security for Armenian occupants, and Armenians will
commit outrages on the given territories. Peacemaking forces
shouldn’t be located on conflict zone, but on Azerbaijan-Armenia
frontiers. However, it will be possible after relative conflict
regulation”.
As Organization of Garabagh Liberation underlines co-chairmen
advocate non-use of force either by Armenia or Azerbaijan: “Given
position of co-chairmen contradicts to UN charter, which ensures the
right of every state which suffers aggression for military defense.
In case Azerbaijan agrees with such proposals, it will be deprived of
chance to use this right provided by UN”. Organization of Garabagh
Liberation holds that in case Azerbaijan starts negotiating on the
basis of principles put forward by co-chairmen, it will strike
through decisions adopted by UN and other international organizations
regarding Garabagh: “Decrees 822, 853, 874, 884 adopted by UN
Security Council, envisage withdrawal of Armenian military forces
from Azerbaijani territories. One of the false positions of
co-chairmen is that they are not guided by decrees adopted by UN
Security Council, but by Armenians’ demand”.
Organization of Garabagh Liberation also touches upon the visit of
American co-chairman Mathew Brayza: “Methew Brayza started his visit
to Nagorni Garabagh from Armenian territory, thus expressing his
“positive” attitude to territorial integrity of Azerbaijan”.

18 ARMENIAN BANKS LISTED AMONG 1,000 LARGEST TAX-PAYERS IN 1ST HALF OF 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/ Eighteen out of 21 Armenian banks were
listed among the largest tax payers in the 1st half of 2006. The RA
Taxation Service reports that direct taxes totaled AMD 3.62bln or
94.24% of all direct taxes paid by Armenia’s banks.
The banks in question paid 2.81% of the taxes paid by the 1,000
largest tax-payers of Armenia.
The first hundred of Armenia’s largest tax payers includes
Ardshininvestbank (AMD 672.3mln), HSBC Bank Armenia (640.5mln),
Conversebank (404.7mln), Armeconombank (370.8ln), ACBA (351.9mln),
Armsavingsbank (AMD 336.4mln), and Bank Anelik (240.9mln).
Among the 1,000 largest tax payers are also Inecobank, Unibank,
Areximbank, Bank Prometey, Mellat Bank, Armimpexbank, International
Investment Bank, ITB, ArmSwissbank, Armenian Development Bank and
Cascade Bank.
The list published by the State Taxation Service also includes three
credit institutions: ACBA Leasing – AMD 154.5mln, Izmirlyan Eurasia –
AMD 36.6mln, “SEF International” – 15.1mln, as well as the national
payment system “Armenian Card” CJSC (AMD 38.5mln), and Armenian Stock
Exchange (ARMEX) (AMD 23.5mln).
The 1,000 largest thousand AMD-payers of Armenia paid a total of AMD
136.7bln to the state budget in the 1st half of 2006. P.T. -0–

ARMENIA SEEKS UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM ASSISTANCE TO EASE CONSEQUENCES OF DROUGHT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
at his meeting with UN World Food Program Executive Director James
Maurice on Wednesday, asked the program to provide assistance to
Armenia to ease consequences of drought, governmental press service
reports.
Margaryan described current problems caused by this year drought
and expressed gratitude for WFP assistance sent in 2000for the same
purposes. The PM said the assistance had brought considerable relief
to drought-stricken regions of Armenia.
WFP delegation visited Armenia on Aug 2-3 as part of its regional tour.
This summer drought has struck hard at many farmers. Armenian
government has decided to allocate AMD 1bln 18mln for 8 provinces –
Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, Lori, Kotayk, Sunik, Shirak and Vayots Dzor –
to compensate the damage inflicted by drought. ($1- AMD 412.54).

TOTAL OF INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS DECREASES BY 15.2% TO AMD 3.9BLN IN
ARMENIA FOR 1ST QUARTER 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. The total of insurance payments made by
insurance companies for the 1st quarter 2006 totaled AMD 3.9bln in
Armenia. The National Statistical Service reported that amount of
this indicator compared with the beginning of 2006 decreased by 15.2%
or AMD 697mln.
At the same time, the amount of insurance payments made by insurance
companies in the 1st quarter 2006 decreased by AMD 77mln and totaled
AMD 444.6mln.
According to the statistics, the amount of insurance risks under the
contracts in force by March 31, 2006, totaled AMD 1,184.8bln, 31.6%
or AMD 549.3 decrease compared with the beginning of the year. At the
same time, the number of active insurance contracts increased by 5991
and totaled 29,449.
As of March 31, 2006, 26 insurance companies were incorporated in
Armenia against 23 at the beginning of the year. ($1 – AMD 415.54).

HEAD OF AZERBAIJAN ISLAMIC PARTY REFUSED TO MEET WITH ADVISER OF U.S. EMBASSY
TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
The head of Azerbaijan Islamic Party (AIP) refused to meet with the
political adviser of the USA embassy Reveto Neslo, Trend reporta with
reference to AIP.
The initiative for the meeting was made by the USA embassy.
It was stated in AIP that the reason to refuse the meeting is the
anti-Islamic policy of USA and policy of double standards that is
implemented by the USA in relation with Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Besides, the refuse to the meeting is justified through occupation
of Iraq by USA, non-recognition of Armenia as an occupant country
and occupation of Lebanon and Palestine by Israel.

ARKA NEWS AGENCY ISSUES “CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA” BULLETIN
FOR 2ND QUARTER 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency issued “Credit Organization
of Armenia” financial and economic bulletin for the 2nd quarter
2006. This product is issued every quarter and is compiled on the
basis of official reports of credit organizations of the country.
“Credit Organizations of Armenia” bulletin contains about 25 pages
of table materials regarding different indicators of the credit
organizations’ activity, and is divided into 12 principal sections:
Overview of Credit Organizations
Assets Liabilities Capital Profit/Losses Information on Funds Turnover
Normative Indicators of Credit Organizations’ Activity Capitalization
indicators Profitability and Yield Indicators Summary Indicators of
Credit Organizations’ Activity.
The information in the bulletin gives an opportunity to present the
overall picture of the financial state of Armenian credit organizations
and conduct a comparative analysis of their activity. The product also
contains technical and methodological comments to the tables. R.O. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENZIED PUNK-FUNK PARTY: SYSTEM OF A DOWN. 17,000 FANS SLOG THROUGH
STEADY MIST TO HEAR IMPRESSIVE ARMENIAN-AMERICAN HARD ROCK BAND
The Gazette (Montreal)
August 3, 2006 Thursday
Final Edition
By T’CHA DUNLEVY, The Gazette
“Welcome to the soldier side, where there’s no one here but me,” sang
Serj Tankian, of Armenian-American hard rock act System of a Down,
over a solemn guitar line.
Make that no one there but him, his band and 17,000 fans – all
more than happy to tough it out through rain and muck to hear
this impressive band deliver yet another air-tight, no-frills,
riff-and-groove-laden performance at Jean Drapeau Park.
It was an action-packed evening, with six bands performing from
6 p.m. onward: Bad Acid Trip, Unearthed, Norma Jean, Hatebreed,
Avenged Sevenfold and the headliners.
System of a Down was here just last year, playing the Bell Centre in
support of its two-CD set Hypnotize/Mesmerize. A full two-thirds of
last night’s show comprised songs from that package, beginning with
four off the top.
>From Soldier Side, they kicked into high gear with the aptly-titled
Attack. A barrage of punk guitars and speed-metal drums provided stark
contrast to the melodic introduction. As if on cue, rain began to
fall. Not the torrential storm that had come down in the afternoon,
but a steady mist, nonetheless.
Tankian strolled about the stage with an aura of calm, while his
bandmates – guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and
drummer John Dolmayan – raged away behind him. The song, like much
of the band’s repertoire, flipped between chaotic frenzy and more
spacious acoustics.
The prog-like shifts in tempo and tone carried into the anti-war
diatribe B.Y.O.B., with its Zappa-esque punk-jazz freakouts and ironic
chorus – “Everybody’s going to the party have a real good time.”
Revenga carried a Balkan-inspired festive spirit, providing a
thrash-friendly hybrid of hopping funk and quasi-operatic balladry.
The rain relented about six songs in, as Tankian prodded the crowd:
“Clap your hands, people. We’re gonna do it like this.”
He launched the rabid chant of Psycho, off the band’s 2001 album
Toxicity: “Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy!” Again, the mania was
played against a melodic interlude.
It began to feel a bit like formula. Without the canned intensity of
an indoor venue, and perhaps because of the weather, the drama wasn’t
building as effectively as it could have.
Respite came with Lonely Day, an introspective lament, with Tankian
singing of “the most loneliest day of my life.”
But System of a Down can’t stand still for long. Things picked up again
with the rollicking Kill Rock ‘n’ Roll and the electro-disco-inflected
Old School Hollywood, following which Tankian finally addressed
the crowd.
“Where we come from, we live in a civilization that is not so
civilized,” he began. “It feels more like we live in an organization
– that sells you war, that sells you religion, McDonalds, murder …
the organization is not on your side.”
With that, the rain picked up again, this time with feeling,
as Tankian rattled off the tongue-twisting punk-funk of Violent
Pornography. Deadline, and the elements, sent this writer toward the
metro. In the background, Tankian was bandying the phallic boasts
of Cigaro.
[email protected]

ROW OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PUTS US ENVOY’S APPROVAL ON HOLD
Agence France Presse — English
August 3, 2006 Thursday 6:46 AM GMT
by Maxim Kniazkov
WASHINGTON, Aug 3 2006
Efforts by the White House to win quick approval for its new ambassador
to Armenia have hit a snag after a bipartisan group of senators moved
to force the US government’s formal recognition that Turkey committed
genocide during World War I.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday quietly decided
to postpone for at least a month a vote on the nomination of career
diplomat Richard Hoagland as the next US Ambassador to Armenia,
congressional officials said Wednesday.
The move came as key committee members expressed open consternation
over the mysterious “resignation” of the current US Ambassador to
Armenia, John Evans — after less than two years on the job.
The senators are also frustrated with the administration’s persistent
refusal to use the word “genocide” to describe events in Turkey between
1915 and 1917, in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians are said to
have been killed or died after being forcibly driven from their homes.
Armenians all over the world push for official recognition of those
killings as genocide.
However, Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many
Turks died in an internal conflict sparked by attempts by Armenians
to win independence for eastern Anatolia and secure assistance for
their bid from Russia, Turkey’s age-old nemesis.
While acknowledging that mass killings have taken place, US government
officials have so far sidestepped the touchy dispute by referring to
them as a “tragedy.”
The old row flared on Capitol Hill earlier this summer when Senator
Joseph Biden, the ranking Democrat on the committee, sent a letter
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, questioning what he called an
“unexpected” decision to replace Evans with Hoagland.
Evans was posted to Yerevan in August 2004 for what was supposed to
be a three-year term.
“In this case, I am particularly troubled by reports that the decision
to recall Ambassador Evans may have been motivated by statements
he made to American citizens in which he accurately described the
Armenian genocide as genocide,” Biden wrote.
In a carefully-crafted response, Assistant Secretary of State
for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner assured the senator that
allegations the envoy had been forced to quit under pressure from
Turkey were “simply untrue.”
As for Armenian genocide, Bergner insisted that the characterization
of “this tragedy” should be determined “through heartfelt dialogue,
not through diplomatic or political proclamations.”
The arguments did not sit well with both Republican and Democratic
committee members.
Republican Senator Norm Coleman, who is Jewish, said he took issues
related to genocide very seriously and wanted the government to take
a clear-cut position on the subject.
“I am not sure how we can continue to have ambassadors to Armenia
who can be effective, unless they give recognition to the genocide,”
Coleman said.
Another Republican, George Allen, noted that he personally referred
to the events of 1915 as genocide “and have strongly encouraged the
president to do so as well.”
In his letter, Biden directly asked Rice to “please explain why these
events do not meet any of the five definitions in the Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”
Overall, half of the 18-member committee are now said to have
reservations about endorsing Hoagland as the new Armenia envoy.
The imbroglio, however, may result in additional strains for US
relations with Turkey, the only Muslim NATO ally whose cooperation
is key to US success in the war on terror, experts said.
Turkey is already upset over cross-border raids by Kurdish separatist
rebels based in US-occupied Iraq, and is demanding resolute action
by the United States to halt the incursions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

145 HOSPITALS, 458 OUTPATIENT CLINICS OPERATED IN ARMENIA IN 2005
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. 145 hospitals and 458 outpatient clinics
operated in Armenia in 2005. The RA Statistical Service reports that
76.6% of hospitals and 86.9% of outpatient clinics were in charge of
the RA Ministry of Health.
38.2 doctors and 57 paramedics were per every 10,000 of Armenia’s
population. In 2005, 44.6 hospital beds were per every 10,000 of
Armenia’s population. P.T. -0–

RF, ARMENIA TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON MIL-TECHNICAL COOPERATION
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 3, 2006 Thursday
By Sergei Ostanin, Roman Cherepanov
Prospects for cooperation between Russia and Armenia in the
defence sphere are being discussed at a meeting of the Bilateral
Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation on
Thursday.
The meeting is held within the framework of the international
exhibition of Land Troops military products “MVSV-2005” at the
All-Russia Exhibition Centre in Moscow.
“This is the third meeting of the intergovernmental commission
of the two countries,” deputy director of the Federal Service
on Military and Technical Cooperation Vladimir Paleshchuk told
journalists. “The two-day meeting will result in the signing on Friday
of a Russian-Armenian agreement on military and technical cooperation.”