ARMENIA SAFE FOR AZERIS BUT AZERBAIJAN THREATENS EVERY ARMENIAN
Panorama.am
12:42 07/06/06
“We are neighbors and that is determined by history. Neighbors are not
chosen. In case Karabakh conflict is regulated, our two countries can
also cooperate,” Asaf Hajiev, deputy of Azeri parliament, mejlis,
stated at the National Assembly of Armenia today. Together with
the representative of New Azerbaijan Party Musa Guliev, Hajiev is
in Armenia to participate in Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
27th parliamentary assembly. “Neighbors cannot fail to cooperate if
they are not in war. Azerbaijan and Armenia are in a state of war,
therefore, it is impossible to speak about cooperation,” the head of
Azeri delegation said. He does not think it possible that Armenia and
Azerbaijan cooperate also within BSEC, saying it is a collective entity
and it is hard to speak about individual countries. “Imagine if Germany
suggested to cooperate with the Soviet Union during WW2 when it was
at the doors of Moscow, would SU go for that? Of coarse, not,” he said
referring once again to the principal of inviolability of borders and
ignoring the principle of self-determination. Replying to the reporters
on the case of Chernogoria which found its independence from Serbia
via referendum, he said, “We respect all countries. If Chernogoria and
Serbia found it possible to have independent statehoods, we respect
that decision. But if Armenia thinks that Karabakh is part of it,
we cannot accept that.”
Hajiev confessed that respects all nations, including Armenians,
since he thinks that “Karabakh conflict is created not by Armenians
but by Armenian politicians.”
He also said he feels safe in Armenia despite of the fact that
Azerbaijan has stated at the doors of various events that it cannot
ensure the safety of the Armenian delegations.
Why would the Azeri deputy not feel safe in Armenia?
Of coarse, no one is going to stab him to death, especially when he is
sleeping. Similar “axe” attitude is characteristic to our neighbor. It
is also true, that Armenians have proved that those who rise against
us with arms, get a respective response. Karabakh freedom fight is a
proof for that. Besides, we can say that Karabakh conflict is created
and deepened by Azeri politicians and public figures. Heidar Aliev’s
confession that Azerbaijan was taking steps to change the demographic
picture in Karabakh is enough to prove that.

TRAFFICKING: DARK COLORS OF ARMENIA
Lragir.am
08 June 06
The Unites States has published the Trafficking in Persons Report
2005. Like the annual report on drug trafficking, the TIP 2005
Armenia’s country narrative is in dark shades. The shades are even
too dark, even threateningly dark. Americans say Armenia is on Tier
2 Watch List of countries of trafficking; the second is better than
the third but worse than the first. However, if anti-trafficking
efforts do not improve, Armenia may possibly appear on the dangerous
Tier 3. On June 7 the Armenian news reporters had an opportunity to
enquire about the cause and consequences of this description from
almost the prime source.
John Miller, U.S. State Department Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons answered the questions of Armenian journalists
via telebridge between Yerevan and Washington at the U.S. Embassy.
Mr. Miller did not add details to the report. He only repeated
that Armenia is a source of trafficking, the government efforts to
combat trafficking and investigate government officials complicit
in trafficking are insufficient. John Miller cited the UN estimate
that over 2000 Armenian women are trafficked to United Arab Emirates
and Turkey for sexual exploitation. John Miller says the outcome of
anti-trafficking efforts is insufficient to have the public trust
the government.
The State Department official says there are also problems with
protection of trafficking victims. Mr. Miller says a delicate
attitude to the victims is required for them to cooperate with the
NGOs and law enforcement agencies in prosecuting persons engaged in
trafficking. According to John Miller, the confidence of the public is
very important in combating trafficking, whereas the U.S. official says
the government efforts are anemic. If the situation does not improve,
it is possible that Armenia will appear on the Tier 3 Watch List. On
appearing on Tier 3 the country is given three months, if the country
fails to improve the situation, it becomes even worse.
John Miller says if the country appears again in Tier 3 after these
three months, American assistance, , including military assistance is
cut or stopped. The American government stops assisting the country in
the World Bank and the IMF. According to him, the aim is not penalty
but joint effort for improvement.

DOES U.S. EMBASSY KNOW NAMES?
Lragir.am
08 June 06
The United States is dissatisfied with the spending of the money
provided to Armenia to combat trafficking. John Miller, U.S. State
Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons,
hinted at this June 7, during the telebridge with Armenian news
reporters. During this teleconference Mr. Miller answered the questions
of Armenian news reporters related to the Armenia’s country narrative
of the Trafficking in Persons Report 2005.
John Miller said over the past few years the American taxpayers
have contributed about 600 thousand US dollars to Armenia, which
was spent on informing and educating news reporters and workers of
the sphere of law. He says that one of the important programs now
underway is the one implemented by the International Organization
for Migration which is not as effective as they would like it
to be. Nevertheless, according to him, these programs helped to
raise awareness of this issue. However, Mr. Miller emphasized that
prosecution is insufficient. He gave the example of a Procuracy member,
who allegedly assisted traffickers but his case was not investigated.
The reporter of Lragir.am enquired from the U.S. State Department
official whether the U.S. State Department may present a list
of government officials who allegedly assist trafficking to the
government Armenia if necessity arises. John Miller’s answer can be
considered ambiguous.
He particularly said it would be more correct to ask this question to
their colleagues in the embassy, for they watch the general situation,
aiming to combat corruption in the government. As to the exchange
of information between the law-enforcement agencies and the embassy,
they may exchange such information. Mr. Miller stated that whenever
their office obtains facts proving the trafficking information, they
immediately extend these facts to their embassy to that country,
says the head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in
Persons since 2004.

ARMENIA IS THE LAST IN THE REGION
Lragir.am
08 June 06
Armenia is behind Georgia and Azerbaijan by the anti-trafficking
efforts, stated the U.S. State Department officials who monitor and
combat trafficking on June 7 to Armenian news reporters during the
telebridge initiated by the U.S. Embassy. The three countries of the
South Caucasus are on the Tier 2 Watch List in the TIP Report 2005.
This is an average index but with regard to the anti-trafficking
efforts the U.S. State Department Officials point to the progress of
Azerbaijan and Georgia in raising awareness of the public, assistance
to the victims of trafficking and prosecution.

STARTING JUNE 30 FLIGHTS FROM ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT TO BE OPERATED IN NORMAL REGIME
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Staring June 30, flights from Yerevan’s
Zvartnots Airport will be operated in the normal regime. To recap,
since April 10, flights have been operated only at night – from 8:00
pm to 10:30 am in connection with repairs of the airport’s runway.
Zvartnots Director Juan Pablo Gechjian told reporters that about
8 mln USD will be spent on asphalt laying this year. Repair of
asphalt cover is being carried out on the last 1,200 meter-section
of the runway. The other sections have been repaired over the past
two years. The airport director found it difficult to indicate the
total amount spent on the runway’s asphalt laying. He only said that
40 thousand tons of asphalt has been used.
Asked about his opinion concerning the statement of a NA deputy to
the effect that Zvartnot’s manager makes superprofits from this work,
J.P. Gechijian said: “The government did not ask that the exact amount
of investments be indicated in the concessional agreement, it is
required to build an airport in line with international standards. Let
deputies go and see what kind of terminal we are building.”

ARMENIA TO BECOME 17th COUNTRY TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND PARLIAMENT
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The opening ceremony of the Armenian
Office of the International Association of Business and Parliament
(IABP) will take place at the Golden Tulip Hotel (the Yerevan Hotel)
late June 7. The association was founded in Great Britain in the
late 1970s and later became an international organization. Armenia is
the 17th country to join it. A coordination board has been set up in
Armenia by a group of former businessmen, currently National Assembly
deputies representing all political forces. The Europarliament’s Vice
Chairman for Relations with National Parliaments Edward McMillan-Scott,
the Secretary General of the International Association of Business
and Parliament Frederick Hyde-Chambers, and the RA NA Vice Speaker,
ARF Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian who has initiated Armenia’s
joining the IABP met with reporters in the NA earlier on the same day.
According to V. Hovhannisian, the association aims to build a strong
bridge connecting various parliaments and the business world so that
all legislative reforms can serve the purpose of economic development
of a country. He said the association will seek to promote development
of small and medium business in Armenia. The IABP is not a lobbyist
organization, it will work out programs and provide appropriate
information to any deputy not included in the coordination board. The
deputies to participate in the development of programs “will not have
the right to use the information available to them for an improper
purpose, but this information will allow them to understand the laws
prepared by the government, to improve these laws and make useful
proposals.”
The European officials in their turn welcomed the fact of Armenia’s
joining the association, attaching special importance to it in terms
of developing the appropriate legislation to form the basis of the
country’s economic progress. The IABP Secretary General expressed
a wilingness to provide the Armenian Office staff with the maximum
possible assistance. In his words, it is his 6th visit to Armenia, and
he was pleasantly surprised by the knowledge, skills and capabilities
of the Armenians, so he can state confidently that Armenia will
successfully overcome the transitional period.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR RODRIGO DE RATO TO PARTICIPATE IN DUTCH GROUP’S MEETING IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. A representative meeting of the Dutch
Group with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank
(WB) will be held in Yerevan on June 17-18. The Dutch Group has 12
member states: the Netherlands, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Israel, Croatia, Moldova, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, Cyprus
and Macedonia. According to the press service of the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy, it is envisaged that high-ranking officials –
finance ministers, chairmen of the central banks of the 12 member
states will take part in the annual meeting of the Dutch Group
in Yerevan.
IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato, WB Vice President Danny
Leipziger and other high-ranking officials will attend the Yerevan
meeting.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE-CHAIRMAN TREATS TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP TO EU WITH SOME RESERVATION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. It is planned to hold a
conference with participation of parliamentarians of 25 country-members
of EU, European Parliament, parliamentarians of countries included
in the New Neighborhood program in late 2006 in Brussels to discuss
the prospects of development of parliaments’ cooperation under lack
of the European Constitution.
European Parliament Vice-Chairman Edward Macmillan-Scott informed
about it on June 7, when meeting with the Coordinating Group of the
Business and Parliament International Association led by RA National
Assembly Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian.
MPs from RA National Assembly groups and factions are included in
the group.
The European Parliament Vice-Chairman coordinates cooperation among
parliaments of EU member-states, countries included in the New
Neighborhood program and countries of Mediterranean Sea basin.
According to Edward Macmillan-Scott, the European Parliament tries
to increase the involvement of national parliaments in cooperation,
in particular, in the issue of bringing the national legislation
in correspondence with the European one. According to him, the
role of the national parliaments should be raised in the issue of
harmonization of the legislation. The European guest mentioned that a
general-united approach should be shown, while only separate issues
are solved today. As the prevailing majority of the laws adopted
at the European Parliament is connected with economic activity and
business environment, the outlined cooperation will be just in the
sphere of harmonization of the economic legislation.
RA NA Vice-Speaker considers this a new possibility: only the sphere
of human rights, the reforms of the Constitution and the criminal
legislation have been mainly involved in the European integration
process up to this day. He mentioned that among CIS countries Armenia
distinguishes itself by its liberal economic legislation, but it has
problems in practice. NA Vice-Speaker said that Armenia, in difference
to EU, should implement the harmonization of the legislation in
conditions of closed borders. Vahan Hovhannisian considers useful
the experience of the European Parliament. He also mentioned that the
European Parliament managed to move the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
to a new stage: a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides
has been twice organized in Brussels, within the framework of the
OSCE Minsk Group. The third meeting is to be held in Belgium during
the coming month.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from NA Public Relations Department,
Coordinating Group member Grigor Ghonjeyan, who is also a member
of the EU-Armenia Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission, noted
that Armenia is not presented as a possible member of EU in any
document adopted at the commission, even as a member in the distant
future. In thess conditions he prognoses some difficulties in the
process of bringing the economic legislation in correspondence with
the European one.
E.Macmillan-Scott mentioned that two models are in circulation at
EU today.
The French-German model envisages rather a large area of EU extension.
Meanwhile, a decision was adopted in January, according to which the
Ukraine is considered a country on the way of membership to EU. In
this case why not Armenia, Georgia or Azerbaijan?, Scott emphasized. He
treats Turkey’s membership to EU with some reservation.
The Armenian parliamentarians also spoke about the Actions Plan
envisaged by the New Neighborhood policy. It was mentioned that the
three regional countries with their resources and achievements are
artifically equalized. They expressed an opinion that an individual
program should be implemented for each country.
The European Parliament Vice-Chairman wishes to apply equal principles
of cooperation and to provide exchange of experience among parliaments.

ONLY EXPENSIVE ARMENIAN WINES MAY BE COMPETITIVE IN RUSSIAN MARKET
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Our statesmen should do everything
possible so that Armenian wines can occupy the Russian market now that
the Russian authorities have put a ban on the import of Moldovian
and Georgian wines into Russia out of political considerations. RA
National Assembly deputy Manuk Gasparian expressed this opinion during
a discussion at the Hayeli Club on June 6.
Chairman of the company Vedi Alco – one of the biggest Armenian
wine-making enterprises, NA deputy Manvel Ghazarian disagreed with
M. Gasparian, saying a rise in the prices of Armenian wines in Russia
depends on the correct marketing policy of businessmen rather than
on officials. According to him, this opportunity is especially great
with respect to the “Areni” wine.
Chairman of the Union of Armenian Wine-Makers Avag Harutyunian said
that at least 10 countries can fill up the current gap in Russia’s
wine market in 2-3 months, with some active steps already being
taken in this direction. In his opinion, Armenia should occupy the
Russian market by exporting expensive wines. As a result of the ban
on Georgian and Moldovian wines, 400 mln bottles of wine a year will
not be imported into Russia, while most of them are sold for 1.7-1.8
dollars, which is not to the advantage of Armenian wine-makers because
the average self cost of Armenian wines is the same.
M. Ghazarian noted that the value added tax (VAT) on the sale of
Armenian wines that results in a freeze of circulating assets is
another circumstance affecting the price competitiveness of Armenian
wines.

LAKE SEVAN RISES BY 43 CM IN ONE YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2006
SEVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the data of Armstatehydromet’s
Gegharkunik regional subdivision, on June 1 2006, Lake Sevan was
1898.58 m high from the sea surface. According to the same source,
as compared with May 1 2006, the lake has risen by 27 cm and as
compared with June 1 2005 by 43 cm.