Russia Urges Georgia to Withdraw Troops from Kodor Gorge
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.08.2006 15:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sending troops to Kodor gorge by Georgia was a direct
violation of the Moscow agreement on cease-fire and separation of
forces of May 14, 1994. Under the coverage of “a police operation”
a large-scale military action is launched next to the Russian
borders. Tbilisi intends to preserve its military presence in Kodor
gorge, says a statement of the Russian MFA.
The document emphasizes that Russia agrees with Abkhazia’s opinion
that Georgian authorities’ actions in Kodor gorge and their plans
for the future can spur up a dangerous scenario for the developments.
“Russia calls to withdraw Georgian troops from Kodor gorge and
continue talks, which would form conditions for advancing on the way
of peaceful political settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict,”
the statement says.

Mejlis of “Azeris of Nagorno Karabakh” to Convene in September
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.08.2006 16:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mejlis of “Azeris of Nagorno Karabakh” will convene
in September, member of Mejlis of “Azeris of Nagorno Karabakh” Mehriban
Vezir reported. In her words, at present work is being carried out “to
create a structure of the Public Parliament” – make the international
community “aware” of the NK issue.
“Elections for the Public Parliament will be held in regions of
NK. I cannot say, how many members the Parliament will have. However,
there are no doubts, that these will be people, known in the Karabakh
region,” she said, reports Trend.

Entire Lebanon Population Support Hezbollah
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.08.2006 17:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Lebanon, as the entire
population of the country, believes that Hezbollah is an important
part of the country population, which is represented in the Parliament
and the Government, Head of Hay Dat Office, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau
member Kiro Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
“Entire population of Lebanon support Hezbollah in response to
unceasing bombardment of peaceful population by Israel. The Armenian
community is a part of the country’s population as well,” Manoyan
underscored.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT ARKADY GHUKASIAN MEETS WITH MATTHEW BRYZA, OSCE MG US CO-CHAIR
AZG Armenian Daily #144, 02/08/2006
NKR Issue
In the course of the Saturday press-conference Saturday
Nagorno-Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian stated that the key
topic of his meeting with OSCE MG US co-chair Matthew Bryza was the
involvement of NK in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks. Ghoukassian
said that all the mediators realize the necessity of involving NK in
the negotiating process. He said that he had informed Bryza of NK’s
position on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and Bryza did not object.
“Our position is logical. Of course, it somewhat differs from what the
co-chairs have proposed but Bryza has made no serious objections to
it,” Ghoukassian said. He said that without visiting NK the newly
appointed US co-chair would hardly get the full picture of the
problem. He said that he did not expect much from Bryza’s visit
as he came more to listen than to propose. Ghoukassian said that
the long pause in the co-chairs’ visits to the region was mostly
of technical nature. He said that he was always invited to Yerevan
whenever the co-chairs came but he believes that it is more correct to
hold such meetings in Stepanakert. “I think there is already a clear
understanding that the problem cannot be solved without Karabakh,”
Ghoukassian said. Concerning the proposals Ghoulassyan said that
one should not consider problems outside the general context: one
should not consider the problem of Azeri refugees without considering
the problem of Armenian ones, the problem of territories without
the problem of NK’s status and security. Asked if the mediators are
pressuring the sides, Ghoukassyan said that he has been in the peace
process since 1992 and has never seen any pressure on the mediators’
part.
By Kim Gabrielian, Stepanakert

MATTHEW BRYZA, OSCE MG US CO-CHAIR STATES HIS MEETING
WITH ARKADY GHUKASIAN, NKR PRESIDENT, WAS CONSTRUCTIVE
AZG Armenian Daily #144, 02/08/2006
NKR Issue
In the course of the Saturday press-conference in Stepanakert OSCE MG
US co-chair Matthew Bryza said that his meeting with Nagorno-Karabakh
President Arkady Ghoukassian was constructive and creative. Bryza said
that it was his first visit to NK and he came here to listen to the
views of the local leadership. He did not specify the details of
his meeting with Ghoukassian. He said that one should not expect new
elements from him for the moment. He just came to listen. Then he will
go to Paris to discuss everything with the other two co-chairs. One
should not expect a big stride now, it may be taken in the future,
Bryza said. Bryza refused to answer the question if it is right to
hold peace talks without NK. He said that the main thing is to give
an ear to what NK representatives say.
By Kim Gabrielian, Stepanakert

IMPORTANT URBAN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE CARRIED OUT IN YEREVAN IN FIRST HALF OF 2006
AZG Armenian Daily #144, 02/08/2006
Urban Construction Issues
Several important urban construction project are implemented in the
capital of Armenia in the first sixth months, 2006, to the sum of
about 36,5 bln drams against the envisaged 34,2 bln drams, the Mayor of
Yerevan, Yervand Zakharian, said at July 31 press-conference, summing
up the first six months, 2006. According to him, 29,938 bln drams of
financial means fall on the state budget of communal administrations,
316,7 mln drams are the costs of city significance. Y. Zakharian
noted that implementation of programs to the sum of 53,275 bln drams
was envisaged in 2006 on the whole. However, in view of the created
conditions, favorable from the viewpoint of financing, this sum was
increased to 68 bln drams.
Touching upon the activity of communities, Y.
Zakharian noted that the costs of communal administrations made up 5,72
bln drams against the envisaged 6,4 bln. On the whole, the incomes of
communities increased by 53,8% as against the similar period, 2004,
and by 19,7% or by 942,1 bln drams as against the first sixth months,
2005. At that, the own incomes of communities for the last two years
increased 2,5-3 times which is conditioned on the increase of tax
collection for property and land.
By Karine Danielian

NEW UNDERGROUND STATION TO BE BUILT IN YEREVAN SOON
AZG Armenian Daily #144, 02/08/2006
Urban Construction Issues
In 2008-2009, the construction of the new “Achapniak” underground
station will be completed in Yerevan.
Yervand Zakharian, Mayor of Yerevan City, said this at today’s press
conference. He said that the construction of “Achapniak” underground
station began few years ago, but wasn’t completed because of the lack
of financial sources. According to the plans of the previous years,
about $22 million were required for the construction works. In 2007,
new project account documents will be elaborated for the construction
works. As for the transport issues, Zakharian said that in September
2006, new 76 “Bogdan” mini busses will be brought to Yerevan. Besides,
25 new Russian trolley busses will be purchased for the capital. Each
of the trolley busses costs $70 thousand. The Mayor’s Office also
envisages to complete the renovation works of the bus stations, 100 of
which will be exploited already in September. In total, AMD 1,6 billion
of work was carried out in the sphere of the capital’s transport.
By Karine Danielian

YEREVAN MAYOR’S OFFICE TO SETTLE ISSUE OF DAMAGED HOUSES
AZG Armenian Daily #144, 02/08/2006
Urban Construction Issues
The Yerevan Mayor’s Office is going to settle the issue of the 3and 4
grade damaged houses. Yervan Zakharian, Mayor of Yerevan, said this at
today’s press conference. He said that this year they have restored
11 damaged houses in the capital and spent AMD 785 billion on this
purpose. He added that AMD 1,57 billion were allocated from RA State
Budget to secure the residents of the 4 grade damaged houses with
homes. It is planned to exploit 3 buildings, including two newly
built and 1 restored, by the end of the year. He said that three
other houses will be exploited next year with the same purpose.
By Karine Danielian

ARMENIAN BANKS AND RA CENTRAL BANKS UNITE EFFORTS TO REDUCE SHADOW ECONOMY
AZG Armenian Daily #144, 02/08/2006
Economy
On July 31, in the course of the joint meeting of the Union of
the Armenian Banks and RA Central Bank, it decided to carry out
joint arrangements directed to reduction of the shadow economy
and activation of the banks in the crediting market. Chairman of
RA Central Bank Tigran Sargsian and Stepan Gishian, chairman of
Board of the Union of the Armenian Banks, stated about this in their
speeches. They stated that the level of shadow economy is quite high
in Armenia and this hinders the fair competition. Sargsian stated
that the banking system of Armenia functions out of the shadow and
its published indicators fully reflect the reality. He added that
due to its adequacy and liquidity, the banking system of Armenia is a
rather high level. The ROA and ROE profitability level of our banking
system is even higher than that of the European countries. Sargsian
said that in the coming few years the high level of profitability will
secure stability and high tempos of development for the banking system
of Armenia. In his turn, S. Gishian pointed out the main strategic
lines for the development of the Union of the Armenian Banks for
2006. This deepening of cooperation between UBA and RA Central Bank,
RA Government and RA Parliament, with the European Banking Federation,
application of new daft laws for will contribute to the improvement
of the legislative climate and development of the banking system of
Armenia. Touching upon the achievements fixed in the banking system
of Armenian in 2005, Gishian said that the GDP grew by 13,9%, the
common actives of the banks by 21,2%, common capital by 46,6%, the
volume of credit investments by 36%, the profitability of the capital
by 15,3%. In 2005, the liquidity of the banking system made 41,8%,
the credit rates decreased by almost 4 times. Gishian stated that RA
Central Bank will coordinate the steps envisaged for 2006. Five banks
of Armenia participated in today’s meeting, particularly, Areximbank,
Armenian Development Bank, “Ararat” Bank, ArmInvestBank and Unibank.
By Ara Martirosian

LEBANESE MEDIA RESPONDS TO AID RENDERED BY ARMENIA
Panorama.am
15:09 01/08/06
The humanitarian assistance rendered by the Armenian government is
already in Lebanon. It was dispatched via Syria and handed over the
High Commission on Humanitarian Aid in Lebanon.
“The humanitarian assistance weighing 7.5 tones consists of 52 types
of medicine and first aid medical items. It will alleviate the state
of Lebanese population to some extent,” Armenian foreign policy
agency says.
Armenian foreign ministry press office told Panorama.am that
Lebanese media extensively responded to this humanitarian action
by Armenia. Both Lebanese Armenian and Arab language newspapers
covered stories on this humanitarian aid, among them Al-Mustakbal,
As-Safir, An-Nahar, Al-Balad dailies. The topic is also covered by
some of biggest Lebanese TV Channels, including Al-Mustakbal, LBC
and NBN. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress