ACCORDING TO WB YEREVAN OFFICE DIRECTOR, APPRECIATION OF ARMENIAN DRAM INDICATES STRENGTHENING ECONOMY
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The appreciation of the Armenian dram is
one of the indications of a strengthening economy. The World Bank (WB)
Yerevan Office Director Roger Robinson stated this in a response to NT
correspondent’s question. According to him, the dram’s appreciation
is also conditioned by cash flows to Armenia, as well as by the
depreciation of the US dollar against the pound, euro and the Russian
ruble in recent weeks. In his words, the Armenian economy is small,
so the external price shocks rapidly affect the market.
In the opinion of R. Robinson, the exchange rate of the dram stabilized
for a moment and will again do so after its appreciation observed
in the last few weeks, since the Armenian market is currently
“very efficient”. He noted that the Armenian production continues
to be competitive, at the same time a growth of productivity is
continuing. The WB representative expressed a satisfaction over rates
of development of the Armenian economy, and and the growing credits
from the banking system to the economy.

50 TONS OF CONFIRMED GOLD RESERVES IN SOTK MINE
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Sotk mine is a promising one: it
contains 50 confirmed tons of gold. B. Sharman, Director General of
the Ararat Gold Extraction Enterprise, stated this during a media tour
organized by the Club of Economic Reporters. To recap, since 2002,
the owner of 100% shares of the enterprise is the First Dynasty Mines
Armenia company. The enterprise was set up in 1998 for extraction of
gold-containing ore at Sotk and Meghradzor mines and processing this
ore at the Ararat gold recovery factory. B. Sharman noted that this
year the enterprise already exported 1.4 tons of gold, in 2002 – 3.2
tons. It is envisaged to increase the mining amount of ore to 1 mln
tons annually, 6 grams of gold on average is obtained from 1 ton of
ore. In 2001-2005, the total turnover of the company amounted to 116
mln USD, but it has not paid yet dividents. It was noted that the last
studies here were conducted in 1988 and, according to preliminary data,
the confimed reserves of gold total 120 tons. B. Sharman said that it
is envisaged to build a a new gold processing plant, and the company
applied for permission two months ago. Previously the government
rejected the project of constructing a plant 6 km from the shore of
Lake Sevan. The enterprise director Vardan Vardanian said that now
it is proposed constructing a plant 35 km from Lake Sevan, which,
as he assured, poses no threat to the lake. About 85 mln USD will
be invested in construction of the new plant. To recap, 145 thousand
tons of gold has been exported in the world from 1858 until now. The
US is in first place in terms of gold reserve resources, followed by
Germany and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
India is the largest consumer of gold. The biggest gold mine is in
Indonesia. The reserves of mines currently operating in the world
will have been exhausted in 12 years.

YEREVAN PREPARES TO MEET ITS CHAMPION CHESS PLAYERS ON LATE JUNE 5
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of the Armenian men chess
players team got title of champion of the World Olympiad finished on
the previous day in Turin and of the women team performed with success
will arrive in Yerevan at 22:00, June 5, by the Paris flight. As RA
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian informed journalists at the NA on
the same day, the champions will soon be rewarded from the state
budget according to the Government’s decisions, additional awards
will also be. According to the Prime Minister, just after the chess
player’s arrival, a glorifying event is envisaged for them on the
Freedom square of Yerevan.

HENRY CUNY: FRENCH UNIVERSITY IN ARMENIA BECOMES BRIDGE AMONG FRENCH AND ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The French University in Armenia has
fostered three most important missions since the first day of its
existence: to secure high education quality, to attempt to prepare
such specialists who are necessary for further development of Armenia,
guarantees for providing university students with work. Henry Cuny,
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia
stated about it at the June 5 press-conference. The French diplomat is
very satisfied that the University started functioning just from the
year when he started officiating in Armenia. According to Henry Cuny,
during the recent period the University has become a bridge among
French and Armenian businessmen. It is already the third year that
high year students of the University do their education practical
work in different cities of France. According to the Ambassador,
this important practical work is financed with the means of the
Armenian-French Chamber of Trade and Insdustry. This practical work
gives them possibility to directly contact with works of business
management and work organization. Rector of the French University in
Armenia mentioned that besides Armenian businessmen, 8 students of
the University will also participate in the international economic
forum to take place in Marseilles on June 20. A similar forum will be
held in Lyon as well in 2007 during which pavillions will be given to
Armenian businessmen who will present their production in France during
those days. More than 1000 businessmen participate in this economic
forum. The French University Rector also mentioned that master classes,
separate courses relating to management and enterpreneurial activity
will start functioning at the University from this academic year.

MORE THAN 3 MLN USD ALLOCATED FROM STATE BUDGET FOR MAJOR REPAIRS OF YEREVAN SCHOOLS
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. 10 bln drams (23 mln 256 thousand USD)
has been allocated to the sphere of education by 2006 RA state budget,
1 bln 350 mln drams out of which is envisaged for major repairs of 15
schools within the jurisdiction of Yerevan Mayor’s Office. As Onik
Vatian, Head of the Education Department of Yerevan Mayor’s Office,
informed at the June 5 press conference, this year repairs will be
implemented at Yerevan schools with the resources of the Foundation
of Social Investments, as well as the Lincy Foundation. The latter has
planned to fundamentally repair 6 comprehensive schools. O.Vatian said
that the repairs of some schools will finish not at the beginning but
at the end of the schoolyear. According to the head of the Education
Department, 132 thousand pupils attended Yerevan schools last year,
while their number was 130707 in 2005-2006 schoolyear. According to
O.Vatian, the number of 10-form pupils is more by 154 as compared
with the previous year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN YOUTH SEES ITS POLITICAL “PROGRESS” MAINLY OUTSIDE OF PARTIES
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 30 of more than 80 parties acting in
Armenia have youth wings or permanently acting youth structures. Their
majority does not promote a regular, organized party activity. The
parties of the ruling coalition, the United Labor Party, the Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) opposition party, the National Unity, the
People’s Party of Armenia, the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, the
Democratic Liberal Union of Armenia, the People’s Party have more or
less actively working youth wings and structures.
Parallelly, there are some parties in Armenia (the Youth Party of
Armenia, the Progressive Party of Armenia, the Ardarutiun (Justice)
party), the majority of the members of which are young people. As
it was mentioned in the report provided to Noyan Tapan from the
Information Analyses and Programs Elaboration Department of Center
for Organization of Youth Events of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth
Affairs, young people see their political “progress,” satisfaction of
their political requirements mainly outside of parties. Mass surveys
conducted within the framework of the youth national report show
that only 3.6% of youth is a member of any party and only 5% trusts
any party. According to the results of the surveys conducted within
the framework of the youth national report, the participation of the
youth in mass actions of protest, rallies and processions is extremely
low. Only 11% of youth has participated in rallies and other actions
of protest and their 88% does not at all accept this way of political
participation considering it non-efficient or just an adventure.

ACCORDING TO RESULTS OF SURVEY CONDUCTED BY YOUTH PARTY OF ARMENIA, VAHRAM NERSISIANTS RECOGNIZED BEST STATESMAN OF YEAR
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the results of the blitz
survey conducted by the Youth Party of Armenia, Vahram Nersisiants,
Chief Adviser to RA President on Economic Issues, was recognized
“The best statesman of the year.” Sargis Asatrian, Chairman of the
Youth Party of Armenia, informed about this at the June 5 press
conference. He gave V.Nersisiants a diploma and a bronze “Graal cup”
symbolizing the idea of firm and transparent economy. As S.Asatrian
said, the Armenian public, especially the youth, “has lack of
estimation of exemplary phenomena in the system of values.” According
to him, V.Nersisiants is given the prize not as a state representative,
but as a RA citizen. Vahram Nersisiants is one of the few officials
who holding a state post has no source of side income,” the Chairman of
the Youth Party of Armenia emphasized. According to Vahram Nersisiants,
a state official should have a modest way of life and should consider
the state work an enjoyment and it is businessmen that can have
business. He added that he is not the only one among the Armenian
officials who do not use state work for other purposes. “We have such
officials, though few, and their number will increase in the course
of time,” he emphasized. According to the Adviser to the President,
“in consequence of the policy of dictatorship our people has made
espionage, falsehood, deceit an implement of their existence, and
a change, a change of generations and development is necessary to
completely get rid of them. Though, now we have great progress as
compared with the neighboring countries and past 15 years.” In response
to the question, how he treats appreciation of dram and growth in
prices for goods, V.Nersisiants said that this is connected with
economic laws, supply and demand and especially import of a great
deal of dollars and other currencies from abroad. “This results in
fluctuations, which is corrected by CBA as far as possible.”

70% OF ARMENIAN FORESTS DECOMPOSED AND OLD
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. 334 thousand ha or 11.2% of Armenia’s
territory is covered by forests, which makes only 0.1 ha per
capita. According to the 2003-2005 Ministerial Report of the RA
Ministry of Nature Protection, about 70% of the country’s natural
forests are decomposed and old. 36% of timber resources are mature
and overmature forests, which are located in areas difficult of
access. According to the report, the inefficient forest management over
the last ten years has brouhgt the forests anf forest ecosystems to
a critical state. Incorrect forest menangement has resulted in aging
and overmaturity of forets in some areas, and to their degradation
and destruction – in others. The energy and economic crises brought
about large-scale deforestation in about 40,000 ha of forests and
green zones. Most of illegal tree cutting has been done by residents
of 230 communities located 5 km from forests – for heating.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

METROPOLITAN KLIMENT CONSIDERS THAT “MUCH IS DONE FOR PRESERVING CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES IN AZERBAIJAN”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
MOSCOW, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The other day the
Press Service of Moscow Patriarchate spread a press release about
the meeting of Manager of the Patriarchate, Metropolitan of Kaluga
and Borovsko Kliment with Azerbaijani Ambassador Polad Byulbyuloghli,
during which, according to the Press Service, it was mentioned that
“today much is done both in Russia and in Azerbaijan for preserving
cultural and spiritual values.” The Press Service does not mention,
whether at the meeting it was spoken about the khachkars (cross-stones)
destroyed in Nakhichevan. Whereas, the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper
of Armenians of Russia reminds that the sitting of the Commission of
Public Chamber of RF on Issues of Cultural and Spiritual Heritage
presided over by Metropolitan Kliment was held on May 17 2006,
during which the issue “on application of the participants of Moscow
roundtable” “Armenian Cultural Monuments of Nakhichevan – Subject of
Vandalism of Azerbaijan” was considered. The Commission of Public
Chamber unanimously condemned the act of vandalism in Azerbaijan
towards monuments of Armenian spiritual culture in Old Jugha, as
well as expressed intention to jointly with the Chamber’s interested
commissions on issues of tolerance and liberty of conscience, culture,
globalization and national strategy of development, international
cooperation and public diplomacy study the state and Azerbaijan’s
preserving the cultural and spiritual heritage of other peoples,
which is the property of the world civilization.
Metropolitan Kliment also spoke during the exchange of opinions. He
declared that the destroyed Armenian historic and cultural monuments
were the property of the whole world civilization, their destruction
was an irreplaceable loss for the world cultural and historic heritage.

DEMAGOGIC PROPOSALS OF DIALOGUE UNCOVER DIPLOMATIC WEAKNESS OF TURKEY, HEAD OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SLOVAKIA EMPHASIZES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
BRATISLAVA, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Starting dialogue
on historic fact, Turkey has only one goal – to create an illiusion,
to prove to Europe that it’s a completely ready country for membership
to the European Union and finds a free, openly speaking and civilized
way even in the Armenian Genocide issue to prove its “truth.” Ashot
Grigorian, the Chairman of the Europe Armenian Organizations’
Representation, the head of the Armenian community of Slovakia stated
about it, giving explanations to a number of representatives of
mass media of Slovakia on the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide on the way of Turkey’s membership to the EU. “Thus, first
of all, the fact of a dialogue, if it takes place, is already very
benefitial for Turkey.
It’s natural that it’s needless and harmful for Armenia,” he
explained. “A country that has blocked for dozens of years documents
of the Armenian Genocide in its archives and today states that it
is ready to open its archives in front of specialists, does anybody
doubt that all the documents containing proves will have been cleaned
from those archives? Even more, how one believe a country which puts on
trial its scientists in the case of expressing any true idea concerning
the Armenian Genocide and even adopted a criminal law relating to the
issue,” Grigorian mentioned. It, according to him, is such a laughable
fact that after it, demagogic proposals of a dialogue uncover today’s
diplomatic weakness of Turkey. According to the Chairman of the Europe
Armenian Organizations’ Presentation, Turkey’s worthy panishment for
that demagogy will be to take the second step as well by countries
adopted resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, thus, to make resolutions
adopted by parliaments like a law, in the case of what refusal of the
Armenian Genocide will become criminally punishable. He finds that
European Armenian communities must settle down that affair just now,
in works with parliaments of their countries.