13.04.2006
Zaman
Ankara
conomy&alt=&hn=31998
Nuclear Plant to be Built in Northern Turkey
Turkey’s Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) President Oktay Cakiroglu announced
that they offered eight possible locations to build the country’s first
nuclear plant and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sinop is
`the one.’
The Agency technically studied details countrywide on where to construct the
plant, said Cakiroglu in his speech at the parliamentary commission. Eight
locations were chosen through 43 criteria, such as sea water temperature,
climate, wind and general weather.
Sinop was the final conclusion, Cakiroglu reported; a technology center will
also be established in this city.
The lake region near the Sariyer Dam in the Turkish city of Eskisehir was
also attractive; however, it was not preferred because of the transportation
problem of eight or nine reactors. Having been sent to the Turkish Atomic
Energy Agency and Lands Registry, the official report announced where to
construct the nuclear facility in Sinop.
The report dated 15 March 2006 obtained by Zaman demanded the sheet maps of
some lands in the village of Abali in Sinop. The Abali village stands in
Inceburun, the northernmost point of Turkey. The Sinop Province made prior
efforts for recreation and tourism in the area with a lighthouse.

Beverly Hills Film Festival Awards Golden Palm to “Assyriska”
Indiewire.com
April 12, 2006
The sixth annual Beverly Hills International Film Festival awarded its
Golden Palm Award to “Assyriska: A National Team Without a Nation” by
Nuri Kino and Erik Sandberg over the weekend. The award was voted on by
BHFF’s jury and festival attendees. The third episode in a five-part
documentary chronicles an Assyrian soccer team from a small Swedish town
as it achieves international stardom while also pushing Swedish and
Turkish governments to recognize the “forgotten” Assyrian genocide of
WWI. Best foreign film went to “Verso La Luna Con Fellini” (Towards the
Moon with Fellini), directed by Eugenio Cappuccio. The comical
documentary features the late Italian director Federico Fellini shooting
his last film, “La Voce della Luna.” Harold Cronk took the prize for
best director for his work in “War Prayer,” an atmospheric short film
inspired by a Mark Twain story. For more information and a full list of
prize winners, visit BHFF’s website.
[Brian Brooks]

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN RECEIVES MOROCCAN AMBASSADOR
Armenpress
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: Morocco’s new ambassador to Armenia,
Abdeljalil Sobrii (he is seated in Kiev, Ukraine) handed today his
credentials to president Kocharian. Kocharian was quoted by his press
office as saying that he hopes that during the ambassador’s tenure
Armenian-Moroccan relations would mark progress.
The ambassador said his government was interested in expanding ties
with the South Caucasian countries in view of the region’s big
potential. The sides commended traditionally close Armenian-Arab
relations and said they were ready to take concrete steps to further
them. For this purpose they said the sides should first of all develop
a legal framework that would enable them to start economic, political
and other ties.

AZERI LEADER DISMISSES ARMENIAN GRAVESTONE REPORTS AS “ABSOLUTE LIE”
ANS TV, Baku
13 Apr 06
[Presenter] Azerbaijan is capable of defending its national interests
and liberating its territory. This is our sovereign right. If the peace
talks yield no results, we shall resort to other means, President Ilham
Aliyev has said in Saki. ANS TV’s Saki bureau special correspondent
Xatira Akparova has the details.
[Correspondent] Today the president attended the opening of
a park-museum named after Heydar Aliyev. After the ceremony the
president made a speech.
[Passage omitted: correspondent quotes Aliyev as commenting on claims
of destruction of Armenian monuments in Naxcivan]
[President Ilham Aliyev, captioned] As you know some circles in
Armenia, the Armenian lobby, and some hypocritical politicians who
are under their thumb, have recently alleged that Armenian tomb stones
in Naxcivan are being destroyed.
This is an absolute lie, slanderous information, a fairytale. All
historic monuments are being preserved in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is
noted for its tolerance. Representatives of all ethnic groups and
religions live here as one family. Yesterday I visited the Georgian
church in Qax.
[Correspondent] The president noted that the main aim of his
visits is to check whether his instructions regarding the economic
development of the regions are being implemented by the local executive
authorities. In his speech, the president also noted that a thermal
power plant with a capacity of 87 MWh, which is under construction,
will be commissioned in Saki. It will provide Saki and the region
with electricity.
[Passage omitted: sightseeing in Saki, the visit continues].

ARMENIA HAS SERIOUS PROSPECTS TO BECOME A DESERT
A1+
[01:31 pm] 13 April, 2006
According to the global meteorological station forecasts the global
temperature will increase by 1.7 (minimum) and 5 – 8 (maximum)
degrees. According to our meteorologists the temperature will increase
by 1.7 degree C in Armenia.
The “Armenian State Hydro-Meteorological Service” foresees that this
global warming will result in certain environmental changes. Mainly
the cases of freezing will double, the rains will decrease by 10%,
and the aridity will become a frequent phenomenon.
“There is already a trend of aridity increase in Armenia. The
observations held by the year 2002 testify to this,” says the
Vice-Director of the “Armenian State Hydro-Meteorological Service”
Hamlet Melkonyan. But he adds that the further observations were
stopped as there were not financial means.
The temperature increase will have its side effects on Lake Sevan. It
will lose 140 million liters drinking water in case the water level
increases by 1 degree.
We shall also have a loss of river waters by 15%.
Thus, Armenia will encounter the problem of water lack. The survey
made by the year 2004 revealed that the temperature increase also
accelerated the process of making the country wilderness.
The forecast of the world experts shows that the global warming will
have a larger scale than the climate changes of the last 10 000
years. Today many documents have been signed in order to decrease
the index of the threat. The Kioto treaty was made in 1997 by which
the developed countries are to curtail the waste of 6 main greenhouse
exhaust gases by 5%. By the way, the USA has the top scores with the
quantity of waste, and then come China, Russia and other developed
countries.
“The level of exhaust waste in Armenia is rather low in comparison
with other countries; it hasn’t even reached the 1990 year level. The
greenhouse gases are directly proportional to the economic prosper;
we don’t have a developed economy,” claims Hamlet Melkonyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“GRAND – PRIX” WILL BE HELD IN ARMENIA
A1+
[02:58 pm] 13 April, 2006
The most significant tournament of judo “Grand – Prix” will be held
in Armenia in October of 2007.
Today the European Judo Union Romanian Chair Marius Vizier declared
about it. The latter is now in Armenia on special invitation. “I am
in good relationship with the Chair of the Armenian Judo Federation
Alexander Avetisyan and I always get delighted with the victory of
Armenian sportsmen. When the Armenian sportsman (Armen Nazaryan)
won the European Championship of 60 kg I was really glad.” The
“Grand – Prix” tournament will be held for the second time. It was
first held in Moscow. Only the champions and winners of European and
World Championships as well as Olympic games can participate in the
tournament. Being the organizer, Armenia will have one sportsman in
each weight category. 250 thousand USD will be spent on the meetings
including 100 thousand prize fund.
In Marius Vizier’s opinion the tournament will contribute to the
development of judo in Armenia. “You already have good sportsmen and
you only need such a great tournament for further progress which will
help your sportsmen to see the strongest sportsmen and strive to have
good results.” By the way, Marius Vizier presented 1000 kimonos to
the Armenian judo federation and promised Armenian judo trainers to
hold seminars in summer for them with the participation of excellent
specialist who will try to enlarge their knowledge.

THE ORDER OF GETTING US VISA HAS CHANGED
A1+
[03:25 pm] 13 April, 2006
Applicants for non-immigrant visas to the United States may now save
time by scheduling their non-immigrant visa interviews by telephone,
instead of making a trip to the Consular Section of the U.S.
Embassy. Visa applicants may call (374-10) 49-46-86 any workday between
the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 pm to schedule their non-immigrant visa
interview, effective immediately. Applicants do not have to make
the call personally, but the person calling must have all needed
information available.
When scheduling an interview appointment by phone, callers should
have the applicant’s passport in hand and be ready to provide
the applicant’s name, passport number and passport expiration
date. Interview appointments will not be given to those whose passports
will not be valid for a minimum of six months from the date they
plan to enter the United States. Likewise, applicants must have an
Armenian exit permit valid for three months in order to receive an
interview time. Applicants must present a completed application form
at the time of their interview.
Application forms are available on the Consular Section web site,
, or can be picked up at the entrance to the
Consular Section workdays between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 pm.
Beginning May 1, interviews can be scheduled only by telephone, and
it will no longer be possible to make an appointment in person at the
embassy. No visa applicants will be interviewed without appointments.
As summer approaches, the demand for visas increases and applicants
may have to wait several weeks to be interviewed. Those intending
summer travel should begin the visa process well in advance of their
planned travel dates. Current waiting times can be found on the
Consular Section web site:
The Consular Section is open Monday through Friday, but is closed
for all U.S. and most Armenian holidays.
A schedule of holidays and additional information may be found on
our web site:

POPULIST “INTRIGUES” IN THE PARLIAMENT
A1+
[02:34 pm] 13 April, 2006
Today the NA was full of the “legislative branch representative.” The
Republican Party “gathered” all its deputies. Even Levon Sargsyan
(“the flouring – mill Ljovik”) and Samvel Aleksanyan (“Lfik Samo”)
were present.
On the whole, the Parliament was ready to put “the program of 2001
– 2003 privatization revenue” to the vote but before carrying the
ballot the Chairman of the Dashnaktsutyun Party Levon Lazarian and
the Vice-Deputy of the “Justice” Fraction Victor Dallakyan made
interpreting speeches on it. Levon Lazarian explained that they
were against the 2001 – 2003 privatization revenue and now they don’t
vote the program of 2001 – 2003 privatization but the privatization
procedure from January 1 to December 31 of the year 2004. He informed
that they approved of it.
Victor Dallakyan said that people who don’t approve of the program
must not vote so that the bill will not be passed and then he
asked for a 20 – minute break. The deputies “overcame the 20 –
minute test” and finally carried a vote on “the program of 2001 –
2003 privatization.” After the break, before carrying the ballot the
member of the ND Fraction Hakob Hakobyan made a speech and addressed
to the NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, “We have spoken about robbery
for 2 days and criticized it but as Victor Dallakyan mentioned “if we
vote against, the bill will pass. How can people know whether it is
all formality or not? Which will be you next step? Will you organize
a hunger-strike or a protest?” Arthur Bagdasaryan answered that it
was a position of principle, they will say “no” to the privatization
program and they have already taken measures for the further prevention
of the privatization procedure.
Anyway, the bill passed with 65 “pros,” 10 “cons” and 10
“abstentions.” Only the Opposition did not participate in the
ballot. The 2005 – 2007 privatization program was also confirmed with
80 “pros,” 0 “cons” and 5 “abstentions.” After the voting the hall
became empty within 3 minutes. The NA continued its current work.
The Vice-Deputy of the “Justice” Fraction Victor Dallakyan commented
on the events of the Parliament in the following way, “If any of the
Coalition representatives is against the Government policy it must
raise the question of no-confidence and the vice versa. In developed
countries the Government would arouse the question of Government’s
confidence in case the party led by the Parliament Speaker behaved
like this. Neither of them occurred. Thus, the next populist step
was made in the Parliament.”
By the way, the balloting had a rather interesting result. For
instance, the member of “National Conciliation” Party Haroutyun
Muradyan approved of the privatization revenue program. The Deputies of
Orinats Yerkir, despite Arthur Baghdasaryan’s calls to vote against
the program, voted in its favour; let us mention Artak Sargsyan
(the owner of “Sas” supermarket).

THE NUMBER OF ALAVERDI BENEFIT RECEIVERS WAS REDUCED
“Ankjun+3” TV channel of Alaverdi
[03:27 pm] 13 April, 2006
The document ascertaining procedure of families included in the
list of socially vulnerable layer in Alaverdi already finished. As
it turned out the number of benefit receivers reduced from 2205 to
1806 in comparison with the previous year data.
According to the Social Services Regional Agency Chief Armen Gevorgyan
the document ascertaining does not fully reveal the social state of
the region; a part of benefit receivers left the region, the family
members of others found jobs whereas certain vulnerable families are
not ascertained at all as they couldn’t get a certificate from their
district in time.

ARMENIA TO SUBSTITUTE GEORGIA IN RUSSIAN WINE MARKET
1 5:27 04/13/2006
Chairman of the Armenian Wine-Makers Union Avak Arutyunyan has
commented to a REGNUM correspondent on ban of Georgian and Moldavian
wine imports. He called the decision made by the Russian authorities
a rightful one. As he says, ” the Russian authorities should care,
first of all, about health of their citizens.”
As the expert believes, decision of the Russian authorities will be
“a severe blow to the economies of Georgia and Moldavia, as 25-30%
of GDP of these countries was secured exactly on the account of
wine-making.” “The parties can reach a compromise, if, of course,
the political aspect is settled. Actually, the issue of banning wine
exports contains two aspects, a technological and a political one,
and the latter is not predominant.”
Speaking about substitutes for banned Georgian wines, Arutyunyan
said Armenia could profit from the situation in the Russian market:
“In this case, Armenia can substitute Georgia, but we have a serious
rival in the person of France, and the Armenian government should at
this stage take immediate decisions and support Armenian wine-makers.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress