COE SEC. GENERAL: WE MUST RESPECT EACH OTHER’S CULTURE AND RELIGION
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 18:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ When commenting on the CoE’s possible activities
in view of the demolition of the Armenian monuments in Nakhichevan,
Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis proposed to form a
fact-finding group and send it to the regions from which information on
destruction of historical monuments comes. “We are civilized people and
should be concerned over the destiny of the monuments being subjected
to destruction. We must respect each other’s culture and religion,”
CoE Secretary General stated.
Terry Davis remarked he is unaware of PACE’s intentions on the
issue. However he said he discussed with the leadership of Armenia and
Azerbaijan the possible assistance to be rendered to the mission. “I
will be glad if PACE supports my initiative,” Terry Davis said,
reported Mediamax.

OSCE MG CANNOT TAKE DECISION INSTEAD OF YEREVAN AND BAKU
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 01:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group cannot take decisions instead of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. It will be a hard decision since no peaceful
agreement can completely justify the hopes of the parties, OSCE Minsk
Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier stated at a press conference
in Baku. “But I can say that there is a solution that will meet the
demands the conflicting parties with 80%. However the final decision
should be taken by the leaders and governments of your states,”
he emphasized.
According to Fassier, the Co-chairs regret that the Rambouillet
meeting yielded no fruit.
“The year of 2005 was very tensed and many meeting and talks on the
Karabakh conflict settlement were held.
The Presidents were expected to agree on some unsettled principles
but they failed to do it,” the Co-chair said.
In his words, the work will be continued in the same intense
regime. The negotiations will set the basic principles of the
fundamental agreement, the French mediator considers. “I am convinced
that there is the possibility to reach consent,” he said, reported
Trend news agency.

DEPLOYMENT OF PEACEKEEPERS IN KARABAKH POSSIBLE UNDER NATO AND UN FLAGS
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 19:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The conflicts available in the South Caucasus are in
NATO’s limelight and the Alliance is concerned over the problems that
impede cooperation between the states of the region,” NATO Secretary
General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central
Asia Robert Simmons stated in Azerbaijan. He reiterated NATO’s position
on the Nagorno Karabakh problem and said Alliance’s position coincides
with the OSCE’s on the issue. “To deploy troops on the territory of
a state is possible only with the consent of the given state. As for
the Russian military contingent in Armenia, the troops are there by
approbation of the Armenian party and NATO doesn’t interfere in the
matter,” he said. When touching upon the possibility of deployment
of NATO peacekeeping forces in the region Simmons remarked it can
become possible after long-term discussions. “This is possible if
the conflicting parties reach agreement. Deployment of peacekeepers
is possible not only under the OSCE flag, but also under the flags
of NATO or the UN,” he said.
NATO representative did not rule out the possibility of participation
of the Alliance in a number of energy projects in the region including
the guard of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. In his words,
NATO troops will not personally guard the pipeline but NATO can
render technical assistance and hold trainings with the appropriate
organization of the states through which the pipeline stretches. Robert
also noted that although the Alliance is worried by Iran’s nuclear
dossier, it will make an attack against Iran.

CHARITY CONCERT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE GIVEN IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 18:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Araks” Belgian band will give a charity concert
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The event
was initiated by the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth NGO and will take
place in the Hermitage garden on April 24 at 7 p.m.
Moscow time. As reported by Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians
of Russia, “Araks” performs traditional Armenian music in modern
interpretation. The band plays classical guitar, flute, cello, shvi
and duduk.
The purpose of the concert is to attract the attention of the Russian
public and political circles to the Armenian Genocide issue and
contribute to the consolidation of the Armenian community, especially
the youth. The information sponsors of the concert are some Russian
media. Outstanding Russian public and political figures were invited
to the concert.

HEADS OF “GAZPROM” AND “HAYRUSGASARD” DISCUSS THE AGREEMENT ON STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION
ArmRadio.am
12.04.2006 15:18
During their meeting in Moscow Heads of “Gazprom” and “Hayrusgasard”
Companies Alexey Miller and Karen Karapetyan discussed the process of
accomplishment of the agreement on strategic principles of cooperation.
The agreement was signed between “Gazprom” and the Armenian government
on April 6.
Press Service of “Gazprom” Company informs that “during April
11th meeting special attention was paid to the issues purchase and
renovation of the 5th energy block of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant
for raising the efficiency of manufacturing gas into electric energy.”

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVED THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE DELEGATION
ArmRadio.am
12.04.2006 15:40
RA President Robert Kocharyan received today the delegation headed
by Congressman Jim Kolbe, which comprises Congressman Scott Garrett,
Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation John
Danlovich, other officials.
The President noted with satisfaction that US-Armenia relations
experience dynamic development.
In his turn Jim Kolbe welcomed the successful mission of Armenian
peacekeepers.
Expressing his gratitude for the financial assistance to be provided
to our country in the framework of the Millennium Challenge Program,
Robert Kocharyan noted that Armenia is loyal to the reinforcement
of democracy and liberalism, at the maintenance and development of
which the program is directed. The President attaches dual importance
to the program, since it includes the marzes of the Republic, which
can lead to the decrease of discrepancy in the development of Yerevan
city and rural settlements.
Robert Kocharyan said also that the Armenian side expects distinct and
clear partnership relations from the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
The interlocutors stressed the importance of the improvement of the
Electoral Code in raising the level of the elections to be held 2007
and 2008.
During the meeting reference was made to the settlement of the
Karabakh issue.

“ARMENIAN NAVY BAND” AND “SYSTEM OF A DOWN” TO RECORD A JOINT ALBUM
ArmRadio.am
12.04.2006 17:05
The “Armenian Navy Band” plans to release a joint album with the
“System of a Down/” rock group, Armenian manager of the “Armenian
Navy Band” John Grigoryan said today. On April 22 the concert of the
“Armenian Navy Band” and Arto Tunjboyajyan is expected.

ARMENIAN KHACHKARS EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN LOUVRE IN FALL
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 20:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An exhibition of Armenian khachkars (cross stones)
will open this fall in Louvre within the framework of the Year
of Armenia in France, reported the press office of the RA Embassy
in Paris.
To note, the Year of Armenia is France will start September 21,
2006 on the Armenian Independence Day and finish July 14, 2007,
on the French Independence Day. The program provides for some 200
events in 40 cities of France.

MCC GRANT TO OPEN NEW HORIZONS FOR ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 22:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. Congressional delegation lead by Jim
Kolbe and Scott Garrret together with Chief Executive Officer of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ambassador John Danilovich is
going to visit all the South Caucasian states. The visit bears a
familiarization nature. The delegation has already paid a call to
Georgia in Armenia. Then it will head for Azerbaijan, Congressman
Kolbe told reporters in Yerevan. In his words, the MCC grant rendered
to Armenia will open new horizons and prospects for the republic. “The
economic development of a state should march in step with the reforms
within the civic society and democracy consolidation,” he remarked.
Congressmen Kolbe also noted that during the meeting with the Armenian
leadership they discussed security issues and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement. “I thanked President Kocharian for the
contribution to the war on terror and participation of the Armenian
peacekeeping mission in Iraq,” Jim Kolbe emphazised.

SCOTT GARRETT: “WE BELIEVE ARMENIA WILL NOT ABANDON DEMOCRATIC PATH”
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 22:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If the upcoming elections in 2007 and 2008 are
undemocratic the U.S. can reconsider the Millenium Challenge Compact
with Armenia, Congressman Scott Garrett told reporters in Yerevan. In
his words, transparent and fair elections provide not only for
openness on the election day but also for the election campaign,
the role of media and the work with the NGOs. “However we believe
that Armenia will not abandon democratic path and will properly hold
the parliamentary and presidential election,” he remarked.
The Congressman also said that struggle against corruption occupies
a special places in the program.
“Corruption exists everywhere and I think that the level of corruption
in your republic will lower,” Garrett said adding that he represents
New Jersey where many Armenians live.
From: Baghdasarian