RUSSIAN “SYSTEM” AFC TO SHOW INTEREST IN ARMENTEL
Yerevan, April 10. ArmInfo. “The “Telecom System” CJSC, which
enters into the structure of the biggest Russian private non-charge
corporation “System” AFC, shows interest in the telecommunicational
assets in the CIS territory, including the Armenian “ArmenTel”
Company”, the Director for Public Relations of the “Telecom System”
Anna Boiko told to ArmInfo, having answered to the question about the
possible acquisition of 90% of shares of the Armenian phone monopolist
from the Greek OTE by the “System” AFC. However, she emphasized that
it is still earlier to tell about any specific plans with respect to
“ArmenTel”.
To be noted that the management of OTE has recently announced about the
readiness to sell its Armenian assets. The president of the “System”
AFC Alexander Goncharuk told in the recent interview to the Russian
“Vedomosti” newspaper that the Company will continue to enter the
former soviet republics’ market and almost all key divisions of the
Company must become important players in the CIS.
The “System” AFC was founded in 1973. At present, it owns and
controls the diversified portfolio of investments to the enterprises
of different economy branches, including telecommunications (MTS,
MGTS, “Comstar United Telesystems” and so on). The Ukrainian cell
operator UMS, telecommunicational assets in Byelorussia, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenia Kirgizia belong to the “System”. A consolidated gain of
the “System” AFC made up $5.4 bln for the first 9 months, 2005, 79%
of which falls to the share of the telecommunicational segment.

FIRST FORUM OF CIS CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENTSIA TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW
Yerevan, April 10. ArmInfo. The 1st forum of the cultural and
scientific intelligentsia of the CIS countries will be held in Moscow
Apr 14-15.
The Russian Embassy in Yerevan reports that the forum will be held on
the initiative of Russia on the basis on the agreement on humanitarian
cooperation signed by the CIS countries in Kazan.
Attending the event will be 650 people: 300 from the CIS, 250 from
Russian regions, 100 guests and officials, among them delegates
of Armenia.
The key topics will be education and youth; science and technology;
cultural legacy’ literature and books; theater, cinema, music and
circus; fine arts, architecture, design; mass media. The forum will
be opened by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The forum will elaborate recommendations to the CIS authorities and
NGOs on how to develop humanitarian cooperation in the post-Soviet
area.

IS AZERBAIJAN TRYING TO INFLUENCE HUNGARIAN PUBLIC VIA MEDIA?
Yerevan, April 10. ArmInfo. A group of Hungarian journalists has
visited Azerbaijan on the invitation of the Azeri Embassy in Hungary
and the Azeri State Committee on Azeris Abroad.
The Hungarian guests have met with representatives of the presidential
administration, the state committee on refugees and displaced persons,
the defence, foreign, culture and tourism ministries, the state oil
company. They have fully justified the expectations of the hosts by
promising them to tell the Hungarian public what they have seen and
heard in Azerbaijan.
In a press-conference the editor of the Szemle magazine, doctor Nagi
Laszlo Sandos said: “We wanted to see your country and to tell the
Hungarian people the truth about Azerbaijan.” “We have been provided
with detailed information about the Armenian-Azeri conflict, have seen
its bitter consequences: Apr 5 we visited refugee camps in Sabirabad,
Bilasuvar and Imishlin to see the living conditions of the people
expelled from their homes as a result of the conflict. What we have
seen and heard was completely different from what we knew before,”
says Sandos.
Asked about Azeri officer Ramil Safarov, facing life in prison in
Hungary for killing his Armenian counterpart, the Hungarian guests
said that Hungarian judges are independent and nobody can pressure
them. Obviously, the Safarov trial was the key reason why the Azeri
side has invited the Hungarian journalists to Baku.

EX-PRESIDENT OF RA NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE APPOINTED ADVISER OF PRIME MINISTER
Yerevan, April 10. ArmInfo. Ex-president of the RA National Academy
of Science (RA NAS), Fadey Sargsyan is appointed Adviser of Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. The prime minister announced the
news at a sitting of the RA NAS Presidium, Monday.
The academicians expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of definite
orders and terms for NAS President office. They were most of all
concerned over the adequate financing of the NAS infrastructures. RA
NAS ex-president stated that at his 82 he is no longer able to be as
useful for the Academy and science as before.
In his turn, Prime Minister Margaryan explained that F. Sargsyan’s
resignation was received yet on April 3. He did not connect the
resignation with the allegations of the academician, Director of NAS
Fundamental Library Anry Nersisyan against F. Sargsyan. Before the
new election of NAS President to be held shortly, the premier said,
the academician and mathematician Sergey Hambartsoumyan will act
as NAS President. A general assembly of NAS will convene on April
12 to discuss reforms of the scientific sphere and to determine the
date of the new elections of NAS President, academicians and member-
correspondent. The last elections of member-correspondents were 6
years ago, those of academicians – 10 years ago.
Prime Minister Margaryan advised academicians not to connect the
elections of academicians and member-correspondents with the reforms
in the sphere of science. Whereas, he connected the election of NAS
President directly with the reforms as, in his words, the academy
structures must report on the work carried out and on plans to the
Government.

UNITED LABOR PARTY MEMBER RESIGN HIS DEPUTY MANDATE
Yerevan, April 10. ArmInfo. Levon Poghosian, deputy to the National
Assembly from the United Labor Party resigned his mandate.
He explained that the new Constitution does not permit the deputies
to carry on business and he wishes still to remain the head of the
‘Mshak’ company, producing automatic computer control systems. Next
to Levon Poghosian in the proportional list of the party stands Armen
Alaverdian. Poghosian said the faction has to decide itself who is
to replace him.

THE RIVAL OF THE ARMENIAN CLUB WILL BE FROM GEORGIA
A1+
[03:48 pm] 11 April, 2006
The casting of lots of 2006 “Intertoto” Cup Tournaments was held in
the UEFA Office as a result of which one of the Armenian clubs is to
meet a Georgian representative in June.
Armenia will be more likely presented by the club “Kilikia”
in the tournament. The latter won the 5th place in the previous
championship. “Kilikia” is not in a perfect state at present and it
hardly beat “Banants – 2” with 11- meter goals. By the way, the chief
coach of “Kilikia” Samvel Darbinyan has been recently dismissed from
his position and his responsibilities are now being carried out by
23 -year – old Sergey Aghababyan.
Provided “Kilikia” wins Armenian Cup Tournament, the bronze price
winner of the previous championship “Banants” will participate in the
“Intertoto” Cup Tournaments but this version is less probable.
It is not known which team will present Georgia. Let us remind you
that this is not the first time “the football roads” of the 2 countries
are not crossed.
They last met in the first phase of the 2005 UEFA Cup Tournaments when
“Banants” beat “Lokomotiv.”
Provided the Armenian club overcomes the ban of the 2006 “Intertoto”
Cup Tournaments its rival will be the representative from Austria. The
tournament will start on June 17 – 18.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO FINANCE IMPLEMENTATION OF CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
11.04.2006 16:38
Two important cultural programs will be implemented in Armenia with
the assistance of the Italian government. First, 35 thousand Euros
will be provided to Armenia for preservation and restoration of
monuments. Another 29.5 thousand Euros will be provided for Armenians
of Italy to become specialized in Italian language and culture.

THREE-STORIED UNFINISHED BUILDING HANDED OVER TO RUSSIA?
Panorama.am
15:41 11/04/06
RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsyan considers property in return for
gas tariff bargain favorable.
He compared the 5th power-engineering unit of Hrazdan thermal power
station with three-storied house with only the small cellar built
and asked the correspondents simply to go and see that construction.
“Time will come and we shall bring more figurative and convincing
facts about the cost of the 5th power unit and this step.”
As he said the 5th unit of Hrazdan thermal power station was out of
order and it couldn’t be repaired, thus he announced to all those
“people pretending to be scientists” that at least 180 million dollars
were necessary to restore the 5th power engineering unit.
And of course Armenia couldn’t afford it.
Generally, he suggests differentiating between economic bargains and
policy. “We have to consider all the profitable suggestion for our
economy, and we shouldn’t differentiate between Russia and Belgium
saying “yes” to one and “no” to the other. No one knows why but the
word “Russia” has the same influence on people as the red color on
a bull. If there is a profitable suggestion, we have to accept it,”
the Minister emphasized.

THE YOUNG TO COME, BUT WHERE FROM?
Panorama.am
16:20 11/04/06
The reply of former NAS President Fadey Sargsyan to the question whom
he would like to see in the position of NAS President was as follows:
“I can see everyone you are thinking about, all of them are worth
occupying the position.”
As F. Sargsyan thinks the Academy must be governed by a young person
“as rather difficult times for the Academy are approaching.” The
academic and scientific amendments have to be completed. “The Academy
must be governed by a young person who will have the ability and
strength to carry out all that work,” he said.
Yet, it’s not easy to imagine a young President of NAS as at present
the “youngest” member-academician is 65.
In his turn, F. Sargsyan fixed that the average age of academicians
is 70. “No one is t blame. It’s life.”
It’s a universal truth that our country is in a scientific
crisis. If some think the reason of the crisis lies in the person
of F. Sargsyan and his abuses, the latter think the true reason of
Armenian scientific crisis is “that there are no such conditions as
before the independence.”
However, F. Sargsyan resigned and one can hardly hope that it
will be possible to overcome the problems of science in the near
future.

ALWAYS BE READY TO WAR
Panorama.am
13:16 11/04/06
“The Defence Minister of any country, the RA Defence Minister in
particular, must realize that military operations may start at any
moment,” announced RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsyan in the talk
with correspondent in the Constitutional Court today in reply to the
question whether or not he can see an opportunity of war.
Touching upon the situation in Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone the
Defence Minister mentioned that there is no difference between the
present and former situations, and “there have always been fires, and
even if there is a difference, then the situation has become milder,”
he added.