GASPROM CORRECTS A MISTAKE OR HIDES INFORMATION
Lragir.am
07 April 06
The rumors on transferring the Meghri-Kajaran 40-km section of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Gasprom are controversial. In addition,
theseare controversial though they come from the same source.
On April 6 Gasprom placed a news release on the website of the company
on signing of an agreement by Armenia and Russia, which includes
arrangementson the fifth generating unit of the Thermal Power Plant of
Hrazdan and the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, particularly, on the
transfer of both to Gasprom. The rumors about the Thermal Power Plant
have been officially confirmed by the government of Armenia, but there
is not an official word about the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Moreover,
the Armenian minister of energy Armen Movsisyan announced that the
construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is not over, it is not a
business to have shares that could be transferred to Russia.
Gasprom also refuted the information on the pipeline that Gasprom had
spread. More exactly, the information placed on the company’s website
on April 6 was edited, and the lines on the Iran-Armenia pipeline were
taken out. This form of refuting is interesting. In fact, Gasprom does
not refute the information on the pipeline, but clears it several
hours after placing it on the website. Thus, either Gasprom can write
anything about Armenia and clear it whenever it wants, or there is
nothing to apologize for. It turns out, however, that the information
was true but could not be published. Or it was convenient to publish
it for several hours only.
Considering the importance of the issue, these several hours were
enough to arouse public interest. It is another issue who wanted to
have this information known. If the government, particularly the
minister of energy were to refute the information, there was no point
in making it known to public. It means the leadership of Armenia would
not like a scandal, whereas Gasprom forced the government of Armenia
into a difficult situation. It means Armenia should have demanded
explanation from the Russian company if the information was false. Or
they should have asked Gasprom to take out the information, at least,
for some time. And on this level a request is not taken for granted.
On the other hand, considering that the Armenian society has a
negative attitude towards the transfer of the gas pipeline, and the
attitude towards the transfer of the fifth generating unit of the
Thermal Power Plant is also negative, the Armenian government may have
tried to do a little juggling.
The point is that by spreading information about the gas pipeline, the
government, in fact, enabled itself to refute the information about
the sale of the gas pipeline. It may improve the government’s
reputation in the country for a period. It may also ease the tension
caused by the sale of the fifth generating unit. In other words, the
society may forgive the sale of the generating unit if the gas
pipeline is kept. These are mere suggestions, but it is a suggestion
too that they managed to keep the gas pipeline. So far only the
information about the pipeline was kept.

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
7 Vazgen Sargsian Street
Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 58.08.77, 52.22.38
Fax: (+374 – 10) 54.38.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
April 7, 2006
HERITAGE PARTY HOLDS EMERGENCY CONFERENCE
Yerevan–The Heritage Party today convened a special meeting of members and
supporters at the auditorium of the Writers’ Union of Armenia. Throughout
the event, the party faithful analyzed the latest political developments and
deliberated on future courses of action.
The conference opened with Hasmik Harutiunian’s rendition of Armenia’s
national anthem, “Mer Hairenik.”
Heritage’s political secretary Vardan Khachatrian welcomed the capacity
audience with opening remarks. “We are determined to fight until victory,
and our collective resolve will prevail despite the repression and political
persecutions by the ruling administration,” he said.
Raffi K. Hovannisian, chairman of the Heritage Party, was then invited to
take the floor. In a powerful keynote address, he explored recent political
developments and proposed measures toward resolving the adverse effects of
the myopic domestic and foreign policies of the sitting presidency.
Making an assessment of current realities, Hovannisian revealed the “theater
of the absurd” which has come to grip the country’s social and political
life. “The real perpetrators are accusing the innocent, the politically
purchased are preaching ethics, and patriotism is once more being tainted by
criminal hands,” he said. Convinced that the divide of estrangement between
the people and the rulers of the day further deepened following the
outrageously falsified constitutional “referendum” last November,
Hovannisian asserted that the incumbent ruling clique, which “has turned our
Homeland into their bonanza,” is no longer capable of perceiving
contemporary challenges and surmounting them with strategic leadership and
in the national interest.
Raffi Hovannisian concluded with his and the Heritage Party’s common vision
for the Motherland, a future incompatible with the terrible truths currently
reigning within all spheres of national life. “The parochial maintenance of
petty power cannot remain the defining line of our identity, our
civilization, and our statesmanship,” he noted, calling for a determined
struggle to restore our nationwide unity, civic society, public trust, and
the conduct of free, fair, and dignified elections.
In his talk, Academician Rafael Ghazarian made an appeal to tolerate no
longer the immorality and perversion of the ruling circles. Brute force must
be met by popular strength, he maintained. “That strength is the body
politic which must stand firm against the infringements of the criminal
gang. That strength is in rediscovering our past unity.”
Also noteworthy were interventions by renowned actors Vladimir Abajian and
Yervand Manarian, Heritage board member Anahit Bakhshian, head of the party’
s Vanadzor division Garnik Sahakian, former Goris mayor Samvel Harutiunian,
and many others who called upon the public to unite and bring the country
out of the current crisis. They also drew attention to the fact that
democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are an imperative for Armenia.
In the collective view of Heritage Party members, the main obstacle standing
in the way of the country’s democratic progress is the ineffective domestic
and external policy of the current administration. And the way out of this
predicament, in their firm belief, is the rapid formation of new and
legitimate authorities.
In his closing remarks, Raffi Hovannisian underscored yet again that
“temporary obstacles cannot and must not block the party’s way, which today
continues its national quest with even greater responsibility and pride.”
Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central headquarters are located at 7 Vazgen Sargsian Street, Yerevan
375010, Armenia, with telephone contact at (374-10) 580.877, fax at (374-10)
543.897, and email at [email protected]

USA wants to see defence minister next Armenian leader – agency
Iravunk, Yerevan
7 Apr 06
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 7 April According to
our source, efforts are under way to bolster the positions of Defence
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and the American authorities are behind this
plan. The White House sees him as a politician who is capable of
resolving the issues that worry the USA, in particular the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. But, as the source says, Serzh Sarkisyan is
nowadays more concerned about the deterioration of his relations with
Russia and with his former patron [Russian Defence Minister] Sergey
Ivanov.
It cannot be ruled out that the USA will assume the role of a mediator
and try to strengthen and deepen Sarkisyan’s relations with Moscow.
Incidentally, a reduction in the price of the Russian gas may become a
way to boost Serzh Sarkisyan’s authority.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia to control Armenia’s gas

BBC NEWS:
ss/4888012.stm
2006/04/07 14:21:58 GMT
Russia’s Gazprom is to take control of Armenian pipelines and a power
station in exchange for setting gas prices at half of European levels
until 2009.
The move is part of wider plans by the Russian monopoly to seize
access to gas supplies among former Soviet republics.
Russia said it would raise gas prices to $110 per 1,000 cubic metres,
almost double what is it now, but far cheaper than European rates.
Armenia relies on Russia for gas but wants to import gas from
elsewhere.

‘Market monopolised’
Gazprom would be able to control part of a 40km (25 mile) long
pipeline, bringing gas from Iran to Armenia, following this new
arrangement.
The agreement would also allow Russia to export electricity from the
Razdan-5 gas fired power plant.
Armenia is strategically important to Russia in the Caucasus and hosts
a Russian military base there.
Some critics say Russia is using its energy position an economic and
political tool.
“Without any doubt, having the energy market monopolised by one owner
is bad for any economy” said economist Alexander Agadzhanov.
Regional hikes
Gazprom has been trying to raise prices among its neighbours but has
met with fierce opposition.
Attempts by Gazprom to hike gas prices from $50 to $230 per 1,000
cubic metres was rejected by Ukraine.
Gazprom subsequently cut supplies to Ukraine on 1 January 2006 due to
the failure to reach an agreement, worsening relations with the
country.
More recently Gazprom said Belarus, must pay three times more for its
gas supplies in the future.
A close ally of Russia, Belarus was the only ex-Soviet republic not to
experience Russian gas prices last year.
Russia aims to charge $250 per 1,000 cubic metres to all its former
Soviet neighbours in the longer term, matching European levels.
But such a move is likely to cripple countries whose economies rely
heavily on cheap gas prices.

`THE NK CONFLICT ISN’T SETTLED IN A PROFITABLE WAY FOR US’
– the NA deputy Shavarsh Kocharian thinks.

Aravot.am
06 April 06
The Parliament has livened up in the problem of NK conflict
settlement; in most probability the legislative body will be
responsible for its settlement.
Responsibility is indeed a difficult thing and the ruling powers will
try to share that responsibility among each other. But it is still
difficult to say what will happen but the initiation of the NA
commission of foreign issues to get addition standpoint of the NA
groups make us think in this way. The NDP leader Shavarsh Kocharian
was the first to answer to the chief of the commission of the NA
foreign issues Armen Rustamian’ proposal. Shavarsh Kocharian explained
his position in the following way; «There is only a declaration
on the NK conflict made by the parliament in 2001 the meaning of which
is that the parliamentary political powers must adopt such a
settlement of the conflict by which Karabakh mustn’t be the part of
Azerbaijan. But today such attitudes and position can’t be enough
because there isn’t any aspect there. And for settling the problem you
should have a clear formulated aspect in which we’ll need for inside
and outside for the political powers not to have discrepant
approaches. And it is obvious that there are such things. It is too
important first of all for propaganda and for strengthening our
positions and in the international structures as well. We also welcome
the hearings on the NK conflict organized last year and the proposal
made to the political powers by the commission; to produce certain
approaches on the NK conflict settlement.’
Shavarsh Kocharian explained the activation of the parliament in the
following way; «I think this process is late indeed, because
the position of the parliament should be specified. But the
declaration adopted in 2001 didn’t say anything new. There is a lack
of aspect approach. And those officials who speak of Karabakh as the
inseparable part of Armenia, they indeed pour water into Azerbaijani’s
mill because The goal of Azerbaijanis was just it; to change the
essence of the problem turning it into territorial quarrel between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. And they took advantage of the circumstance
that the authorities of Armenia chose that way.’
Shavarsh Kocharian thinks that they should have an aspect approach for
a long time after which it will be very effective to use the
possibilities of Diaspora and realize normal lobby activities.’
Shavarsh Tocharian doesn’t consider real the conversations that 2006
year is the best period of settling the problem; `I have already said
about it even when the cochairmen were speaking of the problem very
positively, I don’t consider that term real for a very simple
reason. The NK President Arkady Ghukasian has described the situation
very exactly, till Azerbaijan avoids of negotiating with Karabakh the
conflict can’t be settled. And the next, the international structures
want to get rid of disturbing circumstances including the NK
problem. And that’s why they make new proposals and that’s why Prague
process was quite different from the former ones because they tried
for the first time to mention both the model of territorial integrity
and the model of self-determination.’
Margaret Yesayan

IN THE WAY OF THINKING OF ’70’s
Aravot.am
06 April 06
The matter of the Academy of Science isn’t regular and doesn’t depend
on Fadey Sargsian’s leadership. The change of a person won’t improve
anything. The problem is in the old system which doesn’t correspond
to the modern demands and in change of ideology and way of thinking.
The degree of the old system can be elucidated by the following
example; the same Fadey Tachatich who has some services is a
specialist calculating machines, he has become candidate of science,
doctor and Academician with that specialty. But let’s try to ask him
to open a Word file he won’t be able to do it. The level of science of
the leaders of Academy has remained in the period of a small room of
computers and `punched cards’ of `70’s.
It is more obvious in the sphere of high technologies but in the
public sciences is the same situation. For example academicians who
have got doctor degrees on the komsomol history can’t direct modern
historiography. It’s approximately the same situation when the
lecturers of atheism have become specialists of the history of
religion. The problem is that they have a way of thinking of
«punched cards», komsomol and atheism.
Science, irrespective of the art can’t develop on some persons’
talent. The progress is possible here in case of certain system. It
is impossible to create innovation by old equipments, management and
way of thinking.
All projects of reforming the Academy face to the counteract of
academicians of 70’s. Not having natural argumentations they are
engaged in political and national demagogy for keeping their posts and
pretend as if it is spoken of closing or destroying the Academy. Then
they also add that it is profitable for Turks and Azerbaijanis. While
the backward situation of our science is much more profitable for our
neighbors. And consequently it can be spoken of not closing the
Academy but just the opposite, of saving it for specialists of
international quality to be able to produce Armenia and form
scientific schools.
Otherwise you won’t discover anything new in the holes of `punched
cards’.
Aram Abrahamian

Russia’s gas giant denies buying Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
Arminfo
7 Apr 06

Yerevan, 7 April: Gazprom has refused to take the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. The Gazprom open-type joint-stock company has corrected the
report on the 25-year agreement signed by the Armenian government
which the company’s public relations department published earlier. The
agreement defines strategic principles of cooperation in gas and
energy projects in Armenia.
The provisions regarding to the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline have been
fully omitted from the new version of the press release which has been
posted on Gazprom’s official website. The initial version of the press
release, sent to the mass media on 6 April, said that Gazprom will
take the ArmRosgazprom closed-type joint stock company from the
Armenian government, including a 40-kilometer section of the Iran
-Armenia gas pipeline and the fifth energy unit of the Razdan power
plant, under the agreement. It also said that the Armenian government
will give ArmRosgazprom the functions of the project owner of the
construction of the second section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
which is 197 km long.
The new version of the document only mentioned taking the fifth energy
unit of the Razdan power plant from the Armenian government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Millennium Challenge Corporation Signs Five Year, $235
Million Compact with Armenia
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: 202-521-3850
eMail: [email protected]
For Immediate Release
March 27, 2006
Washington, D.C. – Today, in a signing ceremony at the State
Department’s Benjamin Franklin room, Chief Executive Officer of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ambassador John Danilovich and
Armenia’s Minister of Finance and Economy, Vardan Khachatryan signed a
$235.65 million Compact between MCC and the Republic of Armenia. MCC
Chair Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice officiated and witnessed the
signing. She was joined by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian.
Over one million Armenians, about 35 percent of the population, live
in rural areas and are dependent on semi-subsistence
agriculture. Farmers operate on small plots of land and are
constrained by poor roads, inadequate irrigation and an
under-developed market economy. To overcome these constraints,
Armenia’s Millennium Challenge Compact aims to reduce rural poverty
through a sustainable increase in the economic performance of the
agricultural sector. The Compact consists of two investments: a Rural
Road Rehabilitation Project and an Irrigated Agriculture Project. The
program will directly impact 75% of the rural population and is
expected to significantly increase the annual incomes of rural poor.
`I congratulate the people of Armenia for developing a results-focused
and transformational program that will improve the lives of the poor,’
said MCC CEO John Danilovich. `MCC assistance will be used to
rehabilitate roads needed for Armenians living in rural areas to
access social services such as healthcare and markets to sell their
products. The Compact also includes funding for projects that will
increase the productivity of farm households through improved water
supply, higher yields, higher-value crops, and a more competitive
agricultural sector. Armenia is a valued partner and we look forward
to supporting their efforts to build a better life for all Armenians.’
Ambassador Danilovich added, `Continued eligibility for Millennium
Challenge Account funds depends on adherence to our indicators
measuring performance in ruling justly, investing in people, and
encouraging economic freedom. MCC will continue to monitor Armenia’s
policy performance in these three categories throughout the life of
the Compact.’
Since its establishment in 2004, MCC has signed Compacts totaling more
than $1.5 billion with eight nations: Madagascar, Honduras, Cape
Verde, Nicaragua, Georgia, Benin, Vanuatu, and Armenia. MCC is also
actively engaging with other eligible countries in Compact
negotiations.
Launched by President Bush in 2004, the MCA is an innovative approach
to development assistance that recognizes sound policies and good
governance are critical to poverty reduction and economic growth in
developing countries.
###
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government corporation
designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world, is
based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces
good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people

Los Angeles Daily News
April 7 2006
Panorama City fugitive arrested in Armenia

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Panorama City man accused of killing two
gang rivals more than a decade ago was arrested in Armenia, the FBI
announced.
Vahagn Akopyan, 33, was arrested by Armenian authorities in the
capital of Yerevan on Wednesday, said J. Stephen Tidwell, assistant
director in charge of the FBI office in Los Angeles.
Akopyan was being held until it was determined whether he will be
deported to the United States or charged in Armenia, Tidwell
announced Thursday.
Akopyan had been sought in connection

with the May 1994 murder of two reputed gang rivals and the attempted
murder of a third on Hollywood Boulevard.
He was believed to have returned to his native Armenian shortly after
the killings. A state arrest warrant was issued in 1994 and a federal
warrant accusing him of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was
issued in 2002.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 7 2006
Telephone Conversations with Armenia Tapped in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s constitution ensures privacy of correspondence,
telephone conversations and life, and these norms are derived from
international legal documents, said Rashid Hajili, Director of the
Media Rights Institute, commenting on the statements of the
Communications and Information Technologies Minister’s statement that
telephone conversations and Internet correspondence between
Azerbaijan and Armenia’s citizens are under the surveillance of the
National Security Ministry (NSM).
According to Hajili, telephone conversations can be listened to only
on the basis of special permission, and in concrete cases for
operative reasons. Therefore, mass control is inadmissible. In fact
the Minister confirmed that Azerbaijan’s secret services controls
e-mail correspondence, which is a violation of the basic
constitutional rights of citizens.
Lawyer Isakhan Ashurov is of the same opinion. In accordance with
Criminal-Procedure Code and operative-search activity, listening to
telephone conversations is permissible only on the basis of court’s
decision, Ashurov said. The Minister’s statement testifies to a
dangerous tendency of spying on the population.
The activity of law enforcement bodies must be based on law. If some
concrete people are suspected of committing a crime, it is necessary
to have special permission by court. Interfering with the privacy of
conversations and correspondence is illegal, and materials received
in this manner cannot be used as testimony.
The cochairman of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, Arzu Abdullayeva, said
that it is nearly impossible to call Armenia from Azerbaijan, and
e-mails have been controlled for a long time. On the whole, telephone
communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan support mainly human
rights activists and NGOs involved in the promotion of the conflict’s
peaceful settlement. “Azerbaijan’s leadership officially advocates a
peaceful settlement, which is impossible without society’s support,”
Abdullayeva said.
Therefore, the persecution of people involved in peaceful process
demonstrates official Baku’s questionable position.