RADIO MONITORING OF CONTACT LINE HELD IN IJEVAN-GHAZAKH PART OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI BORDER ON APRIL 6
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the mandate
of Andrej Kasprczik, the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, radio monitoring of the contact line will be
held near the village of Berkaber, in the Ijevan-Ghazakh part of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border at 11:00, April 6.
As Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, the RA Defence Minister’s Press
Secretary informed Noyan Tapan, this time A.Kasprczik will participate
in the observation from the Azerbaijani side.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA HAS A WISH TO ACTIVIZE COOPERATION WITH DENMARK
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Uffe Anderson Balslev, the newly
appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Armenia (residence
in Kiev) handed his credentials to RA President Robert Kocharian on
April 6. The President of the republic re-affirmed the wish of the
Armenian side to activize the cooperation with Denmark. Agreeing that
there is still much to do in the direction of widening the bilateral
ties, the interlocutors attached importance to implementation of
joint programs in concrete spheres, particularly, in the context of
the European Union-Armenia cooperation. Robert Kocharian cosidered
pivotal in the relation with the European Union the possibility of
implementing active reforms in political, economic, social spheres,
emphasizing that he sees the main guarantee of development of the
country in continuous reforms of high quality. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA President’s Press Office, Robert Kocharian presented
briefly the current process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

BIPARTISAN GROUP OF THIRTY U.S. REPRESENTATIVES URGE PBS NOT TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIERS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2006
WASHINGTON, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA) was joined by Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), and a bipartisan group of twenty-six U.S. Representatives in
urging the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) not to provide a broadcast
platform for deniers of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America. In an April 3rd letter, addressed to
PBS Chief Operating Officer Wayne Godwin, the House Members addressed
the growing controversy surrounding plans by PBS to broadcast a panel
discussion including known Armenian Genocide deniers Justin McCarthy
and Omer Turan following the airing this April of the documentary “The
Armenian Genocide,” produced by Andrew Goldberg. In their letter,
the group of legislators urged that, “PBS not provide a national
platform to those who deny the Armenian Genocide… Despite the
Turkish government’s concerted and well-financed effort to obscure
and alter history, there is no serious academic dispute about the
Armenian Genocide.” The letter closed by noting that, “Surely,
PBS would not consider broadcasting a documentary on the Holocaust,
followed by a panel that included Holocaust deniers. A commitment to
balance does not mandate the inclusion of opinions that are objectively
false.” “We want to thank Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone,
and Knollenberg for their leadership in giving voice to the growing
Congressional opposition to PBS’s deeply flawed decision to provide
public airtime to deniers of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Clearly their concerns are being
heard, as more and more PBS affiliates are deciding not to run this
panel discussion.” The full list of signatories is as follows: Gary
Ackerman (D-NY), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Anna
Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Steve Israel (D-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI),
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA),
Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Richard Neal (D- MA),
C. L. Butch Otter (R-ID), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Steven Rothman
(D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Brad Sherman (D -CA),
Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-NY),
Diane Watson (D-CA), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY). In addition to the
signatories of this letter, a number of other legislators undertook
individual efforts directly with PBS. Among these were Senator Boxer
(D-CA), who shared her concerns with San Francisco’s KQED, which
recently decided not to air the denial panel.
Senator John Ensign (D-CA), the author of the Senate version of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res. 320), similarly urged Las Vegas
PBS affiliate KLVX not to air the panel, stressing that, “to air
this or any other denial would only serve to condone [the Turkish
government’s] denial and to ignore the reality of those atrocious
acts that were responsible for the loss of one and half million lives
and for more than half a million survivors being exiled.” On the House
side, individual letters were sent by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and James
Langevin (D-RI). In her letter, Rep. Lofgren expressed her hope that
“PBS will evaluate this planned programming using the same standard
it would employ if deniers were discussing either [the Armenian or
Jewish] Holocaust.”
Rep. Langevin noted that, “I imagine that those who deny the existence
of the Holocaust would not be offered the same chance to air their
views, and I question why the Armenian Genocide appears to be held
to a different standard.” On April 4th, Rep. Schiff hosted a Capitol
Hill screening of the PBS documentary, “The Armenian Genocide,” to
a standing-room only audience of Members of Congress, Congressional
staffers, members of the media and Armenian American community
activists. Rep. Schiff was joined by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Rep.
Pallone in offering remarks at the opening of the documentary,
while director Andrew Goldberg led an insightful question and answer
session at the conclusion of the piece. Among those in attendance
were His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador of the Republic of
Armenia to the U.S. accompanied by Embassy staff, as well as former
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon and Pulitzer Prize winning
author Samantha Power. On March 29th, Rep. Pallone delivered a House
floor speech urging PBS not to air the panel discussion, arguing
that he “would not feel any different about this issue if we were
discussing Darfur, Rwanda or the Nazi Holocaust. Genocide deniers
should not have a forum.
The quest for fair and balanced information does not give a license to
propagate false, misleading and offensive information about historical
facts that relate to genocide.” The Washington Post reported on
February 16th that, “Thousands of Armenian Americans are protesting
the Public Broadcasting Service’s planned panel-discussion program
about Turkey’s role in the deaths of Armenians during and after World
War I. The 25-minute program has generated an outcry because the
panel will include two scholars who deny that 1.5 million Armenian
civilians were killed in eastern Turkey from 1915 to 1920.”

MEMORIAL EVENING DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY HELD IN ATHENS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2006
ATHENS, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A memorial evening
dedicated to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was held on
April 4 at the Royal Olympic hotel of Athens. The event was organized
by the Rotary club of Athens. As Noyan Tapan was informed by RA
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, over 200 members
of the club, members of the parliament and government of Greece,
representatives of the Armenian community and the clergy were present
at the memorial evening. RA Ambassador Vahram Kazhoyan also took part
in the event.

GROSS FOREIGN DEBT OF ARMENIA MAKES 1,860.18 MLN DOLLARS IN LATE 2005
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The gross foreign debt of Armenia
declined by 7.8 mln USD compared with 2004 and made 1,860.18 mln USD
in late 2005. 48.5% of the debt formed in the state government system,
20.3% – in the private sector, 10.6% – in the monetary and credit
regulation bodies and 8.5% – in commercial banks. According to the
RA National Statistical Service, Armenia’s net foreign debt declined
by 151.3 mln USD in 2005 and made 777 mln USD at the end of the year.

ARMENIAN BANKS PROVIDE CREDITS OF 450 MLN DOLLARS AS OF LATE FEBRUARY 2006
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The total amount of credits provided
by the Armenian commercial banks made 197 bln 127 mln drams (about
450 mln USD) as of February 28, 2006. The credit investments account
for 96.88%, deferred loans of banks – for 2%, and overdue loans –
for 1,12% of this amount. According to the RA National Statistical
Service, the balance of the population’s deposits with the banks
grew by 24.5% compared with the same day of last year and made 19 bln
990 mln drams. In January-February 2006, the expenditures related to
the sale and purchase of foreign currency in the RA banking system
exceeded the revenues by 19,003.6 mln drams and made 23 bln 558.2
mln drams and 43 bln 561.8 mln drams respectively.

PARUYR HAYRIKIAN: DELIGHT OF “WINNING” LOW GAS TARIFF BY PROVIDING RUSSIA WITH GAS IMPORTED FROM IRAN IS DECEIT
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The delight of “winning” a low
tariff for gas by providing Russia with gas imported from Iran
is just a deceit. Paruyr Hayrikian, Chairman of the National
Self-Determination Union, expressed such an opinion at the April
6 press conference. According to him, “by an unintelligible logic
we are deprived of our main advantage, the alternative possibility
of gass supply”. Hayrikian declared that the authorities want to
deprive the Armenian people of the possibility to have alternative
and competitive prices for gas in the coming decades for this low
price for gas, which will be the hardest blow delivered to Armenia’s
energy security and independence.
According to him, “the independence achieved 15 years ago through a
referendum is taken away from our children with a prospect of dozens
of years, today because of economizing money we make our children
hostages of the Russian imperialism”. From point of view of the
national insterests, according to P.Hayrikian “it is more beneficial
to accept the price thrusted upon by Russia than to let them have our
share of the Iranian gas on the pretext of reduction of the price
for gas”. The National Self-Determination Union Chairman said that
Armenian-Turkish relations continue to be regulated by Russian-Turkish
agreements, i.e. they are submitted to Russia, and an attempt to
submit the Armenian-Iranian relations to Russia is also being made
today. According to Hayrikian, the National Self-Determination Union
considers it possible to organize a rally in front of the building
of RA government on their own or in association with other forces.

400.4 MLN DOLLARS INVESTED IN REAL SECTOR OF ARMENIAN ECONOMY IN 2005
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2005, the foreign investment flows
in the Armenian economy (including those received through the state
governance and banking systems) amounted to 504.5 mln USD (a 8.3%
growth on 2004). The foreign investments in the real sector of the
economy (without those received through the state governance and
banking systems) made 400.4 mln USD (a 31% growth), with direct
invsetments amounting to 244.4 mln USD (a 8% growth). RA Deputy
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Tigran Davtian stated
this at the April 6 press conference. According to him, in 2005
the investments were more diversified by sectors, since the foreign
investments of over 7 mln USD were made in 8 branches of the Armenian
economy. 132.1 mln USD was invested in the communication sector, 97.5
mln USD – in the mining industry and 53.3 mln USD – in metallurgical
enterprises, investments of 26.4 mln USD were made in the production
of foodstuffs and drinks, 16.4 mln USD was invested in construction,
14.9 mln USD – in air transport infrastructures, 14.4 mln USD – in
the information technologies and electronics sector, and 7 mln USD
in the sphere of hotel services. T. Davtian said that last year the
number of countries making investments in the Armenian economy was on
the increase. European Union countries accounted for the largest share
of investments (about 50%), followed by Russia, the US, Argentina and
Lebanon. In terms of investments in companies, the biggest investments
were made in VivaCell (Lebanese capital, communication sector),
ArmenTel (Greek capital, communication sector), Zangezur Copper and
Molybdenum Enterprise (German capital, mining industry), Yerevan Brandy
Company (French capital) and Kotayk Beer Plant (French capital). It was
noted that the amount of foreign investments in Armenia’s economy in
2000-2005 made 1 bln 466 mln USD, with direct invsetements amounting
to 962 mln USD. The amount of investments in 1991-2005 made 1 bln
996 mln USD, with direct investments of 1 bln 460 mln USD. The deputy
minister underlined that the foreign investments/GDP ratio of 10-12%
registered in 2005 is not yet satisfactory.
According to T. Davtian’s forecasts, in 2006 the amount of foreign
investments in the real sector of the Armenian economy (without
those received through the state governance and banking systems)
will exceed 500 mln USD.

EX-DEFENCE MINISTER OF RA SEES NO CONNECTION BETWEEN INCREASE OF AZERBAIJAN’S MILITARY BUDGET AND IMPROVEMENT OF ITS ARMY’S FIGHTING EFFICIENCY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Azerbaijan’s statements about increase
of its military budget up to 600 mln USD are made for the purpose of
exerting pressure upon the Armenian leadership in order to compel it
to make concessions in the issue of Karabakh settlement. Vagharshak
Haroutiunian, member of the National Rebirth party’s political board,
Ex-Defence Minister of Armenia, declared this in his interview to
Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his opinion, there are many factors in
the issue, how much the increase of Azerbaijan’s military budget can
influence the fighting efficiency of its army. Thus, according to the
Ex-Defence Minister, we should take into consideration the fact that
the navy is also included in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. And this
type of troops requires considerable expenditures from the military
budget. “While, it is quite obvious that the Azerbaijani navy does
not pose any danger for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,” Vagharshak
Haroutiunian declared. Another important factor in the issue of
impact of the military budget on the fighting efficiency is the
international commitments, in particular, the “Agreement on Limitation
of Conventional Armaments in Europe” envisaging limitations in the
main types of armaments without exceeding which, in the opinion of the
Ex-Defence Minister, Azerbaijan cannot achieve military superiority
over Armenia. “These are unsubstantiated and senseless statements. The
Armenian Armed Forces are able to defend Armenia and the Armed Forces
of Artsakh to defend Artsakh. And it is Azerbaijan’s military budget
that will not permit it to gain a victory thanks to blitzkrieg in
the coming years,” Vagharshak Haroutiunian declared.

5th UNIT OF HRAZDAN TPP SOLD TO GASPROM
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006
YEREVAn, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the Armenian government’s decision
of April 6, 2006, the 5th power unit of the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant
(TPP) has been sold to Gasprom company (Russia) for 248.8 mln USD. RA
Minister of Energy Armen Movsisian told reporters on the same day that
the government took this step in order to mitigate the consequences
of the increase in the gas tariff. A. Movsisian said that in the
period from April 10, 2006 to December 31, 2008, the government
will compensate the users 188 mln dollars of the indicated sum in
the form of subsidies aimed at mitigating the tariff increase, while
the remaining sum will be transferred to the state budget. Starting
April 10, the state will subsidize 25 thousand drams out of the 90
thousand drams (200 USD) for 1,000 cubic meters for private users,
and 52.01 USD is envisaged against 146.51 USD for big consumers. The
sum will be transferred to the extrabudget account of the RA Ministry
of Defence, which, according to A. Movsisian, will allow to accelerate
the process. The Russian side intends to implement a 150-160 mln dollar
investment program at the 5th unit of Hrazdan TPP within the next two
years. Under the program, the power unit must be fully constructed,
in addition, a gas turbine with the capacity of at least 140 megawatt
has to be installed. The contract also stipulates that there will be
no change in the tariff of the gas supplied by Gasprom until 2009. The
minister said that this deal will also allow to avoid an increase in
the price of electricity. Asked if it would not be more expedient
to sell the 5th unit by holding a tender, A. Movsisian said that a
tender was announced two years ago but the offered price was much lower
than the current one. According to an agreement reached previously,
construction of the Hrazdan TPP 5th power unit was to be completed
with credit resources of the Iranian side. A. Movsisian said that it
was proposed that instead, the Iranian side should make investmenmts
in the construction of the Meghri hydropower plant on the Arax River.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress