ROSTELECOM DOES NOT HAVE CLEAR INFORMATION ON ARMENTEL ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.04.2006 00:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ To all appearance, Rostelecom company is not
going to buy shares of telecommunication monopolist of Armenia
– ArmenTel company, a Rostelecom officer told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. He added that he in person does not posses any information
on the company’s intention to buy ArmenTel. In his words, Rostelecom
considers several directions to expand its activities outside Russia,
“however ArmenTel company is not in that list.” To note, throughout
the day it was not possible to get in touch with any person, who
could provide more detailed information.
To remind, the Armenian press reported yesterday OTE Greek company
is selling 90% of ArmenTel shares.
Meanwhile, Russian media name MTS, Vympelcom, Rostelecom among more
probable buyers.

ARMENIAN FM: NO NEED TO REPLACE MEDIATORS IN KARABAKH ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.04.2006 00:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is no need to replace mediators on settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated
in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta. In his words, the current
format, which involves states that are well familiar with the region,
is the most optimal one.
“Russia US and France enjoy sufficient confidence of the parties. At
that their mediation mission attributes more responsibility to the
parties to conflict in searching for solution,” Oskanian said.
At that Vartan Oskanian underscored that the way of compromise
is very hard and it demands political will and resoluteness from
the parties, as well as political pragmatism. “As of Armenia,
which continues efforts to settle the issue as soon as possible,
we recently displayed sufficient flexibility and we expect a similar
approach from the other party,” the Armenian FM said.

A MILCH COW MUSTN’T BE SOLD
A1+
[03:29 pm] 06 April, 2006
“If for the purpose of maintaining low gas price for Armenian residents
the RA gives “GazArd” an alternative possibility to import gas to
Armenia, we shall make our children unilaterally dependent of a
foreign country as we don’t have any guarantee to maintain the price
theoretically,” highlights the Chairman of the Union for National
Self-Determination Paruir Hairikyan.
According to him the rumors about maintaining low gas price are
presented as the authorities’ endeavor. “It turns out that the
present authorities want to deprive Armenians the possibility of
having alternative and competitive gas price in the coming decade. It
will be the most harmful blow for the Armenian energy security and
independence,” he says.
According to Chairman of the Union for National Self-Determination
the provision of low gas price offered to the consumers will be
thousandfold more expensive than the price increase. “Today we make
our children the hostage of Russian imperialism in order to save
money. They attempt to dull our vigilance through secret agents having
various responsible positions. But it is high time Armenia saw the
secret plot of Russia to turn Armenia into an abandoned land.
It is time Armenia realized their intrigues,” says Paruir Hairikyan. In
response to the question whether he means Andranik Margarian while
speaking of secret agents, Hairikyan answered, “If there is only one
man involved I wouldn’t name it an agency net.”
Paruir Hairikyan admires the “normal behaviour and attitude” of
Georgia and Ukraine in connection with the gas price fourfold increase.
The Armenian consumers will have an opportunity to use Persian gas
in a year. The consumers are to decide the gas of which country to
use. “There will be a free competition, and the gas market price will
logically decrease.” Thus, takings into account the national interests
it is more profitable for us to accept the Russian price than to give
our share of the Persian gas in order to ease the situation of the
price increase.
He also adds that nobody sells his milch cow. “They give their milch
cow to their rival. They sell the profitable company; energy is the
only source of our income.” Hirikyan was annoyed by the fact that
the RA President could go to “ArmRusGasArd.” Even the Prime Minister
mustn’t go to any company.
By the way, the Chairman of the USD does not exclude that a strike
will be organized in front of the Government on gas price issue. “They
can oppose us in many questions but no mother will stop thinking of
her children,” claimed Hairikyan.

THE CHIEF COACH WAS DISMISSED
A1+
[03:57 pm] 06 April, 2006
The chief coach of the Armenian football team and “Pjunik” club Henk
Visman was dismissed. He came to Armenia in 2005 and he will leave for
his homeland Holland one of these days. His functions in “Fjunik” are
now being implemented by the chief coach of the Armenian Youth team
Samvel Petrosyan. The position of the chief coach of the national
team is vacant at present. The Football Federation will soon start
negotiations with the new coaches; “Euro – 2008” selecting stage will
start in 5 months.
The deadline of the contract between Visman and the Federation will
expire in June of 2006, but Visman assured that he was going to extend
the term for 2 years. But as it turned out it was only his intention.
In the years when Visman was the coach of the team it held 8
meetings 6 of which it lost, one ended in a draw and won only the
semi-professional team of Andora.
The Armenian team held the worst meetings at the head of the Dutch
expert and had no achievement. The same can be said about “Fjunik”
which at the head of Visman remained outside the first stage of
Champion League meetings and didn’t play properly in Armenian
Championship.
Visman was the 4th foreign coach of the Armenian team and likewise
the previous coaches he leaves Armenia before the expiration of
the deadline.

GAS PRICE CAUSED FERTILIZER INCREASE
A1+
[04:45 pm] 06 April, 2006
The impact of the gas price increase on the RA agriculture is already
evident. The price of the necessary fertilizer improved mainly from
Georgia, Russia and Ukraine has gone up.
“The increase is unprecedented,” the Chief of the Plant Cultivation,
Forest and Plant Protection Board of the RA Ministry of Agriculture
Garnik Petrosyan announced while speaking of the nitrogen fertilizer
high price. As a result of this increase the price of one fertilizer
bag may become from 5000 – 5200 AMD and even more. Taking into account
the financial state of the Armenian peasants the Government decided to
subsidize the fertilizer importers so that the imported and increased
fertilizer is sold in the Armenian market with the prices of last
year. The process of subsidization was realized at the expense of 294
million AMD. As a result, the fertilizer will be sold to the farmers
with the former price – 74 thousand AMD per a ton.
The observations of the Agricultural Ministry revealed that
the-quantity of autumn sowing in 2005 decreased about 20 – 24 thousand
acres in comparison with the previous year. This is determined by the
vacillation of grain prices as a result of which the peasant either
had a little income from the cultivated land or a loss at the end of
the year.
“There seems to be certain stabilization in the market,” says
Mr. Petrosyan who foresees that, willingly or unwillingly, there will
be procurement price increases by Russia and Ukraine. In order to
soften the effects of the increase the works of spring sowing have
already started in the Republic. The survey of the Ministry revealed
that the lands of spring grain cultivation will increase by 15 thousand
acres in comparison with the previous year.
The lands of corn cultivation outnumber the quantity of the previous
year in all marzes of the country. By the way, yesterday many lands
lay under snow because of the snowstorm, but according to the Ministry
there aren’t cases of freezing so far. The Ministry is concerned with
the coming overflowing which is foreseen in April and May. But the
Ministry takes measures to combat it.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA WILL BE GIVEN TENDENCIES
A1+
[07:11 pm] 06 April, 2006
“There is not a free tendency,” this answer can be given without
turning to the National Commission on TV and Radio and the Minister
of Transportation and Communication. “According to the frequency of
program broadcast foreseen in the RA the 63rd decimetre tendency is
given to the National Commission on TV and Radio and it is within
its liabilities to give further TV tendency licences,” this is a
quotation from the Prime Minister’s letter to the answer of “Melteks”
LTD president’s application. The letter was written on April 14,
2004, but the National Commission on TV and Radio President Grigor
Amalyan declared for a few times that the broadcasting licence is to
be given by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication.
Today the 33rd, 43rd, 53rd and 54th tendencies are free. Mr. Amalyan
may be unaware of this? “By the way, the National Commission on
TV and Radio annually makes the whole list of TV tendencies public
if necessary.”
Does anybody remember when they last did it? The National Commission
on TV and Radio published only the current TV channels tendency list.
There is no free tendency. But they could simply say that the
tendencies from 64 to 69 are free. Maybe they leave them for themselves
and will declare a contest if necessary. The tendency distribution is
implemented by the International Union of Telecommunication. It is also
mentioned in the Prime Minister’s letter that “We foresee to work out a
project of regional decimetre broadcasts in the tendencies of 174 – 230
MHz and 470 – 862 MHz in May 2004.” Decimal broadcast will allow a few
TV channels to work in the same tendency without hindering one another.
Those tendencies will be distributed in the Regional Radio
Communication Conference which will be held on May 15. “A1+” was
informed about it by the Head of the Radio Communication Office of the
International Union of Telecommunication Valeri Timofejev. “Armenia
will participate in the conference.” We wonder what the Ministry of
Transportation and Communication will say after the Regional Conference
when the fact that Armenia is given tendencies will become apparent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

100 MILLION USD FOR THE ORGANISATION FAIR ELECTIONS
A1+
[07:32 pm] 06 April, 2006
The assistant of the police station head Ararat Mahtesyan brought
examples from the new Government resolution trying to prove that the
coming elections will be fair in Armenia due to their institution. By
using the word “fair” Mr. Mahtesyan meant only one thing; the lists of
electorals will be checked and corrected, the names of dead, prisoners
and people without registration won’t be included. The law violators
cannot vote instead of them.
The precedent of fair elections was as follows. The police will arm
all the passport and visa departments, will create a mechanism of
information exchange by means of computer and will make an accurate
list of residents. Then they will type the lists of electorals.
According to the new decision the police already know the addresses
of all responsible people who will be punished for not informing them
the data of dead, prisoners and absentees in time.
The program is worked out with the Ministry of Transportation and
Communication. Mahtesyan promised to invite the parties and journalists
to get acquainted with program in 3 months’ time. Mahtesyan said
that the project was valued 100 million AMD by the Executive Body
and concluded, “The Government intends to hold fair elections.”
Ararat Mahtesyan did not spoke about the tense criminal situation in
the country and the recent assaults. He only said, “Your question must
be answered by the person promising to divulge them within a month.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHOTS FIXED DURING THE OBSERVATION
A1+
[08:39 pm] 06 April, 2006
A radio monitoring of communication line was initiated by the mandate
of the OSCE representative Anjey Kasprshik on the Armenian – Azeri
border, in the section Idjevan – Ghazakh near the village Berkhaber
on April 6. During the monitoring works Anjey Kasprshik contacted
the OSCE representative in Azerbaijan. According to the RA Defence
Ministry data shots were fixed by the participants of the monitoring
from the Azeri side during the observation.
Summing up the results of the observation the Armenian side offered
the OSCE representatives to change the monitoring with the visual
observation of the communication line with the direct participation of
commanders, regional governors and representatives from communities,
but the suggestion was refuted by the Azeri side.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO FOCUS ON REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Armenpress
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS; The Center for Development of Small and
Medium-Sized Businesses is set to receive 350 million drams this year
from the state budget, by 50 million more than last year, to promote
a government-designed program for development of entrepreneurship.
Ishkhan Karapetian, director of the Center, told Armenpress that a
major component of this program is to help beginners. He said the
component had already been tested last year and will be implemented
this year in all Armenian provinces. He also said the bulk of
assistance, from 80 to 90 percent- will go this year to regional
entrepreneurs, especially in remote and frontier areas.
In 2005 the share of small and medium-sized businesses in Armenia’s
overall GDP made 40 percent, up from 38. 6 percent in 2004.

KOCHARIAN VISITS NATURAL GAS OPERATOR OFFICE
Armenpress
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian visited today
the central office of the Russian-Armenian joint venture-Hayrusgazard-
that ships Russian natural gas to Armenia.
Kocharian’s press office said the president discussed a scope of
related issues with the company’s leadership. Kocharian said the goal
of his visit was to learn what the company t did last year and what
was going to do this year. A detailed summary was provided by Karen
Karapetian, the chief manager of the company, who said last year
Armenia received almost 1.7 billion cubic meters of Russian gas,
a 24 percent rise over the previous year. The number of individual
and industrial gas consumers is now more than 360,000.
Karapetian said the process of restoration of gas networks continues
and some 100,000 new households and enterprises will get connected
to the gas pipeline this year. He also spoke about the ongoing
construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and expansion of an
underground gas storage facility.
Kocharian said the government is eager to see the company as a
profitable entity with an effective management. He also said the
time showed that the decision to choose Russian Gazprom as a partner
was right. He said new joint projects will promote the company’s
strengthening.