NO ISSUE OF RA NAS CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION ON AGENDA OF COMING SITTING OF CHAIRMANSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The enlarged sitting of the Chairmanship
of the National Academy of Sciences takes place on April 5. The main
issue is the discussion of results of the work of the commission
controlling the financial activity of the RA NAS administration,
particularly, of Chairman Fadey Sargsian. The commission was
created by academicians Anri Nersisian’s and Hrachik Simonian’s
demand. Representatives of the RA NAS and leading institutions of
higher education of the country are involved in the commission. As the
Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the RA NAS Press Service,
no issue of F.Sargsian’s resignation is on the agenda of that sitting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST STAGE OF WORKS OF WORKING OUT NATIONAL YOUTH REPORT OF ARMENIA FINISHES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The first stage of works of working out
the National Youth Report of Armenia by the RA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Issues finished. The report is a complex study that presents
the existing state of the youth of Armenia, and will in future be a
basis for working out and implementing a state long-term strategy. As
Arsen Soghomonian, the Chief of the Youth Policy Department of the
Ministry’s staff informed at the April 4 press-conference, public
discussions of the preliminary stage of working out the report will
start this month. Besides, the preliminary variant of the report
will be presented in April to the Department of Youth Issues of the
Council of Europe, and CE experts’ visit to Armenia is scheduled for
summer. During this visit they will present their proposal concerning
the preliminary variant.
Arsen Soghomonian mentioned that Armenia is the first among the CIS
countries that prepares the National Youth Report. Works of preparing
the report started in June, 2005, for what the UN Development Program
allocated 15 thousand dollars. An experimental group was created for
works of working out the report on the initiative of the Ministry,
and the “Sotsium” sociological center held sociological surveys
among 1000 people surveyed. 176 issues presented in 8 blocks involved
the most important problems relating to youth at present, including
the issues of education, family, spiritual-cultural ones, those of
employement, sports.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT IS READY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH PROPER RECEPTION OF AZERBAIJANI NATIONAL TEAM, RA PRIME MINISTER ASSURES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The assistance programs implemented
by UEFA considerably contribute to development of football and, in
general, sport, in the country. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
declared this on April 4, receiving UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer
Olsson. In particular, the Prime Minister attached importance to the
Hat Trick investment program, as well as the Small Fields program
aimed at promotion of children’s football in the country. A.Margarian
emphasized that the Armenian government pays great attention to the
restoration of the good traditions of the Armenian football: the state
renders assistance for the purpose of allocating areas for sports
grounds, buying sports equipments, implementation of construction,
etc. Expressing satisfaction with establishment of close cooperation
between RA government and Armenian Football Federation, as well as
among the Federation and football clubs, Lars Olsson gave assurance
that football development can also contribute to society’s progress
by uniting several thousands of fans around a single goal. He also
attached importance to promotion of mass and especially children’s
football, in particular, to the Small Fields program mentioning that
the financial assistance given by UEFA for this and other programs will
not only continue but will also increase. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA Government Information and Public Relations Department, at the
meeting the interlocutors also touched upon the preparation of Football
Europe Championship to be held in 2008, in particular, the issue of
Armenian and Azerbaijani national teams’ appearing in the same group
in the selective tour, as a result of drawing lots. In this connection
A.Margarian assured that the Armenian government is ready to solve
issues of proper reception of the Azerbaijani national team, providing
the security of the competitors and their fans. Expressing gratitude
to the Prime Minister for such an approach, Lars Olsson emphasized that
UEFA expects such security guarantees from the Azerbaijani side, too.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR MOSCOW ON A WORKING VISIT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 5, RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian left for Moscow on a working visit. He is
to meet with RF Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, RF Security Council
Secretary Sergei Ivanov, as well as OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair
Yuri Merzliakov in Moscow.
According to RA Foreign Ministry Press Service, within the framework of
his visit to Moscow RA Foreign Minister will take part in discussions
about numerous issues of Armenian-Russian relations agenda, including
bilateral cooperation in different spheres, within the framework
of a number of regional and international organizations, as well as
issues of providing security and stability in the South Caucasus. The
consultations on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement are of special
significance. The issues of energy security will be discussed not
only in the Armenian-Russian, but also in the regional context. The
issues of relaunching of the Abkhazian part of the Russian-Georgian
railway will be also discussed in the context of growth of bilateral
trade circulation volumes. During the 3-day visit Vartan Oskanian
will also visit the Carnegie Center of Moscow where he will give a
lecture under the title “South Caucasus: Cooperation and Security”. The
Armenian Foreign Minister will also meet with the students of Moscow
State Institute of International Relations. A separate meeting with
Russian Armenian businessmen is envisaged at the Armenian Embassy
in Russia. The “Program of Assistance to Armenian Villages” will be
discussed with them. Vartan Oskanian is to give interviews to the
“Rossiyskaya Gazeta” newspaper and the Russia Today TV company. RA
Foreign Minister will return to Armenia on April 7.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMRUSGASPROM PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian President Robert Kocharian
on April 5 visited ArmRusgasprom CJSC where he conducted a working
consultation with the company’s management. NT was informed about it
from the RA President’s press service. Pointing out that ArmRusgasprom
is a large infrastructural company that plays a key role in the
Armenian economy, R. Kocharian said that the purpose of his visit
is to summarize the work done by the company in 2005 and to become
acquainted with its activities to be carried out this year.
Karen Karapetian, Chairman of the company’s board, Director General,
made a report on the work done by the company last year. Noting that
the volumes of gas consumption are increasing each year, he said
that 1 bln 685 mln cubic meters of natural gas was imported into
Armenia in 2005, which is by 24.2% more than during the previous
year. ArmRusgasprom’s head explained this stable increase in gas
imports by the intensive implementation of the program on restoration
of gas supply, extension of the gas distribution system and the upward
tendency in gas consumption shown by the industry and trade sectors
of Armenia.
According to K. Karapetian, the number of Armusgasprom’s actual users
makes 360,634 as a result of the large-scale gas supply provision
process in Armenia. The company plans to complete the intensive stage
of the gas supply restoration program in 2007. The actual losses
of natural gas are declining in parallel with the growth in gas
supply and gas consumption volumes, as well as considerable efforts
are underway to solve the problems related to the in-house system’s
technical services and to safety of gas use. ArmRusgasprom’s head spoke
about the investments in the system in 2005, which were mainly aimed at
extending the gas distribution network, increasing the number of users,
reconstruction and re-equipment of the gas transportation system, and
enhancing the safety of the gas distribution network. K. Karapetian
noted that thanks to the complex measures taken over years, it has
become possible to make the company profitable and ensure its stable
financial activities, as a result of which ArmRusgasprom is now among
the biggest Armenian tax payers. He informed those present that the
company is implementing some educational programs aimed at training
of experts for the system. K. Karapeytian considered the completion
of gas provision process as one of the company’s priorities, noting
that this year it is envisaged to increase the number of users by
80-100 thousand.
He attached importance to construction of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. He also indicated the maintenance and development of
capacities of the Abovian underground gas depot as one of the
main directions of the company’s investment policy. Summarizing
the consultation, R. Kocharian underlined the importance to the
efficient implementation of the presented programs. In his words,
these programs show that ArmRusgasprom has a good tendency for further
development. “The government is interested in ArmRusagasprom’s being
profitable and having an effective management,” the President pointed
out. He noted that the implementation of these programs will allow to
improve significantly the lives of people. According to the Armenian
President, time has shown that the choise of Gasprom (Russia) as a
strategical partner was a correct one. He expressed confidence that
the future joint programs will promote the company’s development.

HAYPOST NOT MADE OFFFICIAL PROPOSAL FOR CHANGING ITS MANAGER
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Hasypost company has not received
any official proposal for passing its shares for trust management. NT
correspondent was informed at the company’s press service that Converse
Invest company, to which Haypost has been transferred for trust
management, continues fulfilling its contract obligations. According
to some reports, La Poste company (France) and ING company (the
Netherlands) proposed the Armenian government that they assume the
trust management of Haypost CJSC shares. To recap, in January 2005,
Haypost was transferred to Latvia-based Converse Invest investment
company for trust management for a 5-year period. Converse Invest is
obliged to invest 5 mln dollars in Haypost during this period.

NEGOTIATIONS AROUND GAS PRICE WITH RUSSIAN SIDE COMPLETED
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The negotiations around an increase
in the gas price with the Russian side have been completed, and the
tariff of 1,000 cubic meters of the gas imported into Armenia has
become 110 dollars since April 1. Shushan Sardarian, spokeswoman
for ArmRusgasprom, told NT correspondent about it. NT correspondent
failed to get the RA government’s comments on the matter. To recap,
in response to a question of NT correspondent, RA Defence Minister,
Armenian Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental
Commission on Economic Cooperation Serge Sargsian said on March 31
that the tariff of gas supplied by Russia to Armenia would not become
110 USD from April 1.
Prior to that, the Armenian Prime Minister had stated that in case
of an increase in the gas price the government will take steps to
compensate the population for it.

DMITRI HAROUTIUNIAN TO REPRESENT ARMENIA IN DOCTORS’ WORLD SPORTS GAMES TO BE HELD IN ITALY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. It is the first time that a
representative of Armenia will take part in the Doctors’ World Annual
Sports Games to be held in July 1-8 in Italy. A selection tournament
was held from March 27 to April 2 for the purpose of selecting the
representative of Armenia. As Parunak Zeylveyan, Chairman of the
Armenian Medical Association NGO, said at the April 5 press conference,
41 doctors from different medical institutions took part in the
tournament. Dmitri Haroutiunian, clinical house-surgeon of Infectious
Diseases Chair of Yerevan Medical University after M.Heratsi, became
the winner of the tournament and will leave for Italy.

MUNICH INSTITUTE FOR ARMENIAN STUDIES LAUNCHES WEBSITE
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 22:40 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Institute for Armenian Studies founded in
Munich in 1977 has launched its website The
Institute is engaged in the propaganda of the Armenian issue, the
protection of the rights of Armenians in Turkey and the problems
of the Armenian Diaspora. Doctor Eduard Hovhannisian who was at
the head of the Institute till his last days had made an invaluable
contribution to its establishment and further activities. To honor
the great work he has done, the Institute was named after its founder,
reported Yerkir Online.

WHEN THE AUTHORITIES WILL BE PUNISHED FROM OUTSIDE?
Anna Israelian
Aravot
5 April 06
It became clear that the leader of “New Times” Aram Karapetian who
held an open-air meeting yesterday waits for it.
Aram Karapetian affirmed that they didn’t given the hall of sittings
of the government though they had turned twice; “They have refused
because it was taken. But according to my information it isn’t taken
today”. The participants of the meeting didn’t face to any obstacles,
the roads were open.
The leader of “New Times” promised at the beginning that he would
say things, which “haven’t been sounded before”. It was spoken of the
following; “Kocharian and Serge Sargsian have night consultations for
being able to get American money and give the occupied territories
of Karabakh back. These are aimed to only a thing not to allow 18
persons who have robed and stolen the country to be responsible
to the Armenian trial. This is their aim and not the NK conflict
settlement”. But he didn’t pronounce the names of those 18 persons.
A part of his speech was about not waiting for the parliamentary
elections in 2007; “Our year is 2006 because now in the outside
political field pressures will be made on the Armenian authority in
connection with both Karabakh conflict, gas price, Iran and other
subjective conditions”, – this was one of the reasons. “When foreign
political powers make pressure on them we must start acting inside”,-
Aram Karapetian declared.
Another reason for not waiting for the elections 2007; “What will be
changed in the country? Will the authority become more democratic? Or
will the elections be transparent, free and fair?” The leader
of “New Times” stressed that he was declaring officially” To all
opposition parties which have tried to get arranged for having a little
participation in the parliament in 2007, I say at once, you have got
arranged too early, you’ll be cheated anyway. Nobody will have any sit
there or will have mandates which don’t mean anything.” According to
him if the situation in Armenia isn’t changed till 2007 the elections
will be false and the authority will nominate each candidate who will
take part in the lection. They will draw as they like not taking into
consideration whether Armenia is prosperous or democratic.”
Mr. Karapetian is sure that he can do a lot of things because of
his Northern orientation. The outside political line is underlined
clearly. Future Armenia will be the closest ally of Russia. The
politician who has such orientation should make anti-Georgian summons;
‘Look what will happen in Georgia soon. I say absolutely for the
first time that today the state is under threat of destruction,
we’ll have a great disaster with the Armenian population in Georgia.”
Next meeting of the party will take place in front of Police building;
the reason is that the equipment hasn’t been given back to the party.