ARMENIAN MP ATTACKED IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2006 20:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 5 the Prosecutor’s Office of the Western
District of Moscow instituted proceedings on a criminal case on robbery
article of the Russian Criminal Code on the fact of attack against
Armenian MP. As it was possible to specify in Yerevan, Executive
Director of Great Valley Brandy, Wine and Vodka Company Tigran
Arzakantsyan, 39, is the victim of the attack. He was attacked March
29 at a casino in the Minsk Street in Moscow. At about 4:00 a.m. a
group of unknown persons beat the MP and then they took away his Frank
Muller watches and cellular phone. The stolen things are estimated to
cost 1.5 million rubles. March 30 the victim was hospitalized with a
cranial and cerebral injury. April 4 one of the assistants of the beat
Deputy called the police and reported the happening. The malefactors
are being identified at present, reports IA Regnum.

ALIYEV INVITED TO US, MAYBE ON KARABAKH ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2006 19:52 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri President Ilham Aliyev received an official
invitation to visit Washington.
It will be Mr. Aliyev’s first official visit to the US since he was
elected as President in 2003. The official visit is scheduled for
the end of April.
During the visit Aliyev will meet President Bush and other officials
of the Administration. Upcoming visit’s details will be discussed at
the Mammadyarov-Rice meeting on April 7. Possibility of the visit
is high due to the strategic relationships between Azerbaijan and
the US, but there is no exact date, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s
press service said. Some analysts think the visit is connected with an
Iranian problem and settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Azeri
political scientists think the US will try to involve Azerbaijan into
anti-Iranian coalition, reports Day.az.

ARMENIA INTENDS TO ACTIVATE RELATIONS WITH DENMARK
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2006 21:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Newly appointed Ambassador of the Danish Kingdom
Uffe A. Balslev presented credentials to the Armenian President,
reports the Press Service of the Armenian leader. During the meeting
Kocharian reaffirmed Armenia’s intention to activate relations
with Denmark. The interlocutors underscored the importance of
joint programs in specific fields, as well as within the EU-Armenia
cooperation. Kocharian specially noted that possible active social,
economic and political reforms are a key opportunity in EU-Armenia
relations. The Armenian leader added that holding qualitative and
consecutive reforms is the main pledge of development.

ARMENIA UNDERMINES TURKEY’S IMPORTANCE
Lragir.am
06 April 06
Turkey that has been the ally of the United States for many years
is gradually losing importance, stated the ARF member Kiro Manoyan
April 6 during the debate at the National Press Club.
He says the reason is that Turkey would not improve relations with
Armenia and open the border with Armenia. Kiro Manoyan says this
problem is in the context of regional strategic aims of the United
States, therefore the United States sets before Turkish officials
the issue of the Turkish-Armenian relation and opening of the border.
“If Turkey, which is the ally of the United States in the region, has
problems with Armenia, it means the United States has problems,” says
Kiro Manoyan. And since, in his opinion, the United States does not
have problems with Armenia, it is looking for a new center of setting
up new regional relations. With respect to this Turkey is losing its
role, says Kiro Manoyan, adding that Georgia is assuming this role.
“Turkey cannot enhance its importance until Turkey establishes
relations with Armenia and restores its former importance,” thinks
Kiro Manoyan, member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

SPEAKER SAYS LAW DEFIES PRIVILEGES
Lragir.am
06 April 06
A two-day international conference of representatives of the
parliament, the government, the civil society, the mass media and
international foreign organizations started April 6 on the role of
National Assembly – civil society cooperation in the struggle against
corruption. The conference was organized by the National Assembly of
Armenia, the Eurasia Foundation, the OSCE, the United States and UNDP.
During the sessions debates will be held on corruption and black
economy, the role of the public control bodies and mass media in the
struggle against corruption, and other issues.
The conference was opened by Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan. Considering
the struggle against corruption a political priority, Arthur
Baghdasaryan emphasized 10 main directions. The activity of
governmental agencies must be transparent and effective. “We cannot
spend both much and badly, we have to consolidate government expenses
and upgrade their effectiveness.” The second priority is, according
to the speaker, persistent and unbiased application of the law. “The
law must not allow privileges, the law must not accept voluntarism,
bureaucracy, official abuse in the struggle against corruption.” The
third priority is to enhance struggle against black economy and fourth,
“progress is impossible without judicial reforms.” “The citizens must
be aware of their rights. The motto “if you do not know your rights,
you do not have rights” is up-to-date.” This is the fifth priority that
Arthur Baghdasaryan pointed out. Hence the speaker of the parliament
emphasizes the importance of civil society and free press, as well
as the parliament’s controlling functions in finance. Responsibility
and “consistent and coordinated struggle” is the way to reach this,
believes Arthur Baghdasaryan.
In this anti-corruption plan Arthur Baghdasaryan lays emphasis on
membership to GOPAC. About 200 parliamentarians of over 60 countries
are members of this organization, established in 2002. The three main
components of the working style of this organization are mutual aid,
clearly-set goals and training among government officials on their
role.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT IS YET UNCLEAR WHERE ARMENIAN AND AZERI FOOTBALL TEAMS WILL PLAY
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. It is yet unclear where the Armenian and
Azeri national football teams will play in the framework of the World
Cup 2008 qualification round.
In a joint press-conference with President of the Football Federation
of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan Tuesday UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christen
Olsson said that the Armenia-Azerbaijan matches have a political
context and the sides can agree only through constructive dialogue
mediated by a special UEFA commission.
Olsson said that the Armenian and Azeri football federations and the
UEFA special commission will discuss this problem in Geneva May 11-12.
Hayrapetyan said that Armenia is ready to receive the Azeri team in
Yerevan but the Azeri side refuses to host matches with Armenia. He
noted that during the UEFA congress in Budapest the president of the
Football Federation of Azerbaijan Ramiz Mirzoyev confessed that the
Azeri side cannot guarantee security in Baku and does not rule out the
possibility of violence. Hayrapetyan once again confirmed Armenia’s
readiness to host the matches, while the inability of the Azeri side
to ensure security on their territory is their problem.
Olsson noted that if the sides fail to agree, the matches will be held
on neutral stadiums or will not be held at all, like was the case with
Israel. If a country says that it can’t ensure security, UEFA can’t
do anything – as violence may take place even on neutral territory.

THREE COMPANIES WILL MANAGE SHARES OF “ARMPOST”
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. As the source, close to the “Converse
Invest” Company, reported today to ArmInfo, shares of “Huypost”
state Company (ArmPost) will be jointly managed by the French La
Poste, the Dutch financial organization ING and the Armenian Company
“Converse Invest”, which now controls the shares of “ArmPost” CJSC.
According to the source data, the “Converse Invest” itself has invited
the French Company La Poste for participation in this project and the
Dutch ING was invited by the Central Bank of RA. The two European
companies presented a project to the Armenia’s government about a
joint management and investment of “ArmPost”. The source denied to
call the amount of investments as it is not finally specified and is
under discussion in negotiations.
To be noted that on December 23, 2004, the government of RA approved
the draft contract about transmission of “ArmPost” shares to the
confidence control of “Converse Invest” Company for 5 years. The
contract came into force in the beginning of 2005. The “ArmPost”
CJSC has 900 post-offices in the whole republic, 89 of which are
located in the capital. There are 3669 employees in the Company and
their average monthly salary is 13 thsd. drams ($29). Incomes from
the post and telegraph services made up 2,3 bln drams ($5,1 mln)
in 2005, having been reduced by 7,3% compared to 2004.

HUNGARIAN ATTORNEY REQUIRED TO SENTENCE RAMIL SAFAROV TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. As the advocate Nazeli Vardanyan reported
to ArmInfo, the Hungarian attorney required to sentence Ramil Safarov
to life imprisonment.
To be reminded that on February 19, 2004, in Budapest, R. Safarov
killed the sleeping Armenian officer Gourgen Margaryan by an ax and
tried to kill another Armenian officer Haik Makuchyan. The officers
were studying English language in Budapest. R. Safarov was arraigned
according to article 166.2 of Hungary’s criminal code (murder at
aggravating circumstances) which assumed imprisonment from 10 to 15
years or life imprisonment. The advocate Vardanyan represents the G.
Margaryan’s family interests in the court. The representative of
Armenia’s Defense Ministry Haik Demoyan also represents the Armenian
party. Andrash Vashkuti is the chief judge.
According to Vardanyan, the attorney required to sentence R. Safarov
to life imprisonment with a right to appeal for pardon in 30 years.
Commenting today’s publications in Azeri press concerning the fact
as if the attorney required to sentence Safarov to 30 years of
imprisonment, Vardanyan noted that these publications purpose their
aim to reassure the own society that the sentence will be lighter than
that the attorney had required. In his turn, the representative of
the injured party, the advocate Gabriela Kaspar required to sentence
Safarov to life imprisonment without a right for pardon.
Safarof himself was brief during the trial. He only repeated the
advocate application to conduct the fifth expertise (moreover,
according to the application, it must be conducted by a special
Commission) which was declined. The R. Safarov’s sentence will be
proclaimed on April 13.

ARMENIA AND “GASPROM” COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS FOR TARIFF OF RUSSIAN GAS
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. Armenia and “Gazprom” completed
negotiations for tariff of Russian gas. As a result, they signed
relevant agreement. An official of “Gazprom”, who wanted to remain
unknown, said this in the interview to “Liberty” Radio Station, today.
According to him, Armenia agreed to hand 40 kilometers of Iran-Armenia
gas pipe line and the fifth energy block of Hrazdan TPP to “Gazprom”
in exchange to considerable decrease of tariff for Russian gas. The
source refused to tell the new tariff for gas, stating that “Gazprom”
will make relevant statement in the morning.
It’s worth mentioning that since April 1, 2006, “Gazprom” began selling
gas to Armenia at the new price that totaled to $110 for 1 thousand
cubic meters, but according to Aleksander Medvedev, deputy chairman of
“Gazprom” board, the given price is no final for Armenia.
The unofficial sources State that the tariff of gas for Armenia will
amount to $68 for 1 thousand cubic meters.

RA NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE PRESIDENT DOES NOT SEND IN HIS RESIGNATION
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. President of the National Academy of
Science of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Fadey Sargsyan, did not
send in his resignation as some scientific circles and Mass Media
had forecasted.
At today’s enlarged sitting of the NAS RA Presidium F. Sargsyan
stated: “No one can force conditions on me. I used to make decisions
independently. And I will work like a soldier i.e. as long as I am
able to.” He disapproved the proposals of NAS RA Presidium members
to give a juridical solution to the problem with Director of NAS
RA Fundamental Scientific Library, Academician Anry Nersisyan. The
latter accuses F. Sargsyan of non-purpose- oriented use of funds,
illegal privatization of the Academy facilities and money laundry. F.
Sargsyan stated that he had no intention to dismiss A. Nersisyan
for such allegations. F. Sargsyan refused to comment on journalists’
questions.