EVICTION OF KOZER COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN YEREVAN STILL URGENT
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. “If no agreement with the government is
achieved regarding the eviction of Kozer community residents, Yerevan
center, the residents will start a civil upraising,” Chairman of the
“Society and the Law” NGO Samvel Lazarian said at a press conference,
Wednesday.
The government proposes by 3 million AMD compensation to the residents
of Kozer, with the total compensation amounting to $6 million, which
is not the real cost the territory, S. Lazarian believes. According
to his estimations, the compensation for the whole territory of Kozer
must be at least 25-30 million US dollars.
The community has 783 official residents and 151 “living from hand to
mouth” . Eight elite buildings have already been built in Kozer and
bought through auctions. These buildings are outside the territories
subject to alienation for state needs. S. Mkrthcyan refused the name
the owners of these buildings, noting that none of the community
residents are the owners. The local residents have repeatedly applied
to relevant instances for a permission to build houses, but faced
rejection.
To note, on March 16 2006, Kozer residents picketed the governmental
building demanding the government to refuse from the construction
in Kozer and to legalize the whole realty of Kozer residents by
registering them at the Real Estate Register. After, the residents
demand land purchase-and-sale on equal rights. The meeting of Kozer
representatives with Armenian Prime Minister proved useless, the
residents say.

‘DASHNAKTSUTIUN’ PARTY WORKED OUT A CONCEPT OF GRANTING ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP AS A SECOND ONE
Yerevan, April 5. ArmInfo. The ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party worked out a
concept about granting a second Armenian citizenship to Armenians
residing abroad, said the head of the party’s parliamentary group
Levon Mkrtchian. The concept contains the main terms of adopting dual
citizenship in Armenia which will be taken as a base for corresponding
legislation. To the opinion of ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party members, persons
with dual citizenship that have resided in Armenia for several years
and have fulfilled al their civil duties must be give the right to
elect and be elected. Also a list of offices, to which citizens of
only Armenia can be admitted, must be published.
The concept says that the persons with dual must pay taxes and do
military service in only one of the states of their citizenship. The
concept provides for simplified order of becoming of citizenship for
Armenians from all over the world. Mr. Mkrtchian said that this term
is also in accord with the Constitution of Armenia, which is based
upon the principle of blood and not of terrotory.
L. Mkrtchian and his party fellow A. Rustamian said that all the terms
of the party’s concept are taken from the experience of other states
and are to be regulated also by international agreements. They said
those terms will be submitted to the National as a draft legislation
bill in autumn 2006.

EU UNDERSTANDS ARMENIA’S INTEREST IN IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 20:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is going to become a part of the new
Euro-Atlantic energy security concept being elaborated by the U.S. and
EU, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated at a press
conference in Yerevan. In his words the elaboration of the concept
started after the rise in tariffs for Russian gas and problems with
its delivery to Ukraine. “The matter concerns new NPPs, construction
of a Transcaspian gas pipeline. These projects are of big interest
for Armenia,” Oskanian noted. For his part EU Envoy for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby remarked that the EU understands Armenia’s
concern in the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. At the same time noted
he is unaware whether the U.S. will make an attack on Iran. “The EU
knows that Armenia and Iran enjoy neighbor relations,” Semneby said.

IRAN TO CONTRIBUTE TO STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH CAUCASUS
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 22:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran will keep on contributing to the maintenance of
stability and development of the South Caucasus, Iranian Ambassador
to Armenia Alireza Haqiqian stated in Yerevan. “Our country will
exert every effort for the stability and development of the region,”
he said. At the same time he remarked Armenia and Iran belong to the
same ancient civilization. He also underscored that the development
and consolidation of age-old bilateral relations between Armenia and
Iran has acquired a new rate after Armenia became an independent state,
reported Novosti-Armenia.

DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN NAKHICHEVAN CULTURAL GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 22:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The destruction of the Armenian monuments in Old
Djulfa is cultural genocide, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham
Gharibjanian stated at news conference in Yerevan today. Laying an
emphasis on the difference between Iran, the representative of an
ancient civilization, and Azerbaijan he remarked that Azerbaijan
keeps on the destruction of the Armenian cultural monuments on its
territory. “I want to mark the fact that the Iranian authorities
treat the maintenance of the monuments belonging to other nations
with great responsibility,” he said, reported Novosti-Armenia.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR GOOD PERFORMANCE
Panorama.am
13:07 05/04/06
Today PM Andranik Margaryan encouraged gymnastics trainer
H. Serobyan and gymnasts H. Merdinyan and V. Stepanyan with letters
of acknowledgement, Panorama.am has been informed from Government
Press Service.
To remind, during the World Cup Tournament held in Iranian capital
Tehran from March 2-6 our gymnasts finally were a success after 20
years of “break”.
Anyway, the head of federation, live legend of Armenian sport, Olympic
champion Albert Azaryan not only managed to solve the problem of
fetching modern sports equipment for gymnastics school but also draw
the country’s Government’s attention to the problems of this kind of
sport with good traditions in Armenia.
And the Government regulated the heating problem of the school.
The results, as we see, didn’t make us wait long.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES TO BE OPEN IN JAVAKHK
Panorama.am
13:54 05/04/06
The EU and German organization of National universities are planning
to carry out 30-months education program with a budget of 500 000
euro in Samtskhe-Javakhk.
As the manager of EU Projects Adriana Longon says the main aim of
this project is the defence of the rights of Armenians in Georgia’s
southern, Samtskhe-Javakhk territory and their integration into the
civil society of the country.
As “A-info” agency informs it is scheduled to establish National
universities in Akhaltskha and Akhalkalak to launch civil educational
program.
Besides receiving law knowledge at the universities about 6300
people will attend courses of Georgian language study. Courses
of handicraft education are also going to be opened in the
Universities.

NOT DOOMSDAY IF THE CONFLICT NOT REGULATED
Panorama.am
14:27 05/04/06
“None of the sides of Karabakh conflict is interested in gaining
time. Now the sides should use the time to finds ways to solve the
problem,” announced EU newly appointed Special Representative for
South Caucasus Peter Semneby in Yerevan today.
In his turn, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, considering the
negotiations in Rambouillet a failure, stated that although there is
no agreement over a number of questions the negotiation process must
be continued. What refers to the announcement of US Ambassador in
Azerbaijan R. Harnish saying that NKR problem will get its solution
in 2006, V. Oskanyan said: “It’s difficult for me to say what is the
basis for such insistences,” and noticed that the negotiation must be
continued and there is possibility that certain developments will be
recorded. “Yet it is not going to be doomsday if there is no progress
in 2006,” he advised.
Vardan Oskanyan also informed that he has already met the America
Co-chair S. Mann in Washington, and this Friday the Azeri FM
E. Mamedyarov is scheduled to meet the Co-chair. “If Mamedyarov-Mann
meeting has positive results it is quite possible for the Co-chairs
to pay a visit to the region after which the meeting between FMs can
be held.”
Vardan Oskanyan is sure about one thing: “We have already stated this
question has no military solution.
Azerbaijan has twice declared war, both had no result.
This problem is to be solved by means of negotiations.
Armenia has already done its best, now it’s Azerbaijan’s turn to
take steps.” In his turn Peter Semneby warned: “Any attempt to start
a war will have rather serious if not baneful results.” To note, the
real addressee of the warning of the envoy is Azeri side periodically
which appears with bellicose announcements.
To note, today Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan is departing for Moscow
on a 2-day call in the scopes of which he is going to meet Russian
FM S. Lazarev as well as OSCE Minsk Group Russia Co-chair Yuri
Merzlyakov.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
05-04-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives Fokion Fotiadis, European Commission’s Deputy
Director General of Directorate General for External Relations
Minister Oskanian, on April 5, received Fokion Fotiadis, the European
Commission’s Deputy Director of the Directorate General for External
Relations who was in Armenia on a working visit.
Congratulating the guest on his appointment, Minister Oskanian expressed
hope that this first meeting will be the beginning of close cooperation. The
Minister also noted that Armenia intends to deepen its partnership with the
European Commission’s Directorate General for External Relations.
The two discussed the Armenia-EU relationship. They focused on regional
energy issues and specifically Armenia’s energy security and sources of
diversification. In this regard, they exchanged views on the energy
potential of the South Caucasus and nearby regions, as well as the prospects
for safe utilization of the atomic energy.
The Minister and the Deputy Director General discussed in detail the pace
and progress of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan elaboration
process. They assessed highly the two stages of consultations already held
in this connection and expressed confidence that it will be possible to
conclude the Action Plan during the third round of discussions in May and to
pass to its implementation.
Stressing the need for conflict settlement in the region, the two spoke
about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and prospects for its peaceful
settlement. In this regard, Minister Oskanian presented the latest
developments in the negotiations process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
05-04-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Ambassador Peter Semneby
Minister Oskanian, on April 5, received Peter Semneby, the newly appointed
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus. Ambassador Semneby is in
Armenia on his first working visit.
The Minister congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and wished him
good luck in his mission. He continued by noting how much Armenia
appreciated the activity of the EU representation in the South Caucasus, and
specifically the valuable work of Ambassasdor Heikki Talvitie, the first EU
representative.
During the lengthy discussion, Minister Oskanian and Ambassador Semneby
exchanged views on a vast range of issues relating to regional cooperation,
conflict settlement, and Armenia-EU relations.
They discused the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process at length. In
this regard, Minister Oskanian presented Ambassador Semneby with recent
developments, as well as Armenia’s approach to the process of negotiations.
The Minister and the Ambassador also touched on the European Neighbourhood
Policy Action Plan with Armenia, as well as on some aspects of
Armenian-Turkish relations.
A joint press conference followed the meeting.
Minister Oskanian and Ambassador Semneby continued their talks over lunch,
together with Fokion Fotiadis, the European Commission’s Deputy Director of
the Directorate General for External Relations.
Ambassador Peter Semneby was born in 1959. He was educated at the Stockholm
School of Economics, University of Uppsala, University of Stockholm, and the
John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His most recent
assignment was as Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia between 2002 and 2005.
>From 2000 to 2002, he was Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia. He was
responsible for European Security and Defense Policy in the Swedish Ministry
for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2000. Earlier, he had served at the Swedish
embassies in Germany, Ukraine and the USSR, and was a member of the OSCE
Mission to Georgia in 1992. In addition to his native Swedish, Ambassador
Semneby speaks English, French, German, Russian and Croatian/Serbian.