EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WARNS ARMENIA OVER DESTRUCTION OF ANCIENT AZERI SITES

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 28 2006

Baku, March 27, AssA-Irada
The European Parliament has warned Armenia not to destroy Azerbaijani
historic and cultural sites, officials say.

“The demand was laid out in a letter sent by the foreign relations
committee chairman Elmar Brok to the Azeri representation in the EU,”
an official from Azerbaijan’s embassy in Belgium, Huseyn Huseynov,
told local ANS TV channel.

With regard to the recent resolution of the European Parliament
concerning the alleged destruction of ancient Armenian graves in
Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan, which drew fire from Azeri
officials, the letter said this does not mean the legislative body
adheres to a position against Azerbaijan. The document unequivocally
stated that the adoption of the resolution was a result of the Armenian
Diaspora’s activity, Huseynov said.

“The overall environment suggests that the resolution does not
reflect the European Parliament’s stance and is strictly a position
of staunch Christians.”

The diplomat said the committee chairman also pledged that the European
Parliament will not pass any one-sided decisions any more.

The Azeri government should step up its activity to prevent this from
happening in the future, he added.

DUTCH MFA BOT ON DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN KHACHKARS OF OLD JOUGHA

Abovian Armenian Cultural Association
sent on 23 February 2006

Answers of Mr. Bot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, also on behalf of
Secretary of State for Education, Culture and Science Van der Laan
to written questions submitted by Dutch MP Van der Staaij (SGP)
on destruction of Armenian Khachkars of Old Jougha.

Question 1
Is the report correct that by the order of the Azerbaijani authorities
in December 2005 graves of particular historic and cultural
significance were destroyed and desecrated at the Armenian cemetery
in Djulfa in Nakhichevan? Could you inform us of the precise state
of affairs?

Answer
The factual correctness of the reporting can not yet be assessed. The
issue has been raised by the Armenian authorities on 22 December
2005 at the OSCE Permanent Council. Azerbaijani authorities reject
the accusations.

Question 2
Could the government confirm whether the destruction is related to
the dormant conflict of Nagorno Karabagh?

Answer
As long as the actual facts of the case are not clarified, one is also
not sure about the cause. The parties have not yet found a solution
to the conflict and tensions can continue to occur.

Question 3
To what extend has Azerbaijan been sensitive to international criticism
to similar destruction in past years?

Answer
In reaction to international criticism of this kind Azerbaijan usually
points the finger accusingly towards Armenia. Armenia would have,
in the eyes of Azerbaijani authorities, deliberately neglected or
destroyed the Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabagh and
nearby provinces.

Question 4
Is the Dutch government prepared to back the EU statement by condemning
the events and reminding Azerbaijan over her obligations vis-a-vis
her membership of the Council of Europe and participation in the
European Neighbourhood policy.

Answer
The Netherlands has already, on 1 February 2006. spoken out at the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europa, in favour of an
international investigation on the destructions. In the Action Plan
of the Council of Europe and in the Action Plan of the EU, which
is being set up within the Neighbourhood Policy, attention is paid
to the preservation of cultural heritage on basis of Azerbaijani
obligations with regard to her membership of the Council of Europe
and the European Neighbourhood Policy.

MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY OF RA VARDAN KHACHATRYAN, AND MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN DANILOVICH HAVE SIGNED $ 235, 65 MILLION 5-YEAR AGREEMENT

Lragir.am
28 March 06

On March 27 Minister of Finance and Economy of RA Vardan Khachatryan,
and Millenium Challenge Corporation Executive Director John Danilovich
have signed $ 235, 65 million 5-year agreement at Benjamin Franklin
Hall of State Department. Secretary Condoleezza Rice addressed the
participants. Members of Armenian delegation Vahram Nercissiantz
Chief Economic Advisor to the President, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vardan Oskanyan, Armenian Ambassador to the US Tatoul Markaryan and
other officials took part in the ceremony.

Main objectives of the program are rural poverty reduction through
ensuring the agricultural production growth. 750 000 inhabitants
of Armenia-75% of rural population will be the beneficiaries of the
project. As the project implementation result, it is anticipated to
reduce rural poverty by 6%.

The project components are

â~@¢ Rural roads restoration program- $ 67.1 million

â~@¢ Rural irrigation program $ 145,67 million (including rural
sustainability component- $ 32.42 million)

â~@¢ Monitoring and evaluation- $ 5.08 million

â~@¢ Project management and Supervision- $ 17.19 million

The Armenian Program will be presented to mass media, NGOs, private
sector and Armenian Diaspora representatives on March 28. After
the presentation MCC management and GoA officials will answer the
questions.

Press service of Ministry of Finance and Economy, RA

–Boundary_(ID_QTK5NVZscOS86OwDOr6zPg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF GREECE TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2006 10:52

The delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Evripides
Stiliandes will arrive today in Armenia. The visit aims at reinforcing
the bilateral economic relations.

The delegation will comprise businessmen and representatives of the
Greek-Armenian community. The next sitting of the Armenian-Greek
Intergovernmental Committee will be start today.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALICE PANIKIAN – MISS UNIVERSE 2006

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2006 12:01

20 year-old Canadian-Armenian Alice Panikian won on March 21st the
title of Miss Universe Canada 2006 at an event held at the Casino de
Montreal. Alice Panikian received her crown from Miss Universe 2005,
Russian in origin, Natalia Glebova.

49 contestants competed in the annual event produced by ‘Beauties
of Canada’.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AN EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY ARMENIAN ARTISTS TO BE HELD IN FRANCE

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2006 12:47

For a month works of Armenian artists Ferdinand Gymretsi, Nicole
Aghababyan, Vahram Harutyunyan and Hovhannes Margaryan will be
exhibited in “Arcades” cultural center of Trua, France.

The works of Armenian artists have been highly evaluated by director of
the cultural center Mari Morotel, French MP Albert Danila and others.

The exhibition has been organized at the initiative of “Interkap”
benovelent center. President of the center Norayr Zuloyan assures
that Mayors of Trua and Vanadzor have arranged to establish friendship
between the two cities.

The towns will cooperate in the spheres of culture and sports.

“MILITARY MEDICINE: CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY” CONFERENCE STARTED IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2006 13:55

The third international scientific conference entitled “Military
Medicine: Challenges of the 21st Century” started today in Yerevan. It
has been organized by RA Ministry of Defense, European Command of
US Armed Forces, Information systems agency of NATO’s “Partnership
for Peace” program and the Military Medicine Faculty of the Yerevan
Medical University.

RA Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Arthur Aghabekyan
informed that 20 military doctors form 8 countries will participate
in the conference.

According to him, the issues to be discussed at the conference will
become educational materials not only for military doctors of Armenia,
but also those of foreign countries.

Arthur Aghabekyan noted that the given scientific conference has
nothing to do with the international rescue military exercises to be
held under “Rescue – 2006” program in June.

The final conference on planning of these military exercises will be
held one of these days.

EBRD FINANCES FOUR COMMERCIAL BANKS OF ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2006 14:27

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has provided
20 million Euros to four Commercial Banks of Armenia, EBRD Regional
Director Michael Davey said during the international conference of
banks dedicated to commerce financing. According to him, the European
Bank can suggest a number of tools and opportunities to Commercial
Banks of Armenia.

Michael Davey declared that in 2005 the EBRD allocated 20 million Euros
of financing to spheres like pharmacology, insurance and energy. He
underlined that the banking system of Armenia is a dynamic sector
and develops actively.

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE SHOULD BE TRANSFERED TO THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FIELD

ArmRadio.am
28.03.2006 15:19

“Turkey will recognize the Armenian Genocide only when the Turkish
society realizes the importance of the occurrence,” member of the
All-Armenian National Movement Hovhannes Igityan said.

Head of the Turkish Department of the Oriental Institute of the
National Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan does not share this
opinion. According to the latter, the time has come to transfer
the issue form the political aspect to international legal field,
particularly the Court of Hague, which should recognize that modern
Turkey is the follower of Osman Turkey.

According to him, a new phenomenon is observed in the international
law – a state’s genocide against another state is being condemned.

ARMENIANS DRINK MORE COFFEE THAN BRAZILIANS

Armenpress
Mar 28 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian importers brought last year
around 11,500 tons of coffee and only 305 tons of tea. Based on these
figures, provided by the customs service, each of 3.2 million Armenians
consumed last year 3.6 kg of coffee and only 100 grams of tea.

Incidentally, per capita coffee consumption in Brazil, one of the
biggest coffee producers and exporters is 3.5 kg and 4 kg in Columbia,
another big coffee producer and exporter. In Europe residents of
Scandinavian countries consume more coffee than other Europeans. For
example, per capita annual consumption of coffee in Denmark is 11 kg,
while in Greece, Spain, and Great Britain is 2 kg.