OTE MAY SELL ARMENTEL COMPANY
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 02:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OTE Greek telecommunication group considers the
possibilities of selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds, the OTE
reported on Tuesday. “After consultations with the Armenian Government
the OTE announced that it has began consideration of opportunities for
selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds,” the OTE release says. HSBC
Bank is the consultant in the deal, the group added. The OTE bought
90% of shares of ArmenTel Armenian company in the end of 1997, also
acquiring monopoly for telecommunication services for 15 years,
Reuters reports. Meanwhile, hearsay that spread in Armenia lately
said Megafon Russian company may buy ArmenTel.

ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DOES NOT COMMENT ON POSSIBILITY OF GREEK OTE SELLING ARMENTEL
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 02:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Ministry of Justice does not comment
on the reports that OTE Greek company considers the possibilities of
selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds, Spokesperson of the Armenian
Ministry of Justice Ara Saghatelyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
Today media reported that OTE Greek telecommunication group considers
the possibilities of selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds. “After
consultations with the Armenian Government the OTE announced that it
has began consideration of opportunities for selling 90% shares of
ArmenTel it holds,” the OTE release says.
HSBC Bank is the consultant in the deal, the group added. The OTE
bought 90% of shares of ArmenTel Armenian company in the end of 1997,
also acquiring monopoly for telecommunication services for 15 years.
Meanwhile, hearsay that spread in Armenia lately said Megafon Russian
company may buy ArmenTel.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU ENVOY TO SOUTH CAUCASUS ARRIVING IN ARMENIA APRIL 5
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.04.2006 23:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 5-7 EU newly appointed Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby will pay a familiarization visit
to Armenia, reports the Armenian MFA Press Service. During his visit
Peter Semneby will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, PM
Andranik Margaryan, Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan, FM Vartan Oskanian
and MOD Head Serge Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II,
as well as NKR FM Georgy Petrosyan. Semenby is also scheduled to meet
with heads of a number of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia.

“ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONS CALLS NOT TO RECOGNIZE BORDER WITH TURKEY,” TURKISH POLITICIAN SAYS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.04.2006 23:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ International observers expect Turkey to open border
with Armenia, Turkish PM’s Advisor on External Relations, MP Egemen
Bagis said, when Addressing the External Relations Council of New
York. “We recognize Armenia as an independent state.
We do not have diplomatic relations, but we respect Armenians’ right to
independence, equally as that of all other former Soviet republics,”
Turkish PM’s Advisor said. He remarked that Turkey does not open
its border with Armenia and does not establish diplomatic relations,
as Armenia does not recognize those borders. “Armenian Constitutions
calls not to recognize border with Turkey,” Bagis said.
In his words, based on studies carried out by a research center
in Istanbul under his charge, over 50 thousand Armenians live in
Turkey at present, most of them illegally. Turkish PM’s Advisor says
Armenians mainly work in Turkish families as nurses. “We trust the
dearest to Armenians – our children. This means people have no hatred
and this proves our peoples have much in common,” Turkish PM’s Advisor
underscored, reports RFE/RL.

RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN FMS TO DISCUSS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 00:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Relations with Armenia lately acquired a character
of strategic and allied partnership, distinguished for positive
development dynamics, Russian MFA spokesperson Mikhail Kamynin said
regarding the visit of Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian to Moscow on
April 5-7. In his words, the meeting agenda will include matters of
coordination of efforts of the MFAs of the two countries to improve
situation in the Caucasus, settle conflicts, build confidence. “The
Nagorno Karabakh settlement will occupy an important place in the
agenda of the coming talks,” Kamynin remarked.
The Russian diplomat reminded Russia comes for continuation of the
Armenian-Azeri dialogue at various levels, first of all between the
Presidents. “We proceed from the principle that parties to conflict
themselves have to find a mutually acceptable solution. Russia is
ready to actively promote Karabakh settlement, both in the bilateral
respect and as an OSCE MG co-chair,” the Russian MFA spokesperson said.
Special attention will be paid to coordinate efforts aimed at increase
of anti-terror political interaction, taking into account Russia and
Armenia have similar approaches to fighting international terror.
In his words, the parties will also exchange views over bilateral
cooperation matters, coordinating efforts within international
organizations, as well as most important regional issues. “The parties
will also consider matters of interaction within the CIS framework,
including that within the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO),” the diplomat remarked.
When discussing aspects of bilateral relations the ministers will
also consider ways to enhance the interaction, specifically in solving
transport, fuel and energy issues. The holding of the Year of Armenia
in Russia will be a priority subject at the talks, RIA Novosti reports.

IRANIAN DIPLOMAT: EUROPE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE TOO DEPENDENT
17:56 04/04/2006
Perspectives of the Iranian nuclear problem, place and role of Iran
in regional and international security, as well as influence of power
centers on events around Iran, became discussion issues between Deputy
Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Ali Akbar Jouhar and several Armenian
experts at Noravank Scientific-Educational Center.
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, the Iranian diplomat rather fully
presented matter and process of Iranian nuclear problems’ development,
unambiguously stating that from the very beginning and till present,
Iran has been openly cooperating with IAEA experts.
“They visited all the facilities they wanted, and stressed in
all their reports, Iran did not change peaceful character of
its nuclear program,” mentioned Jouhar. “When we realized, the
international community just ignores our interests – was Iranian
‘nuclear dossier’ worth to be considered by UN Security Council? –
we decided to continue our research under IAEA auspices,” said the
Iranian diplomat. Ali Akbar Jouhar counted those main arguments,
used by certain countries against Iran and its nuclear program:
“The USA maintain, that a state, which has big reserves of energy
carriers, does not need nuclear power engineering.
Second, they doubt of our intentions, reasoning from fact, we have not
timely presented our report for IAEA. Third, Americans speak about
possibility of developing by Iran its nuclear weapon as time goes
by.” “All these arguments do not stand up to criticism – how may a
developing state does not need science and development of new energy
possibilities? Second, today, number of states is not IAEA member
at all; the fact did not prevent them to develop both atomic science
and finally their own nuclear weapon. At the same time, in contrast
to Iran, they did not develop atomic science by themselves, using
their own potential, but they received everything ‘in boxes’. Now,
Israel possesses more then 200 nuclear-tipped warheads, not being
IAEA member,” he stressed.
According to the deputy ambassador of Iran to Armenia, aim of Iran’s
opponents in the question is to hamper Iran’s development, and
weakening of this key country of region. “At present, there are four
main points in Euro-Asian continent – Central Asia, Caucasus, Persian
Gulf – Iraq, and Middle East.” “Iran always played stabilizing role in
region, and without powerful and stable Iran crisis’s in Afghanistan
and Iraq, unstable situation in Caucasus and Central Asia would have
spread to the whole region, and have destabilized international
situation on the whole”, believes the Iranian diplomat. “Iran was
victim of Hussein regime, although it disputed American military
invasion; it was victim of Taliban regime and al Qaeda, established
with active participation of USA. “How has it turned out, Iran is
now considered in Western policy as terrorist state?” asked Ali
Akbar Jouhar himself. According to him, tasks of geopolitical scale
are pursued by such position of Western states, including ones of
hampering international positions and influence of China and Russia.
“We enabled Europe to solve the problem, fully cooperating with us,
but Europe turned out to be too dependent and uncoordinated. Now,
those countries, which somehow relied on Europe, may really evaluate
its weight and abilities,” he stated. Mentioning Russian position,
Ali Akbar Jouhar stressed, Iranian side expected somewhat more from
Moscow, while UN Security Council was resolving. “Of course, Russia
and China played positive role in the process, some work was done by
them, and resolution became different one, comparing with USA initial
draft. But we expected more”, he stated.
Mentioning perspectives of establishing of joint consortium with
Russian side to enrich uranium, Jouhar informed, talks on the problem
continue. “President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated at UNO, Iranian
side is ready to found international consortium in its territory with
participation of western companies,” he reminded.
“Iran and Russia have to evaluate and realize themselves their role and
interests in international scene, as well as that positive role, played
by Iran to secure stability and security in region,” he stated. “Now,
our relations with Russia and China develop in positive direction,
and these both countries insist on solution of Iranian nuclear problem
in the framework of IAEA,” reminded the Iranian diplomat.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DOORS ARE OPEN TO GO AND TO COME
Lragir.am
04 April 06
Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan, the leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party
does not think that certain members will come out of the party on
the eve of the election in 2007. On April 4 Arthur Baghdasaryan
told news reporters that the Orinats Yerkir is a party of idea and
principle. Moreover, recently more people have applied for membership
to this political party, including members of parliament. The leader
of the Orinats Yerkir Party states the doors are open to those who
will deviate from the principles of the Orinats Yerkir Party or will
prefer to affiliate to another political party.
From: Baghdasarian

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ARTSAKH WAR
Lragir.am
04 April 06
Those who participated in the liberation war of Artsakh and are alive,
can appear in the Encyclopedia of Artsakh War. There is enough space
for everyone. The author of the initiative, the director of Shushi
Foundation Bakur Karapetyan says the encyclopedia will consist of 50,
or even 100 volumes. Presently, there is material for 5 volumes, which
will be published soon. Bakur Karapetyan believes that the encyclopedia
about the heroes of the war and the important events is an excellent
gift to the generations. The publication of the encyclopedia will
be sponsored by Arthur Alexanyan, participant of the war, and Nina
Hovnanyan-Alexanyan, the daughter of the founder of Vahakni Quarter,
Vahagn Hovnanyan.

SHORTAGE OF A1+ AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Lragir.am
04 April 06
On April 2, 2002, when A1+ TV Company was closed down, 19 mass
media stated that freedom of speech is not endangered in Armenia,
thus revealing that freedom of speech is endangered in Armenia,
stated the director of A1+ TV Company Mesrop Movsisyan.
According to the director of A1+, today there is a demand of political
and information programs, but the heads of channels are guided by the
principle “better to earn money than inflict troubles on ourselves,”
and prefer to spend money on soap operas. The viewers go out to
protest, “but it is all ignored.” That is why the Armenian viewers
prefer Russian channels, and watch the local news after the Russian
news programs only. Mesrop Movsisyan thinks A1+ has become a symbol
of freedom of speech, and unfortunately, when closing down A1+,
the government could not imagine that it would turn into an issue of
freedom of speech. “When they were able to imagine, they started a
wrong struggle.”
Mesrop Movsisyan thinks that the problem of A1+ could be solved
by interference from the outside, for instance, on a ruling of the
European Court. However, since A1+ was closed down, there have been
several dozens of stipulations from outside, but A1+ still is not on
air. “Because these stipulations were formal. These were formulated
so as to do nothing,” thinks Mesrop Movsisyan.
For his part, Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan stated on the same day that
he misses A1+ and would like to see it again on air.

VOTE TO REFERENDUM WITH MONEY
Lragir.am
04 April 06
Shushi Foundation, established in 2001 initiated a new all-Armenian
referendum, and offered the citizens of Armenia, as well as the
Armenians of the Diaspora to vote to it, stated the director of the
foundation Bakur Karapetyan on April 4. The referendum will be on a
single question: would you like Shushi to become the cultural capital
of all Armenians? Those who agree must pay at least a dollar. It is
a mixture of referendum and marathon.
Hence Bakur Karapetyan wants to launch the project of revival of
Shushi, worked out by the foundation. The revival is cultural. The
foundation has already measured 220 monuments. Bakur Karapetyan
wants to reconstruct the appearance of Shushi of the 19th and 20th
centuries. The director of Shushi Foundation thinks that the future
of the city is to become a cultural center to develop tourism for
the city to live on. Bakur Karapetyan believes that Shushi has a
great cultural potential. In addition, Bakur Karapetyan thinks this
potential is acceptable for the nation. “A city is a living being,
it breathes. Today Shushi is a ghost town, we need to revive it. We
need to save it,” says Bakur Karapetyan.
According to him, Shushi has about 2.5 thousand inhabitants. Bakur
Karapetyan thinks an environment should be created in Shushi to
enable it to sustain itself. Judging by the program of all-Armenian
vote-donations, others are going to create this environment, but they
are not quite optimistic now. At least, Bakur Karapetyan says so far
24 thousand dollars have been donated by the Catholic community of
Beirut. According to the director of the foundation, this money was
spent on measuring. “Specialists were amazed how we did so much work on
this money. We did work of about 240 thousand dollars on 24 thousand
dollars,” says Bakur Karapetyan. He does not know how much money is
needed to turn Shushi into a cultural center. Maybe this is the reason
why there are no donations. They might not know how much to donate.
In future we will publish details on Shushi Foundation.