EU TO BECOME ENGAGED DIRECTLY

Lragir.am
27 March 06

The EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Peter Semnebi told
the reporter of the Radio Liberty that Armenia will remain isolated
as long as the conflict is unsettled. According to him, the EU will
become engaged in the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh. He
stated that the settlement of the South Caucasian conflicts will be
one of the priorities of the EU, which is a signal of a more active
engagement in the settlement of disputes. According to Peter Semnebi,
the EU mandate has been expanded to involve settlement of conflicts. At
the same time, Semnebi expressed concern about the calls for settling
the Karabakh conflict through war, saying that the war will have
dramatic consequences.

THERE WILL BE STRUGGLE BUT NOT ARMED

Lragir.am
27 March 06

“In 2008 I will run for president, if it will be the demand of the
society,” stated the leader of the Armenian Popular Party Stepan
Demirchyan on Kentron TV, who ran for president in 2003 and won the
election by non-official data. Stepan Demirchyan says his nomination
in 2003 was not an end in itself but was based on the demand of the
society. The leader of the Armenian Popular Party confirmed again that
in the election he would struggle for his votes and his supporters’
votes but constitutionally.

Stepan Demirchyan says, although the word “constitutional” arouses a
smile, he is, nevertheless, against bloodshed. There will be struggle
but not an armed struggle, Stepan Demirchyan told his supporters and
the public.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KARABAKH AND NAKHIDJEVAN TO TERRY DAVIS

Lragir.am
27 March 06

There has been no new response from the Council of Europe on the
destruction of khachkars in Old Djolfa, Nakhidjevan, and the Armenian
public will be informed about the meeting of the corresponding
commission, stated the head of the Armenian delegation in the PACE
Tigran Torosyan during the news conference on March 27. He mentioned
that during the PACE Spring Sitting an opportunity may arise to
talk to Terry Davis, Secretary General of the PACE, and tell him
that the decision on sending a CoE mission to monitor the state of
the cultural monuments in the region contains a principle that is
unacceptable for Armenia. In accordance with this decision, the CoE
has foreseen to send a commission to Nakhidjevan and Karabakh to
observe the state of cultural monuments. Tigran Torosyan considers
this leveling unacceptable.

“Unlike Karabakh, there was no war in Nakhidjevan, and in Karabakh
the military actions ceased in 1994 only,” says Tigran Torosyan,
implying that in Karabakh cultural values were damaged or destroyed
at war, whereas the cultural monuments in Nakhidjevan were destroyed
consistently and at peace. “It is another problem that the PACE
delegates want to visit Karabakh for other questions. But they can
arrange with the Karabakh government to visit.”

AMERICAN ARMED FORCES CONFERENCE IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am
27 March 06

On September 11-15, 2006 the opening planning conference of the
Cooperative Effort 07 of the U.S. European Command will take place,
told the press secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Seyran
Shahsuvaryan to the news agency Novosty-Armenia, informs the news
agency ARKA. Seyran Shahsuvaryan mentioned that in 2006 the exercise
will be coordinated via the communication network in Germany.

“The representatives of the Armenian armed forces will participate in
the exercise via satellite,” said the press secretary of the Ministry
of Defense. He informed that in 2005 two planning conferences were
held in Albania and Macedonia, and the main planning conference took
place in Croatia on January 22-28, 2006. The press secretary of the
Ministry of Defense mentioned that the signalers of the Armenian
armed forces took part in all these conferences, the final one of
which was held in Georgia on March 21-24.

GAS ODYSSEY IS COMING TO AN END

Lragir.am
27 March 06

Our sources state that the odyssey of the price of Russian gas
will have an unexpected end in the upcoming month. First we should
not forget that the rumors about the increase of the price of gas
began in December 2005. Victor Soghomonyan, the press secretary of
President Robert Kocharyan, said: “One thing is for sure, gas will
no longer cost 59 dollars.” Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan first
said that the government would try to relieve the consequences of
the new price for the population. And on March 22 the prime minister
did not know how high the price of gas would go up. On the same day
the minister of defense of Armenia Serge Sargsyan, starting from his
correspondence with Russian Gasprom, announced that there might be
an insignificant growth of the price of gas.

Of course, in the meantime, the Public Utilities Commission set a
record, discussing and accepting the bid of Armrusgasard in ten days,
and reconsidered the tariff of gas, bringing it up to the suggested
110 dollars per 1000 cubic meter.

Our sources say the price of gas may not go up at all. In this case,
however, Robert Nazaryan would appear in a curious situation. For he
cannot admit that the independent commission adopted a hasty decision
on an instruction from above. In accordance with the law, the tariffs
set by the Public Utilities Commission will work for six months. And
if our sources are right, Armrusgasard will look at Robert Nazaryan
with a kind eye for acquiring the legal right to get extremely high
profits for at least six months.

NEW JOB FOR OLEG YESAYAN

Lragir.am
27 March 06

The former speaker of the NKR National Assembly will be appointed
ambassador of Armenia to Belarus, informed our source, adding that
prior to this Oleg Yesayan had been offered the position of the
executive manager of Armenia Fund. But Oleg Yesayan declined. Oleg
Yesayan’s wife is from Belarus, probably therefore Oleg Yesayan
decided to live part of his family life in his wife’s native country.

In 2005 Oleg Yesayan moved to Armenia from Karabakh and was appointed
president of the Stock Commission, but the commission was dissolved
in several months, for its functions are further performed by the
Central Bank. In this sense the government morally owes to Oleg
Yesayan. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the dissolution of
the Stock Commission was already known at the time of his appointment.

RA OMBUDSMAN TO PARTICIPATE IN OSCE CONSULTATIONS

ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 16:45

OSCE International Consultations on “Attorneys and national
institutions of defense of human rights: legal, state and non-state
aspects” will be held March 30-31 in Hofburg palace of Vienna.

The role of attorneys and national institutions in the defense of
human rights will be discussed.

It is noted in the preliminary agenda of the sitting that the OSCE has
long-term relations with national institutions of defense of human
rights and attorneys, based on obligations expressed in different
OSCE documents.

Representatives of all 55 OSCE member states will participate in the
sitting. RA Human Rights Defender’s Office informs that RA Ombudsman
Armen Harutyunyan will also participate in the event.

NEW GAS FEE WILL LEAD TO RISE IN PRICES

ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 17:33

The rise of gas price will lead to the rise in prices of a number
of products, first of all the consumer goods. Recently this topic
is being actively discussed. One can only guess what kind of rise
in prices is awaiting us, the exact price of gas has not been even
set so far. Nevertheless, the process is irreversible, and all that
consumers can do is to follow the events.

Head of the “Union of Consumers” Armen Poghosyan told in his talk with
“Radiolur” correspondent that the water fee in Yerevan will rise with
50 drams, totaling 173 AMD. According to him, the consumer loses also
in regard to the quality of goods.

Armen Poghosyan considers that it is necessary to bring the cooperation
of state and public structures to a field, where it will be possible
to find a solution beneficial for the consumer. Such will not observed
so far, therefore, in the nearest future the common citizen will have
to simply follow the course of events.

GENOCIDE DENIERS WILL BE PUNISHED WITH LAW

ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 17:45

Genocide deniers should be punished with law; this year the European
Armenian Federation will come forward with a new initiative. The
demonstration of Turks in the city of Lyon made the French be more
watchful.

It is known that the French law prohibits denying the fact of the
Armenian Genocide. The French, however, intend to enlarge the law to
punish all those who will make the fact of the Genocide a topic of
discussion or will deny it.

The necessity of this became apparent after the Turks organized a
rally denying the Armenian Genocide in Lyon. It was accompanied with
slogans denying the Genocide.

Furthermore, there is the necessity of a law that will become a serious
obstacle in Turkey’s way to joining the European Union. In the recent
years there was an intention to execute a law against genocide in EU
member states; the development of the law was, however, hindered. The
European Armenian Federation Office intends to launch activities to
bring the law into force.

Germany is also working out a law to punish the Genocide deniers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIL’ LONGBAUGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR KIDS

ArmRadio.am
27.03.2006 17:52

The Lil’ Longbaugh International Film Festival for Kids begins
this weekend, celebrating the spirit, wit, and intrinsic goodness of
children. The 2006 Lil’ Longbaugh International Film Festival features
global cinema created for and by children from Japan, Norway, Mexico,
Argentina, England, Serbia Montenegro, Armenia, Belgium, Australia
and homegrown masterpieces from Oregon.