Russia and Georgia signs treaty on withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 31 2006
[ 31 Mar. 2006 15:14 ]
Russia will withdraw its troops from Georgia by the end of 2008.
APA bureau in Georgia reports that Russian land troops commander
Aleksey Maslov and first deputy Defense Minister of Georgia Mamuka
Kudava signed an agreement on withdrawal of Russian military bases
from the territory of Georgia. The agreement contains the exact
date of withdrawal of troops and details of transiting of military
equipment from Georgia.
Russian state budget will allocate 836 million rubles in 2006,
820 million in 2007 and 510 million ruble sin 2008 to take out the
military bases from Georgia.
In conformity with the agreement, Russia’s military base dislocated
in Akhalkalak region of Georgia will be removed in 2006-2007 and the
base in Batumi will be taken out by the end of 2008. Russian military
equipment in Georgia will be taken to the military base #102 in Gumri
city of Armenia.
Georgia agreed to open its air for Russia’s military airplanes to
carry military equipment. In addition, there will be no restrictions
to use of Georgian ports for carrying the equipment./APA/

Co-chairs of Dartmouth Conference: Armenians have the same right for Karabakh as Indians for America
Regnum, Russia
March 31 2006
A session of Dartmouth conference on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement under the chairmanship of Harold Saunders (US) and Vitaly
Naumkin (Russia), with participation of Armenian MPs and others has
taken place in the Armenian Academy of Sciences.
The sides noted importance of a framework agreement between
representatives of the conflict sides – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno
Karabakh, and told their opinions on the conflict settlement process.
As Saunders said, the negotiation process must be divided into two
stages. The first will include intermediate steps, namely measures
for establishment of mutual trust, equal concessions by the parties,
synchronized withdrawal of troops, demilitarization of the territories,
return of refugees, restoration of communications, economic and
cultural cooperation. The second stage will comprise talks on the NKR
final status, conclusion of peaceful agreement and establishment of
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In his words, the formula of the project is following: “Peace and
intermediate status in exchange for territories,” which differs from
the mutually excluding principles of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
sides – “peace in exchange for territories” and “territories in
exchange for status.” Harold Saunders also noted that the project was
submitted to the Russian and U.S. Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group,
who rated it positive on the whole. “Ambassador Mann specifically
noted the measures for establishment of mutual trust between the
conflicting parties provided by the framework agreement,” Mr.
Saunders said. At that he noted that the Dartmouth Conference is
not a substitute to the OSCE MG. “The task of the Minsk Group is to
propose the final decision, while our task is to offer the possible
ways of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,” he stressed.
Russian co-chair Vitaly Naumkin said that a framework agreement is one
of the modifications of step-by-step settlement. But to reach such
agreement, the conflicting nations must understand the necessity of
such agreement and their observance. Only by observing every document,
the sides can create new basis for negotiations and peaceful settlement
as a whole.
The sides also discussed different aspects of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Speaking about his point of view over the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Saunders said that it must not be historically grounded,
because in such case, American Indians can demand America back.

Russian Military Bases To Be Withdrawn To North Caucasus And Armenia
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 31 2006
Tbilisi. March 31 (Prime-News) – Russian military bases from the
territory of Georgia will be withdrawn to North Caucasus and Armenia.
“Withdrawal of Russian military bases from Akhalkalaki and withdrawal
of the rest military technique also transference of military objects
to Georgian party presumably will be completed in October 2007 and
at any rate no later than December 31 2007.” Reads the bilateral
agreement signed in Sochi on Friday, Interfax informs.
The agreement on dates, order and temporary functioning and withdrawal
of Russian military bases from Georgia was signed by Aleksey Maslov,
Chief commander of the Russian Land Forces and Mamuka Kudava, Deputy
Defense Minister of Georgia.

UEFA OFFICIALS TO VISIT ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN IN MAY
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Three officials of the Union of
European Football Associations (UEFA), organization Vice-President
Per Ravn Omdal, Deputy Chief Executive Markus Studer and Executive
Committee member Mathieu Sprengers, will visit Baku and Yerevan
in May. Russian “Sport-Express” informs about this, quoting the
Azerbaijani “Football” newspaper. At the electoral competitions of
the 2008 Europe championship, Armenia and Azerbaijan appeared in the
same group by drawing of lots, and they must hold two games between
one another, according to the UEFA rules. But, taking into account
the strained relations of the two countries, the UEFA may allow as
an exception to hold those meetings on a neutral field. The UEFA 3
leaders’ visit has a goal to get acquainted with the situation and
make a final decision at place.

RA Year in France to Start and Finish on Independence Day
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2006 00:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The third sitting of the committee on the Year
of Armenia in France took place in Paris March 29, reported the RA
MFA press office. The Armenian and French delegations discussed the
preparation process and the agenda. RA Ambassador to France Edward
Nalbandian and Director General for international cooperation and
development Philippe Etienne signed working documents confirming
the agreements achieved. The sitting participants also ratified the
logo and discussed the program of the year of Armenia in France that
includes some 200 events to be held in 40 cities of the state. The Year
of Armenia in France will start September 21, 2006, on the Independence
Day of Armenia and finish July 14, 2007, on the Independence Day
of France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Polish Senate Speaker Arriving in Armenia April 3
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2006 00:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Polish delegation led by Bogdan Borusewicz,
the Speaker of the 6th term Senate of the Republic of Poland,
will pay a formal visit to Armenia April 3-4, reported the RA NA
press service. April 3 Borusewicz will meet with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and Catholic of
All Armenians Garegin II. Besides, the Polish delegation will lay
a wreath to the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims and meet
with the Polish community of Armenia. April 4 the delegation members
are scheduled to meet with Armenian National Assembly Speaker Artur
Baghdassaryan, Vice-speakers, heads of commissions, parliamentary
groups and factions. Meeting with businessmen is as well expected.

Armenian Crashed Plane Flight Recorder Found in Iran
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2006 00:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Executive Director of Payam airport Ahmad Sanei
informed that March 29 an expert group examined the site of crash of
An-12 plane and found the flight recorder and dead bodies of the birds
that collided into the plane. Armenian Ambassador to Iran and airlines’
representatives are also expected to arrive at the site to take final
decision on the evacuation of the plane remnants, reported Irna.
To remind, March 28 at 4.40 p.m. local time An-12 fright carrier owned
by Fenix airlines collided in a flock of birds. As result three out of
four engines were disabled, reported the RA MFA press office. The crew
consisting of 12 people (11 Armenian citizens and 1 Ukrainian) managed
to land near the Iranian town of Karaj. Four crewmembers received
wounds and were taken to hospital. The plane was gutted by flames
after all 12 people on board and the cargo were safely evacuated.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “RETURN AND REINTEGRATION: HOW TO OVERCOME
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES” TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 4-5
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. An international conference “Return and
Reintegration: How to Overcome Economic Challenges” will be organized
in Yerevan on April 4-5 by the Danish Council of Refugees and the
OSCE Yerevan Office jointly with the UN. NT was informed from the
OSCE Yerevan Office that the problems of illegal migrants’ return and
stable reintegration will be discussed with the persons interested
and donors. Representatives of the International Department of the
Danish Council of Refugees, the Foreign Ministry of Denmark and the
OSCE Yerevan Office will participate in the event.

ARMENIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY AMONG TOP FIVE
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Association of Investment
Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the Worl Bank Multilateral Investment
Guaranteeing Agency (MIGA) have included the Investment Promotion
Agency of Armenia among the top five agencies that provide information
to investors. According to the Armenian Developent Agency (ADA),
114 agencies of developed and transitional countries have been
studied. Besides Armenia, Columbia, Nicaragua, Senegal and South Africa
are among the top five. The above mentioned countries received their
awards on March 7-8 in Geneva. The main three directions: quality
of the Internet site of the agency, accessibilty of information and
the staff responses to invsetment bids were taken into account when
studying the activities of the agencies.

POVERTY TO BE REDUCED BY ANOTHER 6% IN ARMENIA AS RESULT OF MILLENNIUM
CHALLENGE PROGRAM’S IMPLEMENTATION
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. As a result of the implementation
of the Millennium Challenge Program (US), poverty will be reduced
by another 6% in Armenia, while peasants’ incomes will increase by
34%. RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated
this at the March 31 press conference.
According to him, in 2004, the poverty level made 39% and in 2003 –
43% in Armenia. The compact on implementation of this 5-year program
worth 235.6 mln USD was signed by Vardan Khachatrian and Executive
Director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) John Danilovich
on March 27 in Washington. Armenia became the 8th country to sign this
compact with the US. According to the minister, about 145 mln dollars
out of the indicated sum will be used for repairs of irrigation systems
and construction of new reservoirs, and about 67.1 mln dollars – for
reconstruction of 945 km of community roads, which makes up nearly 45%
of the so-called “roads of life”. The minister noted that the work
under the program will be carried out by the program implementtaion
offices (PIO) of the World Babk, and a financial supervision body will
be set up to implement financial control. V. Khachatrian expressed a
hope that all preparatory measures of the program will be finished
by August, after which the implementation of the program will
start. It is possible that work worth about 6 mln USD will be done
this year. V. Khachatrian considered the version of discontinuing the
program as unlikely, assuring that Armenia meets all the requirements
of the MCC and the country is increasingly improving its positions. It
was noted that John Danilovich arrives in Armenia on April 10-15.