WB YEREVAN OFFICE DIRECTOR: RISING GAS TARIFF IN ARMENIA WILL LEAD TO A RISE OF THE PRICES FOR SEVERAL GOODS
YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. The rise of the gas tariff in Armenia
will lead to a rise of the prices for several goods, Director of WB
Yerevan Office Roger J.Robinson said at a press-conference, Thursday.
He believes gas of special importance of Armenia’s economy.
Therefore, the rise of the tariff will have a negative impact on the
production and especially on the poor sections of the population. It
will also automatically lead to an increase of the electricity tariff,
R. Robinson said. At the same time, he thinks the new tariff will
not be disastrous for Armenia as some people believe.

RA PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR: PRESIDENT HAS NEVER AND WILL NEVER SUPPORT CREATION OR SPLIT OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY
YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
has and will never support creation or split of any political party,
Garnik Isagoulyan, Advisor of the Armenian President for National
Security Affairs, says in an interview to “Golos Armenii” commenting on
rumors that Robert Kocharyan supports the well-known native businessman
Gagik Tsaroukyan to establish a party “Prospering Armenia.”
Isagoulyan expresses regress that many initiators of new parties
often abuse the name of the president, which is inadmissible.

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE BONDS MARKET DEPENDS ON ACTIVITY OF BROKERS
YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. The formation and development of a
corporate bonds market in Armenia depends on how active brokers will
be, says the executive director of the Armenian Stock Exchange Armen
Melikyan.
It is for brokers to consult with potential emitters, to register,
place and quote the bonds every day. If they take no such steps,
there will be no corporate bonds in Armenia.
The emission and placement of corporate bonds will stongly promote the
development of corporate securities market. Presently, because of no
corporate management principles, corporate securities have almost no
liquidity. Armeconombank’s first try has shown that there is certain
demand for corporate bonds in Armenia. These bonds are liquid, they
have a market maker and are quoted on stock exchange on a daily bases
and so anyone who buys them can easily sell them on stock exchange,
says Melikyan.

CRISIS GROUP: GARABAGH CONFLICT NOT “FROZEN”
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 30 2006
Baku, March 29, AssA-Irada
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict is not
“frozen” and frequent reports of human casualties prove this, said
a representative of the International Crisis Group, an organization
working to prevent conflicts worldwide.
“After the failed talks at Rambouillet, 19 people, including eight
civilians, died last month alone as a result of ceasefire violations,”
the ICG project director on South Caucasus Sabine Frasier told a news
conference in Washington.
The parties failed to agree upon the issues of principle during the
negotiations held by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in
France in February, which was followed by mutual threats.
Frasier said the resumption of hostilities is not inevitable but could
be prompted by the escalating tensions on the frontline. She said the
conflict zone is particularly sensitive due to its specific geographic
location and that new military actions could potentially get Russia,
Iran, Georgia and Turkey involved in the confrontation.
The ICG representative added that the cities occupied by Armenians
in Upper Garabagh have been devastated and should be rehabilitated.

AZERI WRITER: WE MUST CRUSH AND SMOTHER ARMENIANS LIKE PESTS AND LEPERS
YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. Azeri “writer” and “intellectual”
Elchin Gasanov calls for a new war with Armenia, in his article
“War is Inevitable” in Echo daily he goes into the world history and
compares the military experience of the German Nazi with the military
experience of the Azeri army.
Openly expressing his sympathy for the Nazi, Gasanov reproaches the
Azeris for their “complex of defeated.” “It’s awful! Armenians do
not understand words. They must be crushed and smothered like pests
and lepers.” “So my conclusion is: iron and blood! War is inevitable!”
“Otherwise we will never be able to wash away our disgrace and nobody
will respect us. It’s bad but it’s true.” Noting that the Azeris have
lost their Waterloo, Gasanov quite illogically claims: “War is the
best cure for people, it cures and cripples. But we need it more than
the Armenians do. But the Armenians want it too – or where will they
spend the money they get from abroad? Whoever says that Armenians are
altruists will cause my anger. This is a farce. They too love money,
love living well.”
So, in order not to cause Gasanov’s anger we better not argue with him.

WILL JEWS TAKE PART IN AZERIS’ ‘GENOCIDE DAY COMMEMORATION’?
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
Jewish and Azerbaijani communities of the United States have common
approach to a number of vital issues, Trend news agency quoted the
former chairman of the Association of Jews of the USSR, Yuri Zilberman,
as saying.
“The Azerbaijani and Jewish communities have established close friendly
ties,” Zilberman said adding that an agreement with Tomriz Azer, head
of the Azerbaijani Association of America, has brought their positions
closer. Touching upon the so-called “genocide day commemoration”
(precisely delirium – A.
H.) today, Zilberman stated that the Jews understand Azerbaijani
people’s problems and will take part in the arrangements of the
Association.

‘IF IT’S BANNED TO UTTER ‘GENOCIDE’ IN TURKEY, HOW WILL TURKISH HISTORIANS REMAIN IMPARTIAL IN THEIR CONCLUSIONS?’
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian Stated in Washington
On March 27, Armenian minister of finance and economy Vartan
Khachatrian and chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenges
Corporation John Danilovich signed a $235.65 million Compact between
MCC and the Republic of Armenia. US state secretary Condoleezza Rice
and Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian held speeches after
the signing ceremony.
The same day minister Oskanian answered the questions of Sefa Kaplan
from Hurriyet Turkish newspaper. “There would be no Armenian Diaspora
if not the events of 1915. Armenia and Diaspora demand international
recognition and condemnation of the Genocide of 1915.
The absence of relations between Turkey and Armenia and the closed
Armenian-Turkish border make people angry and deepen the gap between
the two states.
Diaspora certainly wants the best for Armenia, and the best thing is
good neighborly relations with all neighbors. We are hopeful that
the Turkish people also wants good relations with its neighbors,”
Mr. Oskanian told the journalists.
Hurriyet published this interview in March 27 issue under the title
“Today’s Turkey Is Not Responsible for 1915”. On march 29, CNN-Turk
touched on Vartan Oskanian’s press conference.
CNN-Turk writes: “Vartan Oskanian who is currently negotiating
in Washington spoke in favor of establishing diplomatic relations
with Turkey stating: ‘The Armenian-Turkish border is the only one
in Europe that is closed. We put forward no precondition for its
opening. We think Turkey will have to open the border in the process
of EU membership talks.’
“Then he emphasized that the issue of the Armenian Genocide needs no
discussion, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal was made to impress
Europe.”
“Firstly, there is no need to reexamine historic truth that is already
proven by facts. Secondly, if it is banned in Turkey to utter the
word ‘genocide’, then no commission will ever arrive at the idea of
Armenian Genocide,” Vartan Oskanian added.

LEGISLATIVE DRAFT AGAINST KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI RAILWAY
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
Senators Rick Santorum and Robert Menendez submitted a draft directed
against the construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railroad to the
US Senate.
The construction of the railroad costs about $800 million. According
to the Armenian Assembly of America, Rick Santorum said that the
policy of USA in the South Caucasus is aimed to maintain stability
and cooperation, as well as to contribute to opening of borders and
transport corridors. Thus, the project of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi
railroad construction will not only hinder implementation of
the American long-term goals in the region but will also isolate
Armenia. The senator stated that the efforts taken to contribute to
economic integration of the region and reducing the tension are both in
the interest of the USA and the South Caucasus. While Robert Menendez,
the other author of the draft, stated that through this construction
project, Turkey and Azerbaijan aim to isolate Armenia in the future.

ARMENIAN BANKS TO HAVE INVESTMENT RATINGS BY THE END OF THE YEAR
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
Head of European Bank Voices Hope
Speaking about the results of the international banking conference
on trade financing, Michael Davey, head of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), voiced an opinion that
Armenian enterprises will henceforth ask for greater finances from
banks and the Armenian banks will acquire necessary skills to provide
financing. As a result of that, the economy will develop and EBRD’s
financial projects will double. Mr. Davey emphasized the need for
Armenia and Armenian banks to have investment ratings.
Executive director of Armeconom bank, Ashot Osipian, stated that
participants of the conference had a chance for a business contact with
each other to discuss issues of the sphere. Mr. Osipian emphasized
the importance of the conference and said that they will try to hold
it every year. Foreign participants also wished the conference to
become annual.
He also informed that the initiators of the conference have set up
prizes for the two foreign and two local companies, best importers and
exporters. Touching upon the finance instruments, Osipian emphasized
the importance of the fact that they will help the companies to export
or import goods without suffering big losses, having received back
their goods or money.
Thus, they will lessen the risks.

NEW EXHIBITION AT ALBERT AND TOVE BOYAJIAN PICTURE GALLERY
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
The exhibition of Margarita Matoulian’s mini sculptures recently opened
at Albert and Tove Boyajian Picture Gallery. Margarita is a fourth
year student at the Academy of Fine Arts. The young sculpture exhibited
about 20 mini iron sculptures that she created in 2 years. The author
stated that though it is better to start with mini sculptures, she
will never pass to making bigger ones. She stated that she greatly
likes the technique and the genre of mini sculptures. Tigran Matoulian,
father of the young sculpture, emphasized that her daughter is both a
designer and a sculpture, as she masters the skills of both professions
very well.