WATER AGENCIES TAKE ACTION
Panorama.am
17:36 06/07/06
Low quality of water, degeneration of water system and losses in the
system are characteristic of Armenia and water agencies do not hide
that. The responsible parties have started to take the first steps
to tackle the problems.
Today government session approved draft law on National Program on
Water. Nature protection deputy minister Hakob Matinyan said shortly
after the session, the program envisages large scheme of building
water reservoirs. According to his estimates, 4.5-5 bln cubic meter
water will be saved if the scheme is implemented.
According to the deputy minister, all the events planned in the
program will be implemented within 30-40 years. However, he could not
say today how much money will be needed to accomplish the tasks. It
will be covered by the state budget, and international aid.
Short-term events are also planned in the draft running until the
year 2010.

AT THE CROSSROADS OF POLITICS
Panorama.am
18:17 06/07/06
Political scientist Manvel Sargsyan says it is amazing to say that the
withdrawal of Orinats Yerkir did not make any considerable change in
the political life of the republic. He told a discussion today that
coalition contract first of all excluded authoritarianism. Today all
power layers are in the hands of Robert Kocharyan and no force has
any chance to reach its own decision. “The president is now planning
its own personal political program which contradicts the interests
of high rank public employees and business community,” M. Sargsyan
said.

GEORGIAN BATUMI TO HOST ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION’S MEETING
Armenpress
Jul 6 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian delegation headed by prime
minister Andranik Margarian is leaving on July 7 for Georgia’s resort
town of Batumi on the Black Sea coast that was chosen as the venue of
a recurrent meeting of the Armenian-Georgian commission on economic
cooperation.
The government press office said the Armenian delegation comprises
finance and economy minister Vartan Khachatrian, deputy foreign
minister Gegham Gharibjanian, chief of customs committee Armen
Avetisian, deputy energy minister and other government officials. In
Batumi Margarian will have a tete-a-tete conversation with Georgian
counterpart Zurab Nogaideli.
The meeting is to discuss boosting cooperation in agriculture, energy,
nature protection, health, transport, customs and some other areas. The
Armenian delegation will also visit several Batumi enterprises and
the port.

ISSUE OF ANNOUNCING AMNESTY TO BE DISCUSSED AT NA SPECIAL SESSION
Noyan Tapan
Jul 6 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly’s special session
opened on July 6. In addition to other issues, RA President’s
proposal on adopting draft decision “On Announcing Amnesty” is also
on the agenda. To recap, the last amnesty was announced in 2001, in
connection with the 1700th anniversary of adopting Christianity as
state religion in Armenia. The draft to be submitted to NA discussion
proposes announcing amnesty in connection with the 15th anniversary
of RA independence.
As RA Justice Minister David Haroutiunian informed journalists, in
case of adoption of the draft decision in an unchanged form, over
300 convicts will be released, as well as terms of imprisonment of
some convicts will be reduced.
Persons sentenced for crimes envisaging a maximum term of imprisonment
up to 3 years, with some exceptions also those sentenced to maximum
5 years’ imprisonment will be released.
According to the Minister, amnesty will not be extended to persons
having committed especially grave crimes, as well as to some kinds
of crimes. RA President expressing his political position towards
them did not include them in his proposals, in particular, these are
crimes connected with deforestation and electoral falsifications.

“GAREGIN NZHDEH” MEMORIAL MEDAL GIVEN TO SERGE SARGSIAN
Noyan Tapan
Jul 6 2006
GORIS, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister,
President of the Chess Federation of Armenia and the members of
the men national team of Armenia, the champions of the World Chess
Championship of Turin visited Syunik on July 4.
During the solemn event held in the theater hall of Goris, Surik
Khachatrian, Regional Governor of Syunik marz, awarded memorial
medals and letters of thanks to Karen Asrian, Vladimir Hakobian,
Gabriel Sargsian, Artashes Minasian, Tigran Nalbandian and Smbat
Lputian. S.Khachatrian handed a “Garegin Nzhdeh” memorial medal to
Serge Sargsian.

CRISIS OF FUEL IN “ZVARTNOTS” AIRPORT CONTINUES
Noyan Tapan
Jul 6 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In “Zvartnots” airport during the last
days some flights are not implemented or the airplanes are refueled in
reserve airports because of lack of fuel. The Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed about this from Gayane Davtian, Spokesperson for Head of
the RA Civil Aviation Chief Department. According to her, the problem
of fuel is conditioned with its only importer, “Mika Armenian Limited”
company, which failed to import enough fuel. The source did not say
when the problem will be solved.
It should be mentioned that the ailplanes make landings at the Sochi
airport to refuel in order to implement the Yerevan-Moscow flights.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE INDICATES HIGHEST LEVEL OF RELATIONS BEWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 6 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia attaches great
importance to the agreement reached between RA and French Presidents,
according to which 2006-2007 was announced Year of Armenia in France,
which indicates the highest level of relations established between
the two countries. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Chairman of
the State Commission Coordinating the Spade-Work of Year of Armenia
in France, declared this at the July 5 fourth sitting of the joint
steering committee on Year of Armenia in France.
Stating that, in essence, this is the last sitting of the joint
committee, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the huge
work done up to now, including discussion of hundreds of projects of
events, creation of a joint fund, signing of the respective convention.
Andranik Margarian expressed gratitude to the French side, to all
state and cultural organizations and individuals who contributed
to the process of preparation of Year of Armenia together with the
Ambassador, Embassy and Commissar of Armenia in Paris. He emphasized
that the Armenian side will provide assistance as far as possible
for holding these events at the highest level.
Asserting that the Armenian people is well familiarized with the French
cultural values, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that Year of
Armenia in France will be an occasion for the French people to get
to know the Armenian cultural heritage as much closely as Armenians
know the French one, as the Armenian cultural heritage, according
to him, having centuries-old traditions is an integral part of of
the European civilization and system of values. According to him,
the holding of Year of Armenia in France, in one of the capitals of
world art and culture, is an exclusive opportunity for presenting
the Armenian cultural values not only to France, but also through
France to Europe and to the world. According to the Prime Minister,
bearing big and positive supplies of Armenian-French friendship,
Year of Armenia in France also contains an important message for many
thousands of French Armenians who, according to him, are a peculiar
bridge between the Armenian and French peoples.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Government Information and Public
Relations Department, Andranik Margarian confirmed that as Head of the
Armenian Government and Chairman of the State Commission Coordinating
the Spade-Works of Year of Armenia in France, he will visit Paris to
take part in the conference of Armenian-French sister cities to be
organized on October 17-18 with the sponsorship of the French Senate
and RA National Assembly. The Prime Minister assured that Armenia is
ready to do everything possible to make Year of Armenia in France
a bright and impressive event symbolizing one more important stage
in the Armenian-French friendly relations, which, according to him,
particularly, in the recent period undeviatingly develop in political,
as well as economic, cultural and other directions.
Mrs Valerie Teranova, Adviser of the French President on Special
Errands, once more emphasized that President Jacques Chirac attaches
great importance to Year of Armenia in France. Numerous and various
events are held in France every year, but Year of Armenia is an
exclusive event, as not only friendly, but also warm and sincere
relations were historically formed between the two peoples, she said.
Jerome Paskier, head of the French delegation, Deputy Director of
French General Department on International Cooperation and Development,
also expressed satisfaction with the results registered at the July
4 meeting of joint committee’s working groups.
Henri Cuny, Ambassador of France to Armenia, and Edward Nalbandian,
Ambassador of Armenia to France, commissars from both sides, Mrs Nelly
Tardivie and Assistant to RA President Vigen Sargsian, presented the
process of spade-works on holding of events of Year of Armenia in
France, which includes more than a hundred events to be organized
both in France and in Armenia.

RA PRIME MINISTER AND AAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DISCUSS PROCESS OF MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE’S ARMENIAN PROGRAM
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 6 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian-American
relations, in particular, the process of implementation of the
Millennium Challenge’s Armenian program, as well as a number of
regional problems were discussed at the July 6 meeting of RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian with Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director
of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), and Arpi Vardanian, AAA
Regional Director.
According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA Government
Information and Public Relations Department, Bryan Ardouny informed
the Prime Minister about the work being done at present by AAA aimed
at implementation of programs favorable for Armenia in the U.S..

NKR PRESIDENT DOES NOT CONSIDER REALISTIC NKR’S PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS IN FUTURE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 6 2006
STEPANAKERT, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Karabakh’s
position has not changed and will not change. Irrespective of
revelations to be made by this or that person, our position remains
the same, as it is exact,” NKR President Arkady Ghukasian declared
after the solemn sitting dedicated to the 13th anniversary of Martakert
liberation held on June 28 in NKR, the “168 hours” newspaper writes.
In response to the question, “after disclosing the details of the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations by OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-chair Matthew Bryza how much probable is NKR’s participation in the
negotiations as a negotiations part”, NKR President said: “I think,
this is not realistic in these days and in the nearest period, either,
as we all see Azerbaijan’s position and destructive approaches. I do
not consider this will be real today and Azerbaijan will be ready to
negotiate with Karabakh. A wrong impression is formed that this is
necessary for Karabakh. This is necessary for the process. I do not
think that to take part in the negotiations is an end in itself for us.
Of course, it would be good but not for us but for the process.”
Touching upon the issue regarding the role of Azerbaijan’s oil factor
in the conflict settlement, A.Ghukasian said: “I do not think that
victories are decided by a country’s being poor or rich. If you
remember, in 1991-1992 we had incomparably poorer resourses than
Azerbaijan and the war result is exact and unequivocal. I do not
suppose that Azerbaijan’s hopes to strengthen its army with the
resources of oil are realistic, I do not think this is a solution to
the issue or some decisive factor. I consider the Azerbaijani people
does not want a war and we do not want, either. And, in general, there
is no people that wants to solve any issue through a war.” A.Ghukasian
considered ridiculous the statements of Azerbaijani leadership, as,
according to him, “such statements are made by people who not only did
not defend their homeland in 1992-1994, but also kept their children
away from the war.”
“I think we have no occasion for being afraid, our army is able
to defend our homeland, our borders. And such statements should
be condemned by the international community, which, unfortunately,
is not done and this is unintelligible for us. But I hope this will
take place,” NKR President declared.

PRESIDENT SIGNS LAWS ON “NATIONAL EMBLEM” AND “ON RA FLAG”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 6 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 4, RA President
Robert Kocharian signed laws “On National Emblem,” “On RA Flag,”
“On Copyright and Adjacent Rights.”
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press Office, Robert
Kocharian also signed laws On Making Amendments and Additions to
RA Civil Code, Criminal Code, Criminal-Executive Code, Code of
Administrative Offences, law “On Administrative Division.”