1 MILLION 157 THOUSAND FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMENIA

Lragir.am
25 March 06
In 2006-2007 the Education Headed for Future program will be
implemented in Armenia, which will cost 1 million 157 thousand
dollars. The news agency ARKA informs that the agreement on the
program was signed on March 24 by the minister of education and
science Sergo Yeritsyan and the UNDP Resident Coordinator Consuelo
Vidal. After the signing of the agreement Sergo Yeristyan said the
program will be funded by the government of Norway, and the government
of Armenia will provide 55 thousand dollars. `The implementation of
the program will enable reforms in vocational secondary schools,
namely modernization, upgrading of educational standards,
scholarships,’ said Sergo Yeritsyan. The UN representative Consuelo
Vidal emphasized that for the implementation of the program a research
of the Armenian labor pool was conducted. She said today there are
about 27 vocational colleges in Armenia, four will be involved in the
program, one in Yerevan, others in the regions. He emphasized that the
main stress will be placed on upgrading the qualifications of young
people and help them find employment in the regions.

EU TO BECOME ENGAGED IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Lragir.am
25 March 06
Apparently, the EU is going to enhance its efforts in the Karabakh
conflict zone. The report of the International Crisis Group, which
upholds deeper engagement of the EU in the settlement of the South
Caucasian conflicts, is not accidental. The head of the General
Department of Information under NKR President Alexander Grigoryan
believes that as long as the OSCE Minsk Group deals with the
settlement, the efforts of all the other organizations will not be
effective. `The EU is deeply interested in having stability in its
adjacent territories to be able to use the resources of these
territories, particularly, the Azerbaijani oil and gas. I think the EU
can work out a program of assistance to the reconstruction of the
post-conflict territories.

Most probably, in the counseling report a buffer zone is concerned,
which is not inhabited. It might be related to possible tensions
caused by the nuclear program of Iran. Although, I think, tensions in
the region are probable.
Of course, with this state of things, when Russian forces are
stationed in Georgia and Armenia, the U.S. mobile forces may be
deployed in Azerbaijan, and for the EU, which is not present in the
region, it will not be easy to take action against rising
tensions. Therefore, I think, in the nearest future the engagement of
the EU will be indirect and will be confined to counseling reports
without any pressure,’ said Alexander Grigoryan.
The head of the Political Department of the NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Irina Beglaryan said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shares
the intention of the international community to prevent fully-fledged
wars near the borders of Europe. `In this context we endorse every
effort to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus and to
settle the Karabakh conflict.

The aspiration of the European organizations is clear: to become more
deeply engaged in the settlement of the South Caucasian conflicts to
guarantee their own security. However, the mechanisms offered in the
report of the International Crisis Group are not applicable, for they
do not reflect the essence of the Karabakh conflict,’ said Irina
Beglaryan. As a positive aspect of the report the foreign ministry
official points out the engagement of the unrecognized countries of
the South Caucasus in the EU integration processes, as well as
parliamentary dialogue.
As to the participation of the EU Special Representative in the talks
under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, it will, on the one hand,
bring a fresh breath into the talks, and on the other hand, will
decentralize efforts.
`At the same time, I would like to state that no format of the
mediators will compensate for the absence of NKR, directly involved in
the conflict, in the talks,’ said Irina Beglaryan.

REFUGEES ARE ON PACE AGENDA

Lragir.am
25 March 06
The Azerbaijani news agency Trend informs that the PACE Spring Session
will discuss the question of adopting a declaration on the refugees
and displaced persons in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The draft
document was worked out by the Latvian reporter of the Committee on
Migration, Refugees and Population Boris Silevic. It is stated in the
report that the problem of refugees and displaced persons in the South
Caucasus hampers economic, social and political development of the
countries of the region, creates problems for the health care
system. Reporter Silevic emphasizes the importance of continuing
European assistance to refugees and displaced persons, as well as
increasing international assistance to guarantee the future of the
refugees and displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The
draft report states that presently the bulk of the refugees and
displaced persons in the South Caucasus are people who were forced to
leave their homes in the course of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno Karabakh. The document points out that the return of
refugees and the displaced persons is impossible without the
settlement of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

OSKANYAN SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A NOTE

Lragir.am
25 March 06
The reaction to the U.S. Secretariat report on the strategy of
struggle against drugs is acquiring new forms. On March 24 the leader
of the National Unity Artashes Geghamyan again raised this issue. He
said that instead of assuming the role of a translator and explaining
that the report was translated with mistakes, he should have issued a
protest note to the United States, for ` the mentioning of Armenian
government officials is a blow to the national dignity.’ According to
Geghamyan, however, something different happened. Putting together the
American report, the information of the Russian border guards about
the prevention of transit of drugs on the Iran-Armenia border and the
silence of tax and customs services, Geghamyan concludes, `If all this
information was bottled up, logically government officials are
engaged, who can make this silent. And we know who is almighty.’
Another oppositionist, Victor Dallakyan said the parliamentary
majority was reluctant to set up a provisional committee on the
legitimacy of constitutional referendum in 2005, and concluded that
`they are engaged in electoral fraud.’

ON COMING TO POWER NATIONAL UNITY WILL PUNISH

Lragir.am
25 March 06
The members of the National Unity Party announced that they started
publishing information on corruption in the government of Armenia,
particularly, the bankruptcy deal of Armenian Airlines and the
corresponding agreements signed by the government and Mika Ltd., the
agreements signed by Zvartnots Airport and Mika Ltd. several years ago
on supplying fuel to the airport, as a result of which the state
budget suffered losses of millions of dollars, and Mika Ltd. is not
likely to recover these.
The members of this party have been discussing this question over the
past week; the same was in the Azdak Club on March 25, where the guest
was Alexan Karapetyan. He presented once again the contract, which
inflicted losses of millions on the state and brought profit of
millions to certain government officials and to Mika Ltd., the
president of which is Mikhail Baghdasarov, known for his close ties
with the ruling elite.
The deputy leader of the National Unity Alexan Karapetyan failed to
explain clearly, however, why they recalled the deals signed several
years ago. Karapetyan says they are presenting them in a period when
the leadership makes statements about their struggle against the
government. `We want to publish cases of corruption to show that if
they were resolved to fight corruption, they should have prevented
these cases. We want to show that the statements of the government on
struggle against corruption are mere words and populism,’ says the
leader of the National Unity.
It turns out that if the government did not speak out about struggling
corruption, the National Unity would not speak about cases of
corruption either. ` No, we have always spoken out, and if you do not
believe, you can come to the office of our party and read the book by
Artashes Geghamyan, where all his speeches are collected, and you will
see that it contains all these examples,’ says Alexan Karapetyan.
And these will remain there, or will merely serve as material for news
conferences of the Unity. The Unity members will not submit this
material and documents to the Office of Public Prosecutor. Alexan
Karapetyan says that their public addresses are enough for the public
prosecutor to investigate these cases. Their job is to announce. `We
promise that we will reveal all the cases of abuse and the guilty on
coming of power,’ says Alexan Karapetyan. When we inquired whether the
promise referred to coming to power or to punishing,

Karapetyan stated that the promise referred to the punishment. `You
should not even doubt that we will come to power,’ said Alexan
Karapetyan.

CREATION OF NEW PARTIES IS NOT SENSIBLE
YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. There are too many parties on the
political scene of Armenia and creation of new parties in senseless,
stated on a briefing at the National Assembly Hrayr Karapetian,
secretary of ‘Dashnaktsutiun’ party’s parliamentary group, commenting
on the establishment of the ‘New Times’ party by Artashes Tumanian and
his further departure from the party.
The secretary of the ‘Justice’ opposition bloc Victor Dallakian tried
to explain the dismissal of Mr. Tumanian from the office of the head
of the Presidents’ Board and the withdrawal from the party by the
pressure of certain political powers.Artashes Geghamian, leader of
‘National Movement’ party expressed a hope that the ‘oppressors’ of
Artashes Tumanian will soon find themselves in the same situation.
The matter is that Artashes Tumanian, being the head of the
Presidents’ Board, founded a new party, called ‘New Times’. After the
dismissal of Mr. Tuamanian the newly established party faced
difficulties. In the early March 2006 Mr. Tumanian left his own
party. Armenian mass media alleges that Artashes Tumanian has appealed
to the Embassy of the USA for visa.

EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN ARTISTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HERMITAGE AND
THE RUSSIAN MUSEUM
YEREVAN, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. Minister for Culture Gevorg Gevorgian
today received the director of the Hermitage museum, history doctor
Mikhail Piotrovsky.

The press-service of the Culture Ministry reports that Mr. Gevorgian
suggested to organize a number of reciprocal visits of Armenian and
Russian painters-restorers. Mr. Piotrovsky suggested to hold severl
conferences both in Armenia and Russia, dedicated to Boris Piotrovsky,
the former director of Hermitage who organized archeological
excavations in the ancient town of Erebuni. Agreement was made to
hold an exhibition of Armenian artists at Hermitage and the Russian
Museum. Also one of the masterpieces of Hermitage will be exposed at
the Armenian National Picture Gallery.

MEMBERS OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DISLIKE SONG REPRESENTED BY ARMENIA AT
EUROVISION
YEREVAN, MARCH 24.ARMINFO. The melody of the song represented by
Armenian singer Andre at Eurovision reminds Mongolian melodies,
Galoust Sahakian, head of Republican faction said today at the
parliament.
While Artashes Geghamian, leader of “National Unity” party, said that
they could send singer Shoushan Petrosian to Eurovision instead of
Andre. Secretary of ARFD faction also expressed the opinion that a
better song including more national tunes could be represented at the
competition.
On his turn, Victor Dallakian, secretary of “Justice” faction, stated
that the song of Andre is chosen to match the taste of the Armenian
authorities that prefer listening to Arabic tunes during their
parties.
Only Samvel Balasanian, head of “Orinats Yerkir” party, confessed that
he really liked the song. “Certainly, they could have chosen a better
song, but this one is good, as well,” he said.
It’s worth mentioning that according to preliminary data, the song of
Andre occupies one of the leading positions. Andre received many
suggestions to give concerts in foreign countries. Eurovision
competition will be held in Athens in end May.

Turkish defence minister stresses importance of Turkish-US relations
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
25 Mar 06

Washington, DC, 25 March: Turkish National Defence Minister Vecdi
Gonul has indicated that “relations with the United States is one of
cornerstones of Turkish foreign policy”.
Gonul delivered a speech on “Evolving security environment and
Turkey’s strategic role in Eurasia” in a conference organized by Los
Angeles World Affairs Council.
“There have been Turkish-US military relations at the highest level,”
he underscored, and noted that the volume of cooperation between
Turkish and the US defence industries amounted to 13bn US dollars over
the last 20 years.
Stating that Turkey and the United States attached great importance to
prevention of proliferation of mass destruction weapons and ballistic
missiles, Gonul recalled that Turkey, as an ally of NATO, stayed at
the front line against a possible threat of missile which might be
developed in the Middle East.
Gonul noted that Turkey always played a role of bridge between the
east and the west.
“The latest developments have shown there is lack of dialogue between
different communities worldwide,” Gonul stressed that Turkey’s EU
membership would give an important message underlining that different
cultures could exist together peacefully.
Pointing out to Turkey’s cooperation in US-led war in Iraq, Gonul
recalled that 4,990 sorties were conducted in the Turkish airspace,
Turkey’s Incirlik base was used and the parliament approved a
government motion permitting the dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Gonul noted that Turkey has doubled its economic and commercial
relations with Iraq since 2003, indicating that 50 per cent of
processed oil need of Iraq was provided by Turkey. He stressed that
one fourth of electricity need of this country would also be provided
by Turkey this year. Stating that Turkey supported peace process in
Iraq, he underlined that it also attached special importance to
territorial integrity of Iraq. Gonul said that Turkish public had
concerns over discriminative attitude of Kurdish population in Iraq.
“Natural resources of Iraq belong to all Iraqi people,” he stressed.
Noting that Iraqi election was a great step taken on the way of
democracy, he said that the new Iraqi government should focus on
constitutional amendment. Gonul said that Kirkuk was still a very
important matter affecting the stability in Iraq, noting that the
destiny of Kirkuk should be determined by all Iraqi people.
He noted that terrorist organization PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]
was continuing its activities in the north of Iraq, stressing that
Turkey expected all relevant parties to solve this problem. “Turkey
considers that Iraqi government and coalition forces have equal
responsibility to end those activities there,” he said.
Gonul said that Turkey had sound and special relations with Israel and
Palestine.
Stating that Hamas should assume a reasonable attitude, he said that
Turkey was ready to assist efforts necessary to resume peace talks
within the scope of the road map.
He indicated that Turkey considered that Upper Karabakh issue was the
main obstacle in front of peace and cooperation in the region, stating
that a peaceful solution to this matter would contribute to
development of regional cooperation and would normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations.

Armenian soldier wounded as truce violated by Azerbaijan – TV
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 Mar 06
The truce violation was registered on the contact line between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces at 1900 [1500 gmt] on 23 March,
the press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry, Col Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, has reported.
Armenia’s defence positions near the village of Baganis in Tavush
Region came under fire from a military unit in Azerbaijan’s Qazax
District. A 24-year old private of the Armenian armed forces, Voskan
Ovannesyan, was wounded and taken to hospital.