“YOUTH” FOOTBALL CLUB ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. The “Youth” football club, which was formed
by the Federation of Football of Armenia (FFA), will take part in the
matches of the 1st league of national championship. The FFA press
service reports that the club was formed of the candidates for the
national team under 17.

FFA president Ruben Hayrapetyan pointed out that the 2006 qualifier
matches of the European football junior championship will be held in
Armenia. He stressed the importance of the Armenian team’s high-level
participation. According to Hayrapetyan, this will allow coaches to
form a team from both sport and moral-psychological aspects, which
a pledge of success. P.T. -0–

ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTER TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON FOR SIGNING
AGREEMENT WITH MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CORP

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Delegation headed by Armenian Finance and
Economy Minister Vardan Khachatryan is to tour Washington on March
25 to 30 to attend the ceremony of signing agreement with Millennium
Challenges Corp, Armenian Finance and Economy Ministry press service
told ARKA News Agency.

Millennium Challenges-Armenian group will hold open discussions in
Armenian Finance and Economy Minister over the matter on March 20.

Millennium Challenges Corporation approved a five-year program
worth $235.65mln for Armenia in late 2005. The program is focused on
irrigation infrastructures and community roads restoration. M.V. -0–

ARMENIAN FM, US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS ARMENIA’S ENERGY SECURITY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and
US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Fried
discussed issues of Armenia’s energy security.

In this context, the sides pointed out that the settlement of the
South Caucasian conflicts will allow the region’s potential to be
properly used in the future.

The sides discussed the situation round Nagorno Karabakh and exchanged
views on further negotiations as part of the Prague process.

The sides also addressed Armenian-Turkish relations, particularly,
prospects for re-opening the Armenian-Turkish border and resuming
communication.

The sides also discussed the “Millennium Challenges” program, as well
as issues of Armenia’s democratic development.

The meeting was attended by the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
Steven Mann. P.T. -0–

ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN OLD JUGA TURNS INTO MILITARY GROUND

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. The Armenian cemetery in Old Juga,
Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, does not exist any more and is being turned
into a military ground. The press and information department, RA
Foreign Office, reports that the last 3,500 out of 10,000 cross-stones
that had been preserved by December 2005 have now been completely
destroyed.

After clearing the territory, Azerbaijan turned it into a military
ground from March 2006.

Mass destruction of Armenian khachkars (cross-stones) was recorded
in Old Juga in 1998. After the vandalism was condemned by the
international community, it was stopped, but was resumed in 2003.

The last report on the destruction of Armenian monuments was provided
in December 2005.

The destruction of Armenian monuments was condemned by representatives
of PACE, European Parliament, UNESCO, and other international
organizations.

A PACE delegation is expected to visit Azerbaijan this spring to
examine the state of cultural values. P.T. -0–

2006 CRUCIAL YEAR FOR MORTGAGE MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. The year 2006 will be crucial for mortgage
market development in Armenia, the newly appointed Chairman of the
Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) Stepan Gichyan stated in his interview
to the Ra public Television.

“The mortgage market remains in the center of attention of the RA
President and Government, as well as of the heads of banks and the
UBA,” Gishyan said.

He pointed out that Armenia’s banks intend to intensify their
activities in developing the mortgage market.

He also stressed that the UBA intends to take a number of steps,
particularly, enhance is role in drafting economic bills for banks’
interests to be represented in a better way.

Gishyan also pointed out that one of the UBA’s most important tasks
is facilitating the increase in the number of transactions effected
by means of banks, which will reduce the share of shadow economy.

According to him, the mobilization of Armenian banks’ resources will
contribute to the formation of internal resources, which will later
be provided to economic entities. P.T. -0–

RA PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS REGIONAL PROBLEMS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. The RA President Robert Kocharyan and
Deputy Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Frid discussed
regional problems in Yerevan on March 16.

According to the Press Service of the RA President, during the meeting
interlocutors also discussed issues referring to guarantee of energy
security of Armenia.

The sides exchanged opinions concerning the situation formed around
the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and future steps towards
its settlement.

“Challenges of Millennium” program was also discussed by the
interlocutors during the meeting. American Co-Chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group Steven Mann took part in the meeting. S.P. –0–

ASSISTANT OF SECRETARY OF STATE NOT BELIEVE THAT PROCESS OF KARABAKH
SETTLEMENT IN STAGNATION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. “I do not believe that the process of
the Karabakh settlement is in the stage of stagnation,” US Assistant
Secretary of the State for Europe and Eurasian countries Daniel Freed
told a press conference. He expressed confidence that discussions
and the negotiations over the Karabakh settlement go on.

“Both parties represent and fight for their interests in the
negotiation process, as it is part of the scope of the public
interests,” Freed said. He pointed out that in spite of the conflicting
parties’ disagreements on approaches and positions to the settlement;
however, they have aspiration to resolve this problem.

“It is of great importance that the OSCE Minsk Group supports this
process,” Freed said. R.O. -0–

ARMENIA CAN NEVER COMPETE WITH AZERBAIJAN: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Armenia will never be able to compete with
Azerbaijan, “Trend” news agency reports the Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev stated this at the second congress of the world’s
Azerbaijanis. According to him, Azerbaijan intensifies its military
power year by year, and in this year the military budget amounts
to $600mln.

“I set a task that Azerbaijan’s military budget equals to Armenia’s
whole budget,” the President said. Armenia will never be able to
compete with us. The earlier the Armenian top authorities realize it,
the better it will be for them. Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan will
have to reconsider its participation in the negotiations over the
Karabakh conflict settlement, if Armenia violates the negotiation
process and does not exercise constructivism.

“The peace negotiations have lasted over 12 years, but they do
not produce any results. And it is still a question how long they
will last. We adhere to the peace process, however, when we face the
non-constructive position of Armenia, which displays insincerity, our
patience runs out. If Azerbaijan notices that the negotiation process
is of imitation character, we will refuse to participate in it,”
Aliyev said. According to him, Azerbaijan will allow Nagorno Karabakh
separate from Azerbaijan neither in 10, nor in 100 years. “Without
solving the issue of repatriation of refugees to the places of
their former habitation, no peaceful settlement will be reached,”
the President said. R.O. -0–

ALL-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OF DIASPORAN ORGANIZATION TO BE HELD IN
WASHINGTON ON MARCH 26-28, 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. An all-Armenian conference of diasporan
organizations is to be held in Washington, D.C., on March 26-28,
2006. The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) reports that among the
participants in the conference will be RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
countries Daniel Fried, as well as representatives of the US Red Cross,
Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity.

During the conference, the member of the US Senate Paul Sarbanes
will receive an award for public services and commitment to the
Armenian Cause.

Over 20 organizations, including “Armenia 2020”, Armenian Network of
America, Armenian High Tech Council of America, Armenian Student’s
Association of America, will take part in the conference. P.T. -0–

Death toll rises to five in Turkish army helicopter crash

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
16 Mar 06

Erzincan, 16 March: Non-commissioned Officer Fatih Ayhan, who was
injured in helicopter crash in eastern city of Erzincan, died in
hospital, raising the death toll to five it was reported on Thursday
[16 March].

Col Omer Bora, Lt-Col Suat Coskunalp, Capt Yusuf Ziya Erten and Lt
Rafet Ozsoy died when the helicopter crashed.

Capt Cemal Kamaci, who was injured in the helicopter crash, is
receiving treatment in hospital.

Erzican Governor Ali Gungor earlier said the military helicopter
crashed after striking high voltage power lines on the highway between
Erzincan and Erzurum.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress