GUL: TURKISH ECONOMY GIVES CONFIDENCE TO THE WORLD
Anatolian Times, Turkey
July 6 2006
WASHINGTON – Turkey showed its economy is strong after recent
fluctuations in markets, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said
on Wednesday.
Speaking to Turkish journalists after his joint news conference with
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Wednesday,
Gul said that U.S. officials told him that Turkey is strong in economic
aspect and gives confidence to the world. The U.S. officials told him
that Turkey was not considered as a loose link in the chain any more,
he added.
Noting that in his meetings in the U.S., the importance of
Turkish-U.S. relations was emphasized, Gul said, “our relations are
much stronger and healthier.”
“We have discussed Iran, Iraq, PKK terrorist organization, Middle
East problem, recent tension between Israel and Palestine, Cyprus,
ending isolations over Turkish Cypriots, drafts about so-called
Armenian genocide, recent contacts in Damascus about Middle East
problem, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline,
Turkey’s economic performance in recent period, Turkey-EU relations and
Turkey’s contributions in regional and international issues,” said Gul.
Regarding visit of Turkish Prime Ministry Advisor Ahmet Davudoglu to
Damascus, Gul said that Turkey launched initiatives to stop tension
in Middle East upon demands, and Davudoglu met Syrian President,
adding that the meeting was positive.
When asked how recent Israeli-Palestinian tension can be solved,
Gul said, “our position is obvious. Everybody should do their best
and a peace process should start. The ministers and kidnapped soldier
should be released and operations in Gaza should be stopped. Thus,
a new milieu can be established. Both societies should accept the
two-state solution.”
Regarding Cyprus issue, Gul said, “this issue necessitates patience.
We are insistent and determined about negotiations. The important
thing is to explain the right cause to everybody. The United States
does not withhold its support about Cyprus issue, and their efforts
will increase.”
Upon another question, Gul said, “Iraq’s territorial integrity,
political unity and stability are common targets of Turkey and the
United States. Also, we have discussed (with Rice) the attitude of
Armenian lobby in the United States. I said everybody should do their
best to prevent adoption of an Armenian draft in the United States.”
Following the news conference, Gul met representatives of Jewish
lobby in the United States.

IRAN POSTPONES TALKS WITH EU
Xinhua, China
July 6 2006
TEHRAN, July 5 (Xinhua) — Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
said on Wednesday that a meeting between Iran’s top nuclear negotiator
Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana over Iran’s
nuclear issue, originally scheduled for Wednesday, had been postponed,
the official IRNA news agency reported.
Mottaki made the declaration on the sidelines of a welcoming ceremony
of Armenian President Robert Kocharian who is in Iran ona two-day
official visit..
“There will be no negotiations between Larijani and Solana today,”
the minister was quoted as saying, without giving further details.
Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Solana had been due to explore
whether Iran is ready to respond to a package agreed on by the five
permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany over its
nuclear issue, which demands Iran suspend uranium enrichment in return
for economic and political incentives.
Meanwhile, an EU statement said that Larijani would meet Solana on
Thursday and on July 11.
“I was surprised to hear that Dr. Ali Larijani has decided at the
last minute to postpone his trip to Brussels as previously agreed
with him to take place today,” Solana said in the statement.
“I have just spoken to Dr. Larijani on the phone and we decided to
meet tomorrow in Brussels, then continue the discussions on July 11,”
the statement added.
Western powers have recently mounted pressures on Iran, asking the
country to formally respond by mid July to the six-nation package.
During a Moscow meeting last Thursday, foreign ministers of the Group
of Eight industrialized countries urged Iran to give “a clear and
substantive response” to the package at the upcoming meeting between
Larijani and Solana.
But Larijani said on Monday that he would not give a response to the
package in his meeting with Solana, saying it was not “reasonable”
for the West to demand a suspension of Iran’s nuclear program.
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that Iran must respond to the
offer by July 12 or it would face action by the UN Security Council.
“If Iran has not responded by July 12, then I think the pressure will
be enormous on the Iranians from all the international community,”
said U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.
On June 6, Solana presented Iran with the package, which includes
both incentives aimed at persuading Iran to suspend uranium enrichment
and possible sanctions if Iran does not comply. The United States has
accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under a civilian
front, a charge categorically denied by Tehran.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS DISCUSSING IN MOSCOW FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
04.07.2006, 22.02
ITAR-TASS, Russia
July 5 2006
MOSCOW, July 4 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Orthodox Christians clad in
austere dark clothes and distinguished only by the colour of the
headgear, representatives of the Orthodox Caucasian republics Armenia
and Georgia wearing black hoods, which made them look like stern monks,
aged Catholic cardinals in red hats, Buddhists in red-yellow robes,
Muslims in turbans, bearded Judaists in black hats, all gathered in the
prestigious President-hotel in Moscow, attending the religious summit.
They gladly mix during the coffee breaks, except for Muslims and
Judaists who deliberately keep apart.
They behave the same way at the Summit of Religious Leaders in Moscow,
where all agree about the need to fight terrorism and extremism,
but where Muslims and Judaists continue a fierce dispute about the
ways to overcome the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
COOPERATION OF CHURCHES
Over 150 religious leaders from more than 40 countries attend the
World Summit of Religious Leaders. Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and
All Russia made the initiative for the meeting and the Inter-religious
Council of Russia organized the summit.
The summit does not aim to decide theological problems. As the
organizers of the summit noted, the point of the matter is not that
of creating a united religion but cooperation that can be promoted
by a system of common moral values of world religions.
Virtually all the speakers stressed that religion and terrorism have
nothing in common. Nevertheless, the Middle East conflict could not
but affect the course of the summit.
PALESTINE-ISRAEL
The aggravation of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis prompted an indirect
dialogue between representatives of Judaism and Muslims from Middle
East countries.
Abdullah Maatouq al-Maatouq, the Kuwaiti minister of justice, awqaf
(religious endowments) and Islamic affairs, condemned resolutely
“the killing of peaceful people of Palestine.” “We cannot tolerate
the fact that whole settlements are isolated,” he said.
Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, the chief mufti of Syria, said, “Islam
and terrorism do not go together.” He reproached religious leaders
of Europe, saying that they had played “a big parts when the Berlin
Wall was being torn down” and asking them why they keep silent now
that a wall is being erected in Palestine.
Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar said terrorism stems from “the
lack of spirituality that leads to the growth of intolerance and
xenophobia.” He said world terrorism “recruits flunkeys, using
religion, among other things.”
NO CONFRONTATION OF RELIGIONS
“It is important that religious leaders declare here for peace,
against terrorism, but it is no less important that how all these
wishes will be translated into life,” said Chief Rabbi of Central
Asia David Gurevich. “The honest Muslim world,” he said, “should
stop its politicians so that they should not use religion to achieve
annexationist aims.”
Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia sheikh Ravil Gainutdin
made a call in his statement not to allow for a new confrontation
between religions “in conditions when, aside from the danger of the
spread of international terrorism, there emerges the danger of a
split of the world according to religion.”
Gainutdin called on Europe and the world to study the experience of
goodneighbourly relations between Orthodox Christians and Muslims
in Russia.
“We condemn terrorism and extremism in any form, as well as the
attempts to justify them by religion,” he said.
WHILE POPE AND DALAI LAMA DO NOT ATTEND SUMMIT
Contrary to some forecasts, the fact that Pope Benedict XVI and
Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama XIV are not attending the summit
has not clouded its atmosphere.
Pope Benedict XVI addressed a message to the forum, which was read
out on Tuesday by Cardinal Walter Kasper.
The Pope believes this remarkable meeting bespeaks of the common
wish to create civilization and search for a new, more fare order. He
believes it is necessary to establish areas of cooperation to answer
contemporary challenges of the world. As regards various Christian
confessions, the head of the Vatican is convinced that their main
task is to get to know and begin to respect each other.
The Vatican’s delegation to the Moscow summit is the most
representative one. It includes ten most influential Catholic
hierarchs.
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray told Itar-Tass that the summit is highly
important in present-day conditions, that it offers an opportunity
for a dialogue of representatives of all religions and expressed the
joy that the summit has taken place.
Cardinal Walter Kasper believes it is yet early to predict a meeting
between the Pope and Patriarch Alexy.
He told reporters the subject had not been broached either during
the summit or during bilateral contacts. However, any meetings,
this summit, too, may bring the possibility of such an event closer,
he said.
As to the Dalai Lama whose attendance was prevented by Russia’s
unwillingness to spoil relations with China, his absence did not
affect the course of the summit, even though a few days ago Shajin
Lama (the head of the Buddhist organization) of Kalmykia Tolo Tulku
Rinpoche threatened that Russia’s Buddhists would ignore the summit
if the Dalai Lama did not arrive for it.
“The Dalai Lame is the head of Tibetan Buddhists, and Tibet is part
of China, so this is the matter to be addressed to China,” Hamba-lama
Damba Ayusheyev, the head of Russian Buddhists, told ltar-Tass. He
said Russia’s traditional Buddhist Sangha participates in the
Inter-religious Council and was among the organizers of the forum,
so Russian Buddhists could not but take part in the forum.
The summit in itself, Hamba-lama believes, means “above all respect
for Russia and the evidence of the prestige of the Russian Orthodox
Church and other traditional religions of Russia.”
RELIGIOUS UNITED NATIONS AND G8
The participants in the summit on Tuesday discussed how the factor of
religion could influence politicians, also in order to settle armed
conflicts. It is planned to pass a declaration on the basis of the
forum, to bring it to the notice of the participants in the meeting
of the Group of Eight in St Petersburg.
The organizers of the forum believe such functions will possibly be
held regularly before summits of the G8.
“Leaders of world religions gathered in Moscow in order to exert an
effect on the world situation and to influence political leaders
of countries,” Tagir Samatov, the mufti of Western Siberia, told
Itar-Tass.
He said the wish to create a sort of “United Nations of all
confessions” was expressed at the summit.
Yona Metzger, Israel’s chief rabbi, specifically, came out with the
proposal to create a “United Nations for religious communities”.

IRAN READY TO DEVELOP COOPERATION IN ENERGY SECTOR WITH ARMENIA
ITAR-TASS, Russia
July 5 2006
TEHRAN, July 5 (Itar-Tass) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
expressed readiness to develop cooperation with Armenia in the
energy sector.
The president made his statement during Wednesday’s talks with his
Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian, who is in Tehran on a two-day
working visit.
According to the Iranian president’s press service, Ahmadinejad said
that “the Islamic Republic calls for the development of diversified
relations with Armenia, especially in transport, tourism, culture
and energy fields.”
“In the course of Kocharian’s visit to Iran, six meetings of joint
commissions are due to be held,” the Iranian president said. “A whole
range of agreements on bilateral cooperation in various spheres will
be signed during those meetings.”
Armenia and Iran, whose Armenian ethnic community numbers 150,000
people, actively interact in various spheres, and especially in the
energy sector.
Some of the fresh instances of that cooperation are a gas pipeline
being built from Iran to Armenia, a hydro-power plant on the borderline
Araks River, which is in the phase of project-making now, and a
wind-driven power plant that an Iranian company has built in Armenia.

TEYMOURIAN ON TRIAL WITH BOLTON
Author: Dariush
IranFootballOnline, CA
July 5 2006
Rising Iran star Andranik Teymourian will be joining English Premier
League club Bolton Wanderers on trial, announced his club Abo Moslem
on Tuesday.
The talented 23-year-old midfielder received a slew of offers after
his impressive performance for Team Melli in the World Cup.
“We received offers from several clubs in Qatar, Turkey, Bundesliga
and Bolton,” a club spokesman told “But we decided
in favour of Bolton as they gave the highest offer.”
“We also prefer to see him play with a European club.”
If Teymourian, who is of Armenian descent, gets the vote from Bolton
coach Sam Allardyce he could find himself stepping into the Asian
shoes of Japanese Hidetoshi Nakata, who announced his retirement from
professional football on Tuesday.
The only hitch, if any, is that Teymourian has appeared just eight
times for Iran so far and FA regulations state that a player is
eligible to join an EPL club only if he has appeared at least 70 per
cent in two years for the national team. But a way out is to lodge
an appeal with the appeals committee.
Bolton finished eighth in the standings last season.
Photo:

AHMADINEJAD STRESSES BOOSTING OF ALL-OUT TIES WITH YEREVAN
Today, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran welcomes development
of all-out ties with Armenia, in the spheres of transportation,
culture, sports, tourism and energy in particular.
According to the Fars News Agency, during the meeting, Ahmadinejad
noted 6 rounds of successful joint cooperation commission meetings
and said that the two countries also enjoy desirable and expandable
cooperation in dealing with regional and international issues,
expressing the hope that the visit to Tehran by the Armenian
President would be a significant step ahead in further progress and
reinvigoration of the two states’ mutual relations.
For his part, Armenian President Robert Kocharian expressed pleasure in
visiting Tehran and said that it reminds him of beautiful reminiscences
of the past, adding that his country and the Islamic Republic of Iran,
fortunately, enjoy extensive relations.
Reminding that the two states have so far endorsed 90 agreements
on joint cooperation, he called for taking the steps required for
gaining practical results from the previously held agreements.
Kocharian also voiced Armenia’s enthusiasm for developing cooperation
with the Islamic Republic of Iran in various grounds, including energy,
transportation, linking the two countries’ railroads and increasing
the two states’ capacity of power exchange.
He also extended an invitation to President Ahmadinejad to pay a visit
to Armenia and attend the inaugural ceremony of some joint projects.
URL:

IRAN-ARMENIA INK 7 MOUS
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
July 5 2006
Iranian and Armenian officials signed up seven Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) in the fields of energy, economic and industrial
infrastructures, legal and cultural heritage cooperation here
Wednesday evening.
The MoUs were signed by officials in the presence of President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian.
For one document, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his
Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian signed an MoU concerning Iran’s
development aids in the field of industrial and economic infrastructure
for Armenia.
In another MoU, Energy Minister Parviz Fattah and Armen Movsisyan
signed a cooperation agreement in the field of energy.
The two countries agreed in another document to cooperate in the
field of legal issues.
Iran’s Justice Minister Jamal Karimi-rad and Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian inked an agreement about extraditing criminals.
Dissemination of information in the field of cultural heritage was
another MoU signed up by officials from Iran’s Cultural Heritage
Organization and Armenian Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs.
Also agreement about financing electricity power line project was
signed.
In the last MoU, the two countries agreed on the implementing program
of the third electricity power line between Iran and Armenia.
Armenia is located in the Caucasus region and borders with Georgia
in the north, Azerbaijan east, Turkey west and Iran south and it does
not have access to the open sea.
Armenia does not have any oil or gas resources, but has rich mines
of gold, copper, zinc and lead.
The country achieved its independence on September 21, 1991 from the
former Soviet Union.
Armenia’s population is about 3,300,000 according to the census
on 2002.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDER OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
July 5 2006
Visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharian attended Imam Khomeini
Mausoleum here on Wednesday afternoon and by laying a wreath paid
tribute to the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari accompanied President Kocharian
and his entourage in the ceremony.
Armenian president at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic
delegation arrived in Tehran airport on Wednesday morning for a 2-day
official visit.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
July 3, 2006
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for World Summit of Religious Leaders
On the morning of July 3, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for Moscow to participate
in the World Summit of Religious Leaders. From July 3 to 5, more than
100 leaders of religions and denominations will gather in the capital
of Russia for the first world summit to discuss urgent problems of
modern times.  The summit precedes the G8 summit of industrial leaders
in St. Petersburg.
The delegation, led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, consists of
His Eminence Archbishop Voskan Kalpakian, Primate of the Armenian
Diocese of Greece; His Eminence Arcbishop Pargev Martirosian, Primate
of the Diocese of Artsakh; His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian,
Director of the Department of Inter-Church Relations for the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin; and Mr. Rafael Papayan, lay member of the
Supreme Spiritual Council.
Also accompanying the Pontiff of All Armenians to Russia is His Grace
Bishop Vicken Aykazian, who will be participating in the Summit as
the President of the National Council of Churches (USA).
##
–Boundary_(ID_V4nLxujMqm11A3tpzGrO6g) —

PRESS RELEASE
“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Anush Babayan
Tel: 3741 52 09 40
Fax: 3741 52 37 95
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
3.07.06
Recently the Toronto Affiliate of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
organized a fundraising dinner in Canada. Apparently, the presence
of Conservative MP Jason Kenney at the event caused concern of the
Azerbaijani Embassy and the Azerbaijani community.
Canadian Press put an article on the newswire in this regard. It was
picked up by several Canadian newspapers. Unfortunately, the reporter,
Jennifer Ditchburn, used solely Azeri sources while covering the
event. Moreover, the reporter tried to put a frivolous spin on the
fact that Canadian Armenians extended a helping hand to their kin
in Nagorno-Karabakh raising $300 thousand USD for construction of
schools in the area. The reporter purposefully mentioned that the
current Executive Director of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund used to
hold the position of the Foreign Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. In this regard we would like to stress that the Executive
Director is not appointed, but rather is voted into the office by the
Board of Trustees of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, members of which
are influential, well-respected and well-known representatives of
the Armenian worldwide Diaspora.
“Hayastan” Fund brings to the attention of all interested parties
that during its 15-year history the organization has spend more than
$130 million on projects in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the nature
of which is purely humanitarian. This philanthropic organization
has always been transparent in its operations. Since 1992 “Hayastan”
Fund has been undergoing annual independent audits conducted by Grant
Thornton. Never have our auditors revealed any improper spending of
funds. Through its affiliate offices in 19 countries, “Hayastan” Fund
often received co-financing from European (France, the Netherlands,
Greece and others) and U.S. governments for its projects. Never has
the organization had any problems with any government in this regard.
“Hayastan” Fund considers unacceptable drawn parallels between the
Fund and a unrelated questionable political organization. We want to
remind that “Hayastan” Fund is a organization that is well-respected
in the world and is proud of its mission benefiting people of Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
We consider this disrespectful and unsubstantiated attack a result
and embodiment of Azerbaijan’s shortsighted policy. We believe that
this attack questions the reputation of the organizers of this smear
campaign against “Hayastan” Fund and only strengthens the resolve of
Armenians around the world to help Nagorno-Karabakh stand on its feet.
In this regard we would like to cite MP Jason Kenney from the mentioned
article: “…I can’t imagine anybody objecting to Canada supporting
clinics, schools, hospitals and the like”. I think these words make any
further commentary unnecessary. “Hayastan” fund is strongly convinced
that the worldwide Armenian Diaspora will continue supporting their
ancestral homeland.
In her official letter to Mr. Russo, the Bureau Chief of “The Canadian
Press”, Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, the Executive Director of “Hayastan”
All-Armenian Fund, mentions: “It was irrelevant to refer to the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as the international status of
Nagorno-Karabakh is subject to the outcome of the peace talks that
have been mediated by the Organization of Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, Russia and the
United States. Meanwhile, “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund does not believe
that mere fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is not officially
recognized by the international community should stand in the way
of children’s education or people’s healthcare. The US Agency for
International Development (USAID), International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), American Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontier, Save
the Children, Halo Trust and other international humanitarian relief
organizations do not believe that either, since they have extensive
projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. For a number of years the US Congress
has been allocating nearly $5 million annually to the victims of
the NK conflict who reside in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. We think,
these facts make any other commentary unnecessary.”
3.07.06
Mardakert Regional Development Project Underway
The Regional Development project for the war-torn Martakert Region in
Nagorno-Karabakh is currently underway. The multi-level development
program focuses on developing the region through a series of
projects. The program is going on at a fast pace in different
directions.
Traditionally, construction competitive bid process is announced
for the major projects implemented in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Bid
committee consists of officials of the Fund’s Executive Board,
representatives of AGBU Armenian representative office, Armenian
Relief Society Regional Office, Yerevan Office of Armenian Assembly
of America and NKR Government. This year a representative appointed
by the RA President was also included in the committee.
A tender for the 4,865 km long Drmbon-Mardakert section of the
North-South highway will be conducted on June the 5th. Prior to
the tender the prequalification stage was conducted. Applications
from Karavan and Virage companies were received. Karavan met the
qualification requirements. The first tender for this section was
conducted on May 29. Due to high prices offered by the participants
the tender was cancelled and re-announced. The project of Mardakert
drinking water of 30 km is in tender stage. The NKR government has
ordered the design. The design cost worth of 40 million AMD was covered
by “Hayastan” Fund. It is a two-stage project. Two prequalification
proceedings were conducted for the construction on May 23. Dorozhnik,
Sfinks, Sokol group, Virage companies took part in it. Dorozhnik and
Virage companies have passed the prequalification stage. They will
submit their proposals at the tender on July 4. The “Hayastan” Fund
has also announced tenders for the construction of water supply system
for Varnkatagh, Maghavuz, Mets Shen and Vaghuhas villages. Tender
for Kichan-Drmbon section of the North-South highway is also announced.
The project design of the gas pipeline for Chldran and Arajadzor
villages is already ready. Currently, it is undergoing expertise. The
design was made by “Artsakhgas” closed JSC.
The planning and conceptual design of the Mardakert Regional Hospital
are already ready. The project is being spearheaded by the U.S.
Western Region affiliate. Conceptual design has been prepared by Los
Angeles based hospital architect in collaboration with the NKR Health
Ministry. The design of the hospital has been already ordered. The
Los Angeles affiliate will provide the hospital with medical equipment
contributed at the Telethon.
Since 2005 construction of Madaghis school is in process. The
Toronto/Canada/ affiliate of the Fund has undertaken the sponsorship
of the project. The school is designed for 120 pupils.
A tender is announced for Kochoghot village school. The project will
be financed by the French affiliate. The contract for construction
design was concluded on May 16. The Toronto affiliate has undertaken
also construction of a school in Verin Horatagh village. In coming
days, a design contract will be signed.
A large-scale agricultural development project will be implemented in
Mardakert. A commission is set to coordinate the works. The Executive
Director of the “Hayastan” Fund, NKR Minister of Agriculture,
leadership of US East Cost affiliate and representative of American
“Turnaround associates” company are involved in the commission. The
“Turnaround associates” is a qualified consulting company which
provides consultation to the developing countries free of cost.
The Fund will conclude an agreement with NKR government for joint
implementation of the project. According to the agreement the
“Hayastan” Fund will implement the project jointly with the NKR
Agricultural Support Fund, which will establish a closed joint stock
company and a NGO. The agreement will include charters of the NGO and
the JSC, as well as a contract on the relations of NKR Agricultural
Support Fund and the organization. All of these documents are prepared
by a qualified legal expert. The “Hayastan” Fund will provide the
closed joint-stock company with agricultural equipment.
The company will give equipment for use to the peasants with low
charges. Some of the modern tractors, trucks and other agricultural
equipment have already been ordered. In August they will be in
Mardakert. In addition, for about three years the Fund will pay
salaries to the employees and cover other expenses of the company.
After that period the company is envisaged to become a profit making
organization. At present, the only shareholder of the company is the
Agricultural Support Fund. During five years the peasants will buy the
shares and the equipment will become their ownership. The population of
the sub-region can use the agricultural equipment by becoming members
of the NGO. Interests of the NGO members will be defended. Members
of the NGO will be empowered to take part in decision-making and to
take direct control over the works.