ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL WORKS WITHIN KARS-AKHALKALAKI PROJECT TO FINISH IN 2006

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.03.2006 00:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The project of new railway
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku (KATB) provides for building direct rail
communication between Turkey and Georgia with following unification
of the branch with that already available in Azerbaijan.

This will result in the forming of a modern system of railways,
linking the three states, Turkish FM Abdullah Gul said. In his
words, “KATB opens new opportunities within the context of cargo
transportation between Asia and Europe.” “In case Marmaray project
(laying rail under the Bosporus) joins with the expected rail and sea
route between Baku and Kazakhstan (Aktau) in the east and father to
China, KATB will become part of a shorter rail communication between
Asia and Europe,” he remarked.

Gul reminded that December 28, 2004 in Tbilisi Turkey, Georgia and
Azerbaijan signed a protocol on the KATB project. According to the
document, technical works within project implementation are held by
a joint working group. May 25, 2005 three state leaders, present at
the ceremony of pouring oil in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, signed
a statement, supporting the KATB project. To discuss it the three
Ministers of Transport gathered for talks in Istanbul September 19,
2005. This resulted in decision to sign an inter-governmental agreement
soon, as well as start works on financial provision.

According to Gul, engineering and technical works within the projects
are carried out by a Turkish company and are funded by Turkey. They are
planned to be completed in 2006. The international tender within the
KATB will be announced after the projecting works are over, he added,
reported Trend agency.

Armenia is against the building of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku
railway, as it considers the project economically inexpedient, s the
building of that rail branch is in contrast to the already available
railway Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi-Baku.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR SAYS YEREVAN AND BAKU SHOULD STRIVE FOR PEACE

Armenpress
Mar 07 2006

BAKU, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS: Turkey’s ambassador to Azerbaijan said
his country would render military assistance to Azerbaijan in case
a new war resumed between it and Armenia if Baku and Ankara signed
a military union agreement.

The ambassador, Turan Morali, was quoted by APA news agency as saying
that his government did not, however, support a military resolution
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.

“At any rate both sides should strive for peace,” he was quoted
as saying.

He said under a Turkish-Azeri agreement on military cooperation
Ankara provides a large-scale and diverse assistance to Azerbaijani
armed forces.

GAS HIKES TO AFFECT ARMENIAN INDUSTRY, OFFICIAL SAYS

Armenpress
Mar 07 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenal foil plant has issued in February
the first output-100 tons of foil, after accomplishing a major $70
million modernization project. Arthur Ashughian, head of a department
of the trade and economic development ministry, told a news conference
today that the annual volume of foil production will reach 25,000 tons.

Ashughian said Russia’s decision to double the price of natural
gas it sells to Armenia would lead to higher primary cost of local
metallurgical industry’s products. He said the share of energy in the
primary cost of metallurgical products makes now from 30 to 42 percent
and when the gas price raises it will be from 52 to 60 percent. He
said higher gas price may kill Armenian cement industry and make it
unable to compete with other regional producers.

He also said Armenia’s metallurgical industry produced $31.7 million
worth output in January. He said prospecting in Getik mine by Global
Mines has showed that it has some reserves of uranium, but added it was
premature to talk about whether they may have industrial significance.

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI LEADERS FACE EXCESSIVE DEMAND

AZG Armenian Daily
08/03/2006

Energetic Diversification Is Not Confined To Gas

“It’s amazing how Yerevan has changed. The city has always been
beautiful but now it’s is more lively. I see economic activity,
dynamism and vigor. This reflects steadfast economic growth and also,
I hope, reforms in market in advancement to democracy,” Matthew J.

Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs, said to a press conference yesterday.

Mr. Bryza said that one of the aims of his visit is to deepen
cooperation with Armenia to strengthen democracy. “I am
here also to back our common goal in the issue of Armenia’s
energetic independence.” Expressing satisfaction over progress
Armenia-Euro-Atlantic partnership, Mr. Bryza stated that he
discussed these issues with senior Armenian officials, had a
“very constructive” meeting with Armenian President and discussed
energy-related issues with the minister of energetics and experts of
this sphere. Besides, Mr. Bryza had meetings with Armenian defense
and foreign ministers. Today he will meet the parliament speaker.

BEFORE HIS PLANE HAS TAKEN OFF, JOHN EVANS WILL CARRY ON HIS MISSION

AZG Armenian Daily
03/08/2006

Yesterday journalists had the chance to find out whether the
information about Amb. Evans being called back is true or false. At the
press conference of Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs, at the US Embassy, the ambassador
answered this question. “We all serve our country’s president. I
hope no one expects that an ambassador will remain forever. In fact,
I do not know when I will finish my mission to Armenia. And I have
submitted no documents for resignation. I am still here and will
continue as a head of this mission as long as I am not aboard the
plane to leave the country.” Matthew Bryza, on his part, said that
there is no question of recalling Amb. Evans and he is an excellent
ambassador. The USA is lucky to have John Evans in Armenia, and his
recalling will be as late as possible.

KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN WOMEN ON MARCH 8

Armenpress
Mar 07 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian congratulated
Armenian women today on the occasion of International Women’s Day
marked on March 8.

“Women have contributed a lot in the prospering of Armenia,”
Kocharian’s address said. “There is no one who realizes better than
you the significance of peaceful and stable development. And most
of all, I congratulate our mothers, who are the root of the family,
and keepers of our traditions.”

“I wish you all to be proud of our future, and wish you keep being
beautiful and charming.” Congratulatory messages were also issued by
parliament chairman and prime minister.

ARMENIA IS CONCERNED WITH INNER INSTABILITY OF GEORGIA
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/08/2006

Taking into account the blockade of Armenia carried out by Turkey
and Azerbaijan, Georgia is the main state that secures economic and
transportation exit for Armenia to the outer world. Touching upon
the factor of the Armenians in Javakhk, Serge Sargsian, RA Defense
Minister, stated in his “RA National Security Strategic Principle”
report that Armenia is concerned with the inner instability
of Georgia. The professional and economic-social status of the
Georgian-Armenians gradually gets worse and this factor is a real
threat.

It is stated in the document that instable inner political situation
of Georgia also threatens the transport communication of Armenia with
the outer world. While national intolerance may cause anti-Armenian
attitude and immigration of the Armenians from Javakhk.

On the other hand, the Georgia-Turkish and Georgian-Azeri cooperation
projects may also break the balance in our region and isolate
Armenia. In this respect, Kars-Akhalkalaki railroad is of greater
danger for us.

FESTIVAL OF BRITISH FILMS TO LAUNCH IN YEREVAN
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/03/2006

The Festival of British Films will launch in Yerevan, on March 10.

Various British films in English and Russian screened during the
last few years will be shown within the framework of the festival,
particularly, “Calendar Girls,” “In My Father’s Den,” “Pride and
Prejudice,” “In This world,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “Festival.”

“In My Father’s Den” dwells on the life of Paul, a young man who
returns to New Zealand to Participate in his father’s funeral.

Celia, who is sixteen, is impressed with the cynicism of Paul and his
life experience grasped out of their small town’s borders. This film
has been awarded the prize for “Best Film” at several international
film festivals.

“Pride and Prejudice” is the new screen version of Jane Austin’s
classical novel. While “In This world” film touches upon the fate
of young Afghan refugees that wander in several cities and finally
reach London. It is a true story of people that seek for shelter in
their lives.

“Sweet Sixteen” was awarded the prize for “Best Script” at Cannes
Film Festival in 2002. While “Festival” film was awarded for the same
prize at the British “Dinard” Film Festival.

The British Council initiates the British Film Festival with the
assistance of the British Embassy in Armenia.

The initiators informed that the film festival will be held in
Gyumri for the first time on March 17-19. The Russian and Armenian
translations of the films will be shown at “Hoktember” movie theater
of Gyumri.

PERMANENT GUESTS OF ARMEN HARUTYUNIAN

A1+
04:34 pm 07 March, 2006

Beginning from today three residents of 15 Byuzand street – Smbat
Melkonyan, Nune Varduni and Susanna Poghosyan have gone on termless
sit-in hunger-strike. And all the other dwellers of Byuzand street
will take part only in the sit-in strike because of health problems.

“No house, no problem. Go and prove that you used to have a normal
house”, – striker Nune Varduni says.

They passed applications to RA President, RA NA Chairman Arthur
Baghdasaryan, RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan, Ombudsman
Armen Harutyunyan, Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan, Armenian
and International Red Cross demanding just compensation to their
destroyed property.

Residents of Byuzand street are pleased with the new Human rights
defender, as besides the fact that he received them, he offered them
chairs. “Armen Harutyunyan immediately came to his working place,
talked to us, invited to his cabinet.

After listening attentively to our complaints hje adiced to present
them in the form of application for him to have facts to put the case
in a serious procedure”

By the way, the organizers of protest action decide to spend their
nights before the ombudsman’s office, in camps.

We should remind that Susanna Poghosyan and Nune Varduni went on a
hunger-strike in December last year but it gave no result.

KOCHARIAN IN TRAGIC SITUATION

A1+
05:59 pm 07 March, 2006

“Idea generator” Hmayak Hovhannisyan presented today in “Pakagits”
club the scenario worked put “in world civilization centres”.

As he said, change of authorities in 1998 was not under force
oppression or because of Levon Ter-Petrosyan resignment, but according
to the scenario worked out by other civilization centres.

Armenia and Karabakh must appear in negotiations in on face. Mr.

Hovhannisyan thinks that it was in the frameworks of this scenario,
that change of authorities took place in 1998. The scenario was
worked out when “those worled centres realized that there’s a certain
disagreement between the authorities of Armenia and Karabakh.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan informed that in 1998 Robert Kocharyan agreed to
play on that scenario and present both Karabakh and Armenia. That
is why he cannot give up that scenario now, as he by his own will
entered into that play. “And here starts contradiction between Robert
Kocharian and Arkadi Ghukasyan”, Hmayak Hovhannisyan says and adds
that once Karabakh is included in the negotiations, and Armenia gives
them up, Karabakh people will get the right to solve the problem
on the autonomy principle. And that must be taken to the solution
of Kosovo question. And Hmayak Hovhannisyan thinks that Kocharian
won’t allow Karabakh to enter the negotiationg process not to spoil
world centres’ game. And the scenario will be considered flucked if
Robert Kocharian, however, diverts from the planned scenario and bring
Karabakh to the negotiation process. Then Robert Kocharian will become
a Shevardnadze for superstates, “who they used and threw away”. And
if Arkadi Ghoukasyan keeps on his word a little more, the politician
thinks, the scenario will fail once again in the nearest future.

By the way, Hmayak Hovhannisyan noted today an interesting
contradiction between public statements of Robert Kocharian and
Vardan Oskanyan. When Azerbaijan announced that the question will
be passed to UNO agenda, Vardan Oskanyan “threatened” that in that
case Armenia will refuse to continue negotiations and Azerbaijan will
continue negotiations with Karabakh: then the statement was dangerous
for Azerbaijan. And today Robert Kocharian says the opposite thing.

Today Robert Kocharian is in tragic situation, complicated one, as
he realizes that because of the scenario he is a part of, Karabakh
is deprived of the right to solve the question on autonomy principle.