BAKU: Official opposes exulting Azeri officer charged with killing

Frangulian Shushan

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 10 2006
Official opposes exulting Azeri officer charged with killing Armenian
Baku, March 9, AssA-Irada
The actions of the Azerbaijani officer charged with killing an
Armenian colleague at a NATO course in Budapest in 2004, cannot be
considered as heroism, chairman of the State Committee on Work with
Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov, has said.
`Nevertheless, Ramil Safarov needs defense as he is a citizen of
Azerbaijan,’ he told a news conference on Thursday.
Ibrahimov said Armenians present Azerbaijanis to the world community
as `thugs’ when Safarov’s actions are deemed heroic in his country.
Some forces are trying to take advantage of the Azerbaijani officer’s
actions for a political gain, the committee chairman warned.*

BAKU: US official condemns alleged destruction of Armenian graves

Kamalian Hagop

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 10 2006
US official condemns alleged destruction of Armenian graves
Baku, March 9, AssA-Irada
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Matthew Bryza has come out against the alleged destruction of
ancient graves in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan. The destruction
of historic monuments in Julfa, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,
marked a `major tragedy’, he told a news briefing in the Armenian
capital Yerevan.
Bryza noted that the US is regularly in touch with the Azeri
government. `They understand how seriously we take this issue,’ he
said, emphasizing that his country would like to see the culprits
punished.
`There are numerous historical and cultural monuments in the South
Caucasus region and they are at risk of ceasing to exist in all the
three countries,’ the American official added.*

AMD 50mln targeted for child and youth sports development in Armenia

Tatoyan Vazgen

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
AMD 50MLN TARGETED FOR CHILD AND YOUTH SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Armenian Government allocated AMD 50mln
for child and youth sports development. The Government’s press
service says the money is to be given to Government-affiliated State
Sport Committee for passing it on to Armenian Football Federation.
($1 = AMD 453.13). M.V. –0 –

Yerevan, Tegeran to sign memo as part of aid program for Armenia

Chalian Meline

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
YEREVAN, TEGERAN TO SIGN MEMORANDUM AS PART OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Armenian Government gave its approval
Thursday for signing a memorandum with Iranian Government as part of
development promotion programs for Armenia, Armenian Government’s
press service told ARKA News Agency. M.V. -0—

Photo and artworks exhibition of Armenian Women to open in Yerevan

Nalbandian Eduard

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
PHOTO AND ARTWORKS EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN WOMEN TO OPEN IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. An exhibition of photo and artworks
exhibition of Armenian women, dedicated to the International Women’s
Day, will open in the UN Yerevan Office. The UN Yerevan Office’s
Press Service reported that the exhibition will show 30 paintings and
tapestries of Armenian female artists under the common name of
`Creative Synthesis’, with the support of the `Gender and Politics in
South Caucasus: Georgia and Armenia’, the UNDP. According to the
press-release the exhibition is aimed at reflecting the historical
struggle for improvement of women’s lives.
In the frameworks of this event, 60 best photos of Armenian, Georgian
and Azerbaijani women-photographers on the topic `Women of South
Caucasus’ will also be exhibited. Particularly, the exhibition was
organized by the UN Yerevan Office and the Association of diplomats’
wives. The UN Yerevan Office was founded in 1993, and 15 specialized
UN agencies currently work in Armenia. R.O. –0–

4.3 billion euros invested by EBRD in 2005

Badalian Vardan

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
4.3 BILLION EUROS INVESTED BY EBRD IN 2005
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development invested 4.3 billion euros in 2005under under 151
projects made, the EBRD press service told ARKA News Agency.
According to the press service, this amount exceeds the bank’s
previous investments and targets 27 South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus
and Central Asia countries as well as Russia.
The press release says 2.46bln euros or 58% of total amount of
investments are sent to transition-economy countries (in 2004
1.93bln), 1.12bln euros or 26% were given to Russia (1.24bln euros in
2004) and 699mln euros or 16% to successfully developing transition
countries (in 2004 964mln euros).
The EBRD investments are focused on encouraging market economy in the
region where the bank runs its activity. 85% of the bank’s new
projects were qualified in 2005 as having good and excellent
potential impact, the press release says.
The EBRD attracted 2.6bln euros from commercial banks export credit
organizations and other international financial institutions as
co-financing. Donors gave 75mln euros for preparation and
implementation of projects. The money was also given for
strengthening investment environment.
The EBRD works in 60 countries and 2 non-governmental organizations.
Its activity is focused on promotion of transfer from central
planning to market economy in Eastern and Central Europe and CIS
countries.
Armenia with its share of 10mln euros became EBRD member in 1992.
The bank allocated 39.3mln euros for 24 programs implementation in
Armenia. M.V. -0—

1st session of “Union of Participants of Mortgage Market of Armenia”

Tambiyan Samvel

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
FIRST SESSION OF “UNION OF PARTICIPANTS OF MORTGAGE MARKET OF
ARMENIA” TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 17
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. The first session of the “Union of
Participants of Mortgage Market of Armenia” will take place on March
17. Such decision was made today during the constituent assembly of
the Union in Yerevan.
One of the founders of the Union, Executive Director of the
“Armeconombank” Ashot Osipyan stated that elections of the Executive
Director of the Union will be held during the first session of the
Union as well as structural issues will be discussed.
Besides that, in his words, they intend to discuss the working
program of the activities of the Council of the “Union of
Participants of the Mortgage Market of Armenia”.
The founders and the members of the Union are 8 commercial banks
(“Armeconombank”, “Areksimbank”, “Yunibank”, “Ararat bank”,
“Arminvestbank”, “Armenian Bank for Development”, “Armswissbank”), 4
insurance companies (“Sil Insurance”, “Private Insurance”, “Nairi
Insurance”, “Prime Insurance Brokers”), 2 financial organizations
(universal credit organizations “Washington Capital” and “First
Mortgage Company”) and 4 real estate agencies (“Alta VIP”, “M&M”,
“Premier Realty”, “Elephant Realty”). S.P. –0–

Court hearing of Armenian CEC policy at constitutional referendum

Toneyan Mark

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
COURT HEARING OF ARMENIAN CEC’s POLICY AT CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM
TO BE HELD ON MARCH 13
YEREVAN, March. 10. /ARKA/. On March 13, 2006, the minor court of
Yerevan’s Kanaker and Nor Nork communities is to hold a hearing of a
claim concerning the inaction of the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) during the constitutional referendum in Armenia. The Public
Commission formed to supervise the legality of the referendum reports
that about 70 claims lodged by the Commission Coordinator Ruben
Torosyan are to be considered. According to the press-release, the
claims contain the information on violations committed by the RA
President, Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament, RA Foreign Minister,
Rectors of Armenia’s higher schools, a number of TV companies and the
RA Academy of Sciences.
The constitutional referendum was held in Armenia on November 27,
2005. P.T. -0–