From: [email protected]
Subject: Water Will Not Get Expensive But Over The Next Month Only
WATER WILL NOT GET EXPENSIVE BUT OVER THE NEXT MONTH ONLY

Lragir.am
28 April 06

The Public Utilities Commission, headed by the former mayor of Yerevan
Robert Nazaryan, was supposed to discuss the bid of Yerevan Water
Company on April 28. In other words, Robert Nazaryan and his
colleagues were supposed to discuss the new tariff of water. The
commission had even prepared the draft decision, and browsed on its
official website.
In the beginning of the meeting of the commission the head of the
State Water Committee under the government of Armenia Andranik
Andreasyan, apologizing to the participants, asked the commission to
postpone the meeting for a month. The official excuse is the procedure
of the management agreement, signed with the French company Generale
Des Eaux, which will take up the management of Yerevan Water Sewage
Company. Andranik Andreasyan says there are problems with transfers of
property, which requires additional time. In other words, the
agreement will take effect later than May 1, as it had been foreseen
in the agreement, as soon as the problems of transfers of property are
settled. Therefore the parties of the agreement asked the committee to
put off the meeting for a month. Robert Nazaryan asked Serge Popov,
the manager of Yerevan Water, to confirm that they accept the proposal
of the Water Committee. Popov confirmed saying that the proposal was
based on a mutual agreement. The meeting of the committee was
postponed.
`There is a huge problem of transfers of property, about 30 pieces of
property is being transferred, there are drawbacks regarding certain
elements, which need further elaboration. They have certain questions,
more elucidation and within these several days or a week these
questions will get answers. After all, a huge system is transferred,’
says Andranik Andreasyan.
The manager of Yerevan Water Serge Popov says the problems are typical
of big deals. Popov says Generale des Eaux has signed similar
contracts in the countries of East Europe where the period of transfer
of property was 6 months but an additional three months were
required. In Armenia the period mentioned in the contract was only 3
months. The problems are not unexpected, and the proposal of the
parties of contract is justified. Serge Popov says for a ten-year
contract 15 days is not a long time. Hence, Yerevan Water Company has
not started yet, which means that Yerevan Water Sewage Company still
operates, and the tariff remains the same.
Currently 1 cu. m of drinking water is 120 drams. The French suggest
increasing it to 172.8 drams. This price is written down in the
management contract as a source of investments. The Public Utilities
Commission has accepted the bid of Yerevan Water but partly, as it
usually does. However, this is not exactly the same as the previous
cases, for with regard to water the price is mentioned in the
contract. If the commission rejected the bid of the French company, it
would be considered a breach of the management contract.

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: 
April 28, 2006
Defense of Doctoral Theses in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Four New Vardapets in the Armenian Church
On April 21, three members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and one
member of the Brotherhood of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
defended their doctoral theses before the doctoral examination committee in
the Mother See.
Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimian, Vicar of the Diocese of Syunik, defended his
doctoral thesis entitled `St. Dionysius the Areopagite in Armenian
Bibliography’.
Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Seminary of Lake Sevan,
defended his doctoral thesis entitled `An Analysis of Feminist Sotierology’.
Rev. Fr. Hovakim Manukian, Office Director of the Department of Inter-Church
Relations, defended his doctoral thesis entitled `Ecumenism in the Twentieth
Century and the Armenian Church’.
Rev. Fr. Sahak Mashalian from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
defended his doctoral thesis entitled `Faith and Miracle’.
The examination committee was comprised of His Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian
(Chairman); His Grace Bishop Mikayel Ajapahian, Primate of the Diocese of
Shirak; and His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother
See.
Following each candidate’s presentation and question and answer period, the
committee determined that all four presentations were acceptable and deemed
the priests worthy to be granted the rank of `Vardapet’ (Archimandrite).
On Saturday, April 23, in the Church of St. Mesrop Mashtots in Oshakan, His
Grace Bishop Yeznik Petrosian, bestowed the rank of Vardapet on the three
members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The priests recommitted
themselves to the service of the Armenian people and Holy Church by taking
an oath near the tomb of the `Great Teacher’ St. Mesrop, whereupon they
received their doctoral staffs.
Rev. Fr. Mashalian will be granted his doctoral staff in the month of June.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Consumers Association call upon boycotting Turkish goods
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 17:26
`We should start boycotting Turkish goods in the Armenian market. This
is, first of all, a problem of our national dignity, and then an
economic issue,’ President of the Armenian Consumers Association Armen
Pogosyan has announced at a news conference on April 25.
However, according to him, surveys have shown that many Turkish goods
meet consumer standards and it is impossible to isolate fully the
Armenian market from Turkish goods. `Our citizens should understand
that they should not buy some products, despite it is cheap, as it
touches upon dignity of any Armenian, who remembers history of his
people,’ Armen Pogosyan noted.
As a REGNUM correspondent reports, the association’s president
reminded that when the French Senate recognized the Armenian Genocide
of 1915, `on that very day the Turkish Union for Consumer Rights
Protection announced boycott against French goods imported to the
country.’ `We should undertake administrative measures too, without
violation of the law for consumer rights protection, ‘ concluded Armen
Pogosyan.

Caucus Co-Chairs urge President Bush to condemn Azeri actions against
Armenia and Karabakh
ArmRadio.am
28.04.2006 10:36
On the eve of President Bush’s meeting with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev, Members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
called on the US leader to firmly denounce Azerbaijan’s ongoing war
mongering, and other actions, against the Republic of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.
Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone, Jr., along with
Caucus Members George Radanovich and Adam Schiff, sent a letter to the
President that states in part:
“Azerbaijani government officials have consistently threatened war and
fostered anti-Armenian intolerance. Ignoring international criticism,
President Aliyev has repeatedly declared that Azerbaijan could launch
a new military offensive against Karabakh, and that he is waging a
‘cold war’ against Armenia where the ongoing negotiations are only a
way to achieve unilateral Armenian concessions.”
In a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington
Aliyev continued making bellicose statements against Armenia, saying
that the “war is not over,” and that the “patience of the Azerbaijani
people has limits.”
The Congressmen also underscored the fact that Azerbaijan’s actions
are counterproductive to the stability of the South Caucasus as well
as US objectives in the region.

Frank Pallone: Bush’s remarks failed to properly characterize Armenian
Genocide
ArmRadio.am
28.04.2006 11:35
Representative Frank Pallone, Jr, co-chairman of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, made the following statement after
President Bush’s proclamation on the 91st anniversary of the start of
the Armenian Genocide: “The President should have used today’s 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to promote a United States
foreign policy that reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
to human rights, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Instead, President
Bush failed, once again, to honor his pledge to properly characterize
the Armenian Genocide as “genocide” in his annual April 24th
remarks. Despite a plea by over 200 Members of Congress last week, he
continues to avoid any clear reference to the Armenian Genocide.”
“It’s time the U.S. government recognizes these actions as genocide so
that we can renew our commitment to prevent such atrocities from
occurring again. By properly affirming the Armenian Genocide, we can
also help to ensure its legacy and rightfully honor its victims and
survivors,” Frank Pallone concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR urges Armenian MPs to present the position of the Karabakh side to
the international community more actively
ArmRadio.am
28.04.2006 13:28
NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan urged Armenian parliamentarians to
present the position of the Karabakh side to the international
community more actively.
Arkadi Ghukasyan said this during the meeting with the delegation of
Armenian MPs headed by NA Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan. The delegation
was participating in the sitting of the Parliamentary Cooperation
Commission of NKR and Armenia. During the meeting issues related to
expansion of parliamentary cooperation and development were discussed.
Tigran Torosyan positively assessed the results of the two-day work of
the Commission and declared that an agreement has been reached to
include issues of economic integration of NKR and Armenia in the
agenda of the next sitting.
The Vice-Speaker of RA National Assembly underlined the importance of
exchange of views with Karabakh parliamentarians and also expressed
his support for activation of relations.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Turkish paper turns to George Bush’s address to the Armenian people
Turkish newspaper turns to George Bush’s address to the Armenian people
ArmRadio.am
28.04.2006 12:21
Turkish `Radikal’ writes that the only factor that overshadows US
State Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Ankara is US President
George Bush’s April 24th address to the Armenian people on the
occasion of the day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
Although Bush avoided using the word `genocide’ in his speech, he made
reference to the `report characterizing 1915 events as genocide,’ thus
going one step forward than the previous US Presidents.
`With such position Bush caused damage to Turkish-American relations,’
the newspaper wrote.

Bush-Aliev meeting expected in Washington: Situation in Iran and the
Karabakh conflict (analysis)
ArmRadio.am
28.04.2006 15:55
Today US President George Bush will receive Azeri President Ilham
Aliev in the White House. The negotiations will focus on the situation
over Iran and the prospects of resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. Aliev has already declared that Azerbaijan will not join any
possible military action against Iran. Today the Azeri President is
scheduled to meet also Vice-President Dick Cheney and Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Washington recognized the independence of
Azerbaijan at the end of 1991, in March 1992 US Embassy was opened in
Baku. The highest US Official that visited Azerbaijan during the next
15 years was Secretary of State James Backer: February 12, 1992 the
State Secretary visited Tbilisi, Yerevan and Baku in the framework of
a regional visit.
Instead, higher officials of Azerbaijan have paid visits to
Washington. Heydar Aliev visited US twice. In 2001 Heydar Aliev and
Robert Kocharyan held negotiations in Key West, Florida, after which
on the way back Bush, Jr. had short meetings with Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. It should be reminded also that in May 1999 in
the framework of celebration of the 50th anniversary of NATO, US
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright started the series of meetings
between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents, which continues up until
now.
Generally, for the US Azerbaijan is considered one of the most
important countries in the Caspian Basin. The most serious issues,
which has existed and exist in Washington-Baku relations are the
question of democracy and violation of human rights in
Azerbaijan. There have been no elections except for the presidential
ones in 1992, which the US would consider democratic. Moreover, in
summer 1993, when Heydar Aliev seized power through a military-state
revolution, for a certain period of time those in Washington
considered Elchibey the President of Azerbaijan. Despite the critical
position because of the election frauds, the US executed no sanction
against Baku. It was only once that the US executed sanctions in 1992,
since Azerbaijan blockaded Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The question
here is about correction 907, which actually lost its force after the
terrorist act of September 2001.
How do those in Baku comment Ilham Aliev’s visit to Washington and the
American-Azerbaijani relations.
Asim Mollazade, Azeri PM, `The is of great importance for development
of relations between Baku and Washington. Today US is actively
involved in the process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict. This
question will become central in the negotiations. The cooperation
between the two countries in the sphere of energy is no less
important.’
Isa Ghambar, President of `Musavat’ Party, `For a long time Ilham
Aliev was not invited to Washington. The reason was the mass frauds
during 2003 presidential elections.’

Armenian officer wounded in ceasefire violation
Arminfo
28 Apr 06
Yerevan, 28 April: An officer of the Armenian armed forces has been
wounded in a ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side.
The Armenian Defence Ministry press service has reported that at about
1530 yesterday [1030 gmt 27 April], the Azerbaijani side fired on a
section of Idzhevan-Noyemberyan road. As a result, Sr Sgt Gegam
Mikhayelyan, who was travelling in a Kamaz lorry, was wounded. The
officer was admitted to Noyemberyan city hospital at about 1600 [1100
gmt]. Doctors describe his condition as satisfactory.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian foreign minister holds consultations in Karabakh
Regnum, Moscow
28 Apr 06
27 April: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is paying a
two-day visit to Nagornyy Karabakh. The visit is aimed at holding
consultations.
Oskanyan has already met Nagornyy Karabakh foreign minister Georgiy
Petrosyan and the ministry staff, a Regnum correspondent has reported
from Stepanakert.
It is also planned that Oskanyan will have meetings with Nagornyy
Karabakh president Arkadiy Gukasyan, prime minister Anushavan
Daniyelyan, parliament speaker Ashot Gulyan. Oskanyan will also make a
speech at Artsakh state university.