OMBUDSMAN RENDERS A PRESS CONFERENCE
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[03:55 pm] 31 May, 2006
On the hundredth day of his office RA second Ombudsman Armen
Haroutyunyan rendered a press conference to inform the society about
what he has done.
During the three months of his office Armen Haroutyunyan received
about 770 complaints half of which has been qualified as “beyond
the authorizations of the Ombudsman”, As for how many citizens have
restored their rights, the Ombudsman mentioned that he will give
correct figures in about six months.
As for the complaints, the RA citizens mainly complain of the violation
of their rights in courts, in the Yerevan municipality, the police,
and the administrations of realty and cadastre. The majority of the
complaints refer to social-economic issues.
What has the Ombudsman managed to do during these three months? He has
made about 15 visits to the region where there are no representatives
of the Ombudsman.
By the way, Armen Haroutyunyan finds it normal that Armenia as not
included in the UN Human Rights Defense Council this year.
THE OMBUDSMAN ACCEPTED THE SHORTCOMINGS AND PROMISED TO MEND THEM
Despite the fact that numerous newspapers published the threats of
deputy Alexander Sargsyan, the brother of RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan towards the correspondent of the newspaper “Iravounq”, Armen
Haroutyunyan did not make an announcement protecting the journalist
and the freedom of speech.
The RA second Ombudsman explains that he must receive a written
application in order to take up business.
Nevertheless, he accepted that in this case he has acted not
properly and promised to fill in the gap within a few days making an
announcement in this connection.
THE PROBLEM OF “HERITAGE” HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OMBUDSMAN
Yesterday Armen Haroutyunyan received a letter from Raffi Hovannisian,
leader of the party “Heritage” about the problems with the office of
the party. The application was titled “Information about crime”. This
allowed Armen Haroutyunyan to announce that the Ombudsman does not
engage in the investigation of “crimes” and they have decided to
send the letter to the corresponding structures which will take up
the case of the “crime”.
According to the law, the Ombudsman has the right to resend his
letters with the agreement of the sender.
Armen Haroutyunyan informed that Raffi Haroutyunyan is not against.

ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF CIS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 30 2006
YEREVAN, May 30. /ARKA/. Armenia will take part in international
exhibition dedicated to the 15th anniversary of CIS. According to the
organizational committee of the exhibition, it will be held under
motto “15 years to CIS: cooperation and integration” in Moscow on
October 25-28.
The exhibition will present export potential, demonstrate latest
achievements of states of the Commonwealth in spheres of economy,
science, techniques, healthcare, education and cultures.
The organized exposition will contribute to creation of conditions
for future development of trade-economic cooperation, increase of
technological level and compatibility of the industry, development
of partnership equal in rights within the frames of the Commonwealth.
Organizers of the exhibition are CIS Executive Committee, governments
of CIS-participant countries, CIS Intergovernmental Council on
fair-exposition activities, “GAO VVC” jsc with the assistance of the
Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce of Industry of CIS countries.
According to assignment of the RA Government, Armenian Development
Agency will be the organizer of “Armenian” exposition.

IFC: ARMECONOMBANK: FIRST ARMENIAN BANK TO JOIN GLOBAL TRADE FINANCE PROGRAM
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
May 30 2006
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of
the World Bank Group, today announced that Armeconombank will be the
first Armenian issuing bank to join IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program.
IFC has approved an uncommitted trade finance line of up to $1
million for Armeconombank to facilitate the bank’s trade finance
operations worldwide. Armeconombank is a private bank that focuses
on small and medium-size enterprises. This is IFC’s second project
with Armeconombank.
Sabrina Borlini, IFC’s trade officer for the program in Europe, said,
“The Global Trade Finance Program will help Armeconombank expand
its growing trade finance operations by providing an attractive
and flexible new product that the bank can offer to its clients. By
joining our global program, the bank will also have access to a wide
network of international corresponding banks.”
The Global Trade Finance Program supports trade with emerging
markets by supporting flows of goods and services to and from
developing countries. IFC provides guarantee coverage of bank risk in
emerging markets, allowing recipients to expand their trade finance
transactions within an extensive network of countries and banks, as
well as to enhance their trade finance service to their clients. IFC
issued the program’s first guarantee in September 2005. Since then,
IFC has issued guarantees in excess of $180 million related to more
than 245 transactions.
Edward Nassim, IFC’s Director of the Central and Eastern Europe
Department, said, “Availability of trade finance products in Armenia
is important for further development of the domestic economy. This
will allow local companies and entrepreneurs to obtain access to
financing for their trade operations and so help modernize Armenia’s
industrial base. I am very pleased that we pilot this product in
Armenia with Armeconombank, our reliable partner in other transactions
in the region.”
Armeconombank’s Chief Executive Officer, Ashot Osipyan, said, “We
highly appreciate an opportunity to continue working with IFC on
trade finance operations in Armenia. We are proud to become IFC’s
first partner bank in Armenia in the Global Trade Finance Program.
This financing will help us increase the bank’s client base and
broaden regional experience. The bank will continue focusing on trade
finance activities in the future to remain a leader in this area in
the country.”
About Armeconombank Armeconombank is one of the largest, privately
controlled banks in Armenia. It is the 5th largest bank in Armenia
in terms of assets, with 41 branches across the country and 560
employees. Today the bank focuses on serving SMEs, retail clients,
and financial institutions.
The bank had the net worth of approximately $12 million and total
assets of approximately $77 million equivalent as of the end of 2005.
About IFC The International Finance Corporation is the private sector
arm of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington,
D.C. IFC coordinates its activities with the other institutions of the
World Bank Group but is legally and financially independent. Its 178
member countries provide its share capital and collectively determine
its policies.
The mission of IFC is to promote sustainable private sector investment
in developing and transition countries, helping to reduce poverty
and improve people’s lives. IFC finances private sector investments
in the developing world, mobilizes capital in the international
financial markets, helps clients improve social and environmental
sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to
governments and businesses. From its founding in 1956 through FY05,
IFC has committed more than $49 billion of its own funds and arranged
$24 billion in syndications for 3,319 companies in 140 developing
countries. IFC’s worldwide committed portfolio as of FY05 was $19.3
billion for its own account and $5.3 billion held for participants
in loan syndications. For more information, visit
Armenia became an IFC member in 1995. The Corporation began investing
in the country in 2000. As of May 2006, IFC has invested $9 million
in 3 projects. IFC continues to explore the investment opportunities
in partnership with strategic investors in both the financial and
real sectors of the country. In addition to the investment program,
IFC has been providing advisory services on corporate governance,
improvement of the investment climate. For more information, visit

ANKARA SAYS IT HELD DIPLOMATIC-LEVEL TALKS WITH ARMENIA
Focus News, Bulgaria
May 31 2006
Ankara. Turkey said that since last year it had held three rounds
of diplomatic-level talks with Armenia, AFP reported citing Turkish
Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Namik Tan. The talks were held on the
level of deputy foreign ministers and were aimed at “establishing
common grounds for making a specific progress in bilateral relations”.
Turkey recognized the independence of Armenia in 1991, but it has
never maintained diplomatic ties with Yerevan.

AZERBAIJAN CANNOT PUT UP WITH THE IDEA
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[04:13 pm] 31 May, 2006
“Azerbaijan is for the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict
and thinks that we have chances for it,” Defense Minister of Azerbaijan
Safar Abiev announced during the session of the CIS Ministers’ Council.
He announced that “enormous amounts of military equipment is
concentrated in the occupied areas and illegal sale of weapon and
drugs is realized there.”
“All this creates conditions for increasing risks,” the Minister said.
Abiev also underlined that “it is time to recognize Armenia as
aggressor and demand them to leave the Azeri territories.”
“The Azeri nation will never put up with the loss of its territories
and will use all the possibilities of international right in order
to regain its territorial integrity,” Safar Abiev concluded, agency
“Trend” reports.

NO GREAT PROGRESS TO BE EXPECTED FROM ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTIAL MEETING IN BUCHAREST
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 31 2006
STEPANAKERT, May 30. /ARKA/. No great progress or breakthrough should
be expected of the meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents,
Robert Kocharyan and Ilkham Aliyev in Burcharest, Romania, on June
4, 2006, Chairman of the Standing Committee for Foreign Relations,
National Assembly of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), Vahram
Atanesyan told ARKA.
He did not rule out the possibility of a positive change in the
context of the parties’ closer positions on the principles of the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.
“I hope that after the meeting the two countries’ Presidents will
make a statement that further search for a peaceful settlement of
the conflict has not alternative and that large-scale negotiations
immediately involving the NKR official representatives need to be
started,” Atanesyan said.
Talking to journalists before, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
stated that the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents are to meet during
the Black Sea Forum of Dialogue and Partnership. He stressed that
“the negotiations for the settlement of the conflict are yet far from
the point of signing any agreement.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN UKRAINE AND ARMENIA ISN’T AIMED AT DAMAGING TERRITORIES OF OTHER COUNTRIES – ANATOLY GRISENKO
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 31 2006
The cooperation between Ukraine and Armenia is not aimed at damaging
the other countries. The Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoly Grisenko
made such a statement at the press-conference held as a result of the
meeting of defense ministers of the countries of the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) on May 31 in Baku, Trend reports.
“Our agreement with Armenia doesn’t intend to carry out any activity
aimed at damaging other countries,” said the minister noting that “the
activity of the organization is appointed at the level of solution
of the important problems”.
Grisenko stressed that all relations of Ukraine with the countries
around the world were based on the profitable aspects for Kiev by
taking into consideration the frame agreements and agreements on the
military cooperation.

ANDRE ALMOST SWALLOWED THE MICROPHONE
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[05:02 pm] 31 May, 2006
Making the journalists wait for about 20 minutes as usual Andre
arrived and asked them to speak not about the past but about the
future plans. And still, the conversation was mainly about Andre’s
participation in “Eurovision2006”.
Andre confessed that his performance was not spotless.
According to him, it is not right that he forgot to sing the last
sentence, “Perhaps you didn’t notice that I almost swallowed the
microphone. I don’t know how it happened. Nothing of the kind had
ever happened during the rehearsals”, Andre said.
According to him, the competition assesses not the abilities of the
singer but the song and the show.
“Eurovision” is a totally unpredictable competition.
If during the previous competitions ethnic-modern styles were highly
assessed, this year rock music was given more attention. I like rock
music, but as for the Finnish and Lithuanian bands, they were as if
making fun of the “Eurovision””, he said.
As for the results of the voting, the 10 points from Turkey were not
strange for Andre. On the contrary, he was surprised that he did not
receive 12 points from Turkey. “The Turkish side kept mentioning that
they have a positive attitude towards our song. Moreover, they were
well acquainted with many of my songs,” the singer said.
Andre does not deny that the Armenian Diaspora had a great contribution
to his victory. The Armenian community of France played a major
role. Armenia was one of the most active voters: over 250 thousand
people participated in the voting.

RUSSIA MUST TAKE XENOPHOBIA SERIOUSLY – ARMENIAN DIASPORA LEADER
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 31 2006
MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti) – Russia must develop a comprehensive
approach to fighting xenophobia and race-hate crimes, the president
of the Union of Armenians in Russia said Wednesday.
Extremism and xenophobia in Russia have been in the spotlight following
a wave of race-hate attacks across the country and the publication
of a report by Amnesty International that slammed the government for
not doing enough to combat the problem.
Ara Abramyan said 390 racially motivated attacks had been registered
in Russia in 2005, and that seven Armenians had been killed in the
country this year alone.
“This is not a problem of the Armenian people,” Abramyan said. “It
is a problem of our state, it is our common problem and only through
common efforts can we find a way out of this situation.”
In a murder that shocked the country, Vagan Abramyants, a 17-year-old
student at the Moscow Academy of Management, was stabbed to death on
the platform of Pushkinskaya metro station in the center of Moscow
at about 5 p.m. April 22.
Abramyan said society should reject members of radical nationalist
groups.
“They must know that they do not have a place in the society,” he
said, adding that the society should start an open dialogue with
young people on these sensitive issues.
Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said on May 17 that some 6,000
young people under the age of 18 were involved in extremist activities
in Russia.

NO BREAKTHROUGH IN SECRET TURKISH-ARMENIAN TALKS
The New Anatolian, Turkey
May 31 2006
Secret talks between Turkey and Armenia, launched after Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote a letter to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, have failed to make any headway coming out of their third
round, said media reports yesterday.
A part of the third session of secret talks was held on the sidelines
of the Turkey-European Union Troika meeting in Vienna, Austria last
March. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul closely followed the meetings
with Armenian officials that were kept secret from the media,
CNN-Turk reported.
Sources say that the Armenian response reached Ankara early this
month to Turkey’s suggestion for the establishment of two committees
to discuss mutual relations wasn’t welcomed, and the answer “to the
Turkish suggestions that they received was watered down.”
The Turkish side had proposed the establishment of two committees to
simultaneously hold talks on political issues and the Armenian genocide
allegations. In response, Yerevan rejected the Turkish suggestions,
stating that holding discussions about the “genocide” would make the
controversial issue debatable. It underlined that scholars can debate
the issue in conferences. Nevertheless Armenia did request the revival
of political talks between the two countries.
Following Yerevan’s objection to the establishment of the two
committees, including one comprised of historians from both countries
to study the Armenian genocide claims, Ankara is now preparing for
the fourth round of secret talks.
Foreign Ministry officials underlined that continued debates over
the genocide claims have “poisoned” Turkey’s relations with other
countries. Ankara will continue to exert effort to find a middle
ground and to solve its problems with Yerevan, they added.