CHAIRMAN OF OYK TAVUSH MARZ ORGANIZATION REMAINS IN PARTY
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
IJEVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Serzhik Antonian, the head of the Tavush
marz organization of the “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party,
the Chairman of No40 district electoral commission remains in the
OYK. He continues to head the electoral commission as well. Serzhik
Antonian’s father, Spartak Antonian, is the Deputy Prosecutor on the
Noyemberian region of the Tavush marz. Vahe Vardapetian, the Deputy
Regional Governor of Tavush has already stated about his resignation
from the post, who is also a member of the “Orinats Yerkir” party.

MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION BETWEEN SYUNIK MARZ AND ONE OF CHINESE PROVINCES LIKELY TO BE SIGNED
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
KAPAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. China’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Tszo Suelian paid a one-day working
visit to Syunik marz on May 16. He visited the Zangezur Copper and
Molybdenum Complex, met with the regional governor of Syunik marz Surik
Khachatrian. During the meeting, a preliminary agreement on cooperation
in the sphere of agriculture was reached. The Chinese ambassador did
not rule out the possibility of signing a memorandum on cooperation
and friendship between Syunik marz and one of the Chinese provinces.

SPRING SOWING WORK FAILS IN HRAZDAN
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
HRAZDAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Out of the planned area of 10
thousand ha, only 2,500 ha was sown with grain in Kotayk marz due
to bad weather. 2,100 ha of land under grain crops are in low-lying
areas, while the rest are located in the middle zone, particularly
in Argel, Alapars, Arzakan and Bjni communities. Thus, the spring
sowing activities failed in Hrazdan. Autumn sowing is also procceding
slowly in the marz: out of the planned area of 12 thousand ha, about
6 thousand ha has been sown.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALLOCATIONS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN GEGHARKUNIK MARZ INCREASE THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
GAVAR, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. 915 mln drams (about 2 mln USD) was
allocated from the state budget for school construction in Gegharkunik
marz in 2006 against 489.1 mln drams last year. NT correspondent
was informed from the urban development department of the Gegharkunik
regional administration staff that this repair project includes schools
No and 5 of Gavar, school No 2 of Sarukhan, school No 1 of Dzoragyugh,
school No 1 of Zolarkar, the secondary schools of Vahan, Ddmashen,
Akunk, Tsovinar, Artsvashen and Vaghashen, and the sport school of
Vardenis. It was noted that the construction of the Vaghashen school
started last year. 170.65 mln drams has been allocated to complete
this construction partly this year.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECLINES BY 3.3% IN GEGHARKUNIK MARZ IN 2005
Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006
GAVAR, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the reports of industrial
enterprises of Gegharkunik marz, as well as based on the assessment
of operation of the small enterprises not included in the monthly
statistical monitoring, industrial production of 14,832.2 mln drams was
manufactured in current prices in Gegharkunik marz in 2005. Sales made
8,919 mln drams, including sales in CIS countries – 113.5 mln drams,
in other countries – 0.2 mln drams (about 444 USD). According to Hakob
Badalian, Head of the Regional Agency of the RA National Statistical
Service, a 3.3% decline in industrial production was registered in
the marz in 2005 compared with the previous year.

STATE COMISSION ON PRISONERS OF WAR, HOSTAGES AND MISSING PEOPLE REPORTS
Today, Azerbaijan
May 17 2006
The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons
regards widespread recently in mass media by the coordinator of the
“International working group on release of POWs, hostages and missing
citizens” in Azerbaijan messages on arrest of the persons released
from captivity and, ostensibly, prosecution of relatives of the persons
sent to the third countries, as the action directed on public opinion.
The questions connected with citizens, taken in captivity as a result
of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and sent to the third
countries (concerning their biographical particulars, addresses
of parents, the countries in which they are sent and so forth),
are known to the State Commission, other corresponding bodies, and
also parents. We inform, that the said persons, quite possibly, were
sent to the third countries with their consent according to norms of
the international humanitarian law. Parents of the persons taken in
captivity were pursued in connection with the fact of their sending
to the third countries neither by the State Commission nor other
corresponding bodies, and now such steps are not undertaken. We remind,
that according to the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic, close
relatives of any person who have made this or that act, cannot be
pursued and made answerable. The Azerbaijan Republic with respect
concerns to the supreme principles of law and human rights and
protect them.
We inform, that from 1381 persons taken in captivity and hostages as
a result of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and released
subsequently, only 20 persons have been involved in the criminal
liability. The specified persons have been punished not in connection
with the fact of capture and hostages, and for the concrete criminal
actions accomplished in captivity against the Azerbaijan Republic
and its citizens.
The majority of the mentioned persons have been arrested not after
release, but later some years when their criminal actions have come
to light. If the given persons and their relatives were pursued,
they would be arrested right after release from captivity. In spite
of the fact that it was informed on the appeal to the Commission on
pardon in connection with release of arrested 7 persons, nevertheless,
the Commission has informed, that the given question was not discussed.
The State Commission cooperates with some international organizations,
including the “International Working Group on Release of POWs,
Hostages and Missing Citizens in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict”, IWG, created in 1997, while carrying out of search work
and performance of other problems it faces, realization of activity
in Armenia and on our occupied lands.
IWG is managed by Bernhard Clausen (Germany), Svetlana Gannushkina
(Russia) and Paata Zakareishvili (Georgia) with financial support
of the German Fund of Henry Bell. The State Commission positively
estimates the objective approach of IWG co-chairman from Germany
Bernhard Clausen to search work and the questions connected with
destiny of the missing, and the work done by them for achievement of
result. At the same time, IWG coordinator for Azerbaijan satisfies
only with the statements calculated on public opinion, trying to
build its work in the given context. Its divergence is shown since
2001 when it has started to work as the coordinator.
It causes concern that during his group visit to Armenia and on
the occupied Azerbaijan territories he does not lift the questions
connected with citizens of Azerbaijan fact of capture and hostages
of which is known, and we consider, that during the said visits his
work was limited only to support of co-chairmen. It is obvious from
IWG reports covering the given period. During cooperation the State
Commission prefers observance of ethic standards, reminding at the
same time that it is proxy to make objective estimation to any act
pursuing the purpose to confuse public opinion, AzerTAg reports.
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ARMENIAN LEADER NOT TO ATTEND NATO PA SESSION
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 17 2006
Armenian President Robert Kocharian has refused to attend the session
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly due in Paris May 26-30, the Assembly
told Armenian media.
The source quoted Kocharian’s spokesman Viktor Sogomonian as saying
that the decision is explained by the president’s busy work schedule.
“During the session, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs [mediating
settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh] are to visit the region. Moreover, the event will overlap
with the holidays in Armenia,” said Sogomonian.
The NATO PA president Pierre Lelouche earlier invited the Azeri and
Armenian leaders to participate at the spring session.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LAVROV: RUSSIA SPEAKS FOR STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS IN THE BLACK SEA REGION
Regnum, Russia
May 17 2006
Issues of Russia’s chairmanship in the Organization for Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (in May-October 2006), as well as problems of
intensifying and raising effectiveness of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Secretariat have become main issue of a meeting between
Sergey Lavrov with Secretary General of the organization Leonidas
Khrisantopulos, who assumed office on May 1, REGNUM is told in the
Russian embassy in Armenia.
During the meeting, Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia’s adherence to the
principal policy of strengthening neighborly relations and stability
in Black Sea region, providing favorable conditions for trade and
economic cooperation. Russia is also interested in implementing within
frameworks of the organization initiatives on practical cooperation, in
particular, in transports or engineering, as well as in other fields,
the minister noted. According to him, Russia is persistent in pursuing
a policy in the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation to
implement projects on renewing regular service between ports of the
Black Sea, extending cooperation in power engineering by connecting
electricity supply networks of the region and promote synchronization
of functioning of electricity supply networks of East and West Europe,
coordinated developing of transport corridors around the Black Sea,
particularly, highways.
An agreement was reached at the meeting about close cooperation of
the Russian foreign ministry and the secretariat in implementing
action scheduled for Russia’s chairmanship in the Organization for
Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN TYCOON IN KOCHARIAN U-TURN
By Shakeh Avoyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
May 17 2006
Ara Abrahamian, the politically active Russian-Armenian tycoon,
appeared on Wednesday to have reconsidered his critical attitude
towards Armenia’s leadership after holding what he described as a
“very good” meeting with President Robert Kocharian.
Abrahamian, who publicly criticized the authorities in Yerevan just
hours before the meeting on Tuesday, said Kocharian promised to
support his World Armenian Congress (WAC) and take into consideration
his views on political and economic developments in Armenia.
“He listened to us very attentively and promised to help,” he told a
news conference. “We addressed those differences which we have had,
to varying degrees, with the [Armenian] Foreign Ministry and the
government in general and found mechanisms for working together. It
is time to work together.”
A statement on the meeting released by the Armenian president’s office,
said Kocharian “welcomed the fact that the Congress’s initiatives are
becoming more Armenia-oriented and acquiring a truly pan-Armenian
quality.” Kocharian has previously voiced skepticism about WAC’s
ambitious plans to serve as an umbrella structure for all major
Diaspora organizations around the world.
Addressing a WAC gathering in Yerevan on Tuesday, Abrahamian complained
that the Moscow-based organization, which was set up in 2003 with
the Russian government’s apparent backing, has failed to fulfill its
mission not least because of the Kocharian administration’s lukewarm
attitude towards its activities. He also decried “glaring shortcomings”
Armenia’s political and economic systems.

KOCHARIAN ‘WILL BECOME PRIME MINISTER AFTER RESIGNATION’
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
May 17 2006
President Robert Kocharian will be replaced by Defense Minister
Serzh Sarkisian and become prime minister after completing his second
five-year term in office in 2008, a controversial lawmaker reputedly
linked to the Armenian authorities claimed on Wednesday.
Hmayak Hovannisian presented to journalists what he called a scenario
drawn up by Armenia’s two most powerful men for the approaching
parliamentary and presidential elections. Under that scenario, he said,
Sarkisian will contest and secure victory in both polls, due in 2007
and 2008 respectively, on the ticket of the governing Republican Party
of Armenia (HHK) led by the current prime minister, Andranik Markarian.
“After the parliamentary elections Serzh Sarkisian will become prime
minister and Andranik Markarian speaker of the National Assembly,”
Hovannisian said. “What will Robert Kocharian do? Who else is to occupy
the post of prime minister when Serzh Sarkisian becomes president of
the republic?”
The Armenian constitution bars incumbent presidents from holding
the post for a third consecutive term and Kocharian has so far left
no indication that he will try find a legal loophole for contesting
the 2008 presidential ballot. But meeting with university students in
Yerevan last November, Kocharian admitted that he will not be averse
to continuing to run government affairs in a different capacity. “Who
is better than I in terms of knowledge, experience, hard work and
resilience?” he declared.
Some local analysts and politicians have speculated over the past
year that Kocharian is aiming for the post of prime minister, which he
had occupied for about a year before being catapulted to the Armenian
presidency in March 1998.
In Hovannisian’s words, helping Kocharian become prime minister is
the main mission of the ambitious Prosperous Armenia party that was
set up recently by Gagik Tsarukian, an influential “oligarch” close
to the ruling regime. He claimed that the authorities will ensure that
Prosperous Armenia, the HHK and another pro-establishment party linked
to Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian have an absolute majority in
the next parliament. Parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian and his
Orinats Yerkir party have been forced out of the ruling coalition
because their far-reaching political ambitions endangered realization
of that scenario, said Hovannisian.
The Kocharian administration has assured the West that the upcoming
elections will be more democratic than the ones held until now. Such
assurances are brushed aside by opposition leaders who maintain that
Armenia’s post-Soviet history of electoral fraud will continue as long
as the Kocharian-Sarkisian duo remains in power. Some oppositionists
have threatened to boycott next year’s legislative vote, saying that
the authorities may have already predetermined its outcome.
They will likely take Hovannisian’s predictions seriously. The
ostensibly independent parliamentarian has a history of scandalous
defections from political parties opposed to successive Armenian
governments. He was elected to the current National Assembly from
the electoral list of the opposition National Unity Party (AMK)
in May 2003 but quit it a year later for still uncertain reasons.
AMK leader Artashes Geghamian has repeatedly accused Hovannisian
of secretly collaborating with Sarkisian, a view shared by other
politicians and journalists. Hovannisian, however, has flatly denied
this.