ARMENIAN KHACHKARS EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN LOUVRE IN FALL
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 20:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An exhibition of Armenian khachkars (cross stones)
will open this fall in Louvre within the framework of the Year
of Armenia in France, reported the press office of the RA Embassy
in Paris.
To note, the Year of Armenia is France will start September 21,
2006 on the Armenian Independence Day and finish July 14, 2007,
on the French Independence Day. The program provides for some 200
events in 40 cities of France.

MCC GRANT TO OPEN NEW HORIZONS FOR ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 22:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. Congressional delegation lead by Jim
Kolbe and Scott Garrret together with Chief Executive Officer of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ambassador John Danilovich is
going to visit all the South Caucasian states. The visit bears a
familiarization nature. The delegation has already paid a call to
Georgia in Armenia. Then it will head for Azerbaijan, Congressman
Kolbe told reporters in Yerevan. In his words, the MCC grant rendered
to Armenia will open new horizons and prospects for the republic. “The
economic development of a state should march in step with the reforms
within the civic society and democracy consolidation,” he remarked.
Congressmen Kolbe also noted that during the meeting with the Armenian
leadership they discussed security issues and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement. “I thanked President Kocharian for the
contribution to the war on terror and participation of the Armenian
peacekeeping mission in Iraq,” Jim Kolbe emphazised.

SCOTT GARRETT: “WE BELIEVE ARMENIA WILL NOT ABANDON DEMOCRATIC PATH”
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 22:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If the upcoming elections in 2007 and 2008 are
undemocratic the U.S. can reconsider the Millenium Challenge Compact
with Armenia, Congressman Scott Garrett told reporters in Yerevan. In
his words, transparent and fair elections provide not only for
openness on the election day but also for the election campaign,
the role of media and the work with the NGOs. “However we believe
that Armenia will not abandon democratic path and will properly hold
the parliamentary and presidential election,” he remarked.
The Congressman also said that struggle against corruption occupies
a special places in the program.
“Corruption exists everywhere and I think that the level of corruption
in your republic will lower,” Garrett said adding that he represents
New Jersey where many Armenians live.
From: Baghdasarian

“ILLEGAL WHITEFISH” IN THE MARKETS
A1+
[01:15 pm] 12 April, 2006
By the order N-38A of February 9, 2006 the RA Minister of Ecology
prohibited to catch whitefish in Sevan. Nevertheless, According to
trustworthy sources, the fishermen still continue to catch them.
The fact that whitefish is sold in the markets of the Gegharqounik
region and the capital testifies to this.
One fish weighing about 300 grams costs about 400-500 AMD.
“Qyavar” TV Company of Gavar

THE ACADEMY WILL BE REFORMED OR WILL REACH A DEADLOCK
A1+
[01:47 pm] 12 April, 2006
The annual general session of the National Academy of Science convened
today. The scientist gathered in the NAS hall first listened to the
speech of the ex NAS President Fadey Sargsyan. He was especially
excited at the fact that at the beginning of the session the message
of the Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II was read.
The message said that during his 12-year office Fadey Sargsyan did
everything for the development of the Academy and is a deserved son
of the Armenian nation.
“I would not be able to do anything if it weren’t for the support of
all the workers of the Academy.
Nevertheless, I am sure that whoever becomes the next President will
work better than me”, Mr. Sargsyan said. As for the message of the
Catholicos, he considered the blessing of His Holiness the greatest
award of his life.
Nevertheless, the scientists who made speech during the session
did not share the opinion about the development of the Academy. He
announced that no reforms have been introduced for 12 years and that
the NAS has almost twice as more workers as it needs. If there are
2500 people working in the Academy instead of 3700 and the budget
allots 8 million AMD instead of 6 million, the scientists will get
a salary of 100 thousand AMD and will be able to work properly.
The NAS annual report was represented by Academician Edward Ghazaryan,
the secretary of the Academy and the ex Minister of Education and
Science. He criticized the Mass Media for announcing that the Academy
is idle and has published only three books in a year.
Ghazaryan announced that for the last year the scientists
have published not three but 138 monographs and organized 20
international conferences in which more than 400 foreign scientists
have participated.
“The majority of the awards given by the RA President has been given to
the scientists who get a miserable salary but still continue working”,
Edward Ghazaryan said.
To note, after the resignation of Fadey Sargsyan Edward Ghazaryan is
considered the main candidate for the post of the NAS President. The
elections of the President and the NAS Presidium will be held in
a month.

THE RESIDENTS OF KOZERN DISTRICT REACHED KOCHARYAN
A1+
[03:33 pm] 12 April, 2006
The residents of Kozern district were gathered together opposite
the residence of President Kocharyan and demanded to discuss their
problem with the corresponding structures and sub-structures of the
municipality. They were offended by the remarks of the Yerevan mayor
Yervand Zakharyan.
The participants of the meeting met Yervand Zakharyan yesterday. The
latter told them that their information about the instructions of
the Prime Minister is false.
Let us remind you that last week Khachatour Vardanyan, the head of
the territorial self-government administration, assured the residents
that a committee has been formed which will investigate the issue
of privatization of the Kozern district and give answers to their
questions.
Yervand Zakharyan promised the residents of the district that he
will clear up what to do within two months. “He tells us he can do
whatever he wants in this city. He says he can evict us whenever he
wants”, said Samvel Lazarian, head of the NGO “Community and Right”
who represents the interests of the residents of Kozern. Yervand
Zakharyan blamed them for giving a political context to the issue,
and blamed the NGO for supporting them.
As the participants of the meeting claimed, today’s act of
complaint was a forced one. “We still have three days till civic
disobedience. This was a necessary step so that take the opinion of
the people into account. We will not take a step back,” said Samvel
Lazarian. Let us remind you that the residents of Kozern promised
not to organize anything within ten days, and then, in case of need,
they will even form new authorities and defend themselves.
At present deputy mayor of the city Kamo Areyan, four residents of
the district, as well as the head of the NGO “Community and Right”
are in the RA President’s residence.

AZERI LEADER PRAISES “NEW FORMAT” OF NAGORNYY KARABAKH TALKS
ANS TV, Baku
12 Apr 06
The Nagornyy Karabakh talks are now conducted in a new format which
suits Azerbaijan’s national interests, President Ilham Aliyev has said.
“The talks are conducted in a new format and this format is just
and suits Azerbaijan’s interests. The format creates the necessary
foundation for the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,”
Aliyev said during a trip to the northern Balakan and Zaqatala
districts on 12 April. “Azerbaijan must restore its territorial
integrity. We want to achieve this through peaceful means,
negotiations,” he added.
Speaking about ethnic conflicts in other countries, he said that
Azerbaijan is tolerant toward ethnic minorities. “Regardless of their
ethnic origins, each Azerbaijani citizen is dear to us. In this sense,
Azerbaijan can set an example for the world,” Ilham Aliyev said.
ANS TV reported that the president spent most of his time inspecting
outposts of the State Border Service in Zaqatala District. It showed
servicemen demonstrating their skills to the president.
ANS correspondent quoted Ilham Aliyev as saying that the Azerbaijani
borders were weakened during the Nagornyy Karabakh war and Armenians
took advantage of the opportunity and “attempted to carry out terrorist
attacks”. The president described the role of the State Border Service
in ensuring the country’s security as very important.

POWERS TRY TO DERIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM KARABAKH ISSUE SETTLEMENT PROCESS, EXPERT MENTIONS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. “Just like the “Property for Debt”
agreement, the last Armenian-Russian bargain regarding the 5th block
of Hrazdan TPP is in no way connected with the national and state
interests of Armenia,” Stepan Safarian, head of the researches of
the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
declared this to Noyan Tapan correspondent.
According to him, the bargain is connected with the current
geopolitical situation formed in the South Caucasus. In Safarian’s
opinion, today the Karabakh problem is the most dominating one and
has subordinated to itself other problems regarding Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In the expert’s estimation, the U.S. has become much
more active in the process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement and in this
context the authorities of the two countries have appeared in a very
“pitiful” position. And for the purpose of making advantage of this
“pitiful” position, the powers, including Russia, try “to derive the
maximum benefit”.
Meanwhile, Armenia, transferring entities of strategic importance
to Russia, once more expects Russia’s assistance in failing the
settlement process or avoiding the settlement. In the expert’s
affirmation, Robert Kocharian’s conduct, as well as Russia’s
position are conditioned by the pressure of the U.S. in the issue
of Karabakh settlement. In this respect, according to Safarian,
it is rather noteworthy that the former balance was violated and
the Azerbaijani President was officially invited by U.S. President
Bush. He reminded the 2001 Key West negotiations when U.S. President
Bush received Robert Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev “only provided that
they will agree to realize the Key West principles”. “Of course,
the disappointment was great later as Heydar Aliyev refused this
variant and doing so, saved Robert Kocharian, but in any case, this
time the accents of the U.S. on Azerbaijan are obvious,” the expert
mentioned. In Safarian’s estimation, the current processes of Karabakh
settlement can be qualified as “Key West-2” but in a perfected variant
when the U.S. and the West in general apply such technologies in the
negotiations process that “the possibilities of tacking are minimal in
difference to the 2001 Key West negotiations but it is a bit difficult
to imagine in what ways these technologies will be implemented”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESENTATION OF ALMANAC “ARMENIA IN A TRANSFORMING WORLD” TOOK PLACE IN ACNIS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the almanac
entitled “Armenia in a Transforming World” took place on April
12 at the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS). Presenting the almanac prepared according to 2005 results,
Stepan Safarian, head of ACNIS researches, called the attention
of those present to the works included in it: the work by Martin
Malek, research officer of the Austrian National Academy of Defence,
entitled “State Collapse as a Phenomenon of International Relations”,
research dedicated to the chronology and ways of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with 11 maps (authors S.Safarian
and A.Barkhudarian); results of sociological surveys conducted by
the Center among the population and experts in 2005; the work by a
member of the Constitutional Court, professor Felix Tokhian entitled
“Reform of the Electoral Code and Constitution in Armenia”; “Some
Aspects of Armenian-Russian Economic Ties in the Light of the Format
“Property for Debt” by Hovsep Khurshudian, etc. Speaking at the
presentation, Center expert H.Khurshudian mentioned the topicality
of studies of Armenian-Russian economic contacts in the light of
the last bargain with “Gasprom”, as a result of which the 5th block
of Hrazdan TPP was transferred to the management of the Russian gas
monopolist. He especially drew the attention of those present to the
circumstance that at first it was supposed to transfer the right of
finishing the construction of the 5th block of Hrazdan TPP to one of
Iranian companies on terms very beneficial for the Armenian side, but
subsequently the government made quite another decision. Khurshudian
made a brief economic and political analysis of the last agreement,
as well as implementation of the agreement “Property for Debt” and
made a supposition that these agreements could have a “shady side”
and could be the consequence of the Russian political influence.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOCIETY FOR ARMENIAN-BULGARIAN FRIENDSHIP ESTABLISHED IN VANADZOR
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006
VANADZOR, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April,
11, 2006 in the city of Vanadzor was established a Society for
Armenian-Bulgarian Friendship. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
Press Service of the Embassy of Bulgary to Armenia, as a chairman of
the Society was elected Mr. Samvel Darpinyan, the mayor of Vanadzor
city, and as an executive secretary of the Society – Ms. Sonya
Malumyan. The establishment of the Society was realized with the
participation of the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of
the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic Armenia Mr. Stefan Dimitrov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress