ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO FINANCE IMPLEMENTATION OF CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
11.04.2006 16:38
Two important cultural programs will be implemented in Armenia with
the assistance of the Italian government. First, 35 thousand Euros
will be provided to Armenia for preservation and restoration of
monuments. Another 29.5 thousand Euros will be provided for Armenians
of Italy to become specialized in Italian language and culture.

THREE-STORIED UNFINISHED BUILDING HANDED OVER TO RUSSIA?
Panorama.am
15:41 11/04/06
RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsyan considers property in return for
gas tariff bargain favorable.
He compared the 5th power-engineering unit of Hrazdan thermal power
station with three-storied house with only the small cellar built
and asked the correspondents simply to go and see that construction.
“Time will come and we shall bring more figurative and convincing
facts about the cost of the 5th power unit and this step.”
As he said the 5th unit of Hrazdan thermal power station was out of
order and it couldn’t be repaired, thus he announced to all those
“people pretending to be scientists” that at least 180 million dollars
were necessary to restore the 5th power engineering unit.
And of course Armenia couldn’t afford it.
Generally, he suggests differentiating between economic bargains and
policy. “We have to consider all the profitable suggestion for our
economy, and we shouldn’t differentiate between Russia and Belgium
saying “yes” to one and “no” to the other. No one knows why but the
word “Russia” has the same influence on people as the red color on
a bull. If there is a profitable suggestion, we have to accept it,”
the Minister emphasized.

THE YOUNG TO COME, BUT WHERE FROM?
Panorama.am
16:20 11/04/06
The reply of former NAS President Fadey Sargsyan to the question whom
he would like to see in the position of NAS President was as follows:
“I can see everyone you are thinking about, all of them are worth
occupying the position.”
As F. Sargsyan thinks the Academy must be governed by a young person
“as rather difficult times for the Academy are approaching.” The
academic and scientific amendments have to be completed. “The Academy
must be governed by a young person who will have the ability and
strength to carry out all that work,” he said.
Yet, it’s not easy to imagine a young President of NAS as at present
the “youngest” member-academician is 65.
In his turn, F. Sargsyan fixed that the average age of academicians
is 70. “No one is t blame. It’s life.”
It’s a universal truth that our country is in a scientific
crisis. If some think the reason of the crisis lies in the person
of F. Sargsyan and his abuses, the latter think the true reason of
Armenian scientific crisis is “that there are no such conditions as
before the independence.”
However, F. Sargsyan resigned and one can hardly hope that it
will be possible to overcome the problems of science in the near
future.

ALWAYS BE READY TO WAR
Panorama.am
13:16 11/04/06
“The Defence Minister of any country, the RA Defence Minister in
particular, must realize that military operations may start at any
moment,” announced RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsyan in the talk
with correspondent in the Constitutional Court today in reply to the
question whether or not he can see an opportunity of war.
Touching upon the situation in Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone the
Defence Minister mentioned that there is no difference between the
present and former situations, and “there have always been fires, and
even if there is a difference, then the situation has become milder,”
he added.

METSAMOR POWER PLANT TO REMAIN NATIONAL
Lragir.am
10 April 06
The government of Armenia introduced important changes into the Bill of
Amendments to the Law on Energy, including elimination of government
monopoly in nuclear energy, stated Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan on
April 10. According to Arthur Baghdasaryan, under the bill the nuclear
station remains national and cannot be privatized.
As another important point, Arthur Baghdasaryan mentioned the amendment
on regulating the construction of a new nuclear plant by a separate
law. “It is a serious political agreement,” stated the speaker of
the National Assembly.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STARTING TODAY NEW GAS FEES ARE TO BE IMPLEMENTED
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 17:55
Starting today gas consumers will pay 65 drams per one cubic meter
of gas instead of the current 59 drams. Those who consume more than
10 000 cubic meters will pay US$94.5 instead of the current US$79.1.
Head of the Information Department of “Hayrusgazard” Company Shushan
Sardaryan informs that today and tomorrow the Company will make an
inventory of the volume of gas consumed to collect the corresponding
fees.
Starting April 1 the Company pays US$110 per 1 000 cubic meters of
gas imported to Armenia from Russia. According to Shushan Sardaryan,
the damage of the Company in the period between April 1-10 totaled
US$700 million.

COE TO CLOSELY OBSERVE THE TALKS BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 18:05
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene
van der Linden declared today in Strasburg, “the Council of Europe
plays an active role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and
it will continue to closely observe the talks between the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
“I do not think that the Council of Europe should replace the OSCE as
mediator. At the same time, we should activate relations with the OSCE
to reach the settlement of the conflict within the shortest possible
terms,” Rene van der Linden said.

AIR FRANCE TO LEAVE ROOM FOR ARMAVIA
Lragir.am
10 April 06
Air France representatives stated April 10 that their presence
in the Armenian market will not inflict losses on Armavia, the
national transporter of Armenia. Moreover, Air France and Armavia
signed an agreement, which needs to be ratified by the government,
on joint commercial activity. “We will leave some room for Armavia,”
joked French Ambassador Henry Cuny. The representative of Air France
gave a more serious explanation; the principle of their company is
to reach an arrangement with the national transporter of the country
when their planes start flying to a country. Hence, the French say
they will sign a mutually favorable agreement with Armavia. The
French declined to speak about other airlines operating in Armenia,
saying that the last word belongs to the Armenian passenger.

HEAD OF POLICE OF YEREVAN COMPLAINED OF PEOPLE
Lragir.am
10 April 06
>From January to March the rate of housebreaking in Yerevan doubled,
stated the head of the Police of Yerevan Nerses Nazaryan on April
10. According to him, informs the news agency ARKA, in the past three
years 110 cases of housebreaking were reported in the capital against
the 57 cases reported in the same period of 2005. Nerses Nazaryan
stated that at each police department there is a unit responsible
for security of houses. “Unfortunately, people hardly ever turn to
these units for help,” complained the head of the Police of Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AIR FRANCE: POLITICS TRAVELS BY PLANE
Lragir.am
10 April 06
Guarantee of France-Armenia ties. This is how the officials of Air
France and the French Embassy to Armenia describe the entrance of Air
France to the Armenian market. There will be Yerevan-Paris scheduled
flights three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Flights are already carried out, and several days after the start, on
April 10 Ambassador Henry Cuny and the Air France officials assessed
their step at the French Embassy in Yerevan. Ambassador Henry Cuny
thinks that the presence of Air France in Armenia has a political
importance. The ambassador thinks that the entrance of the French
airlines implies enhancement of ties between two countries.
The ambassador points out the economic aspect of this event,
particularly the development of tourism. “Besides an evidence of
friendship, it is a call to other French investors,” says the French
ambassador to Armenia.
To mark the entrance of Air France, this time Charles Aznavour flew
to Armenia in the plane of the French company.
The price of the ticket Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan is 399 dollars, taxes
excluding. Besides Air France planes fly to Moscow, Sanct Petersburg
and Kiev. The representatives of the company say this provides a
circulation of 100 million euros. They are hopeful that Yerevan will
comprise one quarter or one third of this sum.