ROTATION OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO WILL TAKE PLACE EARLY MAY
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 15:30
The rotation of Armenian peacekeepers in Kosovo will take place
approximately in the first decade of May, “Arminfo” correspondent
was told at the Press Office of RA Ministry of Defense.
To remind, the current fourth group of Armenian peacekeepers left for
Kosovo in October 2005. The Armenian blue helmets are participating
in the peacekeeping mission in the composition of the Greek battalion.

THE FRENCH CO-CHAIR OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP WILL LEAVE BAKU FOR YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 15:37
The French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier will
most probably visit Armenia on April 12-14, “Arminfo” has learned
from well-informed sources.
During the visit the French Co-Chair will have meetings with the
leadership of Armenia.
To remind, today Bernard Fassier will visit Baku, where he will stay
till April 12.
According to Azerbaijani media, the American Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Steven Mann will again visit the region this month.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO PAY A VISIT TO LEBANON
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 11:00
Today RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will visit Lebanon. He is
scheduled to have a meeting at the Catholicate of the Great House
of Kilikia. The Minister will arrive in Lebanon from Syria, where he
had talks with President Bashar Asad and his Syrian opposite number
Valid Muallim.

ANDRANIK MARGARYAN: WE HAVE NOT GIVEN THE 5TH ENERGY BLOCK OF HRAZDAN THERMAL POWER PLANT IN EXCHANGE FOR LOW PRICE OF GAS
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 14:30
“We have not given the 5th energy block of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant
to Russia in exchange for low price of gas. It was a profitable deal,”
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said.
According to the Prime Minister, in the course of three years the
gas price will stay the same or will rise a bit.

LEVON POGHOSYAN REFUSED FROM HIS DEPUTY’S MANDATE
ArmRadio.am
10.04.2006 15:44
NA Deputy Levon Poghosyan has refused from his mandate, deciding to
return to entrepreneurial activity.
Today Levon Poghosyan submitted a corresponding application to NA
Chairman.
From: Baghdasarian

PUNISHMENT OF A SINGLE DEPUTY BOYCOTTING A SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED POLITICAL PERSECUTION
Yerevan, April 8. ArmInfo. Punishment of a single deputy boycotting
a session of the National Assembly cannot be considered political
persecution, said to ‘Voice of Armenia’ newspaper Vahan Hovhannisian,
Vice Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly.
Mr. Hovhannisian stated that the National Assembly must be respected
as a state institution, irrespective of its ‘content’. He said that
taking part in the sessions of the parliament is the compulsory
commitment of each deputy and those neglecting their duty must be
brought to responsibility, although the public may consider the
punishment as political persecution. Mr. Hovhannisian said that the
question of official punishment for scamper-deputies will be raised
in the Constitutional Court.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: DEAL ON SALE OF HRAZDAN-5 WILL CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN GOODS’ EXPORT
Yerevan, April 8.ArmInfo. The deal on sale of the fifth block of
Hrazdan HPP will have positive impact on the economy of Armenia and
will contribute to development of export of the Armenian goods. RA
President Robert Kocharian said this during his visit to Kotayk.
According to him, thanks to this deal, Armenia will be provided with
Russian gas at low prices for three years. As for the discontent
of the opposition about the deal, he said that there are political
forces in Armenia that are always discontent with something.

PRESS SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA DENIES RUMORS OF HIS TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY OF STATE RICE
Yerevan, April 8. ArmInfo. The rumors about telephone conversation
between President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian and
USA Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice are false, stated to REGNUM
press secretary to the President Victor Sogomonian. He said that the
last conversation between the officials took place in February 2006,
before the meeting in Rambouillet.

TO THE VICE SPEAKER’S OPINION THE FORMER HEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL BOARD HAS NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS
Yerevan, April 8. ArmInfo. The former head of the Presidential Board
Artashes Tumanian has no serous problems, said to ‘Voice of Armenia’
newspaper Vahan Hovhannisian, Vice Speaker of the Armenian National
Assembly.
Mr. Hovhannisian said that Artashes Tumanian decided to do in for
politics and there’s nothing unnatural about it. Let us remind that
Mr. Tumanian, founder of the ‘New Country’ (Nor Yerkir) party, left
the party and cancelled the constituent session, refusing to explain
the reasons which caused debates among the politicians of Armenia.

ARMENIA PAID WITH ITS ENERGETIC INDEPENDENCE FOR THE RUSSIAN GAS
Yerevan, April 8. ArmInfo. The last deal with Gazprom was a serious
blow to the economical independence of Armenia, said in an interview
to ArmInfo Edward Agadjanov, independent economist.
To his opinion, handing all the energetic factors to Russia was a
serous mistake by the Armenian authorities. The expert said that
Armenia has lost its blocking share holdings by increasing Gazprom’s
share in ArmRosgazprom. Mr. Agadjanov said that Armenia could receive
aid from foreign donors for reducing the consequences of raise gas
prices if those objects were not given to Russia.
To Agadjanov’s opinion Russia did not succeed in preventing Iran from
entering the European market by blocking the way through Armenia. He
said that Iran still can enter Europe via Azerbaijan. Nevertheless
he admitted that Iran depends on Russia in sense of transporting
its recourses.
The matter is that the 5-th bloc of the Hrazdan HPP was sold to Russian
Gazprom for $248,8 million. The first part of the Iran-Armenia pipeline
is also to be handed to the Russian side by the agreement. This deal
aims recompensing the raise in gas prices for Armenian consumers.