Pan Armenian News
BUILDING NEW NUCLEAR PLANT FAVORABLE TO ARMENIA
24.09.2005 03:06
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In case of closure of the Armenian (Metsamor) Nuclear
Power Plant (NPP) building a new NPP or generation of electric power on the
basis of gas may be an alternative source to Armenia, Minister of Energy
Armen Movsisyan told journalists yesterday. In his words, the building of a
new NPP is more profitable and it will cost approximately $800 million.
However, as noted by the Minister, there are no funding sources for the
project at the moment. At the same time A. Movsisyan expressed an opinion
that Armenia will not experience any problems with the international
community in the building of the new NPP, reported the Yerkir newspaper.

Pan Armenian News
FINLAND FOR LAUNCHING EU-TURKEY TALKS
24.09.2005 04:28
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «If Turkey fulfills all preconditions for starting the
talks, the EU should launch these, though the final decision should be made
by the European Commission,» Finnish President Tarja Halonen stated.
«Finland has expressed its support to EU enlargement. Turkey has expressed
desire to join the EU before Finland, however, Finland has already been part
of the EU for 10 years. Thus, the EU-Turkey relations have a long history,»
she said. Answering a question on the introduction of the issue of opening
the Armenian-Turkish border to the talks agenda and establishment of
diplomatic relations, the Finnish President said, «I would not like to speak
of subjects that may appear during the talks in detail. However, we usually
expect the candidate states to comply with the Copenhagen criteria. At the
same time Turkey has to recognize all EU member states. Finally, we hope the
candidate countries will have good neighborly relations with all adjacent
countries. We tell all candidates about it, however there are two parties in
this case: neighborhood always provides for relations between the two
countries,» reported Mediamax. It should be noted that September 26-28 Tarja
Halonen will pay an official visit to Armenia.

A1+
| 18:15:30 | 23-09-2005 | Official |
KHACHATRYAN GOING TO AMERICA
September 24-27 the official delegation with the RA Minister of Finance
Vardan Khachatryan at the head will leave for Washington to participate in
the 11th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Armenian-American working
group, the annual conference of the World Bank and Currency international
fund, as well as in the UN Millennium Challenges Corporation meeting.
According to the RA Finance Ministry information service, on September 26
the 11th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Armenian-American working group
will take place during which the Government representatives of the two
countries will refer to different issues about economic cooperation.

A1+
| 18:14:24 | 23-09-2005 | Regions |
THE DAY OF GYUMRI
On September 24 Gyumri will celebrate its day. A program and schedule have
been formed beforehand. Besides the residents of the city and region, many
guests will participate in the celebration.
According to the tradition, the guests will be met at the city entrance with
songs and dances. Afterwards, the memorial to the Bagratounies will be
solemnly opened. The monument to Shiraz and the Armenian-French Park will
also be opened. The opening ceremony of the park will take place with the
participation of the French Ambassador and the workers of the Embassy.

A1+
| 21:03:11 | 22-09-2005 | Politics |
NEWS EXPECTED TOMORROW
The Armenian Energy Ministry refuses to provide any information referring to
the conveyance of the Electric Network of Armenia.
To remind, Robert Kocharyan, who presided over the previous sitting of the
government fixed a 3-day term for settling all the discrepancies and
negotiations on the agreement. Over 6 days passed but the Energy Ministry
has not proceed to the negotiations yet.
Today the Ministry spokesman reported that tomorrow the information
referring to the bargain will be furnished to the journalists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 18:20:32 | 23-09-2005 | Social |
PASSED ON TO THE SECOND PHASE
Today the session of the Lins Fund Governing Council took place, during
which the new working plan of the structure was being discussed. Using the
$150 million successfully for the last few years, the fund is going is pass
on to the usage of the coming $60 million.
The promised sum is not yet given, so the Armenian branch of the Lins Fund
asked the RA Government for some money for the project works.
Besides, before allotting the money, the NA must confirm the «Memprandum-2»
received from America taking into account the fact that the works o the
first phase mentioned in the «Memorandum-1» are finished. This procedure is
carried out as the founders of the Fund demand the works of the Fund to be
formulated according to international conceptions.
According to the conception, the works will be over by October. After that
the promised sum will be allotted to Armenia. The sum will be spent in three
directions – construction of regional highways, reconstruction of Yerevan
streets, and reconstruction of schools.

A1+
| 18:19:22 | 23-09-2005 | Regions |
MINES STILL THREATENING
`Watch out, mine clearing’ – this noticeboard is put up in an area of the
highway Goris-Yerevan which is separated by special tapes. The mine clearing
detachment in Echmiadzin has been working in the Syunik region village
Shournukh for the last year.
In this village which was once inhabited by Azeris there were heated battles
during the days of the Artsakh wars. Seeing that they are about the leave
their houses, the Azeris have mined the area.
15 years have passed; Shournukh has been reconstructed and inhabited,
naturally, with Armenians. What is surprising is that the mine clearing
operations started only a year ago.
The RA Defense Ministry public links department informed that there have
been no accidents. As for the delay of the operations, they said, `The field
is not regulated, and the detachments themselves decide which areas to clear
and when’.

A1+
| 18:19:56 | 23-09-2005 | Social |
IS THE MINISTRY INTERESTED?
Today the Power Minister Armen Movsisyan finally gave some information about
the sale of the Armenian power network.
`The company `Midland Resources’ informs they are no more interested in the
power investments in the region, so they turned to us with the request to
pass the network to `RAO EES’, said the Minister. At the same time, he
praised the new customer – the Russian company, `When I was a newly
appointed Minister, everyone remembers the situation in the network –
strikes, etc. The company `RAO EES’ helped the restoration of the system a
lot, and I don’t know what we would do without them’, announced Armen
Movsisyan.
He also claimed that giving the network to `RAO EES’ will not make Armenia
completely dependent on Russia, and the company will act by our rules only,
and will not be able to decide the costs of power.
Asked the question why the costs are not reduced when most part of power is
produced by the atomic power station, which is cheaper, the Minister
answered, «You must ask that question to the Committee regulating public
services».

A1+
| 18:18:20 | 23-09-2005 | Social |
HUMANITY AND EDUCATION
Today in the US Embassy to Armenia announced the 2005-2006 school year of
FLEX and UGRAD scholarship programs opened. In the margins of the program
FLEX 50 pupils will be able to leave for USA this year. Up to now 470 pupils
have won in this program and lived in American families for a year.
Naneh Abrahamyan who is responsible for the program FLEX in Armenia informed
us that there were cases when the pupils who left for America were not
adapted into the families, and the organizers found other families for them.
Mrs. Abrahamyan also claimed that there hasn’t been a case of the Armenian
pupil remaining in America.
The continuation of FLEX is UGRAD which is for students. The program is
financed by the US State Secretariat and is realized by the International
Investigations and Exchange Council. In the margins of the program students
of the first, second and third year who are 17-20 years old can participate
in the program. The winners can study in 140 Universities in USA.
By the way, the pupils and students of Karabakh cannot participate in the
program. The worker of the US Embassy Tress Finart mentioned that USA
supports NKR with humanitarian aid only, and the programs are educational.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 18:16:13 | 23-09-2005 | Social |
ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENCE IS BETTER
On September 23 14 years ago the RA Supreme Council declared Armenia an
independent democratic country excluded from the Soviet Union, based on the
results of the pan-national voting two days ago.
`We were simply a colony in the USSR, and that’s what we still are now. We
are not independent and we will never be, until Van and Kars are ours, until
we have large territory. Until then the word `independence’ is an empty
one’, 68-year-old Rouben Torosyan complains after 14 years.
45-year-old Gohar Simonyan is of the same opinion, `It was different back in
the day. We were dependent on the Soviet Union only, and now we depend on
the whole world. What’s the difference? I’m discontent with our way of life.
Unemployment is terrible, people have no work, and they cannot live’.
Irrespective of the social difficulties, the RA citizens cannot but admit
that `independence is a good thing’. `We are happy to be independent, as
dependence is not good. I participated in the meetings for independence, and
my hopes are justified. I’m very pleased’, said Christine Haroutyunyan. And
although there is no work, Hovhannes Hounanyan is full of hope, `It is all
not so bad. There are positive tendencies that the jobs will be re-created.
What is important is that Armenia is an independent republic’.