USA EXPRESSES INTEREST IN IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE
Regnum News Agency, Russia
Oct 12 2005
On Wednesday, Energy Minister of Armenia Armen Movsisyan met U.S.
Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman in Washington. As MFA of Armenia
press office informs, Armen Movsisyan expressed his high assessment
of the US assistance to Armenian power engineering. Concerning the
upcoming deactivation of Armenia’s only nuclear power plant, Movsisyan
said it could be shut down only if there were other energy-generating
facilities available to replace it.
He also noted that Armenia hopes to keep the US assistance in the
process of the power plant deactivation and development of other
energy-generating facilities.
In his part, Samuel W. Bodman expressed his readiness for negotiations
over the ways of development of Armenian power engineering and interest
in construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONEY COLLECTED FROM “TELETHON-2005” TO BE GIVEN TO IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM “RE-BIRTH OF ARTSAKH”
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “Telethon-2005”
of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund will take place on November
24. As Naira Melkumian, the Executive Director of the fund informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, money collected as a result of the this
year telethon will be allocated to implementation of the development
program “Re-Birth of Artsakh” worked out by the fund.
Mrs. Melkumian mentioned that the development program was worked out
with the assistance of scientists from France, USA and Armenia.
According to her, the program which will be implemented by three
stages includes both humane and development sub-programs. Within
its framework, it’s envisaged in the region of Martakert to build
a water channel, to restore the regional hospital, to implement a
complex program of development the agriculture as well as programs
supporting re-populating of the region and assisting young families.
The total value of the program is about 17 mln dollars. Naira
Melkumian hopes that about 10 mln dollars will be contributed during
the “Telethon-2005.”

ARMENIAN NPP MAY BE SHUT DOWN IN CASE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CAPACITIES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
YEREVAN, October 12. /ARKA/. The Armenian NPP can be shut down only if
alternative energy-generating capacities will be created, RA Minister
of Energy Armen Movsisyan stated at his meeting with Secretary of the
US Energy Department Samuel W.Bodman. During the meeting, Minister
Movsisyan pointed out that Armenia expects the USA’s assistance in
ensuring safety of the Armenian NPP and in developing alternative
energy. Movsisyan appreciated the US assistance to Armenia’s energy
sector as well as presented the sector’s tasks. In his turn, Samuel
W.Bodman expressed readiness to examine the ways of assisting energy
development in Armenia, pointing out the USA’s experience. He also
pointed out the USA’s interest in the project of constructing the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. The meeting participants proposed
organizing an Armenian-American energy forum, pointing out the
advisability of participation of not only private sector, but also
financial organizations.

TURKISH INTELLECTUALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR HRANT DINK SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
ANKARA, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Hrant Dink, the Agos newspaper
editor-in-chief, convicted and given a six-month suspended prison
sentence for insulting Turkey in one of his articles, has received
support from journalists, writers, academics, association chairmen
and artists.
Intellectuals, including journalist Ali Bayramoglu, author Oya Baydar,
Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DISK) Secretary-General
Musa Jam, Istanbul Chamber of Doctors Chairman Gengay Gorsoy, Human
Rights Association Istanbul Branch Chairwoman Eren Keskin, publisher
Zarakolu and member of the board of International PEN Eugene Schoulgin
visited Dink in two separate groups.
After their visit to the Agos newspaper building Oya Baydar, a Turkish
writer, offered a statement to the press and said: “As citizens, we
want to announce that we are proud of being fellow countrypersons of
Hrant Dink. We will always support him.”
From: Baghdasarian

AROYAN AND TIGRAN PETROSIAN WIN AT “KARABAKH-2005” CHESS TOURNAMENT
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of Armenia Levon
Aroyan took the first place in the group “A” of the “Karabakh-2005”
international chess tournament held in Stepanakert. The young
chess-player who turned 23 in the days of the tournament gained 6
out of 9 possible points. Ashot Anastasian (Armenia) and Khikara
Nakamura (Japan) shared 2-3 places with 5.5 points. In accordance
with tournament coefficients they took their places in the tournament
table in the same order. Vasiliy Ivanchuk (the Ukraine), one of
the best chess-players of the world, and Karen Aroyan (Armenia),
the winner of 2004 championship in Stepanakert, played worse than
their capabilities and took places in the middle of the table.
3 chess-players at once gained 6.5 out of 9 possible points in the
group “B.” Tigran L.Petrosian (Armenia) had higher additional points
and got the title of the winner. Ervin Lami (Holland) took the second
place, Sergei Grigorian (Russia) the third place.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO VIOLATIONS OF CEASE-FIRING REGIME FIXED DURING MONITORING OF CONTACT LINE OF ARMED FORCES OF NK AND AZERBAIJAN
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 11, according to an
agreement reached with the NKR authorities earlier, the OSCE mission
held a plan monitoring of the contact line of the armed forces of
Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the direction of Aghdam, around
the settlement of Yusifjanle.
The group implementing monitoring from the positions of the NKR
Defence Army was headed by Andrej Kasprczik (Poland), the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. Olexander Samarski
(Ukraine), and Harry Eronen (Finland), the Field Assistants of the
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office as well as
the head of the OSCE High Level Planning Group were in the group.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR Foreign Ministry’s Information
and Analytical Department, the monitoring was held corresponding to the
scheduled regulations, no violations of cease-firing regime were fixed.
Representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Nagorno Karabakh and
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accompanied the monitoring mission
by the Karabakh side.

–Boundary_(ID_ETUahFxeT9bkxdooH+ufRQ)
Content-Typ e: MESSAGE/RFC822; CHARSET=US-ASCII
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From: “Katia M. Peltekian”
Subject: NKR Dep. FM emphasizes efficiency of coop formed b/w NKR FM & OSCE
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Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
NKR DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER EMPHASIZES EFFICIENCY OF COOPERATION
FORMED BETWEEN NKR FOREIGN MINISTRY AND OSCE
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On October
10, Masis Mayilian, the NKR Deputy Foreing Minister presented the
activity of the OSCE High Level Planning Group and long-term programs
in the region to Colonel Tommaso Strgar (Slovenia), the head of the
group.
Masis Mayilian touched upon the pre-history of the mutual relations
between the NKR Foreign Ministry and the OSCE emphasizing the
efficiency of the formed cooperation. The interlocuters mentioned the
importance of deepening further mutual cooperation in the sense of
establishing a log-lasting peace and stability in the region of the
Karabakh conflict.
Olexander Samarski (Ukraine) and Harry Eronen (Finland), the Field
Asssitances of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office were present at the meeting.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR Foreign Ministry’s Information
and Analytical Department, Tommaso Strgar visited Nagorno Karabakh
for the first time.

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CONVEYANCE OF GOODS ONLY DETERRENT TO DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
YEREVAN, October 12. /ARKA/. Conveyance of goods is the only deterrent
to the development of Armenian-Russian economic cooperation,
RA Minister of Defense, Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Commission Serge Sargsyan stated at a
Russian-Armenian business forum that has been opened in Yerevan.
According to him, it is transportation expenses that constitute a
considerable part of the cost of goods. The Minister also expressed the
confidence that only a small part of the potential of Armenian-Russian
cooperation is being used. According to Sargsyan, Russian-Armenian
cooperation has been progressing over the last five years. A 30%
increase in Armenian-Russian trade turnover was recorded in the 1st
half of 2005. “We hope that we have found the right guidelines,
which will promote the trade turnover and investments,” Sargsyan
said. According to him, Armenian and Russian businessmen have mutual
confidence.
Sargsyan also pointed out that business seeks more favorable
conditions. He added that Armenia needs a favorable investment
environment. According to him, Armenia and Russian regions have
lately actively developed their relations. Specifically, Armenian
trade houses have been opened in a number of Russian regions. The
foundation of the House of Moscow has been laid in Yerevan, and the
foundation of the House of Saint Petersburg is to be laid next year.
“Direction ties will allow all potential for bilateral cooperation
to be used,” Sargsyan said. According to him, cultural relations have
played an important role.
Minister Sargsyan also pointed out that the Armenian side has for
a long time been dealing with the problem of the Port Caucasus-Poti
ferry service. According to the Russian side, the lack of commercial
cargoes from Armenia is an obstacle to the development of the ferry
service.

1 BILLION DOLLAR MARK REACHED FOR 1ST TIME BY 2006 DRAFT STATE BUDGET
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The joint sitting of the RA National
Assembly Standing Committees started on October 12 with duscussions of
the 2006 draft state budget. It is envisaged to put it on the agenda
of the regular 4-day session to be held on October 24.
According to RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, the government
broke the tradition and submitted the draft state budget to the NA a
month earlier. Another distinctive feature of the draft is that the
budget reached the 1 bln dollar mark for the first time. Like those
in the previous years, the draft has a social orientation and has
been developed based on the medium-term and long-term programs of
the coalition formed in 2003.
The draft state budget’ revenues make 381.98 bln drams, expenditures –
451.88 bln drams, and deficit – 69.9 bln drams. Nominal GDP of 2,400.7
bln drams or 5,127.6 mln USD is forecast for 2006. Real GDP growth
of 7.5% and deflator level of 3% are programmed. The government
consisers it quite probable that real GDP growth will exceed the
programmed one, since there are sufficient economic preconditions
for ensuring higher economic growth. The draft envisaged inflation
of 3%. The overall revenues of the state budget will make up 15.9%
of GDP, expenditures – 18.8% and deficit – 2.9%.
By the draft state budget, about 98.3% of current revenues or 362.8
bln drams will be received from taxes or state duties. This index
exceeds the amount approved for 2005 by 16.8%. According to the
government, the source of the forecast tax revenue growth is the
continuing activity of the economy, as well as the measures taken by
the government to reduce its shadow sector.
As previously, it is envisaged to finance the deficit mainly from
external sources. Net external sources of financing will make up 52.2%
of the total, with the rest of the deficit to be covered from revenues
received by issung government bonds, and at the expense of the state
budget balance at the beginning of 2006.

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA’S MIDDLE EAST MAP ON SHOW
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Kuwait
Oct 12 2005
LONDON, Oct 12 (KUNA) — A newly-discovered map showing Lawrence of
Arabia’s proposals for the reconstruction of the Middle East after
the First World War is to go on display for the first time, it was
announced here Wednesday.
The map, about to be displayed in the Imperial War Museum, in London,
shows TE Lawrence opposed the allied agreement which eventually
determined the borders of Iraq as it is today.
Lawrence, who presented his proposals to the Eastern Committee of
the War Cabinet in November 1918, suggested instead that there should
be separate governments for the predominantly Kurdish and Arab areas
in what is now Iraq, and for the Mesopotamian Arabs and Armenians in
Syria, the Imperial War Museum said.
These suggested frontiers would have replaced those drawn up in the
allied agreement of 1916, negotiated by Sir Mark Sykes and Francois
Georges-Picot.
Lawrence formed his views during the Arab Revolt of 1916/18 when he
heard the views of men from across the Middle East who were serving
in Feisal’s army.
He was also in contact with other British experts on the Middle East,
including DG Hogarth and Gilbert Clayton.
But the proposals were opposed by the British administration in
Mesopotamia.
The map is one of a number of previous unseen items in the museum’s
new exhibition Lawrence Of Arabia: The Life, The Legend.
— Jeremy Wilson, Lawrence biographer and historical adviser to
the exhibition, said: “The discovery of the map is particularly
interesting.
“It suggests that Lawrence’s proposals were taken fairly seriously, at
least in London. They would have provided the region with a far better
starting point than the crude imperial carve-up agreed by Sykes and
Georges-Picot.” Hania Farhan, regional director of the Middle East and
North Africa, Economist Intelligence Unit (specialized publication),
added: “Among other things, the map shows that the opinions of those
who knew the region well were often ignored, as the colonial powers
in London and Paris had their own agendas and did not appear to care
about the facts on the ground or the people of those areas.
“Lawrence’s proposed borders differ substantially from those that
ended up being put in place.” The exhibition, which runs from October
14 to April 17 2006, also includes the motorcycle Lawrence was riding
when he had his fatal accident on May 13 1935.