AZERI SIDE FAILS TO SHOW ITS FRONT LINE TO OSCE MONITORING GROUP

YEREVAN, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. The OSCE held today its regular monitoring of
the contact line of the Azeri and NKR armed forces near Karakhanbeili,
Fizuli district, reports the NKR FM press service.

>>From the NKR side the monitoring was carried out by Personal
Representative of OSCE Chairman in Office Andrzej Kasprzyk assisted
by Imre Palatinus (Hungary) and Oleksandr Samarsky (Ukraine)

Unlike the NKR side the Azeri one failed to show its front line to
the monitoring group. No violations registered.

Today Kasprzyk is meeting with NKR Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

SPANISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA INTENDS TO ORGANIZE VISIT OF SPANISH BUSINESSMEN TO YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. Ambassador of Spain to Armenia Francisco
Cavenght Marguis de Denerva has handed over his credentials to Armenian
president Robert Kocharyan today.

The presidential press-service informs ARMINFO that the president
pointed out that activation of the Armenian-Spanish cooperation
required revisal of the existing possibilities and new steps. In his
turn, the Ambassador expressed an intention to organize a visit of
Spanish businessmen to Armenia with the object of activating economic
ties. The sides also touched upon the processes in the EU and regional
developments.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: IRAN CONSIDERS RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA PRIOR

TABRIZ, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. Within the framework of peaceful policy
aiming peaceful coexistence, strengthening of stability and security
in the Caucasus, Iran is interested in extension and strengthening of
versatile relations with the neighboring states. Iranian Ambassador
to Yerevan Ali-Reza Khakikyan made this statement in Tabriz today
where a conference of Iranian and Armenian businessmen is held.

Ambassador Khakikyan says that Iran considers the relations with
Armenia as prior taking into account the cultural and historical
commonness and peaceful coexistence of the two countries’ peoples.
“Economic priorities proceeding from the commonness of interests in
the sphere of trade as well as the effective role of the transit cargo
transportation necessitate development of bilateral cooperation and
use of the existing possibilities of Iran with Armenian businessmen,”
Khakikyan said. He expressed hope for “establishment of the necessary
conditions for development of cooperation by Iranian and Armenian
authorities will contribute to strengthening of ties of the two
countries’ businessmen.”

The iranian Ambassador also expressed the interest of the Iranian ad
Armenian leadership in development and extension of the bilateral
cooperation, adding the “activity of the free economic area Aras ”
as well as joint construction of the Bridge Nurduz on the frontier
River of Araks linking Iranian ostan Eastern Azerbayjan as a transport
infrastructure contribute to implementation of this goal. Khakikyan
pointed out the importance of joint conferences of the two countries’
businessmen and came out for continuation of these contacts calling the
Iranian and Armenian authorities for contribution to this cooperation.

To note, in 2004 the commodity turnover between Armenia and Iran
grew 8.8%, totaling $100 mln, which is 4/9% of the total structure
of foreign trade of Armenia. Export of Armenian goods to Iran made
up $28 mln, import $72 mln.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL APPLY SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA IF PARLIAMENT
DOES NOT ACCEPT REMARKS OF VENICE COMMISSION, THINKS VARDAN POGHOSIAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. The Council of Europe will apply sanctions
against Armenia, if all the remarks of the Venice Commission of the
Council of Europe regarding constitutional reforms are not accepted.

According to him, Armenia’s continuing the democratic way of
development much depends on conducting of constitutional reforms,
otherwise the country will imitate its presence. In Poghosian’s
opinion, the draft constitutional amendments proposed by the United
Labour party is the most successful one of the three projects. In spite
of that MPs gave preference to the draft amendments proposed by the
coalition. “Now we became witnesses of sharp statement and negative
estimation by the Venice Commission concerning the draft amendments of
the coalition”, Poghosian said. He expressed an opinion that such a
reaction expresses the clear policy of the Venice Commission, general
dissatisfaction with the political processes taken place in Armenia
since 2000.

ENTREPRENEURS OF ARMENIA AND IRAN DISCUSS ISSUES OF COOPERATION IN TABRIZ

TABRIZ, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. A two-day joint conference of Iranian and
Armenian businessmen opens at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
in Tabriz today.

The conference discusses the prospects of development of trade
and economic relations of Iran and Armenia and Tabriz and Yerevan.
Participating in the conference are Iranian Ambassador to Armenia
Ali Reza Khakikyan, President of the joint Armenian-Iranian CCI
Akha Ronyan, the members of CCI of Tabriz and the Armenian economic
delegation. Besides participation in round tables dedicated to the
Iranian-Armenian cooperation, Armenian entrepreneurs will also visit
a number of industrial and agricultural enterprises as well as will
get first hand view of the cultural and historical and tourist sights
in Tabriz and Eastern Azerbayjan, IRNA reports.

Kompass directory presents Garabag has Armenian territory

AzerNews
1-7 June 05

French Kompass directory published on the company’s website presented
Upper Garabagh as Armenian territory.

Head of the Compass office in Azerbaijan Hikmat Gasymov has told local
ANS TV channel that a letter expressing objection over this has been
sent to the company administration.

In its reply, Compass said that the company does not deal with politics
but will look into the issue.

Compass publishes catalogues containing background information on all
types of companies, their products and services in 77 world countries
where it operates.

Georgian, Russian officials begin handover of tank repair plant

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
2 Jun 05

[Presenter] The Russian Defence Ministry wants to remove some equipment
from the [Tbilisi] tank repair plant. The process of handing the plant
over to Georgia officially began today. Only Russian and Armenian
equipment is repaired at the plant. The handover process should be
completed by 15 June. Deputy Defence Minister Davit Sikharulidze went
to the plant with journalists today, although Georgian journalists were
only allowed to look at the plant from the outside. Sopo Kvintradze
joins us live. What do the Russians want to remove from the plant?

[Correspondent] The main problem during the discussion today was
the removal of vehicles from the plant. Russia says this equipment
consists of cars and several portable generators which belong to the
Russian Group of Forces in the Transcaucasus and not the plant itself
and therefore they want to remove them. [Passage omitted]

Both sides say the talks process is proceeding normally. A special
commission has been formed and a delegation has arrived from the
Russian Defence Ministry. This joint commission is examining and
conducting an inventory of equipment currently at the plant such as
the machine tools necessary to repair tanks. The Russians say they
will certainly meet the deadline and the inventory process will be
completed by 15 June.

[Aleksandr Popov, commander of the Group of Russian Forces in the
Transcaucasus; our files give name of commander as Aleksandr Bespalov]
We all know the text of the joint declaration signed by our two
foreign ministers, in which it is written that the plant should be
handed over by 15 June. I think we will be able to do it by 12 or
13 June. There is a commission of specialists from Moscow, there is
a protocol we signed back in November, there is the will and a plan
of action. The work is continuing, with the exception of the small
problem which suddenly appeared today, but the Georgian side agreed
to decide the issue on Monday [6 June].

[Correspondent] This plant has not been functioning for two years
now. It has been closed, but workers say that the Defence Ministry
intends to reopen it once it becomes Georgian property. Once it
has been equipped, the plant can effect major repairs to 45 tanks
each month.

NKR DM REFUTES REGULAR INFORMATION OF AZERBAIJANI MASS MEDIA ON
EXCHANGE OF FIRE ON CONTACT LINE OF AZERBAIJANI AND NKR ARMED FORCES

YEREVAN, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. The NKR Defense Ministry refutes regular
information of Azerbaijani Mass Media on an exchange of fire on the
contact line of Azerbaijani and NKR Armed Forces. Head of the NKR
DM Press Service Senor Asratyan informs ARMINFO that no incidents
were registered on the contact line yesterday. He says that the
information of an exchange of fire in Terter region was nothing but
misinformation. According to Azerbaijani Mass media, as a result of an
exchange of fire in the above region, an Azerbaijani conscript Zafar
Khahlilov was killed. To note, the press-service of the Azerbaijani
Defense Ministry has been recently spreading misinformation every
day accusing the Armenian party of violation of the cease-fire regime.

AMERICAN FUND ON ECOSYSTEM PRESERVATION TO TAKE CARE OF ARMENIA’s KHOSROVIAN AND SHIKAHOGHIAN RESERVES

YEREVAN, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. The American “Critical Ecosystem Partnership
Fund” (CEPF) starts to realize the first investment program in the
Caucasian region countries. The project will be fulfilled in Armenia,
Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey and Iran, the CEPF general
executive director Den Martin informed at a press-conference in
Yerevan, Jun 1.

He noted that 51 species of plants and animals being on the verge
of disappearance numbered in the Caucasian ecoregion, and the grants
allotted within the program’s framework will be directed to preserve
both these species and the ecosystem as a whole. “This region is
very important by its bio-variety. It is one of 25 biologically rich
territories in the world” Martin noted.

He numbered Khosrovian and Shikahoghian reserves among “problematic
territories”. Motor transport will be bought on the grants allotted
by the Fund to provide access for hunters to the difficult regions
not only in Khosrovian reserve but also the territories nearby
Garni village. Besides, grants will be allotted for preservation of
ecolandscapes in some Armenia’s regions rich by rare species of plants,
animals, insects and birds.

Martin also noted that along with the CEPF program director on Caucasus
and Philippines Christopher Holts he will be acquainted with Armenia’s
ecological situation, meet with some governmental and non-governmental
organizations intended to participate in the CEPF projects.

Program’s general budget totals $8.5 mln which should be spent within 5
year. The CEPF has approved 6 projects on Armenia at the cost of about
$500.000 by now. The projects will be fulfilled by the RA NAS Institute
of zoology, “Eco-tourist” organization and other ecological public
organizations. The general management is commissioned to the WWF (World
unexplored wilderness preservation fund) Caucasian Program Office.

US Senator concerned over Russia’s arms transfer

Baku, June 1, AssA-Irada

Russia’s move to transfer weaponry from Georgia to Armenia raises
concerns and poses threats, United States Senator, member of the US
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Charles Hagel said.

“Azerbaijan and Armenia are independent countries and stationing any
foreign troops here is unacceptable”, he told a news conference in
Baku on Wednesday.

Hagel said that the US government welcomes the agreement reached by
Russia and Georgia to pull Russian bases out of this country.*