Pan Armenian News
KARABAKH CONFLICT HAS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ARMENIA-RUSSIA TRADE RELATIONS
15.09.2005 04:57
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within the framework of Armenia EXPO 2005 forum the
official opening of Armenian-Russian Cooperation 2005 business meeting took
place September 15. As President of the Union of Industrialists,
Entrepreneurs (Employers) of Armenia Arsen Ghazaryan stated in the course of
the opening ceremony, the business forum will be composed of 2 parts:
official opening and 2 round tables. In his words, in the course of the
forum issues referring to restoration of previous contacts between Armenia
and Russia will be discussed. As A. Ghazaryan noted, the Armenian-Russian
economic cooperation experiences some cooling at present due to blockade of
the Armenian borders and frequently passive behavior of entrepreneurs
themselves. However, the Armenian export to Russia has increased and the
total commodity turnover between the two countries increased 20-25% past
year, he noted. In his words the indicators will be maintained in 2005 and
2006 and increased if possible. In his words head of the Armenian MFA
Department of CIS Countries Vardan Hakobyan said that the MFA will make
every effort to provide for normal functioning of business relations between
the two countries. In the opinion of many Russian regional representatives,
absence of direct communications and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict have a
negative impact on the Armenian-Russian trade relations. As First Secretary
of the Russian Embassy in Armenia Andrey Mokrousov stated, the Embassy makes
every effort to develop cooperation of Russian and Armenian regions, and the
holding of events like the Cooperation 2005 business meeting contributes to
it. It the course of her speech Deputy Chairman of the Committee on
Enterprise Promotion of Moscow District Lyudmila Molchanova indicated
disturbance of economic ties between Moscow and Armenia, conditioned by the
NK conflict not settled state, non-functioning of the Abkhazian part of the
railway and the transport blockade of Armenia among other causes. In her
words a Moscow governmental delegation will arrive in Armenia soon. It
should be noted that individual business meetings will be held within
Cooperation 2005 and business contracts will be signed resulting from these.

Pan Armenian News
GOOD COOPERATION PROSPECT OBSERVED IN RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
15.09.2005 02:44
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Saint Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko visited
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University in Yerevan September 14. It
should be noted that Matvienko had arrived in Yerevan yesterday to take part
in events marking the St. Petersburg Days within the Year of Russia in
Armenia. After Ms. Matvienko’s meeting with students and professors of the
University, RAU rector Armen Darbinyan handed her Grigor Narekatsi’s Book of
Mournful Motets, specially produced to mark the 1000th anniversary of the
edition. University students had prepared a cultural program in honor of the
Saint Petersburg Governor. Addressing those present V. Matvienko pointed out
the role of President Kocharian in securing high rate of economic growth. `A
good prospect for cooperation is observed in the Russian-Armenian relations,
specifically in banking and industry. The commodity turnover between St.
Petersburg and Yerevan has increased 15% thus making $9 million,’ she
stated. In her words there are over 100 enterprises with Russian capital in
Armenia. At the same time businessmen making part of the delegation hold
negotiations with their Armenian colleagues over development of cooperation
and forming of joint ventures, the Saint Petersburg Governor said. It should
be noted that during the years of V. Matvienko’s tenure St. Petersburg
budget increased from $2.5 billion to $5 billion, reported IA Regnum.

Pan Armenian News
CSTO TO COOPERATE WITH NATO
15.09.2005 05:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov stated September 14
that according to an arrangement first contacts between the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which comprises Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, and the NATO will take place.
In the course of an unofficial meeting in Berlin the Russian MOD head had
with his counterparts representing NATO member states S. Ivanov noted that
before the end of the year a meeting of CSTO top officials with their NATO
colleagues will be held in Brussels. `Someone might dislike the CSTO or an
individual member state of the Treaty, however any action against drug
trafficking from Afghanistan is impossible without CSTO member states,’ S.
Ivanov stated, adding that Russia has presented a number of proposals,
including closer cooperation between the NATO and CSTO member states,
reported Interfax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO USA: ECONOMIC FREEDOM IN ARMENIA
HIGHEST IN LIST OF TRANSITIONAL STATES
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenian Ambassador to the USA Tatul
Margaryan met with Head of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation, an independent US Government agency, Ross Connelly,
Tuesday. The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told
ARMINFO, during the meeting, the Ambassador stated that due to the
reforms by the Armenian Government, the country is in the lead of the
group of the transitional states as to economic freedom. The economic
field of Armenia is favorable for foreign investments, the Ambassador
said.
In his turn, Ross Connelly expressed readiness on behalf of OPIC to
stimulate investments of American businessmen in the economy of
Armenia, as well as the cooperation to upgrade the awareness of
American businessmen of the programs OPIC implements in Armenia. The
largest of the programs is financing of the Marriott-Armenia repairs.
According to the economic freedom rating prepared by the US Heritage
Fund, Armenia ranks the first in the CIS, and in the 44th place among
155 countries in the world.

PROPOSALS OF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP (ICG) CONTAIN
ELEMENTS UNACCEPTABLE FOR KARABAKH: NKR FOREIGN MINISTER
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The proposals of the International
Crisis Group (ICG) contain elements unacceptable for Karabakh, NKR
Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan said at the NKR Parliament, Tuesday.
ITG proposes withdrawal of Armenia’s troops from the territories
under its control, security of the return of refugees, and
determination of Nagorny Karabakh’s status in 10-15 years etc..
In particular, the conflict is presented as confrontation of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. However, the minister thinks there are some positive
moments in the document. Thus, ICG displays understanding to the
sovereignty of Nagorny Karabakh and the international recognition of
NKR. Arman Melikyan says the NKR Foreign Ministry will response to
the report shortly.

MEETING WITH A. MELIKIAN

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
15 Sept 05
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
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On September 14 the foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikian met with
the delegation of the International Crisis Group NGO headed by Alain
Deletroz at the permanent representation of NKR in Armenia. Mr.
Deletrose presented the work of the organization, pointing out that
their purpose is to assist to resolution of international disputes and
prevention of wars. ICG prepared a report on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict entitled `Nagorno Karabakh: Local Conflict Monitoring’.
According to Mr. Deletrose, the purpose of the report is to help the
Armenian and Azerbaijani parties, as well as the mediators to reach an
acceptable resolution through talks. Mr. Melikian pointed to the
importance of involvement of the international community in the
maintenance of lasting peace in the region. He stated that the a
resolution of the conflict may be reached if all the involved parties
are reasonable and practical to recognize that the main conflict sides
are Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan; any
attempt to present the conflict as a territorial dispute can be
perceived as an intentional distortion of the reality. At the end of
the talk the head of the ICG delegation extended the report to the
foreign minister of NKR, to be published on September 14. Mr. Melikian
thanked the representatives of ICG, assuring that Stepanakert will get
acquainted with the principles of the report.
AA.
15-09-2005

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN BAKU AROUSES DISPUTES

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
15 Sept 05
The Armenian church in the centre of Baku is still there. The disputes
about this church are continuing. There are various suggestions in
this reference. Baku-based newspapers publish articles on destroying
the Armenian church. The authors make proposals based on the law on
preservation of historical and cultural monuments passed by Mili
Mejlis of Azerbaijan that buildings and monuments the mere appearance
of which causes pain and sadness should not exist. On the list of
these monuments the Armenian church is in the first place. In Zerkalo
Shirinzadeh writes: `In the 19th century Baku was not an Azerbaijani
city. The number of the natives (the Azerbaijanis), including the
inhabitants of the suburbs was barely 40 per cent. The rest were
Russians, Armenians, Jews, etc.’ Maybe this is the reason why there
was not a single Muslim building in the central luxurious part of the
city (the so called `old centre’) except for the Icheri Shihar
Mosque. But there was the protestant church, Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral and certainly the Armenian church which is a notable
building. Then the author of the article mentions that as a religious
institution the Armenian functioned longer (till 1990) than its
neighbouring buildings but so far its fate is uncertain. In another
issue Zerkalo published the article of the president of the
International Academy of Architecture Shamil Fatullayev: `At the
beginning of the 20th century Baku lacked a project of the town. In
1903 the Armenian community of Baku bought plots of land and started
construction.’ It should be noted that the magnificent buildings in
the centre of Baku, including the houses of opera and ballet, the
former Armenian dramatic theatre, the Armenian school of girls, were
built by Armenian businessmen on their own means. Among these are the
Dramatic Theatre, the Public Museum, the City Hall of Baku, the
Institute of Oil Industry, and another magnificent Armenian church,
the St. Mkrtich Church, which was destroyed and on its place the
conservatoire was built. Doctor Davad Akhundov, architect, author of a
number of works on architecture, suggests using the Armenian church as
a branch of the art museum or as a gallery. He opposes those who
suggest changing it into a mosque. `It is unacceptable. There are
human rules to respect other religions.’ `This will mean desecration,’
he says. In another article the commissioner on preservation of
architectural monuments of Azerbaijan Fahradin Miraliev agrees to
provide the Armenian church to another Christian community or some
religious organization which preaches peace and conformity. `There are
proposals to change the Armenian church into a mosque. I think there
is no need to,’ he says. The parishes of the orthodox churches
S. Michael Archangel and St. Mary are upset that such a beautiful
temple may be given to a sect or by an international bank to use as an
office. In the meantime, tourists visiting Baku take pictures of the
burnt walls of the Armenian church and the litter at its walls.
LEVON MKRTICHIAN KYOKHUNT.
15-09-2005

“COCA-COLA” IN ARMENIA WAS FINED $100.000
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Commission on economic
rivalry protection decided to fine “Coca-Cola Hellenik bottling
company Armenia” for about $100.000 (1% of company’s profit for
2004). The decision was made because of abuse of dominating position
in Armenia’s soft drink market in the first six months of 2005, on
the basis of “Jermuk Group” company’s complaint. To note, Coca-Cola
shares about 70% of sale market. Company’s representative was
displeased with such a decision.

UN REPRESENTATIVES SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund Thoraya Obaid
and Head of the UNDP Kemal Dervis discussed in Washington issues of
Armenia-UN cooperation.
Obaid highly appreciated the level of Armenia-UN cooperation
stressing that potentials of both Armenia and the UN make possible to
realize much more large-scale programs in Armenia, especially in
social sphere, in sphere of reproductive health, and in fight against
AIDS. Dervis stressed that Armenia-UN cooperation has been activated
recently and included various directions.

ARMENIA’s MINISTRY FOR FINANCES AND ECONOMY STARTS TO GIVE
COMPENSATIONS TO FORMER MEMBERS OF BUILDING SOCIETIES
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Ministry for Finances and
Economy started to give compensations to former members of building
societies, ARMINFO was informed in the Ministry.
Only two societies (in Yerevan and Lori region) have been given
compensations so far. The funds have been allotted for completion of
buildings construction of which started in soviet period and was
stopped because of soviet ruble devaluation.