ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH ARMEN JIGARKHANYAN
Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 06:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
head of the Moscow Dramatic Theater, actor Armen Jigarkhanyan, reported
the Press Service of the Armenian leader. The President appreciated
the contribution of A. Jigarkhanyan to the cinema. Having noted
Jigarkhanyan’s role in the development of Armenian-Russian cultural
relations, R. Kocharian considered actor’s participation in events
on the occasion of the Year of Russia in Armenia and Year of Armenia
in Russia scheduled in 2006 desirable.

OSKANIAN MET WITH THAI DEPUTY FM
Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 06:21
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian met with Thai
Deputy FM Virachai Virameteekul, reported the Armenian MFA Press
Service. In the course of the meeting the parties appreciated the
dynamics of development of the Armenian-Thai relations and noted the
importance of mutual visits at high level within past years. It was
noted that the visits stimulate strengthening economic, scientific,
educational, cultural ties. Besides, the interlocutors exchanged
opinions over a number of issues of mutual interest. Proposals were
made to fully use the potential of expansion and strengthening
of mutual ties. Today Virachai Virameteekul also met with Armenian
Deputy FM A. Bayburdyan. The parties discussed the provisions of the
Joint Program of Actions of the Armenian and Thai Governments and
noted that the Program includes all bilateral cooperation directions.
Specifically, it is a stimulus for strengthening agricultural, trade
and economic cooperation. Within that context the interlocutors
discussed the matter of the legal framework.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW ARMENIAN CHURCH TO BE BUILT IN WASHINGTON
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7. ARMINFO. The construction of a new Armenian
church will be started din Washington in 2006.
This issue was discussed during the meeting of Armenian Parliament
Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan and members of the Council of the St
ariam-The Mother of God Church in Washington.
The project is estimated at $8 mln. The sides also discussed the
problems of the Washington Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

ARMENIAN-US CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN IN SPRING 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7. ARMINFO. Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur
Bagdassaryan continues his official visit to the US.
The press service of the Armenian Parliament reports that Bagdassaryan
and the leadership of the Sister Cities International have discussed
the development of the cooperation between Armenian and US cities. The
sides agreed to hold a join conference in Yerevan in spring 2006 with
the participation of representatives of various US regions. Inter-state
relations executive of the organization Colebreaker said that the
establishment of inter-regional ties between Armenia and the US will
open up good social-economic and cultural development prospects for
Armenian cities.
During Bagdassaryan’s meeting with Vice President of the Habitat for
Humanity Thomas Jones the sides discussed the organization’s programs
in Armenia aimed to provide housing to the country’s poor. The sides
stressed the importance of the program carried out in Harbert, Ararat
region jointly by the Armenian Parliament and Habitat for Humanity.
Similar programs will be carried out in Maralik and Gyumri.
Bagdassaryan has also met with President of the Transparent House
association of the blind Peter Demayo. The sides discused the prospect
for developing cooperation with the Union of the Bind of Armenia and
agreed to organize training courses for Armenian blind students in
the US.

NKR PRESIDENT: THERE IS CERTAIN PROGRESS IN KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. There is certain progress in the
Karabakh peace process, President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arkady
Ghoukassyan said Monday commenting on his Yerevan meeting with OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel.
The fact that the meeting turned out longer than planned proves that
OSCE is interested in the process while OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s
visiting the region for the second time is unprecedented at all. Such
issues cannot be resolved in one meeting, says Ghoukassyan noting
that it is hard to speak about success yet but some progress is
evident. Particularly Azerbaijan is already speaking about the status
of Karabakh, is ready to acknowledge NKR’s self-determination right
and is discussing the issue of referendum. Azerbaijan’s position has
obviously become more constructive, says Ghoukassyan. But one should
hardly expect resolution this year – this is a very long process
as there are many issues that remain unsettled exactly because of
Azerbaijan’s position, says Ghoukasyan.

SUGAR IMPORTING ARMENIA MAKES EXPORT PLANS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. In 2005 the Sevan Sugar Plant has sold
1,500 tons of sugar in the home market against 650 tons in 2004.
The company’s director general Armen Arakelyan says that their
production is sold to 5-6 local producers – Zovq, Artashat Cannery,
Euroterm (producers of Noyan juice). Arakelyan notes that by the
end of this year the company is planning to start sugar export but
refuses to say whereto.
He says that the plant buys raw materials in Brazil. In 2005 the
company has imported 2,000 tons of raw materials against 900 ton in
2004. Arakelyan says that the production growth is due mainly to the
plant’s continuous operation.
The State COmmission for Economic Competition Protection reports
that the 97.% of the Armenian sugar sales are in the hands of the
Astghatsolq Ltd owned by MP Samvel Aleksanyan. The Sevan Sugar Plant
is the only sugar producing company in Armenia. The Customs Service
reports that 100,000-120,00 tons of sugar is imported into Armenia
each year.

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH CULTURE MINISTER OF SAXONY-ANGALT
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan met today with Culture Minister of Saxony-Angalt Federal Land
(Germany) Ian Hendrik Olbertz.
As ARMINFO was informed in Information and Press Department of
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, they noted with satisfaction the present
level of Armenian-German cooperation in culture, science and education
spheres. Olbertz told about a Week of German culture in Armenia (Sept
3-7): concerts, exhibitions, film-exhibitions and Armenian-German
scientific conference with participation of historians and specialists
on Armenian language and literature are being organized within the
Week framework. Oskanyan highly appreciated the role of numerous
programs on two-way exchange of scientists, students, pedagogues
and pupils. They especially noted the effective cooperation with the
German Service of Academical Exchange (DAAD).
Olbretz will meet with His Holiness Garegin II Catholicos of All
Armenians, Minister for Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan,
Education and Science Minister Sergo Yeritsyan. It is planned to sign
a joint statement between Ministry for Culture and Youth Affairs,
Education and Science Ministry and Culture Ministry of Saxony-Angalt
on cooperation development in culture, education and science spheres.

ARAM SARGSYAN CALLS
A1+
| 19:11:13 | 07-09-2005 | Politics |
If the opposition decides to return to the Parliament, the Republican
party will not participate in the sessions. And it means that the
idea of mass deprivation of mandates will not stop the authorities
and issue of depriving Aram Sargsyan and Smbat Ayvazyan of mandates
can be easily put to discussion.
Nevertheless, Aram Sargsyan is not worried about it. Moreover, he calls
the authorities to do it. “If they are so strong let them deprive me
of mandates. I have no problems and I do not think in that direction”.
Asked the question if he was ready to resign he said, “I do not resign,
let them evict me from the NA if they want”.

JUSTICE WILL COOPERATE WITH BOTH
A1+
| 19:19:02 | 07-09-2005 | Politics |
Today during the session of the Justice bloc the inter-party problems
of the Republican Party were not discussed. Even the leader of the
bloc did not want to comment the political events.
“I do not find it correct to comment on the events taking place in
other parties or to interfere with their business. I can only say
that we have passed a long way with the Republican Party and we will
cooperate both with the Republican which is member of the bloc and
with Bazeyan and Vagharshak Haroutyunyan”, answered Stepan Demirchyan
to the question of “A1+”.

ARAM SARGSYAN DOES NOT LOSE HOPE
A1+
| 18:53:54 | 07-09-2005 | Politics |
Today the head of the Republican Party Aram Sargsyan and the member
of the council Smbat Ayvazyan participated in the session of the
Justice bloc.
Naturally, the journalists were interested in the problems inside the
Republican party. “My brother and I have passed a long way together
with Albert Bazeyan and I will not comment on his person”, said Aram
Sargsyan. He also claimed that the major concern of the Republican
Party is to free the country from the present authorities, “And all
the political organizations and parties which are for changes are
our friends”, he informed.
As for the talks that 75% of the regional structures and 50% of the
preliminary structures of the party will leave it, Mr. Sargsyan, “The
figures are far from the reality. Mr. Bazeyan had very good reputation
in the party and it is natural that there will be people who will
like to follow his example. But the figures are strongly exaggerated”.
Asked the question if he saw the finger of the authorities in what
happened to the party, Mr. Sargsyan said, “The splitting of parties
is not a new thing in Armenia. We are not the first not the last. We
must not make a tragedy out of it and we must not engage in gossip”.
As for the opposition returning to the Parliament, Aram Sargsyan said,
“I will not go to the National Assembly. I have announced that I will
go there only when the issue of non-confidence to Robert Kocharyan
will be discussed. Our party is unanimously for revolution. And
believe me, we will announce about it during the referendum”.
The referendum will take place at the end of September or at
the beginning of October. By the way, at the end when one of the
journalists asked Aram Sargsyan if the party has weakened as a result
of Albert Bazeyan’s and Vagharshak Haroutyunyan’s leaving, Sargsyan
said, “Well, of course it has”.