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”.

SEVAN THREATENING THE TREES
A1+
| 18:39:58 | 07-09-2005 | Social |
Today the session of the RA Forests Repair and Development Fund
Trustee Council took place which was presided over by the President
of the Council, RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
It was stated in the session that the non-governmental organization
“Green Earth” was allotted 5 million ARMD to realize the planting
of trees near the RA roads. A reference has also been made to the
problems arisen as a result of the raising of the Sevan level. The
Prime Minister mentioned that the Minister of Ecology has already
been asked to represent the schedule of the cleanings works of the
areas occupied as a result of the level raise.
The Prime Minister has underlined that the lake level raise program
will be realized all the same and there is no need to worry.

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES ASPIRED TO MEET NATO AND EU STANDARDS
Pan Armenian News
07.09.2005 07:21
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The goal of the Armenian Armed Forces is to meet
the standards of the NATO and EU, Armenian Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan stated in Riga during the meeting with his Latvian counterpart
Einars Repse.
In his words, over insufficient financing the Armenian defense cannot
meet the EU and NATO standards at present. During the meeting the
Minister signed a treaty on military cooperation. Mr. Repse noted
that after joining NATO official Riga raised interest towards
the South Caucasian states and that it’s time to activate defense
cooperation with Armenia. In his turn the Armenian Defense Minister
added that Armenia has scheduled reorganization of the Armed Forces
till 2015 and is interested in studying Latvia’s experience in the
field. Serge Sargsyan aslo met with Latvian Prime Minister Aigars
Kalvitis, who confirmed his support to the development of programs
targeted at Armenia’s aspiration to the North Atlantic structures
and the establishment of closer ties with NATO. Today the Armenian
Defense Minister departed for Tallinn, reported by Mediamax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO PARTICIPATE PACE COMMITTEE ON KARABAKH SITTING
Pan Armenian News
07.09.2005 07:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Vice Speaker of the Armenian parliament Tigran
Torosian and MP Shavarsh Kocharian will take part in the second
sitting of the Sub-Committee on Nagorno Karabakh at the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to be held September 12 in
Paris. To remind, the first sitting was held on June 23 within the
framework of the PACE Summer Session in Strasbourg. Delegations of the
member-states of the OSCE Minsk Group are to produce assessments of
the measures undertaken for the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. The Sub-Committee is scheduled to issue its first report
at the PACE January Session, Yerkir Online reports.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION TO BE DISCUSSED IN U.S. CONGRESS
Pan Armenian News
07.09.2005 06:59
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Genocide legislation appears set to come
before the influential House International Relations Committee as
early as Wednesday, September 14-th. H.Res.316, which was introduced
by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), calls upon the President to ensure U.S. foreign
policy reflects appropriate understanding of the Armenian Genocide. The
resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past U.S. hearings,
resolutions and Presidential statements, as well as references to
statements by international bodies and organizations. This measure,
which is in the process of being amended, reaffirms the Armenian
Genocide within the broader context of regional relationships and
addresses Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union. The Turkish
Ambassador and his lobbyists – including the Livingston Group – are
actively making the rounds to members of the International Relations
Committee, seeking to block any action on U.S.
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. As part of this effort, the
Livingston Group has been distributing a four-page genocide-denial
document to Congressional offices, Yerkir Online reports.