ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES NEWLY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE OF UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. Newly appointed UNDP Permanent
Representative and Coordinator Consuella Vidal handed over the
credentials of UN Secretary General to Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan today.
The presidential press-service informs ARMINFO that in the course
of the meeting, Robert Kocharyan pointed out the importance of the
UN programs implemented in Armenia, at the same time expressing hope
for further effective bilateral cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURK CHARGED WITH CONTRABAND OF ARMENIAN BOOKS OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL VALUE RELEASED
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. Minor Court of Yerevan Malatia-Sebastia
communities sentences the Turkish scientist Ektan Turklmaz to two years
of conditional imprisonement without further control and confiscation
of property for export of books of cultural and historical value
from Armenia.
The Turkish scientist was released directly from the court hall. The
confiscated computer, CD, mobile phone will be returned to him and
88 Armenian books purchased by the scientist will be transferred to
the country.

AZG Armenian Daily #146, 19/08/2005
Telethon
MONEY FROM ‘TELETHON-2006’ TO BE SPEND ON RECONSTRUCTION OF SHUSHI
At a government sitting on August 17 the prime minister of Nagorno
Karabakh stated that all collected money from “Telethon-2006” will
be spend to reconstruct Shushi. Anushavan Danielian noted that the
government will carry out special economic policy. As an economic
privilege organizations securing workplaces will be free from
taxes. Danielian said also that the NKR government will transfer
authority over customs service to Armenia.

AZG Armenian Daily #146, 19/08/2005
Culture
SIX MONUMENTS TO BE RESTORED WITH STATE RESOURCES
Artyom Grigorian, head of RA State Agency of Monument Preservation,
informed that 6 historical monuments will be restored with $1
million allocated from the state resources. The castle of Dashtadem,
several constructions of the Amberd castle, the church of Voskevaz,
the Spitakavor monastery, Vahanavank and Hnevank will be restored
very soon.
The layouts for the restoration works are to be completed soon. A
competition will be announced for the construction companies to launch
the reconstruction works.
Mr. Grigorian stated that the restoration works of some of these
monuments will last several years and each year they will be provided
with financial sources from the state budget for the construction
works.
By Ruzan Poghosian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
August 19, 2005
Raffi Hovannisian-Kostas Karamanlis Consultations
Athens–Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos A. Karamanlis received
Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian at
his government office here today.
Karamanlis and Hovannisian, who studied together at the Fletcher School
of Law and Diplomacy 25 years ago, deliberated on a full agenda of
issues ranging from regional security and European integration to
domestic developments and the bilateral relationship between the
Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Armenia.
Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis is chairman of the New Democracy
Party of Greece. Raffi Hovannisian, who is founder of the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies () and
the National Citizens’ Initiative (), currently chairs the
Heritage Party of Armenia ().

WIDOW OF KAREN DEMIRCHYAN AGAINST PRIVATIZATION OF K.DEMIRCHYAN SPORTS AND CONCERT COMPLEX
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. Widow of Karen Demirchyan Rima Demirchyan
is against privatization of K.Demirchyan SCC.
Talking to ARMINFO, she stated that SCC is a facility symbolizing
revival of Armenia’s spirit as counterbalance to the Memorial for
the Victims of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. Besides,
Rima Demirchyan stated that construction of the complex cost 40
mln Soviet rubles to the country, which is equal to $40 mln, so its
privatization for $6 mln is illegal. Meanwhile, the promised $9 mln
investment will be made at the expense of SCC’s incomes.
She also stated that the Armenian Government will made a decision
on privatization on August 18. In his turn, Prime Minister assured
Rima Demirchyan that the complex will not be renamed even after
privatization. However, she doubts in it.
It should be noted that a Russian construction concern BAMO expressed
intention to buy SCC.

LEADING SHAREHOLDER CJSC “UCS-ZVEZDA” DECIDED TO SELL HIS SHARE IN COMPANY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. Leading shareholder, Chairman of the
Board of Shareholders of the CJSC “UCS-Zvezda” Aghasi Yesayan decided
to withdraw from the staff of the company’s shareholders and to sale
his share. “OCS-Zvezda” informs ARMINFO.
Yesayan’s share in the company is not mentioned. He refrained
from comments regarding the reasons that made him go on such
step. At the same time, he expressed readiness to give necessary
explanations “after the above issue is finally settled.” The company’s
press-service supposes that such decisive acts are connected with
the failure when entering the telecommunication market of Armenia
as a mobile communication operator. According to the existing data,
it was Yesayan that planned to attract 60 mln EUR investments for
implementation of this project in Armenia. An agreement on financing
of a business-project was concluded with one of the first class banks
of Europe. Mow, these funds are most likely to be used to implement
telecommunication projects in EU member-states in agreement with
the bank.
It should be noted that the Armenian-Russian-American transnational
CJSC “United Communication Systems -Zvezda” yet in the middle of 2004
started launching a modern land station of satellite communication
in Armenia and planned to get a license for provision of mobile
communication services in Armenia. The company’s leadership has always
hidden the staff of shareholders from the press, which aroused distrust
in the plans of this enterprise.

AZG Armenian Daily #146, 19/08/2005
Visit
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF
EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
On August 18, His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians
received president of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Rene
van Der Linden in company with deputy speaker of Armenian Parliament,
chairman of the temporary commission on integration into European
structures, Tigran Torosian.
Greeting the honored guest in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His
Holiness spoke of the role of the Armenian Church in the life of
Armenian people. The Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the PACE
president for the support of the Assembly in instilling democratic
values in Armenia as it integrates into European Union and in the
issue of peaceful regulation of Nagorno Karabakh issue.
Mr. Linden, on his part, spoke of the PACE’s contribution in
establishing democratic state and in human rights protection,
emphasizing the role of churches and religions in these processes as
they start interdenominational dialogues.
The challenges that the Armenian Church and people face today as
well as peaceful regulation of Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish
relations were also discussed at the meeting.

AZG Armenian Daily #146, 19/08/2005
Neighbors
RECONSTRUCTION OF SURP KHACH OF AKHTAMAR GOES ON
The website of Turkish NTV informed on August 18 that the
reconstruction of Surp Khach Armenian church on Akhtamar Island
has been completed by 35 percent. The primary goal is to finish
restoration of outward walls before autumn rains begin. The NTV notes
meanwhile that “the church built by Armenian king Gagik I on Akhtamar
Island of the Lake Van in 915-921 stood against time”. The money for
restoration, 200 million 400 thousand lire, were allocated by the
Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Representative of the firm carrying out the restoration, Adna Vural,
told NTV, “Natural disasters and treasure hunters have severely damaged
the church. We are done with the roof in the first stage. As soon
as the facade is ready, we’ll turn to the frescos, and specialists
invited from abroad will do that job”.
NTV writes that 25 specialists take part in restoration works. The
works are scheduled to finish by 2006 unless nothing unplanned happens.
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #146, 19/08/2005
Insurance
NO NEWS FOR LEGAL SUCCESSORS OF ‘NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE’
Azg touched upon the process of getting back the deposits from “New York
Life Insurance” American-French company. As we informed before, a charge
free consulting committee that helped the applicants fill the documents was
created at RA Justice Ministry on September 27, 2004. The documents were to
be sent to the board of the US Resolution Fund. The deadline for the
application submission was February 28. 1211 applications were sent to the
US. and only 13 of them had insurance policies.
Already six months passed from the day the applications were sent. We tried
to find out at RA Justice Ministry whether there is any news for the legal
successors or the inheritors. Ara Saghatelian, spokesperson of RA Justice
Ministry, said that there is no news, adding that they spared no efforts to
achieve positive results. He said that our ministry had the
plenipotentiaries to accumulate and send the applications only, while the
rest of the developments of the procedure depend on the verdicts of the US
courts.
“We have no influence on the procedures that take place in the US,” Mr.
Saghatelian added.
By Gohar Gevorgian