WHO IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA?

A1plus

| 20:09:18 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

In the course of spreading whispers about the coming change of
authorities gossips are heard that the Armenian Republican Party,
getting ready for special Presidential elections, already has its
candidate. According to the information the candidate is RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan. The journalists tried to clear up the
information from the Minister himself.

«We have 3 more years. Why the rush? », mentioned the Minister
without denying the news. «That the parties are getting ready for
parliamentary elections is a fact. The Republican Party is not an
exception», said Serge Sargsyan.

By the way, if there are 3 years before the Presidential elections,
the Parliamentary elections will take place in 2 years.

–Boundary_(ID_/VbcWLtL1C1cdzbjct3Dcw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN TRYING TO CLEAR THE FATE OF THE ARMENIAN PRISONER

A1plus

| 19:19:30 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

Today RA Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan has sent a letter to Elmira
Suleymanova, the Azerbaijani Human rights defender, the Red Cross
International Committee, and the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Stepanakert
delegations of the Committee.

It is particularly mentioned in the letter that according to the
information spread by the International working group about the
issues of war prisoners Zohrab Tamayan who was in military service
in Noyemberyan has been taken captive my the Armenian armed forces.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has not confirmed the information,
whereas the Azerbaijani independent experts have, and according to
the Azerbaijani press the soldier has been take captive by the order
of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Armenian Ombudsman has expressed his worriedness by the fate of
the soldier especially taking into account the fact that the captive
is representative of a national minority. It is well known that the
Azerbaijanis treat the Kurd captives with special cruelty. ~SWe
have already had terrible experience ~V a Yezidi young men – an
ex-prisoner of war who returned from Azerbaijan, committed suicide~T,
says the latter.

The RA Defender of human rights asked the above mentioned organization
to wake the case into control securing the defense of Tamayan~Rs
rights and the meeting of Geneva convention commitments.

~SI think that cooperation in the settlement of humanitarian problems
will allow us to reduce e tension and will contribute to the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict for the sake of stability and
regional security~T, mentioned Larissa Alaverdyan.

A1plus

| 18:57:23 | 08-04-2005 | Social |

ARMENIAN WRITERS WERE TAKEN TO THE ARMY

“Starting from 2005 we are ready to spend on the Army no less money
than Azerbaijan”, said Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan today in one
of the military bases in Armavir region. He had visited the basis to
meet several Armenian writers there.

“Some people speak about the impossibility of concessions, but we must
decide where we take our people, or if we want a new or eternal war”,
said the Minister. He does not agree with the idea that conversations
about concession are those of losers.

By the way, the representatives of the Writers’ Union visited the
basis today to get acquainted with the conditions there. For example,
before the arrival of the Defense Minister they had hone to the
cafeteria and tasted the meals which are given to the soldiers.

ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT CREATES SERIOUS OBSTACLES FOR INTEGRATION OF AZERBAIJAN INTO EUROPE

AzerTag
[April 06, 2005, 23:25:54]

The Azerbaijan presidency of the parliamentary initiative of Southern
Caucasus and the organization Links have carried out in Baku a seminar
on the topic â”The Policy of the neighborhoodâ” of Azerbaijan and
Europeâ”. Members of Parliament, representatives of diplomatic corps
functioning in the country, representatives of NGOs, heads of some
opposition parties have taken part in the seminar.

The president of group of the parliamentary initiative of Southern
Caucasus, deputy of Milli Majlis Siyavush Novruzov has noted value
of the seminar.

Ambassador of the Great Britain in Azerbaijan Lawrence Bristow in his
statement on behalf of the management of the European Union has noted,
that would be inappropriate to think of rendering to Azerbaijan,
which itself has defined the way of integration to Europe, any
pressure. Simply, European Union gives recommendations on this
question.

Vice-speaker of Milli Majlis Ziyafet Askerov, having stopped on
cooperation of the country with the international organizations, has
emphasized, that development of democracy, protection of human rights,
maintenance of freedom of speech and press, carrying out of free,
transparent and fair elections, integration into Europe and other
questions make a basis of policy carried out by our state, and has
told: â”The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict creates
serious obstacles for integration of our country to Europe. The
aggressive policy of Armenia, free activity of terrorist groups on
territories of the aggressive state, cultivation on the occupied
Azerbaijan lands of narcotics and use of the given territories as
a transit with a view of narcotic business represent serious threat
for all Europe.

Speakers at the action dwelt on the problems, which have arisen
in our country as a result of aggressive policy of Armenia, and
double standards existing in the international community. They have
emphasized, that Azerbaijan is interested in integration into Europe
and pursues the policy of good neighborhood with all states. At the
same time, Armenia, continuing its aggressive policy, creates serious
problems for establishment of pace and calmness in region. With
feeling of regret it has been marked, that double standards existing
in the international community still interfere with fair settlement
of the conflict.

–Boundary_(ID_PdWTbBSovox/iL2LmvkSVw)–

PRIVATE HOUSE SALE-PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS DECREASE 27.2% IN FEBRUARY COMPARED WITH SAME MONTH OF 2004

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. In February, 2005, 354 transactions
on sale and purchase of private houses were made in Armenia,
85 of which in Yerevan. The number of transactions declined 27.2%
(12.4% in Yerevan) compared with February, 2004, at the same time it
increased 18.4% compared with January, 2005 (4.9% in Yerevan, 23.4%
in the marzes). The monthly growth of 1 cubic meter of private houses
made 2%. In February, the minimum and maximum prices of a private
residential house with a 250-sq.meter building and a 400-sq.meter
personal plot made in Yerevan communities: Kentron – $255-1,000,
Arabkir – $205-900, Kanaker-Zeytun – $140-360, Nork-Marash – $120-550,
Avan – $125-280, Erebuni – $130-320, Davtashen – $140-700, Shengavit –
$125-350, Ajapniak – $125-320.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish President: Armenian Citizens are Indispensable Part of Turkish Society

JTW
8 April 2005

ISTANBUL (JTW) Addressing a conference at the Turkish War Academy
in Istanbul, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said scientific
objectivity should be used when assessing historical events. Sezer
said the Armenian accusations are baseless and biased. “Research
should be conducted into the allegations by making use of documents
that were objective and unbiased”, the President said.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had called the Armenian side
to open its archives and to organize scientific meetings between
Turkish and Armenian historians. Armenia rejected Turkish invitation
and Armenian Foreign Minister Hovanisyan said “there is nothing to
be discussed”.

Sezer further added Turkish citizens of Armenian origin were and
indispensable part of Turkish society who have equal rights and
responsibilities in the modern Turkish Republic, said Sezer. There
are more than 50,000 Turkish Armenians, and about 45,000 Armenians
from Armenia work in Istanbul. Turkish Armenians publish three weekly
newspapers and have many schools and churches.

“MOBILE” CLASS WITH NOTE-BOOKS OPENS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEREVAN SCHOOL

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the Intel
corporation and Unicomp company a “mobile” class with note-books
was opened in Yerevan secondary school N 198. Armen Baldrian,
Director General of the Unicomp company, informed journalists on
April 8 that all the note-books of the class were assembled on the
basis of Intel Centrino technology, which provides wireless Internet
communication. Such a class, according to Baldrian, enables to use
computers not only at lessons of Informatics but also while teaching
of any subject. It was also mentioned that Intel is also going to
render assistance on creation of the infrastructures necessary for
development of Internet communication in Armenia.

Parties to Karabakh conflict discussing new OSCE formula – Russian mediator

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
6 Apr 05

[Presenter] There are real grounds for resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy
Merzlyakov, has said.

The sides have already discussed the latest proposals of the
mediators. If the sides agree to the proposal under consideration,
then it will be possible to resolve the conflict, he said.

[Correspondent over archive footage] The new proposals of the OSCE
Minsk Group concerning the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict have already been discussed once, Merzlyakov said. Although
the mediators pointed to several aspects regarding the settlement of
the conflict, the sides are still not willing to accept them.

[Merzlyakov speaking in Russian with Azeri voice-over] I cannot unveil
the proposals yet. Second, we are not talking about a package of
proposals, but only about several aspects of resolving the conflict. We
have chosen the most important aspects. I can say that it is worth
discussing those aspects.

There is an agreement to discuss these aspects, they have been
discussed and the positions of the sides are being clarified.

[Correspondent] Merzlyakov described the previous negotiations
concerning the conflict as positive and said that there are already
grounds for an ultimate political solution to the conflict. He said
that the next meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers will discuss the aspects proposed by the Minsk Group
co-chairmen.

[Merzlyakov] I regard the negotiations we have had as positive. The
talks have reached a stage when a political decision is
unavoidable. The proposal of the co-chairmen will be taken as a basis
for the final decision. Certainly, I believe that the presidents only
need to take such decisions. Ministers cannot do that. This decision
has to be discussed at a high level.

[Correspondent] Merzlaykov thinks that if the sides agree to the
proposals of the co-chairmen, then it will be possible to resolve
the conflict. It is possible to conduct the negotiations without
agreeing on the text, which I mentioned, but it is impossible to
produce a real outcome. Our proposal is not a document, it is only
a short formula. If there is an agreement on it, the process will go
on. The remaining issues will be then easy to resolve, end quote.

ARMENIA BECOMES FINAL POINT IN ANATOLY DRYUKOV’S DIPLOMATIC CAREER

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Russia’s Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov has completed his
mission in Armenia and his state service as well. “Armenia is the
final point in my diplomatic career. I am submitting a resigantion
application,” the Russian ambassador stated at the April 8 press
conference in Yerevan, noting that 45 years of his life have been
devoted to diplomacy. Anatoly Dryukov as the RF Ambassador to Armenia
will be replaced by Nikolai Pavlov who has held various diplomatic
positions, including the post of the RF Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Mongolia, and Ambassador at Large of the
RF MFA. Summarizing the results of his over 6 years’ tenure in
Armenia, Anatoly Dryukov underlined that he is fully satisfied with
the level of political interaction between the Russian and Armenian
leaderships. He denied the opinion that there has been a decline in the
Russian-Armenian relations. According to him, it would be completely
wrong to divide the world and Russia into separate poles at a time when
various integration processes are taking place in the world. He called
“stupid” the assertion that relations between Armenia and Russis have a
vassal character. “Some political circles are using such statements in
their own interests,” the ambassador stated. According to him, politics
are the ability to achieve a compromise without losing one’s principal
positions. Anatoly Dryukov pointed out the military and military
technical cooperation, economy, trade, science and culture as spheres
of successful cooperation. He said that Russia has invested about 300
mln USD in the Armenian economy, with the energy and banking spheres
being the most important investment spheres. The Russian capital, for
example, accounts for about a third of the overall banking capital
of Armenia. A. Dryukov noted that the opening of the ferry link
Kavkaz-Poti with internal Russian tariffs operating for Armenia has
contributed to the development of trade relations. He indicated the
restoration of cultural and scientific links, which is also evidenced
by holding Year of Russia in Armenia. Anatoly Dryukov considered the
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two visits to Armenia to be special
success of his mission since important agreements were reached during
these visits. “I am leaving in Armenia my love and respect for the
Armenian people. I am convinced Armenia will occupy its deserving
place among the nations of the world,” Anatoly Dryukov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERIES PROMISE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ARMENIAN SOLDIER TAKEN PRISONER

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Azeri party promised to provide
information to the Armenian party about the Armenian soldier, who was
taken prisoner, during the coming 1-2 days. Lieutenant-General Mikael
Grigorian, RA Deputy Minister of Defence, informed the journalists
about this on April 8. According to the Deputy Minister, Zohrab Tamoyan
doing his military service in one of military units of Noyemberian
region voluntarily left the military unit on April 1 and didn’t come
back. Answering the inquiry about the soldier taken prisoner the Azeri
party said that they have no information about him at present. Mikael
Grigorian refused to announce the number of Armenian captives in
Azerbaijan mentioning that according to the agreement achieved lately,
the Azeri party will give an opportunity to visit the Armenian captives
soon. As for the 3 Azeri servicemen taken prisoners on February 15
in Noyemberian, according to the General, they will be returned soon.