ARMENIA WANTS TO TAKE THE CALIFORNIAN MARKET

A1+
06-04-2005

In the North American largest industrial mechanical engineering and
metal processing exhibition «WESTEC» organized in the Los Angeles
Convention Center complex alongside with American and foreign famous
companies Armenian organizations also participated.

Several organizations from Armenia took part in the exhibition.
Yerevan «ElectroEquipment» LTD which exports its products to CIS
and Western countries, presented in the WESTEC exhibition examples
of its products which can be interesting for the American market.

The Company «Hilight» which produces outer lighting equipment for
cars is also represented in the exhibition. It exports its products
to Russia and USA.

The exhibition will be open up to April 7.

–Boundary_(ID_ZcM6xKA669zNfFBT6PwlzQ)–

Yuri Merzlyakov: “The package of the regulation of Karabakh conflict is already ready”

06 April 2005 [16:24] – Today.Az

“Current stage of talk processes within the regulation of Nagorno
Karabakh problem may be appreciated positively, the sides are close
to the regulation of the conflict”.

This was stated by Russian co-chairman of OSCE Yuri Merzlyakov in
his report to “Azadlig” radio.

>>From this view point, he stressed the importance of the meeting
of Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan, presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia: “It’s time for the presidents of both countries to give
orders to the ministers and mediators”. Y.Merzlyakov stated that,
OSCE Minsk group has already prepared the package of solution, the
document might be presented to Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan:
“After this moment, everything will depend on the decisions of the
presidents of two countries”.

The Russian stated that, Azerbaijan and Armenia governments must go to
some compromises. But the societies of both countries are not ready
for compromises and lots of works should be done in this direction:
“Today it is already evident that, Karabakh problem should be solved
only in peaceful way”.

Ombudsman of Hungary to participate at hearing of trial of Azerbaijan
officer Ramil Safarov

06 April 2005 [16:05] – Today.Az

Ombudsman of Hungary is to participate at hearing of court trial
of Azerbaijan officer R. Safarov, charged with killing of Armenian
colleague, agency Trend reports.

Azerbaijan Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova, informed 5 April, after her
returning from Copenhagen, where she met with Ombudsman of Hungary V.
Lenkovich within frames of international event.

She said, Ombudsman of Hungary came to this decision on her request. 
Hungarian Ombudsman will keep informed Azerbaijan Ombudsman Elmira
Suleymanova about situation and conditions of keeping of detained
Azerbaijan officer every month.

The officer of Azerbaijan Armed forces R. Safarov is charged with
killing of Armenian colleague February last year in Budapest at
NATO courses.

–Boundary_(ID_6SuiqXb969VwoQlXwdoXbw)–

Russian TV shows top secret air force command post during exercises

RTR Russia TV, Moscow
5 Apr 05

[Presenter] Eight states, three Russian bases in the CIS and almost
60 aircraft are being used in the joint command-post exercise of the
CIS integrated air defence system. The peculiarity of the exercises is
flights in Belarusian airspace, for the first time ever. With unique
footage of secret Defence Ministry facilities, Dmitriy Petrov reports.

[Correspondent] Almost 60 aircraft – the participation of such a large
quantity of military hardware is one of the principal characteristics
of the training. The goal of the exercises is to check the combat
readiness of the air defence system and the administering of help to
aircraft in distress. Forces from the air defence systems of eight CIS
countries are taking part in the manoeuvres. And all information is
coming into here. The commander-in-chief of the air force, Vladimir
Mikhaylov, today is in Tajikistan, but he is always in communication.

The central command point of the air force controls everything
from this bunker which is located deep under ground. According to
the instructions for today’s exercises, Russian bombers from the
long-range aviation are playing the role of violators of CIS air space.

Journalists are given access to one of the Ministry of Defence’s most
secret facilities no more than once every six months. In answer to a
question about how deep under ground the bunker is, an officer answers
evasively: consider it more than 100 [as received]. Before starting,
the cameraman is told at length what can and cannot be filmed.

In the morning, two Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers and also
four Tu-22 long-range bombers take off from the Engels airdrome in
the direction of Belarus. Their fellow CIS members have the task of
intercepting the targets and forcing them to land.

[Boris Cheltsov, Chief-of-Staff of the Russian air force] The
performance grading intercept targets simulated by the long-range
aircraft have been intercepted by forces of the Russian strike
aviation. On entering the air space of the Republic of Belarus, the
strike aircraft of the Republic of Belarus will step into action and
operate. And interceptions were carried out in the territory of the
Armenian Republic.

[Correspondent] The work of the strike and the interceptor aircraft
in the skies above Belarus is coordinated by an A-50 long-range radar
surveillance and guidance aircraft. Another plane should have taken
off for Armenia but Georgia, as it did one year ago, did not allow
flights in its airspace. However, a job was found for it in the skies
above the North Caucasus. The A-50 oversaw control over the flights.

Today, the air forces of Central Asian member states have also been
deployed. Two Kazakh MiG-31 interceptors take off from Karaganda for
Perm. Another pair fly from Novosibirsk to Karaganda.

The military planned to use the Russian air base in Kant [Kyrgyzstan]
during the exercises, but the weather there today is unsuitable
for flying. Uzbek and Tajik anti-aircraft defence systems follow
the situation. Incidentally, the Russian strategic bombers today
landed outside Minsk for the first time in the history of a sovereign
Belarus. This year, the Russian air force will get another two Tu-160
aircraft.

[Video shows aircraft taking off and in flight; correspondent in
underground command bunker with screens and computers behind him; the
corridors of the bunker; graphics showing exercise manoeuvres, Cheltsov
speaking; A-50 in flight; an unidentified white aircraft – presumably
a Tu-160 Russian strategic bomber – taking-off and in flight]

Governor wants ethnic antagonists punished in southern Russia

Interfax news agency, Moscow
6 Apr 05

Krasnodar, 6 April: Krasnodar Territory governor Aleksandr Tkachev
has demanded that the people who provoked the ethnic clash between
Cossacks and Armenians that took place in Novorossiysk be punished,
the territorial administration’s press service told Interfax.

“Over a hundred nationalities work and live peacefully in our territory
and we must do all we can to preserve peace and stability. It is easy
to provoke an ethnic conflict, but it is much more difficult to restore
peace later. The people who provoked the incident must be punished
no matter who they are. Crime does not have a nationality,” the press
service said quoting Tkachev’s statement on the results of his meeting
with law-enforcement agency heads that took place on Tuesday [5 April].

Tkachev stressed that any conflict should be resolved within the
limits of the law. “Nobody is allowed to replace law-enforcement
bodies and administer mob law,” he said.

On 21 March a fight between local Cossacks and the Armenian diaspora
took place at a Novorossiysk cafe. The fight ended only after police
intervened.

Russian power grid chief pays brief visit to Armenia

Aravot, Yerevan
5 Apr 05

Aravot [Morning] newspaper has said that the head of the Russian UES
[Unified Energy Systems of Russia] joint-stock company, Anatoliy
Chubays, paid a few-hour-long visit to Yerevan last night [4 April].
He met some high-ranking officials of the country.

The head of the Russian UES also met the leader of the New Times Party,
Aram Karapetyan.

When an Aravot correspondent asked what issues were discussed during
the meeting, Aram Karapetyan replied: “No comment.”

ARMENIAN SOLDIER CAPTURED BY AZERIS

06.04.2005 05:01

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 1, 2005 an Armenian soldier born in 1985,
who was serving his service for a fixed period in the Noemberyan
region of Armenia was captures by Azeris, Arminfo agency reports
according to the international working group on search for missing,
hostages and prisoners of war in the region of the Karabakh conflict
(IWG). The IWG expressed hope that the Azeri party will return the
captured immediately after the essential examination in accord with
the agreements achieved March 18 in Tbilisi. At that the IWG members
inform of numerous appeals to the Karabakh leadership not to delay
the return of the POWs as it incites the other conflicting party to
retaliatory steps. They again called the NK authorities to pass Hayal
Abdulayev, Hikmet Tagiyev and Ruslan Bakirov to the International Red
Cross. The appeal says in part, “No sensible explanation can be given
on the prolonged detainment of three Azeri soldiers in Karabakh. The
IWG is a public structure and does not possess the right to demand
reports from the conflicting parties, however both the Armenian and
Azeri parties treated our efforts aimed at search for missing and
release of POWs with trust.” According to the report, Bernhard Klazen
has many times applied to Arkady Ghukasian, Victor Kocharian and Masis
Mailian and was assured that the prisoners will be released soon. “The
meeting of the Armenian and Azeri State Commissions held in Tbilisi
on March 18 established mechanisms for the further work. We hoped
that the NK representatives will join the activities and established
immediate contact with the RA State Commission. “The protraction of
returning the POWs will only deteriorate the relations and do harm
to those captured and those who can be captured in future”, the
IWG representatives say adding that the resolution of humanitarian
problems should not be complicated with political reasons.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lithuania – Bridge Between South Caucasus and European Structures

06.04.2005 04:26

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met
with Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Gediminas Kirkilas, press
service of the RA MFA reported. During the meeting the interlocutors
highlighted the Armenia-Lithuania cooperation in the process of
Eurointegration of the South Caucasian states. In this context pointing
out to Armenia’s progress, specifically in strengthening relations with
NATO and participation in Wider Europe: New Neighbors EU initiative the
parties accented the role of Lithuania as the bridge between the South
Caucasus and these structures. Vardan Oskanian and Gediminas Kirkilas
discussed a number of regional and international issues. The Armenian
FM familiarized the Lithuanian Minister with the process of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement. Noting that the conflict cannot be solved
by force the parties expressed concern over the recent violations of
the cease-fire regime at the contact line of the armed forces.

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OPENED IN BELGIUM

06.04.2005 03:26

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An exhibition dedicated to the 90-th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide opened in the Belgian town of Kortrijk on April
4. Documents and photographs depicting the initial two years of the
Genocide are presented at the exhibition arranged by German historian
Tessa Hoffman, IA Regnum reports. The exhibition, which is to last
till April 9 and then will be conveyed to Brussels and Netherlands,
was organized with joint efforts of the Armenian Embassy, Armenian
community and the town authorities.

RAO UES OF RUSSIA AND GAZPROM TO COMPLETE HRAZDAN HEAT STATION

06.04.2005 03:16

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RAO UES of Russia and Gazprom are going to carry out
one more joint project. They have filed the application for finishing
the building of the Hrazdan heat station. To note, earlier each
company informed of own interest to the project, Vedomosti Russian
newspaper reports.