ARMAN MELIKIAN: NKR DRAFT LAW ON CITIZENSHIP TENDS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
OF ARMENIANS DISPLACED FROM WHOLE TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The NKR Foreign Minister Arman
Melikian stated at the National Assembly hearing on the Karabakh
problem on March 30 that the NKR draft law on citizenship, currently
being developed, also tends to solve the problems of the Armenians
displaced from the whole territory of Azerbaijan. He expressed regret
the problems of this part of the Armenian people were not included in
the negotiations on the conflict settlement. At the same time, a study
in one of Russia’s regions with a large Armenian community showed that
45 thousand Armenians took refuge there. Only half of them were
granted Russian citizenship. Another 1,000-1,500 are the Armenian
citizens, while the rest have no citizenship. According to
A. Melikian, the NKR authorities feel obliged to follow the fates of
these people, protect thier interests at the iternational instances
and insist on compensation of their losses.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASSOCIATED PRESS PLANS TO ENLARGE ITS PRESENCE IN ARMENIA WITH
ARMINFO’S ASSISTANCE

YEREVAN, APRIL 1. ARMINFO. Associated Press is going to enlarge its
cooperation with ARMINFO independent news agency.

Director of AP Eurasian Department Thomas Jefferson visited Armenia a
few days ago to negotiate and to consider relevant cooperation
mechanisms. Priority is given to Associated Press’s buying 50% of
ARMINFO’s shares and introducting corporative administration for new
regional agency AP-AM (Associated Press – ARMINFO).

Jefferson says that AP is seeking to counterbalance Russian media
activity in the region. “Armenia is in fact the only CIS country where
there is no immediate clash of extra-regional interests. It is here
that the media factor – with certain revision – can be spread over not
only South Caucasus but also part of Great Middle East,” says
Jefferson.

To remind, Interfax news agency (Russia) has been enlarging its
positions in Armenia since 2002; Regnum South Caucasian chief editor
office was established in 2003; RIA Novosti (Russia) is presently
negotiating to form a sub-division in Armenia.

One of Armenia’s news leaders and legal successor of SNARK news agency
ARMINFO was established Mar 31 1991.

RA PRESIDENT AND ASSISTANT TO NATO SECRETARY GENERAL DISCUSS WAYS OF
KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues concerning Armenia-NATO
cooperation were discussed at the March 31 meeting of RA President
Robert Kocharian with Gunter Altenberg, Assistant to NATO Secretary
General on Issues of Policy and Security. The sides mentioned that the
cooperation proceeds in a constructive and dynamic way. According to
RA President’s Press Service, the interlocutors also touched upon
issues of preservation of security and peace in the region. In this
context they also spoke about the Karabakh conflict and ways of its
settlement.

ARMENIAN HONEY TO BE EXPORTED TO US AND UAE THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Last year, a 25-ton consignement of
honey was for the first time sent from Armenia to Sweden and the US,
while this year it is planned to export the product to the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) as well.

The RA Minister of Agriculture David Lokian stated this at the first
conference of the National Federation of Bee-Keepers of Armenia on
March 31. According to D. Lokian, bee-keeping is developed in the
mountainous and foothill marzes where 1,000-1,500 tons of honey is
produced every year. The minister said the bee-keeping is currently
undergoing development in the country – there are over 10 big
bee-keeping farms with more than 200 beehives. According to the USAID
SME Market Development Program’s Director Gary Kilmer, in addition to
using the potential existing, it is necessary to introduce efficient
technologies of honey production in order to develop the bee-keeping.

The National Federation of Bee-Keepers of Armenia was founded in 2004
and includes the unions of bee-keepers from 8 marzes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DELEGATION OF BELGIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO PAY AN OFFICIAL
VISIT TO ARMENIA ON APRIL 4-5

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. At the invitation of RA NA Speaker
Artur Baghdasarian, on April 4, the delegation headed by Herman de
Groo, Chairman of Belgian House of Representatives, will arrive in
Armenia on a 2-day official visit. The delegation’s meetings with NA
Speaker, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian, representatives of NA factions are planned. The delegation
with meet with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Belgian parliamentarians will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to pay the tribute of their respect to the victims of
Armenian Genocide. The results of the visit will be summed up at the
April 5 joint press conference of the chairmen of Belgian and Armenian
parliaments.

Defence minister, Russian general inspect Tajik firing range

Interfax-AVN military news agency web site, Moscow
1 Apr 05

Dushanbe, 1 April: The Tajik defence minister, Col-Gen Sherali
Khayrulloyev, on Friday [1 April] visited the Eshak Maydon firing
range (some 200 km southwest of Dushanbe), where the second phase of
the Rubezh-2005 command and staff exercises of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization [CSTO; members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia] member states, involving action and
field firing, will be held on 4-6 April.

The spokesman for the Tajik Defence Ministry, Col Zarobiddin Sirojev,
told Interfax that the minister was accompanied by the commander of
Volga-Urals Military District, Gen Vladimir Boldyrev.

Sirojev said the manoeuvres, which altogether will last from 2 to 6
April, would involve subunits from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan, which form a part of the Collective Rapid Deployment
Forces in the Central Asian region.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Relations with Russia remain top priority for Belarus, president says

Belapan news agency
1 Apr 05

MINSK

“Belarus adheres to a multivector principle in its foreign policy. Our
foreign policy and diplomacy are there where our interests are
present,” official sources quoted [Belarusian President] Alyaksandr
Lukashenka as saying on 1 April during a visit to the 28th weapons and
ammunition storage base in Baranavichy [Brest Region].

“One cannot choose neighbours, and good relations with them should be
maintained,” the president said. He said that growth is currently
being observed in trade with western countries. In particular, a
positive balance has been reported in trade with them. “But we have
our own interests and we do not tolerate being lorded over, when they
start pulling and pushing us and sometimes even insulting,” the head
of state said.

The president said that “fraternal Russia” is a priority for Belarus’s
foreign policy. “Half of our economy depends on the east, on Russia
today. Moscow and St Petersburg are not aliens for us. Russia is not
an alien for us. This is our country, our Russia. I am saying this
openly and frankly, though somebody will not like this,” Alyaksandr
Lukashenka said. “Even if I were thinking differently, I would have
conducted this policy anyway because it originates from the people and
not only from myself.”

The president also stressed that Belarus “was expecting certain
reaction” from other members of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia] to developments in Kyrgyzstan.
Lukashenka believes that it is a sad fact that “one of the CSTO member
states is being exposed to such an attack and destruction”. “When our
colleague is actually being ousted and we are pretending that nothing
is happening, you understand that each country in this organization is
also playing a certain role. We were expecting a certain reaction from
other states. As you saw, there was no reaction at all, to say the
least,” the president added.

[Belapan reported at 1426 gmt that Belarus is ready to discuss
Russia’s proposals on completing the construction of the Yamal-Europe
gas pipeline and joint processing of oil for export to world
markets. The news agency quoted Lukashenka as saying that these issues
will be discussed during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin on 4 April.]

US general urges closer ties with Azerbaijan – agency

Trend news agency
1 Apr 05

BAKU

The USA wants to expand strategic relations with Azerbaijan, Deputy
Commander of the United States European Command Gen Charles Wald said
during his meeting with Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev in
Baku on 1 April, the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry press service has
told Trend news agency.

“I want the Azerbaijani Republic to rapidly develop and come closer to
the USA, Western countries and NATO. In this case, Azerbaijan will be
able to cope with the most difficult period of its history without
losses,” Wald said. Touching on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the
general said that a diplomatic solution to this problem will be of
benefit to both countries.

Abiyev pointed out that the Azerbaijani side was in favour of a
diplomatic solution to the problem, but Armenia, being the aggressor,
is slowing down the peace process.

“Unfortunately, the international community is creating an opportunity
for Armenia to consolidate its hold on the occupied Azerbaijani
lands. Armenia is settling people on the occupied Azerbaijani
territories,” Abiyev said.

In reply, Wald pointed out that the USA has no doubts about that. “The
occupation of the territory of one country by another is illegal. The
problem is that this conflict should be solved only in a diplomatic
way. The USA will increase its attention to the settlement of the
conflict,” Gen Wald stressed.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND BASIC FREEDOMS IN ARMENIA
ISSUED

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, ARMENPRESS: The office of the Armenian human
rights defender said in a statement today that ombudswoman Larissa
Alaverdian has submitted the 2004 annual report on human rights
practices in Armenia to president Kocharian and parliament chairman
Arthur Baghdasarian.

The statement says the report contains a range of assessments,
conclusions and proposals, based on applications the office received
from citizens and on studies and observations the office conducted at
its own initiative.

It said much of the studies were prompted by high-profile instances
of human rights violations, highlighted by non-governmental
organizations, media, international organizations and government
bodies.

“Being the first such report it does not claim to reflect all
possible manifestations of human rights violation instances in the
country,” the statement says, adding also that some of its assessments
may not coincide with assessments of some segments of the population.

VOLUME OF RUSSIAN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY IN 2004 MADE $67
MILLION 204.6 THOUSAND

01.04.2005 04:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2004 Russia invested $67 million 204.6 thousand
in the Armenian economy, what makes 21.99% of the total volume of the
investments. According to the data provided by the National
Statistical Service of Armenia, direct Russian investments in 2004
made $48 million 690.8 thousand. The funds were mostly invested in
processing and delivery of electric power, gas and hot water ($31
million 280.5 thousand) and financial mediation ($19 million 851.1
thousand). Besides, $3 million 233.6 thousand was invested in computer
engineering, $3 million 445.3 thousand in wholesale and intermediary
trade, $3 million 872 thousand in metallurgic industry and other
fields of economy, Arka news agency reports. The total volume of
foreign investments in Armenia made $305 million 550.8 thousand, $226
million 723.4 thousand being direct investments in the real sector of
economy.