The first grain shipment made by ferry link from Russia to Georgia

Agrimarket Consulting, Ukraine
March 24 2005

On March 23 the first railway ferry departed from Russian port of
Kavkaz to Georgian port of Poti. The ferry had onboard 18 railcars,
loaded with maize. The freight is destined to Armenia. The travel
time is 36 hours. According to press-service of Russia’s Ministry
of Transport, for the time being there are two tentative voyages
scheduled.

The agreement about opening rail ferry link between Russian port
of Kavkaz, located in Krasnodar Krai, north from Novorossiysk, and
Georgian Black Sea port of Poti, was signed on January 10, 2005 in
Tbilisi. The parties also signed an agreement about temporary rules
of operation of the ferry link and transportation of the freights.

The opening of Black Sea ferry operations between Russia and Georgia
is especially important in condition of absence of railway connection
between the two countries on the land during the last 12 years. The
railway services were stopped in August 1992, after beginning of
armed conflict in Abkhazia. The ferry link Kavkaz-Poti will be used
not only by Russia and Georgia, but also by Armenia, Azerbaijan and
countries of Central Asia.

Armenian leader convenes meeting over blast near customs agency

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
24 Mar 05

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held a meeting with the
heads of law-enforcement agencies in connection with a blast near
the Armenian State Customs Committee this morning.

The heads of law-enforcement agencies reported to the Armenian
president about details of the incident and the measures taken.
President Kocharyan instructed them to make every effort to solve
this crime and also to report regularly to him about results of the
investigation.

AllAfrica.com, Africa
March 24 2005

Nam Diamonds Aplenty, But Few to Polish

New Era (Windhoek)
March 24, 2005
Posted to the web March 24, 2005

Catherine Sasman
Windhoek

Israeli-based LLD Diamonds Namibia appointed its first Namibian
managing director, Kombadayedu Kapwanga, on 21 March, and he will
take over the reins of the local company from Yaaqov Adir.

The company, which is currently the biggest diamond cutting and
polishing factory in Africa, complained that it at times finds it
difficult to buy Namibian diamonds for value addition. It is
currently the only cutting and polishing plant that adds value to
Namibian diamonds, which it buys from the Samicor marine diamonds
ploughed from along the coastline. Namdeb’s cutting and polishing
factories get their diamonds from the London open market.

The company, which is currently challenging Namdeb’s monopoly in
diamond mining and cutting and polishing, is a subsidiary company of
the Leviev Group/Samicor.

While the Leviev Group holds 70% shareholding in Samicor, government
holds 10%, 10% by various black economic empowerment groups, and 4%
by Samicor employees. The Leviev Group, however, wholly owns LLD
Diamonds, putting in N$100 million investment into the company over a
period of 10 months.

The LLD factory started its operations in June last year with 250
trainees. It currently has 430 trainees, whose training programme
will come to an end shortly. The company thus anticipates starting
with production soon thereafter. It has its markets in Japan, the USA
and Europe, with seven marketing agents globally. The factory was
designed to employ up to 550 people. The Leviev Group has deployed 67
Armenian trainers to oversee this training.

“The localisation of managing the company will mean that management
will know more about the local employment and environmental
conditions,” said Kapwanga from his office yesterday.

Kapwanga said that the factory has resulted in a spin-off effect in
the SADC region, where countries like Botswana, South Africa and
Angola are considering opening their own cutting and polishing
plants. Currently, there are already 27 Angolans trainers and 40
trainees being trained at the Wind-hoek factory.

The LLD Diamonds Namibia company has been given a diamond cutting
licence as per the Diamond Act, and Samicor given a number of
prospecting and mining licences. Equally, Namdeb has an exclusive
prospecting and mining rights, as well as a cutting licence under
Namgem.

“It is time that we do value addition to our diamond products instead
of exporting our raw materials,” said Kapwanga, adding that where the
company falls short in supplies of Namibian diamonds for its factory,
it is forced to buy diamonds from the Leviev Group factories in
Russia or from the Katoma diamond mine in Angola.

“Why do we have to settle importing from Russia and Angola while
Namibian diamonds, the best in the world, are exported to the UK?”
questioned Kapwanga.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy, in response, pointed out that the
government has “an agenda”, whose roots are growing and stabilising,
to maximise revenue from diamonds, in addition to value addition and
manufacturing. “In fact, government policy and a pro-active
legislation were the catalysts for the creation of Samicor and the
coming to Namibia of LLD Diamonds,” the ministry pointed out. This,
the ministry stated, is “unheard of in some of our neighbouring
countries that produce many more carats, been independent for many
more years and are now trying to emulate Namibia”.

The ministry stated that the Namdeb licenses are protected as per
agreements between its shareholders – the government and De Beers.
More, the Namibian laws protect the licenses, as well.

“In the near future, the government shall enter into negotiations
with its partners on a myriad of issues. It would therefore be unfair
and prejudicial to government, at this critical juncture, to be
coerced to prematurely tip its hand and disclose issues that would be
thrashed out at the negotiating table,” the ministry responded when
asked what plans the government has in mind to maximise value
addition in the country, and how much the country is losing out for
exporting its rough diamonds to the Central Selling Organisation.

“The government has plans that it is busy fine-tuning. These plans
would be finalised once the new government sits comfortably in its
place, and once the new Minister Erkki Nghimtima is fully briefed and
has sufficiently acquainted himself with the issues and the industry.
When the time comes the industry and the nation will be informed of
results and developments.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PREMIER CANNOT BE FRIGHTENED WITH EXPLOSIONS

A1+
24-03-2005

Before proceeding to the discussion of the agenda today Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan touched upon the explosion at the
State Customs Committee building.

Andranik Margaryan condemned the incident and said that if the
terrorist act was directed against the activities of the bodies,
which provide the flows to the state budget – the customs and tax
services, the initiators should know that the state bodies will
carry out the orders of the President and government. «No actions of
the kind can impede the activities of the above mentioned bodies»,
the Premier stated.

–Boundary_(ID_wMsqUY+tjJKCg9VEtT9uSA)–

NKR MFA CALLED INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FOLLOW EXAMPLE OF ARMENIA AND US

A1+
24-03-2005

March 17, in Vienna, the report of the Fact-Finding mission was
presented at the sitting of the OSCE Permanent Council during which
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs proposed their recommendations to the
conflicting parties and the international community.

It should be noted that though the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
received the Mission and rendered the essential technical assistance
its representatives were not allowed to take part in the hearings on
the report. As response to the formal inquiry the NKR MFA received
the documents presented during the sitting.

On the basis of the documents received the NKR Foreign Ministry noted
the objectivity of the report. However, it should be noted that the
Mission visited the regions controlled by Karabakh and that is why
the missionaries did not get the complete picture of the humanitarian
catastrophe caused by the war that was waged by Azerbaijan. At that
time over 500 000 Armenian were exiled from their home and lost
their property.

The NKR MFA called the international community to follow the example
of the governments of Armenia and the US and help the refugees,
who found shelter on the territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms its adherence to the
peaceful settlement of all the conflicts and highly appreciated
the efforts exerted by the OSCE Minsk Group and the international
community.

Eurosport.com, UK
March 24 2005

Injured Meerdink pulls out of Dutch squad

Winger Martijn Meerdink has pulled out of the Netherlands squad for
World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Armenia after damaging knee
ligaments during training on Thursday. “It was very unexpected and it
looks rather serious,” said the Netherland’s coach Marco van Basten.

PSV: Keeping it tight!

The AZ Alkmaar player will be replaced by Feyenoord’s Romeo Castelen
for Group One matches against Romania in Bucharest on Saturday and
Armenia in Eindhoven on Wednesday.

“It was very unexpected and it looks rather serious,” Netherlands
coach Marco van Basten told a news conference.

“Martijn did very well in his first time with the squad and he fitted
into the group and trained well, but these things prove the toughness
of top sport.”

Van Basten also explained why he left Bayern Munich striker Roy
Makaay out of the squad.

“It surprised me that Makaay played last weekend for Bayern but my
medical staff informed me that he was not ready for these two
matches” Van Basten said.

“Makaay is still in a recovery process and we don’t want to disturb
that.”

Experienced midfielder Philip Cocu will be fit to face Romania, who
are level with the Dutch at the top of the group on 10 points but
have played one game more.

“I spoke with Philip and he is likely to join Friday’s training
session but even without a training Philip convinced me that he would
be ready to play,” said Van Basten.

Van Basten is expecting Romania to adopt a cautious approach despite
their coach saying publicly that they would be going all out for
victory.

“We studied their 5-1 win over Germany last year and that showed they
have a lot of good players with technical skills,” Van Basten said.

“They have proved their strength in the past during European and
World Championships, so we will face tough opponents.”

Possible Netherlands team:

1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Jan Kromkamp, 3-Khalid Boulahrouz, 4-Joris
Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 8-Denny Landzaat, 6-Mark van
Bommel, 10-Philip Cocu; 7-Dirk Kuijt, 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 11-Arjen
Robben.

Reuters – 24/03/05

DASHNAKS THREATENING

A1+
24-03-2005

Today on the initiative of the ARFD Nikol Agbalyan students’ union,
the ARFD Youth Union and the Youth Union of Armenia about 30 youth
and student organizations sent a protest letter to the organizers of
Philip Kirkorov’s concerts in Yerevan and demanded their cancellation.

As the principal argument they present anti-Armenian, moreover,
pro-Turkish orientation of Kirkorov, who has recently cursed an
Armenian journalist and spoke of her origin with disdain. On the
threshold of the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
protesters consider the invitation of the singer to be immoral and
inadmissible.

The youth organizations promise to undertake measures to foil the
concerts if they are not cancelled.

PUTIN PAYS ROUTINE VISIT TO ARMENIA

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 24 2005

YEREVAN, March 24 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin
and Mrs. Putin have arrived in Yerevan, Armenian capital, on a two-day
routine visit. Meeting them at the Zvartnotz airport were the host
country’s President Robert Kocharyan, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan,
and Defense Minister Serge Sarkisyan.

Robert and Bella Kocharyan are treating Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin
to supper on the private presidential residence tonight.

Tomorrow, the two presidents are meeting at the negotiation table.
Gareghin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, will receive Mr. Putin
afterwards. President Putin will next appear at a gala opening of
the Year of Russia in Armenia.

Teachers from sister city to visit Cambridge

Cambridge Chronicle, MA
March 24 2005

Thursday, March 24, 2005

The Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association, in cooperation with
Project Harmony, invites you to welcome a team of 23 teachers from
Armenia developing online classroom projects with partners throughout
the United States.

A brief video and round-table discussion will be shown
Wednesday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Armenian
Apostolic Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle St.

Several of the visiting Project Harmony teachers, as well as
several local teachers who have worked with Armenian counterparts,
will discuss their experiences in collaborative projects and share
their visions of what United States and Armenian educators can learn
from each other. Sharyn S. Boornazian, Ph.D., a certification officer
at Lesley University, will moderate.

Since 2000, Vermont-based Project Harmony, which implements the
Armenia School Connectivity Program, has created a network of
computer centers in more than 300 schools throughout Armenia. The
ASCP is a program of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs.

To RSVP or receive further information, call Suzanne Pearce at
617-354-7648.

Azerbaijan News Service
March 24 2005

ARMENIAN MILITARY FORCES BREACH CEASE-FIRE AGAIN
2005-03-24 09:43

Armenian military forces shelled at positions of army of Azerbaijan
located in Mireshelli village of Agdam region from Shikhlar and
Qervend villages of the region at midnight. The village faced
intensive fire as well, as Qarabaq bureau of ANS informed.