ARKA News Agency
March 18 2005

The conception and program of activity for joint combating terrorism
is approved at today’s session of the Council of Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of states-members of the CIS

Round-table on race discrimination situation in Armenia to be held on
March 22

RA President meets with speaker of Byelorussian chamber of reps

Staff of Armenian Ombudsman Office to receive training in Poland and
Lithuania

Organizing committee `In defense of NKR’ urged RA NA to recognize
NKR’S independence

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NAGORNO-KARABAKH CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION APPROVES PLAN OF
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

STEPANAKERT, March 17. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh central Election
Commission convened a session Wednesday to set a plan and list of
expenditures related to the parliamentary elections scheduled for
June 15 2005. The commission has also made 29 decisions related to
procedural matters, as our correspondent reports. According to
Central Election Commission, candidates can be nominated from Apr 5
to 10. Registration of the parties participating in elections and
candidates running for parliament seats in individual races will be
made from May 10 to 15. Election campaigns will be run from May 16 to
June 17. M.V. -0–

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UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES $75MLN TO ARMENIA FOR A DECADE OF ITS
ACTIVITY IN THE REPUBLIC

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The UN World Food Program has provided
$75mln to Armenia for a decade of its activity in the republic.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and Regional Director
of the Program Emir Abdullah discussed Thursday the issues related to
the program, as Armenian National Assembly’s Public Relations
Department told ARKA. The ten-year program is to be completed in
2006. In his opinion, after his visit to Gegharkunik and Tavush
Armenian regions the WFP should be continued in Armenia, he said.
Armenian Speaker, in turn, noted that especially mountainous and
remote regions are badly in need of support.
The sides arranged to discuss the opportunity for continuing the
program.
WFP organization provides food aid particularly to the elderly,
families having many children, the disabled and refugees and also
conducts trainings for farmers as well as provides food to 11
thousand schoolchildren in four Armenia’s provinces and implements
Food for Work program.
WFP cooperates with the U.S. agents, with World Vision Armenia and
Ìission -Armenia organizations M.V. -0–

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RA GOVERNMENT ALLOTS AMD 190 MLN FOR MAKING OF JUBILEE MEDALS
DEDICATED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The RA Government allotted AMD 190 mln for
making of jubilee medals dedicated to 60th anniversary of victory in
Great Patriotic War, Public Relations and Press Department of RA
Government told ARKA News Agency today. ($1 = AMD 468,23). L.V. –0–

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ARMENIA’S UN REPRESENTATIVE ARMEN MARTIROSYAN: REPORT MADE BY OSCE
MISSION TO CHECK FACTS IS FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Report made by OSCE Mission to Check Facts
is favorable for Armenia, as Armenia’s UN Representative Armen
Martirosyan told journalists today. In his words, contrary to Azeri
side’s expectations, the Mission found no facts confirming
allegations that Armenia pursues policy of Azerbaijani territories
settlement, excepting Lachin area, which has always been mentioned in
a separate clause of all documents. `We have always said settlement
is nowhere but Lachin and the OSCE Co-chairs have corroborated that’,
Martirosyan said.
In his opinion, the report will ease tension around Armenia. ‘But
another issue appeared: how Azerbaijan is going to act in the created
situation, especially taking into consideration the bellicose
statements made by Azerbaijani side and the destructive stance taken
by Azeri authorities and taking into account that those statements
are being made for internal consumption to present another victory to
Azeri people’, he said.
Martirosyan also said the report would be published soon and
available for everybody. M.V. -0–

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CHIEF OF RA POLICE, HEAD OF OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SIGN AGREEMENT ON
RENOVATION OF RA POLICE TRAINING CENTER

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Chief of the RA Police, Lieutenant-General
Haik Harutyunyan and Head of the OSCE Yerevan office Vladimir
Pryakhin signed an Agreement on Renovation of the RA Police training
center. The OSCE Yerevan office reports that the signing of the
agreement inaugurates the first stage of a program of assistance to
the RA Police. The agreement is aimed at bringing the main training
terms to conformity with the European experience. The document also
envisages the provision of equipment and teaching aids to the Center.

`This day is a turning point in our work under the program of
assistance to the RA Police, as this initiative is a basis for
forming a well trained municipal force,’ Pryakhin said during the
signing ceremony. He added that the document is a good example of
mutually advantageous and constructive cooperation between Armenia
and the OSCE, which is aimed at developing democratic institutions
for the Armenian people’s benefit. In his turn, Chief of the RA
Police Haik Harityunyan pointed out that the program envisages the
creation of necessary conditions for the development of modern police
training.
A memorandum of understanding signed in July 2003 stipulates four
main directions of the assistance program: renovation of the training
center, its strengthening, introduction of a municipal police model
in one of the Yerevan communities and the elaboration of a new
signal-response system.
The program is to be implemented by the OSCE Yerevan office in
cooperation with the RA Police, under the direction of the Department
for Strategic police Affairs, OSCE Secretariat in Vienna. The program
is being sponsored by Belgium, the USA and Sweden. P.T. -0–

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 18, 2005

Australian detained in Moscow airport may be fined or jailed

MOSCOW

Legal proceedings have been instituted against an Australian for
Thursday’s incident on the Tokyo-Moscow flight. The proceedings are
instituted under the article on “giving information known to be false
about an act of terror,” the Sheremetyevo airport police department
told Itar-Tass.

The detained passenger is identified. He is Simon Talityan, a
29-year-old Australian citizen of Armenian origin, who flew via
Moscow to Yerevan to his brother.

The crew commander reported to an air traffic controller not long
before the landing at Moscow that one of the passengers attempted to
break through to the cockpit, threatening to blow up the airliner.

When the plane landed, Sheremetyevo airport security service officers
and police detained the offender right aboard the plane.

Talityan was heavily drunk. He is detained and held in the airport
detention ward.

The false terrorist, who made the passengers and crew experience
unpleasant moments, may be fined a considerable sum or sentenced up
to three years.

The Australian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that the
passenger was an Australian citizen.

The Australian Embassy in Moscow said it would render consular
assistance to the citizen.

Australian diplomats said it was really an Australian citizen, a
resident of Sydney. He attempted to get into the cockpit, threatening
to blow up the plane.

To render consular assistance to the Australian citizen, the embassy
maintains constant contact with appropriate structures investigating
the incident.

The embassy has given no comments so far on causes and motives of the
passenger’s actions.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 18, 2005

Armenia denies Armenian origin of weapons smuggled into USA

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

The Armenian Security Service denies the claims that the weapons,
smuggled into the United States from the republics of the former
Soviet Union and the East European countries, were stolen or bought
on the territory of Armenia. First Deputy Director of the National
Security Service under the Government of the Republic Major-General
Grachia Arutunyan voiced this denial here on Friday. Nevertheless, he
admitted, the Armenian security services had carried out some arrests
in connection with the sensational report on weapons smuggled into
the United States. Eight firearms and ammunition were seized during
the arrest.

The FBI operation to cut short the activities of weapons smugglers
was carried out with the assistance of Russia and Armenia, U.S.
Attorney David Kelley reported on March 15. The weapons, mostly of
Russian make, were bought “on the territories of Georgia, Armenia and
some countries of Eastern Europe”, he added. Charges were brought
against eighteen suspects, seventeen of whom are already under
arrest, Kelley said. The gang had smuggled into the United States
Kalashnikov submachine-guns, portable grenade launchers, machine-guns
and portable ground-to-air missile complex via New York, Los Angeles
and Miami, the attorney noted.

General Arutunyan said the 37-year-old Artur Solomonyan, whom the FBI
had arrested as ringleader, was a citizen of Armenia. His brother,
Levon, was also arrested in the United States. Both brothers, the
general added, had left Armenia when they were yet students of the
republic’s Academy of Agriculture. They went to the United States in
1998 and 2000 respectively in accordance with a students study
program and never came back. The Armenian police declared the
Solomonyan brothers wanted for dodging military service.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 18, 2005

Gazexport ups Russian gas exports by over 6% over two months

MOSCOW

A subsidiary of the Russian Gazprom gas giant, Gazexport, increased
gas exports from Russia by 6.12 percent to 30.34 billion cubic metres
from January 1 to February 28, 2005, compared with the same period of
2004, Prime-Tass economic news agency said, quoting the Gazexport
report.

Gas exports to the non-CIS countries grew 3.14 percent to 28.53
billion cubic metres over this period. Specifically, the company’s
exports to Western Europe increased by 4.54 percent to 20.49 billion
cubic metres, while the exports to Eastern Europe decreased by 0.25
percent to 8.04 billion cubic metres.

Gas exports to Austria in January-February were 1.12 billion cubic
metres, Germany – 7.13 billion cubic metres, Italy – 4.25 billion
cubic metres, France – 2.46 billion cubic metres, Switzerland – 0.06
billion cubic metres, the Netherlands – 0.35 billion cubic metres,
Finland – 0.96 billion cubic metres, Turkey – 3.63 billion cubic
metres, Greece – 0.43 billion cubic metres and Belgium – 0.11 billion
cubic metres.

The exports to the Czech Republic over the two months stood at 1.38
billion cubic metres, Slovakia – 1.52 billion cubic metres, Poland –
1.19 billion cubic metres, Bulgaria – 0.59 billion cubic metres,
Hungary – 1.57 billion cubic metres, Romania – 0.84 billion cubic
metres, Serbia and Montenegro – 0.54 billion cubic metres, Bosnia –
0.08 billion cubic metres, Croatia – 0.20 billion cubic metres,
Slovenia – 0.11 billion cubic metres and Macedonia – 0.02 billion
cubic metres.

The company increased exports to the CIS and Baltic states from 0.93
billion cubic metres in January-February 2004 to 1.81 billion cubic
metres this year. Exports to Estonia stood at 0.04 billion cubic
metres, Moldova – 0.28 billion cubic metres, Armenia – 0.38 billion
cubic metres, Georgia – 0.31 billion cubic metres, and Azerbaijan –
0.81 billion cubic metres.

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
March 18, 2005

Russia’s Ochakovo to supply drinks to 3 CIS nations

MOSCOW, Mar 18 (Prime-Tass) — Russia’s major beer and soft drink
manufacturer Ochakovo has signed contracts to have supplied 400,000
decaliters of its products to Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia’s
breakaway republic of Abkhazia, by the end of 2006, the company’s
press service reported Friday.

The contracts are estimated at U.S. USD 2 million.

The press release suggested that the company might have easy time
gaining a share on the three markets. “The people of Kyrgyzstan,
Azerbaijan and Abkhazia are loyal to Russian products”, the press
service said citing the company’s sales director, Vyacheslav
Merkulov. “Many consumers are familiar with our beer since Soviet
times,” he said, noting that this factor has helped the company gain
control over these markets.

Ochakovo’s first supplies to other CIS countries were carried out in
1998 and went to Belarus. Currently the company supplies beer, soft
drinks, low alcohol drinks and hard liquors to Belarus, Latvia,
Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Armenia and Estonia.

In 2004 Ochakovo’s output amounted to 755.3 million liters, including
554.5 million liters of beer, 111.8 million liters of low-alcohol
drinks and 88 million liters of soft drinks.

Ochakovo is one of Russia’s three leading drink producers. It
produces eight different kinds of beverages under over 100 brand
names. End

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 18, 2005

Russia plays great stabilising role in Caucasus – Azerbaijani FM

By Alexander Zyuzin

BEIJING, March 18

Russia plays a great stabilising role in the Caucasus, Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, who accompanies Azerbaijani
President Ilkham Aliyev on his trip to China, said in an interview
with Itar-Tass on Friday.

As far as the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is concerned, Azerbaijan
always urged Russian leaders to be more active for soonest settlement
of the conflict, the minister said.

Russia itself is a Caucasian state, and its role is obvious,
Mamedyarov said.

The more actively Moscow will continue its activities in the
Caucasus, the more stable the region will be, he said.

This concerns not only political, but also economic issues. All the
countries of the south Caucasus have close economic ties with Russia,
the minister noted.

RIA OREANDA All rights reserved
Economic News
March 17, 2005 Thursday

OAO Gasprom is considering the prospects of the purchase of the fifth
energy block of Razdnaskaya TES

Moscow. The working visit to the Republic of Armenia by the OAO
Gasprom delegation has been completed. It was headed by the deputy
Chairman of the Board Alexander Ryazanov. During the visit a meeting
took place between Alexander Ryazanov and the Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan.

The parties discussed the current situation with the supplies of gas
to Armenia, questions related to the condition of the gas
transportation networks of the Republic and neighbouring transit
countries, as well as the project of the construction of the gas
pipeline Iran-Armenia.

Alexander Ryazanov and Robert Kocharyan have considered the activity
of the joint Russo-Armenian eneterpise ArmRosgasprom in 2004, the
plan of the work of SP for the year 2005, the conditions of the use
of Abovyansky PXG and the possibility of increase of its capacity,
the prospects of participation of OAO Gasprom in the purchase of the
fifth energy block of Razdanskaya TES, as well as other questions of
bilateral partnership.

New Straits Times, Malaysia
March 19 2005

Eight injured, extensive damage in Beirut car bomb blast: police

Eight people were slightly injured and extensive damage caused when a
car bomb exploded in a northern Beirut suburb, police said.
Eight people were slightly injured and extensive damage caused when a
car bomb exploded in a northern Beirut suburb, police said.
“The Japanese-made Datsun car belonged to an Armenian living in the
building in front of which the explosion took place. The explosive
was placed under his vehicle,” a police spokesman told AFP.
Live footage on Lebanese television station LBCI showed the blast had
caused extensive damage in the residential neighbourhood of Jdeide,
along a coastal road.

Several buildings were damaged and cars parked in the street where
the explosion took place were destroyed.

Police had sealed off the neighbourhood. The blast, which could be
heard in central Beirut, brought many people out into the street who
had been woken from their sleep.

The explosion happened shortly after midnight (2230 GMT Friday), just
over a month after the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq
Hariri threw Lebanon into a political crisis.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
March 18, 2005, Friday
10:21:12 Central European Time

Jewish investors secretly buy street in East Jerusalem – report

Jerusalem

Jewish investors from abroad have bought almost all the buildings on
a street and popular square inhabited by Palestinians in East
Jerusalem, the Israeli daily Ma’ariv reported Friday.

The transaction was done secretly, without the knowledge of the
tenants.

Most of the buildings on the street, which lies in the Old City of
Jerusalem between the Christian and Armenian Quarters, were the
property of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The Church sold them because it was in financial difficulties,
Ma’ariv said.

The buildings are along the street leading from the Old City’s Jaffa
gate to Omar Ibn al-Khattab Square and on the square itself, which is
an important Palestinian social centre in East Jerusalem.

Among others, it contains the Imperial Hotel, where senior
Palestinian officials, including al-Quds University chairman and PLO
Jerusalem representative Sari Nusseibeh, hold meetings.

Ma’ariv quoted a Greek Orthodox Church official who spoke on
condition of anonymity as expressing fears the multimillion dollar
deal alienate the Palestinian Authority.

Former Patriarchate spokesman Archmandrite Attallah Hanna said he saw
the report, which he said “we cannot deny or confirm”.

“We are against these steps,” he told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
“We are demanding a neutral investigative committee – Jordanian,
Palestinian and Greek – to investigate these matters”.

“The Patriarch himself (Eirinaios I) is the one who should respond to
this,” he said, adding: “We are against giving up Church property”.
dpa mak ok ms
From: Baghdasarian

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
March 17, 2005

Gazprom mulls buying fifth block of Armenia’s major power plant

MOSCOW, Mar 17 (Prime-Tass) — Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom
is considering a deal to buy the fifth power generating unit of
Armenia’s Razdanskaya power plant, the company’s press service
reported Thursday.

The issue was discussed during the meeting between Gazprom’s deputy
chairman Alexander Ryazanov and Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan.

In 2003, Razdanskaya power plant, which accounts for 20% of Armenia’s
domestic power output, was transferred to Russia to pay off Armenia’s
U.S. USD 31 million debt. Currently, the company is managed by
Russia’s Inter RAO UES.

Inter RAO UES is 60% owned by Russia’s power grid monopoly UES and
40% by Russia’s state nuclear power holding Rosenergoatom.

In 2004, Armenia announced a tender to sell the fifth block of the
plant, which is still under construction, in order to attract
investments into the country’s power sector.

Gazprom is also considering the use of Armenia’s Abovyanskoe gas
storage and is looking at the possibility of increase the facility’s
capacity to 240 million cubic meters from the current 85 million
cubic meters, the press service without elaborating. End