World Bank official happy with tax reforms in Armenia

Arminfo
24 Feb 05

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received the director of the
World Bank [WB] office in Yerevan, Roger Robinson.

Robinson expressed satisfaction with an increase in tax revenues in
the state budget of Armenia in 2005 caused by the reforms in the tax
legislation, the Armenian presidential press service told Arminfo news
agency.

The guest also expressed satisfaction that the Tax Service had been
given the authority to collect the compulsory social payments.

The WB representative spoke highly of the reforms in the judiciary,
particularly, the construction of new court buildings financed by the
WB.

During the meeting, the sides touched on the number of issues
concerning the WB’s other programmes in Armenia.

To recap, 36 World Bank programmes to the tune of 820m dollars have
been implemented in Armenia since 1992.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh “most likely” ignored at Bush-Putin meeting – Azeri daily

Ekho, Baku
25 Feb 05

Excerpt from report by R. Tofiqoglu in Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on
25 February headlined “Have George Bush and Vladimir Putin ignored the
Karabakh problem?” and subheaded “US and Russian leaders did not speak
about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict at the joint press conference”

Contrary to predictions, most likely the expectations of the
Azerbaijani public have not been confirmed. The Nagornyy Karabakh
problem was not discussed at the Bratislava meeting [on 24 February]
between the US and Russian presidents, George Bush and Vladimir Putin.

Nevertheless, it is not ruled out that Bush and Putin discussed the
Karabakh issue at their over two-hour tete-a-tete meeting. They did
not however mention a word at the press conference ensuing the
meeting. Of course, nobody asked questions of this kind.

[Passage omitted: other aspects of the meeting]

PROTEST ACTION AGAINST DEMOLITION OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL
MONUMENT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. “The Civil initiative of Kond safety” public
organization organized today a protest action against the demolition of a
building in the center of Yerevan.

The building was built in 1910-1914 and involved in the State list of
historical and cultural monuments.

As far as journalists know, it was bought by our compatriot from Diaspora
Nazaret Berberyan. The action participants covered the building with posters
“My elitist Erebuni” and “It is demolished by the state” and continued the
picket in front of the Armenian government’s building. -r-

SITTING OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

Azg/arm
24 Feb 05

The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches called its
sitting in Geneva on Feb. 15-22. Archbishop Aghan Paliozian and Silva
Ghazelian represented the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of Cilicia presided the sitting.

Bishop Ilarion Alfeyev from Austria’s Russian Orthodox Church offered
in the course of the sitting to call for all WCC member-churches to
remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide in their prayers in
April of 24 and to organize further programs on this occasion. “The
road to justice and reconciliation as a necessary precondition
demands, from Christian standpoint, acceptance of the committed crimes
in order to heal the memories and bring forgiveness”, the Committee’s
statement reads.

The opening ceremony of the sitting was accompanied by archbishop
Aghan Paliozian’s prayer.

‘NATO DOES NOT DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION’

Azg/arm
24 Feb 05

Robert Simons Highly Evaluates Armenian Peacekeepers’ Activities
inKosovo and Iraq

Robert Simons, special representative of NATO Secretary General in the
South Caucasus and Central Asia, said in the course of his visit to
Yerevan that Armenia’s participation in the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, as well as the Armenian-Russian close relations have no
negative impact on the level of the relations between NATO and
Armenia.

“We have very good relations with Russia. Besides, we have stated for
many times that NATO doesn’t build its relations with countries based
oncompetition or taking into account this or that organization or a
union,” Robert Simons said during the press conference.

The position of NATO Secretary General’s Special representative in the
South Caucasus and the Central Asia was established in the autumn of
2004. It was emphasized in a separate point of the memorandum adopted
at the NATO Summitin Istanbul that the Alliance will pay special
attention to the regions of the South Caucasus and the Central Asia.

Simons stated during the meeting with Serge Sargsian, RA defense
minister, that NATO doesn’t compete with any neighboring country. In
response, Sargsian said: “I think that it is in the interest of our
country, if the relations between Russia and the US between Russia and
NATO, as well as the relationsbetween Russia and EU are on a higher
level.”

Armenia continues to successfully deepen relations with NATO. In 2004
Armenia participated in 47 arrangements of the Alliance, as well as in
5 military exercises. In 2005 RA is going to participate in 50
arrangements and 8 military exercises of NATO.

“Armenia proves that it is possible to have close relations with
Russia and be an active partner of the Alliance, at the same time,”
NATO Secretary General said in the interview to Mediamax on the eve of
his visit to Armenia in November 2004. “Armenia indeed has good
relations with Russia, but that shouldn’t hinder its relations with
NATO,” he said.

RA Defense Ministry’s Information and PR Department informed that
Serge Sargsian said in the course of the meeting with Robert Simons
that the cooperation with NATO is of great importance and is the
integral component for Armenia’s security. “I am glad that NATO also
emphasizes the importance of the relations with Armenia. I want to
emphasize once again that we will move in the direction we took and
will constantly deepen our relations. As for Armenia’s participation
in different programs of NATO, we will participate in them asmuch as
possible. Moreover, if we didn’t have an unsettled conflict, we would
have more opportunities to participate in such programs,” Sargsian
said.

Robert Simons stated at the press conference that “NATO does not
directly participate in conflict resolution and doesn’t discuss the
issue oflocating its peacekeeping forces in the region.” “NATO is
following the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan with great
attention, but it doesn’tmean that we are directly participating in
that process,” Simons said, adding that the OSCE Minsk group will
remain the most convenient format for the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Simons said that NATO doesn’t discuss the issue of locating its
peacekeeping forces in the region at all. He said that first of all,
the conflict shouldbe settled. Besides, the sides should apply to the
peacekeepers with the request of location themselves.

Simons said that NKR conflict hinders the development of the
region’ countries. “I believe that mutually acceptable agreement
will be achieved. NATO isn’t directly involved in the settlement
process, but we are following all the developments with attention,” he
said.

Simons highly evaluated the participation of the Armenian peacekeepers
in the activities in Iraq and Kosovo. He said that it testifies to
Armenia’s willingness to contribute to the maintenance of the
international security.The diplomat also highly estimated Armenia’s
determination to sign a program of individual partnership with
NATO. He said that NATO will spare no efforts to support the preparing
of that document but Armenia should decide the content and the
deadlines of the document’s signing. Earlier Lieutenant General Artur
Aghabekian, RA deputy defense minister, said that the Program of
IndividualPartnership will be ready in 2005.

In response to the question about the membership of the South Caucasus
states to the NATO, Simons said that “the doors of the alliance are
before of every country,” but today, “Albania, Croatia and Macedonia
are obvious candidates for the membership to NATO.”

By Tatoul Hakobian

WORLD CENTER FOR TRANSPLANTATION OF ORGANS TO CHILDREN ORGANIZES
CHARITABLE CONCERT IN WASHINGTON TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR TREATMENT OF
ARMENIAN CHILDREN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. World Center for Transplantation of
Organs for Children has organized a charitable concert in Washington
to collect funds for treatment of children from socially unsecured
families in Armenia.

The press service of the Armenian foreign ministry informs ARMINFO
that the event was held with support of Armenian Embassy in the USA
and the Armenian Office of the World Center. The action organizers
invited laureates of international contest – Trio of State
Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia Lilit Zakaryan (violin), Vahan
Grigoryan (violoncello) and Shushan Hakobyan (piano). Participating in
the party held at the concert hall of the Austrian Embassy in
Washington were Chairman of the World Center for Transplantation of
Organs to Children Mark Crocker, his assistant Valeriy MacCafrey and
representatives of Washington Administration, World Bank and the
Armenian Diaspora of Washington.- M-

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY SUPERVISORY CHAMBER EXPOSE THE MOST LARGE-SCALE
FINANCIAL MISAPPROPRIATION IN 2004 IN USE OF FOREIGN CREDITS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. The Armenian Parliamentary Supervisory
Chamber exposed the most large-scale financial misappropriation in
2004 in the sphere of the use of foreign credits. Chairman of the
Supervisory Chamber Gagik Voskanyan informs journalists today summing
up the results of the chamber’s activity in 2004.

In particular, Voskanyan says that the most observed is the practice
of unreturned credits of enterpreneurs issued under various programs
from the funds of foreign capital, as well as the companies which make
more attractive proposals at tenders. The SC exposed a number of
violations in the sphere of privatization as well. Thus, in conformity
with a governmental decision dated 2002 all the unfinished
constructions in the country were to be inventoried and transferred to
the Department for Management of State Property. Voskanyan also called
inadmissible the practice of privatization of facilities of strategic
importance through their bankruptcy and liquidation. Besides, the
privatized enterprises do not fulfill their obligations. For example,
he says, 4 privatized enterprises have not fulfilled their investment
commitments for some $10.7 mln.

He also says that in the park nearing the Institution of Mathematical
Machines after Mergelyan. 1,900 sq/m were transferred to the company
“Artsakh-91” subject to preservation of the green zone. The company
has not fulfilled this condition. Besides, the SC exposed violations
in the sphere of public health, he expresses bewilderment that
“healthy people undergo treatment on the state order.” Voskanyan
expresses doubts that a patient suffered from a heart attack could
recover on the 60,000 drams provided by the state.

Voskanyan also touches upon the inspections in the sphere of state
subsidizing of communities. Thus, in 2004 11.463 bln drams were
allocated to community budgets from the state budget, 11 bln were
provided to communities to equalize their budgets, 66 bln drams
dotations for preferential property tax, 19 bln drams other dotations
and 123 mln drams target allocations. Voskanyan says that mechanism
and principles of these allocations are not regulated. On the basis of
the materials of inspections of the Supervisory Commission to the
Prosecutor General’s Office, in 2004 7 officials were brought
administratively responsible and 4 criminal cases were initiated, with
19 mln drams being returned to the state budget.-m-

PROGRAM FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS “UNIVERSITY OF DISTANCE EDUCATION” LAUNCHED
IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMINFO. A program University of Distance
Education is launched in Armenia for the first time. The program is
provided by the academy of study and development of
psycho-intellectual Abilities of human beings in Germany.

Talking to ARMINFO, Official Representative of the program in the
South Caucasus and Middle East, Head of the Association of
Cultural-Education and Labor International Programs Ara Galstyan says
that Armenia, also Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran can enjoy the
education. The system of education requires no departure to Germany or
big funds as the whole education process and payments are carried out
via e-mail. The payment for education ranges between 1,750- 2,500
EUR. To become a student of University of Distance Education
determining no age qualification, full or not full higher education or
years-long professional length of service on managing posts in a
number of spheres are required. The system provides an opportunity of
receiving such scientific degrees as Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s
of economy, business, administration, culture, science of law and art
meeting the demands of educational systems in Europe and the USA.

NATO SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE SATISFIED WITH NEGOTIATIONS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. Robert Simmons, NATO Secretary
General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, is
satisfied with the negotiations in Yerevan. He declared during the
news conference in Yerevan, Thursday.

According to him, during the present visit to Yerevan he has met with
representatives of the leadership of the Republic of Armenia. During
these meetings the special representative has informed about the
results of NATO summit in Brussels and discussion of the theme of
Iran, meeting with the President of the Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, the
relations Russia-NATO and other partners of the organization. Robert
SImmons also introduced with the NATO Officer of Relations Romualds
Razuks. Mentioning Armenia’s cooperation with NATO within framework of
different events, the special representative especially stressed
Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping missions to Kosovo and
Iraq. Answering a question of journalists, Robert Simmons said that
the theme of Armenian-Turkish relations were not discussed during the
meetings. “Here I represent NATO as a whole, not going to the hearth
of the relations of Armenia with separate members of the
organization”, he mentioned. Returning Brussels he intends to report
on the good negotiations with the leadership of Armenia, said Robert
Simmons.

ROBERT SIMMONS REGRETS ASSASSINATION OF ARMENIAN OFFICER IN BUDAPEST

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. NATO regrets the assassination of
Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan by his Azeri counterpart Ramil
Safarov in Budapest a year ago, NATO Secretary General’s Special
Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Robert F Simmons
stated at today press-conference in Yerevan.

Simmons said that the partners should not have such relations and
noted that it is necessary to look ahead. -r-