RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
Aug 20 2004

Putin to meet with Armenian President

RBC, 20.08.2004, Sochi 09:33:16.A meeting between Russian
President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharian will
take place in Sochi today. The sides are expected to pay special
attention to normalizing the situation in the North Caucasus region
and in particular to peaceful settlement of the conflict in South
Ossetia.

In addition, it is planned that the two leaders will discuss
cooperation within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization and the Eurasian Economic Community, in which Armenia
has an observer status.

Calcutta Telegraph, India
Aug 20 2004

Ramesh triumphs

Abu Dhabi: GM R. B. Ramesh defeated third seed GM Artyom Timofeev of
Russia in the fifth round of the 14th Abu Dhabi chess festival here.

GM P. Harikrishna missed out on a good opportunity to join the
leading pack as he could not put it across GM Artashes Minasian of
Armenia after being on top.

At the half-way stage, five players emerged leaders with four points.
They are GMs Ashot Anastasian, Ghaem Maghami Ehsan, Pavel Kotsur,
Mikhail Kobalia and Evgeny Gleizerov.

Harikrishna, Ramesh and GM Tejas Bakre (3.5 each), share the sixth
spot with top seed GM Evgeny Vladimirov, GM Marat Dzhumaev, GM
Minasian and IM Imad Hakki.

Among other Indians, IM S. Kidambi drew with compatriot Tania Sachdev
while IM Neelotpal Das and WGM Nisha Mohota also achieved the same
result. (PTI)

ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN ELECTION DISTRICT #44 MARKED WITH GROSS
VIOLATIONS

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. The election campaign in election
district 44 is being held with gross violations of the RA election
laws.

At a press conference in the “Pakaguitz” club, the candidate for
Parliament Babken Margaryan reported that the supporters of some
candidates collect voters’ passports and offer bribes. “One vote costs
10 to 20 thousand AMD,” Margaryan said. He also reported that the
supporters of some candidates exert pressure on his
supporters. According to Margaryan, a few days ago unknown persons
attacked his supporters and beat them. He also stated that to put an
end to unlawful actions he had to call Aram Sargsyan, the brother of
the candidate Artak Sargsyan. Margaryan also stated that he nominated
himself at the voters’ request, and they demanded that he fight to the
end. Margaryan expressed confidence that he will win if the elections
are fair.

The Parliament member of the “Law-Governed Country” party Aram
Harutyunyan was appointed Minister of Urban Development, which
necessitated elections in election district

44. Five candidates are currently running for Parliament, but the
principal struggle involves the owner of a chain of drugstores and
dry-cleaners “Lavanda:” Araik Hairapetyan and Co-President of the “SAS
Group” company Artak Sargsyan. Haurapetyan is a member of the “Nig
Aparan” Union and is supported by Honorary Chairman of the Union, RA
Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsebyan, as well as by the “People’s
Deputy” group, formed by businessmen. If elected, Hairapetyan intends
to join the deputy group. In turn, Artak Sargsuyan is supported by the
“Law-Governed Country” party. The voting is scheduled for August 29.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT MADE A DECISION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR REPAIR OF
ZANGEZOUR COPPER-MOLYBDENUM PLANT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. Armenian government made a decision to
allocate 50 mln drams for repair of the building of the Zangezour
Copper-Molybdenum Plant cjsc, Deputy Minister of trade and Economic
Development of Armenia Ashot Shahnazarian told ARMINFO.

According to him, these means will be attracted due to the net profit
of the plant received in 2004. It should be noted that on the results
of 2003 the net profit of the enterprise exceeded $7 mln. The
leadership of the Ministry thinks that on the results of the current
year the profit will grow.

RA GOVERNMENT APPROVES ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MINISTERIAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. The RA Government has approved of the signing of
a cooperation agreement between the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
and the RF Ministry of Health and Social Development.

The RA Government’s press service reports that the Government approved the
signing of a protocol on amendments to the order of allotting and using
land-plots for stationing the Russian military base in the Republic of Armenia. The
decision specifies the list of points of stationing of the Russian military base
in Armenia, as well as provides legal grounds for the transfer of four
cantonments to the Armenian side. The RA Government approved the expenses on railway
transportation of cargoes addressed to the Russian troops stationed in
Armenia, etc..

ADOPTION OF PACKAGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN ARMENIA WILL NOT
ALLOW INCUMBENT PRESIDENT TO TAKE PART IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR
THE THIRD TIME

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. The package of the constitutional reforms
in Armenia will not allow the incumbent President Robert Kocharian to
take part in the presidential election for the third time. Minister of
Justice of Armenia David Haroutiunian told journalists today.

Answering the question whether the incumbent president will get after
the adoption of the package of the constitutional reforms the right to
run for presidency for the third time, the minister shortly said:
“No”. We shall remind that immediately after the presidential election
last year during the press conference Robert Kocharian had said that
even in the case of the adoption of the package of constitutional
reforms by the referendum, he does not intend to take part in the
struggle for the post of the president for the third time.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA MEETS WITH TEACHERS FROM DIASPORA

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
Vardan Oskanian today met with teachers from the Diaspora and chiefs
of the science-educational center “Spyurk”. We shall remind that the
teachers are in Yerevan to participate at the annual 5th training
courses.

ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the Foreign Ministry of
Armenia, during his greeting speech Vardan oskanian has highly
assessed the role of the Armenian school and Armenian teacher, an a
new situation has appeared since the proclamation of independence of
Armenia, and the idea “nation-state” has added to the idea
“national-people”. The minister thinks that one of the top priority
tasks in the mutual relations Armenia-Diaspora is the development of
the idea of the state system among the representatives of the
youth. During the meeting the participants have discussed issues of
cultural and educational relations between Armenia and the Diaspora,
the situation of the schools in the Diaspora, educational
programs. The teachers from the Diaspora showed interest in the issues
of dual citizenship, settlement of the Karabakh conflict, recognition
of the Genocide of Armenians, Armenian-Turkish relations and the
foreign policy of Armenia.

NAGORNY KARABAKH ACTUALLY INDEPENDENT STATE: VARDAN OSKANYAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. Nagorny Karabakh is actually an
independent state now, and the Armenian side’s task is international
recognition of the status quo, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
told reporters.

He said that Nagorny Karabakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. “I
find it difficult to say how the conflict will be settled, but Nagorny
Karabakh cannot in any way be part of Azerbaijan,” Oskanyan
said. Commenting on RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement that
the Russian side sees the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
in the context of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, which statement
was published by mass media, Oskanyan said that official statements of
the RF Foreign Office do not contain such wording. “Russia is for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict and has repeatedly stated its
willingness to accept any solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
that will be approved by the conflicting parties,” Oskanyan said.

Speaking of the possibility of hostilities, the Foreign Minister
stated that “this possibility cannot be ruled out completely, but it
is extremely small.” According to Oskanyan, the Armenian army is the
guarantor of peace. Oskanyan also reported that his regular, fourth,
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart is to be held in Prague on
August 29-30, and the next round of negotiations between the two
countries’ Presidents is expected to take place during the CIS Summit
in Astana, this autumn. “We must be able to continue and finish what
we began,” Oskanyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARDAN OSKANIAN: ARMENIA THOROUGHLY FOLLOWS DEVELOPMENT OF SITUATION
IN ZONE OF GEORGIAN-OSSETIN CONFLICT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. People in Armenia is thoroughly following
the development of the situation in the zone of Georgian-Ossetin
conflict. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanian
declared during the press conference today.

“We are concerned over the situation and we deeply regret the news
about victims”, the foreign minister of Armenia said. He expressed
hope that the parties will succeed to sit down at the negotiating
table and solve the problem only by peace.

LOS ANGELES-BASED FRUNZIK MKRTICHYAN THEATER MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. Today, the Armenian Frunzik Mkrtichyan
Theater in Los Angeles, USA, is marking its 10th anniversary in
Yerevan as part of the Panarmenian cultural festival “One nation, one
culture”.

At their press conference, the founders of the theater, Rafael
Grigoryan and Gayane Karapetyan pointed out that on various stages the
theater performed Armenian authors’ plays, which enjoyed popularity
with the audience. Karapetyan said that the theater is chiefly
supported by donations of diasporan Armenians. The founders were
happy to be invited to the festival, as it encouraged them to come to
Armenian after a long interval and get acquainted with Armenian
workers of culture from various countries. She pointed out that the
idea of organizing a all-Armenian festival is brilliant. On the other
hand, she expressed her discontent with the fact that many of the
participants are for the first time in Armenia and need guides and
transport.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress