Politics

2007-10-05 14:54:00 It is not ruled out that certain circles in the West are behind the first Armenian president, member of the RPA faction thinks

ArmInfo. It is not ruled out that certain circles in the West are behind the first Armenian president, member of the RPA parliamentary faction Mkrtych Minasyan told journalists in Urbat club, Friday.

He also added that Levon Ter-Petrosyan's speech on 21 September was just a desire to come back to the big politics. But one should not forget that the interests of superpowers come across each other in Armenia, for this reason such a politician as Ter-Petrosyan cannot but cause interest of certain circles i9n the West. He does not think that Ter-Petrosyan's decision to run for president depends on Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan's visits in abroad. But one should never say never in the politics, he
emphasized.


2007-10-05 14:30:00 DPA leader: It is hurtfully to think that Armenian people have forgotten their yesterday or they choose the least of two evils

ArmInfo. Leader of the Democratic party of Armenia Aram Sargsyan considers the recent meeting of ex-President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan with representatives of ARF "Dashnaktsutyun" strange, he expressed his opinion at today's press-conference in "Tesaket" club.

"The situation is strange enough and unexpected for me. No one knows what they discussed during a 40-minute meeting", DPA leader said and added that in view of absence of specific information, different assumptions can be made. A. Sargsyan hypothecate that it is profitable for ARFD not to remember "the problems of the past years", while it is profitable for ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan
"to forget" his own deeds (with respect to this party- ed.). Asked about possibility of creation of an election bloc between ARFD and the Armenian National Movement party, A. Sargsyan replied: "I rule
out nothing".

As for possibility of L. Ter-Petrosyan's participation in the forthcoming presidential election, A. Sargsyan recalled that the "issue of nomination of the ex-president's candidacy is still unclear despite the attempts of Ter-Petrosyan's relationship to reanimate him as a political figure". "My attitude to his
personality and his organization is well-known. The people elected him, indeed, in 1991, and this is a fact. However, if he enters the political arena today, he can receive the voices only. The people's attitude towards him is also well-known. It is hurtfully to think that the Armenian people have forgotten their yesterday or they choose the least of two evils", Aram Sargsyan said.


2007-10-05 14:12:00 Leader of Democratic Party of Armenia: they are negotiating but there is no result

ArmInfo. The Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is one of the most important issues of Armenian foreign policy. But although they are negotiating, there is no success except the one reached in 1994, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sarkisyan said at the press-conference, Friday.

At the same time Sarkisyan thinks that unlike Armenia the people of Nagornyy Karabakh managed establishing inner stability in their republic and gaining security as a result. In this sense the NKR is in more favourable state than Armenia, Aram Sarkisyan said. Touching on the Karabakh talks, he pointed at two mistakes of the Armenian diplomacy. The first is that the NKR does not take part in the talks. The second is that the Armenian party unlike the Azerbaijani one does not hold agressive propaganda. 'The world
needs information about the Karabakh conflict. We should always voice our position. But it turns out that private persons fulfill obligations of the state', - Sarkisyan said. He also added that no principle of the document on Karabakh settlement is in line with the interests of the Armenian party. 'What do those principles suppose? Returning of territories, returning of Azerbaijani refugees to the places of their former residence. And there is no word about the Armenian refugees. They also suppose
peace-makers, behind which Azerbaijan will be able to arm better. Incidentally Azerbaijan is not going to recognize independence of Nagornyy Karabakh!', - Aram Sarkisyan concluded pessimistically.


2007-10-05 14:07:00 Special Representative of Eroparliament offers to replace France in OSCE MG by European Union

ArmInfo. Special Representative of the European Parliament on South Caucasus Isler Beguin offers to replace France in OSCE Minsk Group by the European Union, he said during hearings on South Caucasus in the Europarliament's Committee on Foreign Relations, the "Trend" reports.

"The European Union should participate more closely in settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus. This concerns Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well", Beguin said. "I am French, however, I think that
the mandate of France in Minsk Group should be passed to the European Union", Beguin said. He thinks that EU, thus, will be able to regulate the conflict at a high level. He also paid attention to the fact that the Turkish-Armenian border is closed. According to him, this is a factor which deepens the problem. Special Representative of the European Parliament on Nagorno Karabakh conflict Lydia Paulfer expressed concern over two issues. "Armenia remained aside of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil pipeline and other regional
projects. This circumstance may lead to the country's instability in a long-term perspective. Moreover, extension of Azerbaijan's military budget will tense the situation in the region", L. Paulfer said. As deputy Chairman of the Europarliament on South Caucasus, Slovakian parliamentarian Duka-Zolyomi said, each conflict is specific and requires an individual approach. He thinks that Russia, in many cases, plays a role of a power which destabilizes the situation in the region. It was also noted that Kosovo cannot
become a precedent for other conflicts.

Deputy of the Europarliament from German socialists Vural Oger blamed Armenia for occupation of Nagorno Karabakh and its adjacent regions. He demanded of EU to take an unambiguous position. "Azerbaijan is important for Europe in the energy policy and this is limited not only to availability of energy resources", Oger said.


2007-10-05 13:55:00 Speaker of the Armenian parliament: there is no state in Europe where human rights where broken at least once

ArmInfo. 'There is no state in Europe where human rights where broken at least once', - speaker of the Armenian parliament Tigran Torosyan said at the two-day international conference 'The role of the Constitutional Court and Human Rights Defender in human rights protection issues' opened in Yerevan today.

The conference is organized by the joint efforts of Constitutional Court of Armenia, Armenian Ombudsman office and the European Commission 'Democracy via law'. Representatives of constitutional courts of more than 30 European states are taking part in the conference. President of the European Court on Human rights Jean-Paul Costa and Secretary General of Venice Commission of the
Council of Europe Gianni Buquicchio made a greeting speech at the conference.

Tigran Torosyan emphasized that after making amendments to the Armenian Constitution ordinary citizens of Armenia gained an opportunity to apply to the Constitutional Court. Just close parallel activity of the three structures - constitutional court, parliament and ombudsman office can effectively resolve the problem of ensuring and human rights protection, Torosyan said.

To note, a scandal happened at the beginning of the conference, as its organizers did not take the number of the participants into account, as a result of which not only journalists but also deputy Russian ambassador to Armenia could not get earphones and listen to translations. The latter was loudly expressing his indignation until getting earphones. As for the journalists, the majority of them relied on their knowledge of foreign languages.


2007-10-04 20:16:00 Chairman of CE Committee of Ministers calls on heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan to mobile efforts for peaceful long-term settlement of Karabakh conflict

ArmInfo-Turan. The Committee of the Council of Ministers calls on the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan to mobile efforts for the peaceful long- term settlement of the Karabakh conflict, said the head of the CE Committee of Ministers, Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.

Referring to the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen on July 13, 2007, Jeremic welcomed the joint visit of the representatives of intelligentsia of Armenia and Azerbaijan to Yerevan and Baku, and to the conflict zone. He said that such trips are useful from the point of view of formation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence and "better understanding." Jeremic considers that any calls to use force are "counterproductive" and called on the sides to abstain from such calls.



2007-10-04 19:07:00 'Prosperous Armenia' Party hasn't still got a proposal for meeting from the first Armenian president

ArmInfo. "Prosperous Armenia" Party, entering the governing coalition, hasn't still got any proposal for meeting from the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the member of
"Prosperous Armenia" parliamentary faction Naira Zohrabian said in her talk with ArmInfo correspondent.

According to her, if "Prosperous Armenia" Party gets such a proposal, they will discuss the issue with the Republican Party of Armenia, and will state their position, acting within the frames of the coalition
signed with RPA on mutual cooperation. At the same time, according to her, "if RA ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan decides to run in the 2008 presidential election, as the authority's suppositional single-whole candidate, RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan stated, his strategy will not change by the nomination of this or that political force". As for the tactical problems, she thinks that the candidate's
tactics may change at any moment, depending on the situation.

Referring to the active negotiations of opposition forces, N. Zohrabayan said that the search of opposition's single-whole candidate for the president is already left out the agenda. "The issue of opposition's single-whole candidate can be considered finally and irretrievably closed, as, starting from the Leader of "New Times" Party Aram Karapetyan, and ending up with the Leader of "People's Party" Tigran Karapetyan, many oppositionists have already declared about their nomination for the president's post",
N. Zohrabyan said.


2007-10-04 19:06:00 A member of parliamentary faction of Republican Party of Armenia: It is easier to believe in a snowman than in a single-whole candidate from opposition

ArmInfo. "We have made sure that the existence of a snowman is more probable than the nomination of a single-whole candidate from the opposition," Armen Ashotyan, a member of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), told ArmInfo correspondent.

Asked whether RPA will accept Armenian ex-President Levon Ter- Petrosyan's proposal if the latter expresses a desire to meet RPA representatives, A.Ashotyan replied: "The RPA has passed a long path with the Armenian National Movement (ANM). RPA had been ANM's partner for a long time until serious disagreements on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem arose in 1997, which became the reason of dissociation. I think, RPA will accept L.Ter-Petrosyan's proposal". Touching upon the cooperation of three parties under the signed
agreement, A.Ashotyan said: "As we work with the Prosperous Armenia Party under a signed agreement and ARFD cooperates with the two parties, we both are responsible for the three parties".


2007-10-04 19:01:00 US President George Bush to protect Ezids of Iraq

ArmInfo. US President George Bush responded to the application of Ezids of the world and charged to protect the Ezid Diaspora of Iraq.

To recall, on 22 April of the current year 24 Ezids were killed in Iraq. This day became the staring day of mass murder of peaceful residents of Iraq - Ezids by nation. More than 8thsd Ezids left Iraq over the first month after the tragedy.

As chairman of World National Union of Ezids Aziz Tamoyan said at the press-conference in Pastarq club today, after the repeated application of Ezids of the whole world to George Bush, US army subdivisions started protecting the villages inhabited by Ezids. Moreover, local residents form the teams of self-protection of Ezids. 'We applied to US government with a request to assist creation of Ezid sovereign republic at the north of Iraq. I hope that the talks on the issue will have a positive result from the Iraqi
party as well>, - Tamoyan said. He also added that the party "National movement of Iraqi Ezids" has been already set up, which also supports security problems and creation of Ezdistan. Tamoyan expressed anxiety about the destiny of more than 1mln Ezids living in the north of Iraq. 'As it became clear to us, the governments of Turkey and Iraq arranged to start punitive actions against the
Kurdish radicals which protect Kurdish Labour Party. We are afraid that the Turkish troops may damage Ezid population not purposefully. We still worry about the problems of peaceful residents - Ezids by nation', - A.Tamoyan emphasized.


2007-10-04 18:59:00 New Times party to run for president in 2008

ArmInfo. Today 4th conference of the oppositional New Times party officially declared that the leader of the party aram Karapetyan will run for president in 2008.

As ArmInfo was informed from press-service of the New Times party, all 530 delegates of the conference voted for Aram Karapetyan's nomination as a candidate for president. No other details
informed.


2007-10-04 18:57:00 Police of Turkey destroy file on Dink murder suspect

ArmInfo. The Police of Turkey have destroyed the important file on the murder of Hrant Dink.

The Turkish newspaper "Zaman" reports with reference to the Turkish private NTV station that the police file on a prime suspect in the murder case of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink has been destroyed on grounds that the file was a "state secret". The Istanbul court, which is currently trying 19 suspects in the murder of Dink, who was shot outside his newspaper's office by an ultranationalist
teenager in January 2007, had not demanded to see the police files on Erhan Tuncel, a former police informant facing trial for having incited the gunman to kill Dink.

The newspaper says that the court's request was turned down by the Intelligence Department, where Tuncel's file is stored, which said the document was destroyed to protect state secrets. Yet, the source
reports that the prosecutors carrying out the investigation had seen the police file on Tuncel, a former informant who worked for the Trabzon police. However, the file was apparently destroyed before the
court had a chance to see the document. Erdal Dogan, a lawyer representing the Dink family, said this was a "legal scandal." The court rejected Dogan's request for the file a second time, saying it was "confidential." Dogan said their demands would continue. "This secret cannot be hidden from the court even though it is a state secret. This is a violation of the Law of Procedures," he said. According to the source, prior to the second hearing of the trial, tape recordings of a phone conversation between police
officer Muhittin Zenit and Tuncel were leaked to the media. The conversation suggests that Zenit knew about the plot to murder Dink earlier. However, the request of Dink's family lawyers to start an
investigation into police officer Zenit in Monday's hearing was overruled. The controversy over Tuncel's file is likely to deepen concerns over a possible cover-up by state authorities in the murder. Dink's lawyers have complained that the murder has not been properly investigated and have expressed fears for the independence of the court, reflecting concerns about the possible involvement of Turkey's so-called "deep state." The "deep state" is a term coined to describe hard-line nationalists in the bureaucracy
and security forces who are prepared to subvert the law for their own political ends.

The newspaper says that there were also reports in the Turkish press suggesting that the teenager accused of killing Dink was probably attempting to mislead the judges in hopes of winning a reduction in
his sentence when he told the court during Monday's hearing that he regretted his actions and claimed he had carried out the slaying under the influence of drugs. "Blood tests taken immediately after his arrest less than 24 hours after the murder revealed that he had not taken drugs prior to the crime", the source says.


2007-10-04 18:55:00 US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs: we hope that we'll be able to give an impetus to the progress in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement

ArmInfo. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicolas Burns in New York.

Burns's meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov, held behind closed doors lasted an hour, APA reports. The American Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza also participated in it. Commenting on his meeting with the Azerbaijani FM, Nicolas Burns said that the necessity of progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue was touched upon: "A little while ago I met the Armenian FM. We'll continue the
discussions, and we hope that we'll be able to give an impetus to the progress in the conflict settlement". He also noted that the discussion also covered energy issues. According to him, Americans
consider Azerbaijan one of the most important regions in the world from the point of view of the country's extracting and transit possibilities. "To have success in this sphere, we'll help Azerbaijan in everything, which is within our power. The country unites Central Asia and Caucasus with Europe. In particular, much importance is given to the transmission project of Azerbaijani gas to Europe. The US Government is against one country's domination in gas-supply to Europe. We want to see diversity in this sphere.
We plan to hold high-level discussions on this matter with Azerbaijani Government", N.Burns said.


2007-10-04 18:27:00 New public movement 'Solidarity' formed in Armenia

ArmInfo. More than 100 public and culture figures of Armenia, a group of known local scientists, doctors and teachers arranged to form a new public movement 'Solidarity'.

As ArmInfo was informed from press-service of the movement, as a result of talks they arranged to cooperate with known sportsmen and businessmen. At present more than 4 thsd people agreed to join the movement.


2007-10-04 14:58:00 Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan is concerned with the absence of results in negotiations for settlement of conflict with Armenia under the aegis of OSCE

ArmInfo. The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov delivered a speech during the general political discussion of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly during which he drew attention to that "Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the most serious security
challenge" in the region. As it is stated in UN's official site, the minister said that the negotiations for the conflict settlement, which have been held within the frames of OSCE since 1992, so far have had no success. Elmar Mammadyarov once again told "about 20% occupied territories of Azerbaijan". He recalled that "the conflict led to mass displacement of people and presently, there are about 1mln refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan".

The foreign minister said that Armenia keeps not complying with the resolutions of the Security Council, destroying everything, which is associated with Azerbaijan's heritage on the occupied territory and carrying out illegal activity there, as before. "UNO mustn't allow such actions", the minister said. He emphasized that, in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, it is necessary to base on the principles of international law and four resolutions of the Security Council,
which foresee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of his country.

"From this platform I want to urge the Armenian nation to accept that its policy of peace-breaking and destabilization of the region has very dangerous, counterproductive and destructive consequences for
the prospects of Armenia's progress. I am sure that Azerbaijan will restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is only a matter of time", Elmar Mammadyarov emphasized.

The Azerbaijani representative told about the efforts of the authorities to ensure complete transparency and accountability in extractive industries and Azerbaijan's contribution in ensuring global security of energy supply. He also told about economic conversions in Azerbaijan, poverty and unemployment rate reduction, the growth of the population's prosperity and emphasized that all this was not only due to the oil and gas incomes, but also to the government's consistent course and its commitment to protect
the
rights of the investors.


2007-10-04 14:10:00 Robert Kocharyan: the reforms in Armenia had a purpose to form a new quality judicial and legal system

ArmInfo. Today Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met President of European Court of Human Right Jean-Paul Costa, which arrived in Yerevan to take part in the international forum dedicated to the problems of constitutional law and human rights protection that will start on 5 October.

As press-service of the president informs, Robert Kocharyan said at the meeting that the forum will be held in Armenia over the period of making serious reforms in the judicial and law system. Such forums give an opportunity to local experts to have full impression how modern justice is developing. 'Today we are working in the direction of making deeper reforms which will make possible ensuring of deeper respect to human rights', - Robert Kocharyan said.

For his part, Jean-Paul Costa highly appreciated the judicial and law reforms being held in Armenia in particular in the context of ensuring independence of courts.


2007-10-04 13:12:00 Turkey's president proposed to create commission to study Armenian Genocide issue

ArmInfo. President of Turkey Abdullah Gul proposed to create a commission to study the Armenian Genocide issue, he said in PACE the day before, the APA reports.

In response to the question of the French deputy about the Armenian Genocide, A. Gul said that the events of 1915 happened in a difficult period of the World War I. "Yes, a tragedy happened, both
Muslims and Armenians suffered as a result of it". Having noted that the Armenians took high positions in the Ottoman Turkey, even the posts of ministers and court chairmen, the Turkish president said
that if the policy of the Genocide with respect to Armenians took place in fact, such would not happen: "I think that the saying about the Genocide is of propagandistic nature. Our position is widely discussed today, we proposed to create a commission of scientists and open the archives. We would like for historians to solve this problem", the Turkish president said.


2007-10-04 12:42:00 Azerbaijan tries to press PACE

ArmInfo. Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov visiting Strasbourg, met PACE President Rene van der Linden. After the meeting, both of them gave a press-conference.

As APA reports, Rene van der Linden recalled about his visit to the South Caucasus this summer and informed about meetings with several officials, including Ogtay Asadov. The latter told about opinions
exchange held on a number of issues. "I said that I am concerned over absence of progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement issue. This conflict negatively affects development of the region in
general. The question of Rene van der Linden on what he can do for the conflict settlement is of interest for us. We think that not only PACE but all the international organizations should assist in implementation of decisions and resolutions they made, ad infinitum. As you know, PACE resolution N1416 exists. Even if the international organizations have no pressure mechanisms, they will be able to turn the opposite side into an object of discussion and, thus, assist in the conflict settlement".

Thus, O. Asadov made an attempt to press PACE, having recommended it to turn Armenia into "an object of discussion". He also expressed confidence that PACE, which recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan , will not save efforts for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict in line with the world standards, under which the Azerbaijani representative means the standards which meet Azerbaijan's idea of fair settlement of the conflict.


2007-10-04 12:39:00 RA FM: The people of Nagorno Karabakh don't want anything that is not theirs

ArmInfo. Nagorno Karabakh conflict should not be discussed at the UN, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at the session of the UN General Assembly.

As RA FM's press-service told ArmInfo, the minister noted in his speech that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is included on the agenda of this General Assembly session under the topic of protracted
conflicts. "Any resolution that places all conflicts in one pot is necessarily flawed. Each of these conflicts is different. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict doesn't belong there. This issue should not be discussed at the UN, because it is being negotiated in the OSCE", V. Oskanyan said.

He recalled that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not frozen. "We continue to negotiate and we are inching towards resolution. Second, there is a well-developed negotiating document on the table, based
not on wishful thinking, but on the core issue and the consequential issues. Together, they add up to a balanced solution. Third, at the core of the process lies the issue of the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to determine their own future. Indeed, the people of Nagorno Karabakh don't want anything that is not theirs - they want a right to live in peace and security and to determine their own future, they want to exercise the right that every people here has exercised at some point in their history",
RA FM said.


2007-10-04 12:19:00 RA FM: 'Independence to Kosovo, nothing to others' logic is unacceptable

ArmInfo. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan criticized the world community's approach to the Kosovo conflict settlement issue.

As RA FM's press-service reports, coming out at the session of the UN General Assembly, the Armenian foreign minister said: "We follow very closely developments on Kosovo. We hear the international community loud and clear, that Kosovo cannot be a precedent for other conflicts. While we have no intention to use Kosovo as a precedent for our conflict, since that would contradict our own position that
all conflicts are different. But at the same time, we won't understand or accept the reverse logic - that if Kosovo is given independence, no other people can achieve self-determination. No one should tell us that there is a quota on liberty and security".


2007-10-03 22:00:00 Rene van der Linden: Armenia's self-isolation may negatively influence the country's future

ArmInfo-TURAN. Issues of Karabakh conflict settlement became one of the main topics of the meeting of the speaker of the Milli Mejlis Ogtay Asadov with PACE President Rene van der Linden in Strasburg, Wednesday. As Linden said during a briefing upon completion of the meeting, the absence of any progress in Karabakh conflict settlement "negatively influences the region's development as a whole". He recalled that Azerbaijan and Armenia, entering the Council of Europe assumed obligations to resolve the conflict
peacefully. Armenia has no contacts with its neighbors on 2/3 of its borders. This may have a negative impact on the future generations of the country. "However, some Armenians, who live abroad don't want to think about their fellow-countrymen", Linden said. He mentioned the readiness of the Council of Europe to support the efforts for peaceful settlement of the conflict. For his part, the
Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov urged CE and other international organizations to be firm in the decisions accepted by them on Karabakh conflict. The world community must condemn Armenia for its "aggressive" politics, Asadov said.








Economy

2007-10-05 17:19:00 Armenian Trade and Economy minister supports exploiting project of Tekhut cooper-molybdenum deposit

ArmInfo. Armenian Trade and Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan thinks that it would be correct to start exploiting of Tekhut cooper-molybdenum deposit on the north of Armenia, than to froze that under the pressure of Green Peace, he said today when meeting students and teachers of Yerevan State Economy University.

He also added that natural resources of the country should not remain under the ground. At present specialists analyze the project so that not to damage ecology much in case of its fulfillment. The
minister said that today three serious investors declared about construction of high technological smelting plants in Armenia. Such plants construction will make possible implementing of deeper processing of metal in Armenia and getting higher technological production, he said.

To recall, Russian VTB is ready to give $200 mln credit to the Armenian Copper Progamme (ACP) to prepare Tekhut cooper-molybdenum deposit for exploitation.


2007-10-04 18:49:00 HayPost CJSC offers direct mail services

ArmInfo. Armenia's national postal service operator HayPost CJSC offers Direct Mail delivery services, AsrmInfo was told at the company.

Booklets and other promotional materials are directly delivered to the potential clients by means of that advertisement. Through Direct Mail (DM) one may send a complete list of goods and services of the
company, mentioning their advantages and prices. The advantage of the DM service itself is the comparatively low tariffs, the large scope of addressees, the possibility to pass a lot of information.

The prices of postal advertising depend on the quantity of the letters. Thus, in case of usual distribution of up to 500 letters, the price will make up 130AMD per a letter. In case the quantity is more than 10 000, the price will reduce to 90 AMD per a letter.

To note, on November 30 2006, the complete block of shares of HayPost CJSC was placed into trust of the Dutch "HayPost Trust Management" JSC, which was created for these ends and which belongs to the Dutch Postfinance.


2007-10-04 18:46:00 ArmenTel CJSC offers free SMS messages to subsctibers who will conclude agreement with company

ArmInfo. ArmenTel CJSC offers free SMS messages to the prepaid subscribers, who will conclude written agreements with the company until November 1, 2007, ArmenTel told ArmInfo.

The demand to conclude written agreements with Armenian mobile operators until November 1 proceeds from the Armenian Public Services Regulatory Commission's decision dated March 30, 2007. ArmenTel recalls that there is little time left and it offers 50 free SMS messages with validity of 30 days to its subscribers. An SMS message comprises up to 160 characters that make up three lines of A4 format. Over the past 2 weeks, the number of SMS messages sent and received in the ArmenTel network exceeds 4 mln lines
or makes up 5000 sq.m., which is equal to the area of a football field. An SMS inside the country costs 20 AMD, outside the country - 30 AMD.

To recall, ArmenTel is a branch of the VimpelCom OJSC.


2007-10-04 12:55:00 RA parliament ratified framework agreement between Armenia and European Commission

ArmInfo. Today, the Armenian Parliament ratified a framework agreement between Armenia and the European Commission.

As RA deputy Finance and Economy Minister David Avetisyan told RA parliamentarians, the agreement is called to replace the agreement on the order of applying the financial memorandum, signed on
February 3, 1994. Basically, all the provisions of this agreement have been preserved in the new document. The agreement establishes the tax and customs privileges, determines the allowances for
operations during the currency import. The document determines that, according to the agreement, all the contractors are excused from tax liabilities during financing of EU programmes. Privileges with
respect to the physical persons, engaged in EU programmes, have been also determined.

In particular, the matter concerns their property. However, unlike the agreement, 1994, the new one differs by the fact that an income tax is applied with respect to the permanent residents. It means that RA citizens have to pay this kind of tax. The agreement is of strategic nature, in view of which its application terms have not been established. EU will send 7 mln Euro in 2007 for implementation of different programmes in Armenia. As for 2008, the republic will receive means by separate tranches. Ratification
of the document will allow to activate the cooperation with the European Union.


2007-10-04 12:51:00 RA parliament ratified Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation for construction and operation of hydropower plants on Araks river

ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament ratified an Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation for construction and operation of hydropower plants on Araks river.

As RA deputy Energy Minister Ara Simonyan told parliamentarians, the agreement has been signed on March 19, 2007, in Meghri within the frames of the meeting of the Armenian and Iranian Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Meghri. On behalf of Armenia's government, the document was signed by RA Energy minister Armen Movsisyan. The document is aimed at efficient use of the hydroenergy potential of Araks river. In particular, it is scheduled to build two hydropower plants on the boundary territories
of Armenia and Iran (one in RA territory, the second one in the territory of Iran). It is scheduled to start construction of two HPPs in 2007 and complete it within 6 years. As Araks river is boundary, all the issues on development and construction are solved by joint efforts of the two states. According to the agreement provisions, each party obliges to defray all the expenses related to the development of a feasibility study and construction. The parties will cooperate in solution of technical issues, rendering
of services and other issues.

It is scheduled that each party will select areas in its territory for HPP construction, for which it is envisages to facilitate the terms of entry in the two states' boundary territories. Construction of two HPPs will not cause changes of the two countries' borders. The work over development of the project's feasibility study has been already completed. The design capacities of each plant will make up 130-140 MW. The annual generation of electric energy will make up 840 mln kWh. One tunnel with length of 13-
14 km and width of 6 m will be built in the territories of both countries. The plant will become a property of Armenia. Talking of the project of construction of two HPPs on Araks river by Iran together with Azerbaijan, the deputy minister said that the matter concerns creation of generating capacities of 50 MW. After operation, the water will subject to return to Araks river. There is a water pool in the boundary territory of Armenia and Nakhichevan and, as a result of the agreement signing, the Iranian party
undertakes to assure all the necessary water flows and will not affect the level of electric energy generation at Meghri HPP in Armenia.

In accordance with the intergovernmental agreement from December 27, 2001, the project's feasibility study was developed by "Mahaborts" Iranian Company and a contractor represented by the
"Armgidroproyekt" Armenian Institute.


2007-10-04 12:46:00 European Bank to give 13,5 mln Euro to Armenia to fulfill the programme of ecological enhancement of the Lake of Sevan

Arminfo. Today Armenian National Assembly ratified an agreement between Armenia and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on financing the programme of ecological enhancement of the Lake of Sevan.

As chairman of State Water Committee under Territorial Administration Ministry Andranik Andreasyan told deputies, the credit agreement was signed in April 2007. The whole programme was assessed in 13,5 mln Euro, 7mln out of which will be given as a credit and the rest 5 mln as a grant. Another 1,2 mln Euro the bank will give as a grant for technical support to finance developing the budget of the work. 7 mln Euro credit will be given for 15 years. Its amortization will start in 3 years with Libor+1% per annum.
The credit will be given in two tranches - 5 mln and 2 mln euro. The programme foresees building of new sewage plants in Martuni and Gavar. Water channels of Jermuk and Sevan will be also
reconstructed. At present the sewage plant system is almost out of blast. The project is a pilot one, and in case of success, it will be developed in other regions of the republic as well.


Finance and banks

2007-10-05 17:25:00 On October 3 the volume of currency transactions in Interbank Market made up $350 thsd at the average exchange rate of 333,01 AMD/1 EUR

ArmInfo. On October 3, the volume of transactions in the Interbank currency market made up $350 thsd (116.554 mln AMD), this index being 1.4 times as high as during the previous trading day on October 2 (83.450 mln AMD). According to the data given to ArmInfo by the commercial banks, during this period the USD average exchange rate fell by 0,2 percentage points to 333,01 AMD/1USD. The currency transactions on the floor made up $2.900 mln (964.905 mln AMD), which is 8,3 times as much as the same index of the
Interbank market. The USD average weighted rate in the exchange market made up 332,73 AMD/$1.


2007-10-05 14:06:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR

ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 333 drams for 1 dollar, 466 drams for 1 EUR and 13,15 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 333 drams for 1 dollar, 472 drams for 1 EUR and 13,38 drams for 1 Russian ruble.


2007-10-04 14:43:00 On October 3 the volume of currency transactions in Interbank Market made up $350 thsd at the average exchange rate of 333,01 AMD/1 EUR

ArmInfo. On October 3, the volume of transactions in the Interbank currency market made up $350 thsd (116.554 mln AMD), this index being 1.4 times as high as during the previous trading day on October 2 (83.450 mln AMD). According to the data given to ArmInfo by the commercial banks, during this period the USD average exchange rate fell by 0,2 percentage points to 333,01 AMD/1USD. The currency transactions on the floor made up $2.900 mln (964.905 mln AMD), which is 8,3 times as much as the same index of the
Interbank market. The USD average weighted rate in the exchange market made up 332,73 AMD/$1.


Social

2007-10-04 13:18:00 479 lawsuits applied from Armenia to European Court on human rights as of September 2007

ArmInfo. 479 lawsuits applied from Armenia to European Court on human rights for 4 years as of September 2007, the judge on human rights which represents Armenia in the European Court, Alvina Gyulumyan told journalists today. To recall, Gyulumyan has been recently reelected at the post for the next 6 years.

She also added that 479 may not be considered a final figure as 617 Azerbaijanis applied to the European Court and insisted that their rights had been broken by the Armenian government, because as a result of the Karabakh conflict they were forced to leave places of their permanent residence. The European Court has already declined to investigate 214 out of 617 lawsuits. At present the destiny of the rest 314 lawsuits has not been resolved yet, Gyulumyan said.

She also said that in 2007 Strasbourg received 32 complaints from Armenia. As for Armenian TV company which was deprived of TV air in 2002 and applied to the European Court on human rights, Gyulumyan said it is not clear yet if the lawsuit will be investigated by the EC or not.


2007-10-04 13:04:00 4000 pigs have become victims of African fever

ArmInfo. According to the latest data, 4000 pigs in Armenia have become victims of the African fever, Head of the State Inspection on Foodstuffs Safety and Veterinary Grisha Bagyan told ArmInfo.

He said that no tendency of reduction of the number of pigs, infected with the African fever, is observed. At the same time, the number of the focuses of infection today still remains unchanged, that is, 7 in Tavush and Lori regions. As G. Bagyan said, this is connected with successful implementation of RA government-adopted programme on prevention and elimination of the Montgomery disease. Moreover, there is a ban on the import of alive pigs, pork products and feeding stuff for animals from Tavush and Lori
regions. G. Bagyan added that the Armenian specialists closely
cooperate with the foreign ones. Due to assistance of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization and the European Union, biological decontaminants, equipment for decontamination and overalls were delivered to the republic. Moreover, the DIE organization provided Armenia with tests for revelation of the African fever.

To note, the first case of the African fever in Armenia was fixed on August 7 in Dilijan.


2007-10-04 12:34:00 Catholicos of all Armenians met Head of branch of Armenian Charitable Association in South California

ArmInfo. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the second, who continues his Patriarchal visit to the USA, met Head of the branch of the Armenian Charitable Association in South California, member of the Association's Central Committee Sinan Sinanyan.

As the press-service of the administrative office of the Holy See of Mother Echmiadzin reports, during the meeting, Sinan Sinanyan thanked the Supreme Patriarch for assistance in construction of an
oratory in the territory of the "Manukyan-Demirchyan" Armenian school in Los Angeles. For his part, Garegin II thanked S. Sinanyan for continuous cooperation with Echmiadzin, which is expressed in
fulfillment of joint projects.

Upon completion of the meeting, Garegin II blessed the kahchkar (cross stone), which is envisaged to place in the yard of the oratory under construction, in the territory of the "Manukyan-Demirchyan" school.


Ecology

2007-10-04 19:58:00 WWF awards Armenian journalists for best coverage of ecological problems

ArmInfo. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Armenia office in Yerevan granted awards for the best journalistic work in hot ecological problems. The awarding ceremony took place in Yerevan, Thursday.

The competition's jury organizing committee for ecological materials, didn't grant first prize in the categories "the best newspaper", "the best electronic and TV radio materials". The sum envisaged for the first prizes in these categories was distributed among several works. "The Voice of Armenia" newspaper's correspondent, the freelancer of ArmInfo Ruben Grdzelyan and others were among the awarded. No radio coverage was presented during the competition. TV materials were so limited in number that the jury
decided to award the journalists an encouragement prize. The Public Television of Armenia correspondent Anna Vardanyan got the promotional prize for the best TV coverage on the eutrophication of Lake Sevan and her colleague form the TV company of Alaverdi "Ankyun+" (Corner+) Gohar Voskanyan- for her plot about the catastrophic situation in Akhtala's tailing dump of toxic waste.


Culture

2007-10-05 17:51:00 Exhibition entitled 'Armenian landscapes in modern art and architecture' held in Zurich

ArmInfo. An exhibition entitled "Armenian landscapes in modern art and architecture" has been opened in the EWZ showroom in Zurich. It is organized by the Armenian Embassy in Switzerland in close collaboration with Zurich City Hall.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry's press-service reports that the exhibition is dedicated to modern Armenian art and architecture. This is not the first exhibition organized by the Armenian Embassy to present the rich cultural heritage of Armenia to the Swiss public.


2007-10-04 19:03:00 Solemn opening ceremony of the 5th international theater festival High Fest takes place in Yerevan

ArmInfo. The solemn opening ceremony of the 5th international theater festival High Fest took place in the Russian Drama Theater after Stanislavsky in Yerevan.

About 350 participants from 33 countries, including 40 stock companies from Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Georgia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Russia, Holland, Switzerland, the USA, Germany and other countries will give performances within the scope of the festival. 17 theaters and stock companies from Yerevan, Vanadzor and Artashat will represent Armenia at the festival. To note, High Fest will be held with the support of the Armenian prime minister and Armenian ministry of culture. The Armenian government
allocated 39 mln AMD for holing of the festival.