ARKA News Agency
Feb 16 2005

Creation of a unified information space for the CIS is the main
profile activity of Russian Foreign Center

Leader of LPPA: Armenia has lost its flexibility in foreign policy

Russia welcomes continuation of Armenian-Azeri dialogue on different
levels – RF Foreign Ministry

Future build-up of Russian-Armenian interaction to be in agenda of
Russian and Armenian Foreign Ministers negotiations

Russian-Armenian relations acquire character of strategic and ally
partnership in recent years – Russian Foreign Ministry

Post-Soviet area remains divided into two camps: Konstantin Zatulin

RAO UES of Russia studying possibilities for purchasing of electric
distribution networks of Armenia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to arrive in Armenia with
two-day official visit today

Aggression against any state-member of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization is considered as aggression against the organization

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CREATION OF A UNIFIED INFORMATION SPACE FOR THE CIS IS THE MAIN
PROFILE ACTIVITY OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN CENTER

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Creation of a unified information space
for the CIS is the main profile activity of Russian Foreign Center,
according to the Head of the Russian Center for International
Scientific and Ciltural Cooperation adjunct to RF MFA Eleonora
Mitrophanova. “We have common roots, and we will make joint efforts
for working in this field with minimal bureaucratic burden and
attracting many NGOs of the CIS “, she said. According to
Mitrophanova, this initiative should be supported by presidents of
the countries. She explained that the unified information space first
of all implies activation of the activity of the centre in respect of
the issues of implementation of their priority directions, namely in
the area of education and science, cultural exchange and propaganda
of scientific-technical achievements. This, according to her, implies
assurance of even more activity in students exchange processes,
mutual acknowledgment of diplomas of Universities, establishment of
centers for improving qualification on base of prominent scientific
centers of the republic, as well as activation of art collectives.
Russian Foreign Center has been working since 1925. Before it was
called as All-Union Society of Cultural Contacts with abroad, then
the Union of soviet society of friendship and cultural relations with
abroad. Its representative offices are in 63 countries of the world,
including 44 Russian Centers of Science and Culture in 39 countries.
The activity of Russian Foreign Center and its branches aims at
making objective image of modern Russia abroad, telling the goal of
the reforms introduced and foreign policy of the country. A.H. –0–

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LEADER OF LPPA: ARMENIA HAS LOST ITS FLEXIBILITY IN FOREIGN POLICY

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Armenia has lost its flexibility in
foreign policy, according to the Leader of the Liberal Progressive
Party of Armenia (LPPA) Hovhannes Hovhannisyan. As he has noted at a
press-conference today, as a result of the parliamentary and
presidential elections in 2003, Armenia turned out not to be involved
in the international processes. “We found ourselves in a situation,
when there are no neighbours, who would show interest in our
country”, he said. According to the Leader of the party, there is an
economic and political crisis in inner processes as well. “Problems
are solved not in the political field, but at the level of yard
battles”, he said. In this regard, he thinks that the replacement of
the ruling power in Armenia unavoidable, and doesn’t relate this
process to certain individuals. “A new system of values, on which
future authorities will rely on, should be formed in the country”, he
noted adding that European values may be adopted. A.H. –0–

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RUSSIA WELCOMES CONTINUATION OF ARMENIAN-AZERI DIALOGUE ON DIFFERENT
LEVELS – RF FOREIGN MINISTRY

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Russia welcomes the continuation of
Armenian-Azeri dialogue on different levels, first of all, between
the Presidents of the two countries This was stated by Alexander
Yakovenko, the official representative of RF Foreign Ministry,
answering the questions of mass media concerning the visit of RF
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Armenia. According to him, as far
as this issue is concerned, Russia is proceeding from the fact that
the conflict sides themselves should come to a mutually acceptable
settlement of the conflict. “Russia is ready to render most active
assistance both to the conflict sides and as a Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk
Group and become a guarantor of the accord achieved”, said Yakovenko.

Note, RF Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov comes today on a two-day visit
to Armenia in the framework of his regional tour to South Caucasus
countries. L.V.–0—

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FUTURE BUILD-UP OF RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN INTERACTION TO BE IN AGENDA OF
RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS NEGOTIATIONS

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. The future build-up of Russian-Armenian
interaction will be in agenda of Russian and Armenian Foreign
Ministers Sergey Lavrov’s and Vardan Oskanian’s negotiations, as
official representative of Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander
Yakovenko told, answering mass media’s questions in regard of Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s forthcoming visit to Armenia. In his
words, the sides will discuss the course of implementation of Moscow
arrangements (May 2004) on top level around bilateral cooperation,
particularly related to the solution of transport problem faced by
Armenia, cooperation in energy and fuel sphere, expanding of direct
economic ties between subject of the Russian Federation and the
Republic of Armenia. Among priority topic on the agenda Yakovenko
mentioned the issue of intensifying Russian-Armenia trade and
economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation as well as issues of
holding national years of Russia and Armenia in 2005 and 2006.
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that taking
into consideration Russia’s and Armenia’s single position toward
international terror, the sides will focus coordination of their
efforts aimed at increasing of anti-terror political cooperation.
“Moscow and Yerevan are inclined toward strong exchange of opinions
on the problems of bilateral cooperation in the international scene,
coordination of efforts in international institutions as well as the
most important regional problems”, he said. In his words, the sides
will discuss the issues of cooperation within CIS, including that in
Collective Security Treaty Organization. The sides will focus on
coordination of efforts targeted at the improving the situation in
South Caucasus, the settlement of the existing conflict in the
region, creation of trust climate for unfolding all-Caucasus
cooperation. “Undoubtedly, the sides will discuss the problem of the
Karabakh conflict settlement. “, Yakovenko summarized. T.M. –0–

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RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS ACQUIRE CHARACTER OF STRATEGIC AND ALLY
PARTNERSHIP IN RECENT YEARS – RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Russian-Armenian relations acquired the
character of strategic and ally partnership, thus being distinguished
by positive dynamics of the development, as official representative
of Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko, answering on mass
media’s questions in regard of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov’s forthcoming visit to Armenia. In this regard, he named
symbolic that Russian Foreign Minister’s first official visit to
Yerevan is made in the beginning of the year 2005 that was announced
to be Armenia’s year in Russian Federation. “Russian Foreign
Minister’s visit is made within frames of top level bilateral
arrangements around holding of active political dialogue between the
nations and is aimed at deepening of Russian-Armenia relations”, he
said. At that he added that they rely on a strong, legal basis –
Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Aid Agreement of August 29, 1997,
the 21 century-oriented Declaration of Ally Interaction between the
Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia of September 26, 2000
as well as 160 interstate and intergovernmental agreements. According
to Yakovenko, Armenian president Robert Kocharian’s visit to Moscow
on May 13-15, 2004 as well as Russian and Armenian Presidents’
meeting in August 2004 in Sochi, and in September 2004 in Astana were
important stages on the way of strengthening of strategic partnership
fundamentals and more active bilateral cooperation.
To mention, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is arriving to
Armenia with two-day official visit today within frames of his
regional tour to the South Caucasus countries. T.M. –0–

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POST-SOVIET AREA REMAINS DIVIDED INTO TWO CAMPS: KONSTANTIN ZATULIN

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. The post-Soviet area remains divided
into two camps, Head of the Russian Institute of the CIS, a member of
the Russian State Duma Konstantin Zatulin stated in his interview to
the Russian “Arguments and Facts” newspaper. According to him, one of
the camps, seeking its own interests, continues relying on Russia,
simultaneously decreasing in size, while the other is expanding,
disseminating foreign influence. “Even in Russia’s relations with its
closest partners, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus, not
everything is smooth,” he said, pointing out that Russia still has to
endure the main test in its relations with its neighbors. “The main
problem in the foreseeable future is Ukraine’s possible ambitions,”
Zatulin said. According to him, Ukraine has always been the main
threat to the idea of preserving the CIS. In the post-Soviet area
Ukraine is the only country able to really counterbalance Russia.
“Meantime, the CIS is more and more turning into a symbol of recent
life together,” he said. Zatulin said that the only function of the
CIS as a club of post-Soviet countries remains being a meeting place
for the Presidents of the former Soviet republics. P.T–0-

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RAO UES OF RUSSIA STUDYING POSSIBILITIES FOR PURCHASING OF ELECTRIC
DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Energy holding RAO UES of Russia is
studying possibility of purchasing distribution networks of Armenia.
As Izvestia daily reports, Midland Resources Holding Ltd. is the
seller. In 2002 it won tender for privatization of 100% of shares of
Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC. RAO UES refused to clarify the sum
of the deal. “Midland did apply to us with offer to purchase its
package of shares in Armenian networks. Now we are studying the
possibility of this deal”, Timur Belov, Press Secretary of the Energy
Holding told Izvestia.
As Alexander Kornilov, Analyst of investment company
BrokerCerditService told Izvestia, from economic point of view the
deal seems to be doubtful. “Firstly, RAO’s interest to this country
is concentrated in generating assets. Secondly, the distribution
networks have not high price due to amortization and very low payment
discipline of the population”, Kornilov said. However, in his
opinion, possibility of concluding this deal by RAO UES cannot be
excluded, taking into consideration “overseas expansion” that the
Russian company is waging during the recent years. As Kornilov
mentions many deals of RAO (purchasing of distribution networks in
Bulgaria), displayed interest to facilities in Moldova) consider
“interests of majority shareholder – the Russian state”, that owns
51% of share sof RAO UES of Russia.
The company was forced to comment the possibility of deal after
Yerevan mass media reported that the deal had been already concluded.
Some even named the sum of the deal – $80 mln. However, on February
14, in response to ARKA’s question Press Service of Electric Networks
of Armenia declined the information around sale of the distribution
networks to INTER RAO UES (affiliate of RAO UES) on official level.
In Armenia RAO UES of Russia owns Sevan-Hrazdan cascade of hydropower
station, Hrazdan thermal station and manages financial lows of the
Armenian Nuclear Electric Plant. The share of three electric stations
is around 75-80% of energy generation of Armenia.
Since November 1, 2002 100% of shares of Electric Networks of Armenia
belongs to UK Midland Resources that paid $12.015 mln and undertaken
liabilities to redeem debts in the amount $27.958 mln. T.M. –0–

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RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA WITH
TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TODAY

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
will arrive in Armenia with two-day official visit today. This visit
is continuation of the intensive political dialogue between two
countries and is targeted at deepening of cooperation in foreign
political institutions as well as interaction between Armenian and
Russia in various spheres. This is Sergey Lavrov’s first official to
Armenia within frames of which the Russian Foreign Minister is
expected to meet Armenian political leadership. Within frames of his
visit the sides will discuss a wide range of issues concerning the
current agenda and perspectives of strategic cooperation between two
countries. This includes such spheres as politics, trade and economy,
science and education and culture.
The sides also will touch perspectives of development cooperation
between Armenia and Russia in international structures as well as the
issues concerning CIS activity and reforming of its bodies. The
current stage of settlement of the Karabakh conflict as well as
establishing of trust climate and cooperation in South Caucasus will
be under special focus. It is suggested that the officials also would
discuss issues related to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
forthcoming visit to Armenia.
Russian Foreign Minister will arrive in Armenia within his regional
visit to South Caucasus countries. T.M. –0–

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AGGRESSION AGAINST ANY STATE-MEMBER OF THE COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY
ORGANIZATION IS CONSIDERED AS AGGRESSION AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION

Yerevan, February 15. /ARKA/. Aggression against any state-member of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is considered as
aggression against the organization, as stated the Secretary General
of (CSTO) Nikolai Bordiuzha at a briefing in Moscow, answering the
question of ARKA. “In case of aggression towards any of the states
–members of the organization, the rest of its members consider it as
aggression against themselves with all the ensuing consequences, in
the framework of the agreement on collective security signed,” he
said. That country will be rendered any kind of aid I this case,
according to Bordiuzha. However, he emphasized that the Organization
is oriented on political solution of any problem. “The history
teaches us that any steps of armed character are very easy to make,
but to localize the problem afterwards is almost impossible. All this
results in rivers of blood, that’s why we are oriented on political
solution of problems”, he said. A.H. –0-

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