ARKA News Agency
Feb 22 2005

NA Speaker interferes in spheres outside his competence: RA Premier

Armenian President discuss with Armenian Transport and Communication
Minister issues of rehabilitation of roads

PACE resolution on Nagorno Karabakh also contains positive accents,
NKR Foreign Minister believes

Sergei Karaganov: Russia should pursue more active policy in
Transcaucasia, in particular, in Armenia

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NA SPEAKER INTERFERES IN SPHERES OUTSIDE HIS COMPETENCE: RA PREMIER

YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Speaker of the RA National Assembly
Artur Baghdasaryan is interfering in spheres that are outside his
competence, RA Premier Andranik Margaryan stated in his interview to
the Armenian `Haykakan Zhamaknak’ newspaper. According to him, the
matter concerns the councils formed under the Speaker, which,
according to the NA Regulations, is not within the Speaker’s
competence. The RA Premier pointed out that the NA Speaker can deal
with existing problems through parliamentary committees, as well as
by means of the institution of hearings. I have instructed all the
executive power bodies not to answer the papers of the councils
formed by the Speaker of the National Assembly and not to take part
in their work,’ Margaryan said. He added that he `never interfere[s]
in the sphere of activities the law defines as that of the
legislative body and its leadership.’ P.T. -0–

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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSS WITH ARMENIAN TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
MINISTER ISSUES OF REHABILITATION OF ROADS

YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Today Armenian President Robert
Kocharian discussed with Armenian Transport and Communication
Minister Andranik Manukyan the issues of rehabilitation of roads of
Armenia. As Armenian President Press Service Head told ARKA, during
the meeting the officials considered program of the WB on road
construction presented to financing of the WB and the US Millennium
Challenges as well as issues related to expected loan by the Japanese
Bank for Cooperation and Development. They also discussed the issues
concerning the construction of a new section of Kapan-Meghri highway
that will be the second road linking Iran with Armenia and will be
more advanced per a number of technical and economic parameters
compared to the existing road. Particularly if the existing road
allows performing cargo operations of auto vehicle with tonnage of 80
tons. The construction of the road for which AMD 6.6b was allocated
from the state budget will start in April 2005 and will be completed
next year. Armenian President instructed Minister to take under
control works for the construction of the new road, mentioning that
`it must meet quality standards and be put into operation according
to et schedule’. ($1 – AMD 472.57). T.M. -0-

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PACE RESOLUTION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH ALSO CONTAINS POSITIVE ACCENTS,
NKR FOREIGN MINISTER BELIEVES

YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Resolution of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe on Nagorno Karabakh contains
positive accents as well as Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Minister Arman
Melikyan said. In his words, the positive thing is a new approach
contained in PACE’s call on the Azerbaijani authorities on the
beginning of negotiations with the NKR authorities. `This to some
extent confirms that our opposition is right when stating that format
of bilateral negotiations may be productive’, he said. Melikyan
stressed that the NKR side also must demonstrate the readiness to
participate in the negotiations and to discuss the approaches that
will secure peace in perspective.
Report on Nagorno Karabakh prepared by David Atkinson, representative
of PACE was heard in PACE on January 25, 2005. T.M. -0–

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SERGEI KARAGANOV: RUSSIA SHOULD PURSUE MORE ACTIVE POLICY IN
TRANSCAUCASIA, IN PARTICULAR, IN ARMENIA

MOSCOW, February 22. /ARKA/. Russia should pursue more active policy
in Transcaucasia, in particular, in Armenia, as Sergei Karaganov,
President of the RF Foreign and Defence Policy Council, Deputy
Director of the Europe Institute told ARKA. `Russia, unfortunately,
hasn’t constituted its interests yet, so we pursue not enough active
policy not only in respect of Armenia but also in respect of many
Russian regions’, he said. According to the political scientist, some
projects, such as restoration of railway communication, will solve
many problems for Armenia, Georgia and finally for the stability of
Transcaucasia. A.H. -0–