ARMENIAN PERIODICALS HUNGRY FOR PAPER

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Dec 3 2006

YEREVAN, December 3 (Itar-Tass) — The majority of Armenian newspapers
will not be released next Wednesday because of the absence of
paper. Armenia buys paper from Russia.

"About 150 tonnes of paper have been kept in Vladikavkaz since June 19,
and another 350 tonnes are staying in Ilyichevsk," Vrezh Markosian,
Director of the Tigran the Great Yerevan Publishing House, said. "As a
rule, paper was delivered from the North Caucasus by truck, but this
is now impossible, because the Verkhny Lars border checkpoint closed
in June in a disagreement between Russia and Georgia. The Ilyichevsk
port administration has refused to send our paper by ferryboat to
Poti. Our paper reserves will last until December 6."

Even if the ferry traffic resumes, it will be impossible to supply
paper on time. Certainly, Armenia may receive paper through Iran or
Turkey, but that would cost a pretty penny, Markosian said.