Author: admin

ARKA News Agency
July 13 2004

Armenia is interested in soonest retrofitting of Armenian companies
transferred to Russian in account of public debt redemption

RA Foreign Minister and CIS Executive Secretary note the necessity of
increase of the effectiveness of CIS structures activity

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen leave for Stepanakert

RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan receives USA Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia John Ordway in regard
with the completion of his diplomatic mission in Armenia

The agenda of the session of CIS Presidents’ Council discussed by RA
President and CIS Executive Secretary

*********************************************************************

ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN SOONEST RETROFITTING OF ARMENIAN COMPANIES
TRANSFERRED TO RUSSIAN IN ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC DEBT REDEMPTION

YEREVAN, July 13. /ARKA/. Armenia is interested in soonest
retrofitting of Armenian companies transferred to Russian in account
of public debt redemption, RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
stated at the meeting with his Russian colleague Mihail Fradkov. At
this he said that Armenian party is ready to make everything possible
for assistance to realization of scheduled programs.
During the meeting Prime Ministers also discussed perspectives of
deepening of cooperation in the sphere of small and medium business.
The parties paid attention to creation of joint companies in the
sphere of agriculture, involvement of Russian investments in food and
processing industry of Armenia and expanding of export-import volume
of agriculture products.
Serious attention was paid to cooperation in the sphere of transport
and communication. The parties stressed that today given sphere has
many unsettled issues that prevent development of cooperation between
the countries.
The Ministers also discussed one of basic directions of bilateral
economic cooperation – energy field and cooperation in the field of
gas supply. Margarian offred to discuss opportunities of
participation of Russian companies in realization of investment
projects in gas sphere of Armenia. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND CIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NOTE THE NECESSITY OF
INCREASE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CIS STRUCTURES ACTIVITY

YEREVAN, July 13. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met
today with CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo, RA MFA told
ARKA. During the meeting the parties discussed issues included in the
agenda of the sitting of CIS Foreign Ministers Council that will take
place on Sep.15, in Astana. Basic accent was put on the issues
directed on strengthening of cooperation of CIS country-members,
realization of important programs in economic sphere. The parties
also noted the necessity of increase of the effectiveness of CIS
structures activity and cooperation of CIS with international
organizations. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN LEAVE FOR STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, July 13. /ARKA/. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (USA) and Anri Jakolein (France)
left today for the capital of NKR – Stepanakert. During the meeting
co-chairmen will meet with the administration of the republic.
Co-chairmen also plan to meet with NGOs of Nagorno Karbakh. L.D.
–0–

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RA NA SPEAKER ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN RECEIVES USA AMBASSADOR
EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO ARMENIA JOHN ORDWAY IN REGARD
WITH THE COMPLETION OF HIS DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, July 13. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan received
USA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia John
Ordway in regard with the completion of his diplomatic mission in
Armenia. According to RA NA Public Relations Department, in the
course of the meeting Baghdasaryan wished the American Ambassador
success in his future activities, noting that a lot of work was done
to strengthen Armenian-American relations, including aid programs,
within the years Ordway was the USA Ambassador to Armenia. In his
turn Ordway attached importance to the development of democratic
processes in Armenia and continuation of the reforms. He noted that
the new Ameracn Ambassador to Armenia will keep contributing to the
process of development of friendly relations between Armenia and the
USA. A.H. – 0–

*********************************************************************

THE AGENDA OF THE SESSION OF CIS PRESIDENTS’ COUNCIL DISCUSSED BY RA
PRESIDENT AND CIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

YEREVAN, July 13. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian received the
CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo, who arrived in Yerevan in
the frames of the visit to the CIS states. According to RA
President’s Press Service Department, in the course of the meeting
Rushailo and Kocharian discussed issues connected with the agenda of
the session of the CIS Presidents’ Council to be held in September in
Astana. They also discussed some organizational issues connected with
the coordination of work of CIS Executive Committee, in particular,
issues connected with the reformation of the CIS Executive Committee
structure. A.H.–0 –

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA JOINS WASHINGTON, DC PROTEST TO STOP GENOCIDE IN SUDAN

— New York Congressman Charles Rangel Arrested
during Demonstration at Sudanese Embassy

“When human lives are in jeopardy, there should be outrage”
— Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
staff and activists joined with Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY)
and leading African American and human rights activists at a
demonstration today outside the Sudanese Embassy calling for U.S.
and international pressure to end the genocide in the Darfur region
of Sudan.

The protest, organized by the Sudan Campaign, featured the arrest
of Congressman Rangel, a senior New York legislator who serves as
the Ranking Member on the influential U.S. House Ways & Means
Committee. He was arrested for trespassing by the police after
stepping to the door of the Embassy. He was released within hours
from a Washington, DC jail after paying bail of fifty dollars.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, Government Affairs Director
Abraham Niziblian and the ANCA “Leo Sarkisian” Internship program
participants, led by Director Arsineh Khachikian, joined the noon-
time protest which included some hundred and fifty activists and
representatives from a diverse coalition of Sudan Campaign partner
organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus, Center for
Religious Freedom at Freedom House, Institute on Religion and
Democracy, American Anti-slavery group, Wilberforce Project, and
Christian Solidarity International, among others.

“We marched today, in the name of all Armenians, to do our part to
help end the cycle of genocide,” said Hamparian. “As the
descendents of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, we bear a
special burden to fight intolerance and to demand moral leadership
– and decisive action – from our government to prevent hundreds of
thousands of deaths in Darfur.”

During the demonstration, Niziblian, in an interview with the
Associated Press (AP), was quoted as saying that, “A lot more
people should be protesting and taking to the streets now.” This
AP report, along with several photos from the demonstration, have
since appeared in New York NewsDay, CBS News wire, and a host of
other publications and media outlets. Significantly, the lead AP
photo featured Congressman Rangel, in handcuffs, being escorted by
police with an “Armenians against Genocide” poster in the
background.

The Sudan Campaign is led by Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, co-founder of
the Congressional Black Caucus, and Joe Madison, a civil rights
activist and radio personality in the Greater Washington, DC area.
The group has been holding noon-time protests in front of the
Sudanese Embassy for the past month, during which several leading
human and civil rights activists have been arrested.

Speaking to the protestors prior to his arrest, Congressman Rangel
said, “When human lives are in jeopardy, there should be outrage.”
During his remarks, Madison announced that he is launching a hunger
strike until the Sudanese government takes action to end the
obstruction of humanitarian assistance from reaching hundreds of
thousands in need in Darfur.

On Wednesday, July 14th, Robert Edgar, a former member of Congress
and the current president of the National Council of Churches, will
be arrested in front of the Sudanese Embassy. Similar protests are
planned in Boston, New York, San Antonio, San Diego and Toronto.

Over the past month, the ANCA has called attention to the
atrocities in Sudan through a series of letters to Congressional
offices, urging them to take a stand to stop the cycle of genocide
through support of Congressional initiatives regarding Sudan as
well as for the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193, S.Res.164), which
reaffirms U.S. commitment to the principles of the Genocide
Convention. On June 23rd, Niziblian participated in a press
conference organized by the Congressional Black Caucus and Africa
Action. The ANCA has urged Armenian Americans to add their names
to the Africa Action petition drive for Sudan, by visiting

Some 30,000 have already perished over the past 18 months in
Darfur, Sudan, with approximately one million forced to flee their
homes. If the Sudanese government does not take action to allow
the distribution of international humanitarian assistance, the
death toll could rise to 350,000, according to conservative
estimates.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
AMERICANS FOR ARTSAKH
Contact: Hrant Jamgochian
[email protected]
Tel: 202-215-1800

July 13, 2004

ARTSAKH SEISMOLOGISTS PRESENT FINDINGS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Americans For Artsakh Organization Sponsors Their Participation

WASHINGTON, DC – Two seismologists from Nagorno Karabakh recently
participated in the “2004 Disaster Resistant California” international
conference in Sacramento, CA. The Executive Director of the Eastern
Department of the National Survey for Seismic Protection Boris
Petrosyan along with the Department’s Head of Foreign Affairs Naira
Hambardzumyan represented Artsakh in the conference, which was
attended by more than 500 seismologists from around the world. The
Americans for Artsakh (AFA) Organization sponsored the participation
of Karabakh seismologists in close cooperation with both the NKR
Foreign Ministry and NKR Office in the United States.

“We are extremely appreciative of the Americans For Artsakh
organization for their support,” said Boris Petrosyan. “This
conference allowed us to share our experiences in Artsakh with many of
our international colleagues. As a result, we gained valuable
information that will be applied to upgrade our systems.”

Petrosyan and Hambardzumyan presented a report along with the results
of their extensive research on the psychological impact of severe
earthquakes. Their findings emphasized the importance of preparing
the public to be resilient in times of crisis in order to better
address the challenges of such disasters. The panel discussion that
followed underscored the importance of addressing both the emotional
as well as the physical needs of those affected.

The seismologists from Artsakh, in talks with their counterparts from
around the world, discussed ways to increase cooperation. Some of the
California seismologists provided Petrosyan with literature, software
and other digital products dealing with forest fires, regional
information, conduct of the population during seismic threats and
other materials on up-to-date technologies.

The Eastern Department of the National Survey for Seismic Protection
currently works with seismological centers in Russia, Greece, Georgia,
and Azerbaijan as well as Japan and Iran. During a recent interview
with the Azat Artsakh daily newspaper Petrosyan noted that the
participation of the Artsakh delegation demonstrated that the Artsakh
Seismic Department was entering a new phase of international
cooperation.

“With Artsakh excluded from virtually all U.S. and internationally
sponsored educational and development programs, the Americans For
Artsakh organization is making education one of its top priorities,”
noted AFA President Zaven Khanjian. “We are delighted that our
support enabled the Seismic Department of Artsakh to participate in
this important conference. On behalf of the Board of Directors for
the Americans For Artsakh, I would like to express our gratitude to
Mr. and Mrs. Arsene Baran, Mr. & Mrs. Vahan Bezdikian, Dr. Nazareth
Darakjian, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Moses, and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Tufenkian,
who provided additional funding for this endeavor.”

Americans For Artsakh is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
organization established to preserve freedom, strengthen democracy,
foster economic development, protect the cultural identity and promote
the heritage of the people of Artsakh. The founding Board of
Directors include: Zaven Khanjian, President; Dr. Hratch Abrahamian,
Vice President; Savey Tufenkian, Treasurer; Rita Balian, Secretary;
and Edward Chobanian. To learn more visit:

The full text of Boris Petrosyan’s interview with Azat Artsakh is
available at:
;t=archive&d=22&m=05&y04&id=1459

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
July 13 2004

French Armenians to Protest Erdogan

Armenian Associations in France are busily preparing a series of
protests to greet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he
begins a three-day visit to Paris on July 19.

The Coordination Council of Armenian Associations in France, FRA
Tasnaksutiun and ADL Ramgayar associations invited Armenians to
protests to be held against Erdogan in Paris and Marseille on July
20. An announcement from the groups points out that Erdogan will come
to France seeking support for Turkey’s European Union (EU)
membership.

“We are not able to accept the EU membership of a Turkey that refuses
the claims of genocide. We cannot allow Erdogan to misinform the
public and run a public relations campaign,” says the announcement.

The associations claim that Ankara is running a large scale
propaganda campaign aimed at showing that Turkey has fulfilled the
Copenhagen Criteria. In response, the associations are calling upon
Armenians to join in the ‘No to Turkey’ campaign.

Erdogan is set to meet with French President Jacques Chirac, Prime
Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin as well as the leaders of political
parties and businessmen during his visit.

07.13.2004
Ali Ihsan Aydin
Paris

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

allAfrica.com

$200 for Winners

New Vision (Kampala)

July 13, 2004
Posted to the web July 13, 2004

Phillip Corry
Kampala

UGANDA’s Davis Cup tennis team will earn $200(sh0.35m) if they beat Rwanda
in their Euro/Africa Group IV qualifiers in Moldova.

“Please beat Rwanda and I will give the entire team $200 for that,” John
Nagenda, presidential advisor on media and public relations said while
seeing off the team at Mosa Courts. “I wish you well. Carry the national
flag with pride.”

The team was hosted by sponsors Mosa Court apartments. Celtel Uganda, Jesa
Dairy Farm, and CAA are the other sponsors.

Other companies that helped them in their cause include MTN Uganda, UTL
Uganda, Spear Motors, Ultimate Security, NCS and MOES.

The team left on Saturday for Moldova where they play in the Euro/Africa
Group IV qualifiers.

They will compete against Armenia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Botswana, Malta,
Mauritius, Moldova and Rwanda.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Age
July 14 2004

Drug cloud over male lifter
By Roy Masters

The Australian Olympic Committee believes Australia’s sole male
weightlifter nominated for the Athens Olympics, Sergo Chakhoyen, went
into hiding for three-and-a-half months before finally being
drug-tested in Armenia last Thursday.

Acknowledging difficulties in obtaining details of Chakhoyen’s
overseas address, AOC president John Coates said: “Clearly, there
were some issues concerning the provision of his whereabouts
information and we should wait for the results of these tests.”

The AOC has deferred an announcement on Chakhoyen’s selection in the
team for the Games until the tests results are known.

The Australian Sports Drug Agency has told the AOC it had asked the
Austrian agency that tested Chakhoyen to expedite the analysis at a
Vienna laboratory, with the test results expected late this week.

Chakhoyen, who represented Armenia at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, is
rated No. 1 in the 85-kilogram class and won a gold medal at last
year’s world weightlifting championships in Vancouver, Canada.

He has been an Australian resident since 1997 but returned to
Armenia before Christmas, after briefly stopping in Melbourne to
celebrate his world championship gold medal in the snatch and bronze
medals in the clean and jerk and total.

The AOC sought information on his location following a directive from
the World Anti-Doping Agency that all potential athletes for the
Athens Olympics declare their whereabouts and be tested from March
31.

When the Australian Weightlifting Federation advised the AOC on June
23 that Chakhoyen would be unavailable for competition at the
national championships in Melbourne from June 26 for “personal family
reasons”, the search for Chakhoyen intensified.

The AOC sent a letter to the president of the Australian
Weightlifting Federation, Sam Coffa, on June 24 requesting
information on Chakhoyen’s whereabouts and it took another two weeks
to locate the 34-year-old.

Chakhoyen tested positive at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane in
September 2001 and completed his mandatory two-year suspension last
year.

His Vancouver success was the second time Chakhoyen has been world
champion.

He won his weight category while representing Armenia at the 1994
world championships in Turkey.

Chakhoyen finished fifth at the Sydney Olympics representing
Australia.

Coates reflected concerns over Chakhoyen in a letter to the chief
executive of ASDA, John Mendoza, last Friday.

Coates referred to “recent ASDA concerns regarding the whereabouts
information supplied in respect of weightlifter Sergo Chakhoyen who
was eventually tested in Armenia overnight”.

Chakhoyen has been tested only once in 12 months, before last
Thursday’s test in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 13 2004

RUSSIA-ARMENIA: ECONOMIC TIES TO RISE TO POLITICAL CONTACTS’ LEVEL,
SAYS FRADKOV

MOSCOW, July 13 (RIA Novosti) – Bilateral problems related to Russian
capital investment in Armenia will soon be settled, reassured Mikhail
Fradkov, Russia’s Prime Minister. He was addressing the media to sum
up Moscow negotiations with Andranik Margaryan, his Armenian
counterpart.

A recent arrangement envisages Armenia paying its foreign debt in
kind, with government companies privatized in Russia’s favor. Russia
is to respond with capital investment in the Armenian economy-but is
marking time. A reporter asked Mr. Fradkov why. “The matter needs
in-depth studies, promotion and coordination between involved
companies-but it will be settled quite soon. We [Russians] are
interested in buying up more projects. The issue is certainly not
exhausted by far,” he replied.

As for today’s agenda, it involved a wide range of commercial,
investment and other aspects of bilateral economic contacts.

“The intergovernmental commission will gather for its nearest session
within the year to discuss economic, humanitarian and
military-technological partnership, and Armenia’s prospects to pay
its debt by ceding property to Russia, its creditor.

“We have reserves which we have not used up, and are in duty bound to
raise bilateral economic contacts to the level of what we have in
politics.”

Russia is interested in updating military technologies it has
exported to Armenia. “Our military-technological partnership is
gaining momentum. Russian higher educational establishments are
training the Armenian military, and either Party is eager, and able
to make the links ever closer as Russia updates its previous
military-oriented exports to Armenia, and supplies spare parts.

“Gas-industrial contacts are also making dynamic progress. A related
cooperation agreement will be ready within a few days.”

Both countries’ interests lie not merely in fuel and power supplies
but spreading them to third countries’ markets, Mr. Fradkov went on.

Russia is enthusiastic about the Russian language use increasing in
Armenia. Its tuition spectacularly improves. Russia is eagerly
helping-in particular, with study book donations. A total of 55,000
copies came in within the preceding two years alone. Armenia
presently has 65 secondary schools with extended Russian language
curricula, plus fifty Russian language classes: Armenians need a
working command of Russian as bilateral relations are ever improving,
said Mikhail Fradkov.

Andranik Margaryan, too, highlighted his country’s great public
respect for the Russian language. “Armenian-Russian economic ties
help to improve language tuition, which life itself has made a must,”
he stressed.

An intergovernmental agreement on educational partnership was signed
today, following the prime-ministerial negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh’s security important to OSCE – Armenian MP

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
12 Jul 04

The Armenian deputy speaker has said that the OSCE is in favour of
ensuring Nagornyy Karabakh’s security. According to Vaan Ovanesyan,
the special representative of the OSCE for the Karabakh problem, Goran
Lennmarker, does not see Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan and his report
on the conflict settlement does not mention Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. Nor does the report contain any mechanisms for settling the
conflict, he said. The following is the text of report by Armenian
Public TV on 12 July:

[Presenter] The special representative of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly on Nagornyy Karabakh, Goran Lennmarker, attaches great
importance to the security of Karabakh. The deputy speaker of the
Armenian National Assembly, Vaan Ovanesyan, today denied reports that
the special representative of the OSCE for the Karabakh problem had
spoken about the return of the occupied [Azerbaijani] territories. On
the contrary, Vaan Ovanesyan said, the Azerbaijanis were seriously
dissatisfied with the document which did not point to Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, did not mention the Artsakh [Karabakh] problem
and attached great importance to the security of Nagornyy Karabakh.

[Correspondent over video of meeting] Mr Lennmarker, the special
representative of the OSCE for Nagornyy Karabakh, asked not to
publicize the contents of his report, as it is still a draft. Vaan
Ovanesyan said that this document does not put forward any settlement
mechanisms. As some Armenian media representatives said, commenting on
the return of the occupied territories, Vaan Ovanesyan added that the
document says all the occupied territories must be liberated and
cleared from the land mines for future resettlement. But it does not
say who the occupied territories belong to.

[Vaan Ovanesyan] There are many documents which speak about the
territories occupied by Azerbaijan. There is nothing about the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan there.

Second, the document does not speak about the administrative return of
the territory, it applies only to the conflict settlement.

Third, the document does not say who has occupied the territories. We
tried to clarify this in the presence of Azerbaijani MPs and asked Mr
Lennmarker whether the expression “occupied territories” implies
villages occupied by Azerbaijan, for example, Shaumyan [Goranboy
District], Mardakert [Agdara] and part of Martuni [Xocavand] occupied
by Azerbaijan. Mr Lennmarker said yes.

[Correspondent] In his report, Mr Lennmarker suggested setting up a
reconciliation commission which would include representatives of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani sides. As for the refugees, it was noted
without repeatedly mentioning the territories that they must be
granted the right to return home if they wish and get back their
lands.

[Vaan Ovanesyan] The document does not mention the territories we are
always concerned about – Shusha [Susa], Lachin [Lacin] and other
territories which are of strategic importance.

[Correspondent] The main section of the document, which is the most
important to us, is that the security of Nagornyy Karabakh must be
ensured.

[Vaan Ovanesyan] Lennmarker did not mention the settlement [of the
Karabakh conflict], which is important to us. He does not see Karabakh
as part of Azerbaijan. In general, he did not mention the issue of its
status. Irrespective of the final settlement, the security of Karabakh
must be ensured. This is the main point of the document signed by all
the factions of the previous National Assembly, which is the main
guarantee for the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

The Azerbaijanis were dissatisfied that the document did not mention
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Tatevik Nalbandyan for “Aylur”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 13 2004

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN DISCUSS KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, July 13 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
and OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven
Mann (U.S.) and Henry Jackolin (France) discussed prospects of
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

RIA Novosti was told in the press service of the Armenian president
that the Russian, U.S. and French ambassadors in Armenia took part in
the meeting.

The Minsk group co-chairmen met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan.

“During the meeting, the co-chairmen submitted a generalized variant
of their own observations in regard to meetings held at the level of
presidents and foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well
as prospects to settle the Karabakh conflict,” RIA Novosti was told
in the Armenian Foreign Ministry information and press department.

In this connection, Mr. Oskanyan again specified Armenia’s position
on the issue of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia gets 23m dollars from World Bank to improve water supplies

Arminfo
9 Jul 04

YEREVAN

Armvodokanal [Armenian water canal] and the World Bank have signed a
credit programme to the tune of 23m dollars for 40 years to restore
Armenia’s system of water supplies, the head of the Armenian State
Committee for Water Resources, Andranik Andreasyan, told reporters at
a press conference today.

The programme aims to choose a new operator in the system of water
supplies. The French company [Water Utility] Saur was chosen as a new
operator in a tender. The State Committee for Water Resources is
planning to submit the package of the credit programme during the
autumn session of the Armenian National Assembly.

Moreover, two programmes of the German KfW bank to the tune of 94m
euros are being prepared for the Armenian water supplies company Nor
Akunk that operates in Armavir Region. For the implementation of the
first programme which envisages restoration work in Armavir Region,
the German government will allocate a 14m-euro credit. The second
programme, designed for restoration work in the country’s Lori and
Shirak Regions, will be carried out stage-by-stage. The overall
funding of the programme is 80m euros, and 25m euros will be
channelled into the implementation of the first stage.

Andreasyan said that due to the need for massive work in these areas,
the government of Germany has decided to allocate one third of the 25
euros (about 8m dollars) as a grant.

The security problem in all operating reservoirs will be resolved with
the World Bank’s new credit programme amounting to 7.5m dollars, the
head of the Armenian State Committee for Water Resources, Andranik
Andreasyan, told reporters at the press conference today.

The programme will be a continuation of the already implemented World
Bank programme to maintain security in strategic reservoirs, he
said. Andreasyan also said that a programme of developing irrigation
systems is being prepared at the moment. He said that for the time
being, 54 leading organizations are operating in the country’s
irrigation system, whereas only one big company Dzhirar is engaged in
water supplies.

New tariffs have been established for services in the irrigation
system at present, Andreasyan said. Thus, one cubic metre of
irrigation water in Yerevan is 90 drams and 100 drams outside the
capital. The difference in tariffs is explained by the fact that 45
pumping stations, which consume great amounts of energy, are operating
in rural areas.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress