Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA NEEDS LAWS TO REGULATE ACTIVITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 2 2006

YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. Armenia needs laws that will regulate
the activity of local government bodies, Vahan Movsisyan, president
of the Union of Community Financiers (UCF) reported at the round
table on the topic "Role of Local Government Bodies in Encouraging
Economic Development".

He said that the activity of local authorities in Armenia is not
systematized and regulated.

Movsisyan pointed out that private entrepreneurship can successfully
develop in those communities where stability of the system of
infrastructures is ensured. "The principal element of our support is
expected to bring the existing infrastructures to the level that will
be attractive for business," he said.

Besides this, it is necessary to create certain ways to influence
representatives of the business environment. "This influence can
be exerted by provision of certain tax breaks for local government
bodies. In this case, the profit from business should be regarded as
the income of the given community," he said.

In this relation, the UCF president pointed out that there is lack
of mid- and long-term development programs in communities. On their
basis, the government’s and donors’ support could be obtained.

"It is important to begin a simultaneous work on elaboration of the
relevant laws and search of funds.

YEREVAN ARRANGEMENTS WITH GAZPROM IMPLEMENTED
by Mikhail Petrov

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Oct 30 2006

All of Yerevan’s arrangements with Gazprom are being implemented,
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Monday.

"All serious talks on energy projects with Gazprom enter the stage of
implementation," Kocharyan said. In this connection he remarked that
the situation with capital investment, when Russia rates third for the
volume of investment in Armenia, should change. "This situation will
surely change over next year; I have no doubt of that," Kocharyan said.

He also said the implementation of the "Armenal" project, to be one
of the biggest enterprises in the region, had begun a few days ago.

("Armenal" will account by 2008 for up to 2.5 percent of world output
of thin foil – Itar-Tass).

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE’S REPORTERS FOR AZERBAIJAN

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 1 2006

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with visiting reporters of the
Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe for Azerbaijan Tony Lloyd and Andres Herkel, press service of
the Ministry said.

Mr. Mammadyarov spoke of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, describing it as Azerbaijan’s major problem, and
saying the dispute poses a serious threat to the entire region.

He said Armenia, which is a member of the Council of Europe, occupied
twenty percent of Azerbaijan’s territory forcing about million of
Azerbaijanis to flee their homelands.

"The international community should warn Armenia that a country,
which tries to become a part of Europe, should refrain from such acts
and withdraw its forces from Azerbaijan", the Azeri Minister noted.

Elmar Mammadyarov also spoke of Azerbaijan’s integration into European
and Euroatlantic structures.

The guests stressed the need to find a quick solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, stressing it is important to both sides.

TILL DEFINITION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S STATUS, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN SHOULD BE RESTORED – DEP. CHIEF OF AZERI PRESIDENT’S APPARAT
Author: A.Ismaylova

TREND information, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2006

The Prague process firstly envisages the full restoration of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the Head of the International
Relations Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Apparat Novruz
Mammadov told, commenting on the statement of the Armenian side
regarding the necessity of defining the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
before resolving other issues within the regulation of the
conflict,Trendreports.

He stressed that according to the phased solution of the conflict,
firstly all districts around Nagorno-Karabakh should be released,
refugees and internally displaced persons should be returned to
Nagorno-Karabakh, and only after this, it is possible to begin
discussions for the status of this region.

AUTO-FOCUSING SYSTEM FOR LASER CUTTING AND ENGRAVING AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEMS DEVELOPED AT YSU OPTICS DEPARTMENT

Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A group of scientists of the
Optics Department of Yerevan State University (YSU) developed an
auto-focusing system for laser cutting and engraving automated control
systems. Artur Galstyan, a scientist of the department laboratory,
stated this. According to him, the auto-focusing system will solve
the problem of surface cutting without leaving burning marks. It can
be used during development of material of organic origin, as well
as metal surfaces with some initial curvature. Besides, the system
can be used in machine-tools with laser lamps which were produced in
the Soviet time and are not produced now. Their current price is 150
dollars, whereas only six months ago they cost 100 dollars. It was
noted that the cost price of the laser focusing system developed at
YSU makes 600 dollars and it can be sold at 1,000 dollars, while new
foreign machine-tools with an auto-focusing system cost as much as
50-150 thousand dollars. A. Galstian said that the Optics Department
of Yerevan State University has developed the laser auto-focusing
system in cooperation with Rubin Ltech CJSC (Armenia).

A MEETING DEVOTED TO ISSUE OF PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT OF GUAM MEMBER-STATES LIKELY TO BE HELD IN BAKU
Author: E.Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006

The first issue that was raised and discussed during the meeting
held with Armenian Defence Minister Serg Sarkisyan was an issue
on withdrawal of the Armenian occupation forces from the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, Safar Abiyev, Azerbaijan`s Defence Minister
told today, Trend reports.

He also told that a meeting of the Defence Ministers of CIS
member-states is expected to be held in a week where the Azerbaijani
Defence Minister will also participate. In addition, an issue
on holding a meeting of the Chiefs of the General Staffs of GUAM
member-states inn Baku to discuss an issue on forming a peacekeeping
element within this organization is under consideration now as well.

At present, works on the status of this element are underway. Issues
connected with the staff of the forthcoming element are under on
consideration now.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN UNION OF RA FM IS APPOINTED CONSUL GENERAL OF ARMENIA TO LOS ANGELES

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006

By the order of RA FM, Vardan Oskanyan, the Head of the Department of
the European Union of RA Foreign Ministry, Armen Liloyan, is appointed
today to the post of the Consul General to Los Angeles.

As ArmInfo was told in the RA FM’s press-service, Armen Liloyan was
born in 1971 in Yerevan. He has graduated from the Yerevan State
University, the Faculty of Oriental Studies. He received the master’s
degree in the London Academy. A. Liloyan has been working in the
system of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry since 1995. He had been working
in the diplomatic mission to Great Britain in 1998-2002. A. Liloyan
heads the Department of the European Union since 2002.

HISARCIKLIOGLU ON FRENCH RESOLUTION

Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006

PARIS – "I am having difficulty in understanding why a country like
France, which is a pioneer in democracy, secularism and freedom of
expression, has brought up a resolution on making denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide a crime," said Rifat Hisarciklioglu,
the Chairman of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB).

Hisarciklioglu, who is actually in French capital of Paris to
lobby against the resolution presented by the Socialist Party, met
representatives of Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) and French
chambers of commerce at a dinner last night.

After the dinner, Hisarciklioglu told Turkish reporters that he
expressed their concerns over the resolution.

Hisarciklioglu stated that Turkish-French relations would be hurt if
the resolution is adopted.

"I told my French colleagues that they should behave with common
sense and logic, and not with their feelings," he added.

REPORT REGARDING NAGORNO-KARABAKH DELIVERED IN NATO PA ROUZ ROUT SEMINAR
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

The delegation of Azerbaijan delivered a report regarding the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the 64th Seminar Rouz Rout held within
the framework of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a member of the
Azerbaijani delegation in NATO PA, MP Zahid Oruj told Trend.

Azerbaijan was represented at the seminar by the deputies of the
Azerbaijani Parliament Zahid Oruj and Elman Mammadov. The seminar
focused on the role of the international community in settling the
conflict in Pridnestrov, reforms with regard to defense in Moldavia
and other issues.

Oruj stressed that the report had been prepared on the basis of the
speculation of Armenia regarding human rights and democracy to bring
its independency into legal frameworks. "After the speech of the OSCE
representative, Elman Mammadov delivered a report. He spoke about
the inactive position of OSCE in this process and stressed that it
helps the aggressive policy," Oruj stated.

In addition, he pointed out that no documents have been adopted in such
seminars. Such seminars serve the study of the positions and implement
the function of brain center. "Necessary opinions are collected, the
speeches are systematized and on the base of it, NATO forms its policy
from these regions," the Deputy said. Furthermore he underlined that
the Armenian delegation did not participate at the seminar. Only the
French Ambassador to Moldavia, Armenian by origin, attended the event.

Oruj stressed that such seminars take place in various venues.

Previously such a seminar was held in Crimea. "It is planned to
hold such a seminar in Georgia. But the date of the seminar is not
confirmed as yet," he emphasized.

It should be mentioned that the 64th Rouz Rout Seminar took place in
Kishinev from 19 – 23 October.

ARMENIA MAY HAVE NATIONAL ANTHEM WITHOUT LYRICS

AZG Armenian Daily
24/10/2006

After long-lasting public discussions and debates of musical experts,
the commission formed for selection of Armenian new state anthem
approved the music composed by the great Armenian composer Aram
Khachaturian for the anthem of the Soviet Armenia. At the same time,
the commission disapproved of all of the 85 texts for the anthem
submitted for the commission’s consideration.

At present, in case, RA Government and RA National Assembly approve
the abovementioned decision of the commission, our country may have
an anthem without any lyrics for a while, until a new competition
for the anthem text is announced. The royalties for the best music
amounts to AMD 700, 000. Most likely this sum will be transferred to
Aram Khachatrian’s Memorial House.

It’s worth mentioning that the majority of the Armenian intelligentsia
have disapproved the previous anthem.