Author: Basmajian Ani

RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR MINSK ON JUNE 23 TO PARTICIPATE IN SESSION OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION COUNCIL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 22 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA President Robert
Kocharian will leave for Minsk on June 23 to participate in the regular
session of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO).

The session will follow sittings of the CSTO Foreign Ministers’,
Defence Ministers’ Councils and Security Council Secretaries’
Committee.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the President’s Press Office, the
session will open by a meeting of a narrow staff of heads of states
during which exchange of opinions will take place concerning the
military-state situations in the zone of responsibility.

Then the plenary sitting will take place in which Foreign Ministers,
Defence Ministers and Security Council Secretaries will participate
joint with heads of member states of the organization.

Primary directions of the CSTO activity will become a subject for
discussion. It is envisaged to adopt a Declaration on the CSTO future
improvement and increase of effeciency of its activity.

A number of documents will be signed during the session which will
widen the normative-legal basis of mutual cooperation of member states
of the organization in the political and military spheres.

The President of Armenia will participate in Minsk as an observer
in work of the interstate council’s sitting of the Eurasian Economic
Community.

The delegation headed by the President of the republic will return
Yerevan on the same day.

REPUBLICAN SUGGESTS CREATING THREATS AND BATTLING THEM

Lragir.am
21 June 06

If Andranik Hovanisyan, deputy leader of the All-Armenian Movement
thinks that dual nationality is not beneficial for Armenia, and
they battled it with the Republican Party in 1995, Samvel Nikoyan,
Republican, thinks that dual nationality would solve the problem
of unification of Armenians, and the way for investments in Armenia
would open for the Diaspora.

In answer to the remark of Lragir.am that Ernekyan, Tufenkyan,
Kerkoryan, Gafesjyan made big investments in Armenia not being
citizens of Armenia, Samvel Nikoyan says they are individuals,
"whereas our objective is cooperation with the entire Diaspora.

And the entire Diaspora does not consist of these individuals."

Samvel Nikoyan admits that powerful countries such as the United
States and Russia do not encourage dual nationality, whereas we need
dual nationality, because "we are not a powerful country but we want
to be powerful, and one of the possible ways of becoming powerful is
the Diaspora." Andranik Hovakimyan, All-Armenian Movement, assures
that there are people in the Diaspora, who feel attached with the
homeland independent from all, and on the contrary, there are people
who do not know where Armenia is independent from all.

Nikoyan admits that the adoption of dual nationality creates threats
for the national security, but the Republican is able to battle
these consequences. Samvel Nikoyan declined to answer the question
of Lragir.am "What is the point of creating a source of threat first
and then battle it."

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT AJARIA IN JULY

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by the Georgian
Minister of Economic Development Irakli Chogovadze was received
on June 17 by the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. The
delegation visited Yerevan in connection with opening a direct railway
communication Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan.

NT was informed about it from the RA Government Information and
PR Department.

Noting the dynamic development of economic and political
relations between Armenia and Georgia, the sides underlined the
importance of timely and efficient implementation of mutually
decisions and agreements. A. Margarian indicated the opening of
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan railway communication as the best evidence of
it. According to him, the agreement on the launching of this direct
railway communication was reached during his meeting with the Georgian
President and the Prime Minister last summer. Congratulating each other
on this important event, the interlocutors expressed confidence that
the improvement of transport communication between the two countries
will undoubtedly be a stimulus for cooperation and promotion of trade
and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia.

I. Chogovadze expressed confidence that the opening of
Yerevan-Batumi-Yerevan railway communication will encourage
development of tourism between the two countries. According to him,
the Georgian government is making considerable investments in Ajaria
for infrastructure improvement: road repairs, hotel construction,
reconstruction of the airport, etc, thanks to which it is envisaged
to receive about 50 thousand tourists from Armenia instead of 20
thousand last year.

The sides also addressed the problems of Javakhk. I. Chogovadze said
that being aware of the urgency to solve the socioeconomic problems
of the region, the Georgian authorities have already allocated funds
for repairs of infrastructures, especially roads, in Javakhk.

A. Margarian said that he will visit Ajaria during the sitting of
Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission to be held this July.

"NKR: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE": INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEPANAKERT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 20 2006

June 21 the international scientific conference titled "Nagorno
Karabakh Republic: Past, Present, Future" dedicated to the 15th
Anniversary of the NKR’s declaration starts at the Artsakh State
University in Stepanakert.

About 200 representatives of over ten countries, including France,
the U.S., Russia, Germany, the U. K. and Armenia, will participate in
the conference initiated by the Republic government, the NKR Minister
of Education, Culture and Sport Kamo Atayan said in an interview
with DE FACTO Agency. "Holding such a representative conference we
will again confirm that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a reality,
a state that de facto exists having all necessary state structures",
the Minister said. According to Kamo Atayan, the fact that "the NKR is
developing under conditions of blockade, taking into consideration that
the Republic has not been recognized by the international community"
is of peculiar interest.

There will be three sections in the course of the conference
– historical, cultural, as well as political-legal and
social-economic. Kamo Atayan said for the first time the section
of culture would be held in the Gandzasar Monastery (XIII century)
in the NKR Martakert region.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH TO VISIT ISTANBUL

AP Worldstream
Jun 20, 2006

The head of the Armenian Orthodox Church is to begin a weeklong visit
to the Armenian community of Istanbul on Tuesday, where he will also
meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

Karekin II, whose official title is Catholicos of All Armenians, has
issued statements saying Turks committed genocide against Armenians
around the time of World War I. Turkish nationalist protests during
his visit are likely.

Turkey has no relations with Armenia, and vehemently denies that Turks
committed genocide, saying Armenians who lived under the Ottoman
Empire were killed in internal fighting among ethnic groups as the
empire collapsed.

Armenia prides itself on being the first nation in the world to
officially adopt Christianity, while Turkey is 99 percent Muslim.

OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING OPEN IN BAKU

IRNA, Iran
June 19 2006

The 33rd meeting of Foreign Ministers of Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) opened here on Monday with an inaugural speech by
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

Foreign ministers of 51 member states are attending the meeting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is heeding the Iranian
delegation to Baku.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan Republic advocates solidarity and close
relations among Islamic nations and hoped that the meeting would
serve to reinforce Muslim solidarity.

The Azeri president also called for strengthening of OIC and said
that solidarity among the member states would be effective for OIC
in adopting position on various international issues.

Aliyev expressed concern that certain states are attributing terrorist
actions to Islam adding that Islam is religion of peace, tolerance
and it has nothing to do with terrorism.

"It is major concern that certain states are stirring up Islamophobia
in the modern world which is the era of dialogue of civilizations. It
is unfortunate that propaganda campaign is underway against Muslims
and religious discrimination has been escalated in Western states."

Azeri president called on OIC to take strong action against
discriminations certain states are perpetrating against Muslims.

He said that progress and development in the region need peace and
tranquility thanking the Islamic governments for supporting Azerbaijan
in the Karabakh conflict.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that Islamic nations
are passing a very critical period and called on Muslim nations to
usher in a historical opportunity to enforce goals of Islam.

He expressed concern about the human tragedy in Palestine, the
Philippines and the crisis being escalated over Iranian nuclear
program.

He deplored Israel actions for the ongoing human tragedy against
defenseless Palestinians and said that OIC condemns Israel for
occupying Palestinian territories and expelling Palestinians from
their homeland.

Ihsanoglu also condemned use of force and abduction in Iraq and said
the OIC demands immediate resolution of Iraqi crisis.

The secretary general said that OIC has decided to open a
representative office in Baghdad soon.

OIC secretary general called for immediate end to crisis in Kashmir,
Karabakh, the Philippines, and conflict in Somalia.

He expressed outrage at desecration of the Islamic sanctities and
blaspheming Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in certain Western publications
and said that OIC has embarked on propagation of Islamic teachings
in Western states to neutralize such anti-Islam scenario.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and
the Council of Europe are taking part in the meeting as observers.

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS DEDICATED TO PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH DUAL CITIZENSHIP TO BE HELD ON JUNE 23

Noyan Tapan
Jun 16 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. At the suggestion of the ARF
Dashnaktsutiun faction, on June 23, RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations will organize enlarged parliamentary hearings dedicated to
problems of dual citizenship. As faction head Hrayr Karapetian informed
at the June 16 press briefing, after the discussion ARFD will start
to compile the bill itself. Then the faction will work out a number
of important bills, in particular, "On Yerevan Status," "On Control
Chamber." It is planned that they be adopted at the parliament in
autumn. "If all these important laws are adopted, we will consider
that the National Assembly has completed its historic mission with
an honor," H.Karapetian mentioned. He also said that during summer
the party is going to have many meetings with the people, as well as
to organize reception of citizens by visiting different regions.

LAWMAKERS FOCUS ON FOREIGN TRADE
By Judy Lin
Sacramento Bee

Monterey County Herald, CA
June 19 2006

SACRAMENTO – California’s foreign trade offices — taxpayer-funded
enterprises disbanded three years ago amid scandal and budget woes
— are staging a comeback despite lingering questions about their
usefulness.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and some legislators are once again
trumpeting the value of trade promotion for the sixth-largest economy
in the world. In recent months, the governor has established an
undersecretary for international trade, while lawmakers have proposed
resurrecting outposts in Seoul, South Korea, and Johannesburg,
South Africa.

In coming weeks, the Legislature is expected to take up bills that
call for developing a comprehensive trade strategy and moving the
state back into the business of operating trade offices.

Such a move has raised eyebrows among trade experts who believe former
state offices were mismanaged. Some have questioned whether the state
should even have trade offices.

"Historically, they have not been very successful. In fact,
they have been somewhat disastrous," said trade consultant Jock
O’Connell. "There’s this feeling in the state Capitol that California
needs to be represented by the state. The real California is superbly
well represented in the form of 57,000 exporting companies."

California’s 12 trade offices were shut down in 2003 — along with the
rest of the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency — after critical
news reports and damaging audits appeared.

At the time the state had more than 90 workers spanning the globe,
from Hong Kong to London. Their charge was simple: Help California
businesses sell their products abroad while luring foreign investment
to the state. Last year, the state exported $116.8 billion worth
of goods.

But the legislative analyst’s office and the state auditor’s office
questioned the effectiveness of such offices.

The offices were accused of taking credit regardless of how much
involvement they had in facilitating a deal.

"For instance, an office may only have provided a list of foreign
companies potentially interested in a product developed by a California
business. However, the agency counted the total value of a subsequent
export agreement," according to one legislative analyst report.

The Orange County Register quantified the overstated benefits at
$44.2 million for one year.

In the end, only one trade office survived. The California Armenia
Trade Office was subsequently transferred to the authority of the
Business, Housing and Transportation Agency, where it remains today.

Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, salvaged the trade office by requiring
that it thrive on private donations. Scott’s district is home to the
largest Armenian community in America.

Scott considers the Armenia office a pilot project that could, perhaps,
become a model for future trade offices. Unlike its predecessors,
the office is funded through $75,000 in private donations, must
file evaluation reports, and will automatically close in 2008 unless
reauthorized by the Legislature.

"We’re learning from mistakes of the past," Scott said.

But experts say accepting private donations is bad public policy.

Jeffrey Gersick, former managing director of the state’s trade offices
in London, Frankfurt, Johannesburg and Jerusalem, said the state’s
priorities can be muddled by those who "pay to play."

Rather than putting offices where there’s growth potential, Gersick
and others say the practice could hold the state hostage to special
interests looking to leverage the state’s seal for their own cause,
creating a case of "country du jour."

The director of the Armenian Trade Office, Arthur Khachatryan,
said he reports to the Foundation for Economic Development, a
non-profit Armenian group based in Glendale, Calif., handling the
state contract. However, the trade office keeps the state abreast of
its work through biweekly phone calls and progress reports.

"The ultimate responsibility rests with the state," Khachatryan
said. "But on day-to-day questions, of course, we work with the
foundation."

Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, said he believes private donations
are the way to go. He is carrying two bills to install trade offices
in Seoul and Johannesburg, both of which are modeled after the Armenia
trade office.

Murray and Scott argue that the private-funding model deserves a
chance before being tossed out.

"If you can generate far more business than the cost of the trade
office, I can’t see how you’d lose," Scott said.

Lawmakers are now trying to consolidate all trade office bills,
and they hope to develop an overall trade strategy for the state.

Assemblyman Juan Arambula, D-Fresno, chair of the jobs committee,
has written a bill that would give Schwarzenegger’s Business
Transportation and Housing Agency $140,000 to develop an overall
state policy on trade. Assembly Bill 2601 is being supported by
the Republican governor after another bill to give the agency legal
control of trade offices failed.

Concerned that there won’t be enough oversight, Sen. Gloria Romero,
D-Los Angeles, has written a bill that would also develop a strategy
for the state. However, Senate Bill 1513 allows the Legislature to
decide where to put trade offices and requires them to be funded with
through private donations.

Both bills require public disclosure of donations but Romero’s requires
them to be posted on the Internet.

Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak
said the governor has made trade promotion a priority, citing his
trade missions to Baja California, Japan and China. However, she said
the agency would be reluctant to spend taxpayer dollars.

Instead, McPeak said the agency has begun coordinating with trade
associations and the U.S. Commerce Department as a cost-effective
approach to trade promotion.

Agency officials say that even if the Legislature fails to pass a bill,
the administration intends to develop a trade strategy for the state.

Howard Shatz, a research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of
California, a non-partisan think tank, said lawmakers will have to
be careful in formulating a plan with reliable performance measures.

Trade experts say the state should take advantage of existing resources
like the Commerce Department, look to countries with the most growth
potential, and assign trade offices clear mandates, then measure
their achievements accordingly.

"It needs to be done right because they are going to be scrutinized
given the history of trade offices," Shatz said. "The last thing you
want is another scandal."

Central Bank Chief Admits Dollar Shortages In Armenia
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenialiberty.org
Friday 16, June 2006

The chairman of the Armenian Central Bank (CBA) acknowledged Friday
that buying U.S. dollars in Armenia is now considerably more difficult
than it was in the past, raising more questions about the official
reason for the dramatic strengthening of the dram.

The Armenian authorities maintain that the national currency has gained
more than 30 percent in value against the dollar since December 2003
because of robust economic growth and increased cash remittances from
Armenians working abroad.

However, the official theory about Armenia being awash with dollars
seems at odds with the fact that many local currency retailers now
routinely refuse to sell dollars to individual buyers, citing a lack
of the U.S. currency in their coffers. The shortages again came to
light with the dram’s renewed surge against the greenback which began
a month ago.

Tigran Sarkisian, the under-fire CBA chief, blamed the bizarre
phenomenon on currency traders. "We are now carrying out inspections
at currency exchange offices and are finding widespread violations,"
he told RFE/RL. "The problem raised by you does exist, and that problem
is created by currency exchange offices. We will try to sort it out
in the course of this year."

"They are catering for the shadow economy, which is illegal," Sarkisian
said without elaborating.

The CBA has already controversially shut down many exchange offices
in Yerevan in the last two years. Sarkisian would not say why buying
dollars was not a problem even before the stabilization of the
macroeconomic situation in Armenia in the mid-1990s.

Opposition politicians and other government critics, who dismiss
the official theory, claim that the Armenian authorities themselves
buy "cheap" dollars and thereby siphon off a considerable part of
hundreds of millions of dollars in cash sent home by migrant workers
each year. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians rely on those transfers
to make a living.

Large-scale importers of fuel, wheat and other key commodities, all
of them closely connected with the government, are seen as the prime
beneficiaries of the stronger dram. Conversely, many Armenian exporters
have been hit hard by the increased cost of their products. Some of
them, including Armenia’s main tobacco manufacturer, have threatened
to move their production operations abroad if the dram appreciation
continues.

Sarkisian made it clear that he is untroubled by possible job
losses. "Those enterprises that are not competitive must either close
or file for bankruptcy or move to territories where they can operate,"
he said. "We are creating an environment for competitive businesses."

"We always tell our entrepreneurs that in the conditions of economic
growth, exchange rates inevitably change and their salvation lies in
a growth in productivity," he added.

Official statistics show the volume of Armenian exports falling by
nearly 8 percent to $253.7 million in the first four months of this
year. Net imports, by contrast, rose by 13 percent to $584 million
during the same period.

KARAPETYAN WILL NOT GIVE ANYTHING TO ANYONE

A1+
[04:32 pm] 16 June, 2006

During the coming elections leader of the People’s Party Tigran
Karapetyan is not going to give his votes (which in his own words
were earned throughout so many years) to anyone. "I am not going to
give my votes to anyone. I am also not going to create an alliance",
he announced today in club "Pastark".

Tigran Karapetyan does not exclude the possibility of bribery and
fabrications during the elections.

According to him, these cases are due to the fact that the politicians
do not believe in the possibility of getting votes honestly. He is
sure that if they intend to make fabrications, "no Venice will help".

In any case Tigran Karapetyan is sure that he will win. "If we go
to the Parliament, it will be a victory. If we do not, it will be a
victory too". As for how he will go the Parliament, Tigran Karapetyan
insisted, "With the help of the people".

Having 10 thousand people on his side Mr. Karapetyan complains
of both the authorities and the opposition and considers himself
a centrist. Neither is he pleased with the activity of the Mass
Media. But he does not blame the journalists as "they are not free
and they have masters". But he threatens, "I will say the same about
them as they say about me". Tigran Karapetyan is displeased that the
journalists ignore the 5th anniversary of "ALM".

By the way, Tigran Karapetyan also referred to the RA national anthem
and the "Eurovision". He likes the present anthem of the country
and does not think we should change it. As for the "Eurovision", he
considers it a nice show. But he is not going to send his "diamonds"
to the "Eurovision" as "they are pure children". "What we do is
national folklore", he concluded.