Author: Boshkezenian Garik

CONDOLEEZZA RICE DEMANDS TO DEEPEN DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006

RA Finance and Economy Ministry informed that Vartan Khachatrian,
RA finance and economy minister, and John Danilovich, executive
director of Millennium Challenges Corporation, signed agreement on
March 27 in Washington. The agreement costs $236.5 million and will
last five years.

The project is aimed to reduce rural poverty by securing stable growth
of agricultural production. The investments are directed to assist
750 thousand Armenian farmers or 75% of the village residents. It is
envisaged that the project will help reduce rural poverty by 6%.

RFE/RL informed that US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice who was
present during agreement signing stated during the ceremony that
Armenia should deepen democratic reforms. She reminded the concern of
the foreign observers about the violations during the constitutional
referendum.

In this connection, RA foreign minister Vartan Oskanian said that
the Armenian authorities already take certain measures to keep the
elections in line with the international criteria.

MONITORING AT THE FRONT LINE NEAR GAPANLI VILLAGE OF THE TERTER DISTRICT DID NOT HAPPEN
Author: E. Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006

Due to the armistice violation by the Armenian armed forces monitoring
which had to take place at the front line near Gapanli village of
the Terter district did not happen, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry
press-service head, Ilgar Verdiyev told Trend.

Monitoring had to be carried out according to the existing OSCE
mandate, he said. The field assistants of the OSCE chairman, Harry
Eronen and Peter Key had to observe the condition of the cease fire at
the front line and from the opposing side- the personal representative
of the acting OSCE chairman, ambassador Andjey Kaspshik and his field
assistants- Alexander Somarski and Imre Palatinus had to conduct the
observation.

However, fire arm shots from the Armenian side showed that Armenian
armed forces are not observing the agreed armistice.

That was the reason forcing Andjey Kaspshik to stop the monitoring.

DUTCH MFA BOT ON DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN KHACHKARS OF OLD JOUGHA

Abovian Armenian Cultural Association
sent on 23 February 2006

Answers of Mr. Bot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, also on behalf of
Secretary of State for Education, Culture and Science Van der Laan
to written questions submitted by Dutch MP Van der Staaij (SGP)
on destruction of Armenian Khachkars of Old Jougha.

Question 1
Is the report correct that by the order of the Azerbaijani authorities
in December 2005 graves of particular historic and cultural
significance were destroyed and desecrated at the Armenian cemetery
in Djulfa in Nakhichevan? Could you inform us of the precise state
of affairs?

Answer
The factual correctness of the reporting can not yet be assessed. The
issue has been raised by the Armenian authorities on 22 December
2005 at the OSCE Permanent Council. Azerbaijani authorities reject
the accusations.

Question 2
Could the government confirm whether the destruction is related to
the dormant conflict of Nagorno Karabagh?

Answer
As long as the actual facts of the case are not clarified, one is also
not sure about the cause. The parties have not yet found a solution
to the conflict and tensions can continue to occur.

Question 3
To what extend has Azerbaijan been sensitive to international criticism
to similar destruction in past years?

Answer
In reaction to international criticism of this kind Azerbaijan usually
points the finger accusingly towards Armenia. Armenia would have,
in the eyes of Azerbaijani authorities, deliberately neglected or
destroyed the Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabagh and
nearby provinces.

Question 4
Is the Dutch government prepared to back the EU statement by condemning
the events and reminding Azerbaijan over her obligations vis-a-vis
her membership of the Council of Europe and participation in the
European Neighbourhood policy.

Answer
The Netherlands has already, on 1 February 2006. spoken out at the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europa, in favour of an
international investigation on the destructions. In the Action Plan
of the Council of Europe and in the Action Plan of the EU, which
is being set up within the Neighbourhood Policy, attention is paid
to the preservation of cultural heritage on basis of Azerbaijani
obligations with regard to her membership of the Council of Europe
and the European Neighbourhood Policy.

REGULAR MEETING OF USATF TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN IN MAY

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular meeting of the US-Armenia
Task Force (USATF) will take place in Yerevan in May. NT correspondent
was informed at the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy that the
programs envisaged within the framework of cooperation will discussed
at the meeting. Particularly, the programs to be implemented in the
trade and energy sectors, as well as issues related to the improvement
of investment and business climate will be addressed at the meeting.

Daily Nation , Kenya
March 25 2006

Armenians in fresh dispute over company

Story by NATION Correspondent
Publication Date: 3/26/2006
The case of the alleged mercenaries has taken another turn.

A Nairobi businessman has written to the Registrar of Societies
protesting that a company allegedly owned by the two Armenian men at
the centre of the mercenary saga is using a name identical to that
used by his firm.

In a letter to the Registar-General last Friday, lawyer Harith Sheth
complains that his clients are the registered shareholders of
Kensington Holdings Ltd.

It reads: “Arising from recent reports in the press our clients have
learnt with great surprise that there is yet another company being
called Kensington Holdings, apparently registered on January 8, 2005
… we demand an explanation from yourselves as to why a second
company was allowed to be registered with a name identical to that of
our client company. Our clients have nothing to do with the
controversy mentioned in the press. We therefore demand an apology
from yourselves for permitting a second company with an identical
name to our client company to be registered. We require you to either
strike off the second company or have its name changed to a different
name.”

Press reports have named the controversial brothers, Artur Margaryan
and Artur Sargasyan, as partners with Ms Winfred Wangui, the daughter
of prominent Narc activist Mary Wambui, as partners in a company
called Kensington Holdings Ltd.

Mr Sheth is representing Mr Karim Gulamhussein Bhanji and Mr Amirali
Gulamhussein Bhanji.

According to documents made available to the Sunday Nation,
Kensington Holdings was first registered in February 13, 2004 by a
Nairobi lawyer, Mr Mohammed Madhani, and his wife, Mrs Shemin
Madhani.

Mr Madhani explained that on May 19 the same year, he and his wife
resigned as directors and handed over their interests in the company
to Karim and Amirali Bhanji, who to date remain the shareholders and
directors.

The Registrar was duly notified of the change of ownership. According
to Mr Sheth, his clients have not sold the company or invited other
persons to be shareholders and directors.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK TO BE HELD FOR 5TH TIME ON APRIL 3-10

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Library Week will be held
in libraries of Armenia on April 3-10. The Week held already for the
5th year on the initiative of the Armenian Library Association will be
titled “Library: Crossroad of Civilizations” this time. As David
Sargsian, the Director of the National Library of Armenia informed at
the March 24 press-conference, the goal of the Week is to draw the
society’s opinion towards book, to present importance of the role of
libraries, as the most important source of information on the spheres
of education, culture, etc. The Director of the National Library of
Armenia informed that a number of libraries of NKR, Javakhk as well as
Diaspora joined the National Library Week. Discussions of books,
exhibitions, events dedicated to the native language will be organized
within the framework of the Week. By the decision of the Yerevan
Mayor’s Office, a competition of compositions on the themes “My
Library,” “My Favorite Book” and “What is Reading” will be announced
in all schools of the capital. Results of the competition will be
summed up during one month, and the best works will be given monetary
awards. Meetings with famous representatives of science, culture as
well as NA deputies and state officials are also envisaged.

Baku Today
March 23 2006

Azerbaijan Discovers New Gold Deposits

23/03/2006 22:22

Initial explorations gave promising results on new gold deposits in
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources
Huseyn Bagirov told journalists.

Exploration works were conducted in the large and Small Caucasus, and
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Geological-exploration works will now be conducted in these
perspective areas. The ministry also conducts work regarding the
illegal development of gold deposits in the Azerbaijan’s territories
occupied by Armenia. Important information is given to international
organizations.

Currently, the attraction of international legal mechanisms to
prevent the illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan’s gold deposits is
going on, the Minister said.

AZG Armenian Daily #052, 23/03/2006

Karabakh issue

AZERBAIJAN HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL INTERESTS AND LEGAL
REGULATIONS

President of Azerbaijan stated that the country’s
territorial integrity is not an issue to be discussed
within the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations agenda.
According to Interfax news agency, Ilham Aliyev
emphasized that Azerbaijan is going to settle the
Karabakh issue “based on Azerbaijan’s national
interests and international legal regulations.”

This frequent statement of the Azeri leader leave an
impression of self-persuasion at best, as it would be
simply strange to take steps contradicting national
interests and international legal regulations. The
fact that Aliyev repeatedly speaks of Azerbaijan’s
priority – international legal regulations – evidences
perhaps that his war language has exhausted itself
even for domestic consumption.

By Aghavni Harutyunian

“NEW TIMES” PARTY PREPARES TO HOLD ITS REGULAR CONFERENCE OPEN-AIR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The “New Times” (Nor Zhamanakner)
party had to turn to the Yerevan Mayor’s Office for holding the party’s
regular conference in the open-air conditions in the territory near
the Yerevan Matenadaran (Armenian repository of ancient manuscripts)
at 15:00 on April 4. The information service of the party gives
explanation in its March 20 message that it’s about a year that the
“New Times” party is in an information blockade, “a continuous process
of not giving halls” to the party for holding conferences and meetings
of its active members has recently added to all these.

Z. PLUZYAN HAS TO WAIT TO BECOME CEC MEMBER AGAIN

Panorama.am
18:24 16/03/06

As it is known “National Unanimity” party had put forward the
candidature of Zaven Pluzyan to become member of Central Electoral
Committee. Up to day the party is waiting for President’s decree
according to which Pluzyan will be considered legal member of CEC.

“The CEC must be complete before the elections and there are no fixed
deadlines. I’m sure Mr. Pluzyan is not going to idle but will start
building the “National Unanimity” party,” informed President’s Press
Secretary Victor Soghomonyan in reply to Panorama.am question whether
the President is not going to promulgate Zaven Pluzyan as CEC member.

To remind, after the Constitutional Referendum On November 27
Z. Pluzyan resigned. Yet, later his party members put forward his
candidature again.