Author: Ekmekjian Janet

ISSUE OF REFUGEES IN SOUTH CAUCASUS TO BE DISCUSSED AT PACE SESSION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 10 2006

Relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union will
be the principal subject of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of
Europe (PACE) spring session that is to be held in Strasbourg current
April 10-13.

Debates on Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the two European
organizations will be conducted in the course of the session,
PanARMENIAN.Net reports. The Council of Europe Secretary General
Terry Davis and Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs
Committee Elmar Brock will participate in the discussions.

The reports on the role of a native language in school education,
refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia,
struggle against corruption in the Council of Europe’s member states
will be discussed at the session.

As for the issue of refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia, it will be discussed on the ground of the PACE
Committee on Migration’s Report presented February 6, 2006 by a
representative of Latvia Boris Kilevich.

The report runs, in part, that non-settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict results in difficulties referring to the refugees’
situation and hampers the countries’ development in the economic and
social-political sphere, the CE Communications’ Directorate reports.

THE NA WORKS AGAIN WITH BREAKS

A1+
[01:04 pm] 11 April, 2006

Today the NA resumed its work with 103 deputies and held “rather
efficient” voting.

The bill on making changes in the “Law on energy” which aroused serious
disputes and was sent to the Parliament for further review was passed
with 86 “pros,” 6 “cons” and 3 “abstentions.” Then the deputies voted
the bill changes on “the list of products imported by individuals or
enterprises and exempt from excise-duty and having 0 percent customs
duty from which the value added tax is not levied.”

Only the fraction ND was against the bill and it took a 20 – minute
break “for lobbing,” the leader of the fraction Karen Karapetyan
informed “A1+” about it.

After the voting the above-mentioned bill was voted down with 60
“pros,” 0 “cons” and 0 “abstentions.”

Thus the fraction ND won and the bill was sent to the Government.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 7 2006

Azeri FM discusses in Washington preparations for President Aliyev’s
official visit to US – Azeri Deputy FM

Source: Trend
Author: R.Abdullayev

07.04.2006

Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijan Foreign Minister, who is currently
on a visit to Washington, was scheduled to meet with Condoleeza Rice,
the US Secretary of State on 6 April and preparations for Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev’s forthcoming visit to the United States, Araz
Azimov, the Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Minister, told a news
conference in Baku on Thursday.

Azimov said that the visit program also includes meeting with US
Ambassador Steven Mann, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair. `After the
meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Rambouillet the
US activity in the negotiations process on the resolution of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has considerably increased,’ he
underlined.

The Azerbaijani Deputy FM noted that though no breakthrough is
expected in the current talks in Washington (on 6 and 7 April),
definite steps in this direction have been taken.

NEVERTHELESS FADEY SARGSYAN RESIGNED

Lragir.am
06 April 06

On April 6 the president of the National Academy of Sciences Fadey
Sargsyan handed in a resignation to the government of Armenia. The
government accepted the resignation and relieved him of his duties.

Sergey Hambardzumyan is acting president of the NAS until the
election of the president of the NAS. It is notable that a day ago
Fadey Sargsyan did not want to resign.

PITER SEMNEBY: EU IS INTERESTED IN SETTLEMENT OF FROZEN CONFLICTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The April 5 joint
press conference of RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Special
Representative of European Union on South Caucasian Countries Piter
Semneby was dedicated to the estimation of the current level and to the
prospects of development of interrelations between Armenia and European
Union, as well as a number of important regional problems. Both
participants of the press conference estimated P.Semneby’s visit to
Armenia as efficient. Vartan Oskanian declared that Armenia again
confirms its determination and striving for European integration.

According to him, the next stage of the negotiations between EU and
Armenia on the Actions Plan within the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy should be held in late April. It is planned that
the discussion of the Actions Plan should be over in May. According to
the Minister, in this respect, the post of EU Special Representative on
South Caucasian Countries becomes more important. P.Semneby reminded
that he visited Armenia in 1988, within the framework of the Swedish
aid to the victims of the Spitak earthquake. “I am glad to return to
the country that creates exact bases for integration to Europe”. He
informed that his work will differ from the work of his predecessor
Heikki Talvitie. According to P.Semneby, his mandate accentuates
the issue of Karabakh conflict settlement as EU is interested in
the settlement of frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus. Besides,
the Special Representative’s mandate acquires a special importance
also because today EU and Armenia are discussing the Actions Plan
including many issues, part of which has political significance.

Meanwhile, EU Special Representative emphasized that he means the
role of EU after the settlement of the conflicts. “I do not say that
we will replace the OSCE Minsk Group that is working very effectively
in the direction of Nagorno Karabakh settlement. We should consider
how much EU can be useful after achieving peace”.

WHICH IS THE TRUE COST OF GAS?

A1+
[08:44 pm] 05 April, 2006

“The price of the gas will not rise by more than 10-15%”, Robert
Kocharyan announced today.

According to him, the Committee regulating public services must
establish new tariffs. Let us remind you that since April 1 the price
of gas for Armenia is 110 USD for 1000 cubic meters. According tot
eh decision of the Committee, since April 10 the residents of Armenia
must pay 90 AMD for one cubic meter of gas instead of 59.

Robert Kocharyan claimed that the Government has found the way to
solve the problem. This way became known in the evening.

The Governments of Armenia and Russia have signed an agreement
according to which 45km of the gas pipeline Iran-Armenia already
belongs to the Russian company “Gasprom”. According to the Radio
Station “Azatutyun”, there is an agreement that “Gasprom” participates
in the construction of the second part of the pipeline, and he is the
owner of the 5th block of the Hrazdan heat-electric generating plant.

It is worth reminding today’s announcement by Kocharyan that “time
showed that the choice of the strategic partner in the face of Russian
“Gasprom” was right”.

ARAM KARAPETIAN PREPARES ITS “ARSENAL” FOR STRUGGLE

A1+
[07:25 pm] 04 April, 2006

more images Today the oppositional party “New Times” held an open
conference in the territory of Matenadaran.

Let us remind you that this method was first used by the “Republican”
party. According to the Chairman of the party “New Times” Aram
Karapetian they are ready to hold their meetings in the open air
as the authorities do not give them a place though the Hall of the
Government Briefings is free today. Before the participants of the
meeting gathered, Karapetian thanked the authorities for not closing
the roads this time. “We would hold our meeting regardless of the
roads closure,” declared Aram Karapetian.

Mr. Karapetian likes the surrounding of Matenadaran and he repeated
the words uttered at the conference of the “Republican Party,” “The
authorities do everything to exile the Opposition from the halls to
the street.”

Karapetian assures that 1200 people took part in their conference
and they got to Yerevan by the financial support of the party. “We
invested money and will still invest,” announced Aram Karapetian and
informed the authorities that the next conference would be held in
front of the RA Police – station as the police did not give back the
techniques taken from them.

Karapetian reminded the events of last April when the leader of the
party’s youth wing was shot, there were attempts of his arrest and
party threats. “You didn’t manage to press us and you won’t succeed
to do it in the future,” said Aram Karapetian. He informed the people
present that they are renewing their party “arsenal.”

“The party will always be in its form and shape, we have the same
purpose from Meghri to Noyemberian and try to make the party an
arsenal; 12 more territorial organizations will be formed and we
shall integrate 50 thousand members into the party and take them to
the capital,” stated Aram Karapetian and reminded that they had made
constructive suggestions for 3 years without any result. There is only
one way out, “The survival of the country lies in the activization
of the society.”

By the way, he gave up the idea of closing Pharakjar, as in his opinion
no country will accept the present authorities, so if they take a plane
they will remain in the air. “There is no need to close Pharakjar now;
there is a need to gather people.” He advised the airport workers not
to look for the keys of Pharakjar in his luggage. Today Aram Karapetian
also commented on his words which have recently become a saying,
“I always say, “today I threat you with my finger, tomorrow I shall
threat you with the law”. I am not guilty that everybody grasped my
words in his own way,” the Chairman of the party “New Times” made
the participants glad with his words.

The conference opened and closed under the sounds of the RA State
hymn. The policemen carefully followed the process of the conference.

ARMENIAN DRAM DEPRECIATES BY 3.2% AGAINST US DOLLAR IN MARCH 2006 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.4% and 0.2% growth in settlement
exchange rates of the Armenian dram against the US dollar and prices
was registered on the Armenian consumer and currency markets in March
on February 2006.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the growth in
consumer prices and settlement exchange rates in March on December
2005 made 4.2% and 0.4% respectively. A 4.2% fall in the settlement
exchange rate was registered over the same period of last year in
parallel with a 3.7% growth in consumer prices.

The average exchange rate of the Armenian drams agains the US
dollar made 451 drams in March 2006, which is lower by 3.2% than the
respective index of March 2005 (566.01 drams).

MERZLYAKOV: “INTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS ARE HELD ENOUGH TO SETTLE NK CONFLICT”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 3 2006

“Intensive consultations are held enough to settle the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict,” Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
told APA. Commenting on the expressions that there is standstill in
the negotiating process, the co-chair objected to these views and
said the Minks Group co-chairs are negotiating with the conflicting
parties separately.

“American co-chair Steven Mann and US Assistant Secretary of State
Daniel Fried visited Baku, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
paid a visit to Washington,” he said. “Azerbaijani Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov will be visiting Washington this week and Vardan Oskanian
will be in Moscow. French co-chair Bernard Fassier is likely to visit
the region soon. We have agreed to conduct bilateral talks for the time
being and then determine the date of restoration of the multilateral
process on the basis of the contacts,” Mr.Merzlyakov said.The Russian
co-chair hopes that the co-chairs will pay a joint visit to the region
in April-May and have talks with the Presidents.

Commenting on the reason why the co-chair met in Istanbul on 20 March,
the diplomat said the place was suitable.

“American co-chair and Daniel Fried left for Turkey before the
co-chairs, and Istanbul was selected for meeting to familiarize with
conclusions of the talks conducted by them,” he noted.

Merzlyakov also said that another Russian diplomat replaced him in
that meeting as he was ill.

Replying the question whether he will leave the position of co-chair,
the diplomat said that he was not informed about it.

Also commenting on incomplete talks in Rambouillet, Merzlyakov said
that the Presidents preplanned continuing the talks on Sunday.

“But seeing that they will not reach a consensus Kocharian decided
to return on Saturday,” the co-chair concluded.

ARMENIA WANTS RUSSIA TO COMPENSATE HIGHER GAS PRICES
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 4, 2006 Tuesday 08:19 AM EST

Armenia insists on compensation, on the part of Russia, of the higher
price of natural gas. Gazprom has been supplying natural gas at 110
dollars per 1,000 cubic meters from April, up from 56 dollars in 2005.

Parliament speaker Artur Bagdasaryan believes that the negotiations
over prices should “proceed from the logic of Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership.”

“Any decision aimed at mitigating the consequences of gas price hikes
for Armenia is acceptable if it ensues from Armenia’s strategic
interests.” This also applies to the working out of compensation
mechanisms, Bagdasaryan told a news conference.

As an example, the speaker recalled the “excellent transaction” –
property in exchange for debt, when Armenia handed over five companies
to Russia to settle its liability.

“These transactions arise from Armenia’s interests, it won’t be bad if
a similar mechanism is worked out with respect to gas prices,” he said.