Author: Hunanian Jack

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 4, 2006

Bush bill offers to cut aid to ex-Soviet states

AssA-Irada 04/08/2006 23:29

US President George Bush has sent a bill to the Congress proposing to
reduce assistance to former Soviet republics.

The move of the White House, reflected in the 2007 draft budget of
the State Department, is to affect all of these countries except
Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, which have lately experienced a soft change
of power referred to as ‘velvet revolution’. The figures are $1.9m
and $7.3m over 2006 respectively.

The aid to Armenia is expected to decrease from $75m to $50m, while
Russia and Georgia will get $58m each. Azerbaijan will receive $28m,
while Tajikistan – $22m, Kazakhstan $19m, Moldova $16m, Uzbekistan
$15m, Belarus $10m, and Turkmenistan $5m.

The total aid package is to be reduced from $508.8m this year to
$441m in 2007, according to the Bush administration’s proposal.

The US assistance to FSU states aims to support democracy, market
economy and the development of civil society and its institutions.

AS OF AUGUST 2, 894 APPEALS AND 55 DOUBLE APPEALS RECEIVED
BY REPUBLICAN COMMISSION ON ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN. As of August 2, appeals against scores
of 894 written examinations taken by entrants to Armenian higher
educational institutions have been submitted, as a result of which 179
scores have been raised. Ruben Topchian, Director of the Calculating
Center of the Republican Commission on Entrance Examinations, told
reporters on August 2 that the greatest number of appeals (226) were
filed regarding written maths papers. Only in one case, the score
was raised by 2 points: a written paper on Russian. R. Topchian said
that 55 double appeals have been received by the commission so far.
Scores of 13 written papers have been raised (by 1.3 points in the
maximum), while two scores have been lowered by 1 point each. According
to him, until now 1,351 entrants have been absent from their exams,
exams have been interrupted because of 28 ones, and new emamination
days have been fixed for 513 entrants. R. Topchain said that high
scores of English and Armenian exams are indicative of the fact that
these tests were not difficult. 26 entrants have already dropped
out of the competition for the speciality "Law", 21 entrants – for
"Journalism" and 44 ones – for "the Armenian language and literature".

REINSURER PAYS $28 MLN COMPENSATION FOR AIRBUS DESTROYED BY FIRE

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
August 2, 2006 Wednesday 7:24 PM EET

Russian reinsurance company Leksgarant has paid U.S. $28 million in
compensation for an Airbus A320 that was totally destroyed in a
hangar fire at the Brussels Airport on May 5, the reinsurer said in a
press release Wednesday.

Of the total, the company paid $2 million to the owner of the
aircraft and $26 million to International Armenian Airlines, the
operator of the plane.

Arkadi Ghukasian: "Minsk Group knows Karabakh settlement is
impossible without Khankendi participation"

Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 1, 2006

"Of course, one of the items discussed was Nagorno Karabakh
participation in the talks and I think Mr Bryza, like the other
mediators, understands that it’s impossible to resolve the conflict
without Karabakh," head of separatist regime acting in occupied
Azerbaijani lands Arkady Ghukasian said after the meeting with OSCE
Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza.

Ghukasian said he presented the separatist regime position on the
various aspects of the problem.

"Certainly I cannot reveal all the details of the talks. It’s clear
that our position differs from the approaches proposed by the mediators
but I have not heard any serious objections," he said.

When touching upon the proposals promulgated by the mediators,
Ghukasian said he cannot analyze the whole package of proposals,
APA reports.

URL:

Azerbaijan will never agree up on isolation of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan – Azeri President

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 31, 2006

Azerbaijan will never agree on the isolation of Nagorno-Karabakh from
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, told at the
session dedicated to the results of work of government within the
first half year, Trend reports quoting AzTV.

The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan may not be the topic of
negotiations, the president said.

"Azerbaijan will not agree with the conditions which may cause
isolation of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan," Aliyev stressed.

The president considers the Paris format of negotiations a positive
approach and success of Azerbaijan diplomacy.

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO PRESENCE OF AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION
IN ARTSAKH AS EXAMPLE OF POSITIVE DIALOGUE

STEPANAKERT, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 29,
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian received members of a delegation
consisting of human rights activists and journalists representing
Armenia, NKR, Azerbaijan, Georgia and a number of European countries.

Arkady Ghoukassian attached a special importance to the presence
of an Azerbaijani delegation in Artsakh, which, in his words, is a
positive example of a constructive dialogue between two societies
separated by war.

Arzu Abdullayeva, Co-chairwoman of Helsinki Civil Assembly and
Coordinator of organization’s Azerbaijani National Committee, said that
the Azerbaijani members of the Helsinki Civil Assembly and the Public
Council of Nagorno Karabakh Settlement created lately in Baku are
for the Karabakh side’s immediate participation in the negotiations
process, peaceful settlement of the conflict and establishment of
neighborly relations between the societies of the two countries. Mrs
Abdullayeva said that a warm atmosphere of mutual understanding and
cooperation exists among Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakh NGOs acting
in the sphere of human rights. "We would like such an atmosphere also
to be established in contacts of official circles," he said.

As NT was informed by NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, the
meeting participants attached importance to peaceful settlement of
conflicts and establishment of mutual confidence between the peoples
and societies.

Answering guests’ questions, NKR President, in particular, said that
the most important precondition for Nagorno Karabakh settlement and
establishment of peace is establishment of historic reconciliation
among the regional countries. Without this reconciliation it will be
difficult to realize any agreement of conflict settlement, to liquidate
war consequences and to pave a way towards regional development,
he said.

MATTHEW BRYZA: THERE IS POLITICAL WILL FOR SOLVING PROBLEM

YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 29, after his
meeting with RA President Robert Kocharian, OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza announced that he is satisfied with that
meeting which was useful for him. "I see that there is a political
will for solving the problem, and the philosophy on the basis of our
suggestions is acceptable", said Matthew Bryza to the radio Liberty.

Speaking about the details of the suggestions, he said that still
there are problems connected with Kelbajar and Lachin, as well as
with the referendum. Bryza confirmed that as the co-chairmen affirm,
the Karabakh people should solve the problem of the Karabakh status.

"But the question is whom we should consider the people of
Karabakh. There are also inhabitants of 1988, who also want to take
part in the referendum", said Bryza hinting at displaced Azerbaijani
minority of Karabakh. In his words, "all these problems should be
still worked out as part of the large-scale package of agreement".

"The principles, that today are on the table, are not an agreement
yet, they are only principles, suggestions. So as it is impossible to
avoid the agreement if there is not such", said the American diplomat.

"You are the deputy assistant of the U.S. state secretary and so
the most high-ranking official of the United States who has ever
visited Karabakh, aren’t you?. In response to this question of the
radio station, Matthew Bryza said:" Frankly speaking I don’t know
the history who have visited Karabakh, but I go there not as deputy
assistant of the state secretary but as Minsk Group co-chairman. I
will also visit Azerbaijan, and then I will share my impressions with
the other co-chairmen Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzliakov."

In response to the question, whether there is a chance to come to
an agreement this year and if this year the problem isn’t solved,
is everything postponed at least until 2009, Bryza said: "Of course,
there is a chance and it would be beneficial for the leaders of the
two countries to participate in the elections after having solved the
problem. But the elections are not an obstacle for the negotiations
process. Simply it is easier to solve the problem at a time when the
political processes have not flamed up yet".

In response to the remark that the Minsk Group has been functioning
for more than 10 years, but the problem is not solved yet, and to the
question whether that group is ready to function for another 10 years,
the American co-chairman said: "We are ready to function as long as
the sides treat the negotiations process seriously. We see that our
friends in Armenia treat the process seriously."

In connection with the democratic state in Armenia, M.Bryza mentioned:
"We hope that Armenia has chosen a right way. The ties between America
an Armenia will be as strong as the democracy will be in Armenia. And
Armenia’s participation in the Millenniun Challenge program is the
best way for America to be sure that Armenia moves forward on the
democratic way. Democracy is a process".

In response to the question whether the expression that there are
more visible tendencies of democracy in Azerbaijan, is ascribed
to him, the American diplomat answered that he did not say such a
thing: "Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be compared at all. Both have
their advantages and disadvantages. I meant that Azerbaijan doesn’t
correspond to certain standards, but this doesn’t mean that there is
no progress. The tendencies in Azerbaijan are positive over the past
months. The tendencies in Armenia are also positive".

PanARMENIAN.Net

Premature to Assess Armenia’s Eurointegration Process Yet
28.07.2006 14:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union gives an extremely positive
estimate to the process of Armenia’s integration into the European
structures, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian told
reporters in Yerevan today. `The assessment was presented by the EU
representatives during the conference in July 14 that was held with
the participation of Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan and
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,’ he remarked.

At the same time Kirakossian underscored that it’s premature to assess
Armenia’s integration into the European structures yet, as the
republic has been participating in the European Neighborhood program
for six months only. However, according to the Minister the process of
elaboration of the New Neighborhood individual action plan is
extremely positive and it will undoubtedly contribute to the
interrogation policy of the republic, reported Novosti Armenia.

POSSIBLE WAYS OF SUPPORTING SHOOTING ARTAVAZD PELESHIAN’S NEW FILM TO BE DETERMINED AT MEETING TO BE HELD IN FUTURE

YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Hasmik Poghosian, world-famous film director Artavazd
Peleshian and former RA Minister of Culture Gevorg Gevorgian will
meet in the future to clarify the ways of allocating funds for the
film director’s "Homo Sapiens" full-length film.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Hasmik Poghosian, during
a conversation held earlier G.Gevorgian promised that Armenia will
try to allocate even if 1 mln USD for this film amounting to 10 mln
USD. This sum was to be taken from the annual funds allocated to the
Hayfilm film studio, in the amount of 250 thousans dollars annually. In
H.Poghosian’s words, she is ready to fulfil this agreement and at
the coming meeting they will clarify the ways of doing it, as well
as the work to be done in this direction.

As Mrs Poghosian said, she is familiarized with the works of the
talented film director since her childhood and during the years of
working at the Company of Cultural Contacts and Cooperation with
Foreign Countries she herself supplied Peleshian’s films to this or
that country for many years.

Azeri leader, UN official pleased with cooperation

Trend news agency
27 Jul 06

Baku, 27 July, Trend correspondent S. Agayeva: Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev today received the executive director of the UN World
Food Programme, James Morris, Trend news agency reports.

The head of state talked about the economic development of Azerbaijan
and the occupation of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia. He noted that
the existence of more than one million refugees and displaced persons
is the main problem of Azerbaijan.

The president also spoke about the steps of the Azerbaijani government
to improve the life of refugees and displaced persons. He thanked
the WFP management for aid provided to those people.

Ilham Aliyev expressed the hope that cooperation with this organization
will continue.

James Morris also pointed out the high level of cooperation between
the organization and the Azerbaijani government and expressed his
confidence that this cooperation will continue to develop.