Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARKA News Agency
March 25 2005

Armenia to resolve refugee problem in few years: PACE Rapporteur

RA President congratulates Armenia’s workers of theater

Armenian Apostolic Church Leader Garegin II hosts Russian President
Vladimir Putin in his residence in Echmiadzin

Hearings on Karabakh problem to be held in Armenian parliament on
March 29 and 30

Robert Kocharyan, Vladimir Putin open year of Russia in Armenia

No violations of cease-fire regime recorded in monitoring of contact
line between NKR, Azerbaijani armed forces

Special attention should be paid to youth exchange: Vladimir Putin

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sees great potential in
enlargement of cooperation with Russia

Caucasus-Poti ferry service to open up broad prospects and radically
change situation:Robert Kocharian

Caucasus-Poti ferry service to intensify region’s economic life:
Vladimir Putin

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to visit Moscow on May 8 to
attend festive events connected with celebration of victory in World
War II

Vladimir Putin: Armenian investments in Russian economy to be
welcomed

Vladimir Putin: Armenia and Russia to keep promoting Russian and
Armenian businessmen’s participation in investment and privatization
activities

Russia to contribute to the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Putin: Revolution in Kyrgyzstan “was not a surprise” for Russia

Robert Kocharyan: there is a very high potential for cooperation
between Armenia and Russia

Vladimir Putin: the CIS surely needs preserving, and everybody is
interested in it, irrespective of political adherence of authorities

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ARMENIA TO RESOLVE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN FEW YEARS: PACE RAPPORTEUR

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian legislation on refugees is in
full conformity with international standards, and the existence of
some programs inspires hope that Armenia will resolve the refugee
problem in a few years, Boris Chilevich, PACE Rapporteur for Refugees
and Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia stated at
his meeting with Speaker of the RA National Assembly Artur
Baghdasaryan. The public relations department, RA National Assembly,
reports that Chichelevich made a positive appraisal of the NA
Speaker-headed Council for Refugee Affairs, which is an important
link in accomplishing legislative and practical tasks.
In his turn, Speaker Baghdasaryan pointed out the priority of solving
the refugee problem, and singled out the provision of refugees with
housing and job. He pointed out that the RA state budget provides for
funds for resolving the refugees’ housing problem, and relevant
programs are being implemented in nine Armenian regions. Baghdasaryan
said that special courses are planned in Armenia’s higher schools for
refugees to improve their professional skills and find jobs.
“Computer centers that are working and opened in Yerevan and in
Armenian regions contribute to the accomplishment of this task,”
Baghdasaryan said. The side also discussed the implementation of a
professional retraining program under PSCE’s auspices. P.T. -0–

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RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES ARMENIA’S WORKERS OF THEATER

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has
congratulated Armenia’s workers of theater on International Day of
Theater. The RA presidential press service reports that in his
message the RA president pointed out the theater’s significant role
in the Armenian people’s life. “It appears to be natural that nobody
enjoys such love and popularity in Armenia as great masters of the
Armenian stage. We attach importance to upholding and developing
their traditions,” Kocharyan said.
According to him, great is the theater’s role in the spiritual and
cultural life of present-day Armenia. In his message he points out
that “the picture of future Armenia depends on our work today, and
especially on cultural establishments’ efficient activities. “I
warmly congratulate all representatives of our stage art on their
holiday, wish them to have new brilliant representatives, inspiration
and success,” the President’s message says. P.T. -0–

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ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH LEADER GAREGIN II HOSTS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
VLADIMIR PUTIN IN HIS RESIDENCE IN ECHMIADZIN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian Apostolic Church Leader Garegin
II hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in his residence in
Echmiadzin. After welcoming the Russian President, Garegin II spoke
about centuries-long cordial relations between the two nations. “This
is a historic visit that will be recorded in St.Echmiadzin books as a
new evidence of long friendship between our nations”, he said.
Armenian Apostolic Church Leader thanked the Russian President for
his care of Armenians living in Russia. Putin, in turn, stressed
spiritual nature of the base of the two nations’ relations. He
expressed satisfaction that relations between Armenian and Russian
Churches remain as cordial as centuries ago. Vladimir Putin
emphasized great contribution made by Garegin II either to
development of the two countries’ relationship or establishing peace
in Caucasus. The meeting was ended in GareginII and Vladimir Putin
visit to Echmiadzin Patriarchy Museum and St Echmiadzin Cathedral,
where Garegin II prayed for further development of friendship between
Armenian and Russian nations.
Russian Presidential Adviser Sergey Prikhodko, Russian Ambassador to
Armenia Anatoly Dryukov, Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen
Smbatyan, Bishop Yeznik Petrosyan, who is in charge of
St.Echmiadzin’s Department for Foreign Church Relations, Vicar of
Armenian Apostolic Church’s Ararat diocese Navasard Kchoyan, the Head
of New-Nakhichevan and Russian dioceses Bishop Yezras Nersisyan and
St. Echmiadzin Office head Bushop Arshak Khachatryan. M.V. -0–

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HEARINGS ON KARABAKH PROBLEM TO BE HELD IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ON
MARCH 29 AND 30

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian National Assembly’s Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations initiated parliamentary hearings on
Karabakh problem to be held on March 29 and 30. According to the
National Assembly Department for Public Relations, the aim of the
hearings is to specify opportunities and mechanisms of parliamentary
diplomacy, to promote the problem solution and to clarify the role
Armenia plays in Nagorno Karabakh in the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement. After the hearings, the Committee will publish reports
and speeches heard here. To make the hearings more effective, their
initiators ask all interested individuals and juridical entities to
submit their remarks and proposals related to the event to the
Committee.

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ROBERT KOCHARYAN, VLADIMIR PUTIN OPEN YEAR OF RUSSIA IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Today, RA and RF Presidents, Robert
Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin, have opened a Year of the Russian
Federation in the Republic of Armenia. The program envisages 120
joint arrangements in political, economic, scientific and
technological, and interregional spheres. The program envisages the
organization of trade and industrial exhibitions and fairs, expansion
of exchange of economic information, scientific-practical conferences
on various problems of bilateral and regional cooperation. The
cultural part of the program includes the presentation of Russia’s
best creative groups, achievements of the country’s musical,
theatrical and art schools, modern-day art workers, cinema and
television to the Armenian public. Meetings of literary men, workers
of theatre, and cinema are expected as well. Such world-famous
collectives as the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater, RF National
Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow Anton Chechov Art Theater, S.
Obraztsov Puppet Theater, A. Alexandrov Academic Company of the
Russian Army are to participate in the cultural actions. A week of
Russian cinema, exhibitions of contemporary art and photo exhibitions
are to be held as well.
As regards science and education, arrangements are to be organized
aimed at expanding contacts between higher schools, training and
re-training of personnel, at strengthening the positions of the
Russian language in Armenia. Arrangements at the level of the RA and
RF Academies of Sciences, particularly, forums on priority subjects
of joint research, are to be held as well.
A logical continuation of the Year of Russia in Armenia will be a
Year of Armenia in Russia in 2006. The main idea of the Year is to
pave the way for public and business initiatives, establish direct
human communication, expand information and cultural exchange, deepen
bilateral contacts. P.T. -0–

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NO VIOLATIONS OF CEASE-FIRE REGIME RECORDED IN MONITORING OF CONTACT
LINE BETWEEN NKR, AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES

STEPANAKERT, March 25. /ARKA/. No violations of the cease-fire regime
were recorded during regular monitoring of the contact line between
the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces at a section to the north of the
village of Talish, Martakert region, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).
The press service of the NKR Foreign Office reports that on the side
of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted by the filed
assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Miroslav Vimetal (Czechia), Peter Key (Great
Britain) and Torsen Arsen (Switzerland). The Azerbaijani side did not
take the OSCE representatives to its fronts, which resulted in a
defective visual contact between the OSCE monitoring groups.
On the NKR side the monitoring mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKER Ministry of Defense and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. P.T. -0–

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SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO YOUTH EXCHANGE: VLADIMIR PUTIN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Special attention should be paid to youth
exchange and to the involvement of young people in the
Armenian-Russian cooperation, RF President Vladimir Putin told a news
conference held jointly with RA president Robert Kocharyan in
Yerevan. Putin said that the problem of cultural ties between the
people of the Soviet generation and young people really exists and is
the result of restricted contacts during the last few years. “It is
not so much political. Rather, it is accounted for by the decrease of
the volume of cooperation and cultural ties, as people have more
difficulties is moving around the post-Soviet area than they had
within a common state,” Putin said. According to him, these issues
are being constantly discussed, and possibilities and ways of
overcoming these difficulties are being sought. “We hope that today’s
arrangement, the opening of a Year of Russia in Armenia, will
contribute to the accomplishment of these tasks,” the RF President
said.
In his tur, speaking of cultural ties, RA President Robert Kocharyan
pointed out more active use of the potential of modern information
technologies and public communication. “In this aspect, the relaying
of the Culture TV channel in Armenia is most important,” the RA
President said. According to him, the use of some instruments allows
the culture and art situation in the CIS to be properly monitored. He
pointed out that Russian TV companies could have prepared programs
about cultural situation in Armenia and in the other CIS countries.
“We regret to lose what has been created by many generations. All
benefit from mutual enrichment, especially in the aspect of cultural
contacts,” Kocharian said. P.T. -0–

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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN SEES GREAT POTENTIAL IN
ENLARGEMENT OF COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sees a
great potential in enlargement of cooperation with Russia, the
Armenian President said at joint press conference with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Yerevan. Speaking on cooperation
prospects in bank area, Kocharyan said “we see active movement
forward”. In his words, Moscow companies run construction in Yerevan.
“There were no such a thing two years ago”, Armenian President said.
According to him, reconstruction of Armenal, which will become one of
leading companies in this area, is under way now.
“There are also serious projects in energy area and we discussed
possibility of their fundamental continuation. We will deal with a
new quality of cooperation – regional cooperation.And there are
serious reserves in the region”, Kocharyan said. M.V. -0–

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CAUCASUS-POTI FERRY SERVICE TO OPEN UP BROAD PROSPECTS AND RADICALLY
CHANGE SITUATION:ROBERT KOCHARIAN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The Caucasus-Poti ferry service will open
up broad prospects and radically change the situation, RA President
Robert Kocharian told a news conference held jointly with RF
President Vladimirm Putin in Yerevan. He pointed out that the
operation of the ferry service means the commencement of the solution
to a most serious transport problem, “which has been curbing our
economic cooperation.” “The situation is changing radically here, and
time is required for developing this route, calculating expenses, but
I am sure that prospects will be opened up which have not been spoken
of at least during the last few years and have not been completely
calculated even by us,” Kocharian said. P.T. -0–

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CAUCASUS-POTI FERRY SERVICE TO INTENSIFY REGION’S ECONOMIC LIFE:
VLADIMIR PUTIN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The Caucasus-Poti ferry service will
intensify the region’s economic life, RF President Vladimir Putin
told a press conference held jointly with RA President Robert
Kocharian in Yerevan. He pointed out that the first ferry has
transported a grain cargo for Georgia from the Caucasus to Poti. “In
the future, this ferry is expected to be used for transporting goods
to Armenia. We hope that this line will start operating in the
interests of all the countries of the region, private investments
will be attracted, and it can be said a good start in the right
direction,” Putin said. He pointed out that such steps will afford
ample opportunities for business and creation of jobs, as well as
intensify the region’s economic life. “It will also contribute to the
integration and resolution of accumulated problems,” Putin said. P.T.
-0–
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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN TO VISIT MOSCOW ON MAY8 TO ATTEND
FESTIVE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH CELEBRATION OF VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
decided to visit Moscow on May 8 to attend festive events connected
with celebration of victory in World War II, Russian President
Vladimir Putin said Friday speaking at a joint press conference with
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in Yerevan. “Our nations were
fighting Nazi side by side and this date in our common history we’ll
mark together”, he said. M.V. -0–

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VLADIMIR PUTIN: ARMENIAN INVESTMENTS IN RUSSIAN ECONOMY TO BE
WELCOMED

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian investments in Russian economy
will be welcomed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday at his
joint press conference with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in
Yerevan. In his words, the issue was discussed during bilateral
talks. “I think Armenian investments in Russian economy, especially
in those areas in which Armenia itself is interested, will be
welcomed”, Putin said. In his words, certain growth of Russian
investments in Armenia is visible today. In his words, they are still
not so great but the prospects are obvious. In his opinion, regional
and investment cooperation is an important reserve. Russian President
pointed out the importance of political and economic stability in the
country as key factor for cooperation enlargement. M.V. -0–

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VLADIMIR PUTIN: ARMENIA AND RUSSIA TO KEEP PROMOTING RUSSIAN AND
ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN INVESTMENT AND PRIVATIZATION
ACTIVITIES

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenia and Russia will keep promoting
Russian and Armenian businessmen’s participation in investment and
privatization activities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said
Friday at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, accord on that
is already reached with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. Putin
also pointed out that there are considerable prospects of cooperation
between the two countries in energy and banking areas. Russian
President called negotiations with his Armenian counterpart very
fruitful and useful considering all aspects of bilateral relations
and also regional and international problems. Putin attached special
significance to the issue related to partnership in the frames of CIS
that he discussed with Armenian President. “We intend to solve common
problems, such as terrorism, transnational criminality and drug and
arms trafficking, by joint efforts. M.V. -0–

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RUSSIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Russia will contribute to the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as stated RF President Vladimir Putin
at a press conference in Yerevan after the negotiations with RA
President Robert Kocharyan. “We will hope for the regular meeting and
negotiations between presidents of RA and AR”, Putin said. He
emphasized that in the course of the meeting with Kocharyan attention
was paid to regional problems. “Our countries are interested in
stabilizing the situation in Transcaucasia, hence formation of the
atmosphere of trust and relations that would dynamically develop
social and economic area”, he said. A.H.-0–

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PUTIN: REVOLUTION IN KYRGYZSTAN “WAS NOT A SURPRISE” FOR RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. “Development of situation in Kyrgyzstan is
the result of power weakness and accumulated social and economic
problems in the country”, stated the President of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin during the press conference upon the
results of talks with the Armenian President in Yerevan. “This was
not a surprise for us”, said the Russian President. “At the same
time, the political issues are once again solved by non-legal means
in one of the countries of post-Soviet territory, accompanied by
havoc and victims. This fact arouses our regret”, said Putin.
At the same time, Vladimir Putin affirmed readiness to receive Askar
Akaev in Russia. “As far as the arrival of Askar Akayevich Akaev is
concerned, we won’t mind, if he decides to come to Russia. I think it
is quite possible”, said the Russian President. L.V.-0–

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ROBERT KOCHARYAN: THERE IS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL FOR COOPERATION
BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. There is a very high potential for
cooperation between Armenia and Russia, as stated RF President
Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Yerevan after the
negotiations with RA President Robert Kocharyan. According to him,
Armenian-Russian cooperation includes political area as well as
economic field, which has improved for the last 2-3 years, and
military-technical area. According to Kocharyan, both countries now
try to develop the humanitarian component of the cooperation,
emphasizing that holding the Year of Russia in Armenia is a serious
action. “We discussed the possibilities of making the program
satiated, so that during the year citizens of Armenia could have a
full-fledged idea of today’s Russia, its achievements in the area of
culture, business and the whole spectrum of relations “, Kocharyan
said.
According to Kocharyan, in the course of the meeting with V. Putin
issues of interaction in the field of energy were discussed, where
“there are interesting projects, and Russia is represented well
enough”. Also, issues of activating investments policy of Russian
business in Armenia were discussed. “Armenian side greets it, and we
will create all the facilities for efficient work “, he said.
Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction with the atmosphere and results
of the negotiations held. “We also exchanged opinions abut
international issues related to the region, discussed the state of
the bilateral relations”, he said. Kocharyan noted the friendly and
constructive mood, adding that considering the volume of bilateral
relations it’s difficult to be on schedule of the meeting. A.H. -0–

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VLADIMIR PUTIN: THE CIS SURELY NEEDS PRESERVING, AND EVERYBODY IS
INTERESTED IN IT, IRRESPECTIVE OF POLITICAL ADHERENCE OF AUTHORITIES

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The CIS surely needs preserving, and
everybody is interested in it, irrespective of political adherence of
authorities, as stated RF President Vladimir Putin at a press
conference in Yerevan after the negotiations with the RA President
Robert Kocharyan. According to him, “the CIS is quite a useful club”
for mutual cooperation and integration, including humanitarian and
administrative areas. “We should not lose it, since mutually
advantageous cooperation is very important”, he said. According to
Putin, a lot of relations between states are established in the
framework of the CIS. “This is a field for presidents of many
countries, where they can meet, discuss and solve various problems”,
Putin said. According to him, there are many directions for
cooperation, thousands of problems, in particular, borders,
pensioners, refugees, “the field of the CIS is very convenient for
raising, discussion and solving such problems”.
He added that all disappointments are caused by excessive
expectations in economic, political and military areas, but “nothing
of the kind could happen since the CIS was established for the
civilized collapse of the USSR with the least losses”. According to
Putin, the CIS has completed that task. “If in Europe structures are
established for unification, then the CIS was established for the
civilized parting. All the rest is a political husk”, he said.
According to him, when formation of the CIS there was no goal to
integrate in the area of economy, “since really nobody worked at
it”. He emphasized that opportunities come forth in the framework
of European Asian Economic Cooperation and other structures and
principles for economic integration are formed. “Someone is not ready
yet, someone shows interest, and a new integration community will be
formed on the base of a new voluntary integration”, he said. A.H.-0-

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Armenian Dashnak MP says Kyrgyz events not revolution

Mediamax news agency
25 Mar 05

Yerevan, 25 March: The events in Kyrgyzstan noticeably differ from
what happened in Georgia and Ukraine, representatives of political
forces in the Armenian parliament believe.

United Labour Party leader Gurgen Arsenyan today was cautious about
describing the events in Bishkek as “democratic”. He pointed out
that only after the formation of a new government in Kyrgyzstan,
will it be possible to judge about the true situation there.

The head of the Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction, Levon Lazarian,
said that the events in Kyrgyzstan “have flared out of control and
can hardly be called revolution”.

The secretary of the opposition Justice faction, Viktor Dallakyan,
urged the Armenian opposition and authorities “to draw appropriate
conclusions” and recalled that in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan
the authorities refused to use force against the opposition.

ARMENIAN “GENOCIDE” UNCONNECTED TO TURKEY’dS EU BID

IPR Strategic Business Information Database
March 22, 2005

According to Turkiye, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that there
was no direct or indirect linkage between the Armenian so-called
genocide allegations and Turkey’ds European Union membership bid.
Speaking in Parliament, Gul said that Ankara had fulfilled the
Copenhagen criteria as confirmed by both last October’ds EU Commission
report and December’ds EU summit. Stressing that a History Research
Group had been formed to investigate the allegations, Gul said that
in the near future their findings on the issue would be released for
the benefit of Turkey and the international community.

Armenian parliament ratifies Geneva child labour convention

Arminfo
22 Mar 05

Yerevan, 22 March: The Armenian National Assembly today ratified the
Geneva Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

Submitting the document, Armenian Minister of Labour and Social
Security Agvan Vardanyan said that the convention is aimed at banning
child trade, child prostitution, compulsory child labour and the use
of children in armed conflicts.

The convention also provides for rehabilitation actions for children
suffering from the aforesaid crimes.

PRESS RELEASE
March 22, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Pan-Armenian Youth Festival to be Held in Armenia in July – August 2005

“Baze” festival of the Armenian students and youth will be held
Armenia, from July 15 to August 10, 2005, under the auspices of
Pan Armenian Youth Foundation. This is the third in a series of
youth conferences which aim to promote links between Armenians in
Armenia, Artsakh, and Diaspora; to increase cooperation between the
Armenian youth organizations and entities, and organize educational
and entertaining activities bringing together Armenian youth from
around the world. The participants will visit all regions of Armenia
and Artsakh.

The age limit for the conference participants is generally from 18
to 30 years old. The participants should be able to communicate in
Armenian. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2005.

Application forms, agenda, and more detailed information, in
Armenia, are available at the following website: and
Organizers of the festival, the Pan Armenian
Youth Foundation, can be contacted at Nalbandian Street, #29, Yerevan,
375001, Armenia, tel. (+374-1) 545801, fax (+374-1) 545802.

U.S. Ambassador repeats call to not sell to Gazprom

The Messenger
Monday, March 21, 2005, #050 (0824)

A “rational privatization” and transparency are needed to encourage
investment, envoy says
By M. Alkhazashvili

The year 2005 should be decisive for Georgia with respect to the
implementation of the Caspian energy projects.

By the end of this year the BTC oil pipeline will be finished and
the first tanker will be loaded in Ceyhan port.

In parallel with the BTC pipeline, construction of the Shah Deniz
gas pipeline has entered full gear, and construction of the Georgian
section of the pipeline will be completed by the end of this year. The
first gas should flow through the pipeline in the first half of 2006.

Meanwhile, the possible sale of Georgia’s trunk gas pipeline,
which connects with Russia to the north and Armenia to the south,
could take place this year as well, although officials have sharply
backtracked since stating earlier this year that there are talks to
sell the pipeline to Russia’s Gazprom.

The possible sale of the pipeline, which was one of the main topics
of discussion at last week’s Fourth Georgian International Oil, Gas,
Energy and Infrastructure Conference – GIOGIE 2005, has created a
good deal of controversy both within the country and abroad.

The Russian energy giant Gazprom is eager to buy the pipeline, and
State Minister for Economic Reform Kakha Bendukidze has backed its
privatization, saying that only private investors will be able to
ensure its full rehabilitation, the total cost of which has been
estimated at between USD 250-400 million.

Many Georgian politicians and analysts, including Speaker of Parliament
Nino Burjanadze, have expressed strong opposition to the sale of the
pipeline, saying that this would in fact be illegal as the Georgian
constitution expressly forbids the sale of strategic assets.

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles entered the fray at the
GIOGIE conference last Thursday, saying that although it was Georgia’s
decision to make, he believed sale of the pipeline “to a would-be
monopoly supplier is not likely to be in Georgia’s strategic interest.”

Responding to claims that a quick sale is necessary and that no other
bidders have stepped forward, the ambassador took a swipe at the
lack of transparency regarding the issue. “I cannot stress enough
that serious bidders may be more offput by the air of uncertainty
and secrecy that currently surrounds this issue – and the perception
that Georgia is only interested in one bidder anyway – than they
will be attracted to the potential asset,” he said, as quoted in an
Embassy transcript.

“It would be more advantageous for Georgia to retain control of
its infrastructure,” he suggested, “at least until the country’s
strategic plans for both the domestic energy sector and for its role
as an energy resource transportation link become clearer.”

He added that the government could encourage investment in the country
through “Georgian government investment in the rehabilitation of its
infrastructure and preparation for rational privatization. This,
he said, “would be a strong demonstration that this Government is
taking a deliberate and strategic approach to its own interests,
and is committed to a course of action.”

Miles was reiterating comments by U.S. State Department Advisor in
Caucasus energy resources Steven Mann, who has publicly stated that
while the sale of the gas pipeline might be economically profitable,
its purchase by Gazprom could create a monopoly and thus allow the
Russian state-owned company to use the pipeline for its advantage.

The government has a difficult decision to make regarding the trunk
pipeline. If it turns down Gazprom’s offer to buy it, it is difficult
to see how it will be able to find the funds to rehabilitate the
pipeline. While the U.S. and backers of the South Caucasus Pipeline
have expressed concern that the pipeline may fall into Russian
competitor’s hands, there has been no hint that they would be prepared
to purchase the pipeline or finance its rehabilitation.

THE PRESS RELEASE OF NKR CEC

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
18 March 05

On March 16 the meeting of the NKR Central Election Committee took
place, which confirmed the work schedule of the election committees,
the election costs and financial means provided for this purpose, as
well as about 29 decisions on the election to the National Assembly on
June 19, 2005. According to the schedule confirmed by the CEC, the
period of nomination of party candidates and no party candidates will
last from April 5 till 18:00 on April 10. The period of registering
candidacy with the NKR central and the district committee will be from
May 10 till 18:00 on May 15. Election campaign will last from May 16
till 24.00 on June 17.

AA.
18-03-2005

FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN TO GET FREE MEDICAL CARE

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
18 March 05

People have always had controversial opinions on free medical care. In
fact, many of us do not know in which cases free medical aid and care
is provided, thereby creating problems for ourselves and the doctors.
According to the NKR minister of health Zoya Lazarian, this year the
government provided 592 million 979 thousand drams for free inpatient
treatment (against 475 million 506 thousand drams last year) and 711
million drams for outpatient treatment. The minister of health said in
NKR the groups of people who get free medical care outnumber those in
the Republic of Armenia. According to her, until 2005 pensioners in
Armenia did not get free medical care. This year it is available for
persons above 65 whereas in NKR free medical care is provided to all
the pensioners. There are no limitations for children under 18 (in
Armenia only children under 7 receive free medical care), sole mothers
and families having many children. By the decision of the government,
free medical treatment is provided to diabetic patients, people
suffering malignant tumours, tuberculosis, mental disorders and
venereal diseases, the disabled, the veterans of the Patriotic War,
sole mothers, families of servicemen killed during the defence of NKR,
liquidators of the consequences of Chernobyl, the internees, children
under 18, persons of conscription age, army servicemen, arrested and
imprisoned persons, persons of 18-24 without parental care, pensioners
and students. Recently, the families of servicemen were also included
in this list. Z. Lazarian said this change was introduced in
accordance with the Article 33 of the law on social security of the
servicemen and the members of their families. The minister of health
added that the soldiers can get necessary medical service at army
hospitals. If the necessary service is not provided by the military
hospital, they can go to civilian hospitals having a special note
signed by the head of the military hospital. The same order works for
the members of families of soldiers.

SRBUHI VANIAN.
18-03-2005

Azerbaijan raises issue of Armenian settlement with UN

Space TV, Baku
18 Mar 05

[Presenter] The OSCE Standing Committee in Vienna has heard out a
report by an OSCE mission which has looked into reports of Armenian
settlement in Nagornyy Karabakh and other occupied territories of
Azerbaijan.

Yuriy Merzlyakov, Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, who
presented the report, said the Armenian government has no special
programme of settlement and is not helping anyone settle in the
occupied territories. The report says that there is no large-scale or
organized settlement in the districts that are under Armenian control.

Here are the figures presented by the mission on the number of
Armenians who have settled in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories:

1. Kalbacar District – nearly 1,500 people,

2. Agdam District – 800-1,000 people,

3. Fuzuli District – 10 people,

4. Cabrayil District – at least 100 people,

5. Zangilan District – 700-1,000,

6. Qubadli District – 1,000-1,500 people.

As for Lacin District, the factfinding mission says less than 8,000
Armenians have settled in this district.

[Passage omitted: Armenians ask for the same kind of inspection in
former Armenian settlements which are under Azerbaijani control]

The report by the OSCE factfinding mission has confirmed the illegal
settlement of Armenians in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories. The
issue of evicting the illegal Armenian settlers from the Azerbaijani
districts has been raised with the UN, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov has said.

[Azimov] It is the first report of this kind. This document is very
rich in facts, which have yet to be assessed. According to our
calculations, about 20,000-23,000 people have settled in the occupied
territories. The mission has put this number at 15,000-16,000. They
are not quite sure about these figures either.

“VICE-MISS OF EUROPE” CONVINCED THAT THERE ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS IN
ARMENIA THAN SHE HERSELF

YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. “There are a number of more beautiful
girls in Armenia than me so I advise them to throw away false fears
and complexes and participate easily in beauty contests”, Vice-Miss
Europe 2005 Lyusya Tovmasyan stated during today’s press-conference.

Tovmasyan is a student of Psychology Department of the Yerevan
Linguistic “Interlingva” University. She is 18 years old, height 179
cm, weight 53 kg, parameters 88-60-88. To remind, she is also Miss
Armenia 2004.

A representative from Germany of Iranian origin Shermin Shahrivar win
the contest. Representatives of 36 countries participated there. A
known Slovak top-model was the Jury Chairman. World-famous shansonnier
Charles Aznavour and couturier Pako Rabann were the jury members, too.

In her words, presence of Aznavur among jury members imposed an
additional responsibility. “It was a difficult for me to perform in
presence of our great compatriot”, she said. Tovmasyan informed that
Aznavur himself congratulated her and they had a brief talk. Lyusya
also noted the good friendly relations with all 36
contest-participants, including a Turkey representative. She stressed,
that the study in University is her main task.