Author: Nahapetian Lilit

ARMENIA OBLIGED NOT TO STYMIE AZERBAIJAN’S MEMBERSHIP TO WTO

AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005

Neighbors

As far as the Nagorno Karabakh issue is on the agenda of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Baku will not cooperate with Yerevan within the
frameworks of World Trade Organization, Mediamax agency quoted deputy
foreign minister of Azerbaijan as saying. “It does not contradict
the standards of WTO; besides Armenia assumed an obligation not to
stymie Azerbaijan’s membership to that organization”, deputy minister
Mahmud Mamedkuliyev said. The WTO will solve the issue of Azerbaijan’s
membership not earlier than spring of 2006.

Armenia is a WTO member since 2003.

‘COLORFUL REVOLUTIONS’ SWALLOW PRIME MINISTERS
By Tatoul Hakobian

AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005

Analysis

Yulia Timoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, was one of
the “lucky” prime ministers who came to power through “a velvet
revolution.” Though she was sacked of her position, she wasn’t killed
or died in suspicious conditions. The velvet revolutions that took
place in various countries during the recent 15 years “swallowed” the
key figures of those revolutions, as a rule. It’s worth representing
several interesting facts without making any comments.

Vazgen Manukian, first Prime Minister of the third Republic of Armenia,
was one of the key figures of All Armenian Movement that struggled
against the Communist Party. After the communists lost power, Levon
Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian occupied the two key positions of
the newly born republic.

The first became chairman of RA Supreme Council, while the
second became the republics Prime Minister. Vazgen Manukian was
dismissed. The whole power in the republic appeared in the hands of
Levon Ter-Petrosian and his allies.

In 1991, Eduard Shevardnadze seized the power from Zviad Gamsakhurdia
with the help of his allies Jaba Ioseliani, criminal authority,
and Tengiz Kitovani, untalented artist. Soon, Zviad Gamsakhurdia was
killed in the Megrelia woods. Shevardnadze returned to Tbilisi, in
1992. Ioseliani, head of the Armed Forces and Kitovani, representative
of coalition, were dismissed and sent to prison.

In the summer of 1993, Heydar Aliyev, head of Nakhijevan’s Supreme
Council, rebelled against Abulfaz Elchibey and soon his forces entered
Baku. Suret Huseynov, one of Karabakh war participants, was among his
allies and played active part in the rebellion against Elchibey. Aliyev
forget the assistance of Huseynov already next year. Accusing Huseynov
of coup d’etat, Aliyev sent him to the prison.

In late 997 and in early 1998, Levon Ter-Petrosian had to resign
under the pressure of Vazgen Sargsian and the military branch of
the power. Robert Kocharian came to power. In 1999, as a result of
parliamentary elections, Sargsian and Karen Demirchian, his new ally,
won the victory. Sargsian became RA Prime Minister, while Demirchian
was appointed Chairman of Ra National Assembly. In few months, Sargsian
and Demirchian, as well as 6 other high ranked officials and deputies,
were killed in a terrorist act.

Serbian revolution took place in Belgrade, on October 5-6, 2000. Zoran
Djindjic, one of the key figures of the revolution, managed to
seize the power from Slobodan Miloshevic. Next year, Djindjic passed
Miloshevic to the Hague Criminal Court. Zoran Djindjic, Serbian Prime
Minister, was killed in Belgrade, in March, 2003.

Eduard Shevardnadze had to resign as a result of the so-called
“revolution of roses” in November, 2003. Zurab Zhvania, Mikheil
Saakashvili and Nino Burjanadze were the key figures of the
revolution. Saakashvili became the president, while Zhvania was
appointed the Prime Minister. In the February of 2005, Zhvania was
found dead in one of his Tbilisi apartments.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION FACTION ENDS BOYCOTT OF PARLIAMENT

Mediamax news agency
12 Sep 05

Yerevan, 12 September: The sixth session of the third Armenian
parliament convened in Yerevan today to consider an agenda of 86
items and ratify 30 agreements.

At a briefing in Yerevan the speaker of the Armenian parliament,
Artur Bagdasaryan, emphasized the forthcoming consideration of the
package of constitutional changes in the third final reading. He spoke
for the conduct of the constitutional referendum in a free atmosphere
and stressed that “the time of falsifications has passed away”.

The parliament faction of the opposition National Unity Party returned
to the parliament, while the faction of the Justice bloc continues
to boycott the work of the parliament, which started in February
2004. Today Bagdasaryan called on the Justice bloc to rejoin the
parliamentary sessions and take up full law making activities.

The 15th anniversary of the parliament of independent Armenia will
be solemnly marked in November, the speaker said.

The speakers of the Slovakian, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian and
Brazilian parliaments will visit Armenia this year at the invitation
of the chairman of the Armenian National Assembly [parliament]. A
seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will take place in Yerevan
in October.

Investment Opportunity in Armenia

BISNIS Automotive News and Trade Leads
September 9, 2005

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| 16:22:04 | 09-09-2005 | Regions |

THERE WILL BE ELECTRICITY IN THE EVENING

The residents of the Alaverdy Sarahart region have been spending the last
three days almost without electricity. According to the residents, they have
electricity for only several hours a day, and they seem to have returned to
the 1990s.

The workers of the Electricity net «Toumanyan» department informed by phone
that there has been an accident, and at present they are trying to eliminate
its result. Most probably the electricity provision will be re-established
in the evening.

RUSSIA, ARMENIA LAUNCH JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2005

Baku, September 7, AssA-Irada — Joint military exercises of Russian
and Armenian armed forces were launched in Armenia’s Armavir region
on Wednesday.

Official Yerevan and Moscow term the training as military cooperation
within the “collective security” agreement, according to the Armenian
media. Officers, soldiers and weapons of the Russian military base
deployed in Armenia’s Gumru region, as well as battalions of the
Armenian ground troops are involved in the exercises to last till
September 11. The training program also includes joint maneuvers of
the two countries’ air forces.

The launch of the military exercises amid OSCE chairman-in-office
Dimitrij Rupel’s visit to Yerevan on a peacekeeping mission and his
talks with the leadership of aggressor Armenia on the settlement of
the Upper Garabagh conflict was disapproved by some pundits. They
believe that the move may be interpreted as Moscow’s pressure on the
course of Armenia-Azerbaijan talks.*

PRESS RELEASE
August 27, 2005
Contact at HFH Armenia:
Haykuhi Khachatryan
Communications Coordinator for HFH Armenia
[email protected]

Aygestan 8-th STR, h 5,
Yerevan-070, Armenia
Tel: (374 10) 556-114
E-mail: [email protected]

Armenia Marriott Hotel staff members worked on Habitat for Humanity
Armenia building site in the village of Mayakovski, region of Kotayk.

It became a continuing tradition that Armenia Marriott Hotel and Habitat
for Humanity Armenia started last year: to partner and build together.
On August 27 Armenia Marriott Hotel associates: General Managers,
administrative employees, receptionists, bellmen were in the village of
Mayakovski to help build a house for a disadvantaged family. A group
consisting of 14 staff members did not waste an opportunity to help
Ahmadyans family of seven get their first ever decent and affordable
house and a possibility to raise their five children in safe and healthy
conditions. This family lived in a metal container more then 8 years.
During the construction works the floors in the house were laid. This
expression of good will is a wonderful example of Serving the
Communities and bringing the God’s Love into Action. Marriott associates
have demonstrated their willingness to help those in need contributing
their volunteer labor into building homes, communities and links between
people of different backgrounds and professions. This is also a very
bright example of the Marriott’s ‘spirit to serve’ philosophy, which
perfectly corresponds to the Habitat for Humanity’s principals. It is
an example of Habitat’s model of neighbors helping neighbors to build
better communities. By winter Ahmadyan’s family will move into their new
built house.

“I know about partnership between Habitat and Marriott in other
countries and I am very excited that Armenia Marriott Hotel team has one
more opportunity to be next to those in need. I also hope that the
partnership between two corporations in Armenia will become a tradition
as well. We are looking forward to see our communities strong and
prosperous in the future and will contribute our volunteer labor as much
as we can. ” – said the General Manager of Armenia Marriott Hotel
Katrin Hentszel during the construction works in the village of
Mayakovski.

Marriott and Habitat for Humanity International developed a global
partnership in 1995 to help create more housing builds throughout the
world. Since then Marriott has contributed volunteer labor and funds
toward the completion of more than 50 homes in seven countries. Now,
Armenia joins the countries, where Marriott is involved in Habitat
activities.

Habitat for Humanity Armenia is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity
International and supports community development in the Republic of
Armenia by assisting in the construction and renovation of simple,
decent and affordable homes. The purpose of the organization is to help
families in need improve their living conditions, to raise funds to
support the vital work, and to give hope to thousands of people across
the country. The organization was formed in March of 2000 and, to date,
has dedicated 122 homes and given shelter to 693 people.

Sub-standard housing is all too common in Armenia. Many families live in
deteriorated housing, in cramped quarters with inadequate water and
heat. HFH Armenia’s selected target group is families living in
substandard, over-crowded and unacceptable living quarters. This group
comprises more than 50-60% of the country’s current population. These
families are unable to purchase their own homes, as they do not have
sufficient income to save to pay for the entire house cost up front, nor
can they risk, or would they be eligible for, a high-interest loan from
a commercial lender.

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International is a
non-denominational Christian, non-governmental, non-profit housing
organization that has helped more than 1.000.000 people of all races,
religions and backgrounds to have a simple, decent and affordable place
to live. Habitat for Humanity is active in 100 countries worldwide,
including 19 in Europe and Central Asia.

THE END

ARAM SARGSYAN DOES NOT LOSE HOPE

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| 18:53:54 | 07-09-2005 | Politics |

Today the head of the Republican Party Aram Sargsyan and the member
of the council Smbat Ayvazyan participated in the session of the
Justice bloc.

Naturally, the journalists were interested in the problems inside the
Republican party. “My brother and I have passed a long way together
with Albert Bazeyan and I will not comment on his person”, said Aram
Sargsyan. He also claimed that the major concern of the Republican
Party is to free the country from the present authorities, “And all
the political organizations and parties which are for changes are
our friends”, he informed.

As for the talks that 75% of the regional structures and 50% of the
preliminary structures of the party will leave it, Mr. Sargsyan, “The
figures are far from the reality. Mr. Bazeyan had very good reputation
in the party and it is natural that there will be people who will
like to follow his example. But the figures are strongly exaggerated”.

Asked the question if he saw the finger of the authorities in what
happened to the party, Mr. Sargsyan said, “The splitting of parties
is not a new thing in Armenia. We are not the first not the last. We
must not make a tragedy out of it and we must not engage in gossip”.

As for the opposition returning to the Parliament, Aram Sargsyan said,
“I will not go to the National Assembly. I have announced that I will
go there only when the issue of non-confidence to Robert Kocharyan
will be discussed. Our party is unanimously for revolution. And
believe me, we will announce about it during the referendum”.

The referendum will take place at the end of September or at
the beginning of October. By the way, at the end when one of the
journalists asked Aram Sargsyan if the party has weakened as a result
of Albert Bazeyan’s and Vagharshak Haroutyunyan’s leaving, Sargsyan
said, “Well, of course it has”.

Romanian Engineering Unit Returns From Iraq

Rompres news agency
7 Sep 05

Bucharest, 7 September: The servicemen with the Irak IV Romanian
detachment of engineers returned home after accomplishing their
missions to the letter. Their arrival was celebrated at the Engineering
96th Battalion headquarters on Wednesday, 7 September .

In his short speech, Brigadier-General Iulian Parvulescu voiced
satisfaction with the successful accomplishment of the 149 servicemen’s
missions. They carried out some 90 missions in six months. “I am glad
you have returned safe and sound and without losses”, Parvulescu added.

Brigadier-General Ion Palsoiu with the Territorial 1st Army Corps
Command highlighted the Romanian troops’ conduct, professionalism
and dedication, for which reason they were commended.

Commander of the Irak IV detachment Gheorghe Soare said that the troops
under his command carried out missions in support of the Iraqi people,
who were open to cooperation.

He added that the missions consisted of construction and repair works
on roads, the construction of launching pads for helicopters, upkeep
for bridges linking various Iraqi settlements, construction works on
facilities aimed to boost protection of the Camp Echo and Camp Charlie
troops and specific engineering missions for the Iraqi army’s benefit.

Soare stressed that the Romanian engineers joined the ranks of the
Multinational Division Centre-South, alongside servicemen from Armenia,
Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, the US, Ukraine, Salvador, Slovakia,
Lithuania, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway and Kazakhstan.

The ceremony was also attended by members of the engineers’ families.

The new arrivals were relieved by the Irak V detachment on 4 September,
commanded by Major Dan Cosma.

OPPOSITION SUSPENDS BOYCOTT?

A1+
| 21:01:51 | 06-09-2005 | Politics |

Tomorrow Justice faction will discuss the possible suspension of the
parliamentary boycott. The spirits reigning within the faction give
reason to think that the decision will be positive. According Victor
Dallakyan, it is the demand of the nation.

National Unity party has scheduled a sitting on September 12. Faction
secretary Alexan Karapetyan informed that about 450 organizations were
instructed to study the public opinion, which will be then presented
at the sitting, during which the decision on the possible suspension
of the boycott will be taken. However Alexan Karaetyan refrained form
making premature statements.