Author: Nalbandian Eduard

BELGIAN SENATOR THINKS IT IS POINTLESS TO DISCUSS KARABAKH ISSUE
UNLESS ONE HAS VISITED KARABAKH

Lragir.am
01 Sept 06

The chair of the Committee of External Relations and Defense of the
Belgian Senate Fran-ois Roelants du Vivier is visiting
Karabakh. During this meeting with the speaker of the National
Assembly Ashot Ghulyan he said it is impossible to understand the
essence of the conflict over Karabakh and the process of settlement
unless one has visited here, he said. Mr. Du Vivier thinks although
the question is thoroughly discussed in the diplomatic sphere,
parliamentary diplomacy may also have an important role in considering
this issue.

With regard to this opinion the speaker of the National Assembly said
the NKR parliament has come up with similar initiatives, which,
however, encountered the rough stance of the neighboring
country. "nlike our colleagues in Baku, we think that this format is
acceptable because the status of the member of parliament, free from
restrictions, would enable finding common points in core and
additional matters, moreover, it would enable establishing an
atmosphere of confidence, and consequently establishing and promoting
relations on different levels." The senator also met with NKR
President Arkady Ghukasyan.

HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Nvard Ohanjanian

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
30 Aug 2006

On the eve of the new academic year, the International Committee
of the Red Cross distributed aid, 60 schoolbags and stationery,
to the children of the missing soldiers in Karabakh. The ceremony
took place at the office of the Union of Relatives of the Missing
Liberation Soldiers of NKR, the representatives of the NKR office
of the ICRC Edgar Sargissian and Inga Avanessian were present. The
chair of the organization Vera Grigorian said the Red Cross provides
humanitarian aid to the union two or three times a year, which is
distributed to poor families. Besides, every year on the eve of the
academic year the Red Cross gives a surprise to the young children of
the missing soldiers. In the beginning the amount of aid was bigger,
90 schoolbags, but over the past two years it was reduced, and the aid
is distributed to 60 children from the capital and the regions. The
head of the union says they implemented another project with the NKR
Ministry of Social Security. 10 families of the missing soldiers got
11 thousand drams each, and 20 families were given food aid.

IRANIAN "ESCAPE" SOUNDTRACK RECORDED IN ARMENIA

Tehran Times, Iran
Aug. 30, 2006

TEHRAN — Iranian composer Peyman Yazdanian finished recording some
parts of a soundtrack for Niki Karimi’s "Escape" in Armenia, he told
the MNA on Saturday.

"I was familiar with her work style since I had composed a soundtrack
for her previous film ‘One Night’," Yazdanian added.

The classic pieces of "Escape" soundtrack were recorded in Armenia
for better quality, he explained. "The soundtrack has been mostly
played by piano, flute, and cello."

"Escape" is the second film of Karimi as a directress and tells
the story of Shahrzad, a girl who has to make crucial decisions in
her life.

The film stars Karimi and Nilufar Khoshkholq.

CHINA AND KAZAKHSTAN JOIN THE KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI RAILROAD PROJECT

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 29, 2006

In an interview to Zaman, Turkish Transport Minister Binal Yildirim
says that China and Kazakhstan have joined the project to build Kars
(Turkey)-Akhalkalaki (Georgia)-Tbilisi-Baku (KATB) railroad. Radio
Liberty reports Yildirim to say: "This project is the modern version
of the Silk Road. It will allow one to get from Kars to China or Hong
Kong via Kazakhstan. In the future this railroad will be connected
to the Marmara railroad (a road running under Bosporus) – a project
that will allow one to get from London to China." Yildirim says that
Turkey’s share in the KATB is $250mln. The railroad will be built in
two years to carry almost 20mln tons of cargo against the 18mln tons
presently carried via all Turkey’s railroads together.

Yildirim says that the project was developed as early as 1960s but
"has been delayed for years because of contradictions with Armenia"
and Turkey’s eastern regions have been close for a long time. "As
a result, the Caucasus and Asian states were close for railroad
operations to Europe," says Yildirim. He notes that the KATB project
has good prospects. "The 79-km section till the Georgia border
will be financed by Turkey, the 25-km section in Georgia by the
Georgian authorities. The Tbilisi-Baku section will be modernized,"
says Yildirim.

The engineering work was started in 2001 and, at the initial stage,
the project was estimated at $463mln. "Even China offered a soft
credit for the project. Particularly, they said they were ready to
lend money for 13 years at 5.5% a year, with a grace period during
the first three years. However, the Turkish authorities declined
their offer as they were unwilling to guarantee the credit," says
Yildirim. He notes that the project will substantially change the
face of the region and will help it to prosper.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN MET WITH THE MAYOR OF YEREVAN YERVAND ZAKHARYAN

ArmRadio.am
25.08.2006 14:57

Today President Robert Kocharyan had a working meeting with the Mayor
of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan.

The Mayor presented to the President the process of accomplishment
of 2006 programs in different spheres. Particularly, reference was
made to the urban development programs and construction works.

The President draw special attention to the program of events connected
with the master plan of Yerevan.

The interlocutors dwelt on the improvement of the city roads and
regulation of transport.

The President gave concrete instructions regarding all the issues
discussed.

EXPERT SAYS AZERBAIJAN NEEDS NO US DEMOCRACY

Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku
23 Aug 06

Excerpt from Nardar Bayramli’s report in Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Azarbaycan on 23 August entitled "The USA is a bulwark of neither
democracy nor justice" and subheaded "Vafa Quluzada: ‘Matthew Bryza
does not understand that his Armenian brothers killed our people’"

Countries of the world are planning to contribute to an international
peacekeeping mission in the Middle East to ease tension there. The
process is already under way. In parallel with this, GUAM [an alliance
of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova] states are discussing the
possibility of setting up a peacekeeping force of their own. Political
expert Vafa Quluzada’s conclusion regarding the current situation is
as follows:

[Quluzada] The process of setting up peacekeeping forces is
difficult. Many countries do not want to contribute to the peacekeeping
mission in the Middle East. Some countries agree to commit a limited
number of troops. I think the main reason for [US] Senator [Richard]
Lugar’s visit to Baku was to get Azerbaijan’s consent to send a large
contingent of troops to the Middle East. In general, the situation
in the region is unusual.

[Passage omitted: hostilities may resume in the Middle East]

[Correspondent] GUAM countries are in talks on setting up a
peacekeeping force. If this force is set up, can the troops be sent
to Lebanon?

[Quluzada] If a GUAM peacekeeping force is set up, its first mission
will be in Lebanon.

[Correspondent] In general, what is your expectation of this process?

[Quluzada] The USA and NATO are urging us to cooperate and create an
alliance. I think Azerbaijan should cooperate with the West within
the framework of GUAM. The West should also ally itself with us.

First, the USA should be unbiased and recognize Armenia as an occupying
state. However, on the one hand, the USA supports Armenians, and on
the another hand, it wants us to be their ally. I do not accept full
cooperation unless the USA recognizes Armenian aggression [against
Azerbaijan] and pushes for the implementation of the UN Resolutions [No
822, 853, 874, 884 on the withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied
Azerbaijani territories]. If this does not happen, I am resolutely
against Azerbaijan’s contribution to the Lebanese peacekeeping
mission. Strangely, the USA wants to get everything without giving
anything. Look, the USA has the largest share in Azerbaijan’s oil and
gas projects. We have made big compromises to the USA due to major
strategy and policy. However, the opposite side cannot appreciate this
properly. I think the USA’s approach is wrong. The USA named a co-chair
[of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza] for the Nagornyy Karabakh
settlement who said here that Armenians are their brothers. However,
Matthew Bryza does not understand that his Armenian brothers expelled
over 1m people from their homes and now they are setting fire to their
[displaced people’s] lands. The US administration does not understand
this reality.

[Correspondent] Some experts believe that by setting up a GUAM
peacekeeping force, the USA wants to secure its regional interests.

But will it not cause tough Russian reaction?

[Quluzada] Russia is unable to hinder the setting up of a GUAM
peacekeeping force. Azerbaijan should take necessary steps to maintain
its interests. At the same time, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia should
also protect their interests. I think that the USA acts as an observer
in connection with processes in these countries.

[Correspondent] Vafa muallim [mode of address], you were always
optimistic about US policy. It turns out that you do not rely on the
USA any longer?

[Quluzada] Certainly, I previously considered that the USA was
a bulwark of democracy. I thought the USA would support the newly
independent nations after the demise of the Soviet Union. However, when
the USA decided to export democracy to Iraq, I came to a conclusion
that we did not want this democracy. The USA exported democracy to
several former Soviet states. However, we see Ukraine, Georgia and
Kyrgyzstan are in difficulties. Regrettably, the USA is a bulwark of
neither democracy nor justice.

[Correspondent] Do you think Azerbaijan should make changes to its
foreign policy?

[Quluzada] The best way is to conduct a balanced foreign policy.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev carries out a balanced policy.

This means that Azerbaijan should cooperate with all states, including
Russia and Iran, for the sake of its own national interests. In this
case the USA will see that Azerbaijan has opportunities to pursue a
normal policy in all spheres. We should not defend the USA whoever
it decides to attack. We should not spoil our relations with our
neighbours, on the contrary, we should maintain good relations
with them.

EXHIBITION OF AMERICAN ARMENIAN ARTIST KICKS OFF

Armenpress
Aug 16 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS: Exhibition of Armenian fine artist
Laura Avetisian, based in USA, kicked off today at the Armenian
National State Gallery. At about 46 pictures of the artist are
presented at the exhibition.

Henrik Igitian, the director of the national center of aesthetics,
said that Avetisian is one of the unique artists who, living in
foreign country "was fed by the Armenian art and found herself in
the genre she has chosen."

The head of the Armenian Artists’ Union Karen Aghamian noted that
from 1,100 members of the union only 700 are living and creating in
Armenia which affects the development of the Armenian fine art.

Avetisian participated in different exhibitions in Canada and USA,
organized her personal exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Boston,
San Francisco, Paris.

Her works are presented at the Yerevan Contemporary Art Museum,
Californian "Mission" gallery.

HEAD OF ORGANIZATION FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS PROTECTION KILLED IN ARMENIA
Author: À. Mammadov

TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006

(PanARMENIAN.Net) – Well-known entrepreneur, head of the Organization
for Children’s Rights Protection Alexander Givoyev was killed
on Ashtarak-Gyumri highway in Armenia. Upon receiving an alarm on
shooting the policemen found Givoyev’s body with wounds, reports Trend.

It was found out that the entrepreneur with his family was heading
for Gyumri in his own car. When he stopped at a shop and got off
the car an unknown fired on him out of a red VAZ-2199 car. Givoyev
died immediately. Shop assistant Gyulnara Karapetyan also died from
wounds. A criminal case was initiated and an investigation started,
reported Newsarmenia.ru.

–Boundary_(ID_U1exb2oulweirR6ti8 aBLw)–

NSU TO ROUND UP POLITICAL PARTIES WITH IDEOLOGY

Lragir.am
10 Aug 06

Paruir Hairikyan, the leader of the National Self-Determination Union,
invited news reporters on August 10, the day when an agreement was
signed in Sevres in 1920, to announce that the international document
signed by 14 states "is a powerful document that the genocide was
perpetrated, and has a great role in eliminating the consequences of
the genocide." The people who lost the possibilities provided by the
agreement of Sevres as a result of the loss of statehood should have
pursued it, believes the leader of the NSU, but since "we have not
had governments attached to the national roots" so far, we do not
have Armenia with an area of 184 thousand square km, washed by the
Black Sea.

And in order to fulfill the Armenian dream, the NSU is going to hold a
round-table meeting and invite all the political parties of Armenia,
which bear an ideology. There is a preliminary arrangement with the
Democratic Party of Armenia, the National Unity, Orinats Yerkir Party,
the Heritage Party. The NSU and the others will discuss the greatest
danger for the political life in Armenia, namely the political
sphere in Armenia is dominated by non-political and anti-political
forces. The topic of the round-table meeting will be "The role of
political parties bearing an ideology in the parliamentary election
2007". The NSU did not invite ideology-free political parties and
political parties which profane the ideology but in order not to
assume the role of a judge Paruir Hairikyan declined to enumerate
parties which do not have an ideology. However, he added, "Tigran
Karapetyan does not bear an ideology. He is implementing a business
project. There is a political party which profanes an ideology,
profanes the memory of Njdeh by repeating the name of Njdeh." And
everyone knows who gives the name of Hjdeh most often.

So far, two parliament forces have invited the NSU to enter an alliance
in 2007. Again Paruir Hairikyan declined to give names, but this time
to prevent encroachments against these political parties, "We do not
want to turn their civil courage into an opportunity for manipulations
by their opponents." According to the leader of the NSU, one of the
political parties made this proposal considering their ideological
similarities, the other took into account the contribution of the NSU,
"failing to find another force whose words and actions coincide,
which will make a contribution to the life of our nation."

KOCHARIAN ORDERS TAX EXEMPTION FOR ARMENIAN FARMERS
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Armenia
Aug. 8, 2006

Most Armenian farmers will be exempt from a 20 percent sales tax for
agricultural products to be introduced in 2009 in line with Armenia’s
commitments to the World Trade Organization, President Robert Kocharian
said on Tuesday.

The value-added tax (VAT), levied from sales of all non-agricultural
goods, has long been the Armenian government’s’ single largest source
of revenues. Yerevan pledged to extend it to the agricultural sector
when it was admitted to the WTO in February 2003 after a decade of
membership talks with its more than 140 member states.

With agricultural production making up approximately one fifth of
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product, a broader enforcement of VAT would
give a sizable boost to the government’s tax revenues. However, most
Armenians living in rural areas are subsistence farmers that already
struggle to eke out a modest living and pay a separate tax on their
land. Very few of them receive can count on government compensation
for hail, droughts and other adverse weather conditions that regularly
wreak havoc on Armenian agriculture.

Kocharian was quoted by his office as telling Agriculture Minister
David Lokian to ensure that farmers whose annual turnover does not
exceed 8 million drams ($20,000) do not have to pay VAT when it comes
into force in January 2009. The vast majority of villagers will almost
certainly not pass this income threshold.

A statement by the presidential press service also said VAT will be
set at an average of 10 percent for less vulnerable rural households
with a turnover of between 8 million and 12 million drams. Other,
wealthier farmers will have to pay the tax in full.

The tax breaks will presumably require corresponding changes to
Armenian tax legislation. It is not clear if they might put Armenia
at loggerheads with longtime WTO members like Australia and Canada
that set specific conditions for its entry into the organization
setting rules on international trade. The Armenian government agreed
in particular to scrap a 10 percent duty on some imported foodstuffs
and limit its agricultural subsidies to just $40 million a year.

Some local manufacturers feared that WTO membership and the resulting
further liberalization of Armenia’s trade regime could reflect
negatively on their businesses. But those fears seem to have been
misplaced so far, with Armenian exports growing more rapidly than
imports between 2003 and 2005.