Author: Nalbandian Eduard

GOVERNMENT PROPOSES REDUCING LIST OF GOODS IMPORTED ON CONCESSIONAL
TERMS

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 23 sitting, the RA
National Assembly started discussing a government-submitted draft law
in first reading. The draft proposes making amendments to the law on
establishing the list of goods, which are imported by organizations
and private businessmen, have a zero rate of customs duty, are not
subject to excise taxation, and on which no VAT is calculated and
charged by customs bodies. The discussion will continue at the next
four-day sittings to be convened on April 10. The main speaker, RA
Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Tigran Davtian said
that the draft’s purpose is to ensure an equal competitive field for
all economic entities, bring the country’s trade and economic
legislation in line with European laws, as well as to secure the
budget revenues through administration.

By the draft, the list of goods imported on concessional terms is
reduced by almost 20%. As a result, about 80% of the goods imported
into Armenia will be taxed on the border. According to the draft’s
opponents, a draft law of similar contents was previously rejected by
the parliament, but the government ignored the proposals made by some
deputies. Particularly, Secretary of the Justice faction Victor
Dallakian urged the government not to “strangle” economic entities on
the border. Deputy Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Financial,
Credit, Budget and Economic Issues, Secretary of the “People’e Deputy”
group Vahram Baghdasarian said that the government should promote
exports instead of trying the reduce imports and establish concessive
terms for the import of modern equipment and raw materials not
produced in Armenia. He noted that the adoption of the draft will
distort the budget’s execution, since it presupposes extra revenues of
35 bln drams (about 77.7 mln USD) not envisaged by the budget.

PHOTO REPORTER OF THE CAUCASIAN INSTITUTION OF MASS MEDIA (CIMM)
AWARDED THE FIRST PRIZE AT THE ‘PRESS PHOTO’ COMPETITION

YEREVAN, MARCH 22. ARMINFO. The head of the CIMM (Caucasian
Institution Of Mass Media) Photography Department Ruben Mangasarian
was recognized the best on the ‘Press Photo’ competition, March 17.

The CIMM report that over 5 thousand works were represented on the
event. In 5 nominations 15 photographers from Iraq, Poland, Britain,
China, Austria and Armenia were awarded. The festive ceremony of
handing the prizes will be held on May 9, Warszawa.

A RESOLUTION ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE ADOPTED AT THE SUMMER SESSION OF THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

ArmRadio
22.03.2006 14:22

A resolution on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict will be
adopted at the summer session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly, Head of the Armenian
delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vahan Hovhannisyan
told “Armenpress” that during his visit to Azerbaijan in April the
reporter on the Karabakh issue Goran Lenmarker will get to know the
Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and will
pass them the suggestion of the Armenian side to create a joint
committee within OSCE.

According to Vahan Hovhannisyan, the committee on the parliamentary
level will provide the opportunity to have the work with the reporter
be more coordinated, to share information and promote the activities
of the Minsk Group.

The Vice-Speaker reminded that Goran Lenmarker’s report has been
presented, but no resolution has been adopted, since the Assembly
opposed the project suggested by Azerbaijan.

The draft resolution will be developed by summer. Goran Lenmarker is
not expected to visit Armenia.

YEREVAN’S MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT WORK SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO REGULAR ANALYSIS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Mayor’s Office has already
developed the program on the Master Plan’s project measures, which
includes legal acts and other program documents. Samvel Danielian,
Chief Architect of Yerevan, said at the March 20 press conference
that altough the development of the Master Plan is gradually becoming
a reality, the whole process should be always supervised and subject
to a regular analysis. According to him, first of all, the projects of
the territorial plans of Yerevan’s aglomeration (the city’s connection
with adjacent marzes) and suburb zone should be worked out, as well as
the sketch and project proposals for building up all the communities
in Yerevan. Particularly, according to S. Daniaelian, the projects of
building up Kozern and Silikian districts, the areas adjacent to the
Mars Plant and Tsitsernakaberd motorway should be worked out. It was
noted that the work on development of the area adjacent to Surb Grigor
Lusavorich Mother Cathedral, and the 30th district (the so-called
“Firdusnots”) has been finished. The Chief Architect noted that this
year it is also envisaged to develop the zoning projects of Yerevan’s
Kentron, Ajapniak, Davtashen and Arabkir communities, while the zoning
projects of the remaining communities of Yerevan will be developed
in 2007.

TURKEY REJECTED U.S. DEMAND TO OPEN ARMENIAN BORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.03.2006 19:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish government responded negatively
once again to a demand from the United States to open the Armenian
border. During his visit to Turkey U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried urged
the Turkish government to reevaluate the Armenian border. Ankara,
however, acted unenthusiastically to the issue at hand. Turkish
officials classified the “Armenian cessation of its invasion of the
Karabakh region” as one of the three requirements for the appeasement
of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey is also pushing Armenia
to “disavow its allegations of the Armenian Genocide and to remove from
the Armenian constitution the anti-Turkish clauses,” reported Zaman.

ARMENIAN YOUTH OF MOSCOW MEETS WITH RA NA VICE-SPEAKER

MOSCOW, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A meeting of
representatives of Armenian youth organizations of Moscow with Vahan
Hovhannisian, RA National Assembly Vice-Speaker, a member of ARF
Dashnaktsutiun Bureau, was held on March 15 at the conference hall of
Russian Public-Political Center on the initiative of the “Mitk” Union
of Armenian Youth. According to the “Yerkramas” (Territory) newspaper
of Armenians of Russia, issues regarding the development of Armenia,
Russian-Armenian cooperation, geopolitical situation in the region,
process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, relations between
Armenia and the Diaspora were discussed at the meeting.

The “Mitk” Union of Armenian Youth is a youth project of the
“Russian-Armenian Commonwealth” NGO. Within the framework of the
sittings of the Friends Club of “Mitk”, meetings with Russian and
Armenian political and public figures are held.

U.S. urges Turkey to open up border crossing with Armenia

Xinhua News Agency, China
March 17 2006

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Daniel Fried urged Turkey to open up the border crossing with Armenia
as a step toward normalization of relations between the two countries,
local media reported Friday.

Fried, who is currently on a visit to Turkey, called upon Turkey to
open up the border crossing, which he said would contribute to building
up relations between Turkey and Armenia, semi-official Anatolia News
Agency reported.

The U.S. official also discussed with Turkish officials Iran’s nuclear
program and the Cyprus issue, the report added.

Turkey and the United States shared concern over the Iranian nuclear
issue, but officials from both sides agreed that it should be resolved
through diplomatic means, Anatolia said.

But meanwhile, Fried conveyed the message to Turkey that the military
alternative was still on the table, it added.

On the Cyprus issue, Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali
Tuygan, who held talks with Fried, emphasized the importance of ending
the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot north.

Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia on
the basis that Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million Armenians died
as a result of systematic genocide during the Turkish Ottoman period
between 1915 and 1923, a charge disputed by Ankara.

2006 CRUCIAL YEAR FOR MORTGAGE MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. The year 2006 will be crucial for mortgage
market development in Armenia, the newly appointed Chairman of the
Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) Stepan Gichyan stated in his interview
to the Ra public Television.

“The mortgage market remains in the center of attention of the RA
President and Government, as well as of the heads of banks and the
UBA,” Gishyan said.

He pointed out that Armenia’s banks intend to intensify their
activities in developing the mortgage market.

He also stressed that the UBA intends to take a number of steps,
particularly, enhance is role in drafting economic bills for banks’
interests to be represented in a better way.

Gishyan also pointed out that one of the UBA’s most important tasks
is facilitating the increase in the number of transactions effected
by means of banks, which will reduce the share of shadow economy.

According to him, the mobilization of Armenian banks’ resources will
contribute to the formation of internal resources, which will later
be provided to economic entities. P.T. -0–

“SUPREME COUNCIL” DEPUTY CLUB MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 15, 2006

YEREVAN, March 15. /ARKA/. The “Supreme Council” deputy club has
marked its 10th anniversary, says a statement of Chairman of the club
Ruben Torosyan.

The “Supreme Council” deputy club was founded by 22 deputies of
the Supreme Council of Armenia on March 15, 1996. The Presidium was
comprised of Kim Balayan, Vardan Zurnachyan, Ruben Torosyan, Tigran
Kyuregyan, Ferdinand Ghazaryan, Aram Mailyan, Arshak Sadoyan. Ruben
Torosyan was elected Chairman.

In 1997, the club, in association with 11 public organizations,
founded the first human rights organization in Armenia, “Human
Rights 96”. In 2000-2002, the organization held a number of seminars
“Armenia in the 21st century”. A scientific paper entitled “Outlines
of Armenia’s development” was published as a result of the seminars.

During the 2003 parliamentary and presidential elections, the club
formed the Public Commission to supervise the election process. To
supervise the constitutional referendum, the “Supreme Council” club,
in association with 18 political parties and a number of public
organizations, established the Public Commission to supervise the
legality of referendum. The Commission is still working.

In 2005, the “Supreme Council” club, in association with members
of parliaments of different convocations founded the “Center of
Parliamentarianism of Armenia” NGO.

ARMENIA MARKS 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOGHOMON TEYLERYAN’S RETALIATION ACTION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16, 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Armenia marked 85th anniversary of action
of retaliation committed by Soghomon Teyleryan in 1921 in Berlin
against the then Ottoman Empire’s Home minister Talaat-Pasha, who
was one of the 1915 Armenian Genocide masterminds. Dashnaktsuthun
Armenian party board member and MP Armen Rustamyan said at the ceremony
dedicated to this event that nowadays the retaliation act hasn’t lost
its significance. It is remarkable, he said, that the patriot was
acquitted by German count and his victim, in fact, remains convicted
forever. Talaat killing was one of Nemesis operation’s actions, which
showed that punishment of those implicated in genocide shouldn’t be
considered as crime, Rustamyan said.

He condemned Turkey’s attempts to use today’s worldwide struggle
against terrorism for tarnishing Teyleryan’s reputation saying his
retaliation action has nothing in common with those inhuman acts
pursuing obscure goals. “Teyleryan’s goal was kind, just and true.

And the court proved it”, the MP said.

Armenian student Soghomon Teyleryan shot down Ottoman Empire’s Home
minister Talaat-Pasha in Berlin on March 15, 1921. Talaat-Pash
was among those Ottoman Empire’s top officials having their part
in orchestrating the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Later Teyleryan was
acquitted by Berlin court’s jurors.

The killing was designed by Dashnaktsutyun party as part of a series of
operations called Nemesis. Under the Dashnaktsutyun-worked out scheme,
Ottoman Empire Home Minister Talaat-Pasha, former PM Said Halim, former
Trapezund governor Jemal Azmi, special organization leader Behaetdin
Shakir and former Naval Forces Minister Jemal-Pasha have been killed.

Besides, former Turkish Military Minister Enver-Paha who headed
counter-soviet movement in Turkistan in 20s, was killed by Russian
Red Army commander of Armenian descent Yakov Melkumov.