Author: Nargizian David

HRANT DINK AWARDED HONORABLE HENRI NANNEN PRIZE

ArmRadio.am
10.05.2006 16:35

Editor of the “Agos” daily Hrant Dink received the popular annual
Henri Nannen Prize of the “Gruner + Jahr” editorial office of the
“Stern” daily. It is awarded for freedom of press and for launching
active democratic activity. On Friday evening the honorable prize
will be awarded to our compatriot in Hamburg, Germany.

In a phone talk with “Radiolur” correspondent Dink said the prize
is a pleasant surprise for him. He considers this honorable prize is
not only his tribute, but also that of the whole Armenian nation.

Tomorrow Hrant Dink will leave for Hamburg to receive the prize.

AZG Armenian Daily #084, 07/05/2006

Sport

GEVORG DAVTIAN CHAMPION OF EUROPE

Brilliant performance in the 77 kilogram category at the European
Weightlifting Championship brought Gevorg Davtian the gold medal. In
snatch event the Armenian weightlifter lifted 160, 163 and 165 kg
barbells showing the best result and winning the title of European
Champion. His closest rival, Georgi Markov of Bulgaria, was behind
him with 6 kg.

Russian Vladislav Lukanin was the best in clean and jerk lifting 200
kg on third attempt. Gevorg’s 195 kg in the second attempt in clean
and jerk event secured him gold. Yet, he used his third attempt trying
to lift 200 kg barbell but failed. As a result Gevorg won silver in
clean and jerk event.

Gevorg Davtian became the third Armenian that has conquered European
Champion title since Armenia’s independence. The previous two
were Ashot Danielian (double champion of Europe) and Khachatur
Kyapanaktsian.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 5 2006

All possible ways for resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict already
considered – Azeri President states

Source: Trend
Author: S.Aliyev

05.05.2006

All possible variants for the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh have been already considered,
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on 5 May, Trend reports.

The President informed that the co-chairs were actively involved in
the conduct of intensive consultations and different options are
under consideration. He did not rule out possible innovations in the
resolution process.

“I don’t believe that a new proposal can be forwarded for the
resolution of

the problem, or any new proposal can be submitted for the settlement
of the problem. Soon changes can be injected in the proposals which
are under discussion. I do not exclude it, as it could bring us
closer to the resolution of the conflict,” Aliyev underlined.

Azerbaijan’s position remains unchanged, he stated. “We support the
use of international legal norms and there should be a unified
approach in this issue, he said. The conflict and mechanisms for its
resolution must not be separated from common processes ongoing
throughout the world. We cannot agree with the application of a
special option.’

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HANDS OVER PRIZE TO GERMAN AUTHOR

Yerkir
05.05.2006 15:22

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – President Robert Kocharian on Friday handed
over a prize to German author Edgar Hilsenrat for his significant
contribution to the process of the Armenian Genocide recognition,
the president’s press service said.

The prize was awarded by a presidential decree of April 15 for the
novel ” The Tale of the Last Thought.”

MOSCOW INCIDENT IS NOT CONNECTED WITH MY BEING ARMENIAN, MIKAEL DOVLATIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. “The incident that happened to me in
Moscow is not connected with my being Armenian. Such cases happen
to Georgians, Azerbaijanis and people of other nationalities, too,”
film director Mikael Dovlatian declared at the May 2 press conference
in connection with the attack upon him by a group of young people
some days ago in Moscow underground. According to him, this group
of young people was like a “pack of wolves” and their goal was to
do harm to people of other nationalities. According to M.Dovlatian,
if such incidents become frequent, it is not excluded that a civil
war will start in Russia. “This is a bright example of xenophobia and
the Russian government should undertake serious measures as otherwise
this anti-hysteria will cause many problems for Russia and other CIS
countries,” M.Dovlatian emphasized. He also mentioned that he has
no hope that this case will be disclosed. According to M.Dovlatian,
he has nothing against Russia and will continue to cooperate with
Russian cinematographers. But Ruben Gevorgiants, Chairman of the Union
of Armenian Cinematographers, said that the Russian cinematographers
have refused to take part in the “Yes Em” (“It’s Me”) international
youth festival starting on May 3 in Yerevan.

8 THOUSAND USD TO BE ALLOCATED TO CEC FOR HOLDING LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES OF 4 REGIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 04 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 4 sitting, RA Government
charged RA Minister of Finance and Economy to allocate 3 mln 617
thousand 195 drams (over 8 thousand USD) from RA Government’s 2006
reserve fund to the Central Electoral Commission for the purpose
of financing the expenditures of preparation and holding of local
self-government elections in a number of communities of Syunik,
Vayots Dzor, Shirak and Tavush regions.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES REPORT ON PRIVATIZATION PROCESS IN ARMENIA IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006

Noyan Tapan
May 04 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 4 sitting, the Armenian
government approved the report on privatization process in the Republic
of Armenia in the first quarter of 2006. NT was informed about it from
the RA Government Information and PR Department. It was noted during
the sitting that in the period under review, 8 objects included in
the 2001-2003 state property privatization program were privatized
(including 3 companies, state property separated from the property
of 2 companies, and 3 incompleted construction objects) against 14
objects privatized in the first quarter of last year. Privatization
agreements were also signed with the purchasers of 5 objects privatized
previously. In the first quarter of 2006, 65 companies were in the
liquidation process, 4 of which were declared bankrupt by court, and
the liquidation process of another 4 companies was completed. According
to the report, the privatization incomes made 90 mln 686.4 thousand
drams and 50 thousand dollars during the indicated period. 18 mln
35.7 thousand drams (about 40 thousand dollars) was transferred to
communities in order prescribed by law.

TURKISH COURT REJECTS EDITOR’S APPEAL

Hurriyet, Turkey
May 2 2006

An Armenian editor, who lives in Turkey and was found guilty under
article 301 of insulting Turkishness last year when he described
Turkish blood as dirty in relation to the so-called Armenian genocide,
has had his appeal turned down. Hrant Dink was given a six-month
suspended sentence last October for writing an article which discussed
the so-called genocide.

In February, the case was interpreted by the Appeals Court of which
the chief prosecutor stated that the remarks made by Dink were in no
way insulting, however, the court has ignored its previous statements
and now said that the charge is still valid.

Hrant Dink is said to be very distressed by the entire episode and has
even gone as far as saying should his name not be cleared in Turkey,
he would have to leave the country for good.

The case is being closely watched by the European Union, as it holds
concerns over Turkey’s freedom of speech laws. Something which will
need to be addressed as Dink is not the only person being scrutinized
under the infamous article 301.

PanARMENIAN.Net

U.S. Not Going to Attack Iran, Turkish FM Assures

28.04.2006 23:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `The U.S. doesn’t plan any military operations
against Iran. Washington just strengthens pressure upon this state in
relation to the UN,’ Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
stated. When commenting on the outcomes of his meeting with Secretary
of State Rice the Turkish FM remarked that his American counterpart
said the U.S. is not going to attack Iran. `Rice said launching of a
military operation against Iran is not the principal goal of the
United States. Nevertheless President Bush views military interference
as one of the possible variants.

At present we are thinking of formation of a serious coalition to
prevent Iran’s nuclear program. This coalition will force Iran to
cooperation,’ the Turkish FM said, reported APA.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 28 2006

HEAD OF WB YEREVAN OFFICE: SALE OF HRAZDAN-5 TO RUSSIA IS VERY
PROFITABLE FOR ARMENIA

YEREVAN, April 28. /ARKA – Novosti-Armenia/. The Hrazdan-5 (5th
power-unit of Hrazdan heat and power plant) sale transaction is very
profitable for Armenia, as the Head of the WB Yerevan Office Roger
Robinson told journalists in Yerevan today.
`The only thing I can say, reasoning from the information provided by
authorities, is that this transaction is very profitable for
Armenia’, Robinson stated.
In his words, in many countries of the world public services are not
always rendered by resident companies.
`There is nothing wrong in such system’, Robinson finds.
Besides that in his words, Russia is the main provider of primary
energy resources in Armenia.
`It’s nowadays reality’, Robinson stated. He emphasized that Armenia
receives from Russia atomic fuel and natural gas and the only own
source of energy are hydro-resources.
`Each of us, who speaks about energy-generation and energy-supply in
Armenia, must realize this reality’, Robinson finds.
At the same time he emphasized the importance of existence of
powerful regulating body in Armenia, which sets and controls the
sphere of service rendering.
He informed that next week the RA Government intends to conduct
public hearings on this issue.
`It would be right if the Government discusses with citizens its
activities of recent months. Their responsibility sphere includes
this, since they act on behalf of the people of Armenia’, he stated.
On April 6, `Gasprom’ ojsc and the RA Government signed an agreement
on strategic cooperation for 25 years. The document envisages
purchase of Hrazdan-5 by the `ArmRusgasprom’ cjsc from Armenia for
$248,8 mln and it also sets price for Russian gas for Armenia
amounting to $110 for 1 thsd cubic meters till January 1, 2009.
S.P.–0–