Author: Navasardian Karapet

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN MET WITH RF PRIME MINISTER

ArmRadio.am
31.10.2006 17:55

Today in Moscow RA President Robert Kocharyan met with the Prime
Minister of Russia Mikhail Fradkov.

"The economic cooperation between Armenia and Russia is developing,
but the process is hindered because of the problems in the sphere of
transport communication," Robert Kocharyan said during the meeting. At
the same time RA President stated that the transport problem is
compensated with investment programs, particularly in the spheres of
manufacturing, construction and energy.

Mikhail Fradkov informed that he will discuss the questions of
bilateral cooperation during the meeting with his Armenian counterpart
Andranik Margaryan on December 1. According to him, the next day
concluding events in the framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia
will be held in Saint Petersburg.

The meeting of Robert Kocharyan and Mikhail Fradkov was attended
by Co-Chair of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission,
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin.

A1+

`ARMENIA HAS LOST SELF-DEPENDENCE’
[06:49 pm] 27 October, 2006

`After October 27 Armenia lost its self-dependence as
the murdered officials were independent politicians
and the dignity of the country was important for
them’, said another victim of October 27 Stepan
Zaqaryan.

According to him, after October 27 because of the
behavior of the authorities Armenia turned from a
strategic partner into the outpost of Russia. The
deputy thinks that Armenia carries out a downright
shadow policy. He brought as an example the arrest of
Vahagn Chakhalyan, member of the council of `United
Javakhq’, with which, according to him, the RA
authorities flatter Georgia.

Stepan Zaqaryan noted that long ago Karen Demirchyan
managed to make the living standards of Armenia higher
than that of its neighbors, whereas now it is the
opposite. The deputy is convinced that the volumes of
the gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia would be
larger if Armenia protected its interests.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 28 2006

Azeri Foreign Minister Met with Delegation of German Marshal
Foundation

Source: Trend
Author: S.Agayeva

28.10.2006

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with the delegation of
German Marshal Foundation, Trendreports with reference to the
statement of the Azerbaijan Foreign Minister.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister informed the guests about the
situation in the region, interrelations with the neighboring
countries, Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the
ways of its settlement.

Mammadyarov answered to the questions of the guests regarding the
geo-policy of Azerbaijan, realization of global-economical projects,
religious situation, efforts of Azerbaijan to restore peace and
stability in the region.

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

RUSSIA NO LONGER FEELS LIKE HOME

The Haykakan Zhamanak Newspaper wrote that the Armenian businessmen
are transferring their property from Russia to the United States and
Europe because the Russian government is said to be likely to start
persecution. The Lragir has learned from a reliable source that
another similar process is underway. The businessmen of Armenia, who
run businesses in Russia, are also taking their property away from
Russia.

This tendency is believed to be determined by the pre-election
situation and the costs required for a desirable outcome of the
election. However, our source says this money is too much for the
election, especially that the `pocket’ money of the Armenian
oligarchs is enough to supply the `demand’ of the election. The
Armenian businessmen were simply instructed to `pack their things’,
otherwise hard consequences were promised. In this context, there is
notable information on the visit of the Russian Attorney General Yuri
Chaika to Yerevan. Another source of the Lragir informed that during
this visit the Attorney General of Armenia and his Russian
counterpart had a confidential talk over the problem of the Armenian
oligarchs running businesses in Russia, and Yuri Chairka said the
procuracies of Armenia and Russia do not have a corresponding
agreement that would enable the procuracy of Russia to deal with the
businesses of the Armenian oligarchs at full. Eventually, this
agreement was signed, which gave rise to this process.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

VTB BANK ARMENIA PLANS TO BECOME LEADER IN RENDERING RETAIL SERVICES

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/.The VTB Bank Armenia intends to become an
absolute leader in rendering individual services in the country,
Senior vice-President Vasily Titov told reporters.
"This is one of the priority tasks," he said.
According to Titov, the Armenian bank has a large branch network
throughout Armenia. "I am sure that the task of retail development
and project funding will be accomplished," he said.
Titov also pointed out that the issue of replenishing the bank’s
capital is not on the agenda now, because the VTB Bank Armenia has
all means of accomplishing its tasks.
On September 8, 2001, the RA Government made a decision on the
privatization of the Armsavingsbank by means of a direct sale to the
ARCH Limited consortium (Bahamas) and ÌIKA Armenia Trading.
Early in 2003, the stock was transferred to the ÌIKA Armenia Trading,
and in March 2004, in Yerevan, a contract was signed for the purchase
of 70% of the "Armsavingsbank" shares by the Russian VTB.
The authorized capital of the "VTB Bank Armenia" CJSC is currently
7,526.2mln, assets AMD 14.7bln or $109.4mln (on September 30, 2006),
total capital AMD 9.1bln ($23.9mln). In January-September 2006, the
bank’s profit amounted to AMD 493.4mln ($1.3mln), and the balance
profit AMD 1.2bln ($3.1mln).
The VTB Bank Armenia is among the leaders as to the main indicators.
Specifically, it has the 4th largest assets, 5th largest volume of
individual crediting, 2nd largest volume of crediting legal entities,
3rd largest volume of funds attracted from clients and the amount of
individual fixed deposits, 2nd largest amount of individual call
deposits. As regards the total capital, the bank has the 4th largest
capital, and the 2nd largest authorized capital.($1 – AMD 379.84).
P.T. –0–

France to help genocide inquiry

France says it will co-operate with an inquiry in Rwanda into
allegations that French forces were involved in the 1994 Rwandan
genocide.

A commission in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, has started hearing
witnesses in public this week on the issue.

A French defence ministry spokesman told the BBC that the testimony of
two army officers would be made available.

France has denied playing any role in the 100-day frenzy of killing in
which 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus died.

The panel, whose hearings are being broadcast live on local radio, is
hearing from 25 survivors of the genocide, who claim to have
witnessed French involvement.

After the testimonies, the Rwandan panel will rule on whether to file
a suit at the International Court of Justice.

‘No evidence’

"Two officers have been requested to testify by Rwandan officials and
as we do with the international courts we shall organise this," Jean
Francois Bureau, spokesman for French defence minister, told the BBC’s
Network Africa programme.

French soldiers were deployed in parts of Rwanda in the final weeks of
the genocide under a United Nations mandate to set up a protected
zone.

Rwanda says the soldiers allowed Hutu extremists to enter Tutsi camps.

But Mr Bureau says there is no evidence to support these accusations.

The BBC’s Geoffrey Mutagoma in Kigali says that it is also alleged
that French soldiers provided escape routes to militia escaping to the
Democratic Republic of Congo after the massacres.

Meanwhile, in France a military tribunal is currently investigating
claims by six Rwandans who filed a case accusing French troops of
facilitating the massacres.

Separately, some of Rwanda’s most high-profile genocide cases have
already been tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR), based in the Tanzanian town of Arusha.

Twenty-five ringleaders have been convicted since 1997, but the
Rwandan government has expressed frustration at the slow legal
process.

Story from BBC NEWS:
/6087454.stm

Published: 2006/10/26 12:11:28 GMT

© BBC MMVI

MANAGER OF WORLD BANK YEREVAN OFFICE AT PARLIAMENT

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 25 2006

On October 24 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia Mr. Tigran Torosyan received the Manager of the World
Bank Yerevan Office Mr. Roger Robinson, who is ending his mission in
our country.

Mr. Robinson thanked the President of the National Assembly for the
four and a half years of effective work noting, that during those
years our country has achieved serious economic results and a stabile
development rate, which is not less important. Mr. Robinson stressed
the importance of three factors for the development of each country –
political, economic and social. He noted that these three factors are
not achieved simultaneously because the economic development is always
ahead, while the political and social developments require longer
time because they imply a change in the mentality and perceptions of
people, as well as in the relations between each other and with the
state. The World Bank does not interfere with the politics, but the
success of the forthcoming elections is important for maintaining
the economic development, noted Mr. Robinson adding that he will
officiate in Kyrgyzstan but he will always stay friends with Armenia.

Wishing success to the future activity of Mr. Robinson, the President
of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan noted that in the post
soviet countries the importance of economic developments was stressed
during the first years of independence, but the logical course of
the development made people realize that the social life also has
to be improved and the success of the country is conditioned by both
political, social and economic reforms. The improvement of political
mechanisms has a special significance in the reforms of the social
life. The President of the National Assembly noted that Armenia is
in an interesting state of development and expressed confidence that
it is possible to succeed through reforms of social life in 2-3 years
and create full opportunities of a worthy life for people.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTRY CONDEMNS ADOPTION OF FRENCH RESOLUTION

Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006

ANKARA – "We regret and condemn adoption of the resolution that makes
denial of baseless Armenian genocide allegations a crime by the French
parliament," announced Turkish Prime Ministry Press Center.

Releasing a statement, the Prime Ministry Press Center qualified
this decision as a "historical inconsistency", and indicated that
this decision is a big shame when respect to scientific facts and
freedom of thought and expression are taken into consideration.

"Narrow-minded politicians, who have made France live with this shame,
should think about what will happen from now on. Because the French
parliament has contradicted its own allegations regarding the French
history, and trampled the fundamental values it is defending.

Even though this parliament decision is not enough for legalization
of the resolution, this is a grave and historic mistake. There is
a big reaction against this resolution in France, and history will
naturally try those who close their eyes to these reactions and insist
on this wrong step," it noted.

"Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to control all the results of
this irresponsible attitude of some French politicians. We will
neither accept nor tolerate such an unjust decision. Our public,
including our Armenian citizens with whom we are living together
for centuries, are upset. Mr. Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan)
is calling on our public, politicians and business circles to behave
with common sense when showing necessary reactions to this decision,"
the statement added.

-ARMENIAN PATRIARCH-

On the other hand, Mesrob II, the Patriarch of the Armenians in Turkey,
said that the resolution will strengthen the hands of not only Turkish
but also Armenian extreme nationalist and racist groups.

"The French, who have put several obstacles before Turkey on its road
to the EU, have hit a serious stroke on the very limited dialogue
between Turkey and Armenia. I think that this resolution, adopted by
the French parliament, is anti-democratic because it limits personal
freedom of expression," he stated.

Mesrob II added that the Armenians in Turkey are monitoring the
developments with concern.

EXHIBITION ON RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN CULTURAL TIES TO OPEN IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 15:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 26 within the Year of Armenia in Russia an
exhibition titled Dialogue of Two Cultures: Russian-Armenian Cultural
Ties in 19-20th Centuries will open in the Polytechnic Museum.

According to the Press Office of the Armenian Embassy in Russia,
the exhibition is held in the two capitals – Yerevan (opening was
October 5) and then Moscow – with an interval of three weeks. The
exhibition will feature documented materials of eminent writers,
artists, actors, film directors, scholars and public figures: Ivan
(Hovhannes) Ayvazovsky, Constantine Halabyan, Victor Hambardzumyan,
Eduard Asadov, Arno Babajanyan, Yevgeny Vakhtangov, Armen Jigarkhanyan,
Zara Dolukhanova, Leonid Yengibarov, Komitas, Lev Kulijanov, Sergey
Parajanov, Martiros Saryan, Aram Khachaturyan and others.

The exposition includes over 100 items, among which are ancient
lithographs, autographs of literature works and notes, sketches,
portraits of writers, artists and musicians, memorial items, biographic
documents, materials on the history of the Armenian Church in Russia
and others.

The National Archive of Armenia, Russian State Archive of Literature
and Art, Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, Russian State Archive
of Cinema and Photo Documents, reports the Yerkramas, the newspaper
of Armenians of Russia.

GEORGIA AND IRAN SIGN AGREEMENT OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY THROUGH ARMENIA
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
26/10/2006

Iranian Gas Shipment Still Being Discussed

Within the framework of his Iranian visit, Georgian foreign minister
Gela Bezhuashvili met with the country’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
on October 23.

The aim of the visit of Gela Bezhuashvili and Georgian minister of
energetics Nika Gilauri was to discussion of bilateral relations
between the two counties in the sphere of economics. More precisely,
the Georgian side was interested in possibility of gas and electricity
import from Iran.

IRNA news agency reports that on October 24 Nika Gilauri and his
Iranian counterpart Parviz Fatah signed an agreement on Iranian
electricity supply to Georgia via Armenia’s territory.

Such a turn in Georgian-Iranian relations has good reasons: by the help
of Iran, Georgia is trying to abolish its overdependence on Russian
gas; the Iranian side is paving a road for gas shipment through the
South Caucasus.

The Iranian Ministry of Energetics informs that according to the
agreement Iran will begin shipment of 50 megawatt electricity through
Armenia to Georgia in late November gradually increasing this amount to
300 megawatt. Besides, the Iranian suggested to expand the shipment
of electricity to Russia via Georgia’s territory. To that end in
three months Iran and Georgia invite Russia to join them.

As to a more vital issue for Georgia – shipment of the Iranian gas –
it’s still being discussed.