Author: Tadevosian Garnik

COE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS 116TH SESSION’S AGENDA ANNOUNCED

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 10 2006

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and
Vardan Oskanyan will attend the 116th session of the Council of
Europe Committee of Foreign Ministers scheduled for 18 and 19 May
in Strasbourg.

Human rights and cooperation between the Council of Europe and the
European Union will be priority on the agenda. The Europe bureau of APA
reports quoting the Council of Europe that the Russian Federation will
take over the presidency of the Committee of Ministers from Romania,
for a period of six months.

At the invitation of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis,
the Ministers will hold an informal meeting with Martti Ahtisaari,
the United Nations Special Envoy for the future status of Kosovo. The
Ministers will also discuss other major priorities resulting from the
Council of Europe’s Third Summit in Warsaw, namely: the reinforcement
of the Council’s action in support of democracy and good governance,
the development of intercultural dialogue and the Organisation’s
process of internal reform.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will present the priorities
for his presidency at the end of the session.

Within the session, Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan will hold
next round of negotiating process for the settlement of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict in the framework of the Prague process. The
Ministers will exchange views on new opinions OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs presented to the conflicting sides in early May. It will be
determined after the meeting of the two Ministers whether there will be
a need for the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents.

PLACE OF THE FOOTBALL MATCHES BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO BE DECIDED ON MAY 12

A1+
[08:42 pm] 10 May, 2006

On May 12 in the Swiss town Nion (UEFA headquarters) the football
delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet. During the meeting the
place of the football matches of the national teams of the countries
within the framework of the qualifying phase of the 2008 Football
European Championship will be decided.

The Armenian delegation will be represented by President of the
Football Federation Rouben Hayrapetyan, executive director Armen
Minasyan, as well as authorized representative of the President and
the Government Alexan Haroutyunyan. Azerbaijan will participate in
the meeting with the same format. From the UEFA side members of the
executive committee will be present.

Let us remind you that the Azeri side continues to exclude the
possibility of meetings in Yerevan and Baku, and the Armenian side
has more than once confirmed its readiness to host the Azerbaijanis
in Yerevan.

BUSINESSMEN’S DEPARTURE NOT TO AFFECT PARTY’S ACTIVITY – ARMENIAN POLITICIAN

Arminfo
10 May 06

Yerevan, 10 May: A crusade has been launched against the Law-Governed
Country Party in the last few months, the deputy chairman of the
parliamentary commission on state-legal issues, Ovannes Markaryan,
told an Arminfo correspondent today while commenting on the mass
departure of businessmen MPs from the party’s parliamentary faction.

He pointed out that the Law-Governed Country Party has 62,000 members
and the departure of some MPs from the party will not affect its
activity. Markaryan said that 1,000 people have joined the party
over the last few months. “The fate of the Law-Governed Country Party
is decided by the people, not by any political forces or individual
persons,” he said.

Markaryan pointed out that the MPs who quit the party had the full
right to do so and that he will not criticize his former party
fellows for this. Asked whether the financial situation of the party
will suffer from the departure of businessmen MPs, he said that the
Law-Governed Country Party has always been happy with membership
fees and has not organized large-scale events that require great
financial expenses.

[Passage omitted: Five members recently quit the party]

DILIJAN RESORT TO OFFER NEW HOTELS FOR HOLIDAY-MAKERS

Armenpress
May 10 2006

IJEVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS: A hotel in the Armenian resort town of
Dilijan is set to reopen later this year. Town mayor Armen Santrosian
said to Armenpress a Moscow-based businessman, a native of the town,
has invested $5 million to have it reconstructed. The hotel, he said,
has 101 rooms and will offer all modern conveniences.

The resort city of Dilijan has unspoiled forests, natural springs,
and clean air and used to attract tens of thousands of holidaymakers
from across the former Soviet Union. Located in the northern part
of Armenia it is famous for its spectacular scenery and cultural
centers. It is home to the Haghartsin Monastery, an 11th-13th century
church situated deep in the woods, about 18 km from the town and the
beautifully landscaped 12th century monastery of Goshavank. Santrosian
said some other resorts have undergone major repairs and will take
in holidaymakers this summer.

He said the Tourist Development Association of Dilijan is focusing
now on boosting what is known as eco-and-family tourism. Fifteen
families were selected in a town quarter that has preserved many of
its traditions, to host visitors. The quarter will have a parking lot,
a mini-bus to take visitors to various sites of the region and home
owners will have a special training course.

The local business promotion center will publish soon a booklet about
local resorts, climate, flora and fauna, history and culture.

From: Sebouh Z Tashjian <[email protected]>
Subject: Azeris Do Not Condole With Armenians

PanARMENIAN.Net

Azeris Do Not Condole With Armenians

Azerbaijan did not even condole with Russia on the
tragic airplane crash.

06.05.2006 GMT+04:00

The crash of Armenian plane was used in Azerbaijan as a means of
political propaganda. While Yerevan and Moscow and the whole world are
mourning, Azeris are trying to benefit by discrediting Armenia and
bringing senseless accusations towards Russia. This is another proof
of the anti-Armenian hysteria in the neighbor country.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It should be admitted that this time in Azerbaijan
there were no such disgraceful phenomena like in December 1988 when
Yerevan received congratulating telegrams after the devastating
earthquake in Spitak. Celebrations on the occasion of “punishment
of Armenians” by Allakh did not take place in Baku. Azeri mass
media did not gloat over our tragedy. The majority of Azeri newspapers
made casual mentions about the accident, without any comments. (The
death of 113 Armenians does not deserve the attention of Baku press.)
However there were some newspapers, which expressed their anger on the
fact that President Putin announced a national mourning day in Russia
because of the Armenian plane crash. Azeris call this an application
of double standards by Russian leaders. Newspapers remind that, on
February 23rd, 2006 when the roof of Basman market in Mocow fell down
and killed about 40 Azeris, Putin did not announce mourning and
celebrations of the Soldier’s Day were organized with usual
pomposity. In Baku they suppose that the two tragedies mentioned above
are equal though the number of victims is not. Meanwhile, it is worth
mentioning that after the incident in Basman market Azerbaijan did not
announce mourning day too. Taking into account this, it is not clear
why do they demand that from Moscow.

Baku newspapers made use of the slightly tactless statement of the
head of Moscow Helsinki Group Ludmila Alekseeva who recently said that
announcement of national mourning bore political coloring and was a
political curtsey towards Armenia – the only country with which Russia
has not quarreled with yet. Azeri journalists quote this phrase of
Alekseeva with special pleasure. According to the representatives of
the political elite of Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin’s decision
testifies to the fact that he is not impartial to
Armenians. “Kremlin’s attitude towards Azerbaijan significantly
differs from that towards our western neighbors”, Majlis deputy
Panakh Hussein said on Thursday. Similar to this was the announcement
of his colleague Elmira Akhundova: “Russians do not like Azeris and
Armenians know how to make a big show of any tragedy and turn that to
their own advantage”, she said. Thus, there can be one conclusion
– Russia cannot be an objective mediator in Karabakh conflict
settlement…

No one expected official organs of Azerbaijan to condole Armenia. But
Aliev could at least condole Russia, since there are 24 Russian
citizens among plane crash victims. Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Turkey Abdullah Gul addressed official condolences to his
Armenian colleague. On Friday the document was to be delivered to
Armenia. By the way many Turks came to the Armenian diplomatic
representation in Istanbul and expressed their pain in the condolence
book. Nothing of the kind could happen in Baku. However, for the sake
of justice, it should be noted that several Azeri deputies told local
journalists that maybe it was worth condoling Armenia. After all,
Armenians are also people… «PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical
department

EXECUTIVE BODY – JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT TO BE CREATED IN RA JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft law on judicial service,
which was passed in first reading by the RA National Assembly,
envisages the creation of a judicial department. The Head of the RA
Cassation Court Staff Edgar Sedrakian told NT correspondent that the
judicial department will be accountable to the RA Council of Justice,
the Council of Court Chairmen, the General Assembly of Judges, and,
to some extent, to the Chairman of the RA Cassation Court.

According to E. Sedrakian, the new body to be created is called
upon to assist and promote the independence of courts, strengthen
the independence of the judiciary, while not interfering in the
administration of justice, as well as to ensure the full and efficient
execution of powers given to Armenian courts, the RA General Assembly
of Judges, the RA Council of Court Chairmen and the RA Council
of Justice and their participation in civil legal relations. The
judicial department will represent a single system of vertical
subordination composed of structural and separated (consisting of
the RA court staffs) units. The main task of the body is to create
favorable conditions for efficient functioning of judicial power by
implementing the appropriate personnel policy, financial, material,
technical and other measures. The department will fulfil such functions
as to examine the functioning of Armenian courts, work out proposals
for improving their activities and financing, analyze and summarize
judicial practice and statistics, organize the work of court archives
and the development and introduction of necessary program measures
of court proceedings and record keeping, as well as to organize
information and legal support of court activities and carry out work
on coordination of the legislation.

The department will also keep the personal files of judges and court
employees, implement preparatory work for holding competitions to fill
vacancies in the judicial service and organize the work of competition
commissions, supervise budget resource spending by Armenian courts
and the judicial department’s units, and perform an audit of their
financial activities.

ORGANIZATIONS OF ARARAT MARZ ENGAGED IN CHILDREN’S ISSUES JOIN THEIR EFFORTS

Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006

ARTASHAT, ARARAT, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Acceptance and Orientation
Center of the Fund for Armenian Relief and the RA Ministry of
Labour and Social Issues with the participation of organizations
engaged in the children’s issues of the Ararat marz held a seminar
on May 3 in Artashat. The goal of the seminar organized within the
framework of the “Attention to Every Child” program financed by the
UN Children’s Fund was to inform specialists working with children
about children’s problems and ommissions existing in the system. As
the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by organizers of the event,
the goal of the program is to stregthen ability of the civil society
to protect children’s rights and to assist implementation of programs
concerning children’s issues in Armenia. Seda Arzumanian, the program
head, representatives of the children’s acceptance and orientation
center drew specialists’ attention to issues of protection of the
rights of children left without parents’ care and brought up with
difficulty. It was mentioned during the seminar that today the state
makes an attempt to assist such children, register them, give refuge,
help to stand on their own feet. Keeping children in the center of
constant attention, taking teenagers back of a bad way, giving them
corresponding educationa and bringing up, ways and types of works
with children brought up with difficulties and other themes became a
dispute subject which was touched upon by Directors of Artashat No2,
No3 schools Norik Shahinian, Margush Mirzoyan, Ararat city social
service employee Hovsep Ghazarian, chiefs of Masis, Artashat and
Ararat police departments on teenagers affairs, others.

THE FLIGHT SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED

A1+
[08:50 pm] 04 May, 2006

The flight schedule of “Zvartnots” airport has changed which is
determined by the “A – 320” aircraft crash.

Today the flights Yerevan – Moscow and Yerevan – Amstedam were
cancelled. And the flights Yerevan – Minvod and Yerevan – Istanbul were
annulled. All these flights are realized by the air company “Armavia.”

ARMENIAN EX-INTERIOR MINISTER AMONG DEAD AT A-320 CRASH

Regnum, Russia
May 3 2006

Former Armenian Interior Minister (1988-90), former head of the
Armenian National Security Committee (1990-92) Usik Arutyunyan is
reported to among victims of the A-320 crash near Sochi, a REGNUM
correspondent is told by spokesman for the Armenian National Security
Service Artsvin Bagramyan.

Among dead son of former head of the Armenian National Security
Service Karlos Petrosyan – Aram Petrosyan. It is worth mentioning,
Usik Arutyunyan was Executive Director at the Zakneftegazstroy-Prometey
Company.

As REGNUM earlier reported, former Director General of the
Armenian Airlines Company Vyacheslav Yaralov, who was flying to his
mother-in-law’s funeral with his spouse, is also reported dead.

BIG TAXPAYERS ARE MOSTLY FROM YEREVAN
Aram Zakaryan

Lragir.am
01 May 06

There are interesting changes on the lists of 300 big taxpayers of
2005 and the 300 big taxpayers of the first quarter.

One of the most notable changes is the recession of Flitfood Company,
owned by Member of Parliament Samvel Alexanyan. In 2005 this company
was the fifth taxpayer (last year it paid 7 billion drams), in the
first quarter of this year it is the 32nd with 245 million drams.

Flitfood imports sugar, and 99 percent of sugar in Armenia is imported
by this company. And the import of sugar is not seasonal.

Let us recall the rumors about a businessman who started the business
of importing sugar to Armenia on the approval of the authorities. The
season might be the reason why Shant +, occupying the 264th place
among 300 taxpayers of 2005, cannot be found among 1000 taxpayers of
the third quarter. This company produces cakes, sweets, but dominates
on the market of ice cream. Again about Samvel Alexanyan. Another
company owned by him, Natali Pharm, which imports medicine, has gone
up the list; if in 2005 it was 56th, in 2006 it is 51st. Moreover,
the amount of taxes that this company paid shows that this business is
not seasonal. Over the past year Natali Pharm paid 675 million drams,
in the first quarter – four times less, 147 million drams.

The business of other companies, Zigzag, Yerevan Champaign Wines,
etc, is not seasonal too.

By the same statistics, the business of Coca Cola is not seasonal
either. The company, however, has yielded its position; if last year
it was the 16th, this year it is the 41st. The first fifth companies
are stable. Copper and Molybdenum Factory is similarly the first, the
second is again Armentel. The sixth big taxpayer is Pares Armenia,
the eighth is Distribution Networks of Armenia, the ninth is Grand
Tobacco and the Nuclear Plant of Metsamor, which is the tenth on
the list, have sustained their achievements. If last year the petrol
company Flash was the third, and Armrusgasard was the fourth, in the
first quarter of 2006 they exchanged places.

K-Telecom, Vivacell, moved from the seventh to the 15th position with a
“tiger’s bounce.” If this company paid 2.2 billion over the past year,
in the first quarter of 2006 it company paid 1.6 billion.

The rumored bird flu, which “did not visit us,” had an extremely
negative impact on Armenian poultry farms. By the way, the owners
of poultry farms have been alarming over the past months. If in
2005 the six largest poultry farms of Armenia, Lusakert, Yerevan,
Arzni and Arax, were among the 300 big taxpayers of Armenia, in the
first quarter of 2006 only two poultry farms, Lusakert and Arax,
are found on this list. In 2005 Arax Poultry Farm was the 102nd,
Lusakert was the 103rd, with 342 million drams each, whereas in the
first quarter of 2006, Arax is the 131st with 70 million drams, and
Lusakert is the 296th with 30 million drams. In the first quarter of
2005 Getamech Poultry Farm is the 548th.

After the casino scandal in Moscow, involving Member of Parliament
Tigran Arzakantxyan, Great Valley Company owned by him dropped by
186 points. This brandy factory paid 164 million drams and was the
132nd last year. In the first quarter of 2006 Great Valley paid 27.8
million and is the 318th. The Mill of Yerevan, owned by another member
of parliament, Levon Sargsyan, also bounced back. In 2005 the mill
paid 373 million and was the 89th, in the first quarter it paid 30
million and is the 297th.

The Underground of Yerevan, living on subsidy, is the 355th taxpayer
in the first quarter of 2006. It paid 24.7 million drams. From among
the state government agencies only the National Assembly is a big
taxpayer; in addition, it is not in the first 300 but in the first
500. In the first quarter of 2006 the National Assembly returned 20
million out of the funds it gets from the state budget. By the way, in
2006 the National Assembly will get more money than the government and
the president’s administration. The National Assembly will get 2.087
billion, the budget of the government will total 1.1 billion and the
president’s administration of the president 1.9 billion. Perhaps this
is the reason why the president’s administration and the government
are not among big taxpayers.

Both in 2005 and in the first quarter of 2006 the majority of taxpayers
are based in Yerevan. Out of the 300 big taxpayers only 74-75 or 25
percent are based in the regions.