Author: Tamamian Anna

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN NOT AGAINST HANDING FRESH ASSETS TO RUSSIA

Armenpress
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian parliament chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian indicated today he was not against handing over fresh
assets to Russia in return for what he described ‘the best price of
natural gas,” that Russia sells to Armenia.’ Speaking to reporters
he said any option that would not run counter to Armenia’s strategic
interests and its national security could be acceptable. He said
Armenian and Russian authorities should consider all compensation
mechanisms to mitigate the aftereffects of the doubled price
of gas that became $110 per one thousand cubic meters from April
1. Baghdasarian praised a previous Armenian-Russian deal christened
as Assets for Debt by which Armenia handed to Russia five enterprises
in return for its almost $100 million debt, saying the same scheme
could be applied concerning gas.

Baghdasarian said he was unaware if Armenia and Russia were negotiating
selling 45 percent of shares in Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Moscow or
handing the fifth unit of Hrazdan power plant. He said Armenian and
Russian energy officials continued talks which he said would be over
in a couple of days and only then one can asses what has been achieved.

SPEAKER SAYS THERE WILL BE SOLUTION TO ISSUE OF GAS

Lragir.am
04 April 06

By April 4 Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan has not changed his opinion on
the possible increase of the price of Russian gas. In December 2005
he had announced that the price of gas would go high but it would be
difficult to explain the strategic essence of the Russian-Armenian
relations to people.

On April 4 Arthur Baghdasaryan announced that comments today are not
proper. “Presently, talks are going on between Armenian and Russian
representatives. I think we should wait a day or two and then give
our opinion.” The speaker of the National Assembly thinks there will
be solutions that will comply with the spirit of Russian-Armenian
relations. Arthur Baghdasaryan prefers not to speak about the possible
transfer of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and the thermal plant of
Yerevan in return for keeping the price of gas low, and wait. However,
“we can accept any solution if it does not contradict to the national
strategic interests and the national security of Armenia.”

In this context of the program Property For Debt, Arthur Baghdasaryan
said it is quite successful. Now the problem is to attend to the
companies transferred to Russia. “We must urge the Russians to operate
these companies.” The Russian Federation gave a concession of several
billions of dollars to Algeria, and we transferred our companies
in return for our debt of 100 million, compares the speaker of the
National Assembly. “In all our political and friendly meetings with
the political and official sets of Russia we discuss the operation
of these companies.”

JAPANESE DIPLOMAT TO BECOME CHIEF OF CROWN PRINCE NARUHITO’S HOUSEHOLD

Kyodo News Service
4 Apr 06

Tokyo, 4 April: Japanese Ambassador to Russia Issei Nomura will become
the top official in charge of Crown Prince Naruhito’s household,
effective Thursday [6 April], the government decided at a cabinet
meeting Tuesday. Hideki Hayashida, the current grand master of the
crown prince’s household, will leave office on Thursday.

A native of Hiroshima Prefecture, Nomura, 65, joined the Foreign
Ministry in 1963. He has served as Japan’s ambassador to Russia,
Armenia, Turkmenistan and Belarus since 2002 after serving as
ambassador to Malaysia and Germany. Nomura has close relations with
Hisashi Owada and his wife Yumiko, the parents of Crown Princess
Masako.

Hayashida, who worked for the former Ministry of Education before
becoming the grand chamberlain of the crown prince’s household in
November 2001, became the grand master in May 2002.

OSCE MINSK GROUP LIKELY TO VISIT REGION IN MAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2006 22:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 2006 has just begun and there is hope to settle the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict till the end of the year, OSCE Minsk Group
Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In
his words, consultations between the mediators for the determination
of the date of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs’ meeting will be held
in the near future. “The fact is that the schedules do not coincide
and it’s difficult for us to agree on a certain place and date of the
meeting. April 7 Armenian Foreign Minister will be in Moscow while
Azerbaijani Minister will be visiting Washington.

Nevertheless I think the OSCE Minsk Group will visit the region in
May. Then we can agree on the Ministers’ meeting,” Yuri Merzlyakov
said. He also added that French Co-chair Bernard Fassier is likely
to visit the region in April.

As for the regular meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents,
the Russian mediator said it’s premature to speak of it yet. “The
meeting of the Presidents should be properly prepared and this demands
time,” he said.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES HOLDING OF “RESCUER-2006” EXERCISES IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 30 sitting RA government
approved the proposal about signing the agreement “On Holding of
Rescuer-2006″ exercises between RA Defence Ministry and Command of
U.S. ground troops and 7th army in Europe, in the territory of the
Republic of Armenia”. The exercises will be held within the framework
of the “Partnership for Peace” program on July 12-28 this year. Over
250 representatives of 12 countries will take part in them. The
exercises have a command-headquarters character and are aimed at
organization and confrontation of works of the rescuing services
of RA Defence Ministry’s Medical Department and RA Territorial
Government Ministry’s Emergency Department during natural and
technogenic disasters, as well as at extension of possibilities of
cooperation with partner countries. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA
Government Information and Public Relations Department, at the sitting
the government also approved the proposals of signing a memorandum “On
Cooperation between RA Foreign Ministry and Romanian Foreign Ministry
in the sphere of European integration and in Euroatlantic structures”.

RUSSIA INTENDS TO REVISE POLICY TOWARDS ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2006 23:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Administration of the Russian President intends
to revise its policy line in relations with Armenia, said professor
Mikhail Meyer, the Director of the Institute of Asian and African
Studies of Moscow State University. In his words, relations with a
strategic partner as Armenia is for Russia, should be closer. “Absence
of scientific and cultural ties between our countries in latest 10-15
years have had a negative impact on the relations.

After the collapse of the USSR a situation that is very unfavorable for
Russia was formed: it does not have specialists on CIS countries. Now
the state of affairs started improving, however there is a lack
of Armenian teachers, especially grabar (ancient Armenian),” the
professor noted.

He also remarked that certain progress is available on the way of
Armenia and Russia becoming closer.

“Academician Mikhail Piotrovsky was in Yerevan lately, my colleague
Vitaly Naumkin is in Yerevan now, specialist on Arab countries Dmitry
Frolov is soon expected to arrive. We almost do not know the works
of contemporary Armenian historians, however I hope the gap will be
filled,” Mikhail Meyer remarked.

Professor Mikhail Meyer is in Yerevan on the invitation of the South
Caucasian branch of the Caucasus Democracy Institute development
foundation.

TRAINING AWAITS OFFICERS OF ARMENIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES

Lragir.am
29 March 06

“In terms of the use of modern methods and new technologies in fighting
corruption and bribery the professionalism of the officers of judicial
and law enforcement bodies of Armenia is on an unsatisfactory level,”
announced the adviser to the president of Armenia Bagrat Yesayan
to news reporters. GRECO extended a recommendation to Armenia with
regard to improving the situation in this sphere. Hence, training
courses will be organized for the officials of the judicial and law
enforcement bodies of Armenia.

TRIBUTE OF HONOR TO ASHOT NAVASARDYAN’S MEMORY

ArmRadio
28.03.2006 16:38

On the occasion of 56th anniversary of the founder of the Republican
Party of Armenia, participant of the national liberation war Ashot
Navasardyan, representatives of the Republican Party headed by RA
Prime Minister, President of the RPA Council Andranik Margaryan,
members of RA government and a number of NA Deputies attended Erablur
to pay a tribute to his memory.

According to Andranik Margaryan, the Republican Party continues to
accomplish the theses of their program, which is a continuous process.

“Our major purpose is independence, which Asot and his friends were
fighting for in Soviet times,” RA prime Minister noted.

According to the decision of the Yerevan City Hall, school #196 in
Davitashen was named after Ashot Navasardyan. The school will be
sponsored by the republican Party.

AZG Armenian Daily #054, 25/03/2006

Visit

VARTAN OSKANIAN TO MEET WITH STEVEN MANN ON MARCH 27

Vartan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, will pay a working visit to
USA. The Press Service of RA Foreign Ministry informed that
Mr. Oskanian will participate in the ceremony of signing agreement
between the Millennium Challenges and Armenia together with
Condoleezza Rice, US State Secretary. He will also met with Steven
Mann, co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. It is also envisaged that
Mr. Oskanian will meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Within the framework of the working schedule Mr. Oskanian will arrive
in Moscow on April 6-7. Mr. Minister will hold a working meeting with
his counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Igor Ivanov, Secretary of RF
Security Council. On April 7-9 Mr. Oskanian will leave for Syria to
meet with President Bashar Asad and Foreign Minister Walid Moualem.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Co-Rapporteur of PACE Committee on Refugees to Visit South Caucasus in
June

23.03.2006 21:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Rapporteur of PACE Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Population Leo Platvoet will visit South Caucasus in
June, PACE Azeri delegation member Gultekin Gajiyeva said. To remind,
a meeting of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population
was held March 20. Matters of Turkish migrants to Europe, as well as
the missing in South Caucasian republics, refugees, migrants and
people seeking asylum were discussed at the meeting. Leo Platvoet will
report on the missing in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, Gajiyeva
said. «However, he did not take part in the meeting owing to certain
reasons. A decision is made for him to visit Switzerland in April to
investigate a matter he had to report on, where the Read Cross
Committee is headquartered,» Gajiyeva said. The MP also underscored
that Platvoet will also visit South Caucasian countries in June and
will gather information on the known report, Trend reports.