Author: Virabian Jhanna

ARMENIAN POWER UTILITY BOOSTS REVENUE 27% IN 2005

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
March 16, 2006 Thursday

Electrical Network of Armenia (ENA)

boosted revenue tentatively 27% in 2005 to $165 million, Vladislav
Andreyev, the company’s financial director, told Interfax.

Andreyev said the figure reflected a stronger dram against the
dollar. He said revenue in the local currency only grew 9%.

ENA also had higher electricity consumption in a growing economy to
thank for the jump in revenue, he said.

Yevgeny Gladunchuk, ENA’s general director, told Interfax that
electricity sales rose 12% to 4.381 billion kilowatt-hours. He said
sales in Armenia itself rose 8% to 4.168 billion kWh. Households
consumed 45% of the electricity.

Andreyev, for his part, said the cost of buying electricity from
power stations soared 46% last year, and revenue from the sale of
this electricity grew just 26%, reflecting the company’s reduced
tariff margin compared with 2004.

ENA is Armenia’s electricity sales monopoly and is the country’s
biggest enterprise by revenue.

AZERI: MEETING TO DENOUNCE LIES ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE HELD IN NEW YORK APRIL 22
Author: E. Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 15 2006

Azerbaijani-American society’s activists will hold a meeting in the
New-York’s Time Square to denounce the Armenian lies about Armenian
genocide in the Ottoman Turkey, chairman of Azeri-American community,
Tomris Azeri told Trend on December 15 in Baku.

She also noted, that approximately at that time will be organized
a symposium aimed to inform American society about the massacre of
Azerbaijanis in the Nagorno- Karabakh, in particular in Khojali by
Armenian separatists.

Azerbaijan Diaspora’s activity in the US becoming more and more
substantial”, Tomris Azeri said, adding, that movement `s activists
have distributed more than 600 statements and letters denouncing
Armenian lies among American congressmen and senators.

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]

March 14, 2006

Regarding U.S. Ambassador John Evans

On March 13, U.S. Department of State Acting Spokesman Thomas H. Casey
responded to a question regarding the status of U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans.

Question: What is the status of US Ambassador to Armenia Evans? Was
he recalled for statements acknowledging the Armenian “genocide”?

Answer: U.S. Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the
President. Ambassador Evans and his capable team have the full
confidence of the Administration.

ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OF PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND EMPEROR OF JAPAN AKIHITO

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 8 2006

President Ilham Aliyev’s Official Visit To Japan

On 8 March in Tokyo, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and the
Emperor of Japan Akihito had a one-on-one meeting.

His Majesty Akihito and Empress Michiko warmly greeted President of
Azerbaijan and his spouse Mehriban Khanum Aliyeva.

Then, the heads of state had private meeting.

Highly appraising official visit of the Azerbaijani President to Japan,
His Majesty Akihito said development of bilateral relations would be
useful for both sides. Touching upon the historical friendly links
between two peoples, the Emperor said Japan is deeply interested in
strengthening of relations with Azerbaijan. He reminded with pleasure
the visit of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to Japan
in February 1998, shared his impressions of the past meetings. His
majesty Akihito said just thanks to efforts and resoluteness of Heydar
Aliyev, successful reforms led Azerbaijan to the world’s developed
counties and that policy today have yielded its fruits.

Expressing gratitude to His Majesty Akihito for hospitality and kind
words, President Aliyev said he was pleased with the visit, and spoke
of the legal, democratic, secular state building process ongoing in
the Republic of Azerbaijan. “The current visit will open a new phase
in development of bilateral relations”, he emphasized.

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan always attaches great importance
to mutually beneficial ties with the world countries. From this
standpoint, the relations with Japan are of particular impatience,
he stressed. “The country is open to businessmen of world counties,
socio-political stability has been guaranteed, the investments
are protected, and any condition for activity in the Republic is
available”.

Speaking of the works done for joint development of prospects at the
Azerbaijan sector on the Caspian, President of Azerbaijan said the
Japanese Itocu had greater share in the projects.

During the talk, also were focused the prospects of the
Azeri-Japanese cooperation, the situation in region, settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other questions.

After the meeting, His Majesty Akihito and Empress Michiko with great
respect and honor have seen off President Aliyev and Ms. Aliyeva.

KLO CALLS ON BUDAPEST COURT TO MAKE A FAIR SENTENCE IN REGARD TO AZERI OFFICER
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006

The Budapest court’s act toward Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov is
biased, as it does not take into consideration the arguments of the
lawyers, as well as motives and reasons for the crime, Trend reports
referring to the statement by the Karabakh Liberation Organization
(KLO).

It should be mentioned that the Budapest court accepted the results of
the fourth expertise of Safarov, which alleged that the defendant was
sane during the commitment of the crime. The same time the results of
the two previous expertise acts were not taken into consideration. KLO
thinks that the sentence by the Budapest court and the refusal from
consideration of applications for defense of Safarov are attempts to
pronounce the most severe punishment in regard to him at the order
of the Armenian government.

“The Hungarian authorities were not able to stand for the pressure by
the Armenian leadership and lobby. They came out from the interests
of the political situation. KLO decidedly condemns the sentence
by the court and require changing the positions of the Hungarian
authorities, formed under the Armenian pressure. If the Budapest
court makes an unfair sentence, it will have direct impact on the
Azerbaijani-Hungarian relations,” the statement by KLO stresses.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenians of Tsalka Hold Protest Action

10.03.2006 22:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The killing of 23-year-old Gevorg
Gevorgyan in Tsalka aggravated the situation in the
region. The roads leading from Tsalka to Armenian
villages are blocked by Georgian military. On March 9
evening the police detained three suspects, who are
being interrogated at present. Over 300 residents of
Tsalka gathered today at the police building to hold a
protest action. They demand a fair punishment for the
murderers and broke some windows. The policemen
batoned the protesting Armenians. According to
Georgian parliament member Hayk Meltonyan, some 100
ralliers were beaten, reports A-info agency.

To remind, On March 9, at about 06:00 p.m. local time,
in the city of Tsalka (regional center of Kvemo-Kartli
Region, Georgia) an armed attack was held against a
group of young ethnic Armenians. The attack was
committed in the city’s center, when the company
departed from a restaurant. When they were getting
into a car, unidentified people suddenly attacked
them, dragged out of the car and started beating them.
As witnesses and one of the victims said, there were
about 15 attackers, some of them armed with cold
steel. As a result of the attack, 23-year-old Gevorg
Gevorkyan was injured with a knife and died at the
scene. V. Saakyan, aged 25, was wounded in the leg.
25-year old K. Baloyan seven hours later was delivered
to hospital in Tbilisi with a severe wound. After the
attack the criminals escaped.

A1+

«ARMENTEL» WAS PUNISHED FOR LOW TARIFFS

07:33 pm 10 March, 2006

For the last eight years «ArmenTel» was never
punished for high tariffs. But today the Economic
Competition Defense State Committee punished the
company for establishing low tariffs.

During the Committee sitting the claimant was
«Gh-Telecom», while the respondent was `ArmenTel’. The
respondent was accused of giving all its subscribers a
number of free minutes as bonus which they can use
until April.

`VIvaCell’ complained that with this step ArmenTel
created anti-competition conditions. `VivaCell’
claimed that `ArmenTel’ made a discount of 95% as a
result of which `VivaCell’ was deprived of part of its
income and subscribers. «ArmenTel» proved with
grounded economic calculations that during a year they
made only a discount of 20% the possibility of which
«VivaCell» has too. But the Committee did not take
into account the counter facts of «ArmenTel».

By the final decision of the committee the Company was
fined by 1% of their whole income for the year 2005.
The respondent did not clear out whether they will
appeal the decision or not.

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
March 12 2006

Darchinyan has conquered world . . . now for Australia

By James Macsmith
March 12, 2006

Out of the shadows: Vic Darchinyan craves recognition in his new homeland.
Photo: Fiona-Lee Quimby

In 10 years, Vic Darchinyan will probably be seen as Australia’s best
boxer.

But while the power-punching flyweight has a 25-0 (20 by knockout)
record and is mobbed by fans when he walks down the street in his
birthplace of Armenia, in Australia he remains a virtual unknown –
despite being our only boxing world champion.

Darchinyan counts Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis among his biggest fans,
but the average Aussie would probably struggle to say who he is or
what he does.

Darchinyan craves recognition in this country for his feats in one of
the only truly world sports. In many other parts of the globe, he
would already have it.

His manager, Robert Joske, says Darchinyan should follow what he
calls the Kostya Tszyu model – keep turning it on in the ring and
sooner rather than later, he’ll find himself a place in Australia’s
heart.

Most people who have seen the man they call the “Raging Bull” fight
have become instant fans.

His eighth-round knockout of Diosdado Gabi last week resulted in a
broken jaw and the first stoppage of a 27-fight career for the
Filipino.

Darchinyan’s stand-and-deliver attitude and sledgehammer left hand
bring beauty to what some consider an ugly art.

He said: “I want to be the undisputed champion in not just one weight
division but two or three.

“In Australia, I know about Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu – they are
great fighters and I want to be looked upon like they are.

“There is still not too much recognition of me but I hope that will
change the more people see of me and the more fights I have. I want
to show them what I can do.”

After a quarter-final appearance at the Sydney Olympics, Darchinyan
decided he wanted to call Australia home. In February 2001, he
settled here permanently.

He has already acquired a laid-back Australian attitude and has a
good sense of humour.

Once inside the ropes, however, he is a vastly different proposition.

“I have a hunger that comes from training with many other fighters,”
Darchinyan said.

“For the world title, only 20 fighters can fight out of 1000, so you
have to be the best.”

But to make it in Australia, sometimes you have to make it overseas
first, and Darchinyan intends to continue fighting in the United
States to try to raise his profile.

“I hope that more people in Australia get to watch me and like the
way I fight,” he said.

“This country has made me happy and I hope I can make it happy too.”

-has-conquered-world—-now-for-australia/2006/03/ 11/1141701734580.html

Agence France Presse
10 mars 2006 vendredi 3:31 PM GMT

Recommandations du Conseil de l’Europe à l’Arménie minée par la corruption

STRASBOURG (Conseil Europe) 10 mars 2006

La corruption reste un problème majeur en Arménie, selon un rapport
publié vendredi à Strasbourg par le Conseil de l’Europe.

Le document des experts du Groupe d’Etats contre la corruption
(GRECO) constate que la justice, la police, les douanes, les impôts,
l’éducation, la santé, les services des licences et le secteur des
privatisations “sont particulièrement affectés”.

“Malgré l’adoption de mesures, des lacunes subsistent dans leur mise
en oeuvre et l’organisation des systèmes judiciaire et répressif”
selon les experts.

Le rapport constate ainsi “l’absence quasi-totale” de résultats dans
les poursuites et la condamnation des personnes impliquées, “ce qui
témoigne du long chemin qui reste à parcourir”.

L’immunité des juges, procureurs, candidats aux élections
législatives, membres des commissions électorales constitue une
source de préoccupation pour le Greco.

Il recommande d’organiser une protection adéquate pour les
fonctionnaires qui signalent de bonne foi des cas de corruption.

Enfin, le rapport estime nécessaire d’introduire la responsabilité
des personnes morales en matière de corruption, trafic d’influence et
blanchiment de capitaux et de prévoir des sanctions efficaces et
dissuasives.

Vingt-quatre recommandations ont été adressées aux autorités
arméniennes qui devront rendre compte de leur mise en oeuvre d’ici
septembre 2007.

QUALITY, EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY WERE AND ARE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF THE AGENCY

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2005

Yerevan, 12 October: Mediamax news agency issued a statement today
concerning the comment made by the spokesman for the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, Gamlet Gasparyan, yesterday evening, 11 October.

“On October 11, spokesman for Armenian Foreign Ministry Gamlet
Gasparyan stated that the statement ‘ascribed’ by Mediamax to
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan is ‘inconsistent
with reality’. In this regard, we declare that during the six years
of existence, Mediamax has never disseminated information ‘not
corresponding to reality’ and never ‘ascribed’ statements to people
who have not made them. Quality, efficiency and reliability were and
are the main principles of Mediamax news agency and we regret that
the spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry has doubted this,”
the statement issued by Mediamax today reads.