Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 23 2006

Russian culture worker claims destruction of ancient graves

Baku, March 22, AssA-Irada

A Russian culture worker has condemned the alleged destruction of
ancient graves in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan.
`The destruction of Armenian tombstone crosses in the town of Julfa
[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic] could be described only as a crime,’
said Mikhail Piotrovski, whose wife is of Armenian descent.
Piotrovski heads the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the
world.
`The destruction of historic monuments for political reasons should
be denounced by everyone. UNESCO and other international
organizations should investigate these undesirable developments and
prosecute the culprits,’ he maintained.
The Azeri ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu voiced his
astonishment at the statement, saying it was a result of Armenian
propaganda.
`We should take counter steps. The embassy will scrutinize the matter
and take relevant measures,’ he said.
The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry exercised restraint in responding to
Piotrovski’s utterances. Its spokesman Tahir Tagizada said he would
not comment on statements by a separate individual.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 23 2006

French diplomat calls for further Garabagh talks

Baku, March 22, AssA-Irada

The latest presidential talks on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh should not be assessed as a
completion of the peace process but marked major progress in the
negotiated settlement, the French ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny
has said.
The discussions held by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian
in the French town of Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless,
as the parties failed to iron out issues of principle.
Cuny said the key issue at this point is to continue peace talks.
With regard to earlier assumptions that the parties may strike a
peace accord in 2006, the diplomat said that if this does not happen,
a suitable opportunity to reach peace would be missed.
`The Rambouillet meeting was not a decisive stage in the
negotiations. But most of the road leading to a solution was
covered,’ Cuny added.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 23 2006

Representatives of int’l group on Garabagh to visit the region: reports

Baku, March 22, AssA-Irada

The co-chairs of the international Dortmund Conference dealing with
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict are due to
the visit the region soon.
Harold Sonders and Vitali Naumkin are expected to hold meetings in
Baku on March 27-28 and leave for the Armenian capital Yerevan the
next day. They are also scheduled to visit Upper Garabagh, Armenian
media reported.
The Armenian Democratic Party executive Aram Sarkisian said the visit
program has yet to be specified. `But the co-chairs are scheduled to
hold high-level meetings in Baku, Yerevan and Khankandi [the center
of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic],’ he claimed.*

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

COUNCIL OF YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY NOT MANAGE TO ELECT NEW RECTOR

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. The Council of the Yerevan State
University could not elect a new Rector yesterday. The dean of the
department of law Gagik Gazinyan lacked only one vote out of the
necessary 37 votes.
The next elections of the Rector will be held in 50 days.
These elections are held in three rounds. There were four candidates
in the first rounds: YSU Pro-rector Aram Simonyan, deans of the
departments of physics and mathematics Samvel Harutyunyan and Gegham
Gevorgyan, and the dean of the department of law Gagik Gazinyan. R.O.
-0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH LEADER HOSTS HERMITAGE DIRECTOR

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. Armenian Apostolic Church leader
Catholicos Garegin II received Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovski
on Wednesday, press service of St. Echmiadzin, Armenian Apostolic
Church seat, told ARKA News Agency.
Garegin II expressed appreciation of the Piotrovski family’s
contribution to Armenian national culture.
He also pointed out St. Echmiadzin’s Treasuries exhibition opened in
Hermitage in February as part of the Year of Armenia in Russia.
Piotrovski, in turn, said ties between Armenia and Russia have always
been close. `Wee are proud of the fact that the Year of Armenia in
Russia started with St. Echmiadzin’s sacred things demonstration in
St. Petersburg. M.V. -0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO HAND SPORTS EQUIPMENT TO ARMENIAN POLICE AT
PRICE OF $40,000

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. The US Department of State will hand
sports equipment at the price of $40,000 to the Armenian Police. The
US Embassy to Armenia reported that the sports equipment is meant for
organization of the physical training of Armenian policemen from the
Police Academy and Police Training Center. US Vice-Ambassador Anthony
Godfrey will open the ceremony. R.O. -0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

LEADER OF CANADIAN DIOCESE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH MEETS WITH CANADIAN
PREMIER

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. Leader of the Canadian diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church Bagrat Galstanyan met with Canadian Premier
Steven Harper on Tuesday, the Press Service of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, Saint Echmiadzin reported. During the meeting Galstanyan
congratulated Harper on the appointment to this post, and thanked him
for the support given during the discussions of Armenians related
issues and, particularly, the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
The bishop stated that he learnt about the political programs of the
Conservative party on a number of social issues with satisfaction,
and expressed readiness to contribute to the development of
inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue in Canada.
Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan handed the written message of the Leader of
the Armenian Apostolic Church Garegin II to the Premier, which
expresses gratitude for the position taken by Harper in terms of the
approval of the bill M-380 on recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Garegin II expressed hope that the relations between the two
countries will become stronger while Harper holds his office.
On April 21, the House of Commons approved the bill M-380 that
recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and denounces this crime
against humanity. R.O. –0–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

TWO-DIGIT REAL GROWTH OF GDP RECORDED I ARMENIA IN 2005

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. Two-digit real growth of GDP was recorded
I Armenia in 2005, Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Central Bank of
Armenia, said Thursday in Armenian National Assembly.
He said that GDP reached two-digit real growth in Armenia. `Besides,
the republic had its deflator grown 4.2% and its national currency
strengthened by 7.2% and by 14% on averaged index. It means nominal
GDP grew nearly 35%’, Sargsyan said.
Current account deficit in GDP made 3.2% in 2005 against 4.5% in
2004, the CBA head said. In his words, export rose 33% and import
increased 30% in 2005.
`AS a result, 0.2-percent deflation was recorded by late 2005 and
average inflation made 0.6%, compared with previous year.
GDP real growth in Armenia made 13.9% in 2005. M.V. -0—

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

`GASPROM’ EXPRESSES WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS TERMS OF SIGNING OF THE
NEW AGREEMENT WITH ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. `Gasprom’ Russian Holding expressed
willingness to discuss terms of signing of the new agreement with
Armenia, according to the RA Minister of Defense and Secretary of the
Council of National Security of Armenia Serge Sargsyan.
`By the commission of the RA President after discussing with the
Prime Minister at the beginning of March I sent a letter to the head
of `Gasprom’ Aleksey Miller with a certain offer and on Friday we
received an answer from him’, he stated.
In his words, as appears from their answer `Gasprom’ is ready to sign
corresponding agreements till the end of the month, which will enable
the population and producers to pay less for the gas then it had been
envisaged.
`I can’t tell how much exactly but I think that rise in price will
affect budgets of the population and producers’, Sargsyan emphasized.

`Gasprom’ Russian holding intends to raise the price for gas imported
to Armenia from $56 to $110 from April 1, 2006. S.P.–0–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Athens News Agency, Greece
March 22 2006

Stylianidis to visit Armenia

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Styliandis will be carrying out a
three-day visit to Armenia beginning on March 28 in order to enhance
bilateral economic and political ties and boost Greece’s
developmental presence in the country, the foreign ministry announced
on Wednesday, following a meeting between Stylianidis and Armenia’s
Ambassador in Athens Vahram Kahzoyan.
The minister’s visit to Erevan follows up a visit by Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan to Athens last November.

“There is an order and commitment from Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis that I will convey during my visit, that Armenia takes
priority in Greece’s developmental policy and that there is a desire
to boost bilateral economic ties,” Styliandis said, noting that this
desire would “sealed” with the first Mixed Ministerial Committee that
will take place after four years.

The minister will be accompanied on the trip by members of the
Armenian community in Greece.

The Armenian side, meanwhile, has prepared a list of priority
projects for funding by Hellenic Aid, which Greece will assess based
on the possibility of providing funding, to what extent they interest
Greece and their added value to Greece’s developmental presence in
the area.

Both Greece and Armenia are member-states of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation pact, while Greece is the only BSEC member that is also a
member of the EU and would like to activate action mechanisms and
initiatives for rapprochement between Black Sea countries and the EU.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress