Asbarez news ser.

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1. Clinton Urges End to Artsax Conflict During White House Kocharian Meeting

WASHINGTON-On the third day of his working visit to the nation's capital, President Robert Kocharian Tuesday met with President Clinton at the White House, where Clinton urged his Armenian counterpart to find a quick settlement to the Nagorno-Artsax conflict.

 

Kocharian arrived at the White House at 5:05 p.m. and the meeting which lasted more than 40 minutes focused mainly on the Artsax conflict issue. Other matters discussed by the two leaders were US assistance to Armenia and strengthening of democratic norms in the country.

 

"Our message to President Kocharian was the US will do its part, along with the international community, to support and implement a durable settlement and that the opportunity is there if both sides want to pursue peace," said National Security Council spokesman PJ Crowley.

 

Crowley also announced following the White House meeting that the co-chairmen of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group co-chairmen—US, France and Russia—will travel to the conflict region next month.

 

Aside from the Artsax conflict resolution, Clinton and Kocharian touched on larger regional security issues, as well as economic development.

 

Kocharian had the opportunity to discuss his meeting during a Wednesday luncheon hosted by the Armenian-American Congressional Caucus at Capitol Hill.

 

"As I told the president, I met with the president of Azerbaijan Aliyev several days ago in Moscow. We decided to continue our active contacts. We will be meeting in August and in the coming several months we will have more meetings to continue to find a resolution to the conflict," Kocharian told Congressional leaders during the Caucus luncheon.

 

He also added that maintaining Secton 907, a measure restricting US aid to Azerbaijan until that country ends its blockade of Armenia, and the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide are important issues within the realm of US-Armenia relations.

 

Following his meeting at the White House Tuesday, Kocharian met with a delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau at the Watergate Hotel, during which issues of mutual importance were addressed.

 

The ARF Bureau was represented by Garo Armenian and Dr. Viken A. Hovsepian. Also attending the meeting were the chairmen of the ARF Central Committees of Eastern and Western United States, Vazken Ayvazian and Hovig Saliba, respectively.

 

The two sides discussed the domestic political developments in Armenia, the Nagorno-Artsax peace process and strengthening of Diaspora-Armenia relations. Following this meeting, Kocharian was the guest of the Armenian National Committee of America during a reception hosted by Washington-area activists Mr. & Mrs. Dertad and Seta Manguikian.

 

The more than 100 guests, included community activists, leaders and organizational representatives, who had the opportunity to personally meet with the president and discuss issues of interests.

 

Earlier Tuesday, Kocharian was honored by former Sen. Bob Dole during a luncheon, and met with leaders of Jewish-American organizations.

 

Kocharian is due to meet with the leadership of World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. ARF Bureau Leaders Meet With Kocharian

WASHINGTON--A delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau met with President Robert Kocharian Tuesday at the Watergate Hotel, during which issues of mutual importance were addressed.

 

The ARF Bureau was represented by Garo Armenian and Dr. Viken A.Hovsepian. Also attending the meeting were the chairmen of the ARF Central Committees of Eastern and Western United States, Vazken Ayvazian and Hovig Saliba, respectively.

 

The two sides discussed the domestic political developments in Armenia, the Nagorno-Artsax peace process and strengthening of Diaspora-Armenia relations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Putin Receives Armenian Defense Minister

MOSCOW (Itar-Tass)--President Vladimir Putin received Armenian Defense Minister, Security Council Secretary Serzh Sarkisyan in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the military- technical cooperation and broader relations in economics and the energy industry in the light of the nearing Moscow visit of President Robert Kocharyan, Presidential Press Secretary Alexei Gromov said. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Ivanov and Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev also attended the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Samvel Babayan Allowed To See His New Lawyer

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--The former Commander-in-chief of the Nagorno-Artsax Republic Defense Army Samvel Babayan, charged with plotting the March 22 assassination attempt on the Nagorno-Artsax Republic President, was allowed to see his new lawyer on June 27, and his brother, Karen, who is a suspect in another case, was allowed to see his wife, Tatyana.

 

Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the "Constitutional Right" Union Armen Javadian said that lawyer Zhedex Shakarian from Yerevan would join in the defense of Babayan. The lawyer went to Stepanakert upon the Committee's recommendation. In Stepanakert he signed a contract with the family of Samvel Babayan, after which on June 26 he presented a petition to Nagorno-Artsax Republic Prosecutor General Mavrik Ghoukassian to meet with his client. The following day, June 27, the petition was considered in the lawyer's favor and the meeting did take place.

 

According to the information available, Shakarian will also be allowed to acquaint himself to the materials of the case. The preliminary investigation of the criminal case is over and acquaintance with the general materials of the case is on. Thus, the entire investigative process was held without lawyers' participation, emphasized Javadian, from the Committee. As is known, lawyers Nikolay Baghdasarian and Gagik Hakobian who represented Babayan's defense, made a statement in which they asserted that they could not work properly for the defense because of the refusal of the Nagorno-Artsax Republic Prosecutor General's Office to allow them to see Babayan and acquaint themselves to the files of the case until the investigation was over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.Charge Against Nairi Badalian Dismissed

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--The preliminary investigation body dismissed the charge brought against Director of the "Logos" Sociological Center Nairi Badalian June 28. The persecution was discontinued as the charge of aiding the Oct. 27 terrorist act was not proven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Yuri Bakhshian Computer Center Inaugurated In Yerevan School

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--A computer center named after Yuri Bakhshian, the slain deputy speaker of parliament, was inaugurated at a Yerevan school on June 27. The ceremony was attended by relatives of the victims of the Oct. 27, 1999 parliamentary killings.

 

Eight such centers opened under the program of providing Armenian schools with Internet facilities financed by the US Department of State. They will bear the names of the statesmen killed in the Oct. 27, 1999 attack. At the suggestion of U.S. Ambassador Michael Lemmon, the choice of schools is made by the relatives of the killed officials. Consequently, it is no coincidence that the Yuri Bakhshian computer center was founded at the school of which his wife Anahit Bakhshian has been headmistress for many years. The day of the inauguration was also not chosen by chance - June 27 is Yuri Bakhshian's birthday.

 

According to Mrs. Lemmon, the wife of the U.S. Ambassador, the center will serve as a living memory of Yuri Bakhshian and will help the next generations receive a good education. Availing themselves of the center's possibilities, the pupils thanked Michael Lemmon with their first Internet message. Michael Lemmon is currently accompanying Armenian President Robert Kocharian in his US visit.

 

Pointing to the importance of immortalizing the memory of the Oct. 27 victims, Anahit Bakhshian said, "Both the computer centers at these eight schools and the entire republic are a living memory of the slain statesmen in the teeth of all those who want trouble in our state, who do not want harmony and love to reign in our country."

 

Bakhshian said that a Yuri Bakhshian fund has been initiated to help the excellent pupils and teachers of the school, as well as to help solve other problems of the school. Several Armenian families from San Francisco and Detroit have already made their donations to the fund. A group of Armenians from Istanbul, Turkey, granted the money they'd won in a card game to the fund. It would not be bad if all Armenians who are keen on gambling donated their wins to schools, Bakhshian emphasized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Armenian-German Economic Cooperation Tends To Development

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--During the days of culture of Armenia organized as part of the "Expo-2000" international exhibition in Hannover, representatives of the Armenian and German governments discussed specific issues of the Armenian-German cooperation.

 

At his news conference Deputy Minister of Finance of Germany Diller expressed satisfaction with the Armenian pavilion and pointed out that the composition of the delegation of Armenian businessmen testifies to the existence of specific economic programs.

 

Responding to the questions of German journalists, Minister of Industry and Trade of Armenia Karen Chshmaritian said that the Armenian-German economic cooperation tends to develop despite a certain social and political risk in Armenia. In particular, transport, scientific and technical cooperation was established with the German Daimler Chrysler company, and a leasing company is expected to be founded. The minister also pointed out that another German company, "Kier W" promotes the development of small and medium business. Chshmaritian also made a high appraisal of the cooperation with the GTZ company which is assisting Armenia in becoming a WTO member under TACIS as well as in implementing the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union. He said that negotiations are being conducted with the Nord-deutsche Affinerie enterprise for the construction a copper-smelting plant in Armenia, and a protocol of intents was signed.

 

The Armenian government members also held meetings with executives of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ministry of Culture of Saxonia-Algalt,and German Company for Investment Development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. . Armenian-Belgian Business Forum To Be Held In Yerevan

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--An Armenian-Belgian business forum will be held in Yerevan June 28-30. The delegation of Belgian businessmen will include representatives of the economic spheres that are of highest importance to Armenia: energy, production of electric transformers, heavy engineering, trade in metal manufactures, trade in white sugar, banking sphere, information technology, and business consultations.

 

The visit of Belgian businessmen to Armenia is organized by the Armenian Embassy to Belgium and the Belgial Foreign Trade Agency (BFTA).

 

A delegation of Belgian diplomats were in Yerevan April 10-15 to make preparations for the forum. The delegation members studied Armenia's macroeconomy, the state of individual industries, foreign trade regime, investment possibilities and programs.

 

The fact that the BFTA and DUCROIRE (Agency for Credit Insurance) regard Armenia as a safe country for short and average term investments gives us hope that favorable conditions have now been created for the Armenian Belgian cooperation. The vigorous activities launched in Armenia by Belgian businessmen of Armenian descent may serve an example for that country's business circles.

 

The trade turnover between Armenia and Belgium is the highest not only among the countries of the European Union, but also among other countries (about 36 percent), as the matter concerns the trade in gems.

 

The BFTA and DUCROIRE are semi-governmental organizations under the authority of the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Trade and Finance of Belgium respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Armenia, Ukraine Making Efforts Towards Free Trade Regime

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--During the CIS Moscow Summit, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian held a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Victor Yuschenko to discuss the issues of bilateral cooperation.

 

The sides laid special emphasis to the creation of a free trade zone in the CIS, and reached an agreement on initiating this process at a bilateral level. The Armenian side is willing to see Ukraine among its partner's in the construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipe-line. The sides also made a decision on considering the issues related to the construction of the transcaspian corridor at a separate meeting of the two countries' ministers of transport. The sides reached an agreement on holding the second meeting of the Armenian-Ukrainian Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation this October. Five important intergovernmental documents are expected to be signed during the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Bill "On Securities Market Regulation" Passed In First Reading

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--On June 27, the National Assembly passed a bill "On Securities Market Regulation" in its first reading. Before this, the government had several times endeavored to have this bill considered by the National Assembly, though with little success. Each time deputies either postponed or foiled the voting on this bill, pointing at the existing shortcomings. The bill passed in the first reading, according to the conclusion of the NA Standing Commission for Financial-Crediting, Budgetary and Economic Affairs, "looks pretty developed now and seems to have no weak points open to criticism." National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tigran Torossian finds that the bill has been essentially improved since the last time it was submitted, in particular, the exclusive powers until recently enjoyed by the RA Commission on Securities have been revised. This was exactly what prevented the bill from being passed. Torossian said that the delay with the adoption of the law confirms that there are no free economic relations in Armenia today, as there is no securities market. During the discussions it was repeatedly mentioned that some concerned financial entities were interested in the failure of the law, for which purpose they had launched extensive lobbyist activities in the parliament. Seiran Aivazian said in figurative terms that "the entire National Assembly has become hostage to these forces, and it is destructive to the country." National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tigran Torossian, for his part, dared identify the forces preventing the law from being adopted as owners of the Yerevan Stock Exchange and some deputies supporting them in the parliament chamber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Nagorno-Artsax Republic President Restoring His Working Routine

STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)--Nagorno-Artsax President Arkady Ghoukassian, who returned to Stepanakert after a course of treatment, is restoring his working routine. Simultaneously with regular working meetings with the Nagorno-Artsax Republic prime minister and government members, the president is following the domestic political processes, Nagorno-Artsax Republic President's Press Service told Noyan Tapan.

 

Ghoukassian held meetings with a number of members of the newly elected Nagorno-Artsax Republic Parliament, in particular, with deputies supported by the "Democratic Artsakh Union" public and political organization as well as with those who are ARF members. Congratulating the deputies on their election, the president pointed out that the newly elected parliament plays a great role in strengthening the Republic's statehood. The president outlined to those present the program of his future activities and informed them of the results of the meetings he held while taking a course of post-operational treatment in Yerevan. The sides addressed the social, economic, and political situation in the country, need for speeding up the reforms, current stage of the negotiating process, and a number of problems of the Artsax settlement. Wishing the Nagorno-Artsax Republic president soonest recovery, the newly elected members of the Republic's parliament expressed optimism that such meetings will become regular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. Government Suggests Including Its Shares Of "Manuk" JV In Privatization List

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--At its June 27 meeting, the National Assembly discussed the bill "On amendments to the Law of the Republic of Armenia On the program of privatization of state property for 1998-2000'". By this bill, the government suggests adding its shares of the Armenian-French "Manuk" joint venture to the agriculture-related part of the privatization list. The voting on the bill was postponed for lack of a quorum.

 

Minister for the State Property Management David Vardanian said that the "Manuk" JV was established in 1994 on the basis of one of the shops of the Armavir cannery for the purpose of setting up the production of mixtures for children. Since 1996 the JV has not been idle. According to the minister, "the government neither promoted nor hindered this process." The authorized capital of the JV is 117 million AMD, 44 percent belonging to the government, and 56 percent to the "Aznavour-Armenia" organization. Currently, the liabilities of the JV make up 55 million AMD. Charles Aznavour requested the Armenian government to privatize its shares and promised to make large investments in the future. Vardanian pointed out that after the law is adopted, the government will determine the form of the privatization of the enterprise. The positive decision of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Finance, Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs is accounted for by Charles Aznavour's authority.