Month: October 2006

TOMORROW IS OCTOBER 27

ArmRadio.am
26.10.2006 12:48

Tomorrow the opposition "Justice" block will hold a number of mourning
events connected with the 7th anniversary of the terrorist acts in
the Armenian Parliament.

Press Secretary of the "Justice" block Ruzan Khachatryan told ArmInfo
that members and the leadership of the block will lay a wreath of
flower at the graves of the political and public figures that fell
victims of the terrorist act.

It should be noted that representatives of other opposition parties,
and relatives of the victims also participate in the annual mourning
events organized by the "Justice" block. As for the official
parliamentary events, these are usually held at the memorial to the
victims in the yard if the National Assembly.
From: Baghdasarian

FRENCH AMBASSADOR HENRY CUNY AWARDED MKHITAR GOSH MEDAL

ArmRadio.am
26.10.2006 13:36

RA President Robert Kocharyan had a farewell meeting with the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France Henry Cuny.

With the presidential decree of 25 October Ambassador Cuny was
awarded a Mkhitar Gosh medal for the considerable contribution to
the reinforcement and development of Armenian-French friendship.

Handing the award to the Ambassador, Robert Kocharyan thanked him
for productive cooperation and noted that he is completing his job
having registered considerable progress in Armenia-France relations.

Henry Cuny expressed gratitude for the great honor and assured that
the award is very dear to him. He highly assessed the warm attitude
of Armenia toward France, considering the medal awarded to him as
the guarantee of Armenian-French friendship. Appreciating France’s
involvement in different spheres, the Ambassador said that every work
has been initiated with great devotion. Henry Cuny wished prosperity
to our country, well-being to the Armenian people and success to the
President in his activity.

AZERBAIJANIS OF TURKEY PROTEST AGAINST ADOPTION OF THE BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT

ArmRadio.am
26.10.2006 14:20

Azerbaijani organizations of the Turkish cities of Izmir, Izmit,
Mughla, Antalya, Ankara, Manisa, Edirna and Istanbul held a joint press
conference, where they expressed protest against adoption of the bill
penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial, "Trend" agency reports.

"With all our strength why call on France: No to the Armenian
Genocide," says the joint statement adopted by Azerbaijani communities
of Turkey.

PACKAGE VERSION OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT ON BARGAINING TABLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2006 13:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Irrespective of what the Azeri party insists on,
package version of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement is on the bargaining
table, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated October 25. "Another thing
is that implementation of the package version can take place step by
step. However, in any case, the implementation will follow an exact
script, which will be approved by Parliaments of both republics,"
he said. Vartan Oskanian added that it is not ruled out that when
implementing the package version, there will be some time differences
between stages of implementation, however all matters will be solved
through he package principle.

Touching upon the meeting with the Azeri FM in Paris, Oskanian informed
that the parties have expressed their positions over new ideas proposed
by the co-chairs. "At present no common points are available over those
issues, however I do not rule out the positions becoming closer. Thus
a decision was made to hold the meeting at the level of the Ministers
in Brussels November 14," the Armenian FM added, reports IA Regnum.

TERRITORIES TO BE DISCUSSED AFTER CONCRETENESS OVER KARABAKH STATUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.10.2006 13:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian does not rule out the
opportunity for the positions of the Armenian and Azeri parties over
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to become closer. As the Minister stated
during the Government hour at the Parliament Wednesday, thereupon an
agreement is made to hold another meeting of Armenian and Azeri FMs in
Brussels November 14. In Oskanian’s words, after the Brussels meeting
the term of the visit of the OSCE MG co-chairs to the region will be
determined, followed by deciding the expediency of a meeting of the two
Presidents. The Armenian FM remarked that during the talks in Moscow
the OSCE MG mediators proposed several new ideas over specific matter
and the Armenian party presented its position over these in Paris.

Vartan Oskanian highlighted that the issue of conveying territories,
controlled by the NKR Defense Army, to Azerbaijan is part of the
package of proposals. "We will discuss the question of territories,
when there is final concreteness over the NK status," the Minister
said. He explained that by saying territories all those of NK
are meant – northern and eastern, including Martuni, Mardakert
and Shahumyan. "All territories are subject to discussion, however
these discussions are at different levels," Oskanian added, reports
Novosti-Armenia.

SCHOOL FOR PREPARING IT SPECIALISTS TO OPEN IN 2007

Armenpress
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS: During the past two years the
programming works of the Dutch "Metris" company, which is developing
programs for medical devices, are being carried out in Armenia.

"Metris IT Solution" company established here is particularly dealing
with the study of algorithmic issues and with their solution. The
orders are usually received from abroad, here Armenian specialists
are carrying them out, and afterwards they are being exported to the
international market. During the two years this company has developed
5 programs which were used by well-known pharmaceutical companies.

Technical manager of the Dutch "Metris" company Levon Baghdasarian
told today at a press conference in Armenpress that for consolidating
Armenia’s position in the international information technology market,
a school, where necessary specialists will be prepared, is expected
to be established in Armenia from January 2007. He said that with
that aim the Dutch government is ready to provide grant amounting to
half million euro.

Levon Baghdasarian said that the products of the "Metris" company are
not being consumed in Armenia as there are no such pharmaceutical
companies which may use such expensive devices. But according to
him, in case of demand the devices will be provided to the Armenian
companies by their prime cost. He said the Dutch government and the
company have reached preliminary agreement over it.

"Metris" company which is functioning in the European and USA markets
has branches in Russia, Japan, Hong Kong. The company is cooperating
with world-famous Phillipsmedical System, Siemens and other companies.

The company has also participated in the DigiTech 2006 international
exhibition conducted October 6-8 within the framework of Month of
Information Technology in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENAL OPERATES AT FULL CAPACITY

Armenpress
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: ArmenAl foil mill facility in
Yerevan, owned by Russian RusAl, is expected to resume its full
capacity operation on October 26.

The modernization of the plant was started in 2004 and was aimed
both at improving the quality of its foil products and boosting the
plant’s profitability to make the mill one of the world leading foil
producers. A German engineering firm Achenbach was selected to execute
the program at an investment cost of US $80 million.

The modernization program has provided for a major upgrade in foil
rolling equipment and also the establishment of a full production cycle
lifting the plant capacity by 25,000 tons of foil per year, including
18,000 tons of highly profitable thin foil in 6-9 micron gauge.

The modernization program, apart from a full-scale upgrade in rolling
equipment, includes the installation of new casting machines and direct
rolling mill, as well as an upgrade of hot rolling mills for creating
pf a full cycle of production. As part of the modernization program
the main foil rolling equipment has been refitted with control and
automatic management systems.

KOCHARIAN RECEIVES OUTGOING FRENCH AMBASSADOR

Armenpress
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today the outgoing French ambassador Henry Cuny. Kocharian’s
press office said the president awarded the ambassador the Armenian
Medal of Mkhitar Gosh for his contribution to the development of
French-Armenian ties.

Kocharian thanked the ambassador for productive cooperation with
Armenian authorities saying that he was leaving behind dynamically
developing relations which registered significant progress during
his tenure in Armenia.

Henry Cuny thanked for the high award saying it was very dear
to him. He commended Armenia for its warm attitude towards his
country. Cuny wished prosperity to Armenia and its people and success
to its president.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON M ONITORING OF DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES OPENED IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
26.10.2006 15:47

The "Monitoring of democratic processes" international workshop started
in Yerevan today. The event has been organized at the initiative of the
Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation (OSIAF) Armenia with the
assistance of the Yerevan Press Club and Helsinki Committee of Armenia.

OSIAF Armenia Director Larisa Minasyan noted in her opening speech
that the workshop is targeted at familiarizing experts with monitoring
methodology on democratic processes, human rights, press, elections,
transparency of financial means, as well as the international
experience of defense of interests based on monitoring.

International experts from 17 countries will present the monitoring
programs of the obligations in the framework of the European Union,
the Council of Europe and the Enlarged Europe: New Neighbors Programme.

NEXT "WELL-ORGANISED" CONCERT WAS DOOMED TO FAILURE

A1+
[02:35 pm] 26 October, 2006

Armenian audience could not enjoy the Georgian singer Dato Xujadze’s
concert. This gives us a ground to conclude that the organisers lack
orginasational skills. This phenomenon has already become common
among us.

The concert was to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Concert Complex after Karen
Demirchyan but it was scheduled for certain reasons. We have already
faced such failure in connection with the concerts of Russian star
Glukoza.

The organisers (who were also the presenters of the concert) were busy
with equipment checking for an hour. The outcome was far from being
pleasant. Then, they kept announcing that "Dato would soon appear on
the stage" for nearly 30 minutes. Finally, seeing that Dato is not
ready yet, they offered the audience to stand and commemorate the death
of Armenian singer Vardouhy Vardanyan because of unexpected car crash.

In answer to their request, the people gathered in the hall (over
350 people were present), started to shout;

What a disgrace!

Hearing the shouts, the "presenters" turned on music, and belly-dancers
appeared on the stage…

At last, after 1.5 delay, at about 8:30 p.m., Dato appeared and
the concert started. By the way, the singer complained of the poor
equipment, begged pardon for the technical part and said, "I think
everything will be fixed soon."

Nevertheless, his wish was not to come true. The audience began to
leave the hall without waiting the end of the concert.

Reminder; people paid 2000 – 4500 AMD for the concert.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress