Month: October 2006

SUCEESSFUL PROCESS OF UPCOMING ELECTIONS IS IMPORTANT FOR MAINTAINING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMEMT, WB REPRESENTATIVE SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 24 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly Speaker
Tigran Torosian on October 24 received the Director of the World
Bank Armenia Office Roger Robinson who completes his term of
office in Armenia, NT was informed from the RA National Assembly PR
Department. T. Torosian said that much importance was attached to
economic development in the countries in the post-Soviet territory
during the first years of their independence, but the logical
process of development made people realize that the social life
should be reformed as well, and a country’s success is conditioned by
political, social and economic reforms. In the words of T. Torosian,
the improvement of political mechanisms is of particular significance
for implementing reforms in the social life. He expressed confidence
that by making reforms in the social life, it is possible to reach
success in Armenia in two-three years and create opportunities for
people to live a dignified life. Expressing gratitude to the NA
Speaker for the successful joint activities over the last 4.5 years,
Roger Robinson noted that during this period Armenian has registered
a serious economic success and a sustainable growth, which is no less
important. He underlined the importance of three factors – political,
economic and social – for the development of any country. In his words,
these factors are hardly ever present at the same time: the economic
development is the first one to appear, while political and social
developments take more time as the mentality and perception of people,
as well as their relations with each other and the state change.

He pointed out that the World Bank does not interfere in politics
but the successful course of the upcoming elections is important for
maintaining the economic development.

ROBINSON: ARMENIA HAD CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC PROGRESS RECENTLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2006 14:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Speaker Tigran Torosyan met with
Director of the World Bank Yerevan Office Roger Robinson, who is
completing his tenure in Armenia, reports the Press Office of the
Armenian National Assembly. During the meeting Robinson said that
within 4.5 years Armenia made considerable economic progress and that
in sustainable development.

Three factors in his words are crucial for development of any country:
political, economic and social. At that he remarked that those factors
are never displayed simultaneously: economic development almost
always is ahead. The World Bank does not interfere with the policy,
however successful holding of election is crucial for sustaining the
economic development, WB Yerevan Office head said.

In his turn Tigran Torosyan stated that economic development
was highlighted in the post-soviet territory before, however the
development suggested that the social life has to be reformed as well
and a country’s success is conditioned by political-social-economic
reforms. The Speaker noted that Armenia is at an interesting phase. He
was sure that via reforms of the social life within 2-3 years success
can be attained and full opportunities for deserving life of people
can be created.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN TO VISIT MOSCOW

AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006

The Embassy of the Russian Federation to Armenia informed that RA
President Robert Kocharian is going to pay a working visit to Moscow
on October 30-31. The visit is aimed to increase the level of the
Russian-Armenian cooperation. Besides the actual issues of bilateral
importance, the sides are expected to discuss the Russian-Armenian
cooperation in the spheres of energy, transport, as well as those of
Russia’s and Armenia’s subjects. The parties are also to discuss the
issues concerning the implementation of the agreements signed between
our countries.

In the course of RA President’s working visit, the sides will pay
special attention to the Nagorno Karabakh issue and the current
situation in Nagorno Karabakh.

PENDING ELECTION IN ARMENIA – IMPORTANT EXAM FOR REPUBLIC

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2006 18:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ France will follow elections in Armenia with
attention, French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny stated in the
course of a farewell news conference owing to ending his tenure in
the country.

In his words, elections are an important exam to the republic –
especially taking into account Armenia’s participation in the European
Neighborhood Policy.

"The authorities, which are elected in Armenia, will be acceptable
to France," Henry Cuny noted, adding France never interferes with
Armenia’s internal affairs.

TURKISH PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE IN FRIENDSHIP OF NEIGHBORS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2006 17:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Most Turks do not believe in friendship of
neighboring countries, indicate the outcomes of a sociological survey
held in 32 out of 81 Turkish provinces, the Milliyet reports. "The
survey has shown that Turkish people do not believe in friendship
of their neighbors. Most Turks are convinced that European countries
are not friends for Turkey," Milliyet writes. Turks do not trust US
and Greece most – 78.5% and 78.1% of respondents respectively. These
are followed by France, to which 76.1% of Turks mistrust. At that
sociologists highlight that the survey was conducted before adoption
of the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the
National Assembly of France on October 12. Right after it Turkish
officials criticized France and the Union of consumers launched
boycott of French goods.

Russia is also among countries, which Turks do not trust. 64.8%
of respondents do not trust it, while only 8.7% call it "friendly,"
reports the Milliyet.

Turks have most sympathies towards Azerbaijan – 71.4%.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHAT WILL BRING ARMENIA AND BELARUS CLOSER?
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006

Prime Ministers of Armenia and Byelorussia Point out Number of Issues
for Fruitful Cooperation

The delegation of statesmen headed by Sergey Sidorski, Prime Minister
of Byelorussia, is currently paying a working visit to Armenia.

Before meeting with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, the
delegation of Belarus statesmen met with RA President Robert
Kocharian. After the meetings, both delegations signed a number
of memorandums.

After signing the memorandums, the Prime Ministers of both
countries touched upon the results of the meetings at a joint press
conference. Andranik Margarian said that they have shaped stable legal
grounds for fruitful cooperation between our countries. He added that
the sides have signed about forty agreements.

Sergey Sidorski stated that the goods turnover between our countries
is gradually growing. As of January-July, 2006, it made $ 14 million,
as compared with the indicator of the last year that totaled to
$15 million. He added that after the last visit of RA PM to Belarus
five years ago, the goods turnover between our countries grew by 6,4
times. At the same time, Mr. Sidorski stated that there are still
great capacity for developing the cooperation between Armenia and
Byelorussia, taking into account the fact that the total annual
commodity turnover of Belarus surpasses $30 billion.

Besides, Mr. Sidorski pointed out the spheres that his country is
interested in. In particular, he mentioned the spheres of jewelry,
brandy production, IT and machinery production. He informed that
"Belshina" company is going to sign an agreement with its Armenian
partner. Moreover, the office of Belarus producers of medical equipment
and medicine are going to open their office in Armenia, soon. The
Belarus "Belaz" tracks are used in the mining industry. The center
for their technical service will also be opened in Yerevan. The sides
are to cooperate in the sphere of energetics, as well. Mr. Margarian
also emphasized the importance of the Belarus agricultural equipment
for Armenia.

GEORGIA WILL SOON IMPORT ELECTRICITY FROM IRAN THROUGH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2006 18:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia will soon start importing electric power
from Iran through Armenia. A respective agreement between the
Ministries of Energy is already attained. As the Ministry of Energy
of Georgia reported, the Iranian energy will be imported via Armenia
as barter. Georgia will receive electric power from Iran in winter
and will return it in summer, reports Gruzia-Online.

BODY REPRESENTING HEIRS OF ARMENIANS WHO ESCAPED GENOCIDE TO CALL ITS SESSION DECEMBER 9-10 IN SEVRES

Armenpress
Oct 24 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS: The body that will represent the heirs
of Armenians who escaped the genocide of Armenians in the historical
Western Armenia in the Ottoman Turkey will call its first session on
December 9-10 in the town of Sevres, not far from Paris. The initiative
belongs to about thirty prominent Armenian intellectuals who came out
on October 20 with an initiative to create a body that will represent
the heirs of Armenians who escaped the genocide of Armenians in the
historical Western Armenia in the Ottoman Turkey.

The initiating committee had sent messages to all heirs of Armenians
who escaped the genocide to seek their accord and based on the feedback
has decided to call a meeting on December 9-10. The group’s statement
said the meeting would elect an ad hoc National Council with its
committees which will organize and steer elections of deputies to the
National Assembly in all countries where heirs of the genocide live.

This National Assembly is supposed to elect the National Council of
Western Armenians.

The idea behind this initiative, according to the statement, is to
work out and carry out such all-Armenian projects which will promote
strengthening of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, consolidation of free
democracy and defense of Armenians’ interests globally.

Another goal is to negotiate with Turkish authorities and other
stakeholders to attain the recognition of Armenian genocide, its
condemnation and press for compensations for the property of Western
Armenians and to ensure unobstructed return of the heirs to Western
Armenia where their ancestors lived.

The initiating committee consists of prominent intellectuals Armen
Jigarkhanian, Sos Sargsian, Pertch Zeituntian, distinguished scholar
Vahagn Tatrian, Anushavan Danielian, Hayk Mikaelian, Artyom Tarasov,
Karen Mikaelian and others.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA AND BELARUS READY TO HELP RUSSIA AND GEORGIA, IF THEY TURN TO THEM
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006

In response to the issue whether the tense relations between Georgia
and Russia hinder the cooperation between Armenia and Belarus, the
Prime Ministers said that the latest developments certainly have
negative impact on the trade relations. They added that they have
discussed the issues of finding new transportation corridors in the
course of the negotiations. Besides, RA PM Andranik Margarian added
that Armenia is ready to serve as mediator between Russia and Georgia,
if they only turn to Armenia with the request to help improve the
spoiled relations.

Sergey Sidorski also expressed readiness to assist Russia and Georgia
to improve their relations.

Mr. Sidorski expressed satisfaction with the meeting with RA President
Robert Kocharian, adding that he emphasized the cooperation between
our countries at the international instances.

SYNOPSIS ARMENIA’S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MOSCOW INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONIC TECHNICS
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006

Since this September Synopsis has been implementing a master course at
the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technics (MIET). Hovik Musaelian,
executive director of Synopsis Armenia, says that the program at the
Moscow Institute of Electronic Technics was a big event first of all
for Armenia. "This is fantastic to direct an educational program from
Armenia the sphere of microelectronics at Russia’s leading institute
that is situated in the center of the Russian Silicon Valley, in a
free IT zone," Mr. Musaelian says.

MIET was elected in a competition, criteria of which were set by the
Synopsis. "MIET is famous today as a forge that releases high-quality
specialists, and many companies, including Synopsis’s rivals, carry
out their projects there. The curious thing that is that this program
is being directed not by the Synopsis but from Armenia," Synopsis
Armenia’s executive director says. According to Mr. Musaelian,
the first 20 students of MIET have already embarked on educational
process. Synopsis Armenia has provided the students with its own
educational program.

Synopsis was introduced to Armenia in 2004. It acquired the offshoots
of 3 US companies – LEDA SYSTEMS, MONTEREY ARSET and HPL – and
united them.

It’s cooperation with the Yerevan Engineering University dates back
to 2001 and it further developed after Synopsis opened a branch
here. The number of students rose from 30 to 185. Synopsis also
cooperates with the Yerevan State University. "The educational
models of the Engineering University and the State University are
entirely different. The Engineering University entered the sphere
of production; a new inter-departmental chair was created at the
Synopsis’s office. The students are trained at the company, and having
done their bachelor and master degrees they receive a job offer, if,
of course, they are not drafted. Those are the best students of the
departments of cybernetics, computer engineering and radio-electronics
who are included in the university’s project from the second year of
their study," Hovik Musaelian said.

Another model is being applied at the Yerevan State University; here
the production comes to the University. Appropriate infrastructures
were created at the University, classrooms were repaired and equipped
with new technological packages. Currently Synopsis has 30 students at
the YSU, 30 more will join in February. Yet, the Synopsis prefers the
first model when the students work in an environment of integration
into the production, education and science. Synopsis also cooperates
with the American University of Armenia with an aim to acquire IT
management skills for its students.