Month: March 2007

ANUSHAVAN DANIELIAN: COMING YEARS WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMEMT OF NKR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The socioeconomic achievements
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in recent years are conditioned by
domestic political stability and radical structural reforms. Responding
to questions of readers of the "Azat Artsakh" republican newspaper’s
website, the NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian said that thanks
to these reforms, it has become possible not only to prevent a decline
in justice but also to register high economic growth.

According to a press release of the NKR MFA, the prime minister also
noted that the social and economic policy of the government and its
successes in recent years inspire a hope that the coming years will
be favorable for development of the country’s econopmy and solution
of social problems.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LAW ON TAX PRIVILEGES FOR MEGHRI-KAJARAN GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION WORK

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian President Robert
Kocharian on March 15 signed the laws on tax privileges in aviation
and construction work of the Meghri-Kajaran gas pipeline, as well
as laws on making amendments and additions to to the RA Water Code,
the RA Administrative Infringements Code, the Civil Procedure Code,
the Criminal Procedure Code, and to the following laws: on the RA
Control Chamber, on organization and Conducting of Check-Ups in the RA,
on Licensing, on State Duty, on Energy, on Electronic Communication, on
Advocacy, on Court Service, on Court Composition, on Justice Council,
and on the Public Services Regulatiory Body.

According to the RA President’s press service, on March 16 the Armenian
president signed the RA law on making an amendment to the RA Criminal
Procedure Code.

SME DNC AND OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SIGN MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia’s Small and Medium
Entrepreneurship Development National Center" (SME DNC) Fund and the
OSCE Yerevan Office will implement a joint program of assistance
to SME subjects in Armenia. The sides on March 20 signed a mutual
understanding and cooperation memorandum on this. The document was
signed by the SME DNC Director Ishkhan Karapetian and the OSCE Yerevan
Office Head, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin.

Within the framework of the memorandum, the OSCE Yerevan Office
will assist the SME DNC and other structures related to the sector’s
development in participation in European initiatives on SME support,
integration into organizations and information networks, developement
of expert resources.

After signing the document, I. Karapetian and V. Pryakhin underlined
that in recent years the structures headed by them have cooperated
within the framework of various projects on SME assistance.

V. Pryakhin said that the 5th anniversary of the SME DNC was celebrated
on March 19. He pointed out that the SME sector of Armenia is
undergoing a "certain and definite development" with the assistance
of civil society and international structures. One evidence is
the growth of SME share in GDP – it increased from 20% to 40% from
2002 to 2006. According to the ambassador, the experience of SME
development in Armenia can be used in other countries, particularly
in CIS countries. In his opinion, financing of SME subjects remains an
important problem in Armenia. V. Pryakhin attached special importance
to introduction of European standards of SME development from the
viewpoint of solution of this and other problems.

He and I. Karapetian noted that assistance to SME development in
Armenia is now viewed within the framework of the European Neighborhood
Policy. In the words of I. Karapetian, in 2006, SME subjects accounted
for 17% of Armenia’s export, while their tax revenues – for 28%
of the total amount of tax revenues.

CALIFORNIAN NEWSPAPER APPEALS TO ARMENIANS NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONY OF OPENING ST.CROSS CHURCH IN TURKEY

Arminfo
2007-03-20 15:30:00

The California Courier newspaper appealed to Armenians not to
participate in the ceremony of opening the St.Cross Church on Aghtamar
island in Turkey.

Not a single Armenian should accept the invitation to take part
in the ceremony of opening the church, as the restoration of this
architectural monument is nothing but a way of Turkish propaganda,
the article says. According to the article, Armenians should boycott
and disclose the Turkish policy. If Turkish officials are guided by
sincere motives, they won’t forget to take such measures as putting
a cross on the dome of the church, opening Christian service in it,
as well as handing over the church from the patronage of the Turkish
Culture and Tourism Ministry to the jurisdiction of the Armenian
Patriarchate in Constantinople, the article says.

SOMALIA TOPS MINORITY THREAT LIST

Story from BBC NEWS:
th/6472007.stm
Published: 2007/03/20 17:10:15 GMT

Somalia has overtaken Iraq as the world’s most dangerous country for
minority groups, a study has found.

Sudan, Afghanistan and Burma followed in the global survey by the
Minority Rights Group International (MRG).

It alleges the US ignored abuses of minorities in countries supporting
the US "war on terror" including Pakistan, Turkey and Israel.

Sri Lanka saw the highest rise in persecutions with renewed fighting
between government and rebel forces.

"A new government in Somalia has raised hopes for democracy, but it
is also a uniquely dangerous time," said MRG’s director Mark Lattimer.

"There is the spectre of a return of large-scale clan violence – and
groups that supported the old order are now under tremendous threat."

MRG said the Darood, Hawiye and Issaq clans are under threat as well
as the Bantu group.

Darfur crisis

Sudan is the third worst offender, said the State of the World’s
Minorities report, because of the violence in Darfur.

FIVE WORST COUNTRIES Somalia Iraq Sudan Afghanistan Burma Source:
Minority Rights Group International Most computers will open this
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More than two million people have been displaced since the fighting
began in 2003 and the UN says refugee camps in the region are almost
full.

At least 200,000 have been died in the ongoing violence between
pro-government Arab Janjaweed militia groups and rebel groups in
Darfur.

The MRG said farmers from the Zahgawa, Masalit and Fur groups,
amongst others, have been targeted.

Minority groups in Iraq including Christians, Yezidis and Mandaeans
face targeted killings, abductions and torture.

The group’s study links tensions in Turkey surrounding the EU
accession process to a surge in religious and nationalist extremism
behind attacks on minorities – such as the murder of Turkish-Armenian
writer Hrant Dink at the end of 2006.

"US allies have managed to barter their support for the war on
terror in return for having their human rights records ignored,"
said Mr Lattimer.

The MRG also blames the "war on terror" for a rise in anti-Muslim
attacks and intimidation within the European Union affecting millions
of ethnic Arabs, South Asians and other Muslim minorities.

In Sri Lanka, minority Tamils and Muslims are caught up in fighting
and increasingly becoming targets for abduction and disappearance
after the breakdown of peace efforts between Tamil Tiger rebels and
government forces last year.

"In three-quarters of the world’s conflicts, the killing is now
targeted at particular ethnic or religious groups," said Mr Lattimer.

"Because they are usually minorities their suffering is largely
ignored."

FORMER HEAD OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY JURIDICAL SERVICE CHALLENGES JUDGE EXAMINING HIS CASE

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Former head of the RA National
Assembly’s Juridical Department Suren Mamikonian on March 19
challenged judge Ruben Nersissian who examines his lawsuit against
Tigran Torosian, Speaker of the RA National Assembly. The basis
for challenge was the court’s decision to reject the petition of
S. Mamikonian. In his petition S. Mamikonian asked to conduct joint
examination of cases against Tigran Torosian and the NA Staff Head
Hayk Kotanian, as, in his words, the same document is disputed.

The court chairman Zhora Vardanian will examine the issue of challenge
and make a decision.

To recap, S. Mamikonian dsiputed the legality of H. Kotanian’s notice
to dismiss about 40 state servants from their jobs by the instructions
of T. Torosian. According to the applicant, the decision on dismissing
about 40 members of the "Orinats Yerkir" Party from their jobs violates
the rights of stability and preference of a state servant regulated
by the RA Law on State Servant.

37 THOUSAND DIABETES PATIENTS, INCLUDING ABOUT 300 CHILDREN AND 7,000 INSULIN DEPENDENT PATIENTS, REGISTERED IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Cases of diabetes are increasing
in Armenia with every pasing year. Thus, in March of this year, the
number of diabetes cases grew by 2,000 on the March 2006. The Chief
Endocrinologist of the RA Ashot Mamikonian told NT correspondent
that 37,000 diabetes patients are currently registered in Armenia,
including about 300 children up to 18 years and 7,000 insulin dependent
patients. By comparison, in the 1960s, only 43 diabetes patients were
registered in the country.

According to A. Mamikonian, the number of diabetes patients makes about
270 million in the world. In terms of its prevalence, diabetes is in
third place after cardiovascular and oncological diseases. According
to the chief endocrinologist, if the current rates of diabetes growth
continue, in 2050, about 40-50% of the world population will suffer
from this diasease.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON ARONIAN GAINS 4.5 OUT OF 6 POSSIBLE POINTS AT AMBER INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

MONTE CARLO, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Levon Aronian first was defeated
then defeated Boris Gelfand (Israel) in the Amber international speed
and blind chess tournament on March 19 in Monte Carlo. L. Aronian
gained 4.5 out of 6 possible points and is in the second place. And
the leader is Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) with 5 points.

FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia Tree Project" Charity Fund
is cooperating with World Institute of Stable Forest Management of
Yale University (Great Britain) with the aim of implementing a forest
management program in Armenia. According to a press release submitted
to NT from the fund’s office, the program will be implemented with the
assistance of Conservation International organization. By the joint
program "Assessment and Use of Stable Forest Management Models in the
Northern Regions of Armenia", it is envisaged to make analysis of the
forest ecosystems of Lori marz, with attention being paid to factors
preventing forest reproduction. Assessment of plants, especially herbs
and plants used in treatment of various diseases, will be done as well.

According to the press release, considerable degradation of forest
areas of Armenia makes it urgent to use new and courageous approaches
in forest preservation. Based on experience of Yale University,
courses on forest management development will be organized in Armenia.

O. BOZHKO: ARMENIAN CHURCH TO BE BUILT IN KIEV WILL BECOME SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR LOCAL ARMENIANS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Ukrainian
side is ready to extend cooperation with Armenia in the sphere of
education. Henceforth Armenian students and post-graduate students
will study at Ukrainian universities not only within the framework
of interstate contract, but also as a result of newly established
cooperation between institutions of higher education.

Olexander Bozhko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Ukraine to Armenia, stated this during the March 20 meeting with
students, professors and lecturers of V. Brusov State Linguistic
University.

Ambassador Bozhko said that there have always been educational contacts
between the two countries. The culminating point of these contacts
was registered in the Soviet years when the Armenian young people for
many years got education at Kiev’s Higher Aviation Institute and youth
from Kiev studied at various Armenian universities. The educational
contacts and the best traditions broken off in the future were to
be restored, to which the Ukrainian side gave an affirmative answer
expressing readiness to receive Armenian students and specialists at
its universities.

Touching upon the problem which emerged over the Armenian church to be
built in Kiev, Bozhko said that the authorities of Kiev have agreed to
provide a territory for building the Armenian church, there is just
a disagreement among the population. "I think this problem will be
solved, just a little patience is needed. The Embassy does its best to
support solution of this problem," the Ambassador said at the same time
adding that all countries, including Armenia, have such problems. "For
instance, for many years our Embassy has applied to Yerevan authorities
and asked them to provide a territory for building Embassy of Ukraine
on mutually beneficial terms. Finally the issue was solved so that
the Ukrainian side bought a house for the Embassy in Yerevan.

Olexander Bozhko gave assurance that "the church to be built will
be not only spiritual, but also cultural center for Armenians living
in Ukraine."