Month: March 2007

APPRECIATION OF DOLLAR IN ARMENIA IN RECENT DAYS CONDITIONED BY UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The US dollar’s appreciation in
Armenia in recent days is conditioned by the upcoming parliamentary
elections. Economist Eduard Aghajanov said at the March 13 press
conference that the exchange rate of the dollar will continue rising
in April and May. In his words, "some people, who bought dollars
at a low exchange rate previously, must sell them at high prices so
that "this campaign will be cheap or free of charge." According to
E. Aghajanov, in 2006, the import growth rate was 7 times as much as
the export growth rate of Armenia, with these rates making 3.1% and
21.8% respectively. Exports grew only by 30 million dollars. Besides,
in 2006, foreign trade deficit grew by 44% under conditions of 13.4%
GDP growth. In 2003, foreign trade deficit made 591 mln USD, while
last year – 1 bln 190 mln USD. E. Aghajanov said that it shows that
Armenia’s economy is unpredicatble.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINING INDUSTRY AND FISH PRODUCTION EXTENDED IN ARARAT MARZ

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The achievements and problems of
Ararat marz were discussed during the March 13 working meeting of
the Armenian president Robert Kocharian and the governor of Ararat
marz Alik Sargsian. The governor said that the marz fulfilled state
budgetary obligations by 104%, while collection of own revenues made
105%. The interlocutors spoke about new extending sectors of the
Ararat marz’s economy – mining industry and fish production, discussed
agricultural development programs. According to A. Sargsian, thanks to
state subsidies, fertilizers, as well as grain and barley seeds will
be distributed to communities, which suffered as a result the 2006
drought, at lower than market prices. The necessity was underlined to
increase the capacities of purchasing large amount of crops expected
as a result of extending areas sown with melons and gourds in the
marz. According to the RA President’s press service, R. Kocharian
instructed the governor to plan and regulate efficiently the purchase
process so that farmers will not have problems during harvest.

MEDIA OBSERVATION BODY CREATED ON INITIATIVE OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of Yerevan Press
Club, Rules of journalists’ Conduct were adopted and Observation
Body was elected at the March 10 meeting of heads of a number of
media and journalist organizations. As Chairman of Yerevan Press
Club Boris Navasardian reported at the March 13 press conference,
the mission of Observation Body is to discuss application-complaints
relating to violations of Rules of Conduct and to draw the respective
conclusions. He expressed satisfaction that 21 Armenian media, 8
journalist organizations and a group of individual journalists have
joined this initiative. Among these media and journalist organizations
are Union of Journalists of Armenia, A1+, Azg, Aravot dailies,
Arminfo news agency. B. Navasardian said that the Rules of Conduct
have an appendix, Declaration on Principles of Covering Elections and
Referendums. In the words of Astghik Gevorgian, Chairwoman of Union
of Journalists of Armenia, the process of self-regulation and control
will contribute to preservation of journalists’ civilized conduct and
moral characteristic. And in the words of Lilit Simonian, Chairwoman
of Center for Law and Information NGO, the more self-regulated
the journalist field is, the more independent media and individual
journalists are.

TWO INTERNATIONAL AND TWO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE FOR THE PRESENT ACCREDITED AT CEC FOR OBSERVATION MISSION DURING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The CIS Interparliamentary Assembly
Council and Executive Committee among the international structures
for the present officially responded the RA authorities’ invitation
to implement observation mission during the May 12 parliamentary
elections. As Tsovinar Khachatrian, the RA Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) Secretary informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the mentioned
structures, correspondingly, placed orders for accreditation of 12
and 8 observers. As of March 12, 2 observation missions, "The Choice
is Yours" and the Center for Electoral Systems are for the present
accredited at the CEC among the local organizations. To recap,
the deadline for accreditation of observers is May 2. According to
the Electoral Code, international organizations, representatives
of foreign states, other RA and foreign public organizations, the
regulations issues of which involve issues of democracy and human
rights protection, and which do not support candidates or parties,
have the right of observation mission. International observers can
implement the mission in the case of presence of a corresponding
invitation. The right for invitation is preserved for the RA President,
NA, Government and CEC.

HASAN AL ATRASH COMPLETES HIS MISSION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Robert
Kocharian on March 13 had a farewell meeting with Hasan Al Atrash,
Head of the International Monetary Fund Armenia Mission. According to
the RA President’s press service, the sides appreciated the current
level of cooperation, noting that it proceeds efficiently. The
interlocutors spoke about implemented and future programs. In
particular, issues related to tax and customs reforms, development
of the securities market, improvement of the banking and insurance
systems were discussed.

LITERARY SOCIETY MARKS 110th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF YEGHISHE CHARENTS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. 110th birth anniversary of great poet
Yeghishe Charents was marked on March 13. Like every year this year
also representatives of intelligentsia, students and schoolchildren
visited the great poet’s memorial complex and paid tribute of
respect to the poet’s memory. Charents readings were held near the
memorial. Lilit Hakobian, Director of Charents’ House-Museum, stated
that an exhibition under the title "The People to Charents" will open
at the museum on the occasion of poet’s 110th birth anniversary.

During the whole year many events will be organized in Armenia and
Artsakh and on the initiative of Union of Writers of Russia the
great poet’s jubilee will be also solemnly marked in Russia. On the
occasion of the jubilee, poet’s Selected Poetry will be published
soon on the initiative of the Hayagitak publishing-house and poet’s
daughter, Anahit Charents. The Selected Poetry will also include poet’s
unpublished works. L. Hakobian also said that they had applied to RA
government with the suggestion of marking Charents’ jubilee solemnly,
but they refused motivating by the fact that 110th anniversary is
not considered a jubilee. "If in Ukraine every year they consider
Shevchenko’s birthday as a jubilee, why can’t we glorify our genius
properly?," L. Hakobian said. In the words of Levon Ananian, Chairman
of Union of Writers of Armenia, Charents was able to unite the past,
present and future of Armenian people in his creation. "The 110th
birth anniversary and 70th anniversary of tragic death of Charents is
marked this year. Declaring 2007 as Year of Charents, we should do our
best to return the literary values to the youth, as well as to present
the great poet’s poetry in a new way to the international community,"
L. Ananian said. In the words of Anahit Charents, though poet’s life
lasted only 40 years, it was not a usual life, but "stormy 40 years of
life" of the great poet, which ended on the half-way of his creative
activity. "Charents’ life became a selfless devotion to his people,
his homeland. The Armenian people adored the poet and the poet adored
the people. Charents believed in the future of his people. The very
things make Charents stay live, thanks to them he will accompany the
generations," the poet’s daughter said.

MEDIA COUNCIL SET UP IN ARMENIA

Mediamax news agency
13 Mar 07

Yerevan, 13 March: Twenty-one media and eight journalistic
organizations have joined the initiative of the Yerevan Press Club
(YPC) on the establishment of an institution of media self-regulation
in Armenia.

Chairman of YPC Boris Navasardyan stated today that on 10 March
there took place the session of the heads of media and journalistic
organizations, supporting the initiative, where there was the order
approved and an observation body elected on self-regulation of media.

The observation body will take up the consideration of complaints on
violations of the order by the media and will make conclusions.

The chairman of the Union of the Journalists of Armenia and member
of the observation body, Astghik Gevorkyan, noted that the idea on
establishing such an institution existed back in the 1990s, but it
assumed a material form only now, as a result of many discussions.

Astghik Gevorkyan noted that the observation body will also perform
its own monitoring and will regulate the relations between the citizens
and the media, in case there are conflicts on this or that publication
or report between them.

Other media and journalistic organizations can also join the initiative
of the YPC.

TRADE TURNOVER GROWS BY 4.7% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY 2007 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. In January 2007, trade turnover
in Armenia made 72 bln 123.2 mln drams (about 198.3 mln USD),
increasing by 4.7% on the same month of last year (at comparable
prices). According to the RA National Statistical Service, retail
trade turnover made 47 bln 993.3 mln drams, growing by 8.2% on
January 2006. Wholesale trade made 19 bln 466.2 mln drams, declining
by 4.3%. Car trade, including sale, technical servicing and repairs
of cars and spare parts at specialized points of trade, amounted to
4 bln 663.7 mln drams, increasing by 12.4% on January 2006. As of
February 1, 2007, the commodity stock in the retail trade network of
the country made 56 bln 817.4 mln drams.

AZERI INTERIOR TROOPS MEET NATO STANDARDS FULLY, MINISTER SAYS

Turan news agency
12 Mar 07

Baku, 12 March: Today Azerbaijan’s Interior Troops is a structure
that fully meets NATO standards, Interior Minister Ramil Usubov has
said, speaking at a ceremony dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
the Interior Troops.

Usubov said that the Interior Troops’ material and technical basis,
ranging from the equipment of its barracks to weapons, is in compliance
with NATO requirements. The Interior Troops are ready to implement
any tasks and protect the country’s public and political stability
and territorial integrity, the minister added.

Usubov stressed the Turkish Gendarmerie’s assistance in the
establishment and development of Azerbaijan’s Interior Troops.

[Passage omitted: Usubov speaks about the Interior Troops role in
the Karabakh war]

YOUNG WRESTLERS OF ARMENIA GET 6 PRIZES AT SOFIA INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2007

SOFIA, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The youth international tournaments
of Greco-Roman and free style wrestling held in turn finished in the
capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, on March 12. More than 220 sportsmen from
more than 16 countries placed orders. Among the sportsmen representing
Armenia in Greco-Roman style of wrestling, Babken Karapetian
(50 kg, Etchmiadzin) nd Artur Shahinian (84 kg, village of Apaga,
Etchmiadzin) won the 1st place, Norayr Khachatrian (55 kg, Yerevan)
got the 3rd place. In the free style wrestling Garnik Mnatsakanian
(55 kg) was the 2nd and Samvel Aghayan (66 kg) and Gevorg Avsharian
(74 kg) were the 3rd. All the three wrestlers are from Yerevan.