Month: March 2007

ARMENIAN STATE BUDGETARY EXPENDITURES INCREASE BY 8.4% IN JANUARY 2007 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January 2007, expenditures of
18.6 bln drams (about 44 mln USD) were made at the expense of the RA
state budgetary resources. 79.6% of allocated resources was spent on
current expenditures, 12.7% – on capital expenditures, 7.7% – on net
crediting. According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, the
RA budgetary expenditures grew by 8.4% or 1.8 bln drams on January
2006. This growth is mainly conditioned by an increase in capital
expenditures and transfers. Current expenditures made up the largest
share of budgetary expenditures – 14.8 bln drams was allocated for
their financing. Current expenditures grew by 1.1% or 161.1 mln
drams on the same month of last year. 7.4% of current expenditures
was spent on payment of salaries of state institution employees,
which amounted to 1.1 bln drams.

Expenditures on salary exceeded by 2% the respective allocations
in 2006. Subsidies of 399 mln drams (2.7% of current expenditures)
were provided from the state budget in January 2007. These subsidies
decreased by 37.2% or 236.1 mln drams compared with respective index
of 2006, which is mainly conditioned by the fact that payments of
sums envisaged for January were mostly made in February.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND LORI REGIONAL GOVERNOR DISCUSS PRIORITY PROBLEMS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Priority problems of Lori marz
were discussed at the March 1 meeting of the RA President Robert
Kocharian and the Lori regional governor Aram Kocharian. The
interlocutors discussed problems related to putting large regional
industrial enterprises into operation, as well as the 2007 programs
on development of agriculature in the marz. The president expressed
concern over low rates of apartment construction for the families
in rural areas which were left homeless by the earthquake. According
to the RA President’s press service, R. Kocharian gave instructions
concerning the discussed issues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA STATE BUDGET FULFILLED WITH 21.8 BILLION DRAM SURPLUS IN JANUARY 2007

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January 2007, the RA state budget was
fulfilled with a 21.8 bln dram surplus (without inflow of financial
resources by credit programs financed from external sources). The
domestic sources of surplus financing made about 21.7 bln drams,
external sources – 137.5 mln drams.

According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, the state budget’s
financing at the expense of treasury bonds amounted to 2.6 bln drams
(issue made 3 bln drams, redemption – 5.6 bln drams). 88.2 mln drams
from the domestic sources of deficit financing was allocted for bill
payment. Free budgetary resources increased by about 19 bln drams.

IMPLEMENTATION OF ROTATION SYSTEM AT YSU ASSISTS PROGRESS IN STUDIES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. As a result of the rotation system
already being implemented towards students entered by the free
system of the Yerevan State University in the 2006-2007 academic
year, about 35% of students studying at the paid system were moved
to the paid system, and the same number of pupils were moved to free
education system. As YSU Rector Aram Simonian stated at the March 1
press conference, owing to implementation of this order, the students’
progress considerably rose. But, in his words, this new order is being
implemented with difficulties and faults. The YSU Rector marked out,
especially, the students’ ignorance concerning this problem, who do
not pay attention to that point when entering the higher educational
institution, and in future already presented protests to the university
administration. He also added that students entered without the right
of delay can not make use of the possibility of this rotation system,
what, in A.Simonian’s opinion, hinders students having had great
progress to continue education in the paid system and get education
benefit from the state.

ARAM SIMONIAN: YSU NOT TO BECOME FULCRUM OR CENTER OF ANY PARTY

Noyan Tapan
Mar 02 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. It is not only forbidden to promote
political activity at the Yerevan State University but it is also
prohibited by the law on state institutions, YSU Rector Aram Simonian
stated about it at the March 1 press conference. The latter also
mentioned that the administration of the higher educational institution
seriously looks after it. According to the Rector of the higher
educational institution, every student and employee of the university
may be engaged in policy out of walls of the educational institution
and may support ideology of any party or organization. "Every person,
as a RA citizen, has his political approaches and viewpoints but it
is not encouraged to occupy oneself with it at the YSU. The University
is first of all a scientific-educational institution. The Rector also
added that he will not be nominated as a RPA member at the coming
parliamentary elections.
From: Baghdasarian

SECOND ROUND OF MORELIA-LIARES TOURNAMENT STARTED IN SPAIN

ArmRadio.am
02.03.2007 16:05

The second round of the Morelia-Linares international chess tournament,
featuring eight strongest chess players of the world, except Vladimir
Kramnik, started today in the Spanish city of Linares.

Le tus remind that after the first round of the tournament held
in Morelia (Mexico) Armenian Grand Master Levon Aronyan gained 3.5
points out of 7 possible and shares 4th-5th places with Russian Pyotor
Svidler. With 4.5 points Vishvanatan Anand of India and Magnus Karlsen
of Norway share the 1st-2nd places.

SERGE SARGSYAN VISITS SYUNIK

ArmRadio.am
02.03.2007 16:25

RA Defense Minister, President of the Republican Party Council Serge
Sargsyan is paying a two-day visit to Syunik Marz. He visited N
military unit deployed in Syunik district, where he granted state
awards to more than 10 servicemen on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of formation of the Armenian Army, Armenpress reports.

The Minister next visited N military unit in Goris. According to RA
President Robert Kocharyan’s decree, this military unit was a warded
with "Vardan Mamikonyan" order.

The same day in Goris Culture House Serge Sargsyan met with parents
of servicemen from Goris and Sisian regions, families of wounded and
killed soldiers.

In the evening Serge Sargsyan visited Kapan and met with activists
of the regional structure of the Republican Party of Armenia. Today
the Minister visited one of the military units deployed in Kapan,
after which he handed house certificates to 25 Officers. In the
Culture Center of Kapan the Minister met with parents of servicemen
from Meghri and Kapan regions, families of wounded and killed soldiers.

According to Serge Sargsyan, Duch meetings pursue two objectives:
to get familiar with the problems families of servicemen face and to
learn how the privileges of servicemen’s families are realized.

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN IS NOT A MATTER OF DISPUTE

ArmRadio.am
02.03.2007 16:37

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov declared that "the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not a matter of dispute"
and it is an "axiom."

The Azeri FM said this in an interview with Trend agency, Mediamax
reports.

"We are speaking about phase by phase settlement of the conflict:
withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories,
return of Azerbaijani population, mine clearing, reconstruction
of infrastructures, launch of economic cooperation. The question of
Nagorno Karabakh’s political status within Azerbaijan remains a matter
of negotiations. It is important for the Azeri population to return,
which will enable to jointly decide the status of Nagorno Karabakh,
be it a republic or an autonomous region within Azerbaijan," Elmar
Mammadyarov declared.

RA DEPUTY FM MET WITH EU SPECIAL ENVOY PETER SEMNEBY

ArmRadio.am
02.03.2007 17:07

On March 2 RA Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baybourtyan received the
EU SpeaciL evoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby, who is paying
a two-day visit to Armenia.

During the meeting the parties discussed EU-Armenia relations, turning
to the accomplishment of the Action Plan signed in the framework of
the European Neighborhood Policy. RA Deputy Foreign Minister informed
that the list of arrangements to be implemented in the framework of
the Action Plan is in the stage of elaboration and will be presented
to the European side in the near future.

The interlocutors also turned to the forthcoming elections in
Armenia, emphasizing the importance of holding these in compliance
with international standards. Mr. Semneby underlined that with the
proper conduct of elections Armenia will send a corresponding message
to the EU in regard to the deepening of bilateral relations.

The parties exchanged views on the latest developments in the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The meeting was attended by Heike Peitsch, the Ambassador of Germany
presiding over the European Union.

AAA REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSSED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION WITH U. S. CONGRESSMEN

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 1 2007

According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA), Assembly Board of Trustees Member Annie Totah and
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny met separately with House Majority
Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
to discuss several Armenian-American issues, including the Armenian
Genocide resolution (H. Res. 106), which is currently cosponsored by
176 Members of Congress.

Hoyer is a longtime champion of Armenian issues and, since 2000,
a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. For over
a decade, he has consistently commemorated the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide with statements on the floor of the House of
Representatives. In 2006, the Congressman addressed the Assembly’s
pan-Armenian Advocacy Conference and said he would continue to fight
for U.S. affirmation of the historical truth.

Like Hoyer, Representative Jackson Lee is an avid supporter of Armenian
issues and a member of the Armenian Caucus. The Congresswoman is a
cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide resolution and has repeatedly signed
the congressional letter to the President, urging him to properly
recognize the events of 1915 as genocide in his April 24th message.

"Our meetings with Majority Leader Hoyer and Representative Jackson
Lee were very productive," said Totah. "Advocacy work is all about
relationship-building and the Assembly will continue its meetings and
discussions with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advance this important
legislation."