Month: March 2007

RECEPTION IN CANADA TO HONOUR STEPHANE DION

armradio.am
01.03.2007 11:00

The Congress of Canadian Armenians will be hosting a reception to
honour Stephane Dion. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday
March 6 in the Tekeyan Armenian Community Centre in Ville St-Laurent.

Mr. Dion has been a firm advocate for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, and a friend and consistent supporter of the Armenian
community and of Armenian causes. He is "our MP", and the new Leader
of the Liberal Party of Canada.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DEFENCE MINISTER LEAVES ON WORKING VISIT FOR MARZ OF SYUNIK

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

KAPAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister, RPA Council Chairman
Serge Sargsian left on a two-day working visit to the marz of Syunik
on March 1.

The Minister will visit on March 1 the military units placed in the
regions of Sisian and Goris, will meet with servicemen’s parents.

S.Sargsian will visit Kapan on March 2.

"NOR ZHAMANAKNER" PARTY PLACES ORDER FOR NOMINATION TO RA CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Nor Zhamanakner" (New Times)
party placed an order to the RA Central Electoral Commission for
nomination at the coming parliamentary elections by the proportional
electoral system. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by
Committee Secretary Hamlet Abrahamian, there are 62 candidates in the
"Nor Zhamanakner" party list. The list is headed by party Chairman
Aram Karapetian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION GETS NO CLAIM FROM ANY PARTY ON FEBRUARY 28

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. No claim for being nominated by the
proportional electoral system in the coming parliamentary elections
was presented by any party to the RA Central Electoral Commission on
February 28. Tsovinar Khachatrian, the Central Electoral Commission
Press Secretary informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent about it.

So, during 3 days the commission got only 2 claims. The "National
Unification" party presented a claim for nomination, and the
"Democratic Fatherland" and Conservative Parties presented a claim
for registration of the "Impeachment" pre-electoral alliance.

MAJORITY OF CANDIDATES NOMINATED BY MAJORITARIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM ARE PRESENT NA DEPUTIES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. As of February 27, 18 candidates
presented claims to the Central Electoral Commission for participating
by the majoritarian electoral system in the RA National Assembly
elections to be held on May 12. NA non-partisan deputies Vahram
Baghdasarian and Victor Dallakian were nominated at No30 electoral
district, and "Dashink" (Alliance) party Chairman Samvel Babayan was
nominated at No37 electoral district.

According to the "Taregir" electronic newspaper, "Hayots Hayrenik"
party head Arshak Baklachian was nominated at No2 electoral district,
non-partisan Paruyr Karapetian was nominated at No6 electoral district,
NA deputy, non-partisan Samvel Aleksanian (Lfik) was nominated at No7
electoral district, NA deputy Hakob Hakobian (Lady) was nominated at
No8 electoral district, NA deputy, non-partisan Khachatur Sukiasian
and Christian-Democratic Union Chairman Khosrov Haroutiunian were
nominated at No10 electoral district, non-partisan Gagik Ohanian
and NA deputy, non-partisan Zhora Khachatrian were nominated at No14
electoral district, Talin Mayor, non-partisan Mnatsakan Mnatsakanian
was nominated at No15 electoral district, NA deputy, non-partisan
Samvel Sahakian was nominated at No16 electoral district, NA deputy,
RPA member Hakob Hakobian (Choit) was nominated at No19 electoral
district, Director of Sevan Bread Factory, non-partisan Ashot
Avetisian was nominated at No23 electoral district, NA non-partisan
deputy Mkhitar Varagian was nominated at No36 electoral district, NA
non-partisan deputy Mikayel Vardanian and RPA member Karen Altunian
were nominated at No40 electoral district.

IN WORDS OF RA NAS HISTORY INSTITUTE DIRECTOR, PROCESS OF RECOGNITION AND CONDEMNATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FINISHED

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. "The process of recognition and
condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is finished," Ashot Melkonian,
the Director of the History Institute of the RA National Academy of
Sciences expressed such an opinion at the February 28 discussion on the
theme "Armenian Response to Propaganda of Turkey and Azerbaijan." In
his words, the fact of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by 18
countries of the world prove the Armenian people’s victory in that
issue. "If the U.S. Congress will accept or will not the resolution
on the Armenian Genocide recognition, it is minor as 36 U.S. states
has already recognized it," A.Melkonian mentioned.

"We must from now on drum issues relating to the political, legal side
of the problem," A.Melkonian said, adding: "The issue more relates
now to specialists of international studies, lawyers, politicians."

GREECE ENVISAGES TO INCLUDE ARMENIA IN FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM ON IMPROVEMENT OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES’ ECONOMIES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Greece envisages to implement a
five-year program on developement of the economies of developing
countries. The program is now at the discussion stage, with directions
and priorities being clarified.

During the February 28 meeting with the RA Minister of Finance and
Economy Vardan Khachatrian, the Greek Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Ms Panayota Mavromikhali said that it is
enviaged to include Armenia in this program with the aim of promoting
the bilateral cooperation in most coordinated way. According to her,
an official delegation will come from Greece to Armenia in order
to receive comprehensive information about the Armenian economy and
clarify problems related to the program.

According to a press release submitted to NT by the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy, V. Khachatrian presented to the Greek ambassador
the Armenian side’s programs aimed at economic development of the
country. The minister noted that the Armenian goverment considers
as a priority document on economic development the Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper, which definitely states the priorities. This document
is also a primary source for international structures and donor
organizations, so in the minister’s words, the Greek side sould
also use the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper as a primary source
in its development programs. V. Khachatrian said that in case of
availability of a package of programs of the Greek side, the programs
to be implemented will be discussed in detail.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GROSS AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT GROWS BY 3.5% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY 2007 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. In January 2007, the gross agricultural
output of Armenia made 14 bln drams (about 40 mln USD), exceeding
by 3.5% the index of January 2006. According to the RA National
Statistical Servcie, the gross output of plant growing amounted
to 67.6 mln drams, exceeding by 53.3% the respective index of 2006,
while the gross output of livestock farming – to 13 bln 954 mln drams,
growing by 3.4%.

Fish catching made 117.8 mln drams in the country in January of this
year, exceeding by 46.4% the index of the same month of last year.

MICROECONOMIC INDUCES REGISTERED IN ARMENIA SINCE EARLY 2007 ARE PROMISING

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. During the February 28 working meeting
of the Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Chairman of the Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsian, the microeconomic indices
registered in the country since early 2007 were assessed as promising.

The interlocutors pointed out posistive tendencies in the export-import
structure, according to which the share of imported equipment and new
technologies has increased this year, which means that new enterprises
with higher productivity will operate soon.

The CBA chairman said that an unprecedented growth – 12% of time
deposits was registered in January, which shows that citizens trust
banks and prefer to deposit in Armenian drams. Tigran Sargsian said
that this changed attitude to the national currency explains also
the fact that that more than 50% of resources attracted by commercial
banks were made for the first time in Armenian drams.

According to the RA President’s press service, the meeting participants
also spoke about the salary growth indices, according to which a 20%
growth was registered in January of this year.

CONSUMER PRICES GROW BY 2.6% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 2.6% grwoth was registered in
the Armenian consumer market in January-February 2007 on December
2006. According to the RA National Statistical Service, consumer
prices grew by 2.6% in February 2007 on December 2006, while the
growth in prices of food commodities (including alcoholic drinks and
cigarettes) made 4.6%. The overall level of non-food commodity prices
declined by 1.1% in the indicted period, and a 1% growth of tariffs
was registered in the service sector.

The consumer price index made 105.1% in February 2007 on February 2006,
including the index of food commodity prices (including alcoholic
drinks and cigarettes) – 106.7%, index of non-food commodity prices –
99.6% and index of service tariffs – 105.1%.