Month: March 2007

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

YEREVAN, MOSCOW MAYORS DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF BILATERAL
COOPERATION PROGRAM

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan and Moscow
Mayor Yuri Luzhkov discussed the implementation of a program of
cooperation between the two capitals for 2003-2007.
The Public Relations Department, RA Municipality, reports that the
Yerevan Mayor pointed out that all the agreements reached until now
have been implemented, and the partnership is expanding not only
between the two countries, but also between their capitals.
Mayor Zakharyan expressed gratitude to his Moscow counterpart for
high-level organization of the Days of Yerevan as part of the Year of
Armenia in Russia.
He pointed out that Yerevan’s Avan community and Moscow’s Northern
administrative district, as well as Yerevan’s Center community and
Moscow’s Central administrative region, reached cooperation
agreements last year. Also, a number of urban development,
educational and cultural programs have been implemented. Under the
agreements, a Russian church was constructed in Yerevan, and an
Armenian one in Moscow.
"We are following the principles of strategic partnership, and
preconditions for expanding it are available," Zakharyan said.
In his turn, Mayor Luzhkov expressed his satisfaction with the work
carried out over the last four years. He pointed out that
Armenian-Russian trade and economic relations are expanding, evidence
thereof being the short-term construction of the Moscow Palace in
Yerevan and of the Yerevan Palace in Moscow.
"This will allow the two countries’ companies and individual
businessmen to discuss the prospects of importing new goods and
looking for new markets, as well as implement mutually advantageous
programs," Luzhkov said.
He stressed that the construction of a wholesale market of Armenian
goods is shortly to get under way in Moscow. "Armenian goods are
competitive in the Russian market, and, in case of a flexible price
policy, they can be of interest for businessmen residing in the
Moscow regions," Luzhkov said. P.T. -0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT: MEMORY ABOUT ANDRANIK MARGARYAN TO BE RETAINED
IN PEOPLE’S HEARTS

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. Memory about Andranik Margaryan will be
retained in people’s hearts, said the condolences of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan directed to Prime Minister’s family.
"I deeply grieve for untimely decrease of Armenia’s Prime Minister, a
prominent statesman and my dear friend ANdranik Margaryan," cited the
President’s press service Kocharyan’s condolences.
"His decease is a heavy loss not only for Margaryan’s family but for
whole Armenian people. I express my deepest condolences and wish
tolerance and strength of spirit," said the condolences.
Armenian Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party Andranik
Margaryan died from heart attack at home. 55-year old PM suffered
from heart-disease and repeatedly received treatment for problems
with cardiovascular system. L.M. -0–

Baltic News Service
March 26, 2007 Monday 3:07 PM EET

ESTONIAN PM EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

TALLINN Mar 26

The head of the Estonian government sent today Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan a message of condolences over the death of Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan.

Armenia lost an outstanding politician through the unexpected demise
of the prime minister, Andrus Ansip said, expressing condolences to
Margaryan’s family and the Armenian government and nation on his own
behalf and on behalf of the Estonian Cabinet.

Margaryan, 55, died of a heart attack on Sunday. As leader of the
Republican Party, he had headed the government since 2000.

In the 1970s Margaryan, a computer engineer, spent two years behind
bars for alleged anti-Soviet activities.

The Armenian government resigned after the death of the prime
minister. The new head of government is to be named within 10 days.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 26, 2007 Monday

DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY TO HAVE OFFICIAL VISIT TO
CHINA

The delegation of Armenian Defense Ministry headed by Serzh
Sarkisyan, Defense Minister and Secretary of the Security Council,
will go on an official visit to China on March 26. On Friday, Colonel
Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, press secretary of the Defense Minister,
reported that the visit would include meetings with top ranking state
and military officials of China.

The program of the visit also includes examinations of military
educational institutions and military formations of China. The
Armenian delegation will return to Yerevan on March 29.

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Turkey
March 26, 2007 Monday 03:13 AM EST

Armenian PM to be buried in Komitas Pantheon

BY the decree of the Armenian President, the day of the funeral of
Andranik Margaryan will be a day of mourning in Armenia. The heads of
ministries and agencies of the republic, regional leaders and the
mayor of Yerevan were assigned to put the national flags at
half-mast. The national flags of Armenia will also be put at
half-mast over the Armenian diplomatic missions abroad.

YEREVAN, March 26

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, who died on Sunday, will
be buried in the Yerevan Pantheon named after Komitas, next to the
outstanding cultural personalities of Armenia. A corresponding
resolution was adopted at a Monday meeting of the state commission
for the organisation of the funeral, headed by parliamentary speaker
Tigran Torosyan.

A civilian funeral service will be held in the flat of the deceased
on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the coffin with the dead body of
Margaryan will be installed in the lobby of the Opera and Ballet
Theatre named after Alexander Spendiarov, where the farewell ceremony
will be held. After that the procession will move to the pantheon.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Foreign diplomats in Yerevan condole with Armenian people
26.03.2007 15:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Italian Embassy in Armenia conveyed condolences
to the RA authorities and Armenian people on the decease of PM
Andranik Margaryan. `On behalf of the Italian people I express my
deepest condolences on this irretrievable loss,’ said Roberto Nocella,
Italy’s Charge d’Affairs in Armenia.

`Belarus knew Andranik Margaryan as a state and political figure who
directed his strengths at serving Armenia. He made a great
contribution to the development of relations between the Armenian and
Belarusian people,’ says a condolence address by Marina Dolgopolova,
the Belarusian Ambassador to Armenia.

For his part, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Alireza Haghighian said in
his statement that he condoles with the Armenian leadership, people
and the family of the untimely deceased PM. Friendly Armenian-Iranian
relations depended and strengthened in the tenure of Andranik
Margaryan’s office, he said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Rumors on Aznavour’s death false
26.03.2007 15:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Rumors on the death of renowned singer Charles
Aznavour are false, a source in Paris told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. Charles Aznavour is safe and sound and is preparing for a
concert in Moscow scheduled for April 20, the source said.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry also refuted the hearsay.

Some Russian media spread information that Charles Aznavour is
hospitalized.

However, as it was reported earlier, Aznavour undergoes a checkup
before each concert tour.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Georgian State Minister to arrive in Yerevan to attend PM Margaryan’s funeral
26.03.2007 16:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia’s State Minister Zurab Noghaideli will
arrive in Yerevan March 28 to attend the funeral of Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan. He will return to Tbilisi on the same
day.

Over Noghaideli’s departure a regular sitting of the Georgian
government scheduled for March 28 will be held March 27, reports
Novosti Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT COMMISSIONS MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE
THEIR WORK UNTIL NEW CABINET FORMED

YEREVAN. March 26. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian
commissioned the members of the Government, who have sent in their
resignation, to continue their work until the new cabinet is formed
due to the decease of Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
The press service of the Armenian Government, members of the
Government commenced a session with the silence minute in the memory
of Andranik Margaryan.
"We have lost a state figure, a colleague, a friend, who has led the
Government for seven years out of the 15.5 years of Armenia’s
independence, and these years were the best of our country. This was
a man, who, taking a high-rank government office remained a modest,
tolerant, and honest leader.
In our memory Margaryan will be exactly the same, first of all, for
his human qualities. He left us in a very responsible moment, and we,
as authorities should find proper solutions to get out of the current
situation," the president told members of the Government.
Kocharian pointed out that within the framework of the annual program
of the Government’s activities ministries and departments have many
objectives, and requirements of this program are still in effect.
Armenian Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party Andranik
Margaryan died from heart attack at the age of 56 on Sunday morning.
Margaryan has led the Government since 2000. R.O. -0–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

MPs of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, NKR and Bulgaria extend
condolences to Armenian people
26.03.2007 16:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ukrainian Prime Minister Victor Yanukovich conveyed
condolences on the untimely death of Armenian PM Andranik
Margaryan. `With deep sorrow Ukraine learned of the sudden death of
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, the glorious son of the Armenian
people, whose life was an example of a self-sacrificing service to the
fatherland during the renaissance and formation of the Armenian state
system,’ PM Yanukovich’s statement says.

Head of the Kazakhstan’s cabinet Karim Masimov also expressed
condolences. `Armenia has lost a devoted son, who made an invaluable
contribution to the economics and political development of the
state. I extend my deepest condolences to Andranik Margaryan’s family
and all Armenian people,’ his message says.

NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielyan’s condolence statement says, in
part, `With deep sorrow I learned of the unexpected death of Andranik
Margaryan, the Prime Minister of Armenia and my friend. He played a
substantial role in the building of Armenia and NKR’s independence,
liquidation of consequences of war, development of economy and
consolidation of cooperation between two Armenian states. I extend my
deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, his relatives and
friends. The people of Artsakh will revere the memory of Andranik
Margaryan.’