ARMENIA PASSES TO SUMMER TIME FROM MARCH 25
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia passes to summer time from
March 25. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed from the Press
Service of RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, we should
put the clock on by one hour at 2:00 of March 25.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
"Stars of teh Stage" project starting on Public TV
ArmRadio.am
23.03.2007 17:25
At last TV viewers will have the opportunity to watch the Armenian
interpretation of the international `Stars on the Stage’ project on
the Public TV of Armenia after the `Haylur’ news program today.
Parallel to the election campaign 10 pairs selected from famous
representatives of the Public Television and the Armenian show
business will compare their vocal capacities. The pairs include Nara
` Ashot Ghazaryan, Ani Kristi ` Karen Giloyan, Nune Yesayan ` Avo
Khalatyan, Sirusho ` Avet Barseghyan, Emmi ` Felix Khachatryan, Aida
Sargsyan ` David Hakobyan, Khoren Levonyan ` Arminka, Alla Levonyan `
Hovhannes Babakhanyan, Sofi Devoyan ` Arsen Safaryan. The project is
hosted by Shushan Petrosyan and Hrant Tokhatyan.
`Head of the Marxist Party of Armenia David Hakobyan will combine the
participation in the `Stars on the Stage’ project with the election
campaign. The aim of participation of the number one Marxist of
Armenia in the project is sacred ` to glorify the Armenian songs.
Politics is not handicraft, politics is art: with this Marxist idea
David Hakobyan explains his participation in the project and assures
once again that he does not pursue any political aims.
Those responsible for the Armenian version of the project promise a
very interesting show and have no fear that it can be conceived as a
simple copy. ` This is an international project, and every country
interprets it in its own way,’ General Producer of the Public
Television Hrach Keshishyan told ` Radiolur.’
Armenian police training centre opens after renovation
ArmRadio.am
23.03.2007 17:52
An Armenian Police training Centre, renovated as part of an OSCE
police assistance programme, opened in Yerevan today.
Under the programme, implemented by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in
co-operation with the Armenian Police, six buildings of the Centre
have been renovated. They will be used for training non-commissioned
officers. The Office has also supplied new teaching aids and
equipment.
`The renovation was an important achievement of our joint Police
Assistance Programme, and an indicator of the expanding and deepening
co-operation between the OSCE and Armenia in the field of democratic
policing,’ said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE
Office, speaking at the opening ceremony.
`We will continue to closely work with the Armenian Police to further
develop the Centre’s training curriculum.’
Colonel Artashes Andreasyan, the Head of the Police Training Centre,
added: ` The renovation and refurbishment of the buildings will
contribute to enhanced teaching of the best international police
practices and human rights standards in our institution.’
The Head of the Armenian Police, Colonel-General Hayk Harutyunyan,
ambassadors of donor countries and media representatives got a tour of
the renovated premises.
The renovation of the Centre was financed by the Governments of
Belgium, the United States and Sweden.
IT WOULD BE IMMORAL TO EXPECT ARMENIANS TO THANK TURKEY FOR ARMENIAN
MONUMENT’S GOOD CONDITION, HAYK DEMOYAN SAYS
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Opening of Surb Khach Church on
Akhtamar Island, which is one of the values of Armenian cultural
heritage, unfortunately, has turned into a PR action. Hayk Demoyan,
Director of Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, stated this at the
March 23 press conference. In his words, "this humanitarian cultural
action" is unequivocally considered by Turkey as a step of
counteracting to the international recognition of Armenian Genocide
and its goal is to change international public opinion in favor of
Turkey. "Opening of Surb Khach Church proceeds first of all from
Turkey’s political, secondly, from economic interests, as Lake Van and
Akhtamar will become a center of intensive tourism," H. Demoyan
said. In his words, in this case he means a single action, as the
Turkish side has not declared officially that it has a complex program
aimed at restoration of another half-destroyed monuments in its
territory. "It is immoral to expect us to thank Turkish government for
the good state of Armenian monument. Turkey is the country, which
should be called for liability for entirely exterminating medieval
civilization and heritage," H. Demoyan stated. As regards Armenian
delegation’s participation in the official opening of Surb Khach
Church, the scientist said that he does not wish to express his
opinion, whether it is right to go or not. At the same time, H.
Demoyan said that "perhaps, it would be right to have an exact
formulation about this issue before going or not going."
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RELATES NOT ONLY TO ARMENIAN HISTORY, BUT ALSO TO
HISTORY OF U.S.," HAYK DEMOYAN SAYS
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. "In spite of the fact that U.S.
President in his April 24 annual message addressed to the Armenian
community does not use the word "genocide," I consider that such
address to Armenians by the President of super-power in itself is of
great significance." Hayk Demoyan, Director of Museum-Institute of
Genocide, stated this at the March 23 press conference. He said that
the Armenian Genocide relates not only to the Armenian history, but
also to the history of U.S. Thus, in H. Demoyan’s words, at the
beginning of the previous century Americans did a humanitarian action
of relief to Armenian children who became orphans after the
Genocide. This action was unprecedented by its scales and importance.
"U.S. helped to save dozens of thousands of Armenian orphans and we
are very grateful to Americans for this action. But it is a pity that
now U.S. uses this fact of Genocide as a club against Turkey, for the
purpose of exerting pressure upon it," the scientist declared.
NEW BUILDING OF PENITENTIARY INSTITUTION IS PUT INTO OPERATION IN
VANADZOR
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The new building of the penitentiary
institution was put into operation in Vanadzor. It is envisaged for
keeping 240 convicts and prisoners. 104 similar people are kept there
at present. The building was built within the framework of the program
on modernization of the penitentiary institutions of Armenia. It is
envisaged to completely implement the program during 12 years. The
total cost of construction works is 1 bln 254.5 mln drams. The value
economy of the designed and factual construction, according to the
information of the Public Relations Department of the RA Justice
Ministry, made 70 mln 835 thousand drams (about 200 thousand
U.S. dollars). The old building of the penitentiary institution was
one of the most ancient places of imprisonment built in the 19th
century. The ground floor of that building was almost not used because
of high dampness, prisoners were maily kept only in cells of the first
floor. As RA Justice Minister Davit Haroutiunian mentioned in the
interview with journalists, the Artik penitentiary institution was
also re-opened recently, within the framework of the program on
modernizations of penitentiary institutions. Probably, the Hrazdan
institution not functioning at present and the Abovian penitentiary
institution will also be reconstructed. In the Minister’s words,
reconstruction of buildings of the rest of penitentiary institutions
is impossible, it is envisaged to build new buildings. In the words of
Ashot Martirosian, the Chief of the Penitentiary Department of the RA
Justice Ministry, there are vacancies with minimum wage of 70 thousand
drams at the Vanadzor penitentiary institution.
RPA WILL NOT USE "BLACK" PR DURING AGITATION CAMPAIGN, GALUST SAHAKIAN
ASSURES
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Republican Party of Armenia is
resolute in the issue of holding free and fair elections and it has
been long engaged in working out actions aimed at reducing possible
electoral falsifications to minimum. Galust Sahakian, head of RA
National Assembly RPA faction, stated this at the March 23 press
briefing. In his words, RPA will not use "black" technologies during
the preelection agitation, as it has much to say. At the same time,
G. Sahakian noted that RPA has no political rivals, but only
competitors. The work done, party’s programs and its successive
developments will be the basis of RPA agitation campaign. It was
mentioned that the ideology and principles of party’s preelectoral
program have kept unchanged. In G. Sahakian’s words, RPA is for not
revolutionary, but realistic programs. "What we promised in 2003 was
included in our program and even more than we promised was fulfilled,"
he said.
PPA TO CARRY OUT COMING ELECTORAL STRUGGLE FOR SAKE OF ARMENIA’S
FUTURE, STEPAN ZAKARIAN STATES
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The People’s Party of Armenia (PPA)
will carry out the coming electoral struggle not only against negative
phenomena, but also for the sake of Armenia’s future and people.
Stepan Zakarian, member of RA National Assembly Ardarutiun (Justice)
faction and PPA Board, stated this at the March 23 press conference.
In his words, PPA in principle is not against struggling jointly
against possible electoral falsifications. But the united body to be
created by the opposition should have exact functions. In S.
Zakarian’s opinion, in this respect the first and foremost is
cooperation of representatives of opposition, as well as empowered
persons in electoral commissions. It was mentioned that during the
preelectoral agitation PPA is going to use its own financial resources
"at most purposefully." PPA also does not exclude the possibility of
using paid right of speaking on TV. S. Zakarian did not agree to
accusations addressed to PPA in the issue of opposition’s failure to
unite. In his words, "everybody knows that since 1998 PPA has been
opposition’s driving force."
Yury Luzhkov to Open House of Moscow in Yerevan Today
Arminfo
2007-03-23 15:33:00
The Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov will open the House of Moscow in
Yerevan today.
As it was told to ArmInfo, the House of Moscow, located by the Yerevan City
Hall and the Embassy of RF in Yerevan, is one of the largest projects of the
two capitals’ cooperation. The first stone in the House’s basement was laid
by the Mayor on October 8, 2005. The building has been designed by architects
from among the Moscow Armenians. The establishment of the House of Moscow is
purposed to develop the Yerevan-Moscow trade-economic and cultural relations.
Moreover, the Mayors of the two capitals Yervand Zakharyan and Yuri Luzhkov
will discuss the process of implementing the program of cooperation of the
two cities for 2005-2007. A meeting of the Moscow Mayor with RA President
Robert Kocharyan is also scheduled.
To remind, a solemn opening of the Trade Center of Yerevan will be held on
March 24 with participation of the Yerevan Mayor, after which Y. Zakharyan
will leave for Saint Petersburg.
`VympelCom’ to Fully Control Armenian `Daughter’
Arminfo
2007-03-23 15:52:00
The "VympelCom" is still interested in buying of the rest package of
shares of "ArmenTel" Company, the PR Manager of "VympelCom" Yelena
Osadchaya said, commenting on the decision of RA Government about
purchase of the remaining 10% of shares of "ArmenTel" to "VympelCom"
at 50 mln Euro.
As the RBC daily reports, the Russian Company will pay for each share
as much as it was received by the Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (OTE) Greek Company that had sold 90% of shares to
"VympelCom" at 341,9 mln Euro. "We have received an official proposal
and now we are waiting for the deal to be shortly completed. The
"VympelCom" is still interested in buying of the rest package",
Y. Osadchaya said. According to her, every new subscriber will cost
the Company $100. This amount includes both the technical expenses for
the network development and the marketing expenses. Later on, the
Company intends to carry out a re-branding of ArmenTel’s mobile
section. The cell communication market in Armenia is yet far from
satiety. The Lebanese VivaCell with a subscriber base over 650,000
people is working in the country besides "ArmenTel". The indicator of
the Armenian "daughter" of "VympelCom" is more frugal as yet. Its
subscriber base numbers over 450,000 people. The cell communication
penetration indicator in the country makes up about 30%.
The "VympelCom" does not yet inform how it intends to handle the
assets of the fixed communication. The analyst of the "Veles Capital"
IC Ilya Fedotov does not the necessity in selling this section. "The
Company my obtain an experience in the new area and diversify it
business. The operator will develop convergent services on the asset
basis", the analyst said.