Month: April 2007

CALL TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 16:06

The European Armenian Federation urges the Ministers of Justice of the
EU member-States not to surrender to the pressure exerted by Turkey in
order to exclude the negation of the Armenian genocide from the scope
of the Framework decision aiming at penalizing denial. In this regard,
the Federation sent a mail to the EU German presidency denouncing the
"immoral and inappropriate interference" of Turkey. It also calls
upon the European policy-makers not to " let a hateful and genocidal
ideology from abroad destroy all that we have built."

According to the media, Ankara exerted heavy pressures on various
member-States, especially on the German presidency, to avoid the
Framework decision " against racism and xenophobia" hindering its
denial propaganda in Europe.

Various diplomats from the Council would have asserted that the text
actually exclude this denial, to comply with the Turkish will. However,
the draft law doesn ‘t contain as such this provision.

"Actually, this opinion is clearly led by a very biased political
interpretation of a juridical text which basically aims to protect
all the European citizens. However, it would be morally abject that
the EU gives such a support to Ankara’s policy aiming at downgrading
Europeans with Armenian descent into second-class citizens, the only
ones to be out of this legal protection," stated Laurent Leylekian,
the executive director of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation recalls that Turkey organized several demonstrations
in Europe to incite hatred against Armenians through the genocide
denial. Thanks to the massive police presence, these demonstrations
did not degenerate into actual anti-Armenian violence.

"The ultimate goal of Ankara is that – in Europe as in Turkey –
all Human beings are born equal in dignity and rights but the
Armenians. Facing to this infamy, Europe must remain inflexible and
must secure our penal legislation against the denial-based hatred,"
concluded Leylekian.

RA PRIME MINISTER HOLDS CONSULTATION DEDICATED TO SETTLEMENT OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF MARZ OF ARAGATSOTN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian held
a consultation on April 17 to discuss results of his working visit
paid to the marz of Aragatsotn with those responsible for separate
spheres. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information
and Public Relations Department, RA Minister of Urban Development, RA
Government Staff Head-Minister, the Executive Director of the Social
Investments Fund of Armenia and the Chairman – Director General of the
"Hayrusgasard" CJSC Board participated in the consultation.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the goal of the consultation is to
respond problems the population of the marz is interested in, find
possible effective solutions to them in a short time. Emphasizing
that it is, of course, not possible to give solutions in few days or
one week, he considered it the problem of those responsible to study
the arisen issues at places, in the given settlements, and to give
a clear response to people concerning terms of their solution.

The Prime Minister drew the consultation participants’ attention to
problems of vital importance arisen by the population of Aragatsotn,
starting from the irrigation and drinking water to gasification,
improvement of flat conditions and allocation of pensions in
time. Connected with the latter, he instructed the Chairman of the RA
Social Insurance State Fund to organize works of paying pensions in
the way that in all the settlements of the republic pensioners gets
pension of the given month at the beginning of the month.

Those responsible for the spheres presented their approaches concerning
possible terms and financial resources for solution of the problems
separately discussed during the consultation, the Prime Minister gave
corresponding instructions.

MEETING OF HEADS OF "UNION OF FRIENDS OF ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH" WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEK ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS IS ORGANIZED IN ATHENS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

ATHENS, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of heads of the "Union
of Friends of Armenia and Artsakh" charity organization with
representatives of Greek Armenian public, political, charity and
cultural organizations was organized on April 16, with the assistance
of the RA Embassy to Greece.

RA Ambassador Vahram Kazhoyan welcame those present and expressed
gratitude to the "Union of Friends of Armenia and Artsakh" charity
organization.

Union head Hrant-Mikayel Basmachian informed those present about the
foundation, mission and done works of the organization. In his words,
the Union has pledged itself from 2000 till today to assist as much
as possible to the village of Jiliza, the marz of Lori, situated on
the northern border of Armenia.

It became possible owing to the Union to hold a water pipe line in
the village, restore the school, give assitance of different types
to needy families.

A video material telling about the Union’s activity was shown at
the meeting.

RA AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE PARTICIPATES IN COUNCIL SITTING OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF FRANCOPHONIE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

PARIS, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Eduard Nalbandian, the RA President’s
Personal Representative to the International Organization of
Francophonie (IOF), Ambassador of Armenia to France participated and
made a speech at the 63rd sitting of the IOF Permanent Council taken
place in Paris on April 16.

The sitting was dedicated to the organization activity of during
the period of time after the Bucharest summit in September, 2006,
to its current programs, political issues, particularly, the state of
conflicts settlement, human rights and liberties in the territory of
Francophone countries as well as to the cultural variety within the
framework of functioning of the Convention with the same name.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, 68 members of the International Organization
of Francophonie and personal representatives of heads of the observor
countries to that organization participated in the Francophonie
Permanent Council sitting.

RESTORED ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING OF CENTRAL RESIDENCE OF PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF LORI MARZ IS PUT INTO OPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

VANADZOR, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Opening of the central residence
of the Prosecutor’s Office of the marz of Lori took place on
April 18. After the 1988 earthquake the central residence of the
Prosecutor’s Office functioned for 10 years in a cottage, and by the
government’s decision, the Prosecutor’s Office was given in 1998 a
4-storey building which was in a poor state. 6.68 mln drams from the
state budget resources were spent on its reconstruction.

RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian mentioned in the briefing with
journalists that restoration of the Prosecutor’s Office building
will assist effeciency of the work. In his words, the new RA law
"On Prosecutor’s Office" which will come into force from May 1, will
also assist effeciency of the work of the Prosecutor’s Office bodies.

Responding a question of one of the journalists, the RA Prosecutor
General stated that 2 groups were created by his decree, one of
which will be engaged in alarms concerning most important electoral
violations, and the other will control the process of criminal cases
and will implement defence of the accusation. A. Hovsepian mentioned
that 5 criminal actions relating to the pre-electoral processes have
already been brought: 2 are on the facts of explosions at the Yerevan
"Bargavach Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia) party offices, and 3 are
on the facts of cases in Shirak, Armavir and Vayots Dzor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONCERT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TAKES PLACE IN LONDON

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2007

LONDON, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Spring Remembrance
Concert dedicated to memory of the 1915 Armenian Genocide victims
took place on April 12 in the Wigmore hall of London.

Famous Armenian performers Hasmik Papian, Vardan Mamikonian, Sergey
and Lusine Khachatrians participated in the event organized with
joint efforts of the RP Musical Management organization and the RA
Embassy in London.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, representatives of the
Armenian community of London, local self-government bodies, diplomatic
corps came to pay tribute of respect to memory of the Genocide victims.

The concert took place in a full hall and was accepted with great
enthusiasm.

ARTAK ZEYNALIAN: ELECTORAL ROLLS HAVE MANY SHORTCOMINGS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Hanrapetutyun" ("Republic") party
has found a considerable number of shortcomings in electoral rolls
of several settlements. Particularly, the addresses of some voters
are absent in the electoral rolls of the village of Zovuni. Artak
Zeynalian, member of the party’s political board, candidate for
deputacy on the proportional list, told NT correspondent about it.

Besides, according to him, the party has certain difficulties related
to mass media coverage of the pre-electoral campaign. In particular,
as A. Zeynalian said, Public Television did not broadcast any part
of leader of the "Republic" party Aram Sargsian’s speech during his
recent meeting with voters in Yerevan’s Shengavit community.

In the words of A. Zeynalian, an efficient propaganda campaign is
prevented by the fact that the time of political advertising on Public
Television coincides with working hours, as a result of which speeches
of political forces do not reach a wide audience. He pointed out the
high tariffs for using the paid TV time and for placing advertisements
on external posters as other obstacles.

By the way, at the April 18 press conference Chairman of the RA
Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Garegin Azarian stated that the
police responds quite promptly to citizens’ calls about inaccuracies in
electoral rolls. He assured that all shortcomings found in electoral
rolls will be eliminated. In his words, reviewing the current order
of TV time allotment for pre-electoral propaganda campaign on Public
Television is inexpedient for several reasons. He reminded that none
of the representatives of 25 political forces objected when this
order was approved at the CEC sitting, and currently none of them,
except for the "New Times" and "Republic" parties and the "Impeachment"
bloc, has officially expressed any discontent.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GROSS FOREIGN ASSETS OF ARMENIA GROW BY 316 MILLION 876.8 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. In late 2006, the gross foreign
assets of the Republic of Armenia made 1 bln 72 mln 37.3 thousand
USD against 755 mln 160.5 thousand USD in early 2006. Their amount
grew by 316 mln 876.8 thousand USD in 2006.

According to data of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), the
international reserves of the indicated assets (gross foreign assets in
hard currency) amounted to 1 bln 72 mln 36.5 thousand USD in late 2006
aganist 755 mln 37.3 thousand USD in early 2006. The international
reserves in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) made 9 mln 359.6
thousand SDR or 14 mln 80.6 thousand USD in late 2006 against over
7 mln 120.7 thousand SDR or about 10 mln 177.3 thousand USD in
early 2006.

The net foreign assets made 472 mln 424 thousand USD in early 2006
against 885 mln 455 thousnd USD in late 2006. The net foreign assets
in hard currency amounted to 885 mln 454.3 thousand USD against 472
mln 339.5 thousand USD in early 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FULFILMEMT TERMS OF SOME ARMENTEL OBLIGATIONS EXTENDED

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 18 sitting, the RA Public
Services Regulatory Commision made a decision to extend the terms of
fulfilment of ArmenTel company’s some obligations envisaged by its
license 60.

Particularly, the term of digitalizing the phone communication of
800 villages by late 2006 has been extended until June 30, 2007,
while the term of updating 70 thousand analog phone lines in marzes
has been extended until December 31, 2007.

The updating of these analog phone lines will ensure the opportunity
of automated inter-city and international access.

In the words of ArmenTel’s Executive Director Oleg Bliznyuk, the
company’s filfilment of its obligations in accordance with the dates
envisaged by the license was mainly hindered by unfavorable weather,
as well as by temporary suspension of implementation of the major
projects in connection with the company’s sale.

The speaker noted that during the indicated period – until December 31,
2006, all Armenian villages were provided with phone communication
(except for 3-4 villages where the work was completed in March
2007). In late December 2006, the CDMA system, which was envisaged by
the program on digitalization of phone communication in 800 villages,
was put into operation: thanks to this system, coverage of over 400
villages has been seured now.

Reponding to questions of reporters, O. Bliznyuk noted that currently
85% of Yerevan phone network and about 40% of the country’s phone
network have been digitalized. He reasserted the company’s willingness
to renounce its monopoly by late 2007, including its monopoly in the
fixed-line phone sector. O.

Bliznyuk stated that prior to it, the company will fulfil all its
obligations envisaged by the license.

According to him, under the license, the 800 villages must have
at least 1-2 digitalized lines but in reality digitalized phone
communication will be assessible to all residents of these villages.

O. Bliznyuk said that this year the company plans to introduce the
billing system of payments. It was mentioned that by late 2008,
ArmenTel intends to provide automed international access for all
subscribers.

BANANTS AND ARARAT WIN IN FIRST MATCHES OF HALF-FINAL OF ARMENIAN FOOTBALL CUP TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. First matches of Armenian Football
Cup Tournament’s half-final were held on April 18. At the republican
stadium Banants defeated Mika (1 to 0) and at Ararat’s Araks stadium
Ararat defeated Pyunik (1 to 0).

It is noteworthy that for the first time the tournament is served by
judges invited from abroad.

The return matches of Armenian Football Cup Tournament are scheduled
for May 1.