Month: April 2007

PERFORMANCE BUDGETING PROJECT IN SYUNIK MARZ

armradio.am
17.04.2007 11:04

>From 12-14 April a mission from UNDP "Performance Budgeting at
the Local Level" Project’s Team and Izmirlyan Foundation visited
Meghri, Syunik marz – which was led by UNDP Resident Representative
Ms. Consuelo Vidal and Country Director of Izmirlyan Foundation in
Armenia Mr. Ara Hamazaspyan.

Several meetings took place in Meghri: with the Mayor of the city, the
Municipality staff and NGOs. In her brief speech UNDP RR Ms. Consuelo
Vidal thanked the Municipality for joining efforts with UNDP and said:
"It is crucial for us to involve the local community in selecting
the city’s priorities, and as the waste removal was identified as a
priority we are glad we co-financed such a project for Meghri". Visits
to some city organizations, schools, church, college, Bed and Breakfast
hotel, Armentel office in Meghri, Meghri cannery factory as well as
to the waste landfill site were organized. At a town hall meeting the
2007 performance based budget for Meghri and introduction of "Waste
Removal Project" were presented, after which active discussions on
budget and waste cleanup issues took place.

In his message addressed to the inhabitants, Misha Hovhannisyan, the
Mayor of Meghri, called this event a "Town-wide day of cleanliness". He
urged the citizens to unite efforts in contributing to this initiative
for the benefit of improving sanitation and hygiene and making Meghri
more beautiful. "…We shall all go the streets and together prove
that we love our town", Mr. Hovhannisyan said.

On Saturday morning a Sanitary Cleanup initiative took place. The
dwellers responded to the message of the mayor and the whole city
was enthusiastically engaged in the activity.

The "Meghri Waste Removal" project is jointly initiated by
Izmirlyan Foundation, Municipality of Meghri and the UN Development
Programme. The issue as a high priority for the city was selected
from Meghri 2007 performance based budget. It has started in March
and will be finalized by October, this year. Main components of
the project are the reconstruction and exploitation of a landfill,
procurement of garbage machinery, deployment of garbage cans in the
city and organization of the sanitary cleanup days in Meghri.

VARTAN OSKANIAN MET WITH HIS AUSTRIAN COUNTERPART

armradio.am
17.04.2007 11:52

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, who is paying a working visit
to Austria, had a meeting with the Austrian Minister for European
and International Affairs Ursula Plassnik.

At the beginning of the meeting the Ministers assessed the bilateral
relations, noting that the political ties between Armenia and Austria
have been actively developing during the recent years, there have been
a number of important high-level visits. It was noted that the decision
of Austria to appoint a new Ambassador to Armenia will promote the
activation of bilateral relations. Later the parties spoke about the
parliamentary elections in Armenia. In this regard Minister Plassnik
attached importance to the conduct of free and fair elections.

The parties exchanged views on Armenia’s relations with neighbors,
the process of Turkey’s accession talks with the EU, Russian-Georgia
relations, as well as the situation with the nuclear programs of Iran.

At Minister Plassnik’s request RA Foreign Minister presented the
process and perspectives of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
in the light of the upcoming meeting of the Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in Belgrade.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DELEGATION OF THE CIS INTERPARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 19

armradio.am
17.04.2007 12:20

On April 19 members of the observation mission of the CIS
Interparliamentary Assembly headed by Vice-Speaker of the Council of
Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Anatoli
Torshin and Secretary General of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly
Mikhail Krotov will arrive in Armenia.

On April 19 the delegation is scheduled to meet with the President
of the Central Electoral Commission Garegin Azaryan, the Republican
Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, United Labor Party, Justice, National
Unity and Rule of Law factions and representatives of the Prosperous
Armenia Party.

On April 20 members of the delegation will meet with RA Attorney
General Aghvan Hovsepyan, Speaker of RA National Assembly Tigan
Torosyan and RA President Robert Kocharyan.

The meetings of the delegation will be concluded with a press
conference in the National Assembly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UEFA TO DECIDE THE PLACE OF HOLDING THE MATCHES BETWEEN THE TEAMS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
17.04.2007 13:25

On April 18 the congress of the European Football Union (FIFA) will
take place in Cardiff (Wales). Among the important issues discussed
is the place of holding of the two matches between the national
football teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Representatives of the
Football Federations of Armenia and Azerbaijan will not participate
in the discussion, since the decision is to be taken by the UEFA.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILL DO EVERYTHING TO BLOCK THE ADOPTION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Tatul Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
17.04.2007 14:47

April 24 is near. If the Armenian lobbyist organizations in Europe
and the United States are trying to include bills condemning the first
genocide of the 20th century in the agenda of parliaments, Turkey is
taking every step to prevent it in every way possible. Official Ankara
today is no ready to regret for 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered in
the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. Moreover, it upholds the denialist
policy.

President of the Labor Party of Turkey Dogu Perinjek, who was
charged 4 000 Euros for the expression "The Armenian Genocide is an
imperialistic lie," continues his activity. Together with hundreds of
other deniers he participated in the conference titled "Against the
lie of the Armenian Genocide," initiated by the Secretary General of
the "Talaat Pasha" Commission Ferit Ilsever.

This organization intends to clarify to France that the parliament
of that country has behaved incorrectly, adopting the resolution
envisaging criminal punishment of denying the Armenian Genocide.

It’s not accidental that that Turks have chosen France as a target.

Presidential elections are expected in this influential European
country, and two of the candidates have assured that in case they
are elected they will ratify the bill criminalizing the denial of
the Armenian Genocide.

The voting on the bill in the Senate will, most probably, take place
after the parliamentary and presidential elections, Chairwoman of
the European Armenian Federation Hilda Tchoboyan declared in Yerevan
recently.

The last group of parliamentarians made up of deputies from the ruling
and opposition parties departed for the United States over the weekend
to lobby against a resolution recognizing the killings of Armenians
as genocide.

Speaking to reporters before departure, YaÅ~_ar YakıÅ~_ of the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) said they would seek support in
Washington against the resolution

Publisher of the California Courier weekly Harut Sasunyan noted
in a phone conversation with "Radiolur" that despite the fact that
the Turkish Government has undertaken all the measures, the number
of supporters of the resolution is increasing. Sasunyan said the
resolution has no force of law.

It has a moral value.

Will the resolution be put on Congress agenda before April 24? Harut
Sasunyan said it is hardly possible unless extreme measures are
taken. These measures can be taken by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Recently the Speaker of the House of Representatives was criticized
by the White House for visiting Syria and holding negotiations with
President Bashar Asad. Therefore, it is hard to anticipate that at
this point Nanci Pelosi will support the Congressmen’s initiative to
include the issue in the agenda.

"Nansi Pelosi has made no public statement after being elected, but
we know that for 20 years she has had a pro-Armenian position. On the
other hand not only Turks, but also the White House, the Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates are
exerting pressure on her. Even in case this resolution is delayed
because of the presidential elections in Turkey, it’s not excluded
that the bill will be included in the agenda in a few months.

Let us remind that a month ago another group of Turkish
parliamentarians met with US Deputy Secretary of State Nicolas
Burns. The latter had declared that the Bush Administration would do
everything to block the adoption of the resolution.

–Boundary_(ID_1tIVel3cD/CjdsVKr84H2w )–

OSCE MISSION REGISTERS NO CEASE-FIRE VIOLATION

armradio.am
17.04.2007 15:00

According to an earlier agreement with NKR authorities, on April 17
the OSCE Mission carried out planned monitoring of the contact line
of the Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan to the east
of Seysulan settlement of NAR Martakert region.

ArmInfo was told at the Press Service of NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs that from the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring
was conducted by Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Peter Kee (Great Britain) and Miroslav
Vimetal (Czech Republic). No violation of the cease-fire regime was
registered. The monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives
of NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS ALSO CONDEMNED IN REGIONS OF RUSSIA

Arminfo
2007-04-17 14:02:00

The process of international recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide in Turkey in 1915-1922 is accompanied not only
by adoption of the relevant documents by state structures of one or
another country but also the similar initiatives of different states
at the regional level .

Unfortunately, the press places little emphasis on the participation
of RF subjects in the process of recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide.

The "Yerkramas" newspaper of the Armenians of Russia has compiled
a list of the power representatives of RF regions who condemned
the Armenian Genocide in Turkey at different time. They are: Mayor
of Moscow Y. Luzhkov (January 1, 2003), Governor of St Petersburg
V. Matvienko (April, 005 and September, 2006), RF President’s
Plenipotentiary in UFO V. Kazantsev (June 3, 2003), Governor of
RF Saratov region D. Ayatskov ( September 27, 2002), Head of Komi
Republic V. Torlopov (July 31, 2004), Mayor of Krasnodar V. Samoilenko
(April, 2000), Head of Administration of Krasnodar Territory’s Slavonic
region V. Goncharov (April 19, 2006), deputy Head of the municipal
formation of Slavyansk-on- Cuban T. Kovaliova (April 19, 2006),
Head of Zelenokumsk of Stavropol region O. Kovaliova (April, 2005),
Head of Tobolsk Y. Vorobiov (April, 2006), Mayor of Stavropol region’s
Budionovsk town G. Yuzbashev (April, 2005), Head of Stavropol region’s
Yesentuki town I. Stoyanov (April, 2005), Head of Stavropol region’s
Piatigorsk town V. Shestopalov (April, 2005), Head of Administration
of Stavropol region’s Kislovodsk city V. Beketov (April, 1998),
Chairman of the municipal Council of deputies of Kislovodsk Chaplygin
(April, 2006), the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Rostov region
I. Piatigorets (2004).

The Russian Federation twice accepted the Statements condemning the
Armenian Genocide. These documents were adopted on April 14, 1995
and April 22, 2005.

The leading statesmen of Russia have multiply come forwards condemning
the Genocide: the first RF President B. Yeltsin (October 12, 2002),
RF President V. Putin (September 15, 2001), Chairman of Russia’s
State Duma G. Selezniov (2000), Chairman of RF Federation Council
S. Mironov (May 22, 2002 and April 12, 2007), Chairman of RF Government
M. Kasianov (November 5, 2002), RF Foreign Minister S. Lavrov (April 3,
2007), Secretary of RF Security Council V. Rushailo (November 6, 2003),
RF Defense Minister S. Ivanov (November 11, 2003), RF Minister of
Internal Affairs R. Nurgaliyev (2005), Director of RF FSS N. Patrushev
(November 30, 2000), Director of RF Supreme Court V.

Lebedev (2005), RF State Duma’s deputy from the "United Russia" S.
Shishkariov (April 2006 and 2007), heads of the leading Russian
political parties.

‘INGO ARMENIA’ ESTABLISHES A SCHOOL TO TRAIN SPECIALISTS IN SPHERE OF INSURANCE

Arminfo
2007-04-16 18:59:00

"Ingo Armenia", one of the leading insurance companies of Armenia,
has established a school in the company to train specialists in the
insurance sphere.

The director of the company, Levon Altounyan, told ArmInfo that
qualified specialists will train insurance agents. Students of
core faculties will attend the course. By means of the course
the company raises the level of training to the extent that the
attendants can pass an examination in the Central Bank as agents,
L.Altounyan noted. The need in agents is currently ranging from 50 to
100 per each insurance company, as for the market’s need in general,
it is unlimited. Therefore, the top management of the "Ingo Armenia"
intends to establish a permanent process of training. Besides, the
formation of the school in the company is one of the elements of its
recruiting policy.

Assessing the level of the professional training of the "Ingo
Armenia" personnel, L.Altounyan referred to the positive opinion of
the company’s clients and partners. However, the leadership of the
company considers that the personnel still needs to pass a long way
of perfection to become the absolute leader of the Armenian insurance
market.

To note, 75% of shares of "Ingo Armenia" belong to "Ingosstrakh",
the largest Russian insurance company. At the moment, "Ingo Armenia"
is effecting insurance of property, cargoes, vehicles, liabilities,
as well as tourist, medical and accident insurance. The reinsurance of
the company’s agreements is made by such large international insurance
companies as Munich Re Group (Germany), LLOYD’S (England), Zurich Re
Group (Switzerland), and Scor Group (France).

GEORGIA WILL RECEIVE GAS FROM AZERBAIJAN

arminfo
2007-04-17 11:12:00

Georgian mass media inform that for non-stop gas supply the Georgian
Oil and Gas Corporation made a contract with consortium "Shakh-Deniz"
on 4.000.000 sq/m gas delivery to Georgia daily instead of 1.000.000,
president of the Corporation Aleko Khetaguri said.

He also added that stemming from an agreement with the Azerbaijani
party, despite the rehabilitating work at the main gas pipeline
Georgia will receive natural gas from Azerbaijan without any problem.

At the same time he said that on 18 April Gazprom starts repairing
work at the North-South gas pipeline, for this reason import of the
Russian gas to Georgia and Armenia will stop temporarily. Russian gas
supply stopped at 6:00 AM on 17 April and will be restored in two days.

SKINHEADS ATTACKED ARMENIAN IMMIGRANT IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.04.2007 13:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the Southwestern administrative district of
Moscow on Kedrov street near the house 22 a group of nationalists
attacked 46-year-old Armenian immigrant Karen Abramian. Sources in
the low enforcement bodies of the Russian capital said, the city on
duty officer received information about the attack at 22.00 local
time April 16. Policemen who arrived on the crime scene discovered a
man with knife wounds. According to the victim, he was attacked by
three young men smooth-headed, with high shoes. Karen Abramian is
sure the cause for attack was his nationality. He said, the unknown
young men shouted nationalistic slogans. Abramian was taken to a city
hospital. Police is looking for the offenders, their appearances have
been determined, "Interfax" reports.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress