Month: April 2007

TITANIC EFFORTS WERE REQUIRED FROM AGHVAN VARDANYAN

Panorama.am
16:54 12/04/2007

This government has fulfilled 90% of the social task, entrusted to
it. Aghvan Vardanyan, Minister of labor and social issues, said during
today press conference, answering the question of our correspondent. In
his words, a number of programs have been overfulfilled, necessary
indices were ensured 5-6 years earlier than the envisaged terms.

In general, the minister considers as years of reforms for the social
sphere the period of his government: dozens of laws and sublegislative
acts proceeding from them, have been adopted; the wages, allowances
have been increased, the unit for involvment in the social security
system has been decreased from 36 to 33. "As compared with 2003 the
minimum wages have increased four times, average wages tripled, the
average size of allowances directed to needy families, have increased
3.5 times", the minister informed.

Though Aghvan Vardanyan did not mention that in parallel with the state
assistance how much have the prices for goods, including foodstuffs,
have increased. The only problem now that makes the minister of labor
and social issues to complain is the low rate of pensions. However
a program has been elaborated for the problem’s solution.

Answering the question to whom should be ascribed the positive
developments in the social sphere, he said what is done is necessary to
divide between "me, you and him". I should say the following. When the
coalition government was forming in 2003, during distribution of the
political posts many evaded from assuming the obligations of the social
block. And the Dashynaktsutyun undertook the responsibility of the
general social fields, adding that the provisions of just their party
were mainly included in the program of the government’s activities.

A. Vardanyan thinks that individuals have also had significance role
in the issue of the progress. For example, you cannot imagine what
titanic efforts were required from A. Vardanyan in order the bill
concerning the rates of deputies was rejected.

FIRST ROUTE BY ‘POTI-CAUCASUS’

Panorama.am
17:22 12/04/2007

Within the coming 10-15 days the ferry "Poti-Caucasus" will fulfill
its first commercial run. Arsen Ghazaryan, Chairman of the Union of
manufacturers and entrepreneurs, Director of "Apaven" OJSC, stated
during today press conference. The first experimental voyage was
implemented yesterday evening.

Arsen Ghazaryan reminds that the ferry "Smat" arrived in the port
Poti on April 10, which, in its turn, started from the Russian port
"Caucasus" to Georgia.

Thus, a transport road has been launched between Armenia and Russia,
which requires less time and expenses. "We have being waiting for the
launch of this ferry for 10 years", Ghazaryan mentioned. In his words,
the port "Caucasus" is not so deep, and it has been difficult to find
a ferry for that.

The Swiss "Reserve Capital Engineering Corporation" has projected
and built a ferry with one small bridge, the length of which is 150
meters, and the width – 22 meters. Loading duration is 1 hour. The
tonnage of the ferry is 50 carriages (60 kg each). It should be noted
before that Armenia transported cargo from Russia via the Ukrainian
port "Ilichevsk". But in that case the cargo have reached to the
destination point within 50 hours.

DELAWARE: APRIL 24 IS PROCLAIMED AS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2007 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Delaware General Assembly adopted a resolution
proclaiming April 24 as a day of remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports
the resolution was introduced by State Representative John Kowalko,
and faced no opposition when it was brought for a vote by the General
Assembly on April 5, 2007.

Similar legislation was passed in the Delaware Senate in 1995, making
Delaware one of 38 States that recognize the Armenian Genocide. A copy
of the Delaware resolution has been sent to Delaware Congressman Mike
Castle, as well as Senator Joe Biden and Thomas Carper.

"I was particularly honored to present this resolution since it will
officially record and acknowledge a moment in the history of mankind
when man’s inhumanity to man and humankind’s disregard for a civilized
morality was made horribly apparent. The attempt to systematically
eliminate all traces of a noble civilization such as the Armenian
culture is another shameful moment in the history of the world,"
Kowalko, enthusiastic about the resolution, stated.

GEORGIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST: KOSOVO VARIANT MAY BE USED FOR KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2007 14:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Conflicts in Georgia have very little opportunities
for separatism, member of the Republican Party of Georgia, political
scientist Paata Zakareishvili stated to the PanARMENIAN.Net
journalist. He said, there is something similar between Kosovo and
Abkhazia but there are more differences here. "Really, if Pristina
wants to declare independence, she will do it without asking
anyone. The same concerns all conflict zones. But if we compare the
Kosovo conflict with the "frozen conflicts" in CIS, look what we will
see. There are 2 million Albanians in Kosovo and very few Serbians. And
in Abkhazia the native population is half as much than the two main
nations – Armenians and Georgians," Zakareishvili said. He also
stressed Albania supports Kosovo, Armenia – the Nagorno Karabakh,
but nobody backs Abkhazia. "Russia is out, it has its interests
there. The Kosovo variant may be used for Nagorno Karabakh, but it is
a very long process – settlement of all conflicts. As to the South
Ossetia, this case is much difficult. There exists North Ossetia,
which has pro-Russian stance, and Tbilisi has normal relations with
Vladikavkaz, two main roads via North Ossetia – the Rokski pass and
"Verkhni Lars" – join the South Caucasus with Russia," the Georgian
political scientist said.

GEORGIANS NEED IMAGE OF ENEMY AND ARMENIAN BECAME SUCH AN IMAGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2007 14:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia still does not feel herself as a state
and that’s why there exists a policy of self-affirmation, which
supposes nationalism, member of the Republican Party of Georgia,
political scientist Paata Zakareishvili stated to the PanARMENIAN.Net
journalist. He said, generally it exists on everyday level,
but Georgians need an image of enemy and Armenians became such an
image. "But the matter is not in Armenians, the matter is in Georgians
themselves, in Georgian mentality. They treat bad Azeris too. It’s
true that now nobody speaks like the times when Gamsakhurdia was
the president of the country, "Georgia for Georgians", but still
some traces of those times remain. Only the Georgian government is
guilty in the Javakhk problem. I think there is nothing dangareos
in granting autonomy, including to Javakhk. The notion of "autonomy"
supposes only self-government," Zakareishvili underlined.

The Georgian political scientist reminded that the Georgian society
suffers from phobia towards autonomies. "It is quite explainable
taking into account separated autonomies of Georgia – Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. We view all steps taken by Armenians of Javakhk towards
receiving autonomy as efforts for full separation, but this is not
the case. The cause of phobia is in the reason that we do not know
each other. We must seat and discuss what Armenians of Javakhk want
and what Georgia can offer them," Paata Zakareishvili said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNED ORDER ON APPOINTING CABINET MEMBERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2007 14:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian signed an order
on appointing members of the RA government. According to President’s
order, Aghvan Vardanyan has been appointed as Minister of Labor and
Social Affairs, Norayr Davidyan – as Minister of Healthcare, Karen
Chshmaritian – as Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Davit
Harutyunyan – as Minister of Justice, Vartan Oskanian – as Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Vardan Ayvazyan – as Minister of Environmental
Protection, Davit Lokyan – as Minister of Agriculture, Armen Movsisyan
– as Minister of Energy, Manuk Topuzyan – as Minister, Chief of Staff
of the Government, Levon Lazarian – as Minister of Education and
Science, Hasmik Poghosyan – as Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs,
Hovik Abrahamyan – as Minister of Territorial Administration, Andranik
Manukyan – as Minister of Transport and Communication, Aram Harutyunyan
– as Minister of Urban Development and Vardan Khachatryan – as Minister
of Finance and Economy, the RA presidential Press Office report. Thus
the staff of the government remained unchanged.

Only Defense Minister is not appointed, Chief of General Staff of the
Armenian Armed Forces colonel-general Mikael Harutyunyan continues
to fulfil the duties of Defense Minister.

GEORGIA NEVER TO JOIN AN ALLIANCE WITH MUSLIM COUNTRIES AGAINST CHRISTIAN COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2007 15:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Paata Zakareishvili: "Mikhail Saakashvili is so
unpredictable that we sometimes do not know what he will do tomorrow."

"During four and a half years, i.e., since January of 2003, a lot
of things have changed in Georgia, I would even say country changes
constantly. But people began to think if those constant changes
are always good, after all not always everything goes for better,"
member of the Republican Party of Georgia, political scientist Paata
Zakareishvili stated to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist. He said,
a lot of hasty steps were made during those 4 years. "However we
continue to move forward. It’s also true that Mikhail Saakashvili
is so unpredictable that we sometimes do not know what he will do
tomorrow. But one think I can say for sure: Georgia will never go
against Armenia and any country in the region generally. Economically
we participate in joint projects with Azerbaijan and Turkey, but
culturally and religiously we are connected with Armenia. Georgia
will never be in an alliance with Muslim countries against Christian
country. Don’t forget Kars-Tbilisi-Baku and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
projects are American projects, and Georgia must participate in
those projects since the foreign policy of our President demands it,"
the Georgian political scientist said.

ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJAN USUAL DISCUSSION

A1+
[01:54 pm] 12 April, 2007

Yesterday Armenian and Azerbaijan delegations met in Neon, Switzerland
to talk over the permit for the matches held in September 8 and 12
in the frames of ‘Euro-2008’.

Ruben Hayrapetyan, chairman of RA Football Federation and Armen
Minasyan, Executive director from Armenia and Ramiz Mirzoev, chairman
of Azerbaijan Football Association were the parties for the discussion.

The meeting was not productive; the latter lasted an hour and a
half. Armenian party suggested the meeting to be held in Yerevan
and Baku based on the regulations, whereas Azeris were against it
and offered a neutral zone. Ra Football Federation agreed to play
just Baku match in neutral zone. What concerns Yerevan match, Ruben
Hayrapetyan was categorical as far as RA Government provided UEFA
with safety security guarantees.

Hence, the issue will clear up at UEFA executive body session on
April 18, in Cardiff.

ARMENIANS BANNED TO BUY HOUSES

A1+
[02:52 pm] 12 April, 2007

30 Russian families will leave Gorelovka village, Ninotsminda
region. The initiative IS under superintendent of RF president
VladimirPutin.

Though a number of Armenians living in Javakhk are willing
to buy Russians’ houses, any property trade was banned with
Armenians. According to the officials, Russian houses will be given
to Georgian new-comers.

GOVERNMENT WITHOUT DEFENCE MINISTER

Panorama.am
13:40 12/04/2007

President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on appointment of RA
Government members. Following officials are appointed members of
the Government:

Aghvan Vardanyan – Minister of Labour and Social issues
Norayr Davidyan – Minister of Health
Karen Chshmarityan – Minister of Trade and Economic Development
David Haroutyunyan – Minister of Justice
Vardan Oskanyan – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vardan Ayvazyan – Minister of Nature Protection
David Lokyan – Minister of Agriculture
Armen Movsisyan – Minister of Energy
Manouk Topuzyan – Head of Government Staff, Minister
Levon Lazarian – Minister of Education and Science
Hasmik Poghosyan – Minister on culture and youth affairs
Hovik Abrahamyan – Minister of Territorial Management
Andranik Manoukyan – Minister of Transport and Communication
Aram Haroutyunyan – Minister of Urban Development
Vardan Khachatryan – Minister of Finances and Economy

Panorama.am was informed from the press office of the President. It
should be noted that a minister of defence has not been appointed by
a decree of the president.