Month: April 2007

SERZH SARGSYAN IS DECENT, HARDWORKING AND CONSISTENT, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS

Panorama.am
18:53 05/04/2007

A session of the Armenia government was held today, chaired by
President Robert Kocharyan. The president presented his April 4
decree on appointment of the prime minister. He said, "There is
no need to introduce you to Serzh Sargsyan. I would like to remind
you that he has been a member of government since 1993 with 6-month
record in the president’s staff. More that 8 years he has served as
the defense minister administering the Armenian army, an army that we
are all proud of. It is not possible to over-assess the role of Serzh
Sargsyan in the establishment of the army. I personally know him: he
is a decent, hardworking and consistent personality. I am sure he is
able to administer the government at this responsible time. Moreover,
we do not have anyone else with such experience."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

46 COMPETE FOR YOUTH AWARD, 3 WIN

Panorama.am
18:54 05/04/2007

An exhibition opened at MPAC today exhibiting the works of finalists
of "Fine arts and cinema" competing for youth award nominated by
the president of the republic. All Armenia Fund public relations
department says president’s youth awards in "Fine arts and cinema"
and "Literature" have been granted since 2004 and in "Classical music"
since 2005.

Three awards are granted under "Fine arts and cinema," including a
certificate, honors and USD 2500. Some 46 participated for the award
and only three won. The names of the winners will become known after
the Armenian president approves the list.

SERZH SARGSYAN PROMISES TO HELP ELECTION OBSERVERS

Panorama.am
19:53 05/04/2007

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received today Vladimir
Rushailo, chairman-executive secretary of NIS executive committee,
who is in Armenia on a business trip, government press services report.

Rushailo said it is a big honor to meet Serzh Sargsyan as a prime
minister. "We know you very well as a person who has had responsible
leading posts… We are sure you can decently tackle the challenges
that Armenia faces."

Prime Minister Sargsyan rendered the readiness of the government to
continue constructive cooperation and support the observation missions.

Earlier Rushailo met with the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: RUSSIA WILL NOT ALLOW TURKEY STRENGTHEN ITS POSITIONS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

ArmRadio.am
05.04.2007 16:24

Turkey’s policy of reinforcing its positions in the South Caucasus
will face the resistance of Russian diplomacy, since a new phase
of confrontation has come forth in Russian-Turkish relations, the
which developments of which can be diverse. Director of the Oriental
Studies Institute of the National Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan
said at a press conference today that Russian diplomacy, which has
got considerably active and flexible recently, cannot allow the
strengthening of positions of pro-west Turkey in the South Caucasus.

In Ruben Safrastyan’s words, opposite to that Turkey’s policy
of reinforcing its positions in the region is already yielding
results. Creation of an alliance between Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan
is rather real, which brings to the division of the South Caucasus, and
Turkey implements this policy with the assistance of the United States.

In Ruben Safrastyan’s words, Russia will also aspire to strengthen
its positions in the region. Iran’s presence in the South Caucasus
is also a counterbalance to Turkey and Azerbaijan, and it proceeds
from our national interests. " However, the US policy towards Iran
is targeted at weakenin this influence," he added.

TURKEY SUSPENDS TALKS WITH GAZ DE FRANCE

ArmRadio.am
06.04.2007 11:11

Turkey has suspended talks with Gaz de France over a key gas pipeline,
in protest at a French bill about the killing of Armenians in World
War I.

The planned pipeline would carry natural gas from the Middle East
and Central Asia to Austria through Turkey.

The French Parliament is considering a law that would make it
an offence to deny that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against
Armenians.

The 4.6bn euro ($6.1bn; £3.1bn) Nabucco pipeline project is supposed
to reduce the European Union’s reliance on Russian gas.

It also passes through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, which have
already reached agreement with Gaz de France.

–Boundary_(ID_Rrc2M62+fnm3lw9iSBSn1w)–

NO CHANGES EXPECTED IN RA GOVERNMENT

ArmRadio.am
06.04.2007 12:50

"I don’t think there should be serious changes in the government, since
only 40 days remains to work, and our primary task should be the normal
work of the government," RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan said after
participating in the annual meeting of RA National Academy of Sciences.

According to him, no change is envisaged at this point. There
will be no changes in government agenda, either. Nevertheless,
the agenda must be sent to the National assembly. "In my opinion
after the parliamentary elections the political force to form the
government will send a new agenda to the parliament," RA Prime
Minister mentioned. Serge Sargsyan underlined that normal work will
be the primary task of the government.

Mr. Sargsyan refused to predict who will become RA Defense Minister
and the Secretary of the Presidential Council on National Security.
From: Baghdasarian

ELINA DANIELYAN AMONG LEADERS

ArmRadio.am
06.04.2007 13:53

Third round matches of the 8th European Individual Chess Championship
were held in the German city of Dresden on April 5.

In the women’s competition seven participants, including Elina
Danielyan, gained 3 points.

In the men’s competition five partisans have not lost points. Armenians
Rafayel Vahanyan and Artashes Minasyan have 2.5 points each.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL ADVISES NOT TO POLITICIZE THE CITY HALL PROBLEM

KarabakhOpen
06-04-2007 11:47:19

During the news conference of the NKR Prosecutor General Armen Zalinyan
the recent audit of the City Hall of Stepanakert was touched upon. Over
the past month, the procuracy and the City Hall have been exchanging
materials in the media in which it was mentioned that the checking
of the City Hall by the procuracy has no legal grounds. The procuracy
pointed to breaches.

In answer to the question of the journalist if the procuracy has
the right to conduct a general audit, the prosecutor general said
the Office of the Public Prosecutor did not carry out a general
audit at the City Hall. "In 2005 when the procuracy worked at the
City Hall in connection with the audit of the Ministry of Finance,
we revealed financial breaches and informed the City Hall. By
the deadline, the City Hall had not tackled the breaches, and the
Ministry of Finance provided the information to the procuracy. In
2006 the procuracy once again checked the City Hall. Besides,
we got complaints related to the activities of the City Hall,"
Armen Zalinyan said. He said the complaints were forwarded to the
City Hall to tackle this problem. However, the complaints repeated,
which necessitated the audit.

"My impression is that the mayor holds news conferences and makes
such statements to obstruct the efforts of the procuracy to reveal
breaches. Presently the procuracy is checking the State Cadastre
Committee, the Republic Maternity Hospital, the Republic Hospital,
etc. Charges were brought, but none of these offices has reacted the
way like the mayor does. It makes no difference to us whom we check
and what position this person has," said the mayor and advised "not
to politicize this question".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DIRECTOR OF ARTSAKHKAP COMPANY WAS CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT

KarabakhOpen
06-04-2007 11:46:50

In answer to the question on the number of cases of corruption, NKR
Prosecutor General Armen Zalinyan said in 2006 the Office of Prosecutor
General brought charges against the head of the Martakert branch of
the State Cadastre Committee, as well as the bank manager of the same
region. "Recently charges of misuse of powers and embezzlement were
brought against the director of the Artsakhkap Company," said the
prosecutor general.

WHEN I GROW UP…

KarabakhOpen
06-04-2007 11:46:18

Sevak is 5. He was born and lives in the village of Norashen,
Hadrut. He says he likes his village because everything is new
there. He dreams of growing up to go to school like his sister. He
has friends with whom he plays football when it does not rain. Sevak
could not say the names of his friends. "They are too many," he said.

When Sevak was 2, the doctor said he had a problem with his heart and
needed surgery. However, his father had only two cows and could not
afford to pay for the operation. The members of the Armenian General
Benevolent Union helped Sevak who calls them the Americans.

He is only 5 but has already undergone three operations. He remembers
only the last one. "They took me to the hospital in another city,
there were people in white clothes, they gave me candy, chewing gum
to go to sleep. When I woke up, Mom and Dad gave me candy. I had so
many candies I could give to sister and brother," Sevak said.

He does not like the city because nobody knows him. In Norashen
everyone shakes hands with him. Sevak’s dreams start with "when I
grow up…" When he grows up, Dad will take him to the far away city,
and he can go to the forest alone.