Month: April 2007

ARMENIA NOT TO CHANGE INTERNAL AND FOREIGN POLICY LINES AFTER ELECTIONS, JUSTICE MINISTER PREDICTS

Panorama.am
19:57 26/04/2007

After May 12 elections the internal and foreign policy of Armenia
will not change, Davit Harutunyan, minister of justice and member
of the Armenian Republican Party (HHK), told Ria Novosty in an
interview. "One can be 100% sure that the external policy of Armenia
will undergo no serious changes after the elections. My suggestions
are based on forecasts of which political party will appear in
the parliament," he said. The minister believes HHK will have the
most seats in the parliament, followed by Prosperous Armenia (BHK)
and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun). Assessing
Republicans as neoconservative party, Harutunyan said HHK has assumed
responsibilities "to raise the salary, reduce unemployment and increase
social allowances." Unlike other parties, HHK figures are based on
methodology, which has be at the bark of the state budget for years,
the minister said.

PRESIDENT TO APPOINT HEAD OF GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OF MILITARY FORCES AFTER MAY 9

Panorama.am
14:41 27/04/2007

The appointment of a head of general headquarters of the Armenian
military forces will be after May 9, Michael Harutunyan, newly
appointed defense minister of Armenia, told reporters today. In
his words, Enriko Apriamov, general-lieutenant, is now in charge
of the duties. "The president will issue a decision after May 9,"
Harutunyan said. He also said "we have prepared generals who may
take the post." Asked if Seiran Ohanyan is among the candidates,
Harutunyan said, "Seiran Ohanyan is among the list."
From: Baghdasarian

JOINT ENDEAVOR 2007 MILITARY EXERCISES KICK OFF IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
14:42 27/04/2007

‘Joint endeavor 2007" military exercises kicked off in Yerevan
today. U.S. European commandership implements the exercises within
the framework of Partnership for Peace Program. Michael Harutunyan,
defense minister of Armenia, said some 1000 participants throughout
different nations gather in German Baumholder town to take part in
general operation group of military exercises. As a primary operation
zone, Armenia has hosted delegations from Croatia, France, Russian,
Georgia and USA. In 2002, Armenia took part in the exercises as only
an observer and in 2003 the country was a full participant.

SOCIOMETER SAYS RATING OF BHK DECLINES

Panorama.am
14:52 27/04/2007

Sociometer has reported decline in rating of Prosperous Armenia Party
(BHK).

Aharon Adibekyan, director of the center, said, "Enthusiasm to this
party has declined. It had 70 percent level of trust which went
down to 50 and may even decline to 30 percent." In the words of the
sociologist, educated people understand that BHK has populist slogans
and high promises.

Asked about sociological studies conducted by British Populus,
Adibekyan said in fact Armenian specialists conduct the surveys and
named Armenian Sociological Association as a major implementer. "The
studies of Populus were not conducted by employees of Sociometer but
they exactly coincide with our studies."

ARMENIA TO RECEIVE 13.2 MILLION EURO

Panorama.am
19:18 26/04/2007

Today Vardan Khachatryan, minister of finance and economy, and
Alexander Obek, general director of infrastructure department at the
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a credit
agreement in the amount of 7 million Euro.

After the ceremony of signing the document, minister Khachatryan said
the government of Armenia will receive sovereign credit with repayment
of 15 years and 3 years of days of grace. The credit is provided on
libor + 1% annual rate. Khachatryan said the conditions are "mild and
acceptable for our government." The minister said the money will be
provided to Armwatercanal to build stations for cleaning sewer system
waters in the towns of Gavar, Martuni, Vardenis.

Apart from the credit agreement, the Armenian government signed two
other documents with the European Commission and Water Infrastructure
Cooperation Service of the Council of Europe. The Armenian government
will get 5 and 1.2 million Euro respectively.

MATENADARAN MAY DIGITALIZE MANUSCRIPTS WITH ITS AMERICAN PARTNER

Panorama.am
17:57 26/04/2007

The Armenian museum of ancient manuscripts, Matenadaran, and Hill
museum-manuscript library of U.S. state of Minnesota, signed a
memorandum of intention on April 13 which supposes digitalization of
Matenadaran manuscripts. The parties will sign 3 contracts, on funding,
technical matters and rules and regulations of digitalization copies,
in 5 months.

"Do not think that Matenadaran desperately links itself to Hill
proposal.

Matenadaran desperately attaches itself to digitalization of
manuscripts so that our values be saved," Arshak Banuchyan, deputy
director of the museum, said. Museum Director Sen Arevshatyan assessed
Hill as "serious and solid" partner. In any case, Matenadaran may
think about other proposals in case there are any in the course of
those 5 months.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MISSION REVEALS NO CEASE-FIRE VIOLATION

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 16:55

In compliance with an earlier agreement with NKR authorities, the
OSCE Mission today carried out monitoring of the contact line of the
Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the north of Talish
settlement in Martakert region.

Armenpress was told from the NKR MFA that the from the positions
of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted by the OSCE
Office coordinator Imre Palatinus (Hungary), Field Assistants of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Gunter Folk (Germany) and Miroslav Vimetal
(Czech Republic). From the Azerbaijani side the monitoring group was
headed by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The monitoring was held in compliance with the preset schedule, no
violation of the cease-fire regime was registered. From the Karabakhi
side, the monitoring group was accompanied by representatives of the
NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN WILL PROBABLY MEET IN SAINT PETERSBURG

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 17:40

"We are discussing different opportunities for organizing the recurrent
meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan," Russian Co-Chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told "Novosti Azerbaijan,"
commenting on RA President Robert Kocharyan’s statement that "the
Co-Chairs are currently organizing the meeting which will be probably
held in Saint Petersburg on May 10."

"We are trying to organize the meetings in those places where the two
Presidents are supposed to be simultaneously. Such variants are not
many. The opportunity of organizing the meeting in Saint Petersburg
is the first among the variants I know," he underlined.

In Merzlyakov’s words, "now everything depends on whether the two
Presidents will be there and whether they will be ready for the
meeting.

CONNECTING ARMENIA TO EUROPE – HAYPOST JOINS EUROGIRO

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 17:37

Today HayPost signed the membership agreement for Eurogiro Network,
through which HayPost offices will be electronically connected to
more than 60,000 post offices across Europe; the 50 million Postbank
accountholders in Europe will be able to send money in a reliable, fast
manner and at low cost to any of the 900 communities in Armenia. The
Eurogiro membership also provides high quality gateways to the US
banking system, and e.g. postal banks in Brazil, Japan and China.

"The Eurogiro membership is a fundamental step towards the Postbank in
Armenia – it will fuel the competition in money transfers. Armenia’s
rural and remote communities will be able to receive their money
literally around the corner- without the need to travel a day to a bank
branch in the city," said Hans Boon, trust manager of HayPost. "Armenia
is the first country of the Commonwealth of Independent States that
joins Eurogiro – we are very happy with this expansion of Eurogiro’s
network and welcome HayPost !" commented Soren Rose, the Deputy
Managing Director of Eurogiro Network. The agreement was signed today
in Switzerland, Berne at the headquarters of the Swiss PostFinance,
one of the leading members of Eurogiro.

JOINT STRIVING-2007 EXERCISES TO START ON APRIL 27 IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Solemn opening ceremony of Joint
Striving-2007 exercises of U.S. European Command will take place on
April 27 in Marshal A. Khamperiants Aviation Institute of RA Defence
Ministry. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Defence Ministry, the
goal of the exercises held within the framework of Partnership for
Peace program is to test, to indentify and to motivate by documents
cooperation of united multi-national strategic and tractical
communication systems.

RA Defence Minister Mikayel Haroutiunian and Charge d’Affaires of
U.S. to Armenia Anthony Godfrey will also take part in the opening
ceremony of exercises.