Month: July 2007

SERGE SARGSIAN: "AMENDED CONSTITUTION GIVES GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
REALIZING NATIONAL GOALS"

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister,
sent a message of congratulation to the people of Armenia on the
occasion of Constitution Day. The message, which was provided to Noyan
Tapan by the Information and Public Relations Department of the RA
Government, runs as follows: "Dear compatriots, I congratulate you on
the occasion of Constitution Day. The significance of Constitution,
which is the main law of the country, is too important in the formation
and development process of any country. Constitution of the Republic of
Armenia is the principle legal, political, and ideological document of
the Armenian independent statehood, which became a basis for regulating
any kind of legal relations, foreseeing the process and development way
of our state. Constitution amended as a result of the national
referendum, which is based on the main principles and public goals of
the Armenian statehood, puts forward new problems and gives greater
opportunities for the realization of public goals, formation,
strengthening and development of Armenain statehood based on democratic
values, as well as for providing general welfare of people, in parallel
with the development of our state and the new demands of the time.

Cosiderable amendments, which are directed at the formation of not only
new legal institutions, but also for the implementation of reforms for
the second generation of our country and provision of a new quality of
life, are being made in the RA legislation as a result of
constitutional amendments."

"THERE IS SERIOUS COMPETITION INSIDE POWER," VIKTOR DALAKIAN BELIEVES

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. There is a serious competition between
the President of the Republic of Armenia and the Prime Minister. This
statement was made at the July 4 press conference by Viktor Dalakian, a
RA MP.

According to him, the current government is a temporary one and was
formed as a result of the compromises made between Robert Kocharian,
the RA President, and Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister. Viktor
Dalakian also mentioned that the RA President, who is not entitled to
relieve the Prime Minister of his post without the agreement of the
parliamentarian majority, is changing into an "English queen."

According to this MP, in case Serge Sargsian defeats Robert Kocharian
in the 2008 presidential elections, the executive and legislative
bodies will appear in the hands of one political force, that is, the
Republican Party of Armenia. Viktor Dalakian mentioned that, thus, if
Serge Sargsian is eager to have a maximum power, then Robert Kocharian
strives to retain his influence among the authorities as much as
possible after the elections. He quotted the President’s expression,
according to which the latter does not want to become the youngest
pensioner of the country. However, according to Viktor Dalakian, the
Prime Minister will not want to have the current President on the post
of the Prime Minister.

This competition will intensify on the eve of the elections. According
to Viktor Dalakian, one more candidature will be put forward for the
elections from the power wing in addition to the Prime Minister. He did
not give names, but mentioned that it may also be an ARF Dashnaktsutiun
representative.

RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND AMBASSADOR OF INDIA CONSIDER IT NECESSARY TO
ESTABLISH ARMENIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION IN MILITARY SPHERE

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Mikayel Haroutiunian, the RA Minister of
Defence, and Reena Pandey, the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of India to Armenia, touched upon the issues included
in the memorandum of mutual understanding signed in 2003, which
concerned intentions of cooperation between the Ministries of Defence
of Armenia and India, during their meeting held on July 4.

Making a record of the considerable progress achieved in the
Armenian-Indian diplomatic, commercial-economic, and cultural
relations, the sides also stressed the necessity of cooperation in the
sphere of defence, particularly, in the technical military field, as
well as in those of military education and information technologies.

According to the message of the RA Ministry of Defence, Mikayel
Harutiunian also received Arpi Vardanian, the Regional Director of the
Armenian Assembly of America in Armenia, on the same day.

During the meeting the sides referred to the relations between Armenia
and the United States in the sphere of military cooperation, in
particular, the assistance of the United States for Armenia, as well as
the process of the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

A. Vardanian introduced the developments concerning Armenia and the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh in the United States to the Minister.

GOLDEN APRICOT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONTINUES ITS SERIES OF
SURPRISES

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Jeanne Moreau, the most expected and the
brightest guest of the Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) Fourth
International Film Festival to be held on July 9-14 in Yerevan, cannot
arrive in Armenia due to taking part in the Avignon Festival. However,
as Haroutiun Khachatrian, the festival’s Director, stated at the July 4
press conference, no less famous European directors and producers will
fill that gap.

In H. Khachatrian’s words, this year festival’s opening ceremony will
take place in Liberty Square, in the evening of July 9. The ceremony
will be followed by the show of the film "Lark Farm" of Paolo and
Vittorio Taviani brothers, which will announce the festival’s start. In
H. Khachatrian’s words, the purpose of organizing the opening ceremony
in Liberty Square is to give an opportunity to everybody to take part
in that wonderful Yerevan film holiday. Seats for 1500 people will be
placed in the square for that day. Besides, every evening, at 10-12:00,
the best films participating in the festival will be shown in the
square.

H. Khachatrian said that one of many new things in this year’s
festival’s program is creation of new commissions of the International
Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and International Church
Organization. Besides, a Life Tree prize has been also instituted this
year: one of the names of the films hanging on the tree will be awarded
a monetary prize of 500 thousand drams by the principle of accidental
choice.

The festival’s Director stated that this year for the first time
monetary prizes have been instituted for international feature and
documentary films, in the amount of 2 and 1 mln drams, respectively.

ARMENIAN YOUNG FOOTBALLERS DEFEATED IN FIRST SPORTS GAMES OF BLACK SEE
ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION MEMBER COUNTRIES

TRAPIZON, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The first sports games of the member
countries of the Black See Economic Cooperation Organization started in
the city of Trapizon in Turkey. Representatives from 12 countries take
part in these games. The delegates of Armenia take part in competitins
of 5 out of 15 kinds of sport: football, free-style and Greco-Roman
wrestling, athletics, and taekwondo.

Six teams form 10 countries, which are divided into three groups, take
part in the football tournament: in the first group Armenian
footballers will compete with the teams of Russia, Moldova, and
Azerbaijan. The Armenian team were defeated by the representative team
of Moldova with a score of 0:2 in the first game. The next rivals of
the Armenian representative team are the Russian footballers.

ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVES WIN IN INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT IN JERMUK

JERMUK, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The second International Youth Chess
Tournament, in which 68 chess players from Armenia, France, Russia, and
Belarus took part, finished on July 3 in Jermuk. The Armenian
representatives won in all age groups: Hrant Melkumian was the first
among those under 18, who received 8.5 out of 9 possible points, Samvel
Ter-Sahakian in the group of 14 year-old participants received 9
points, and Karen Hovhannisian in the group of those, who are 10 years
old, won with 8 points.

The tournament was organized and held by the republican chess academy
headed by grand master Smbat Lputian.

The high-profile International Chess "Lake Sevan" Tournament of the
12th catagory starts in the city of Martuni on July 5 and will finish
on July 14.

FIRST ALL ARMENIAN YOUTH CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON JULY 9-11 IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The First All Armenian Youth Conference
will be held on July 9-11 in Yerevan on the initiative of the World
Armenian Congress. Participation bids from 19 countries, including
Georgia, Russia, the Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Syria, Iran, Brazil have
been already submitted. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by
Atom Mkhitarian, the Chairman of the Youth Organizations’ Association
of the Congress, the participant countries’ delegations will represent
some youth organization, structure, center or club.

In A. Mkhitarian’s words, the goal of the conference is to discuss
issues related to Armenian youths’ consolidation around national
interests in the context of 21st century’s challenges, as well as to
clarify their role in the issues of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. The conference
will adopt the respective Declaration, which will be a guide of the
coming one year for both the Association and the delegations.

Besides reports, discussions and disputes, cultural and entertaining
events will be also organized during the conference. In addition, the
young people will visit the Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims
of the Armenian Genocide, where they will be present at the concert to
be held at the hall of Yerevan’s Moscow House cultural-business center,
will see Armenia’s sights.

2005 AND 2006 YEARS ARE MOST PRODUCTIVE IN TERMS OF STRUGGLE AGAINST
MURDERS

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Robert Avagian, a
member of the Justice Council and a senior scientific worker of the
Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law of the RA National Academy
of Sciences, made a statement during the launching of his book titled
"Human rights, criminal-legal guarantees" held on July 4, saying that
the 2005 and 2006 years have been most productive "in terms of the
struggle carried out against murders."

According to Robert Avagian, 55 murder and 24 attempted murder cases
were recorded in 2005. In 2006 these indices are, respectively, 75 and
21. "Certainly, if we compare the year of 2005 with that of 2006, we
will see that there is an increase in the number of murders. However, a
criminologist or a laywer should consider these indices in a
combination," the author of the book said.

According to him, the smallest number of murder and attempted murder
cases was recorded in 2005 and 2006 since the Republic of Armenia
became independent.

Astghik Gevorgian, the Chairwoman of the Journalists’ Union of Armenia,
mentioned that the "Human rights, criminal-legal guarantees" book can
"arm" a reader with sufficient necessary knowledge about the science of
law.

"At present, we have an opportunity to raise the problem of the
protection of our rights to the European Court or Constitutional Court,
but we are not armed with corresponding legal knowledge as yet and this
fact is an obstacle in our way. And it is widely-known that bribery
mainly results from the lack of knowledge of laws," the Chairwoman of
the Journalists’ Union of Armenia said.

RUBBISH DISPOSAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN IJEVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Great Britain’s Department of
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will finance the Ijevan
Rubbish Disposal Management Project within the framework of the
assistance program aimed at Armenia’s development, implemented by that
country’s government. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Ameria
consulting company, the adviser of the project to be implemented in
2007 July-December, the goal of the program is to work out rubbish
disposal management project in Ijevan and to finance short-term rubbish
disposal measures in that town.

The program’s implementation will be coordinated by Great Britain’s
International Development Department, and the Ameria company will
ensure international and local environment protection NGOs’
participation in the program, in which the RA Ministry of Territorial
Administration, Environment Protection and Health are involved.

It is envisaged that within the framework of Ijevan’s program the
organic rubbish removal management methods will be used in another
Armenian populated areas. According to Ameria’s report, introduction of
rubbish disposal management modern system in Ijevan is an urgent
problem in the respect of both environment protection and hygienic
safety, as well tourism development. 35-40 sq. m. rubbish is
accumulated daily in town’s streets, though 45 mln drams (more than 132
thousand dollars) was allocated from the local budget to the rubbish
disposal program in 2007, against 40 mln drams allocated in 2006. These
funds are not enough for buying rubbish disposal modern equipment.
Meanwhile, only 40-45% Ijevan population pays for the rubbish disposal
service.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, July 5, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR Welcomes Passage of SB 515 by California Assembly Committee
— Passage Extends "Sunset" of the California Trade Office

Sacramento, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) welcomed news of the passage of SB 515 through the California
Assembly Jobs and Economic Development Committee. The Assembly Committee
passed SB 515, which extends the "sunset" of funding for the California
Trade Office (CATO) by 2 years until 2010. The CATO, which opened under the
leadership of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and California Senator
Jack Scott (D-Pasadena), was administered to stimulate trade between
California and the regions of Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and the Newly
Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union.

Testimony in support of the CATO was provided by Johnny Nalbandian, CATO
Trade Specialist and the Executive Director of the Foundation for Economic
Development, Inc., which is the privately-funded sole contractor of the
CATO, and Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Chairwoman of the Los Angeles –
Yerevan Sister City Association (LAYSCA).

During testimony, Nalbandian discussed the operation of the CATO going
forward, the 1500% increase in CATO’s website traffic in the past year
(), and the progress in working with companies such as
Marani Spirits which now distributes through chains like Safeway, Ralphs and
California Pizza Kitchen. Additionally, Nalbandian explained that the CATO
is working with California companies such as Hard Rock Café, Nic-Nak
Clothing, Coffee Bean and Tea, Mattel and a pharmaceutical company that is
exploring the feasibility of constructing a specialized facility in Armenia.
Nalbandian also informed the Assembly Committee of simultaneous Town Hall
meetings to be conducted in November in Los Angeles and Yerevan. These
meetings would provide an opportunity for local and regional businesses to
learn more about CATO’s work and outreach to promote economic growth between
California and the NIS. The Town Hall meetings will precede a Trade Expo
and Conference featuring companies from all over California and the NIS that
will take place in the spring of 2008. Finally, Nalbandian mentioned the
possibility of establishing, through an Armenian carrier, a direct flight
between Los Angeles and Yerevan which would offer exciting opportunities for
freight and passenger travel between the two cities.

Following Nalbandian, Zerounian-Khanzadian elaborated upon the relationship
between the LAYSCA and the CATO. Zerounian-Khanzadian stated that the
LAYSCA facilitates relationship building between Los Angeles and Yerevan
businesses and helps promote the goals of CATO. Furthermore, LAYSCA and
CATO will be working together on securing the direct Los Angeles – Yerevan
flight.

After testimony, the Committee passed SB 515 by a vote of 6-0.

"Passage of SB 515 through the Assembly’s Jobs and Economic Development
Committee signals another important milestone for California’s economy,"
commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "The CATO provides a
unique opportunity for California companies to discover and engage vast new
markets," he added.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.