Month: May 2008

NKR WANTS TO BECOME NEGOTIATOR

Panorama.am
21:10 14/05/2008

Today in the session of the NA of the NKR Vahram Atanesyan the chairman
of the Foreign affairs committee has presented the recommendations
and proposals of NA parties on the international recognition process
of the NKR.

The recommendation particularly states: ""Democracy", "Motherland",
"ARF Movement 88" NA parties taking into account "Karabakh question;
regulation perspectives" topic discussed in 21 April, 2005 which
results are summed in the announcement made by the parties just the
same day, considers it as important to recommend the NKR Government and
the President to take measures with the RA in inter-state relations
legalization aimed to strengthen the cooperation and standing new
problems.

To treat NKR direct participation in the negotiations process as a
step to conflict regulation, to draft and present to the NA "National
Security Agenda". Before creating the agenda to form strategic analysis
and form a working group dealing the problem."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIVE YEARS OF COOPERATION WITH "HYPOCRAT"

Panorama.am
21:11 14/05/2008

Today Harutyun Kushqyan, the minister of health received Gerald
Oberndorfer the coordinator of the USA humanitarian aid. He told to
the minister that sooner two containers will arrive in Armenia fill
with medical aids. The containers should provide the inhabitants of
Martuni and Artik hospitals with necessary medical issues, sayd the
official web site of the ministry.

The coordinator was interested in possible cooperation with "Hyprocrat
foundation" established in Alaverdi city. In this regard the minister
has positively evaluated the cooperation and said that the contract
will be prolonged for five years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONFERENCE AT THE NKR PRESIDENT

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on May 13, 2008
NKR Republic

On May 10th a working conference took place at the NKR President,
devoted to the situation in urban planning sphere, today’s problems
and the ways of their solution. The presents reported the head of
the country about the process of making assignments given by the
President during the previous conference and the results of the
realized works. The President once again attached importance to
necessity of speeding up of temps of construction works, a well as
increase of quality. Touching upon construction of dwelling houses for
families of many children, Bako Sahakyan assigned to take necessary
measures in the direction of decreasing the cost prices of these
houses.The Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan, members of the government,
leaders of board of administrations, and other officials participated
in the conference.

LEBANON CLOSELY WATCHES ARAB LEAGUE MEDIATIONS

Yerkir
14.05.2008 16:07

Yerevan (Yerkir) – "Currently, entire Lebanon is closely watching the
Arab League mediation mission works that is likely to be followed
by a cabinet special meeting. This night could be decisive and the
civil disobedience may stop," Shahan Gantaharian, the chief editor
of the Azdak newspaper published in Beirut, has told Yerkir.

He said that the commission of the Arab League has arrived in the
Beirut airport and a land road has been opened for them to get to the
Lebanese parliament speaker’s office. The roads were earlier blocked
by the opposition forces.

"The commission is headed by Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa.

Meetings are scheduled with the prime minister, top army commanders
and other officials. According to non-official information, a special
meeting of the cabinet is likely to be held to discuss the suspension
of two earlier decisions that led to the opposition discontent. There
are reports in the media that the cabinet is likely to take those
steps," Gantaharian said. He added that there are rumors that a
temporary port could be opened in Lebanon’s Christian districts.

"There will be ship connections between Cyprus and Lebanon. Cyprus
leadership took a decision to waive entry visas to make it easier
for Lebanese citizens to temporarily reside in Cyprus," he said.

ARMENIA IS READY TO SUPPORT CHINA IN ABOLITION OF EARTHQUAKE CONSEQUENCES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the destructive
earthquake, which took place in the Sichuan province of China, Serge
Sargsian, the President of the Republic of Armenia, has sent a message
of condolence to Hu Jintao, the President of the People’s Republic
of China. "We share the deep sorrow of the families and relatives
of those killed in the earthquake and wish a guick recovery to those
injured," is sais in the message.

Taking into consideration the experience of Armenia in abolition of
earthquake consequences, Serge Sargsian stated about the readiness
of Armenia in showing necessary assistance.

ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN – 31 MEDALS

Panorama.am
18:01 14/05/2008

Armenian sportsmen of full contact karate too part in Europe
championship in May 6-13 in Odessa, they have received 31
medals. Armenian team consisted of 35 sportsmen. Six of Armenian
sportsmen received golden medals, nine- silver and the rest –
bronze. In the team account Armenian occupied third place.

Note that Armenian team will take part in the World Championship
in autumn.

ADMINISTRATIVE COURT TO MAKE PUBLIC DECISION ON LAWSUIT OF 4 FORMER COLLABORATORS OF SYSTEM OF MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON MAY 29

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The examination of the lawsuit of 4
former collaborators of the system of the RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on restoring them on their previously held offices started
in the Administrative Court of the Republic of Armenia under the
chairmanship of judge Hovsep Bedevian. Vladimir Karapetian, the Head
of the Press and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Karine Afrikian, the Head of the U.S. and Canada Division
of the RA MInistry of Foreign Affairs, Marta Ayvazian, the Head of
NATO Division of Arms Control and International Security Department,
and Arakel Semirjian, the European Department Adviser, were relieved
of their posts for breaching the provisions of the law on "Diplomatic
service" on the February 25 and March 3 orders of Vardan Oskanian,
the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Levon Baghdasarian, the representative of the plaintiff’s side,
stressed that law prohibits a diplomat to make use of his/her
official position and working resources in the interest of parties,
non-governmental organizations and other political or religious
activities. Such actions have not been made by his defendants,
moreover, law prohibits to release a person from his/her post
for his/her convictions and viewpoints. According to him, just a
preoccupation is expressed on the occasion of the created situation
in the country in the February 24 statement of the plaintiff 4
former collaborators, the violations in the electoral process were
obvious and everybody was speaking about them. Plaintiff Vladimir
Karapetian clarified that the statement was not of political but of
civil character and was in keeping with the approaches expressed by
the representatives of the leadership of the country in that period,
the institution of about forty cases in connection with the violations
speaks about this. He quoted the public speeches of RA President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian and Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian. The further March 1 events: 10 victims, hundreds of
injured, split society as a result of extreme confrontation, tens of
statements from international organizations prove that the situation
caused anxiety.

The plaintiffs mentioned that the distorted variant of the February
23 statement of Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdian, Ambassadors
Ruben Shugarian, Levon Khachatrian and Razmik Khumarian, which preceded
their statement, was introduced to court by the respondent side. The
plaintiff’s side introduced to court the statement in its initial form,
which was attached to the materials of the case.

In response to the question of the plaintiff’s side of whether they
can mention one expression in the statement of the plaintiffs, which
will show that the diplomats have supported any political force,
the respondent side only mentioned that the text of the statement
was made public by RA former President Levon Ter-Petrosian in the
Liberty square of Yerevan. No argument was either brought about the
fact that corresponding punitive measures have not been applied,
for example, against RA Deputy MInister of Foreign Affairs Gegham
Gharibjanian for supporting current Prime MInister Serge Sargsian,
one of the candidates running for the post of the RA President. And
Ruben Hakobian, the Consul General of Armenia to Saint Petersburg,
was released from his post by rotation order and not for taking part
in the campaign of the Dashnaktsutiun party, therefore, according to
the plaintiff’s side, a discriminative attitude has been displayed
towards them: they have been quickly released from their positions
without demanding an explanatory note.

Satenik Abgarian, the Head of the Legal Department of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, who represented the respondent side, and Levon
Amirjanian, the Adviser of the Secretariat of the staff of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, insisted upon the answer submitted to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to which the release of the
former collaborators from their posts is within the law and proceeds
from the provisions of the law.

The trial finished in the court, the court will make public its
decision on May 29.

PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL VALUES AND DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN ART ARE TOP PRIORITIES IN CULTURAL SPHERE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2007 state budgetary allocations of
16.7 billion drams for the sphere of culture were almost completely
spent, the RA chief treasurer Atom Janjughazian stated in the National
Assembly on May 14.

According to the minister of culture Hasmik Poghosian, the preservation
of the cultural heritage and the development of modern art were
priorities of the cultural sphere in the reported year as well. A
number of programs on cultural education were implemented.

With the aim of preserving the cultural heritage, restoration of
15 monuments and design of 15 monuments’restoration was done in
2007. Sums were allocated from the reserve fund of the government
for improvement of monument to the Serb pilots in connection with the
20th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake and for restoration of the
Bash-Aparan Memorial Complex.

584 mln drams was allocated from the 2007 state budget for 13 state
libraries under the jurisdiction of the ministry of culture, with
this sum being completely spent. According to the minister, a 3-year
program on major repairs of libraries was launched last year.

IT AND INNOVATION CONFERENCE IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
18:01 14/05/2008

"The transformation period in Armenia should be implemented as
soon as possible, afterwords we’ll manage to cut the gaps in the IT
field," said Nerses Yeritsyan, the minister of Economy, in the IT
and innovation conference started today.

According to him IT is not an ordinary field in Armenia, this is
a field linking other braches of industry together. Signifying the
creation of close relations with the private sector, he mentioned
that the establishment of technopark in Gyumri should be conducted
as soon as possible.

Besdies, it was announced that Microsoft proposed to draft
business-projects for all schools in Armenia.

Hence, the minister said that the representatives of the current
field should be active to start the negotiations with the company.

Note that the conference is organized by the initiative of the
RA Ministry of Economy, Microsoft Yerevan office, CAPS USAID, and
"Enterprises Incubator" foundation.

ACCORDING TO CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC TELEVISION AND RADIO COMPANY’S COUNCIL, STATE FINANCING GIVEN FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES ONLY

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The state budget-financed Public
Television of Armenia does not ensure citizens’ right to receive free
and balanced information, member of the NA "Heritage" faction Armen
Martirosian stated at the May 14 discussion of the execution of the
2007 state budget at the RA National Assembly.

In his words, last year the activities of the opposition were
hardly covered, except for the campaign of the parliamentary
elections. Instead, various shows and other "incompetible with
our people" programs were excessively demonstrated. A. Martirosian
pointed out that the possibility to broadcast all over Armenia gives
the Public Television a considerable advertisement opportunity.

The chairman of the Public Television and Radio Company’s Council
Alexan Harutyunian said that the state budgetary allocations, whose
amount has not changed since 2003, are provided for broadcasting
all over Armenia and satellite broadcasting abroad, while shows are
prepared with commercial revenues. Accrding to him, the broadcasting
all over Armenia is not sufficient to increase commercial revenues.

He said that starting from September of this year, the number of
political programs and TV debates will grow by nearly 50% and will
be shown almost every day. He announced that the second program of
the Public Television – "New Wave" will demonstrate only cultural
and educational programs from September.