Month: May 2008

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MORE FUNDS FOR VITAL INVESTMENT IN EU’s NEIGHBOURHOOD
[01:11 pm] 07 May, 2008

The EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) was
formally launched yesterday, the 6th of May, by Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
representatives of EU Member States and ENP[1] partner
countries. The NIF is a key instrument of the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and will mobilise
additional funding for infrastructure projects mainly
in the energy, transport and environment sectors in
the entire area of the European Neighbourhood Policy
by providing grant support for lending operations of
public European financial institutions. The Commission
has already made available 100 out of the 700
million it intends to allocate to the NIF for the
period 2007-2013. On top of this, the Facility is open
to contributions from all EU Member States so that
resources from the Community budget and of the EU
countries and public financial institutions will be
pooled and better streamlined for the benefit of
partner countries. Germany (10 million), Italy (1
million) and Sweden (1 million) plan to allocate
funds to the NIF in 2008; others Member States are
expected to announce their contributions shortly.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "With this Investment
Facility we will not only promote the construction of
transport and energy infrastructure interconnections
between the EU and our neighbours but we will also
address common environmental challenges such as the
use of renewable energy and the de-pollution of
Mediterranean and Black Seas. Concrete projects
financed under this facility will bring tangible
benefits to citizens of the neighbouring countries and
the Union alike and will bring our partners closer to
the EU.’ And she added: "The NIF is a truly European
initiative. I welcome the first contributions from
Germany, Italy and Sweden to the NIF and encourage
other Member States to use this tool for channelling
their support to key investment in our immediate
neighbourhood."

Although the NIF will concentrate on the energy,
transport and environment sectors, its support may
also be provided for SME development and to social
sector projects. It is expected that the Facility will
generate up to 5-6 billion of lending.

Geographically NIF operations will focus on countries
with ENP Action Plans agreed with the EU, namely
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon,
Moldova, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian territory,
Tunisia and Ukraine[2]. Moreover, on a case by case
basis, the other Neighbourhood countries may also
profit from NIF grant support for projects of cross
border or regional nature to which the EU and its
neighbouring partners attach particular interest.

UN Secretary-General congratulates PM Tigran Sargsyan

armradio.am
06.05.2008 12:53

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated RA Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan on appointment. The congratulatory message states in part:

`I extend to you my congratulations on your appointment as Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia and wish you every success with the
discharge of your new duties.

During the past few months, the people of Armenia confirmed its desire
to strengthen democratic institutions in your country in a bid to
achieve prosperity and social equality. I am convinced that under your
guidance the government of Armenia will meet its goals through
democratization and implementation of social and economic programs.

I look forward to close cooperation with your government and yourself
with a view to developing the regional cooperation in South Caucasus.

Rest assured that the whole body of the United Nations will join me in
an effort to support you along this path."

Panorama.am

16:26 07/05/2008

NALBANDYAN MET MAMEDIAROV. AGREEMENT REACHED

On 6 May Edvard Nalbandian, the Foreign Affairs
Minister of Armenia, had a meeting with his Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mamediarov. The meeting took place
in Council of Europe France permanent representation
and the OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen Bernard Fussier
(France), Mattiew Bryza (USA), Yuri Merzliakov
(Russia), and OSCE ongoing president special
representative Anjey Kasprchik were also present at
the meeting.

According to the press and public relations department
of the FAM, after minister Nalbandian said that the
meeting has held more cognitive mission. The two
ministers have shared their opinions on Karabakh
question current activities; they have presented the
attitude and perspectives of their countries and made
arrangements to keep the negotiations. The minister
should present the discussion results and the future
blueprints should be arranged by the presidents.

Before the meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister
of Azerbaijan, Mr Nalbandian had a meeting with the
OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen and the special
representative of the OSCE ongoing president. The
Minister said that Armenian authorities highly
evaluate the activities and efforts conducted by the
co-chairmen and are ready to continue the negotiations
by the support of the Minsk group representatives.

Source: Panorama.am

RA Prime Minister receives congratulation from the Chairman of Council
of Ministers of Italy

armradio.am
06.05.2008 13:21

On behalf of the Italian cabinet, Chairman of Council of Ministers of
Italy Romano Prodi congratulated Tigran Sargsyan on his appointment to
the post of RA Prime Minister. His message states, in part:

"On behalf of the Government of Italy and myself, please accept my most
sincere congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister of the
Republic of Armenia.

I am confident that the excellent relationship between our two
countries will be given further opportunities for development in the
political, economic and cultural spheres.

I wish you personal well-being and every success in this new post of
high trust."

NATO experts visiting Armenia

armradio.am
06.05.2008 14:48

The expert group of NATO arrived in Armenia today for a two-day working
visit for the purpose of holding discussions in RA Ministry of Defense
on the improvement of military-educational programs in the context of
the arrangement to continue the cooperation, Spokesman of the Ministry
of Defense, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan informed.

Panorama.am

16:28 07/05/2008

`YOUTH INDIFFERENT TO THEIR EDUCATION’

Today `Youth and Skills. Specialized education and
training’ (SET) seminar took place. The seminar is
organized by the Ministry of Education, European
educational foundation by the support of `Global
Developments’. According to Aram Avagyan, the
president of `Global Developments’ foundation, the
mission of the seminar is to inform the interested
side about the perspectives of specialized education
and its present and future developments, as well as
the SET objectives in Europe and Armenia.

A. Avagyan said that three international experts are
invited to share their European experience with the
participants of the seminar. `Today the level of
education in Armenia does not correspond to the
demands of the labor market. Hence, our problem is to
find ways to match the level of education with the
level of the labor market,’ said A. Avagyan.

Levon Lazarian, the Minister of Education said that
the mission of the seminar is to link education and
the labor market, and their demands. The minister
notified that the youth is indifferent to their
education and the value of that. `This problem should
be solved,’ he said.

Source: Panorama.am

Edward Nalbandian: There is no alternative to the peaceful and
negotiated solution to the Karabakh issue

armradio.am
06.05.2008 14:01

On May 5 in Paris RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had his first
official meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European
Cooperation of France Bernard Kouchner. During the meeting the
interlocutors discussed issues of bilateral, regional and international
importance. Congratulating Edward Nalbandian on appointment and
stressing the importance of his contribution to the development of
Armenian-French relations as Armenian Ambassador to France, Bernard
Kouchner expressed confidence that he will continue working in the
direction of deepening the ties between the two countries.

Attaching importance to the dialogue and mutual understanding launched
between the leaders of Armenia and France on the highest level, which
creates a solid basis for the development of interstate relations, the
Ministers expressed readiness to make every effort to ensure bilateral
cooperation both in bilateral format and on the European, regional and
international levels.

Edward Nalbandian presented to Bernard Kouchner the pivotal directions
of activity of the coalition government formed in Armenia as a result
of the presidential elections, as well as the views of the Armenian
leadership on ensuring regional security, settlement of the existing
conflicts and development of cooperation. In this regard special
attention was paid to the current state and perspectives of
negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement. Edward Nalbandian
expressed the willingness of the Armenian side to continue the
negotiations on the basis of the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs, highly appreciating the efforts of the mediators in the
direction of solving the conflict. The French Foreign Minister assured
that his country will sustain the efforts within the OSCE Minsk Group
to find ways of Karabakh conflict resolution.

In light of French presidency of the EU from the second half of the
current year, the Ministers turned to the issue of deepening of the
relations with Armenia within the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy. Reference was made to a number of regional issues.

At the end of the meeting Edward Nalbandian invited Bernard Kouchner to
Yerevan, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference, during which the
Foreign Ministers responded to the journalists’ questions.

Reconfirming Armenia’s willingness to settle the Karabakh issue in a
peaceful manner and via negotiations, Edward Nalbandian declared:
`Today there is a need to establish mutual trust and a constructive
atmosphere for the negotiations. Today there is a necessity to
reconfirm that there is no alternative to the peaceful and negotiated
solution to the Karabakh issue. In Strasbourg I will meet my Azeri
counterpart and I hope that we shall continue the constructive dialogue
to find ways of peaceful solution with the help of the mediators.’

Turning to the normalization of relations with Turkey, RA Foreign
Minister declared that the current generations of the two peoples have
received a heavy inheritance from the past and the political leaders
should move forward to turn this black page. `For its part, Armenia is
ready. We propose to reestablish relations without any precondition,
which will benefit the whole region and our peoples.’

Panorama.am

16:29 07/05/2008

EFFECT OF CREATING UNOPEN MAN…

Today a discussion took place on `Prerequisites of
structuring political elite and their perspectives in
Armenia’ subject in the Press National Club. `Elite in
Armenia is in the process of degradation,’ said Larisa
Alaverdyan, NA deputy and member of `Heritage’ group.
According to her the political elite is unaware of its
doings most of the time. `And, I guess, that the
reason is not having free and open person. We have not
filled that gap and all the obstacles are the effects
of creating unopen man,’ she said.

NA deputy and ARF member Alvard Petrosyan said that it
is natural as a nation living in the Soviet Union can
not be free and democratic at once. `I do not believe
in it. How have we become a democratic after the total
regime?’ she said.

`Today they talk about civil society, but we can not
create a democratic society as people should create
it,’ said A. Petrosyan.

Heghine Bisharyan, NA deputy and `Country of Laws’
party member said that the political elite should be
of principle and moral image. `Ideology has lost its
value anymore. There are more than hundred parties but
they spread opinions and not ideologies,’ she said.

According to Ruzan Khachatryan, member of People’s
Party of Armenia, the political elite is mechanical.
She said that unless the elections lack democratic
principles, political elite won’t be established.

Source: Panorama.am

There is no money to repair 17 km section of North-South

07-05-2008 12:58:11 – KarabakhOpen

On May 27 the board of trustees of Armenia Foundation will meet and
discuss future plans, including Karabakh programs, said the director of
the Karabakh programs Michel Tancrez in an interview with
Karabakh-Open.com.

With regard to the construction of the road North-South on the funds
raised during the telethon of 2005, Michel Tancrez said they have
encountered major problems. `If in the beginning when the Foundation
started to implement the program the repair of 1 sq km of road cost 100
dollars, now it costs 300,’ said the director of Karabakh programs.
Nevertheless, he says work on some sections of the road continues.
However, there is no money for a 17 km section.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Shoushi liberated without the approval of the senior leadership of
Armenia

armradio.am
06.05.2008 15:41

The exceptional military operation of Shoushi liberation was carried
out without the approval of the senior leadership of Armenia, since the
number of Armenian troops deployed in that part of the front made
impossible the realizations of such a complex operation.

Hero of the Karabakh war, organizer and commander of the operation of
Shoushi’s liberation Arcady Ter-Tadevosyan (Commandos) told a press
conference today that the Armenian authorities realize pretty well that
according to all rules of military art, the organization of such an
operation with the available means could result in many losses.

`Azeris had 2 500 soldiers in Shoushi. We had only 3 500 soldiers along
40 km of the frontline. However, it is clear that the attacking side
should have at least thrice as many troops as the defending side. We
needed at least 7 500 people, and 10 000 for the Shoushi operation, so
we were not ready to liberate Shoushi. The Armenian authorities
realized that, that is why they did not want to risk,’ Arcady
Ter-Tadevosyan said.

However, the liberation of Shoushi was a question of life or death,
since it was the point from where the enemy was bombarding capital
Stepanakert every day. For that reason, according to Arcady
Ter-Tadevosyan, the commanders of more than 80 detachments under his
command were demanding to carry out the risky military operation.

`The liberation of Shoushi is their achievement, the result of their
heroism, since only under their pressure I applied to the Head of the
NKR Defense Committee Serzh Sargsyan, who ordered to carry out the
operation,’ the legendary Commandos added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress