Month: May 2008

ARMENIA’S TRADE RISES 1.5 PERCENT IN QUARTER ONE

ARMENPRESS
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s trade in quarter one rose
1.5 percent from a year before amounting, by current prices, to 283
billion Drams.

According to numbers, released by the National Statistical Service,
retail trade rose 4.5 percent to 184.3 billion Drams. Wholesale trade
volumes fell 10 percent from a year before to 76.8 billion Drams. Car
sale rates grew almost 30 percent to 20.8 billion Drams.

The bulk of retail trade was made by shops-96 billion Drams, which was
9 percent higher from a year before. Second were consumer fairs-36.7
billion Drams and trade kiosks were third with 10.1 billion Drams
trade turnover.

The last two figures declined 17 and 16 percent respectively from
a year before. Agricultural products retail trade made 5.3 billion
Drams, which also fell 10 percent from a year before.

Per capita trade in quarter one was 57,000 Drams (less than $200)

VESTRON WINS TENDER FOR SUPPLY OF EQUIPMENT FOR ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

ARMENPRESS
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS: A Ukrainian-American company, Vestron,
was recognized the winner of an international tender for supply and
installment of equipment for the second unit of the Armenian nuclear
power plant in Metsamor.

Movses Vardanian, the chief engineer of the nuclear power plant, told
Armenpress that the supply and installment of the equipment is part
of safety raising measures. He said the new equipment is intended for
ensuring uninterrupted power supply to unit 2 in case of emergencies.

Vestron cooperated with the Armenian nuclear power plant in the
past. It built an automatic management system for ensuring proper
water levels for all 6 steam generators of the plant.

Movses Vardanian said the government of the U.S. provides the plant
with annual financial assistance to help raise its safety. He said
this assistance in the last 15 years amounted to $35 million.

The tender for supply and installment of equipment was held with the
support of the U.S. government, Movses Vardanian said.

WAS SOLUTION FAIR?

A1+
[02:00 pm] 05 May, 2008

The State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC)
has suspended the administrative process launched on the basis of the
appeal of the "Pares Armenia" Company. "Pares Armenia," the distributor
of "Philip Morris" International, had appealed to the SCPEC to lift
the ban on excise stamps imposed by the Customs Committee.

The SCPEC had requested additional documents from the company and
elucidation from the Customs Service.

According to the company’s notification, the Customs Committee
refused to provide excise stamps because the term of the agreement
is not clear from the corresponding agreement. According to the same
notification, afterwards the company imported another two consignments
of cigarettes to Armenia, paid duties and the products were declared
but according to the company, the customs committee was not issued,
and the ban was not lifted.

The Customs Committee informed the SCPEC that the design of boxes
of cigarettes did not comply with the law on advertisement. The
committee has inquired with the relevant bodies, and the process will
be determined by their conclusion. At the same time, considering
that the problem requires time, the company was allowed to get the
consignment of cigarettes at the customs service. Since the problem
raised by the company has been solved, the SCPEC suspends the process,
the SCPEC reports.

By the way, several days ago an agreement was reached to sell the
shares of "Pares Armenia" held by the Sukiassian family to the
"Sovrano" Company. Philip Morris cigarettes are already sold at shops.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW MAYOR

A1+
[03:22 pm] 05 May, 2008

According to our preliminary data, Republican Party (HHK) member and
businessman Gagik Sahakian has been elected Mayor of Gyumri. He gained
2154 votes at yesterday’s election. The acting mayor, Vanik Asatrian,
gained 1657 votes, followed by Ashot Hovhannissian with 1265, Artyom
Makarian with 1440, Samvel Gabrielian with 881, Miran Sisakian with
613 and Serzhik Tadevossian with 30 votes, CEC press secretary Tatevik
Ohanian told A1+.

8254 eligible voters participated in the vote

SHOCKING CONFESSIONS OF CEMIL BAYIK’S BODYGUARD

Vatan
April 30 2008
Turkey

One of the PKK’s leading figures Cemil Bayik had a bodyguard called
I.K. aka "Delil" [Evidence] who joined the PKK in 1977 after being
given asylum by Germany but who surrendered after 11 years of working
for the organization. He has been confessing. Asserting that three
women suicide bombers are in Turkey and that they are going to strike,
the terrorist I.K. said that the organization has three tons of A04 and
C-4 plastic explosive. Asserting also that the DTP [Democratic Society
Party] is recruiting for the PKK’s mountain cadres, I.K. explained
that an American military official came to Mt Qandil and held a secret
meeting with Cemil Bayik.

After being given political asylum by Germany 28-year old I.K joined
the PKK 11 years ago. He was persuaded to surrender after a phone
call to his family and he handed himself in to the security forces in
the Bozova District of Sanliurfa. He is now on trial on charges of
being a member of an illegal organization and could face 15 years
in prison. I.K. took part in activities to help politicize the
organization in Berlin, Germany, in Holland, in Belgium and in the
Georgian capital Tbilisi plus Yerevan in Armenia. He then walked to
Azerbaijan and from there to Mako in Iran in order to join the PKK’s
mountain cadre. He has made some important confessions.

EUROPE CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED

Panorama.am
16:55 03/05/2008

The champions of Europe Chess Championship which took place in Plovdiv
are set distinct. Sergey Tivlyakov who has 8.5 scores presented Holland
and became the championship. Armenian GM Sergey Movsisyan presenting
Slovakia has 8 scores and occupied 2-10 horizontals.

Armenian GM Vladimir Hakobyan has 7.5 scores and occupies 19th
horizontal. Note that 357 chess players took part in the championship.

Female chess player Russian Katerina Lahno has 8.5 scores and became
a champion. Armenian GM Lilit mkrtchyan occupies 2-7 horizontals,
Elina Danielyan – 8-16. Totally 159 female chess players took part
in the championship.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FORMER ITALIAN PRESIDENT TO KHABAT: KURDISTAN WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT STATE IN FEW YEARS

Khabat, Arbil
April 30 2008
Iraq

Interview conducted by Shorish Aziz Surmeh

In n exclusive interview with Khabat, former Italian President
Francesco Cossiga has criticized European policy on Kurdistan and
describing it as uncertain. About the future of Kurdistan, he said
that after a few years Kurdistan would be an independent state. In
the interview he looks back to history and criticized the way the
superpowers of the era of the two world wars run the world. He says:
"Unfortunately after the two wars the superpowers created the
borders in line with their own political, economical and military
interests. The Kurds are still paying the price of these borders."

[Khabat] President Cossiga, you are known as champion of the oppressed
peoples. You are well aware of the situation of the Kurdish people who
have been oppressed for many decades and their country was unjustly
divided up by victorious countries of the World War I. Do you think
that Europe should help the Kurds in this small part of their homeland,
Iraqi Kurdistan, to develop the process of democracy?

[Cossiga] Unfortunately, Europe does not have a firm policy on this
and furthermore for NATO Turkey is much more important than Kurdistan.

[Khabat] Mr President, it is the 21century now. Should in this age
a nation of 40 million people with their own land, history, language
and culture still fight for survival or should there be an independent
Kurdistan, which is much larger than Kosovo?

[Cossiga] I believe that within the next few years there will be an
independent Kurdistan and then there will emerge a balance in this
region with the support of the US and the Russian Federation. At
present, the Kurdish issue is tied to the issue of security in
Iraq. The US wants Turkey to stay in the NATO. This makes America
gives special importance to Turkey.

In the case of Kosovo’s independence, we see that Spain expressed
its opposition because they are afraid that accepting the right of
self-determination for a nation will open the door for the recognition
of self-determination for the peoples of Basque and Catalonia. We must
also notice that although Slovakia chose self-determination to end
the united Czechoslovakian state, it refrained from the recognition
of Kosovo for fear that this will lead to its own recognition of
self-determination of the Hungarian minority who compose 10 per cent
of Slovakia’s population who, although they have a lot of autonomy,
might ask for self-determination and reunification with Hungary. In
fact they were part of Hungary for many centuries. Unfortunately,
after the world wars the superpowers divided up nations and drew
borders in line with their own political, economic and military
interests. The Kurds are one of those nations that are still paying
the price of this policy.

We must also not forget that in Turkey it is still a crime to recognize
the genocide of the Armenians.

[Khabat] The Kurds were against the Saddam’s regime. Now this regime
has gone and the Kurds are working for a federal system in Iraq. What
do you think of the efforts of Turkey, Syria and Iran to undermine
the federal solution, and who are also accusing the Kurds of seeking
independence?

[Cossiga] I believe that the federal system is the only solution
to keep the integrity of Iraq as one state. It is known that this
system was created by Britain after World War I. Iran considers
itself the most powerful state in the Middle East. Syria hopes to
share Iranian power. They both want to create discord between Iraqi
political groups. They are openly against a federal solution and they
consider it a Kurdish plot. Turkey, too, opposes this solution with
American support because an autonomous Kurdistan region will become
a great pull factor for the Kurds of Turkey.

MEDIA FREEDOM DAY

Panorama.am
18:02 03/05/2008

Today the world celebrates the international day of media freedom. In
this regard UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon sent his message which
states:

"Starting from the education of the youngest members in the world to
the citizens’ full participation in the political life and access
to information provides a unique chance to make reformations in
our lives and communities. As much as water is a must component for
life, knowledge is also important to contribute to the ability of
understanding and changing things.

When information is freely spread people are equipped by the skills
to manage their own lives. When the flow of information is disrupted
either because of political reasons or technical ones our activities
are also disrupted.

Sixty years ago Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 19
defined "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and
to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media
and regardless of frontiers".

As the high speed of globalization strengthened the development of
media freedom, its pluralism and professionalism, the necessity of
the current right has never been so vital. Technological development
has contributed to the media and information acknowledgement as an
equal right of everybody.

Free, reliable and independent media is the basis of peace and
democracy. The Attacks against media freedom are directed to the
international human rights and freedom and to the aspects of UN
protection.

Hence, I am feeling more concerned as the journalists become a threat
to the criminal activities and they are disappointed when such cases
are not properly examined.

In this day of Media Freedom and in this year of 60 anniversary of
Human Rights Declaration I call on all the forces to take measures
to protect the journalists from attacks, and bringing the criminals
to the court.

I call everybody on to work for the media freedom and protection."

Panorama.am congratulates its colleagues for the day and wishes
success in professional activities and remind that REAL FREEDOM COMES
FROM INNER…

NKR PRESIDENT WELCOMED THE ALL-ARMENIAN PILGRIMAGE PARTICIPANTS

Panorama.am
11:30 05/05/2008

"Today, we need unity and solidarity more than ever.

Only in this way we can solve numerous problems that our two republics
face. The history of our nation has proved more than once that we
have no other way out.

It is a call of the times and the basic guarantee of our victories",
the NKR President Bako Sahakian stated in his welcoming speech at the
meeting with participants of the All-Armenian pilgrimage to Artsakh,
under the motto "Forward to God, Armenia", which started in the Holy
See St.Echmiadzin on May 1.

The Head of State noted with satisfaction that most pilgrims were
young Armenians from different parts of the world.

"This is the best evidence that unity is one of the main peculiarities
of our nation. Throughout their history, the Armenians overcame all the
difficulties with honor, when they were united. This unprecedented
initiative comprises elements of this significant unity, which
symbolizes a firm link among republic-society-church. I am also
satisfied with the circumstance that our soldiers and the Defense
Ministry actively participated in organizing this All-Armenian event",
Bako Sahakian said.

The All-Armenian pilgrimage participants (500 people) organized a
meeting "One Nation, One State, One Faith" in Shoushi.

The leader of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Archbishop Pargev Martirossyan blessed the pilgrims in
St.Ghazanchetsots Church of Shoushi. The Archbishop mentioned that
Shoushi is the place of pilgrimage for all Armenians.

"We have liberated Shoushi under the motto "One Nation, One State,
One Faith" and namely under this motto we have to continue our national
struggle", Artsakh’s spiritual leader said.

The pilgrims visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex and then returned
to Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SPIRITUAL INFORMATION

Panorama.am
14:39 05/05/2008

Have you questions to the priest? Write to the e-mail address
[email protected] and the clergy will willingly answer all
questions interesting you. It is according to this principle that
the website continues to function already for 5 years.

"AZD Production" has elaborated and shaped the websites
and of Araratian Patriarchal
Diocese according to new design having both ecclesiastical and
meanwhile modern solutions. The website functions with the blessing
of the Diocesan Primate His Eminence Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan
already for 10 years. And the website functions only
for 5 years and however, during that period it has been useful to
Armenians and foreigners living in more than 32 countries throughout
the world. Author of the program is Eliza Manukian, Responsible for
the Press Department of Araratian Patriarchal Diocese. Sponsors of
the program are Mr. and Mrs. Vahe and Irina Haroutunian.

Presently the websites and of
Araratian Patriarchal Diocese suggest the visitors a number of very
important and useful innovations.

– Church Calendar It is known that according to the Armenian Apostolic
Church Calendar the dates of many church feasts are not fixed and are
changeable, that is – each year they are celebrated or commemorated
on various days. From now on visiting the websites visitors may know
the date of any feast up to the year of 2030. The websites contain
the church feast dates and their descriptions in Armenian, Russian
and English Languages.

– Bible in One Year For being acquainted with the Holy Bible and
studying it we suggest you reading it divided into equal parts.

That is, we suggest you a special program of studying the Holy Bible
thanks to which it is possible to read every day the daily passage
and in the end of the year to finish the reading and the study of
the Holy Bible.

In case of questions arising during the study of the Holy Bible please
don’t hesitate to turn to the e-mail address [email protected].

– Hymns and songs sung during the Divine Liturgy The hymns and songs
sung during the Divine Liturgy are presented in the websites. The
hymns and songs are sung by the Choir "Hover"

– Audio reports of spiritual nature in MP3 format This innovation
provides the chance of listening to the reports of spiritual nature
installed in the website.

– Photo reports

Diocesan news, the activity of the Youth Association are elucidated
not only by means of articles, but also photo reports and series.

– Questions In this section any person may participate in voting
concerning any topic of spiritual nature. Voting results are summarized
by the clergy, psychologists, as well as specialists of other fields
who provide analyses on the topics under discussion.

– Articles In this section interesting articles and analyses on
spiritual topics are presented.

– Links to other useful spiritual sites Possibility to become
acquainted with other useful spiritual websites.

– Search system Possibility to find in the website any topic
interesting the visitors.

It is proper to remind that in 2006 the websites
and of Araratian Patriarchal Diocese won the grand prizes
in the All-Armenian e-Content Award Competition in the nominations
of El-inclusion and El-design. The competition was organized under
the auspices the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Besides the above mentioned innovations the clergy continue to
answer the questions interesting the visitors by means of the website

Answers and questions to them, interviews on various topics with the
clergymen and public, political figures, intellectuals, scientists and
artists are installed in the website The sections of
announcements, diocesan news and spiritual literature are periodically
refreshed.