Month: May 2008

AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT SANCTIONED SDHP TO HOLD MAY 1 PROCESSION, NAREK GALSTIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Narek Galstian, the
Spokesperson of the Social-Democrat Hnchakian Party, the head of the
Sargis Tkhruni youth organization, very unequal conditions are created
for parties in Armenia. As he stated at the April 30 discussion, the
political parties standing near the power "feeding-rack" have grand,
multi-storeyed, well-furnished offices, while opposition parties
have difficulties in the issue of finding offices. The Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) party making part of the ruling coalition,
according to N. Galstian, has its own multi-storeyed building with its
"entertainment centers" and SDHP rents a modest two-room apartment
for its party work.

N. Galstian said that the authorities have not sanctioned SDHP’s
March 1 procession. He explained that by the circumstance that the
party is a pointed opposition political force.

TIGRAN SARGSIAN: POTENTIAL OF ALL ARMENIANS WILL BECOME OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. "The five bases of world perception of
our program are: we need speed in the quickly changing world, security
in the world becoming small quickly, society and economy based on
knowledge, preservation of spiritual and cultural values, ensurance of
modern man’s freedoms," RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian stated at the
RA NA April 29 sitting presenting government’s program. He said that
the program presented should be approved by not only the political
coalition, NA, government, but also the people, "and the way to it
is to involve each citizen in program’s implementation." According to
the Prime Minister, to ensure solidarity, social integration the rich
should change their way of life, adopt behaviour proper to an Armenian.

T. Sargsian also said that government will itself reveal its
shortcomings and faults and will be "strict, daring, and fair." He
said that the government declares the start of five national projects:
to become a center of superiority of business environment, a center of
education, health, organized rest, a financial center. He assured that
the Armenians spread about the world will have a complete possibility
to take part in implementation of these projects. "The potential of all
Armenians will become our competitive advantage," T. Sargsian stated.

ARMENIAN-IRANIAN COOPERATION UNDERGOES ASCENDING DEVELOPMENT

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. During the April 30 meeting of Serge
Sargsian, the President of the Republic of Armenia, and Seyed Ali
Saghayian, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia,
the two parties stressed the strategic important significance of the
relations of the two countries and mentioned with satisfaction that
due to joint efforts, the Armenian-Iranian cooperation is undergoing
ascending development.

Serge Sargsian described the bilateral relations as stable and
developing mentioning that Armenia is resolute in expanding the
framework of the cooperation. He especially attached importance
to the productive process of the programs being implemented in the
sphere of energetics, as well as considered as primary the increase
of commodity circulation volumes and promotion of cooperation between
private sectors.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, during the meeting they also touched upon
regional problems and the Karabakh conflict regulation process. The
interlocutors were of the same opinion about the fact that the region
is a rather complex one and the efforts of the countries should be
directed at the regional stability and security.

Serge Sargsian welcomed the balanced position of Iran on the regulation
issue of the Karabakh conflict. He once again mentioned that Armenia
is for the peaceful settlement of the problem: within the framework
of international law and in conformity with the self-determination
right of people.

"OPENING OF EMBASSY OF LITHUANIA IN RA WILL PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS," RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Eduard Nalbandian, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, received Giedrius Apuokas,
the newly appointed Ambassador of Lithuania, on the occasion of
conveying the copy of the credentials. This information was provided
to Noyan Tapan by the Press and Information Department of the RA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Eduard Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia is interested in strengthening
and developing the cooperation between the two countries still more and
in this respect the opening of the Embassy of Lithuania in Armenia can
promote the development of the bilateral relations. He stressed that
the cooperation with Lithuania will also be useful in the development
implication of the Armenia – European Union relations.

Mentioning in his turn that Lithuania has traditionally treated
Armenia with a special warmness, Giedrius Apuokas attached importance
to the deepening of a multi-lateral cooperation with Armenia and the
creation of ties between departments. The Ambassador stated that he
will pay a great attention to the development of the trade-economic
and cultural ties of the two countries.

Certificate: Giedrius Apuokas was born in the city of Vilnius in
1957. In 1976 he graduated from the Mathematics faculty of the
Vilnius University and in 1980 from the Moscow State University
after Lomonosov. In 1991 he worked as a senior collaborator in
the information center of the Ministry of Culture and Education of
Lithuania and in 1991-1992 as a second secretary of the Department
of Eastern and Central Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Lithuania. Then he worked in the Embassy of Lithuania in the Republic
of Czechia until 1995 as an advisor. In 1995-1998 he was the Head of
the Department of America of the Administration of America, Africa,
and Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, the Consul
General of Lithuania in Chicago until 2003, and since 2003 Deputy
Head and Head of the Department of Information Technologies of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. He masters the English,
Russian, Czech, Slovakian, Polish and German languages. He is married
and has two children.

"STATEMENT OF RA NA ON NKR REFLECTS RETREATING POLICY," REPRESENTATIVE OF ZHARANGUTIUN FINDS

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Two events connected with the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh took place during the current four-day sittings
of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. This statement
was made by Stepan Safarian, a member of the Zharangutiun (Heritage)
faction, in the parliament on April 29.

Reminding that the parliament refused to include the bill drafted by
Raffi Hovhannisian, the Head of the given faction, on the recognition
of the independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh on the agenda
on the previous day, the MP stressed the significance of the draft in
terms of preventing undesirable phenomena in the negotiation process,
using the precedent of the international recognition of Kosovo in
the interests of Nagorno Karabakh and strengthening the security
guarantees of Nagorno Karabakh.

Touching upon the statement adopted on April 29 on the "Regulation of
the Nagorno Karabakh problem", which was drafted by Tigran Torosian,
the Speaker of the National Assembly, Stepan Safarian mentioned that
"the adoption of a statement reflecting such a cowardly, retreating
policy by the National Assembly" does not advance the interntional
recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh or the process of its
security strengthening for even a step. He persuaded his colleagues
"to keep away from the temptation of drafting and monopolizing issues
and think from the point of view of the national interests."

STAR COMPANY BECOMES MAIN SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the agreement signed on
April 30 between the Football Federation of Armenia and Star company,
the company assumed the responsibilities of the main sponsor of the
Football 2008 Championship of Armenia. Star will be advertised in
the Championship of Armenia and in its turn will provide financial
resources to the federation for giving them to the clubs in the
proportionate way.

Ruben Hayrapetian, the Chairman of the Football Federation of
Armenia, and Vahan Kerobian, the Executive Director of Star, signed
the agreement.

4 SAMBO PLAYERS OF ARMENIA BECOME PRIZE WINNERS OF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

TBILISI, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Sambo Championship ended
in Tbilisi on April 30, in which 12 sportmen from Armenia participated.

In his weight category Ashot Danielian (74 kg) took the 2nd place,
and Hakob Arakelian (90 kg), Aren Mehrabian (68 kg) and Ruzan Sargsian
(52 kg) took the third place.

THREE CHESS PLAYERS IN LEAD IN MEN’S AND WOMEN’S EUROPEAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

PLOVDIV, APRIL 30, NOAYAN TAPAN. Three chess players are in the lead
after 8 tours in the Men’s European Chess Championship which is being
held in the city of Plovdiv, Poland. Sergey Movsisian (Slovakia), Emil
Sutovski (Israel), and Pavel Trigubov (Russia) gained 6.5 points each
out of 8 possible ones and share the 1-3rd places. 14 participants
have 6 points each. Vladimir Hakobian shares the 18-44th places with
5.5 points.

Three participants are also in the lead in the women’s tournament. Pia
Kramling (Sweden), Katerina Lahno and Anna Ushenina (both from Ukraine)
share the 1-3rd places with 6.5 points. Elina Danielian shares the
8-21st places with 5.5 points and Lilit Mkrtchian 22-45th places with
5 points.

ALL PEOPLE INJURED DURING MARCH 1 EVENTS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITALS

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. No person injured during the March 1-1
events in Yerevan has remained in hospitals as of April 30. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed by Haroutiun Kushkian, the RA Minister
of Health, citizen of U.S. Hovhannes Asatrian was discharged from
the Erebuni medical center the day before. He was taken to hospital
with fire-arms injuries in his behind and stomach. According to the
Minister, at present H. Asatrian’s condition is estimated as normal.

MOST OF RA CITIZENS LEAVING FOR RUSSIA FOR WORKING HAVE STATUS OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

Noyan Tapan
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. An international conference on the
subject Migration Tendencies from Armenia to Russia started its
proceedings on April 29 in Yerevan on the initiative of the Eurasia
Cooperation foundation and Soldier’s Mother NGO.

Gagik Yeganian, the Head of the Migration Agency of the RA Territorial
Administration Ministry, presented the migration situation in
2001-2007.

According to him, a growth of passenger circulation, reduction of
migration negative balance and its turning into a positive one was
recorded in those years. Thus, passenger circulation made 14% in 2005,
15.9% in 2006, and 33.1% in 2007. Migration negative balance made
10 thousand people in 2003 against 50-60 thousand of the previous
years. Migration positive balance was registered in the country
from 2004: it made 2 thousand in 2004, 12.5 thousand in 2005, 21.8
thousand people in 2006. However, again migration negative balance,
3.2 thousand people, was recorded in 2007.

G. Yeganian said that 3-3.8% permanent population of Armenia or
96-122 thousand people were involved in the labor migration process
in 2005-2006.

According to sociological surveys, 93.5% respondents mentioned problems
connected with employment in Armenia as the cause of their leaving the
country. 46.5% of them mentioned the circumstance of being unemployed,
43% of low salary. It was also mentioned that most of labor migrants,
93%, have left for Russia. According to G. Yeganian, most of the RA
citizens leaving for Russia for working continue having the status
of illegal migrants. The head of the agency said that issues of
regulation of RA citizens’ legal labor activity in Russia are being
discussed with different RF bodies at present.