Month: May 2008

ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS ACTIVATED IN 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.05.2008 14:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Caucasus 2007 international conference kicked off
in Yerevan today. The conference will focus on the events taking
place in the South Caucasus.

"The participants are free to discuss the events that took place last
year, the most important of them being the elections in Georgia and
Armenia. Efforts for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement were
continued.

Some kind of dynamics was observed in the Armenia-Turkey informal
relations. However, the meetings and discussions can’t ensure
a breakthrough in the near future," said Alexander Iskandaryan,
director of Caucasus Institute.

The possibility of normalization of relations between the two states
is strong enough but Armenian and Turkish diplomacies have a great
deal of work to do, according to him.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPINION: RUSSIAN MAJOR CAPITAL’S COMING TO ARMENIAN MARKET MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF 2007

ARKA
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Russian major capital’s coming to Armenian
markets is the most important event of 2007, Director of Caucasus
Mass Media Institute (CMI) Alexander Iskandarian said at international
conference "Caucasus-2007".

Major Russian players like "Troyka dialogue" and "Gasprom" came to
the banking field of Armenia in 2007.

On August 6 2007, Russian group of companies "Troyka Dialogue" in
the person of "TDA Holding Limited" fund became major stockholder of
Armimpexbank closed joint stock company.

On November 29 Gasprom open joint stock company, the third biggest
Russian bank, purchased 80.09% of the shares of Areximbank (Armenia).

In April 2007, the Russian VimpelCom (Beeline trademark) became
the sole owner of ArmenTel telecommunication company. In September
"Mobile Telesystems" open joint stock company purchased 80% of the
shares of K-Telecom mobile operator (VivaCell trademark).

The political scientist also stressed the quite important role the
parliamentary elections the presidential election campaign played in
Armenia.

CHILDHOOD WORLD EXPO – 2008 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON MAY 30 – JUNE 1

ARKA
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Childhood World EXPO – 2008 international
specialized exhibition is to be held from May 30 to June 1 in the
cultural and business center "Dom Moskvi" (House of Moscow) in Yerevan.

The main sections of the display will be Goods for children, food
for children, medical services for children, children’s education,
financial services for children and children’s recreation and tourism.

A photo contest, painting and sculpturing contests, children’s fashion
shows and other events are to be held in the scope of the exhibition.

The exhibitions is organized with assistance of Armenian Ministry of
Economy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues and the Parliament
Standing Exhibition on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Issues.

LOGOS EXPO Center is the first company organizing exhibitions in
Armenia since 1999. It is the leader in organizing diversified,
production, national and international exhibitions and congresses
both in Armenia and abroad.

LOGOS EXPO holds 10-12 specialized exhibitions reflecting dynamic
development of the economy every year.

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE STUDIED THE MARKETS OF BELARUS AND RUSSIA

KarabakhOpen
22-05-2008 10:49:48

A few days ago the NKR minister of agriculture Armo Tsatryan and the
director of the Investment Fund Karen Yesayan returned from Belarus.

According to Armo Tsatryan, they left for Belarus to study the
market of agricultural and building machines, and visited different
plants. "We tried to find out what machines we can buy," said Armo
Tsatryan in an interview with Karabakh-Open.com.

Now the ministry of agriculture is studying the Russian market after
which a decision will be made where and what machines to buy. The
point is that now Belarus produces only wheeled tractors which are
impossible to use in mountainous landscape. In Karabakh mainly Soviet
machines are used, the spare parts of which are found in Russia only.

After the marketing is over, agreements will be signed with legal
persons who will propose quality product for a moderate price.

THIS YEAR 6400 PEOPLE WILL GET COMPENSATION FOR LOST SAVINGS

KarabakhOpen
22-05-2008 10:49:49

>From 1998 the citizens of NKR receive compensation for their bank
savings which were depreciated in 1993. As of May 2008, 43,144
people have received compensation. The total sum has been 976 million
drams. This year 6400 citizens born between 1954 and 1957 will receive
compensation. Only the citizens of NKR can get the compensation.

The government pays 25 thousand drams per 1000 Soviet rubles. In
Armenia the compensation is 84 thousand drams per 1000 rubles. However,
each citizen gets compensation for 1000 rubles, irrespective of
the sum of their savings, meanwhile in Karabakh it is a preliminary
compensation, and in the next stage the other 1000 rubles will be
compensated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOUR EXPERT GROUPS TO EXAMINE GOVERNMENT DECISIONS IN ARMENIA

ARKA
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Four groups will be formed in Armenian
Government to examine all government decisions, Armenian Premier
Tigran Sargsian said.

"Ministers will be involved in the commissions on financial and
economic, social, state and legal, territorial administration and
environmental issues. Before being submitted for discussion at the
government, all issues will undergo a mandatory preliminary discussion
in the commissions," Sargsian said at the government sitting Thursday.

Conceptual targets of the ministries will also be discussed at the
commissions.

For working as a real team, problems existing in one of the ministries
should be discussed jointly, he said adding that success can be
achieved only through combined efforts.

ARMENIA TO SEND BATTALION CONSISTING OF 70 PEACE-KEEPERS TO KOSOVO

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 22, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly unanimously,
with 88 votes for, ratified the protocol On Making Amendments to the
Mutual Understanding Memorandum of September 3, 2003 on inclusion
of the rifle platoon of RA Armed Forces in the battalion of Greek
Armed Forces within the framework of the peace-keeping forces of
Kosovo signed on December 19, 2007 and January 21, 2008 between the
Republic of Armenia and Republic of Greece.

According to it, it is envisaged to extend the RA Armed Forces
peace-keeping participation in Kosovo: a battalion of 70 people
consisting of two platoons will leave there instead of the rifle
platoon of 34 people starting the next shift.

RA Defence Minister Seyran Ohanian told journalists the day before
that "negotiations were carried out over increase of the number of
Armenian peace-keepers in Iraq, but no final decision has been made
by our country’s leadership yet." According to the Minister, there
is no agreement on sending Armenian peacekeepers to Afghanistan.
From: Baghdasarian

LEVIK KHACHATRIAN SENTENCED TO SUSPENDED IMPRISONMENT

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 22, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The general jurisdiction court of
Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities, presided over by judge
Arayik Melkumian, sentenced Levik Khachatrian accused of using not
dangerous violence to a power representative (part 1, RA Criminal
Code) to 1.5 years’ suspended imprisonment with 2 years’ probation
term. By the defence party’s mediation the judicial enquiry on the
case continued by the speeded-up order on May 20, as the defendant
has heart problems and is to have medical treatment. L. Khachatrian
is a member of the Armenian National Movement Board, is a former NA
deputy, and the commander of the Kasakh detachment.

The judicial enquiry on the case against Isahak Malkhasian finished
at the general jurisdiction court of Yerevan’s Shengavit community,
presided over by judge Gagik Poghosian. I. Malkhasian is the brother
of NA deputy Myasnik Malkhasian, who is a defendant on another
case. I. Malkhasian did not admit the accusation brought to him,
use of not dangerous violence to a power representative and illegal
keeping of cold arms (part 4, Article 235). The defendant stated that
he was brought to the Police not at about 20:30, March 1, but from
8:00 to 8:30 am, and those bringing him to the Police are not the
people who spoke in the court. Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan persisted
on the accusation and mediated to sentence I. Malkhasian in total to
3 years’ imprisonment by two articles. The defence party will speak
at the May 23 court sitting.

According to the information provided by Alina Yengoyan, the
Spokesperson of the RA Cassation Court, the court sitting on the
case against Roman Mnatsakanian accused of committing mass disorders
(part 2, Article 225) failed in Yerevan Criminal Court due to the
absence of the lawyer. The sitting was postponed until June 3. And the
court sitting on the case of appeal complaints of Samvel Karapetian
and Simon Amirkhanian also failed in the Criminal Appeal Court due
to the absence of the lawyer. They have been found guilty by the
general jurisdiction court of the Gegharkunik region for involvement
in rigging of the results of the RA presidential elections at polling
station N 22/21 and have been sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment.

ANDRANIK HOVAKIMIAN, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF ANM ADMINISTRATION, DIED

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 22, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Andranik Hovakimian, the Deputy Chairman
of the administration of the Armenian National Movement party, died
all of a sudden at about 19:30 on May 21. He died of heart attack. It
should be mentioned that 42-year-old A. Hovakimian, who was one of
the activists of the National Movement and was underground for the
past months, underwent an operation on the heart some years ago.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA IS READY TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS ON KARABAKH ISSUE ON BASIS OF SUGGESIONS MADE IN MADRID

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 22, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is ready to continue the
negotiations on the regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh problem on
the basis of the suggestions, which were made by the co-Chairmen of
the OSCE Minsk Group in Madrid.

This statement was made by Eduard Nalbandian, the RA Minister of
Foreign Affairs, in his interview with the "Right of Speech" program of
the Armenian second TV chanel. "We believe that those suggestions are a
serious basis and we can find a solution on the basis of the latters,
we will take that very way and try our best so as the negotiation
process continues and brings peace to the two countries and the two
peoples, as we are neighbour countries and should live in solidarity
and peace," the Minister said.

Eduard Nalbandian mentioned that it is impossible to settle any
conflict if the agitation against each other continues. As an agitation
expression hindering the negotiation process, he cited the results
of the polls of public opinion conducted recently in Azerbaijan: 82
percent of Azerbaijanis has a negative opinion about the activities of
the co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group and the 29 percent of the population
believes that a military solution of the problem is possible. "We
cannot invite negotiators on the one hand, ask them to support the
negotiation process and at the same time criticize them every day:
I do not speak about persons, the following countries are being
criticized: the United States of America, Russia, France," the RA
Minister of Foreign Affairs finds. And the 29 percent, which finds
that a military solution is possible, "is a rather dangerous index,
though there were commentaries made on why we are so pacifist, why
only 29 percent and not more, it is very difficult to imagine another
country, where 29 percent can be for a war." The RA MInister of Foreign
Affairs believes that it is a result of an every-day agitation: " The
agitation should be stopped in order to make it possible to create a
corresponding atmosphere to continue the negotiations in a right way,
to create an atmosphere of mutual confidence and keep away from any
steps that can hinder the process or create a situation where it will
be difficult to think of any results at all."

In response to the question of how often he will communicate with
mass media representatives, the Minister gave a brief answer:
"As often as I have time."