Month: May 2008

PRICE: JUDGES HAVE FINANCIAL DEPENDENCE

Panorama.am
21:34 20/05/2008

Today the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had a labor meeting with
the president of the Court of Appeal Hovhannes Manukyan. According
to the press service of the president’s administration the topic
of the discussion between the President and the Judge was providing
independence to the courts.

It was stated out that the mission of the project is to increase
the sense of reliability of public towards the justice system. The
officials came to a common conclusion that only by reducing the level
of corruption and by improving the effective working style of the
courts society can rely on the justice.

Hence, country should take serious measures to form independent
court system.

In this regard the President and the Judge decided to take the
working activities of the court representatives under control aiming
to reveal the violations of rules and ethics. It was agreed to draft a
project of recommendation as soon as possible to start the discussion
and analysis.

POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR DEEPENING OF ARMENIAN-LATVIAN COOPERATION

armradio.am
21.05.2008 17:17

On May 21 RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the Ambassador
of Latvia to Armenia Aivars Vovers, who is completing his diplomatic
mission in our country.

Thanking the guest for contributing to the development of relations
between Armenia and Latvia during the six years of his tenure in
office, the Minister noted that a high-level dialogue has been
established between the two countries, but there is potential for
deepening of cooperation, especially in the fields of economy, high
technologies, culture and tourism.

The Armenian Foreign Minister expressed interest in studying the
European integration experience of Latvia and other Baltic states
and take steps of cooperation in this direction.

Expressing gratitude to Minister Nalbandian, Ambassador Vovers
underlined that the bilateral relations have considerably developed
over the past years. In particular, the state governance bodies of
Armenia and Latvia are effectively cooperating, Honorary Consulate
of Latvia was opened in Armenia, one of the largest Latvian banks
operates in Armenia, a Riga-Yerevan direct flight has been launched,
the business ties are getting more and more active.

The interlocutors also discussed issues related to cooperation in
concrete spheres.

MINISTER OF CULTURE OF BELARUS HOSTED AT THE MOTHER SEE

armradio.am
21.05.2008 18:05

On May 21 His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, hosted the Minister of Culture of the Republic of
Belarus Vladimir Matveychuk at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The
meeting was attended by RA Deputy Minister of Culture Gagik Gyurjyan
and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to
Armenia Marina Dolgopolova.

During the meeting His Holiness welcomed the programs of cooperation
signed between the Ministries of Culture of the two countries and
wished success to their implementation. The Patriarch appreciated the
friendly relations between the two peoples and attached importance to
the inter-cultural communication for the development of bilateral ties.

Reference was made to the life of the Armenian community of Belarus.

ARMENIA TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO

armradio.am
21.05.2008 18:20

Armenia intends to increase the number of its peacekeepers in Kosovo
from 34 to 70 in June of the current year, RA Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan declared at the National Assembly today.

"The mission carried out by Armenian peacekeepers in Kosovo received
high appreciation from the international command during the past
years," Seyran Ohanyan declared. The Minister noted that the increase
of the number of Armenian peacekeepers derives from military and
military-political considerations. Seyran Ohanyan noted that despite
the fact that some countries, particularly Azerbaijan, refused from
peacekeeping mission after Kosovo’s independence, it will not lead
to any change of the status of peacekeeping forces in Kosovo.

The Defense Minister told reporters that there are no concrete
arrangements on sending Armenian peacekeepers to Afghanistan. In his
words, the Armenian authorities have not made the final decision on
the issue.

MR. AND MS. WEIDEMANN SUPPORT HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND PROJECTS

KarabakhOpen
21-05-2008 18:00:38

Yerevan, May 21, 2008 – The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is pleased to
announce that a reception was hold in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Weidemann
at the Embassy of Armenia in Germany on April 25, 2008. The reception
was hosted by Her Excellency Ms.Karine Ghazinian, Ambassador to
Armenia in Germany.

The ambassador thanked Mr. and Mrs. Weidemann for their continuous
support to Armenia over the last couple of years. The donations,
implemented through the German Affiliate of the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund, are mainly directed to support education and health spheres in
Armenia and Artsakh.

Ms.Ghazinian recognized the valuable contribution made by Mr. and Ms.

Weidemann and thanked the couple on behalf of Vartan Oskanian,
minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Armenia and a trustee
of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

Mr. Gilbert Moumdjian, chairman of the the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund German Affiliate was pleased about the occasion and used the
opportunity to thank Mr. and Mrs. Weidemann one more time for their
commitment to Armenia’s well being. As a token of appreciation and
gratitude, on behalf of the Fund German Affiliate, Mr. Moumdjian
presented Mr. and Mrs. Weidemann with a silver plate.

Representatives of the Armenia Fund German Affiliate and the Armenian
community in Germany attended the occasion.

"The kind donation made by Mr. and Ms. Weidemann to the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, is a source of great pride for us; as in the
past, these funds will be directed to support the vital needs of the
education and healthcare spheres," says Vahe Aghabegians, executive
director of the Fund.

The Armenia Fund

SAMVEL FARMANIAN APPOINTED PRESS SECRETARY OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

ARKA
May 21, 2008

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Samvel Farmanian has been appointed Press
Secretary of Armenian President. Under an earlier presidential decree,
Victor Soghomonian was relieved of the press secretary post.

Samvel Farmanian was born on February 17 1978 in village of Spandarian,
Shirak region of Armenia.

In 1995 he finished the humanitarian class of the Academic gymnasium
in Giumry with honors.

In 1999 he graduated from the Yerevan State University, history
department, and obtained master’s degree in history in 2001.

In 2001-2003 Farmanian studied in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia
Research Center of Lund University in Sweden and obtained a master
degree. He took a post-graduate course at the ethnography chair of
the Yerevan State University in 2001-2004.

He worked in a branch of the Open Society Institute Assistance
Foundation in Armenia as responsible for "Civil Society" and "Mass
Media Outlets" projects in 2003-2005.

In 2005-2006 Farmanian was Advisor to Speaker of Armenian Parliament
on foreign policy issues.

In December 2007 he was elected as Secretary General of the United
Liberal National Party of Armenia (MIAK). He is the author of a
number of scientific and journalistic articles. Married, has two
children.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN BANKS’ REPRESENTATION, ADVERTISING EXPENSES 377.3MLN IN 1ST QUARTER 2008

ARKA
May 21, 2008

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. The Armenian banking system’s representation
and advertising expenses totaled 377.3mln AMD in the 1st quarter of
2008 – a 14.64% decrease as compared with the corresponding period
last year.

An analysis made by the ARKA News Agency on the basis of the banks’
financial reports showed that one bank’s representation and advertising
expenses averaged 17.2mln AMD in January-March 2008 against 21mln
AMD in the corresponding period last year. Thus, one bank’s monthly
advertising and representation expenses averaged 5.7mln AMD.

The ACBA Credit Agricole Bank recorded the largest representation and
advertising expenses – 57.2mln AMD or 15.15% of the banking system’s
total advertising and representation expenses. On the other hand,
the bank’s representation and advertising expenses proved to be 46.76%
less in January-March 2008 as compared with the corresponding period
last year.

The Unibank recorded the second largest representation and
advertising expenses – 52.5mln AMD (13.91% of the banking system’s
total advertising and representation expenses). The bank increased
its advertising and representation expenses by 4.825 as compared with
January-March 2007.

The Anelik Bank recorded the third largest representation and
advertising expenses – 40mln AMD (a 46.56% decrease as compared with
January-March 2007). The Areximbank and Armeconombank rank 4th and 5th
– 37.6mln AMD and 30.23mln AMD respectively. The first leading banks’
advertising and representation expenses constituted 57.67% of the total
advertising and representation expenses of Armenia’s banking system.

The BTA Investbank recorded the largest share of advertising expenses
in other operating expenses. It is followed by Areximbank (41.72%)
and Unibank (36.1%).

Despite a general decrease in advertising and representation expenses
recorded in Armenia’s banking system, many banks considerably increased
their expenses. Specifically, Armimpexbank increased its advertising
and representation expenses 5.29 times up to 2.5mln AMD, Inecobank
2.64 times up to 16.4mln AMD, BTA Investbank 2.52 times up to 16.9mln
AMD, Armeconombank 2.12 times up to 30.3mln AMD. In absolute terms,
Armeconombank recorded the largest increase in its advertising and
representation expenses – 16mln AMD, followed by Inecobank (a 10.2mln
AMD increase) and BTA Investbank (a 10.2mln AMD increase).

Eleven banks recorded decrease in their advertising and representation
expenses.

The advertising and representation expenses of the Byblos Bank
Armenia totaled 4.7mln AMD in January-March 2008 – 32.63% of the
amount recorded in the corresponding period last year.

Ardshininvestbank’s advertising and representation expenses totaled
9.5mln AMD (33.91%).

ARMENIAN STATE SERVICE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY & RADIATION SAFETY SUPERVISION RE-ORGANIZED

ARKA
May 21, 2008

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Under the president’s decree, Armenian
State Service for Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safety Supervision
of RA Ministry of Nature Protection has been transformed to
government-affiliated Nuclear Safety Regulatory State Committee,
the presidential press office reported.

Under the new decree, amendments have been made to the old decree
"On Establishing RA Government Structure" dating from March 16, 2002.

The government has a month now to adopt all the necessary decisions
proceeding from the given decree.

ARMENIA’S PREMIER TO TAKE PART IN CIS PRIME MINISTERS’ MEETING IN MINSK

ARKA
May 21, 2008

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Armenian delegation led by RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsian leaves for Minsk on May 22 to participate in the May
23 regular meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers.

The delegation consists of Head of the RA Government Staff David
Sargsyan, RA deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan, Permanent
Representative of Armenia in the CIS Oleg Yesayan, Armenia’s
Representative to the CIS Economic Council Artak Vardanyan and other
officials.

The participants to the meeting will discuss a number of cooperation
issues.

They will also touch upon the project of the CIS Economic Strategy
2020, as well as transport policy issues.

The CIS Council of Ministers plans to discuss the performance of the
CIS food safety mission.

Drafts of the CIS conventions on frontier cooperation and the
legal status of migrant workers and their families, as well as on
hydrometeorology specialists training are on the agenda.

The Prime Ministers will also discuss the concept of maintainability of
bridges in the CIS in 2008-2015, as well as financial and humanitarian
cooperation issues.

The draft project on the organization of the 65th anniversary of
Victory will also be on the agenda of the meeting. The Ministers
will also discuss the draft decision of the unified jubilee medal
on the 65th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War
(1941-1945).

PRESS RELEASE
Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-29)
Sean Oblack, Communications Director
202-226-8348 direct
202-225-3278 cell
May 21, 2008
202-226-8348

Schiff Announces the Appointment of Local Armenian American Student to
the West Point Military Academy

Christian Kooshian of Altadena to be a member of the class of 2012

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Schiff announced that Christian
Kooshian of Altadena received an appointment to U.S. Military Academy
(West Point) for the class of 2012. Congressman Schiff met with
Christian and his family this past weekend to congratulate him and thank
him for his dedication to our country.

"After reviewing Christian’s application I was very impressed by his
dedication to serve our country," said Schiff. "After meeting him and
his family this past weekend, I am confident he will be among the future
leaders of our country."

Christian’s patriotism and desire to serve in the military stems from
his grandfather’s story of survival in the Armenian Genocide and
subsequent immigration to the U.S. Throughout his high school career at
John Muir, Christian has proven to be a true leader. He was a member of
his high school cross country team, serving as the captain his senior
year. He also played the viola in the John Muir Symphony Orchestra, and
he was a recipient of the 2007 Rotary Youth Leadership Award. Last
summer he attended the Summer Leadership Seminar at West Point.

"I see West Point as the best path for me to both enter the military
service and to become an educated, patriotic citizen of good character,"
Christian wrote in his application essay.

Four of the five service academies require a Congressional nomination.
They are the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the
Military Academy at West Point, and the Naval Academy. The fifth
service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a
Congressional nomination. All five academies offer young men and women
a free college education at a highly-ranked, nationally-recognized
academic institution, while preparing them for an officer’s commission
in the armed forces.

Students interested in applying to a Service Academy in 2009, should
call Congressman Schiff’s District Office at 626-304-2727 or visit
to obtain an application form. The application
deadline is November 14, 2008.

Congressman Schiff has introduced a "Kids First" agenda of initiatives
to improve education, safety, and health care for our children. He is
the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a
member of the House Appropriations Committee, the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence and the Judiciary Committee. He represents
California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities
of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel,
Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and
Temple City.

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