Month: May 2008

VAHAN HOVHANNISSIAN TO HEAD ARF PARLIAMENTARY FACTION, HEGHINE BISHARIAN – ORINATS YERKIR PARTY’S PARLIAMENTARY FACTION

ARMENPRESS
May 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Former Armenian deputy NA speaker
Vahan Hovhannissian will hence head the ARF parliamentary faction,
and Heghine Bisharian, who was the secretary of the Orinats Yerkir
party’s parliamentary faction of the party, will now head it.

National Assembly Chairman Tigran Torosian said today that the
decisions were made during the consultations of the factions. The
secretary of the Orinats Yerkir party’s faction will be newly elected
parliamentarian Khachik Harutyunian.

The office of the head of the Orinats Yerkir party’s parliamentary
faction was vacant after its former head Arthur Baghdasarian has been
appointed in the office of the secretary of the Armenian National
Security Council, and the head of the ARF faction Hrayr Karapetian
applies for the position of deputy speaker of the parliament the
elections of which are expected to take place during the current
four-day sessions of the parliament.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE SAYS PROGRESS IS REGISTERED IN IMPLEMENTATION OF PACE SUGGESTIONS

ARMENPRESS
May 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Deputy Secretary General of the Council
of Europe Maud de Boer-Buquicchio has got an impression after the
meeting with the Armenian high-ranked officials that a notable progress
has been registered in the implementation of suggestions of PACE,
Ago Group of the Council of Europe Ministers’ Committee and Human
Rights Commissioner. The implementation of the suggestions was the
main issue of discussion during the meetings.

At a briefing followed after the meeting with the Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian he noted that the body investigating March
1 developments must be independent and transparent: the discussions
and activities held in Armenia in that direction are relevant to the
approaches of the Council of Europe.

Maud de Boer-Buquicchio also noted that within the frameworks of
functioning legislation in Armenia it is possible to exert greater
efforts for releasing people arrested connected with March 1
unrest. She said she is pleased with the information she learnt today.

On the question why the implementation of PACE suggestions is viewed
only from the point of view of their implementation by authorities
and the opposition is not demanded to follow the suggestion of the
PACE and recognize the decision of the Armenian Constitutional Court,
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio said that in real democratic societies steps
must be undertaken both by the authorities and the opposition.

"I call on the authorities for the sake of constructive steps establish
dialogue, I call the opposition to do the same," she said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented to the Deputy
Secretary General of the Council of Europe the steps the Armenian
authorities are undertaking. "In short period of time after elections
enough steps have been undertaken. On April 25 with the decision of the
president a task group has been set up which is working towards the
implementation of the suggestions and has already presented concrete
suggestions over all the issues. We are seeking to seriously carry
out the suggestions and it was the main issue of our discussion,"
the minister said to the reporters.

He also informed that they also spoke about the implementation of
Armenia’s commitments as a member of the Council of Europe. In that
respect the sides noted that 90 percent of the commitments have been
implemented by now.

E. Nalbandian said that first of all it refers to the constitutional
changes and reforms in the legislation.

"We are aimed at moving forward and at having active participation
within the Council of Europe," the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES HEAD OF GASPROM

ARMENPRESS
May 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsian received
today the head of "Gasprom" company Alexey Miller.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that greeting the guest
the Armenian president said that "Gasprom" is Armenia’s stable and
prospective partner and expressed assurance that the partnership
will not only continue developing successfully in future but will
also gain new content.

The sides said that during the recent years "Armrusgasard" is
working quite effectively, the indexes are impressing and the fact
that the volume of gas consuming has essentially increased in the
country witnesses not only about the stable development of the
company but Armenia’s economy as well. The increase of the number
of gas consumers during the recent years has also been noted as an
important achievement. The president said as a result of wide-range
of gasification work Armenia is one of the most gasified countries
in the world.

The interlocutors also spoke about the gas tariffs and formation of
prices. A. Miller said that "Gasprom" is planning to ensure equal
income in 2011 both for Russia and for exported gas. The sides agreed
that until 2011 the changes of gas tariffs will be agreed step by step.

During the meeting they also referred to the pace of other investment
programs "Gasprom" is carrying out in Armenia’s energy sector.

TUSIAD PROMOTING INITIATIVE ON CREATING A PLATFORM
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2008

Genocide

Aiming at Investigation of "The Events Concerning the Armenian Citizens
of the Ottoman Empire in the period of World War 1"

TUSAID, the Union of Turkish Entrepreneurs and Manufacturers (Turk
Sanayicileri ve Ýþadamlarý Deneði), has started a campaign against
the international recognition of the Armemian Genocide.

The organization has made arrangement with American lawyer David
Saltzman to prepare a report on H. Resolution 106.

Saltzman’s report, entitled "H. RES. 106: Legal and Factual
Deficiencies", was published on May 16, during the "The Foundations of
the Turkish-American Relationships in the 21st Century" conference,
held in Washington. On May 17, according to "Zaman", TUSIAD spread
a message giving some details on Saltzman’s report.

The message says that the preface for Saltzman’s report was written
by the TUSIAD executive staff and that the organization is preparing
to create a platform for investigating "The Events Concerning the
Armenian Citizens of the Ottoman Empire in the period of World War
1". TUSIAD stresses that the controversies about those events and
their extremely politicized discussions negatively affect Turkey’s
relations with its allies and rouse anti-Turkish attitudes in Europe.

The preface of the report says that the public opinion on those
events is formed with a one-sided point of view. "Due to partial
appraisal of the facts, due to neglecting the counter-arguments and
the historical platform of those events, the present approaches are
enduring," it is said.

The body text of the report says that it has been never legally
approved that there are reasons to qualify the events of 1915 as
Genocide. It says that the materials on Armenians’ deportation, on the
violence occurred during the deportation, on Armenians’ rebellions and
on other factors of reduction of Armenian population in Turkey are open
public research. TUSIAD assures that impartial and open investigation
of those issues is threatened by exceedingly politicized attitudes
and that in such conditions determination of the historical truth
and normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations are impossible.

–Boundary_(ID_HZlS55baKwPnNbp1jE9Gyg )–

MEETING OF PAN-ARMENIAN HAYASTAN FUND TO BE CHAIRED BY SERGE SARGSIAN
By Marietta Makarian

AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2008

Hayastan Fund

The 17th meeting of the Board of Trustees of Pan-Armenian Hayastan
Fund will be held on May 27 in Yerevan. NKR President Bako Sahakian,
NKR and Armenian Prime Ministers, also Foreign Affairs and Finance
Ministers will participate in the meeting, as they are members of
the Board of Trustees since the meeting of June 2007.

Hayastan Fund Executive Director Vahe Aghabekiants will present
the ongoing projects in Armenia and Artsakh, including the rural
development project.

On May 26, on the eve of the meeting of the Board of Trustees handing
of Presidential Awards will take place at the presidential palace.

74 MLN-EURO CREDIT TO ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2008

Armenia-Germany

In the framework of Armenian-German bilateral cooperation the
Government of the Federal Republic of Germany will provide 74 mln
Euros for Armenia. The credit will be directed to the financing
of the projects in the spheres of energy, finance, water supply,
sewerage and health care.

"The financial agreement between the Government of the Federal
Republic of Germany and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on
financial cooperation 2007-2008" was signed by RA Minister of Finance
Tigran Davtian and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Armenia Andrea
Johanna-Maria Victorin.

YEREVAN DISTRICTS UNDER CONTROL OF REPUBLICANS

AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2008

Local

On May 18, elections of heads of Avan, Davitashen, Malatia-Sebastia
and Nork Marash districts took place in Yerevan.

According to the initial results, 18 thousand 578 citizens voted
for the only candidate in Avan district Taron Margarian (Republican
Party). 105 citizens voted against the candidate.

In Davitashen the only candidate Arthur Gevorgian (Republican Party)
got 15 thousand 366 votes of 15 thousand 585 participants. Only 123
citizens voted against the candidate.

29 thousand 914 of 30 thousand 673 participants gave their votes
to the only candidate of Malatia-Sebastia district Davit Ohanian
(Republican Party). 471 citizens voted against the candidate.

In Nork Marash three candidates fought for the position – Varazdat
Mkrtchian (Republican Party), Garnik Martirosian (non-parrty) and
Ashot Margarian (non-party).

Varazdat Mkrtchian is elected as head of Nork Marash district. 3072
of 3393 participants voted for the candidate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSYAN TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE OF COE HEADS OF PARLIAMENT

armradio.am
20.05.2008 16:52

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Tigran
Torosyan will leave for Strasbourg to participate in the European
summit conference of Speakers and Presidents of Parliament of 47
Council of Europe member states. The conference will focus on the twin
themes of "parliaments and civil society" and "national parliaments
and the Council of Europe: promoting the core values of democracy,
human rights and the rule of law."

On the sidelines of the conference the President of the National
Assembly of Armenia, Mr. Tigran Torosyan is expected to have
meetings with PACE President Luis Maria de Puig, Secretary General
of the Council of Europe Terry Davis, the President of the House of
Representatives of Cyprus Marios Garoyan and the Senate Marshal of
Poland Bogdan Borusewicz.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU-ARMENIA COOPERATION DISCUSSED AT RA GOVERNMENT

armradio.am
20.05.2008 17:17

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today received the Head of the
European Commission delegation to Armenia Raul de Luzenberger. At
the beginning of the meeting he congratulated Tigran Sargsyan on
his appointment and wished him success and invited to Brussels to
thoroughly discuss issues related to cooperation.

The interlocutors discussed the EU-Armenia cooperation, including
a broad framework of issues related to the reforms envisaged by the
Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy. The Prime Minister
assured that the newly formed Government of Armenia is resolute and
interested in accomplishing the measures envisaged by the Action
Plan, which are in line with the logic of reforms foreseen by the
Government. The parties attached importance to the continuous work
in the direction of economic integration, which envisages formation
of a market system in Armenia corresponding to European standards
and deeper trade-economic cooperation with the European Union.

Tigran Sargsyan noted that Armenia aspires to get a market economy
status from the European Union, which is important in the context of
expansion and development of cooperation.

HRAYR KARAPETYAN ELECTED NA VICE-SPEAKER

armradio.am
20.05.2008 17:32

Hrayr Karapetyan was elected Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly
today.

101 Deputies participated in the secret ballot. He received 97 pro
and 1 con vote, 2 ballots were considered invalid.

Hrayr Karapetyan thanked his colleagues for trust. He noted that he
would use every opportunity for the benefit of the activity of the
National Assembly and the benefit of the Motherland.

He was born on August 11, 1963 in Yerevan.

In 1980 he finished Yerevan secondary school #135.

1980-1981 he was a worker at Yerevan Lamp Factory.

In 1985 he studied and graduated from Yerevan Kh. Abovian Armenian
State Pedagogical Institute, later he continued his postgraduate
studies. He defended his thesis on the theme "The Problem of the
Learners’ Civil Upbringing in the System of National Education."

He is a candidate of pedagogical sciences, an author of a number of
scientific manuals and works.

985-1990 he worked at school in the village of Nor Geghi, later at
Yerevan # 181 school as a teacher.

985-1987 he joined Zangakatun organization.

987-1989 he was a member of Unity organization, editor of Zangakatun
periodical.

In 1989 he joined the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

990-1995 he was elected a member of the ARF Central Committee of
Armenia.

990-1992 he participated in the organization of self-defense battles
of Getashen, Shahumian, Berdadzor, Mardakert with Tatul Krpeyan,
Shahen Mgheryan and other freedom fighters.

996-1998 he was elected a member of the ARF Supreme Body of Armenia.

998-2003 – governor of RA Aragatsotn marz.

2003-2007 – NA deputy (proportional list, ARF). He was head of ARF
faction of the National Assembly.

On May 12, 2007 he was elected a deputy of the National Assembly by
the proportional electoral system from the ARF Party. He is head of
the Armenian Revolutionary Faction.

He is the author of dozens of laws and legislative initiatives.

He is head of the group of ‘Parliamentary Cooperation of the Protection
of the Consumers’ Interests’ of the National Assembly. He made queries
and statements on the tariffs of gas, water, telecommunication and
power concerning the protection of the consumers’ interests in the
National Assembly.

He was awarded medals and orders by the RA Defense Minister, Prime
Minister and the Chairman of the Federal Council of the Russian
Federation.

He is married and has three children.