Month: August 2008

WE WIN WHEN WE ARE UNITED

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Aug 2008
Armenia

Yesterday the winners of bronze medals during the Olympic games in
Beijing were honored in the Republican Square in Yerevan.

President Serge Sargsyan considered our great victory the three bronze
medals of the six participants of the Olympic games.

"We can be more and more successful. We will have new achievements
in the scientific, cultural, economic and other spheres, for the sake
of the Republic of Armenia and for the future of our children.

I sincerely believe that during the previous days everyone celebrated
the victory of Armenian sportsmen, because it was the victory of
Armenian sport and our united soul.

Unification has always been important for us. The lessons of our
history prove that. Today, when the region is in danger, unification
is much more important for us. Lets remember that we have always
gained victory when we were united.

EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Aug 2008
Armenia

Company "Flesh" is trying to transport a big amount of Turkmenistani
petrol to Armenia via Iran.

Of course the transportation of Turkmenistani petrol to Armenia
via Iran is rather expensive. The reason is the absence of railway
communication. The fuel is transported from Iran by cars, which raises
the price. "The transportation is very expensive, demands great job and
is rather risky, because we bring the fuel from Turkmenistan to Iran
by ship to Persian Enzeli port and from there we bring it to Armenia
by cars. It is an alternative option to solve the situation," deputy
director of company "Flesh" Mushegh Elchyan told our correspondent.

WHY DON’T THEY DEMAND AN ANSWER FROM TER-PETROSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Aug 2008
Armenia

Chairman of Constitutional Right Union Hayk Babukhanyan says: "The
stance of the law enforcers, the temporary parliamentary committee and
the ruling coalition is rather blurred. The disorder and the 10 victims
of March 1 is a fact and have been organized by L. Ter-Petrosyan. Why
doesn’t the committee demand an answer from him?

Instead the Prosecutor’s investigates the issue of who took the stone
and broke the head of this and that person. They continuously speak
about negotiations and certain bridges. Of course there should be a
dialogue with the opposition, but we must feel the difference between
crime and politics."

TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT TO BE REGULATED IN THREE DAYS
Gevorg Haroutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Aug 2008
Armenia

When will the Georgian railway start operating again? How long will it
take the freight envisaged for Armenia to reach its destination? What
measures are being undertaken for finding a way out of this situation?

GAGIK MARTIROSYAN, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Secretary of
the operation headquarter, answers the questions of "Hayots Ashkharh".

"Mr. Martirosyan, do the ports of Poti and Batumi and the overland
roads on the territory of Georgia operate? When is it possible for
the freight delivered to Armenia to reach its destination?"

"It is already a whole day that the roads coming to Armenia both
from the ports of Poti and Batumi as well as the neighboring state
of Iran are in an absolutely normal condition and operate at full
capacity. The freighters are received and unloaded in the ports in
the usual working rhythm.

At the moment, there are already twenty-five wagons of wheat
transported to Armenia by the railroad passing via the territory of
Georgia. Currently, 283 wagons loaded with various goods are about to
leave for Armenia. Of them, 148 wagons are loaded with wheat and 123
wagons are loaded with industrial and other products as well as petrol.

There are a number of other products imported by private entrepreneurs,
organizat ions and companies to be transported to Armenia from the
port of Batumi. And they are to be realized and consumed in our
country. Among them, there are ships embarked with fuel as well as
petrol. The entire highway network transporting freight from the
ports operates at full capacity, and the motorcades continue coming
to Armenia via Bavra, Sadakhlo and other roads.

There are certain interruptions because of the wrecked bridge. But the
trains leaving Batumi for Poti and vice versa pass via that road. There
are certain accumulations in this section of the road. However,
as shown by the train schedule, such accumulations will be overcome
in just a couple of days. In any case, all the routes used for the
transportation of goods will operate at full capacity till August
27, 10 a.m. And even if the volumes of freight transportation do
not exceed the previous rates, they will at least be restored to a
normal condition.

Freight and various other goods are imported to Armenia from the
Islamic Republic of Iran as well. Here, there are goods imported
both by private importers and the state. They mainly include power
generating substances, diesel fuel, food products, flour and industrial
products. This route has operated fully and normally in all this
period although the volumes of the transportation have significantly
increased for well-known reasons."

"Is it possible for us to have a lack of food product s?"

"I would like to underline that there is no scarcity of foods and
industrial products in Armenia and there won’t be any. Neither will
there be any tension in that connection.

There was a scarcity of petrol not because of the lack of fuel but
because of the railroad being overloaded to a certain degree. Such
tension may be maintained for a couple of more days. I assure you
that there is absolutely no scarcity of foods, bread, sugar, flour,
vegetable oil and other products of primary importance, and there
can’t be any.

If there are no artificial problems related to the gas pipeline, there
will be no concerns for us in future either. Especially considering
that we have gas reserves that will last us at least one month,
and this is enough for meeting all the economic needs and everyday
necessities. I say boldly and unhesitatingly that we will face no
difficulty, and the fears among the population will dissipate in just
a couple of days."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACCORDING TO ARMEN RUSTAMIAN, ARMENIA CANNOT DISCUSS RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA OUT OF CONTEXT OF KARABAKH PROBLEM

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. "The situation is complex for us. We
respect the right of self-determination, we have always protected
and will protect the Karabakh people’s right to be the arbiter of
its own destiny," representative of the ARF Armenia Supreme Body
Armen Rustamian said when answering the Republic of Armenia daily’s
question about recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia by Russia.

Presenting the position of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, A. Rustamian said
the matter concerns neighboring Georgia, normal relations with which
proceed from the vital interests of Armenia. "Under such conditions, I
think, Armenia should not hurry and act like in case of Kosovo. Armenia
has not even recognized the independence of Karabakh as it does not
consider the international community’s ability to solve peacefully the
problem as exhausted. In my opinion, the opportunities for peaceful
resolution of the Russian-Georgian conflict have not been exhausted
yet, and this way can and should be used. Armenia cannot discuss
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia out of context of the
Karabakh problem," A. Rustamian said.

A BALANCE OF FORCES IN REGION IS TO ARMENIA’S ADVANTAGE, STEPAN GRIGORIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Russia’s steps (unexpected to the
world) in Georgia are continuing and will result in Russia’s signing
bilateral agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including in the
military sphere, the head of the Analytical Center of Globalization
and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigorian stated at the August 27
press conference.

He paid attention to the fact that today Russia is implementing the
idea of restoring a mini-USSR. In particular, it is not ruled out that
Belarus and the unrecognized by international community Abkhazia and
South Ossetia may enter this format. In the political scientist’s
opinion, while realizing this idea, Russia may also tackle in real
earnest the problems of the Crimea and Transnistria. "Thus Russia is
taking concrete steps on the formation of a new pole of force in the
world, and these steps are directed against the West’s influence,"
S. Grigorian said.

According to him, since the moment when Russian aircraft started
bombing Poti, the conflict moved to the plane of international
relations as a number of Western programs were related to
Poti. In the words of S. Grigorian, the discontinued operation of
Baku-Supsa pipeline, the freezing of the project on construction of
Kars-Akhalkalak-Baku railway, etc, are directed against the influence
of the West in Georgia and the South Caucasian region. He expressed
an opinion that the "cold war" between West and Russia will continue
and intensify.

As regards Armenia, S. Grigrian underlined the necessity of a serious
analysys of what happened in the neighboring country. He paid attention
to the circumstance that the presence of both Russia and the West in
the region is to Armenia’s advantage, and he drew some historical
parallels. "We do not benefit when only one power fully controls
the region, we remember the 1921 lessons. A balance of forces in
the region, that is, the presence of both the West and Russia is to
Armenia’s advantage," S. Grigorian said.

130 WAGONS OF GOODS, INCLUDING 10 WITH GASOLINE, TRANSPORTED INTO ARMENIA FROM GEORGIA IN PAST TWO DAYS

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. 130 wagons of goods, including
72 wagons of mixed goods, 48 wagons of wheat, and 10 wagons with
gasoline have been transported into Armenia from Georgia in the past
two days. 15 wagons of wheat and 7 wagons of mixed goods are now at
the Sadakhlo customs point on the Armenian-Georgian border.

191 wagons of goods to be imported into Armenia, including 92
with grain and 99 with mixed goods, are currently in the Georgian
railway. Out of 2,800 tons of gasoline for Armenia, 10 wagons have
already been loaded in the port of Poti; out of 3 thousand tons of
wheat, 13 wagons have been loaded: these goods will soon be transported
to Armenia.

STATE BUDGETARY REVENUES INCREASE BY 26.8%, EXPENDITURES BY 30.3% IN JANUARY-JULY 2008 ON SAME PERIOD OF 2007

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The revenues of the RA state budget
made over 414 bln drams (over 1 bln 349.2 mln USD), the expenditures
– 405.8 bln drams in January-July 2008, as a result of which the
RA government-envisaged nine month program was fulfilled by 76.5%
and 68.6% respectively. The annual programmed indices of the state
budget were fulfilled by 55.1% (revenues) and 52.1% (expenditures).

According to data of the RA ministry of finance, the state budgetary
revenues increased by 26.8% or over 87.4 bln drams, while expenditures
grew by 30.3% or about 94.4 bln drams as compared with the same period
of 2007.

In the total amount of revenues, taxes and duties grew by 82.7 bln
drams or 32.1%, compulsory social security payments by 6.6 bln drams
or 13.6%, officials grants by 1.8 bln drams or 189.8%, whereas other
revenues (previously called "nontax revenues") declined by 3.7 bln
drams or 19.6%. As a result, there was a growth of taxes and duties
(3.3%) and official grants (0.4%) in the total amount of revenues,
while the share of compulsory social security payments and other
revenues fell by 1.6% and 2.1% respectively.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROOFS OF 26 APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO BE REPAIRED IN KAPAN THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

KAPAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government allocated
150 million drams from its reserve fund for repairs of roofs of
apartment buildings in Kapan. The head of the urban development unit
of Kapan mayor’s office Vilen Badalian told NT correspondent that
26 roofs will be repaired with these allocations. Priority was given
to accident-prone buildings. It is envisaged to complete the repair
work by late 2008. The work will be done by the construction firms
that were announced the winners of a tender.

By another decision of the government, 185 million drams was allocated
for major repairs of Aram Manukian Street and Grigor Arzumanian Street
in the regional center of Syunik marz, and repairs of a 2.4 km road
which is parallel with the Meghri-Yerevan interstate road passing
through the city.

This work will also finish by the end of 2008.

2008 DESIGNATED AS WILLIAM SAROYAN YEAR BY RESOLUTION OF U.S. SENATE

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

LOS ANGELES, AUGUST 27, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. State Senator
Dave Cogdill introduced the Senate Resolution to honor Mr. Saroyan
and the many cultural contributions Armenian Americans have made
to California over the last 100 years. The resolution was passed
unanimously by both chambers of the legislature and 2008 was designated
as William Saroyan year.

"We thank Senator Cogdill for taking the initiative to honor Saroyan
who put the Central Valley and specially Fresno on the literary map
of the world", said Varoujan Der Simonian of the Armenian Technology
Group. Saroyan once said that he didn’t make Fresno famous, raisins
did. The reality is that wherever you travel in the world, be that in
Europe, Russia, Japan or the Far East, and when people find out that
you are from Fresno, they will immediately say, Ah, Saroyan! Isn’t
that where William Saroyan was from?

A photo exhibition honoring Saroyan and the cultural contributions to
California by Armenian Americans is now on display through September
24, at the State Capitol Museum in Sacramento.

On August 28th, there will be a special Centennial Celebration of
William Saroyan’s birthday at the Fresno Convention Center’s William
Saroyan Theatre. Sponsored by the Armenian Museum, the City of Fresno,
The Fresno Bee and the Saroyan Centennial Committee, the event will
feature the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, under the Artistic
Director and Conductor, Maestro Aram Gharabekian, world renowned
Matzo Soprano Edna Garabedian, and the Fresno Choral Artists. There
will be pre-concert festivities, and after concert dessert.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress