Month: October 2008

PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN TO PARTAKE IN THE ANNUAL FORUM OF THE IMF AND THE WORLD BANK

armradio.am
07.10.2008 13:49

October 9-15 RA Prime minister Tigran Sargsyan will leave for
Washington to participate in the annual forum of the World Bank and
the International Monetary Fund.

The delegation headed by the Prime Minister comprises RA Minister
of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan, Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan,
Adviser to RA President on Economic Issues Vahram Nersisyants, Head
of Government’s Staff David Sargsyan, President of the Central bank
of Armenia Arthur Javadyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan,
Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the US Tatul
Margaryan, other officials.

HYUNDAI GETZ CARS FOR BEST TEACHERS OF THE REPUBLIC
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
07.10.2008 15:38

The first Sunday of October is traditionally marked as Teacher’s Day.

It’s been seven years that the results of the annual "Best teacher
of the year" and "Best kindergarten teacher" have been summed up at
the initiative and with the support of the Government of Armenia.

Today Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan personally handed the keys of
Hyundai Getz to the winners. Anush Mehrabyan, teacher of biology of
Ijevan School #1 could not conceal her excitement. "I’m very excited
and I’m grateful to our Government that I was awarded this prize,"
she said.

The surprise was really successful. Anush Mehrabyan and Arpik
Hovakilmyan, teacher of Gavar kindergarten #7, will long remember
October 7, 2008. They will remember and will tell their grandchildren
that they received the keys of Hyundai Getz personally from the Prime
Minister of the republic.

Tigran Sargsyan also turned over the pages of his school memories. He
confessed he was a naughty pupil but remembers his first teacher
with great love and tenderness. "I remember that my first teacher was
Ruzanna Sergeevna, who was teaching Russian language and literature. I
remember she was a rather exacting teacher. I was very naughty. My
first memory is that the freedoms of the child were restricted at
school. Yo u have to follow the rules established at school and the
teacher sees to it that you don’t break the rules."

In compliance with the decree of the President of the Republic of
Armenia, a number of teachers from different marzes of Armenia were
awarded Movses Khotenatsi medals and were granted the title of honored
teacher for their contribution to bringing up the younger generation.

President Serzh Sargsyan pays great attention to ensuring the wellbeing
of teachers in our country. In his address at the National Assembly
the President once again emphasized the importance of the educational
system, considering it a priority for our country. This very idea
lies in the basis of the Government’s activity.

Tigran Sargsyan said new surprises are awaiting teachers in 2009. "The
salaries will rise, reaching 116 on the average. "You shape the future
of our state by bringing up deserved citizens and invaluable is the
work you are doing today. The issues of teachers are in the focus of
our attention," the Prime Minister said.
From: Baghdasarian

MEMBERS OF THE SWITZERLAND-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY GROUP TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
07.10.2008 15:57

Members of the Switzerland-Armenia parliamentary group of the
Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation headed by Christine
Egerszegi-Obrist will arrive in Armenia on October 8. The same
day members of the Swiss delegation will meet with President Serzh
Sargsyan. At the National Assembly the delegation will be received
by Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan.

On October 9 members of the delegation will meet with RA Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan and Deputy Minister of Economy
Ara Petrosyan.

They will visit also the specialized Armenian-Swiss school. The same
day they will pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims at Tsitsernakaberd.

On October 10 members of the Switzerland-Armenia parliamentary group
of the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation will visit the NKR
Representation in Armenia. The same they are scheduled to meet with
RA Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan. Members of the delegation
will meet with representatives of the opposition, as well. A joint
press conference of the friendship groups will be organized at the
National Assembly.

On October 11 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin members of the
Swiss delegation will be received by His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. They will later visit the
Byurakan Observatory in Aragatsotn marz.

THE "VITALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE" FOR ARMENIA IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GOOD NEIGHBOR RELATIONS WITH ALL COUNTRIES OF THE REGION

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:04

"We must focus on the values, which bring us closer and not those,
which separate us. Armenia, like Azerbaijan, is loyal to the common
European values and sees its future in the integration with the
European Union," Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said in an
interview with Azerbaijani Day.Az agency in response to the question
about the perspectives of the negotiation process on the Karabakh
conflict resolution.

"In line with the program of the New Neighborhood Program of the
European Commission, the European Union is recommended to build closer
relations with the South Caucasus countries, i.e. Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. It is necessary to see common future in 20 or 30 years
and then we will be able to find mutually profitable decisions. I
think the process will be accelerated following the elections in
Azerbaijan. We believe in Azerbaijan’s constructiveness," he added.

Asked how much the Nagorno Karabakh economy depends on all-Armenian
economy, the Prime Minister of Armenia responded that the
economy of Nagorno Karabakh "depends" on the all-Armenian economy
as much as the economy of Armenia depends on the all-Armenian
economy. "Armenia-NKR-Diaspora is a united organism, which we call
"the Armenian world." Modern realities do20not allow to consider
each of these elements in separate, as the scene will be inevitably
distorted," he said.

Regarding the statement of Day.Az that opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border is a vitally important issue for Yerevan, Tigran Sargsyan noted:
"As is known, the border with Turkey has been closed for about 15
years ago and over these years the Armenian economy has ensured high
growth, which has been two-digit through the past 10 years. Therefore,
it is necessary to clarify what the concept "vitally important issue
for Armenia" means."

"The really "vitally important issue" is the establishment of good
neighbor relations with all the countries of the region, primarily,
Azerbaijan. We approach this issue pragmatically and we consider that
the trends of the world development demonstrate that competition
between countries is growing into regional competition and in the
long-term perspective the cooperation in the region will become the
first issue on the agenda of all the countries in the region. In this
context it would be interesting to discuss "The Caucasus Stability
and Security Platform" of the Turkish President," the Prime Minister
noted. According to him, Armenia’s position regarding rapprochement
with Turkey has always been exact and clear. "We are ready to
establish diplomatic relations with Turkey without any provisions,"
Tigran Sargsyan said.

Asked whether Armenia is t rying to join the joint Baku-Kars-Akhalkalak
railway project of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, PM Tigran Sargsyan
stated: "We are interested in joining any regional project." According
to him, "a single regional transport network for all the regional
countries is of strategic importance.

And the more we have communication, the higher will be the regional
stability and the less will be its vulnerability to external factors. I
think Azerbaijan is also interested in it."

The Azeri agency was interested whether the Armenian economy sustained
great losses after the conflict in South Ossetia. In this regard,
the Prime Minister of Armenia noted that such conflicts cannot but
affect the neighbor countries, especially Armenia, which has limited
transport ways. About 70% of the external trade turnover of Armenia
is conducted via Georgia.

"The damage caused to the Armenian economy by the well-known events
makes $670 mln. These are un-collected taxes, postponed investments,
unimplemented projects and so on. The conflict became a serious test
of flexibility of the Armenian economy. Today we can say that the
flexibility of our economy has risen sharply through the past years,
Tigran Sargsyan said, adding that "like Azerbaijan, Armenia aspires
to have the Russian-Georgian relations improved as soon as possible."

MINISTER NALBANDIAN TO LEAVE FOR BISHKEK

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:08

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Edward
Nalbandian, will leave for Bishkek on 8 October to participate in the
sitting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries to be
held in the capital of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan October 8-9, Press
and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN HAD A WORKING MEETING WITH THE MAYOR OF YEREVAN

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:25

President Serzh Sargsyan today had a working meeting with the Mayor
of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan, President’s Press Office reported.

The Mayor informed the President about the process of the works
envisaged for this year, particularly turning to the road and house
construction projects.

The President prioritized the completion of the program of
reconstruction of the elevator system.

Emphasizing the program of capital investments in 2009, Serzh Sargsyan
instructed the city authorities to ensure investments and capital
expenses at least equal to the volume of work done in 2008.

SERZH SARGSYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO HIS KYRGYZ COUNTERPART

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:29

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a telegram of condolence to
the President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev on the occasion of the
earthquake in Kyrgyzstan, President’s Press Office reported.

On behalf of the whole Armenian nation and himself, Serzh Sargsyan
extended deep and sincere condolences to the Kyrgyz people, the
families and friends of the victims.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE OFFICE SUPPORTS CIVIC INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN ARMENIA’S REGIONS

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:33

The OSCE Office in Yerevan and Armenia’s Ministry of Sport and Youth
Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding today to promote civic
activism among young people in Armenia’s regions.

The parties will work together to promote effective management of
regional youth centres, and to support the centres in establishing
partnerships with public organizations to share experiences and
organize training sessions, workshops and discussions.

"We attach great importance to the civic involvement of young people
in the regions, who have fewer opportunities compared with young
people in Yerevan. Their increased participation in the activities
and governance of the regional youth centres, we believe, will help
to educate the next generation of democratic leaders in Armenia,"
said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan,
at the signing ceremony today.

"Investments made in the youth sphere are most beneficial since it
is the young people who create the future of the country. Educated,
healthy and socially protected youth today means a developed Armenia
tomorrow", said Armen Grigoryan, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs.

The co-ordinators of the regional youth centres attended the signing
of the memorandum. The Office also distributed OSCE publications
for the newly-established=2 0"OSCE Corners" at the youth centres,
which have been operating in Armenia’s ten regions since 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA, CZECHIA WILLING TO DEEPEN TIES

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:49

On October 7 Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Hovik
Abrahamyan received the delegation of the Commission on Constitutional
and Legal Issues of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic
headed by Vice-Speaker Jan Kasal.

Greeting the guests, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan emphasized the
importance of development of friendly relations with the Czech
Republic, especially turning to the opportunities of development of
trade-economic and scientific-cultural ties.

Vice Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Jan Kasal
agreed with Hovik Abrahamyan, saying Czechia stands for development of
relations with Armenia, viewing Armenia as a democratic country. Taking
into consideration that the Czech Republic will assume presidency of
the European Union in 2009, Mr. Kasal assured that the utmost will be
done for the development of relations with the EU. Mr. Kasal conveyed
an invitation to the Armenian Parliament Speaker to pay an official
visit to Prague.

During the meeting reference was made to the Karabakh conflict
resolution.

NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan assured that Armenia has always backed
the solution of the issue via peace talks, considering the OSCE
Minsk Group a correct way of coming to an agreement. The Armenian
Parliament Speaker emphasized the importance of the right of peoples
to self-determination, which will allow taking into account the will
of the NKR people and their wish to live free, which is one of the
basic norms of international law.

LAVROV CONSIDERS THE KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION IS QUITE REALISTIC

armradio.am
07.10.2008 18:02

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov considers that the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict is quite realistic.

"Two or three questions remain unsettled in the Karabakh issue, which
should be coordinated during the next meeting of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan," the Foreign Minister of Russia declared in an
interview with "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" newspaper. According to him, this
meeting will take place after the presidential elections in Azerbaijan.

"The question primarily refers to the Lachin corridor. As one of the
three mediators, we have an impression that the resolution of the
issue is quite realistic," Lavrov said.

"Naturally, the issue will be solved through a direct agreement
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the Russian, French and American
mediators, who wonderfully understand all the nuances and sensibility
of the process, see opportunities for solution," the Russian Foreign
Minister noted.