Month: December 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net

List of events to be held under ENPF to be submitted by January 15, 2009
27.12.2008 15:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU-Armenia cooperation coordinating commission
held Friday a meeting chaired by head of commission, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The commission took note of the reports on the status of EU-Armenia
Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Policy, the priorities and
actions for 2009, the programs implemented under the European
Neighborhood and Partnership Facility (ENPF), the educational and
judicial reforms.

The ministries and agencies concerned were charged to submit by
January 15, 2009 individual action plans and financial estimates under
the ENPF. They were also told to submit before the deadline of
February 1, 2009 priority statements for discussion at the next
commission session of January 17, 2009, the government’s press office
reported.

ARMENPRESS

TRIBUTE PAID TO THE VICTIMS OF ARTSAKH WAR

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian high-ranking officials,
headed by the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, visited today
`Yerablur’ pantheon to pay tribute to those who died during the
Artsakh war. They put flowers on the tombs of founders of Armenian
Republican Party Ashot Navasardian, Commander Vazgen Sargsyan,
Commander Andranik Ozanian.
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said that today on the eve
of New Year, headed by the leader of the country, they visited
Yerablur to express their gratitude to `all those fellows who were
killed during the Artsakh war’. `Thanks to their devotion and courage
we live in peaceful conditions, ensure the development of Armenia. We
must remember them. This place -`Yerablur’ has become a holy
place. Visiting it on the eve of New Year we congratulate the New Year
and Christmas of our killed heroes and their families and we remember
them as it is our duty,’ the defense minister said.
According to him, today soldier of the Armenian army serves in
secure conditions. `Our soldiers, divisions, and troops are able to
return to battle-worthy condition in short period of time, pass from
shift to real defense and in case of necessity confront any
encroachments,’ Ohanian assured.
NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,
Chairman of the Armenian Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunian,
Secretary of National Security Council Arthur Baghdasarian, director
of National Security Service Gorik Hakobian, Chief of the Police Alik
Sargsyan and other officials also paid tribute in Yerablur.
From: Baghdasarian

AZG Armenian Daily #242, 27/12/2008

Karabakh conflict

SEMNEBY: MOSCOW DECLARATION – A SPUR

"The Moscow declaration signed by the Armenian, Azerbaijani and
Russian Presidents became a spur to the Karabakh conflict settlement
process", the EU Special Representative on South Caucasus Peter
Semneby announced in Baku according to Noyan-Tapan agency.

As a positive factor, he mentioned the fact that after 15 years the
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents put their signatures to a document
on Karabakh conflict.

"We hope that the Presidents of the two countries will meet to
continue the efficient negotiations", Peter Semneby said.

Translated by L.H

AZG Armenian Daily #242, 27/12/2008

Javakhk

MONITORING IN JAVAKHK

Armenian Ombudsman Armen Harutyunian sent a letter to his Georgian
counterpart Sozari Subari. As informed by the press service of the
Ombudsman, in the letter Armen Harutyunian informs that he has
received a letter from the administration of "Yerkir" Association for
NGOs, which expresses concern about the trials of heads of the "United
Javakhk" organization Vahagn Chakhalian, Gurgen Shirinian and their
family members, who are charged with murder of police officers.
According to the authors of the letter, there are many violations
being made during the trial.

Reminding his Georgian counterpart Sozar Subari of the mutual
agreements in the letter, Armen Harutyunian asked him to conduct
monitoring to find out whether the human rights implanted in
international documents and Georgian legislation are protected or not.

AZG Armenian Daily #242, 27/12/2008

Economy

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATION PROBABLY IN 2011

Two important documents on construction of a new nuclear power station
were signed December 26 by the Government. Deputy Minister of Energy
Areg Galstian presented the details to the journalists.

The first document is the bill on construction of a new nuclear
reaction that after being approved by the National Assembly will give
an opportunity to start legally the construction of a new nuclear
power station.

With the second document, the government approved the list of
companies eligible for the construction tender.

To the question "When will the construction of the new nuclear power
station start?" Areg Galstian answered that it will probably start in
early 2011.

"Meanwhile, in 2010 we will have a leader company and in the mid of
2010 agreements will be signed with the investors.

It is necessary to invest 5 mln US dollars in the construction of the
new nuclear power station", the Minister added.

By Ara Martirosian, translated by L.H.

A1+

THE BULL WILL EASE TENSIONS
[10:42 pm] 27 December, 2008

What will 2009 bring for Armenia? Astrologist Alina Derdzyan tried to
answer these questions.

`2009 will be a year to finish up what has already begun. There will
be changes in posts, developments in the foreign policy of the
country, but people will not see results right away. Besides that,
there will be many innovative ideas that must stand the test of time
in the fight against conservatism,’ says Alina Derdzyan.

Compared to last year, there will be analyses of past events and
tensions may ease through cooperation.

According to the astrologist, Saturn and Jupiter may move.

Derdzyan says that Pluto is entering the Capricorn constellation and
may bring serious approaches of leaders to their own history and
values. Besides that, Armenia will see the results of the global
issues.

`In this case, Armenia’s domestic situation may not be noticeable. But
there is hope that Venus and the Moon will ease the influence and
people will try to understand one another. There will be the
anticipated dialogue. Just like the seed must stay in the ground to
flourish later, the events to take place in March-June 2009 will be
the products of those seeds, but results will be seen later,’ said
Alina Derdzyan.

According to the astrologist, the joining of the planets will have a
rather interesting impact.

`Mars will unite with Pluto, Jupiter with Mercury, the Moon with
Venus. The first joining refers to conflicts, but the joining of
Jupiter and Mercury will solve them and I hope that Armenians will not
have trouble solving those conflicts.’

The astrologist divided countries according to constellations. For
example, Russia is under the sign of Aquarius, Afghanistan is under
the Scorpion and soon. As for Armenia, opinions vary.

`In my opinion, Armenia is under the sign of the Capricorn. The
current president’s horoscope is Cancer and those kinds of people are
flexible. The Cancer and the Capricorn are always in dialogue and need
to cooperate,’ says Derdzyan.

As proof that phenomena taking place in the universe have an impact on
events taking place on Earth, Derdzyan told how the events of March 1
`coincided’ with the positions of the planets on that day.

`It coincided with the hour that the state of emergency was declared,’
said Derdzyan.

As for the predictions on the PACE session in January, according to
the astrologist, Armenia may not lose its voting rights, but there
will be rather serious sanctions or the discussion will be postponed
and the issue will remain unsolved.

Alina Derdzyan made all predictions with the hour method, that is, the
origin of the phenomenon or based on the horoscope.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+

NEVERTHELESS, THERE WAS ONE GOOD THING THIS YEAR
[08:44 pm] 27 December, 2008

Head of the ruling parliamentary faction Galust Sahakyan believes that
the most important event of the year was that Armenia elected a
president who is dedicated, experienced and instills hope in the
people.

`The events of March 1 are the tension and the approach that left a
trace in our reality, especially since we had deaths,’ Sahakyan went
on to say.

Didn’t the events have anything to do with the most important event
mentioned, that is, the presidential elections? In response, Galust
Sahakyan said:

`The two have nothing to do with each other. One of them is the result
of political processes, while the results of the other were determined
by whim.’

Sahakyan expressed his great desire to pass a law on `chatterboxes’
next year. As a rule, the ruling party doesn’t like the active role of
the minority factions and it is foreseen that the bill is `targeted’
first of all against `Heritage’.

`Galust Sahakyan could not have made an allusion to us because
`Heritage’ has never gossiped and obviously hasn’t made any decisions
that would hurt our national interests and statehood,’ told `A1+’ head
of the `Heritage’ faction Armen Martirosyan.

Armen Martirosyan weighs the year as very bad in terms of elections
and post-election developments.

`I oppose the declaration of a state of emergency; I don’t accept the
events on the morning of March 1 initiated by the administration. I
think that the reputation of our country went down due to the
statements and decisions made by different notable international
organizations and to wrap things up, the statement made by the PACE
Monitoring Committee according to which Armenia will lose voting
rights if political prisoners are not released by January 27,’ said
Martirosyan. He added that the year was also bad taking into account
the developments of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the statements made
by the OSCE co-chairmen and different international organizations, as
well as the fact that Armenia’s positions and state interests are
rather weak.

Nevertheless, there was one positive thing this year for head of the
minority parliamentary faction:

`We really saw citizens fighting for their rights. We already have
citizens with a state mindset who must stand up for their statehood.’

Panorama.am

14:52 27/12/2008

SERZH SARGSYAN AWARDED

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan granted with Anania Shirakatsi
medal the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan,
the member of Public Services Regulatory Commission Samvel Arabadjyan,
the Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Iosif Isayan and
the Deputy Minister of Finance Suren Karayan for their efficient work
in state system.

By another decree of the President Movses Khorenatsi medal has been
granted to the World Absolute Champion Vakhtang Ananyan.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am

14:53 27/12/2008

MATENADARAN TO HAVE MORE VISITORS

`This year the number of visitors to Matenadaran increased by 3000,’
said the director of Matenadaran Hrachik Tamrazyan to Panorama.am. He
said that foreign tourists formed the majority of the visitors, which
is the evidence of tourism development in Armenia.

`I am happy to see that the interest towards our culture has been
increased. Foreigners are much interested in Matenadaran,’ he said.

Note that 17.000 manuscripts are kept in Matenadaran and 13.000 of
them are Armenian manuscripts.

Source: Panorama.am

Panorama.am
15:11 27/12/2008

EDVIN MARTON: `STAGE, LIFE AND PERFORMANCES NOT JOB FOR ME’

World famous violinist Edvin Marton takes out his violin of
Stradivarius and plays `Godfather’ for the journalists. EMMY Award
holder Hungarian musician Edvin Marton is in Armenia.

`This is my first visit to Armenia, but I have good Armenian
friends. I know that you have famous artists, sculptors and
musicians,’ said Edvin.

`Stage, life and performances are not job for me, but a success and
happiness,’ said the violinist and added `I like to write music near
water and I know about Sevan. I think of visiting it, maybe, I could
create some music,’ he said.

Source: Panorama.am