Month: December 2008

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED A NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN REWARDED WITH HIGH STATE AWARDS FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES UNDER LINCY FOUNDATION-IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES

n_centre_8/official_news_en.php?&date=12288528 00
Wednesday, 10th of December, 2008

Yesterday evening RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a
number of persons who have been rewarded with high State awards for
meritorious services under Lincy Foundation-implemented activities. The
Prime Minister thanked them and handed in the awards.

Under a presidential decree, for distinguished work under Lincy
Foundation-implemented activities, as well as for personal contribution
to homeland’s economics and self-dedication, Lincy Foundation
Vice-Secretary Harut Sasunyan was rewarded with a 1st rank medal
"For Services to Homeland."

Services to Homeland medals of 2nd degree were presented Road
Building Activity PIU State Enterprise Director Edward Bezoyan
and School Building Activity PIU State Enterprise Director Hrayr
Sargsyan. A number of company heads and staff were rewarded with
Anania Shirakatzi medals.

In compliance with a presidential ordinance, about two tens of
company heads and staff were rewarded with RA President’s Letter of
Appreciation for due diligence and conscientious work under Lincy
Foundation-funded activities.

In stressing that several challenges are awaiting us in=2 02009 and
that road building, school and infrastructure engineering are among
government priorities, the Prime Minister expressed hope that active
work in this field may enhance the efficiency of anti-crisis actions.

In conclusion, Tigran Sargsyan congratulated once again the guests
and wished them every success and personal well-being.

STATE INSPECTION FOR CONTROL OF EARTH INTERIOR SET UP BY DECISION OF RA GOVERNMENT

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. At the December 11 sitting, the
Armenian government made a decision to establish a separate unit –
the State Inspection for the Control of Earth Interior within the RA
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. As NT was informed by the
RA Government Iinformation and PR Department, the regulations and
structure of the Inspection were approved.

CASH-REGISTER TAPES OF ONE TYPE TO BE USED IN ARMENIA STARTING FROM JANUARY 1, 2009

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting from January 1, 2009,
new cash-register tapes of one single type will be put in use in
Armenia. These tapes will have the same price, the deputy head of the
RA State Revenue Committee Armen Alaverdian announced at the December
11 press conference.

In his words, Alexserv organization will supply tapes for cash
register coupons. The organization gained this right through a
tender, and it assumed an obligation to supply tapes with 5 protective
layers. A. Alaverdian said that this change will allow to control the
origin and quality of cash register tapes sold in the market, which
is impossible to do now due to the great variety of such tapes. It
was mentioned that by purchasing tapes from Alexserv, the buyer may
substantiate his expenses based on documents and be expemt from the
respective taxes.

MUSIC ENSEMBLES OF ISTANBUL TO HAVE CONCERTS IN YEREVAN AND VANADZOR

Noyan Tapan

Dec 11, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The Kardes Turkuler (Brother
Songs) music ensemble and the Sayat Nova Armenian choir of Istanbul
will have a joint concert program on December 12-13 in Yerevan
and Vanadzor. As Gayush Calikma-Gavrilov, a member of the Sayat
Nova ensemble, reported at the December 10 press conference, Kardes
Turkuler’s reportoire mainly includes Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish
folk songs. The ensemble will perform the Msho Akhchik, Kani Vur Janim,
and other Armenian songs.

It was also mentioned that Kardes Turkuler was created 15 years ago
with the mission to contribute to improval of friendly, brotherly
relations between the peoples of the countries being at war with
each other.

EUROPE LESS ENTHUSIASTIC AND MORE ADEQUATE ABOUT GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 14:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. and EU approaches to Georgia differ,
a Georgian expert said.

"Unlike the U.S. which welcomed the ‘rose revolution’ and labeled
Georgia as ‘democracy lighthouse’, Europe was less enthusiastic
and more adequate. A political teenager, Saakashvili stretched for
the U.S. where he was met with applause and did not hurry to visit
countries which criticized his antidemocratic and authoritative
claims," Ivlian Khaindrava, director of South Caucasus programs at
the Tbilisi-based center of development and cooperation said in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net

"Georgia’s foreign policy became bifurcated. Georgia thought that the
U.S. republican administration will help while Old Europe will argue
about values, problems, risks and will try to set conditions," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 15:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU leaders are gathering for a summit on December
11 and 12 to discuss the Eastern Partnership plan developed by European
Commission members, Pravda.ru reports.

The Eastern Partnership will supersede and go beyond the EU’s current
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) with the five countries: Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The door has also been left
open to a sixth country, Belarus.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he is convinced
that the Partnership would demonstrate the "power of soft power" and
acknowledged that the conflict in Georgia in August had influenced
the decision to launch the Partnership. He nonetheless insisted that
the proposal should not be seen as an attempt to establish a "sphere
of influence" vis-a-vis Russia. "We don’t need a new Cold War,"
he said. "We need cool heads."

AUGUST WAR MADE GEORGIA EPICENTER OF INSTABILITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 15:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia’s irresponsible moves caused Russia’s
disproportionate reaction. The fact is that two authoritative regimes
launched a war that they have been preparing for years, a Georgian
expert said.

"As to the democracy index, according to The Economist, both Georgia
and Russia were included in the list of so-called hybrid regimes,
rating 104 and 107 respectively along with Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi
and Pakistan," Ivlian Khaindrava, director of South Caucasus programs
at the Tbilisi-based center of development and cooperation said in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"It was quite obvious that a war will break out. The OSCE observers in
South Ossetia did warn about possible escalation but nothing was done
to prevent it. This story resembles the OSCE behavior during elections
in the South Caucasus. At first, the observers announce that the
elections were held in line with international standards. However,
some 2 or 3 months later they publish a report to say that the
elections were beyond any standards," he said.

The diplomatic language of ‘mild’ European force is being exhausted,
according to Khaindrava.

"The August war debunked the myth of ‘democracy lighthouse’,
transforming it into Bush’s street in Tbilisi, which has become the
epicenter of instability mostly conditioned by unpredictability of
the Georgian authorities and Russian military presence August 2008
proved that security in the South Caucasus is not an abstract notion
for EU. Market deals are pregnant with bloodshed and losses and can’t
substitute sober decisions," he said.

ARMENIA STANDS GOOD CHANCE TO GAIN POLITICAL WEIGHT IN THE REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 15:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s new defense concept states that Moscow views
the CSTO as a key tool to maintain stability and security throughout
the CIS, an Armenian expert said.

"The CSTO will become the basis for allied relations. This choice is
quite understandable, given Russia’s leading role in the Organization,"
Sergei Sargsyan, an expert at Spectrum strategic analysis center told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"As to Armenia, despite the perspective to develop relations with NATO,
the CSTO is the only bloc where the republic acts as a full-fledged
member. Armenia’s membership in the CSTO is one the major factors
determining efficiency if its armed forces. It allows Armenia to buy
military equipment and armament at a moderate price," he said.

Armenia stands a good chance to gain political weight in the region,
according to Sargsyan.

Commenting on the possibility of resumption of hostilities in Nagorno
Karabakh, he said, "I do not think that hostilities will go beyond
the borders of the former Azeri SSR. However, Armenia will receive
assistance from Russia while other CSTO member states will apparently
take a neutral stand, owing to economic reasons."

EUROPEAN SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY THEY DON’T WANT TO HAVE GEORGIA IN NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 15:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Europeans do not say exactly what they think,
according to a Georgian expert.

"I will not say whether Georgia should be offered MAP or not. But if
NATO leaders decided to refrain from this move they should explain
their decision," Ivlian Khaindrava, director of South Caucasus programs
at the Tbilisi-based center of development and cooperation said in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"The level of democracy in Georgia is shameful for a NATO
aspirant. Furthermore, the process of decision-making is unpredictable
in Georgia, what is too dangerous for the Alliance," he said.

ARMENIAN CITIZENS CAN TRAVEL TO SWITZERLAND WITH SCHENGEN VISA FROM DECEMBER 12

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2008 16:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Starting 12th December 2008, the Swiss-EU Schengen
cooperation becomes operational. This means that Switzerland will
start issuing Schengen visas.

The Swiss Schengen visa will not only allow travel to Switzerland but
also in the whole Schengen area. Conversely, Armenian passport holders
with a valid Schengen visa issued by other Schengen States will also
be able to enter Switzerland without an additional Swiss visa.

This is the result of the bilateral Schengen-agreement signed in
October 2004 between Switzerland and the European Union. This new
development will facilitate travel in Europe for Armenian passport
holders, the press office of the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi reported.