Month: December 2008

ARMENIA-INDIA CHESS MEETING – 2:2

Panorama.am
17:03 02/12/2008

The third match of junior chess teams of Armenia and India will be
launched today. The second match which took place yesterday finished
in a draw – 2:2.

Zaven Andriasian scored a vital full point against reigning Abhijeet
Gupta and Samvel Ter Sahakyan turned the tables on Deep Sengupta to
help Armenia draw the second match 2-2 in their friendship chess match.

Note that Indian team has 3 points and Armenians only 1. The leader
of the tournament is Indian team.

FINANCIAL SOURCES TO BUILD RAILROAD AND ATOMIC POWER STATION UNDEFINED

Panorama.am
17:19 02/12/2008

In order to meet the challenges of international crisis, to guarantee
investments and financial streams the Government of Armenia has
taken the initiative to build new atomic power station, Iran-Armenia
railroad and to establish pan-Armenian bank, said Vardan Ayvazyan,
the Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, during a
press conference.

Economist Andranik Tevanyan, the head of "Polit-economy" research
institute is concerned that Armenian Government confuses its people
presenting such projects. Tevanyan said that the state budget of 2009
does not include any of those projects.

Regarding this Vardan Ayvazyan said that investments will be made
for the railroad, whereas Mr. Tevanyan answered that the Minister
of Transport of Russian Federation Mr. Levitin himself has said that
they would not adopt that strategy.

It turned out that projects are announced without having definite
sources for them, said Mr. Tevanyan.

111TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARSHAL BAGHRAMYAN’S BIRTHDAY

Panorama.am
15:49 02/12/2008

Today 111th anniversary of Marshal Baghramyan’s birthday has been
celebrated in Yerevan. Baghramyan’s memory has been commemorated by
the veterans, military officers, officers of Monte Melqonyan College
who put wreath under his monument.

Arthur Baghramyan, the commander of Marshal Baghramyan military unit of
the Defense Ministry said that Baghramyan’s memory is inseparable from
our past and present; he is a moral compass for future generations. "It
would not be exaggerated if we say that Baghramyan devoted his life
to his country and officers. He was awarded 50 medals," he said.

MAYOR’S POWER EXTENDED

Panorama.am
15:14 02/12/2008

The Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Armen Gevorgyan had a range
of meetings in the Council of Europe, reported the public relations
department of the Ministry of Territorial Administration. The Deputy
Prime Minister had a meeting with the Deputy Secretary General of
Council of Europe Maud Boer de Boer-Buquicchio amd other high ranking
officials.

During the meetings the officials have discussed a range of
questions on the activities of local self-governing bodies, the
process of implementation of the obligations that Armenia undertook
towards European Parliament, as well as the legislative reforms of
self-governing bodies based on the changes of the Constitution. It
was mentioned that taking into account the expertise made by the
European Parliament, the power of the Mayor has been extended.

RA PRESIDENT AWARDS ORDER OF HONOR TO ALEXEI MILLER

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan and
Chairman of Russian Gazprom company Board Sergei Miller, at the
December 1 meeting, discussed a wide range of issues regarding
cooperation in the energy sphere, touched upon the current
programs. The sides expressed satisfaction with the cooperation
between Armenia and Gazprom estimating it as efficient and having
prospects. The interlocutors also discussed the implementation process
of Hrazdan TPP 5th energy unit investment program and its operation.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, for A. Miller’s contribution to expansion of economic
cooperation between Armenia and Russia and development and deepening
of Armenian-Russian friendly contacts S. Sargsyan awarded an Order
of Honor to Gazprom company Board Chairman A. Miller.

BAKO SAHAKIAN MEETS WITH AMERICAN ARMENIAN BENEFACTOR JERRY TURPANJIAN

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

LOS ANGELES, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. NKR President Bako Sahakian
met with American Armenian benefactor Jerry Turpanjian on November
28 in Los Angeles.

According to the report of the General Information Department of
NKR President’s Administration, issues regarding various programs
implemented in NKR’s socio-economic sphere were discussed during
the meeting.

B. Sahakian appreciated the Turpanjian Rural Communities Development
Program implemented by the American University of Armenia in Artsakh
meanwhile attaching importance to its significance in economic and
educational respects. He emphasized the necessity to make the activity
carried out in Artsakh more varied, which will have a positive impact
on further strengthening of contacts between Artsakh and the Diaspora.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES MAKING AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDA TO STATE PROPERTY PRIVATIZATION 2006-2007 PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 1, the RA National
Assembly in second reading discussed a bill authored by the government,
which envisaged making amendments and addenda to the valid law On
State Property Privatization 2006-2007 Program.

According to the main reporter Karine Kirakosian, the head of the
State Property Management Department attached to the government, it is
proposed that in addition, 5 companies and Armimpexbank CJSC’s state
shares, 2.35 percents be included in the privatization list. 3 out
of 5 companies to be included in the list in addition, Martuni Dental
Polyclinic, Equestrian Sport Center, Stepanavan Airport had not been
included in the first reading draft. As K. Kirakosian motivated it,
Martuni Dental Polyclinic is the only one in the country not included
in the privatization list. Stepanavan Airport has not been operating
since 2001 and is proposed for privatization for not accumulating
further debts and not becoming bankrupt. According to K. Kirakosian,
when privatizing the airport the government will be guided by the
agreement signed with Zvartnots International Airport’s concessioner
not to hinder the latter’s work, as there are agreements with the
concessioner that Zvartnots and Gyumri airports carry out passenger
transportations. As to the Equestrian Sport Center, it is proposed
for including in the privatization list to attract investments for
its acting in line with the international standards.

ACCORDING TO ARMAN MUSINIAN, THERE ARE NO PRECONDITIONS FOR RESUMING RALLIES

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues regarding radical
opposition’s further strategy and national problems are on the
agenda of a conference of the Armenian National Congress to be held
on December 12. Arman Musinian, the Spokesperson of ANC leader Levon
Ter-Petrosian, said at the December 1 press conference. He said that a
number of organization issues regarding strengthening ANC’s territorial
structures and creation of committees in various spheres were discussed
at the November 30 consultation of ANC member parties’ heads.

Touching upon the issue of resuming the rallies, A. Musinian said
that today there are no such weighty preconditions to make the ANC
management reconsider the decision on stopping the rallies. In response
to the question of whether the existence of political prisoners is
not a sufficient precondition he stated that they will continue the
struggle for their imprisoned friends through non-mass actions.

NKR PRESIDENT HELD MEETINGS IN U. S.

De Facto
Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, 01.12.08. DE FACTO. On November 28 NKR President Bako
Sahakian met in Los Angeles with American-Armenian entrepreneur
Jerry Turpanjian.

According to the Central Department of Information of the Office
of the NKR President, issues related to realization of different
projects in the NKR socioeconomic sphere were discussed during the
meeting. The President rated high the Turpanjian rural development
program carried out in Artsakh within the frameworks of the American
University of Armenia, noting its significance from both the economic
and educational points of views. The Head of the State considered
important to diversify activities in Artsakh which would have a
positive impact on further strengthening the Artsakh-Diaspora ties.

PACKAGE OF BILLS ON LOCAL AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT IN YEREVAN NOT PUT ON AGENDA

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly’s last
autumn regular four-day session started on December 1. 49 issues and
11 international agreements are on the agenda. Besides the bills,
the agenda also includes 2009 activity programs of the RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission and State Committee for Protection
of Economic Competition, Control Chamber, as well as reports on 2007
activity of a number of state structures.

Putting on the agenda the package of bills on local self-government
and territorial government in Yerevan in second reading was postponed
by 15 days under RA National Assembly’s decision. According to RA
NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamian, the issue was also discussed in the
profile committee On State and Legal Issues, and a decision was made
to hold enlarged parliamentary hearings of the package on December
12. Besides, an agreement was reached to discuss the package with
the participation of RA Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgian with
Council of Europe experts. After the discussions, if it is expedient,
the package will be discussed at the NA special sitting to be convened
by the end of the year.

The only opposition faction, Zharangutiun (Heritage) was against the
decision of postponing. According to the faction, the terms set by
the constitutional amendments of 2005 are again violated by a regular
postponing of draft’s discussion.