Month: November 2009

STATE ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS DEFENSE COMMISSION TO TAKE CONTROL THE MARKETS OF SOME PRODUCTS TO PREVENTING THE POSSIBLE RISE OF PRICES

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian State Economic
Competitiveness Commission will conduct special study to prevent the
possible rise of prices in the markets of petrol, diesel fuel, drugs,
natural oil, butter, egg and sugar in the period of the New Year.

At today’s session of the chairman of commission Davit Harutyunyan
noted that the commission will also conduct precautionary and
disclosing measures of law violations. The results of the surveys
carried out by the commission on purpose of studying the prices of
the products of greater social significance, come to witness the
rise in prices noticed in the recent period in the markets of petrol,
diesel fuel, drugs, natural oil, butter, egg and sugar.

Taking into consideration the fact that a tendency of rise in
prices of products of mass consumption is noticed every year in the
period preceding the New Year, the commission takes the behavior of
entrepreneurs operating in those markets under strict control.

D. Harutyunyan recommended the companies possessing greater realization
volume in the mentioned markets, in each change of prices to present
information on the amount, causes and grounds of price change in a
2-day timeframe in the period of November 20-December 30.

The list of those entrepreneur subjects will be published in near
future in the commission’s official site –

THE BIGGEST STORE IN THE WORLD WITH THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOVIET WAR PRISONERS OPENED FOR THE RESEARCHERS AND WIDE PUBLIC IN GERMANY

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

BERLIN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The biggest store in the world
with the information about the soviet war prisoners opened for the
researchers and wide public in Germany, the Ministry of Education of
the Saxon Federal Province reported. The corresponding internet-portal
was operated by the "Saxon Memorial Books" Foundation.

The store includes information about the 700,000 people of former
USSR who during the Second World War were captured and died in the
dungeons of Nazi Germany.

This computer store includes also the names and birth dates of those
10,000 German citizens who during the post-war years were convicted
by the Soviet Military Tribunal and later rehabilitated by Russia.

Previously this information was provided only on the basis of just
purposeful inquiries or was used while forming relevant applications
by the ministries. The manager of the foundation Claus Ditter Muller
said that now members of the families of the victims may search on
their own.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MIKHAIL SHWIDKOY TO CONTINUE MEDIATION IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETINGS OF THE ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS IN DIFFERENT FORMATS

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Special representative of the Russian
President on inter-cultural cooperation issues, ambassador on special
assignments Mikhail Shwidkoy is planning to continue mediation in
the organization of the meetings of the Armenians and Azerbaijanis
in different formats.

In an interview to Armenpress M. Shwidkoy said that together with
his colleagues he will continue working in that direction: the next
meetings will gather together businessmen and NGOs from Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

Two meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals, visits
to Yerevan, Baku and Stepanakert were organized by M. Shwidkoy,
and Armenian and Russian ambassadors to Russia. Parliamentarians and
heads of mass media also met in Moscow.

"It is difficult to say when the next meeting will take place but it
is necessary to continue the work. Each such meeting must be though
a small, but a step forward toward the mutual understanding of the
publics. This process does not replace the political negotiations
which are held by the presidents and once in a quarter such meeting
will be organized," he said.

According to him, such meetings are important as they give certain
impulse to the publics in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LAW ON "CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR UNIT(S) IN ARMENIA"

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed November 16 law on making changes in the law on "Civil
Service" and law on "Construction of New Nuclear Unit(s) in Armenia",
presidential press service reported.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN AND HANS GUNAR ADEN DISCUSS ISSUES ON ARMENIA-SWEDEN BILATERAL COOPERATION

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Secretary of the National Security
Council Arthur Baghdasaryan received today Swedish ambassador to
Armenia Hans Gunar Aden.

Spokeswoman of the National Security Council told Armenpress
that during the meeting the sides discussed a number of issues on
Armenia-Sweden bilateral cooperation. Arthur Baghdasaryan highlighted
the importance of development of Armenian-Swedish cooperation both
in bilateral format and within the framework of the international
establishments.

The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts over the Armenian-Turkish
relations and Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation process.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN DELIVERS SPEECH AT THE SUMMIT OF THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The visit of the Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan to Italy, where he is participating in the
summit of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, continues.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that today Tigran Sargsyan
delivered speech at the summit. Afterwards, the meeting of the prime
minister with the general director of the UN FAO Jacques Diouf took
place during which the sides discussed issues on cooperation between
the organization and Armenia.

Armenian Prime Minister noted that Armenia highlights cooperation with
FAO as well as the programs it carries out in Armenia. Tigran Sargsyan
also noted that Armenia reconfirms its readiness to host May 10-14,
2010 the FAO’s European and Central Asian Regional 27th conference as
well as consultation of the European NGO/Civil Society Organizations.

The head of the government specially pointed out the development of
cooperation in seed-growing of corn, wheat and potato, fish-breeding,
applying of agricultural insurance system, etc.

The general director of FAO noted that the new priorities of
cooperation give the organization and Armenia opportunity to work
effectively.

Today the head of the government will meet with the director of the
International Foundation of Agricultural Development Canayo Nvanze
and executive director of the UN World Food Program Joseth Shiran.

Today late in the evening the delegation headed by the Armenian prime
minister will arrive back in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES ROBERT AMIRKHANYAN ON THE 70TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had
November 16 a phone conversation with the people’s artist, honorable
cultural figure, chairman of the Armenian Union of Composers, composer
Robert Amirkhanyan.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that the leader of the
country congratulated the composer on the 70th birthday anniversary
wishing him health, and new creative success.

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR FOREIGN DIPLOMATS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE KICKED OFF

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian language classes for foreign
diplomats and their families have kicked off today in Armenian Foreign
Affairs Ministry. The classes are organized by "Welcome to Armenia"
association headed by Armenian Foreign Minister’s spouse, Natalie
Nalbandyan. Press service of Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry told
Armenpress that over 2 dozens diplomats and members of their families
were present at the first class.

Armenian language classes are also a good opportunity for foreigners
living in Armenia to get closely acquainted with the history, culture
and traditions of Armenian people.

The association established in September, 2009 is a non-profit
organization, the goal of which is to facilitate the integration of
foreign diplomats and their families to Armenian life.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A NUMBER OF MEDICAL EMPLOYEES AWARDED DIPLOMAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE PROFESSIONAL HOLIDAY

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The day of the medical employee has
been celebrated today in the territory of Central Military Polyclinic
subordinated to Armenian Defense Ministry. Media and Information
Department of Armenian Defense Ministry told Armenpress that Armenian
Defense Minster Seyran Ohanyan, Deputy Head of the Chief Headquarter of
the Armed Forces, General-Lieutenant Arshaluys Paytyan, high-ranking
officials, medical employees of the armed forces and other guests
were present at the event.

Welcoming and congratulating the medical employees on the professional
holiday, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan attached importance to the
role of medical employees in the armed forces and noted that their
was great especially during the years of Artsakh liberation fight and
that we took victory also as a result of the bravery and heroism of
the Armenian medical employee.

On Armenian Defense Minister’s decree a number of medical employees
were presented with the awards of the department on the occasion of the
professional holiday. At the end of the event S. Ohanyan paid a visit
to Central Military Polyclinic, walked around in the working-rooms
and got acquainted with the implemented works.

ARMENIA RANKED AMONG WORLD’S MOST CORRUPT COUNTRIES

Asbarez
Nov 17th, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-A respected international watchdog reported on Tuesday
a further slight increase in government corruption in Armenia, ranking
it among the 60 most corrupt countries of the world covered by its
annual surveys.

Armenia as well as Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan Mongolia and Vietnam
share a lowly 120th place in Transparency International’s latest
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of 180 nations. It was 109th in
the previous CPI released by the Berlin-based group a year ago.

The 2009 survey assigned Armenia a score of 2.7 measured on a 10-point
scale, with zero indicating an extremely high degree of corruption
as perceived by entrepreneurs and experts. The South Caucasus state
scored 2.9 points in 2008.

"I must point out that as a rule, a change of up to 0.3 points is
not deemed significant within the framework of this study," said
Amalia Kostanian, chairwoman of Transparency’s Armenian affiliate,
the Anti-Corruption Center (ACC).

Still, Kostanian stressed the fact that the watchdog has found
no decreases in the scale of widespread bribery and other corrupt
practices in the country for the past decade. "In fact, we have been
stagnating since 2003," she said, presenting the findings of the
latest CPI at a news conference.

The Armenian authorities claim to have stepped up their declared fight
against graft in recent years, adopting various anti-graft programs
and forming special bodies tasked with their implementation. The
administration of former President Robert Kocharian launched in 2003
the first such program consisting of mainly legislative measures.

There is little evidence that it has strengthened the rule of law in
the country, however.

Kocharian’s successor and longtime close associate, Serzh Sarkisian,
admitted last year that the virtual absence of prosecutions of
corrupt government officials has undermined public trust in the stated
crackdowns on corruption. His prime minister, Tigran Sargsyan, has
been even more vocal in acknowledging the seriousness of the problem.

The ACC and other local civic groups believe that the situation has
barely improved under the Sarkisian administration. Kostanian stated
in September that anti-corruption drives periodically announced
by the government will be doomed to failure as long as Armenia’s
top government officials are allowed to have extensive business
interests and strangle entrepreneurs challenging them. She described
the "fusion between large entrepreneurs and politicians" as the root
cause of the problem.

Armenia continues to compare favorably, in terms of corruption
perceptions, with two of its neighbors, Azerbaijan and Iran, that are
143rd and 168th respectively in the Transparency rankings. However,
the two other neighbors, Turkey and Georgia, are well ahead of it,
ranking 61st and 66th in the closely watched survey.