Month: November 2009

CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TROIKA DIALOGUE: CONSTRUCTION OF A SCHOOL-COMPLEX IN DILIJAN TO START IN 2010

ArmInfo
2009-11-12 22:10:00

ArmInfo. Construction of a comprehensive school-complex in Dilijan will
start in 2010, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Troika Dialogue
Group of companies, Head of the Board of Directors of AMERIABANK
Ruben Vardanyan said in Yerevan on November 12 when responding to
ArmInfo’s question.

To recall, in summer, 2009, R. Vardanyan introduced a project of
construction of a school- complex in Dilijan to Armenia’s Prime
Minister Tigran Sarkisyan. The latter highly appreciated the programme
and assured that it will be in the center of the government’s
attention.

"The project of construction is under implementation. The plan of
construction of the school, which meets the international standards and
where the children not only from Armenia but also from other countries
may study, is ambitious and interesting. We think that the future in
the XXI century is in the educated persons. If our educational system
does not improve, we shall lose many competitive advantages available",
R. Vardanyan emphasized.

Earlier, it was scheduled that 550 schoolchildren will study
in this school. The lessons will be conducted in English by
foreign specialists. The school graduates will be well prepared
for continuation of education in the leading higher educational
establishments of the world.

NEW CASES OF SWINE FLU REVEALED IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-13 18:00:00

ArmInfo. New cases of swine flu have been revealed in Armenia.

Chief infectiologist of Armenia Ara Asoyan told ArmInfo correspondent
that at the moment the number of swine flu patients is 11. Unlike
the first 6 cases, this time all the 5 new patients are citizens of
Armenia. They are being treated of the H1N1 flu in "Nork" infection
hospital.

To recall, the first case of H1N1 was revealed in Armenia on November
10, and the first carrier of the virus was a citizen of Iran.

Afterwards swine flu patients came to Armenia from Russia and Turkey,
in all the cases the symptoms of the new flu were revealed in the
airport. The symptoms of the new flu are high temperature, cough, sore
throat, cold or stuffiness in nose, pain all over the body, headache,
algor, weakness, as well as diarrhea and vomit. Cases of swine flu
have been fixed in a total of 199 countries of the world. According
to WHO data, over 6 thsd cases had a lethal outcome.

THE COURT DISMISSED THE CASE AGAINST DENO GOLD MINING COMPANY

ArmInfo
2009-11-13 12:34:00

ArmInfo. The Court of General Jurisdiction of Syunik Marz dismissed
the case against Deno Gold Mining Company, EcoLur public organization
told told ArmInfo.

According to the source, Judge Anahit Tumanyan substantiated the
dismissal of the case by the fact that the case materials don’t
include evidence proving threats to human life and health. In the
interview with EcoLur, Artur Ghazaryan who is the Legal Consultant
of "For Ensuring Ecological Security and Developing Democracy" NGO
expressed his opinion about this decision to be legally incorrect. "A
week before the dismissal the court suspended the company’s activity
in Shahumyan Region on the basis of threat to people’s life and health
and evidence submitted in the case," he said.

Reminder: "For Ensuring Ecological Security and Developing Democracy"
NGO protects the rights of the owners in Kapan Town, Shahumyan Region.

The problem is that Shahumyan Community is located on the surface of
Shahumyan gold-polymetallic deposit which is currently being developed
by Deno Gold Mining Company. In the course of years the deposit has
been developed with gross violations of development rules. The upper
layer of soil under galleries is practically dug through, and so
craters have formed (see photos). "Here you may find yourself buried
alive under a 30- meter-deep layer of the ground. Be careful! If you
fall, no one will dig you out," said Vladik Martirosyan, the President
of "Khoustoup" NGO who accompanied EcoLur Group during the visit to
Shahumyan Region.

To recall, the company promised to give compensations to the
inhabitants for resettlement, but only several owners received
compensations. At present the company has stopped giving compensations
explaining this by decrease in world prices for nonferrous materials.

As it is known, the prices have gone up again, but the company still
refuses to give compensations.

RA NA DELEGATION ALSO TO TAKE PART IN PROCEEDINGS OF NATO PA ANNUAL SESSION TO BE HELD IN EDINBURGH

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The 55th annual session of NATO
Parliamentary Assembly will be convened between November 13 to 17 in
Edinburgh (Scotland). In addition to 14 countries having the status
of associated member, RA NA’s delegation will also take part in
the session.

According to Noyan Tapan correspondent’s information, RPA faction
members Karen Avagian and Artak Zakarian, Zharangutiun (Heritage)
faction head Styopa Safarian are included in the delegation.

It should be mentioned that Artak Zakarian receiving a deputy mandate
last month replaced ARFD faction representative Artur Aghabekian in the
delegation. A. Aghabekian was also the head of the Armenian delegation.

RA NSC SECRETARY ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN RECEIVES ONNO HANNTING

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Security Council
Secretary Artur Baghdasarian, on November 13, received Onno
Hannting, Special Representative on Eastern Partnership of the
Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands, and Peter Yan Langenberg, the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to
RA. According to National Security Council Secretary’s Press Office,
the interlocutors discussed the prospects of cooperation within the
framework of Eastern Partnership.

A. Baghdasarian mentioned that Armenia seeks to deepen its relations
with the European Union and the signing of the associated agreement
is a good basis for further development of RA-EU relations. The RA-EU
Actions Plan was also touched upon. At guests’ request A. Baghdasarian
presented the process of reforms carried out in various directions
in Armenia.

The interlocutors also touched upon the issue of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, attached importance to establishment
of diplomatic relations and opening of the border between the two
countries from point of view of strengthening peace and stability in
the region.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GERMANY HAVE DEVELOPED VERY EFFICIENTLY SINCE 1992, AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY TO RA CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Relations between Armenia and
Germany have developed very efficiently since 1992 in political, trade
and other spheres. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Germany to RA Hans Schmidt said at a November 13 press conference. In
his words, currently work is done to create a favorable investment
atmosphere in Armenia for German businessmen to work actively in RA.
"Our Foreign Minister has always stressed the importance of Germany’s
relations not only with Armenia but also with all South Caucasian
countries," H. Schmidt mentioned. He also reminded the words of his
country’s former Foreign Minister, according to which, the signing
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols is the first important step for
establishment of stability in the region.

Touching upon facilitation of the visa regime within the framework
of European Union Eastern Partnership the Ambassador mentioned that
first of all the visa regime should be regulated "within the Schengen
sphere." According to him, creation of conditions of free trade and
strengthening of human rights are more primary at present.

At journalists’ request H. Schmidt also touched upon the 20th
anniversary of the fall of Berlin wall naming that event "a festive and
decisive step in Germany’s history." In his words, it was especially
gladdening that citizens of the Democratic Republic of Germany had
themselves decided the problem of eliminating the wall and for that
purpose had started a rally movement not being afraid of the repressive
system and Police pressures.

MATTHEW BRYZA NOT TO BE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to
American diplomatic sources, the U.S. State Department has suspended
the procedure of appointing Matthew Bryza Ambassador of U.S. to
Azerbaijan. According to Asbarez, the post of the U.S. Ambassador to
Azerbaijan has been vacant for already 4 months and media constantly
reported about the probability of Matthew Bryza’s appointment as
Ambassador to Azerbaijan citing Bryza’s words that the South Caucasus
is dear to him and he will be content to work there.

HONORARY CONSUL OF RA APPOINTED ADVISER TO MAYOR IN KHARKOV

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

KHARKOV, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By Kharkov
Mayor’s November 10 recommendation Honorary Consul of RA to the city of
Kharkov Armen Aslanian was appointed Adviser to Mayor on International
Relations, on public bases. According to Kharkov Municipal Council’s
website, one of new Adviser’s first commissions is preparation of
Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian’s visit to Kharkov to take place in
2010, as well as development of cooperation between RA and city of
Kharkov in various spheres and other aspects of international activity.

Honorary Consulate of RA in the city of Kharkov started to work from
2009 September. In that period official delegations of the city of
Kharkov and Kharkov region visited Armenia and conducted negotiations
over cooperation in the economic and humanitarian spheres. Contacts
between Kharkov and Yerevan have been developing since 2008.

USAID PROJECT NOVA COMPLETED

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The successful completion of the
USAID-financed Project NOVA was marked on November 12. Thanks to the
project launched in 2004, the quality of obstetrical services has
been improved in Armenia in the past 5 years, with the main emphasis
on safe reproduction in rural areas and higher quality of and access
to maternal and child healthcare services.

"In the fields related to the project, patients’ satisfaction at the
level of services has risen, and there has also been a decline in the
number of complications among women and infants during childbirth and
in the postnatal period in Armenia. The project contributed to a growth
in the number of births and also to a decline in the number of women
applying for an abortion," Director of Project NOVA Inna Sacci said.

RA Deputy Minister of Healthcare Tatul Hakobian thanked the organizers
of the project, noting that it has enabled to deal with the problems
at community health centers. He expressed a hope that new projects
will be implemented in the healthcare sector, ensuring positive
results and notable achievements.

EVENT DEDICATED TO KOMITAS’ 140TH ANNIVERSARY HELD IN GEORGIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

TBILISI, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An event
dedicated to great Armenian composer, author of songs Komitas took
place on November 12 at the Caucasian House Georgian Center for
Cultural Cooperation. Event’s organizers were the Caucasian House,
the Embassy of RA in Georgia, the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Georgia.

Applying to those present Ambassador of RA to Georgia Hrach Silvanian
emphasized the importance of preservation of Komitas spirit and keeping
his values in Armenian culture. Head of the Georgian Armenian Diocese
Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian touched upon the invaluable heritage of
Komitas, music critic Mara Kirakozova told about different episodes
of Komitas’ creative life and historian Karen Hovhannisian presented
a brief picture of Komitas’ era.

The choir of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese, actor of Tbilisi
Petros Adamian Armenian State Dramatic Theater Samvel Elbakian,
string quartet, pianist Yesayi Abovian, violinists Galina Bandurian
and Anatoly Danielian performed pieces by Komitas during the event.

An exhibition was also organized within the framework of the event
where Georgian painter Nino Pirtskhalaishvili’s works on the subject
of Franz Werfel’s novel 40 Days of Musa Dag were presented.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
diplomats accredited in Georgia, cultural figures, many Georgian
Armenians were present at the event.