Month: November 2009

KHATCHADOUR TANKIAN TO RELEASE HIS FIRST ALBUM AT THE AGE OF 72
Ruzan Khachatryan

"Radiolur"
27.11.2009 16:10

Before yesterday’s Telethon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund few
people in Armenia knew that Serj Tankian’s father, Khatchadour Tankian
was going to release an album. During the Telethon the father and son
performed Alexey Hekimyan’s song "Bari Aragil" in a new arrangement.

It is a song they would sing together when Serj was a kid and in a
way, the recording of this song and the work put into producing the
album overall is Serj paying ode to his inspiration, his father.

It’s a rare thing for a man aged 72 to release his first album.

"Inchbes Moranank," the debut album of songs sang by Khatchadour
Tankian, features new recordings of traditional Armenian folk songs
that Khatchadour has sang for the majority of his life, along with 2
brand new songs in "Hrant Dink" as well as the title track "Inchbes
Moranank."

Produced by his son Serj with new arrangements from famous Armenian
composer Andranik Mouradian, the album is a collection of 11 songs
that brought the father and son team back to yesteryear, when the
love of singing was passed on from father to son.

Born on October 10, 1937 in Aleppo, Syria, Khatchadour was asked to
sing at the Armenian school he attended at age 6 when a guest from
Armenia came to visit the classroom. His natural gift became apparent
to the visitor from Khatchadour’s ancestral homeland, as the man
embraced the young Armenian boy in Syria upon the child finishing
the last note of the traditional folk song "Cilicia." On that day,
a singer was born, and Khatchadour has had the spirit of music in him
since. Appropriately, the song "Cilicia" was recorded for this debut
album and Khatchadour’s love of the song still exists 65 years later.

This affinity for singing was strengthened in Khatchadour throughout
his youth and after moving to Beirut, Lebanon at age 16, he decided to
form a band with some of his friends. Being that the recorded music
industry was still very much in its own infancy and not readily
available to a teenager living in Lebanon, Khatchadour’s singing
talents were relegated to the weddings and christenings of the various
Armenian families living in the Diaspora region or Beirut. His talents
got him invited to sing in Lyon, France in the year 1959, where he
sang at a celebration event to honor the anniversary of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun.

Members of the Systems Of A Down have never concealed that they raise
their voice for universal values, for the recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide. Serj Tankian has been repeatedly stating
this in his interviews.

ARAM SARGSYAN: ARMENIA’S RESPONSE TO AZERBAIJAN SHOULD BE ADEQUATE
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
27.11.2009 17:25

Leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargsyan considers
that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia never managed to
properly present the essence of the Karabakh issue to the international
community, while Azerbaijan successfully continues distorting it.

"The Armenian side cannot have any expectations unless certain
conceptual changes are made in the process of settlement of the
Karabakh issue," Aram Sargsyan said.

"We know that the Madrid Principles envisage return of territories. It
means that the Armenian side, in principle, agrees that the territories
should be returned," he said. According to the leader of the Democratic
Party, if this is not so, it’s more than necessary to suspend the
negotiation process and demand from the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to
express a clear stance on the bellicose statements of the President
of Azerbaijan. The co-chair countries also have to condemn such
statements.

Armenia should have recognized the independence of Nagorno Karabakh
long ago, Sram Sargsyan believes. "First, Armenia had to recognize
the fact of Nagorno Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan, which took
place in line will all norms of international law and the Soviet
legislation."

The leader of the Democratic Party considers that Armenia should take
adequate steps in response to the aggressive statements of Azerbaijan.

2ND ANNUAL PHARMACEUTICAL COMPETITIVENESS CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
27.11.2009 18:08

The USAID-funded Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project
in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Scientific Center
of Drug and Medical Technology Expertise, the Union of Medicine
Producers and Importers of Armenia, Armenian Development Agency, and
National Competitiveness Foundation are organizing the 2rd Armenian
Pharmaceutical Competitiveness Conference on December 1 in Yerevan.

The event aims to update industry representatives on the current status
of the sector, promote collaboration among pharmaceutical sector
stakeholders, and encourage discussions on major industry issues,
including financial crisis impact on pharmaceutical production,
adoption of Good "X" Practices (GXP) regulations and export market
opportunities.

The conference builds upon the success of the first Pharmaceutical
Competitiveness Conference, held last November by CAPS and its
major partners in the pharmaceutical industry. The conference
focused on introducing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Since
then, notable steps have been taken toward GMP implementation in
Armenia. For example, in May this year, a GMP training program
featuring international experts was conducted in Armenia for the
first time through the joint efforts of the CAPS Project and major
industry stakeholders. The GMP training was followed by a trainers’
course, creating local GMP trainers able to continue pharmaceutical
training through the GXP Center of Excellence, which was established
in June this year.

Conference participants will discuss opportunities for Armenian
pharmaceutical producers in domestic and foreign markets, the need for
improvements in medicine regulation, as well as the current situation
of medicine production in Armenia and possible development scenarios.

The event is open to pharmaceutical producers, government and
international organizations, educational institutions, NGOs, business
associations, pharmaceutical professionals, the press and those
interested in Armenia’s pharmaceutical industry.

CE SECRETARY GENERAL SUGGESTS TO AWARD TURKISH PRIME MINISTER NOBEL PRIZE FOR EFFORTS ON NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-27 11:47:00

ArmInfo. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may deserve the
Nobel Peace Prize for his work to promote peace both in Turkey and
regionally, Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary-general of the Council of
Europe and also chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, suggested
in an interview with a Turkish news agency.

According to the Turkish sources, praising the ruling Justice and
Development Party’s (AK Party) recent democratic initiative, Jagland
said Turkey is fast becoming the strongest country in Europe. Saying
that the AK Party is taking important steps to advance democracy
throughout Turkish society, Jagland praised the government’s policies.

"I admire his (Erdogan’s) leadership," Jagland said. Citing Turkey’s
recent moves to normalize relations with Armenia and lift visa
requirements with many countries, Jagland said he can’t understand
people who oppose Turkey’s EU bid. Turkey has one of the strongest
armies in Europe, is a bridge between the East and the West, and
plays a unifying role in the Middle East, he said.

YEREVAN TO HOST PHOTO-EXPOSITION DEVOTED 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL ON NOV 30

ArmInfo
2009-11-27 15:50:00

ArmInfo. Yerevan will host a photo-exposition devoted the 20th
anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall on November 30.

The German Embassy in Armenia told ArmInfo the exposition will be
accompanied with detailed presentation of the political situation of
1989-90 and the history of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. After the
official opening of the exposition, discussions will be held with
participation of Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Karine Ghazinyan
and representatives of the French, UK, Russian and US Embassies in
Armenia. The role of the given countries in the period of the fall
of the Berlin Wall will be discussed at the event as well.

BRAIN RING AGAINST AIDS

ArmInfo
2009-11-27 15:49:00

ArmInfo. Brain Ring popular intellectual game with participation of
schoolchildren from 5 Armenian regions will be held in the Armenian
town of Talin on December 1 on the occasion of the World AIDS Day.

World Vision Armenia told ArmInfo the event aims to raise awareness
of students of the AIDS and healthy life. The game will consist of
4 rounds. The teams from Yerevan, and the regions of Tavushm Lori,
Shirak and Aragatsotn will compete.

The event organizers are World Vision Armenia and AIDS: Education,
Care and Prevention NGO.

PASSENGER TRAFFIC BY BUSES IN YEREVAN IS UNPROFITABLE: YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY EXPERT SAYS

ArmInfo
2009-11-27 15:48:00

ArmInfo. Passenger traffic by medium-size and big buses in Yerevan
in unprofitable and needs government subsidies, Karen Hakobyan,
the expert of the Yerevan Municipality Department for Transport,
told media on Friday.

He said private companies import buses and organize traffic. The expert
could not answer ArmInfo’s question why private companies operate at
a loss and how they cover their losses. He said that 280 out of 384
buses in Armenia run their routes every day. The Municipality plans
to increase the number of buses to 800, their number will be enough
to replace microbuses hindering traffic in the city. Unlike buses,
microbuses work with profit, since their share is 76% of the total
traffic.

The government subsidizes only electric transport. There are nearly 100
trolleybuses in Yerevan. Over the last two years 36 new trolleybuses
were imported. "For some unknown reason the citizens of Yerevan prefer
crowded microbuses to trolleybuses," K. Hakobyan said.

The Yerevan underground was put into service in 1982 and no new
stations or sections have been built since then.

CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF ARMENIAN COMMODITY PRODUCERS BLAMES DWINDLING MACROECONOMIC INDICES ON POOR HANDLING OF INVESTMENTS

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27, /ARKA/. Chairman of the Union of Armenian
Commodity Producers, Vazgen Safarian, blamed today Armenia’s dwindling
macroeconomic indices on poor handling of investments.

According to the official figures of the country’s National Statistical
Service, Armenia’s GDP fell by 17.5% in January-October, 2009. The IMF
and World Bank have predicted a 12%-15% full-year economic contraction
for 2009, while the government says it will make 15%.

Speaking at a news conference Vazgen Safarian said the Union of
Commodity Producers had repeatedly asked the government to channel
a sizeable portion of the $500 million Russian stabilization loan
into boosting small and medium-sized businesses and the industrial
sector which would allow to retain industrial production rates and
preserve jobs, however the government directed a sizable part of the
loan to the construction sector, which despite the government support,
failed to get back on recovery track.

According to him, production of cement, construction stone and road
metal has slashed. He also said industrial export is expected to drop
by 40% from 2008 to $600-620 million.

According to the official figures, Armenian foreign trade in
January-October fell by 31% from a year before to 1.1 trillion Drams
of $3.2 billion. Exports plunged by 41% to $551.6 million and imports
fell by 28.5% to $2.7 billion.

According to Safarian, the government should implement radical economic
reforms and stimulate domestic production to help the economy out of
the crisis.

ARMENIA STATE DEBT TO REACH $3.5 BILLION BY YEAREND

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27, /ARKA/. Chairman of the Union of Armenian
Commodity Producers, Vazgen Safarian, said today Armenia’s state debt
will make 46% of the GDP by the end of this year if the government
does not take swift action to improve economic situation.

Speaking at a news conference he said Armenia’s state debt will stand
at $3.5 billion by the end of the year and if the government does
nothing to revert the course Armenia may hit soon the 50% edge and
become insolvent with all ensuing negative consequences.

Earlier this month speaking at the parliament during a debate on 2010
budget Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said the state debt
is expected to stand at $2.2 billion at the end of the year. The
2010 draft budget says the country’s state debt in 2010 may reach
$3.9 million.

According to Vazgen Safarian, the government needs to implement a set
of sweeping economic reforms, particularly, to pass a law on industry
revival and establish industry development ministry, to help economy
get out of the crisis.

Earlier finance minister Tigran Davtian said the state debt in 2009
will be within permissible level of 50% ratio to GDP.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN SYSTEM OF BENEFITS NEEDS SUBSTANTIAL REVISION

ARKA
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, November 27. /ARKA/. Armenian system of benefits needs
substantial reconsideration, Hakob Hakobyan, chairman of National
Assembly’s standing committee on social affairs, said Thursday at a
press conference.

He thinks faults of the system leaves room for persons having stable
earnings to submit forged papers and receive benefits.

Hakobyan said more than 16,000 illegal beneficiaries were removed
from lists in 2009 alone that as a result of scrutiny.

He said that the government can’t help those in need while illegal
beneficiaries remain included in the lists.

He said that Armenia has 100,000 poor people whose pension or benefit
amount to AMD 8,000.

The government earmarked AMD 242.4 billion in the 2010 state budget
for social expenses.

The share of social expenses in GDP is 7.5%.

The government earmarked AMD 31 billion for paying benefits to
low-income families in 2010 against this year’s 32.3 billion.

One family benefit will average AMD 23,000 in 2010.

The lump-sum state benefit for third birth in a family was left
unchanged at AMD 430,000.

The monthly benefit for care of up-to-two-year-old babies was left
unchanged as well – at AMD 18,000.

Pensions remained the same and even rose due to changes in rates.

Pension will amount to AMD 25,700 in 2010 against 25,500 now.

Basic pension is set at AMD 8,000 for 2010.

The 2010 state budget revenue is AMD 676.6 billion, expenditure AMD
859.6 billon and deficit AMD 183 billion.

One dollar is expected to cost AMD 376 in 2010.