Month: November 2009

LEGAL FRAMEWORK NOT YET DEVELOPED TO PASS TO TOLL ROADS IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A legal framework has not yet developed to pass
to toll roads in Armenia and there is no relevant experience in this
sphere, RA Transport and Communications Minister Gurgen Sargsyan told
a press conference in Yerevan today.

According to transport minister, this issue has been repeatedly
discussed in the government and parliament of Armenia. He recalled
that the Armenian prime minister instructed the Ministry of Economy
to develop a draft law, and only after a thorough discussion of the
issue the issue of passage to toll roads can be decided. There is no
experience with toll roads in the entire region, except the single
tunnel in Georgia charging a symbolic fee, he added.

64-YEAR-OLD YEREVAN BOTANICAL GARDEN NEED RESOURCES FOR RESTORATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Yerevan Botanical Garden was founded in 1935 on
80 hectares of semi-desert land. Thanks to the work of many experts
specialists 1,650 trees and shrubs belonging to 207 species and 75
families were planted and grown in the botanical garden," Zhirayr
Vardanyan, director of the Institute of Biology of RA NAS, told a
press conference on November 11.

According to him, since 2004 the period of revival of Yerevan Botanical
Garden started. Despite the state budgets for science in 2010 will
reach 85 million AMD, the full restoration of Yerevan Botanical Garden
requires more money, Zhirayr Vardanyan said.

According to Director of the Yerevan office of the International
Foundation for Protection of Wildlife, Karen Manvelyan, the Georgian
experience in attracting extra-budgetary funds can be useful.

SECOND IRANIAN MESBAH SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 19:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran has announced that after many years of waiting,
right to launch the second Iranian satellite will be conferred on Italy
instead of Russia. Iranian representatives complain about Russia’s
constantly delaying the launch of "Mesbah communication satellite"
under plausible pretexts.

Italy and Iran agreed to cooperate in 2003. Their joint efforts
increased due to the introduction of "laboratory model". In 2005,
Russia agreed to launch the satellite on "Kosmos-3" carrier rocket,
but failed to keep the promise.

Omid (hope), first Iranian satellite, was launched on February 2,
2009. It used modernized ballistic rocket of local production. Some
Iranian media reported on its "successful landing." However,
other media report that the satellite bearing 8 aerials continues
flying in airless space to the benefit of Iranian national economy,
MIGnews.com reports.

DISCUSSIONS OVER KURDISH ISSUE GREW INTO HEATED DEBATE AMONG MPS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 20:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The anniversary of the death of the founder of
modern Turkey turned into a heated debate Tuesday as the ruling party
attempted to discuss in Turkish Parliament its Kurdish initiative
to end the 25-year terror problem. At the start of discussions,
pro-opposition MPs of Republican People’s Party (CHP) and National
Movement Party (MHP) did not allow Interior Minister BeÅ~_ir Atalay
to deliver speech as the latter took the floor. Banners that read
"Ataturk, we are following your path" and "The Republic is your legacy
and it is we who will perpetuate it" were opened by CHP deputies.

Pro-opposition MPs criticized the AKP’s decision to discuss the
Kurdish move on Nov. 10, Ataturk Memory Day.

Parliament speaker Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin warned the CHP and MHP deputies
that Parliament was not a rally. He called on the opposition deputies
to lower the banners. He then recessed the session for five minutes
and then started the session, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

ARMENIAN-GERMAN RELATIONS ON FIRM GROUNDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 20:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 11, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahmayn received
Hans-Jochen Schmidt, newly-appointed FRG Ambassador to Armenia.

Congratulating diplomat on his new appointment, Armenian parliament
speaker expressed hope that he would invest his best efforts
in development of Armenian-German ties. Abrahamyan stressed that
relations between two states are on firm grounds and highly appreciated
trade-economic, political and cultural ties, as well as implementation
of GTZ-funded programs in Armenia.

Parties agreed to develop interparliamentary cooperation. Mr.

Abrahamyan expressed Armenia’s willingness receive German parliament
speaker in Armenia.

Meeting also focused on current stage of Armenian-Turkish relations
and two parliaments’ role in the process, RA NA press service reports.

HALT OF GAS SUPPLY IN ARMENIAN TOWN KAPAN DUE TO PIPELINE ACCIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 20:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gas supply of Armenian town of Kapan stopped November
11 because of the accident at the Kapan-Kajaran pipe, press-service
of ArmRusGasProm reports.

Currently the TransGas company is working on the elimination of the
accident and restoration of gas supply.

The works are expected to be completed by November 13th evening.

VAHRAM ATANESYAN RECOMMENDS AZERI FM TO REFRAIN FROM GIVING WAY TO PHANTASY

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 20:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri FM’s statement on plans of discussing NKR
future status by "Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno
Karabakh" fully distorts the essence of negotiation process, Vahram
Atanesyan, Head of NKR NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Even if we theoretically assume that NKR can give consent to the
methodology enshrined in Madrid Principles, the document will not
imply inter-community discussions over Karabakh status," NKR MP
said, adding that during 1991 independence referendum "Azeris had the
right to participate in referendum and express their opinion but they
preferred to bomb Armenian population." "We won’t give them a second
chance," he stressed.

With regard to the wording "Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh",
he considered it nonsense by which Baku seeks to prove that former
Azeri residents of Karabkh are entitled to determine NK status.

"In my view, those Azeris can go to Karabakh only as NKR citizens. I
am sure that negotiation process does not focus on issues like
determination of NKR status by communities. I’d recommend Azeri
Foreign Minister to refrain from giving way to fantasy," MP stressed.

Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov recently announced that Karabakh’s future
status will be determined by "Armenian and Azerbaijani communities
of Nagorno Karabakh" and reiterated his stance on resolving the issue
in the frameworks of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO MORE SUSPECTED CASES OF SWINE FLU REPORTED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 20:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two more suspected cases of A1/H1N1 infection, or
"swine flu" reported today in Yerevan . As the press service of the
RA Ministry of Health reports, one of the virus carriers came from St.

Petersburg and was isolated right at the Zvartnots airport and taken
to the "Nork" hospital.

The second carrier is a citizen of Iran. He went to the hospital and
is currently undergoing treatment for A1/H1N1. 5 suspected cases of
virus A1/H1N1 infection have been reported in Armenia. One patient
has recovered and been discharged from hospital.

ANC TO REFRAIN FROM POLITICAL MAXIMALISM IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 21:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Pro-opposition bloc leader reiterated ANC’s support
to Armenian-Turkish rapprochement without preconditions, estimating
the process very sensitive and demanding high sense of responsibility
both by authorities and opposition. ANC leader also said his party
will refrain from political maximalism since "State interests are on
top of everything," ANC press service reports.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN NATO PA SESSION IN EDINBURGH

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 21:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Delegation from RA National Assembly is to take
part in NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s session due in Edinburgh on
November 13-17, 2009.

Participant will consider reports on NATO-Russia and NATO-Georgia
relations, as well as the problems of Afghanistan and Pakistan,
"Heritage" faction MP Stepan Safaryan said.