Month: November 2009

TWO MINISTERS OF ARMENIAN DESCENT SERVE IN LEBANESE GOVERNMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Government has been finally formed in Lebanon,
editor of Azdak Beirut-based newspaper Shahan Kandaharian said.

"It was high time to form a coalition government which would engage
all political forces of the country," he told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Mr. Kandaharian also informed that two Ministers of Armenian descent
serve in the government. "Abraham Teteyan occupies the post of Minister
of Architecture while Jean Hovasapian is a State Minister," he said.

SCR CREATES ANTI-TERRORISM COMMISSION

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 15:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ South Caucasus Railways JSC has decided to establish
anti-terror commission to strengthen preventive work against terrorist
offenses on the railway, press service of the company reports.

For effective work anti-terrorism training exercises are projected
to carry out together with law enforcement authorities.

The program is expected to have a positive impact on the efficient
and safe operation of railway transport in Armenia.

ARMENIA SHOULD HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should have an alternative market for
transportation of goods, head of finance and budget committee of
the Armenian parliament Gagik Minasyan told a press conference in
Yerevan today.

According to him, last year’s developments in Georgia showed that
Armenia needs to have alternative markets and transit routes for
Armenian goods, Turkey could be such a country.

Moreover, as Gagik Minasyan said, the cost of transportation of goods
from the U.S. to the Georgian port of Poti is the same as the cost
from Poti to Armenia. "Naturally, with the opening of Turkish border we
will not receive manna from heaven , great possibilities will open for
Armenia, which should at the same time, meet the challenges," he said.

The Turkish economy is sufficiently developed and attractive (17th
place among the developed economies of the world). Besides 70 million
Turkish market, 1.5 billion European market (Turkey is a part of
European customs zone) will open for Armenia, he said.

According to Mr. Minasyan, no need to fear the Turkish dumping
policies. "The Armenian government should develop appropriate policies
to protect the domestic market. On behalf of the RA Prime Minister
all departments is undertaking studies to determine the risks and
opportunities to be brought by open borders with Turkey, "- he said.

According to Gagik Minasyan, in the case of opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Armenia would be able to export electricity
to Turkey, there is some interest in acquiring the Armenian cement,
certain types of agricultural products.

RA POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF: NIKOL PASHINYAN COULD LEAVE ARMENIA ILLEGALLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A certificate on permanent residence in Armenia
isn’t issued for Haykakan Zhamanak editor Nikol Pashinyan not without
reason, RA Police Deputy Chief Hovhannes Hunanyan said.

"Pashinyan’s supporters’ assurances about his presence in Armenia
during this period of time are doubtful," he said.

Asked to prove Pashinyan’s absence from Armenia, Hunanyan said,
"Although there is no exit seal in Pashinyan’s passport, the data
provided by law enforcement allow conclusion that he was beyond
Armenia during the period from 2008 to 2009," he said.

He also informed that certificate will not be issued former Minister
of Transport Eduard Madatyan either. Madatyan is wanted by police on
accusation of organization of attempt at some of Armenian leaders.

ARMENIA PREPARING FOR SWINE FLU PREVENTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As of November 9, 3 A/H1N1 suspected cases are
registered in Armenia. Patients’ analysis samples have been sent to
London laboratory, and only after receiving official confirmation of
the disease can World Health Organization start delivery of relevant
medications to Armenia. Test results will be available in a month,
Health Minister Harutyun Kushkyan told today a news conference. "WHO
demands that at least the first 10 cases fixed in any country receive
official confirmation by regional reference lab which is in London,"
Minister said.

At that he noted that 3 individuals suspected of having A/H1N1 found
in Zvarthnots airport, with one of them being an Iranian citizen
and other 2 – citizens of RA. The former was isolated and, after
receiving relevant treatment, left for Iran. As to the 2 RA citizens,
they still receive their treatment in Republican hospital under chief
infectologist Ara Asoyan’s direct observation.

Artavazd Vahanyan, Head of Hygienic and Anti-Epidemic Inspection at
Health Ministry, announced earlier that 50 people in Armenia were
suspected of being caused by A/H1N1, however, further check-ups did
not confirm the virus.

Minister also said that Armenian Government has taken independent
measures towards obtaining required medications and serums to prevent
the pandemic. "This morning Health Ministry hosted meeting with
big importers, and parties reached agreement over importing certain
quantity of required medications."

7 thousand 500 tons of Tamiflu is currently available in Armenia, and
20 thousand more is expected to arrive in the near future, Minister
said, adding that the required quantity of medicine is 30 thousand
tons. Health Ministry plans to first of all start vaccination among
risk groups, i.e. medical workers and people working in services
sector. As for children, Ministry is expected to acquire for them a
special kind of medicine with no side effect. All the big hospitals
of Armenia are on the alert, said the Minister.

"There’s no reason for panic or concern. It is just recommended to
be more attentive, observe rules of hygiene and, if possible, drink
2-5 liters of liquid. In case of feeling dizzy, having temperature
or nausea, it’s necessary to apply to doctor," Mr. Kushkyan said.

ARMENIA: EDUCATION AND SCIENCE BUDGETS REACH 95 BILLION AMD IN 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Next year the education budget will reach 95
billion AMD, 13 billion AMD less than in the current year. However,
this will not prevent us from continuing all development programs. We
will also need extra budgetary money to use effectively in all spheres
of education," RA Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan
told a press conference on November 10.

Saying that the World Bank and the EU will give Armenia 4 billion AMD
for educational programs, the minister stressed that next year’s 12
per cent cut of budgetary spending for education sphere is conditioned
not only by the global crisis, but rather demographic problems. The
number of secondary school students is expected to reduce by 20
thousand next year, which will result in 1 billion AMD cut of the
state expenditure for education sphere. The rest 12 billion AMD cut
will be made at the expense of education support services, such as
renovation of the school buildings," the minister said.

The minister also informed, that next year 48 schools will receive
the status of high schools.

HATIS BASKETBALL CLUB HAVE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND UNIFORM

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hatis basketball club have national anthem and
uniform. Words and music for the anthem of Hatis were written by
Richard Madlenyan. The song was performed by singers Razmik Amyan,
Arame, Aramo and Avo Khalatyan. The video clip will be ready next week.

"For the anthem we have chosen the music that is imbued with the
Armenian spirit and could unite the Armenians. In the clip there will
be national elements, " Artyom Hakobyan, PR director of Hatis said.

In addition to the anthem on November 10 and held a presentation form
Basketball Club "ATIS".

In the framework of the group stage of Euro League Hatis will held
its first game on November 12 in Athens with Panathinaikos.

ARMENIA’S SECONDARY SCHOOLSL NOT TO HAVE GRADUATES IN 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 16:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Due to extensive changes in public education system
Armenia will not have graduates of secondary schools in 2011. And
private schools are not exception, " the RA Minister of Education
and Science Armen Ashotyan told a press conference on November 10.

As for universities, then next year Armenia’s state institutions will
have 19 thousand 100 students enrolled.

ARMENIA TO INTRODUCE A TWO-TIER PENSION SYSTEM IN 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will introduce a two-tier pension system in
2011, the chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Artur Javadyan said,
addressing the "10th meeting of heads of government agencies regulating
CIS countries’ security markets" opened November 10 in Tsakhkadzor.

The Central Bank of Armenia presides over the meeting this year.

According to a press-release of the Central Bank, the activities of
investment and pension funds will be regulated in frames of the laws
"On Investment Funds" and "Funded Pensions", which are elaborated now.

According to Artur Javadyan, after reforms the financial market of
Armenia will become more attractive to new players.

ARMENOLOGY CHAIR NOT TO BE CLOSED AT FREIE UNIVERSITAT BERLIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 17:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "This year, the state budget for the first time
will allocate money to finance the chair of Armenian Studies at the
department of Indo-European and comparative linguistics of the Freie
Universitat Berlin," Minister of Education and Science of Armenia
Armen Ashotyan told a press conference on November 10. He stressed
that the University of Berlin "Freie Universitat Berlin" is one of
the best universities in Europe.

This department, one of the important and large centers of Armenian
studies in European countries, was on the verge of closure.

As Jirayr Kocharian, lecturer at Freie Universitat Berlin, Doctor
of Indo-European and comparative linguistics department told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, 48 thousand euro is required for the
activities of the chair annually , while Freie Universitat Berlin is
ready to provide a half of the amount.