Month: November 2009

BAKU’S MILITARY RHETORIC PRODUCES NEGATIVE IMPACT ON AZERI SOLDIERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ACNIS Director Richard Giragosyan does not rule out
possibility of Azerbaijan’s resuming military operations in Karabakh
conflict zone. Baku doesn’t realize that it will be a loser in case
of starting war now, expert told today a seminar-discussion devoted to
"Armenian-Turkish Diplomacy: Deal or no deal". "Our army today is more
professional and better prepared than Azerbaijani army. Armenia’s
Defense Ministry is preparing for future challenges from now on,
and it is necessary to underline that our army is currently the most
powerful in the region," Giragosyan said.

Commenting upon Baku’s bellicose statement, expert stressed that
Azerbaijan’s military rhetoric produced negative impact not only on
the atmosphere in the region but also Azeri soldiers themselves.

Grigoryan believes that Armenia cannot control such statements but
is at least obliged to make relevant response.

ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN: CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER SHOULD BE FORMED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 5, Armenia’s National Security Council
Secretary Artur Baghdasaryan met special Representative of NATO
Secretary General in the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert
Simmons. The parties discussed collaboration issues within 2009
Individual Partnership Program. Artur Baghdasaryan briefed Robert
Simmons on Armenia’s activities within program frameworks.

RA National Security Council Secretary gave high assessment to
Armenia-North Atlantic Alliance collaboration, especially noting
significant improvements in justice, defense, extraordinary situations
and healthcare spheres. The importance of crisis management center
creation in Armenia and RA-NATO collaboration strengthening in a
struggle against terrorism and organized crime was also emphasized.

In his turn, Robert Simmons gave high assessment to Armenia’s
activities within Individual Partnership Program frameworks.

The parties also focused on regional issues, with Robert Simmons
expressing support for Armenia -Turkey rapprochement process and
OSCE MG activities in NKR conflict settlement issue, RA NSC press
service reported.

ARMEN POGHOSYAN: YEREVAN RESIDENTS’ LIABILITIES FOR WATER AMOUNT TO 3 BILLION AMD

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Yerevan residents’ liabilities for water amount to 3
billion AMD, but it is so-called old debts incurred by residents before
the water meter had been introduced. We decided to ask the government
to pay back this debt, the government has already covered some part
of this debt, " president of the Armenian Association of Consumers
(AAC) Armen Poghosyan told a meeting with reporters on November 5.

Armen Pogosyan stressed that over the past few years in Yerevan, no
cases of mass poisoning from water were observed, but such cases were
recorded in the regions. "This is due to deterioration of pipes,"
the chairman of AAC says. "Network of water pipes of the country
became a sieve, which can cause poisoning.

Armen Poghosyan said that 83 per cent of Yerevan residents receive
water round the clock, but in some areas of the country residents
receive water once every three days.

YEREVAN AND WASHINGTON SIGN AGREEMENT ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 17:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Taskforce (USATF)
convened its regular session on November 3 in Washington. Armenian
delegation was headed by Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan. Among
delegation members were RA State Income Committee Chair Gagik
Khachatryan, Deputy FM Arman Kirakosyan, RA Ambassador to United
States Tatul Margaryan, Deputy Finance Minister Vardan Aramyan,
Deputy Justice Minister Emil Babayan and other officials.

Discussion focused on promoting good governance and democracy
development, addressing regional issues and enhancing the business
climate in Armenia, US State Department says in a release. Armenian
side introduced its achievements and further plans. Armenian delegation
had separate meetings in Department of State, Department of Commerce,
World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The U.S. Government and the Government of Armenia concluded an
important agreement on science and technology cooperation as part of
the Task Force’s meetings in Washington, D.C.

ORANGE-ARMENIA LAUNCHED

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s third mobile operator Orange-Armenia
launched its services today. Company has made ~@ 100 million
investment, opening 300 vacancies and shops, with 13 being in Yerevan
and 25 – in regions.

"Opening a new office in each new country is the birth of something
new. We are represented on over 30 states and have around 189
million subscribers worldwide. Opening a company in Armenia is also
significant event considering that Armenia and France have always
maintained close friendly ties, and our presence here will help
enhance ties with Armenian Diaspora of France," Company’s President
Didier Lambard told today a news conference.

Orange Armenia General director Bruno Duthoit noted in turn that
company will develop five main principles on market, including Internet
services which will be simple and accessible to all, regardless age
and social status.

"We are launching a package of services which will develop by every
year, as well as the best tariff tailored to market demands," Duthoit
said, adding that company offers super high-speed internet and "best
client services" throughout the country.

Orange services, including 3G Internet presently cover 83% of Armenia.

The company is a brand of France Telecom organization.

ARMENIAN SCIENTISTS AWARDED WITH RA CULTURE MINISTRY’S GOLD MEDALS FOR CONTRIBUTION TO ART HISTORY DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 5, Yerevan hosted opening of RA National
Academy of Sciences 9th republican session in RA NAS Art Institute’s
50th anniversary celebration.

Armenian Scientists, Murad Asratyan and Gevorg Geldakyan were
awarded with RA Culture Ministry’s gold medals for contribution to
art history development.

The 2-day session, where 40 art workers will present reports on
different art directions, aims to assess art history problems and
promote the development of science.

TURKEY UNDERTAKES RECONSTRUCTION OF NEW ARMENIAN MONASTERY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 18:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has started reconstruction of St. Kirakos
Armenian church of Diarbekir. Archbishop Aram Atesyan, Primate of AAC
Constantinople primate, has got familiarized with reconstruction work.

St. Kirakos will be the second church to be reconstructed after Holy
Cross of Akhtamar (Lake Van).

St. Kirakos and St. Sargis are the only well-preserved Armenian
monasteries in the south-east of Turkey. St. Kirakos dates from about
X-XI centuries, blagovest.info reports.

ARMENIAN AID UNION TO CONTINUE PROGRAMS IN NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 18:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan met Armenian Aid
Union (AAU) representatives Viki Marashlyan, Zhirayr Pechekyan and
Margarita Taranyan. The meeting focused on AAU programs implementation
in NKR education and healthcare sphere, as well as celebration of
Union’s 100th anniversary.

AAU Executive Committee Head Viki Marashlyan noted that despite
financial crisis consequences, the organization will try to continue
with its programs, as their implementation in NKR is among AAU
priorities.

Ara Harutyunyan stated that in nearest future NKR government plans
preschool institutions opening and initiation of improvements in
the sphere. NKR Premier added that the government is ready to assist
the Union in program implementation, NKR government’s press service
reported.

ARMENIA INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION WITH NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 18:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met Special
Representative of NATO Secretary General in the South Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons. At the meeting, RA FM emphasized the
importance of bilateral collaboration and expressed Armenia’s intention
to strengthen it through Armenia -NATO Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP).

In his turn, Robert Simmons gave high assessment to NATO’s partnership
with Armenia, expressing a hope that 2009-2010 IPAP will also be
successfully implemented. He emphasized the importance of Armenia’s
contribution to international peacemaking mission.

At the meeting, the parties focused on regional issues, with NATO
Secretary General’s Special Representative expressing approval for
progress in RA-Turkey rapprochement process, RA MFA press service
reported.

ARMENIAN NGOS CALL FOR WITHDRAWING AMENDED DRAFT LAW "ON PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS"

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.11.2009 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 5, American University’s (AUA) Business
Center hosted public discussion over the bill on making changes in,
and amendments to, RA law "On Public Organizations". Discussion
was organized upon the initiative of AUA Provost and Vice President
Lucig Danielian, expert of public organizations’ initiative group
Arsen Stepanyan, lawyer Tachat Ter-Stepanyan and Armenian public
sector representatives.

In his speech, Arsen Stepanyan criticized the draft law, noting that
it received Government’s approval and was sent to Parliament without
public discussions. He called for withdrawing the bill and starting
discussions between Government and public sector.

With regard to separate clauses contained in draft law, he pointed out
the unacceptability of imposing on NGOs obligation to submit report to
social security fund (in addition to Tax Service) and get it printed
in newspapers which have no less than 1000 copies. The latter, he
said, creates additional financial burden for organizations. "Such
reports should reflect all the activities of organization, changes
in its management structure and financial resources of past year,"
Stepanyan stressed.

In addition he said that proposed changes are difficult to bring to
life, since Armenia has 6 thousand public organizations, which will
be unable to submit January-March reports and get them published in
papers. "It follows from here that newspapers that day should publish
more 100 NGO reports," expert noted.