Author: Andres-Papazian

NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING ARMENIA GROWS BY 22.1%

Tert.am
02.05.11

The number of tourists arrived in Armenia saw a 22.1% increase in
the first quarter of this year, according to the National Statistical
Service.

In January-March 2011, the number of tourists visiting the country
was 113,515, against the 92,955 recorded in the same period of the
last year.

In the meantime, 116,068 people left the country for tourism, the
rate being 27.6% higher compared to January-March 2010.

From: A. Papazian

MCC CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO VISIT ARMENIA

Tert.am
02.05.11

Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC), Mr. Daniel W Yohannes, will visit Armenia May 3-5 to review
the results of the five year, US-funded MCA-Armenia Program.

According to a press release by the corportation, the MCC Chief
Executive will meet with President Serzh Sargsian, senior officials
of the Government of Armenia, farmer beneficiaries, donor partners,
and private sector and civil society representatives.

In 2006, the US Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
and the Government of the Republic of Armenia signed a Compact with the
objective of reducing rural poverty through a sustainable increase in
the economic performance of the agricultural sector. When completed in
September 2011, the MCC grant investment of nearly USD 180 million in
the MCA-Armenia program will benefit over 420,000 rural residents in
around 350 communities across Armenia by refurbishing major sections of
the country’s main canal systems, modernizing some of the most urgently
needed pumping stations, introducing new gravity irrigation schemes,
re-building tertiary canals and restoring sections of the Ararat
Valley Drainage system. The MCA-Armenia program is also training
nearly 45,000 farmers in improved agriculture practices, delivering
technical assistance to water supply institutions, and providing USD
8.5 million in credit to farmers and small agribusinesses in support
of the program objectives.

MCC is an innovative U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead
the fight against global poverty.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN FEMALE GM CLOSE TO TOP 10 IN WORLD RATING

Tert.am
02.05.11

Armenian female grand master Elina Danielyan appears in the 14th
position in the world’s leading female chess players’ list, the
Armenian sports website Armsport.am reported.

The Armenian sportswoman came close to the top 10 after a successful
performance in the Grand Prix tournament in Qatar.

Another leading Armenian female chess player – Lilit Lazarian – has
appeared in the 31st position in this year’s list. Lilit Galoyan is
in the 87th position.

Hungary’s Judith Polgar remains a top player in the rating.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA’S LAWS NOT APPLIED SAME WAY FOR ALL, CANADIAN-ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN SAYS

Tert.am
02.05.11

It is important that laws apply to all people in the same way, Jo
Yalkezyan, the president of the Audentium Financial Corp and the
chairman of the Canadian-Armenian Business-Council, says.

“I don’t want to enjoy special privileges in Armenia just because I
make investments here as a Diaspora representative,” Yalkezyan told
Tert.am in an interview. “The laws have to protect all. And in that
case, Armenians would have so much business advantages that they
would not seek Diaspora’s investments.”

The businessman finds monopolies a major impediment to Armenia’s
economic development.

“Unless monopolies are broken up, Armenians will keep leaving the
country. If there’s no monopoly and everyone is free to work, Armenia
will have 6 million working people. But instead of 6 million working
people, what we have now are a few monopolists,” he added.

The businessman further spoke of the major challenges in Armenia’s
economy.

“The country’s development has stalled. If this continues, we may lose
our country one day. Who is to protect Armenia if people are fleeing?”

A delegation of around 30 Diaspora Armenian business people, headed by
the chairman of Canadian Armenian Business-Council, is now in Yerevan
to attend the founding conference aimed at creating an Armenian
trade network.

From: A. Papazian

OVER 5,000 PENSIONERS DID NOT GET THEIR PENSIONS IN APRIL – MINISTER

Tert.am
02.05.11

More than 5,000 pensioners in Armenia did not show up to get their
pensions in April, Minister of Labor and Social Issues Arthur Grigoryan
told Tert.am.

Since January 2011, Haypost has been in charge for paying social
pensions. Formerly, this function was vested in the State Social
Security servives. Some pensioners were not paid their monthly pensions
due to inaccuaracies in the lists, but the problems revealed also
helped make savings of government funds.

The Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly’s Control Chamber
are currently conducting inspections, Grigoryan said, adding that
following the inspections, their outcomes will be analyzed in June
and a legal assessment will be made.

Head of the State Security Service Artem Asatryan told Tert.am that
the current activities are focused on cleaning the pension database
and introducing a joint system. There is a government deicion on
creating a joint network of the State Social Security Service and
Civil Acts Registration Agency to promote an exchange of data on the
number of pensioners.

Speaking of the social service employees who falsified the lists,
registering the pensions of the deceased and people not residing
in Armenia, Asatryan said that the Prosecutor General’s Office will
tackle their cases.

He added in the meantime that no personnel changes are expected in
the system.

From: A. Papazian

FRENCH SENATE TO CONSIDER BILL PENALIZING GENOCIDE DENIAL?

Tert.am
02.05.11

The French Senate is to consider the bill penalizing denial of the
Armenian genocide on Wednesday, May 4, a French Armenian journalist,
Jean Eckian, reported from Paris.

The proposal was included in the Senate agenda upon the initiative
of the Socialist Party.

But the French government’s statements on not supporting the bill
reportedly aroused anger among the Armenians in France.

Despite a majority support by the Socialists, as well as some communist
representative and UMP senators, there were fears that the government
may still block the adoption of the bill. To that end, a delegation
from the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations in France
(CCAF) met president Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday.

The French leader told CCAF representatives, Mourad Papazian and Ara
Toranian, that the “government will leave the Senate free to decide
its vote, without any instruction by the presidential majority.”

The meeting was also attended by former Minister Patrick Devedjian
and the president’s son Jean Sarkozy, as well as Levon Sayan, who
represents Charles Aznavor in the capacity Armenia’s Ambassador
to Switzerland.

The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet had reported earlier that a Turkish
delegation was planning a visit to Paris to make pressures upon
French senators.

On May 4, the Armenians in France are organizing a big demonstration
outside the gates of the Senate.

From: A. Papazian

AZERI SOLDIERS REPORTED DEAD ON CONTACT LINE

Tert.am
02.05.11

A gunfire exchange between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces
on the contact line has left several Azeri soldiers dead.

One of them, Mirza Mahmoudzade, reportedly killed by Armenians, was
buried yesterday in Azerbaijan, according to the Azerbaijani users
of Facebook and Smi2 social networking websites.

Mahmoudzade, 19, was shot dead in a gunfire exchange near a border
village. Three other Azeri soldiers are also reported dead. The
Azerbaijani news websites are silent about the incident.

Earlier, three Armenian soldiers were killed and one was injured
after Azeri forces had opened fire on the Armenian troops. Tert.am has
learned that the Armenian troops have launched retaliatory operations
across the contact line.
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From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Azeri soldiers reported dead on contact line

Azeri soldiers reported dead on contact line

12:28 ? 02.05.11

A gunfire exchange between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces
on the contact line has left several Azeri soldiers dead.

One of them, Mirza Mahmoudzade, reportedly killed by Armenians, was
buried yesterday in Azerbaijan, according to the Azerbaijani users of
Facebook and Smi2 social networking websites.

Mahmoudzade, 19, was shot dead in a gunfire exchange near a border
village. Three other Azeri soldiers are also reported dead. The
Azerbaijani news websites are silent about the incident.

Earlier, three Armenian soldiers were killed and one was injured after
Azeri forces had opened fire on the Armenian troops. Tert.am has
learned that the Armenian troops have launched retaliatory operations
across the contact line.

Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

SARKOZY SAYS HE WILL FIGHT AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL IN FRANCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 10:05 AMT

Representatives of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations
in France (CCAF) met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy to
focus on the bill criminalizing the denial Armenian Genocide to be
debated in the Senate on May 4, freelance journalist Jean Eckian
told PanARMENIAN.Net

Earlier, the French government refused support to the bill introduced
by Socialists, what aroused indignation of the Armenian community.

Despite the support of the Socialist and Communist majority as well
as some UMP members, the government can block the bill.

Meanwhile, President Sarkozy assured the CCAF that the government
doesn’t exert pressure on Senate and he will fight against denial of
the Armenian Genocide in France.

From: A. Papazian

BASKET OF GOODS TOTALED $170 IN ARMENIA IN MARCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 10:13 AMT

The basket of goods totaled AMD 62 640 ($170) in Armenia in March. At
that, food basket amounted to $96, the National Statistical Service
said.

The minimum daily food basket includes: 355gr of bread, 100gr of meat
(beef), 200gr of milk, 10gr of curds, 20gr of animal fat and vegetable
oil, 10gr of margarine, 250gr of potato, 300gr of other vegetables,
200gr of fruit, 50gr sugar, half an egg, 30gr of fish.

From: A. Papazian

NORTH JERSEY ARMENIAN COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 2, 2011 – 10:17 AMT

Members of North Jersey’s sizable Armenian community are expected to
turn out in droves for a ceremony in Times Square commemorating the
96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The free event will pay tribute to those slain during the first
genocide of the 20th century.

Speakers will include civic, religious, humanitarian, educational
and cultural leaders, as well as performing artists. Among those
scheduled to address the crowd are New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and
New York Sen. Charles Schumer.

“It’s important to remember what happened 96 years ago because this
is a major event for Armenians and mankind,” said Hirant Gulian,
a Cliffside Park resident and chairman of the Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Committee, which organized today’s event. “This was
the first genocide of the 20th century. We have the responsibility
to honor those that perished.”

Gulian said he expects a contingent of at least “a couple of thousand”
Armenians from Bergen County will turn out. He estimates that there
are more than 20,000 Armenian families living throughout Bergen County,
northjersey.com reported.

From: A. Papazian