Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN EASTERN PARTNERSHIP FOREIGN MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING IN BRUSSELS

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 18:07 AMT 14:07 GMT

On December 13, Brussels will host a meeting of the Foreign Ministers
Council in 27 + 6 + representatives of European institutions format
as part of the EU Eastern Partnership program.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton will preside over the sitting, the RA MFA press
service told PanARMENIAN.Net

The level of Armenia’s representatives to participate in the meeting
is being clarified.

During the sitting, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood
Policy Stefan Fule will submit a report on process and implementation
of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative in bilateral and multilateral
formats.

From: A. Papazian

LINKS STUDIES ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI POLITICIANS’ APPROACHES ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 18:09 AMT 14:09 GMT

The first part of the study on Karabakh issue conducted by UK-based
LINKS NGO was presented in the Armenian National Center for National
and International Studies (ACNIS) on December 10.

The study is based on face to face interviews with 23 senior Armenian
politicians held earlier this year. The study launches a program
entitled Karabakh: The Big Debate during which the organization will
contribute to creating space for more discussion on the Karabakh
issue in the region and beyond.

The second part of the study, reflecting the views of Azerbaijani
political parties will be published in a few days time.

“The study helped me reveal a large number of interesting facts
regarding the position of our political forces on the Karabakh
settlement process,” ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian said. “The
study allows to understand the atmosphere in the countries.”

For his part, LINKS Executive Director Dennis Sammut said they were
not planning to surprise anyone with the study.

“While conducting our research, we found out that many representatives
of Armenian political parties fought in Karabakh war. So, they have
the right to take part in the settlement process,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES DRAFT PROJECT ON COMBATING CYBER TERRORISM

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 17:53 AMT 13:53 GMT

During a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the
Armenian government approved a draft project on combating cyber
terrorism.

As reported by the governmental press service, the document features
main trends of the government’s policy.

Other problems regarding cyber terrorism were also in the focus of
the meeting.

From: A. Papazian

CRRC: PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE PERCEIVED AS MOST CORRUPTED STRUCTURE IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 17:52 AMT 13:52 GMT

Program Manager of Caucasus Research Resource Centers-Armenia
(CRRC) Yevgenya Paturyan said that healthcare, electoral system and
educational field are considered to be the most corrupted spheres
in Armenia.

Presenting the results of three surveys conducted in Armenia from
2008 to 2010 by CRRC jointly with the USAID Mobilizing Action Against
Corruption (MAAC) Activity, Paturyan said that the Prosecutor’s Office,
Central Electoral Commission, the state traffic police and tax service
are perceived as the most corrupted structures.

At the same time, according to Armenian respondents, the RA Ombudsman’s
Office and Public Services Regulatory Commission are the least
corrupted structures.

From: A. Papazian

GALUST SAHAKYAN: CURRENTLY RPA DOES NOT DISCUSS DISMISSAL OF MINISTERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 17:56 AMT 13:56 GMT

Head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group
Galust Sahakyan said that currently the RPA has not discussed dismissal
of other ministers.

Commenting on the dismissal of RA Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan,
Sahakyan told a briefing in the Armenian parliament: “Shortages in
ministers’ activity are not solved through dismissals, there are
various ways for their elimination.”

Sahakyan added he possesses information about possible dismissal of
Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan.

Referring to Gagik Beglaryan’s resignation, Sahakyan said that the RPA
hails Beglaryan’s activity during his tenure, as well as appreciates
his resignation.

He added that the RPA has not discussed candidates for the post of
Yerevan mayor yet.

Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan sent in his resignation on December 8.

The decision was prompted by the incident between the Mayor and
employee of the presidential staff’s protocol department Aram Kandayan

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA 2010 WINTER FESTIVAL TO BE HELD UNDER LET’S DECORATE THE WINTER TOGETHER MOTTO

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 17:49 AMT 13:49 GMT

On December 25 through January 6, Yerevan will host Armenia 2010
Winter Festival.

A number of events will be organized in Lovers Park within the
framework of the festival, held under Let’s Decorate the Winter
Together motto.

“The events agenda includes series of open-air jazz, blues and rock
concerts, as well as a club music night,” festival organizer and
initiator Raffi Niziblian told a news conference in Yerevan.

“Within the framework of charity action aimed at restoration of
national New Year traditions, the guests are kindly requested to bring
presents which will be later given to the unprovided-for families,”
he said.

Armenia has been hosting the Winter Festival since 2006.

From: A. Papazian

FILM ABOUT ETHNIC INCOMPATIBILITY OF ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS BEING SHOT IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 10:37 AMT 06:37 GMT

“Interrupted Song” film about an Armenian and Azerbaijani who have
found themselves in a deep pit is being shot in Moscow.

The film sponsored by a group of young Armenians is supposed to reveal
tangled relationship between the two nations and tell about obstacles
impeding normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

According to director Arik Manukyan, it is not aimed to justify either
of the heroes. Producer Ashot Poghosyan says the film shows ethnic
incompatibility of Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

The first screening of the film is expected in spring 2011.

From: A. Papazian

WINTER FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS WILL REVIVE KAGHAND PAP, THE HERO OF ARMENIAN LEGENDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 17:58 AMT 13:58 GMT

The peculiarity of Armenia 2010 Winter Festival lies in the revival
of the hero of Armenian legends, Armenian Santa Claus – Kaghand Pap.

“A fairytale book portraying the story of Kaghand Pap, whose image was
recreated at last year, will be read out and distributed at Lovers
Park in Yerevan,” contest organizer and initiator Raffi Niziblian
told a news conference in Yerevan.

On December 25 through January 6, Yerevan will host Armenia 2010
Winter Festival.

A number of events will be organized in Lovers Park within the
framework of the festival, held under Let’s Decorate the Winter
Together motto.

From: A. Papazian

TWINNING PROJECT TO STRENGTHEN ARMENIA’S COMPETITIVENESS TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 18:05 AMT 14:05 GMT

Chairman of the RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic
Competition (SCPEC) Artak Shaboyan met with Germany’s Deputy Ambassador
in Armenia Christoph Breunig and Gunda Schumann, the Permanent
Counselor of EU Twinning Project: “Strengthening the Enforcement of
Competition and State Aid Legislation in Armenia.”

Cooperation problems with the project were in the focus of the
meeting. Attaching importance to the project, Shaboyan noted that
the works on the agreement of Twinning Project have had a possible
impact also on the development of the Commission’s quarterly strategy.

Shaboyan said that a bill on introduction of amendments to the
legislation regulating the competition field in the country has been
submitted to the parliament, while it is expected to be adopted soon.

He added that the project launch will allow expanding the Commission
specialists’ opportunities at the same time.

In their turn, the partners in the EU have positively estimated the
preparation works for the agreement signing, expressing willingness
to organize a conference in February on the project launch with
participation of stakeholders, the SCPEC press service reported.

From: A. Papazian

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILROAD TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA-KAZAKHSTAN ECONOMIC RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 10, 2010 – 18:07 AMT 14:07 GMT

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Armenia Aimdos Bozzhigitov said that
construction of Iran-Armenia railroad is a good outlook for the
development of trade and economic ties between Armenia and Kazakhstan.

“If Armenia has a railroad with Iran, while Kazakhstan has a transport
corridor to Iran via Turkmenistan to be completed in 2011, we will
have a direct railway communication, which will allow increasing
the trade turnover,” Bozzhigitov said during an Armenian-Kazakhstan
business forum held in Yerevan.

As for the direct turnover between the two countries, according to
the Ambassador, it is not huge, “but it does not reflect the real
situation.”

“The actual trade turnover via third countries amounts to $350mln,
while the direct trade turnover totals $9mln, due to lack of direct
transport communication between the countries,” the Ambassador said.

From: A. Papazian