Author: Andres-Papazian

DOMODEDOVO AIRPORT AND ARMAVIA CELEBRATE 200 000 PASSENGER

RIA OREANDA
Economic News (Information Agency Oreanda)
October 19, 2010 Tuesday
Russia

Moscow. OREANDA-NEWS . October 19, 2010. Moscow Domodedovo Airport
and Armenian national air carrier Armavia welcomed a 200 000 passenger
of Moscow Yerevan flight.

In 2009 Armavia carried 170 thousand passengers to/from Domodedovo
airport while nine months of 2010 have already seen 200 thousand
travelers carried by Armavia to/from the airport. More than 45% of
Armavia flights from Moscow to Yerevan are operated from Domodedevo
airport.

Moscow Domodedovo Airport and Armavia congratulated a milestone
passenger flying to Yerevan on a check in counter with gifts and
souvenirs.

Armavia an Armenian national air carrier – was established in 1996. In
June 2005 Mika Limited bought out all shares of the airline. At
the moment Armavia operates more than 102 flights per week to 35
destinations in 20 countries. In 2009 Armavia carried more than 700
thousand passengers.

Moscow Domodedovo Airport is the largest airport of Russia . Its
market share in total passenger traffic in Moscow Aviation Hub
makes 46%. At the moment 75 partner airlines (47 foreign including
12 representing the CIS States and 28 Russian) connecting over
234 destinations operate flights all over the world. The unique
route network covered by Domodedovo partner airlines provides for 95
exclusive destinations. In 2009 18,7 million passengers benefited from
Domodedovo services. DomodedovoAirport has been chosen for operations
to Moscow by member airlines of two world aviation alliances: Star
Alliance and oneworld.

From: A. Papazian

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY MONIQUE BARBUT VISITS KHOSROV FOREST STATE RESERVE

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Executive Director of the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) Monique Barbut visited today Khosrov Forest
State Reserve. On October 19, she paid a visit to Sevan National Park.

Monique Barbut noted today at a meeting with journalists that according
to her impressions concerning the lake, balance must be kept between
two types of issues – between today’s needs and future issues.

“Work carried out toward preservation of any sort of animal requires
preservation of environment,” she said.

During the October 19 meeting of Armenian Nature Protection Minister
Aram Harutyunyan with Mrs. Barbut the up-to-date environment issues
Armenia faces, the investment programs of the GEF and their results
were summed up. On the same day a meeting was held with members of
the international agencies which implement programs in Armenia by
the funding of the GEF – World Bank, UNDP, UNIDO, and commission on
cooperation with the GEF.

The proposals to be involved in the GEF were discussed, which
mainly concerned preservation of biodiversity, climate change and
management of wastes. Environment programs of 21.9 million USD have
been implemented in Armenia by the GEF till 2005. In the 4th round of
cooperation with the GEF a number of national and regional programs
have been implemented and some are in process in Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

“ARTSAKH” DISTRICT TO BE HANDED TO EXPLOITATION IN 2011 IN STEPANAKERT

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 20, 2010
STEPANAKERT

An elite dwelling district is under construction by means of the state
budget of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on the place of the former
furniture mill of Stepanakert. The district will have the name of
“Artsakh”.

NKR Minister of Urban Development Karen Shahramanyan told Armenpress
that the new dwelling district which meets the up-to-date construction
requirements is intended to hand to exploitation in 2011. The part of
the 164 apartments, according to Mr. Shahramanyan, will be provided
to the families of killed freedom fighters and of the officer staff.

One of the buildings in “Artsakh” district is constructed by the
co-financing of the NKR government and Artsakh Investment Fund, the
apartments of which will be provided to young families by hypothec
privileged loans.

NKR Urban Development Minster also said that all the apartments of
the new district will have separate heating systems, a parking and
play grounds are also intended.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO GET FUNDING OF 10 MILLION USD FROM GEF FOR 2011-2015

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The Republic of Armenia will get
a funding of 10 million USD for the 5th round of cooperation with
the Global Environment Facility (GEF), including for protection of
biodiversity – 1.50 million USD, for climate change – 2.35 million USD,
and for land degradation – 4.12 million USD. Executive Director of
the Global Environment Facility Monique Barbut said that money will
be extended by a general fund, and not according to classification
of years. The mechanisms of spending the money will be worked out by
the Armenian government.

“If we take into consideration that 18 million USD was provided
to Armenia during the previous years, the difference will become
considerable connected with the dynamics of years, which is explained
by the changes made in the working style of the fund,” Monique
Barbut said. “We are not like other international organizations, our
secretariat is very small, we do not have mission in many countries,
but we deal with large sums of money,” the executive director of
the GEF said, stressing that the national standing committees have
been set up for that very purpose, the chairmen of which must be the
national coordinators. The Armenian Prime Minister said that on the
May 6 decision of the running year a commission on cooperation with
the GEF has been set up, which will periodically discuss and submit
proposals on programs submitted to the GEF. The first session of the
commission was held October 11, 2010.

Armenian Nature Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan sad that in the
upcoming year the target directions will first be specified, afterward
the approaches toward the required work, methodology and mechanisms
will be worked out and submitted to the Armenian government. After
confirmation of the government the Minister himself, as chairman
of the GEF National Standing Committee, will submit them to the
GEF office. “The GEF portfolio in Armenia is directed toward two
main spheres – nature protection resources and increase of energy
efficiency,” the minister said.

The Global Environment Facility is a global partnership among 178
countries, international institutions, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues
while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. It
provides grants for projects related to six focal areas: biodiversity,
climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone
layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Armenia has been cooperating
with the fund from 1994. The political and functional coordinator
of the GEF in Armenia is the Minster of Nature Protection. Seventeen
nature protection programs have been implemented in Armenia by means
of the GEF till 2005. In the 4th round of cooperation with the GEF
a number of national and regional programs have been implemented and
some are in process in Aremnia.

From: A. Papazian

GERMAN PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 20, 2010
ANKARA

The President of Germany Christian Wolf, who is on a two-day visit
in Turkey, addressed the Turkish Parliament and expressed assistance
to the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process.

Armenpress reports quoting Turkish “Aksam” that Wolf addressed four
important messages to Ankara connected with Turkey’s membership to EU,
with Armenia, Cyprus and Middle East.

“For normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, having
open border and joint future we highlight the circumstance that the
issues between the two countries must not be ignored,” he said. The
newspaper noticed that speaking about the necessity of opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, at the same time, quite diplomatically and
hidden Wolf spoke about not ignoring the Armenian Genocide issue. “On
this way I want to express my assistance and encouragement. It is
necessary to form such an environment where the issues existing
between the two countries will not be ignored,” he said.

Speaking about the membership of Turkey to EU, Wolf said that being
for Turkey’s Euro-integration, Germany at the same time is waiting
for Turkey to implement the assumed commitments. “We think that there
is a necessity of solving the Cyprus issue. It is important not only
from the point of view of economic development of the island but will
contribute to the formation of good-neighborly relations,” the German
president said and expressed wish that Turkey will continue playing
a constructive role in Middle East.

From: A. Papazian

EDWARD NALBANDYAN SAYS RELATIONS OF ARMENIA WITH FOREIGN WORLD RECEIVED NEW QUALITATIVE IMPETUS

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The relations of Armenia with the
foreign world have received this year a new qualitative impetus,
Armenian Foreign Minster Edward Nalbandyan said today at the National
Assembly, reminding that the strategic relations with Russia over
this year have been elevated to a new qualitative level.

The same achievement has been registered in friendly and partner
relations with the USA. ~SMany years later a meeting was held between
the presidents of Armenia and USA, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary
Clinton, as well as numerous delegations arrived in Armenia, and our
contacts and cooperation with that country is developing in different
directions,~T Mr. Nalbandyan stressed. According to him, a new page
has opened within the framework of cooperation with the European Union.

Negotiations have started over signing an association agreement, and
from December the issue on facilitation of visas will be discussed. At
the beginning of the next year negotiations will run with the EU in the
direction of signing an agreement on deep and comprehensive free trade,
and of creation of trade zone. Edward Nalbandyan said that in 2010 the
Armenian president has paid 19 visits to different countries, including
all the 5 states which are permanent members of the Security Council.

~SThere are not many cases when presidents visit those 5 states and
gain corresponding agreements,~T the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

Besides that, Edward Nalbandyan also stated that presidents, heads of
parliaments, prime ministers and foreign ministers have visited our
country over this year. The head of the Armenian foreign political
department said that Armenia has already started cooperating with
such countries, with which it had no cooperation before.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PROTESTS OUTSIDE COE FORUM VENUE IN YEREVAN

Interfax
Oct 19 2010
Russia

Armenian opposition protests outside CoE forum venue in Yerevan
The Armenian opposition is rallying in front of the building of the
Armenian government’s House of Receptions, where the Council of Europe
forum titled, “In the name of democracy,” has began, to demand release
of political detainees and democratic rule in the country.

Several hundred protestors are chanting slogans, “Long live freedom and
democracy,” “Serzh and Rob [the current and former Armenian presidents,
Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharian] get out of Armenia,” and “Freedom
to political detainees.”

Police squads established a perimeter around the government’s House
of Receptions, the building is fenced by iron barriers, an Interfax
correspondent reported.

The opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) is expected to hold a
rally outside the building later, during which its leader and former
ex-president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian is due to make a speech.

From: A. Papazian

Ex-Sierra College student convicted of attempted murder

C. Johnson 10/19/2010

AUBURN, CA – A former Sierra College student was
found guilty of attempted murder in the campus
stabbing of a former friend who was dating his old
girlfriend.

A Placer County Superior Court jury also convicted
Paul Thomas Heintz, 23, of Rocklin, of assault with a
deadly weapon – a knife – and special allegations of
use of a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily
injury.

During trial testimony, Heintz admitted he went after
Alex Abrahamian, 23, with a knife on March, 24,
2009 in front of the campus science building and
wanted to hurt him but didn’t intend to kill him.

Abrahamian, who had been a friend of Heintz, was
seeing a Sierra female student that Heintz had dated.
According to evidence presented at trial, Heintz
hated Abrahamian for his involvement with the girl.

Abrahamian was stabbed five times in the chest and
torso and underwent three surgeries, according to
Placer County prosecutor Jeff Wilson.

The court set sentencing for Heintz for Nov. 4.

News10/KXTV
Copyright 2010 /

From: A. Papazian

RULING PARTY DENIES LINKS BETWEEN ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND THIEF-IN-LAW

Interfax
Oct 19 2010
Russia

Ruling party denies links between Armenian president and thief-in-law
Armenia’s ruling Republican Party (HKK) has denied rumors about
alleged links between President Serzh Sargsian and Armen Kazarian,
a thief-in law who has been arrested in the United States.

“Absurd, ridiculous, false information a million kilometers from
reality,” Eduard Sharmazanov, secretary of the Sargsian-led HKK’s
parliamentary faction, told Interfax on Monday.

Earlier, Viktor Sogomonian, chief of staff of the country’s
ex-President Robert Kocharian, dismissed allegations that the latter
had close ties with Kazarian.

“This is absurd. Naturally, I deny such rumors,” Sogomonian told
Interfax.

He also denied that Kazarian had been among the guests at Kocharian’s
son wedding.

Last week, the opposition Armenian National Congress accused the
current and former governments of connection with crime bosses,
including Kazarian.

On October 13, more than 40 members of a crime syndicate led by a
group of Armenian immigrants and citizens of Armenia were arrested
in New York and Los Angeles.

The syndicate stole about $163 million from a health insurance fund,
Medicare, by submitting fraudulent claims from 118 phantom medical
clinics in 25 U.S. states.

According to a U.S. prosecutor, the syndicate’s bosses maintained close
ties with Armenia, repeatedly travelling there and buying real estate.

Earlier, the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office voiced offered
assistance in investigating the case. The Armenian Foreign Ministry
voiced readiness to cooperate and regretted the fact that Armenian
citizens were among the criminals.

From: A. Papazian

EDWARD NALBANDYAN SAYS IT IS NOT URGENT TO RECOGNIZE ARTSAKH AS LONG AS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO REGULATION THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 20, 2010
YEREVAN

“It is not urgent to recognize Artsakh as long as there is an
opportunity to come to regulation of the Artsakh issue through
negotiations,” Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan noted in
response to a question of a parliamentarian at the National Assembly.

According to him, if the negotiation process runs in the way that
the opportunity is blocked, other variants will be discussed. The
Armenian Foreign Minister noted that today the negotiations are
running over 3 principles and 6 elements, which have been mentioned
in the statement of the U.S., French and Russian presidents voiced
in L’Aquila. It was mentioned about 3 principles and 6 elements of
the NK issue regulation, which contained the basic aspects of the
Madrid principles. “There is no other issue, conflict, about which
these 3 countries do not have the same position,” Mr. Nalbandyan said.

According to him, this can be a basis of continuation of the
negotiations.

“Azerbaijan accepts only 1 from the 3 principles and in regard to the 6
elements it notes that will be ready to discuss the other 5 in case of
implementation of one,” Edward Nalbandyan noted. He once more reminded
the statement of the foreign ministers of the co-chairing countries
of the OSCE Minsk group voiced in July in Almatia, according to which
all the 3 principles and elements have been worked out as an integral
proposal and one principle or element cannot be separated from the
other. Edward Nalbandyan also stressed that the foreign ministers of
56 OSCE member countries have said the same thing in their statement.

From: A. Papazian