Author: Andres-Papazian

Deputy Minister: 3 hours enough for taking 80-question tests

Panorama.am
16/06/2010

Armenian Deputy Minister of Education and Science Manuk Lazarian was
inquired at a press conference today whether during the school-leaving
joint exams 3 hours provided to applicants are enough for taking
80-question tests.

M. Lazarian said the issue has long been discussed and the decision
on providing 3 hours has been taken basing on special observations,
facts and phenomena. These showed that three hours is the most optimal
variant and it is not somebody’s self-will decision.

“During the three years the organizers of the joint exams have been
stating that applicants do not work after the first three hours. No
work is done during the fourth hour at all. The fourth hour becomes
unmanageable and the applicants use it for finding out some answers
from hither or thither,” the Deputy Minister explained.

From: A. Papazian

ARTSAKH REPUBLIC STATE PURCHASES AGENCY ACTIVITY DISCUSSED AT PRESIDENT’S

Panorama.am
16/06/2010

On 16 June President Bako Sahakyan convoked a working consultation
dedicated to the activity of the Artsakh Republic State Purchases
Agency.

Chairman of the Control chamber Arthur Mosiyan delivered a report on
the monitoring carried out over the activities of the agency.

The Head of the State underlined the importance of raising functioning
efficiency of the agency and assigned to create a working group
comprised of representatives from different power branches. While
carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the issue, the group should
present a package of arrangements directed to the optimization of
the structure’s activity.

Chairman of the National Assembly of the Artsakh Republic Ashot
Ghoulyan, PM Ara Haroutyunyan and other officials partook at the
consultation, central information department of Artsakh President’s
office reported.

From: A. Papazian

GOVERNMENTAL DECISION ABOUT INTRODUCTION OF NEW TERM ‘ARBUN’ IS TO DIFFER BRANDY FROM COGNAC

ArmInfo
2010-06-16 09:28:00

ArmInfo.The governmental decision about introduction of a new term
‘arbun’ is to differ brandy from cognac, Director of Yerevan Brandy
Factory [YBF] Ara Grigoryan said at today’s press-conference.

He also added that such decision of the government was incorrectly
interpreted by some mass media, which said that from now on brandy will
be called ‘arbun’ in Armenia. Actually, this term is regarding only
the type of ‘brandy’ produced from the imported spirits, and necessary
to differ the ‘brandy’ produced in Armenia from the ‘Armenian cognac’
or Armenian brandy. According to the law, the ‘Armenian cognac’ and
Armenian brandy are the same. They should be by 100% produced from
the cognac spirits produced in Armenia and from the grape grown in
Armenia. As for the ‘brandy’ produced in Armenia using at least 40%
of the imported spirit, it will be called ‘Arbun’, Grigoryan said.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN BRANDY FACTORY TO STORE 29 THSD TONS OF GRAPE IN 2010

ArmInfo
2010-06-16 09:31:00

ArmInfo. Yerevan Brandy Factory [YBF] will store 29 thsd of tons
grape in 2010 against about 31 thsd tons in 2009, director of YBF
Ara Grigoryan said at today’s press-conference.

He also added this year the factory actually needs purchasing of only
14-15 thsd tons of grape and the decision to buy more arose from
the desire to support grape producers, which the factory has been
cooperation with for many years. The director said that 29 thsd tons
is the maximal volume the factory can store today. The point is that
brandy sale decreased because of the world crisis, for this reason
the factory has a big amount of the brandy spirit. The factory is
forced to buy barrels from Georgia for additional storage of spirit
and to repair their own barrels which were not used earlier. He also
said that in January-May 2010 as against the same period of 2009 the
volume of brandy sale fell by 26%, as at the main sales markets,
Russia and Ukraine, there is the tendency of reduction of brandy
consumption because of the world economic crisis. In Armenia brandy
sale has grown a little, but the local market is small, the director
said. Despite the created situation, YBF made many new contracts
with farmers, which will gather grape harvest for the first time,
he said. The factory makes new contracts so that to support farmers
in a hard time with a prospect for future. ‘All the grape producers
in Armenia want to make a contract with us. But we cannot buy grape
unlimited. We are a commercial organization’, – Grigoryan said. As
for the grape purchasing price, it will be defined in September and
will not be lower than the past year price, the director assured.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN BRANDY FACTORY HOPES FOR SALES VOLUME GROWTH BY 10% IN 2010

ArmInfo
2010-06-16 09:33:00

ArmInfo. Yerevan Brandy Factory [YBF] hopes for the sales volume
growth by 10% in 2010 as against 2009, Director of YBF Ara Grigoryan
said at today’s press-conference.

He also added at present it is hard to predict as negative impact
of the world crisis still continues at the main sales markets of the
Armenian brandy. Recession has been registered in Russia and Ukraine
since the beginning of the year. The director said that for activation
of the sales growth the company has invested more than 1 mln EUR to
the new production line, to new design of bottles and their labels.

All this is done for successful sale of the factory production. He
also added that new price policy is being drawn out. The financial
year of YBF started on 1 Jule.

To note, in 2009 falling of the sales volumes by 36% was fixed at YBF.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA MARKS DAY OF NATIONAL FLAG

ArmInfo
2010-06-15 20:50:00

ArmInfo. Today, Armenia is marking the Day of the National Flag.

On this occasion, the Menk Foundation has organized a procession in
the center of Yerevan.

The Armenian tricolor (red, blue and orange) was proclaimed as
national flag by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia Aug
24 1990. June 15 2006 the National Assembly of the RA adopted a law
on the national flag.

The red color of the flag symbolizes the Armenian highlands,
the permanent struggle of the Armenian people for existence, for
its Christian faith, for liberty and independence, the blue – the
aspiration of the Armenian nation to live under the peaceful sky,
the orange – the creativity and diligence of the Armenians.

From: A. Papazian

WWF TO SUBMIT THE PROJECT ON REVISITING THE BORDERS OF KHOSROF NATURE RESERVE TO ARMENIAN NATURE PROTECTION MINISTRY

ArmInfo
2010-06-15 15:21:00

ArmInfo. WWF is going to submit the project on revisiting the borders
of Khosrof nature reserve to Armenian Nature Protection Ministry.

As the head of WWF-Armenia Karen Manvelyan said at today’s
press-conference, the project envisages involvement of new and the
most important territories within the nature reserve from the point
of view of biodiversity. He also added the project may be submitted
to Armenian Nature Protection Ministry over the current year.

From: A. Papazian

REGULAR CASES WITH AZERBAIJANI PROPAGANDA

ArmInfo
2010-06-16 10:43:00

ArmInfo. Summer had hardly come when annual accusations in “arsons”
appeared in the Azerbaijani media. However, in chase of witticism,
our colleagues often lose not only a sense of proportion but also an
elementary logic.

This time, as APA presented to the world “intensification of arsons by
Armenians late in June in the occupied territories of Tartar region”.

Being not embarrassed by stupidity of the statement, this piece
of “news” was replicated by other Azerbaijani media. It turns out
that “harmful Armenians” act on the model of heroes of a well-known
fairytale who were first offered to eat the pie and then divide it. It
would be better for the authors of this ludicrous accusation to look
into the calendar at least! Here is another humorous statement by
the same source: the fire caused mass flow of locusts from the burned
areas to the cornfields. To the credit of the author of this statement,
it is not mentioned that the “pests” were sent by Armenians. However,
it is not ruled out that an interview with some rodent will appear
in the Azerbaijani media some day telling about an awful state in
Armenia’s fields.

From: A. Papazian

VICE PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA RECEIVES HEAD OF WORLD BANK YEREVAN OFFICE ON OCCASION OF COMPLETION OF HIS MISSION IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2010-06-16 10:28:00

ArmInfo. Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Territorial Administration
of Armenia Armen Gevorkyan received Head of World Bank Yerevan Office
Aristomene Varoudakis who is completing his mission in Armenia,
the ministerial press service reported.

A. Gevorkyan thanked A. Varoudakis for the joint effective work and
wished him success in his further activity. According to A.

Varoudakis, there is a positive experience of implementation of WB
programmes in Armenia, which may be presented in other countries. He
noted with satisfaction that a joint work with the government of
rmenia allowed the state to overcome the difficulties related to the
global financial crisis. He also mentioned of the contribution by the
Ministry of Territorial Administration in implementation of programmes
in different spheres, including development of water infrastructure,
agriculture and healthcare.

As A. Gevorkyan said, WB’s support promoted formation of reforms
in different fields. Moreover, WB programmes permanently contained
an ecological component, that is very important for the countries
undergoing reforms. He expressed hope that the experience and
knowledge gained will be used in preparation of budget programmes. A.
Gevorkyan also said he expects the World Bank’s further support in
reformation of the local self- government system.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN BROADCASTING LAW FAILS TO GUARANTEE MEDIA PLURALISM, SAYS OSCE MEDIA FREEDOM REPRESENTATIVE

Lragir.am
15 June, 2010
VIENNA

VIENNA, 15 June – Despite amendments, Armenia’s new Law on Television
and Radio fails to promote broadcast pluralism in the digital era,
the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic,
said today.

The law, adopted by Parliament on 10 June, would need a presidential
signature to take effect.

Mijatovic said Armenian authorities had discussed the law draft with
civil society and the international community, and that her Office
had provided a legal review of the draft.

‘Although some recommendations from the legal review have been
addressed, other recommendations that are of crucial importance for
a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting have not
been taken into account,’ she said.

Mijatovic said that the law’s shortcomings included a limit to the
number of broadcast channels; a lack of clear rules for the licensing
of satellite, mobile telephone and online broadcasting; the placement
of all forms of broadcasting under a regime of licensing or permission
by the Regulator; the granting of authority to the courts to terminate
broadcast licences based on provisions in the law that contain undue
limitations on freedom of the media; and a lack of procedures and
terms for the establishment of private digital channels.

‘Armenia should not lose the opportunity to adopt forward-looking
media legislation. New technologies, including digital broadcasting,
should be used by governments to strengthen media pluralism. These
technologies can improve access to information and enable the public
to seek, access and impart information,’ she said.

Mijatovic emphasized that her office is ready to continue its support
to the authorities in all legislative reforms related to media freedom.

From: A. Papazian