Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE WORKS OUT NEW METHODS FOR TEACHING ARMENIAN AS FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Noyan Tapan
April 23, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. For the purpose
of developing Armenology, the RA Ministry of Education and Science
is working out methods of teaching Armenian as a foreign language
for Diasporan Armenian pupils. RA Minister of Education and Science
Levon Mkrtchian said at the April 23 press conference.

The Minister expressed discontent with the language policy carried
on in the country, be it a native or foreign language. And for the
purpose of developing Armenology, according to him, we should first
have a possibility of teaching it in foreign languages, as promotion
of the Armenian language abroad is done through foreign languages,
in particular, in the Diaspora, which has a problem of preservation
of the Armenian language.

L. Mkrtchian also considered important the necessity of methods of
teaching Armenian for nearly 4 thousand foreign students studying
in Armenia, who living and receiving education in Armenian higher
education institutions, speak in Russian or English with RA
citizens. "We wish to create such methods, through which a foreign
student will be able to learn Armenian in two years. And after
graduating from the University and leaving our country he will also
take our language value with him, involuntarily becoming a function
assisting with spreading of Armenian," he said.

According to the Minister, the spreading and strengthening of Armenian
is the work of responsible specialists living in the homeland and
engaged in the sphere. The terminological committee has been recreated
for already three months, the activity of which has an important
role in the issue of sphere’s development. "It is possible to take
the criteria and use them in the sphere of mathematics or physics,
while just we are responsible for the sphere of Armenology," he added.
From: Baghdasarian

TIGRAN DAVTIAN APPOINTED MINISTER OF FINANCE

ARMENPRESS
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsian
signed today a decree appointing Tigran Davtian Minister of
Finance. Presidential press service reported.

Tigran Sargsian was born in 1961, in Yerevan. From 1978-1981 he studied
in the Yerevan Institute of Economy, from 1981 continued his education
in Moscow Lomonosov University majoring in economy.

>From 1991-1997 he worked in the Armenian Economy Ministry as chief
specialist, deputy head of a department, head of department.

>From 1997 he worked in the Armenian Trade and Industry Ministry as
deputy head and then head of department. In July 2000 was appointed
the deputy trade and industry minister. From 2001-2007 worked as
deputy trade and economic development minister.

In September 2007 was appointed the general director of the Armenian
Development Agency.

He is married has two children.
From: Baghdasarian

KHAZAR IBRAHIM: "ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP SHOULD REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE FOURTH COUNTRY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS"

Today.Az
politics/44425.html
April 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Unfortunately, the new leadership of Armenia, including, the new
Foreign Minister, have not yet rejected old stereotypes and repeat
old mistakes.

The due announcement was made by spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry Khazar Ibrahim commenting on the visit of new Foreign
Minister Eduard Nalbandyan to the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and the
announcements regarding the conflict resolution in Nagorno Karabakh
by way of national census.

"Armenian leadership should realize that there is no place for the
fourth country in the South Caucasus", said Ibrahim.

He noted that the status of Nagorno Karabakh may be defined only in
the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Ibrahim noted that it should be better for the Armenian authorities
to tell the truth to their citizens rather than misleading them.

"Moreover, the Foreign Minister made statements regarding military
expenses of Azerbaijan. Yet we should say that Azerbaijan has not asked
anyone to interfere with its internal affairs. The Armenian authorities
should better mind its own business, in particular, withdraw its
occupation forces from the Azerbaijani lands. Otherwise, diplomatic
ways of the conflict settlement will be exhausted", said Ibrahim.

At the same time, the spokesman noted that if the analysis of military
expenses is held as compared to per capita GDP in the two countries,
it would be revealed that Armenia is more militarized.
From: Baghdasarian

HAYPOST AND MICROSOFT TO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
April 21, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Microsoft and HayPost companies will
sign am agreement on cooperation on April 22. NT correspondent was
informed by HayPost company that the agreement will allow to continue
the reforms initiated by HayPost in the information technology
sector. The purpose of the agreement is to help HayPost use the
advanced technologies of Microsoft and in this way to increase the
productivity of the company’s resources.

It was mentioned that Microsoft is going to organize training courses
for employees of the IT sector and to conduct seminars.
From: Baghdasarian

AZERI CAPTIVE TO BE CONVEYED TO AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
21.04.2008 17:08

On April 23 with the support of the International Committee of the
Red Cross, citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, serviceman Yahub
Alaverdy-Oghly Mukhtarov will be conveyed to representatives of
the Republic of Azerbaijan near Kayanavan-Ghazakh segment of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense,
Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan informed.

Yahub Alaverdy-Oghly Mukhtarov intentionally crossed the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border on March 11, 2008, qualifying his desertion
as a consequence of non-statutory relations with Army Officers.
From: Baghdasarian

Dai ly News (Sri Lanka)

Saturday, 19 April 2008

Armenia thanks Lanka

Foreign Minister of The Republic of Armenia Vartan Oskanian thanked
Sri Lanka for not supporting the non-binding resolution "on the
situation in occupied territories of Azerbaijan".

Oskanian in a letter to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.

"I write to thank you for not supporting the non-buinding resolution"
on the situation in occupied territories of Azerbaijan" passed the UN
General Assembly with 39 votes last week.

Although an overwhelming majority of UN Member States did not support
Azerbaijan, the existence of this resolution has emboldened the
Azerbaijanis.

We sought to block this process from the introduction of the agenda
item to the vote on the resolution earlier this month. We asked that
countries follow the lead of the mediators.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (France, the US and Russia) voted
against the resolution, because we knew that Azerbaijan would use such
language to reject the compromise approach of the negotiation process
and insist instead on their one sided solution, citing the text of the
resolution.

The consequences of this resolution will do lasting damage if
appropriate responsive measures are not quickly taken. Combined with
Azerbaijan’s confidence in their increased military capacity, the
existence of this resolution will aggravate the adversarial
environment and further debilitate a combustible region.

We believe that the international community must clearly signal to
Azerbaijan that they cannot be guided by this resolution and cannot
renege on the commitments expressed in the negotiating document on the
table. Thanks you again for your readiness to support the peace
process".
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REFUGEES
CONVENES IN ANTELIAS

An international conference convened in the Antelias headquarters of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia on April 14-16 discussed the phenomenon of
migration and its impact on society. Some 120 delegates participated in this
conference, which was chaired by His Holiness Aram I.

A meeting of the Commission formed of representatives from the World Council
of Churches (WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is being
held in the aftermath of the conference in the "Gulbenkian" Hall of the
"Cilicia" museum. It will end on April 19.

The 30-member commission has extensively discussed the proposals of the
conference, seeking practical ways of implementation and drawing up a
general plan for consideration by churches and non-governmental
organizations.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos245.htm#7
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Baghdasarian

CE SECRETARY GENERAL: "MUTUAL CRITICISM OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA DOES NOT STIMULATE THE RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today.Az
politics/44355.html
April 17 2008
Azerbaijan

"I believe in democracy, which implies freedom of expression".

The due announcement was made by Terry Davis, CoE Secretary General,
commenting on the criticism of Azerbaijani delegates in PACE regarding
Armenia.

He said "any criticism does not promote normalization of relations
and resolution of Nagorno Karabakh problem or improvement of relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

"I said in different cases that I consider Armenia’s confession that
Azerbaijan supported Armenia’s initiative on the way to the Council
of Europe like Armenia supported Azerbaijan on this way.

I presented an example of how relations should establish. Before
judging other’s actions, first see what you do. I think this expression
should be attributed to the sides", said Terry Davis.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES BREAK CEASEFIRE

Azeri Press Agency
April 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Nagorno Karabakh -APA. Armenian Armed Forces have broken ceasefire
again in several directions through the contact line between the
troops. Press-Service of Azerbaijan Defense Ministry told APA.

They fired intermittently from their posts in Berd and Krasnoselsk,
Armenia on the posts of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Gadabay and Tovuz
regions, Azerbaijan from 18.30 on April 14 until 03.00 last night.

They also fired from the uplands of Fuzuli and Khojavend regions of
Azerbaijan from 15.40 until 02.45, as well as from their posts near
the Ashagi Veysalli and Garvand villages, near Tagibayli village
of Aghdam at 21.50-23.50, near Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy
region at 23.40-01.00, near Chilaburt village of the Tartar region,
Azerbaijan at 01.25-01.35 on the opposite posts of Azerbaijani Armed
Forces by the submachine and machine-guns. The enemy has been silenced
by the retaliation fire in all cases. No casualties reported.
From: Baghdasarian

7th NATIONAL EXHIBITION "HOUR HOUSE 2008" TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 25-27

Noyan Tapan
April 14, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. "Our House" 7th national exhibition
of construction, design and repair will be held in the session hall of
the RA government on April 25-27. The event is organized by Expomedia
center of exhibition projects.

NT was informed by Expomedia that the purpose of the exhibition is
to establish business links among local and foreign companies of
the sector, expand the markets and introduce new technologies in the
construction sector. The exhibition will have the following sections:
"Consruction, Design and Repair", "Furniture", "Doors and Windows",
"Production and Technologies of Exterior and Interior Decoration",
"Exterior and Interior Design of Houses and Apartments", "Gas, Heat
and Water Supply Systems", "Heating and Air Conditioning Systems",
"Domestic Appliances", "Paints, Protective Coatings and Household
Chemical Goods", and "Real Estate, Insurance and Credit Organizations".

The exhibition is being organized with the assistance of the RA
ministry of trade and economic development, the Armenian Development
Agency, Yerevan mayor’s office and the Union of Builders of Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian