Author: Boshkezenian Garik

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER AND ITALIAN AMBASSADOR UNDERSCORE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS

ARMENPRESS
May 29, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian
received today Italian ambassador to Armenia Massimo Lavezzo Kasinelli.

Governmental press service told Armenpress the during the meeting the
prime minister pointed out that Armenia underscores the ancient-long
relations with Italy which today have better prospects of development
particularly in economic and educational spheres. From that viewpoint
the two sides underscored the visit of that time Armenian president
Robert Kocharian to Italy in 2005 which the ambassador and prime
minister said, gave new impetus to the development of bilateral
relations.

"Nothing makes people closer then the culture does," the prime minister
said and considered the conduction of the "Armenian-Italian Friendship
Days" festival within the framework of which more then 70 events
were held as a good example for consolidating relations. In this
pre-context the sides also underscored the agreement signed between
Armenian and Italian governments in 2003 on cooperation in cultural,
educational, scientific and technologic spheres.

Tigran Sargsian also underscored close partnership in economic and
financial sectors, particularly referred to the entrance of Italian
banks to the Armenian market. The Italian ambassador said that he
also sees a big potential for cooperation in this sphere and noted
that the Italian side wishes to increase its direct investments
in Armenia. "I think that Your government’s program intends such a
favorable economic environment which will promote the involvement of
businessmen in the Armenian market," the diplomat said.

Assuring that the Italian side is ready and interested in the
continuation and development of activities carried out until now in
economic and cultural spheres, Lavezzo Kasinelli said that in near
future it is expected to cooperate with Armenia in archeology sphere,
particularly open a school of restoration.

The prime minister said that on the firm basis of bilateral relations
it is possible to ensure new developments in various spheres.

VISIT TO NATO BY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF ARMENIA

States News Service
May 28, 2008 Wednesday

The following information was released by the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO):

H. E. Mr. Eduard Nalbandyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
and H. E. Mr. Seyran Ohanyan, Minister of Defence of Armenia, will
visit NATO on Wednesday, 28 May 2008. They will meet with the Deputy
Secretary General of NATO, Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, and will
address the North Atlantic Council.

There will be no press opportunity.

Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 41 – Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57

[email protected] –

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVED AMBASSADOR PETER ROSENBLATT OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

armradio.am
29.05.2008 15:40

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the representative of the
American Jewish Committee, Ambassador Peter Rosenblatt and the
Executive Director of the US-Armenia Public Affairs Committee Ross
Vartian.

According to President Sargsyan, Armenia is interested in deepening
the relations with the United States and views these as an important
guarantee of economic success, democratic development and regional
stability.

Presenting the American Jewish Committee, Ambassador Rosenblatt noted
that it is one of the pivotal organizations of the Jewish community and
is mostly involved in the field of international relations. He said
also that from 1990 they are well familiar with the South Caucasian
region and follow with interest the processes underway. He last
visited Armenia in 1999.

Peter Rosenblatt associated the interest of the American Jewish
Committee in Armenia and Armenian issues with the close ties with
the American Armenian community.

The interlocutors discussed the Armenian-Turkish relations and the
issue of opening the border.

President Sargsyan once again underlined that Armenia is interested
in building normal relations with neighbor countries and official
Yerevan has many times confirmed its support for establishment of
relations with Turkey without any preconditions.

The parties exchanged views on Armenia-Israel relations.

ARMENPRESS

PRESIDENT SERZH SARKISIAN APPROVES NATIONAL SECURITY
COUNCIL STATUTE

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS: On May 26 President
Serzh Sarkisian signed a decree to approve the statute
of the National Security Council.
The presidential press service told Armenpress that
in accordance with its statute the National Security
Council brings up all issues in domestic and foreign
policies, political, military, economic, social, food,
energy, ecological, information, demographic,
scientific and other spheres which relate to the
country’s national security and its national
interests. It is also in charge of organization,
coordination, supervision of work for implementation
of concepts and government programs stipulated by the
national security strategy and making relevant
decisions.
The National Security Council coordinates the work
of government bodies and assesses their efficiency in
terms of implementation of national security related
decisions, sets the main directions for strengthening
the country’s strategic development, its national
security and competitiveness and makes decisions on
their implementation.
In accordance with the national security strategy
it implements strategic reforms in the armed forces,
law enforcement, tax and customs bodies, and assesses
their efficiency.
The work of the National Security Council is headed
according to the Regulations, by president of Armenia.
The chairman of the National Security Council approves
its monthly plan of actions and ratifies its
decisions.
The presidential decree also sets the authorities
of the National Security Council Secretary, who
ensures implementation of issues envisaged by the
national security strategy, organization and
coordination of related work and their supervision.
The National Security Council has inter-agency
commissions which organize the work of government
bodies for implementation of issues stipulated by the
national security strategy.
The president has set a staff for the National
Security Council whose work is governed by the
National Security Council Secretary.

Today.az, Azerbaijan
May 27 2008

Vladimir Kazimirov: "Western countries were not interested in
attainment of ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh conflict by Russia’s
efforts"

27 May 2008 [13:35] – Today.Az

The state and opportunities of western countries and Russia in the
resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict were incommensurable on the
initial stage, consider former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
deputy chairman of the association of Russian diplomats Vladimir
Kazimirov.

"Russia lived for many decades within a single state with the conflict
parties and of course it knew the situation in the region better, knew
its people, while western countries were just establishing diplomatic
relations and creating their embassies. If they really strived for the
resolution of the conflict, at least, its forced phase, the shortest
way to it would be the support of the mediator, which would be more
successful", said Kazimirov on May 27.

According to the former co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, interestsof
western partner on the OSCE Minsk often differed.

"They thought of reducing Russia’s influence in the region. I do not
want to say that western partners were so cruel that they wanted the
continuation of hostilities. I do not mean that.They did not wanted
the ceasefire to be attained to Russia’s efforts", said the Russian
diplomat.

He noted that western mediators on the OSCE Minsk Group feared
deployment of any Russian armed forces in the conflict area as
separating forces even more.

/Novosti-Armenia/

URL:

HYE-TERT, Turkey
May 27 2008

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND CALLS ON UK TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Kaynak: armtown.com
Yer: Armenia
Tarih: 26.5.2008

A major step forward toward recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
the UK was taken this week when the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of Scotland passed a motion calling on the UK on
the government to recognize the Genocide. The Church followed the
example of the Presbyterian Church of Wales which called on the UK
government to recognize the Genocide in 2006, independent French
journalist told PanARMENIAN.Net. This is the result of an intense work
by lobbyists Ara Krikorian, Edgar Danielyan and Eilian Williams were
instrumental in persuading the Church to like to this decision. PM
Gordon Brown, who belongs to the Presbyterian Church will attempt to
resist this pronouncement by his Church, said Armenia Solidarity,
British Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group, Nor Serount Armenian
Genocide Trust.

RIA Oreanda, Russia
May 27 2008

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Armenia Yasuo Saito

Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . May 27, 2008. The Prime Minister said to be
highly appreciative of the assistance provided to the government and
the people of Armenia for several years now with a view to
implementing structural and economic reforms, infrastructure
development etc. and extended his gratitude for fruitful cooperation
and support. The Prime Minister also emphasized the Note on alteration
of the amount of the loan made available under the May 29, 2005
exchanges of notes with the aim of strengthening Armenia’s efforts for
economic stabilization and development to be signed on May 27, 2008
with the RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. The Note
provides for the allocation of additional funds to Armenia’s energy
sector which is another step forward on the way to continued effective
cooperation and our country’s enhanced energy security. Tigran
Sargsyan prioritized the activation of the efforts of the
intergovernmental commission which according to him offers good
opportunities for discussion of issues of mutual concern, work
coordination and submission of proposals on extra projects and new
areas of collaboration. In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned
tourism, research and development, small and medium-size enterprise
and a number of other sectors as prospective areas for mutually
beneficial cooperation.

During the meeting, the need for establishing Armenia’s embassy in
Japan was emphasized on either side. Ambassador Yasuo Saito expressed
readiness on the part of the Japanese authorities to possibly assist
Armenia with this task considering that the future embassy would help
strengthen the Armenian-Japanese relationship.

The interlocutors have also referred to the cooperation on the
international arena, inclusive of the United Nations.

ALL FINALISTS OF EUROVISION 2008 KNOWN

armradio.am
23.05.2008 11:25

The Second Semi-Final of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest was held
at the Belgrade Arena on May 22. Representatives of 19 countries
participated in the Semi-Final, 10 of which qualified for the
final. Thus, the finalists include Ukraine, Croatia, Albania, Iceland,
Georgia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Turkey, Portugal, Greece, Romania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Poland,
Norway and Armenia, as well as the founders of the competition
Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain and Serbia – winner of the
Eurovision-2007.

U.S.-KURDISTAN FRIENDSHIP GROUP CAN BE FORMED IN CONGRESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.05.2008 16:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, met with
Nechirvan Barzani, visiting prime minister of the Kurdish regional
government (KRG), to discuss recent developments in war-torn Iraq,
including matters relating to the presence of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq Monday.

Neither Rice nor Barzani made a statement before or after their
talks, but U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack confirmed
that countering the northern Iraq-based PKK was on the agenda for
the meeting.

During a meeting with Congressmen, Mr Barzani advanced an idea of
formation of a U.S.-Kurdistan friendship group, Turtsia.ru reports.

Kurdistan PM also met with the Defense Secretary Robert Gates and
CIA chief, general Michael Hayden.

"Jointly with Turkey, we are trying to find practicable solutions to
many problems, including the PKK," Barzani said

CHILDHOOD WORLD EXPO – 2008 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON MAY 30 – JUNE 1

ARKA
May 22, 2008

YEREVAN, May 22. /ARKA/. Childhood World EXPO – 2008 international
specialized exhibition is to be held from May 30 to June 1 in the
cultural and business center "Dom Moskvi" (House of Moscow) in Yerevan.

The main sections of the display will be Goods for children, food
for children, medical services for children, children’s education,
financial services for children and children’s recreation and tourism.

A photo contest, painting and sculpturing contests, children’s fashion
shows and other events are to be held in the scope of the exhibition.

The exhibitions is organized with assistance of Armenian Ministry of
Economy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues and the Parliament
Standing Exhibition on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Issues.

LOGOS EXPO Center is the first company organizing exhibitions in
Armenia since 1999. It is the leader in organizing diversified,
production, national and international exhibitions and congresses
both in Armenia and abroad.

LOGOS EXPO holds 10-12 specialized exhibitions reflecting dynamic
development of the economy every year.