Author: Boshkezenian Garik

OVER 52.3 BILLION DRAMS ALLOCATED FROM STATE BUDGET TO SOCIAL SECTOR IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Sep 6, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, the social sector
was financed from the RA state budget in the amount of over 52.3
bln drams. The execution index made 94.3%. The deviation is mainly
conditioned by savings and by the low execution indices of a credit
program and a grant program implemented with the assistance of the
World Bank. Expenditures on the social sector increased by 18.5% or 8.2
bln drams as compared with 2005. The RA deputy minister of finance and
economy, chief treasurer Atom Janjughazian stated this at the September
5 joint sitting of the RA National Assembly standing committees.

According to him, pension allocations amounted to 16.6 bln drams
in 2006.

The execution index made 98.3% as a result of savings.

Expenditures on state benefits for the population made 25.5 bln
drams, ensuring 95.5% fulfilment of the program and exceeding by
15.6% the 2005 index. 24.2% of the indicated sum was allocated for
poverty family benefits and one-off monetary aid, which made up 99.8%
of the program. Out of 181,907 families registered in the family
vulnerability assessment system in 2006, 130,190 families or 71.6%
of registered ones received the right for family benefits. 9,561
families or 5.2% of registered ones received urgent assistance. About
4,200 vulnerable families received one-off monetary aid in connection
with birth of a baby, and 14,220 families – in connection with their
children becoming first-formers.

In 2006, the social allocations on social security measures were spent
on financing 35 social programs, amounting to 4.8 bln drams or 98.9%
of the envisaged sum. Expenditures on other social programs made
over 4.2 bln drams or by 27.6% less than the programmed index. The
low execution index was conditioned by the low execution index of
the credit program on management of the social protection sector,
which was implemented with WB assistance.

AZERI LEADER SAYS MILITARY SPENDING TO INCREASE FURTHER

ITV
4 Sep 07
Baku

[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev today chaired a meeting on problems
facing our compatriots who had to flee their homes due to the military
aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] Nagornyy Karabakh will never be granted
independence. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh
will be resolved within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and the rights of refugees and displaced persons will be
ensured. Speaking at the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said that
a million of our compatriots had to flee their homes as a result of
Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

Ethnic cleansing has been carried out on our territory. Peace talks are
continuing despite the fact that this injustice has been continuing
for many years. The success of the Prague process will support a
peaceful solution to the conflict.

The president stressed that Azerbaijan’s international image had
also been boosted in the past few years. He said that the country’s
military potential had been increasing, therefore, if the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict was not resolved peacefully, the Baku government
might resort to other means.

Azerbaijan can liberate its lands using any method. The president said
that the dragging out of the resolution of the conflict could result
in greater complications. Armenia should understand this, he said.

The president said that the Azerbaijani government had taken serious
measures to resolve problems facing refugees and displaced persons. All
tent camps will be closed down by the end of this year, he said.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that at the moment Azerbaijan is making
every effort to resolve problems facing refugees and displaced
persons. On the other hand, army building is also a priority issue
for the country.

[Ilham Aliyev] We have increased military spending manifold over the
past few years. In the 2007 state budget, military spending stands
at 1bn dollars. The 2008 budget is on the agenda. It is expected to
be submitted soon. I have issued instructions to increase military
spending.

Although 1bn dollars is already a large sum – I can say that we are
at the forefront among the CIS countries – but we are at war, our
territory is under occupation, therefore, we can spend any amount of
money on this sphere.

PARTICIPATION OF RA POLICE DELEGATION IN CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS SITTING STILL DISCUSSED

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.09.2007 16:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Participation of RA police delegation in the CIS
Interior Ministers’ sitting is under discussion, the police’s press
office told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The sitting opens in Baku on September 5. The participants will discuss
joint struggle against organized crime, drug traffic, illegal migration
and prospects of further cooperation, APA reports.

BAKU SHOULD OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA, AZERI GREENS PARTY LEADER SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2007 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mais Gulaliyev, the chairman of Greens Party of
Azerbaijan said his country should open borders and establish economic
and diplomatic relations with Armenia. He said the party has carried
out geopolitical researches over the region and worked out proposals
on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Gulaliyev said the package of proposals basically stipulates
economical, public-political ways to solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. The document analyzes the Azerbaijani economy and oil
revenues of the country. It also maintains the analysis of positions
and interests of international financial institutes, foreign countries,
and international organizations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The chairman of Greens Party ruled out armed solution to the
conflict. It is unreal and can benefit only the Azerbaijani opposition
desiring replacement in power.

"The opposition understands it cannot come to power through elections
in the near future. Forces aspired to power spare no effort to make
the government use armed interference and achieve replacement this way.

In case war breaks out, the international organizations will press
for resignation of the state leadership. Even NATO forces will strike
blows on Azerbaijan without delay," the party leader said.

"The Karabakh problem should be resolved only in a peaceable way, which
passes through the fulfillment of all commitments by Azerbaijan. We
described the government’s commitments to the Azerbaijani people,
opposition, non-governmental organizations and international
organizations in the package of proposals. After fulfillment of
all obligations and consolidation of economy Azerbaijan should take
Armenia out of the economic blockade and make this country economically
dependent," he said, Trend news agency reports.

ARTSAKH CELEBRATES ITS INDEPENDENCE DAY
By Kim Gabrielian

AZG Armenian Daily #159
04/09/2007

Nagorno-Karabakh

The 16th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh, as it is the custom, was celebrated with a series of culture
and sports events in Stepanakert. The most remarkable event in the
celebration of Artsakh’s Independence Day in 2007 was the inauguration
of the new house of Parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh. Speaker of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Torosian, who
was present to the opening ceremony, confessed that the he liked the
house of the Parliament of Karabakh much more than that of RA. In
his turn Speaker of the National Assembly of NKR noted that 16 years
ago Artsakh had neither the modern life conditions nor the powerful
army. The inauguration ceremony ended with an exhibition of Baze
Hrayr’s photographs.

On that day an exhibition was also organized by the painters of
Karabakh, who were representing their canvases devoted to the themes
of freedom and independence. Another exhibition in Stepanakert
was dedicated to historic and cultural researches on the liberated
territories throughout 1990-2005.

Another noteworthy event was the opening of a new village in Karabakh,
Vardout, which was constructed from very zero in the wilderness,
and not rebuilt on a place of an older one. The village is provided
with all infrastructures and all communal facilities.

Deputy of the RA National Assembly and head of the "Heritage" party
Raffi Hovannissian represented his legislation project on recognition
of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. He stated that the people of
Artsakh have earned that right long ago and the Republic of Armenia
has to adopt that fact de jure.

Speaker Tigran Torosian objected that the recognition of the
independence of Karabakh mustn’t be declarative. He said that each year
the National Assembly and the Government of Armenia, elaborating the
state budget, are always providing for an intergovernmental credit
to Karabakh. Moreover, Armenia is engaged in negotiations and is
defending the common interests of both the countries. He added that
the official recognition of the independence of Karabakh shall take
place "only when the time comes".

YSU: TWO-FOLD HOLIDAY

Panorama.am
20:41 30/08/2007

Not all students, including first-year students, will have the
opportunity to participate in the "day of knowledge" at Yerevan
State University. Karen Grigoryan, who head the university’s press
department, told panorama.am that "This year, the university will greet
its first-year students on September 3, at 8:30 AM. This concerns all
departments, except for law and economics. These will begin according
to tradition. I think this decision by the university is a surprise
to students, but in reality there is nothing out of the ordinary in
the decision."

The reason, he said, is that in an institution of higher learning all
departments, excepting the above-mentioned two, classes are not held
on Saturdays, meaning the doors for them will open on Monday.

Grigoryan added that "The departments of Roman-German languages and
sociology are scheduled second, therefore these faculties will greet
their first-year students on September 3 at 1:30 PM.

The university news service stated that on the first day of learning a
package will be distributed to first-year students, which will include
a map of the university, notebooks, pens, and general instructions.

TAB EDITORIAL: THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN

Newton TAB, MA
GateHouse News Service
Aug 29 2007

Thumbs up

To David Boyajian for demonstrating that one person really can make
a difference. The Newton resident sent a letter to the editor of the
TAB’s sister publication, the Watertown TAB and Press, berating the
Anti-Defamation League for failing to recognize the Armenian Genocide
of the early 20th century. Boyajian’s letter caught the attention
of many in the Armenian-rich community who, in turn, called upon
the ADL to change its position, which it has done to some extent. As
long as the ADL’s national office does not also support congressional
legislation that would officially recognize the genocide, the issue
remains unresolved. But with just 215 words, Boyajian set into motion
a chain of events that has had positive national, if not international,
impact.

Thumbs down

To Jeremy Solomon, Mayor David Cohen’s director of policy and
communications, for neglecting to tell the public right away that
the city had signed a legal agreement with Newton South contractor
Peabody Construction’s insurance company. Peabody was fired last
year because of shoddy and incomplete work, and the city withheld
$1.2 million in payment.

On July 27, the two parties signed an agreement listing the outstanding
items that will be addressed by Vertex Engineering Systems, at a cost
of $700,000 for the city.

When questioned why the mayor hadn’t announced the settlement in a
statement or at a press conference, Solomon said, "I don’t have a
good answer for you on that yet."

After looking into it, he told the TAB, "This document is public
record and has been available since it was executed." He wouldn’t
elaborate further.

Solomon insists the settlement is good news, which leaves the
TAB wondering: If the mayor’s director of communications doesn’t
communicate good news, what does he communicate?

To the Parks & Recreation Department for closing Crystal Lake two
weeks before Labor Day and just days before last weekend’s crushing
heat. We understand that it’s hard finding lifeguards once many college
kids leave town but, given the predictability of the summer schedule,
there really ought to be an alternative.

Thumbs sideways To Aldermen Ted Hess-Mahan and Verne Vance for
endeavoring to find a quick solution to the unwieldy electoral process
that has Newton voters casting ballots in 17 aldermanic contests
every other year.

Their proposed legislation would stagger terms and could increase
the frequency of head-to-head races. Terms would last three years
instead of two, but, theoretically, candidates and incumbents would
have to work harder to earn their seats.

The TAB still supports reducing the size of the board, as do Hess-Mahan
and Vance, supposedly, and we question why this quick fix works for
these two aldermen while a reduction in board size seemingly requires
years of debate. This discussion is still new, and while we think it
sounds like a step in the right direction, our thumbs can’t reach an
upwards or downwards position until we hear more debate.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER PARTICIPATES IN BLED STRATEGIC FORUM

AZG Armenian Daily
29/08/2007

Minister Oskanian participated in the Bled Strategic Forum, held
in Bled Slovenia, at the invitation of Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel. The Forum, held on August 26 and 27, featured speakers
and panelists from the European Union structures, as well as government
officials from Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Minister Oskanian
addressed a Round Table Discussion entitled "Economic and Political
Trends in the South Caucasus and Central Asia: the Role of the EU and
the OSCE." He spoke about the generally positive economic trends and
the importance of continuing efforts to ensure that political trends,
too, continue to be positive. He stressed the need for focusing on
deep and lasting economic development.

Minister Oskanian called on the international community to see the
region beyond its capacity to produce oil and gas, and instead to
view human capital as the major resource to utilize and enhance.

ERDOGAN URGES ISRAELI PRESIDENT NOT TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS

Turkish Press
Aug 27 2007

In the wake of the decision by a prominent US Jewish group, the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL), to recognize the so-called Armenian
genocide, Turkey has called on Israel to work to convince similar
groups not to follow suit. In a telephone conversation yesterday,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly urged Israeli President
Shimon Peres to deal with the issue at the highest level.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul conveyed Turkey’s
disappointment and concern over the ADL’s decision to Pinhas Avivi,
Israel’s ambassador in Ankara. "It is a great disappointment for us,
who for centuries have given support to the Jews," Gul reportedly
said. "This decision contradicts the main argument of Jews, which
says that the Holocaust was a singular evil. Our bilateral relations
will suffer from this decision."

ABOUT 15 EVENTS ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR TO BE ORGANIZED IN ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Aug 27 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. About 15 big events related to IT
sector will be organized in Armenia in September and October of this
year, NT correspondent was informed by Bagrat Yengibarian, director
of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (IEF).

According to him, the international microelectronics symposium "IEEE
EWDTS 2007 – East-West. Design and Test" will be held in Yerevan on
September 7-10, while the international conference "InnovationECA 2007"
will take place on September 17-20. It is also envisaged to hold the
second world youth IT congress.

In September-October, the EIF together with Microsoft’s Armenian Office
will hold a contest of young programmers "ImagineCup", as well as a
regular olympiad of microelectronics. Besides, some agreements will
be signed with big foreign companies in the indicated months, with
the official opening ceremonies of their Armenian centers being held.

This series of IT events will finish with the traditional exhibition
Digitec 2007 to start on October 26, during which a number of
conferences are envisaged. B. Yengibarian said that the holding of
this exhibition on a later date than in previous years is due to the
fact the exhibition’s area, K. Demirchian Sport and Cultural Complex
is undergoing repair.