Author: Chakrian Hovsep

IN 2010 THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE THE WORK TO FURTHER RAISE THE LEVEL OF LAKE SEVAN

ArmInfo
2009-12-16 09:02:00

ArmInfo. The Committee on Lake Sevan met in Yerevan today.

The press service of the President of Armenia reports that the head of
the presidential staff Karen Karapetyan also took part in the meeting.

Chairman of the committee Vladimir Movsissyan reported on the work
done in 20009 and outlined plans for 2010. He said that all the
16 measures planned for 2009 had been fulfilled. Particularly, the
committee worked out measures to further raise the level of Sevan,
to effectively use the lake’s water, to increase its fish resources,
has drafted plan of repair of 3-km long breakdown section of Arpa-Sevan
tunnel, has started to the work to restore sewerage systems of Sevan,
Gavar, Martuni, Vardenis and Jermuk.

The key priority of the committee in 2010 will be further work to
raise the level of the lake, to purify its water and to increase its
fish resources.

ARMENIA EXPANDING COOPERATION WITH EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.12.2009 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently on a working visit to Paris, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian chaired a meeting of RA ambassadors
to European countries and international organizations. The meeting
was also attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister Karine Kazinian and
Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Shahen Avakian.

The diplomats discussed the outcomes of the 17th meeting of OSCE
Council of Foreign Ministers held in Athens on December 1 and the
meeting of Foreign Ministers of EU and Eastern Partnership countries
in Brussels on December 8.

Minister Nalbandian also referred to the prospects of cooperation
with the European Union.

On December 16, the Armenian Minister will address the conference of
OIF Foreign Ministers, RA MFA press office reported.

INQUEST ESTABLISHES ARMENIAN CITIZEN’S GUILT FOR BEING AZERIS’ SPY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.12.2009 16:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Investigative Department of Armenia’s National
Security Service (NSS) has finished the inquest into the high treason
case. The prosecutor exercising control over the legitimacy of
procedures confirmed the bill of particulars.

According to inquest data, Armenian citizen G. Hayrapetyan, former
employee of RA Ministry of Defense, was recruited by Azerbaijan’s
intelligence services in April 2009. He transferred to them
confidential documents on the fighting efficiency of Armenian army,
as well as materials for conducting an anti-Armenian propaganda.

G. Hayrapetyan maintained contacts with Azerbaijan’s intelligence
services via some B. Bager, an Iranian citizen of Azeri decent, who
was detained by RA NSS servicemen on Karchevcan checkpoint (Meghri)
while trying to take out the materials obtained from Hayrapetyan.

Under a criminal case filed in connection with the facts above,
Hayrapetyan is accused of crimes prescribed by Articles 299 and 235 of
RA Criminal Code (High treason via espionage and illegal procurement,
transportation or carrying of weapons). Iranian citizen B. Beger
is facing charges under Article 203 (engaging in espionage on the
territory of a foreign state), RA General Prosecutor’s Office reports.

VORONTSOV BARSEGHYAN: KHOSROV FOREST FACES NO PROBLEMS WITH TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.12.2009 19:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan Tuesday hosted a conference devoted
to Khosrov Forest State Reserve. "The forest faces no or problems
related technical equipment or maintenance. All problems are settled
thanks to cooperation with Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources,
international organizations and NGOs. But it is necessary to create
a scientific department dealing with maintenance and other issues, as
well as determine the boundaries of the reserve," Director of Khosrov
Forest State Reserve Vorontsov Barseghyan told today a news conference.

"In comparison with 2001, budgetary allocations have increased by 5%.

Besides, the Government has approved the 2009 Program for Establishing
Stricter Control over Closely Protected Areas". A key component
there is the clause envisaging the elaboration of a concept on those
territories.

The book "Khosrov Forest Reserve" was also presented during the
conference.

The event was organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in cooperation
with several NGOs and RA National Academy of Sciences.

ARMENIAN-SERBIAN CULTURAL TIES NEED DEVELOPING

NEWS.am
13:14 / 12/11/2009

"We have come to Armenia at the invitation received from the personnel
of the Sergey Parajanov memorial flat for the purpose of taking the
great filmmaker’s art to our country and presenting it to our people,"
Tibor Vardan, Director of the Agency for protection of cultural
monuments in Novi Sad, Serbia, told Armenian reporters.

He pointed out that the aim of the visit is strengthening
and developing bilateral cultural ties. Tabor Vardan said that
Armenian-Serbian friendship has 700-year-old friendship. Although
only 300-350 Armenians are residing in Serbia and Armenian cultural
monuments have not been preserved in that country, Vardan expressed
hope that the intergovernmental commission to be formed by the Armenian
and Serbian Ministries of Culture will fill the gap.

According to Vardan, an Armenian church constructed by the Mhkitarist
Union in 1746 was open until 1963. However, it was pulled down when
an avenue that was to run through the site was constructed.

Answering NEWS.am’s question as to whether the renowned Armenian
filmmaker Sergey Parajanov will become known in Serbia as soon
as the Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica became known in Armenia,
Vardan said that Parajanov’s art was even earlier known in Serbia,
and the delegation will try to make him known even better.

KIRO MANOYAN: THE SOONER WE COME OUT OF THE PROCESS, THE BETTER
Siranush Muradyan

"Radiolur"
10.12.2009 17:58

"The sooner we come out of the process, the better," Head of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political
Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan told a press conference today, speaking
about the Armenian Turkish relations.

Kiro Manoyan added, however, that no progress should be expected in
the Armenian-Turkish relations until the pro-Azerbaijani settlement
of the Karabakh conflict.

"We have no reason to be optimistic on the Karabakh issue, since
Azerbaijan cannot imagine Karabakh out of Azerbaijan. Therefore,
the later we come out of this process of normalization of Turkey,
the harder the solution of the issue for us," he said.

EUROPEAN UNION SAYS OF INADMISSIBILITY OF MILITARISTIC STATEMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

ArmInfo
2009-12-10 16:08:00

ArmInfo. European Union continues supporting Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict settlement within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group on the
basis of Madrid principles, Armenia-EU political consultations held
in Brussels say.

At the same time it was emphasized during the consultations that
peaceful settlement of the conflict has no result, press-service of
Armenian Foreign Ministry reported. The European party welcomed the
statement adopted over the sitting of the Council of the OSCE Foreign
ministers in Athens. It was also mentioned that to support resolving of
the conflict one should avoid militaristic statements and initiate the
events directed to enhancing trust. The EU also proved its supporting
the process on normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations
stressing the importance of ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols as soon as possible.

A POWERFUL, INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN, DEMOCRATIC AND LEGAL STATE IS AN EXCLUSIVE VALUE THAT HAS NO ALTERNATIVE

armradio.am
10.12.2009 11:33

Today the Nagorno Karabakh Republic celebrates the Day of NKR State
Independence Referendum and Constitution. NKR President Bako Sahakyan
issued a congratulatory address on this occasion:

"Dear compatriots,

In the modern history of Artsakh December 10 twice proved to be
pivotal. In 1991 on this day the Artsakh Armenians expressed their
unified will and confirmed the dedication of creating an independent
statehood. On the same day of 2006 again through the nation-wide
referendum the basic law of our state, the Constitution, was adopted,
registering another great victory of our state, which succeeded in
defending its independence and freedom and was firmly staying on the
path of democracy.

December 10 is also celebrated as International Human Rights Day. This
fact is symbolic for itself as the Artsakh movement, the birth and
the very existence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic are the integral
parts of human rights, the reflection of the basic universal rights
of equality and self-determination of nations.

The people and authorities of Artsakh are adherent to the principles
that the December 10 twin holiday has entrusted to us. For us the
powerful, independent, sovereign, democratic and legal state is an
exclusive value that has no alternative.

I congratulate our entire people on this crucial holiday and wish
peace, robust health and all the best.

AUCTION OF TREASURY SHORT-TERM BONDS WITH 39-WEEK MATURITY HELD ON DECEMBER 8

Noyan Tapan
Dec 8, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. An action of state (treasury)
short-term bonds (AMGT39079106 issue) with a 39-week maturity was
held on December 8.

The amount of bonds subject to placement was 1 billion drams, the
demand was 3 billion 217 million 71 thousand drams. The placement
of bonds made 1 billion drams. The revenues from placement amounted
to 938 million 269 thousand 308 drams. The weighted average yield of
the placement is 8.6759%, the limit yield is 9%.

According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Finance, 14
dealers participated in the auction.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV: RUSSIA WILL FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO ARMENIA AND TURKEY NORMALIZING THEIR RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2009-12-09 14:37:00

ArmInfo. Russia welcomes the Armenian-Turkish normalization and
is going to further contribute to that process, Dmitry Medvedev,
President of Russia, told media during the European and Asian Media
Forum, RIA Novosti reported.

"We welcome the fact that the relations of Armenian and Turkey have
considerably warmed up and you (Armenia and Turkey – ed. ) are trying
to settle the problems of the 20th century displaying restraint
and seeking a compromise. Therefore, we welcome this process of
normalization, generally, considering it absolutely reasonable and
fair for the present life," the president said. D. Medvedev said that
it is important for the other states to understand that restoration
of relations is not aimed against any country. "If this message is
created and sent properly, no tension will be in the other countries
attentively following these processes," the Russian president said.