Author: Chavushian

RESULTS OF BRIDGE OF HOPE ANNUAL COMPETITION SUMMED UP

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Results of the 4th competition
of the best publication on the disability theme entitled "Equal
Possibilities" stated by the "Bridge of Hope" and "Mission East"
organizations were summed up on December 15. As Susanna Tadevosian,
the "Bridge of Hope" Chairwoman mentioned, the goal of holding the
competition is propaganda of security of equal possibilities of invalid
children and young people. In the best TV material nomination, Gohar
Manukian (Public Television "Haylur" (Armenian news) information
program) was awarded the first prize, Kristine Karslian (H2) was
awarded the second prize, Nelli Danielian ("Yerkir Media" (Country
Media) was awarded the third prize. Marianna Grigorian’s "Inclusive
Education" article ("ArmeniaNow" internet weekly) was recognized
the best article of the printed and electronic media. The second
and third prizes, were given, correspondingly, to Gayane Sargsian
("Vanadzorian Khchankar" (Vanadzor Mosaic) and Susanna Margarian
("Azg" (Nation). Hasmik Smbatian (Liberty) was recognized the author
of the best radio publication. Anahit Tsaturian ("Gortsarar Tiezerk"
(Business Space) newspaper) was awarded the encouraging prize, and
Arzuman Haroutiunian ("Art Site" studio) was given a special prize.

DISCUSSION OF ROLE OF KURDS IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE HELD IN AMSTERDAM

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A meeting initiated by the Kurdish Dutch Cultural
Center Amsterdam (KNCCA) for a discussion on the Armenian Genocide of
1915, whereby the Kurds also played a role, will be held in Amsterdam
December 21. As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter came to know from ‘Abovyan’
Armenian cultural center in Amsterdam, the goal of the meeting is to
start a dialogue with each other based on the facts of the Armenian
Genocide and to try to come to reconciliation. Haydar Isik, a Kurdish
writer from Germany, from Noebar Sipaan, the chairman of FAON’s 24
April committee representing the Armenian side will take part in
the discussion. Haydar Isik who comes from Dersim is an alevite. He
translated a book about the Armenian genocide into Turkish.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 14 2006

UPCOMING DECADE TO BE PERIOD OF CONTINUED PROGRESS FOR ARMENIA:
VARDAN OSKANYAN

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. The upcoming decade will be a period of
continued progress for Armenia, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan reported at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in the Versailles Palace.
In his speech, Oskanyan presented new priorities of Armenia, the
Armenian people and Diaspora, as well as his ideas of the
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation under the conditions of the independent
Armenian state.
"The Diaspora is a means of expansion of our people’s residential
area, a means of increasing our cultural wealth and exchange or
knowledge, a solid footing for economic and political investments
through which it can participate in awakening our country and
people," Oskanyan said.
He pointed out that since the proclamation of the Armenian
independence AGBU has become one of the nation-wide structures to
actively take part in Armenia’s restoration.
Celebration of AGBU’s 100th anniversary was held in the Versailles
Palace on December 9-11. R.O. –0–

ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY NOT TO CHANGE AFTER GEORGIA AND
AZERBAIJAN JOIN NATO, ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER BELIEVES

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The process of joining the NATO is
a lasting one, so I do not believe that Georgia and Azerbaijan join it
in the near future," the RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian stated
during the December 15 meeting with reporters. He expressed confidence
that the National Security Strategy of Armenia will not undergo any
considerable changes if Georgia and Azerbaijan become NATO members. In
his words, it is important that while being in any system of security,
Georgia maintain friendly relations with Armenia."

ARMENIAN MINISTER, NATO CHIEF DISCUSS COOPERATION, REFORMS

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Dec 7 2006

Yerevan, 7 December: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer noted in Brussels today the
importance of the NATO Information Centre that was opened in Yerevan
recently, which informs the Armenian public about the activity of
the alliance and the cooperation between Armenia and NATO.

Oskanyan and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer discussed the implementation of
Armenia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP] with NATO, the
first stage of which started in January 2006, the press service of
the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Mediamax.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the course of implementation
of the programme, which was discussed in the session of the NATO’s
Council in the 26+1 format, in summer 2006.

Vardan Oskanyan informed the NATO secretary general that the Armenian
interdepartmental commission on the IPAP held eight sessions in the
current year.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said that NATO is ready to deepen cooperation
with Armenia and stressed the importance of the development of
democratic processes in Armenia and of the implementation of reforms
in the defence sphere with NATO’s assistance. He praised Armenia’s
contribution to NATO peacekeeping operations.

Oskanyan praised the contribution of the NATO international consulting
group in developing Armenia’s national security strategy.

Oskanyan and de Hoop Scheffer also discussed Armenian-Turkish relations
and the settlement process of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

After the meeting, the Armenian foreign minister signed a memorandum on
mutual understanding between Armenia and NATO on simplified procedures
for border crossing during transit transportation, which is of vital
importance. The document will increase the speed of international
reaction to crisis and emergency situations, the press service of
the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

KARABAKH ARMY TAKES AZERI PRIVATE CAPTIVE – AGENCY

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Dec 8 2006

Yerevan, 8 December: Private Vusal Qaracayev of the Azerbaijani army
was captured with his weapon in the Agdam direction of the contact line
of the Nagornyy Karabakh and Azerbaijani armed forces on 7 December.

Vusal Qaracayev, 18, is a native of Balakan District of Azerbaijan,
the state commission for prisoners of war, hostages and missing
citizens of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR) told Mediamax today.

The relevant agencies of the NKR are investigating reasons and
motives for the crossing the Azerbaijani serviceman to the Karabakh
side. The offices of the OSCE and the ICRC in Nagornyy Karabakh have
been informed of the incident.

RUSSIAN BLOCKADE LEAVES ARMENIA PAPERLESS
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Tiko Giorgadze)

The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 7 2006

The transport blockade imposed by Russia on Georgia has also isolated
Armenia, and as a somewhat bizarre consequence, Armenia finds itself
about to run out of newsprint paper.

The paper shortage began after Russia imposed a transport blockade
on Georgia in late September, Armenia started to import paper from
the Ukraine, which delivered it by ferry to Georgia and then on to
Armenia. Vrej Markosian, director of the Tigran the Great Yerevan
publishing house, the biggest in Armenia, publishing over 30 magazines
and newspapers, says that due to technical and financial problems,
the paper that was to be delivered is still sitting in the Ukrainian
port of Illychovsk. Unless a new shipment arrives, he warns that the
presses will have to close on December 9.

According to Markosian, it will be very expensive for Armenia to
import paper from Iran and Turkey, reports the newspaper Rezonansi.

SWECO WINS SEK14M ROAD CONTRACT IN ARMENIA

Nordic Business Report
December 7, 2006

NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT-7 December 2006-SWECO wins SEK14m road
contract in Armenia ©1998-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Swedish consulting group SWECO said on Thursday (7 December) that it
has received a road engineering contract in Armenia.

The contract, valued at SEK14m, covers studies, investigations and
conceptual design for approximately 1,000 km of rural roads as well
as ramps and connections to rural bridges.

SWECO will carry out the project in cooperation with Swedish company
SweRoad and Armenian engineering firm Dorproject.

The project is funded by the American Millennium Challenge Corporation.

SWECO, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, provides consulting services
within engineering, environmental technology and architecture. It
has subsidiaries in eight countries, and is currently involved in
projects in over 60 countries. SWECO is listed on the Nordic Exchange
in Stockholm.

One British pound (£) is worth approximately 13.49 Swedish kronor
(SEK).

(Comments on this story may be sent to
[email protected])

–Bound ary_(ID_Ai8iUASoAgx3Gk252BJdcQ)–

ARMENIA IS LESS CORRPUPTED THAN LATVIA AND LITHUANIA
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
08/12/2006

"Gelup" service research displayed that Armenia is the 69-th in
the list of most corrupted states with 82 of 100 points. Russia and
Ukraine are on the 96-rd place, Georgia -31-st. It is notworthy that
Armenia is less corrupted than Latvia (81-st place) and Lithuania
(100-th). Finland, New Zeland, Denmark, Singapore and Saudi Arabia
are in the first ranks.

8,500 ARMENIAN GOODS HAVE BAR CODES

Armenpress
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Since 1996 254 Armenian companies
and enterprises have joined the GS1 system, which is a set of global
standards, enabling the unique identification of all trade items,
processes, services, shipments, assets, companies and locations at
any point in the supply chain. Meantime the number of Armenia-made
products with bar-codes has reached 8,500.

Pap Aslanian, head of IAN Armenia agency that deals with bar-coding
of Armenian goods, said the number of Armenian companies seeking to
have bar codes increases 12-13 percent every year. The majority are
companies producing foodstuff, strong alcoholic drinks and medications.

He said in the first years when the system was introduced there were
attempts to fake bar codes. Now, these sort of attempts have slashed
radically, he said. The reason why some companies try to fake bar
codes is the big membership fee. Now a company has to pay 125,000
drams to become a member of the system and 125,000 drams as annual
membership fee.

Pap Aslanian said the system can be used by all industries to
facilitate trade by combining unique identification numbers with
data carriers and electronic commerce processes. The GS1 System
is administered by GS1 Global, based in Brussels. With member
organizations in over 100 countries, the integrity and compatibility
of the system worldwide is ensured.

Nearly one million organizations in over 145 counties use the system.