"AZG" DAILY JOURNALIST AWARDED MEDAL OF VAZGEN SARGSIAN
AZG Armenian Daily
23/01/2008
Society
RA Defense Ministry awarded "Azg" daily journalist Marieta Makarian
Medal of Vazgen Sargsian for her services to Armenian Army on the
occasion of the 15th anniversary of "Azatamartik" ensemble and the
16th anniversary of the Armenian Army.
During Karabakh war Marietta Makarian traveled in Artsakh with
"Azatamartik" ensemble and promised hopes to the families of liberators
(azatamartik).
RUSSIA READY FOR INVESTNMENTS IN URANIUM PROCESSING IN ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency
Jan 21 2008
Armenia
YEREVAN, January 21. /ARKA/. Russia is ready for serious investments
in the prospecting and processing of uranium in Armenia, Co-Chairman
of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic
Cooperation, RF Minister of Transport Igor Levitin stated at the
opening of an Armenian-Russian business forum in Yerevan.
"Russia is also ready to assist Armenia in prolonging the service life
of the currently operating nuclear-power plant and in constructing
a new nuclear-power unit in Armenia," he said.
According to him, energy remains the priority field of the bilateral
economic cooperation.
Russian companies owing a number of Armenia’s important energy
generation and supply facilities are making them profitable,
Levitin said.
He also pointed out that the sides have recently been discussing the
possibility of implementing new large-scale projects in extractive
and processing industries, which will contribute to the increase in
Russian capital investments in Armenia at least two times within the
next few years.
In January-September 2007, Russian investments in Armenia totaled
$175,905,000, with direct investments totaling $101,569,000 –
37.4% of foreign investments in the real sector and 32.6% of
direct investments. The RA Statistical Service reports that Russian
investments in Armenia increased 5.1 times, and direct investments
63.2 times compared with January-September 2006.
EU AND NATO SHOULD STAY IN KOSOVO
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.01.2008 13:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "EU and NATO should retain a robust monitoring
presence in Kosovo to ensure that no violence breaks out after the
declaration of independence," said Jason Lyall, an expert of the
Princeton University.
"I would ensure that the EU position monitors among Serbian minorities,
especially in Kosovo’s northern region, to ensure their safety. This
would help keep the lid on conflict and would prevent the kind of
abuses that might make Serbia intervene on behalf of Serb minorities. I
also believe that the EU and the US should tie their economic relations
with Kosovo to its continued observance of minority rights. In short,
we should be thinking about managing the consequences of Kosovo’s
declaration of independence since there clearly is no diplomatic
solution to preventing it that would be acceptable to all parties,"
the expert said, Trend reports.
The latest UN discussion on Kosovo was blocked by Russia.
Technically, Kosovo – populated by mostly ethnic Albanians – is
still a province of Serbia. But since 1999, Kosovo has been under
the administration of the United Nations and NATO. That followed a
more than two-month long NATO-led bombing campaign that ended a Serb
crackdown on ethnic Albanians.
Kosovo is expected to proclaim independence in early February.
Leader of PPA believes that it will be difficult to falsify the
upcoming presidential elections in Armenia-18.01.08
January 18, 2008
Yerevan /Mediamax/. If `good work’ is done, Levon Ter-Petrosian can win
in the very first round of the presidential elections, Leader of the
People’s Party of Armenia (PPA) Stepan Demirchian, who supports the
candidature of the Ex-President, stated today.
Mediamax reports that Stepan Demirchian informed that the reason why he
supports the candidature of the Ex-President is that their political
ideas coincide.
`We consider important the fact that Levon Ter-Petrosian strives to
establish in the country an atmosphere of tolerance. It is in our
common interests to establish law, struggle against corruption and
monopolies’, Leader of PPA stated.
`Our main task is the liberation from the present political regime and
the reestablishment of a legal field’, Stepan Demirchian stated.
He also noted that he will struggle against falsifications, using
constitutional tools, adding that it will be difficult to falsify the
upcoming presidential elections.
STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN CONSIDERS PROBABLE LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S WINNING
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN VERY FIRST TOUR
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. In case of working well first
Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian will win the presidential
elections in the very first tour. Stepan Demirchian, the Chairman of
the People’s Party of Armenia, expressed such an opinion at the January
18 press conference.
According to him, PPA supports L. Ter-Petrosian’s candidature, as the
programs of PPA and the latter are mainly harmonious with each other.
S. Demirchian attached importance to the liquidation of the atmosphere
of intolerance in the country after the elections, disclosure of crimes
committed in the past irrespective of the circumstance who has
committed them. According to him, the crimes committed under the
previous regime are spoken about for more than ten years, however, no
one has been punished so far. He emphasized that L. Ter-Petrosian is
the only one among the candidates for presidency, whose program
includes complete disclosure of the terrorist act of October 27. S.
Demirchian said that PPA can have some disagreements with L.
Ter-Petrosian’s program, but the secondary issues should be
subordinated to the main one, that is, liquidation of the clan system.
According to S. Demirchian, it would be naivety to suppose that the
authorities having experience of rigging elections are going to hold
free and fair elections this time. "I think this time it will be
impossible to appoint someone President," the PPA Chairman said
meanwhile. Asked why that was possible in the previous elections, S.
Demirchian said that this time the opposition’s actions will be more
organized and purposeful, proper control of elections’ process will be
ensured. In his words, his failure in the 2003 elections was not his,
but the country’s failure.
OSKANIAN, BRYZA DISCUSSED ISSUES OF BILATERAL AGENDA
armradio.am
17.01.2008 15:50
On January 17 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the
delegation headed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew
Bryza.
The interlocutors discussed issues of the bilateral cooperation
agenda, expressing appreciation for the high level of Armenia-US
dialogue. The parties underscored Armenia’s valuable contribution
to the international peacekeeping activities in Iraq and Kosovo,
as well as the possibility of Armenia’s involvement in Afghanistan.
Mr. Bryza spoke about the results of the resent visit of the Turkish
President to the United State, presenting the approaches of the parties
on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. He reconfirmed
that the US Administration intends to continue the efforts to ensure
the soon normalization of those.
The parties spoke about the forthcoming presidential poll in Armenia,
emphasizing the importance of conducting free and fair elections.
NATIONAL UNITY DID NOT ATTACK LEVON TER-PETROSIAN FIRST
Noyan Tapan
Jan 16 2007
YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Unity party did not
attack the first President the first, but it had to respond to his
statement that all candidates, who will not join him, are the placemen
of the authorities.
Alexan Karapetian, the Vice-Chairman of the National Unity party, the
head of the central preelection headquarters of Artashes Geghamian,
a candidate for presidency, said at the January 16 press conference.
According to him, Levon Ter-Petrosian through newspapers "serving him"
discredits the leader of the National Unity trying in this way to raise
his own rating, but he will not manage to do it. "We do not consider
that he is the candidate, for whom the people waits and who will lead
the country by a way preferable for us," A. Karapetian said. In his
words, the National Unity will deliver a counter-blow to all those,
who will try to cause instability in the country.
A. Karapetian called all candidates for replacing their personal
insults by disputes over preelection programs. In response to
journalists’ question, he said that A. Geghamian is ready to dispute
with any candidate, provided that the dispute should be broadcast on
live air.
The head of the central headquarters said that 53 coordinating
headquarters have been created in the whole territory of the
country, 41 out of which in the regions, 12 in Yerevan. Each of
these headquarters has 10-15 sub-headquarters. The program of election
campaign events consists of 8 parts and 83 sub-points. It has been made
up in consideration of the experience of the U.S., European countries,
and Russia. There will be surprises, new methods will be used during
the election campaign. Not agitation for show, but direct contacts with
voters will be accentuated. In consideration of weather conditions, the
meetings will be organized in halls. A. Karapetian said that they had
no difficulties connected with creation of preelection headquarters,
as they are placed in party’s offices, which have been working for
already several years.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES DISCRIMINATED IN ARMENIA
AZG Armenian Daily
17/01/2008
"Armenia does not follow a deliberate religious policy and does
not sow enmity or intolerance towards religious minorities. And yet,
public panic is felt towards some religious groups with regard to their
preaching mechanisms and behaviour," Hranoush Kharatian, Adviser to the
RA Prime Minister on National Minorities and Religious Issues told A1+
while commenting on the recent report of Amnesty International.
To remind, Amnesty International reported today that Jehovah’s
Witnesses face discrimination and imprisonment in Armenia because
of their beliefs. Many young men in the religious organization are
jailed because their faith prohibits them from doing military service,
while others have been attacked – including allegedly by supporters
of the country’s dominant religious group.
Mrs. Kharatian states that the society is ill-disposed towards
Jehovah’s Witnesses. The negative attitude is perceived at every
step. For example, "One Nation" Party constantly distributes flyers,
conducts actions and urges people to "beware of Jehovah’s Witnesses."
"We cannot name it a religious discrimination as they neither
instigate aggression nor take tough measures against Jehovah’s
Witnesses. Their step cannot be viewed as a call for intolerance,"
Hranush Kharatian adds.
"I would like to note that very often citizens complain of Jehovah’s
Witnesses who visit them and get on their nerves with their preaching.
Amnesty International had better depict the situation in a balanced
way," Mrs Kharatian says.
"Armenia provides a genuinely civilian alternative to compulsory
military service. Two types of alternative service are
suggested-working military and civilian.
Only 19-21 Jehovah’s Witnesses have chosen this service.
Shortly afterwards, they announced that the service contradicts their
principle to deny military service.
Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t want to have any ties with Military
Commissariat or the Ministry of Defense.
The Armenian authorities do not pursue Jehovah’s Witnesses. The matter
is under the control of the Defense Ministry as the latter recruits
young men to serve in the army and cares for their health if they
fall ill.
None of Jehovah’s Witnesses has applied for alternative service over
the past few years. If they avoid alternative service they are detained
and considered deserters."
Mrs. Kharatian states that the "Law on Alternative Military Service"
functions well in Armenia. Jehovah’s Witnesses simply avoid service.
AZG Armenian Daily #006, 15/01/2008
International
USA AND GERMANY TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE
USA and Germany have agreed to recognize Serbian
province Kosovo independence and to urge the rest of
Europe to follow suit, the New York Times reports.
According to the newspaper, a diplomat close to
negotiations over Kosovo’s future informed about it.
US President George Bush and German Chancellor Angela
Merkel agreed it was vital to recognize Kosovo to
stabilize the western Balkans, according to the
diplomat.
Translated by L.H.
DEFENCE EXPENDITURES OF ARMENIA INCREASE BY 25.3% IN JANUARY-NOVEMBER
2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF 2006
YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Out of the budgetary expenditures of
486 bln 58.4 mln drams (more than 1 bln 406.7 mln USD) in
January-November 2007, expenditures of 86 bln 840.7 mln drams were made
in the defence sphere, which exceeds by 25.3% the index of the same
period of the previous year. The ratio of defence expenditures to
Armenian GDP grew from 3% in the first 11 months of 2006 to 3.2% in the
same period of 2007.
According to the RA National Statistical Service, budgetary
expenditures on public order protection, national security and judicial
sphere amounted to 41 bln 584 mln drams in January-November 2007,
exceeding by 23.4% the index of the same period of 2006. Their ratio to
GDP did not change as compared with the same period of the previous
year and made 1.5%.
Expenditures on education and science amounted to 76 bln 299.8 mln
drams (23.1% growth compared with January-November 2006), while the
ratio of these expenditures to GDP grew from 2.7% to 2.8%. 56 bln 161.1
mln drams was spent in social insurance and social security spheres
(18.6% growth), the ratio of these expenditures to GDP remained
unchanged – 2.1%; 36 bln 837.8 mln drams was spent on health care
(22.1% growth), the ratio of health care expenditures to GDP increased
from 1.3% in January-November 2006 to 1.4% in the same period of 2007.
35 bln 14.5 mln drams was spent in the transport, communication and
road sector, which is more by 29.3% as compared with January-November
2006. The ratio of these expenditures to GDP grew by 1.2% in the first
eleven months of 2006 to 1.3% in the same period of 2007.