Author: Dabaghian Diana

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT REMINDED THE HEADS OF TAX AND CUSTOMS BODIES THAT THEY "SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO" WITH THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Jan 10 2006

Yerevan, January 10 /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian
reminded today the Heads of the Tax and Customs bodies that they
"should not have anything to do" with the upcoming parliamentary
elections of 2007.

As Mediamax was told in the presidential press service today, speaking
at the working meeting, where the main tasks of the State Tax Service
and the State Customs Committee of Armenia for the year of 2007 were
being considered, Robert Kocharian stated:

"Your main task is to secure the income part of the budget. During
this period you should work even better, as we will be more exacting
towards you".

According to the President, the pre-election processes should not
influence the quality of work of Tax and Customs Services.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN CONTINUE ISOLATING ARMENIA
Tatul Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
09.01.2007 17:12

Summing up Armenia’s policy in 2006, RA Foreign Minister recalled
several international events, which somehow influenced the foreign
policy of our country. Minister Oskanian stressed the tension
of Russian-Georgian relations, closing of land ways to Russia,
the stance of the international community on nuclear programs of
Iran, non-existent Armenian-Turkish relations and the closed border,
political and military instability of the geographically neighboring
regions – Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, issues of energy security,
as well as the talks on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and
the developments in the negotiation process.

The Foreign Minister described the development of the negotiation
process as positive: it secured certain progress. The year
2006 reconfirmed that concessions lay at the basis of conflict
resolution. The right for self-determination of Artsakhi people
remains in the core of peace talks, which found its expression in
documents on the principles of settlement.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs paid seven visits to the region in
one year.

The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held talks in Ramboulliet
(France) in February and Bucharest (Romania) in June. In June the
Foreign Ministers of the two countries met in Paris, and this can be
conceived as the firs attempt to bring positions closer, Oskanian said.

In November the two Presidents met in the framework of the CIS summit
in Minsk. The parties assessed the talks as generally positive.

When will the talks resume? Oskanian said that "a very preliminary
agreement has been reached on the meeting of his Azeri counterpart
in Moscow on January 23."

In the Minister’s words, the stance of Yerevan on the Karabakh
issue has not changed: "We keep our cautious optimism that in case
of demonstration of necessary political will and recognition of the
right of Artsakhi people for self-determination an agreement might
be reached on fundamental principles."

Turning to Armenian-Turkish relations, Mr. Oskanian said no essential
progress has been achieved, which can be ascribed to the policy of
Turkey towards Armenia. What steps does Armenia undertake to secure
some progress in these relations? "Turkey continues to associate
the improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations with a number of
preconditions, while Armenia stands for establishment of relation
without any preconditions. Armenia has been repeatedly expressing
willingness to hold talks to settle the problems and disputes existing
between the two countries."

Besides, Minister Oskanian underlined that with their non-constructive
policy Turkey and Azerbaijan continue isolating Armenia from regional
projects.

The Foreign Minister said that in 2007 the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and the issue of destruction of Armenian
khachkars in Old Jugh will be essential in Armenia’s foreign policy
agenda.

"In 2007 we anticipate important developments in a number of countries,
particularly France and US, connected with the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The activation of the process of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide has caused serious anxiety among
political circles of Turkey, making the latter arrange protest actions
in and outside the country," Oskanian said.

The Foreign Minister did not agree that the existence of the issue
of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Armenia’s
foreign policy agenda prevents the improvement of relations with
Turkey. He said the main obstacle is the Karabakh issue.

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN TO RESUME TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH THIS MONTH

Associated Press Worldstream
January 9, 2007 Tuesday

Armenia and Azerbaijan are to resume long-running talks on the disputed
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh later this month, the Armenian foreign
minister said Tuesday.

Vardan Oksanian said he would hold his next meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart on Jan. 23 in Moscow.

The foreign minister said Armenia continued to insist on the
right to self-determination for the ethnic Armenian majority in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The two countries are at loggerheads over the mountainous region
in Azerbaijan that has been under the control of Armenian and
ethnic-Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire.

The six-year separatist conflict killed about 30,000 people and drove
about 1 million from their homes, including many of the region’s
ethnic Azeris. The region’s final status remains unresolved and years
of talks under the auspices of international mediators have brought
few visible results.

CASH BENEFITS TO DIFFERENT SOCAIAL GROUPS HAVE INCREASED

ArmRadio.am
08.01.2007 12:19

This year the financial aid given to different social group has
increased.

The annual cash benefits to veterans of the Great Patriotic War has
been increased from 3,000 to 3,800 drams. Disabled veterans, widows
of servicemen killed during the Great Patriotic War will receive
5,700 instead of 4,500 drams for paying the fees for energy, gas,
water supply and removal and heat.

Disabled servicemen and families of the killed soldiers will receive
7,500 drams for paying the fees for energy, gas, water supply and
removal and heat.

If family is comprised of more than five persons, 2,500 drams will
be paid for every member.

Starting January 1, 2007 the value of seniority has reached 230 drams,
the average insurance pension comprises 13,800 instead of 11,371 drams.

>>From now on 200,000 maternity aid will be paid for the birth of the
third child and more to all those who have applied for being included
in the poverty benefit system, but have not been included because of
lack of sufficient number of points.

Starting January 1 the pensions of those born in Western Armenia and
other parts of the Ottoman Turkey before 1915 and genocide survivors
will increase with 25,000 drams. As of July 1st, 410 genocide survivors
reside in Armenia.

Armenian Party Representatives Meet with Lebanese President, Premier
ASBAREZ, 1/4/2007

BEIRUT (Aztag Daily)–Representatives of the three political
parties–Armenian Democratic League (Ramkavar Party), the Social
Democratic Hunchakian Party and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation–met Tuesday morning with Lebanese President Gen. Emile
Lahoud and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora separately to voice the
Armenian community’s collective opposition to the Turkey’s
participation in the international peace keeping effort in Lebanon.

ARF’s Hovig Mkhitarian, ADL’s Eddy Bahadarian and the Hunchakian
party’s Matsak Poladian impressed upon the Lebanese leadership that
any political or military involvement by Turkey would greatly hinder
peace efforts in the country. The leaders also discussed domestic
developments in Lebanon with the president and the prime minister.

The leadership was also given the joint announcement issued by the
political parties outlined Turkey’s destabilizing role in the region
and its past historic crimes.

The political party representatives also held separate meetings with
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri

United News of Bangledesh
December 28, 2006 Thursday

Armenian Hockey XI beats Bangladesh Air Force by 3-1

Dhaka Dec 28

Armenian Hockey XI Thursday beat Bangladesh Air Force by 3-1 goals in
the day’s lone match of the Victory Day Hockey Competition at the
city’s Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.

The winners led the first half by 1-0.

Iqbal Nader Prince struck twice while Russell Mahmud Jimmy netted the
other goal for Armenian Hockey XI. Saiful Hasan scored the lone goal
for the Services’ team.

Prince opened the account for the winning team in the 24th minute
from a field goal (1-0).

After the breather, Saiful leveled the margin in the 47th minute by
converting a penalty corner (1-1).

Three minutes later, national forward Jimmy scored the 2nd for
Armenian XI in the 51st minute, also by converting a penalty corner
(2-1).

Prince sealed the fate of the match in the 62nd minute with a field
goal (3-1).

EUROVISION IMPORTANT TO ARMENIANS

esctoday.com, Netherlands
Eurovision Song Contest
Dec 28 2006

A poll asking Armenians to vote for the most important event of 2006
for their country saw 11.3% of the people asked claiming that their
country’s debut in the Eurovision Song Contest was the most important
event of the year.

Andre’s 8th place in Athens beat the likes of the 15th Anniversary
of Armenian Independence, and the making of the denial of Armenian
genocide a crime by the French parliament.

Winner of the poll was Jacques Chirac’s visit to Armenia, with 21.4%
opting for that.

This popularity of the Eurovision in Armenia will hopefully spread
to it’s neighbour Georgia in 2007, as Sopho Khallvashi is set to sing
their first ever entry in Helsinki.

Due to Andre’s eighth place, Armenia will start in the final in
Helsinki. The national broadcaster began their selection process for
2007 this month and are hoping to hold a final and semi-finals to
select their entry for Helsinki.

ANALYSES RELATED TO DECLARING ARMENIA’S GEM AND JEWELRY SECTOR A FREE ECONOMIC ZONE CONTINUE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. According the RA Minister of Trade
and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian, the analyses on possible
results of declaring Armenia’s gem and jewelry sector a free economic
zone are continuing.

The minister said this on December 26 at a press conference to
summarize this year’s results. He reminded that such a proposal was
made by the Association of Armenian Jewellers, whose members operate
in many countries and made most of investments in the country’s
gem and jewelry sector. "If analyses show that such a step may be a
serious stimulus for further development of the sector, we will take
this step," K. Chshmaritian said. In 11 months of 2006, the commodity
production of the gem and jewelry sector made 81.7 bln drams (more than
194 mln USD) compared with production of 102.6 bln drams last year.

Production of 82.07 bln drams was sold against that of 101.5 bln
drams last year.

Exports amounted to 80.2 bln drams against 100.14 bln drams in 2005. In
the opinion of the ministry experts, a decline in exports of cut
diamonds and jewelry items is connected with the decline in demand
for these goods and their sales on the international market. A sharp
decline in the supply of rough diamonds by Russia (in connection with
the liberalization policy that Russia has conducted in this sector
in the last two years) also has a great impact on the reduction of
cut diamonds export.

587 MILLION 385.4 THOUSAND DRAMS ENVISAGED BY 2007 STATE BUDGET FOR FILM PRODUCTION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 26 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 587 million 385.4 thousand drams is
envisaged by the 2007 RA state budget for film production. 4 feature
films and 14 documentaries have to be completed next year. The RA
Minister of Culture and Youth Issues Hasmik Poghosian said during
the December 26 press conference that budgetary allocations for
the national film production are increasing year by year. In 2006,
this sum made 482 million 928 thousand drams. According to her, this
year the National Film Center of Armenia (former Armenfilm studio)
and the Hayk studio of documentary films completed 7 feature films
and 10 documentaries.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES SHOULD TAKE SERIOUS STEPS DIRECTED AGAINST XENOPHOBIA

AZG Armenian Daily
26/12/2006

"Xenophobia is quite a serious problem for Russia itself," RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian said in the interview to Yerkir Media. He
stated that the Russian authorities should take drastic measures
to stop xenophobia in the country as it is fraught with dangerous
consequences. Oskanian emphasized that it isn’t aimed against Armenia
in particular but against non-Russians in general. "We must also try
to help Russia to effectively fight this phenomenon," he said.

As for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr. Oskanian
said that the Referendum is the only way to resolve the Karabakh
conflict. Commenting on the recent statement of Ilham Aliyev,
Azerbaijani President, who said that Azerbaijan is ready to give a
status of certain autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh, Mr. Oskanian said
this statement is merely "unwise".

"Azerbaijan occupied wrong position in this issue. The last statement
of Aliyev was not wise, especially at this stage when we are saying
that the negotiations are at a critical point and there are serious
prospects of peaceful settlement. The negotiations are at such
a delicate stage that any statement like that may have negative
consequence and fail the whole process, " he said. According
to Mr. Oskanian, Azerbaijan has to avoid any statements about
territorial integrity. "The only opportunity to combine the principles
of territorial integrity and peoples’ right for self-determination is
to authorize the NKR people to solve the problem of status by itself
via Referendum", the Minister emphasized.

According to him, it will be difficult to resolve the problem if
formulate the question so that "NKR should remain in the structure
of Azerbaijan or join Armenia or get an independence", since the
Minister reminded, neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan are ready to
refuse of Karabakh on their own free will. "The only way out is to
use the principle of the right of people for self-determination and
conduction of a referendum", the Minister said. In response to the
question whether the "windows" of opportunities remains open, Oskanian
expressed the opinion that the year 2006 was no so bad concerning
the negotiation process, there were progresses. "I think a chance
for settlement remains in 2007 if there are serious progresses and
we’ll have to thank the negotiation process of 2006", V. Oskanian said.