Author: Ekmekjian Janet

ANDRANIK’S SWORD AND ORDERS HANDED TO THE HISTORY MUSEUM OF ARMENIA

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan handed the sword and orders of
Andranik Ozanyan to the History Museum of Armenia.

After the ceremony Serge Sargsyan told the journalists that for some
period of time these were kept in the Armenian Embassy in France
and were later conveyed to Armenia through diplomatic ways. In the
Minister’s words, the sword was bought at the expense of non-budgetary
funds of the Defense Ministry. Serge Sargsyan refused to mention the
cost of the sword, refuting the rumors about any oligarch’s assistance.

In response to the question whether today’s ceremony can be assessed
as a pre-election step, the Minister noted he does not have such
fears. "We must do our work, the biter tongues should do theirs. If
someone thinks that I have been specially searching for Andranik’s
sword all over the world to hold an election campaign, I leave it on
their conscience," Serge Sargsyan declared.

KOCHARIAN – ALIYEV TALKS HELD IN MINSK

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 29 2006

November 28 RA and AR Presidents Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev
held a meeting on the Karabakh conflict settlement at the Russia’s
Embassy in Minsk.

Russia’s FM Sergey Lavrov also participated in the talks. Then the
Presidents held a tete-a-tete meeting.

To note, the top-level talks on the Karabakh conflict settlement were
held within the frames of the summit of the CIS Presidents.

The decision to hold the meeting was rendered in the course of the
visit of the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia)
and Bernard Fassier (France) to Baku and Yerevan November 21 – 23.

OLLI REHN: EU-TURKEY TRAIN SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT STOP

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.11.2006 16:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU term president Finland has announced that
its attempts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem have ended
unsuccessfully. Yesterday however, EU Commissioner for Expansion,
Olli Rehn, noted that Finland’s efforts had not been wasted, commenting
"We must keep our promises, and carry on with the EU program presented
to Turkey. As far as the commission is concerned, the talks cannot
be stopped.

The train has slowed down, but not stopped." Rehn had originally said
that the diplomatic crisis surrounding Cyprus might be responsible
for a "train wreck" for Turkey in December.

The EU Commission will be able to recommend that, at the most, 6 areas
of Turkish EU talks be stopped. In addition, it is expected that the
EU Commission will call for isolationary measures against Northern
Cyprus be lifted, as well as calling for the United Nations to begin
debates and talks on Cyprus including both sides, reports the Hurriyet.

OSKANIAN TO MEET WITH CE AND NATO SECRETARIES GENERAL IN DECEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.11.2006 13:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ December 5 Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian will leave
for Brussels, where he will take part in the session of the Council
of OSCE FMs December 4-5, reports the Press Office of the RA MFA.

December 6 the FM will leave for Strasbourg, where he is scheduled
to meet with CE Sec. Gen. Terry Davis and other CE high-rank
officials. December 7 Oskanian will return to Brussels to meet with
NATO Sec. Gen. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. December 8 the Armenian FM will
head for Paris to take part in events marking the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). December 17 Oskanian
will pay a working visit to Iran.

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 24 2006

CYPRUS MUST SUPPORT ARMENIA IN ALL INTERNATIONAL AND POLITICAL
ISSUES, PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS STATES

NICOSIA, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The official ceremony of meeting
the RA President took place on November 23 at the President’s
residence of Cyprus, after what Robert Kocharian laid a wreath at the
monument to first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.

Then a private conversation of Presidents Robert Kocharian and Tassos
Papadopoulos took place. A wide circle of issues relating to
economic, humanitarian, educational, banking, cultural spheres as
well as to regional cooperation was discussed during the negotiations
in an enlarged staff followed the private conversation.

An agreement "On Cooperation in Struggle against Organized and other
Types of Crimes" was signed as a result. Working groups were
instructed to jointly work out practical proposals and programs in
the directions of issues arisen during the negotiations.

At the press conference followed the negotiations, the two countries’
Presidents emphasized especially the warm and practical atmosphere
which accompanied the whole process of negotiations.

Expressing satisfaction on the occasion of the RA President’s first
state visit and negotiations, T.Papadopoulos mentioned that during
both personal and official meetings the Cypriot side assured the RA
President that it is willing to deepen the existing bilateral
friendly ties, to more widen the cooperation. "Cyprus must support
Armenia in all international and political issues," the President of
Cyprus stated. In implementation of bilateral agreements, he
especially attached importance to the Armenian community’s role,
which, according to characterization of T.Papadopoulos, is a
community having a high level and has been leading in all spheres.

"Our peoples and countries have very warm relations and an active
dialogue. We have today attempted to widen that dialogue especially
in the sphere of economy," the RA President mentioned.

In R.Kocharian’s words, Armenia and Cyprus have always assisted one
another at different international structures. Today Armenia has
great expectations in the sense of borrowing the experience of Cyprus
in reforms being implemented within the framework of the European
Union New Neighbourhood Policy. The Cypriot side expressed readiness
to cooperate and show considerable assistance to Armenia on that way.

"Cyprus has from the first moment assisted Armenia’s involvement in
the EU Neighbourhood program. It supposes a great number of reforms,
and we are ready to assist their practical implementation,"
T.Papadopoulos assured in his turn.

Responding the question what precept the RA President has to the
Cypriot people within the context of the Turkish-Cypriot relations,
R.Kocharian mentioned that the Armenian side’s attitude can be
estimated with those votes that Armenia displays at different
international instances in issues relating to Cyprus. "We would like
to see the issue of Cyprus solved within the framework of notions of
that country’s people and government what we re-affirmed during this
meeting as well," the RA President said.

Robert Kocharian invited his colleague from Cyprus to visit Armenia
the next year.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office, the
meeting of President Robert Kocharian and Demetrias Christofias, the
President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus was also held in
a warm and friendly atmosphere. The sides agree that the political
cooperation must more strengthen, the legislative cooperation must
more deepen what will bring to more widening of ties in economic,
cultural, tourism and other spheres. The RA President especially
appreciated the attitude which the Cypriot authorities display
towards the Armenian community. "The circumstance that the Cypriot
Armenian community is represented at the Parliament of Cyprus, there
are schools which are financed by the state, is simply appreciable,
and I think that it also gives important warmth to our bilateral
relations," R.Kocharian said.

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 25 2006

`Unshot bullets’ film presented in Stepanakert
25.11.2006 16:48

The presentation of the `Unshot bullets’ was held in Stepanakert, the
capital of Nagorno Karabakh. The film was shot at `Hayfilm’ studio.
The scenarist and author of the film is Samvel Tadevosyan. The
full-length film is based on the events of 1992-1994. Real
participants of the war acted in the film.
The film was shot in Nagorno Karabakh, Sisian and other regions of
Armenia.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 25 2006

COMPUTERS FOR PRISONERS

The Civic Action Center NGO opened a computer classroom at the prison
of Shushi. The leadership of the NGO worked out the timetable of
classes for prisoners with the administration of the prison. After
the classes the inmates will get a certificate. Albert Voskanian, the
head of the NGO said the computer classes are part of the
psychological rehabilitation project of the CAC. `After they leave
the prison they will have computer skills, as well as a certificate,
which will help them to get used to life outside the prison,’ said
Albert Voskanian. The staff of the prison may also sit classes. The
computer was provided by Mesrop Mashtots University.

EVIKA BABAYAN.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia – Russia’s Friend, Ally and Partner
24.11.2006 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Days of the Armenian National
Assembly held within the Year of Armenia in Russia
started in the Russian Federation Council. The Days
began with the meeting of Russian Federation Council
Chairman Sergey Mironov and RA NA Speaker Tigran
Torosian. `Armenia is Russian’s friend, ally and
strategic partner not only in the Caucasus but
throughout the globe,’ Sergey Mironov said upon
completion of the meeting. He informed that the
discussions focused on interparliamentary cooperation
and further development of relations between the two
states, reported the press office of the RF Federation Council.

AZG Armenian Daily #226, 25/11/2006

Home

Examination on History of Armenia Included in
Graduation Final Exams for High School

In accordance with yesterday’s Government decision it
was ratified that the exams on the Armenian language,
on the history of Armenia, on mathematics and on
foreign languages are compulsory for the students of
the high school. The students who want to enter
universities should pass the abovementioned exams and
may chose an additional subject close to the relevant
profession they are applying for. Thus, by the
abovementioned decision, the exam on the History of
Armenia was included in the list of the compulsory
ones.

By Ara Martirosian

A1+

TELEPHONE TARIFFS WON’T CHANGE
[03:04 pm] 24 November, 2006

The State Committee regulating public services
discussed the application of `ArmenTel’ demanding to
change telephone tariffs. The company offered to raise
the monthly tariffs to 3000 AMD (instead of 1100 AMD).

`ArmenTel’ also offered to reduce the number of free
conversation minutes from 360 to 280. The cost of a
minute of telephone conversation was also to be raised
to 6 AMD per minute.

The Committee found the offers groundless and gave
«ArmenTel» time until March 1 of the coming year in
order to revise them.