Author: Emil Lazarian

INDEPENDENCE HOLIDAY TO BE CELEBRATED WITH NUMEROUS EVENTS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 15th anniversary
of the Independence of Armenia is a great event, and the state does
its best to make it a real holiday for RA citizens and Armenian
Diaspora. Victor Soghomonian, the RA President’s Press Secretary
stated about it at the August 30 press conference. He stated that
a military march past will take place on the Republic square of
Yerevan on September 21. Numerous events of cultural, scientific
and other spheres to be held on September 18-25, particularly, the
Armenia-Diaspora 3rd forum which is scheduled for September 18-20,
will be dedicated to the Independence holiday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN IS AGAINST 100% PROPORTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian is
against 100% proportional electoral system. Victor Soghomonian,
the RA President’s Spokesman stated about it at the August 30 press
conference. He reminded that during the gathering taken place recently
with participation of representatives of the coalition political
forces, an agreement was reached that during the coming parliamentary
elections, 90 deputies are elected by the proportional electoral
system, and 41 ones by the majoritarian electoral system. “The
RA President is against review of agreements: there was a clear
agreement,” V.Soghomonian mentioned. In his words, Robert Kocharian is
against the 100% proportional electoral system also for the reason that
the political field of Armenia is imperfect, and in those conditions,
“it will be wrong to separate a deputy from his direct voters, his
electoral district.” Victor Soghomonian assured that “there is no
conflict” between the RA President and Defence Minister Serge Sargsian,
elected recently the Council Chairman of the Republican Party of
Armenia. According to his estimation, there is no conflict between the
Republican and “Bargavach Hayastan” (Proseprous Armenia) parties, but
there are condradictions and disagreements. V.Soghomonian came to this
opinion by following publications in press and “different speeches.” He
also stated that talks spread in press, concerning criminalization
of the authorities of Armenia, were vain as nobody presented such a
definite fact. Responding a journalist’s question, Victor Soghomonian
emphasized that “as for the moment, there is no question that the RA
President will become a member of this or that party.”
The President’s Spokesman has no intention to join any party, either,
as “the RA President’s staff will be non-partisan as long as Robert
Kocharian is the RA President.”

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CONGRATULATES RA PRESIDENT UPON 52ND BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosian sent a congratulation message to RA President
Robert Kocharian, on the occasion of his birthday. The message,
submitted to Noyan Tapan by the NA Public Relations Department, says:
“Dear Mr.President I warmly congratulate You upon the 52nd birthday
anniversary. I am sure that Your devotion and will which were decisive
for the fatal period of time for our country, will from now on as well
serve for development of our Fatherland and for justice solution of
the Nagorno Karabakh problem. Congratulating again, I wish You good
health, happiness, successes.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DELEGATION OF INDIA’S JEWELRY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL ARRIVES IN ARMENIA ON AUGUST 31
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The first visit of a delegation of
India’s Jewelry Export Promotion Council to Armenia is scheduled
for August 31-September 2. According to the RA Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development, prior to coming to Armenia, the delegation
visited several CIS countries: Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and
Georgia. The council was set up in 1966, represents 7,000 Indian
jewelers and operates under the jurisdiction of the Indian Ministry
of Commerce and Industry. It promotes the export of Indian jewelry –
diamonds, precious stones, cut synthetic stones, pearls, gold and
silver items.
The council aims to explore the CIS countries’ potential in the diamond
cutting and jewelry making sector and find possible ways of mutually
beneficial cooperation. During the visit, the delegation will meet with
businessmen and potential purchasers to discuss the opportunities of
establishing cooperation and setting up joint ventures in the diamond
cutting and jewelry making sector. Meetings are scheduled with RA
Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Chairman of Yerevan
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other officials.
The delegation will also visit Armenian jewelry plants.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: “OUR PEOPLE HAS ALWAYS KEPT LOVE TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE IN ITSELF”
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. “Our people has always kept in
itself love towards knowledge and education, and the new generation
is today to continue and develop those traditions in keeping with
modern demands. Today the state policy is addressed to all those,
and our teachers’ everyday devoted work is also aimed to it.” It
is said in RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian’s congratulating
message addressed to teachers, pupils and parents on the occasion of
the Day of Knowledge, September 1. The Prime Minister congratulated
specially warmly pupils and students entering the threshold of school
and higher educational institutions for the first time, for who,
in the Prime Minister’s words, “this memorable day will be special
also for the fact that they enter educational institution in the 15th
jubilee year of the independence of Armenia.
“Besides feeling of pride, it will also oblige them to use years of
education as well as possible to get stable and useful knowledge for
they celebrate future jubilees of the Independence, already with their
direct participation, in a much more prosperous state becoming year
by year more powerful and developed,” is mentioned in A.Margarian’s
message.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: “EDUCATIONAL REFORMS ARE TODAY IN THE CENTER OF THE AUTHORITIES’ SPECIAL ATTENTION”
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. “Qualified education has always been a
supreme goal in our people’s life. A generation with modern knowledge,
rich, comprehensively developed one is the future of Armenia.” It
is said in RA President Robert Kocharian’s congratulating message
addressed to teachers, pupils and parents on the occasion of the day of
Knowledge, September 1. “Educational reforms are today in the center
of the authorities’ special attention. They must be implemented by
combining the best traditions and modern approaches.
Educational programs must be aimed to preparing qualified personnel
for the spheres of scientific economy, high technologies,” is said in
R.Kocharian’s message submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office. In the President’s words, special attention must be
paid to children having special educational needs: nobody must be
left out of the comprehensive education process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND INDIA DEVELOP
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. 60 Armenian specialists are undergoing
training in India with scholarships of the Indian government under
the Technical and Economic Cooperation Program of this country. The
Indian Ambassador to Armenia Ms Rina Pandei while presenting India’s
diamond cutting and jewelery making sector in Yerevan on August
31. The event was organized by the delegation of India’s Gem and
Jewelery Export Promotion Council. According to the ambassador,
in 2002, trade turnover between the two countries made 4.6 million
USD, in 2005, it amounted to 11 million USD, while in January-June
2006 – to 5 million USD. It was noted that the Indian capital has
participation in the Armenian economy, particularly in such sectors as
gold extraction and processing (Vedanta company) and diamond cutting
(Rosy Blue company). The ambassador expressed a high opinion about
the Armenian economy’s investment opportunities, which is evident
from the growth of foreign investments from 200 million USD in 2003
to 500 million USD in 2005. According to her, out of 300 tractors to
be provided to Armenia by the Indian government, 60 are already in
Armenia, while the remaining part will be delivered in October. Rina
Pandei called on the Indian delegation members to develop mutually
beneficial cooperation with Armenian partners, who have considerable
experience in diamond cutting and jewelery making.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION HAS GOOD PROSPECTS IN GEM AND JEWELLERY INDUSTRY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 31 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian-Indian cooperation in
the gem and jewellery industry can produce good results, especially
in terms of setting up joint ventures. Gagik Mkrtchian, Head of the
Gem and Jewellery Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development, stated this in Yerevan on August 31 during an event to
present the gem and jewellery sector of the Indian economy. According
to him, such an attempt has already been made: an Armenian-Indian
jewellery design institute will be founded in Yerevan by late 2006. He
said that the Armenin legislation on gem and jewellery industry is
one of the best in the world, which is also evident from the large
amount of foreign investments in this sector. The event was organized
by India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council’s (GJEPC)
delegation that arrived in Armenia on August 31. The delegation is
headed by Sanjay Kothari who expressed confidence that out of the
delegation’s visits to Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Armenia, the last one will be the most successful. He noted that the
delegation is composed of businessmen representing all sections of
India’s gem and jewellery industry. In the opinion of Emil Grigorian,
Chairman of Armenia’s Gem and Jewellery Makers Association, a body to
perform the functions of GJEPC should be established in Armenia. He
noted that Armenia should use the Indian experience of jewellery
marketing, thanks to which Indian businessmen sell about 1,000 tons of
jewellery a year in India, and approximately the same amount is sold
abroad. Most of Indian jewellery is manufactured by small and medium
enterprises (the GJEPC represents some 7,000 Indian jewellers). In
2004-2005, production of the gem and jewellery industry accounted
for 18% of India’s industrial production exports. According to some
forecasts, in 2005-2006 fiscal year, the sector’s production will
amount to 16.7 billion USD. 11 out of every 12 diamonds used in the
world are produced in India. In 2005, the production of Armenia’s
gem and jewellery industry made 220 million USD.

UNITED COMMUNISTS ARE NOT AGAINST ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
The United Communist Party of Armenia is not against the return of
the All-Armenian Movement to the political sphere. The leader of the
United Communist Party Yuri Manukyan also thinks that “in fact, every
political ideology has the right to exist, including the All-Armenian
Movement.” Yuri Manukyan thinks the All-Armenian Movement is the
“product” of the right wing of AAM.
“If it cannot get on well with political parties dominating the right
wing, this is not our problem. And if it managed to set the importance
or necessity of its stance on the settlement of the problems the
people, the country are facing as its objective, again it is not our
problem, it is their problem,” says the leader of the United Communist
Party of Armenia.
He states he is not an enemy of the AAM but a political opponent.
However, he is against that the attempts of the All-Armenian Movement
to return are presented with the name of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THEY DO NOT THINK ANY MORE THAT SERGE SARGSYAN DESERVES
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
There is a year and a half to go before the presidential election,
and it is early to speak about a candidate, stated Yuri Manukyan, the
leader of the United Labor Party, August 31 at the Pastark Club. He
said if the Communist parties come together, they can name a candidate
who bears the rightist ideology, but at any rate it is early to speak
about a candidate, says Yuri Manukyan.
It is notable that a year ago Yuri Manukyan did not hide that they
preferred Serge Sargsyan as a candidate because he is the best
prepared figure in the political sphere. Presently, Yuri Manukyan
already considers it early to give names.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress