Political Divorce in Armenian Way

Panorama.am

16:09 12/05/06

POLITICAL DIVORCE IN ARMENIAN WAY

Arthur Baghdasaryan confirmed that Orinats Yerkir leaves the ruling
coalition in a press conference today. He said that an extraordinary
session of the party decided to `leave the coalition in a civilized
manner.’ Baghdasaryan also said that the coalition council decided
today that all Orinats Yerkir members should resign from their
posts. A. Baghdasaryan stated that the coalition has had many disputes
within itself in the course of the last three years, which have caused
scandals. Baghdasaryan grouped the reasons for the political divorce
into three groups. NA Chairman pointed out to disagreements on
interpolitical and social-economic issues (privatization programs,
annual reports of the Inspection Chamber.) The second group make up
issues on democratic reforms (disagreements concerned on fight against
corruption). And the third group of disagreements relates to foreign
policy issues, saying that Orinats Yerkir supports European
integration and that is a principle matter for them.’

A. Baghdasaryan said that he is going to submit his case for
resignation on May 22 session which will be confirmed within 5
days. After that the resignation will be approved. Baghdasaryan
refused to comment on the act of city construction minister who left
the party.

`We are going to be an opposition,’ Arthur Baghdasaryan said also
saying that neither the ruling power warmly welcomed them nor will the
opposition do so. However, we will find our place in the field,
Orinats Yerkir leader says. /Panorama.am/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

How Much Does Wedding Cost ?

Panorama.am

14:51 13/05/06

HOW MUCH DOES WEDDING COST?

3rd exhibition-sale of wedding gowns and accessories took place in
Armenia Mariot hotel today. According to Naira Ohanesyan, assistant to
commercial director of the hotel, the number of participants is
growing. She says beauty saloons, 3 wedding saloons and tourist
agencies take part in the exhibition-sale. The young couples are
interested in prices first of all. For example candles offered by
Aelita will cost from AMD 15 thousand up to $150. A wedding gown may
cost from $100-1200. Rent price of a gown depends on how many times a
gown is put on.

Singer Sirusho rented a wedding gown in which she performed for one of
her ad videos. Shushan Petrossian also took a gown for her
relative. Also, Kristina Pepelyan rented a gown from saloon `Paris’
costing $50-100 for rent and $500-1500 for purchase.

Tour agency `Five stars travel’ offers special trips to Egypt, Vienna,
Prague and St. Petersburg. A 7 day trip to Egypt, ticket excluded,
costs $400. /Panorama.am/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Children of Armenia Fund Establishes Farming Coops in 2 Villages

PRESS RELEASE
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Byuzand Street, 375010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2100,
New York, NY 10111, USA
Contact: Mariam Dilakian
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8201
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE

COAF Establishes Two Adolescent Clubs to Promote Livestock Farming
In the Villages of Lernagog and Argina

Lernagog, Armenia, May 12, 2006 ¾ Today, the Children of Armenia Fund
(COAF), in partnership with the Center for Agribusiness and Rural
Development (CARD), formed adolescent clubs in the villages of Lernagog
and Argina of the Armavir District of the Republic of Armenia. The
selected twenty 12-13 year-old adolescents gathered in their respective
school yards and cheered the sponsors as they arrived with the sheep.
After congratulatory remarks by the Lernagog Mayor, Mr. Sargis
Margaryan, and COAF and CARD project managers, the participating ten
adolescent residents of Lernagog received two sheep each, together with
a care package. The Argina distribution immediately followed
Lernagog’s.

The project aims at teaching youngsters how to take responsibility for
taking care of the sheep ¾ caring, feeding, and controlling diseases.
The broader objective is to develop livestock farming in the region.
Adolescents from disadvantaged, needy, or single parent families are
selected to join the club provided they satisfy a set of pre-established
criteria, including their personal level of interest in livestock
farming and the existence of a suitable sheep shed adjacent to the
family home. Under the close watch and direction of an expert
veterinarian, the youngsters will gain knowledge of animal science and
take daily notes on their sheep. CARD will be responsible for
organizing trainings, providing educational materials and hygienic
supplies. COAF has purchased the livestock and will provide animal
feed, if necessary. Monitoring and supervision of the project will be
done in a partnered way by both COAF and CARD project staff.

This project is expected to contribute to the economic development of
the Model Cluster villages. Particularly in animal husbandry, COAF
plans several other initiatives that will increase the supply chain in
agricultural products and ultimately lead to milk and wool processing
businesses or cooperatives.

Children of Armenia Fund was founded in 2000 with the aim to reduce
poverty through the revitalization of rural Armenia and the realization
of projects that are instrumental for the revival of communities. With
the introduction of its novel approach to clustering in February 2006,
COAF is currently implementing the Model Cluster working in six villages
in the Baghramyan region of the Armavir District. The key components of
COAF’s Model Cluster project comprise Infrastructure and Economic
Development Programs, and Community Development including Health, Social
and Educational Programs. In 2006, besides its Model Village Karakert,
COAF is also working in Myasnikyan, Shenik, Dalarik, Lernagog and
Argina.

The Armenian Rural Youth Development Program, initiated by the Center
for Agribusiness and Rural Development, is a voluntary non formal
educational program that supplements formal school education. It is
modeled after the US 4-H Program. The program is helping young people
gain skills needed to become responsible, self-directing, productive and
contributing members of society. The Extension Youth Development Program
provides real experiences and an opportunity for youth to gain life
skills, project development and implementation skills, basic
agricultural knowledge in order to be engaged in community development
activities.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

www.coafkids.org
www.coafkids.org

Seabed examined with sonar to spot airbus recorders

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
May 12, 2006 Friday

Seabed examined with sonar to spot airbus recorders

by Galina Gridneva

The seabed area where Armenia’s A-320 airbus crashed has been
examined with a sonar from a rescue vessel.

Buoys were placed at the search operation site, and the sea bottom
was examined from the vessel Zaliv, the Russian Transport Ministry’s
press service said.

Two sources of signal radiation are detected accurately. It is highly
probable that it is the flight recorders, the press service said.

The Navigator vessel will conduct telemetric examination to confirm
the information.

The signal sources are at the depth of 496 metres and at a distance
of five metres from each other.

All needed examinations were conducted from the vessel Cheleken
overnight. The received information is being analysed. After the
work, it will be decided what operation to be conducted to raise the
recorders.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Entreprises francaises s’alarment des menaces de boycott de Turquie

Le Monde, France
12 mai 2006

Les entreprises françaises s’alarment des menaces de boycott de la
Turquie;
COMMERCE PROPOSITION DE LOI DU PS SUR LE GÉNOCIDE ARMÉNIEN

par Guillaume Perrier

En dessous d’une caricature de Jacques Chirac, sont répertoriés les
produits français à boycotter, secteur par secteur. Cette liste noire
de plus de 400 marques, qui circule sur Internet, a été publiée en
réaction à la proposition de loi du Parti socialiste français sur le
génocide arménien, qui devrait être examinée à l’Assemblée nationale
le 18 mai.

En cas d’adoption, avertissent les milieux économiques franco-turcs,
les conséquences pourraient être catastrophiques. ” L’attitude des
hommes politiques français est irresponsable, clame Guillaume
Rougier-Brière, président des conseillers du commerce extérieur en
Turquie. Cela pourrait nous conduire à l’une des crises les plus
graves entre la France et la Turquie. ”

A la tête d’une délégation de 22 représentants d’entreprises
françaises, parmi lesquelles Renault, Peugeot, Total, Carrefour ou
Alstom, il a été reçu, mardi 9 mai, à Ankara, par le premier ministre
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ” Il nous a avertis que nous pourrions être des
victimes collatérales potentielles “, indique M. Rougier-Brière. Dans
une lettre envoyée à chaque président de groupe parlementaire à
l’Assemblée nationale, les hommes d’affaires français ont expliqué ”
qu’un tel vote viendrait immanquablement décourager – leurs –
efforts. (…) Les marques de défiance sont déjà perceptibles dans
nos activités “.

Le week-end dernier, le président de la commission des affaires
étrangères au Parlement turc, Mehmet Dulger, a déclaré que les
importations françaises pourraient faire l’objet d’un boycott et que
les entreprises pourraient être écartées de procédures d’appel
d’offres.

AREVA, UNE CIBLE CERTAINE

Au premier rang des entreprises visées figure Areva, candidate à la
construction des premières centrales nucléaires turques. ” Il y aura
d’abord ceux qui traitent avec l’Etat ou avec l’armée, prédit M.
Rougier-Brière. Et ensuite un boycott spontané des produits de grande
consommation “, à l’image de Danone ou L’Oréal. La Société générale,
qui prospecte pour le rachat d’une banque turque, est aussi une cible
potentielle.

” Nous serons moins concernés mais nous prévoyons une petite baisse
du chiffre d’affaires, admet quant à lui Esref Hamamcioglu, directeur
de Sodexho. Nous avons un contrat de restauration collective en cours
de négociation avec l’armée et les choses traînent un peu. ”

Les retombées de cette nouvelle crise entre les deux pays seraient
sans doute plus importantes qu’en 2001, après la reconnaissance
officielle du génocide arménien par la France. Des contrats avec
Thomson et Alcatel avaient alors été annulés et les tracasseries
administratives s’étaient multipliées.

Mais le boycott avait été découragé par la grave crise financière
survenue quelques jours plus tard. Aujourd’hui, la situation
économique de la Turquie est plus stable.

” Le marché turc est en pleine expansion et on y investit fortement
“, rappelle Malek Sarmini, directeur général de L’Oréal. La ministre
déléguée au commerce extérieur, Dominique Lagarde, doit se rendre en
Turquie le 14 juin, accompagnée de 40 chefs d’entreprise.

Guillaume Perrier

Resignation of Speaker Not Result of Conflict With President: RPA

RESIGNATION OF ARMENIAN SPEAKER NOT RESULT OF CONFLICT WITH PRESIDENT:
HEAD OF RPA FACTION

Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. “The expected resignation of Armenian
parliamentary speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan cannot be connected with his
interview with the German newspaper ” Frankfurter Allgemeine ” wherein
the speaker tried to specify the priorities of Armenia’s foreign
policy ahead of the country’s president,> Galust Sahakyan, Head of RPA
faction, told ArmInfo.

G. Sahakyan believes that “withdrawing from the coalition, “Orinats
Yerkir” team is settling its own tasks.> He thinks it untimely
forecasting the election of the new speaker. Naming no nominee from
the RPA, G. Sahakyan stressed the role of the party in the election of
the new speaker. “The frames of cooperation with political forces
remain wide enough and our legislative activity will not be
interrupted,> he says.

Commenting on the statement by “Orinats Yerkir” representative
Hovhanness Margaryan, that “OY” displayed readiness to leave the posts
for ideas, hereby gaining new voters, G. Sahakyan says: “We shall only
welcome if they gain new voters.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FM and Norwegian Foreign Affairs State Sec Discuss Coop in Intl Orgs

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND NORWEGIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS STATE SECRETARY
DISCUSS ISSUES RELATING TO COOPERATION AT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 12, RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian received the delegation led by Norwegian Foreign Affairs
State Secretary Kjetil Skogrand who is in Armenia within the framework
of a regional visit. The guest expressed satisfaction with the level
of relations between Norway and Armenia giving assurance that there is
a potential of deepening them for even more. In particular,
possibilities of development of cooperation in the sphere of economy,
energy, nature protection were mentioned. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the
interlocutors discussed issues relating to programs being implemented
in the region with the assistance of Norway. Then the sides touched
upon issues of cooperation within the framework of international
organizations. Presenting Armenia’s approaches towards regional issues
Minister Oskanian particularly dwelt on the recent developments in the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement process.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FM Presents Current Stage of Karabakh Conflict to OSCE Sec. Gen.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRESENTS CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT PROCESS TO OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The OSCE Secretary
General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut arrived in Armenia on the occasion
of launching the Melange Program on destruction of rocket fuel that
has remained in the territory of Armenia since the Soviet time. He met
with the Atmenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on May 12. The OSCE
Secretary General expressed his appreciation for the contribution
Armenia has made to the OSCE activities. The sides spoke about the
programs being implemented in the country by the OSCE Yerevan Office,
as well as the process of democratic reforms in Armenia. According to
the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the interlocutors
discussed in detail the developments taking place in the OSCE region
and the ongoing reforms in the OSCE structure. V. Oskanian presented
the current stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement process. Marc
Perrin de Brichamaut was appointed as OSCE Secretary General in
January 2005, replacing Jan Kubish, representaive of Slovakia. The
Melange Program being implemented in Armenia is considered to be one
of the most successful programs carried out by the OSCE in its
participating states due to some peculiarities of the program, and the
high level of cooperation of the sides. The OSCE Secretary General’s
visit to Armenia will last until May 14.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Three Armenian Films In Georgian “Sesili” Youth Film Festival

THREE ARMENIAN FILMS TO PARTICIPATE IN GEORGIAN “SESILI” YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the “Directors
without Borders” program, three Armenian directors will participate in
the “Sesili” youth film festival to take place in Tbilisi on May
15-22, each of them presenting one documentary film. Vardan Hakobian
will present the “Duduk” (Armenian National Pipe) film, Anna Movsisian
the “-40 Degree” film, Aram Shahbazian will present “Wheels” film. As
the Noyan Tapan was informed by Susanna Haroutiunian, the Chairwoman
of the Film Critics and Film Journalists Association of Armenia, show
of 7 Armenian documentary films will be organized with a separate
program during the days of the festival: Aram Shahbazian’s “Shepherd’s
Monologue,” Aram Yeritsian’s “In the Open Air,” Suren Ter-Grigorian’s
“Born from Fire,” Ruben Khachatrian’s “Monologue” and “Pray for You,”
Vardan Hakobian’s “Duduk” and Nika Sheck’s “Song of Stones” and “I Saw
the World Here” films. Susanna Haroutiunian mentioned that those films
were shown in February in Iran as well.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Converse Bank Takes First Place By Overall Capital Q1/06

CONVERSE BANK TAKES FIRST PLACE BY ITS OVERALL CAPITAL IN FIRST
QUARTER OF 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first quarter of 2006, Converse
Bank was in first place by its overall capital in the RA banking
system. The newly appointed director general of the bank Artak
Hanesian stated during the May 12 press conference that in the
indicated period, the overall capital grew by 6.2% to about 9.5 bln
drams (about 21 mln USD). The bank’s assets increased by 10.7% over
the same period and made 46.2 bln drams, while crediting volumes – by
2.9% to 17.6 bln drams. By these indices Converse Bank took 3rd and
5th places respectively in the RA banking system. The bank’s profit
amounted to 612.8 mln drams. The total amount of transfers made by
natural persons grew by 24.8% on the same quarter of last year and
made 34.7 mln USD. According to A. Hanesian, in the period under
review, the share of mortgage credits made 372 mln drams, which is
more than half the programmed index. Converse Bank currently provides
credits repayable over 10 years at an annual interest rate of 13%. In
the words of the bank’s director general, these terms are quite
favorable for Armenia. In the first quarter of 2006, VIP MONEY
TRANSFER and INTEREXPRESS transfer systems, a new form of deposit – a
cumulative one, as well as provision of loans under the collateral of
real estate and cars were introduced in Converse Bank.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress