Author: Emil Lazarian

allAfrica.com
$200 for Winners
New Vision (Kampala)
July 13, 2004
Posted to the web July 13, 2004
Phillip Corry
Kampala
UGANDA’s Davis Cup tennis team will earn $200(sh0.35m) if they beat Rwanda
in their Euro/Africa Group IV qualifiers in Moldova.
“Please beat Rwanda and I will give the entire team $200 for that,” John
Nagenda, presidential advisor on media and public relations said while
seeing off the team at Mosa Courts. “I wish you well. Carry the national
flag with pride.”
The team was hosted by sponsors Mosa Court apartments. Celtel Uganda, Jesa
Dairy Farm, and CAA are the other sponsors.
Other companies that helped them in their cause include MTN Uganda, UTL
Uganda, Spear Motors, Ultimate Security, NCS and MOES.
The team left on Saturday for Moldova where they play in the Euro/Africa
Group IV qualifiers.
They will compete against Armenia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Botswana, Malta,
Mauritius, Moldova and Rwanda.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia and Cyprus to boost cooperation in health sphere
Arminfo
13 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Armenian ambassador to Greece, and concurrently to Cyprus, Vagram
Kazhoyan visited Cyprus on 5 July.
The press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Arminfo news
agency that during the visit the Armenian diplomat and Cyprus’s health
minister, Akel Akkelidhou, signed an agreement in Nicosia on
cooperation between the Armenian government and Cyprus in the health
and medical spheres. Within the framework of the agreement Cyprus will
present to the Armenian Health and Defence Ministries drugs and also
an apparatus called Fresenius for regulating and ensuring blood
circulation during heart surgery which will be given to a hospital in
Armenia in the nearest future.
An agreement on charitable acts was signed during the Armenian
ambassador’s previous visits. Within the framework of the visit
Kazhoyan met Minister of Education and Culture Pevkios
Yeoryiadhis. The sides discussed the signing a programme On
cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus for 2004-2007 in the spheres of
education, science, culture and youth and sport and also prospects of
developing cooperation in the sphere of education.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 13, 2004 Tuesday
Russian market promising for Armenian producers – premier
By Susanna Adamyants, Alexandra Urusova
MOSCOW
The Russian market is the most promising for Armenian producers,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said in Moscow on Tuesday.
He said the Armenia pavilion at the All-Russia Exhibition Center had
helped to increase bilateral trade by $5 million.
“Energetic efforts are being taken to upgrade trade and economic
cooperation to the level of political partnership,” Margaryan said.
The Armenian premier had negotiations with his Russian counterpart
Mikhail Fradkov.

Armen Press
July 12 2004
OSCE ACTS BEYOND FRAMES OF RESPONSIBILITIES, ARMENIAN OFFICIAL SAYS
YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS: A deputy parliament chairman Vahan
Hovhanesian from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) argued
today that Armenia has joined Russia and seven other ex-Soviet states
to accuse the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) of unjustly interference into their domestic affairs because
of the OSCE decreasing role in handling international issues. “The
responsibilities assigned to the OSCE are successfully carried out by
other international organizations, a clear indication of the falling
role of the OSCE,” he said.
In a joint statement ex-Soviet countries said last week that in
part the OSCE does not respect such fundamental principles as
non-interference in internal affairs and respect of national
sovereignty by meddling into their domestic affairs. The statement
was signed by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Georgia, Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan refused to sign it.
Vahan Hovhanesian went on to argue that there is no now such a
problem that would require the OSCE’s joint efforts and therefore the
organization has to seek new initiatives, which, however, are beyond
its frame of commitments. He also added that Armenia cannot agree
with a motion, put forward by the OSCE leadership that resolutions
can be taken without a consensus.

New Iranian envoys arrives in Armenia
Arminfo
8 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The new ambassador plenipotentiary and extraordinary of the Islamic
Republic of Iran [IRI], Ali Reza Haqiqian, arrived in Yerevan today.
The ambassador will soon present his credentials to Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan and start his duties, the press service of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry told Arminfo news agency.
The ambassador, Ali Reza Haqiqian, was born in Esfahan in 1958 and has
a university degree. He has been in the Iranian Foreign Ministry since
1981, represented the Islamic Republic of Iran in Canada, Germany and
Iraq.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
July 9 2004
TAX OFFICERS REVEAL ILLEGAL COFFEE PACKAGING WORKSHOP
YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian tax officers tracked down a
Lebanese Armenian who was running an illegal workshop that was
grinding and packaging coffee. The Lebanese, Arsen Sarkisian, hired a
building in a Yerevan community and installed makeshift equipment for
roasting, grinding and packaging of coffee. After searching the
workshop tax officers found around 1,000 kg of coffee beans, 6 kg of
peas that were mixed with ground coffee. The ground coffee was packed
in paper-bags carrying the trademark of Cafe du Brazil. The tax
officers revealed also 1,300 packs of ground coffee carrying the
trademark of Knarik and Black Coffee, granted to G. Mkhchian firm.
Sarkisian admitted that he was engaged in this business since last
April without having the license. Investigators are calculating now
the amount of damages he sustained to the budget and are trying to
discover the illegally produced packs of coffee in local trade
outlets. An investigation is started into the case.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
July 9 2004
Armenian population is not well informed on acting legislation of the
country – the Chairman of Asparez Club
Catholicos of All Armenians receives Minister of Internal Affairs of
Byelorussia
State Committee of Water Handling Facilities plans to collect about
AMD 4 bln for irrigation water consumption by the end of this year
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN POPULATION IS NOT WELL INFORMED ON ACTING LEGISLATION OF THE
COUNTRY – THE CHAIRMAN OF ASPAREZ CLUB
YEREVAN, July 9. /ARKA/. Armenian population is not well informed on
acting legislation of the country, the Chairman of Asparez Club Levon
Barsegian stated today. According to him, last 5 months, organization
conducted program on familiarization and education of population in
two regions of Armenia – Lori and Shirak (4 cities – Gyumri,
Vanadzor, Stepanavan and Alaverdi). In the frames of the programs,
some activities were held in the regions – seminars, TV debates, TV
reels considering the laws passed in the country, namely the law on
ombudsman, on freedom of information, on mass information, on public
organizations, on bodies of local self-government. `In result we
discovered that the citizens not only not familiar with the laws, but
even have no idea about functions of ombudsman for example’,
Barsegian said. `We think it is time to increase the role of
publicity in the processes of democratization of the country’,
Barsegian said.
The club operates at the territory of Gyumri for about 4 years. In
the beginning of 2004 the Club received grant from Open Society
Institute Assistance Fund in amount of $13.4 thousand and invested
additional $3.6 thousand of own assets. On these assets the Club
realized program on familiarization and education of population in
Lori and Shirak. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF
BYELORUSSIA
YEREVAN, July 9. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness
Garegin II received Minister of Internal Affairs of Byelorussia
Vladimir Naumov and the Hayk Hariyunyan. As Holy See of St.
Echmiadzin , during the meeting the Head of Armenian Apostolic Church
mentioned the centuries-old ties of Armenian and Byelorussian peoples
highly appreciating the spirit of partnership between two Ministers.
Garegin II also touched upon the issue of interaction of the Church
and the State, introducing the guest with the mission of the Armenian
Apostolic Church. As it is mentioned in the press release, the Head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church asked Naumov to send his greetings
and warm wishes to the Patriarchal Exarch of All Byelorussia
Metropolitan Philaret. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
STATE COMMITTEE OF WATER HANDLING FACILITIES PLANS TO COLLECT ABOUT
AMD 4 BLN FOR IRRIGATION WATER CONSUMPTION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR
YEREVAN, July 9. /ARKA/. By the end of this year the State Committee
of Water Handling Facilities plans to collect AMD 3,5-4 mln for
irrigation water consumption, as stated Andranik Andreasyan, the Head
of State Committee of Water Handling Facilities at today’s
press-conference. He said that the total collection related to
irrigation system made 60% or AMD 2,1 bln for last year and mentioned
that the collection indicator made AMD 420 mln as of July 1, 2004
given the average tariffs of irrigation water, which corresponds to
the indicator of last year. He also said that the collection volume
will increase abruptly in coming days and months. In particular, the
expectations are connected with the farmers’ profit gained from the
realization of grain crop, which will allow making payments for
irrigation. Andreasyan informed that institutional changes are
carried out in the irrigation system and mentioned that 54
organizations-consumers are involved in the system, against the 18
organizations of last year.
The bill receivables make AMD 4,5 bln in the system of water industry
of Armenia, of which AMD 3 bln are due to irrigation water
consumption and AMD 1,5 bln – for drinking water. L.V. –0–

Azeri official hails results of Pakistani leader’s visit
525 Qazet, Baku
10 Jul 04

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper 525 Qazet on 10
July headlined “Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Azerbaijan is a great
political event” and subheaded “Novruz Mammadov thinks”
The Pakistani president’s visit to Azerbaijan should be regarded as a
great political event, Novruz Mammadov, head of the foreign relations
department of the Presidential Executive Staff, has told Olaylar news
agency.
Mammadov said that along with the fact that Pakistan is one of the
first countries to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence, there are
brotherly relations between the two countries. Novruz Mammadov
recalled that Pakistan supports Azerbaijan’s position on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: “Pervez Musharraf stated that he
regards Armenia as an occupier and at the same time, he said that the
occupier must withdraw from the occupied territories.”
Mammadov said that our countries have already signed up to 20
agreements on expanding cooperation in the economic, cultural and
security spheres.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Alexandria Town Talk, LA
July 11 2004
TOMPKINS: U.S. Olympic boxer fought here last year
Bob Tompkins / Staff Reporter/Columnist
USA Boxing officials weren’t kidding last year when they said there
might be a future Olympian in the Under-19 National Championship
Boxing Tournament that was held last August in Alexandria.
There was.
Vanes Matriroysan, a native Armenian and resident of Glendale, Calif.
who lost the 152-pound title bout to Nick Casal of Niagra Falls,
N.Y., here last August, is one of nine members on the U.S. Boxing
Team that will compete next month in Athens.
Curiously, after Casal won the title by beating Martirosyan, he said,
“It was the most competitive fight I’ve had this year. He definitely
belonged in the finals. He’s a good fighter.”
Martiroysyan, 18, was ranked just 14th in his weight class in
January, but he won 11 fights in six weeks and took advantage of
slips by boxers with bigger reputations to make the U.S. Olympic
team.
A semifinalist at this year’s U.S. Championships in Colorado Springs,
Colo., Martirosyan then beat five foes in five days to win the
Western Trials, which got him to the Olympic Trials. After America’s
top two welterweights were disqualified, Martirosyan advanced to the
Trials final and beat Corey Jones, 18-4. He then outpointed Austin
Trout at the Box-Offs to make the U.S. team and won the Americas
qualifier in Tijuana, Mexico.
Vicente Escobedo, another member of the U.S. team, didn’t box here
last August, but Anthony Vasquez of Snyder, Texas, who was runner-up
in the 132-pound finals in the Under-19 Championships here, pulled
the upset of the U.S. Championships last March by defeating Escobedo.
The U.S. National Champion in ’03, Escobedo, 22, won the Western
Trials to get back on track to making the Olympic team.
Eric Parthen, the executive director of USA Boxing, expressed
disappointment last week that Alexandria is no longer trying to build
a USA Boxing Southern training center, as it hoped to do a year ago
before state and federal grants for such a project were rejected.
“We’re certainly disappointed that hasn’t become a reality,” Parthen
said, “yet Central Louisiana is still being mentioned as a possible
site in the future, so it’s not dead yet.”
Officials from USA Boxing spoke highly of this community, the
hospitality and news coverage during their experience here last
summer, when Alexandria hosted the U.S. Junior Olympics and the
International Invitational Boxing Tournament in addition to the
Under-19 National Championships.
After all those positives, it’s a shame the bitter aftertaste lingers
with Louisiana College’s logical legal bout with Houston’s Galena
Park Boxing Academy and Youth Center for not paying a $78,000 bill
for food and lodging for the boxers during the first two events.
Galena Park director Kenny Weldon said many times to local officials
that while his group could bring the events to town, it could not
afford to finance them. The England Authority last summer voted to
provide “up to $30,000” to help with the financing of the U.S. Junior
Olympics (facility rentals, lodging, etc.) and the City of
Alexandria, according to Councilman Myron Lawson, agreed to
contribute $35,000 as a general sponsorship for the first two events.
Those events, incidentally, never would have taken place here without
LC’s help.
We can’t wait to see how this gets resolved, and LC, understandably,
wants the waiting to end.

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 1) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
July 8, 2004
National Citizens’ Initiative Determines Trends of Armenian Economic Growth
Yerevan–The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a
specialized policy roundtable on “The Trends of Economic Growth in Armenia.”
The discussion, focusing on the challenges of this vital issue of public
concern, brought together government officials, academic circles, experts of
the field, public figures, and the media community to define the priorities
and development opportunities in the economic sphere, to make realistic
assessments of the current state of affairs, and to address the imperative
of a true struggle against corruption and the shadow economy.
Karapet Kalenchian, director of administration of the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies (ACNIS), greeted the audience with
opening remarks. He stressed the significance of economic reforms and
pointed to several mechanisms for achieving the objective. “In order to
settle a number of issues of strategic importance, in particular
strengthening the new independent state system and improving the living
standards of the population, we need to create prerequisites for the
proportional development of modern industry, the agricultural sector and
other fields of the economy, to improve tax policy, and to provide sustained
economic growth so that every Armenian family really enjoys its benefits,”
Kalenchian said.
Gagik Vardanian, the Republic’s deputy minister for trade and economic
development, addressed “The Strategic Directions of Armenia’s Economic
Development in Light of the Global Information Revolution,” detailing key
issues of efficiency and productivity in the Armenian economy. In his
opinion, information technologies provide great access and thus facilitate
quick orientation in the market as well as application of state-of-the-art
networks and electronic equipment, all of which lead to sustained progress
in the economy. “Given their efficiency in all spheres of life, the Armenian
government attaches primary importance to ITs. It has worked out a
development concept and a program of activities to face the challenges of
the world market,” he noted. “The government of Armenia has adopted
strategic programs for the country’s sustainable regional economic
development in order to play an active role in integrating into the global
information field.”
Gagik Makarian, director of the “Haiconsult” firm, delivered an illustrated
paper on “The Key Obstacles to Armenia’s Economic Growth and the Ways to
Overcome Them.” “It is senseless to speak of sustained economic growth
unless we struggle against corruption and the shadow economy, make a due
assessment of the operational branches of industry, provide mechanisms for
an attractive investment climate, make export volumes predictable, and draft
appropriate tax and customs legislation,” Makarian opined. According to him,
there are about 20 negative factors that impede economic growth in Armenia
in view of the relevant transportation expenses, unfair and unequal
competition, poor marketing experience, the political situation in the
country, and a number of other circumstances.
Yerevan State University economics professor Gagik Galstian entitled his
presentation “The Anatomy of Armenian Economic Growth.” “Economic growth is
not an end unto itself.” he said. “If there is growth there should be
prosperity, whereas the living standard of the population as measured by
substantive food intake per capita has been reduced twice over the last
decade.” An analysis of the data from 2003 brought Galstian to a pessimistic
conclusion: Armenia’s living standard is today on par with that of 1977 in
terms of its Gross Domestic Product, with 1980 in terms of its industrial
productivity, and with 1956 in terms of its cargo transportation and
residential construction. Thus, society is lagging behind by more than 25
years.
The formal interventions were followed by exchanges of views and policy
recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in
attendance. Noteworthy were contributions by MP Shavarsh Kocharian of the
National Democratic Party; former minister of state Hrach Hakobian;
economist Edward Aghajanov; Artak Zeinalian of the Republic Party; Stepan
Mantarlian of Armaveni consulting company; Alexander Butaev of National
Democratic Union; Petros Makeyan of the Democratic Fatherland Party; Ruzanna
Khachaturian of the People’s Party of Armenia; law professor Hrair
Tovmasian; and many others.
ACNIS analyst Hovsep Khurshudian closed the meeting with summary remarks.
“Unfortunately, it is difficult to conclude the seminar on an optimistic
note regarding Armenia’s economic growth,” he said, underlining that
economic growth remains erratic, illusory, and narrow-based despite
government assurances. “Moreover, the authorities have demonstrated little
or no political will to struggle against corruption, as they are mired in
the very clan system which impedes competition.”
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded
in 2001 by former foreign minister Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and
fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall
improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and
State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and
Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the
Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (3741) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax (3741)
52-48-46; e-mail [email protected]; or visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress