Author: Hambardsumian Paul

EDITORS DISCUSS PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

armradio.am
11.02.2008 17:17

Editor-in-chief of "Yerkir" weekly Spartak Seyranyan stated in Yerevan
today that "many of the Armenian newspapers replicate hatred."

Speaking at a news conference devoted to the coverage of the
pre-election campaign by print media, Spartak Seyranyan stated that
the newspapers "often publish accusations the candidates pour on
each other, taken out from the context, forgetting that after the
elections life will continue."

Seyranyan noted that newspapers try to satisfy the demands of the
society, which, unfortunately, prefers gutter press and disdains from
elite journalism."

The editor-in-chief of "Azg" newspaper Hakob Avetikyan expressed his
disagreement to such assessment of public preferences. According to
him, "main part of the readers is a serious and thinking segment of
the society."

Hakob Avetikyan stated that, according to preliminary calculations,
the number of such readers makes about 120 thousand people, "and this
is not a small number for Armenia."

Editor-in-chief of "Azg" newspaper expressed the opinion that in the
process of the pre-election campaign people prefer print media rather
than TV Channels. In this context, one can say with confidence that
the print press plays the most influential role and this should not
be neglected, Hakob Avetikyan stated.

The editors also noted that the pre-election staffs of the candidates
are reluctant to cooperate with the newspapers, preferring TV, and
in such cases it is difficult to secure pluralism of opinions.

Central Partnership to make ‘Nasha’ pic
Russian TV show to get feature-length treatment

Variety
By Nick Holdsworth
February 9, 2008

Russian independent production, sales and distribution shingle Central
Partnership is set to make a feature-length movie based on hit local
television comedy show "Nasha Rasha."

The weekly comedy sketch show — which takes its title from a play on
words and the English pronunciation of Russia and translates to "Our
Russia" — is a hit on youth channel TNT with market share of some
20%.

Produced by Comedy Club Production — the company behind last month’s
surprise box office success "Very Best Film" — "Nasha Rasha" is
hugely popular with 14- to 25-year-olds, Russia’s key movie-going age
group.

Featuring two comics, Sergei Svetlakov and Misha Galustyan, who play a
variety of familiar Russian characters such as migrant workers, old
"babushki" grannies and homeless "bomzhi," "Nasha Rasha" has achieved
cult status in the two years since it launched.

Central Partnership wants to capitalize on that by creating a feature
script for the first movie in what they hope will become a
long-running franchise.

"It is going to be a full feature film, something like ‘American Pie’
that becomes a brand and a franchise. We are intending to establish a
strategic partnership with Comedy Club to create a sustainable
long-term product," Armen Dishdishian, head of Central Partnership
Sales House said.

Central Partnership, which is in Berlin with a raft of Russian titles,
including "12," Nikita Mikhalkov’s remake of Sidney Lumet’s 1957 jury
drama "12 Angry Men," is also developing thematic movie strands in two
other directions.

Anna Melikyan, director of Sundance award-winning "Mermaid," who is
married to Central Partnership founder and company head Ruben
Dishdishian, will develop arthouse fare with bright young directors
from Russia and former Soviet states via Magnum, a new company set up
for that purpose.

Producer Alexei Sidorov, who directed Central Partnership’s "Shadow
Boxing" and produced its recent sequel "Shadow Boxing 2" will work
with helmer Anton Megerdichev on creating big-budget commercially
oriented films. Projects in the pipeline currently include horror
thriller "Ghosts."

"The success of ‘Very Best Film’ shows there is a market for such
films. We understand that as part of our overall strategy ‘Nasha
Rasha’ has to be a first week film," Dishdishian said, meaning the
movie would need to make the majority of its box office over its
opening days.

"Of course we think it is possible to do a better film that is not
just a series of sketches, which is why we are working to polish and
improve the script we have from Comedy Club," he said. "We’re not
aiming to make an Oscar film, but want to be sure that people do not
leave the cinema thinking they could have seen the same thing on
television."

Wider audiences, which in Russia have only just begun to return to the
cinemamore than a decade after barely any over 30 went, need to
nurtured if the local industry is to have a sustainable future,
Dishdishian noted.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2008

CHAIRMAN OF PACE SUB-COMMITTEE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH VISITS AZERBAIJAN
PARLIAMENT

Chairman of the PACE Sub-Committee on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh Lord Russell-Johnston today has met with the
Chairmen of the Standing Commissions of Milli Majlis (Parliament of
Azerbaijan).
First Deputy Chairman of Milli Majlis, Chairman of the Standing
Commission for Security and Defense Affairs Ziyafat Asgarov
underlined that sub-committee was created to implement resolution
#1416, but in spite of committee representatives repeated visit to
the region and held negotiations, the problem is not still resolved.
Mr. Johnston, in his turn, emphasized that the committee he leads is
trying to create favorable condition for conducting negotiations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The sides also exchanged views on other aspects of cooperation
between PACE and Azerbaijan.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Azeri parliamentarians refuse to meet Armenian counterparts
08.02.2008 14:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The chairs of Azerbaijani
parliamentary commissions did not accept the proposals
to conduct a meeting on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement with the participation of the Azerbaijani
and Armenian MPs.

`We stated that the Azerbaijani and Armenian MPs have
met frequently. However, these meetings produced no
effect, and therefore, a new meeting with the Armenian
MPs makes no sense. Unless the Karabakh conflict is
settled cooperation between the two parliaments is
impossible,’ the chair of Azerbaijan permanent
parliamentary commission on human rights, Rabiyat
Aslanova said.

Lord Russell Johnston, the head of the PACE
Sub-committee on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, met
with the chairs of the Azerbaijani parliamentary
commissions. During the meeting in April in Strasburg,
he made a proposal to hold a meeting on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement with the participation of
the Azerbaijani and Armenian MPs. Johnston said that
his visit was aimed at learning the position of the
sides on whether the activity of the Sub-committee on
the would continue, as well as to study the
possibility of a meeting of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian MPs.

`The Council of Europe is not involved in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement. The visit to the region
is not aimed at achieving the settlement of the
conflict, but creating conditions for talks between
the conflicting sides,’ he said, Trend reports.

Panorama.am

19:28 07/02/2008

PRICES AND SERVICE OF HOTELS IN ARMENIA DO NOT
CORRESPOND WITH EACH OTHER

The Union of the Armenian Hotels has been conducting
trainings for hotel staff in the course of
February-April. The trainings will be conducted by
trainees who have received certification during
February trainings.

The chairman of the Union of the Armenian Hotels
informed that the project is unprecedented in the
sphere of Armenia’s hospitality. `Our trainers have an
excellent command of the methodology. This is an
excellent chance to learn about the international
experience not only for Yerevan hotels but also those
in the regions,’ he mentioned.

In the words of Alexander Hail, project manager of
`Competitive private sector in Armenia’ project, today
hotels are very expensive in Armenia as compared with
other countries. That is why the hotel personnel must
be able to provide quality service to the customers.
`The pay for the service is high and the quality does
not correspond with the price. I believe that the
trainings will help our hotels to provide quality
service,’ he said.

Source: Panorama.am

SOLIDARITY ACTIONS CONTINUE

Panorama.am
14:54 07/02/2008

The representatives of "Solidarity" movement collected more than 20.000
signatures. It should be reminded that it is the third day the social
political movement carries out "For Solidarity Armenia" actions in the
capital. "It will continue 10 days more including the regions," said
Sargis Avetisyan, the coordinator of the program. He also added that
the Mass media will be informed about the final results of the actions.

Narek Movsisyan, a participant of the action, said that some times they
met with disunited people, who do not believe in the movement. "Many
people doubt if giving the signatures could strengthen our solidarity,
but when we talk to them they understand everything," he said.

Sophia Movsisyan another participant of the movement said that
people think the movement is connected with some political parties,
and refuse to give signatures.

"I want everybody to live in peace," said Epraksia Maelyan another
participant.

PRESS RELEASE
The Armenia Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]

Web:

07 February, 2008

Three Initiatives of the Armenia Fund in Nagorno Karabakh

Yerevan, February 7, 2008 – The Armenia Fund’s infrastructure initiatives in
Nagorno Karabakh for the last month include three projects – renovation of
the secondary school in Togh village, construction of a school extension to
the school in Aknakhbiur village and a kindergarten in Mataghis village.
Renovation of the Togh School in Hadrut region is extremely important fro
the whole area. During the 1988-1990 Karabakh conflict the school and
facilities suffered greatly and the building fell into disrepair: the roof
is leaking and no longer safe, with no running water, there is no proper
sanitation. Cold winter days added to hardships and discomfort. With the
village water pipes frozen due to unprecedented low temperature, for more
than a month now the villagers depend on the water carried from nearby
springs. Residents say that it will be another month before the running
water be restored and life is back to normal in the community. Today,
some 100 students attend the school. They have their classes on the ground
floor of the old school building, as well as are hosted by the nearby music
school. Although rooms are heated by wood stoves, and are warm enough to sit
in, students look forward to the completion of the renovation, when they
will be able to have classes in well-lit, clean and heated classrooms. The
Togh School was built in 1979. The left-side block of the building is being
renovated within the Artsakh Rebirth Project (project cost AMD 139 million,
around US$ 462.5 thousand). Currently, landscaping of the building and
reinforcement of its foundations are being carried out. Within the coming
months, internal water network and heating system will be built,
refurbishment will be implemented. School surroundings will be improved too,
to provide a welcoming environment for the students to be in. "I will
finish school this year and, unfortunately, will not have a chance to enjoy
the new school conditions, but the junior class students are absolutely
delighted at the prospect of clean and beautiful classrooms," says Galina
Avetissyan, an 11th grade student. Galina’s favorite subjects at school are
biology and chemistry, and she is quite certain about her plans for the
future. She will enter the medical university, qualify for a surgeon, and
then go back to her home village in the hope that it will then have a
hospital, and she will be able to help the villagers, make their lives less
tough. The only health facility in the community of over 700 is a small
healthcare point. All those in need of professional medical assistance are
rushed to Stepanakert hospital. "We thank the Armenia Fund for its
invaluable support to us. For years we have been trying really hard to teach
and educate our children as best as we could, but provision of adequate
education under these circumstances is not very realistic. It feels great to
know that in a few months we will have a modern school with enough space and
facilities to also accommodate children from the neighboring communities of
Jrakuiz, Mariamadzor, Taghut, Tsakuri Hakaku, Mokhrenes, Tumi," Vladik
Ghahryan, director of the school said. Students also carry on with classes
of piano, pipe, painting and chess. "Not for a single day we disrupted
classes, not even during those harsh months of wartime with private homes
sheltering us," the director added proudly. The new extension to the
Aknaghbiur School with the community of over 330 aims at increasing the
school capacity. The two-story building has 8 classrooms which is not enough
to properly accommodate the 88 students attending the school. With extension
in place the school will have 4 more classrooms. The school management
expects to have the number of students rise to 120 in a few years. The
project (cost AMD 24 million, around US$77.5 thousand) is being implemented
through the sponsorship of The Armenia Fund French local committee.
Currently the former school of the Mataghis village in Martakert region is
being rebuilt into a kindergarten. The project (cost AMD 15 million, around
US$ 66.5 thousand) is sponsored by the Armenia Fund Lebanese local
committee. Donors have also taken care of the furniture for the place, so a
nice surprise awaits youngsters of the village and their parents in a few
months. It is noteworthy, that in 2007 The Armenia Fund completed
construction of the new school in Mataghis. The deputy director of the
school Nelli Gasparyan thanked the Armenia Fund working group for the
support the Fund had given and said they were very pleased that more young
people choose to stay in the village thanks to the new modern school – a
welcome place for school children to study and young teachers to teach in.
<During years, the Armenia Fund has given much attention to young people and
their education by addressing their needs and interests. Along with the
implementation of the Artsakh Rebirth Project, the Fund adopted and launched
the Rural Development Program in Armenia and Karabakh which will provide a
comprehensive solution to the problems of rural areas where there is a
growing concern with the quality of life." said Vahe Aghabegians, the
executive director of the Armenia Fund. ###
The Armenia Fund

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ARMENIA ARE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR ARMENIA ITSELF BUT ALSO FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

arminfo
2008-02-06 13:18:00

ArmInfo. Presidential election in Armenia are important not only for
Armenia itself but also for the European Union since Armenia is an
important partner for the EU, special representative of the EU in
South Caucasus Peter Semneby told journalists.

He also added that elections are an important part of the democratic
processes development. ‘As democracy development is one of the
priorities of the EU, the results of the election may play a certain
part in the relations between Armenia and European Union. It is
very positive that many candidates take part in the election. This
causes interest to the political processes among the residents of the
republic. This is hopeful’, – Semneby said and added that it is still
early to assess the electoral processes. He also said that the press
and the fact that the candidates have an opportunity to come forward
in mass media, plays an important part in the electoral campaign;
as well as the voting process itself and votes accounting.

PETER SEMNEBY: HOLDING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA TO HAVE CERTAIN INFLUENCE ON EU-RA RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 6, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The building of the delegation of
the European Commission opened in Yerevan on February 5. The ribbon
symbolizing the opening was cut by Vardan Oskanian, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
the European Commissioner for External Relations. The latter together
with Dmitri Rupel, the Foreign Minister of Slovenia, and Peter Semneby,
the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus,
is taking part in the February 4-6 visit of the Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia EU ministerial three.

According to the EU Special Representative, Armenia and the European
Union have recorded great progress in their relations for the past
two years. The European Union has had a regional delegation in Tbilisi
since 2005, henceforth it will operate with diplomatic status, which
is one more step in the direction of strengthening relations, the
office will contribute to the complete development of the relations
of Armenia with the European Commission and the European Union. He
expressed content with the fact that all the nine candidates for
presidency are for the strengthening of relations with the European
Union. He wished fair and transparent elections: may the best win.

The RA Minister of Foreign Affairs regarded the opening of the building
of the European Commission in Yerevan as historical. According to him,
the EU-Armenia relations will get a new quality, the opening of the
building will contribute to productive daily work.

In his interview with journalists Peter Semneby regarded Armenia
as an important colleague for the European Union. He mentioned that
since democracy is one of the priorities of the Armenia-EU relations
and elections are an inseparable part of democracy, the holding
of elections in this respect can have a certain influence on the
EU-Armenia relations.

CONCEPTION OF NKR COURT AND LEGAL SYSTEM REFORMS TO BE WORKED OUT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 5, 2008

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The consultation convened by NKR
President Bako Sahakian on February 5 was dedicated to the problems
in the country’s court and legal system, as well as the necessity of
implementing reforms in that sphere. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
General Information Department of the NKR President’s Administration,
judges of NKR supreme and first instance courts, NKR Justice Minister
Narine Narimanian, and NKR Prosecutor General Arshavir Gharamian, as
well as Head of the NKR President’s Administration Marat Musayelian
took part in the consultation.

B. Sahakian said that active work should be done in the direction
of working out a conception of court and legal system’s reforms and
preparing the respective legislative package, for the purpose of
which a working group has been created lately. He also touched upon
the discontent with the court and legal system in society today. In
consideration of the above mentioned circumstance, B. Sahakian called
the participants of the consultation for treating their duties
seriously and with responsibility, for liquidating all negative
phenomena existing in the system. In this connection the head of the
country attached importance to transparency of judges’ work, to their
impartiality adding that citizens’ interest should be considered
as the most important. He also mentioned the necessity of closer
cooperation between judicial, law enforcement, and justice structures.