Author: Hovhannisian John

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER OF BELARUS SERGEY MARTINOV

ARMENPRESS
Oct 30, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received today Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergey Martinov.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that during the meeting the
sides discussed issues in expansion of Armenian-Belarus cooperation.

President Sargsyan noted that bilateral political dialogue is
on a high level but there is a necessity to develop the economic
partnership. Serzh Sargsyan said that in case of active work in that
direction and joining of efforts it will be possible in short period
of time to reach notable results.

Sergey Martinov noted that Armenia is important partner of Belarus.

According to him, the good relations between the leaders of the
two countries and the governments are serious prerequisites for the
implementation of big effective programs in the economy sphere.

PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: [email protected]<mailto:hovhannes.sa [email protected]>
Web site:

UNDP Launched Seven Documentary Films on Regional Needs in Armenia

Yerevan, 30 October 2009 – Today Mr. Dirk Boberg, UNDP Deputy Resident
Representative in Armenia (UNDP DRR), Maestro Aram Gharabekian,
Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Chamber
Orchestra of Armenia, and Mr. Ara Galoyan, Program Director of
"Shoghakat" TV Company, as final part of the UNDP project "Music and
Public Outreach in Regions: Highlighting the Needs of Regions through
Cultural Lens," launched seven documentary films related to poverty,
unemployment, environment, natural disaster reduction, gender, and
human rights issues in the regions of Armenia.

The goal of the project was to visualize regional disparities and to
raise public awareness on the needs of regions, using culture and,
particularly, music as an effective tool for outreach and
communication.

Addressing the participants of the event Mr. Dirk Boberg, UNDP DRR
said, "The aim of the project was twofold. First, it was meant to
support the revival of cultural life in the regions of Armenia and
break the cultural isolation. Secondly, UNDP’s intention was to raise
public awareness on existing regional disparities in Armenia and the
needs of the various regions while using cultural events as a vehicle
for that purpose."

The project lasted from October 2008 throughout May 2009 during which
UNDP, together with National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, organized
seven concerts and public awareness campaigns in six regions of
Armenia – Ararat, Syunik, Kotayk, Gegharkunik, Shirak and Tavush.

"Shoghakat" TV Company, the UNDP project partner on the public
outreach component, produced six documentaries on each region and one
summary film on the project components and the main development
challenges in the regions of Armenia. The documentaries will be aired
on one of the main countrywide TV channels to draw public’s attention
to the regional needs.

"It is anticipated that these films will broaden the public awareness
throughout Armenia on development challenges in the country and will
ensure that the commitments by decision-makers at all levels to
address regional problems remain as priorities on the public and
political agenda, even during the crisis times," added the UNDP DRR.

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UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and
connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help
people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries,
working with them on their own solutions to global and national
development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on
the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. UNDP in Armenia was
established in 1993 and supports the Government of Armenia to reach
its own development priorities and the Millennium Development Goals by
2015.

CHAIRMAN OF ANTIMONOPOLY AGENCY OF ARMENIA APPOINTED HEAD OF DIRECTORATE OF IRAN- ARMENIA RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

ArmInfo
2009-10-29 14:31:00

ArmInfo. Chairman of Armenia’s Antimonopoly Agency Ashot Shahnazaryan
has been appointed Head of the Directorate of Iran-Armenia railway
construction, spokeswoman of the State Commission for Protection of
Economic Competition Armine Udumyan told ArmInfo.

By decree of Armenia’s Minister of Transport and Communication of
October 26, A. Shahnazaryan has been appointed acting Director General
of "Iran-Armenia Railway Construction Directorate" CJSC until the
corresponding competition.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ANIMATION: REMEMBERING SAHAKYANTS

Aysor
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

Today the world is celebrating the International Day of Animation
which has been founded by the initiation of the French branch of the
Animation films association in 2002 honoring the 100th anniversary
of the famous representative of the discoverer of the first animation
technology.

Exactly today, in 1892, in Paris Emile Reynaud, a painter and
innovator, invited the audience to watch a new scene not seen by
any one before, the "theatre optique". Talented scientist for the
first time presented to the audience the device called praksinoscope,
which was showing the moving pictures.

This event is considered to be the birth of the Animation film and this
day is the day of celebrating the international day of Animation films.

Armenia is in the list of the countries where the animation films
have a long history. As we have already told before, the first 70th
anniversary of Armenian animation films has been celebrated in the
frameworks of the "ReAnimania" festival. The first Armenian animation
film called "The Dog and the Cat" for the first time was shown on March
in 1939. Since that day the Armenian animation has developed a lot.

The Armenian Animation has its special place in the world and has
become more famous due to the films of Robert Sahakyants and his art.

These unchangeable teachers of the Armenian kids, the films of R.

Sahakyants, till now receive high prices on many different
international festivals.

CORRUPTION-RELATED OFFENCES GROW 38% IN ARMENIA IN 2009

ARKA
Oct 27, 2009

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. The rate of corruption-related crimes
grew 38% to 398 cases recorded in Jan-Sept 2009 from 288 committed
at the same period a year earlier, Hunan Poghosyan, chief of Armenian
Police’s division combating organized crimes, said on Tuesday.

"Gross embezzlement, power abuse and bribery are viewed as corruption",
he said.

Poghosyan said that 22 of the 398 offenses recorded this year were
cases of power abuses committed for embezzlement against nine in 2008,
58 were gross embezzlement cases against 11 in the previous year, 96
tax evasion cases against 104 previously and 63 official malfeasance
forgery cases against 38.

Offences against the state constitute the majority of the cases
this year.

"Of 629 such offenses (523 in 2008), 117 are economic crimes (105 in
2008)", Poghosyan said.

He also said that six cases of banknote forgery were disclosed in
Jan-Sept 2009.

ARMENIA APPROVES EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR PLANT (AFP)

Khaleej Times
Oct 27 2009
UAE

27 October 2009, YEREVAN – Armenia’s parliament on Tuesday approved
plans for the construction of a new reactor unit at the ex-Soviet
republic’s controversial Metzamor nuclear power station.

Lawmakers voted in favour of plans to build a new 1,200-megawatt
unit with a projected cost of four to five billion dollars (2.7 to
3.4 billion euros). Officials have said they expect the new reactor
to be completed by 2017.

Energy Minister Armen Movsisian told lawmakers the new reactor would
allow Armenia to increase electricity exports, a key source of revenues
for the landlocked and resource-poor country.

‘Armenia’s neighbours in the region have an energy deficit and Armenia
is the only country that can produce electric power, not only for
its own needs, but also for export,’ he said.

‘It must be emphasised that we are not talking about the construction
of a new nuclear power plant, but about the construction of a new
power unit,’ he added.

Armenia relies on the Soviet-built Metzamor plant, 30 kilometres
(18 miles) west of the capital Yerevan, for 40 percent of its
electricity needs.

Its current 407.5-megawatt power unit was brought online in 1976. The
plant is operated by an affiliate of state-owned Russian power
group UES.

The European Union has pleaded with Armenia to shut down the ageing
plant, which is in an area prone to earthquakes, and in 2004 offered
to provide 100 million euros in compensatory aid.

But Armenian officials say the country cannot afford to do without
the plant, which also provides electricity for export to Iran.

The nuclear plant was shut down temporarily in 1988 because of a
major earthquake, but resumed operating in 1995 to help stave off a
national energy crisis.

TRANSDNIESTRIA TAKES GREAT INTEREST IN NKR’S DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.10.2009 19:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 27 October, NKR President Bako Sahakyan met
Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic Foreign Ministry delegation headed
by Foreign Minister Vladimir Yastrebchak.

Issues related to cooperation between the two countries, global and
regional development were touched upon during the meeting.

The President underlined the importance of strengthening relations
between the two countries and expanding mutually beneficial
cooperation.

PMR Foreign Minister Vladimir Yastrebchak noted that Transdniestria
takes great interest in the development of NKR.

NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan attended the meeting, Central
Information Department at NKR President’s Office reported.

INTERVIEW: AHMET DAVUTOGLU

Al-Jazeera
/focus/2009/10/2009102613216408323.html
Oct 26 2009
Qatar

In this episode of Talk to Jazeera, Al Jazeera’s Sami Zeidan talks
to Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, about Ankara’s
re-energised foreign policy.

Davutoglu explains that Turkey’s increased diplomatic activity in
those areas where it believes it has "special responsibilities"
is aimed at establishing a new order "based on the understanding of
common security for all, political dialogue to resolve questions and
conflicts, economic interdependency … and multicultural co-existence
and harmony".

He goes on to discuss his country’s relations with Israel, Iran and
Armenia and Ankara’s wish for a nuclear-free Middle East.

This episode of Talk to Jazeera aired from Monday, October 26.

BILDT: YEREVAN, ANKARA SHOULD RESPECT AGREEMENTS THEY ACHIEVED

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.10.2009 13:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbanidan met with
EU Foreign Policy and Security Chief Javier Solana on the sidelines
of 10th meeting of the EU-Armenia coordination council.

The talks were followed by a press conference of Armenian, Azerbaijani,
Georgian and Swedish top diplomats and European Neighborhood Policy
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt assessed highly the progress fixed
in EU-Armenia relations and emphasized that the European Union hails
signature of Armenia-Turkey protocols. He voiced hope for soonest
ratification of the protocols, RA MFA press office reported.

ARMENIA ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO CREATION OF PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION FORMAT WITHIN FRAMES OF EU EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

ArmInfo
2009-10-26 14:10:00

ArmInfo. Chairwoman of the Standing Parliamentary Commission on
European Integration Naira Zohrabyan took part in the parliamentary
format summit of the Eastern partnership programme held in Stockholm
on October 19-22.

As the parliamentary press service reports, 6 member-states of the
Eastern Partnership took part in the summit, during which the parties
presented their proposals on how they imagine the format of EuroNest
parliamentary cooperation which may serve a serious stimulus for
implementation of the main platforms of this programme and solution
of the issues of political association and economic integration.

N. Zohrabyan introduced the Armenian party’s proposals and said Armenia
attaches importance to creation of a parliamentary cooperation format
within the frames of this initiative. Having touched on the issue of
cooperation among the programmes’ member- states, N.

Zohrabyan addressed the policy followed by Azerbaijan, which creates
essential obstacles for solution of high-priority problems of the
Eastern partnership. Speaking of the Armenian party’s approaches to
EuroNest format, N. Zohrabyan emphasized that it will be unacceptable
for Armenia if Azerbaijan tries to turn the European Partnership
parliamentary cooperation format into a forum of conflict solution.

She added that such a policy of Azerbaijan will lead implementation
of such an important initiative into deadlock.

In response to the Azerbaijani parliament representative’s speech,
where the latter disseminated a false disinformation concerning Nagorno
Karabakh, N. Zohrabyan applied to the summit Chairman Goran Lenmarker
with a written statement having paid the attention of EU countries
and members of the European Partnership to the non- constructive way
of action and behaviour of Azerbaijan.

A decision was made upon the results of the summit to settle the
technical and substantial issues, related to EuroNest organization,
in a possible reasonable time.

During the visit, N. Zohrabyan also met representatives of the Armenian
community of Sweden and the Swedish parliamentarians.