Author: Hovhannisian John

IRAN, ARMENIA TO EXTRADITE CRIMINALS

Fars News Agency
Dec 11 2007
Iran

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
here Tuesday communicated a law with the justice ministry requiring
implementation of an agreement between Iran and Armenia on the
extradition of criminals.

According to the secretariat of the government’s information
dissemination council, the bill of the agreement was introduced to
the parliament and approved by both the parliament and the Expediency
Council in September.

The single article law, comprising a prelude and 19 sub-articles,
allows the Islamic Republic government to extradite criminals with
the republic of Armenia.

Establishment of a methodology for judiciary cooperation between
Iran and Armenia, positive effects of the measure, preparation of
proper legal grounds for the two countries’ citizens and governments
and also preparation of the ground for the further expansion of
Iran-Armenia relations were among the many justifications in support
of the agreement when it was introduced to the parliament.

The agreement was signed by Iranian and Armenian justice ministers
in June 2006.

MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS UNVEILED IN AVIGNON

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.12.2007 18:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ December 8, Armenian Ambassador to France Edward
Nalbandian, Mayor of Avignon and French MP Marie-Jose Roig unveiled
a monument to the Armenian Genocide victims set in Avignon, the RA
MFA press office reported.

"With inauguration of such monuments, French people affirm their
adherence to the ideas of humanism and solidarity with the Armenian
nation. It’s symbolic that this monument is dedicated to victims
of all genocides and soldiers who died in the name of France,"
Amb. Nalbandian said.

French parliamentarians, officials of local self-government and heads
of local Armenian unions also attended the solemn ceremony.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 7 2007

Azerbaijan to Demand Explanations from International Tourist
Organization
07.12.07 17:11

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr S. Agayeva / Azerbaijan will demands
explanations from the International Tourist Organization, as British
Tour Operator provides tours to the occupied Azerbaijani region of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sunvil Discovery ltd, a tour operator in London, offers to British
tourists a 10-day tourist program to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
though British authorities recommend refusing from visiting
Nagorno-Karabakh due to unsettled conflict and skirmishes.

`The Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Ministry will apply to the
International Tourist Organization (ITO) and will urge to settle the
issue through stopping tours to the occupied Azerbaijani territory,’
the head of the Central Tourism Department at the Ministry Aydin
Ismiyev said on 7 December.

Organization of tours to the occupied Azerbaijani territory
contradicts with the recommendations of the ITO and the international
law. Leaning on that, the Ministry intends to urge ITO to make
serious steps with respect to the tour operator.

`So far we have not had any information about Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,’ the head of the PR Department of the Sunvil Discovery ltd
Sara Belcher said to Trend. She promised to provide the details of
the tours to Nagorno-Karabakh in near future.Sunvil Discovery, a
member of the British Association of Tour Agencies, has been
functioning as a tour operator since 1970. The British Association of
Tour Agencies said that the company should inform its clients of
where they are going to, but the Association cannot make the company
to annihilate the program.’We cannot interfere with that. That is an
individual choice of the tour operator and his clients,’ the
Association said.The conflict between the two countries of the South
Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against
Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of
Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven
surrounding districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a
ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are
currently holding peaceful negotiations.

PanARMENIAN.Net

RA MFA: rumors about PKK bases in Karabakh absurd
05.12.2007 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Reports in Azerbaijani and Turkish media on the
intention of the PKK to install its bases in Armenia and NK and the
territories controlled by Nagrono Karabakh are absurd,’ RA Foreign
Ministry’s Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian said.

`We have commented on these rumors earlier, but I want to stress one
more time, that those reports have no relation to the reality and are
absurd. It is obvious where this fabricated information is coming
from. Those baseless allegations, are but another attempt of
provocation,’ he said, the RA MFA press office reported.

DEMOCRATIC WAY TO SUPPORT LEVON TER-PETROSIAN IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 03 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues connected with the internal
situation, future developments and the forthcoming presidential
elections of Armenia were discussed during the meeting held between
Manuk Gasparian, the Chairman of the Democratic Way party, and Levon
Ter-Petrosian, the first President of the Republic of Armenia, on
December 1. This information was provided to Noyan Tapan by the Civil
Initiative Office on Nomination of Levon Ter-Petrosian.

Levon Ter-Petrosian expressed thankfulness to the Democratic Way Party
and its Chairman for the decision on supporting his candidature in
the 2008 presidential elections.

Focus News, Bulgaria
Dec 6 2007

Bulgarian Culture Minister opens Colors of Armenia exhibition

6 December 2007 | 20:35 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. `I’m deeply convinced that the sincere spirit of friendship
and understanding will be leading in the future as well in the
relations between Bulgaria and Armenia and will contribute to the
development of the culture cooperation between the two states,’
Bulgarian Culture Minister Prof. Stefan Danailov said at the opening
of Colors of Armenia exhibition in the Gallery for Foreign Art, FOCUS
News Agency reports.
Desislava ANTOVA

RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES VLADIMIR PUTIN WITH VICTORY OF ‘YEDINAYA ROSSIYA’ PARTY AT ELECTION TO RF STATE DUMA

2007-12-04 09:49:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan congratulated President
of Russia Vladimir Putin with victory of the "Yedinaya Rossiya" party,
he heads, at December 2 election to the State Duma.

As the presidential press-service told ArmInfo, the message says:
"I sincerely congratulate you with decisive victory of the "Yedinaya
Rossiya" party, you head, at the election to the State Duma. This
victory is an evidence of the high level of trust of the Russians
to the policy of state construction you carry out". Robert Kocharyan
expressed confidence that the State Duma of the new convocation will
keep on developing the policy of strategic partnership between Armenia
and Russia, the message says.

PROCREDIT GERMAN BANK TO START IN ARMENIA IN 2008

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 4 2007

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. ProCredit German bank intends to start
its activities in Armenia in 2008, German Ambassador to Armenia Andrea
Victorin said at her meeting with students of Yerevan State Linguistic
University after Briusov.

Seven foreign banks and financial structures, including Dutch Post
Bank, Russian Gasprombank, German ProCredit, Raiffeisenbank (Austria)
and Lebanese Biblos bank expressed wish to start business in Armenia.

As per the information of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), as of
March 31 the actual authorized stock of Armenia’s banking system
totaled 82,907.5mln drams; the share of non-residents in the capital
of Armenian banks increased 8.3% (2,956mln Drams) up to 38,626.2mln
Drams in January-March. In fact, non-residents had 46.59% of the
overall authorized stock of the country’s banking system (44.53%
in the beginning of the year).

21 commercial banks operate in Armenia today. ($1=306.94Drams).

REVISED DRAFT BUDGET 2008 IS DISCUSSED IN RA PARLIAMENT

2007-11-27 12:06:00

ArmInfo. Today, RA Parliament started discussing the final version
of the draft budget 2008 in its extraordinary sitting.

As RA Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatryan said, the
government asks the republic’s parliament to approve the revenue
side of the country’s revised state budget at the rate of 746
bln drams, the expenditure side – at 822 bln drams, the budget
deficit – at 76 bln drams. The revenues and expenditures the local
authorities’ budgets will turn out at the level of 47,3 bln drams. As
the minister said, as a result of the parliamentary discussions,
most of the proposals was received on education – for about 10 bln
drams. These proposals were made by representatives of the Republican
party, and ARF "Dashnaktsutyun". Moreover, the proposals concerned
improvement of the water supply system, motor roads, health care
and the social sphere. In fact, the proposals were received for 3
bln drams. In general, V. Khachatryan said, there were few changes
made. In particular, the revenues and expenditure sides of the budget
were reduced by 720 mln mainly conditioned by vibration of American
dollar rate. First, they were going to set American dollar rate to
the Armenian dram at 336 drams, but after revision, it was set at 325
drams for a dollar. Moreover, the government offered to increase the
revenue side of the state budget by 2 bln drams. It is envisaged to
direct the funds at the human resource and for an overhaul of schools.

LONGLIST CHOSEN FOR BBC TALENT SEARCH

Story from BBC NEWS:
ainment/7113270.stm
Published: 2007/11/27 13:56:30 GMT

The longlist of 20 finalists has been selected for the Next Big Thing
2007, the BBC’s global search to find new musical talent.

The final selection was chosen from a total of 2,000 entries from 88
countries – over twice the number of countries as the previous year.

They include a Tanzanian gospel singer, an Italian DJ, and a group
of 13 Brazilian-influenced Singaporeans.

There are also two orchestras, multi-lingual Kenyans, Belgian and
Russian dance acts and a vocal group performing the traditional music
of ancient Serbia.

Anoushka Shankar, one of a panel of judges selecting the finalists,
described the submissions as "wonderful music."

"I was amazed at the quality of all the music," she added.

Music’s big names

A number of rock groups have made the last 20, including Axis, from
Lithuania; Hraun, from Iceland; Instiga, from Brazil; and King Tut,
from the USA.

Solo females are also well represented, with Maya McCallum of France,
Penny Broadhurst of the UK, Tshila of Uganda and Jamaicans Sherita
Lewis and J Cee all making the longlist.

THE FINAL 20 Axis (Lithuania) Beatrice Moss (Tanzania) Fungu (Turkey)
Ha Ha Orchestra (UK) Hraun (Iceland) Instiga (Brazil) J Cee (Jamaica)
Jeremie Johnson (UAE) King Tut (USA) Maya McCallum (France) (pictured)
Noam Faingold Orchestra (USA) Penny Broadhurst (UK) Psy’aviah (Belgium)
Sherieta Lewis (Jamaica) Shortcut Therapy (Spain) Stereoptera (Russia)
Tshila (Uganda) Vrelo (Serbia) Wicked Aura (Singapore) Yunasi (Kenya)

The selection panel, which also includes singer Tori Amos and soul
star Omar, is also considering comments from the public, posted to
the Next Big Thing MySpace page, also being posted and considered.

The five finalists chosen by the panel will be announced on 3 December.

The final five will then fly to London to perform in front an all-star
jury who will pick the winner.

The jury, headed by producer William Orbit, also includes Indian
percussionist Talvin Singh, Tahita Bulmer of indie band New Young
Pony Club, and legendary musician and producer Niall Rodger – whose
work, with acts such as David Bowie, Madonna and Britney Spears,
has featured on albums selling over 100 million copies.

The final will be broadcast on BBC World Service on 9 December and
on BBC World television on 22 December.

The winning act will perform in front of a live audience of 3,000
people at London’s O2 arena as part of the celebrations for BBC World
Service’s 75th Anniversary in December, alongside some of the big
names in music.

Last year’s winner, Silva, went on to have a number one hit in her
home country Armenia and played the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Others who made the final 20 in 2006 included The Clik Clik, set to
release their first single next month, and Pilades, who went on to
support Deep Purple and Steppenwolf in concert.