Author: Hunanian Jack

A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES OF HEALTH SPHERE RECEIVE HONORARY TITLES

YEREVAN, JUNE 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the Holiday of
Republic of Armenia, for evident services in development of medical
science and considerable contribution in healthcare sphere, by RA
President’s decrees, honorary titles were given to a number of merited
representatives of healthcare sphere. On June 1, RA Minister of Health
Norayr Davidian awarded the titles to the doctors. In his words, in the
most difficult days for the country the doctors did their professional
duty with honor.

Director of Malayan Ophthalmologic Center CJSC, professor Alexander
Malayan was awarded Mkhitar Heratsi order.

The honorary title of Honored Figure of Sciences was awarded to Head of
Ocular Diseases Chair of National Institute of Health of RA Ministry of
Health, professor Levon Barseghian and Head of First Chair of diseases
requiring surgical operation of Yerevan State Medical University
Hovhannes Sarukhanian.

The title of Honored Doctor was given to Head of Proctology Center
attached to Mikayelian Surgical Institute, professor Alexander
Aghavelian, Head of Cardiac Surgery Department of Nork-Marash medical
center Vilen Manukian, professor of New Diseases Chair of Yerevan State
Medical University Artur Shukurian, as well as Head of Neurosurgical
Department of Mikayelian Surgical Insitute Andronik Kalajian.

CUSTOMS DUTY REVENUES OF RA STATE BUDGET GROW BY 20.6% IN JANUARY-APRIL 2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Jun 01 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-April 2007, customs duty
revenues of the RA state budget made 6.2 bln drams (over 22.3 mln USD),
exceeding the index of the same period of last year by 20.6% or 1.1
bln drams, which is due to an increase of commodity imports to Armenia.

According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, the total amount
of fixed payments for certian types of activities made 5.2 bln drams
in January-April 2007, which made up 4.1% of tax revenues of the RA
state budge. Fixed payment revenues grew by 18.5% or 807.5 mln drams
on the same period of last year, which is mainly due to an increase in
payments charged for organization of lotteries, gas filling stations,
trade points, as well as payments from transport activity.

In the period under review, the state budgetary revenues from
simplified tax amounted to 2.9 bln drams, growing by 23.5% or 560.0
mln drams on the same period of last year, which is mainly due to an
increase of revenues from trade.

In January-April 2007, state budgetary revenues from other taxes made
5.1 bln drams. Particularly, nature use and environmental protection
payments made over 2.2 bln drams, radio frequency provision payments
– 1.2 bln drams, road payments – 445.4 mln drams. Other taxes grew
by 41.7% or 1.5 bln drams on the same months of 2006, mainly due to
payments for provision of radio frequency.

State budgetary revenues from state duty amounted to 5.7 bln drams,
which ensured fulfilment of the program for first half of 2007 by
72.1% and of the annual program by 29.9%. State duty revenues grew by
13.5% or 681.8 mln drams on the same period of 2006, which is mainly
conditioned by an increase in duties charged for departure of natural
persons by air transport, licensing of some types of activities,
state registration and provision of legal documents to natural persons.

EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS OF FOUR PARTIES LITIGATING RESULTS OF NA ELECTIONS BY PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM STARTS AT CC

Noyan Tapan
Jun 10 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Examination of applications of
Impeachment bloc, Hanrapetutiun, Nor Zhamanakner and Orinats Yerkir
parties litigating the results of May 12 National Assembly elections
by proportional system started at the Constitutional Court. The
respondent party is the Central Electoral Commission. RA Justice
Ministry, Prosecutor’s Office, Police and National Commission of
Television and Radio were recognized as adjacent respondents.

Representative of Impeachment bloc Nikol Pashinian made explanations
at the court. As he evaluated, the elections were accompanied with
"organized mass violations." He expressed bewilderment that after the
start of the electoral process hasty changes were made in the Electoral
Code, as a result of which over 700 thousand Armenian citizens being
abroad were deprived of the possibility to exercise their right to
vote. Nikol Pashinian also considers that the issue of accessibility
of electoral centers for disabled mainly was not solved, either.

In Nikol Pashinian’s words, free services, goods, foodstuffs were
given out to voters at the preelection stage, for the purpose of
influencing the will of voters. The Republican Party of Armenia and
Bargavach Hayastan parties distinguished themselves in this issue. As
a proof he introduced a lottery ticket to the court, by which voters
were invited to a meeting with BH Chairman Gagik Tsarukian on May 5
in Byureghavan with promises of pleasant surprises.

In his words, during the agitation unequal conditions were created by
TV companies for parties taking part in the elections: in his words,
the parties having taken the first three places: RPA, BH and ARFD had
ten and more possibilities to speak on TV. Nikol Pashinian emphasized
that "the air was filled with illegal and free advertisement of Serge
Sargsian and Gagik Tsarukian."

Gross violations were committed during the voting, too. In particular,
N. Pashinian mentioned information provided to Helsinki Assembly by
Vanadzor Office that free expression of voters’ will was influenced
through threats. Voters were threatened to deprive them of the program
of state assistance in getting apartments.

Nikol Pashinian also stated that the Police printed passports by
names of people being away from Armenia and with them people voted
instead of anothers.

In his words, "deceased people become active, as well as cases of
registering other persons at apartments secretly from apartment owner
often happen in the electoral period."

OVERSEES PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION WILL NOT SUPPORT A PROPOSED RAILWAY BYPASSING ARMENIA

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 30 2007

The Armenian Assembly of America commends Congressman Brad Sherman
(D-CA) for securing an assurance on May 25 from the Oversees Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC) that the agency will not support a
proposed railroad linking Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, while
bypassing Armenia. To note, OPIC helps U.S. businesses invest overseas.

"It is important that OPIC not repeat the mistake of the
Baku-Tiblisi-Cheyan pipeline," Sherman said in a press statement.

"Taxpayer funds should not go for projects that deliberately seek to
isolate a friend of the United States, and I appreciate the commitment
not to get involved in the railroad project."

The proposed railway, estimated to cost upwards of $600 million,
excludes Armenia from economic and regional transportation corridors.

Armenian government officials have repeatedly said that a new costly
railway is unnecessary given that a railroad linking Armenia, Georgia
and Turkey already exists.

Last June, the House Financial Services Committee unanimously approved
a provision sponsored by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), along
with Sherman and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), prohibiting the Export-Import
Bank from supporting the rail link project. That provision was adopted
and is now a law.

"The Assembly thanks Congressman Sherman for his leadership on this
issue," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "The proposed
project, sponsored by the Turkish and Azeri governments, runs counter
to U.S. policy goals, which seek to foster regional cooperation and
economic integration and includes open borders and transport and
communication corridors. OPIC’s assurance helps ensure that the U.S.
will not be a party to the flawed policies of Armenia’s neighbors",
he added.

IBERIAN RESOURCES, AUSTRALIA, TO BUILD PLANT IN MEGHRI
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2007

The Autralian Iberian Resources company is going to build a gold
processing plant in Meghri till 2009. It is expected that about $50
million of investments will be made for this purpose. According to
preliminary examination, it is enviasaged that 10 kilos of gold
may be enriched per a day. Within the past one and a half year,
the company had already invested the first $15 million and got the
first production.

DISCUSSION: THE ONLY CRITERION MAY BE THE IMPERATIVE OF PHYSICAL SECURITY OF THE CITIZENS OF ARTSAKH

KarabakhOpen
30-05-2007 10:24:38

As part of a public discussion we initiated about the fate of
liberated territories, we asked a candidate for NKR presidency,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Masis Mayilian to express his
position on this issue.

– Mr. Mayilian, what is your view of the problem of liberated
territories and possible deployment of international peacekeeping
forces in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone?

– First, I would like to thank KarabakhOpen.com internet edition for
initializing public discussions of a wide range of issues that are
urgent for our society. Among these, the problem of territories is
undoubtedly a crucial element for protection and realization of the
Artsakh people’s right for security and state independence.

The official Baku often refers to international recognition of the
Azerbaijani Republic (AR) in "internationally recognized borders",
which are freely interpreted by Azeris in their favor.

I must point out that recognition of a state in international law
does not mean automatic recognition of borders declared by this state
as its own. The world practice shows that the issue of territorial
demarcation between neighboring states can be solved only in case
of mutual recognition of state independence and envisages diplomatic
relations between the sides.

Any intention to solve the issue of territorial demarcation without
linking it to recognition of international legitimacy and state
independence of one of the states is fundamentally without foundation
in law.

In my opinion, the central issue to be discussed is not the
territories, but state borders of the NKR and AR that are to be
discussed. An inter-governmental commission on delimitation and
demarcation of de-facto existing borders between NKR and AR is only
possible in case of Azerbaijan’s recognition of Artsakh’s state
independence. In course of delimitation, we must consider NKR’s
territorial realities, which have been enshrined in our recently
adopted Constitution.

We must also remember that ensuring the Artsakh people’s right for
physical security and state independence can be the only criteria
for NKR. For me it is absolutely obvious that our country will not be
able to develop independently and ensure military and food security
in the fundamentally illegitimate enclave borders of the former NKAO.

Discussing the issues of territories and borders we must keep in
mind that 15% of territory on which the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
was established is still under Azerbaijani occupation.

As to possible deployment of international peacekeeping forces in
the conflict zone, I think any appearance of foreign armed forces
in the NKR, even under the auspices of influential international
organizations, would result in a dramatic restriction of our
sovereignty.

The fact that the international community has still not recognized
NKR’s independence and we are not represented in the mentioned
structures can result in a situation when our country will not be
able to have an internationally guaranteed leverage to influence
those forces.

In these conditions the possible deployment of peacemaking forces
will radically contradict our national interests. We can not restrict
our state sovereignty without achieving a comprehensive international
legal recognition.

Besides, it is widely known that the cease-fire between Azerbaijan
and the NKR is maintained only owing to the established system
of military-political balance of powers, in which the territories
liberated as a result of the Azerbaijan-imposed war play a strategic
function.

I am convinced that any departure from existing realities in haste
and without guarantees fixed in a number of preliminarily ratified
inter-state agreements will result in an immediate collapse of the
aforementioned balance of powers. And, as a result, undoubtedly
provoke resumption of hostilities with consequences catastrophic for
the whole region.

States and organizations which declare their interest in maintaining
peace and stability in the region must maintain the strategic balance,
rationally assess the whole complexity and fragility of the situation,
undertake and insist only on actions that will unequivocally promote
strengthening of the cease-fire regime, systemic maintenance of
the regional stability and establishment of tolerance. In these
circumstances discussion on the need for peacekeeping forces becomes
moot.

SCORE DOES NOT BECOME EQUAL IN ARONIAN-CARLSEN TOURNAMENT OF PRETENDERS TO WORLD CHESS CHAMPIOSHIP

Noyan Tapan
May 30 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Levon Aronian was defeated by Magnus
Carlsen at the 3rd stage of the tournament of preteders to the world
chess championship in Elista. The score was 1.5:1.5 after 3 stages.

This was Carlsen’s first victory in all the 14 meetings he has had
with Aronian by now.

Day off is announced at the tournament on May 30. May 31 is appointed
as the day of the 4th match.

CONFRONTATION OCCURS BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS IN CALIFORNIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 29 2007

Local Armenian residents tried to impede to the opening of new
administrative building of Azerbaijan Consul of America in California
on May 28 – Republic day of Azerbaijan, APA US bureau reports.

The chief of "Sema-Associates" company Seam Yagubyan led the illegal
protest action. First of all, Armenians sounded slogans against
Azerbaijan in front of the new office of Azerbaijan Consul of
America. Azerbaijani Consul General to Los-Angeles Elin Suleymanov
and the head of the society Javid Huseynov expressed the country’s
position. Following this, several Armenians entered the building of
the society and tried to disturb the opening ceremony. Police officials
could remove the Armenians from the building. Consul General told the
APA he related the protest of Armenians with Azerbaijan’s increasing
authority.

The diplomat also said that Armenians instead of holding protest
action in front of the building of society belonging to Azerbaijanis,
should better express their position on serious problems in Armenia.

Azerbaijan Consul of America will be operating in the south of
California. Azerbaijani school and national library has also been
established under the society. Orange County’s senior officials,
representatives of Turkish and Jewish Diasporas of the region were
among the 60 guests who attended the meeting of Consul held on May
28.

ILHAM ALIEV AGREED TO MEET WITH ROBERT KOCHARIAN IN SAINT PETERSBURG

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2007 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev agreed to
meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in Saint Petersburg
in the framework of CIS member-states’ non-official summit. The
presidents will discuss perspectives of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement. In the result of his meeting with the Azeri President
OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chair informed the next round of talks on
the presidential level will be held June 9, Day.az reports.

HEAD OF GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OF RA ARMED FORCES SEYRAN OHANIAN GIVEN RANK OF COLONEL-GENERAL

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 25, RA President Robert Kocharian
signed a decree on giving the rank of Colonel-General to Seyran
Ohanian, Head of General Headquarters of RA Armed Forces, First
Deputy Defence Minister. Noyan Tapan was informed about it from RA
President’s Press Office.