Author: Jidarian Alex

MINISTER:TODAY WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MEANS TO KEEP ALL THAT PEOPLE

Aysor
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

Answering the question of Aysor.am whether it is possible in 2010 to
have growth in the sum of money assigned for the homeless people,
Gevorg Petrosyan, the Labor and Social Affairs Minister of the
Republic of Armenia, said that the financial economic crisis is not
rolled around the neck of the social sphere, but he doesn’t want to
show a surplus optimism, give promises and not to keep them later.

The responsibility for the homeless people is lying on the Labor
and Social Affairs Ministry of the Armenian Republic. Adjacent to it
there is the nursing home N1 in Yerevan founded in 2007. The boarding
house is indicated for 60 people and only for 60 days. After 60 days
the homeless are being returned to the street and a new group is
being gathered.

G. Petrosyan said that it’s a pity that they return the people back
to the street, but mentioned that there is a problem of an objective
impossibility: "We have the desire not to let those people out,
we always be careful for not letting anyone out to the street, but
today unfortunately the number of the people who live on the streets
is not reduced, on the contrary there is a growth even noticed. On
the other hand we are not able to keep all that people."

He also added that the Ministry is not getting along only with the
money provided by the state budget. They try to find more money
through by the support of foreign sponsors.

"It is out of our ability to solve that problem", – the Minister said.

To the question whether there is another country where in 60 days
the person is being out to the street again Mr. Petrosyan said that
he has not studied the experience of the other countries.

"Your accuse would be reasonable if we had resources but told them
to leave saying that we didn’t have means to care about them.", –
said G. Petrosyan.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN WELCOMED EU YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORT DIRECTORATE HEAD RALF-RENE WEINGARDNER

Monday, 2 November 2009

Greeting the guest, the head of the Armenian government noted that the
States should be thoughtful of youth affairs and have them addressed
by respective governments. The Prime Minister went on to highlight
the EU-GoA cooperation as a tool for the use of European know-how in
implementing joint programs.

Thankful for a warm welcome, the EU representative hailed the Armenian
authorities’ commitment and support for youth affairs. Ralf-Rene
Weingardner emphasized the role played by young Armenians in promoting
conflict settlement and intercultural dialog.

Tigran Sargsyan emphasized that the European Union should assume a
more active stance in boosting youth dialog in the region and if so,
his government would back any such undertaking as much as possible.

BETWEEN NOVEMBER 4 AND 8, 2009, RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN WILL BE OFF TO SAN JOSE (USA) ON A WORKING VISIT WITH A VIEW TO ATTENDING THE ARMTECH – 2009 CONFERENCE

T uesday, 3 November 2009

Between November 4 and 8, 2009, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will
be off to San Jose (USA) on a working visit with a view to attending
the ArmTech – 2009 conference.

The Prime Minister-led delegation will comprise Chief of Government
Staff David Sargsyan, Minister of Economy Nerces Yeritsyan,
representatives of government and ministry staffs and other
dignitaries.

TEHRAN POLICE USED TEARGAS TO DISPERSE RALLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2009 14:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Police used batons and teargas to break up an
opposition protest in central Tehran on Wednesday, while huge crowds
staged a noisy anti-US rally nearby to mark the storming of the
American embassy by students 30 years ago.

Witnesses said the violent clashes occurred at Haft-e-Tir square in
the heart of the capital when riot police armed with batons and firing
teargas moved in on a crowd of several hundred opposition supporters
staging a protest. The protesters, who were chanting "Death to the
dictator," refused to disperse and dozens were beaten or arrested.

Groups of pro-government hardliners also gathered at the square
chanting "Death to America."

Wednesday’s anniversary, which has turned into a cornerstone of the
Islamic regime, marks the capture by radical Islamist students of
the US embassy compound on November 4, 1979 — just months after the
Islamic revolution toppled the US-backed shah.

The students, who took 52 American diplomats hostage and held them
for 444 days, said they were responding to Washington’s refusal to
hand over the deposed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The two countries broke diplomatic ties after the event, which have
yet to be restored.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN ON STATE VISIT TO KUWAIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2009 18:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is on a state
visit to Kuwait. Kuwait Airport hosted an official meeting ceremony
upon RA President’s arrival.

Armenian Delegation lead by Serzh Sargsyan includes RA FM Edward
Nalbandian, Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan, Diaspora Minister
Hranush Hakobyan, Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan, Education and
Science Minister Armen Ashotyan, Head of "Armenia-Kuwait" parliamentary
friendship group Vahan Hovhannesyan, RA Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs
Union Chairman Arsen Ghazaryan, Commercial and Industrial Chamber
Chairman Martin Sargsyan.

Meeting with Kuwait’s Armenian community is on presidential agenda,
RA President’s press service reported.

ALLOCATIONS FOR RECREATION, CULTURE AND RELIGION TO AMOUNT TO 15.1 BILLION DRAMS UNDER 2010 DRAFT STATE BUDGET

Noyan Tapan
Nov 3, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the 2010 draft state budget
of Armenia, allocations for recreation, culture, and religion will
make 15.1bn drams, which is less by 5.6% than the expected actual
expenditures in 2009, First Deputy Minister of Finance Pavel Safarian
said at the November 3 joint sitting of the National Assembly Standing
Committees.

The decline in expenditures is conditioned by the reduction of
investments in major repairs and construction of cultural facilities,
the completion of some projects, and the decline in subventions for
Yerevan and community budgets. At the same time, electricity, heating,
and sewerage expenses have grown to some extent in connection with
the rise in tariffs.

Allocations of 1.4bn drams are envisaged for recreation and sports
(as compared to 1.5bn drams in 2009) and will be spent on the training
of Armenian sportsmen for domestic and international competitions
and for holding championships in Armenia. The expenditures fell by
101.2m drams or 6.7%.

Allocations for cultural services are envisaged to make 8.88bn drams
against 9.87bn drams in 2009.

Budgetary allocations for libraries will amount to 1.38bn drams
as compared with 1.41bn drams in 2009. Expenditures on museums and
exhibition halls will make 1.5bn drams against 1.7bn drams this year.

The draft state budget envisages allocations for arts in the amount of
4.42bn drams compared to 4.22bn drams in 2009. This sum will be spent
on staging plays, organization of concerts and various cultural events,
honorary payments to the persons awarded honorary titles, subventions
for community budgets, and major repairs of cultural facilities. Like
in 2009, the average monthly salary of 3,542 employees of theatres
and concert organizations will be 45,730 drams in 2010.

Expenditures on the restoration and preservation of monuments and
cultural values are envisaged to make 322.9m drams as compared to
507.7m drams in 2009. Allocations for the broadcasting of radio and
television programs and the provision of publishing services will
amount to 4.3bn drams in 2010 against 4.1bn drams in 2009.

Expenditures of 321.4m drams on youth projects are envisaged by the
2010 draft state budget – as compared to 309.4m drams in 2009. The
growth is due to allocation of 12m drams for the organization of
intellectual games.

The draft budget was calculated based on the settlement exchange rate
of 376 drams per dollar.

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR GIVES INTERVIEW TO KUWAITI NEWSPAPERS

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
November 2, 2009 Monday

Azerbaijani ambassador to Kuwait Shahin Abdullayev was interviewed on
October 29 by Kuwait`s leading newspapers Al-Rai, Arrouiah, Al-Watan
and An Nahar. Ambassador told of Azerbaijan-Kuwait relations and
answered the questions concerning regional and international problems.

Shahin Abdullayev touched on the history and situation of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Ambassador praised Kuwait`s fair stance
towards resolution of the conflict during discussions in the UN,
OIC and other international organizations

When asked about mediation opportunities for Ankara in the light of
the rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey, Abdullayev said Turkey
spares no effort to solve the problem. He noted Azerbaijan Foreign
Ministry`s statement said rapprochement contradicts national interests
of Azerbaijan. Nonetheless, Azerbaijan is not going to interfere in
Turkey`s internal affairs. Ambassador said during his speech in the
parliament of Azerbaijan, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan pledged not
to open border with Armenia unless Nagorno-Karabakh problem is solved.

Abdullayev pointed out President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Kuwait
and documents signed between the two countries gave an impetus to
bilateral relations.

Ambassador noted an invitation letter to pay an official visit to
Azerbaijan was presented to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, adding this visit is of particular importance to
Azerbaijan. He expressed hope that this visit would take place.

Ambassador briefed about the ongoing reforms and development in
Azerbaijan.

When asked about Palestine problem, ambassador Abdullayev noted
Azerbaijan backs fair resolution of the problem.

He also dwelt on the Azerbaijan-Iran relations and its development
prospects.

YEREVAN TO HOST 9TH RA NAS SESSION DEDICATED TO 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INSTITUTE OF ARTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2009 14:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan will host the 9th session of the National
Academy of Sciences dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Institute
of Arts. RA NAS chairman Radik Martirosyan, deputy minister of culture
David Muradyan and others will make opening remarks. 40 art workers
will give reports on various art trends.

The Institute of Arts was established in Yerevan in 1958, with three
departments functioning: architecture, painting and music. Presently,
it studies all art trends under the supervision of Honored Art Worker,
Professor Ararat Aghamyan.

INTERNET IN ARMENIA CHEAPER COMPARED TO LAST YEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2009 13:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Internet in Armenia is now cheaper compared to last
year, Armen Grigoryan, Executive Secretary of IT Development Support
Council under RA Government, told a press conference in Yerevan. "As
early as a couple of years. ago I said Internet in Armenia was
18 times more expensive compared to international prices. Current
prices are conditioned by objective factors, but there is a chance
for decreasing them," Armen Grigoryyan said.

At that he noted that Armenia is currently provided with Internet
connection via Iran and Georgia, but it is necessary to join European
network by finding shorter ways. "Prices will essentially decrease,
if there are other providers apart from ArmenTel and FiberNet,"
Grigoryan stressed.

He particularly focused on providing Internet connection via Turkey
which is on the European Internet route. "If we manage to provide
connection via Turkey, we’ll definitely have high quality Internet
at European prices," he added.

Grigoryan also said that ArmenTel is currently negotiating with
Turkey, and there are certain agreements over the issue. "If things
go as planned, next year we’ll have an Internet channel from Turkey,"
he noted.

INDIAN ARMENIANS CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ENTHRONEMENT OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II, CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
NOVEMBER 2, 2009
KOLKATA

KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On 1st November,
2009, the Indian Armenian community celebrated the 10th anniversary
of enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of all Armenians. The event was held on the premises of
the Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Kolkata. Very Rev. Father Khoren
Hovhannisyan, pastor of Indian Armenians and manager of the Armenian
College and Philanthropic Academy along with chairperson, Michael
Dutt and Susan Ruben and Sunil Sobti, wardens of Mother Church of
Holy Nazareth, Kolkata saw through all the arrangements of the day.

In the morning Fr. Khoren conducted the Divine Liturgy. "By visiting
India, His Holiness expressed his love for the Indian Armenians
and showed that every single Armenian even in the remotest part of
the world is important and dear to him. His Holiness brought love
and spiritual awakening to his flock in India. It is difficult to
express in words the greatness of His Holiness and to speak of his
awe-inspiring presence. My reverence for him is much more than what
words can express," said Reverend Hovhannisyan in his sermon. It
was followed by a special prayer for the long life and health of
His Holiness.

Thereafter the faithful and guests joined Fr. Khoren in the inaugural
ceremony and blessing of a charitable dispensary sponsored by the
Armenian Church of Kolkata. The medical unit is named after "His
Holiness KAREKIN II." It will have a qualified doctor and a nurse
who will attend to the poor and the ailing and will also provide
free medical treatment to them. Later a concert was put up by the
ACPA choir and lunch served to the guests.