Author: Jilavian Emma

MEDIATORS WILLING TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP BEFORE ELECTION CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
10.01.2007 16:49

In 2006 there was a rise in the Karabakh conflict settlement process,
then there was a decline and again a rise, US Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Matthew Bryza said in an interview with "Azertag" agency,
Mediamax reports.

"It was a year of rise, then fall, and again a rise. It was just
like a two-humped camel. But we closed the year on the humps and not
between. In February a meeting was held in Ramboulliet. Then there
was a meeting in Bucharest.

Nevertheless, none of these came up to the expectations. That is why
in June my colleagues and I expressed our regret, coming forward with
a statement, in which we called on Presidents of the two countries to
demonstrate strong leader’s qualities and improve the main principles
suggested to them. I’m very glad that the Presidents did this. That
is why overcoming the decline, we closed the year with the productive
Kocharyan-Aliyev meeting in Minsk. The Foreign Ministers of the two
countries demonstrate stiff positions in the talks.

They defend the national interests of their countries. At the same
time, Mammadyarov and Oskanian respect each other. I hope that parallel
to the progress of the process, the respectful relations between them
will find reflection in the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,"
said Matthew Bryza.

The American diplomat informed that lat January or February the
mediators will visit the region.

"We would like to make another step to reinforce the success achieved
at the end of last year before the activation of the election campaign
in Armenia," Matthew Bryza noted.

SPECIAL SANITARY CLEANING EQUIPMENT TO BE BROUGHT TO YEREVAN FROM ABROAD IN COMING DAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 08 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Currently 12 enterprises are engaged
in rubbish disposal with 156 cars in Yerevan. As Deputy Yerevan Mayor
Vano Vardanian said at the January 8 press conference, by the Mayor’s
instructions, these enterprises should replenish their technical
base. It was also mentioned that the Mayor’s Office has allocated
150 mln drams (nearly 410 thousand USD) to communities for them to
purchase rubbish disposal new equipment this year.

In V.Vardanian’s words, special sanitary cleaning equipment will be
brought in the coming days from abroad, with which Malatia-Sebastia,
Shengavit, Arabkir, Kanaker-Zeytun communities will be replenished.

The Deputy Mayor also said that 545 tons of salt and 1200 cubic meters
of sand was used in snow cleaning in late December and early January
in Yerevan.

DRAFT REPORT ON ARMENIA’S COMMITMENTS TO BE DISCUSSED AT PACE SESSION

ArmRadio.am
08.01.2007 12:31

The main issues on the agenda of the winter session of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to be held January
22-26 will refer to inter-religious dialogue, children’s rights and the
situation in Kosovo. According to th edraft agenda, the draft report
on Armenia’s commitments prepared by George Colombie (France) and
Miko Ello (France) will be presented during the sitting on 23 January.

Let us remind that head of the Armenian delegation to PACE Tigran
Torosyan had positively assessed the draft report and resolution.

The future status of Kosovo will be discussed on January 24 in
presence of Marti Ahtisari, the Special Representative of the UN
Secretary General.

During the session reference will be made to the threats to
journalists, as well as the tension between Russia and Georgia.

Agence France Presse
29 décembre 2006 vendredi 12:00 PM GMT

La cinémathèque de Toulouse rend hommage au cinéma arménien en
janvier

TOULOUSE 29 déc 2006

La Cinémathèque de Toulouse rend hommage pendant tout le mois de
janvier au cinéma arménien à travers une riche programmation
intitulée "Fragments d’Arménie", qui fera une large part au
réalisateur Sergueï Paradjanov, a-t-on appris auprès de ses
responsables.

Cet hommage, entrant dans le cadre de l’année de l’Arménie en France
commencée le 21 septembre 2006 et baptisée "Arménie mon amie",
offrira une trentaine de films dont des oeuvres de Paradjanov, Amo
Bek-Nazarov et Artavazd Péléchian.

"Fragments d’Arménie" proposera notamment un panorama de films des
années 60 à nos jours et une sélection de réalisations "typiques" de
la sensibilité arménienne vue par la diaspora, dont Atom Egoyan et
Serge Avedikian.

Ce dernier a prêté divers dessins et collages réalisés par Sergueï
Paradjanov durant sa détention par le régime soviétique, qui
s’ajouteront à ceux, jamais vus en France, obtenus auprès du musée
Paradjanov à Erevan qui a monté spécialement pour la Cinémathèque
toulousaine une exposition sur le grand cinéaste.

Le conservateur du musée, Zaven Sarsgsyan, également photographe,
présentera également ses photos de monastères arméniens et le joueur
de Kamantcha (vielle à pique) Gaguik Mouradian donnera un concert le
9 janvier après la projection de deux films de Paradjanov.

Le film burlesque muet Chor et Chorchor, filmé en noir et blanc en
1926 par Amo Bek-Nazarov, considéré comme le père du cinéma arménien,
sera projeté les 12 et 13 janvier au thétre Sorano dans une "mise en
scène" de Didier Carette avec musiciens et acteurs qui serviront
ainsi de "passeurs de culture", s’est félicitée Natacha Laurent,
déléguée générale de la Cinémathèque.

Armenpress

BULK OF FREIGHT CARS REACH ARMENIA

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Most of around
300 freight cars loaded with Armenia-destined goods
that had been waiting at the Ukrainian port of
Ilichevsk to be transported by a ferryboat across the
Black Sea to the Georgian port of Poti, have reached
Armenia, Armenian railway officials said.
The queue was due to a dispute between Ukrainian
Railways and Ukrainian Ferries company, the deputy
chief of the Armenian Railways, Elbak Tarposhian,
said.
Two ferries each carrying 100 freight cars, had the
other day arrived in Poti and the freight cars have
reached Armenia. He said the two Ukrainian companies
have settled their dispute and no lines are expected
in Ilichevsk.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 29 2006

ICRC representatives meet with captured Azerbaijani soldier

[ 29 Dec. 2006 17:48 ]

The representatives of International Committee of Red Cross Armenia
Office visited the Azerbaijani Soldier Samir Mammadov Nazim who was
captured by Armenians on December 24, ICRC Baku Office told APA.

According to the information got from the office, the officers of the
organization delivered him his family’s letter. This is their third
visit to the soldier.
It should be noted that Samir Mammadov was drafted from Barda
Military Registration department and was captured in neutral zone-
Gazakh-Ijevan border. The soldier did not have weapon. /APA/

THE USA DOES NOT WANT TO SEE ARMENIA ISOLATED

Regnum, Russia
Dec 25 2006

US policy in South Caucasus is aimed at promoting regional
cooperation and normalization of relations instead of isolation, says
a statement by US congressmen, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, addressed to
the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA). Earlier, the US president
approved a bill banning state financing of the construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad. Earlier, the bill was passed
by the House of Representatives, and then by the Senate. "We call
upon Turkey to revise the policy of alienating Armenia, put an end
to the 13-year-old blockade and take actions directed at cooperation
with its neighbors," the statement says.

The document contains an amendment proposed by Senators Robert Menendez
and Rick Santorini, which rules out financing by the Export-Import Bank
of the construction of the railway that would isolate Armenia from the
economic and regional transport corridor with average estimated cost
of $400 mln. Adoption of the amendment is part of the AAA lobbying
directed against isolation of Armenia.

In his turn, AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny highly appreciated
the role of the senators and congressmen in "implementing this
important initiative," namely in fighting Turkey and Azerbaijan’s
attempts to isolate Armenia. The initiative is one of numerous measures
to secure safety and wealth of Armenia. He expressed gratitude to
organizations and persons, who combined their effort with the Armenian
Diaspora of the United States. The Armenian Assembly of America
welcomed inaction of the bill banning financing of the railroad
joining Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia bypassing Armenia.

BILL PROHIBITING FUNDING OF RAILROAD BYPASSING ARMENIA ENACTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.12.2006 17:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly of America hailed the
enactment of legislation prohibiting funding for a railroad linking
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia while bypassing Armenia. As reported
by the AAA, the bill was signed into law this week as part of a
comprehensive measure known as the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
Act of 2006. The legislation included an amendment by Senators Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) ensuring that no Export-Import
funding is used for a rail line which seeks to isolate Armenia from
economic and regional transportation corridors. The provision mirrors
the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, which was
introduced in both Houses with the support of the Armenian Assembly.

Enactment of this provision is part of the Armenian Assembly’s
anti-isolation campaign and resulted in a successful outcome with
final passage in the waning days of the 109th Congress. "This Assembly
initiative to combat Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s attempts to isolate
Armenia is just one of the many ways in which we are working to
ensure a secure and prosperous homeland," said Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We very much appreciate the leadership of House and
Senate Members for bringing this important initiative to fruition." "I
also want to thank those organizations and individuals who joined us
in this community-wide effort," he added.

GARNIK ANANIAN AND DAVIT MURADIAN AWARDED GOLD PEN PRIZE THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 25 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The awarding ceremony of the 2006
winners of the Gold Pen competition being held once in three years
on the initiative of the Journalists’ Union of Armenia took place
on December 22. Dean of the Journalism Faculty of the Yerevan State
University, literary critic Garnik Ananian was awarded the Gold
Pen award for collections of journalistic articles "Globalization
and Information," "Urgent Problems of Journalists," "Conflict or
Dialogue of Civilizations?" "History against Globalization." Film
critic, Secretary of the Writers Union of Armenia Davit Muradian was
awarded for collections of journalistic articles "On European Wheels,"
"Right of Heritage."

In words of Astghik Gevorgian, the Chairman of the Journalists’
Union of Armenia, this year prize winners were chosen for journalist’s
mastery, arising modern problems and touching them upon. In his words,
the genre of publicism, which has an important meaning in journalism,
is today gradually being disappeared from the press. And G.Ananian
called on the journalists "never to sale their pen and only to be
led by nobleness and principles." The Gold Pen competition of the
Journalists’ Union of Armenia has been held since 1978. 28 publicists,
including Vardges Petrosian, Robert Mavisakalian, Armen Hovhannisian,
were awarded the prize.

WILL ELECTRICITY BECOME CHEAPER?

A1+
[07:06 pm] 22 December, 2006

Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan rendered a concluding press
conference today. He spoke about the achievements in the field.

According to the Minister, since January of the coming year, the
Iranian gas will be imported to Armenia. The 11th substation has been
reconstructed, the Metsamor nuclear power station has been re-equipped,
and an international conference has been organized discussing the
construction of a new nuclear power station.

Next year the construction of the fifth energy bloc of the Hrazdan
hydro electric power station will be concluded. These plans are
rather costly; nevertheless, they will reduce the expenses on produced
energy. Particularly, the gas expense in the Yerevan hydro electric
power station will be reduced 2.5 times.

Factually, the expenses will be reduced and the quantity of the energy
will increase. We tried to find out if this is enough to reduce the
energy tariffs. "That is not excluded", the Minister said.