Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN LOSES APPROXIMATELY 70 MILLION DOLLARS

LRAGIR.AM
17:43:28 – 11/06/2009

During yesterday’s session of the board of directors of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, the decision to stop financing the program on
the road construction was made. This decision does not concern the
irrigation subprograms of the program, the Radio Liberty informs.

As the Radio Liberty informs, the reason for this decision is the
fact that the steps of the Armenian government do not coincide with
the measurements of the democratic governance of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation.

The executive director of the Corporation Rodni Bent stated that it
is the Armenian government to bear responsibility for this decision,
as the actions of which do not coincide with the necessary indexes
of the Corporation.

In accordance with the contract signed with the Armenian government,
the Millennium Corporation allocates 235, 6 million dollars to
Armenia, 68 million of which was planned to be allocated for the road
constructional works and more than 160 million for the implementation
of the irrigation subprograms.

The corporation has the right to stop the whole program all its
subprograms if the country does not provide for necessary democratic
progress, which is freedom of media, corruption, transparency of the
governmental actions; the radio Liberty reports.

COLD WAR BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY TO BE OVER

Panorama.am
13:02 11/06/2009

The cold war between Turkey and Armenia is over and Serzh Sargsyan’s
visit to Ankara is welcome, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu
said, Turkish media reports. "The cold war period is over," Turkish
FM said.

According to the minister Armenia and Turkey are no more
enemies. "Relations with Israel are favorable for Palestine at the
same time and the opposite. Azerbaijan also can see that our relations
with Armenia are under its interests," he said.

It’s worth reminding that Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Turkey is scheduled
in October when Turkey-Armenia football national teams will meet.

THEY REMEMBERED KHACHATUR ABOVYAN

A1+
07:35 pm | June 11, 2009

Official

Serzh Sargsyan today received the Foreign Minister of Estonia,
Urmas Paet.

"Armenia attaches importance to the further deepening of relations
with Estonia both in bilateral format and within the framework of
the European Union," President Sargsyan said, expressing confidence
that the Foreign Minister’s visit would be another step targeted at
the expansion of bilateral cooperation. The Head of State said the
way passed by the Baltic States and their experience was interesting
and useful for Armenia.

The Foreign Minister of Estonia emphasized the friendly relations
established between the two countries and said that his visit was
aimed at expanding the multifaceted cooperation.

Serzh Sargsyan underlined the bilateral cooperation in the spheres of
education and culture. According to Mr. Sargsyan Armenia marks the
200th anniversary of Khachatur Abovyan, Armenian great enlighter,
writer and pedagogue who spent most of his life in Estonia.

The Armenian President and the Estonian Foreign Minister discussed
the possibility of easing the visa regime.

Upon the request of the Estonian FM, Serzh Sargsyan presented the
recent developments over the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

RA PRESIDENT: THE STRONGER RUSSIA, A STRONGER COUNTRY IS ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.06.2009 19:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President Serzh Sargsyan has today visited the
Russian Embassy to congratulate the staff on national holiday – the
day of adopting Declaration on State Sovereignty. "I am very happy the
Armenian-Russian ties are developing. Just a couple of days ago when
I met with Russian President, we emphasized that bilateral relations
are developing by every year," President stressed, wishing Russia and
Russian people prosperity. "The stronger Russia, a stronger country
is Armenia – this is what I have always said," Presidential Press
Service quotes Mr. Sargsyan as saying.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER PAYS TWO-DAY WORKING VISIT TO GEORGIA

Noyan Tapan
June 9, 2009

TBILISI, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol
Vashadze’s invitation, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian paid a
two-day working visit to Tbilisi on June 7-8.

E. Nalbandian with G. Vashadze and Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugalava conducted
the solemn unveiling of a memorial of Sayat Nova in Meydan Square
of Tbilisi on June 7. Memorial’s foundation-stone was laid in 2008
September by the Armenian and Georgian Presidents during RA President
Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to Tbilisi.

E. Nalbandian met with G. Vashadze in the morning of June 8. The
Georgian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with cooperation
developing with Armenia in various spheres and said that the Georgian
authorities are interested in further deepening and expansion of the
current high level of interrelations.

Speaking about steps aimed at promoting economic cooperation between
the two countries and partnership in that sphere, E. Nalbandian
conveyed Armenian side’s expectation on reconsideration of tariffs
for cargo transportations to Armenia and out of Armenia through the
territory of Georgia. The Ministers also discussed issues regarding
cooperation in the energy and transport spheres.

According to the report of the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, at the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of
Armenia and Georgia in detail discussed a number of problems of
Georgian Armenians. G. Vashadze presented programs implemented by the
Georgian authorities to solve the socio-economic problems in Javakhk,
in particular, in the spheres of creation of jobs, road construction
and improvement of educational institutions’ conditions.

The interlocutors also exchanged thoughts over a number of regional
and international issues.

E. Nalbandian returned to Yerevan the same day.

NKR PRESIDENT: INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF STATE INDEPENDENCE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH IS A MATTER OF TIME

ArmInfo
2009-06-10 11:05:00

ArmInfo. President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan met the delegation
headed by vice speaker of the House of Lords of Great Britain Baroness
Caroline Cox.

AS the Central Information Department of the NKR president’s office
told ArmInfo, the Baroness said she is inspired with positive changes
in Artsakh during every visit. On the guests’ request, B. Sahakyan
introduced the current situation and the prospects of development of
different spheres of the republic’s economy. The parties also touched
on the issue of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict settlement.

According to B. Sahakyan, international recognition of the NKR state
independence is just a matter of time, and it can be achieved by
consistent development of Artsakh statehood and strengthening of
democratic values.

In conclusion, B. Sahakyan expressed gratitude to the guests for the
permanent attention to Artsakh.

ARMENIANS OF KUBAN GIFTED "ARMENIAN WITHOUT ARMENIAN" DICTIONARY

PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.06.2009 13:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Samvel Gharibian, whose phenomenal memory was fixed
in Guinness Book of World Records gifted a unique dictionary to the
Armenian community of Kuban.

The dictionary titled "Armenian without Armenian" allows learning
the rudiments of informal Armenian language.

Mr. Gharibian sent 1000 dictionaries to Krasnodar region. The kit
also includes MP3 audio appendix.

MORE THAN 1000 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF ARMENIA AND KARABAKH GATHERED AT THE ENGLISH PARK TO PAINT THE NATURE THAT THEY DREAM OF

ArmInfo
2009-06-09 09:52:00

ArmInfo. On Sunday, June 7, more than 1000 children throughout the
whole territory of Armenia and Karabakh gathered at the English park
to paint the nature that they dream of.

The press service of VivaCell-MTS reports that the event was organized
by VivaCell-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife
and Cultural Assets in the Republic of Armenia.

MARCO POLO RESTAURANTS STAND CLOSE

A1+
07:30 pm | June 05, 2009

Society

Marco Polo sidewalk cafes right in the heart of Yerevan are not
working today.

On June 3 the restaurants closed for five days after a visit of the
State Revenue Committee. The restaurants stand close with a notice on
the doors: "Marco Polo’s owner, "Sanemra" Company, made rough breach
of law and didn’t give cash vouchers."

We were unable to know anything from Marco Polo’s administration as
the owner was said to be in Russia.

ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IN YEREVAN – JUST LIKE AN ORIENTAL MARKET

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.06.2009 16:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The entire electoral campaign is a pogrom of
Armenian civilization and democracy, i.e. ‘oriental market’ so to
say," Hakobyan said, accusing "Prosperous Armenia" and Republican
of organizing such pogrom. Marxist leader also commented upon the
meeting conducted by President Serzh Sargsyan after elections.

"The President missed the proper moment for granting prisoners
amnesty, anyway amnesty is historically important in terms of balancing
forces. The President will not gain any dividends by declaring amnesty
now because he should have done that upon inauguration to his post."