Author: Kamalian Hagop

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY ATTRACTS HOLLYWOOD

A1+
06 February, 2008

Eight-year-old Karot-Hakob Tashchian has drawn the attention of
Montreal City, Canada. He took the fifth place at the International
Presentation of Performers-2008 (IPOP) featuring 1500 participants
aged 4-16 from different angles of the world.

The International Organisation is aimed at revealing talented children
all over the world.

The best participants stand a good chance to act in films and reels
shot in Hollywood.

Four organisations have already taken interest in Tashchian. Presently,
he considers their proposals.

By the way, Karot has visited Armenia for the first time this
year. Among other things, he was deeply impressed by beggars. Before
the visit, Karot’s parents had presented Armenia in pink colours.

Karot’s relatives told A1+ that during his visit Karot would sit
by beggars until his mother gave money to all of them. The boy has
decided to tackle the problem as soon as he grows up.

After the competition he informed his relatives that he would visit
Armenia to help all cadgers after getting money from shootings.

To note, Karot is the only and longed-for child in the family. The
choice of the boy’s name is not accidental as "karot" means
"melancholy" in Armenian.

NO CHILD TO BE ADOPTED

Panorama.am
20:24 04/02/2008

This year 6 citizens of Armenia placed orders to adopt a child. Foreign
citizens did not place any order for a child adoption.

According to Lena Hayrapetyan of the ministry of labor and social
affairs, 115 children were adopted in 2007; 55 of them were adopted
by the Armenian citizens and 60 by the foreigners. She said that 121
children were adopted in 2006 and 66 of them were adopted by Armenian
citizens and 65 foreigners.

Hayrapetyan said that 25% of the appliers could adopt a child in
2007. She explained that there are no children to be adopted in
Armenia. The thing is that the parents take their children to the
orphanages but they do not refuse their children. Social problems are
very strict and the parents are obliged to take them to the orphanages.

Frendo gives Malta a helping hand
Tuesday 5 February 2008by Domenic Aquilina from Malta

The hosts beat Iceland 1-0 on the second day of
action at the Malta International Tournament while
Armenia secured a second victory, 2-1 against Belarus.

Frendo winner
With coach Du?an Fitzel making ten changes from the
side that lost 2-0 to Armenia in their opening outing,
Cleavon Frendo scored the only goal of their game
against Iceland with a dipping effort from the edge of
the area after 18 minutes. Malta goalkeeper Andrew
Hogg was given plenty of scope to demonstrate his
skills while Gareth Sciberras was forced to clear a
shot off the line late on.

Six points
Armenia have maximum points from their two games after
overcoming Belarus, who beat Iceland 2-0 in their
opening match. A fluffed clearance from goalkeeper
Mayis Azizyan gifted Vyacheslav Hleb an easy opener
after just five minutes, but Ararat Arakelyan levelled
with a header from a corner on 18 minutes. Ryhor
Filipenko diverted Ara Hakobyan’s cross past his own
goalkeeper after 77 minutes to give Armenia the win,
though they were later reduced to ten men with
Aleksandr Tadevosyan’s dismissal.

©uefa.com 1998-2008

EU HOPES FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2008 15:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Frozen conflicts in South Caucasus hamper development
of states and regional cooperation, said Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood
Policy.

"We are hopeful that Azerbaijan and Armenia will find a peaceful
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The European Commission calls on both states to join regional
initiatives, what will speed up the signature of a peaceful agreement,"
she said.

Asked if the European Union supports the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars
link, Ms. Ferrero-Waldner said, "The European Commission has repeatedly
stated that will render political and financial assistance to projects
of inclusive and regional importance. However, we do not view the
above-mentioned link as such," Day.az reports.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN TAX SERVICE VISITED KARABAKH

KarabakhOpen
04-02-2008 18:37:15

NKR President Bako Sahakyan met with the head of the State Tax
Service of Armenia Vahram Barseghyan. During the meeting they
discussed cooperation between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia over tax
administration, as well as the perspectives of its promotion.

The interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues concerning exchange
of experience, training and qualification of specialists, technical
and methodical aid.

NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan and the head of the NKR State Tax
Service Artak Balayan also participated in the meeting.

Iranian Armenian community concerned with the issue of Old Jugha

armradio.am
02.02.2008 13:07

The Iranian-Armenian community has disseminated booklets and DVDs,
which contain information about the destructive actions of Azerbaijan
against the Armenian cultural legacy of Old Jugha (Nakhijevan),
editor-in-chief of the Tehran based `Alik’ newspaper Derenk Melikyan
declared, `Regnum’ reports.

According to him, the materials have been provided to all diplomatic
representations accredited in Iran.

Let us remind that the medieval Armenian cemetery of Old Jugha at the
border between Nakhijevan and Iran and the historic monuments have been
consistently destroyed over the past 15 years.

In December 2005 divisions of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan finally
destroyed the cemetery, which was recorded by members of the Atrpatakan
Diocese of the Armenian Church. In January 2006 the European Parliament
adopted a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s actions in Old Jugha.

Azerbaijan has constructed a firing ground instead of the Armenian
cemetery.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES BY 2.6% IN ARMENIA IN 2007 AS COMPARED WITH 2006

Noyan Tapan
Feb 1, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Industrial production of 716 bln
54.5 mln drams (over 2 bln 96.2 mln USD) in current prices was made
in Armenia in 2007. Production of 719 bln 322.4 mln drams was sold,
including sales of 75 bln 883.1 mln drams in CIS countries, sales of
176 bln 269.5 mln drams in other countries.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the industrial
production index made 102.6% as compared with 2006, the same index
without the production and distribution of electricity, gas and water
made 101.7%.

NATO ASSESSMENT MISISON TO VISIT ARMENIA

armradio.am
01.02.2008 13:13

Next week the NATO Assessment Mission will arrive in Armenia, NATO
Information Centre in Armenia informs. The NATO mission to assess
the accomplishment of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP)
will visit Armenia February 4-8.

During the visit the delegates of NATO will have meetings with
representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Police and the National Security Service.

The mission will be headed by Mr. Jaroslaw Skonieczka, Director of
NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Integration and Partnership Directorate.

NATO’s Individual Partnership Action Plan with Armenia came into force
January 2006. the parties are expected to sign a renewed IPAP in the
second half of the year.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: WE ARE DISPOSED TO HOLD REALLY GOOD ELECTIONS

armradio.am
30.01.2008 17:45

President Robert Kocharyan received the pre-election mission of the
PACE ad hoc Committee on Monitoring of the Presidential Elections in
Armenian headed by John Prescott.

Thanking for accepting the invitation of Armenia, the President
attached great importance to the activity of the observation mission.

"We are disposed to hold really good elections and we think that the
presence of observation missions will promote that," the President
noted.

The Head of the PACE mission expressed hope that the forthcoming
elections will be one step forward.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the pre-election process.

President Kocharyan clarified why the Prime Minister remains in office
while being a presidential candidate. Reference was made to the role
and work of the courts.

NATO EXERCISE PLANNING CONFERENCE STARTS IN YEREVAN

Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 29, 2008 Tuesday 5:41 PM MSK

A planning conference on NATO Exercise Cooperative Longbow/Lancer
2008, which is to take place in the South Caucasus later this year,
started in Yerevan on Tuesday.

Armenian chief of army staff and Deputy Defense Minister
Col. Gen. Seiran Oganian said that the fact that 110 representatives
from 20 countries are taking part in the conference shows the
importance and significance of the upcoming exercises.

"The organization of military exercises in Armenia is becoming a
tradition. The first such exercise – Cooperative Best Effort – was
held in 2003, then the Exercise Rescuer in 2006, and then Combined
Endeavor in 2007. However, the Exercise Cooperative Longbow/Lancer
will be the largest exercise ever held in the South Caucasus in terms
of its scope and the number of countries involved," he said.

"The Exercise Cooperative Longbow/Lancer is aimed at arranging
cooperation in providing security and exchanging experiences,"
Oganian said.

Azerbaijan refused to take part in the conference despite the fact that
it had been invited, Oganian said. Turkish delegates are participating
in the conference, he said.

For details see the Interfax Military News Agency wire.