Author: Kanayan Tamar

TODAY IS WORLD THEATER DAY: ARMENIAN THEATRE VISITORS’ NUMBER INCREASES

15:48 . 27/03

Hakob Ghazanchyan, Chairman of the Union of Theatrical Workers of
Armenia, is sure that an interesting new generation is replacing old
actors, tert.am informs.

“They are a most interesting generation, theater is their purpose in
life,” tert.am quotes Ghazanchyan as saying in a press conference on
the occasion of World Theatre Day.

He highly appreciates the plays by young producers and performers.

“They are most interesting plays, and their authors are highly educated
young people. I would like these young people to appear on TV more
often,” Ghazanchyan said.

Armenian theater marks World Theatre Day by presentation of the
annual award Artavazd. On Tuesday evening the award ceremony is to
take place as well.

“Every year we try to make unbiased appraisals of performances. This
evening we are going to select the best works in eleven categories,”
Ghazanchyan said.

He is also happy to see more theater goers and queues near box-offices.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT USE GEORGIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY

The Messenger
March 27 2012
Georgia

Armenian government MP Gagik Minasyan has rejected the possibility
of Armenia using Ukrainian or Georgian methods of combating corruption.

Instead, Minasyan believes that it is necessary to establish a civil
society which will fight corruption and stop giving or taking bribes.

He acknowledged, though, that corruption in Armenia has a systemic
character, and is very difficult to combat.

Opposition MPs from DashnakThsuthun party countered that corruption
will be defeated only with a change in the ruling power.

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions
Index 2011, Armenia ranks 129th out of 182 countries, alongside the
Dominican Republic, Honduras, the Philippines, and Syria, classifying
it as very corrupt.

IFC INVESTED OVER $ 200 MLN IN ARMENIA OVER 17 YEARS

/ARKA/
MARCH 27, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, March 27. /ARKA/. The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
invested $202 million in Armenia within 17 years of its activity in
the republic, IFC Senior Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Tomasz Telma reported to journalists on Tuesday.

Within 17 years IFC invested over $ 200 million in 35 projects
directed to financial sector, and industry, in particular, mining
industry, he said. It should be mentioned that the Corporation has
quite activated its activity in Armenia over the recent three years,
and the investments totaled $150 million, according to him.

He also said IFC collaborates with Armenia’s private sector to open
jobs and boost economic growth.

Telma clarified that taking into account the situation on the world
financial markets IFC not only conducts debt financing in Armenia
but also funds trade spheres by implementing different programs.

Speaking on consultation services offered by the Corporation, Telma
said IFC cooperates with Armenian government to develop mechanisms
of legal regulation, and improve investment climate of the country.

He also expressed the hope that by collaborating with IFC Armenia will
implement reforms in transport logistics, tax sector, control system,
and food security.

Armenia joined IFC membership in April 1995.

EBRD REPRESENTATIVE: IN ARMENIA THE MARKET OF INTERNET SERVICES IS UNDERDEVELOPED, AND THE TARIFFS MAY BE LOWER

arminfo
Tuesday, March 27, 17:45

In Armenia the market of internet services is underdeveloped, and the
tariffs of services may be lower, Alexander Babayan, representative
of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), said
during today’s press conference of Interactive TV company of Armenia.

The company presented its new internet services and broadcasting
services.

To recall, in September 2011 the EBRD and Interactive TV signed an
agreement on provision of 2.2 mln USD financial support for technical
and technological re-equipment and development of new products.

Interactive TV will receive the funds stage by stage within a 7-year
period.

The EBRD representative pointed out that the players of the internet
services market in Armenia seek to expand and develop the internet
offers. He specified that the problems of the market stem from the
shortage of financial means, which could have served for internet
development in Armenia. According to him, in Armenia the banks are
not so actively financing the sphere of internet services yet, as
they see some risks in this sphere.

To note, Interactive TV specializes in services of digital cable
television in Yerevan. Recently the company has entered the market
of internet services. By early 2013 the company is going to cover
whole Yerevan with cable TV broadcasting services. At the moment
the company’s services are available in Kanaker- Zrytun, Davitashen,
Ajapnyak, and the southwestern district of Yerevan. At present the
company covers 12% of the cable broadcasting market.

ARMENIA NEEDS LAW ON THEATER

Tert.am
27.03.12

March 27 is World Theater Day, but Armenia has not so far a Law on
Theater and Theatrics.

Talking to Tert.am, Sona Meloyan, Press Secretary, Theater Workers
Union of Armenia, stressed the urgency of such a law.

For six years, the relevant bill, which was drafted by Heghine
Bisharyan, Head of the Rule of Law parliamentary group, and Victor
Dallakyan, an MP of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA),
has been on the Armenian parliament’s agenda.

Interestingly, Armenia’s parliament regularly postponed consideration
of the bill on the government representatives’ proposals.

Heghine Bisharyan, co-authors of the bill, finds it difficult to
explain the reasons for putting off consideration of the bill by
Armenia’s Ministry of Culture. “I think it would be better to turn
to the minister of culture. She may be informed of the reasons for
delay,” Bisharyan said.

Tert.am applied to Armenia’s Ministry of Culture. However, an official
promised to answer later.

SERZH SARGSYAN: NUCLEAR SECURITY REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR ARMENIA

armradio.am
27.03.2012 14:56

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan participated in the 2012 Nuclear
Security Summit in Seoul. Speaking at the event, President Sargsyan
first thanked the organizers of the summit for hosting this gathering,
which is of key importance for global security. He also hailed
the continous efforts of US President Barack Obama ever since the
Washington Summit of 2010.

“Nuclear security has been and remains a priority issues for Armenia.

We have been consistently implementing programs and taking concrete
steps towards creating a viable control mechanism to reach expected
results,” President Sargsyan noted. According to him, Armenia has
adopted a new law on dual-use items, including the control of export
and transit of nuclear and radioactive materials, as well as the
transfer of dual-use information and results of mental activity.

“Armenia, a producer of nuclear energy, is developing comprehensive
cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The
secure exploitation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), the
raise of its security level is among the priorities of our government.

We are strongly committed to IAEA requirements from nuclear plants of
that generation,” the President said, adding that “the full compliance
of the exploitation of the ANPP to those norms has been confirmed by
the OSART Mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

President Sargsyan availed himself of the opportunity to express
gratitude to IAEA, the Russian Federation, the European Union and
all other countries, organizations and experts who cooperate with
Armenia and provide support on this important issue.

Serzh Sargsyan touched upon the misinformation about the ANPP
presented by the Azerbaijani President at the Seoul Summit. “The
obvious misinformation of the Azerbaijani President regarding the
functioning of the Armenian Nuclear power Plant does not surprise me,
because slandering Armenia has long become a common practice for
Azerbaijan. They have been presenting distorted information about
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh from most different podiums. They even
distort the famous UN Resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh, forgetting that
they were the ones to launch military actions and refuse to stop them.

It’s them making bellicose statements today and refusing to solve the
Nagorno Karabakh issue on the basis of international law,” President
Sargsyan stated.

Serzh Sargsyan stated that it would be correct to consider the nuclear
security issues along with other adjunct problems. He attached
importance to the fight against the efforts of using the energy
resources as a political capital, noting that the results of it are
hard especially for the countries, which are deprived of natural
energy resources and have to search for ways of energy independence.

“Two out of the four immediate neighbors of Armenia have been keeping
put country in blockade for two decades, violating the norms of
international law, thus leaving no alternative as regards the choice
of the ways of energy independence,” Serzh Sargsyan stated.

At the end of the speech the President reiterated Armenia’s commitment
to fighting the illegal trafficking of nuclear materials, as well as
our country’s resoluteness to contribute to the international efforts
of fighting terrorism.

K. ANDREASYAN EVALUATES THE ACTIVITIES OF RA MINISTRY OF ECONOMY FOR 2011

Armenian Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan has evaluated the
activities of the RA Ministry of Economy on 2011. Press service of the
AHRD office informs about this. Here is the text of the evaluations.

Shortcomings and problems identified.

A control on non-food labeling, using and maintaining requirements
has not been properly provided.

The Ministry has not taken sufficient measures to protect
consumers’ rights in the field of non-food quality and safety control
requirements.

Despite the measures taken by the Ministry, public awareness of
consumer rights issue is still essential.

In spite of fact that state control over the requirements of technical
regulations and metrological rules and norms was implemented by
Ministry of Economy state Inspectorate of the market and consumer
rights in 221 business entities in 2011, however, it is was evaluated
by the specialists as inadequate, so there is a need for activating
the control in this direction.

While licensing of the commercial facility, the agency for licenses
and permits of the Ministry has not provided a unified approach to
the examination and evaluation of circumstances leading to possible
infringement of the rights and freedoms of the others.

Enough steps have not been taken to increase the offer for hotel
services and other recreation services in the regions, their quality
and competitiveness.

Positive developments

Types of activities subject to licensing were reduced from 169 to
96 and electronic possibility for acquisition of licenses has been
made available.

During the inspections violations of the requirements on no food
labeling was found in 32 business entities, which resulted in the
orders for suspension of the batches of products not complying with
their orders, and the people responsible for violations were charged
with of the administrative penalties in the amount of 7160000.

The scope of liability of joint stock companies’ directors has
expanded, thereby enhancing the protection of investors.

According to the statistics the tourism has expanded.

Karen Andreasyan, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia The
list of the identified positive developments, gaps and shortcomings
is not exhaustive.

The introduced Chapter (7) of the HRD Annual Report 2011 is available
in full at 28.03.12,
16:57

MUSICAL ARMENIA CONCERT WINNER TO PERFORM AT NY CARNEGIE HALL

PanARMENIAN.Net
March 28, 2012 – 14:47 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian Prelacy has sponsored the “Musical
Armenia Concert” for 29 seasons, choosing the best among Armenian
musicians. The winners go through an application process for the
opportunity to play at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

This year, the Prelacy chose Marta Bagratuni, a graduate of Okemos
High School and a graduate student at Michigan State University,
City Pulse reports.

Bagratuni started playing cello when she was 4 years old and has been
playing for almost 20 years. Both her parents are also cellists:
Her father played at “Musical Armenia” 15 years agoand her mother
has also played at Carnegie Hall.

“I guess it’s my turn,” Bagratuni said. “It’s a really good start,
to play at Carnegie Hall,” she added, even though she is anything
but a beginner.

In addition to MSU performances, she has performed in concerts
throughout the United States and abroad. She also sings opera (that
runs in the family, too) and manages to juggle both passions.

Bagratuni has even been to Carnegie Hall before: In November, she
traveled there to play with the New York Women’s Ensemble.

She says that it’s a different experience playing solo, though, and
the concert, which will be held at 8 p.m. Friday at the Weill Theater
will be her first solo performance at Carnegie Hall. Her accompaniment
will be provided by pianist and fellow MSU student Zhao Zhao Yang.

They will perform selections by Adam Khudoyan, Robert Schumann,
Sulkhan Tsintsadze and Vache Sharafyan.

Bagratuni would like to move to New York eventually. “Once you get into
the scene, there are so many opportunities for musicians,” she said,
as well as greater opportunity to be part of the classical music elite.

After her Carnegie performance, Bagratuni plans to get right back to
work. “You can’t just get comfortable,” she said. “I have to come
back and prepare for my graduate recital and send in a couple of
competition tapes. You have to keep finding more things to do and
more opportunities.”

She would like to record a cello album at some point and hopes that
she can raise enough money to produce and distribute a record as
widely as possible. “When I have concerts, it’s important to be able
to give out my CD,” she said.

Bagratuni welcomes the challenge that the Carnegie performance
provides, but she is also looking toward the future.

“It’s going to feel great, and then it’s going to be over,” she said
of her Friday concert. “And then – what now? I need to do more.”

ARMENIA IS A LEADING REGIONAL COUNTRY IN IT SECTOR – ECONOMY MINISTRY

news.am
March 28, 2012 | 13:59

YEREVAN. – Armenia is considered a leading country, in the Information
Technology (IT) sector, from among its neighboring CIS and Middle
Eastern countries, states the Economy Ministry’s 2012 Program for
Promotion of IT Sector.

According to this program, new IT companies sharply increased in
Armenia in the past ten years. In 2011, this number was close to 300;
near 5,500 specialists were involved in this sector; and, together
with the telecommunications sector, this totaled more than 10,000
specialists.

The IT sector’s share in Armenia’s GDP amounted to 1.7 percent,
which can be compared with that of India (1.4%) and Germany (1.3%).

The Armenian IT companies’ total revenue reached US$ 205 million
in 2011.

And around 50 percent of the IT companies’ products and services
are exported

TATUL HAKOBYAN PRESENTED HIS NEW BOOK, ENTITLED “LOOKING FROM ARARAT: ARMENIANS AND TURKS”

Noyan Tapan
2012-03-27

On March 19 an Armenian veteran journalist Tatul Hakobyan presented
his new book, entitled “Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks.”

This 500 page book is the result of eight years of extensive
research, analysis and travel by the author. It was first published
in Western Armenian using classical orthography. This most recent
one in Eastern Armenian will be presented in Yerevan and Gyumri as
well – Armenia’s capital city and second largest city consecutively
– at the beginning of April. There will also be an English version,
which is being prepared for print this fall.

In the words of Shahan Kandaharian, Editor-in-Chief of Azdak daily
in Beirut, the author “presents each end of Yerevan-Ankara relations
with high journalistic professionalism,” having carried out extensive
archive analysis and frequent visits to Western Armenia during which
he conducted a number of in-depth interviews with Armenian, Turkish
and foreign diplomats, presidents, and historians.

Lebanese Armenian intellectuals Khatchig Dedeyan, Tigran Jinbashian
and Sargis Giragosian presented comments on the author and his new
published book.

“Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks” is comprised of three
parts. The first ten chapters describe Armenian-Turkish (Kemalist)
relations from 1918 to 1921. The seven chapters of the second part
dwell on Armenian-Turkish relations at a time when Armenia was a part
of the Soviet Union. In the eleven chapters of the third part you can
examine the relations from 1988 to present day. The book also includes
a preface (“The saddest Liturgy”) and an epilogue (“Where are you,
Land of Nairi?”), as well as an Appendix where the author presents
all of the documents ever signed between Turkey and Armenia.

“I started this book almost simultaneously with my first one –
“Green and Black: Karabakh Diary.” This could be considered as a
continuation to that and its second volume,” said Hakobyan at the
Beirut presentation, adding, “If you have read “Green and Black”,
I would advise you to read this one as well and stay tuned for the
next ones!”

First published in 2008, Tatul Hakobyan’s first book – “Green and
Black: Karabakh Diary”, has three editions in Armenian and was
translated into Western Armenian, Russian, English, Arabic and
Turkish languages.