Author: Kanayan Tamar

WASHINGTON INTERESTED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – U.S. DIPLOMAT

Interfax
June 15 2009
Russia

Washington is resolved to assist the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement,
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon told journalists in
Baku on Thursday.

Gordon said that he intends to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh with Azeri
officials and inform Baku on the U.S. aspiration to resolve the
conflict.

At the current stage there is a historic chance to promote peace
and security, and the United States is ready to offer comprehensive
assistance in this area, he said.

Noting that he cannot say definitely when the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will be resolved, Gordon said that there is certain progress.

Gordon also noted that there is a profound agreement on basic
settlement principles and expressed hope that such a settlement will
be secured soon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

THE AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO LEBANON VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

On Monday 15 June 2009, the Ambassador of Italy to Lebanon met with H.H.
Aram I for more than an hour and a half. During this period they discussed
the situation in the Middle East and signs of positive developments; the
importance of Christian presence in the Middle East, and the forthcoming
visit of His Holiness to the G8 Preparatory Meeting in Rome.

Referring to the participation of Catholicos Aram I in the meeting in Rome,
the Ambassador said that the presence of His Holiness as a Religious Leader
from the Middle East will give visibility to Christian presence in the
region, and his personal contribution will impact the agenda.

As it was reported earlier, His Holiness was asked to address the topic "The
Role of Religion in addressing the current economic crisis and its
repercussions on people and the earth."

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View the photo here:
tos/Photos386.htm#3
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

RESULTS OF UNITED EXAMINATIONS OVER FIRST TEN DAYS SUMMARIZED

Noyan Tapan
June 15, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The results of united examinations
over the first ten days have been summarized, RA Minister of Education
and Science Armen Ashotian said at the June 13 press conference. The
average scores of 11.7, 12, 13 and 11.4 were recorded in the united
exams in biology, geography, history, and the Armenian language and
literature respectively.

According to the minister, the average score in the subject "Armenian
language and literature" has fell compared to last year. At the same
time, the preliminary summarization of English examination results
shows that this year school leavers again received high scores in this
subject: out of 8 thousand school leavers who took foreign language
exams, 100 received the highest score of 20 points, and over a thousand
of them received 18-19 points. A. Ashotian explained the high scores
by several factors: first, the English tests were relatively easy,
second, the school leavers were better prepared. Besides, over a dozen
cribs were found during the English examination on June 12. He did not
rule out that some examinees had managed to use cribs. The minister
announced that the respective state bodies are trying to reveal the
initial source of these cribs and those to blame.

It was stated that the united exams in physics, the history of
the Armenian people, the Russian language, and chemistry will be
conducted within the next days. A. Ashotian announced that by mid
July the ministry will organize additional examinations for those who
did not take exams for a good reason, persons studying under various
programs abroad, as well as for servicemen demobilized from the army.

Bryza may become US Ambassador in Azerbaijan?
13.06.2009 19:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ American MG Co-Chair Mathew Bryza, deputy to
Assistant Secretary of State, is recommended as U.S. ambassador to
Azerbaijan, American Foreign Policy journal reports.
Recommendation for Bryza’s new appointment was given by former US
Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.
Fried and Bryza declined to comment, according to Foreign Policy.

"PRIME MINISTER’S INSIDIOUSNESS TOWARDS THE RAMKAVAR PARTY"

LRAGIR.AM
14:47:41 – 12/06/2009

The political board of the Ramkavar Liberal Party of Armenia issued
a stament, which runs that the press service of the party informed
several month ago that a commission affiliated to the party was
formed to study the works at the Nairit plant, which included also
lawyers, economists, former workers of the plant. The coordinator of
the commission was the president of the Armenian Democratic Liberal
party Harutun Arakelyan. Several months running (until the tragic
explosion and four victims), the commission has been notifying about
the bad situation in the plant and about the corruption process,
which took place there.

After the explosion, the party issued a statement with questions on
the facts it had. Until today, the government has not responded to
their questions, has not refuted them or critisized.

The only response was the insidiousness towards the Armenian
Liberal Democratic party headed by the Armenia Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan. The Prime Minister decided who is going to be
the next president of the party. The Armenian Prime Minister now,
is engaged in another act of insidiousness: formation of a "new"
liberal democratic party of Armenia.

In this connection, the Ramkavar Liberal Party of Armenia states that
even if the government sets up millions of parties named democratic
liberal, the Ramkavar Liberal Party will continue its struggle
against corruption.

DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-POLISH RELATIONS DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
June 12, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received today member of the Polish Seym, secretary general
candidate in the Council of Europe Vlodimir Timoshevic.

Foreign Ministry Media Relations department told Armenpress that the
guest presented to the foreign minister his viewpoints over the further
activity of the Council of Europe, reforms in the establishment,
increase of efficiency of its activity.

During the conversation the interlocutors discussed opportunities of
the development of Armenian-Polish relations. With the request of
the guest Edward Nalbandyan presented the recent developments over
Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation and process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations.

ARMENIA, ESTONIA INTERESTED IN DEEPENING BILATERAL COOPERATION

armradio.am
11.06.2009 11:42

On June 11 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had a
meeting with the Foreign Minister of Estonia, Urmas Paet, currently
in Armenia on an official visit.

Greeting the Estonian Foreign Minister and his delegation, Edward
Nalbandian expressed appreciation for the dynamically developing
bilateral relations and underlined that Armenia was interested in
deepening and reinforcing the mutually beneficial cooperation with
Estonia.

Urmas Paet also hailed the friendly relations established between the
two countries and noted that Estonia intended to take steps towards
development of multifaceted cooperation with Armenia.

The parties attached importance to the effective cooperation between
the Foreign Ministries of the two countries and agreed to hold the
next political consultation in Yerevan this autumn.

Touching upon the steps taken to promote the economic relations,
Ministers Nalbandian and Paet noted that the Armenian-Estonian economic
forum that kicked off in Yerevan today would create new opportunities
for the cooperation between Armenian and Estonian businessmen.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Estonia discussed the process
of cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and the steps
to be taken in that field. Reference was made to issues related to
the EU’s Eastern Partnership Program.

At the request of the Estonian Minister, Edward Nalbandian presented
the latest developments in the Karabakh conflict settlement and the
process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Reference
was made to a number of regional and international issues.

THE PUBLIC COUNCIL DECIDES TO APPLY TO PRESIDENT SARGSYAN
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
10.06.2009 17:10

The issue of amnesty remains in the focus of public attention. On May
28 President Serzh Sargsyan called on political forces and the Public
Council to come forth with proposals regarding the amnesty. The Public
Council held a plenary session yesterday and decided to apply to the
President, Chairman of the Civil Society Commission of the Public
Council Hovhannes Hovhannisyan told reporters today.

The Public Council has already been formed, and the Commissions have
been established. Yesterday the Council held its first plenary sitting,
at which all 36 members were present. Amnesty was one of the pivotal
issues on the agenda. Opinions varied, but the majority agreed that
declaring general pardon was a necessity.

Members of the Council were concerned that the number of criminals
could increase after the amnesty. However, very few people committed
crimes after the previous amnesty of 2006, Hovhanness Hovhannisyan
said.

Chairman of the Civil Society Commission considers that the amnesty
should apply to those arrested after the events of March 1 and 2,
2008. "I think that the amnesty could be a step that would help
alleviate the atmosphere of mistrust and isolation established after
March 1," he noted.

The Public Council considers that the pardon should not apply to
those arrested for elect ion violations, those who committed cries
after the previous amnesty and people who committed very grave crimes.

SEMINAR "PUBLIC INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROL IN THE EU AND ARMENIA" HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
June 9, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The seminar "Public Internal Financial
Control (PIFC) in the EU and Armenia" was held in Yerevan on June 9
on the initiative of RA Ministry of Finance and the Budget Department
of the European Commission. Officials and experts of the European
Commission, as well as the Head of the European Commission Delegation
in Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Lutzenberger took part in the seminar.

The EU member states’ experience in PIFC and proposals on further
improvement of PIFC in Armenia were presented at the seminar.

The Head of the Budget Implementation Methodology Department of RA
Ministry of Finance Karen Brutian said that PIFC is an integrated
model that has been developed by the European Commission for creation
of internal control systems in the state sector which are in line
with international standards.

In his words, the introduction of such a system was envisaged by the
Armenian government’s activity program. The purpose of the system
is to have such a mechanism of spending state financial resources,
expenditure control and audit that will enable the state to fulfil
its obligations more efficiently. "This event was also envisaged
by Armenia-EU Neighborhood Action Plan, which shows the political
significance of the event," K. Brutian said.

Commenting on the Armenian government’s initiative on reforms of this
system, the Head of the European Commission PIFC Department Robert
Gielisse stated that they encourage and assist the reforms planned
by Armenia.

GYUMRI TO HOST BOOK FAIR ON JUNE 12

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.06.2009 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Upon the initiative of Art Bridge (Yerevan) and ELAV
(Gymri) bookshops, Armenian town of Gyumri will host a book fair on
June 12.

Visitors may get acquainted with the authors of books displayed during
the fair.

The same day, Gyumri will also host the presentation of two books:
"Unfinished Decade" (Vardan Oskanyan) and "Green and Black" (Tatul
Hakobyan).