Author: Kanayan Tamar

PRESIDENT OF CROATIA VISITED THE GENOCIDE MEMORANDUM

armradio.am
22.05.2009 16:48

Croatias president, who has visited Armenia due to the invitation of
the President of Armenia went to the Genocide Memorandum together
with the Justice Minister, Governor of Yerevan and the director
of the Armenian Genocide Museum. The president of Croatia, who is
the first time in Armenia, put flowers on the Memorandum for the
Genocide victims. After Styepan Masich wrote in the Memoriam Book of
the Genocide Museum.

WILL PRESCOTT AND COLUMBIER ARRIVE IN ARMENIA IN JUNE?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.05.2009 17:36 GMT+04:00

In an interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent, NA Speaker’s
Press Secretary Nairi Petrosyan said that PACE co-rapporteurs
John Prescott and Jorge Columbier have sent a preliminary request
to PACE bureau on their arrival in Armenia from 8 till 10 June,
2009. Mr. Petrosyan also said that Parliament has not yet received
official address on co-rapporteurs’ visit. "Only after receiving such
address will it be possible to specify date for the visit and inform
public about it," he said.

OSKANIAN SAYS ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS MAY GET WORSE

says-armenia-turkey-relations-may-get-worse/
May 21st, 2009

YEREVAN-Armenia’s longtime former Foreign Minister, Vartan Oskanian,
has said Turkey and Armenia will not be able to make progress in their
efforts to normalize relations if Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan continues to bring the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the table,
the Turkish Today’s Zaman newspaper reported on Thursday.

Oskanian’s remarks came during a discussion with a group of Turkish
journalists who are in Yerevan this week participating in the
International Hrant Dink Foundation’s Turkey-Armenia Journalist
Dialogue Project.

Speaking to the journalists, Oskanian warned that Ankara could make
relations with Armenia even worse if Turkish officials continue to
politicize the negotiations.

"The moment we leave Karabakh out, we can improve Turkish-Armenian
relations. If we bring Karabakh in, I really don’t see this
happening. Karabakh is a separate issue," Oskanian was quoted by Zaman
as saying. "My conviction is that if Turkey normalizes its relations
with Armenia first, then the Karabakh solution will be much easier."

Oskanian said the Turkish Prime Minister began bringing the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the forefront of Turkey’s negotiations
with Armenia three months ago.

"Until that time, I was really hoping that there was a change of
policy on the part of Turkey and we would get results," he said.

Visiting Baku last week, Erdogan reaffirmed his government’s intention
to link the two issues. "Occupation of Karabakh is the cause here
and closing of the border is the effect. It is impossible for us to
open the border unless that occupation ends," he told a joint press
conference in Baku with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Turkey, a non-actor in the Karabakh conflict, has been seeking to boost
its role in the peace process by conditioning its own negotiations
with Armenia to a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being
mediated by the US, France and Russia through the OSCE Minsk Group.

The French co-chair of the group, Bernard Fassier, on Monday warned
Ankara to drop efforts to link the two unrelated issues. He said
that linking the Karabakh peace process with the normalization of
Armenia-Turkish relations can jeopardize the new momentum in the
Karabakh talks.

Armenia’s Government has also criticized Erdogan for the statements,
saying they could hamper both processes.

Oskanian reiterated those warnings, stressing also that Erdogan’s
threats to Armenians deport Armenians working in Turkey were also
not helpful to fence-mending efforts between the two countries.

"I am beginning to be concerned that not only will Turkish-Armenian
relations not improve, but they may even get worse," said Oskanian,
who founded the Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation late last year to
advocate peace and stability in the Caucasus.

UAR TO AWARD PRIZES TO CULTURAL FIGURES AND SCHOLARS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.05.2009 14:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ World Armenian Congress (WAC) and Union of Armenians
of Russia (UAR) continue their activities towards assisting Armenian
scholars and intellectuals. This is the second year they hold award
ceremony in collaboration with scientific and creative organizations.

This year, the ceremony will take place on May 25, in Aram Khachaturyan
concert hall. Armenian cultural figures and intellectuals will be
awarded prizes for best works in their spheres.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REVISES LAW ON PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE

ARKA
May 19, 2009

YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Assembly amended Tuesday
on final reading the RA Law on Psychiatric Service.

Though the lawmakers mainly edited the law, they are of major
significance, said RA Deputy Healthcare Minister Hayk Darbinyan.

The amended law provides for discharging individuals voluntarily
passing in-patient treatment. Patients can be discharged from
psychiatric hospitals if they do not expose society to danger. Or
else, curing specialists are allowed to send patients to compulsory
treatment.

The amendments also provide for protecting the rights of patients
and ensuring their safety. The patients have a right to subscribe to
medical magazines, be in correspondence with the outside world and
receive guests.

They can also send their complaints to the management of the medical
institution or to high-ranking officials, as well as mass media and
international human rights institutions.

The rights may be limited in case their execution hampers examination
or expertise and pose danger to patients.

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS’ LEADER: ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OUGHT TO PAY GREATER ATTENTION TO ARMENIA’S PROBLEMS

Noyan Tapan
May 18, 2009

YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. Armenian communities worldwide ought to pay
greater attention to Armenia’s problems, Khosrov Harutyunyan, Armenian
Christian Democrats’ leader and former prime minister and ex-speaker
of Armenian National Assembly, said at Novosti International Press
Center on Monday.

"All of us must understand that we are one nation with common
problems."

Harutyunyan said that lobbyist organizations of Armenian communities
in the United States concentrate all their efforts on recognition of
the fact of Armenian genocide.

He thinks if they focused even 20% of their efforts on Karabakh problem
"we’d reach greater success here".

"The thing is that lobbyist organizations pay little attention to
national self-determination right as the only principle for settling
Karabakh conflict", Harutyunyan said.

He thinks the Armenian Diaspora is both wealth and problem for Armenia.

"Armenian communities overseas should understand that their decisions
should have impact on our children’s fate."

SETTLEMENT OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS IS NOT RELATED TO KARABAKH CONFLICT – EUROPEAN DIPLOMAT

Interfax
May 14 2009
Russia

There is no connection between the settlement of Armenian-Turkish
relations and the resolution of the Armenian-Azeri conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, contrary to Turkey’s statements on this account,
a European diplomatic source told Armenian media outlets.

The diplomat referred to outcomes of Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s
meetings with Turkey’s partners during an energy summit in Prague
last week.

Gul said at those meetings that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s statements on this matter were forced and have nothing in
common with the real process of the settlement of relations between
Yerevan and Ankara, the source said.

Erdogan said at the Azeri parliament on Wednesday that the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations should be viewed in the
context of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process.

Armenian presidential press secretary Samvel Farmanian told Interfax
earlier that the Armenian and Turkish presidents reached an agreement
at a meeting in Prague in early May to settle relations between the
two countries without preconditions.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press secretary Tigran Balaian told Interfax
that Yerevan and Baku did not discuss the withdrawal of troops from
the territories controlled by the Nagorno-Karabakh defense forces.

"The withdrawal of troops from the territories controlled by the
Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army was not discussed at the meeting between
the Armenian and Azeri presidents in Prague on May 7. The discussions
mainly concerned Nagorno-Karabakh’s status," Balaian said.

BOOSTING OF ARMENIAN-BRAZILIAN TRADE-ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, SPORT AND YOUTH RELATIONS DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
May 14, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: The NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received
today the Ambassador of Brazil to Armenia Renate Stille on the occasion
of ending her mission in Armenia.

Public relations department of Armenian parliament told Armenpress that
during the intercourse the NA Speaker expressed gratitude to R. Stille
for the close cooperation during the passed years. H. Abrahamyan highly
assessed the activity of first Brazilian ambassador to Armenia and
stressed that with her unique style R. Stille has put the necessary
cornerstone for the enhancement of bilateral cooperation.

The NA Speaker informed the Ambassador about the group of
Armenian-Brazilian relationship established by the Armenian
parliamentarians and expressed hope that another such group will also
be established by the Brazilian MPs. Afterwards the interlocutors
have referred to the issues which will boost the Armenian-Brazilian
trade-economic, cultural, sport and youth relations.

Summarizing the conversation H. Abrahamyan wished success to Ambassador
R. Stille in her undertakings and expressed hope that she will continue
her relative relations with our country even after finishing the
diplomatic mission in Yerevan.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF ARMENIA TO SUPPORT THE ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN TO OVERCOME THE WORLD FINANCIAL-ECONOMIC CRISIS

ARMENPRESS
May 14, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Chamber of Commerce of Industry
will organize a number of conferences and exhibitions this year with
an aim to support the Armenian businessmen in the conditions of world
financial-economic crisis.

Head of the Chamber, a member of parliament Martin Sargsyan told
Armenpress that the visit of authorities of Russian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and businessmen to Armenia is expected in September
within the frameworks of which a business forum and exhibition of
products will be organized. According to the preliminary agreement in
autumn an exhibition of Syrian products will be organized in Armenia
in collaboration with the Syrian Chamber.

An exhibition of Indian goods is also intended. M. Sargsyan informed
that already corresponding works are conducted to organize the
permanent exhibition-sale of Armenian products in Aleppo. In the
nearest future the Armenian side will leave for Aleppo to select the
pavilion area.

According to M. Sargsyan in this way the Chamber tries to support
the Armenian businessmen creating opportunities to boost cooperation
and assisting in finding new markets. He said that the Armenian
businessmen have an issue of product export especially in the
conditions of financial-economic crisis.

"LITOKOL-AM" ARMENIAN-ITALIAN JOINT VENTURE OF PRODUCTION OF CONSTRUCTION GLUES OPENS IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
May 12, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: "Litokol-AM" Armenian-Italian venture of
production of construction glues for ceramic tiles officially opened
today in Armenia with the participation of Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan. The venture has been established jointly with the
"Imex Group" company. In the newly opened factory which is a branch
of world famous "Litokol" company production of putty is also intended
in the nearest future.

The symbolic red ribbon of the opening of the factory was cut by the
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan who stressed the importance
of realization of such a project. Congratulating on the occasion of
opening of the factory T. Sargsyan expressed wish that such initiatives
carry a continuative character. According to him, the opening of the
factory proves that it is possible to develop the business and make
investments even in the conditions of the crisis. T. Sargsyan said
that this is also a result of Armenian-Italian nearly 10 years’ of
cooperation "which testifies that it is possible to make investments
in Armenia and have a profitable business".

Head of the Armenian Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen Arsen
Ghazarian said that he was glad that in the conditions when in the
whole world numerous enterprises are liquidated and closed and job
places are reduced, a new factory is opened in Armenia which at present
has 35 workers and intends to significantly increase the number in
the nearest future. He assessed it as a brave step conducted from
trade towards the industry.

Financial head of "Litokol" Fabio Placci told journalists that the
overall productive capacity of this factory constructed within the
frameworks of 10 million USD of investment reaches 30 000 tons but
at the initial round the annual production of glue volumes will reach
12-15 000 tons.

The whole productive capacities will be implemented in case the putty
production is launched. F. Placci said that assessing the existing
demand in the Armenian market the whole size of glue produced at the
initial round – 15 000 tons are intended to be consumed here.

"I suppose we will be able to satisfy half of the need for the
product existing in this market", – he said. According to F. Placci,
the glues and other materials necessary for construction produced by
"Litokol" are for already several years imported in Armenia and widely
consumed. Now a transit is being made from import to production.

F. Placci expressed confidence that the materials of Armenian
production will not concede the Italian ones in respect of quality
but the prices will remain the same. "We plan to be in the Armenian
market for along time", – he said and also informed that "Litokol"
also conducts production in Russia and Ukraine.

During the production local raw materials will be used; at the
beginning 50-60 000 tons of sand, 30-40 000 tons of cement will be
used, nearly 355 000 kilowatts/h electricity and 456 000 cubic meters
of gas will be consumed.

In case of passing to the whole productive capacity an export to Iran,
Georgia and Turkey is also intended.

Executive director of "Litokol-AM" Hamazasp Lazarian stressed that
all the security norms are ensured in the factory. It is filled up with
qualified equipments of Italian and German production. The production
contains no air pollution threats. There will be no exhausts because
the factory is armed with a modern dust grasping system.

The factory also has a laboratory saturated with modern equipments
where continuative quality checking of the raw material and the
ready-made product are conducted.