Author: Kanayan Tamar

NUMBER OF ARMENIAN ACADEMICIANS AWARDED MEDALS OF EUROPEAN ACADEMIES OF NATURAL SCIENCES

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 9 a number of Armenian
academicians, public and political figures were handed medals by
the Armenian branches of Russian and European Academies of Natural
Sciences, as well as by the International Academy of Pedagogical
Sciences of Germany.

Martin Sargsian, an MP of the RA National Assembly and the Chairman
of the RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Avag Khachatrian, the
Rector of the Hrachia Acharian University, and Ashot Ghahramanian,
the regional governor of Armavir, were awarded the honorary title of
an academician of the International Academy of Pedagogical Sciences
of Germany.

Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, the primate of the Ararat Patriarchal
diocese, and Martin Sargsian were awarded gold medals, academicians
Fadey Sargsian, Levon Grigorian, Vigen Topuzian, Gagik Beglarian,
writer, publicist Zori Balayan with silver medals.

In the words of Fadey Sargsian, it is too important when work of
scientists is appreciated. According to him, at present, scientific
works, unfortunately, remain on papers, whereas in the soviet years
the researches of scientists contributed to the development of the
industry and agriculture of the country. However, Fadey Sargsian is
sure that the researches of scientists, scientific materials will
very soon serve their purpose and the activities of the RA National
Academy of Sciences will make progress year after year.

THE ARMENIA FUND LAUNCHES PHONETHON – 2007

armradio.am
12.11.2007 14:42

The Armenia Fund is launching its traditional fund-raising phonethon
on November 14.

To encourage donor participation, calls from the Fund Executive Board
will be made to around 2500 Armenian business organizations. Funds
raised in Phonethon – 2007 will support development of Armenian and
Karabakh rural communities.

The Armenia Fund’s annual phonethons are conducted on the eve of its
Telethons. "Donations to the Phonethon – 2007 will be directed to
the newly adopted Rural Development Project, the selected beneficiary
project for this year. The event will strengthen recognition by the
Armenian community of their duty for National Giving and encourage
public participation in the forthcoming Telethon – symbol of our
unity and dedication," The Armenia Fund Executive Director Vahe
Aghabegians said.

Phonethons headed by the Fund’s French local committee take place
in a number of European countries. Phonethons conducted in Armenia,
Europe and Argentina have secured significant increases in donations
during the last three years.

The Phonethon will be held from 14 -16 included.

"CE AND OSCE FULFIL MISSIONS ASSUMED IN ARMENIA INCOMPLETELY," IS MENTIONED IN "SUPREME COUNCIL – PARLIAMENTARY CLUB" OPEN LETTER

Noyan Tapan
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The application handed to the
RA Constitutional Court on invalidating the results of the 2007
parliamentary elections was subject to being upholded, however, no
international interested organization, including the OSCE monitoring
mission, displayed consistency and paid attention to the trial of
the Constitutional Court.

This was mentioned in the open letter of the "Supreme Council –
Parliamentary Club" non-governmental organization addressed to the
representation of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in
Armenia and the OSCE office in Yerevan.

On the threshold of the 2008 presidential elections, according to
the letter, illegitimacies have already begun. In particular illegal
propaganda and anti-propaganda is being conducted (in the form of
sociological surveys as well), as well as detentions of procession
participants, and pressure imposed on businessmen by tax bodies.

It is said in the letter that the Council of Europe and the OSCE
bear as much responsibility for all this as the RA authorities, as
they fulfil their assumed missions incompletely. Hope is expressed
that the above-mentioned structures will, in the end, protect the
democratic principles adopted by themselves.

CRIMINAL CASE FILED AGAINST HEAD OF "PIZZA DI ROMA" COMPANY

Noyan Tapan
Nov 7, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. A criminal case has already
been filed against Gevorg Safarian, the Head of the "Pizza Di Roma"
company. This information was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by the "Sil Concern", which includes the above-mentioned company.

It should be mentioned that as a result of the recent checkings
carried out by the collaborators of the Tax State Service under the RA
government, it was found out that the company concealed its incomes by
760 million drams (approximately 2.3 million U.S. dollars). It should
also be mentioned that the collaborators of the above-mentioned
service are conducting checkings in the companies belonging to
Khachatur Sukiasian, the Chairman of "Sil Concern", and an NA MP.

As for the "Bjni" factory of mineral waters, it has not been working
for already two days, as the collaborators of the State Tax Service
and the RA Police’s Administration of Struggle Against Organized
Crime have confiscated the computers of the factory.

ARMENIAN YOUTH TEAM WILL LEAVE FOR TURKEY

A1+
[12:37 pm] 08 November, 2007

The Armenian Chess Federation informed "A1+" that the Armenian national
chess youth team will participate in the World Youth Championship in
Antalya, Turkey.

Some rumors were circulating that Armenia would not allegedly
participate in the Championship, taking into account the anti-Armenia
inclinations in the neighboring country. But it would not be an
obstacle of the Armenian team to participate in the Championship.

About 22-24 chess players will represent Armenia in Antalya. But the
final composition of the team has not been determined yet.

Last year the youth championship took place in Batumi, Georgia. Robert
Aghasaryan 12-year-old became champion and Hrant Melkumyan 18-year-old
won a silver medal.

SEMNEBY DOESN’T EXCLUDE USE OF MILITARY MEASURES FOR RESOLUTION OF FROZEN CONFLICTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2007 17:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union’s Envoy for South Caucasus Peter
Semneby does not rule out that military measures may be used to settle
frozen conflicts.

The EU has more effective measures to settle frozen conflicts than
those of military or other, Semneby said in Berlin on November 6.

"These measures were not applied in South Caucasus. In case EU plays
a more efficient role, they may be used," he said, but did not specify
which military measures he meant.

Semneby said that the role of EU in settlement of these conflicts
resulted in inviting 3 South Caucasus countries to the European
Neighborhood Program. "This policy is a long-term political mechanism,
and implementation of the purposes it envisages cannot be achieved
in near future. The main thing is that the Neighborhood Policy plays
a framework role for these countries to reform the society. And that
in its turn will enable civil settlement of conflicts."

Semneby considers important the discussions over frozen conflicts
organized by the PACE Monitoring Committee and the German Institute
for International Affairs and Security in Berlin on 5 to 6 November.

"These discussions are very useful, for it is important to discuss
the issues in Europe. European parliamentarians have to study the
situation with the conflicts in order to pursue their policy in South
Caucasus, to attract European countries to the region," Semneby said,
Trend reports.

NEW HOUSES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES IN TALISH

KarabakhOpen
06-11-2007 17:30:58

Next year the government is going to build houses for young families,
a nursery school and a new school building in the village of Talish,
Martakert. The problem of water supply will be solved as well, stated
Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan during his visit to Talish. The prime
minister visited the new Hall of Ceremonies, the school, was hosted
by the family of an officer.

TERRY DAVIS: "SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM IS DRIVEN FROM EVERYBODY’S INTERESTS"

Noyan Tapan
Nov 5, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. As of today, Armenia has assumed
most of its commitments assumed in front of the Council of Europe. This
statement was made at the November 5 joint press conference of Vardan
Oskanian, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Terry Davis, the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Touching upon the problem of Nagorno Karabakh, Terry Davis declared
that he follows that problem with a great interest. According to him,
the societies of Armenia and Azerbaijan have already been waiting for
the settlement of the conflict for a rather long time already. At
the same time he mentioned that he does not want to blame anybody,
including the negotiators of the OSCE. "However, besides the Karabakh
conflict, there are also other important problems, which should be
seen to in these countries, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
problem is driven from everybody’s interests. I hope that a day will
come when that conflict will be settled and the Council of Europe
will be able to help the people of Nagorno Karabakh the way, it helps
others,"Terry Davis declared.

Terry Davis mentioned that the Council of Europe also attaches
great significance to the forthcoming presidential elections to be
held in Armenia and particularly stressed the role of media in the
pre-election period.

CBA SETS REFINANCING INTEREST RATE AT 5.25%

Noyan Tapan
Nov 5, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the November
2 decision of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), the refinancing
interest rate has been raised by 0.25% and set at 5.25%.

According to a press release of the CBA press service, a 3.1% inflation
was registered in October on September 2007, as a result of which
the the 12-month inflation made 5.7%, which is greater by 0.2% than
the upper limit of the target inflation of 4+-1.5%.

The CBA board confirmed that an unprecedented growth in prices of oil
products, wheat, butter and vegetable oil in recent months, together
with the continuous tendency to appreciation of the Armenian dram,
have lead to the formation of a high inflation environment in the
domestic market. In the opinion of the CBA board, it is impossible to
neutralize the above mentioned external inflation shocks by means of
monetary levers. However, the secondary impact of such developments
in the external environment, while combined with an increase in
private consumption rates, will continue to maintain the inflation
pressures. The CBA raised the refinancing interest rate on October
2 as well. The aim of this policy is to neutralize the accumulated
inflation pressures and keep the inflation within the target interval
within the next 12 months.

FOOD PRICES RISE BY 6.2% IN ARMENIA IN OCTOBER

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. A considerable – 6.2% growth of food
prices was registered in Armenia in October 2007 as a result of
0.8-21.7% growth registered in 12 out of the 13 commodity groups
observed.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, a 9.1% inflation was
registered in the commodity group of bread products in October on
September 2007 mainly due to a 15.8% growth in flour prices. Bread
prices rose by 7.4% in the indicated period. The rise in bread and
flour prices made 23.8% and 28.9% respectively in October 2007 on
December 2006.

Prices grew by 20.5% in the commodity group of butter and vegetable oil
in October on September 2007 mainly as a result of a growth in butter
and vegetable oil prices – 19.2% and 41.1% respectively. Butter and
vegetable oil prices grew by 39.3% and 55.9% respectively in October
2007 on October 2006.

The 11% fall in prices of vegetable (sunflower) oil in January 2006 –
July 2007 in Armenia was followed by a rise of 61.3% in August-October
2007. The ratio of the maximum average price of vegetable oil
(registered on October 19, 2007) to the minimum average price
(registered in July) made 209.2%. The 5.4% fall in butter prices in
February 2006 – April 2007 was followed by a 42.6% rise. The ratio of
the maximum average price of butter (registered on October 19, 2007) to
the minimum average price (registered in April) made 174.4%.

A 12.9% inflation was registered in the fruit commodity group in
October 2007 on October 2006, 3.4% inflation – in October on September
2007, which was mainly due to a rise in prices of peach (24.4%), plum
(23.3%), watermelon (26.7%) and melon (84.2%).

A 5.1% price fall was registered in the commodity group of potato and
vegetales in October 2007 on October 2006, 3.3% inflation – in October
on September 2007, which was mainly due to a rise in prices of beans
(10.1%), cabbage (14.2%), garlic (14.5%), cucumber (22.3%), eggplant
(32.3%), tomato (49.4%) and green pepper (57.6%), Potato prices grew by
1.5% in the indicated period. The average price of eggs grew by 2.7% in
Armenia in October on September 2007.

A 1% inflation was registered in the commodity group of meat products
in October on September 2007 mainly as a result of a rise in prices of
chicken legs and meat – 3.8% and 4.9% respectively. Prices of beef and
mutton grew by 0.5% and 0.8% respectively in the indicated period,
while pork prices fell by 2.1%.

The 14.4% fall in granulated sugar prices in Jnauary-September 2007 was
followed by a 3.3% growth in October, which was registered during a
monitoring on October 19.

0.8-2.8% inflation was registered in the commodity groups of other
foodstuffs, milk products, soft drinks, confectionery in October on
September 2007, while prices on the commodity groups of coffee, tea,
cocoa, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes remained at the level of the
previous month.