Author: Kharatian Ani

ARMENIAN PREMIER MET IN STRASBOURG EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR EXTERNAL RELATION

2007-12-12 19:26:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan met in Strasbourg
European Commissioner for External Relation Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

As ArmInfo was informed today from press-service of the Armenian
government, over the meeting Benita Ferrero-Waldner emphasized
that her present meeting with Serzh Sarkisyan will become a good
reason to discuss the process of the work developing within the
frames of European Neighbourship Policy and the prospects of further
cooperation. She also added that the events within the frames of the
given programme are being implemented quite effectively, and there
is obvious positive progress. For his part, Armenian prime minister
handed over to Benita Ferrero-Waldner the report about fulfillment of
the above-mentioned programme. The European Commissioner asked Serzh
Sarkisyan about the process of putting Armenian legislation in line
with the European one, as well as about the reforms in the trade and
economic sphere.

They also touched on the last events in the Karabakh conflict
settlement process, the regional problems and the forthcoming
presidential election in Armenia.

SEVERAL CASES OF FALSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP REVEALED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The newly-created investigation
unit of the State Tax Service adjunct to the Armenian government is
investigating several cases of false entrepreneurship, most of which
include the use of false invoices. According to NT’s information,
particularly, in one case it was revealed that T. Oganova, the
director of VAV Technology LLC registered at the Nairi territorial
tax inspection of the State Tax Service, wrote out 60 invoices of the
total sum of over 366 million drams for various organizations but she
neither submitted any reports or calculations to the tax inspection
nor paid taxes. Tax liabilities of VAV Technology amounted to over
113 mln 980 thousand drams in 2006-2007. A criminal case was opened
by Article 205 Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code – Evasion from Taxes,
Duties and Other Mandatory Pauments of Especially Large Amounts.

The investigation into another case revealed that having come to a
preliminary agreement with a group of persons, G. Yeghiazarian, the
director of Glavp LLC, was engaged in false entrepreneurship in the
period from September 2005 to May 31, 2006: false invoices of over 532
million drams were written and given to 39 economic entities without
supplying any goods or providing any services, as a result of which
value added taxes (VAT) of 106 million drams (this is considered
evasion of "especially large amount") were not paid to the state
budget. It was also found out that in April-May 2006, this company
transferred about 79 million drams to the bank account of Harutyun
and Lusine LLC, and this sum was later cashed. The investigation also
revealed that in the period of April 2006 – February 2007, Harutyun
and Lusine LLC caused the damage of 132 mln 807 thousand drams to
the state by using false invoices.

ARMENIA’S OMBUDSMAN RECEIVES OVER 3,465 COMPLAINTS IN JAN-NOV

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 10 2007

YEREVAN, December 10. /ARKA/.The office of Armenia’s Ombudsman received
over 3,465 complaints and applications from 5,523 citizens of the
country in January-November, Armenia’s Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian
said at the seminar on International Day for Human Rights Protection
in Yerevan.

Of the total number of complaints, 999 complaints were in written,
including 63 collective complaints from 2,121 citizens.

"350 written complaints are under consideration, 130 citizens are
provided with an opportunity to protect their rights and freedoms,
65 complaints have been passed to other bodies. 376 complaints have
not been taken into consideration and some 11 complaints have not
been considered upon request of applicant," the Ombudsman reported.

Harutiunian pointed out that 82 complaints and applications received
got favourable solution leading to reinstatement of some 325 people.

The Ombudsman also pointed out that the highest number of complaints
was received against the Police – 139 complaints from 283 citizens,
against courts – 127 complaints from 140 people and against the
prosecutor’s office – 96 complaints from 122 citizens.

89 applications from 1,156 people were made to the Ombudsman against
the Yerevan Municipality. 18 complaints from 192 people were received
against other municipalities and 57 complaints – against the country’s
Ministry of Justice.

47 complaints were made against Yerevan prefectures, 35 – against the
Ministry of Labour and Social Issues, 34 – against State Committee of
real Estate Cadastre, 24 – against Social Security Fund, 24 – against
the Commission for coordination of local governments, 19 – against
regional administrations and 14 – against the Healthcare Ministry.

"HERITAGE" PARTY TO STUDY THE PRE-ELECTION PROGRAMS OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Mediamax
December 7, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. "Heritage" party will thoroughly study the
pre-election programs of all the candidates for the position of the
Armenian President, before announcing the possible support for this
or that candidate.

Mediamax reports that the Secretary of "Heritage" faction Stepan
Safarian said this in Yerevan today. According to him, despite the
fact that all the candidates for the position of the President are
well-known political figures, it is yet premature making judgments
on their platforms.

Stepan Safarian noted that in any case, "Heritage" will support the
politician, who keeps to national-liberal ideology.

PROBLEM OF EMPLOYMENT IN ARMENIA IS SOLVED WITH PROFIT FOR NATURE

arminfo
2007-12-05 19:45:00

ArmInfo. Forest plantation work has been completed in the region of
Chambarak settlement of Armenia’s Gegharkunik region.

As the State Employment Service Agency told ArmInfo, 110 residents
of Haygut, Dprabak and Dzorvank settlements received a temporary job
from 22 to 30 November. This job provided them with a daily salary at
the rate of 1400 drams. Moreover, the employees got an extra payment
at the rate of 3500 drams each. For the period of implementation of
the temporary employment programme, the dwellers of these villages
planted 375,000 trees in the area of 150 Ha. Total of 51,7 mln drams
were allocated for the programme fulfillment under support of UNDP
and the "ATP" charitable organization.

This initiative is important for Chambarak as the highest unemployment
indicators in Armenia are fixed here. Moreover, the indicated
settlements are deprived of forest territories.

Boston Globe, MA
Dec 7 2007

Needham becomes the latest community to suspend ties with the ADL’s
No Place for Hate program

By Ralph Ranalli December 7, 07 11:10 AM

NEEDHAM

The Needham Board of Selectmen has voted to suspend ties with the
Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program.

The town’s Human Rights Committee recommended distancing Needham from
the anti-bias program, which promotes tolerance and diversity,
because the ADL has waffled on its recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

Under national pressure from Armenian-Americans and human rights
advocates, the ADL recently acknowledged that the atrocities
committed by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians are "tantamount
to genocide," but declined to further refine that stance. The
committee had requested that the ADL unequivocally recognize the
massacres that took place between 1915 and 1923 as a genocide.

Four selectmen voted to suspend ties. One selectman, James Healy,
abstained from the vote because he did not feel the board should take
up the issue.

— Laura Colarusso

RA REGIONAL POLICY EXCLUDES APPEARANCE OF DIVIDING LINES IN REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.12.2007 16:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Georgia has officially announced intention
to join NATO but I have never heard Azerbaijan speak out on the
subject. Anyway, this is not essential," Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian said.

"Each country itself decides on the security alliances depending
on its demands and interests. Taking into consideration the
Armenian-Russian strategic partnership, our membership in the CSTO
is more practical. Simultaneously, we deepen cooperation with NATO
to supplement our security system. The main purpose of Armenia’s
regional policy is to prevent appearance of dividing lines in the
region. We respect interests of all sides and despite membership in
various alliances, dividing lines in the region must not be created,"
the Minister told Kommersant daily.

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

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN THE MEETING OF ORTHODOX AND ORIENTAL
ORTHODOX CHURCHES AND BIBLE SOCIETY

The meeting of the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches and Bible Society
was held on November 19-21 in Moscow.

Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) participated in the conference
on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia of the Armenian Church. The
Catholicosate of All Armenian in Etchmiyadzine delegated Archbishop Yeznig
Bedrossian (Ecumenical Officer).

Official cooperation between Orthodox Churches and Bible Society has reached
new lengths since 1999 through the holding of annual meetings.

This meeting discussed the content of the agreement to be signed between the
Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches on the one hand and the Bible
Society on the other. It also prepared the agenda of the next meeting, to be
held in September 2008.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION PRIORITY OF ARMENIAN-URUGUAYAN RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2007 16:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Uruguay’s newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia
Jorge Alberto Meyer Long (residence in Moscow) handed his credentials
to President Robert Kocharian, the RA leader’s press office reported.

During the meeting the parties voiced mutual intention to develop
cooperation and encourage trade and economic relations. The Armenian
President made special mention of efficient cooperation within
international organizations.

"Uruguay was the first state to recognize the Armenian Genocide
in 1965. The Armenian community of Uruguay plays a special role in
relations between the two states," the Ambassador said.

GIBSON URGED TO REJECT FILM WITH ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 27 2007

The Foundation for the Struggle Against Baseless Allegations of
Genocide (ASÝMED) has begun an e-mail campaign to try and dissuade
actor Mel Gibson from playing a role in a film that underscores claýms
of an alleged genocide of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks during
World War I.

The president of ASÝMED and faculty member at Ataturk University’s
history department, Professor Savaþ Eðilmez, said in order to raise
support internationally for Armenian allegations, various Armenian
diaspora groups had set aside a fund of $100 million and this money
had been given to Hollywood film production companies to encourage the
making of such a film. Eðilmez noted that more than one such Hollywood
company is preparing to shoot a film supporting the Armenian view. "It
is now being said that actor Mel Gibson is to play a role in one of
these films. There is a push to have the film shot at Icon Productions,
the company Gibson is a partner in," said Eðilmez.

Stallone changed his mind

Eðilmez noted that a similar situation occurred recently when Sylvester
Stallone announced his plans to play a role in a new film adaptation
of the book "The Forty Days of Musa Dagh." After a campaign led by
ASÝMED in which more than 3,000 e-mails were sent to Stallone, the
actor declined the role. "Stallone decided not to act in this film
after the e-mail campaign we led. The European press also expressed
concerns about the book’s accuracy. We have begun sending documents
about the truth of the situation to Gibson. We started an e-mail
campaign to urge him to decline the role and to not allow this film to
be shot at his production company. What we are facing is a new slander
campaign on the level of the ‘Midnight Express’. Everyone needs to
be sensitive and aware on this topic. We need to put pressure on this
famous actor by telling him the truth of the matter," stated Eðilmez.

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