Author: Khoyetsian Rose

30 PERCENT BLOW

A1+
[06:53 pm] 07 September, 2007

Butter price has rapidly gone up in the Republic of Armenia. Our
citizens will have to pay 1800 drams per a kilo of butter instead of
the former 1400 drams.

The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition
holds monitoring and is still ignorant of the reasons for the rise
in the prize.

Our citizens hold different opinions in this respect.

"People have become marionettes in the hands of the authorities. I
expect anything of this futile government," said Marine Shamshyan.

According to Aram Harutyunyan the rise is aimed at testing people’s
nerves.

"We have become slaves in our countries. They make us dance to their
tune," said Varujan Hakobyan. Each person loses as a consumer, said
the Chairman of "Consumers’ Rights Protection" NGO Abgar Eghoyan. No
one takes care of consumers’ compensation.

"The price increase implies 30% rise which will directly affect on
consumers’ wallets," said Abgar Eghoyan.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY MEETS WITH HIGH-LEVEL UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS

armradio.am
05.09.2007 11:18

An Armenian Assembly delegation met with the United Nations
Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information
Kiyo Akasaka this month in New York, to exchange views on a broad
scope of issues, including international peace and security, regional
development, democracy and civil society-building, and human rights
as it pertains to the South Caucasus, and Central and Eastern Europe.

The Under-Secretary-General noted how impressed he is of Armenia’s
progress towards social and economic development since independence,
and how important the Armenian Diaspora’s contribution has been to
that effort.

The Assembly delegation, led by Board of Trustees Member Jirair
Haratunian, Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, and Director of
Research and Analysis Armen Kharazian, reiterated its interest in
sharing knowledge and expertise, within the broader UN framework,
regarding the methodology and practice of development advocacy,
in benefit of historic homelands.

"Armenia may be a small country, but the Armenian Diaspora, with
its geographic reach and organizational capacity, imparts a global
dimension to the Armenian people – a tremendous value in today’s
globalized world," said Kharazian, the Assembly’s Main Representative
to the United Nations. "The Assembly intends to utilize that potential
in full, to the benefit of Armenia and its region, as well as the
international community as a whole."

The Assembly delegation also met with Shamina de Gonzaga, Special
Advisor on NGO Relations of the Office of the President of the General
Assembly. Both meetings were requested by the Assembly, to discuss
issues of interest or concern to the Armenian-American community,
including universal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in the light
of the growing global focus on genocide prevention and other crimes
against humanity.

The UN meetings were followed by a session with Ambassador Armen
Martirosian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, to discuss
strengthened collaboration between the Assembly and the Mission of
Armenia to the UN.

The meetings in New York provided an important stimulus to the
Assembly’s efforts to further develop its United Nations outreach
and advocacy strategy. The Armenian Assembly is an NGO in Special
Consultative Status with ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social
Council) since 1999.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

"AREVIK" TO REPRESENT ARMENIA AT JUNIOR EUROVISION

armradio.am
03.09.2007 17:09

Armenia will make its first entry at Junior Eurovision Song Contest
to be held December 8 in Rotterdam. Our country will be represented
by eight little singers from "Arevik." They will present a rather
serious composition created by Marina Javakhyan, one of the little
singers. The author of the lyrics is Sargis Mzikyan. The preliminary
video clip is already ready. However, Armen Amiryan, Executive Director
of the Public Radio of Armenia, said at a news conference today that
not all the brackets have been opened.

The dancing show, the stage costumes will be presented at the
contest on December 8. According to Armen Amiryan, the song and the
performance of the children open broad opportunities for occupying
the top positions. The main objective is, certainly, the first prize.

36.3% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF TOURISTS IN ARMENIA IN JAN-JUNE 2007

ARKA News Agency
Aug 31 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, August 31. /ARKA/. 36.3% increase in the number of tourists
that visited Armenia was recorded in January-June 2007 compared to the
corresponding period last year. The RA Statistical Service reports
that a total of 181,200 tourists visited Armenia during the period
under review against 132,900 in the corresponding period last year.

Most of the tourists, 158,100 or 87.2%, stayed with their relatives,
friends or rented flats. During the period under review their number
increased by 57%. Only 23,100 or 12.8% of the tourists stayed at
hotels – a 5.9% increase compared to January-June 2006.

It should be noted that 38 hotels in Armenia offer their services to
foreign tourists.

According to the statistical data, a total 172,300 Armenian residents
went on tours abroad in January-June 2007, – a 37.8% increase compared
to the corresponding period last year, and only 4,800 of them used
travel agencies’ services.

NEW TROLLEY-BUSES RUNNING ON YEREVAN STREETS

ARMENPRESS
Aug 31, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS: A municipality-run company in charge of
electrical transport began operating today 18 brand new trolley-buses
bought in the Russian city of Volgograd. One of these vehicle is
designed for people with different moving disabilities.

This is the first transport means for disabled people to be tested in
Yerevan. The ceremony was attended by Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakharian,
who told reporters that at least 20 new trolley-buses will be brought
to Yerevan every year.

The purchase of trolley-buses was funded by the government which
released 600 million Drams. The fare, 50 drams, for a travel, will not
change. Yerevan did not receive new trolley-buses in the last 15 years.

The Russia-made vehicles can take in 116 passengers.

Today the Yerevan municipality also donated a Renault bus to Pyunik
Union of Disabled People.

"IT IS NOT EXCLUDED THAT "NATIONAL AGREEMENT" WILL PUT FORWARD ITS CANDIDATE IN 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS," ARAM HAROUTIUNIAN DECLARES

Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. If a force, which will prove a real
alternative for the current authorities and opposition, does not
appear in the political field of Armenia until the 2008 presidential
elections, the "National Agreement" party will put forward its
candidate in the elections.

This statement was made by Aram Haroutiunian, the Chairman of the
above-mentioned party, during his meeting with journalists, which
was held on August 30. According to him, the "National Agreement"
party is the alternative of the current authorities and opposition.

Touching upon the searching process of the common candidate of the
opposition, Aram Haroutiunian mentioned that "one should not look for
a black cat in a dark room, especially when there is no cat." In his
words, each of the current opposition forces sees its own candidate
in the role of the common candidate. That approach, according to Aram
Haroutiunian, is leading the opposition to "suicide". And as for the
return of Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first RA President, into politics,
it will merely make the electoral campaign more interesting.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIA CLARIFIES

Lragir, Armenia
Aug 30 2007

On August 30 the National Assembly of Armenia clarified the
cancellation of the visit of the PACE reporter Edward O’Hara to study
the state of the cultural heritage of the South Caucasus.

"Considering the media reports on the cancellation of the visit of
the PACE reporter Edward O’Hara to the region to study the cultural
heritage of the South Caucasus, as well as the groundless explanations
in the Russian media, the National Assembly considers it necessary to
present the reality," the press release of the National Assembly runs.

"The visit which was to start on August 29 from Azerbaijan had been
prepared for two months. The schedule of the visit was made, the
Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic stated to support the
reporter during the visit. The reporters had chosen the monuments to
study, and the visit would be on August 29. However, the letter of the
secretary of the commission came which told the visit was cancelled.

The reason is one. On August 28 the head of the Azerbaijani delegation
to the PACE released a statement that the reporter must visit
Nagorno-Karabakh via Nagorno-Karabakh, meanwhile all the details had
been discussed with the representative of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to
Armenia, and the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia was to
provide transport to Nagorno-Karabakh and other support. By offering
conditions at the last moment, Azerbaijan in fact upset the visit
and the Azerbaijani media reports on recurrent delay are not true,"
runs the news release of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly asserts in the news release its willingness to
support the visit any time, which will be discussed in the meeting
of the PACE commission.

DEVELOPMENT OF SITUATION IN TURKEY AND ARMENIA GIVES GROUND TO HOPE THAT ISSUE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THEM WILL BE SHORTLY SOLVED: KAZAKHSTAN DIPLOMAT

arminfo
2007-08-29 16:15:00

Development of the situation in Turkey and Armenia gives ground to
hope that the issue of establishment of diplomatic relations and
other forms of cooperation development between Armenia and Turkey
will be shortly solved, Charge d’Affairs of Kazakhstan to Armenia
Yerlan Kubashev told ArmInfo.

"Turkey multiply proposed to give the historical assessment to the
facts that took place in the beginning of XX Century. Kazakhstan
follows the situation development and we think that the problem
should be settled between Turkey and Armenia", Y. Kubashev said. He
thinks that historical assessment of the well- known events should
be given by Armenia and Turkey, first of all, and then proceed from
the prospects of solution of this issue at the bilateral level. The
initiative, proposed by Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, caused
objection of the Armenian party. "Armenia has its position that has
been already recognized by many states of the world and a number of
the American states. We follow the process and advocate settlement
of the developed situation", Y. Kubashev said.

As for the ability of Erdogan’s initiative to lay a foundation for
further development of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia,
Y. Kubashev avoided specific forecasts. "I do not know whether
Erdogan’s initiative is able to lay a foundation for diplomatic
relations. However, it indicates existence of real prospects and
necessity for reassessment of the Armenian-Turkish problem settlement,
especially in the light of the prospects of Turkey’s joining the
European Union", the diplomat emphasized.

He added that availability of unsettled conflicts negatively affects
development of the whole region. "Kazakhstan is an active adherent of
peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani
problematics based on a dialogue with participation of OSCE Minsk
Group, in case with Azerbaijan, and under assistance of other formats,
in case with Turkey", Y. Kubashev resumed.

Panorama.am

15:05 25/08/2007

SINGER ANDY: I VALUE YOUR `LIMITLESS VOICE’

`My songs do not have either political or social message. My songs are
about love,’ American Armenian singer Andy announced during a meeting
with reporters today.

Speaking about his musical record, the musician with Iranian roots
mentioned that he is going to shoot a video in Armenia in November
also saying `it may be a duo with one of Armenian singers.’

In his words, he started singing Armenian songs 3-4 years ago and
comparing the Armenian audience with other nationals, he believes that
`Armenian audience understands music better and is a better critique.’
`When Armenians say may your voice have no limits, I value that very
much,’ the singer said also saying the audience from Armenia is more
interested in his concerts this time.

Source: Panorama.am

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Aug 23 2007

TURKISH PREMIER, ISRAELI PRESIDENT DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONS

Ankara, 23 August: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a
telephone conversation with President Shimon Peres of Israel.

President Peres called Prime Minister Erdogan on the phone and
congratulated him for the Justice and Development (AK) Party’s
success in the general elections.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Erdogan congratulated Peres who was elected
president.

President Peres highlighted the importance they attached to the
relations with Turkey.

Peres and Erdogan also exchanged views over recent developments in
the United States regarding the allegations of Armenian circles on
the incidents of 1915.