Author: Mamian George

ARMENIAN ARMY SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES AND NATO

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 11, 2008 Friday

Armenia adopted two documents of strategic importance in 2007: National
Security Strategy and Military Doctrine. According to the Military
Doctrine, Armenia concentrates on military and military-technical
cooperation mostly with Russia and CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization as well as with individual members of the latter. The
advancement of bilateral military cooperation with the United States
and cooperation with NATO within the framework of the Euroatlantic
Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace NATO’s Program is also
recognized as a priority. The Military Doctrine perceives encroachment
on territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Azerbaijani war preparations, attempts to isolate Armenia,
and transnational crime as major threats.

Sergei Minasjan, an expert with the Caucasus Media Institute,
believes that the military reforms carried out these days will make
the Armenian army capable of dealing with new challenges, ensuring
national security, and participating in conflict settlement.

Along with everything else, the Military Doctrine stipulates
modernization of the Armenian regular army before 2015 so as to
make it compatible with NATO armies. It also stipulates completion
of establishing the Armenian-Russian army group on the territory
of Armenia.

PARTIAL REPAIRS DONE AT "EREBUNI" PRESERVE-MUSEUM WITH 7 MILLION DRAMS ALLOCATED FROM STATE BUDGET

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Partial repair work is underway
at Erebuni historical-acheological preserve-museum with 7 million
drams (about 22 thousand USD) allocated from the RA state budget. In
particular, the passage, lavatory, electric power lines of the fortress
are being repaired, and it is envisaged to build a new water-pipe. The
director of the preserve-museum Ashot Piliposian told NT correspondent
that the design of repairs of the stronghold’s wall is being done now.

According to him, the repair work is a large-scale one and will be
completed in 1-2 years. Besides, improvement of the preserve will start
soon with the participation of students of the Faculty of History of
Yerevan State University.

A. Piliposian said that electromagnetic examination of the town
district of the fortress will start in late April in order to find
out if there are any undergroun structures in this section, and if so,
how they are arranged. In his words, no excavations have been carried
out in this site so the research will allow to determine the section
of the fortress where excavatio can be done.

BAKO SAHAKYAN: ARTSAKH’S POWER DEPENDS ON THE POWER OF ARMENIA

armradio.am
09.04.2008 18:18

The President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan today
expressed confidence that during Serzh Sargsyan’s presidency Armenia
will achieve new heights and will prosper.

NKR President told reporters that "Artsakh’s power depends on the
power of Armenia."

Commenting on the statement of ex-President Robert Kocharyan on the
possibility of recognition of NKR independence, Bako Sahakyan said
all processes that can have a positive influence on the negotiation
process will be welcomed by NKR leadership.

YEREVAN COUNTS ON WORLD BANKS SUPPORT

RIA Oreanda
April 7, 2008
Russia

Yerevan . ">OREANDA-NEWS . April 4, 2008. Welcoming the guest, the
Prime Minister mentioned that World Bank representatives’ frequent
visits to Armenia testify that the Bank places a special focus upon the
cooperation with our country. Serzh Sargsyan advised that during his
last fall’s visit to Washington he happened to hear quite favorable
words about Armenia’s economy and the ongoing reforms. At a meeting
held during his recent stay in Armenia, World Bank Vice President
Shigeo Katzu, too, mentioned that in this respect the Armenian program
aroused no concerns. The Prime Minister further admitted that these
estimations were encouraging which obliged the government of Armenia
to do a better work in the areas under review.

Serzh Sargsyan extended his appreciation to the World Bank as he
feels that the Bank’s interested support, too, accounts for Armenia’s
economic progress and certain achievements. He expressed readiness
to continue this effective cooperation in future by implementing
important to our economy and our society reforms in a number of
fields. With reference to reforms in tax, customs administration and
other spheres, the Prime Minister mentioned that they were meant to
enhance the country’s competitiveness and that the Armenian government
looked forward to being assisted by the Bank in this matter.

Speaking about Armenia’s economic achievements, World Bank Regional
Director for South Caucasus Ms. Donna Dowsett-Coirolo said that
Armenia has much to be proud of and that the World Bank is interested
in upholding and building on the current achievements.

At the same time, she noted that there are still a number of challenges
which call for serious efforts.

The interlocutors further touched upon these challenges and the
reform process. They made an arrangement to proceed to a more in-depth
discussion of all these issues following the inauguration of the RA
President-elect and the formation of the new cabinet.

MATTHEW BRYZA TO TAKE PART IN INAUGURATION OF NEW ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARKISYAN

arminfo
2008-04-07 16:08:00

ArmInfo. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs, OSCE MG co-chair Matthew Bryza will take part in
inauguration of new Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan, on 9 April.

As ArmInfo correspondent was informed from press-service of US
Embassy to Armenia, M.Bryza will arrive in Armenia at the inauguration
day. Further agenda of the American diplomate’s visit to Armenia in
being specified.

FOUR ARMENIAN TAEKWONDO PLAYERS TO PARTAKE IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

armradio.am
07.04.2008 15:02

Four Armenian taekwondo players – Grigory Vardanyan (62 kg), Levon
Pashabezyan (67 kg), Arman Yeremyan (78 kg) and Aram Sahakyan (84 kg)
– will participate in the European Championship to start in Rome on
April 9.

Armenpress was informed from RA Taekwondo Federation that the Armenian
delegation is headed by the Deputy President of the Federation,
Executive Director Vardan Ghahramanyan.

The trainer of the Armenain team is Rahim Salekhin.

ARMENIAN COURTS JAIL OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS

Public TV
April 2 2008
Armenia

[Correspondent] Gegham Harutyunyan, a member of the Republic Party
political council, is free. According to the press secretary of the
Prosecutor-General’s Office, the court of general jurisdiction of
[Yerevan’s] Avan and Nor Nork districts upheld the Armenian National
Security Service charge against Harutyunyan.

The court ruled that Harutyunyan is guilty of illegal possession of
weapons and ammunition and sentenced him to 1.5 years’ imprisonment.

At the request of the prosecutors, the court applied Article 70 of
the [Armenian Criminal] Code, gave Harutyunyan a suspended sentence
of 1.5 years and set him free.

The courts also upheld the Armenian National Security Service charge
against Husik Baghdasaryan and Hovhannes Harutyunyan for obtaining and
possessing illegal weapons and ammunition. Baghdasaryan and Harutyunyan
were sentenced to three and 1.5 years’ imprisonment respectively.

THEY WERE CALLED TO INVESTIGATION

A1+
02 April, 2008

Today the director, the accountant and an employee of "Swan’s
Lake" cafe belonging to Ararat Zurabian’s family were called to
an examination.

Reminder: Ararat Zurabian is charged with an attempt to "usurp state
power." He is also accused of inciting mass disorder and violating
the constitutional order.

Zuravian heads the board of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh).

MOTHER OF AZERBAIJANI CAPTIVE DELIVERED TO A THIRD COUNTRY DEMANDS FROM RED CROSS TO DISCLOSE HER SON’S WHEREABOUTS

Today
y/43971.html
April 1 2008
Azerbaijan

"There has not been any response to the appeal, we have sent to the
Azerbaijani representation of the UN Commissariat for Refugees".

The due announcement was made by Tarana Mamedova, mother of Azerbaijani
army soldier Samir Mamedov, Day.Az reports.

She said they are anxious about the lack of any information.

"We were to meet with Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova, but however, we
were not able to come to Baku due to material difficulties", she said.

Mamedova noted that they do not know how to contact Samir to get any
information about him.

"The International Committee of the Red Cross should disclose the
country, they have deported our son. But the committee says their
mission is considered completed upon the deportation of our son to
a third country", Mamedova said.

It should be noted that Samir Mamedov was deported to a third country
on January 31, however, it is not reported, to which country he has
been delivered. He was captured by Armenians in Qazakh on December
24 of 2006.

SHARE OF TOURISM IN GDP IN ARMENIA TO GROW TO 12% IN 2030

arminfo
2008-03-31 15:23:00

ArmInfo.The share of tourism sector in GDP in Armenia will grow to 12%
in 2030 in conformity with the tourism development sector in Armenia,
Head of Tourism Department, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
of Armenia, Mekhak Apresyan said at a press conference, Monday.

He said incomes from tourism are forecasted at $3 billion annually
in 2030.

Due to it, Armenia will be included into the list of 50 developed
tourist countries. He said the annual growth of the sphere in the
country was 20-30% over the last years. In 2007, 510,000 tourists
visited Armenia. The number of tourists will grow to 600,000 people
in 2008. He also added that mass disorders in Yerevan that led to
8 deaths will negatively affect the inflow of tourists. However,
M. Apresyan could not make any specific forecasts. For her part,
Commercial Director of Armenian Tourism Development Agency Suzan
Azoyan said those incidents have frightened tourists for a short
period of time. Thus, March 1 unrest made 700-800 tourists to refuse
from visiting Armenia on Easter on March 23.