Author: Nahapetian Samvel

DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS WITH OWN PLATFORM
ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 16:04
The Democratic Party of Armenia is an independent political force
and will go for the parliamentary elections with its own platform,
President of the Democratic Party of Armenia, NA Deputy Aram
G. Sargsyan said in a press conference today. He added that the
political force is ready to cooperate with those parties, whose
programs will coincide with those of the Democratic Party.
According to Aram Sargsyan, the Democratic Party of Armenia aspires
to form a third force in the new Parliament, a candidate of which may
run for President in 2008. In his words, the first two parliamentary
forces will be the Republican Party of Armenia and the “Thriving
Armenia” Party.

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS SCHEDULED IN 5 ARMENIAN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NOVEMBER
Noyan Tapan
Oct 30 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. In November, local self-government
elections are scheduled in 5 Armenian rural communities. As NT
correspondent was informed by CEC Spokeswoman, Tsovinar Khachatrian,
on November 5, regular elections of community head are scheduled in
the community of Zoravan, Kotayk region, on November 12 Ddmashen,
Gegharkunik region, on November 19, Aygezard, Ararat region. On
November 12, regular elections of councillor members are also scheduled
in the rural community of Shenavan, Armavir region, and on November
26, special elections of community head in the rural community of
Dalar, Ararat region. To recap, holding of special elections in
the last community is conditioned by the fact that village head
Tigran Petrosian’s powers were considered as prematurely stopped:
on August 30, he was killed with fire-arms by former village head
Gegham Badalian.

Serge Sargsyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of Sweden

ArmRadio.am
28.10.2006 11:35
October 27 Secretary of the Presidential Council on National Security,
RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the newly appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden Hans Gunnar
Adén (seat in Stockholm).
During the meeting the parties spoke about Armenia’s place and role in
the geopolitical context. Emphasizing the role of the OSCE Minsk
Group, they turned to the current stage of settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. Reference was made to a number of security issues and the
cooperation with NATO in the framework of the Individual Partnership
Action Plan and the `Partnership for peace ‘ program.

Armenia will participate in the elaboration of resolution on

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 17:57
The Armenian side will have practical involvement in the elaboration
of the text of the draft resolution on `frozen conflicts’ to be
discussed in the framework of the Un General Assembly session, RA MFA
Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetyan told ArmInfo correspondent.
He underlined that the Armenian side is participating in elaboration
of all the resolutions related to the region, as well as the questions
of large-scale international importance. `It is natural that the
Armenian side will participate in the discussions of the `frozen’
conflicts initiated by GUAM countries,’ Vladimir Karapetyan noted.
To note, Azeri MFA has come forward with a statement, that discussion
of the `frozen conflicts’ in GUAM member states will be held in the
framework of the UN session on December 4.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006
LIFE IN ARMENIA IS WELL MATCHED WITH AFRICAN ONE: UN EXPERTS
Women in Armenia and Russia receive only the two third of men’s
salary, while in Georgia it makes up 40%, it is said in the UN Food
Program’s report on the tendencies of development in CIS countries,
as well as in the countries of the Central and Eastern Europe, which
was presented the day before within the frames of a Round Table in
Moscow with participation of many international experts.
As the National News Agency informs, the UN experts did not like that
only 5% of women sits in the Parliaments of Armenia and Ukraine and
10% – in the Parliaments of Georgia, Russia and Azerbaijan. According
to the report, the citizens of some CIS states live worse than the
people in poor African countries. Meanwhile, the Rosbalt informs that
the UN FP’s regional adviser, Yacek Cukrovski, noted in his speech
during the Moscow session that “Africa is considered the poorest
continent, however, it is not always true. Tajikistan today is poorer
that Sudan, while Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are no much richer
as well”. Having analyzed the situation with an equality of rights,
the UN experts have concluded that “the position of women in Russia
and in the countries of western part of CIS and Caucasus seems, in
some aspect, more favourable than the position of men”. They noted
that more women study in HEE of these states and their life interval
is much more that of men. Along with it, a representative of the UN
World Food Program in Russia, Inga Broyer, noted with satisfaction
that Russia has become again to feed the poor countries: in 2003,
2005 and 2006 the RF has allocated $11 mln for purchase of foodstuffs
for such countries as KPDR, Angola, Afghanistan , while to Armenia
and Cuba – this year.

Interfax News Agency, Russia
Oct 26 2006
PUTIN ENDORSES RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA ON MILITARY TRANSIT
Moscow, 26 October: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law
“On the ratification of the agreement between the Russian Federation
and Georgia on organizing the transit of military cargo and personnel
through the territory of Georgia,” the Kremlin press service reported
on Thursday [26 October].
The agreement was signed on 31 March 2006 in Sochi. It is aimed at
international legal regulation of issues concerning the transit by
various means of transport through the territory of Georgia of
military cargo and personnel in order to ensure the functioning of
the Russian military base located in Armenia.

ARMENIAN-BELORUSSIAN MEMORANDUM ON LEGAL COOPERATION TO BE OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE FOR ACTIVITY OF TWO COUNTRIES’ JUDICIAL SYSTEMS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 24 2006
YEREVAN, October 24. /ARKA/. The Armenian-Belorussian memorandum on
legal cooperation will be of fundamental importance for the joint
activity of the two countries’ judicial systems, chairman of the
Armenian court of appeal Hovhannes Manukyan reported today in Yerevan.
“The memorandum gives a new start to the relations between the courts
of general jurisdiction of the two countries and will be of fundamental
importance for the cooperation of the judicial systems, synchronization
of the activity of judicial bodies and legislation,” he said At the
same time, the chairman of the court of appeal of Armenia pointed out
that the memorandum regulates the joint activity of judicial bodies and
the list of activities, necessary for establishing contacts, exchange
of information and conduction of various activities, particularly,
scientific and scientific-practical conferences.
“The memorandum will have big impact not only on the legal cooperation
between Armenia and Belarus, but also on the general level of the
bilateral relations,” Manukyan said.
Memoranda on cooperation and exchange of legal information were
signed between the court of appeal of Armenia and the Supreme Court
of Belarus, and between the former and the High Economic court of
Belarus.

COOPERATION WITH CIS COUNTRIES ABSOLUTE PRIORITY OF RUSSIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 17:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Cooperation with CIS countries is absolute priority
of Russia’s foreign policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said
during a live news conference today. In his words, in the times of
the USSR many peoples lived within one country, which could not leave
the national economy untouched. “Thus we should avail ourselves with
evident competition advantages as compared with other partners,”
Putin said. He also underscored that it is necessary to move not
only towards coordination, but also integration and “processes of
that type are underway.”
Specifically, the state leader reminded of the existence of the United
Economic Space, Eurasian Economic Community, Collective Security Treaty
Organization. At that Putin noted that speaking “of imperialistic
trends and return to the USSR is absolutely groundless.”

MADISON MUSIC PROJECT — SARA YERVAND
Kristian Knutsen
Isthmus Daily Page, WI
Oct 25 2006
Today’s highlighted Madison musician is Sara Yervand.
An increasingly visible and esteemed presence in jazz circles around
Madison and beyond, Sara Yervand is regularly described by listeners
as an accomplished jazz vocalist. She performs regularly at both club
gigs and jazz festivals throughout the year, including the Isthmus
Jazz Festival and Jazz at Five.
Yervand’s biographical self-description provide more details about
her music and its sources:
Sara Yervand (former Erzinkian) was born in Armenia, and began to
sing jazz, pop and Armenian folk music at the age of 15. She made
many stage performances in Armenia, European countries, including
Paris (live appearance on a TV show Sacree Soiree), Vienna (where
she lived for 3 years), Montreal, Zagreb (Yugoslavia) and others. Her
recordings with National Pop-Symphonic Orchestra of TV and Radio of
Armenia under direction of conductor and composer Yervand Yerznkyan
are outstanding. Sara Yervand and her son David moved to U.S. 10 years
ago where they started a life anew. She has a Masters in Musicology
and recently earned a MBA degree at Cardinal Stritch University. She
lives, works and sings jazz professionally in Madison, WI. She teaches
music and sings at Jazz Festivals and regional events.
The singer released Introducing Sara Yervand in 2005, a ten-track album
that featured the accompaniment of some of the city’s most seasoned
instrumentalists. The album was reviewed by Isthmus music writer Tom
Laskin, who wrote, “Yervand’s voice offer most of the excitement and
the surprises here in winning, often very playful performances that
at times seem drawn from an intimate club gig.”
Another review from All About Jazz also favorably appraises the album.
Some of Yervand’s recordings are available for listening online.
Three are featured on her MySpace page: “It’s all right with…,” “Love
for Sale,” and “Lush Life.” There’s much more information — including
music, photos and a list of past gigs — available at sarayervand.com.
There are many chances to listen to Yervand sing live over the
next couple of months. She performs regularly on Thursday evenings
at Fyfe’s Corner Bistro on East Washington Avenue; upcoming dates
include Oct. 26, Nov. 2, and Nov. 9. Guitarist Sly Raymond performed
with Yervand at Fyfe’s back in July, and gave high marks both for
the vocalist and the venue:
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of sharing their modest stage with
the superb local singer Sara Yervand. This girl knows her stuff,
and exudes the confidence of a real pro. I’ve played with so-called
Jazz Vocalists before, and there has usually been a major adjustment
on my part; but performing in a duo with Sara was as comfortable
as the duo gigs I’ve played with saxophonist Jason Goldsmith. Her
interpretation is like that of an instrumentalist. I look forward to
our next gig together.
Yervand is also making two appearances this weekend at the Olive
Lounge in the downtown Hilton by Monona Terrace. On Friday, Oct. 27,
she will be performing with Doug Brown, while on Saturday, Oct. 28
Yervand is appearing with Paul Hastil. There is no cover either
night. Yervand’s appearances through the end of the year will take
her to Cocoliquot and The Bar at the Concourse, after which summer
festival season will already be approaching.
ticle.php?article=4585

NEGATIVE BALANCE OF MIGRATION IN ARMENIA DURING 9 MONTHS OF 2006 GROWS 10% COMPARED WITH SAME PERIOD OF TIME OF PREVIOUS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The negative balance of migration
in Armenia during the 9 months of 2006 made 37.3 thousand people
what is 3.4 thousand people or 10% more of the index of the same
period of time of the previous year. During the current year positive
balance of migration was fixed in June, July and September, making,
correspondingly, 7682, 6457 and 639 people. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by Gagik Yeganian, the Chief of the
Migration Agency of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration,
the negative balance of migration has reduced year by year since 2002,
and positive balance was fixed in 2004-2005. G.Yeganian also informed
that volumes of passengers’ flow grow year by year. The total volume
of passengers’ flow made 1396.6 thousand people in January-September
of the current year what made 145.5 thousand or 11.6% more compared
with the same period of time of the previous year.