Author: Nahapetian Samvel

VICE-SPEAKER SAMVEL NIKOYAN: IF THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT, ARMENIA WILL RECOGNIZE NAGORNO KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

APA
Dec 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan – APA. "Armenia refrains from recognizing the independence
of Nagorno Karabakh only out of respect for the position of the
international community and the process of negotiations.

But Nagorno Karabakh’s independence does not and can not have
alternative for us or any Armenia," vice-speaker of Armenian
parliament Samvel Nikoyan said in his interview to slon.ru website,
APA reports. According to him, if Armenia recognizes Nagorno Karabakh’s
independence, there will be no need for OSCE Minsk Group.

"With this we can put an end to the negotiations carried out with the
participation of the international community. But I reiterate that
it has no alternative. If we see that there is no improvement in the
settlement of the conflict and Nagorno Karabakh’s independence is in
danger, then Armenia will recognize Nagorno Karabakh’s independence,"
he said.

Vigen Chaldranyan’s books presented in RA National Library
26.12.2009 19:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian film director Vigen Chaldranyan presented
two books in the Armenian National Library on December 26. He was also
honored with Hakop Meghapart order.

Vigen Chaldranyan was born on December 1955 in Yerevan. He graduated
from Yerevan Fine Art and Theater Institute and Russian State
Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in 1981. Chaldranyan acted in a
large number of films.

IRAN’S PARTICIPATION IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT OUT OF THE QUESTION, ARMENIAN PREMIER

news.az
Dec 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Iran’s participation in Karabakh settlement out of the question,
Armenian Premier.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan rules out possible
participation of Iran as a mediator in the Karabakh settlement.

Sargsyan told reporters that the mediation format will not change.

According to the Prime Minister, the negotiation process dynamics on
Karabakh will remain on the same level next year.

Earlier, the Iranian president stated Tehran’s readiness to participate
in Karabakh settlement as a mediator.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: NO CHANGES IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS DYNAMICS

news.am
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan believes that the dynamics of the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process will not change next year.

Answering a question concerning Iran’s possible role in the process,
the Armenian Premier said that he does not think so, as the negotiation
format will not be changed next year.

As regards the development of Armenia-Turkey process, the Premier did
not make any forecasts, pointing out that President Serzh Sargsyan
clearly explained Armenia’s actions depending on further developments.

Speaking of the opportunities to be afforded to Armenia by the reopened
Upper Lars checkpoint at the Georgian-Russian border, the Premier
said that the share of cargoes transported by motor transport will
increase. According to him, after the checkpoint as closed, railroad
freight activity showed a 15% increase this year.

THE RA EMBASSY PARTOOK IN THE CHARITY FAIR IN POLAND

Aysor
Dec 21 2009
Armenia

In the Mariot hotel in Varshava took place the New Year day Charity
Fairs organized by the wives of the ambassadors of Embassies in Poland,
the money received from the Charity was dedicated to the children
with cancer.

The press and information department of the RA MFA informs that the
RA Embassy to Poland had its active participation in the organization
and realization of the charity. The Armenian team was presenting
national traditional hand-made souvenirs, Armenian brandy and the
works of Armenian artists leaving in Poland.

20 MILLION DRAMS TRANSFERRED TO RA STATE BUDGET AS A RESULT OF VIOLATIONS REVEALED BY TRANSPORT INSPECTION SINCE EARLY 2009

NOYAN TAPAN
December 21, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s network for regular
conveyance of passengers by motor transport of general use includes
732 routes. RA Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen Sargsyan
said at the December 21 press conference that as a result of checks
conducted by the Transport Inspection of the ministry, 2,735 reports
on administrative infractions were drawn up in 2009, based on which
20 million drams (as compared with 12 million drams in 2008) were
transferred to the state budget of Armenia.

According to the minister, in the first ten months of this year
54.3 million drams were transferred to the state budget as revenues
from advertisement panels at motorways of interstate and republican
importance. In 2009, the ministry granted 93 licences for organization
of regular conveyance by passenger motor transport of general use,
99 licences for organization of passenger transportation in taxis,
and 856 licences for organization of passenger transportation in
taxis by private businessmen. It was announced that in Armenia, 562
licensed organizations and 856 individuals are currently engaged in
passenger transportation in taxis.

G. Sargsyan said that this year the ministry started to suspend
licences of companies for various kinds of violations. In particular,
the ministry suspended 56 licences for state duty nonpayment (15
licences were later restored) and 13 licences for regular violations
(2 were restored).

Interfax, Russia
Dec 18 2009

No preconditions can be set to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations –
Armenian foreign minister

YEREVAN Dec 18

Tying the normalization of Armenian- Turkish relations to other
political processes is a nearsighted policy, Armenian Foreign Ministry
Edward Nalbandian said.

"Attempts to tie Armenian-Turkish relations to other processes go
against the logic of agreements that have been achieved and against
the entire global community’s principled position," the Armenian
Foreign Ministry cited Nalbandian as saying.

Dialogue between Armenia and Turkey is based on mutual understanding
that their relations can be normalized without any preconditions, he
said.

An attempt to impose any preconditions means a rollback to the
situation that existed before the normalization process was started,
he said.

"The party that is trying to put forward preconditions will bear all
responsibility for the consequences," Nalbandian said.

ANSS CHIEF AWARDED WITH RANK OF COLONEL GENERAL

Aysor
Dec 18 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan has signed a decree on awarding
Armenian National Security Service’s Chief Lieutenant-General Gorik
Hakobyan with rank of Colonel General.

Besides, according to Cabinet’s spokesperson, Deputy Chief of the
Armenian National Security Service Major-General Felix Tsolakyan
and Deputy Chief Romik Haroutunyan have been awarded with rank of
Lieutenant General.

By another decree, President Sargsyan has awarded some National
Security Service staff. In particular: Ashot Avagyan, Araik Avetisyan,
Armen Avetisyan, Mnatsakan Bazikyan, Andranik Karapetyan, Beglara
Kirakosyan, Armen Hayrapetyan, and Robert Smbatyan have been awarded
with Medal for Military Merit.

HOUSEWARMING IN ARMAVIR

gov.am
Dec 18 2009
Armenia

As part of his working visit to Armavir marz, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan took part in the ceremonious opening of a residential
building for servicemen engaged by RA Ministry of Defense in Armavir
town. Nearly 250 million drams were allocated from the State budget
for construction activities which started last year. Strong with 16
flats, the new-built block of flats was blessed by Primate of Armavir
Diocese, Bishop Zion Adamyan.

During the housewarming event, the Prime Minister shared the enthusiasm
of the officers in attendance by noting that housing construction
is a small victory amid crisis. In his congratulatory speech, Tigran
Sargsyan stated in part: "It is our duty to address the concerns of
army officers. You should always feel the Government’s thoughtfulness
and backing.

There is still much to do in this area: thousands of households need
housing. This is a primordial task for the government, and young
families constitute a first priority target group," Tigran Sargsyan
said by meaning those several hundreds of households involving army
officers.

EVENT DEDICATED TO ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN CULTURE ORGANIZED IN RUSTAVI

NOYAN TAPAN
DECEMBER 16, 2009
RUSTAVI

RUSTAVI, DECEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. An event dedicated to Armenia
and Armenian culture was held on December 15 in Rustavi comprehensive
school N 4 within the framework of the festival dedicated to friendship
of peoples living in Georgia. The event was held on the initiative of
Rustavi representation of Georgian Ministry of Education and Science
and with the support of the Embassy of Armenia in Georgia.

School’s Georgian students performed works by Sayat-Nova, Tumanian,
presented pages of Armenia’s history. The event participants also
watched video materials about Armenia and prominent Armenians.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
Ambassador of Armenia to Georgia Hrach Silvanian, heads of Rustavi
municipal authorities, representatives of the public participated in
the event.

Speakers mentioned that such events, which are one of the best
manifestations of people’s diplomacy, bring closer our states and
peoples, greatly contribute to strengthening of Armenian-Georgian
good-neighborly, mutually beneficial relations.

Actors of Petros Adamian Armenian Dramatic Theater and the dancing
ensemble of Armenian school N 104 were among the guests of the event.