Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

The Ambassador of Germany presented her credentials to President
Kocharian

armradio.am
17.08.2007 18:45

The newly appointed Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Germany to
Armenia Ms. Andrea Joana-Maria Wiktorin presented her credentials to
President Robert Kocharian.

Congratulating the Ambassador on her nomination, the President of
Armenia wished her successful tenure in office.

The parties hailed the current level of the Armenian-German relations,
which enjoy the high level of political dialogue, active contacts, as
well as dynamically developing economic relations.

The Ambassador of Germany noted with satisfaction that Germany is among
the leading donors in the area of cooperation for the development of
Armenia. Underlining the organized nature of cooperation between the
two states, Robert Kocharian said that the German programs for
development are very effective, practical and are directed towards
structural reformation of the most vital areas. According to Ms.
Wiktorin the more precise and practical the programs are, the more
tangible are the results.

The two sides stressed the importance of exploring new directions in
the bilateral relations and with this regard highlighted the importance
of the upcoming session of the intergovernmental commission, which is
scheduled for this September.

During the meeting the parties spoke also about the process of
Armenia’s integration in European structures, and possible assistance
of Germany for the implementation of the New Neighborhood Initiative.

NUMBER OF LAND PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS GROWS BY 26.2% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-JUNE 2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Aug 14 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, NOYAN TAPAN. 11,130 pieces of land (including
763 in Yerevan) were alienated in Armenia in January-June 2007.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, out of the total
number of land alienation transactions conducted in the first half
of this year, 10,506 were sales and purchases, 563 were donations,
and 61 transactions were exchanges. 5,128 alienated pieces of land
were of agricultural significance, including 32 ones in Yerevan.

The number of land sales and purchases grew by 26.2% in the first
half of 2007 on the same period of last year. The number of sales
and purchases of lands of agricultural significance grew by 18.9%.

The greatest number of land sales and purcahses (2,594) was registered
in Kotayk region of Armenia.

VAHIT ERDEM: WE WILL STRUGGLE AGAINST INJUSTICE AGAINST AZERBAIJAN TILL THE END

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 14 2007

NATO Parliamentary Assembly first Vice-President, Turkish parliament
member Vahit Erdem’s interview to APA’s Turkey bureau

-You added experience of working in political and international word
to your experience in public administration. Turkish media outlets
do not conceal their intentions to see you in the post of Defense
Minister. Have you received any hint regarding this from the Prime
Minister?

-I have not received any information. Prime Minister forms the Cabinet
of Ministers. He involves those he could work in close cooperation
with to the Cabinet. I do not think someone knows something at
present. Everyone is busy with presidential election.

But I know that Prime Minister is dealing with forming a new Cabinet.

-You resisted unfair attacks on Turkey in the international arena.

You said to the face of Armenian parliament speaker in Yerevan that
pulling out troops from Azerbaijani territories is inevitable. Can
we say that AKP government will continue its severe policy against
Armenia?

-I have always stood against unfairness everywhere. We will struggle
against the injustice against Turkey’s brother Azerbaijan’s until we
achieve a result. We regard Azerbaijan as our state. Azerbaijan’s
problem is ours. We will struggle together with Azerbaijan against
Armenia’s aggression and achieve to end the unfairness. There is no
other way out. Everyone knows that Armenia’s continuing to occupy
Azerbaijani territories in the 21st century is unacceptable. We would
not like to be in hostile relations with Armenia. However, Armenia
should first of all try to establish good relations with Turkey and
refrain from unfairly accusing Turkey in the international arena.

Armenia should pull out its troops from Azerbaijani territories
unconditionally. If it does this, it can establish better relations
with us and Azerbaijan as well. Armenia is doomed to remain in
isolation in the region until it reconciles with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

-Armenian Foreign Minister condemned NATO for not forcing Ankara into
opening Turkish-Armenian borders.

-NATO should force Armenia first to achieve peace. First of all,
we have to solve the major conflict then care about details.

– How does Turkey manage to fight PKK terrorism?

-Sooner or later Turkey will succeed in that issue as well. Because,
we are very strong. We do not want to cause some international
problems. We try to solve the conflict by means of international
consensus. We are pleased with Iraqi Prime Minister’s regarding PKK
as terrorist. There is trilateral mechanism to fight terrorism among
the US, Turkey and Iraq. We will solve the conflict sooner or later.

Despite the fact that some Kurd groups make statements in Northern
Iraq they would not be able to overcome the US-Turkey-Iraq trilateral
mechanism.

Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute
RA, Yerevan 0028
Contact: Arevik Avetisyan
Tel: (374 10) 39 09 81
Fax: (374 10) 39 10 41
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http: //

Photographic competition dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.

The Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute (AGMI)
in cooperation
with the journal "Yerevan"
announce photographic competition dedicated to the 40th
anniversary of the foundation of the
Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.

ARMENIAN TENNIS PLAYERS TO COMPETE IN DAVIS CUP GROUP THREE NEXT YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Aug 13 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Competitions of Davis Cup’s Euro
African Zone Group Four finished on August 12. Armenian tennis players
won the match between Armenia and Botswana with a score of 2:1, while
the Armenia-Montenegro match was won by the guests with a score of
3:0. The Armenian national team took second place in the group and
received the right to participate in competitions of Davis Cup’s
higher – Group Three next year.

CHAIRMAN OF "HERITAGE" PARTY MEETS WITH FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Aug 04 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The meeting of the chairman of the
"Zharangutyun" ("Heritage") party Raffi Hovannisian and France’s
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Serge Smessov
took place on August 3. According to the press service of "Heritage",
during the meeting the interlocutors exchanged opinions about Armenia’s
international relations and internal political challenges, the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, and Armenian-French links.

ARMENIAN PROGRAMS OF RADIO LIBERTY TO BE BROADCASTED ON FREQUENCIES OF "AR RADIO" SINCE AUGUST 15

Noyan Tapan
Aug 2, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The programs of the Armenian service
of the Radio Liberty will be broadcasted on the frequencies of
the intercontinental "Ar Radio" since August 15. According to the
message of the Board of Directors of the American Broadcasts, the
contract signed a few days ago will be in force until September 14,
2008. It is also mentioned that the "Ar Radio" has 23 transmitters,
which cover Yerevan and a number of remote regions.

It should be mentioned that the management of the Armenian Public
Radio announced in the middle of July that the broadcast of the
Radio Liberty by the 80 transmitters of its network will be stopped
since August 9. The programs of the Armenian service of the Radio
Liberty have been broadcast through the network of the Armenian Public
Radio since 1998. The negotiations concerning the prolonging of the
contract, which lasted for three days in July in Yerevan, were not
crowned with success.

"We are pleased with the fact that numerous Armenian listeners will
henceforth as well have an opportunity to listen to our programs
by the intercontinental "Ar Radio", Jeffrey Gedmin, the President
of the Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, said. At the same time he
expressed conviction that the programs of the Radio Liberty should be
available throughout Armenia. "Hundred thousands of listeners trust
in the Armenian service of the Radio Liberty and expect exact and
comprehensive information from us," Jeffrey Gedmin mentioned.

CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION IN ARMENIA INCREASED BY 17,2% IN JANUARY-JUNE 2007

arminfo
2007-08-01 16:33:00

In January-June 2007 capital investments in construction increased
by 17.2% as against the same period of 2006 and in June-by 45.8% and
made up 171.4bln AMD or $481mln. According to the National Statistical
Service of Armenia, in the total volume of capital construction in
Jan- June 2007, the share of industrial facilities was 73.4 bln AMD
($206 mln), construction and assembly works – 150 bln AMD ($420.1
mln), 56.2bln AMD ($ 158mln) of them were used for construction of
industrial facilities.

The share of capital investments in Jan-June 2007 on the state budget
allocations totaled 18.3bln AMD or $51.2 mln (10,6% of the total volume
of expenses). Organizations used 60.5bln AMD or $170 mln (35.3% of
the total volume of the investments in the construction in Armenia)
for capital construction. The expenses of the Armenian population in
this direction made up 84.2bln AMD or $236 mln (49.1%).

World Bank issued $1.2bln AMD credits (0.7% of the total volume of
the funds used) for capital construction.

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING UNIT GETS MORE U.S. AID
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 1 2007

The United States has provided $3 million worth of new military
equipment to a special peace-keeping battalion of Armenia’s Armed
Forces in an effort to make it fully interoperable with U.S. and
other NATO troops.

According to the U.S. embassy in Yerevan, the assistance includes
desert uniforms and clothing, boots, backpacks, protective masks, field
equipment, medical supplies, cold weather clothing, and maintenance
equipment. In a statement issued late Tuesday, the embassy said it
is part of a $8 million program designed to make it easier for the
battalion to take part in U.S. or NATO-led military operations in
trouble spots around the world.

"With the arrival of additional shipments in coming weeks, the
battalion should be fully equipped with U.S. and NATO interoperable
equipment before the end of the year, thereby easing its logistical
requirements regarding equipment re-supply during deployment," the
statement said.

The Armenian Defense Ministry issued no statements in connection with
what the embassy described as the largest yet shipment of U.S.

military equipment to an army unit whose soldiers and officers
currently serve in Iraq and Kosovo.

Earlier this year, the Armenian peace-keeping battalion took delivery
of a $1.2 million field hospital donated by the U.S. military.

Anthony Godfrey, the then U.S. charge d’affaires in Yerevan, said the
donation is meant to facilitate "future Armenian military deployments
with coalition or NATO forces" stationed in various conflict zones.

He had indicated earlier that Washington would welcome Armenian
involvement in the ongoing multinational mission in Afghanistan.

A senior Armenian military official said recently that Yerevan is
considering joining the mission.

The peace-keeping battalion was formed in 2003 with Western financial
and technical assistance as a prelude to Armenia’s first-ever military
deployments abroad. The Armenian government plans to turn it into an
army brigade in the coming years.

BLANCO LEADS CHICAGO PAST TORONTO 3-0 IN MLS DEBUT

AP Worldstream
Published: Jul 30, 2007

Mexican striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco quickly showed his ability in his
Major League Soccer debut, setting up the first goal of the match as
the Chicago Fire downed Toronto FC 3-0 Sunday.

In Sunday’s other match, the Kansas City Wizards edged Chivas USA 3-2.

Blanco fed the ball to Ivan Guerrero to score in the 37th minute
and almost created another goal in the 43rd minute, but Chad Barrett
was judged to have used his arm to control the Mexican’s pass before
hammering it into the goal.

Calen Carr and Floyd Franks also scored as the Fire snapped a six-game
winless streak.

Chicago, which had scored 13 goals in its previous 16 games, is tied
with Toronto for last in the East with 19 points. Toronto is winless
in four games.

Armenian Yura Movsisyan scored in the 89th minute to lift the Kansas
City to a home win over past Chivas USA.

Chivas went up early when U.S. international Jonathan Bornstein took
a beautiful pass upfield from Ante Razov and scored from 18 yards out
despite being surrounded by four Wizards players, including goalkeeper
Kevin Hartman.

Chivas tied it at 2-2 in the 54th minute when John Cunliffe scored
a minute after Davy Arnaud’s free kick for the Wizards, who remained
a point back of New England in the Eastern Conference.