Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

ARMENIA, HUNGARY TO ESTABLISH BILATERAL COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2009 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Government Thursday approved decision
on signing Agreement between Armenian and Hungarian Governments for
establishing cooperation in educational, scientific and cultural
spheres.

The document is aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation, including
exchange of specialists and extended cooperation within international
organizations, Education Minister Armen Ashotyan said. The agreement
will also help ensure the rights of Armenians residing in Hungary.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE PROCESS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW NUCLEAR UNIT IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY

ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2009

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: At today’s session the Armenian
government decided to give approval to the draft decision on
establishing a closed joint-stock company on purpose of constructing
new nuclear unit in Armenia. Presenting it Armenian Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan said that the draft decision
is agreed with the operator of the construction of a new nuclear unit
"Warley Parsons" company.

The regulatory capital of the future company will make 60 million AMD,
the half of which is to be provided by Armenia. In that organization
the Armenian side will be represented by the Armenian Ministry of
Energy and Natural Resources.

The minister said that a decision has been made to obtain nuclear
energy reactors of Russian production for the new nuclear unit. Those
equipments, according to the minister, have a guarantee of 60 years
for exploitation, as well as a European quality certificate.

"This is a political decision agreed with our Russian partners.

This decision is included in the strategy, which we have conformed
at the session of the National Security Council. The process of the
construction of the atomic station’s new nuclear unit is running
smoothly", Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said referring to
that decision.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO BE MARKED IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
02.12.2009 19:04

The International Day of People with Disabilities to be marked by
the United Nations family in Armenia together with its governmental
and non-governmental partners.

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and
mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons
with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to
be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every
aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on the
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The message reads:

"The theme of this year’s International Day of Persons
with Disabilities is "making the Millennium Development Goals
disability-inclusive." As we prepare for next September’s MDG summit,
we must ensure that our efforts are all-inclusive and improve living
standards and quality of life for everyone.

We are all vulnerable to disability, temporary or permanent, especially
as we grow older. In most countries, at least one person in 10 is
disabled by physical, mental or sensory impairment. A quarter of the
global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers
or family members.

Persons with disabilities encounter many disadvantages. They are
often among the poorest and most excluded members of society. Yet
they routinely show tremendous resilience, and achieve great heights
in all spheres of human endeavour.

Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to
participate and lead the process of development, the entire community
opens up. Their involvement creates opportunities for everyone —
with or without a disability. The message for the MDGs is clear:
putting persons with disabilities and their communities at the heart
of our efforts is a proven way to advance the development agenda.

The United Nations advocates for universal human rights and development
for all as fundamental goals and as essential foundations for peace,
security and prosperity. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, which entered into force in 2008, is one of our
most important tools to advance this cause. We must continue to work
for its implementation and its universality.

On this International Day, let us pledge to break down the barriers
to participation and access which persons with disabilities face in
their daily lives. Let us empower them as an indispensable means for
achieving the Millennium Development Goals and development for all."

LORI DIAMOND CUTTING COMPANY TO CUT THIS YEAR $40-$42 MILLION WORTH DIAMONDS

ARKA
Dec 2, 2009

YEREVAN, December 2, /ARKA/. Isaak Aghajanian, director general
of Lori diamond cutting company, told journalists Tuesday that the
company will have cut this year some $40-$42 million worth diamonds,
by 10%-15% less if compared to the same period last year.

He said the company cuts 5,000-6,000 carat diamonds monthly and about
50,000 a year. According to him, as the global economic crisis recedes
the production rises slowly. He added they plan to raise production
by 30% in 2010.

Isaak Aghajanian said Lori did not stop diamond cutting even at
the height of the crisis, however, it had to reduce workers from
500 to 3000, who earn monthly a little over 100,000 Drams (a little
over $260).

He said 90 percent of the ready products are exported to the United
States and Europe. Raw diamonds come from Belgium, USA and Canada.

Lori diamond cutting company was established in 1992. Fifty percent
in it is owned by Hamatamant LLC and 50% by Black Willow companies
company from Virginia islands.

PROTOCOLS WILL BE RATIFIED AFTER LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: DAVUTOGLU

news.am
Dec 2 2009
Armenia

The ratification of Armenia-Turkey Protocols is possible only after
the liberation of Azerbaijani occupied territories by Armenia, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated at Dec.1 meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Athens.

The officials exchanged views on two country’s relations, discussed
regional issues, particularly NKR conflict and Armenia-Turkey
normalization. Davutoglu attached significance to the NKR conflict
resolution for ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Mammadyarov referred to the current stage of the negotiation process
and Azerbaijan’s stance on the matter. Turkish FM invited his
Azerbaijani counterpart for an official visit to Turkey, Azerbaijani
MFA reports.

ARMENIA READY TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS OVER SIMPLIFIED VISA REGIME WITH EU COUNTRIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2009 21:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Center for European Policy" organized a conference
"Stability and security in the EU Eastern Partnership" on November
27 in Brussels. The conference was attended by the Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Arman Kirakosyan, as well as Deputy
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Konstantin Eliseev, representatives of
the EU Council and a representative of the U.S. mission to NATO.

According to Arman Kirakosyan, Eastern Partnership provides a great
opportunity of European integration for countries participating in
the project. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister also welcomed the launch
of discussions on negotiations over the associative agreement between
Armenia and the EU.

"The Armenian side is ready to begin negotiations over the free trade
regime and simplification of visa regime between Armenia and the EU",
the Armenian diplomat said.

He also dwelled on recent developments in Armenia-Turkey rapprochement
and the Karabakh conflict, press service of the Foreign Ministry of
Armenia reports.

TIME TO CHANGE AND TO BE CHNAGED

Lragir.am
28/11/09

The Republican leader Serge Sargsyan addressed the RP congress taking
currently place at the Yerevan Sport and Concert complex. Dwelling on
the economic situation, Serge Sargsyan thanked the major business and
the system-creating organizations which cooperated with the government
to ease the impact of the crisis.

Touching upon the home political situation, Serge Sargsyan assessed
the post-electoral developments as unacceptable and dangerous though
according to him, fortunately, we did not pass the line of separation.
There is still much to do in this connection which needs flexibility
to establish an atmosphere of dialogue and tolerance.

According to Serge Sargsyan, if the institutes of civil society were
more developed, if the political forces were more tolerant and if the
law enforcement bodies were more professional what happened would be
avoided.

Dwelling on the Republican Party, he noted that the RP is being
crystallized, its structures increase in number as well as the number
of people engaged in professional work of the party grows. Serge
Sargsyan said ?Our yes is yes, our no is no?. There are no questions
which interest only us but everything should be viewed in the global
context.

According to Serge Sargsyan, the time to speak freely and to
necessarily change came. The changes within the RP should be viewed in
a wide context. The more the democracy within the party is, the sooner
the society will copy it as a model. RP is not a party of one person,
RP is not Serge Sargsyan?s party, Serge Sargsyan is just an RP member,
said Serge Sargsyan, adding ?If you want to change something start
from you?.

According to him, the RP has the problem on eliminating the
contradictions between words and acts which exist inside the party to
become a model of a New Armenia. If the party represses the opposition
inside it, coming to power it will repress the opposition too. This is
not the RP way of action. The antonym of not making a mistake is not
non-doing anything, it is its synonym. People will not forgive this
mistake, they will not forgive idleness.

The person who leads the power must be wise. We need a stable
political system for progress and its idea is the freedom of mind.
With limited format but without limited content, said Serge Sargsyan.

FFA to hold workshops for school physical trainers
28.11.2009 15:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) will hold a
series of workshops for physical trainers of 900 Armenian schools, the
FFA said on its website. FFA instructors will familiarize the trainers
with `Football’ manual and conduct practicals.

MUTKO REPLACED BY SIMONIAN AS PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN FOOTBALL UNION ON TEMPORARY BASIS

Inside World Football
php?option=com_content&view=article&am p;id=7506:mutko-replaced-by-simonian-on-temporary- basis&catid=51:europe&Itemid=63
No v 26 2009

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 .November 25 – Nikita Simonian (pictured)
will serve as interim President of the Russian Football Union (RFU)
until February after Vitaly Mutko officially stepped down.

Mutko’s resignation was expected after Russain President Dmitry
Medvedev recently announced that all sports federations must be run
by full-time professionals.

Simonian, 83, is one of Russia’s greatest ever players.

He was a member of the Soviet Union team that won the Olympic gold
medal at the 1956 Games in Melbourne and finished top scorer in the
Soviet League on three occasions during a career with Spartak Moscow
that saw him score 133 goals in 233 appearances.

As a manager, he won the Soviet Top League with Spartak and Ararat
Yerevan and was in charge of the national team between 1977 and 1979.

RA PM CALLS ON FUNCTIONARIES TO MAKE CONTRIBUTION TO SHOUSHI RECONSTRUCTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2009 12:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has called on
Armenian high-ranking officials to make personal contribution to
reconstruction of Shoushi.

"Reconstruction of Shoushi is a matter of honor," he said when
addressing the government on November 26.

The PM also reminded that Hayastan All Armenian Fund organized a
telethon to raise funds for the purpose.