Author: Nanijanian Alex

LITHUANIA READY TO ASSIST ARMENIA IN IMPLEMENTING THE IPAP WITH NATO

armradio.am
12.11.2007 16:50

November 12 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanain received the delegation
headed by the Minister of National Defense of Lithuania Juozas Olekas

Greeting the guest, Minister Oskanian expressed appreciation for
the high level of collaboration between the two countries in the
military-political sphere and emphasized the importance of reciprocal
visits and the agreement signed in the military sphere.

The Lithuanian Defense Minister noted that the main objective of the
visit is to discuss the reforms in the military-educational, peace and
defense fields. Mr. Olekas stressed Lithuania’s willingness to share
its experience and assist Armenia in the process of implementation
of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO.

The interlocutors discussed regional issues and turned to the latest
developments in the negotiation process on Nagorno Karabakh.

MCA-ARMENIA ANNOUNCES BEGINNING OF CIVIC WORKS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Millennium
Challenges Account (MCA)-Armenia announced today the
beginning of civil works on the Rural Road
Rehabilitation Project. An opening ceremony was held
in the village of Getap (Aragatsotn Marz) and attended
by prime minister Serzh Sarkisian and Millennium
Challenge Corporation Vice President Darius Mans.
The opening ceremony marks the beginning of
construction on a 24.5 kilometer section of the H-17
`Armavir-Isahakyan-Gyumri’ road. Construction work is
being executed by `Dorozhnik’ LLC, and scheduled to be
completed by December 15, 2008.
The $235.65 million MCA-Armenia Compact includes
$67.1 million to rehabilitate up to 943 kilometers of
rural roads, equaling more than a third of Armenia’s
2,703 kilometer Lifeline Road Network.
Upon completion this project will ensure that every
rural community has road access to markets, services,
and the main Armenian road network. Under the Compact,
the Government of Armenia will be required to commit
additional resources for maintenance of the road
network.
The Compact, signed on March 27, 2006, with Entry
into Force on September 29, 2006, aims to reduce rural
poverty through a sustainable increase in the economic
performance of the agricultural sector.
Armenia plans to achieve this goal through a
five-year program of strategic investments in rural
roads, irrigation infrastructure and technical and
financial assistance to improve the supply of water
and to support farmers and agribusinesses. The program
will directly impact approximately 750,000 people, or
an estimated 75 percent of the rural population, and
is expected to reduce the rural poverty rate and boost
annual incomes.
The Compact also includes $146 million to increase
the productivity of approximately 250,000 farm
households (34% of which are headed by women) through
improved water supply, higher yields, higher-value
crops, and a more competitive agricultural sector.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS DUE ON FEBRUARY 19

armradio.am
09.11.2007 13:13

On February 19, 2008 presidential elections will be held in the
Republic of Armenia. President of the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) of Armenia Garegin Azaeryan today made a statement on the
date of the presidential elections for the Public Television and
the Public Radio. Later today the schedule of the main arrangements
for the preparation and conduct of the elections will be determined
during the CEC sitting.

It’s noted in the official statement on the election day that according
to Part 2 of the Article 88 of RA Electoral Code, CEC President Garegin
Azaeryan is authorized to inform that in conformity with Article 51 of
RA Constitution, the presidential elections will be held on February
19, 2008.

According to Part 3 of the Article 88 of RA Electoral Code, the day
of the election is declared a day-off.

IMF’S SEES THE GROWTH BOOM CONTINUING IN THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA, BUT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR POLICY TIGHTENING TO DAMPEN INFLATIONARY PRESSURES

ARKA
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, November 9. /ARKA/. The International Monetary Fund’s October
2007 Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia (REO)
sees continued strong growth in the Caucasus and Central Asia, but
highlights the need to tackle rising inflation.

David Owen, Senior Advisor in the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia
Department, presented the report’s main findings for the region:
"The Caucasus and Central Asia is one of the fastest growing regions
in the world, with real GDP set to rise by an average of 13 percent
this year. Both oil and gas exporters (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and
Turkmenistan) and non-oil exporters (Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) are doing well.

The region’s strong performance reflects improved macroeconomic
policies, reforms to improve the business environment, booming
commodity exports, and large inflows of foreign direct investment
and remittances.

However, strong foreign exchange inflows combined with the recent
surge in international food prices have resulted in a sharp uptick
in inflation in recent months, except in Armenia, Owen said.

According to him, Average annual inflation in the region increased
to over 12 percent in September and is set to go higher before the
end of the year.

Even before the shock from higher food prices, inflation was rising
steadily, as most central banks boosted domestic liquidity by
purchasing foreign currency inflows, so as to limit the appreciation
of their currencies, he said.

Policy makers in the region could not have prevented the inflationary
shock from higher food prices. But they should respond quickly
to prevent this shock from passing through into other prices more
generally.

In most countries there is room to tighten monetary policies,
by raising interest rates and reducing foreign exchange market
intervention to allow more exchange rate appreciation. Plans in
several countries to loosen fiscal policies by raising government
spending should be put on hold, Owen said.

According to him, Moderate policy tightening to dampen inflationary
pressures should allow the boom in the region to continue.

"While average growth in the region is likely to slow from this year’s
rapid pace, it is projected to remain in double digits in 2008–high
enough to keep the region on a path of rising income per head and
declining poverty," the IMF states.

"BOTH IN CASE OF VICTORY OF SERGE SRGSIAN AND LEVON TER-PETROSIAN, RESULTS WILL BE DISASTROUS," ARAM MAYILIAN BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Nov 8, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. "The current strongest, if not the
only, pre-electoral pole of the opposition field, has been formed
in the hands of Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first President of the
Republic of Armenia," Larisa Alaverdian, a member of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) faction of the National Assembly, mentioned during the
November 8 discussion. In her prevision, the other opposition figures,
who are potential candidates running for presidency, will no longer
be able to create big unions and thus, a common candidate will not be
put forward. Larisa Alaverdian stated that in the current political
situation it is still indefinite whether Raffi Hovhannisian, the
founder of the Zharangutiun (Heritage), will be nominated in the
presidential elections.

Another participant of the discussion Aram Mayilian, an MP of the
former Supreme Council, mentioned that with the return of the first
president the political field has divided into two parts: strong and
weak, which he classified as "serious" and "not serious".

The players of the "serious" field, according to him, are Levon
Ter-Petrosian and Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, "in case of victory
of each of them the results will be disastrous." According to Aram
Mayilian, the approaches of the first president with regard to the
Karabakh problem are defeatist ones and that is dangerous for people,
who have won. And in case Serge Sargsian becomes president, in the
words of the former MP, the factual one-party system will strengthen
still more in the country, the free speech will be restricted,
to name but a few. Thus, as Aram Mayilian concluded, the bases of
democracy will get weaker in the country, which as well is fraught
with the probability of losing Artsakh.

US AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN MEETS STUDENTS’ PROTESTS IN NAKHCHIVAN

APA
[ 07 Nov 2007 15:20 ]

US ambassador to Azerbaijan Ann Derse met with Prime Minister of
Nakhchivan AR Alovsat Bakhshiyev today, APA’s Nakhchivan bureau
reports.

Ann Derse visited Nakhchivan State University (NSU) and met with
rector of the University Isa Habibbbayli. The ambassador also visited
America-Azerbaijan Relations Center functioning in University, Law
Clinics and CISCO Networking Academy. NSU students met Ann Derse in
America-Azerbaijan Relations Center and expressed their protests on
the exhibition held in Harvard University on the theme of "Armenian
monuments in Nakhchivan" conducted by Armenian professors. The
ambassador recommended the students to send their protests in written
form to leadership of Harvard University after listening to them.

The analogical case happened in Nakhchivan Private University. US
ambassador gave lecture in Azerbaijani "Democracy: Azerbaijan-US
relations" here. One of the students of the University asked Ms. Derse
a question in English due to the event in Harvard University. US
ambassador stated that Harvard University is an independent higher
school. She saying that Azerbaijani students know English in high
level stated that this ability is a large opportunity for propagating
history of Azerbaijan abroad. US ambassador will also visit Nakhchivan
AR Central Library named after Ordubadi, participate in the opening
of Regional Information Center here and meet with NGOs and Party
representatives functioning in AR in the framework of his visit to
AR. Ms. Derse will hold briefing at the end of her visit.

48 ORDERS ON PERMISSION OF ADVERTISMENT OF MEDICINE, MEDICAL TECHNIQUES, AND MEDICINAL METHODS UPHOLDED SINCE BEGINNING OF YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Nov 5, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Health has
upholded 48 out of 97 orders received since the beginning of the
year with regard to giving permission for advertising medicine,
medical techniques or medicinal methods. Thus, only 34 out of 70
orders placed for giving permission for advertising medicine, 11 out
of 19 for advertising medicinal methods, and 3 out of 5 for medical
techniques have been upholded.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by Suren Krmoyan, the legal advisor to the RA Minister of Health,
mainly the orders not corresponding to the demands of the RA Law on
"Advertisement" have been dismissed. For example, it was mentioned in
some of the placed orders that the advertised medicine has no side
effects. However, according to the adviser to the Minister, it is
not only prohibited by law, but is also impossible in reality. Suren
Krmoyan mentioned that there have been orders on permission of
advertisement of medicine given by prescription, which have also
been dismissed, since their advertisement is prohibited by law. In
addition to this, there have been cases, when the claim of the law
concerning the main language of advertisement: Armenian, was neglected.

However, as Suren Krmoyan mentioned, other languages can be used in
an advertisment only in parallel with the Armenian one.

It was also mentioned that the Ministry is conducting a monitoring for
the purpose of revealing cases of violation of the law: approximately
50 cases of violation have been recorded so far.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES IN FIRST READING BILLS ENVISAGING AMENDMENTS
AND ADDITIONS TO A NUMBER OF LAWS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. At the November 2 special session,
the RA National Assembly passed in first reading the bills, which were
discussed during the previous four-day session and which envisage
amendments and additions to a number of laws.

The bill on amendments and additions to the RA Criminal Executive Code
regulates issues related to conditional early release of persons after
serving their term in a disciplinary battalion. According to the bill,
in particular, after the end of the period of punishment stipulated by
law, the commander of the disciplinary battalion shall exmanine, within
a month, the issue of conditional early release of the convict, who has
no disciplinary penalty, and in case of a positive decision, the
commander must present a petition to court, asking for a conditional
early release of the convict. In case of the petition’s rejection, the
petition of the same contents may again be presented no earlier than 6
months after the court’s decision.

The package on amendments and additions to a number of laws on military
service was adopted with 76 votes in favor, 26 against and 3
abstentions. As was announced the day before, the "ARF, "Orinats
Yerkir" and "Heritage" factions voted against the package: they mainly
objected to the fact of including some legislative amendments, which
are not related logically to each other, in one package.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS UNITE, CONDEMN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Niraj Warikoo

Detroit Free Press, MI
Nov 1 2007

In a show of Christian unity, the top Armenian religious leader met
with the Michigan heads of several denominations Wednesday to denounce
genocide and call for bridging sectarian and religious divides.

"We are very pleased to see a brotherhood that lives among the
Christian denominations, as well as among the representatives of
different faiths," His Holiness Karekin II, pontiff of the Armenian
Orthodox Church, said through his translator after a luncheon in his
honor at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield.

Karekin’s three-day visit to Michigan — his first since 2005 — is
the last leg of a monthlong tour of the United States that comes at
a time of great debate over a congressional resolution that labeled
as genocide the killings of Armenians in the early 20th Century.

"When our trip was planned more than a year ago, it never would have
crossed our minds that we would be in Congress on the very day it
was being deliberated," Karekin said.

Turkey is blamed for more than 1 million Armenian deaths during World
War I, though the Turkish government flatly denies it.

The genocide vote set off a fierce reaction from Turkey’s government
and was opposed by the Bush administration. The resolution appears
to have stalled for now, but Karekin said it will pass one day.

"Sooner or later, those crimes will be condemned," Karekin said.

"People will be held accountable. Even if they’re not legally held
accountable, they’re morally going to be held accountable. … Moral
values should never be held hostage to political interests."

During the luncheon, Detroit Catholic Cardinal Adam Maida and local
heads of the Greek and Romanian Orthodox churches also condemned
the genocide.

Karekin said recognizing the Armenian genocide is important — not
just for Armenians, but for all who suffer because of their background
or religion.

"The world suffers today with the trampling of human rights," Karekin
said. "It is vital that genocide be condemned."

ARMENIA SEES NO KARABAKH PACT BEFORE 2008 VOTE

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Reuters, RFE/RL
Nov 1 2007

Armenian President Robert Kocharian played down suggestions on
Wednesday from a U.S. envoy that a preliminary deal with Azerbaijan
over Nagorno-Karabakh will be possible before March.

On Friday U.S. deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian
affairs, Matthew Bryza, said he thinks a framework agreement between
the two sides is possible before Armenia’s presidential election,
expected next February or March.

But Kocharian said that is unlikely. "The negotiation process is a
definitive process but I am not so much of an optimist to assume that
before the presidential election we will reach a concrete result,"
he told Armenian television.

Kocharian said comments by the Azeri government and military are
still too aggressive for any real progress to be made at the moment.

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian echoed the pessimism in separate
comments on Wednesday. "The latest statements by the co-chairs are
a bit more optimistic than reality," he told RFE/RL during a visit
to Prague.

"When you look at Azerbaijan’s actions in real life, outside the
negotiation framework, and the positions it takes in international
bodies and the statements it makes at the highest level … one can
arrive at the conclusion that Azerbaijan today is not ready for an
agreement on that document," said Oskanian.

President Ilham Aliev and other Azerbaijani leaders have blamed the
Armenians for the conflicting parties’ failure so far to resolve the
Karabakh conflict.