Author: Nargizian David

NKR DESERVES RECOGNITION

Lragir, Armenia
July 27 2007

"I think the election was successful, both in terms of political and
ethical compliance, as well as the image. I think there were little
irregularities and wrongdoing on the election day," stated the leader
of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian in a news conference on July 27
at the Hayatsk club, describing the presidential election of Karabakh
he personally observed.

"Whatever happened regarding unequal opportunities was before the
voting. There were polling stations from Dadivank to Mets Taghlar I
visited, where the poster of one of the candidates was hanging at the
polling station on the eve of the voting. There were problems with
additional registers, but on the whole I think the election was a
success, the main opponent acknowledged the conduct and the outcome
of the election, and I think it is a highly important move toward
freedom, democracy and sovereignty in Artsakh. I think Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic deserves recognition," Raffi Hovannisian says. In addition,
he thinks Armenia must raise the issue of recognition of Karabakh. He
says not recognizing Karabakh was a tactical move on behalf of Armenia,
now it is a mistake.

WILL "LIBERTY" SIGN THE AGREEMENT?

A1+
[08:31 pm] 26 July, 2007

In upcoming days an agreement will be signed on rebroadcast of programs
of "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty" through the Broadcasting Board
of Governors and the "Ar Radio" Intercontinental. Alexan Harutyunyan,
Chairman of Public Radio and Television Council informed this to "A1+".

Commenting on the disseminated announcement, Alexan Harutyunyan noted
that they accepted the request of "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty"
to extend the term of broadcasting the programs on 9 August on Public
Radio. As to how many radio listeners will have the opportunity
to listen to the programs of "Liberty" on Public Radio, Alexan
Harutyunyan doubted to answer, noting that the issue was still
being discussed and it was difficult talk about the terms before
signing the agreement. Public Radio will also sign an agreement with
"Ar Radio" Intercontinental to reduce its broadcasting hours on "Ar
Radio" FM network, so that these hours are allocated to "Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty".

The correspondent of "A1+" also talked to Head of the Armenian Service
of Radio "Liberty" Hrayr Tamrazyan.

"I deeply hope that our listeners will be able to listen to the
programs of "Liberty" on Public Radio.

We talked to Vardan Oskanyan today and he also expressed his hope that
"Liberty" will continue to broadcast and will not loose its audience",
said Hrayr Tamrazyan from Prague. He also pointed that nothing had
changed after yesterday’s announcement of Public Radio and Television
Council. "The statement of the Broadcasting Board of Governors is
still in force".

Alexan Harutyunyan assures that the agreement is ready and should be
signed in the upcoming days. Hrayr Tamrazyan informed "A1+": "We are
not talking about 102 FM Tuner, we are talking about Public Radio. We
hope that we will continue to broadcast our programs on Public
Radio. We only talk about Public Radio at this moment". After the
interview with Alexan Harutyunyan, it became clear that broadcasting
on Public Radio was excluded; the negotiations refer only to changing
broadcasts of "Liberty" completely to "Ar Radio" and delaying it for
some days or even months.

Alexan Harutyunyan ensures that 102 FM Tuner, on which "Radio Yerevan"
is broadcasted, was also Public.

To our question whether "Radio Yerevan", whose license is expired
in 2009, will be deprived of license during 2008 competition, in the
result of which the "Liberty" will also be deprived of broadcasting;
Mr Harutyunyan said that "Radio Yerevan" would hardly be deprived
of license. "Ar Radio" Intercontinental will have to update its
network. By the way, programs of "Radiolur" will not be broadcasted on
"Ar Radio", thus, according to Alexan Harutyunyan "Liberty" will be
provided a free competition field.

ARMENIA’S DIAMOND PRODUCTION SLICED IN HALF

IDEX Online, Israel
July 25 2007

Armenia’s diamond manufacturing industry polished $72 million worth of
diamonds in the first half of the year, a sharp 48 percent decline from
last year, the country’s Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
reported.

According to Gagik Mkrtchian, head of the jewelry department at the
ministry, Armenia’s diamond output in 2006 declined over 17 percent
to $268 million.

The continued shrinking of the country’s diamond manufacturing caused
it to lose its status as Armenia’s number one export item, and it
now accounts for just one percent of gross industrial production.

Perhaps reflecting Armenia’s diamond industry woes, Lev Leviev’s
Shoghakn, the country’s largest diamond-cutting plant, has cut a
large number of jobs, according to the Armenian press.

Mkrtchian pointed at a weak international market as an explanation.

60 percent of Armenia’s output is exported to the U.S.

ISRAELI DELEGATION TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN IN AUGUST 2007

AZG Armenian Daily #139
25/07/2007

Armenia-Israel

Ambassador of Israel to Armenia Ehud Koli (residing in Tbilisi),
who handed his credentials to President of Armenia Robert Kocharian
three months ago, is to arrive in Yerevan in August. The Israeli
delegation, led by the Ambassador, is to have a number of meetings
with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Healthcare
as well as the Yerevan city administration.

Radio Liberty informs that the Israeli ambassador expressed hope that
the relations between Armenia and Israel, enhanced during the previous
visit, shall find their further development in August. He said that
the partnership of the two states in the spheres of agriculture and
healthcare should be intensified. Ehud Koli said that he is to discuss
the economic and international issues with the Foreign Minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanian.

THOUSANDS URGE CONGRESS TO SCHEDULE A VOTE ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

armradio.am
25.07.2007 11:27

With over 220 Members of the US House cosponsoring the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106), thousands of Armenian Americans
and human rights advocates joined together in the second Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) "Call for Justice" campaign
urging a swift vote on this human rights legislation.

For the second time in the last 30 days, over 10,000 visited the
ANCA Call-in webpage on July 23rd and more than 2,500 submitted
caller-feedback forms reporting their conversations with Congressional
offices. The first "Click for Justice" Call-In Day, held on June
27th, and extended to the 28th, came only days before support
for the resolution cleared the 218 mark – a majority of the US
House. The Call-In Day’s online counterpart, April’s successful
"Click for Justice" ANCA WebFax campaign to Congress, was touted as
the internet’s largest on-line genocide protest.

"We want to thank everyone who took part in our first Call-In Day –
which helped us reach the 218 mark – and to express our appreciation
to all those who, today, once again raised their voices to see
this measure brought to a vote on the floor of the US House of
Representatives," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

Commenting on the first Call-In Day, Rep. Adam Schiff, the resolution’s
lead author, said: "The ANCA’s national congressional call-in day,
‘Call for Justice,’ is a great demonstration of the power of grassroots
advocacy.

These calls are a useful tool in the fight to get the Armenian Genocide
resolution passed. I thank the ANCA and all their supporters for
making these important calls."

Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff and spearheaded by Rep.

George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI),
the Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the President to ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human
rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States
record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

Currently, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106, has over 220
cosponsors, more than 50% of the membership of the US House. A similar
resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106), introduced by Assistant Majority
Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) currently has
31 cosponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

ONE-MONTH COURSES OF RETRAINING FOR DIASPORAN-ARMENIAN TEACHERS TO START IN YEREVAN SINCE JULY 30

Noyan Tapan
Jul 24, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The one-month
program of retraining for the teachers of Armenological subjects of
Armenian colleges, schools, kindergartens, one-day, and other kinds
of educational intitutions, which are operating in foreign countries,
will be implemented in Yerevan between July 30 to August 25. This
program is to be implemented on the initiative of the RA Ministry of
Education and Science and under the patronage of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by the Information and Public Relations Department of the RA Ministry
of Education and Science, the retraining courses are envisaged to be
held in the "Diaspora" scientific and educational center of Khachatur
Abovian State Pedagogical University of Armenia.

The one-month retraining will proceed by the programs established by
the RA Ministry of Education and Science, and high-class specialists
from the Diaspora and Armenia will be envolved in this process. The
teachers, who will go through this course, will be given corresponding
certificates, as well as educational-methodical literature, textbooks,
and other materials.

Meetings, cognitive-instructive rounds, as well as cultural programs
are envisaged for the participants of these courses. It has already
been the sixth time since this program has been implemented.

ARMENIA’S PENSION SYSTEM NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: WB RESEARCH

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 23 2007

YEREVAN, July 23. /ARKA/. The situation with pensioners should be
improved by strengthening the country’s pension system in Armenia,
Head of the WB Yerevan Office Aristomene Varudakis reported in Yerevan
Monday, presenting results of the WB research "Fiscal Policy and
Economic Growth. Lessons for Eastern Europe and Central Asia".

"The situation in Armenia is different from that of East European
countries and Central Asia, where the number of pensioners exceeds
that of tax payers, and rapid ageing of the population is underway.

However, there are other problems in Armenia. In particular, a pension
amounts to 17% of the average salary," he said.

According to Varudakis, World Bank’s research shows that Armenia’s
pension system is small, the level of involvement and discipline is
low, and pension expenses amount to less than 5% of the GDP. For
instance, in Albania and Kyrgyzstan this indicator amounts to 5%,
in Turkey, Romania, Slovakia – about 7%, Croatia – about 13%, Ukraine
and Poland – over 15%.

"As a country with average incomes, Armenia should unite systems of
social and private pension deductions with social aid, dependent on
paying capacity.

The number of Armenian pensioners currently totals about 530ths
citizens, and the average pension totals AMD 10,800 (about $31).

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OF BILATERAL COOPERATION IN NUMBER OF SPHERES
DISCUSSED BY RA PRIME MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE

YEREVAN, JULY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Mutual satisfaction was expressed on the
occasion of the continuation of Armenian-French high-level relations
during the meeting between Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister,
and Serge Smesov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of France to the Republic of Armenia, which was held on July 20. The
interlocutors stressed the importance of organizing an Armenian year
in France among other bilateral events implemented so far. According
to them, it conveys a unique character to Armenian-French relations
and, in essence, it was an exclusive opportunity to represent Armenia
with its anciant history, culture, and programs concerning the future
in France.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the
Information and Public Relations’ Department of the RA Government,
programs directed at the cooperation development in a number of
shperes were discussed during the meeting. The interlocutors also
spoke about the developments, which are taking place in the sphere
of international policy, as well as about the settlement process of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

NKR PM VOTED ‘FOR’ CANDIDATE WHO IS NOTABLE FOR HONESTY, ALLEGIANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY

arminfo
2007-07-19 16:29:00

NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielyan voted for a presidential
contender who is notable for "honesty, allegiance and responsibility".

Voting at one of the polling stations of Stepanakert, Danielyan said
that these election allow to look back , at the past, estimate the
work done and think of the future. "Nagorno Karabakh follows the
right way of democracy", he said.

A. Danielyan assessed the statement of CE Secretary General Terry
Davis saying the Council of Europe does not recognize the election
in NKR, as a "disrespect for the partners". When representatives of
such structures arrive in Stepanakert, they ask for a meeting with
the president, the speaker and the prime minister. This is a lack of
respect when they negotiate with us and then make such tatements", he
said. A. Danielyan faces the future of NKR with optimism: the state’s
incomes grow year by year. He said that there are all prerequisites
today to increase the size of pensions to 35,000 drams within 5
years. According to him, the birth rate makes up 2,1-2,3 thsd people,
while the death-rate – 700. The balance of migration is positive: 1,5-2
thsd people arrive in the republic and 700 people leave it. "These
are quite good results for the future development of NKR", the prime
minister said.

ANKARA DISMISSES DISPUTED VOTE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
EmÝne Kart Ankara

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 20 2007

An insistence on comparing the Armenian-occupied region of
Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan with the situation in Kosovo will not
help Yerevan legitimize the ongoing Armenian violation of Azerbai-jan’s
political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, a Turkish
diplomat told Today’s Zaman on Thursday.

Leading candidate Bako Saakyan casts his vote during the election in
the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The high-level criticism came as presidential elections — already
shunned by international organizations — were held on Thursday in
the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. As well as Azerbaijan, which
lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh after a war in the early 1990s,
the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) also condemned
the elections as illegal under international law. No international
organizations were monitoring the vote, with NATO spokesman James
Appathurai saying, "Like other international organizations and
institutions, NATO does not recognize the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh
elections."

Speaking under condition of anonymity the same diplomat said: "Their
insistence on holding elections is a reflection of their intention to
consolidate the de facto situation and somehow legalize it by turning
it into a precedent while, on the other hand, the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Process [to
reach a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
the Azerbaijani-Armenian dispute] is continuing." In addition, the
diplomat stressed that Ankara has been supporting the Minsk Process.

This is the fourth presidential election in the impoverished territory
since a shaky 1994 cease-fire ended one of the bloodiest conflicts that
followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. Many of the Azerbaijanis
fled during the fighting which claimed more than 35,000 lives before
the cease-fire, and the region is now populated almost entirely by
ethnic Armenians, who enjoy Christian Armenia’s backing.

As a consequence, Turkey shut its borders to Armenia in 1993 in protest
at the capture of the Nagorno-Karabakh region inside Azerbaijan by
Armenian forces during the conflict. In December 2006, a referendum
was held in the region by Armenia, the outcome of which backed the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pointing out that the referendum was held while "ignoring
international law," Turkey formally announced it would not recognize
the outcome. Ankara believes that the presidential elections, and
likewise the December 2006 referendum, is in breach of international
law and disregards the will of the international community.

"Yerevan is insistently making an analogy between the Kosovo issue
and Nagorno-Karabakh, but the Kosovo draft resolution already says
that it doesn’t constitute a precedent for any issue," the Turkish
diplomat said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has already said he
considers Kosovo a special situation which does not set a precedent
for Nagorno-Karabakh. Karabakh declared independence in the 1990s
but no other country has recognized this.

"What Armenia is doing by insisting on holding presidential
elections in the region is simply dancing to its own tune," the
diplomat said, while emphasizing that Ankara’s view and reactions
concerning developments in the region were in line with those from
the international community as both the European Union and Washington
were expected to announce — on Thursday night after Today’s Za-man
went into print — that they will not recognize the outcome of the
elections.

–Boundary_(ID_zvJycAGadOOVu2UsuNs ecQ)–