Author: Navasardian Karapet

KEEPING OF BOTANICAL GARDEN’S UNIQUE PLANTS COLLECTIONS ENDANGERED

Noyan Tapan
Jul 11 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Nearly 500 thousand species of unique
plants created at the 70-year-old Botany Institute of the RA National
Academy of Sciences, considered as an ecoeducational and recreation
institution, are endangered due to lack of funds. Academician Vilen
Hakobian said this at the July 10 general meeting of the Natural
Sciences Department of the RA National Academy of Sciences. In his
words, the above mentioned collections are currently kept at a building
needing repair and which has not been heated for many years.

V. Hakobian said that both the Botanical Garden of Yerevan having
the area of 80 hectares and Garden’s Vanadzor (10 hectares) and Sevan
(5 hectares) branches have problems of irrigation and rubbish disposal.

In his words, the Garden’s greenhouse is also in a sorry
state. Tropical and subtropical plant collections are kept there. "We
also have an apprehension that the only Armenian Botanical Garden
can be turned into a construction site, as some organizations try to
build elite buildings in that territory," V. Hakobian said.

At the meeting, a decision was made to suggest that the presidency
of the RA National Academy of Sciences and the RA Ministry of
Education and Science are applying to the RA government for the
latter to allocate funds to the Botany Institute with the 2008 state
budget. Allocation of that money will enable solving the problems
of restoration of the heating system of the three-storeyed Herbarium
building, keeping of plant collections, irrigation, and further care
for the garden.

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN WORKING GROUP ON NUCLEAR ENERGY COOPERATION

RIA OREANDA , Russia
Economic News
July 9, 2007 Monday

Yerevan. OREANDA-NEWS . On June 20, 2007 representatives of
Atomstroyexport CJSC took part in the first meeting of the
Russian-Armenian working group on nuclear energy cooperation that
took place in Yerevan (Armenia). The Russian delegation was led by
the deputy head of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Energy, reported
the press-centre of ASE.

One of the key topics was the enhancement of the safety of the 2nd
unit of Armenian NPP and complex cooperation on the construction of
new nuclear power units in Armenia.

The Armenian side reported on its plans for developing the energy
system of Armenia and improving the legislation on the peaceful use
of nuclear energy in the country.

The Russian delegates presented new projects of reactor for Armenia
(WBER-300, NPP-92 with WWER-1000).

The sides discussed their actions for carrying out a feasibility
study with a view to choose the best type of unit for Armenia and
their pre-project steps.

By late Sept the sides are going to discuss draft program for managing
the resources of Armenian NPP, to work out an action plan for enhancing
the safety of the 2nd unit of Armenian NPP and to submit it to the
working groups consideration.

Atomstroyexport is the leading Russian organization implementing
intergovernmental agreements on the construction of nuclear power
facilities abroad. Presently, it is the only company in the world
that is simultaneously building six nuclear power units in China,
India, Iran and Bulgaria. The company has already launched one unit
at Tianwan NPP (China).

ARMENIA NEEDS SECOND-GENERATION REFORMS FOR PROGRESS

arminfo
2007-07-10 14:33:00

Armenia needs second-generation reforms for progress, Vardan Oskanyan
said at the first Armenian Technology Congress ArmTech 2007 in
San Francisco on July 5-7. As RA FM’s press-service told ArmInfo,
V. Oskanyan noted in his speech that this conference may be called
a meeting of those who respect the future and have a perspective
approach. "Despite the most dire, most restrictive, most acute
social and economic conditions, to everyone’s great astonishment,
not only did we survive, but we competed with our neighbors, and,
in many areas, we came out ahead of them.

Armenian statehood is consolidated. We are on the path of democracy. We
do have an economy that is consistently rated open and liberal. Each
of these triumphs is a source of pride", RA FM said.

"First, we must invest thought and money in education. To talk about
education today means talking about IT and the internet, about bringing
those resources to every school child – in AND out of Armenia",
B. Oskanyan said. He added that in Armenia, within the framework of
the Rural Development Program which we announced at the last Armenia
Diaspora Conference, we want to enable comprehensive development in
our vulnerable border villages. The borders of our country, today,
are dependent on villagers who don’t have water or gas, electricity
or fertilizer. They also have never seen a cursor and can’t speak
English. We have a lot of work to do. Information technologies must
play a significant role in our program to bring sustainable rural
development to Armenia. For that, we need you. Don’t build school
buildings or construct water pipes. There are already generous donors
who will do that. You help to devise a program that will provide each
of the 10th graders in our villagers with computer skills.

I conclusion, V. Oskanyan said that Turkey and Azerbaijan do not want
to acknowledge either the past, or the present. As a result, they
are not interested in discussing a common future. The mental state
of war persists in Azerbaijan. "In Armenia and Karabakh, I am proud
to say that OUR outlook is towards the future, towards an eventual
peace, towards progress, stability and prosperity", RA FM said. To
note, ArmTech 2007 is dedicated to the prospects of development of
information technologies in Armenia, its problems and investment
opportunities. The congress included 400 participants. A number of
Armenian and Californian companies, state organizations have become
the event organizers. USAID also contributed to conducting of this
event. The next ArmTech Congress is scheduled in 2009.

ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN WAS IN HANDCUFFS

A1+
[08:44 pm] 06 July, 2007

On July 6, First Instance Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities
proceeded the legal proceedings against Zhirayr Sefilyan, Vardan
Malkhasyan and Vahan Aronyan, members of "Armenian Volunteer Union."

The dependants appeared in handcuffs. Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan
informed the presentees that the court had refused the rejection
submitted by the defendants’ advocates.

"The judge ignored our rejection which implies that that the judge
has biased approach to the case. He intends to keep the defendants
in custody without satisfactory grounds," Mushekh Shushanyan, Vardan
Malkhasyan’s advocate, told A1+.

Zhirayr Sefilyan’s advocate Vahe Grigoryan asked Mnatsakan Martirosyan
to account for Sefilyan’s arrest but the judge declined to answer.

Zhirayr Sefilyan’s arrest is undoubtedly determined by his foreign
citizenship. This is incoherent to a CoE member state like Armenia,
Vahe Grigoryan said.

The court sitting will continue on July 10. It is noteworthy that
Sefilyan will become 40 years old on that day.

RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND AMBASSADOR OF INDIA CONSIDER IT NECESSARY TO
ESTABLISH ARMENIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION IN MILITARY SPHERE

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Mikayel Haroutiunian, the RA Minister of
Defence, and Reena Pandey, the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of India to Armenia, touched upon the issues included
in the memorandum of mutual understanding signed in 2003, which
concerned intentions of cooperation between the Ministries of Defence
of Armenia and India, during their meeting held on July 4.

Making a record of the considerable progress achieved in the
Armenian-Indian diplomatic, commercial-economic, and cultural
relations, the sides also stressed the necessity of cooperation in the
sphere of defence, particularly, in the technical military field, as
well as in those of military education and information technologies.

According to the message of the RA Ministry of Defence, Mikayel
Harutiunian also received Arpi Vardanian, the Regional Director of the
Armenian Assembly of America in Armenia, on the same day.

During the meeting the sides referred to the relations between Armenia
and the United States in the sphere of military cooperation, in
particular, the assistance of the United States for Armenia, as well as
the process of the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

A. Vardanian introduced the developments concerning Armenia and the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh in the United States to the Minister.

PanARMENIAN.Net

If European officials don’t want to encourage democracy in NKR, let
them not pose obstacles at least

04.07.2007 13:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `It arouses regret that
representatives of the Council of Europe, the
organization, which is called to protect and propagate
the ideals and principles of pluralistic democracy,
human rights and law supremacy by means of integration
processes, condemns holding of elections,’ Nagorno
Karabakh Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosian said when
commenting on Vuk Jeremic’s statement on forthcoming
presidential elections in the NKR. `They cast doubt on
the election institute itself as an important element
of democracy, which contradicts the CoE Charter. If
the European officials don’t want to contribute to the
democratic processes in the NKR then we have the right
to expect that they, at least, won’t impede
strengthening of democratic institutes in our
republic. We are deeply convinced that democratization
is an important precondition for the Karabakh conflict
settlement, since democracy presupposes creation of
mechanisms, which allow solving any conflict
exclusively in a peaceful way. This is the goal of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic. It would be natural if
representatives of various European structures shared
this aspiration, the NKR MFA press office reports.

Recently, President of the CoE Committee of Ministers,
Foreign Minister of Serbia Vuk Jeremic has stated that
the upcoming elections in the NKR can’t promote the
conflict settlement and will even impede the
negotiation process.

BAKO WILL CONTINUE GUKASYAN’S ACTIVITIES

A1+
[06:34 pm] 03 July, 2007

According to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan,
"ideal conditions are created for conducting elections in Karabakh".

"What is allowed to the recognized states, will not be tolerated in
case of unrecognized states", said Arkady Ghukasyan to the journalists,
prioritizing conduction of good elections in Nagorno-Karabakh.

By the way, Arkady Gukasyan favors the candidature of Bako Sahakyan,
former head of Nagorno-Karabakh Security Department, during the 19
July presidential elections.

"I link the future of Karabakh with this name. I am confident that
he will safeguard the path to democratization and the construction
of the country in line with the European values. He is the individual
who may bind together the Karabakh nation for solving primary issues",
said Arkady Ghukasyan.

The President of the NKR reflected on the statement of Terry Davis,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, that the international
community would not recognize the elections in Karabakh.

"I do not blame Terry Davis for such statement, since it concerns
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict", pointed Arkady Ghukasyan.

Answering to the question how dangerous the statement might be,
Arkady Gukasyan noted that international organizations had certain
standards and they could not breach their frames.

"I do not think that it will have vital impact on Karabakh. Terry
Davis’ position will hardly be dangerous for us and we are going by
the path we have chosen definitely", said the President of the NKR.

CONFERENCE ON PROBLEM OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL IN UK HELD IN LONDON

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2007 18:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The parliamentary group of Armenians of Great Britain
(BAAPPG), Armenia Solidarity, The Armenian Genocide Trust and Aegis
Trust held a conference titled "Genocide denial and ‘moral of foreign
policy’ of UK government". Representative of the interparliamentary
group David Drew, Aegis Trust executive director James Smith,
Armenia’s Ambassador to UK Vahe Gabrielyan made speeches. Member of
the Jewish community Ruth Barnett remarked on moral consequences of
genocide denial.

Mr James Smith drew a parallel between the Armenian Genocide and the
genocide in Darfur. The governments acted the same way in both cases,
according to him. Mr Smith also reminded of the attempt to close the
UN exhibit dedicated to the Rwandan Genocide.

For his part, Armenian Ambassador to UK Vahe Gabrielyan noted the
necessity of events of the kind for prevention of genocides by joint
efforts.

"Armenia, like the whole international community, describes the events
in Darfur as genocide and exerts efforts for prevention of genocides
in future," the diplomat said, the RA MFA press office reports.

ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS FELT ENVY TOWARDS BEAUTY OF BAKU: RECTOR OF BAKU SLAVIC UNIVERSITY

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 29 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / Azerbaijani Professor and
Rector of Baku Slavic University, Kamal Abdulla, who has recently
returned from Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, said on 29 June in his
interview with Trend that the Armenian intellectuals who visited
Baku felt envy towards the beauty of the capital. On 28 June, the
OSCE organized a visit to Khankendy and Shusha for Azerbaijani and
Armenian intellectuals, headed by the ambassadors of Azerbaijan and
Armenia to Russia. From there, they left for Armenia and met with
the Armenian President, Robert Kocharian.

Later the delegation arrived in Baku and was received by the President
of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

Abdulla said that the Armenian intellectuals visiting Baku were amazed
at the beauty of the city. Yerevan is an ordinary city. "In Yerevan we
saw only three or four newly constructed buildings. They regretfully
looked at Baku and understood the unsuccessful Armenian policy. They
understood that they have not achieved anything by occupying
Azerbaijani lands. I saw it from their eyes," the Professor said.

Anne-Marie Comparini réclame des excuses publiques de Patrick Devedjian
LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | 28.06.07 | 23h00 . Mis à jour le 29.06.07 | 09h50

0,40-0@2-3224,50-929432,0.html

Anne-Marie Comparini, du MoDem, a demandé, vendredi matin 29 juin, que le
secrétaire général délégué de l’UMP, Patrick Devedjian, "s’excuse
publiquement", après son propos la qualifiant de "salope". "Ces propos, je
les trouve choquants, déplorables. Comment peut-on, dans notre pays, créer
la culture du débat si l’on parle ainsi de ceux qui défendent des valeurs
différentes", s’est-elle offusquée sur Europe 1.

Mme Comparini a estimé que le propos de Patrick Devedjian "témoigne d’un
manque de respect à toutes les femmes, porte atteinte à la dignité des
femmes". "Il ferait bien de s’excuser publiquement", a-t-elle ajouté, en
précisant que M. Devedjian lui avait téléphoné jeudi soir "très tard".
Le secrétaire général délégué de l’UMP a traité l’ancienne députée du Rhône
Anne-Marie Comparini de "salope", dans un reportage diffusé mercredi par la
chaîne lyonnaise TLM.

Dans ce reportage consacré aux premiers pas parisiens des députés du Rhône
nouvellement élus, Michel Havard (UMP) et Pascale Crozon (PS), on voit
Renaud Muselier, député des Bouches-du-Rhône, présenter M. Havard à Patrick
Devedjian en lui expliquant qu’il a battu Anne-Marie Camparini.

Le secrétaire général délégué de l’UMP a adressé un communiqué, jeudi soir,
pour regretter "son interjection déplacée". Patrick Devedjian "renouvelle
toute son estime et son amitié" à l’ancienne députée UDF du Rhône. Il
"déplore" également "la diffusion sur Dailymotion d’images volées lors d’une
conversation privée". Selon son entourage, "ces propos n’avaient aucune
vocation à être diffusés".
Patrick Devedjian s’est entretenu dans la soirée avec Mme Comparini, selon
cette même source. "Il souhaitait s’expliquer et s’excuser personnellement
pour ses propos déplacés", a précisé une personne de son entourage.
TLM A PASSÉ OUTRE LA DEMANDE DE L’UMP

Plus tôt, le directeur d’antenne de TLM, Jean-Pierre Vacher, a expliqué que
M. Havard, par ailleurs secrétaire général de l’UMP dans le Rhône, "était
très gêné et nous a demandé de ne pas le diffuser, mais M. Devedjian savait
qu’il était filmé, et nous trouvons assez déplorables de tenir de tels
propos, donc nous l’avons laissé dans le reportage".
Dominique Perben, candidat UMP à la mairie de Rhône, a, quant à lui,
déclaré, dans un communiqué, qu’il "déplore de tels propos et réaffirme son
estime personnelle à Anne-Marie Comparini".
Michel Mercier, sénateur et président de l’UDF du Rhône, a également
condamné l’attitude de Patrick Devedjian. "Je condamne fermement ces propos
inadmissibles. (…) Nous confirmons notre amitié et notre estime à
Anne-Marie Comparini."