Author: Navasardian Karapet

Forum of NGOs will take place in Karabakh

Regnum.ru
05-04-2008 15:06:10 – KarabakhOpen

A number of NKR-based NGOs stated likely to hold a forum of NGOs in
Stepanakert on the public sector in NKR, its achievements and prospects
of development.

The correspondent of the Regnum news agency in Karabakh reports that a
working group was set up to organize the forum. The initiative of the
NGOs was supported by the NKR Center for International Cooperation. The
goal of the forum is to analyze the activities of NGOs over the past 15
years and determine the perspective of their developments to use the
resource of the non-governmental sector more effectively for meeting
the challenges that the state and the society are facing. The
preliminary date of the forum is May 10.

TIGRAN TOROSSYAN MEETS WITH SPEAKERS OF STATE DUMA AND FEDERATION COUNCIL

arminfo
2008-04-03 20:27:00

ArmInfo. Today Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran
Torossyan met with Speaker of State Duma of Russia Boris Gryzlov and
Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia Sergey Mironov.

The press service of the NA of Armenia reports that the parties
discussed bilateral inter-parliamentary relations.

During the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Vice Speaker of the
Armenian Parliament Arevik Petrossyan was elected the deputy
chairperson of the standing committee on political issues and
international cooperation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization while the deputy of the
Parliament Hermine Nagdalyan – the deputy chairperson of the committee
on social policy and human rights of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly. Nagdalyan took part in the work of the committee on
social-economic and legal issues of PA CSTO and presented the
amendments to the criminal and administrative codes that are presently
being discussed by the Armenian Parliament.

STEPAN DEMIRCHYAN: OPPOSITION WILL NOT ORGANIZE ANY ACTIONS ON DAY OF SERZH SARGSYAN’S INAUGURATION

arminfo
2008-04-04 15:13:00

ArmInfo. ‘We have no intention to organize any actions on the day of
Serzh Sargsyan’s inauguration. However, it does not mean that there
will be no spontaneous public actions’, People’s Party of Armenia
Chairman Stepan Demirchyan said at National Press Club, Friday.

He said that by the canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church April 9 is
a day of mourning since it is the 40th day after the people were killed
on 1 March in Yerevan. ‘It is clear that the date of inauguration
cannot be changed for it is determined by the Constitution. However,
I join the statement by the Forum of Intellectuals against festivities
on April 9’, S. Demirchyan said.

RA MINISTRY OF NATURE CONSERVATION GIVES THE LAST CHANCE TO KAPAN ORE MINING ENTERPRISE ‘DINO GOLD MINING COMPANY’

arminfo
2008-04-03 15:18:00

ArmInfo. Kapan ore mining enterprise ‘Dino Gold Mining Company’,
which was multiply fiend for emission of toxins into the environment,
has been given the last warning notice.

RA Nature Conservation Minister Aram Harutyunyan told ArmInfo that
the enterprise is given a month deadline to operate the new Geghanush
tailings dam. The Company had to operate the indicated tailings
dam even in November, 2007, however, it has not yet fulfilled its
liabilities. According to the Project, the operation of the tailings
dam, drawn up by the SRI of Ore Mining, the wastes from the Company’s
floatation plants will undergo mechanical refining and only after that,
the purified water will be discharged into Geghanush river.

Earlier, the Company’s management was multiply brought to
administrative responsibility for illegal emissions of chemical wastes
into the nearest rivers. Thus, because of damaging the ecology of
Syunik village, the Company had to pay a fine of 10 mln drams to the
public treasury and 1 mln drams more were transferred to the budget
of Syunik village. The point is that "Dino Gold Mining Company" was
given the right to use the Arvanik tailings dam in Syunik. However,
because of non-fulfillment of its financial liabilities to the "owners"
of the tailings dam, Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Industrial Complex,
"Dino Gold Mining Company" was banned to use the Artsvanik tailings
dam. After that, the ecological expertise of Syunik region fixed a
leak of chemicals from the plants of "Dino Gold Mining Company".

The Company has recently announced about the structural reforms
at Kapan mines. Not specifying the amount, the Company announced
of its intention to invest several millions US dollars in the
reforms. Earlier, "Dino Gold Mining Company" invested $30 mln in the
production upgrading.

KARABAKH FM SPEAKS UP FOR REVISION OF ARMENIAN PARTY’S APPROACHES TO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

DeFacto Agency
April 3 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 03.04.08. DE FACTO. April 2 a full-scale sitting of
the Standing Commission on Foreign Relations was held at the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Parliament, in the course of which new
tendencies and the course of the Karabakh talks were discussed. Upon
completion of the sitting the Commission Chair Vahram Atanesian and
the NKR FM Georgy Petrossian answered journalists’ questions.

Speaking of the negotiation process, in part, against the background
of Kosovo’s recognition and latest geopolitical developments, Georgy
Petrossian mentioned the necessity to revise the Armenian party’s
approaches.

According to the Chairman of the Standing Commission on Foreign
Relations Vahram Atanesian, current discussions are continuation of
hearings on the Karabakh issue convened at the Parliament 2 years
ago. "After those hearings a final conclusion has not been made.

Taking into consideration the situation that has already changed and I
believe the situation in the negotiation process has basically changed
the NKR representative organ should present its final viewpoint on the
negotiation process. Today’s discussions are of consultative nature. In
line with the necessity such discussions will be held again, and it
is not ruled out that the National Assembly will hold new hearings,
on the results of which a conclusion reflecting consolidated stand
of political forces represented at the Parliament will be adopted",
Vahram Atanesian said.

The MP considers that the same way as Azerbaijan can speak of respect
of the right to territorial integrity at the international instances,
the NKR, in its turn, can speak of its right to the international
recognition of independence its has declared.

At the briefing it was mentioned that the same day the FM would leave
for Yerevan to hold consultations. The RA Parliamentary delegation,
which is to participate in the sitting of the interparliamentary
commission, is expected to visit Stepanakert, KarabakhOpen reports.

DAVIT HARUTYUNYAN: HOW TO OVERCOME THE SITUATION

Panorama.am
22:09 01/04/2008

Today the group of the foreign affairs ministers of the Council of
Europe met with the Parliamentary Committee of the Council of Europe
Armenia in the National Assembly of the RA. The special representative
of the chief secretary of the CE Boyana Urumova and the RA permanent
representative in the CE Kristian Ter-Stepanyan were present at
the meeting.

According to the official web site of the NA, the chairman of the
delegation Davit Harutyunyan greeted the guests and mentioned that
Armenia has been found in a very serious situation and there are only
two ways to meet them: decisive growth or decisive fall.

The chairman of the foreign affairs ministers’ group and the ambassador
of Sweden in the CE Per Sigran said that a significant and historical
moment has been created for the Armenian authorities and parliament
to conduct serious and decisive reforms in the country.

The Ambassador also expressed his opinion on the changes made on
the RA law on "Conducting meetings, demonstrations, and processions"
and the changes which should be made on the Criminal Code; he said
that those changes should be in line with the Council of Venice.

The Ambassador signified the moment of conducting fair and justified
investigation upon the March 1 events and liberating the arrested
people.

Mr. Harutyunyan mentioned that the arrestment based on the political
aspect should be critically excluded. As for the current laws, he
said that there is a need to revise them and the necessity of the
Venice Council experts is of great significance for the country.

CONCERT TO TAKE PLACE IN FRESNO ON OCCASION OF 30TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF SINGER ARMEN NALBANDIAN

Noyan Tapan
April 1, 2008

On April 10 Armen Nalbandian will be celebrating his 30th birthday
(which is on April 6th) by hosting a special concert that highlights
his musical past, present, and future. The concert will take place
at the Fresno Art Museum.

Scheduled to perform are: Armen Nalbandian Trio (with Brian Hamada
and Kevin Hill); ERUP (trio with Kevin Hill and Eva Scow); Choke
the Jellyfish (duets with Tommy Delgado); Happy Misunderstandings ;
Karen Marguth; RE Group (duets with DJ 4AM); and Jimmy Emerzian.

AZERI FOREIGN POLICY AIDE DECRIES ARMENIAN LEADER’S KARABAKH VISIT

Azad Azarbaycan
April 1 2008
Azerbaijan

[Presenter] The reason for the visit of Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan to the territories under occupation [Nagornyy Karabakh]
is to seek a refuge if he is persecuted in Yerevan. As the head the
foreign relations department of the presidential administration,
Novruz Mammadov, told "Son Xabar" news programme, a malicious policy
is behind all his efforts.

[Correspondent over Kocharyan’s video] Yerevan is facing a choice, it
will either recognize Karabakh’s independence or sign an agreement on
collective defence with the illegitimate regime. Incumbent Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan, who visited the occupied Azerbaijani
lands yesterday, issued this statement at a meeting with heads of
the separatist body.

In his words, cooperation is an indication of development for the
resolution of pressing problems. The Armenian president added that
such an agreement would be a warning to those who issue belligerent
statements. Kocharyan said that discussions for the resolution
of the conflict would be held and Armenian parliamentarians would
visit Karabakh with fresh proposals. He added that resolution of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and the processes under way in the
region prompt Yerevan to make changes in its steps with regard to
Nagornyy Karabakh’s status and its security.

Asked under which conditions Armenia might recognize Karabakh’s
status, Robert Kocharyan said that if it concerns future steps,
then this should be handled by the newly-elected president. However,
it is high time to make a choice. Commenting on the 10-year-long
Karabakh settlement process, Kocharyan assured that the situation
was not negative for Armenia. He said that Karabakh’s status was not
discussed at talks with Azerbaijan.

The head of the foreign relations department of the presidential
administration, Novruz Mammadov, told ATV that what Robert Kocharyan,
who did nothing during his 10-year term in office, said in Karabakh
was nonsense. The head of the department said that Kocharyan’s visit
to Karabakh was connected with his intention to seek refuge when he
is persecuted by some forces in Yerevan. As for opinions about the
possibilities of signing an agreement on collective defence between
Armenia and Karabakh or recognizing Karabakh’s independence by Yerevan,
the head of the department deems both options impossible. In general,
Novruz Mammadov assessed Kocharyan’s visit and the statements aired
in Xankandi [Stepanakert] as cheap sabotage and an attempt to mislead
the world community.

TOURISTS IN ARMENIA COMPLAIN FOR HIGH PRICES AND NON-DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE

arminfo
2008-03-31 17:00:00

ArmInfo. Tourists in Armenia complain for high prices and non-developed
infrastructure, the results of International Visitor Survey presented
today are evidence of this, the head of foreign relations department
of National Statistics Service Aleksandr Petrosyan said at the
press-conference, Monday.

He also added that survey was held on the basis of questioning of
those who arrive in Armenia and leave it at all the border points
between September 2006 and August 2007. The survey was held through a
collaborative effort between the National Statistics Service, Ministry
of Trade and Economic Development, Armenian Tourism Development Agency
and USAID-funded Competitive Armenian Private Sector project. According
to the results of survey, tourists visiting Yerevan chiefly live
not in the hotels but at their relatives’ apartments or rent an
apartment. They seldom visit the regions. He also added that chiefly
Armenia is visited from Georgia (18,6%), Russia 11,4%, France – 11%
and Germany – 7,8%. The major part of tourists (44,8%) visit Armenia
to meet their relatives, 22,4% on business and only 11,6% to spend
their vacation. On average, tourists stay in Armenia 19.6 days and
spend $36 per day. Canadians and Japanese spend the most during their
stay in Armenia. Armenian residents travelling to overseas mostly
travel to Russia (44,9%) and (24,7%). They Stay an average 49 days
outside Armenia and spend $21 per day.

DAVID NALBANDIAN THE 7TH

armradio.am
31.03.2008 13:42

Argentinean Armenian tennis player David Nalbandian (2 100 points)
occupies the 7th position in the rating of the best tennis players
of the world issued by the Professional Tennis Association today.

Roger Federer of Switzerland is the first with 6 550 points. Spanish
Rafael Nadal comes second with 5 705 points. Novak Jokovich of Serbia
is the third with 5 280 points.