Author: nina hovnanian

NANCY PELOSI GROUNDS WHY US SUPPORT EXTENDED TO ARMENIA IS LARGER

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 1, 2011
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The financial support extended to
Armenia and Azerbaijan by the USA is for provision of stability in
South Caucasus, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi said in response to the
letter of the Azerbaijani network of the USA, Armenpress reports,
citing Turkish mass media.

According to her, that money is also directed toward supporting the
efforts directed toward settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict in
diplomatic way.

By the way, US President Barack Obama has asked the Congress to
provide USD 44.3 million to Armenia and USD 21.45 million to Azerbaijan

“I hope you will also apply to me with other questions exciting you,”
Nancy Pelosi said in the response letter addressed to the Azerbaijani.

THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS A 4.2% ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2012
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
01.11.2011 18:08

The idea underlying the state budget for Fiscal Year 2012 is that we
must spend as much as we are able to collect, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan said, presenting the draft budget at the National Assembly.

The revenues and expenditures are expected to total 937 billion and
1 trillion 69 million AMD respectively. The deficit is projected at
the level of 132 billion AMD. In the next year’s budget the revenues
and expenditures will increase with 62 and 46 billion respectively.

The Armenian government expects a 4.2% GDP growth in 2012. The target
figure in 2011 was 4.6. According to Tigran Sargsyan, by projecting
a lower level of economic growth, the government has taken into
consideration the risks and challenges existing on the international
arena, as well as international organizations’ assessment of economic
development trends.

“Naturally, this decrease makes the budget for FY 2012 more realistic.

At the same time it provides an opportunity to accumulate reserves
and resources to resist the possible challenges.”

The government predicts a 7.5% growth in the field of industry and
4%growth in the sphere of agriculture. For the first time sine 2009
the decline in the sphere of construction is expected to stop, and
it will even be possible to ensure a 2.5% growth in the field. The
government is going to guarantee all this under the conditions of 4%
inflation rate.

“In general, the idea underlying the state budget for Fiscal Year
2012 is that we must spend as much as we are able to collect,” the
Prime Minister said.

KAREN KARAPETYAN ‘DIDN’T REALIZE A MAYOR HAS POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES’

Tert.am
01.11.11

Former Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan did not realize that the mayoral
position envisages political responsibilities, Karine Hakobyan,
Board Secretary of Heritage party has said.

Speaking to a press conference on Tuesday, she also said that a
mayor is also expected to contribute to social reconciliation,
while Karen Karapetyan managed during his office to increase the
existing social tension, the number of unemployed people and boost
the emigration rates.

“Karen Karapetyan was a mayor who did not realize at all that a
mayor also has political responsibility, and it was the absence
of that responsibility that allowed him to take another position,”
said Hakobyan.

Speaking about the reshuffling in the police, she said that it was not
a good decision to appoint deputy defense minister as chief of police
when the situation in the defense system needs a lot of improvements.

KARABAKH, JAVAKHK TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT ANC-WR EVENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2011 – 11:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian National Committee ~V Western Region
(ANC-WR) has announced that Antranig Kasbarian and Elizabeth Chouldjian
will join Robert Avetisyan, the Permanent Representative of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, as panelists in ~SHomeland and the Diaspora: From
Challenges to Solutions,~T which will cover the self-determination
movements in Karabakh, and the civil and human rights movement in
Javakhk, as well as how the Armenian Diaspora can continue to play
a significant role in the democratization of Armenia and the region.

The presentation is part of the ANC Grassroots weekend that will
take place from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27, 2011,
at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.

Antranig Kasbarian has been active in Armenian affairs for most of
his life. Over the past 20 years, he has been a lecturer, activist
and community leader in the Eastern US; he has also worked regularly
as a journalist, activist and researcher in Nagorno Karabakh. He
is a former editor of The Armenian Weekly, and has held various
positions within the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. He holds a
PhD in Geography from Rutgers University, where he currently teaches
a course on Nagorno Karabakh. His doctoral dissertation dealt with
the geography of nationalism during the 1988-1994 war in Nagorno
Karabakh, based largely on his own experiences on the ground. He has
published widely on Nagorno Karabakh in both academic journals and
the press. He joined the Tufenkian Foundation in 2003, launching its
program in Nagorno Karabakh focusing on economic recovery and refugee
resettlement, and now serves as Executive Director.

Elizabeth Chouldjian has been the communications director of the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) based in Washington,
D.C. for more than 15 years, and had previously worked in the Bay Area
ANC offices. She recently represented the ANCA in Javakhk where she
and ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian met with Georgian and U.S. government
officials, civil society organizations, and NGOs in order to address
political, cultural, educational and other rights of the Armenian
community in Georgia.

Kasbarian and Chouldjian will join Robert Avetisyan, who will discuss
the history of the Karabakh conflict, legal and humanitarian aspects of
the creation of the Nargorno-Karabakh Republic, the war unleashed by
Azerbaijan, the negotiation process, as well as the current situation
in Karabakh and in the region in general. Since his appointment,
Avetisyan has continuously affirmed Karabakh~Rs commitment to finding a
peaceful solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan, and has maintained
that the recognition of Karabakh~Rs independence neither violates
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, nor threatens its existence.

MANUK ABEGHYAN SCHOOL REOPENS

ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 2, 2011
YEREVAN

After reconstruction and renovation Manuk Abeghyan N3 high school
of the Yerevan Architecture and Construction State University opened
today. The reconstruction works started from May of the running year.

Director of the school Sahak Levonyan said the joint activity with
the university increases the quality of teaching process, and the
continuation of the pupil’s education in future will become more smooth
and effective. “This attempt is one of the important initiatives of
contemporary education reforms,” he said, adding that the multi-sided
development of pupils is a priority in the school.

Rector of the university Hovhannes Tokmajyan said the grounds of higher
education are put in the senior school and their goal is form clear
ideas of architecture and construction in the school corresponding
to contemporary demands and through additional programs expand the
knowledge of graduates.

Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan and the acting mayor
of Yerevan Taron Margaryan toured in the reconstructed school and
expressed their satisfaction over the conducted work.

1 866 ROAD ACCIDENTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA DURING THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 2011
Anna Nazaryan

“Radiolur”
01.11.2011 18:38

1 866 road accidents were registered in Armenia during the first ten
months of 2011, leaving 249 dead and 2 734 injured, Head of the Road
Patrol Department of RA Road Police, Colonel Norik Sargsyan told a
press conference today.

The number of road accidents has grown10% as compared to the same
period of 2010, which is connected with the increase of the number
of vehicles, he said.

According to Norik Sargsyan, pedestrian violate the rules less
frequently. The traffic accidents are mostly caused by light passenger
cars and taxis.

“The procedure of getting a driver’s license has changed, and this
will lead to the decrease of the number of accidents,” Head of the
Road Patrol Department said.

RA FM: ARMENIA INTERESTED IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-INDIAN RELATIONS

ARMENPRESS
November 1, 2011
Yerevan

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS:Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received today Secretary on East of India Sanjay Singh.

Foreign Affairs Ministry’s press service told Armenpress that welcoming
the guest, the Minister highly assessed the activation noticed lately
in Armenian-Indian relations, stressing that Armenia is interested
in further development and expansion of Armenian-Indian traditional
warm and friendly relations.

Sanjay Singh stressed that India treats Armenia and Armenian people
with special warmth and country’s authorities aim to expand the
friendly cooperation with Armenia.

The interlocutors noted with gratification that the agreements reached
during last year’s official visit of the RA Foreign Minister to India
are being fulfilled. Edward Nalbandyan and Sanjay Singh discussed the
result of the October 31 sitting of the intergovernmental commission
for economic cooperation and of today’s consultations between the
Foreign Affairs Ministries of the two countries.

At the meeting the parties referred to the programs on expansion
of cooperation in the spheres of politics, economy, education, IT,
culture and healthcare. The interlocutors also exchanged ideas over
a number of regional and international issues.

The Foreign Minister presented the regional issues of South Caucasus
and Armenia’s positions on their regulation. Edward Nalbandyan highly
assessed the balanced position of India toward the Artsakh issue.

FINDINGS OF OSCE-SUPPORTED TRIAL MONITORING IN JUVENILE CASES DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
01.11.2011

A report on the findings from monitoring of court proceedings involving
juveniles was presented and discussed in Yerevan today.

The report concerns 45 cases where juveniles were involved as
defendants. It also analyses domestic legislation and practices, as
well as co-operation between agencies, to reveal gaps with respect
to enhancing the juvenile justice system and offer recommendations
for improvement. The project was implemented by the Civil Society
Institute non-governmental organization with the support of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan.

Vladimir Tchountoulov, the Human Rights Programme Officer at the
OSCE Office in Yerevan, said: “Children who come in conflict with the
law need a protective environment and not just from the government,
but from all of society. Alongside prevention, policies should be in
place to promote alternatives to deprivation of liberty. We very much
hope that this report will be useful and instrumental for our Armenian
counterparts in joining and redoubling their efforts to strengthen
the protection of the rights and best interests of children.”

Participants also discussed a study on “Juvenile Justice in Armenia:
Perspective of Children in Conflict with the Law”, conducted in
co-operation with the Advanced Social Technologies NGO with the
support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The study aimed to enhance child
participation and assess the juvenile justice system from the point of
view of children. It formed a part of the overall UNICEF-commissioned
research on the “Assessment of Juvenile Justice Reform Achievements
in Armenia” ()

Arman Danielyan, the President of Civil Society Institute NGO, said:
“The rate of juvenile crime in Armenia is quite low in comparison to
many other countries, but there is still a need to have a juvenile
justice system in place where a different approach is taken towards
young offenders. There is a need to have special judges, investigators,
specialists during court proceedings, which is a system that has
been used in other countries for a long time and has proven to be
effective.”

Representatives of the judiciary, advocates, Prosecutor General’s
Office, Office of the Human Rights Defender, civil society, and media
participated in the event.

The monitoring was implemented in three main cities of Armenia,
namely Yerevan, Vanadzor and Gyumri. Within the framework of the
project the Office also supported a hotline to provide free legal
advice to citizens, including juveniles and their relatives.

The electronic version of the report can be found here:

For more information please contact Ms. Gohar Avagyan, National Public
Information Officer, OSCE Office in Yerevan, at (+374 10) 22 96 10/
11/12/13/14 ext. 5406, cel (091) 436389.

NUMBER OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASES

ARMENPRESS
November 1, 2011
Yerevan

About 1866 road traffic accidents have been registered during the
ten months of the 2011 as a result of which 249 people were killed,
234 were injured. As compared with the same span of the past year
the number of accidents increased by 254, the number of victims by
24 and the number of injured by 531, presenting the statistics of
the passed ten months, head of the RA Police traffic patrol service
Norik Sargsyan said. He also noted that the cases of violations by
pedestrians have increased four times. Norik Sargsyan noted that people
are hit by cars mainly if they cross the roads in forbidden places.

ARMENIAN EXPERTS EXAMINING OLIVES FROM ITALY TO PREVENT BOTULISM

/ARKA/
November 1, 2011
Yerevan

YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. Armenian experts will examine olives
imported from Italy to find out whether they contain botulism
causative agents, Babken Pipoyan, the spokesman of Armenian agriculture
ministry~Rs food safety agency, told ARKA News Agency on Tuesday.

A day earlier, Russian Rospotrebnadzor placed a report on its website
warning against consuming olives brought from Italy since they could
cause botulism, a disease affecting nervous system.

Pipoyan found it difficult to say when exactly the latest consignment
of Italian olives was brought to Armenia.

He said that the safety certificate that took force in Armenia on
November 1 embraces all the imported foods.

Botulism also known as botulinus intoxication is a rare but serious
paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin.

Muscle weakness, nausea and vomiting among the botulism symptoms.

In addition, it can also cause disruptions in the autonomic nervous
system. This is experienced as a dry mouth and throat (due to
decreased production of saliva), postural hypotension (decreased
blood pressure on standing, with resultant lightheadedness and
risk of blackouts), and eventually constipation (due to decreased
peristalsis).