Author: Tadevosian Garnik

HAYPOST ISSUES NEW STAMP AT FIRST ARMENIAN APRICOT SCIENTIFIC FORUM

armradio.am
06.07.2007 10:19

The 1st Armenian Apricot Scientific Forum marks its official opening
today at the Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan. The purpose of this
forum is to inform the public about the historic importance of the
Armenian apricot fruit known as Fructus Armeniacus in Latin.

Honorary guests during the event will include the RA Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan, the RA Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, Consuelo
Vidal, the UN Permanent Representative and UNDP Coordinator, and Hans
Boon, Trust Manager of HayPost Trust Management.

To commemorate this important event, the national postal operator
of the Republic of Armenia, HayPost CJSC, has officially issued
a postal stamp entitled Armenian Apricot. This distinctive stamp
has been designed exclusively for the opening of the ceremony and
can be used for general postal circulation as well as a philatelic
collector’s item.

"The meaning of this stamp is to help inform the world the story behind
this Armenian fruit – the apricot – and we are proud that HayPost
CJSC is taking part of this important event," states Hans Boon,
the Trust Manager of HayPost.

GOVERNMENT AGREES TO REDUCE STATE DUTY DEFINED FOR BROADCAST OF PROGRAMS OF OTHER LAUNCHING COMPANIES BY PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION COMPANY BY 10 THOUSAND DRAMS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 3, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The package of bills of the government,
which envisages to make amendments and addenda in the RA valid Laws on
"Television and Radio," and "State Duty," was discussed by the second
reading of the RA National Assembly in the July 2 special sitting. The
ballot, to all appearances, will be held on July 3.

On the above-mentioned legislative initiative the activities of
other launching organizations are prohibited on the frequencies
used by the Public Radio and Television company. In addition to
this, a state duty of 60 thousand drams (about 176 U.S. dollars)
is defined for each broadcast of radio and television programs
of other launching organizations on the frequencies used by the
patent radio and television company in the Republic of Armenia, in
difference to the 70 thousand drams defined by the first reading. In
comparison with the package of the bills adopted by the first reading,
it is additionally set in the law on "Radio and Television" that
the launching organization is entitled to broadcast television and
radio programs.

It should also be mentioned that the positions of opponents and
those who were for the adoption of the bills remained the same. The
political coalition gave assurance that the suggested amendments are
directed at the regulation of the public radio and television sphere
and cannot concern the Armenian service of the Azatutiun (Liberty)
radio station, which is broadcasting its programs on the frequencies
of the Public Radio company, as the latter is not a patent launching
organization. The opponents, that is to say Zharangutiun (Heritage)
and Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) factions, are convinced that the
legislative initiative of the government is, evidently, threatening
the further activities of the Azatutiun radio station in Armenia.

TURKEY HAS NOT TAKEN A SINGLE KURUº FROM USA

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2007 18:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey has not taken a single kuruº from the USA,
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated responding to allegations
from main opposition leader Deniz Baykal, who claimed the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government made a deal with the
U.S. to assure it that Turkey will not make a cross-border operation
into northern Iraq. "The United States gave money to countries
negatively influenced by the first gulf War as compensation. However,
Turkey was not paid such money. There are no secret documents about
such a deal, either," A. Gul underlined, Bugun newspaper reports.

Earlier the Turkish Foreign Ministry had spread a special statement
in connection with the financial agreement signed between Turkey and
the United States in September 22, 2003. The Turkish MFA confirmed
the fact that there exists an agreement with the USA on assigning to
Ankara $1 billion to refuse from invading Northern Iraq. The statement
underlines that the United States has assigned $8.5 billion as a
privileged loan aimed at supporting economic reforms, as well as $1
billion as compensation for the damage from the war in Iraq. "According
to the agreement, the $1-billion compensation would be paid to Ankara
part by part. The document particularly underlines that in case of
a military operation by Turkey in Northern Iraq the United States
will refuse from giving the remaining part of compensation. But after
signing the agreement Turkey willingly refused from economic aid thus
stopping the effect of the corresponding article of the document. From
this viewpoint this agreement does not mean that Turkey has taken any
commitments in front of the USA. At that time the Treasury of the
country declared about refusing from the $1-billion compensation,"
says the statement of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

–Boundary_(ID_URLusdq75GFqK8G5vBAUjg)- –

ArmTech ’07 to be held in San Francisco

armradio.am
04.07.2007 11:20

The Armenian Technology Congress (ArmTech) announced the launch of
ArmTech ’07, a global high-technology-focused event to be held in San
Francisco July 4-7, 2007, at the Fairmont Hotel. This is the first high
technology congress and exhibition designed for professionals
interested in engaging in the global Armenian community and the rapidly
rising technology sector of Armenia. Designed to promote both
professional networking and valuable connections for operating
companies and entrepreneurs, the event will feature presentations of
the technology achievements and challenges of Armenia by numerous
operating companies, service providers, academic institutions, and
government officials from the US, Armenia, and around the world. The
Armenian Development Agency (ADA) is an organizational sponsor of the
event and provides extensive development and marketing support.

`The time is right for an international event to draw together
professionals who want to engage in the global Armenian community and
support the rapidly rising technology sector of Armenia,’ said Tony
Moroyan, the founder and co-chair of ArmTech Congress and a principal
executive of venture and incubation activities including Viasphere
International in Armenia. `ArmTech, envisaged as recurring every two
years, is an unprecedented opportunity to obtain business and
professional information and make key connections spanning the high
tech industry, as well as with government representatives from Armenia
and within the US, major players in the financial and services sectors,
and leading academics.’

`The sphere of high technology has quite developed in Armenia, and
investor interest is increasing,’ said Vahagn Movsisyan, General
Director of Armenian Development Agency and co-chair of ArmTech
Congress in Armenia. `Much has changed since the major Armenian
investment conference in New York in 2001, and now it is necessary to
redefine in depth the optimal directions. We are delighted to support
ArmTech ’07 as a globally inclusive program to increase understanding
and support among foreign investors and other stakeholders, fostering
the trust and opportunities that will drive the increasing growth and
sophistication of high tech economic activity in Armenia.’

Regions around Nagornyy Karabakh should be settled by Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan, the NKR president’s advisor thinks

arminfo
2007-07-04 16:37:00

Regions around Nagornyy Karabakh should be settled by Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan, the NKR president’s advisor thinks

Regions around Nagornyy Karabakh should be settled by Armenian refugees
from Azerbaijan as compensation for their lost property, the NKR
president’s advisor Arman Melikyan told Arminfo correspondent.

Asked if this is his personal or official position, Melikyan replied he
does not see much difference in it. -, the NKR president’s advisor
said. He also
added that the problem of settlement of the Armenian refugees by
Karabakh may become a very serious factor in the conflict settlement
process.

Asked by ArmInfo correspondent if it will be an alternative or
non-alternative option for the Armenian refugees, Melikyan replied that
this option should be discussed and it will be clear over the
discussion if it will be alternative or non-alternative. He also added
that nobody is going to settle somebody at these territories by force.
, – Melikyan said. , – Melikyan said.

AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT WANT TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT AND JUST IS BUSY WITH PROPAGANDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2007 14:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs perfectly realize
the core of the conflict, they know who is the actual side in the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. But OSCE MG indulges Azerbaijan in his
caprices, avoiding from discussions around this issue," NKR President
Arkadi Ghukassian stated in his speech entitled "Nagorno Karabakh:
perspectives of settlement" at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
University. He said, the current format of talks does not have
perspectives, which is fraught with a rise of stalemate situation in
the settlement process.

As the NKR President stated, Baku is trying to urge the international
community that only Armenia and Azerbaijan are the conflicting parties,
accusing the Armenian side of territorial claims. As a way out from
this situation Arkadi Ghukassian indicates that representatives of
NKR must return to the negotiation process, which actually the OSCE
MG must do.

"Azerbaijan does not want to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and only is busy with propaganda.

And just because of this fact Baku prefers to negotiate with Armenia
without NKR," A. Ghukassian underscored.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF RED CROSS REJECTS LETTER SENT TO AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER CAPTURED BY ARMENIANS

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 3 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr K. Zarbaliyeva / A letter from the
parents of an Azerbaijani soldier, Samir Mammadov, to him who was
captured by Armenians, was returned. Uncle of the soldier, Vidadi
Mammadov, reported to Trend on 3 July that Samir’s father visited
the Barda region office of the International Committee of the Red
Cross on 2 July. The letter from Samir’s parents was not accepted
by the Barda office of the organization. According to Samir’s uncle,
the Committee said that Samir did not wish to receive letters.

Vidadi Mammadov considers that to be a lie. "It is the third time
that the International Committee of the Red Cross has rejected our
letters. Our latest letter was written on 9 March," he said.

Samir Mammadov was drafted to military service by the Military
Conscription Commission of the Azerbaijani region of Barda on 24
December of 2006. Samir did not reply to the latest letters from his
relatives. Mammadov’s parents insist that Samir is under pressure
from the Armenians, who do not let him maintain a correspondence with
his relatives. He was captured by the Armenian on the Gazakh-Ijevan
border 15km from the military unit.

–Boundary_(ID_y8/yhrKpixpiz9ma9sU+Rw)–

ARF REPRESENTATIVES MEET WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT

Yerkir
02.07.2007 12:56

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – ARF Bureau member Mario Nalbandian and ARF Supreme
Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian, who are in Geneva to
participate in the Socialist International council meeting, met on
June 30 with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

The ARF representatives raise the issue of the Armenian community
in Iraq.

The Iraqi president promised to satisfy the needs of the Armenian
community after direct talks and cooperation with the community
members.

CURRENT EXPENDITURES OF STATE BUDGET GROW BY 13.9% IN JANUARY-MAY 2007
ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-May 2007, the state budgetary
expenditures made over 183 bln drams (over 509.6 mln USD). 79.1% of
allocated funds was spent on financing of current expenditures, 16.7%
on financing of capital expenditures, and 4,2% – on net crediting.

Accoridng to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, the state
budgetary expenditures grew by 17.9% or over 27.7 bln drams on the same
period of last year. The growth was mainly conditioned by an increase
in capital expenditures, transfers and expenditures on services.

In the period under review, 144.8 bln darms was allocated for financing
of current expenditures, which ensured 73.9% fulfilment of the program
for first half of 2007. Current expenditures grew by 13.9% or 17.7 bln
drams on the same period of last year.

10.8% of current expenditures was spent on payment of state institution
employees’ salaries, which amounted to over 15.7 bln drams: the program
for the first half of 2007 was fulfilled by 77%. Expenditures on
salaries exceeded by 11.9% the respective allocations of 2006.

TERRY DAVIS MAKES CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2007 15:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "All statements made by Terry Davis, CoE Secretary
General, contradict each other", Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian told reporters in Yerevan. "Mr Davis’s recent statements
were conditioned by a wish to clarify the situation around the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, but these statements are inadmissible for
Armenia." he said.

In an interview with one of Armenian news agencies Mr Davis said,
"I mean that presently NKR is a seized territory and a part of
Azerbaijan. I am an adherent to territorial unity of Caspian states,
both Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, Karabakh is not a part of
Armenia."