Author: Talalian Arpi

US EXPERTS LAUNCH BIRD FLU DETECTING AND PREVENTING TRAINING COURSE FOR ARMENIAN COUNTERPARTS

Armenpress
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS: Experts from the USA have launched today
an extensive training course for Armenian counterparts to teach them
how to detect bird flu cases and how to treat human beings diagnosed
with the deadly virus.

The first group of Armenian specialists are from the veterinary
inspection of the agricultural ministry. The US experts are headed
by Doctor Elizabeth Krushinsky, who traveled across Armenia before
starting the training course with agricultural officials, examined
the situation on the ground.

Deputy agriculture minister Levon Rukhkian said US experts did not
see any indication of a bird flu in Armenia.

Earlier this week the government of USA donated 1,500 set of personal
protective equipment to Armenia.

The equipment, which includes coveralls, latex gloves, protective
boots, goggles and masks, is designed to be used by individuals
involved in avian influenza surveillance and response efforts. In a
related development World Bank resident representative has confirmed
that the Bank will provide Armenia with a $6 million assistance to
help it combat the avian influenza.

SEVERAL YEARS OF GEOLOGICAL WORK NEEDED TO DETERMINE EFFIIENCY OF URANIUM MINE OPERATION AT GETIK

Noyan Tapan
Mar 07 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN. It will become clear only in a few
years how efficient it is to operate the uranium mine at Getik. Artur
Ashughian, Head of the Nature Use Economics and Mine Industry
Department, stated this at the March 7 press conference. According
to him, geological search is needed to determine the efficiency of
the mine operation. However, so far no company has applied to the
appropriate Armenian bodies for permission to carry out work at Getik.

To recap, the GGG comany (US) announced the expediency of uranium
mining at the Getik mine.

ARMENIA HIGHLY ACTIVE IN CSTO
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 14, 2006 Tuesday 01:30 PM EST

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan discussed the tasks of and
prospects for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
with its secretary-general Nikolai Bordyuzha in Yerevan on Tuesday.

They also discussed the agenda of the session of the Collective
Security Council due in Minsk in June and the situation in the zone
of responsibility of the CSTO, also in the Transcaucasia.

Bordyuzha is on a working visit in the Armenian capital. He conducted
talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan, and discussed
with Defence Minister, secretary of the Security Council Serge
Sarkisyan matters referred to the meeting of the Committee of
secretaries of the security councils of the CSTO member-countries
beginning on March 22.

“Armenia is a highly active player in the CSTO and a very active
country in the Commonwealth of Independent States,” Bordyzha said.

“We sense this, specifically, from the attitudes or representatives
of the republic during the analysis of questions of daily activity
of the CSTO,” he said. “Many questions accumulated in the format
of the organization’s activity, and they should be discussed with
Armenian leaders, particularly in connection with plans to develop
the organization, to transform it into a multifunctional international
structure,” Bordyuzha said.

Visiting Yerevan, Bordyuzha continues his visits aimed to inform
leaders of the CSTO state about the organization’s activity.

Bordyuzha visited Kyrgyzstan in February and Belarus and Tajikistan
in early March.

VASAK TOROSIAN APPOINTED MEMBER OF RA STATE COMMISSION ON PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. In accordance with the March 9 decree
of the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Vasak Torosian has been
appointed a member of the RA State Commission on Protection of Economic
Competition for a 5-year term. NT was informed about it from the RA
President’s press service.

FILMS BY BRITISH DIRECTORS AT ARMENIAN CINEMAS AGAIN

YEREVAN, MARCH 7. ARMINFO. Demonstration of British films at Nairi
Cinema in Yerevan on March 10-15. Armenian spectators will enjoy six
best films of the last years by British directors.

The festival will present the following films: “Calendar Girls”
by Nigel Cole, “In My Father’s Den” by Brad McGann, “Pride and
Prejudice” by Joe Wright, “In This World” by Michael Winterbottom,
“Sweet Sixteen” by Ken Loach, “Festival” by Annie Griffin. Head of
British Council Yerevan Office Nigel Townson told journalists that
the festival is organized by the Embassy of Great Britain in Armenia.

It will present films awarded at international film festivals. The
British cinema is highly in demand in the world, it is very flexible
and touches upon the most dangerous topics, he said. The Armenian
spectators display an interest in the European cinema, with the fifth
in succession festival in Armenia is an evidence of it. Within the
frameworks of the festival, films will be demonstrated also in the
second largest Armenian town of Gyumri at Cinema “Oktyabr”. N.

Townson mentioned the Armenian Film Festival held in London a year
ago due to which the British spectators got an opportunity to enjoy
the Armenian movie art.

The British Film Festival pursues a charitable goal: the proceeds
from the tickets (cost 500 AMD) will be transferred to the Children
Houses in Armenia. The films will be demonstrated in English, Armenian
and Russian.

Rugby Advertiser
March 9, 2006

Editor’s Viewpoint – 09/03/06

THIS week Advertiser Peter Aengenhesiter once again delves deep into
the murky waters of freedom of speech.

WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW WE EXERCISE OUR FREEDOMS…

If i said the D-Day landings never took place, aliens are among us,
and 9/11 didn’t happen, there is really only one possibility.

It is almost certain that I would be dismissed as a complete idiot.

But, for the moment, I would not be imprisoned for my beliefs.

By now, everyone will have heard of the revisionist historian David
Irving who was jailed for three years in Austria for denying The
Holocaust. Actually I don’t think think he did, he denied that it was
as extensive as they said.

Until recently, I was pretty much unaware of this law, which is
actually in force in most of the countries of the EU.

And in Switzerland (of all places, and I simply can’t fathom out
why), it is against the law to deny that Ottoman Turks committed
genocide against the Armenians in 1915.

Many have claimed the reaction of the offensive caricatures of The
Prophet Mohammed published around the world was excessive in the face
of what was only hard-earned freedom

of speech in the West.

We might even think we are ‘better’, but we should be careful lest we
be accused of hypocrisy.

Abu Hamza al Masri, the Muslim cleric, was jailed recently for seven
years. We called the offence incitement to murder and race hate –
others could easily argue ‘freedom of speech’.

And actually, have you ever seen a Christian figure, leader or icon,
carictured in any way by Muslims, let alone in the degrading,
derogatory or insulting depiction that these cartoon were displayed?

I believe in the freedom of speech for everyone, without fear of
damage to life, limb or liberty.

But you are only walking a better path in this life and with this
freedom. If you treat others with the respect with which you would
like to be treated.

Here endeth the sermon..!

And let’s hope England trounces the smelly French in the Six Nations
rugby taking place this weekend.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Anti-Soros Demands Mikhail Saakashvili’s Resignation

10.03.2006 23:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Anti-Soros Georgian public movement,
the Conservative Monarchy Party, the People’s Party
and Justice Party demand President Saakashvili’s
resignation, holding of pre-term elections and
launched a collection of signatures in support of
their initiatives. According to Anti-Soros leader Maya
Nikoleishvili, `the people who came to power in
Georgian as result of the so-called rose revolution
are foreign vassals per se.’

Anti-Soros leader considers that Georgia is being sold
for the money of an American billionaire. `A
fratricidal war is being prepared in the Caucasus.
This money formed and strengthened tyranny in Georgia,
it brought Saakashvili to power. Thanks to this money
he is convinced in his impunity and mighty,’ she said.
To note, the Labor Party organized a rally in front of
the parliament building. People demand to create work
places and put an end to the bluff of population.
Labor Party leader called upon President Saakashvili
and Prime Minsiter Noghaideli `to look into people’s
eyes’.

To note, earlier, Anti-Soros conducted a survey to
find out the population’s attitude towards the
activities of American billionaire George Soros and
his impact upon the home policy. The survey of 1 500
respondents showed that 90% of the population consider
Soros to be Georgia’s enemy and only 4% rate him as
friend, reported Rosbalt.

A1+

CORRUPTION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ARMENIA

08:38 pm 10 March, 2006

The Council of Europe’s Group of States against
Corruption (GRECO) has today published its evaluation
report on Armenia, with the agreement of the Armenian
authorities.The report concludes that in Armenia
corruption is considered a major problem.

The judiciary, the police, the customs service, the
tax inspectorate, education, healthcare, licensing and
privatisations are particularly affected. Despite the
adoption of a number of anti-corruption measures,
shortcomings still prevail in the existing
anti-corruption legislation and its implementation, as
well as in the organisation of the justice and law
enforcement systems.

The existence of serious obstacles to collecting
evidence, depriving offenders of the proceeds of
corruption together with the almost total absence of
significant results in prosecuting and indicting
individuals involved in serious cases of corruption
call for substantial efforts. In this respect, problem
areas include legislation on banking secrecy, special
investigative means, training for members of the law
enforcement agencies, witness protection, assets
declaration and the anti-money laundering regime.
Immunity enjoyed by judges, prosecutors, parliamentary
candidates, members of electoral commissions and even
candidate mayors and candidates for membership of the
council of elders (local council) is also a matter of
concern.

As for public administration, there is an urgent need
for implementing measures that deal with situations
where personal/financial interests or activities may
raise issues of conflict or partiality with regard to
public officials’ duties and responsibilities. It is
also necessary that public officials be informed and,
above all, trained on how and when to report instances
of corruption, or suspicions thereof, which they come
across in their duty and, to establish adequate
protection for public officials who report instances
of corruption (whistleblowers) in good faith.

The Armenian legal system does not provide for
corporate liability, so there is a need to establish
it for offences of bribery and money laundering and to
provide for effective, proportionate and dissuasive
sanctions, in accordance with the Council of Europe’s
Criminal Law Convention on Corruption.

GRECO has addressed twenty-four recommendations to
Armenia and invited the Armenian authorities to report
on their implementation by September 2007.

“HERITAGE” PARTY AFFIRMS THAT AUTHORITIES UNDERTAKE ACTIONS FOR
PARALYSING ITS ACTIVITY

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. An incident connected with unknown people’s
entering the office of the “Heritage” party, and then with changing the
locks on the party doors is one further link in the chain of a new campaign
of threats, intimidation, and introductory terror carried out by the
incumbent presidency and its security apparatus againts the “Heritage” party
and its leader Raffi Hovannisian. This is said in the press-release of the
“Heritage” party spread on March 9.

According to the press-release, ” this campaign has followed on the heels of
Raffi Hovannisian’s recent public activity, citizens’ initiatives and freely
expressed opinions, and has been launched through the use of large-scale
technologies of slander by the state-supervised propaganda machine and its
stooges against the long-standing institutions of high repute headed by
Raffi and Armenouhi Hovannisian. the “party of power” aims to paralyze
Heritage’s activities in advance of parliamentary elections and other
developments of interest.”
“It is not to be ruled out that the acting authority, based on its own fear
and lack of public legitimacy, will continue its policies of persecution
with imaginary, trumped-up charges to be made against the party and its
members,” is mentioned in the press-release.

To recap, three unknown people broke the door of the “Heritage” party office
on March 4 and changed the locks. The party representatives can’t enter
their office up to now.

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 11 2006

Population Of Akhalkalaki Held Protest Action Outside Building Of
Local Administration

Tbilisi. March 11 (Prime-News) – Population of Armenian nationality
held a protest action outside the building of Akhalkalaki
administration on Saturday regarding the incident that occurred in
Tsalka settlement.

During the incident Gevorg Gevorkyan, 24, was killed.

According to participants of the action resident of Tsalka settlement
was killed owing to his Armenian nationality.

Participants of the action appealed Georgian president with the
demand to allow using Armenian language in office work in
Samtskhe-Javakheti region, most part of which is Armenian population.

Mass scuffle occurred in Tsalka settlement on March 09.

As a result of scuffle Gevorg Gevorkyan, 24, was killed and died on
the spot, two other people were injured.

People who participated in the quarrel and suspected in murder are
detained.