Author: Tamamian Anna

ARF: THE MAYOR SHOULD BE READY FOR DEBATES
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
26.05.2009 16:11

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun team is ready to control the electoral
processes, representative of the ARF Supreme Body, MP Armen Rustamyan
told a press conference today. Unlike the previous elections, this
time Dashnaktsutyun did not call on any political force to execute
joint control.

Armen Rustamyan said it’s very hard to execute joint control in
Armenia, because two political forces have 3-4 opinions, and it’s very
hard to come to an agreement on some point. This time Dashnaktsutyun
has worked out its own mechanism of control. The Party will have 2-3
representatives in all 439 precincts.

As for the election campaign, candidate for Mayor Artsvik Minasyan
said: "I have invited the candidates to a public debate. Let everyone
come and present his views of development of Yerevan. This debate
will provide our voters with an opportunity to assess and understand
who is able to do that.

If a person is ready to assume the office of the Mayor of Yerevan,
he should be ready to debate with others."

STEPANAKERT HOSTED A FORUM FOR NKR NGOS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 18:03 GMT+04:00

Recently Stepanakert hosted the second forum for NKR NGOs, entitled
"Peacemaking. Tendencies and perspectives". NGO leaders and experts at
international programs on trust- building between conflicting parties
participated in the discussion. NKR NA External communication committee
chairman Vahram Atanesyan and NKR International Collaboration Center
Director Janna Krikorova were also invited.

As one of forum participants told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the
forum focused on NKR conflict settlement negotiation process and
influence of political processes on non-governmental peacemaking
initiatives. Based on discussions, forum participants concluded
that recently peaceful civilian dialogue has had a tendency to being
politicized, which distorts actual situation and forestalls official
political conflict settlement results.

To prevent such tendencies, which have a harmful impact on national
diplomacy’s dynamics and affectivity, forum participants resolved to
create a Social Union to collaborate with regional and international
organizations in different spheres. Forum participants also adopted
a declaration on NKR civil society’s participation principles in
international peacemaking projects.

DIRECTOR OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS FOUNDATION: RELEASE FROM MONOPOLIES MAY BECOME AN ACCELERATOR FOR ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

ArmInfo
2009-05-25 19:06:00

ArmInfo. Release from the system of monopolies may become an
accelerator for Armenia’s economy, Executive Director of the Armenian
National Competitiveness Foundation Bekor Papazyan said.

"The countries of South Eastern Asia managed to progress in economic
development due to employment of women. Armenia also has a resource
for progress – it is the release from monopolies and implementation
of structural reforms not only in economy, but also education and
other spheres",- Papazyan said.

He said education also needs structural reforms to meet modern
criteria of personnel training. "Today we say that Armenia has
high skilled programmers, however, they are few, consequently, the
educational system is in crisis as it is unable to serve our personnel
potential. By solving these two problems, we shall be able to make
our economy successful",- Papazayan said.

Croatian President attends Matenadaran
23.05.2009 12:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Visiting Croatian President Stjepan Mesic attended
Matenadaran, the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, where he saw the
collection of Armenian and foreign manuscripts and left a note in the
visitors’ book.
`Armenia and the Armenian nation made a great contribution to world
civilization,’ Mr. Mesic wrote.
He gifted a Croatian manuscript dating to the 9th century to
Matenadaran and was presented an Armenian one.

Arlington Advocate
May 23 2009

Memorial unveiled

Sat May 23, 2009, 06:30 AM EDT
Arlington, Mass. –

State representative Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont, and others admire a
memorial commemorating world-renowned classical music composer and
musician Alan Hovhaness in front of the Jefferson Cutter House on
Sunday. This was one event in a string of events to recognize one of
Arlington’s most well known residents and one of Arlington High
School’s most successful graduates.

The memorial celebration, which initiated the 100th anniversary of
this Armenian American composer, began just a few days before when
pianist Martin Berkovsky completed his `All Men are Brothers’ run from
Mount Monadnock, New Hampshire to 5 Blossom Street, where Hovhaness
grew up.

The dedication ceremony of the memorial on Sunday, May 16 was followed
by a free concert in the Town Hall Auditorium directed by Pasquale
Tassone and featuring Berkofsky as one of the performers.

news/x2085727327/Memorial-unveiled

ARMENIAN GDP DECLINES 9.7% IN JANUARY-APRIL 2009 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
May 22, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s GDP declined by 9.7% in
January-April 2009 on the same period of 2008 and amounted to 638bn
939m drams (more than 1bn 894.4m USD as calculated at the average
exchange rate of 337.72 drams against a dollar in January-April). The
index-deflator of GDP made 101.8%.

According to data of the RA National Statistical Service, industrial
production of Armenia declined by 11.1% in January-April 2009 on the
same months of last year and made 176bn 967.6m drams.

Gross agricultural output fell by 4.1% to 57bn 28.4m drams,
construction declined by 42.4% to 51bn 508.5m drams, retail trade
grew by 2.5% to 262bn 210.5m drams, and services declined by 0.6%
to 261bn 733m drams.

The foreign trade of Armenia fell by 30% to 1bn 69.1m USD in
January-April 2009 on the same period of last year and amounted to
1bn 69.1m USD, with exports declining by 47.8% to 175.6m USD and
imports declining by 25% to 893.5m USD.

Consumer prices increased by 2.3%, industrial production prices fell
by 5.9% in January-April 2009 on the same months of 2008.

The number of officially registered unemployed grew by 6.5% in late
April 2009 as compared with the same month of last year and made
81.2 thousand.

The average monthly nominal salary made 96,875 drams in January-April
2009 (13.2% growth on the same months of 2008), including 80,937 drams
in the state sector (17.9% growth) and 120,427 drams in the non-state
sector (7.4% growth). The average exchange rate of a US dollar made
337.27 drams in January-April 2009.

ARMENIAN FOOD FESTIVAL TODAY

Visalia Times-Delta
le/20090521/NEWS01/90521024
May 21 2009

St. Mary Armenian Church of Yettem is having its annual Food Festival
today at the Visalia Memorial Building on the corner of Center Avenue
and Willis Street.

More than 700 had lunch today during the 32nd annual event. Dinner is
also served tonight from 5-8 p.m. The plate includes lulu kabob, pilaf,
green salad, bread and a bourma pastry. Takeout is available. Donation
is $10 per person. Homemade sarma and other food items are also
available. Information: 627-3486 or 733-8741.

AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST RISKY INDUSTRY OF ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.05.2009 16:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Agriculture is the most risky sphere in Armenia,
told Gagik Minasyan, chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Finance-Credit, Budget and Economic Affairs and deputy from RPA. "Risky
spheres are financed at high interest rates, in addition to it the
world economic and financial crisis has worsen the situation", he said.

According to Mr. Minasyan, small farmers are not subject to heavy tax
burden in Armenia. However, crediting of the agriculture industry,
particularly processing enterprises at high interest rates does not
promote the development of the industry, said Mr.Minasyan.

According to him, certain problems may appear related to shortage
of circulating assets for processing enterprises. Some measures
should be undertaken in order to create favorable conditions for
their operation. Mr. Minasyan informed, that Armenia’s government in
the framework of anti-crisis program provides with state guarantees,
funds or even becomes a stakeholder. "Agriculture is in the limelight
of Armenia’s government," concluded ^S038: Minasyan.

DEVELOPMENT OF CONTACTS BETWEEN IRI AND RA CONDITIONED BY MOSCOW’S ATTITUDE TO THEM

Noyan Tapan
May 21, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The seminar organized by the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies on May 21 was dedicated
to discussion of Armenian-Iranian relations and their development
prospects. ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian, Yerevan State University
professor, Ambassador David Hovhannisian, and Center expert Manvel
Sargsian speaking at the seminar pointed to great unused potential
in development of relations between the two countries.

Issues of communication sphere, in particular, projects in the sphere
of transport and energy are of special importance in Armenian-Iranian
relations. In the opinion of R. Giragosian and D. Hovhannisian, the
Iran-Armenia pipeline is the confirmation of deepening of cooperation
between the two countries.

According to D. Hovhannisian, the construction project of
Iran-Armenia railway, which seems senseless today, indeed can have
much importance. In particular, the railway leading from Turkmenistan
and Kazakhstan to Iran can pass through Armenia, which no doubt will
raise the role of the latter in the region.

According to R. Giragosian, it is also alarming that today
development of contacts between IRI and RA, unfortunately, is
conditioned by Moscow’s attitude to them. "The bright evidence is
pressure exerted by Russia on Armenia, as a result of which the
diameter of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline made not 1200 mm, but 711,
which reduced to zero the possibility of contruction of a transit gas
pipeline. These actions of Russia are far from actions of a strategic
ally," R. Giragosian noted.

R. Giragosian and D. Hovhannisian characterized relations between
Russia and Armenia as relations of "a seignior and a vassal." It is
conditioned by the low level of RA authorities’ legitimacy, which
makes them vulnerable for external influence.

CIS HEADS OF GOVERNMENTS AGREED NOT TO CREATE ADDITIONAL OBSTACLES FOR MOVEMENT OF CAPITALS INSIDE THE COMMONWEALTH

ArmInfo
2009-05-22 13:32:00

ArmInfo. CIS Heads of Governments have agreed not to create additional
obstacles for movement of capitals, human resources and mutual trade
within the Commonwealth, Prime Minister of Moldova Zinai Greceanii
said at a press-conference upon the results of the meeting of CIS
Council of Heads of Governments in the capital of Kazakhstan, ArmInfo
special correspondent from Astana reported.

According to Z. Greceanii, the heads of governments discussed the
problems related to the global financial crisis and told about
the situation in the economies of their countries. "One should not
create artificial obstacles for movement of the human resources,
capitals and mutual trade . We have come to such an agreement",
she said and added that decisions on over 18 issues of the agenda
were made during the Council meeting. In particular, an action plan
was approved for fulfillment of the first stage of CIS economic
development strategy. The required alterations were also introduced
to the strategy of cooperation of CIS countries in information system
development and to the action plan on its implementation till 2011 to
bring these documents to conformity with the time requirements. CIS
Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev added that CIS countries’ heads
of governments made a decision to develop a joint actions plan to
prevent spread of flue A (H1N1).

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov said the next meeting
of CIS Council of Heads of Governments will be held in Yalta in
November, 2009.