Author: Toganian Liana

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSSES TIES, MIDDLE EAST WITH EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART

Arminfo
17 Apr 07

Yerevan, 17 April: Armenia defends position of Arab countries in all
international bodies, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has said
during his meeting with ambassadors of the Arab League in Cairo.

Speaking of the Iraq issue, Kocharyan said that it should be settled
first of all through gradual reduction of foreign military presence
in Iraq; secondly, through a dialogue between ethnic groups of
the county, as well as engagement of interested countries in the
process of peaceful settlement in that country. "The developments in
Iraq showed that the initial calculations were not right, and that
no simple solutions could be applied in a country with complicated
structure. The Armenian community [in Iraq] too suffers from the war
in Iraq. Armenia did not participate in the initial phase of the war,
and its presence mission is only humanitarian," Kocharyan said.

At their meeting, Egyptian President Husni Mubarak and Kocharyan
discussed political and economic cooperation as well as the situation
in the Middle East. "The Egyptian president and I spoke in different
languages but understood each other quite well," Kocharyan told
journalists following the meeting.

POLL SHOWS ARMENIANS OPPOSE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 18 2007

Most Armenians share a worldwide disapproval of the interventionist
foreign policy pursued by the United States, according to a
multinational opinion poll reported on Wednesday.

The poll was conducted from June 2006 to March 2006 in Armenia
and 17 other countries — including the U.S., China, and Russia —
that represent roughly 56 percent of the world’s population. Its
findings were released by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs,
a U.S. think-tank that helped organize the study aimed at gauging
global public opinion on the issue.

Respondents in those countries were asked how much they trust the
U.S. "to act responsibly in the world." Fifty-eight percent of those
polled in Armenia answered "not at all" or "not very much." The same
answers were given by a majority of respondents in China, Russia,
France and six other nations covered by the survey.

Pollsters also found that nearly two-thirds of Armenians believe
the U.S. is more aggressive in acting as a global policeman than
it should be. Large majorities elsewhere, including America itself,
share this view, they said.

Christopher Whitney, executive director for studies at the Chicago
Council on Global Affairs, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying
that the survey’s results testify to broad international frustration
with U.S. foreign policy and the war in Iraq in particular. But he
said people around the world realize at the same time that the U.S. has
a key role to play in promoting and enforcing international security.

Armenians, for one thing, do not appear to be unhappy with their
government’s growing defense and security ties with Washington. Sixty
percent of them described U.S.-Armenian relations as "good" in a
U.S.-funded opinion poll conducted last November.

However, only 17 percent listed the U.S. among Armenia’s most important
partners, with almost twice as many respondents mentioning neighboring
Iran, America’s regional arch-foe. The list was topped by Russia
and France.

CANDIDATE WAITING FOR A "DESERVING CHOICE"

Panorama.am
18:51 17/04/2007

"I cannot say that the election campaign is unsatisfactory but I cannot
make a positive assessment, either," Vahram Baghdasaryan, a candidate
in election community 30, told a news conference today. Baghdasaryan
said it will take a long time till "civilized form of political combat"
may be possible.

The candidate called all political forces not to engage in black PR
but lead an ideological combat.

Baghdasaryan believes the pre-election campaign must not turn into a
"show." Speaking about his charity actions, particularly distributing
free of charge tickets to bathhouses, Baghdasaryan said, "I do that
for a long time already." He said he has ceased this form of charity
action at the pre-election phase saying "it is time people make a
deserving choice."

PERFORMANCE BUDGETING PROJECT IN SYUNIK MARZ

armradio.am
17.04.2007 11:04

>From 12-14 April a mission from UNDP "Performance Budgeting at
the Local Level" Project’s Team and Izmirlyan Foundation visited
Meghri, Syunik marz – which was led by UNDP Resident Representative
Ms. Consuelo Vidal and Country Director of Izmirlyan Foundation in
Armenia Mr. Ara Hamazaspyan.

Several meetings took place in Meghri: with the Mayor of the city, the
Municipality staff and NGOs. In her brief speech UNDP RR Ms. Consuelo
Vidal thanked the Municipality for joining efforts with UNDP and said:
"It is crucial for us to involve the local community in selecting
the city’s priorities, and as the waste removal was identified as a
priority we are glad we co-financed such a project for Meghri". Visits
to some city organizations, schools, church, college, Bed and Breakfast
hotel, Armentel office in Meghri, Meghri cannery factory as well as
to the waste landfill site were organized. At a town hall meeting the
2007 performance based budget for Meghri and introduction of "Waste
Removal Project" were presented, after which active discussions on
budget and waste cleanup issues took place.

In his message addressed to the inhabitants, Misha Hovhannisyan, the
Mayor of Meghri, called this event a "Town-wide day of cleanliness". He
urged the citizens to unite efforts in contributing to this initiative
for the benefit of improving sanitation and hygiene and making Meghri
more beautiful. "…We shall all go the streets and together prove
that we love our town", Mr. Hovhannisyan said.

On Saturday morning a Sanitary Cleanup initiative took place. The
dwellers responded to the message of the mayor and the whole city
was enthusiastically engaged in the activity.

The "Meghri Waste Removal" project is jointly initiated by
Izmirlyan Foundation, Municipality of Meghri and the UN Development
Programme. The issue as a high priority for the city was selected
from Meghri 2007 performance based budget. It has started in March
and will be finalized by October, this year. Main components of
the project are the reconstruction and exploitation of a landfill,
procurement of garbage machinery, deployment of garbage cans in the
city and organization of the sanitary cleanup days in Meghri.

SALARY DEBT OWED TO "ARMENIAN AIRWAYS" FORMER EMPLOYEES IMPOSSIBLE TO PAY IN FULL

Noyan Tapan
Apr 16 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Debt of the total amount of 169
mln 297.9 thousand drams (about 457 thousand USD) owed to 331 former
employees of Armenian Airways airline is impossible to pay in full. NT
correspondent was informed at the RA Civil Aviation Main Department
that the employees will receive their salaries according to their
place in the list, and their demands will not be completely met
because the bankrupt airline’s assets made only 28 mln drams after
the last auction. Besides, debt of 1.7 ln drams is owed to 109 persons
recceiving benefits from the airline.

According to the same source, the salary and final payment-related
liabilities to 462 employees of the airline initially amounted to
240 mln 980.9 thousand drams. 71 mln 683 thousand drams of this sum
was paid to former US representative of Armenian Airways K. Arustamian.

LEVEL OF BIRTH RATE INCREASED IN KARABAGH

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 16 2007

According to the information DE FACTO received at the Nagorno-Karabagh
Republic National Statistic Service, 468 children were born in
the Nagorno-Karabagh in January-March, 2007, which is 0, 6% more as
compared with the same period last year. Death rate was reduced by 6,
7 % as compared with the first quarter of 2006.

For the same period natural increment of population made 133 people,
which is 25, 5 % more than the level of the same period last year.

For January-March, 2007, mechanical increment of population was 87
people, which is 33, 8% more than the level of the same period of 2006.

Armenia president stresses support to Arab causes – Egyptian agency

MENA news agency
14 Apr 07

Cairo, 14 April: Armenia will keep supporting the Arab issues at the regional
and international gatherings, said Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.
He told MENA on Saturday that Armenia has been a supporter for Arab causes at
the international organizations.
Earlier in the day, the visiting Armenian president held talks with Arab
League Secretary-General Amr Musa.
The talks tackled means of boosting bilateral ties as well as exchanging
views about a draft of important issues, Kocharyan said.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006

SEMA Associates recognized nowhere

[ 14 Apr 2007 13:02 ]

SEAM Associates, a Californians-based company which developed the
general plan of an Azeri town Shusha under illegal occupation by
Armenia, is not recognized as a serious group anywhere, even the
territory it was registered in.

The Armenian-led company has four small offices in Irvine and Lake
Forest, south of California.
For three days, APA correspondent in the USA have tried to contact
the company in vain and nobody answered phones. It is allegedly said
an Armenian named Seda Yaghobiyan runs the so-called company. The
company has no website. Commerce Chambers of Irvine and Lake Forest
said they have never heard of the so-called firm.
It turns out that SEMA Associates is a political instrument in
Armenian diaspora’s hand.
Because the United States firmly recognizes the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan, it is impossible for any US company to illegally
operate in the occupied territory of Azerbaijan. /APA/

ONE OF SEMA ASSOCIATED OWNERS IS ARMENIAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2007

Azerbaijani embassy in the US gathered reports about the American
SEMA Associated company, which is reportedly preparing a general plan
of Shusha, Khazar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry told
the APA.

The company is supposed to be situated in the city of Irvine,
California. The company is engaged in preparing general plans
and projects. One of the chiefs of the company – Seda Yagubyan is
Armenian. Yagubyan is also the member of Armenian Fund Hayastan. The
Fund assisted Armenia and participated in the programs.

Azerbaijani embassy will officially appeal to the US administration
after the investigations are over, and the fact is specified.

GROWTH ‘MORE IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA THAN RIGHTS’
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
April 9 2007

Ensuring Armenia’s continued economic growth is more important than
improving its government’s human rights record, Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisian indicated in a newspaper interview published on Monday.

"It is hard to talk about democratic and human rights when you need
to solve the social and economic needs of the population," Sarkisian
told the Financial Times. "We would not like to be a state stuck in
our transition."

Sarkisian was interviewed by the paper during a visit to Brussels
last week that coincided with his appointment as prime minister. He
was cited as saying that he will put economic development ahead of
human rights improvements.

Still, the new Armenian premier insisted that Yerevan will do its
best to ensure the freedom and fairness of next month’s parliamentary
elections in line with promises given to the West. "We have made
commitments to different programmes and we think compliance is in our
interest," he said. "We want to become part of the European family."

The Armenian opposition claims that the former defense minister is
one of the main architects of reported fraud that marred the previous
parliamentary and presidential elections held in the country.

Opposition leaders dismiss government pledges to ensure the proper
conduct of the May 12 vote.