Author: Toganian Liana

Slovenia’s Foreign Minister to visit Armenia

armradio.am
23.02.2008 14:55

On February 25 the delegation headed by the President of the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Jan
Kubis will arrive in Armenia on a one-day visit.

Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
informs that in the framework of the visit Jan Kubis will have meetings
with the President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, Speaker of the National
assembly Tigran Torosyan, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan and Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian.

ACCORDING TO IMF OFFICIAL, MORE EFFICIENT POLICY OF INFLATION TARGETING SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ARMENIA FOR NEUTRALIZATION OF INFLATION RISKS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Among inflation risks in Armenia in
2008 are the considerable foreign currency inflow, a high GPD growth,
the 60% increase of pensions, as well as a rise in prices of foodstuffs
and power-bearing substances, the director of the IMF Armenia Office
Nienke Oomes stated during a lecture-dicussion on February 22.

According to her, in order to neutralize these risks, the appropriate
Armenian bodies should conduct a more efficient policy of inflation
targeting (in particular, extension of competition among banks,
reduction of the dollarization level, development of the financial
markets), contrubute to reduction in prices of imported goods, tighten
the fiscal policy and provide more information about the inflation
targeting policy.

It was stated that in 2007, inflation was quite high in Armenia and
made 6.6% at the end of the year. According to the IMF official, this
index was not so high as compared with other countries. In her words,
one of the reasons for relatively low inflation in Armenia is the
Central Bank of Armenia’s (CBA) policy aimed at inflation targeting
rather than at controlling the exchange rate. In other CIS countries,
the exchange rate of the national currency against the rates of
foreign currencies is stable but the inflation is high.

N. Oomes expressed an opinion that the low level of inflation in
Armenia is also due to the strict tax and budgetary policy conducted
by the ministry of finance and economy, thanks to which the deficit
of the RA state budget is much less than in other CIS countries.

In her words, 6.6% inflation in Armenia was mainly conditioned by a
high growth in prices of foodstuffs, particularly, bread, butter and
vegetable oil, which accounted for 4.5% of the overall inflation. 99%
of the growth of food prices in Armenia was due to the growth of
international prices rather than to an artificial rise of prices on
the domestic market. The prices of these goods grew as much as in
CIS countries.

The IMF official reminded that the inflation in international markets
was caused by a growth of consumption of bread, butter and other
foodstuffs in China and India: 45% of the world population live in
these countries.

She said that the fact that the consumption and prices of fuel
obtained from plants is increasing in parallel with the growth in
prices of hydrocarbon fuel also contributes to a rise in food prices
worldwide. About 50% of the overall inflation in international markets
is due to the growth of the demand of the populations of China and
India, while the other 50% is due to a decline in the supply.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN’S SUPPORTERS DEMAND LIVE BROADCAST ON PUBLIC TV OF ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-02-21 16:54:00

ArmInfo. The supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of
Armenia and a presidential candidate, demand live broadcast on Public
TV of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, a member of Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign
headquarters said at a rally at Liberty Square in Yerevan, Thursday.

He urged the leadership of the Public TV of Armenia to call
Press-secretary of Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign headquarters Arman Musinyan
and fix a time for live broadcast. During the rally, the youth wing
of the Conservative Party appealed to students to go on strike since
tomorrow. Chairman of the oppositional Republic Party Aram Sargsyan
recalled that in Ukraine the process of establishing legitimacy lasted
for three months: "I want to say that it will last three months here,
too, but we must be patient to succeed". Leader of the oppositional
New Times Party Aram Karapetyan expressed pity over the fact that one
cannot go on strike at enterprises, too, "as over the past 10 years
most part of them have not been operating thanks to Robert Kocharyan
and Serzh Sargsyan". Touching upon the greetings telegrams addressed
to Serzh Sargsyan, the New Times leader stressed that some people
congratulated Viktor Yanukovich even twice, but he failed to become
the president of his country.

At the moment, the rally is intermitted by music. To note, Levon
Ter-Petrosyan hasn’t come out with his main statement yet.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

22 February 2008

VICAR GENERAL APPOINTED TO DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA

Under the supreme authority of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, the Chancellery of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Australia and New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment
of Very Reverend Father Vardan Navasardyan as Vicar General of the Diocese.

Father Vardan has been serving the Diocese of Australia with great devotion
since his arrival in 2005. Within months of his arrival, Father Vardan
embarked on two major missions in early 2006. Firstly, with the lead of the
Church Council of the Church of Holy Resurrection, he planned and
co-ordinated a week-long celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the
Church.

The second mission was to bring the senior youth of the community into the
realm of the Armenian Apostolic Church by launching a young adults Bible
study group. In July 2007, he led a group of 21 youths on a pilgrimage to
Armenia which also focussed on ministry opportunities including a 2-day
build with Habitat for Humanity Armenia and visits to an orphanage in
Gyumri, a village in the region of Gegharkunik and military base in
Stepanakert. The fatherly guidance of Father Vardan made this trip a
life-changing experience for these young adults.

His work with the youth continues and most recently has initiated a church
youth choir to partake in the Divine Liturgy. His presence is also felt in
other spheres of the Armenian community, whether it be through the network
of Armenian schools, sporting clubs or organisations.

The Diocese congratulates Father Vardan on this appointment and prayerfully
wishes him continued accomplishments in his ministry.

Father Vardan Navasardyan (baptismal name Aristakes) was ordained a celibate
priest in February 2004 after completing his seminarian studies at the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary in Holy Etchmiadzin. He was appointed to
serve in the Diocese of Australia by His Holiness Karekin II and arrived in
Sydney in September 2005.

VLADIMIR PUTIN NOTED THE "GREAT PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION" OF SERZH SARKISIAN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Mediamax
February 21, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a
congratulating message to the Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
in connection of his victory in the presidential elections.

As Mediamax was told in the Kremlin press service, the message reads:

"Russia highly appreciates the relations of trust, constructive
dialogue and mutual support, which have established between our
countries. The consistent deepening of ally partnership fully meets
the fundamental interests of the Russian and Armenian peoples and
assists the consolidation of stability in Transcaucasia.

I note with pleasure your great personal contribution to the
development of Russian-Armenian relations. I am confident that your
activity as the Armenian President will assist their further progress".

"Heritage" faction Secretary stated that "mass violations are
registered everywhere" during the elections

February 19, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Secretary of parliamentary faction of "Heritage"
party Stepan Safarian stated in Yerevan today that "mass violations are
registered everywhere" during the presidential elections in Armenia.

Mediamax reports that Stepan Safarian stated that the "initiators
of the illegal actions are the supporters of presidential candidate,
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian".

The MP stated the "mass delivery of rural residents to Yerevan polling
stations and distribution of bribes at the sum of 5 thousand drams to
them". Safarian stated that in many polling stations "uncontrollable
smother of electors" is registered. According oh him, "the arriving
electors vote, presenting certificates on loss of passports".

ARMENIAN TV GIVES MORE COVERAGE TO EX-PRESIDENT AHEAD OF POLLS – SURVEY

Mediamax News Agency
Feb 14 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 14 February: The Yerevan Press Club (YPC) today presented
the interim report of the monitoring of election campaign coverage
by broadcast media in Armenia in the period between 31 January and
9 February.

Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, President of YPC Boris
Navasardyan stated that in this period the volume of editorial
coverage of the election campaign grew. This happened at the expense of
coverage of the Armenian presidential candidates who enjoy the greatest
interest of the media – ex-President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, leader of Orinats Yerkir
[Law-Governed Country] party Artur Baghdasaryan, candidate from the
People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan, member of [Armenian Revolutionary
Federation -] Dashnaktsutyun party bureau Vahan Hovhannesyan, leader
of the National Unity party Artashes Geghamyan and candidate from
the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan.

The YPC president noted that "in accordance with the tradition",
Tigran Karapetyan gained basic coverage on the ALM TV channel belonging
to him.

The Armenian ex-president enjoyed during the accounting period most
attention of eight researched broadcast media (37.016 seconds),
followed by Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan (32.786 seconds).

The YPC president stated that Levon Ter-Petrosyan remained the
undoubted leader as to the number of connotation-illustrated
mentions (143 negative and three positive). Also frequent are the
connotation-illustrated mentions of Serzh Sargsyan (83 positive and
24 negative).

Most polarized the coverage of the two candidates was on the Kentron TV
channel. Public TV of Armenia demonstrated balanced coverage stipulated
by law only concerning the distribution of airtime but not the manner
of coverage of the two candidates, Boris Navasardyan stated.

"ARMENIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS" COMPANY MADE 3.5 MILLION USD INVESTMENT IN FIRE SERVICE OF "ZVARTNOTS" AIRPORT IN 2007

ARMENPRESS
Feb 14, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: "Armenia International Airports"
CJSC has made around 3.5 million USD investments in the fire service
of the "Zvartnots" airport during the past year.

The head of the press service department of the company Gevorg
Abrahamian told Armenpress that during the past year 3 powerful
fire-engines of American production were given to the fire service,
the cost of each exceeds 1 million USD. In 2007 the working conditions
have also been improved and necessary materials have been acquired.

"Thanks to all that the officials of the fire service were able to
respond to the crash of the plane of "Belavia" airlines on time and
undertake necessary steps," G. Abrahamian added.

The fire service of the company functioned within the Armenian
Civil Aviation Department and from 2007 has passed to the "Armenia
International Airports" company.

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 14 2008

President of World Armenian Congress: "We must use all mechanisms to
prove that Karabakh belongs to us"

14 February 2008 [10:22] – Today.Az

A presentation of a collection of documents "Nagorno Karabakh in the
international law and world policy" was held in Armenia’s National
Academy of Science yesterday.

"Many books have been written on Karabakh, but this edition is
special, as it comprises a number of valuable documents", Ara
Abramyan, chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia and President
of the World Armenian Congress, said during the ceremony. He
considers that the collection of documents may become one of the
mechanisms of the Karabakh conflict resolution.
"We must use all mechanisms and prove that Karabakh belongs to us. It
is impossible to imagine Armenia without Karabakh", he added. At the
same time, the chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia, added
that the second edition of such documents is prepared for
publication.

"We also intend to publish the second edition of the collection to
comprise comments of international specialists on the issue", Ara
Abramyan noted.

It should be noted that the collection of documents "Nagorno Karabakh
in the international law and world politics", has been issued by the
Armenian Institute of International Law and Politics under the Union
of Armenians of Russia and edited by Yuri Barsegov, professor and
doctor of law.

/Novosti-Armenia/

URL:

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 15 2008

Azerbaijani Defence Ministry Denies Azerbaijan Airliner Encroached
Armenian Air Space
15.02.08 14:03

Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 February / Òrend News corr E. Huseynli / The
Azerbaijani Defence Ministry denied reports disseminated by the
Armenian media which quoted the Armenian Defence Ministry as stating
that an Azerbaijan-owned airliner tried to encroach on Armenian air
space.

According to the Armenian media reports, flights implemented by
Azerbaijani Air Forces airliners at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and
the territory nearby the Nagorno-Karabakh have become more frequent.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.