Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PENTAGON WOULD LIKE TO LOCATE RADAR IN CAUCASUS

ArmRadio.am
02.03.2007 14:53

Pentagon would like to have a radiolocation station in Caucasus
as part of its anti-missile defense system, Head of the US Missile
Defense Agency, Major0General Henry Obering said at a press conference
Thursday.

"We would like to locate radar in this region," he noted, without
clarifying the concrete country the question refers to. According to
Obering, this additional radiolocation station would not be useless,
but would not play a drastically important role.

Obering is now traveling in a number of European states to speak about
the construction of a missile military base in Poland and location
of radar in the Czech Republic.

RPA AND ULP TO SPECIFY ISSUE OF NOMINATING CANDIDATES FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN COMING TWO DAYS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 28 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The issue of nomination of RPA
candidates for forthcoming parliamentary elections by proportional and
majoritarian systems will be decided at the Party Board’s sitting to
be convened on February 28, at 21:00. Noyan Tapan correspondent was
informed about it by Galust Sahakian, Head of RA National Assembly
RPA faction.

In the words of Grigor Ghonjeyan, member of NA United Labor Party
(ULP) faction, a final decision on issues connected with nomination,
as well as on affirming the Party’s list by proportional system will
be made at the enlarged sitting of Party Board scheduled for March 1.

To recap, nomination of candidates for NA elections by majoritarian
and proportional systems started on February 26 and the deadline is
March 3, 18:00.

POLISH AUTHORITIES TO INFORM ARMENIA IN ADVANCE IN CASE IT IS RESOLVED TO WITHDRAW ITS CONTINGENCY FROM IRAQ

Arminfo
2007-02-26 15:59:00

Poland has not yet resolved to withdraw its contingency from Iraq,
the Foreign Minister of Poland Anna Fotyga said at today’s joint
press-conference with RA FM Vardan Oskanyan. To remind, the Armenian
peacemakers carry out their mission in the structure of the Poland
division.

As the Polish Minister reminded, a decision on the contingency’s
withdrawal is "in hands" of the President and the Government of
Poland. No such a decision has been made as yet, A. Fotyga said and
added that Poland is ready to be a constructive part of the process
of recovery of Iraq and it does not wish to compromise this country’s
security.

In his turn, RA FM Vardan Oskanyan also assured that in case the
Polish authorities take such a decision, they will timely inform
their Armenian counterparts.

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS PACKAGE OF BILLS CONTAINING PROVISIONS ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Feb 26 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. At the February 26 sitting RA
National Assembly with 66 votes in favor, 5 opposed and 1 abstained in
second reading and completely adopted a package of bills containing
provisions on dual citizenship. Members of United Labor Party (ULP)
faction were against the bill. Like the first reading the faction
motivated its negative position by government’s rejecting the
proposal being of principle importance for the faction. It related
to stipulation of prohibition on appointment of dual citizens to
posts of government head and members, which was not accepted by the
government. Member of RPA faction Samvel Nikoyan was the only one
to vote as abstained. 18 out of registered MPs did not take part in
voting, including members of Ardarutiun (Justice), Orinats Yerkir
(Country of Law) factions, as well as some independent and RPA
member-MPs. The members of the National Unity faction were absent
from the sitting. The adopted package of bills as compared with the
variant discussed at the special sitting had been changed a little. As
the main reporter, RA Justice Minister David Haroutiunian stated
before voting, as a result of political agreement reached with RPA
faction it was stipulated that the persons being citizens of RA and
at the same time of another state who are registered in Armenia will
have the right to take part in votings during elections. Citizens
not having registration will be deprived of right to take part in
voting. The citizens of RA who have citizenship of another state
cannot be nominated and registered as candidates for RA President and
NA deputy. The package also stipulates that hecenforth RA elections
will be held only in RA territory.

The legislative package also stipulates some provisions related to
dual citizens’ conscription. In particular, a citizen of another state
having adopted RA citizenship is released from compulsory military
service, if before adopting RA citizenship he has served for at least
12 months in armed forces of another state or has done alternative
military service in another state, except the states determined by
RA government, for at least 18 months. RA citizen who has adopted
citizenship of another state is not released from compulsory military
service irrespective of the fact, whether he has served in another
state or not. Dual citizens are not released from mobilization and
training. The package also determines liability for not informing RA
government’s authorized body in the term established by the law in
case of adopting or being granted citizenship of another state. Each
able-bodied person not having RA citizenship, having turned 18 can
apply for receiving RA citizenship if he has permanently lived in
RA over the past three years, can speak Armenian and is familiarized
with RA Constitution.

Milder requirements are determined for a person having married
RA citizen or having a child being RA citizen, whose parents or
one of them has formerly had RA citizenship or was born in RA
and applied for receiving RA citizenship within three years after
turning 18. The persons of above mentioned category have the right to
apply for receiving RA citizenship if they are familiarized with RA
Constitution. This also regards a person who is Armenian by origin,
i.e. has Armenian ancestors, as well as a person who has renounced RA
citizenship after January 1, 1995, according to his own application. A
simplified order operates for the latters, which is conditioned by the
fact that a ban on dual citizenship was determined by the Constitution
adopted in 1995, as a result of which part of RA citizens had to
renounce RA citizenship.

ARMENIAN SIDE EXPECTS POLAND’S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN IMPLEMENTATION OF EU-ARMENIA ACTIONS PLAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 26 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian side expects Poland’s
active participation in implementation of EU-Armenia Actions Plan. RA
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian declared this on February 26,
receiving Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga and the delegation
led by her. He considered cooperation with countries of East Europe,
including Poland, as fully-fledged and efficient. A. Margarian also
highly estimated the level of bilateral relations established in
the military-political sphere. Attaching importance to Armenia’s
cooperation with NATO by both bilateral and multi-lateral formats, RA
Prime Minister said that in this context Armenia is ready to consider
Poland’s assistance and participation in the process of implementation
of Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Actions Plan (IPAP).

Touching upon Armenian-Polish trade and economic relations,
A. Margarian emphasized that though foreign trade circulation between
Armenia and Poland grew in 2006 as compared with the previous year,
nevertheless, cooperation in this sphere has a great potential of
development. He attached importance, in particular, to activization
of contacts between business circles on the basis of the already
created legislative base, to extension of cooperation between trade
and economic structures acting in Armenia and Poland. In the issue of
efficient implementation of all this A. Margarian attached importance
to the role of Armenian-Polish Intergovernmental Commission emphasizing
the necessity to complete the process of Commission’s formation as
quickly as possible. A. Fotyga, in her turn, mentioned that political
and economic relations existing between the countries have a good
possibility of further development. Briefly presenting the political
and economic developments proceeding in the recent years in Poland,
especially in the direction of membership to NATO, provision of
security of energy system, implementation of reforms of various levels,
she emphasized that strengthening of Poland’s unique position in the EU
system will also contribute to increase of efficiency of assistance to
be provided to another countries, including Armenia, having taken this
way. According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA government
Information and Public Relations Department, during the meeting the
interlocutors also touched upon issues of regional cooperation.

NATO ASKS TURKEY TO OPEN ITS AIR SPACE IN CASE OF WAR WITH IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2007 18:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO requested Turkey to open its air space in case
of war with Iran, reports CNN-Turk without furnishing any information
on Turkey’s response. Some media rates possibility of a positive answer
as unlikely, since Turkey and Iran have been successfully developing
relations recently. In part, Foreign Minister Gul said his state
"is not afraid of export of Islamic revolution," reports RFE/RL.

IRAN’S AHMADINEJAD TALKS TO US CHRISTIANS

Focus News, Bulgaria
Feb 25 2007

Tehran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday said Iran bore no
hatred towards the United States as he held talks with American
Christians in a rare official contact with visitors from Tehran’s
arch enemy, AFP informs.

State television showed Ahmadinejad meeting with a dozen American
representatives from various Christian orders who are in Iran for a
week-long visit to promote peace and dialogue between the foes.

"The Iranian nation does not have any feeling of hatred and opposition
towards the American people and we believe that all people are
respectful and given the common grounds people have, they could achieve
peace and justice," Ahmadinejad said according to official media.

"The US government has initiated and is continuing animosity against
Iran," he told the assembled US delegation, made up of Mennonites,
Quakers, Episcopalians, Catholics and United Methodists.

"Due to the repeated mistakes made by the American leadership, the
image of the United States is becoming tarnished in the region,"
the president added.

The delegation, which arrived in Iran last week, has already met
with leading Muslim clerics as well as religious leaders of Iran’s
Christian Armenian minority.

The trip by the US Christians comes after US religious leaders met
Ahmadinejad during his visit to New York in September to address the
UN General Assembly.

Iran and the United States have had no diplomatic relations since
Washington severed ties in 1980 in the wake of the seizure of its
embassy in Tehran by Islamist students.

However small groups of US media, sportsmen and tourists still visit
the Islamic republic each year.

SHARE OF FOREIGN CAPITAL TO RISE IN ARMENIA’S BANKING SYSTEM

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 22 2007

YEREVAN, February 21. /ARKA/. The share of the foreign capital in
the banking system of Armenia will continue to increase, said Tigran
Sargsyan, the Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) presenting
the amendments to the Law "On Bank Secrecy."

He said that at present the foreign capital in Armenia’s banking
system makes about 50%.

"Earlier the share of the foreign capital in Armenia’s banking
system wobbled but constantly rose and made 50%. I think that the
participation of the foreign capital in Armenia’s banking system will
rise," he said.

Sargsyan said that while analyzing the activity of foreign investors
it becomes apparent that the interest of foreign organizations in
Armenia’s banking system is rising and the trend will continue.

21 banks and 299 branches functioned in Armenia before 2007.

As of December 31, 2006, the total capital of Armenia’s banking
system made AMD 524.6bln. The CBA said that the chartered capital
of Armenia’s banking system increased by 32.9% (by AMD 19,809.7mln)
and made AMD 80,107.6mln.

The participation of non-residents in the capital of Armenian banks
rose by 16% and made AMD 35,670.2mln. In fact, 44.52% of the whole
chartered capital falls to non-residents (51% at the beginning of
the year). ($1 = AMD 353.81).

PRESS RELEASE
Tatyana Macaulay, Ph.D.
Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
address: Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610, U.S.A.
email: [email protected]
phone: 508-793-7764
fax: 508-421-3806

February 20, 2007

Clark lecturer to discuss ‘Armenia at the Crossroads’

WORCESTER, MA–The Clark University Strassler Family Center for Holocaust
and Genocide Studies will present "Ancient Civilization and Modern
Statecraft: Armenia at the Crossroads," by Raffi Hovannisian, founding
director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) in Yerevan, Armenia, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 15, in Room 320
of the Jefferson Academic Center, 950 Main Street.

In his lecture, Mr. Hovannisian will assess the next phase of Armenia’s
development, which he holds is to rediscover its role as a member of the
family of nations while striving to unite the vast political, economic,
cultural, and intellectual potential of Armenians throughout the world.

Mr. Hovannisian served as independent Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign
Affairs, helping the country gain entry into the United Nations. His
educational background includes: J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center;
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (M.A.L.D. awarded
in 1982; and University of California, Berkeley and Los Angeles (B.A., summa
cum laude, awarded in 1980 in History and Near Eastern Studies; Justin
Turner Prize for Outstanding Honors Thesis).

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact
508-793-8897.
Founded in 1994, ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and
the public policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also functions as a catalyst for creative, strategic
thinking and a wider understanding of the new global environment.

The mission of the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies is to educate undergraduate and graduate students about genocide and
the Holocaust; to host a lecture series, free of charge and open to the
public; to use scholarship to address current problems stemming from the
murderous past; and to participate in the public discussion about a host of
issues ranging from the significance of state-sponsored denial of the
Armenian genocide and well-funded denial of the Holocaust to intervention in
and prevention of genocidal situations today.

Clark University is a private, co-educational liberal-arts research
university with 2,000 undergraduate and 800 graduate students. Since its
founding in 1887 as the first all-graduate school in the United States,
Clark has challenged convention with innovative programs such as the
International Studies Stream, the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies and the accelerated BA/MA programs with the fifth year
tuition-free for eligible students. The University is featured in Loren Pope’s
book, "Colleges That Change Lives."

–

RA NA ADOPTS 15 BILLS AND LEGISLATIVE PACKAGES AT FEBRUARY 22 SITTING

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. At the February 22 special
sitting RA National Assembly adopted 15 bills and legislative packages
discussed the day before. By part of them the legislation is brought in
correspondence with the constitutional amendments. Bills "On Relations
of RA and Armenian Apostolic Church," "On Prosecutor’s Office,"
"On RA International Agreements," "On Determining Tax Privileges
to Construction Activities of Meghri-Kajaran Gas Pipeline," "On
RA Judicial Code’s Coming into Force," "On Aviation" were adopted
in third reading and completely. The legislative package "On Making
Amendments and Additions to the Law "On Social Security Cards" and to
a number of laws proceeding from it was adopted in second reading and
completely. The adoption of the latter was conditioned by the necessity
to bring the laws ensuring usage of social cards in correspondence
with Constitutional Court’s October 4, 2006 decision. For the purpose
of ensuring normal activity of social cards system, it is envisaged
to give a possibility to those refusing to receive social cards to
introduce a certificate on not having cards when exercising their
rights.