Author: Torosian Aram

MCA-ARMENIA AND HAYJRNAKHAGITS INSTITUTE SIGN CONTRACT

ARMENPRESS
March 25, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS: Millennium Challenge Account – Armenia
SNCO announced the award of a consulting contract to "Hayjrnakhagits
Institute" CJSC for the design and construction supervision of 4
gravity irrigation systems as part of the MCA-Armenia Irrigated
Agriculture Project Infrastructure activity.

The contract was signed by MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan and the
director of "Hayjrnakhagits Institute" CJSC Yuri Javadyan.

This contract will focus on the feasibility analysis, preparation of
final designs and technical supervision of works for constructing
four gravity irrigation systems and effectively replacing up to 22
deteriorated and inefficient Soviet-era pumping stations.

The construction of four gravity irrigation systems will provide a
stable water supply to approximately 3000 hectares of farmland in 16
rural communities throughout Syunik marz.

The four gravity schemes are: Meghri, Tsav-Shikahogh, Spandaryan
and Norashenik (Syunik marz). The contract value is USD 390,000,
spanning a period of 39-months.

MICHEAL HARUTYUNYAN: THE SITUATION AT THE CONTACT LINE RELATIVELY STABLE

armradio.am
22.03.2008 14:35

The situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani contact line has stabilized
a little as compared to early March. There are still shots, but they
are not so intensive, RA Defense Minister Michael Harutyunyan told
reporters today.

"40-45 shots were being registered then. This night 12 shots were
registered not only at the contact line with NKR, but also in Ijevan
and Noyemberyan regions. But the situation is fully controlled,
and Azerbaijan is celebrating Bayram – their New Year, so that we
are serving in strengthened regime. However, it is obvious that the
Azerbaijani leadership understands that they must not take steps like
the ones on March 4th, because they saw the consequences of it. I’m
sure they understand that the Karabakh issue will not be solved via
force and it’s necessary to sit at the negotiation table," Michael
Harutyunyan said.

BRYZA: PLACE AND DATE OF PRESIDENTIAL MEETING UNCLEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.03.2008 15:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The place and date of Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents’ meeting is still unclear, OSCE Minsk Group U.S Co-chair
Matthew Bryza said.

"Outgoing President Kocharian will not attend the NATO summit in
Bucharest while Serzh Sargsyan will assume the office no earlier than
April 9," he said.

"Fair and lasting resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is one
of priorities of the American-Azerbaijani partnership. The two states
are content with friendship and strategic partnership.

Washington has sent a clear message that it wants to deepen and
strengthen cooperation in all fields," Mr Bryza said, Trend Azeri
news agency reports.

MOTHER CATHEDRAL ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN BURBANK

Noyan Tapan
March 20, 2008

BURBANK, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The U.S. Western
diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church has received the necessary
permits for the construction of the Mother Cathedral. As they report
from the Press Services of the diocese, the construction will begin
following Easter Celebrations.

PM SERGE SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES VARDUHI VARDERESYAN

armradio.am
19.03.2008 17:17

RA President-elect, Prime Minister Serge Sargysna issued a congratulatory
message on the occasion of the 80th birthday of renowned Armenian actress
Varduhi Varderesyan. The message says, in part:

"In Armenia and outside its borders you are known an actress endowed
with unique talent and charm, majesty of the Armenian theatre and cinema
that has left an indelible trace in our art.

Every character you created is bright and unforgettable. Any of these is an
example of great talent and ideal style. That is the reason why the
performances and films with your participation enjoy the appreciation and
love of both critics and specialists and our people.

I warmly congratulate you on your jubilee and wish you health and all the
best."

ACCORDING TO RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE, ROLE OF ARMY UNDER CONDITIONS OF STATE OF EMERGENCY LIMITED TO PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE

Noyan Tapan
March 17, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 15 Mikayel Haroutiunian,
the RA Minister of Defence, had a meeting with Ambassador Sergey
Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office, and Robert Youl, the adviser
for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights,
in Yerevan. According to the message provided to Noyan Tapan by
the Press Service of the RA Ministry of Defence, the guests aimed
at receiving information about the role preserved for the RA Armed
Forces in the post-election developments proceeding in the country.

Mikayel Haroutiunian stated that according to Point 3 of the RA
President’s decree on the declaration of the State of Emergency,
the provision of the state of emergency has been preserved for the RA
Police and the Ministry of Defence. The Minister mentioned that it is
already 15 days since a state of emergency has been declared in Yerevan
and no violations have been recorded so far. Under the conditions of
the state of emergency, according to Mikayel Haroutiunian, the role
of the army is limited to the protection of buildings of special
siginificance.

In connection with the domestic political developments Sergey Kapinos
stated that the OSCE intends to henceforth as well show a balanced
approach like it has done up to now, quoting the call addressed to the
opposition and the authorities of Armenia by Ilkka Kanerva, the OSCE
Chairman-in-office and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland,
with which it is expected to regulate the relations only through a
political dialogue.

Azerbaijani party not against meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents within frames of NATO Summit in Bucharest in principle

2008-03-15 13:52:00

ArmInfo. The Azerbaijani party is not against a meeting of Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents within frames of NATO Summit in Bucharest in
principle.

‘If Co-chairs make such proposal and President Aliyev participates in
NATO Summit, the president may study this proposal’, Head of the
International Relations Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential
Executive Staff Novruz Mamedov said, Baku-based ‘Zerkalo’ newspaper
reports. N. Mamedov also said that Ilham Aliyev informed U.S. Co-chair
Matthew Bryza of his principal agreement to continue the negotiations
with Armenia.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated at a press conference
that the newly elected president of Armenia, Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan, is ready to meet with Azerbaijani president in Bucharest.

SERZH SARGSYAN THINKS GEORGE BUSH DID NOT CONGRTULATE HIM BECAUSE OF COUNTRY’S POST ELECTION CONDITIONS

Panorama.am
17:45 14/03/2008

"The president of the USA George Bush did not congratulate me for being
elected as the president of the country because of the post election
conditions in the country," said the Prime Minister, president elect
Serzh Sargsyan in a TV discussion. He has mentioned that the elections
could be the only result as the US State Secretariat announced that
they agreed with the European observers’ evaluation that the election
were in line with the international standards.

S. Sargsyan reminded that Bush had congratulated him for becoming
the Prime Minister of the country. He said that for many others
it was strange as the first face of the country generally does not
congratulate the second one.

UNESCO CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARIES OF WILLIAM SAROYAN AND VICTOR HAMBARDZUMIAN IN 2008-2009

AZG Armenian Daily
14/03/2008

Culture

UNECSO is going to celebrate the 100th anniversaries of William
Saroyan and Victor Hambardzumian in 2008-2009. The celebration
events for William Saroyan will be held in Armenia and in the USA,
particularly in Fresno, where the great writer lived. RA Culture
Ministry informed that Armenia will continue carrying out cultural
diplomacy which helped to represent the ancient culture of our country
in a number of foreign states last year.

It’s worth mentioning that UNESCO celebrated the 100th anniversaries
of outstanding Armenian artist Garzou (Garnik Zouloumian) and scientist
Norayr Sisakian in 2007.

SOME 3 THOUSAND QUESTIONS ADRESSED TO PRESIDENT-ELECT SERGE SARSGYAN

armradio.am
13.03.2008 15:46

About 3 000 questions were addressed to RA President-elect, Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan on March 11 and 12. The questions are mainly
related to the domestic political situation in Armenia, the foreign
policy, economy, social and youth issues, fighting corruption and
monopoly.

The Prime Minister will respond to the most interesting questions in
a TV interview in the evening of March 13. The answers to all other
questions will be posted on the web pages through which the questions
were addressed.