LODGE OF KNIGHTS OF VARTAN TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIP TO ARMENIAN STUDENTS ABROAD
Noyan Tapan
April 3
The Etchmiadzin Lodge of the Knights of Vartan, will offer a ,000.00
scholarship as well as other smaller grants to Armenian students,
who are currently enrolled at any foreign accredited college or
university. The applicants must have completed at least one semester
of college work.
ARMENIAN DAMS SAFETY PROJECT ANNOUNCED WINNER OF WORLD BANK CONTEST
Noyan Tapan
April 2, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 2. NOYAN TAPAN. The project on safety of Armenian dams
on April 2 received one of the World Bank annual awards on improvement
of human life in Europe and Central Asia, NT correspondent was informed
by the World Bank Yerevan Office.
The WB country director Donna Dowsett-Coirolo said that technical
examination revealed that most of the Armenian dams were not in
line with international safety standards. Thus the the purpose of
the project was ensure the safety of almost half a million Armenian
citizens who live downstream from these dams. Under the project,
26 dams with a high collapse risk have been reconstructed, which
allowed to protect 375 thousand people living downstream from the
dams. Safety of another 162 thousand people will be ensured after
reconstruction of the Marmarik Dam.
Within the framework of the project, programs on emergency preparedness
have been developed, and accident warning systems have been installed
in 156 villages.
SPEED OF SOCIAL REFORMS LAGS BEHIND RATE OF MACROECONOMIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
April 2, 2008
YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The implementation of social reforms
will make an important part of Armenia’s socioeconomic policy in
2008-2009. Today the speed of social reforms lags behind the rate of
macroeconomic reforms.
The government has taken a lot of measures to direct the economic
growth at raising the population’s standard of living. However,
strategic investments are necessary in order to deal with the tendency
of growing inequality in the society and the problems of the edication
and health sectors. These conclusions were presented in the Economic
and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific 2008 of the UN Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
The survey reminds that in 2007 the Armenian government adopted a
5-year political program of poverty reduction, which envisages reducing
the poverty level from current 30% to 12% in 2012. It is said that the
number of people with low incomes on the verge of poverty declined
from 55% in 1988 to 34% in 2005. The Gini coefficient for measuring
income inequality, in which high values show large inequality in
income distribution, made 44.42 in Armenia in 1996 and 33.8 in
2003. Nevertheless, income inequality continues to be a big problem
in the country.
According to the survey, in 2007 Armenia registered a two-digit
economic growth for the sixth consecutive year and was among the most
rapidly developng countries in the world. Armenian GDP grew by 13.8%
in 2007, with construction, agriculture and services being the main
factors of GDP growth in the country. Construction growth increased
thanks to a considerale growth in construction of industrial,
residential and office buildings. The growth of economy included
such services as trade and communication. In 2007, the growth
of agricultural output made 9.6%, with wheat harvest doubling and
reaching 450 thousand tons.
The survey notes that in 2008-2009 Armenia gives priority to management
improvement, poverty reduction, as well as to increasing the tax
collection (by abolishing tax exemption) and improvemenet of small
and medium business environment. It is envisaged to ensure 10% GDP
growth in 2008 and at least 8% growth in 2009.
According to the survey, in 2007 the Armenian state budget registered
a surplus equivalent to 0,1% of GDP at the expense of a growth in
tax collection. However, taking into account expenditures on social
programs and infrastructure development, it is expected that by 2009
the budget will again have a deficit of 2.6%. State revenues may
increase in 2008-2009 thanks to the amendments to the tax legislation
and tax and customs administration improvement, but tax collection
will continue to be serious problem in Armenia.
Besides, it is said in the survey that monetary and credit policies
in North and Central Asia, as well as in Armenia pursued the goal of
suspending inflation and preventing a large growth of the real exchange
rate. The governments of these countries tightened the monetary and
credit policy by increasing the deposits of their governments and
banks, regularly raising the initial interest rates and refinancing
the central banks. In particular, the Central Bank of Armenia raised
refinancing to 5.75% and increased the use of such internal instruments
as sale and repurchase (repo) agreements.
The survey notes that the growth of consumer prices in Armenia
increased from 2.9% in 2006 to 4.4% in 2007 as a result of increasing
food prices, further rise of salaries and household incomes. This rapid
monetary expansion and high import prices resulted in considerable
inflation in Armenia. In the last quarter of 2007 the Armenian dram
appreciated by about 10% against the US dollar. The appreciation of
the dram causes concern of those households whose incomes depend on
remittances from abroad.
It is noted that although exports of goods from Armenia increased by
9.1%, the trade deficit notably grew in the first nine months of 2007 –
from 826 mln USD in 2006 to almost 1.4 bln USD. Imports grew by 1.9%
to 2.2 bln USD in the first nine months of 2007 at the expense of
the import of ores, cars and equipment for construction programs. The
deficit of current accounts grew from 78 mln USD (equivalent to 1.9%
of GDP) in the first nine months of 2006 to 327 mln USD (5.7% of GDP)
in the first nine months of 2007 at the expense of the growing trade
deficit.
The UNESCAP experts indicated that remittances from abroad have become
an important source of foreign financing for Armenia’s economic
development. In 2007 these remittances represented a considerable
investment in the socioeconomic sphere. Remittances from those,
who left abroad for temporary and permanent work, amounted to
1.32 bln USD (equavalent to 14% of the country’s GDP) in 2007. The
foreign investment inflow continued to play a major role in Armenia’s
economic development and modernization in 2007. The foreign investment
inflow made 351 mln USD in Armenia in first nine months of 2007 –
against 202 mln USD in the same period of 2006. Considerable part
of growing foreign investments was allocated to communication and
municipal sectors and for financing of the deficit of the country’s
current account.
MEETING OF NKR AND RA PRESIDENTS
Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on April 01, 2008
NKR Republic
On March 31, NKR President Bako Sahakian met with RA President Robert
Kocharian who had arrived for a working visit in Stepanakert the
same day.
At the meeting, which took place in warm and informal atmosphere,
the interlocutors discussed issues concerning the future development
and expansion of relations between the two Armenian republics, the
socio-economic situation in Nagorno Karabakh, as well as the prospects
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
PRESS RELEASE
KNIGHTS OF VARTAN ETCHMIADZIN LODGE-LONG ISLAND NY
Contact: Mr. Edward Barsamian
Tel 212-689-6273
Fax 2126892975
Email:[email protected]
ETCHMIADZIN LODGE OFFERS KNIGHTS OF VARTAN SCHOLARSHIPS
BAYSIDE, NY – The Etchmiadzin Lodge of the Knights of Vartan, will offer
a $1,000.00 scholarship as well as other smaller grants to Armenian
students who are
currently enrolled at an accredited college or university in pursuit of
an undergraduate or graduate degree. The applicants must have completed
at least one semester of college work.
The competition is open to residents of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk
counties of New York State. Residents of the above-mentioned counties,
who are attending schools outside of the area, may also apply.
Applicants are additionally eligible for a second $ 1,000.00 scholarship
award if they are sons or daughters of a member of the Knights of Vartan
in good standing.
Information and application forms may be obtained by contacting Mr.
Edward Barsamian at 212-689-6273, or e-mail request to *[email protected]*.
Deadline for completed applications and supporting transcripts is May 15.
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria
March 29 2008
Bush nominates envoy to Armenia, after block of earlier choice
2008-03-28 22:22:04 –
WASHINGTON (AP) – President George W. Bush has nominated a career
diplomat to be U.S. ambassador to Armenia after the last nominee was
blocked by Democrats because of a refusal to call the World War I-era
killings of Armenians a genocide.
Bush announced on Friday the nomination of Marie Yovanovitch, who is
currently ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
In August, the White House withdrew its nomination of another career
diplomat, Richard Hoagland, after Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez
held up confirmation hearings.
Menendez could not be reached Friday and his staff did not
immediately comment on the new nomination.
Hoagland’s predecessor, John Evans, reportedly had his tour of duty
in Armenia cut short by the administration because, in a social
setting, he referred to the killings as genocide.
The administration has warned that even a congressional debate on the
genocide question could damage relations with Turkey, a moderate
Muslim nation that is a NATO member and an important strategic ally.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed
by genocide scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Turkey however denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying
the toll has been inflated, and that those killed were victims of
civil war and unrest.
Armenian-American groups had sought to prevent Hoagland’s nomination
unless he made a clear statement affirming the genocide.
One group said Friday, they expect that lawmakers will raise the
issue with Yovanovitch.
«It’s important to have an ambassador in Yerevan, but its also
important to have the right ambassador,» said Aram Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
«Being able to speak truthfully about what we all acknowledge is the
historical record, is an important part of a U.S. ambassador’s
ability to effectively represent our nation’s values and interests in
Yerevan.
It is not clear when the Senate will hold hearings on the nomination.
(AP)
Undercover HD, NY
March 29 2008
Scars On Broadway Throw On Out There
by Paul Cashmere – March 28 2008
Scars on Broadway, the new project from System of a Down’s Daron
Malakian and John Dolmayan, have put their first song on line. ‘They
Say" can now be heard at their official website.
With System of a Down in hiatus, the various members are doing their
own thing.
Malakian’s began work on this project last year with Dolmayan taking
up the chore of drummer.
Rick Rubin has been in the studio with Scars on Broadway and the
first live appearance will be unveiled at Coachella in April.
Apart from ‘They Say’ which you can now hear, other songs in the
pipeline for Scars on Broadway include ‘Universe’, ‘World Gone Wrong’
and ‘3005’.
Malakian describes the sound as "something electronic mixed in with
traditional Armenian and thrash, death, black and doom metal
influences".
Don’t be too scared by the description. He also says the project has
been influenced by Neil Young, David Bowie and Roxy Music.
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Mediamax, Armenia
March 29 2008
Armenian aide accuses opposition of inciting more bloodshed
Yerevan, 29 March: The Armenian president’s press secretary, Viktor
Soghomonyan, said today that "by demanding permission to hold new
rallies and demonstrations, the forces which support [former
president] Levon Ter-Petrosyan are in fact demanding an opportunity
for new clashes and bloodshed".
Soghomonyan said this while commenting in an interview with Mediamax
news agency on a statement by some political forces that supported
the candidacy of former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the
19 February presidential election. The statement said in part that
these political forces have been deprived of an opportunity to hold
rallies and demonstrations and that the lifting of the state of
emergency was "just a formality".
"We should not forget that all the parties which signed the statement
are directly or indirectly accountable for the 1 March events.
Unfortunately, the content of the statement proves that their policy
of inciting hatred and intolerance is still in place, as are their
lies and falsehood. By calling permissiveness ‘civic freedoms’, they
are demanding that the authorities allow them to hold new rallies and
demonstrations, which means demanding an opportunity for new clashes
and bloodshed. The biggest threat to our democracy is this deliberate
frenzy, not the authorities’ caution dictated by security interests,"
Soghomonyan said in his interview with Mediamax.
POLICE DETAIN 21 PEOPLE
ARMENPRESS
March 28, 2008
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS: Since March 21 when the government
lifted the state of emergency police and security officers have taken
to police stations 21 people for protesting against restrictions
imposed last week on public assemblies following violent clashes on
March 1 between police and opposition protesters.
The police said today 12 of them were taken to police in Yerevan and
9 in regions. A statement by police said five of them were detained,
2 were then arrested, one is being questioned and two others were asked
to confirm in writing they will not leave the town and were released.
The statement said 68 people have been subjected to various
administrative punishment this month. Police have found also a great
deal of weapons and ammunitions kept illegally and some weapons were
turned in voluntarily.
The statement said also police detained briefly some people for
organization of the so-called ‘public walks," when every evening
since the state of emergency was lifted several hundred opposition
activists and supporters have been walking on Northern Avenue,
a pedestrian street in the capital’s downtown.
The statement said these people were explained that their actions
are illegal.
CHALFANT STARS IN ‘RED DOG HOWLS’
By Gordon Cox
Variety
March 27 2008
CA
Actress sets for El Portal production
Kathleen Chalfant ("Wit," "Angels in America") will topline the
world preem of "Red Dog Howls," a new play about the aftermath of
the Armenian genocide, at El Portal Theater in L.A. this spring.
Produced by Gang of Five New York, Alexander Dinelaris’ play centers
on a young man who must confront his family’s tragic past when he
finds a box of old letters. Matthew Rauch ("Prelude to a Kiss")
and Darcie Siciliano co-star.
Dinelaris contributed to the book and lyrics of tuner "Zanna, Don’t!"
and is currently working on a screenplay for Alejandro
Gonzalez-Inarritu.
"Red Dog Howls" runs May 14-June 13, with a press opening set for
May 19.