Author: Tvankchian Parkev

CORRUPTION TO BECOME A TABOO FOR ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
21.07.2009 17:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It’s an open secret that corruption in Armenia
(and not only in Armenia) is a widespread phenomenon, AIPRG Executive
Board member and CRRS Director Heghine Manasyan told journalists
Tuesday, during the presentation devoted to the problem of corruption
in Armenia. It is mostly developed counties (Australia, Canada and
Scandinavian states) that have low level corruption, whereas in post
Soviet countries the problem has rather deep roots, the speaker
finds. "The most perplexing factor is that our society perceives
corruption as an inseparable part of our everyday life, and does not
therefore express willingness to combat the problem," she noted.

A recent survey reveals that 86% of population considers corruption a
very serious problem, says the report issued by Caucasus Centre. In
the meantime, corruption level in Armenia has decreased since
2006. Manasyan says. "Contributing factors are the publication of and
access to any kind of material concerning recent years’ studies. As
shown by comparison between 2006 and 2008, there is certain decrease
of corruptive practices in all spheres with the exception of law
enforcement bodies. The level of corruption is perceived commonly
in the sphere of healthcare (61% of respondents), education (58%),
electoral system (66%), custom services and road police (66%)."

Besides, public awareness of the problem has been raised. Each 5th
citizen in 2008 was aware of the government’s anti-corruption programs
in comparison with the 1/3 part of society recorded in 2006.

The survey, according to Manasyan, was conducted among 1549 adults
from all regions of Armenia. The range of questions in survey
forms varied broadly. There questions concerning possible methods
of combating corruption or respondents’ personal experience in the
sphere (if any), Director said. "Respondents were also required to
answer the question concerning the amount of bribe they might have
offered within the past 12-month period," she noted. The survey was
conducted in September-October 2008. But there are no exact data on
the sums offered, as there are very few people who confessed to being
engaged in corruptive practices.

Georgia is one of Caucasian countries that seems to have overcome the
obvious manifestations of corruption, Manasyan said. "The general
opinion is that the country has made more serious progress in
comparison with Armenia," she noted.

The survey aims to raise awareness in public and private sectors. "The
more we speak about corruption, the more it will become a priority
problem. People will start to realize the importance of joining efforts
to combat it. Corruption is a taboo that should be constantly touched
upon," she said.

CHARLES AZNAVOUR: "TUNISIANS ARE OPEN, CULTURED AND MUSIC LOVING"

Tunisia Online News
July 21 2009
Tunisia

Tunis, July 21, 2009- In an exclusive interview to the daily Le Temps
on Tuesday, Charles Aznavour said that "Tunisians are open, cultured
and music loving". The French singer who is making a comeback on the
Tunisian scene, following more than 50 years of absence, will give a
performance on Tuesday at the Roman Theatre in Carthage, as part of
the 45 th edition of the Carthage International Festival.

Asked about the songs he will perform tonight, Aznavour said that he
will "sing the songs that people always want to hear".

He added that "the Carthage scene will look too small tonight and
that the audience will ask for more".

To a question on the secret of his longevity as an artist, Charles
Aznavour said that he is "always serious and punctual" adding that he
"never betrayed the public". "The profession is sacred", he said.

No doubt that his many Tunisian fans will appreciate his performance
in Carthage. Incidentally, the singer also promised that he will let
the audience sing with him tonight.

Hrayr Karapetian highly assesses OSCE activity in reforming RA police system

YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to the reforms in the
sphere of law enforcement structures, in particular, in the police
system were discussed at the July 17 meeting of Hrayr Karapetian, the
Chairman of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence,
National Security and Internal Affairs, with members of the OSCE
delegation.

Representatives of the OSCE Yerevan Office reported that they implement
programs of communal police reforms and educational reforms in the
sphere having a goal to make police activity more transparent, to
develop society-police mutual confidence for the service to the people
to become more efficient. In the issue of democratic reforms OSCE
representatives attached importance to the problem of parliamentary
control and legislative amendments in the sphere.

According to the report of the RA National Assembly Public Relations
Department, H. Karapetian highly assessed OSCE’s activity in the issue
of carrying out reforms in the police system. He considered primary
liquidation of psychological barriers between policemen and citizens,
educational, as well as material problems of the police, public
character of police activity, formation of an atmosphere of mutual
confidence.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participates in informal meeting of
CIS countries’ leaders held at Moscow racetrack

2009-07-18 15:55:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is currently in Moscow
on a two-day visit, is taking part in an informal meeting of CIS
countries’ leaders held at the central racetrack during the horse race
for the Russian president’s prize.

As ArmInfo correspondent reports from Moscow, Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of
Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,
President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin take part in the meeting. Leaders
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Sergey Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoity are
also present at the meeting. The other presidents of CIS failed to
visit Moscow for certain reasons. Mass media representatives were
denied the access to the horse race because of strict security
measures.

To note, the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents were to hold
a trilateral meeting in Moscow at 2:30 pm.

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 17 2009

Today’s meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will
help the co-chairs to formulate a new suggestions – American Co-Chair

Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 July /Trend News, E.Tariverdieva/

Today’s meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia,
Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan has provided the co-chairs with more
detailed views of Heads of State on the remaining key issues to settle
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This in turn will
help the co-chairs to formulate suggestions helpful for the sides to
narrow their differrences – American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza said to
Trend News by telephone from Moscow.

"Today’s exchange of views of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
has provided the Co-Chairs with more detailed views of the presidents
on the key remaining issues, which will help us formulate proposals to
help the sides narrow their differences," – he said.

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh
Sargsyan held talks in Moscow on the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The follow-up information for the press was
not disclosed.

July 18, there is expected a tripartite meeting of Heads of Azerbaijan
and Armenia with the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev.

Over the last year this is sixth meeting in a format of Aliyev –
Sargsian. Previous talks between Armenian and Azererbaijan Presidents
Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan took place June 4 in
St. Petersburg. The summit was the fifth between the heads of two
countries on the Karabakh settlement. Previous meeting was held in
Prague on May 7. The first talks were held June of last year in
St. Petersburg, the second meeting was held in late November 2008 in
Moscow, the third – in Zurich on January 28 this year.

According to Bryza, today’s meeting was a deep, constructive, and
there was detailed discussion of the difficult elements of the Basic
Principles that remain to be agreed.

"Unfortunately, the Presidents did not make any new decisions
today. But, they did build on the progress they made in
St. Petersburg, where did take some decisions", – he said.

American co-chair does hope, that the presidents will make progress in
the trilateral meeting tomorrow.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

LEVON KALANTAR: MOVIES MILITARY TOPICS WILL BE RELEVANT, IS NOT YET RESOLVED THE ISSUE OF KARABAKH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.07.2009 21:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Caucasian niece" of Levon Kalantar participates in
the Armenian Panorama contest of "Golden Apricot", VI International
Film Festival in Yerevan.

Short documentary tells of the meeting of Azeri Zina living in
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, with her relatives after 15 years of
separation.

"While the film does not have pictures of war, but it is saturated
with war. Such movies will be topical until the Karabakh issue is
finally resolved. They are necessary, since the society often does
not possess important information," director of "Caucasian niece"
told press conference in Yerevan today.

DELEGATION TAKEN PART IN THE USA-ARMENIA DEFENSE COOPERATION PLANNING CONFRENCE VISITS THE INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL STRATEGIC RESEARCHES

ARMENPRESS
July 17, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS: The delegation taken part in the
USA-Armenia defense cooperation planning conference visited the RA
DM Institute of Strategic Researches after D. Kanaian.

Press Secretary of Armenian Defense Ministry, Colonel Seyran
Shahsouvarian told Armenpress that the delegation involved top
representatives of USA Defense Secretariat, Agency of Defense Security
Cooperation, USA European commandership and other institutions.

The members of delegation were received by the head of the institute of
strategic researches, doctor of sciences Major-General Hayk Kotanjian.

During the meeting doctor Kotanjian through the video slides briefly
showed the whole process of drafting of the first Armenian security
strategy as well as the establishment and development of the Institute.

He in details presented the structure of the Institute,
scientific-research-analytical and scientific-publication activity
and the development prospects.

Major-General Kotanjian highly assessed the efficient and active
participation of the American partners in coordination of the
inter-departmental designing of the national security strategy. He
also greatly signified the readiness of the guests to enhance the
cooperation with the National Institute of Strategic Researches.

A TEMPORARY HEADQUARTER OPERATES IN THE "ZVARTNOTS" AIRPORT PROVIDING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE RELATIVES OF THE PASSENGERS OF THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN IRAN

ARMENPRESS
July 15, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 15, ARMENPRESS: A temporary headquarter operates in
the Yerevan "Zvartnots" airport to provide psychological and medical
support to the relatives of the passengers of the airplane crashed
in Iran.

An official from the department of aviation security of the Armenian
Civil Aviation Department told Armenpress that there is a hotline
"59.33.33" operating to provide information on the passengers of the
crashed airplane.

"MADRID PRINCIPLES" IS A RATHER RAW FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 20:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ For 2 years Armenian society demanded Madrid
principles’ publication, so it had to happen sooner or later, Caucasus
Institute Director, politologist Alexander Iskandaryan told a news
conference in Yerevan.

"In my opinion, there are 2 reasons for Madrid principles’
publication. First, it’s impossible to protract a conflict any
longer and publication of principles is a method of pressure on
both countries’ societies, a way to arise discussions within the
society. Second, there might soon occur some significant events in
Armenian-Turkish relations before October, and Ankara will be the
initiator of those events," Armenian politologist emphasized.

He also added that Madrid principles is a rather raw framework
agreement, stressing that within 2 years since the principles were
drawn, the parties did not come to an agreement.

According to Alexander Iskandaryan, NKR conflict structure does not
allow of fast solutions to the issue.

TURKISH PM UNDER FIRE FOR CHINA ‘GENOCIDE’ COMMENT

Arutz Sheva
July 15 2009
Israel

(IsraelNN.com) Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is being strongly
criticised, after describing the rioting which killed 184 people in
China’s northwestern Muslim region of Xinjiang as genocide, according
to Reuters. The comment met with approval among Turks and Aras, but
many commentators fear damaging impact on growing economic relations
with China who rejected the label.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi relayed a message to Turkey
that the Urumqi riots were a grave crime orchestrated by the "three
evil forces" of extremism, separatism and terrorism, Xinhua news
reported. The genocide label is particularly sensitive in Turkey,
which strongly refutes Armenian claims that the killing of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks during World War One constituted genocide. Known for
strong comments, Erdogan lashed out at Israeli President Shimon Peres
over Israel’s Gaza offensive in January at the Davos forum, saying,
"When it comes to killing you know very well how to kill".