Author: Vanyan Gary

Tufenkian Foundation summed up 2008

28-12-2007 11:27:16 – KarabakhOpen

Another year of activities of the Tufekian Foundation in Armenia and
Karabakh ended, the office of the foundation in Stepanakert reports.
`Thanks to James Tufenkian and other sponsors we implement two projects
in Armenia and one in Karabakh,’ runs the news release of the
foundation.

Medical stations were opened in settled villages, the staffs of the
medical stations were trained. `New villages were founded on the money
of the Foundation, houses were built, facilities for viticulture were
created, thanks to which the number of settlers in strategic areas
increased, and the quality of life improved,’ runs the release.

The foundation also summed up the educational, ecological and youth
projects in Armenia. The projects of young talents were awarded
international prizes. Thanks to the foundation talented children from
remote areas learned the computer, runs the release of the foundation.

A1+

"GALLUP DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR CANDIDATE"
[01:55 pm] 28 December, 2007

The U.S. Embassy in Armenia has watched with interest
the recent press coverage generated by the "Armenian
National Study" funded by the U.S. Agency for
International Development.

While the Embassy is encouraged that the study has
focused the attention of Armenian society and
political parties on the important electoral processes
underway in the country, we are nevertheless concerned
by the inaccurate portrayals of the study being
reported in some national media.

As part of the U.S. Government’s democracy assistance
program in Armenia, the "Armenia National Study" is an
opinion poll designed to be a neutral, objective
mechanism to assist political parties in Armenia to
better understand and respond to the major political,
economic and social concerns of Armenian citizens. It
is not meant to influence or predict the way in which
Armenians will vote during elections.

In democratic societies, opinion polls provide
citizens with a forum in which to express their views
about major issues, both anonymously and objectively,
to elected officials and political parties that
represent their concerns. The opinion poll is also an
effective aid for elected officials and political
parties to develop programs and platforms that address
societal concerns and national issues.

Commissioned by the International Republic Institute
in 2006, the "Armenia National Study" is being carried
out in Armenia by the Vilnius-based Baltic Surveys
Ltd. / Gallup Organization with the assistance of the
Armenian Sociological Association. It is common
practice to work with local organizations in carrying
out such public opinion polls.

A total of seven quarterly opinion polls have been
carried out since May, 2006. The most recent poll was
taken in early December, 2007. An eighth and final
poll is scheduled for mid-January, 2008. Baltic
Surveys Ltd. / Gallup Organization is also planning to
conduct an exit poll during the presidential election
on February 19, 2008.

To ensure anonymity and objectivity of the opinion
poll, the Baltic Surveys Ltd. / Gallup Organization
uses a random sampling methodology that is the
mainstay of reputable Western polling organizations.
IRI has shared the poll results, including specific
information on respective political parties, with
party representatives. The results of all seven polls
conducted since May 2006, including more general
information on the major political, economic, and
social issues, are free for public examination on the
IRI website (). Neither the United States
government, the International Republican Institute nor
Baltic Surveys Ltd. / Gallup Organization endorses any
particular party or candidate. Non-party specific
results are made public; candidate and party results
are shared with the appropriate political parties.

GRECO TO CONSIDER THE REPORT ON ARMENIA DURING THE PLENARY SESSION IN SPRING

armradio.am
25.12.2007 15:17

The Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) will
consider the report on the accomplishment of Armenia’s commitments
during the plenary session from March 31 to April 4, 2008.

Head of the Armenian delegation to GRECO, Deputy Chief of RA State
Tax Service Arthur Osikyan told Armenpress that the report on Armenia
was presented before September 30.

According to Arthur Osikyan, the 24 commitments have been mostly
fulfilled.

GRECO has appointed two independent experts who are currently working
out the final text of evaluation based on the report. In compliance
with the rules of procedure the evaluation will be later sent to
Armenia, which will have to present its remarks and objections within
two weeks.

GRECO will publish the evaluation report only in case the country
agrees.

Before that the process and the names of the reporters are kept secret.

CASES OF FIRE REDUCE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 24 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. 908 cases of fire were registered
in Armenia during the 11 months of 2007. 20 people died, 42 received
injuries in consequence of them. In the same period of the previous
year, these indices made 1148 cases, 34 and 37 people, respectively.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information and Public Relations
Department of the Rescue Service of Armenia, the material damage
of fires recorded in 11 months of this year amounted to nearly 340m
drams (nearly 984 thousand dollars). 18 constructions, 17 units of
motor transport and other equipment, nearly 992 tons of grain were
destroyed in consequence of fires.

Cases of fire in Yerevan, Tavush, Shirak, Syunik, and Aragatsotn
resulted in people’s death. Materials on 92 cases of fires (14 with
signs of arson) were sent to investigation bodies, institution of
criminal cases on 64 of them was declined, suspended or quashed and
28 materials are still being examined.

Handling fire incautiously, violation of rules of placing and
operation of electric equipment and stoves were mainly the reasons
of fires. Nearly 60% fires happened in populated places.

HAYPOST SIGNS A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRADE UNION

armradio.am
21.12.2007 17:45

HayPost signed a Collective Agreement with the Trade Union today. The
Agreement was officially signed between Hans Boon, Director General
of HayPost and Sergei Arztrumtzyan, Chairman of the Trade Union.

"This Collective Agreement is the result of our cooperation with the
Trade Union which ensures common targets and common visions. We hope
that this fruitful collaboration with the Trade Union will continue
to develop and grow strong to ensure respect for the individual,
integrity, constructive results and team spirit," stated Mr. Boon
during the ceremony.

This Collective Agreement enumerates the implementation of a new
management and human resource policy focusing on various terms such as:
increasing work efficiency, introducing new technologies, rendering
high quality services, providing social stability by raising the
employee standard of living, providing guarantees for employee social
and employment needs, and creating a positive working atmosphere.

EU ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO HOLDING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDRADS, PETER SEMNEBY SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. EU countries and the European
Commission attach great importance to holding the 2008 presidential
elections in Armenia in line with international standards, the EU
Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby, who is
on a working visit to Armenia, stated during the December 19 meeting
with the Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian.

V. Oskanian assured the EU representative that there are all
conditions today for holding free and fair elections. Saying that
the Armenian authorities are taking all necessary measures for proper
organization of the elections, the minister informed P. Semneby that
all international election observation organizations have already
been sent invitations for implementation of their observer mission.

According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, during the
meeting the sides exchanged ideas about negotiations on settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as discussed Armenian-Turkish
relations and other regional problems.

AZERBAIJAN MINISTERS CONSIDERS CONDUCT OF AZERBAIJANI WEEK IN ARMENIA TOO PREMATURE

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The commencement of the
Azerbaijani week in Armenia is a hasty and premature step, Abulfas
Garayev, the Azerbaijani Minister for Culture and Tourism, stated.

The Armenia has kept under it’s the control, the Azerbaijani territory,
and the bilateral relations with the occupant country in the culture
sector is not possible. "However, it does not mean that we do not
hold the exchange of the opinions with the Armenian Minister, in the
meetings with the Armenian culture minister during the international
events. We talk and it is obvious, because we are the members of an
international family," Garayev said.

The minister said that the key objective of Armenians in holding the
Azerbaijani Week is to demonstrate the imaginary peaceable ness. The
commencement of such events in Armenia and the participation of
Azerbaijanis there, is not right, Garayev said.

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

ZHARANGUTIUN PROPOSES CANDIDATES OF RA PRESIDENT TO ANSWER LIST OF 22 QUESTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The administration of the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) party has addressed all the candidates running
for the post of the President of the Republic of Armenia on December
18 proposing to answer a list of questions consisting of about 20
questions. According to the message of the administration, not only
Zharangutiun (Heritage) and its supporters, but also the widest strata
of society are troubled with the provisions included in the list of
questions. We aim at giving the electorate a certain notion on the
complex positions, the decency and moral image of the future leader
of the country, as well as at finally clarifying the approaches
of the party," Raffi Hovhannisian, the Leader of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage), said.

It should be mentioned that the "List of questions of public awareness"
presented by Zharangutiun (Heritage) is composed of 22 questions. The
candidates, in particular, are offered to make society aware of why
they want to become president and in case of being elected president
which will be their first five steps, which are the main foreign and
internal challenges set before the Armenian people and Armenia, which
is the fair regulation and the settlement way of the Artsakh problem,
and which are the priorities of the development of the economy of
Armenia, to name but a few.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF NORWAY

His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Norway to Lebanon Ms Aud Lise
Norheim in Antelias on December 17. The Pontiff and his guest held talks on
the political situations in the Middle East and Lebanon.

Catholicos Aram I spoke about the ties between the Armenian and the
Norwegian churches, particularly within the ecumenical movement and his
personal relations with the Head of the Norwegian Church. On this occasion
the Catholicos had also delivered a lecture in Oslo.

The Catholicos and the diplomat also discussed the Armenian Genocide and the
great service of Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen to the Armenian nation.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos62.htm#2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

EXCAVATIONS AT TIGRANAKERT WILL BE FINANCED BY GOVERNMENT

KarabakhOpen
14-12-2007 12:09:41

In 2008 the NKR government will finance excavations at Tigranakert. The
government will assign 30 million drams for digging, as well as
development and creation of tourism infrastructures there.

Excavations of one of the towns founded by the Armenian King Tigran
II Great in the first century BC started in 2006. A number of
structures were discovered, including the wall around the town and
the church. Archeologists complain of lack of finance and government
assistance, however.