Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

Declaration on creation of new region to unite South Caucasus and
Middle East adopted in Yerevan

2008-02-08 13:38:00

ArmInfo. Participants in the international conference "Caucasus and
Middle East countries – possible partners in the process of formation
of regional security system", held in Yerevan on 7-8 February, adopted
final declaration with a suggestion to create new region that will
unite South Caucasus and Middle East.

As the first vice-president of World Armenian Congress, leader of the
Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sarkisyan said, the document needs
certain completion. To note, by adoption of the declaration
participants in the conference proved that the necessity of
coordination of the actions in the matter of peaceful development of
the South Caucasus and Middle East countries is still relevant today.
Authorized representatives of the countries of the region were
suggested to adopt a memorandum ‘that presents general problems,
integration expectations and risks, and the options for the regional
problems solution’. ‘We offer to adopt the national and humanitarian
tasks, which each country may settle independently, as the main
unifying idea. At the same time effectiveness of these tasks solution
will higher if the neighbouring states cooperate’, – Sarkisyan said.

To note, experts and public figures from Russia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
China, Georgia, Syria and Turkey took part in the conference.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER URGED THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY "STRICTEST ATTENTION" TO THE OBSERVANCE OF ELECTORAL LEGISLATION

Mediamax
February 7, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian urged
today the members of the government to pay "strictest attention"
to the observance of electoral legislation.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the government,
launching the session of the Cabinet of Ministers, Serzh Sarkisian,
in particular, urged "to refrain from pre-election agitation during
working hours".

ARMENIA ACCEDES TO ANGARSK URANIUM CENTRE

Itar-Tass
06.02.2008, 11.36

YEREVAN, February 6 (Itar-Tass) – Armenia has joined the International
Uranium Enrichment Centre in the Russian city of Angarsk.

Notes were exchanged between the two sides on the conclusion of an
intergovernmental agreement, relating to Armenia’s participation in
the work of the Centre, which was signed on Wednesday as a result of
the Russo-Armenian intergovernmental negotiations, held in Yerevan
under the chairmanship of the prime ministers of the two countries.

EU EXPECTS PROPER CONDUCT OF ARMENIAN VOTE
By Ruben Meloyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Feb 6 2008

Top representatives of the European Union sounded on Wednesday
optimistic about the freedom and fairness of Armenia’s upcoming
presidential election, citing the Armenian authorities’ conduct of
last May’s parliamentary polls.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country currently
holds the EU’s rotating presidency, and EU External Relations
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the issue was high on the
agenda of their meetings in Yerevan with President Robert Kocharian
and other Armenian leaders. They reiterated that a clean vote is a
necessary condition for Armenia’s successful participation in the
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program.

"We have found that the democratic atmosphere has progressed in the
past year," Rupel told reporters after the talks. He expressed hope
that the February 19 vote will mark an improvement over the May 2007
elections which Western observers described as largely democratic.

"This presidential election will be an opportunity to further improve
some standards even if previous elections have not been bad," he said.

Citing the opinion of a Council of Europe body dealing with legal
reform, Ferrero-Waldner said she is confident that there will be such
an improvement. "We do hope that the presidential elections will
indeed be competitive, free and fair," she said. "I think the last
elections already have shown good results."

Ferrero-Waldner added that the EU also expects Armenia to strengthen
rule of law and improve the business environment in the country in
line with other commitments stemming from its participation in the ENP.

"We are interested in holding really good elections in accordance
with international standards," President Robert Kocharian assured
the visiting EU officials earlier in the day. A statement by the
presidential press service said Kocharian also briefed them on the
current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and his governments
efforts to ensure Armenia’s energy security.

"We have an in-depth discussion and I am very happy with its results,"
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said for his part.

ARMENIAN FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAM CELEBRATES SECOND VICTORY IN MALTA INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 5, 2008

LA VALLETTA, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 4 the Armenian
National Football Team beat the national team of Belarus with the
score of 2:1 in the international football tournament being held in
Malta. The 1:0 score was recorded in the Malta – Iceland game.

The Armenian national team is in the lead of the tournament table
with 6 points. The teams of Belarus and Malta have 3 points each,
and the football players of Iceland have not received any points.

The national team of Armenia will compete with the team of Iceland
in the last game to be held on February 6.

MCA-ARMENIA SIGNS CONTRACT WITH JRTUK LLC, JRARBI LLC AND JINJ LLC JOINT VENTURE

ARMENPRESS
Feb 4, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 4, ARMENPRESS: Millennium Challenge Account –
Armenia SNCO announced the award of a consulting contract to the
Joint Venture of "Jrtuk", "Jrarbi" and "Jinj" LLCs for the design and
construction supervision of 8 gravity irrigation systems as part of
the MCA-Armenia Irrigated Agriculture Project infrastructure activity.

The contract was signed by MCA-Armenia CEO and the directors of
"Jrtuk", "Jrarbi" and "Jinj" LLCs.

This contract will focus on the economic justification and feasibility
of constructing eight gravity irrigation systems, effectively replacing
up to 21 deteriorated and inefficient Soviet-era pumping stations. The
construction of eight gravity irrigation systems will provide a stable
water supply to approximately 8,800 hectares of farmland in 41 rural
communities throughout Shirak, Tavush, Gegharkunik and Lori marzes.

The eight gravity schemes are: Kaps, Mantash and Tavshut (Shirak
marz); Getahovit-Lusadzor and Berd (Tavush marz); Vardenis and Argichi
(Gegharkunik marz); and Amrakits (Lori marz).

The consultant will also prepare the designs for the 8 gravity
irrigation systems and supervise the construction works. The contract
value in AMD is equivalent to USD 955,200, spanning a period of
39-months.

Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia (MCA-Armenia), a State Non
Commercial Organization established by the Government of Armenia,
is responsible for overseeing the transparent implementation of the
Compact signed between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the
Government of Armenia.

SERZH SARGSYAN, NOT A SINGLE PROMISE IGNORED

Panorama.am
18:42 02/02/2008

"I am not tired to say once more, that I am here to ask for your vote,
I am here to get the confirm of my projects," said Serzh Sargsyan, the
president candidate, in the meeting with people from Kanaker-Zeytun. He
said that after Parliamentary elections he started to meet people to
find out about his doings.

He said that it is very important to vote for a candidate who has
real projects and future visions.

The day of elections our people should vote for the road they wish
Armenia to become prosperous country.

He said that only a candidate elected by people can contribute to the
creation of developed country. "I am quite sure that a fair candidate
is a responsible candidate," he said.

He accepted that he also could be charged with some things, but nobody
could accuse him for not carrying out what he promised.

FRENCH PARLIAMENTARIANS: TURKEY’S ACCESSION TO EU GREAT MISTAKE

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2008 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 11 parliamentarians of the Union for a Popular
Movement (UMP) which is the main French centre-right political
party adopted a statement on preventing membership of Turkey in the
European Union.

"Turkey’s membership will have a negative impact on the EU budget… To
preserve the borders and political existence of EU Turkey shouldn’t
be accessed to the Union," the statement says. "71 per cent of French
and 66 per cent of German citizens voted against Turkey’s membership
in the EU," it notes.

"Turkey bordering on Syria, Iraq and Azerbaijan can not be a member
of the European Union. Europe without borders will put an end to
European mentality. Turkey’s accession would be a great mistake,"
statement sys, APA reports.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN AND HIS SUPPORTERS IMPLEMENTED LONG-LASTING MOTOR RALLY AT CENTRAL STREETS OF YEREVAN

arminfo
2008-01-28 15:42:00

ArmInfo. Armenian first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his
supporters implemented long-lasting motor rally at central streets
of Yerevan after visiting the Erablur memorial of the fallen heroes.

The first president’s supporters were signaling and chanting the
name of their leader. Today’s action recalled the events of the
80-s when over the extraordinary situation in Yerevan members of the
Karabakh committee, acting against the authorities, were trying to
have psychological effect at soldiers of the Soviet armed forces.

INCIDENT HAPPENS DURING CAMPAIGN OF TER-PETROSYAN

Panorama.am
16:22 28/01/2008

During the campaign of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan an incident
happened in Talin.

Ter-Petrosyan’s sympathizers beat up a resident of Talin because the
latter said he is not going to vote for Ter-Petrosyan. The resident
said he did not believe something like that could happen with him in
his residential area. He is an active participant of Karabakh movement.