Author: Varosian Antranik

COUNCIL ON TRAFFICKING AFFAIRS CONDUCTED SESSION

Panorama.am
21:10 26/06/2008

Today the first session of the Council on Trafficking Affairs took
place headed by the Vice Prime Minister, The Minister of Territorial
Administration Armen Gevorgyan, reported the Ministry of Territorial
Administration. The main directions and the achievements of different
departments organized against the trafficking were discussed during
the session. They have also discussed the report of the US Department
of State about the trafficking covering Armenia.

The Council has recommended the Ministry of Justice to analyze the
existing legislative field on trafficking and its prohibition, in order
to fill the gaps and create more effective job. According to the source
this will be the topic discussed in the next session in September.

VIVACELL TARGETS 3G LAUNCH IN ARMENIA BY END-2008

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
June 25, 2008

Armenia’s leading mobile operator by subscriber numbers, K-Telecom, has
indicated that it will launch 3G services by the end of 2008, reports
ARKA, quoting company General Director Ralph Yirikian. K-Telecom will
initially offer 3G in three large cities, although these were not named
by Yirikian. The operator is owned by Russia’s Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)
and operates under the "VivaCell" brand, but is currently undergoing
a rebranding which will eventually see it called MTS-Armenia.

Significance:Both K-Telecom and its only rival GSM operator, Armentel,
gained their 3G licences in October 2007, with Armentel announcing in
March that it expected to launch 3G services by mid-2008 (seeArmenia:
14 March 2008:). The rivalry between the pair is given added spice
by the fact that Armentel’s owner, VimpelCom, is also the major rival
to MTS in the massive Russian mobile market. A third GSM operator is
due to be licensed in Armenia before the end of 2008, but although a
penetration level of around 57% at the end of 2007 leaves room for
subscriber uptake, it is highly unlikely that any new player will
make a serious challenge to the existing duopoly.

SERZH SARSGSIAN: "HENCE EACH ARMENIAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY WILL FEEL ESSENTIAL CARE OF THE STATE"

ARMENPRESS
June 24

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian, who is in Moscow on an official
visit, met yesterday in "Ritz Carlton" hotel with the representatives
of the local Armenian community. The meeting was unprecedented
as it gathered the whole elite of the Russian Armenian community,
eminent intellectuals, scientists, economic and political figures. USSR
People’s artist Armen Jigarkhanian, co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian
inter-parliamentary commission Nikolay Rizhkov and others delivered
speeches at the meeting. The rector of the Moscow State University
Victor Sadovnich handed to the Armenian president Big Medal of the
university.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian also delivered a speech at the
meeting. In his speech the president greeted the participants of the
meeting and said that through them he wanted to convey warm greetings
from Armenia to all the Armenians living in Russia.

"You know that the Armenian community in Russia is peculiar in many
aspects. The majority of the Armenians living outside their homeland
are based here. Of course the whole Diaspora is tied with the homeland
but you are the one the ties of which are stronger and multilayer both
in political and cultural as well as in economic respect and this
has its impact on the relations of Russian Armenians and Armenia,"
the president said.

After speaking about the number of issues of the Armenian Diaspora,
the president referred to the situation in Armenia, and to the issues
it is facing.

He particularly said, "Today Armenia has entered a new round of
reforms. I have stated many times that the solution of the issues
Armenia is facing and the success of the implementation of our programs
are possible only by uniting efforts of all the Armenians.

The realization of exclusive mission of the Diaspora hinted us to
create a separate Diaspora Issues Ministry which is in the process
of formation."

The president said that Armenia is seeking to become a health, banking,
tourism regional center.

"Let me bring a bright example: with the amount of the investments
made in Armenia the Russian capital is on the first place, the
Russian investors feel good in Armenia. You have great economic and
intellectual potential. The part of this potential you must use in
Armenia. Be sure that what you do is demanded, that your investment
is important for the homeland.

Each son of our people in any part of the world wishes to see
prosperous, flourishing and stable Armenia. In any country each our
compatriot think about having role in the development of Armenia and
they want to hear good news from their homeland.

I am sure that the Russian Armenians will gradually increase
their organization level, will increase the number of cultural and
educational schools in Russia and number of initiatives directed
towards preservation of Armenian culture," the president said,
adding that hence Armenian Diaspora in any country will feel the
essential care of the state and Armenia will provide greater support
for cultural and educational initiatives.

"Until now big was the role of Diaspora in the consolidation of
our state and economy: the time has come when Armenia’s increasing
opportunities allow to say that not only Diaspora has role in the
development of Armenia, but Armenia also has role in solution of
issues of Diaspora. And I assure you that hence this will be the
principle of Armenia-Diaspora partnership," Serzh Sargsian said.

In his speech the president also referred to three important
issues. First, he said is the inner political situation in Armenia. "I
would like you to understand and assess it in a right way – a political
force which months before the elections clearly stated that it would
not accept any result of the elections besides its victory tries by
blackmailing destabilize the situation in the country. I have many
times stated that stemming from the Armenia’s interests I am ready
to negotiate and work with any political force.

Serious steps have been undertaken to smooth the post-electoral
tension – the opposition is being invited by TV channels, all the
people who did not have direct participation in March 1 unrest have
been set free. The rights of the parliamentary opposition have
been extended, a parliamentary ad hoc commission has been set up
to study the events. These steps and efforts will continue but for
their successful conclusion they must be two-sided. And no one has a
right to destabilize the state with calls for collapse of the power
and threats."

The second issue the president spoke about was connected with the
Armenian-Turkish relations. "In this issue our position is clear:
there must not be closed borders between the neighboring states in
the 21st century. The regional cooperation can be the best way of
establishing stability. The Turkish side suggests that a commission
be set up which will study the historic facts. We are not against
the creation of such commission but only when the border between our
states opens. In near future I am planning to undertake new steps
directed towards the promotion of the Armenian-Turkish relations. More
probably I will invite Abdullah Gul to Yerevan to watch the game of
the Armenian Turkish football teams".

The third issue the president said is Nagorno Karabakh conflict
regulation. "You know that recently I have conducted negotiations
with the Azerbaijani president. We agreed to continue the negotiations
over the main principles registered in the current document. Nagorno
Karabakh has never been part of Azerbaijan. It was passed to Soviet
Azerbaijan by the illegal decision of the party. The decision was
grounded that it would help to spread the ideas of October Revolution
to Muslim East. People of Nagorno Karabakh, within the circles of law,
and afterwards in the demanded war, gained their right to independent
statehood and the conflict may not have any solution lowering this
status."

After finishing his speech the Armenian president suggested to raise
glasses to the consolidation of Armenian and Russian friendship,
welfare of the Russian Armenian community and our people and to the
better future.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT INDEX MAKES 86.7% IN ARMENIA IN SECOND QUARTER OF 2008 AS COMPARED WITH SAME QUARTER OF 2007

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 23, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In the second quarter of 2008,
Armenia’s economic indices made: the business environment index –
49.1 against 50.5 in the first quarter, the economic activity index –
79.3 against 65.6 in the first quarter, and the consumer confidence
index – 49.5 against 53.5 in the first quarter.

NT was informed by the PR service of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA) that although in the second quarter of 2008, two of the indcated
indices had a tendency to decline, they were at a stable level: over
45. The business environment index made 97.1%, as compared with the
same quarter of 2007 – 86.7%, the economic activity index – 120.8%
and 114.2% respectively, and the consumer confidence index – 92.4%
and 93.9% respectively.

Since early 2005, the CBA has conducted quarterly surveys of financial
and nofinancial organizations and households for calculation of the
indicated indices. The purpose of surveys to assess the change in
the current economic situation as compared with the previous period
and the economic expectations of surveyed entities, and to calculate
the economic indices based on the survey results.

494 organizations of industry, construction and service sectors were
studied in the quarter under review. 1,839 households in Yerevan and
all Armenian marzes (provinces) were surveyed by the Internet, phone
or letters. The business environment, economic activity and consumer
confidence indices were calculated based on the survey results. The
business environment index is calculated by averaging the estimates
of the organizations on the risks and changes in the overall economic
situation, the economic activity index – by averaging the expectations
of the organizations on demand and stocks of production volumes,
products and services. The consumer confidence index is calculated
by averaging the index of current conditions (the average of the
estimates on big purchases, the change in incomes and the current
economic condition as compared with the previous quarter) and the index
of future conditions (the average of the expectations on purchases,
a change in incomes and employment in the coming quarter).

The indices calculated as compared with the same quarter of the
previous year explain most exactly the actual tendencies in the
economy as they rule out the factor of seasonal fluctuations.

The questions asked for calculation of the indices are of qualitative
character. The answers have the folloing choices: "growth", "unchanged
level", "decline". Based on the answers, the share of each choice
in the total number of answers is calculated, then the share of the
positive answers is added to half the share of the neutral answers and
the balances of the answers are obtained. The balances range from 0 to
100. The value 0 of the balance shows that all the respondents noted
a decline, the value of 100 shows a growth, while the value of 50 –
a stable state (the number of respondents expecting a growth is equal
to that of repondents expecting a decline). The range of the balance
from 45 to 55 is seen as a stable level.

The relation of the answer balances to the respective indices of the
the base period gives the final indices.

UK AMBASSADOR VISITED TAVUSH MARZ

armradio.am
23.06.2008 14:31

Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia Mr. Charles
Lonsdale visited Tavush marz, where he met Tavush Marzpet Mr. Armen
Ghularyan and discussed UK funded projects in Tavush, particularly
"Armenia Regional Development Project" and "Municipal Solid Waste
Management Plan of Ijevan." Later they had a joint press conference
featuring also the Mayor of Ijevan Mr. Varujhan Nersisyan, the Head
of the Department for International Development (DFID) in Armenia
Mr. Artashes Darbinyan, and the Head of the Management Advisory
Services of Ameria CJSC Mr. Gagik Sahakyan.

Armenia Regional Development Project (ARDEP), funded by DFID since
2003, has increased the capacity of the regional administration
to develop and implement multi-sectoral development programmes to
contribute to poverty reduction in Tavush. Regional Development Plans
(RDPs) were developed by the Tavush Marzpetaran with ARDEP assistance,
aiming at forming an institutional base for poverty reduction. DFID
has provided Tavush with £1 million for the implementation of the RDP.

ARDEP is finalising its activities in 2008, and currently the
modalities and future funding for the roll-out of the ARDEP
experience to other marzes is under discussion between the Ministry
of Territorial Administration and other potential donors such as the
European Commission.

Within the framework of the development assistance of the UK Government
to Armenia the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra) has funded "Ijevan Waste Management Plan" project. The
project, implemented by Ameria CJSC, aimed to promote replicable
methods of improving organic waste management and to introduce an
improved contemporary refuse removal system in Ijevan.

The waste management in Ijevan is a crucial issue in light of the
environment safety and hygienic security, as well as the growing
prospects of the tourism development in Ijevan. There was no specially
designed and efficiently implemented waste management system in Ijevan,
whereas about 35-40 m3 of waste in total accumulated in the streets
on a daily basis and only some 25-30% of it was cleaned away.

The project has developed the Waste Management Plan for the
Municipality of Ijevan. The plan focused on the assessment of waste
management regulatory framework, environmental impact, costs analysis,
tariff development and finance structuring, and development of Waste
Management short-term and long-term action plans. The project had
also an investment support component, which enabled the purchase
for the municipal authorities of a specialised waste removal and
collection vehicle.

–Boundary_(ID_kkKazd0qZS2d7r4f4wLJaA)–

NATO WELCOMES ARMENIA’S DECISION TO DOUBLE ITS TROOPS IN KOSOVO

armradio.am
20.06.2008 14:01

During the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer in Brussels RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian highly
assessed the results of the North-Atlantic Council held in 26+1
(NATO-Armenia) format, saying that Armenia attaches importance to
holding consultations in this format.

RA Foreign Minister and NATO Secretary General referred to Armenia’s
participation in peacekeeping activity. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed
the decision of the Armenian Parliament to double its troops in Kosovo.

Minister Nalbandian noted that Armenia values the assistance of
NATO participating states to the accomplishment of the Individual
Partnership Action Plan.

At Mr. Scheffer’s request Edward Nalbandian told about the results
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Saint Petersburg.

IMF REPORT ON TAX REFORMS IN ARMENIA DISCUSSED AT RA GOVERNMENT

armradio.am
17.06.2008 17:27

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today had a meeting with the Head of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Martha Castello-Branco,
IMF Resident Representative in Armenia Ninke Omes and representatives
of the IMF Office. Members of the IMF Mission presented to the Prime
Minister the IMF report on tax reforms in Armenia. The discussions
with the IMF will serve as a basis for the negotiations on new programs
of cooperation with the Fund.

The head of IMF Mission noted that the Fund is encouraged by the
provisions on tax reforms in RA Governemnt program, which, according to
him, are in line with the principles suggested by the IMF. According to
members of the mission, the program of tax reforms is rather complete
and is targeted at poverty reduction in the country, maintenance of
the pace of economic growth and fighting corruption, and it’s only
necessary to realize all this, taking into consideration some remarks
and suggestions included in the report.

Expressing gratitude for the preparation of the report, Pm Tigran
Sargsyan said the remarks included in the report are rather interesting
and create a good basis for further cooperation with the Fund,
elaboration and implementation of new programs.

PRESIDENT SARKISIAN VISITS BRITISH EMBASSY ON THE OCCASION OF NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

ARMENPRESS
JUNE 17

On the occasion of the National Holiday of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President
Serzh Sarkisian visited today the British embassy in Yerevan.

According to the presidential press service, the president
congratulated the embassy staff. Later during the conversation
British-Armenian relations and promotion of British investments in
Armenia were discussed.

OSCE TO CONTINUE ASSISTING WITH REFORMS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 16, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving the head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos on June 16, the Armenian president
Serge Sargsian welcomed the programs being implemented by the OSCE
Yerevan Office in Armenia, noting that a good tradition of close
cooperation has formed. He attached special importance to inclusion
of new spheres and problems in this cooperation.

According to the RA president’s press service, S. Kapinos said that the
OSCE will continue its programs of assistance to reforms in various
spheres. He presented briefly the OSCE Yerevan Office’s current
activities and programs in army political, economic, environmental
and humanitarian directions.

Is Historical Accuracy a Casualty in `East of Byzantium’?

15-06-2008 13:47:41 – KarabakhOpen

A new production is brewing in Hollywood, one that will recreate a much
celebrated event from Armenia’s heroic past: the Vartanants War. As was
reported in the May 31st edition of The Armenian Reporter, a new film
titled `East of Byzantium’ is in the planning stage, whose producers
are currently holding fundraisers to finance the production. If the
roster of the individuals involved in the upcoming production is any
indication, the film promises to be in the best traditions of
Hollywood’s epic movies: Roger Kupelian, the man behind the visual
effects of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Flags of Our Fathers;
Serj Tankian from the System of a Down, who will write the music score;
comedian Vahe Berberian, etc. In fact, the producers consider the film
to be the Armenian `Braveheart’. Surely, such an undertaking deserves
applause and all the encouragement and success.

As most would agree, film and cinematic art in general offer the most
influential medium in influencing popular perceptions and forming
public opinions. Therefore, accurate depiction of the historical events
and their overall context is of paramount importance. Yet, the scant
information that is publicly available already offers cause for
concern. Specifically, the article published in The Armenian Reporter
and titled `L.A. organizations will join forces to fundraise for an
epic film on Armenian history’ (pg 8,
) quoted Mr. Alex Kalognomos,
director of the Arpa International Film Festival, who noted that “The
characters of East of Byzantium are epic men and women of Armenian
history – Gregory the Illuminator, Vartan Mamigonian, and the great
warrior goddess Anahita.” It must be noted that this quote not only
mispronounces the name of the Armenian pagan goddess Anahit, but it
also mischaracterizes the true nature of this deity.

First, the name of the goddess in Armenian is Anahit. Anahida (or
Anahita) was the name used to refer to the same (or similar) goddess in
the old Persian pantheon. Strabo, the Greek geographer, in narrating
about Armenia refers to the same goddess as Anaitis. In fact, if one
refuses to use the accurate Armenian version Anahit, it would be more
logical (yet still incorrect) to use the Greek version Anaitis rather
than the Persian Anahida. Afterall, the ancient Greek civilization, in
contrast to the ancient Persian civilization, lies in the foundation of
the Western civilization, to which this film production belongs.
Nevertheless, calling goddess Anahit as Anahida (or even Anaitis) in
`East of Byzantium’ would be equivalent to calling William Wallace in
`Braveheart’ with his Arabic (or French) version or pronunciation.

Second, Anahit was not the goddess of war, but that of motherhood and
fertility. Here is how Sargis Haroutyounyan describes Anahit in his
book on ancient Armenian myths and tales: `The most worshipped and
loved goddess Anahit was the daughter or the wife of Aramazd. She was a
mother goddess, depicted with a child in her hands, with a special
hairstyle unique to Armenian mothers and women ¦ As a mother deity
Anahit was the embodiment of motherhood, harvest and fertility’ (
html#2 ). Please note
that Sargis Haroutyounyan is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of
History and Philology of the Yerevan State University’s Armenian
Philology department, head of the department of archeology, history and
mythology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
Armenia, doctor of philological sciences, professor. In short, he is
considered an authority on Armenian mythology. Even if Anahit was
confused by another deity in the same region and was assigned some
features of divinity of war (e.g. its counterpart in the
Assyrian/Babylonian pantheon, goddess Ishtar, who was the divinity of
love, fertility and war), Anahit was still worshipped in Armenia as the
goddess of motherhood and fertility. In the Armenian pantheon the god
of war was Vahagn.

As noted earlier, it is of utmost importance that such a significant
period in the history of Armenia is presented in an accurate manner. It
is not yet known what other inaccuracies exist in the script or what
other unintentional misrepresentation could creep in as an inevitable
result of artistic freedom. As is customary, the development of the
script and further production of `East of Byzantium’ should include the
advice of trusted and respected scholars of Armenian history. It would
be rather prudent to enlist experts from Armenia’s own academic
circles, in order to exclude the possibility of `alternative’ (i.e.
false or inaccurate) interpretations of Armenian history present in
foreign academia. Otherwise, knowing the enthusiasm with which
Armenians embrace any presentation of Armenian history or culture in
the mass media, a new generation of Armenians could potentially develop
the wrong perception of that period in our own history. This also
concerns the foreign audiences, who would base their understanding of
Armenian history and civilization solely on cinematic interpretations.

Stepan Sargsyan
Contributing Correspondent (Los Angeles),
ARARAT Center for Strategic Research

Published by Ararat-Center at 1:41 am under Article