Author: Virabian Jhanna

PROGRAM ON DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION’S IMPROVEMENT BEING REALIZED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

DeFacto Agency
March 26 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 26.03.08. DE FACTO. When the third and next children are born
to a family, aim bank accounts are opened on behalf of them within
the frames of the governmental program for stimulating birth-rate and
possession of many children in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. According
to the information DE FACTO received at the NKR Ministry of Social
Security, according to March 15 the accounts on behalf of 68 children
have already been opened current year. The parents have been paid
lump-sum allowances in the amount of 37 million 700,000 drams. In
2007 aim money were deposited for 77 children for the total amount
of $ 69,900.

With a view to improve demographic situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh,
according to the government’s decision, since January, 2008, each
young pair while contracting a marriage is given a lump-sum allowance
in the amount of 300,000 drams.

BRITISH AND ISRAELI STUDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA IN APRIL

ARKA
March 25, 2008

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Students from vocational colleges of Great
Britain and Israel will arrive in Armenia in April, Artak Aghbalyan,
Head of Primary and Vocational Education Department of the RA Ministry
of Education and Science told reporters on Tuesday.

The students will visit Armenia within the "Work and Skills" 2007-2010
program implemented by the British Council in Armenia.

Aghbalyan said the program aims to adjust the level of education with
the job market and business environment demands which will result in
increased work efficiency.

The program mostly focuses on IT and tourism development. Armenian
State College of Informatics is in the same network with the relevant
British and Israeli colleges.

Aghbalyan said the results of the program can already be seen. Mutual
visits were organized, training courses for employees of the education
Ministry and college directors were held.

According to the data of the RA Ministry of Education and Science,
there are 80 state and about 30 private vocational colleges in Armenia
with the teaching staff consisting of 93 specialists. There are also
28 primary technical schools offering courses on 28 specialties. –0–

ARMENIAN TRADE DEFICIT REMAINS DEEP IN FEBRUARY
by Venla Sipila

Global Insight
March 25, 2008

According to the Armenian National Statistical Service, Armenia’s
exports for January-February totalled 44.2 billion dram ($143US.6
million), rising by 6.2% year-on-year (y/y), ARKA News reports. At
the same time, imports soared by 30.2% y/y, reaching $543US.4
million. Thus, the trade balance posted a deficit of $399US.8 million
for the two-month period. Further, it was reported that exports without
precious stones rose by 9.3% y/y, amounting to $123US.5 million,
while imports soared by 34.6% y/y totalling $522US.3 million. Thus,
the January-February trade gap excluding trade in precious stones
came in at $398US.8 million.

Significance:Armenia’s trade deficit for 2007 as a whole came in at
over $2US billion, widening by a massive 73% compared with 2006 (see
Armenia: 25 January 2008: ), and this year has not started on a very
promising note regarding the possibility of a turnaround. Indeed,
the trade gap is expected to remain fairly wide over this year, as
export demand stays weak and the sector to an extent remains dependent
on the diamond trade. In addition, import growth is likely to remain
vigorous. However, import growth should moderate somewhat, together
with overall growth and domestic demand. Then again, domestic demand
seems to be holding up more persistently than previously thought, and
this is further reflected in persistently very high import growth. In
any case, the Armenian trade deficit should gradually moderate as a
percentage of GDP over the coming years.

4th STAGE OF RUBEZH 2008 EXERCISE TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 22, RA Defence Minister
Mikayel Haroutiunian received representatives of RF and Tajikistan’s
Defence Ministries, as well as of CSTO Secretariate and United
Headquarters.

During the meeting, the idea of Rubezh 2008 commander-headquarters
exercise was discussed and was approved by RA Defence Minister Mikayel
Haroutiunian, who has been appointed the head of the exercise by CSTO
member-countries’ Presidents.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Defence
Ministry’s Press Office, the 4th stage of this exercise, with use of
fighting fire, will be held in Armenia between August 1 to 5.

STATE DEPARTMENT: RUSSIA’S RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA WOULD BE BLUNDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.03.2008 12:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s
independence would be a serious blunder, U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State Daniel Fried told Rustavi-2 Georgian TV company.

"The U.S. position is unchangeable. Resolution of the
Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian conflicts should be
peaceful, with Georgia’s territorial integrity guaranteed," Fried said.

Last Friday, the Russian State Duma called on the President and
government to recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO COMPLY WITH CONSTITUTION – FOREIGN MINISTER

ITAR-TASS
March 21 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, March 21 (Itar-Tass) — Armenian authorities will act in
compliance with the constitution and laws, Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian told foreign ambassadors and representatives of international
organizations on Friday.

He told the diplomats about efforts of the national administration
to restore the unity, a source at the Foreign Ministry’s information
and press department told Itar-Tass.

Oskanian affirmed the importance of the agreement on the quadripartite
political coalition, which laid down the foundation for the
amalgamation of political platforms.

The minister said that Yerevan was adherent to the Karabakh settlement
principles drafted at the OSCE Minsk Group. Armenia thinks that the
settlement process should continue within the OSCE Minsk Group format,
he said.

Meanwhile, policemen and Interior Ministry servicemen wearing helmets
and carrying plastic shields cordoned the square in front of the
Yerevan Opera Theater and the monument to the first premier of Soviet
Armenia Alexander Myasnikian to keep off protesters. The protesters
made a live chain through the Yerevan center.

ARMENIAN HEALTHCARE TO FOCUS ON TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION

ARKA
March 21, 2008

YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. The major task of fighting tuberculosis
in Armenia is prevention, Vahan Poghossyan, Head of the RA National
Program for Fighting Tuberculosis, said at the public discussions
entitled "I will stop tuberculosis epidemics! System approaches and
prospects of healthcare".

"Armenia faced serious difficulties fighting tuberculosis and
preventing the disease from spreading in 1990-1995. The situation
improved significantly with the introduction of short method of disease
treatment assisted by World Health Organization" Poghossyan said.

Poghossyan explained that Armenian healthcare crisis of 1991-2001
hampered the introduction of an effective tuberculosis fighting
system. Since 2001 Armenian government has annually developed
and approved a list and schedule of disease fighting measures,
Poghossyan said.

The major task facing the Armenian healthcare system, Poghossyan
stressed, is to hinder possible regress of achieved successes and to
ensure further development.

"Meanwhile, we must proceed with fighting the epidemics especially
given the fact that the disease has been spreading steadily in recent
years," Poghossyan added.

The number of people suffering tuberculosis in Armenia was 3,500 in
2007 as compared to 5,800 in 2005. World Health Organization 2007
report says 445,000 people suffered tuberculosis in European countries
and 66,000 people died of the disease last year. Tuberculosis is
most widely spread in Eastern Europe, especially in the post-Soviet
territory mostly caused by poverty and poor healthcare system. –0–

PARTY FACTIONS IN AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT PROTEST OSCE MINSK GROUP

Azeri Press Agency
March 19 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. Political parties represented in Milli
Majlis held a round table protesting OSCE Minsk Group voting against
the resolution on "Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan" in the 62nd
session of UN General Assembly.

According to APA, Ali Ahmadov, Vice-Chairman and Executive Secretary of
the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) said Azerbaijan was always advocating
for peace despite occupation of its lands. A number of unpleasant
realities were cleared up during the voting in the UN General Assembly,
which approved the fact of occupation. "Voting against the resolution,
Minsk Group Co-Chairs, who are mediating for the solution of the
problem, confirmed that they were against the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. Russia and France have even campaigned against the
resolution among the other UN members. Today, we invited ambassadors
of Minsk Group co-chair countries to Azerbaijan to this meeting,
but rejecting invitations they have demonstrated their positions
once again".

Chairman of the United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gudrat
Hasanguliyev referring to the historical facts said that Russia would
never help the solution of the conflict. He thinks that Christianity
and Russian military bases in Armenia are playing important role in
this issue. "Voting of the resolution was positive in one hand that
the countries calling Azerbaijan as a friend made their positions
clear". G. Hasanguliyev suggested a review the relations with Iran,
who has not joined the voting. Chairman of the Motherland Party Fazail
Agamali said it was significant to focus that three of 13 Minsk Group
members voted against and others abstained. "The hypocrisy of some
strategic partners of Azerbaijan should be reacted".

Chairman of Great Building Party Fazil Gazanfaroglu said co-chairs’
vote against the resolution had not met the international law. He
also urged the political parties to send a letter of gratitude to
the leaders of countries supported the resolution.

Member of Milli Majlis Azay Guliyev said the Parliament should
officially react to this issue and to raise the issue of Azerbaijan
declining the Minsk Group’s activity. The political parties issued
a statement condemning the Minsk Group co-chairs’ vote against the
resolution and demanded clarifying of this position.

OVER 100 ARRESTED FOLLOWING REVOLT IN YEREVAN – PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE

Interfax News Agency
March 18 2008
Russia

More than a hundred people have been arrested during the investigation
into the March 1 and 2 unrest in Yerevan.

"At the present time, 106 people have been arrested and three others
detained in Yerevan under this criminal case," Armenian Prosecutor
General’s Office spokesperson Sona Truzian told Interfax on Tuesday.

As many as 879 people have been taken to the police, and 754 of them
have already been released, she said.

Among the 106 arrestees are people implicated in illegal acquisition
and storage of weapons, Truzian said. The investigation into the
matter will soon be completed, and five cases were passed to courts
on Tuesday, she said.

There are no women or minors among the suspects, she said.

Following presidential elections in Armenia on February 19, in which
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan was officially declared the winner,
supporters of another candidate, first Armenian President Levon Ter-
Petrosian, who came in second, started mass protests in Yerevan.

On the morning of March 1, police dispersed a rally in Yerevan,
but Ter-Petrosian’s supporters gathered at another place near the
city hall.

By the evening of March 1, the protests grew into a mass revolt, in
which eight people were killed and more than 200 injured, according
to official reports. The same day, President Robert Kocharian imposed
a 20- day state of emergency in the city.

The Armenian special investigative service opened a criminal case
into mass unrest. People arrested under this case have been indicted
for fomenting mass disorder, illegally storing or carrying weapons,
attempting to usurp power, and other crimes.

240,000 TOURISTS FROM ARMENIA VISIT GEORGIA IN 2007

ARKA
March 19, 2008

YEREVAN, March 19. /ARKA/. About 243, 133 tourists from Armenia visited
Georgia in 2007 – 0.8% decrease compared with 2006, Novosti-Gruzia
reports.

According to Georgia’s Ministry of Economic Development, 37.1% of
visitors to Georgia were Armenian tourists in 2007.

1,051,769 tourists visited Georgia in 2007 – 7% increase compared
with 2006. 96% (1,009,669) of visitors were European tourists (7.9%
increase compared with 2006).