Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN HAD A WORKING MEETING WITH THE MAYOR OF YEREVAN

armradio.am
07.10.2008 17:25

President Serzh Sargsyan today had a working meeting with the Mayor
of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan, President’s Press Office reported.

The Mayor informed the President about the process of the works
envisaged for this year, particularly turning to the road and house
construction projects.

The President prioritized the completion of the program of
reconstruction of the elevator system.

Emphasizing the program of capital investments in 2009, Serzh Sargsyan
instructed the city authorities to ensure investments and capital
expenses at least equal to the volume of work done in 2008.

FIFTEEN ANTI-HAIL STATIONS TO BE PLACED IN LORI

ARMENPRESS
Oct 6, 2008

VANADZOR, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS: In the coming five years 15 anti-hail
stations will be placed in the Armenian province of Lori.

An official from the Lori Governor’s Office told Armenpress that the
strong hail registered in the province in 2007, the winds and heavy
rains caused great losses to the agriculture.

For the solution of the issue representatives of ministries, and
other establishments visited the territories, registered the amount
of damage and provided assistance. Taking this into consideration,
the Armenian government included in its program a point on placing
anti-hail stations.

According to the initial information of the Agriculture Ministry,
in 2010-2013 it is expected to place 15 anti-hail stations in the
province.

istockAnalyst.com (press release), OR

Russia, Armenia for Peaceful Settlements Only – Lavrov

Friday, October 03, 2008 7:57 PM

(Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow – English)YEREVAN. Oct 3
(Interfax) – Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia has proved
that any attempt to resolve conflict by force is doomed, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"Any attempt to resolve crisis situations by force are doomed," Lavrov
told a news conference in the wake of talks with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Russia and Armenia are certain that conflicts can be resolved at the
talks and by peaceful means only, the minister said.

Commenting on Turkey’s initiative to create the Caucasian Stability
and Cooperation Platform, Lavrov said that Russia welcomes any idea
that is aimed at making the situation in the region stable.

The minister also refuted allegations that Baku officially supported
Tbilisi on the first days of Georgia’s aggression against South
Ossetia. "I do not know that Azerbaijan made such statements. On the
contrary, the government adhered to balanced positions in all their
comments. Our relations with Azerbaijan are not dependent on the
situation," he said.

Commenting on Armenian-Georgian agreements to continue upholding
trade-economic relations, Lavrov said that he can only welcome this.

Armenia had problems with the delivery of goods from Georgia during
the war with South Ossetia. Lavrov expressed hope that these
agreements will allow to avoid this in the future.

(c) 2008 Daily News Bulletin; Moscow – English. Provided by ProQuest
LLC. All rights Reserved.

Activation of institution of customs brokers has dual effect,
representatives of private sector of Armenia say

2008-10-03 16:47:00

ArmInfo. Activation of the institution of customs brokers has dual
effect, Executive Director of Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Araik Vardanyan told ArmInfo. ‘If a businessman has no right to customs
clearance without relevant license in conformity with the new rules, it
means that he must make additional expenses for broker services. On the
other hand, mediation in customs operations considerably reduces the
temporary expenses for business registration and the response of the
private sector is positive’, A. Vardanyan said. The key condition of
successful reforms is professional operation of brokers and customs
agencies, he said.

An amendment to the Customs Code of Armenia in April 2007 allowed
economic subjects-importers not to be present during customs
registrations. At present, a regional customs of international traffic
of the State Customs Committee of Armenia operates in the
self-declaration regime. As a result, the transactions at the given
customs for Jan-Oct 2007 totaled 5.100 as against 3600 in 2006.

At present Armenian Finance Ministry has issued license for Mediation
in customs activity to 35 legal entities.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S AGENDA DOESN’T INCLUDE VISIT TO TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.10.2008 17:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is not scheduled
to visit Turkey.

"Mr Sargsyan’s agenda doesn’t include such visits," President’s
spokesman Samvel Farmanyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter when
commenting on Turkish media reports about "Armenian President’s plans
to pay a visit to Ankara for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul on October 16.

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN PRESIDENTS UNDERSCORE HIGH LEVEL OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

ARMENPRESS
Oct 1, 2008

TBILISI, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: On the first day of his official
visit to Tbilisi Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met September 30
in Tbilisi with his Georgian counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili.

Armenian president first of all expressed condolences on his and
on behalf of the Armenian people in connection with the recent
developments in Georgia which caused human losses.

The sides pointed out the friendly relations existing between the two
countries underscoring the necessity of their further development. It
was noted that in spite of the high level of relations there is still
great unused potential and steps are necessary to be undertaken for
bringing them to life.

The presidents discussed in details a number of issues on economic
partnership, including in energy and transport spheres, referred to
the border zoning activity, they also reached agreement over creation
of joint consortium with the representatives of two countries which
will direct its activity towards the construction of an alternative
road which will facilitate the cargo and passenger transportations to
Armenia. The sides agreed to carry out works to promote inter-border
cooperation as well as to facilitate the entrance process of citizens
of the two countries to each other’s territory.

Underscoring the stability of Georgia for Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan noted
that it is not a secret that Armenia has strategic partnership with
Russia at the same time Georgia is Armenia’s ancient-long friend. "Our
commitments as partners, neighbors, and strategic allies must not
bother each other and must not be on the account of one another,"
Armenian president said.

The presidents of the two countries also spoke in favor of peaceful
regulation of the conflicts. They also underscored role of the Armenian
community in deepening bilateral relations.

After the extended meeting during which the active work of the
inter-governmental commission was highlighted, the Georgian president
said that the Georgian side underscores and positively assesses the
relations with Armenia. "I have very warm relations with the president
of Armenia and I am sure that it will have a positive impact on all
the levels of our cooperation," M. Saakashvili said.

During the meeting Armenian president was granted the highest
Georgian state medal which is awarded to foreign citizens. Armenian
president also met with the Georgian parliament speaker David
Bakradze. During the meeting the sides underscored the development of
inter-parliamentary cooperation. Armenian president also said that the
recent developments in the region showed the weak and strong sides
of the region and it is necessary to make conclusions and undertake
relevant steps.

D. Bakradze underscored the friendship between the two countries as
an important circumstance of regional peace and development.

Yesterday Armenian and Georgian presidents also participated in
the opening ceremony of a memorial stone to Sayat-Nova in Tbilisi’s
Meydan Square.

"NORMALISATION OF RELATIONS IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE"

A1+
[08:10 pm] 01 October, 2008

"I welcome any step that will help reduce the tension in
the Armenian-Turkish relations and raise the level of possible
cooperation," leader of the United Labour Party (MAK) Gurgen Arsenian
told a press conference today while assessing Turkish President
Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia.

He welcomed Serzh Sarkissian’s initiative targeted at bringing the
process of the Karabakh conflict settlement to a more productive
phase. According to him, the latest Russian-Georgian event showed that
the normalisation of relations with Turkey is of vital importance for
Armenia. "Armenia’s economy would be at the threshold of paralysis if
the war lasted another 10 days," he said. It’s necessary to normalise
the relations between the two countries and establish economic,
political and public ties.

Asked whether Turkey’s activeness can play a negative role in the
Karabakh conflict resolution, Gurgen Arsenian said it’s necessary
to apply diplomatic flexibility to avoid that danger. "If Turkey’s
activeness can bring any danger, the leadership of the country should
be able to neutralise it with its diplomatic tools: it’s already the
task of diplomats," Gurgen Arsenian said.

With regard to home issues, the MAK Leader said, "It is time the
opposition and authorities started a dialogue. They had better have
vis-a-vis meetings and debates."

Gurgen Arsenian’s call for a dialogue was mostly addressed to the
authorities as they have more chances and resources to start a
dialogue. Anyway, he cited the Constitution and said that "power
takeover is not excluded in Armenia as we are a democratic country."

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 ARAM I WILL CHAIR THE MEETING
OF THE MECC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

The meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches’ (MECC) Central Committee
will be held in Cyprus over the next three days. This meeting, held
annually, discusses the financial and administrative aspects of the Council’s
work, its external relations and plans the MECC’s activities for the coming
year. All the churches in the Middle East, including the Armenian Church,
are members of the Council.

The Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian (also a
member of the MECC Central Committee) and staff-bearer Rev. Mesrob
Sarkissian accompany His Holiness Aram I.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

BARONESS CAROLINE COX AWARDED ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER’S MEDAL

Noyan Tapan

Se p 25, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. By a September 25 decision of
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Vice Speaker of the House of
Lords of the British parliament, the Chair of the British-Armenian
All-Party Patliamentary Group Baroness Caroline Cox was awarded a
commemorative medal of the Armenian prime minister for her significant
contribution to the development of Armenian-British relations and her
friendly links with the Armenian people. On the same day T. Sargsyan
handed the medal to Baroness Cox during a meeting at the Armenian
government.

According to the press service of the RA government, during a regular
visit to Armenia and the NKR, Baroness Cox is being accompanied by
a delegation taking interest in Armenia and Artsakh. In her words,
the delegation members will become the best friends of Armenia in
the future.

Baroness Cox thanked the prime minister for the medal. During a talk
with T. Sargsyan, she asked questions about the possible impact
of declaration of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
on the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict’s settlement,
the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations after the visit of
Turkish president to Armenia, and about the approaches of Armenian
authorities. The prime minister informed Baroness Cox in detail about
Armenia’s official viewpoint on these issues.

POLICEMEN PREVENT "POLITICAL" WALKS IN NORTHERN AVENUE FOR THREE DAYS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 24, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Since September 21, the police
have prevented, by using force, supporters of the radical opposition
from organizing "political" walks in Yerevan’s Northern Avenue,
NT correspondent was informed by member of the Armenian National
Congress (ANC) Diana Mardanian on September 24. According to her,
policemen use rubber batons and stun guns to disperse people. In the
words of another activist who requested anonymity, policemen do not
substantiate their actions in any way.

>From 7 pm to 7:40 pm on September 24, some 70 opposition activists,
mainly women and students, gathered in Northern Avenue. There were
about 40 policemen in the avenue who urged the oppositionists not to
gather in one place.