Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

OFFICIAL BAKU DISLIKES YEREVAN-MOSCOW COOPERATION

ArmRadio.am
18.06.2007 12:02

Official Baku has a negative attitude toward the military cooperation
between Yerevan and Moscow, transportation of Russian military
equipments and armaments to Armenia and the Russian military base in
Armenia, Russian "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" writes.

According to the source, Baku expressed discontent also over the
restriction of the sailing of its ships through Volga-Don passage,
the positions of Russian state TV channels in covering the history
of Azerbaijan and the Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan is also worried
about the state of its compatriots in Russia and the frequent murders
of Azeri citizens.

"Nezavisimaya Gazeta" notes that in its turn Moscow is dissatisfied
with the reinforcement of the positions of the West in Azerbaijan,
as well as Baku’s active cooperation with NATO.

ARMENIAN BICYCLERS PARTICIPATE IN THE MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT’S CUP

ArmRadio.am
15.06.2007 12:37

The "Moldovan President’s Cup" international cycling tournament kicked
off in Kishinev, the capital of Moldova.

Five Armenian bicyclers are participating in the tournament together
with sportsmen from 10 other countries.

U.S. EMBASSY HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE TO PROVIDE OVERVIEW OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA AND LAUNCH NEW ASSISTANCE MAP WEBPAGE

Lragir.am
15-06-2007 17:28:56

On June 15, the U.S Embassy in Yerevan held a press conference
to provide an overview of the over $1.6 billion in assistance
that the U.S. government has provided to Armenia since it gained
independence. The event was designed to follow through on President
Bush’s May 30 speech in which he described the U.S. agenda to "help
developing nations build a better future for their people." The
Directors of ten different Embassy offices were present to take
reporters’ questions on the assistance that their agencies are
providing to Armenia.

At the same time, the Embassy’s Assistance Map webpage was publicly
launched. The Assistance Map is an interactive tool that allows
the public to click on a location anywhere on a map of Armenia. By
doing so, a person will find a list of U.S. government agencies that
are providing assistance in that area. Another click on one of the
specific agencies will provide the details of those projects and
other parts of Armenia that benefited from the same project.

Together with the launch of the Assistance Map, the Embassy introduced
its new, online Assistance Newsletter which will come out twice a
year. The Newsletter will provide details and updates of assistance
projects currently underway in Armenia.

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CONVINCED THAT IT IS TIME TO LAY REAL BASES FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Noyan Tapan
Jun 15 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The speaker of the RA National
Assembly Tigran Torosian on June 15 received the delegation headed
by the European Union Special Representative on the South Caucasus,
Ambassador Peter Semneby. According to a press release of the RA
National Assembly PR Department, the German ambassador to Armenia
Heike Renate Peitsch as representative of the country currently
presiding over the EU took part in the meeting.

T. Torosian said that Eurointegration is of primary importance
to Armenia.

In his words, Armenia has entered a new stage of development: the
constitutional amendments allow to take steps aimed at development of
the multiparty system and civil society, while after achieving high
indices of macroeconomic development, the state has the opportunity
to pursue the goal of complete solution of social issues. The NA
speaker noted that in late June the parliament will dicsuss the
governmental activities plan, in which these approaches have found
their reflection. It was mentioned that at this stage, the deepening
of Eurointegration is an important stimulus for successful reforms.

In the opinion of T. Torosian, a good basis has been formed for
implementation of the action plan under the European Neighborhood
Policy.

According to him, further strengthening of democratic reforms will
become a good basis for fair and correct solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh problem.

Speaking about the Nagorno Karabakh problem, Peter Semneby positively
assessed the fact of continuing the negotiations – despite the absence
of results anticipated from the Saint Petersburg meeting. He said
that it is time to take qualitative steps and to lay real bases for
the problem’s solution.

UNION HEAD SAYS TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY AZERBAIJAN MUST BE IN MG AGENDA

Panorama.am
17:01 13/06/2007

"The territories of Nagorno Karabakh, Shahumian, Getashen, Norther
districts of Martakert, part of Martuni, occupied by Azerbaijan must be
considered in Karabakh conflict settlement," Edik Balayan, chairman
of Shahumian-Getashen compatriots union, told a news conference
today. Balayan believes "the issue must be on Minsk Group agenda." He
also said the government "has overlooked the occupied territories
during the negotiation process." Balayan believes Azerbaijan must
be forced to make political, moral and material compensations for
dislocating 500,000 people from the areas. He also believes that in
addition to handing over the occupied territories, Azerbaijan must
add 2 more villages "so that 500,000 displaced people may reside in
the area."

ABUTALIB SAMADOV: MOST OF AUDIO & VIDEO PRODUCTS, BOOKS AND SOFTWARE IN SALE ARE PIRATED

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 14 2007

If the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) does not
take corresponding measures against Armenian’s stealing "Kor erebin
mahnisi", we will take actions provided by international law

Director General of Azerbaijan Copyright Agency Abutalib Samadov’s
interview to the APA

– What activities are being carried out for protection of copyrights?

– Our cooperation with relevant bodies of Interior Ministry,
Antimonopoly Policy Service of Economic Development Ministry,
Culture and Tourism Ministry, Education Ministry, Ombudsman and other
organizations is very useful for our activity. We attach special
importance to the registration of works, improvement of registration
and juridical enlightenment in protection of author’s rights. If the
work is registered copyright are protected in the court. The agency
has given certificates to 4,400 works since 1997. Over 200 works and
10 author’s contracts have been registered since the beginning of
2007 up to now.

– What actions are being taken against piracy?

– Combating piracy is not only in the competence of the agency. It
requires complex approach by law-enforcement bodies jointly with
other related bodies. A special monitoring group has been set up
in the agency to monitor audio, video and book markets in order
to prevent violation of copyrights and related rights, strengthen
struggle against piracy. The group monitored wholesale and retail
trade establishments in Baku in February to determine whether
legislation is observed in production, sale and import and audio and
video products. The monitoring found that over 70-80% of audio-video
products are pirated. The outcomes of the monitoring were sent to the
Prosecutor’s Office. Criminal case has been launched on the fact in
Baku Prosecutor’s Office, investigation is under way. Book market was
also monitored. Over 70% of the books are pirated. Translation works,
textbooks are mainly piratical. The outcomes of the monitoring
will also be sent to law-enforcement bodies. 90% of software
are piratical. There is a need to strengthen the struggle against
computer piracy. The agency gave some proposals to the Cabinet. The
proposals are being considered and the government is expected to pass
a corresponding decision. It is to be taken into consideration that
is the copyright is breached it means the breach of tax, antimonopoly
policy and unfair rival. Everyone should fight against piracy. We
are looking for new prompt and effective ways of cooperation with the
Taxes, Education , Culture and Tourism, Communication and Information
Technology Ministries, State Customs Committee, Supreme Attestation
Commission, Antimonopoly Service of Economic Development Ministry,
creative organizations and relevant agencies on fighting piracy.

Moreover, it would be expedient to establish State Committee on
fighting antimonopoly from the members and experts of relevant agencies
to enhance the effectiveness on fighting piracy.

– How do you appreciate the current state of control over fighting
piracy in recording studios and publishing houses?

– It is impossible to fight piracy with effective legislation acts in
any part of the world as well as in Azerbaijan. This work should have
prompt fighting mechanisms, skilled experts and of course, resistance
inside society. The number of pirated products outnumbers legal
products in the market. One of the prevention measures is controlling
recording studios and licensing them. It is to be enlightened by
media. The establishment of regional units could enhance activity of
fighting piracy.

– Does the legislation presuppose responsibility for breach of
copyright?

– According to the current legislation breach of copyright and linking
rights create civil, administrative and criminal responsibility.

There is deep contrast between damages of suffered party and
responsibility for breach of copyright in Administrative Reprimand and
Criminal Code. According to Article 50 of Administrative Reprimands
Code, the breach of intellectual property rights presuppose penal
(between 16.6 and 44 AZN) if the suffered party received damage
in 1100 AZN. Is it fair?. The same punishment is applicable when
the piracy is carried out by organized group. This condition also
presuppose penalty in 500 or 1000 times or 3-year-sentence. Though
Azerbaijan signed all international conventions, there is no prompt
and effective legislation in Azerbaijan in this field. Fore instance,
though Article 162 of Criminal Code presupposes instituting criminal
case for breach of copyright and relevant rights, Article 165.1 makes
it possible only bringing special action against it.

If copyright is violated, criminal case can not been launched at the
initiative of Prosecutor’s Office or the Copyright Agency. The adoption
of the Agency’s proposals regarding amendments in Administrative,
Criminal and Criminal Procedural Codes for strengthening protection
and ensure of world intellectual property rights can improve the
situation in this field. Sometimes court decisions are not fulfilled
which causes serious dissatisfaction.

– What preventive measures are being taken against Armenians’ pirating
Azerbaijani authors’ works?

– Armenians have been stealing and destructing material-cultural
heritage of our nation for a long time. Armenians’ pirating the works
of Azerbaijani authors is not new. Armenians pursuing aggressive
policy, introduce some parts of Uzeyir Hajibayov’s "Arshin mal alan",
"O olmasin bu olsun", "Koroglu" operas, stories and tales such as
"Asli and Karam", "Malikmammad" as Armenian examples. They pirate
our popular songs "Sari galin", "Vagzali", "Yalli", "Uzundara",
"Mirzayi". Armenians not satisfying with it, they do not refrain from
stealing plays of our modern composers. Armenian also tried to pirate
Azerbaijani singer Brilliant Dadashova’s "Vokaliz" music collection.

But the Agency interfered in it and appealed to World Intellectual
Property Organization regarding it. Armenians also wanted to steal
world-known Azerbaijani composer Fikrat Amirov’s famous "Kor arabin
mahnisi" ("Arab’s song"). They spread this song by making clip. We
expressed out satisfaction officially to the World Intellectual
Property Organization. If this international organization does not
take any measures to or satisfaction, we will use all the means of
international law then.

STALLING FOR TIME IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO ALL SIDES
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/06/2007

Political scientist Suren Zolian cherished hopes for the Karabakh
negotiations neither in recent past nor at present, as the issue
of Nagorno Karabakh has never existed for Azerbaijan, but it has
been considered as "an aggression by Armenia". This just proves the
absence of the subject of the negotiations. A situation is created
against the "victorious" attitude of Azerbaijan, where "stalling for
time is advantageous to all sides".

According to Zolian the firmness of the attitude of Azerbaijan is
directly proportional to its rates of economic growth. "They have
recorded 40 per cent economic growth, while we are proud of our
12-13 per cent. I don’t want to make comparisons, but the fact is
that Azerbaijan has the ability to develop sharply its economy and
transform its profits into military forces. That’s the reason why it
doesn’t want to make concessions. Azerbaijan anticipates speaking from
a position of strength and gaining the solution of all issues. All
the announcements of Azerbaijan are, first of all, ways of avoiding
the negotiations", announced Zolian at the June 12 press conference in
"Urbat" (Friday) club.

According to Suren Zolian "Caucasian stability wall" is a right
ideology. "It’s necessary to change the whole political structure
to settle the conflicts in South Caucasus – to change it into
a confederative unit, where each subject will have its level of
independence and sovereignty. It means that we’ll have a region
where the subjects will have different levels of sovereignty. It’s
an interesting idea, though it seems far from reality. There is no
another solution yet".

The warlike announcements of Azerbaijan are not realistic at present,
though in politics the words turn into action in the end. The most
important thing for the international community is the stability in
the region, but not the interests of Armenia or Azerbaijan. Maybe the
situation will change in 5-6 years, but at present Azerbaijan is not
allowed to endanger the programs that cost billions. Azerbaijan will
never retreat, and only its defeat or another disaster will influence
on its firm attitude.

Zolian thinks that today’s "status quo" will be preserved, because
the allied relations between Karabakh and Armenia have created a
state of stability, and it will continue until certain conditions
appear to solve the issue in their benefit".

Under these circumstances the primary issue for us is the
democratization of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, and their economic
growth based on sciences.

The strengthening of the armed forces is not a long-range policy
for Armenia. It’s also important to provide democratic development
in parallel.

"Without the solution of Karabakh issue, no progress will be registered
in solution of another issues, i.e.

the issues of territories, borders, refugees, etc", he added.

He also mentioned, "Karabakh issue is evidently the right of
self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. It will give
an opportunity to establish certain relations between Azerbaijan
and Nagorno Karabakh. There is an Azerbaijani community there, and
in spite of using the opportunity to carry on a dialogue with the
people of Karabakh, Azerbaijan avoids discussions with them.

"The fundamental issue for us is the following – what issues are
involved in the negotiation process. If the primary issue for us is
the status of Nagorno Karabakh, then Nagorno Karabakh must be involved
in the negotiation process," Zolian underscored.

IN ARMEN ASHOTIAN’S WORDS, THE LEITMOTIF OF ACTIVITY OF NA OF 4th CONVOCATION WILL BE PREPARING FOR 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. As Armen Ashotian, member of a
parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
forecast, the leitmotif of the newly elected National Assembly in
the coming 9-10 months will be to prepare for the 2008 presidential
elections. As he stated at the June 13 press conference, the RPA’s
readiness to form a coalition showed that the talks that dictate one
party (in this case the RPA) would be formed in the home political
field in the case of convincing victory did not come true.

In response to the question of how skillful the new government is,
A. Ashotian said that a number of portfolios received by the RPA
were entrusted to non-partisans and this circumstance is evidence
of the RPA’s willingness to form a skillful hgovernment. And asked
whether former Urban Development Minister Aram Haroutiunian would
also perform his duties well in the post of the Minister of Nature
Protection, A. Ashotian answered that, in general, top managers and
management sphere specialists can work in any sphere, especially if
they have experience and talent of management.

The MP qualified the cooperation agreement signed by the RPA with
the ARFD as an "efficient format", mentioning that ARFD Ministers are
rather skillful. "If ARFD members decide to move to another political
plane, we will neither get sad nor happy," A. Ashotian said. He
believes that in politics one should be never guided by emotions.

In response to the observation of a correspondent from the Haykakan
Zhamanak newspaper, that maybe the RPA generously distributed
the portfolios for reducing the army of protesting people at the
presidential elections, A. Ashotian opposed it, saying that their
party had never pursued such a goal.

"If had been like that, we would, first of all, have offered a post
to the editor of Haykakan Zhamanak," he concluded.

NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL OPENS IN ARMENIA

/News/article-121868.html
12 June 2007

Armenia is one of the top emerging economies in the Caucasus. With its
strategic geographical location, this country is the historical gateway
between Asia and Europe, a bridge between the East and West. In the
last few years, Armenian economy has grown spectacularly, along with
the number of business opportunities. Moreover, thanks to its rich
historical and cultural heritage, the country has become a popular
tourist destination with a higher growth potential within the region.

In 2002 Armenia International Airports decided to start the renovation
and extension works of Zvartnots International Airport, in Yerevan,
the country’s capital. After less than 40 months, the new terminal has
just been opened, with the intention of becoming a link for tourism
and commerce between Asia and Europe.

Armenia International Airports, the company in charge of the
management, aim to turn Zvartnots into an international centre
connecting Armenia with the world and opening the country to foreign
visitors. Road infrastructure in Armenia is currently being surpassed
by the ever-increasing trade traffic within this region of the
Caucasus. In spite of the efforts made by the Armenian government to
improve their national road network, the country’s short-term business
goals will depend mainly on air transport.

Improvements at Zvartnots will involve a total investment of â~B¬164
million for the next 30 years. Armenia International Airports has
already allocated over 70 million to the first phase, which included
a 19,200 sq m extension of the premises and a refurbishment of around
45,000 sq m.

Now, the first phase is complete, the airport boasts a 54,000 sq m
runway and 45,000 sq m of building. In addition, a new terminal was
created that occupies a 25,000 sq m area.

After completing the project, the company expects that the airport
will achieve a passenger-traffic of over 2 million people in its first
year. In order to adapt to the forthcoming increase in visitors, new
parking has been created, with capacity for 1,000 vehicles. In terms
of freight transport, Armenia International Airports has fitted-out
a new cargo terminal, which can house a variety of cargo and has
capacity for 100,000 tons per year.

34 international airlines will now operate from Zvartnots, connecting
Yerevan and Armenia to the world’s most important cities, including
London. Altogether around 60 routes will be scheduled to fly from
Zvartnots.

High security, technology, and comfort

In order to comply with the international air regulations, Armenia
International Airports has made a great effort to improve security
at Zvartnots. Among other measures, 150 surveillance cameras have
been installed in the premises, both inside the buildings and in
open spaces.

The modernisation effort has been significant, including the
implementation of an innovative flight information display system
(FIDS) as well as new automated and biometric-identification systems
for baggage check-in and passenger control. Also all buildings are
now equipped with Wi-Fi Internet connection.

In addition, the company has focused attention on improving visitors’
comfort within the premises. Arrivals hall capacity has been doubled
to reach a volume over 1,000 passengers per hour, and passenger
management will be streamlined between three and four-fold thanks to
a substantial extension of the customs points.

Finally, the renovation of the airport’s relax areas and restaurants
has been extensive, together with the enhancement of the Duty Free
shops’ product offering.

–Boundary_(ID_6fai2xmj9kxrG4sBXeEPyg)- –

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Dr. Tekian’s "Journey of a Lifetime" Subject of AGBU Slide
Presentation on June 19

On June 19, 2007, AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY)
and the AGBU New York Summer Intern Program will host a slide
presentation by Dr. Ara Tekian entitled "Journey of a Lifetime." Join
Dr. Ara Tekian as he takes you on his amazing journey with five other
Armenians throughout Eastern Turkey which culminated with the climbing
and raising of Armenia’s flag on Mount Ararat on the occasion of the
15th Anniversary of Armenia’s independence and the founding of the
American University of Armenia.

Dr. Tekian is a medical education specialist and professor at the
University of Illinois-Chicago, and will be using more than 300 images
to illustrate a trip that included visits to the medieval Armenian
city of Ani, the monastery of Varag, the Holy Cross Church of
Aghtamar, and the historic Armenian city of Kars.

The event will take place at 7:30 PM at AGBU located at 55 East 59th
Street, New York, NY, 10022, between Park and Madison. A trivial
donation is kindly requested. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to
[email protected] or Colette at 917-572-6851.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
Armenian non-profit organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $36 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians around
the world.