Author: Zargarian Hambik

NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS OF ARMENIA WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANY GROWS THREEFOLD IN PAST 4 YEARS

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 2004 the quality of drinking
water has improved in Armenia thanks to implementation of the 23
million-dollar Community Water Supply and Sewerage credit program
financed by the USAID.

Director General of Armenia Water and Sewerage Company Patrick Lorin
said during the presentation of an annual report on March 24 that as
a result of the program’s implementation, structural changes were
made at the company, its financial indices improved, disinfected
water volumes doubled, and the time of water supply was increased
from 6 hours daily in 2004 to 12 hours in 2008. Power consumption
declined by 30% thanks to the launching of new pumping stations. The
number of subscribers grew 3fold from 53,000 to 115,000 in the past
4 years. The subscriber payments grew by 70% in the indicated period.

P. Lorin said that the second credit program of 20 million USD
additional financing by the World Bank’s Board of Directors was
submitted by the company to the Armenian government. The program is
aimed at expanding the achievements of the first program. Besides, the
program envisages extension of the current management agreement by two
years. By the new program, the water supply systems of the settlements,
which are in Armenia Water and Sewerage Company’s servicing territory
and were not included in the first program, will be financed.

According to the Chairman of the State Water Industry Committee of
the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration Andranik Andreasian,
they are trying to find new financing sources (in addition to the
above mentioned program) for solution of water supply and sewerage
problems in about 300 settlements and for increasing the capacities
of Armenia Water and Sewerage CJSC.

ARMENIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY: KARABAKH ASSERTED RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.03.2009 20:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia doesn’t have to face the issue of confirming
NKR independency. Legally, Karabakh has perfectly fulfilled its right
to self-determination, ADP Leader Aram Sargsyan told a news conference
in Yerevan.

"We’re concerned about negotiations being conducted not in legal
framework instead of political, which could bring negotiations to
dead end," Aram Sargsyan noted.

"Despite MG OSCE Co-Chairs’ optimistic statements, Yerevan and Baku
will hardly reach a compromise on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement
in near future."

ARMENIAN TOP DIVISION SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.03.2009 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian top division soccer championship has kicked
off with Kilikia-Ulis match, which ended 0:1.

Pyunik-Banants and Shirak-Ararat matches ended 1:0 while Mika beat
Gandzasar 2:0.

The 2nd tour matches are due on April 4 and 5.

HEARING ON THE "CASE OF 7" AGAIN POSTPONED
Gita Elibekyan

"Radiolur"
23.03.2009 12:43

"Today’s court hearing on the "case of 7" was again postponed. Taking
into consideration that the President of Armenia has signed the Law
on amendments to Articles 225 and 300 of the Armenian Criminal Code
adopted by the National Assembly, the accusing party asked time by
April 1 to "clarify its positions."

The defending party did not object, while the defendants insisted
that the charge against them does not exist. "We demand to set us
free and terminate the case," the accused declared. People gathered
in front of the court made the same demand.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Heritage gives ANC last chance
21.03.2009 12:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Heritage party has decided to give the Armenian
National Congress another chance to think over nomination of a single
candidate for the post of Mayor of Yerevan.

Heritage offers a slate with party founder Raffi Hovannisian at the
head, followed by ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Heritage faction
member Zaruhi Postanjyan and People’s Party leader Stepan Demirchyan.

`I would like to emphasize that Heritage party offers the ANC to
choose candidates for the Council of Elders,’ party spokesman Hovsep
Khurshudyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Asked whether Heritage party has already drawn a separate slate in
case ANC rejects the proposal, the spokesman said the party will be
waiting for a response till 6 p.m., March 21.

`If rejected, the party will nominate its own candidates,’ Khurshudyan
said.

ZHARANGUTIUN DOES NOT EXCLUDE VARIANT OF RENOUNCING RUNNING FOR YEREVAN COUNCIL OF ELDERS ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
March 20, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Zharangutiun (Heritage) party
at the March 20 sitting is going to discuss and to make a final
decision on its participation in the May 31 Yerevan council of
elders elections and on its format. Armen Martirosian, the head of
the RA National Assembly Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, reported
at the March 20 press briefing. In connection with the decision to
be made on running for the elections he did not exclude any variant,
including renouncing running for the elections.

A. Martirosian classed an "absolute falsehood" the rumor in press,
according to which NA deputy, Zharangutiun faction former Secretary
Stepan Safarian in token of his disagreement to Armenian National
Congress and Zharangutiun party’s not running for the elections with
a common electoral roll has decided to leave the party.

By the way, due to the Zharangutiun party Board sitting Board
Chairwoman, RA NA deputy Anahit Bakhshian will not take part in the
consultation initiated by the RA President the same day for the purpose
of discussing the consequences of the world financial-economic crisis,
to which several dozens of Armenian parties have been invited.

PLAY ANY TRICK TO BE BACK TO ARMENIA

A1+
02:43 pm | March 20, 2009

Official

The RoA Defence Ministry today issued a statement which says in part:
"Armenian soldiers undergo psychical and moral repression, violation
and harassment by Azerbaijani special services who aim to extort
false statements from Armenian captives.

Azerbaijani officials’ treatment towards Armenian captives is a
rough breach of international rights, namely a violation of Geneva
Conventions.

Meanwhile, the Armenian side has always given Azerbaijani war prisoners
a chance to contact their relatives, have medical assistance and
exercise other rights.

Contrary to this, the Azeri side has not given any information, even
through the Red Cross International Committee, about an Armenian
military captive, Paruyr Simonyan. Moreover, P. Simonyan has been
deprived of his rights, which is a rough breach of the aforesaid
conventions.

According to our verified sources, Azerbaijani captives returned to
Azerbaijan by Armenia in conformity with the international norms,
are also subject to torture: as a rule, they are exposed to criminal
prosecution and sentenced to long years of prison.

The Ministry of Defence reconfirms its devotion to the international
norms and calls the attention of international community and
structures, especially the UNO and RCIC, to the fact that Azerbaijan
uses war prisoners for home and foreign propaganda, demanding to put
an end to this inhumane state activity.

"We also remind that all Armenian servicemen, including captives,
are under the auspices of the Ministry, and we shall take every effort
free them."

In the statement the Ministry of Defence also turns to the Armenian
captives in Azerbaijan: "Soldiers, we fully understand the inhumane
and desperate situation you have appeared in Azerbaijan. We know
that Azerbaijani special services are capable of taking cruel and
mean steps.

Yes, you breached the disciplinary norms of the military service
and, appeared in the enemy’s territory. But you are the sons of your
Motherland, and even bearing responsibility for your mistakes is a
characteristic quality of an Armenian man and soldier. In order to
save your life you can play any possible trick on the enemy and find
your way to the Homeland.

Remember, that your Motherland is looking forward to your return.

This is the call of your Homeland," says the statement.

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

ARMENIAN CHURCH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
DUSCUSSES CHALLENGES TO YOUTH

14-15 March 2009, the Armenian Church University Students’ Association
(HEHOM) held its annual meeting at the "Birds’ Nest" Orphanage in Byblos
(Lebanon). Twenty-five young men and women attended the meeting. On the
first day the participants discussed the situation of youth today in view of
the global economic and environmental crisis, the changing moral and ethical
values and the quest for spirituality: After this overview, they identified
the concerns and challenges arising from these global issues as they impact
the lives of Armenian youth in Lebanon. Through plenary presentations and
group discussions they identified issues for further study and reflection by
the Association.

On Sunday morning, the members of HEHOM participated in the Holy Liturgy at
the St. Gayané church of Birds’ Nest. According to the Armenian Orthodox
church calendar, the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent is the Sunday of the
Steward and the lesson of the day comes from the parable of the unjust
steward (Luke 16:1-31). The Spiritual experience of the Holy Liturgy and the
lesson of the day brought another dimension to their work.

During the afternoon sessions the participants studied the message of His
Holiness Aram I declaring 2009 Year of Armenian Youth. Through this message
the youth discovered ways through which the church would accompany them as
they responded to the challenges and shaped their dreams. Father Mesrob
Sarkissian the spiritual advisor of HEHOM concluded the meeting by thanking
the participants for their contribution, and reminding them that they are
part of the church and their concerns are the concerns of the whole church.
Therefore, the response to their problems could come only through collective
effort.

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

OH, YOU MEAN I HAD TO SAY "GENOCIDE" AFTER I BECAME PRESIDENT?
Matt Welch

Reason Online
March 17 2009

The sun rises in the east, spring follows winter, and a new American
president is backing away from his campaign pledge to refer to the
Ottoman-era Turkish genocide of Armenians as a "genocide," because the
White House is "fearful of alienating Turkey when U.S. officials badly
want its help." The L.A. Times has the expectations-lowering story.

Obama’s campaign promise-his "principled commitment to commemorating" a
"widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence"-is here. Obama foreign policy guru Samantha Power makes
a direct plea to Armenian-Americans about genocide-recognition and
other issues in this video:

CSTO COLLECTIVE URGENT RESPONSE FORCES EQUIPPED WITH MODERN ARMAMENTS

Panorama.am
10:24 18/03/2009

The Collective Security Treaty Organization collective urgent
response forces should be equipped with modern armaments and military
techniques, and well dressed. It should be a union to be used during
the most dangerous problems of threatening territorial security,
announced the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev during the session
of Defense Ministry. Remind that the mission of the CSTO collective
urgent response forces is to fight against aggression, international
terrorism, trans-national organized crimes, etc.