NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE CIVIL AND TRIAL CODES
KarabakhOpen
15-05-2008 11:11:20
On May 14 the NKR parliament passed two bills according to which the
Civil Code and the Trial Code passed in 1997 and amended in 2002 and
2007 will come into effect.
According to the minister of justice Narine Narimanyan, currently
our own codes are being worked out, which will be passed in August
and come into effect from January 1, 2009.
THERE ARE NO POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ARMENIA
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 14, 2008
Armenia
According to Aram Safaryan: "There are no political prisoners in
Armenia. Some people can call the detentions "on political grounds".
Yes the Council of Europe really demands to release certain detainees
and in my view very soon corresponding decisions will be made regarding
this issue.
But we must try to differentiate two things: those who committed crimes
on March 1-2 must be punished and they can use certain mechanisms of
amnesty towards the others."
HOVHANNES GARNETSI’S PRAYER-BOOK PUBLISHED
Noyan Tapan
Ma y 14, 2008
ETCHMIADZIN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Publishing Department of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin published the prayer-book of
archimandrite-chronicler Hovhannes Garnetsi, a hermit of the 12-13th
centuries famous as a miracle-worker. 35 prayers are collected in it.
The book’s research article has been written by Gevorg Ter-Vardanian,
the comparison of manuscripts has been done by Lilit Petrosian,
and the translation into the modern Armenian language has been done
by Arshak Madoyan. The series’ editor-in-chief is Archbishop Yeznik
Petrosian, the Director of the Publishing Department of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The book has been published with the donations of Mr and Mrs Armen
and Nune Sargsians.
According to the report of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
the publication of such prayer-books gives believers a possibility
not only to join in the rich spiritual heritage of their ancestors,
but also to use them in their everyday life.
GENOCIDE BELIEF SEEN AS ‘INSULT’ BY TURKEY
Jennifer Campbell
Ottawa Citizen
ity/story.html?id=2dbead1a-b66c-4754-81b1-016b4d04 5569
May 14 2008
Canada
The fact that the Canadian government has recognized Armenian claims
of genocide by the Turks in 1915 still casts a shadow over relations
between Canada and Turkey, the incoming ambassador says.
Rafet Akgunay noted in an interview yesterday that Canada is one of the
only governments in the world to recognize Armenian claims and said
his government finds it particularly strange coming from a country
that is known internationally as a peace-loving and peace-making
nation. (In 2004, Canada’s Parliament reversed the country’s previous
policy when it voted for a private member’s bill that recognized as
genocide the killing of Armenians during the First World War.)
"It’s taken as an insult in Turkey and it’s an insult from a country
which is known around the world as a country that loves peace and
security and stability. This is just the other way around because
you recognize something which is not established as fact.
"Writing history is not the task of parliamentarians or officials of
government," he said.
Given that, Turkey has asked foreign governments to encourage both
sides to study the archives and decide exactly what happened. Turkey
has proposed a joint committee of historians from Turkey and Armenia,
with the possibility of third-party historians joining in to come up
with a decisive analysis of the history.
That said, Mr. Akgunay said the Armenian issue is not the only one on
his agenda — indeed, it’s just one facet of the political side. He’s
also going to work toward air agreements where Turkish Airlines could
fly into Canada. "One of the first things I did in Canada was to attend
a meeting of the Turkey-Canada Business Council and all the business
people asked me to try my best to start flights from Turkey. Turkish
Airlines is ready but there are still agreements to be made in Canada."
He plans to develop the trade relationship. Two-way trade between
Canada and Turkey now stands at $1.3 billion, which is "peanuts"
for both countries.
By comparison, Turkey’s two-way trade with Russia is $25 billion.
He will also work with Turkish-Canadians, who number about 50,000,
many of whom contribute greatly to the economy, he said.
CEC REGISTERS ISHKHAN KHACHATRIAN AS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY FROM
OYP’S LIST BY PROPORTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEM
YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 8 sitting, the RA Central
Electoral Commission (CEC) registered Ishkhan Khachatrian as a National
Assembly (NA) deputy from the electoral list of the Orinats Yerkir
Party (OYP) by the proportional electoral system. In making this
decision, the CEC took as a basis the NA report on termination of
deputy powers of the OYP chairman Arthur Baghdasarian who has been
appointed secretary of the Security Council, as well as the
applications of Victoria Harutyunian and Vahe Vardapetian (both from
the OYP list) rejecting their nomination. By the Electoral Code, in
case of the proportional electoral system mandate’s remaining vacant,
the CEC shall give it to the next candidate on the given party’s list
within 7 days.
Representative of "Heritage" party Zoya Tadevosian was the only one to
vote against the CEC decision. She explained her position by the fact
that at the previous sitting on April 23, the CEC published the
applications of two candidates on the OYP list – Gegham Gasparian and
Victoria Harutyunian about their refusal of nomination, whereas they
had not signed these applications.
At the April 23 sitting, the CEC made a decision to send these
applications to the RA prosecutor general’s office. According to the
CEC secretary Aram Bakhchagulian, if the authenticity of these
signatures is not confirmed, the CEC will have to review the
registration of the new deputy.
NT correspondent was informed by spokeswoman for the RA prosecutor
general Sona Truzian that the prosecutor’s office sent these
applications to the Kentron police station, According to the
prosecutor’s office, the examination has not been completed yet.
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 7 2008
France Offers Assistance in Establishing Relations between Turkey and Armenia
Wednesday , 07 May 2008
By Sevgi YUZERCAN
France’s Foreign Minister Bernard said that France was ready to help
Armenia and Turkey regarding closed territorial borders between two
countries.
`I raised the issue during a meeting with Turkey’s Ali Babacan and his
approach seemed positive but the reasons for keeping the border closed
are not understandable for me’ FM Kouchner said after talks with
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
For his part, Minister Nalbandian said `Both Armenia and Turkey as
well as the entire region will benefit from normalization of relations
without preconditions’.
Fatma Yılmaz from the USAK, Ankara-based Turkish think tank,
told the JTW that France is not the perfect candidate to help Turkey
and Armenia in normalising relations. "France is sceptical about
Turkey’s place in Europe. Mr. Sarkozy opposes Turkey. France’s Turkey
opposition is based on cultural, religious and civilazational
differences. France has fully supported Greece, Greek Cyprus and
Armenia against Turkey and Azerbaijan. That’s why France cannot be a
mediator between Turkey and Armenia." she added. According to
Mrs. Yılmaz Turkey’s EU membership would help to normalize
Turkey-Armenia relations.
Armenia does not recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national
borders. Armenia also organizes global anti-Turkey campaigns to harm
Turkish interests everywhere. Turkey closed down its territorial
borders when the Armenian forces occupied about 20 percent of
Azerbaijan.
Minister Nalbandian off to France
armradio.am
05.05.2008 12:24
RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian left for France today upon the
invitation of the Foreign Minister of France Bernard Couchner.
In the framework of the visit Minister Nalbandian will have a meeting
with the Foreign Minister of France Berbard Couchner to be followed by
a joint press conference. The Minister will also meet with the
President of the French Senate Christian Poncelet.
On May 6 Edward Nalbandian will leave for Strasbourg to participate in
the 118th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe, where he will deliver a speech.
The same day Minister Nalbandian will meet the Co-Chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov.
During the stay in Strasbourg Edward Nalbandian will have meetings with
the OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis, the President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Luà – s Maria de Puig and
the President of the European Court of Human Rights Jean Paul Costa.
Minister Nalbandian is also expected to meet with the EU Commissioner
for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg and members of the Ago Monitoring
Group of the Council of Europe.
Minister Nalbandian will have meetings with a number of Foreign
Ministers of Council of Europe member states.
PROFIT OF ARMENIAN INSURANCE COMPANIES MAKES 315.6 MILLION DRAMS AT
END OF FIRST QUARTER OF 2008
YEREVAN, MAY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. As of March 31, 2008, the overall assets
of Armenian insurance companies made 9,428,936 thousand drams (over
25.3 mln USD) – against 9,419,317 thousand drams as of February 29,
2008. According to data of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), on the
indicated dates the overall monetary resources of these companies
amounted to 96,650 thousand drams and 80,047 thousand drams
respectively, their fixed assets – 391,876 thousand drams and 374,406
thousand drams, own capital – 6,565,132 thousand drams and 6,442,203
thousand drams, and their authorized capital – remained at the same
level and made 5,781,788 thousand drams.
The Armenian insurance companies’ bills payable with respect to
budgetary and compulsory social insurance payments made 105,216
thousand drams as of March 31, 2008 and 103,843 thousand drams as of
February 29, 2008, their bills receivable – 258,897 thousand drams and
238,027 thousand drams, while insurance reserves made 1,957,778
thousand drams and 1,925,502 thousand drams respectively.
The total amount of insurance premiums made 1,411,494 thousand drams
and 1,000,679 thousand drams respectively on the indicated dates, while
the amount of insurance premiums paid to re-insurers made 374,946
thousand drams and 270,056 thousand drams respectively.
The total amount of insurance compensation paid by insurance companies
made 249,939 thousand drams as of March 31, 2008 and 155,125 thousand
drams as of February 29, 2008, the share of re-insurers in insurance
compensation – 103,542 thousand drams and 63,821 thousand drams, the
total amount of insurance sums – 1,383,385,166 thousand drams and
1,364,863,071 thousand drams respectively.
The undistributed profit of insurance companies amounted to 315,574
thousand drams as of March 31, 2008, and to 179,659 thousand drams on
February 29, 2008.
ANNUAL CONCERT OF KARKACH CHORUS DEDICATED TO 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF
HAMAZGAYIN AND 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARTSAKH LIBERATION STRUGGLE
BEIRUT, MAY 6, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Karkach children’s
and youth chorus of Hamazgayin has performed an annual concert for
already the 11th year in the American University of Beirut on May 4.
As Azdak reports, this year’s concert was dedicated to the 80th
anniversary of Hamazgayin and the 20th anniversary of the Artsakh
liberation struggle. Official guests, representatives of bodies and
administrations, parents and nationalists were present at the event. In
the first part of the concert the youth then the children’s choruses of
Karkach performed 13 songs, including the "It is a peaceful night" by
Levon Shant, the "Breeze" by Yuri Sahakian and the "Lilies" works by
Nansen Mikayelian. The members of the Karkach choruses also performed
one English and one Arabic song each.
In the second part of the concert a direct contact was established with
the Varanda chorus of Shushi and the two choruses performed the "My
country, my dream" song together.
ARMENIAN-CHINESE BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN BEIJING IN JUNE 2008
ARKA
May 4, 2008
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The first Armenian-Chinese business forum is
to be held in Beijing in June 2008, press office of Armenian Foreign
Ministry reports.
Vahagn Movsisyan Armenian ambassador to China, and Sui Tunkaya,
deputy chairman of Armenian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission,
have discussed the forum-related issues in Beijing.
The ambassador said that 20 Armenian companies have already expressed
their wish to take part in the event.
Movsisyan and Tunkaya pointed out the necessity for outlining areas
of mutual interest. They think this would spur trade between the
two countries.
They singled out construction, organic chemistry, heavy engineering
industry, stone working and processing of agricultural products as
favorable areas for developing cooperation between the countries.
Movsisyan stressed the importance of state support for importation
of Armenian goods in China.
Tunkaya said that Armenian-Chinese trade turnover has grown 15% over
the last year. He finds it necessary to develop indirect business
ties and thinks Trade Chamber of Armenia and Chinese Trade Ministry’s
bureau for promoting foreign trade relations can play a major role
in this matter.
Movsisyan and Tunkaya said that investment programs can be implemented
through Chinese EXIM bank.
Statistical reports say trade turnover between Armenia and China
reached $203 million by late 2007 after growing 82% over the year.
Armenia exported goods worth $7.9 million to China in 2007. This
amount 17 times exceeds that of the previous year.
Chinese goods brought to Armenia in 2007 totaled 195.1 million –
75.7% greater than in 2006.